CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
May 20, 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:
Special Orders of the Day (Items heard out of order)
3. Greeting Yanpu, Shanghai, China Sister City Officials and Delegation
NO ACTION
1. Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services in Honor of May being National Foster Care Awareness Month
NO ACTION
2. Proclamation Recognizing National Public Works Week
NO ACTION
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Closed Session
AA1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Authority: Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto (Informally known as the Cubberley Site) Negotiating Party: Palo Alto Unified School District City Negotiators: (Ed Shikada, Chantal Cotton Gaines, Kristen O' Kane, Sunny Tong) Subject of Negotiations: Purchase, Exchange, and/or Lease Price and Terms of Payment
Docusign Envelope ID: 6E793C59-9C4B-4AC9-948D-91DDCEBCEECA
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 05/20/2024
MOTION: Council Member Lythcott-Haims moved, seconded by Council Member Veenker to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 5:55 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 7:18 P.M.
Mayor Stone announced no reportable action.
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Consent Calendar
Council Member Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 10.
MOTION: Council Member Lythcott-Haims moved, seconded by Mayor Stone to approve Agenda Item Numbers 5-10.
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 5-9: 7-0
MOTION PASSED ITEM 10: 6-1, Tanaka no
5. Approval of Minutes from May 6, 2024 Meeting
6. Adoption of a Resolution for Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act, for Fiscal Year 2025, Providing the Project List for the Street Maintenance Capital Improvement Program project PE-86070; CEQA Status – Not a Project
7. Approval of Purchase Order 4524000375 with Meiden American Switchgear for the Purchase of Seven (7) 60KV Circuit Breakers for the Colorado Substation in an Amount Not to Exceed $713,023 for FY 2024; CEQA Status: Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15302 (Replacement of Existing Structures)
8. Adoption of Resolution Suspending the Levy of Assessments on the Downtown Palo Alto Business Improvement District (BID) Assessment for Fiscal Year 2025; CEQA status – not a project.
Docusign Envelope ID: 6E793C59-9C4B-4AC9-948D-91DDCEBCEECA
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 05/20/2024
9. Approval of a Budget Amendment in the General Fund for the Planning and Development Services Department’s Deposit Based Fee Program for Private Development Studies in the Amount of the Net Zero $300,000: CEQA – Not a Project
10. Adoption of Revised Management and Professional Salary Schedule to Adjust the Salary of One Classification; Adoption of Administrative Revisions to the Management and Professional Compensation Plan; and Adoption of a Side Letter and Revised International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1319 Salary Schedule for One New Classification; CEQA Status - Not a project
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
11. Ad Hoc Committee recommendation to the City Council on a Potential Charter Amendment on the Direct Election of the Mayor
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to table the item on the Direct Election of the Mayor.
MOTION PASSED/FAILED: X-X
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Council Member Veenker to accept the Ad Hoc Committee recommendation that the proposed Charter Amendment on the ballot provide:
1. The City’s mayor will be directly elected by residents for a term of four years;
2. Candidates for mayor must have at least two years of experience on Council by the time they would assume office; and
3. Service as mayor is limited to two successive terms, as is already the case for service as council member, and no person would be able to serve as council member or mayor for a combined total of more than 12 years in a 16-year period; and
4. Place such a Charter Amendment on the ballot for the November 5, 2024 election and direct staff to return to Council for approval of ballot materials on Consent.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED: 3-4, Lauing, Kou, Burt, Lythcott-Haims no Docusign Envelope ID: 6E793C59-9C4B-4AC9-948D-91DDCEBCEECA
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 05/20/2024
MOTION: Council Member Lythcott-Haims moved, seconded by Council Member Veenker to table the item on the Direct Election of the Mayor and request the Ad Hoc further discussions and take into account the feedback received on May 20, 2024, additional community input, and come back to Council for further direction.
MOTION PASSED: 4-3, Burt, Kou, Lauing no
12. Discussion and Direction Regarding the City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook - Annual Discussion as Recommended by the Policy & Services Committee (Item Continued from May 13, 2024 City Council Meeting)
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Mayor Stone to add to the C ouncil Appointed Officers (CAO) Committee responsibilities (Procedures Sec. 1.2(d) to make recommendations to the Council annually:
1. The process of the CAO evaluations; and
2. Schedule CAO performance evaluations; and
3. The selection of the consultant to serve as the facilitator for the CAO evaluations for the year.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Mayor Stone to incorporate the following language into the City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook:
Special Orders of the Day: Resolutions, Proclamations, and Statements on behalf of the Mayor or Council
The Council shall refrain from taking positions on matters related to foreign governments, or concerning the foreign policy of the United States, or its relationship to other countries. Additionally, the Council shall not adopt resolutions, issue proclamations or official statements, or otherwise engage in advocacy on issues that are outside the scope of local governance.
