101-Draft Minutes.pdf
DRAFT MINUTES
CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL
SUCCESSOR TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Regular Meeting
Monday, November 5, 2012
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ROLL CALL
At 6:00 p.m. Mayor Mark Santoro called the regular meeting to order in the Council
Chamber, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, California.
Present: Mayor Mark Santoro, Vice Mayor Orrin Mahoney, and Council members Barry
Chang, Rod Sinks, and Gilbert Wong. Absent: none.
CLOSED SESSION
1. Subject: Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Government Code 54957) - City
Manager and City Attorney
At 6:00 p.m. Council recessed to a closed session, and reconvened in open session at
6:45 p.m. Mayor Santoro announced that Council discussed the evaluation of the City
Manager and the City Attorney and no action was taken.
Mayor Santoro also reported out from the 5:45 p.m. special closed session meeting
regarding Conference with legal counsel – anticipated litigation; Significant exposure
to litigation pursuant to Gov't Code 54956.9(b): (one case) and said that Council
discussed the exposure, obtained a briefing, gave direction to staff and no action was
taken.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
At 6:45 p.m. Mayor Mark Santoro reconvened the regular City Council meeting and led
the Pledge of Allegiance.
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ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Mark Santoro, Vice Mayor Orrin Mahoney, and Council members Barry
Chang, Rod Sinks, and Gilbert Wong. Absent: none.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS AND PRESENTATIONS
2. Subject: Proclamation for Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss for her service to
Cupertino
Recommended Action: Present Proclamation
Supervisor Kniss was not able to attend the meeting.
3. Subject: Recognize students for their volunteer work at Silicon Valley Korean School
Recommended Action: Present Certificates of Appreciation
Mayor Santoro presented Certificates of Appreciation to the Silicon Valley Korean
School students. President of the Silicon Valley Korean School Jane Lee spoke about
the students and their volunteer work. A few of the students told about their
experience as volunteers and thanked the Council.
4. Subject: Proclamation for Natalie Ng upon her academic and scientific achievements
Recommended Action: Present Proclamation
Mayor Santoro presented the proclamation to Natalie Ng. Ms. Ng explained her
project and thanked her teachers at Monta Vista, her parents, and her mentor at
Stanford University.
5. Subject: Presentation to five Cupertino students who placed at the regional science
fair
Recommended Action: Present certificates
Mayor Santoro presented the certificates to the students. The students explained
their projects and thanked the Council.
6. Subject: Proclamations to supporting organizations for the design and
implementation of the first of its kind Green@Home Do-It-Yourself Tool Kit
Recommended Action: Present proclamations
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Description: Proclamations to be presented to: the Cupertino Library, Cupertino
Library Commission, Cupertino Technology, Information and Communications
Commission, Acterra, Silicon Valley Energy Watch, Santa Clara Valley Water
District
Mayor Santoro presented the proclamations to the Cupertino Library, Cupertino
Library Commission, Cupertino Technology, Information and Communications
Commission (TICC), and the City of Cupertino Environmental Affairs Division.
Environmental Affairs Coordinator Erin Cooke talked about the kit and showed
what it looked like. TICC Chair Peter Friedland thanked Ms. Cooke for driving the
initiative. Library Commissioner Rose Grymes thanked Council on behalf of the
commission. Cupertino Community Librarian Mark Fink said the kits can be
checked out from the library and kept for one week. Patrons can also keep some of
the items from the kit and he noted that the library gives the residents all the
necessary tools.
7. Subject: Annual report from the Public Safety Commission
Recommended Action: Receive report
Public Safety Commission Chair Andy Huang gave a report on the activities of the
commission via a PowerPoint presentation. He said the commission has been
working on activities related to walking and biking to reduce traffic around schools.
He mentioned that Captain Ken Binder from the County Sheriff’s department and
Chief Pisciotta from County fire attend the commission meetings.
Public and Environmental Affairs Director Rick Kitson provided an update on the
Cupertino Alert system. He said that participation in the alert system has grown by
13% since it was brought online in 2010 and noted that there would be training in
December or January with sheriff and fire staff. Mr. Kitson talked about opt-in
information and explained that anything given to the Cupertino system is also
shared with the County.
