HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-07 City Council Summary MinutesCITY COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 1 of 28
Special Meeting
June 7, 2021
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in virtual
teleconference at 5:02 P.M.
Participating Remotely: Burt, Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Kou, Stone, Tanaka
Absent:
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
None.
Oral Communications
Rhoda Fry remarked that a portion of Lehigh's quarry property was located in Palo Alto. Lehigh's proposal impacted the future expansion of the Black
Mountain Trail. Lehigh was one of the state's worst polluters.
Mark Shull encouraged residents to attend the virtual meeting with San
Francisco International Airport (SFO) regarding the Ground-Based
Augmentation System (GBAS). It was time for the City to fight for its place
on the SFO Roundtable.
Charlie Weidanz announced World Music Month began the previous weekend
and continued on Saturdays and Sundays in June 2021.
Rebecca Ward urged the Council to become a member of the SFO Roundtable.
Aircraft traffic was impacting the residents of Palo Alto. Membership in the
SFO Roundtable was an opportunity to address the impacts of aircraft traffic.
Terry Holzemer urged the Council to support hiring an in-house Economic
Development Staff member. A consultant was not going to focus on residents'
concerns. The Council needed to reexamine the closure of California Avenue
and University Avenue to vehicular traffic.
Eileen Richardson, Downtown Streets Team, apologized for the blemish that
incidents involving employees left on the organization and its purpose. The
Board and she addressed the incidents with training and implementation of
best practices and compiled a number of documents that demonstrated the
organization's evolution and dedication to improvement. The documents were
available upon request.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 2 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Winter Dellenbach questioned the Veterans Administration's May 7, 2021
statement regarding the fuel spill when containment booms were installed in the Boulware Park segment of the creek. Water testing data was made
available; however, it raised many questions. The Parks and Recreation
Commission and the Storm Water Management Oversight Committee needed
to be involved in the matter.
John Norman stated Black people were getting an advantage over Asians and
White people. Segregation was needed so it was not equal.
Minutes Approval
1. Approval of Action Minutes for the May 24, 2021 City Council Meeting.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Mayor DuBois to approve the
Action Minutes for the May 24, 2021 City Council Meeting.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Consent Calendar
Council Member Kou registered no votes on Agenda Item Numbers 3, 9 and
10.
Council Member Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 3.
Mayor DuBois registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 9.
Roland Lebrun requested someone disable closed captioning in Zoom.
Jeremy Erman, addressing Agenda Item Number 7, felt the Agenda Item was
hypocritical in light of the City's attempt to evict Cubberley tenants in 2020
while retaining control of one building, the gym, and the theatre.
Angie Evans, addressing Agenda Item Number 9 on behalf of Palo Alto
Forward, hoped the Council extended the closure of California Avenue and
University Avenue to vehicular traffic indefinitely to preserve the vibrancy of
the business districts. Families with children under age 12, for whom there was not a COVID-19 vaccination, needed a public space that was safe for
children.
Carol Scott, addressing Agenda Item Number 9, objected to the City Manager
meeting with the business community only. The proposal affected traffic,
safety, and air pollution, all of which impacted residents living adjacent to
California Avenue.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 3 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
MOTION: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to
approve Agenda Item Numbers 2-10.
2. Approval of an Effluent Transfer Agreement Between the City of Palo
Alto and the City of Los Altos.
3. Approval of Contract Number C21179800A With Pacific International
Electric Company, Inc. in the Amount of $943,639 for the Underground
District 46 Completion Project; and Authorization to Execute and Negotiate Related Change Orders in the Amount of $188,728 for a Total
Not-to-Exceed Amount of $1,132,367; and Approval of a Budget
Amendment in the Electric Fund.
4. Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Execute
a Five-year General Services Agreement With Western Machinery
Electric Inc. for Repair and Maintenance of Electricity Generators at the
Municipal Service Center in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $592,248; and to
Negotiate and Execute one or More Task Orders for Additional Services
as Needed in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $300,000, for a Total Not-to-
Exceed Amount of $892,248; and Approve a Budget Amendment in the
Electric Fund.
5. Approval of a Design-build Contract With Johnson Controls Fire
Protection, LP in the Amount of $517,280, and Authorization for the City
Manager to Negotiate and Execute Related Change Orders for a Not-to-
Exceed Amount of $51,728, for a Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of
$569,008 for the Civic Center Fire Life Safety Upgrades, Capital
Improvement Program Project (PE-18016).
6. Approval of Amendment Number 1 to Contract Number S20176879 With
Johnson Controls Fire Protection, LP to Increase the Contract Amount by $86,847 for a Revised Three-year Contract in a Total Amount Not-
to-Exceed $265,584 for the Provision of Fire Sprinkler System
Inspections and Repair Services.
7. Policy and Services Committee Recommends Approval of a Rent
Forgiveness Program for Tenants in City Buildings and Approve a Budget
Amendment in the General Fund.
8. Adoption of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan
Update for City Buildings, Parking Facilities, Parks, and Public Right-of-
Way Sidewalks and Curb Ramps.
9. Adoption of an Ordinance and Resolution 9962 Temporarily Continuing:
1) Uses of Public and Private Property for Outdoor Dining, Retail, and
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 4 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Personal Services; and 2) the Pilot Parklet Program Past the end of the
Local Emergency.
10. SECOND READING: Ordinance 5525 Entitled, “Ordinance of the Council
of the City of Palo Alto Updating an Emergency Permit Extension
Ordinance in Response to Changes to Santa Clara County Health Orders
(FIRST READING: May 24, 2021 PASSED: 7-0).”
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBERS 2, 4-8: 7-0
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3: 5-2 Kou, Tanaka no
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 9: 5-2 DuBois, Kou no
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10: 6-1 Kou no
Council Member Kou felt the Council needed to defer the project noted in
Agenda Item Number 3. October 2021 was an appropriate sunset date for
Agenda Item Number 9. Engagement with the neighbors was problematic.
With regard to Agenda Item Number 10, health orders allowed development
to resume early in the pandemic. Therefore, extending the expiration of
permits was not necessary.
Council Member Tanaka indicated deferring the undergrounding project did
not affect residents but reduced Operating Reserves by $500,000.
Mayor DuBois related that the Council did not make required findings that
roadways were not needed. He expressed concern regarding the use of public
rights-of-way and business locations in other cities recovering faster than Palo
Alto locations.
