A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was called to order on November 26, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the San Ramon Community Center, 12501 Alcosta Boulevard, Mayor Tatarka presiding.

PRESENT: Councilmembers Cambra, Dickey, Hudson, Wilson and Mayor Tatarka

ABSENT: None

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Jim Randall, City Attorney Tom Curry, Police Chief Brian Lindblom, Parks and Community Services Director Jeff Eorio, Development Services Director Joye Fukuda, and City Clerk Judy Macfarlane

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Boy Scout Pack 201, Country Club School, led staff and those present in the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Tatarka: I just want to make one comment and this is the holiday season and there are many civic events that we have going on within the City so I want to bring your attention to them and whenever you can please participate and please come to our wonderful City events that our City does put on.

Mayor Tatarka: At this time we are moving onto public comment. At this time those in the audience are encouraged to address the City Council on any item not included in tonight’s agenda. No Council action can be taken at this meeting on issues raised during public comment. Comments should not exceed five minutes. If this is not considered sufficient time to address the issue please arrange with a member of the City Council to have your item placed on the agenda for a future City Council meeting. I do have some speaker cards. Del Nagel

Ms. Nagel: The last time I appeared here I was commenting on the people who were responsible for returning the green waste containers to Crow Canyon Gardens, new green waste containers to the parks, at the far end of the park. We are under a mandate to reduce waste. We look forward to convenience of using these containers but they are convenient for use by the gardeners or the preschool. Every garbage container at the park and the plastic and glass containers are not convenient for parks users because they are back by the CCI building. City employees said they would provide containers, they would be conveniently located throughout the park. City employees arrived at the park to build a kiosk for the containers and I thought that was a wonderful addition. And City employees left the park without building anything. In January we informed you that the fee to rent a plot at Crow Canyon Gardens was increased by 67%. If a 67% fee increase was justified if Crow Canyon Institute produces incomplete financial statements or none at all and who directs City policies, the City officials and the City Manager or a contract who is operating month-to-month.

Mayor Tatarka: Thank you. Ken Tatarka.

Mr. Tatarka: I am here today to not only to honor the current Mayor but also as a former 20 year resident of San Ramon. I have seen the town grow and prosper over the years and I have to say that it will always be my home. The reason why I say this is because it is not just a place where I attended elementary school, junior high, high school and played little league baseball; it was my parents who moved here in 1977 and made our house a place I can call home bearing a few minor alterations along the way. When my mom began entering the unchartered waters of politics in 1999 as City Councilmember and as Mayor for the last year, she had accomplished more than I or any one else for that fact would ever thought. A resident of San Ramon for 25 years, this woman has been in the background behind every City project, for a new City library and a Children’s Museum for current future San Ramon families. She was the first mayor of San Ramon to attend the National Mayors’ Conference in Washington D.C. and New York City. And represented the City in the most dignified and professional manner any Mayor could have. More over she continues to develop a positive relationship with businesses and residents in this wonderful community, all the while being the mother of two children and the grandmother of two boys. I know that all she wants to do is make San Ramon a better place for all of us citizens we call home. That is why I am here today commending you Mom for all your efforts that go unrecognized to make San Ramon what it is today and it will be in the future. Thanks for being my Mom and the Mayor that you are. I am proud of you and love you.

Cm. Dickey: You are a keeper son.

Mayor Tatarka: We are moving on to item 5.1. Public comment, absolutely you may sir. Just fill out a speaker card please.

Mr. Wilson: My name is Robert Wilson, Jr., a member of Council of the City Springdale, Ohio. I bring greetings from our city, honorable colleagues. I am here in support of my brother. I am very proud of him. We are a fifth or sixth generation Republican and again I am here to support my brother. My parents are here from Philadelphia, this is a momentous occasion for us and again we are very proud of my brother.

