Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ October 1, 2025 ~ Page 1 of 5
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 5:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session in the Linda Callon Conference Room with the Saratoga Youth Commission.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation 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
REPORT ON POSTING OF THE AGENDA
The City Clerk reported the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on September 25, 2025.
REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION
Mayor Aftab stated the City Council held a Joint Closed Session at 5:00 p.m. with the Youth Commission and Jocelyn Binn, Administrative Analyst, provided a summary of the Youth Commission’s Work Plan for the coming year.
Mayor Aftab stated the City Council held a Joint Closed Session at 6:00 p.m. with Los Gatos - Saratoga Recreation. Todd Badger, Recreation Manager, provided a summary of the information provided to the City Council during the Joint Session.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON- AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN -PERSON
ATTENDEES
Bill Dalton discussed the City’s Municipal Code as it relates to signs in the City.
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Pieter Friedrich discussed caring for the global family.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Aftab shared information about the final ‘Saratoga Nights’ event, the Saratoga Safety Fair, and the Witchy Walkabout.
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
Proclamation Declaring October 2025 as Obsessive -Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Awareness Month
Recommended Action:
Proclaim October 2025 as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Awareness Month
The City Council proclaimed October 2025 as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Awareness Month.
Appointment of Parks & Recreation and Library & Public Art Commissioners Recommended Actions:
1. Adopt the Resolution reappointing Isabelle Gecils to the Parks & Recreation Commission, reappointing Cristina Meiser and appointing Shalu Pandey to the Library & Public Art Commission.
2. Direct the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office.
RESOLUTION 25-054
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION REAPPOINTING
ISABELLE GECILS TO THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION,
REAPPOINTING CRISTINA MEISER AND APPOINTING SHALU PANDEY TO THE LIBRARY & PUBLIC ART COMMISSION. 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 at this time.
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 17, 2025 City Council Meeting.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
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1.2 Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the 09/10/2025 and 09/17/2025 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 09/10/2025 AND 09/17/2025 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 August 31, 2025 Recommended Action:
Review and accept the Treasurer's Report for the month ended August 31, 2025.
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED AUGUST 31, 2025. 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 Heritage Preservation Commission Discussion
Recommended Action:
Provide direction to staff.
Cindy McCormick, Development Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: Bill Cooper, Marilyn Marchetti, Jill Hunter, Alexandra Nugent
No vote necessary.
2.2 Proposed Short-Term Rentals Ordinance
Recommended Action:
Discuss draft Short -Term Rentals (STR) Ordinance, provide direction to staff on any suggested revisions, and direct staff to refer the ordinance to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and recommendation to the City Council.
Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
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PAGE/AFTAB MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO REFER THE ORDINANCE TO
THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND
RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES:
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2.3 Discuss Wildland Urban Interface Boundary Amendment Options Recommended Action:
Direct staff to include Option 1 (Attachment A) boundary adjustments to the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) map in the annual building code update.
Aaron Yuma, Building Official, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
WALIA/PAGE MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO INCLUDE OPTION 1 BOUNDARY
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE (WUI) MAP IN THE ANNUAL BUILDING CODE UPDATE . MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2.4 Climate Resilience Districts
Recommended Action:
Receive information on Climate Resilience Districts and provide staff with further direction.
Leslie Arroyo, Assistant City Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: Glenn Hendricks, Glenda Aune
No vote needed, direction provided.
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Yan Zhao
Saratoga Ministerial Association – stated the Association discussed the Thanksgiving Service and the Celebration of Light.
Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority - 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 Committee – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ October 1, 2025 ~ Page 5 of 5
Vice Mayor Chuck Page
Nothing to report
Mayor Belal Aftab
Saratoga Historical Foundation Board of Directors - stated he attended the meeting with nothing to report.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
The Mayor thanked staff and everyone involved for their hard work for the State of the City and Safe Routes to School Event.
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 9:32 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, MMC, City Clerk
City of Saratoga