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager, reported free COVID-19 vaccinations were
available throughout Santa Clara County. Free COVID-19 testing was
available at the Cubberley Pavilion. Staff was reviewing new protocols released by Cal/OSHA. The Governor's Executive Order was probably not
going to be lifted on June 15, 2021, which meant public meetings were going
to continue in the virtual format. The Summit on Women and Girls was
scheduled for June 12, 2021. The City was hosting a community meeting with
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) regarding the Ground-Based
Augmentation System (GBAS) on June 9, 2021. World Music Month was going
to be celebrated on Saturdays and Sundays in June 2021. The center segment
of the Bike Bridge over Highway 101 was delayed in reaching Palo Alto.
Currently, installation of the center segment was scheduled overnight on June
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 5 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
12-13, 2021. The City was designated a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly
Community. Upcoming Agenda Items for the Council included the North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan (NVCAP), the Budget, changes to the City's
Local Emergency Proclamation, and installation of electric vehicle (EV)
superchargers at the Bryant Street Garage.
Action Items
11. PUBLIC HEARING: Resolution 9963 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council
of the City of Palo Alto to Suspend Assessments for Fiscal Year 2022 for
the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) (CONTINUED FROM
JUNE 1, 2021).”
David Ramberg, Administrative Services Assistant Director, reported the
Council preliminarily approved suspension of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022
assessments for the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) on May
17, 2021. In June 2021, the Council suspended BID assessments for FY 2021.
Public Hearing opened and closed without public speakers at 5:45 P.M.
MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Mayor DuBois to
adopt a Resolution temporarily suspending the levy of assessments in Fiscal
Year 2022 in connection with the Downtown Palo Alto Business Improvement
District (BID).
Council Member Cormack noted that funding was sufficient for the remaining
expenses and that data was going to be collected.
Mayor DuBois asked if Business Registry fees were suspended for businesses
registering on time but remained in effect for businesses not registering
timely.
Mr. Ramberg replied yes. At the Council's direction, Staff extended the
deadline to July 15, 2021.
Vice Mayor Burt inquired regarding the possibility of continuing the Summer
Concert Series without the BID's support.
Mr. Ramberg agreed to provide information at a later time.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council took a break at 5:50 P.M. and returned at 6:05 P.M
12. 855 El Camino Real (20PLN-00252): Adoption of an Ordinance
Amending Chapters 18.04 and 18.16 of the Municipal Code to Allow
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 6 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Some Ground Floor Medical Office (“Retail Health”) Uses With a
Commensurate Increase in the Overall Office use Allowed at the Site Subject to Limitations. Environmental Assessment: Exempt From the
Provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in
Accordance With Guideline Section 15301 (Existing Facilities). Zoning
District: CC (Community Commercial).
Rachel Tanner, Planning and Development Services Assistant Director, reported the Applicant's request was to replace ground-floor retail and retail-
like uses with medical uses within Town & Country Village. On March 22,
2021, the Council declined medical office uses but supported the concept of a
retail health use. The Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC)
recommended the definition of retail health exclude convalescence, use of
general anesthesia, emergency services, and urgent care; limiting retail health
uses to 10 percent of the existing ground-floor area of Town & Country Village;
not allowing retail health uses to occupy spaces directly facing El Camino Real
and Embarcadero Road; a retail health use provide 750 square feet or 20
percent of total space, whichever was less, for retail sales and displays; a
requirement for transparent storefront glazing or retail displays to extend a
minimum depth of 3 feet; a requirement for tenant leases to be established
by December 31, 2023; and further study of extending retail health uses to
other areas of the City. The PTC split 4-3 regarding the recommendations,
with opposition noting retail may recover, retail and retail-like uses needed to
be preserved, uncertainty about uses allowed as a retail health use, retail
health uses may harm the overall retail environment, and a desire to refine
the definition of a retail health use. The Applicant proposed modifying the
definition to allow urgent care if it was associated with a primary care use.
Dean Rubinson, Ellis Partners, reviewed the history of the application and
comments from four tenant representatives provided on May 12, 2021. In
2017, retail sales began decreasing while the average retail vacancy began
increasing in Town & Country Village. Based on the national increase in online
retail sales from 2018 to 2020, e-commerce was the primary cause of
declining sales in Town & Country Village. Health retail tenants were thriving
and invented for synergy with retail centers. The Council's and PTC's changes
were acceptable, and the Applicant requested the Council allow urgent care
services associated with a primary care use. In a worst case scenario, health
retail uses reduced Sales Tax revenue by $39,000. However, health retail
uses were likely to increase retail sales at other uses in Town & Country
Village, prevent additional tenant failures, and increase overall Sales Tax
revenues.
Hamilton Hitchings believed the financial viability of Town & Country Village
was important. Limiting health retail uses to the second floor was less
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 7 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
intrusive than ground-floor. He opposed the Applicant's proposed change to
allow urgent care associated with a primary care use.
Terry Holzemer opposed the proposed Ordinance because recovery from the
pandemic was just beginning.
Jeff Levinsky noted that Town & Country Village was crowded over the past
few weeks. He questioned whether rents were appropriate to attract
businesses. The proposed Ordinance created a monopoly.
Rebecca Sanders preferred to retain all retail uses. Ventura residents were
concerned about the proposal.
Vice Mayor Burt asked if the vacancy rate included the three new restaurants.
Mr. Rubinson answered no. If they were included, the vacancy rate dropped
from 21 percent to around 18 percent.
Vice Mayor Burt indicated that the proposed definition categorized health retail
as a form of medical office rather than retail.
Ms. Tanner explained that in the Municipal Code, retail health was going to be
placed under medical office to reflect retail health's relationship to medical
office. However, the definition distinguished retail health from medical office.
Vice Mayor Burt suggested retail health may need to be defined as a form of
retail rather than medical office. Under the proposed language, a retail health
use needed to provide a storefront or a sales area, but the sales area was not
required to be located at the very front of the space. He inquired whether
Staff discussed a requirement for drop-in services.
Ms. Tanner indicated the PTC did not discuss specific operations but discussed
a retail sales area.
Vice Mayor Burt suggested walk-in services made the use more retail-like but
did not preclude services by appointment.
