HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 9482RESOLUTION 9482 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE
TO NANCY SHEPHERD AS COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR
WHEREAS, Nancy Shepherd was elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2010, and served with empathy, dedication, sincerity,
passion and enthusiasm, and used her business, volunteer and non-profit expertise and connections during her term; she dedicated her
year as Mayor, from January 6, 2014 through January 5, 2015, to rebalance community concerns about growth and density by initiating
the "Our Palo Alto" community conversation that expanded City Hall broadly into the public to generate ideas for decisions about the
future vision of Palo Alto; and
WHEREAS, as Mayor, Nancy presided over City Council meetings, with equity and fairness, that addressed issues such as freezing
the troubled Planned Community Zoning Ordinance, re-starting the Comprehensive Plan update, parking and traffic reduction strategies
and programs, Cubberley Lease renewal with Palo Alto Unified School District, Mitchell Park Library and Community Center opening
and settlement, infrastructure master plan and funding, early City Council packet release, transfer of the Palo Alto Airport to the City
and the placement of two successful ballot initiatives; Measure B, that increased the Transit Occupancy Tax, and Measure C, which
modernized the Utilities User Tax, ensuring that Palo Alto continues to fund infrastructure for the 21 '1 Century; Nancy also represented
Palo Alto on many occasions including Neighbors Abroad 50th Anniversary Celebration of Sisterhood in Oaxaca Mexico; and
WHEREAS, Nancy, while serving four years on the Rail Committee, artfully and successfully, protected Palo Alto from the
California High Speed Rail (HSR) four-track project threatening Palo Alto properties and roadways using a "blended" Caltrain and
HSR train schedule on the existing corridor; initiated studies of the rail corridor and the feasibility of trenching the tracks to protect
the community from the inevitable need for grade separated crossings; and
WHEREAS, Nancy was a tireless advocate for an expanded shuttle system beginning with her first year on City Council and
initiated and envisioned Palo Alto's nascent Transit Demand Management Program to reduce auto trips by 30 percent through Transit
Management Associations funding commuter incentives; and
WHEREAS, Nancy took an especially strong interest in the community well being of our youth, supporting Project Safety Net,
expanding Safe Routes to Schools, adding Resource Officers at both high schools, initiating the "Choose Kindness" Mayors project,
creating a pilot student program with Smart City Partner Yangpu District, Shanghai China; and
WHEREAS, Nancy was instrumental in securing initiatives that will serve Palo Altans for generations including the Stanford Medical
Center hospital projects; fmancial reforms that reduced pensions and shared health care costs; supported initiatives to increase
broadband capacity with fiber; advocated for local control and fought state mandates by strengthening legislative strategies; and
supported Palo Alto as a leader in carbon reduction efforts; and
WHEREAS, Nancy did the aforementioned work while welcoming all opinions, seeking consensus in a collegial manner with great
respect for colleagues, Staff and the public, and with a strong resolve and determination to protect Palo Alto's livability while serving
as a committee member on Policy and Services, Finance (2012 Chair), Rail Committee (2013 Chair), Infrastructure, Technology,
Cubberley Advisory, City/School, and calling for the establishment of the Regional Housing Mandate Committee which includes two
school board members, and also regionally as the alternate to Northern California Power Agency, VT A Advisory Committees and Vice
President to the Peninsula League of Cities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby commends the outstanding public
service of Nancy Shepherd and gratefully records its appreciation, as well as the appreciation of the citizens of this community, for
meritorious service rendered and contributions made during her City Council term and term as Mayor.
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INTRODUCED AND PASSED: January 5, 2015
A YES: BERMAN, BURT, DUBOIS, FILSETH, HOLMAN, KNISS, SCHARFF, SCHMID,
WOLBACH
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: /
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APPROVED:
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-~ City Clerk ~lr-. I Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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