HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-13 City Council Summary Minutes
Special Meeting
February 13, 2006
1. Joint Meeting with the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC)116
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ........................................................................116
1. Vote and Appointment of Commissioners to the Parks and Recreation
Commission (PARC) ........................................................................117
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ........................................................................118
2. Ordinance 4889 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Amending Chapter 18.65 (Auto Dealer Combining District) of Title
18 [Zoning] of the Palo Alto Municipal Code by Amending Chapter
18.65.020 (Applicability of Regulations) and Chapter 18.65.070
[Special Requirements]” .................................................................118
3. Ordinance 4893 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Amending the Budget for Fiscal Year 2005-06 to Provide an
Appropriation of $50,000 from the Infrastructure Reserve into Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project Number PG-06003, Benches,
Signage, Fencing, Walkways, and Landscaping” .................................118
4. Resolution 8592 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Scheduling the City Council Vacation and Canceling Council
Meetings in Calendar Year 2006” ......................................................118
5. 928, 940, and 1180 East Meadow Drive [05PLN-00423]: Request by
Warmington Homes on Behalf of Warmington Palo Alto Assoc. LP for a
Final Map for a Proposed Residential Infill Development. This Map is
Required in Order to Merge Three Parcels (Approximately 4.4 Acres)
and Create 76 Condominium Units. Environmental Assessment:
Categorically Exempt. Zone District: Research Office and Limited
Manufacturing (ROLM) ....................................................................118
6. Appointment of Emergency Standby Council Members ........................119
02/13/2006 100-114
7. Municipal Service Center Fuel Storage Tanks and Fuel Storage Island
Replacement (Capital Improvement Program Project VR-01001):
Rejection of Construction Bids..........................................................119
10. Authorization for the Mayor to Sign a Letter to Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA) re Position on Proposed Quarter Cent
Sales Tax Ballot Measure .................................................................119
8. Public Hearing: Application by the City of Palo Alto Public Works
Department for a Site and Design Review and Design Enhancement
Exception for a Photovoltaic (PV) Demonstration Project Including 10
Solar Tracking Arrays to be Located in Front of the City’s Municipal
Service Center Located at 3201 E. Bayshore Road ..............................119
9. Colleagues Memo from Council Members Cordell and Barton re Staff
Support for Youth Employed for the Summer Initiative (¡YES!) ............122
11. Mayor Kleinberg Appointment of an Additional Member to the Police
Building Blue Ribbon Task Force .......................................................123
12. Colleagues Memo from Mayor Kleinberg, Vice-Mayor Kishimoto and
Council Member Cordell Discussing a Request to Authorize the Planning
and Transportation Commission to Draft a Comprehensive Plan
Amendment Extending the Life of the Plan an Additional Ten Years ......123
COUNCIL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ........................131
FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m. ........................131
02/13/2006 100-115
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council
Conference Room at 6:02 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL
Present: Barton, Beecham, Cordell (arrived at 6:55 p.m.), Drekmeier,
Kishimoto, Klein, Kleinberg, Morton, Mossar
PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
Present: Bialson, Burt, Cassel, Garber, Lippert, Sandas
Absent: Holman
SPECIAL MEETING
1. Joint Meeting with the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC)
No action required.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Earl Caustin, 3671 Louis Road, spoke regarding the housing pace keeping in
balance with services.
Chuck Mousseau, 903 E. Meadow Drive, spoke regarding housing and
support services.
Smita Joshi, 851 E. Meadow Drive, spoke regarding the housing balance.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
02/13/2006 100-116
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council
Chambers at 7:10 p.m.