Ms. Tanner advised that neither the PTC nor Staff considered operational
standards.
Vice Mayor Burt inquired regarding consideration of extended hours of
operation to align with the retail environment.
Ms. Tanner indicated hours of operation were not proposed.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 8 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Vice Mayor Burt asked if the size of 5,000 square feet was considered in the
context of existing retail spaces in Town & Country Village.
Ms. Tanner noted the average size of spaces was approximately 2,000 square
feet. A maximum size of 5,000 square feet allowed one use to occupy two
spaces.
Vice Mayor Burt expressed concern that 5,000 square feet placed a retail
health use as one of the largest tenants in Town & Country Village.
Mr. Rubinson clarified that Trader Joe's occupied approximately 12,000 square
feet while CVS occupied approximately 18,000 square feet. Several other
tenants occupied spaces of 5,000 square feet. Medical office and retail health
uses were not allowed to occupy space on the second floor because there were
no elevators to provide access to the second floor as required by the
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
Council Member Stone asked if vacancy rates for retail spaces across the City
were beginning to fall.
Ms. Tanner reported Town & Country Village's vacancy rate was higher than
other areas of the City, which reported vacancy rates of 10 percent and 15
percent. A vacancy rate of 10 percent or higher was not good for a retail area.
Determining a trend was premature at the current time.
Council Member Stone stated the definition of retail health use appeared very
broad. He requested examples of retail health uses under the proposed
definition.
Ms. Tanner explained that the PTC did not want to exclude types of retail
health simply because Commissioners and Staff were not aware of them. The
definition attempted to discourage certain types of medical uses and
encourage uses with a strong retail component. An optometrist was an example of a retail health use that provided shopping and services with or
without an appointment.
Council Member Stone preferred a retail use with a medical component. The
proposed definition was a medical use with a slight retail component.
Council Member Filseth remarked that the growth drivers for Sales Tax were
business-to-business and to some extent restaurants and food over the past
decade. Sales Tax from general retail uses appeared to be essentially flat.
The proposed definition of retail health appeared to be a medical office.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 9 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Council Member Cormack requested an example of an urgent care associated
with a primary care use.
Ms. Tanner understood some medical uses provided urgent care services to
their patients or to the public.
Mr. Rubinson explained that primary care services were a significant
component of some medical office uses, but the uses also offered urgent care
services. Precluding urgent care services could exclude some medical uses
from becoming tenants at Town & Country Village.
Council Member Cormack inquired whether small labs performing basic tests
were potential tenants.
Ms. Tanner suggested the PTC struggled with separating retail and medical
components to draft a definition of retail health use.
Council Member Cormack understood that retail health was a medical office
use with a retail component. She supported the Staff recommendation.
Mayor DuBois inquired regarding application of the California Environmental
Quality Act's (CEQA) substantial change in use standard to retail health.
Ms. Tanner explained that the environmental impacts for a retail health use
were similar to those generated by allowed retail and retail-like uses.
Mayor DuBois asked if ambulances were likely to take patients to a retail
health use with urgent care services.
Ms. Tanner did not believe urgent care services were equivalent to emergency
room services.
Samuel Gutierrez clarified that the PTC discussed urgent care and emergency
services and determined that ambulances and incapacitated patients were not
compatible with a retail environment. Urgent care services were more for
stitching cuts. A retail health use did not significantly alter the shopping center's function. The parameters for retail health limited the types of uses.
The applicant requested a text change, not a redevelopment of the shopping
center.
Mayor DuBois noted the expanded scope of a retail health use. Adopting an
Ordinance for one parcel was not a good process. This issue was not a priority
in relation to other items on the work plan.
Council Member Tanaka asked if the Applicant lowered rents to attract
tenants.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 10 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Jim Ellison, Ellis Partners, reported rents were down about 20 to 25 percent.
Council Member Tanaka related that his investigation into vacancies and rents revealed landlords were reducing rents and offering to pay for tenant
improvements to attract tenants. The retail health concept was intended to
generate foot traffic for shopping centers. The situation was dire, and the
Council needed to move quickly.
MOTION: Council Member Tanaka moved, seconded by Council Member
Cormack to:
A. Find the attached Ordinance exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301
(existing facilities);
B. Adopt the attached Ordinance creating a “retail health” definition
allowing a limited amount of retail health uses on the ground floor at
Town and Country Shopping Center; and
C. Provide direction to Staff on whether to study expansion of retail health
uses to other shopping centers or commercial districts.
Council Member Cormack related that retail health was limited to 10 percent
of ground-floor space. People were likely to patronize these uses, and they
were likely to be attractive.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member Kou moved, seconded by Council
Member Filseth to deny the application.
Council Member Kou suggested other shopping centers were going to want
retail health uses. Retail health uses did not serve residents' needs and did
not generate Sales Tax revenue. After June 20, 2022, a retail health use
required a Conditional Use Permit, which was in effect permanent.
Council Member Filseth commented that a lot of time was being spent on a
project with a small impact. The PTC had difficulty defining retail health.
Council Member Stone noted other shopping centers in the City were doing
well. The Applicant needed to demonstrate its efforts to attract tenants before
the City amended the Municipal Code. The prospect of economic recovery
improved significantly since the Council considered the proposed Ordinance in
March 2021.
Vice Mayor Burt wanted the PTC to provide a nuanced definition of health
retail. The PTC provided guidance that reflected their values rather than
Council direction. The definition was too broad, and someone was going to
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 11 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
use it to provide services that were not intended. The Council needed to
reexamine the need for adjustments in the fall of 2021.
Council Member Cormack inquired whether Director Lait remarked during the
Council's last discussion of this project that the Council should not refer the
item to the PTC if it was not going to adopt the Ordinance.
Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director, answered yes.
Council Member Cormack asked if Staff anticipated the economic development
consultant's work including retail health.
Ed Shikada, City Manager, reported the Council direction was not specific to
retail health. The broader function of exploring the applicability of retail health
as an area of growth was appropriate for the general topic.
Council Member Cormack proposed amending the Substitute Motion to direct
Staff to study the expansion of retail health uses to shopping centers and
commercial districts as part of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for economic
development assistance.
Council Member Filseth did not accept the proposed Amendment.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION PASSED: 5-2 Cormack, Tanaka no
13. PUBLIC HEARING: Resolution 9964 and Resolution 9965 Adopting the
2020 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency
Plan.
