Agenda packet — Palo Alto City Council, March 17, 2025 (part 1 of 2)

CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting
Monday, March 17, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Amended Agenda
Amended Agenda Items Appear Below in RED (Time Estimates Updated) Palo Alto City Council meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend by teleconference or in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. The meeting will be broadcast on Cable TV Channel 26, live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and streamed to Midpen Media Center https://midpenmedia.org
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VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/362027238) Meeting ID: 362 027 238 Phone:1(669)900‐6833
PUBLIC COMMENTS
General Public Comment for items not on the agenda will be accepted in person for up to three minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. General public comment will be heard for 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda.

Public comments for agendized items will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. Requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutes after the staff’s presentation or as determined by the Chair. Written public comments can be submitted in advance to [email protected] and will be provided to the Council and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your subject line.

PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only by email to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strong cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are not accepted.

Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks, posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do not create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated when displaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view or passage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting.

TIME ESTIMATES
Listed times are estimates only and are subject to change at any time, including while the meeting is in progress. The Council reserves the right to use more or less time on any item, to change the order of items and/or to continue items to another meeting. Particular items may be heard before or after the time estimated on the agenda. This may occur in order to best manage the time at a meeting or to adapt to the participation of the public.

CALL TO ORDER
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY (5:30 ‐ 5:35 PM)

1. Recognition of Sister City Tsuchiura, Japan and Palo Alto Student Exchange Participants Late Packet Report added
CLOSED SESSION (5:35 ‐ 6:35 PM)

2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
City Designated Representatives: City Manager and his Designees Pursuant to Merit System Rules and Regulations
(Ed Shikada, Kiely Nose, Sandra Blanch, Nick Raisch, Tori Post, Molly Stump, Lauren Lai, Paul Harper, and Jennifer Fine)
Employee Organization: Service Employees International Union, (SEIU) Local 521 Hourly Unit, Utilities Management and Professional
Association of Palo Alto (UMPAPA), Palo Alto Peace Officers’ Association (PAPOA), Palo Alto Police Management Association (PMA),
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) local 1319, Palo Alto Fire Chiefs’ Association (FCA); Authority: Government Code Section 54957.6 (a) AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
PUBLIC COMMENT (6:35 ‐ 7:05 PM)
Members of the public may speak in‐person ONLY to any item NOT on the agenda. 1‐3 minutes depending on number of speakers. Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda.

COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS (7:05‐ 7:10 PM) Members of the public may not speak to the item(s).

STUDY SESSION (7:10 ‐ 8:10 PM)

3. Study Session with Palo Alto Youth Council
CONSENT CALENDAR (8:10 ‐ 8:15 PM)
Items will be voted in one motion unless removed from the calendar by three Council Members.

4. Approval of Minutes from March 3, 2025 Meeting

5. REINTRODUCED FIRST READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Various Chapters of Title 18 (Zoning) and Title 21 (Subdivisions and Other Divisions of Land) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Clarify Existing Regulations and to Implement Recent State Land Use Laws from 2023 and Earlier, Including AB 2097. CEQA Status – Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).

6. Adoption of Memorandum of Agreement with SEIU, Local 521 for a Term of Three Years Expiring December 31, 2027; CEQA Status ‐ Not a Project

7. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C25191558 with Life Insurance Company of North America, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company, in an Amount Not to Exceed $2,369,216 to Provide Group Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Long‐Term Disability to City of Palo Alto Employees for a Period of Three Years; CEQA Status ‐ Not a Project.

8. Authorization to Execute Amendment to Legal Services Agreement S23187569 with Howard Rome Martin Ridley & Master LLP dba Ridley Master to Increase Amount by $60,000 for Total Not‐to‐Exceed Amount of $315,000; CEQA Status – Not a Project.

9. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI‐JUDICIAL. 4335 and 4345 El Camino Real [24PLN‐00153]:

Applicant’s Request for Approval of a Vesting Tentative Map to Allow for a Condominium Subdivision to Create Eight Units on a 17,406 Square Foot Parcel and to Create 21 Units on a 41,370 Square Foot Parcel to Facilitate Construction of 29 New Residential Units in Five Buildings (24PLN‐00152). CEQA Status: Exempt from CEQA in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 (In‐Fill Development).

CITY MANAGER COMMENTS (8:15 ‐ 8:30 PM)
BREAK (15 MINUTES)
ACTION ITEMS (Item AA2: 8:45 ‐ 9:45 PM; Item AA1: 9:45 ‐ 10:45 PM) Include: Report of Committees/Commissions, Ordinances and Resolutions, Public Hearings, Report of Officials, Unfinished Business and Council Matters.

10. Approval of Professional Service Contract Number C25192988 with Lloyd Consulting Group, LLC., in the Amount Not to Exceed $160,825 to Conduct a Comprehensive Turf Study for a Period of Six Months; CEQA Status – exempt under CEQA regulations 15262 and 15306. Item Removed Off Agenda
AA2. Approval of the 2025 City Council Priority Objectives, as well as Committee Objectives and Workplans. CEQA Status ‐‐ Not a Project. (Item Continued from February 24, 2025 and March 10, 2025 City Council Meetings) New Item Added AA1. Adoption of a Resolution Responding to Federal Actions New Item Added

ADJOURNMENT
INFORMATION REPORTS
Information reports are provided for informational purposes only to the Council and the public but are not listed for action during this meeting’s agenda.

11. City of Palo Alto Monthly Investment Activity Report for February 2024 (Unaudited) OTHER INFORMATION
Standing Committee Meetings this week
Rail Committee Meeting March 18, 2025
Finance Committee Meeting March 18, 2025 – CANCELED
Retail Committee Meeting March 19, 2025 – CANCELED
Climate Action & Sustainability Committee Meeting March 21, 2025 Public Comment Letters
Schedule of Meetings
AMENDED / SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS
AA1. Adoption of a Resolution Responding to Federal Actions New Item Added AA2. Approval of the 2025 City Council Priority Objectives, as well as Committee Objectives and Workplans. CEQA Status ‐‐ Not a Project. (Item Continued from February 24, 2025 and March 10, 2025 City Council Meetings) New Item Added

1. Recognition of Sister City Tsuchiura, Japan and Palo Alto Student Exchange Participants Late Packet Report added

10. Approval of Professional Service Contract Number C25192988 with Lloyd Consulting Group, LLC., in the Amount Not to Exceed $160,825 to Conduct a Comprehensive Turf Study for a Period of Six Months; CEQA Status – exempt under CEQA regulations 15262 and 15306. Item Removed Off Agenda
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone.

1. Written public comments may be submitted by email to [email protected].

2. For in person public comments please complete a speaker request card located on the table at the entrance to the Council Chambers and deliver it to the Clerk prior to discussion of the item.

3. Spoken public comments for agendized items using a computer or smart phone will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom‐based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully.

You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 , Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. Or download the Zoom application onto your smart phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter in the Meeting ID below.

You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak.

When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak.

When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments.

4. Spoken public comments for agendized items using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN Meeting ID: 362‐027‐238 Phone: 1‐669‐900‐6833 Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing [email protected]. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service.

California Government Code §84308
, commonly referred to as the "Levine Act," prohibits an elected official of a local government agency from participating in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use if the official received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party or participant, including their agents, to the proceeding within the last 12 months. A “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” includes most land use and planning approvals and the approval of contracts that are not subject to lowest responsible bid procedures and have a value over $50,000. A “party” is a person who files an application for, or is the subject of, a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use. A “participant” is a person who actively supports or opposes a particular decision in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use, and has a financial interest in the decision. The Levine Act incorporates the definition of “financial interest” in the Political Reform Act, which encompasses interests in business entities, real property, sources of income, sources of gifts, and personal finances that may be affected by the Council’s actions. If you qualify as a “party” or “participant” to a proceeding, and you have made a campaign contribution to a Council Member exceeding $500 made within the last 12 months, you must disclose the campaign contribution before making your comments. 1 March 17, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.CityofPaloAlto.org/agendas.