Palo Alto City Council met Nov. 17 to hear a presentation and discussion of a city turf-field study, take extensive public comment and direct staff to form a short ad hoc and a natural-grass pilot while moving forward with near-term El Camino field replacement planning; the council also asked staff to draft an RFP for affordable housing on the Portage (Cannery) parcel and provided guidance on preferred massing and parking parameters.