HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-17 Ordinance 5239ORDINANCE NO. 5239
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF $200,000 IN THE GENERAL
FUND FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT PROJECT.
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. The Council of the City of Palo Alto finds and
determines as follows:
A. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Article
III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, the Council on
June 10, 2013 did adopt a budget for Fiscal Year 2014; and
B. The City Council initiated a Comprehensive Plan Update
in 2006 to focus on preservation on commercial land uses,
preservation of retail and community services to support new
residential growth, incorporate sustainability concepts, and
update the housing element and prepare concept area plans for
East Meadow Circle and California Avenue/Fry's areas. Between
2008 and 2010, City staff reviewed the existing Comprehensive
Plan elements with the Planning and Transportation Commission
(PTC), prepared background reports on baseline growth topics,
and developed preliminary information regarding concept area
. plans; and
C. In 2010 the City Council provided direction regarding
updated growth projections, updates to the Comp Plan
structure, vision, goals, policies and program statements, and
additional work regarding review of the South El Camino Real
Design Guidelines and LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-
ND) ; and
D. The PTC subsequently completed an initial review of
the Comprehensive Plan vision statements, goals, policies and
programs for each Comp Plan element, identifying substantive
changes and revisions to the Comprehensive Plan and focusing
on text edits and minor wording adjustments. The PTC then
formed subcommittees consisting of two to three commissioners
and City staff from the Planning Division as well as staff
from other City departments to complete their reviews and
recommendations, most of which are now complete; and
E. The work of each PTC subcommittee has been supported
by the Planning Center IDCE, the City's consultant for the
Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Work performed by DCE included
preliminary reviews of each existing Comprehensive Plan
element, suggestions for revisions to modernize and improve
the elements based upon current general plan/comprehensive
plan standards, and recommendation for the addition of
sustainability policies and program concepts that would be
appropriate for each element; and
F. On June 24, 2013, Council approved Contract Amendment
Number 1, which included additional work on the California
Avenue Concept Plan, creation of an implementation matrix,
preparation of the Citywide Travel Demand Forecasting Model,
preparation of a future year traffic demand scenario for the
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Report,
preparation of 2020 greenhouse gas modeling, and
administration and maintenance of the Comprehensive Plan
Amendment website; and
G. At the December 2, 2014 City Council meeting, staff
presented a report which provided a background of the 1998-
2010 Comprehensive Plan. Staff recommended that Council
discuss the initiation of an expanded public dialogue
regarding the future of the city, including ongoing efforts to
update the City's Comprehensive Plan, re-examination of
Planned· Community (PC) district zoning, and other land use and
development issues. Direction was given staff to return with
specific recommendations for Council consideration and
adoption. On February 3, 2014, the City Council endorsed a
framework and directed staff to return to Council with a
specific schedule and scope of work; and
H. Staff is currently recommending an approach to the
project that would include expanded community engagement and
concurrent planning and environmental review of multiple
alternatives with an end date of December 2015.
SECTION 2. The sum of Two Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars
is hereby appropriated for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Project, which includes a reserve for unanticipated expenses
in the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars.
SECTION 3. As specified in Section 2.28.080(a) of the
Palo Alto Munic.;l.pal Code, a two-thirds vote of the City
Council is required to adopt this ordinance.
SECTION 4. As provided in Section 2.04.330 of the Palo
Alto Municipal Code, this ordinance shall become effective
upon adoption.
SECTION 5. The Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby
finds that this is not a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental
impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
BERMAN,
SHEPHERD
SCHMID
PRICE
March 17, 2014
BURT, HOLMAN, KLEIN, KNISS, SCHARFF,
~.M
City Clerk 9-
APPROVED:
APPROVED
Direct of Planning and
Community Envir nment
Director o
Services
ative