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Home My WebLink About2025-02-10 City Council EmailsDOCUM ENTS IN THIS PACKET INCLUDE: LETTERS FROM CITIZENS TO THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL RESPONSES FROM STAFF TO LETTERS FROM CITIZ ENS ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND AGENC IES ITEMS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES Prepared for: 2/10/2025 Document dates: 2/3/2025 - 2/10/2025 Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction in a given week. 701-32 From:Aram James To:Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; h.etzko@gmail.com; Binder, Andrew; josh@joshsalcman.com; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Vicki Veenker; Council, City; Bill Newell; Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; dennis burns; Human Relations Commission; Lotus Fong; Linda Jolley; board@valleywater.org; Jay Boyarsky; Raj Jayadev; BoardOperations; bos@smcgov.org; board@pausd.org; John Burt; Vara Ramakrishnan; Jose Valle; Sarah Wright; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Diana Diamond; Cribbs, Anne; cromero@cityofepa.org; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Doug Minkler; Wagner, April; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rowena Chiu; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Baker, Rob; Robert. Jonsen; Pat M; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Palo Alto Free Press; Gerry Gras; George for Palo Alto; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Zelkha, Mila; Daniel Kottke; Stump, Molly; Salem Ajluni; Jack Ajluni; Gardener, Liz; Michelle; DuJuan Green; Van Der Zwaag, Minka; Dennis Upton; Patrice Ventresca Subject:Netanyahu Is Preparing to Sabotage the Gaza Ceasefire…Again Fresh off his triumphant trip to Washington, D.C., the Israeli leader is preparing a set of new demands for Phase 2 he hopes Hamas will reject. Date:Monday, February 10, 2025 11:54:58 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Netanyahu Is Preparing to Sabotage the Gaza Ceasefire…Again Fresh off his triumphant trip to Washington, D.C., the Israeli leader is preparing a set of new demands for Phase 2 he hopes Hamas will reject. https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/trump-netanyahu-sabotage-ceasefire-hamas-phase-2? utm_medium=web From:Lerrick Family of N. CAL To:Council, City; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Shikada, Ed Cc:ekrl214@gmail.com Subject:Palo Alto Fire Engine 64 Date:Monday, February 10, 2025 9:47:48 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. “Cross Staffing” A letter form a parent and member of the Palo Alto community. I have been informed The City of Palo Alto is considering a staffing plan that would dual assign talent at station #4 to both an ambulance as well as a fire engine as opposed to a unique crew for each vehicle. It is of my opinion, this would present a risk to our community and as such I would encourage you to object to this agenda. If anything, Palo alto needs more fire heroes not fewer, and although not the venue today I believe they deserve greater renumeration, more participation in city government and its decisions, and their value to our city to be better recognized. The strength for my assertions is based upon personal experience. For some of you my story might sound familiar since it was a major event and for others of you, maybe you are not aware of my story. But without the Fire men and women of our city, my son might not be alive today. Had cross staffing been in place when my story took place, the ending of my story might have been very different. November 5th 2012 while driving from Palo Alto to Oakland for my job, I called my wife at her office to go over a few administrative details for that evening and before I could even finish the words “Hi honey”, she interrupted me and said “YOU HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND GO TO THE HOSPITAL, OUR SON WAS HIT BY A CAR”. I immediately detoured off 880 and took the San Mateo Bridge towards 101. Just my luck, traffic was particularly bad that day and it took me a full 75 minutes to arrive at Stanford Hospital’s ER trauma room. While driving there I called to find out about the status of our son, aged 11 years old and after the they confirmed my identity with my driver’s license number, I was connected to a nurse, a medical professional who sees tragedy as part of her job, someone immune to what non-medical people might find traumatizing; this nurse could not compose a complete sentence she was crying so hard on the phone. I just could not get any decent status details about my son, all I know was someone used to this kind of stuff was crying profusely. She was finally at long last able to mutter the words “when you get here the police will talk to you”. I suspect the police are the people who inform families of a dead relative. So I figured. ….he’s dead….. I was in shock, I was numb and my only tiny comfort was thinking he could not have suffered too much after all it was just a short while ago I kissed him on the cheek and wished him a good day. …………So you can imagine how relieved I was when I arrived at the hospital to find out he was still alive. A complete mess, but alive. His body was swollen about 50%,all over. Cuts everywhere, and they were red, not brown like dried blood but red like fresh blood. He was unconscious (he was in a coma and would stay in a coma for weeks). He would need his jaw rebuilt twice, a few casts for broken bones, he lost some teeth, and he would need a titanium metal bar inserted into his leg which is still in there today. He also had TBI and eventually when he came out from the coma he had no idea who I was or his mother. My wife arrived and the police spoke to us, and told us things I wish no parent ever has to hear. Such as the driver hit him and our son landed between 90 and 120 feet away from impact, and the driver was tested and had drugs in his system, and claims he just did not see our son. He left the scene of the accident but later came back. We were told he was on his phone when the accident occurred but he never opted to call 911. Instead some good Samaritans were close by, and they stopped and while the husband relayed details to his wife, the wife was on the phone with the 911 staff. The local firehouse got the call and although their shift was either just ending or it had recently ended, acting out of the sense of responsibility to the community they served and a trained reaction of how to respond to an emergency, they jumped into action and got down to the scene. Upon arrival they did whatever they do, and stablished our son, got him to the hospital where qualified caring medical professionals took care of him. A few days later and after their shift had ended they visited us in the hospital to see how our son was doing. I am unsure who had more tears in their eyes; me or them. By the way; did the timely responsiveness and talented delivery of medical services of the Palo Alto firehouse ambulance team have an impact on my son’s future? I mean aside from saving his life, had they arrived later, he could have died or been in worse shape than had they arrived when they did. Our son recuperated after a long process, he still is not 100% , and never will be, but he returned to school, caught up, went to PALY and later to a 4 year university. What if: What if Palo Alto spread their fire/ambulance talent thinner and the team that got to the scene where my son laid in the road, was not available because they were on a fire call and due to Cross staffing? Well I will tell you what would have happened. My son would have died there in the road. What if: What if Palto Alto does not compensate our firemen/women adequately? Well I guess we would lose them to other cities, or other professions. What if: What if we do not provide our fire professionals the tools they needs, the training they want/ Well I guess they would not be as prepared for when we, members of the Palo alto community, need them. Do we need them? Well I guess the answer to that comes down to asking the question will someone need an ambulance ever? Or can anything in Palo Alto ever catch fire. If the answer is no and no then I guess you can scale back the fire department. But as responsible adults we know that things burn and sometimes an ambulance is needed. So do the responsible thing please, staff up the firehouses appropriately, give them the tools & training they want. (after all they know better than the rest of us what is needed) and compensate them in a manner consistent with the values you place on the lives of people in our community……. Your life…. Your loved one’s lives….. and my son’s life. Very Truly Yours, Roger Lerrick Roger (& Emi) Lerrick 650-468-0045 From:LWV of Palo Alto To:Council, City Cc:meganfogarty@gmail.com Subject:Comment on Gap study, Council Meeting Feb. 10, Item 3 Date:Monday, February 10, 2025 8:43:19 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To: Honorable Mayor Lauing and Council members Re: City Council Meeting Feb. 10, 2025, Gap study, item 3 LWV Palo Alto agrees with the recommendations of the Gap study, Our comments are based on the state and national League policy Meeting Basic Human Needs and our local housing position which supports actions by the City that improve the diversity of housing opportunities for all economic levels, ages, and ethnicities. Specifically: 1. The city should update its inclusionary ordinance to include rental housing projects. 2. The complex issues of affordable housing deserve to be coordinated in a single city department as other cities have done, strengthening the current leadership, making it easier to achieve our goals. 3. The city needs to find ways to create a reliable source for funding for producing and preserving affordable housing: real estate transfer tax, vacancy tax, sales tax, local general obligation bond measure, and a revolving fund for city-led development and public ownership stake based on revenue bonds are some suggestions for financing the development and preservation of affordable housing given the scarcity of federal and state tax credits and county and state funds. Continue the use of publicly owned land for affordable projects. 4. Enforcement mechanisms for renter protections are needed: we suggest a rent review board and tenant right to counsel. We applaud the Council's attention to this important issue. Sincerely, LWV Palo Alto Karen Kalinsky Lisa Ratner Co-Presidents -- League of Women Voters of Palo Alto 3921 E. Bayshore Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 Phone: (650) 903-0600 Web: www.lwvpaloalto.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaloAltoLeague/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/lwvpaloalto From:Gaikwad, Meena To:Council, City Subject:Form Request Date:Monday, February 10, 2025 8:06:15 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello, We are reaching out today to obtain the Affidavit and/or renewal form/forms for the following company: Customer License Name License Number Expiration Date Bio-Rad Laboratories Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. - Retail Sales Permit 2-0330-9248 Hello, We are reaching out today to obtain the Affidavit and/or renewal form/forms for the following company: Customer License Name License Number Expiration Date 1Life One Medical Group, Inc. (Office Code: 04-12 Palo Alto El Camino Real) - Business License 23501292 31-03-2025 We are hoping to have the renewal sent via email in order to process in a timely manner. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask. We appreciate your time and help in this matter! Thanks and Regards, Meena Gaikwad Confidentiality NoticeThis email including all attachments is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity towhich it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is protected from disclosure under Stateand/or Federal law. Please notify the sender immediately if you have received this communication in error anddelete this email from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying,distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. State of Illinois - CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this communication is confidential, may be attorney-client privileged or attorney work product, may constitute inside information or internal deliberative staff communication, and is intended only for the use of the addressee. Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication or any part thereof is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and destroy this communication and all copies thereof, including all attachments. Receipt by an unintended recipient does not waive attorney-client privilege, attorney work product privilege, or any other exemption from disclosure. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.Confidentiality DisclaimerThis email is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. Theinformation contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If youare not the author's intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use,dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this emailin error please delete all copies, both electronic and printed, and contact the author immediately. Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, County of Riverside, California From:Sue Freeman To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Nose, Kiely Subject:Keep Fire Station #4 near Mitchell Park fully staffed with a fire fighting water truck! Date:Monday, February 10, 2025 2:19:31 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Mr. Shikada, Ms. Nose and City Council Members, I’ve spent most of my life, living within 1.5 miles of the #4 Mitchell Park Fire Station. The station was quite new when I was a small child and I grew up visiting it many times and feeling safe, knowing the firefighters were nearby, in case my family ever needed them. My current home is still just a few blocks from fire station #4 and my Mother’s home is nearby also. I was excited to hear that a long overdue remodel was planned to be done at #4. But I’m shocked to now find out there’s no place in the new plans, to house a fire fighting water truck there. I’m writing to ask that you please consider the safety of my family, along with the many hundreds of South Palo Alto residents and families, who make up my neighborhood and direct community. I don’t believe that many of you council members directly live in close proximity to station #4, but as representatives of me - and the people of Palo Alto, I ask that you please keep all members of our city as safe as possible. Please be sure to find the budget, staff and appropriate fire fighting equipment - to support a fully functioning water firetruck to be housed at # 4, to ensure the safety of the many homes, schools, businesses, children and elderly near me. We have lots of Eichlers in this part of town, we just can’t risk the extra minutes or delays that could come from not having what’s needed at station #4! Please support safety as the highest priority. Thanks for listening. Sue Freeman Sent from my iPhone From:Hiral Parekh To:Council, City Cc:Shailo Subject:Urgent Need for Funding and Staffing at Fire Station 4 Date:Sunday, February 9, 2025 6:45:08 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Urgent Need for Funding and Staffing at Fire Station 4 Dear Members of the Palo Alto City Council, I am writing as a concerned resident of South Palo Alto to urge you to prioritize funding for Fire Station 4. The absence of a fire engine and adequate staffing at this station has left our community vulnerable to significant safety risks. South Palo Alto families pay taxes just like all other parts of Palo Alto, yet we lack equitable fire protection. Many homes in our area, including aging Eichlers, are constructed with wood and outdated electrical systems, making them particularly susceptible to fire hazards. We had updated our home to repair some of these issues. I have experience. These homes have even been nicknamed “4- or 5-minute houses” because of how quickly they can burn if not extinguished promptly. See cited article. The proximity of 12 schools within a five-block radius of Station 4 means thousands of children are at risk daily. The fire engine at Station 4 was removed in July 2020 due to budget cuts during the pandemic, and the station has remained without proper resources since then. Residents have reported delayed response times, with firefighters taking up to 15 minutes to respond to incidents within the neighborhood. This is unacceptable for a city with a $1.2 billion budget. Public safety must be a top priority. While the station is being rebuilt and scheduled to reopen in March 2026, it is critical that interim measures be implemented immediately. The current temporary setup at Cubberley Community Center lacks a fire engine, leaving South Palo Alto dependent on resources from other areas, which can lead to dangerous delays. We demand: 1. Immediate funding for a fully equipped fire engine at Station 4. 2. A permanent four-person crew staffed 24/7 at this location. 3. Transparent communication regarding the timeline and progress for restoring full services in South Palo Alto. The recent fires in Los Angeles and other cities have shown the devastating consequences of underfunded fire departments. South Palo Alto deserves the same level of protection as other parts of the city. Please act now to ensure our safety and restore trust in your leadership. Thank you for addressing this urgent matter. Hiral Parekh 3905 Duncan Pl, Palo Alto, CA 94306 Sources: • CBS News, “Are Eichler Homes Fire-Prone?”: • Eichler Network, “How Good Practices Prevent Eichler Home Fires”: From:LWV of Palo Alto To:Council, City Subject:Comment on Item 15, Feb. 10 Council Meeting, "The Academy" Date:Sunday, February 9, 2025 5:17:18 PM Attachments:CCTheacademy.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. The League of Women Voters of Palo Alto supports the approval of "The Academy", a 100% affordable teacher housing development. Our letter of support is attached. -- League of Women Voters of Palo Alto 3921 E. Bayshore Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 Phone: (650) 903-0600 Web: www.lwvpaloalto.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaloAltoLeague/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/lwvpaloalto Feb. 9, 2025 To: Honorable Mayor Lauing and Council members Re: City Council Meeting Feb. 10, 2025, 3265 ECR “The Academy”; Action item15 The League of Women Voters of Palo Alto in 2023 urged the City to work with the developer to approve an affordable housing development on 3265 El Camino Real (“The Academy”) which would create 44 low- and moderate-income units for teachers in Palo Alto. Responding to comments that the project rents would not be affordable to many teachers, the developer reworked the project to lower the income level to 70% AMI (down from 80%) and increased the number of units from 44 to 55. Our board believes it is an even better project now that teachers making 70% of AMI will be eligible. Our comments are based on our League’s local housing position which supports actions by the City that improve the diversity of housing opportunities for all economic levels, ages, and ethnicities and which ensure that all housing is open to everyone without discrimination, and on the state and national League policy Meeting Basic Human Needs. Our city suffers from an extreme shortage of housing available for low- and moderate-income households, as high land prices, construction costs, the absence of adequate and/or available public or private financing, and land use policies force developers to focus on luxury homes. This private developer proposes to help alleviate the shortage of housing affordable to teachers by constructing studio and one-bedroom units in an area well-served by public transportation, bicycle routes, and retail. Significantly, without precedent for 100% below market units, no outright public subsidies are being requested (other than a relaxation of land use regulations). We urge the PTC to recommend approval of the revised application to Council. The benefits of this project are many. Teachers’ unions support this proposal. Local housing for teachers will eliminate hours-long commutes, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help restore the city’s economic diversity. It will also improve the quality of life in our community by having our essential teachers live where they work. Thank you for your consideration of the League’s point of view. Respectfully, Karen Kalinsky and Lisa Ratner Co-Presidents ____________________________________________________________________________________ 3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org From:Tessa Buchin To:Council, City Subject:PAPD complaint, IPA report, transparency and accountability Date:Sunday, February 9, 2025 4:05:40 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Lauing and City Council Members, I am requesting further transparency regarding the review of my complaint against Officer Parham (PAPD) in 2024, who was recently exonerated despite concerns about potential violations of department policies: Policy 340.5.2 (Ethics) – possible misuse of authority Policy 385.4.2 (Incidents of Personal Interest) – conflict of interest due to undisclosed personal connections Policy 418.3 (Mental Health Commitments) This complaint was initiated in 2024 by my late sister, Margo Callard. While on duty, Officer Parham used his personal phone to contact my sister—who had stage 4 terminal cancer, was hospitalized days later, and passed away a month after the incident—at the request of her ex- husband, without disclosing their friendship. The 30-minute recording of their conversation is troubling, as the officer repeatedly dismissed her safety concerns (for her, her family, and her son) and contradicted advice given by the Redwood City Police Department just hours earlier regarding her ex-husband’s mental health crisis. PAPD's policies appear to typically restrict officers from using their position for personal matters or those involving friends and family. This raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest and procedural failures. I understand the forthcoming IPA report, which includes this case, will be presented to the City Council. I would like to know how I can participate in this discussion—whether by making a statement, speaking with someone beforehand, or engaging in another way. My family has lived in Palo Alto for over five decades, trusting the City Council to prioritize transparency, accountability, and the well-being of its residents. I urge you to uphold those values in this case. I appreciate your guidance on how I can participate and look forward to your response. Sincerely, Tessa Buchin From:Joy Sleizer To:Council, City Subject:55 unit teacher housing Date:Sunday, February 9, 2025 3:32:02 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council Members, I urge you to support the 55 unit Teacher low income housing on Monday's agenda. It is so important to have some housing close by for educators. If no teacher qualifies for the housing, I would support any kind of housing since we need housing for everyone!! Thanks! Joy Sleizer Joy Sleizer 850 Webster Street Apt 706 Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-324-7425 650-353-4481 cell From:Aram James To:Council, City; Ed Lauing; h.etzko@gmail.com; Shikada, Ed; Sarah Wright; Reckdahl, Keith; George for Palo Alto Subject:Withdraw All U.S. Aid To Israel Now! Date:Sunday, February 9, 2025 3:05:13 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Avram Finkelstein’s truck From:Aram James To:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Stump, Molly Cc:Keith Reckdahl; Reckdahl, Keith; George for Palo Alto; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Afanasiev, Alex; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Bains, Paul; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Robert. Jonsen Subject:Re: I starred in a Super Bowl ad on Black, Jewish partnership. But Israel divided us. | Opinion Date:Sunday, February 9, 2025 2:58:23 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 1:57 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: I starred in a Super Bowl ad on Black, Jewish partnership. But Israel divided us. | Opinion https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2025/02/09/super-bowl-ad-black-jewish- israel-palestine-gaza/78293019007/ From:Annette Glanckopf To:Council, City; Clerk, City Cc:Blackshire, Geoffrey Subject:Re: RESOLVE TO BE READY Date:Sunday, February 9, 2025 11:16:55 AM Attachments:Resolve to be Ready comments on FS 4.