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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-08 City Council Summary Minutes 1 Regular Meeting January 8, 2007 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS .............................................................................................2 1. Election of Mayor and Vice Mayor ....................................................................2 2. Resolution Commending the Outstanding Public Service of Judy Kleinberg as Mayor..............................................................................................4 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m...................................7 2 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 7:05 p.m. PRESENT: Barton, Beecham, Cordell, Drekmeier, Kishimoto, Klein, Kleinberg, Morton, Mossar ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Mark Petersen-Perez, 434 Addison Avenue, spoke regarding tasers. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 1. Election of Mayor and Vice Mayor Council Member Cordell nominated Vice Mayor Kishimoto for the office of Mayor. She stated Vice Mayor Kishimoto is a visionary with a willingness to lead and with a deep compassion for the City. She had earned the Council’s trust and admiration and would be the ninth woman and first Asian-American Mayor. She urged her colleagues to unanimously elect Vice Mayor Kishimoto as the next Mayor. Council Member Drekmeier echoed Council Member Cordell’s comments and spoke of Vice Mayor Kishimoto’s commitment to the community. He spoke of her as a great thinker, one to speak her mind and bring people together. She was the top vote getter in the last election, making it obvious the community believed in her. He felt she could do the job and would have the Council’s support. MOTION: Mayor Kleinberg moved, seconded by Klein, to vote by consensus to approve Vice Mayor Kishimoto as Mayor. MOTION PASSED 9-0 Former Mayor Kleinberg passed the gavel to Mayor Kishimoto and presented her with the traditional gold mayoral pin. Mayor Kishimoto said she was tremendously honored but would give her words of acceptance later in the agenda. She recognized all of the dignitaries present. 3 Council Member Kleinberg nominated Larry Klein, seconded by Cordell, for the office of Vice Mayor. Council Member Kleinberg said the characteristics for a Vice Mayor should include proven leadership both locally and regionally. Council Member Klein had all of these qualities and more. In the 1970’s, he served on the City’s Planning Commission for five years. He is an environmentalist and co-founded the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District. He was a leader on regional issues serving on the County Public Transit Committee, a member of the County’s General Plan Advisory Committee, and president of the Santa Clara County Cities Association (SCCCA). He was Vice Mayor in 1988 and served as Mayor in 1984 and 1989. His willingness to resolve City issues and his unique skills makes him a valuable partner to the Mayor. Council Member Cordell said Council Member Klein was experienced and smart with a pronounced commitment to serve those who live and work in the City. Her major reason for seconding the nomination was because he would be respectful and supportive of Mayor Kishimoto as she set forth on her leadership role. Council Member Barton nominated Jack Morton, seconded by Mossar, for the office of Vice Mayor. Council Member Barton said Council Member Morton was committed to the community and would bring a direct, clear and passionate voice to the office of Vice Mayor. He blended his professional experience as an accountant into the non-profit world and had served as the accountant to several of the non-profits in the community, as well as on the board of directors of non-profits and the school board. Council Member Mossar echoed Council Member Barton’s comments and spoke of Council Member Morton’s passion and extensive involvement in the community. He had a historical perspective, which was valuable, and understood the City’s finances. Council Member Beecham referred to the competition for the position of Vice Mayor and noted the role of Mayor and Vice Mayor was neither 4 a right nor a privilege; both carried many obligations and responsibilities. He felt both candidates would do an excellent job but he supported Council Member Klein because of his prior experience, which would be important since there would be four new council members elected to the Council in November 2007. At this point, a paper ballot was conducted. City Clerk Rogers announced that the following Council Members voted for Jack Morton: Barton, Mossar, Morton. City Clerk Rogers announced that the following Council Members voted for Larry Klein: Beecham, Cordell, Drekmeier, Kishimoto, Klein, Kleinberg. City Clerk Rogers announced that Council Member Klein was appointed as Vice Mayor with six votes. Council Members Barton, Morton, and Mossar changed their votes to make it unanimous that Council Member Klein would become Vice Mayor. Mayor Kishimoto announced that Council Member Klein was elected Vice Mayor by consensus. Mayor Kishimoto echoed Council Member Beecham’s comments and said she looked forward to working with Vice Mayor Klein and her colleagues in making 2007 a productive year. Council Member Barton announced he would be leaving the meeting because he was suffering with the flu. Mayor Kishimoto recognized the Youth Advisory Commission and Staff Liaison Kimberly Parker, who were in the audience. 2. Resolution Commending the Outstanding Public Service of Judy Kleinberg as Mayor Mayor Kishimoto said Mayor Kleinberg had carried out her promise of 5 one year of results. She thanked her for being her mentor while serving as Vice Mayor and for leaving the City in great shape. MOTION: Council Member Beecham moved, seconded by Morton, to adopt the Resolution. Resolution 8682 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Commending the Outstanding Public Service of Judy Kleinberg as Mayor” Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss referred to former Mayor Kleinberg’s background, leadership, community involvement, and how she had given so much to the community in the past 23 years. She congratulated former Mayor Kleinberg on her accomplishments, which were done with diplomacy, wit, skill and humor, and presented her with a resolution of appreciation and a plaque from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. John King, Chair Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, 724 Burran Avenue, extended good wishes to former Mayor Kleinberg for continued success in her many personal and public activities, and thanked her for the many contributions to the community. Dan Dykwel, 480 Gary Court, spoke of the former Mayor’s attributes of leadership ranging from the ability to encourage participation in community service and soliciting the experience that existed among citizens. Annette Ashton, 2747 Bryant, thanked and acknowledged the former Mayor in elevating the Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Program as a top City priority and driving the topic forward. MOTION PASSED 7-0, Kleinberg abstaining, Barton absent. Mayor Kishimoto presented the former mayor with a gift from the Council, which was an art piece entitled “Grass Roots,” created by Palo Alto artist Sharon Chinen. Council Member Kleinberg thanked the City staff and the Council for their support and assistance in helping her as Mayor, and 6 acknowledged the extraordinary work and accomplishments provided by City departments in running the City, and thanked the voters, friends, colleagues, and her family for giving her the opportunity to be Mayor. Janet Dafoe, 433 Kingsley Avenue, congratulated Mayor Kishimoto on her new position and acknowledged her work in the community. She presented the Mayor with a bonsai Redwood tree symbolizing the Mayor’s Japanese heritage and Palo Alto. Heath Wood performed a Native-American song honoring the new Mayor. Mayor Kishimoto said she would be honored to serve as Mayor. Palo Alto was in a great moment of transition and opportunity. She felt a special energy and momentum and the Council, staff, and community were poised to make great strides. She thanked her family for their support in giving her the opportunity to devote fulltime to being a Council Member, participate on regional boards, and to her colleagues on the Council in developing a culture of mutual respect, and to those she had worked closely with in the past 20 years. As the first Asian- American woman Mayor of Palo Alto, she would bring the perspective to view Palo Alto as a unique, global and urban village with a cutting- edge center of technology and environmental leadership, and a desirable place to live. She spoke of the founding days of Palo Alto and the Stanford professors who created the utilities that sustained the City today. The pressure of more jobs and housing was unlimited and, if unfettered, would threaten the environment. Past Mayors have led the Economic Development Task Force and Green Ribbon Task Force on climate change. It was time for the Council to combine the two strands and to integrate the path-breaking work on the environment with a commitment to economic development and budget restructuring. In 2007, the City is in a position to bring together the progressive business community, as well as the educated and enlightened neighborhood groups, to make sustainable Palo Alto a reality. As Mayor, she would bring the call for action to build a green economy through innovation. The negotiations with Stanford University would be a prime opportunity to put this into action. She invited all to participate in the priority setting of the following: 1) City Auditor’s annual report card; 2) City Manager’s next generation project; and 3) the essentials of the long-range plan. The 2007 plans 7 would be to follow-up on 2006 commitments on libraries, public safety buildings and emergency planning. The City should be in a position to fund new community facilities with a trimmer budget. The draft for the City’s emergency plan would be reviewed in February 2007. There was work to do with partners in the region to align the twin goals that have been in process for many years. Sustainable economic development and budget, along with the commitment to the highest environmental standards and a walkable community, would be the goal. A green economy could be build through innovation to ensure our beautiful valley would continue to flourish for several more generations. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m. 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.