HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-16-2022 City Council Regular MeetingSaratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 16, 2022 ~ Page 1 of 7
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 5:00 p.m., the City Council held a Closed Session via teleconferencing through Zoom.
Mayor Walia invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held interviews for the Parks & Recreation Commission via
teleconferencing through Zoom.
KUMAR/BERNALD MOVED TO APPOINT BADRINATH SRIDHARAN TO THE PARKS
& RECREATION COMMISSION FOR A FULL-TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025.
MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR, ZHAO,
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE.
Mayor Walia called the Regular Session to order at 7:00 p.m. via teleconferencing through Zoom.
The City Clerk explained the City Council meeting was conducted pursuant to State law as recently
amended by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the meeting to be conducted entirely by
teleconference. The City Council has met all the applicable notice requirements and the public is
welcome to participate. All Council Members, staff, and meeting attendees participated by Zoom.
Information on how the public can observe the meeting and provide public comment was provided.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Tina Walia, Vice Mayor Kookie Fitzsimmons, Council
Members Mary-Lynne Bernald, Rishi Kumar, Yan Zhao
(All Council Members appearing via teleconference)
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT:
James Lindsay, City Manager
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
Debbie Pedro, Community Development Director
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
Nick Pegueros, Administrative Services Director
Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner
Lauren Pettipiece, Public Information Officer
Ann Xu, Accountant II
(All staff members appearing via teleconference)
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on March 10, 2022.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 16, 2022 ~ Page 2 of 7
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
Mayor Walia invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Walia shared information about the St. Paddy’s Day Party in the Village, the Housing
Element Public Scoping Meeting, the Blossom Festival, the Arbor Day Celebration and
Commission recruitments.
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
Proclamation Recognizing March 2022 as American Red Cross Month
Recommended Action:
Proclaim March 2022 as American Red Cross Month.
The City Council proclaimed American Red Cross Month in the City of Saratoga.
Commendations Honoring 2021 Synopsys Science and Technology Championship
Participants
Recommended Action:
Commend the 2021 Synopsys Science and Technology Championship Science participants
who live in Saratoga.
The City Council commended the 2021 Synopsys Science and Technology Championship
Science participants who live in Saratoga.
Appointment of Planning Commissioners
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution appointing two members to the Planning Commission and direct the
City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office.
RESOLUTION 2022-005
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING
TWO MEMBERS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND DIRECT THE CITY
CLERK TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL
ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office to Clinton Brownley and Ping Li at this time.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Walia invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
No one requested to speak.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 16, 2022 ~ Page 3 of 7
1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Approve the Minutes for the March 2, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting.
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE MARCH
2, 2022 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL
ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.2. Review of Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept check registers for the following accounts payable payment cycles:
3/3/22 Period 9.
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT CHECK REGISTERS
FOR THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PAYMENT CYCLES: 3/3/22
PERIOD 9. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR,
ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
1.3. Ordinance relating to appeals of State determinations regarding development in Very
High Fire Hazard Zones
Recommended Action:
Adopt an ordinance amending section 16-05.020 of the Saratoga Municipal Code relating to
appeals of State determinations regarding development in Very High Fire Hazard Zones.
ORDINANCE 389
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
SECTION 16-05.020 OF THE SARATOGA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO
APPEALS OF STATE DETERMINATIONS REGARDING DEVELOPMENT IN
VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD ZONES. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL.
AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.4. Reconsider and Confirm Findings Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361
Recommended Action:
Reconsider and confirm findings pursuant to Assembly Bill 361 of the continued public
health officials’ recommendation to social distance and to therefore hold City of Saratoga
Brown Act meetings by teleconference.
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO RECONSIDER AND CONFIRM FINDINGS
PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY BILL 361 OF THE CONTINUED PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIALS’ RECOMMENDATION TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AND TO
THEREFORE HOLD CITY OF SARATOGA BROWN ACT MEETINGS BY
TELECONFERENCE. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES:
BERNALD, KUMAR, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 16, 2022 ~ Page 4 of 7
1.5. Resolution Amending the Policy for Meeting Recordings
Recommended Action:
Adopt the resolution amending the policy for meeting recordings to add City Council
Finance Committee meetings to the list of City meetings that are recorded.
RESOLUTION 2022-006
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE
POLICY FOR MEETING RECORDINGS TO ADD CITY COUNCIL FINANCE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO THE LIST OF CITY MEETINGS THAT ARE
RECORDED. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD,
KUMAR, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.6. Receive the Fiscal Year 2021 Cities’ Financial Transactions Report and Direct Posting
the Report to the City’s Website
Recommended Action:
Receive the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 21) Cities’ Financial Transactions Report (CTFR) and
direct posting the report to the City’s website. Financial transactions in the CTFR reflect
independently audited financial records as reported in the City’s Annual Comprehensive
Financial Report (ACFR.) The report contains no information or findings that differ from
the ACFR.
