HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-11-18 City Council Summary Minutes Special Meeting November 18, 1997 SPECIAL MEETING............................................85-212 1. Conference with Labor Negotiator......................85-212 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was continued to the end of the Adjourned Meeting of November 10, 1997, to November 18, 1997...85-212 7. PUBLIC HEARING: The Palo Alto City Council will consider the recommendations of the Planning Commission for a 1998-2010 Comprehensive Plan, including goals, policies and programs for six elements (Land Use and Community Design, Transportation, Housing, Natural Environment, Community Services and Facilities and Business and Economics); creation of new land use designation categories and street classifications; a modified Land Use and Circulation Map; and a Governance chapter which is not an element.......................85-213 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 9:50 p.m.......................................................85-246 FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m......85-246
11/18/97 85-211
SPECIAL MEETING The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 7:10 p.m. PRESENT: Andersen, Eakins, Huber, Kniss, McCown, Rosenbaum, Schneider, Wheeler ABSENT: Fazzino CLOSED SESSIONS 1. Conference with Labor Negotiator Agency Negotiator: City Council Ad Hoc Personnel Committee (Joseph H. Huber, Dick Rosenbaum, and Lanie Wheeler) Unrepresented Employee: City Attorney Ariel Calonne, City Auditor Bill Vinson, City Clerk Gloria Young, and City Manager June Fleming
Authority: Government Code ∋54957.6 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was continued to the end of the Adjourned Meeting of November 10, 1997, to November 18, 1997.
11/18/97 85-212
Adjourned Meeting of November 10, 1997, to November 18, 1997 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 7:10 p.m. PRESENT: Andersen, Eakins, Huber, Kniss, McCown, Rosenbaum, Schneider, Wheeler ABSENT: Fazzino UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7. PUBLIC HEARING: The Palo Alto City Council will consider the recommendations of the Planning Commission for a 1998-2010 Comprehensive Plan, including goals, policies and programs for six elements (Land Use and Community Design, Transportation, Housing, Natural Environment, Community Services and Facilities and Business and Economics); creation of new land use designation categories and street classifications; a modified Land Use and Circulation Map; and a Governance chapter which is not an element. The Final Environmental Impact Report analyzes potential environmental effects and impacts of the new Comprehensive Plan, mitigation measures for reducing environmental impacts and responds to comments received during public review of the Draft Environmental Impact Report. (continued from 11/10/97) MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, White Page C-7, text under Goal C-1 be revised as follows:
ΑDelivering high quality City services with limited finite fiscal resources is not easy. A high degree of and requires efficiency and coordination is essential, along with a recognition of changing community needs. Demand for services like day care, education, and recreation continue to grow and change. Technology has revolutionized the way many services are provided, but has also added a new level of complexity. At the same time, the service delivery system itself has changed. Services that were once exclusively provided by the City may now be provided by another public entity or by a nonprofit agency or private company. The result of this trend has been a growing emphasis on partnership and coordination. The only way to achieve maximum efficiency in City service delivery is to collaborate with other jurisdictions, avoid duplication of efforts, build coalitions with the Palo Alto Unified School District, and enlist the assistance of businesses and
volunteers to supplement City resources.≅ 11/18/97 85-213
MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member Wheeler moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, White Page C-7, text under Goal C-1 be revised as follows:
ΑDelivering high quality City services with limited finite fiscal resources is not easy. A high degree of and requires efficiency and coordination is essential, along with a recognition of changing community needs. Demand for services like day child and senior care, education, and recreation continue to grow and change. Technology has revolutionized the way many services are provided, but has also added a new level of complexity. At the same time, the service delivery system itself has changed. Services that were once exclusively provided by the City may now be provided by another public entity or by a nonprofit agency or private company. The result of this trend has been a growing emphasis on partnership and coordination. The only way to achieve maximum efficiency in City service delivery is to collaborate with other jurisdictions, avoid duplication of efforts, build coalitions with the Palo Alto Unified School District, and enlist the assistance of
businesses and volunteers to supplement City resources.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member Wheeler moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, White Pages C-6 and C-12 be revised to exclude references to the Disability Awareness Task Force that had a sunset provision and refer to the new consolidated group under the Human Relations Commission. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Council Member McCown questioned the meaning of the text under Community Services and Facilities Element, Green Page C-14, Policy
C-23, ΑThese improvements, such as those completed at Civic Center Plaza and in the lobby at City Hall, could allow public buildings
and spaces to truly function as >community centers=,≅ and proposed dropping the sentence. Council Member Schneider said early in the Comprehensive Plan discussions, Council discussed the use of public facilities as community centers, which should be identified as important in order to encourage such usage.
11/18/97 85-214
Council Member Eakins suggested the wording ΑThese improvements could allow public buildings and spaces to become better civic and
community gathering spaces.≅ City Attorney Ariel Calonne said consideration should be given to the kind of gathering spaces that would be created. An entirely different set of First Amendment rules covered parks and streets. To the extent Council was not attempting to convert public
buildings, it should be cautious about using words like Αgathering
places.≅ Words such as Αcommunity center≅ were acceptable. Council was asked to be specific rather than general about gathering places. Council Member Rosenbaum referred to the text on White Page C-14,
under Policy C-23. The wording prior to the Planning Commission=s deletions made sense since the City had attempted to make use of and improve existing facilities to become more hospitable as community centers. Council Member McCown expressed concern with Green Page C-14,
because striking out Αsuch as those contemplated at Civic Center
Plaza and in the lobby at City Hall,≅ made Policy C-23 less clear. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, White Page C-14, text under Policy C-23 be revised as
follows: ΑPalo Alto is committed to the maintenance of its facilities to maximize their potential life and avoid the costly effects of deferred maintenance. The City also is committed to on-going improvements that make facilities more welcoming to the public. These improvements, such as those completed at Civic Center Plaza and in the lobby at City Hall, could allow public
buildings and spaces to truly function as >community centers.= Reinvestment could include modernization of existing facilities to add computer systems, electronic communication equipment, and other improvements changes that improve access to services and increase
operating efficiency.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Council Member McCown asked what was the meaning of Program C-19A,
Green Page C-14,ΑAssess Consider the development of a performing arts center as an asset to the community and local economy. The City may consider a joint venture with Stanford University to
construct a contemporary state-of-the-art performing arts center.≅
11/18/97 85-215
Mayor Huber had concluded in an earlier conversation with Council Member Fazzino that the only logical way to bring a performing arts center to the community cost-wise was to associate it with what Stanford was doing and what Mountain View had done. Council Member McCown said if Council seriously considered a joint venture with Stanford as part of the assessment of a potential performing arts center, then that was what should be said. The question was what the City had committed to the community to do and what would happen during the lifetime of the plan.
Council Member Kniss questioned the use of the verb Αassess,≅
rather than the original word Αconsider.≅ Assistant Planning Official Jim Gilliland said the Planning
Commission had changed the word to Αassess≅ because it was stronger
than Αconsider.≅ During the lifetime of the program, staff anticipated some type of assessment would go before Council to determine whether or not a performing arts center was feasible. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, Green Page C-14, text under Program C-19A be revised as
follows: ΑAssess Consider the development of a performing arts
center as an asset to the community and local economy. The City=s existing performing arts facilities are dated and would be
difficult to retrofit to meet today=s standards. The City may could consider a joint venture with Stanford University to construct a contemporary state-of-the-art performing arts center. This partnership would allow the cost of the facility to be shared and would maximize its potential use. Such a center should also
include exhibition space.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Mayor Huber moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, White Page C-14, Program C-21 be revised as a result of the passage of Measure O. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Vice Mayor Andersen asked for clarification of the changes on Green
Page C-14, Program C-18A, ΑAssign priority for street and sidewalk
repairs to areas with higher usage.≅ The staff recommendation was
ΑConsider incorporating into the prioritization of sidewalk
repairs, criteria related to the level of pedestrian usage,≅ which 11/18/97 85-216
suggested pedestrian only, i.e., whether consideration for sidewalk repair related to trip-and-fall situations. The degree of pedestrian traffic had little to do with a trip-and-fall situation. Assistant City Manager Emily Harrison said the suggested change had
resulted from staff=s work on the infrastructure program and issues related to Downtown maintenance. The criteria for the Pavement Management System related to the deterioration of the street and by the extension to the high usage. No similar criteria existed with sidewalks, which were handled on a geographic basis rather than with special consideration given to high level pedestrian usage areas. Therefore, staff considered additional clarification and the incorporation of criteria into the sidewalk portion of the program necessary. Vice Mayor Andersen expressed concern with the criteria since a car hitting a pothole would only cause the car to possibly go out of alignment. However, the level of pedestrian traffic was immaterial to someone tripping on a crack in the sidewalk. Ms. Harrison said criteria for sidewalks was already in place with standards for lip displacement on sidewalks and, to a certain level, sidewalks were ground down or an asphalt patch was used to build up the sidewalk temporarily until sidewalks were replaced. Staff had suggested the change because of the need to replace sidewalks in the high pedestrian usage areas on a more frequent basis. Council Member Andersen thought the change prioritized the Downtown area. Ms. Harrison said staff had not intended to make Downtown a priority but wanted the change applied to all business districts. The other criteria were part of the Sidewalk Replacement Program and included liability. Currently, the Sidewalk Replacement Program completely lacked the suggested criteria. Planning Commission Chairperson Jonathan Schink said considerable time had been spent discussing the item because the Planning Commission thought the City had not placed sufficient priority on sidewalk areas with the greatest usage. Examples included University Avenue, California Avenue, and areas around elementary schools, such as Middlefield Road and Embarcadero Road. Sidewalks in such areas seemed fairly run down. However, the City was engaged in replacing sidewalks in other parts of town. More emphasis should be placed on areas such as the Downtown area, which saw an enormous amount of foot traffic. Specific language was provided which directly stated where priorities should exist.
11/18/97 85-217
Vice Mayor Andersen said the criteria was placed on the areas with the greater amount of pedestrian traffic.
Ms. Harrison suggested the wording Αincorporate as an additional criteria used in prioritizing sidewalk repairs, a criteria related to level of pedestrian usage." MOTION: Vice Mayor Andersen moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, Green Page C-14, Program C-18A be revised as follows:
ΑAssign priority for street and sidewalk repairs to areas with highest usage. Incorporate as an additional criterion used in prioritizing sidewalk repairs a criterion related to the level of
pedestrian usage.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Planning Commissioner Phyllis Cassel suggested dropping the word
Αconsider" since many business areas saw a greater degree of pedestrian traffic, not just Downtown.
Vice Mayor Andersen was comfortable with Ms. Cassel=s suggestion as well. Council Member Wheeler thought staff had appropriately responded to a Council request regarding sidewalk and street repairs several years prior which resulted in the Public Works Department coordinating work with other departments to prevent sections of streets from being torn up twice. If the policy could continue while other policies were considered, she would be in agreement. However, she would not want the work which had been effectively bundled over the past several years to change. Ms. Harrison said the changes suggested by Vice Mayor Andersen would ensure unbundling would not occur. Council Member Wheeler commented about the text on Green Page C-16, under Program C-23A relative to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements to City facilities, which addressed getting to a destination and not being able to access where an individual wanted to go. She queried the status of the law with regard to private business entities and ADA compliance and what, if anything, the
City=s role was in encouraging private business entities to make facilities comply with ADA requirements.
11/18/97 85-218
Mr. Calonne understood State architect code requirements came into play depending on the level of change in a particular building to encourage accessibility, as distinguishable from the City where there was, by virtue of the Federal law, a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to retrofit and make public buildings accessible. Director of Planning and Community Environment Ken Schreiber said Mr. Calonne was correct. The State requirements related to the
Building Code were embedded in Title 24, and the City=s task with Title 24, which was similar to ADA, was to enforce the requirements through the Building Code process. The Federal law ADA applied to the City as an entity which had its own implementation plan. However, local jurisdictions had no enforcement powers with ADA. When ADA-related complaints were received regarding a private facility, the City would facilitate communication between the complainant and the facility owner, but any enforcement action had to be carried out through a Federal agency.
Council Member Wheeler asked whether mention of the City=s facilitative role should be included in the Comprehensive Plan, such as whether the City reached out to private landowners and commercial entities to encourage compliance with and education about ADA rules. Mr. Schreiber replied no. The City would respond to complaints but the only active role with commercial property owners occurred during the building permit process where the City could ensure compliance with the law. Council Member Wheeler thought something should be included in the Comprehensive Plan so that the City would do whatever was required to carry out the charge of ADA legislation when private property owners applied for building permits. Mr. Schreiber clarified ADA and California Title 24 were separate and often caused confusion when the public wanted the City to enforce ADA. However, ADA was under Federal legislation. The City could only facilitate communication. Council Member Wheeler clarified building changes brought in by the public would be evaluated by the City in light of the State and Federal requirements. Council Member Schneider said the City would only evaluate building changes in light of State, not Federal, requirements which were different. Staff tried to keep the two very clear to ensure the City was not trying to enforce something it could legally not
11/18/97 85-219
enforce. A reference could be added regarding Title 24 but the program referred to ADA. Council Member Wheeler thought confusion was created in the wording. Only access to City and public facilities should be referenced in the Comprehensive Plan or something should be
included clarifying the City=s role with regard to State and Federal laws. Mr. Gilliland said elimination of the sentence would be preferred because of the way the program was written rather than to include wording about the differences between Title 24 and ADA. MOTION: Council Member Wheeler moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, Green Page C-16, text under Program C-23A be revised as
follows: ΑNew technology and changes in our public and private facilities have moved people with disabilities from the confines of their homes into the community at large. As people with disabilities become more mobile, we have become aware of additional impediments not anticipated in our earlier changes. It may be possible to take a bus, arrive at a place of business and then not be able to enter because the door is too heavy or too high. Continued awareness and planning will facilitate seamless
participation by all members of our community.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent.
Council Member Rosenbaum questioned the figures under ΑCapacity vs. Enrollment" on Green Page C-2. MOTION: Council Member Rosenbaum moved, and it was duly seconded, to direct staff to recheck the figures shown in the Community
Services and Facilities Element, Green Page C-2, under ΑCapacity
vs. Enrollment.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Mayor Huber said staff had made suggestions for changes in the Community Services and Facilities Element which would be incorporated. MOTION: Council Member Rosenbaum moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, White Page C-8, Program C-1 be revised as follows:
ΑCollaborate with the Palo Alto Unified School District to
11/18/97 85-220
establish a >Children and Family Services Program.= This Program will use existing public and private agency resources to promote education at home and in school. In cooperation with existing public and private agencies and the School District, develop a service program that will coordinate the efforts of agencies
providing services to families and youth in Palo Alto.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member Rosenbaum moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, White Page C-8, Program C-5 be revised as follows:
ΑIdentify the operational improvements needed to make schools available for weekend and evening use. Work with the School District to determine ways that schools can be made more available
to the community for weekend and evening use.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member Rosenbaum moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, Green Page C-10, Program C-10 be revised as follows:
ΑContinue to Bbudget for and train City staff training in quality
customer service-oriented management skills and techniques.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member Rosenbaum moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, White Page C-14, Program C-17 be revised, Program C-19 be deleted, and new text be added as follows:
Program C-17: ΑInvest in plant, equipment, and human resources to assure the continued availability of infrastructure. Develop improvement plans for the maintenance, restoration and enhancement of community facilities and keep these facilities viable community
assets by investing the necessary resources.≅
(New Text): ΑExamples of such plans include the Infrastructure Plan, Golf Course Master Plan, and the
Cubberley Master Plan.≅
Program C-19: ΑPrepare improvement plans for community facilities and implement these plans over time. Examples
11/18/97 85-221
of community facility plans include the master plans for
the Palo Alto Golf Course and the Cubberley Center.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member Rosenbaum moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Community Services and Facilities Element, White Page C-15, Program C-23 be revised as follows:
ΑActively search for and develop In conjunction with new development proposals, pursue creation of park, plaza, or other public gathering places in those residential neighborhoods that
lack them that meet neighborhood needs.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Council Member Kniss spoke regarding the Vision Statement on Page
B-1 of the Business and Economics Element which began, ΑPalo Alto=s
business environment will be exciting, dynamic, and vital,≅ querying the surety with which the statement was made. The words
Αwill be≅ sounded more like a marketing statement. One area which was seen constantly throughout the Comprehensive Plan, and about which the Chamber of Commerce had also commented, was the issue of
rent controls. Policy B-6 on Page B-6 stated, ΑEncourage and
support the operation of small, independent businesses.≅ Although it was a policy the City should want, she had recently received a number of phone calls asking how the City could support small, independent businesses when costs were allowed to increase dramatically. She asked where the Comprehensive Plan stated how the City would implement Policy B-6. Although the policy should not be removed, the City should be realistic. The calls related to rent control in the Downtown business area and what the City would do about the rents. Council Member Schneider said the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) had discussed keeping store frontages at a certain size. A program might be necessary with the policy. Council Member Kniss thought such a comment sounded like the City was going to start privatizing shopping centers against which the City had always had a strong philosophy. Council Member Schneider said the alternative was to allow large monied interests to buy up several businesses and combine them.
11/18/97 85-222
Council Member Kniss was not opposed to Αdiscouraging≅ and
Αsupporting≅ but queried how the City would do so. Policy B-6 needed a supporting program. Council Member Schneider said any of the policies in the business section could be questioned as to the way in which it would be carried out. The whole issue of business and economics walked on thin ice. However, the fact that it was mentioned made a statement that it was something the City wanted to encourage whether or not there were specific programs to support the policy. Council Member Kniss would not argue to remove Policy B-6 but
thought it was rather specious and had not addressed Council=s recent discussions. If another small business approached her about
the City=s desire to encourage and support small business and how the City was going to do so, she would find it very frustrating. Council Member Schneider said if asked to respond to questions about what the City was doing to encourage small businesses to remain in Palo Alto, she would suggest shopping in Palo Alto. Council Member Kniss thought the suggestion was similar to the
Αshop America≅ campaign which had flopped several years prior. A group had recently called her about the possibility of removing two buildings in the Downtown to build one larger building. The City should be very straightforward about policies such as Policy B-6. Ms. Cassel said there were legal restrictions as to what the City was able to do in terms of private rights. However, zoning ordinances contained limits on sizes of buildings and store fronts. If one business wanted to purchase buildings on an entire street, it could do so. Council Member Kniss said the City had been fortunate thus far. Given the incredible competition for space, businesses had moved into the Midtown and California Avenue areas, which was positive. Ms. Cassel said having a policy in place would eventually mean it could be used. Council Member Kniss had no problem with the policy, but with the fact there was no program. Mayor Huber was unsure a program was necessary for every policy. Mr. Schink thought the policy had been used when the Planning Commission reviewed a Planned Community (PC) in the Downtown area
11/18/97 85-223
and had insisted the building be divided into modules facing the street which would be appropriate for conversion to small businesses in the future. Council Member Kniss said such examples gave her confidence in the policy. Mr. Schreiber said the policy should be viewed in context of several other issues in the Comprehensive Plan and was not a stand-alone item. Council Member Kniss said the Chamber of Commerce commented about Town & Country Village (T&C Village) as a very under-utilized piece of property.
