MINUTES OF THE
CITY OF SAN RAMON – COUNCIL MEETING

JULY 25, 2000

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was called to order on July 25, 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, Administrative Services Director Jim Randall, Public Services Director Jim Estep, City Engineer Joye Fukuda, Transportation Director John Dillon and City Clerk Judy Macfarlane

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After calling the meeting to order, Mayor Kinney announced the Council had met in closed session to discuss the City Clerk’s evaluation review – Government Code Section 54957.

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

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The Public Services Director introduced Brannon Sellars-Francisco, the new Maintenance Technician I in the Public Services Department.

Mayor Kinney welcomed Mr. Francisco and gave him a City pin.

Mayor Kinney presented proclamations to outgoing Parks and Community Services Commissioners, JoLynn Mull and H. Abram Wilson thanking them for their service on the Commission. He said Pauline Nolte and Bob Patrino were also outgoing Parks Commissioners but were unable to attend the meeting.

Mayor Kinney presented proclamations to outgoing Planning Commissioner Rolf Sabye thanking him for service on the Commission. He said Richard Fahey had also left the Commission and would be receiving a proclamation.

Mayor Kinney read a proclamation declaring July Parks and Recreation Month and presented it to Carol Rowley, Parks and Community Services Commission Chairperson.

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The City Clerk said 15 applications had been received to serve on the 2000/01 Teen Council. She said all of the applicants had been interviewed and recommended for approval by a sub-committee of staff, Parks Commission representatives and school representatives. She said the roster of selected Teen Council members was forwarded to the Parks Commission for approval and it was staff’s recommendation that the City Council ratify the appointments and direct staff to continue advertising for the remaining 10 members with a recruitment emphasis on middle school students.

Cm. Raab’s motion to approve the 15 member Teen Council roster and direct staff to continue advertising for the remaining vacancies, was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 5-0.

The City Clerk said one application had been received for the vacancy on the Architectural Review Board. It was staff’s recommendation to review the application and appoint Ken Hansen to the Architectural Review Board.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to appoint Ken Hansen to the Architectural Review Board was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 5-0.

The City Clerk said there were three vacancies on the Building Inspection Board of Appeals. She said during the recruitment process one application had been received. It was staff’s recommendation that Council review the application, appoint David Ernest to the Building Inspection Board of Appeals and direct staff to advertise for the two remaining vacancies.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to appoint Davis Ernest to the Building Inspection Board of Appeals was seconded by Cm. Wilson and passed 5-0.

The City Clerk said one application had been received for the vacancy on the Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Committee. It was staff’s recommendation to review the application and appoint Jaylene Watson to the TSM Committee.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to appoint Jaylene Watson to the TSM Committee was seconded by Cm. Raab and passed 5-0.

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PUBLIC COMMENTS

Joyce Stolzy, spoke about a recent City informational meeting where coyotes and associated issues were discussed. She said this is a definite problem and more needs to be done. She also thanked Mayor Kinney for bringing up the fact that this area needs a cemetery.

Bill McCauley, talked about unpleasant aromas coming from restaurants in the Gateway Shopping Center. He asked staff to look into the mitigation measures the restaurants were taking to prevent this from happening. He also discussed issues regarding trash and deliveries at the center.

Mayor Kinney asked staff to research the conditions of approval for the center and to contact Mr. McCauley with answers to his questions.

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Cm. Raab’s motion to approve the minutes of the July 11, 2000 meeting was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 5-0.

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CONSENT CALENDAR

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

FINANCE Register of Demands dated July 7, 14 and 21, 2000 in the amount of $1,252,931.76

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH CLEARY BROTHERS LANDSCAPE, INC., FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE SENIOR CENTER PARK PROJECT (CIP 8208) IN THE AMOUNT OF $552,283 AND AUTHORIZING A BUDGET INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $233,000

LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING DISTRICT 1984-01 SPECIAL ZONE 17 – HENRY RANCH/WILLIAM LYON HOMES, INC., APPROVING THE ENGINEER’S REPORT, ORDERING THE MAILING OF BALLOTS AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2000

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN EXTENSION TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN RAMON AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FOR THE PROVISION OF 23 ADDITIONAL HOURS OF SERVICE AT THE SAN RAMON LIBRARY THROUGH JUNE 30, 2001 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $213,400

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN EXTENSION TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN RAMON AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FOR THE PROVISION OF 4 HOURS OF SERVICE AT THE SAN RAMON LIBRARY ON SUNDAYS THROUGH JUNE 30, 2001 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,000

AUTHORIZING THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR TO PURCHASE EIGHT DEDICATED COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS TRUCKS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $184,684

