HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 9485RESOLUTION 9485 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALO ALTO EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO
GREG BETTS UPON HIS RETIREMENT
WHEREAS, Greg Betts has enthusiastically served the citizens of Palo Alto for over three
decades as an innovative, compassionate and customer-focused leader who has developed successful
programs, fostered strategic partnerships, enhanced community assets and achieved measurable
customer satisfaction; and
WHEREAS, Greg first joined the City of Palo Alto as a volunteer at Animal Services in 1972,
then worked as a part-time employee during high school and college, and then in December 1983 he
was hired as Superintendent of Animal Service and worked there until 1996, when he ultimately
joined the Community Services Department; and
WHEREAS, since joining Community Services, Greg, has worked tirelessly to connect
stakeholders and create partnerships that have resulted in many stewardship programs, various
habitat restoration projects, and grant funding programs that have expanded and enhanced our
community assets to include the Heritage Park playground, Lytton Plaza renovations, Cogswell Plaza
Wi-Fi, and most recently the Magical Bridge Universal Access Playground at Mitchell Park; and
WHEREAS, Greg has lead the City's park expansion efforts by dedicating Heritage Park and the
Bressler Property at the Arastradero Preserve, enlarging Foothills Park, and creating the Bay-to-
Ridge Trail to connect urban areas to open space preserves and four nature centers from the Baylands
to Skyline; and
WHEREAS, Greg has facilitated extensive public outreach for the long-term planning efforts of
specific park and facility design such as the Arastradero Preserve Educational Gateway Facility and
Mitchell Park Community Center, and has initiated the City-wide Parks, Open Space, Trails and
Recreation Master Planning Process for the next 30 years of Palo Alto recreational facilities; and
WHEREAS, while working for Animal Services, developed pet adoption counseling and
screening protocols, expanded animal control service contracts with neighboring cities and
implemented the microchip program for pet recovery.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Palo Alto
recognizes Greg Betts for his tireless and enthusiastic commitment to the people of Palo Alto and
thank him for his 31 years of dedicated service on their behalf.
II
II
II
II
II
II
II
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: January 12,2015
AYES: BERMAN, BURT, DUBOIS, FILSETH, HOLMAN, KNISS, SCHARFF, SCHMID,
WOLBACH
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
APPROVED:
~~~
~~ APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/~#=
Mayor
·.t'