CITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
April 20, 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:
Special Orders of the Day
1. Proclamation Recognizing Earth Day and the Palo Alto Youth Climate Advisory Board
NO ACTION
2. P
roclamation Recognizing National Crime Victims' Rights Week April 19-25, 2026
NO ACTION
A
genda Changes, Additions and Deletions
P
ublic Comment
C
ouncil Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
S
tudy Session
3. Discussion of the Draft 2026 -2030 Santa Clara County Community Plan to End Homelessness; CEQA Status—Not a project.
NO ACTION
Docusign Envelope ID: F35DF393-7230-49DF-92C1-3493BA6A7B01
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 04/20/2026
4. 910 Webster Street [26PLN -00026]. Request for Council Prescreening to Rezone the Subject Property from RM- 20 to Planned Community/Planned Home Zoning and to Allow Construction of 70 Residential Units in a Seven- Story Structure. CEQA Status: Not a Project.
NO ACTION
C
onsent Calendar
MOTION: Councilmember Lauing moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to approve Agenda Item Numbers 5-10, AA1.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
5. Approval of Minutes from April 6, 2026 Meeting
6. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Director of Planning and Development Services to Make Minor Modifications to the 2023 -2031 Housing Element Site Inventory. CEQA Status: The City Council adopted a Revised Addendum to the Comprehensive Plan Final Environmental Impact Report on December 18, 2023, that, in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan Final EIR, fully analyzes the impacts of the 6th Cycle Housing Element, including minor modifications to the site inventory.
7. Approval of Amendment Number 1 to Contract C23187554 with Vox Network Solutions to Increase Compensation by $212,819 and to Extend the Term to June 30, 2027, for Maintenance of the City’s Enterprise Phone System; CEQA Status – exempt under section 15061(b)(3).
8. FIRST READ: Adopt an Entertainment Zone Ordinance to Establish an Entertainment Zone on California Avenue as Recommended by the Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee; CEQA status – Categorically Exempt.
9. Approval of Contract Amendment No. 3 to Contract S25190354 with Larratt Brothers Plumbing Inc. in the Amount of $950,000, for a Revised Total Not to Exceed $1,445,000 and to Extend the Contract Term for One Additional Year ending July 21, 2027, for the Residential Emergency Water Heater Replacement Pilot Program Within Electrification Programs; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
10. 4075 El Camino Way [23PLN -00202]: Recommendation to Decline Adoption on Second Reading of an Ordinance Adopting an Amendment to a Planned Community Ordinance (PC-5116) to Allow for Modifications to an Existing 121 -Unit Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility. First Reading Adoption was on March 16, 2026. CEQA Status: Exempt from Docusign Envelope ID: F35DF393-7230-49DF-92C1-3493BA6A7B01
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 04/20/2026
the Provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Modifications to Existing Facilities).
AA1. Amend the FY 2026 Budget Appropriation for the Capital Improvement Fund to Establish the Embarcadero Road Improvement Project, Phase 1, and Authorize the City Manager or Their Designee to Award a Construction Contract with a Qualified Contractor for the Embarcadero Road Improvement Project, Phase 1; CEQA Status – Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c)
C
ity Manager Comments
Kiely Nose, Assistant City Manager
A
ction Items
11. Quasi-Judicial: Adoption of a Resolution Documenting the City Council’s Consideration and Decision on an Appeal of the Chief Building Official’s Order to Demolish the Buildings Located at 531 Stanford Avenue.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Council member Lauing to adopt a resolution denying the appeal and upholding the Chief Building Official's Order to Demolish the buildings on the subject property based on findings and conditions set forth in Attachment A.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
12. Ad
option of Recommendations by the Policy & Services Committee Implementing Changes to Meeting Procedures Related to Teleconferencing, Remote Public Participation, Translation and Interpretation Assistance, and Expanded Public Outreach; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to:
1. Decline the use of expanded alternative teleconferencing for Boards, Commissions, and Committees (BCCs),
2. Adopt a default practice for all Council, Council Committee, and Boards and Commissions meetings to take in -person general public comment near the beginning of the agenda and remote general public comment at the end of the agenda, with the Chair retaining discretion to arrange public comment on the agenda according to the needs of the body.
Docusign Envelope ID: F35DF393-7230-49DF-92C1-3493BA6A7B01
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 04/20/2026
a. Refer the Policy and Services Committee to reevaluate of this general public comment practice when Council Procedures & Protocols handbook is reviewed;
3. Approve the Two-Way Remote Public Access Disruption Policy (Attachment A),
4. Approve the following practices as reasonable assistance for third party translation and interpretation services, and
a. Arrange a space for interpreters at the meeting location, upon written request to the City Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting,
b. Provide public speakers using interpretation extra time. Staff recommends providing twice as much time for individuals using interpretation, or an amount of time determined by the presiding officer,
c. Allow the public to use their own devices to access translation or interpretation devices, and
d. Loan city devices to the public to access translation or interpretation services upon written request to the City Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting.
5. Direct the City Clerk to implement the following outreach practices:
a. Share information about agenda notification newsletters with community groups and organizations such as neighborhood associations, non- English news media, service organizations,
b. 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
c. Translate the Meeting Participation Guide into the two most commonly spoken non-English languages as reported by the American Community Survey.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
A
djournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:54 P.M.
Docusign Envelope ID: F35DF393-7230-49DF-92C1-3493BA6A7B01
ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 04/20/2026
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.
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Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: F35DF393-7230-49DF-92C1-3493BA6A7B01
Status: Completed
Subject: April 20, 2026 Action Minutes
Source Envelope:
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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: 170.85.155.40
Record Tracking
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5/6/2026 4:26:54 PM
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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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