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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-05 City Council Agenda PacketCITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL January 5, 2015 Regular Meeting Council Chambers 6:00 PM Agenda posted according to PAMC Section 2.04.070. Supporting materials are available in the Council Chambers on the Thursday preceding the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public may speak to agendized items; up to three minutes per speaker, to be determined by the presiding officer. If you wish to address the Council on any issue that is on this agenda, please complete a speaker request card located on the table at the entrance to the Council Chambers, and deliver it to the City Clerk prior to discussion of the item. You are not required to give your name on the speaker card in order to speak to the Council, but it is very helpful. Call to Order AT THIS TIME THE CITY CLERK WILL SWEAR IN THE NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TOM DUBOIS, ERIC FILSETH AND CORY WOLBACH Special Orders of the Day 1. Election of the Mayor for 2015 2. Election of the Vice Mayor for 2015 3. Adoption of a Resolution of the Council Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding Public Service to Nancy Shepherd as Council Member and Mayor 4. Adoption of a Resolution of the Council Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding Public Service to Gail Price as Council Member 5. Adoption of a Resolution of the Council Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding Public Service to Larry Klein as Council Member and Mayor 6. City Manager Year in Review Oral Communications Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda. Council reserves the right to limit the duration of Oral Communications period to 30 minutes. Adjournment AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT (ADA) Persons with disabilities who require auxiliary aids or services in using City facilities, services or programs or who would like information on the City’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, may contact (650) 329-2550 (Voice) 24 hours in advance. 1 January 5, 2015 MATERIALS RELATED TO AN ITEM ON THIS AGENDA SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA PACKET ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE AT PALO ALTO CITY HALL, 250 HAMILTON AVE. DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. Additional Information Supplemental Information Schedule of Meetings Schedule of Meetings Tentative Agenda Tentative Agenda Informational Report Early Release of City Council Agenda Packets Public Letters to Council SET 1- SET 2- SET 3- SET 4- 2 January 5, 2015 MATERIALS RELATED TO AN ITEM ON THIS AGENDA SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER DISTRIBUTION OF THE AGENDA PACKET ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION IN THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE AT PALO ALTO CITY HALL, 250 HAMILTON AVE. DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. 12/22/2014 12/22/2014 12/22/2014 1/05/2015 RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE TO NANCY SHEPHERD AS COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR WHEREAS, Nancy Shepherd was elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2010, and served with empathy, dedication, sincerity, passion and enthusiasm, and used her business, volunteer and non-profit expertise and connections during her term; she dedicated her year as Mayor, from January 6, 2014 through January 5, 2015, to rebalance community concerns about growth and density by initiating the “Our Palo Alto” community conversation that expanded City Hall broadly into the public to generate ideas for decisions about the future vision of Palo Alto; and WHEREAS, as Mayor, Nancy presided over City Council meetings, with equity and fairness, that addressed issues such as freezing the troubled Planned Community Zoning Ordinance, re-starting the Comprehensive Plan update, parking and traffic reduction strategies and programs, Cubberley Lease renewal with Palo Alto Unified School District, Mitchell Park Library and Community Center opening and settlement, infrastructure master plan and funding, early City Council packet release, transfer of the Palo Alto Airport to the City and the placement of two successful ballot initiatives; Measure B, that increased the Transit Occupancy Tax, and Measure C, which modernized the Utilities User Tax, ensuring that Palo Alto continues to fund infrastructure for the 21st Century; Nancy also represented Palo Alto on many occasions including Neighbors Abroad 50th Anniversary Celebration of Sisterhood in Oaxaca Mexico; and WHEREAS, Nancy, while serving four years on the Rail Committee, artfully and successfully, protected Palo Alto from the California High Speed Rail (HSR) four-track project threatening Palo Alto properties and roadways using a “blended” Caltrain and HSR train schedule on the existing corridor; initiated studies of the rail corridor and the feasibility of trenching the tracks to protect the community from the inevitable need for grade separated crossings; and WHEREAS, Nancy was a tireless advocate for an expanded shuttle system beginning with her first year on City Council and initiated and envisioned Palo Alto’s nascent Transit Demand Management Program to reduce auto trips by 30 percent through Transit Management Associations funding commuter incentives; and WHEREAS, Nancy took an especially strong interest in the community well being of our youth, supporting Project Safety Net, expanding Safe Routes to Schools, adding Resource Officers at both high schools, initiating the “Choose Kindness” Mayors project, creating a pilot student program with Smart City Partner Yangpu District, Shanghai China; and WHEREAS, Nancy was instrumental in securing initiatives that will serve Palo Altans for generations including the Stanford Medical Center hospital projects; financial reforms that reduced pensions and shared health care costs; supported initiatives to increase broadband capacity with fiber; advocated for local control and fought state mandates by strengthening legislative strategies; and supported Palo Alto as a leader in carbon reduction efforts; and WHEREAS, Nancy did the aforementioned work while welcoming all opinions, seeking consensus in a collegial manner with great respect for colleagues, Staff and the public, and with a strong resolve and determination to protect Palo Alto’s livability while serving as a committee member on Policy and Services, Finance (2012 Chair), Rail Committee (2013 Chair), Infrastructure, Technology, Cubberley Advisory, City/School, and calling for the establishment of the Regional Housing Mandate Committee which includes two school board members, and also regionally as the alternate to Northern California Power Agency, VTA Advisory Committees and Vice President to the Peninsula League of Cities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby commends the outstanding public service of Nancy Shepherd and gratefully records its appreciation, as well as the appreciation of the citizens of this community, for meritorious service rendered and contributions made during her City Council term and term as Mayor. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: JANUARY 5, 2015 ATTEST: APPROVED: _____________________ _____________________ City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: _____________________ _____________________ City Manager City Attorney RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE TO GAIL A. PRICE AS COUNCIL MEMBER WHEREAS, Gail Price was first elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2010, and served with integrity, wisdom, compassion and a commitment to social justice; Gail embodies public service, with eight years as a Palo Alto School Board Trustee and over 30-years as a public sector and non-profit employee; these experiences have informed her work; and WHEREAS, Gail speaks honestly, briefly and directly to issues and seeks meaningful outcomes; demonstrates thoughtful judgment; and treats her colleagues, City employees, and the public with civility and respect; and WHEREAS, Gail served on the Policy and Services Committee, for four years (Chair in 2011 and 2014); the Rail Committee for two years, was liaison to several Boards and Commissions; and has served on the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Board since 2012; and WHEREAS, Gail consistently supported improved transit and rail services, promoting dedicated funding, enhanced capacity and improved operations and Caltrain grade-separations; Gail has promoted all progressive means, including emerging technologies, alternative fuels and behavior change, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve sustainability and address climate change; to enhance local and regional mobility and economic vitality, she has actively endorsed many studies and programs, including the Rail Corridor Study, expanding shuttle, biking and walking options and the advancement of Transportation Demand Management in Palo Alto; she served Palo Alto/North County cities as a Director on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board (2014), the VTA Policy Advisory Committee for four years (Chair 2013) and Audit Committee (Chair 2014); and WHEREAS, Gail has been a strong proponent of urban planning and design, affordable housing, smart growth, strategic planning, best practices and innovation; she values all artistic expression and public art; and WHEREAS, Gail champions youth engagement, including creation of a Youth Liaison position; she emphasizes the critical importance of Project Safety Net and its partners, including adoption of suicide prevention policies and prevention services; more comprehensively, she also recognizes the growing need for leveraging funds to create enhanced community and social services in order to transform lives. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby commends the outstanding public service of Gail A. Price and gratefully records both its appreciation, and the appreciation of the citizens and businesses of this community, for her meritorious service and commitment to have government “benefit the people.” INTRODUCED AND PASSED: JANUARY 5, 2015 ATTEST: APPROVED: ___________________ _________________ City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________ _________________ City Manager City Attorney RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE TO LARRY KLEIN AS COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR WHEREAS, Larry Klein was first elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 1981 and re-elected in 1985, where he served as Mayor in 1984 and 1989; and WHEREAS, Larry often described himself as a “recycled” Council Member when he was again elected to the Council in 2005 and re-elected in 2009 where he has brought his considerable talents as an attorney, former Mayor and Council Member and as the “Institutional Memory” of the Council for the past three decades; and WHEREAS, Larry served a third term as Mayor in 2008 and led Council meetings and the community with style and grace, steering that year through the successful Measure N Library Bond initiative, which culminated in improvements to all five City libraries including the new Mitchell Park Library and Community Center which opened to public acclaim in 2014; and WHEREAS, Larry has been an active member and Chair of Council Committees during this term including Finance, Policy and Services, City/School Liaison, Council Appointed Officers, High Speed Rail, Cubberley Policy Advisory and Infrastructure and Technology; he has also ably represented Palo Alto on regional boards including the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), BAWSCA Policy Committee, San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority, the Santa Clara County Cities Association and locally as Council liaison to the Board of Realtors, Chamber of Commerce, Avenidas and California Avenue Area Development Association; and WHEREAS, Larry during the “Great Recession” advocated for and achieved sustainable fiscal reform, in the areas of employee pension and health care benefits and the City Budget which laid the foundation for current fiscal surpluses; Larry also chaired the City’s Cubberley Committee which led to reform and renewal of the Cubberley Lease with the Palo Alto Unified School District; and WHEREAS, Larry focused on long-term initiatives by championing the citizen lead Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Commission which identified, detailed and prioritized all infrastructure needs into a “catch up,” “keep up” and “moving forward” project master plan, which culminated in dedicated funding for infrastructure and an infrastructure funding plan which includes a Public Safety Building, fire stations, maintenance yards, parks and recreation areas and public facilities ensuring that Palo Alto will have updated buildings, public facilities and modern emergency systems into the new century, which are supported by General Fund revenues, new revenues from hotels and Measure B initiative funds, which was approved by over 70 percent of voters in November 2014; and WHEREAS, Larry also advocated strategically and tirelessly on issues against the California High Speed Rail project, successfully protecting the Palo Alto rail corridor by securing a “blended” system and shared use of the Caltrain tracks using a blended schedule and eliminating the massive four track project threatening Palo Alto properties and roadways; and WHEREAS, Larry, over the course of his terms, declared a moral imperative to fight Climate Change as the single most important challenge facing our generation by creating an aggressive Climate Action Plan, resulting in significant Green House Gas emission reductions and Palo Alto achieving carbon-neutral electricity; Larry has also advocated for an Anaerobic Digester Facility at the Regional Water Quality Treatment Plant, served on the National League of Cities Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Steering Committee, advocated for fuel switching initiatives, Zero Waste, expansion of electric vehicle charging stations; and WHEREAS, Larry did all of the aforementioned work and more with incredible energy, statesmanship, candor, creativity and professionalism, while maintaining a spirit of goodwill, perspective, a sense of humor and strong commitment to Palo Alto. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby commends the outstanding public service of Larry Klein and gratefully records its appreciation, as well as the appreciation of the citizens of this community, for meritorious service rendered and contributions made during his City Council and Mayoral terms. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: JANUARY 5, 2015 ATTEST: APPROVED: _____________________ _____________________ City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: _____________________ _____________________ City Manager City Attorney