City Council Meeting - October 26, 2026

The City of Palo Alto City Council meeting on October 26, 2026, included a study session on 2026–27 winter storm preparedness. Staff reviewed completed and ongoing flood-mitigation infrastructure, routine storm-drain maintenance, sandbag stations planned to open November 1, interagency coordination, and public communications in light of a strong El Niño forecast. Staff said the preparedness work was generally part of the existing annual budget, with no additional resource request identified. Council members discussed resident assistance, outreach, and readiness; no procurement awards or new contract approvals were identified. The council appointed members to the Public Art Commission and Stormwater Management Oversight Committee through ballots, and reported no action from closed session.

The council unanimously adopted an amendment to the Stream Corridor Protection Ordinance, including stream setbacks and related exemptions. It also unanimously approved the first reading of a temporary, one-year zoning moratorium on new or expanded detention and custodial facilities; a second reading was scheduled for November 9, 2026. Consent-calendar item six, concerning a zoning-code correction for Baylands-area properties, was pulled for future discussion. No vendor selections, bid approvals, or new spending decisions were identified.