Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-30 City Council Summary MinutesCITY COUNCIL RETREAT SUMMARY MINUTES Page 1 of 17 Special Meeting January 30, 2021 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in virtual teleconference at 9:00 A.M. Participating Remotely: Burt, Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Kou, Stone, Tanaka Absent: Welcome From Mayor DuBois - Review Agenda Mayor DuBois noted the stress that COVID-19 caused in 2020 and hoped 2021 was going to be a year of renewal and recovery. He asked Council Members to be open, actively listen to one another, and try to forge a new path for 2021. The purpose of the Retreat was to identify a small set of Priorities above the day-to-day workplan. Mary Egan, CEO of MRG, reviewed the Agenda. Council Introductions – “Why We Serve” Ms. Egan asked Council Members to share the reasons they chose to serve the citizens of Palo Alto and their hopes and expectations for 2021. Council Member Tanaka advised that he chose to serve because of the amazing people in Palo Alto. He owned a home in Palo Alto. His children attended school in Palo Alto. He loved the weather in Palo Alto. He wanted to ensure the City was a great place to live and work and continued to be the center of technology. His hoped Palo Alto remained a highly desired place to live and work and Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) remained strong. Council Member Stone shared a photo of himself on his first day of kindergarten at Duveneck Elementary School. He grew up and worked in the community. Palo Alto was all about community. As a teacher and renter, he understood the struggles of many residents. The Council needed to represent all segments of the population. Unity was critical for progress and recovery. Council Member Kou advised that her experiences as a volleyball coach, Parent Teacher Association (PTA) volunteer, and Barron Park Association and emergency preparedness leader connected her to residents. She actively SUMMARY MINUTES Page 2 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 listened to and engaged residents. She was encouraged to run for the Council because residents were frustrated by the approval of large developments without consideration of the cumulative impacts. The City's Organizational Chart demonstrated that the Council served Palo Alto residents. She hoped the community looked beyond words to address inequalities in 2021. Council Member Filseth remarked that the City took care of the tasks that residents did not want to do. Citizens hired the Council to take care of problems. He believed in public service, and his career provided the flexibility for him to serve the public. He hoped to return to executing the Comprehensive Plan in 2021, finish the Infrastructure Plan, and match long- term expenses with long-term revenues. Council Member Cormack indicated she chose to run for the Council because of a profound appreciation for the service of Council Members. Her hopes for 2021 included health, openness, patience, and empathy while her expectations included change. Vice Mayor Burt advised that he learned public service from his parents and wanted to see the community continue to make progress and improve. He viewed 2021 as a fresh start and an opportunity to make things better. Mayor DuBois related that his parents and community taught him about public service, giving back, rights, and responsibilities. He shared photos of childhood activities that instilled these values in him. His hopes for 2021 were recovery and fun. Governing in a Disruptive Environment – John Nalbandian, PhD Mayor DuBois introduced Dr. John Nalbandian as a college professor, former Mayor and Council Member, and a gardener. He noted Dr. Nalbandian's commitment to public good and good governance. John Nalbandian, Professor Emeritus in Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Kansas, advised that disruptive forces were inevitable, but reconciliation required intention. He shared survey responses regarding national politics filtering into local government, state-local relationships, technology and social media, social issues, and change and community identity. Change impacted identity and widened the gap between political acceptability and operational sustainability. As the gap widened, leadership challenges emerged, and the paths to reconciliation were bridge-building roles and responsibilities, networked problem-solving structures, and engagement processes in the community and the organization. Hopefully, reconciliation resulted in more resilience and a sense of community for all. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 3 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Change and resistance were categorized as self-initiated and/or substitutional, significant but built on one's past, and challenge to an identity anchored in the past. Political campaigns were based on taking elements from the past and building on them for the future. The most important element of a message was the readiness of the audience to receive the message. Mayor DuBois reiterated what Dr. Nalbandian stated and asked whether or not there are abrupt or large changes that occur all at once. Dr. Nalbandian confirmed that there are large changes that occur all at once. Ms. Egan noted the driving forces were national politics, technology, and social issues. She inquired whether there was evidence of one or more of those forces influencing Palo Alto and whether affordable housing was one of the forces. Vice Mayor Burt believed there was community consensus that housing affordability was a great challenge for the City and the Region, but there was disparity regarding the causes, the recipients, and the remedies. Over the past 30 years, Silicon Valley's economy grew, but individuals' financial wellbeing declined. Government needed to adjust its priorities and attempt to return to a sustainable path. Dr. Nalbandian asked if issues of identity were apparent in Vice Mayor Burt's comments. Council Member Filseth suggested an hourglass was a good analogy. The operational issues for attacking problems were quite different from the political discourse about the problems. Ed Shikada, City Manager, indicated there was a perception of winners and losers in each of the driving forces. Providing affordable housing often resulted in perceptions of winners and losers. Dr. Nalbandian explained that a community was not built on the concept of winners and losers. People did not invest in a community when politics was about winners and losers. The national politics of winners and losers was filtering down to communities and affected the ability of community members to bridge the gap between challenges and sustainable solutions. The Council's role was building a sense of community. Council Member Cormack remarked that national politics had trickled down to the local level in terms of factionalism. Perhaps the Council wished to review Congresswoman Eshoo's proposed changes to the Congressional oath SUMMARY MINUTES Page 4 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 of office and consider similar changes. Technology in the public sector was not funded the same as technology in the private sector. The public sector continually under-funded technology. Consequently, local governments were not able to pivot quickly. Traditionally, the Council attempted to accumulate fees from market-rate housing developments to fund affordable housing. The need to use a different strategy was possibly causing the heated debate around affordable housing. Dr. Nalbandian related that acknowledging and dealing with a sense of loss was probably more effective than increasing the power of the forces of change. As one dealt with a sense of loss, resistance declined. Council took a break at 10:31 A.M. and returned at 10:45 A.M. Continue Discussion - Governing in a Disruptive Environment Dr. Nalbandian reported as the gap between politically acceptable and operationally sustainable increased, the ability to make connections became more difficult. There was a gap for every issue. There was a bridge for every issue, but some bridges were longer and some were wider than others. Some bridges led to nowhere. One danger was the elected body spent so much time working on details that it made Staff's job more difficult and essentially yielded the political space to somebody else. Leadership challenges resulted from disruptive forces, and reconciliation occurred through roles and responsibilities, structures, or processes filling the gap. City boundaries represented a sense of identity, and issues of identity were the most challenging issues. Durable partnerships were important for resilience and change. Public engagement lacked the deliberative process of an individual confronting the consequences of his views. The Council was the model of deliberation in the community. Vice Mayor Burt remarked that the Council's role was expanding the doable category while engaging and empowering the community. The challenge of public engagement was eliciting engagement from all individuals equally. The Palo Alto community had a rich history of public engagement. Mayor DuBois noted the difficulties of public engagement given the City's current financial situation and Staff's ability to work with both allegiant and assertive citizens. Mr. Shikada inquired regarding the role of the Council and the resources needed to fill the politically acceptable space and the usefulness of explicitly engaging citizen experts in the politically acceptable space. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 5 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Dr. Nalbandian suggested Mr. Shikada review the International Association of Public Participation's (IAP2) spectrum of public engagement and the expectations and obligations associated with each phase of the spectrum. The ability to identify solutions that were politically acceptable depended upon individual Council Members. Council Member Cormack expressed interest in Council Members listening to one another, matching change to structures that accomplished change, considering PAUSD as a durable partner, and determining the precious and expendable elements of Palo Alto's history for use in current and future issues. Council Member Kou appreciated the number of community experts in Palo Alto. Racism did not motivate all decisions and should not be the first conclusion. A view of winners and losers did not build community. Council Member Stone concurred with the suggestion to utilize citizen experts more explicitly. Governing was more difficult than campaigning. Mayor DuBois stated the framework of the three forces was helpful in thinking about the State's reaction to national politics and attempts to solve thorny problems with mandates. Citizens seemed to disagree as to the history of affordable housing and not to want to move forward. Council Member Filseth suggested the fundamental question was how to achieve a cohesive center between political acceptability and operational sustainability. Humans were hardwired to receive a message that they had been badly treated compared to everyone else, and that belief reduced the ability to achieve a cohesive center. The right people in the right places made an organization work. Dr. Nalbandian thanked the Council for the opportunity to view their day-to- day practices. Council took a break at 11:46 A.M. and returned at 12:04 P.M. Public Comment for Agenda Item Number 1 Arnout Boelens, speaking for Elizabeth Greenfield, Ken Joye, Robert Neff, Frank Viggiano, and Nicole Zoeller Boelens, encouraged the Council to make active transportation a Priority because it supported local businesses, reduced traffic congestion, increased parking supply, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and promoted physical and mental health and equity. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 6 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Andy Poggio requested the Council prioritize Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) to retain businesses and benefit those working and learning remotely. Darlene Yaplee asked the Council to continue focusing on airplane noise impacts. Steven Levy, Palo Alto Forward, suggested Priorities of expanding housing opportunity and affordability, which supported climate change and equity. Personally, he supported a measure for a housing affordability bond. Terry Holzemer proposed Priorities of economic recovery for businesses and residents, housing for households at or below 80-percent average median income (AMI), and local control. He suggested the Council support the Palo Alto History Museum. Mark Weiss proposed the Council think with different parts of the brain and outside the box. Aram James suggested the Council pursue internal Police Department investigations, a Safe Parking Program, and a reparations commission. The Council needed to follow-up regarding the Downtown Streets Team and Foothills Preserve, emphasize transparency and adequate notice of City issues, delay a new Public Safety Building (PSB), and allow public criticism of government officials. Don Jackson supported Priorities of FTTP, decarbonization and electrification, and aircraft noise. Rob Levitsky urged the Council to revise the Tree Protection Ordinance so that trees within a building's footprint were not removed. Kevin Ma asked the Council to prioritize housing, social justice, and climate change. Penny Ellson concurred with Mr. Boelens' and Ms. Zoeller's comments and supported Priorities of economic recovery and a sustainable community. The Council approved with record speed a parking garage but delayed bicycle and pedestrian projects. Loren Smith concurred with FTTP as a Priority. Subodh Iyengar encouraged the Council to set airplane noise and FTTP as Priorities. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 7 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Kelsey Banes concurred with Priorities of climate change, social justice, and affordable housing and suggested the Council locate affordable housing on public lands and utilize Measure A funds for affordable housing. Rebecca Eisenberg expressed disappointment with the first portion of the meeting and the Council's engagement with the community. David Coale proposed Priorities of climate change, transportation, and housing. 1. Consideration and Selection of 2021 Council Priorities Ed Shikada, City Manager, reported Staff received 523 responses to the Community Survey sent to randomly selected households, 119 responses to the online Community Survey, and 706 responses to the Open Town Hall survey. Open Town Hall respondents prioritized COVID-19 recovery first, transportation second, climate change third, and economic recovery fourth. Of the randomly selected households, 40 percent indicated a focus on the overall built environment was essential, and 44 percent indicated it was very important; 45 percent indicated a focus on the overall quality of the natural environment was essential, and 42 percent indicated it was very important. Mary Egan, MRG, reviewed the policy for Council Priorities. The 2020 Priorities were Housing with an Emphasis on Affordability, Sustainability in the Context of the Changing Climate, and Improving Mobility for All. Staff intended to operationalize the selected Priorities into actions, goals and a workplan. Mr. Shikada explained Staff's development of a workplan based on the 2021 Priorities using SMARTIE parameters. Ms. Egan noted the Council's direction to Staff on January 25, 2021 regarding the Community and Economic Recovery Workplan and topics recommended by the Policy and Services Committee (P&S). Vice Mayor Burt indicated topics recommended by P&S and the surveys were similar. His and Council Member Stone's Priorities pertained to economic recovery, housing with an emphasis on social and economic balance, social justice with a focus on existing efforts and identification of additional efforts, and climate change and adaptation. If climate change was not stopped in the next decade, there was a possibility it would be irreversible. The response to the COVID-19 emergency demonstrated the willingness to take drastic and necessary actions and the improvement on air quality. The Priorities were interrelated, and initiatives were likely to fulfill more than a single Priority. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 8 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Council Member Cormack noted City revenues relied on visitors, and the Council had some time to discuss revenue sources and the use of revenues. She acknowledged comments about schools, COVID-19 vaccinations, airplane noise, Cubberley Community Center, and Fiber to the Premises (FTTP). Her top Priority was COVID-19 recovery. Social justice was a component of all work rather than a Priority. A Complete Community connected housing, transportation, and social justice. Council Member Stone concurred with Vice Mayor Burt's comments regarding Priorities and Council Member Cormack's comments regarding a Complete Community. COVID-19 and economic recovery was the number one Priority. The improvement in air quality that resulted from the Shelter in Place Order provided hope for achieving the City's climate goals. The focus on social justice needed to continue. Council Member Filseth noted that pre-COVID-19 concerns about the long- term growth of expenses versus the long-term growth of revenues remained. Whether or not fiscal health was a component of economic recovery, it needed to be a focus. Council Member Kou believed planning to attract retail and community- serving businesses and hiring someone with experience in attracting