Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-26 City Council Summary MinutesCITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL FINAL MINUTES Page 1 of 15 Special Meeting October 26, 2020 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in Virtual Teleconference at 6:03 P.M. Participating Remotely: Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Fine, Kniss, Kou, Tanaka Absent: Study Session 1. Update and Discussion on the City of Palo Alto's Race and Equity Work Including Discussion of a Mission Statement, Reorganization of Committee Structure, and Other Items. Chantal Cotton-Gaines, Deputy City Manager, reviewed the Mission Statement, framework, and practice areas for race and equity. The Ad Hoc Committees were finished gathering data and were identifying gaps. Steve Guagliardo, Principal Management Analyst, reported the Alternative Models Ad Hoc Committee found that the City was unique in its provision of medical transport service and that combining the roles of the Police and Fire Departments was less advantageous. The Ad Hoc Committee also explored Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT) and Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT). Staff was pursuing participation in the County of Santa Clara's (County) PERT Program. The Ad Hoc Committee's findings aligned with the policing practice area for officer deployment priorities and practices for nonviolent calls, and the Ad Hoc Committee recommended work on alternative models continue via the practice area. Ms. Cotton-Gaines recalled potential areas of concern and options for the Council to consider in Policing Practice Areas 1 and 2. Andrew Binder, Assistant Police Chief, reviewed potential areas of concern and options for the Council to consider in Policing Practice Area 3, officer conduct investigations and transparency, and Policing Practice Area 4, discipline and accountability. Staff revised Policy 300 to comply with the Council's August 24, 2020 directives, the Human Relations Commission's (HRC) recommendations, and the latest legal updates from Lexipol. Policy 300 prohibited any technique deliberately applied for the purpose of restricting blood or air flow to the head or neck, included nine de-escalation alternatives, required officers to use other reasonably available resources and techniques FINAL MINUTES Page 2 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 when safe and feasible in deadly force applications, and included a force- options chart and the policy for pointing and discharging a weapon. Ms. Cotton-Gaines noted on November 16, 2020, Staff planned to seek direction regarding the draft Mission Statement, action regarding new policies or policy changes related to gaps within the policing practice areas, and assignment of Ad Hoc Committee work beyond 2020. Next steps were adoption of the draft Mission Statement, engagement on demographic data collection and reporting, pursuit of participation in the County's PERT Program, development of a policy regarding the timing and circumstances for records release, expansion of the Independent Police Auditor's (IPA) duties, preparation of an annual report on Revised Use of Force Investigations, incorporation of police reform into legislative priorities for 2021, and submission of work to the Policy and Services Committee. Winter Dellenbach requested revision of the Mission Statement as it was ambiguous and weak. The language needed to include the words "commit to ending systemic racism." The Use of Force Policy needed to be an Action Item. She inquired regarding the schedule and scope of work for a mental health worker. Rebecca Eisenberg concurred with Ms. Dellenbach's comments. The Police Department had a history of violence against people of color. Funding needed to be reallocated from the Police Department to real needs, especially mental health services. The Council continued to engage in practices that supported inequality. Aram James asked the Council to form a reparations committee to address police violence and housing discrimination. The City needed to collaborate with the District Attorney's Office to create an independent and robust police crimes unit. Mayor Fine suggested the Council focus on the Mission Statement, the practice areas, and directions for the November 2020 discussion of race and equality. Council Member Cormack wanted the Council to spend more time on policy direction for prioritization of enforcement activities, which was not included in next steps. The Council needed more information regarding mental health calls, social issues, welfare checks, and nuisance calls in order to identify the correct organization to handle these issues. She inquired regarding the role and scope of work of a Community Service Officer (CSO). Mr. Binder advised that CSOs were non-sworn officers who handled low-level activity that did not result in confrontations. FINAL MINUTES Page 3 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Council Member Cormack inquired regarding the workload for CSOs. Mr. Binder indicated the two CSOs were consistently busy. Some days were busier than others. Council Member Cormack supported the practice area items listed for Council consideration. She preferred the Council continue work on race and equity. Council Member Kniss agreed that the Council needed to work on race and equity. She referred to Ron Davis' comments regarding groups working together, the difficulties facing children of color, and evaluating police officers. The Council likely