A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was called to order on August 14, 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 and City Clerk Judy Macfarlane

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Mayor Hudson said the Council had met in closed session pursuant to Government Code 54957.6 for personnel evaluation of the City Manager.

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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 Parks and Community Services Director said August 17 was the Grand Opening of San Ramon’s Coyote Crossings park in the Bridges Subdivision at Gale Ranch.

Cm. Tatarka asked that Item No. 4 on the agenda, Selection of Interim City Councilmember, be heard after Item No. 7, Public Comment.

It was the consensus of Council that this item be heard after Public Comment.

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The City Engineer introduced Daniel Sequeira, the City’s new Assistant Engineer.

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

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Mayor Hudson said 27 applications had been received for this year’s Teen Council. After interviewing the applicants, a subcommittee recommended to the Parks and Community Services Commission appointment of 25 members to the Teen Council. He said the Parks Commission was recommending the City Council ratify the appointments.

Cm. Kinney’s motion to approve the appointment of the 25 member Teen Council was seconded by Cm. Tatarka and passed 4-0. (Cm. Kinney, Tatarka, Wilson and Mayor Hudson).

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Victor Petersen spoke about a survey being conducted in San Ramon regarding city issues, the elected mayor initiative and potential City Council candidates. He said he would like to clear up a question relating to his occupation, noting that he was not an attorney but an aerospace engineer.

Joe Covello spoke about issues relating to the selection of mayor. He said the directly elected mayor measure on the November 2001 ballot was a result of the Council not adhering to a strict rotation. He asked the Council to consider an emergency ordinance at the August 28 meeting that would dictate a strict mayoral rotation. He concluded by saying this would give the residents who were opposed to a directly elected mayor an option.

Jerry Cambra said while he was supporting a directly elected mayor he would like to see an ordinance in place confirming a set mayoral rotation for mayor for the next two years.

Rosalind Rogoff said the more the Council opposes the idea of a real mayoral rotation the more they are pushing people to having an elected mayor.

Donna Kerger said San Ramon hosted 64 soccer teams at the annual Valley Cup Tournament on August 4 and 5. She thanked City staff for their assistance and said everyone really enjoyed their stay in San Ramon. She also congratulated the Top 10 Corporate Citizens that were honored at the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Bob Ingalls spoke about San Ramon Day at Habitat II to be held on August 25 and said this was the last chance for people to sign up to participate.

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Mayor Hudson introduced the six people who had applied to serve as the interim City Councilmember; Jim Blickenstaff, Jim Livingstone, Ken Mintz, Mary Lou Oliver, Patrick Tuohy and Eric Wallis. He instructed the Councilmembers to list their first, second and third choices on the ballot. He said from this ballot a short list would be determined.

Cm. Tatarka said she would be abstaining on the vote. She said from the start the process for the selection of interim Councilmember had been on the fast track and was done without full Council approval. She said she saw no need for appointing an interim Councilmember for such a short time when no clear policy had been involved.

Mayor Hudson said there would be three people on the second ballot; Ken Mintz, Jim Livingstone and Mary Lou Oliver.

Mayor Hudson said Mr. Mintz and Mr. Livingstone had been selected on the second ballot. He said it was Council policy to require three votes for selection and asked the City Attorney for clarification.

The City Attorney called for a five-minute break.

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Councilmembers Kinney, Tatarka, Wilson and Mayor Hudson were present when the meeting reconvened.

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The City Attorney said under Government Code 36512, which discusses the Council filling a vacancy by appointment, it states as long as there is a quorum, in this case there are three Councilmembers willing to vote, it is a majority of that quorum which makes the appointment.

Cm. Tatarka asked for clarification as to whether or not her abstention would affect the vote.

The City Attorney said Cm. Tatarka has the right to decline to participate and it would not affect the vote.

Mayor Hudson announced the interim City Council appointee was Jim Livingstone.

The City Clerk asked Mr. Livingstone to join her at the podium. After congratulating him on his appointment, she gave him the oath of office and a City pin.

Cm. Livingstone took his seat at the dais.

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Cm. Tatarka’s motion to approve the minutes of the July 31, 2001 meeting was seconded by Cm. Kinney and passed 4-0-1 (Cm. Livingstone abstained ).

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Cm. Wilson asked to have item 9.2, Resolutions approving additional hours of service at the San Ramon Library, removed from the Consent Calendar.

Mayor Hudson said that item would be considered under Unfinished Business.

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

FINANCE      Register of Demands dated July 1, 25 and August 5, 12, 2001 in the amount of $1,366,402.51

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH TMT-PATHWAY FOR THE PURCHASE OF A STREET STRIPING TRUCK IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $175,000

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE AGREEMENT WITH DAVID GATES & ASSOCIATES FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGN SERVICES FOR PINE VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL FIELD RENOVATIONS AND PARKING LOT PROJECT (CIP 8257) IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,400

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH WHITE OAK LANDSCAPE, INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PINE VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL FIELD RENOVATIONS AND PARKING LOT (CIP 8257) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,154,285

DENYING APPEAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 03-01 DP 99-09, AR 99-070, AND IS 99-014 (TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL); SIERRA SUITES HOTEL INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND CONTRACT OF SALE FOR THE PURCHASE OF LOT 4, TRACT 8454, SAN RAMON, CA BETWEEN SUNSET DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LLC AND THE CITY OF SAN RAMON

BANANNO V. CCCTA 

Authorization for the City Attorney to join in the amicus brief in the case of Bananno v. Central Contra Costa Transit Authority

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ANNUAL TEEN COUNCIL REPORT

Stacy Ishigake, former Parks and Community Services  Commission student member, reviewed the Teen Council’s Charge. She said the Council was an advisory body to the City Council and was under the purview of the Parks and Community Services Commission. She reviewed some of the previous year’s goals and accomplishments.

Ambert Ho, current Parks and Community Services Commission member, also talked about the Council’s accomplishments and their investigation into what worked and didn’t work with other Teen Councils throughout the state. He spoke about an upcoming Council retreat where the coming year would be discussed.

Cm. Wilson said he had seen the program "Every Fifteen Minutes" that Mr. Ho described in the update. He said it was a very exciting and riveting program and encouraged every parent, if possible, to have their child interact in the program.

Cm. Tatarka asked about the status of the Teen Council web site.

Mr. Ho said it had been designed but was not yet on the server.

Cm. Tatarka asked Mr. Ho if he would come back to the Council and make an announcement when the web site was up and running.

Mayor Hudson thanked Ms. Ishigaki and Mr. Ho and said the Council accepted the report.

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PG&E TRI-VALLEY YEAR 2002 PROJECT

The City Engineer introduced a status update on two PG&E  projects, the PG&E Tri-Valley Capacity Increase Project and, the Delta Transmission Reinforcement Project. She said the issues before the Council were; 1) whether the Council wished to file additional comments on the PG&E Tri-Valley Project and 2) whether the Council wished to take a position regarding the Delta Transmission Reinforcement Project. As background regarding the Tri-Valley Capacity Increase Project, PG&E had proposed a project back in 1999 that provided a capacity increase to the existing Pleasanton substation and the Vineyard Substation, and proposed to construct new substations in north Livermore and in Dublin located at the Alameda/Contra Costa County line. She said the City Council had supported the proposed project with the adoption of a resolution. PG&E then made application to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for a certificate in order to construct their project. The PUC hired an environmental consultant who prepared a draft environmental impact report that included two additional alternatives, a second Dublin substation which would have kept the Dublin substation at the same location but with a feed from San Ramon and a new substation site located north of I-580 and west of Fallon Road. The final EIR concluded that the CPUC’s substation located just north of I-580 was the environmentally superior location for the Dublin substation it also concluded that the Dublin substation with the feed from San Ramon was the least environmentally superior alternative. She said the reaction to the Dublin substation is a follows; PG&E is not in favor of the site because it fails to comply with some of their siting requirements and they were also not in support of the decision to not build a Livermore substation. The City of Dublin is also opposed to the proposed site because it interferes with some development plans. The City of Livermore is also not in favor of the proposed site because of possible conflicts with the Livermore Airport and they also support the building of the north Livermore substation. If the site proposed by the CPUC is selected then the feed would be from San Ramon. The CPUC has scheduled a hearing on the proposed site on August 23 and at that time they can take action or postpone action until a later date. The Delta Transmission Reinforcement Project identified in PUC’s July 2001 letter provides for a reconductering of transmission lines from a new Calpine power generation station in Pittsburg to the San Ramon substation. She said the reconductoring effort is also a component of the PG&E Tri-Valley project. PG&E has made application to the PUC with a statement that they believe that the Delta Transmission project is exempt from the PUC’s requirement for hearings in order to obtain a permit to construct. She said Buck Jones was present from PG&E to answer questions.

