Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 21, 2026 ~ Page 1 of 6
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Chuck Page , Vice Mayor Tina Walia, Council Members Belal Aftab, Kookie Fitzsimmons, Yan Zhao
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Matt Morley, City Manager
Leslie Arroyo, Assistant City Manager,
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
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 January 15, 2026.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Page stated the City Council held a Closed Session on January 9, 2026; the City Council voted unanimously to appoint Leslie Arroyo as Acting City Manager beginning January 31st; she subsequently accepted.
Mayor Page stated the City Council held a Closed Session on January 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. with no reportable action.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON- AGENDIZED ITEMS; IN -PERSON
ATTENDEES
No one requested to speak.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Page shared information about the Saratoga Evacuation Seminar, Let’s Work Event, and SASCC Stop Scams Against Seniors Seminar.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Mayor Walia stated she needs to recuse herself from Item 1.3 due to the proximity of the project to her residence.
Mayor Page invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 21, 2026 ~ Page 2 of 6
1.1 City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action:
Review and Approve the Minutes for the December 17, 2025, City Council Meeting.
FITZSIMMONS/AFTAB MOVED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE DECEMBER 17, 2025, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES :
NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.2 Accounts Payable Check Registers
Recommended Action:
Review and accept the 12/11/2025, 12/18/2025, and 01/08/2026 accounts payable vendor payment check registers.
FITZSIMMONS/AFTAB MOVED TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 12/11/2025, 12/18/2025, AND 01/08/2026 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
1.3 Final map approval of parcel map application No. ULS25- 0005 for two lots located at 13035 Regan Lane
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution granting final map approval of parcel map application No. ULS23-0010 for two lots located at 13035 Regan Lane (APN 393-02-007).
RESOLUTION 26-001
FITZSIMMONS/AFTAB MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL OF PARCEL MAP APPLICATION NO. ULS23-0010 FOR TWO LOTS LOCATED AT 13035 REGAN LANE (APN 393 -02-007). MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, PAGE.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: WALIA. ABSENT: NONE.
1.4 Final map approval of parcel map application No. ULS23- 0010 for two lots located at 18601 Vessing Road
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution granting final map approval of parcel map application No. ULS23-0010 for two lots located at 18601 Vessing Road (APN 397-05-067).
RESOLUTION 26-002
FITZSIMMONS/AFTAB MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL OF PARCEL MAP APPLICATION NO. ULS23-0010 FOR TWO LOTS LOCATED AT 18601 VESSING ROAD (APN 397 -05-067). MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES : AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 21, 2026 ~ Page 3 of 6
1.5 Ordinance Amending Chapter 9 of the Saratoga Municipal Code on Speed Regulations.
Recommended Action:
Waive reading and adopt the ordinance amending Chapter 9 of the Saratoga Municipal Code on Speed Regulations.
ORDINANCE 415
FITZSIMMONS/AFTAB MOVED TO WAIVE READING AND ADOPT THE
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9 OF THE SARATOGA MUNICIPAL CODE ON SPEED REGULATIONS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES:
AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES : NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. GENERAL BUSINESS
2.1 Multi-Jurisdictional Sheriff’s Office Contract Negotiations Ad Hoc Committee Recommended Action:
Appoint one Council representative to a multi -jurisdictional Sheriff’s Office Contract Negotiations Ad-Hoc committee comprised of one representative from the City Councils of Cupertino, Saratoga, and Los Altos Hills.
Leslie Arroyo, Assistant City Manager, presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Page invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
WALIA/FITZSIMMONS MOVED TO APPOINT MAYOR PAGE TO A MULTI - JURISDICTIONAL SHERIFF’S OFFICE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AD- HOC
COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY COUNCILS OF CUPERTINO, SARATOGA, AND LOS ALTOS HILLS. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Mayor Page stated he needs to recuse himself from this item and left the dais at this time.
2.2 Resolution Updating Unrepresented Employees’ Compensation & Terms of Employment Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution updating the compensation and terms of employment for Unrepresented Employees.
Matt Morley, City Manager, presented the Staff Report.
