CC 12-04-95 CC-913
Cupertino City Council
Regular Meeting
December 4, 1995
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Bumett led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order in the City
Council Chambers, 10300 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, at 6:45 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Michael Chang, Wally Dean, Lauralee Sorensen and Mayor
Don Bumett. Council members absent: Baufista.
Staffpresent: City Manager Don Brown; City Clerk Kimberly Smith; City Attorney
Charles Kilian; Administrative Services Director Carol Atwood; Community
Development Director Bob Cowan; Parks and Recreation Director Steve Dowling; Public
Information Officer Donna Krey; and Public Works Director Bert Viskovieh.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Sorensen moved to approve the consent calendar items as presented. Chang seconded
and the motion carried 4-0 with Bantista absent.
1. Resolution No. 9508: Accounts Payable, November 17, 1995.
2. Resolution No. 9509: Accounts Payable, November 22, 1995.
3. Resolution No. 9510: Payroll, November 17, 1995.
4. Resolution No. 9511: Approving change order No. 1 for Riviera Road Slide
Repair, Project 96-101.
5. Acceptance of city projects performed under contract: Riviera Road Slide Repair,
Project 96-101; Hunter Properties, Inc., a commercial pwject on Homestead/Grant
Road.
6. Resolution No. 9512: Approving the final map and improvement plans of Tract
No 8778 located on Upland Way and authorizing the execution of agreement;
Developer, Picetti Construction Co.
December 4, 1995 Cupertino City Council Page
7. Resolution No. 9513: Authorizing execution of improvement agreement between
the City and Kelly-Gordon Development Corporation; 10239 Byme Avenue.
8. Resolution No. 9514: Accepting quitclaim deed and authorization for
underground water rights from Kelly-Gordon Development Corporation; APN
357-11-026; 10217 Byme Avenue.
9. Resolution No. 9515: accepting quitclaim deed and authorization for underground
water rights from Kelly-Gordon Development Corporation; APN 357-11-028;
10239 Byrne Avenue.
10. Monthly Treasurer's Report and budget update, October, 1995.
11. Minutes of November 15 adjourned regular meeting, November 16 adjourned
regular meeting and November 20 regular meeting.
12. Resolution No. 9516: Making dete~mlnafions and approving the annexation of
territory designated "Granada Avenue 95-05", approximately 0.2 acre located on
the south side of Granada Avenue between Orange Avenue and Byrne Avenue;
Marshall (APN 357-16-028).
13. Request from Payvand School for a fee waiver for use of the Quinlan Community
Center.
Vote Members of the City Council
AYES: Burnett, Chang, Dean, and Sorensen.
NOES: None
ABSENT: Baufista
ABSTAIN: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
14. Public he~ring to consider adopting the 1994 Edition of the California Uniform
Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Housing and Fire Codes and the 1993 Edition of
the California Electrical Code, Paragraph 5.
The Community Development Director said that a minor change had been made
to the section on single-room occupancy, as directed at the meeting of November
20.
(a) Second reading and enactment of Ordinance No. 1706: "An Ordinance of
- the City Council of the City of Cupertino Repealing and Re-enacting
Chapter 16.04 of the Cupertino Municipal Code Adopting the 1994
Edition of the Unifo~iii Building Code."
December 4, 1995 Cupertino City Council Page 3
(b) Second reading and enachrtent of Ordinance No. 1707: "An Ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Cupertino Repealing and Re-enacting
Chapter 16.16 of the Cupertino Municipal Code Adopting the 1993
Edition of the California Electrical Code, Paragraph 5."
Second reading and enactment of Ordinance No. 1708: "An Ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Cupertino Repealing and Re-enacting
Chapter 16.20 of the Cupertino Municipal Code Adopting the 1994
Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code."
(d) Second reading and enactment of Ordinance No. 1709: "An Ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Cupertino Repealing and Re-enacting
Chapter 16.24 of the Cupertino Municipal Code Adopting the 1994
Edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code."
(e) Second reading and enactment of Ordinance No. 1710: "An Ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Cupertino Repealing and Re-enacting
Chapter 16.56 of the Cupertino Municipal Code Adopting the 1994
Edition of the Unifot~t Housing Code."
(f) Second reading and enactment of Orclinauce No. 1711: "An Ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Cupertino Repealing and Re-enacting
Chapter 16.40 of the Cupertino Municipal Code Adopting the 1994
Edition of the Unifo~i~t Fire Code."
The public hearing was opened. No individuals wished to be heard, and the
hearing was closed. The City Clerk read the title of the ordinances. Sorensen
moved and Dean seconded to read the ordinances by title only, and that the City
Clerk's reading would constitute the second reading thereof. Motion carded 4-0
with Bautista absent.
Sorensen moved and Dean seconded to enact Ordinance Nos. 1706-1711. Motion
carried 4-0 with Bautista absent.
15. Resolution No. 9517: Ordering abatement of public nuisance (weed abatement)
purs~!ont to provisions of Ordinance No. 724 and Resolution No. 9495.
The public hearing was opened. No individuals wished to be heard, and the
hearing was closed. Sorensen moved to approve Resolution No. 9517. Dean
seconded and the motion carried 4-0 with Bautista absent.
' December 4, 1995 Cupertino City Council Page 4
NEW BUSINESS
16. Review and confirm design program for Creeksid¢ Park renovation.
The Parks and Recreation Director introduced Mr. Jay Beals, program architect,
who reviewed the design parameters. Architect Pam Bruld discussed the proposed
building amenities, and Mr. Beals reviewed the use relationship diagrams as
shown in the staff report.
The Parks and Recreation Director said that although parcourses were often not
utilized in other parks, it was requested by this community, and the site lends
itself very well to such use. Mr. Beals said the school plaque would be
prominently displayed, and a location would be selected during the preliminary
design. He said the parking lot would hold 50-75 cars, with overflow parking
available elsewhere on the site for another 25. Sorensen said she would prefer
more parking. Mr. Beals discussed the concerns about fencing the creek bank and
the bridge. Burner suggested that passive areas, play areas, and picnic areas are
really three separate uses. Mr. Beals said that there were no specific plans
regarding the property along Phil Lane because it was not known when or if the
City would ever own all of the houses along that street. Instead, it would be open
space to provide identification, visibility into the park, and landscaping.
Ms. Wendy Armstrong said she was a member of the Creekside Master Plan Task
Force and represented the neighborhood off Alderbrook. She said there was
strong support for keeping the fence by the passive play area in the back triangle,
and asked that it be specified in writing. She said there was not a lot of play area
near her neighborhood, and suggested a few picnic tables. She was glad that the
building remained in the project.
Mr. Gary Virshup, 753 Stendhal Lane, expressed concern that play areas may be
hidden from the street, and people in those areas would feel vulnerable and
isolated. Also, picnic and play areas should be emphasized, since those are less
common in the area than basketball and hard courts found at the schools.
Mr. Beals said they would address these suggestions when the specific site design
is developed. He explained that it was important not to have play areas too close
to the street, and that the concession area must have access to the parking lot so
that materials and supplies can be unloaded easily.
Sorensen moved to (1) Re-confirm the park design parameters and amenities; (2)
Approve the "split scheme" concept for the park building; and (3) Approve the
concepO~_a! Use Relationship Diagram for the site, as submitted by the Creekside
Park Master Plan Committee. Dean seconded and the motion carried 4-0 with
Bautista absent.
' December 4, 1995 Cupertino City Council Page 5
17. Consideration of fee increase for Blackberry Farm picnic grounds for the 1996
season.
The Parks and Recreation Director reviewed the staff report and said that staff was
requesting a 50-cent increase in all categories of admission. Sorensen moved to
approve an increase the picnic admission fees for Blackberry Farm according to
the fee schedule in the staff report. Dean seconded, and the motion carried 4-0
with Bautista absent.
18. Consider addition of a Mixed Paper/Cardboard Recycling Program and extension
of franchise agreement.
(a) Resolution No. 9518: Authorizing extension of franchise agreement with
Los Altos Garbage Company for the collection and disposal of refuse in
and from the City of Cupertino.
The Public Works Director reviewed the staff report and a number of options
regarding the recycling program and differem periods of time for extending the
agreement. He said that although there are always some complaints filed, Los
Altos Garbage Company (LAGCo) had served the area since the 1930s, the
number of complaints was low, and their staff went out of their way to mitigate
._ any problems. The company had a good reputation in the community, and it was
important from a regional perspective to keep as many contractors working in the
area as possible. He discussed the steps involved if cardboard were to be
separated from the stream, and said that the market price fluctuated quite a bit.
The biggest concern is distance to a recycling center, but if the value of cardboard
goes up the city could invest in a separation process. The Public Works Director
said this proposal would finish the plans for residential recycling, and staff is
already begir~ning to work on a commemiai recycling plan.
Ms. Mary Ellen Dick, in charge of the City of San Jose's solid waste department,
said she was concerned about the length of the contract extension and the lack of
public input because the item was not well advertised. Los Altos (~arbage
Company has had this contract exclusively since the 1950s and the City has never
gone out to bid. She said that most other cities only extend the contract five
years, but this agreement would effectively extend it 15 years, and technology
changes so fast within that time. She said she was also concerned about truck
amortization, which is normally 5-7 years. In this case they would be amortized
over 15 years even thought the vehicle was long since paid for.
The Public Works Director said that in 1988 the City stipulated that Los Altos
Garbage Company must meet or beat the City of Sunnyvale bid, so the City does
monitor rates in comparison to other agencies.
' December 4, 1995 Cupertino City Council page
Mr. John Angin, General Manager of the Los Altos Garbage Company, said that
vehicles would be amoffized over 8 years. The contract is only a 10-year
extension because there are 5 years left to run, and it is tied to the amortization of
vehicles but also to future investments to be made on behalf of the City. The next
step will be to address the needs of commercial customers, and his company
expects to make a sizable investment in a recove~ center. Regarding cardboard
recycling, the price has been volatile but they plan to pull it out of the mixed
paper stream. He said they have an incentive to maximize recovery because
revenue above $100,000 is split between the City and his company.
Chang said he felt this was a quality company and that having rotes benchmarked
against other cities is a good monitoring tool. He said he was anxious about
extending the contract for another 10 years, and asked if it allowed for re-
negotiation. The Public Works Director said either party can request and
negotiate a change to the contract during that time, as is being done now on the
mixed paper portion.
Dean said he did not see a negative side to the proposal, and it is an opportunity
for profit to the City. Dean moved to (1) Approve addition of mixed paper and
cardboard to the curbside recycling program beginning approximately July 1,
1996; (2) Select option 4 as the most cost effective (which sets a 2% franchise
_ surcharge resulting in revenue to the City of approximately $120,000 per year);
and (3) Adopt Resolution No. 9518 approving the franchise agreement as
modified, and authorizing execution. Sorensen seconded and the motion carried 4-
0 with Bautista absent.
19. Resolution No. 9519: Support of the neighborhood interests regarding track
traffic to and from Stevens Creek Q. arry.
The Public Works Director reviewed the staff report. Bumett gave a brief history
of the meetings that had been held regarding the quarry and its operating permit.
He said that the County counsel feels that all truck traffic was controlled by the
use permit. Burnett said he had already spoken to the County Planning
Commission once on this matter, and if this resolution is adopted he will present it
to them this Thursday.
Mr. John Statton, representing the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, said this has
been a long, on-going issue. He asked that Council not adopt the resolution
because there was no process in place to let the qnarry representatives get
involved and speak out. There is truck traffic generated by other locations too,
such as the stables and wineries. He said this is a simplistic resolution on a
complex issue, and asked that the quarry representatives be given some more time
to meet with the neighbors. Adopting this resolution would put the City in the
middle of a political decision that must be made by the County. He added that the
quarry has
December 4, 1995 Cupertino City Council Page 7
not yet seen the County Counsel's opinion on the matter. Mr. Statton explained
that thc opcmting permit is for thc quarry, but they fccl that construction uscs are
not using quarry-related equipment and are not covered by the permit. Also, it is
only fair to regulate all truck traffic, not just quarry trucks.
The City Manager said he believed there was no down side to this resolution. It
would help the Mayor if he had the Council's backing, and in the past the City has
consistently restricted truck traffic when it had the opportunity to do so.
Dean said that he felt the resolution is so general that it wouldn't hurt. The City
cannot control what thc County will do anyway.
Chang said that while walking precincts prior to the election there were many
residents who expressed concern about track traffic and noise from the quarry.
Dean moved to adopt Resolution No. 9159. Chang seconded and the motion
carried 3-1 with Baufista absent and Sorensen voting no. She explained that she
wanted to read the County Counsel's opinion first, and did not feel she had
sufficient information at this time to make a decision.
20. Resolution No. 9507: Supporting the Benefit Assessment District election for
_ North Central Flood Control Zone (continued from November 20, 1995).
Ms. Kay Whitlock, Assistant General Manager at the Santa Clara County Water
Di~tr'lct, made a brief presentation regarding the benefit assessment. Historically,
thc lowest rates in thc County were thc North Central zone. When thc last
assessment was established the valley was in an aggressive, economic-growth
phase, but current projections show a $24-million shortfall. Also, the cost of
doing projects has gone up, Caiabasas Creek in particular She said that a hearing
before the Board of Dixectors was scheduled for December 19, and she asked
Council to let the board know if they supported thc election, or if they had any
suggestions. Sorensen moved to adopt Resolution No. 9507 endorsing the March
1996 election; raising the assessment for residential property from $15 to $43; and
assuring that improvements are completed. Chang seconded, and the motion
carded 4-0 with Bautista absent.
21. First reading of Ordinance No. 1712: "An Ordinance of the City Council of the
City of Cupertino Amending Chapter 9.06 of the Cupertino Municipal Code
(Massage Establishments and Services) to Better Satisfy the Purpose and Intent of
This Chapter and Declaring the Urgency Thereof."
Personnel Officer Bill Woska reviewed the staff report. The City Attorney said
the agenda should be amended to reflect that this is the only reading of the
ordinance since it is an urgency ordinance.
The Mayor read the title of the ordinance. Sorensen moved and Chang seconded
to read the ordinance by title only, and that the Mayor's reading would constitute
December 4, 1995 Cupertino City Council Page 8
the only reading thereof. Motion carried 4-0 with Bautista absent. Sorensen
moved to enact Ordinance No. 1712. Dean seconded, and the motion carried 4-0
with Bautista absent.
STAFF REPORTS
The Public Works Director handed out a schedule of repair for railroad crossings. He
reported that the median on Foothill Boulevard would be replanted to replace the plants
that were lost in the drought. He said staff had met with Stevens Creek Quarry and
Kaiser representatives about cleaning that street as well.
The City Manager reported on an urgent fax received from the League of California
Cities asking Council to oppose HR 1058 and SB 240, Securities Legislation Refona,
which was sponsored by the securities industry to keep cities from suing them when
given bad advice. Sorensen moved that Council oppose these bills, and notify President
Clinton, Senator Feinstein, and Representative Eshoo. Dean seconded, and the motion
can'ied 4-0 with Bautista absent.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Burner said that he will be attending the Transportation Agency meeting
._ on Thursday, and the big issue is about security. There is a conflict between how
much emphasis should be on sheriff's presence and how much emphasis given to
on-board security. He felt there was a need to maximize peace officers on the
vehicles.
Counc. Soreusen reported that the Fourth of July committee was making good
progress, and by January they hope to have sufficient commitments to move
ahead with the celebration in July of 1996 as well as sustaining the program in the
future.
At 8:45 p.m. the meeting was adjourned to December 15, 1995, 1:00 p.m., Quinlan
Comnlnnity Center for City Council/Manager workshop.
City Clerk