A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was held on June 22, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 2222 Camino Ramon, Vice Mayor Hudson presiding.

PRESENT: Councilmembers Hudson, Livingstone, Perkins and Rowley

ABSENT: Mayor Wilson

STAFF PRESENT: Interim City Manager Byron Athan, Public Works Director Joye Fukuda, Finance Director Greg Rogers, Transportation Manager Lisa Bobadilla, Maintenance Operations Division Manager Jeff Gault, Police Chief Kathy Samuels and Housing Manager Brooke Littman.

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Cub Scout Troop 841 – Walt Disney School led Council, staff and those in the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

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The Interim City Manager said a tentative meeting has been set up with Central San and the Water Quality Control Board on July 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Walt Disney School.

Cm. Perkins announced on June 25 there would be a meeting of the Tri-Valley Affordable Housing Committee at the Danville Town offices at 8:30 a.m.

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The Art and Wind Festival sponsors were announced and thanked for their participation.

The Transportation Manager introduced a presentation on the Street Smarts program, a public education campaign developed to address traffic issues in our community, particularly in and around our schools.

Linda Grabull, community relations’ manager for the City of San Jose Department of Transportation, gave an overview on the program. She spoke about why the program was started in San Jose and where they were hoping to go with it in terms of partnering opportunities.

The Transportation Manager said the program’s advisory committee will be made up of an elected official from San Ramon and Danville, two school board members, PTA members from Danville and San Ramon, city staff and members of the business community.

Mr. Livingstone said he would be willing to volunteer to attend the meetings until Mayor Wilson returns and makes an appointment.

Cm. Rowley said she would serve as an alternate.

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PUBLIC COMMENT – No one spoke

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Cm. Perkins motion to approve the minutes of the June 8, 2004 was seconded by Cm. Rowley and passed 4-0.

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Vice Mayor Hudson said items 8.2, Ordinance Prezoning Windemere Phase 2, and 8.5, Agreement with Tri-Valley Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, would be pulled from the consent calendar.

Cm. Rowley asked to have 8.7, Letter of Termination to CCCTA, be pulled.

Cm. Livingstone’s motion to approve the following consent calendar was seconded by Cm. Perkins and passed 4-0.

Register of Demands as presented by City Treasurer.

Resolution No. 2004-87 – Statement of Investment Policy for FY 2004-2005.

Resolution No. 2004-88 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Francisco & Associates, Inc. for Planning, Engineering and Financial Services for Dougherty Valley for FY 2004-05 in an amount not to exceed $60,000.

Resolution No. 2004-92 – Authorizing the submittal of an application to the Bay Area Quality Management District for funds for the purpose of CIP Project No. 7123 Old Ranch Road Bicycle Path.

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The Planning Director said the Ordinance had been introduced at the last meeting. He said the prezoning was consistent with the General Plan.

No one spoke during the public hearing.

Cm. Perkins’ motion to adopt the Ordinance, Prezoning Windemere Phase 2 and waive the reading was seconded by Cm. Livingstone and passed 4-0.

The Interim Economic Development Director said the $113,110 was in the FY 2004/05 budget to cover the agreement with the Tri-Valley Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. He said the City initiated last year service level targets and noted the CVB had done very well and in some cases had exceeded the targets.

Cm. Perkins’ motion to adopt the resolution approving the agreement was seconded by Cm. Rowley and passed 4-0.

Resolution No. 2004-89 – Approving an agreement with the Tri-Valley Convention and Visitors’ Bureau for continued promotional services on behalf of San Ramon Hospitality Businesses during FY 2004-05 and authorizing the Mayor and Interim City Manager to execute said agreement on the City’s behalf.

The Transportation Manager introduced a resolution authorizing the Mayor to submit a letter of termination to the CCCTA, County Connection. She said as a member of the County Connection Agency, San Ramon was obligated to provide a 12-month notice of Termination if we think we would like to withdraw. It has been requested the Council consider this action, keeping mind, that any time during the 12-month period the letter could be withdrawn. She said there were three options under review by the City to provide transit services.

Cm. Perkins asked that the transit-related fees currently being paid by the new home buyers in Dougherty Valley be described.