wanted to think extensively about policing because public safety was the core City service. Vice Mayor DuBois related additional issues identified by the Policy and Data Ad Hoc Committee and the Transparency Ad Hoc Committee and mapped to police practice areas. The two Ad Hoc Committees wanted to present information about the additional issues to the Council in November 2020. The proposal to update police policies annually was too slow. They needed to be released to the public as they were updated. Council Member Filseth provided the Transparency Ad Hoc Committee's thoughts regarding the Police Chief's discretion to refer incidents to the IPA, the Alvarez case, and the timing and issuance of reports. Mayor Fine requested comments regarding the Mission Statement. He asked about reasons for not expanding CSO duties. Mr. Binder reported the Police Department was working through the process to hire more CSOs. The Police Department had a training program for CSOs. Mayor Fine believed working through the labor groups was quite complex. The Council needed to focus on priorities for deploying officers. He inquired about an expanded role for the District Attorney and the City's ability to affect an expansion of the District Attorney's role. Mr. Binder advised that the District Attorney proposed amending the officer- involved protocols to create a special unit within the District Attorney's Office that would investigate any force incident that resulted in serious bodily injury. Ed Shikada, City Manager, added that the District Attorney collaborated with police departments within the county to craft the proposal. Mayor Fine felt this work may warrant a citizens' commission to instill public participation and confidence in the project. FINAL MINUTES Page 4 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Council Member Kou inquired whether the citizens' commission and the Police Chief's Citizens Advisory Committee were similar. Mayor Fine indicated the two were similar but separate. Council Member Kou requested details and pros and cons for the PERT Program. Mr. Binder related that disadvantages were limited funding, staffing, and openings for the program. The advantage of the PERT Program was pairing a clinician with a police officer to assist with mental health issues. A schedule for the clinician had not been determined. Council Member Kou asked if one clinician would be provided to the City. Mr. Binder replied yes. Most calls involving mental health issues occurred during the day and evening hours. Therefore, Staff would work with the County to schedule the clinician during those times. The County determined the number of clinicians assigned to Palo Alto and their hours. Council Member Kou requested additional information regarding the Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS) Program and similar programs. She inquired regarding Staff's participation in clinician interviews. Mr. Binder reported the County did not hire a sufficient number of clinicians in the first round of interviews to assign one to the City. Staff hoped a second round of interviews resulted in the County assigning a clinician to the City by the end of the year. Mr. Shikada indicated a detailed report on the CAHOOTS Program involved a significant amount of Staff work. The CAHOOTS Program was a new service and provided a level of service the City did not offer currently. Vice Mayor DuBois asked if the PERT Program covered drug and homeless issues. Mr. Binder understood the program focused on mental health crises and issues. Mental health issues often overlapped drug and homeless issues. Vice Mayor DuBois asked if a clinician alone responded to calls in the CAHOOTS Program. Mr. Binder answered yes. In the PERT Program, an officer and clinician patrolled together and responded to calls with a mental health component. FINAL MINUTES Page 5 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Vice Mayor DuBois expressed interest in obtaining more information about the CAHOOTS Program or a similar program. The language of the Mission Statement was dated. Mayor Fine supported developing a policy for the timing and release of evidence and documentation and expanding the IPA's role to include all use- of-force incidents. A survey may or may not provide useful information. Council Member Cormack also supported developing a policy for the timing and release of evidence and documentation and expanding the IPA's role to include all use-of-force incidents. There was an opportunity to survey the City workforce as well as the Police Department regarding diversity and inclusion. She asked about the evaluation of police officers. Mr. Binder explained that an officer's immediate supervisor conducted an annual performance evaluation. The Police Chief reviewed and signed off on the evaluations. Robert Jonsen, Police Chief, reported the Police Department did not assign quotas for arrests or citations. Police officers were evaluated on how they applied expectations. Council Member Cormack requested the expectations. Mr. Jonsen advised that the community expected the Police Department to enforce traffic regulations. Therefore, the Police Department highly recommended officers adopt schools and enforce traffic regulations during school hours. The number of times an officer was enforcing traffic regulations or engaging the community at a school was part of the evaluation. Council Member Tanaka encouraged the Council to utilize the HRC as much as possible. Council Member Kniss believed expectations