CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Special Meeting
October 22, 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: Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Present Remotely: Burt
Absent:
B
oards, Commissions, and Committees Appointments
1. Appointment of Candidates to the Human Relations Commission (HRC), Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC), and Public Art Commission (PAC); CEQA Status: Not a Project
Human Relations Commission
First Round Voting for T hree (3) Vacancies (Seats 2, 3, 7) on the H uman Relations C ommission ending on October 31, 2028
Allyson C. Rosen:
Bridget Algee: Burt, Lythcott-Haims (2)
Mare Lucas:
Michelle Kraus: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (7) Raizel Rosenberg: Lauing, Lu, Stone (3)
Salwa Ansari: Burt, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Veenker (5) Sridhar Karnam: Lauing, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (4)
Sunny Dykwel:
None of the Above:
Candidate M ichelle Kr aus receiving seven votes i s a ppointed to the f ull-term expiring on October 31, 2028.
Candidate Salwa Ansari receiving five votes is appointed to the full-term expiring on October 31, 2028.
Candidate S ridhar Ka rnam receiving four votes is a ppointed to the full -term expiring on October 31, 2028.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/22/2025
Parks and Recreation Commission
First Round Voting for Three (3) Vacancies ( Seats 2, 3, 4) on the Parks and Recreation Commission ending October 31, 2028.
Bobi Adle: Burt, Reckdahl (2)
Brenton Hanlon:
Drew Pearson: [Application withdrawn by applicant]
Hurjane Vongsachang: [Application withdrawn by applicant] Marc Schoenen: Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Veenker (3)
Nellis L. Freeman, Jr.: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (7) Roger V. Smith: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone (6) Vadim Axelrod: Lauing, Stone, Veenker (3)
None of the Above:
Candidate Nellis L. Freeman, Jr. receiving seven votes is appointed to the full-term expiring on October 31, 2028.
Candidate Roger V. Smith receiving six votes is appointed to the full term expiring on October 31, 2028.
No other candidate received the four votes necessary for appointment. A second round of voting is required.
Second Round Voting for One (1) vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Commission ending October 31, 2028
Marc Schoenen: Burt, Lu, Lythcott-Haims (3)
Vadim Axelrod: Lauing, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (4)
None of the Above:
Candidate Vadim Axelrod receiving four votes is appointed to the full term expiring on October 31, 2028.
Public Art Commission
First Round Voting for Three (3) Vacancies ( Seats 1, 4, 7) on the Public Art Commission ending October 31, 2028.
Anjana Joshi: Burt, Lauing, Stone (3)
Claude Ezran: Reckdahl (1)
Donny Foley:
Eedit Bareket:
Marilyn Gottlieb Roberts: Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Veenker (3) Robin Mullery: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (7)
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/22/2025
Simon Tran: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (7) None of the Above:
Candidate Robin Mullery receiving seven votes is appointed to the full -term expiring on October 31, 2028.
Candidate Simon Tran receiving seven votes is appointed to the full -term expiring on October 31, 2028.
No other candidate received the four votes necessary for appointment. A second round of voting is required.
Second Round Voting for One (1) Vacancy on the Public Art Commission ending on October 31, 2028.
Anjana Joshi: Burt, Lauing, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (5) Marilyn Gottlieb Roberts: Lu, Lythcott-Haims (2)
None of the Above:
Candidate Anjana Joshi receiving five votes is appointed to the full -term expiring on October 31, 2028.
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Study Session
2. City Council Feedback on an Updated Housing Project Design Concept and Other Project Updates Related to the City and Alta Housing Partnership to Develop the Downtown Surface Parking lot at the Corner of Kipling Street and Lytton Avenue (Lot T) for Affordable Housing. CEQA Status – Not a Project.
Item Heard Out Of Order After Item #3
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/22/2025
NO ACTION
3. Reinforcing Best Practices in Managing Consultant Services Item Heard Out Of Order Before Item #2
NO ACTION
Action Items
4. Update and Direction to Staff on the Downtown Housing Plan Project and Implementation of Senate Bill 79 (2025 -2026). CEQA Status: Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.
NO ACTION
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 P.M.
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.