HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-09-19 City Council Summary Minutes
Special Meeting
September 19, 2001
1. Study Session re Reliability of Palo Alto’s Water
Supply ..................................................... 419
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ................. 419
1. Resolution Designating the Edgewood Redevelopment
Survey Area ................................................ 420
1A. Report from Director on Activities of the San
Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority .................. 422
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ............................................. 422
2. Ordinance 4716 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 18 of Municipal Code to Adopt Changes into the Single Family (R-1)
Zone District Regulations” ................................. 423
3. Ordinance 4717 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of
the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 18 of the Municipal Code to Add a New Chapter 18.14 (Individual Review Process For Certain Two Story Residential
Construction Projects in the R-1 Single Family District)” ................................................. 423
4. Resolution 8082 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adopting a Compensation Plan for Police Non-Management Personnel and Rescinding
Resolution Nos. 7788, 7838, 7903, 7963, and 7985" .......... 423
5. Resolution 8084 entitled “Resolution of the Council of
the City of Palo Alto Amending Section 1401 of the Merit System Rules and Regulation Regarding the Memorandum of Agreement Between the City of Palo Alto
and Local 715A, SEIU, AFL-CIO, CLC” ........................ 424
6. Resolution 8085 entitled “Resolution of the Council of
the City of Palo Alto Adopting Revised Utility Rate Schedules EDF-1 of the City of Palo Alto Utilities
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Rate and Charges Pertaining to Dark Fiber Licensing Services” .................................................. 424
7. Ordinance 4718 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Budget for Fiscal Year 2001-02 to Provide an Additional Appropriation of $170,000 in the Planning Department, Amend the Planning Department Table of Organization, and Add New
Fees to the Municipal Fee Schedule for the Single Family Review Process” ..................................... 424
8. Professional Services Agreement Between the City of
Palo Alto and Geodesy in the Amount of $102,500 for Development Support of New Computer Applications
linked to the Geographic Information System (GIS) .......... 424
9. 539 Alma Street: Designation to the Historic Inventory of a Significant Building in Category 2 at the Request of the Owner, Steven L. Fasani, Pursuant to Municipal Code Chapter 16.49, Sections 16.49.020 and 16.49.040 ....... 424
10. Ordinance Amending the Budget and Table of Organization for the Fiscal Year 2001-02 to Provide an
Additional Appropriation $55,444 to add a Project Engineer, $50,000 for Associated Operating Expenses, and $200,000 for Capital Improvement Project 10204,
Library Master Plan ........................................ 425
11. Auditor’s Office Annual Plan ............................... 426
COUNCIL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS .................. 428
12. Conference with City Attorney — Pending Litigation ......... 428
13. Conference with City Attorney — Pending Litigation ......... 441
FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. in memory of all the victims, families, and those affected by
the losses of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The Council extended their sympathies and prayers to all. ........... 429
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The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in
the Council Chambers at 6:10 p.m.
PRESENT: Beecham, Eakins, Fazzino, Kleinberg, Lytle
(arrived at 6:15 p.m.), Ojakian
ABSENT: Burch, Mossar, Wheeler
SPECIAL MEETING
1. Study Session re Reliability of Palo Alto’s Water
Supply
No action required.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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Special Meeting September 19, 2001
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 7:03 p.m. Mayor Eakins opened the meeting with the Pledge of
Allegiance. PRESENT: Beecham, Eakins, Fazzino, Kleinberg, Lytle,
Mossar, Ojakian
ABSENT: Burch, Wheeler Mayor Eakins spoke to the events of September 11, 2001. REPORTS OF OFFICIALS
1. Resolution Designating the Edgewood Redevelopment Survey Area City Manager Frank Benest said staff was recommending that
the City Council adopt the resolution to designate the Edgewood Redevelopment Survey Area, which was the Edgewood
Shopping Center. Once the survey area was designated, a project area study was conducted to explore whether the survey area met the legal criteria of blight. The two major
categories of blight were economic and physical conditions within the project survey area. The City Attorney had
included a packet for the Council that contained a variety of documents and resolutions that was to be reviewed and considered in October. Those documents were provided in
advance to allow the Council to review the formal steps to be taken to form the Redevelopment Agency.
