Palo Alto meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Palo Alto roundup: oversized vehicle parking rules, $1.2M Zoom contract, $100M bond recommendation

The Palo Alto City Council on October 19 approved an ordinance prohibiting overnight parking of oversized vehicles in residential areas, on a 6-1 vote, and approved a $1,206,456 contract for Zoom Government Unified Communications Solutions, on a 7-0 vote. The two were among eight actions recorded in the meeting minutes.

Oversized vehicle parking ordinance passes 6-1

The Council approved an ordinance prohibiting overnight parking of oversized vehicles in residential areas. The vote was 6-1, with one member opposed. The minutes summary does not list how individual members voted.

$1.2 million Zoom contract and other Council actions

All of the following October 19 items passed 7-0, according to the minutes:

• A $1,206,456 contract for Zoom Government Unified Communications Solutions.
• $15,000 for the Know Your Neighbors Grant Program.
• A Letter of Intent with Palo Alto Community Child Care for a Cubberley site partnership.
• A setback reduction from 50 to 20 feet at 3300 El Camino Real.
• Upholding a permit to remove four protected Coast Redwoods at 751 Waverley Street.
• Authorizing the filing of an amicus brief in Willow Project LLC v. City of Menlo Park et al.
• Approving minutes from the September 28 and October 5, 2026 meetings.

Finance Committee recommends up to $100 million in bonds

The Finance Committee on October 20 voted 3-0 to recommend that the City Council authorize issuance of up to $100 million in tax-exempt Electric Revenue Bonds for grid modernization. The committee also recommended, 3-0, a 1% rate increase cap for Series 2027 bonds, new reserve categories for the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, and a five-year funding timeline for water plant reserves. These are recommendations to the Council; the summaries do not show final Council action on them.

Cubberley appraisals released; child care partnership advanced

At an October 13 special meeting, the City Council voted 7-0 to release two appraisal documents dated August 29, 2024 and September 5, 2024, related to the purchase offer for the Cubberley Community Center property. Separately, the October 19 Letter of Intent with Palo Alto Community Child Care concerns a Cubberley site partnership.

Committee: no further commercial reductions under Housing Element Program 3.9A

The Policy & Services Committee on October 13 voted 3-0 to recommend that the City Council find the intent of Housing Element Program 3.9A is achieved and that no further commercial development reductions are warranted. The committee also recommended, 3-0, that the Council consider commercial linkage fee changes through a development impact fee update and consider office development building standards during the 2028 code update. It directed staff to return in 2027 on a construction labor standards ordinance, and accepted two audit reports from the Office of the City Auditor, 3-0: the Below Market Rate Housing Program Audit and the FY2026 Audit Recommendation Follow-up Report.

Agenda items awaiting minutes

Minutes have not been published for several recent meetings. The Architectural Review Board held a public hearing on an AT&T request [26PLN-00229] to collocate antennas, remote radio units and seven-foot fiberglass pole extensions near 670 Guinda Street and 754 Homer Avenue. The Storm Water Management Oversight Committee was scheduled to review FY2026 actuals and the 2027 adopted budget. The City/Schools Liaison Committee was scheduled to discuss e-bike advocacy and receive updates from Project Safety Net, Youth Community Services, the Palo Alto Unified School District and the City.

Coming up

• **Oct. 26 — City Council special meeting:** a proposed moratorium on new or expanded detention and custodial facilities; an additional $428,000 in annual funding for the FY 2028-2029 Human Services Resource Allocation Process; a zoning ordinance allowing multiple-family residential uses in the ROLM(E) Zone District via use permit; amendments to the FY 2027 Municipal Fee Schedule for solar permits; and amendments to Municipal Code Section 18.40.140 on Stream Corridor Protection.
• **Oct. 27 — Parks and Recreation Commission:** feedback on concept designs for Foothills Nature Preserve Interpretive Center exhibits and discussion of funding partners.
• **Oct. 28 — Planning & Transportation Commission:** 60% plans for the Quarry Road Transit Connection and a public hearing on 51 Encina Avenue zoning text amendments for historic buildings.
• **Nov. 2 — City Council regular meeting:** public hearing on replacing temporary ordinances implementing SB 9, SB 450 and other state housing laws; a $293,501 contract amendment for SWA Services Group, Inc. janitorial services; a $400,000 annual blanket purchase order with Graniterock Company for asphalt materials; and the 2025 Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
• **Nov. 4 — Economic Development Committee special meeting:** a recommendation to amend the Entertainment Zone Ordinance to establish an Entertainment Zone on Ramona Street.

Palo Alto council approves $1.29M railroad crossing design contract; utilities panel backs $100M grid bond

Palo Alto's City Council approved a $1.29 million contract with BKF Engineers for railroad crossing design on a 7-0 vote at its Oct. 5 regular meeting. In a separate action, the city's Utilities Advisory Commission voted 5-2 to recommend that the council approve issuing and selling tax-exempt electric revenue bonds not to exceed $100,000,000 for electric grid modernization — a recommendation to the council, not a final council decision.

Railroad crossing design contract

The $1.29M contract with BKF Engineers was approved 7-0 as part of a consent calendar that also included budget reappropriations. The same consent calendar carried approval of FY 2027 work plans for four city commissions, also on a 7-0 vote.

Utilities commission recommends $100M bond

The Utilities Advisory Commission, meeting Oct. 7, approved its Sept. 2, 2026 minutes 7-0 and forwarded several items to the council. A motion to defer the Water and Wastewater Rate Design Guidelines failed 3-4; the commission then voted 4-2-1 to recommend the council adopt the guidelines and principles. It voted 5-2 to recommend the bond issuance for grid modernization, and 7-0 to recommend a low-income definition for the Low Carbon Fuel Standards program that includes Rate Assistance Program eligibility.

Cubberley appraisals released

At a special meeting Oct. 13, the council discussed the potential release of documents regarding the purchase offer for the Cubberley Community Center property and voted 7-0 to release two appraisals dated Aug. 29, 2024 and Sept. 5, 2024.

Housing Element program 3.9A

The Policy & Services Committee voted 3-0 on Oct. 13 to recommend the council find that the intent of Housing Element Program 3.9A is achieved and that no further commercial development reductions are warranted. The committee also voted 3-0 to recommend the council consider commercial linkage fee changes through a development impact fee update, consider office development building standards during the 2028 code update, and directed staff to return in 2027 regarding a construction labor standards ordinance. It accepted the Below Market Rate Housing Program Audit results and the FY2026 Audit Recommendation Follow-up Report, each 3-0.

Appointments and ballot positions

The council appointed Katie Causey and Raizel Rosenberg to the Human Relations Commission, Haylea Hannah to the Human Relations Commission for a partial term, Shani Kleinhaus, Marc Schoenen and Bing Betty Wei to Parks and Recreation, Virginia Ruiz Albacete to Parks and Recreation, and Tom Siegel to the Planning and Transportation Commission. The council also adopted support or oppose positions on nine November 2026 ballot measures, 7-0.

Agenda items without published minutes

Three bodies met or were scheduled to meet on items whose outcomes are not yet documented. The Public Art Commission held a special meeting Oct. 6 on up to $375,000 in private development in-lieu funds for Code:ART 2027 downtown projection mapping, up to $70,000 from the Art in Public Places CIP for temporary interactive media installations, art proposals for 3415-3431 Hillview Avenue, 900-910 Arastradero Road and 3150 El Camino Real, and acceptance of donated works by CASP artists Adrienne Defendi and Eric Fei Guan. The Human Relations Commission met Oct. 8 on HSRAP FY 2028 priority of needs and HOA fee stabilization for below market rate homeowners; the agenda listed no dollar amounts. The Architectural Review Board scheduled a public hearing on an AT&T request [26PLN-00229] to collocate antennas, remote radio units and seven-foot fiberglass pole extensions near 670 Guinda Street and 754 Homer Avenue.