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Whoops no letter. See attached. Annette On Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 09:51:43 AM PST, Annette Glanckopf <annette_g@att.net> wrote: Dear Council Members, Please see attached letter on my comments on Fire Station #4. My concluding paragraph reads I ASK YOU TO COMMIT FUNDS TO FULLY STAFF FS#4 with 5 personnel (use Measure K funds as legislated). Staff engine 64 as a stand alone unit and plan for a full ladder fire rig. Public Safety is a council priority for 2025. Keep us safe. It can happen here. Let’s not be in the position to ask ourselves - "What do we wish we had done?" With that image in mind, ask yourself "Why aren't we doing it now?" I leave you with the thought. “Chance favors those who are prepared. Respectfully submitted Annette Glanckopf Resolve to be Ready Dear Council Members, I would like to add my voice to the discussion on Fire Station 4, equipment and staffing. I will miss the upcoming Feb 24 council discussion. I resonate with the comments made by the professional firefighters, Ceci Kettendorf, Ann Balin, Penny Ellson, Mark Nadim etc. As I have said many times, as well said as by many others, Public Safety is a primary role of city government. We have reflected this in 2025 council priorities. IMHO, in our fair city, Public Safety is unstaffed and underserved. We need to increase funding for fire services for both equipment and staffing. Others have mentioned the rationale - highly flammable Eichler's, the massive new construction in the San Antono corridor and the heightened fire risk when buildings are under construction. Additionally new construction with small set-backs make it difficult to get into back yards. I won't go into more detail. As you know, Palo Alto and Stanford are noted as the top two of all 14 designated communities at the highest risk of wildfire in the County. PAFD is the busiest fire department in Santa Clara County, per capita running 107 calls per 1,000 residents. This is before we welcome our new residents in south Palo Alto. Chris Fields, Senior Professor at the Stanford Woods Institute, said " We face really serious wildfire challenges in the Bay Area, and that is reflected in the recent wildfire experience. This is a very fire-prone ecosystem, and we know that risks are increasing as we are encountering gradually hotter and dryer climate. Increased risks from more people living near wildland areas, and vegetation control and fuel management are struggling to keep up, and raise the need for more firefighters." What would happen if we had an earthquake with the ensuing fires? Let's learn from the LA fire experience and make sure we have appropriate equipment and more importantly adequate staffing. Our current disaster preparedness system is built on the basis of mutual aid. When one community has an extraordinary event, then mutual aid is the perfect solution because it allows other nearby communities who are not experiencing the same event to contribute resources. However, when there is an area or nation or worldwide disaster (like a megafire) then mutual aid will no longer be a viable solution, since there will be no available resources from neighboring communities. We must therefore make sure that Palo Alto is as equipped as much as possible to meet such a challenge. EQUIPMENT: With the megabucks design of the new fire station 4, we need to make certain that it will fully support a full ladder truck, (capable of carrying and pumping water and raising a ladder). Looking at the plans, I see room for 3 vehicles, as well as bedrooms for 5 firefighters. HOWEVER, even though the design shows room for 3 bays, the fire fighters claim one closed bay is for a reserve engine to be stored for global emergencies. The 2 open, drive through bays are only capable of housing a small fire engine, not a full ladder truck. It is imperative that the design allows for the appropriate full ladder truck fire engine. If not, we need to revise the design now. Also, I understand the plan is to put one the reserve engines at FS#4, but this engine was found to be deficient. This seems short sighted. If a new engine is needed, we need to plan to fund and order one now to meet the future needs, especially of South Palo Alto. STAFFING: As Ceci wrote "In 2008 the Fire Department of Palo Alto had approximately 130 people working in operations. Now there are 80 or so. Since 2008, call volume is up thousands of calls annually , and that number grows each year. This does not even factor in the fact that the PAFD staffs station 8 in Foothills Preserve each summer, with overtime. So , we have a dangerously shrunken fire department to 60% the size it was 17 years ago?" One resident wrote “If you speak with the fire fighters they will describe inadequate staffing for the job at hand, long unwanted overtime hours, as long as 96 hours, and high attrition rates, for years.” At least 5 staff are needed for Fire Station #4. The proposed cross-staffing model will not serve us well. With only 3 staff, either an engine can be deployed for a fire or an ambulance for medical. This leaves one of the rigs unavailable. The constant ambulance calls will take away two crew, so the fire engine at FS4 will be unable to answer a fire, with only the remaining crew Yes, medical services are a major component of the calls - perhaps over 70%, but Palo Alto is the highest risk area for fires in the county, and south Palo Alto is becoming much more dense. If an ambulance is out on medical call, and there is a fire, an engine will have to be deployed from another station, increasing response time. If deployed from Arastradero station, there is the probability of being delayed by a train. If deployed from College Terrace/Stanford station, the probability is of a mayor traffic jam especially during rush hour. This leads to delayed response time. We need the fire engine at FS #4 to be staffed as a stand alone unit. As an aside: The current response times are calculated city wide, not geographically. I ASK YOU TO COMMIT FUNDS TO FULLY STAFF FS#4 (use Measure K funds as legislated). Staff the fire engine as a stand alone unit and plan for a full ladder fire rig. Public Safety is a council priority for 2025. Keep us safe. It can happen here. Let’s not be in the position to ask ourselves - "What do we wish we had done?" With that image in mind, ask yourself "Why aren't we doing it now?" I leave you with the thought. “Chance favors those who are prepared From:Annette Glanckopf To:Council, City; Clerk, City Cc:Blackshire, Geoffrey Subject:RESOLVE TO BE READY Date:Sunday, February 9, 2025 9:51:56 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council Members, Please see attached letter on my comments on Fire Station #4. My concluding paragraph reads I ASK YOU TO COMMIT FUNDS TO FULLY STAFF FS#4 with 5 personnel (use Measure K funds as legislated). Staff engine 64 as a stand alone unit and plan for a full ladder fire rig. Public Safety is a council priority for 2025. Keep us safe. It can happen here. Let’s not be in the position to ask ourselves - "What do we wish we had done?" With that image in mind, ask yourself "Why aren't we doing it now?" I leave you with the thought. “Chance favors those who are prepared. Respectfully submitted Annette Glanckopf From:Gabe Molitor To:Council, City Subject:Dear city council members this is your friend Gabe molitor and the reason for this mobile cell phone email message is because I also think that the empty former bank branch of BMO should also be repopened as affordable community bank for all of the leg... Date:Sunday, February 9, 2025 6:54:08 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Council, City; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; chuck jagoda; h.etzko@gmail.com; editor@paweekly.com; Shikada, Ed; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Sarah Wright; EPA Today; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Zelkha, Mila; Lotus Fong Subject:Bad Policy – But not a reflection of the whole community As reported in an earlier issue of STREET SHEET, the Palo Alto City Council, on August 5th, approved an… Date:Saturday, February 8, 2025 7:26:31 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. From the archives of Street Sheet 2013 Bad Policy – But not a reflection of the whole community As reported in an earlier issue of STREET SHEET, the Palo Alto City Council, on August 5th, approved an… Source: Welcome To Street Sheet Palo Alto’s Vehicle Habitation Ordinance | Welcome To Street Sheet https://search.app/aqnFnAvqn6Thsa2a7 From:CeCi Kettendorf To:Council, City Subject:A Skeleton Crew Date:Saturday, February 8, 2025 3:38:42 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members; In 2008 the Fire Department of Palo Alto had approximately 130 people working in operations. Now there are 80 or so. Since 2008, call volume is up thousands of calls annually and that number grows each year. This does not even factor in the fact that the PAFD now staffs station 8 in Foothills Preserve each summer, with unwanted overtime. So we have a dangerously shrunken fire department to 60% the size it was 17 years ago? Is this wise, expert, prudent judgment on Mr. Shikada's part? No wonder Mr. Shikada agreed to the surreptitious closing of Fire Station 4 so many years ago! There were no fire fighters to man it because the positions were eliminated! South Palo Alto has been at risk for all these years. Please right size the department and ask the firefighters what they need. With great concern, Ceci Kettendorf 45 year resident 3719 Grove Avenue From:Palo Alto Forward To:Council, City Subject:Support 3265 ECR - Agenda Item #15 Date:Saturday, February 8, 2025 2:55:08 PM Attachments:3265 ECR Support Ltr (02.8.25).pdf Attach A 41 Pgs of Support Ltrs.