CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
November 18, 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 Councilmember Tanaka Arrived at 5:32 P.M.
Present Remotely:
Absent:
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Study Session
1. Semi-Annual City Council Discussion with the Independent Police Auditor (IPA)
NO ACTION
Consent Calendar
Councilmember Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 3 and 4.
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Veenker to appro ve Agenda Item Numbers 2-8.
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 2, 5-8: 7-0
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 3, 4: 6-1, Tanaka no
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/18/2024
2. Approval of Minutes from November 4, 2024 Meeting
3. Approval of General Services Contract Number C25192518 with Califa Group in an Amount Not to Exceed $330,000 to Provide Procurement of Discounted Library Products for a Period of Three (3) Years; CEQA status – not a project.
4. Adoption of: (1) Revised Salary Schedules for unrepresented Management and Professional employees to increase the Utilities Director Classification by 5% as discussed and recommended by the Finance Committee on October 15, 2024, and (2) revised salary schedule for Service Employees International Union Local 521 in Alignment with one new position change in the FY 2025 Adopted Budget; CEQA Status - not a project
5. Policy and Services Committee Recommends that City Council Accept the City Auditor's Quarterly Sta tus Report for July - September 2024 and Approve Work to Begin on FY2025 Task 6: Evaluation and Benchmarking
6. FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Continuing the Temporary Program to Expand Outdoor Dining, Retail and Other Activities on Public and Privat e Property through June 30, 2025; Adoption of a Resolution Continuing the Pilot Parklet Demonstration Program through June 30, 2025; CEQA status - Exempt under Sections 15301, 15303, and 15304 of the CEQA Guidelines
7. S
ECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Renewing the Military Equipment Use Policy in Compliance with Govt. Code Section 7070 et seq. (2024
-202
5) (FIRST READING: November 4, 2025 PASSED 7-0)
8. S
ECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Fiscal Year 2025 Municipal Fee Schedule to Amend Existing Fees for City’s Palo Alto Link OnDemand Transit Service (FIRST READING: November 4, 2024 PASSED 7-0)
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
9. FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the Municipal Fee Schedule to Modify the Calculation for Park, Community Center and Library Development Impact Fees From a per Unit to per Square Feet Basis for Residential Development. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to 15061(b)(3).
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/18/2024
MOTION: Vice Mayor Lauing moved, seconded by Mayor Stone to direct staff to:
1. Evaluate the elimination of development fees for affordable units in multi -family projects which have at least 20% BMR units at under 80% AMI and a 50% reduction in fees for units between 81% and 100% AMI and provide recommendations on where this waiver would apply; and
2. Return to Council with an impact assessment o f fees and other pertinent matters such as art fees; and
3. Adopt an ordinance amending the City’s FY2025 Adopted Municipal Fee Schedule to update the Parks, Community Center, and Library impact fees from a per unit to per square feet basis for residential development (Attachment B); and
4. Evaluate structures based on bedrooms and a hybrid of bedrooms and square foot; and
5. Evaluate fees for home additions and full rebuilds of homes based upon the incremental increase in size.
PORTIONS OF MOTION INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
10. FIRST READING: Adoption of an Interim Ordinance Amending Chapters 18.04, 18.16,
18.30(A), and 18.30(C) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Implement High Priority Retail Revitalization Measures and Direction; Adoption of an Identical Emergency Ordinance; and Direction to Staff to Advance Other Initiatives Related to the City Council's Economic Development and Transition Policy. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
MOTION: Councilmember Tanaka moved, seconded by Councilmember Burt to:
1. Adopt the attached emergency ordinance (Attachment A) and interim ordinance (Attachment B);
2. Direct staff to work with the Planning and Transportation Commission on the following:
a. Continued refinement of the definition of retail -like land uses to establish a performance-based criteria that promotes pedestrian activity in commercial areas
b. Expansion of the permitted uses in the ground floor (GF) and retail (R) combining districts and standards to allow non-retail like uses in certain circumstances;
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/18/2024
c. Review and recommend whether to amend retail preservation ordinance and evaluate changes to the geographic extent or applicability of the City’s retail preservation ordinance; and,
3. Direct staff to include a comprehensive update to the City’s zoning code as an objective for Council consideration in 2025 work plan; and,
4. Include automobile showrooms in the GF and R combining districts; and,
5. Direct Staff to develop a definition fo r financial institutions that clarify financial intuitions applies to walk-in retail financial services open to the public; and
6. Amend the Emergency and Interim Ordinance to change section (125.1)(K) to substitute “high level” with a word(s) comparable to “substantive”.
PORTIONS OF MOTION INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 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 C ouncil and committee proceedings. These recordings are available on the City’s website.