EAST PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR SESSION AMENDED
AGENDA
Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 6:30 PM
EPA Government Center
2415 University Avenue, First Floor
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
NOTICE
This meeting will be held virtually and in- person at the Council Chambers located on 2415 University Ave, First Floor East Palo Alto, CA 94303. The virtual portion of this City Council meeting will be conducted in accordance with City of East Palo Alto Resolution adopted pursuant to Assembly Bill 361.
The public may participate in the City Council Meeting via Zoom Meeting or by attending inperson in the Council Chambers at 2415 University Ave, First Floor East Palo Alto, CA 94303.
Community members may provide comments by emailing [email protected], submitting a speaker card at the meeting, or using the RAISE HAND feature when the Mayor or City Clerk call for public comment. Emailed comments should include the specific agenda item on which you are commenting.
Please click this URL to join
Please click this URL to join
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84842202761
Or join by phone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 900 6833 or
+ 1 346 248 7799 or
+ 1 253 215 8782 or
+ 1 312 626 6799 or
+ 1 929 205 6099 or
+ 1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 848 4220 2761
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/aMWYF4KT East Palo Alto City Council March 4, 2025 Agenda
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
3. APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR
3.1 Women's History and Culture Month Proclamation
Recommendation: Accept the proclamation.
Gov’t Code § 84308: Not applicable
3.2 Ramadan Proclamation
Recommendation:
Present the proclamation.
3.3 Honoring American Red Cross Month for March 2025
Recommendation:
Present the proclamation.
3.4 City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommendation:
Adopt the February 18, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes.
4. CLOSED SESSION
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
6. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
6.1 Westside Area Plan
Recommendation: Receive an informational report from staff concerning the Westside Area Plan and provide direction to staf f for potential updates if changes are needed.
7. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.1 Adoption of Nexus Study Update and Updated Parks and Trails, Public Facilities, Transportation, Storm Drainage, and Water Capacity East Palo Alto City Council March 4, 2025 Agenda
Development Impact Fees
Recommendation: 1, Conduct a public hearing to receive public comments. 2, Consider the Development Impact Fee Financial Feasibility Analysis and Development Impact Fee Comparison Survey. 3, Adopt a resolution:
a, Finding that the proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it is not a project as it has no potential to result in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change to the environment (14 Cal. Code Regs. §15378(a)); the project does not create a funding mechanism or other government fiscal activity that involve any commitment to a specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment (14 Cal. Code Regs. §15378(b) (4) ); and projects that may receive funding with development impact fees would be required to comply with applicable project-specific CEQA requirements at the time such projects are proposed for implementation b. Approving the Development Impact Fee Nexus Study Update and updated parks and trails, public facilities, transportation, storm drainage, and water capacity development impact fees; and
c. Directing staff to file a Notice of Exemption for the updated development impact fees.
9. POLICY AND ACTION
9.1 East Palo Alto Library Project Update
Recommendation:
Adopt a resolution:
1. Approving the updated concept design and space programming for the new East Palo Alto Library;
2. Approving the 1 parking space per 400 square-feet floor area ratio; and
3. Finding that the proposed City Council action:
1. is consistent with an existing Specific Plan (Ravenswood Business District Specific Plan);
2. constitutes a subsequent action related to the Library Site which is adequately covered in an adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), certified by the City Council on March 21, 2023
(Resolution No. 2023-26);
3. is not a separate “project” for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) purposes but is a subsequent approval related to a previously approved project (CEQA Guidelines § 15378(c));
4. does not require further environmental review for the reasons set forth in CEQA Guideline Sections 15162; and
5. Requires no further analysis or environmental documentation; and
6. Constitutes merely a step in furtherance of the original project for which environmental review was performed and no supplemental or subsequent CEQA has been triggered, and no further
East Palo Alto City Council March 4, 2025 Agenda
environmental review is required.
9.2 Recruitment and Retention Incentive Plan for the Recruitment of Hard-toFill positions Recommendation:
1. Approving a resolution establishing the City of East Palo Alto’s Recruitment Incentive Plan with sign-on bonuses as presented; and
2. Approving Side Letters that amend the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of East Palo Alto and the Police Officers’ Association (POA), the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of East Palo Alto and the Management Employee’s Association (MEA), and the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of East Palo Alto and the Service Employee.
3. Finding that the proposed action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(4), because it is a fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment.
9.3 Authorization to Execute Soil Stockpiling Agreement with Sycamore Real Estate Investment LLC and P. Kavanagh Construction Co.
Recommendation:
By resolution:
1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Soil Stockpiling Agreement with Sycamore Real Estate Investment LLC and P.
Kavanagh Construction Co.
2. Direct the City Manager to deposit all funds from the agreement into a segregated account dedicated to parks and recreation projects, unless otherwise directed by the City Council to allocate funds toward other uses; and
3. Find the action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(4), in that it is a fiscal activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
10. COUNCIL REPORTS
11. ADJOURNMENT
East Palo Alto City Council March 4, 2025 Agenda
Upcoming meetings:
March 8, 2025 9:00 a.m. Strategic Planning Retreat
March 18, 2025 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting
March 25, 2025 6:00 p.m. Study Session
This AGENDA is posted in accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2(a) This Notice of Availability of Public Records: All public records relating to an open session item which are not exempt from disclosure pursuant to the Public Records Act, that are distributed to the majority of the City Council will be available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office, 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto, CA at the same time that the public records are distributed or made available to the City Council. Such documents may also be available on the East Palo Alto website www.cityofepa.org subject to staff’s ability to post the documents prior to the meeting. Information may be obtained by calling (650) 853-3100.
The City Council meeting packet may be reviewed by the public in the Library or the City Clerk's Office. Any writings or documents pertaining to an open session item provided to a majority of the City Council less than 72 hours prior to the meeting, shall be made available for public inspection at the front counter at the City Clerk's Office, 2ND Floor, City Hall, 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto, California 94303 during normal business hours. Information distributed to the Council at the Council meeting becomes part of the public record. A copy of written material, pictures, etc. should be provided for this purpose.
East Palo Alto City Council Chambers is ADA compliant. Requests for disability related modifications or accommodations, aids or services may be made by a person with a disability to the City Clerk's office at (650) 853-3127 no less than 72 hours prior to the meeting as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof.
DECLARATION OF POSTING
This Notice is posted in accordance with Government Code §54954.2(a) or §54956. Members of the public can view electronic agendas and staff reports by accessing the City website. Under penalty of perjury, this Agenda was posted to the public at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
POSTED: February 21, 2025
AMENDED: February 28, 2025
ATTEST:
James Colin
City Clerk
East Palo Alto City Council March 4, 2025 Agenda