CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
October 6, 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, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Present Remotely:
Absent: Lauing
Special Orders of the Day
1. Proclamation Recognizing Fire Prevention Week – October 5-11, 2025
NO ACTION
2. Review Applications and Select Candidates to Interview for the Human Relations Commission (HRC), Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC), and Public Art Commission (PAC) Vacancies; CEQA Status: Not a Project
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to:
1. Interview all candidates for the Public Art Commission (PAC) that received two or more votes;
2. Council to take a vote to select the 8
th candidate to interview for the Human Relations
Commission (HRC).
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lauing absent
MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Burt to add to the Council- approved Interview Selection Process that Boards, Commissions, & Committee candidates must receive a threshold of 2 votes to receive an interview.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lauing absent
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/06/2025
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Study Session
3. San Antonio Road Area Plan: Provide Feedback on Existing Conditions Analysis and Land Use and Mobility Priorities. CEQA Status: Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.
NO ACTION
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Council member Reckdahl moved, seconded by Council member Lythcott-Haims to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-9, AA1.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lauing absent
4. Approval of FY 2025 Reappropriation Requests to FY 2026 Operating and Capital Improvement Budgets and Additional Technical Clean- Up Actions and Corresponding Amendments to the FY 2026 Budget Appropriation for Various Funds. CEQA Status: Not a Project
5. Approval of Construction Contract No. C25195264 with Precision Engineering, Inc. in the Amount Not -to-Exceed $6,842,121 and Authorization for the City Manager or Their Designee to Negotiate and Execute Change Orders for Related Additional but Unforeseen Work that May Develop During the Project Up to a Not -to-Exceed Amount of $684,212 for the Hamilton Avenue Capacity Upgrades Project (SD -25000), and Approval of a Budget Amendment in the Stormwater Management Fund; CEQA Status – Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c)
6. Approval of Professional Service Contract No. C26194618 with SCS Field Services in an Amount Not- to-Exceed $1,513,890, to Provide Landfill Gas Monitoring, Reporting, and Well Installation Services for the City’s Closed Landfill for a Period of Five Years, and Approval of a Budget Amendment in the Refuse Fund; CEQA Status – Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/06/2025
7. Approval of Construction Contract No. C26193446 with MP Nexlevel of California, Inc., in the Amount Not -to-Exceed $13,600,187 and Authorization for the City Manager or Their Designee to Negotiate and Execute Changes Orders Up to a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $1,060,018 for a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $14,660,205 Over Three Years to Provide Utility Trench and Substructure Installations; CEQA status: Exempt, CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, 15302, and/or 15303; for Fiber -to-the-Premises work, Council Action on This Item is Within the Scope of the Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the Fiber-to-the-Premises Project, adopted on June 17, 2024.
8. Approval of Construction Contract C25194006 with SCC Electric, Inc. in the Not- to- Exceed Amount of $997,500, and Authorization for the City Manager or Their Designee to Negotiate and Execute Change Orders Up to a Not -to-Exceed Amount of $99,750 for the Utilities Control Center Generator Replacement Project as part of the Building Systems Improvements Project (PF -01003); and Approve Amendment to the FY 2026 Budget in the Capital Improvement and Electric Funds; CEQA Status - Exempt under CEQA Guideline Sections 15301 and 15302
9. Approval of Amendment No. 2 to Contract Number S23185432 with Koffler Electrical Mechanical Apparatus Repair, Inc. in the Amount of $230,000 for a New Not -to Exceed Amount of $460,000, and Extending the Term through September 29, 2027, for Electric Motors and Submersible Pump Service at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant; CEQA Status – Exempt under Section 15301(b)
AA1. Approve the selection of Teri Black & Company as the executive recruitment firm for the recruitment of the City Attorney and Approve the Recruitment General Timeline as Recommended by the Council Appointed Officers (CAO) Committee. CEQA status – not a project.
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
10. Adoption of Eight Ordinances Amending Various Sections of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Related to the 2025 California Building Standards Code (CA Code of Regulations Title 24) Update, including: (1) Chapter 16.04 Incorporating the 2025 CA Building Code With Local Amendments; (2) Chapter 16.05 Incorporating the 2025 CA Mechanical Code With Local Amendments; (3) Chapter 16.06 Incorporating the 2025 CA Residential Code With Local Amendments; (4) Chapter 16.08 Incorporating the 2025 CA Plumbing Code With Local Amendments; (5) Chapter 16.14 Incorporating the 2025 CA
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/06/2025
Green Building Standards Code with Local Amendments; (6) Chapter 16.16 Incorporating the 2022 CA Electrical Code With Local Amendments; (7) Chapter 16.18 Incorporating the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code With Local Amendments; (8) Chapter 16.17 Incorporating the 2025 CA Energy Code With Local Amendments; Direction to Staff to Return to Council on the Consent Calendar with Ordinances Adopting the 2025 Editions of the California Wildlands -Urban Interface Code and California Fire Code with Local Amendments; Approve a Budget Amendment in the General Fund . CEQA Status: Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308.
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to:
1. Adopt the ordinances in Attachments A through H that amend chapters of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) related to the 2025 California Building Standards Codes (Cal.
Code of Regulations Title 24) and proposed local amendments; and
2. Direct staff to return to Council on the Consent Calendar with ordinances adopting the 2025 editions of the California Wildlands -Urban Interface Code and California Fire Code and local amendments thereto; and
3. Approve an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget appropriation in the General Fund (requires a 2/3 majority vote) by:
a. Increasing the Planning and Development Services expenditure appropriation by $96,000; and
b. Decreasing the Budget Stabilization Reserve by $96,000.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lauing absent
11. Review of State and Local Ballot Measures Appearing on the November 4, 2025 Ballot and Consideration of Possible City Council Positions
MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Council member Stone to issue support positions for Santa Clara County Measure A and Proposition 50.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lauing absent
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 P.M.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/06/2025
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.