HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-04 City Council Summary Minutes Regular Meeting January 4, 1999 1. Election of Mayor and Vice Mayor......................87-408
2. Resolution 7823 entitled ΑResolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Honoring Dick Rosenbaum as Mayor of Palo Alto for 1998"........................................87-411 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. to a reception.87-414 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS........................................87-414 3. Council Comments, Questions, and Announcements........87-414 FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.......87-414
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The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 7:15 p.m. PRESENT: Eakins, Fazzino, Huber, Kniss, Mossar, Ojakian, Rosenbaum, Schneider, Wheeler SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 1. Election of Mayor and Vice Mayor Council Member Kniss recognized Congresswoman Anna Eschoo. She nominated former Mayor Gary Fazzino for Mayor in 1999. Council Member Fazzino moved to Palo Alto in his early teens and became president of his senior class. When Council Member Fazzino was formerly Mayor in 1992 during a time of recession, the City was
contemplating cutting the budget dramatically and the Police ΑRed
Team≅ was initiated to assist East Palo Alto and San Mateo County when things were less positive in East Palo Alto. Those were tough times, and former Mayor Fazzino faced that challenge and focused on the economic vitality. Council Member Fazzino was upfront, opinionated, and would not worry too much about what the press said. There would be no question as to where he stood, and he would be straightforward throughout the upcoming year. Council Member Huber supported Council Member Fazzino for Mayor. His first vote coming on as a new Council Member was for Council Member Fazzino for Mayor in 1992. He was first introduced to Council Member Fazzino while lobbying for his neighborhood association with regard to the Professorville District. Council Member Fazzino brought with him a long-term institutional memory in the community. Not only had he served long and good years working for the Council, but his knowledge of Palo Alto in the past served everyone well as complex issues in the community were discussed. Council Member Fazzino had proven he could lead and would lead the Council well as Mayor in 1999, and he looked forward to working with him for the balance of the year. RESULTS OF THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING FOR MAYOR VOTING FOR FAZZINO: Eakins, Fazzino, Huber, Kniss, Mossar, Ojakian, Rosenbaum, Schneider, Wheeler Interim City Clerk Kathi Hamilton announced that Council Member Fazzino received nine votes and was elected Mayor on the first ballot. Former Mayor Rosenbaum congratulated new Mayor Fazzino and
presented him with a special mayor=s pin. Mayor Fazzino thanked the Council and asked that the Vice Mayor be voted on before making his comments.
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Council Member Huber nominated Council Member Lanie Wheeler for Vice Mayor in 1999. Council Member Wheeler was a good friend and colleague. She had asked him to nominate her for Vice Mayor, and he felt honored to do so. He had worked with Council Member Wheeler on the Planning Commission for several years and seven years on the Council. He also served as Vice Mayor during her mayoral year and observed the way she dealt with staff, Council, and the community, which she did well. Council Member Wheeler was cool, calm, and analytical. She worked hard, was honest, and above all, she was a person who cared deeply about the community. There was no doubt that she was qualified as she had served as Vice Mayor and Mayor previously. He believed she would be an excellent back up to Mayor Fazzino in case of his absence. She listened well to the Council and the public, was not afraid to express her opinion, and was not afraid to change her mind if she were convinced to do so. He looked forward to working with her. RESULTS OF THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING FOR VICE MAYOR VOTING FOR WHEELER: Eakins, Fazzino, Huber, Kniss, Mossar, Ojakian, Rosenbaum, Schneider, Wheeler Interim City Clerk Kathi Hamilton announced that Council Member Wheeler received nine votes and was elected Vice Mayor on the first ballot.
