HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-16-2020 City Council Minutes -SpecialMINUTES
WEDNESDAY, DULY 16, 2020
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Miller called the virtual Special Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. via teleconferencing
through Zoom.
Prior to Roll Call, the Mayor and City Clerk explained that the City Council meeting was conducted
pursuant to provisions of the Brown Act and a recent Executive Order issued by'the Governor to
facilitate teleconferencing to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at public meetings. Ordinarily
the Brown Act sets strict rules for teleconferencing. The Governor's Executive Order has suspended
those rules. The Executive Order does require that public agencies continue to notice meetings in
advance and provide members of the public an opportunity to observe the meeting and offer public
comment. The City Council met all of the applicable notice requirements and the public is welcome to
participate in this meeting. Information on how the public can observe the meeting and provide public
comment was also shared. Additionally, the Mayor explained that votes would be taken through roll call.
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
City Clerk Debbie Bretschneider reported that the agenda for this meeting was properly posted
on July 9, 2020.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Howard A. Miller, Vice Mayor Mary -Lynne Bernald,
Council Members Yan Zhao, Rishi Kumar.
(All Council members appearing via teleconference.)
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: James Lindsay, City Manager
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager
Debbie Bretschneider, City Clerk
Mary Furey, Finance & Administrative Services Director
(All staff members appearing via teleconference)
City Clerk Debbie Bretschneider confirmed all City Council members could hear the meeting
proceedings and no doubts were expressed regarding the identities of the individuals representing
themselves as City Council Members.
AGENDA ITEMS
City Council Vacancy
Recommended Action:
In response to the vacancy on the City Council, staff recommends that the City Council
adopt the attached resolution providing that the seat be filled at the November 3, 2020
election. Alternatively, the City Council could appoint a registered Saratoga voter to fill the
Saratoga City Council Minutes — July 16, 2020 — Page 1 of 2
vacant seat for the remainder of the term or provide direction to staff on the process for
appointment.
Richard Taylor, City Attorney, presented the staff report.
Mayor Miller invited public comment on the item.
The following people requested to speak:
Mohini Balakrishnan spoke
Lakhinder Walia spoke
JoAnne Birmingham spoke
Nancy Lietzke spoke
No one else requested to speak.
RESOLUTION 20-054
KUMAR/MILLER MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION PROVIDING THE
VACANT COUNCIL SEAT TO BE FILLED AT THE NOVEMBER 3.2020
GENERAL ELECTION. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES:
MILLER, BERNALD, ZHAO, KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE.
ADJOURNMENT
BERNALD/ZHAO MOVED TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING AT 6:21 P.M.
MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: MILLER, BERNALD, ZHAO,
KUMAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes — July 16, 2020 — Page 2 of 2