HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2511-5454CITY OF PALO ALTO
Policy & Services Committee
Special Meeting
Tuesday, December 09, 2025
6:00 PM
Agenda Item
5.Report Out on Status of Policy & Services Committee Referrals; CEQA – Not a Project
Policy & Services Committee
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: December 9, 2025
Report #:2511-5454
TITLE
Report Out on Status of Policy & Services Committee Referrals; CEQA – Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
This report provides the status of Council referrals requested and approved to be discussed by
the Policy and Services Committee.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The list below shares information about the Committee referrals to date.
Pending referrals:
Seismic ordinance update: Staff is working with a stakeholder engagement group on this
ordinance update and anticipates bringing this item in 2026.
Councilmember Referral Process (Follow Up): Discussion and Recommendation to
Council Regarding Potential New Procedure for Councilmembers to Make Referrals to
Staff Besides Colleagues’ Memo. The Committee had an initial discussion on this item at
its December 10, 2024 meeting and requested additional information of other cities as a
comparison. This item hasn’t returned yet to the Committee given focus on other
priority items. Staff plans to return to the Committee with this follow up information in
2026.
Referral for joint City Council and BCC Meetings (2024): Establish a frequency for joint
City Council meetings or Policy & Services meeting with Boards and Commissions, Youth
Council, and meetings with Boards and Commissions Chairs. - Staff would like to get
additional information on this item from the Committee. The Mayor and Vice Mayor
meet with the Board and Commission Chairs at least once annually.
Referral to support neighborhood programs (2024): Policy & Services to review and
make recommendations for any initiatives to support and strengthen neighborhood
programs (linked to discussions in 2021) - The City Council has adopted an annual
priority regarding health, community safety, wellness, and belonging since 2022. As part
of this work, priority objectives have included initiatives to support and strengthen
neighborhood programs, budget allocations have been made to increase funding for
community building programs like the Know Your Neighbor grant program, and over the
past two years, staff has successfully completed a town hall meeting series, reaching
each neighborhood during the rotation. Based on the work done since initially
discussed at the Committee, staff would like to clarify if these actions meet the intent of
this referral or if there is additional work to pursue outside of existing priority and
program review processes.
Referrals Completed in Calendar Years 2024 and 2025:
1. Discussion of recurring items on Council agendas – heard Nov. 19 and Oct 29, 2025
2. Legislative Manual review and update – heard Nov. 19, 2025
3. Review Board and Commission Members Onboarding Practices – heard Sept. 9, 2025
4. Establish a City Council Interview Selection Process for Boards, Commissions, and
Committees - heard April 8, 2025
5. Council Discretionary Funds Policy – last heard Sept. 10, 2024
6. Review the respective role of the Public Art Commission, staff, stakeholders, and the
Council in public art decisions in relation to placement and themes of art - heard May
14, 2024
7.Discussion of the Creation of the Advisory Committee regarding Council Compensation
(Committee action completed) - heard Feb. 13, 2024
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Not a project.
APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager