Meeting
CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting

Monday, December 09, 2024
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
 
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 [email protected] 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.

PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only by email to [email protected] 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.
 
CALL TO ORDER
 
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY (5:30 - 5:50 PM)
 
1.
Appreciation for Joe Simitian for his Many Years Serving Palo Alto and the Region At Places Memo
2.
Proclamation Expressing Appreciation for Roy Clay, Sr.
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
 
PUBLIC COMMENT (5:50 - 6:20 PM)
Members of the public may speak in-person ONLY to any item NOT on the agenda. 1-3 minutes depending on # 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 (6:20 - 6:25 PM)
Members of the public may not speak to the item(s).

 
STUDY SESSION (6:25 - 7:25 PM)
 
CONSENT CALENDAR (7:25 - 7:30 PM)
Items will be voted in one motion unless removed from the calendar by three Council Members.

 
4.
Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Statement of Votes and Certificate of Election Results and Declaring the Results of the Consolidated Municipal Election Held on November 5, 2024; and Adoption of an Ordinance Approved by the Voters (Measure D) to Undedicate 0.33 Acres of El Camino Park; CEQA status - the Ordinance is exempt under Pub. Res. Code § 21080(b)(12). Late Packet Report Added
5.
Review and Approve the Williamson Act Contract Renewals Within Palo Alto City Limits (2024).
6.
Approval of Performing Arts Services Agreements for Public-Private Partnerships Between the City of Palo Alto and TheatreWorks, Palo Alto Players, and West Bay Opera for the use of the Lucie Stern Community Theater until June 30, 2027. CEQA Status - Not a Project.
7.
Approval of Construction Contract No. C24192547 with O’Grady Paving, Inc. in the Amount of $2,488,857 and Authorization for the City Manager or Their Designee to Negotiate and Execute Change Orders for Related Additional but Unforeseen Work that May Develop During the Project Up to a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $248,885; and Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. C20176858 with Sandis Civil Engineers in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $59,975 for Construction Administration Services for the Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway Project (PL-14000); CEQA Status – exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c)
8.
Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C25192694 with A3-Immersive in an Amount Not to Exceed $275,692 for Projection Mapping Production Services for the 2025 Code:ART Interactive Media Public Art Festival for a period of One Year; and Approval of a FY 2025 Budget Amendment in the Public Art Fund; CEQA Status: Exempt under section 15061(b)(3).
9.
Approval of Contract Amendment Number 1 to Contract Number C21179976 with TruePoint Solutions, LLC in the Amount of $362,312 through December 31, 2026 to Provide Technical Support of Services Related to the Land Use Management Permitting System (Accela); This Amendment Results in a Revised Total Contract Not-to-Exceed Amount of $1,263,995. CEQA Status: Not a Project. Consent Questions
10.
Approval of Contract Amendment Number 3 to Contract Number S19174467 with BuildingEye, Inc. in the Amount of $59,020 through December 31, 2025 to Provide Data Visualization for Building Permits, Planning Entitlements, and Code Enforcement Activities; This Amendment Results in a Revised Total Contract Not-to-Exceed Amount of $412,430. CEQA Status: Not a Project.
11.
Approval of 1) Amendment No. 7 to Contract No. C16163034A with Cumming Management Group, Inc. in the amount of $827,418 for Additional Construction Management Services; 2) Increase of Construction Contingency for Contract No. C21178123B with Swinerton Builders in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $3,000,000 for the New Public Safety Building Capital Improvement Program Project (PE- 15001); and 3) Budget Amendment in the Capital Improvement Fund; CEQA - Environmental Impact Report for the New Public Safety Building (Resolution No. 9772) Consent Questions
12.
Approval of a Cooperative Agreement between the City of Palo Alto, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to Conduct the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Documentation Phase of the Connecting Palo Alto Grade Separation Projects at Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road Crossings and Allocating $20 million in Grant Funding to this Phase, and authorize the City Manager or their designee to Finalize and Execute the Agreement; CEQA status - CEQA and NEPA review will be conducted as part of this agreement.
13.
Improvement Projects Providing Enhancing the Churchill Avenue Railroad At-Grade Crossing
14.
Approval of Budget Amendments in the Child Care Trust Fund and General Fund in Support of Expenditures to Support Early Education Providers; CEQA status - Not a Project.
15.
​F​IRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Approving a Plan for Park Improvements at the City’s Baylands for Santa Clara Valley Water District's Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Structure Phase 1: Seismic: Retrofit and Rehabilitation Project; Approval of Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Project Prepared by Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCH # 2020090237).
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS (7:30 - 7:45 PM)
 
BREAK (15 MINUTES)
 
ACTION ITEMS (Item 16: 8:00 - 9:30 PM, Item 17: 9:30 - 9:45 PM)
Include: Report of Committees/Commissions, Ordinances and Resolutions, Public Hearings, Report of Officials, Unfinished Business and Council Matters.

 
16.
Receive an Update and Confirm the Preferred Concept Plan for the University Avenue Streetscape Improvements Project (PE-21004) and Direct Staff to Return with a Contract Amendment for Future Phases; CEQA Status – Not a Project Staff Presentation, Public Comment
17.
Approval of Amendments to the Employment Agreements between the City of Palo Alto and Council Appointed Officers, specifically the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk. CEQA Status - Not a Project
ADJOURNMENT
 
INFORMATION REPORTS
Information reports are provided for informational purposes only to the Council and the public but are not listed for action during this meeting’s agenda.

 
OTHER INFORMATION

Standing Committee Meetings this week
    Policy & Services Committee December 10, 2024

Public Comment Letters
Schedule of Meetings


 
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS / AMENDED AGENDA ITEMS
 
1.
AT PLACES MEMO: Appreciation for Joe Simitian for his Many Years Serving Palo Alto and the Region
 
4.
LATE PACKET REPORT: Adoption of a Resolution Accepting the Statement of Votes and Certificate of Election Results and Declaring the Results of the Consolidated Municipal Election Held on November 5, 2024; and Adoption of an Ordinance Approved by the Voters (Measure D) to Undedicate 0.33 Acres of El Camino Park; CEQA status - the Ordinance is exempt under Pub. Res. Code § 21080(b)(12). 
 
 
 
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 [email protected].
  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 [email protected]. 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 $250 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. 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 $250 made within the last 12 months, you must disclose the campaign contribution before making your comments.