Mayor Fazzino congratulated new Vice Mayor Wheeler. He thanked his colleagues for the special honor of being Mayor for a second time and Palo Altans for the opportunity of serving such a talented community. When asked why he did not run for another office, his
reply was, ΑCould I ever find another constituency which is
brighter, more talented, or more engaged.≅ He considered himself to be very fortunate. He thanked former Mayor Rosenbaum and Vice Mayor Schneider for an outstanding year as the leaders in 1998. He introduced and thanked his family and some special friends without whom he could not have achieved the small success that he had enjoyed in his political career. He also thanked Supervisor Joe Simitian and Congresswoman Anna Eschoo, who were good friends. Traditionally, mayors had delivered an annual State of the City
Address to share with citizens their perspective on the City=s health, opportunities, and risks and to articulate a set of priorities for that particular year. He would follow that tradition and make a State of the City Address on March 22, 1999, in the newly renovated Council Chambers. The year 1998 was one of the more challenging years he had spent on the Council. A flood devastated many lives, and the historic preservation debate divided people of good will. Former Mayor Rosenbaum and Vice Mayor Schneider did an outstanding job dealing with difficult circumstances during the past year. As 1999 began, he hoped that the Council and the community would reflect upon those qualities which had made Palo Alto special and manifest them through the work
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that could be achieved together. Palo Alto had always been characterized as a community of great intellect and ability with a will to succeed. Palo Alto created a wonderful municipal utility system, built the most extraordinary municipal park system, and for many years, spent more per capita on the arts than any other community in California. The City did much on its own, but much was done in partnership with others. He hoped to apply those same talents and skills to issues such as a transportation shuttle, a new performing art center, a telecommunications utility, and perhaps a combined City/School library during the upcoming years. Palo Alto was also recognized as a community that could debate and discuss issues passionately but with respect for one another and
then fashion solutions together which addressed the community=s greatest needs. He hoped that even in the midst of an issue such as historic preservation where fundamental differences divided the community, people could be treated with dignity and respect, not question each others motives, and consider alternative ways to address the most fundamental concerns that people had without creating significant burdens on others. One hundred years prior, former Mayor Joseph Hutchinson commented not only on the shouting which characterized Palo Alto politics, but also on the selflessness of its people as well. Palo Alto had also been known historically for excellent communications between the City and its citizens. The City must communicate effectively with the public on a regular basis. The City needed to level with the public on what could or could not be done, admit to mistakes on occasion, and set clear expectations of the community. In turn, the City would
request that the public recognize not only the City=s potential to serve its citizens, but its limitations and fallibility. The Internet, E-mail, and a new daily newspaper had created a new world with respect to communications which had to be adjusted to by all. He hoped that as often as possible, the need to use legal or other legitimate reasons to avoid communications with the public, could be avoided. Good communications was an ethic, not a program; and the Council and City Manager needed to act on that basis. For his
part, he would hold regular ΑMeet the Mayor≅ meetings for the public to discuss issues of critical importance. The first meeting would be scheduled soon and would focus on flood management issues. His specific goals for the upcoming year were: 1) resolution of the historic preservation debate; 2) inauguration of an intracity transportation shuttle system which would eventually tie together neighborhoods, business districts, community centers, and transportation centers, asking Council Member Mossar to work with him; 3) initiation of discussions with Stanford regarding a joint Palo Alto/Stanford Performing Arts Center, asking Council Member Schneider to work with him; 4) community consensus on long-term flood management actions, asking Council Members Rosenbaum, Mossar, and Ojakian to work with him; 5) resolution of issues with Stanford regarding a new health care facility and more University lands preserved for open space, asking Council Member Huber to work with him; 6) continuation of a city good neighbor policy toward East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Mountain View, working together on joint
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issues; and 7) creation of a thoroughly enjoyable, creative, family-oriented Millennium Night Celebration on December 31, 1999, to welcome the new millennium to Palo Alto, asking Council Member Kniss to work with him. He thanked everyone for the special opportunity provided him. Vice Mayor Wheeler said upon returning from vacation the prior week, she retrieved a call from her answering machine from Elaine Goodman of The Palo Alto Daily News stating the following were the reasons: 1) 1999 was the final year she would be serving in elective office, and she wished to contribute in a meaningful way
to both the Council=s business and to the community which she loved; 2) she wanted to continue to sit to the right of Mayor Fazzino so she could nudge him when he got carried away; and 3) she believed the community was served well when the Mayor and Vice Mayor could act as a team, and she and Mayor Fazzino could and would do that for the community. Their views on issues, largely but not entirely, coincided, but their styles were very different. After seven years of closely working together on the Council, she and Mayor Fazzino accepted and appreciated those differences. The community, as commented on by Mayor Fazzino, faced several issues in the upcoming year, and she hoped that she and Mayor Fazzino could set an example for public discourse in the community. The Council recognized that differences existed among themselves, but valued, respected, and even cherished other people as well. Only in that way could Palo Alto maintain its position as a nationally recognized and progressive community, and she was proud to set an example for others in the nation to follow.
