Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 2, 2025 ~ Page 1 of 5
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and Saratoga Business Owners.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individual spoke at this time: Gary Smith
Mayor Aftab called the Regular Session to order at 7:00 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 March 27, 2025.
REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION
Mayor Aftab stated the City Council held a with Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and Saratoga Business Owners ; Jim Cargill, Saratoga Chamber of Commerce President Elect provided a summary of the Joint Session.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON- AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN -PERSON
ATTENDEES
The following individual spoke at this time:
Sergio Jimenez – introduced himself as the new Government Affairs Representative for PG&E.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Aftab shared information about ‘Saratoga Nights’ events, the upcoming Community Hike, the Mayor’s Office Hours at the Farmer’s Market, and Saratoga Historical Foundation podcasts.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 2, 2025 ~ Page 2 of 5
Council Member Fitzsimmons shared infor mation about Firewise Community meetings and the Foothill Club Garage and Treasure Sale.
Council Member Walia shared information about upcoming online CPR/AED Training.
Council Member Zhao shared information about Westhope Presbyterian Church upcoming movie night.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Sujatha Venkatraman, Executive Director for West Valley Community Services provided a Presentation.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
Council Member Zhao removed Item 1.2 for further discussion.
1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Review and Approve the Minutes for the March 18, 2025, City Council Special Meeting and the March 19, 2025, City Council Meeting.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 18, 2025, CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MARCH 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.
1.2. Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the 03/12/2025 and 03/19/2025 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
ZHAO/PAGE MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 03/12/2025 AND 03/19/2025 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.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 2, 2025 ~ Page 3 of 5
1.3. Treasurer’s Report for the Month Ended February 28, 2025 Recommended Action:
Review and accept the Treasurer’s Report for the month ended February 28, 2025.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2025. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.4. Contract amendment with Environmental Science Associates for Bridge Repair Permitting and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Support Recommended Action:
Approve an amendment to extend a contract with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) for Permitting and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Support Services for Bridge Maintenance Repairs through December 31, 2026, with additional payment terms for a contract not-to-exceed $91,500.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO EXTEND A
CONTRACT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATES (ESA) FOR
PERMITTING AND CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR BRIDGE MAINTENANCE REPAIRS THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026, WITH ADDITIONAL PAYMENT TERMS FOR A
CONTRACT NOT-TO-EXCEED $91,500. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.5. Final map approval of parcel map application No. ULS24-0002 for two lots located at 18470 Sobey Road
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution granting final map approval of parcel map application No. ULS24- 0002 for two lots located at 18470 Sobey Road (APN 397-05-011).
RESOLUTION 25-010
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL OF PARCEL MAP APPLICATION NO. ULS24 -0002 FOR TWO LOTS LOCATED AT 18470 SOBEY ROAD (APN 397-05-011). MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.6. Ordinance Amending Chapter 15 (Zoning Regulations) by adding a new Article 15-82 (Inclusionary Housing Ordinance) to implement policies of the City of Saratoga 2023-2031 Housing Element
Recommended Action:
Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 15 (Zoning Regulations) by adding Article 15-82 to the Saratoga City Code to implement policies of the 2023-2031 Housing Element.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ April 2, 2025 ~ Page 4 of 5
ORDINANCE 408
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 15 (ZONING REGULATIONS) BY ADDING ARTICLE 15 -82 TO THE SARATOGA CITY CODE TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES OF THE 2023 -2031 HOUSING ELEMENT. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.7. Ordinance Amending the Saratoga Municipal Code by Repealing and Replacing Article 4-55 (Massage Establishments and Massage Practitioners) Recommended Action:
Adopt an ordinance repealing and replacing Article 4-55 of the Saratoga Municipal Code concerning Massage Establishments and Massage Practitioners.
ORDINANCE 409
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING ARTICLE 4 -55 OF THE SARATOGA MUNICIPAL CODE
CONCERNING MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS AND MASSAGE
PRACTITIONERS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. GENERAL BUSINESS
2.1. Maintenance Service Contract for the Heritage Orchard in the amount of $155,480 per year
Recommended Action:
Approve maintenance service contract with Orchard Keepers for the Heritage Orchard in the amount of $155,480 per year and authorize the City Manager to execute the same.
John Cherbone, Public Works Director presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following indi viduals spoke at this time: Alexandra Nugent, Brad Renn, Matt Novakovich, Neal Casteel, Lisa Newman, Norman Koepernik, Matthew Sutton, Tiger Teerlink, Paul Hernandez, Anne Johnson, Neha Tadikamalla, Kimberly Mayer, Bryan Davis, Jacqueline Holmes, Mei
WALIA/ZHAO MOVED TO APPROVE MAINTENANCE SERVICE CONTRACT
WITH ORCHARD KEEPERS FOR THE HERITAGE ORCHARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $155,480 PER YEAR AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SAME. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: WALIA, ZHAO, AFTAB. NOES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE . ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
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COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Yan Zhao
Saratoga Ministerial Association – stated the Board discussed the activities being held in 2025.
West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated the Board approved the FY 2025- 26 budget and held a Closed Session with nothing to report.
League of California Cities Revenue and Taxation Meeting – stated discussion took place regarding changing how the sales and use tax is split among cities and counties.
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Nothing to report
Council Member Tina Walia
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Executive Committee – attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Executive Committee – attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Vice Mayor Chuck Page
Nothing to report
Mayor Belal Aftab
West Valley Mayors and City Managers Association – stated the group discussed Senator Becker’s legislation which may impact Builder’s Remedy projects; Mayor Aftab clarified an article regarding Los Gatos’ emergency preparedness staff was inaccurate.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
None
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
The City Manager stated the Community Development Department has created a Development Review Committee to more efficiently review development projects.
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES
None
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Aftab adjourned the meeting at 8:54 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
City of Saratoga