Dean Batchelor, Utilities Director, reported every agency in California was
required to submit an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and a Water
Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) every five years.
Karla Dailey, Senior Resource Planner, advised that the deadline to submit the
two plans was June 30, 2021. The plans demonstrated the adequacy of the
City's water supply to meet its needs. The plans were revised to reflect updated population and employment projections, impacts of the 2015 drought
and resulting conservation, the Northwest County Recycled Water Strategic
Plan, and the agreement with Valley Water and Mountain View. Due to
drought conditions, Staff was going to increase education and community
outreach regarding water conservation programs. The UWMP analysis
assumed the State implemented the Bay Delta Plan by 2023. The five-year
drought risk assessment projected water demand was going to exceed supply
beginning in 2023. The WSCP described actions the City planned to take for
six levels of water supply shortages. The City was not restricted to
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 12 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
implementing only the actions listed in the WSCP. The City was allowed to
amend the WSCP at any time.
Greg Scharff, Utilities Advisory Commissioner, advised that the Utilities
Advisory Commission (UAC) unanimously recommended the Council support
the UWMP and WSCP. If the plans were not submitted by the deadline, the
City may not be eligible for State funding, which the City was seeking. The
UAC expressed concern regarding the drastic water reductions, but recommending approval of the plans did not seem to commit the City to
anything.
Public Hearing opened at 7:44 P.M.
Dave Warner remarked that the City continued to overestimate its water
demand by as much as one-third for 2045. Overestimating demand was
financially and environmentally costly and led to water rationing.
Peter Drekmeier, Tuolumne River Trust Policy Director, commented that water
demand projections were almost always inflated. The San Francisco Public
Utilities Commission (SFPUC) was able to manage a six-year drought with the
Bay Delta Plan in effect, without rationing, and without developing new water
sources.
Stephen Rosenblum stated that the SFPUC consistently utilized the designed
drought to scare people into opposing the Bay Delta Plan, which the Council
supported several years ago. He urged the Council to consider amending the
UWMP to include realistic water demand projections.
Public Hearing closed at 7:51 P.M.
Vice Mayor Burt expressed concern regarding the disconnect between
projections for increased water use and the actual decrease in water use. It
was possible the projections were going to impact the City's water allocation during a drought. He requested Staff comment regarding the reason for
projecting an increase in purchases and the unintended impact that may have
on drought allocations.
Ms. Dailey related that all demand projections were wrong, but Staff was
comfortable with the projection because it was consistent with the trend for
decreasing per capita water use. The need to be consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan and the enormous pressure to increase housing
production overwhelmed an overall decrease in water use slightly.
Vice Mayor Burt asked if Staff factored in the type of housing. Single-family
homes consumed more water per capita than multifamily units. The City's
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 13 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
housing growth was projected to be overwhelmingly multifamily units. The
additional residents were likely to consume less water per capita than existing
residents.
Ms. Dailey concurred. Models showed per capita water use was decreasing.
The model was very robust and data driven.
Vice Mayor Burt asked why this model was going to be more accurate than
previous models.
Ms. Dailey explained that discussion of supply projects included a range of
possible demands rather than only the demand contained in the UWMP.
Council Member Filseth inquired whether lowering the demand forecast meant
the City was likely to implement less stringent rationing in the event of a
drought and whether the City was able to utilize a less conservative demand
forecast in order to lessen rationing.
Ms. Dailey indicated the percentage cutbacks contained in the UWMP were
based on system-wide demand projections and SFPUC's predictions for
cutbacks. If Palo Alto lowered its demand forecast, the percentage cutbacks
were not going to change. SFPUC provided the percentage numbers based on
a regional view of the system. If SFPUC redid its analysis, all agencies needed
to lower their demand projections. If a water supply shortage was at or below
20 percent, one formula determined the division of water between SFPUC and
wholesale customers, and another formula determined the division of water
among the 26 Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA)
agencies. If the shortage was greater than 20 percent, the partners
negotiated the division of water.
Council Member Cormack requested the anticipated completion date of the
study and anticipated outcomes.
Nicole Sandkulla, Chief Executive Officer/General Manager of BAWSCA,
understood that the multiyear climate change risk vulnerability assessment
was scheduled for publication in the summer. SFPUC was going to utilize the
study to inform policy discussions.
Council Member Cormack noted the importance of understanding the science
for the future as well as the past. She asked if the City implemented drought
rate structures in the past.
Lisa Bilir, Resource Planner, indicated drought rate structures were
implemented in 2016 and 2017. If necessary, the Council activated and
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 14 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
imposed the drought surcharge. The rate structures depended on the cutback
published by SFPUC and primarily affected Palo Alto's higher tier usages.
Council Member Cormack noted the 2015 drought damaged the City's canopy.
Council Member Tanaka asked if residents were really expected to cut back
water usage by 40 percent.
Ms. Dailey advised that the State imposed a target cutback of 23 percent in
2015, and the Palo Alto community reduced water usage by almost 30 percent. The 40 percent cutback was higher than anything previously
required.
Council Member Tanaka inquired about the consequences of not meeting
cutback requirements in a drought.
Ms. Sandkulla reported in the event of mandatory rationing, SFPUC was
allowed to levy fines on member agencies that did not achieve the desired
reduction. Fines were determined when mandatory rationing was declared,
but 10 to 15 times the current water rate was discussed as a potential fine.
Council Member Tanaka inquired regarding the likelihood that the five-year
drought assessment was accurate.
Ms. Sandkulla explained that the Bay Delta Plan was a significant impact to
water supply and water supply reliability. BAWSCA was working to remove
the region from this type of impact by locating an alternative water source
that met the Bay Delta Plan's objectives without the water supply cost.
Council Member Tanaka asked about the impacts of the City releasing some
of its water rights.
Ms. Dailey answered almost none.
Council Member Stone inquired whether COVID-19 and telecommuting were
likely to materially affect projections for job growth and population.
Ms. Sandkulla advised that the impacts of COVID-19 and the lack of a rebound
from the 2015 drought were going to be included in sensitivity scenarios for
models. If SFPUC altered their design drought and it materially impacted the
assessment for reliability, SFPUC provided that to all partner agencies who
used the information to update their UWMPs.
Council Member Stone requested clarification of a "normal year."
