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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-05 City Council Summary MinutesCITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL FINAL MINUTES Page 1 of 11 Special Meeting August 5, 2019 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 5:05 P.M. Present: Cormack; DuBois arrived at 5:06 P.M.; Filseth arrived at 5:40 P.M., Fine; Kniss arrived at 6:32 P.M., Kou, Tanaka Absent: Vice Mayor Fine extended the Council's condolences to the victims of the gun violence in the cities of Gilroy, California, El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. Solidarity and inclusiveness were key threads in the social fabric that brought those citizens together. He thanked Palo Alto's first responders and public safety professionals who supported Gilroy during the incident and the days that followed. He recognized the passing of Stephanie Muñoz, who was a longstanding advocate for the less-fortunate members of this community. Study Session 1. Study Session With the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation. Karen Kienzle, Senior Manager for the Art Center reported the Palo Alto Art Center engaged more than 140,000 people annually with a diverse range of programs for all ages. In the past five years, the number of program participants doubled. The upcoming fall exhibition, Encounters, showcased the relationship between humans and animals as seen through the eyes of contemporary artists. Pets in Need and the Junior Museum and Zoo were collaborating on the exhibition. The winter exhibition, Rooted, explored trees in contemporary art and included collaboration with Canopy. Christina Solove, Palo Alto Art Center Foundation (PAACF) Board President advised that the Palo Alto Cultural Center Guild founded PAACF in 1973. PAACF expanded the reach of the Palo Alto Art Center through fundraising and advocacy. PAACF's Board of Directors had 12 active members. In addition, the Emeritus Council was active. Over the past four years, PAACF's fundraising efforts contributed funds towards expenses for salaries, materials, supplies and contractors. FINAL MINUTES Page 2 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 Karen Kwan, PAACF Development Director indicated PAACF achieved its fundraising goals through grants, corporate funders, individual fundraising, membership and events. Ms. Kienzle related that development of the Strategic Framework involved an institutional assessment, conversations with community members and donors, a Staff retreat, a Board retreat, and numerous work sessions. The Strategic Framework was completed in June, 2019. Sally Glaser, PAACF Board Member stated the Strategic Framework process noted a dynamic mix of programs, a perception of constant activities and programs, a welcoming atmosphere, a positive reputation in the community, lucrative programs, opportunities for visitors and programs, a positive relationship with and ongoing support from the City, donors' positive attitude towards the Art Center and the engagement of the Emeritus Council. The PAACF Board was working to ensure its diversity was appropriate to the community. Board Members were dedicated and showed a willingness to work for the Foundation. Ms. Kienzle reported Staff and PAACF revamped the Palo Alto Art Center's Mission Statement and created a new vision. Marcia Pugsley, PAACF Emeritus Board Member advised that the Strategic Framework process identified values such as individual and community vitality, transformation, respect, creativity and innovation and collaborative partnerships and practices. Ms. Solove indicated the planning process resulted in three strategies to heighten community engagement, increase financial sustainability and strengthen leadership capacity. Council Member Cormack inquired about the possible reasons for the number of visitors increasing. Ms. Kienzle explained that the increase was in part due to the completion of the Art Center's renovation in 2012. Council Member Cormack noted substantial funds were raised to support of the Art Center, the Library and the Junior Museum and Zoo. She asked about ideas to fulfill the goal of doubling donations. Ms. Kwan reported Staff was leveraging technology, developing a fundraising plan and engaging the PAACF Board and constituents. FINAL MINUTES Page 3 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 Council Member Cormack appreciated the increased use of technology and data. There were many opportunities to connect the Art Center with Rinconada Library. She inquired whether the Art Center had worked with artist studios at Cubberley. Ms. Kienzle advised that the Art Center offered classes and workshops from a studio at Cubberley and collaborated with Cubberley artists. Council Member Cormack requested Staff show funding from programs, the City and donations in a pie chart. She appreciated the Strategic Framework reflecting the roles and responsibilities of the Art Center Director with respect to the Art Center and PAACF. Council Member Kou asked if there were partnerships with the Magical Bridge Foundation, Abilities United, Lytton Gardens or La Comida. Ms. Kienzle indicated the Art Center had worked with Magical Bridge and Abilities United. Council Member Kou inquired whether camps and programs could be developed for people with developmental disabilities. Kristen O’Kane, Director of Community Services reported the Community Services Department (CSD) as a whole was exploring ways to work with people with developmental disabilities. The first step was training. Council Member Kou encouraged Staff to explore programs and activities for people with Alzheimer's and disabilities. She asked if the website provided a list of public art locations. Ms. Kienzle explained that the City's public art was handled through the Public Art Program. Council Member Kou requested future reports contain a breakdown of in- kind services provided by the City. Council Member DuBois inquired whether fundraising was consistent year over year. Ms. Kwan advised that the membership program was the foundation of the annual fundraising campaign. The renewal rate of upper-level members was high. Staff was investigating technology that engaged visitors, members and donors and leveraged the connections of Board Members and Emeritus Council Members. Council Member DuBois requested information regarding expenses. FINAL MINUTES Page 4 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 Ms. Solove related that the proposed increase in fundraising was the result of a desire to increase programs and community impact. Ms. Glaser added that the PAACF Board hoped to establish an Innovation Fund that addressed new and different programs. In 2018, the Art Center offered a successful program that paired seniors with younger art enthusiasts. Council Member DuBois asked if the budget was based on receipts or fundraising targets. Ms. Kwan explained that funds were identified as earned income and as fundraising. The fundraising budget was based on the prior year's receipts and the current year's initiatives. Ms. Kienzle clarified that there were two budgets. The strategy to increase financial sustainability focused on PAACF. Council Member DuBois remarked that increasing community engagement worked with fundraising. Council Member Tanaka requested the percentage of people who responded to the survey and the process for administering the survey. Ms. Kienzle reported surveys were provided to program participants via SurveyMonkey and to exhibition participants via an iPad at the exhibition. Staff was discussing whether surveys were the most effective strategy. Council Member Tanaka inquired regarding the number of questions in the surveys. Ms. Kienzle responded a few questions, depending on the program. The Net Promoter Score was valuable in comparing diverse programs. Council Member Tanaka recommended Staff reduce the number of survey questions. He inquired regarding the range of response. Ms. Kienzle replied approximately 15 percent for children's programs and slightly higher for adult studio programs. She was able to provide exact numbers at a later time. Council Member Tanaka asked about the number of participants who were residents versus nonresidents. Ms. Kienzle related that the breakdown depended on the program. Summer camp participants were typically 90 percent Palo Alto residents. Adult studio FINAL MINUTES Page 5 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 participants were likely 80 percent residents. Exhibitions drew people from across the Bay Area. Council Member Tanaka inquired about the method for determining whether participants were residents or nonresidents. Ms. Kienzle explained that Staff utilized the registration database for CSD. Council Member Tanaka asked if residents and nonresidents paid different fees. Ms. Kienzle answered yes and said residents were also able to register before nonresidents. Vice Mayor Fine expressed interest in the number of unique visitors and suggested PAACF focus on goals to increase financial sustainability and strengthen leadership capacity. Perhaps events were able to be hosted in different areas of the City. Mark Weiss suggested Staff schedule more events at the Palo Alto Art Center auditorium and courtyard. He offered to work with PAACF to raise funds from an October concert. NO ACTION TAKEN Special Orders of the Day 2. Proclamation Recognizing National Night Out 2019. Council Member Kou read the Proclamation into the record. Robert Jonsen, Police Chief reported the Police Department planned on hosting a block party with food, games and prizes. Four teams rotated through neighborhood block parties. Ed Shikada, City Manager noted he would ride along with Chief Jonsen to block parties. Council Member DuBois asked where a list of neighborhood block parties could be found. Mr. Jonsen responded on the Police Department's website and the Palo Alto Weekly website. FINAL MINUTES Page 6 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions None. City Manager Comments Ed Shikada, City Manager reported the Office of Emergency Services (OES) had coordinated a multiagency review to improve deterrence and response efficiency regarding fireworks and fire risks. More than 400 people attended the Municipal Services Center Open House on July 5, 2019. Participants in the Library's Summer Reading Program totaled 3,588. More than 18,000 people, a new record, attended the Free Friday Family Concert Series, which continued through August, 2019. Attendance at the Children's Theatre Summer Hot Dog Season totaled 5,000. The Silicon Valley Safety and Preparedness Fair was held on July 27, 2019. Staff from the Police and Fire Departments and OES assisted the City of Gilroy in the aftermath of the recent shooting. The Fire Department and OES updated the fire website and held community presentations regarding wildfire prevention and safety. The prior Friday