The Council may support proclamations, resolutions, and matters directly related to Palo Alto’s Sister Cities, provided they focus on cultural, educational, commercial or other collaborations consistent with the objectives of these partnerships.” Docusign Envelope ID: 6E793C59-9C4B-4AC9-948D-91DDCEBCEECA
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 05/20/2024
The Council may adopt positions on domestic acts of the state or federal government which affect the resources of the City, or the health, safety and welfare of the residents or workers of the City consistent with our legislative guidelines.
Statements representing the position of the City Council on issues that are controversial, shall be voted upon by the Council.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Mayor Stone to establish a procedure for proclamations, including additional guidance, and any other staff recommendations based on best practice, specifically identifying guidelines for routine non-controversial proclamations to be approved by the Mayor and Vice Mayor and any controversial proclamations to be brought to the full Council for a vote for approval.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Mayor Stone to add under Procedures Section 2.3a all Council Members are expected to be at the dais at all times except for necessary short breaks and other kinds of exceptions.
MOTION PASSED: 4-3, Lythcott-Haims, Tanaka, Veenker no
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Lauing to refer to Policy and Services whether there should be a mechanism by which under Council Comments to be able to refer to staff a simpler request than would be required in a Colleague's Memo (with the boundaries defined).
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
MOTION: Council Member Veenker moved, seconded by Mayor Stone to add to the current duties of the Mayor to make appointments of Council Members to Regional bodies that Palo alto has a seat(s) on as applicable and or where not otherwise provided for by law.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Docusign Envelope ID: 6E793C59-9C4B-4AC9-948D-91DDCEBCEECA
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 05/20/2024
MOTION: Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Lauing to prohibit accepting hotel accommodations from our Sister Cities, Sibling Cities, and Friendship Cities, and to include the use of discretion and best judgment when accepting other gifts from those groups.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Veenker abstain
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 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 mi nutes (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.
Docusign Envelope ID: 6E793C59-9C4B-4AC9-948D-91DDCEBCEECA
Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: 6E793C599C4B4AC9948D91DDCEBCEECA
Status: Completed
Subject: Docusign: Council Minutes - May 20
Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 6
Signatures: 2
Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 2
Initials: 0
Vinhloc Nguyen
AutoNav: Enabled
EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled
Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto , CA 94301
[email protected]
IP Address: 199.33.32.254
Record Tracking
Status: Original
7/18/2024 10:01:56 AM
Holder: Vinhloc Nguyen
[email protected]
Location: DocuSign
Security Appliance Status: Connected
Pool: StateLocal
Storage Appliance Status: Connected
Pool: City of Palo Alto
Location: DocuSign
Signer Events
Signature
Timestamp
Greer Stone
[email protected]
Vice Mayor
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address: 84.55.155.224
Sent: 7/18/2024 10:03:02 AM
Viewed: 7/23/2024 5:08:43 AM
Signed: 7/23/2024 5:08:54 AM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
Mahealani Ah Yun
[email protected]
City Clerk
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address: 199.33.32.254
Sent: 7/23/2024 5:08:55 AM
Viewed: 7/31/2024 8:49:44 AM
Signed: 7/31/2024 8:50:56 AM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
In Person Signer Events
Signature
Timestamp
Editor Delivery Events
Status
Timestamp
Agent Delivery Events
Status
Timestamp
Intermediary Delivery Events
Status
Timestamp
Certified Delivery Events
Status
Timestamp
Carbon Copy Events
Status
Timestamp
Christine Prior
[email protected]
Administrative Associate III
Copa
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Sent: 7/31/2024 8:50:57 AM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via DocuSign
Witness Events
Signature
Timestamp
Notary Events
Signature
Timestamp
Envelope Summary Events
Status
Timestamps
Envelope Sent
Hashed/Encrypted
7/18/2024 10:03:02 AM
Certified Delivered
Security Checked
7/31/2024 8:49:44 AM
Signing Complete
Security Checked
7/31/2024 8:50:56 AM
Completed
Security Checked
7/31/2024 8:50:57 AM
Payment Events
Status
Timestamps