HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2410-3700CITY OF PALO ALTO
Policy & Services Committee
Special Meeting
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
6:00 PM
Agenda Item
4.Wellness and Belonging Update Report to the Policy and Services Committee; CEQA
Status – Not a Project Supplemental Report Added, Staff Presentation
Policy & Services Committee
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: August 12, 2025
Report #:2410-3700
TITLE
Wellness and Belonging Update Report to the Policy and Services Committee; CEQA Status –
Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Policy and Services Committee accept this update on the City’s
recent wellness and belonging work as well as to hear an update regarding the draft CEDAW
(Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) ordinance.
BACKGROUND
In 2020, the City’s equity efforts began and later that year, the City Council adopted a list of
assignments in November 2020. Those assignments were summarized in the previous update to
the Committee and have been reported on since 2021 through quarterly reports to the Policy
and Services Committee. The most recent report was in August 20241. Also in 2024, the City
advanced an Action Plan with specific projects to advance findings identified in an assessment
conducted by Ivy Planning Group. The Action Plan takes the City’s efforts into the next phase
beyond the initial work organized in 2020.
In early 2025, the City Council adopted four priorities and included “belonging” as part of one of
the priorities2. That priority is Public Safety, Wellness, and Belonging. As such, the update
reports will reference “wellness and belonging” to align with stated City Council priorities and
continue to advance this important work in the workforce and community. Staff will also
rename the Action Plan to the Wellness and Belonging Action Plan and make those updates to
the document and online.
Additionally, the City Council previously directed staff to prepare an ordinance specific to Palo
Alto on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
2 August 13, 2024 Action Minutes:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=0&type=7&uid=4399823e-88aa-4251-9868-8d5a82492e9b
2 January 25, 2025 Action Minutes: https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Clerk/City-Council/City-Council-
Priorities
(CEDAW). Staff included this task in the Action Plan as “Finalize CEDAW Ordinance and present
it to the City Council for adoption.” Staff has begun drafting the ordinance and it will be brought
back for review later in 2025.
ANALYSIS
This report provides updates on recent efforts of multiple departments in the City. It will also
provide an update on the status of the Action Plan items. There are 26 projects in total in the
Action Plan. With the Action Plan starting in Q3 2024, the projects are progressing along with 5
projects (23%) completed thus far and many more started and on track for completion. The
diagram below and in Attachment A (to be released in late packet) summarizes progress on the
action items.
Within the body of this staff report, staff has highlighted a few action item updates from the
Action Plan as well as some upcoming events related to ongoing City programming. Attachment
A contains the Wellness and Belonging Action Plan Updates as a reference.
-Action Item 1.3: Create a process that includes HRC for annual calendar setting related
to holidays and heritage months (related to the City Council calendar). The first iteration
of this was done in late 2024 with discussions at City Council and the Human Relations
Commission (HRC). The City Council adopted the 2025 calendar through this process.
-Action Item 2.1: Share DEI&B values with New Employees at New Employee Orientation
in context of workplace culture. Through a special project team, staff has created a
welcome overview for new employees to see the City’s wellness and belonging efforts
during the New Employee Orientation.
Not Yet Started
19%
Started
23%
On Track
35%
Behind
0%
Completed
23%
Status - Action Plan
-Action Item 2.2: Conduct Quarterly Interactive DEIB workshop trainings for all employees
– trainings have been offered throughout 2024 and 2025 on various topics including
exploring diversity and gender, cultural competency, and resources for managers.
-Action Item 2.5: Finalize process for annual City staff demographic data reporting;
release the first report online. The demographic data has been finalized and is available
online for the 2023 data (which is a data snapshot every October). Staff is working on
getting the 2024 data compiled and also working on a more modern data display. Link to
demographics webpage: www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Diversity-
Equity-Inclusion-City-Demographics
-Action Item 3.4: Finalize CEDAW Ordinance and Present it to the City Council for
Adoption. The draft ordinance is forthcoming and will include information on Palo Alto’s
principles on this topic including the City’s commitment to support policies and
programs that understand the unique needs of women in areas such as economic
development, housing/homelessness, and community library and transportation. Staff
will bring the full ordinance to Policy and Services for review and discussion, then
onward for full City Council adoption.
-Action Item 3.8: Work with an external firm to begin analysis and present analytical
summary of the RIPA (Racial Identity Profiling Act) Police data. Staff is working with the
National Policing Institute to help the City explore the best ways to review the data and
the types of questions that can be addressed with the data. The recent changes in
Washington DC have extended their timeline as the City’s agreement with NPI is
through a federal government agency. It is anticipated that the draft report will come to
City Council in some form later in the year (approximately September). In the meantime,
the annual RIPA data for 2024 was recently published online.
