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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-08 Policy & Services Committee Agenda Packet (2)Policy and Services Committee AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT (ADA) Persons with disabilities who require auxiliary aids or services in using City facilities, services or programs or who would like information on the City’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, may contact (650) 329-2550 (Voice) 24 hours in advance. 1 Tuesday, December 8, 2020 Regular Meeting 7:00 PM ***BY VIRTUAL TELECONFERENCE ONLY*** CLICK HERE TO JOIN Zoom Meeting ID: 946 1874 4621 Phone: 1-669-900-6833 Pursuant to the provisions of California Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20, issued on March 17, 2020, to prevent the spread of Covid-19, this meeting will be held by virtual teleconference only, with no physical location. The meeting will be broadcast on Midpen Media Center at https://midpenmedia.org. Members of the public who wish to participate by computer or phone can find the instructions at the end of this agenda. PUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public may speak to agendized items. If you wish to address the Committee on any issue that is on this agenda, please complete a speaker request card located on the table at the entrance to the Council Chambers/Community Meeting Room, and deliver it to the Clerk prior to discussion of the item. You are not required to give your name on the speaker card in order to speak to the Committee, but it is very helpful. Public comment may be addressed to the full Policy and Services Committee via email at City.Council@cityofpaloalto.org. Call to Order Oral Communications Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda. Action Items 1.Update From the City's State and Federal Legislative Advocates, and Discussion and Recommendation on the 2021 Legislative Guidelines 2.Policy and Services Committee Discussion and Recommendations for the 2021 City Council Priority Setting Process 3.Annual Policy and Services Committee Discussion and Recommendations Regarding City Council Protocols and Procedures Handbook Future Meetings and Agendas Adjournment MEMO Public Comment 2 December 8, 2020 Public Comment Instructions Members of the Public may provide public comments to virtual meetings via teleconference or by phone. 1. Spoken public comments using a computer will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Committee, click on the link below to access a Zoom-based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully. A. You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in- browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up-to-date browser: Chrome 30+, Firefox 27+, Microsoft Edge 12+, Safari 7+. Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. B. You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. C. When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak. D. When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. E. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. 2. Spoken public comments using a smart phone will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Committee, download the Zoom application onto your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter the Meeting ID below. Please follow the instructions B-E above. 3. Spoken public comments using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Committee. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted. CLICK HERE TO JOIN Zoom Meeting ID: 946 1874 4621 Phone No: 1-669-900-6833 City of Palo Alto (ID # 11720) Policy and Services Committee Staff Report Report Type: Action Items Meeting Date: 12/8/2020 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: 2021 Legislative Guidelines and Lobbyist Presentations Title: Update From the City's State and Federal Legislative Advocates, and Discussion and Recommendation on the 2021 Legislative Guidelines From: City Manager Lead Department: City Manager Recommendation Staff recommends that the Policy & Services Committee (a) receive a legislative update from the City’s state and federal advocates, and (b) subject to the Committee’s discussion and revisions, recommend that City Council approve the 2021 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines. Background As part of the City’s legislative program, staff and the City’s contracted federal and state advocates work to identify and analyze potentially impactful legislation and communicate the City’s public advocacy positions to legislators. The program is guided by the Advocacy Process Manual, last approved by City Council on January 13, 2020 (CMR #10772). In addition to the Manual, the City maintains a City Council-approved set of legislative guidelines that provide additional City Council policy direction to staff and the City’s state and federal legislative advocates. The guidelines were last discussed at the Policy & Services Committee on November 12, 2019 (CMR #10640) and approved by the City Council on January 13, 2020 (at the same meeting City Council approved the Manual and the legislative guidelines for the Utilities Department). For 2021, the Utilities Advisory Committee approved the 2021 Utilities legislative guidelines on November 4, 2020. The 2021 Utilities guidelines remain unchanged from 2020. The City Council will receive the Utilities legislative guidelines in January 2021 when this Policy & Services Committee Legislative Guidelines item comes to City Council for approval. Discussion State and Federal advocates Niccolo De Luca, the City’s Sacramento-based advocate with Townsend Public Affairs, and Steve CITY OF PALO ALTO City of Palo Alto Page 2 Palmer, the City’s Washington, D.C.