City Council
Staff Report
From: City Clerk
Report Type: SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: April 6, 2026
Report #:2603-6135
TITLE
Interview Candidate for Vacancies on the Planning & Transportation Commission; CEQA Status - Not a Project
BACKGROUND
The City Council selected candidates to interview at the March 2, 20261 City Council meeting for the Human Relations Commission, Planning & Transportation Commission, and the Utilities Advisory Commission. Recruitment for the Historic Resources Board and Stormwater Management Oversight Committee was extended.
City Council conducted interviews for all three commissions at the March 23, 2026, City Council meeting2. Two candidates, Martin Blanchet and Daniel Phillip Benas, were unable to attend the interviews on that date. We have scheduled these two interviews for the April 6, 2026, City Council meeting and the candidates have confirmed their attendance with the City Clerk.
Candidates have been informed of the following:
1. Each interview is scheduled for 10 minutes. Candidates may begin with 1-2 minutes describing their experience and/or desire to serve. The remaining time will be Q+A with the City Council;
2. Interviews are located in Council Chambers on the ground floor of City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave) or on Zoom;
3. Please arrive to Council Chambers or join Zoom 15 minutes before the scheduled time and check in with the clerk; and
4. If joining via Zoom, make sure to use your name so the clerk can identify the candidate.
Please use this link to join https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/362027238. The clerk will allow you to unmute and turn on your video when it’s your turn. 1 March 2, 2026, City Council Meeting YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P26S0WrCNoM 2 March 23, 2026, City Council Meeting YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH4VheJi9LE
Interview Schedule:
5:35 – 5:45 PM Daniel Phillip Benas In Person
5:45 – 5:55 PM Martin (Iris) Blanchet In Person
ANALYSIS
A summary of the openings, eligibility requirements, and term lengths for the PTC vacancies are included below. In addition to the eligibility requirements below, no commissioners can be Councilmembers, officers, or employees of the City.
Planning & Transportation Commission (PTC)
Vacancies and
Term Dates
Seat Numbers Number of
Applicants
Number of
Candidates to
Interview
Number of
Votes per
Councilmember
2 Full Terms
4/1/26 – 3/31/30
1, 4 11 Up to 6 4
PTC Eligibility Requirements5:
Palo Alto residency is required
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
None.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5).
ATTACHMENTS
None.
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
5 Palo Alto Municipal Code 2.20.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0-0- 61274