Other Updates Relevant to This Work:
-Religious intolerance training: The HRC presented to City Council in 2024 and
recommended a training related to religious intolerance. Staff researched providers
with the help of community suggestions and the HRC Chair and immediate past chair.
On July 103, the HRC discussed the proposed trainers (ING and Project Shema) and the
training scope for staff, board/committee/commission members, and City Council. Staff
is working on the contracts for both groups as a next step.
-Federal grant related to mental health: The City received a $2 million grant in
September 2022 to support TRUST, an alternative response program in Palo Alto,
Mountain View, and Los Altos. The funding was used for a pilot program to augment
TRUST with outreach, case management, and Mental Health First Aid training. An
3 July 10, 2025 Human Relations Commission Meeting:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=15832
evaluation by RDA Consulting4 found that the augmentation improved community
awareness of mental health crisis response, increased TRUST utilization, and led to
positive client outcomes. The pilot program ran from July 2023 to August 2024 and with
a final informational report to City Council in January 20255.
Updates on other City-Wide Wellness and Belonging efforts
Human Relations Commission
Vice Chair Kraus, seconded by Commissioner Stimmler, moved to support a resolution affirming
the Human Relations Commission‘s unequivocal condemnation of all hate crimes and hate
incidents. This resolution reinforces the City of Palo Alto’s commitment to standing united
against all acts of hate, harassment, and intimidation.
Art Center
The Art Center presented the exhibition GROW in the Fall of 2024, which included numerous
BIPOC artists exploring the connections between gardens, plants and community. The
exhibition and related programs drew approximately 9,000 visitors. Notably, the exhibition
included the results of a residency between Oakland-based, African American artist Kija Lucas—
a site specific installation entitled The Enchanted Garden that drew upon Lucas’ experience
growing up in Palo Alto’s first intentionally racially integrated neighborhood, the Lawrence
Tract. Conversations with visitors throughout the exhibition touched on historical red lining in
the City.
In Winter 2025, the Art Center presented Cut from the Same Cloth, an exhibition that explores
the intersection of textile and technology, featuring a diverse range of artists including those
that identify as LatinX, Palestinian, and LGBTQ+.
Public Art
Artist in residence Aleo Landeta presented to the Public Art commission on January 16, sharing
insights from their previous six months of work with the LGBTQ+ community. Their full report
can be found here6. In addition, Aleo designed a temporary art installation, which was exhibited
at King’s Plaza in June. The Public Art Commission discussed the next artist residency during
their February 20th regular meeting.
4 RDA Consulting, TRUST Augmentation Report 2024;
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/intergovernmental-affairs/trust-augmentation-
evaluation_final-report.pdf
5 City Council, January 21, 2025 Agenda Item#10;
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/intergovernmental-affairs/trust-augmentation-
evaluation_final-report.pdf
6 Aleo Landeta, King Artist-in-Residence 2025; https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/community-
services/public-art-program/king-air-report-alma-landeta.pdf
Library
There are many activities at the library including the following:
Adults:
o Weekly Online ESL Conversation Group
o Weekly ESL Conversation: Talking About the News
o Quarterly ESL: Beyond the Basics Series
o Information Sessions with USCIS
o Weekly Tai Chi Program
o Zumba for All Ages (November, December)
o November:
UNAFF Film Series of Brazilian films and documentary series
Documentary Screening of OYATE for NAHM
o February: Know Your Rights event with the Human Relations Commission on
February 27
Teens:
o November: Day of the Dead Skull Decorating
Kids:
o Weekly Hora de Cuentos (all-Spanish Storytime)
o November:
Native American Heritage Month Storytimes
Family Craft: Navajo (Diné) Weaving
o January:
Lunar New Year Storytimes
Italian Family Storytime (w/ local language school)
o February:
Black History Month Storytimes
Kalimba King musical performance for BHM
STEAM Lab workshop on artist, Alma Woodsey for BHM
Author event with Deepa Iyer
Celebrating Cultures: Includes creating online book lists and blogposts, as well as in-
house displays at all locations:
o Festival of Lights: A Diwali Celebration (11/10): Over 350 people came to
celebrate Diwali at Mitchell Park Library & Community Center. The event
featured several dance performances, henna application and crafts.
o Chinese Calligraphy Class (1/7/25)
o Lunar New Year Celebration (1/11/25): Over 650 people came out to celebrate
the Lunar New Year with various performances and crafts at Mitchell Park
Library & Community Center.
