Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ June 18, 2025 ~ Page 1 of 8
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with West Valley Mission Community College District Leadership.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
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 June 12, 2025.
REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION
Mayor Aftab stated the City Council held a Joint Session with West Valley Mission Community College District Leadership and Dr. Shusaku Horibe, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness & Research provided a summary of the Joint Session.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON- AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN -PERSON
ATTENDEES
No one requested to speak.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Aftab shared information about Saratoga Foothill Club Community Open House, America the Beautiful Event, and July 4th at Kevin Moran Park.
Vice Mayor Page shared information about Saratoga Nights.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ June 18, 2025 ~ Page 2 of 8
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Sheriff's Office Safety Update
Recommended Action:
Receive presentation
The City Council received the presentation from Captain Valenzuela.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: Marc Hynes, Ernest Kraule, Sonny Yeoh, Mona Kaur, Bill Dalton, Glenda Aune
Council Member Walia removed Item No. 1.5 for separate discussion.
1.1. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Review and Approve the Minutes for the June 4, 2025, City Council Meeting.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE JUNE 4, 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 05/28/2025 and 06/04/2025 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 05/28/2025 AND 06/04/2025 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. Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Application for the Saratoga Avenue Walkway Project
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution supporting the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Transportation Development Act Article 3 Pedestrian/Bicycle Grant Application for the Saratoga Avenue Walkway Project.
RESOLUTION 25-030
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ June 18, 2025 ~ Page 3 of 8
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION’S TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT ARTICLE 3 PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE GRANT
APPLICATION FOR THE SARATOGA AVENUE WALKWAY PROJECT. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.4. Final Map Approval for Two Lots Located at 20199 Guava Court Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution granting final map approval of parcel map application No. ULS23- 0006 for two lots located at 20199 Guava Court (APN: 386-54-037 and 386-54-017).
RESOLUTION 25-031
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL OF PARCEL MAP APPLICATION NO. ULS23 -0006 FOR TWO LOTS LOCATED AT 20199 GUAVA COURT (APN: 386 -54-037 AND 386- 54-017).
MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT:
NONE.
1.5. Ordinance Updating State Fire Hazard Severity Zone Designations Recommended Action:
Waive reading and adopt an ordinance to designate Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
ORDINANCE 411
WALIA/PAGE MOVED TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO DESIGNATE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.6. Resolution Establishing the Appropriations Limit for Fiscal Year 2025-26 Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution establishing the City’s appropriations limit for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
RESOLUTION 25-032
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE CITY’S APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT 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.
1.7. Resolution to Establish the FY 2025-26 Property Tax Levy for the Arrowhead Community Facility District 2018 Bond Debt Service
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution that sets the Fiscal Year 2025-26 property tax levy rate for the Arrowhead Community Facility District’s (CFD) 2018 Bond's debt service payment at $6,000 per parcel for the remaining eighteen (18) participating property owners.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ June 18, 2025 ~ Page 4 of 8
RESOLUTION 25-033
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION THAT SETS THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 -26 PROPERTY TAX LEVY RATE FOR THE ARROWHEAD COMMUNITY FACILITY DISTRICT’S (CFD) 2018 BOND'S DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT AT $6,000 PER PARCEL FOR THE REMAINING EIGHTEEN (18) PARTICIPATING PROPERTY OWNERS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.8. Budget Adoption for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2025 Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution approving the City’s Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
RESOLUTION 25-034
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY’S BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2025. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.9. Amend City Financial Policies
Recommended Action:
Review and approve updates to the City’s financial policies.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE UPDATES TO THE CITY’S FINANCIAL POLICIES. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.10. Resolution to Establish Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tax Levy Rate for the Library Series 2011 General Obligation Bonds Debt Service
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution establishing the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tax Levy Rate for the Library Series 2011 General Obligation Bonds Debt Service at $0.0036 per $100 of Secured Assessed Value.
RESOLUTION 25-035
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 TAX LEVY RATE FOR THE LIBRARY SERIES 2011 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS DEBT SERVICE AT $0.0036 PER $100 OF SECURED ASSESSED VALUE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.11. Resolution Updating Unrepresented Employees' Compensation and Terms of Employment
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ June 18, 2025 ~ Page 5 of 8
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution updating the compensation and terms of employment for Unrepresented Employees.
RESOLUTION 25-036
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION UPDATING THE
COMPENSATION AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR UNREPRESENTED
EMPLOYEES. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED:
PAGE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. PUBLIC HEARING
2.1. Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District LLA-1 - Public Hearing, Approval of Engineer’s Report, and Confirmation of Assessments for FY 25-26.