Mayor Tatarka: Now we are moving on to 5.1. I have no other speaker cards. Unfinished Business – Review and termination of emergency action for the repairs at the Bollinger Creek Crossing, northeast of the intersection of Crow Canyon of Crow Canyon and Bollinger Canyon Road. Are we having a staff report. Joye Fukuda or Stanley Fung.

Ms. Fukuda: This item is the follow up item to action that was taken by the Council at a prior meeting. At that time the Council had acknowledged that there was an emergency repair that needed to occur on Bollinger Creek which is located on the north side of Crow Canyon Road and Bollinger Canyon Road. As required by the Public Contract Code we needed to come back to the Council at a regular meeting and report back to you that the work had been completed and that the Council can now acknowledge that the emergency work has been completed and we will no longer need any further action by the Council. The staff recommendation is that you accept this and then terminate the emergency.

Mayor Tatarka: Great, ok, any questions of staff at all. None, ok

Cm. Dickey: I move approval to terminate the emergency action for the repairs at the Bollinger Creek crossing.

Cm. Hudson seconded the motion.

The motion passed 5-0.

Mayor Tatarka: Good, thank you staff. Alright we are moving on to, lets see, I think there is an item that Mr. Curry wants to bring up here before I continue any further.

Mr. Curry: The recent development in process. In my judgment and if the Council desires to add it to the agenda

Mayor Tatarka: Ok we can do that very briefly. How long would the closed session take? Five minutes ok.

Mayor Tatarka: Five minutes ok. We need to get a vote of the Council to do that, correct sir?

Mr. Curry: That is correct.

Cm. Hudson: Should we do the motion now or after?

Mayor Tatarka: Now.

Cm. Hudson: I will move that we adjourn to closed session.

Cm. Dickey: I second.

Mayor Tatarka: Ok good. All those in favor say aye. We are adjourned to closed session for about five minutes.

All Councilmembers were present when the meeting reconvened.

Mayor Tatarka: Call to order back the San Ramon City Council meeting for November 26. We met in closed session and Mr. Curry, comments on closed session.

Mr. Curry: The Council met in closed session and there was nothing to report from that meeting. As you know you have a public item appointment of new City Manager, a New Business item.

Mayor Tatarka: Thank you.. Ok we are moving on to New Business 6.1, appointment of new City Manager, Mr. Bob Murray.

Mr. Murray: Bob Murray of Bob Murray and Associates, thank you Mayor and Members of the City Council. What I would like to do is just briefly recount the City Manager search process for the Council and what has brought us to this point this evening. Approximately three months ago, or actually a little longer than that, we began the process of looking for a new City Manager by developing a profile of an ideal candidate. And we did that by my meeting with you each individually and then as a group to determine the profile of an ideal candidate. The position was noticed publicly. Since you are a public entity we wanted to make sure that anyone with an interest could be considered. It was also advertised in professional journals and we sought out candidates that might not have applied on their own. Following a period in which candidates could submit resumes we closed the search. If I remember correctly we received approximately 62 resumes from individuals that were interested in the position. I screened those resumes against the criteria that the Council established when we initially met. And as a result if I remember correctly I interviewed 14 individuals who were the most qualified of those that submitted their resume. Subsequent to that we checked the references on a smaller group of candidates and then I reported to the City Council a recommendation for candidates that I suggest that you interview. You held those interviews. You had candidates almost all from California with two exceptions, one from Oregon and one from Kansas. You talked to those folks and I think you narrowed it from six to three. Talked to the three again at length. Following those discussions the Council indicated an interest in one candidate and asked that I follow-up with that individual. One of things that I found interesting during the search was the response to the recruitment. While somewhat unusual in the current market I think you had a larger number of candidates from which to select your City Manager, a larger number than most of the City Manager searches that we do. So the City enjoyed a quality field from which to select its City Manager. The process went smoothly and I want to thank the Council for the opportunity to assist them.

Mayor Tatarka: Very good. Are there any questions of Mr. Murray. Ok it is before this City Council, appointment of a new City Manager. The individual’s name is Gail Waiters and so it is before the Council, appointment of a new City Manager for a final vote.

Cm. Dickey: I move approval of Gail Waiters as the new City Manager.

Vice Mayor Wilson: I will second.

Mayor Tatarka: Alright, all those in favor say aye.

The motion passed 4-1 (Cm. Hudson dissenting).

Mayor Tatarka: Ok and Gail Waiters is the new City Manager of the City of San Ramon. Alright we are moving on to item 7 but before we do that I would like to make a few final comments as Mayor of the City of San Ramon if you will permit me before we move on to item 7.

Mayor Tatarka: It has been the tradition of this City Council when transitioning to a new Mayor that parting gifts are presented. While in the past those gifts have been such items as teddy bears or candy or dolls. I will dispense with it and commence a new tradition of reflection. In November 2001 the rotation of Mayor was followed without fanfare or disgrace. This Council had the ability to start along what I described as a new path. That new path was for inclusiveness for both residents and businesses, bringing people and ideas together. I spoke of cooperation both regionally, with neighboring cities and other public agencies, both near and far. All of us doing our share in creating a Civic Center we can be proud of, enhancing our schools, preserving our open space and striving to mitigate the impacts of traffic. That you the residents are the City’s best asset and what makes our City great. That I will work hard for you, listen and respect you and respond in a matter that represents you with dignity. So the year with a new Council and my term as Mayor began. One that no other Mayor in the history of our City has experienced. Since I am a public official I invite you to now walk in my shoes and recount from my perspective some moments up close and personal, my year as Mayor. My sincere apologies to my husband of 33 years. I took the oath of office only weeks after September 11. A day that touched all of us one way or another. This City felt the pain more significantly with the loss of one of our residents, Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., one of several civilian heroes. The County and our City has been changed forever, our security and economy threatened. Doubt and fear ruled for months and an unprecedented period of good times ended abruptly. Far more sooner than we could have imagined. No one was prepared for the tragedy and we are still feeling some of the pain. Our nation’s leaders asked us all to come together to heal and unite in protecting our freedom. The words homeland security were born. The United States Conference of Mayors sent a message to all Mayors across the country inviting cities both large and small to attend the annual conference, to show support of each other. And for the first time ever I represented our City, our police and fire department in Washington D. C. and New York along with other cities from the region, Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, Walnut Creek, Milpitas, Richmond, San Leandro, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and even the small City of Oakley. I met with our elected representatives, Ellen Tauscher and Richard Pombo, along with other Tri-Valley City Mayors to discuss matters of mutual interest, affordable housing and traffic. A regional housing forum on affordable housing was hosted by our City, bringing not only city but state, county and federal officials together with experts in the field for what is to be hopefully an annual event. One day soon after a reporter called to ask about my trip. Instead of questions being positive and informative they were investigative in nature. I did not know the entire focus of the article or when it would appear. But my husband arrived home from a 10 day trip anxious to see me and looked at the Sunday front page headlines. He read the story with a solemn look of pain and he whispered "I love you". Why was I the only Bay Area elected official to be personally condemned in the news he said. He later found out that our credit card number had been released to the press. All part of being a public servant I said. Many Mayors and friends called me leaving messages at my home to lend their support if I needed it. Upon the return trip I learned of a meeting controversy that I was not aware of, that needed to be resolved. It was surrounding a passionate issue I could relate with completely. That unagendized item resulted in the longest public comment of any City Council meeting in San Ramon history. I arrived home at almost 3 o’clock. That day early in the morning my husband read another newspaper article regarding the meeting as lengthy and docked with business making decisions into the night. He sighed, "I know all part of being a public servant". Your voices were heard and respected. The Council’s ultimate decision reconciled both sides of the issue and caused further study to avoid further situations. That meeting was only one of several that became special meetings. In all this past year the Council held more meetings to listen to your comment, many times beyond the time limit that any Council ever had. We have asked for your input on the City and Civic Center with a personal invitation, to a never before scheduled workshop and public hearing only for your feedback. That dialogue will continue with your involvement and the dream is moving forward. Many many times the comments were more personal words of gang and trio, citing allegations, accusations and assumptions, not citing any actual documentation. I presided and listed to along with fellow Councilmembers, over 200 hours of this comment at City Council meetings. I have attended over 1,000 hours of regional and advisory committee meetings this last year, including visiting the State capitol on pivotal legislation that would have impacted severely the business community, AB680 and City funds with SB1243, and the State budget. Discussing with our State representative the impacts on San Ramon. Only the Interim City Manager and myself made the trip. I saw no one from the Chamber and I wondered why. I supported a controversial school bond measure personally at a Chamber breakfast, knowing that it helps business as well as residents. I don’t consider this anti business. Besides the typical events all Mayors attend I have had the very distinct pleasure of being the only Mayor to attend all three annual San Ramon Days at Habitat for Humanity and then attend two other events on that same day. My husband always came with me even after working a full eight-hour day. Thank you George. The most difficult and emotional meetings were the management change that embroiled this City for months. Mostly because of the unknown, a full page newspaper ad appeared saying the City was in crisis, the staff was in the middle. The community was not always privileged to the reason because closed sessions are required when there are personnel matters requiring confidentiality. Many times reporters asked pointed questions. Public comments were demeaning to all involved, even the former City Manager. Therefore the only reaction was fear and confusion by the community. My husband personally listened to harassing voice mail messages at my home from residents who would not leave their name. And my husband tried to shield them from me. Why, I thank you my husband. The City was incorporated in 1983 and had a City Manager from ’83 until ’89. When that management change occurred there was no public outcry or crisis. The City moved forward. Again the City is not in crisis or ever was. The City experienced a management change that resulted tonight in a City Manager by this Council. We are moving forward as we did in 1989. While all of us are elected officials and public servants, we understand when we run the many hours of meetings, the enormous amount of reading and preparation and to some extent the challenge of the press. But not many understand the additional expectations and responsibilities that come with the title Mayor nor do they know the perils. Though the Mayor has no more power, it is the Mayor that receives the phone calls first or the request for commitment and is perceived to have the power. As one resident said to me "but you are the Mayor aren’t you". As the Livermore Mayor was quoted today "The truth of the matter is this a 24-hour, 7-day a week job". I have accepted the challenges of being Mayor and stayed true to my word when I first took office. The Council and myself will work hard for you. Your voice will be heard and respected. I will listen and respond in a manner that represents our City with dignity. But I never expected to be judged on a higher standard than for any other Mayor that has served this City nor received the personal perils few have known until now. Those perils have been my home being shot at, my house being watched by strangers, harassing telephone calls, not only to myself but to my spouse George, hate mail and personal threats. Thank you San Ramon police officers for being there. Our City has experienced a new low in terms of politics of personal destruction. I ask when will it end and why make it personal. Other cities have had debates of one kind or another on issues that are controversial but not to this level. I as the Mayor of San Ramon have experienced this year. I have asked other Mayors and they have replied "I have not endured what you have". I have always shown my fellow residents the respect of your opinion, the compassion of your concerns and the dignity not to comment or to hurt someone. Why cannot that same dignity and respect be shown for me or residents who happen to be an elected official, your public servant and loves this City too. I want to thank the many staff that have told me that they have grown from the past year and look forward to the future. It has been a silver lining for those who seek it. Thank you this community for allowing me the time to reflect on a year, to be candid and to be personal with you. But especially my thanks and my love to my husband who has endured this trying year with me in the background. Now the transition will happen once more from Councilmember to Mayor and I trust it will be smooth. I wish the new Mayor all the good luck. And I have the faith in our community the new Mayor will not experience the same.

Mayor Tatarka: Moving on to item 7 – Nomination of Mayor and Vice Mayor.  Judy Macfarlane.

City Clerk: Mayor Tatarka and Councilmembers…

Mayor Tatarka: Excuse me there is a public comment card. I apologize. There are two, Toby Brinks.

Mr. Brinks: Good evening Mayor Tatarka, City Councilmembers, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Toby Brinks and I am President of the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce. I am speaking tonight on the nomination and selection of our new Mayor. First of all the Chamber would like to thank Mayor Nancy Tatarka for her service to the City of San Ramon as Mayor during this past year. Service to the community in this important role requires a tremendous amount of energy, sacrifice of both personal and family time. We applaud your commitment to the community. I would like to voice the Chamber’s support for Vice Mayor H. Abram Wilson as the next Mayor of the fine City of San Ramon. The Chamber supports the procedure of rotation which provides for City Councilmembers in turn to be appointed Mayor. We hope that the Council decides to follow that practice and unanimously selects H. Abram Wilson as the next Mayor of San Ramon. The Chamber has found Abram to be both knowledgeable, intelligent, and thoughtful in his approach to issues that face this great City and believe he will serve this City, its citizens and the business community with utmost confidence as our next Mayor. Thank you.

Mayor Tatarka: Thank you. Greg Carr

Mr. Carr: In November of 1994 I had the pleasure to sit in the same seat as Vice Mayor Wilson. And he stood up to expound on how he thought I should not be voted in as the Mayor. I had family and friends in the audience like he does tonight. And I had one friend who flew all the way from Florida and at the end he said "My god, I flew all the way out here for this". And in 2000 regarding Ron Raab, he had more votes than Abram, he sat in the same seat and Abram chose to not vote for him because of his perception of Mr. Raab’s actions. And Mr. Raab had family and friends here and his mother had died the day before. I am here tonight not to create a ….. I have come here tonight to ask the City Council by majority to please vote in Abram as your next Mayor because I don’t want him and his family and friends to suffer the embarrassment that Ron Raab did. In terms of me, I don’t count. But it was not very nice to friends of Ron. So I trust that you will do that and if so it will be your charge, as it was mine in 1994 when I was in the vast minority of one, to be a spokesman for the entire City Council not just for your agenda. A closing thing, I appreciate the tenacity and the guts that it took for you to be this City’s Mayor in view of the kind of harassment that you got from some people that are sitting in the audience tonight. I congratulate you. It is my pleasure to know you Nancy. And you too Abram.

Mayor Tatarka: Ok Judy.

City Clerk: Mayor Tatarka, Councilmembers. Nominations are open for Mayor.

Mayor Tatarka: I nominate Abram Wilson.

Cm. Cambra: I will second.

City Clerk: Are there other nominations? I have been asked to take a roll call vote. Mayor Tatarka.

Mayor Tatarka: Aye

City Clerk: Councilmember Cambra.

Cm. Cambra: Aye

City Clerk: Councilmember Dickey

Cm. Dickey: I will abide by San Ramon tradition and confirm Mr. Wilson as Mayor.

City Clerk: Councilmember Hudson

Cm. Hudson: Aye

City Clerk: Vice Mayor Wilson

Vice Mayor Wilson: Aye

City Clerk: Congratulations Mayor Wilson. I turn the gavel over to you for the selection of Vice Mayor.

Mayor Wilson: Thank you very much. I will take nominations for Vice Mayor of the City of San Ramon

Cm. Dickey: I nominate Gerald Cambra for Vice Mayor.

Cm. Tatarka: And I will second.

Mayor Wilson: Are there any other nominations? May we have a roll call please.