Mr. Calonne said Page B-10 contained Policy B-19, ΑSupport and enhance the University Avenue/Downtown area as a vital mixed use area containing retail, personal service, office, restaurant, and entertainment uses. Recognize the importance of an appropriate retail mix, including small local businesses, to the continued
vitality of Downtown,≅ which had the same local business concept. Taking special note of Chamber comments would be helpful to the discussion. Council Member Kniss said if Mr. Williams no longer ran the T&C Village, she queried whether the City could continue to retain the local retail character. Mr. Schreiber said T&C Village was also covered in land use on Pages L-22 and L-23, which contained Chamber comments. Council had discussed T&C Village in some depth. The direction had been that
if T&C Village Αrequired any future development at the center to preserve its existing amenities, scale and architectural
character,≅ the City=s direction had been that modification or total redevelopment of the site was clear. Council could move in a different direction. Council Member Kniss said the policy could be maintained; however, it could fly in the face of the zoning. Mr. Schreiber said the zoning contained an expansion cap and the Citywide Study had attempted to maintain the size and scale of T&C Village. When it came to implementation of new Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance work related to T&C Village, the policy would have to be considered and might become a more precise level of regulation than currently existed.
11/18/97 85-224
Council Member Kniss said T&C Village was a large piece of under-utilized property for which policies should support underlying zoning. Mr. Schink said the Planning Commission had spent over an hour discussing T&C Village and what should be done to encourage its growth. Any incentive for redevelopment should focus on the residential area around the perimeter to raise revenues and provide needed capital to upgrade the facility. The desire was to maintain the character. Incentive to renovate the area should consider residential housing around the perimeter to create a village atmosphere. Council Member Eakins said when CPAC began meeting in 1993, the atmosphere had been laden with dark clouds of recession. Much of the thrust behind the words contained in the Comprehensive Plan were recession-related. The City currently was prosperity anxious. The Comprehensive Plan should move toward something which spanned both ends of economic concerns in the Business and Economic Element. As a member of the Business and Economic Subcommittee during Phase II, she observed that most of the members were desirous of controlling and limiting business activity, growth, and development in town. The Comprehensive Plan lacked sufficient framework or overview to indicate that times changed, neighborhoods evolved, and district shopping centers evolved. Stanford Shopping
Center=s philosophy had been to upgrade everything, making it more upscale. People in the community considered such a philosophy as not community-serving, too regional, etc.; however, it had taken advantage of the general upscaling which affected the entire
community. No part of the community would take the Αpoverty
niche.≅ A long and broad view should be taken about the policy. The policy to encourage small businesses was an attempt to keep the businesses alive, but the current thinking was to keep the businesses from prospering. The policy might serve both ends. Many changes should be considered. Assessment districts to upgrade neighborhood shopping centers would be very difficult. Ms. Harrison said the effect of Proposition 218 on assessments had been negligible since the City had retained a number of financing vehicles available as a Charter City for business improvement or Mello Roos Districts. Council Member Eakins clarified Program B-1 on Page B-5 could remain as it was. Ms. Harrison thought it was still applicable.
11/18/97 85-225
Council Member Eakins thought the first line of the second
paragraph on White Page B-3, ΑThese numbers represent the one
percent City share of the sales tax collected on local sales,≅ should be explained so people could understand it was 15 percent of the sales tax collected. MOTION: Council Member Eakins moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Business and Economics Element, White Page B-3, text under Retail Sales, second sentence be revised to
reflect the City=s fair share of the sales tax. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Vice Mayor Andersen asked about the strong interest expressed on the part of supermarket chains to move beyond the 20,000 square foot limit. Private meetings with some of the individuals had been held. Something should be included in the Comprehensive Plan about exploring the provision of supermarket services consistent with the times. Larger numbers of products, more singles, more trips to the supermarket activity, required a greater size.
Mayor Huber thought Green Page B-13, Program B-13, ΑReview the effect of size caps, parking requirements, and other land use restrictions on the viability and competitiveness of neighborhood
centers,≅ addressed Vice Mayor Andersen=s concern. Council Member McCown was less concerned about whether the Business and Economics Element was written during a time of economic anxiety or anxiety from an over-development point of view than the fact that there were many areas where policy statements lacked clarity
about the City=s role. Land use decisions, zoning decisions, flexibility, incentives, streamlining, etc., were tools for which policies could be devised. Unless more thoroughly thought through,
translations of the policy as to the City=s role could be confusing. The entire Business and Economics Element required a level of critical scrutiny about what the City was trying to do and what was being said in terms of commitments to the community as to what City government could do. The Business and Economics Element,
White Page B-9, Policy B-16, ΑWhere redevelopment is desired, encourage owners to upgrade commercial properties through incentives such as reduced parking requirements, credit for on-street parking, and increases in allowable floor area. Use such
incentives only where they are needed to stimulate redevelopment,≅ should be re-worded such as the sentence in the first paragraph of
B-16, ΑIn some situations, incentives like reduced parking requirements or increased floor area allowances may encourage
11/18/97 85-226
redevelopment and at the same time contribute to housing or
community design goals,≅ which was much more balanced. The end of the second sentence of Policy B-16 could reference incentives as
being Αonly when needed to stimulate redevelopment and where
overall public benefit was achieved,≅ suggesting a balance. Redevelopment was encouraged because it achieved certain policy goals for which the City was willing to change parking requirements, allowing more floor area, etc., because by using such incentives, community goals would be accomplished. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Business and Economics Element, White Page B-9, Policy B-16 be revised to add text which reflected overall public benefit and also to consider a possible program. Council Member Eakins suggested including words from the sentence
below the policy, Αat the same time contribute to housing or
community designed goals,≅ in the policy to qualify redevelopment. Mr. Calonne said Policy B-16 was difficult to implement without some kind of zoning to back it up. Staff and the Planning Commission would find it difficult to apply Policy B-16 and Program
B-11, ΑIdentify and prioritize Centers in need of economic or
physical revitalization,≅ to specific sites. Such a task should be
picked up in the Zoning Ordinance. He understood Council=s desire to make sense of the policy, but if there was no site specific tool yet, a greater implementation problem might result than if left as a policy implemented through zoning. Another option was to be more specific in the zoning ordinance when the time came. In that zoning process, Council could figure out which incentives made sense, what the trades were, etc. Council Member McCown thought Policy B-16 lacked the balance which was reflected in the text. Wording should be included in the policy about how incentives were designed not merely to stimulate
redevelopment. Mr. Calonne=s suggestion for greater clarity in a supporting program was also acceptable. The true parameters would not be understood until site-specific evaluations took place. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Business and Economics Element, White Page B-10, Policy B-20 be incorporated with the text under Policy B-19 rather than as a separate policy.