Vice Mayor Ojakian said the Council Members should keep the information they received that evening on the Edgewood Redevelopment Survey Area, so staff would not have to duplicate it later.
Council Member Mossar clarified that no action would be taken on the Edgewood Redevelopment until October.
Mr. Benest said that was correct.
Council Member Fazzino opposed the proposal Redevelopment Plan for Edgewood Plaza. He supported the need to renovate
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and rejuvenate the Edgewood area, but could not conclude that Palo Alto was blighted.
Council Member Mossar commented that although she had voted previously in support of the Redevelopment Plan, she had growing discomfort proceeding forward, and would review the study carefully before coming to a conclusion.
Mr. Benest said the study was intended to provide information and answer questions of whether the Edgewood
area met the legal definition, and whether the Agency was in the best interest of Palo Alto.
Council Member Kleinberg expressed concern that the recent Edgewood community outreach meeting provided residents with partial information. She encouraged the staff to continue to meet with the Edgewood neighborhood and include the
residents in every step of the redevelopment process. Vice Mayor Ojakian asked at what stage would the Council receive an analysis comparison that showed whether the monies gained through redevelopment were sufficient enough
to do the project survey, and one that showed whether the cost was less to redevelop Edgewood Plaza without use of
the Agency. Mr. Benest said the proposed Project Area Plan laid out an
economic and financial analysis based on input from the neighborhood, property owners, tenants, and staff. Although
Edgewood Plaza was not a major generator of tax increment, the Agency was a critical tool for the area.
Vice Mayor Ojakian asked whether there was a comparison of incentives in the marketplace to redevelop and repair
Edgewood sooner. Mr. Benest said that could be done. The assumption was that under normal conditions the marketplace would not respond.
Council Member Lytle suggested that staff extend themselves to the taxing entities with the County and the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD), before the required notice
to consult.
Mr. Benest said he would commit to doing that.
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Council Member Lytle said staff could also extend themselves to political contacts at the County level.
Mr. Benest said he and Mayor Eakins had already met with the County Supervisor. Council Member Mossar said staff should keep projections in mind for loss of property tax revenue which could hurt the
agencies that depended upon them. MOTION: Council Member Beecham moved, seconded by Lytle, to
adopt the resolution.
Resolution 8081 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Designating the Edgewood Redevelopment Survey Area” Council Member Beecham asked his colleagues to work
together to optimize what became of the program. MOTION PASSED 5-2, Fazzino, Ojakian “no”, Burch, Wheeler absent.
1A. Report from Director on Activities of the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority
Council Member Mossar commented that the City of Palo Alto received confirmation from the Santa Clara Valley Water
District (SCVWD) Board of Directors, that over $2 million in district funding was available for short- and long-term
projects for San Francisquito Creek. The projects included long-term flood control planning, water shed protection, levy restoration, general maintenance work, and
coordination with the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and other agencies involved in the planned projects and studies.
Council Member Lytle complimented Council Member Mossar on her work with the JPA. She also complimented Mayor Eakins for her political brinkmanship in restoring the line item from the Flood Advisory Board.
No action required.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Joe A. Villareal, 360 Sheridan Avenue, #101, spoke regarding the flag.
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Richard Alexander, 435 Santa Rita Avenue, spoke regarding flags and presented the Council with a flag for the City’s
use.
Vice Mayor Ojakian thanked Mr. Alexander for his kind gesture. He said the Council would welcome flags from other residents who wished to bring them in.
Mayor Eakins thanked Mr. Alexander for the presentation of his family’s flag. The City was accepting flags from Palo Altans and referred them to Economic Resources Manager Susan Arpan, who was assisting in distributing them to
businesses.
Vince Larkin, 990 Lundy Lane, Los Altos, spoke regarding the broadcasting of the City Council meeting that evening for KZSU on the internet.
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Attorney Ariel Calonne stated that a revised version of the ordinance for Item No. 3 was at places that evening,
which was recommended for second reading and adoption. MOTION: Council Member Beecham moved, seconded by Mossar, to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 2-9. LEGISLATIVE
2. Ordinance 4716 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 18 of Municipal Code to Adopt Changes into the Single Family (R-1)
Zone District Regulations” (1st Reading 8/06/01, Passed 9-0)
3. Ordinance 4717 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of
the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 18 of the Municipal Code to Add a New Chapter 18.14 (Individual Review Process For Certain Two Story Residential
Construction Projects in the R-1 Single Family District)” (1st Reading 8/06/01, Passed 9-0.)