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 15 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Ms. Dailey indicated average year was a better term. In non-drought years,
the City did not have a water supply shortage.
Mayor DuBois asked if the model was the same one that the Association of
Bay Governments (ABAG) used to forecast housing units.
Ms. Dailey stated Staff utilized Comprehensive Plan employment and
population numbers, which ABAG provided, and compared those to the
Housing Work Plan, which assumed the addition of 300 housing units or 500 people per year. Unfortunately, the Housing Work Plan numbers were lower
than the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
Mayor DuBois inquired regarding the Staff Report not mentioning the large
potable recyclable water plant.
Ms. Dailey advised that the large plant was not going to serve Palo Alto. The
UWMP discussed the large plant in broad terms.
Mayor DuBois advised that the Valley Water Board was scheduled to consider
declaring a water shortage for Santa Clara County on June 9, 2021.
MOTION: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to
adopt a Resolution adopting the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan and a
Resolution adopting the Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
Mayor DuBois preferred to approve the plans and amend them when
information was available.
Vice Mayor Burt requested Staff comment regarding an appendix that
analyzed the impact of SFPUC reducing the length of the design drought by a
year.
Ms. Dailey commented that there was not a disadvantage to preparing an
appendix.
AMENDMENT: Vice Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Stone to direct the City to send a letter to the San Francisco Public Utilities
Commission (SFPUC) that includes an appendix in the plan that would analyze
the impact of the SFPUC reducing the design drought by one year.
Vice Mayor Burt related that the SFPUC's adoption of the appendix allowed the
City to favorably modify its UWMP.
Council Member Cormack saw no point to directing Staff to send a letter when
the Board was meeting the following day at 1:30 P.M. She encouraged
colleagues to consider that the model could go either way.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 16 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Ed Shikada, City Manager, noted the Council's practice to draft letters and
requested Council direction.
Vice Mayor Burt felt the Council's practice of authorizing Staff to write the
letter and the Mayor to approve it was appropriate. He inquired whether the
SFPUC was allowed to add an appendix after approving its UWMP.
Ms. Sandkulla explained that an amendment to the UWMP required
publication, a review period, a public hearing, and submitting the amended
UWMP to the State.
Vice Mayor Burt requested Mr. Drekmeier's opinion of the utility of sending a
letter given that the Board was meeting the following day.
Mr. Drekmeier advised that, if the Council approved sending a letter, he was
going to refer to it during the SFPUC Board meeting. A letter was likely to
have some influence with the Board.
Council Member Tanaka requested Commissioner Scharff's opinion of sending
a letter.
Mr. Scharff advised that the UAC did not discuss the issue, and he preferred
not to provide his personal opinion.
INCORPORATED INTO THE AMENDMENT WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to change the Amendment to read, “to request Staff
provide a letter for the Mayor’s approval to the San Francisco Public Utilities
Commission… .”
Council Member Tanaka asked if reducing the design drought by one year
meant reducing the drought forecast by one year.
Vice Mayor Burt answered yes. Doing that improved the City's water
allocation.
Ms. Dailey clarified that reducing the design drought changed the projected
water supply shortfall.
Ms. Sandkulla explained that the SFPUC utilized a design drought to determine
the system's performance during a future drought scenario. The design
drought was 8.5 years long. The long-term forecasting provided projected
demand. Projected demand analyzed with the design drought determined the
projected shortfall. Rerunning the model with a 7.5-year design drought
assumed future cutbacks were reduced in a drought scenario. If the
information was contained in an appendix to the SFPUC UWMP, one was able
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 17 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
to refer to the information if the SFPUC adopted that change to the design
drought as a policy in the fall.
Council Member Filseth suggested Staff utilize Menlo Park's letter as a
template.
AMENDMENT AS AMENDED: Vice Mayor Burt moved, seconded by Council
Member Stone to request Staff provide a letter for the Mayor’s approval to the
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) that includes an appendix in the plan that would analyze the impact of the SFPUC reducing the design
drought by one year.
AMENDMENT AS AMENDED PASSED: 5-2 Cormack, Tanaka no
Council Member Cormack requested the Mayor split the Motion.
Mayor DuBois agreed to do so.
MOTION AS AMENDED: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member
Cormack to:
A. Adopt a Resolution adopting the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
and a Resolution adopting the Water Shortage Contingency Plan; and
B. Request Staff provide a letter for the Mayors approval to the San
Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) that includes an appendix
in the plan that would analyze the impact of the SFPUC reducing the
design drought by one year.
MOTION SPLIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING
MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED FOR MOTION, PART A: 7-0
MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED FOR MOTION, PART B: 5-2 Cormack,
Tanaka no
14. City Council Review of the Finance Committee's Recommended Fiscal
Year (FY) 2022 Operating & Capital Budgets and Municipal Fee Schedule; Direction to Staff Regarding Preparation of the Final Budget
for Council Adoption on June 21, 2021.
Kiely Nose, Administrative Services Director/Interim Assistant City Manager,
reported the Agenda Item allowed the Council to adjust the Fiscal Year (FY)
2022 Proposed Budget following the Finance Committee's final review.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 18 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Christine Paras, Assistant Director of Administrative Services, advised that
Staff had not reached agreements with labor groups regarding a zero wage increase for FY 2022. The Finance Committee recommended the Council
approve the FY 2022 Operating and Capital Budgets, Municipal Fee Schedule,
and FY 2022-2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) with amendments outlined
in the Staff Report and an amendment to utilize unallocated funds of $1.7
million for salary expenses if agreements with labor groups were not reached or to place the $1.7 million in the Budget Stabilization Reserve (BSR) and
rename the BSR as the Council Recovery Reserve if agreements with labor
groups were reached. The Finance Committee also directed Staff to prepare
two scenarios for refurbishing the Roth Building. Current adjustments
included a 60/40 split of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, a $2.5
million draw from the BSR, a $25,000 reduction of the Council Contingency,
and funding restored to various programs as outlined in the Staff Report.