-based advocate with Van Scoyoc Associates, will make brief presentations and respond to questions from the Committee regarding legislation. Legislative program To expand on the above, the Legislative Guidelines enhance and add content to the City Council’s overarching priorities; they do not supplant them. The guidelines provide direction to staff and the City’s legislative advocates on issues that are both (a) important to the City Council, and (b) fairly likely to become a legislative issue in 2021. The guidelines are not rank ordered and are intentionally reasonably broad rather than specifically narrow to allow for a flexible and quick response. Further, the guidelines are not proactive instructions; they act as a means by which staff and advocates can respond to federal and state government action, without returning to the City Council each time a bill is introduced or amended. The draft 2021 guidelines are a compilation of the current, approved guidelines, City Council’s 2020 priorities, and policy issues staff and the City’s legislative advocates believe may appear in 2021. Suggested changes to the 2021 legislative guidelines Staff suggests changes to the guidelines as demonstrated through redlines in Attachment A, with a clean version in Attachment B. These suggestions Include: • Clarifying the meaning of the guidelines by offering a brief explanation at the top of the document • Phrasing items in a manner that allows the reader to understand what items the City supports • Adding items likely to appear next year, such as public safety reform and COVID-19 economic relief • Further refining City Council’s intent. For example, one of the November 2020 ballot measures related to funding for the Palo Alto Unified School District. As schools were not mentioned in the 2020 guidelines, staff was unable to recommend that City Council support the ballot measure when the item was deliberated by City Council in September 2020. The draft 2021 guidelines add “other local governments and organizations” to the guideline regarding supporting the work of regional partners. This added language allows staff to recommend support of PAUSD, and other like-minded organizations, in the future. • Reflecting the City Council’s direction to add police reform to the list of Legislative Guidelines (per City Council action on November 16, 2020) Resource Impact There is no resource impact associated with adopting legislative guidelines and hearing from our state and federal advocates. Environmental Review This report is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act; an City of Palo Alto Page 3 environmental review is not required. Attachments: • Attachment A: 2021 draft guidelines-redlined • Attachment B: 2021 draft guidelines-clean The City of Palo Alto’s 20210 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines Page 1 of 3 These Guidelines reflect and activateenhance and add to the City Council’s priorities; they do not supplant them. They work to guide staff and our legislative advocates on issues that are important to the Council, and fairly likely to become a legislative issue. These Guidelines are not rank ordered and are meant to allow for a flexible and quick response by staff and advocates, without the need to return to Council to seek guidance. The Guidelines work in conjunction with the City Council approved Advocacy Process Manual. The below Foundational Principles represent the ideals that form the core of the City’s policy agenda. The legislative guidelines all rise from and strengthen our four foundational principles: 1. Protect local revenue sources and prevent unfunded mandates 2. Protect, seek, and increase funding for programs, projects, and services 3. Protect and increase local government discretion. Oppose items that preempt or reduce the authority or ability of local government to determine how to effectively operate local programs, services, activities, and governance. 4. Protect the health and safety of the community The below Legislative Guidelines create the framework for organizing the City’s policy interests, while guiding staff and contracted lobbyists in their advocacy efforts on behalf of the City. The items below provide direction for the City’s efforts when addressing reasonable government actions. Transportation The City supports government action that: • Deters single occupancy drivers and alleviates local traffic congestion • Supports local and regional public transportation • Regulates technology that diverts traffic into residential neighborhoods • Provides funding for rail grade separations, rail efficiency improvements, and other means of reducing the local impacts of regional transportation systems Environmental The City supports government action that: • Reduces GHG emissions • Reduces airplane noise, health impacts, and/or airplane emissions • Promotes residential and vehicle electrification programs The City of Palo Alto’s 20210 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines Page 2 of 3 • Promotes the use of renewable resources, water conservation, and the flexible use of existing resources • Supports a statewide ban on polystyrene containers and packaging materials • Provides opportunities for staff