Cm. Kinney asked if there were any alternatives to the Delta project going somewhere other than San Ramon

The City Engineer responded no and said that is a project that is just from Pittsburg, that leads to the San Ramon substation and then further through the transmission corridor that connects through Pittsburg, San Ramon and then Hayward.

Cm. Tatarka asked if the Council or staff was ever able to comment on the Delta project.

The City Engineer said the comment period was right now with a deadline of August 16.

Donna Dickey said Judge Cook’s decision said each of the routes rejected involved greater impacts on the environment and the local community then the route selected and this was based on the final environmental impact report. She asked if the CPUC grants PG&E and the City of Dublin an appeal, would the Commission goes through the process again and if the judge denies PG&E and the City of Dublin then would we automatically get the alternative into the San Ramon substation. She asked if we still have the appeal process for that. She said she noticed on the maps that the lines that would be coming from the substation were broken and she was assuming they would be undergrounded. She asked what area the Delta Reinforcement project would be servicing. She said the report mentions relocation of the power line facilities and asked where they would be located.

Rosalind Rogoff said San Ramon was not the only substation in the world and asked if everything had to come into their neighborhood.

Peter Frech said in the letter regarding the Delta project it indicated the towers had to be raised and asked why it was necessary if the voltage was not increased. He also said the letter said low cost or no cost measures would be implemented in order to reduce electromagnetic fields where possible and asked what PG&E would do where that was not possible.

Christa Freihofner said she and her neighbors had never complained about infrastructure if it pertained to San Ramon but they did have a problem with the San Ramon substation being a dumping ground for the surrounding cities. She said every time there is infrastructure their quality of life took a down turn in that there is more noise pollution and more noisy equipment. She said if there is to be future expansion there are issues that need to be addressed like the noise levels. She said their biggest wish was for PG&E to consider their needs as a neighborhood and for the substation to fit into our quality of life as the Walnut Creek, Orinda and Blackhawk substations do.

Paul Mitchell asked what kind of additional power increases was PG&E proposing to transmit down the lines. He said if PG&E was doubling the power but only taking measures that would reduce the emfs by 10% that would mean there would be increase in emf fields in those areas. He asked if the proposed raising of the towers from 10 to 35 feet had to do with reducing emf exposure to people in the area whether it is in Central Park along the grassy area or the residents along the lines.

Mayor Hudson closed the public hearing.

Buck Jones, PG&E, said there were two matters before the Council and he felt the Tri-Valley project was the most important of the two. He said this project would be before the entire PUC for deliberation within about two weeks after the Administrative Law Judge makes a recommendation. He said San Ramon’s engineering staff had comments in relation to preferences on the part of the City for the Tri-Valley project and he felt PG&E was in support of the City’s comments in that they prefer not to have the Dublin substation as do any other party in the proceedings down on I-580 at Fallon Road.  He said the second issue, the Delta Energy power plant, was scheduled to come on line next April providing part of the solution to the rolling blackouts. This project was not looking at just reconductoring which means removing a smaller wire and replacing it with a larger one, no additional lines or additional towers, or additional connections to the San Ramon substation would be made as a result of this project. 

Mayor Hudson said Carolyn Mason’s letter to the Council stating her opposition to raising the towers 10 to 35 feet would be included in the record. He asked why the lines were being made larger through San Ramon to serve other areas when in fact PG&E could divert Pittsburg power through the Tesla lines to the South Bay where it is really needed. He asked why are we increasing the possibility of conductivity through San Ramon when there is clearly no need in San Ramon and there is a better way around it.

Mr. Jones responded the Pittsburg to San Ramon line is not the only line being reconductered. Every major 230,000 volt line in the system, basically the Central Valley and the Greater Bay Area were all being reconductered to be able to accept the additional generation that comes from many sources.  

Mayor Hudson asked if Mr. Jones was talking about PG&E removing, moving or enlarging the switching station.

Mr. Jones responded no, there is a location about five miles from the former Pittsburg power plant right on the Delta up the hill past most of the subdivisions where two major lines are very close together and they were going to interchange locations from one tower to the other tower and change the wire positions so that they could use an existing power line and not have to build new power lines.

