Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 19, 2025 ~ Page 1 of 7
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2025
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
At 6:00 p.m., the City Council held a Joint Session with Valley Water & San Jose Water.
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 November 14, 2025.
REPORT FROM JOINT SESSION
Mayor Aftab stated the City Council held a Joint Session at 6:0 0 p.m. with Valley Water & San Jose Water.
Valley Water District 5 Director, Nai Hsueh and San Jose Water V ice President of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, John Tang 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 the upcoming Public Art Ribbon-Cutting Event, the Annual Holiday Tree li ghting, the Celebration of Light , and an upcoming community Coffee with Assemblyman Mark Berman.
Council Member Zhao shared information about the upcoming Ministerial Association’s Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 19, 2025 ~ Page 2 of 7
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
1.1 Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the 10/30/2025 and 11/05/2025 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 10/30/2025 AND 11/05/2025 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.
1.2 Approval of Agreement with Central Square Technologies, LLC for General Services (PLUS) Financial Software
Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager to execute a three- year agreement, including two optional one - year extensions, with CentralSquare Technologies, LLC (CentralSquare) for General Services (PLUS) Financial Software, in an amount not to exceed $77,036 for the first year, with a 5% annual increase for each subsequent year and option year.
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT, INCLUDING TWO OPTIONAL ONE -
YEAR EXTENSIONS, WITH CENTRALSQUARE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
(CENTRALSQUARE) FOR GENERAL SERVICES (PLUS) FINANCIAL
SOFTWARE, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $77,036 FOR THE FIRST YEAR, WITH A 5% ANNUAL INCREASE FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR AND OPTION YEAR. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
1.3 Award of Contract for Saratoga Civic Theater KSAR Booth Addition and HVAC Installation
Recommended Action:
Award the construction contract to Sanchez Electric Inc., in the amount of $59,424, with a 10% contingency for the KSAR Booth Addition project, and authorize the City Manager to execute the same.
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO SANCHEZ ELECTRIC INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,424, WITH A 10%
CONTINGENCY FOR THE KSAR BOOTH ADDITION PROJECT, AND
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SAME. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 19, 2025 ~ Page 3 of 7
1.4 Agreement with Santa Clara County for Weed Abatement Services Recommended Action:
Approve the agreement with the County of Santa Clara for weed and brush abatement services effective November 19, 2025.
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE
COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA FOR WEED AND BRUSH ABATEMENT SERVICES EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 19, 2025. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.5 PERB Factfinding Report
Recommended Action:
Receive the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) Factfinding Report, including City and Saratoga Employee Association (AFSCME) responses, per Gov. Code 3505.5.
FITZSIMMONS/ZHAO MOVED TO RECEIVE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
RELATIONS BOARD (PERB) FACTFINDING REPORT, INCLUDING CITY AND SARATOGA EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION (AFSCME) RESPONSES, PER GOV.
CODE 3505.5. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED:
PAGE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. GENERAL BUSINESS
2.1 Resolution to Adopt Memorandum of Understanding with the Saratoga Employee Association, July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution approving the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Saratoga Employee Association (SEA), affiliated with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 101, for the period of July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027.
Vice Mayor Page recused himself from this item and left the dais at this time.
Leslie Arroyo, Assistant City Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
RESOLUTION 25-064
ZHAO/WALIA MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH THE SARATOGA
EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION (SEA), AFFILIATED WITH THE AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME), LOCAL 101, FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2025, TO JUN E 30, 2027. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: PAGE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 19, 2025 ~ Page 4 of 7
Vice May Page returned to the dais at this time.
2.2 Heritage Tree Designation – Application No. HPC25-0003 Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution designating a giant sequoia tree located at 13282 Pierce Road as a Heritage Tree.
Christina Fusco, Arborist, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
RESOLUTION 25-065
PAGE/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION DESIGNATING A GIANT SEQUOIA TREE LOCATED AT 13282 PIERCE ROAD AS A HERITAGE TREE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
2.3 Annual Review - Saratoga Climate Action Plan 2030
Recommended Action:
Accept the report on the Annual Review of the Saratoga Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2030.
Mainini Cabute, Environmental Programs Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
No vote necessary.
2.4 Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Conditional Tolling and Withdrawal of Chester/Allendale Builder’s Remedy Project (14001 Chester Avenue, Application No.
MISC23-0017)
Recommended Action:
Authorize the City Manager to sign the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Conditional Tolling and Withdrawal of Chester/Allendale Builder’s Remedy Project (14001 Chester Avenue, Application No. MISC23-0017).
Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: Jim Atwell, Tom Wilson, Scott Birkey , Jody Tatro, Jerry Schaaf, Glenn Hendricks, Shawna Ballard, Bernie Mills,
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 19, 2025 ~ Page 5 of 7
WALIA/PAGE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING CONDITIONAL
TOLLING AND WITHDRAWAL OF CHESTER/ALLENDALE BUILDER’S
REMEDY PROJECT (14001 CHESTER AVENUE, APPLICATION NO. MISC23 - 0017). MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
2.5 19490 Glen Una Drive Mills Act Agreement
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Mills Act Agreement for the property located at 19490 Glen Una Drive.
Cindy McCormick, Development Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individual spoke at this time: Bill Dalton
ZHAO/PAGE MOVED TO DENY THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT WITHOUT
PREJUDICE TO RECONSIDERATION AT NEXT YEARS MILLS ACT CYCLE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 19490 GLEN UNA DRIVE. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, WALIA, ZHAO, PAGE, AFTAB.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Mayor Aftab requested a recess at this time.
Mayor Aftab reconvened the meeting at 8:46 p.m.
2.6 Emergency Preparedness Future Needs Wildfire Preparedness Plan Recommended Action:
Receive an overview of Emergency Preparedness and the Wildfire Preparedness Plan and provide further direction.
Kathleen Podrasky presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: Glenda Aune, Glenn Hendricks
No vote necessary.
2.7 Process for Opening a Business
Recommended Action:
Receive the staff report and provide direction.
Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 19, 2025 ~ Page 6 of 7
The following individual spoke at this time: Jim Cargill
No vote necessary.
2.8 Youth Commission Application and Selection Process
Recommended Action:
Approve revisions to the Youth Commission application and selection process.
Jocelyn Binn, Administrative Analyst, presented the staff report.
Mayor Aftab invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
No vote necessary.
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Yan Zhao
West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Successful Aging Solutions & Community Consulting Board of Directors – provided updates for the Senior Center’s website calendar, cash bingo, tree lighting, comedy jam, and the farmer’s market.
Council Member Tina Walia
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Board of Directors – stated the Board elected the Executive Committee positions; Council Member Walia was elected President.
Vice Mayor Chuck Page
West Valley Stormwater Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board approved a merit increase for the Executive Director and discussed the Annual Report to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.
West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board discussed upcoming items for 2026 and performance.
Mayor Belal Aftab
Council Finance Advisory Committee – stated the Committee reviewed the draft financial statements and discussed pension liability and strategies.
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
None
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
None
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ November 19, 2025 ~ Page 7 of 7
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 9:27 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, MMC, City Clerk
City of Saratoga