11/18/97 85-227
MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Business and Economics Element, Green
Page B-10, Policy B-21 be revised as follows: ΑMaintain an economic role for uses in the South of Forest Area (SoFA) that complements the Downtown business district, provides allow for the continued operation of automotive service uses, and serves the needs of
nearby neighborhoods.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Council Member Kniss expressed concern about the constant use of
the wording Αmaintaining what already existed≅ throughout the document, given the economic climate of the City when it had been written versus the current economic climate. Ms. Cassel said an attempt had been made to avoid the word
Αmaintain≅; however, Council Member Eakins= point was important. In the last Comprehensive Plan, SoFA was identified as an area in which the City attempted to encourage businesses to move out. Concern was expressed that if, for example, all automotive businesses moved out, residents would have to seek automotive repairs outside of the community. The goal was to not lose the flavor of what already existed. Council Member McCown thought the overall zoning philosophy of the community was not being changed. If the maintenance of automotive uses was desirable, the way zoning was applied to the properties should attempt to avoid creating unintended counter-consequences. Council Member McCown supported the policy of seeking ways to accomplish the goal for the SoFA area; however, the concept was what the City could do to facilitate the maintenance of certain types of land uses. It was the uses the properties were put to, which Council knew was an important aspect of economic or business diversity in the community. The City should seek ways to use its zoning tools to make it possible. Ultimately there was an interplay between the private marketplace and what the City did which could not always be controlled. She supported the concept but it should be worded in a way which reflected the tools available to the City.
Mr. Calonne said Council=s discussion raised an issue which would be important from an interpretation standpoint in the future. The issue was the role of the Business and Economic Element as the Comprehensive Plan was applied, since the Comprehensive Plan also
11/18/97 85-228
contained a Land Use Element. Council struggled with how the two elements fit together. The Business and Economic Element was not the area in which to dictate or regulate land uses. On the other hand, it was supplemental to the Land Use Element. Exactly what it meant was left open. The issue ran deeper than it might seem on the surface. Council Member Schneider reminded Council Members Kniss and McCown that the Business and Economic Element was new to the Comprehensive Plan. Therefore, Council was in unchartered waters. In the absence of other policy statements, it was important that the policies be specified. It was important to discuss the type of small businesses the City wanted to encourage. Council Member McCown agreed, but argued the Comprehensive Plan should still contain language which reflected the tools available to the City. Otherwise the statements were broad and lost their value. Council Member Schneider thought the policies were critical, even though impossible to specifically identify who or what was being discussed. The Economic Resources Plan was also a beginning tool which the City could use and was used effectively. The Business and Economics Element should not be limited or weakened because specific tools were not available. Council Member McCown did not argue that the City should back off of having the whole set of concepts in the Comprehensive Plan because it was a useful addition over the way it had been handled historically. However, caution was necessary in use of the language. If the implication was that the City had certain abilities to do something, which it did not, the value was weakened. She questioned the meaning of White Page B-15, Policy
B-33 which stated, ΑDiscourage actions that could increase the cost of business space in the San Antonio Road and East Bayshore areas. The East Bayshore and San Antonio Road areas serve a special economic role. Its relatively low-cost space provides opportunities for a variety of service industries and start-up businesses that could not feasibly locate in the higher cost areas.
This role should be protected in the future.≅ Making a policy statement about the importance of a certain area and the way it was valued, and whether the City would use available tools to implement the policy goals for the areas was questioned. The City had a more limited set of tools to work with than the sentence implied regarding protection of a certain economic segment of the business community.
11/18/97 85-229
MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Business and Economics Element, Green Page B-13, text at the top of the page, second sentence be revised to include more than Midtown. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Council Member Kniss expressed concern about the philosophy, since she had strongly supported the addition of the Business Resource
Plan. Wherever the City had said Αencourage small businesses,≅ with no way to back it up, that created frustration as reflected in the number of calls from the public asking what the City would do. Mayor Huber asked whether the alternative was removal. Council Member Kniss replied no. The alternative was to take a realistic look. In some cases, language might be removed.
Council Member Wheeler agreed with Council Member Kniss= concern. MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, and it was duly seconded, to
direct staff to review its use of the word Αencourage≅ generally in the text of the Business and Economics Element. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Council Member Wheeler said members of the public appeared in Council Chambers to discuss Cambridge Hardware, and sent E-Mail and other mail related to American Market. That occurred almost on a
daily basis. To leave a statement such as Αencourage such
businesses,≅ when the City had no clue as to how it could be
accomplished, was a disservice to the City=s constituents. Policies which discouraged action made more sense because the City had methods of discouraging through the use of zoning tools. Although a more negative action, it was more realistic of the role the City could play and had traditionally played in trying to discourage actions which automatically displaced the kinds of
businesses the City wanted to Αprotect.≅ The policies could be
couched in terms of Αdiscouraging≅ official City actions which made it easier for such businesses to be displaced. Vice Mayor Andersen said some cities in the Bay Area, in order to protect businesses such as shoe repair shops, had specifically
zoned a Αrepair≅ area. Although not recommended, such actions protected value by creating a zone which identified a particular desired service, rather than discouraging other businesses. At
11/18/97 85-230
some point, the City might give consideration to whether or not zoning should be used as a means of protecting certain businesses. Council Member Wheeler said the City had already made policies which were not so draconian to encourage the combining of parcels to make certain types of businesses or developments more viable. Other policies could discourage certain types of businesses or developments in different areas of town, such as discouraging the amassing of parcels, keeping spaces small, etc., which was more conducive to local-oriented businesses. Vice Mayor Andersen said if the same space could be used for some of the high value businesses which paid higher rents, it would not effectively be brought out of bound unless specifically describing a certain type of shop. Whenever a policy protected a certain type of value in zoning, it would clearly set rents. The City could say it wanted to protect certain services, but queried whether Council was willing to specifically state in the zoning what was desired. Council Member Rosenbaum said three years prior, Council had spent an inordinate amount of time on the Business and Economic Element, and CPAC had struggled with it. The general statements with a great deal of ambiguity were basically the best the City could do, as reflected in the number of 4:5 votes. He was reluctant to reopen the issue because the result would not be much better. Council Member Schneider had indicated the element contained statements which were either programs or policies without backup. It might be impossible to imagine what actions could be taken in the future which would support what was contained in the Comprehensive Plan. One action had to do with T&C Village. If the City was interested in small, independent businesses, which was what T&C Village already had, to the extent the City would not look to increase the utilization of that land, the City would achieve the goal. With respect to the area around San Antonio, which the City wanted to leave for low-income start-ups, setting up an assessment district to improve sidewalks and landscaping in the area would run counter to the goal. He appreciated specific comments which attempted to sharpen and clarify the Business and Economics Element, however, he would not want to start over on the section. Council Member McCown agreed with Council Member Rosenbaum. Parts of the Business and Economic Element were useful and precise. For example, on White Page B-12, Program B-12 was a good program
