Policy on Disruption of Remote Public Access (effective July 1, 2026) SB 707 requires the City Council to take certain actions if remote public access to meetings is disrupted and adopt a policy describing these procedures. This requirement only concerns disruptions to Zoom, not additional services that allow only passive viewing, such as a YouTube livestream or local television broadcast. The disruption requirements do not apply to Council Committees or BCC meetings. The remote public access disruption policy must meet the following requirements, which are also depicted in the flowchart below. If a disruption prevents public participation through Zoom, City Council shall recess open session for at least one hour and attempt in good faith to restore service or adjourn the meeting,
City Council may meet in an agendized closed session during the recess, Open session may not reconvene until at least one hour has passed or service is restored, whichever comes first, and
If service is not restored, City Council may resume after adopting, by roll call vote, a finding that good faith efforts were made to restore service and that the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote access.
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Staff from the City Clerk, City Attorney, and IT departments collaborated on the attached draft policy (Attachment A). The draft policy details the good faith efforts staff shall make to restore service, which may include:
Troubleshooting platform or teleconferencing software, Resetting or replacing audiovisual equipment,
Attempting alternative connection methods,
Contacting necessary support staff or service providers, and/or Switching to back-up equipment or platforms, if available.
The Policy & Services Committee recommended the City Council approve the attached disruption policy.
Third-Party Translation and Interpretation Assistance (effective July 1, 2026) As revised, the Brown Act requires the City Council to reasonably assist community members providing or receiving translation and interpretation services from third parties at City Council meetings. These requirements do not apply to Council Committees or BCCs. While SB 707 requires some jurisdictions to translate their agendas, agenda translation is not required in Palo Alto at this time.
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The City must make available to the public a physical posting space where members of the public may post their own translations of the City Council’s agendas. The City will provide notice that these translations are provided by third parties, and that the City cannot verify the content or accuracy of publicly provided agenda translations. Staff recommends authorizing the City Clerk to designate an appropriate posting board for this purpose. Staff currently recommends making the King Plaza posting board available for translated agendas and will post instructions and guidelines for how the public may utilize the space.
Additionally, the City must reasonably assist members of the public wishing to receive translation or interpretation services from a third-party during a City Council meeting, provided the translation does not disrupt the public meeting. This provision does not require the City Council to provide the services. P&S recommends the City adopt the following practices as reasonable assistance:
Arrange a space for interpreters at the meeting location, upon written request to the City Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting,
Provide public commenters using interpretation extra time. Staff recommends providing twice as much public comment time for individuals using interpreters, or an amount of time determined by the presiding officer,
Allow the public to use their own devices to access translation or interpretation services, and
Loan City devices to the public to access translation or interpretation services upon request. Requests for City devices must be made in writing to the City Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting. Information on borrowing City devices may be found on the City Clerk’s Translation Services webpage9.
Outreach to Underrepresented Groups (effective July 1, 2026) SB 707 requires the City to make “reasonable efforts,” as determined by the City Council, to invite groups who “do not traditionally participate in public meetings. 10” SB 707 provides examples of such groups, including media organizations, civil rights groups, and neighborhood organizations, including those that serve non-English-speaking communities.
The City prioritizes public engagement in public meetings and already engages in the following practices to promote outreach and access:
Publishes City Council agenda and agenda packet 11 days before meeting, rather than the minimum required 72 hours for regular meetings and 24 hours for special meetings, 9 City of Palo Alto Translation Services: https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Clerk/City-Meeting- Groups/Translation-Services
10 California Gov. Code Section 54953.4:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=54953.4.
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Provides physical agenda packets for public review at Mitchell Park and Rinconada libraries, in addition to posting agendas in King’s Plaza (accessible 24/7) and in Council Chambers,
Displays prominent link on city homepage to webpage with meeting schedule and agenda materials,
Distributes a weekly newsletter of published agendas and meetings sent to over 1,500 people and prominently displays newsletter sign-up link on agenda website, Maintains a City website explaining the format of public meetings and how the public may participate,
Publishes all City Council and Council Committee agendas, rather than only special meetings, in Palo Alto Weekly and Daily Post,
Enables automatic translation of the City website into Spanish or simplified Chinese, Enables automatic translation of HTML agendas for all meeting bodies into over 200 languages,
Offers free access to Wordly, a real-time audio and text translation service supporting over 50 languages, upon written request to the City Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting. The public may use own device or borrow a City device to receive verbal and/or written interpretation. Instructions for requesting and using Wordly service are available on the City Clerk’s website, and
Livestreams public meetings on YouTube and broadcasts on local cable television.