CENTRAL PARK SKATEBOARD FACILITY 

Acceptance of work by CLD Construction, Inc. for the Central Park Skateboard Facility Project (CIP 8271) as complete and authorize the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s Office

SAN RAMON OLYMPIC POOL 

Acceptance of work by Sierra Bay Contractors, Inc. for the San Ramon Olympic Pool and Aquatic Park Project (CIP 8250) as complete and authorize the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s Office

1999-2000 CURB, GUTTER/SIDEWALK REPAIR 

Acceptance of work by Tuitahi Landscaping for 1999-2000 Curb Gutter and Sidewalk Repair Project (CIP 8642) as complete and authorize the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s Office

RESOLUTION NO. 2000-115

AUTHORIZING A FUNDING TRANSFER OF $100,000 FROM THE CITY BEAUTIFICATION FUND TO THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FUND TO PROVIDE A PORTION OF THE COST FOR THE BOLLINGER CANYON ROAD/I680 LANDSCAPING PROJECT 

RESOLUTION NO. 2000-116

AUTHORIZING A BUDGET INCREASE OF $15,000 FOR PROVIDING A RESTROOM SEWER CONNECTION AS PART OF THE CROW CANYON GARDENS FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (CIP 8246)

 

CONTRACT QUARTERLY REPORT

City Manager and Designated Directorates Contract Quarterly Report, April – June 30, 2000

INVESTMENT QUARTERLY REPORT

City of San Ramon Quarterly Investment Report – period ending June 30, 2000

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Sarah Wood, Teen Council Chairperson, summarized the Teen Council’s accomplishments for the past year and reviewed the goals for the coming year. 

After thanking Ms. Wood for a job well done by the Teen Council Cm. Raab made a motion to accept the Teen Council Annual Report.

The motion was seconded by Cm Tatarka and passed 5-0.

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ATHAN DOWNS PARKING MITIGATION TASK FORCE

The Parks and Community Services Director introduced  the Athan Downs Parking Mitigation Task Force Report. He gave the background of the nine member citizens advisory task force  and said it was formed to deal with parking and safety issues at the north entrance to Athan Downs.

Harvey Riggs, Task Force Chairperson, presented the majority report. He said the report recommended, 1) that no changes be made in the restricted parking that is currently in place in the vicinity of the northern access of Ascot Drive, 2) to make no additional curtailment of the park and facility use, 3) to consider that a trained crossing guard for the raised cross walk be furnished to and after a league game, 4) require that the league organization, as part of contractual obligations, continue their education program and supply copies of those education tools to the Parks and Recreation Department, 5) consider having the organizations establish a parking space lottery, 6) request the San Ramon police department assure that unlawful stopping at the raised crosswalk is eliminated and that future crossing guards assigned fulfill their function correctly, 7) request that the San Ramon Police Department traffic officers monitor traffic stopping, parking and turning on Ascot Drive and Burns Circles in proximity to the Parks access, 8) consider installing no stopping or standing curb signs adjacent to raised cross walk area to improve the vehicle driver visibility and make it possible for the traffic officers to issue tickets to people that violate those instructions, 9) do not consider any closing or locking of the north ingress/egress gate to the park, 10) do not consider expanding any red zone parking more than that absolutely necessary for the raised pedestrian cross walk visibility concerns. He said we should not take any action to fix the Ascot Drive problem or the perceived problem that infringes on the rights of all our citizens to use those parks.

Cm. Wilson said Mr. Riggs had stated there were some concerns listed in the minority report that were valid and should receive further mitigation and asked beside the crosswalk, were there any others.

Mr. Riggs responded in the opinion of the majority there were no others.

Cm. Hudson said the last bullet in the majority report states the majority was most concerned with the impact any curtailment might have on future park uses and asked by the majority did he mean just the majority that signed  the report or were there some people from the minority report that agreed with him on that.  

Mr. Riggs replied no, he was speaking about just the people who signed the majority report.

Cm. Hudson confirmed the verbiage that refers to future park use was just talking about Athan Downs and not other park uses.

Robin Ludlow, said in order to solve the Athan Downs problem she felt it would infringe on the rights of too many other people in the City or it would set a precedent that she did not feel the City would want to set. She said that was the basic feeling behind the majority report. She said she believed the best bet for the future was the education that the sports leagues have been providing. She asked the Council to consider the majority report and give the leagues more opportunity to educate the Athan Downs users.

Cm. Tatarka asked how long had they been doing the education with the league.

Ms. Ludlow said it was started two years ago on a small scale and last year the education program was extensive.

