MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with Saratoga Schools at S. Ku Hall in the Saratoga Senior Center.
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
Mayor Fitzsimmons called the Regular Session to order at 7:00 p.m.
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
Leslie Arroyo, Assistant City Manager
Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
Dan Jacobson, Interim Administrative Services Director
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
Emma Burkhalter, Associate Civil Engineer
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on October 26, 2023.
REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION
Mayor Fitzsimmons stated the City Council held a Joint Session with Saratoga Schools and provided a report of the City Council Joint Session.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN-PERSON
ATTENDEES
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Fitzsimmons shared information about Saratoga Education Foundation 5K Fun Run, Saratoga Farmer's Market, Saratoga's Candy Cane Village, and the Registrar of Voters' Election Job Fair.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 1, 2023 ~ Page 1 of 6
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Xi'an Friendship City Presentation
Recommended Action:
Receive presentation from Meng Shi on a potential Friendship City partnership with Xi'an, a large city and capital of Shaanxi Province in central China.
The City Council received a presentation from Meng Shi on a potential Friendship City partnership with Xi'an, China.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Approve the Minutes for the October 18, 2023, City Council Regular Meeting.
PAGE/ZHAO MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE OCTOBER 18, 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 and Accept Accounts Payable Check Registers Recommended Action:
Review and accept the 10/11/2023 and 10/19/2023 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
PAGE/ZHAO MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 10/11/2023 AND 10/19/2023 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
1.3. Treasurer's Report for the Month Ended August 31, 2023 Recommended Action:
Review and accept the Treasurer's Report for the month ended August 31, 2023.
PAGE/ZHAO MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED AUGUST 31, 2023. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
Mayor Fitzsimmons noted the number of attendees and the number of people expected to address the City Council for Items 2.1 and 3.1, and asked if the City Council would like to consider reducing the public speaking time to two minutes per person for the remainder of the meeting.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 1, 2023 ~ Page 2 of 6
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO REDUCE SPEAKER TIME TO TWO MINUTES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE
FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
2. PUBLIC HEARING
2.1. Appeal - TSC Approval of Mendelsohn Lane Speed Tables Recommended Action:
Conduct a public hearing and de novo review of the appeal and adopt the resolution denying the appeal and approving the Traffic Safety Commission's September 14 decision on Traffic Matrix #392 to install two speed tables on Mendelsohn Lane.
Emma Burkhalter, Associate Civil Engineer, presented the staff report.
The Appellant and Applicant provided presentations.
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke: Daniel Miranda, Peter Rutti, Henry Coles, Ernie Kraule, Hassan Jalalian, Doug Rodoni, Catherine Thermond, Margie Montgomery, Hobart Birmingham, JoAnn Birmingham, Mark Weisler, Mike Keough RESOLUTION 23-083
AFTAB/ZHAO MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION DENYING THE APPEAL AND APPROVING THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION'S SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 DECISION ON TRAFFIC MATRIX #392 TO INSTALL TWO SPEED TABLES ON MENDELSOHN LANE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
AFTAB, WALIA, ZHAO. NOES: PAGE, FITZSIMMONS. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE
Mayor Fitzsimmons requested a recess at this time.
Mayor Fitzsimmons reconvened the meeting at 8:43p.m.
3. GENERAL BUSINESS
3.1. Housing Element Update & Policy Options
Recommended Actions:
1. Review and consider policy options.
2. Review recommendations from the Planning Commission.
3. Receive public comments.
4. Provide direction to staff for responding to comments from California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on the third Draft Housing Element.
Mayor Fitzsimmons stated she will recuse herself from discussion and deliberation related to policy option #1 due to the location of her home.
Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director, presented the staff report.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 1, 2023 ~ Page 3 of 6 The following individuals spoke: Stan Bogosian, Corinne Vita, Dory Albert, Nels Delander, Shawna Ballard, Andrew Krainin, Vickram Vathulya, William Bryg, Charlotte Murray, Lou Kovacs, Balaji Bashyam, Chandra Mohan Yengoti, Matthew Beeston, Jody Tatro, Scott Liu, Koosha Justin Amini, Vivek Tiwari, David Dornblaser, Chris Vasquez, Dave House, Debbie Ball, Ran Ju, Keith Diggs
Due to technical issues, Mayor Fitzsimmons requested a recess at this time.
