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Home My WebLink About2020-08-10 City Council Action MinutesCITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL ACTION MINUTES Page 1 of 6 Special Meeting August 10, 2020 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in Virtual Teleconference at 5:03 P.M. Participating Remotely: Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Fine, Kniss, Kou, Tanaka Absent: Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to move Agenda Item Number 8, “PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 2353 Webster Street [18PLN00339]:…” to be heard before Agenda Item Number 7. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Consent Calendar Council Member Kou registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 5. Council Member Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 2. MOTION: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss to approve Agenda Item Numbers 1-5. 1. Resolution 9910 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Establishing Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Secured and Unsecured Property Tax Levy for the City of Palo Alto’s General Obligation Bond Indebtedness (Measure N).” 2. Approval and Authorization for the City Manager or Designee to Execute a Blanket Purchase Order With the Okonite Company for Underground Cable for the Utility's Electric Underground System in an Annual Amount of $350,000 for a Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $1,750,000 Over the Next Five Years. 3. Approval and Authorization for the City Manager to Execute Necessary Agreements Subordinating the City's Interests in the Palo Alto Gardens Multiple Family Residential Property at 648 San Antonio Road to Facilitate Refinancing of the Affordable Housing Development. ACTION MINUTES Page 2 of 6 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 08/10/2020 4. Policy and Services Committee Recommends the City Council Accept the Status Updates of the Parking Funds Audit. 5. QUASI-JUDICIAL. 2585 E Bayshore Road: Approval of the Planning and Development Services Director's Determination to Authorize a Waiver From the Retail Preservation Ordinance. Environmental Assessment: Exempt in Accordance With the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBERS 1, 3, 4: 7-0 MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2: 6-1 Tanaka no MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5: 6-1 Kou no Action Items 5A. Selection of Applicants to Interview for one Position on the Human Relations Commission and two Positions on the Public Art Commission (Continued From August 3, 2020). MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss to schedule interviews with the following candidates: A. Human Relations Commission: i. Nilofer Chollampat ii. Sunita de Tourreil iii. Sofia Fojas iv. Curt Kinsky v. David Villaseca Morales vi. Paula Rugg vii. Lestina Trainor B. Public Art Commission: i. Marilyn Gottlieb-Robert ii. Hsinya Shen (Incumbent) iii. Harriet Stern ACTION MINUTES Page 3 of 6 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 08/10/2020 iv. Nia Taylor (Incumbent) SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member Kou moved, seconded by Vice Mayor DuBois to interview all applicants for the Human Relations Commission and Public Art Commission. SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED: 2-5 Cormack, Filseth, Fine, Kniss, Tanaka no MOTION PASSED: 6-1 Kou no 5B. Update and Discussion on Plan Bay Area 2050 Draft Blueprint and the Regional Housing Needs Allocation Process; and Direction to Staff to Prepare Comment Letters on These Regional Efforts (Continued From August 3, 2020). MOTION: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Filseth to direct Staff to: A. Incorporate the new concepts from the Council alternate letter into their comment letter to ABAG’s/MTC’s Housing Methodology Committee, with some stronger wording and asking that there is an evaluation of a new scenario that focuses on job spread through the Bay Area and recognizes cities efforts to limit job growth; B. Return to Council with some scenario planning based on anticipated allocations; and C. Return to Council with strategic options for us to influence RHNA allocations and respond effectively throughout the process. SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to: A. Direct Staff to continuing work on two regional planning efforts, which are Plan Bay Area 2050 and the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process, and return to Council with scenarios in anticipation of preparing the new Housing Element; and B. Direct Staff to submit a comment letter to ABAG/MTC’s Housing Methodology Committee reflecting City Council initial comments regarding the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) methodology options that are under consideration. SUBSTITUTE MOTION PASSED: 4-3 DuBois, Filseth, Kou no ACTION MINUTES Page 4 of 6 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 08/10/2020 Council took a break at 7:46 P.M. and returned at 8:00 P.M. 6. Accept an Update on the Summer Streets Program; Adopt Resolution 9911 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Resolution Number 9909 to Extend the Temporary Street Closures of California Avenue, University Avenue and Adjacent Downtown Blocks to December 31, 2020; Extend the University Avenue Closure to High Street; Extend the Expiration Date of Resolution Number 9909 Including the Temporary Parklet Program to September 7, 2021; and Clarify Allowed Activities.” MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Mayor Fine to adopt a Resolution Amending Resolution Number 9909 to: A. Extend the temporary street closures of California Avenue, University Avenue and other downtown blocks to December 31, 2020; B. Extend the temporary street closure of University Avenue to include the block between Emerson Street and High Street; C. Extend the expiration date of Resolution Number 9909, including the duration of the temporary Parklet Program to September 7, 2021; and D. Allow activities in addition to outdoor dining and retail to occur on temporarily closed streets. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to direct Staff to return with options for a COVID percentage surcharge for local businesses (New Part E); and direct Staff to return with a retail support plan focused on vacancies, expanded permitted uses, and currently existing retail (New Part F). INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion, “direct Staff to consider options for utility relief.” (New Part G). INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to amend Motion, Part G to state, “direct Staff to return to Council with options for utility relief for closed retail businesses.” MOTION AS AMENDED RESTATED: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Mayor Fine to adopt a Resolution Amending Resolution Number 9909 to: A. Extend the temporary street closures of California Avenue, University Avenue and other downtown blocks to December 31, 2020; ACTION MINUTES Page 5 of 6 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 08/10/2020 B. Extend the temporary street closure of University Avenue to include the block between Emerson Street and High Street; C. Extend the expiration date of Resolution Number 9909, including the duration of the temporary Parklet Program to September 7, 2021; D. Allow activities in addition to outdoor dining and retail to occur on temporarily closed streets; E. Direct Staff to return with options for a COVID percentage surcharge for local businesses; F. Direct Staff to return with a retail support plan focused on vacancies, expanded permitted uses, and currently existing retail; and G. Direct Staff to return to Council with options for utility relief for closed retail businesses. MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED: 7-0 Council took a break at 10:24 P.M. and returned at 10:31 P.M. MOTION: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss to continue Agenda Item Number 8, “PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 2353 Webster Street [18PLN00339]: Appeal of Director’s Approval...” to August 17, 2020. MOTION PASSED: 5-2 Cormack, Fine no 7. PUBLIC HEARING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapters 18.52 and 18.54 Adjusting Parking Requirements to Facilitate EVSE Installation, Compliance With Accessibility Laws, Parking Substitutions, and Parking Lot Re-striping and Maintenance. Environmental Assessment: This Project is Exempt From the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in Accordance With CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, 15302, 15303, and 15061(b)(3). Public Hearing opened and closed without public comment at 10:46 P.M. MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member Filseth to adopt an Ordinance amending Title 18 (Zoning Code) Chapters 18.52 (Parking and Loading Requirements) and 18.54 (Parking Facility Design Standards) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC). MOTION PASSED: 7-0 ACTION MINUTES Page 6 of 6 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 08/10/2020 8. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 2353 Webster Street [18PLN00339]: Appeal of Director’s Approval of an Individual Review Application to Demolish an Existing One-story 1,593 Square Foot (SF) Home and Construct a Two-story Home (Approximately 2,935 SF) With a Basement and an Attached Garage. Zoning District: Single-family Residential (R-1). Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements None. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:02 P.M.