to work with the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority and other regional stakeholders in efforts to improve the creek’s watershed and floodplain • Supports efforts to protect local communities from sea level rise and other impacts of climate change Financial The City supports government action that: • Supports the long-term stability of CalPERS and the ability of local governments to mitigate and manage with flexibility its pension obligations • Protects the funding levels of City services • As needed, seek to protect the funding of ambulance, paramedic, and other emergency services • Provides for COVID-19 related expenses and revenue losses • Supports the continued deductibility of tax-exempt municipal bonds and the restoration of Advance Refunding of Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds Public Employment The City supports government action that: • Preserves local government’s ability to manage its own employment issues, including, but not limited to hiring, evaluating, disciplining, and/or terminating and negotiating collective bargaining agreements with employees’ representatives Technology The City supports government action that: • Supports reasonable regulatory efforts surrounding policies regarding cybersecurity, drones, shared mobility services, returning to Obama-era net neutrality regulations, and smart city initiatives Housing The City supports government action that: The City of Palo Alto’s 20210 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines Page 3 of 3 • Supports reasonable housing and land use policies that recognize local autonomy to maintain the local public process, and preserve local government’s ability to determine land use policies and development standards • Provides funding for (a) affordable housing and (b) infrastructure (such as parks, utilities, roads, and transit) required to support the increased housing production • Fosters reasonable ratios between jobs and housing • ; opposing attempts to remove from localities the ability to determine their own land use policies or stymie the local political process • Supports the development and implementation of efficient and environmentally sustainable land use and building practices Health • Encouraging reasonable action to prevent minors from purchasing or using tobacco and/or vaping products, and reducing or eliminating the negative health and environmental impacts of such products Police The City supports government action that: • Supports efforts which seek to modify policing services, including but not limited to alternative public safety models and funding to address community mental health issues, expansion of requirements regarding police data, and rules regarding prior employment information transparency. Other The City supports government action that: • Updates, implements, and refines processes, services, and programs affecting the City. This includes, but is not limited to, public safety reform efforts and streamlining reporting mandates • Protects individual privacy and allows the City to safeguard customer information • Provides for the and the equal treatment of all individuals • Allows the City to sSupport the collaborative work of regional partners, trade associations, other local governments and organizations, and Joint Powers Authorities The City of Palo Alto’s 2021 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines Page 1 of 3 These Guidelines reflect and activate the City Council’s priorities; they do not supplant them. They work to guide staff and our legislative advocates on issues that are important to the Council, and fairly likely to become a legislative issue. These Guidelines are not rank ordered and are meant to allow for a flexible and quick response by staff and advocates, without the need to return to Council to seek guidance. The Guidelines work in conjunction with the City Council approved Advocacy Process Manual. The below Foundational Principles represent the ideals that form the core of the City’s policy agenda. The legislative guidelines all rise from and strengthen our four foundational principles: 1. Protect local revenue sources and prevent unfunded mandates 2. Protect, seek, and increase funding for programs, projects, and services 3. Protect and increase local government discretion. Oppose items that preempt or reduce the authority or ability of local government to determine how to effectively operate local programs, services, activities, and governance. 4. Protect the health and safety of the community The Legislative Guidelines create the framework for organizing the City’s policy interests, while guiding staff and contracted lobbyists in their advocacy efforts on behalf of the City. The items below provide direction for the City’s efforts when addressing reasonable government actions. Transportation The City supports government action that: • Deters single occupancy drivers and alleviates local traffic congestion • Supports local and regional public transportation • Regulates technology that diverts traffic into residential neighborhoods • Provides funding for rail grade separations, rail efficiency improvements, and other means of reducing the local impacts of regional transportation systems Environmental The City supports government action that: • Reduces GHG emissions • Reduces airplane noise, health impacts, and/or airplane emissions • Promotes residential and vehicle electrification programs The City of Palo Alto’s 2021 