HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-12 City Council Agenda Packet
1 01/12/09
MATERIALS RELATED TO AN ITEM ON THIS AGENDA SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER
DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA PACKET ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN THE CITY
CLERK’S OFFICE AT PALO ALTO CITY HALL, 250 HAMILTON AVE. DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
Agenda posted according to PAMC Section 2.04.070. A binder containing supporting materials is available in the Council
Chambers on the Friday preceding the meeting.
Regular Meeting
Council Chambers
January 12, 2009
7:00 PM
ROLL CALL
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
1. Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Sylvia Baker Upon
Her Retirement
ATTACHMENT
2. Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Roger Cwiak Upon
His Retirement
ATTACHMENT
3. Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation in Memoriam of Carol
Murden for Her Outstanding Public Service as a Member of the Historic
Resources Board
ATTACHMENT
01/12/09 2
MATERIALS RELATED TO AN ITEM ON THIS AGENDA SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER
DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA PACKET ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN THE CITY
CLERK’S OFFICE AT PALO ALTO CITY HALL, 250 HAMILTON AVE. DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
4. Appointment of Three Candidates to the Parks and Recreation
Commission for Three, Three Year Terms Ending December 31, 2011
ATTACHMENT
5. Selection of Candidates to Interview for One-Unexpired Term Ending
July 31, 2009 for the Planning and Transportation Commission
ATTACHMENT
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Members of the public may speak to any item not on the agenda; three minutes per speaker. Council reserves the
right to limit the duration or Oral Communications period to 30 minutes.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 10, 2008
ATTACHMENT
November 17, 2008
ATTACHMENT
CONSENT CALENDAR
Items will be voted on in one motion unless removed from the calendar by two Council Members.
6. Finance Committee Recommendation to Direct Staff on Using Funds in
the Electric Utility Calaveras Reserve Fund
CMR 110:09 ATTACHMENT
01/12/09 3
MATERIALS RELATED TO AN ITEM ON THIS AGENDA SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER
DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA PACKET ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN THE CITY
CLERK’S OFFICE AT PALO ALTO CITY HALL, 250 HAMILTON AVE. DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
7. Appeal of the Director’s Approval of the Individual Review of a
Proposed Single Family Residence at 370 Lowell Avenue
*This item is quasi-judicial and subject to Council's Disclosure Policy
CMR 117:09
8. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute
Agreements to Extend the Short-Term Layoff (Assignment) of City’s
Share of Entitlements on the California-Oregon Transmission Project to
Other Members of the Transmission Agency of Northern California
CMR 103:09 ATTACHMENT
9. Approval of a Contract with Life Insurance Company of North America
for Underwriting of the City of Palo Alto’s Group Life, Accidental Death
and Dismemberment (AD&D), and Long Term Disability Insurance
(LTD) Plans for Up to Three Years for a Total Not to Exceed Amount of
$2,616,007
CMR 101:09 ATTACHMENT
10. Approval of an Agreement with the Board of Trustees of Leland
Stanford Junior University Granting Five Permanent Easements for the
Sum of $3 Million for the Emergency Water Supply and Storage
Reservoir and Associated Facilities in El Camino Park
CMR 104:09 ATTACHMENT
11. Adoption of a Resolution Fixing the Employer’s Contribution Under the
Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act with Respect to
Members of the Palo Alto Police Officers’ Association (PAPOA)
CMR 102:09 ATTACHMENT
01/12/09 4
MATERIALS RELATED TO AN ITEM ON THIS AGENDA SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER
DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA PACKET ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN THE CITY
CLERK’S OFFICE AT PALO ALTO CITY HALL, 250 HAMILTON AVE. DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
12. Acceptance of Annual Status Report on Developers' Fees and Adoption
of Resolution Making Findings Regarding Continuing Need for
Unexpended Stanford Research Park/El Camino Development Fees in
the Amount of $524,245; San Antonio/West Bayshore Development
Fees in the Amount of $549,448; and University Avenue In Lieu
Parking Development Fees in the Amount of $74,140
CMR 107:09 ATTACHMENT
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS, AND DELETIONS
HEARINGS REQUIRED BY LAW: Applications and/or appellants may have up to ten minutes at the outset of the
public discussion to make their remarks and put up to three minutes for concluding remarks after other members
of the public have spoken.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS: Public comments or testimony on agenda items other than Oral Communications shall be
limited to a maximum of five minutes per speaker unless additional time is granted by the presiding officer. The presiding officer may reduce the allowed time to less than five minutes if necessary to accommodate a larger
number of speakers.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
13. Review of Composting Feasibility Study and Direction Regarding
Continued Composting Operations in Palo Alto
(By Council Motion, item continued from 12/15/2008)
CMR 116:09 ATTACHMENT
Colleagues Memo from Mayor Drekmeier, Council Members Barton and
Burt on Proposed Motion Regarding Composting
ATTACHMENT
PUBLIC HEARINGS
14. Objections to Weed Abatement and Adoption of Resolution Ordering
Weed Nuisance Abated
01/12/09 5
MATERIALS RELATED TO AN ITEM ON THIS AGENDA SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER
DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA PACKET ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN THE CITY
CLERK’S OFFICE AT PALO ALTO CITY HALL, 250 HAMILTON AVE. DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
CMR 112:09
15. Approval of the Acceptance of Citizens Options for Public Safety
(COPS) Funds in the Amount of $101,039 for the Police Chief’s
Request to Purchase Automated License Plate Reader Equipment,
Sound Meters, Digital Cameras, Alcohol Screening Devices, Upgraded
Flashlights and Protection Batons, and Police Trading Cards
CMR 114:09
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
REPORTS OF OFFICIALS
16. Adoption of List of Palo Alto Projects to be Used in Potential Federal
Economic Stimulus Grant Applications
CMR 111:09 ATTACHMENT
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCEEDINGS, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN TO
A SPECIAL MEETING AS THE PALO ALTO REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
RDA AGENDA
COUNCIL COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND REPORTS FROM CONFERENCES
Members of the public may not speak to the item(s).
