CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
February 9, 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:
C
all to Order
A
genda Changes, Additions and Deletions
C
ouncil Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
P
ublic Comment
C
onsent Calendar
MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Council member Lu, to approve Agenda Item Numbers 1 – 8.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
1. Ap
proval of Minutes from January 20 and January 24, 2026 Meeting
2. Adoption of a Resolution Amending the El Camino Real Retail Node Map for Purposes of Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 18.40.180: Retail Preservation. CEQA Status:
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 02/09/2026
Addendum to the Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR), adopted November 17, 2023 (SCH #2014052101)
3. Adoption of Revisions to the Investment Policy as Recommended by the Finance Committee. CEQA Status – Not a Project
4. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute Purchase Orders with To -Be-Determined Vendor(s) to Procure Nine Vehicle/Equipment Purchases for a Total Not -to-Exceed Amount of $1,430,000; Approval of a Fourth Amended and Restated Purchase Order Number 4521000199 with Altec Industries, Inc., to Increase the Purchase Order Amount by $94,911 to a New Not- to Exceed Amount of $1,167,986 for Two Vehicle/Equipment Purchases; and Amend the FY 2026 Budget in the Vehicle Replacement and Maintenance Fund and Electric Funds; CEQA Status – Not a Project
5. Approval of an Increase of Construction Contingency for Contract No. C24189237 with SAK Construction, LLC in the Amount of $800,000 and Amend the FY 2026 Budget in the Wastewater Treatment Fund for the Joint Intercepting Sewer Rehabilitation (Phase 1) Project (WQ- 24000); CEQA Status - Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Repairs to Existing Facilities)
6. Approval of Amendment No. 1. of the Future Talent of Silicon Valley dba First Tee - Silicon Valley (Contract S25192927) Facility Use Agreement to Extend the Term for Three Years to February 2029; CEQA status – not a project.
7. Approval of Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. S23187281 with Urban Planning Partners, Inc. in the Amount of $52,409, Increasing the Not- to-Exceed Amount to $137,409 and Extending the Contract Term Through December 31, 2027 to Create Standalone Pre -Approved Parklet Plans as Part of the California Avenue Streetscape Update PL -23000; CEQA Status – Categorically Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 and 15304(e)
8. Approval of Four Professional Services Contracts C26194180A- D, with Interwest Consulting Group, Inc, TRB and Associates, Inc., Atlas Environmental and West Coast Code Consultants, Inc. in the Aggregate Total Not- to-Exceed amount of $1,438,800 for On-Call Fire Code, and Hazardous Material Related Services, Inspection, Plan Review and Environmental Consultation over a three-year term; CEQA status: not a project.
C
ity Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 02/09/2026
Action Items
9. Approve a resolution for an exception to the CalPERS 180 -day waiting period to appoint retired annuitant Aaron Miller; CEQA Status - Not a Project MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Council member Stone to adopt a resolution, pursuant to Government Code sections 7522.56 and 21224, approving an exception to the 180 -day waiting period, set forth by the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS), to allow the appointment of retired annuitant Aaron Miller to a temporary, part-time assignment to perform special- project work of limited duration at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, following completion of the required 60-day bona fide separation from service.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
10. P
UBLIC HEARING: Objections to Weed Abatement at Affected Properties and Approval of Affected Property List for Commencing Weed Abatement in 2026; CEQA Status - exempt
MOTION: Councilmember Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to a. Adopt a determination that weed abatement activities in 2026, as described in Resolution 10268 (Attachment A) adopted by Council on December 8, 2025, are exempt under Class 8 (CEQA Guidelines section 15308);
b. Hold a Public Hearing to hear and consider any objections to the proposed destruction and removal of weeds in 2026 at the properties listed in Attachment B; and c. Approve the final list of affected properties for weed abatement in 2026 (Attachment B) excluding sites at 3460 Hillview Rd, 1072 Arastradero Rd, 3495 Deer Creek Rd, Deer Creek, and direct weed abatement activities to commence at those properties in accordance with Resolution 10268.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
11. C
ubberley Project: Receive update on Third Round Polling Results, Approve a Letter of Intent with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, and Direct Staff on Next Steps MOTION: Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to
1. Approve a Letter of Intent (LOI) with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley for collaboration on a long-term public-private partnership for theatre space at the Cubberley site.
