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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-09 City Council Summary Minutes 01/09/95 74-361 Regular Meeting January 9, 1995 SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY..................................74-362 1. Election of Mayor and Vice Mayor......................74-362 2. Resolution Honoring Liz Kniss as Mayor of Palo Alto for 1994..................................................74-365 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m............74-366 01/09/95 74-362 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 7:20 p.m. PRESENT: Andersen, Fazzino, Huber, Kniss, McCown, Rosenbaum, Schneider, Simitian, Wheeler SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY Mayor Kniss announced the press releasing regarding the Family Resource Center Task Force. Children's Theatre Assistant Director Michael Litfin said the children from the Children's Theatre would present a short medley of songs in honor of the special evening. 1. Election of Mayor and Vice Mayor Council Member Huber said he supported Vice Mayor Simitian as Mayor for 1995. He said Vice Mayor Simitian had previously served on the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Board of Trustees, and he had a studied interest and expertise in government, particularly the legislative process, had taken a thoughtful position on most of the issues before the Council, and had not been afraid to stand up for his principles on controversial issues. He acknowledged Vice Mayor Simitian's ability to create consensus on the Council to solve some of the problems of the City and his many talents, sense of humor, and willingness to work as a team player. Vice Mayor Simitian would truly represent the Council and the City in civic and ceremonial functions as the Mayor, and he would follow in the great tradition of many of the former Mayors. Council Member Schneider said Vice Mayor Simitian had proven himself to be a tireless supporter of the community and had dedi- cated himself to serving the people of Palo Alto. His intellect, humor, and remarkable ability to distill information into the clear, concise facts were legend. It was exciting that Vice Mayor Simitian would be running as a candidate for the California State Assembly during his term as Mayor which served Palo Alto well. He had the energy, personal integrity, and dedication to fulfill all his obligations. Council Member Fazzino said Vice Mayor Simitian had been an outstanding leader his entire life. He was convinced that Vice Mayor Simitian was on his way to his goal of becoming a United States Senator. He could not think of anyone who would be a more perfect Mayor for the City of Palo Alto in the year in which the Council finalized the Comprehensive Plan. He recalled events while attending high school with Vice Mayor Simitian. Vice Mayor 01/09/95 74-363 Simitian was a real policy leader, and he looked forward to serving with him on the Council during 1995. Mayor Kniss said she had known Vice Mayor Simitian for many years and had served on the PAUSD Board of Trustees with him. She said it was a pleasure when the Council was so collegial yet able to differ and do it agreeably. RESULTS OF THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING FOR MAYOR VOTING FOR SIMITIAN: Andersen, Fazzino, Huber, Kniss, McCown, Rosenbaum, Schneider, Simitian, Wheeler City Clerk Gloria Young announced that Vice Mayor Simitian received nine votes and was elected Mayor on the first ballot. Mayor Simitian thanked his Council colleagues for electing him Mayor. He said it was personally satisfying to work with his colleagues. The Council was an experienced and capable group with professional expertise in law, business, education, and engineering which made him even more flattered to have been selected Mayor for 1995. The Council was comprised of three former Mayors, two former School Board Presidents, three former Chairs of the Planning Commission, a pair of Council Members who had served in the 1970s and 1980s and then returned as veteran and experienced members, a former Chair of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, seven Council Members who had already served as Chair of one of the two Standing Committees, and an average tenure on the Council of five years. He was proud to serve with his colleagues and to have been selected by them. He said in order for his colleagues to select him as Mayor for 1995, he had to be elected to the Palo Alto City Council. He thanked the 700-plus people who helped make that possible three years before. He specifically thanked Arnold Soforenko, his treasurer, and Julie Jerome and Kathy Torgersen, his two campaign co-chairs. He also thanked his colleagues and staff from his law firm, Kay & Stevens, his family, and Mary Hughes. He said as presiding officer with the responsibility to preside over the meetings, he understood it was tradition that the Mayor participate at a somewhat reduced level in the debate and discussion of the Council; however, he would not be shy about entering into discussions on issues of importance to him, particu-larly economic development issues, careful use of taxpayers' dollars, the environment, and affordable housing. He said the agenda for 1995 had been defined by the Centennial Celebration which had celebrated the community's past. The City had proven it knew how to do that, and he believed the City knew how to build for the future which was the business of 1995. He was reminded constantly as he went through the various Centennial Celebration 01/09/95 74-364 events of the good work done by the previous Councils and the people in the community. It was the Council's responsibility to look to the future, recognize that the future would not take care of itself, and look at 1995 as an opportunity to start putting services and programs in place that would benefit another genera-tion of Palo Altans for the next century. He believed the success for accomplishing that was most enhanced when the Mayor's, Council's, City Manager's, and community's goals overlapped. He would try as Mayor to find areas of overlap where work could be done constructively, where there were common goals, and where success would be the greatest. The Council had adopted three goals--family, youth, and community. Former Mayor Kniss understood the strength of a community was not just in its organizations and government but also in the families who were part of the community. The Family Resource Center would play a critical role in building on that strength and creating a strength for the next century of Palo Alto. The Comprehensive Plan was a source of great and weighted debate on the Council, but it was the land use constitu-tion for the community and would build the future of Palo Alto. The Council had an obligation to maintain what had been built and build new infrastructure and facilities to carry the City into the next century. Limited resource would make some things hard to do, but if the resources were relocated and if the limited dollars were leveraged, he believed the Council could make real progress in building things that lasted for the community and gave value. Some things were as simple as lighting the Civic Center Plaza in front of City Hall so that the Downtown could be an even more rigorous and vibrant place, the community would feel welcome at its own City Hall, and young people would have a place to congregate. Another easy example was the proposal for a $100,000 challenge grant to the Friends of the Children's Theatre so that a second stage addition could be done. It was a chance to leverage $500,000 out of a $100,000 investment and a chance to create a place in perpetuity where children would go and have a positive environment. The Downtown had been both the City's front door and its cash cow, but it was looking a little shabby. The parks and open spaces were once the pride of the community and the envy of other communities but had begun to look neglected. The City's trees, streets, and sidewalks were things that should be built for the next century, and he hoped his Council colleagues would join him when he thought the Council's goals and those of the community were in tandem. Council Member Fazzino said Council Member Wheeler had been an outstanding community leader for many years, and he would never forget her outstanding leadership as President of the League of Women Voters in the early 1970s. She served on the Planning Commission for ten years and as the Chair for two years. He always appreciated knowing exactly what her position was on an issue. She had been a tremendous resource for the Council on youth sports and the future of Cubberley Community Center, and she had done an 01/09/95 74-365 excellent job as past Chair of the Finance Committee. Council Member Wheeler was truly an outstanding individual, and it was his pleasure to support her as Vice Mayor for 1995. Council Member McCown recalled her service with Council Member Wheeler on the Planning Commission. She had learned over the years what an outstanding set of values Council Member Wheeler had and she believed those values--environmental, housing, and recreation issues--were shared by a substantial majority of the community. Council Member Wheeler consistently showed an incredible thorough-ness, attention, and preparation on important issues before the Council. A criterion for public service was a good sense of humor which Council Member Wheeler had. Council Member Wheeler always looked at the physical sites when the Council dealt with land use issues, and there were no issues that had come before the Council that Council Member Wheeler had not given 110 percent to understand the issue and be prepared to evaluate the circumstances when the Council decided the issues. Council Member Wheeler would be an outstanding Vice Mayor. Council Member Kniss said Council Member Wheeler had very high standards, and she supported her for Vice Mayor. RESULTS OF THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING FOR VICE MAYOR VOTING FOR WHEELER: Andersen, Fazzino, Huber, Kniss, McCown, Rosenbaum, Schneider, Simitian, Wheeler City Clerk Gloria Young announced that Council Member Wheeler received nine votes and was elected Vice Mayor on the first ballot. Vice Mayor Wheeler thanked her colleagues. She said it was an act of faith when the Council elected a new Vice Mayor, and the Council held high expectations for that person. She pledged to her colleagues that she would do her best to reach those expectations. She pledged to the citizens that when the occasion arose, she would represent the City of Palo Alto with a sense of dignity and treat the people who came before the Council and the ideas they presented with respect. She thanked her husband for his support. She would support Mayor Simitian throughout the year. 2. Resolution Honoring Liz Kniss as Mayor of Palo Alto for 1994 MOTION: Council Member Fazzino moved, seconded by Huber, to adopt the Resolution. 