The Transportation Manager said the county was requesting that the $500 fee per unit for Gale Ranch III be used to provide a basic level of service for the Dougherty Valley. For Windemere Phases III and IV, the final development of that project, the county has added a $429 fee per unit also to provide transit service. She said as a member of the County Connection service district these residents are entitled to a basic level of service. She also stated staff believes the funding should be used to expand or enhance the basic level of service.

In response to Cm. Perkins’ questions the Transportation Manager confirmed Dougherty Valley was currently not receiving any service and she was not aware of any developers other than those in Dougherty Valley who pay to provide a basic level of transit service.

Vice Mayor Hudson said the reason why this issue was before the Council that night was action must be taken by the end of the month or it will be two years before action can be taken. He said he would be voting to send the termination letter.

Cm. Livingstone’s motion to adopt the resolution authorizing the submittal of the letter of termination was seconded by Cm. Perkins and passed 4-0.

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The Maintenance Operation Manager said this item was heard by the Council at the June 8, 2004 meeting. At that meeting the recommendation was protested by one of the contractors who participated in RFP process and the item was sent to the Policy Committee for review. He continued to say the Policy Committee met to discuss the selection process and after discussion decided it would support staff’s recommendation. He said staff recommended the City Council deny the protest by White Oak and adopt the resolutions.

The City Manager said White Oak had withdrawn its appeal before the Policy Committee made their decision and therefore it was not necessary to deny it.

Cm. Rowley’s motion to adopt resolutions approving agreements to provide Turf Mowing Services at City maintained parks was seconded by Cm. Livingstone and passed 4-0.

Resolution No. 2004-85 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Pacheco Brothers Gardening, Inc. for Turf Mowing Services to City Parks, Area II in an additional amount not to exceed a cumulative $30,000 for providing additional sport turf mowing in City Parks.

Resolution No. 2004-86 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with FloraTech Landscape Management, Inc. for Turf Mowing Services in City Parks, Area I, in an amount not to exceed $154,035 and authorizing an additional amount not to exceed a cumulative $30,000 for providing additional sports turf mowing in City Parks.

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The Housing Manager said as part of the Housing Element process the City is required to identify and designate adequate sites with appropriate densities to accommodate the regional housing need determination numbers assigned to the City by ABAG. She said in February 2004, following a series of revisions, the City received approval of the Housing Element subject to the implementation of the State-mandated modifications by the City. Three public hearings were held before the Planning Commission and three public hearings will be held before the City Council.

Veronica Tam, Cotton Bridges Associates, gave an overview of the State-mandated changes to the Housing Element of the General Plan.

Cm. Livingstone asked for an overview of the benefit to the City for getting the Housing Element approved.

Ms. Tam said there were two major benefits to getting the Housing Element approved; 1), it gives you the protection of law and, 2) there are some state housing funds like the Prop 46 housing funds and some state and federal funds that require that you have a certified Housing Element in order to be eligible. She said a third potential benefit is there has been some discussion about reducing the City’s FICA license fee if it does not have a certified Housing Element.

Vice Mayor Hudson said this item will be heard three times by the Council so there will be other opportunities to comment.

Vice Mayor Hudson opened the public hearing.

Donna Kerger said extensive time and effort had been spent on the General Plan and the Housing Element. She said as a Planning Commissioner she wholeheartedly supported it and looked forward to finalizing the Housing Element.

Dennis Viers, Housing Advisory Committee, said he had been chair of the Housing Element during the General Plan process. He gave an overview of the process involved to establish a General Plan to go to the voters.

Cm. Perkins’ motion to accept the report and continue this item to July 13, 2004 was seconded by Cm. Rowley and passed 4-0.

The City Manager said on behalf of the staff he would again like to recognize the services of David Berger, Economic Development Manager and said he had come at a time when the City needed his expertise.

Vice Hudson said on behalf of the Council, please come back any time.

Vice Mayor Hudson said he had filled in for the Mayor as a guest of honor at the Grant Aid program for the Hindu Community and Cultural Center. He spoke about the outreach program they had and the grants that were given to some of the most needy people.

There being no further business to come before the City, at 8:30 p.m. Vice Mayor Wilson Hudson said the meeting would adjourn to closed session pursuant to Government Code §54956.8 to confer with its real property negotiator, David Berger, on Assessor’s Parcel Number 213-130-066.

Signed:
H. Abram Wilson, Mayor
Judy Macfarlane, City Clerk

Approved: July 13, 2004