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO RECEIVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 (FY 21)
CITIES’ FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS REPORT (CTFR) AND DIRECT POSTING
THE REPORT TO THE CITY’S WEBSITE. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL
CALL. AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.7. 2021 General Plan Housing Element Annual Progress Report
Recommended Action:
Adopt the attached Resolution accepting the 2021 General Plan Housing Element Annual
Progress Report and direct staff to file the report with the Governor’s Office of Planning and
Research (OPR) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
RESOLUTION 2022-007
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE
2021 GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT AND
DIRECT STAFF TO FILE THE REPORT WITH THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND RESEARCH (OPR) AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (HCD). MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL
CALL. AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 16, 2022 ~ Page 5 of 7
2. GENERAL BUSINESS
2.1. Fiscal Year 2022 Mid-Year General Fund Budget Status Report and Budget
Amendment
Recommended Action:
Receive Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 22) mid-year General Fund budget status report and adopt a
resolution amending the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (FY 22) budget.
Nick Pegueros, Administrative Services Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Walia invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
RESOLUTION 2022-008
BERNALD/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO RECEIVE FISCAL YEAR 2022 (FY 22) MID-
YEAR GENERAL FUND BUDGET STATUS REPORT AND ADOPT A
RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2022 (FY 22)
BUDGET. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR,
ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
2.2. Draft Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Improvement Program Budget Review
Recommended Action:
Review and provide direction on the draft Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 23) Capital Improvement
Program (CIP) budget for inclusion in the annual budget.
Nick Pegueros, Administrative Services Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Walia invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
Mayor Walia requested a brief recess at this time.
Mayor Walia reconvened the meeting at 9:00 pm
ZHAO MOVED TO APPROVE THE DRAFT FISCAL YEAR 2023 (FY 23) CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY STAFF AND TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROVAL ON APRIL 6, 2022.
After further discussion with staff, Council Member Zhao amended the motion.
ZHAO MOVED TO APPROVE THE DRAFT FISCAL YEAR 2023 (FY 23) CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY STAFF, TO
REMOVE THE JOE’S TRAIL AT SARATOGA DE ANZA-PHASE II PROJECT AND
THE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER PROJECT FROM THE
UNFUNDED PROJECT LIST, AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROVAL ON
APRIL 6, 2022.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 16, 2022 ~ Page 6 of 7
Council Member Bernald requested a friendly amendment to include removal of the City Hall
Courtyard Accessibility Improvement Project from the Unfunded Projects List.
ZHAO/BERNALD MOVED TO APPROVE THE DRAFT FISCAL YEAR 2023 (FY 23)
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY
STAFF, TO REMOVE THE JOE’S TRAIL AT SARATOGA DE ANZA-PHASE II
PROJECT, THE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER PROJECT AND THE
CITY HALL COURTYARD ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FROM
THE UNFUNDED PROJECT LIST, AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROVAL
ON APRIL 6, 2022. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD,
KUMAR, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
WALIA/BERNALD MOVED TO REQUEST THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
CONSIDER BROADENING THE POLICY REGARDING FACILITY RESERVE
FUNDS TO INCLUDE ROADWAY/INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR, ZHAO,
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Mary-Lynne Bernald
Nothing to report
Council Member Rishi Kumar
Nothing to report
Council Member Yan Zhao
West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated the Board met in Closed Session with
no reportable action.
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Policy Advisory Committee – stated the Committee
approved recommending reprograming $3.24mil for the Congestion Mitigation Fund for two
projects and the Committee received the Valley Transportation Plan Semi-Annual Report.
Vice Mayor Kookie Fitzsimmons
Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Board – stated the Chamber of Commerce will be holding a wine
stroll event, is expecting a large turnout, and is looking for volunteers for the event being held May
25, 2022.
Mayor Tina Walia
Hakone Foundation Executive Board – stated there is nothing to report from the meeting;
discussed the blooming of cherry blossoms and an upcoming fundraiser being held April 5, 2022.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County-Legislative Action Committee – stated the Committee
received a presentation on energy and decarbonization legislation, and Assembly Member Alex
Lee provided a presentation regarding AB 1944.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors - stated there is nothing to report
from the meeting.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 16, 2022 ~ Page 7 of 7
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – stated the board approved $3mil in
customer relief for income qualified customers, added $13mil to the programs budget to support
emissions reductions, and the Board approved entering into a long duration energy storage project
collaboration with five other CCA’s, and stated the Agency received a clean audit report.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Kumar requested the public send letters and emails regarding the Housing and
Community Development RHNA numbers audit; discussed joining in signing petitions that seek
to amend California’s Constitution to ensure local housing laws are not preempted; discussed his
belief the PUC is subverting solar program by removing benefits of the program.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
None
ADJOURNMENT
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:31 P.M. MOTION
PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL. AYES: BERNALD, KUMAR, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS,
WALIA: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, MMC, City Clerk
City of Saratoga