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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-23 City Council Summary Minutes 07/04/23 1 Special Meeting April 23, 2007 1. A Practical Look at Managing Climate Risk– a Municipal Utility Perspective .3 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS....................................................................3 2. Proclamation Honoring David Smernoff for His Work at the Enid W. Pearson Arastradero Preserve .........................................................4 3. Ordinance 4945 entitled “The Council of the City of Palo Alto Hereby Adopts the Addition of Section 2.10.600 of Chapter 2.10 of Title 2, Chapter 2.11 of Title 2, Chapters 12.09 and 12.13 of Title 12, and Amending Miscellaneous Sections of Chapters 12.04, 12.08, 12.10 and 12.16 of Title 12 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Conform the Palo Alto Municipal Code to the California Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006”......................................................5 4. Resolution 8703 entitled “The Council of the City of Palo Alto Hereby Authorizes the Submittal of a Grant Application to the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) for Tire-Related and Rubberized Asphalt Concrete Grant Programs”...................................................................5 5. Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve the Utilities Ten- Year Energy Efficiency Portfolio Plan .....................................................5 7. Update on Earth Day 2006 Colleagues’ Memo Assignment to Review and Update: Construction and Demolition Debris and Recycling Program; Downtown Recycling; Business/Commercial District Composting; Green Building Standards for Private Businesses; and the Street Tree Management Plan. ................................................................................................5 6. Climate Protection Plan Update and Response to Green Ribbon Task Force Recommendations..............................................................................10 8. Colleagues Memo from Mayor Kishimoto, Vice Mayor Klein and Council Member Drekmeier Regarding the Creation of an Environmental Commission and Appropriate Staffing for Environmental Matters ...............................13 07/04/23 2 FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. ..................19 07/04/23 3 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 6:05 p.m. Present: Barton, Cordell, Drekmeier, Kishimoto, Klein, Kleinberg, Morton (arrived at 7:45 p.m.), Mossar Absent: Beecham STUDY SESSION 1. A Practical Look at Managing Climate Risk – a Municipal Utility Perspective Manager of Energy Risks Karl Van Orsdol reported municipal and regional utilities face a particular set of physical, financial and regulatory risks associated with long term climate change, which may significantly impact their operations. The physical risks include variability and the impact of changing weather patterns on generation resources. Predictions of increased variability of rainfall patterns will increase the variability of supplies from hydrogenation. An increasing reliance on renewable wind power will be impacted as the current optimal locations for wind generation shift. On the transmission side, increases in temperature will lead to increases in loads, prices and transmission constraints, concurrent with possible transmission capacity rating declines. Financial risks to Palo Alto’s Utilities will be equally profound. Increasing supply risks and swings in portfolio value will require changes in the City’s portfolio strategies and risk management techniques. Load serving entities like Palo Alto will need to evaluate counterparty credit risk from new perspectives such as fuel type and location, immunity from regulatory risk, susceptibility to climate change impacts, and other non-standard criteria. Additionally, the City’s commodity portfolios will shift toward suppliers with low climate risk potential. All utilities will need to adapt to new technologies, renewable energy, efficiency and other GHG neutral opportunities. The reduction in carbon dependence will be a critical financial and strategic goal for the City’s resource and strategic planning. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Amy Adams, 1265 Clark, spoke regarding tasers. Abhay Bhushan, 3838 Mumford Place, spoke regarding utilities and peak hour usage. 07/04/23 4 Carroll Harrington, 830 Melville Avenue, spoke regarding the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) new office building. Cybele, 3838 Mumford Place, spoke regarding Palo Alto Green. Mark Petersen-Perez spoke regarding the New York Times vs. Sullivan (1964). Anthony Merlo, 2430 Bryant St., spoke regarding Mitchell Park and the requirement of $1 million liability insurance for events. Bette Kiernan, 2337 Williams Street, spoke regarding vehicle and aircraft emissions. Aram James spoke regarding tasers. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 2. Proclamation Honoring David Smernoff for His Work at the Enid W. Pearson Arastradero Preserve David Smernoff thanked everyone for their participation in the public-private partnership program essential in protecting valuable open space. He encouraged Palo Alto residents and other communities who enjoyed open space to engage in community stewardship and to use the program as a model and view open space as part of infrastructure. Mayor Kishimoto said the Gateway was not funded by Capital Improvement Project (CIP) monies and had zero financial impact as well as zero environmental impact. It was an educational facility and would be of benefit to educate the next generation on open space stewardship. CONSENT CALENDAR Council Member Mossar stated she would not participate in Agenda Item No. 3 due to a conflict of interest since her family had holdings in telecommunications stock. MOTION: Council Member Klein moved, seconded by Barton, to approve Consent Calendar Agenda Item Nos. 3 through 5. 3. Ordinance 4945 entitled “The Council of the City of Palo Alto Hereby Adopts the Addition of Section 2.10.600 of Chapter 2.10 of Title 07/04/23 5 2, Chapter 2.11 of Title 2, Chapters 12.09 and 12.13 of Title 12, and Amending Miscellaneous Sections of Chapters 12.04, 12.08, 12.10 and 12.16 of Title 12 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Conform the Palo Alto Municipal Code to the California Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act of 2006” (1st Reading 04/09/07 - Passed 7-0, Morton, Mossar not participating) 4. Resolution 8703 entitled “The Council of the City of Palo Alto Hereby Authorizes the Submittal of a Grant Application to the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) for Tire- Related and Rubberized Asphalt Concrete Grant Programs” 5. Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve the Utilities Ten-Year Energy Efficiency Portfolio Plan MOTION PASSED for Agenda Item No. 3, 6-0 Beecham, Morton absent, Mossar not participating. MOTION PASSED for Agenda Item Nos. 4-5, 7-0 Beecham, Morton absent. AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS, AND DELETIONS MOTION: Vice Mayor Klein moved, seconded by Mossar, to move agenda Item No. 7 in front of Item No. 6. MOTION PASSED 7-0 Beecham, Morton absent. Council Member Morton arrived at 7:45 p.m. REPORTS OF OFFICIALS 7. Update on Earth Day 2006 Colleagues’ Memo Assignment to Review and Update: Construction and Demolition Debris and Recycling Program; Downtown Recycling; Business/Commercial District Composting; Green Building Standards for Private Businesses; and the Street Tree Management Plan. 07/04/23 6 Assistant City Manager Emily Harrison said several staff members were present to support and answer questions regarding the item. She commended the Information Technology (IT) Staff in producing a website that focused on sustainability. The IT Staff had taken it upon themselves to roll out the website due to the City’s commitment to the program. Assistant to the City Manager Kelly Morariu provided an update on the Council’s assignment as outlined in staff report (CMR:215:07). Council Member Drekmeier raised concern regarding transporting waste for recycling, thus producing more greenhouse gases and working against climate protection. He encouraged focus on resource recovery and questioned whether the Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer (SMaRT) Station recycled waste. Public Works Operations Supervisor Russ Reiserer said receptacles were taken to the SMaRT Station and there was a minimum of 18 percent recovered from the waste stream. Council Member Drekmeier said there were complications and health code issues with businesses recycling food waste and asked if there was a process to compost food waste with yard trimmings. Mr. Reiserer said currently the City landfill allowed yard trimmings only. A different recycling method was used for food waste, which required an enclosed system with different temperature and water controls. It was a volatile process that could get out of control quite rapidly. Council Member Drekmeier asked whether the City was looking into recycling food waste. Mr. Reiserer said rodents and vectors were attracted to food waste. The amount of food waste coming in on a daily basis was inconsistent depending on the season. A new hauling contract was going out to bid and staff would be looking at different alternatives, sites, cost-measuring greenhouse gases, and making sure corrective measures were taken into consideration. He hoped the new contract would include recycling organics and food waste materials. Council Member Kleinberg asked what type of waste was being placed in the business district’s waste cans that were not recyclable and how did it coincide with zero waste. 