Additional adjustments affected the Capital Improvement Fund and SUMC
funds, the Gas Operating Funding, the University Avenue Parking Permit Fund,
the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fund, the State Gas Tax
Fund and the Capital Improvement Fund, and Utilities Funds. The first
scenario for refurbishing the Roth Building was a $4 million loan from the Fiber
Optics Fund at 0 percent interest. Scenario 1 included repayment of the loan
if the Palo Alto History Museum (PAHM) received a federal community project
grant. Propositions 26 and 218 did not regulate the use of monies in the Fiber
Optics Fund. The soonest that grants were going to be awarded was October
2021. The Fiber Optics Fund needed to maintain a balance sufficient to fund
ongoing maintenance and operations as well as unexpected expenditures. The
second scenario proposed the use of $2 million in Stanford University Medical Center (SUMC) Development Agreement funds. Funds in the SUMC category
of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing were eligible for the Roth Building.
However, $8.9 million of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing funds was
designated for Fire Station Number 4. Currently, community center impact
fees were allocated to the Rinconada Park Improvements Project. Staff was
researching the ability to allocate park impact fees to the Rinconada Park
Improvements Project and reallocate community center impact fees from the
Rinconada Park Project to the Roth Building. Third quarter financial
information indicated departments and funds were trending as expected. The
May 2021 projection for a $2 million to $3.5 million surplus may increase by
year end. The first ARPA distribution of $6.85 million was received.
Council Member Cormack stated she implemented the Council's instructions
for adjusting the Budget; however, she was unable to support the Budget as
revised.
Council took a break at 9:06 P.M. and returned at 9:15 P.M.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 19 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
John Northway, PAHM Board Member, described the Roth Building's structural
issues and construction costs. The City needed to contribute funds to
rehabilitate a City asset.
Colleen Braff, Palo Alto Historical Association (PAHA) Board Member, shared
her family's history in Palo Alto. PAHA's archives needed a safe new home in
Birge Clark's Roth Building.
Margaret Chai Maloney, speaking on behalf of ten Palo Alto families, implored the Council to approve and fund the Roth Building. Easy access to local history
archives was important for students.
Deborah Shepherd, speaking as an individual, advised that the County of
Santa Clara (County) awarded three grants for work on the Roth Building.
She encouraged the Council to support PAHM and preservation of the Roth
Building.
Georgie Gleim, PAHA President, indicated one climate-controlled location was
needed to store the City's archives. Plans for the Roth Building included
archival space, public restrooms, and community meeting rooms.
Kimberley Wong asked the Council to fund the Roth Building refurbishment
project. Learning about the history of their cultures provided children with a
sense of belonging in the community.
Jeremy Erman thanked the Council for restoring funding to many programs
and hoped the Council negotiated a wage reduction with labor groups.
Terry Holzemer hoped the Council funded the Roth Building with impact fees
and SUMC funds.
Amanda Brown remarked that Palo Alto was losing its iconic businesses and
needed a history museum to preserve memories of the businesses.
Carol Scott supported the effort to price residential parking permit fees higher than parking garage fees to encourage parking in garages. She questioned
the City selling employee parking permits for the Evergreen Park Residential
Permit Parking Program (RPP) when garages and lots were not filled during
the weekday noon hour.
Karen Kwan, Palo Alto Art Center Foundation, requested the partial restoration
of FY 2021 funding for the Palo Alto Art Center with unallocated funds and
federal funds.
Jonathan Erman suggested the Council consider the consequences of
eliminating services, programs, and Staff positions.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 20 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Rich Greene, PAHM Board President, speaking for Karen Holman, Laura Bajuk,
Nelson Ng, Hal Michelson, Doug Kreitz, stated the Roth Building was listed on
the National Register of Historic Places and intended to provide a public
restroom, a permanent home for City archives, access to local history, and
meeting rooms. PAHM invested more than $1.8 million in the project. He
urged the Council to approve funding for the Roth Building.
Mayor DuBois asked about the differences among the contingency funds, their
uses, and the reason for renaming the BSR.
Ms. Nose explained that the Municipal Code provided for the Council
Contingency Fund, and it was utilized for unfunded Council mandates during
the year. The City Manager with the Mayor's digital signature was allowed to
allocate funds from the Council Contingency Fund to a specific project account.
The $500,000 reserve that the Finance Committee set aside was going to be
appropriated into a reserve fund. A majority vote of the Council was needed
to appropriate funds from the reserve during the fiscal year. It was possible
to deposit the $500,000 into the BSR, but a two-thirds vote of the Council was
needed to appropriate funds from the BSR.
Mayor DuBois preferred to deposit the $500,000 into the BSR without
designating the funds for a particular purpose so that the Council was able to
utilize the funds wherever needed. He inquired regarding the $5.3 million that
the Council committed to the Junior Museum and Zoo (JMZ) and the $9.3
million mentioned in the Staff Report.
Ms. Nose advised that the $9.3 million amount was the total of Rinconada Park
improvements and funding for the JMZ. The Rinconada Park Project was in
existence prior to the JMZ commitment, and the two were combined.
Mayor DuBois asked if the $4 million difference was the total for the Rinconada
Park Project.
Brad Eggleston, Public Works Director, reported the total for the Rinconada
Park Project was approximately $2 million. Funding for the JMZ was composed
of the initial amount, an additional $1 million, funding for exhibits, and funding
for the temporary accommodation of the JMZ at Cubberley Community Center.
Mayor DuBois requested the intended expenditure of the $300,000 ramp-up
fees.
Ms. Nose was not sure where the funds were going to be spent. With the
Budget cuts for FY 2021 and the Council recommending restoration of funding
for vacant positions, there were no Staff or contractors to provide the services
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 21 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
for which the Council restored funding for FY 2022. The funds were going to
be spent so that Staff expeditiously ramped up to provide services.
Council Member Cormack understood that fully funding the Roth Building
rehabilitation was going to greatly reduce the chances of the project receiving
federal funding.
Ms. Nose clarified three options: a loan from the Fiber Optics Fund that was
repaid, a loan from the Fiber Optics Fund that was forgiven, and a grant from
the Fiber Optics Fund.
Council Member Cormack asked if the Council was able to indicate in the FY
2022 Budget that it was going to provide a forgivable loan to the Roth Building
in January 2022 so that the Council continued to advocate for grant funding.
Ms. Nose replied yes, if the Council and PAHM entered a loan agreement and
the Council appropriated funds in FY 2022.
Council Member Cormack inquired whether utilizing all parkland dedication
fees eliminated the opportunity to improve Boulware Park.
Ms. Nose did not believe so.