Given the priorities of SB 707, staff recommends continuing the above efforts, taking the following additional actions, and continually updating and improving practices based on effectiveness:
Share information about agenda notification newsletters with community groups and organizations such as neighborhood associations, non-English news media, service organizations,
Post informational resources in the King’s Plaza and Council Chambers posting board and other public-facing City facilities with QR codes linking to the Agendas webpage, newsletter sign-up page, meeting participation guide, and translation services webpage, and
Translate the Meeting Participation Guide 13 into the two commonly spoken non-English languages as reported by the American Community Survey.
These efforts are consistent with the City’s broader goals of transparency, accessibility, and inclusive civic engagement.
13 City of Palo Alto Meeting Participation Guide: https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/city-clerk/city- charterprocedures/2025-meeting-participation-guide.pdf
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FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The City Clerk’s Office has sufficient resources in its existing budget to implement the staff recommendations. Additional resources may be required depending on the City Council’s recommendations regarding expanded alternative teleconferencing, translation, and outreach.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Staff in the City Clerk’s, City Attorney, and IT departments collaborated on the recommended implementation of SB 707. The City Clerk’s Office has also been in touch with BCC members and staff regarding Brown Act changes applicable to their bodies. P&S discussed updates to the Brown Act at its public meeting on February 10, 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed City Council action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as it involves organizational and administrative activities (CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378(b)(2).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Two-Way Remote Public Access Disruption Policy Attachment B: City Practices Already in Alignment with SB 707 APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
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Policy: Disruption of Two-Way Remote Public Access Service
1. Purpose
This policy establishes procedures for responding to a disruption in the telephonic or internet services that provide two-way remote public access to meetings of the City Council of the City of Palo Alto, as required by the Brown Act (Gov. Code § 54953.4). If state law is subsequently amended, the amended terms of state law will apply.
2. Definitions
For purposes of this policy:
“Disruption” means any failure, outage, or other interruption that prevents members of the public from attending or observing the meeting via a two-way telephonic service or two-way audiovisual platform. “Remote access services” means the two-way telephonic service and/or two-way audiovisual platform used to provide real-time remote public attendance and participation in meetings. Services that allow remote observation but not participation of meetings, such as a television broadcast or livestream, are not included.
3. Applicability
This policy applies to all open and public meetings of the City Council of the City of Palo Alto at which remote public participation is offered or required under the Brown Act.
4. Procedures in the Event of a Service Disruption
4.1. Response to Service Disruption
If the Presiding Officer or Clerk becomes aware of a disruption to the agency’s remote access services that prevents members of the public from attending or observing the meeting remotely:
1. The Presiding Officer or Clerk shall immediately announce the disruption to the public.
2. The Presiding Officer may then call for a recess of the open session or convene the legislative body in an agendized closed session. The Presiding Officer will make the following, or a substantially similar, announcement:
“The City is experiencing a disruption of its remote access service that prevents remote public participation. In accordance with the Brown Act, the City Council will recess the meeting for at least one hour or until services are restored, whichever comes sooner. If service is not restored after one hour, the City Council may either vote that the public interest in continuing the public meeting outweighs the public interest in remote access and reconvene or adjourn the meeting.”
3. Staff shall begin efforts to diagnose and restore the disrupted service.
4. The meeting shall remain in recess for at least one hour or until service is restored, whichever is sooner. The recess period may be extended if restoration efforts are ongoing.
4.2. Efforts to Restore Service
The agency shall make good faith efforts to restore remote access services, which may include:
Troubleshooting platform or teleconferencing software
Resetting or replacing audiovisual equipment
Attempting alternative connection methods
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Contacting necessary support staff or service providers Switching to back-up equipment or platforms, if available
5. Reconvening the Open Session
5.1. Timing
The open session may be reconvened after at least one hour has elapsed from the time of disruption or as soon as service is restored, whichever occurs earlier.
