City Council - October 21, 2024

Staff will draft a temporary wireless-review ordinance

The City Council voted 6-1 to direct staff to return with an ordinance aimed at restoring subjective aesthetic review of wireless communication facilities for up to two years, to the extent allowed by law. The action set up a future legislative decision rather than changing the city code that night.

Supporters of further review questioned whether the current objective standards adequately address site-specific placement and design concerns. Public commenters generally favored a fuller review, while staff warned that wireless applications can face accelerated review deadlines and may be deemed approved if the city misses them.

Council also referred a potential permanent amendment to the Planning and Transportation Commission and Architectural Review Board. Staff was asked to clarify what subjective wireless standards existed before the current rules and how they relate to the Architectural Review Board's general findings.

North Ventura zoning ordinance clears second reading

Council adopted the zoning ordinance for the North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan on second reading as part of the consent calendar. The ordinance adds a new municipal code chapter, amends related code chapters and the zoning map, and rezones parcels within the plan area.

One council member subsequently registered a no vote specifically on the ordinance after the recorded consent-calendar vote.

Council backs four measures on the November ballot

Council adopted official support positions for Proposition 3 on marriage equality, the $10 billion climate and environmental bond in Proposition 4, Palo Alto's Measure D for the Coyote Road Connection Project, and Proposition 5, which would lower the approval threshold for local bonds from two-thirds to 55%.

Support for Proposition 3, Proposition 4 and Measure D passed unanimously. Proposition 5 was separated for a 5-2 vote after members raised concerns about reducing the voter threshold and the cumulative effect of property taxes.

Discussion also touched on Propositions 2, 32, 33 and 36, but council did not adopt positions on those measures, limiting its formal endorsements to the measures recommended by staff as aligned with existing city policy.

Commission workplans add rental review and San Antonio planning

Council unanimously approved the Human Relations Commission's fiscal year 2025 workplan and separately voted 6-1 to add a conditional review of rental-registry data. If the data become available during the fiscal year, the commission is to conduct a preliminary review and begin developing possible recommendations for council.

The Planning and Transportation Commission's approved workplan includes continued work on area planning. Staff anticipated returning in January or February 2025 to select a consultant for the San Antonio Area Plan and said completing the process within two years would be ambitious. Projects already moving forward on San Antonio Road will remain subject to existing codes, though staff said it would try to incorporate them into the future plan's vision.

Council approved the Architectural Review Board's workplan with an added sixth item to review aesthetic standards for cell towers, contingent on future council direction. The Historic Resources Board's workplan also won approval, with priorities including code clarification, historic-inventory cleanup, preservation incentives and possible preservation awards.

Staff said council would receive an update within two to four weeks about concerns that the “potentially eligible” historic-resource label on parcel reports can confuse or burden property owners.

Rinconada Pool agreement wins approval despite access concerns

Council approved an amendment establishing a five-year operating and revenue-sharing agreement with Team Sheeper Inc. for Rinconada Pool, effective Jan. 1, 2025, with an option for an additional five-year renewal. One council member later registered a no vote on the item.

Public commenters urged the city to delay the extension, questioning whether usage data distinguished Palo Alto residents from nonresidents. They also criticized limited non-team access after 4 p.m. and argued that single-entry prices had become unaffordable.

A council member requested that future reports provide clearer data about who is served by the pool before the city considers another long-term agreement.

Council approves utility purchases and building contingencies

The consent calendar approved fiscal year 2024 reappropriation requests into fiscal year 2025, a fiber-materials purchase of up to $378,003, a $410,000 amendment for the Residential Emergency Water Heater Replacement Pilot Program, and increased construction and purchase-order contingencies for the New Public Safety Building.

Concerns raised before the vote included calls for stronger justification when carrying funds forward, opposition to further fiber-to-the-premises spending, questions about whether the water-heater program disproportionately benefits homeowners over renters, and requests to hold the line on public-safety building costs. The items were approved through the consent calendar.

Council unanimously endorses countywide child-care initiative

Council voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution supporting Build the Future Santa Clara County, an initiative promoting affordable, high-quality child care and support for child-care providers.

The resolution commits Palo Alto to continue supporting access to child care, assist providers and child-care businesses, and advocate with the countywide initiative through the Palo Alto Early Care and Education Committee. Council members described child care as an economic, equity, family and community issue.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting agenda