HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-13 City Council Summary Minutes
Special Meeting November 13, 2006
1. Joint Annual Meeting with Supervisor Liz Kniss to discuss issues related to Palo Alto ...... 113
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS .......................................................................................................... 113
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. ................................................................. 113
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS .......................................................................................................... 114
APPROVAL OF MINUTES ............................................................................................................ 114
1. 1st Reading - Approval of an Ordinance Authorizing an Amendment to
Contract Between the City of Palo Alto and the Board of Administration of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (to Provide Section 21354.5 (2.7% @ 55 Full Formula) for Local Miscellaneous Members) ................................................ 115
2. Approval of Professional Services Agreement with Geodesy in the Amount of $154,425
for Development Support of New Computer Applications Linked to the Geographic Information System (GIS) .................................................................................................. 115
3. Public Hearing – To consider a request by West Bayshore Associates on behalf of
Classic Communities, Inc. for City Council approval of a Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map for a proposed 96-unit residential condominium project at 3270 West Bayshore
Road. Environmental Assessment: An Initial Study has been completed and a Negative Declaration has been approved for this project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements. Zone District: Research, Office and
Limited Manufacturing (ROLM) .......................................................................................... 116
4. Colleagues Memo from Vice Mayor Kishimoto and Council Member Mossar Recommendation to Direct Staff to Explore Improving Bicycle and Pedestrian Access
across Highway 101 in Existing and Future Projects and Initiatives ................................... 117
COUNCIL COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND REPORTS FROM CONFERENCES ........... 119
5. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR .................................................................. 119
FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. ...................................................... 119
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The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Conference Room at 6:05 p.m.
Present: Barton, Beecham, Cordell, Drekmeier, Kishimoto, Kleinberg, Morton,
Mossar
Absent: Klein
SPECIAL MEETING
1. Joint Annual Meeting with Supervisor Liz Kniss to discuss issues related to Palo Alto
No action required.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Jeff Hoel spoke regarding voting machines.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
11/13/06 101-113
Regular Meeting November 13, 2006
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at
7:15 p.m.
Present: Barton, Beecham, Cordell, Drekmeier, Kishimoto, Klein, Kleinberg,
Morton, Mossar
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Lenore Cymes, 714 Wildwood, spoke regarding a fund raiser for Common Ground Relief in New Orleans.
Mimi Arfin, 159 Seale Avenue, spoke regarding the Lung Cancer Awareness Proclamation.
Pam Sturner, 3921 E. Bayshore Road, spoke regarding the San Francisquito Creek
stewardship.
Cynthia D’Agosta, Executive Director San Francisquito Creek JPA, spoke regarding the
Creek.
Glenn Roberts, Palo Alto Public Works Director, spoke regarding winter preparedness.
Mayor Kleinberg asked if the winter preparedness volunteers were knowledgeable in
the event of an emergency, of the location to meet and when to arrive.
Mr. Roberts stated Barbara Cimino, the Emergency Services Coordinator in the Fire
Department, and Avenidas worked with volunteers to help identify those in need as an
ongoing effort.
Mayor Kleinberg asked whether Avenidas served only senior citizens.
Mr. Roberts stated Avenidas offered services for the senior citizen community, but Barbara Cimino’s office could be contacted by anyone.
Mayor Kleinberg asked whether the notification system had been upgraded.
Mr. Roberts stated the communications system functioned through a Teleminder
Community Alert System. It made phone calls to targeted areas of the City should a
flood risk arise. Activation would occur on a limited basis at a 50 percent level of the San Francisquito Creek and went to full activation at 70 percent creek level.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Council Member Barton moved, seconded by Council Member Morton, to
approve the minutes of October 16, 2006, as submitted.
MOTION PASSED 9-0.
