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Home My WebLink About2011-03-21 City Council Action Minutes 03/21/2011 ACTION Special Meeting March 21, 2011 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 6:05 p.m. Present: Burt, Espinosa, Holman arrived @ 8:45 p.m., Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh arrived @ 6:26 p.m. Absent: STUDY SESSION 1. Development Center Blueprint Study Session. Staff presented the status of the Blueprint for Development Center Improvement indicating that the final recommendations will be coming to the City Council in early July this year. Staff also mentioned that several Development Center (DC) improvements were currently underway including centralizing DC management, implementing a project management system on test basis, and researching the establishment of a special revenue account. Council Members provided feedback including awareness of all DC customers such as neighbors adjacent to proposed projects, individual homeowners and other stakeholders. Council input also including utilizing systems implemented in other communities, concerns regarding the special revenue fund, and use of online permitting for simple projects. In general, Council Members were pleased with the direction of the Blueprint and acknowledged the significant effort staff has put into the project thus far. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 2. Community Partners Non-Profit Presentation on the Magical Bridge. Friends of the Magical Bridge Playground (Friends) Representative, Olenka Villarreal spoke on the mission of the Friends of the Magical Bridge Playground. Friends seeks to create the first playground in the City where 2 03/21/2011 everyone can participate in outdoor fun. She indicated that all of the City’s 34 public parks are non-accessible to everyone, especially to those with physical and cognitive challenges. The planned location of the Magical Bridge Playground is in an underused portion of Mitchell Park, generously donated by the City. She spoke on the unique features proposed, including an accessible playhouse, community stage, fluid ramping system, smooth rubber ground surface, fully accessible play stations, and sand tables. She spoke on the total funding needed of $1.6 million, and funding raised to date. She invited the community to the Kappa Sigma and Kids with Dreams’ First Annual Field of Dreams Event to be held on April 3 at Stanford University. STUDY SESSION 3. Update on Preliminary Analysis of a Potential Energy/Compost Facility at Palo Alto Landfill/Byxbee Park and the Alternatives. CONSENT CALENDAR Staff requested that Agenda Item No. 13 be pulled to be heard at a date uncertain. MOTION: Council Member Klein moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Yeh and Council Member Shepherd to pull Agenda Item No. 7 to become Agenda Item No. 15a MOTION: Council Member Klein moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Yeh to approve Agenda Item Nos. 4-6, 8-12, 14-15. 4. Peak Electricity Reduction Pilot Program for Commercial Customers. 5. Resolution 9153 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto to Withdraw from the Financing Authority for Resource Efficiency of California.” 6. Approval of a Purchase Order with Western States Oil Company for a Three Year Period in the Total Amount Not to Exceed $2,676,675 for the Provision of Automotive Fuel. 7. Approval of a Conditional Use Permit and a Record of Land Use Action Amending an Existing Conditional Use Permit to Allow the Addition of Two Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Antennas Mounted to the Front Façade of the Hotel President at 488 University. 3 03/21/2011 8. Recommendation of the Utilities Advisory Commission to Approve the Bylaws of the Utilities Advisory Commission of the City of Palo Alto. 9. Resolution 9154 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Summarily Vacating Public Service Easements Within Areas of Underground Utility District No. 41.” 10. Resolution 9155 entitled” Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Approving Three Contracts with the Northern California Power Agency (a) Amendment No. Two to Agreement for Construction, Operation and Financing of Geothermal Project No. 3; (b) Amended and Restated Geothermal Project Operating Agreement between NCPA and the Project Participants; and (c) Amendment No. 2 to NCPA Facilities Agreement.” 11. 2nd Reading Ordinance 5116 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto amending the Existing Palo Alto Commons Planned Community (“PC”) to Add a 0.83 Acre Site and Rezone it to PC from CN and RM-15 for a new 3-story Building Providing 44 Senior Assisted Living Rental Units at 4041 El Camino Way.” (First reading March 7, 2011 – Passed 9-0) 12. Approval of the Council Priorities Report for Calendar Year 2011. 13. Approval of Amendment Three to Contract S1013554 with Capitol Advocates, Inc. to Extend the Term and Add $32,000 for a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $125,500 Legislative Advocacy Services Related to High Speed Rail. 14. 2nd Reading Ordinance 5117 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Section 2.04.270 (Introducing Ordinances and Resolutions for passage and approval) of Title 2 (Administrative Code) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Remove Provisions Related to Reading of Ordinance and Resolution Titles.” (First reading February 14, 2011 – Passed 9-0) 15. Approval of City Attorney Employment Agreement with Molly S. Stump. MOTION PASSED: 9-0 AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS, AND DELETIONS 15a. (Former No. 7) Approval of a Conditional Use Permit and a Record of Land Use Action Amending an Existing Conditional Use Permit to Allow the Addition of Two Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Antennas Mounted to the Front Façade of the Hotel President at 488 University. 4 03/21/2011 MOTION: Council Member Klein moved, seconded by Council Member Holman to set a public hearing for April 4, 2011. MOTION PASSED: 9-0 COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS City Council Member Shepherd inquired if the parking study would include other impacted neighborhoods. Curtis Williams, Director of Planning and Community Environment, responded that the parking study that the City Manager referred to will include California Avenue, south of downtown area. The 6th month analysis will look at areas around downtown, and it will include permit parking programs, and additional parking areas. City Council Member Holman asked if the study will also look at the South of Palo Alto Area (SOFA). Mr. Williams answered yes. Council Member Holman asked about a meeting she thought took place this past week where the topic centered around AT&T cell site and related issues. Mr. Williams stated it was an internal staff meeting. Council Member Klein reported on attending the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) last week and it was reported that the precipitation in the Hetch Hetchy catch basin is 159% of normal as of last week. The audit with the City of San Francisco has been resolved for Fiscal Year 2007/08 and we received a $120,000 credit. BAWSCA budget for Fiscal Year 2011/12 will show no increase in staff which means our contribution will be flat. Mayor Espinosa advised that the City continues to monitor the water levels in the city creeks. He also spoke about the Youth Community Services (YCS) organization and the 8th annual Family Service Day that will occur on April 2, 2011. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 p.m.