Recommended Action:
Conduct the public hearing and following consideration of public comments adopt the Resolution Ordering the Improvements and Confirming the Diagram and Assessments for FY 25-26.
John Cherbone, Public Works Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
RESOLUTION 25-037
PAGE/ZHAO MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ORDERING THE
IMPROVEMENTS AND CONFIRMING THE DIAGRAM AND ASSESSMENTS FOR FY 25 -26. 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. Mayor Rotation Policy Discussion
Recommended Action:
Discuss the Mayor Rotation Policy with possible direction to staff.
Britt Avrit, City Clerk, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: Sonny Yeoh, Mona Kaur, Bill Dalton, Deb, Glenda Aune
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ June 18, 2025 ~ Page 6 of 8
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO AMEND THE MAYOR ROTATION POLICY TO STATE “SARATOGA SHALL ELECT A MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR ANNUALLY IN DECEMBER. THE MEETING SHALL OCCUR PRIOR TO THE SECOND
REGULAR MEETING IN DECEMBER TO ENABLE THE NEWLY ELECTED
MAYOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMEND APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND CO MMITTEES AT THE SECOND REGULAR MEETING IN DECEMBER”.
WALIA MOVED TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT POLICY THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE BY RESOLUTION IN JANUARY 2010.
Motion failed due to lack of second.
Vice Mayor Page requested a friendly amendment to council Member Fitzsimmon’s motion to add verbiage to the policy “Traditionally Saratoga City Council will consider the top two vote getters in each election to be in the queue for Mayor and Vice Mayor.”
Council Member Fitzsimmons declined the friendly amendment.
FITZSIMMONS/PAGE MOVED TO AMEND THE MAYOR ROTATION POLICY TO STATE “SARATOGA SHALL ELECT A MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR ANNUALLY IN DECEMBER. THE MEETING SHALL OCCUR PRIOR TO THE SECOND
REGULAR MEETING IN DECEMBER TO ENABLE THE NEWLY ELECTED
MAYOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMEND APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND CO MMITTEES AT THE SECOND REGULAR MEETING IN DECEMBER .” MOTION FAILED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, PAGE. NOES: WALIA, ZHAO, AFTAB. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Additional discussion took place.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO AMEND THE MAYOR ROTATION POLICY TO STATE “SARATOGA SHALL ELECT A MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR ANNUALLY IN DECEMBER. THE MEETING SHALL OCCUR PRIOR TO THE SECOND
REGULAR MEETING IN DECEMBER TO ENABLE THE NEWLY ELECTED
MAYOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMEND APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND CO MMITTEES AT THE SECOND REGULAR MEETING IN DECEMBER . UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS IN EACH ELECTION ARE CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE QUEUE FOR MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR. NOTWITHSTANDING
THE FOREGOING, NO COUNCIL MEMBER SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO SERVE AS MAYOR OR VICE MAYOR”. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: WALIA. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ June 18, 2025 ~ Page 7 of 8
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Yan Zhao
West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated the Board adopted the District Compensation plan effective July 1, 2025.
Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee – stated the Committee received the FY 25, Quarter 3 Transit Performance Report.
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Nothing to report.
Council Member Tina Walia
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – stated staff presented the Board with a stress test analysis which evaluated the Agency’s financial resilience under various adverse scenarios.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County – stated the Special Meeting was a p anel discussion regarding the “Fruits of Good Governance”.
Vice Mayor Chuck Page
Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Board – stated the Board discussed sidewalk expansion for outdoor dining, the upcoming Car Show event, and the Saratoga Nights event.
Mayor Belal Aftab
Santa Clara County Library District Board of Directors – stated the Board approved the Fiscal Year 25-26 budget, received the audit report, and stated the Library w ould consider extending hours if an anticipated recession comes to fruition.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
Fitzsimmons/Aftab requested discussion of alternative processes for the selection of Youth Commissioners.
Fitzsimmons/Page requested discussion of amending City Council Compensation.
Page/Zhao requested discussion of the Mills Act.
Page/Fitzsimmons requested discussion of proactively addressing Code Compliance in the City.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Aftab discussed the recent Interfaith Day of Understanding and the Saratoga Avenue Urban Village Plan Community Meeting.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
None
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES
Bill Dalton discussed non-agendized comments for virtual attendees.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ June 18, 2025 ~ Page 8 of 8
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Aftab adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, MMC, City Clerk
City of Saratoga