A special meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was called to order on May 29, 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, 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 Deputy City Clerk Susan Gibbs.

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Mayor Hudson said the City Council met in closed session at the conclusion of the May 22, 2001 meeting and voted to accept the counter proposal regarding the purchase of the Cortese property.

Mayor Hudson also announced the City Council met in closed session regarding the appointment of a new city attorney and directed the City Manager to begin the process of recruitment.

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

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Mayor Hudson presented a proclamation to Bob Olson, Association of Homeless and Housing Services, recognizing June 2-9, 2001 as Affordable Housing Week.

Kevin Carunchio, Administrative Analyst, gave an update on the energy conservation efforts the City staff has taken and outlined the planned activities to conserve in the future in response to the State’s energy crisis.

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Victor Petersen, 2955 Morgan Drive, thanked Bob Saxe for his dedication and years of service with the City. He requested to have the subject of the City’s lawsuit against the County regarding the Urban Limit Line in Tassajara Valley, be placed on a future Council meeting agenda.

Jim Blickenstaff, 2410 Talavera Drive, inquired if there were any constraints or restrictions placed on the 7.8 acre parcel which has been targeted as part of the future City Center project.

Councilmember Raab stated this item was still being negotiated and requested staff prepare a report to Council on this item.

Guang Li, 2833 Promontory Circle, asked the City Council to declare June 11-17, 2001 as Falung Gong Week.

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Cm. Kinney’s motion to approve the minutes of the May 8, 2001 meeting was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 4-0-1 (Cmbr. Wilson abstained – he was not present at the May 8 meeting).

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Cm. Kinney requested item 8.6, Setting Public Hearing for Resolution No. 2001-60 Establishing Fees and Charges for Various Municipal Services and Repealing Resolution No. 2000-81, be continued.

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

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FINANCE      Register of Demands dated May 13, 20, and 27, 2001, in the amount of $2,411,302.82.

Authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Kattenburg and Associates for architectural services for the conceptual design of the San Ramon Senior Center Phase II Expansion Project (CIP 8522) for an amount not to exceed $40,000

Authorizing the temporary road closure of two segments of Pine Valley Road at the intersection OF SAN Ramon Valley Boulevard for construction purposes (Toll Brothers/Circle E Ranch)

Landscape and Lighting District No. 1984-1

Approving FY 2001/02 Engineer’s Report, adopting a Resolution of Intention to levy and collect assessments for FY 2001/02 and setting a public hearing for June 12, 2001

Approving the mitigated negative declaration for the Alcosta Boulevard/I-680 Interchange Project (CIP 8144)

Accepting for maintenance certain road and stormdrain improvements constructed in Subdivision 7981 (Shapell Industries/Glen Bridge at Gale Ranch)

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FY 2001/02 ANNUAL PROGRAM OF SERVICES 

The City Manager introduced the preliminary FY 2001/02 annual program of services for the City of San Ramon.  He said the Finance Committee and staff recommended the Council receive the Preliminary Annual Program of Services and schedule it for public hearing and final adoption at the Council’s next regular meeting on June 12, 2001. He said the recommendations for revisions and additions made by Council at the April 10, 2001 meeting were incorporated into the Preliminary FY2001/02 Annual Program of Services.

He said the total proposed expenditures for FY 2001-02, including Debt Service, Special Revenue Funds, Capital Improvement Projects and the San Ramon Redevelopment Agency, total $69,176.362. He said this figure compares to approved expenditures of $70,276,912 for FY 2000-01. Budget increases for FY2001-02 are primarily for Police Services, Public Services, and Development Services, and to a large extent reflect the City’s assumption of services for Dougherty Valley and other new residential areas in the City. For the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), the proposed FY 2001-02 budget projects a significant decrease in funding.

He concluded by saying included in the report is a listing of the projects included in the FY 2000-01 CIP that identifies all proposed changes and the source of that change, i.e., City Council action, staff recommendation, Parks & Community Services Commission, etc.

Mayor Hudson opened the public hearing.

Lisa Dial, Tri-Valley Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, recapped the achievements of the TVCVB this past year and the financial contributions generated for the City of San Ramon. She spoke about working closely with the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce and the successful relationships they have with the Tri-Valley’s Chambers.

Mary Anne Farnell-Brewer, 430 Devon Court, Country Club PTA President, requested consideration for the volleyball courts (CIP 9909), described the poor conditions of the current courts and expressed the need for new courts.

Mayor Hudson closed the public hearing.

Cm. Kinney commented on the revenue generated from property taxes and compared the totals to revenues generated from sales use, and transient occupancy taxes. He indicated how much the tax revenues from the business community contribute to the financial operation and success of the City.

Cm. Raab said the issue of raising the transient occupancy tax (TOT) needed to be revisited. He said currently the City’s rate is ½% below the Tri-Valley standard and in anticipation of the Civic Center project, it was time to put it on the ballot.

Staff was directed to prepare a report to Council on this item.

In answer to Cm. Kinney’s questions regarding the revenue from the State for Motor Vehicle License Fees, the City Manager stated this area is at risk due to the current financial drain of the general fund because of the energy crisis. He explained when the bill passed last year, the State had surplus funds.

The City Manger answered Cm. Kinney’s question regarding to the increase in the City Council budget of over $100,000 by saying the bulk of it was the Community Service Grant Funding Program, with the balance of the increase due to benefits, meetings and conferences, and travel allowances. He also stated the $75,000 budgeted for the City Clerks Department was costs associated with the November, 2001 election.

Cm. Kinney requested the Parks & Community Services Department budget for a new stove for the Senior Center Facility.

The City Manager said he would provide Cm. Kinney with a complete list of the items included in the Administrative Services contract services budget.

The City Engineer responded to Cm. Kinney’s question regarding the undergrounding of utility lines by saying that due to the current financial difficulties experienced by PG&E, all projects have been put on hold except those currently in progress. It was agreed this topic would be reviewed by the Finance Committee and a report presented to Council at the June 12^th meeting.

Cm. Raab’s motion to delete the funding for the Tri-Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau from the budget was seconded by Cm. Tatarka.

Cm. Tatarka said she felt the funding of the TVCVB was a business subsidy and with the establishment of the Community Grant Program, the dollars would be better spent if a portion were allocated to the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce specifically for the purposes of helping small businesses.

By roll call vote the motion failed 2-3 (Cms. Kinney, Wilson and Mayor Hudson dissenting).

The public hearing was set for June 12, 2001.

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MAYORS’ CONFERENCE AGENDA

There were no comments or questions pertaining to the next Mayors’ Conference to be held in Concord, June 7^th.

TEEN COUNCIL 

Cm. Tatarka stated that work was continuing on their web page, various end-of-year events and recruitment for next years members.

ARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

Cm. Tatarka reviewed discussion of congestion of an existing sculpture piece in San Ramon, how to streamline the process for public art with guidelines and policies, announcements of upcoming cultural events. She said June 6th would be the first meeting of the Arts Foundation.

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Cm. Wilson reviewed correspondence from Waste Management regarding a compost program with the City.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

Cm. Wilson said the committee focused on preparation of comments for the City Center project to be presented at the special City Council meeting on May 22^nd. He referred to the minutes of that meeting for details of the presentation.

URBAN LIMIT LAWSUIT

Cm. Raab said he would defer this topic to a later date when the item would appear on the agenda under "Unfinished Business".

There being no further business to come before the City, the meeting was adjourned at 9:18 P.M.

David E. Hudson, Mayor
Judy Macfarlane, City Clerk

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