HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-16 City Council Action Minutes
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ACTION MINUTES
Special Meeting
April 16, 2012
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council
Chambers at 5:32 P.M.
Present: Burt, Holman arrived @ 5:35 P.M., Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid,
Shepherd, Yeh
Absent: Espinosa
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
City Designated Representatives: City Manager and his designees
pursuant to Merit System Rules and Regulations (James Keene, Pamela
Antil, Lalo Perez, David Ramberg, Sandra Blanch, Marcie Scott, Darrell
Murray)
Employee Organization: Service Employees International Union, (SEIU)
Local 521
Authority: Government Code Section 54957.6(a)
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION
(Subdivision (a) of Section 54956.9)
Curtner Homes LP v. City of Palo Alto, Santa Clara County
Case No. 1-10-CV-170151
The City Council reconvened from the Closed Session at 7:31 P.M. and Mayor
Yeh announced no reportable action.
Council Member Klein left the meeting at 7:30 P.M. and returned at 8:25 P.M.
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
3. Proclamation IIMC Municipal Clerks Week-April 29 Through May 5, 2012.
Vice Mayor Scharff read the Proclamation into the record.
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4. Appointment for Three Positions on the Public Art Commission for Three
Terms Ending April 30, 2012.
First Round of voting for three positions on the Public Art Commission for three
terms ending April 30, 2012:
Voting For Richard Ambrose: Burt, Holman, Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid,
Shepherd, Yeh
Voting For Alena Campagna: Klein
Voting For Harvey Citrin: Klein
Voting For Hemla Makan-Dullabh: Scharff, Schmid
Voting For Vikki Tobak: Burt, Holman, Price, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh
Voting For Patricia Walsh: Burt, Holman, Price, Scharff, Shepherd, Yeh
City Clerk, Donna Grider announced that Richard Ambrose with 8 votes, Vikki
Tobak with 6 votes, and Patricia Walsh with 6 votes were elected to the Public
Art Commission.
5. Appointment for One Position on the Utilities Advisory Commission for an
Unexpired Term Ending June 30, 2013.
First Round of voting for one position on the Utilities Advisory Commission for
an unexpired term Ending June 30, 2013:
Voting For Garth Hall: Burt, Holman, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd,
Yeh
Voting For Mark Harris: Klein, Price, Yeh
Voting For Walter Loewenstein:
City Clerk, Donna Grider announced that Garth Hall with 5 votes was elected to
the Utilities Advisor Commission.
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6. Appointment for Three Positions on the Human Relations Commission for
Three Year Terms Ending March 31, 2015.
First Round of voting three positions on the Human Relations Commission for
three Year terms ending March 31, 2015:
Voting For Ray Bacchetti: Burt, Holman, Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid,
Shepherd, Yeh
Voting For Theresa Chen: Burt, Holman, Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid,
Shepherd, Yeh
Voting For Diane Morin: Burt, Holman, Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid,
Shepherd, Yeh
City Clerk, Donna Grider announced that Ray Bacchetti with 8 votes, Theresa
Chen with 8 votes, and Diane Morin with 8 votes were elected to the Human
Relations Commission.
STUDY SESSION
7. Overview of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program to Reduce Greenhouse
Gas Emissions and Impacts on the Operation of Electric and Gas Utilities.
Scott Tomashevsky, Regulatory Affairs Manager of the Northern California
Power Agency provided an overview of the regulations related to the cap-and-
trade regulations adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Mr.
Tomashevsky noted in particular the requirement that the City utilize the value
of allowances to be allocated to its electric utility, including proceeds from the
sale of the allowances in the auctions conducted by CARB exclusively for the
benefit of electric retail ratepayers, consistent with the States greenhouse gas
reduction goals. CARB will conduct quarterly auctions of the allowances
currently scheduled to begin in November 2012.
8. Update on the Climate Protection Plan - Earth Day Staff Report.
Debra van Duynhoven, the Sustainability Manager for the City of Palo Alto,
provided an update on the City’s Sustainability programs and the progress
made towards meeting the City’s GHG reduction goals set by Council. The
2012 GHG emissions reduction goal for municipal operations (also called City
operations) is 20% below the 2005 baseline levels. The corresponding 2012
GHG emissions reduction goal for the entire community was set at 5% below
the 2005 baseline levels. At present, Staff estimates that emissions from City
operations could be reduced by 27% by the end of 2012, and community
emissions could be reduced by 15% by the end of 2012. These projected
reductions far exceed the goals set for 2012 and reaches the 2020 community
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reduction goal of 15%. These estimated reductions will be primarily achieved
with greater purchases of electricity from renewable supplies, greater
participation in the PaloAltoGreen program and lower levels of waste to the
landfill.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION: Council Member Price moved, seconded by Mayor Yeh to pull
Agenda Item No. 11 and continue it to a date uncertain.
MOTION PASSED: 8-0 Espinosa absent
MOTION: Council Member Schmid moved, seconded by Council Member Klein
to approve Agenda Item Nos. 9-10, 12.
9. Resolution 9241 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Modifying the City of Palo Alto’s Utilities’ Long-term Electric Acquisition
Plan’s Strategy Related to the Renewable Portfolio Standard”.
10. Budget Amendment Ordinance 5151 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of
the City of Palo Alto for FY 2012 to Appropriate Three Grant Donations:
(1) in the Amount of $13,500 from the City and County of San Francisco
For the Purchase of a Rapidly Deployable Shelter System, (2) in the
Amount of $68,800 From the City and County of San Francisco For the
Purchase of a Mobile Emergency Operations Center Support Vehicle, and
(3) in the Amount of $57,000 From the Silicon Valley Community
Foundation to Promote Widespread Participation by Peninsula Cities in
Formulating and Implementing a Best Practices Common Model for
Neighborhood Emergency Response Preparedness.
11. Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City of Palo Alto Annex to the
Santa Clara County Annex to the 2010 Association of Bay Area
Governments Local Hazard Mitigation Plan “Taming Natural Disasters”.
12. Approval of an Amendment No. One to the Amended and Restated
Stewardship Agreement Between The City of Palo Alto and Acterra in the
Amount of $54,496 for the Initial Year of Services for the Enid W. Pearson
Arastradero Preserve.
MOTION PASSED for Agenda Item Nos. 9-10, and 12: 8-0 Espinosa absent
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ACTION ITEMS
13. Approval of Retiree Medical Report and Assumption Changes.
MOTION: Council Member Shepherd moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Scharff
to: 1) accept the retiree medical actuarial study with changes to amortization
method, asset smoothing, and actuarial load, but keeping the 7.75 discount
rate assumption in 2012, and 2) for fiscal year 2013 accept all Finance
Committee recommended changes, including the discount rate changing from
7.25 to 7.61 percent to match the highest CalPERS discount rate option.
AMENDMENT: Council Member Schmid moved, seconded by Council Member
XXX to use the original assumptions included in slide 3 on packet page 449.
AMENDMENT FAILED DUE TO LACK OF SECOND
MOTION PASSED: 7-1 Schmid no, Espinosa absent
14. Budget Amendment Ordinance 5152 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of
the City of Palo Alto Amending the Budget for Fiscal Year 2012 to Adjust
Budgeted Revenues and Expenditures in Accordance with the
Recommendations in the Midyear Report”.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Scharff moved, seconded by Council Member Shepherd
to:
1) Adopt Budget Amendment Ordinance, which includes:
a) Proposed midyear adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2012
Budget for the General Fund, Enterprise Funds, Special
Revenue Funds, Internal Service Funds, and Capital
Improvement Fund
b) Fiscal Year 2012 Midyear CIP Adjustments
c) Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2012 Table of Organization
d) Establishment of the Special Revenue Fund for Stanford
University Medical Center Development Agreement
payments;
2) Resolution 9242 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of
Palo Alto amending the 2010-2011 Compensation Plan for
Management and Professional adopted by Resolution No. 9156 to
change the titles of four positions and to add one new position”;
3) Include the Council action taken in Agenda Item No. 13 into the
Midyear Budget; and
4) Revise the midyear adjustment for Electric Fund CIP EL89-028 to
$500,000.
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MOTION PASSED: 8-0 Espinosa absent
15. Recommendation that Council Adopt the Draft Cubberley Guiding
Principles, Confirm the City Manager's Appointments to the Community
Advisory Committee (CAC) and Review the Conceptual Site Plans
Prepared Jointly by the Staff of the PAUSD and City of Palo Alto
(continued from 04/09/12).
MOTION: Council Member Shepherd moved, seconded by Council Member
Klein to: 1) accept the revised Cubberley Guiding Principles in draft form, 2)
forward to the Policy Advisory Committee the draft guiding principles, the draft
conceptual plans, and the review of the composition of the Community
Advisory, and 3) return to the City Council for approval of the above.
1. The meetings are to be recorded and minutes completed. (Costs of minutes
to be cost-shared by the City and PAUSD).
2. Documents, architectural drawings and other written communication
provided to the Committees shall be made available to the general public
as soon as possible.