Council Member Cormack indicated her fundamental concern was utilizing
more than half of the ARPA funds. She was not comfortable utilizing park and
community center fees for the Roth Building because the community valued
parks, public safety, and libraries. She was willing to support a loan or grant
from the Fiber Optics Fund.
Vice Mayor Burt inquired whether Staff's forecast of a surplus was optimistic
or confident.
Ms. Paras clarified that Staff was confidently optimistic that the surplus was
going to exceed $3.3 million.
Vice Mayor Burt indicated that the Finance Committee utilized $2 million for the anticipated surplus when it was potentially going to exceed $3.5 million.
The Council had a modestly higher amount to work with, even if labor groups
did not agree to wage concessions. There was $500,000 in the COVID-19
Recovery Reserve and $100,000 in the Council Contingency Fund.
Ms. Nose concurred.
Vice Mayor Burt remarked that a COVID-19 Recovery Fund balance of
$700,000 was reasonable. With a greater anticipated surplus for FY 2021, the
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 22 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Council was able to restore additional funding. He requested the incremental
cost of opening Children's Library five days rather than three days.
Gayathri Kanth, Interim Library Director, advised that opening seven days was
a total of $766,000.
Vice Mayor Burt suggested a rough estimate of the cost was $110,000 per
day. The Council had some funding to restore additional programs for children
who were denied a normal childhood for the past year.
Council Member Kou inquired whether Staff contacted Palo Alto Unified School
District (PAUSD) Staff regarding cost sharing for certain program.
Ed Shikada, City Manager, reported the City/School Liaison Committee
discussed the matter at its last meeting and recognized next steps of
identifying programs with some overlap of interests.
Council Member Kou requested the purpose of the line item to restore Police
Administration programming.
Ms. Nose indicated the purpose was travel supplies, general expenses, support
for programs such as National Night Out, Municipal Court fees, FBI Academy,
and additional activities.
Council Member Kou requested an explanation of the note to recommend
using the $125 one-time funding. It was related to the note to eliminate
Finance Committee.
Ms. Nose explained that the Finance Committee set aside $145,000 to be
allocated at a later date. On May 17, 2021, the Council allocated funding for
the hot dog series. Staff offset the two amounts.
Council Member Filseth inquired regarding the driver of the projected surplus.
Ms. Nose related that Staff was seeing positive signs for Sales Tax due to
improved economic activity. Unfortunately, there was no data to support the positive outlook. In addition, there were one-time savings from holding Staff
positions vacant.
Council Member Filseth referred to the updated Long Range Financial Forecast
(LRFF), which indicated in FY 2023-2026 structural expenses exceeded
structural revenues when one-time items were deducted. The LRFF covered
funding gaps with ARPA funding and the BSR. In FY 2024, both resources
were going to be depleted. The cumulative Budget shortfall was projected at
approximately $50 million. Even though the City reduced expenses, expenses
continued to grow during the recovery period. The Green verdict was likely
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 23 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
to result in a one-time $15 million to $20 million expense followed by a
permanent reduction in revenues of $4 million annually. The Council had not yet reduced the CIP. Part of the Finance Committee found the LRFF quite
sobering. Another part of the Finance Committee felt revenue projections
were excessively conservative and revenues were going to grow much faster
than projected. If significant new revenue sources were not found in the next
24 months, many of the programs funded in the FY 2022 Budget were going
to be defunded once ARPA funds were spent.
Council Member Stone inquired whether Staff analyzed PAHM's proposed
funding model for the Roth Building.
Ms. Nose reported Staff, at the Finance Committee's direction, provided PAHM
with information to develop the proposal.
Council Member Stone asked if Scenario B for the Roth Building resulted in
some projects being defunded.
Ms. Nose clarified that Scenario B identified that if community center impact
fees were not an eligible use, Staff was going to explore defunding a project.
PAHM believed Rinconada Park improvements were a better use of parkland
dedication fees or park impact fees and recommended reallocation of
community center fees from Rinconada Park improvements to the Roth
Building.
Council Member Stone requested the amount of uncommitted Community and
Infrastructure funds needed to offset negative balances in other categories.
Ms. Nose was aware of $200,000.
Council Member Stone inquired regarding the consequences of Council
Member Cormack's proposal to provide a loan to PAHM in January 2022.
Mr. Green reported delaying funding to January potentially allowed the building permit and County grants to expire. Construction needed to begin in
the summer of 2021.
Council Member Stone supported funding the Roth Building.
Mr. Shikada indicated that Staff identified a significant body of work related
to negotiating and drafting a construction agreement that specified the
responsibilities of the City, PAHM, and construction contractors.
Council Member Tanaka encouraged Council Members to remember that
funding was limited. Otherwise, there were going to be dramatic emergencies
in the next few years. If Management Staff were willing to forego salary
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 24 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
increases, labor groups may be willing to do the same. The Council needed
to look at and improve span of control. He questioned whether a history museum was essential at the current time and whether the community valued
a history museum more than good internet service, crossing guards, or parks.
Vice Mayor Burt remarked that the Roth Building was competing with other
CIP projects for funding. In the five-year CIP, cost estimates for projects were
less accurate in each successive year. Projects budgeted in Years 4 and 5 did not have to be implemented when planned. Over the past ten years, average
revenue growth was higher than projected. He requested the City's organic
revenue growth over the previous five or ten years.
Ms. Nose reported the Finance Committee asked Staff to provide the average
growth in General Fund revenues over a decade. Staff identified 5 percent
growth that included two voter-approved increases in the Transient Occupancy
Tax (TOT) rate.
Ms. Paras added that average growth was 4 percent when the TOT increases
were deducted.
Vice Mayor Burt requested the effect of 4 percent revenue growth on the
projected deficit.
Ms. Paras indicated Scenario A assumed a three-year recovery and identified
3.7 percent average growth for the next five years.
Ms. Nose clarified that there was an ongoing funding gap in the fifth year.
Vice Mayor Burt commented that past patterns indicated recovery was going
to be more rapid, and the deficit was going to be less than projected. The
projection assumed no business tax and no increase in the Utility User's Tax
to offset the Green verdict. Most Council Members believed there was strong
community support for a business tax. A tax of $0.20 per square foot generated approximately $30 million annually. He believed recovery and
revenue sources were going to meet funding challenges.
Council Member Kou asked Mr. Green to identify community benefits that the
PAHM was likely to provide.
Mr. Green reported the PAHM was going to provide community meeting rooms,
space for community events, and a schoolroom for elementary students to
work with local history.
Council Member Kou asked if the Roth Building was located on parkland.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 25 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Mr. Green replied yes, even though it was not dedicated parkland. The
agreement between the City and the County stated the Roth Building was
located on parkland for at least the next 20 years.
Council Member Cormack stated Palo Alto's recovery was not going to align
with the national recovery because Palo Alto relied on travel, especially
international travel. She inquired about the date on which the City was likely
to receive revenue from a future business tax.
Ms. Nose suggested a measure was likely to be placed on the November 2022
ballot. Depending on the complexity and structure of the ballot measure,
implementing the tax required 12 to 18 months.
Council Member Cormack recalled that the Council eliminated many vacant
positions in FY 2021. Future cuts had the potential to be more significant if
the Council over-corrected at the current time. The Green verdict contained
some risk. Council Members restored funding to many programs that the
community wanted. Some funds needed to be saved for future needs.
Mayor DuBois requested the assumptions that Magellan made regarding use
of the Fiber Fund and future fund revenue for the network buildout.
Dean Batchelor, Utilities Director, advised that a decrease of approximately
$500,000 was expected in FY 2023 due to rate changes. The forecast was
based on a $30 million Budget. The funds were always going to be used. The
debt depended on how much the City wanted to take on.
Mayor DuBois noted the primary Budget impact was the Legal Reserve Fund
where transfers from Utilities were deposited rather than in the General Fund.
The community needed to understand the importance of the transfer from
Utilities to the General Fund. He supported funding the Roth Building with
impact fees, crafting a lease option, and beginning construction. He inquired
regarding the amount of the long-term deficit caused by the current CIP.
Ms. Nose related that the amount was dependent on how the Council
prioritized projects. The five-year forecast assumed a return to the base level
of catch-up/keep-up funding for the CIP. In FY 2022, the base transfer was
approximately $2.5 million, which increased to approximately $17 million in
FY 2026. The five-year CIP before the Council assumed that five-year ramp-
up. If the Council chose to reduce ramp-up funding in future years, there
were going to be impacts to the five-year CIP.
Mayor DuBois did not want to choose the most optimistic scenario across the
board. He was not comfortable with restoring additional funding.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 26 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
MOTION: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to:
A. Direct Staff to return on June 21, 2021 for adoption of the Fiscal Year 2022 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets and Municipal Fee
Schedule in alignment with the work completed by the Committee and
Council during the month of May 2021 and provide direction on any final
adjustments in preparation for City Council Adoption;
B. Review and accept final FY 2022-2025 Capital Improvement Plan as amended by the actions outlined in this report (as recommended by the
Finance Committee and Council);
C. Review and accept the alternative balancing strategy in the event the
City does not reach agreement with labor groups on concessions in the
General Fund, that the City Council utilize current unallocated funds of
$1.7 million in the General Fund to offset the additional expense or be
placed in the Budget Stabilization Reserve if remain unallocated; and
D. Recommend Option B.ii. for funding of the ROTH building rehabilitation
project as outlined by the Finance Committee on May 25, 2021.
Vice Mayor Burt requested a potential timeframe for the Council to review
financial information for the first quarter of FY 2022.
Ms. Nose replied the end of October 2021.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER “Direct Staff to return by the end of October 2021
with preliminary Q1 financial results so the Council can consider budget
amendments.” (New Part E).
Council Member Stone inquired whether the Council was going to review the
CIP and alternative balancing strategy again on June 21, 2021.
Ms. Nose answered no.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the beginning of Motion, Parts A, B and
C, “Direct Staff to return on June 21, 2021 … .”
Council Member Cormack requested the consequences of selecting Option B
in Part D of the Motion.
Ms. Nose reported Staff was going to allocate $2 million of SUMC funds, utilize
$350,000 of impact fees, and look at use of community center fees as the first
order of finding available funding for the Roth Building.
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 27 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Council Member Cormack remarked that reallocating fees to the Roth Building
may result in projects for Fire Station Number 4 and Rinconada Park being
defunded.
Ms. Nose related that Staff was going to present options for the Council's
consideration.
Council Member Kou asked if Staff proposed returning to Stanford University
to clarify use of SUMC funds if funds were not found for the Roth Building.
Ms. Nose answered yes, if the Council wished to renegotiate the terms of the
Development Agreement with Stanford University.
Council Member Kou asked how quickly Staff was able to work with Stanford
University.
Ms. Nose indicated Staff was not able to accomplish that prior to June 21,
2021.
MOTION AS AMENDED: Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member
Kou to:
A. Direct Staff to return on June 21, 2021 for adoption of the Fiscal Year
2022 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets and Municipal Fee
Schedule in alignment with the work completed by the Committee and
Council during the month of May 2021 and provide direction on any final
adjustments in preparation for City Council Adoption;
B. Direct Staff to return on June 21, 2021 to accept final FY 2022-2025
Capital Improvement Plan as amended by the actions outlined in this
report (as recommended by the Finance Committee and Council);
C. Direct Staff to return on June 21, 2021 to accept the alternative
balancing strategy in the event the City does not reach agreement with
labor groups on concessions in the General Fund, that the City Council utilize current unallocated funds of $1.7 million in the General Fund to
offset the additional expense or be placed in the Budget Stabilization
Reserve if remain unallocated;
D. Recommend Option B.ii. for funding of the ROTH building rehabilitation
project as outlined by the Finance Committee on May 25, 2021; and
E. Direct Staff to return by the end of October 2021 with preliminary Q1
financial results so that the Council can consider budget amendments.
MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED: 4-3 Cormack, Filseth, Tanaka no
SUMMARY MINUTES
Page 28 of 28
Sp. City Council Meeting
Summary Minutes: 06/07/2021
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Council Member Cormack invited Council Members to participate in the Summit for Women and Girls. She requested the status of the Safe Gun
Storage Ordinance.
Molly Stump, City Attorney, advised that Staff was probably going to present
it to the Council after the summer break.
Mayor DuBois encouraged everyone to attend World Music Month. He thanked
Council Member Kou for investing a tremendous amount of time in airplane
noise issues.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:14 P.M.