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Home My WebLink About2024-09-09 City Council EmailsFrom:Jennifer Koga To:Council, City Subject:Please vote against PA airport expansion Date:Sunday, September 8, 2024 5:16:00 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello, As a concerned citizen, I am reaching out to you to request you vote against the plans to expand the Palo Alto airport runways. This morning I was on a bird-watching field trip to the duck pond and surrounding wet land that are under consideration for removal to make room for the runway(s). At this site, I and everyone on the trip, got to see and appreciate so many shore birds that call this place home, and need it for their habitat. We saw many Northern Shovelers on the pond, along with a black crowned Night Heron, American Coot, and Pie billed grebe on the pond. In the surrounding wetland, immediately adjacent to the pond, we witnessed many, many birds: Western sandpipers, song sparrows, Ridgeway Rails, long-billed Curlews, Willets, black necked stilts, marbled godwits, long-billed dowitchers, to just name a few. This place offers a unique habitat, and gives Palo Alto residents and fellow Bay Area residents a place to enjoy beauty of the wildlife just at our fingertips. I implore you to rethink this plan. If Palo Alto truly wishes to honor its place in the Bay Area, it should honor one of the reasons we so lover living here and visiting these sites. Please, lets not be short sighted about making room for charter planes, and not considering how we may gravely impact the birds and other wildlife that call that place home. This wet land also provides a natural barrier to sea level rise, decreasing risk to the surrounding homes and businesses. Lets be an example to other cities across the nation, and not bend to pressures for short term economic gain. Thank you, Jennifer Koga (San Jose resident who visits the Bay Lands and loves it) -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.www.avg.com From:Henry Etzkowitz To:Palo Post; Gennady Sheyner; Roberta Ahlquist; Lotus Fong; Brian Good; Rebecca Eisenberg; Jeanne Fleming;Charlie Weidanz; Jim Hersh; Bette Kiernan; Avroh Shah; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; mickie winkler; MartyWasserman; Mary Rorty; Ellen Fox Subject:Public space over offices Date:Saturday, September 7, 2024 5:27:41 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Let’s applaud the decision of the architectural review board to reject turning the CineArts theatre, an iconic public space into private offices. Let’s explore following the successful model of transforming the Guild Theater into a live music venue while retaining the ability to screen films. We have an office surplus and a shortage of performance spaces. Sincerely Henry Etzkowitz Candidate for Palo Alto City Council “Put an Innovation Scholar (and arts advocate) on the City Council” of the hometown of innovation. Sent from my iPhone heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Studies show HCAs and PAHs cause changes in DNA that may increase the risk of cancer. Also, MOST Palo Altans do not grill or have a grill. In addition, grilling is BAD for the environment On Thu, Sep 5, 2024 at 9:45 PM City of Palo Alto <news@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: P View as Webpage What's New Wellness Month Resources Round-Up Palo Alto Community Survey Reminders The Clerk Chronicles: Official Custodian of City Records Climate Action Series: Fall in Love with Sustainability Local Energy Building Code Changes Take Effect October 4 Citywide Updates Wellness Month Resources Round- Up Through the month of August, we recognized National Wellness Month highlighting resources to reinforce the City Council Priority: Community Health, Safety, Wellness, and Belonging and acknowledge the United States Surgeon General’s advisory on the Loneliness Epidemic in our country. Catch up on all of our recent updates supporting teen wellness, family fun, physical health, and more. The City shares weekly wellness resources in the Be Well section of this newsletter and provides support for the whole community year-round at www.cityofpaloalto.org/BeWell. Palo Alto Community Survey Reminders A few reminders as the 2024 Palo Alto Community Survey is underway. The survey will initially be sent via mail to a sample of registered voters that are a statistically valid population of Palo Alto and will subsequently be available to all residents online. The survey is one way among many through which we gain insights from residents throughout our community. Please consider taking the survey if you receive it in the mail. Learn when the survey will be open citywide and what to look for to know a survey is coming from an official source like the City of Palo Alto. The Clerk Chronicles: Official Custodian of City Records In this second installment in our series, learn about the essential role of Palo Alto’s Office of the City Clerk as the official custodian of City records and gain details on how to get help finding a record you are looking for. The City Clerk’s team is responsible for maintaining and safeguarding all official City records, from meeting minutes to ordinances, and making sure they are easily accessible to the public. Read here to learn more about the team behind the scenes ensuring records are both accurate and easily accessible by the public. Climate Action Series: Fall in Love with Sustainability Fall is coming and so are sustainability events in Palo Alto. Get ready for a season filled with sustainability events, workshops, and programs that’ll leave you feeling inspired, informed and ready to take climate action. From worm composting to SunShares solar panels, there’s something for everyone from your garden to your home. Commit to a greener community together by attending a Climate Protection Working Group Meeting, taking a walking tour, and exploring vibrant gardens. Plus, conserving is cool; gain tips to save energy during hot weather. Make this next season full of sustainability and fun! Local Energy Building Code Changes Take Effect October 4 Palo Alto has required sustainable, climate-friendly construction for years to protect the local environment, reduce air pollution, and achieve its climate goals. On October 4, the City will implement a new set of low-emissions construction standards to replace previous all- electric requirements. Changes allow both all- electric and mixed fuel construction and require all new buildings and substantial remodels to be low emissions. If you are a building professional in Palo Alto, an information session will be held to answer your questions on Friday, September 20. Hundreds of Palo Altans building new homes or doing major renovations have already gone all-electric, and you can too at www.cityofpaloalto.org/GoElectric. Be Well Heat & Health: This week’s heat advisory was extended through Friday, September 6. Take precautions if you’re sensitive to heat and find actions you can take to protect your health and your family’s during hot weather events from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s HeatRisk site. Palo Alto Fire CPR Class: Learn how to support community health directly from Palo Alto’s first responders. On Thursday, September 19, take the hands-only CPR class to learn life- saving skills. Techniques taught in the class follow the American Heart Association Hands- Only CPR technique. Register for either the 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. session and have the option to do an AED training after the class. Recipe of the Week: Treat yourself to this healthy and delicious grilled peach and prosciutto salad before summer officially fades. Not only is this a flavorful dish, but it’s also sustainable, featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients you may find at Downtown Palo Alto’s Saturday farmer’s market. Family Resources Voter Information Workshop: Register for an online workshop to learn how to register to vote, get an overview of the election process and ballots, and discover opportunities to get involved from the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters on Saturday, September 24 at 11 a.m. Join a Book Club: Connect together through reading! Discuss the latest fiction and nonfiction while making new friends at the Library’s virtual and in-person book clubs. The Brown Bag Book Club meets online the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12 p.m., the Palo Alto Pageturners meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Rinconada Library, the Graphic Novel Book Club meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Mitchell Park Library, and the YA Reads for Adults meets the 4th Thursday of the month at 6:45 p.m. at the Rinconada Library. September is Healthy Aging Month: Join webinars from the National Institute on Aging including international perspectives on longevity and falls prevention for older adults. Learn how to Move Your Way with special tips for seniors. Sign up for a Medicare Mysteries Solved! workshop on Saturday, September 7 at 1 p.m. at the Mitchell Park Library. STEAM Fun for Kids and Teens: Bring the kids to LEGO Fridays! each week at 4 p.m. at the College Terrace Library. Watch a robot demo from Paly Robotics on Sunday, September 8 at 4 p.m. at the Mitchell Park Library. And check out other STEAM activities happening at the library. Projects for Pets: Bring joy to dogs awaiting adoption and help the environment by transforming old clothing into dog toys at the Pupcycled: Make a Toy for a Dog in Need drop-in event on Sunday, September 7 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Park Library. Calling All Amateur Photographers! Enter your photos in the California Coastal Commission’s 25th Annual California Ocean and Coastal Amateur Photography Contest. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 30. The contest is free and open to all amateur photographers. Calendar & Careers Join the Conversation & Connect University Avenue Streetscape Stakeholder Working Group Meeting September 10 @ 1:30 p.m. You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown – The Musical September 11 @ 6 p.m. Climate Protection Working Group Meeting Find your Next Career with Us! Administrative Specialist - Animal Control Building Inspector City Hall Customer Service Specialist Custodial Assistant From:Tran, Joanna To:Council, City Cc:Executive Leadership Team; ORG - Clerk"s Office Subject:Council Consent Questions: 9/9/24 Date:Friday, September 6, 2024 1:13:06 PM Attachments:image001.pngimage003.pngimage004.pngimage006.pngimage007.pngimage008.pngimage002.png Dear Mayor and Council Members, On behalf of City Manager Ed Shikada, please view the following links for the amended agenda and staff responses to questions submitted by Council Member Tanaka: September 9 Amended Agenda Staff responses to Items 3, 5, 7, and 10. Best, Joanna Joanna Tran Executive Assistant to the City Manager Office of the City Manager (650) 329-2105 | joanna.tran@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From:David Troup To:Council, City Subject:Support for Palo Alto Airport Date:Friday, September 6, 2024 1:41:36 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Councilmembers: There has been community discussion of late about the future of Palo Alto Airport. I’m writing to express my great appreciation for the airport and its contributions to Palo Alto and other parts of the peninsula. Many people don’t realize the significant contributions the airport makes. In addition to being a hotbed of economic activity, including employment and serving as a necessary component in the existence of scores of aviation-related businesses on and around the airport, the airport plays a vital public safety role, especially following an earthquake or other natural disaster. There are many examples of disasters befalling communities in which the local airport became the only lifeline to get vital supplies and personnel in and out. Palo Alto Airport has already played such a role a number of times in delivering aid to other communities in California in their times of need. Additionally, the airport is used on a daily basis to transport patients from rural parts of the state to critical medical appointments at Stanford Hospital and other facilities. “Angel Flights,” operated by volunteer pilots, transport patients in need of specialty care at no cost to the patients, and there are hundreds of these flights every month, many of which arrive and depart at Palo Alto Airport. The airport is also a critical reliever airport which allows smaller planes to avoid the need to use San Francisco International Airport, which operates pretty much at full capacity most of the time. The utility of the airport is essential to the distribution of air traffic in the Bay Area. While some may find the occasional sound of a plane flying overhead to be annoying, the community benefits of the airport outweigh these small annoyances. And if Palo Alto Airport was not there, the airplanes overhead would not go away – they would simply move to other nearby airports but would not fly over the city of Palo Alto any less frequently. I thank the City of Palo Alto for its excellent stewardship of this critical community asset, and I hope you will continue to protect and improve it so that it can continue to serve the city and the region for many decades to come. Sincerely, David Troup Message to Our Youth Invest in LWVPA LWVPA August Board Meeting Highlights Advocacy Report Events In the Community Reimagining Community Sibling Cities USA Town Hall LWVUS Commitment to Protecting Democracy in 2024 Message from our President I hope you all had a nice summer break and emerge energized and refreshed! The general election is quickly approaching. While many people are focused on the presidential election, we often hear people say they are overwhelmed and do not know where to obtain information about local elections and ballot measures. The League is here to help! Our Voter Services team has been busy preparing for the five candidate forums and multiple pros & cons sessions, all scheduled in September and early October. You can also find Vote with the League–Ballot Recommendations under the Advocacy Report. Having the knowledge and confidence to participate is just as important as having the right to vote. A huge thanks to our dedicated volunteers without whom we cannot carry out this important work. We are excited to announce our Fall Kick Off—Making Democracy Work—on Sunday, October 6, 4-6 pm. We are honored to have Pam Karlan, a leading expert in voting rights and the nation's political process, as our speaker. This is a great opportunity for members and friends to reconnect and participate in the vital discussion of voting and democracy. A group of dedicated volunteers is working hard to make the Fall Kick Off impactful and memorable. The event is free; everyone is welcome! All our work requires funding, and your support strengthens our community and ensures the League carries out its mission of empowering voters and defending democracy. If you haven't yet done so, please consider donating to the League Voting Rights Act, representing overseas voters in a case involving the National Voter Registration Act, representing Latino voters in vote-dilution lawsuits, and representing voters challenging Texas’s restriction of no-excuse vote by mail to voters over the age of 65. Pam has argued ten cases before the Court, including three voting rights cases. Pam’s primary scholarship involves constitutional litigation, particularly with respect to regulation of the political process. She has published dozens of scholarly articles and is the co-author of three leading casebooks, one of them on The Law of Democracy. Pam received her B.A., M.A., and J.D. from Yale. After clerking for U.S. District Court Judge Abraham Sofaer and Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, she practiced law at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, focusing on employment discrimination and voting rights. Her public service includes a term as a commissioner on the California Fair Political Practices Commission, which implements and enforces the State’s campaign finance, lobbying, and conflict of interest laws. Most recently, she served as the principal deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice where she was the reviewer for the Division’s voting rights-related work at both the trial and appellate levels. Pam is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Law Institute, where she serves on the ALI Council. In 2021, she received the American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Award, given to “women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence and paved the way for other women in the legal profession.” In 2016, she was named one of the Politico 50—a group of “thinkers, doers, and visionaries transforming American politics.” Earlier in her career, the American Lawyer named her to its Public Sector 45—a group of lawyers “actively using their law degrees to change lives.” Register yourself and guests early to help us plan for the catering. Register Now Foothill-DeAnza Community College District Board of Trustees (Area 5) Candidate Forum (Zoom) Thursday, September 19, 2024 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Palo Alto School Board Candidate Forum (Zoom) Co-Sponsored by PTA Council Monday, September 23, 2024 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Santa Clara County Board of Education (Area 1) Candidate Forum (Zoom) Register Now Ask your Questions Register Now Ask your Questions Register Now Ask your Questions Tuesday, October 1, 2024 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Congressional District 16 Candidate Forum (Zoom) Tuesday, October 8, 2024 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm 2024 Pros and Cons Register Now Ask your Questions Register Now Ask your Questions On Wednesday, September 25, at 7 pm, join a Zoom webinar presentation about the Pros and Cons of state ballot propositions and local measures appearing on the November 5, 2024, ballot. The League of Women Voters sponsors these Pros and Cons sessions to provide the public with unbiased information to help inform their election decisions. For more information, visit our website. Message to Our Youth Register Here local high school students. Young voters should vote for candidates and issues that align with their priorities. We are sharing the videos with high school and college educators in California to lead classroom lessons on Voting and Voter Registration using these two videos and our 2-page handout "Guide for New California Voters". You can help us share the videos with family and friends too. Every vote counts! Invest in the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto! The fall is a busy time of the year for the League and