statement, ΑIdentify key sites on El Camino Real that would be suitable for Neighborhood Centers. Evaluate economic, design, and regulatory opportunities and constraints for each site, and identify potential incentives that could be offered by the City to
11/18/97 85-231
improve the area=s appearance and economic vitality.≅ It was the type of activity the City could engage in which related to business and economic vitality. Some of the policy statements were well written and used the terminology and concepts accurately revealing the tools available to the City. Others were vague about the
City=s activities. The Comprehensive Plan should provide the public with a concept about where the City intended to move. Council Member Schneider thought pinning down anything in the Business and Economics Element would be difficult because it was a moving target. The best Council could do was encourage certain things and discourage other things without any specifics. Council Member McCown disagreed; however, she was comfortable that nothing could move forward without zoning implementation steps where the policies could be cleaned up. The Business and Economics Element was probably the weakest product which failed to tighten up many different levels of thinking. She would not, however, advocate an entire re-write. Some areas could be clarified to make the statement clearer. The rest of the lack of clarity would have to be left to the tools available to the City, e.g., zoning. MOTION: Council Member Eakins moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Business and Economics Element, White
Page B-5, Policy B-1 be revised as follows: ΑUse a variety of planning and regulatory tools, including growth limits, to ensure that business growth change is compatible with the needs of Palo
Alto neighborhoods.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Council Member Eakins said the best statement made that evening was
made by Council Member McCown when she mentioned Αmaking the best
use of the tools the City had.≅ No idea should be thrown out, but unrealistic expectations would be reduced by removing as many of the expectations about what the City could do in a free-market economy. Council Member Schneider was correct about ideas remaining in the Comprehensive Plan, since they set the tone for encouraging the kind of business and economic environment desirable for the community. She suggested staff go through the Business and Economics Element and include language which reflected the tools. MOTION: Council Member Eakins moved, seconded by McCown, to direct staff to review the policies in the Business and Economics Element to reflect the planning tools available to the City.
11/18/97 85-232
Council Member Kniss asked whether the zoning piece would Αflush≅ out. It seemed the cart was being placed before the horse since zoning regulations were already in place. At some point, a consistency problem would arise.
Mr. Calonne said the Chamber=s question about the ambiguity of the Comprehensive Plan, which implied additional growth limits were called for, was valid. Policy B-1 was an elaborated version of the fundamental tenant of land use planning, i.e., land uses should be compatible. The City could enumerate everything it used and did, but the compatibility between business and neighborhoods might call for a different focus. Mr. Schreiber said one of the problems in drafting the Business and Economics Element had been how most of the programs logically fit in other sections of the Comprehensive Plan, resulting in a great deal of cross-referencing. Most of the specific geographic areas in the Business and Economics Element referenced more specific programs found elsewhere in the document. Staff made the decision to not duplicate programs in two different sections of the Comprehensive Plan, partially to limit the size of the document. Therefore, most of the implementation programs had ended up in other sections. The result was a Business and Economics Element which was more a policy document than an implementation document, but the implementation remained. A question had been made about language changes which, although possible, would not be possible
quickly and would push Council=s next Comprehensive Plan meeting into January 1998. The wording itself was basically a policy document with which the City would have to live. Ambiguity in the Comprehensive Plan reflected the ambiguity in the community and with Council. Reference had been made to the number of 4:5 Council votes. The Business and Economic Subcommittee of CPAC had seen many divisions which could not be resolved and tended to move the process toward more generalized wording to allow the free market to work. SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, seconded by Kniss, to direct staff to add to the introduction or the beginning text of Business and Economics Element to indicate that the actual implementation measures for the policies and programs would be
pursued through the City=s specific planning and regulatory tools and that the other traditional Comprehensive Plan elements which had been provided in many of the programs to implement the Business and Economics policies. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent.
11/18/97 85-233
Vice Mayor Andersen asked for clarification on page 3 of the staff report (CMR:477:97) which referenced the corner of Page Mill Road and El Camino Real and would be discussed in December 1997 when the Land Use Maps were available, after which Program B-18 from White Page B-14, would be modified. Mr. Schreiber said Vice Mayor Andersen was correct. Vice Mayor Andersen was satisfied with Program B-4, the only other staff recommended change for the Business and Economic Element in the staff report (CMR:477:97). Council Member McCown said the name of Santa Clara County Transportation Authority on White Page G-1 should be changed to Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency. Support was given to the
Planning Commission=s changes on Green Page G-4, Policy G-1, with
the suggested addition of the words Αtypes of≅ to, ΑDelegate Appropriate decision-making to the Planning Commission, with an appeal process to the City Council, to simplify and shorten the
project review process for certain types of projects.≅ The meaning
of Program G-2A, on Green Page G-5, ΑCreate a standing forum to
address citizen traffic and transportation issues,≅ was questioned. Ms. Cassel said the minutes would be checked. Council Member McCown questioned the need for an annual workshop
referenced on Green Page G-5, Program G-2B, ΑHold an annual public design workshop or charette to address design issues within the
City,≅ suggesting Αperiodic≅ public design workshops or charettes.
White Page G-5 indicated, ΑThe City has made a commitment to
consider changes to the City Charter,≅ but should read, ΑThe City
will consider changes to the City Charter...≅ The last sentence
should read, ΑDelegating more decision-making to the Planning Commission, subject to appeal to the City Council, would streamline the application process and relieve applicants of numerous
unnecessary proceedings.≅ Any mention in the Comprehensive Plan of
Αdelegating Planning Commission authority≅ should include Αsubject
to appeal to the City Council.≅ Council Member Wheeler asked whether the phrase on White Page G-5,
Program G-1, ΑInitiate a charter amendment for the ballot that would delegate specific decisions to the Planning Commission, including appeals of decisions by the Zoning Administrator and the
Planning Director,≅ was a portion or the entire extent of what the City would re-delegate to the Planning Commission.
