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Palo Alto takes public comment seriously. Council meetings regularly run past 10 p.m. when housing, traffic or utility rates are on the agenda. A well-prepared three-minute comment from a resident can change the direction of a vote. You do not need to be a voter, a homeowner or an expert to speak. You only need to know when your item comes up and how to get in line.
This page is a practical walkthrough for first-timers. It covers the schedule, how to read an agenda, every way to comment and how to follow along from home. For who sits on the council and how the city is organized, see our companion guide to how city government works.
When the council meets
The city's City Council page says the council meets on the first, second and third Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. It can add special meetings when needed, which sometimes fall on other weekdays.
The council approves two breaks each year. In 2026 the summer break ran from June 19 to July 31. The winter break runs from December 22, 2026 to January 1, 2027. No regular council or standing committee meetings are held during those dates.
A new council in January
Three council seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The council chooses a mayor and vice mayor from among its members each January, so expect new faces and a new presiding officer at the first meetings of 2027. Our voting and elections guide explains how council members are elected.
Where meetings happen
Meetings are hybrid. The city holds them in person at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue, in either the Council Chambers or the Community Meeting Room. They run on Zoom at the same time. The agenda says which room is in use. City Hall faces King Plaza downtown. Our King Plaza and City Hall page describes the building and the plaza.
- Getting there. City Hall is a short walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station and the downtown garages. Evening parking downtown is easier than daytime. Our downtown garages guide lists options.
- Arriving. Come before 5:30 p.m. if your item is early. If it is late on the agenda, you can watch online and come in when it gets close.
- Accessibility. The meeting page links to the city's accessibility and ADA pages. Contact the City Clerk well ahead if you need an accommodation.
Reading the agenda
The agenda packet is published 11 days before each meeting and goes online after 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays. The packet is long. It includes the agenda itself and a staff report for each item, with background, options and a recommendation. Reading the staff report for your item is the single best thing you can do before you speak.
A typical agenda moves through a set order. Expect a closed session or special orders near the start, then general public comment on topics not on the agenda, then the consent calendar of routine items voted on together, then the main action items. Council members can pull an item off consent for separate discussion. Order and timing shift from meeting to meeting, so check the specific agenda.
Tips for finding your item
- Sign up for the city's agenda email list so packets come to you.
- Search the packet for your street, project name or address.
- Check whether your issue is on consent. If it is, it may pass in seconds unless someone speaks or a council member pulls it.
- Look at the three-week preview of upcoming meetings to see what is coming.
State open meeting law, the Brown Act, generally requires regular meeting agendas to be posted at least 72 hours ahead and limits the council to acting on items listed on the agenda. That is why general public comment on unlisted topics cannot lead to a vote that night.
How to speak
The city's hybrid meeting page sets out the rules.
| How | What to do |
|---|---|
| In person | Fill out a speaker request card and give it to the City Clerk before the item is discussed. |
| Zoom | Use the link and webinar ID on the first page of the agenda. Use your real name. Click Raise Hand when the item comes up. |
| Phone | Dial (669) 900-6833 and enter the webinar ID. Press *9 to raise your hand and *6 to unmute when called. Say your first and last name. |
| Write to city.council@paloalto.gov and name the agenda item in the subject line. |
Time limits and order
- Each speaker gets up to three minutes on an agenda item, or a shorter time set by the chair.
- Requests to speak are taken until five minutes after the staff presentation, unless the chair decides otherwise.
- General public comment on topics not on the agenda gets 30 minutes near the start. In-person speakers go first and virtual speakers last. Any remaining speakers are heard at the end of the meeting.
- Remote comment is taken only for items on the agenda.
- A timer shows on screen and remote speakers are muted when time runs out.
Speaking for a group
When several people want to make the same point, they can name one spokesperson. That person must represent at least five verified individuals and gets up to 10 minutes. The time shrinks if the chair shortens individual speaking time. This works well for neighborhood associations that want one clear presentation instead of a long line of similar comments.
