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Home My WebLink About09-20-2017 City Council minutesMINUTES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING At 5:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Meeting with Destination Saratoga and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce in the City Hall Administrative Conference Room at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue. At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Meeting with the Saratoga Youth Commission. During the Joint Meeting, the City Council requested that the Finance Committee consider protocols and requirements for Commission fundraising. At 7:00 p.m., Mayor Emily Lo called the Regular Session to order in the Civic Theater at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue and led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL PRESENT Mayor Emily Lo, Vice Mayor Mary -Lynne Bemald, Council Members Manny Cappello, Howard Miller, Rishi Kumar ABSENT None ALSO PRESENT James Lindsay, City Manager Richard Taylor, City Attomey Crystal Bothelio, Deputy City Manager John Cherbone, Public Works Director Mary Furey, Finance & Administrative Services Director Michael Taylor, Recreation and Facilities Director Lauren Pettipiece, Administrative Analyst Captain Rich Urena, Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office Kayla Nakamoto, Recreation Coordinator Dylan Davis, Recreation Coordinator REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA Deputy City Manager Crystal Bothelio reported that the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on September 15, 2017 REPORT FROM JOINT MEETING Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Vice President Chuck Page provided an overview of the City Council's Meeting with Destination Saratoga and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, including information about recent activities and upcoming events. Members of the Saratoga Youth Commission shared a summary of the City Council's Joint Meeting with the Youth Commission and announced several work plan items scheduled for the 2017/18 school year. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS None Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 1 of 7 ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Lo announced a Saratoga Library and League of Women Voters event featuring Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Living Room Conversations, the Hakone Koi Pond Sustainability Project Groundbreaking, the Mid -Autumn Festival, India Day Showcase, and Casa Tierra exhibit at Saratoga Museum. CEREMONIAL ITEMS Appointment of Commissioners & Oath of Office Recommended Action: Approve the attached resolution appointing 2 members to the Library Commission and 2 members to the Parks and Recreation Commission; and direct the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office. RESOLUTION NO 17-052 KUMAR/BERNALD MOVED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING 2 MEMBERS TO THE LIBRARY COMMISSION AND 2 MEMBERS TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION; AND DIRECT THE CITY CLERK TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE. MOTION PASSED. AYES: LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER, KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT NONE. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS League of Women Voters Presentation on Local Election Finance Study Recommended Action: Receive presentation from League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara County on a study of local election finances. Eleanor Yick, representing League of Women Voters of Southwest Santa Clara County. Provided a presentation on the League of Women Voters Local Election Finance Study Mayor Lo invited public comment on the item. No one requested to speak. 1, CONSENT CALENDAR 1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes Recommended Action: Approve the City Council minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting on September 6, 2017 CAPPELLO/BERNALD MOVED TO APPROVE THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 MOTION PASSED. AYES. LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO. MILLER, KUMAR. NOES. NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT NONE. Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 2 of 7 1.2. Review of Accounts Payable Check Registers Recommended Action: Review and accept check registers for the following accounts payable payment cycles: 09/05/2017 Period 3; and 09/12/2017 Period 3. CAPPELLO/BERNALD MOVED TO ACCEPT CHECK REGISTERS FOR THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PAYMENT CYCLES: 09/05/2017 PERIOD 3; AND 09/12/2017 PERIOD 3. MOTION PASSED. AYES. LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER, KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT NONE. 1.3. Extension of PLACE Lease Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to extend the lease agreement with Montalvo Arts Center to continue displaying PLACE outside of Saratoga Library for an additional year. CAPPELLO/BERNALD MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AN EXTENDED LEASE AGREEMENT WITH MONTALVO ARTS CENTER TO CONTINUE DISPLAYING PLACE OUTSIDE OF SARATOGA LIBRARY THROUGH OCTOBER 2021 FOR AN ANNUAL FEE OF $1,500. MOTION PASSED. AYES: LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER, KUMAR. NOES. NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT NONE. 2. PUBLIC HEARING 2.1. Ordinance Amending Leaf Blower Regulations Recommended Action: Conduct a public hearing, then introduce and waive the first reading of the ordinance and direct staff to place the ordinance on the consent calendar for adoption at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council. City Manager James Lindsay presented the staff report on this item. Mayor Lo invited public comment on the item. No one requested to speak. MILLER/BERNALD MOVED TO WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE AND DIRECT STAFF TO PLACE THE ORDINANCE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR ADOPTION AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WITH A CORRECTION TO THE ORDINANCE NUMBERING AND REMOVAL OF THE YEAR IN LANGUAGE REGARDING THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE IN THE ORDINANCE. MOTION PASSED. AYES: LO, BERNALD, CAPPELLO, MILLER, KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT NONE. Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 3 of 7 3. GENERAL BUSINESS 3.1. Outdoor Cultivation of Medical Marijuana for Personal Use Recommended Action: Consider the staff report and public testimony and provide direction to staff. City Attorney Richard Taylor presented the staff report. Mayor Lo invited public comment. The following people requested to speak: Dr. Janet Redman Jonas Pierson Dr. Keith Redman Dr. Andrew Gross No one else requested to speak. Captain Rich Urena addressed questions from the City Council. 