07/04/23 7 Mr. Reiserer said the waste included paper, plastic, and polystyrene cups and paper wrappers. The goal would be to work with merchants to change the type of packaging. Council Member Kleinberg said she thought the paper goods used by businesses were recyclable. Mr. Reiserer said wax-type paper such as coffee cups were not recyclable and were contaminated. Contaminated waste could be included in processing organics as soon as the method is implemented. Council Member Kleinberg asked what measures could be taken to promote zero waste in the business districts. Mr. Reiserer said a voluntary approach to discourage the use of paper and plastic bags began in 1989 and have become almost mandatory. Businesses would need to get educated and encouraged to use reusable and recyclable materials and to eliminate one-time use materials. Council Member Kleinberg said there was a wait for grant monies to change receptacles in business areas. She suggested a partnership with the youth or art community to have artwork instead of advertisements on the containers and have businesses sponsor them. Mr. Reiserer said that was an option and to hold businesses responsible for maintaining their own recyclable bins instead of disposing materials in outside receptacles. Council Member Kleinberg said the City had the power to plant a tree on private property. Certain types of trees were disruptive to their surrounding as well as public safety. They were beautiful trees but caused damage to streets and sidewalks, caused people to slip and fall, interfered with landscaping and irrigation systems. She suggested the Urban Forest Plan include recommendations on handling dangerous or disruptive trees and which types of trees should be planted in the community. Ms. Morariu said that would be included in the plan. Council Member Mossar said water needs for trees should be compatible with water conservation goals. The recycling program should be expanded to the commercial districts and retail services beyond the Downtown area. She 07/04/23 8 agreed with working with businesses to pursue recycling but there was the issue of space. Businesses welcomed recycling in their own establishment but had limited space to store the recycling bins. Building regulations needed to be reviewed in making them compatible with recycling goals. She said there was a thriving business in thievery of recyclables in the Downtown area making the volume of recyclables minimal. She asked that staff explore the composting program and encouraged green waste reduction strategies. Council Member Morton had concerns regarding the hauling of green waste products to another community, after the closing of the City’s recycle and compost facility, rather than reusing waste within the community. Council Member Cordell said the presentation indicated three different business contacts and asked whether a business registry would be helpful to achieve a smooth operation. Mr. Reiserer said it would be helpful in identifying businesses according to size, type, and location. Mayor Kishimoto asked whether staff was working on the landscape ordinance. Ms. Morariu said it was part of the Tree Master Plan and would address landscape issues as well as Council Member Mossar’s concerns. Mayor Kishimoto asked why the tree canopy was smaller in the south end of Palo Alto and raised concern about planting the appropriate sized trees in smaller parcels. Acting Arborist Larry Krebs said he did not have all the answers but knew the area had soil problems, water conditions, curb and gutter replacements which prevented the growth of healthy trees. Council Member Barton spoke of Palo Alto’s neighborhood development during the 20th Century. He said before the war the City plotted the properties from Hamilton Avenue near Lincoln Avenue, which had well established tree canopies. The planting strips became non-existent after the war due to the necessity of building quickly and trees did not get planted. Also, North Palo Alto was 50 years older than South Palo Alto, which changed the tree canopy. 07/04/23 9 Council Member Kleinberg questioned the City’s authority to plant trees on private property and hoped it would be addressed in the new plan. Mayor Kishimoto raised the issue of allowing owners more time to salvage as opposed to hauling away for demolition. Planning and Transportation Planner Jason Nortz said the timeframe issue had not been looked at and would be addressed. He encouraged salvaging as opposed to demolition. Mayor Kishimoto stated she was in favor of banning plastic bags and asked to review the use of plastic bags for trash and food containers. Ms. Harrison said the issue would be reviewed. MOTION: Vice Mayor Klein moved, seconded by Morton, to approve the following recommendations in CMR:215:07: a. Direct staff to continue development of the Urban Forest Master Plan as outlined in this report. b. Direct staff to move forward with the planned program adjustments for the Construction and Demolition Debris program as outlined in this report. c. Direct staff to proceed with the implementation of the enhancements to recycling programs in commercial districts as outlined in this report. d. Direct staff to implement a pilot expansion composting program for florists and nurseries and to include an organics collection program for the commercial sector with the new collection services agreement. MOTION PASSED 8-0 Beecham absent. MOTION: Vice Mayor Klein moved, seconded by Drekmeier, to approve the recommendation in CMR:215:07: Direct staff to continue exploring programs for incentives and requirements related to Green Building policies for the construction of commercial and residential projects as outlined in paragraph 4 on page 5 of the CMR. Council Member Mossar raised concern regarding the timetable for mandatory compliance for businesses and residential and asked whether the intent of the motion was feasible. 