we are working hard to engage and educate our community! Your support right now is more valuable than ever and we are so grateful for it! If you have already donated, thank you! Expansion plans for extending the runway to allow for larger, more polluting aircraft for this general aviation facility in our Baylands. The plans pose a danger to the Baylands’ critical habitat and recreational use and are inconsistent with the 2008 Baylands Master Plan generally forbidding any airport intensified use or significant intrusion into open space. The plans failed to mention that any extension outside existing airport boundaries would require a vote by the people of Palo Alto, who dedicated the Baylands as parkland by initiative in 1965. Because preservation of wetlands as a carbon sink is a key strategy to fighting global warming and sea level rise, the plans are also inconsistent with the City and State Climate Action Plans and the city’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan. Read the letter drafted by our Natural Resources committee HERE. Gun Violence Prevention: The City proclaimed August 26-30 Be SMART Week, following a request from our Gun Violence Prevention chair, Stacey Ashlund. Be SMART week raises public awareness about secure gun storage, a program developed by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. League volunteers Jane Moss and Stacey Ashlund took Be SMART information to PAUSD back-to-school nights. If you are interested in joining our Natural Resources or Gun Violence Prevention committees, please email us at office@lwvpaloalto.org and the committee chair will contact you. Vote with the League Ballot Recommendations for November 2024 Election The League of Women Voters wears “two hats”: Voter Services and Advocacy. In its Voter Services role, the League works to make sure that every citizen can vote, every vote is counted, and every voter has fair and unbiased information to understand the issues on the ballot and the candidates’ opinions. In its Advocacy role, the League studies public issues and takes stands on them—so that we may support or oppose ballot measures, proposed laws, and government actions in order to educate our fellow citizens about significant policy issues and influence public policy through our education and advocacy. Ballot recommendations are based on existing League positions. If no League positions exist relevant to the proposition, LWVC will make no recommendation. The League will be neutral on a proposition if conflicting policy considerations seem equal. If a League position is relevant to a ballot proposition, the League will analyze the proposition and either support or oppose it, offering its recommendations to the public. This is different from the League’s Voter Services Pros and Cons forums, where no recommendations are made. Summary of LWVC Ballot Recommendations for the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election (Read the full League ballot recommendations) Prop 2—Support—School and Community College Facility Bonds. Prop 2 would supplement local bonds by authorizing $8.5 billion in state bonds for construction and modernization of K-12 schools and $1.5 billion for community colleges. Prop 2 is critical to our children’s health, safety, and educational progress. No new bond money for school facilities has passed since 2016. There is a massive need for modernization and construction across the state. Prop 3—Support—Freedom to Marry. Prop 3 would enshrine marriage equality in the state Constitution. While the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized same-sex marriages, the current Supreme Court has shown it is willing to revoke hard-earned rights. Prop. 3 would protect the fundamental right to marry for same-sex and interracial couples. Prop 4—Support—Climate Protection Project Bonds. Prop 4 would authorize $10 billion for projects mitigating the effects of climate change. The bond money would go toward projects to improve water quality and supply, protect against wildfires, and enhance the resilience of natural ecosystems. 40% of funding would go to low-income communities vulnerable to heightened risks of climate change. Prop 5—Support—Lower Voting Threshold on Local Housing and Infrastructure Bonds. Prop 5 would reduce the voting margin to approve local bonds and taxes for affordable housing, transportation, parks, and other public infrastructure from 66.7% to 55%. The current vote threshold makes it extremely difficult to secure local funding for vital projects. Lowering the voting margin to 55% would allow communities by majority vote to act quickly to address urgent housing shortages and infrastructure needs, promoting economic growth, quality of life, and investment in essential public services. Prop 6—Support—End Slavery in California Act. Prop 6 would delete language in the state constitution which allows involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Abolishing this exception for modern day slavery supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of people in jail or prison by allowing them to choose educational and rehabilitative programs over forced labor. Prop 32—Support—Raises Minimum Wage to $18. California’s current minimum wage is well below the estimated living wage needed to support a household’s basic needs. Prop 32 would raise the minimum wage for employers that employ 26 or more people to $18 per hour in 2025 and 2026. For businesses that employ 25 or fewer, the minimum wage would be $17 per hour in 2025 and $18 per hour in 2026. Prop 32 pauses inflation adjustments until 2027. After that, the minimum wage would go up each year based on inflation. Prop 33—Neutral—Expands Local Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property. Prop 33 would expand the types of rental units subject to local rent control laws. The League supports efforts to help resolve California’s housing crisis, but because there are benefits and drawbacks to rent control, the League has chosen to be neutral on Prop 33. Prop 34—No Position—Restricts Spending by Health Care Providers Meeting Specified Criteria. When the LWVC has no position relevant to a ballot measure, we offer no analysis. Prop 35—Oppose—Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services. Prop 35 would change the temporary tax