Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ December 6, 2023 ~ Page 1 of 6
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2023
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 5:30 p.m., the City Council held an interview for the Heritage Preservation Commission.
WALIA/ZHAO MOVED TO APPOINT SHARON BOYCE-BENDER TO THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION FOR A FULL-TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2027.
MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with the Saratoga Ministerial Association in the Linda Callon Conference Room.
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
Ryan Hinchman, Administrative Services Director
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on December 1, 2023.
REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION
Mayor Fitzsimmon s stated the City Council held a Joint Session with Saratoga Ministerial Association and Tooba Ahmed, Program Coordinator, West Valley Muslim Association provided a report of the City Council Joint Session.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON- AGENDIZED ITEM S; IN-PERSON
ATTENDEES
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke:
Paul Jacobs discussed artificial turf.
Marshall Zerbo discussed the Housing Element.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ December 6, 2023 ~ Page 2 of 6
Daniel Ohn discussed a specific Starbucks location.
Recognition of Outgoing Mayor
Recommended Action:
Hear remarks from outgoing Mayor Kookie Fitzsimmons.
Mayor Fitzsimmons provided her remarks on her year as Mayor.
Members of the City Council provided remarks on Mayor Fitzsimmons’ year as Mayor.
Mayor Fitzsimmons invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke: Daniel Ohn, Joe Simitian, Santa Clara County Sherif f Captain Neal Valenzuela, Sue Mallory
Appointment of Mayor & Vice Mayor
Recommended Action:
Declare offices of Mayor and Vice Mayor to be vacant, accept nominations for the office of Mayor, direct the City Clerk or designee to administer the Oath of Office to new Mayor, accept nominations for the office of Vice Mayor, and direct the City Clerk or designee to administer the Oath of Office to new Vice Mayor.
The City Clerk declared the offices of Mayor and Vice Mayor to be vacant, called for nominations for the office of Mayor and invited public comment on this item.
No one requested to speak.
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO MOVED TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER ZHAO FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL VOTE. AYES:
AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Gilbert Wong administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Zhao
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO NOMINATE COUNCIL MEMBER AFTAB FOR THE POSITION OF VICE MAYOR. MOTION PASSED BY VERBAL ROLL CALL VOTE.
AYES: AFTAB, PAGE, WALIA, ZHAO, FITZSIMMONS: NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office to Vice Mayor Aftab.
Mayor Zhao provided remarks as the new Mayor.
Vice Mayor Aftab provided remarks as the new Vice Mayor.
Members of the City Council provided remarks on the new Mayor and Vice Mayor.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke: City of Campbell Vice Mayor Susan Landry, Daniel Ohn
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Zhao shared information about the Let’s Work Saratoga Volunteer Day, the Celebration of Light event and City Commission Recruitment.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
The following individual spoke: Bill Dalton.
1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Approve the Minutes for the November 15, 2023, City Council Regular Meeting.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE
NOVEMBER 15, 2023, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
1.2. Review and Accept Accounts Payable Check Registers Recommended Action:
Review and accept the 11/08/2023, 11/16/2023, and 11/22/2023 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 11/08/2023, 11/16/2023, AND 11/22/2023 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE
1.3. Treasurer’s Report for the Month Ended October 31, 2023 Recommended Action:
Review and accept the Treasurer’s Report for the month ended October 31, 2023.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2023. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
1.4. The Elms Affordable Housing Regulatory Agreement and Declaration of Restrictive Covenants
Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager to sign the Affordable Housing Regulatory Agreement and Declaration of Restrictive Covenants on behalf of the City of Saratoga for the nine affordable housing units of The Elms Residential Project.
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FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REGULATORY AGREEMENT AND
DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
SARATOGA FOR THE NINE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS OF THE ELMS RESIDENTIAL PROJECT. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
1.5. Flock Safety Agreement for Automated License Plate Reader Camera System Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager to execute a new five-year agreement with Flock Safety.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A NEW FIVE -YEAR AGREEMENT WITH FLOCK SAFETY. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
1.6. Youth Commission Charity Donation (November 2023) Recommended Action:
Approve Saratoga Youth Commission’s donation to the non-profit organization, Grassroots Ecology.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO APPROVE SARATOGA YOUTH
COMMISSION’S DONATION TO THE NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION,
GRASSROOTS ECOLOGY. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
2. PUBLIC HEARING
2.1. Subdivision Code Update
Recommended Action:
Conduct the public hearing, introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 14 – Subdivisions (updating to conform with state law and converting subjective standards to objective standards), and direct staff to place the matter on the consent calendar for the next regular meeting of the City Council.
Richard Taylor, City Attorney, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
The following individual spoke: Daniel Ohn
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO INTRODUCE AND WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 14 –
SUBDIVISIONS (UPDATING TO CONFORM WITH STATE LAW AND
CONVERTING SUBJECTIVE STANDARDS TO OBJECTIVE STANDARDS), AND
DIRECT STAFF TO PLACE THE MATTER ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
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3. GENERAL BUSINESS
3.1. Xi’An, China Friendship City Discussion
Recommended Action:
Designate Xi’An, China as a Friendship City with Saratoga through a Mayor’s Memorandum of Understanding between the two cities.
Leslie Arroyo, Assistant City Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke: Sue Mallory, Daniel Ohn
AFTAB/PAGE MOVED TO DESIGNATE XI’AN, CHINA AS A FRIENDSHIP CITY WITH SARATOGA THR OUGH A MAYOR’S MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES AND DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN WITH A RELATED POLICY AT A FUTURE MEETING . MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
3.2. Proposed Records Management Policy and Revised Citywide Records Retention Schedule
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution repealing Resolution No. 21-064, adopting City Council Policy 001- Records Management, and adopting a revised Citywide Records Retention Schedule.
Britt Avrit, City Clerk, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke: Stan Bogosian, Nancy Lietzke
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 21-064, ADOPTING CITY COUNCIL POLICY 001 - RECORDS
MANAGEMENT, AND ADOPTING A REVISED CITYWIDE RECORDS
RETENTION SCHEDULE AS AMENDED. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE
3.3. Review of City Council Assignment Descriptions
Recommended Action:
Review the list of City Council assignment descriptions and provide direction on changes to the list.
Britt Avrit, City Clerk, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
Vice Mayor Aftab provided the time for the Hakone Foundation Board of Trustees meetings.
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PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO MAKE THE CHANGES TO
THE CITY COUNCIL ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS AS PROVIDED BY THE CITY COUNCIL .MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: PAGE, WALIA, FITZSIMMONS, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Tina Walia
KSAR Community Access TV Board – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Council Member Chuck Page
Nothing to report.
Vice Mayor Belal Aftab
Nothing to report.
Mayor Yan Zhao
Nothing to report.
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Nothing to report.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Walia provided informat ion about Saratoga High School ’s upcoming Concert Series events.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
None
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Zhao adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
City of Saratoga