CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF
PALO DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
ALTO
Regular Meeting
January 13, 2025
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, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Present Remotely:
Absent:
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Consent Calendar
Councilmember Stone, Burt, Reckdahl requested to pull Agenda Item Number 7.
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Veenker to approve Agenda Item Numbers 1-6, 8-10 and to pull agenda item number 7 off of the consent calendar.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Approval of Minutes from December 9, 2024 and December 16, 2024 Meetings Approval of recommendations on process for the priority setting 2025 Council Annual Retreat as recommended by the Policy & Services Committee
3. Review and Acceptance of Annual Report on Development Impact Fees for Fiscal Year 2024 and Adoption of a Resolution Making Statutory Findings for all Development Impact and In-Lieu Fee Funds; CEQA status - Not a Project.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
4. Adoption of a Resolution Extending the City Manager's Authority to Execute Transactions Under Master Renewable Energy Certificate Agreements with Pre-Qualified Suppliers in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $5,000,000 per Year During Calendar Years 2025-2030; CEQA Status: Not a project
5. Approval of Contract Amendment #5 to Contract C17164727 with Professional Account Management, LLC, dba Duncan Solutions, for Parking Enforcement in the Amount of $132,000 to extend the term for one additional year; CEQA Status - Not a Project
6. Approval of Contract Amendment Number 2 to Contract Number C23183770 with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. to Extend Term for an Additional Year of Service (the second of four (4) annual options to renew) for State and Federal Legislative Advocacy and Grant Consulting and Compliance Services; CEQA Status - Not a Project
7. Retail Committee Recommendation to: (1) Revise the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Appropriation at Mid Year to Enhance Cleanliness Efforts in Both Downtowns; (2) Revise the Ongoing Parklet Regulations to Require Consent to Expand Beyond Own Frontage; and (3) Refer Staff to Follow up on Revising the Temporary Use Zoning Rules and Exploring Improvements to Downtown Infrastructure and Experience Pulled from Consent Calendar
8. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Sections of Title 2 (Administrative Code) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Move the Appointment of Members to the Public Art Commission, Human Relations Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission to November of Each Year and Extending Existing Terms Accordingly (FIRST READING: December 2, 2024 PASSED 7-0)
9. SECOND READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Approving a Plan for Park Improvements at the City's Baylands for Santa Clara Valley Water District's Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Structure Phase 1: Seismic: Retrofit and Rehabilitation Project; Approval of Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Project Prepared by Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCH # 2020090237). (FIRST READING: December 9, 2024 PASSED 7-0)
10. SECOND READING: Adoption of Interim Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Various Chapters of Title 16 (Building Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) and Title 21 (Subdivisions and Other Divisions of Land) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Implement Recent State Housing Laws (FIRST READING: December 16, 2024 PASSED 7-0) City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 01/13/2025
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Action Items
7. Retail Committee Recommendation to: (1) Revise the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Appropriation at Mid-Year to Enhance Cleanliness Efforts in Both Downtowns; (2) Revise the Ongoing Parklet Regulations to Require Consent to Expand Beyond Own Frontage; and (3) Refer Staff to Follow-up on Revising the Temporary Use Zoning Rules and Exploring Improvements to Downtown Infrastructure and Experience
AMENDMENT: Councilmember Stone moved, seconded by Mayor Lauing to change the language in 3a. of the main motion to replace the consent of the adjacent "property owner" with consent of the adjacent "tenant".
AMENDMENT PASSED: 6-1, Burt no
AMENDMENT INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Stone to direct to staff to:
1. Revise the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Appropriation at Mid-Year to enhance cleanliness efforts in both downtown areas, as outlined in attachment A included with this report.
2. Refer staff follow-up on the below items recommended by the Retail Committee:
a. Developing a revision to the temporary use permit rules b. Exploring a plan for improvements to downtown infrastructure and experience
3. Allow the "low-rise" parklet policy to continue for existing parklets who have been permitted (or approved by staff) and that we retain this policy until City reconstructs streetscape (or until further Council action).
a. Any additional low rise parklets beyond those that are in existence or have already been approved can only be obtained with the consent of the adjacent tenant. If he property is vacant then the applicant can proceed without such consent fo he duration of the permit
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
11. Discussion regarding State and Federal Legislative Advocacy and Adoption of the Policy and Services Committee Recommendations on the 2025 State and Federal Legislative Guidelines.
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 01/13/2025
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
MOTION: Councilmember Lythcott-Haims moved, seconded by Councilmember Burt to adopt the 2025 State and Federal Legislative Guidelines (Attachment A) with the following changes or additions:
1. Financial subsection:
a. Bullet 5 to remain unchanged to read "Supports the lowering or maintaining of voter thresholds for local revenue measures."
2. Transportation subsection:
a. Additional language to read, "Supports local, regional, state, and federal policies that would reduce aviation noise and emissions impacts over communities, including passing noise ordinances and creating incentives for reducing impacts." b. Amend the language in bullet 1 to read "Deters single occupancy drivers and alleviates local traffic congestion, promote active transportation safety infrastructure".
c. Add language that reads "Supports coordination among transportation agencies regionally."
3. Housing subsection:
a. Add language that would support property insurance availability and affordability initiatives.
b. Add language to support RHNA reforms to promote fact-based standards that would further support goals of social and economic housing balance.
4. Climate and Environment subsection:
Bullet 1 to read "Reduces GHG emissions and supports an equitable and just transition toward GHG reduction, and carbon neutrality goals, and electrification."
5. Public Safety subsection:
a. Include supporting legislation for increased resources for crime victims including victim support services and victim compensation processes. b. Support measures that protect immigrants from unlawful or inhumane deportation efforts.
6. In the Foundational Principles number 2 Support Funding Opportunities, add "Climate Action" after "but not limited to,"
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 01/13/2025
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
12. Review and Accept the FY 2026-FY 2035 Long Range Financial Forecast (LRFF) and FY 2026 Budget Development Guidelines as Recommended by the Finance Committee, CEQA Status - Not a Project
MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to accept the General Fund Long Range Financial Forecast (LRFF) for Fiscal Year 2026-2035 (Attachment I) and the FY 2026 annual Budget Development Guidelines (Attachment A in Attachment I) and direct staff to use this forecast as the starting point for the initiation of the FY 2026 budget process.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:44 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.
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 01/13/2025