Frank LiMarzi, said he had worked with Task Force members Nancy Clarkson and Paula Pigozzi in preparing the minority report. He said the entrance to the north side of Athan Downs connects very well with some of the other parks in the area. He said he felt it was the intention for people coming to the park via the northern entrance to do so from a pedestrian standpoint. He said it was the abundance of motorized park traffic that led him to believe this entrance to the park was being abused and misused and likewise Ascot Drive. He said most of the City’s parks have access that basically come all the way to the street and usually span the length of one side of the park, making it very easy for access. He said the northern entrance was a path going between two residential homes from a residential street. He said he realized from the minority standpoint there were a lot of unpleasant recommendations but if you don’t like those recommendations what the Athan Downs users and sports users would have to do is use the parking lot. He said the direction to the Task Force was to simply deal with parking mitigation and he felt the minority report directly addressed that issue. He said the parking lot was adequate and both the Task Force majority and minority felt it was often and frequently under used. Members change on governing bodies of organizations and so can the organization’s direction and priority and therefore it is important to have some kind of terms and conditions of use in the City contract so that the education process discussed would actually occur and continue. He said the flip side of the contract could be a loss of use should the users not abide with the terms and conditions of the contract.

Nancy Clarkson, said a number of years ago there was not enough parking around Athan Downs and consequently the streets around the park served as a parking lot for organized baseball and soccer. In response to citizen concern the City of San Ramon spent over $300,000 to expand the parking lot to handle the organized requirements. She said the sports leagues and residents have been conducting an educational campaign to encourage the sports league participants to utilize the parking lot and unfortunately the strategy appears to have failed. She said asking the sports league users to use the parking lot in no way infringes on their right to use the facilities of the park.

Paula Pigozzi, said she viewed the root of the problem as the location of field 4 playing area and the unwillingness of the sports users to use the parking facility. She said it had been her wish this season that the sports leagues would successfully resolve the problem on Ascot Drive by ensuring that their coaching staff and parents use the parking lot for drop off and parking during game time. She said had this been the case she would have congratulated the leagues for a tremendous effort but would have also insisted on going forward with a sustained level of education written into a contractual agreement stating that the level of cooperation must not diminish. She said it was the first wish of the minority on the Task Force that the sports users simply use the parking lot. She said the Task Force majority members and sports users say that further measures to curtail parking on Ascot would benefit a few but inconvenience many and she would like to make the point that there was no benefit or perk being received by the residents. She said all they want is that the conditions on their street exist as they do in the months of December, January and February or when there are no scheduled events in the field 4 area. She requested that the City Council consider any measures that require sports organizations to use the existing parking facilities. 

Bob Pigozzi, said he felt they had given the volunteer educational measures ample time to be effective and after 11 years the conclusion could only be that they just don’t work. He asked the Council to adopt any and all measures necessary to effectively and permanently deal with the root cause of the problem. He said there were sound recommendations from the minority members of the Task Force that if they were adopted would bring an end to the problem and he asked the Council to seriously consider them. He said eliminate the root cause by either taking the necessary measures to get the cars into the parking lot, which by the way does not inconvenience any sports user or, unfortunately, take away the use of field 4.

Ric Arenas, San Ramon Little League, said if the minority opinion has their way sports memories for thousands of kids at Athan Downs would be erased in the years to come. He said there has to be some other solution rather than saying if we can’t have it our way lets close the field down . He encouraged the Council to accept the majority opinion. He said as a member of the San Ramon Little League Board he had worked hard to mitigate the problem and he did not feel one or two years of education was enough to write it off and say that people were unwilling to change.

Bruce Kroyer, San Ramon Soccer Club President, said he supported the majority opinion and recommended continuing to motivate and encourage people to use the parking lot. He said he also supported the use of traffic police to ticket illegal behavior.

In rebuttal Harvey Riggs said the majority report would speak for itself. 

Frank LiMarzi said the minority report pretty much also speaks for itself and added that the sports leagues have just become very active in the past year with education when they found out they could lose the use of field 4.

Cm. Raab said permit parking is not new in San Ramon, it has been in front of Cal High for ten years or more because of a park situation including the community pool, tennis courts and the school. He said special no-parking days had been granted to the Vista San Ramon neighborhood. He said a lot of people are moving to San Ramon and our parks haven’t kept up with that growth. He recommended the Council consider item no. 3, no parking signs with dates and times and item 4a, no scheduling of either softball or soccer on field 4. He said at this time he would go with the majority report with the inclusion of items 3 and 4a of the minority report.