Silicon Valley Reads7: This community engagement program participated (January-
March 2025) in annual community reads initiative led by Santa Clara County Library
District. This year’s theme on “Empowering Humanity: Technology for a Better World,”
provided access to various authors, titles and events throughout various libraries in the
region, including discussions on access and impacts of tech on our communities.
For Collections (Print & Digital Resources):
Added new vendor resources for the City’s World Languages collections
Developing some focused standards for creating booklists and displays
Theatre
Student Matinees – Transportation Grants
In Winter 2025, the Children’s Theatre presented THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR featuring a
cast of professional actors in 52 performances, including 40 Student Matinees, for an estimated
9,000+ audience members. The Friends of Palo Alto Children’s Theatre have already awarded
nearly $8,000 in transportation grants that brought more than 1,000 students from Title-1
schools to see the production.
Magical Series
Classes & Camps: The Magical Series was developed by the Children’s Theatre in partnership
with the Magical Bridge Foundation, with the support of the Friends of Palo Alto Children’s
Theatre. Magical Series offerings are mindful of developmental rather than chronological age
groups, adjusted sensory environments, and smaller class and audience participation. In
Summer and Fall 2024, the Children’s Theatre offered Magical Story Acting and Dance Classes,
as well as Music Therapy classes, serving more than 60 participants with various developmental
disabilities. In August 2024, the theatre collaborated with the Magical Bridge Foundation to
provide theatre and music classes as part of a camp for older students with special needs, who
have aged out of most local programs.
Productions: The Summer Hot Dog Productions included Magical Series performances with
smaller audiences and modified sound cues for our sensory-sensitive friends.
ASL – Interpreted Performances
The Children’s Theatre offers ASL-interpreted performances at Summer Hot Dog Series
productions. ASL interpreters are engaged through the support of the Friends of Palo Alto
Children’s Theatre. Summer Hot Dog Series performances also offer a “Read-Along” option,
designed for mobile devices and tablets. Captioned activities provide support for the hearing-
7 Silicon Valley Reads January 2025-March 2025; https://www.siliconvalleyreads.org/
impaired community, as well as neurodivergent participants who derive a greater depth of
understanding and context from a second input stream.
Outreach
Theatre – Serving PAUSD Grades 3-5: The Children’s Theatre did its annual theatre series of on-
site theatre productions in Palo Alto elementary schools with a production at El Carmelo
Elementary School. This year’s series will also include productions at Lucille Nixon, Duveneck,
Hoover, Ohlone and Barron Park Elementary School. (Serving all 12 PAUSD elementary schools
in a two-year cycle.) Participation is free for participants, and every child who auditions is cast.
Dance – Serving PAUSD Grades K-2: The Children’s Theatre Dance in Schools Program serves all
K-2 students in PAUSD Elementary Schools, and encourages children to creatively express
themselves through movement, while achieving fitness and wellness benefits.
Community Collaborations
The Breath Project: In August 2024, the Children’s Theatre continued its participation in The
Breath Project, a national theatre movement started by Children’s Theatre staff in 2020 to
support anti-racism efforts and equity in the arts. Through private funding by a Bay Area
Foundation, The Breath Project co-produced the Black Experience Festival at The Pear Theatre
August 9-25, 2024, in Mountain View. The festival featured the world premiere production of
CRAWFISH: We the Invisible, the story of an unhoused man living in the Bay Area, and The
Reparations Project, a mock-trial of a civil case for slavery reparations. The materials generated
through The Reparations Project are intended for use as a hybrid theatrical/political science
tool in high school and college classrooms, to encourage students to critically analyze the
historic and present-day inequalities that have resulted from slavery and systemic racism. By
acknowledging the case for reparations, classrooms become spaces for transformative learning
and the promotion of social equity. The festival included internship opportunities for local
teens.
New Play Commissions: In November 2024, the Children’s Theatre produced the World
Premiere of a Playhouse Series Production written by 3 teen program participants that
celebrates the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Chang’e and the Moon, running November 16-17.
