A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was called to order on February 27, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 2222 Camino Ramon, Mayor Hudson presiding.
PRESENT: Councilmembers Kinney, Raab, Tatarka, Wilson and Mayor Hudson
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Herb Moniz, City Attorney Bob Saxe, 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 Manager April Gray, Building & Safety Services Director Don Rhoades, Senior Planner Debbie Chamberlain, and City Clerk Judy Macfarlane

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After calling the meeting to order, Mayor Hudson said the Council had met in closed session for the purpose of discussing litigation threatened by Windermere BLC Land Company LLC under the Dougherty Valley Settlement Agreement. Mayor Hudson commented that it was an informational meeting and no vote had been taken.

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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 Planning Director introduced new employee Shinei Tsukamota, Assistant Planner.

Mayor Hudson welcomed Mr. Tsukamota and gave him a City pin.

The Police Chief introduced Officer Harms and said he had been chosen the 2000 Officer of the Year.

Mayor Hudson read a proclamation recognizing Officer Harms for his outstanding service to the City of San Ramon.

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The Parks and Community Services Director introduced the members of the Teen Center Task Force: Derek Schweigart, Ambert Ho, Scott Barerro, Stacy Ishigaki and Kashi Madani, and said the task force had been meeting on a regular basis since August 2000 to establish the needs of teenagers in San Ramon. They presented several concepts for a permanent Teen Center, outlined a program of services and encouraged Council to assist in establishing a temporary site.

Ken Mintz, Parks and Community Services Commissioner and advisor to the task force said the Parks and Community Services Commission recommended Council approve the report.

Donna Kerger, 2740 Canyon Creek, said she hoped the Council would assist the Teen Center Task Force and other teen related groups to secure locations for their meetings.

Carol Rowley, 7524 Northland Avenue, Parks and Community Services Chair, complimented the teens for their hard work on this project and requested the Council support their efforts.

Elisabeth Beardall, 1017 Market Place, said she would like have a place other than the library to socialize with her friends.

Joe Mancini, 132 Summerset Court, said the Skate Park was a great success and he was hopeful that the teen center would be just as successful.

Bob Patrino, 106 Avocado Court said he supports the Teen Center project. He said the City has found in its heart to build two dogs parks in the City, dogs have a home, and it is time for teens to have a home.

Evan Powell, 282 Ludlow Place, said a teen center would provide a place for teens to go.

Officer Kalani Schriener, DARE Officer, said he was proud of all the teens that showed up to support the project. He requested the Council’s support of the project.

Mayor Hudson closed the public hearing.

Cm. Tatarka’s motion to accept the presentation and to proceed with securing a short-term temporary location for a Teen Center was seconded by Cm. Wilson and passed 5-0.

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Bert Michalczyk, Authority Manager, Dublin San Ramon Services District, and Laura Johnson, Supervisor of the EBMUD Office of Water Recycling, made a presentation of the San Ramon Recycle Water Program. They spoke of the cooperation between the two agencies that provide water and sewer services to San Ramon and described a program that would be beneficial to the City of San Ramon.

They requested a letter of support from the City of San Ramon to the State Water Resources Control Board to assist in obtaining grant funds to support this project.

Cm. Kinney’s motion to support this project on the State and Federal level and to direct the Mayor to write a letter to the Water Resources Board, accompanied with past letters of support was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 5-0.

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Cm. Kinney’s motion to appoint Sanjiv Bhandari and Susan Lorimer to fill the vacancies on the Architectural Review Board was seconded by Cm. Raab and passed 5-0

Cm. Raab’s motion to appoint JoAn English, Michael Geib, Mikaleagh Stewart, Linda Stevenson and Carolyn Stuckey to fill the vacancies on the Arts Advisory Committee was seconded by Cm. Kinney and passed 5-0.

Cm. Raab’s motion to appoint Susan Huster, Doris Kinsley and Regina Penna fill the vacancies on the Forest Home Farms Advisory was seconded by Cm. Kinney and passed 5-0.

Cm. Wilson’s motion to appoint Edward Cheng, Carolyn Hastings, Sherri Hedman, Pauline Nolte and David E. Smith to fill the vacancies on the Library Advisory Committee was seconded by Cm. Kinney and passed 5-0.