that helps fund Medi-Cal to a permanent tax on Managed Care Organizations and require the tax be used to support only Medi-Cal and other health programs, making that money unavailable for other priorities and making it difficult to respond to future changes to Medi-Cal. The League is generally opposed to “ballot-box budgeting” which limits the legislature’s ability to adjust priorities based on emerging and essential needs. Prop 36—Oppose—Increase Penalties for Theft and Drug Trafficking. Prop 36 would allow harsher sentences for minor offenses like drug possession and retail theft, taking California back to the days when we had unconstitutionally overcrowded prisons. Prop 36 would shift money from treatment and rehabilitation to prisons, detracting from effective and humane criminal justice policies. inequality, and the movement of peoples across borders? What are the biggest threats to democracy within and beyond the United States? How are democratic norms and culture passed down from one generation to the next? How can “we the people” strengthen and reimagine democracy together? This lecture series is a complement to election-related Continuing Studies courses and other educational activities around voting and civic participation being offered this fall. See the Program Schedule and Speakers HERE. Town Hall Democracy: Voter Access and Turnout Sunday, September 29, 2024 1:00 - 3:00 pm Mitchell Park Community Center El Palo Alto Room, 3700 Middlefield, Palo Alto Following the very successful joint town halls with residents of Bloomington, Indiana, and Palo Alto over the last year, Sibling Cities USA is excited to Register Now announce an upcoming conversation deeply relevant to the November Election: “Voter Access and Turnout.” Included in the event will be short background presentations from representatives in both cities and open dialog between the two groups. Residents are invited to attend in-person meetings in both communities, with simultaneous video connections between them. Partners in this vital discussion as we anticipate the upcoming national elections are the League of Women Voters, Braver Angels, the Indiana University Office of Political and Civic Engagement (PACE), and Stanford’s Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement program. ABOUT SIBLING CITIES USA TOWN HALLS The Cities of Bloomington, IN, and Palo Alto, CA, are the first Sibling Cities in a national project that opens meaningful dialog between communities in different parts of the country. Calls for national unity are increasing in response to today’s national divides and Americans yearn to move past the polarization afflicting our country. Knitting this country back together is essential and Bloomington is part of the solution! Want to join the discussion? Ready to listen with curiosity and empathy? Want to understand what people in Bloomington, IN, think about democracy and voter access? Want to share your views and build friendship, trust, and respect across the miles? You’re invited to participate! For more information about this initiative, contact Palo Alto program director Jyotika RoyC at jyoroyc@gmail.com or Bloomington project coordinator Alain Barker at abarker@indiana.edu. Register Now Sign Up for LWV California & LWVUS News & Alerts Click here to sign up for LWVC Newsletter and LWVC Action Alerts Click here to sign up for LWVUS Email News (at bottom) and LWVUS Action Alerts How to contact your elected officials All your elected officials United States President Joseph R. Biden (202) 456-1414 Senator Laphonza R. Butler (202) 224-3841 Senator Alex Padilla (202) 224-3553 Rep. Anna Eshoo (650) 323-2984 California Governor Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841 Senator Josh Becker (650) 212-3313 Assemblymember Marc Berman (650) 691-2121 Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (650) 965-8737 joe.simitian@bos.sccgov.org Other Areas in California Locate your elected officials by using your street address JOIN A TEAM PC 2533 adopted a land use plan that shows the location of thetheaters. Replacing the theaters with offices requires an amendment tothe PC zone district pursuant to PAMC Chapter 18.80. Thank you for your consideration of these comments. Herb Borock From:Star Teachout To:Architectural Review Board Cc:Council, City Subject:Please keep the Palo Alto Square movie theater Date:Wednesday, September 4, 2024 3:55:14 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from teachout@sonic.net. Learn why this isimportant Dear Architectural Review Board and developer, As a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood of Palo Alto, and the parent of 3 young men ages 19-26, we encourage you to reconsider the conversion proposal of a vacant CinéArtstheater use to an office use within Building 6 at Palo Alto Square for the following reasons: 1. Walkable: We are doing our part to ease the housing and climate crisis by allowing our sons to live with us in a 2 BR house until they are financially ready to move. Providing amovie theater nearby allows us to walk or cycle to the movies without adding more carbon to the atmosphere. 2. Affordablity: For many people—especially younger people who don’t/can’t regularly affordbars and restaurants—going to the movies is still an affordable treat. With the closure of the Icon Theater on San Antonio, the timing is especially good for this theater to reopen. Offeringteen discounts would be a fabulous way to show you care about them too. 3. Welcoming to teens/young: What with the loss of connections exacerbating poor mental health (especially in youth) and loneliness, we need more public gathering spaces not fewer.Not that long ago Palo Alto contained a bowling alley, Fry’s electronics (good for roaming teens and techies), Antonio’s Nuthouse (family friendly), The Fish Market (family friendly),the Palo Alto Square Y, and more. 4. Arts: Have you been to the converted Guild Theater for music? It is awesome. I can imagine something similar where the space provides not only music performances, but alsolectures, streamed operas (as they used to do), small conferences, group meetings (current events, sustainability, etc). 