POSTPONEMENTS - None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mark Fink, Cupertino Community Librarian, gave an update regarding activities at the
library. He shared three statements from patrons about how the library adds value to
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their lives. He noted that Council member Wong would be taking over as the
representative for the Library Joint Powers Authority Board. He also said that the Plane
Tree Health Information Center on the second floor of the library is open 20 hours a
week for residents to receive in-depth health and medical information from someone
who has special training. Mr. Fink said that the library would also be partnering with
the Cupertino Historical Society and the Friends of the Cupertino Library to offer a
program related to the U.S. Japanese/American Internment experience, how it affects
democracy, and what lessons have been learned. The program will be held November
18 in the Cupertino Community Hall at 1:30 p.m. The moderator will be Tom Izu from
the California History Center at De Anza College.
Rose Grymes from the Library Commission gave an interim report from the
commission. She said that on a month-to-month basis, the library provides 40 programs
with 2,000 or more patrons, touching on the cultural diversity of Cupertino. She also
noted that this year Silicon Valley Reads would be offering a presentation on Wounds
of War and that the Poet Laureate has done many programs including winter poetry
readings and poetry writing workshops for teens and adults. She said the commission is
taking up the challenge to see how it can support the availability of digital resources
including e-books for patrons and what it means to move toward Library 2.0 or 3.0. She
announced that Nancy Howe will be the new County Librarian and Megan Wong will
be the County Virtual Library Manager.
Anne Smart from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group talked about the upcoming 8th
Annual Turkey Trot Charity Run. The event will begin on Thanksgiving Day with a 5k
run or walk. Ms. Smart encouraged Council to sign up for the event and said that the
deadline for signups was Tuesday, November 20 at 3:00 p.m. She said that people could
sign up at www.sbturkeytrot.com.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Wong moved and Mahoney seconded to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as
recommended with the exception of items 12 and 14 which were pulled for discussion.
Ayes: Chang, Mahoney, Santoro, Sinks, and Wong. Noes: None. Abstain: None.
8. Subject: October 16 City Council minutes
Recommended Action: Approve minutes
9. Subject: Accounts Payable for period ending October 5, 2012
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 12-125
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10. Subject: Accounts Payable for period ending October 12, 2012
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 12-126
11. Subject: Accounts Payable for period ending October 19, 2012
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 12-127
12. Subject: Treasurer's Investment and Budget Report for Quarter Ending September
2012
Recommended Action: Accept the report
Mayor Santoro noted that the Audit Committee hadn’t seen the report yet before
coming to Council. Director of Administrative Services Carol Atwood explained that
the State has a 45-day requirement to present the report to Council and the item was
on tonight’s agenda because the Nov 20 Council meeting had been cancelled. She
noted that the item was agendized for the next Audit Committee meeting. Council
asked staff to review the schedule to see if the committee could meet before the
special November 13 Council meeting.
Wong moved and Mahoney seconded to continue this item to November 13. The
motion carried unanimously.
13. Subject: Alcoholic Beverage License, Andre Boudin Bakeries, Inc, 20682 Stevens
Creek Blvd
Recommended Action: Approve Alcoholic Beverage License, Andre Boudin
Bakeries, Inc
14. Subject: California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
Rubberized Pavement Grant Program
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 12-128 authorizing the submittal of
applications to CalRecycle for grant monies and authorize the Director of Public
Works to execute documents necessary to secure grant funds and implement
approved grant projects
Mayor Santoro asked staff a question regarding this item. Santoro moved and Wong
seconded to adopt Resolution No. 12-128. The motion carried unanimously.
15. Subject: City Project, 2012 Various Park Path and Parking Lot Repairs Project,
Project No. 2012-03
Recommended Action: Accept Project No. 2012-03
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16. Subject: Municipal Improvements, 10218 & 10228 Orange Avenue
Recommended Action: Accept Municipal Improvements
Description: The applicant has completed City-specified improvements in the City
right-of-way including driveway approach, sidewalk, and curb & gutter as required
by the improvement agreement with the City
SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES - None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
17. Subject: Adopt a resolution to vacate portions of easements on properties near the
north approach to the Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 12-129 and No. 12-130
Director of Public Works Timm Borden reviewed the staff report.
