CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Special Meeting
March 25, 2024
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, Lythcott-Haims, Stone, Tanaka, Veenker Present Remotely:
Absent:
Closed Session
1. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY- EXISTING LITIGATION
Subject: Reinert v. City of Palo Alto Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 21-CV- 391286 (One Case, as Defendant)
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
MOTION: Council Member Veenker moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Lauing to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 5:33 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 5:53 P.M.
Mayor Stone announced no reportable action.
Action Items
2. Approval of the 2024 City Council Priority Objectives and Finance Committee and Policy & Services Committee Workplans (Item Continued from March 4, 2024, March 11, 2024, and March 18, 2024 City Council Meetings)
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Lythcott -Haims to approve the 2024 Proposed City Council Priorities and Objectives:
Community Health, Safety,
Wellness & Belonging section with the following additional objective:
1. Enhanced Caltrain safety and security.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 03/25/2024
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
MOTION: Council Member Kou moved, seconded by Council Member Burt to refer the following to the Finance Committee 2024 Workplan:
1. Consider a $250k grant for Ability Path to move forward with their facilities at Mitchell Park Place at 525 East Charleston Road for services.
MOTION PASSED: 6-1, Tanaka no
MOTION: Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Council Member Veenker to approve the Finance Committee 2024 Workplan with the additional referral:
1. Consider a $250k grant for Ability Path to move forward with their facilities at Mitchell Park Place at 525 East Charleston Road for services.
MOTION PASSED: 6-1, Tanaka no
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to approve the Policy & Services Committee 2024 Workplan and refer the following to the Policy & Services Committee Workplan:
1. Review of an annual schedule of repeat items that occur annually on agendas for Policy & Services, Finance Committee, and City Council along with the approximate month they occur; and,
2. Establish a frequency for joint City Council meetings or Policy & Services meeting with Boards and Commissions, Youth Council, and meetings with Boards and Commissions Chairs; and,
3. Retain the November 2021 Council referral on neighborhood programs, to request Policy & Services to review and make recommendations for any initiative s to support and strengthen neighborhood programs.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
3. Policy and Services Recommendation to the City Council for the creation of a Citizens Advisory Committee on a Potential Charter Amendment on Council Member
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 03/25/2024
Compensation (Item Continued from March 11, 2024 and March 18, 2024 City Council Meetings)
MOTION: Vice Mayor Lauing moved, seconded by Council Member Lythcott-Haims to create a Committee of seven (7) members, four (4) of which are former City Council members, with each Council Member appointing one (1) member , to consider future increases in C ouncil Member salaries above the guidelines in SB 329 (which for a city the size of P alo Alto is $1600/month).
Committee Members must agree not to run for Council for at least 5-years following the issuance of a recommendation.
a. If the Committee supports an increase, make a recommendation to the City Council on amount and timing to be considered by Council.
b. If the committee recommends no increase, provide to the City Council rationale for the decision.
MOTION PASSED: 4-3, Burt, Kou, Tanaka no
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
____________________ ____________________
City Clerk Mayor NOTE: Action minutes 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.