MINUTES OF THE
CITY OF SAN RAMON – COUNCIL MEETING

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was held October 25, 2005 at 7:02 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 2222 Camino Ramon, Mayor Wilson presiding.

PRESENT: Councilmembers Hudson, Perkins, Vice Mayor Livingstone and Mayor Wilson.

ABSENT: Councilmember Rowley

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Herb Moniz, City Attorney By Athan, Police Chief Scott Holder, Planning Director Phil Wong, Chief Building Official Reggie Meigs, Parks and Community Services Director Jeff Eorio and City Clerk Patricia Edwards.

Members of Webelos Pack 841 from Walt Disney Elementary School led the Council, staff, and those in the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

Mayor Wilson asked if there were any changes or additions to the agenda. The City Clerk reported that there were no changes.

Mayor Wilson asked if there were any changes or additions to the Boards, Committee and Commission meetings schedule. The City Clerk noted that the Planning Commission meeting scheduled for November 1, 2005 has been canceled.

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Planning Director Phil Wong introduced Tai Akiwumi. Mr. Akiwumi’s responsibilities include enhancing and streamlining the permit process for the City’s Building Department. The Mayor presented Mr. Akiwumi with a City pin and welcomed him to the City. Mr. Akiwumi thanked the Council for the opportunity to contribute to the City.

City Manager Herb Moniz introduced Karen McNamara, the new Public Services Director. She recently served as the Parks and Community Services Director for the City of Tracy. Prior to working in Tracy, Ms. McNamara worked for the City of San Ramon for eleven years as the Community Services Manager. Mr. Moniz stated that he was pleased that Ms. McNamara has returned to work for San Ramon. Mayor Wilson presented Ms. McNamara with a City pin and said that it is a pleasure to welcome her back to the San Ramon family. Ms. McNamara thanked the City Manager for this opportunity and said that she is looking forward to working with the Department Heads, Council, and staff to accomplish great things for the City.

Recognition of Mary Gentry as City of San Ramon Employee of the Month for October 2005.

Police Chief Holder recognized Mary Gentry as the City’s Employee of the Month for October 2005. He stated that he is glad to have her on the team because she can always be counted on to get things done. Mayor Wilson presented her with a certificate and stated that Ms. Gentry is always very professional and an outstanding employee because she cares about the City and gives 200%. Ms. Gentry stated that it was easy to do her job because she works with an awesome team in the Police Department.

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The City Clerk noted that no Council appointments were scheduled.

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The City Clerk noted that there were no requests for public comment.

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Vice Mayor Livingstone’s motion approve the October 11, 2005 minutes was seconded by Cm. Hudson and
passed 4-0. Cm. Rowley was absent.

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Resolution No. 2005-139 – Increasing the City of San Ramon Child Care Fee for Residential and Non-Residential Developments.

Resolution No. 2005-140 – Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Amendment to the Consultant Agreement with EDAW, Inc. for Preparation of the Northwest Specific Plan.

Resolution No. 2005-141 – Approving a $136,372.32 Expenditure for Police Department Mobile Data Computers.

Resolution No. 2005-142 – Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Site Use Agreement with Cingular Wireless for Telecommunication Equipment Installed at the City of San Ramon Service Center.

Resolution No. 2005-143 – Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Site Use Agreement with Metro PCS for Installing a Telecommunication Antenna and Associated Equipment at the City of San Ramon Service

There were no requests for public comment on the Consent Calendar items.

Cm. Hudson asked the City Attorney if the Council needed to read the Ordinance. The City Attorney stated that it was only necessary to read the introduction.

Vice Mayor Livingstone’s motion to approve consent calendar items 8.1 through 8.6, was seconded by Cm. Perkins and passed 4-0.

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The City Clerk noted there were no items of Unfinished Business.

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Reggie Meigs, Chief Building Official, stated that the purpose of adopting the amendment to the Ordinance for Vehicle Abatement is to update the City’s Municipal Code so that it will comply with the California Vehicle Code (CVC).

Vice Mayor Livingstone requested an explanation of the changes.

Mr. Meigs stated that, previously, the City located the vehicles, reported them to the Highway Patrol and then the Highway Patrol was responsible for enforcement and abatement. A recent change in the CVC allows local jurisdictions to take action and enforce this Ordinance. Local jurisdictions can now also charge full recovery costs if the vehicle is on private property. Mr. Meigs reported that the definitions of inoperable and abandoned vehicles remain the same. The Ordinance places enforcement authority under the Chief of Police. The Police Chief will be the hearing official in the event of an appeal.

Cm. Hudson clarified that the Council’s action is the introduction of the Ordinance to amend the Municipal Code. He asked the City Attorney if one or two public hearings were required. The City Attorney stated that the public hearing was properly noticed and therefore should be conducted at this meeting. Cm. Hudson commented that the item could be removed from the Consent Calendar at the next Council meeting if any residents want to present their concerns.

Mayor Wilson asked if the Ordinance gives the City more rights to deal with problem vehicles. Mr. Meigs stated that the City has not experienced many problems with vehicles left on the street for more than 72 hours. He noted that there are more citizen complaints regarding cars that are left for long periods of time and which are deteriorating. This Ordinance enables the City to abate vehicles from private property if the property owners do not take proper action. Mayor Wilson questioned the procedure. Mr. Meigs stated that the procedure includes five days notice to take corrective action and gives residents five days to file an appeal to the Chief of Police. The Police Chief has five days to set the hearing date. If the residents are not satisfied with the Police Chief’s decision, they can appeal to the City Council.

Cm. Perkins stated that the City always had the right to the abatement of dilapidated and abandoned vehicles on private property but that it was handled through the California Highway Patrol. This Ordinance gives the City an enforcement mechanism through the San Ramon Police Department and Code Enforcement. Mr. Meigs stated that the previous Ordinance through the CVC actually prevented action by local jurisdictions and mandated that they contact the Highway Patrol. The City can now take needed action but is still required to report to the Highway Patrol that the action will be taken.

Mayor Wilson opened the public comment. There were no requests to address the issue. Mayor Wilson closed the public comment.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to introduce the Vehicle Abatement Ordinance and waive the reading of the Ordinance was seconded by Cm. Perkins and passed 4-0.

Parks and Community Services Director Jeff Eorio introduced Bill Meine, Vice Chairperson, Senior Advisory Committee. Mr. Meine stated that the Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) Annual Report was approved by the Committee on October 3, 2005 and reviewed by the Parks and Community Services Commission on
October 12, 2005. He reviewed the Committee’s operations; provided the 2004-2005 goals update; outlined strategies to incorporate residents in the Dougherty Valley and strategies to promote the Senior Center activities and efforts to promote the Senior Center expansion. He also reviewed the major accomplishments and actions which included: increased utilization of the Senior Center; introduction of new programs and services; support of the Senior Center Foundation; and promotion of the Senior Scholar program. He stated that over 50,000 visits were made to the Senior Center during 2004-2005 and that the Annual Rummage Sale netted $2,279. He reported that the Volunteer, the Nutrition, and the Program and Outreach sub-committees were also active. He outlined the 2005-2006 goals which include: researching and providing alternatives to the Senior Nutrition Program; researching and providing recommendations to the Senior Center transportation service; reviewing the current Senior Center space allocation and pursuing expansion of the Senior Center.

Mr. Meine noted that the Senior Center provides transportation in the morning and afternoon for citizens who request the service. The charge is $1.50 for the pick-up. He added that it takes 1 to 1 ½ hours to make the round trip. He stressed the importance of adding a small, 11 passenger van to provide less costly service to the Dougherty Valley.

Mayor Wilson confirmed that the seniors are requesting a 7- or 11-passenger van.

Cm. Hudson requested clarification on the size of the van. Mr. Meine stated that one of their problems is getting eligible drivers for the larger vans which require a Class B license which is difficult to obtain. A 7- or 11-passenger van requires a Class C license.

Cm. Hudson asked if the SAC is working on recommendations to the Parks Commission for financing of the Senior Center expansion. Mr. Meine added that the seniors are discussing this issue and working on securing donations.

Cm. Perkins asked if the Senior Center would be able to get drivers if they have an 11-passenger van. Mr. Meine responded affirmatively.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to accept the report was seconded by Cm. Perkins and passed 4-0. Cm. Hudson requested that the Finance Committee investigate the feasibility of purchasing a 7- or 11-passenger van and pursue the expansion of the Senior Center. Mayor Wilson stated that the Council’s actions are limited to accepting the report. He added that other issues need to be presented to the Parks and Community Services Commission for review. The Parks Commission would forward any items to the City Council for consideration.

The City Manager had no comments.

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Cm. Hudson reported on the East Bay Regional Parks District meeting. They discussed the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the addition of several trails south of Pleasanton. The District is reviewing the area from the Machado Ranch (Dublin) and the possibility of connecting it to the Bishop Ranch Trust. He added that the possibility exists that the Bay Area Ridge Trail may connect to the Iron Horse Trail in the foreseeable future.

Cm. Perkins reported that the recent Harvest Festival event held at Forest Home Farms was wonderful and included a variety of activities. He complimented City staff for their work and noted that everyone, including many young families, had lots of fun. He reported that the third year of the San Ramon Presbyterian Church’s Building Bridges event was a great success. He thanked Brian Lindblom for his help in identifying recipient households for the event.

Vice Mayor Livingstone thanked Waste Management for donating dumpsters to the Building Bridges project. He suggested that a similar event be held in the spring.

Mayor Wilson commented that San Ramon is blessed with volunteers who care about the community. He noted that each of the Building Bridges events has been overwhelmingly successful. He thanked the San Ramon Presbyterian Church for organizing this event and for making a difference in the lives of both the recipients and participants. He thanked the volunteers who worked and encouraged others to become involved.

There being no further business, Mayor Wilson adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m. in memory of Rosa Parks, a person who proved that one person could change the world if they believed in what they were doing. The Council convened to Closed Session: Pursuant to Government Code §54957 for the City Council to meet with its Labor Negotiators, Jeff Eorio, Greg Rogers and Cheryl Mitchell Wade, concerning negotiations with SEIU Local 790.

Mayor Wilson reconvened the meeting at 8:36 p.m. He reported that the City Council was advised of the status of negotiations with SEIU Local 790 and no formal action was taken.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m.

Signed:
H. Abram Wilson, Mayor
Patricia Edwards, City Clerk

Approved at the November 8, 2005 City Council meeting, 4-0, Councilmember Rowley abstain.