Cm. Wilson spoke about blocked driveways, dumped coolers and destroyed grass and said this was an infringement on the quality of life. He said the residents in that area don’t want to take away they want to enhance the quality of life for everyone. He said while the education program is excellent it is only excellent for that year because people move on and the process starts over again with the education of new members. He said he agreed with Cm. Raab on item 3 of the minority report and would also support item 2, recommending verbiage be included in the existing contracts that states "that vehicles must first use the parking lot provided in lieu of residential streets".

Cm. Hudson said there is tight parking around virtually all green belts in the City. He said he could not support permit parking on Ascot Drive. He said he was encouraged with the emphasis on getting people in the parking lot. He said he would not concentrate so much on losing the use of field 4 as much as locking the back gate. He said if Ascot Drive continues to be impacted and go to the extreme of permit parking, which will spread throughout the City, we are going to have to start thinking more radically about instituting unannounced closing of the back gate when large crowds are expected for parking. He said the recommended solution was worse than the problem. He stated his approval of the majority report and recommended considering item 4b of the minority report.

Cm. Tatarka said the problem was not going to go away and we have to find some solutions and she felt there were good solutions in both reports. She said she would like to see signage on Ascot Drive that says "Please park in the Montevideo lot – the residents of Ascot Drive thank you". She said she would also like to see the scheduling of field 4 and expand the education program. She said she would side with the majority report with the inclusion of items 2, 3, 4a and 4b, stated in the minority report. 

Cm. Wilson said one of the concerns always stated was the problem of getting the sports equipment back and forth. He said item 4b of the minority report addresses that issue. 

Mayor Kinney said this problem has been around for a long time and seems to resurface every two years. He said unfortunately it is the small minority that is driving the Ascot residents nuts. He said it really bothers him that the City spent so much money on a parking lot that no one uses. He said it is true that we have permit parking all over the City and it was just recently extended in front of the high school. He said the City has a contract with the sports leagues and has been lax in enforcing it. He said 11 years is long enough to live with this problem and the Council needs to take action.

Cm. Raab made a motion to, 1) eliminate points 1 and 2 from the majority opinion, 2) in point 3 of the majority report make sure that the crossing guards are volunteers and not paid by the City of San Ramon but he stated he had no problem with the City providing training working with the police, 3) approve points 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in the majority report and remove the last point, 4) add points 3 and 4a from the minority report, 5) address concern about multi-colored curbs and additional signage in 4b, with an effort to have as few signs as possible, 6) consider providing an electric golf cart that can be checked out by the leagues with a special drop off at the parking lot.

Mayor Kinney said if we are going to do parking by the hour, in other words no parking between 4 and 7 or 5 and 7, similar to what we do during the day time at Cal High and allow the people that live there to park in front of their own homes then we could take down the no-parking signs.  

Cm. Raab agreed the no-parking signs would come down and the signage would be new.  He said when he read the report that was inferred. 

Mayor Kinney said we have no guarantee the league is going to provide crossing guards especially for a couple of hours in the evening.  

Cm. Raab said that could be part of the enforcement and part of the contract.

Mayor Kinney suggested including verbiage in the contract that the leagues will provide crossing guards and make the parents pull up, park and drop off the kids so that they can walk in. He said he thought they should park in front and drop off the kids and if there is a vehicle that brings in the bats and balls then there would be no reason to not.

Cm. Raab recommended adding as part of the report that the contract be strengthened.

Mayor Kinney responded that was item number 2.

Cm. Raab said that was his motion with the incorporation of Mayor Kinney’s comments.

Cm. Wilson seconded the motion.

Cm. Tatarka said she wanted to work on expanding education.

Mayor Kinney said that was part of the verbiage.

Cm. Raab said that was part of the majority report that he had included in his motion.

Mayor Kinney said it would also be part of the contract that the leagues educate every year.

The vote on the motion was 4-1 (Cm. Hudson dissenting).

Cm. Hudson said he felt a lot of what happened that night was because of the Parks Commission’s recommendation to form a Task Force. He said there were some happy people and some unhappy people but the system works. He said the most encouraging thing he had heard both from the majority and minority reports was the push to get people in the parking lot.

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Mayor Kinney declared a recess.

All Councilmembers were present when the meeting reconvened.

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Mayor Kinney said there had been some confusion regarding scheduling on field 4 and what was said was there would be no future scheduling on Sundays on that field. He said four tournaments had already been scheduled and this would not affect them.

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CROW CANYON GARDENS DEVELOPMENT 

The City Manager introduced Linda Wilgus, Crow Canyon Institute Executive Director, and said she would be making a report on the Crow Canyon Gardens Development.

