CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
December 16, 2024
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers and by virtual teleconference at 5:31 P.M.
Present In Person: Burt, Kou, Lauing, Lythcott-Haims, Stone, Tanaka, Veenker Present Remotely:
Absent:
Special Orders of the Day
1. Proclamation Expressing Appreciation to Dean Batchelor Upon His Retirement
NO ACTION
2. Proclamation Recognizing Gunn High School Pickleball Club
NO ACTION
Closed Session
3. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY —POTENTIAL LITIGATION Subject: Potential Litigation Regarding Adequacy of City of Palo Alto Housing Element, As Set Forth in Letter Dated August 2, 2024 from David Lanferman, Esq. Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) One Case, as Defendant
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Lythcott-Haims to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 5:56 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 7:05 P.M.
Mayor Stone announced no reportable action.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/16/2024
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Study Session
4. Discussion of 2024 City Council Ad Hoc Committees Activities
NO ACTION
Consent Calendar
Vice Mayor Lauing, Councilmember Tanaka, and Lythcott-Haims requested to pull Agenda Item Number 24.
Councilmember Tanaka, Lythcott-Haims, and Veenker requested to pull Agenda Item Number
22. Councilmember Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Numbers 10, 13, 16, 17, 18.
MOTION: Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Lauing to approve Agenda Item Numbers 5-21, 23, 25 and to pull Agenda Item Numbers 22 and 24.
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 5-9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19-21, 23, 25: 7-0 MOTION PASSED ITEMS 10, 13, 16-18: 6-1, Tanaka no
5. Approval of Minutes from December 2, 2024 City Council Meeting
6. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Transact for Electric Supplies to Meet the City’s Electrical Needs under Electric Master Agreements; CEQA Status: Not a project
7. Adoption of Resolutions Authorizing an Installment Sale Agreement with the California State Water Resources Control B oard for Financing of the Local Advanced Water Purification System Project (WQ -19003); CEQA Status - Addendum to the 2015
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/16/2024
Environmental Impact Report for the Palo Alto Recycled Water Project (SCH 2011062037)
8. Community Development Block Grant 2025 -2030 Cons olidated Plan and Authorize Execution of Revenue Agreement with the County of Santa Clara for Annual Action Plan FY 2025-2026
9. Approve a Grant Agreement with the Federal Highway Administration for the South Palo Alto Bikeways Demonstration Project for the receipt of $888,000 in Federal Funds and Requiring $222,000 in City Matching Funds over Four Years; CEQA status – not a project.
10. Approval of Seven Professional Services Contracts C25192617, C24193306 - C24193311, with Safebuilt, LLC, Integrated Design 360, CSG Consultants, Inc., 4LEAF, Inc., True North Compliance Services, Inc., TRB and Associates, Inc., and West Coast Code Consultants, Inc. in the Aggregate Total Not -to-Exceed Amount of $4,000,000 for On -Call Development Services, Inspection, Plan Revi ew, and Green Building Program Services for a Period of Four Years. CEQA Status: Not a Project.
11. Approval of Increase of Construction Contingency for Contract No. C24190072 with O’Grady Paving, Inc. in the Amount of $345,000 to Perform Additional Street Improvement Work on California Avenue and El Camino Real for Capital Improvement Program Projects PL -23000 and PL -12000; and Adoption of a Resolution Continuing the Closure of a Portion of California Avenue through 2025; CEQA Status – Categorically Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 and 15304
12. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C25193087 with Rincon Consultants in an Amount Not to Exceed $202,322 for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review of a Revised Master Plan for the Cubb erley Site for a Period of One Year, and Approval of Budget Amendments in the General Fund and Cubberley Infrastructure Fund; CEQA Status – this action will initiate CEQA review of the master plan.
13. Approval of Contract Amendment No 1 to Contract Number C22 177024A with CLEAResult Consulting Inc., Extending the Term for Two Additional Years Through November 14, 2026, a Change in the Compensation Structure, and no Change in Not -to- Exceed Amount of $2,571,714 for Efficiency and Electrification Program Services for Small to Medium Business and Commercial Customers; CEQA Status: Not a Project.
14. Approval of Contract Amendment Number 3 to Contract #S20178065 with OIR Group, in the Amount of $20,000 and for a six -month extension to continue Independent Police Auditing Services in Palo Alto. CEQA Status – Not a Project.
15. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C25192045 with Urban Planning Partners, Inc., in the Amount Not to Exceed of $165,573 for Phase I of the Car Free Ramona Street Project for a Period of O ne Year, Direct Staff to Return with an Amendment to Approve Phase II; Approval of a Budget Amendment in the General
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/16/2024
Fund; and Adopt a Resolution Continuing the Closure of a Portion of Ramona St. through 2025; CEQA Status – categorically exempt.
16. Approval o f Contract C24191871 Amendment Number 1 Effective July 1, 2024 with Equinix, LLC in the Amount of $1,246,793 to Extend the Term for an Additional 2 Years Through June 30, 2029 for Fiber Licensing Agreement (Attachment A); and Authorization to Increase Contingency Amount by $75,000 for a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $1,954,923; CEQA Status – Not a Project
17. Approval of Purchase Order C24193066 with Origami Risk LLC for Records Management Software Supporting the City’s Claims and Litigation for a Three -Year Te rm Not -To- Exceed Amount of $206,310; CEQA: Not a project
18. Adoption of a revised salary schedule for Limited Hourly employees to increase the maximum hourly rate for the Management Specialist classification; CEQA Status - not a project
19. Adoption of a Resoluti on of Intention to Reimburse Expenditures for the Grid Modernization and Related Projects of the Electric Utility System Infrastructure from the Proceeds of Tax-Exempt Utility Revenue Bonds.
20. Accept the City of Palo Alto’s Audited Financial Statements as of June 30, 2024 and the Macias, Gini & O’Connell Management Letter; Approve the FY 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report; and Amend the FY 2024 Budget in Various Funds, as Recommended by the Finance Committee; CEQA Status – Not a Project
21. Approval of Audit Reports and Task Orders: 1) ADA Compliance Audit and Recruitment & Succession Planning Audit; 2) Annual Risk Assessment and 2025 Audit Plan; 3) Task Order Execution for Remaining FY25 Tasks; and 4) Realignment of FY 2024 and FY 2025 Task Order Budgets with No Fiscal Impact as Reviewed by Policy & Services Committee; CEQA: Not A Project
22. FIRST READING: Adoption of a Temporary Ordinance Amending Section 18.42.110 (Wireless Communications Facilities) of Title 18 (Zoning) to Require Architectural Review Board Review for Tier 2 and Tier 3 Wireless Communications Facilities in the Public Rights-of-Way and Repeal the Objective Aesthetic, Noise, and Related Standards for Wireless Communication Facilities in the Public Rights -of-Way. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301, 15302, and 15303.
23. FIRST READING: Adoption of a Temporary Ordinance Amending Various Sections of Titles 18 (Zoning) and 21 (Subdivisions and Other Divisions of Land) to Implement Laws from the 2024 Legislative Session; Adop tion of an Identical Emergency Ordinance; and Adoption of a Resolution Repealing SB 9 Objective Design Standards and Replacing Them with Single Family Objective Standards. CEQA Status – Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3).
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/16/2024
24. REINTRODUCED FIRST REA DING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Title 18 (Zoning) and Title 21 (Subdivisions and Other Divisions of Land) to Clarify Existing Regulations and to Implement State Housing Laws Adopted in 2023 and Earlier. CEQA Status
- E
xempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
(PREVIOUSLY INTRODUCED: November 12, 2024 PASSED 6-1, Kou no)
25. S
ECOND 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 Imple ment High Priority Retail Revitalization Measures and Direction; Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (FIRST READING: November 18, 2024 PASSED 7-0)
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
26. Policy and Services Committee Recommendation to Adopt a Policy to Reimburse Council Members Up to $2,000/year from the City Council Contingent Account for Technology Resources and Other Actual and Necessary Expenses Incurred in the Performance of Official Duties
MOTION: Councilmember Lythcott-Haims moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Lauing to adopt the attached policy authorizing Council Members to receive reimbursement, up to $2,000 per calendar year (taken from the City Council Contingent Account funding), for technolog y resources (limited to one of the same hardware items per four-year Council term) or other actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official City duties. The policy includes procedures for documentation and audits.
MOTION PASSED: 6-1, Kou no
27. Approval of CAO Committee Recommendation to direct the City Manager, or their designee, and Council Appointed Officers Committee Chair Lauing to negotiate renewal of the contract with Baker Tilly US, LLC for Internal Audit Services through June 30 2026 with an option to renew for two years; and align the review of the City Auditor performance with other CAO reviews.
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to direct the Council Appointed Officers Committee Chair Lauing , with technical support from the Human Resour ces Director and appropriate City staff, to renew and refine the terms of a contract amendment
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/16/2024
with Baker Tilly US, LLC through June 30, 2026 plus negotiate terms for an option to renew for two years, and to align the review of the City Auditor performance with other CAO reviews.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:57 P.M.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
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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.