for officers could be more concrete. She requested the ethnic makeup of the Palo Alto Police Department. Mr. Jonsen remarked that the Department's makeup reflected the community's ethnic makeup, but he needed to provide a specific breakdown at a later time. Council Member Kniss requested additional information regarding evaluation and expectations. Council Member Kou asked if the County administered the MCRT Program. FINAL MINUTES Page 6 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Mr. Binder responded yes. The MCRT Program was staffed with behavioral health clinicians rather than law enforcement. The public contacted the program directly for assistance. Clinicians requested police assistance as needed. Council Member Kou inquired about the City creating its own MCRT Program. Mr. Shikada advised that funding a new department was a problem. The County was having difficulty staffing the program for 24/7 service. Council Member Kou wanted to separate grievances and disciplinary matters from salary and benefits during labor negotiations. She supported expanding the IPA's scope of work. She proposed the Mission Statement incorporate language for healing and maintaining dignity. She requested Staff explore Assembly Bill (AB) 1550. Mr. Shikada recommended the Council consider whether it wanted additional work from the Ad Hoc Committees prior to the November discussion of race and equity. Mayor Fine suggested Staff respond to Council direction and check in with the Ad Hoc Committees prior to the November discussion. NO ACTION TAKEN Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions Ed Shikada, City Manager, noted Agenda Item Number 3A, “Approval of the Nomination of Council Member Alison Cormack…” was added to the Agenda. Oral Communications Stephen Rosenblum announced a rally was tentatively scheduled in case election results were not respected. Victor Ojakian expressed concern regarding the inadequacies of the existing Public Safety Building (PSB). The project to construct a new PSB needed to proceed. The Legislature did not pass AB 1550. Neva Yarkin expressed concern about the spread of the coronavirus when children returned to in-person school. Kristen Petersen, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, invited the public and Council Members to participate in the 16th Annual Silicon Valley Turkey Trot and Mayor's Cup Challenge. The event donated more than $9.6 million to charity. FINAL MINUTES Page 7 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Michele Lew, The Health Trust, encouraged the public to participate in the Turkey Trot to benefit the Meals on Wheels Program. Winter Dellenbach noted 2 minutes appeared to be the new time limit for the pubic to address the Council. Speaking coherently on a complex topic in only 2 minutes was difficult. She urged the Council to allow 3 minutes when there were only a few speakers. Joshua Balogh commented on the popularity of skateboarding, which was a healthy and nonjudgmental activity for all ages. He hoped the City constructed a new skate park. Sheryl Klein announced the Wilton Court affordable housing project received its building permits and construction financing. She thanked City Staff for their assistance. Sam Kaplinsky supported construction of a new skate park in Palo Alto. More than 2,000 people signed a petition in support of a skate park. More people used skate parks than sports courts. Rob Levitsky believed the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Castilleja project improperly addressed protected trees. Staff in the Planning Department did not respond to his question about the trees. The current EIR set a dangerous precedent for tree removal in Palo Alto. Arnold Matsuda supported the construction of a new skate park in Palo Alto. Skating and skateboarding complied with health protocols and benefited people of all ages and abilities. Aram James supported the requests for a new skate park. The Alvarez incident was not a one-time event. He encouraged the Council to hold a Study Session with the District Attorney. Curtis Smolar chastised the Council for limiting public comment to 2 minutes. Rebecca Eisenberg remarked that the Council was perpetuating a caste- dominant system by appointing primarily white men to Commissions and Committees. Funding for the new PSB needed to be reallocated to housing for the homeless. She recommended the Council settle the lawsuit about Foothills Park. TJ Britt asked the Council to build a new skate park. Yanai Levin supported the construction of a skate park in Palo Alto. FINAL MINUTES Page 8 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Samaoki shared his experiences at skate parks near Palo Alto and concurred with the requests for a new park in Palo Alto. Vice Mayor DuBois inquired regarding the Parks and Recreation Commission's priority for a skate park. Ed Shikada, City Manager, indicated Staff would report to the Council. The Council may want to refer a skate park to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Council Member Kniss requested Ms. Klein be allowed to repeat her comments. Council Member Cormack advised that she emailed Ms. Klein with a request to submit her comments in writing. Ms. Klein responded with an apology for the technical difficulties and agreement to comment in writing. Consent Calendar Council Member Kou registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 3. MOTION: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss to approve Agenda Item Numbers 2-3A. Rebecca