HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-09 City Council Summary MinutesCITY COUNCIL
SUMMARY MINUTES
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Regular Meeting
September 09, 2024
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers and by virtual
teleconference at 5:30 P.M.
Present In Person: Burt, Kou, Lauing, Lythcott-Haims, Stone, Veenker
Tanaka arrived at 5:32 P.M.
Present Remotely:
Absent: None.
Call to Order
Mayor Stone called the meeting to order. Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk, called roll noting six
present.
Special Orders of the Day
1. Proclamation Honoring SMART Week - August 26-30, 2024
NO ACTION
Mayor Stone read the proclamation honoring SMART Week.
Stacey Ashlund spoke about the Secure Firearms Storage Ordinance. She provided postcards
and brochures about the ordinance and thanked Council for their support.
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Ed Shikada, City Manager, indicated there were no changes to the agenda.
Public Comment
Mayor Stone outlined the Council’s policies on public comment and laid out ground rules.
1. Mora O., executive director of the Nonprofit Youth Community Service, invited the
community to participate in the September 11 National Day of Service and
Remembrance. She mentioned there were flyers available in the back of the chambers
and provided a website for details.
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2. Om R., representative of the Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition (PASCC), urged Council
to reconsider any plans of expanding the Palo Alto Airport into the Baylands.
3. Stephen R. discussed rail grade separation and explained how a board tunnel and a
viaduct were the best solutions. He hoped the viaduct would be brought back into
consideration.
4. Tom M., Palo Alto resident, spoke in favor of the viaduct or elevated railway describing
ways in which that would be the best solution for the City.
5. Noel S. talked about racial discrimination and harassment being experienced by kids in
Palo Alto. He stated that recognition was needed that the government supporting
events in Gaza was not okay and asked for a ceasefire resolution.
6. Tom H., cross-country and track and field coach at JLS Middle School, commented on
the inadequacy of the City of Palo Alto's Middle School Athletics Program services in
managing PAUSD's Middle School Athletics. He remarked he founded a non-profit
organization with the mission of spending registration fees more efficiently to support
student athletes that would be supporting a cross-country team of 61 JLS student
athletes. He asked for the City’s support in that participation and hoped for the
opportunity to personally meet with the Council members.
7. Steve E. observed that due to housing mandates from Sacramento, Palo Alto would be
severely congested in the coming years. He opined that an elevated railway would be
the ideal solution.
8. Avram F. provided his views on some comments made at the previous meeting by Vice
Mayor Lauing regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
9. Julianne W., Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, gave a slide presentation about bird safety
design. Slides described building that were and were not in compliance with bird safety
and asked Council to adapt the bird safety design.
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Council Member Burt provided an update that VTA has granted $1 million toward preliminary
design of the future of a University Avenue Multimodal Transit Center. A board ad hoc
committee was being created to bring the six agencies together in order to begin a process of
looking at the long-term plan and the medium-term plan on improving circulation if the voters
approve the Quarry Road extension for bus entrance only.
Mayor Stone announced $2000 would be allocated from the Council Contingency Fund for a
multi-faith peace picnic on September 11 to be hosted on King's Plaza outside of City Hall. He
revealed an upcoming summit on teen mental health called Beyond the Books to be held on
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October 5 from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Mitchell Park Community Center and encouraged
everyone to attend.
Consent Calendar
Council Member Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Numbers 5 and 9. He did not
think sufficient bids had been accepted and thought they owed it to people to get multiple bids
and make sure the people’s money is spent well. He also opined before giving extensions, there
should be an indication of how the company performed.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Lauing moved, seconded by Council Member Lythcott-Haims to approve
Agenda Item Numbers 2-13.
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 5, 9: 6-1, Tanaka no
MOTION PASSED ITEMS 2-4, 6-8, 10-13: 7-0
2. Approval of Minutes from June 3, June 10, August 12, and August 19, 2024 Meetings
3. Adoption of a Resolution Amending Resolution 9486 to Increase the Purchase Amount
of Greenhouse Gas Allowances in the California Cap-and-Trade Auction to Satisfy the
City's Gas Utility Compliance Obligations to an Amount Not-to-Exceed of $6,000,000 per
Year; CEQA Status: Not a Project
4. CONSENT: Approval of a Record of Land Use Action to Upgrade the Property Located at
431-433 Kipling Street From a Category 4 Resource to a Category 2 Resource on the
Local Historic Inventory.
