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Home My WebLink About2026-09-22 City Council Agenda PacketCITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Tuesday, September 22, 2026 Community Meeting Room & Hybrid 6:00 PM 5:45 PM Amended Agenda Amended agenda items appear below in RED City Council meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend virtually or in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. Translation services are available upon request at least 24 hours before the meeting. 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 Public comments for agendized items will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to 3 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. Multiple individuals wishing to speak on the same item may designate a spokesperson. Spokespeople must be representing 5 or more verified individuals who are present in person or via Zoom. Spokespeople are allowed up to 10 minutes, at the discretion of the Chair. Speaking time may be reduced if the Chair 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 before the meeting. Once received, the Clerk will share them 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: sticks, posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; the items do not create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and 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, change the order of items and/or continue items to another meeting. 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 September 22, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. CALL TO ORDER AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS CLOSED SESSION (5:45 - 8:00 PM) AA1.CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Authority: Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto (Informally known as the Cubberley Site) Negotiating Party: Palo Alto Unified School District City Negotiators: Ed Shikada, Kristen O'Kane, Sunny Tong Subject of Negotiations: Purchase, Exchange, and/or Lease Price and Terms of Payment New Item Added 1.Public Employee Performance Evaluations Authority: Cal. Gov. Code section 54957 (b) Title: City Manager SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 2.Interview Candidates for Vacancies on the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) and Public Art Commission (PAC); CEQA Status - Not a Project Title Updated, Supplemental Report added ADJOURNMENT OTHER INFORMATION Standing Committee Meetings this week City/Schools Liaison Committee September 24, 2026 CANCELED Public Comment Letters Schedule of Meetings 2 September 22, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. AMENDED / SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS AA1.CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS Authority: Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto (Informally known as the Cubberley Site) Negotiating Party: Palo Alto Unified School District City Negotiators: Ed Shikada, Kristen O'Kane, Sunny Tong Subject of Negotiations: Purchase, Exchange, and/or Lease Price and Terms of Payment New Item Added 2.Interview Candidates for Vacancies on the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) and Public Art Commission (PAC); CEQA Status - Not a Project Title Updated, Supplemental Report added 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 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 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 3 September 22, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. 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. 4 September 22, 2026 Materials submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at www.paloalto.gov/agendas. City Council Staff Report Report Type: SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY Lead Department: City Clerk Meeting Date: September 22, 2026 Report #:2609-6752 TITLE Interview Candidates for Vacancies on the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) and Public Art Commission (PAC); CEQA Status - Not a Project BACKGROUND Recruitment The Fall Boards, Commissions, and Committees (BCC) Recruitment was open from July 28, 2026 – September 2, 2026, and recruited for 11 vacancies across 5 meeting bodies. Applications were published as part of the September 14 agenda packet and are available online1. In consultation with the Mayor and Vice Mayor, staff have split the recruitment next steps into two separate batches to effectively manage meeting capacity and length. The schedule is listed below. City Council Meeting Action September 14 Regular City Council Meeting Review Applications and Select Candidates to Interview for PRC and PAC September 22 Special City Council Meeting Interview Candidates for PRC and PAC September 28 Special City Council Meeting Review Applications and Select Candidates to Interview for HRC, PTC, SWMOC September 30 Special City Council Meeting Interview Candidates for HRC, PTC, SWMOC October 5 Regular City Council Meeting Appoint Members to HRC, PRC, PTC, PAC, SWMOC 1 September 14, 2026 City Council Staff Report # 2606-6493 https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=897242&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto Item 2 Item 2 Staff Report Item 2: Staff Report Pg. 1 Packet Pg. 5 of 9 Interview Process The City Council is expected to review applications and select candidates to interview for PRC and PAC on September 14. A supplemental memo will be issued on September 17 with the interview schedule. Each candidate interview is scheduled for 10 minutes. Candidates will have an opportunity to summarize their experiences, and the remaining time will be allocated to Councilmember questions. Candidates have been informed of the following: 1. Each interview is scheduled for 10 minutes. Candidates may begin with 1-2 minutes describing their experience and/or desire to serve. The remaining time will be Q+A with the City Council; 2. Interviews are located in Council Chambers on the ground floor of City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave) or on Zoom; 3. If joining in person, please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time, and check in with the Clerk upon arrival; and If joining via Zoom, please log-on 15 minutes before the scheduled time, and make sure to use your name so the clerk can identify the candidate. Please use this link to join https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/362027238. The clerk will allow you to unmute and turn on your video when it’s your turn. A summary of the openings, eligibility requirements, and term lengths for each vacancy are included below. In addition to the eligibility requirements below, no commissioners may be Councilmembers, officers, or employees of the City. Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) Number of Vacancies and Term Dates 4 Full Term Vacancies 11/1/2026 – 10/31/2029 Seat Numbers 1, 5, 6, 7 Number of Applicants 13 Number of Candidates to Interview Up to 10 Number of Votes per Councilmember 8 Eligibility requirements3 Each member of the commission shall have a demonstrated interest in parks, open space and recreation matters. All members of the commission shall at all times be residents of Palo Alto. 3 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.25.010 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0- 0-0-61402 Item 2 Item 2 Staff Report Item 2: Staff Report Pg. 2 Packet Pg. 6 of 9 Public Art Commission (PAC) Number of Vacancies and Term Dates 2 Full Term Vacancies 11/1/2026 – 10/31/2029 Seat Numbers 2, 6 Number of Applicants 10 Number of Candidates to Interview Up to 6 Number of Votes per Councilmember 4 Eligibility requirements5 Members shall be either members of the Architectural Review Board or shall be professional visual artists, professional visual arts educators, professional visual arts scholars or visual arts collectors whose authorities and skills are known and respected in the community and whenever feasible, who have demonstrated interest in, and have participated in, the arts program of the City of Palo Alto. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: BCC Applications Links APPROVED BY: Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk 5 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.18.020 https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0- 0-0-61257 Item 2 Item 2 Staff Report Item 2: Staff Report Pg. 3 Packet Pg. 7 of 9 Attachment A Human Relations Commission Applications – Redacted Parks and Recreation Commission Applications – Redacted Planning and Transportation Commission Applications – Redacted Public Art Commission Applications – Redacted Stormwater Management Oversight Committee Applications – Redacted: Item 2 Attachment A - BCC Applications Links Item 2: Staff Report Pg. 4 Packet Pg. 8 of 9 City Council Supplemental Report From: Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk Meeting Date: September 22, 2026 Item Number: 2 Report #:2609-6802 TITLE Supplemental Report: Interview Candidates for Vacancies on the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC); CEQA Status - Not a Project BACKGROUND This report transmits the Parks and Recreation Commission candidate interview schedule. Candidate applications were published part of the September 14, 2026 City Council agenda packet and are available online1. Time Applicant Participation Method 8:10-8:20 Aubrey Whitcomb In-person 8:20-8:30 Virginia Ruiz Albacete Zoom 8:30-8:40 Abhijit Solanki Zoom 8:40-8:50 Sterling Watson In-person 8:50-9:00 Shani Kleinhaus In-person 9:00-9:10 Musaab Farooqui Zoom 9:10-9:20 Ben Lenail Zoom 9:20-9:30 Marc Schoenen 9:30-9:40 Leo Hochberg In-person 9:40-9:50 Bing Betty Wei Zoom APPROVED BY: Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk 1 City Council, September 14, 2026; Agenda Item 2; SR# 2606-6492 https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/viewer/preview?id=0&type=8&uid=b19da62e-368b-47b7-a40a- d246222e7271 Item 2 Item 2 Supplemental Report Item 2: Staff Report Pg. 1 Packet Pg. 9 of 9