Cm. Kinney asked what happens if the Dublin connection doesn’t happen and we have to appeal if it is going to go in San Ramon and why wouldn’t it go to north Livermore rather in San Ramon.

Mr. Jones said in response to the question why would it come to San Ramon, PG&E doesn’t want it to go to San Ramon, they want it to go the other way.

Cm. Kinney said his question was do we have to appeal if San Ramon turns into be the choice rather than Livermore.

Mr. Jones said he would suggest if the final decision says that the Dublin station at the county line is the preferred the substation with the connection going to San Ramon, he very definitely thought the City should appeal that.

Cm. Kinney asked what happened to Pleasanton, stating they don’t get anything but power.

Mr. Jones said actually Pleasanton was one part of the order that came fairly close to what we originally asked for and the Pleasanton station will in fact get upgraded to 230,000 volts, that is what PG&E and the community asked for, that will alleviate one of the subtransmission lines within the system that feeds the Dublin BART station and some of the industrial customers that are on the south end of the Valley.

Cm. Kinney asked if the plan was to add 10 to 35 feet to the size of the power poles and string another line up above.

Mr. Jones explained when larger wires are installed they are heavier and will sag a little lower because of the increased cable and there will be places in that 20 mile stretch of line where we are going to have to raise the towers to accommodate the general order which states you have to have a certain amount of clearance from the bottom of the wire to something that is groundable. He said there about 120 towers between San Ramon and Pittsburg and it has been estimated that possibly 10% of those may require tower raises between 10 and 35 feet.

Mayor Hudson confirmed there would not be an increase of between 10 and 35 feet raise before Alcosta Boulevard.

Mr. Jones said that was his understanding at least to the top of the hill above Alcosta Boulevard. He also said there are ways to prevent the raise from happening.

Mayor Hudson asked if there had been any consideration of undergrounding the line until you get to the top of the hill.

Mr. Jones said in the present reconductering process that the commission has in place for this type of work there is no requirement, nor is it recommended by the commission. It is not something that is even considered from the start because of the amount of time, effort and money that is required.

Cm. Wilson said we don’t want the lines the way they are now and since the lines are being replaced, why not take the opportunity to underground them.

Mr. Jones said the thing the City could do in a case like that is to approach the commission with a request to do so. He said there is an opportunity and a comment period that is open until August 23 and he felt that would be the best approach to take.

Cm. Wilson said now may be the time to back off a little bit, look at the ramifications and plan for the future. He said PG&E has never been a good neighbor in San Ramon especially involving the beautification of the neighborhoods.

The City Engineer said the connection to the Dublin substation at the county line would bring an overhead line back to San Ramon and what the PUC was proposing is undergrounding a very short stretch up at the top of the Alcosta hill but the remainder of that would be overhead transmission lines. In response to another question she said the reconductering for the Delta Transmission project would occur on a few towers that cross from the West Branch area through the Dougherty open space into the San Ramon substation and it would not affect the transmission lines along the Iron Horse Trail.

Cm. Kinney said PG&E could have undergrounded some of the wires years ago when it was a lot cheaper. He asked Mr. Jones to take the request back to PG&E to clean up the San Ramon substation.

Cm. Tatarka expressed concern for the August 15 deadline for comments regarding the Delta Transmission line. She asked if there were some way the Council could receive the information regarding the existing towers and where they definitively going to be before August 15.

Mr. Jones said he could not answer that question because he didn’t know where the engineering regarding the bridge towers but you certainly could make a comment on the 15th stating opposition.

Cm. Livingstone asked for further clarification on the EMF issue and cross phasing. 

Mr. Jones said in almost every circumstance cross phasing was the most direct, straight forward way to comply with the order requiring the reduction in EMFs. He said the purpose for raising the towers was not involved with the EMF issue.

Cm. Wilson thanked Mr. Jones for attending the meeting and asked that someone from the PG&E Board come before Council to explain their policies. 

Mayor Hudson said he was hearing that San Ramon was still thoroughly committed to the preferred alternative. He said he would like answers including why the lines could not be undergrounded and was it definitely the top of the hill before anything would be done with the new 230,000 volt line that is going to be 10 to 35 feet higher and what happens between the substation and the increase in the 230 kV.

