HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-02 City Council Action MinutesCITY COUNCIL
ACTION MINUTES
Page 1 of 5
Regular Meeting
March 2, 2026
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, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker
Present Remotely: Lythcott-Haims (Traditional Brown Act)
Absent:
Special Orders of the Day
1.Santa Clara County Science and Engineering Fair Association 2026 Science Fair Winners
from Palo Alto
NO ACTION
2.Review Applications and Select Candidates to Interview for the Historic Resources Board
(HRB), Human Relations Commission (HRC), Planning & Transportation Commission
(PTC), Stormwater Management Oversight Committee (SWMOC), and Utilities Advisory
Commission (UAC) Vacancies; CEQA Status - Not a Project
NO ACTION
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Public Comment
Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements
Docusign Envelope ID: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
ACTION MINUTES
Page 2 of 5
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/02/2026
Study Session
3.Palo Alto Link Program & Transit Futures Review; CEQA status – not a project.
NO ACTION
Consent Calendar
MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Lu to approve Agenda Item
Numbers 4-8.
MOTION PASSED: 7-0
4.Endorsement of the Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative
5.Authorize Transmittal of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Annual Progress Report to the
Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the 2025 Housing Element
Annual Progress Report to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
CEQA Status: Not a Project.
6.Approval of General Service Contract No. C26195719 with Clean Harbors Environmental
Services, Inc. in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $1,914,000 to Provide Household Hazardous
Waste Management and Emergency Response Services for a Period of Five Years, and
Approval of a Budget Amendment in the Refuse Fund; CEQA Status – Negative
Declarations Previously Approved
7.Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C26195818 With BKF Engineers in an
Amount Not to Exceed of $900,000 Over a 3-year Term for On-Call Surveying and Design
Support Services; CEQA Status – Not a Project
8.Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Multi-Agency Staffing Agreement for Fire Station
8. CEQA Status – Not a Project.
City Manager Comments
Ed Shikada, City Manager
Action Items
9.Review the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Inventory and S/CAP Key Performance Indicators
Annual Progress Report, and Approve the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan and Receive Six
Docusign Envelope ID: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
ACTION MINUTES
Page 3 of 5
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/02/2026
S/CAP Studies Recommended by the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee; CEQA
Status: Review GHG Inventory and Key Performance Indicators: Not a Project; Potential
Environmental Impacts of the S/CAP Work Plan were Studied in the June 5, 2023 S/CAP
Addendum to the 2017-2031 Comprehensive Plan EIR; this Project is also Exempt
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to:
1.Approve the 2026-2027 S/CAP Work Plan; and
2.Receive the following studies:
a.S/CAP Funding and Financing Study;
b.S/CAP Funding Source Survey;
c.EV Charger Needs Assessment;
d.Single-family, Multi-family, and Non-Residential Building Sector Studies; and
3.Communications additions:
a.Emphasize the health risks;
b.Develop a communication plan similar to the San Mateo County model and
incentivizing behavior toward our climate action goals;
c.Leverage community partners.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims absent
10.Status Update on Implementation of the Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan; Accept
1) Palo Alto’s Electric System Reliability Indices and Recommended Goals and Reporting,
2) the “Evaluation of Local Energy Resources to Lower Costs and Improve Reliability and
Resiliency” Report (as recommended by Climate Action and Sustainability Committee
and Utilities Advisory Commission) to Complete Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan
Strategy Four and Strategy Five; and Provide Direction to Pursue Various Activities
Related to Flexible Energy Resource and Efficient Electrification to Improve Reliability
and Resiliency; CEQA Status - Not a Project
MOTION: Councilmember Burt moved, seconded by Mayor Veenker to:
1.Accept Palo Alto’s electric system reliability indices and recommended goals and
reporting.
Docusign Envelope ID: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
ACTION MINUTES
Page 4 of 5
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/02/2026
2.Accept the “Evaluation of Local Energy Resources to Lower Costs and Improve Reliability
and Resiliency” report to complete Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan Strategies
Four (Value the benefits of flexible technologies to the utility and community) and Five
(Evaluate the resource needs for various demand reduction and resiliency programs).
3.Direct staff to:
a.Promote City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) customer’s use of energy in off-peak
periods to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and strain on the electric grid,
and lower energy costs;
b.As opportunities present themselves, and to the extent staff time is available,
evaluate large scale solar and battery opportunities in Palo Alto, either at
publicly owned facilities or through partnerships with private land owners; and
c.Engage the Utilities Advisory Commission, Climate Action and Sustainability
Committee, and Council in an additional discussion on microgrids and long-term
resiliency in 2026.
d.Promote and reduce barriers to adoption, as appropriate, for demand response
capable technologies, solar photovoltaics (PV), battery energy storage system
(BESS), thermal storage, and vehicle to load, home, and grid technologies,
including, but not limited to:
i.Recurring and widespread outreach;
ii.Developing educational materials, online decision tools, and other
resources to help community members evaluate these technologies for
themselves;
iii.Actively auditing regulations and processes for streamlining
opportunities; and
iv.Actively and continuously integrating flexible energy technologies and
efficient electrification into energy programs;
e.Within two years, update cost-benefit analysis for demand response, solar PV,
batteries, thermal storage, and vehicle to load, home, and grid technologies with
an interim annual update of just electric supply costs;
4.Return with recommendations for quantified reductions in SAIDI, SAIFI, and CAIDI, in
addition to the performance metrics already recommended as comparison to industry.
MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1, Lythcott-Haims absent
Docusign Envelope ID: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
ACTION MINUTES
Page 5 of 5
City Council Meeting
Action Minutes: 03/02/2026
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:44 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.
Docusign Envelope ID: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0
Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: A6D589C3-9813-4EF6-88F4-9F28305C42E0 Status: Completed
Subject: March 2, 2026 Action Minutes
Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 5 Signatures: 2 Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 0 Christine Prior
AutoNav: Enabled
EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled
Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto , CA 94301
Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov
IP Address: 170.85.155.40
Record Tracking
Status: Original
3/18/2026 5:24:50 PM
Holder: Christine Prior
Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov
Location: DocuSign
Security Appliance Status: Connected Pool: StateLocal
Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Vicki Veenker
Vicki.Veenker@paloalto.gov
City of Palo Alto
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address: 73.92.102.134
Signed using mobile
Sent: 3/18/2026 5:26:18 PM
Viewed: 3/18/2026 6:15:47 PM
Signed: 3/18/2026 7:46:52 PM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via Docusign
Mahealani Ah Yun
Mahealani.AhYun@paloalto.gov
City Clerk
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address: 165.225.242.89
Sent: 3/18/2026 7:46:53 PM
Viewed: 3/24/2026 7:44:04 AM
Signed: 3/24/2026 12:37:10 PM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
Not Offered via Docusign
In Person Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Editor Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Agent Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Intermediary Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Certified Delivery Events Status Timestamp
Carbon Copy Events Status Timestamp
Witness Events Signature Timestamp
Notary Events Signature Timestamp
Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps
Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted 3/18/2026 5:26:18 PM
Certified Delivered Security Checked 3/24/2026 7:44:04 AM
Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps
Signing Complete Security Checked 3/24/2026 12:37:10 PM
Completed Security Checked 3/24/2026 12:37:10 PM
Payment Events Status Timestamps