A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was called to order on November 28, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 2222 Camino Ramon, Mayor Kinney presiding.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Hudson, Raab, Tatarka, Wilson and Mayor Kinney
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Herb Moniz, City Attorney Bob Saxe, Police Chief Brian Lindblom, Parks and Community Services Director Jeff Eorio, Planning Director Phil Wong, City Engineer Joye Fukuda, Transportation Director John Dillon, Economic Development Manager April Gray and City Clerk Judy Macfarlane

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Cm. Tatarka led Council, staff and those in the audience in a pledge of allegiance to the flag.

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The Police Chief introduced Jennifer Steager, the new Police Services Technician.

Mayor Kinney welcomed Ms. Steager and gave her a City pin.

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Gordon Kimber, said he would like to compliment two members of the City Council. He said the first was Vice Mayor Raab, stating he has served the residents with outstanding distinction and fidelity. He said Vice Mayor Raab has listened to the residents concerns and has acted diligently on their behalf both in his actions on Council and in personal contact and one could not ask for better representation. He also said Vice Mayor Raab was the majority vote getter in the 1999 election gathering 600 votes more than the next most successful candidate. His support is throughout San Ramon, both north and south, and tonight is the time for that support to be recognized. He continued to say tonight is the night to follow past practice and promote Cm. Raab from Vice Mayor to Mayor. He said the second person he wished to compliment was Cm. Hudson stating he speaks with an insight and perception that is truly unique. He said one such occasion was on the 27^th of November 1998 when then Cm. Athan became Mayor and Cm. Raab was passed over for Vice Mayor. At that time Cm. Hudson in explaining why he voted as he did said that if Cm. Raab was re-elected then he would vote for him for Mayor. He concluded by saying Cm. Raab was re-elected and with more votes than anyone else and this is the golden opportunity for Cm. Hudson to show he is every bit as good as his word..

Greg Carr, asked each Councilmember to reach down within their heart and remove the chains of divisiveness. He asked the Council to extend the olive branch to their fellow members and to uphold the Mayor rotation system. He concluded by asking the Council to dispense with politics for one night.

Yvonne Kimber, said Vice Mayor Raab understands the concerns and needs of the current residents of San Ramon and the residents appreciate his efforts on their behalf. She urged the Council to be objective and not subjective in their vote for Mayor.

Victor Petersen, said he did not agree with the idea that if one Councilmember does not agree with the majority of the Councilmembers that that person should not be considered eligible to become Mayor. He said Cm. Raab was the recipient of the highest number of votes in the last election out of a field of eight candidates. He urged the Council to do the right thing and select Cm. Raab as the next Mayor.

Scott Couture, said the City has a rotation system for Mayor and while he did not like it, as long as the system is in place he felt the system should be respected and Ron Raab should be the next Mayor. He said in the future he would like to see the selection of Mayor go to a vote of the people.

Sara Kimber, recommended the Council honor the rotation system for Mayor. She said this method has served the City well as each Councilmember is given the opportunity to facilitate the City Council meetings resulting in experience and growth of the individual.

Jerry Cambra, said the Council has the opportunity to do the right thing by continuing the progression of Vice Mayor to Mayor and electing the Councilmember with the next highest seniority to Vice Mayor.

Mayor Kinney read a speaker card from Kathleen Weir, that said "I feel that it is time for Mr. Raab to take his seat as Mayor. He is truly dedicated to serve the people of San Ramon".

Bob Ingalls, asked the Council to leave politics and personalities out of the selection of Mayor and go by seniority and top vote getter.

Jim Blickenstaff, urged the Council to look beyond personalities and not let the Mayoral selection become a political football. He asked the Council to honor the rotation system.

A speaker card was submitted by Joyce Stolzy, that stated her support for Ron Raab as Mayor.

Mark Ballock, Chairman of the Arts Advisory Committee, spoke about the cultural events that are scheduled in San Ramon in December.

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Cm. Raab’s motion to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2000 meeting was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 5-0.

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Cm. Tatarka asked that item 8.4, resolution approving an amendment to the Affordable Housing Agreement with Braddock & Logan Group, be removed from the Consent Calendar and continued to the December 12 Council meeting.

Mayor Kinney asked if approval of the agreement was time dependent.

The Economic Development Manager said the approval was not time dependent and that it had been placed on this agenda merely to keep it moving.

Cm. Wilson said he also had concerns with item 8.4.

Mayor Kinney said item 8.4 would be continued to the December 12 Council meeting agenda.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to approve the following Consent Calendar was seconded by Cm. Raab and passed 5-0.