Present: Barton, Beecham, Cordell, Drekmeier, Kishimoto, Klein,
Kleinberg, Morton, Mossar
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
1. Vote and Appointment of Commissioners to the Parks and Recreation
Commission (PARC)
FIRST ROUND OF VOTING FOR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
VOTING FOR KATHRYN CAREY Cordell
VOTING FOR DAVID CHARLESON Barton, Beecham, Drekmeier,
Kishimoto, Klein, Kleinberg,
Morton, Mossar
VOTING FOR TERRY HOGAN Kishimoto
VOTING FOR CARL KING Drekmeier, Klein, Kleinberg
VOTING FOR PAT MARKEVICH Barton, Beecham, Cordell, Mossar
VOTING FOR NANCY MARTIN Kishimoto, Morton
VOTING FOR DONALD MENDOZA
VOTING FOR GREGORY SCHMID
VOTING FOR BETH TRAILER Barton, Beecham, Klein, Kleinberg,
Morton, Mossar
VOTING FOR CHARLES WILLIAMS Drekmeier
VOTING FOR JOYCE YAMAGIWA Cordell
City Clerk Donna Rogers announced on the first ballot David Charleson was
appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission with eight votes and
Beth Trailer was appointed with six votes for three-year terms ending
December 31, 2008.
SECOND ROUND OF VOTING FOR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
02/13/2006 100-117
VOTING FOR CARL KING Drekmeier, Kishimoto, Klein,
Kleinberg
VOTING FOR PAT MARKEVICH Barton, Beecham, Cordell, Morton,
Mossar
City Clerk Donna Rogers announced on the second ballot Pat Markevitch was
appointed with five votes to a three-year term ending December 31, 2008.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Dieter Folta, 97 Erstwild, spoke regarding the Americans with Disabilities
Act.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION: Council Member Morton moved, seconded by Barton, to approve
Item Nos. 2 - 7 on the Consent Calendar.
Council Member Drekmeier stated he would not participate in Agenda Item 2
due to a conflict of interest since his employer owns a building within 500
feet of the respective area.
2. Ordinance 4889 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Amending Chapter 18.65 (Auto Dealer Combining District) of Title 18 [Zoning] of the Palo Alto Municipal Code by Amending Chapter
18.65.020 (Applicability of Regulations) and Chapter 18.65.070
[Special Requirements]”
3. Ordinance 4893 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Amending the Budget for Fiscal Year 2005-06 to Provide an
Appropriation of $50,000 from the Infrastructure Reserve into Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) Project Number PG-06003, Benches,
Signage, Fencing, Walkways, and Landscaping”
4. Resolution 8592 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Scheduling the City Council Vacation and Canceling Council
Meetings in Calendar Year 2006”
5. 928, 940, and 1180 East Meadow Drive [05PLN-00423]: Request by
Warmington Homes on Behalf of Warmington Palo Alto Assoc. LP for a
Final Map for a Proposed Residential Infill Development. This Map is
Required in Order to Merge Three Parcels (Approximately 4.4 Acres)
and Create 76 Condominium Units. Environmental Assessment:
Categorically Exempt. Zone District: Research Office and Limited
Manufacturing (ROLM)
02/13/2006 100-118
6. Appointment of Emergency Standby Council Members
7. Municipal Service Center Fuel Storage Tanks and Fuel Storage Island
Replacement (Capital Improvement Program Project VR-01001):
Rejection of Construction Bids
MOTION PASSED 9-0 for items 3-7.
MOTION PASSED 8-0 for Item 2, Drekmeier not participating.
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
MOTION: Council Member Morton moved, seconded by Vice Mayor
Kishimoto to pull agenda Item No. 10 per staff recommendation.
10. Authorization for the Mayor to Sign a Letter to Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA) re Position on Proposed Quarter Cent
Sales Tax Ballot Measure
MOTION PASSED 9-0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
8. Public Hearing: Application by the City of Palo Alto Public Works
Department for a Site and Design Review and Design Enhancement Exception for a Photovoltaic (PV) Demonstration Project Including 10
Solar Tracking Arrays to be Located in Front of the City’s Municipal
Service Center Located at 3201 E. Bayshore Road
Director of Planning and Community Environment Steve Emslie said
following the December 5, 2005 review of the Planning and Transportation
Commission’s (P&TC) recommendation for denial of the 10 photovoltaic
tracking arrays located along the frontage of the Municipal Services Center
(MSC), Council directed staff to return to the Architectural Review Board
(ARB) with the tracking array demonstration project for recommendations.
Assistant Director of Public Works Mike Sartor said staff had been working on
a Department of Energy (DOE) grant program since September 2003 to
install photovoltaic (PV) panels on City facilities and buildings. The selected
photovoltaic installation would provide a variety of PV technology in locations
and took advantage of optimum sun exposure. The MSC was selected as one
of the project sites. PV panels would also be installed at the Cubberley
Community Center and the Baylands Interpretive Center with education
displays for public interest. The DOE grant in the amount of $1.4 million was
matched by another $1.4 million from the Utilities Department PV Partners
program. Based on the P&TC’s concerns about the tracker proposal, an
02/13/2006 100-119
alternate tracker installation was proposed with five panels instead of the
recommended ten. It addressed most of the concerns for the Baylands while
employing the innovative PV technology presence along the freeway to
enhance the public’s awareness of the project.
David Arkin, Arkin Tilt Architects, gave an overview and presentation of the
proposed PV trackers for the MSC site. The Baylands Interpretive Center site
would produce about an 18 kilowatt installation, which was barely visible and
offered minimal impact, while the Cubberley Community Center site featured
two types of panels, a ballast rooftop as well as a custom canopy featuring a
translucent type of PV panel. There were two types of PVs being
demonstrated at the MSC site. The first was 90 kilowatts in a carport
shading structure, which met the approval of the Council and the ARB. The
other item was returned to the ARB for comments and consideration of
different designs on tracking systems. The ARB was asked to look at less
rectangular tracker array options. Three different designs were reviewed.
The sunflower design used a standard eight panel array. At its highest point
(morning and evening) it was approximately 21 feet tall and approximately
18 feet tall at its shortest (noon). The pinwheel design, which the ARB
recommended, was approximately 26.5 feet tall at its apex, and 21.9 feet at
its shortest. The linear tracker, a single axis tracker, could look attractive
paralleling Highway 101 thereby giving a more horizontal aspect.
David Solnick, Vice Chair of the Architectural Review Board, said the ARB
members were positive about the project and had no concerns the PV panels would detract from the Baylands. Four of the five ARB members preferred
the pinwheel option. The dissenting vote was related to the PV panels being
a distraction to motorists, not because they detracted from the Baylands.
Council Member Mossar recalled Board Member Kornberg voted no because
of the possible distraction of the pinwheel design. He also believed the linear
design was more compatible. She asked whether that was correct.
Mr. Solnick said yes. He believed the linear design would be less distracting
to drivers.
Council Member Mossar clarified Mr. Kornberg did support the 10 solar
panels.
Mr. Solnick said that was correct.
Mayor Kleinberg opened the Public Hearing at 7:35 p.m.
David Bubenik, 420 Homer Avenue, said the scale of the diagram used by
the architect to construct the model was wrong. There was a serious
probability that what the ARB reviewed was undersized.
02/13/2006 100-120
Walt Hays, 355 Parkside Drive, spoke in favor of having the 10 solar trackers
at the MSC.
Mayor Kleinberg closed the Public Hearing at 7:40 p.m.
Council Member Beecham said Palo Alto had worked continuously with the
community through a number of programs to maintain its sustainability
efforts. The City had made major investments in wind power and landfill gas.
The PV solar tracker was a small and visible effort. He favored the
recommendations of the ARB.
MOTION: Council Member Beecham moved, seconded by Mossar, to
approve the site and design review and design enhancement exception for
10 photovoltaic (PV) tracking arrays located at the front of the City’s
Municipal Service Center (MSC) as part of the City of Palo Alto Utilities
Photovoltaic Demonstration project based upon the findings and conditions
in the Record of Land Use Action (Attachment A); and recommend approval
of Design Option #2, the “pinwheel” option, as presented in project plans
(Attachment H). The Council also approved ARB recommendation that staff
meet with the Public Arts Commission to determine if funds might be
available to add a public art component.
Council Member Mossar concurred with the comments of Council Member
Beecham.
Council Member Barton concurred with the comments of Council Member
Beecham.
Council Member Drekmeier agreed that energy efficiency was the way Palo
Alto needed to go. He said the City needed to look for alternative energy
sources, such as solar, and suggested producing hydrogen for fuel cells as a
way to make street lighting more efficient at night when there was less
demand. He expressed support for the project although he would like to see
the solar panels purchased in Palo Alto instead of Sunnyvale.
Council Member Morton expressed support for the project. He said the
pinwheel design, while artistic seemed arcane. He preferred the original
rectangular design because it was much more neutral.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto preferred rooftop solar panels because they were
visually less obtrusive.
Council Member Klein expressed support for the project. It was important
the solar panels be visible.
02/13/2006 100-121
Council Member Cordell expressed support for the motion and agreed with
Council Member Morton that the pinwheel design was not aesthetically
pleasing. The original rectangular design would pass approval over a longer
period of time.
Mayor Kleinberg favored the project. It was important to educate the public
with opportunities for clean energy and alternative energy sources. She was
put off by the pinwheel design.
AMENDMENT: Mayor Kleinberg moved, seconded by Morton, that the
design of the tracking arrays should be rectangular instead of pinwheel.
Mayor Kleinberg expressed concern about the scale not being correct, but
was not convinced if the scale were correct whether it would have changed
the ARB’s recommendation. She was not originally in favor of the project
because it was potentially a distraction along the highway. She was also
concerned about Palo Alto’s future uses of the land in terms of signage;
however, she understood it was a pilot project.
AMENDMENT PASSED: 5-4 Barton, Beecham, Klein, Mossar no.
MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED 8-1, Kishimoto no.
COUNCIL MATTERS
9. Colleagues Memo from Council Members Cordell and Barton re Staff
Support for Youth Employed for the Summer Initiative (¡YES!)
MOTION: Council Member Cordell moved, seconded by Barton, to authorize
City staff to assist in getting the ¡YES! Initiative off the ground.
Council Member Cordell said the Colleagues Memo had requested Council to
approve of staff assisting in getting the Youth Employed for the Summer
Initiative (¡YES!) off the ground. Assistant City Manager Emily Harrison
advised it would not require a lot of staff time. Police Chief Lynne Johnson
was willing to provide assistance, in addition to offering a summer job or two
for some young people. Sharifa Wilson of CollegeTrack indicated there were
approximately 100 young people from East Palo Alto and Redwood City, who
were in college and desperate for summer jobs. She hoped in future years
other cities would become chapters of ¡YES! and employ young people, who
ordinarily would not be able to get employment to help them continue their
education.
Council Member Barton said it was a win/win opportunity from a business
perspective. It provided the chance to build bridges with our neighboring
communities both economically and socially.
02/13/2006 100-122
Mayor Kleinberg said there were residents in our own community, who were
economically challenged and whose children needed help with summer
employment. She asked how to respond to those families who lived in Palo
Alto and had economic challenges.
Council Member Cordell said the purpose was to assist young people who
needed the financial assistance. If there were young people in Palo Alto as
well, they would certainly be included in ¡YES!
MOTION PASSED 9-0.
11. Mayor Kleinberg Appointment of an Additional Member to the Police
Building Blue Ribbon Task Force
MOTION: Vice Mayor Kishimoto moved, seconded by Morton, to appoint
Dan Dykwel as an additional member to the Police Building Blue Ribbon Task
Force.
MOTION PASSED 9-0.
