City Council Committees

The City Council participates in meeting groups to develop discussion on City matters. The Mayor assigns Council Members to Standing Committees annually. The City Council can also create Ad Hoc Committees based on need. Ad Hocs are short-term Committees for very specific discussions. City Council can appoint up to three members to an Ad Hoc Committee.

Wondering how to join a City meeting and provide public comment?
Check out Resources for Hybrid Attendance and our Public Comment Policy(PDF, 412KB).

Standing Committees

The City of Palo Alto has six standing committees that focus on varied topics within the City. City Council Members are appointed to a standing committee to view and discuss items referred by the City Council. They then recommend to the City Council the best course of action to take. Standing committees have discussions on continuing topics, which are fixed in a meeting schedule.

  • City/School Liaison Committee meets monthly on the third Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
    Council assignments and Committee members: 
    • Council Member Pat Burt
    • Council Member Greg Tanaka
    • Board Member Todd Collins (Chair)
    • Board Member Shounak Dharap
  • Council Appointed Officers Committee meets on an as-needed basis.
    Council assignments:
    • Vice Mayor Ed Lauing (Chair)
    • Council Member Pat Burt
    • Council Member Lydia Kou
  • Finance Committee meets monthly on the first and third Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
    Council assignments:
    • Council Member Pat Burt (Chair)
    • Vice Mayor Ed Lauing
    • Council Member Vicki Veenker
  • Policy and Services Committee meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
    Council assignments:
    • Council Member Lydia Kou (Chair)
    • Council Member Julie Lythcott-Haims
    • Council Member Greg Tanaka

Ad Hoc Committees

The City Council can appoint Ad Hoc Committees to add Council leadership to specific focus areas. These Ad Hoc Committees are created for a set period of time, unless reappointed by the new Mayor in the following year. You can read more about Ad Hoc Committees in the City Council Protocols and Procedures Handbook.

  • Cubberley Real Estate Transaction Committee

     Council assignments:

  • Council Member Julie Lythcott-Haims (Chair)
  • Council Member Pat Burt
  • Council Member Lydia Kou

    Council assignments:

  • Council Member Vicki Veenker (Chair)
  • Council Member Pat Burt
  • El Camino Ad Hoc Committee

    Council assignments:

  • Vice Mayor Ed Lauing
  • Council Member Pat Burt
  • Housing Ad Hoc Committee

     Council assignments:

  • Vice Mayor Ed Lauing (Chair)
  • Mayor Greer Stone

    Council assignments:

  • Council Member Pat Burt (Chair)
  • Vice Mayor Ed Lauing
  • Council Member Julie Lythcott-Haims

    Council assignments:

  • Council Member Lydia Kou (Chair)
  • Council Member Julie Lythcott-Haims
  • Council Member Pat Burt
  • Stanford Ad Hoc Committee

     Council assignments:

  • Council Member Pat Burt
  • Council Member Lydia Kou
  • Vice Mayor Ed Lauing

Other Meeting Groups

Looking for a different meeting group? The City of Palo Alto holds several types of meetings each month. Check out our City Meeting Groups Webpage. For all upcoming City events and meetings, explore our City Calendar.

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