Palo Alto prides itself on being unique, so it’s no surprise that its city government has some quirks that make it different from other places. Read on to learn more about how the Palo Alto City Council operates, why it matters and why there seems to be a new mayor every time you turn around.
What is the government structure in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto has a form of municipal government called the “council-manager,” which is used in about 55 percent of American cities with populations over 10,000. With the council-manager government structure, the majority of the decision-making power in Palo Alto rests with the City Council, while the Mayor is a fairly ceremonial role.
photo credit: City of Palo Alto
How Does the Council-Manager Government work in Palo Alto?
Under the council–manager form of government, the Palo Alto City Council is responsible for the legislative function of the city. The Palo Alto City Council sets the overall vision for the community and oversees issues such as community growth, land use development, capital improvement plans, capital financing, and strategic planning.
To put these efforts into action, the Palo Alto City Council hires and supervises a City Manager who is responsible for executing the policies passed by the council. In Palo Alto, the City Manager is Jim Keene, who has been in this position since 2008.
Jim Keene, City Manager
With a City Manager who is appointed and reports to the City Council, Palo Alto aims to avoid the mistakes that can be made when towns are run by inexperienced elected officials who cycle in and out of office every few years. The goal of the council-manager government is to ensure smooth municipal operations in Palo Alto, regardless of who is elected into city government.
How many people are on the Palo Alto City Council? How long do they serve?
Palo Alto has nine people on its City Council, who each are elected to a four-year term. In 2014, voters voted to fill five spots open on the City Council. Measure D also passed in 2014 so the nine-member Palo Alto City Council will only last until 2018, after which it will drop down to just seven seats.
When does the City Council meet? Can I watch or listen without going in person?
The Palo Alto City Council meets on the first three Mondays of every month at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue in downtown Palo Alto. You can watch the Council meetings live on TV at Government Channel 26 or 29 or on the radio at KZSU, 90.1 FM. You can also stream Council meetings online.
You can find agendas and minutes for the Palo Alto City Council meetings on the City of Palo Alto website.
photo courtesy of City of PA
Does the Palo Alto City Council get paid? How much work is it to be on City Council?
Yes, Council members get a monthly stipend of $600. In addition to this cash stipend, Palo Alto City Council members also receive the same full benefits as city employees. There is no documentation about the amount of work entailed in serving on City Council, but the number of people serving on the Council who also work full time in other professions has declined over the past 20 years.
What Does the Mayor Do in Palo Alto?
The Palo Alto City Council appoints a mayor every January who serves for one year. The Mayor of Palo Alto is currently Karen Holman.
In a council-manager government such as Palo Alto, the role of mayor is fairly ceremonial. The Mayor’s main jobs in Palo Alto are to chair the City Council meetings and work with the City Manager (Jim Keene) to set the agenda. The Mayor also gives the annual “state of the city” speech.
Resources:
Website for the city of Georgetown, TX
