CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
May 12, 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:
Sp
ecial Orders of the Day
1. Proclamations Honoring Ella Cohen – California Interscholastic Federation State Wrestling Champion, and Angelina Jiang – State Runner Up
NO ACTION
2. Proclamation Recognizing National Police Week as May 11-17, 2025, and National Peace Officers' Memorial Day as May 15, 2025
NO ACTION
3. Review List of Applicants and Select Candidates to Interview for the Architectural Review Board (ARB) Vacancies; CEQA Status: Not a project
NO ACTION
A
genda Changes, Additions and Deletions
P
ublic Comment
C
ouncil Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 05/12/2025
Study Session
4. FY 2026 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget - Finance Committee Update and Council Budget Discussion
NO ACTION
5. Discussion of Strategies for the Use of Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Electric and Gas Cap and Trade, and Electric and Gas Public Benefits Revenues; CEQA Status - Not a Project
NO ACTION
Con
sent Calendar
Vice Mayor Veenker recused on Agenda Item Number 7.
MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Council member Lythcott-Haims to approve Agenda Item Numbers 6-9.
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 6, 8-9: 7-0
MOTION PASSED ITEM 7: 6-0-1, Veenker recused
6. Approve the Office of the City Auditor Quarterly Report for the Period of October - December 2024
7. Stanford University Medical Center (SUMC) Annual Report to Council for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 24)
8. Approval of Professional Services Contract No. C25193532 with Biggs Cardosa Associates Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $750,000 for On-Call Structural Engineering Services for City Structures including Bridges, Buildings, and Other Structures over a Period of Three Years; CEQA status – Not a Project
9. Approval of Two Professional Services Contracts, No. C25192359A with the Embarcadero Media Foundation and C25192359B with San Francisco Daily dba The Daily Post, in an Amount Not to Exceed $425,000 in Total for Legal Advertising Services for a Period of 5 Years; CEQA Status - Not a Project
City
Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 05/12/2025
Action Items
10. FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Various Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapters in Title 16 and 18 in Response to Direction from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Regarding State Accessory and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit Law. CEQA Status - Exempt From the Provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
MOTION: Councilmember Lythcott-Haims moved, seconded by Councilmember XX to:
1. Adopt the draft ordinance in Attachment A amending PAMC Title 16 (Building Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) regulations for ADUs and JADUs.
2. Direct staff to engage with local architects, design professionals, and members of the public to analyze potential ADU reforms and return to Council by October 1 with a set of policy alternatives and recommendations including but not limited to:
a. increasing the maximum allowable size of ADUs (with 2+ BR) to between 1200 - 1600sf
b. excluding basements from the floor area of the JADU/ADU unit c. waiving impact fees for all ADUs
d. enabling condominium conversions to make way for separate conveyance of ADUs
MOTION FAILED FOR LACK OF A SECOND
M
OTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to adopt the draft Ordinance (Attachment A) amending Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Title 16 (Building Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) with the added modification:
• Eliminate the phrase "underlying zoning for front setback" under the Single Family - New Construction of Detached ADU column in PAMC 18.09.030 Table 1 MOTION PASSED: 7-0
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City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 05/12/2025
ACTION MINUTES
MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilm ember Lythcott -Haims to d irect staff to explore further policy alternatives relating to ADUs including additional square footage and condo conversions.
MOTION PASSED: 6-1, Burt no
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 P.M.
ATTE
ST: 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.
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