5.2. If Service Is Restored
If the remote access service is restored before or at the time the meeting reconvenes, the meeting shall continue as normal.
5.3. If Service Is Not Restored
If service has not been restored after one hour, the City Council of the City of Palo Alto may reconvene and:
1. Adjourn the meeting; or
2. Continue the meeting in open session by adopting, by roll call vote, the following, or a substantially similar, finding:
“The City of Palo Alto has made good faith efforts to restore remote access services in accordance with its adopted policy, and the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access.”
Upon adoption of the finding, the legislative body may continue the open session.
6. Recordkeeping
The Clerk shall enter a brief statement into the meeting minutes, including the following:
The nature and time of the disruption
That good faith efforts to restore service were made in accordance The time the meeting was reconvened (if applicable)
Any finding adopted pursuant to Section 6.3
7. Review and Updates
This policy may be amended by the City Council of the City of Palo Alto at a noticed public meeting in open session, not on the consent calendar.
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4 City Practices Already in Alignment with SB 707
This attachment describes SB 707 requirements that are satisfied by current City practices and by recent updates and do not need additional implementation.
Alternative Teleconferencing (effective January 1, 2026) Before 2020, the Brown Act only permitted members of Brown Act bodies to attend meetings remotely if the member published their remote address on the agenda, allowed public access at their remote location, and posted the agenda at their remote location, among other requirements. This open location form of remote attendance is referred to as “standard teleconferencing.” SB 707 does not change this form of teleconferencing.
During the Covid-19 state of emergency, the Brown Act permitted members to attend meetings remotely without opening their location to the public if they complied with another set of requirements. After the state of emergency ended, the legislature continued to experiment with narrow reasons (i.e. “just cause” or “emergency circumstances”) that a member could attend remotely without publishing the remote meeting location or making the location open to the public. This is referred to as “alternative teleconferencing” and was established by AB 2449 (2021-2022). Other rules apply to alternative teleconferencing, such as the requirement to participate by video throughout the meeting.
SB 707 extends and revises the alternative teleconferencing provisions of AB 2449. Some notable changes include:
Extends expiration date to 2030,
Removes the procedural differences between attending remotely due to “just cause” or “emergency circumstances,”
Expands “just cause” to include certain military service obligations, Modifies the annual limit on attendance by alternative teleconference based on the body’s frequency of regular meetings, and
Requires meeting minutes to identify specific provision a member relies on to participate remotely.
The City Council adopted the updated provisions as part of its most recent Procedures & Protocols Handbook update.
Brown Act Distribution (effective January 1, 2026)
SB 707 converts a previously optional authority into a mandate. Cities are now required to provide the Brown Act to elected and appointed members of legislative bodies, including City Council and BCCs. The City Clerk’s Office provides the Brown Act as part of the reference materials given to all new 1 February 9, 2026 City Council Action Minutes:
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4 commissioners during their orientation and will incorporate this mandate into new Councilmember onboarding practices.
Remote Member Participation as an Accommodation (effective January 1, 2026) A member of any legislative body may now participate remotely as a reasonable accommodation for a disability. The member’s participation counts as in-person for quorum purposes. Members using this form of teleconference must:
Disclose the presence of anyone over the age of 18 with them and their relationship to that person, and
Use audio and visual technology, unless a physical condition related to their disability results in a need to participate only through audio.
City Clerk staff will coordinate on an as-needed basis with members using this form of teleconference.
Remote Public Attendance
SB 707 requires certain legislative bodies to offer a remote public participation option. In Palo Alto, the City Council is the only legislative body required to provide a remote option. Existing City Clerk practice surpasses this requirement. Palo Alto currently uses Zoom to host meetings and take comments on agendized items at all City Council, Council Committees, and BCC meetings. The City also livestreams meetings to YouTube and broadcasts to local cable television as additional viewing options for the public.
Website Requirements (effective July 1, 2026)
SB 707 requires a city’s homepage to include a prominent link to a public meeting webpage. The webpage must include or link to:
a general explanation of the public meeting process,
an explanation of how to provide in-person or remote verbal or written public comment, a calendar of all public meetings with the times, dates, and locations, and a link to posted agendas.