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Mayor Lauing and City Council, Please find our attached support letter for the Teacher Housing Project at 3265 El Camino Real and 41 pages of previously submitted support letters. Thank you, -- Amie Ashton Executive Director Palo Alto Forward 650-793-1585 February 8, 2025 SUBJECT: Agenda Item #15 - 3265 El Camino Real Teacher Housing Dear Mayor Lauing and Council, We write in strong support of the proposed 55-unit affordable housing development at 3265 El Camino Real. The project has been under review for well over two years as part of a Planned Home Zoning (PHZ) process. It is time to approve this project, which has overwhelming community support (as evident in the support letters contained within Attachment A). We need creative and innovative housing projects like this one. In addition to helping meet our Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers, construction of 55 affordable units for local teachers with ZERO public funding or subsidies is a win for our city . Students benefit when their teachers live in the community and can dedicate their intellectual and emotional energy to teaching, without having to endure long and expensive commutes each day. Districts can attract and retain the best employees when affordable housing like this is available. The project site is the perfect location for housing with its proximity to California Avenue retail and services, area transit and bikeways, and local schools. This type of housing directly helps our environment (with lowered vehicle miles traveled), economy (more residents to shop locally consistent with recommendation #10 from the City's Economic Development Strategy ), and equity (housing at all income levels makes for a stronger community where people thrive). We urge you to approve the project. Show our residents that you are committed to implementing your identified housing priorities and goals. 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The project has been under review for over two years as part of a Planned Home Zoning (PHZ) process. It is time to move this forward to Council with a recommendation for approval. In addition to helping meet our Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers, construction of 55 affordable units for local teachers with ZERO public funding or subsidies is a win for our city . Students benefit when their teachers live in the community and can dedicate their intellectual and emotional energy to teaching, without having to endure long and expensive commutes each day. Districts can attract and retain the best employees when affordable housing like this is available. The project site is the perfect location for housing with its proximity to California Avenue retail and services, area transit and bikeways, and local schools. This type of housing directly helps our environment (with lowered vehicle miles traveled), economy (more residents to shop locally consistent with recommendation #10 from the City's Economic Development Strategy ), and equity (housing at all income levels makes for a stronger community where people thrive). We also fully support the necessary zoning and design deviations being requested by the project - especially given its location near major transit stops, Caltrain, local schools, services, and retail. Please move the project forward and allow our city to demonstrate its commitment to creating housing (especially affordable housing for our teachers) a priority. Thank you, Amie Ashton Executive Director, and on behalf of the Board of Palo Alto Forward I created this file to show a rough estimate of time and money savings from avoiding a long commute that can allow people to pay extra in rent and still come out better off financially My example is relevant to the teacher housing project but also to infill housing generally on the peninsula that allow some people to avoid long commutes My example is for a 50 Mile Commute Taking an Hour Each Way Note that actual travel times for 50 mile commutes are usually longer at peak hours Commute Costs Miles each wa 50 Time each way (minutes) 60 IRS Mileage Allowanc 0.655 https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs‐issues‐standard‐mileage‐rates‐for‐2023‐business‐use‐increases‐3‐cents‐per‐mile#:~:text=Beginning%20on%20January%201%2C%202023,the%20second%20half%20of%202022 estimate of total costs per mile ($) 65.5 c is probably low for Bay Area as our gas prices are far above the national average Gasoline cost ($per gallon)5 Miles per gallon 20 Tolls per day ($) 7 Commute days per month 17 Most months have 21 or 22 weekdays and I used 17 days as a rough estimate to account for holidays and personal time IRS estimate of driving costs per month $1,113.50 Gasoline costs per month $425 Toll costs per month $119 travel time in minutes today to Palo Alto starting today Sept 18 at with no accidents showing today (Sept 19) at 6:30 the time from Gilroy was 97 minutes as there was an accident on Hwy 101 Example trips Miles 6:30am 7:00 AM Walnut Creek 50 79 88 Gilro 50 77 81 San Ramon 40 67 75 South San Jose 32 45 53 Livermore 40 71 93 Tracy 64 110 Hollister 64 105 Antioch 70 132 Time Costs Many workers are willing to trade money for less commuting for example https://www.businessinsider.com/us‐remote‐workers‐would‐take‐pay‐cut‐to‐keep‐wfh‐2023‐5 https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15004‐survey‐toll‐of‐commute.html https://www.fool.com/the‐ascent/banks/articles/cheaper‐home‐or‐shorter‐commute‐heres‐how‐to‐decide Part of this is saving on car costs as described above and part is valuing the time saved that can be used for personal or family time Some sources (like the last link above) say to use 100% of the wage rate for the value of travel time saved The U.S. and CA departments of transportation use 100% for business travel and 50% for personal travel I used 50% and used a wage/salary rate of $40/hour roughly equivalent to $80,000 a year So that equals $20 an hour of time saved https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/USDOT%20VOT%20Guidance%202014.pdf page 15 https://dot.ca.gov/‐/media/dot‐media/programs/transportation‐planning/documents/data‐analytics‐services/transportation‐economics/cal‐bc/2022‐cal‐bc/guides/cal‐bc‐81‐parameter‐‐guide‐v1‐a11y.pdf Hourly wage 40 % counted as value of time saved 0.5 Commute hours 2 Commute days 17 Value of time saved per month $680 So if you save 2 hours a day for 17 days a month this comes to $680 a month Adding commute cost savings and time value savings results in substantial savings to an individual who no longer needs to commute 50 miles a day each way From:Office of Supervisor Sylvia Arenas To:Council, City Subject:The D1 Update: Protecting Immigrant Families, Lawsuits filed against Trump Administration, County finalizes Regional Medical Center Acquistion Date:Friday, February 7, 2025 6:43:21 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. IN THIS ISSUE: Santa Clara County and San Francisco lead coalition in lawsuit protecting cities and counties against unlawful threats from the Trump Administration Santa Clara County to block Trump effort to end Birthright Citizenship Santa Clara County allocates $5 million in anticipation of Trump Administration Board of Supervisors unanimous approves Countywide Community Violence Prevention Strategic Plan $150 million deal reached for Regional Medical Center Board of Supervisors unanimously approves new Office of Economic Development New LAFCO policy expands water access for agricultural housing Expanding Childcare in South County Report ICE activity to the Rapid Response Network Santa Clara County and San Francisco lead coalition in lawsuit protecting cities and counties against unlawful threats from Trump Administration On February 7, the County of Santa Clara, the City of San Francisco and a coalition of over 100 local jurisdictions from across the nation, announced a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over Executive Orders and federal administration actions illegally harming jurisdictions that have non-cooperation policies which prohibit the use of local resources to aid federal immigration officials with carrying out civil immigration enforcement. The courts have repeatedly upheld local governments’ constitutional right to choose a policy of non-cooperation. These policies in no way prevent the federal government from using its own resources to enforce federal immigration laws. This is a clear message that we will hold the line as we’ve done before, in solidarity with our immigrant communities, to stand up against the Trump Administration’s bullying and intimidation tactics to withhold federal funding for critical County services. Our region and country were built on the backs of immigrants, and we must have the courage to continue standing strong. We will remain united and stand up for justice, even if that means noncooperation with mass deportations that aim to separate our families. Watch Press Conference Read County Press Release Santa Clara County to block Trump effort to end Birthright Citizenship On January 30, the County filed a lawsuit in federal court in San José to block President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship. Santa Clara County is home to an estimated 773,000 residents or 40 percent of county residents identified as being born outside of the United States. Nearly 54 percent of residents speak a language other than English at home, making our community a safe haven for immigrants fleeing devastation. As a proud daughter of immigrants who came here with hopes and dreams of a better life for myself and my siblings, this unconstitutional executive order is an attack on our entire community, in particular our immigrant community, and the moral fabric that enables Santa Clara County to thrive. At time of writing, a federal judge in Maryland has blocked President Trump's executive order to end citizenship for children born on U.S. soil to parents in the country without legal status, expanding a ruling filed on January 30 by a federal court in Seattle that blocked the executive order for 14 days. The lawsuit filed by County Council reflects the County’s commitment to our immigrant community. As one of the most diverse enclaves within the United States, Santa Clara County is home to the largest population of immigrant residents out of all of California’s 58 counties. The County will continue to serve in the best interests of our community and most importantly our immigrant families who need us now more than ever. Read County's Press Release Read SJ Spotlight article Santa Clara County allocates $5 million in anticipation of deportation threats against immigrants Last December, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved my referral to expand preparations in anticipation of threats by the Trump administration against immigrants and vulnerable residents in Santa Clara County. From legal support to preventing family separation and increasing Know Your Rights education, my referral includes rapid response efforts utilizing county resources to create safety measures for immigrant families fearing deportation threats. These proactive measures are supplemented by an unanimously approved $5 million in funds proposed by the County Executive’s Office – delegating authority to the County Executive to negotiate and execute agreements with nonprofit and community groups to temporarily streamline aid. In addition, this referral directs county administration to compile an extensive report with options to increase county staffing, immigration rights outreach in the workplace and expand County department capabilities to protect our most vulnerable against unjust deportations. County staff has begun analyzing County contracts relevant to new threats by coordinating with impacted community organizations and compiling a confidential report to review federal funding and agreements. Read County Press Release Read Board Referral Board of Supervisors unanimously approves $5 million for Countywide Community Violence Prevention Strategic Plan On February 4, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Countywide Community Violence Prevention Strategic Plan which includes $5 million in funding for the three-year workplan which I initiated with Supervisor Susan Ellenberg. The Countywide Community Violence Prevention Strategic