Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 15, 2023 ~ Page 1 of 5
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Fitzsimmons called the Regular Session to order at 7:00 p.m.
The City Clerk explained the City Council meeting was conducted pursuant to State law as amended by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the meeting to be conducted by teleconference. The City Council has met all the applicable notice requirements and the public is welcome to participate in person or by Zoom. Information on how the public can observe the meeting and provide public comment was provided.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Kookie Fitzsimmons, Vice Mayor Yan Zhao, Council Members Belal Aftab, Chuck Page, Tina Walia
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: James Lindsay, City Manager
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
Nick Pegueros, Administrative Services Director
Lauren Blom, Public Information Officer
Kayla Nakamoto, Administrative Analyst
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on February 9, 2023.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time:
Anthony Fisher discussed a proposed housing site.
Matt Bordoni, Don Kellogg, Kathi Hammill, Peter Nosé discussed the Aloha-Vickery Trail.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Fitzsimmons shared infor mation about Foothill Club Benefit Concert, Online Art Challenge Virtual Exhibit, St. Paddy’s Party, Paint the City and the Housing Element Draft Environmental Impact Report.
Vice Mayor Zhao shared information about an upcoming blood drive.
Council Member Aftab shared information about the current exhibits at the Saratoga Historical Foundation and an upcoming event at the Foothill Club.
Council Member Page shared information about Valley Water District education webinars.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 15, 2023 ~ Page 2 of 5
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment on the Consent Calendar.
No one requested to speak.
1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Approve the Minutes for the February 1, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting.
PAGE/ZHAO MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE FEBRUARY 1, 2023 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. 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:
1/26/23 Period 7; 1/30/23 Period 7.
PAGE/ZHAO MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT CHECK REGISTERS FOR THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PAYMENT CYCLES: 1/26/23 PERIOD 7; 1/30/23 PERIOD 7. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. GENERAL BUSINESS
2.1. Community Event and Street Closure Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2023/24 Recommended Action:
Provide staff with direction on funding for Fiscal Year 2023/24 Community Event and Street Closure Grant Program including, 1) secured funding recipients and allocations as well as total funding amount; 2) secured funding recipient and allocation for the Street Closure Grant Program; 3) and competitive Community Event Grant Program funding allocation and application timeline.
Kayla Nakamoto, Administrative Analyst presented the staff report.
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: Bill Dalton, Kristin Gragnola
PAGE MOVED TO KEEP FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY EVENT GRANT
PROGRAM SECURED FUNDING RECIPIENTS THE SAME AS FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 ADDING FUNDING FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING EVENT TO THE
SECURED FUNDING RECIPIENT GRANT PROGRAM, REDUCE FUNDING FOR THE COMPETITIVE EVENT GRANT PROGRAM TO $8,000 AND DIRECT STAFF
TO RETURN WITH A REVISED COMMUNITY EVENT GRANT PROGRAM
POLICY REQUIRING ADDITIONAL DATA FROM GRANT RECIPIENTS.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 15, 2023 ~ Page 3 of 5
Council Member Aftab requested a fri endly amendment to reduce the funding for the Competitive Event Grant Program to $9,000.
Additional discussion took place.
PAGE AMENDED HIS MOTION TO KEEP FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY
EVENT GRANT PROGRAM SECURED FUNDING RECIPIENTS THE SAME AS FISCAL YEAR 2022 -23 ADDING FUNDING FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING
EVENT TO THE SECURED FUNDING RECIPIENT GRANT PROGRAM,
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE $10,000 IN FUNDING FOR THE COMPETITIVE EVENT
GRANT PROGRAM AND DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN WITH A REVISED
COMMUNITY EVENT GRANT PROGRAM POLICY REQUIRING ADDITIONAL DATA FROM GRANT RECIPIENTS.
Additional discussion took place.
PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO KEEP FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY EVENT
GRANT PROGRAM SECURED FUNDING RECIPIENTS THE SAME AS FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 ADDING FUNDING FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING EVENT TO
THE SECURED FUNDING RECIPIENT GRANT PROGRAM, REDUCE FUNDING FOR THE COMPETITIVE EVENT GRANT PROGRAM TO $8,000 AND DIRECT
STAFF TO RETURN WITH A REVISED COMMUNITY EVENT GRANT
PROGRAM POLICY REQUIRING ADDITIONAL DATA FROM GRANT
RECIPIENTS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING V OTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2.2. Discussion Regarding Future Teleconferenced Public Meetings Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449
Recommended Action:
Receive report on teleconferenced public meetings pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449 and direct staff to return to “normal” pre-pandemic Brown Act rules for teleconferencing beginning March 1, 2023.
Britt Avrit, City Clerk presented the staff report.
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
PAGE/ ZHAO MOVED TO RECEIVE THE REPORT ON TELECONFERENCED PUBLIC MEETINGS PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY BILL 2449 AND DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN TO “NORMAL” PRE -PANDEMIC BROWN ACT RULES FOR TELECONFERENCING BEGINNING MARCH 1, 2023 . MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 15, 2023 ~ Page 4 of 5
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Tina Walia
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors - stated the Board allocated additional $2M for community grants for a total of $3.5M; stated all member communities have moved forward to reduce emissions and discussed the 2022 Community Impacts Report.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors - stated the I nterim Executive Director Shali Sirkay, was appointed as Executive Director; 2023 Board priorities have been approved, and the Board received a report from Planning Collaborative related to an Accessory Dwelling Unit program.
Council Member Chuck Page
West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated the Board met in C losed Session for discussion related to a lawsuit with the City of San Jose ; the Board approved an item regarding transfer of unclaimed funds.
West Valley Clean Water Program Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board discussed the fourth amendment to the Urban Runoff Program and stated the Board will be conducting a public opinion poll related to a State mandate to manage flow of water to storm drains.
West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board discussed the new waste hauler contract that takes effect March 2024 with no rate increase.
Council Member Belal Aftab
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Policy Advisory Committee - stated the Committee reviewed the bus stop plan and process for improvements to bus stops for Santa Clara County.
Vice Mayor Yan Zhao
Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority Alternate – stated she was sworn in as the Alternate Authority Member, Council Member Dan Furtado from the City of Campbell was sworn in as Authority Member representing West Valley Cities; the Board is made up of 11 Board Members; Russ Melton from Sunnyvale is Chair, Vice Chair is Karen Hardy from the City of Santa Clara; the Executive Director provided a verbal update on several items including the Motorola Systems upgrade, cybersecurity and regional interoperable communication success stories.
Saratoga Ministerial Association – stated the Association discussed winter activities, a potential spring event, and discussed establishing a presence on social media platforms.
Mayor Kookie Fitzsimmons
Cities Association of Santa C lara County-City Selection Committee – stated Sergio Lopez from the City of Campbell and Vicki Veenkeer from the City of Palo Alto were chosen for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District; Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) appointees are Russ Melton from the City of Sunnyvale and alternate Mark Turner from the City of Morgan Hill; Metropolitan Transportation Commission appointee is Margaret Abe-Koga from the City of Mountain View.
Council Finance Committee – stated the Committee received the fee study results, directed staff to return with additional fee analysis regarding impact of increased fees, staff presented an overview of the RFP for Auditing Services and an overview of financial policies.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ February 15, 2023 ~ Page 5 of 5
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
None
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
None
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
None
ADJOURNMENT
PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:00 P.M. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
City of Saratoga