HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 10011Resolution
EXPRESSING APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO TOM DUBOIS AS 2021 MAYOR
WHEREAS, Tom DuBois was first elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2014, was reelected in 2018, served as Vice Mayor
in 2020, and as Mayor in 2021; and
WHEREAS, Tom Dubois was the first Mayor in Palo Alto’s 127 year history to give the State of the City addres s virtually via
Zoom, and also the first to do so while wearing shorts; and
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor DuBois led a year of accomplishments that included economic recovery
and restoration of city services, approval and start of construction of a seismically safe Public Safety Building, and consummation
of a regional partnership with Valley Water, accepting $16M in funding for a purified recycled water plant; and
WHEREAS, as a strong believer in the importance of building community, Tom worked to resume and expand community
events including the May Fete, Asian American Pacific Islander Month, World Music Month, more than 20 events during Together
Again Week, a Sustainability workshop with Denmark, and many discussions on racial equity; and
WHEREAS, Tom enthusiastically recognized and honored many community members for their contributions including our
local non-profits, numerous city employees and community leaders, good Samaritans who saved a young woman’s life, and the
National Champion Stanford Women's basketball team; and
WHEREAS, to support recovery, Mayor DuBois met frequently with Palo Alto’s business community, passed a budget to
restore many city services, established an economic development strategy, affirmed retail protections and r eopened University
Avenue to help retailers; and
WHEREAS, Tom worked tirelessly for residents’ quality of life including new protections for the tree canopy, accelerated
planning of high-speed home internet, securing funding for the historic Roth Building as home for the Palo Alto Museum, and
reducing commercial intrusion into neighborhoods with refinements to Residential Preferential Parking Programs; and
WHEREAS, Tom played a leadership role in advancing approval of the LifeMoves’ 88-unit transitional housing project, a 50-
unit special needs housing project at 525 Charleston, selecting railway grade crossing alternatives, and the completion and o pening
a new bike bridge over Highway 101; and
WHEREAS, Mayor DuBois led on updating parks, open space, city services and affordable housing impact fees; increasing
renter protections; advancing a ballot measure to create a business tax; and establishment of a Psychiatric Emergency Response
Team to replace reliance on police services; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor asserted the importance of local control, opposing state legislation detrimental to Palo Alto’s
environment and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure as Mayor, Tom also served as Chair of the Council Appointed Officers’ Committee which hired
the new City Clerk and supported a highly productive City Auditor’s office; and
WHEREAS, under Tom’s leadership, board and commission work plans were submitted for the first time and biannual
meetings held with Board & Commission Chairs in order to provide more effective advice to Council; and
WHEREAS, Tom fostered Palo Alto’s sister city relationships, visited Heidelberg, Germany to propose new sustainability
initiatives, and achieved the creation of the first US Sibling City culminating with a Palo Alto-Bloomington, Indiana partnership
to help strengthen bonds within the United States; and
WHEREAS, Tom’s leadership as a public servant exemplified his integrity, passion and commitment toward the betterment
of this community, and his involvement in regional and global issues offer contributions that will be of lasting value.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby commends Tom’s outstanding
public service and gratefully records both its appreciation, and the appreciation of the citizens and businesses of this community,
for his meritorious service and commitment as a Palo Alto Mayor.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: January 3, 2022
ATTEST: APPROVED:
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City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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City Manager City Attorney