MINUTES OF THE
CITY OF SAN RAMON – COUNCIL MEETING

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Ramon was held November 14, 2006 in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 2222 Camino Ramon, Mayor Wilson presiding. The meeting convened to Closed Session at 6:03 p.m.

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

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Herb Moniz, City Attorney By Athan, Police Chief Scott Holder, Planning Director Phil Wong, Engineering Services Director Joye Fukuda, Planning Services Manager Debbie Chamberlain, and City Clerk Patricia Edwards.

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At 6:03 p.m., the Council met in closed session pursuant to Government Code §54957 to meet with its labor negotiators, Jeff Eorio, Greg Rogers, and Cheryl Mitchell Wade – SEIU Local 790. At 7:04 p.m., Mayor Wilson reconvened the meeting. All Councilmembers were in attendance. No action was taken by the Council.

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Roz Rogoff 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 there were none.

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Mayor Wilson presented a City certificate to Mark Ballock recognizing his receipt of the 2006 Arts Recognition Award from the Contra Costa County Arts and Culture Commission. Mr. Ballock was one of six recipients honored. Mr. Ballock thanked the Council for the recognition and said that it is an honor to represent the community.

Don Kowalski, Founder of Student Art For Education (SAFE), gave a history of the program. Since its inception, SAFE has donated over $1 million to the San Ramon Valley School District. He acknowledged the outstanding support from the local business community ant the contribution of local framing companies. Mayor Wilson recognized Mr. Kowalski for his efforts and perseverance. Mr. Kowalski introduced Jerri Wind and Mark Kizzar and thanked them for their corporate support. SAFE art was returned to from Hitachi to Harry Fiebelman, Alexis Cohn, Marissa Glover, Sierra Rainbolt, Maria Ellman, Brittany Ward, and from EDS to Jennifer Han and Kyle Perry.

Recognition of Chung Kong as the City of San Ramon Employee of the Month for November 2006.

Planning Director Phil Wong introduced Chung Kong, Building Division Permit Technician, and the City’s Employee of the Month for November 2006. Mr. Kong was recognized for his quick response in collecting data which resulted in a savings of thousands of dollars in bond insurance premiums for the recent Redevelopment bond sale. Mayor Wilson recognized Mr. Kong and presented him with a certificate and a gold star paper weight. Mr. Kong thanked the Council for the recognition and stated that his goal is to provide excellent service to the City’s residents.

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Mayor Wilson called a recess at 7:26 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 7:33 p.m. with all Councilmembers in attendance.

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

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Cm. Livingstone’s motion to approve the October 24, 2006 minutes was seconded by Vice Mayor Rowley and passed
4-0. Cm. Perkins abstained.

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Resolution No. 2006-159 – Accepting Certain Landscape Parcels and Certain Landscape Improvements in RA 1116 (North Wedgewood Road) for Maintenance (Shapell Industries/Monarch at Gale Ranch).

Resolution No. 2006-160 – Accepting Quail Run Elementary School Park for Maintenance.

Resolution No. 2006-161 – Adopting Police Department Classification Specifications, Salary Ranges and Incentive Pay.

Adopt Ordinance No. 385 – Establishing a Second Alternate Member and Approving Minor Amendments to the Architectural Review Board Bylaws.

Resolution No. 2006-162 – Approving the Emergency Operations Plan.

Minute Order 2006-07 – Approving a $68,674 Expenditure from the Vehicle Replacement Fund for Three Replacement Patrol Vehicles.

Cm. Hudson’s motion to approve consent calendar items 8.1 through 8.7 and waive the reading of Ordinance 385 was seconded by Cm. Livingstone and passed 5-0.

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Report on the United States Flag Protocol.

City Attorney Byron Athan reported that the Governor allows local authorities to determine which situations warrant flying the United States flag at half staff. The Protocol Section of the Governor’s office must be advised of the City’s request. Notification is not necessary for peace officers, fire fighters and military personnel killed in the line of duty. Vice Mayor Rowley thanked Mr. Athan for his research.

Mayor Wilson requested that the Policy Committee prepare a City policy.

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Mayor Wilson called a recess at 7:40 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 7:41 p.m. with all Councilmembers in attendance.

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Joye Fukuda, Engineering Services Director, presented the report. She reviewed the history of the Dougherty Valley (DV) development. As part of the development approval process, certain traffic improvements were identified as mitigation measures to accommodate the DV development including the widening of Dougherty Road to six lanes and improvements to the Dougherty Road/Old Ranch Road intersection.

Chris Wylie, consultant with T.Y. Lin International, described the Dougherty Road Plan Line Study improvements which include widening the road to six lanes, a traffic signal at Old Ranch Road, street lights, a landscaped median and bike lanes. He described the difference between a Class 2 and a Class 1 bike lane. Mr. Wylie reported that the Old Ranch Road intersection meets the traffic signal warrant for peak traffic hours. He stated that traffic signal warrants are not met at the Austin Creek Avenue intersection.

Ms. Katrina Hart with Circle Point Consultants reported that six areas of potential impact were identified. They include: air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning and noise. She reviewed the environmental factors and the proposed mitigation measures.

Cm. Perkins asked who will pay for the road widening. Ms. Fukuda responded that funding will be provided by the Southern Contra Costa Joint Exercise of Power Authority (SCCJEPA) regional traffic impact fees.

Cm. Perkins asked staff to reevaluate the length of the northbound Dougherty Road left hand turn lane onto westbound Old Ranch Road. Cm. Hudson noted that Old Ranch Road was not designed as a major thoroughfare and cautioned about adding lanes to the left turn lane which might create a significant traffic route.

Mayor Wilson asked if citizens affected by the project have been notified. Ms. Fukuda reported that notification included: mailings to Old Ranch and the Bent Creek residents; the public hearing was advertised twice; information on the City web site and a public informational meeting.

The City Clerk read the correspondence into the record.

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

Cm. Hudson’s motion to adopt the Negative Declaration with Mitigation Measures and to direct staff to reevaluate the left turn lane on Dougherty Road at Old Ranch Road and to continue the item to November 28, 2006 was seconded by Cm. Livingstone and passed 5-0.

Public Hearing: Northwest Specific Plan and Related Final Environmental Impact Report and Public Hearing for Prezoning for Faria Preserve (PZ 06-610-003), Chang Property (PZ 06-610-004) and Panetta Property (PZ 06-610-002) – Northwest Specific Plan.

The attached "Transcript of Proceedings" taken at 2222 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, California, commencing at 7:04 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, before Bobbie Jo Harr, CSR No. 6090 (File No. A006162) are adopted by the City Clerk as the official minutes of the meeting for this item.

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City Manager Herb Moniz had no report.

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Cm. Hudson reported that Contra Costa Transportation Authority is working on ways to spend Measure 1B funds.

Mayor Wilson, on behalf of the City Council, wished everyone a very special Thanksgiving holiday and asked residents to drive carefully. He reminded residents to check the City web site for upcoming activities including Cinderella at the Dougherty Station Front Row Theatre, the annual Bah Humbug Run, Holiday on the Farm, "A Christmas Carol", Breakfast with Santa and the "Messiah Sing Along" on December 9^th at the San Ramon Community Center. He thanked the Human Relations of Contra Costa County for honoring him with an Achievement Award.

At 11:14 p.m., Mayor Wilson convened the Council to Closed Session pursuant to Government Code §54957 to evaluate the position of City Manager. At 11:36 p.m., Mayor Wilson reported that no action was taken by the Council at the Closed Session.

There being no further business, Mayor Wilson adjourned the meeting at 11:37 p.m.

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

Approved as amended at the November 28, 2006 meeting, 5-0.