ADJOURNMENT
Persons with disabilities who require auxiliary aids or services in using City facilities, services, or programs or who
would like information on the City’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, may contact
650-329-2550 (Voice) 24 hours in advance.
TO: City Council Colleagues
FROM: Mayor Drekmeier and Council Members Barton
and Burt
DATE: January 12, 2009
SUBJECT: Proposed Motion Regarding Composting
We submit this memo to our colleagues in hopes of structuring our
discussion on City composting that was continued from the December
15, 2008 City Council meeting.
We ask that you join us in supporting the following recommendations:
The Council shall create a Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) to evaluate
and recommend alternatives to address Palo Alto’s composting needs.
The Task Force would convene for approximately 6 months. The BRTF
would be chosen in a manner similar to City Commissioners.
Candidates submit an application and Council determines who to
interview. After the interviews, Council would select members by a
majority vote.
The City shall suspend accepting commercial garbage at the Palo
Alto dump pending City Council action on the recommendations
of the BRTF.
The City Manager would determine the city staff liaison and
appropriate city staff support to the BRTF.
For each alternative solution or technology, the BRTF would
evaluate the following:
1. Short Term Improvements
How might the City reduce the impacts and improve the
operation of our existing windrow composting.
2. Environmental Impacts
The environmental impacts of the alternative technologies
including, but not limited to footprint, odor, dust and noise
impacts, ability to compost food waste and sewage sludge,
production of renewable energy in the process and greenhouse
gas impacts.
3. Economic Impacts
Economic impacts associated with the alternative technologies,
including but not limited to operating costs, capital costs, cost
avoidance and income generation.
4. Permitting
What are the permitting processes and timeframes for the
various technologies?
5. Prospective Locations
What viable locations for long term composting exist in or
adjacent to Palo Alto?
6. Energy Generation
What amount of energy might be produced through certain
composting technologies? Can funds from the Calaveras
Reserve be used for an energy-producing composting facility?
To what extent could they address needs for local energy
generation and emergency power?
CMR Page 1 of 2
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: FIRE
AGENDA DATE: JANUARY 12, 2009 CMR: 112:09
REPORT TYPE: PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: Public Hearing on Objections to Weed Abatement and
Adoption of Resolution Ordering Weed Nuisance Abated
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Palo Alto contracts with Santa Clara County Agriculture and Resource Management
to remove and destroy weeds, as defined in Chapter 8.08 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code. This
hearing allows all those affected and listed on the County’s 2009 Weed Abatement Program
Commencement Report to be heard and have their objections and comments considered by
Council before the Council adopts a resolution ordering the abatement of weed nuisances in the
City.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council hold a public hearing for any objections to the proposed
destruction and removal of weeds, and adopt the attached Resolution ordering the abatement of
weed nuisances in the City of Palo Alto.
BACKGROUND
The Council adopted Resolution 8888 on December 15, 2008 and declared weeds to be a
nuisance and ordered the abatement of that nuisance as called for in Chapter 8.08 of the Palo
Alto Municipal Code. The Resolution provided for a public hearing date of January 12, 2009, to
notify any interested property owners and members of the public about the hearing where the
Council would consider any objections to the proposed destruction or the removal of these
weeds.
DISCUSSION
The Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture and Resource Management administers the
contract for abatement of weeds within the City of Palo Alto. Upon notification of the City
Council’s action declaring weeds to be a nuisance and ordering abatement thereof, the
CMR Page 1 of 2
Department of Agriculture and Resource Management has taken proper steps to notify each
property owner by mail of the proposed weed abatement action on respective properties and to
post, on the public notice bulletin board, a list of the properties affected. The Department of
Agriculture and Resource Management has furnished copies of the property listing to the City
Clerk and the City Fire Marshal. The City Clerk also posted and published notice of the hearing
as required.
At this public hearing, property owners may appear and object to the proposed weed destruction
or removal. After the hearing and consideration of any objections, the Council may allow or
overrule any or all objections. If objections are overruled, the Council is deemed to have
acquired jurisdiction to proceed with abatement of weed nuisances. The County will be asked to
perform the abatement work to destroy and remove any weeds.
RESOURCE IMPACT
All charges for the weed abatement services are included as a special assessment on bills for
property taxes levied against the respective lots and parcels of land, which are considered liens
on these properties.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This procedure is consistent with existing City policies and Chapter 8.08 of the Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Santa Clara County has determined the Weed Abatement Program to be Categorically Exempt
from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section
15308.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution Ordering Weed Nuisance Abated
Property Listing
Prepared by:_______________________________
GORDON SIMPKINSON
Acting Fire Marshal
Department Head Review:______________________
NICK MARINARO
Fire Chief
City Manager Approval: _______________________
JAMES KEENE
City Manager