11/18/97 85-234
Mr. Schreiber said Program G-1 represented part of what would be delegated to the Planning Commission, with specifics to be determined when the issue was resolved by Council. Council Member Wheeler asked whether the City wanted to specify the
two things, or place a period after Αdelegate specific decisions to
the Planning Commission.≅ If the two specific items were included, she queried why they had not been included in the text of examples of what the City might want to consider. Council Member Wheeler clarified the desire was to make the Comprehensive Plan less precise. Mr. Calonne said the Charter stated all boards and commissions were to be advisory, including the Planning Commission. Policy G-1 assumed the answer to the Planning Commission being advisory was to delegate its specific decision making. Suggested wording was
Αinitiate a Charter amendment for the ballot would eliminate the
restriction on the Planning Commission as an advisory body,≅ or
Αthe restriction limiting the Planning Commission to advisory
functions only,≅ which would make the policy even broader. Council Member Wheeler thought Council was unsure what functions it wanted to change in the current procedures. Making the policy more general was preferable, which allowed a return to Council in the form of ordinance or Charter amendment changes through the City
Attorney=s Office. Mr. Schreiber suggested the original idea of placing a period after
the word ΑCommission.≅ The policy would then be general enough for the public to understand. Mr. Calonne said the Planning Commission currently had delegated authority to make specific decisions.
Mayor Huber suggested changing the word Αfinal.≅ Mr. Calonne said if the concept was to address the advisory
problem, Mr. Schreiber=s suggested period after ΑCommission≅ was preferred. Specific, final decision making authority could be delegated. Council Member Wheeler hoped there was an understanding about White
Page G-5, Program G-2, ΑPeriodically assess the need for citizen input on various policy issues and appoint commissions and ad hoc
11/18/97 85-235
committees as needed,≅ that it would not be Council doing the appointing. Sometimes such committees, commissions, and task forces would be advisory to staff rather than to Council. Clarifying language was necessary to indicate the possibility of staff-appointed commissions in addition to Council-appointed commissions.
Ms. Harrison suggested using the words Αadvisory bodies≅ as staff discussed as it developed the methodology for considering various advisory bodies to both the City Manager and Council. Council Member Wheeler agreed. Ms. Fleming said she and the City Attorney had discussed the implications of Program G-1 but were unsure about the way it was written. If the Planning Commission took a different focus and was not advisory and was making final decisions, the question then was
about staff=s relationship and obligations in terms of staffing and reporting relationships. An advisory group was clearer to staff. In terms of operating and management of two very important pieces of the organization, staff was unclear about the implications.
Mr. Calonne said Ms. Fleming=s point was well taken, and he was sensitive to her concern that, to the extent the Planning Commission operated as a final decision making body in some areas, the City would be placed in the position of defending the
decisions. It was possible decisions would differ from Council=s.
Ms. Cassel responded to Council Member Wheeler=s prior question about Green Page 5, Program G-2A, about whether a commission or separate body should be considered to examine transportation issues. She thought the Planning Commission had considered its role to include transportation issues. The item was included because a standing forum could be something as simple as the Planning Commission, or some other body, holding a meeting annually for people to attend to speak to and address issues. Such a meeting would allow regular review of issues in some forum. The hope was to address Council concerns that the issues stay focused and not get lost in the daily minutia of land use. The program was meant to be broad to allow Council to address its concerns.
Council Member Wheeler suggested removal of the word Αcitizen≅ in
Program G-2A. Council=s concern had been for broader, ongoing traffic and transportation issues and whether it related to specific land use issues. Rather than one meeting a year, where the issue would be addressed on an ongoing basis, she saw it as Council asking a body to examine it as a more permanent assignment. 11/18/97 85-236
Ms. Cassel said the details in the proposal had not been studied in great detail. The desire had been for something broad to administer the process and examine long-range issues. MOTION: Vice Mayor Andersen moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Business and Economics Element, White
Page B-7, Program B-4 be revised as follows: ΑDevelop the City Council-approved a fiber optic ring around the City as recommended in the 1996 Telecommunications Strategy Study and as approved by the City Council and evaluate and implement enhancements to the
system.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, White Page G-1,
text under Form of Government be revised as follows: ΑPalo Alto was incorporated as a Chartered City in 1909. The City has adopted a strong City Council/City Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of nine members who each serve four-year terms. The mayor and vice-mayor are elected to one-year terms by their fellow Council members. The City Council has two standing committees: the Finance Committee and the Policy and Services Committee. In addition to their legislative duties, Council members represent the City on a variety of local, county, regional, and statewide boards, commissions and other organizations. These include the Santa Clara County Cities Association, the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority, and the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission, among others.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, Green Page G-4,
Policy G-1 be revised as follows: ΑDelegate appropriate decision-making to the Planning Commission, with an appeal process to the City Council, to simplify and shorten the project review process
for non-controversial certain types of projects.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, Green Page G-5,
Program G-2B be revised as follows: ΑHold an annual public Use design workshops or charettes to address design issues within the
City.≅
11/18/97 85-237
MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, seconded by Wheeler, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, White Page G-5,
text under Policy G-1 be revised as follows: ΑThe City has made a commitment to will consider changes to the City Charter that would delegate more responsibility for land use decisions to the Planning Commission. Many land use decisions now require both Planning Commission and City Council hearings. Delegating more decision-making to the Planning Commission, subject to appeal to the City Council, would streamline the application process and relieve
applicants of numerous unnecessary proceedings.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, seconded by Wheeler, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, White Page G-5,
Program G-1 be revised as follows: ΑInitiate a charter amendment for the ballot that would delegate specific final decision-making authority decisions to the Planning Commission, including appeals of decisions by the Zoning Administrator and the Planning
Director.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, White Page G-5,
text under Policy G-2 be revised as follows: ΑMany residents are interested in being more effectively engaged in and connected to the civic affairs of the community. The City Council is committed to delegating more responsibilities to existing boards and commissions. and The creation of new advisory bodies by either the City Manager or City Council, when a particular expertise or broader base of input is required, would allow people who are interested to be more effectively engaged in and connected to the
civic affairs of the community.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, Green Page G-5, Program G-2A be deleted. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent.
11/18/97 85-238
Council Member Wheeler asked whether membership on the ARB was a specified requirement for membership on the Public Art Commission (PAC) as stated on Green Page G-2. City Clerk Gloria Young said the requirement was found in the ordinance. Council Member Wheeler asked about Green Page G-7, Policy G-5A,
ΑSupport participation by community organizations in the governing
process,≅ which sounded like an Αapple pie≅ statement with no way to implement. Mr. Schink said the minutes would be reviewed. Council Member Wheeler asked about Green Page G-7, Program G-9A,
ΑPalo Alto should regularly review the benefits of providing and/or sharing resources, including financial assistance, with the East
Palo Alto Police Department,≅ which was the result of a specific plan that existed some time prior and communities determined it was no longer needed. A statement about continued cooperation with East Palo Alto was acceptable, but the program was too specific for one particular department of East Palo Alto. Mr. Schink strongly advocated the position at the Planning Commission level since he had considered it a good policy for the
City and Palo Alto=s obligation as a good neighbor to assist East Palo Alto. Council Member Wheeler was not opposed to a good neighbor policy or responding to requests for assistance. However, the City was requested not to offer or dictate where it wanted funding or assistance to go. The policy should either be deleted or changed
to reflect the City=s willingness to render assistance to East Palo Alto upon request. Ms. Fleming said Council Member Wheeler had articulated the way the Tri-City group had come to agreement with regard to requests from various neighbors to assist East Palo Alto. Mr. Calonne said Palo Alto lacked the power to act like the State Department for foreign aid. Council could only spend money extra-territorially when there was a direct and immediate benefit to Palo Alto. The law enforcement situation could be justified; however, there were numerous taxpayer lawsuits against such extraterritorial expenditures when no tangible benefit returned to the city. The
Αfeasible≅ language addressed the issue.
11/18/97 85-239
Council Member Kniss asked whether the program should simply be eliminated. Mayor Huber agreed. Council Member Kniss thought the program was too precise. The issue was very important during the tenure but might not be during the following years. MOTION: Council Member Wheeler moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, Green Page G-7,
Program G-9A be revised as follows: ΑPalo Alto should regularly review the benefits of providing and/or sharing resources, including financial assistance, with the City of East Palo Alto Police Department upon request by the City of East Palo Alto where
the City of Palo Alto feels that it is feasible.≅
Council Member Kniss thought Council Member Wheeler=s wording was too specific for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan.
Council Member McCown thought the City=s relationship with East Palo Alto was significant enough to warrant inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan. SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, seconded by Kniss, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, Green Page G-7, Program G-9A be incorporated as text under Policy G-6 on White Page
G-7, rather than as a separate program, as follows: ΑPalo Alto should regularly review the benefits of providing and/or sharing resources, including financial assistance, with the East Palo Alto Police Department neighboring communities upon request and where
the City of Palo Alto feels that it is feasible.≅ Council Member Wheeler thought Policy G-6 was much broader and preferred an actual program. The City had a relationship with neighboring communities but the relationship with East Palo Alto had always been at a different level than with the other cities, which would probably continue throughout the life of the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Huber thought it was presumptive to move into another city either on a request basis or otherwise, and was politically something he would not want another city to do to Palo Alto. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent.
11/18/97 85-240
Ms. Cassel responded to a prior question about support of participation in the governance process, which had come out of prior work in support of neighborhood organizations. A concern was raised about organizations other than neighborhood organizations which had been addressed in the June 18, 1997, Planning Commission meeting. The consensus was that local neighborhood organizations needed more support from the City. The question was how to support the organizations, such as time, money, etc. The result was a diminished version that the City would support in ways which seemed
appropriate at the time. ΑParticipation by community
organizations≅ was used rather than Αneighborhood organizations.≅ The intent was for a policy by which staff would support organizations which came into the City. MOTION: Mayor Huber moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, White Page G-8, Program G-10
be revised as follows: ΑEstablish a Continue and expand programs to
enhance opportunities for volunteer assistance.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Mayor Huber moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, White Page G-8, Program G-11
be revised as follows: ΑProvide Continue and expand opportunities for public and nonprofit organizations serving the City to provide
information about themselves to the public.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Mayor Huber moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, White Page G-8, Program G-12
be revised as follows: ΑEstablish a Continue the program to publicly recognize the efforts of individuals, groups, and
businesses who provide volunteer services within the City.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION: Mayor Huber moved, and it was duly seconded, to approve in concept that the Governance Element, White Page G-9, Program G-17
be revised as follows: ΑInitiate aContinue and expand customer-
oriented process improvement efforts.≅ MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. Mr. Schreiber explained the Housing Element Technical Document as the official Housing Element for the City as required by State
11/18/97 85-241
regulations. When Council adopted the Comprehensive Plan, it would adopt the Housing Element Technical Document, or a modified version, as the official Housing Element. Assistant Planning Official James Gilliland said the format of the Housing Element Technical Document had been designed to meet State requirements. Chapter 8 of the technical document would be the same as the Comprehensive Plan Housing Element. Vice Mayor Andersen questioned the consistency between the technical document and other elements of the Comprehensive Plan, particularly with regard to the Page Mill/El Camino site, which he assumed the Housing Element referenced. Mr. Gilliland replied no. Vice Mayor Andersen asked whether the City no longer considered the potential housing possibilities on the Page Mill/El Camino site when the technical document was sent to the State. Mr. Gilliland said in developing the numbers for the State in order
to meet the City=s fair share requirements, the City was able to extend the existing numbers. Staff was not required to come up with as great a number as prior housing elements. Staff had taken a much more pragmatic look at what was realistic to build. The technical document contained a chart on Appendix C regarding residentially zoned sites from 1997-2002. Staff conducted a realistic estimate of sites which was used to obtain the number to meet the State requirements at the current time. Once the State came out with new numbers, staff would have to return to Council with a new document. Mayor Huber thought staff had used places such as 1050 Arastradero as part of the figures, when it realistically knew the odds of anything happening were slim. Mr. Gilliland replied yes. In the previous Housing Element, staff had included many sites and had a large number. The City wanted to meet what it thought would be future requirements, which the City
no longer had to meet. The range followed the City=s current fair share numbers. Vice Mayor Andersen asked whether any consideration was given in the document with regard to alternative sites provided for housing, if the site was used as an alterative for housing. Mr. Gilliland said there were other policies and programs related to housing which indicated removal of a housing site had to be
11/18/97 85-242
replaced elsewhere. The Page Mill/El Camino Real site was not necessary to meet the current housing numbers. Council Member Wheeler asked whether it was possible Palo Alto would have to produce more housing, even though the current technical document went to 2002 and the Comprehensive Plan went beyond the year 2002. Mr. Calonne said the future was unknown. However, the Housing Element had to be updated every five years but there was no way to
create a Housing Element which was a Αonce and for all≅ document for the Comprehensive Plan. Council Member Wheeler thought the City still had to look beyond the 2002 time frame. Mr. Calonne thought trying to predict the numbers at the current time was speculative. MOTION: Council Member McCown moved, seconded by Wheeler, to accept the Housing Element Technical Document with no changes. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. MOTION TO CONTINUE: Mayor Huber moved, seconded by Andersen, to continue the item to Tuesday, December 2, 1997, at 7:00 p.m. MOTION TO CONTINUED PASSED 8-0, Fazzino absent. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 9:50 p.m. The City Council met in a Closed Session to discuss matters involving labor negotiations as described in Agenda Item No. 1. Mayor Huber announced that no reportable action was taken on Agenda Item No. 1. FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
11/18/97 85-243
NOTE: Sense minutes (synopsis) are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code Sections 2.04.180(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.
11/18/97 85-244