Eisenberg, addressing Agenda Item Number 3, believed the Council violated the Brown Act by placing controversial items on the Consent Calendar. The agreement benefited the developer only. Curtis Smolar, addressing Agenda Item Number 3, remarked that removing the lien was outrageous and did not benefit the City. 2. Adoption of Several Ordinances Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Titles 16 (Building); Ordinance 5507 Entitled, “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 18 (Zoning);” Amendments Include Repealing Section 18.42.040 (Accessory and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units) and Adding a new Chapter 18.09 (Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units), and Updating Chapters 18.04 (Definitions), 16.58 (Development Impact Fees); Ordinance 5508 Entitled, “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 16.04 (California Building Code);” Ordinance 5509 Entitled, “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 16.06 (California Residential Code);” and Ordinance 5510 Entitled, “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 16.14 (California Green Building Standards Code) (FIRST READING: October 5, 2020 PASSED: 7-0).” FINAL MINUTES Page 9 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 3. QUASI-JUDICIAL. 567 Maybell Avenue [15PLN-00248]: Adoption of a Resolution 9920 Entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Authorizing the City Manager to Amend an Existing Agreement Securing a Lien for the Deferral of Affordable Housing In-lieu Fees and Development Impact Fees for a Project That Includes the Development of 16 Single-family Homes.” The Applicant Proposes Payment of Fees in Installments, Prior to Final Occupancy. Environmental Assessment: not a Project. Zoning Districts R-2 and RM-15. 3A. Approval of the Nomination of Council Member Alison Cormack to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board. MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBERS 2 AND 3A: 7-0 MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3: 6-1 Kou no Council Member Kou agreed with deferring the in-lieu fee but not the Development Impact Fees. The interest rate seemed extremely low. This was a poor precedent to set. City Manager Comments Ed Shikada, City Manager, reported 618 people were tested for COVID-19 on October 23, 2020. Upcoming dates for testing were November 6 and 20 and December 4 and 18, 2020. Red flag warnings were in effect, and Public Safety Power Shutoffs were possible in areas served by PG&E. Low-risk Halloween celebrations were encouraged. City events included a Jack-O-Jaunt, a Public Art Scavenger Hunt, a Scarecrow Art Kit, and social media contests. Registered voters needed to return election ballots by mail, drop box, or in person. Council Member Kniss encouraged the public to be tested for COVID-19. Council Member Tanaka inquired about the Police Department's response to recent home burglaries. Mr. Shikada reminded residents to lock doors and windows and to secure their property. The Police Department was investigating the burglaries and increasing patrols. Council took a break at 8:24 P.M. and returned at 8:42 P.M. Action Items 4. Direction to Modify the California Avenue Parking Policy to Expand Eligibility for City Garage Parking Permits and Modify the Evergreen Park FINAL MINUTES Page 10 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Mayfield Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) Program to Reduce Employee Parking in the RPP District (THIS ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED TO NOVEMBER 9, 2020). 4A. Consideration of Recommendations by the City Council Ad Hoc on Boards, Commissions and Committees (BCCs), Including Adopting a Handbook, Establishing Training, and Direction on Further Changes Including Term Limits and Reducing the Parks and Recreation Commission to Five Members. Mayor Fine discouraged speakers who addressed this item the prior week from speaking again. Ed Shikada, City Manager, reported the item before the Council was consideration and discussion of the proposed handbook. Feedback regarding the establishment of a handbook was positive. The Ad Hoc Committee on Boards, Commissions, and Committees (BCC) was established in December 2019, conducted a survey in December 2019, and provided a status update in February 2020. The handbook required training, established a process to remove a member, established attendance standards, required the adoption of annual workplans, suggested term limits, implemented changes to the recruitment and application processes, required adherence to a Code of Conduct, and established additional Council expectations for members. Handbooks from other agencies were used to draft the proposed handbook. Council Member Cormack reviewed the objective of the Ad Hoc Committee. Vice Mayor DuBois indicated some of the handbook language needed to be refined to capture intent. Most of the Ad Hoc Committee's work was complete. If Council Members wanted substantive changes to the handbook, the Ad Hoc Committee was available to incorporate changes. He proposed clarifying the provision regarding speaking with the press to reflect that comments to the press were personal opinions. The intent of workplans was to align the work of BCCs with Council objectives. The Ad Hoc Committee added language regarding removal of a member in order to provide clarification. Curtis Smolar remarked that the provision preventing private citizens from speaking to the press violated the