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Home My WebLink About2021-04-19 City Council Action MinutesCITY COUNCIL ACTION MINUTES Page 1 of 7 Special Meeting April 19, 2021 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in virtual teleconference at 5:00 P.M. Participating Remotely: Burt, Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Kou, Stone, Tanaka Absent: Special Orders of the Day 1. Presentation by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. NO ACTION TAKEN 1A. Proclamations Honoring Stanford's NCAA National Champion Women's Basketball Team and Head Coach Tara Vanderveer. NO ACTION TAKEN 2. Selection of Applicants to Interview for the Human Relations Commission, Public Art Commission, Storm Water Management Oversight Committee, and the Utilities Advisory Commission. MOTION: Council Member Kou moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to interview all candidates. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions None. Minutes Approval 3. Approval of Action Minutes for the April 5, 2021 City Council Meeting. MOTION: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to approve the Action Minutes for the April 5, 2021 City Council Meeting. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 2 of 7 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/19/2021 Consent Calendar MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4 and 5. 4. Approval of: 1) Professional Services Agreement With Blue Rhino Studio, Inc. in the Amount of $214,706 for Dinosaur Exhibits for the Junior Museum and Zoo (JMZ); 2) Accept a $14,325 Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Grant for Adult Changing Tables at the JMZ; 3) Approve a Budget Amendment in the Capital Improvement Fund; 4) Resolution 9949 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto for the Final Naming Recognition for the JMZ”; and 5) Approve a License Agreement With Stanford University for Research Space at the JMZ. 5. Ordinance 5520 Entitled, “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto for Renovations at Ramos Park (FIRST READING: March 22, 2021 PASSED 7-0).” MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Action Items 6. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 640 Fairmede Avenue [20PLN- 00203]: Request for Council Approval of a Preliminary Parcel Map With Exceptions to Divide an Existing 23,000 Square Foot Parcel Into two Approximately 11,500 Square Foot Lots, Larger Than the Maximum Allowed by the Zoning Code, to Facilitate Construction of two new Single-family Residences. Environmental Assessment: Exempt per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 15303 and 15061(b)(3). Zoning District: R-1 (Single Family Residential). Public Hearing opened at 5:57 P.M. Public Hearing closed at 5:58 P.M. Council took a break at 5:58 P.M. and returned at 6:10 P.M. MOTION: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to adopt a Record of Land Use Action (RLUA) approving the request for a Preliminary Parcel Map with Exceptions based on findings and subject to conditions of approval, and as recommended by the Planning and Transportation Commission. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 3 of 7 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/19/2021 7. City Council Review of the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Update Report; Provide Feedback on Policy Tools; and Direction to Staff to Implement an S/CAP Engagement Strategy for Three S/CAP Engagement Tracks That Includes Outreach to Council, Commissions, and the Community. MOTION: Vice Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Mayor DuBois to: A. Direct the Mayor to appoint two or more Council Members to lead a community stakeholder group of domain experts and community activists; B. Support the policy framework in Attachment A and ask Staff to further develop and return to Council as needed with the following changes: i. A plan for an earlier adoption of commercial electrification retrofits; ii. Evaluation of the sale of gasoline within the city limits as a key metric; iii. Evaluation of a best practice standard for low carbon construction materials; iv. A proposal for a Palo Alto Green equivalent voluntary surcharge program to help fund electrification initiatives; v. An evaluation of public health and public safety risk and benefits from climate protection; vi. Move forward with an on-bill financing program for residential building electrification; vii. Evaluate a supplemental carbon neutrality goal; and viii. Return with recommended electric utility capital and personnel investments required to enhance reliability and staffing resources necessary for the Climate Action Plan. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to change Motion Part B to “Support the policy framework in Attachment A and ask Staff to pursue the actions that are listed from 2021-2024 and further develop and return to Council as needed”. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to change the Motion Part A to “…an ad hoc climate DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 4 of 7 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/19/2021 action committee that would engage with community stakeholders, domain experts, and community activists…”. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion a new Part B ix “evaluate income qualified incentives to support low-income households”. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion Part B iv “…on power utilities…”. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion a new Part B x “evaluate land use, zoning, and development changes that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions”. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion Part B x “…and development changes”. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion a new Part B xi “integrate urban forestry into the S/CAP policy framework”. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion Part A “and that the committee would periodically report back to Council”. MOTION AS AMENDED: Vice Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Mayor DuBois to: A. Direct the Mayor to appoint two or more Council Members to an ad hoc climate action committee that would engage with community stakeholders, domain experts, and community activists; and that the committee would periodically report back to Council; B. Support the policy framework in Attachment A and ask Staff to pursue the actions that are listed from 2021-2024 and further develop and return to Council as needed with the following changes: i. A plan for an earlier adoption of commercial electrification retrofits; ii. Evaluation of the sale of gasoline within the city limits as a key metric; DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 5 of 7 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/19/2021 iii. Evaluation of a best practice standard for low carbon construction materials; iv. A proposal for a Palo Alto Green equivalent voluntary surcharge program on power utilities to help fund electrification initiatives; v. An evaluation of public health and public safety risk and benefits from climate protection; vi. Move forward with an on-bill financing program for residential building electrification; vii. Evaluate a supplemental carbon neutrality goal; viii. Return with recommended electric utility capital and personnel investments required to enhance reliability and staffing resources necessary for the Climate Action Plan; ix. Evaluate income qualified incentives to support low-income households; x. Evaluate land use, zoning, and development changes that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and xi. Integrate urban forestry into the S/CAP policy framework. MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED: 7-0 Council took a break at 9:43 P.M. and returned at 9:55 P.M. 8. Consideration of Actions and Direction to Support Community and Economic Recovery by: 1) Adoption of a Resolution to Extend the City Manager's Authority to Close Portions of University Avenue, California Avenue, and Surrounding Streets for the Uplift Local Streets Program Until September 7, 2021; and 2) Provide Direction to Staff on the Extension, Discontinuance, or Efforts to Develop a Permanent Parklet Program. MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Burt to: A. Extend the City Manager’s authority to close portions of University Avenue and certain intersecting streets, and to close portions of California Avenue and certain intersecting streets as part of Uplift Local to October 31, 2021; i. Consider providing performance space; DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 6 of 7 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/19/2021 B. Direct Staff to return with a Resolution extending temporary parklets to December 31, 2021; C. Develop a permanent parklet program with the input of the Architectural Review Board; and D. Request Staff to review and pursue additional measures to support business negatively impacted under the current program. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion a new Part E “Request Staff to coordinate impacts of construction projects in the California Avenue and Downtown areas with street closures, and continue communicating with residents and businesses”. AMENDMENT: Council Member Tanaka moved, seconded by Council Member XX to direct Staff to gather census data from businesses Downtown and on California Avenue. AMENDMENT WITHDRAWN BY THE MAKER MOTION AS AMENDED RESTATED: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Burt to: A. Extend the City Manager’s authority to close portions of University Avenue and certain intersecting streets, and to close portions of California Avenue and certain intersecting streets as part of Uplift Local to October 31, 2021; i. Consider providing performance space; B. Direct Staff to return with a Resolution extending temporary parklets to December 31, 2021; C. Develop a permanent parklet program with the input of the Architectural Review Board; D. Direct Staff to review and pursue additional measures to support businesses negatively impacted by the current program; and E. Request Staff to coordinate impacts of construction projects in the California Avenue and Downtown areas with street closures, an continue communicating with residents and businesses. MOTION SPLIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 7 of 7 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/19/2021 MOTION PARTS A-B PASSED: 5-2 DuBois, Kou no MOTION PART C PASSED: 5-2 DuBois, Kou no MOTION PARTS D-E PASSED: 6-1 Filseth no Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 P.M. in honor of Bill Busse. ATTEST: APPROVED: ____________________ ____________________ City Clerk Mayor NOTE: Action minutes are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) 2.04.160(a) and (b). Summary minutes (sense) are prepared in accordance with PAMC Section 2.04.160(c). Beginning in January 2018, in accordance with Ordinance No. 5423, the City Council found action minutes and the video/audio recordings of Council proceedings to be the official records of both Council and committee proceedings. These recordings are available on the City’s website. DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC