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Home My WebLink About2026-05-11 City Council AgendaCITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, May 11, 2026 Council Chambers & Hybrid 4:30 PM Amended Agenda Amended agenda items appear below in RED 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 76, 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. Translation services are available upon written request to city.clerk@paloalto.gov received at least 24 hours before the meeting. 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 May 11, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. CALL TO ORDER SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY (4:30 - 4:45 PM) 1.City Employee Years of Service Awards and Proclamation acknowledging Public Service Recognition Week 2.Recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and May 10, 2026 as AANHPI Mental Health Awareness Day Item Removed Off Agenda AA1.Proclamation Recognizing National Police Week as May 10-16, 2026 and National Peace Officers' Memorial Day as May 15, 2026 New Item Added CLOSED SESSION (4:45 - 5:15 PM) 3.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION Subject: Anne Kramer vs City of Palo Alto, Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 25CV461517 Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS PUBLIC COMMENT (5:15 - 5:45 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 (5:45 - 5:55 PM) Members of the public may not speak to the item(s). STUDY SESSION (5:55 - 7:25 PM) 4.FY 2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget - Finance Committee Update and Council Budget Discussion. CEQA Status – Not a project Late Packet Report added 2 May 11, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. CONSENT CALENDAR (7:25 - 7:30 PM) Items will be voted in one motion unless removed from the calendar by three Council Members. 5.Approval of Issuing Purchase Order C27197248 with Solutions Simplified, Utilizing a State of California Department of General Services Software Licensing Program Contract SLP- 25-70-0181H, to Procure Zscaler Software Maintenance and Support for a Three-Year Term for a Total Not-To-Exceed Amount of $329,886; CEQA Status - Not a Project. 6.Approval of Contract Amendment No. 4 to Contract C19174648A with VERTEXONE SOFTWARE, LLC for the WaterSmart Utilities Customer Portal, to Extend the Term for Three Additional Years ending August 12, 2029 and Increase Compensation by $140,000, for a Revised Total Not to Exceed of $677,763; CEQA Status – Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15308. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS (7:30 - 7:40 PM) BREAK (15 MINUTES) ACTION ITEMS (Item 7: 7:55 - 8:55 PM; Item 8: 8:55 - 10:25 PM) Include: Report of Committees/Commissions, Ordinances and Resolutions, Public Hearings, Report of Officials, Unfinished Business and Council Matters. 7.PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 3781 El Camino Real [24PLN-00161]: Request for Approval of Major Architectural Review Application to Merge Four Existing Parcels to Create a 63,025 Square-Foot Parcel and to Construct a Seven-Story, Multi-Family Residential Housing Development Project with 183 Units. Thirteen Percent of The Base Units Would be Provided at a Rate Affordable to Low Income. The Project is Proposed in Accordance with Builder’s Remedy (California Government Code Section 65589.5(d)(5)). A Senate Bill 330 Pre-Application was Filed on February 15, 2024. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to Assembly Bill 130 (Public Resources Code Section 21080.66). 8.Expedited Evaluation of the Potential Temporary Closure of the Churchill Avenue Rail Crossing, Determination of Next Steps, and CEQA Status – Statutorily and Categorically Exempt. Supplemental Report added (Continued Item from 4/15/2026 – On April 15, 2026, the City Council Received Presentations and Public Testimony; The Item is Continued to May 11, 2026 for further Council Discussion, Deliberation, and Potential Action – No Additional Public Testimony Will be Heard on May 11, 2026.) 3 May 11, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. 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 Update on the Palo Alto Dark Fiber Expansion Plan and Fiber-to-the- Premises B.Palo Alto Transportation Management Association 2025 Annual Report, 2027-29 Strategic Plan, and 2025 Commute Survey OTHER INFORMATION Standing Committee Meetings this week Rail Committee May 12, 2026 Policy & Services Committee May 12, 2026 Council Appointed Officers Committee May 14, 2026 Climate Action & Sustainability Committee May 15, 2026 Public Comment Letters Schedule of Meetings AMENDED AGENDA ITEMS 2.Recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and May 10, 2026 as AANHPI Mental Health Awareness Day Item Removed Off Agenda AA1.Proclamation Recognizing National Police Week as May 10-16, 2026 and National Peace Officers' Memorial Day as May 15, 2026 New Item Added 4.FY 2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget - Finance Committee Update and Council Budget Discussion. CEQA Status – Not a project Late Packet Report added 4 May 11, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. 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 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. 5 May 11, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. 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 May 11, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas.