City Council - October 7, 2024

Council authorizes Cubberley purchase-and-lease framework

The City Council authorized the city manager to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Palo Alto Unified School District for the purchase and lease of seven acres at the Cubberley site. The action advances the site’s redevelopment while leaving the purchase contingent on voter approval.

The framework calls for a $65.5 million purchase in 2027, contingent on approval of a November 2026 bond measure. It also provides for a five-year lease beginning in January 2025 at $2 million annually, increasing to $2.5 million if the district vacates its spaces. The city and school district aim to complete their respective plans by March 2026.

Council directed staff and a reconstituted Cubberley Ad Hoc Committee to resume master planning, conduct environmental review and prepare formal lease and purchase-and-sale agreements. Council Member Pat Burt said the proposed bond would need to cover both the land purchase and construction costs. Public commenters supported moving toward the 2026 ballot measure and future community-center planning.

Recreation work plan adds athletics review and park dedication study

Council approved an amended Parks and Recreation Commission work plan directing the commission to evaluate middle-school athletics for universal access and consistency with state law. The review will include the possibility of outsourcing programs to local nonprofits. Council also requested a study session on the status of potential park dedications and obstacles delaying them.

The athletics discussion focused partly on 62 JLS students affected by a separate cross-country team who could not participate in meets. Staff said the league permits only one team per school and that the city program remained available. The work-plan amendment calls for a longer-term evaluation rather than an immediate program change.

Council members also raised concern that potential park sites have not advanced because the land could be reserved for future departmental uses. The requested study session is intended to examine those sites and possible next steps.

Council raises gas charge ceiling to 30 cents per therm

Council adopted a resolution raising the upper limit on the monthly natural-gas transportation charge from 25 cents to 30 cents per therm, effective Nov. 1. The change applies to residential, commercial, large commercial and compressed natural-gas rate schedules.

The city manager said the charge passes through transportation costs and is unrelated to city operating costs. Council Member Greg Tanaka opposed the change, characterizing the five-cent increase in the ceiling as a 20% increase and citing previous gas-rate increases.

Council approves 10-year Foothills dark-fiber agreement

Council approved a 10-year dark-fiber license agreement with Adobe Creek Networks and an associated fiscal year 2025 Fiber Fund budget amendment for service in the Foothills.

Burt requested that the city’s next fiber update examine how the Foothills fiber-to-the-premises arrangement is performing and whether it should influence the city’s broader fiber strategy. Tanaka opposed further fiber-to-the-premises investment, arguing that residents already have other broadband options.

Primary sources

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