The City Manager said for clarification the issues were; more information on the entire project, undergrounding the 230 kV area from the substation to the top of the hill, beautification and maintenance of the substation, the cross phasing and an agreement that is how the EMF issue will be addressed, the exact location of the towers to be raised, and the impact of power increases along the Iron Horse Trail, the increase in power in going in and out of the switching station. He also said the Council had requested to have a hearing in San Ramon to explain the project.

Cm. Wilson asked that the person in charge of the San Ramon substation be present at the hearing so that questions could be answered on why the substation has been allowed to deteriorate.

It was Council consensus that they did not want to get caught behind on any appeal that might be needed to be pursued the preferred alternative.

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ADDITIONAL LIBRARY FUNDING

Cm. Wilson said he had requested the resolutions regarding the additional hours at the library be removed from the Consent Calendar to bring to the attention of the residents the additional 23 hours of Service at $213,000 and four hours on Sunday at $30,000. He said he felt the City was not given enough credit for its contribution to the library.

Cm. Kinney said the City had been funding additional library hours for ten years. He said the library issue had been discussed by San Ramon Councils for the past ten years and he felt it was time for San Ramon to decide if it wanted to have a library of its own.

Mayor Hudson said this item would be agendized when Cms. Kinney and Tatarka return from vacation.

Cm. Tatarka’s motion to approve the resolutions authorizing the funding for additional library hours was seconded by Cm. Wilson and passed 5-0.

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, 2002 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 SUNDAY HOURS OF SERVICE AT THE SAN RAMON LIBRARY THROUGH JUNE 30, 2002 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,000

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MAYORS’ CONFERENCE 

Mayor Hudson said at the Mayors’ Conference held in Richmond it was determined the City Managers would sit at the table with the Mayors.

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EDAC 

Cm. Wilson said at the last Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting the work plan had been approved and they appointed subcommittees.

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SENIOR CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

Cm. Kinney said at the last meeting most of the discussion was about the 5000 foot addition to the Senior Center. 

The Parks and Community Services Director said staff was currently working with the architect to determine the seniors’ needs. He said three conceptual designs would be discussed by the advisory committee and from there it will go to the Park Commission for a public hearing and then to Council.

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SWAT 

Mayor Hudson said at the South West Area Transportation meeting the topic of discussion was the fourth bore in the Caldecott tunnel.  He also said he was very impressed how quickly the financing had come together on the Sunol grade project.

FOREST HOME FARMS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

Cm. Tatarka said the most important thing to come out of the recent Forest Home Farms Advisory Committee meeting was that the City had applied to the State Historic Registry. She said there was also discussion about working with the Church on the Hill regarding parking.

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TVTC 

Mayor Hudson said the Tri-Valley Transportation Council meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum. He did say there was an interesting discussion regarding the transit village being planned for the West Dublin BART station.

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EBRPD 

Mayor Hudson said at the recent East Bay Regional Park District meeting new signage had been discussed.

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IRON HORSE TRAIL ADVISORY

Mayor Hudson said a discussion was held regarding the trees  that had been cut down on the Iron Horse Trail. He asked the Council to forward any comments that they may have regarding Tree replacements. He said we will just keep pursuing the idea that the county needs to maintain the trail.

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Cm. Kinney said at the next Council meeting he would like an update on EBMUD and what they are doing on Crow Canyon Road.

Cm. Tatarka said she would like the Council to consider to agendize an emergency item regarding the Covello rotation system and asked how that could be accomplished.

Mayor Hudson said it would take a four-fifths vote to put it to a vote that night.

Cm. Tatarka’s motion to place this item on the agenda that night for discussion was seconded by Cm. Wilson.

The vote on the motion was 3-2 (Cm. Kinney and Mayor Hudson dissenting).

Mayor Hudson said he would not have a problem with bringing the item back on a future agenda so that an open forum could be held but he did not agree it should be addressed at that meeting when no one was present.

Cm. Wilson said he was going to ask for a special meeting to discuss this issue.

Mayor Hudson said if the Council wants to bring this back he would discuss it with the City Manager.

* * * *

There being no further business to come before the City at 9:57 p.m. Mayor Hudson congratulated new Councilmember Livingstone and adjourned the meeting.

David E. Hudson, Mayor
Judy Macfarlane, City Clerk

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