Slides and video
Email presentations, videos or other media to city.clerk@paloalto.gov at least 24 hours before the meeting. The clerk shows them at your item. USB drives and other storage devices are not accepted.
Making your three minutes count
- Lead with your ask. Say in the first sentence whether you support or oppose the recommendation, or what change you want.
- Be specific. One concrete local fact, such as the number of cars that pass your house at school pickup, beats general arguments.
- Refer to the staff report. Council members have read it. Pointing to a page or option shows you have too.
- Write it down and time it. Three minutes is about 400 words spoken at a normal pace.
- Follow up in writing if you have details that will not fit.
Everything you say or send becomes part of the public record. Leave out phone numbers, home addresses and children's names. The city posts written comments on its Public Letters to Council page every Monday at noon except holidays. Emails about an item are linked in that day's agenda packet.
Watching from home
- YouTube. The City of Palo Alto channel streams all meetings live and keeps recordings.
- Midpen Media Center. Broadcasts most council, committee, board and commission meetings. The City/School Liaison Committee and the Climate Action and Sustainability Committee stream on Zoom instead.
- Cable. The city's page lists more than one channel number, so check your local listings.
- Zoom. Joining as an attendee lets you watch and raise your hand when your item comes up.
The city offers a Meeting Participation Guide and FAQ in English, Simplified Chinese and Spanish. No home internet? The library lends Chromebooks and has free Wi-Fi at every branch. See our free Wi-Fi and computers guide.
Committees, boards and commissions
Many issues get their first public hearing before a smaller body. The council page lists these council committees:
- City/School Liaison Committee
- Climate Action and Sustainability Ad Hoc Committee
- Council Appointed Officers Committee
- Cubberley Ad Hoc Committee
- Economic Development Committee
- Finance Committee
- Policy and Services Committee
- Rail Committee
Committee meetings follow the same public comment rules and are often the best place to shape a proposal early, before it reaches the full council. Appointed boards and commissions, such as the Planning and Transportation Commission and the Architectural Review Board, also hold public hearings. Our city government guide lists each commission and its regular meeting day.
Finding past meetings
The city's Records Portal at recordsportal.paloalto.gov holds historical agendas, minutes, ordinances, resolutions and public comment letters. You can search by keyword or browse by committee and year. For anything not posted, you can file a request under the California Public Records Act. Our public records guide explains how.
Good to know
- Packets post 11 days ahead. Read the staff report first.
- Hand your speaker card to the clerk before the item starts.
- Phone speakers press *9 to raise a hand and *6 to unmute.
- No regular meetings from December 22, 2026 to January 1, 2027.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Palo Alto City Council meet?
The council meets on the first, second and third Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. and can call special meetings as needed. It takes a summer break and a winter break each year. The 2026 winter break runs from December 22, 2026 to January 1, 2027, with no regular council or standing committee meetings.
Can I comment at a Palo Alto council meeting on Zoom?
Yes, for items on the agenda. Use the Zoom link on the first page of the agenda and click Raise Hand when the item comes up. By phone, dial (669) 900-6833, enter the webinar ID and press *9 to raise your hand and *6 to unmute when called. Remote comments are not taken on topics that are not on the agenda.
How long can I speak at Palo Alto City Council?
Up to three minutes, or less if the chair sets a shorter time. A group can choose one spokesperson who represents at least five verified people. That speaker gets up to 10 minutes. Requests to speak on an item are taken until five minutes after the staff presentation ends.
How do I send a presentation for public comment?
Email slides or videos to city.clerk@paloalto.gov at least 24 hours before the meeting. The clerk will show them when you speak on that item. The city does not accept USB drives or other physical storage devices at the meeting.
Where can I watch Palo Alto council meetings?
The City of Palo Alto YouTube channel streams all meetings live. Midpen Media Center broadcasts most council, committee and commission meetings. You can also join on Zoom to watch. Past agendas, minutes and staff reports are on the city's Records Portal.