businesses were components of economic recovery. Protecting biodiversity was important for recreation, aesthetics, and mental health. The urban forest was important for clean air. Community health and safety including active transportation, remote work, FTTP, and transportation demand management (TDM) needed to be a Priority. Waste, recycling, and groundwater were concerns as well. Social justice policies needed to begin with the City. Council Member Tanaka explained that Priorities were meant to focus the work of the Council and Staff. He proposed only one Priority of recovery, including both COVID-19 and economic recovery. Revenues were not going to return to normal levels overnight or over the next year. Mayor DuBois looked forward to receiving statistically representative data from the surveys. His Priorities were COVID-19 recovery first, including health, economic recovery for the City, and external recovery; affordable housing funding second, including feasible targets; and real movement on climate change third, including fire protection, electrification, and metrics. He believed social justice was a value and included in affordable housing and COVID-19 recovery. Vice Mayor Burt indicated actions to focus on COVID-19 recovery and economic recovery were basically the same. Recovery was likely to require SUMMARY MINUTES Page 9 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 five years. Affordable housing had been a Priority for a few years, but there seemed to be an increased consensus in the community regarding affordable and workforce housing. Funding and zoning incentives were necessary to achieve that. Social justice needed a focus of more than six months to effect long-term change. The City needed to make progress on its climate goals. MOTION: Vice Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Stone to select the following as the 2021 Council Priorities: A. Economic Recovery B. Housing for Social and Economic Balance C. Social Justice D. Climate Change - Protection and Adaptation Council Member Stone felt these areas required continued focus and consistency in order to make progress. Council Member Kou advised that airplane noise was a part of community health and safety, and airplane noise continued to be a huge community issue. She proposed the formation of an ad hoc committee of some sort to increase community engagement and address issues. Perhaps, airplane noise was a component of Social Justice. Mayor DuBois acknowledged Council Member Tanaka's preference for a single Priority, but many economic factors were outside the Council's control. Perhaps policies around rental housing were part of Economic Recovery. The Council needed to explore quantifiable programs and SMARTIE goals for Climate Change. Council Member Cormack related that on January 25, 2021, the Council gave Staff a workplan with 20 items, and many of the Priority topics were covered in the workplan. Mr. Shikada reported Staff's plans to utilize the Council discussion to prepare workplan items for each Priority. Economic Recovery and Climate Change were encompassed in the Community and Economic Recovery Workplan. Social Justice dovetailed with community wellness and welfare that was part of the recovery strategy. Housing was a continuing major work effort for the City because of private-sector proposals. Jonathan Lait, Director Planning and Development Services, reported housing was going to be a primary focus in 2021 because of the Housing SUMMARY MINUTES Page 10 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Element Update. The Working Group was going to be fully engaged in the Housing Element Update, and a separate effort was probably going to be needed for Housing for Social and Economic Balance. Council Member Cormack requested clarification of Housing for Social and Economic Balance. Vice Mayor Burt explained that it focused the housing program on the most difficult part, workforce and low-income housing. Funding, incentives, and zoning were needed for low-income and workforce housing. Council Member Kou requested a definition of workforce housing. Vice Mayor Burt indicated the Council was going to determine the AMI boundaries for workforce and low-income housing. The City produced the least amount of housing for modest-income households. Without that group, the community was not balanced. Mayor DuBois clarified the differences between workplan items and Priorities. Council Member Stone noted the City was successful in producing market- rate housing but not low-income housing. Without strong government leadership, low-income housing was not going to be built. Council Member Filseth commented that finding funding was implicit in Housing for Social and Economic Balance. The State and Region distributed enormous affordable housing targets that were not attainable and did not include funding. Council Member Cormack requested clarification of Social Justice. Vice Mayor Burt reported it was a commitment to continue the focus that was referred to P&S in 2020. Council Member Cormack believed the work on diversity, equity, and inclusion was going to be completed. She inquired whether Climate Change was different from the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Update. Vice Mayor Burt explained that Climate Change included a commitment toward an aggressive implementation plan for the 2030 goal and a greater emphasis on the necessity for a strong adaptation component. SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member Tanaka to establish “COVID-19 and Economic Recovery” as the 2021 Council Priority. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 11 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Council Member Cormack stated Staff's day-to-day tasks prevented her from adding items to Staff's workplan. Council Member Tanaka related that limiting the items helped Staff focus and added value to their work. SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED: 2-7 Cormack, Tanaka yes MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Council took a break at 1:58 P.M. and returned at 2:15 P.M. 2. Discussion and Possible Revision to Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook and 2021 Standing Committee Topics Mayor DuBois requested Council Members focus on the Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook (Handbook) first. Council Member Cormack inquired regarding Minutes for Standing Committees and the Council's interest in lobbying for changes to the Brown Act to allow Council Members and/or members of the public to participate remotely. Beth Minor, City Clerk, reported Action Minutes and Sense Minutes were prepared for Standing Committees. However, the Standing Committees did not approve them. The video recording and Action Minutes were the official records of the meetings. The Action Minutes and excerpts from Sense Minutes were usually attached to Staff Reports that referenced recommendations from those Minutes. Vice Mayor Burt suggested the Council refer electronic participation and quasi-judicial items to the Policy and Services Committee (P&S) and allow Council Members to propose revisions to P&S. The Handbook needed to distinguish between procedures and protocols, refer to the City Charter or other documents where appropriate, and be rewritten for ease of understanding. The League of California Cities' handbook provided good guidance that may be incorporated into the Handbook. Mayor DuBois proposed adding the one-hour limit on Staff time, completion of the travel expense section, Council Member attendance at Board and Commission meetings, and the role of elected officials also appointed to other agencies to the items referred to P&S. MOTION: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Burt to allow Council Members to submit to Staff their comments by the end of February SUMMARY MINUTES Page 12 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 2021 regarding the Council Procedures and Protocols, for review and discussion by the Policy and Services Committee. Molly Stump, City Attorney, advised that Staff was going to collate the topics into a list and submit it to P&S in a public document. Ed Shikada, City Manager, assumed P&S intended to make recommendations for the Council. Ms. Stump asked Council Members to provide specific revisions, if any. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Mayor DuBois noted the Council Standing Committees were busy, and some of the items referred to them were quite old. Council Member Cormack was Chair of the Finance Committee, and Council Member Kou was Chair of P&S. Council Member Cormack reported P&S cleaned up some old business in 2020. In the last month, Council referred a great deal of important work to P&S in addition to audits, diversity and inclusion work, and police reform. She reviewed and updated the list of Finance Committee referrals with Finance Director Nose. An affordable housing tax, business tax, and local tax ballot measure were priorities for the Finance Committee. Council Member Kou proposed P&S work on updating the County of Santa Clara (County) PERT and Mobile Community Response Programs in parallel with exploring the CAHOOTS Program. MOTION: Council Member Kou moved, seconded by Council Member Stone to schedule the Policy and Services Committee discussion of the feasibility of a CAHOOTS-type program for March 2021. Council Member Stone remarked that the topic was too critical to delay work for several months. Mr. Shikada suggested P&S engage directly with the County. Mayor DuBois noted the work was scheduled for May if the County did not assign a resource. Mr. Shikada advised that the County was working on securing resources, but budgetary constraints were an issue. Council Member Kou stated the assignment had been pending for quite a while. If Staff reported some progress by the County in March, P&S may recommend delaying the CAHOOTS program. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 13 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Mr. Shikada proposed Staff and a member of P&S meet with representatives from the Board of Supervisors regarding the PERT and Mobile Community Response Programs. Council Member Kou agreed to a meeting but wanted to proceed with the referral. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Vice Mayor Burt requested the Council review the COVID-19 Safety Response Program for employees under the COVID-19 recovery plan. Mr. Shikada advised that the Council dealt with that on January 25, 2021, and Staff intended to prepare a recommendation for referral to a Standing Committee or the Council. Vice Mayor Burt noted the topic was time sensitive. He inquired regarding P&S and the Human Relations Commission's (HRC) work on Social Justice. Mr. Shikada explained that the HRC's role was integral to a few of the items on the Race and Equity Workplan. The HRC was working on the 21-day challenge. Chantal Cotton Gains, Deputy City Manager, reported in November 2020, the Council retained the Race and Equity Workplan and planned to partner with the HRC as needed. Council Member Filseth recalled the Council's referral of the Independent Police Auditor (IPA) to P&S in November 2020 and requested the status. Mayor DuBois noted the IPA was not on the referral list for P&S. Mr. Shikada understood the Council directed Staff to work with the IPA to prepare a contract amendment for an expanded scope of work. Ms. Stump seemed to recall that P&S was to discuss one item. Mayor DuBois proposed both items be placed on the P&S referral list as well as Staff's workplan. Council Member Cormack related that the IPA's oversight of internal complaints was contained in the P&S referral list. The contract amendment was part of Staff's work. Mayor DuBois felt thresholds for Consent Calendar Items and the Junior Museum and Zoo (JMZ) were lower priority items for the Finance Committee. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 14 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 He suggested the Council refer the Fiscal Sustainability Workplan from the Finance Committee list, Town Hall planning, review of State legislation, and use of Stanford University Medical Center (SUMC) funds to P&S. MOTION: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to amend the Committee topics as follows: A. Finance Committee: i. Move Item 7 (Fiscal Sustainability Workplan) on the referred topics list to the Policy and Services Committee; B. Policy and Services Committee, to add the following topics: i. Town Hall planning; ii. State Bill Advocacy; and iii. Review use of Stanford Medical Center funds. Council Member Cormack advised that an affordable housing tax, a business tax, and a tax measure were higher priority items for the Finance Committee. The City did not have funding to address the Fiscal Sustainability Workplan. Review of SUMC funds was more appropriate for the Finance Committee. AMENDMENT: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member Filseth to move Part B. iii. to a new Part. A. ii. Council Member Filseth stated review of SUMC funds was appropriate for either the Finance Committee or P&S. AMENDMENT PASSED: 7-0 Vice Mayor Burt requested the rationale for referred topics not being placed on tentative Agendas. Monique Le Conge Ziesenhenne, Assistant City Manager, explained that items were delayed in an effort to consolidate Staff's preparation, but Staff intended to schedule items in consultation with the Chairs. Vice Mayor Burt suggested the affordable housing and transportation item on the Finance Committee's referral list include funding. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 15 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion a new Part A. iii. “Item 3 on the referred topics be amended to state ‘affordable housing funding’” INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to change the Motion Part B. ii. to state “State Legislative and Administrative Advocacy.” Vice Mayor Burt reported community volunteers tracked High Speed Rail legislation with great success and efficiency. He encouraged Staff to utilize community experts in State bill advocacy. Council Member Cormack noted transportation was not part of the affordable housing referral to the Finance Committee. A potential business tax was appropriate for transportation, if the Council wished. Vice Mayor Burt proposed expanding a business tax to include funding. Mayor DuBois indicated the items were intended to be discussed in the context of a business tax. Vice Mayor Burt wanted to explore all aspects of funding. Mayor DuBois advised that funding for grade separations was before the Rail Committee. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion a new Part B. iii. “Discuss a report on Tiers 1-3 of the Safe Parking Program.” INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion a new Part B.iv the “Review and discussion of proposed amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance.” AMENDMENT: Council Member Kou moved, seconded by Council Member XX to add to the Policy and Services Committee topics to discuss expanding the policy for the groundwater protection program. MOTION FAILED DUE TO THE LACK OF A SECOND Mr. Shikada noted Staff was preparing a status update regarding the Safe Parking Program for the Council, and it was tentatively scheduled for a March meeting. At the current time, Staff was not aware of the issues P&S wished to address regarding the Tree Protection Ordinance. Therefore, a meeting with P&S may be necessary prior to preparation of a Staff Report. SUMMARY MINUTES Page 16 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Council Member Kou requested the airplane noise consultant provide a presentation to P&S regarding its letter to the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz Roundtable and the Council allow P&S to revise the letter, if necessary. Mayor DuBois suggested the item was more appropriate for a Colleagues' Memo and the consultant provide a report to the Council. Mr. Shikada recommended Staff prepare an informational report for the Council and urged Council Members to consider Staff's workload. Council Member Kou requested a referral of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plans and the Transportation Management Agency (TMA) to P&S. Mr. Shikada advised that next steps for TDM plans were on Staff's workplan. Philip Kamhi, Chief Transportation Official, reported the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) update was likely to influence TDM policy, which Staff intended to review with the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC). MOTION AS AMENDED: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to amend the Committee topics as follows: A. Finance Committee: i. Move Item 7 (Fiscal Sustainability Workplan) on the referred topics list to the Policy and Services Committee ii. Review use of Stanford Medical Center funds iii. Item 3 on the referred topics be amended to state “affordable housing funding” B. Policy and Services Committee, to add the following topics: i. Town Hall planning ii. State Legislative and Administrative Advocacy iii. Discuss a report on Tiers 1-3 of the Safe Parking Program iv. Review and discussion of proposed amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED: 7-0 SUMMARY MINUTES Page 17 of 17 City Council Retreat Summary Minutes: 01/30/2021 Retreat Debrief, Take Away, and Next Steps. Mary Egan, MRG, requested suggestions for the format of future Council Retreats. Mayor DuBois asked Council Members to provide their suggestions outside the meeting or via email. He thanked Council Members, Staff, and the public for their attention and input. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 3:22 P.M.