5. Movies: The alternative and foreign films once offered at this theater would be veryappreciated at this time. Furthermore, we could host an animation festival, or other cultural film festivals. Palo Alto could use a bit more energy to revitalize it in ways seen inneighboring cities. A business office does not move us in that direction. 5. Housing focus area: It seems very short-sighted to convert this space into more offices considering the current vacancies. In an area which has been over-approved as a “housingfocus area” we should be doing EVERYTHING in our capacities to minimize traffic by offering recreational activities nearby. We will have so many more people sharing this smallgeographical area, and you would be doing a service to our community by considering this modest proposal. 6. Hudson Pacific Properties: Please consider that the”world’s most innovative, growtheconomies” are driven by people who benefit from expanding their minds through the arts and making social connections. Thank you for considering,Star Teachout Palo Alto, CA 2. PUBLIC HEARING / QUASI‐JUDICIAL. [23PLN‐00110] 3000 El Camino Real (Palo Alto Square): Recommendation on Applicant’s Request for Approval of a Major Architectural Review for facade changes and site improvements associated with conversion of a vacant theater use to an office use within Building 6. Exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (new construction and conversion of small structures). Zoning: PC‐4648. For more information contact the project planner Claire.Raybould@Cityofpaloalto.org. You want to know the date of tenancy, initial length and date of last renewal. Why? City is interested to know the tenancy information of your unit to understand if you have longer term tenants, or the tenants with quicker turnover with short term leases. This will help the City to understand the nature of rental markets in Palo Alto. Do you want to know about all rent changes as they occur in the future? Yes, rent increases must be reported within ten days of occurrence. Will you pay for my costs to provide all the demanded information? The City recognizes that the initial registration period in this first year of the program will take some time and is here to provide support services, including small group registration workshops. Information entered this year will be saved to expedite future registration processes and bulk information upload features will be available for properties with ten or more units. The rental registry fee that would typically be associated with this program has been waived in this first year to encourage participation. Ed misses." Again, I know of many children in lower elementary school at Palo Verde who cross theseintersections to walk to school, unaccompanied by an adult. We must make these intersections safe! I'm copying City Council - I believe they should be kept on these emails, not removed, asthe City has been doing. We are now in week 2 of school, and nothing has been done to fix the unsafe intersections. Could you please provide an update? Thank you, Trish TamraziConcerned Palo Alto Homeowner On Fri, Aug 16, 2024 at 6:28 PM Star-Lack, Sylvia <Sylvia.Star-Lack@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, Thank you for your email messages. Due to staff being on vacation, I am providing this partial response to you regarding our Safe Routes to School program. I’ll have more for you next week when critical staff return to the office. Thanks for your patience with me. Suggested Routes to School One of your recent email messages included your understanding that routes on our Suggested School Route maps are guaranteed to be safe. The Safe Routes to School movement is nationwide, with many cities producing school route maps. No city can guarantee safety for road users, but cities can select suggested routes that may have lower traffic, slower speeds, good sightlines, crossing guards, and other elements that make them more appropriate than other routes for schoolchildren to walk and bike to school. Even so, our maps include the following text: The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership encourages parents to walk or bike with students and use this mapping tool to explore options for commuting from home to school. Parents are responsible for choosing the most appropriate route based on their knowledge of conditions on the route between home and school and the experience level of their child. Sharing Feedback I wanted to make you aware of several channels we encourage residents to use to share road safety feedback and get involved in promoting safer commuting. The City/School Transportation Safety Committee (CSTSC) is comprised of community members, City of Palo Alto staff, and Palo Alto Unified School District staff who serve in an advisory capacity to the City Manager and the Superintendent on matters relating to school traffic safety for students. Members of the public are welcome to attend the monthly meetings. Meetings are typically held the fourth Thursday of the month. Meeting information can be found on the Safe Routes to School Main Page. If you are interested in getting on the City School Traffic Safety Committee meeting agenda, please email us at saferoutes@cityofpaloalto.org. You can also reach out to the Palo Verde PTA Transportation Safety Representative (TSR), who can work with you to educate parents at your school regarding safer driving behavior and safer walking and biking practices for students (such as how to navigate uncontrolled intersections). While engineering improvements are an element of our Safe Routes to School program, there are five other elements that work together to support safer school commutes: Education, Encouragement, Engagement, Evaluation, and Equity. Working with your school’s TSR to help encourage more biking and walking to school will reduce the number of cars in and around the school, reducing risk to everyone using the adjacent roads. Additionally, as I mentioned in my prior email, the City is also working on two Council priority planning documents to improve roadway safety that will benefit vulnerable road users: the Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan Update and the Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan. Council will have an opportunity to review and approve these documents and the policies and programs contained therein in the coming months. Community engagement opportunities and feedback