A link to the City’s Meeting Agendas and Minutes page3 is prominently displayed on Palo Alto’s homepage and complies with these requirements. In addition to the Agendas page, the City Clerk’s Office also maintains a Resources for Meeting Attendance 4 webpage. This page includes information about City Council meeting structure, public comment procedures, FAQs, City Council and BCC meeting frequencies, and resources for remote attendance.
The City Clerk’s Office’s online newsletter meets new requirements regarding electronic meeting agenda distribution. A city must now provide a system to electronically accept and fulfill requests for meeting agendas and display a sign-up link on the City Council’s homepage. The City Clerk’s Office sends a weekly 3 City of Palo Alto Meeting Agendas and Minutes: https://PaloAlto.gov/CouncilAgendas 4 City of Palo Alto Resources for Public Meetings: https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Clerk/City-Meeting- Groups/Resources-for-Meeting-Attendance
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4 newsletter with information about City Council and Council Committee meetings and events, including direct links to all published agendas and notifications of amended or supplemental materials. The newsletter is currently distributed to over 1,500 individuals, and the public may sign up online via a prominent link on the Meeting Agendas and Minutes page.
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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: April 6, 2026
Report #:2603-6185
TITLE
Approval of City Council Values (as Recommended by Policy & Services Committee), 2026 Objectives, Ad Hoc Purpose Statements, and Committee Workplans (Continued from 3/9/2026 - On March 9, 2026, the Council Received Presentations and Public Testimony; the Item Will be Continued to April 6 for further Council Deliberation and Action - No Public Testimony Will be Heard on April 6.)
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve: (c) Ad Hoc Purpose Statements and Committee Workplans.
BACKGROUND
On March 9, 2026, the City Council considered this item, took action to approve revised Council values and 2026 City Council Group 1 objectives and voted to continue it to a date uncertain. At this meeting, City Council heard the staff presentation and public comments. The prior report and attachments are available online here:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=18679
ATTACHMENTS
None.
APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager
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Item No. 5. Page 1 of 1
City Council
Supplemental Report
From: Kristen O'Kane, Community Services Director
Meeting Date: April 6, 2026
Item Number: 5
Report #:2603-6192
TITLE
Approval of Construction Contract No. C26196846 with FieldTurf USA, Inc. in an Amount Not to- Exceed $878,919 for El Camino Park Turf Replacement PG-24000, Including Authorization to Execute Change Orders; and Amend the FY 2026 Budget Appropriation in the Capital Improvement Fund; CEQA status – categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction).
BACKGROUND
This supplemental report corrects contract C26196846 previously published but missing the exhibits included in the contract. Staff is including an updated version of contract C26196846 that correctly displays the exhibits mentioned within. Due to the length of the contract, it can be viewed here: C261968461
APPROVED BY:
Kristen O'Kane, Community Services Director
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Item No. 11. Page 1 of 1
City Council
Supplemental Report
From: Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director Meeting Date: April 6, 2026
Item Number: 11
Report #:2604-6199
TITLE
SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 18 (Zoning) Chapter 18.70 (Nonconforming Uses and Noncomplying Facilities) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Amend Requirements Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units Allow De Minimis Exceptions (FIRST READING: March 9, 2026; PASSED: 7-0) Title Updated
BACKGROUND
After publication of the agenda, staff learned that the proposed ordinance was inadvertently produced with the incorrect title. The title has been corrected in the attached ordinance and the agenda item title.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Ordinance Amending Chapter 18.70 (Nonconforming Uses and Noncomplying Facilities) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Allow De Minimis Exceptions - Corrected APPROVED BY:
Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director Item 11
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*NOT YET APPROVED*
0160183_20260202_ay16
1 Ordinance No. ______
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Chapter 18.70 (Nonconforming Uses and Noncomplying Facilities)of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Allow De Minimis Exceptions
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 18.70.105 (Noncomplying facility – de minimis exception) of Chapter 18.70 (Nonconforming Uses and Noncomplying Facilities) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is added to read as follows:
18.70.105 Noncomplying facility - De minimis exception Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 18.70.080, 18.70.090, and 18.70.100, up to 250 square feet of non-complying floor area (i.e. floor area associated with a non-complying feature) may be relocated as follows, provided that the degree and manner of non-compliance is not increased:
(a) The non-complying facility houses a single-family residential use in a low-density residential zone district; and
(b) Any proposal to relocate non-complying floor area will comply with the following:
(1) Projects that include relocation of 150 to 250 square feet to a location above the ground floor shall be subject to Section 18.10.040, subd. (i), or 18.12.110, as applicable; or
(2) Projects that include relocation of less than 150 sf above the ground floor and that are therefore not subject to Individual Review, shall comply with the objective standards for single-family development as applicable to the proposed relocation.
SECTION 2. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that the adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 and CEQA Guidelines sections 15061(b)(3), 15301, 15302 and 15305 because it constitutes minor adjustments to the City’s zoning ordinance to implement State law requirements related to accessory dwelling units as established in Government Code Section 65852.2, and these changes are also likely to result in few additional dwelling units dispersed throughout the City. As such, it can be seen with certainty that the proposed action will not have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
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Supplemental Attachment
A - Ordinance Amending
Chapter 18.70
(Nonconforming Uses and
Noncomplying Facilities) of
the Palo Alto Municipal
Code to Allow De Minimis
Exceptions - Corrected
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2 SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first date after the date of its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
NOT PARTICIPATING:
ATTEST:
_______________________________ __________________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
_______________________________ __________________________________ Assistant City Attorney City Manager
__________________________________
Director of Planning & Community
Environment
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Supplemental Attachment
A - Ordinance Amending
Chapter 18.70
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Noncomplying Facilities) of
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Code to Allow De Minimis
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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: Human Resources
Meeting Date: April 6, 2026
Report #:2604-6200
TITLE
Approval of Selection of and Employment Agreement with James Reifschneider as the Chief of Police at an Annual Salary of $363,584; CEQA Status – Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends that the City Council confirm the City Manager’s selection of James Reifschneider as Police Chief and approve his employment agreement (Attachment A).
BACKGROUND
The Palo Alto Charter and Municipal Code establish the City Manager as the appointing authority for all department directors, and employees under the City Manager’s areas of responsibility. The Charter and Municipal Code specify that appointments made by the City Manager are subject to approval by the Council.1 Section 2.08.170 of the Municipal Code states the responsibilities of the Police Chief, which include the following, along with other duties as assigned by the City Manager:
The preservation of the public peace and order, the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of criminal suspects, the protection of persons and property, and the enforcement of law;
Enforcing all traffic regulations and the administration of the Police parking enforcement program;
The coordination of the Regional Communications System and to provide radio dispatching service for all city departments requiring such service; and, 1 Palo Alto Municipal Code section 2.08.020
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The enforcement of all city ordinances and state laws relating to the care, control, and rescue of all animals; and to cause to be performed all duties required by animal control officers.
ANALYSIS
James Reifschneider brings 21 years of law enforcement experience (with the City of Palo Alto), including the past year serving as Assistant Police Chief. In this role, he is responsible for leading the department in the Chief’s stead whenever needed, including during approved leaves, ensuring continuity of operations and clear command authority. He has a strong record of command-level leadership, operational excellence, and community engagement, having served five years as Captain and five years as Lieutenant, and rising through the ranks from Officer to Sergeant. Reifschneider earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings College of the Law) and practiced law for two years; he also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Santa Clara University.
The City Manager is advancing the appointment of Reifschneider to coincide with Police Chief Andrew Binder’s retirement. The City Manager reviewed this prospective appointment in consultation with an experienced police chief executive recruiter, and upon evaluation of multiple dimensions of the role recommends City Council approval. Reifschneider is an exceptionally strong candidate possessing all the requisite skills and experience for success as Palo Alto Chief of Police and further has shown leadership qualities to advance the policing profession into the future. This internal promotion demonstrates the strong culture of professional development and effective career advancement and continuity planning in the Palo Alto workforce.
Chief Reifschneider’s annual salary will be $363,584 and is an At-Will appointment, which means he will serve at the pleasure of the City Manager and can be terminated or asked to resign at any time. The employment agreement includes 24 weeks of severance, which is commensurate with other highly responsible executive positions (as well as the prior police chief’s agreement). All other benefits offered are consistent with the Compensation Plan for Management and Professional Personnel.
The effective date of the Appointment will be April 7, 2026.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The cost of this appointment is fully funded within the adopted FY 2026 Police Department budget. No additional appropriation is required at this time. Ongoing costs will be incorporated into future fiscal year planning.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because approving an appointment and employment agreement is an organizational activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Employment Agreement DRAFT- Reifschneider APPROVED BY:
Sandra Blanch, Human Resources Director
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1 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN CITY OF PALO ALTO
AND
JAMES REIFSCHNEIDER
THIS AGREEMENT is between the City of Palo Alto, a municipal corporation and chartered city, (“City”) and James Reifschneider (“Reifschneider”). It is effective on the latest date next to the signatures on the last page.
This Agreement is entered into on the basis of the following facts:
A. City, acting by and through its City Manager, wishes to employ Reifschneider as its Police Chief, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Palo Alto Municipal Code and the Charter of the City of Palo Alto (the "Charter").
B. Under chapter 2.08 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, the Police Chief is appointed by the City Manager with the approval of the City Council. Notwithstanding any provision of the City of Palo Alto Merit System Rules and Regulations, the Police Chief serves on an at-will basis, with no expectation of continued employment, and with no right to pre-or post-separation due process or appeal.
C. Reifschneider desires to be employed by the City as its Police Chief, subject to the terms and conditions in this Agreement, the Palo Alto Municipal Code, the Charter, the Palo Alto Merit System Rules and Regulations, and all other applicable laws, resolutions, and policies.
D. The City and Reifschneider wish to establish specific terms and conditions relating to compensation and benefits and related matters.
BASED UPON THE FOREGOING, THE CITY AND REIFSCHNEIDER AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1 Employment. The City appoints Reifschneider as its Police Chief for an indefinite term to begin on April 7, 2026 (“Employment Start Date”). Except as otherwise provided herein, Reifschneider ’s employment with the City shall be governed by the City Council-adopted Compensation Plan for Management and Professional Personnel and Council Appointees, as it currently exists and may be changed from time to time.
2 Duties of the Police Chief. Reifschneider will perform the duties established for the Police Chief by the Palo Alto Municipal Code, by direction given by the City Manager, and as otherwise provided by law, ordinance, or regulation. Reifschneider agrees to comply with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to or associated with these duties.
2.1 Full Energy and Skill. Reifschneider will devote his full energy, skill, ability, and productive time to the performance of his duties.
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2 2.2 No Conflict. Reifschneider will not engage in any outside employment, activity, consulting service, or other enterprise, for compensation or otherwise, which is actually or potentially in conflict with, or which interferes with the performance of his duties. Reifschneider acknowledges that he is subject to the various conflict of interest requirements found in the California Government Code and state and local policies and regulations.
2.3 Permission Required For Outside Activities. Reifschneider will not engage in any outside employment, activity, consulting service, or other enterprise, for compensation or not, without written permission of the City Manager, provided in advance of such outside employment, activity, consulting service, or other enterprise.
3 Salary. While performing the duties of Police Chief, Reifschneider will receive a base salary within the range provided in the City Council-approved Compensation Plan for Management and Professional Personnel and Council Appointees, as it currently exists and may be changed from time to time.
Reifschneider will receive an initial gross base annual salary of Three Hundred Sixty-Three Thousand and Five-hundred and Eighty-Four Dollars ($363,584), beginning on the Employment Start Date, and subject to increases or changes approved by Council in the Compensation Plan for Management and Professional Personnel and Council Appointees. This amount is subject to authorized or required deductions and withholding, prorated and paid on City's regular paydays. Reifschneider is an exempt employee under applicable wage and hour law, and his base salary shall be compensation for all hours worked. The City agrees that the amount of Reifschneider’s base annual salary will not decrease, except as part of a permanent decrease that is consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
4 Benefits, Allowances and Obligations. Reifschneider will be eligible for, and shall receive, all regular benefits (i.e., health insurance, PERS contributions to the extent paid by the City, etc.) and vacation, sick leave, and management leave, as are generally provided to management employees under the City Council-approved Compensation Plan for Management and Professional Personnel and Council Appointees, as it currently exists and may be changed from time to time. In addition, Reifschneider will assume all obligations and make all regular contributions (i.e., employee assumption of a portion of the employer PERS contribution) as are generally required of management employees under the City Council-approved Compensation Plan for Management and Professional Personnel and Council Appointees, as it currently exists and may be changed from time to time.