Plan aims to address the growing incidence and impact of community violence in Santa Clara County. The plan emphasizes evidence-based approaches to prevent violence from occurring by addressing the immediate needs of those impacted by violence and introducing strategic preventative measures. We must use every tool at our disposal to break the cycles of violence and poverty that impact too many of our families. This action is a critical step to move our county to a coordinated approach that is strategic with our existing investments and new ones. Read Countywide Community Violence Prevention Strategic Plan Report Watch Board Meeting Discussion, Item 10 Santa Clara County reaches agreement to purchase Regional Medical Center for $150 million On January 13, the County of Santa Clara and HCA Healthcare reached a definitive agreement to purchase Regional Medical Center (RMC) for $150 million. The agreement finalizes an Asset Purchase Agreement expected to close on April 1 where the County will begin overseeing operations. As the leading emergency healthcare provider in East San José, RMC's integration into the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) system will see the restoration of Level II trauma care, labor and delivery services, in addition to STEMI and comprehensive stroke services. HCA Healthcare downgraded RMC's Trauma Care Center from Level III to Level II in July of 2024, resulting in potentially severe impacts to low-income and underinsured residents in East San José. The addition of the 258-bed hospital marks the fourth hospital in the SCVH System. By moving quickly to purchase RMC within the last six months, the County is preserving and enhancing critical life-saving care for a historically disenfranchised area of Santa Clara County. The RMC acquisition also prevents the further inundation of patients to sister hospitals within the SCVH system, ensuring that quality care remains local and accessible to residents while addressing the diverse medical needs of our community. I’d like to thank the County Executive’s Office for their leadership and commitment to ensuring our most vulnerable have continued access to critical care when they need it most. Read County Press Release Board of Supervisors unanimously approves new Office of Economic Development to support South County agritourism On December 10, 2024, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved my referral to create a new Office of Economic Development (OED). This new office will focus on aiding economic development in unincorporated Santa Clara County, specifically in South Santa Clara County by supporting and preserving agricultural businesses and promoting agritourism. In 2018, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan – which called for the long-term agricultural investment and growth of our agricultural economy. While the County has economic strategies in place, we currently do not have a central coordinated hub whose sole focus is to drive economic initiatives forward. The OED offers an economic lifeline to the farmlands of South Santa Clara County, home to the vast majority of our county’s farmlands, vineyards, and fruit stands. South County's charm lies in its vibrant small farms, wineries, and agricultural legacies that enrich our community. This office will allow us to develop a regional brand identity, reclaiming the “Valley of Heart’s Delight” to showcase our world-class produce and agricultural community. Read Board Referral New LAFCO policy expands water access to unincorporated Santa Clara County, clearing agricultural housing hurdle It’s been two decades since Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) policies were updated in Santa Clara County. LAFCO is a key agency in determining land use like agricultural housing and plays a major role in our Agricultural Worker Housing Workplan. As a state-mandated independent local agency, LAFCO oversees the boundaries of cities and districts in Santa Clara County, setting regional planning and regulatory policy for water access, sewer services and fire protection. In December of 2024, we reduced a key barrier to developing agricultural housing by extension of potable drinking water and sewer services to future agricultural worker housing projects in unincorporated county lands. LAFCO’s outdated policies made it impossible for farmers to develop housing for their workers, and I am proud to serve on a LAFCO board that understands the vital role of agricultural workers in feeding our families. Thank you to outgoing LAFCO Chair, Russ Melton, for his support in helping us clear this major hurdle to develop housing for our agricultural workers. By expanding water access to unincorporated Santa Clara County, future agricultural housing projects will allow farmworkers to live and work with dignity. Read LAFCO Policy, Item 15 Expanding childcare access and development in South County with $1.8 million grant for Gavilan College I joined South County leaders at Gavilan College in Gilroy last December to announce a $1,749,800 grant from the Valley Health Foundation for the YMCA of Silicon Valley to support the renovation of the Gavilan College Child Development Center and the launch of the Early Learning Center. The grant announced by YMCA comes from the County’s Childcare Expansion Grant Program through the Federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act. The $1.8 million will help expand childcare access and development in South County with new facilities, programs, and affordable childcare. The Childcare Expansion Grant Program enhances childcare facilities across Santa Clara County, prioritizing families most affected by the pandemic or those unable to afford early learning programs. Through the $1.7 million grant, the YMCA of Silicon Valley will build a state-of-the-art facility focused on early childhood development while addressing the rising demand for childcare in South County. I am excited to see this grant become reality to change lives and allow South County families to access affordable, quality childcare. By building development facilities and investing in the next generation of childcare workers, we are creating a future that prioritizes our children and families. Read YMCA Press Release Report ICE activity to the Rapid Response Network of Santa Clara County The Rapid Response Network is a community defense project in Santa Clara County to protect immigrant families from deportation threats and to provide support during and after a community member’s arrest or detention. Report ICE activity by calling the 24/7 Video hotline at 408-290-1144 Register for an upcoming training Follow the Rapid Response Network on Facebook and Instagram for real-time updates Know Your Rights Resources ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS If you are in need of assistance, please contact the District 1 Office at 408-299-5010 or district1@bos.sccgov.org Follow Supervisor Arenas on Socials! 70 West Hedding, East Wing, 10th Floor San Jose, CA 95110 (408) 299-5010 Email Supervisor Arenas District 1 Website Unsubscribe from future messages. From:Rodrigo Romero To:Council, City Cc:Marc Santamaria; Duong Nguyen Subject:Offering Free Immigration Legal Education for Your Community Date:Friday, February 7, 2025 5:27:11 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Palo Alto Council Members: We are a local immigration law firm with years of experience in serving immigrant communities in San Francisco, California. We are offering free know your rights presentations to your constituents. Our goal is to provide valuable information about immigration processes, rights, and resources available to immigrants in your city. What We Offer: Workshops: Interactive sessions covering various immigration topics. Q&A Sessions: Opportunities for community members to ask questions and receive guidance. Resource Distribution: Informational materials that attendees can take home (or download). Please let us know if you would be interested in discussing this further or if there are upcoming events where we can participate. Warm regards, Rodrigo Romero Legal Intake Specialist Santamaria Law Firm, P.C. p:(415) 745-3650 a:100 Pine Street, Suite 1250, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA From:upcomingsales@friendspaloaltolib.org To:Council, City Subject:Fun, Fabulous, Full-size Book Sale - Friends of the Palo Alto Library Date:Friday, February 7, 2025 4:32:27 PM BOOK SALE NEWSLETTER THIS WEEKEND AT CUBBERLEY Visit our web site CUBBERLEY USED BOOK SALES Saturday February 8 Main Room 11am - 4pm Bargain Room 9:30am - 4pm Children's Room 10am - 4pm Popup Music Sale 10am - 3pm (outside Main Room) Sunday February 9 All Rooms 11am - 4pm FEATURED IN FEBRUARY Science Fiction Military History Gardening Holidays Health 4000 Middlefield Road Palo Alto NE corner of the Cubberley Community Center (650) 213-8755 www.fopal.org Maps and Directions More information on the sales Donate your used books, DVDs, &c ALL NET PROCEEDS GO TO HELP PALO ALTO LIBRARIES Main Room In our Main Room, prices are way below what used book stores charge. Hardcover books start at $3 and softcover books start at only $2. No numbered tickets this month! Please note that due to crowding during the first two hours of the Book Sale, no strollers, rolling carts, etc. can be brought into the Main Room. This is for the safety of shoppers and volunteers alike. By 12:30 or so, the crowd thins out and shoppers are welcome to bring these items into the sale. Children's Book Sale The Children's Room is located in the portable next to the soccer field near Greendell School. It is entirely filled with children's books and toys. You'll find picture books, school age fiction and non-fiction, fiction for teens, award winners, non-English titles, CDs and DVDs, and books for parents and teachers, many for 50 cents or $1. Strollers are welcome in the Children's Room at any time. Bargain Books in H-2 The Bargain Room is located in Rooms H-2 and H-3 of the Cubberley main campus, between our Main Room and Middlefield Road. On Saturday, paperbacks are $1, hardcovers are $2, and children's books are 50 cents each. The room also contains many records, CDs, and DVDs at $1 each. On Sunday, the room opens at 11 am and all prices are half off. Or, save even more on Sunday by buying green FOPAL reusable bags from us for $4/ea (or bring your own grocery-size reusable bag) and stuffing them with any items in the room for $5/bag. Fill four bags at $5/bag and fill a fifth bag FREE! Library News Rinconada Library is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday February 8 from 3 PM to 5 PM. More details below and on the Library's Events Calendar. Children's Library will be closed for renovations starting Sunday February 16 and continuing through the end of May. All Library branches will be closed on Monday February 17 for the Presidents' Day holiday. You could find out about these sorts of things in a slightly more timely manner by subscribing to the Library's mailing list. Like us, they send one or two messages per month, more usually one. You can find out about other things they want you to know from the Palo Alto City Library Blogs page. Or you can subscribe to them with an RSS reader. -Frank McConnell What's special for February February is here and so is our exciting book sale! This month, we're thrilled to feature a wonderful selection of Gardening books, generously donated from the personal collection of our dedicated volunteer and Palo Alto Historian, Steve S. Our specials don't stop there! Science Fiction and Military History enthusiasts will be delighted by the tremendous number of donations we've received over the past few months. Many of these fascinating reads can also be found in the respective sections of our Bargain Room. The Health section has something special this month, thanks to our new section manager, John S., who has been hard at work refreshing the shelves. And let's not forget the Holidays! We're rounding out the specials with a heartwarming collection of books perfect for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and more. In addition to our fabulous book offerings, FOPAL is pleased to host the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters this Saturday near the Main Room. They will be setting up an outreach table to provide valuable information and assistance. Be sure to take some time Saturday after the sale to join FOPAL as we celebrate the Rinconada Library's 10th anniversary from 3-5 PM. Stop by our out-reach table and say "Hi" to FOPAL community liasions Andrea S. & Clara M. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to explore new reads and support your local community. See you at the sale! -Janette Herceg Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Comics The big story in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Comics this month is again the large donation of older paperbacks, many not frequently seen. One shelf is full of Ace Doubles, from the F- (40¢), M- (45¢), and M- (50¢) series -- look for others next month. Many titles from Philip K. Dick and A.E. van Vogt, with ones that haven't been frequently reprinted. Hardcovers include a fine copy of Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" from 1949. It's the book club edition but the binding is the same as the US first. Shelf pictures at fopalbooks.com. -Rich McAllister Poetry February brings the rain, Thaws the frozen ponds again. Poems are raining down as well. Our shelves are full of books to sell. Of classic verse we have a wealth. Find them on the topmost shelf. So brave the storms and come to see How life improves with poetry. https://fopalbooks.com/poetry.html -Mandy MacCalla Home & Crafts It's all about fashion this February on the top Home bookshelf: The Fashion Book, American Style, Fashion Icons, and the Fashion Sketchbook, among others. There's also makeup, beauty, and hair care. This month we have Martha Stewart home design items: Decorating with Color, Decorating Details, plus How to Decorate. For fun, try I Like You, an Amy Sedaris book on home entertaining concepts. We also have several kitchen and bath references. There are various home styles from San Francisco designs to Martha's Vineyard interiors. Home maintenance and repair titles include Organized Living and Making a Home: Housekeeping for Real Life. Home building and remodeling resources range from The Girls' Guide to Off Grid Living, to Adobe: Build it Yourself. This February in Floral Arts you'll find: Fantastic Flowerpots: 50 Creative Ways to Decorate a Plain Pot, a living gift you can make and give for Valentine's Day. Are you a model railroader? This month in Crafts we have manuals from track planning to basic electronics. You can also browse to find a title with more than 150 creative crafting ideas. New this February are various resources on pottery, ceramics, and clay art. In Fabric Arts try Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects. Peruse other sewing guides, as well as an array of quilting, knitting, crocheting, and needlepoint resources. Don't forget to pick up Origami and coloring books! Shelf photos can be found at https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html. -Virginia Perry Antiques & Collections This February we feature a plethora of books on glass and ceramics: Sotheby's Concise Encyclopedia of Porcelain, China and Glass in America 1880-1980, Collectible Glassware from the 40s. 50s, and 60s, plus A Short History of Glass, are among the many offerings. There are also a number of titles on beautiful glass paperweights. You'll find two books of British collectibles: British Toy Soldiers: 1893 to the Present by James Opie, and History of British Dinky Toys 1934-1964 by Cecil Gibson. Look for four special books on golf memorabilia. We also have Hakes Guide to Presidential Campaign Collectibles: An Illustrated Price Guide to Artifacts from 1789-1988. Find titles on coins, stamps, and medals, furniture and rugs, and other resources for your collecting reference. Shelf photo can be found at https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html. -Virginia Perry Puzzles and Games This month we received two large donations of dozens of new to us Eboo puzzles now shelved and ready for you. There are a few interesting ones from a new publisher, too, as well as many from the regular brands. The puzzle section is now expanded, but the unfortunate reality is because we have not been getting many quality games to sell. Especially if you are a strategy game lover that has lost interest in some of your recent year acquisitions, we would love to get them a new home. -Vicky Evans February Book Reviews The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kleter The First Time She Drowned is a heart wrenching tale of the fragile and incomprehensible connection between a mother and her daughter. Written for young adults or late teens, this book screams of the pain people have gone through, and how we as humans struggle to move on. Cassie grew up in a family revolving around her older brother and her mother. They were the most important people in the world to her, and she did everything she could to keep them happy; not realizing the pain her mother was inflicting on her. As Cassie grew older, she started realizing that the way her mother was treating her wasn't okay, and started to rebel. But after a while, a child will still crave the warm embrace of their mother. Cassie still tried to get her mother to love her; until they both snapped. After Cassie tried to fight back and failed, her mother sent her to a mental institution, hoping for her daughter to be properly educated. For 3 years, Cassie lived in that place, almost drowning in her futile hope of her family returning for her. But she started making friends and learning about happiness as well as how to keep her head afloat with healthy dreams. Finally, at 18, Cassie takes off to the real world; thirsty for the life she has been dreaming about. Once thrusted into such a new environment with new dangers and old, Cassie must start to understand that the world isn't just filled with black and white. This haunting story will encourage young adults who feel like they're drowning, to fight for the surface and break their heads out from the water. Recommended for ages 15 - 18. Garfield The timeless story of a fat orange tabby cat forever echoes through the ages; Garfield is the wonderfully endearing story of a cat named Garfield meandering through life with some mischievous pranks along the way. A long running series of 76 Garfield books, Garfield will be there growing up alongside your children throughout the ages. Without needing much prior knowledge, this is one of the greatest book series known to mankind; and is recommended for children 6 - 16 years old. -Emma Chen Children's Room This is your last chance at our collection of books for Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day-- all priced to sell. And February is Black History Month, so look on the bookcase between the windows (between Non-fiction and Vintage), on the Non-fiction display table, on the shelves of the Art cart, and on the "A" Non-fiction shelves for a terrific selection of books on Black history and biography. It's a banner month for the School-age Fiction section. On the Classics shelves you'll find many gift-quality, beautifully illustrated titles: Peter Pan, The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, The Wind in the Willows, The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter, The Secret Garden, Pinocchio, Treasure Island, Robin Hood, and Greek Mythology. A new version of the "Little House on the Prairie" series is coming to television soon, and we have a boxed set of all the books. On the Award Winners shelves are two collections of Roald Dahl's books, in addition to his poetry collection entitled Vile Verse. The Popular Authors cart is packed, and in the Popular Series section there is a brand new collection of ten Goosebumps stories, still in shrink wrap. To quote a favorite Children's Room poet, A. A. Milne, "Let it rain! Who cares?" That's because our Activity section is crammed with wonderful hands-on toys and projects-- enough for at least forty days and forty nights. Once again we've received a large donation of Legos, including Lego robotics and many bags of Lego people. For a perfect combination of experimentation and entertainment, we have many Snap Circuit kits--both standard and specialized--including two remote control car projects. You'll also find several other remote control items on our shelves, along with board games and puzzles for all ages. Classroom teachers and parents will find bags of science equipment from a FOSS meteorology unit, as well as lots of math and science books--everything priced to sell. And as usual, our graphic novel shelves are packed; this month we feature a collection of Asterix. Look in the Picture Books section for some popular collections and series: Sesame Street (8 books); Richard Scarry (5 books); Munschworks (First Collection and Treasury book 3); Disney My First Library (12 books including alphabet, nursery rhymes, colors, numbers, etc.); A Child's First Library of Values (15 volumes); Curious George; Arthur; Clifford; Berenstain Bears; Franklin; Magic School Bus; Little Critter; Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood; Misty (pony stories). -Carolyn Davidson Children's Vintage Children's Vintage has a wide array of unusual materials this month. First up are children's LPs - from the classic Carnival of the Animals to The Little Engine That Could. Then we have an entire collection of softcover books and pamphlets, including comics and graphic novels, that have been collected over the entire last year. In addition, a special display has been set up highlighting California and Santa Clara history, just in time for those 4th grade mission reports. Plus a robust world languages section that includes a child's dictionary translating English into Gujarati. Charles Schulz' Peanuts and Charlie Brown books, one particularly suitable for Valentine's Day, and Oz books round out our February offerings. See shelf photos at https://fopalbooks.com/kids.html. Children's Vintage is located in the children's portable, tucked away in a cozy nook in the back left corner as you enter the sale. -Lisa Heitman Sociology/Anthropology This month, the Sociology/Anthropology section features 389 books. Only a few are from previous months; the majority came from recent donations. Classics such as The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith are among the newly received books. A one- minute video defines precisely the book's main concern: the increase in private wealth and the decline in the quality of life for the majority. Another important book featured in February is The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow. The Guardian opened its discussion of the book by stating that "Wengrow and his late co-author David Graeber caused a sensation with their revisionist view of humankind's development." -Natalia Koulinka Judaica Browse the Judaica section for books on the Jewish religion and culture including editions of the Torah and other basic texts, Kabbalah, Jewish history, the Holocaust, memoirs, Israel, Jewish Women, the Jewish American Experience and other related subjects. Special interest this month - Mala's Cat: A Memoir of Survival in World War II Buried by the Times - The Holocaust and America's Most Important Newspaper Blessed is the Daughter Torah from Dixie: Intriguing Thoughts on the Weekly Torah Portion Day by Day in Jewish History Biblical Images : Men and Women of the Book Most fiction with Jewish themes will be found in Modern Literature/Classics or Current Fiction. Books entirely in Hebrew are shelved in the European Languages section. Shelf photos at https://fopalbooks.com/judaica.html -Charlotte Epstein, Judaica Section Manager Self Help/Personal Growth One bay has 'Popular on Amazon' books, including two shelves of New Arrivals. These books have an Amazon ranking that shows a relatively large number of the books are being sold – an indicator of popularity. The next bay has four shelves of New Arrivals. The last two bays have books (other than new arrivals) that can be put into a subsection, such as Relationships, Happiness, Little Books, etc. You might check out the Journals and Workbooks sections for ways to support you in your personal growth goals for the year. There are two Pop-Up subsections: five books by Melody Beattie, a popular self help writer and eight books on Narcissism in case you have a special interest! Happy Valentine's Day from one Book Lover to another, -Marnie Music CDs Once again the CD Section will be offering "NEW" CD's (CD's still sealed in original MFG's shrink wrap) for sale at the February Sale. Selections include Rock, Jazz, Classical, Soundtracks and New Age; and an assortment of Misc ones. Be able to buy "NEW" items at a fraction of their cost on Amazon. -John Scheibe, The FOPAL CD Guy Pop-Up Music Sale Our February Pop Up Music Sale will feature over 1,000 new discs added since last month's sale. Feel free to browse our 10 tables under the tents next to the Main Room entry ramp. -George Chaltas, Music Sales Politics Hello there avid readers...how's it going? As we spiral into insanity, why not pick up a book on politics? As LBJ once said, "Books and ideas are the most effective weapons against intolerance and ignorance." Arm yourself with knowledge, and once you have that knowledge, act. Nothing was ever done by passively waiting for things to happen. :) -Margaret History Someone once said that those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it. This month the History section has a lot of books on fascism and imperialism, the fall of the Roman Republic, and the coming of the US Civil War. This could also be a good time to read up on the American Revolution and the early years of the US. In observance of Black History month there are several copies of The 1619 Project. -Lin McAllister Donations We accept donations on Monday through Saturday from 3-5 pm in the Main Room. But we close to donations in the week before the sale so that we can prepare the Main Room for the sale, which means that we are closed for donations from Sunday February 2 through Sunday February 9. Please hold your donations until Monday February 10. We will also be closed Monday February 17 for Presidents' Day. Please read our donation guidelines before you bring materials to us. Suggestions? We're always eager to hear your suggestions for ways to improve our book sale. Please email us at suggestions@friendspaloaltolib.org. This notice comes to you from the non-profit organization Friends of the Palo Alto Library. No trees were felled in the making of this e-mail. Visit our web site. Become a member by joining online. Be sure to receive your own free copy of this e-mail notice so that you'll know about all special upcoming books sales. To sign up, just e-mail us. We carefully protect the privacy of your e-mail address. We will not share your e-mail address with any other organization and we will not use it for any purpose other than to send you these notices. If you do not wish to receive these e-mail notices in the future, please reply with the words "Remove Me" in the first line of the text. From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims Cc:Council, City; Shikada, Ed; h.etzko@gmail.com; Palo Alto Free Press; Gardener, Liz; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Gennady Sheyner; Sarah Wright; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com Subject:Silicon Valley water agency flops on outreach ahead of sweeps - San José Spotlight Date:Friday, February 7, 2025 2:51:36 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. FYI: Silicon Valley water agency flops on outreach ahead of sweeps - San José Spotlight https://sanjosespotlight.com/silicon-valley-water-agency-flops-on-outreach-ahead-of-sweeps/ From:slevy@ccsce.com To:Council, City Cc:Lait, Jonathan; Sauls, Garrett Subject:3265 ECR item 15 Date:Friday, February 7, 2025 10:34:13 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Lauing and council members, I write in support of the ARB, PTC and staff recommendation to approve this project. I want to call attention to some public benefits that support city goals and are in addition to the direct housing benefits to the new residents. This project will support the city's goal of adding customers to the Cal Ave area businesses. This benefit is true for this project and all housing additions in the DTN and Cal Ave areas. This project will support the city's and region's environmental goals in at least two ways: 1) Some residents will be able to eliminate long commutes that add to pollution, GHG emissions and congestion. Other residents will be able to reduce smaller, but still significant, commutes with similar benefits. 2) By virtue of proximity to Cal Ave, to the ECR buses and to the Stanford shuttles, residents will have the opportunity to reduce car use. They will not be able to eliminate all car use but, as with m family and others who live DTN or near Cal Ave, some car trips can be replaced by walking or biking. Reducing car use in any form has both environmental benefits and reduces demand for parking. There is a third I would call public benefit that came up in all the meetings I attended with Supervisor Simitian prior to the pandemic. Besides the time and money savings to residents and more family time, there is a benefit to Palo Alto parents and students of having more time available from teachers who no longer have to commute long distances. I am pleased that both unions representing teachers and staff strongly support this project related to the benefits it will bring their members and the public and look forward to it getting underway. Stephen Levy From:Annette Ross To:Council, City Cc:City Mgr; Blackshire, Geoffrey Subject:FIRE Date:Friday, February 7, 2025 8:59:52 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Yesterday I read the letters from Joseph Penko and Retired Palo Alto Fire Captain Chris Jackson that detailed concerns about the seriously deficient status of PAFD, particularly at Station 4. I’ve not attached them here because I assume you have all seen both. If that is wrong, just ask and I will send them to you. The L.A. County Fires raised the consciousness of Palo Alto residents about the importance of advance preparation. I think it would be a mistake to think this focus will fade. PAFD needs to be the top priority for City Council. And, since the City Manager reports to you, require that it is the top priority for him and his staff. Talking and promises and the Palo Alto process won’t get the job done. Action will. Each PAFD station needs to be appropriately staffed and equipped. The L.A. Mayor failed her city and now she has a roster of problems that will take years (possibly decades) and enormous amounts of money to resolve. The recovery costs will be far greater than preparation costs would have been. Please prioritize our safety. Annette Ross Palo Alto From:Maureen McNally To:Council, City Subject:Fire truck, ambulance, fire station #4 south Palo Alto Date:Thursday, February 6, 2025 8:17:24 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello Palo Alto City Council members, I simply wish to express my desire to have an ambulance, fire truck and accompanying staff at the temporary station at Cubberley as soon as possible. Obviously after the contract is signed and temporary structure is installed. In addition, after the renovations at Fire Station #4 are completed, I would like to offer my support that a fire truck and ambulance are equipped and staffed at this station. I believe South Palo Alto has been without a fire truck at station 4 since 2019. And for so many reasons that I am sure you are aware of, I believe this should change. Thank you for your attention and hard work. Maureen McNally 420 adobe place Palo Alto From:Harris, Alexandra To:Simone Hadid Klass Cc:Fabian Klass; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; City Attorney"s Office Subject:RE: Safety concerns: cell equipment installation (pole #3095) Date:Thursday, February 6, 2025 7:00:36 PM Attachments:IMG_0015.jpeg image001.png image003.png image004.png image007.png image008.png IMG_0016.jpeg image002.png Dear Simone, Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concern. Our staff visited the site and confirmed that everything is in compliance, including the required clearance between the equipment (photos attached). We have contacted the permit applicant, AT&T, and they confirmed that they will follow up with you directly within 24 hours. The contact information they provided is 800-331- 0500. Please note that the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and subsequent FCC regulations (47 U.S.C. § 253 and 47 C.F.R. § 1.6001 et seq.) limit our authority over wireless communications facilities (WCF) attachments. These regulations establish federal oversight and preempt most local and state restrictions, primarily to facilitate broadband deployment and wireless infrastructure expansion. While we ensure compliance with applicable local regulations, our ability to intervene beyond those requirements is restricted. If you wish to escalate this matter further, you may also file a compliant with the FCC using the following contact options: Online: fcc.gov/complaints Phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322); ASL Video Call: 1-844-432-2275 Mail: Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division 45 L Street NE Washington, DC 20554 Best Regards, ALEXANDRA HARRIS Telecom Program Manager City of Palo Alto Utilities Department (650) 329-2410 | Alexandra.Harris@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Simone Hadid Klass <simoneklass1@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 8:20 PM To: Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Attorney <city.attorney@CityofPaloAlto.org>; UTL-Customer Service <UtilitiesCustomerService@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Fabian Klass <fklass2@aol.com> Subject: Safety concerns: cell equipment installation (pole #3095) CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Palo Alto City Manager Ed Shikada, We are writing to formally express our deep concerns regarding the installation of cellular equipment on a high-voltage electrical pole ( #3095) located in close proximity to our residence and an ancient Douglas Fir tree. We request your attention to 1) the discrepancies between the proposed plan and the actual installation, 2) the structural integrity of the pole, 3) the lack of integrity, accountability, and transparency on the part of AT&T, and 4) the fact that the installation possesses potential safety and health hazards. Concerns exist regarding the structural integrity of the pole, particularly its ability to support the required weight and withstand wind load in that location, as well as the risks associated with electromagnetic fields (EMFs). We urge the City Planning Department to hold any further installations in that pole, assess the EMF by an independent contractor ASAP, and consider relocating the equipment. The observations and events described below provide justification for our concerns. Upon returning home on October 6, 2024, after a four-day absence and without prior notice, we discovered that new equipment was installed on the electrical pole which is located just behind — and is accessed through — our property. On October 24th, we had a concerning interaction with AT&T. We initially called AT&T to request clarification regarding the equipment installation (ticket # PE53O37). However, despite having a scheduled appointment, no technician showed up and the ticket was immediately closed without any resolution or explanation. Later the same day, we made a second call (ticket # PE53ZQ36). A technician named Emanuel Esguerra came by and explained the equipment was not AT&T’s, directing us to contact the California Public Utilities Commission. However, after further investigation and a post on Nextdoor, we found a warning tag on the pole indicating AT&T ownership. The warning tag is placed at the top of the pole, in a location that is not readily visible from the ground. Even more troubling is that over six months after the equipment was installed, a second warning sign was placed on the pole, this time located behind our house’s shed and covered by foliage, no better visible than the first warning sign (see warning2.jpeg). These AT&T actions raise concerns about the company’s integrity and transparency, their business practices, and commitment to customer safety. Furthermore, on November 9 2024, we noticed that one of the equipment boxes with exposed wires was left open, and it remains open as of 2/3/2025 (see photo openbox). Again, this oversight raises concerns about the safety of the installation. We have not received any information from AT&T about whom to contact in case of emergency or any irregularity with the equipment installation. Once again, we urge the City to hold AT&T accountable for a methodical and responsible installation and ensure that residents are informed about any hazards and/or changes. As for the electrical pole location, there are discrepancies in the pole’s address. Note that the pole ‘address’ is #759 and in the City plans it is drawn behind our neighbor’s property (#759). However the actual location of the pole is behind our property (#763 ) and AT&T uses our property to get access to the pole (see photo address). Also, in some City documents the pole’s address appears as 765 Oregon expressway, which is not a location behind or near our house per Google and Apple maps as well as City maps (see photo loc1 & loc3). In fact, when we first approached the City Planning department, they had a hard time locating the pole (as noted in an email sent on 11/7/2024). This discrepancy raises the concern of whether the correct pole was used for this project, and whether this prevented us from being notified and informed about the equipment installation. These errors in the plans might lead in the future to miscommunication between the City, first responders, the telecom vendor, and residents. The structural integrity and compliance of the pole to the plans is also in question. The structural analysis approved by the City describes the pole as "guyed”, but there are no guys described in the load calculation schematics (pp. 78, 84, 86, 90). We inspected the pole on 2/3/2025 and there are no guys installed. If AT&T used the wrong pole factors for the pole, it might not meet the structural requirements. Also, the City Design Standards require that when a wireless communication facility (WCF) is placed on an existing pole, the applicant should replace the pole (WCF Performance Standards p. 7). The pole has not been replaced despite exhibiting several long and deep cracks (see photos "crack1", "crack2", "crack3", "crack4", "crack5" ). Additionally, the pole is tilting toward the property (see photo "TiltedPole"). Given these structural deficiencies, the pole may not be in condition to support extra heavy equipment. Therefore, the City of Palo Alto must address the pole's integrity and compliance before approving any such installation to prevent any potential hazards or damage. The current condition of the pole, which again has visible cracks and splits, and the pole's proximity to a tall, old Douglas Fir tree less than fourteen feet away from our children’s room and master bedroom raise further safety concerns. The additional weight, windage and falling branches from the tree behind it could cause the pole to fall on our house. Last year, we reported to the City’s Tree Department that large branches from this tree fell into our yard during windy conditions on 2/21/2023 (see photos "storm2/23", and movie "Wind2/23"). The City cited low staffing and claimed the tree was healthy. No action was taken. Yet, a year later the tree was randomly and unevenly trimmed to accommodate the new cell equipment. Furthermore, when we checked with the Tree Department of the City of Palo Alto, they had no records of who trimmed the Douglas Fir tree. A dispatcher came to the site and couldn’t find the tree on his list (see photo "Treeremoval1" and "TreeRemoval2"). The structural integrity of the pole, and its proximity to this old tree and our house, all combined represents a risk during natural disasters like storms and earthquakes, and it is unclear whether the installation of equipment was taken into consideration before approving the installation on this site. In addition, another tree which was located next to the pole in question — a Weeping Willow — has been removed, despite being a designated tree in the Approved Plans by the City of Palo Alto. The plan specifically required that both the Douglas Fir and the Weeping Willow trees next to the pole be protected by fences during equipment installation. Public trees fall under the jurisdiction and responsibility of the City's tree management department and according to City rules, any tree removal must be performed by an International Society of Arboriculture Certified arborist. Again, we checked with the Tree Department of the City of Palo Alto, and they had no record of approval for the tree removal or any tree work in the area (see photos "WWillowTreeBefore", "WWillowTree1", "WWillowTree2", "WWillowTree3"). Also, the removal of foliage behind the house to accommodate AT&T's needs has resulted in increased noise from Oregon Expressway reaching our house. Given that the City of Palo Alto has noise regulations in place to minimize the impact of noise pollution on residents, it is essential that such developments and installations also comply with these regulations to preserve the quality of life for its residents. In addition to all of the above, we are seriously worried about the potential health hazards associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by the cell equipment. The fact that there is a warning sign on the pole indicating health hazards strongly supports our concern. Numerous studies have raised concerns about long- term exposure to EMF radiation, which may lead to adverse health effects, including headaches, sleep disturbances, and more severe conditions over time. Worth mentioning that the current standards were set in 1999 with very old technology. While the telecommunications industry often downplays these risks, we believe it is crucial for our City to prioritize the well-being of its residents and investigate the health impacts of such installations thoroughly. We urge the City of Palo Alto to hire an independent contractor – not associated with AT&T or any of the local telecoms – to measure EMF. AT&T’s lack of transparency and integrity through this installation process does not warrant in our opinion a truly independent assessment, besides representing a conflict of interest – i.e. a vendor bringing its own contractor to verify the quality of their work. Given the concerns and irregularities outlined above, we respectfully request that the City of Palo Alto take immediate action regarding the installation of cell equipment on the electrical pole near our residence. Specifically, we urge the City to halt any further installations and prioritize the health and safety of our community. We ask for full accountability for the discrepancies listed above and a thorough assessment of the electromagnetic fields (EMF) by an independent contractor. Additionally, we would like to review the criteria used by the Planning Director to approve the location of this cell equipment, particularly given its proximity to our home, the tall Douglas Fir tree, the condition of the pole, potential natural disasters, and the known health and safety risks associated with EMF. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your prompt response and to understanding how the City plans to address these issues. Sincerely, Fabian & Simone Klass Palo Alto From:Burt, Patrick To:Usha Krishnamurthy; Council, City Subject:RE: The Fire Engine Must Be REPLACED Date:Thursday, February 6, 2025 6:38:16 PM Usha, There is a lot of incorrect information being circulated on these issues. This update from our city staff addresses a number of those issues; Palo Alto Fire Department Staffing at Fire Station 4: Details & Next Steps | by City of Palo Alto | PaloAltoConnect | Feb, 2025 | Medium. In addition, there is no plan to pursue a new Santana Row on Cal Ave. That headline was based on a single comment by one member of our seven-member city council. If you are interested in the full discussion, you can view the meeting through the city website. Regards, Pat Burt From: Usha Krishnamurthy <ushalila@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 6, 2025 1:59 PM To: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: The Fire Engine Must Be REPLACED CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. I am joining my neighbors and the former fire chief to demand that the fire station at Meadow and Middlefield be fully equipped to handle fires in our densely populated neighborhoods full of schools, community centers, libraries, and homes. Ignore us, you will have a lawsuit on your hands. We are outraged by the lack of transparency and accountability. Public safety first before grand plans for a new Santana Row on California Avenue. What will you think of next? What problem is solved by the Santana Row project? You need to articulate that before caving in to monied interests. -- Best, Usha Krishnamurthy From:Deborah Minowitz To:Council, City; City Mgr Subject:Priorities: a need for a state-of-the-art fire engine at FS4 Date:Thursday, February 6, 2025 6:34:44 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members: A petition is being circulated advocating for a state-of-the-art fire truck for Fire Station 4 in south Palo Alto, which is in great need of one given its growing density and as evidenced by the slow response time to the Philz Coffee shopping area which was decimated by fire two years ago. South Palo Alto is abundant with Eichler and other wood-exterior homes that burn to the ground in a flash. In addition, there are many more homes being built or to be built in the area -- to wit, condominiums on Bayshore Road near Greer Park and high rise apartments on San Antonio Road -- which will increase the area's density and the demand on its infrastructure. Providing a manned fire station to support such an increase in homes is essential. While beautifying University and California Avenues would be desirable to attract more business, the safety of our homes and lives is obviously more essential; money should be spent on infrastructure (i.e., fire trucks) before appearances. Who remodels a home before repairing its leaking roof? Respectfully submitted, Deborah Minowitz 3381 Thomas Drive Palo Alto, CA