Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2609-6774CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, September 28, 2026 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     4.Approval of Minutes from August 19, September 9, and September 14, 2026 Meetings City Council Staff Report Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR Lead Department: City Clerk Meeting Date: September 28, 2026 Report #:2609-6774 TITLE Approval of Minutes from August 19, September 9, and September 14, 2026 Meetings RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council review and approve the minutes. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: August 19, 2026 Draft Action Minutes Attachment B: September 9, 2026 Draft Action Minutes Attachment C: September 14, 2026 Draft Action Minutes APPROVED BY: Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk CITY COUNCIL DRAFT ACTION MINUTES State of the City 2026 Page 1 of 1 Special Meeting August 19, 2026 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Palo Alto High School Performing Arts Center and by virtual teleconference at 5:30 P.M. Present In Person: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Stone, Veenker Present Remotely: Absent: Reckdahl Call to Order State of the City 2026 1. 2026 Palo Alto State of the City NO ACTION Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 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. CITY COUNCIL DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 1 of 5 Special Meeting September 9, 2026 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers and by virtual teleconference at 5:00 P.M. Present In Person: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Present Remotely: Absent: Special Orders of the Day 1. Interview Candidates for Vacancies on the Historic Resources Board (HRB); CEQA Status - Not a Project NO ACTION 2. Proclamation Honoring the 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001 NO ACTION Closed Session 3. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS Authority: Cal. Gov. Code section 54957(b)(1) Titles: City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Stone to go into Closed Session. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Council went into Closed Session at 5:48 P.M. Council returned from Closed Session at 8:25 P.M. DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 2 of 5 Sp. City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 09/09/2026 Mayor Veenker announced no reportable action. Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions In-Person Public Comment Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements Consent Calendar Mayor Veenker and Councilmember Lu recused from agenda Item Number 6. Councilmembers Lu, Stone, Burt, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, and Veenker requested to pull Agenda Item Number 11. Councilmembers Burt, Reckdahl, and Lauing requested to pull Agenda Item Number 8. MOTION: Councilmember Reckdahl moved, seconded by Councilmember Lu to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-7, 9-10, and to pull Agenda Item Numbers 8 and 11 off of the consent calendar. MOTION PASSED ITEMS 4-5, 7, 9-10: 7-0 MOTION PASSED ITEM 6: 5-0, Veenker, Lu recused 4. Approval of Minutes from August 17 and August 24, 2026 Meetings 5. Approval of Response to Civil Grand Jury Report “VTA‘s Management and Oversight of BART Silicon Valley Phase II”; CEQA Status: Not a Project 6. Approval of Five-year Memorandum of Agreement with Stanford University to Provide and be Reimbursed for Traffic Control Services during Stanford Stadium Events; CEQA status – not a project. 7. Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. S25186778 with Municipal Resources Group, LLC to increase the Contract Amount by $85,000 to a Total Not-to-Exceed of $340,000 for Organizational Development Services and Extend the Contract Term by One Year through September 4, 2027; CEQA Status – Not a Project. DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 3 of 5 Sp. City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 09/09/2026 8. Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Cost-Sharing Agreement with the County of Santa Clara for Continued Operation of the Safe Parking Program at 2000 Geng Road to Extend the Term Through June 30, 2027 and Not-to-Exceed $196,032; Approval of Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. 1557819, the Lease Agreement with the County of Santa Clara, Extending the County’s Temporary Use of the Site Through June 30, 2027; Approval of FY 2027 Budget Amendment in the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Fund; and Authorization to Use PLHA Activity 6 Funds Accordingly; CEQA status – statutorily exempt. 9. Approval of Amendment No. 2 to Contract C23187298C with Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates (HdL) to Add Sales Tax and Transactions Tax Analysis, Reporting, Forecasting, and Audit Recovery Services and Increase Compensation by $165,000 for a New Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $3,035,000 over Two Years and Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing HdL and Designated City Staff to Examine Sales or Transactions and Use Taxes from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA); CEQA Status - Not a Project 10. Adoption of Side Letter Between the City of Palo Alto and Utilities Management and Professional Association of Palo Alto for a Hiring Incentive; CEQA Status - Not a Project. 11. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Title 16 (Building Regulations), Title 18 (Zoning), and Title 21 (Subdivisions) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Amend Requirements Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (FIRST READING: August 17, 2026; PASSED: 4-3, Stone, Veenker, Lythcott-Haims no) Pulled Consent Calendar Agenda Item 8. Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Cost-Sharing Agreement with the County of Santa Clara for Continued Operation of the Safe Parking Program at 2000 Geng Road to Extend the Term Through June 30, 2027 and Not-to-Exceed $196,032; Approval of Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. 1557819, the Lease Agreement with the County of Santa Clara, Extending the County’s Temporary Use of the Site Through June 30, 2027; Approval of FY 2027 Budget Amendment in the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Fund; and Authorization to Use PLHA Activity 6 Funds Accordingly; CEQA status – statutorily exempt. MOTION: Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Lauing to reconsider agenda item number 8 (to approve agenda item number 8) and direct staff to return with a study session related to agenda item number 8. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 4 of 5 Sp. City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 09/09/2026 City Manager Comments Ed Shikada, City Manager Action Items 12. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 470 Olive Avenue [25PLN-00228]: Recommend City Council Adopt an Ordinance Amending the Zoning Map to Change the Zoning District for 470 Olive Avenue from NV-R1 (Single-Family Residential) to NV-MXM (Medium Density Mixed Use) and Adopt a Resolution Changing the North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan (NVCAP) Land Use Designation from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Mixed Use to Align it With the NVMXM Zoning of the Adjacent and Connected Parcel at 2951 El Camino Real. This Action Supports a Staff Determination to Add 470 Olive Avenue as a Housing Inventory Site to Address No Net Loss Requirements. CEQA Status: Statutorily Exempt per Public Resources Code Section 21080.085. Councilmember Lu recused from agenda item number 12. MOTION: Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to continue this item to a date uncertain. MOTION PASSED: 6-0, Lu Recused 13. Designation of Voting Delegate and Alternate for the League of California Cities 2026 Annual Conference, to be held September 23-25, 2026 in Anaheim, California; CEQA Status – Not a Project MOTION: Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to designate Councilmember Lu as the voting delegate and Mayor Veenker as the alternate voting delegate for the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) 2026 Annual Conference. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 14. Colleagues’ Memo: Council Discussion and Public Release of the Investigation Report Regarding Forest Peterson MOTION: Councilmember Lauing moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to waive attorney-client privilege with respect to final investigative report regarding the complaint against Forest Peterson and direct the City Attorney to release a version of the report with redactions to protect the privacy of witnesses to the extent practicable, with the clarifications DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 5 of 5 Sp. City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 09/09/2026 that the waiver of privilege is limited to the final report and that Council does not intended to waive privilege over the subject matter of the investigation. MOTION FAILED: 3-4, Lu, Stone, Lythcott-Haims, Veenker Virtual Public Comment Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 11:58 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. CITY COUNCIL DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 1 of 5 Regular Meeting September 14, 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, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Present Remotely: Absent: Special Orders of the Day 1. Northern California Power Agency General Manager Tony Zimmer NO ACTION 2. Review Applications and Select Candidates to Interview for the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) and Public Art Commission (PAC) Vacancies; CEQA Status – Not a Project NO ACTION Boards, Commissions, and Committees Appointment 3. Appointment of Candidates to the Historic Resources Board (HRB); CEQA Status – Not a Project Historic Resources Board First Round Voting for Three (3) full term vacancies (seats 1, 2, 3) on the Historic Resources Board ending on March 31, 2029 Aleksandar Patrick Dusan Rakicevic More: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker Nandini Ramamurthi: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 2 of 5 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 09/14/2026 Candidate Aleksandar Patrick Dusan Rakicevic More receiving seven votes is appointed to the full term expiring March 31, 2029 (seat 1). Candidate Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz receiving seven votes is appointed to the full term expiring March 31, 2029 (seat 2). Candidate Nandini Ramamurthi receiving seven votes is appointed to the full term expiring March 31, 2029 (seat 3). Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions In-Person Public Comment Council Member Questions, Comments and Announcements Consent Calendar MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to approve Agenda Item Numbers 4-6, AA1. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 4. Approval of Contract Number C27197641 with A3 Pipeline in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $2,466,255 for the Sewer Lateral Replacement Project (WC-99013) at various locations across the City; Authorization for the City Manager or Designee to Negotiate and Execute Related Change Orders Not-to-Exceed $246,626 for a Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $2,712,881 for a Three-Year Term. CEQA Status: Exempt under CEQA Guidelines 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction of Existing Facilities). 5. Adopt a Resolution approving the City of Palo Alto Utilities Electric Utility Physical Security Plan Update: CEQA Status – Not a Project 6. SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adding Chapter 10.49 (OSV Parking Permit Districts) to the Palo Alto Municipal Code and Amending PAMC Section 10.60.010 (FIRST READING: August 24, 2026; PASSED: 7-0) AA1. Approval of Increase of Construction Contingency for Contract No. C211781123B with Swinerton Builders in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $7,374,367 and Amendment to the DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 3 of 5 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 09/14/2026 Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Appropriation for the Capital Improvement Fund for the New Public Safety Building Capital Improvement Program Project (PE-15001), to Support a Settlement Agreement With Swinerton Builders; CEQA Status – Environmental Impact Report for the New Public Safety Building and New California Avenue Area Parking Garage (Resolution No. 9772) City Manager Comments Ed Shikada, City Manager Action Items 7. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI-JUDICIAL. 375 Hamilton Avenue [26PLN-00050]: Request for Major Architectural Review Approval for the Construction of a New Six-Story Parking Garage with a Total of 265 Parking Spaces on the Existing Surface-Level Parking Lot D. CEQA Status: Prior Environmental Impact Report Certified (Council Resolution No. 9818, February 11, 2019). An Addendum to the Previously Certified Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2017052040) has Been Prepared in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15164. Zoning District: PF (Public Facilities). MOTION: Vice Mayor Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Lythcott-Haims to: 1. Consider the Addendum to the previously certified Environmental Impact Report (EIR) (Council Resolution No. 9818, February 11, 2019); and 2. Approve the Major Architectural Review (AR) application based on findings and subject to conditions of approval in the Record of Land Use Action (RLUA) in Attachment B. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 8. Refinancing of the 2009A Water Revenue Bonds, Series A; Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of Tax-Exempt Water Revenue Refunding Bonds in a Principal Amount Not-to-Exceed $20,000,000, Approval of the Official Notice of Sale, Indenture of Trust, Official Statement, Irrevocable Refunding Instructions, and Related Documents; CEQA Status - Not a Project MOTION: Mayor Veenker moved, seconded by Councilmember Lu to: DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 4 of 5 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 09/14/2026 1. Authorize staff to refinance the outstanding City of Palo Alto Water Revenue Bonds, 2009 Series A through the issuance of Water Revenue Refunding Bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000; and 2. Approve the Official Notice of Sale, Indenture of Trust, Official Statement, Irrevocable Refunding Instructions, and authorize official actions and related documents thereto. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Closed Session 9. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY-EXISTING LITIGATION Subject: Diego Velasquez v. City of Palo Alto et al. Santa Clara County Superior Court, Case No. 24-CV-450636 Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) One Case, as Defendant 10. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY – EXISTING LITIGATION Subject: City of Palo Alto v. Gary Wetzel, et al. Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 26CV484552 One Case, as Defendant Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) 11. 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 MOTION: Councilmember Lauing moved, seconded by Councilmember Lu to go into Closed Session. MOTION PASSED: 7-0 Council went into Closed Session at 8:43 P.M. Council returned from Closed Session at 10:10 P.M. Mayor Veenker announced the following reportable actions from Closed Session: Regarding Swinerton v. City of Palo Alto (JAMS Reference # 5100003409), a matter previously heard in Closed Session on August 17, 2026, the City entered into a settlement agreement to resolve claims by Swinerton and its subcontractors arising from construction of the recently DRAFT ACTION MINUTES Page 5 of 5 City Council Meeting Draft Action Minutes: 09/14/2026 opened Public Safety Building. The settlement provides for the City to pay $8 million to resolve the claims. The City Council approved the settlement by a 7-0 vote on August 17, 2026, and the settlement agreement was finalized on September 10, 2026. Regarding Diego Velasquez v. City of Palo Alto et al., Santa Clara County Superior Court, Case No. 24-CV-450636, the City Council authorized the City Attorney’s Office to file a cross- complaint in the action against Cleary Brothers Landscape, Inc., Bastion Construction Services, and any successors in interest to those entities. The City Council approved the action by a 7-0 vote. Virtual Public Comment Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:18 P.M. in memory of Byron Sher, Former Palo Alto Mayor. 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.