CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
March 17, 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:
Special Orders of the Day
1. Recognition of Sister City Tsuchiura, Japan and Palo Alto Student Exchange Participants
NO ACTION
Closed Session
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) MOTION: Vice Ma yor Veenker moved, seconded by Council member Lythcott-Haims to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 5:45 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 7:00 P.M.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 03/17/2025
Mayor Lauing announced no reportable action.
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Study Session
3. Study Session with Palo Alto Youth Council
NO ACTION
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Council member Lythcott-Haims moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-9.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
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.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 03/17/2025
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
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
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)
NO ACTION
AA1. Adoption of a Resolution Responding to Federal Actions MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Council member Burt to approve the amended resolution with the incorporated changes discussed.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 P.M.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 03/17/2025
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.