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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-2024 City Council Regular MeetingSaratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 17, 2024 ~ Page 1 of 6 MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2024 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING At 5:30 p.m., the City Council held an interview for the Parks and Recreation Commission. WALIA/AFTAB MOVED TO APPOINT MITRA PEDERSON TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR A FULL-TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2027. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with the West Valley Mission Community College District Board of Trustees in the Linda Callon Conference Room. Mayor Zhao invited public comment. No one requested to speak. Mayor Zhao called the Regular Session to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor Yan Zhao, Vice Mayor Belal Aftab, Council Members, Chuck Page, Tina Walia ABSENT: Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons ALSO PRESENT: James Lindsay, City Manager Richard Taylor, City Attorney Leslie Arroyo, Assistant City Manager John Cherbone, Public Works Director Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director Ryan Hinchman, Administrative Services Director Britt Avrit, City Clerk Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on January 12, 2024. REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION Mayor Zhao stated the City Council held a Joint Session with the West Valley Mission Community College District Board of Trustees and West Valley College President Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza provided a report of the City Council Joint Session. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN-PERSON ATTENDEES The following individual spoke: Chuck Page, speaking as a citizen of Saratoga, discussed Senate Bill 1383. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 17, 2024 ~ Page 2 of 6 ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Zhao shared information about the Let’s Work Saratoga Volunteer Day, the Spring CERT Academy and giving blood. CEREMONIAL ITEMS Appointment of Library and Public Art Commissioners Recommended Action: Adopt the Resolution appointing Ramya Vasu and Siana Smith to the Library and Public Art Commission and direct the City Clerk to administer the Oaths of Office. Mayor Zhao invited public comment. No one requested to speak. RESOLUTION 24-001 WALIA/PAGE MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING RAMYA VASU AND SIANA SMITH TO THE LIBRARY AND PUBLIC ART COMMISSION AND DIRECT THE CITY CLERK TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office at this time. West Valley Community Services Proclamation Recommended Action: Present Proclamation to West Valley Community Services The City Council presented the Proclamation to West Valley Community Services. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Zhao invited public comment. No one requested to speak. 1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes Recommended Action: Approve the Minutes for the December 20, 2023, City Council Regular Meeting and the January 9, 2024, City Council Special Meeting. PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE DECEMBER 20, 2023, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AND THE JANUARY 9, 2024, CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 17, 2024 ~ Page 3 of 6 1.2. Accounts Payable Check Registers Recommended Action: Review and accept the 12/14/2023 and 12/21/2023 accounts payable vendor payment check registers. PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 12/14/2023 AND 12/21/2023 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. 1.3. Treasurer’s Report for the Month Ended November 30, 2023 Recommended Action: Review and accept the Treasurer’s Report for the month ended November 30, 2023. PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2023. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. 1.4. 2024 City Council Meeting Schedule Recommended Action: Approve the 2024 City Council Meeting Schedule and authorize the City Manager, after consultation with the Mayor, to reinstate a cancelled meeting if any urgent items arise. PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO APPROVE THE 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE MAYOR, TO REINSTATE A CANCELLED MEETING IF ANY URGENT ITEMS ARISE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. 1.5. Agreement with Bob Murray & Associates to Provide Executive Search Services Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Bob Murray & Associates in the amount of $29,200 for executive search services for the position of City Manager. PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH BOB MURRAY & ASSOCIATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,200 FOR EXECUTIVE SEARCH SERVICES FOR THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 17, 2024 ~ Page 4 of 6 2. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2.1. APCC23-0002 - Appeal of a Design Review application for a new two-story residence located at 19348 Athos Place Recommended Action: Conduct a public hearing and de novo review of the application and adopt the attached resolution denying appeal APCC23-0002 thereby approving Design Review and Arborist Review applications (PDR22-0016/ARB22-0080) for the construction of a new two-story residence with a detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) located at 19348 Athos Place and finding the application to be exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner, presented the staff report. The Appellant’s representative and the Applicant’s representative provided presentations. Mayor Zhao invited public comment. No one requested to speak. RESOLUTION 24-002 PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED, ADDING THE PROPOSED CONDITION OF APPROVAL, DENYING APPEAL APCC23-0002 THEREBY APPROVING DESIGN REVIEW AND ARBORIST REVIEW APPLICATIONS (PDR22-0016/ARB22-0080) FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TWO-STORY RESIDENCE WITH A DETACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT (ADU) LOCATED AT 19348 ATHOS PLACE AND FINDING THE APPLICATION TO BE EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA). MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. 2.2. Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District LLA-1 - Public Hearing for Proposition 218 Protest Election for the Annexation of a new Zone 40 (Quito Oaks) and Confirmation of Assessments for FY 24-25 Recommended Action: Conduct the public hearing and following consideration of public comments adopt the Resolution Ordering the Improvements and Confirming the Diagram and Assessments for FY 24-25. John Cherbone, Public Works Director, presented the staff report. Mayor Zhao invited public comment. No one requested to speak. The City Clerk opened the ballot and presented the results of the annexation of new Zone 40 (Quito Oaks); 1 ballot received; 1 yes, 0 no. RESOLUTION 24-003 Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 17, 2024 ~ Page 5 of 6 AFTAB/PAGE MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ORDERING THE IMPROVEMENTS AND CONFIRMING THE DIAGRAM AND ASSESSMENTS FOR FY 24-25. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. 3. GENERAL BUSINESS 3.1. Housing Element Update & Policies Recommended Action: 1. Review the proposed responses to comments from California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on the third Draft Housing Element. 2. Receive public comments. 3. Provide comments and direction to staff on responses and revisions to the Housing Element for resubmittal to HCD. Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director, presented the staff report. Mayor Zhao requested a recess at this time. Mayor Zhao reconvened the meeting at 9:05 p.m. Mayor Zhao noted the number of people expected to address the City Council on this item and requested that public speaking time be reduced to two minutes per person. Mayor Zhao invited public comment. The following individuals spoke: Jeff Newman, Oscar Mazariegos, Jaime Vasquez, Abhishek Goel, Chandra Yengoti, Glenn Hendricks, Jerry Schaaf, Shari, Bernie Mills, James Atwell, Som Nag, Jason Nolet, Hadi Ghafouri, Bill Dalton, Anthony Armenta, Rigo Gallardo, Jagdeep Bal WALIA/PAGE MOVED TO PROCEED WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA PACKET AND UPDATED, ADDING POLICY 5.4. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO. NOES: AFTAB. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: FITZSIMMONS. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS Council Member Tina Walia Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors; stated Council Member Walia was elected Chair and Los Altos Hills Council Member George Tyson was elected Vice Chair; the Board allocated funding for two existing programs; Council Member Walia discussed the PG&E rate increase effective January 2024. Council Member Chuck Page Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Board – stated the Board discussed the impact of the Housing Element on business locations, and discussed the upcoming contract renewal with the City. Vice Mayor Belal Aftab Nothing to report Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 17, 2024 ~ Page 6 of 6 Mayor Yan Zhao West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated Campbell Council Member Dan Furtado was elected Chair and Los Gatos Council Member Rob Moore was elected Vice Chair. Hakone Foundation Board Executive Board – stated the executive Committee will recommend to the Board splitting the renovation project into two phases; the Koi Pond renovation first and the Accessibility Trail second. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS Council Member Page discussed handling public support from the audience during Council meetings; Mayor Zhao indicated she will address in her opening remarks. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS None CITY MANAGER'S REPORT None CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES No one requested to speak. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Zhao adjourned the meeting at 9:59 p.m. Minutes respectfully submitted: Britt Avrit, City Clerk City of Saratoga