Belal Aftab
About
Belal Aftab's platform centers on enhancing public safety with a specific emphasis on traffic safety initiatives. Additionally, he prioritizes fostering community vitality and engagement within the city of Saratoga.
Campaign promises (2)
- public-safetyBelal Aftab committed to prioritizing traffic safety as a core focus of his tenure.
- transparencyHe pledged to focus on enhancing community vitality in Saratoga.Related votes
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 18
- Total speaking time
- 2:59:00
- Avg per meeting
- 9:57
- Segments
- 2284
Want every word Aftab has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Aftab said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Climate Resilience District formation
Potential new financing mechanism; fiscal impacts not yet analyzed.
Sheriff contract increase vs. Los Gatos police services
Option B costs about $10.6 million — roughly $1 million less than full service but still about 16% above last year, in a city budget that has watched sheriff costs outpace revenue growth for a decade.
Wildfire preparedness and evacuation routes
Contra-flow lanes and intersection work would cost capital dollars; the study itself carried no price tag.
Masson Estates 25-home subdivision on Pierce Road
Five of the 25 homes will be affordable to low-income households; the project also brings development impact fees.
2026 Annual Code Update
No direct cost identified; the ordinance is administrative and state-law driven.
SB 9 Urban Lot Splits Approved
Fee waivers could reduce building permit revenue (roughly $17,000 for a 1,200 sq. ft. ADU), offset by more affordable units.
$165,000 Organizational Assessment Contract
A $165,000 all-in contract the city plans to cover partly through savings from two unfilled positions — coming amid a structural deficit and dipping into reserves.
Animal Care Services Contract
Unknown until a provider decision is made; contract terms could affect the city's animal services spending.
Hakone Gardens Koi Pond Renovation
$2.5 million moved from the Park Development Unallocated Fund into the project budget.
Joint Session with Saratoga Schools
West Valley College track demolition and wellness center
The project uses roughly $125 million in Measure W bond funds.
Regional park user fees
Fees of roughly $100-150 per hour would apply to outside users of Los Gatos parks.
Corporation Yard Electrification
$95,100 from city funds.
Mountain Winery annexation
Annexation could shift tax revenue and service costs, but a study is only being requested.
FY 2026-27 City Budget Adoption
Adopts roughly $35.2 million in General Fund spending for the year beginning July 1, 2026.
Constrained-access road mapping and wayfinding signage
Proposed at $125,000, down from $350,000, by dropping programmable message boards.
Genesis Protect and AlertSCC evacuation sign-ups
Potential future spending on supplemental tools like sirens or message boards would come through the capital budget.
Alternative policing services review
Contract costs weren't pinned down tonight — the answer will shape a major slice of the city budget.
Resident notification of land-use decisions
Moratorium on Detention and Custodial Processing Facilities
Minimal direct cost — staff relied on a model ordinance from Rep. Sam Liccardo's office — though one resident questioned the staff time being spent on a problem that doesn't exist here.
Decisions during term (230)
Recorded while Aftab was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent Calendar (Minutes, Check Registers, Treasurer's Report, Annual Code Update, Records Retention Schedule)
Interim Urgency Ordinance — Temporary Moratorium on Detention Facilities
Consultant for Organizational Assessment (BB&A, $165,000)
Consent Calendar (Items 1.1-1.4)
Saratoga Village Boundary change (Section 15-62.010, Item 22)
2026 Annual Code Update ordinance (as amended)
Climate Resilience District Task Force and Resolution of Intent
City Council Meeting Minutes
Final Map Approval for Two Lots Located at 14860 Farwell Ave
Final Map Approval for Two Lots Located at 18510 Sobey Rd
City Council Meeting Minutes (1.1)
Accounts Payable Check Registers (1.2)
Final Map Approval, 14860 Farwell Ave (1.3)
Final Map Approval, 18510 Sobey Rd (1.4)
Annual Code Update for 2026 — Saratoga Village boundary (2.1)
Annual Code Update for 2026 — balance of ordinance (2.1)
Climate Resilience District Task Force and Resolution of Intent (3.1)
City Council Meeting Minutes
Consent Calendar (Items 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5)
Law Enforcement Provider — Los Gatos Monte Sereno PD Agreement
Voting record (334)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Saratoga Village Boundary change (Section 15-62.010, Item 22)
Climate Resilience District Task Force and Resolution of Intent
He believed the city should be proactive and ready for rare state climate funding opportunities.
REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AND THE OCTOBER 7, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 10/01/2026 AND 10/08/2026 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS.
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL OF PARCEL MAP APPLICATION NO. ULS25-0013 FOR TWO LOTS LOCATED AT 14860 FARWELL AVE (APN: 397-18-005).
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL OF PARCEL MAP APPLICATION NO. ULS25-0004 FOR TWO LOTS LOCATED AT 18510 SOBEY RD (APN: 397-05-010).
INTRODUCE AND WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE SARATOGA VILLAGE BOUNDARY (SECTION 15-62.010; AND DIRECT STAFF TO PLACE THE ORDINANCE ON THE CONSENT
INTRODUCE AND WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AS AMENDED AMENDING CITY CODE PROVISIONS CONCERNING SCHEDULING APPEALS (SECTIONS 1-15.040 AND 2-05.030), QUALIFICATIONS FOR CITY COMMISSIONERS (SE
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A CLIMATE RESILIENCE DISTRICT TASK FORCE AND THE RESOLUTION INITIATING THE PROCESS TO ESTABLISH A CLIMATE RESILIENCE DISTRICT.
INTRODUCE AND WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AS AMENDED AMENDING CITY CODE PROVISIONS CONCERNING SCHEDULING APPEALS (SECTIONS 1-15.040 AND 2-05.030), QUALIFICATIONS FOR CITY COMMISSIONERS (SE
REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 10/01/2026 AND 10/08/2026 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERS
REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AND THE OCTOBER 7, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL OF PARCEL MAP APPLICATION NO. ULS25-0013 FOR TWO LOTS LOCATED AT 14860 FARWELL AVE (APN: 397-18-005)
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION GRANTING FINAL MAP APPROVAL OF PARCEL MAP APPLICATION NO. ULS25-0004 FOR TWO LOTS LOCATED AT 18510 SOBEY RD (APN: 397-05-010)
INTRODUCE AND WAIVE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE SARATOGA VILLAGE BOUNDARY (SECTION 15-62.010; AND DIRECT STAFF TO PLACE THE ORDINANCE ON THE CONSENT
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A CLIMATE RESILIENCE DISTRICT TASK FORCE AND THE RESOLUTION INITIATING THE PROCESS TO ESTABLISH A CLIMATE RESILIENCE DISTRICT
Climate Resilience District Task Force and Resolution of Intent (3.1)
REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED AUGUST 31, 2026.
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET FOR THE HAKONE GARDENS KOI POND RENOVATION CIP PROJECT FOR $2,500,000.
REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THE SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING.
REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 09/10/2026, 09/17/2026, AND 09/24/2026 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERs.
ADOPT THE MOTOR VEHICLE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A NO PARKING ANYTIME ZONE ON BOTH SIDES OF CHESTER AVENUE FOR APPROXIMATELY 175 FEET BETWEEN ARCADIA PALMS DRIVE AND THE CREEK SOUTH OF ARCADIA PALMS DRI
APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH LOS GATOS MONTE SERENO POLICE DEPARTMENT (LGMSPD) AS THE CITY’S LONG TERM LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE PROVIDER.
Law Enforcement Provider — Los Gatos Monte Sereno PD Agreement
Believed Los Gatos offered near-term savings and greater leverage over rising county costs
Hakone Gardens Koi Pond Renovation — Budget Amendment (Item 2.3)
Believed the decision should go to the next council via a more deliberate, public process
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET FOR THE HAKONE GARDENS KOI POND RENOVATION CIP PROJECT FOR $2,500,000.
REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND THE SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING.
REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE 09/10/2026, 09/17/2026, AND 09/24/2026 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VENDOR PAYMENT CHECK REGISTERs.
REVIEW AND ACCEPT THE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED AUGUST 31, 2026.
ADOPT THE MOTOR VEHICLE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A NO PARKING ANYTIME ZONE ON BOTH SIDES OF CHESTER AVENUE FOR APPROXIMATELY 175 FEET BETWEEN ARCADIA PALMS DRIVE AND THE CREEK SOUTH OF ARCADIA PALMS DRI
APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH LOS GATOS MONTE SERENO POLICE DEPARTMENT (LGMSPD) AS THE CITY’S LONG TERM LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE PROVIDER.
Law Enforcement Agreement with LGMSPD
Hakone Gardens Koi Pond Renovation — $2.5 Million Budget Amendment
ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY OF SARATOGA CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE.
Appeal of Design Review and Variance Approval at 14650 6th Street (APCC26-0006) — Appeal Granted
Appeal of Three-Lot Subdivision at 14486 Oak Place (APCC26-0004) — Appeal Denied, Project Approved
State law requires approval of the project; supported denial of the appeal.