3. The City and PAUSD are supportive of Cubberley remaining a major
cultural, educational and non-profit resource very important to the
community’s health and vitality.
4. The City and PAUSD seek to work cooperatively to explore all practical
means to jointly re-use the Cubberley campus for both educational and
community services.
5. The City and PAUSD recognizes that both entities have significant financial
interests in the Cubberley campus which both parties should be open and
sympathetic to the interests of the other party.
6. Both The City and PAUSD have ownership interests in portions of the
campus: PAUSD owns 27 acres and the City owns 8 acres. The parties may
consider relocation of its ownership interests within the site to facilitate
optimal site layout and efficiency.
7. To the extent possible, facility planning, architectural design, economic
analysis or other expert service costs should be shared equally between
the City and PAUSD for 2012-2013.
8. While the Policy Advisory Committee planning should occur as cooperatively
as possible, the City Council representatives and the PAUSD Board
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members will retain independent recommending authority should
consensus not be reached.
9. School quality and capacity is a significant City-wide issue considered
essential to the maintenance of educational opportunities and excellence,
and the overall health and well-being of our community.
10. Cubberley programs enrich the community and criteria should be
developed to prioritize and/or retain existing uses as well as assess
prospective new uses.
11. The City and PAUSD recognizes the potential to re-use the site as a joint
City/PAUSD facility could result in stronger educational and cultural
programs provided more efficiently.
12. The City Council representatives on the Policy Advisory Committee shall
report, not less often than bi-monthly, to the full Council on Cubberley
planning activities.
13. The City and PAUSD should work to continue community access to
Cubberley to the extent possible. Recreation facilities provided at the
Cubberley campus produce important services benefitting the community
at large.
14. The residential neighborhoods surrounding Cubberley are significant factors
in determining the compatibility of possible building changes on the
Cubberley campus.
15. Transportation issues and access to and within Cubberley shall be
considered in evaluating possible re-use options including improved bicycle
and pedestrian facilities.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER
AND SECONDER: change Guiding Principle No. 5 to: The City and PAUSD
recognizes that both entities have significant interests in the Cubberley campus
and both parties should be open and sympathetic to the interests of the other
party.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER
AND SECONDER: add a sentence in the Guiding Principles that states: Draft
conceptual site plans are a starting point for discussion.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER
AND SECONDER that Guiding Principle No. 1 will reflect: The City Clerk’s
Office would be responsible for sense minutes for the Policy Advisory and the
City Manager’s Office would be responsible to take notes at each Community
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Advisory Committee meeting for the purpose of compiling a final report (similar
to the one created for the IBRC).
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER
AND SECONDER that the Community Advisory Committee members are to be
jointly appointed by the City Manager and the PAUSD Superintendent.
MOTION PASSED: 8-0 Espinosa absent
16. Public Hearing: Adoption of an Ordinance Approving an Amendment to
the 1997 Sand Hill Road Development Agreement to Extend Lease on El
Camino Park and to Remove Approximately 10.25 Acres of Land
(Searsville and Fremont Roads) in Santa Clara County from Special
Condition Area B to be Used for Central Energy. (Cogeneration) Facility.
Council Member Klein advised he would not participate in this item as his wife
in on faculty at Stanford University. He left the meeting at 11:23P.M.
Mayor Yeh advised he would not participate in this item as his wife is a PHD
candidate at Stanford. He left the meeting at 11:23 P.M.
Public hearing opened at 11:40 P.M.
Public hearing closed at 11:43 P.M.
MOTION: Council Member Price moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Scharff to:
1) approve the Ordinance approving the proposed amendment to the 1997
Sand Hill Road Development Agreement to remove a 10.25-acre site from the
139-acre Special Condition Area B within the jurisdiction of Santa Clara County,
and 2) to extend the lease of the 10.74-acre El Camino Park, from June 30,
2033, to June 30, 2042.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0 Espinosa absent, Klein, Yeh not participating
COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Holman reported on attending the Santa Clara Valley Water
District Commission meeting last week, she registered a No vote on
reapproving the 9.3 increase for ground water production in the north county
area.
Council Member Shepherd attended the Caltrain Joint Powers Board meeting
approximately 10 days ago and they reported that Palo Alto has increased its
ridership by 15.7% over last year.
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Council Member Price reported she attended the BART Berryessa extension
ground breaking event on Thursday April 12, 2012.
Council Member Burt spoke about an initiative to achieve funding and plans for
the South Bay Tidal Plan for sea level rise.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 11:56 P.M. in honor of Lucie
Stern’s birthday.