Policy and Services Committee Meeting - October 13, 2026

The City of Palo Alto Policy and Services Committee met on October 13, 2026. On Housing Element Program 3.9A, staff recommended no additional restrictions on commercial development, routing any commercial linkage-fee changes through the ongoing development impact fee update and considering additional office standards in the 2028 building-code update. The committee unanimously approved the staff recommendation and directed staff to return in 2027 with further analysis of a possible construction labor standards ordinance, potentially covering private office development and city-owned projects. Members discussed geographic and project-size scope, enforcement costs, and impacts on development; no ordinance or contract was approved. Staff also noted that the next iteration of the City’s existing agreement with Alta Housing could include stronger reporting and performance measures for the below-market-rate housing program.

The committee unanimously accepted the below-market-rate housing audit recommendations, including better monitoring of affordability-retention risks and participant support; the audit found no fraud, waste, abuse, or conflicts of interest. It also unanimously accepted the FY 2026 audit follow-up report: recommendations from the procurement-process and purchasing-card audits were all reported complete, while some recommendations in other areas remain underway or unstarted. Potential consultant assistance for ADA process improvements was mentioned, but no related spending authorization or procurement action was taken. No contract awards, bids, or new vendor selections were identified.