HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-14 City Council Agendas (15)
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
September 14, 2020
The Honorable City Council
Attention: Finance Committee
Palo Alto, California
Approval of Action Minutes for the August 17 and 24, 2020 City
Council Meetings
Staff is requesting Council review and approve the attached Action Minutes.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Attachment A: 08-17-20 DRAFT Action Minutes (PDF)
• Attachment B: 08-24-20 DRAFT Action Minutes (PDF)
Department Head: Beth Minor, City Clerk
Page 2
CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 1 of 6
Special Meeting
August 17, 2020
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in Virtual
Teleconference at 5:02 P.M.
Participating Remotely: Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Fine, Kniss, Kou, Tanaka
Absent:
Closed Session
1. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Title: City Auditor
Authority: Government Code Section 54957 (b)
MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss to go into
Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 5:05 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 7:28 P.M.
Mayor Fine announced no reportable action.
Minutes Approval
1. Approval of Action Minutes for the August 03, 2020 City Council Meeting.
MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to
approve the Action Minutes for the August 03, 2020 City Council Meeting.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack
to approve Agenda Item Number 2.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 2 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/17/2020
2. Resolution 9912 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Amending Utility Rate Schedule E-15 (Electric Service Connection
Charges), and Utilities Rules and Regulations 2, 15, 20, 27 and 29.”
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Action Items
2A. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 2353 Webster Street
[18PLN00339]: Appeal of Director’s Approval of an Individual Review
Application to Demolish an Existing One-story 1,593 Square Foot (SF)
Home and Construct a Two-story Home (Approximately 2,935 SF) With
a Basement and an Attached Garage. Zoning District: Single-family
Residential (R-1) (Continued From August 10, 2020).
Public Hearing opened at 8:08 P.M.
Public Hearing closed at 9:30 P.M.
Council took a break at 9:30 P.M. and returned at 9:42 P.M.
MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Council Member Kou
to add to the conditions of approval:
A. Reduce the basement depth to 8 feet in total dimension, which includes
the exterior wall;
B. Add Catherine Martineau’s recommendations:
i. Reporting tree protection compliance during construction. In
addition to daily inspection reporting during demolition phase, a
mandatory Contractor and Arborist Monthly Tree Activity Report
shall be sent monthly to the City Urban Forester beginning with
issuance of building permit, using the template in the Tree
Technical Manual, Addendum 11. The Contractor and Owner
shall implement any corrective actions as directed by project
arborist or Urban Forester;
ii. Basement and light well excavation should utilize vertical cut,
I-beam and lagging or other minimal-cut method that leaves
rooting soil intact, if approved by the Urban Forester; and
iii. The building permit shall include a comprehensive landscape
plan prepared by a landscape architect, approved by both the
Project Arborist and Urban Forester. The plan shall include
plantings required by Condition Number 13, and in the rear yard
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 3 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/17/2020
specify Valley Oak compatible plant species comparable to Tree
Technical Manual, Addendum 5, Landscaping Under Native Oaks;
and
C. Allow the plans to go up an additional 2 feet from the ground.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to change the Motion to read, “…to approve the
project with the following conditions:”
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER “…Modify conditions of approval to:
i. Direct Staff to add all recommendations from the Arborist Report
as additional conditions of approval;
ii. Change Condition Number 30 to read, “For the duration of hand
demolition within the Tree Protection Zone, the project Arborist
shall be on site to ensure that tree protection measures, materials
and best practices are being employed by the contractor and on-
site foreman overseeing the work”; and
iii. Change Condition Number 32 to read, “The tree appraisal duration
period shall be ten years from the date of final occupancy…”. (New
Part D)
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by
Council Member Filseth to uphold the Planning and Development Services
Director’s approval of the Individual Review (IR) application. (File No. 18PLN-
00339).
INCORPORATED INTO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT
OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER, “… and change Condition Number 32 to
read, “The tree appraisal duration period shall be ten years from the date of
final occupancy…”.
AMENDMENT TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Vice Mayor DuBois moved,
seconded by Council Member Kou to add to the Substitute Motion:
A. Direct Staff to add all recommendations from the Arborist Report as
additional conditions of approval; and
B. Change Condition Number 30 to read, “For the duration of hand
demolition within the Tree Protection Zone, the project Arborist shall be
on site to ensure that tree protection measures, materials and best
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 4 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/17/2020
practices are being employed by the contractor and on-site foreman
overseeing the work.”
AMENDMENT TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION PASSED: 4-3 Cormack,
Filseth, Fine no
AMENDMENT TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member Kou moved,
seconded by Council Member XX to direct the applicant to perform a ground
penetrating radar study.
AMENDMENT TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILS DUE TO THE LACK
OF A SECOND
SUBSTITUTE MOTION AS AMENDED: Council Member Cormack moved,
seconded by Council Member Filseth to uphold the Planning and Development
Services Director’s approval of the Individual Review (IR) application (File No.
18PLN-00339) and:
A. Direct Staff to add all recommendations from the Arborist Report as
additional conditions of approval;
B. Change Condition Number 30 to read, “For the duration of hand
demolition within the Tree Protection Zone, the project Arborist shall be
on site to ensure that tree protection measures, materials and best
practices are being employed by the contractor and on-site foreman
overseeing the work.”; and
C. Change Condition Number 32 to read, “The tree appraisal duration
period shall be ten years from the date of final occupancy…”.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION AS AMENDED FAILED: 3-4 DuBois, Kniss, Kou,
Tanaka no
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to change Motion, Part A to read, “Reduce the
basement depth to an 8-foot ceiling height and allow 1-foot above grade;”
MOTION AS AMENDED RESTATED: Council Member Kniss moved,
seconded by Council Member Kou to approve the project with the following
conditions:
A. Reduce the basement depth to 8-foot ceiling height and allow 1 foot
above grade;
B. Add Catherine Martineau’s recommendations:
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 5 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/17/2020
i. Reporting tree protection compliance during construction. In
addition to daily inspection reporting during demolition phase, a
mandatory Contractor and Arborist Monthly Tree Activity Report
shall be sent monthly to the City Urban Forester beginning with
issuance of building permit, using the template in the Tree
Technical Manual, Addendum 11. The Contractor and Owner shall
implement any corrective actions as directed by project arborist
or Urban Forester;
ii. Basement and light well excavation should utilize vertical cut, i-
beam and lagging or other minimal-cut method that leaves rooting
soil intact, if approved by the Urban Forester; and
iii. The building permit shall include a comprehensive landscape plan
prepared by a landscape architect, approved by both the Project
Arborist and Urban Forester. The plan shall include plantings
required by Condition #13, and in the rear yard specify Valley Oak
compatible plant species comparable to Tree Technical Manual,
Addendum 5, Landscaping Under Native Oaks; and
C. Modify conditions of approval to:
i. Direct Staff to add all recommendations from the Arborist Report
as additional conditions of approval;
ii. Change Condition Number 30 to read, “For the duration of hand
demolition within the Tree Protection Zone, the project Arborist
shall be on site to ensure that tree protection measures, materials
and best practices are being employed by the contractor and on-
site foreman overseeing the work.”; and
iii. Change Condition Number 32 to read, “The tree appraisal duration
period shall be ten years from the date of final occupancy…”.
MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED: 4-3 Cormack, Filseth, Fine no
3. Staff and Utilities Advisory Commission Recommend the City Council
Adopt a Resolution Amending the City's Electric Supply Portfolio Carbon
Neutral Plan and Electric Utility Reserves Management Practices. (THIS
ITEM HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO AUGUST 24, 2020)
4. PUBLIC HEARING/LEGISLATIVE: Adoption of Several Ordinances
Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units
Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Titles 16 (Building) and 18 (Zoning).
Amendments Include Repealing Section 18.42.040 (Accessory and
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 6 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/17/2020
Junior Accessory Dwelling Units); Adding a new Chapter 18.09
(Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units);
Updating Chapters 18.04 (Definitions); 16.58 (Development Impact
Fees); 16.04 (California Building Code); 16.06 (California Residential
Code); and 16.14 (California Green Building Standards Code).
Environmental Assessment: Exempt From Review Under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Q&A 3 August 17, 2020
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. Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 and CEQA
Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3), 15282(h), 15301, 15302 and 15305
(THIS ITEM HAS BEEN CONTINUED TO SEPTEMBER 14, 2020)
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 12:13 A.M.
CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 1 of 6
Special Meeting
August 24, 2020
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in Virtual
Teleconference at 5:04 P.M.
Participating Remotely: Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Mayor Fine, Kniss, Kou,
Tanaka
Absent:
Minutes Approval
1.Approval of Action Minutes for the August 10, 2020 City Council Meeting.
MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member
Kniss to approve the Action Minutes for the August 10, 2020 City Council
Meeting.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Mayor Fine to approve
Agenda Item Numbers 2 and 3.
2.Approval of Contract Number C21179389 With Teichert Construction in
the Amount of $1,904,325 for the Page Mill Road Safety Improvements
Project (HSIPL-5100(029), Capital Improvement Program Street
Maintenance Project (PE-86070).
3.Ordinance 5504 Entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapters 18.52 and 18.54
Adjusting Parking Requirements to Facilitate EVSE Installation,
Compliance With Accessibility Laws, Parking Substitutions, and Parking
Lot Re-striping and Maintenance. Environmental Assessment: This
Project is Exempt From the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
in Accordance With CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, 15302, 15303, and
15061(b)(3) (FIRST READING: August 10, 2020 PASSED: 7-0).”
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 2 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/24/2020
Action Items
3A. Staff and Utilities Advisory Commission Recommend the City Council
Adopt a Resolution 9913 Entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City
of Palo Alto Amending the City’s Electric Supply Portfolio Carbon Neutral
Plan and Electric Utility Reserves Management Practices (Continued
from August 17, 2020).
MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Council Member Filseth
to:
A. Adopt a Resolution amending the Carbon Neutral to:
i. Modify the definition of carbon neutrality to use an hourly carbon
emissions accounting standard;
ii. Minimize electric supply portfolio costs by authorizing the
exchange of bundled RECs from the City’s long-term renewable
resources (Bucket 1 RECs) for Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
eligible, unbundled RECs (Bucket 3 RECs), to the maximum extent
possible, while maintaining compliance with the state’s RPS
regulations (“REC Exchanges”);
iii. For calendar years 2020 through 2024, authorize the purchase of
RPS-eligible, unbundled RECs (Bucket 3 RECs) as needed to
neutralize any residual emissions resulting from the difference
between emissions calculated under an annual accounting and
hourly accounting methodology; and
B. Direct Staff to return to Council in 2022 to review the authorization to
minimize electric supply portfolio costs via REC Exchanges.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to add a new Part C, “that for the first two years,
two-thirds of proceeds go to electrical rate relief and one-third toward
emission reduction programs”.
MOTION AS AMENDED: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Council
Member Filseth to:
A. Adopt a Resolution amending the Carbon Neutral to:
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 3 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/24/2020
i. Modify the definition of carbon neutrality to use an hourly carbon
emissions accounting standard;
ii. Minimize electric supply portfolio costs by authorizing the
exchange of bundled RECs from the City’s long-term renewable
resources (Bucket 1 RECs) for Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
eligible, unbundled RECs (Bucket 3 RECs), to the maximum extent
possible, while maintaining compliance with the state’s RPS
regulations (“REC Exchanges”);
iii. For calendar years 2020 through 2024, authorize the purchase of
RPS-eligible, unbundled RECs (Bucket 3 RECs) as needed to
neutralize any residual emissions resulting from the difference
between emissions calculated under an annual accounting and
hourly accounting methodology;
B. Direct Staff to return to Council in 2022 to review the authorization to
minimize electric supply portfolio costs via REC Exchanges; and
C. For the first two years, two-thirds of proceeds go to electrical rate relief
and one-third toward emission reduction programs.
MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED: 7-0
MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Mayor Fine to:
A. Direct Staff to return to Council with a review of the Carbon Neutral Plan
by the end of 2024 to evaluate the effectiveness of these policy changes
and to modify them if necessary (with a particular focus on reviewing
the use of Bucket 3 RECs to neutralize any residual emissions resulting
from the switch to an hourly emissions accounting methodology); and
B. Create a Cap and Trade Program Reserve in the Electric Fund which will
hold revenues from the sale of carbon allowances freely allocated to the
electric utility under the State’s Cap and Trade Program.
MOTION PASSED: 6-1 Filseth no
Council took a break at 6:25 P.M. and returned at 6:35 P.M.
4. Recommendation to Accept the Human Relations Commission Report on
Their Review of 8 Can’t Wait Policies in Relation to Current Palo Alto
Police Department (PAPD) Policies, and Direction to the City Manager
Regarding Revisions to Police Policies.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 4 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/24/2020
MOTION: Council Member Filseth moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss
to:
A. Accept the Human Relations Commission (HRC) report on their review
of 8Can’tWait policies in relation to current Palo Alto Police Department
(PAPD) practices; and
B. Review and accept the Palo Alto Police Department response, and direct
the City Manager to revise Use of Force policies including ideas such as:
i. Chokeholds, strangleholds, lateral vascular neck restraints, chest
compressions, or any other intentional tactics that restrict blood
flow to head or neck be explicitly prohibited.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to add more comprehensive use of force language
with respect to de-escalation and to add de-escalation tactics as listed.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to revise the deadly force application to require
officers to evaluate each situation in consideration of the circumstances in
each case and to use other available resources and techniques when
reasonably safe and feasible to do so, including that an officer must reasonably
believe the use of deadly force is necessary to justify its use.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER that the policy include the concept of shooting as a
last resort, consistent with the HRC and PAPD objectives.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to direct Staff to return to Council with the final
Police Department Policy, including all 8Can’tWait policies and department
feedback
Council took a break at 9:46 P.M. and returned at 9:56 P.M.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to direct Staff to return with proposed language to
be included in the use of force policy.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 5 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/24/2020
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to direct Staff to consider moving the pointing of a
weapon or the discharge of a weapon to the use of force section of the policy
manual.
MOTION AS AMENDED: Council Member Filseth moved, seconded by
Council Member Kniss to:
A. Accept the Human Relations Commission (HRC) report on their review
of 8Can’tWait policies in relation to current Palo Alto Police Department
(PAPD) practices, and
B. Review and accept the Palo Alto Police Department response, and direct
the City Manager to revise Use of Force policies including ideas such as:
i. Chokeholds, strangleholds, lateral vascular neck restraints, chest
compressions, or any other intentional tactics that restrict blood
flow to head or neck be explicitly prohibited;
ii. Add more comprehensive use of force language with respect to
de-escalation and to add de-escalation tactics as listed;
iii. Revise the deadly force application to require officers to evaluate
each situation in consideration of the circumstances in each case
and to use other available resources and techniques when
reasonably safe and feasible to do so, including that an officer
must reasonably believe the use of deadly force is necessary to
justify its use;
iv. The policy include the concept of shooting as a last resort,
consistent with the HRC and PAPD objectives;
v. Direct Staff to return with proposed language to be included in the
use of force policy;
vi. Direct Staff to consider moving the pointing of a weapon or the
discharge of a weapon to the use of force section of the policy
manual; and
C. Direct Staff to return to Council with the final Police Department Policy,
including all 8Can’tWait policies and department feedback.
MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED: 7-0
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 6 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 08/24/2020
5. Update and Potential Direction on City of Palo Alto's Race and Equity
Work.
NO ACTION TAKEN
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:32 P.M. in deep gratitude of
the firefighters and first responders fighting the wildfires in the area.