01/09/95 74-366 Resolution 7476 entitled "Resolution of the City Council of the City of Palo Alto Honoring Liz Kniss as Mayor of Palo Alto for 1994" MOTION PASSED 9-0. Mayor Simitian thanked former Mayor Kniss for including him in many of the roles and responsibilities of a mayor during the past year which gave him a broader view of the operations of the City and agenda for the coming year. He presented the Resolution and other mementos of former Mayor Kniss' entire 1994 Mayoral year. Vice Mayor Wheeler presented an engraved gavel to former Mayor Kniss. Council Member Schneider presented a gift to former Mayor Kniss. United States Congressional Representative Anna Eshoo said the changing of the guard and the people who held those important offices was a celebration in a community. Former Mayor Kniss had assumed the mantle of leadership with grace and dignity. The year of the Centennial would be remembered by everyone in the community. She underscored former Mayor Kniss' beginning statement and living true to that statement about families and children. She joined the community in its celebration of the appointment of Mayor Simitian. She saluted Mayor Simitian for what he had already done, and she looked forward to the collegiality and work that would be done for the community in the 14th District. Vice Mayor Wheeler would be a worthy and strong bookend for the Mayor. She thanked the entire City Council. Council Member Fazzino said the City was fortunate to have had former Mayor Kniss serve as the Mayor in 1994. She was the perfect Mayor to serve during the Centennial and also the perfect Mayor to start the City's second 100 years. There were 300 official events associated with the Centennial, and former Mayor Kniss attended nearly every one. She placed Palo Alto on the Internet and also encouraged the Council to begin focusing on the role of the City in the area of communications utility. She welcomed the World Cup to Palo Alto and worked hard to make sure that Palo Alto would benefit from that special international experience but at the same time tried to reduce the negative impacts associated with a major sporting event in the community. She proposed a Family Resource Center that would provide comprehensive family and children service information for the community and also spearheaded adoption of the Economic Resources Plan in order to preserve the City's economic vitality. Former Mayor Kniss was a remarkable presiding officer at the Council meetings and was an outstanding representative of the City during the previous year. 01/09/95 74-367 Mayor Kniss thanked her family, the City staff, particularly City Manager June Fleming, City Clerk Gloria Young, City Attorney Ariel Calonne, and City Auditor Bill Vinson, and her colleagues. She illuminated the expertise of her Council colleagues. She believed families were the fabric of the community. During the year, the Council had learned how the community had changed and it would continue to learn how to serve the community. She thanked all the teachers who gave her information for her State of the City Address. Many of the issues that arose during the year revolved around families. There was a major issue around curfew, and a group ended up working on Safe for Summer. The Council would continue to address issues that involved not only younger children but also teenagers. She said recently a generous donation had been given to the Family Resource Center with a stipulation that a portion of the funding be given to the homeless, seniors, Children Theatre, and the libraries. The City had started down the path to become a business-friendly community and the Comprehensive Plan now had a Business and Economics Section. The technology revolution had just begun, and the community had taken the first step forward. She said it had been a privilege and an honor to be Mayor for 1994, and she would continue to serve the community. Mayor Simitian acknowledged elected officials, dignitaries, Council Members and officials from other cities, former Mayors and Vice Mayors, and members of organizations in attendance that evening. He said Bert Laurence and the "In the Chips" Barbershop Quartet would culminate the evening's agenda with a performance. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. to a reception. 01/09/95 74-368 ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor NOTE: Sense minutes (synopsis) are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code Sections 2.04.200 (a) and (b). The City Council and Standing Committee meeting tapes are made solely for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of the minutes of the meetings. City Council and Standing Committee meeting tapes are recycled 90 days from the date of the meeting. The tapes are available for members of the public to listen to during regular office hours.