Coming up

The council meets Oct. 19 to consider purchase orders with Packet Fusion for Zoom Government solutions not to exceed $1,206,456, an ordinance prohibiting overnight parking of oversized vehicles in residential areas with an Embarcadero Road permit pilot, a Letter of Intent with Palo Alto Community Child Care for expanded child care at the Cubberley site, a reduction of the special setback at 3300 El Camino Real from 50 feet to 20 feet, an appeal on removal of four protected Coast Redwoods at 751 Waverley Street, and a Caltrain funding framework.

The Finance Committee meets Oct. 20 on the $100 million bond authorization and on reserve categories and target funding for the Regional Water Quality Control Plant. The City Schools Liaison Committee and the Stormwater Management Oversight Committee both meet Oct. 22, the latter on FY 2026 actuals and the 2027 adopted budget. A council special meeting Oct. 26 takes up a proposed moratorium on new or expanded detention and custodial facilities, an additional $428,000 in annual funding for the FY 2028-2029 Human Services Resource Allocation Process, and zoning and code amendments covering multiple-family uses in the ROLM(E) district, solar permit fees and Stream Corridor Protection.

Palo Alto approves 228-unit apartment project, $31M water plant borrowing

The Palo Alto City Council approved an eight-story, 228-unit rental apartment building at 762 San Antonio Road under the state's "Builder's Remedy" provision, and separately authorized up to $31 million in interim borrowing for improvements to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant. Both actions came in the two weeks ending Aug. 24.

City Council actions

762 San Antonio Road housing (7-0). The council approved the architectural review for the 228-unit rental project on Aug. 17. The vote was unanimous.

ADU conveyance ordinance (4-3). The council passed a substitute motion directing staff to return an ordinance allowing separate accessory dwelling unit conveyance to the Planning Commission. The vote was 4-3.

$31M water plant borrowing (7-0). On Aug. 10, the council authorized interim borrowing of up to $31 million for the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, including a five-year revolving credit agreement and related note.

Crescent Park traffic calming (5-2). The council approved the final design for the Crescent Park Traffic Calming Project, including a reduced bulb-out at Southwood and East Crescent.

Weed abatement assessments. The council adopted resolutions confirming assessments for 3500 Deer Creek Rd. (5-0, with Lu and Veenker recused) and for other properties (7-0).

Other council actions. The council reduced the Stormwater Management Oversight Committee from 7 to 5 members (7-0), directed staff to evaluate Historic Resources Board term limits (7-0), and approved consent items 1-18 (7-0), including contracts, ordinances, and budget amendments. On Aug. 17, consent items included an electric supply resolution, a warming/cooling program expansion, and a $298,716 design contract (7-0). Cubberley site negotiations were continued to a date uncertain.

Committee and commission actions

Policy & Services Committee (Aug. 11). The committee voted 3-0 to recommend the council accept the Junior Museum & Zoo Audit results, request a joint session with the Human Relations Commission on the HSRAP+ grant expansion, focus Housing Element Program 6.5 on microhousing, shared housing, and senior housing in transit-oriented areas, and approve a scope of work for legislative advocacy and grant consulting services.

Finance Committee (Aug. 18). The committee voted 2-0-1 (with member Burt absent) to recommend the council authorize refinancing of the 2009A Water Revenue Bonds via up to $20 million in new tax-exempt refunding bonds, and to approve related documents.

Human Relations Commission (Aug. 13). The commission approved its June 11 draft minutes; no other decisions were made.

Other recent meetings (agenda only). The Planning & Transportation Commission held a public hearing on an 82-unit project at 332 Forest Avenue (minutes not yet published). The Historic Resources Board scheduled a hearing on a greenhouse demolition and rebuild at 1431 Waverley Street. The Architectural Review Board held a study session on a 273-unit project at 3997 Fabian Way and a field office at 1185 Skyline Boulevard. The Public Art Commission reviewed a public art plan at 3150 El Camino Real and considered allocating up to $70,000 for Code:ART 2027.