07/04/23 10 Vice Mayor Klein said he had discussions with the City Attorney’s Office and thought there were ways of making the policy legal. Senior Assistant City Attorney Cara Silver said the policy could be crafted as long as the requirements did not conflict with existing State building codes. MOTION PASSED 8-0 Beecham absent. 6. Climate Protection Plan Update and Response to Green Ribbon Task Force Recommendations. Senior Resource Planner Karl Knapp said the mission of the Green Ribbon Task Force (GRTF) was to establish recommendations to try and meet or beat the Governor’s greenhouse gas emission-cutting goals. The long-term goal would be to beat the 8 percent below the 1990 levels. The overall recommendation would be to get the community and businesses involved, take collective action, lobby regional and state agencies to address climate change, and for the Council to direct staff to develop a climate protection plan. His presentation was outlined in staff report (CMR:211:07). Mayor Kishimoto thanked former Mayor Judy Kleinberg for initiating the GRTF and Chair Walt Hayes for his work and everyone for their contribution to the GRTF. Council Member Drekmeier requested clarification on the additional steps for obtaining rebates on rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installations. Mr. Knapp said the installation permits could no longer be obtained over-the- counter and a meeting would be held to try to resolve the problem. Council Member Drekmeier asked for clarification on customers getting credit for time of use rates. Mr. Knapp said there was a time of use rate for commercial but not for residential. Council Member Drekmeier enquired about recommendations to engage the community in the GRTF. Walt Hays, Chair of the Green Ribbon Task Force, 355 Parkside Drive, said the recommendation was to continue the GRTF, to meet periodically to 07/04/23 11 assess progress, and make suggestions for improvements. A meeting was set for late May 2007 to deal with public-private partnerships. Carroll Harrington, 830 Melville Avenue, spoke regarding working with several Santa Clara County businesses and agencies to involve them in the program. Council Member Kleinberg asked what the Planning and Transportation Commission (P&TC) and Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) were doing to move the Green Buildings and transit-oriented development from exception to mainstream. Assistant Planning & Community Environment Director Curtis Williams said a transit-oriented district had been adopted at the California Avenue Station and the possibility of a transit-oriented development is being studied for the University Avenue Station. Parking strategies and the mixed use section of the zoning code update were also being studied. Council Member Kleinberg said she was interested how to encourage Green Building design and to move towards the residential sector. Mr. Williams said the Architectural Review Board’s (ARB) had a suggested timeframe for implementing Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) and Business Improvement District (BID) requirements in a phased fashion. Staff would be looking at residential and commercial checklist projects in the coming year. Council Member Kleinberg said she was interested in having staff educate the Council on the latest approach to environmental design of building upwards rather than building out. Ms. Harrison said there was a plan in mid-June to have a Council/Board and Commission training session with the U.S. Green Building Council representatives, which includes expert training on Green Buildings. Vice Mayor Klein asked how the greenhouse gas adder worked. Mr. Knapp said the investor-owned utilities such as PG&E were required to use $9.20 per ton of CO2. For example, a bid would receive 8 cents a kilowatt hour containing no carbon. Another bid at 7.5 cents a kilowatt hour contained 1 ton per megawatt hour of carbon at $20 per ton which added 1 cent per kilowatt hour. The 7.5 cent bid would be valued at 8.5 cents. By 07/04/23 12 choosing the 8 cent offer with zero carbon alternative, the lowest cost resource including the adder would be selected but at the actual bid price of 8 cents. Vice Mayor Klein questioned what the status would be regarding rooftop photovoltaic systems in producing sufficient electricity and receiving customer credit for a commercial building. Mr. Knapp said whatever the retail rate, the customer received credit for whatever power generated as if the power was not being used. The utility would be paying back the retail rate. The business could switch to a time of use rate