CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
December 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 Councilmember Reckdahl Arrived at 5:33 P.M.
Councilmember Lythcott-Haims Arrived during Closed Session.
Present Remotely:
Absent:
Closed Session
1. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY-POTENTIAL LITIGATION
Subject: Initiation of litigation in one case
Authority: Potential Exposure to Litigation Under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)
Number of potential cases: 1, as Plaintiff.
2. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY - EXISTING LITIGATION
Swinerton v. City of Palo Alto (JAMS Reference #:5100003409) Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
3. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY-POTENTIAL LITIGATION
Subject: Potential litigation regarding 156 North California Avenue, as set forth in letter(s) from
Holland & Knight LLP dated September 3, 2025
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Number of potential cases: 1, as Defendant.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Council member Burt to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims absent
Council went into Closed Session at 5:34 P.M.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/08/2025
Council returned from Closed Session at 8:30 P.M.
Mayor Lauing announced no reportable action.
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Consent Calendar
Councilmember Lythcott-Haims registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 4.
MOTION: Councilmember Stone moved, seconded by Council member Burt to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-14.
MOTION PASSED ITEM 4: 6-1, Lythcott-Haims no
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 5-14: 7-0
4. Adoption of Emergency and Regular Ordinances Prohibiting Unattached Trailer Parking and Vanlording and a Resolution Amending the Administrative Penalty Schedule Imposing Penalties; CEQA status – not a project.
5. QUASI-JUDICIAL. 2451 Cowper Street [25PLN -00102]: Appeal of Director's Decision to Approve an Individual Review Application to Allow Deconstruction of an Existing Single - Family Residence and Detached Garage and to Construct a 2,380-Square-Foot Two-Story Residence. Zoning District: R -1 (Single -family Residential). CEQA Status: Exempt in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines 15303.
6. Adopt a resolution authorizing execution of the Professional Services Agreement between the Northern California Power Agency and the Cities of Palo Alto and Santa Clara for Electric Transmission, Generation and Regulatory Consulting Services in a Not to Exceed Amount of $657,500 over a five -year contract term ending December 31, 2030; CEQA Status: Not a Project.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/08/2025
7. Approval of Contract Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. C25192924 with Concordia, LLC in the amount of $65,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $696,966 for additional services associated with development of the Cubberley Master Plan; CEQA Status – CEQA will be completed as part of this project.
8. Approval of Contract Amendment Number 5 to Contract Number C14151181 with SAP Public Services in the Amount of $334,355 for SAP Maintenance and Support for One Year, ending December 2026; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
9. FIRST READ: Adoption of an Ordinance Renewing the Police Department's Military Equipment Use Policy Under AB 481; CEQA status – not a project.
10. FIRST READING: Adoption of an Interim Ordinance to Extend Interim Ordinance 5645 of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Various Chapters of Title 16 (Building Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) and Title 21 (subdivisions and other Divisions of Land) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Implement SB 9 and Other State Housing Laws. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
11. Acceptance of Annual Report on Development Impact Fees for Fiscal Year 2025 and Adoption of a Resolution Making Statutory Findings for all Development Impact and In- Lieu Fee Funds; CEQA status - Not a Project.
12. Adoption of a Resolution Declaring Weeds to be a Public Nuisance and Setting February 9, 2026 for a Public Hearing for Objections to the Proposed Weed Abatement; CEQA status: exempt, CEQA Guidelines Section 15308.
13. Approval of General Services Contract Number C26195709 with Corodata Records Management, Inc in an Amount Not to Exceed $120,000 for Off -Site Records Storage and Management Services for a Period of Five Years, CEQA Status- Not a Project.
14. Recommend City Council Approval of the CSD Equipment & Materials Inventory Management and Building Permit & Inspection Fees Audits as recommended by the Policy & Services Committee and Extension of the Deadline for several FY2025 Task Orders
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/08/2025
Action Items
15. REINTRODUCED FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Updating Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Section 18.40.250 (Lighting) of Chapter 18.40 (General Standards and Exceptions) and Amending Chapters 18.10, 18.12, 18.28, and Section
18.40.230 of Title 18 (Zoning) to Adopt New Outdoor Lighting Regulations; CEQA Status — Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 (Actions for Protection of the Environment)
MOTION: Councilmember Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to adopt the proposed ordinance with staff’s recommended changes and include the following changes:
1) Amend Section 18.40.250(e)(4)(A), removing the curfew start time of 12:00 a.m. and adding a curfew start time of 11:00 p.m.
2) Amend Section 18.40.250(c)(3) to remove the phrase “If a building permit is required” to apply the ordinance to all new installation, replacement, or modification of outdoor luminaires.
3) Amend Section 18.40.250(L)(1), removing the words “two years” and replacing it with the words “one year”, shortening the compliance period for adjustable existing lighting fixtures to one year.
4) Amend Section L(2)(A) and (B) and L(3) to remove the retrofit requirement. 5) Refer to the Utilities Department to evaluate electric efficiency incentives related to voluntary retrofits of existing fixtures.
6) Request staff to evaluate objective standards as an alternate to cost of the lighting study.
7) Under the business curfew, retain the 2-hour-after closure and limit the after-vacancy to one hour.
8) Outdoor space above ground floor Section F(4)(B) revised to be consistent to other curfews in this ordinance.
MOTION PASSED: 6-1, Lythcott-Haims no
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 P.M.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/08/2025
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.