CITY COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES
Regular Meeting
August 18, 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 PM.
Present In Person: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Lythcott-Haims arrived at 5:34 PM
Present Remotely: None
Absent: None
Call To Order
Mayor Lauing called the meeting to order. The clerk called the roll declaring six present.
Special Orders of the Day
1. Remarks from Congressman Sam Liccardo, United States Representative of California’s 16th Congressional District
NO ACTION
Sam Liccardo, Congressman, U.S. Representative of CA’s 16 th Congressional District, talked about wildfire resilience and all the resilience on the coast side required for infrastructure.
Vice Mayor Veenker expressed concerns about keeping data centers green. Congressman Liccardo stated a lot of “permitting reform” will be seen coming through the executive branch and congress with a bias toward drilling. Changes have been seen in federal regulation proposed that will make it more difficult for industrial scale solar and wind. There will be collaboration with the tech companies to emphasize the importance of renewables and storage.
Councilmember Stone asked for updates on legislation regarding additional affordable housing funds or support. Congressman Liccardo replied there is an expansion in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program with regard to the dollars that could be allocated to individual projects. The subcommittee chair over housing is co -sponsoring two bills that have been
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introduced on housing specifically. Administration is placing a two-year restriction on the use of voucher for able-bodied recipients which will pose a challenge. Bills that have been introduced focus on limiting barriers to the CDBG program to allow cities more flexibility to use CDBG for affordable housing. There is opportunity to get Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac involved in backing second mortgages to help homeowners afford to build second units.
Councilmember Stone queried what the congressman has seen in Washington to give hope a better few years. Congressman Liccardo talked about a drop in approval rating for the president and about negative impacts of the budget bill.
Councilmember Burt wanted comments about needing to translate frustration and protest into additional action. Congressman Liccardo further discussed efforts being made to mitigate the impacts of the budget bill.
Councilmember Lu asked for comments about Coastside Resilience. Congressman Liccardo wanted to talk about that issue offline. Priorities can be more strategically identified through the fire and Coastside initiatives. Affordable housing will continue to be addressed on the other side of the peninsula.
Councilmember Reckdahl inquired about options regarding FEMA. Congressman Liccardo was encouraged to see two Republicans question cutting the BRIC grants. There is opportunity to work together through the advocacy organizations.
Councilmember Lythcott-Haims spoke to the rise in the awareness of California's prominence as an economic and political force and wanted comments on the plan being hatched to counteract the Texas gerrymandering effort. Congressman Liccardo did not believe Texas will get all the seats in the White House they expect. There is concern that because of Texas’ willingness to kowtow to the White House’s demands, they may have more opportunities. Efforts will continue to push Republicans to stand up.
2. Proclamation Honoring Young Tran for his Service to the City of Palo Alto
NO ACTION
Holly Boyd, Assistant Public Works Director, discussed the career and retirement of Young Tran.
Mayor Lauing read the proclamation.
Young Tran expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the City and the support of his supervisor and my colleagues in the Public Works Department.
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3. Celebrating the Palo Alto Tsuchiura Marathon Runner
NO ACTION
Sarah Burgess , Neighbors Abroad President, discussed the City’s relationship with Suchira, Japan and introduced this year’s marathoner.
Owen Bittinger, Marathon Runner , provided a slide presentation outlining the experience of participating in the marathon in Suchira.
Closed Session
4. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY--ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Authority: Gov Code 54956.9(d)(4), initiation of litigation. Number of matters: one.
AA1. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY-POTENTIAL LITIGATION Subject: Potential litigation regarding 156 North California Avenue, as set forth in letter(s)
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2); One case, as Defendant.
Public Comment:
1. Herb B. (Item 4) requested Council not go into closed session for the item suggesting continuation of the item to the next meeting with direction to Staff to add the actual site addresses of the project to the subject line in the agenda and add a copy of the referenced June 27, 1995, letter to the agenda packet.
Councilmember Burt asked the city attorney to clarify whether there is an issue on the address of the closed session item.
Molly Stump, City Attorney agreed to look more carefully into how the project is described in the future. It is not a quasi-judicial item that requires an exact assessor's parcel level type of notice. The notice is sufficient for the public to be aware of what the item is.
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 6:25 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 9:05 P.M.
Mayor Lauing announced no reportable action.