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines Page 2 of 3 • Promotes the use of renewable resources, water conservation, and the flexible use of existing resources • Supports a statewide ban on polystyrene containers and packaging materials • Provides opportunities for staff to work with the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority and other regional stakeholders in efforts to improve the creek’s watershed and floodplain • Supports efforts to protect local communities from sea level rise and other impacts of climate change Financial The City supports government action that: • Supports the long-term stability of CalPERS and the ability of local governments to mitigate and manage with flexibility its pension obligations • Protects the funding levels of City services • Provides for COVID-19 related expenses and revenue losses • Supports the continued deductibility of tax-exempt municipal bonds and the restoration of Advance Refunding of Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds Public Employment The City supports government action that: • Preserves local government’s ability to manage its own employment issues, including, but not limited to hiring, evaluating, disciplining, and/or terminating and negotiating collective bargaining agreements with employees’ representatives Technology The City supports government action that: • Supports reasonable regulatory efforts surrounding policies regarding cybersecurity, drones, shared mobility services, returning to Obama-era net neutrality regulations, and smart city initiatives Housing The City supports government action that: • Supports reasonable housing policies that recognize local autonomy to maintain the local public process and preserve local government’s ability to determine land use policies and development standards The City of Palo Alto’s 2021 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines Page 3 of 3 • Provides funding for (a) affordable housing and (b) infrastructure (such as parks, utilities, roads, and transit) required to support the increased housing production • Fosters reasonable ratios between jobs and housing • Supports the development and implementation of efficient and environmentally sustainable land use and building practices Police The City supports government action that: • Supports efforts which seek to modify policing services, including but not limited to alternative public safety models and funding to address community mental health issues, expansion of requirements regarding police data, and rules regarding prior employment information transparency. Other The City supports government action that: • Updates, implements, and refines processes, services, and programs affecting the City. This includes, but is not limited to, public safety reform efforts and streamlining reporting mandates • Protects individual privacy and allows the City to safeguard customer information • Provides for the equal treatment of all individuals • Allows the City to support the collaborative work of regional partners, trade associations, other local governments and organizations, and Joint Powers Authorities City of Palo Alto (ID # 11820) Policy and Services Committee Staff Report Report Type: Action Items Meeting Date: 12/8/2020 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: 2021 Council Priority Setting Process Title: Policy and Services Committee Discussion and Recommendations for the 2021 City Council Priority Setting Process From: City Manager Lead Department: City Manager Recommendation Policy and Services Committee should discuss and consider making recommendations to the City Council regarding 2020 priorities and, potentially, format and facilitation for the Council’s annual retreat in January or February. Background In October 2012, Council approved Priority Setting Guidelines (CMR #3156) and outlined the role for the Policy & Services Committee in this activity. Per the Guidelines (Attachment A), a priority is defined as a topic that will receive particular, unusual and significant attention during the year. Additionally, there is a goal of no more than three priorities per year, generally with a three-year time limit. The 2020 Priorities, as selected at the City Council’s Annual Retreat on February 1, 2020 (CMR #11034, Minutes) are as follows: A. Housing, with special emphasis on affordability; B. Sustainability, in the context of the changing climate; and C. Improving mobility for all. Previous years’ priorities are found in Attachment B. Discussion Staff e-mailed current Council members and Council members-elect, requesting their suggestions for priority topics to be included, to be received by November 30 2020. These suggestions will be available At Places for the Policy and Services Committee’s December 8, 2020, meeting. The community has been solicited for suggestions via Open City Hall. This will remain open and available to the community through mid-January 2021, for inclusion at the Council retreat, date TBD. Any responses that have been received prior to the Policy and CITY OF PALO ALTO City of Palo Alto Page 2 Services meeting in December will also be included in the At Places memo. At the retreat itself we also invite citizens to attend and express their views in person. The purpose of this solicitation is to help inform the Council on priorities for the upcoming year. The Council preliminary priority suggestions will help organize ideas into groupings in advance of the retreat