sessions on these planning initiatives at standing committee meetings (CSTSC, Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, and Planning and Transportation Commission) are also forthcoming, so please watch the committee and Council agendas and the project websites for events and meetings where you can provide your input. I will get back to you regarding the other items you raised next week. Thanks, again, for 1. various safety issues within Utilities (emergency line not properly staffed, linemanuntrained and harrassed while working, maintenance not done, records not in line with the industry, etc.), 2. water contamination by the City's untrained contractors, with the City refusing to competently bring the contractor in line, 3. City taking funds from parents for middle school athletics, providing a sub-par service, saying there is no money to pay coaches such that more children who wantto play can actually play, then sending money to the General Fund, 4. fire houses not properly staffed such that we are a fire engine short in South PaloAlto, 5. illegal (incomplete) responses to Public Records Requests, 6. claims for damages submitted to the City virtually never paid, 7. and - the matter at hand - unsafe intersections. Thank you again for trying to help. I do appreciate you. With kind regards, Trish Trish Tamrazi Concerned Palo Alto Homeowner State Bar No. 279541 Tamrazi.Law@gmail.com On Thu, Aug 15, 2024 at 11:12 AM Star-Lack, Sylvia <Sylvia.Star-Lack@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Ms. Tamrazi, I am working on a response to your email messages and will get back to you soon. If improve safety on Palo Alto's streets, focusing on other unsafe intersections, includingsome which have been flagged for years by residents as unsafe to BIKES along PaloAlto's designated "Bicycle Boulevard" on Ross Rd. (Many report almost getting hit onbikes and - in fact - getting hit! Even years ago! Yet the unsafe intersections remainunchanged.) (2) The problem: everyone is passing responsibility - so where does the buck stop? These advocates tell me that they are stuck in a full circle of passing the buck: City staff (traffic engineer) says only City Council can decide traffic signage. City Council says only City staff can decide traffic signage. This is, of course, ABSURD!! (3) The law: the City has heightened duty of care and is actively breaching thatduty. Many of us here in Palo Alto trust our City. When the City designates "Safe Routes toSchool" - we expect them to be safe for students. When the City designates a "BicycleBoulevard" - we expect it to be safe for bikers. Yet, these designated routes areglaringly unsafe! I believe, further, that this heightened expectation is supported by common law. Ibelieve that by designating these routes, the City has legally created a heightened dutyof care. My understanding is that the City has been on notice for years of thesedangerous shortcomings, yet has not responded. Analogous would be the special duty imposed on landowners to invitees: the City ofPalo Alto has, by designating these routes, made students going to school on its "SafeRoutes to School" and bicyclists on its "Bicycle Boulevard" invitees of the streets onthese routes. An invitee is owed the highest duty of care. Park goers, for example, arepublic invitees. The landowner has a duty to take reasonable care to prevent injuries toany invitee on their premises. This includes a requirement to frequently inspect the landto ensure that it is safe. So - to actively ignore resident concerns and calls to makethese routes actually safe - absolutely breaches the City's duty of care. I look forward to hearing back on how we can work together to improve safety here inPalo Alto! With kind regards, Trish Tamrazi Concerned Palo Alto Homeowner State Bar No. 279541 Tamrazi.Law@gmail.com On Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 9:55 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <tamrazi.law@gmail.com>wrote: Dear Sylvia, Thank you for your email. The necessary engineering has already been completed -all that needs to be done is to add stop signs at the uncontrolled intersections, suchthat they are in line with the rest of the intersections. Could that be done, please? School starts at Palo Verde Thursday. We cannot in good conscience call this a SafeRoute to School as is! This is an easy fix! Let's please, together, review the 7 intersections on Greer between Loma Verde andLouis, which you reference in your email below. Your characterization of them is notaccurate. 1. Loma Verde: 4-way stop.2. Kenneth 1: 2-way stop (stop signs on Kenneth).3. Thomas 1: 2-way stop (stop signs on Greer).4. Janice 1: UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION.5. Thomas 2: UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION.6. Kenneth 2: 3-way stop.7. Janice 2: UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION. We do need engineering to do a study - it's already been done, I'm sure - and the necessary traffic control was simply overlooked, it seems. Engineering already decided traffic control is needed on Thomas 1, so it is also needed on Thomas 2. There is no difference between the Thomas / Greer and Janice / Greer intersections. Engineering already decided traffic control is needed on Thomas1, so it is also needed on Janice 1 and Janice 2. Please could you do the following to protect Palo Alto's children using this SafeRoute to school? 1. Add a stop sign at Janice 1. 2. Add a stop sign at Thomas 2. 3. Add a stop sign at Janice 2. Please let me know your thoughts? I'm hoping to see those stop signs go in thisweek! Thanks so much! Trish Tamrazi Palo Alto Homeowner On Wed, Aug 7, 2024 at 10:43 PM Star-Lack, Sylvia <Sylvia.Star-Lack@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Ms. Tamrazi, Thank you for your email. I am so sorry to hear about your son’s recent experience,and I am glad that you reached out to see what can be done. If you would like me tocall you about this issue, please share your phone number and a good time to call. I live just off of Greer Road, near Colorado, and my children biked down Greerpast Janice to get to JLS Middle School, so I am aware of the cross streets alongGreer. I’m also an avid cyclist who bikes down Greer at least weekly to reachdestinations beyond the Greer/Louis intersection. Finally, I oversee the City’s SafeRoutes to School team, our forthcoming Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan,and the update of our Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan, so I am workingto improve our streets for everyone, particularly children and vulnerable road users. The California DMV manual says the following about intersections: Intersections An intersection is any place where one road meets another road. Controlled intersections have signs or traffic signal lights. Uncontrolled and blind intersections do not. Before entering an intersection, look left, right, and ahead to check for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Be prepared to slow down and stop if necessary. Pedestrians always have the right-of-way. Here are some right-of-way rules at intersections: · Without STOP or YIELD signs: The vehicle that arrives to the intersection first has the right-of-way. However, if a vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist gets to the intersection at the same time as you, give the right-of-way to the vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist on your right. If you approach a stopsign and there is a stop sign on all four corners, stop first and proceed as above. · T intersections without STOP or YIELD signs: Vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the through road (continuing to go straight) have the right-of-way. Notably, some of the cross streets of Greer south of Loma Verde are Tintersections. Of the 7 intersections on Greer between Loma Verde and Louis, fourof them are T intersections where Greer, as the through road, has the right-of-way.Janice does not have a T intersection with Greer, so drivers and cyclists shouldfollow the procedure in the first bullet above, giving right-of-way to the firstvehicle to arrive at the intersection. As you know, a 311 ticket has been opened, and one of our transportation engineerswill evaluate the intersection for appropriate signage. Stop signs are placedaccording to a standard analysis conducted by our engineers. It can take some timefor the engineers to gather the data needed for this analysis, and the outcome willbe shared in 311. Since you care about school route safety, I wanted to let you know about Cityprograms and initiatives where you can engage further to support vulnerable roadusers. I will also share your email with the teams working on these efforts: Our Safe Routes to School program relies on parents at each school tovolunteer as Transportation Safety Representatives (TSRs). You can contactthe Palo Verde TSR (check with the PTA for this year’s TSR) to see howyou can be on the team to help educate and encourage students and parents atyour school on how to walk, bike, and drive more safely in theneighborhood. TSRs also come to monthly City/School TransportationSafety Committee meetings to work collaboratively with School District andCity staff on road safety items. The City began development of a Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan inthe middle of 2023. A draft plan will be available for public review this fallbefore a final draft is adopted by Council in late 2024 or early 2025. The City is currently updating its existing 2012 Bicycle and PedestrianTransportation Plan (BPTP) to reflect current community needs and desires,consider recent trends in cycling and bicycle technology (such as e-bikes), I flagged this issue of uncontrolled intersections on Greer Rd. toTransportation@cityofpaloalto.org back on July 19, but never received a substantive response - I emailed back on July 22 that a ticket was started onPaloAlto311 (ID 15716138). I also flagged this issue on 311 yesterday, again, after my son would have been hit by the car, had he followed the City's traffic signs. Many elementary aged children walk along Greer to school - many unaccompaniedby adults. Could you please address this before school begins? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi, Palo Alto homeowner From:Federico Andrade-Garcia To:Council, City Subject:Please stop the increase in airport noise pollution, and save the Baylands Date:Wednesday, September 4, 2024 12:40:18 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi, As a resident of East Palo Alto, I live less than a couple of miles away from the PAO airport North side, in the "Weeks Gateway" neighborhood. I regularly get startled by the noisy takeoffs from some of those executive/megarich and hobbyist's airplanes, even when all my windows and doors are closed. This expansion project, while it may bring you some minimal increase in taxes and related, it will destroy areas of the Bayland, which so many hypocritically in Palo Alto fight to protect when East Palo Alto wants to expand Eastbound, but have less of a problem when it's about Palo Alto's expansion plans. I haven't heard as much from those "protect the Baylands" groups in regards to this project. Please, stop this expansion project, and even consider it closing PAO altogether, or restrict it so that those rich hobbyists move to San Carlos airport, which is not surrounded by houses like PAO. Regards, -Federico From:Ken Joye To:Council, City Subject:9 Sept meeting consent calendar item Date:Tuesday, September 3, 2024 3:35:57 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. For the council meeting of 9 September 2024, item #7 is included under the consent calendar. I am writing in support of Professional Services Contract Number C25191297 to allow workto begin on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Railroad Crossing Alternatives Analysis in Southern Palo Alto. As you have acknowledged, the grade separation work will be highly disruptive. I hope thatwe can get ahead of the curve on that by having a sound plan in place to add pedestrian/bicycle facilities before work begins at Meadow and Charleston. I hope that youwill find this contract uncontroversial and approve it at your meeting. thank you for your service, Ken JoyeVentura neighborhood, Palo Alto agenda: <https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=14393> office: (650) 736-2363 Academic: https://profiles.stanford.edu/jeffrey-koseff Research: https://web.stanford.edu/~koseff Stanford University Ancestral lands of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe