HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-27 City Council AgendaCITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Amended Agenda
Amended agenda items appear below in RED (Time Estimates Updated)
Palo Alto City Council meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend by
teleconference or in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the
meeting is located at the end of the agenda. The meeting will be broadcast on Cable TV Channel
26, 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
General Public Comment for items not on the agenda will be accepted in person for up to three
minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. General public comment will be heard
for 30 minutes. Additional 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
three 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 to city.council@PaloAlto.gov and will be provided to
the Council and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which
agenda item you are referencing in your subject line.
PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only
by email to city.clerk@PaloAlto.gov at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the
Clerk will have them shared 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: (1) sticks,
posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do not
create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) 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, to
change the order of items and/or to continue items to another meeting. Particular 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 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection
at www.paloalto.gov/agendas.
CALL TO ORDER
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY (5:30 - 6:55 PM)
1.Interview Candidates for the Vacancies on the Architectural Review Board; CEQA Status –
Not a Project
CLOSED SESSION (6:55 - 7:40 PM)
AA1.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—POTENTIAL LITIGATION (two cases)
Subject: Initiation of litigation in two cases, American Federation of Government
Employees v. Trump, US District Court for the Northern District of California,
Case No. 25-CV-03698 and City and County of San Francisco v. Trump, US District
Court for the Northern District of California,
Case No. 25-CV-01350 Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) New Item
Added
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
PUBLIC COMMENT (7:40 - 8:10 PM)
Members of the public may speak in-person ONLY to any item NOT on the agenda. 1-3 minutes depending on number of
speakers. Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda.
COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS (8:10 - 8:20 PM)
Members of the public may not speak to the item(s).
CONSENT CALENDAR (8:20 - 8:25 PM)
Items will be voted in one motion unless removed from the calendar by three Council Members.
2.Approval of Minutes from May 12, 2025 Meeting
3.Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C25193676 With Franklin Energy
Services LLC, in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $7,054,863 over a three-year term to
Administer Turnkey Home Electrification Program as Part of the Advanced Single-Family
Electrification Program and Amend the Fiscal Year Budget Appropriation for the Gas
Fund; CEQA Status: -- Not a Project under CEQA Guidelines 15378(b)(5)
4.Adoption of Resolution Suspending the Levy of Assessments on the Downtown Palo Alto
Business Improvement District (BID) Assessment for Fiscal Year 2026; CEQA status – not a
2 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection
at www.paloalto.gov/agendas.
project.
5.Approval of Contract Amendment Number 4 to Contract #S20178065 with OIR Group, in
the Amount of $40,000 and for a one-year extension to continue Independent Police
Auditing Services in Palo Alto. CEQA Status – Not a Project.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS (8:25 - 8:40 PM)
BREAK (15 MINUTES)
ACTION ITEMS (Item 6: 8:55 - 9:25 PM, Item 7: 9:25 - 10:55 PM)
Include: Report of Committees/Commissions, Ordinances and Resolutions, Public Hearings, Report of Officials, Unfinished
Business and Council Matters.
6.PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 4075 El Camino Way [23PLN-00202]:
Recommendation on Applicant’s Request for an Amendment to a Planned Community
Zone District (PC-5116) to Allow for Modifications to an Existing 121-Unit Assisted Living
and Memory Care Facility. The Additions Would Include 16 Additional Assisted Living
Units and 172 Square Feet of Additional Support Space. Environmental Assessment:
Exempt from the Provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in
Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Modifications to Existing Facilities).
Zoning District: PC-5116 (Planned Community).
(Continued from 5/5/2025 - On May 5, 2025, the Council Received Presentations and
Public Testimony; the Item Will be Continued to May 27 for Council Deliberation and
Action - No Public Testimony Will be Heard on May 27.)
7.FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Titles 18
(Zoning) and 16 (Building Regulations) to Modify the El Camino Real Focus Area,
Implementing Program 3.4E of the Housing Element, and Updating the Housing Incentive
Program. CEQA Status: the Addendum to the Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact
Report (EIR), Considered by the City Council on April 15, 2024, Analyzed Potential
Environmental Impacts of the 6th Cycle Draft Housing Element Including Program 3.4E.
ADJOURNMENT
INFORMATION REPORTS
Information reports are provided for informational purposes only to the Council and the public but are not listed for action
during this meeting’s agenda.
8.Project Management Plan for the Advancement through Preliminary Engineering and
3 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection
at www.paloalto.gov/agendas.
Environmental Documentation Phases of the Grade Separation Project at Churchill
Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road crossings
OTHER INFORMATION
Standing Committee Meetings this week
Policy & Services Committee May 28, 2025
Public Comment Letters
Schedule of Meetings
AMENDED AGENDA ITEMS
AA1.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—POTENTIAL LITIGATION (two cases) Subject:
Initiation of litigation in two cases, American Federation of Government Employees v.
Trump, US District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 25-CV-03698
and City and County of San Francisco v. Trump, US District Court for the Northern
District of California, Case No. 25-CV-01350 Authority: Government Code Section
54956.9(d)(4) New Item Added
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 city.council@PaloAlto.gov.
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 for agendized items 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 Google Play Store and enter in the
Meeting ID below.
◦You may be asked to enter an email 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.
4 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection
at www.paloalto.gov/agendas.
◦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 for agendized items 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 ada@PaloAlto.gov. Requests for assistance or
accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or
service.
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.
5 May 27, 2025
Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection
at www.paloalto.gov/agendas.