HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 11916
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
January 11, 2021
The Honorable City Council
Attention: Finance Committee
Palo Alto, California
Approval of Action Minutes for the November 30, December 14, and
December 23, 2020 City Council Meetings
Attached for approval are the minutes for the November 30, 2020 City Council meeting, which
include corrections as indicated by Council Member Cormack at the December 14, 2020
meeting. Also attached are the December 14 and December 23, 2020 City Council meeting
minutes for review and approval.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Attachment A: 11-30-20 DRAFT Action Minutes- Corrected (DOCX)
• Attachment B: 12-14-20 DRAFT Action Minutes (DOCX)
• Attachment C: 12-23-20 DRAFT Action Minutes (PDF)
Department Head: Beth Minor, City Clerk
Page 2
CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 1 of 5
Special Meeting
November 30, 2020
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in Virtual
Teleconference at 6:01 P.M.
Participating Remotely: Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Fine, Kniss, Kou, Tanaka
Absent:
Study Session
1. Study Session on Community and Economic Recovery.
Council took a break at 8:15 P.M. and returned at 8:25 P.M.
NO ACTION TAKEN
Special Orders of the Day
2. Selection of Applicants to Interview for the Historic Resources
Board and the Planning and Transportation Commission.
MOTION: Council Member Kou moved, seconded by Council Member Filseth
to direct Staff to schedule interviews for the Planning and Transportation
Commission (PTC) and Historic Resources Board (HRB) for a date in January
2021; and extend the application period for the HRB.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Council Member
Kniss to interview all current applicants for the HRB and PTC and extend the
recruitment for the Historic Resources Board.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION PASSED: 4-3 DuBois, Filseth, Kou no
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
None.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 2 of 5
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/30/2020
Minutes Approval
3. Approval of Action Minutes for the November 09, 2020 City Council
Meeting.
MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Vice Mayor DuBois to
approve the Action Minutes for the November 09, 2020 City Council Meeting.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Vice Mayor DuBois, third by
Council Member Kniss to pull Agenda Item 9A “…Letter Expressing Concerns
and Objection to the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)…” to hear it at
the end of tonight’s meeting, to become Agenda Item Number 11A.
MOTION: Council Member Kou moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss,
third by Council Member Cormack to pull Agenda Item Number 4, “Approval
of a Three-year Contract With Downtown Streets, Inc…” to a date uncertain.
Council Member Kou and Vice Mayor DuBois registered no votes on Agenda
Item Number 5.
MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to
approve Agenda Item Numbers 5-9.
4. Approval of a Three-year Contract With Downtown Streets, Inc. for a
Total Amount Not-to-Exceed $323,244 for Maintenance Services for
the City's Five Downtown Parking Garages, Downtown Sidewalks and
Alleys; and Provide Outreach Case Management Services to the
Downtown Core With the Intent of Linking Homeless Individuals to
Community and Housing Services.
5. Approval of a Funding Agreement With the Palo Alto Transportation
Management Association (TMA) to Provide $350,000 in Fiscal Year (FY)
2021; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Amendments to
Determine Funding Subject to Council Appropriation in FY 2022 and
FY 2023 to Reduce Single-occupancy Vehicle Trips to Palo Alto.
6. Adoption of the Amended Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) Citizen Participation Plan.
7. Adoption of a Pension Funding Policy.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 3 of 5
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/30/2020
8. Resolution 9927 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Vacating a Public Utility Easement at 1201 Parkinson Avenue.”
9. Approval of the Tri-cities Consortium Records Management System
Software Agreement With Sun Ridge Systems Inc. for $621,248, and a
Term Ending Five Years From the Date of Project Implementation to
Establish a New Records Management System for the Police
Departments of Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Los Altos.
9A. City Council Endorsement of the Letter Expressing Concerns and
Objection to the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Measure B
Funding Proposal.
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5: 5-2 DuBois, Kou no
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBERS 6-9: 7-0
Action Items
10. Consideration of Follow-up Recommendations by the City Council Ad
Hoc Committee on Boards, Commissions and Committees (BCCs),
Including Adopting a Handbook and BCC Applications.
MOTION: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member
Cormack to:
A. Adopt the City of Palo Alto Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Handbook;
B. Use the Architectural Review Board Application as a template for all
Boards and Commission Applications;
C. Direct Staff to take the steps necessary to implement these changes;
D. Update Human Relations Commission (HRC) description to include
HSRAP and Emerging Needs Study; and
E. Modify term limits to three terms for positions on the Historic
Resources Board and Architectural Review Board, and two terms for all
other BCCs.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to keep the membership of the Human Relations
Commission to seven members. (New Part F)
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 4 of 5
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/30/2020
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to apply term limits to currently serving BCC
members who would be eligible to re-apply for an additional term. (New Part
G)
AMENDMENT: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Mayor Fine that
the removal of a BCC member would require five votes by the City Council.
AMENDMENT FAILED: 3-4 Fine, Kniss, Tanaka yes
AMENDMENT: Council Member Kou moved, seconded by Council Member
Tanaka to require staff reports be provided to the BCCs seven days in
advance of each meeting. (New H)
AMENDMENT PASSED: 4-3 Cormack, Filseth, Fine no
MOTION AS AMENDED: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council
Member Cormack to:
A. Adopt the City of Palo Alto Boards, Commissions, and Committees
Handbook; and
B. Use the Architectural Review Board Application as a template for all
Boards and Commission Applications;
C. Direct Staff to take the steps necessary to implement these changes;
D. Update Human Relations Commission (HRC) description to include
HSRAP and Emerging Needs Study;
E. Modify term limits to three terms for positions on the Historic
Resources Board and Architectural Review Board, and two terms for all
other BCCs;
F. Keep the membership of the Human Relations Commission to seven
members;
G. Apply term limits to currently serving BCC members who would be
eligible to re-apply for an additional term;
H. Require staff reports be provided to the BCCs seven days in advance of
each meeting.
MOTION SPLIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING
MOTION FOR PARTS A-E, G, and H PASSED: 7-0
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 5 of 5
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 11/30/2020
MOTION FOR PART F FAILED 3-4: Kniss, Kou, Tanaka yes
Council took a break at 10:16 P.M. and returned at 10:22 P.M.
11. PUBLIC HEARING: Appeal of a Director's Interpretation Made Pursuant
to Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 18.01.025 and Related to Seismic
Rehabilitation. The Project is Exempt From the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in Accordance With CEQA Guidelines
15061(b)(3).
Public Hearing opened at 10:33 P.M.
Public Hearing closed at 10:55 P.M.
MOTION: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Filseth
to allow the current interpretation for up to one year; and direct Staff to
return to Council with a text amendment to clarify that the Floor Area Ratio
(FAR) bonus is for rehabilitation and, in the case of a Category 1 building, it
would include demolition assuming all other requirements to qualify are met.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Council Member
Tanaka to deny the appeal upholding the Director’s interpretation related to
seismic retrofitting.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED: 3-4 Fine, Kniss, Tanaka yes
MOTION PASSED: 6-1 Kniss no
Vice Mayor DuBois left the meeting at 11:35 P.M.
11A. (Former Agenda Item Number 9A) City Council Endorsement of the
Letter Expressing Concerns and Resolution 9928 Entitled “Resolution of
the Council of the City of Palo Alto [in] Objection to the Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA) Measure B Funding Proposal
(Previously Agenda Item Number 9A).”
MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss to
endorse the letter submitted by Mayor Fine expressing concern and
opposition to the Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA’s) proposed cash
flow limiting the availability of Measure B transportation funds; and to adopt
the Resolution opposing the Valley Transportation Authority’s 2016 Measure
B 10-year outlook base scenario.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0 DuBois absent
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:49 P.M.
CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 1 of 6
Regular Meeting
December 14, 2020
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in Virtual
Teleconference at 6:01 P.M.
Participating Remotely: Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Fine, Kniss, Kou, Tanaka
Absent:
Closed Session
1. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY- EXISTING LITIGATION
Santa Clara County Superior Court, Case No. 16CV300760
(One Case, as Defendant) Miriam Green v. City of Palo Alto
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1).
MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Council Member
Cormack to go into Closed Session.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0 DuBois absent
Council went into Closed Session at 6:06 P.M.
Council returned from Closed Session at 7:37 P.M.
Mayor Fine announced no reportable action.
Special Orders of the Day
2. Appointment of Candidates for the Architectural Review Board, Historic
Resources Board, Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Planning
and Transportation Commission
MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to:
A. Appoint candidates to the Architectural Review Board and Parks and
Recreation Commission tonight; and
B. Defer the Historic Resources Board and Planning and Transportation
Commission interviews and appointments to January 2021.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 2 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/14/2020
AMENDMENT: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Kou
to extend the recruitment for the Architectural Review Board.
AMENDMENT FAILED: 2-5 DuBois, Kou yes
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
First Round of voting for two positions on the Architectural Review Board
with terms ending December 15, 2023.
Voting For: Grace Lee Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Fine, Kniss, Tanaka
Voting For: Osma Thompson Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Fine, Kniss, Tanaka
Council Member Kou abstained from casting a vote for appointments to the
Architectural Review Board.
Beth Minor, City Clerk, announced that Grace Lee with 6 votes and Osma
Thompson with 6 votes were appointed to the Architectural Review Board.
First Round of voting for one position on the Parks and Recreation
Commission with a partial term ending December 15, 2022.
Voting For: Amanda Brown Cormack, Fine, Kniss, Tanaka
Voting For: Geoffrey Nicholls
Voting For: Angie Reed
Voting For: Curtis Smolar
Voting For: Brent Yamashita DuBois, Filseth, Kou
Beth Minor, City Clerk, announced that Amanda Brown with 4 votes was
appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
None.
Minutes Approval
3. Approval of Action Minutes for the November 30 and December 7,
2020 City Council Meetings.
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 3 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/14/2020
MOTION: Council Member Kniss moved, seconded by Council Member
Filseth to
A. Approve the Action Minutes for the December 7, 2020 City Council
Meeting; and
B. Direct the City Clerk to return to Council with updated November 30,
2020 Action Minutes, which will include corrections provided by Council
Member Cormack.
MOTION SPLIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING
MOTION PART A PASSED: 6-0 Cormack abstain
MOTION PART B PASSED: 7-0
Consent Calendar
Council Member DuBois registered a no vote on Agenda Item Number 11.
Council Member Kou registered a no vote on Agenda Item Numbers 5 and
11.
Council Member Tanaka registered a no vote on Agenda Item Numbers 5
and 10.
MOTION: Vice Mayor DuBois moved, seconded by Council Member Kniss to
approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-11
4. QUASI-JUDICIAL. 4115 El Camino Real: Request for Final Map to
Divide an Existing 15,453 Square Foot Parcel Into Condominiums for a
Mixed-use Project, Including Seven Residential Units, Four Commercial
Condominiums, and a Public Access Easement. Environmental
Assessment: Exempt. Zoning District: CN (Commercial Neighborhood).
5. Approval of a Lease Agreement Between KG -Bryant, LLC and the City
of Palo Alto for the Premises Located at 526 Bryant Street for a 24 -
month Term, at a Starting Base Rent of $5,293 per Month and
Increasing 3 Percent in Year Two.
6. Resolution 9931 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Declaring Weeds to be a Public Nuisance and Setting January 11,
2021 for a Public Hearing for Objections to the Proposed Weed
Abatement.”
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 4 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/14/2020
7. Approval of Amendment Number 4 to Contract Number S16161922
With Advanced Control Systems, Inc. for: 1) Maintenance and Support
of the City's Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
System; 2) to Extend the Contract for Five Additional Years (for a Ten-
year Term); and 3) to Increase Compensation by $372,064, Which
Includes a 10 Percent Contingency for Additional Services, for a new
Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $672,794.
8. Approval of a Cooperative Agreement With Stakeholder Cities
(including Palo Alto) and AC Transit and a Memorandum of
Understanding With AC Transit, MTC and Other Partnering Agencies for
the Dumbarton Express Corridor Transit Signal Priority Project.
9. Resolution 9932 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Declaring the Results of the Consolidated Municipal Election Held
on November 3, 2020.”
10. Approval of Contract Number C21179976 With TruePoint Solutions,
LLC in the Amount of $901,683 for Scripting, Reporting, and Other
Technical Support of Services Related to the Construction Permitting
System (Accela) Through December 31, 2024.
11. Resolution 9933 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo
Alto Amending and Restating Resolution Number 9911 to Extend the
Temporary Street Closures of California Avenue, University Avenue,
and Adjacent Downtown Blocks to May 31, 2021.”
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBERS 4, 6-9: 7-0
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5: 5-2 Kou, Tanaka no
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10: 6-1 Tanaka no
MOTION PASSED FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBERS 11: 5-2 Dubois, Kou no
City Council took a break at 9:09 P.M. and returned at 9:22 P.M.
Action Items
12. Adoption of a Temporary Ordinance Amending Title 18 (Zoning) of the
Palo Alto Municipal Code to Broaden Permissible Uses and Raise
Thresholds for Conditional Use Permits for Some Land Uses
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 5 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/14/2020
Throughout the City. Environmental Review: California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) Exemption 15061(b)(3).
MOTION: Council Member Filseth moved, seconded by Vice Mayor DuBois
to:
A. Find the proposed Ordinance exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines
Section 15061(b)(3); and
B. Adopt on first reading the Ordinance amending various land use
definitions to broaden permissible uses and adjust conditional use
permit thresholds for some land uses throughout the City.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
13. Finance Committee Recommends the City Council Direct Staff to
Complete the Following in Regards to the ROTH Building, 300 Homer
Avenue: 1) Identify Funding for a "Cold Shell"; 2) Return to Council
With Additional Funding and a Lease or Lease Option; and 3) Work
With the Palo Alto Museum Regarding Lease Terms.
MOTION: Council Member Tanaka moved, seconded by Council Member
Kniss to:
A. Pursue selling the building with a first right of purchase to the Palo Alto
History Museum;
B. Partner with the Museum to achieve a “warm shell” project with no
additional City money;
C. Research a revenue generating lease;
D. Explore re-zoning for this to be economically viable; and
E. Return to the City Council in six months.
INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
MAKER AND SECONDER to add to the Motion, “Find our best option to
achieve a warm shell project with City funding:
a. Assume the city keeps half of the space for City purposes initially, and
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 6 of 6
City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/14/2020
b. Funding options could include revenue generating lease, non-profits, or
direct City use” (New Part D.)
MOTION AS AMENDED RESTATED: Council Member Tanaka moved,
seconded by Council Member Kniss to direct Staff to:
A. Pursue selling the building with a first right of purchase to the Palo Alto
Museum;
B. Partner with the Museum to achieve a “warm shell” project with no
additional City money;
C. Research a revenue generating lease;
D. Find our best option to achieve a warm shell project with city funding
i. Assume the City keeps half of the space for City purposes
initially
ii. Funding options could include revenue generating lease, non-
profits, or direct City use;
E. Explore re-zoning for this to be economically viable; and
F. Return to the City Council in six months.
MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED: 5-2 DuBois, Kou, no
14. Colleagues' Memo on Safe Firearms Storage.
MOTION: Mayor Fine moved, seconded by Council Member Cormack to
direct the City Attorney to return to Council with an Ordinance to require the
safe storage of firearms in residences.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 A.M.
CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 1 of 2
Special Meeting
December 23, 2020
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in virtual
teleconference at 5:02 P.M.
Participating Remotely: Cormack, DuBois, Filseth, Fine, Kniss, Kou, Tanaka
Absent:
Action Items
1. Authorize and Approve a Substantial Amendment to the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 Annual
Action Plan; Adopt Resolution 9934 Entitled, “Resolution of the Council
of the City of Palo Alto Approving the Use of Community Development
Block Grant and Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus
Funds for Fiscal Year 2020-2021”; and Approve an Amendment to the
FY 2021 Operating Budget in the CDBG Fund.
MOTION: Council Member Cormack moved, seconded by Council Member
Kniss to:
A. Authorize Staff to submit a Substantial Amendment to the Fiscal Year
2020-2021 Annual Action Plan to HUD by February 2021;
B. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 and
Fiscal Year 2020- 2021 CDBG-CV3 application for funds and any other
necessary documents concerning the applications, and to otherwise
bind the City with respect to the applications and commitment of
funds;
C. Adopt a Resolution allocating Community Development Block Grant
funding as recommended in the above actions and as described in
Staff Report Number 11700; and
D. Approve an amendment to the FY 2021 Operating Budget in the CDBG
Fund, by a 2/3 vote, to:
i. Increase the revenue estimate for CDBG Grants by $451,504;
and
ii. Increase the expenditure appropriations by $451,504
DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Page 2 of 2
Sp. City Council Meeting
Draft Action Minutes: 12/23/2020
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:01 P.M.