Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 17, 2025 ~ Page 1 of 6
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 5:00 p.m., the City Council held a Closed Session in the Linda Callon Conference Room for a Conference with Labor Negotiators.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
At 5:30 p.m., the City Council held interview s for the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Library & Public Art Commission.
WALIA/PAGE MOVED TO RE APPOINT ISABELLE GECILS TO THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION FOR A FULL -TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2029.
MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO REAPPOINT CRISTINA MEISER AND APPOINT SHALU
PANDEY TO THE LIBRARY & PUBLIC ART COMMISSION FOR FULL -TERMS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2029. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
At 6:10 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with Santa Clara County Library District in the Linda Callon Conference Room.
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
Ryan Hinchman, Administrative Services Director
John Cherbone, Public Works Director
Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director
Britt Avrit, City Clerk
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 17, 2025 ~ Page 2 of 6
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on September 11, 2025.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Aftab stated the City Council held a Closed Session at 5:00 p.m. with no reportable action.
REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION
Mayor Aftab stated the City Council held a Joint Closed Session at 6: 10 p.m. with Santa Clara County Library District. Saralyn Otter, Community Librarian, provided a summary of the information provided to the City Council during the Joint Session.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON- AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN -PERSON
ATTENDEES
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Aftab shared information about the WUI Community Meeting, Safe Routes to School/State of the City event, and the Safety Fair.
CEREMONIAL ITEM
Proclamation Declaring September 2025 as National Preparedness Month Recommended Action:
Proclaim September 2025 as National Preparedness Month.
The City Council proclaimed September 2025 as National Preparedness Month.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Presentation
The City Council received a presentation from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
1.1 City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Review and Approve the Minutes for the September 3, 2025 City Council Meeting.
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 3, 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 ~ September 17, 2025 ~ Page 3 of 6
1.2 Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the 08/27/2025 and 09/03/2025 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 08/27/2025 AND 09/03/2025 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 Ordinance Designating the Property at 19490 Glen Una Drive (APN 510- 06-003) as a Historic Landmark
Recommended Action:
Waive reading and adopt the ordinance designating the property at 19490 Glen Una Drive (APN 510-06-003) as a Historic Landmark.
ORDINANCE 412
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT THE ORDINANCE DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY AT 19490 GLEN UNA DRIVE (APN 510 -06-003) AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.4 Budget Amendment Resolution to Transfer Funding from Safe Routes to School Assessment to the Safe Routes to School Implementation CIP Project for FY25-26 Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution to amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 25- 26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget to transfer Safe Routes to School Needs funds to Safe Routes to School Implementation funds.
RESOLUTION 25-051
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR (FY) 25 -26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) BUDGET TO
TRANSFER SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL NEEDS FUNDS TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION FUNDS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.5 18501 Vessing Road Final Map
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution granting final map approval.
RESOLUTION 25-052
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 17, 2025 ~ Page 4 of 6
1.6 Authorize Contract for 2025 Pavement Management Program Project Recommended Actions:
1. Declare Teichert Construction to be the lowest responsible bidder on the project.
2. Award a Construction Contract to Teichert Construction in the amount of $4,259,237 and authorize the City Manager to execute the same.
3. Authorize staff to execute change orders to the contract up to $426,000 (10%).
PAGE/WALIA MOVED TO DECLARE TEICHERT CONSTRUCTION TO BE THE
LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER ON THE PROJECT, AWARD A
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO TEICHERT CONSTRUCTION IN THE
AMOUNT OF $4,259,237 AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
THE SAME, AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDERS TO THE CONTRACT UP TO $426,000 (10%). 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 Reestablish Saratoga's Bench Dedication Program
Recommended Action:
Reestablish the Bench Dedication Program and provide direction on program parameters.
Jocelyn Binn, Administrative Analyst, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
WALIA/PAGE MOVED TO REESTABLISH THE BENCH DEDICATION
PROGRAM. MOTION PAS SED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2.2 Guidelines for Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in City Operations Recommended Action:
Review and provide feedback on guidelines for use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in City Operations.
Leo Salindong, IT Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individual spoke at this time: Bernie Mills
No vote necessary; feedback given to staff.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 17, 2025 ~ Page 5 of 6
2.3 Amendment to the City's Code Compliance Policy
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution amending the City of Saratoga Code Compliance policy to add a proactive enforcement element to address frequent and clear violations.
Aaron Yuma, Building Official, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individual spoke at this time: Carol Burnett
RESOLUTION 25-053
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE
CITY OF SARATOGA CODE COMPLIANCE POLICY TO ADD A PROACTIVE
ENFORCEMENT ELEMENT TO ADDRESS FREQUENT AND CLEAR
VIOLATIONS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Yan Zhao
West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated the District Manager recently retired; the Board appointed Kent Elder as Interim District Manager.
Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Nothing to report
Council Member Tina Walia
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – stated residential customers will be receiving a credit in September, and the Board approved the FY 2025-26 Operating Budget.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Legislative Action Committee – stated the Committee recommended positions on legislative bills.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors – stated the Board received presentations, supported the recommendations provided by the Legislative Action Committee, and reviewed the FY 2024-25 budget expenses.
Vice Mayor Chuck Page
Santa Clara Valley Water Commission – stated the Commission handled administrative actions and attended a tour.
West Valley Storm Water Program Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board discussed next year’s budget and the lack of the funding mechanism for the Storm Water Authority Program.
West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board reviewed the reports received from customers, and discussed road impact fees.
Council Finance Advisory Committee – stated the Committee met with information being provided soon.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ September 17, 2025 ~ Page 6 of 6
Mayor Belal Aftab
Santa Clara County Library District Board of Directors – stated the Board approved the lease with the City of Saratoga.
Council Finance Advisory Committee – stated the Committee discussed structural budget deficit strategies and approaches, and received an updated economic forecast.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
Aftab/Walia requested discussion of the process for opening a business.
Aftab/Page requested discussion of short term rentals.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
None
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
None
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES None
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Aftab adjourned the meeting at 8:56 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, MMC, City Clerk
City of Saratoga