Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 5, 2025 ~ Page 1 of 5
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 5:00 p.m. the City Council held interviews for the Planning Commission.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO APPOINT ZAHEER HASSAN AND BADRINATH
SRIDHARAN TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR FULL -TERMS ENDING MARCH 31, 2029. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Study Session to receive a report from the City’s design consultant on design concept options for the Village Sidewalk Expansion Pilot Program.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following i ndividuals spoke at this time: Jill Hunter, Nick Miller, John Keller, Paul Hernandez, Jennifer, Clyde, Maetra, Glenda, Mahshid Maleki, Jackie, Roderick
Mayor Aftab called the Regular Session to order at 7:05 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Belal Aftab, Vice Mayor Chuck Page, Council Members Kookie Fitzsimmons, Tina Walia, Yan Zhao
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 February 27, 2025.
REPORT FROM STUDY SESSION
Mayor Aftab stated the City Council held a Study Session at 6:00 p.m. to receive a report from the City’s design consultant on design concept options for the Village Sidewalk Expansion Pilot Program and provided a brief summary of the Study Session.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON- AGENDIZED ITEM S; IN-PERSON
ATTENDEES
No one requested to speak.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 5, 2025 ~ Page 2 of 5
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Aftab shared information about Let’s Work Saratoga, St. Paddy’s Day in the Village, SED Talks (Youth Commission), and the Community Iftar at Prospect Center.
Vice Mayor Page shared information about Hanami Season at Hakone.
CEREMONIAL ITEM
Appointment of Traffic Safety Commissioner
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution appointing Dory Albert to the Traffic Safety Commission and direct the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office.
RESOLUTION 25-004
ZHAO/WALIA MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING DORY
ALBERT TO THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION AND DIRECT THE CITY CLERK TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office.
Proclamation, March 2025 Youth Arts Month
Recommended Action:
Declare March 2025 as Youth Arts Month.
The City Council declared March 2025 as Youth Arts Month.
No one requested to speak.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: JoJo Choi, Michael Burry
Council Member Zhao requested Item 1.4 be pulled for separate discussion.
Recommended Action:
Approve the Minutes for the February 19, 2025, City Council Meeting.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE
FEBRUARY 19, 2025, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 5, 2025 ~ Page 3 of 5
1.2. Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the 02/12/2025 and 02/19/2025 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 02/12/2025 AND 02/19/2025 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS.
MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE.
1.3. Treasurer’s Report for the Month Ended January 31, 2025 Recommended Action:
Review and accept the Treasurer’s Report for the month ended January 31, 2025.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED JANUARY 31, 2025. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.4. Ordinance Amending Chapter 15 (Zoning Regulations) Articles 15-06, 15-12, 15-21, 15-29, 15-45, 15-46, 15-57, 15-65 and 15-80, and Adding Article 15-59 to the Saratoga City Code to Implement Policies of the 2023-2031 Housing Element Recommended Action:
Waive reading and adopt the ordinance amending Chapter 15 (Zoning Regulations) Articles 15-06, 15-12, 15-21, 15-29, 15-45, 15-46, 15-57, 15-65 and 15-80, and Adding Article 15- 59 to the Saratoga City Code to Implement Policies of the 2023-2031 Housing Element.
ORDINANCE 406
PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 15 (ZONING REGULATIONS) ARTICLES 15-06, 15-12, 15- 21, 15-29, 15-45, 15-46, 15-57, 15-65 AND 15- 80, AND ADDING ARTICLE 15 -59 TO THE SARATOGA CITY CODE TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES OF THE 2023 -2031 HOUSING ELEMENT. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: ZHAO. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. PUBLIC HEARING
2.1. Introduce and waive first reading of an Ordinance Amending the Saratoga Municipal Code by adding Article 7-12 (Stormwater Pollution Control), deleting Sections 6-15.070, 6-
15.080, and 6-15.085, and amending Section 17-05.010.
Recommended Action:
Following the Public Hearing, introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance adding Article 7-12 (Stormwater Pollution Control), deleting Sections 6-15.070, 6-15.080, and 6-
15.085, and amending Section 17-05.010 of the Saratoga Municipal Code to implement National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements applicable in Saratoga.
Mainini Cabute, Environmental Programs Manager, presented the staff report.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 5, 2025 ~ Page 4 of 5
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
ZHAO/PAGE MOVED TO INTRODUCE AND WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE ADDING ARTICLE 7-12 (STORMWATER POLLUTION CONTROL), DELETING SECTIONS 6 -15.070, 6- 15.080, AND 6 -15.085, AND AMENDING SECTION 17 -05.010 OF THE SARATOGA MUNICIPAL CODE TO IMPLEMENT
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE IN SARATOGA. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
3. GENERAL BUSINESS
3.1. Community Event and Street Closure Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2025/26 Recommended Action:
Approve the proposed funding for Fiscal Year 2025/26 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. Competitive Event Grant funding allocation for Fiscal Year 2025/26.
Leslie Arroyo, Assistant City Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: Meredith Lee, Jim Cargill, Jill Hunter, Glenda
ZHAO/WALIA MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 COMMUNITY EVENT AND STREET CLOSURE GRANT
PROGRAM INCLUDING SECURED FUNDING RECIPIENTS AND
ALLOCATIONS AS WELL AS TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT, SECURED FUNDING
RECIPIENT AND ALLOCATION FOR THE STREET CLOSURE GRANT
PROGRAM, AND COMPETITIVE EVENT GRANT FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
3.2. Discussion of Housing Element Progress & Future Assessment of Housing Opportunities
Recommended Action:
Accept the Report and provide direction to staff.
Cindy McCormick, Development Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ March 5, 2025 ~ Page 5 of 5
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Yan Zhao
Saratoga Ministerial Association – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Nothing to report
Council Member Tina Walia
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Executive Meeting – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Santa Clara County Emergency Operational Area Council – stated the Council received presentations from the Office of Emergency Management and the Santa Clara County Fire Department related to 2025 Southern California wildfires; stated the current flu season is the worst in many years.
Vice Mayor Chuck Page
Hakone Foundation Board of Trustees – stated the Board discussed events at Hakone and the upcoming Hanami event.
Mayor Belal Aftab
West Valley Mayors and City Managers Association – stated the Association will focus on emergency preparedness for the upcoming year.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
None
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
None
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES
The following individual spoke at this time:
Glenda discussed single route fire zones.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Aftab adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
City of Saratoga