City Clerk: Cm. Dickey

Cm. Dickey: Aye

City Clerk: Cm. Cambra

Cm. Cambra: Aye

City Clerk: Cm. Hudson

Cm. Hudson: Aye

City Clerk: Cm. Tatarka

Cm. Tatarka: Aye

City Clerk: Mayor Wilson

Mayor Wilson: Aye

City Clerk: Congratulations Vice Mayor Cambra

Mayor Wilson: No two things help an individual more than placing responsibility on him and letting him know that you trust him. I would like to thank the residents of San Ramon who gave me the honor of becoming a member of the City Council and my fellow City Councilmembers who have given me the honor to lead this City in its 20^th year. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my wife, Dr. Karen Buggs Wilson, my children, Nathan and Natausha, my brother, the honorable Robert E. Wilson and my parents, Robert and Annette Wilson, who just celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary. As I look into the audience I also would like to extend gratitude and thanks to my friends and neighbors and to the City staff, for all of their support, their encouragement. And we have such an outstanding City staff. Just look at our City. It is such a beautiful city. It is an example of what we can accomplish when we all work together. The Mayor is the head of the family but it takes all the members of the family working together, not always agreeing but mutually respecting each other. Respect and integrity will be the keystone that will guide my leadership. This Council will see many challenges in the next year and beyond. These challenges remind me of what John F. Kennedy said when someone said why should the United States go into space. He replied "not because it is easy but because it is hard confronting especially difficult challenges". But these challenges focus us on the use of the tools at our disposal bringing out our emotions as well as our intellect. The paradoxical results of the higher goal is that the higher goal gives us a higher chance of success. This Council and staff will have many challenges and goals that we will have to face in the near future, maintaining the positive financial stability of the City, maintaining the strong relationship with the business community. Also maintaining the quality of life as we add new buildings and new residents to this City. These goals are all high and they are not easy. But just look around, we have faced these challenges before and we have conquered them. We are the city that knows how. We will succeed. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to be blessed to attain some of our goals in life should always remember those that have paved the way for us; those who have sacrificed so that we would have the opportunity to succeed. We must always honor and remember the past as we embrace the future. I am a firm believer that what unites the residents of San Ramon today is infinitely more important than those things that divide us. Now as a sign of unity I would like the City Council to join me in reaffirming our oath. Mrs. Macfarlane

The Councilmembers and Mayor were given the oath by the City Clerk and congratulated.

Mayor Wilson: Special Presentations Number 8.1. A proclamation of the City Council of the City of San Ramon recognizing and thanking Nancy Tatarka for her service as Mayor 2001/2002. Whereas, Nancy Tatarka served as Mayor of the City of San Ramon from November 2001 to November 2002; and. Whereas, during Nancy Tatarka’s term as Mayor much was accomplished in the City; and. Whereas, in partnership with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District construction was completed and grand opening was held for Iron Horse and Pine Valley Middle School gymnasiums; and. Whereas, on September 11, 2002 the Memorial Park and Thomas E. Burnett, Jr. Memorial Bridge were dedicated; and. Whereas, during Nancy Tatarka’s term General Plan 2020 was approved by 77% of the residents who voted on March 2002; and. Whereas, due to Mayor Tatarka’s and Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher’s motivation and support a widely attended and well received affordable housing forum was held; and Whereas, Mayor Tatarka actively represented the City’s interests at National, State and Regional levels of government; and. Whereas, Mayor Tatarka represented San Ramon at the Contra Costa County Mayors’ Conference and served as City Council liaison to the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Contra Costa County Transportation Authority, Southwest Area Transportation Committee, the Tri-Valley Affordable Housing Committee and the City’s Library Advisory Committee. Now, Therefore Be it Resolved, the City Council of the City of San Ramon does hereby recognizes Nancy Tatarka for her service as Mayor and thank her for a job well done for the City of San Ramon and its residents. Dated November 26, 2002. H. Abram Wilson, Mayor.

Mayor Wilson: Being Mayor no one understands the time commitment. On behalf of the Council, thank you. Nancy will have a little more time on her hands yes. Members of this City Council would like to present her with this Waterford crystal.

Cm. Tatarka thanked the Council.

Mayor Wilson: At this time I would like to thank everyone and invite you to join the City Council at the reception. The meeting is adjourned.

There being no further business to come before the City, the meeting was adjourned at

8:15 p.m.

Signed:

H. Abram Wilson, Mayor
Judy Macfarlane, City Clerk

APPROVED:  January 28, 2003