and Saturday, the Police and Fire Departments and OES with the support of public safety personnel from surrounding communities and counties negotiated and secured custody of a suspect in an armed domestic violence incident after a 29 hour standoff. Early the prior Sunday morning, a semitruck struck Fire Department Engine 64, and the semitruck's driver did not survive the collision. As part of the Caltrain Electrification Project, utility lines in the area of Churchill Avenue and Alma Street were being undergrounded. The Utilities Department contracted with Professionals Meters Inc. to provide field inspections of meters throughout the City. Utility residents were notified of the contractor's presence in neighborhoods. The Bay Area Sunshares program offered discounts on rooftop solar and zero emission vehicles. Rebates on Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicles (EV) were available through the American Public Power Association (APPA). Neighborhood cleanup days focused on unbroken, reusable items. Philip Kamhi was hired as Chief Transportation Official, and Meghan Horrigan- Taylor was hired as Chief Communications Officer. He convened an interdepartmental working group to review workplace safety. A community meeting regarding the Energy Reach Code was scheduled for August 10, 2019. Middle and high school students returned to school on August 13, 2019 and elementary school students returned on August 14, 2019. Training for OES Block Preparedness Coordinators was scheduled for August 17, 2019. A community meeting regarding improvements to the intersection of San Antonio and Charleston were held on August 22, 2019. Summer Family Day at the Palo Alto Art Center was scheduled for August 25, 2019. Stanford University's first home football game was scheduled for August 31, 2019. FINAL MINUTES Page 7 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 Oral Communications Winter Dellenbach remarked regarding the potential for a culture of bias within the Palo Alto Police Department based on ethnicity, income status or sexual orientation following an incident at Buena Vista Mobile Home Park. Scottie Zimmerman advised that all animal shelters in Santa Clara County were no longer accepting applications for low-cost spay and neuter services because of months-long waiting lists. An estimate for spay services from a private veterinarian was $900. The Council needed to support fast action to reconstruct the medical wing at the Palo Alto/Pets in Need Animal Shelter. Mark Weiss announced Cubberley Community Center was hosting an original production of Treasure Island, by the San Francisco Mime Troup on August 7, 2019. Sven Theisen supported a ban on the installation of natural gas in residential new construction, rebates for switching from natural gas to electric heaters and establishing an end date for natural gas usage in Palo Alto. Tami Heletz believed the City should implement strong Reach Codes to help the environment, to address safety issues and to reduce costs. Moshe Heletz felt one of the main ways to reach the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2030 was to adopt Reach Codes. Rhoda Fry noted Lehigh Cement in Santa Clara County did not comply with requirements of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. She requested the Council support neighboring jurisdictions' concerns regarding Lehigh/Hanson Permanente Quarry's expansion plans. Ava Lindstrom requested the City comply with Buena Vista Mobile Home Park’s leadership calls for investigation of the Police Department. Caitlyn Marianacci felt the recent incident at Buena Vista Mobile Home Park revealed a culture of systemic violence within the Police Department against marginalized groups. The police officers' behaviors needed to be thoroughly investigated. FINAL MINUTES Page 8 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 Minutes Approval 3. Approval of Action Minutes for the June 17 and 24, 2019 Council Meetings. MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Fine to approve the Action Minutes for the June 17 and 24, 2019 Council Meetings. MOTION PASSED: 6-0, Kniss absent Consent Calendar Council Member Kou registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 6. Council Member Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 9. MOTION: Council Member DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-10. 4. Resolution 9853 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Authorizing the Filing of an Application to the State of California Housing and Community Development Department for the Senate Bill (SB) 2 Planning Grant Program; Environmental Assessment: Exempt Under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).” 5. 3877 El Camino Real [19PLN-00068]: Request for Approval of a Final Map to Create a one lot Airspace Subdivision for 18 Condominium Units (one Commercial Space, six Residential Flats, and 11 Townhouses). The Final Map Also Includes Access and Utility Easements. Environmental Assessment: Exempt From Provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in Accordance With Guidelines Section 15268(b)(3) (Ministerial Projects). Zoning District: Service Commercial (CS). 6. Ordinance 5474 Entitled, “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto, 1700 & 1730 Embarcadero Road [18PLN-00186]: Request Zoning Map Amendment, Site and Design Review and Design Enhancement Exception to Allow the Demolition of an Existing 18,000 Square Foot Vacant Restaurant Building and a 15,700 Square Foot Audi Service Building, and Construction of two new Automobile Dealerships Totaling 84,900 Square Feet. The Zoning Map Amendment Would Change the Zoning Designation From CS(D) and PC to FINAL MINUTES Page 9 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 CS(D)(AD) for Both Parcels. (FIRST READING: June 24, 2019 PASSED: 6-1 Kou no). 7. Policy and Services Recommends the City Council Accept the Business Registry Audit. 8. Approval of the Appointment of Geoffrey (Geo) Blackshire as Fire Chief. 9. Ordinance 5475 Entitled, “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Chapter 5.20 (Refuse Collection) of Title 5 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code Related to the Storage, Sorting, Collection and Removal of Refuse, Including Restrictions on the Type and Color of Refuse Collection Bags and Other Modifications to Make Waste Sorting More Effective and Facilitate Monitoring; and Finding the Ordinance to be Exempt Under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (FIRST READING: June 24, 2019 PASSED: 6-1 Tanaka no).” 10. Selection of Applicants to Interview for an Unfinished Term on the Architectural Review Board. MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4-5, 7-8, 10: 6-0 Kniss absent MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 6: 5-1 Kou no, Kniss absent MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 9: 5-1 Tanaka no, Kniss absent Mayor Filseth noted the Council approved the appointment of Geo Blackshire as Fire Chief. Geo Blackshire, Fire Chief was honored and proud to be appointed Palo Alto's Fire Chief and looked forward to collaborating with the Executive Leadership Team. He thanked the City Manager and the City Council for their trust in him to lead the Fire Department. Council Member Kou indicated the environmental review for Agenda Item Number 6 was based on an inaccurate project description. Therefore, she had doubts regarding the findings and mitigations, which could be inaccurate. Neither the Council nor the public had access to the Minutes of the Architectural Review Board's (ARB) June 5, 2019 meeting. The Mitigated Negative Declaration was not provided in the Staff Report. She presumed the drawings were not provided to the ARB, the Planning and Transportation FINAL MINUTES Page 10 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 Commission (PTC) or the public because the applicant did not provide contextual drawings. The project was not compliant with the Baylands Master Plan, and the location was the gateway to the Baylands. Contrary to the applicant's statement of a meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission, the applicant met with one member of the Parks and Recreation Commission. No traffic mitigation plan was provided in the report. Herb Borock, speaking regarding Agenda Item Number 6 remarked that the Record of Land Use Action (RLUA) was defective because only one of the three required findings could be made. The Council needed to hold a new public hearing to rescind the RLUA adopted on June 24, 2019 and adopt a new RLUA after making the required findings based on substantial evidence. State/Federal Legislation Update/Action Vice Mayor Fine reported Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) was organizing a Technical Advisory Committee to develop a financing plan for Measure B funding. Distribution of funds was subject to guidelines contained in the ballot measure. The criteria for timeliness placed pressure on the City to complete its plans for grade separations. Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements Council Member DuBois noted Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) did not anticipate issuing a bond for Measure B funding; therefore, funds were collected and distributed over 30 years. This issue impacted grade separations in Palo Alto. Council Member Kou inquired about an Agenda Item for Plan Bay Area 2050. Ed Shikada, City Manager promised to provide a report to the Council at a later time. Council Member Kou requested an update regarding pending State legislation. Closed Session 11. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Authority: Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: Cubberley Conveyance Property and Leased Site, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA Assessor’s Parcel Nos. 147-08-052 and 053 FINAL MINUTES Page 11 of 11 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 08/05/2019 Agency Negotiators: Ed Shikada, Kristen O’Kane, Molly Stump, Terence Howzell, Kiely Nose, David Ramberg, and Sunny Tong Negotiating Parties: City of Palo Alto and Palo Alto Unified School District Under Negotiation: Lease Price and Terms of Payment (ASD). 12. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Title: City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk Authority: Government Code Section 54957 (b). MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Fine to go into Closed Session. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Council went into Closed Session at 6:32 P.M. Council returned from Closed Session at 10:15 P.M. Mayor Filseth announced no reportable action. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 P.M. in memory of the victims of gun violence in Gilroy, California, El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, as well as in honor of long-time community member Stephanie Muñoz who passed away on August 1, 2019.