CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Special Meeting
December 15, 2025
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers and by virtual teleconference at 4:30 P.M.
Present In Person: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Councilmember Lu Arrived at 4:55 P.M.
Present Remotely:
Absent:
Special Orders of the Day
1. Proclamation Expressing Appreciation to Molly S. Stump Upon Completion of Her Public Service as City Attorney.
NO ACTION
Closed Session
2. 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.
MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Veenker to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 4:56 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 6:10 P.M.
Mayor Lauing announced no reportable action.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/15/2025
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Study Session
3. Receive an update on the Cubberley project and second polling results, and discuss next steps.
NO ACTION
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Vice Mayor Veen ker moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-20, 22-24 (Agenda Item Number 21 Removed Off the Agenda).
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 4-20, 22-24: 7-0
4. Approval of Minutes from December 1, 2025 Meeting
5. Adoption of a Resolution appointing Caio Arellano as Interim City Attorney
6. Adoption of a Resolution Approving and Attesting to the Veracity of the City's 2024 Power Source Disclosure and Power Content Label Reports. CEQA Status: Not a project
7. Approval of a Surveillance Use Policy for Security Cameras at the Palo Alto Museum at the Roth Building (300 Homer Avenue); CEQA Status - Not a Project
8. Approve Policy & Services Committee Recommendation to Continue the Nonprofit Partnership Workplan Phase I funding process for FY 2027 Budget Cycle, with Additional Refinements to be Developed by the Policy & Services Committee in January 2026 and Return to Council for Approval
9. Policy and Services Committee Recommends Council Amend the Procedures and Protocols Handbook to Allow January Committee Meetings and Schedule Procedures and Protocols Handbook Review Every Other Year: CEQA - Not a Project
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/15/2025
10. Reaffirmation of the Carbon Neutral Plan and the Renewable Energy Credit Exchange Program as Recommended by the Utilities Advisory Commission; CEQA Status: Not a project
11. QUASI-JUDICIAL. 3150 El Camino Real [25PLN -00273]: Request for a Final Map to Merge Three Contiguous Parcels to Create a 111,030 -Square-Foot Parcel. The Final Map Would Facilitate Construction of a 368 -Unit Rental Development Project (24PLN -00230) Previously Approved on July 11, 2025. Zone District: CS (Commercial Services). CEQA Status: Exempt in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15183.
12. Approval of Partnership Agreement with Metropolitan Transportation Commission, in an Amount Not to Exceed $108,888 to Provide Unlimited Transit Access Available Through the Clipper BayPass Pilot Program for City of Palo Alto Employees Through December 31, 2026; CEQA Status - Not a Project.
13. Accept the City of Palo Alto’s Audited Financial Statements as of June 30, 2025, and the Macias, Gini & O’Connell Management Letter; Approve the FY 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)and Amendments to the FY 2025 Budget in Various Funds; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
14. Approval for the City Manager or Designee to Execute Purchase Order with Zoll Medical Corporation, utilizing a Sourcewell Cooperative Contract to Procure Replacement Pre - hospital Monitors/Defibrillators and ancillary equipment for Emergency Responses for a Total Not-To-Exceed amount of $1,129,138. CEQA Status – Not a Project.
15. Approval of Professional Services Agreement No. C26193655 with Canopy to Support the City of Palo Alto's Urban Forestry Programs for a Term of Three Years and a Not -To- Exceed Amount of $1,236,366, and Approval of a Budget Amendment in the General Fund; CEQA Status - Not a Project
16. Adoption of a Resolution Approving Conduit Financing for Charities Housing Development Corporation, on behalf of El Camino PA, L.P., for the 130 -Unit Affordable Multifamily Housing Rental Project Located at 3001 El Camino Real, and Approving the Issuance of Revenue Bonds not to exceed $80 Million by the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) for the Purpose of Financing and Refinancing the Acquisition, Development, Construction and Equipping of Project; CEQA Status: Not a Project
17. Approval of General Services Contract No. C26195803 with Genuine Parts Company dba Napa Auto Parts for an Amount Not-to-Exceed $6,238,832 for an On-Site Fleet Parts and Inventory Program for a Six -Year Term Utilizing Pricing Set by Cooperative Sourcewell Contract No. 090624- GPC, and Approval of a Budget Amendment in the Vehicle Replacement and Maintenance Fund; CEQA Status - Not a Project
18. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C26194283 with Keyser Marston Associates, Inc. in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $371,415 to Conduct Development Impact
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/15/2025
and In- Lieu Fee Study. CEQA Status: Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(2) and (b)(3).
19. Approval of a Professional Services Contract Number C26196324 with Santa Clara County Communications in an Amount Not to Exceed $100,000 for Public Safety Radio Maintenance and Support for a Period of Five (5) Years; CEQA Status - Not a Project
20. Approval of Professional Services Contract No. C26190778A with Turbo Data LLC, in an Amount Not to Exceed $989,138 to Provide Development, Implementation, Support and Maintenance of a Comprehensive Parking Permit and Citation Management System for five years; CEQA status - not a project.
21. Approval of a Purchase Order with Golden State Fire Apparatus in an Amount Not to Exceed $3,378,458, for the Purchase of One Hybrid Electric Pierce Enforcer Volterra 1500 GPM Pumper and One Diesel Pierce Enforcer 1500 GPM Pumper, Utilizing a Cooperative Purchase Agreement, as Part of the Scheduled Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Capital Improvement Fiscal Year 2025 and 2026 Projects (VR -25000 and VR-26000); CEQA Status – Not a Project Item Removed Off Agenda
22. Approval of Amendment #1 for Professional Services Contract No. C26195143 in the Amount of $101,292 with Peninsula Healthcare Connection to continue the Downtown Food Closet Operations for a Revised Total Amount Not -to-Exceed $268,521 including the Provision of Outreach, Mental and Physical healthcare to Unhoused and Low- Income Members of the Community for a Period of Two Years; CEQA status – not a project.
23. Approval of Amendment No. 2 to Contract S20176706 with FolgerGraphics, Inc. to Reduce the Scope of Services for Professional Printing and Distribution Services of the Enjoy! Activity Guide through March 2026; CEQA Status – not a project.
24. Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal Fee Schedule to Implement Technical Corrections. CEQA Status: Not a Project
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
25. PUBLIC HEARING/QUASI- JUDICIAL. 1680 Bryant Street [25PLN -00204]. Approval of a Record of Land Use Action to Reclassify the Historic Building Located at 1680 Bryant
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/15/2025
Street From a Category 2 Resource on the Local Historic Inventory to a Category 3 Resource.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to approve the Record of Land Use Action (Attachment B) reclassifying the building at 1680 Bryant Street from a Category 2 resource to a Category 3 resource on the Palo Alto Historic Resources Inventory.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
26. Review and Selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) to proceed with 15% design and Prepare CEQA and NEPA Documentation for the Grade Separations at Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road Crossings; CEQA status – CEQA and NEPA will be conducted on this project as part of the upcoming scope of work.
This item is a continuation of Agenda Item Number 1 on the City Council December 10, 2025 agenda. The report for this item can be found here under Agenda Item Number 1 here: https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=18178
On December 10, 2025, Council will receive staff presentation(s) and Public Testimony; this item continued to the December 15, 2025 City Council meeting is for, as needed, Council discussion, deliberation and action – No Public Testimony will be heard on December 15, 2025.
Councilmember Reckdahl Recused from Agenda Item Number 26.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Council member Stone to select the Preferred Alternatives to proceed with 15% design for the grade separations at Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road Crossings:
• Churchill Avenue: Partial Underpass at Churchill with out landscaping strip. Bicycle and pedestrian crossing at Seale Avenue using Alma Street Ramp with attention to bicycle safety on the Eastside;
• Meadow Drive: Explore both an earthen berm and Podium-style Hybrid alternative; • Charleston Road Crossings: Underpass alternative with Direct Access Ramp; • Direct staff to conduct an implementation study if we only did the underpass at Charleston Road Crossing
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Reckdahl recused
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/15/2025
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 P.M.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
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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.