First Amendment. Members were chosen because they supported political views. The handbook was designed to stymie public discourse. Pat Burt recommended the Council address the role of Council Liaisons, public disclosure of communications, advocacy, speaking with the media, and removal from office. The language for the role of Council Liaison needed to be strengthened. The requirement for disclosures exceeded the Council's FINAL MINUTES Page 11 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 protocols. BCC members were not responsible for representing the Council's official policies and positions. The Chief Communications Officer should be a resource for BCC members. Removal of a BCC member should not be based on arbitrary reasons. Winter Dellenbach agreed with requiring training and providing support to BCC members. BCC members should be allowed to speak with the press if they clearly indicated for whom they spoke. Removing a member for no cause was a concern. Sam Kaplinsky asked the Council to prioritize and refer a skate park to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Council Member Kniss requested the rationale for not referring the handbook to the Policy and Services Committee. Vice Mayor DuBois recalled the December 2019 Council discussion and decision not to refer a handbook to the Policy and Services Committee in the interest of time. Council Member Kniss preferred the Policy and Services Committee review the handbook. Overall, the handbook was wonderful. She objected to the ability to remove a member for no reason. Mr. Burt's proposal for removal was feasible. The Ad Hoc Committee needed to revise the handbook. Council Member Cormack noted survey comments regarding training were significant. Training beyond the Brown Act was helpful. Adoption of a workplan addressed survey comments about Council interests and objectives. The Ad Hoc Committee proposed revisions to the applications. The Council needed to discuss the process and timing for recruitments, term limits, reducing the number of Parks and Recreation Commission members, student representatives, and attendance for Council Liaisons. Public comment provided good suggestions for revising the removal process and speaking with the press. Mayor Fine suggested the Council may need to return to holding recruitment in the spring. He supported a limit of two terms. He did not believe there was a problem with Council Liaisons. BCC members may speak with the press if they stated whom they represented. He did not support removal of a member without a reason and a hearing. Council Member Kou concurred with training for members, requiring a reason for removing a member, attendance requirements for BCC members and Council Liaisons, adopting a workplan, setting term limits, moving recruitment to the spring, maintaining seven members on the Parks and Recreation FINAL MINUTES Page 12 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Commission, and appointing student representatives. The Ad Hoc Committee needed to revise the handbook based on Council comments. Council Member Tanaka agreed with comments regarding requiring a reason to remove a member, members speaking with the press if they indicated whom they represented, student representatives, and referring the handbook to the Policy and Services Committee. The Council needed to utilize BCCs more and rely on their recommendations. Perhaps the Council needed to consider allowing individual Council Members to appoint members to BCCs. He opposed reducing the number of Parks and Recreation Commission members. Council Member Filseth concurred with recruiting in the spring and maintaining the number of Parks and Recreation Commission members. Guidelines for removing members were needed. Term limits had pros and cons. Vice Mayor DuBois noted consensus around revising the provision for speaking to the press, recruiting in the spring, and maintaining the Parks and Recreation Commission at seven members. The Council needed to set a term limit and clarify the role of the Council Liaison. Removing a member for his political views was not appropriate. Including a hearing in the removal process was not necessary. Student representatives with advisory votes were a good idea. The disclosure provision applied to quasi-judicial hearings. The language regarding the role of BCC members needed refining. Mayor Fine indicated additional discussion was needed for term limits and removal. Two or three Council Members needed to present a memo requesting the removal of a BCC member. If a majority of Council Members voted to remove a member, the member would be removed. Molly Stump, City Attorney, concurred with the removal process outlined by the Mayor. Mayor Fine related that the Council discussion was the hearing, and the BCC member was allowed to address the Council. Workplans were a great idea to align BCCs with the Council. BCCs addressing ad hoc issues was fine if the issues did not drain staff time. He inquired whether the Ad Hoc Committee needed further direction. Council Member Cormack did not believe the Ad Hoc Committee needed further direction to revise the handbook. If the Council referred the handbook to the Policy and Services Committee, the Policy and Services Committee would have to familiarize themselves with the details before revising the handbook. FINAL MINUTES Page 13 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Vice Mayor DuBois asked the City Attorney to comment regarding a hearing for removal of a BCC member. Ms. Stump reported a hearing was not provided in the removal process. If the facts and circumstances of removing a BCC member could affect the BCC member's reputation, the member had a right under the law to be heard. Vice Mayor DuBois inquired regarding an onerous removal process. Ms. Stump advised that the customary rule was that the governing board maintained discretion to make a decision in the way that it wished. In her experience with cities, decisions were not based on a whim. The governing board's action resolved the matter. Council Member Kniss indicated she learned from Council Members in Menlo Park, Sunnyvale and Mountain View and Supervisor Simitian that the person in charge of the jurisdiction, either the Chair or the Mayor, spoke with the person subject to removal. The person typically did not resist removal after such a conversation. Mr. Burt's comments about the reasons for removal were quite good. Based on comments from Parks and Recreation Commissioners, she preferred to maintain seven members. BCC members should be allowed to speak to the media as long as they stated they were not speaking for the BCC. Student representatives were a good idea. The handbook appeared to be a mix of training and policies. She inquired regarding the person designated to lead BCC training. Council Member Cormack stated the City Manager's Office with assistance from the City Attorney and BCC Staff liaisons. Vice Mayor DuBois added that the proposal was intended to elevate the existing training. Council Member Kniss asked if all BCC members received the same training. Council Member Cormack replied yes. BCC Chairs and Vice Chairs needed specific training for meeting management. Ms. Stump advised that the Historic Resources Board (HRB), Architectural Review Board (ARB), and Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) needed training on quasi-judicial matters. The Staff liaison provided customized training for each BCC. Council Member Kniss asked if training included ethics and discrimination. FINAL MINUTES Page 14 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Ms. Stump reported the Council required BCC members to attend ethics and conflict of interest training every other year. The training was intended to support individuals as BCC members. Council Member Kniss remarked that there needed to be a general understanding that it was easy for Council Liaisons to become attached to and to inappropriately persuade their assigned BCCs. MOTION: Council Member Filseth moved, seconded by Mayor Fine to direct the Ad Hoc Committee to return to Council with proposed revisions discussed tonight. Council Member Tanaka proposed the Ad Hoc Committee work with BCCs to craft the revisions. Perhaps the Council wished to impose term limits only if there were sufficient applicants and to allow BCC members to request agenda items. He proposed amending the Motion to refer a skate park study to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Council Member Filseth declined the Amendment. Ms. Stump advised that a skate park was not part of the Agenda Item. Council Member Filseth suggested a skate park needed to be included in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. Council Member Kou requested the recruitment and interview process take into consideration that BCCs developed workplans at the beginning of the year. She inquired whether the Council agreed to maintain seven Parks and Recreation Commissioners. Mayor Fine related that a majority of the Council seemed to support seven members. Council Member Kou asked if the Ad Hoc Committee intended to explore a residency requirement for BCCs. Council Member Cormack indicated the Ad Hoc Committee reviewed BCC requirements and made no changes. Residency was specifically not required for some BCCs in order to obtain specific expertise and to allow owners of Palo Alto businesses to participate in BCCs. Vice Mayor DuBois added that a residency requirement had not been an issue. Council Member Kou suggested the Ad Hoc Committee consider a requirement to rotate the offices of Chair and Vice Chair based on length of service on the BCC. FINAL MINUTES Page 15 of 15 Sp. City Council Meeting Final Minutes: 10/26/2020 Council Member Cormack did not recall any survey responses listing that as an issue. Vice Mayor DuBois agreed that it was not an issue. He requested a discussion of timing appointments with developing workplans. Council Member Kou proposed the handbook state the number of absences considered excessive. Mayor Fine suggested removal of a BCC member require a supermajority vote of the Council. Workplans could be better aligned with the fiscal year. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements Mayor Fine encouraged residents to obtain COVID-19 testing, to enjoy Halloween safely, and to vote. Vice Mayor DuBois shared his experiences with being tested at Stanford. Council Member Kniss inquired regarding the requirements to obtain a test. Vice Mayor DuBois advised that he obtained appointments through the app. A physician referral was not needed. Mayor Fine added that patients of Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) and Sutter were being tested with no requirements. Council Member Kniss acknowledged the birth of Mayor Fine's son. Council Member Kou reported Stanford University was relocating its real estate department to Redwood City and planned to demolish the building. Sand Hill Road and Alpine were going to be impacted. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:09 P.M.