2. Resolution 7823 entitled ΑResolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Honoring Dick Rosenbaum as Mayor of Palo Alto for 1998" MOTION: Council Member Wheeler moved, seconded by Huber, to adopt the Resolution. MOTION PASSED 8-0-1, Rosenbaum Αabstaining.≅ Mayor Fazzino presented the Resolution and a plaque from the City to former Mayor Rosenbaum. Vice Mayor Wheeler presented former Mayor Rosenbaum with a clock from the City Council. Mayor Fazzino said working with former Mayor Rosenbaum during the past year on the Council had been a pleasure. In the midst of difficult moments, one sometimes forgot that Palo Alto was fundamentally sound financially including its utility system. A significant degree of credit for those facts went to former Mayor Rosenbaum and his leadership. In addition, he believed that former
Mayor Rosenbaum=s calm, cool, low-key demeanor made a real
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difference in reducing the volume in the Council Chambers on both sides of the dias when difficult issues were being discussed such as historic preservation. Former Mayor Rosenbaum thanked the Council for the clock. As many people knew, he had served on the Council in the early 1970's, and comparing the degree of ceremony between then and the present was interesting. He recalled that Kirk Comstock served as Mayor from 1971 to 1974 during some contentious times; and when the new Mayor Byron Sher was elected, he spent about 30 seconds thanking former Mayor Comstock for his service, and the Council meeting continued with the regular agenda, conducting business until 11:30 p.m. At that meeting, Mayor Fazzino was conducting the radio broadcast for KZSU. He thanked his colleagues for their cooperation during the year. The Council did their homework, were well prepared, formulated thoughtful motions, and treated one another with respect. He could not have expected more and smoothed the legislative process. One of the privileges of being mayor was the opportunity of working more closely with the Council Appointed Officers and Senior and City staff than other Council Members did. He was continually amazed at the variety and difficulty of problems staff faced on a daily basis which included serious issues such as how to deal with the aftermath of the flood and minor
issues such as smoke coming from someone=s chimney. He was constantly impressed by the hard work that was done by staff in attempting to respond to every issue. He thanked Interim City Clerk Kathi Hamilton and the City Clerk staff who handled all the
Mayor=s business. They took care of correspondence, answered phones, greeted people at the counter, and prepared resolutions and proclamations, all of which was done with great efficiency and remarkably good cheer. While the staff could not necessarily make a mayor look good, they certainly did their best to keep the mayor from looking foolish, which he appreciated. While the major issues in 1998 were the flood and historic preservation, the completion of some significant projects which involved close cooperation between the City and community organizations also occurred: 1) the Museum of American Heritage moved into a beautifully renovated Williams House, and the Board of Directors raised the half million dollars
that made it possible; 2) the Friends of the Children=s Theatre, in a project that took ten years, completed the renovation of the original theatre and added a beautiful outdoor stage; 3)a Single Residence Occupancy (SRO) unit was completed on Alma Street under the auspices of the Midpeninsula Housing Corporation (MPHC); and 4) a group of dedicated parents worked hard to have a project built on Page Mill Road for developmentally disabled children along with the
MPHC. Although at times the ΑWheels ground very slowly in Palo
Alto,≅ the entire community could be proud of what had been accomplished during the past year. Being the Mayor of Palo Alto was a unique and challenging experience but had a great many rewards, and he recommended it highly to everyone. He looked forward to working with Mayor Fazzino and thanked everyone who had attended the meeting.
