HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2406-3184CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting
Monday, August 19, 2024
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
11.Staff recommends the Council adopt the attached ordinance amending Municipal Code
Chapter 2.22 to align Human Relations Commission procedures with previous Council
action.
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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Community Services
Meeting Date: August 19, 2024
Report #:2406-3184
TITLE
Adopt an Ordinance Amending Municipal Code Chapter 2.22 to Align Human Relations
Commission Procedures with Previous Council Direction; CEQA status – not a project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council adopt the attached ordinance amending Municipal Code Chapter
2.22 to align Human Relations Commission procedures with previous Council action.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In March 2023, the City Council adopted an ordinance increasing the Human Relations
Commission from five to seven members1. However, related code sections specifying the number
of members for a quorum, an ad hoc committee, and procedures for calling an emergency
meeting were not updated to account for the increased number of members. This ordinance
updates the relevant code sections. This ordinance does not make any changes to the HRC’s
scope or workplan.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Adoption of this ordinance is not anticipated to require any additional funding or staff resources.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
There was no stakeholder engagement for this specific item.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adoption of this ordinance is not a project within the meaning of CEQA.
1 See Ordinance 5583 at https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/Weblink/DocView.aspx?id=48247
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ATTACHMENTS
APPROVED BY:
*Not Yet Approved*
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113_20240718_ts_24
Ordinance No._____
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending PAMC Section 2.22.030 to Update
Quorum and Other Procedural Requirements Reflecting a Seven Member Human Relations
Commission
The Council of the City of Palo Alto ORDAINS as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. The City has a Human Relations Commission as detailed in Chapter 2.22 of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code.
B. In March and April 2023, the City Council adopted Ordinance 5583 to expand the
membership of the Human Relations Commission from five to seven members.
C. The City Council now desires to clean up the quorum requirements and other
procedural aspects of Chapter 2.22 to reflect the seven member commission.
SECTION 2. Section 2.22.030 (Officers, meetings and procedures) of Chapter 2.22 (Human
Relations Commission) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) is hereby amended and restated
as follows (deleted text is in strikethrough, new text is underlined):
2.22.030 Officers, meetings and procedures.
(a) The commission shall elect one of its members chairperson who shall hold office for one
year and until a successor is elected unless the chairperson’s term as a member of the
commission sooner expires.
(b) The Human Relations Commission shall establish a regular time, date and place of
meeting and shall ordinarily hold meetings monthly. Special meetings may be called by the
chairperson or by any three four members of the commission upon personal notice being given
to all members or by written notice being mailed to each member twenty-four hours prior to
such meeting unless such notice requirement is waived in writing.
(c) Three Four of the five seven members shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative votes
of a majority of members present are required to take any action.
(d) The commission may establish ad hoc committees of two up to three commission
members for advisory and investigative purposes. The commission shall, by majority vote,
appoint members of ad hoc committees.
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason
held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion or sections
of the Ordinance. The Council hereby declares that it should have adopted the Ordinance and
each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one
or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid.
*Not Yet Approved*
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113_20240718_ts_24
SECTION 4. The Council finds that this project is exempt from the provisions of the
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), pursuant to Section 15061 of the CEQA
Guidelines, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the ordinance
will have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 5. 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:
____________________________ ____________________________
Assistant City Attorney City Manager
____________________________
Director, Community Services Department