Mayor Santoro opened the public hearing. Seeing no speakers, he closed the public
hearing.
Wong moved and Mahoney seconded to adopt Resolution Nos. 12-129 and 12-130.
The motion carried unanimously.
Council recessed from 8:00 p.m. to 8:08 p.m.
ORDINANCES AND ACTION ITEMS
18. Subject: Study Session regarding Protected Trees on private property
Recommended Action: Review options and provide staff with direction on the type
of changes to be studied in amendments to Chapter 14.18, Protected Trees
Description: Application: MCA-2012-02; Applicant: City of Cupertino; Property
Location: City-wide; Application Summary: Amendments to Chapter 14.18,
Protected Trees, of the Cupertino Municipal Code
Associate Planner Piu Ghosh reviewed the staff report.
Jennifer Griffin said that this was a good ordinance for City trees, protected trees,
and trees in general. She noted that due to global warming, we need to protect our
assets and the green canopy in Cupertino is an asset. She said she was confused
about why a study session was being held because the ordinance works fine the way
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it is. She expressed concern that the City would deregulate all trees and said that
would be moving backwards. She said that if the City starts changing the protected
tree list, then a public notice should be sent out first.
Darrel Lum showed pictures of various trees throughout the City that had been
replaced. He said that based on the photos, it appears that some things are falling
through the cracks because trees are being replaced with other trees that are very
different and much smaller than what was there before.
Mark Taylor explained that one of his trees needed thinning so cables were put up
and the neighbors notified. He said he was told that he had to use the City Arborist
who was twice the cost of his own arborist whom had already written a report. He
also said that another one of his trees had spontaneously failed and that the way the
ordinance was interpreted, if he hadn’t pushed back, the replacement cost would
have been too high. He asked council to be reasonable when dealing with property
owners that have issues with trees on their own property.
Council gave the following direction to staff:
• Present an ordinance amendment to the Protected Trees chapter to remove
the reference to “public trees” and change the penalty from a misdemeanor to
an infraction
• Present a report regarding the following:
o Streamline the tree removal process in R1/A1/A/RHS zones and
consider inclusion of R2 zones for smaller protected trees with
required mitigation
o Review the size of trees in diameter for specimen trees – should some
specimen trees have larger diameter size vs. others
o Review the list of specimen trees to ensure that they are native
• Review whether greater penalties should be imposed for illegal removal of
larger protected trees
Responding to a question from Council, staff noted that this item would probably come
back to Council around February 5.
REPORTS BY COUNCIL AND STAFF
City Manager David Brandt said the City received two awards from the National
Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) for the 2012 State
of City Address and the 2011 local election coverage. He noted that the City also
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received the Santa Clara Valley Run-Off Pollution Prevention award for Stevens Creek
Corridor Phase I.
Council members Sinks and Wong asked for information and statistics regarding
complaints about the public street tree planting initiative, especially in the Rancho
Rinconada area. The City Manager said that information would be provided to Council
in the weekly notes.
Council members highlighted the activities of their committees and various community
events.
ADJOURNMENT
At 10:45 p.m. the meeting was adjourned to November 13 beginning at 6:30 p.m.,
Council Chamber, 10350 Torre Avenue, Cupertino, CA.
______________________________
Grace Schmidt, City Clerk
Staff reports, backup materials, and items distributed at the City Council meeting are
available for review at the City Clerk’s Office, 777-3223, and also on the Internet at
www.cupertino.org. Click on Agendas & Minutes, then click on the appropriate Packet.
Most Council meetings are shown live on Comcast Channel 26 and AT&T U-verse
Channel 99 and are available at your convenience at www.cupertino.org. Click on
Agendas & Minutes, then click Archived Webcast. Videotapes are available at the
Cupertino Library, or may be purchased from the Cupertino City Channel, 777-2364.