Ms. Wilgus reviewed the status of Crow Canyon Gardens, some of the past year’s accomplishments, some issues worked out with the Parks and Community Services Commission and talked about why they were looking forward to the possibility of seeing the Master Plan come to Crow Canyon Gardens sooner than they had originally thought.  She introduced the Institute’s new board and said they would start work in September.  She described the Institute’s wish list for the Master Plan which included a fence, a nature center office/classroom, a real composting area, update of the green house, shade house and work areas and informational and directional signs. She said she thought with a modest expenditure of money most of the Master Plan could be accomplished. She said they wanted to continue to preserve the Gardens in its natural state and continue to share it with the public and she would appreciate whatever support the Council could give them in that regard.

Cm. Tatarka confirmed Crow Canyon Institute contracts with the City and had for nine years.

Ms. Wilgus said the Institute contracts to provide maintenance services and over and above the maintenance services the Institute, separate from its maintenance contract, provides educational programs like the children’s tours and classes and other events at the gardens.

Cm. Tatarka said the City has a very unique relationship with Crow Canyon Institute, one that was found no where else in the Tri-Valley. She said considering the comments by Ms. Wilgus, the recognition brought to the City and the efforts by the Institute above and beyond maintaining the park, she felt the requested improvements were very important.  She said this is a City park and it needs to be at the same high standard as all of the other City parks with signage and improvements. She said she would like to see the Crow Canyon Institute moved up in the program of services and asked Council to consider this request.

Cm. Wilson said the wide recognition of the Gardens shows that Ms. Wilgus and the Institute really care and thanked her for taking that extra step. He agreed with the need for signage.

Cm. Raab said Crow Canyon Gardens was a valuable educational resource that many people were not able to enjoy because the classes always fill up so quickly and the lack of facilities. He said he agreed the Council should look at moving Crow Canyon Gardens up in the City’s program of services.

Ms. Wilgus said the Institute supported the Master Plan option that was eventually chosen by the Parks Commission and approved by the Council. She said the improvements do not have to be that extensive especially if that would be an impediment to the work being done. She said something more modest could be done and provide the same of level of service to the citizens that came to the park. She said she would like to leave the layout of the landscape essentially the way it is and bring in the other elements in the Master Plan.

Cm. Raab said the City was in a position where it could and should move forward with this project. He said the Gardens are a big benefit to the community and are well deserved like the new aquatic center was. He suggested moving the project up in the program of services and looking at it sooner.

Cm. Hudson made a motion to receive the report.

The Administrative Services Director said the design funds for this project were scheduled for FY 2002/03 and the construction funds for FY 2003/04.  The City Manager confirmed the contract with the Institute was coming up for renewal in April 2001.

Mayor Kinney said there were some things the City had recommended doing and suggested waiting until it is decided who was going to have the contract before any building on the project.

Cm. Tatarka said the Gardens should be given the recognition they deserve and she did not know why the Council would have to think twice about something that has given so much to the City. She said the proposed dates seem so far in the future for a facility that has given so much to the City.

Cm. Wilson said Crow Canyon Gardens needs more facilities for the children so that they can take advantage of the resources it provides.

Cm. Hudson confirmed the request by the Institute to move the project up in the program of services had not gone to the Parks Commission. He made a motion that Council receive the report and suggested that Ms. Wilgus make the recommendation through proper channels.

Mayor Kinney said they would look at contracts that are coming up in the near future.  He said this issue would be scheduled through the Parks Commission when Ms. Wilgus goes through the proper channels and at that time, with a Parks Commission recommendation, it would be scheduled for Council discussion.

Cm. Raab recommended this issue be considered by the Parks Commission in a timely manner.

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MAYORS’ CONFERENCE AGENDA

Mayor Kinney said the City of Brentwood would be hosting the Contra Costa County Mayors’ Conference

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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT 

Cm. Tatarka said she had recently worked with other volunteers on an affordable housing project in Concord and said the experience was inspirational and rewarding. She said the project was on-going and would continue for the next several months. She said San Ramon has very little to offer in the way of affordable housing and since many of the people who work in San Ramon commute from the Concord area she would like to make September 16 San Ramon Day at Habitat for Humanity. She invited the residents, employees and companies within the City of San Ramon to participate. She recommended interested participants call the City Clerk for information. 

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There being no further business to come before the City at 10:25 p.m. Mayor Kinney announced the Council would convene in closed session to confer with the City’s Negotiator regarding terms and conditions of possible acquisition of real property, 3250 Bollinger Canyon Road, APN 209-350 – Government Code 54956.8.

Curt Kinney, Mayor
Judy Macfarlane, City Clerk

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