City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: October 5, 2026
Report #:2607-6592
TITLE
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
RECOMMENDATION
The Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Board, Planning and Transportation Commission, and Utilities Advisory Commission recommend approval of their respective Fiscal Year 2027 Work Plans.
BACKGROUND
On November 30, 2020, the City Council adopted the Boards, Commissions and Committees (BCC) Handbook,1 which implemented annual review and approval of BCC work plans. Each BCC is required to prepare an annual work plan for Council’s review and approval. The annual report should include the results of the prior year’s work plan and should consist of up to three priorities. When applicable, the City Council would like to see metrics of community involvement and participation in meetings and activities included in the work plan. Work plans should include if there is an intent to use Ad Hoc committees to assist in the BCC’s work for the year ahead.
Council may refer additional items to the BCC in response to new developments. If the BCC would like to add an issue for review after an annual work plan has been approved, a prompt request by the BCC Chair to the City Council is required and the item will then be addressed by the City Council as a whole.
1 Boards, Commissions, Committees Handbook: https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/5/city-clerk/bcchandbook.pdf At its December 2, 2024 meeting,3
the City Council approved dividing BCC recruitments and work plan approvals into fall and spring cycles. Per the adopted schedule, work plans for the Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Board, Planning and Transportation Commission, and Utilities Advisory Commission are before the City Council for consideration.
City Council will consider work plans for the remaining BCCs (Human Relations Commission, Public Art Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Storm Water Management Oversight Committee) in the spring.
Representatives from each Board/Commission will be available to discuss these workplans with the City Council in addition to the representative staff liaisons to each of these bodies.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Projects included in commission work plans ultimately require staff time and other City resources to complete. When possible, staff provide input to the commissions during work plan development to ensure the impact on staff time and resources is reasonable given staff workload and other competing priorities.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Commission work plans are discussed publicly either at regular BCC meetings or retreats.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because this is a continuing administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: 2026-2027 Architectural Review Board Work Plan Attachment B: 2026-2027 Historic Resources Board Work Plan Attachment C: 2026-2027 Planning and Transportation Commission Work Plan Attachment D: 2026-2027 Utilities Advisory Commission Work Plan APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
3 City Council, December 2, 2024; Agenda Item #14; SR # 2409-3480 https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=83110&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=247938e 8-43ef-425b-b6cc-432d7cc553e0