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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-04 City Council Summary MinutesCITY COUNCIL SUMMARY MINUTES Page 1 of 7 Regular Meeting January 4, 2021 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: Special Orders of the Day Adrian Fine, Former Mayor, recognized dignitaries attending the meeting. 1. Swearing in of the Four Incoming Council Members Lydia Kou, Greg Tanaka, Patrick Burt, and Greer Stone. Beth Minor, City Clerk, administered the oath of office to Lydia Kou, Greg Tanaka, Patrick Burt, and Greer Stone. 2. Election of the 2021 Mayor. Vice Mayor DuBois summarized the process for electing the Mayor and Vice Mayor. NOMINATION: Council Member Filseth nominated Vice Mayor DuBois for Mayor for 2021. Council Member Filseth reported Vice Mayor DuBois was consistently a voice for reason and data as well as intelligent and mature. After serving six years on the Council, Vice Mayor DuBois had a wealth of experience that served him and other Council Members well. Council Member Filseth highlighted Vice Mayor DuBois' service on Council committees and topics for which Vice Mayor DuBois advocated. Council Member Cormack believed frank discussions helped Vice Mayor DuBois and her achieve better outcomes when they worked together. Council Member Burt indicated Vice Mayor DuBois was smart, thoughtful, and unflappable. He listened, learned, and grew during his tenure on Council. Vice Mayor DuBois had policy and financial experience. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 2 of 7 City Council Meeting Summary Minutes: 01/04/2021 Council Member Kou noted Vice Mayor DuBois served the City and the community with integrity, fairness, and dignity. Winter Dellenbach supported Vice Mayor DuBois for Mayor because he was intelligent and rational and had a good heart and sense of humor. Rebecca Eisenberg supported Vice Mayor DuBois for Mayor because of his even temperament and respect for everyone. Terry Holzemer remarked that Vice Mayor DuBois worked tirelessly over the past six years to support the residents of Palo Alto and viewed being a Council Member as a public service to the community. Vice Mayor DuBois was always thoughtful and prepared. Mora Oommen, Youth Community Services, thanked Vice Mayor DuBois for his support of youth. Shani Kleinhaus noted Vice Mayor DuBois' sensible, fair, and balanced approach to leadership. NOMINATION FOR VICE MAYOR DUBOIS PASSED: 7-0 Mayor DuBois committed to doing his best as Mayor and thanked his family and friends for their support. Public service emphasized leadership through service. His priorities for 2021 were economic vitality and recovery, land use realignment and incentives for affordable housing, and transportation. Additional priorities were homelessness, utilities, and City events. He thanked City Staff for their dedication and hard work. 3. Election of the 2021 Vice Mayor. NOMINATION: Mayor DuBois nominated Council Member Burt for Vice Mayor for 2021. NOMINATION: Council Member Tanaka nominated Council Member Kou for Vice Mayor for 2021. NOMINATION: Council Member Filseth nominated Council Member Cormack for Vice Mayor for 2021. Mayor DuBois advised that Council Member Burt received the most votes in the election. He was an experienced Council Member and business executive. His skills in building consensus were needed to recover from COVID-19. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 3 of 7 City Council Meeting Summary Minutes: 01/04/2021 Council Member Tanaka believed Council Member Kou's skills were complementary to Mayor DuBois' skills. She would increase diversity among City leadership. Council Member Kou worked on airplane noise and grade separations and listened to the community. Council Member Filseth reported Council Member Cormack was disciplined, methodical, and organized. She attacked problems with critical thinking and professionalism. Based on the number of votes cast for her in 2018, the community supported her. Council Member Burt commented that this was an exceptionally challenging time, and he was capable of assisting Mayor DuBois and Staff with working through the challenges. He looked forward to building consensus among Council Members and the community. Council Member Kou emphasized the need to focus on economic recovery, community health and wellness, localism, and regional issues. Council Member Cormack highlighted her ability to make difficult decisions, to put the good of the whole above her own desires, and to participate in both joyous and somber events. Council Member Stone indicated experienced leadership was needed to guide the City to a healthy and prosperous future. He summarized Council Member Burt's service to the community and experience. While Council Member Kou and Council Member Cormack were qualified and good choices for Vice Mayor, only Council Member Burt had the civic and business experience to lead the City with Mayor DuBois. Arthur Keller stated Council Members Burt and Kou were qualified to serve as Vice Mayor. He did not support Council Member Cormack because she did not appropriately represent the City at a regional body meeting. Rebecca Eisenberg supported Council Member Cormack for Vice Mayor because of her training and leadership. Council Member Kou's positions on the Foothills Park settlement and housing were not right for this time. Council Member Burt did not support women and people of color and lacked integrity and respect for others. Terry Holzemer supported Council Member Kou for Vice Mayor because of her service to the community and her core beliefs. Valerie Stinger indicated the three Council Members were qualified to serve as Vice Mayor; however, Council Member Cormack included everyone in resolving issues and promoted the community's values. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 4 of 7 City Council Meeting Summary Minutes: 01/04/2021 Aram James remarked that Council Member Cormack was always prepared, but she was not interested in different perspectives. Council Member Burt was experienced but dismissive of women and people of color. While he disagreed with some of Council Member Kou's past positions and statements, City leadership needed her diversity and community service. NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER BURT FAILED: 3-4 Cormack, Filseth, Kou, Tanaka no NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KOU FAILED: 2-5 Burt, Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Stone no NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CORMACK FAILED: 2-5 Burt, DuBois, Kou, Stone, Tanaka no SECOND ROUND OF VOTING DUE TO NO CANDIDATE MAJORITY VOTE NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER BURT PASSED: 4-3 Cormack, Kou, Tanaka no NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KOU FAILED: 2-5 Burt, Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Stone no NOMINATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER CORMACK FAILED: 1-6 Burt, DuBois, Filseth, Kou, Stone, Tanaka no 4. Resolution 9935 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding Public Service to Adrian Fine as Mayor and Council Member.” Council Member Cormack read the Resolution into the record. Council Member Tanaka remarked that Former Mayor Fine knew the community well and always tried to make the community better. He thanked Former Mayor Fine for his service and all he did for the City and the Council. Council Member Cormack appreciated Former Mayor Fine's bravery and ability to compromise. Liz Kniss commented that Former Mayor Fine was a reminder of young families who could not afford to live in Palo Alto. In addition, he was a terrific leader. Mayor DuBois appreciated Former Mayor Fine's dedication, advocacy, and public service. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 5 of 7 City Council Meeting Summary Minutes: 01/04/2021 Supervisor Joe Simitian thanked Former Mayor Fine and Former Council Member Kniss for their service and noted the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors passed Resolutions thanking them for their service. He emphasized Former Council Member Kniss' dedication to understanding the views and values of her constituents. Rebecca Eisenberg advised that Former Mayor Fine considered the feelings of others and was respectful to everyone. She appreciated his courage and integrity. Senator Josh Becker thanked Former Mayor Fine for his service and looked forward to working with him in the future. Former Council Member Kniss was always helpful and supportive. Assembly Member Marc Berman thanked Former Mayor Fine for being a staunch pro-resident elected official and admired his moral compass and willingness to fight for his beliefs. Mike Alcheck recalled Former Mayor Fine making a big impact as a member of the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC). As a Council Member, he was patient, sensitive, professional, dedicated, compassionate, considerate, and honest. Margaret Abe-Koga, Mountain View Council Member, looked forward to working with the Council and appreciated Former Mayor Fine's leadership and courage. Former Council Member Kniss served the community and region with passion and commitment for 35 years. Raven Malone expressed gratitude for being a resident while Former Mayor Fine and Former Council Member Kniss served. Former Mayor Fine handled himself well in the face of criticism. Former Council Member Kniss was committed to the community. Aram James hoped Mayor DuBois supported safe parking for homeless people and released a report on Zach Perron. He wished Former Mayor Fine and Former Council Member Kniss well in the future. MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Mayor DuBois to adopt the Resolution expressing appreciation for outstanding public service to Adrian Fine as 2020 Mayor and Council Member. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Adrian Fine thanked the Council for the Resolution and everyone for their kind words. Palo Alto's future needed to be family friendly, diverse, SUMMARY MINUTES Page 6 of 7 City Council Meeting Summary Minutes: 01/04/2021 inclusive, and economically vibrant. He was proud of the community's response to COVID-19. He was grateful for City Staff's work in 2020. 5. Resolution 9936 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding Public Service to Liz Kniss as Council Member and Mayor.” Council Member Filseth read the Resolution into the record. Council Member Tanaka advised that he learned a great deal from Former Council Member Kniss, who worked diplomatically and tirelessly on behalf of the community. Council Member Cormack thanked Former Council Member Kniss for showing everyone the many ways a woman could lead and advocate. She always emphasized public health. Adrian Fine thanked Former Council Member Kniss for an inordinate amount of community service and for advocating for the betterment of the community. Vice Mayor Burt emphasized Former Council Member Kniss' 35 years of serving the community. Council Member Stone thanked Former Council Member Kniss for her service to the City of Palo Alto and commitment to public health. Mayor DuBois remarked that the Resolution reflected Former Council Member Kniss' lifetime of community service. Assembly Member Berman stated that wise elected officials followed Former Council Member Kniss' example of service and leadership. He appreciated her sharing her vast knowledge with him, and that knowledge served him well in the California State Assembly. Betsy Bechtel concurred with prior comments regarding Former Council Member Kniss and emphasized her work on regional bodies, COVID-19, and affordable housing. Nancy Shepherd recalled Former Council Member Kniss' service as Vice Mayor in 2014. She wished both Former Mayor Fine and Former Council Member Kniss well. Nicolas Hargis, Field Representative for Congresswoman Eshoo, thanked Former Mayor Fine and Former Council Member Kniss for their dedicated leadership. He thanked the Council for its leadership in these trying times. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 7 of 7 City Council Meeting Summary Minutes: 01/04/2021 Sheryl Klein appreciated Former Council Member Kniss' dedication to diversity and affordable housing. Mike Alcheck thanked Former Council Member Kniss for inspiring him and his family, investing in the community, and advocating progressive ideas. Kathy Torgerson noted Former Council Member Kniss' advocacy for progressive ideas. MOTION: Vice Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Filseth to adopt the Resolution expressing appreciation for outstanding public service to Liz Kniss as Council Member. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Liz Kniss appreciated the memories of her service to the community. She urged the Council to consider balance in its deliberations because leading the City over the next few years was going to be a major undertaking. Oral Communications Aram James shared his priorities for the Council in 2021, including homelessness, cover ups, and Tasers. Rebecca Eisenberg reminded Council Members of their campaign promises and urged the Council to consider campaign finance limits. Jill O’Nan advised that there were no handicapped parking spaces at the front of Foothills Park and that people of color were being turned away from Foothills Park. She asked the Council to close Foothills Park and allow the citizens to decide its fate. Irina concurred with Ms. O'Nan's comments. The Council needed to ensure that investments in Foothills Park were recouped. Visitors were causing environmental damage to the park. Jeremy Erman questioned whether the Council reinstated funding for KZSU and other programs. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 P.M.