12. Colleagues Memo from Mayor Kleinberg, Vice-Mayor Kishimoto and
Council Member Cordell Discussing a Request to Authorize the Planning
and Transportation Commission to Draft a Comprehensive Plan
Amendment Extending the Life of the Plan an Additional Ten Years
MOTION: Vice Mayor Kishimoto moved, seconded by Cordell, to authorize
the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) to draft a
Comprehensive Plan Amendment for Council consideration, consistent with
the views expressed in this memorandum. The Amendment would 1) extend
the life of the Comprehensive Plan through 2020; 2) update the land use
map; 3) revise, if appropriate, Comprehensive Plan policies and programs;
and 4) update the environmental analysis. Furthermore, to authorize staff to
work with the P&TC to develop, by the end of April 2006, a Comprehensive
Plan Amendment Work Plan, which would include a timeline and a budget.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto said there was concern about the cumulative impact
on a number of new projects, the unanticipated housing trend, whether the
City needed to plan for greater services and facilities to support the housing,
and whether or not to continue to accommodate the housing trend. The
Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan), last updated in 1998, provided goals and
guidance for development of the City through 2010. Palo Alto had already
exceeded its housing development projections. She proposed putting forth
an amendment to the Comp Plan with the goal of keeping Palo Alto a
vibrant, sustainable and balanced community.
02/13/2006 100-123
Council Member Cordell said the Colleagues Memo was pro-housing, retail,
and development, with deliberation and thoughtfulness. The authors of the
memo believe there was a crisis due to the rapid and unanticipated
development of housing, and questioned how the Council wished to proceed.
She hoped her colleagues would be supportive of the motion.
Bob Moss, 4010 Orme Street, expressed disappointment on the delay in
getting the Comp Plan and Zoning Ordinance Update (ZOU) completed.
Earl Caustin, 3671 Louis Road, suggested the Council direct staff to look at
the existing and planned projects in residential developments and create a
report to the Council and community.
Director of Planning and Community Environment Steve Emslie expressed
support for the Colleagues Memo. It provided an opportunity for the City to
address economic and land use changes in the region quickly.
City Manager Frank Benest said the City had a constrained staff capacity,
especially with some upcoming cutbacks required to free up monies for
infrastructure investment. Undertaking a new Comp Plan would be a
tremendous effort requiring much staff time. He desired to focus staff on the
tasks at hand and the Council’s priorities.
Mayor Kleinberg said it would be helpful if staff addressed what they would
not be able to work on if the motion passed.
Council Member Mossar said she did not understand the part of the motion
which stated, “…consistent with the views expressed in this memorandum.”
She asked whether the authors of the Memo were asking their colleagues to
agree Palo Alto was in an alarming situation or was something else being
asked.
Council Member Cordell said the sentence referred to the direction the P&TC
was asked to go in order to make the amendment. The City had exceeded
the levels of the Comp Plan projection.
Council Member Mossar asked whether the sentence fragment “…consistent
with the views expressed in this memorandum” could be eliminated.
Council Member Cordell said that was fine.
Council Member Mossar said the motion stated the P&TC and staff would
develop a timeline and budget, and make choices about policies and
programs to be reviewed. She asked why the Council would not provide
guidance to the P&TC and staff about which policies and programs they
would like to see reviewed with an appropriate timeline and budget.
02/13/2006 100-124
Mr. Emslie said typically the Council sought the advice of the P&TC as they
were required to advise the Council on Comp Plan amendments. It would not
be out of the ordinary to seek their advice in the preparation of the initial
work plan.
Council Member Mossar asked whether there was a place for Council to
participate.
Mr. Emslie said Council had the ability to accept, modify or change in any
way the recommendation of the P&TC when it considered their work.
Council Member Mossar asked what the budget was for the preparation of
the work plan.
Mr. Emslie said the preparation of the work plan came from the Advanced
Planning Division staff, who could report to the P&TC and Council relatively
quickly without additional resources.
Council Member Morton asked if the work plan consisted of items 2, 3 and 4
of the motion.
Mr. Emslie said the work plan needed to have a great deal more detail than
what the recommendations stated. There was an attendant analysis and
legal requirements that required multiple steps. Staff intended on expanding
on items 1 – 4 in a very specific way, as a means to lay out the proper format for the P&TC to follow as it began the process.
Council Member Morton asked what staff believed needed to be added to
Item 1.
Mr. Emslie said the extension of the Comp Plan through 2020 made sense
from a number of perspectives. A typical Comp Plan horizon was anywhere
from 15-20 years. Palo Alto was not a developing community nor did it have
major green field or bare land development as seen in other communities.
