CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
October 5, 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:
Boards, Commissions, and Committees Appointments
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
Human Relations Commission
First Round Voting for Two (2) full term vacancies (seats 1, 4) on the Human Relations Commission ending on October 31, 2029
Aji Oliyide: Burt, Lauing
Cynthia Wood:
Ellen Bob:
Haylea Hannah:
Katie Causey: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Raizel Rosenberg: Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Sunny Dykwel:
Candidate Katie Causey receiving seven votes is appointed to the full term expiring October 31, 2029 (seat 1).
Candidate Raizel Rosenberg receiving five votes is appointed to the full term expiring October 31, 2029 (seat 4).
First Round Voting for One (1) partial term vacancy (seat 7) on the Human Relations Commission ending on October 31, 2028
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/05/2026
Aji Oliyide: Lythcott-Haims
Cynthia Wood:
Ellen Bob: Lauing, Reckdahl, Veenker
Haylea Hannah: Burt, Lu, Stone
Katie Causey:
Raizel Rosenberg:
Sunny Dykwel:
No candidate received the four votes necessary for appointment. A second round of voting is required.
Second Round Voting for One (1) partial term vacancy (seat 7) on the Human Relations Commission ending October 31, 2028
Ellen Bob: Lauing, Reckdahl, Veenker
Haylea Hannah: Burt, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Stone
Candidate Haylea Hannah receiving four votes is appointed to the partial term expiring on October 31, 2028 (seat 7).
Parks and Recreation Commission
First Round Voting for Four (4) full term vacancies (Seats 1, 5, 6, 7) on the Parks and Recreation Commission ending October 31, 2029.
Aubrey Whitcomb: Lauing, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl
Virginia Ruiz Albacete: Lauing, Lu, Stone
Abhijit Solanki: Burt
Sterling Watson:
Shani Kleinhaus: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Ben Lenail: Burt, Reckdahl, Veenker
Marc Schoenen: Lauing, Lu, Stone, Veenker
Leo Hochberg: Burt, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl
Bing Betty Wei: Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Stone, Veenker
Candidate Shani Kleinhaus receiving seven votes is appointed to the full term expiring on October 31, 2029 (seat 5).
Candidate Mac Schoenen receiving four votes is appointed to the full term expiring on October 31, 2029 (seat 1).
Candidate Bing Betty Wei receiving four votes is appointed to the full term expiring on October 31, 2029 (seat 6).
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/05/2026
No other candidate received the four votes necessary for appointment. A second round of voting is required.
Second Round Voting for One (1) full term vacancy (seat 7) on the Parks and Recreation Commission ending October 31, 2029.
Aubrey Whitcomb: Burt, Lythcott-Haims
Virginia Ruiz Albacete: Lauing, Lu, Stone
Ben Lenail: Reckdahl, Veenker
Leo Hochberg:
No candidate received the four votes necessary for appointment. A second round of voting is required.
Third Round Voting for One (1) full term vacancy (seat 7) on the Parks and Recreation Commission ending October 31, 2029.
Aubrey Whitcomb: Burt, Lythcott-Haims
Virginia Ruiz Albacete: Lauing, Lu, Stone, Veenker
Ben Lenail: Reckdahl
Candidate Virginia Ruiz Albacete receiving four votes is appointed to the full term expiring on October 31, 2029 (seat 7).
Planning and Transportation Commission
First Round Voting for One (1) partial term vacancy (seat 4) on the Planning and Transportation Commission ending on March 31, 2030.
Christopher Kao: Lythcott-Haims
Jeff Watt:
Tom Siegel: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker
Candidate Tom Siegel receiving six votes is appointed to the partial term expiring March 31, 2030 (seat 4).
Special Orders of the Day
2. Proclamation Recognizing Fire Prevention Week- October 4-10
NO ACTION
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/05/2026
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
In-Person Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Study Session
3. Best Practices in Managing Consultant Services
NO ACTION
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-9.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
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.
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
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/05/2026
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
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
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
MOTION: Councilmember Lauing moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to approve the Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Board, Planning and Transportation Commission, and Utilities Advisory Commission respective Fiscal Year 2027 Work Plans.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
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 MOTION: Councilmember Lauing moved, seconded by Mayor Veenker to take the following positions based on the Legislative Guidelines and previous City Council action:
• Proposition 1 – Support
• Proposition 2 – Support
• Proposition 4 – Support
• Proposition 37 – Support
• Proposition 39 – Oppose
• Proposition 43 – Oppose
• Proposition 45 – Oppose
• Public Transit Revenue Measure District (Measure RTM) – City Council already supported
• City of Palo Alto Measure J – Support
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 10/05/2026
Closed Session
AA1. 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
Agenda Item Number AA1 was not heard.
Virtual Public Comment
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 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.