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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-01-07 City Council Summary MinutesCITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 1 of 6 Special Meeting January 7, 2013 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 7:14 P.M. Present: Burt, Espinosa, Holman, Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh Absent: Mayor Yeh announced that former Palo Alto Mayor Sandy Eikans passed away earlier in the week. He also discussed the Stanford University victory over the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Rose Bowl. He honored and welcomed the dignitaries including Assembly Member Rich Gordon, County Supervisor Joe Simitian, Ann Ream from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Cory Wolbach from Senator Jerry Hill's office, Cupertino Vice Mayor Gilbert Wong, PAUSD Board Members Dana Tom, Heidi Emberling, Camille Townsend, Former PAUSD Board President Carolyn Tucker, Former PAUSD Board Member Diane Reklis, Former Vice Mayor Emily Renzel, Former Mayor Judy Kleinberg, Peter Otaki, Former Mayor Jean McCown, Former Mayor Yoriko Kishimoto, and Former PAUSD Board Member Susie Richardson. He acknowledged Palo Alto Board and Commission Members. Vice Mayor Scharff called for the swearing in of new Council Members. Donna Grider, City Clerk swore in Council Members Marc Berman, Patrick Burt, Liz Kniss, and Greg Schmid. At this point the new Council Members were seated and former Mayor Yeh and Council Member Espinosa left the dais. Vice Mayor Scharff welcomed the new Council Members. Council Member Kniss thanked her family and campaign workers for their support. MINUTES Page 2 of 6 City Council Meeting Minutes: 1/7/13 Council Member Berman thanked his family and campaign team for supporting him. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 1. Election of the Mayor for 2013 Vice Mayor Scharff opened the floor for nominations for the position of Mayor in 2013 NOMINATION: Council Member Klein nominated Vice Mayor Scharff for Mayor in 2013. Council Member Klein noted the prior four Mayors were all raised locally. Vice Mayor Scharff was born in South Africa, was raised in New York, and then moved to Palo Alto. Transplanted residents such as Vice Mayor Scharff were important to the fabric of Palo Alto. The role of Mayor in Palo Alto was important and required strong skills such as meeting facilitation, spokesperson for the City locally and internationally, and Council leadership. Council Member Berman supported the nomination of Greg Scharff for Mayor. As Vice Mayor, he was generous with advice and willing to entertain different viewpoints. NOMINATION PASSED: 9-0 Donna Grider, City Clerk announced that Vice Mayor Scharff with 9 votes was elected as the Mayor for 2013. 2. Election of the Vice Mayor for 2013 Mayor Scharff opened the floor for nominations for the position of Vice Mayor for 2013. NOMINATION: Council Member Price nominated Council Member Shepherd for Vice Mayor in 2013. Council Member Price indicated Council Member Shepherd was committed to public service and had a long history of contribution and leadership in the community. Council Member Shepherd was prepared, set a high standard of civility, and maintained a sense of humor. Council Member Shepherd chaired the Finance Committee, defended appropriate processes, and MINUTES Page 3 of 6 City Council Meeting Minutes: 1/7/13 contributed to High Speed Rail, Caltrain, Youth Well Being, Cubberley and other topics. She urged support for Council Member Shepherd. NOMINATION: Council Member Burt nominated Council Member Holman for Vice Mayor in 2013. Council Member Burt served with Council Member Holman on various neighborhood organizations and on the Planning and Transportation Commission. Council Member Holman had a great sense of fairness and impartiality and a devotion to the Palo Alto process. She served on the Finance Committee and chaired the Policy and Services Committee. Mayor Scharff asked the Nominees to speak if they wished. Council Member Shepherd was honored to serve on the City Council. She had effectively brought forward the Youth Collaborative and High Speed Rail. She served on the committees for Bus Rapid Transit and Cubberley. She exercised leadership on the Finance Committee, and the League of Cities appointed her as the Santa Clara County Board Member and to the Legislative Committee on Transportation, Communication and Public Works. Council Member Holman felt both she and Council Member Shepherd were qualified to serve as Vice Mayor. She served eight years on the Planning and Transportation Commission. Commitment to fairness and process led to predictability in outcomes. She served as liaison to various Palo Alto Commissions and Boards, and served on County and League of Cities committees. Council Member Schmid seconded the nomination of Council Member Holman. He referred to her long and distinguished service on the Planning and Transportation Commission, and her recent role as Chair of the Policy and Services Committee. She was not afraid to speak out for the citizens of Palo Alto. She was an active advocate for community cooperation and volunteer work. Her sense of place and history was important for the future of Palo Alto. NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SHEPHERD PASSED: 6-3 Berman, Klein, Kniss, Scharff, Shepherd, Price Yes NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMAN FAILED: 3-6 Burt, Holman, Schmid Yes Donna Grider, City Clerk announced that Council Member Shepherd with 6 votes was elected to the position of Vice Mayor for 2013. MINUTES Page 4 of 6 City Council Meeting Minutes: 1/7/13 Mayor Scharff believed 2013 would be a great year. He recognized family members and friends present. The community was fortunate to have each of the Council Members as representatives. He thanked Former Mayor Yeh for his partnership in the past year, and Former Council Member Espinosa for his friendship. Much hard work was ahead, and he looked forward to opening the Mitchell Park Library, renovation of the Main Library, implementation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, completion of the Stanford Perimeter Trail, reopening El Camino Park, achieving carbon neutrality for the Electric Utility, reconfiguration of the Golf Course, progressing with flood issues of San Francisquito Creek, and reconfiguration of California Avenue. Other critically important issues were fiscal sustainability, Downtown needs, infrastructure needs, Cubberley decisions, a waste energy plan, and fiber to the premises and undergrounding of utilities. He needed support from his colleagues to make these goals occur. He expected 2013 to be an exciting year, filled with opportunities and challenges. 3. Resolution 9311 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding Public Service to Yiaway Yeh as Council Member and Mayor”. Council Member Price read the Resolution into the record. Council Member Holman stated Former Mayor Yeh served with dignity, grace, enthusiasm, and integrity. She hoped he would return to the dais at some time in the future. Vice Mayor Shepherd noted the prior Council Members served together for three years, and in that time forged a strong bond. She thanked Former Mayor Yeh for his ability to work with Staff in order to follow the Palo Alto process. Council Member Burt felt Former Mayor Yeh had a deep commitment to the community, and embodied the belief that public service was the highest calling. He appreciated his personal relationship with Former Mayor Yeh. Council Member Price indicated Former Mayor Yeh was calm, focused, and thoughtful about commitments and issues. Council Member Klein thanked Former Mayor Yeh for his outstanding service on the Northern California Power Agency Board. MINUTES Page 5 of 6 City Council Meeting Minutes: 1/7/13 Council Member Berman recalled his first learning of and meeting with Former Mayor Yeh. MOTION: Vice Mayor Shepherd moved, seconded by Council Member Schmid to adopt the Resolution expressing appreciation for outstanding public service to Yiaway Yeh as Council Member and Mayor. MOTION PASSED: 9-0 Vince Larkin spoke regarding Former Mayor Yeh and Former Council Member Espinosa. Former Mayor Yeh thanked the Council for the Resolution. He enjoyed learning from each Council Member and forming friendships with them. The Council was a group of committed individuals focused on being effective stewards in Palo Alto. He thanked City Staff for their commitment and service to Palo Alto. He was grateful for the opportunity to serve the community and for their support. 4. Resolution 9312 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding Public Service to Sidney A. Espinosa as Council Member and Mayor”. Mayor Scharff read the Resolution into the record. Council Member Kniss had wonderful memories of working with both Former Mayor Yeh and Former Council Member Espinosa. She admired Former Mayor Yeh for implementing the Mayor's Challenge to bring the community together. Council Member Price felt Former Council Member Espinosa's dignity, sense of humor, and calmness benefitted the Council. His strong support of the arts was appreciated. Council Member Holman stated Former Council Member Espinosa had boundless energy and was omnipresent. His speaking abilities were remarkable. She thanked him for his service. Council Member Berman thanked Former Council Member Espinosa for his motivation and advice. Council Member Klein indicated Former Council Member Espinosa attended many City events and contacted many people. He looked forward to working with him again in the future. MINUTES Page 6 of 6 City Council Meeting Minutes: 1/7/13 MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Holman to adopt the Resolution expressing appreciation for outstanding public service to Sidney A. Espinosa as Council Member and Mayor. MOTION PASSED: 9-0 Former Council Member Espinosa thanked Former Mayor Yeh for his service. When he first joined the Council, he found a hardworking Staff. The City was strong and responsive with strong leadership. Council Members were committed to thoughtfully attacking issues. The public was more engaged and smarter than he imagined. The Council addressed each issue he noted in his campaign literature. He asked the Council to continue its hard work, because much was yet to be done. He thanked the community, City Staff, Council Members, and his family for their service, dedication, and support. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Tony Kramer recalled his appeal of the Palo Alto Noise Code. He believed the Planning Department's interpretation of the Noise Code was incorrect, and would result in high noise levels in residential areas. He hoped the Council would act to correct the misapplication of the Noise Code. Andy Vought noted a meeting at the Lucie Stern Community Center to solicit neighborhood input on the proposed Newell Road Super Bridge Project. The proposed super bridge was too large for Newell Road, would increase traffic volume and speeds, and impair child safety. He asked the Council to address flooding issues, but not at the expense of quality of life. Cory Wolbach appeared as a representative of Senator Jerry Hill. Former Mayor Yeh and Former Council Member Espinosa would be missed on the Council. He thanked them for their extraordinary service. He congratulated Council Members Burt, Schmid, Kniss and Berman on their election to the Council. He urged the Council and community to contact him or Senator Hill with any concerns or suggestions. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M.