Vice Mayor Walia invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
RESOLUTION 26-003
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 21, 2026 ~ Page 4 of 6
AFTAB/ZHAO MOVED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION UPDATING THE
COMPENSATION AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR UNREPRESENTED
EMPLOYEES. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: PAGE.
ABSENT: NONE.
Mayor Page returned to the dais at this time.
2.3 City Council Compensation
Recommended Action:
Provide direction specific to City Council compensation.
Matt Morley, City Manager, presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Page invited public comment.
No one requested to speak.
No action needed; Council consensus to leave Council compensation as is.
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
3.1 Proposed Ordinance Amending Article 15-50 (Tree Regulations) Recommended Action:
Conduct the public hearing, introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance amending Article 15 -50, Tree Regulations of the Saratoga City Code to strengthen fire protection measures throughout the City of Saratoga.
Christina Fusco, Arborist, presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Page invited public comment.
The following individual spoke at this time: Anthony Fisher
ZHAO/AFTAB MOVED TO INTRODUCE AND WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 15 -50, TREE REGULATIONS OF THE
SARATOGA CITY CODE TO STRENGTHEN FIRE PROTECTION MEASURES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SARATOGA AS AMENDED: INCLUDING THE AMENDMENTS IN THE DESK ITEM PROVIDED O N 1 -21-2026, AND
REPLACING ALL REFERENCES TO ZONE ZERO WITH EMBER -RESISTANT
ZONE, DEFINING EMBER -RESISTANT ZONE, AND REQUIRING THAT THE
EMBER-RESISTANT ZONE BE CREATED AROUND THE AFFECTED
STRUCTURE PRIOR ISSUANCE OF THE TREE REMOVAL PERMIT AND MAINTAINED T HEREAFTER. MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: AFTAB, FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 21, 2026 ~ Page 5 of 6
3.2 Proposed Ordinance Concerning Short Term Rentals
Recommended Actions:
1. Conduct the public hearing, introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance adopting Article 15-42 of the Saratoga City Code concerning short term rentals; and
2. Provide direction to staff on enforcement strategies.
Bryan Swanson, Community Development Director, presented the Staff Report.
Mayor Page invited public comment.
The following individuals spoke at this time: Saratoga resident, Debbie Masner, Paul Hernandez, Anna Asnis
ZHAO/WALIA MOVED TO INTRODUCE AND WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING ARTICLE 15 -42 OF THE SARATOGA CITY CODE
PROHIBITING SHORT TERM RENTALS WITH ENFORCEMENT AS
RECOMMENDED IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE . MOTION PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: FITZSIMMONS, ZHAO, WALIA, PAGE. NOES: AFTAB.
ABSTAIN: NONE. RECUSED: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS
Council Member Belal Aftab
Saratoga Historical Foundation Board of Directors – stated he attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Council Member Yan Zhao
West Valley Sanitation District Board of Directors – stated she has been elected as Chair and City of Campbell Council Member Dan Furtado has been elected Vice Chair; a Closed Session was held with nothing to report.
Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee – stated the City of Campbell Council Member Elliot Scozzola has been elected Chair and Maria Ristow from the Town of Los Gatos has been elected as Vice Chair.
Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority – stated the Authority elected Tom Kline from the City of Gilroy as Chair and Council Member Dan Furtado from the City of Campbell as Vice Chair.
Council Member Kookie Fitzsimmons
Hakone Foundation Board of Trustees - stated the koi pond renovation is ongoing, provided an end of year campaign donation update, and discussed the online membership form.
Vice Mayor Tina Walia
Cities Association of Santa Clara County Executive Committee – stated she attended the meeting with nothing to report.
Mayor Chuck Page
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board of Directors – stated the Board approved agreements, and discussed programs encouraging people to charge vehicles during the day.
Saratoga City Council Minutes ~ January 21, 2026 ~ Page 6 of 6
CITY COUNCIL ITEMS
Mayor Page discussed the importance of prioritizing time for the recruitment of the new City Manager.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
None
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
The City Manager thanked the Council and staff for the opportunity to work with them.
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
The City Attorney thanked the City Manager for the work he provided to the City.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS; VIRTUAL ATTENDEES
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Page adjourned the meeting at 9:14 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Britt Avrit, MMC, City Clerk
City of Saratoga