and place photovoltaic cells on the roof and would get more power during the day. Vice Mayor Klein asked whether it was cost-effective. Mr. Knapp said it was not. It would only be cost-effective in the highest tiers of PG&E rates as in the Central Valley and 36 cents a kilowatt hour for the last bid would be cost-effective with no rebate. Several applications for PV installations had been received for reasons other than cost-effectiveness. Vice Mayor Klein asked how many applications where there for homes and businesses. Mr. Knapp said one condo complex on East Meadow Drive had 77 applications. Many developers are finding more buyers interested of living in places with PV. Mayor Kishimoto asked how much savings would there be at the water- treatment plant. Mr. Knapp said using the gas from the City’s landfill displaced about 33 percent of the natural gas used. Council Member Drekmeier said the water-treatment plant was working on transitioning from chlorine to ultra-violet light. The calculation was based on the cost of producing and transporting the chlorine which resulted in savings in the carbon footprint. Mayor Kishimoto asked how often an analysis would be done on the fleet of vehicles and why CNG vehicles were discontinued. 07/04/23 13 Ms. Harrison said an analysis was done when replacements were made and one of the problems with CNG vehicles was the size of the tank and the ability of the cars to not travel for extended distances, which made them inefficient. Council Member Mossar said there would always be conflicting goals between photovoltaic and the tree ordinance, height limits, and tree canopy goals. She was not in favor of the gigantic SUV-type vehicle with the City’s Police Department logo and asked the Council be more informed of the types of vehicles being purchased. Council Member Morton said it would be beneficial to educate the public, possibly through the utility bill, to encourage purchasing energy-efficient products when replacing appliances. MOTION: Council Member Drekmeier moved, seconded by Mossar, to accept staff recommendations to: a. Direct staff to recommend revisions to the City Sustainability Policy to incorporate Climate Protection and return to Council in May 2007. b. Direct staff to complete development of a Climate Protection Plan as discussed and return to Council in November 2007. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Beecham absent. COUNCIL MATTERS 8. Colleagues Memo from Mayor Kishimoto, Vice Mayor Klein and Council Member Drekmeier Regarding the Creation of an Environmental Commission and Appropriate Staffing for Environmental Matters MOTION: Vice Mayor Klein moved, seconded by Drekmeier, to accept the Colleagues Memo to direct staff to prepare an ordinance for the creation of a seven member Environmental Commission whose authority and responsibilities would be: a. The purpose of the Environmental Commission shall be to advise the City Council on the development and success of the sustainability strategy for the City of Palo Alto. It shall advise the City Council on all environmental policies, strategies, practices and programs. The Environmental 07/04/23 14 Commission may also advise the City Manager on ways to prevent further the degradation of the environment and communicate environmental issues to the general public. b. The Environmental Commission shall have the authority to review and make recommendations to the City Council on any policy proposed for adoption by the City regarding long-term plans for environmental sustainability, except for those regarding land use, which remain within the jurisdiction of the Planning and Transportation Commission, and rate setting for the utilities, which remain within the jurisdiction of the Utilities Advisory Commission provided that the Environmental Commission may make recommendations with respect to special rate incentives to promote conservation. The Environmental Commission shall not be involved in the review of Environmental Impact reports under CEQA/NEPA that concern specific land use matters but may consider other CEQA/NEPA issues if so requested by the City Council. c. The Environmental Commission will encourage Broad participation of the community in achieving its goals and may, from time to time, propose to the Council creation of task forces to advise it on how to best achieve its goal of developing and carrying out a sustainability strategy for the City of Palo Alto. Council Member Drekmeier said the Council’s vision for the Environmental Commission was to have commissioners with expertise willing to put in the time to come up with good ideas and to direct staff, as well as to do most of the background work in making the process easier for staff and the Council to implement. There was a need for a staff person to coordinate the policy with the Environmental Commission in moving forward with important issues. Sustainability was an overall City policy. Council Member Mossar said there was an environmental staff person in the City Manager’s Office when June Fleming was City Manager and the position was