5 Additional Benefits and Allowances. In addition to the benefits specified in section 4, Reifschneider will receive the following additional benefits and allowances:
5.1 Severance. If Reifschneider is terminated or asked to resign, he shall, upon execution of a release of all claims against the City, be eligible for a severance payment equivalent to twelve (12) weeks of salary and benefits. The amount of the severance payment shall increase by twelve (12) weeks, to a total of twenty- four (24) weeks, after 12 months of service as Chief of Police. No severance shall be paid if Reifschneider is terminated for serious misconduct involving abuse of Item AA1
Attachment A -
Employment Agreement
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Item AA1: Staff Report
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3 his office or position, including, but not limited to, waste, fraud, violation of the law under color of authority, misappropriation of public resources, violence, harassment, or discrimination. If Reifschneider is later convicted of a crime involving such abuse of his position, he shall fully reimburse the City as set forth in Government Code section 53243.3
6 Duration of Employment. Reifschneider understands and agrees that he has no constitutionally protected property or other interest in his employment as Police Chief. Reifschneider waives any and all rights, if any, under the Merit System Rules and Regulations, including without limitation, the right to pre-or post- disciplinary due process. Reifschneider understands and agrees that he works at the will and pleasure of the City Manager and that he may be terminated or asked to resign at any time, with or without cause. Reifschneider may terminate this agreement (terminating all employment) upon 30 days written notice to the City Manager.
7 Miscellaneous.
7.1 Notices. Notices given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either: a) served personally; or b) sent by Email (provided a hard copy is mailed within one (1) business day; or c) delivered by first-class United States mail, certified, with postage prepaid and a return receipt requested; or d) sent by Federal Express, or some equivalent private mail delivery service. Notices shall be deemed received at the earlier of actual receipt or three (3) days following deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid. Notices shall be directed to the addresses shown below, provided that a party may change such party's address for notice by giving written notice to the other party in accordance with this subsection.
CITY: Attn: City Manager
250 Hamilton Avenue Palo
Alto, CA 94301 Phone: (650)
329-22280
Fax: (650) 328-3631
REIFSCHNEIDER: James Reifschneider
250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301
7.2 Entire Agreement/ Amendment. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the parties as to those matters contained in it, and supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations and understandings of the parties. This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties, but any such amendment must be in writing, dated, and signed by the parties and attached hereto.
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Employment Agreement
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Item AA1: Staff Report
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4 7.3 Applicable Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be interpreted according to the laws of the State of California. Venue of any action regarding this Agreement shall be in the proper court in Santa Clara County.
7.4 Severability. In the event any portion of this Agreement is declared void, such portion shall be severed from this Agreement and the remaining provisions shall remain in effect, unless the result of such severance would be to substantially alter this Agreement or the obligations of the parties, in which case this Agreement shall be immediately terminated.
7.5 Waiver. Any failure of a party to insist upon strict compliance with any term, undertaking, or condition of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such term, undertaking, or condition. To be effective, a waiver must be in writing, signed and dated by the parties.
7.6 Representation by Counsel. Reifschneider and the City acknowledge that they each did, or had the opportunity to, consult with legal counsel of their respective choices with respect to the matters that are the subject of this Agreement prior to executing it.
7.7 Section Headings. The headings on each of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only and do not limit or expand the contents of any such section or subsection.
REIFSCHNEIDER CITY OF PALO ALTO
___________________________ ___________________________ James Reifschneider City Manager
Date: Date:
Approved as to Form:
___________________________
City Attorney’s Office
Item AA1
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Employment Agreement
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Item AA1: Staff Report
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