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Home My WebLink About2025-09-08 City Council Action MinutesCITY COUNCIL ACTION MINUTES Page 1 of 6 Regular Meeting September 8, 2025 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, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Present Remotely: Absent: Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions Public Comment Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements Study Session 1.414 California Avenue [25PLN-00140]. Request for Council Prescreening to Rezone the Subject Property from Community Commercial (2) (CC[2]) to Planned Community/Planned Home Zoning and to Allow Construction of a Mixed-Use Building with 37 Units in a Six-Story Structure on a 16,231-Square-Foot (0.37 Acre) Site. CEQA Status: Not a Project. Item Removed Off Agenda (Rescheduled for September 15, 2025 City Council Meeting) 2.San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority Update on Reach 2 Flood Control Project NO ACTION Docusign Envelope ID: 2AD35790-899E-4DC4-B8C7-3D66F4CA2ED6 ACTION MINUTES Page 2 of 6 City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 09/08/2025 Consent Calendar MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Councilmember Lu to approve Agenda Item Numbers 3-17. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 3.Approval of Minutes from August 11 and August 18, 2025 Meetings 4.Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal Fee Schedule to Reflect Council-Directed Changes to Existing Fees and Add a New Subsidized Fee for Stand-Alone Residential Gas, Water and Space Heating Equipment Permits. CEQA Status: Not a Project 5.Approval of Construction Contract No. C26195620 with Public Restroom Company in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $412,940 and Authorization for the City Manager or Their Designee to Negotiate and Execute Change Orders Up to a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $41,294 to Provide and Install a Modular Restroom Building at Mitchell Park for the Park Restroom Installation Capital Improvement Program Project (PG-19000); CEQA status – exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 6.Approve Amendment #1 of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the California Alternate Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA), to Extend the Term of the Agreement from Two Years to Five Years, to Continue to Enable the Residents of Palo Alto to Participate in the GoGreen Home Energy Financing Program. 7.Authorization to Execute Amendment to Legal Services Contract S26195198 with Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley PC to Increase Amount by $205,000 for Total Not-to- Exceed Amount of $255,000; CEQA Status – Not a Project. 8.Adoption of an Emergency Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapters 16.04 (California Building Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 & 2), 16.05 (California Mechanical Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 4), and 16.14 (California Green Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11) to Make Non-Substantive Changes Addressing Comments from the California Building Standards Commission. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308. 9.Approval of the Purchasing Card Audit and Extension Deadline for Two FY2024 Audit Project Task Orders and Amendment of the FY2024 and FY2025 Task Order Budgets to Realign the Authorized Budgets with a Net Zero Impact, as Recommended by the Policy & Services Committee; CEQA – Not a Project Docusign Envelope ID: 2AD35790-899E-4DC4-B8C7-3D66F4CA2ED6 ACTION MINUTES Page 3 of 6 City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 09/08/2025 10.Approve Purchase Order S26195255 with Dasher Technologies, Utilizing a State of California Blanket Purchase Agreement, to Procure Rubrik Data Backup and Security Solution for a 3-Year Term for a Not-To-Exceed Amount of $106,933; CEQA Status - Not a Project. 11.Approval of Professional Service Contract Number C26195633 with H.T. Harvey & Associates in an Amount Not to Exceed $195,004 for Services to Manage a Wetland Remedial Mitigation Plan for a Period of 2 Years. CEQA Status – Categorically Exempt. 12.FIRST READ: Adopt an Ordinance Amending PAMC Chapter 10.56 (Special Speed Zones) to Update Speed Limit Studies for 22 Streets and Decrease the Speed Limit for a Portion of Deer Creek Road; and Approve the 2024 Traffic Survey; CEQA status – categorically exempt. 13.FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 16.64 (Development Fee and In-Lieu Payment Administration) of Title 16 (Building Regulations) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Reflect Changes in Law. CEQA Status – Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). 14.SECOND READING: Ordinance Adopting the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Issued by the State Fire Marshal (FIRST READING: August 11, 2025 PASSED 6-0-1, Lythcott- Haims Absent) 15.SECOND READING: Ordinance Adding Use of Council Chambers Fees to the FY 2026 Municipal Fee Schedule (FIRST READING: August 11, 2025 PASSED 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims absent) 16.SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Chapter 2.21 (Architectural Review Board) and Chapter 2.25 (Parks and Recreation Commission) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Amend Procedures for Electing a Chair and Vice Chair (FIRST READING: August 11, 2025, PASSED 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims Absent) 17.SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Restating Procedures for Expedited Permitting Processing for Electric Vehicle Charging Systems (FIRST READING: August 11, 2025 PASSED 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims Absent) City Manager Comments Ed Shikada, City Manager Docusign Envelope ID: 2AD35790-899E-4DC4-B8C7-3D66F4CA2ED6 ACTION MINUTES Page 4 of 6 City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 09/08/2025 Action Items 18.Discuss the FY 2026 budget amendments to reduce General Fund appropriations by approximately $6.2 million as Recommended by the Finance Committee and Approve the FY 2026 Budget Amendments in Various Funds. CEQA Status - Not a Project. MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to approve amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Appropriation for