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Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian said during the time he and Mayor Fazzino had been friends and colleagues in local
government for the past 312 years, they began a custom to exchange books of particular interest or importance about public affairs. He thought the gift of a book would be appropriate for his friend and now Mayor Fazzino and choose a book entitled The Bully Pulpit
by Teddy Roosevelt. One of Mayor Fazzino=s favorite quotations
entitled The Arena read, ΑIt=s not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or whether the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who errs and comes short again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at least knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and, who at worst if he fails, at least fails while doing greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and
timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.≅ All the time he had known Mayor Fazzino, he had always been the man in the arena as a friend, as a colleague in local government, and as a member of the Palo Alto community. He thanked and congratulated Mayor Fazzino. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo congratulated Mayor Fazzino. She had no doubt that he would continue to be the great leader he had been for the Palo Alto community in which he had invested so much. She knew Vice Mayor Wheeler would do a fabulous job, which she had previously, and had her confidence and admiration. She thanked former Mayor Rosenbaum for what he had done. One of the ingredients that was often overlooked in public life, which she felt was a necessity, was the characteristic of humility. Former Mayor Rosenbaum expressed that. He had been a wonderful and competent leader for the Palo Alto community. Doing things during good times, but another when one was called upon in leadership on behalf of those they represented to try and keep things together during bad times was easy, of which 1998 had not been an easy year. She saluted former Mayor Rosenbaum for the gentleman he was and the leader he had been and would continue to be. She thanked him for that magnificent ingredient of humility which he carried so well. She could not thank former Vice Mayor Schneider more for her uncommon grace and for her service to the Palo Alto community. She had great confidence in what former Vice Mayor Schneider would continue to do and was proud to be her friend and colleague. She was certain the remainder of the Council would band together to serve the people who were mutual constituents. There were many past leaders of the City in attendance that evening, those who served in elective office and those who continued as advocates. She believed those people would continue to live up to the name of the great City of Palo Alto in the 14th Congressional District; the City in which she chose to place the congressional offices. She knew she would be able to lean on the Council just as the community
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would and to resolve the issues people counted on its leaders to do. She thanked the citizens for what they made Palo Alto. She knew that together with the distinguished City staff, who everyone counted on and was proud of in terms of professionalism, more would be achieved for the people. Her heart was with local government, because what was done locally was nation building. Mayor Fazzino recognized and thanked several elected officials and former Council Members who were in attendance that evening. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. to a reception. The City Council reconvened its Regular Meeting at 9:03 p.m. Mayor Fazzino announced that future City Council Meetings for approximately the next three months would be held at the Palo Alto Art Center located at the corner of Newell and Embarcadero Roads. The meetings would be held in the former Council Chambers which was
now the auditorium. Everyone=s cooperation and willingness to
attend was appreciated. The City Clerk=s Office would have more information regarding those meetings which would be made available to the public beginning that week. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Jim Dinkey, 3380 Cork Oak Way, spoke regarding fiscal responsibility. Edmund R. Power, 2254 Dartmouth Street, spoke regarding the media spin. T. J. Watt, Homeless, spoke regarding selling the water tower lot on Alma to the feds in exchange for money for a shuttle/overpass. COUNCIL MATTERS 3. Council Comments, Questions, and Announcements Mayor Fazzino noted 41 applications were received for the new Library Advisory Commission. He appointed a Council Ad Hoc Committee of the Council, Vice Mayor Wheeler, Council Members Huber, Kniss, and Ojakian, to review the applications and select a group of candidates to be interviewed. Mayor Fazzino announced that the 1998 Finance Committee would meet the next evening at 7 p.m. in the Council Conference Room. FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED:
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City Clerk Mayor 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.
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