CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 05, 2026
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
City
Council
meetings
will
be
held
as
“hybrid”
meetings
with
the
option
to
attend
virtually
or
in
person.
Information
on
how
the
public
may
observe
and
participate
in
the
meeting
is
located
at
the
end
of
the
agenda.
Translation
services
are
available
upon
request
at
least
24 hours
before
the
meeting.
The
meeting
will
be
broadcast
on
Cable
TV
Channel
76,
live
on
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto
,
and
streamed
to
Midpen
Media
Center
https://midpenmedia.org
.
VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
(
https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/362027238
)
Meeting ID: 362 027 238 Phone:1(669)900-6833
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Public
Comment
for
items
not
on
the
agenda
will
be
accepted
for
up
to
1-3
minutes
or
an
amount
of
time
determined
by
the
Chair.
In-person
comments
will
be
heard
at
the
beginning
of
the
agenda
and
remote
comments
will
be
heard
at
the
end
of
the
agenda.
In-person
general
public
comment
will
be
heard
for
30 minutes.
Additional
in-person
public
comments,
if
any,
will
be
heard
at
the
end
of
the
agenda.
Public
comments
for
agendized
items
will
be
accepted
both
in
person
and
via
Zoom
for
up
to
1-3
minutes
or
an
amount
of
time
determined
by
the
Chair.
Requests
to
speak
will
be
taken
until
5 minutes
after
the
staff’s
presentation
or
as
determined
by
the
Chair.
Written
public
comments
can
be
submitted
in
advance
and
will
be
provided
to
the
Council
and
available
for
inspection
on
the
City’s
website.
Multiple
individuals
wishing
to
speak
on
the
same
item
may
designate
a
spokesperson.
Spokespeople
must
be
representing
5 or
more
verified
individuals
who
are
present
in
person
or
via
Zoom.
Spokespeople
are
allowed
up
to
10 minutes,
at
the
discretion
of
the
Chair.
Speaking
time
may
be
reduced
if
the
Chair
reduces
the
speaking
time
for
individual
speakers.
PowerPoints,
videos,
or
other
media
to
be
presented
during
public
comment
are
accepted
only
by
to
at
least
24 hours
before
the
meeting.
Once
received,
the
Clerk
will
share
them
at
public
comment
for
the
specified
item.
To
uphold
strong
cybersecurity
management
practices,
USB’s
or
other
physical
electronic
storage
devices
are
not
accepted.
Signs
and
symbolic
materials
less
than
2 feet
by
3 feet
are
permitted
provided
that:
sticks,
posts,
poles
or
similar/other
type
of
handle
objects
are
strictly
prohibited;
the
items
do
not
create
a
facility,
fire,
or
safety
hazard;
and
persons
with
such
items
remain
seated
when
displaying
them
and
must
not
raise
the
items
above
shoulder
level,
obstruct
the
view
or
passage
of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting.
TIME ESTIMATES
Listed
times
are
estimates
only
and
are
subject
to
change
at
any
time,
including
while
the
meeting
is
in
progress.
The
Council
reserves
the
right
to
use
more
or
less
time
on
any
item,
change
the
order
of
items
and/or
continue
items
to
another
meeting.
Items
may
be
heard
before
or
after
the
time
estimated
on
the
agenda.
This
may
occur
in
order
to
best
manage
the
time at a meeting or to adapt to the participation of the public.
1 October 05, 2026
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
CALL TO ORDER
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES APPOINTMENTS (5:30 - 5:40 PM)
1. Appointment of Candidates to the Human Relations Commission (HRC), Parks and Recreation (PRC), and Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC), CEQA Status - Not a Project
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY (5:40 - 5:45 PM)
2. Proclamation Recognizing Fire Prevention Week- October 4-10
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT (5:45 - 6:15 PM)
Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda. 1-3 minutes depending on number of speakers. In-person comments will be heard at the beginning of the agenda and remote comments will be heard at the end of the agenda. In-person Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional in-person public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda.
COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS (6:15 - 6:25 PM) Members of the public may not speak to the item(s).
STUDY SESSION (6:25 - 7:25 PM)
3. Best Practices in Managing Consultant Services
CONSENT CALENDAR (7:25 - 7:30 PM)
Items will be voted in one motion unless removed from the calendar by three Council Members.
4. Approval of Business Retention, Expansion, and Attraction (BRE/A) Strategy as Recommended by the Economic Development Committee: CEQA – Not a Project
5. Approval of Letters of Intent with Avenidas and HeartFit for Life for collaboration on a long-term public-private partnership for expanded services for aging adults at the Cubberley site; CEQA status – Mitigated Negative Declaration Approved on May 19, 2026.
2 October 05, 2026
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
6. Approval of Surveillance Use Policy for Security Cameras at the Palo Alto Animal Shelter; CEQA Status - Not a Project.
7. Approval of Surveillance Use Policy for Security Cameras at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo; CEQA Status - Not a Project.
8. Approval of FY 2026 Reappropriation Requests to FY 2027 Operating and Capital Improvement Budgets and Additional Technical Clean-Up Actions and Corresponding Amendments to the FY 2027 Budget Appropriation for Various Funds. CEQA Status: Not a Project
9. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C27196802 with BKF Engineers for the Design of Four Quadrant Gate Systems Improvements required for Quiet Zone Railroad Crossings at Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road in an Amount Not to Exceed $1,294,522 for a term ending December 31, 2029; CEQA status:
Categorically Exempt, CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS (7:30 - 7:40 PM)
BREAK (15 MINUTES)
Listed times are estimates only and are subject to change at any time, including while the meeting is in progress.