various funds and various capital projects, as identified in Attachment A, Exhibit 1 and 2 with the following changes: A.Restore Reserve Officer (0.12 FTE) position in the Police Department ($15k) B.Restore Program Assistant I (1.00) position in the Community Services Department at the JMZ ($126k) C.Refer the Foothills Nature Preserve Improvements capital project (PE-21000) to the Parks and Recreation Commission and staff will return with potential adjustments as part of the FY 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review D.Apply Measure B funding towards Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway capital project (PL-14000) ($2.5M) E.Retain $50k in the Baylands Levee Repair for Public Safety Access capital project (OS- 09002) F.Refer Staff to review the Railroad Grade Separation and Safety Improvements capital project (PL-17001) and return with potential adjustments as part of the FY 2026 Mid- Year Budget Review AMENDMENT SPLIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING AMENDMENT: Councilmember Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to restore Senior Management Analyst (1.00 FTE) position in the City Manager’s Office ($176k) AMENDMENT PASSED: 7-0 AMENDMENT: Councilmember Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to restore Staff Specialist (0.48 FTE) position in the Community Services Department at the JMZ ($42k) AMENDMENT PASSED: 5-2, Burt, Reckdahl no AMENDMENTS INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL MOTION FINAL MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to approve amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Appropriation for various funds and Docusign Envelope ID: 2AD35790-899E-4DC4-B8C7-3D66F4CA2ED6 Page 5 of 6 City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 09/08/2025 ACTION MINUTES various capital projects, as identified in Attachment A, Exhibit 1 and 2 with the following changes: G.Restore Reserve Officer (0.12 FTE) position in the Police Department ($15k) H.Restore Program Assistant I (1.00) position in the Community Services Department at the JMZ ($126k) I.Refer the Foothills Nature Preserve Improvements capital project (PE-21000) to the Parks and Recreation Commission and staff will return with potential adjustments as part of the FY 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review J.Apply Measure B funding towards Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway capital project (PL-14000) ($2.5M) K.Retain $50k in the Baylands Levee Repair for Public Safety Access capital project (OS- 09002) L.Refer Staff to review the Railroad Grade Separation and Safety Improvements capital project (PL-17001) and return with potential adjustments as part of the FY 2026 Mid- Year Budget Review M.Restore Senior Management Analyst (1.00 FTE) position in the City Manager’s Office ($176k) N.Restore Staff Specialist (0.48 FTE) position in the Community Services Department at the JMZ ($42k) FINAL MOTION PASSED: 7-0 19.Adoption of an Emergency Ordinance Amending Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Chapter 16.04 to Add Local Administrative Amendments Related to Certificates of Occupancy and Definitions to the 2022 California Building Code, and an Emergency Ordinance Amending PAMC Chapter 16.17 to Adopt the 2025 California Energy Code and Local Amendments Thereto. CEQA Status – Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15308. MOTION: Vice Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Mayor Lauing to: 1.Adopt, by a four-fifths majority, the attached emergency ordinance (Attachment E) to incorporate administrative amendments into Palo Alto Municipal Code 16.04, which implements the California Building Code, and Docusign Envelope ID: 2AD35790-899E-4DC4-B8C7-3D66F4CA2ED6 ACTION MINUTES Page 6 of 6 City Council Meeting Action Minutes: 09/08/2025 2.Adopt, by a four-fifths majority, the attached emergency ordinance (Attachment F) amending PAMC Chapter 16.17 to incorporate the 2025 Edition of the California Energy Code with local amendments related to energy efficiency. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:29 P.M. 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: 2AD35790-899E-4DC4-B8C7-3D66F4CA2ED6 Certificate Of Completion Envelope Id: 2AD35790-899E-4DC4-B8C7-3D66F4CA2ED6 Status: Completed Subject: September 8, 2025 Action Minutes Source Envelope: Document Pages: 6 Signatures: 2 Envelope Originator: Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 0 Christine Prior AutoNav: Enabled EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) 250 Hamilton Ave Palo Alto , CA 94301 Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov IP Address: 165.225.242.87 Record Tracking Status: Original 10/2/2025 7:33:32 AM Holder: Christine Prior Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov Location: DocuSign Security Appliance Status: Connected Pool: StateLocal Storage Appliance Status: Connected Pool: City of Palo Alto Location: Docusign Signer Events Signature Timestamp Ed Lauing Ed.Lauing@PaloAlto.gov Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None) Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style Using IP Address: 212.185.66.17 Sent: 10/2/2025 7:35:31 AM Viewed: 10/2/2025 9:33:58 AM Signed: 10/2/2025 9:34:36 AM Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure: Not Offered via Docusign Mahealani Ah Yun Mahealani.AhYun@PaloAlto.gov City Clerk Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None)Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style Using IP Address: 47.176.191.66 Sent: 10/2/2025 9:34:37 AM Viewed: 10/3/2025 4:15:15 PM Signed: 10/3/2025 4:17:21 PM Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure: Not Offered via Docusign In Person Signer Events Signature Timestamp Editor Delivery Events Status Timestamp Agent Delivery Events Status Timestamp Intermediary Delivery Events Status Timestamp Certified Delivery Events Status Timestamp Carbon Copy Events Status Timestamp Witness Events Signature Timestamp Notary Events Signature Timestamp Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted 10/2/2025 7:35:31 AM Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps Certified Delivered Security Checked 10/3/2025 4:15:15 PM Signing Complete Security Checked 10/3/2025 4:17:21 PM Completed Security Checked 10/3/2025 4:17:21 PM Payment Events Status Timestamps