Mayor Fitzsimmons reconvened the meeting at 10:30 p.m.
The following individuals spoke: Dib Sengupta, Sia Mukherjee, Liz, Mona, Karthick Iyer, Wayne, Joanne, Terri Singer, Ching
Mayor Fitzsimmons turned the meeting over to Vice Mayor Zhao and left the dais at this time.
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO INCORPORATE POLICY NUMBER ONE AS
PRESENTED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION INTO THE HOUSING ELEMENT. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED:
FITZSIMMONS. ABSENT: NONE
Mayor Fitzsimmons returned to the dais at this time.
ZHAO/AFTAB MOVED TO GIVE DIRECTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
RESEARCH ADDING A POLICY ENCOURAGING DEVELOPERS AND
CONTRACTORS TO HIRE LOCAL LABOR AND UTILIZE LABOR STANDARDS.
Discussion took place and the motion was withdrawn.
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO INCORPORATE POLICY NUMBERS TWO THROUGH
FOUR, AND THE 'LOT CONSOLIDATION POLICY' AND THE 'EXISTING
MIXED-USE AND MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS POLICY' AS
PRESENTED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION INTO THE HOUSING ELEMENT. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
ZHAO/AFTAB MOVED TO GIVE DIRECTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
RESEARCH ADDING A POLICY TO THE HOUSING ELEMENT ENCOURAGING
DEVELOPERS AND CONTRACTORS TO HIRE LOCAL LABOR AND UTILIZE LABOR STANDARDS.
Council Member Page requested a friendly amendment to use the language provided in the handout for Redwood City's policy: "Encourage developers and contractors to evaluate hiring local labor, hiring from or contributing to apprenticeship programs, increasing resources for labor compliance, and providing living wages."
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 1, 2023 ~ Page 4 of 6
ZHAO/AFTAB MOVED TO GIVE DIRECTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
RESEARCH ADDING A POLICY TO THE HOUSING ELEMENT THAT WILL
ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS AND CONTRACTORS TO EVALUATE HIRING
LOCAL LABOR, HIRING FROM OR CONTRIBUTING TO APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS, INCREASING RESOURCES FOR LABOR COMPLIANCE, AND PROVIDING LIVING WAGES. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
AFTAB/PAGE MOVED TO REVISIT THE HOUSING SITE LIST FOR THE HOUSING ELEMENT.
Additional discussion took place.
AFTAB/PAGE MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO AGENDIZE A STUDY OF FUTURE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN SARATOGA. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED. NONE.ABSENT: NONE
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Tina Walia
Santa Clara County Library District Board of Directors - stated the Friends of the Saratoga Library provided their annual donation to the Saratoga Library.
Council Member Chuck Page
West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority Board of Directors - stated beginning in 2024, inspections of what is being placed in each of the waste receptacles may take place.
Council Member Belal Aftab
Hakone Foundation Board of Trustees - stated Bonnie Yamaoka is new to the Board; an accounting audit was conducted; the Board discussed establishing subcommittees to focus on programming; an origami workshop will take place on December 3, 2023, and the Board encourages the community to visit the origami exhibit.
Saratoga Historical Foundation Board of Directors - stated the Blacksmith Exhibit grand opening will be scheduled when the weather is warmer.
Vice Mayor Yan Zhao
Saratoga Ministerial Association - stated she attended the meeting with no reportable action.
Mayor Kookie Fitzsimmons
Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council Board of Directors - stated a successful Health Fair was recently conducted; 250 nutritious lunches were recently provided to the community; $44,500 has been raised for Senior Programs in Saratoga; a partnership with West Valley Mission Community College District that allows SASCC members to be registered as students at West Valley College with class and tuition fees waived has begun; the Richard Angus Award for Age Friendly Community Service was given to Kathy Schuda, Laurel Perusa, Brad Davis, Thomas Scott and Mayor Fitzsimmons
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 1, 2023 ~ Page 5 of 6
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
Zhao/Page requested an item to discuss a potential Friendship City partnership with Xi'an, China be included on a future agenda.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Page stated Sacred Heart will be holding their Artisan Fair on November 10 and
11. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
None
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Fitzsimmons adjourned the meeting at 12:17 a.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
(Sur that
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
City of Saratoga
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 1, 2023 ~ Page 6 of 6