so staff and Council can prepare for a productive retreat. Council members are free to modify choices at the Committee meeting, Council meeting or retreat. The National Community Survey, formerly known as the National Citizens Survey, is currently underway and it is planned that the vendor will debrief Council on the results as well as the open-ended responses either prior to or at the annual Council Retreat, to inform the priority setting process. The Committee may make recommendations regarding the priorities as well as regarding the retreat format and process for selecting a facilitator. Timeline, Resource Impact, Policy Implications (If Applicable) No additional resource impact is expected at this time. This discussion will inform the annual Council retreat, currently TBA, pending appointment of a new Mayor, but usually held in late January or early February of each year. Stakeholder Engagement Council members and the community have been solicited for their thoughts and topic suggestions. At the retreat itself we also invite citizens to attend and express their views in person. Environmental Review This is not considered a project as defined by CEQA and no review is required. Attachments: • Attachment A: Priority Setting 2012 • Attachment B: Past Palo Alto City Council Priorities, By Year City of Palo Alto  City Council Priority Setting Guidelines  Approved by City Council: October 1, 2012 Last revised: October 1, 2012 Background The City Council adopted its first Council priorities in 1986. Each year the City Council reviews it’s priorities at its Annual Council Retreat. On October 1, 2012 the City Council formally adopted the definition of a council priority, and the Council’s process and guidelines for selection of priorities. Definition A Council priority is defined as a topic that will receive particular, unusual and significant attention during the year. Purpose The establishment of Council priorities will assist the Council and staff to better allot and utilize time for discussion and decision making. Process 1. Three months in advance of the annual Council Retreat, staff will solicit input from the City Council on the priorities to be reviewed and considered for the following year. a. Council members may submit up to three priorities. b. Priorities should be submitted no later than December 1. c. As applicable, the City Manager will contact newly elected officials for their input by December 1. d. The City Clerk will provide timely notice to the public to submit proposed priorities by December 1. The Policy and Services Committee shall recommend to the Council which suggestions if any shall be considered at the City Council retreat. 2. Staff will collect and organize the recommended priorities into a list for Council consideration, and provide to Council no less than two weeks in advance of the retreat. 3. The Policy and Services Committee, each year at its December meeting, shall make recommendations about the process that will be used at the Annual Retreat paying particular attention to the number of priorities suggested by Council members. The recommended process is to be forwarded to Council for adoption in advance of the Council retreat. Guidelines for Selection of Priorities 1. There is a goal of no more than three priorities per year. 2. Priorities generally have a three year time limit. Attachment A City of Palo Alto  City Council Priority Setting Schedule    Last Updated: 8/17/2012   Attachment A Nov Staff Solicits Input from Council P&S Committee Meeting to Discuss Recommended Process Council Deadline to Submit Priorities Dec.1 Council Meeting to Consider Recommended Process Council Holds Annual Council Retreat • • • • Dec Jan Feb ATTACHMENT B Past Palo Alto City Council Priorities, By Year A list of past Council priorities by year, for the last five years: 2020 • Housing, with special emphasis on affordability • Sustainability, in the context of the changing climate • Improving mobility for all 2019 • Climate Change • Grade Separation (choose preferred alternative by end of the year) • Traffic and Transportation • Fiscal Sustainability 2018 • Transportation • Housing • Budget and Finance (create an infrastructure funding plan) • Grade Separation (choose preferred alternative by end of year) 2017 • Transportation • Housing • Infrastructure • Healthy City, Healthy Community • Budget and Finance 2016 • The Built Environment: Housing, Parking, Livability, and Mobility • Infrastructure • Healthy City, Healthy Community • Completion of the Comprehensive Plan 2015-2030 Update TO: FROM: DATE: CITY OF PALO ALTO HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS MONIQUE LE CONGE ZIESENHENNE POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING-DECEMBER 8, 2020 2 SUBJECT: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 2-Additional Items on the Policy and Services Committee Discussion and Recommendations for the 2021 City Council Priority Setting Process This memorandum transmits additional information related to Item #2: Discussion and Recommendations for the 2021 City Council Priority Setting Process to be heard at Policy and Services Committee on December 8, 2020. Following solicitation of City Council members and members-elect for their topics, what follows are the topic suggestions that were received, alphabetically: • Affordable Housing • Affordable Housing -How to Fund • Climate Change • Climate Change -Protection and Adaptation • COVID-19 Recovery • Economic Recovery • Housing • Housing for Social and Economic Balance • Social Justice • Transportation 1 of2 CI TY 0 F PALO ALTO Attached are the written comments received from Council members-elect. As stated in the report, other information will be available at the Council retreat, including any additional communications provided regarding the priority recommendations, community feedback, and any additional suggestions from Council members themselves. DEPARTMENT HEAD: CITY MANAGER: Monique le Conge Ziesenhenne Assistant City Manager Ed Shikada City Manager 2 of2 City of Palo Alto (ID # 11814) Policy and Services Committee Staff Report Report Type: Action Items Meeting Date: 12/8/2020 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: 2020 P&S Review of Protocols & Procedures Title: Annual Policy and Services Committee Discussion and Recommendations Regarding City Council Protocols and Procedures Handbook From: City Manager Lead Department: City Manager Recommendation Staff recommends that the Policy and Services Committee review the Council Procedures and Protocols and recommend revisions for Council consideration at its annual retreat, to be held in January or February, date to be determined. Staff have no recommended revisions at this time. Background and Discussion Policy and Services Committee last reviewed the City Council Procedures and Protocols (CPP) Handbook at their December 10, 2019 meeting (Minutes), with those recommendations going to the full Council on February 1, 2020 (CMR #11036; Minutes), during the annual Council Retreat. Following the Retreat, two discussion items returned to Policy and Services Committee on June 7, 2020 (CMR #11244). Policy and Services Committee unanimously recommended that further discussion be delayed as a result of travel budgets in light of COVID-19 budget reductions (Minutes): MOTION: Council Member Filseth moved, seconded by Council Member Kou to recommend the City Council delay a discussion of the Council Procedures and Protocols, Section 7, City Council and Boards and Commissions Policy for Travel and Miscellaneous Expense Reimbursement to determine whether Council’s Travel Expense Reports should be made available to the public, and refer any recommended changes to Council for approval and adoption until such time as Council has a Travel Budget to expend. Council Member Filseth emphasized that the item needed to be discussed as CITY OF PALO ALTO City of Palo Alto Page 2 soon as it was deemed reasonable. The CPP describes the way the Palo Alto City Council does its business and is a directional guide. It is intended to accomplish two goals: First, the CPP is an informational guide for anyone doing business or appearing before the City Council. Second, the CPP is a compilation of procedures and protocols that have been formally adopted by Council. Municipal Code 2.04.100 states the following related to the handbook: Municipal Code 2.04.100 - Handbook of procedural rules The council shall adopt by resolution a handbook of procedural rules governing any aspect of the conduct of meetings and hearings for the council and its standing committees, including but not limited to agenda requirements, the order of business, rules of order, rules of evidence, closed session procedures and rules for public participation in meetings. The handbook of procedural rules shall be deemed guidelines and failure to comply with any procedural rule shall not be the basis for challenge to or invalidation of any action of the council, nor shall they be construed to create any independent remedy or right of action of any kind. In addition, the CPP includes two provisions for the Policy and Services Committee to annually review the CPP as stated below from Section 3 – Other Procedural Issues (p. 34): Section 3.1 – Commit to Annual Review of Important Procedural Issues At the beginning of each legislative year, the Council will hold a special meeting to review the Council protocols, adopted procedures for meetings, the Brown Act, conflict of interest, and other important procedural issues. And from Section 5 – Enforcement (p. 36): Section 5 – Enforcement Council Members have the primary responsibility to assure that these protocols are understood and followed, so that the public can continue to have full confidence in the integrity of government. As an expression of the standards of conduct expected by the City for Council Members, the protocols are intended to be self-enforcing. They therefore become most effective when members are thoroughly familiar with them and embrace their provisions. For this reason, Council Members entering office shall sign a statement affirming they have read and understood the Council protocols. In addition, the protocols shall be annually reviewed by the Policy and Services Committee and updated as necessary. This is that annual review and staff do not currently have any recommended changes. City of Palo Alto Page 3 Timeline, Resource Impact, Policy Implications (If Applicable) There is no resource impact identified at this time. Should Policy and Services recommend changes, those could be discussed in 2021, either as part of the Council Retreat or another Policy and Services Committee meeting. Stakeholder Engagement Council members were asked to review the Handbook prior to this meeting; should any responses be forthcoming, an at-places memo with those suggestions will be available. Environmental Review This is not a project as defined by CEQA and no review is needed.