Cm. Tatarka’s motion to appoint Ahmad Bina, Betty Duburrow, Patricia York and Henry Zuckerman to fill the vacancies on the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee was seconded by Cm. Raab and passed 5-0.

Cm. Kinney’s motion to appoint Shelly Lewis and Thomas Lickiss to fill the vacancies on the Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Advisory Committee was seconded by Cm. Raab and passed 5-0.

Cm. Kinney’s motion to appoint Rosalind Rogoff and Kathy Stewart to fill the vacancies on the Community Cable Television Board was seconded by Cm. Raab and passed 5-0.

Cm. Tatarka’s motion to appoint Thomas McClean, Harvey Riggs and Christy Winter to fill the vacancies on the Transportation Advisory Committee was seconded by Cm. Wilson and passed 5-0.

Cm. Kinney’s motion to appoint Douglas Graver to fill the vacancy on the Environmental Advisory Affairs Committee was seconded by Cm. Raab and passed 5-0.

Cm. Kinney’s motion to appoint Gregory Elder, Kathryn Fisher, Steven Frew and Patrick Tuohy to fill the vacancies on the Economic Development Advisory Committee was seconded by Cm. Wilson and passed 5-0.

Cm. Kinney’s motion to appoint Dave Hudson to fill the vacancy on the Iron Horse Corridor Committee was seconded by Cm. Wilson and passed 3-2 (Cms. Raab and Tatarka dissenting).

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PUBLIC COMMENT - None

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Cm. Kinney’s motion to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2001 meeting was seconded by Cm. Raab and passed 5-0.

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

FINANCE      Register of Demands dated February 16 and 23, 2001in the amount of $2,140,213.09.

Authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Steiny and Company, Inc. for the construction of Phase Two (traffic signal equipment upgrade) of the Crow Canyon Road Traffic Signal Upgrade and Re-Timing Project (CIP 7728) in an amount not to exceed $126,000

Denying the appeal of Vincent Cuoco (541 Alta Loma Place)

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ORDINANCES – REZONING AND PREZONING DOUGHERTY VALLEY 

The Senior Planner said the ordinances for rezoning and prezoning of the Dougherty Valley, (The Bridges at Gale Ranch) were introduced at the February 13, 2001 Council meeting. She noted the prezoning ordinance had two changes, 1) to remove the  proposed designation for a corporation site, and 2) the requirement that any resident or affected unit proposed in the Bridges would adhere to the municipal code.

The Senior Planner stated with regard to the rezoning, these portions of The Bridges at Gale Ranch were annexed into the City in 1998 and 1999 by developer petition. The second proposal was to prezone the balance of The Bridges at Gale Ranch which includes a middle school site and Coyote Creek Elementary School. She said these two portions would not be included in the annexation request on the agenda because the final maps had not yet been recorded. She said for the purpose of complying with the Environmental Quality Act, the Council is only asked to consider the EIR that was prepared by Contra Costa County for the Country Club at Gale Ranch (now called The Bridges).

The Senior Planner also clarified for Council, with regard to Measure G, that the City has obligations under the settlement agreement to proceed with the prezoning and annexation in the Dougherty Valley.

Cm. Raab asked if there were any other designation for golf courses other than parks.

She replied that other golf courses within the City have the park designation however, another designation to be considered would be commercial recreation.

Mayor Hudson opened the public hearing.

Phil Mouser, 3225 Veracruz Drive, inquired about the exact location of the park.

Mayor Hudson closed the public hearing.

Cm. Raab requested the Planning Department review the designation of golf courses from parks to commercial recreation.

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

Rezoning approximately 233 acres to Planned Development (PD) District; approximately 8.5 acres to Parks and Recreation (P) and approximately 44 acres to Open Space (OS-1) for The Bridges Residential Subdivision, Dougherty Valley.

Cm. Wilson’s motion to adopt the ordinance and waive the reading was seconded by Cm. Kinney and passed 5-0.

Prezoning approximately 70 acres to Planned Development (PD) District; approximately 101 acres to Open Space (OS-1); approximately 37 acres Public/Semi-Public (PS) (Coyote Creek Elementary School and future middle school; community center and church); AND APPROXIMATELY 223 acres Parks and Recreation (P) (The Bridges Golf Course).

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ORDINANCE – TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES 

The Transportation Director said the amendment to the ordinance would provide the framework within our city code for residential traffic calming devices and would be treated as other traffic engineering features. The ordinance would establish a mechanism to provide for a systematic evaluation for requests of speed humps.

Mayor Hudson opened the public hearing.

Victor Peterson, representing the Bollinger Hills Homeowners Association, said he was pleased the City was taking this step to establish a more formulated process to implement traffic calming measures. He voiced his concern regarding the point system that was part of the process. He requested higher attention be given to residents’ input and not count entirely on the point system. He suggested that a stop sign be placed at the corner of Morgan and Derby Drives as a traffic calming measure.

Harvey Riggs, 3306 Vera Cruz Drive, stated the entire length of Morgan Drive was currently under review and the Transportation Advisory Committee was actively working with the residents at this time.

Cm. Tatarka asked how the point system was devised.

Mr. Riggs replied the Transportation Advisory Committee came up with a sample of streets and ran case studies. He said this was a new procedure and the program of assessing points could be fine-tuned at a later date.

The Transportation Director stated the neighborhood traffic calming program includes a vast range of methods to mitigate neighborhood traffic problems that are tailored to fit each neighborhood’s individual needs.

Mayor Hudson closed the public hearing.

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

Amending Section B8-122, Chapter VIII, Division B-8 of the San Ramon Municipal Code – To provide for regulating the installation and operation of traffic calming measures on residential streets

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ANNEXATION #3 THE BRIDGES AT GALE RANCH

The Senior Planner said this was the companion application to the prezoning ordinance the Council  approved. As required by the act as amended this year, jurisdictions are required to hold public hearings prior to making application to LAFCO, and this public hearing fulfills that requirement. The resolution is for an uninhabited territory; inhabited territory comes into play when there are 12 or more registered voters and at this point in time, the City is unaware if there are 12 registered voters. She said to ensure new homeowners are aware of the annexation proceeding forthcoming with LAFCO this summer, Shapell Industries has included with each escrow packet a consent form for the homeowners to sign. These consent forms will be forwarded to the City after completion. She stated that approximately 400 homes were being annexed at this time.

No one spoke during the public hearing.

Cm. Kinney’s motion to adopt Resolution No. 2001-30 was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 5-0.

Making application to the Local Agency Formation Commission requesting initiation of proceedings for Reorganization pursuant to the Cortese-Knox Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (The Bridges at Gale Ranch-Annexation #3).

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Cm. Kinney’s motion to continue items 11.2 - Resolution No. 2001-29 Receiving the Mid Year Review of FY 2000-01 Program of Services, approving the recommended budget adjustments and amending the Capital Improvement Program, and 11.3 - Presentation of Preliminary FY 2001-02 through FY 2005-06 Five Year Financial Program, to the meeting on March 13, 2001, was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 5-0.

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LEASE OF OFFICE SPACE

The Administrative Services Director said the negotiations to secure additional office space at 3180 Canyon Place had been completed and asked Council for approval of the lease. He said the Engineering and Transportation Services Departments would be relocated to this site, and would enable the engineering staff currently housed at the Fircrest site to be reunited with the rest of the department. He stated the Finance Committee has reviewed and approved the lease, which would commence April 15, 2001.

No one spoke during the public hearing.

Cm. Kinney’s motion to adopt Resolution No. 2001-34 was seconded by Cm. Raab and passed 5-0.

Approving the lease of office space located at 3180 Canyon Place for the Engineering Services and Transportation Services Departments

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MAYORS’ CONFERENCE AGENDA

Mayor Hudson reviewed the agenda for the next meeting to be held in Danville.

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VALLEY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM UPDATE

Cm. Tatarka reviewed the vision of the Valley Children’s Museum. She stated that there was tremendous support and interest from surrounding communities and asked to agendize for the next meeting a commitment from the City to Valley Children’s Museum to secure the location in San Ramon.

The City Manager stated that an Exclusive Right to Negotiate (ERN) with Valley

Children’s Museum would be brought forward to Council after the next Finance Committee meeting.

Mayor Hudson announced the General Plan Review Commission Steering Committee scheduled for March 1, 2001 had been changed. The new meeting date is March 8^th, 7:00 P.M., at the Community Center, and would be immediately followed by the General Plan Review Commission meeting at 7:30 P.M.

There being no further business to come before the City, the meeting was adjourned at 10:50 P.M.

David E. Hudson, Mayor
Judy Macfarlane, City Clerk

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