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 02/09/2026
2. Direct the City Manager to talk to the Superintendent about contingency plans and alternative terms for acquisition of 7 acres owned by the School District.
3. Direct staff to evaluate and return to Council with options to acquire the 7 acres other than via a ballot measure.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
12. R
eview 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.
MOTION: Council member Stone moved, seconded by Council member Lu to approve changes to the City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook as recommended by the Policy & Services Committee with the following additions:
1. In Section 2.3(b)5E: Decrease the limit on remote participation for Finance Committee from 5 meetings to 3 meetings.
2. In Section 3.8: Add that Councilmembers be allowed to speak for 1 minute on why they are pulling an item. Councilmembers may speak to their no vote for a total of 3 minutes for all no votes combined. The City Manager has the prerogative to clarify factual errors.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
M
OTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Council member XX to make the following revisions to the Procedures & Protocols Handbook:
1. In Section 3.7: Allow for Study Sessions be agendized as Action Items to allow for the possibility of clearer City Council direction than is provided by comments.
MOTION WITHDRAWN BY MAKER
M
OTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Mayor Veenker to the direct staff to review and return to the City Council regarding:
1. Providing Boards with training for making motions.
2. Use of verbatim transcripts for PTC and UAC Board minutes using AI.
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 02/09/2026
3. Return with language clarifying that U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for service on a Board or Commission.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
MOT
ION: Council member Burt moved, seconded by Council member Lauing to make the following revisions to the Procedures & Protocols Handbook in Section 3.6:
1. Limit the amount of time to 5 minutes per Councilmember.
2. Provide guidance that comments should be limited to city government related matters.
3. Avoid personal or political comments.
MOTION PASSED: 5-2, Lu, Stone no
MOTION: Council member Burt moved, s econded by Councilmember Lu to make the f o llowing revisions to the Procedures & Protocols Handbook in Procedures Section 3:
Items Considered After 10: 00 p.m.: The Council makes every effort to end its meetings before 11 p.m. With that goal in mind, the Council generally does not start discussion of new matters after 10: 00 p.m. Before 10 p.m. the Council will decide and announce whether it will begin consideration of any agenda items after 10: 00 p.m. and, if so, which specific items will be taken up.
MOTION PASSED: 6-1, Veenker no
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to refer to staff and subsequently the Policy & Services Committee fo r a recommendation to the full City Council on the permissible and recommended practices relating to an item going to more than one standing committee when appropriate (Procedures Section 1.2(a)2).
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to refer to staff to return with recommended language regarding if staff should provide briefings, respond to Councilmember questions, collaborate with C ouncilmembers to support City Council representatives on regional bodies.
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City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 02/09/2026
ACTION MINUTES
MOTION PASSED: 6-1, Veenker no
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to refer to staff to clarify the role of the staff lia ison to the committees to develop agendas in collaboration with chairs.
MOTION WITHDRAWN BY MAKER
Closed Session
AA1. Conference wi th Labor Negotiators
Authority: Gov. Code section 54957.6
Agency representative: Sandra Blanch and Nicholas Raisch, Teri Black, Teri Black & Co.
Unrepresented Employee: City Attorney
M
OTION: Council member Stone moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 10:14 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 10:56 P.M.
Mayor Veenker announced no reportable action.
Ad
journment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:56 P.M.
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 02/09/2026
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.
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Certificate Of Completion
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Status: Completed
Subject: February 9, 2026 Action Minutes
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Christine Prior
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250 Hamilton Ave
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Vicki Veenker
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