CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
Special Meeting
March 16, 2026
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 Present Remotely:
Absent:
C
all to Order
Sp
ecial Orders of the Day
1. Recognition of Sister City Tsuchiura, Japan and Palo Alto Student Exchange Program Participants
NO ACTION
2. P
roclamation Recognizing March 2026 as American Red Cross Month
NO ACTION
A
genda Changes, Additions and Deletions
P
ublic Comment
C
ouncil Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Docusign Envelope ID: AA3F840D-5632-4A86-B307-A5AC5AB70870
ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/16/26
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Council member Lythcott-Haims, to approve Agenda Item Numbers 3 – 10.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
3. Approval of Minutes from March 2, 2026 Meeting
4. Adoption of a Resolution Making Necessary Findings and Approving a Lease -Purchase Agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc for Multi -Band Portable and Mobile Radios and Accessories for all City Departments in an amount not to exceed $5,848,220 for a Term of
8.4 Years; CEQA Status – exempt under Regulation section 15601(b)(3).
5. Adoption of a Resolution Approving Edison Electric Institute Master Power Purchase and Sale Agreements with NRG Business Marketing LLC, DRW Energy Trading LLC, and Dynasty Power Inc., (collectively the “Master Agreements”), Delegating Authority to the City Manager to Transact Under the Master Agreements for Electricity-Related Commodities and Services, and Updating the City’s Standard Form Edison Electric Institute Master Power Purchase and Sale Agreement; CEQA status: not a project under CEQA Guidelines sections 15378(a)
6. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C26193604 with GOVERNMENTJOBS.COM INC dba NEOGOV in an Amount Not to Exceed $686,277 for Full- cycle Recruitment and Applicant Tracking, Employee Development and Management Human Resource Platform for a Term of Five Years; CEQA Status - Not a Project.
7. Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Contract S23184208 with Flynn Resources Inc., in the Amount of $170,000 for a revised Total Not -to-Exceed Amount of $425,000 and Extending Term Two Years to Provide As -Needed Electric Engineering Consulting Services Related to Electric Transmission Line Expansion, Interconnection, Engineering Analysis and Regulatory Issues; CEQA Status: the Grid Modernization Project is Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15302, 15303 and 15183
8. Authorization to Fully Encumber Legal Services Contract S26195211 with Atkinson Andelson Loya Ruud & Romo For a Total Not - to-Exceed Amount of $255,000; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
9. Accept the Single Audit Report audited by Macias Gini & O’Connell for the year ended June 30, 2025, Fiscal Year 2025; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
10. Approval of Professional Services Contract No. C26194015 with Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $795,965 for Design and Outreach Services for the City Park- Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project for the period of March 16, 2026 through March 31, 2028; CEQA Status – Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 Docusign Envelope ID: AA3F840D-5632-4A86-B307-A5AC5AB70870
ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 03/16/26
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Act
ion Items
11. Approval of an Employment Agreement and Adoption of a Resolution Appointing Christopher Jensen as City Attorney at an Annual Salary of $380,000.
MOTION: Councilmember Lauing moved, seconded by Council member Burt, to a pprove an employment agreement and adopt a resolution appointing Christopher Jensen to the position of City Attorney at an annual salary of $380,000, with additional compensation and benefits as provided in the employment agreement and applicable City compensation plan.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
12. QU
ASI-JUDICIAL. 2100 -2400 Geng Road [24PLN -00356 & 24PLN -00357]: Request for Approval of Applications for Site and Design, a Conditional Use Permit, and a Vesting Tentative Map to Construct 145 For Sale Townhome Units. Thirteen Percent of the Units Would Be Deed Restricted to Low Income Households. The Project is Proposed in Accordance with Builder’s Remedy (California Government Code Section 65589.5(d)(5)). A Senate Bill 330 Pre-Application was Filed on July 8, 2024. The Project Also Includes Adoption of a Parkland Improvement Ordinance to Authorize Tree Removals in the Baylands Athletic Center, Which Would be Impacted by the Project. CEQA Status: Exempt from CEQA in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 (Comprehensive Plan Consistency).
MOTION: Councilmember Lu moved, seconded by Councilmember Lauing, to:
1. Consider the project exempt from CEQA in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 (Comprehensive Plan Consistency) as documented in Attachment G;
2. Approve the Site and Design, Conditional Use Permit, and Vesting Tentative Map Applications based on findings and subject to conditions of approval in the Revised Draft Record of Land Use Action (RLUA) in Supplemental Attachment A; and
3. Adopt the Parkland Improvement Ordinance in Attachment C authorizing the proposed work and modifications in the Baylands Athletic Center within the City’s Baylands open space.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Docusign Envelope ID: AA3F840D-5632-4A86-B307-A5AC5AB70870
ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/16/26
13. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI -JUDICIAL. 4075 El Camino Way [23PLN -00202]: Adoption of an Amendment to a Planned Community Ordinance (PC -5116) to Allow for Modifications to an Existing 121-Unit Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility. CEQA Status: Exempt from the Provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Modifications to Existing Facilities).
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Council member Lauing, to approve the staff recommendation (#1 – #3) with the modification described in #4:
1. Find the project exempt from CEQA in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301;
2. Adopt the ordinance in Attachment B, amending Planned Community Ordinance 5116;
3. Approve the Record of Land Use Action in Attachment C based on findings and subject to conditions of approval; and
4. Allow the addition of only seven units (units labeled 1 -4 and 9 -11), consistent with the Planning and Transportation Commission’s September 2025 recommendation.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
14. A
doption of an Ordinance Adding a New Section 18.40.280 (Bird-Friendly Design) to Chapter
18.40 (General Standards and Exceptions) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code; CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 (Actions for Protection of the Environment)
AMENDMENT: Councilmember Lu moved, seconded by Mayor Veenker , to amend the motion to exempt portions of residential buildings above 75 feet.
AMENDMENT FAILED: 4-3, Reckdahl, Stone, Lauing, Burt, no M
OTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Stone , to move the staff recommendation to adopt an Ordinance adding a new Section 18.40.280 (Bird- Friendly Design) to Chapter 18.40 (General Standards and Exceptions) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code with the following modifications:
1. Allow portions of nonresidential buildings below 35 feet to use alternative safety measures such as films , decals or other products approved by the American Bird Conservatory or its equivalent; and
2. Direct staff to incorporate into the ordinance second reading a requirement that treatments occur within 15 feet of green roofs.
Docusign Envelope ID: AA3F840D-5632-4A86-B307-A5AC5AB70870
ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/16/26
MOTION PASSED: 5-2, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, no
C
losed Session
15. 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
Agenda Item Number 15 Removed Off Agenda
Ad
journment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:56 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: AA3F840D-5632-4A86-B307-A5AC5AB70870
Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: AA3F840D-5632-4A86-B307-A5AC5AB70870
Status: Completed
Subject: March 16, 2026 Action Minutes
Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 5
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Certificate Pages: 2
Initials: 0
Christine Prior
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Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto , CA 94301
[email protected]
IP Address: 170.85.155.8
Record Tracking
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4/7/2026 9:30:01 AM
Holder: Christine Prior
[email protected]
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Vicki Veenker
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City of Palo Alto
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Mahealani Ah Yun
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City Clerk
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