Coming up

• **Aug. 24 (special meeting):** City Council will consider regulatory agreements for the Buena Vista Mobilehome Park redevelopment, two pilot oversized-vehicle parking programs, a $441,056 furniture purchase order, a $170,450 contract amendment for University Avenue Streetscape design, and a second reading of an ordinance increasing contract approval thresholds.
• **Aug. 26:** Economic Development Committee will review the Business Retention, Expansion, and Attraction Strategy and the August activity report.
• **Aug. 26:** Planning & Transportation Commission will consider allowing multiple-family residential uses in the ROLM(E) zone and hold a study session on South of Forest Area design standards.
• **Sept. 4:** Climate Action and Sustainability Committee will review the 2025 greenhouse gas inventory and approaches to carbon neutrality.

Palo Alto weekly roundup: UAC minutes approved; council to vote on $2.8M in contracts

In the past two weeks, Palo Alto's only formal decision came from the Utilities Advisory Commission, which approved its June meeting minutes. Several other commissions met but took no action. The coming week brings a busy City Council agenda with more than $2.8 million in contracts and a zoning update, plus hearings on two large housing projects.

Recent decisions

The Utilities Advisory Commission met August 5 and approved the minutes from its June 3 meeting by a 5-0-1 vote, with Commissioner Gupta abstaining. The commission took no action on the Calendar Year 2025 Reliability Metric Update and Annual System Reliability Goal Setting, which was presented as a report item. No other substantive decisions were made.

Other recent meetings were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. The Parks and Recreation Commission (July 28) considered a Park Improvement Ordinance and environmental study for the Arastradero Creek Stabilization and Utility Line Relocation and Repair project, plus an update on nature connectivity. The Architectural Review Board (August 6) reviewed process and design standards for Tier 2 and Tier 3 wireless communication facilities in the public right-of-way. The Climate Action and Sustainability Committee (August 7) discussed the Youth Climate Advisory Board Annual Report, the RWQCP Biosolids Facility Plan Update, and the 2025 Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

Upcoming meetings

The City Council meets August 10 and will vote on several contracts totaling over $2.8 million. These include a $714,639 purchase order for traffic signal network switches, a $286,660 contract for Adobe Creek Substation load tap changer repairs, and a $735,500 contract for substation painting services over 18 months. The council will also hold second readings of zoning ordinances updating commercial downtown flexibility and retail vitality measures, and a public hearing on weed abatement assessments.

On August 11, the Policy & Services Committee will review an audit of the Junior Museum & Zoo, consider expanding the HSRAP Grant Program, provide feedback on the Alternative Housing Program, and discuss a scope of work for legislative advocacy and grant consulting services.

The Planning & Transportation Commission meets August 12 for a public hearing on a proposed eight-story, 82-unit residential building at 332 Forest Avenue (RM-40 zone). The commission will also review and submit its 2026-27 work plan to the City Council.

Two meetings are scheduled for August 13. The Human Relations Commission will hear presentations on affordable senior housing from Alta Housing, Eden Housing, and MidPen Housing, and discuss barriers to senior services, county policies, and property-tax qualifications. The Historic Resources Board will hold a public hearing on a major historic review at 1431 Waverley Street, involving demolition of a greenhouse and accessory structures on a Category 2 Historic Resource and construction of a new greenhouse and one-story horticultural complex.

On August 17, the City Council will hold a public hearing on a proposal to demolish three commercial buildings at 762 San Antonio Road and build an eight-story, 228-unit rental apartment building under the state's Builders Remedy. The council will also consider an ordinance amending municipal codes regarding accessory dwelling units, and vote on consent items including a $298,716 contract for electrification design services and an expansion of the overnight warming/cooling program. The meeting begins with closed-session discussions on litigation and negotiations for the Cubberley site.

The Finance Committee meets August 18 to consider refinancing the 2009A Water Revenue Bonds with up to $20 million in tax-exempt refunding bonds, and will vote on a recommendation to the City Council.

Coming up

• **City Council** – August 10, 5:00 p.m. (contracts, zoning, weed abatement)
• **Planning & Transportation Commission** – August 12 (82-unit housing at 332 Forest Avenue)
• **City Council** – August 17 (228-unit housing at 762 San Antonio Road, ADU ordinance)
• **Finance Committee** – August 18 ($20M water bond refinancing)