The Palo Alto Planning & Transportation Commission voted 7–0 on Nov. 12 to recommend that the city council authorize transmission of the city’s 2025 comprehensive plan and housing‑element progress reports to the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

City planning staff said the annual progress report is required by state law and must be transmitted to LCI and HCD by April 2026. Kelly Cha, presenting the item, said the comprehensive plan (adopted in 2017) includes about 410 implementation programs and the city currently reports roughly 28 completed items, a majority of the remaining programs as ongoing, and approximately 382 active programs when completed items are excluded. On the housing side, Cha said the sixth‑cycle housing element adopted in 2024 contains 110 programs; staff reported roughly 68% of those actions are completed or ongoing, with nine programs listed as pending and 26 shown as in progress.

Commissioners pressed staff on how progress is measured and displayed. Commissioner Templeton questioned a percentage listed for extremely low‑income RHNA production, noting "I don't get that number"; staff explained the figure came from dividing 16 units by the assigned RHNA of 778, yielding about 2.06%. Commissioners asked for next‑year improvements to the report’s tables, including an added column showing target versus achieved percentages, clearer redline/diff comparisons when wording changes, and a dashboard to capture units currently in the entitlement or construction pipeline.

Staff said the report aggregates inputs from multiple departments and that some shifts in dates and priorities are typical for aspirational comprehensive plans. They told commissioners they will consider format improvements — including running a comparison between versions — and are developing a housing dashboard to better reflect units in progress beyond building permits issued.

The commission’s motion forwarded staff’s recommendation to council (the mover noted a minor date error in the staff report that would be corrected). Roll‑call noted all seven commissioners voting yes, and the motion carried 7–0. Staff will present the commission’s recommendation to council early next year so the city can meet the state filing deadlines.

Next steps: staff will provide the revised packet to council with any clarifying changes requested by PTC and will pursue the April 2026 submittal to LCI and HCD. The commission asked staff to include clearer target columns and pending application counts in future reports to improve transparency and monitoring.