Staff believed at the mid-point of a 20-year cycle it was important to correct
the land use assumptions. The 10th year was the correct length of time to
look into the future and predict with any degree of accuracy the type of
development that would occur. Staff had put seven years of expansive
consultant review and community input into the Comp Plan, which produced
a wide range of what the citizens in Palo Alto expected and demanded in the
implementation of land use policies. The economic cycles had emerged more
rapidly than they did 10-20 years ago. An extension to the Comp Plan gave
the City the agility to react carefully and thoughtfully to issues that
confronted the community.
02/13/2006 100-125
Council Member Morton clarified staff would make proposed amendments to
the Comp Plan and return to Council.
Council Member Barton asked whether staff had clear direction from the
motion on how to flush out the policy pieces to send to the P&TC. He also
inquired whether the Council was adopting an anti-housing position as a
policy direction if the motion passed.
Mayor Kleinberg said there was no intent to put the brakes on housing, but
rather have a balanced approach to the increased housing growth with a
commensurate increase in public services.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto said the emphasis was on a balanced housing growth.
As part of the work plan, she anticipated the P&TC and staff would
periodically bring back policy choices to Council.
Council Member Beecham recalled receiving a memo on housing that talked
about a piece of legislation in Sacramento and how it affected action taken
by the Council. He asked for a summary of that.
City Attorney Gary Baum said there was new legislation effective January 1,
2006, that limited the City’s ability to not approve housing projects,
especially if the housing-jobs balance had not been met or if an area was
zoned for housing. It would have certain affects upon housing projects, as
they moved through and staff’s ability to regulate those projects. It only applied to affordable projects.
Mayor Kleinberg asked for clarification of affordable projects.
Mr. Baum said projects with Below Market Rate (BMR) housing.
Council Member Beecham clarified projects with 20 percent BMR could not
be limited.
Mr. Baum said it was much more difficult to limit assuming they met all the
other components of the ZOU.
Council Member Beecham asked whether there were discussions of
Conditional Use Permits (CUPs).
Mr. Baum said there was no specific reference to CUPs in the new statute,
but there was a prohibition of additional conditions upon projects or it
removed some of staff’s discretion.
Council Member Beecham asked whether there were any City ordinances not
in compliance with the new statute.
02/13/2006 100-126
Mr. Baum said all of the City ordinances were in compliance; however, the
ability to deny projects that met the ordinance was greatly curtailed.
Council Member Drekmeier said Palo Alto had the responsibility to provide
more affordable housing and agreed a comprehensive approach was needed
so the community would grow in a way as to not overwhelm the City’s
infrastructure and services. There seemed to be two pieces to the equation.
One involved an amendment to the Comp Plan. The other was a 10-year
extension. He asked whether there was an instant problem or was the intent
to speed up the process of amending it.
Council Member Cordell said yes there was a problem. The City needed to
address with immediacy public services, retail, neighborhood retail and
housing. At the same time, the Comp Plan, although thoughtfully put
together, did not anticipate the housing growth would be as fast as it was.
Council Member Drekmeier said although a number of projects had come
through in East Meadow Circle, the cumulative impact had not been
addressed. He asked whether an additional school or park had been planned
and, if so, what was the timeframe.
Mr. Emslie said East Meadow Circle was an area that would be analyzed as
part of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) of the Comp Plan extension.
Predictions would be made about potential changes in land use and how
those changes would affect services and other possible impacts.
Council Member Drekmeier clarified those projects were not on the fast track
and would take some time while the Comp Plan amendment took place first.
Mr. Emslie said staff had hoped so although there were a few projects
already in process.
Council Member Klein said he was unclear what was being asked of the
P&TC. Item 3 directed the P&TC to revise, if appropriate, Comp Plan policies
and programs. He asked whether the P&TC should look at all of the Comp
Plan.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto believed Item 2 was also an important component.
The P&TC annually reviewed the overall Comp Plan to identify the areas of
change.