4. Resolution 8082 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adopting a Compensation Plan for
Police Non-Management Personnel and Rescinding Resolution Nos. 7788, 7838, 7903, 7963, and 7985”
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Resolution 8083 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Section 1601 of the
Merit System Rules and Regulations Regarding the Memorandum of Agreement Between the City of Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Peace Officers’ Association” 5. Resolution 8084 entitled “Resolution of the Council of
the City of Palo Alto Amending Section 1401 of the Merit System Rules and Regulation Regarding the Memorandum of Agreement Between the City of Palo Alto
and Local 715A, SEIU, AFL-CIO, CLC”
6. Resolution 8085 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adopting Revised Utility Rate Schedules EDF-1 of the City of Palo Alto Utilities Rate and Charges Pertaining to Dark Fiber Licensing Services”
7. Ordinance 4718 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of
the City of Palo Alto Amending the Budget for Fiscal Year 2001-02 to Provide an Additional Appropriation of $170,000 in the Planning Department, Amend the
Planning Department Table of Organization, and Add New Fees to the Municipal Fee Schedule for the Single
Family Review Process” ADMINISTRATIVE
8. Professional Services Agreement Between the City of
Palo Alto and Geodesy in the Amount of $102,500 for Development Support of New Computer Applications linked to the Geographic Information System (GIS)
9. 539 Alma Street: Designation to the Historic Inventory
of a Significant Building in Category 2 at the Request of the Owner, Steven L. Fasani, Pursuant to Municipal Code Chapter 16.49, Sections 16.49.020 and 16.49.040 MOTION PASSED 6-0, Burch, Fazzino, Wheeler absent.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
10. Ordinance Amending the Budget and Table of Organization for the Fiscal Year 2001-02 to Provide an
Additional Appropriation $55,444 to add a Project Engineer, $50,000 for Associated Operating Expenses,
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and $200,000 for Capital Improvement Project 10204, Library Master Plan
Council Member Kleinberg asked whether the down-turn in the economy would affect the Council’s approach to the Library Master Plan and the City’s fiscal future.
City Manager Benest said staff was committed to maintaining the existing level of services as anticipated in the budget and reviving infrastructure spending. Staff was also
monitoring the decline in projected revenues, and had scheduled a presentation on the state of the City’s budget
and revenues. Council Member Lytle asked why the long-range financial priority in the infrastructure did not return to the full Council in the month of September as previously requested,
but instead was referred to the Finance Committee. Mr. Benest said the major item for the Finance Committee was the long-term financial projections contained in the Long-Range Financial Plan. Staff had hired a consultant to
set up the process to prepare for a possible tax measure in 2002. He hoped, with the help of the consultant, to have
more information on the long-term financial projections to present to the Council.
Council Member Lytle had hoped to have the Long-Range Financial Plan on Council’s agenda that evening, as
previously directed. Council Member Mossar said the Long-Range Financial Plan
was a significant and weighty issue that should go before the Finance Committee before being presented to the full
Council. Council Member Lytle said staff should honor the previous direction to present the matter before the full Council.
Shelby Valentine, 3116 Stelling Drive, supported going forward with the Library Master Plan now more than ever. During these troubled times it was the right thing to do.
Mayor Eakins trusted the City Manager would have the long-
range financial plan return to the full Council in late October.
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Assistant City Manager Emily Harrison said that would depend on what happened at the Finance Committee meeting,
but the normal turn-around was 4-5 weeks. MOTION: Council Member Lytle moved, seconded by Ojakian, to approve the staff recommendation as follows:
1. Approve a Budget Amendment Ordinance (BAO) to: a. provide an additional appropriation to
Capital Improvement Program Project 10204, Library Master Plan, in the amount of
$200,000, to retain architects for the initial conceptual designs of the Mitchell Park Community Center and Art Center. b. provide an additional appropriation of
$60,444 to add one full-time Project Engineer position in the Public Works Department and $45,000 in the Planning and Community Environment Department to hire a temporary contract planner to assist in
managing the capital work.
2. Review and approve a revised process and schedule to fast track the New Library Plan which involves review of the individual projects by the full
boards and commissions in an accelerated schedule.
