CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
September 14, 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. Northern California Power Agency General Manager Tony Zimmer
NO ACTION
2. Review Applications and Select Candidates to Interview for the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) and Public Art Commission (PAC) Vacancies; CEQA Status – Not a Project
NO ACTION
Boards, Commissions, and Committees Appointment
3. Appointment of Candidates to the Historic Resources Board (HRB); CEQA Status – Not a Project
Historic Resources Board
First Round Voting for Three (3) full term vacancies (seats 1, 2, 3) on the Historic Resources Board ending on March 31, 2029
Aleksandar Patrick Dusan Rakicevic More: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker
Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Nandini Ramamurthi: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker
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City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 09/14/2026
Candidate Aleksandar Patrick Dusan Rakicevic More receiving seven votes is appointed to the full term expiring March 31, 2029 (seat 1).
Candidate Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz receiving seven votes is appointed to the full term expiring March 31, 2029 (seat 2).
Candidate Nandini Ramamurthi receiving seven votes is appointed to the full term expiring March 31, 2029 (seat 3).
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
In-Person Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-6, AA1.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
4. Approval of Contract Number C27197641 with A3 Pipeline in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $2,466,255 for the Sewer Lateral Replacement Project (WC-99013) at various locations across the City; Authorization for the City Manager or Designee to Negotiate and Execute Related Change Orders Not-to-Exceed $246,626 for a Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $2,712,881 for a Three-Year Term. CEQA Status: Exempt under CEQA Guidelines 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction of Existing Facilities).
5. Adopt a Resolution approving the City of Palo Alto Utilities Electric Utility Physical Security Plan Update: CEQA Status – Not a Project
6. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adding Chapter
10.49 (OSV Parking Permit Districts) to the Palo Alto Municipal Code and Amending PAMC Section 10.60.010 (FIRST READING: August 24, 2026; PASSED: 7-0) AA1. Approval of Increase of Construction Contingency for Contract No. C211781123B with Swinerton Builders in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $7,374,367 and Amendment to the
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 09/14/2026
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Appropriation for the Capital Improvement Fund for the New Public Safety Building Capital Improvement Program Project (PE-15001), to Support a Settlement Agreement With Swinerton Builders; CEQA Status – Environmental Impact Report for the New Public Safety Building and New California Avenue Area Parking Garage (Resolution No. 9772)
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
7. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 375 Hamilton Avenue [26PLN-00050]: Request for Major Architectural Review Approval for the Construction of a New Six-Story Parking Garage with a Total of 265 Parking Spaces on the Existing Surface-Level Parking Lot D.
CEQA Status: Prior Environmental Impact Report Certified (Council Resolution No. 9818, February 11, 2019). An Addendum to the Previously Certified Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2017052040) has Been Prepared in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15164. Zoning District: PF (Public Facilities).
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to:
1. Consider the Addendum to the previously certified Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (Council Resolution No. 9818, February 11, 2019); and
2. Approve the Major Architectural Review (AR) application based on findings and subject to conditions of approval in the Record of Land Use Action (RLUA) in Attachment B.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
8. Refinancing of the 2009A Water Revenue Bonds, Series A; Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of Tax-Exempt Water Revenue Refunding Bonds in a Principal Amount Not-to-Exceed $20,000,000, Approval of the Official Notice of Sale, Indenture of Trust, Official Statement, Irrevocable Refunding Instructions, and Related Documents; CEQA Status - Not a Project
MOTION: Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Lu to:
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City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 09/14/2026
1. Authorize staff to refinance the outstanding City of Palo Alto Water Revenue Bonds, 2009 Series A through the issuance of Water Revenue Refunding Bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000; and
2. Approve the Official Notice of Sale, Indenture of Trust, Official Statement, Irrevocable Refunding Instructions, and authorize official actions and related documents thereto.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Closed Session
9. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY-EXISTING LITIGATION
Subject: Diego Velasquez v. City of Palo Alto et al.
Santa Clara County Superior Court, Case No. 24-CV-450636 Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
One Case, as Defendant
10. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY – EXISTING LITIGATION Subject: City of Palo Alto v. Gary Wetzel, et al.
Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 26CV484552
One Case, as Defendant
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
11. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto (Informally known as the Cubberley Site)
Negotiating Party: Palo Alto Unified School District
City Negotiators: Ed Shikada, Kristen O'Kane, Sunny Tong Subject of Negotiations: Purchase, Exchange, and/or Lease Price and Terms of Payment MOTION: Councilmember Lauing moved, seconded by Councilmember Lu to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 8:43 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 10:10 P.M.
Mayor Veenker announced the following reportable actions from Closed Session:
Regarding Swinerton v. City of Palo Alto (JAMS Reference # 5100003409), a matter previously heard in Closed Session on August 17, 2026, the City entered into a settlement agreement to resolve claims by Swinerton and its subcontractors arising from construction of the recently
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 09/14/2026
opened Public Safety Building. The settlement provides for the City to pay $8 million to resolve the claims. The City Council approved the settlement by a 7-0 vote on August 17, 2026, and the settlement agreement was finalized on September 10, 2026.
Regarding Diego Velasquez v. City of Palo Alto et al., Santa Clara County Superior Court, Case No. 24-CV-450636, the City Council authorized the City Attorney’s Office to file a crosscomplaint in the action against Cleary Brothers Landscape, Inc., Bastion Construction Services, and any successors in interest to those entities. The City Council approved the action by a 7-0 vote.
Virtual Public Comment
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:18 P.M. in memory of Byron Sher, Former Palo Alto Mayor.
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.