CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
September 8, 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:
A
genda Changes, Additions and Deletions
P
ublic Comment
C
ouncil Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
St
udy Session
1. 414 California Avenue [25PLN -00140]. Request for Council Prescreening to Rezone the Subject Property from Community Commercial (2) (CC[2]) to Planned Community/Planned Home Zoning and to Allow Construction of a Mixed- Use Building with 37 Units in a Six -Story Structure on a 16,231 -Square-Foot (0.37 Acre) Site. CEQA Status: Not a Project. Item Removed Off Agenda (Rescheduled for September 15, 2025 City Council Meeting)
2. S an Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority Update on Reach 2 Flood Control Project
NO ACTION
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 09/08/2025
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Councilmember Lu to approve Agenda Item Numbers 3-17.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
3. Approval of Minutes from August 11 and August 18, 2025 Meetings
4. Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal Fee Schedule to Reflect Council -Directed Changes to Existing Fees and Add a New Subsidized Fee for Stand-Alone Residential Gas, Water and Space Heating Equipment Permits. CEQA Status:
Not a Project
5. Approval of Construction Contract No. C26195620 with Public Restroom Company in the Amount Not -to-Exceed $412,940 and Authorization for the City Manager or Their Designee to Negotiate and Execute Change Orders Up to a Not -to-Exceed Amount of $41,294 to Provide and Install a Modular Restroom Building at Mitchell Park for the Park Restroom Installation Capital Improvement Program Project (PG -19000); CEQA status – exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15303
6. Approve Amendment #1 of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the California Alternate Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA), to Extend the Term of the Agreement from Two Years to Five Years, to Continue to Enable the Residents of Palo Alto to Participate in the GoGreen Home Energy Financing Program.
7. Authorization to Execute Amendment to Legal Services Contract S26195198 with Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley PC to Increase Amount by $205,000 for Total Not -to- Exceed Amount of $255,000; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
8. Adoption of an Emergency Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapters
16.04 (California Building Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 & 2), 16.05 (California Mechanical Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 4), and 16.14 (California Green Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11) to Make Non -Substantive Changes Addressing Comments from the California Building Standards Commission. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308.
9. Approval of the Purchasing Card Audit and Extension Deadline for Two FY2024 Audit Project Task Orders and Amendment of the FY2024 and FY2025 Task Order Budgets to Realign the Authorized Budgets with a Net Zero Impact, as Recommended by the Policy & Services Committee; CEQA – Not a Project
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 09/08/2025
10. Approve Purchase Order S26195255 with Dasher Technologies, Utilizing a State of California Blanket Purchase Agreement, to Procure Rubrik Data Backup and Security Solution for a 3 -Year Term for a Not -To-Exceed Amount of $106,933; CEQA Status - Not a Project.
11. Approval of Professional Service Contract Number C26195633 with H.T. Harvey & Associates in an Amount Not to Exceed $195,004 for Services to Manage a Wetland Remedial Mitigation Plan for a Period of 2 Years. CEQA Status – Categorically Exempt.
12. FIRST READ: Adopt an Ordinance Amending PAMC Chapter 10.56 (Special Speed Zones) to Update Speed Limit Studies for 22 Streets and Decrease the Speed Limit for a Portion of Deer Creek Road; and Approve the 2024 Traffic Survey; CEQA status – categorically exempt.
13. FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 16.64 (Development Fee and In-Lieu Payment Administration) of Title 16 (Building Regulations) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Reflect Changes in Law. CEQA Status – Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
14. SECOND READING: Ordinance Adopting the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Issued by the State Fire Marshal (FIRST READING: August 11, 2025 PASSED 6 -0-1, Lythcott - Haims Absent)
15. SECOND READING: Ordinance Adding Use of Council Chambers Fees to the FY 2026 Municipal Fee Schedule (FIRST READING: August 11, 2025 PASSED 6 -0-1, Lythcott-Haims absent)
16. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Chapter
2.21 (Architectural Review Board) and Chapter 2.25 (Parks and Recreation Commission) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Amend Procedures for Electing a Chair and Vice Chair (FIRST READING: August 11, 2025, PASSED 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims Absent)
17. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Restating Procedures for Expedited Permitting Processing for Electric Vehicle Charging Systems (FIRST READING: August 11, 2025 PASSED 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims Absent) C
ity Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 09/08/2025
Action Items
18. Discuss the FY 2026 budget amendments to reduce General Fund appropriations by approximately $6.2 million as Recommended by the Finance Committee and Approve the FY 2026 Budget Amendments in Various Funds. CEQA Status - Not a Project.
