CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
November 6, 2023
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers and by virtual teleconference at 5:30 P.M.
Present In Person: Burt, Kou, Lauing, Stone, Tanaka, Veenker Present Remotely: Lythcott-Haims
Absent:
Special Orders of the Day
1. Proclamation Honoring Olenka Villarreal
Closed Session
2. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Authority: Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: 1175 North San Antonio Road, Palo Alto (Informally known as the former Los Altos Treatment Plant site) Negotiating Party: Santa Clara Valley Water District City Negotiators: (Ed Shikada, Brad Eggleston, Karin North, Sunny Tong) Subject of Negotiations: Lease Price and Terms of Payment
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Council Member Veenker to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 5:46 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 7:05 P.M.
Mayor Kou announced no reportable action.
Consent Calendar
Council Member Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 4.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/06/2023
Mayor Kou registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 4.
Council Member Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 7.
Council Member Lythcott-Haims recused on Agenda Item Number 8.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Council Member Burt to approve Agenda Item Numbers 3-8.
MOTION SPLIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 3, 5-6: 7-0
MOTION PASSED ITEM 4: 5-2, Kou, Tanaka no
MOTION PASSED ITEM 7: 6-1, Tanaka no
MOTION PASSED ITEM 8: 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims Recuse
3. Approval of Minutes from October 16, 2023 Meeting
4. Approval to Proceed with Design of Improvements for Permanent Installation of the Traffic Calming Pilot Project in the Crescent Park Neighborhood
5. Approval of the Acceptance of State of California Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS) Funds of $194,400 and a Budget Amendment in the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (2/3 vote required) for front-line law enforcement expenses
6. Approval of First Amendment to the Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission Technical Advisory Committee Memorandum of Agreement. CEQA Status - Not a project.
7. Approval of General Services Agreement Contract C24185703A with SWA Services Group, Inc. for a five-year term in an Amount N ot-to-Exceed $19,327,547 for Janitorial Cleaning and Maintenance Services, and Approval of a Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Amendment in the General Fund; CEQA status – Not a Project.
8. CONSENT: Second Reading of Electrification Equipment Ordinance adopted October 2, 2023 amending the Palo Alto Municipal Code Title 18 (Zoning) Chapters 18.04 (Definitions), 18.10 (Low -Density Residential), 18.12 (R -1 Zones), 18.13 (Multiple Family Residential Zones),18.40 (General Standards and Exceptions), and 18.54 (Parking Facilities Design Standards) and Title 9, Chapter 9.10 (Noise) to Further Facilitate the Installation of Electrification Equipment in Residential Neighborhoods. CEQA Status – Exempt under CEQA Guidelines sections 15061(b)(3) and 15301.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/06/2023
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
9. Approval of a Contract with Urban Field Studio (C24188179) for a Not -to-E xceed Amount of $384,990 for the Car -fr
ee Streets Alternatives Study; Adopt an Interim Ordinance Continuing Parking Lot and Sidewalk Dining through March 2024 and On -S treet Dining
through December 2024; Adopt Resolutions Extending the City Manager’s Authority to Temporarily Close Portions of California Avenue and Ramona Street through December 2024; Provide Direction on the Street Configuration of California Ave. and Ramona St. during the Study Period; and Approval of a FY 2024 Budget Amendment in the General Fund. CEQA Status
- C
ategorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (existing facilities) and 15304(e) (minor temporary use).
M
OTION: Council Member Lauing moved, seconded by Council Member Lythcott-Haims to direct staff to return with the necessary actions to implement the following:
1. California Avenue Portions:
a. Maintain California Avenue as a car-free street with current areas of street closure to be made permanent.
b. Pedestrian traffic be directed to the sidewalks to increase visibility of retailers. c. Implement a Permanent Parklet Program based on the adopted program City- wide except on Car -Free streets , but adjuste d for contextual differences on California Avenue if necessary.
d. Create two-way slow bike lane down the center of California Avenue in the car - free area.
e. Install gateway way signs at Cambridge and Sherman on El Camino, and on Page Mill. Install wayfinding signage on Cal ifornia Ave primarily to promote retail businesses and events.
f. Conduct regularly scheduled street clean up and maintenance. g. Initiate a branding program based on the historic and contemporary strengths of the California Ave/Mayfield district.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/06/2023
h. Explore reorienting the stalls of our farmers market to face the other businesses to be more synergistic and or other options that could benefit the farmers market and the existing businesses consistent with pedestrian traffic.
2. Ramona Street Portions:
a. Maintain Ramona Street as a car- free street as -is with closure to be made permanent.
b. Initiate branding of the historic Ramona Street district, add wayfinding signage, and conduct regular street clean up and maintenance.
In addition, Council approves the following:
A. Adopt the attached Interim Ordinance Continuing On- Street Outdoor Dining until December 31, 2024 and Some Parking Lot and Sidewalk Uses through March 2024; and B. Adopt the attached Resolutions extending the City Manager’s authority to temporarily close portions of California Avenue and Ramona Street through December 31, 2024.
C. The Council Liaison to the business districts be involved and included in the meetings with staff and outreach with the stakeholders.
MOTION PASSED: 5-2, Veenker, Kou no
10. L
EGISLATIVE: Adopt Ordinances Amending Planned Community Ordinance 2343 for 2901- 2 905 Middlefield Road and Establishing a Separate Planned Community Zoning Designation for 702 Ellsworth Place to Enable the Development of a new Single -St ory,
Single-Fami
ly Residence. CEQA Status
-- C
ategorically Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines
Sections 15061(b)(3), 15301, and 15303 (Continued from September 18, 2023) A
genda item number 10 was deferred to a date to be determined.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:13 P.M.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/06/2023
ATTEST: APPROVED:
____________________ ____________________
City Clerk Mayor NOTE: Action m inutes are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC)
2.04.160(a) and (b). Summary minutes (sense) are prepared in accordance with PAMC Section
2.04.160(c). Beginning in January 2018, in accordance with Ordinance No. 5423, the City Council found action minutes and the video/audio recordings of Council proceedings to be the official records of both Council and committee proceedings. These recordings are available on the City’s website.