A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was held on July 11, 2006 at 7:08 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 2222 Camino Ramon, Mayor Wilson presiding.

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

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Herb Moniz, City Attorney By Athan, Administrative Sergeant Paul O’Mary, Parks and Community Services Director Jeff Eorio, Public Services Director Karen McNamara, and City Clerk Pat Edwards.

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Connor Box, Kyle Lark, and Matthew Ridges, members of Cub Scout Pack 841 from Walt Disney Elementary School led the Council, staff, and the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

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Mayor Wilson asked if there were any changes or additions to the agenda. The City Clerk noted there were none.

Mayor Wilson asked if there were any changes or additions to the Boards, Committee and Commission meetings schedule. The City Clerk noted that the Architectural review Board meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 13, 2006, has been cancelled. The Arts Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, July 26, 2006.

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Mayor Wilson recognized Uri Eliahu, president of ENGEO Incorporated, and members of his staff as recipients of the East Bay Business Times’ "Best Place to Work in the Bay Area for 101-500 Employees" award. ENGEO Incorporated was founded in 1971 as an engineering geology services company and moved to San Ramon in 1992. ENGEO Incorporated attributes this rating to good communication, an open door policy, after work activities, and a close knit staff. Mayor Wilson wished the company many more successful years in San Ramon. Mr. Eliahu said that he is fortunate to have 250 of the best employees on earth. He is honored to receive this recognition. ENGEO Incorporated is proud to have their world headquarters in San Ramon.

Recognition of Kim French as City of San Ramon Employee of the Month for July 2006.

Parks and Community Services Director Jeff Eorio introduced Kim French, Special Events and Cultural Arts Coordinator. She has worked for the City for five years and is responsible for planning the Fourth of July events and the Wind Festival, two of San Ramon’s signature events. He stated that he would prefer to recognize her as the ‘Employee of the Year’. He added that Ms. French’s work ensures that San Ramon is a great place to live.

Mayor Wilson presented Ms. French with a certificate and gold star. He commented that Ms. French goes beyond the norm in her work exemplifying the epitome of a dedicated employee. The City could not put a dollar value on her work. Ms. French thanked the Council and remarked that she has had amazing leadership and support and that it is a pleasure to work for the City.

Cm. Perkins reported that he attended this year’s Eggstravaganza event, an annual Easter egg hunt. In spite of the rainy weather, it was a wonderful event for the children due to Ms. French’s enthusiasm.

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The City Clerk noted that there were no City Council appointments.

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The City Clerk noted that there was one request for public comment.

Roz Rogoff said she was not aware of Scott Holder’s appointment as Chief of Police. She writes the San Ramon Observer so that people will know about local issues. She noted that every City department has a different PR person who sends out public releases. She stated that there is no central communications person for the City and the City is getting too large to be without a City spokesperson. She suggested that the Council consider such a position. Mayor Wilson responded that the City’s spokesperson is the City Manager or the Mayor.

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Vice Mayor Rowley’s motion to approve the June 27, 2006 minutes was seconded by Cm. Livingstone and passed 4-0. Cm. Perkins abstained.

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Resolution No. 2006-101 – Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with McNevin Cleaning Specialist, Inc. Renewing the Agreement for One Year to Provide Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services and Increasing the Scope of Work to Include Carpet at the Dougherty Station Community Center for a Total Annual Amount not to Exceed $50,924.

Accept the Work by Spencon Construction, Inc. for the Construction of the FY 2005/2006 Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk Repair Project (CIP 5367) as Complete and Authorize the City Clerk to File a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder's Office.

Resolution No. 2006-102 – Accepting Certain Roadway, Stormdrain, Trail and Easement Dedications and Improvements in Subdivision 7984 for Maintenance (Shapell Industries/Monarch at Gale Ranch).

Resolution No. 2006-103 – Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with the Ohlone Preserve Conservation Bank for Purchase of Conservation Credit in an Amount not to Exceed $12,000 for the Alamo Creek Box Culvert Headwall Repair Project (CIP 5411).

Resolution No. 2006-104 – Authorizing an Appropriation of Funds from the Park Development Fund for the Repair of the Central Park Irrigation Well (CIP 5443) in an Amount not to Exceed $39,806.

Ordinance 380 – Approving Prezoning 06-610-001 for the Property Commonly Known as Windemere Phase 5A and 5B.

Resolution No. 2006-105 – Authorizing Financial Assistance to the San Ramon Valley Coalition for Youth Safety and Development in the Amount of $5,000.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to approve consent calendar items 8.1 through 8.7 and waive the reading for Ordinance 380 was seconded by Cm. Livingstone and passed 5-0.

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Public Services Director Karen McNamara noted that the Public Hearing was continued from the June 27, 2006 Council meeting. She requested that the Council close the Public Hearing for Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1984-1, declare the ballot results, and adopt Resolution No. 2006-106 and Resolution No. 2006-107 as the last step in the process.

On May 12, 2006, ballots were mailed in accordance with Proposition 218. The tabulation of ballots was done on June 28, 2006. Ballot tabulation was conducted by a third party firm and was open to the public. Of the 15,135 ballots mailed, 6,320 ballots were returned (41.7% return rate). Based on the weighted amount of the proposed assessment, the increase was confirmed with a 51.62% yes return.

There were no requests for public comment. Responding to Cm. Hudson’s inquiry, the City Attorney stated that the Council must close the public hearing prior to voting on the resolutions.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to close the public hearing and approve Resolution No. 2006-106 was seconded by Cm. Perkins and passed 5-0.

Mayor Wilson clarified the procedure with the City Attorney for closing the public hearing for Resolution No. 2006-107. Cm. Hudson’s motion to approve Resolution No. 2006-107 was seconded by Cm. Perkins and passed 5-0.

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The City Clerk noted that there were no items of new business.

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City Manager Herb Moniz thanked Finance Director Greg Rogers and the City’s Department Heads for doing a great job on the Fourth of July event and on the Mayors’ Conference while he was on vacation.

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Cm. Hudson thanked the Mayor and City staff for a fantastic Mayors’ Conference.

He reported that the SWAT meeting discussed the Urban Limit Line ballot measure. He is concerned because the Urban Limit Line map shows that Camp Parks is within Contra Costa County. Camp Parks has been within San Ramon’s Urban Limit Line since the LAFCo resolution. In March 1992, the residents voted to include it in San Ramon. He requested that a letter be sent to clarify this error prior to the election.

Cm. Hudson reported that the I-680 auxiliary lane construction is on the fast track and is expected to be completed by December 2006. He anticipates that the congestion will be cleared before Christmas.

Cm. Livingstone congratulated City staff on a wonderful July 4^th presentation. The Parks and Community Services did an outstanding job. He also complimented staff for presenting a classy Mayors’ Conference.

Vice Mayor Rowley remarked that the July 4^th event was a wonderful snapshot of Americana and thanked staff for their hard work. She noted that the Mayors’ Conference was a wonderful event and provided an excellent venue to showcase the Dougherty Station Library and Community Center.

Cm. Perkins recognized the contributions of the Public Services staff, Police Services, and the Parks staff for their efforts to make July 4^th a spectacular event. He appreciates the work done by the entire City staff.

Mayor Wilson reported that San Ramon established an Emergency Operations Center.

(EOC) during the July 4^th event. He said that the EOC worked well and will be a prototype for disaster situations. He thanked everyone for an outstanding Independence Day event. People were able to come and enjoy themselves. He thanked staff for their team effort in providing a successful Mayors' Conference.

Mayor Wilson convened the Council at 7:40 p.m. to closed session. The City Council met in closed session pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8 to meet with its real property negotiators, Jeff Eorio and Greg Rogers, regarding property identified as APN 223-100-054, negotiating party: San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

At 8:07 p.m., Mayor Wilson reported that no action was taken by the Council on the closed session item.

There being no further business, Mayor Wilson adjourned the meeting at 8:09 p.m..

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

 Approved at the July 25, 2006 City Council meeting, 5-0.