3.2. Quarterly Communications Report Recommended Action: Receive progress report on 2017 spring and summer communications activities and provide direction on 2017 fall communications efforts, including Saratoga Source topics, topics and hosts for City videos, online survey methods, and outreach priorities. Lauren Pettipiece, Administrative Analyst, presented the staff report. Mayor Lo invited public comment on this item. No one requested to speak. Council Member Miller proposed that the City's videos be no longer than 60 to 90 seconds, using a more modern format, and that videos be used to communicate information on topics that will have a longer lifespan. He proposed proceeding only one video on Neighborhood Watch, using the current format, and nominated Mayor Lo to host the video. He also suggested that the City continue conducting surveys for educational purposes, when appropriate. The City Council concurred. Mayor Lo agreed to host the Neighborhood Watch Video. Council Member Cappello commented on the value of creative and inventive strategies to draw public attention to City communications through social media and other platforms. Saratoga City Council Minutes— Page 4 of 7 Mayor Lo praised communication efforts of staff and requested that events and programs from the City's partner agencies be placed above events that receive Community Event Grant Program funding in the City's communication priorities. Council Member Miller recommended that City communications and articles be as short as possible. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS Mayor Emily Lo Hakone Foundation Board & Executive Committee — the Hakone Centennial Gala was a great success. As mentioned during announcements, the groundbreaking for the Koi Pond improvements project will take place on September 28. KSAR Community Access TV Board — KSAR will be cover the upcoming City events, including the Koi Pond project groundbreaking and Quarry Trail Extension ribbon cutting. The League of California Cities Peninsula Division will be holding its quarterly lunch meeting on Friday and the City Council is invited to attend. The meeting will include discussion of the topic: fines, fees, and equality Mayor Lo also shared that she attended the League of California Cities Annual Conference, where she was swom in as League of California Cities Peninsula Division President. Both resolutions put before the League voting delegates were approved. Vice Mayor Mary -Lynne Bemald Hakone Foundation Board — the Centennial Gala was sold out and the event was wonderful. Public Art Committee — the Committee met on September 7 and discussed the development of a rock painting program. Though the program was only discussed in preliminary terms, a member of the public excited about the idea posted on Facebook that the City Council approved the program. Council Member Manny Cappello Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council (SASC'C/ — there was a SASSCC and Age Friendly Meeting and feedback from AARP on age friendly efforts was received. Saratoga and RYDE will be showcased in the California edition of the AARP magazine. West Valley Sanitation District — the District is involved in litigation with the San Jose -Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility with the other tributary agencies regarding the Wastewater Facility's billing practices, accountability and transparency Council Member Howard Miller America in Bloom Committee Saratoga Chamber of Commerce — Council Member Miller attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting on behalf of Council Member Kumar. The meeting including preparation for the Joint Meeting with the City Council. Saratoga Ministerial Association Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors — the Risk Committee meets monthly, but since meetings are confidential there is nothing to report. Silicon Valley Clean Energy is one of the only CCAs to have a Risk Committee that seeks to balance financial risk. All energy for 2017 and 2018 has been procured, so the Authority can guarantee prices will be lower than PG&E. The Authority's CEO recently resigned and the Authority is now in the recruitment process for a new CEO. The budget was approved for the current fiscal year. Revenue Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 5 of 7 projections were higher than expected, so the Authority has been discussion development of reserves and rebates. There have also been discussions of a citizen advisory committee. Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Policy Advisory Committee — BART lines are being tested and rails are active with trains running primarily at night. The project is slightly behind recent estimates, but still in line with the original project schedule. All modes of public transportation have shown a decline, which is unexpected. Additionally, VTA is involved in a lawsuit regarding Measure B. The last Committee meeting was canceled, since many members were at the League of California Cities Annual Conference. Council Member Rishi Kumar Santa Clara County Expressway Plan 2040 Policy Advisory Board — the meeting planned for September has been canceled and will be rescheduled. Council Member Kumar shared that he attended the League of California Cities Conference. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS Council Member Miller requested that the next public art item that comes before the City Council include a policy that establishes the authority of the Public Art Committee to approve placement of public art in the City. Vice Mayor Bemald supported the request. Council Member Miller nominated a capital improvement project to construct a bike path through Quarry Park. Council Member Cappello supported the nomination. Council Member Miller nominated a capital improvement project to conduct a citywide assessment of accessible parking. Council Member Cappello supported the nomination. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager James Lindsay shared that the recruitment for the Community Development Director will start this week. Mayor Lo announced that the City Council would be reconvening in the City Hall Administrative Conference Room for Closed Session. CLOSED SESSION Administrative Conference Room, City Hall 113777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL —EXISTING LITIGATION (Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1)1 Saratoga et al. v California Department of Transportation (Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 115CV281214) Saratoga City Council Minutes— Page 6 of 7 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Lo adjoumed the regular meeting at 10:35 p.m. nutes respeftfull sub fitted: t.. rys'fal Bothelio, eputy City Manager City of Saratoga Saratoga City Council Minutes — Page 7 of 7