CONSENT CALENDAR
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MOTION: Council Member Morton moved, seconded by Council Member Barton, to approve Consent Calendar Item No. 1, with correction, and No. 2. Mayor Kleinberg noted the correction to the City Manager’s Report (CMR) for Agenda Item No. 1, which removed the last sentence of page 2 of the Resource Impact section, which stated “This cost increase will be largely offset by employee reimbursements.” Dick Rosenbaum, 717 Garland Drive, spoke regarding the extension of the pension benefit to local miscellaneous employees to 2.7 percent at age 55. Robert Moss, 4010 Orme Street, spoke regarding his concern for the lost knowledge of history with the retirement age at 55, and the high cost to train new employees. Council Member Beecham stated the $25,000,000 stated in the staff report (CMR:409:06) was the amount for the entire miscellaneous group; i.e. SEIU and Management and Professionals. The $1,008,000 per year was the average annual cost amortized over 23 years. Council Member Mossar registered a no vote on Agenda Item No. 1 Vice Mayor Kishimoto registered a no vote on Agenda Item No. 1 Mayor Kleinberg registered a no vote on Agenda Item No. 1
1. 1st Reading - Approval of an Ordinance Authorizing an Amendment to Contract Between the City of Palo Alto and the Board of Administration of
the California Public Employees' Retirement System (to Provide Section
21354.5 (2.7% @ 55 Full Formula) for Local Miscellaneous Members)
Resolution 8664 entitled “Resolution of Intention to Approve an Amendment to
Contract between the Board of Administration California Public Employees’
Retirement System and the City Council City of Palo Alto to Adopt 2.7% @ 55
For Local Miscellaneous Members
Resolution 8681 entitled Approval of a Resolution Implementing the Provisions of
Section 414(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code on Behalf of Local Miscellaneous
Members”
Resolution 8665 entitled “Resolution Describing Employer Paid Member
Contributions to the Public Employees’ Retirement System for Local
Miscellaneous Members”
2. Approval of Professional Services Agreement with Geodesy in the Amount of
$154,425 for Development Support of New Computer Applications Linked to the
Geographic Information System (GIS)
MOTION PASSED for Agenda Item No. 1: 6-3 Kishimoto, Kleinberg, Mossar no
MOTION PASSED for Agenda Item No. 2: 9-0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. Public Hearing – To consider a request by West Bayshore Associates on behalf
of Classic Communities, Inc. for City Council approval of a Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map for a proposed 96-unit residential condominium project at 3270
West Bayshore Road. Environmental Assessment: An Initial Study has been
completed and a Negative Declaration has been approved for this project in
accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements.
Zone District: Research, Office and Limited Manufacturing (ROLM)
Record of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Land Use Action for 3270 West
Bayshore Road Vesting Tentative Map 06PLN-00000-00149 (Classic
Communities Inc., Applicant)
City Attorney Gary Baum stated the purpose of the Vesting Tentative Map was to
subdivide the land consistent with the Architectural Review Board (ARB) approval. The Subdivision Map Act required Council approval of the Vesting Tentative Map; the
findings were to be specified within the City Manager Report (CMR).
MOTION: Council Member Mossar moved, seconded by Morton, to approve staff and
the Planning and Transportation Commission’s recommendation to approve the
proposed Vesting Tentative Parcel Map, in order to merge two parcels (approx. 6.5
acres) and create 96 condominium units at 3270 West Bayshore Road for the purpose
of constructing previously approved residential buildings, based upon findings and conditions contained within the draft Record of Land Use Action.
Council Member Morton stated the project had the support of the Council and Staff.
Public Hearing was opened at 7:48 p.m.
Joy Ogawa spoke regarding the 3270 West Bayshore Road condominium project. She was concerned about the Below Market Rate (BMR) units.
Public Hearing was closed at 7:51 p.m.
Council Member Klein asked why a section of the report was entitled Resource Impact.
Assistant City Manager Emily Harrison stated Resource Impact was required for all land
use decisions.
Council Member Klein asked why expenses were not discussed.
Ms. Harrison stated expenses were discussed when the project was approved.
Council Member Klein requested all future Resource Impact sections include the
expenses, revenues, and the impact on the Palo Alto Unified School District.
Ms. Harrison said she would verify the completion of the process.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto stated her commitment to maintaining Palo Alto’s walkable
community.
11/13/06 101-116
City Manager Frank Benest stated his support for the openness of the community and
would review the planning process for any gaps.
Council Member Morton asked the difference between a private road where the
developer and residents were financially responsible versus a closed road where the
City was responsible.
Mr. Benest stated it made financial and land use sense if the roads were private roads.
Council Member Morton stated the question was the financial description as opposed to
usage description.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto asked what relationship the process of the tentative map had to
the project approval.
Planning and Transportation Director Steve Emslie stated the relationship worked in
conjunction with the site design review at the Architectural Review Board level.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto stated the Planning and Transportation Department should follow
the State of California recommended guidelines for traffic and sensitive land uses.
Mayor Kleinberg asked whether that raised a California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) question or was it just a recommendation.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto stated it was a guideline not a legal requirement.
Mayor Kleinberg inquired about a policy being in place for moving Below Market Rate
(BMR) units from one location to another.
MOTION PASSED 9-0.
REPORTS OF OFFICIALS
COUNCIL MATTERS
4. Colleagues Memo from Vice Mayor Kishimoto and Council Member Mossar
Recommendation to Direct Staff to Explore Improving Bicycle and Pedestrian
Access across Highway 101 in Existing and Future Projects and Initiatives
Council Member Mossar stated the memo did not propose a particular project; it
identified future funding sources.
MOTION: Council Member Mossar moved, seconded by Kishimoto, to direct staff to
explore, in conjunction with appropriate existing and future initiatives and projects, the
concept of improved pedestrian and bicycle access across the 101 corridor.
Vice Mayor Kishimoto stated there were a number of ongoing projects and studies
regarding the improved pedestrian and bicycle access. The goal was to create as little
extra work as possible and not commit financially.
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Assistant City Manager Emily Harrison reported that staff met with Vice Mayor Kishimoto, and Council Member Mossar to discuss their goals to ensure they were
incorporating the vision of the increased access into the projects which were already
going forward.
Mayor Kleinberg asked the current working projects be identified in order to determine where the Colleagues Memo would be incorporated.
Ms. Harrison stated one of the projects was the updated Master Bicycle Plan.
Council Member Drekmeier said he thought it would encourage people to ride bicycles.
Council Member Morton requested there be notification posted for tunnel openings and
closures.
Council Member Beecham noted the purpose of the memo was to keep the important
objectives in mind as projects came through; not to spend money or propose a special
project.
Council Member Klein reiterated that Agenda Item No. 5 of the memo stated “this
project would require an initial City investment of $100,000.”
Planning and Transportation Director Steve Emslie stated the $100,000 was for the
feasibility analysis required by the water district for the Matadero Creek.
Council Member Klein asked whether the $100,000 was agreed to in advance.
Mr. Emslie stated the $100,000 would be considered in next year’s budget.
Mayor Kleinberg asked whether the vote authorized the $100,000.
Mr. Emslie stated it would not.
Council Member Klein asked whether approval meant the cost of a significant sum of
money.
Ms. Harrison stated the Council would consider improved access to the 101 Baylands.
Council Member Klein stated concern about the amount of time the Planning and
Transportation Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission would spend on
the project.
Ms. Harrison spoke with the Director of Community Services; he felt no additional work
was necessary as the work plan was complete. The Colleagues Memo was in line with
opportunities across the City which had been recently reviewed.
Council Member Klein said the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) had
a new overpass project at San Antonio Road in the future. Mayor Kleinberg asked what the impact might be with the Army Corps of Engineers or
Joint Powers Authority (JPA) efforts.
11/13/06 101-118
Council Member Mossar stated the project was to get City Staff, Boards and Commissions and the Council to think about the importance of increased and improved
access across 101.
Mayor Kleinberg cautioned staff to not encumber the process.
MOTION PASSED 9-0.
COUNCIL COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND REPORTS FROM CONFERENCES
Council Member Beecham reported he attended the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) legislative regulations meeting last week, as well as a special Governance Committee meeting, which determines allocation of expenses among the members of
the NCPA.
Council Member Mossar noted as Chair of the National League of Cities, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Steering Committee, she was invited by the Government of France to a conference in Paris and Lyon the end of the month. She
would be attending a huge international trade show in Lyon and is willing to look at any
environmental activities of interest, such as the water system in France.
Mayor Kleinberg said along with Vice Mayor Kishimoto and Council Member Mossar, she attended the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Climate Protection Global
Warming Summit last Friday to hear former Vice President Gore. She also mentioned
she has initiated a blood drive competition with University of California Berkeley in
connection with the upcoming Big Game, noting there are three Stanford blood donor centers in the area.
CLOSED SESSION Council Adjourned to the Closed Session at 8:27 p.m.
5. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Agency Negotiator: City Manager and his designees pursuant to the Merit
System Rules and Regulations (Frank Benest, Emily Harrison, Carl Yeats, Russ
Carlsen, Sandra Blanch, Joe Saccio) Employee Organization: Unrepresented Employee Group Management
Professional Employees
Authority: Government Code section 54957.6(a)
Mayor Kleinberg reported no action was taken.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
11/13/06 101-119
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.
11/13/06 101-120