CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Special Meeting
May 11, 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 Councilmember Reckdahl Arrived at 5:08 P.M.
Present Remotely:
Absent:
Special Orders of the Day
1. City Employee Years of Service Awards and Proclamation acknowledging Public Service Recognition Week
NO ACTION
2. Recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and May 10, 2026 as AANHPI Mental Health Awareness Day Item Removed Off Agenda
AA1. Proclamation Recognizing National Police Week as May 10 -16, 2026 and National Peace Officers' Memorial Day as May 15, 2026 New Item Added
NO ACTION
Closed Session
3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION
Subject: Anne Kramer vs City of Palo Alto, Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 25CV461517
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 05/11/2026
Agenda Item Number 3 Heard Out of Order
MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Council member Lu to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 9:01 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 9:18 P.M.
Mayor Veenker announced that the City Council authorized the City Attorney by vote of 7-0 to enter into a settlement agreement to pay $85 ,000 to resolve the claims against the city in Anne Kramer vs City of Palo Alto, Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 25CV461517.
Mayor Veenker announced that on May 4, 2026, the City Council authorized the City Attorney by a vote of 7-0 to enter into a settlement agreement to establish a process of consideration of an alternative to the proposed Builder’s Remedy development project at 156 North California Avenue. The settlement agreement was finalized on May 7, 2026.
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Study Session
4. FY 2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget - Finance Committee Update and Council Budget Discussion. CEQA Status – Not a project
NO ACTION
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Council member Lauing moved, seconded by Council member Reckdahl to approve Agenda Item Numbers 5-6.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 05/11/2026
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
5. Approval of Issuing Purchase Order C27197248 with Solutions Simplified, Utilizing a State of California Department of General Services Software Licensing Program Contract SLP-25-70-0181H, to Procure Zscaler Software Maintenance and Support for a Three - Year Term for a Total Not-To-Exceed Amount of $329,886; CEQA Status - Not a Project.
6. Approval of Contract Amendment No. 4 to Contract C19174648A with VERTEXONE SOFTWARE, LLC for the WaterSmart Utilities Customer Portal, to Extend the Term for Three Additional Years ending August 12, 2029 and Increase Compensation by $140,000, for a Revised Total Not to Exceed of $677,763; CEQA Status – Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15308.
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
7. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI -JUDICIAL. 3781 El Camino Real [24PLN -00161]: Request for Approval of Major Architectural Review Application to Merge Four Existing Parcels to Create a 63,025 Square -Foot Parcel and to Construct a Seven -Story, Multi -Family Residential Housing Development Project with 183 Units. Thirteen Percent of The Base Units Would be Provided at a Rate Affordable to Low Income. 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 February 15, 2024. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to Assembly Bill 130 (Public Resources Code Section 21080.66).
MOTION: Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to:
1. Consider the project exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 130 (Public Resources Code Section 21080.66); and
2. Approve the Major Architectural Review application based on findings and subject to conditions of approval in the Draft Record of Land Use Action (RLUA) in Attachment B.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
8. Expedited Evaluation of the Potential Temporary Closure of the Churchill Avenue Rail Crossing, Determination of Next Steps, and CEQA Status – Statutorily and Categorically
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 05/11/2026
Exempt.
(Continued Item from 4/15/2026 – On April 15, 2026, the City Council Received Presentations and Public Testimony; The Item is Continued to May 11, 2026 for further Council Discussion, Deliberation, and Potential Action – No Additional Public Testimony Will be Heard on May 11, 2026.)
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Mayor Veenker to:
A) Direct staff to explore options for a long -term rail crossing guard contract and engage PAUSD through the City School Liaison Committee regarding a potential long -term cost- sharing agreement;
B) Direct the Jed Foundation, as part of its 2026 deliverables, to return to the Rail Committee with targeted recommendations and evidence -based strategies to address safety risks at all four rail crossings, and authorize any budget adjustments necessary to achieve those deliverables;
C) Direct staff and Rail Committee to prioritize and expedite implementation of Quiet Zones at all four rail crossings, with particular emphasis on accelerating the Churchill Avenue crossing Quiet Zone; and
D) Explore gate(s) or other options in collaboration with Caltrain for enhanced enclosure or safety measures in addition to the quad gates.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:19 P.M.
ATTEST: 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.