CITY COUNCIL/PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Special Meeting
January 12, 2026
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:
Closed Session
1. 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: Council member Lauing moved, seconded by Council member Lu to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 5:32 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 6:20 P.M.
Mayor Veenker announced that the City Council authorized the City Attorney to initiate litigation in one case.
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 01/12/2026
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Study Session
2. Review and Discuss 2025 Q4 Council Priorities & Objectives and format of the 2026 City Council Annual Retreat. CEQA Status – Not a project.
NO ACTION
Consent Calendar
Councilmember Lythcott-Haims registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 10 and 11.
MOTION: Council member Reckdahl moved, seconded by Council member Lauing to approve Agenda Item Numbers 3-12.
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 3-9, 12: 7-0
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 10, 11: 6-1, Lythcott-Haims no
3. Approval of Minutes from December 8, December 10, and December 15, 2025 Meetings
4. Adoption of Memorandum of Agreement with Service Employees International Union Hourly Unit effective upon adoption through December 31, 2027; and Adoption of Compensation Plan for Unrepresented Limited Hourly Employee effective upon adoption through June 30, 2028; CEQA Status - Not a project
5. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C26195486 with Baron Contracting in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $514,528 for Gas Leak Survey Services for a Period of Three Years. CEQA Status – Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301(c) and 15308 (Existing Facilities).
6. Approval of a Contract with the Media Center for Cable Casting Services of Public Meetings for a Term of Three Years and a Not to Exceed Amount of $540,000 with Two One-Year Options to Extend for a Potential Not to Exceed amount of $900,000 over a five-year term, for cablecasting, production, and streaming services; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
7. Approve the City Manager or Designee to Execute Purchase Order C26196045 with Insight Public Sector, Utilizing a County of Riverside Cooperative Contract ITARC -00930, to Procure Microsoft Enterprise Software Licensing, Cloud Services, and Server/Data
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 01/12/2026
Center Licensing for a 3 -Year Term with a maximum Total Not -To-Exceed Amount of $2,506,936, inclusive of a Contingency in the Amount of $50,000 Annually.
8. FIRST READING: Adoption of an ordinance to Amend Chapters 4.54 and 4.56 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Amend the Regulation of Massage Establishments and Hot Tub/Sauna Establishments as Recommended by the Policy & Services Committee; and Adoption of a Resolution to Amend the Administrative Penalty Schedule to Amend Related Penalties; CEQA status - not a project.
9. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Renewing the Military Equipment Use Policy in Compliance with Govt. Code Section 7070 et seq. (2025-2026) (FIRST READING: December 8, 2025; PASSED 7-0)
10. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Prohibiting Parking of Detached Trailers and Other Non -Motorized Vehicles on Public Streets (FIRST READING: December 8, 2025; PASSED 6-1, Lythcott-Haims no)
11. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Prohibiting Rental of Vehicles for Human Habitation (FIRST READING: December 8, 2025; PASSED 6 -1, Lythcott-Haims no)
12. SECOND READING: Interim Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Temporarily Extending Interim Ordinance 5645, 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 Recent State Housing Laws (FIRST READING: December 8, 2025, PASSED 7-0)
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
13. Study and Assessment of Palo Alto Turf Systems and Direct Staff to Proceed with El Camino Park Synthetic Turf Replacement and Natural Grass Pilot; CEQA Status – Categorically and Statutorily Exempt
MOTION: Councilmember Lu moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to:
1. Proceed with replacing the existing synthetic turf at El Camino Park with improved synthetic turf using organic infill and to implement risk management measures,
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 01/12/2026
including stormwater filtration, enhanced maintenance practices, and related mitigation measures; and
MOTION PASSED: 6-1, Stone no
MOTION SPLIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING
MOTION: Councilmember Lu moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to:
3. Pursue a natural grass pilot project to enhance playability and durability; and
4. Continue to explore opportunities to transition from synthetic turf at Cubberley.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Recess City Council Meeting and Convene Public Improvement Corporation Meeting All Board Members of the Public Improvement Corporation are present in-person.
14. Approval of Fiscal Year 2025 Palo Alto Public Improvement Corporation's Annual Financial Report. CEQA Status - Not a Project
MOTION: Board Member Lauing moved, seconded by Board Member Reckdahl to approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Annual Financial Report for the Palo Alto Public Improvement Corporation.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Reconvene City Council Meeting
15. Review and Approval of Suggested Changes to the City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook as Recommended by the Policy and Services Committee. CEQA Status – Not a project.
Agenda Item Number 15 not heard and deferred to a date uncertain.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:08 P.M.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 01/12/2026
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.