CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Tuesday, May 27, 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
.
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
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
to
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.
1 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at
www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
CALL TO ORDER
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY (5:30 - 6:55 PM)
1. Interview Candidates for the Vacancies on the Architectural Review Board; CEQA Status – Not a Project
CLOSED SESSION (6:55 - 7:40 PM)
AA1.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—POTENTIAL LITIGATION (two cases) Subject: Initiation of litigation in two cases, American Federation of Government Employees v. Trump, US District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 25-CV-03698 and City and County of San Francisco v. Trump, US District Court for the Northern District of California,
Case No. 25-CV-01350 Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) New Item
Added
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
PUBLIC COMMENT (7:40 - 8:10 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 (8:10 - 8:20 PM) Members of the public may not speak to the item(s).
CONSENT CALENDAR (8:20 - 8:25 PM)
Items will be voted in one motion unless removed from the calendar by three Council Members.
2. Approval of Minutes from May 12, 2025 Meeting
3. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C25193676 With Franklin Energy Services LLC, in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $7,054,863 over a three-year term to Administer Turnkey Home Electrification Program as Part of the Advanced Single-Family Electrification Program and Amend the Fiscal Year Budget Appropriation for the Gas Fund; CEQA Status: -- Not a Project under CEQA Guidelines 15378(b)(5)
4. Adoption of Resolution Suspending the Levy of Assessments on the Downtown Palo Alto Business Improvement District (BID) Assessment for Fiscal Year 2026; CEQA status – not a
2 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at
www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
project.
5. Approval of Contract Amendment Number 4 to Contract #S20178065 with OIR Group, in the Amount of $40,000 and for a one-year extension to continue Independent Police Auditing Services in Palo Alto. CEQA Status – Not a Project.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS (8:25 - 8:40 PM)
BREAK (15 MINUTES)
ACTION ITEMS (Item 6: 8:55 - 9:25 PM, Item 7: 9:25 - 10:55 PM) Include: Report of Committees/Commissions, Ordinances and Resolutions, Public Hearings, Report of Officials, Unfinished Business and Council Matters.
6. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 4075 El Camino Way [23PLN-00202]:
Recommendation on Applicant’s Request for an Amendment to a Planned Community Zone District (PC-5116) to Allow for Modifications to an Existing 121-Unit Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility. The Additions Would Include 16 Additional Assisted Living Units and 172 Square Feet of Additional Support Space. Environmental Assessment:
Exempt from the Provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Modifications to Existing Facilities).
Zoning District: PC-5116 (Planned Community).
(Continued from 5/5/2025 - On May 5, 2025, the Council Received Presentations and Public Testimony; the Item Will be Continued to May 27 for Council Deliberation and Action - No Public Testimony Will be Heard on May 27.)
7. FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Titles 18 (Zoning) and 16 (Building Regulations) to Modify the El Camino Real Focus Area, Implementing Program 3.4E of the Housing Element, and Updating the Housing Incentive Program. CEQA Status: the Addendum to the Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Considered by the City Council on April 15, 2024, Analyzed Potential Environmental Impacts of the 6th Cycle Draft Housing Element Including Program 3.4E.
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.
8. Project Management Plan for the Advancement through Preliminary Engineering and
3 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at
www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
Environmental Documentation Phases of the Grade Separation Project at Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road crossings
OTHER INFORMATION
Standing Committee Meetings this week
Policy & Services Committee May 28, 2025
Public Comment Letters
Schedule of Meetings
AMENDED AGENDA ITEMS
AA1.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—POTENTIAL LITIGATION (two cases) Subject:
Initiation of litigation in two cases, American Federation of Government Employees v.
Trump, US District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 25-CV-03698 and City and County of San Francisco v. Trump, US District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 25-CV-01350 Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
New Item Added
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
Play
Store
and
enter
in
the
Meeting ID below.
◦
You
may
be
asked
to
enter
an
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.
4 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at
www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
◦
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
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.
5 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at
www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.