MOTION: Council member Burt moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to approve amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Appropriation for various funds and various capital projects, as identified in Attachment A, Exhibit 1 and 2 with the following changes:
A. Restore Reserve Officer (0.12 FTE) position in the Police Department ($15k) B. Restore Program Assistant I (1.00) position in the Community Services Department at the JMZ ($126k)
C. Refer the Foothills Nature Preserve Improvements capital project (PE -21000) to the Parks and Recreation Commission and staff will return with potential adjustments as part of the FY 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review
D. Apply Measure B funding towards Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway capital project (PL-14000) ($2.5M)
E. Retain $50k in the Baylands Levee Repair for Public Safety Access capital project (OS- 09002)
F. Refer Staff to review the Railroad Grade Separation and Safety Improvements capital project (PL -17001) and return with potential adjustments as part of the FY 2026 Mid- Year Budget Review
AMENDMENT SPLIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING
AMENDMENT: Council member Stone moved, seconded by Council member Lythcott-Haims to restore Senior Management Analyst (1.00 FTE) position in the City Manager’s Office ($176k) AMENDMENT PASSED: 7-0
AMENDMENT: Council member Stone moved, seconded by Council member Lythcott-Haims to restore Staff Specialist (0.48 FTE) position in the Community Services Department at the JMZ ($42k)
AMENDMENT PASSED: 5-2, Burt, Reckdahl no
AMENDMENTS INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL MOTION
FINAL MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to approve amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Appropriation for various funds and Docusign Envelope ID: 2AD35790-899E-4DC4-B8C7-3D66F4CA2ED6
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 09/08/2025
ACTION MINUTES
various c apital projects, as id entified in At tachment A, E xhibit 1 and 2 with the f ollowing changes:
G. R
estore Reserve Officer (0.12 FTE) position in the Police Department ($15k) H. Restore Program Assistant I (1.00) position in the Community Services Department at the JMZ ($126k)
I. Refer the Foothills Nature Preserve Improvements capital project (PE -21000) to the Parks and Recreation Commission and staff will return with potential adjustments as part of the FY 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review
J. Apply Measure B funding towards Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway capital project (PL-14000) ($2.5M)
K. Retain $50k in the Baylands Levee Repair for Public Safety Access capital project (OS- 09002)
L. Refer Staff to review the Railroad Grade Separation and Safety Improvements capital project (PL -17001) and return with potential adjustments as part of the FY 2026 Mid- Year Budget Review
M. Restore Senior Management Analyst (1.00 FTE) position in the City Manager’s Office ($176k)
N. Restore Staff Specialist (0.48 FTE) position in the Community Services Department at the JMZ ($42k)
FINAL MOTION PASSED: 7-0
19. A
doption of an Emergency Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Chapter 16.04 to Add Local Administrative Amendments Related to Certificates of Occupancy and Definitions to the 2022 California Building Code, and an Emergency Ordinance Amending PAMC Chapter 16.17 to Adopt the 2025 California Energy Code and Local Amendments Thereto. CEQA Status – Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15308.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Mayor Lauing to:
1. Adopt, by a four -fifths majority, the attached emergency ordinance (Attachment E) to incorporate administrative amendments into Palo Alto Municipal Code 16.04, which implements the California Building Code, and
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 09/08/2025
2. Adopt, by a four -fifths majority, the attached emergency ordinance (Attachment F) amending PAMC Chapter 16.17 to incorporate the 2025 Edition of the California Energy Code with local amendments related to energy efficiency.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Ad
journment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:29 P.M.
AT
TEST: 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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Certificate Of Completion
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Status: Completed
Subject: September 8, 2025 Action Minutes
Source Envelope:
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Christine Prior
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250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto , CA 94301
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IP Address: 165.225.242.87
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10/2/2025 7:33:32 AM
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