ACTION ITEMS (Item 10: 7:55 - 9:15 PM; Item 11: 9:15 - 10:15 PM) Include: Report of Committees/Commissions, Ordinances and Resolutions, Public Hearings, Report of Officials, Unfinished Business and Council Matters.
10. Approval of FY 2027 Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Board, Planning and Transportation Commission, and Utilities Advisory Commission Work Plans; CEQA Status – Not a Project
11. Consideration of City Council Positions on State and Local Measures Presented to Palo Alto Voters on the November 3, 2026 Ballot; CEQA status – not a project
VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda. 1-3 minutes depending on number of speakers. In-person comments will be heard at the beginning of the agenda and remote comments will be heard at the end of the agenda. In-person Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional in-person public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
3 October 05, 2026
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
INFORMATION REPORTS
Information reports are provided for informational purposes only to the Council and the public but are not listed for action or discussion during this meeting’s agenda.
A.
Informational Report: Utilities Quarterly Report for FY2026-Q3 (January 2026 – March 2026)
OTHER INFORMATION
Standing Committee Meetings this week
Finance Committee October 6, 2026
Public Comment Letters
Schedule of Meetings
4 October 05, 2026
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Members
of
the
Public
may
provide
public
comments
to
teleconference
meetings
via
email,
teleconference, or by phone.
1. Written public comments
may be submitted by email to
[email protected]
.
2. For in person public comments
please complete a speaker request card located on the
table at the entrance to the Council Chambers and deliver it to the Clerk prior to discussion of the item.
3. Spoken
public
comments
using
a
computer
or
smart
phone
will
be
accepted
through
the
teleconference
meeting.
To
address
the
Council,
click
on
the
link
below
to
access
a
Zoom-
based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully. ◦
You
may
download
the
Zoom
client
or
connect
to
the
meeting
in-
browser.
If
using
your
browser,
make
sure
you
are
using
a
current,
up-to-date
browser:
Chrome
30 ,
Firefox
27 ,
Microsoft
Edge
12 ,
Safari
7 .
Certain
functionality
may
be
disabled
in
older
browsers
including
Internet
Explorer.
Or
download
the
Zoom
application
onto
your
smart
phone
from
the
Apple
App
Store
or
Play
Store
and
enter
in
the
Meeting ID below.
◦
You
may
be
asked
to
enter
an
address
and
name.
We
request
that
you
identify
yourself
by
name
as
this
will
be
visible
online
and
will
be
used
to
notify
you
that it is your turn to speak.
◦
When
you
wish
to
speak
on
an
Agenda
Item,
click
on
“raise
hand.”
The
Clerk
will
activate
and
unmute
speakers
in
turn.
Speakers
will
be
notified
shortly
before
they
are called to speak.
◦
When
called,
please
limit
your
remarks
to
the
time
limit
allotted.
A
timer
will
be
shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments.
4. Spoken
public
comments
using
a
phone
use
the
telephone
number
listed
below.
When
you
wish
to
speak
on
an
agenda
item
hit
*9
on
your
phone
so
we
know
that
you
wish
to
speak.
You
will
be
asked
to
provide
your
first
and
last
name
before
addressing
the
Council.
You
will
be
advised
how
long
you
have
to
speak.
When
called
please
limit
your
remarks
to
the agenda item and time limit allotted.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Meeting ID: 362-027-238 Phone: 1-669-900-6833
Americans
with
Disability
Act
(ADA)
It
is
the
policy
of
the
City
of
Palo
Alto
to
offer
its
public
programs,
services
and
meetings
in
a
manner
that
is
readily
accessible
to
all.
Persons
with
disabilities
who
require
materials
in
an
appropriate
alternative
format
or
who
require
auxiliary
aids
to
access
City
meetings,
programs,
or
services
may
contact
the
City’s
ADA
Coordinator
at
(650)
329-2550
(voice)
or
by
emailing
Requests
for
assistance
or
accommodations
must
be
submitted
at
least
24 hours
in
advance
of
the
meeting,
program,
or
service.
5 October 05, 2026
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.
California
Government
Code
§84308
,
commonly
referred
to
as
the
"Levine
Act,"
prohibits
an
elected
official
of
a
local
government
agency
from
participating
in
a
proceeding
involving
a
license,
permit,
or
other
entitlement
for
use
if
the
official
received
a
campaign
contribution
exceeding
$500
from
a
party
or
participant,
including
their
agents,
to
the
proceeding
within
the
last
12 months.
A
“license,
permit,
or
other
entitlement
for
use”
includes
most
land
use
and
planning
approvals
and
the
approval
of
contracts
that
are
not
subject
to
lowest
responsible
bid
procedures
and
have
a
value
over
$50,000.
A
“party”
is
a
person
who
files
an
application
for,
or
is
the
subject
of,
a
proceeding
involving
a
license,
permit,
or
other
entitlement
for
use.
A
“participant”
is
a
person
who
actively
supports
or
opposes
a
particular
decision
in
a
proceeding
involving
a
license,
permit,
or
other
entitlement
for
use,
and
has
a
financial
interest
in
the
decision.
The
Levine
Act
incorporates
the
definition
of
“financial
interest”
in
the
Political
Reform
Act,
which
encompasses
interests
in
business
entities,
real
property,
sources
of
income,
sources
of
gifts,
and
personal
finances
that
may
be
affected
by
the
Council’s
actions.
If
you
qualify
as
a
“party”
or
“participant”
to
a
proceeding,
and
you
have
made
a
campaign
contribution
to
a
Council
Member
exceeding
$500
made
within
the
last
12 months,
you
must
disclose
the
campaign contribution before making your comments.
6 October 05, 2026
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas
.