Saratoga Council Punts $165,000 Organizational Review to Incoming Council

The Saratoga City Council spent more than an hour on Nov. 4, 2026, debating whether to hire an outside firm to examine how City Hall works, then left the decision to a council with three new members. Before that debate, the council unanimously adopted a 45-day urgency ordinance blocking applications for immigration detention and custodial processing facilities. That ordinance sets up a Dec. 16 decision for the new council on whether to extend it.

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• $165,000 BB&A organizational assessment deferred to the next council within about three months
• Detention facility moratorium adopted unanimously, effective immediately through Dec. 19 unless extended
• Council split on the consultant: Fitzsimmons and Zhao opposed acting now, while Aftab and Page backed the work
• Reserve drawdown and a structural deficit framed the debate over the city's FY2027-28 budget

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A Lame-Duck Council Declines a Big-Ticket Study

The basics: An organizational assessment is an outside review of department structure, staffing and workflow. Cities often use one to find efficiencies or justify reorganizations.

Why it matters: The study was pitched to inform FY2027-28 budget decisions while Saratoga faces a structural deficit and is drawing down reserves. The delay pushes back any staffing or efficiency changes.

Where things stand: City Manager Leslie Arroyo recommended a not-to-exceed $165,000 agreement with Bell, Burnett & Atwater (BB&A). The firm would review Public Works, Community Development, Administrative Services and the City Manager's Office over about six months. The work targeted April 2027, with preliminary findings to feed the FY2027-28 budget. The city received three proposals, from Jacob Green and Associates, BB&A and Gallagher.

Administrative Services Director Ryan Hinchman said the price is all-inclusive and that the money would come from an unfilled position. "The cost savings are from the assistant city manager vacancy," said Hinchman.

Arroyo argued against an in-house review. "We don't have the capacity to gather that data, make that assessment on our own," said Arroyo.

The other side: Councilmember Yan Zhao and Vice Mayor Tina Walia questioned the scope, which cities the firm would use for comparison, and the consultant's experience outside city government.

• Walia objected to the process itself. "But when does council get to give direction before we get an RFP?" said Walia.
• Zhao doubted the city needed outside help. "We could be doing this ourselves," said Zhao. Later she added, "I just don't feel comfortable at this time to spend this kind of money on something that I am not confident."

Three public commenters urged the council to wait or change course:

• Public commenter Bill Dalton said the proposal lacks cost accounting. He asked that the city track staff time so it can judge what services cost, and that the assessment recommend doing so.
• One remote commenter said the new council should set the objectives and staff should assess internally first. The commenter said the money could go to road repairs instead and asked how comparisons would be made.
• A second remote commenter called the contract premature and urged a no vote. That commenter proposed an internal senior-staff review and a discussion at the January council retreat.

Councilmember Belal Aftab said the budget pressure makes the work necessary. "We're dipping into our reserves this year, folks," said Aftab.

Mayor Chuck Page called the study a tool for the new council and warned against waiting. "If you choose to delay this, you're leaving a new council with nothing except empty air," said Page.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmember Kookie Fitzsimmons and Zhao declined to support the contract that night. "I would like the new council to decide if and how they want to move forward with this," said Fitzsimmons.

Walia agreed the timing belonged to the next council. "Certainly the decision for this high-dollar amount would be appropriately decided by the next council because they may have their own priorities," said Walia.

Aftab then moved to bring the conversation back to the next council within about three months, and Zhao seconded. The motion passed by a voice vote the mayor declared unanimous. The council never voted on the BB&A contract itself.

The outcome gives incoming members control over the study's scope. It also leaves department heads and budget staff without outside findings for now, and the money tied to the vacant assistant city manager post remains unspent.

What's next: The item returns to the new council within about three months.

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Stopgap Ban on Detention Facility Applications

Why it matters: Saratoga's code does not define or permit detention or custodial processing facilities. The ordinance closes that gap temporarily while staff draft permanent land-use rules.

Where things stand: Acting Community Development Director Cindy McCormick said the measure preserves the status quo. She cited three concerns: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's stated reliance on detention centers, federal expansion of detention in California, and a lawsuit in the Gilroy area. "Staff is recommending adoption of the ordinance, and I'm happy to answer questions," said McCormick.

The city attorney said the ordinance takes effect immediately and can be extended up to two years under state law. "The council has an opportunity to extend the temporary ordinance as is if it isn't ready to adopt a full-blown ordinance," said the City Attorney.

Rania Mohsen, a staffer for Rep. Sam Liccardo, said the congressman's office gave cities a toolkit that includes a draft ordinance. "The toolkit does have resources that does provide some examples of urgency ordinances of local jurisdictions," said Mohsen.

The other side: Public commenter Bill Dalton urged rejection. He argued the urgency finding cannot legally be made, the county sheriff is exempt, and staff time should go to problems that actually exist in Saratoga.

Public commenter Seuss handed out a newspaper article. He called the measure a political stunt and alleged that the Los Gatos version of the toolkit ordinance was rushed and politically motivated.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Aftab and Fitzsimmons framed the ordinance as proactive protection. "We have a very large immigrant community here in Saratoga," said Aftab.

Fitzsimmons said the short timeline would let the incoming council make the extension decision. Aftab moved adoption and Zhao seconded. The motion passed by a voice vote the mayor declared unanimous.

For now, no one can apply to build a detention or custodial processing facility in the city. The policy itself remains unsettled.

What's next: "So our first meeting with the new City Council members is December 16th," said Fitzsimmons. The ordinance lapses Dec. 19 unless that council extends it.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved by a voice vote declared unanimous, with a recusal announced on item 1.4.
• Saratoga–Los Gatos police dispute: Public commenter Seuss described records requests and a lawsuit involving Los Gatos and WVMA. He said spending on the dispute was higher than reported and urged the council to agendize the matter.
• Data centers and water: Zhao relayed a Santa Clara Valley Water District report counting 93 data centers in Santa Clara County. She will forward the materials to staff.
• Other assignment reports: Zhao covered West Valley Sanitation District's modified FY2026-27 budget, Walia reported on Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and Aftab reported on a sister city partnership meeting.
• Community notes: Page promoted farmers market hours, an artisan fair and park volunteering.

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Looking Ahead

The new council's first meeting is Dec. 16. Its first major call is whether to extend the detention facility moratorium before it lapses Dec. 19. The BB&A assessment conversation is due back within about three months.