Ordinance 4719 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Budget and Table of
Organization for the Fiscal Year 2001-02 to Provide an Additional Appropriation $55,444 to add a Project
Engineer, $50,000 for Associated Operating Expenses, and $200,000 for Capital Improvement Project 10204, Library Master Plan” MOTION PASSED 7-0, Burch, Wheeler absent.
REPORTS OF OFFICIALS
11. Auditor’s Office Annual Plan
Vice Mayor Ojakian said Mayor Eakins assigned an Ad Hoc Committee for the Auditor’s function a few weeks prior that included Council Members Beecham, Wheeler, and himself. The
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Ad Hoc Committee met on three separate occasions with the City Auditor and reviewed information received from the
Council Members to help design the audit plan. City Auditor Sharon Erickson said the proposed Auditor’s Annual Plan (the Plan) for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2001-02 outlined and incorporated input from the Council
Members, the Ad Hoc Committee, the City Manager, the City Attorney, and City staff. The Plan included a list of special projects that addressed a wide-range of concerns.
The Auditor’s office limited the number of audits in the plan. A number of items outlined in the plan included: 1)
general administration within the office; 2) preparation of a Risk Model Annual Plan that ranked areas of priorities in the City based on financial risk and other types of risks; 3) preparation of a Audit Recommendation Status Report that brought up-to-date, the status of all open audit
recommendations prior to the previous Auditor’s vacancy; and 4) other on-going assignments as outlined in the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC). A post-audit survey of City staff for satisfaction with the external firm would be conducted in June 2002.
Council Member Mossar welcomed the City’s Auditor’s
presentation and was heartened by the work ahead for the Auditor and her staff.
Council Member Lytle stated the Plan was a coordinated and comprehensive effort. She also thanked the Ad Hoc Committee
for their work. Council Member Beecham believed the Plan was too
aggressive, and wanted to ensure that the City Auditor would keep the Council apprised of issues that would limit
the ability to carry out the plan. City Attorney Calonne acknowledged that the Plan was an aggressive one, but Item No. 10 involved the timeliness review for infrastructure contract processing. The Council
was looking at $100 million over ten years, which was a lot of money. There was tremendous room for improvement and the City Auditor would receive help from staff as needed.
Council Member Beecham noted what was listed in the Plan
was a proactive approach to eliminate procedures that kept the City from losing money, but did cost revenue in controlling the losses. Losses would occur due to leaks
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here and there, but would not deter projects being done more effectively.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Ojakian moved, seconded by Mossar, to
approve the Auditor’s Office Annual Plan for fiscal year 2001-02.
Council Member Fazzino supported the Plan presented by the City Auditor. He affirmed that the function of the Auditor was important to the City. The City Auditor could produce
viable work, help the City help save significant amounts of dollars, help the City Manager streamline processes, and at
the same time, work with the City Manager’s office in an effective way. Vice Mayor Ojakian said the Ad Hoc Committee attempted to break the Plan into three segments. The first segment
involved hiring additional staff for the Auditor’s office. The second segment involved looking at financial revenue sources. The strategy was to delegate the sources out and pay on a contingency basis. It would provide an opportunity, with short-term contracts, to see how it
worked, and possibly bring those contracts in-house. The other performance audits were aggressive, but the Committee
was looking at items that were recently put in place, such as code enforcement and public works. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Burch absent.
COUNCIL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Council Member Fazzino congratulated the staff on
outstanding preparation with respect to the tragedy of September 11, 2001.
Mayor Eakins announced that the meeting would be adjourned in memory of all the victims and those affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. to a Closed Session. CLOSED SESSION
12. Conference with City Attorney — Pending Litigation
Subject: California Hearths & Homes Association Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(a)
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13. Conference with City Attorney — Pending Litigation Subject: Michelle Antoinette and David Lee v. City
of Palo Alto, Santa Clara County Superior Court No.: CV792117 Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(a) The City Council met in Closed Session to discuss matters
involving Pending Litigation as described in Agenda Item Nos. 12 and 13. Mayor Eakins announced that no reportable action was taken on Agenda Item Nos. 12 and 13.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. in memory of all the victims, families, and those affected by the losses of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The Council extended their sympathies and prayers to all.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
City Clerk Vice 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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