The theatre also prepared for its bi-annual production of One Grain of Rice which was in March
2025, as an adaptation of the Indian folktale by Demi. It included a Holi Color Festival
celebration produced in collaboration with South Asian community members, and is one of the
only Bay Area Holi celebrations designed for very young participants.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Funding for the work described within this report was appropriated, and contracts were
encumbered in previous fiscal years (FY 2022 through FY 2025). Where appropriate, the
contracts have continued into FY 2026. Staff requested the remaining funding to be
reappropriated into FY 2026 as part of the annual reappropriation recommendation to the City
Council, estimated for October 2025. Funding in subsequent years is subject to City Council
approval as part of the annual budget process.
Stakeholder Engagement
Community Engagement and outreach are key pillars of Palo Alto’s ongoing wellness and
belonging work. The City has prioritized engagement (internally and externally) by actively
seeking input to help shape its strategy. Through a series of conversations, the City continues to
foster dialogue and build understanding across diverse community groups. Efforts are now
expanding to include training initiatives that promote religious tolerance and unconscious bias
trainings for Boards and Commissioners. Four Unconscious Bias training sessions have been
scheduled for September and will be facilitated by CircleUp Education8. Updates on these
initiatives, along with any blogs highlighting this work will be shared on the City’s Wellness and
Belonging webpage.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Not a project.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Status of Wellness and Belonging Action Plan Items (To be released late packet
on August 7, 2025)
APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager
8CircleUp Education- https://www.circleuped.com
Wellness and Belonging Updates
Policy and Services
Presenters:
Chantal Cotton Gaines, Deputy City Manager
Kojo Pierce, Wellness & Belonging Program Manager
August 12, 2025 Paloalto.gov
TITLE 40 FONT BOLD
Subtitle 32 font
August 12, 2025
Staff recommends that the Policy and Services Committee accept this update on the
City’s recent wellness and belonging work, as well as to hear an update regarding the
CEDAW draft (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women) ordinance
Policy and Services
PaloAlto.gov
TITLE 40 FONT BOLD
Subtitle 32 font
August 12, 2025 PaloAlto.gov
BACKGROUND
City began its Equity Efforts in
2020
Staff acted upon Council’s Assignments from
2020
City launched an Action Plan based on Assessment in
2024
Council adopted
‘Public Safety, Wellness and
Belonging’ as a 2025 Priority
TITLE 40 FONT BOLD
Subtitle 32 font
August 12, 2025 PaloAlto.gov
Wellness and Belonging Updates
Select Action Plan Updates
5
Action Item 1.3: Council Calendar
•The Council calendar was adopted for 2025 with input from the HRC and taking
into account a list of holidays. This process will be replicated going forward.
Action Plan Item 2.1: Wellness and Belonging Values for New Employees
•Staff drafted a Wellness and Belonging Values slideshow for New Employee
Orientation.
Action Plan Item 2.2: Quarterly interactive training for staff
•Wellness and Belonging trainings for staff are offered bi-monthly on an ongoing
basis.
(HRC = Human Relations Commission)
Select Action Plan Updates
6
Action 2.5: City Staff Demographics Reporting
•In partnership with Human Resources, staff finalized and published the 2023
employee demographic data, which was released online on December 19, 2024.
Action Plan Item 3.4: Finalize CEDAW Ordinance and present it to Council
•Update on next slide
Action Plan Item 3.8: Begin analysis and begin summary of RIPA data
•Staff collaborated with the National Policing Institute (NPI) to analyze 2023 &
2024 RIPA data from the Palo Alto police department. Staff anticipates bringing
the report to the Council when finalized.
(RIPA =Racial and Identity Profiling Act)
CEDAW Ordinance (Action Plan Item 3.4)
7
•The draft includes information on Palo Alto’s principles on this topic, including the
City’s commitment to support policies and programs that understand the unique
needs of women in areas such as economic development, housing/homelessness,
and community library and transportation.
•Staff will bring the full ordinance to Policy and Services Committee for review and
discussion in Q3, then to full Council adoption.
TITLE 40 FONT BOLD
Subtitle 32 font
August 12, 2025
•The HRC presented to City Council in 2024 and recommended a training related to
religious intolerance.
•Staff researched providers with the help of community suggestions and the HRC Chair
and immediate past chair.
•On July 10, 2025, the HRC discussed the proposed trainers (Islamic Network Group
(ING) and Project Shema) and the training scope for staff, board/committee/
commission members, and City Council.
•Staff is working on the contracts for both groups as a next step with training
anticipated to occur in October.
Religious Tolerance Training (no action plan number)
PaloAlto.gov
Chantal Cotton Gaines, Deputy City Manager
Chantal.Gaines@paloalto.gov
Kojo Pierce, Wellness & Belonging Program Manager
Kojo.Pierce@paloalto.gov