FINANCE     Register of Demands dated November 17 and December 1 in the amount of $1,222,892.84.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH ATTENTION TO DETAIL FOR THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL JANITORIAL SERVICES AT THE COYOTE CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PARK REST ROOM FACILITY FOR AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,100

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APPROVING ISSUANCE AND SALE OF REFUNDING CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION AND APPROVING RELATED DOCUMENTS AND ACTIONS 

ORDINANCE COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM

Introduction of Ordinance – Establishing a Community Forestry program and set public hearing for December 12, 2000.

STREET LIGHTING PROJECT 

Acceptance of work by Wingard Engineering for the San Ramon Valley Boulevard Street Lighting Project (CIP 8642) as complete and authorization for the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s Office.

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BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE 

 The Administrative Services Director said the proposed amendment to the Business License Ordinance would change renewal dates for business licenses from all the licenses being renewed July 1 of each year to a rolling twelve month period. He said this procedure would be more fair in terms of the licensing process, it would be advantageous to City staff in spreading out the renewal period and it would make the process more effective. 

No one spoke during the public hearing.

Cm. Raab’s motion to adopt the ordinance amendment and waive the reading was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 5-0.

AMENDING CHAPTER 1 OF DIVISION B-3 (BUSINESS LICENSES) OF THE CITY OF SAN RAMON MUNICIPAL CODE

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MAYORS’ CONFERENCE AGENDA

 Mayor Kinney said the December 7 Mayors’ Conference would be held in Martinez.

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TRI-VALLEY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE 

Cm. Hudson said the last Tri-Valley Transportation Committee meeting was cancelled. He said the final 

plan of the Transportation of the Valley had been received and he had asked staff to look at it to make sure it contained everything we want.

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Mayor Kinney passed the gavel to the City Clerk for the selection of Mayor.

The City Clerk called for nominations for Mayor.

Cm. Tatarka thanked everyone for attending this very important meeting and said she hoped the rotation process would be followed. She nominated Cm. Raab.

Mayor Kinney nominated Cm. Hudson.

There being no further nominations, the City Clerk said she would take an alphabetical roll call vote.

Cm. Hudson received three votes and Cm. Raab received two votes.

The City Clerk congratulated Mayor Hudson and turned the meeting over to him for the selection of Vice Mayor.

Mayor Hudson called for nominations for Vice Mayor.

Cm. Raab said while he was disappointed in the actions of the men on the Council with regard to their political bickering he felt he must lead by example. He thanked the citizens of San Ramon and said they had spoken volumes for him that evening and in the past election. He said he wanted to express his heart-felt thanks and renewed commitment not only to continue to bring the residents concerns forward to this Council but to work with this Council in the spirit of cooperation. He said he would commit himself over the next three years to make sure that we get in place a non biased rotation system or that a measure be placed on the ballot that asks the voters whether or not if they want an elected Mayor.

Cm. Raab nominated Cm. Tatarka for Vice Mayor.

Cm. Kinney nominated Cm. Wilson.

Cm. Tatarka said Cm. Raab’s passion for the City of San Ramon and its residents has always been paramount whether he is speaking from the dais or is volunteering in such important programs as the child safety seat inspection or Making a Difference Day.

She said Cm. Raab should be Mayor and is not and she felt the Council had failed to live up to the City’s rotation process.

Cm. Kinney said previous speakers had made some pretty drastic misstatements regarding the selection of Mayor and people who had not followed the rotation system. He said someone had spoken about a preference for an elected Mayor. He continued to say when we incorporated part of the City’s organization was that the Council would be elected by the residents and the Mayor would be appointed by the City Council.

Cm. Wilson said last year when we chose a Mayor and a Vice-Mayor we put the past behind us and they were selected on a unanimous vote. He said choosing a Mayor and Vice Mayor has never been a political issue with him, it has always been one’s integrity.  He said in his vote for Mayor he had not voted against anyone he voted for someone. He continued to say he voted for someone he felt would lead San Ramon best, someone who he could disagree with and they could talk about issues and understand their differences.

There were no other nominations for Vice Mayor and Mayor Hudson asked the City Clerk to call the roll.

On a unanimous vote Cm. Tatarka was selected Vice Mayor.

Mayor Hudson thanked the people that showed confidence in him. He said he fully intended to try to earn the confidence of the other two Councilmembers throughout the year. He said there is a lot of work to do, we still have to get a City Center, we are still working on Tassajara and we need a General Plan update that can go before the people in November. He said he felt the oversight in Dougherty Valley was extremely important as was the issue of the Larwin Pump station. He said what is really important is what is going to happen from that night forward. He read a proclamation recognizing and thanking Mayor Kinney for his service as Mayor during the past year.

Cm. Kinney said it had been a pleasure serving as Mayor; it was an experience that one never forgets. He thanked the Council and staff and gave them mementos to be used during the coming year.

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There being no further business to come before the City, at 8:55 p.m. Mayor Hudson adjourned the Council meeting and asked everyone to join him at the reception at the Community Center.

David E. Hudson, Mayor
Judy Macfarlane, City Clerk

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