MINUTES OF THE
CITY OF SAN RAMON – COUNCIL MEETING
September 28, 2004

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was held on September 14, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 2222 Camino Ramon, Mayor Wilson presiding.

PRESENT: Councilmembers Hudson, Livingstone, Rowley and Mayor Wilson

ABSENT: Councilmember Perkins

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Herb Moniz, City Attorney Byron Athan, Public Works Director Joye Fukuda, Police Sergeant Bryan Reynolds, Transportation Manager Lisa Bobadilla, Police Administrative Programs Manager Kevin Carunchio, Senior Civil Engineer Detlef Curtis and City Clerk Judy Macfarlane

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Mayor Wilson announced the Council had met in closed session pursuant to Government Code §54956.8 to meet with its real property negotiators and Government Code §54957.5 to confer with Labor Negotiators, Jeff Eorio, Greg Rogers and Cheryl Mitchell Wade, regarding SEIU Local – 790 – no action was taken on either item.

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Marielle Boortz, Chevron/Texaco, led Council, staff and those in the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

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Mayor Wilson introduced the following "Street Smarts" Program Corporate Sponsors: Bank of Walnut Creek, Chevron/Texaco, ClubSport of San Ramon, Erick’s Deli and Cafe, Shapell, Sunset Development and Windemere and gave them proclamations and plaques recognizing and thanking them for their contributions.

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Andrea Stauder, representing Dr. Sandy Bigman, spoke about the 10^th annual talent show sponsored by Dr. Bigman benefiting the Contra Costa County Food Bank. She said the show would be held October 8, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Center.

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Mark Ballock, San Ramon Arts Foundation, thanked the City Council, the City and the sponsors for their support of the September 11 and 12 San Ramon Arts Walk and Festival held in Windemere.

Cm. Rowley thanked the Arts Foundation members for all of their hard work in putting on the event.

Cm. Hudson thanked the new residents in Windemere and Gale Ranch for their support, noting the event was the right size, the right flavor and the right time of year.

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Cm. Livingstone’s motion to approve the minutes of the September 14, 2004 meeting was seconded by Cm. Hudson and passed 4-0.

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Cm. Hudson asked that item 8.10, approving the purchase of a new Police Department Investigations Vehicle, be removed for comment.

Cm. Hudson said during the budget discussions, he had recommended developing a program to monitor the life span of City equipment so it would not have to be replaced on an individual basis.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to approve the following Consent Calendar was seconded by Cm. Rowley and passed 4-0.

Resolution Nos. 2004-117 and 2004-119 – Accepting Hidden Hills Elementary School Park and Coyote Creek Elementary School Park for Maintenance.

Resolution No. 2004-133 – Authorizing Employee Classifications.

Resolution No. 2004-122 – Approving the Plans, Specifications and Estimate and authorizing the Mayor to, 1) execute a contract with Steiny & Company, Inc. for the construction of PG&E Right-of-Way Street Lighting Improvement Project (CIP 5390) in an amount of $58,320 and, 2) authorize an additional 10% contingency amount of $5, 832 for a total authorized amount not to exceed $64,152.

Resolution No. 2004-123 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute a Right-of-Way Agreement and accept a Grant Deed from Union Bank of California N.A.A National Bank for portions of properties at 3223 Crow Canyon Road (APN 213-011-001) for construction of Crow Canyon Corridor Improvement Project for an amount not to exceed $16,800.

Resolution No. 2004-124 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute a Right-of-Way Agreement and accept a Grant Deed from the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Contra Costa County, a Political Division of the State of California for portions of properties at 3280 Fostoria Way (APN 218-111-003) and 3300 Crow Canyon Road (APN 218-111-003) and 3300 Crow Canyon Road (APN 218-111-007) for construction of Crow Canyon Corridor Improvement Project for an amount not to exceed $20,800.

Resolution No. 2004-125 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute a Right-of-Way Agreement and accept a Grant Deed from Devil Mountain Food-Concord, LLC for a portion of property at 3240 Crow Canyon Road (APN 218-111-007) for construction of Crow Canyon Corridor Improvement Project for an amount not to exceed $46,000.

Resolution No. 2004-126 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute a Right-of-Way Agreement and accept a Grant Deed from Jiffy Lube International of Maryland, Inc. a Maryland Corporation for a portion of property at 2099 Camino Ramon (APN 218-111-012) for construction of Crow Canyon Corridor Improvement Project for an amount not to exceed $327.

Resolution No. 2004-127 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute a Right-of-Way Agreement and accept a Grant Deed from James S. Lindsey and Joyce A. Lindsey for a portion of property at 2190 Camino Ramon (APN 218-112-001) for construction of Crow Canyon Corridor Improvement Project for an amount not to exceed $17,300.

Resolution No. 2004-128 – Authorizing the Mayor to execute a Right-of-Way Agreement and accept a Grant Deed from Marilyn Brite for portions of properties at 3130 Crow Canyon Road (APN 218-112-005) and 3140 Crow Canyon Road (APN 218-112-005) for construction of Crow Canyon Corridor Improvement Project for an amount not to exceed $18,400.

Resolution No. 2004-131 – Appropriating $21,500 from the Equipment Replacement Fund for a new Police Department Investigations Vehicle.

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The Police Administrative Programs Manager said the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund will provide the City with a minimum of $100,000 this year to continue funding the Community and Youth Resource Officer position. In order to receive this funding, a public hearing must be held regarding the use of the monies and a resolution approved authorizing the expenditure of funds.

No one spoke during the public hearing.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to adopt the resolution authorizing the expenditure of funds was seconded by Cm. Livingstone and passed 4-0.

Resolution No. 2004-130 – Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Funding for a Community Youth Resource Officer.

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The City Manager said the City Council had discussed the role of the Mayor in San Ramon at their July 2004 workshop plus the process of developing a written description of the Mayor’s role and responsibilities which would include the opportunity for public input. During further discussion, it was decided a seven member Task Force would be formed. The Task Force would have a 90 – 120 day deadline to establish criteria based upon the City’s Charter amendment, written material available through the League of Women Voters and the League of California Cities in addition to public input.

Cm. Hudson confirmed the City Manager would staff the Task Force.

Cm. Livingstone said he agreed with the concept but he recommended minimizing the number of members. He said Victor Peterson, the person who spearheaded the Elected Mayor initiative, should be a voting member of the Task Force.

Mayor Wilson said Cm. Perkins left a note stating he was in favor of the concept.

Cm. Livingstone said if Victor Peterson indicates a desire to be on the Task Force he would appoint him as his nominee.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to direct staff to initiate the process to establish the Task Force to review and define the duties of the elected Mayor was seconded by Cm. Rowley and passed 4-0.

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Short Range Transit Plan

The Transportation Manager introduced a resolution that would authorize staff to submit a grant application to Caltrans Community Transportation Planning Grant Program in an amount not to exceed $20,000 for the preparation of a short range transit plan.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to approve the resolution authorizing the submittal of a grant application was seconded by Cm. Rowley and passed 4-0.

Resolution No. 2004-132 – Approving the appropriation of $20,000 to prepare a Short-Range Transit Plan for the City of San Ramon.

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The Senior Civil Engineer gave the history of the Barbados Drive Slide and the participation of the County before San Ramon’s incorporation and the City’s recent involvement. He recommended the City participate with the Homeowners’ Association in the repair of the slide.

Paul Cahalen, Country View Homeowners Association, described the first slide in 1981 and the process used for repair. He said the slide area is worse than it was four or five years ago and it is not going to get any better. He asked the Council to approve participation with the HOA in the repair.

Cm. Livingstone complimented Mr. Cahalen on his precise, accurate rendition of the background of the Barbados Slide and commended him and the HOA for putting it together and keeping it together. He said this is in the best interests of everyone and he definitely supported it.

Cm. Hudson said this was an opportunity to do some prevention before something happens.

Cm. Rowley said she commended Mr. Cahalen and staff for getting everyone involved and persevering.

Mayor Wilson said the City was getting ready to accept the last property in the Dougherty Valley in the next two years and asked what protects us and those residents in the future from a slide in Dougherty Valley.

The City Attorney said there was a Geologic Hazard Abatement District formed in Dougherty Valley which will cover this type of problem in the future.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to adopt the resolution approving a mitigated negative declaration and the resolution authorizing the City’s participation was seconded by Cm. Rowley and passed 4-0.

Resolution No. 2004-120 – Approving a Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Barbados Drive Slide Repair.

Resolution No. 2004-121 – Authorizing City’s Participation with the Country View Home Owners Association in the Barbados Drive Slide Repair in an amount not to exceed $45,638 and authorizing a contingency amount not to exceed $4,564 and authorizing an appropriation from the Drainage Mitigation Fund in the amount of $50,202.

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Cm. Hudson said at the Southwest Area Transportation Committee (SWAT) meeting the Town of Danville and the City of San Ramon made a very strong plea to get some advocacy from the Board to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. He said he was on the Operating and Scheduling committee of CCCTA.

Cm. Hudson said at the recent East Bay Regional Park District meeting it was announced that the Park District and Chevron/Texaco were supporting the Pt. Milat area to be a park. At the same meeting, an October 30 field trip for Sycamore Park was discussed. Staff has been looking at getting some entries to the park from the San Ramon side and suggested they would be interested in the field trip.

Cm. Hudson said the businesses had really come through with funding for the Street Smarts Program. He complimented staff for their work in establishing a very important program.

Mayor Wilson said that Cm. Perkins had asked Council endorsement of Measure J and Proposition 1A be scheduled for the October 12 meeting.

Mayor Wilson said on October 4 in Danville there would be a public forum regarding the County Urban Limit Line and a second forum in San Ramon on October 11.

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There being no further business to come before the City, at 8:12 p.m. the meeting was adjourned.

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

Approved:  October 12, 2004