A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was called to order on October 9, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 2222 Camino Ramon, Mayor Hudson presiding.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Kinney, Livingstone, Tatarka, Wilson and Mayor Hudson
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Herb Moniz, City Attorney Tom Curry, Police Chief Brian Lindblom, Administrative Services Director Jim Randall, Parks and Community Services Director Jeff Eorio, Planning Director Phil Wong, City Engineer Joye Fukuda, Transportation Director John Dillon, Economic Development Director April Gray, Building & Safety Services Director Don Rhoades, and City Clerk Judy Macfarlane

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

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The Transportation Analyst introduced new employee Steven Spedowfski, Transportation Specialist.

The Building and Safety Services Director introduced new employee, Janice Clair, Permit Specialist.

The City Engineer introduced new employee, Maria Robinson, Engineering Services Division Manager.

Mayor Hudson welcomed the new employees and gave them City pins.

Mayor Hudson presented a certificate of recognition to Chris Truebridge, Executive Vice President, Division Manager of Shapell Industries for Shapell’s support of the San Ramon DARE program.

Mayor Hudson thanked Public Services employee Gary Engles for his contributions to the City and gave him a plaque recognizing his retirement.

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Jerry Cambra said he was under the assumption that the rotational mayor issue was to be on this agenda. He also thanked the Administrative Services Director for his recent assistance.

Roz Rogoff, representing the South San Ramon Neighborhood Association, said the Association’s web page had been updated to include links to the web sites of all council candidates who had web sites.

Paul Corrado, representing Lawrence Estate Owners Association, requested the Council’s assistance in removing a sign that he felt was illegal from a roadway near his community.

Sandy Barclay thanked Mayor Hudson, Cm. Wilson, the City Manager, and Rick Hanson, Project Manager, Engineering Services Department, for assistance during the construction phase of the Dougherty Valley Trunk Sewer Line Project.

Bob Patrino thanked the Parks and Community Services Department and the Public Services Department for the outstanding job they did with the Black and White Ball.

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Cm.Wilson’s motion to approve the minutes of the September 25, 2001 meeting was seconded by Cm. Kinney and passed 5-0.

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Cm. Wilson inquired about the budget increase on Item 8.2, agreement with Cleary Brothers Landscaping for the Crow Canyon Frontage Landscape Project.

The City Engineer stated the costs were necessitated by a new meter being installed due to additional landscaping maintenance and additional construction consulting fees.

Cm. Kinney asked if Item 8.3, acceptance of work on the San Ramon Valley Boulevard Widening Project, included landscaping.

The City Engineer confirmed that it did.

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

FINANCE      Register of Demands dated September 14, 30 and October 7, 2001 in the amount of $ 1,758,558.66.

Authorizing a budget increase from $315,000 to $345,000 and authorizing an increase in the Ten Percent Contract Change Order Limit specified by Title A, Division A7 of the City of San Ramon Municipal Code to the agreement with Cleary Brothers Landscaping, Inc., for construction of the Crow Canyon Frontage Landscape Project (CIP 8345)

Acceptance of work by Redgwick Construction, Inc., for the San Ramon Valley Boulevard Widening Project (CIP 7104) as complete and authorization for the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s Office

Authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Mark Thomas & Co. Inc., for the design, environmental certification, and right-of-way engineering services for the Crow Canyon Corridor Improvement Project (CIP Nos. 7114, 7116, 7117, 7127, 7129, 7130, 8125, and 8168) in an amount not to exceed $1,300,000

City Manager and Designated Directorates Contract Quarterly Report – July - September 30, 2001

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CITY CENTER DESIGN CONTRACT SERVICES 

The Planning Director said staff had compiled the information requested by Council at the last meeting substantiating the costs and services rendered to date for the City Center. He summarized the expenditures for work completed and reviewed the work currently in progress.

In response to Cm. Wilson’s question the Planning Director said since this was a community-wide process, it was progressing at a slower pace than if the City had just hired an architect to design it independently. He further clarified for Cm. Tatarka the contract approved for Turner Construction was for project management services which provides for cost estimates for refinement of the plan. He stated that the City was in a pre-design stage and based on a very preliminary cost estimate of the total project, using round numbers of $100 million, the City has spent less that 1% of that estimate.

The City Manager reviewed for Council the process that was followed for the Community Center and Central Park. He outlined the costs incurred to date for the City Center/Civic Center project, and discussed the benefits for following a similar path.

It was the consensus of Council to; 1) direct Turner Construction to prepare cost estimates so a decision could be made in November as to whether or not to place a bond measure, not an advisory measure, on the ballot and, 2) direct staff to coordinate a joint meeting between the Arts Advisory and Library Advisory Committees to discuss fund raising opportunities in conjunction with the City Center/Civic Center project.

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MAYORS’ CONFERENCE 

Mayor Hudson reviewed the meeting that was held in Oakley, and stated several cities reported problems with racial bias evidenced in their communities in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attack. He reported that San Ramon had already joined an alliance for anti-hate crimes and bias related incidents.

The Police Chief said an alliance had been formed prior to September 11 and described the program and participants. He said the first meeting would be held October 25^th at the Community Center.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Cm. Tatarka said EDAC members were drafting a work plan that would be presented at the next Redevelopment Agency meeting.

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SOUTH WEST AREA TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE 

The Mayor said at the last SWAT meeting they discussed funds originally slated to assist building an Orinda off-ramp that had not been utilized and had been returned to the general fund budget.

FOREST HOME FARMS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Cm. Tatarka stated at the last Forest Home Farms Advisory  Committee meeting there was a discussion of the progress to date on the restoration of the David Glass house. She said they also discussed a calendar of events and recruitment of volunteers.

Cm. Tatarka stated she had attended two other meetings which she wished to apprise Council on; 1) the Tri-Valley Business Council which was a regional water summit and that water was projected as being the next energy issue and, 2) a forum for a Sustainable Bay Area which emphasized traffic, development and growth.

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Mayor Hudson said an invitation to attend a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, October 25 at 6:00 p.m. in the Contra Costa Water District Board Room in Concord had been received from Senator Tom Torlakson. He said the topic of the meeting was "Cracking Down on Identity Theft".

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There being no further business to come before the City, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M.

David E. Hudson, Mayor
Judy Macfarlane, City Clerk