eliminated. Ms. Harrison said it was an internship and not a permanent position. Council Member Mossar said the Finance Committee recommended the City Manager add an Economic Development person in 2006 and arguments convinced the Council it was not necessary. The arguments included keeping the seventh floor lean with no increase in Manager’s staffing during staff reductions in other departments. It was evident at this meeting there were many staff people who were committed in working on environmental programs and issues. She had concerns regarding the necessity of adding a 07/04/23 15 new fulltime employee during a time when the City was trying to cut costs. City Manager Frank Benest said he was hesitant in adding a new position but it would be the Council’s decision to decide its priority and the approach to move the initiatives forward. He said the memo mentioned no overlap of commissions dealing with issues particularly land use. Land use and transportation issues should be kept in their own realm. Council Member Mossar said the Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) set rates, evaluated purchasing policies, and established long-term strategic plans. She asked how the City Manager envisioned the Environmental Commission in overlapping with the UAC’s obligations. Mr. Benest said to minimize overlapping, the Council should direct staff to return with a recommendation to be more specific regarding the UAC and the Environmental Commission, the Environmental Commission and the P&TC, and to not expand the process more than was necessary. Council Member Mossar said the memo did not define what the Commission would handle nor was it clear on the reasons for having a Commission. She wanted to further discuss the issues and get recommendations on how to separate the responsibilities. She noted the City had problems in getting candidates to fill commissioner positions. Council Member Morton had concerns regarding the cost in establishing another Commission. Council Member Barton stated he had issues on the Council protocols in discussing the memo. He said general issues could be discussed but not the memo. The memo should be forwarded to the Policy and Services Committee (P&S) for recommendations as to whether or not to establish a Commission. Council Member Kleinberg said her concern regarding the memo were: 1) Commissions did not advise the City Manager; they advised the Council; 2) strategies considered and adopted by the City came from the Commissions that dealt with transportation, land use, buildings, and utilities and she asked what was left for the Environmental Commission to do; 3) the memo did not indicate a problem statement; 4) disagreed with the statement, “the Commission would be an institutionalized continuation of the Green Ribbon Task Force.” The GRTF on climate protection was not a City government task force. It was an arms-length, neutral, cross-sector, public-private 07/04/23 16 network and partnership. Institutionalizing the GRTF would takeaway one of its core values in the community. She agreed the Council’s biggest responsibility was climate protection, but the most important concern was public safety. Disaster planning and preparedness, pandemic flu, public safety planning and safe buildings were issues that were essential. She did not believe there was a necessity for an Environmental Commission until the Council considered the priorities such as where to put staff time and to consider a Public Safety Commission. She did not support the motion. Art Liberman, 751 Chimalus Drive, said the Environmental Commission should have the expertise and responsibility to go beyond the areas of energy conservation and reduction of greenhouse gases. They should have the objective of limiting the amounts and exposure of individuals to hazardous materials, reducing damage to the environment. Their focus on hazardous materials would be part of the process the Mayor called, “bring our economy into harmony with the environment.” Michael Classon, 354 Poe Street, said it would be an inadequate Commission if energy, City planning, and zero waste were removed. The Commission required someone to review all of the issues. He did not feel the Council should eliminate the idea but to do more thinking on what needed to be accomplished with the proposed Commission. Council Member Cordell said the Council would need to vote for or against the concept and whether or not to have a staff member designated. If the Council voted in favor of the concept, it would need to have the P&S return with recommendations. The overlap in the Commissions’ responsibilities could be problematic. To have a individual report to the City Manager to coordinate and have creative ideas would be more practical rather than to put together a Commission dealing directly with the environment. The other Commissions could deal with Green Buildings and sustainability. Mayor Kishimoto said more work needed to be done on the goals and mission statement and to define the description on how the Commission would work. She was convinced it would be of benefit to move forward with the proposal. Council Member Cordell corrected her previous statement and said it was not necessary to vote to support the concept but to send the item to P&S and return to the Council with recommendations as to whether or not to have an Environmental Commission. 07/04/23 17 Vice Mayor Klein said the environment was part of public safety. It was necessary to have an Environmental Commission and the existence of the Green Ribbon Task Force was proof of why the job was not being done by any of the existing groups. The work was not being accomplished by anyone in the City and the GRTF needed to be institutionalized in the City. SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member Cordell moved, seconded by Mossar, to refer to the Policy and Services Committee the Colleagues’ Memo to make recommendations on whether or not to establish an Environmental Commission. Council Member Mossar said several issues needed to be worked through and she was in favor of discussing the proposal further. Council Member Cordell said she was not totally against the motion but felt the need to work with P&S to further discuss the Commissions’ responsibilities and authority. Council Member Kleinberg said there was the need for a staff person to coordinate cross-sectors. She was aware of the budgetary problems, but whatever was being accomplished in the environmental areas would ultimately reduce costs and ensure the quality of life. She was not against having a staff person but was more concerned about having a Commission for all the reasons she previously mentioned. Council Member Morton was not in favor of sending the proposal to the P&S and said a vote needed to take place at this evening’s meeting. Council Member Drekmeier concurred with Council Member Morton. SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED 4-4, Barton, Cordell, Kishimoto, Klein voting yes, Beecham absent. Council Member Drekmeier requested to change his vote to yes and to forward the item to P&S. SUBSTITUTE MOTION PASSED 5-3 Morton, Mossar, Kleinberg no, Beecham absent. MOTION: Council Member Kleinberg moved, seconded by Mossar, to request that staff return with an analysis and recommendation concerning a staff position for an environmental coordinator. 07/04/23 18 Council Member Kleinberg clarified the motion included a permanent staff person and, therefore, should staff return with a recommendation to accept a staff person, the individual’s scope of service would provide leverage on all the work that had been accomplished. Council Member Morton said there were staff personnel who were committed to the Green program work and other environmental and energy saving roles. He suggested the permanent position be multi-department making it more palatable for budgetary considerations. Vice Mayor Klein asked to add to the motion when staff returned to the Council to refer the matter to the Finance Committee. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER that the matter of an environmental staff person would be referred to the Finance Committee after receiving the staff recommendation. Vice Mayor Klein said for the record he wanted to make clear that the City did not have anyone who had a fulltime, 40-hour a week responsibility for reaching out to the private sector. MOTION PASSED 8-0 Beecham absent. COUNCIL COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND REPORTS FROM CONFERENCES Council Member Kleinberg referred to the report from the City Manager on the Summary of Redwood City Fire/Community Alerting System (Teleminder) Failure and questioned what Palo Alto is doing to ensure this does not happen again. Palo Alto must be prepared to handle something like this early on since there was no communication across county lines and it might have been toxic fumes. Mr. Benest agreed to provide more information on the Redwood City Teleminder failure. Council Member Mossar noted she was recently appointed a Delegate to the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) Joint Planning Committee. The role of the BCDC will be leading the climate change discussion relative to land use. 07/04/23 19 Council Member Barton reported the April 18th Tri City Youth Business Summit was tremendously successful and included 15-20 businesses and community leaders for a total of approximately 80 people. Council Member Cordell stated on Saturday, April 28, Stanford University is hosting the Title 9 conference, which would culminate in a conversation with Billie Jean King. Mayor Kishimoto noted congratulations to Dinah’s Garden Hotel on its 50th anniversary and that the past weekend was the 20th anniversary for the Palo Alto and Linköping Sister City relationship. She also reported the Valley Transportation Authority was preparing a comprehensive operation analysis, which would redo all the routes. She stated the Dumbarton Rail Line is facing some very important choices and there would be a meeting on this tomorrow. FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:30 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.