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Home My WebLink About2026-03-09 City Council AgendaCITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting Monday, March 09, 2026 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM Amended Agenda Amended agenda items appear below in RED (Time Estimates Updated) Palo Alto City Council meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend by teleconference or in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. The meeting will be broadcast on Cable TV Channel 26, live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and streamed to Midpen Media Center https://midpenmedia.org. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/362027238) Meeting ID: 362 027 238 Phone:1(669)900-6833 PUBLIC COMMENTS General Public Comment for items not on the agenda will be accepted in person for up to three minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. General public comment will be heard for 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda. Public comments for agendized items will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. Requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutes after the staff’s presentation or as determined by the Chair. Written public comments can be submitted in advance to city.council@PaloAlto.gov and will be provided to the Council and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your subject line. Multiple individuals who wish to speak on the same item may designate a spokesperson. Spokespersons must be representing five or more verified individuals who are present either in person or via zoom. Spokespeople will be allowed up to 10 minutes, at the discretion of the presiding officer. Speaking time may be reduced if the presiding officer reduces the speaking time for individual speakers. PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only by email to city.clerk@PaloAlto.gov at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strong cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are not accepted. Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks, posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do not create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated when displaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view or passage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting. TIME ESTIMATES Listed times are estimates only and are subject to change at any time, including while the meeting is in progress. The Council reserves the right to use more or less time on any item, to change the order of items and/or to continue items to another meeting. Particular items may be heard before or after the time estimated on the agenda. This may occur in order to best manage the time at a meeting or to adapt to the participation of the public. 1 March 09, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. CALL TO ORDER CLOSED SESSION (5:30 - 6:00 PM) AA1.Public Employee Appointment Title: City Attorney Authority: Gov. Code Section 54957(b) New Item Added SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY (6:00 - 6:10 PM) 1.Proclamation Recognizing March 2026 as Youth Arts Month AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS PUBLIC COMMENT (6:10 - 6:40 PM) Members of the public may speak in-person ONLY to any item NOT on the agenda. 1-3 minutes depending on number of speakers. Public Comment is limited to 30 minutes. Additional public comments, if any, will be heard at the end of the agenda. COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS (6:40 - 6:55 PM) Members of the public may not speak to the item(s). STUDY SESSION (6:55 - 7:55 PM) 2.51 Encina Avenue [25PLN-00312]. Request for Council Prescreening for a Zoning Text Amendment to Palo Alto Municipal Code Title 18 (Zoning) Section 18.18.070 (Floor Area Bonuses) and Section 18.18.080 (Transfer of Development Rights) to Expand Floor Area and Transfer of Development Right Benefits to Category 1 and 2 Buildings on the City's Historic Inventory in the CS Zone District. CEQA Status: Not a Project. CONSENT CALENDAR (7:55 - 8:00 PM) Items will be voted in one motion unless removed from the calendar by three Council Members. 3.Approval of Minutes from February 23, 2026 Meeting 2 March 09, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. 4.Appointment of 2026 Emergency Standby Council 5.Adoption of a Resolution Setting the Regular Meeting Times at 4:00pm for the Finance Committee and 6:00pm for the Policy & Services Committee; CEQA status - not a project. 6.Stanford University Medical Center (SUMC) Annual Report to Council for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) 7.Approval of Professional Services Contract No. C26194015 with Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $795,965 for Design and Outreach Services for the City Park-Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project for the period of March 9, 2026 through March 31, 2028; CEQA Status – Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 Item Removed Off Agenda 8.Approval of Contract Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. C23185922 with Kittelson & Associates, INC. to Increase Compensation by $17,000 to $350,945 and to Extend the Term for an Additional Six Months Through December 31, 2026, for the City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan Update; CEQA status - exempt under Public Resource Code section 21080.20. 9.FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Adding a New Section 18.70.105 (Noncomplying facility - De minimis exceptions) to Chapter 18.70 (Nonconforming Uses and Noncomplying Facilities) of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code; CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption). CITY MANAGER COMMENTS (8:00 - 8:15 PM) BREAK (15 MINUTES) ACTION ITEMS (Item 11: 8:30 - 9:45 PM) Include: Report of Committees/Commissions, Ordinances and Resolutions, Public Hearings, Report of Officials, Unfinished Business and Council Matters. 10.Receive Update and Provide Direction to Staff on the Implementation of Senate Bill 79 (2025) and Work Related to the Downtown Housing Plan. CEQA Status: Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15262. Item Removed Off Agenda 11.Approval of City Council Values (as Recommended by Policy & Services Committee), 2026 Objectives, Ad Hoc Purpose Statements, and Committee Workplans 3 March 09, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. CLOSED SESSION (9:45 - 10:30 PM) 12.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—POTENTIAL LITIGATION (four cases) Subject: Initiation of litigation in four cases, United States v. Minnesota, US District Court for the District of Minnesota, Case No. 25-CV-3798; United States v. City of Rochester, US District Court for the Western District of New York, Case No. 6:25-cv- 06226-FPG-MJP; United States v. City of Newark, et al., US District Court for the District of New Jersey, Case No. 2:25-cv-05081-EP-AME; United States v. City of New York, et al., US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Case No. 1:25-cv-04084. Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) ADJOURNMENT INFORMATION REPORTS Information reports are provided for informational purposes only to the Council and the public but are not listed for action or discussion during this meeting’s agenda. A.Informational Report: Report from the National Policing Institute Regarding Palo Alto's RIPA Data (Racial and Identity Profiling Act of 2015); CEQA – Not a Project B.Information Report on Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Implementation, 2025 Quarters 3-4; CEQA Status - Not a Project C.Semi-annual Reports of Contracts Awarded by the City Manager, Procurement Officer or Other Designated Employees for the period of July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025; CEQA Status- Not a Project. OTHER INFORMATION Standing Committee Meetings this week Rail Committee March 10, 2026 Policy & Services Committee March 10, 2026 Public Comment Letters 4 March 09, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. Schedule of Meetings AMENDED AGENDA ITEMS AA1.Public Employee Appointment Title: City Attorney Authority: Gov. Code Section 54957(b) New Item Added 7.Approval of Professional Services Contract No. C26194015 with Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $795,965 for Design and Outreach Services for the City Park-Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project for the period of March 9, 2026 through March 31, 2028; CEQA Status – Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 Item Removed Off Agenda 10.Receive Update and Provide Direction to Staff on the Implementation of Senate Bill 79 (2025) and Work Related to the Downtown Housing Plan. CEQA Status: Exempt Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15262. Item Removed Off Agenda PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone. 1.Written public comments may be submitted by email to city.council@PaloAlto.gov. 2.For in person public comments please complete a speaker request card located on the table at the entrance to the Council Chambers and deliver it to the Clerk prior to discussion of the item. 3.Spoken public comments for agendized items using a computer or smart phone will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom-based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully. ◦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. Or download the Zoom application onto your smart phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter in the Meeting ID below. ◦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 5 March 09, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. that it is your turn to speak. ◦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. ◦When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. 4.Spoken public comments for agendized items 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 Council. 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 Meeting ID: 362-027-238 Phone: 1-669-900-6833 Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329-2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@PaloAlto.gov. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. California Government Code §84308, commonly referred to as the "Levine Act," prohibits an elected official of a local government agency from participating in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use if the official received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party or participant, including their agents, to the proceeding within the last 12 months. A “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” includes most land use and planning approvals and the approval of contracts that are not subject to lowest responsible bid procedures and have a value over $50,000. A “party” is a person who files an application for, or is the subject of, a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use. A “participant” is a person who actively supports or opposes a particular decision in a proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use, and has a financial interest in the decision. The Levine Act incorporates the definition of “financial interest” in the Political Reform Act, which encompasses interests in business entities, real property, sources of income, sources of gifts, and personal finances that may be affected by the Council’s actions. If you qualify as a “party” or “participant” to a proceeding, and you have made a campaign contribution to a Council Member exceeding $500 made within the last 12 months, you must disclose the campaign contribution before making your comments. 6 March 09, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas.