CC 05-29-96" CC-923A
MINUTES
Cupertino City Council, Regular Adjourned Meeting
May 29, 1996
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
At 7:10 p.m. the Council convened in Conference Room C & D.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: John Bautista (7:15 p.m.), Michael Chang, Wally Dean, Lauralee
Sorensen, and Mayor Don Bumett. Council members absent: None.
Staff present: City Manager Don Brown; City Clerk Kimberly Smith; Administrative Services
Director Carol Atwood; Public Information Officer Donna Krey; Parks and Recreation Director
Steve Dowling; Community Development Director Cowan; and Public Works Director Bert
Viskovich.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None.
NEW BUSINESS - Review oftbe 1996-97 fiscal year preliminary budget.
The Administrative Services Director reviewed the pie charts from the budget document..
Revenue from sales tax dollars is 35% and property tax dollars is 11% of the total $20,451,000
General Fund Revenues. Non-department expenditures of 29% are the largest section of
expenditures, which reflect the city's bonded indebtedness. Total General Fund Expenditures are
$22,009,920. Atwood also reviewed fund balance trends, and said that in FY 1996-97 there will
be a shortfall of $1.5 million, but in future years the city will be operating in the black. This
year's shortfall was larger than forecast last year only because Council chose to prepay the debt
for youth sports fields, otherwise it would have been less than projected.
Atwood reviewed the proposed new programs as set forth on page 9 of the budget document, and
also distributed a page outlining new programs which had not been included in the printed
budget document. These were (1) Funds for Countywide Domestic Violence Protective Order
Registry (POR); (2) Funds from General Fund Operations for the Senior Center Expansion; and
(3) Funds from General Fund Operations for Library Expansion/New Construction.
Members of the Cupertino Library Commission (Mary Minow, Jillian Hamer, and Jean Bedord)
and Supervising Librarian Mary-Ann Wallace reported that the funded Sunday hours do not
currently meet the demand for services. They distributed a document titled "Cupertino Library
Sunday Service 1996/97" listing three options regarding Sunday hours. The City Council
concurred to select option No. 2, to expand Sunday hours to 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. beginning
September, 1996. The total annual cost to the City would be $87,094. The Commission will
report back in January on whether the morning hours should be further expanded (10:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m.)
May 2{), 1 {){)6 Cupertino City Council Page 2
The Public Information Officer distributed a chart illustrating the services provided by the City
Channel. New projects, or those that needed additional funding, were the Fourth of July
Celebration ($500), an enhanced State of the City Address ($300); and an Economic
Development video ($500). The Administrative Services Director said that the Economic
Development Task Force would cover the costs of the video. Council concurred to authorize the
additional expenditures.
Council concurred with staff's recommendation to approve the other new programs, as follows:
$935,000 Prepay the Youth Sports Fields outstanding debt (General Fund Reserve)
$143,000 Funding for new/upgraded computer equipment as identified in the 3-year
technology plan. (General Fund Operations)
$135,000 Establish an in-house median maintenance program (General Fund Operations)
$ 40,200 Extension of library hours as discussed above (General Fund Operations)
$ 15,000 Matching funds for community donations for the annual 4th of July fireworks
celebration (General Fund Operations)
$ 11,000 Enhanced graffiti abatement program including hofline/rcporting incentive system
(General Fund Operations)
$ 2,000 Code Enforcement bicycles for patrolling parks (General Fund Operations)
$ 6,756 Countywide Domestic Violence Protective Order Registry (General Fund
Reserve)
$ 800 Coverage of special projects by the City Channel
Each department representative highlighted changes to their budgets over last year's numbers.
CIP
The Public Works Director reviewed plans for park improvements, including a play area at Portal
park.
The Parks and Recreation Director reviewed plans for the Senior Center expansion and said that
staff could begin their own in-house needs assessment, and then report back to Council at the
mid-year adjustment to get an appropriation for the design phase. Sorensen asked about the
feasibility of a permissive light on Foothill Boulevard for the seniors who are crossing from
Sunnyview Manor to the other bus stop. The Public Works Director explained the hazards
associated with that, and said he would investigate whether the location of the bus stop could be
moved.
The Parks and Re, creation. Director reviewed the ADA improvements at the Sports Center and
Blue Pheasant Restaurant, and long-range plans for McClellan Ranch Park.
The Public Works Director reviewed the library expansion item. He said that during discussions
about economic development a suggestion was made to do a high-tech library to be added to the
-- existing facility. He distributed a list of statistics on book circulation at the Cupertino Library
and an estimate of expansion space which will be needed. He also distributed a chart titled
"Santa Clara County Library Minimum Space Needs 2010" which showed the potential financial
May 1996 Cupertino City Council Page 3
impacts on all of the County libraries, and distributed a brochure about the De Anza College
-- Learning Center expansion project. Apparently the features planned for the high-tech library
proposal will be addressed in the DeAnza expansion.
Burnett said this is a new proposal, and was not something that was on the list from Council's
goals meeting, so it was not appropriate to discuss it during tonight's budget session. Chang felt
it would be important to spend some time discussing this item at another time and looking for
other ways to support the development of young people. Burnett said he did not want to put the
high-tech library proposal aside completely, because it was raised at the economic development
hearing as a type of community center. Brown suggested that a study session be organized to
review the concept and Council concurred.
The Public Works Director discussed the Stevens Creek Specific Plan. He reviewed an aerial
map of the street with photographs of the various of trees that are growing there. The CIP shows
approximately $150,000 for the next 5 years, which is approximately equal to the assessment
district monies which Council has a commitment to put back into the area in roads. Then as
projects come about over time, the sides of the street would also be landscaped. The funds could
also be used to fill in empty areas with landscaping until the sites were developed. He said at
this time they could implement the landscaping plan in the medians west of DeAnza and then fill
in other areas.
Bautista said that it should be made as uniform as possible, and although the eucalyptus trees are
-- very large, at some point they must be removed, so it might as well be done now. Also, the ash
trees can be removed and placed at another location. The Public Works Director suggested that
they plant some trees and let them start growing, then remove the other trees when the side of the
street is ready for landscaping. Bautista said the intent is to create a boulevard impression with a
sense of uniformity from the beginning to end and that won't be accomplished if it is done in a
piecemeal fashion. Dean agreed with the Director that the public may complain if the big trees
are removed, but would view it positively if they saw progress through additional planting first.
Burnett said he thought they could accomplish their goals without such severe measures, and a
systematic pruning plan can do a lot to insure tmiformity. The Community Development
Director noted that the new fire station will be built this year, and that could be the time to
remove the eucalyptus trees. Council concurred to begin removal and installation of trees
immediately from Foothill Boulevard to Torte Avenue, and to discuss the rest of the area at a
later time. A groundbreaking ceremony will be planned for the first tree.
ADJOURNMENT
At 10:30 p.m. the.meeting was adjourned..
City Clerk