Council Member Klein said he did not understand Item 3.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto said the P&TC was familiar with the Comp Plan and
could readily flag the policies that needed revisions.
02/13/2006 100-127
Council Member Klein asked whether that was the same thing as a review
and rewrite of the Comp Plan.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto said no. The P&TC would review the entire Plan but
focus their amendment on those areas where changes were needed.
Council Member Klein asked why not have the P&TC review a specific set of
policies and not everything else.
Council Member Cordell said when reading the Comp Plan there were quite a
number of programs and policies. The notion was the P&TC had the
expertise to know which ones to review.
Council Member Mossar felt the Colleagues Memo overreached what she was
comfortable with. There was the notion that the City needed increased public
services. It was not about Comp Plan polices and programs, it was about
money. She asked whether the maker and seconder of the motion would be
willing to strip the language previously discussed and make it a directive.
Council Member Cordell said it was her belief Palo Alto was headed toward a
serious imbalance between housing and neighborhood serving retail, which
was supported by many in the community. It was the view of those who
authored the memo for staff to take a look at the Comp Plan to return to
Council with recommendations.
INCORPORATED INTO MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER
AND SECONDER to modify the motion as follows: to authorize the Planning
and Transportation Commission (P&TC) to draft consider a Comprehensive
Plan Amendment for Council consideration, consistent with the views
expressed in this memorandum which would address: The Amendment
would 1) extending the life of the Comprehensive Plan through 2020 to no
later than 2020; 2) updating the land use map; 3) possible revision, if
appropriate, of Comprehensive Plan policies and programs; and 4) updating
the environmental analysis. Furthermore, to authorize staff to work with the
P&TC to develop, by the end of April 2006, a Comprehensive Plan
Amendment Work Plan, which would include a timeline and a budget.
Council Member Mossar felt comfortable supporting the motion in the revised
form.
Council Member Morton said it seemed the policies and programs the Council
wanted the P&TC to look at were those that impacted housing growth and
revenue preservation. If so, the Council ought to be more specific with
respect to the wording about which Comp Plan policies and programs to
review.
02/13/2006 100-128
Council Member Barton expressed support for the motion. To some extent
he felt the Council was being a little precipitous to author a change to the
Comp Plan. He said the most important part of the motion for him was a
recognition that something needed to be done about the Comp Plan at some
point. He worried about the statement that the City was working in an
assumed crisis, which he did not believe existed.
Council Member Beecham said the issue was housing. The City recently
approved two Trumark projects, a SummerHill Homes project, and a
proposal for Alma Plaza. It was important for the P&TC and Council to have a
community discussion on the City’s housing issues. In those areas where
Light Manufacturing (LM) had moved out and residential was coming in those
uses were not revenue producing. They were office uses. On retail, the
Council had taken action over the past few years to help preserve ground
floor retail.
Mr. Emslie concurred that any retail in existence prior to 2001 must stay as
retail.
Council Member Beecham said Palo Alto was not losing its neighborhood
serving retail except for possibly Alma Plaza. He stated he would not support
any change in how what was done at the P&TC, the Council or City staff that
might potentially stop work on the ZOU. He would rather see the Council talk
to the community about the housing issues and, in particular, the land use
map.
Council Member Cordell believed the Colleagues Memo was clear, did not
have a hidden agenda and, with the language suggestions made by Council
Member Mossar, would have Council directly, appropriately and timely deal
with a critical issue. She said those who voted against it would do so
because they did not believe Palo Alto was headed towards a crisis. The facts
showed otherwise.
Council Member Klein said as a general policy whenever Council sent
anything to one of its boards or commissions it should not come as a
directive, but rather an inquiry of questions and seeking advice. He
suggested adding the word “consider” before Item 1 and omitting the date,
and replace the word “draft” with “consider”.
Council Member Cordell wondered whether there ought to be a work plan for
people to consider things. If so, the P&TC could consider extending the life of
the Comp Plan. She suggested omitting the date and adding the language
“consider extending the life of the Comp Plan to no later than 2020.”
