Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 20, 2024 ~ Page 1 of 6
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2024
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 5:00 p.m., the City Council held interviews for the Heritage Preservation Commission, and the Traffic Safety Commission.
WALIA/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO APPOINT J. CRAIG AWBREY AND CHEN XIE TO
THE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION FOR FULL -TERMS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2028. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
AFTAB/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO RESCHEDULE DORY ALBERT’S INTERVIEW
FOR THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION TO A FUTURE MEETING IF SHE IS INTERESTED. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with Orchard Keepers in the Li nda 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 Kookie Fitzsimmons, Chuck Page, Tina Walia
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Matt Morley, 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
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on November 15, 2024.
REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION
Mayor Zhao stated the City Council held a Joint Session at 6:00 p.m. with Orchard Keepers and Matthew Sutton, Founder/President provided a summary of the Joint Session.
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ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON- AGENDIZED ITEM S; IN-PERSON
ATTENDEES
No one requested to speak.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Zhao shared information about Saratoga’s Candy Cane Village, the Holiday Tree Lighting event, and the Celebration of Light event.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
The following individual spoke at this time: Frank Behnke, Nick Miller, Carolyn Brandwajn, Kelly Ciccone, Rafik, Paul Hernandez, Glenda, Mona Kaur-Freedland, Nedda Ashjaee,
Council Member Page requested Item 1.4 be removed for separate discussion.
1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Approve the Minutes for the November 6, 2024, City Council Meeting.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE
NOVEMBER 6, 2024, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.2. Final Map Approval for Two Lots Located at 14451 Fruitvale Avenue Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution granting final map approval of parcel map application No. ULS22- 0006 for two lots located at 14451 Fruitvale Ave (APN: 397-17-007).
RESOLUTION 24-061
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL OF PARCEL MAP APPLICATION NO. ULS22 -0006 FOR TWO LOTS LOCATED AT 14451 FRUITVALE AVE (APN: 397-17-007). MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.3. Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the 10/31/2024 and 11/07/2024 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 10/31/2024 AND 11/07/2024 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS.
MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
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1.4. Disband Economic Vitality Ad Hoc Committee
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution disbanding the Economic Vitality Ad Hoc Committee.
PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO KEEP THE ECONOMIC VITALITY AD HOC
COMMITTEE IN PLACE FOR ONE MONTH, AND DIRECTED THE COMMITTEE
TO PROVIDE A DETAILED, BUSINESS FUNDED PLAN FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE SIDEWALK FOR OUTDOOR DINING AT BELLA SARATOGA (14503 BIG BASIN WAY) TO THE CITY COUNCIL . MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.5. Flock Safety Agreement Amendment for Automated License Plate Reader Camera System
Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager to execute a modified agreement with Flock Safety for a total annual amount of $163,000.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE A MODIFIED AGREEMENT WITH FLOCK SAFETY FOR A TOTAL ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $163,000. MO TION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.6. Cupertino Emergency Management Contract
Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager to sign an amended contract agreement with the City of Cupertino for Saratoga Emergency Management support for a contract total not to exceed $35,629.12.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN
AN AMENDED CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF CUPERTINO
FOR SARATOGA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR A CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $35,629.12. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. GENERAL BUSINESS
2.1. Annual Review - Saratoga Climate Action Plan 2030 Recommended Action:
Accept the report on the Annual Review of the Saratoga Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2030.
Mainini Cabute, Environmental Programs Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
The following individual spoke at this time: Jody Tatro
No action needed; receive and file.
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2.2. Award of Construction Contract for the Village Parking Districts Improvements American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Project to GradeTech Inc.
Recommended Actions:
1. Declare GradeTech Inc as the lowest responsible bidder on the project.
2. Award a Construction Contract to GradeTech Inc in the amount of $3,806,018.63 and authorize the City Manager to execute the same.
3. Authorize staff to execute change orders to the contract up to $344,250.00
Macedonio Nunez, City Engineer, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
The following individual spoke at this time: Glenn Hendricks
PAGE MOVED TO DECLARE GRADETECH INC AS THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER ON THE PROJECT; AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO GRADETECH INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,806,018.63 AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SAME; AUTHORIZE STAFF TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDERS TO THE CONTRACT UP TO $344,250.00.
Vice Mayor Aftab requested a friendly amendment adding that Council direct staff to make every effort to minimize the loss of parking spots and explore the option of narrowing parking spots where possible.
PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO DECLARE GRADETECH INC AS THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER ON THE PROJECT; AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO GRADETECH INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,806,018.63 AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SAME; AUTHORIZE
STAFF TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDERS TO THE CONTRACT UP TO
$344,250.00; DIRECT STAFF TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MINIMIZE THE
LOSS OF PARKING SPOTS AND EXPLORE THE OPTION OF NARROWING PARKING SPOTS WHERE POSSIBLE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE, WALIA, AFTAB, ZHAO. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
3. STUDY SESSION
Study Session to Receive Information on State Housing Laws including California Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 330, the Housing Accountability Act’s “Builder’s Remedy,” and Other Relevant Laws and Regulations.
Recommended Action:
Conduct study session.
Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director, and Richard Taylor, City Attorney, presented the staff report.
Mayor Zhao requested a recess at this time.
Mayor Zhao reconvened the meeting at 9:05 p.m.
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Mayor Zhao invited public comment.
The following individual spoke at this time: Donald Hicks, Sonny Yeoh, Beth Kingsley, Trish Jessen, Maryann Welch, Rachana Jain, Nikil Balakrishnan, Mohini Balakrishnan, Roy Evulich, Kiran Malhotra, Poorua Malhotra, Glenn Hendricks, Saeid Ghafo uri, Veena Iyer, Mahal Mohan, Jim Atwell, Jody Tatro, Tipu Purkayastha, Elisa Chen, Dan Fraisl, Lisa Yen, JoJo Choi, Bernie Mills, Lina Huang, Mei Cham, Glenda, Suman Goel, Minal, Mona Kaur- Freedland.
No action needed; receive and file.
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Nothing to report.
Council Member Chuck Page
Saratoga Ministerial Association – stated the Association discussed the upcoming Thanksgiving Service.
West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board discussed the upcoming budget , received a presentation regarding a pilot “dehydrating” program, and received a presentation regarding multi-layer plastic materials.
West Valley Clean Water Program Authority Board of Directors -stated the Board discussed the upcoming name change.
Council Member Tina Walia
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board adopted long term clean energy targets, approved the purchase of carbon- free nuclear energy , and approved participation in a demand flexibility pilot program.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Legislative Action Committee – stated the Committee wrapped up the activities for the past year and received an overview of the legislation coming next year.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors – stated the Board received several presentations including a Housing Element update.
Vice Mayor Belal Aftab
Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee – stated the Committee has a new Chair, City of Campbell Vice Mayor Sergio Lopez, and the Vice Chair is San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan; the Committee received a presentation regarding the “Equitable VMT Program.’
Mayor Yan Zhao
Council Finance Committee – stated the Committee received the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and an update from the City’s auditors.
West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated the Board approved the FY24 -25 modified budget and approved funding to install cameras to deter theft of equipment.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
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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 11:25 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
City of Saratoga