CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
March 2, 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, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Present Remotely: Lythcott-Haims (Traditional Brown Act)
Absent:
S
pecial Orders of the Day
1. Santa Clara County Science and Engineering Fair Association 2026 Science Fair Winners from Palo Alto
NO ACTION
2. R
eview Applications and Select Candidates to Interview for the Historic Resources Board (HRB), Human Relations Commission (HRC), Planning & Transportation Commission (PTC), Stormwater Management Oversight Committee (SWMOC), and Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) Vacancies; CEQA Status - Not a Project
NO ACTION
A
genda Changes, Additions and Deletions
P
ublic Comment
C
ouncil Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Docusign Envelope ID: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/02/2026
Study Session
3. Palo Alto Link Program & Transit Futures Review; CEQA status – not a project.
NO ACTION
C
onsent Calendar
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Council member Lu to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-8.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
4. Endorsement of the Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative
5. Authorize Transmittal of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Annual Progress Report to the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
CEQA Status: Not a Project.
6. Approval of General Service Contract No. C26195719 with Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. in an Amount Not -to-Exceed $1,914,000 to Provide Household Hazardous Waste Management and Emergency Response Services for a Period of Five Years, and Approval of a Budget Amendment in the Refuse Fund; CEQA Status – Negative Declarations Previously Approved
7. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C26195818 With BKF Engineers in an Amount Not to Exceed of $900,000 Over a 3-year Term for On-Call Surveying and Design Support Services; CEQA Status – Not a Project
8. Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Multi -Agency Staffing Agreement for Fire Station
8. CEQA Status – Not a Project.
C
ity Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
A
ction Items
9. Review the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Inventory and S/CAP Key Performance Indicators Annual Progress Report, and Approve the 2026 -2027 S/CAP Work Plan and Receive Six Docusign Envelope ID: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/02/2026
S/CAP Studies Recommended by the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee; CEQA Status: Review GHG Inventory and Key Performance Indicators: Not a Project; Potential Environmental Impacts of the S/CAP Work Plan were Studied in the June 5, 2023 S/CAP Addendum to the 2017 -2031 Comprehensive Plan EIR; this Project is also Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to:
1. Approve the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan; and
2. Receive the following studies:
a. S/CAP Funding and Financing Study;
b. S/CAP Funding Source Survey;
c. EV Charger Needs Assessment;
d. Single-family, Multi-family, and Non-Residential Building Sector Studies; and
3. Communications additions:
a. Emphasize the health risks;
b. Develop a communication plan similar to the San Mateo County model and incentivizing behavior toward our climate action goals; c. Leverage community partners.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims absent
10. Status
Update on Implementation of the Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan; Accept 1) Palo Alto’s Electric System Reliability Indices and Recommended Goals and Reporting, 2) the “Evaluation of Local Energy Resources to Lower Costs and Improve Reliability and Resiliency” Report (as recommended by Climate Action and Sustainability Committee and Utilities Advisory Commission) to Complete Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan Strategy Four and Strategy Five; and Provide Direction to Pursue Various Activities Related to Flexible Energy Resource and Efficient Electrification to Improve Reliability and Resiliency; CEQA Status - Not a Project
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Mayor Veenker to:
1. Accept Palo Alto’s electric system reliability indices and recommended goals and reporting.
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ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/02/2026
2. Accept the “Evaluation of Local Energy Resources to Lower Costs and Improve Reliability and Resiliency” report to complete Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan Strategies Four (Value the benefits of flexible technologies to the utility and community) and Five (Evaluate the resource needs for various demand reduction and resiliency programs).
3. Direct staff to:
a. Promote City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) customer’s use of energy in off -peak periods to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and strain on the electric grid, and lower energy costs;
b. As opportunities present themselves, and to the extent staff time is available, evaluate large scale solar and battery opportunities in Palo Alto, either at publicly owned facilities or through partnerships with private land owners; and c. Engage the Utilities Advisory Commission, Climate Action and Sustainability Committee, and Council in an additional discussion on microgrids and long -term resiliency in 2026.
d. Promote and reduce barriers to adoption, as appropriate, for demand response capable technologies, solar photovoltaics (PV), battery energy storage system (BESS), thermal storage, and vehicle to load, home, and grid technologies, including, but not limited to:
i. Recurring and widespread outreach;
ii. Developing educational materials, online decision tools, and other resources to help community members evaluate these technologies for themselves;
iii. Actively auditing regulations and processes for streamlining opportunities; and
iv. Actively and continuously integrating flexible energy technologies and efficient electrification into energy programs;
e. Within two years, update cost- benefit analysis for demand response, solar PV, batteries, thermal storage, and vehicle to load, home, and grid technologies with an interim annual update of just electric supply costs;
4. Return with recommendations for quantified reductions in SAIDI, SAI FI, and CAIDI , in addition to the performance metrics already recommended as comparison to industry.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims absent
Docusign Envelope ID: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/02/2026
A
djournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:44 P.M.
A
TTEST: 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.
Docusign Envelope ID: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
Status: Completed
Subject: March 2, 2026 Action Minutes
Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 5
Signatures: 2
Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 2
Initials: 0
Christine Prior
AutoNav: Enabled
EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled
Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto , CA 94301
[email protected]
IP Address: 170.85.155.40
Record Tracking
Status: Original
3/18/2026 5:24:50 PM
Holder: Christine Prior
[email protected]
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Vicki Veenker
[email protected]
City of Palo Alto
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Mahealani Ah Yun
[email protected]
City Clerk
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