Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2511-5433CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Monday, December 01, 2025 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     3.Approval of Minutes from November 10 and November 17, 2025 Meetings City Council Staff Report Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR Lead Department: City Clerk Meeting Date: December 1, 2025 Report #:2511-5433 TITLE Approval of Minutes from November 10 and November 17, 2025 Meetings RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council review and approve the minutes. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: November 10, 2025 Draft Action Minutes Attachment B: November 17, 2025 Draft Action Minutes APPROVED BY: Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk CITY COUNCIL DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 1 of 4 Regular Meeting November 10, 2025 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers and by virtual teleconference at 5:30 P.M. Present In Person: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl Present Remotely: Absent: Stone, Veenker Special Orders of the Day 1. Proclamation Recognizing National Police Records and Support Personnel Week NO ACTION Closed Session 2. Public Employee Performance Evaluations Authority: Cal. Gov. Code section 54957(b) Title: City Clerk, City Auditor, and City Attorney 3. Conference with Labor Negotiator Authority: Cal. Gov. Code section 54957.6 Agency Representative: Dan Rich, Municipal Resources Group Unrepresented Employees: City Attorney, City Clerk and City Manager MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to go into Closed Session. MOTION PASSED: 5-0-2, Stone, Veenker absent Council went into Closed Session at 5:36 P.M. Council returned from Closed Session at 8:20 P.M. Mayor Lauing announced no reportable action. DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 2 of 4 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 11/10/2025 Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions Public Comment Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements Consent Calendar MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Councilmember Lu to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-5, AA1. MOTION PASSED: 5-0-2, Stone, Veenker absent 4. FIRST READ: Adopt an Ordinance Amending PAMC Chapter 10.56 (Special Speed Zones) to Update Speed Limit Studies for Nine Streets and Approve the 2025 Traffic Survey; CEQA status – categorically exempt. 5. Approval of a Budget Amendment in the General Fund for the Planning and Development Services Department’s Deposit-Based Fee Program for Private Development Studies for a Net Zero Impact. CEQA Status: Not a Project AA1. Adopt a Resolution Deferring CPAU Late Fees and Collection Actions for Certain Customers Affected by the Ongoing Federal Government Shutdown; CEQA Status – Not a Project. Action Items 6. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 660 University Ave [21PLN-00341]: Request for Approval of a Planned Home Zoning (PHZ) on Three Parcels (511 Byron Street, 660 University Avenue, 680 University Avenue/500 Middlefield Road), to Demolish Existing Buildings and Provide a New Six Story Mixed-Use Building with Approximately 1,900 Square Feet of Office, 70 Multi-Family Residential Units, and a Two Level Below-Grade Parking Garage. CEQA Status: A Draft Environmental Impact Report Circulated for Public Review Beginning on April 2, 2024, and Ending on May 17, 2024. The City published a Final EIR in March 2025 and a revised Final EIR in October 2025. Zoning District: RM-20 (Multi-Family Residential). DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 3 of 4 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 11/10/2025 MOTION: Councilmember Lu moved, seconded by Mayor Lauing to, as it relates to the 70-unit proposal with balconies with modification to remove required mitigation for spillover parking: 1. Adopt the Resolution in Attachment B certifying the EIR and Adopting the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP); 2. Adopt the Resolution in Attachment C amending the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element to modify the allowable uses in the Multiple Family Land Use Designation; 3. Adopt the Planned Community (PC) Ordinance in Attachment D rezoning the subject property and approving the development plan, uses, and public benefits; and 4. Approve the Record of Land Use Action in Attachment E with approval findings and conditions of approval. MOTION FAILED: 3-2-2, Reckdahl, Burt no, Stone, Veenker Absent AMENDMENT: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to restore the mitigations for spillover parking. AMENDMENT FAILED: 2-3-2, Lu, Lauing, Lythcott-Haims no, Stone, Veenker Absent MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to, as it relates to the 70-unit proposal with balconies: 1. Adopt the Resolution in Attachment B certifying the EIR and Adopting the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP); 2. Adopt the Resolution in Attachment C amending the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element to modify the allowable uses in the Multiple Family Land Use Designation; 3. Adopt the Planned Community (PC) Ordinance in Attachment D rezoning the subject property and approving the development plan, uses, and public benefits; and 4. Approve the Record of Land Use Action in Attachment E with approval findings and conditions of approval. MOTION PASSED: 4-1-2, Lu no, Stone, Veenker Absent DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 4 of 4 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 11/10/2025 7. Approval of the Four-Quadrant Gate System as the preferred Quiet Zone Implementation Measure at the Churchill, Meadow, and Charleston Rail Crossings as Recommended by the Rail Committee; CEQA status - categorically exempt. MOTION: Mayor Lauing moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to approve the Four- Quadrant Gate System as the Quiet Zone implementation Measure at the Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road Rail Crossings for Quiet Zones along the Caltrain Corridor in Palo Alto. MOTION PASSED: 5-0-2, Stone, Veenker Absent 8. REINTRODUCED FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Updating Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) Section 18.40.250 (Lighting) of Chapter 18.40 (General Standards and Exceptions) and Amending Chapters 18.10, 18.12, 18.28, and Section 18.40.230 of Title 18 (Zoning) to Adopt New Outdoor Lighting Regulations; CEQA Status — Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 (Actions for Protection of the Environment) Agenda Item Number 8 not heard and deferred to a date uncertain. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:38 P.M. ATTEST: APPROVED: ____________________ ____________________ City Clerk Mayor NOTE: Action minutes are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) 2.04.160(a) and (b). Summary minutes (sense) are prepared in accordance with PAMC Section 2.04.160(c). Beginning in January 2018, in accordance with Ordinance No. 5423, the City Council found action minutes and the video/audio recordings of Council proceedings to be the official records of both Council and committee proceedings. These recordings are available on the City’s website. CITY COUNCIL DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 1 of 4 Regular Meeting November 17, 2025 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers and by virtual teleconference at 5:30 P.M. Present In Person: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Lythcott-Haims arrived at 5:32 P.M. Present Remotely: Absent: Closed Session 1. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY - EXISTING LITIGATION Swinerton v. City of Palo Alto (JAMS Reference #:5100003409) Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) ITEM REMOVED OFF AGENDA – NOT HEARD Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions Public Comment Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements Consent Calendar Councilmember Lu and Vice Mayor Veenker recused from Agenda Item Numbers 5 and 7. MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Veenker to approve Agenda Item Numbers 2-8. DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 2 of 4 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 11/17/2025 MOTION PASSED ITEMS 2-4, 6, 8: 7-0 MOTION PASSED ITEMS 5, 7: 5-0-2, Lu, Veenker recused 2. Approval of Minutes from November 3, 2025 Meeting 3. Climate Action and Sustainability Committee Recommendation to Approve Program Design Guidelines for Successor to Multi-family Electric Vehicle Charger Program; CEQA Status - Not a Project 4. Climate Action and Sustainability Committee Recommendation to Approve Program Design Guidelines for the Advanced Packaged HVAC Pilot Program; CEQA Status – Categorically Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15302 (Replacement of Existing Facilities) 5. Review and Approve the Williamson Act Contract Renewals Within Palo Alto City Limits (2025). 6. QUASI-JUDICIAL. 3200 Park/340 Portage: Final Map and Street Naming [25PLN-00104]: Request for a Final Map to Merge and Subdivide 11 Existing Parcels Totaling Approximately 14.65 Acres To Create Five Resulting Parcels, Consistent with the Approved Development Agreement and to Name the New Private Streets and Rename Portage Avenue. Authorization for the City Manager to Take All Actions Necessary to Acquire a 3.25 Acre Parcel by Grant Deed. Zone District: The Site Has a Split Zoning Designation of Five Planned Community Zone Districts Where Each Zone District Aligns with the Resulting Parcels (PC 5596, PC 5597, PC 5598, PC 5599, PC 5600). CEQA Status: Council adopted resolution 10123 certifying the EIR for the project on September 12, 2023 (SCH # 2021120444). 7. Approval of Funding Agreements with Stanford University to Receive up to $600,000 and VTA for up to $456,000 to Partially Fund Palo Alto Link through June 2026, and Related Budget Amendments in the General Fund; CEQA status – not a project. 8. Approval of Contract No. C26196096 with Soudi Consultants, Inc. in an Amount Not-to- Exceed of $1,500,000 over a Period of Three Years to Provide As-Needed Electric Engineering Consulting Services for System Protection Related to Palo Alto’s Electric Sub-Transmission, Substations, and Distribution Systems, and Technical Training and Peer Review Services; CEQA Status: Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15302, 15303, and 15183. City Manager Comments Ed Shikada, City Manager DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 3 of 4 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 11/17/2025 Action Items 9. Approval of the Study and Assessment of Turf Systems: Findings and Recommendation for El Camino Park Synthetic Turf Replacement as Recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission; CEQA status - categorically and statutorily exempt. MOTION: Mayor Lauing moved, seconded by Councilmember Burt to defer item to a date uncertain and create an Ad Hoc Committee to further discuss with staff and bring back to Council. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Councilmember Lythcott-Haims moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to: 1. Direct staff to proceed with replacement of the synthetic turf at El Camino Park in a manner consistent with the Study’s findings and recommendations; and a. Risk Mitigation Measures (RMM) to include as part of the design for El Camino 2. Set Cubberley Synthetic Field as the target for the pilot natural option. SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED: 3-4, Burt, Stone, Lauing, Veenker no 10. Review and Provide Feedback on an Analysis of a Conceptual Affordable Housing Project on Land to be Conveyed to the City and Associated With the Sobrato Development Agreement (340 Portage Avenue); Consideration and Possible Direction to Staff to Prepare a Future Request for Proposal for a Future Affordable Housing Project. CEQA Status: Not a Project. NO ACTION 11. Adopt a Resolution Establishing the City Council Annual Calendar of Meetings, Recesses, and City Council Events for the Calendar Year 2026; CEQA status – not a project ITEM HEARD OUT OF ORDER BEFORE AGENDA ITEM 10. MOTION: Councilmember Lythcott-Haims moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to: 1. Set Annual Retreat/Priority Setting Meeting date as January 24th (for meetings that fall on a holiday, schedule Special Meeting on next subsequent business day(s)); and DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 4 of 4 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 11/17/2025 2. Option 2 (4th Monday of the Month) for special City Council meetings as needed; and 3. Adopt a resolution establishing its calendar of meetings, recesses, and City Council events for calendar year 2026; and 4. Direct staff to explore also avoiding Council Committee Meetings on holidays. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:57 P.M. ATTEST: APPROVED: ____________________ ____________________ City Clerk Mayor NOTE: Action minutes are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) 2.04.160(a) and (b). Summary minutes (sense) are prepared in accordance with PAMC Section 2.04.160(c). Beginning in January 2018, in accordance with Ordinance No. 5423, the City Council found action minutes and the video/audio recordings of Council proceedings to be the official records of both Council and committee proceedings. These recordings are available on the City’s website.