HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2305-1456 City Council
Staff Report
From: City Attorney
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Attorney
Meeting Date: June 5, 2023
Report #:2305-1456
TITLE
Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Section 2.04.010 (Regular Meeting) of Chapter 2.04
(Council Organization and Procedure) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Change the City
Council Meeting Start Time from Six p.m. to Five- Thirty p.m.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the attached ordinance to amend the Municipal Code to change the City Council meeting
start time from six p.m. to five-thirty p.m.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Palo Alto Charter states that the Council shall set a time and place for its regular meetings.
(Charter, Art. III, Section 5.) Since 2014, the Municipal Code has provided that the regular
meeting time is the first three Mondays of each month beginning at six p.m. (Palo Alto
Municipal Code section 2.04.010.)
In recent years, it has been common for Council meetings to begin at five p.m. Such meetings
are noticed as “special meetings” as required by state and local law. (Cal. Govt. Code sections
54954, 54956; PAMC section 2.04.020.) Frequent use of special meetings has led to some public
uncertainty about the Council’s procedures. As part of a comprehensive rewrite of Council’s
Procedures and Protocols Handbook, Council decided to change its regular meeting time to the
first three Mondays of each month at five-thirty p.m. Council directed staff to prepare an
ordinance amending the Municipal Code to reflect the five-thirty p.m. start time.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
None.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Council discussed meeting start time at several public meetings and selected a start time to
maximize effective public participation in Council meetings while allowing sufficient time to
accomplish Council’s work.
Item 9
Item 9 Staff Report
Item 9: Staff Report Pg. 1 Packet Pg. 96 of 406
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council action on this item is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) because it is an organizational or administrative matter that will not result in direct
or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines 15378(b)(5).)
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Ordinance Amending Section 2.04.010 (Regular Meeting) of Chapter 2.04
(Council Organization and Procedure) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Change the City
Council Meeting Start Time from Six p.m. to Five- Thirty p.m. - redlined
APPROVED BY:
Molly Stump, City Attorney
Item 9
Item 9 Staff Report
Item 9: Staff Report Pg. 2 Packet Pg. 97 of 406
1
NOT YET APPROVED
Attachment A
Ordinance No.
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Amending Section 2.04.010 (Regular Meeting) of Chapter 2.04 (Council
Organization and Procedure) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Change the
City Council Meeting Start Time from Six p.m. to Five- Thirty p.m.
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as
follows:
(a) The Palo Alto Charter states that the Council shall set a time and place for
its regular meetings. (Charter, Art. III, Section 5.) For many years, the Municipal Code has provided
that the regular meeting time is the first three Mondays of each month beginning at six p.m. (Palo
Alto Municipal Code section 2.04.010.);
(b) In recent years, it has been common for Council meetings to begin at five
p.m. Such meetings are noticed as “special meetings” as required by state and local law. (Cal.
Govt. Code sections 54954, 54956; PAMC section 2.04.020; Palo Alto City Council Procedures and
Protocols, section 2.1(a), p. 9.); and
(c) Council now wishes to amend the Municipal Code to provide that the
regular meeting time be the first three Mondays of each month beginning at five- thirty p.m.
Meetings noticed for other times will be designated “special meetings.”
SECTION 2. Section 2.04.010 (Regular Meeting) of Chapter 2.04 (Council
Organization and Procedure) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended as follows
(additions are in underline, deletions are in strikethrough):
2.04.010 Definitions
(a) The council of the city shall hold regular meetings on the first three
Mondays of each month, at six five- thirty p.m. in the council chambers of the City Hall, 250
Hamilton Avenue, in said city unless the council chambers shall be determined by a majority vote
of the council to be inadequate or unavailable for a meeting, in which event the council may
designate some other suitable place in the city for the conduct of the meeting. The determination
to hold the meeting at a place other than the council chambers may be made by the mayor prior
to the regular meeting date; provided, that notice of the change in place for conduct of the
meeting shall be published prior to the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation published in
the city, setting forth the reasons for the change, and a copy of the notice shall be posted on the
council chamber door for at least twenty-four hours prior to the time scheduled for the meeting
and during the meeting. If the council adjourns its meeting from the council chambers to another
place, notice to adjourn and the new place for holding the meeting shall be posted on the council
chamber door during the time the meeting is being held.
Item 9
Attachment A - Ordinance
Amending Section
2.04.010 (Regular
Meeting) to Change the
Council Meeting Start
Time - redlined
Item 9: Staff Report Pg. 3 Packet Pg. 98 of 406
2
NOT YET APPROVED
Attachment A
(b) Each year, no later than the third meeting in February, the council shall by
resolution schedule its vacation for that year. The resolution shall designate the dates of this
scheduled vacation and the city clerk will give notice thereof by whatever means are deemed
appropriate. During said scheduled annual vacation, there shall be no regular meetings of the
council nor of the council standing committees, unless it is an adjourned regular meeting. The
mayor or a majority of the council may call a special meeting during the scheduled vacation if
necessary.
SECTION 3. Council action on this item is not a project as defined by the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is an organizational or administrative
matter that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA
Guidelines 15378(b)(5).)
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the date
of its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
____________________________ ____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
____________________________ ____________________________
City Attorney City Manager
____________________________
Director of Administrative
Services
Item 9
Attachment A - Ordinance
Amending Section
2.04.010 (Regular
Meeting) to Change the
Council Meeting Start
Time - redlined
Item 9: Staff Report Pg. 4 Packet Pg. 99 of 406