Council Member Klein said he was supportive of the amended language. He
agreed with Council Member Beecham that it would have been better to ask
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the P&TC to consider whether the City had allowed too much housing under
the present Comp Plan and ZOU and, if so, what changes they
recommended. He preferred the broader based approach, but was concerned
about how much resources it required.
Council Member Drekmeier asked for clarification of the City Manager who
stated he had concerns about staff time, but also supported the Colleagues
Memo.
Mr. Benest said he would support the Colleagues Memo if the process was
focused and targeted. He was concerned about unleashing a process that did
not have a set timeline or boundary.
Mayor Kleinberg asked whether the current motion was focused enough or
did staff anticipate coming back to the Council with modifications to one of
their priorities.
Mr. Benest said he would come back to the Council to massage other
priorities. He believed it was possible for staff to come back and do their
best to target this.
Mr. Emslie said he believed the Colleagues Memo gave staff the latitude to
create a specific work program that kept focus with what the City Manager
requested.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto emphasized the authors of the memo focused on the
balance of housing with public services, which was why the P&TC and staff
needed to look beyond the Housing Element (HE) to the Comp Plan and
possible amendments.
Council Member Beecham said he did not mean to imply the Colleagues
Memo had a hidden agenda. He was concerned the motion layered a number
of other items on it when the focus was housing.
Council Member Cordell apologized for any misunderstanding based on her
perception.
Council Member Mossar appreciated the motion being crafted in a way that
was more balanced and open ended. She did not believe it was an urgent
situation, but rather a time-honored, longstanding conversation that was
had in the community when all the housing development in North Palo Alto
was being considered. She was uncomfortable with the notion of balancing
housing and services. She did not believe housing could only be added if the
City were to identify and find a means of paying for additional parklands, or
increase neighborhood serving retail.
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Council Member Morton said it made better sense to have staff return to the
Council with a proposal for a timeline and budget and then decide what to do
with it. There was major concern in the community about what had
happened with housing; however, the Colleagues Memo had put the cart
before the horse. Unless the Council directed staff to return with a work
plan, he could not support the motion.
Mayor Kleinberg said she had experienced a lot of push back in the form of
concern by the community about housing. She saw the effort as actually
protecting housing. She was concerned that without a balanced approach
people would no longer vote for more housing because there were not
enough services to support it. The services she thought of were not
necessarily retail services. They included recreation services and social
services. It might also be parkland or just use of City parks in a way that
was more efficient. The Council needed to be more visionary and do it in a
timely way.
MOTION PASSED 6-3 Barton, Beecham and Morton no.
COUNCIL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Mossar acknowledged that President Bush’s budget does not
include an appropriation for the San Francisquito Creek project in current or
in future years.
Council Member Morton extended the appreciation of Duncan Williams and
the Winter Lodge to Mayor Kleinberg for the proclamation honoring the
Winter Lodge and 50 years of service. The Winter Lodge is now one of the
largest teaching ice skating schools in the United States.
Council Member Barton acknowledged and thanked his colleagues for their
warm welcome and noted his appreciation of being able to serve with them
during the past month.
Council Member Beecham reminded the public the City Clerk is accepting
applications for the Storm Drain Oversight Committee and the deadline is
Friday, February 17, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.
Mayor Kleinberg noted Canopy “Trees for Palo Alto” will have a celebration
on April 30, 2006, featuring special guest, Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari
Matthai, who won for her contribution to sustainable development,
democracy and peace by planting trees in Kenya. Mayor Kleinberg wished
everyone a Happy Lunar New Year.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m.
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ATTEST: APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
NOTE: Sense minutes (synopsis) are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto
Municipal Code Sections 2.04.180(a) and (b). The City Council and Standing
Committee meeting tapes are made solely for the purpose of facilitating the
preparation of the minutes of the meetings. City Council and Standing
Committee meeting tapes are recycled 90 days from the date of the
meeting. The tapes are available for members of the public to listen to
during regular office hours.
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