HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2503-4346CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, March 24, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
11.SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Creating New
Chapter 10.66 (Pedestrian Only Streets and Community Streets) in Title 10 (Vehicles and
Traffic) (FIRST READING: March 10, 2025 PASSED 7-0)
City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: March 24, 2025
Report #:2503-4346
TITLE
SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Creating New Chapter
10.66 (Pedestrian Only Streets and Community Streets) in Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) (FIRST
READING: March 10, 2025 PASSED 7-0)
BACKGROUND
The City Council heard this item on March 10, 2025 for a first reading and approved it as
amended on a 7-0 vote. The ordinance has been updated to reflect the City Council’s action,
and it is now before the City Council for a second reading.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Creating New Chapter 10.66
(Pedestrian Only Streets and Community Streets) in Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic)
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
*NOT YET APPROVED*
127_20250226_ts24 1
Ordinance No. _____
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Creating New Chapter 10.66
(Pedestrian Only Streets and Community Streets) in Title 10 (Vehicles and
Traffic)
The Council of the City of Palo Alto ORDAINS as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. In conjunction with this ordinance, the City is amending its Comprehensive Plan to create
two new street types called “Pedestrian Only Streets” and “Community Streets.” A
portion of Ramona Street will be a Pedestrian Only Street, and a portion of California
Avenue will be a Community Street.
B. The City Council desires to delegate the regulation of such streets to the City Manager. In
addition, the City Council desires to regulate the speed of bicycles and similar vehicles
under existing PAMC section 10.64.220 (Speed limits on shared-use paths) and prohibit
bicycles and similar vehicles on Pedestrian Only Streets.
SECTION 2. New Chapter 10.66 (Pedestrian Only Streets and Community Streets) is
hereby added to Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) to read as follows:
Chapter 10.66 Pedestrian Only Streets and Community Streets
10.66.010 Definitions
For the purpose of this Chapter, “Pedestrian Only Streets” and “Community Streets” shall have
the same meaning as found in the City’s Comprehensive Plan, as may be amended.
10.66.020 City Manager Authority to Create and Enforce Regulations
The City Manager or designee may promulgate regulations to control vehicle access and usage
of any street designated as a Pedestrian Only Street and Community Street. Such regulations
shall be consistent with applicable laws and the allowable uses of these streets as defined in the
Comprehensive Plan. Regulations shall be publicly available by posting them on the City’s
website. Any person who violates such regulations shall be liable for a violation of this Section.
10.66.030 Speed limits on Community Streets
(a) No person shall ride or operate any bicycle, skateboard, or any other transportation vehicle
or device in excess of eight miles per hour upon on any designated path for such vehicles on a
Community Street when pedestrians are present.
(b) No person shall operate any bicycle, skateboard, or any other transportation vehicle or
device at a speed greater than is reasonable for safe operation, nor in any manner which may
endanger the safety of others.
*NOT YET APPROVED*
127_20250226_ts24 2
10.66.040 No Bicycles or Skateboards on Pedestrian Only Streets
No person shall ride or operate any bicycle, skateboard, or any other transportation vehicle or
device on any street designated as a Pedestrian Only Street.
SECTION 3. Severability.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to
be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby
declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection,
sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether
any portion of the Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. Environmental Review
In conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the environmental impacts
of this project were evaluated in an Environmental Impact Report Addendum entitled “City of
Palo Alto Car Free Ramona Street and California Avenue Addendum to the Comprehensive Plan
EIR” dated February 2025. This addendum supplements the analysis in the Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan (SCH #2014052101), which the Council considered
and adopted, together with the related Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan (MMRP) on
November 13, 2017. In accordance with City Council Resolution 9721 and 9722. The addendum
did not disclose any new significant impacts that were not previous evaluated and mitigated in
the Comp plan EIR, for which a statement of overriding considerations was previously adopted.
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*NOT YET APPROVED*
127_20250226_ts24 3
SECTION 5. Effective Date
This Ordinance shall be effective 31 days after adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
NOT PARTICIPATING:
ATTEST:
____________________________ ____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
____________________________ ____________________________
Assistant City Attorney City Manager
____________________________
Director of Transportation
____________________________
Director of Planning & Development
Services