James Colin

The commission received an informational presentation regarding East Palo Alto's participation in the FEMA Community Rating System. Staff provided status updates on various ongoing capital improvement projects, including lighting improvements, corridor projects, water storage tank studies, and facility renovations. The commission discussed and recommended parking restrictions at the intersection of Pulgas Avenue and Weeks Street and at the western terminus of Tulane Avenue. Additionally, the process for selecting a Chair and Vice Chair was initiated, and commissioners submitted requests for future agenda items, such as maintenance performance metrics and sidewalk investigation plans.

The meeting agenda includes the consideration of several items: a monthly cash treasury report for January 2026, the creation of an Assistant City Clerk - Confidential position and the reclassification of an existing Office Assistant role, the second reading of a Residential Permit Parking Program ordinance, and authorization for hydrant and filtration plant repairs. Additionally, the Council will review an amendment to the Peninsula Clean Energy Joint Powers Agreement, consider the adoption of the 2026 California Building Standards Code and Reach Codes, and address a Notice of Probable Violation regarding an Underground Safety Board decision. Policy and action items also include the implementation plan for the Economic Development Strategic Plan and the 2025 Annual Housing Element and General Plan Progress Reports.

The City Council held a special meeting to conduct the first public hearing regarding the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget. The discussion included an overview of the City's structural budget deficit, revenue and expenditure projections, and departmental budget presentations. The Council reviewed the status of strategic priorities, capital improvement projects, and personnel recommendations, while also integrating the East Palo Alto Sanitary District as a blended component unit. Additionally, the meeting addressed general fund revenue trends, including the impact of legislative measures on business license taxes and ongoing efforts toward fiscal sustainability.

The council discussed responses to San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury reports concerning internal controls, restaurant exterior waste management, and parklet sanitation. Additional topics included increasing HR support contract amounts, ratifying a grant application, declaring the city a reproductive freedom defender, and receiving a report on water rate changes. The meeting also covered public safety initiatives involving surveillance cameras and license plate recognition systems, homeless encampment clearance protocols, and the potential formation of a Measure HH evaluation subcommittee.

The board discussed reports on the Rent Stabilization Program in numbers for recent months and approved the annual registration fee of $234 per rental unit for the 2023-2024 program year. Additionally, the meeting featured an advisory body training session covering parliamentary procedures under Rosenberg's Rules of Order, conducted elections for the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair for the upcoming program year, and organized member assignments for the Outreach and Education, Regulations, and Habitability standing committees.