5. Approval of Purchase Order with West Coast Energy Systems LLC (PO 4525000045) for a
Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $478,041 to Purchase two (2) Portable Power
Generators for Water Pump Stations in the Amount of $458,031; and Authorize the City
Manager or Their Designee to Negotiate and Execute Change Orders in the Amount of
$20,000 for Related Additional but Unforeseen Work. CEQA Status: Exempt Under CEQA
Guidelines Section 15301 (Minor Alteration of Existing Facilities)
6. Approval of Professional Services Contract C25192226 with Magical Bridge Foundation
in an Amount Not-to Exceed $150,000 to Provide Recreational Programming (“Magical
Services”) for a Term of One Year; CEQA Status – Not a project.
7. Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C25191297 with Kittelson &
Associates for a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $499,491 for the Bicycle and Pedestrian
Railroad Crossing Alternatives Analysis in Southern Palo Alto for a Term of Two-Years;
CEQA Status – categorically exempt.
8. Approval of the Updated City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook Amendments
as Directed by City Council on May 13 and May 20, 2024
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9. Approval of Contract Amendment No. 4 to Contract Number C19170648 with Salas
O'Brien Engineers, Inc., for Professional Design Services, to Add Services and Increase
Compensation by $99,200 for a New Not-to-Exceed Amount of $659,597, and to Extend
the Schedule for Performance Through December 31, 2026, for the 12kV Electrical
Distribution Network Rehabilitation Project at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant,
Funded by the Plant Repair, Retrofit, and Equipment Replacement Capital Improvement
Program Project (WQ-19002); CEQA Status – Exempt Under Section 15301
10. Approval of Construction Contract No. C25191636 with Central Pacific Engineering, LLC
in the Amount of $499,530 and Authorization for the City Manager or Their Designee to
Negotiate and Execute Change Orders for Related Additional but Unforeseen Work that
may Develop During the Project Up to a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $49,953 for Site Work
for the Cubberley Field Restroom (CB-17002) and Cubberley Repairs (CB-17001)
Projects; CEQA status – Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15303
11. Approval of Purchase Order C25192371 with Carahsoft Technology Corporation, utilizing
an OMNIA Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, to Procure DocuSign eSignature
software for a One-Year Term Not-To-Exceed Amount of $125,965. CEQA: Not a project
12. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending PAMC
Section 22.08.440 to Rename Tower Well Park to Fred Eyerly Tower Well Park (FIRST
READING: August 12, 2024 PASSED 7-0)
13. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending PAMC
Section 2.22.030 to Update Quorum and Other Procedural Requirements Reflecting a
Seven Member Human Relations Commission (FIRST READING: August 19, 2024 PASSED
7-0)
City Manager Comments
City Manager Ed Shikada noted on Item Number 5 that staff was able to identity an alternative
means of procurement which used a cooperative purchase program using resources through
other agencies so did not require a specific bid. He presented slides discussing City Hall Open
House on September 18, Palo Alto Community survey reminders, Parks and Recreation
Commission recruitment, new building codes taking effect October 4, upcoming fall events and
activities and notable tentative upcoming Council items.
Council Member Veenker pointed out that the upcoming Town Hall meeting would be a Sibling
Cities USA Domestic Town Hall meeting and not an International Sister Cities event and would
be on democracy and voter access.
Closed Session
14. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY-EXISTING LITIGATION
In the Matter of the Appeal of the City of Palo Alto (Donatus Okhomina)
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Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board Inspection No. 1445287 (One Case, as
Appellant)
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
15. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY-POTENTIAL LITIGATION
Subject: Potential litigation regarding refund of parking in-lieu fees paid by Hamilton
Real, LLC in connection with development of 240-248 Hamilton Avenue, as set forth in
letter dated
May 15, 2024 from David Lanferman, Esq.
Authority: Potential Exposure to Litigation Under Government Code Section
54956.9(d)(2)
One Case, as Defendant
16. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.8.
Property: 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto (Informally known as the Cubberley Site)
Negotiating Party: Palo Alto Unified School District
City Negotiators: (Ed Shikada, Kiely Nose, Kristen O'Kane, Lauren Lai)
Subject of Negotiations: Purchase, Exchange, and/or Lease, Price and Terms of Payment
17. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS City Designated Representatives: City
Manager and his Designees
Pursuant to Merit System Rules and Regulations (Ed Shikada, Kiely Nose, Sandra Blanch,
Nick Raisch, Tori
Post, Molly Stump, and Jennifer Fine) Employee Organization: International Association
of
Fire Fighters (IAFF) local 1319, Fire Chiefs Association (FCA), Peace Officers Association
of Palo Alto (POPOA), Police Management Association (PMA); Authority: Government
Code
Section 54957.6 (a)
MOTION: Council Member Burt moved, seconded by Council Member Veenker to go into
Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Council went into Closed Session at 6:11 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 9:48 P.M.
Mayor Stone announced no reportable action.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:48 P.M.