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Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Ed Shikada, City Manager, reported an item was added on closed session which was a recommendation by Staff to defer Item Number 16. The appellant agreed to postpone the item to September 15. Staff wanted to withdraw Item Number 7 on the consent calendar.
Public Comment
1. Raj T. wanted to see Palo Alto continue to move away from the use of propane in parklets to accelerate public safety and electrification.
2. Arlina A. requested Council dedicate a City employee to pursue and report back about obtaining federal funding to prioritize removing grade level access to the tracks and restricting access in the meantime.
4. Sabrina L. had suggested adding context about bike crossings to the surveys and hoped that bike crossing plans would be considered in conjunction with overall traffic plans very independently.
5. Debbie M. urged the City to take action immediately to implement a permanent solution to block access to the train tracks.
6. Carol G. , founder and producer of Third Thursday California Avenue Monthly Year- Round Music Festival, described the event coming up on August 21.
7. Tom H. , president of the Palo Alto Middle School Athletics Community Organization, requested the opportunity to discuss allowing JLS cross -country runners to compete under a single combined JLS team name. An email for comments was provided:
[email protected].
8. Noel S. urged Council to pass a resolution for a ceasefire and full arms embargo of the Gaza war.
9. Jamie S. asked the mayor and Council to take action to restrict access to the train tracks.
10. Avram was offended by statements made to the Daily Post by Councilmember Reckdahl about RV dwellers.
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Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Vice Mayor Veenker congratulated Julia Zeitlin and the Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition on the Extreme Heat Summit presentation.
Councilmember Lythcott -Haims commended the community on a local democracy fair and march along with a protest rally outside of city hall in regard to policy changes and behaviors on the part of the federal administration.
Study Session
5. Productivity of Council Meetings for Second Half of 2025
NO ACTION
Mayor Lauing provided an introduction and purpose of the study session about methods to improve efficiency in Council meetings along with a slide with an analysis of Council meetings.
Councilmember Stone advised that the members challenge each other to practice the efficiency methods mentioned by the mayor and re -examine the order of the agendas to get more important things up front.
Councilmember Lu provided suggestions on potential discussion efficiency and simplification by consolidating work streams.
Vice Mayor Veenker opined Council could be more selective on items. A point was made on the cost and effects of pulling items. The committee system needs to be honored. P&S will be taking a referral to consider other ways for Council members to get things on agenda in the fall.
Commissions are bodies with particular expertise to drill down deeper.
Councilmember Reckdahl discussed room for improvement regarding pulling items. There was a suggestion to move closed sessions to the end of meetings. Items known to have public speakers should be done early in the meeting. Straw polls should be taken for study sessions.
Councilmember Lythcott- Haims expressed curiosity about the efficiency and goals of the meetings and Council’s role. Closed session is when Council tends to eat dinner so may not be beneficial to push to the end of the meeting. The duration of the meetings is the enemy and efforts to pull fewer things and be tighter with the clock will help achieve efficiencies. Getting to the packet sooner will be helpful.
Councilmember Burt concurred with the comments of colleagues. There was suggestion to look at putting non -urgent items off until after the vacation. The mayor can frame items at the beginning, keep members on track and encourage a motion to come forward. Differing political views should be minimized in order to focus on the substance of the decision.
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Mayor Lauing suggested looking at the fourth Monday optional meeting as the third Wednesday of the month. Councilmember Lu felt that could be a challenge to juggle between work schedules and other community groups. A straw poll was suggested. Councilmember Burt was inclined not to go to two meetings the third week because having two Council meetings in a week would be challenging and would be confusing to the public who know meetings are on Mondays. Councilmember Lythcott- Haims agreed with Councilmember Lu’s comments preferring four Mondays a month. Councilmember Reckdahl could make Wednesday work but preferred to keep it on Monday. Councilmember Stone concurred with Councilmember Reckdahl’s comments suggesting taking the fourth Monday off unless there are extenuating circumstances. Councilmember Lu suggested having alternating months where there is never a fourth Monday meeting. Mayor Lauing observed the extra meeting cannot be planned in advance. City Manager Shikada agreed that the extra meetings come up in a tight window in advance of the meeting. If moving to the third Wednesday, it would be best to arrange it as a special meeting and not a consent calendar in addition to an action item. Consistently having four items a night would help cover the docket. Vice Mayor Veenker preferred keeping the meetings to three a month when possible and making any fourth a special meeting.
Councilmember Burt suggested looking at having certain known fourth Mondays to have no meeting unless there is an emergency and leaving others open as flex Mondays.
Councilmember Stone stated making a Wednesday meeting only a special meeting could work and also having every other month fourth Monday reserved as a potential special meeting.
Councilmember Lythcott-Haims agreed if the Wednesday meeting was only a special meeting it would work.
City Manager Shikada invited continued feedback on the reports. Getting questions to Staff on Wednesday gave the ability to turn around responses for the public as well as other Council members.
After a straw poll was taken, it was decided to move to a third Wednesday.
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk, asked if the intention was for the clerk to plan the year of Council meetings ahead with Wednesday. City Manager Shikada replied since that would be coming back to Council, it could be gamed out. The remainder of 2025 would need to be looked at to see where it might be applicable. Mayor Lauing added if it did not work out it could be reverted back.
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Council member Lu moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Veenker to approve Agenda Item Numbers 6, 8-15 (Agenda Item Number 7 Removed Off Agenda).
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 6, 8-15: 7-0
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6. Staff and the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee Recommendation to Accept the E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap; CEQA Status - Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, Projects Consistent with an Existing General or Comprehensive Plan do not Require Additional CEQA Review
7. Approval of Retail Committee Recommendations for Streetscape Improvements and Outdoor Activation Standards for Pedestrian Only Ramona Street; CEQA Status - categorically exempt. Agenda Item Number 7 Removed Off Agenda
8. Approval to Dedicate a Seat at Lucie Stern Community Theatre to Eugenie Watson; CEQA status – not a project.
9. Approval of Contract No. C26195197 with Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council for on - call services related to fuel reduction maintenance for wildfire hazard mitigation and public education, for a five -year term and not -to-exceed amount of $2,500,000. CEQA status: Exempt (CEQA Guidelines Section 15304)
10. Approval of General Service Contract No. C26194766 with Securitas Technology Corporation, Utilizing Sourcewell Cooperative Agreement No. 121024 -SCS, to Procure Fire Alarm Systems Monitoring, Inspection, Testing, Repair, and Related Services for a Period of Four Years in the Not -To-Exceed Amount of $404,646; CEQA Status – Not a Project
11. Approval of Purchase Order C26195602 with Carahsoft Technology Corporation to Procure DocuSign eSignature Software for a One -Year Term Not -To-Exceed Amount of $145,180; CEQA status - Not a project
12. Approval of Professional Service Contract C26194516 with Interweave Production Group with Not-To-Exceed Amount of $280,170, for a Term of Three Years, CEQA Status – Not a Project.
13. Approval of Six (6) On -Call Consulting Contracts to Provide Specialized Technical Expertise for the Planning and Development Services Department over a Five -Year Term, as needed: 1) David J. Powers & Associates, Inc., 2) Economic and Planning Systems, Inc., 3) Keyser Marston Associates, Inc., 4) Page and Turnbull Inc., 5) Rincon Consultants, Inc., 6) Strategic Economics, in the Amount not to exceed $2,000,000 ; CEQA Status: Not a Project.
14. Approval to Extend the Lease Between 285 Hamilton LLC, and the City of Palo Alto for the Premises Located at 285 Hamilton Avenue (Development Center) for 36 months, at a Starting Base Rent of $49,420.45 per Month and Increasing 3 Percent Annually; CEQA Status – Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
15. PUBLIC HEARING: Adoption of Resolution Correcting Clerical Errors in Three Electric Rate Schedules: E-16 (Unmetered Electric Service), E-EEC-1 (Export Electricity Compensation),
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and E -NSE-1 (Net Surplus Electricity Compensation); CEQA Status: Not a project under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(4) and (5) and Exempt Under Section 15273(a).
City Manager Comments
City Manager Shikada provided a slide presentation including San Antonio Road Area Plan launch, South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Caltrain Crossings project and online survey, ongoing Grade Separation design work, registration for fall classes and activities and notable tentative upcoming Council items.
Action Items
16. Approval of a Director’s Interpretation Pursuant to PAMC Section 18.01.025 Concluding That Noncomplying Residential Gross Floor Area may not be Relocated Within a Structure; Denial of the Associated Appeal; Direction to Prepare a Future Code Amendment for Administrative De Minimis Exceptions to the Zoning Code; CEQA:
Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
Agenda Item Number 16 not heard and deferred to September 15, 2025 City Council Meeting.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 PM.