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Home My WebLink About2021-04-26 City Council Action MinutesCITY COUNCIL ACTION MINUTES Page 1 of 8 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/26/2021 Special Meeting April 26, 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: Closed Session 1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS City Designated Representatives: City Manager and his designees Pursuant to Merit System Rules and Regulations (Ed Shikada, Rumi Portillo, Molly Stump, Kiely Nose, Nick Raisch, Bob Jonsen, Geo Blackshire, Dean Batchelor) Employee Organizations: Service Employees International Union, (SEIU) Local 521; Service Employees International Union, (SEIU) Local 521, Hourly Unit; Palo Alto Police Officers Association (PAPOA); Palo Alto Fire Chiefs’ Association (FCA) and Employee Organization: International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Local 1319; Palo Alto Police Manager’s Association (PAPMA); Utilities Management and Professional Association of Palo Alto (UMPAPA); Authority: Government Code Section 54957.6(a). MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member Stone to go into Closed Session. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Council went into Closed Session at 5:01 P.M. Council returned from Closed Session at 6:30 P.M. Mayor DuBois announced no reportable action. Consent Calendar Council Member Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 2. DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 2 of 8 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/26/2021 MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Mayor DuBois to approve Agenda Item Numbers 2-3. 2. Approval of Amendment Number 3 to Contract Number C18171057 With AECOM for Continued Services for the Connecting Palo Alto Rail Grade Separation (PL-17001) Effort and to Increase Compensation by $80,000 for a Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $2,874,658. 3. Council Approval of Appointment of Terence Howzell as Chief Assistant Attorney. MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2: 6-1 Tanaka no MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3: 7-0 Action Items 4. TEFRA HEARING: Regarding Conduit Financing for the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center Located at 3921 Fabian Way; Approving the Issuance of Revenue Obligations by the California Enterprise Development Authority for the Purpose of Financing and Refinancing the Cost of the Acquisition, Development, Construction, Installation, Equipping, and Furnishing of Various Educational Facilities and Other Matters Relating Thereto; and Adopting Resolution 9950 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Approving the Deemed Reissuance of Certain Revenue Obligations of the California Enterprise Development Authority in an Aggregate Principal Amount Not-to-Exceed $37,800,000 for the Purpose of Refinancing the Acquisition, Construction, Improvement, Furnishing and Equipping of a Community Center for Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, and Certain Other Matters Relating Thereto.” Public Hearing opened at 6:54 P.M. Public Hearing closed at 6:57 P.M. MOTION: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Stone to Adopt a Resolution approving the deemed reissuance of obligations by the California Enterprise Development Authority (CEDA) for the benefit of Oshman Family Jewish Community Center (Borrower). MOTION PASSED: 7-0 5. Connecting Palo Alto Rail Grade Separation: Discuss Final Report and Recommendations From the Expanded Community Advisory Panel (XCAP); Removal of two Rail Grade Separation Alternatives From DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 3 of 8 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/26/2021 Further Consideration; and Review of the Draft Work Plan (Continued From March 23, 2021). MOTION: Vice Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to: A. Eliminate the South Palo Alto Tunnel (Passenger and Freight) and South Palo Alto Tunnel alternatives; B. Direct Staff to return to Council with: i. South Palo Alto Underpass: a. Pursue design iterations of Underpass alternatives at Charleston and East Meadow, including engaging an urban designer; b. Engage a City Manager appointed stakeholder group; c. Additional evaluation of the trench alternative; ii. Churchill Area Bike/Pedestrian: a. Scoping plan for Alma/Seale and Alma/vicinity of Loma Verde bike/pedestrian crossing, including an update on Bike/Pedestrian Master Plan and how it relates to grade separation plans; b. Research the long-term viability of the Embarcadero Bridge whether and when an eventual replacement may be needed; iii. Caltrain Issues: a. In collaboration with other cities, engage with Caltrain on new Engineering and Construction Standards and the 4- track issue and open a dialogue with neighboring cities, such as Menlo Park; iv. Traffic: a. Update Traffic Study and Provide an additional scope of work to address issues raised by the Expanded Community Advisory Panel (XCAP); v. Geotechnical and Drainage: DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 4 of 8 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/26/2021 a. Conduct preliminary geotechnical and drainage investigations to evaluate alternatives in preparation for the next phase; vi. Outreach: a. Work with the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) and related stakeholders to collaborate on designs (modifications and return to Council with an update by August 2021); b. Fully engage with Stanford; vii. An updated Work Plan and the anticipated timing for Council review of alternatives; viii. Plans for a Technical Advisory Committee; C. Refer to the Rail Committee to: i. Meet with Caltrain on technical issues and support a Local Policy Maker Group Sub-Committee; ii. Review and recommend updates to the Grade Separation Criteria; and iii. Review XCAP’s suggestions for safety mitigations along the entire corridor and recommend further action. INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to Motion, Part B.i.a, “…and mitigating takings of private property to the greatest extent possible”. MOTION AS AMENDED: Vice Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to: A. Eliminate the South Palo Alto Tunnel (Passenger and Freight) and South Palo Alto Tunnel alternatives; B. Direct Staff to return to Council with: i. South Palo Alto Underpass: a. Pursue design iterations of Underpass alternatives at Charleston and East Meadow, including engaging an urban DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 5 of 8 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/26/2021 designer, and mitigating takings of private property to the greatest extent possible; b. Engage a City Manager appointed stakeholder group; c. Additional evaluation of the trench alternative; ii. Churchill Area Bike/Pedestrian: a. Scoping plan for Alma/Seale and Alma/vicinity of Loma Verde bike/pedestrian crossing, including an update on Bike/Pedestrian Master Plan and how it relates to grade separation plans; b. Research the long-term viability of the Embarcadero Bridge whether and when an eventual replacement may be needed; iii. Caltrain Issues: a. In collaboration with other cities, engage with Caltrain on new Engineering and Construction Standards and the 4- track issue and open a dialogue with neighboring cities, such as Menlo Park; iv. Traffic: a. Update Traffic Study and Provide an additional scope of work to address issues raised by the Expanded Community Advisory Panel (XCAP); v. Geotechnical and Drainage: a. Conduct preliminary geotechnical and drainage investigations to evaluate alternatives in preparation for the next phase; vi. Outreach: a. Work with the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) and related stakeholders to collaborate on designs (modifications and return to Council with an update by August 2021); b. Fully engage with Stanford; DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 6 of 8 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/26/2021 vii. An updated Work Plan and the anticipated timing for Council review of alternatives; viii. Plans for a Technical Advisory Committee; C. Refer to the Rail Committee to: i. Meet with Caltrain on technical issues and support a Local Policy Maker Group Sub-Committee; ii. Review and recommend updates to the Grade Separation Criteria; and iii. Review XCAP’s suggestions for safety mitigations along the entire corridor and recommend further action. SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member Filseth to direct Staff to: A. Eliminate the following alternatives from further consideration, including South Palo Alto Tunnel (passenger and freight) and South Palo Alto Tunnel (with at-grade freight); B. Accept the Staff’s Proposed Grade Separation Work Plan and Anticipated Timing; i. Summer: Complete a detailed review of the Charleston/Meadow alternatives still under consideration, then provide direction on additional studies/next phase of the project; ii. Fall: Complete a detailed review of the Churchill alternatives still under consideration, then provide direction on additional studies/next phase of the project; iii. Fall/Winter: Council to reconvene the Rail Committee and discuss financial considerations; C. Refer to the Rail Committee to: i. Work with Caltrain on political and technical issues; and ii. Review and recommend updates to the Grade Separation Criteria. DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 7 of 8 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/26/2021 INCORPORATED INTO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Substitute Motion, Part B, “…incorporating details from the Expanded Community Advisory Panel (XCAP) report and feedback from Council tonight”. SUBSTITUTE MOTION AS AMENDED: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member Filseth to direct Staff to: A. Eliminate the following alternatives from further consideration, including South Palo Alto Tunnel (passenger and freight) and South Palo Alto Tunnel (with at-grade freight); B. Accept the Staff’s Proposed Grade Separation Work Plan and Anticipated Timing incorporating details from the Expanded Community Advisory Panel (XCAP) report and feedback from Council tonight; i. Summer: Complete a detailed review of the Charleston/Meadow alternatives still under consideration, then provide direction on additional studies/next phase of the project; ii. Fall: Complete a detailed review of the Churchill alternatives still under consideration, then provide direction on additional studies/next phase of the project; iii. Fall/Winter: Council to reconvene the Rail Committee and discuss financial considerations; C. Refer to the Rail Committee to: i. Work with Caltrain on political and technical issues; and ii. Review and recommend updates to the Grade Separation Criteria. SUBSTITUTE MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED: 6-1 Kou, no Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:07 P.M. in recognition of Jasmina Bojic, the Founder and Executive Director of UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival), a longtime Stanford educator and film critic to join the International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication (ICFT) UNESCO based in Paris. DocuSign Envelope ID: 933AACD7-F883-4DB7-9368-0362CD9FB9DC ACTION MINUTES Page 8 of 8 Sp. City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 04/26/2021 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