HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-01-18 City Council Summary Minutes
Special Meeting
January 18, 2006
1. Town Hall Meeting Regarding Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Response ................................................................................52
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ........................................................................53
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m. ...........................53
01/18/2006 100-51
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council
Chambers at 7:05 p.m.
PRESENT: Barton, Beecham, Cordell, Drekmeier, Kishimoto, Klein, Kleinberg, Morton (arrived at 7:18 p.m.)
ABSENT: Mossar
STUDY SESSION
1. Town Hall Meeting Regarding Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and
Response
Mayor Judy Kleinberg welcomed the public and stated the purpose of the
meeting was to provide a less-structured way for the Council and the public to
discuss ideas for improvements to Palo Alto’s Emergency and Disaster
Preparedness and response.
City Manager Frank Benest mentioned that City staff had done a thorough de-
briefing of the response to the high creek flow/high tide situation on December
31, 2005, and that staff was finalizing a list of recommendations to the City
Manager, who served as Emergency Services Director. He indicated he would
provide the report to the City Council.
Public Works Director Glenn Roberts recapped the conditions on December 31,
2005, and compared them to the flood of 1998 and a near-flood in 2000. He
discussed the criteria used in the decision to activate the Emergency Operations
Center, and to use telephone notification to a targeted area of Palo Alto.
Fire Chief Nick Marinaro previewed the major recommendations that staff had made to the City Manager, talked about the new technology that would speed
up notification to residents, and stressed the importance of neighbors helping neighbors.
The public made comments and suggestions. Richelle Nordyan, District Director
to Assemblyman Ira Ruskin read a statement about preparedness from on his
behalf.
Beau Goldie from the Santa Clara Valley Water District reported on the Districts’
sandbag operation. Prior to and during the December 31, 2005 storm, they
supplied 65,000 sandbags to 14 sites around the county, including 3,500 to the
Palo Alto Airport.
Mr. Roberts and Mr. Goldie spoke about responsibility for maintenance of the
levees.
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Trish Bubenik of the Palo Alto Red Cross urged neighborhood associations to
contact the Red Cross for assistance with training.
No action required.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Dennis “Galen” Mitrzyk, Maclane Street, spoke regarding the need for a new
police station.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
01/18/2006 100-53