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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-11 Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda PacketPARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Special Meeting Friday, April 11, 2025 Foothills Nature Interpretive Center & Hybrid 11799 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94022 12:00 PM Parks and Recreation Commission meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend by teleconference/video conference or in person. To maximize public safety while still maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participate from home or attend in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. Masks are strongly encouraged if attending in person. The meeting will be broadcast live on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto. Commissioner names, biographies, and archived agendas and report are available at https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Community‐Services/Other‐ Services/Commissions/Parks‐and‐Recreation‐Commission. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/83432343598) Meeting ID: 834 3234 3598    Phone: 1(669)900‐6833 PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comments will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. All requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutes after the staff’s presentation. Written public comments can be submitted in advance to ParkRec.commission@cityofpaloalto.org and will be provided to the Council and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your subject line. PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only by email to ParkRec.commission@cityofpaloalto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strong cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are not accepted. Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks, posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do not create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated when displaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view or passage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting. CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMENT  Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda.  AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS The Chair or Commission majority may modify the agenda order to improve meeting management. CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) 1.Council Liaison Report (5 minutes) BUSINESS ITEMS 2.Review FY25 Parks and Recreation Commission Accomplishments – Vice Chair Greenfield (30 minutes), Supplemental Report 3.Review and Update Current Priorities – Chair Freeman (30 minutes) 4.Assign Parks and Recreation Commission Ad Hoc Committee and Liaisons Roles – Chair Freeman (30 minutes) 5.Review and Update Current Workplan – Chair Freeman (60 minutes) COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDAS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) ADJOURNMENT OTHER INFORMATION A.Public Comments PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone. 1.W r i t t e n   p u b l i c   c o m m e n t s  m a y   b e   s u b m i t t e d   b y   e m a i l   t o ParkRec.Commission@cityofpaloalto.org. 2.Spoken public comments using a computer will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom‐ based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully. You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 , Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak. When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. 3. Spoken public comments using a smart phone will be accepted  through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, download the Zoom application onto your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter the Meeting ID below. Please follow the instructions B‐E above. 4. Spoken public comments using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted. CLICK HERE TO JOIN   Phone: 1(669)900‐6833   Meeting ID: 834 3234 3598     Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSIONSpecial MeetingFriday, April 11, 2025Foothills Nature Interpretive Center & Hybrid11799 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 9402212:00 PMParks and Recreation Commission meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option toattend by teleconference/video conference or in person. To maximize public safety while stillmaintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participatefrom home or attend in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in themeeting is located at the end of the agenda. Masks are strongly encouraged if attending inperson. The meeting will be broadcast live onYoutube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto.Commissioner names, biographies, and archived agendas and report are availableat https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Community‐Services/Other‐Services/Commissions/Parks‐and‐Recreation‐Commission.VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/83432343598)Meeting ID: 834 3234 3598    Phone: 1(669)900‐6833PUBLIC COMMENTSPublic comments will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or anamount of time determined by the Chair. All requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutesafter the staff’s presentation. Written public comments can be submitted in advance toParkRec.commission@cityofpaloalto.org and will be provided to the Council and available forinspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencingin your subject line.PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted onlyby email to ParkRec.commission@cityofpaloalto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.Once received, the Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. Touphold strong cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storagedevices are not accepted. Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks, posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do not create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated when displaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view or passage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting. CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMENT  Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda.  AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS The Chair or Commission majority may modify the agenda order to improve meeting management. CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) 1.Council Liaison Report (5 minutes) BUSINESS ITEMS 2.Review FY25 Parks and Recreation Commission Accomplishments – Vice Chair Greenfield (30 minutes), Supplemental Report 3.Review and Update Current Priorities – Chair Freeman (30 minutes) 4.Assign Parks and Recreation Commission Ad Hoc Committee and Liaisons Roles – Chair Freeman (30 minutes) 5.Review and Update Current Workplan – Chair Freeman (60 minutes) COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDAS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) ADJOURNMENT OTHER INFORMATION A.Public Comments PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone. 1.W r i t t e n   p u b l i c   c o m m e n t s  m a y   b e   s u b m i t t e d   b y   e m a i l   t o ParkRec.Commission@cityofpaloalto.org. 2.Spoken public comments using a computer will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom‐ based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully. You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 , Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak. When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. 3. Spoken public comments using a smart phone will be accepted  through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, download the Zoom application onto your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter the Meeting ID below. Please follow the instructions B‐E above. 4. Spoken public comments using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted. CLICK HERE TO JOIN   Phone: 1(669)900‐6833   Meeting ID: 834 3234 3598     Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSIONSpecial MeetingFriday, April 11, 2025Foothills Nature Interpretive Center & Hybrid11799 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 9402212:00 PMParks and Recreation Commission meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option toattend by teleconference/video conference or in person. To maximize public safety while stillmaintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participatefrom home or attend in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in themeeting is located at the end of the agenda. Masks are strongly encouraged if attending inperson. The meeting will be broadcast live onYoutube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto.Commissioner names, biographies, and archived agendas and report are availableat https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Community‐Services/Other‐Services/Commissions/Parks‐and‐Recreation‐Commission.VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/83432343598)Meeting ID: 834 3234 3598    Phone: 1(669)900‐6833PUBLIC COMMENTSPublic comments will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or anamount of time determined by the Chair. All requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutesafter the staff’s presentation. Written public comments can be submitted in advance toParkRec.commission@cityofpaloalto.org and will be provided to the Council and available forinspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencingin your subject line.PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted onlyby email to ParkRec.commission@cityofpaloalto.org at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.Once received, the Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. Touphold strong cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storagedevices are not accepted.Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks,posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do notcreate a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated whendisplaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view orpassage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting.CALL TO ORDERPUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda. AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONSThe Chair or Commission majority may modify the agenda order to improve meeting management.CITY OFFICIAL REPORTSMembers of the public may not speak to the item(s)1.Council Liaison Report (5 minutes)BUSINESS ITEMS2.Review FY25 Parks and Recreation Commission Accomplishments – Vice Chair Greenfield(30 minutes), Supplemental Report3.Review and Update Current Priorities – Chair Freeman (30 minutes)4.Assign Parks and Recreation Commission Ad Hoc Committee and Liaisons Roles – ChairFreeman (30 minutes)5.Review and Update Current Workplan – Chair Freeman (60 minutes)COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FUTURE MEETINGS ANDAGENDASMembers of the public may not speak to the item(s)ADJOURNMENTOTHER INFORMATIONA.Public Comments PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone. 1.W r i t t e n   p u b l i c   c o m m e n t s  m a y   b e   s u b m i t t e d   b y   e m a i l   t o ParkRec.Commission@cityofpaloalto.org. 2.Spoken public comments using a computer will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom‐ based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully. You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in‐ browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up‐to‐date browser: Chrome 30 , Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak. When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. 3. Spoken public comments using a smart phone will be accepted  through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, download the Zoom application onto your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter the Meeting ID below. Please follow the instructions B‐E above. 4. Spoken public comments using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted. CLICK HERE TO JOIN   Phone: 1(669)900‐6833   Meeting ID: 834 3234 3598     Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329‐2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@cityofpaloalto.org. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. 2     Packet Pg. 4     2     Packet Pg. 5     2     Packet Pg. 6     2     Packet Pg. 7     2     Packet Pg. 8     2     Packet Pg. 9     2     Packet Pg. 10     CITY OF PALO ALTO | 250 HAMILTON AVENUE, PALO ALTO, CA. 94301 | 650-329-2100 24/25 Parks and Recreation Commission Accomplishments Project/Goal 1: Master Plan Review the process for planning and implementation of the Parks, Trails, Natural Open Space, and Recreation Master Plan (Parks Master Plan) for consistency and coordination with the annual CIP process. Work with staff to conduct a review of the existing policies and progress to inform planning efforts, enhance interdepartmental coordination, and implement best practices. • The ad hoc met with staff on December 3, 2024, to review the FY 2025 - 2029 CSD Capital Plan for Parks, Open Space, and Golf projects. • The ad hoc recommended updates to the CIP project list and provided input. • The PRC reviewed and provided feedback on the CIP plan on December 18. 2024. Based on direction, the CIP plan was brought back for review and discussion again on January 28, 2025. Project/Goal 2: Park Dedication FY25 Pursue and evaluate top priority potential sites and identify potential new sites to recommend dedicating as parkland within our community • Worked with staff reviewing a prioritized list of 7 potential locations for parkland dedication suitability. • (Will) present and discuss 2 sites to (potentially) recommend for partial parkland dedication. • Updates for Tower Well Site, dedicated as parkland in March 2024: o As directed by City Council, reviewed and then supported recommended name change of Tower Well Park to Frederick Eyerly Park in May 2024. o Ribbon-cutting ceremony in April/May 2025. Project/Goal 3: Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan (BCCP) Update • Working to revive the BCCP effort that began in October 2017 and stalled on several occasions • Met on multiple occasions with staff to determine a path forward including an estimated timeline • Review of multiple chapters in progress, including: o Work to update the draft to reflect current conditions o Work to define scope of modifications to the existing draft plan along with recommendations for future amendments and/or plans o Work to highlight environmental stewardship and sustainability o Considerations of work flow and best practices for managing facilities and human impact 2     Packet Pg. 11     CITY OF PALO ALTO | 250 HAMILTON AVENUE, PALO ALTO, CA. 94301 | 650-329-2100 Project/Goal 4: Nature Preserve Access Policy • Met on multiple occasions with staff, including supervising rangers, to review current policy and visit open space preserves (OSPs). This included evaluating the current Access Policy implementation and acceptance, and potential trail access changes at the Baylands and Pearson-Arastradero Preserves: • Baylands Nature Preserve: analysis and recommendations (to be) shared with the PRC in April, 2025. [Details to follow] • Pearson Arastradero Preserve: analysis and recommendations (to be) shared with the PRC in April, 2025. [Details to follow] • Recommendations shared with PABAC for feedback in April, 2025, prior to discussion at PRC. • Collaborated with staff to identify areas in need of increased signage. • Worked with staff to pinpoint locations that would benefit from the installation of additional bicycle racks. Project/Goal 5: Recreation Wellness Center Work with staff to facilitate progress on the Palo Alto Recreation Wellness Center. • Worked with staff reviewing a prioritized list of 7 potential locations for parkland dedication suitability. • (Will) present and discuss 2 sites to (potentially) recommend for partial parkland dedication. • Updates for Tower Well Site, dedicated as parkland in March 2024: o As directed by City Council, reviewed and then supported recommended name change of Tower Well Park to Frederick Eyerly Park in May 2024. o Ribbon-cutting ceremony in April 2025. Project 6: Playing Fields and Raquet Sports Review the recommend updates to playing fields and Racquet Sports policies, including synthetic turf replacement strategy, including tennis and field reservation policies. ● Policy and Best Practices Review: ○ Supporting staff by reviewing regional best practices and making general policy cleanup recommendations. ○ Completed an initial review of the field use policy, identifying areas for further stakeholder engagement and review. ● Field and Turf Initiatives: ○ Recommending a synthetic turf replacement strategy for upcoming work at El Camino Park and the Stanford/Mayfield Soccer Complex. ○ Planning a community meeting to update field users on tournament clean-up responsibilities, goal storage, and stakeholder communications. ● Tennis Court Management: ○ Reviewed CPA reservation policies and proposed reserving a specific percentage of court usage for Palo Alto residents. 2     Packet Pg. 12     CITY OF PALO ALTO | 250 HAMILTON AVENUE, PALO ALTO, CA. 94301 | 650-329-2100 ○ Organized community outreach with a tennis meeting scheduled for April 8, 2025, and explored ways to extend the use of existing courts (e.g., lights, additional porta potties). ○ Gathered and reviewed best practices for court reservation systems from neighboring cities to support local access. ● Pickleball Initiatives: ○ Supported and implemented pickleball lines at Fletcher School/Terman Park to increase access for students. ○ Met with Pickleball Club leadership to discuss expanding access, including the possibility of multi-use courts at Mitchell Park. ● Coordination Efforts: ○ Coordinating with staff on the timeline for the racquet sports joint task force. Project/Goal 7: Middle School Athletics Evaluate the middle school athletics programs and recommend approaches to align with the current program with universal access for students and state law and evaluate outsourcing middle school athletics to nonprofits. • Ad Hoc met January 29 to create work plan. • Reviewed of history of MSA, reviewed research and background gathered by staff. • Options included 1) city remains the provider, with financial support to offset costs 2) MSA contracts with outside organization to operate the program or contracts out individual sports to specific non-profits. • Staff’s goal was to reach agreement/decision by school start August 15, 2025 • Staff researched information regarding possible vendors • Staff working with purchasing about required process for MSA third party vendors. • Ad Hoc scheduled meeting March 28 with Mr. Tom Haxton and colleagues to listen to his vision for MSA • Ad hoc and staff to continue to collect information on options including a timeline for presentation to Commission and report to City Council. 2     Packet Pg. 13     From:Tom Haxton To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Re: Urgent: Progress on Middle School Athletics Evaluation Date:Thursday, April 3, 2025 4:21:06 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Commissioners Brown, Cribbs, and Deng (sorry for the previous misspelling), Following up on my previous emails and my public comment today, I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter further at your earliest convenience. Please let me know atime that works for you. Thank you! Tom On Tue, Feb 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM Tom Haxton <tom.haxton@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Commissioners Brown, Cribbs, and Dang, My name is Tom Haxton, and I’m the president of the Palo Alto Middle School Athletics Community Organization, a nonprofit organization created to demonstrate a better way to operate middle school athletics in Palo Alto. I’m reaching out to follow up on the progress of the ad-hoc committee’s evaluation of outsourcing middle school athletics to local nonprofits, a process initiated following our advocacy work and the City Council’s October 7th vote. Thank you for serving on this committee and for taking on this work in addition to your other commitments. I want to urge you to please pursue this evaluation with more urgency. This ad-hoc committee was formed as a result of advocacy efforts that began in June 2024. Our nonprofit successfully operated a cross-country team for JLS Middle School in the fall, demonstrating that we can provide a better experience for student-athletes while improving equity by reducing registration fees. Given this success, the City Council voted unanimously to evaluate outsourcing middle school athletics. However, 4.5 months have passed since that vote, and I am not aware of any progress from the ad-hoc committee. The committee was formed on December 18th, and I emailed on December 29th offering to discuss our initiative, answer questions, and learn about the evaluation process, but I have not heard back. I assume the committee would be interested in learning directly from organizations A     Packet Pg. 14     like ours that have motivated this evaluation. If that’s the case, I would appreciate the opportunity to engage in a discussion as soon as possible. There are only three months left in the fiscal year, and about a thousand students who could benefit from your work. It would be ideal if the City developed a plan before the fall season starts in August (assuming it is too late for the spring season in March). If there have been delays due to guidance from city staff, I want to highlight some challenges we have faced that may be relevant to your evaluation. Our initiative has faced challenges in working with city staff, including actions that are not in the best interest of student athletes. I have also taken legal action regarding one such incident. I hope these issues are not negatively impacting your committee’s evaluation. I would appreciate the opportunity to learn about your evaluation process, discuss our nonprofit, and answer any questions that may assist in your evaluation. Thank you again for your time and service to this important effort. I look forward to your response. Best regards, Tom Haxton A     Packet Pg. 15     From:Aram James To:Barberini, Christopher; Binder, Andrew; Perron, Zachary; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Enberg, Nicholas;Afanasiev, Alex; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Rodriguez, Miguel; Foley, Michael; Julie Lythcott-Haims;ladoris cordell; Sean Allen; Pat M; Richard Konda; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Josh Becker;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Human Relations Commission;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; Jeff Conrad; JeffRosen; Jay Boyarsky; Jose Valle; board@pausd.org; BoardOperations; Bains, Paul; Bill Newell; Dana St. George;Gerry Gras; Doug Minkler; Lotus Fong; Roberta Ahlquist; Baker, Rob; Roberta Ahlquist; Lori Meyers; sharonjackson; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; MGR-Melissa StevensonDiaz; Pacific GrovePD; Liz Kniss; Linda Jolley; Gardener, Liz; Shikada, Ed; Ruth Silver Taube; dennis burns;DuJuan Green; Council, City; GRP-City Council; city.council@menlopark.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov;Kaloma Smith; Palo Alto Free Press; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto Subject:San Jose settles excessive force suit after police dog refused to let go of man’s throat Date:Wednesday, April 2, 2025 12:27:12 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. San Jose settles excessive force suit after police dog refused to let go of man’s throat https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/02/san-jose-settles-excessive-force-suit-after-canine- dog-refused-to-let-go-of-mans-throat/ A     Packet Pg. 16     From:Aram James To:Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Angel, David; Friends of Cubberley;Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; h.etzko@gmail.com; Pat M; Marina Lopez; Gennady Sheyner; Sean Allen; Dave Price;Sarah Wright; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23;Jensen, Eric; Emily Mibach; Figueroa, Eric; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Zelkha, Mila; Foley, Michael;josh@joshsalcman.com; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; ladoris cordell; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Bains, Paul; Paul George @ PPJC; Human Relations Commission;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; EPA Today; Gardener, Liz; Vicki Veenker;Veenker, Vicki; sharon jackson; Salem Ajluni; Bill Newell; Braden Cartwright; Enberg, Nicholas; Perron, Zachary;board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; John Burt;jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; Doug Minkler; Vara Ramakrishnan; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; PatriceVentresca; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Burt, Patrick; Kaloma Smith; PaloAlto Free Press; HRW Silicon Valley; Dennis Upton; Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; yolanda; Yolanda Conaway;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Jeff Hayden; Jeff Conrad; Rosen, Jeff; Jay Boyarsky; Rodriguez, Miguel; DamonSilver; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; Sheree Roth; LoriMeyers; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Salem Ajluni; Sally Armendariz; dennis burns; Supervisor SusanEllenberg; Wagner, April; Barberini, Christopher; Lotus Fong; Van Der Zwaag, Minka; Rowena Chiu;cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Daniel Kottke; Greg Tanaka; Lydia Kou; Donna Wallach; MelissaA Yeganeh Subject:Thanks for your support. Please share this quick action tool to show the Assembly Education Committee that many California Jews and allies support uncensored ethnic studies. Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 8:45:39 PM C A U T I O N : T h i s e m a i l o r i g i n a t e d f r o m o u t s i d e o f t h eo r g a n i z a t i o n . B e c a u t i o u s o f o p e n i n g a t t a c h m e n t s a n d c l i c k i n go n l i n k s . Thanks for your support. Please share this quick action tool to show the Assembly Education Committee that many California Jews and allies support uncensored ethnic studies. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/protect-ethnic-studies-in-california-schools/thankyou?delivery_id=118449750 A     Packet Pg. 17     From:Liz Gardner To:Aram James Cc:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Vara Ramakrishnan; Veenker, Vicki; Reckdahl, Keith; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jeff Conrad; board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Dennis Upton; Rodriguez, Miguel; Doug Minkler; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Damon Silver; Diana Diamond; Perron, Zachary; Council, City; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Bains, Paul; Kaloma Smith; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; board@valleywater.org; Gerry Gras; Sarah Wright; Lotus Fong; Liz Kniss; Gennady Sheyner; EPA Today; Sean Allen Subject:Re: Cory Booker on Palestine Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 2:45:52 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello, It's April 1. Interesting to note "April Fool's Day". I am not entirely sure if CB has negated his Senate responsibility and has beensilent and obedient during his marathon speech on the floor of the US Senate. My son just asked Chat GBT. Its answer. No. CB record speech on the Senate Floor has not had any reference to the ongoing Genocide in Gaza and Israel's bombing,killing and maiming of civilian Palestinians in Gaza and The West Bank, Lebanon.. Yet and in fact I heard and saw on C-Span live feed. He did read a letter a loud last night from a constituent in NJ who was fired from USAID by DOGE. In their letterthey specifically stated their call to humanity and their work with USAID. Theywere called and sent to GAZA and their work with the plight of Palestinians. My son's verbal search with Chat GBT did not pick up on this reference in a letterread by Booker last night on the Senate Floor. Censorship is infiltrated Chat GBT aswell. However there must be a transcript of Sen. Booker's ongoing speech on the Floor ofthe US Senate and the letter he read which highlights this American's work inPalestine. The Censorship is real. The silence and obedience instilled on America by APAICis real, Israel's yoke around the will of American's First Amendment rights is real. The silence on the Senate Floor is defining. Sen., Adam Schiff alludes to US University being silenced, penalized, and jailing of those speaking out in defense ofthe loss life in GAZA and our US involvement in these War Crimes in the wake ofthe Hamas October 7th massacre. A     Packet Pg. 18     Yet. When we have elected leaders, school districts, high school teachersprestigious university's and city council chamber members who are complacent bytheir silence to the suffering and are kneeling as an obedient servant to Israel's heinous ongoing crimes, we no longer have a Democracy but are a demon of silence . Liz GardnerPalo Alto On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Love CORY Booker (CB)-by aram james 4/1/2025 A friend text me to ask if CB ( in his marathon talk on the senate floor) would address the ongoing Palestine genocide: Here was my answer: Part 1: I doubt that CB wants to address the issue of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, which is sponsored by the U.S. and Israel. Someone like CB, whomay run for president again, is unlikely to want to provoke the anger of AIPAC and other pro-Zionist right-wing lobby groups. These groups will likely contribute to CB’sfuture campaigns if he chooses to remain silent on this matter. Silent & Obedient with his first loyalty to the State of Israel ??? Part 2: Indeed! The American public must be made aware of the true facts. The Israelis areextraordinarily fearful of the truth- thus their frantic efforts to crack down on free speech and academic freedom at colleges and universities across this country. FreeSpeech Be Damned! Our Institutions of higher learning are now -like our congress- Israeli-occupied territory. Shameful that our American democracy being destroyed in thename of Israel!!!! A     Packet Pg. 19     From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Vara Ramakrishnan; Veenker, Vicki; Reckdahl, Keith; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider,James; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jeff Conrad;board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; Josh Becker;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Dennis Upton;Rodriguez, Miguel; Doug Minkler; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Damon Silver; Diana Diamond; Perron, Zachary;Council, City; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Bains, Paul; Kaloma Smith; Holman, Karen (external); TomDuBois; board@valleywater.org; Gardener, Liz; Gerry Gras; Sarah Wright Cc:Lotus Fong; Liz Kniss; Gennady Sheyner; EPA Today; Sean Allen Subject:Re: Cory Booker on Palestine Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 2:13:11 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Love CORY Booker (CB)-by aram james 4/1/2025 A friend text me to ask if CB ( in his marathon talk on the senate floor) would addressthe ongoing Palestine genocide: Here was my answer: Part 1: I doubt that CB wants to address the issue of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the WestBank, and Lebanon, which is sponsored by the U.S. and Israel. Someone like CB, who may run for president again, is unlikely to want to provoke the anger of AIPAC and otherpro-Zionist right-wing lobby groups. These groups will likely contribute to CB’s future campaigns if he chooses to remain silent on this matter. Silent & Obedient with his firstloyalty to the State of Israel ??? Part 2: Indeed! The American public must be made aware of the true facts. The Israelis are extraordinarily fearful of the truth- thus their frantic efforts to crack down on free speechand academic freedom at colleges and universities across this country. Free Speech Be Damned! Our Institutions of higher learning are now -like our congress- Israeli-occupiedterritory. Shameful that our American democracy being destroyed in the name of Israel!!!! A     Packet Pg. 20     From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew Cc:Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Afanasiev, Alex; DuJuan Green; Perron, Zachary; Wagner, April; Bains, Paul; dennis burns; Shikada, Ed; Gardener, Liz; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Lotus Fong; board@pausd.org; BoardOperations; board@valleywater.org; Bill Newell; Sean Allen; Pat M; sharon jackson; Liz Kniss; Linda Jolley; Rowena Chiu; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Palo Alto Free Press; Friends of Cubberley; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission; Sarah Wright; ladoris cordell; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Zelkha, Mila; Daniel Kottke; Dennis Upton; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; Yolanda Conaway; Kaloma Smith Subject:Watch "Corrupt Cops Force Out Black Chief Trying To Reform Department, Racism Exposed" on YouTube Date:Monday, March 31, 2025 4:47:42 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://youtu.be/uTh_nk0Hl5M?si=FdA9O1gXrstuA_Oi A     Packet Pg. 21     From:Evan Reade To:ParkRec Commission; City Council; Stone, Greer; Burt, Patrick; Lauing, Ed; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Veenker, Vicki;Lu, George; Reckdahl, Keith; Shikada, Ed; Robustelli, Sarah; steve.castile@cityofpaloalto.org; Binder, Andrew Subject:Eleanor Pardee Park restrooms, follow-up to ParkRec Commission meeting 3/25/25 Date:Monday, March 31, 2025 3:14:18 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Chairman Freeman; Dear Park and Recreation Commissioners: Thank you for allowing me and other members of the community to address you last Tuesday evening regarding the proposal to construct a restroom in Eleanor Pardee Park. I appreciated the opportunity to express my concerns about the proposal and to attempt to explain why I am opposed to it. However, two minutes is hardly enough time to properly address such an important, sensitive, and controversial topic. So please allow me to expand upon and further clarify my views. First, as I mentioned, having grown up in Palo Alto I have had the opportunity to enjoy the amazing parks and recreational facilities the early leaders of our city had the foresight to envision, fund, and create. As a child I spent innumerable hours in Bowden Park, Peers Park, Rinconada Park (where I learned to swim), Foothills Park(where I learned to paddle a canoe and appreciate nature outside a suburban setting), the Junior Museum, and the Children's Theatre, which without question was the single most important venue of my youth. As I said at your meeting, our parks are Palo Alto's crown jewels, and great care must be taken to do no harm to them or the neighborhoods they enliven. BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT - Why I oppose constructing restrooms at Eleanor Pardee Park: History - 100+ years without one. Why now? Impact on Park - Restrooms will change this neighborhood park into a regional park. Impact on Neighborhood - Increased traffic, parking, noise, trash. Cost - $600,000 to install?! And how much to maintain on a daily basis? Public Safety - I used to be a police officer in this town. Unsupervised public restrooms result in vandalism, attract the unhoused, and worse. Process - The park's neighbors have not been adequately consulted. The so- called "survey" was flawed. This message needs your attention Some Recipients have never replied to this person. This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast A     Packet Pg. 22     Current History - Current park restrooms are often a mess to the point of being unusable. Recent Past History - I'd like to know what became of the JDDecaux restrooms downtown. Why are they gone? Could it be due to the cost and public safety issues mentioned above? Not needed - Rinconada Park, only four short blocks away, has TWO restrooms, plus the following public city-owned restrooms within yards: Junior Museum, Children's Library, Children's Theatre, Lucie Stern Community Center, Rinconada Pool, Art Center, Main Library. A Bit of History I think it is important to start this discussion with the recognition that Eleanor Pardee Park has existed in our community for over 100 years without a restroom. Even when it was modernized in 1957 and took the form we know it in today, restrooms were not added. That is because Eleanor Park (as it was known years ago) was designed and meant to be a neighborhood park, where people who lived nearby could bike or walkto enjoy its amenities. This was in contrast to the larger parks, like Rinconada, Mitchell Park, El Camino Park, and even Peers Park, and later Greer Park, which all included restroom facilities and parking areas. This is because they were considered to be more "regional" in nature and were designed to encourage longer use by peopledrawn from a wider radius. All these parks had facilities to attract wider us: pools, ballparks, basketball courts, tennis courts, parking, co-located with community centers or libraries, etc. These parks also all had small recreation buildings staffed by a city employee (especially during the summer) who would supervise activities in thelarger parks. If you visited these parks, particularly during the weekends, they were (and still are) surrounded by parked cars and full of groups barbecuing, picnicking, and pretty much outfitted to stay the whole day. My Concerns Impact on the park: I believe that the addition of restrooms at Eleanor Pardee Park could very well change the nature of the park from a neighborhood park to a more regionally focused park that will attract users from further afield who will stay for longer periods. This will make it more difficult for local residents and families to fully enjoy the park and may lead to additional costs for maintenance and upkeep due to increased usage of the fields and playground facilities, not to mention the costs tomaintain the restrooms (see below). Impact on the neighborhood: With increased usage by visitors coming from farther afield there will be an increase in traffic, noise, and trash. As pointed out by another neighbor at last week's meeting, there are no dedicated parking facilities at Eleanor Pardee Park, unlike at larger parks including Rinconada, Mitchell, Greer, El Camino, and others. Parking on Channing Avenue which borders the south side of the park is already restricted to one side of the street to facilitate bike lanes, meaning the peoplewho visit must park their cars across the street from the fields and playgrounds. Several times I have witnessed near tragedies as children have rushed from their A     Packet Pg. 23     cars to the park. On the Center Drive side of the park, residents are already required to endure traffic coming and going all day long and late into the evening, and parking directly in front of their homes. Adding restrooms will potentially attract even more traffic, which will spill onto neighboring streets as visitors search for parking spaces. Further with regard to neighborhood impact, I lately visited Ramos Park to examine the restroom which was recently installed there. It is front and center, right off the sidewalk at the entrance of the park. In fact, the restroom is now the park's most prominent feature. I wonder how the residents who live across the street on EastMeadow Drive feel about this. They used to look out their front windows and see a lovely park. Now they look out and see a bathroom. Will the same fate befall the neighbors of Eleanor Pardee Park, who live on Channing or Center? Cost: Nowhere in any of the documents I have seen about the Eleanor Pardee Park restroom proposal is the cost of installing restrooms mentioned. I note that the estimate for the Ramos Park restroom was $350,000. I also read in an article in the Palo Alto Weekly dated May 13, 2024, that the cost to construct a restroom andconnect to utilities is $600.000! So I assume the ones proposed for Eleanor Pardee Park would be about the same. This is not an unsubstantial sum for the taxpayers of Palo Alto to spend, particularly during tightening economic times. But the cost does not end there. Someone needs to visit, check on, clean, and repair these facilities ona daily basis. Who does this? A city employee? A contractor? And how much does this continue to cost Palo Alto taxpayer each and every day? And who pays to repair damage done by those who misuse or vandalize these facilities? Palo Alto taxpayers. I raise this last point because, sadly, I must report to you that in my recent visits to examine other park restrooms at Seale, Ramos, Greer, and Rinconada parks I have found the facilities in many cases to be in a disgraceful and unusable condition. Toilets full of waste and toilet paper; paper and garbage strewn through the restroom; at the old mens room at Rinconada Park, the urinal and one sink have been torn off the wall. (See the email and photos I sent to you on March 28, 2025, taken at Rinconada Park.) I really can honestly say I wouldn't allow my child or grandchild touse these restrooms, especially without adult supervision. How much is the city spending on a daily basis to maintain and repair these facilities? The concept of installing restrooms is admirable, but what good do these facilities do anyone if they are unusable due to the actions of those who don't respect them or use themproperly. Public Safety: For a number of years I had the distinct honor of serving our city as an officer of the Palo Alto Police Department. It was my experience that restrooms at some of our public parks, especially those that were unattended like the one at El Camino Park, attracted problems that required law enforcement attention. I am very concerned, based on my experiences, that the addition of unsupervised restroom facilities at Eleanor Pardee Park will lead to incidents of loitering, vandalism, possiblenarcotics use and sales, and in the worst case scenario incidents of assault or other serious crimes. I also believe restrooms are likely to attract homeless individuals who will take advantage of the park's more secluded and sheltered areas to leave their A     Packet Pg. 24     belongings or to set up camp. I have in the recent past seen incidents of unhoused people taking up temporary residence in the courtyard of the Lucie Stern Community Center, literally on the benches at the front door of the Children's Theatre. It is not a stretch to imagine the same thing happening at Eleanor Pardee Park. Process: Finally, I am very concerned about the process the City is following to move forward with this project. It seems to me that the City wishes everyone to believe that this is a fait accompli. I wrote to the City Council May 19, 2024, and to you on February 17, 2025 - with a copy to the City Council and staff - to express myconcerns and to request notification of any future hearings or outreach sessions. For the record, I have yet to receive a single response from any member of the Council or this Commission. As I pointed out in my letters, I get notifications in the mail when a neighbor a block away wants to cut down a tree, but I receive NOTHING about asignificant proposed action by the City on property that directly abuts mine. In addition, I am unaware that the City has conducted any organized outreach to the residents of our neighborhood. The City's parks restroom website has no information on the Eleanor Pardee Park proposal and no evidence of outreach to gaugeneighborhood support. In contrast, the City's parks restroom website contains YouTube videos of outreach sessions conducted with neighbors of Ramos Park before that restroom was installed. I am unaware of any similar efforts to contact or consult with the neighbors of Eleanor Pardee Park. The supposed "survey" the City recently conducted that the local media seems to incorrectly believe sealed the deal and proved that support for the restrooms is overwhelming was terribly flawed. The City representative at last week's meetingadmitted as much, noting that the survey was not scientific and that there is no way to tell whether people completed it multiple times. One speaker correctly pointed out that the wording of the survey was incredibly biased and one-sided, clearly inviting a positive response without mentioning or discussing any of the potential downsides ofplacing a restroom in the park. Another speaker who lives nearby the park testified that most of her neighbors, who oppose the installation of a restroom, were completely unaware of the survey. During the meeting I submitted to the Clerk a quickly and loosely organized petition signed by a number of neighbors who oppose the restrooms. Another neighbor submitted additional names electronically. These are real people, with real names and addresses, who live near the park, and who do not want restrooms installed. At aminimum, before any future action is taken on this matter, the City must make a good faith effort to contact people on that list and all others who live within a several block radius of the park to solicit their views. These are the people who pay their taxes to maintain the park and the streets around it. They are the ones who will be mostdirectly impacted by any significant changes that will lead to increased usage of the park. And they are the ones who vote for the leaders of our community who, one would hope, would care to hear their views before making decisions that could directly impact quality of life conditions in their neighborhood. Some final observations/questions: Is it really necessary to change the nature of Eleanor Pardee Park in a way that could very well have tangible negative impacts on A     Packet Pg. 25     our neighborhood? I think not. For parents who would like to take their kids to a park in this area of town with restrooms there is one located only four short blocks away! Rinconada Park now has two restrooms (although as noted above they often seem to be unusable due to vandalism and misuse, despite the costs the city has and continues to incur.) In addition to those two restrooms at the Rinconada playground,there are also clean, well-maintained, supervised city restrooms only steps away to the west at the Junior Museum, the Children's Library, the Children's Theatre, and Lucie Stern. To the east across the street are the Arts Center and Main Library, also with clean, well-maintained city-owned public restrooms. With regard to the gardeners who have plots a the Eleanor Pardee Park community garden, they are permitted to use city owned land with access to water and compost for an extremely nominal fee, and they agreed to take advantage of this generousoffer knowing full well that there were no restroom facilities nearby. And now they want the City to build them a restroom that may cost over half a million dollars just to begin with? Really? Conclusion As I mentioned in my opening, while the idea of installing restrooms in all parks is a commendable one, care must be taken to avoid undesired or unforeseennegative consequences. I thank the members of the Community Services team for their work on this proposal, but this isn't just about parks. It is about our neighborhood. I have seen no evidence that anyone has studied the possible impacts on traffic. I have seen nothing from the Police Department about incidents ofcrimes or calls for service (if any) in the vicinity of park restrooms. I have seen nothing from Public Works about the costs to maintain these facilities on a daily basis or to repair them when damaged, or of how many days they have been out of service. I think all of these issues, at a minimum, must be addressed by city staff movingforward. Thank you for your attention to my concerns. I look forward to hearing back from you, from Council members, and from city staff if the proposal for the installation ofrestrooms at Eleanor Pardee Park continues to move forward. Sincerely, Evan G. Reade cc: City Council City Manager Various neighbors A     Packet Pg. 26     From:Evan Reade To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Fw: Rinconada restrooms, 3/28/25 Date:Friday, March 28, 2025 4:41:05 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Resending after receiving kick-back response from Mr. Castile. ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Evan Reade <evanreade@aol.com>To: steve.castile@cityofpaloalto.org <steve.castile@cityofpaloalto.org>;sarah.robustelli@cityofpaloalto.org <sarah.robustelli@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims<julie.lythcotthaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Cc: Chris Cummings <ccummings7@gmail.com>Sent: Friday, March 28, 2025, 04:29:35 PM PDTSubject: Fw: Rinconada restrooms, 3/28/25 Dear Mr. Castile, Ms. Robustelli, and Council Member Lythcott-Haims: Following up on last Tuesday evening's meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission where we discussed the proposal to install restrooms at Eleanor Pardee Park. I just rode my bike over to Rinconada Park to take a look at the new restrooms there. Here are photos of what they looked like at about 4:00 PM. Let me ask you: would you want your children or grandchildren to use these facilities? It is a verynice concept to provide these types of facilities to the public, but what's the point if there is no one there to monitor their use or to clean up after those who don't respect them or use them properly? And of course, the old, existing restrooms in the park - located only about 100 yards away - are still a mess with a urinal andsink ripped off the walls. (Question: Why was it even necessary to build the new restrooms at considerable cost when there are already public restroom facilities located so nearby in the same park? Not to mention the City of Palo Alto public restrooms at the Junior Museum, Children's Library, Lucie Stern Center, and city-owned swimming pool all located only steps away?) I would be grateful if you could share this communication with the members of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Sincerely, Evan G. Reade A     Packet Pg. 27     From:Postmaster To:ParkRec Commission Subject:You have new held messages Date:Friday, March 28, 2025 12:20:10 PM Logo You have new held messages You can release all of your held messages and permit or block future emails from the senders, or manage messages individually. Release all Permit all Block all You can also manage held messages in your Personal Portal. Spam Policy quannakovalsky991@hotmail.com Re: Affecting your Rating? 2025-03-28 09:10 Release Permit Block Release all Permit all Block all © 2019 Mimecast Services Limited. A     Packet Pg. 28     From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Josh Becker; josh@joshsalcman.com; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for CaliforniaDemocratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Lori Meyers; ShereeRoth; Dave Price; Figueroa, Eric; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Tim James; Cait James; Marina Lopez;Templeton, Cari; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Bains, Paul; Reckdahl, Keith;Reckdahl, Keith; Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Pat M; Sean Allen;board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; Bill Newell;Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Roberta Roth; Jensen, Eric; Barberini, Christopher; Nicole Chiu-Wang; SarahWright; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Diana Diamond; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Rosen, Jeff;frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; EPA Today; cromero@cityofepa.org;rabrica@cityofepa.org; Josie James-Le; Lotus Fong; Linda Jolley; John Burt; Mickie Winkler;<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; h.etzko@gmail.com; Rodriguez, Miguel; Dana St. George;Gerry Gras; Gennady Sheyner; gstone22@gmail.com; Lu, George; Jasso, Tamara; MGR-Melissa Stevenson Diaz;Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; Palo Alto Free Press; Zelkha, Mila; Arthur Millman; Gardener, Liz; Human RelationsCommission; Karen Holman; Drekmeier, Peter; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; SalemAjluni; sharon jackson; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; Council,City; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Cecilia Taylor; Nash, Betsy; Burt, Patrick; Rose Lynn; Lydia Kou; DuJuanGreen; dennis burns; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Greg Tanaka Subject:The judge who blocked Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation is an observant Jew Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 4:03:20 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. The judge who blocked Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation is an observant Jew The judge who blocked Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation is an observant JewSource: The Forward https://share.newsbreak.com/cb249ytt?s=i0 A     Packet Pg. 29     From:Liz Gardner To:Aram James Cc:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Ed Lauing; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Reckdahl, Keith; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Baker, Rob; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Liz Kniss; Lotus Fong; Marina Lopez; Tim James; Cait James; Josie James-Le; Jose Valle; board@pausd.org; bos@smcgov.org; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Reifschneider, James; Binder, Andrew; Doug Minkler; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Pat M; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Dave Price; EPA Today; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Gennady Sheyner; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Sarah Wright; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Donna Wallach; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Bains, Paul; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Perron, Zachary; Figueroa, Eric; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Raj Jayadev; cromero@cityofepa.org; Templeton, Cari; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Afanasiev, Alex; Jeff Conrad; Council, City; city.council@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; GRP-City Clerk; Palo Alto Free Press; Rose Lynn; Wagner, April; Nicole Chiu-Wang; sharon jackson; Friends of Cubberley; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov Subject:Re: Kids Under Fire: An investigation into Israeli soldiers shooting children | Fault Lines Documentary Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 10:15:46 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qKAdujuHvuQ EXCLUSIVE: “How Fascism Works” Author Jason Stanley Plans to Leave the U.S. | Amanpour and Company On Thursday, March 27, 2025, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:Kids Under Fire: An investigation into Israeli soldiers shooting children | Fault Lines Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-0zrQZWwDE -- Liz Gardner A     Packet Pg. 30     From:Aram James To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for CaliforniaDemocratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Ed Lauing; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; Josh Becker;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Reckdahl, Keith; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Baker,Rob; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Lotus Fong; Marina Lopez; Tim James; Cait James;Josie James-Le; Jose Valle; board@pausd.org; bos@smcgov.org; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Reifschneider,James; Binder, Andrew; Doug Minkler; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas Cc:h.etzko@gmail.com; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Pat M; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Dave Price; EPA Today; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Gennady Sheyner; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Sarah Wright; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Donna Wallach; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Bains, Paul; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Perron, Zachary; Figueroa, Eric; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Raj Jayadev; cromero@cityofepa.org; Templeton, Cari; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Afanasiev, Alex; Jeff Conrad; Council, City; city.council@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; GRP-City Clerk; Palo Alto Free Press; Rose Lynn; Wagner, April; Nicole Chiu-Wang; sharon jackson; Friends of Cubberley; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov Subject:Kids Under Fire: An investigation into Israeli soldiers shooting children | Fault Lines Documentary Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 8:27:31 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Kids Under Fire: An investigation into Israeli soldiers shooting children | Fault Lines Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-0zrQZWwDE A     Packet Pg. 31     From:Aram James To:Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; BoardOperations; board@pausd.org; Ed Lauing; JoshBecker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith; Rowena Chiu; LoriMeyers; Sheree Roth Cc:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Bains, Paul; Lotus Fong; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; h.etzko@gmail.com; Nicole Chiu- Wang; Sean Allen; sharon jackson; Sameena@Secure-Justice.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; yolanda; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Doug Minkler; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; Sarah Wright; EPA Today; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Raj Jayadev; Jose Valle Subject:WATCH: The Moment Masked ICE Agents Arrested Tufts Graduate Student Who Spoke Out in Support ofPalestine Date:Wednesday, March 26, 2025 4:28:25 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. WATCH: The Moment Masked ICEAgents Arrested Tufts GraduateStudent Who Spoke Out in Support ofPalestine “I can buy that badge from a fucking costume store,” says a witness to the“kidnapping” of Rumeysa Ozturk as she was on her way to break her Ramadanfast. Checkout fascist ICE/COPS/IDF/ Death Squads/???? Do THEIR Nazi Thing!!!! SEE VIDEO BELOW!!!! Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more WATCH: The Moment Masked ICEAgents Arrested Tufts GraduateStudent Who Spoke Out in Support A     Packet Pg. 32     of Palestine “I can buy that badge from a fucking costume store,” says a witness tothe “kidnapping” of Rumeysa Ozturk as she was on her way to break herRamadan fast. PREM THAKKER MAR 26 READ IN APP On Tuesday evening, plainclothes-masked Department of Homeland Security agents arrested Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national with a valid student visa, as she was on her way to break her Ramadan fast, according to her attorney and video footage of the arrest. Video credit: Daniel Boguslaw Ozturk’s attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, says her team is unaware of her whereabouts, has been unable to contact her, and that no charges have been filed against Ozturk that they are aware of. The ICE locator database on Wednesday afternoon listed Ozturk as being held in the “South Louisiana Processing Center” in Basile, Louisiana – more than 1,400 miles away from Somerville, Massachusetts, where Ozturk was detained. ICE and the White House did not respond to requests for comment. A DHS spokesperson claimed without evidence that “DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas.” The spokesperson added, “A visa is a privilege not a right…This is commonsense security.” Ozturk, a doctoral student at Tufts University, was targeted after the McCarthyite organization Canary Mission accused her on its website of “anti-Israel activism.” The proof was scant, involving an op-ed she co-wrote calling on Tufts to follow democratic outcomes. A     Packet Pg. 33     Upgrade to paid Exactly one year ago, on March 26, 2024, Ozturk co-authored an op-ed in the student newspaper, in which she and three other students urged Tufts to heed resolutions that were overwhelmingly passed by the student senate, including one resolution that called on university leadership to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and divest from companies with ties to Israel. “This arrest is the latest in an alarming pattern to stifle civil liberties,” Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said in an emailed statement. “The Trump administration is targeting students with legal status and ripping people out of their communities without due process. This is an attack on our Constitution and basic freedoms — and we will push back." Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who represents the district where Ozturk was detained, echoed Warren, saying: "This is a horrifying violation of Rumeysa's constitutional rights to due process and free speech. She must be immediately released. And we won't stand by while the Trump Administration continues to abduct students with legal status and attack our fundamental freedoms." On Tuesday night, Tufts president Sunil Kumar wrote in an email to university affiliates that the school had no prior knowledge of the arrest, nor did they share information with federal authorities. Kumar said university officials were told that Ozturk’s visa had been terminated. He added that they were seeking to confirm whether that was true, and would assist in connecting Ozturk to external legal resources if they requested it. Late Tuesday, a federal judge granted her lawyer’s request that Ozturk not be moved out of the state without advanced notice to the court from the government. It's unclear whether Ozturk was taken to Louisiana after the judge's order. State-Sanctioned ‘Kidnapping’ A source who witnessed the arrest said that what stuck with them was that the incident was “clearly premeditated” with “overwhelming force.” A     Packet Pg. 34     They told Zeteo that at least one officer was carrying a firearm, and that one of the agents’ vehicles had been parked on the street since 4:00 AM, according to a neighbor’s camera. They saw the vehicle when they left for the morning and returned in the evening. Upgrade to paid As Ozturk walked down the sidewalk, three people got out of the vehicle and began crossing the street, one pulling up his hood, according to the video of her arrest. They confronted Ozturk, who appeared confused. They then grabbed her and pulled her phone out of her hand, as the other officers began pulling up ski masks to cover their faces. Amid the confusion, several other people emerged, pulling masks over their faces. According to the witness, the masked individuals insisted they were either police or with the police. The witness never heard them identify the agency they were from. The masked individuals continued to tug at her backpack, eventually taking it from her. The detainment – with no apparent charges or clear grounds – appeared less like a legal arrest and more like a “kidnapping,” said the source. "They did not start very well by identifying themselves or anything like that. And then when, like, questioned, they said either we are the police, or we're with the police, I think they say both. And it's all sort of like, yeah, fucking right man, you're with the police. Like, I can say that, and I can buy that badge from a fucking costume store." A String of Arrests Ozturk’s arrest is the latest in a growing list of the Trump administration’s crackdown on students who have spoken out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Legal experts question the constitutionality of the crackdown, given its complete dismissal of First Amendment rights, as well as its attempts to retrofit and weaponize law to target individuals without any solid legal basis. The case of Columbia student protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, a green card A     Packet Pg. 35     holder, remains ongoing. Khalil was detained under an obscure provision that allows the secretary of state to deem noncitizens as a foreign policy risk and have them deported – a law that experts told Zeteo likely is unconstitutional. Mahmoud Khalil speaks to members of the media about the Revolt for Rafah encampment at Columbia University on June 1, 2024. Photo by Jeenah Moon/Reuters The Justice Department has subsequently tried to justify his arrest, claiming he did not state on his green card application that he previously worked for the Syria office of the British Embassy and was a member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). One of Khalil’s attorneys, Marc Van Der Hout, called the allegations "completely meritless” and said they show “that the government has no case whatsoever on this bogus charge that his presence in the U.S. would have adverse foreign policy consequences." Van Der Hout says Khalil was not a “member” of UNRWA; he simply did one of his three Columbia-approved internships there. On Khalil’s embassy work, Van Der Hout says Khalil’s work there “ended in December 2022, as he stated in his residency application.” Khalil was similarly sent over a thousand miles away from his home to Louisiana. Just months ago, rights groups published a report on facilities in Louisiana titled "Inside the Black Hole: Systemic Human Rights Abuses Against Immigrants Detained & Disappeared in Louisiana." Another Columbia student, 21-year-old Yunseo Chung, a South Korean national who has lived in the US since she was 8 – had her green card revoked by the Trump administration. Chung is suing the Trump administration to stop their targeting of her and other students. On Tuesday, a judge issued a temporary restraining order stopping the Trump administration from detaining her. Badar Khan Suri, an Indian scholar at Georgetown University, was arrested by A     Packet Pg. 36     masked agents last week. Suri has been taken through several detention centers and has now been placed a thousand miles away from his family, in a detention center in Texas. Share The Trump administration has justified the arrest on the grounds that Suri apparently has "close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, a senior adviser to Hamas.” The charge is in reference to his father-in-law, who was a former Hamas government adviser, who left his position more than a decade ago and has since become a writer and commentator, who has been quoted in the New York Times. Suri’s attorney, Hassan Ahmad, told Mehdi Hasan that his client’s father-in-law is “a person that, according to the information that we have, he [Suri] has met twice in his entire life, doesn't really know, and has not had any sort of meaningful relationship with.” A judge has blocked Suri’s deportation for now. Prem Thakker is Zeteo’s political reporter. Send tips via email or Signal (premthakker.35). If you are already a paid subscriber to Zeteo but would like to increase your support for our accountability journalism, please do consider a donation, too. You’re currently a free subscriber to Zeteo. If you believe our work is important, please consider supporting Zeteo by upgrading your subscription. If you have any issues with your subscription, please email us at info@zeteonews.com. Upgrade to paid A     Packet Pg. 37     LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Zeteo1640 Boro Place 4th floor, McLean, VA 22102 Unsubscribe A     Packet Pg. 38     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg Cc:Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; ladoris cordell; Jeff Rosen; jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; Emily Mibach; Zelkha, Mila; Dave Price; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Council, City; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Pat M; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Sean Allen; Bill Newell; Dana St. George; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Gennady Sheyner; city.council@menlopark.gov; Lotus Fong; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Rodriguez, Miguel; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Figueroa, Eric; Barberini, Christopher; Josie James-Le; Perron, Zachary; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission Subject:White House blocked from deporting Yunseo Chung, green card holder and student who sued Trumpadministration Date:Wednesday, March 26, 2025 1:34:01 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. White House blocked from deporting Yunseo Chung, green card holder and student who suedTrump administration Source: the Guardian https://search.app/n4FCDgGbXeGtk9BK9 Shared via the Google app A     Packet Pg. 39     From:Caleb Larsen To:ParkRec Commission Subject:The Portland Loo Date:Wednesday, March 26, 2025 8:30:19 AM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png image005.png image006.png image007.png image008.png image009.png image010.png image011.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Hey Palo Alto Parks, I hope this message finds you well. My name is Caleb Larsen, and I am a sales representative for The Portland Loo. I recently came across an article regaurding Pardee Park and other spaces in Palo Alto needing public restrooms, and I wanted to reach out and explore how The Portland Loo can meet your public restroom needs. The Portland Loo offers a practical solution for cities like yours. Our restrooms are designed to be durable, accessible, and available 24/7, making them a dependable and invaluable resource for your community year-round. I would be happy to provide more information on the design, address any concerns, or share experiences and references from other cities that have successfully implemented the Portland Loo. Why Cities Choose The Portland Loo® 1. Cost-Effective Durability: Built to last for decades, the Loo features a stainless-steel design that resists vandalism, graffiti, and wear, reducing long-term maintenance costs. It’s efficient water and energy usage also ensure minimal operational expenses. 2. Crime-Deterrent Features: Unlike traditional public restrooms, the Loo's open design deters illegal activities. Angled louvers maintain user privacy while allowing visibility for law enforcement, and blue lighting discourages drug use. 3. Cleaner, Healthier Cities: By addressing the lack of public restrooms, cities prevent This message needs your attention This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast A     Packet Pg. 40     unsanitary conditions in public spaces, promoting both public health and aesthetic appeal. 4. Globally Recognized Success: From the U.S. to Canada and beyond, cities have embraced the Portland Loo for its practical design and ability to integrate seamlessly into diverse urban environments, from parks to transit hubs. Please find a photo of our product below. If you have any questions or would like further details, I am here to assist. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best regards, Caleb Larsen Sales Associate | The Portland LooOffice: (503) 226-49907am-5:30pm PST Mon-ThursEmail: clarsen@PortlandLoo.comwebsite: www.PortlandLoo.com CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The materials in this electronic mail transmission (including all attachments) are private and confidential and are the property ofthe sender. The information contained in the material is privileged and is intended only for the use of the named addressee(s). Ifyou are not the intended addressee, be advised that any unauthorized disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any actionin reliance on the contents of this material is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, pleaseimmediately notify the sender by telephone at (503) 226-4990 or send an electronic message to the original sender, andthereafter, destroy it immediately. A     Packet Pg. 41     From:PaloAlto YouthCouncil To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Additional Information for PAYC"s Pancakes and Pickleball Event (3/29) Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 6:09:24 PM Attachments:Screenshot 2025-03-25 at 6.01.08 PM.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Commissioner Wei and Commissioner Cribbs, We are so excited to see you at PAYC’s Pancake and Pickleball event this Saturday, 3/29!With the event approaching, I wanted to reach out with some additional information: The main purpose of the event is to connect the Palo Alto community through activities and casual conversations. Special guests including yourself will not be speaking on a panel butwill instead be encouraged to have informal conversations with community members while relaxing or playing pickleball, Volleyball, Cornhole, or Basketball. I attached a map with thelayout of the event for reference. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. and goes until 12:30 p.m. Please let us know if you are only able to attend for part of that time. If you have questions day-of, you can reach our advisor andyour point of contact Chris Sanchez at (650) 444-3368. Please respond with any questions you have. Thank you so much again for participating in our event! Sincerely,Anika Raffle Palo Alto Youth Council Outreach Specialist A     Packet Pg. 42     From:Heather Stewart-Bhardwaj To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Pardee Park Bathroom Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 6:04:47 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Park and Rec Commission, I live at the intersection of Channing and Newell and I am writing in strong support of adding a bathroom. From my driveway, I see the playground and I can hear people playing soccer. Kids bike pastmy house to go to the park. Groups of grandparents walk together to do their daily exercise and parents push strollers. In spring and summer, elementary school kids play soccer and theUC garden center comes to life. I've been at the park and had to race home to get my potty training toddler to the bathroom. Other families have their kids use the bushes or bring a "potette" for their kids while at thepark and discard human waste in the trash. While I am sure people use the bathroom before they arrive, certainly people of all ages have to go unexpectedly and there is nosanitary option. We are a wealthy city with some of the most expensive real estate in California, one of the most prestigious universities on the West Coast, premier employers, and beautifulneighborhoods. It is an embarrassment that we have a 9.6 acre park with no bathroom and there are not any other possible bathroom options nearby. The library or Rinconada parkbathroom are a mile away. A neighbor who lives on Sharon Court and whose backyard abuts the park put a letter in my mailbox urging me to oppose the bathroom because the park has been here 75 years withoutone. This is one example of a broader problem in Palo Alto. We have a badly-needed infrastructure item and a few voices can squash it or delay it because the city will acquiesce tothe loud voices of a minority of people. I urge you to ignore and reject these arguments because it ignores a key word describing the park, it is a public park. Not an extension ofsomeone's yard. It needs the infrastructure to serve the public. I live very near the park, my family actually uses the park, polling data of the public shows overwhelming support, and it is completely unacceptable to me if the city decides to delay ordoes not add a bathroom in a timely manner due to a handful of people opposing. This is apublic resource serving the neighbors like me who live steps from it but also those who walkfrom further away or drive to play soccer or take a gardening class. Let's keep our city progressing and not remain stuck in the past with inadequate infrastructure. Pleaseexpeditiously add a bathroom to Eleanor Pardee Park. Thank you for your consideration, Heather Stewart A     Packet Pg. 43     From:Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Meet the JMZ"s Zoo Director: Sean Ramsdell Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 5:18:02 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Meet the JMZ's Zoo Director: Sean Ramsdell March 25, 2025 Hello Friends, It’s spring at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, and the plants in the California Dinosaur Garden are entering full bloom. I hope you’ll come and visit the JMZ and see what’s new soon. Our second annual Spring Breakfast will be Friday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Funds raised at this event will directly support programs that expand access to science education throughout our community. If you are interested in attending thisevent, please reach out to Stephanie Kerry, Advancement and Operations Manager at stephanie@friendsjmz.org. If you would like to become an early supporter, please consider making a donation online. In this newsletter, we’re excited to spotlight the JMZ’s Zoo Director, Sean Ramsdell. Sean combines his passion for wildlife and strong organizational skills to provide thebest care for the JMZ’s critters and fun experiences for guests. Read on to learn more about what he enjoys most about the JMZ, and how his team works to enhance programming both at the JMZ and local schools served by JMZ Educators. Warmly, Lauren Angelo A     Packet Pg. 44     President, Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo   Spotlight on Sean Ramsdell, JMZ Zoo Director: Exploring a Lifetime of Curiosity How did your early experiences shape your desire to pursue a career with animals? Although I don’t have many clear childhood memories, I always remember loving animals. Growing up on the edge of a state forest, I was lucky to have nature right in my own backyard. I would spend hours outdoors, often looking for small critters like frogs and salamanders. One of my favorite toys was my Fisher Price zoo set with little monkeys and an elephant, which further piqued my curiosity about animals allover the world. Having early exposure to science and nature shaped my desire to pursue a career that involved working with animals. I love that I have the opportunity to introduce animals to young learners, which can then inspire them to become more curious about nature. I studied biology in college, but I wasn’t quite sure what my path should be. I latersecured an internship at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas, where I had the opportunity to work with rhinos. Soon after, I started working at the Houston Zoo before relocating to Busch Gardens in Tampa. When I first visited the JMZ, I knew this place had something special. I was really drawn to the warm, collaborative environment of the museum and zoo. I knew that the JMZ would give me theopportunity to both work with animals and engage with guests.  A     Packet Pg. 45     Sean poses with a reindeer. What do you enjoy most about working at the JMZ? One of the things I love most about working here is the relationships I get to build with the animals. Some of them are elusive, but have their own unique personalities—like Bruce, the Bruce’s green pigeon, who can be a bit challenging to find when it’s time for bed. I made a shirt that says, “Ask me about Bruce” to prompt conversations with guests about her. Beyond that, I’m passionate about creating a positive environment for my team. I want them to feel supported and valued in their work. Working with such a dedicated group of people, and knowing we’re all here for the same purpose—providing the best care for the animals and creating meaningful experiences for our guests—is incredibly rewarding. A     Packet Pg. 46     Sean's favorite work shirt features a photo of a Bruce's green pigeon. How do the education and zoo teams collaborate to improve programs? The high-quality lessons that JMZ Educators deliver at local schools are a huge part of what makes the JMZ so unique. We’re lucky to have a team of passionate educators who want to share the wonder of nature with students across our community. Collaboration between our zoo staff and the education team is key to our success: educators share knowledge with the zoo team on how to best stimulatelearning, and we work with the educators on animal handling and behaviors. Both educators and zoo team members actively incorporate a Socratic teaching style,which encourages collaborative learning with guests. Instead of simply telling guests about an animal, we encourage them to think critically about why an animal might behave a certain way or how it adapts to its environment. I’m proud to be part of a team that’s dedicated to making our programs educational for everyone involved. We’re always looking for ways to expand and improve our programming, both atschools and at the JMZ. One area we’re really focused on right now is animal training, which will benefit both JMZ Science Outreach lessons and the Friends’ Animal Encounters Program. Creating quality experiences with science and nature lays a foundation for success in the lives of many young children. Expanding access to our programs is important to the Friends and the JMZ. I’m excited to continue toreach more young learners and their families through working with our educators and introducing guests to our animals. A     Packet Pg. 47     From:Nanci L Howe To:ParkRec Commission Subject:A Time to Speak at Today"s Commission Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 4:21:29 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi. I wish to speak at the Commission meeting tonight about the Pardee Park restroom. It looks like this will be on the agenda about 7:30 and I assume that I would have a chance to speak at about this time. I ask because I am also babysitting grandchildren and want to manage my time as best as I can. Thank you. Nanci Howe 1094 Moffett Circle A     Packet Pg. 48     From:Aram James To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Vicki Veenker Cc:h.etzko@gmail.com; Anna Griffin; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Josh Becker; josh@joshsalcman.com; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Human Relations Commission; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; Sarah Wright; Pat M; bos@smcgov.org; board@pausd.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Kaloma Smith; Dennis Upton; Doug Minkler; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Vara Ramakrishnan; Gennady Sheyner; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Barberini, Christopher; Afanasiev, Alex; Enberg, Nicholas; Jensen, Eric; Figueroa, Eric; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Damon Silver; editor@paweekly.com; Sheriff Transparency; Baker, Rob; Roberta Roth; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Bill Newell; Perron, Zachary; Rodriguez, Miguel; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Reckdahl, Keith; Daniel Kottke; Angel, David; editor@almanacnews.com; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; sharon jackson; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Lu, George; Wagner, April; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Cribbs, Anne; Lee, Craig; cromero@cityofepa.org; Raj Jayadev; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Jose Valle; Mickie Winkler; Roberta Ahlquist; Sean Allen; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; yolanda; Nash, Betsy; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Tim James; Cait James; Lewis james; Josie James-Le; Rowena Chiu; Patrice Ventresca; Bains, Paul Subject:US Embassy Tells US Doctor in Gaza ‘Not Our Role’ to Protect Them From Israeli Bombings Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 3:47:26 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. US Embassy Tells US Doctor in Gaza ‘Not Our Role’ to Protect Them From Israeli Bombings https://zeteo.com/p/us-embassy-tells-us-doctor-in-gaza? publication_id=2325511&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&r=fjmzt A     Packet Pg. 49     From:TRACE DEVAI To:ParkRec Commission Subject:MICHAEL JACKSON Tribute band for hire Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 11:28:52 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Greetings. MJ ROXTAR mjrox.com is fronted by an award winning vocalist with Alice Cooper and Lenny Kravitz. Please consider us for your upcoming events.mjroxmusic@gmail.com 747-241-0725. Thank you. A     Packet Pg. 50     From:Light As Air BoatsTo:ParkRec CommissionSubject:Beach & Ground Mat Solutions!‍Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 9:32:13 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. i SHOP NOW Aloha ! Check out these range of walk ways and accessibility mats for your guests! This message needs your attentionThe subject has non-English characters. You've never replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast A     Packet Pg. 51     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Ed Lauing; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jeff Rosen; h.etzko@gmail.com Subject:. It found that American support for Israel is at its lowest point in 25 years, while sympathy for Palestinians hasreached its highest level. Having 46% of Americans supporting Israel and 33% supporting Palestinians wouldhave seemed inconceivable in ... Date:Monday, March 24, 2025 11:08:39 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. . It found that American support for Israel is at its lowest point in 25 years, while sympathy for Palestinians has reached its highest level. Having 46% of Americans supporting Israel and 33% supporting Palestinians would have seemed inconceivable in the past, when the plight of Palestine and its people was largely overlooked by the general public. https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/u-s-opinion-shift-palestine A     Packet Pg. 52     From:Cindy To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Petition Against Public Restroom Placement in Pardee Park - Meeting tomorrow evening Date:Monday, March 24, 2025 7:48:50 PM Attachments:Signed Petition Combined.pdf IMG_4432.HEIC IMG_4433.HEIC CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i To Whom It May Concern: We are a group of Crescent Park neighbors who are all adjacent to the Pardee Park. We have collected 11 signatures from neighbors with properties adjacent to Pardee Park that would be heavily impacted with the placement of the bathrooms at the park. Enclosed please find the petition the group of neighbors have signed that are passionately against installation of the bathrooms at the park. In addition, a neighbor have surveyed parks that have bathrooms and found the maintenance lacking. We will be at the meeting tomorrow to further clarify our points in the petition. Respectfully yours, Cynthia Yu This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast A     Packet Pg. 53     From:Chris Cummings To:ParkRec Commission; Castile, Steve Subject:Media Submission for March 25th meeting Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 8:36:29 PM Attachments:Cummings Letter to Parks and Rec Commission_March 25th Meeting, 2025.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Attached is my letter stating the reason for my opposition to the proposal of bathrooms atEleanor Pardee Park. While I will be unable to attend, due to work travel, I would ask that you read the letter and please view the photos of the current state of the restrooms at nearby Rinconada Park. Thecondition, which has gone unaddressed now for months and months, concerns -- if we cannot maintain what we already have adequately, why should we believe that new facilities will beany different. Thank you and I look forward to seeing all of you in April. Best, Chris Cummings Neighbor to Eleanor Pardee Park 870 Sharon Ct, Palo Alto, CA 94301 A     Packet Pg. 54     From:Aram James To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg Cc:Vicki Veenker; Josh Becker; h.etzko@gmail.com; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Ed Lauing; Zelkha, Mila; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson; Sean Allen; Pat M; Bains, Paul; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Cait James; Tim James; Lewis James; Gardener, Liz; Linda Jolley; Reckdahl, Keith; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Dave Price; EPA Today; Gennady Sheyner; Diana Diamond; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; San José Spotlight; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Jay Boyarsky; board@pausd.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; Perron, Zachary; Council, City; Anna Griffin; DuJuan Green; Dennis Upton; dennis burns; Doug Minkler; Lotus Fong; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; Greg Tanaka; Lydia Kou; Tim James; Marina Lopez; Josie James-Le; josh@joshsalcman.com; Jose Valle; Jennifer Morrow San José Spotlight; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Figueroa, Eric; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Salem Ajluni; yolanda; city.council@menlopark.gov; Steve Wagstaffe; Sarah Wright; Templeton, Cari; Cribbs, Anne; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission Subject:Columbia University agrees to Trump demands in effort to restore federal funding Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 2:52:37 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Columbia’s refusal to divest from, and even doubling down on, the genocide of the Palestinian people these past 17 months has made its expected response to the Trump Administration’s ransom note incredibly clear," Columbia University agrees to Trump demands in effort to restore federal funding https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/columbia-university-trump-demands-funding-rcna197261 A     Packet Pg. 55     From:Aram James To:Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>;Foley, Michael; DuJuan Green; Enberg, Nicholas; dennis burns; Figueroa, Eric; KEVIN JENSEN;Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Donna Wallach; board@pausd.org;board@valleywater.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader forCalifornia Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Gerry Gras;Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; Sean Allen; Pat M; Jose Valle; Raj Jayadev; Van Der Zwaag, Minka; HumanRelations Commission; ladoris cordell; Bains, Paul; Bill Newell; Baker, Rob; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; EPAToday; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; San JoséSpotlight; Salem Ajluni; Doria Summa; Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com;h.etzko@gmail.com; josh@joshsalcman.com; Linda Jolley; Lotus Fong; Marina Lopez; Council, City; GRP-CityCouncil; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Rose Lynn; Barberini, Christopher; Afanasiev,Alex; Lee, Craig; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Lewis james; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov;Braden Cartwright; Brad Imamura; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Diana Diamond Subject:Deputy shot California man 5 times, including in the back. Family is awarded $30.5 million Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 9:09:49 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Unarmed black man shot killed by Kern County Deputy Deputy shot California man 5 times, including in the back. Family is awarded $30.5 million Source: Los Angeles Times https://share.newsbreak.com/c6yamxbh?s=i0 A     Packet Pg. 56     From:Aram James To:Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Wagner, April; Reifschneider, James; Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; SeanAllen; Pat M; DuJuan Green; Paul Bains; ladoris cordell; EPA Today; board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jose Valle;jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; BoardOperations; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Kaloma Smith;dennis burns; Lotus Fong; Friends of Cubberley; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov;Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Ed Lauing; Burt,Patrick; Palo Alto Free Press; Bill Newell; Baker, Rob; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Supervisor SusanEllenberg; Steve Wagstaffe; Rowena Chiu; Roberta Ahlquist; sharon jackson; Dave Price; Jensen, Eric;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Gennady Sheyner; Salem Ajluni; Sarah Wright; Jack Ajluni; Sheriff Transparency;Liz Kniss; Gardener, Liz; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Emily Mibach; DianaDiamond; Gerry Gras; Anna Griffin; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Doug Minkler; Mickie Winkler;Donna Wallach; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Rose Lynn; Rowena Chiu;Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Roberta Roth; Enberg, Nicholas; Paul George @ PPJC; Jasso, Tamara;cromero@cityofepa.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Veenker, Vicki; GRP-City Council; Council,City; city.council@menlopark.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov Subject:Re: Watch "Black community in Ohio forms safety program after neo-Nazi rally" on YouTube Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 12:55:34 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 12:49 AM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:https://youtu.be/xFGG8PVEKcU?si=TgzZlhPLz3aas1g3 A     Packet Pg. 57     From:Aram James To:Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Wagner, April; Reifschneider, James; Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; SeanAllen; Pat M; DuJuan Green; Paul Bains; ladoris cordell; EPA Today; board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jose Valle;jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; BoardOperations; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Kaloma Smith;dennis burns; Lotus Fong; Friends of Cubberley; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov;Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Ed Lauing; Burt,Patrick; Palo Alto Free Press; Bill Newell; Baker, Rob; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Supervisor SusanEllenberg; Steve Wagstaffe; Rowena Chiu; Roberta Ahlquist; sharon jackson; Dave Price; Jensen, Eric;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Gennady Sheyner; Salem Ajluni; Sarah Wright; Jack Ajluni; Sheriff Transparency;Liz Kniss; Gardener, Liz; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Emily Mibach; DianaDiamond; Gerry Gras; Anna Griffin; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Doug Minkler; Mickie Winkler;Donna Wallach; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Rose Lynn; Rowena Chiu;Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Roberta Roth; Enberg, Nicholas; Paul George @ PPJC; Jasso, Tamara;cromero@cityofepa.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; rabrica@cityofepa.org Subject:Watch "Black community in Ohio forms safety program after neo-Nazi rally" on YouTube Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 12:51:24 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://youtu.be/xFGG8PVEKcU?si=TgzZlhPLz3aas1g3 A     Packet Pg. 58     From:David Moss To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Pardee Park Restroom Date:Thursday, March 20, 2025 7:14:44 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Commissioners, regarding the Daily Post article "Park Goers Want Restrooms" (March 20th)it is important that the City receive community input, and the community has resoundingly asked for restrooms. As a senior and frequent park user, I feel it is essential that all of thelarger parks get restrooms for health reasons, especially for children and seniors. One of the complaints is that it would attract homeless people. But, that has proved false in the otherparks where restrooms have been installed. With the newer technology to lock the restrooms at night, and to install lights for safety, the attractiveness is significantly lessened. And our policehave been very responsive to the rare issue. Some neighbors feared crowds, and that too has proved false at other parks. Lastly, I have noticed that there will always be some opposition toeverything, no matter what. But, the City, and Parks and Rec Commission, must not stop projects that will benefit many people in our community because of a few near neighbors.Every single park has near neighbors, and we would not have any parks benefiting the community of 60,000+ people if they all were stopped by a few near neighbors. Survey aftersurvey says that our parks are one of the best features of our city. I agree. Please vote to add the restroom to Pardee Park as soon as possible. The prefab Cubberley Field restroom looksterrific and has all the safety features and was installed so quickly. Just waiting for the final sewer touches. Amazing. Thank you. David MossFormer Parks and Rec Commissioner 347 Ferne AvePalo Alto, CA 94306 650-862-8382ssow111@gmail.com This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast A     Packet Pg. 59     From:Moss Family To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Pardee Park Restroom Date:Thursday, March 20, 2025 7:03:03 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Commissioners, regarding the Daily Post article "Park Goers Want Restrooms" (March 20th) it is important that the City receive community input, and the community has resoundinglyasked for restrooms. As a senior and frequent park user, I feel it is essential that all of the larger parks get restrooms for health reasons, especially for children and seniors. One of thecomplaints is that it would attract homeless people. But, that has proved false in the other parks where restrooms have been installed. With the newer technology to lock the restrooms atnight, and to install lights for safety, the attractiveness is significantly lessened. And our police have been very responsive to the rare issue. Some neighbors feared crowds, and that too hasproved false at other parks. Lastly, I have noticed that there will always be some opposition to everything, no matter what. But, the City, and Parks and Rec Commission, must not stopprojects that will benefit many people in our community because of a few near neighbors. Every single park has near neighbors, and we would not have any parks benefiting thecommunity of 60,000+ people if they all were stopped by a few near neighbors. Survey after survey says that our parks are one of the best features of our city. I agree. Please vote to addthe restroom to Pardee Park as soon as possible. The prefab Cubberley Field restroom looks terrific and has all the safety features and was installed so quickly. Just waiting for the finalsewer touches. Amazing. Thank you. David Moss Former Parks and Rec Commissioner347 Ferne Ave Palo Alto, CA 94306650-862-8382 ssow111@gmail.com A     Packet Pg. 60     From:Nancy Kawakita To:ParkRec Commission Subject:2028 Park restroom plan and asking for Outreach funding in the 2026 CIP Date:Thursday, March 20, 2025 1:23:23 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To: Parks and Recreation Commissioners and City Parks liaisons, Looking beyond Pardee Park's 2026 restroom install, we urge you to request funding for theoutreach budget for selecting the 2028 restroom in this FY2026 budget. This is importantdue to the known 2-3-year cycle time to install a Palo Alto pre-fab restroom. We started requesting the Pardee Park restroom in January 2024 and we got an outreach budget with asurvey in January 2025, install is hopefully in 2026/2027. The two leading candidates based on the 2017 Park restroom plan, which uses size, park usage and closest public restroom are:1) Bol Park at ~14 acres, playground, popular native plant garden featured on an annual public garden tour, trails, donkey stables and the closest public restroom at Mitchell ParkLibrary at 2.4 miles or a 29 minute walk to El Camino Real. OR 2) Terman Park at ~8 acres with soccer, softball fields, basketball and tennis courts and theclosest public restroom at Mitchell Park at 1.1 miles or a 5 minute walk to El Camino Real. Other smaller parks on the City Park Restroom Installation list are Robles, Johnson, BowdenPark. Thank you for your commitment to adding restrooms to Palo Alto Parks and providing joy in our parks and open spaces. Nancy KawakitaPalo Alto resident and park user A     Packet Pg. 61     From:Francisco Valenzuela To:Francisco Valenzuela Subject:Register to Attend San Andreas Regional Center"s 28th Annual Legislative Luncheon Date:Thursday, March 20, 2025 12:20:07 PM Attachments:Legislative Luncheon Flyer.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. San Andreas Regional Center’s 28th Annual Legislative Luncheon Dear Friends, I am following up on your invitation to San Andreas Regional Center’s 28th Annual Legislative Luncheon being held on Friday, April 25th. It would be an honor if you could join us at our luncheon. Space is limited so register soon before the luncheon sells out. If you haven’t already registered, please use the following link to join us: Individuals_&_Organizations_Register_Here Confirmed Legislators speaking at the luncheon: Assembly Member Patrick Aherns Representing District 26 Santa Clara County Board President Ott Lee Representing District 3 City of San Jose Vice Mayor Pam Foley Representing District 9 City of San Jose Council member Bien Doan Representing District 7 Invited guests will also include Federal, State, and Local Legislators & they're staff, Individuals with Differing Abilities and they're families, Service Providers and they're staff, School Board Members, Educators, Direct Care Workers, Advocates, County and City Programs, Non-Profit Organizations, and the Community at Large from the counties of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Bento, and Monterey. We will also hear from Martin Slyngstad, author, college student, Special Olympics athlete, and adult on the Autism spectrum. Anna Wang, mom and Co-Founder of Friends of Children with Special Needs. Kris McCann, mom and Co-Founder of Housing Developments for individuals with disabilities. Olenka Villarreal, mom and Co-Founder of Magical Bridge Inclusive Playgrounds. Gowri Kuthanur, mom and Co- Founder of Inclusive World. Deanna Pursai, sister and Co-Founder of College of Adaptive Arts. And Keynote Speaker Marty Omoto, founder of CDCAN and sibling to an individual once served by a regional center. A     Packet Pg. 62     As you may already know, San Andreas Regional Center is a community-based, private nonprofit corporation that is funded under a contract with the State of California, through the Department of Developmental Services, to serve people with developmental disabilities as required by the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act. The Lanterman Act is part of California law that sets out the rights and responsibilities of persons with developmental disabilities. Thank you once again for your friendship, and we hope to see you on the 25th. Francisco Valenzuela Government Affairs / Community Relations San Andreas Regional Center Sanandreasregional.com A     Packet Pg. 63     From:Aram James To:Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; Reifschneider, James; Binder, Andrew;h.etzko@gmail.com; Sean Allen; Pat M; Shikada, Ed; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Council, City;board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Bill Newell; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>;Foley, Michael; cromero@cityofepa.org; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate,Assembly District 23; Jeff Conrad; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; Diana Diamond;sharon jackson; Doug Minkler; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Sheriff Transparency;Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Baker, Rob; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Jose Valle; Raj Jayadev; Rose Lynn;Roberta Ahlquist; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Angel, David; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Gerry Gras;Dana St. George; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; DuJuan Green; dennis burns;Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Jeff Hayden; Veenker, Vicki; Lu, George; Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith; Bains,Paul; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Nicole Chiu-Wang Subject:Former Antioch police officer found guilty, taken to jail Date:Thursday, March 20, 2025 11:19:39 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Former Antioch police officer found guilty, taken to jail Former Antioch police officer found guilty, taken to jail Source: KTVU FOX 2 https://share.newsbreak.com/c6crg9ig?s=i0 A     Packet Pg. 64     From:Jenny LewisTo:ParkRec CommissionSubject:Interested in outdoor gym equipment that works?Date:Wednesday, March 19, 2025 10:24:41 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. i Professional LinkedIn Banner (3) This message needs your attentionYou've never replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast A     Packet Pg. 65     Why Function Matters More Than Form in Outdoor Fitness Equipment www.outdoor-fit.com (8) Invest in What Works - Not Just What Looks Good Outdoor fitness spaces should be more than just visually appealing - they should work. Too often, communities invest in fitness equipment that looks sleek but fails where it matters most: durability, usability, and long-term value. In our experience, here’s why functionality should always come first: Durability Saves You Money – Equipment that constantly breaks down A     Packet Pg. 66     leads to costly repairs, maintenance headaches, and, ultimately, wasted budget. Unused Equipment = Wasted Investment – If the design doesn’t support real exercise, people won’t use it. Idle equipment diminishes the value of your fitness space. Healthy Communities Are What Really Look Good – A thriving outdoor gym filled with engaged users is far more impactful than a trendy but impractical setup. At Outdoor-Fit, our equipment prioritizes real exercise, real biomechanics, and real results - built to last for all climates and environments. Connect with us today and invest in outdoor fitness that works. Connect With Us Outdoor-Fit Exercise Systems Inc., 95 Simmonds Drive, Dartmouth, NS B3B 1N7, 1-877-760- 6337 Unsubscribe Manage preferences A     Packet Pg. 67     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Supervisor Otto Lee; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Sarah Wright; EPA Today; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Diana Diamond; Council, City; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Nicole Chiu-Wang; chuck jagoda; Barberini, Christopher; Rowena Chiu; Vara Ramakrishnan; Baker, Rob; Bill Newell; Lotus Fong; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; cromero@cityofepa.org; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Doria Summa; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Braden Cartwright Subject:Speak up even if there are pressures from the pro Israel lobby or the state of Israel to not offend Zionistsensibilities. Do NOT under any circumstances diminish our First Amendment rights Date:Wednesday, March 19, 2025 12:49:02 AM Attachments:73D7509A-7451-43A1-B32A-7480CBA2C64C.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. A     Packet Pg. 68     A     Packet Pg. 69     From:Rajni Rajpoot Subject:Website Details! Date:Tuesday, March 18, 2025 8:55:06 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hey, I was checking your website and see you have a good design and it looks great, but it's not ranking on Google and other major search engines. I would like to send you a SEO report with prices showing you a few things to greatly improve these search results for you. These things are not difficult, and my report will be very specific. It will show you exactly what needs to be done to move you up in the rankings dramatically. If interested. May I send you a quote? Stay safe! Best Wishes, Rajni Rajpoot A     Packet Pg. 70     From:Manuel Minzer To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Youth enrichment programs Date:Tuesday, March 18, 2025 8:54:08 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. RE: Youth enrichment programs Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Manuel Minzer and we provide Basketball, Gymnastics, Chess, and Volleyball youth recreational programs for children from 2 to 14 years old. These activities are an excellent extracurricular program in order to teach educational values and to emphasize participant`s development of emotional, physical, intellectual, and social life skills. Since Fall 2008 we are running programs in partnership with Preschools, Schools, After Schools, Cities’ Parks and Recreation Divisions, and School Districts. The reason that I am writing to you is in order to offer programs at City of Palo Alto, and please let me know if you need additional information. Best to you, Manuel Minzer - Rebound Basketball Academy Inc. P.O. Box 4095; San Jose CA 95150 E-mail: manuelminzer@yahoo.com Phone: 408-499-6707 www.reboundbasketballacademy.blogspot.com A     Packet Pg. 71     Rebound Basketball Academy Inc. Welcome to Rebound Basketball Academy Inc. Our academy strives to create an environment that is marked by honest... A     Packet Pg. 72     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Reckdahl, Keith; Ed Lauing; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; bos@smcgov.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Yolanda Conaway; dennis burns; Reifschneider, James; Binder, Andrew; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Dennis Upton; Don Austin; Dennis Upton; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Steve Wagstaffe; Bill Newell; Lotus Fong; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Tim James; Cait James; Marina Lopez; Doug Minkler; Baker, Rob; Zelkha, Mila; Friends of Cubberley; Shikada, Ed; editor@almanacnews.com; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Donna Wallach; h.etzko@gmail.com; Kaloma Smith; Perron, Zachary; Gerry Gras; Anna Griffin; Sean Allen; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Burt, Patrick; Palo Alto Free Press; Patrice Ventresca; Pat M; yolanda; sharon jackson; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Supervisor Otto Lee; BoardOperations; board@valleywater.org; Templeton, Cari; Cribbs, Anne; Angel, David; Enberg, Nicholas; Barberini, Christopher; chuck jagoda; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Wagner, April; Afanasiev, Alex; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; Rose Lynn; Emily Mibach; Daniel Kottke; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric Subject:The Last Time Pro-Palestinian Activists Faced Deportation Mahmoud Khalil’s case is eerily similar to that of theL.A. Eight, in which a group of students were targeted, not because of any criminal activity but because of theirspeech. By David Cole Mar... Date:Tuesday, March 18, 2025 2:16:20 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. The Last Time Pro-PalestinianActivists Faced Deportation Mahmoud Khalil’s case is eerily similar to that of the L.A. Eight, in which a group of students were targeted, not because of any criminal activity but because of their speech. By David ColeMarch 18, 2025 https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/mahmoud-khalil-and-the-last-time-pro-palestinian-activists-faced-deportation A     Packet Pg. 73     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Ed Lauing; h.etzko@gmail.com; Josh Becker; board@pausd.org; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Sean Allen; Bains, Paul; Pat M; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; Emily Mibach; Zelkha, Mila; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Barberini, Christopher; Nicole Chiu-Wang; sharon jackson; Doug Minkler; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Kaloma Smith; Cait James; Tim James; Marina Lopez; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; marsha childs; Anna Griffin; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Council, City; Salem Ajluni; Jeff Hayden; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Jay Boyarsky; Baker, Rob; Angel, David; dennis burns; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Perron, Zachary; Burt, Patrick; Mickie Winkler; John Burt; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Roberta Ahlquist; Rose Lynn; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Friends of Cubberley; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Roberta Roth; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Bill Newell; Cecilia Taylor; GRP-City Council; DuJuan Green; Gerry Gras; Dennis Upton; Enberg, Nicholas; chuck jagoda; Rowena Chiu; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Patrice Ventresca Subject:What Ceasefire? Trump Helps Netanyahu Kill Over 400 Palestinians in Gaza The Trump administration backs waragainst Palestine abroad and repression against supporters of Palestine at home. SPENCER ACKERMAN MAR 18,2025 ∙ PAID Date:Tuesday, March 18, 2025 12:36:23 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. What Ceasefire? Trump Helps Netanyahu Kill Over 400 Palestinians in Gaza The Trump administration backs war against Palestine abroad and repression against supporters of Palestine at home. SPENCER ACKERMAN MAR 18, 2025 ∙ PAID https://zeteo.com/p/what-ceasefire-trump-helps-netanyahu?publication_id=2325511&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email- share&triggerShare=true&r=fjmzt A     Packet Pg. 74     From:Nancy Kawakita To:ParkRec Commission Subject:Eleanor Pardee Park restroom urgent funding for the May Finance CIP review Date:Tuesday, March 18, 2025 8:00:42 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To: Parks and Recreation Commissioners and City Parks liaisons, Thank you for installing restrooms at NINE Palo Alto Parks/fields. Thank you for completing the City survey for the Eleanor Pardee Park restroom in mid-February. We look forward to hearing the survey results on March 25, the proposed restroom location within the park, and immediate next steps. We request the "outreach" process be on track to confirm that Eleanor Pardee Park is named asthe FY2026-27 restroom funded in the Park Restroom Installation (PG-19000) 2026-27 CIP. We request that Pardee Park secure this funding and be approved by the Finance committee inMay 2025 and City Council in June 2025. Hopefully, you do not need to have the City Council step in to fund Pardee Park's restroom again, in order to support public health and thepublic good. In June 2024 City Council agreed Pardee Park's restroom was prioritized with urgency. Like the City did for Cuberley's restroom process in 2023, you could offer a follow-on onlinesurvey to ask for feedback on a reasonable location of the Pardee restroom (away from the fence line shared by residents) in April. Then you could review the results in the April ParksCommission meeting for final approval to add Pardee to the May CIP review in the City Council Finance Committee meeting. Or ideally to streamline the process, since there is a 9month wait time for a pre-fab restroom, you could order it now in 2025 based on the survey results and install it in 2026. We strongly urge you to listen to ALL the Eleanor Pardee Park users regardless of where theylive as we are talking about a PUBLIC park. There are over 90 community garden plots that the City offers to ALL Palo Alto residents, fields used by AYSO youth ages 5-10 years oldand other athletic groups, 2 children's playgrounds, summer youth camps and dog walkers, runners and a tai-chi class. At the Community Garden, there is a UC Extension Waterwise andEdible Demonstration Garden that offers adult classes with volunteers who spend 2000 hours per year with 400+ class attendees and visitors from Santa Clara County per year. Where doall these park users go when nature calls as normal human beings? There is ugly evidence in the Park's tanbark and shrubs! Not having a restroom in a popular large park is a public health issue and this is why it is anurgent need. A restroom cannot be canceled because of some residents' fears. There are NINE Palo Alto Parks/fields with restrooms. No Palo Alto Park restroom has been removed due toissues raised by restroom dissenters. Thank you for keeping the Pardee restroom on track for funding this year. Nancy Kawakita Crescent Park resident and part of the Eleanor Pardee Park community garden A     Packet Pg. 75     From:Francisco Valenzuela To:Francisco Valenzuela Subject:Register & Please Share - "Legislative Advocacy 101: Understanding Public Policy and How to Interact with Legislators" on April 3rd Date:Monday, March 17, 2025 11:39:54 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. I will be presenting my "Legislative Advocacy 101: Understanding Public Policy and How to Interact with Legislators" on Wednesday, April 3rd during TASH’s 2025 Webinar Series. I am inviting advocates of all platforms, disability advocates, families, service providers, non-profit organizations, stakeholders, individuals with disabilities, and others to be part of my Webinar on April 3rd. My presentation will apply to any group or issue because Legislative Advocacy applies the same way when meeting with an elected official. I will share some key points on “How to Build Relationships with Elected Officials and their Staff”, “Managing a Legislative Meeting”, the Do’s and Don’ts when Meeting with Elected Officials, and How to Maximize your time in a meeting. These along with other Key Points will be shared during the webinar. The presentation will also include a few testimonies from individuals who have participated in meetings with elected officials. These are some trying times impacting our local communities and country where interaction with legislators is key to understanding their point of views and the concerns of their constituents. Understanding legislators’ views on issues while asking for their support on key policy matters can have a positive impact if those meetings have positive outcomes. For additional information about my TASH Webinar Presentation, Go Here: TASH 2025 Webinar Series - Tash.org A     Packet Pg. 76     TASH's 2025 Webinar Series TASH's 2025 Webinar Series gets underway in three short weeks. We will be starting off with Francisco Valenzuela's timely presentation, "Legislative Advocacy 101: Understanding Public Policy and How to Interact with Legislators" on April 3rd, then moving on to the complex and critical issue of "Supporting Students with Aggressive Behaviors" with Kayla Coburn one week later. Weekly episodes through June will address AI, ridesharing technology, IEPs, teacher preparedness and more. Check out the full schedule of sessions and presenters, and instructions for participation, at the 2025 TASH Webinar Series main page. Schedule of Presentations Legislative Advocacy 101: Understanding Public Policy and How to Interact with Legislators Francisco Valenzuela 2025 TASH Webinar Series main page. Learn More and Register TASH advances equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities, with a focus on those with the most significant support needs, in the areas of education, employment and A     Packet Pg. 77     community living through advocacy, research and practice. More information about TASH can be found at www.tash.org. TASH 1201 15th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20005 | (202) 808-8148 | info@tash.org Copyright © 2025 TASH, All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail because you are or were a TASH member, attended a TASH event, or signed up to receive TASH newsletters. Want to change how you receive these emails? Unsubscribe from this List Donate to TASH | Become a Member View this E-Mail in Your Browser A     Packet Pg. 78     From:Jake ThompsonTo:ParkRec CommissionSubject:follow upDate:Monday, March 17, 2025 5:32:32 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Hi Friend, Just a quick reminder—CPRS kicks off tomorrow! Be sure to stop by Booth #403 to check out our line marking robot, grab some cool merch, and learn about our new pricing model. Join the 4,000+ organizations already saving time and labor costs with Turf Tank, including: Sacramento County Parks and Recreation Oxnard Parks and Recreation Templeton Parks and Recreation Jurupa Area Recreation Park District La Puente Parks and Recreation Looking forward to seeing you there! JAKE THOMPSON Sales Development Representative m:+1 402-499-2416 e:Jake.Thompson@turftank.com w:www.turftank.com a:North America Turf Tank, 1110 Allgood Industrial Ct, Marietta, Georgia 30062, United States, 877-396-4094 Unsubscribe Manage preferences A     Packet Pg. 79     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:h.etzko@gmail.com; Council, City; Reckdahl, Keith; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Ed Lauing; Kaloma Smith; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Josh Becker; board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; Barberini, Christopher; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Enberg, Nicholas; Binder, Andrew; Lee, Craig; cromero@cityofepa.org; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; Cribbs, Anne; Cait James; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Bill Newell; Salem Ajluni; Sean Allen; Jack Ajluni; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; GRP-City Council; Gerry Gras; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; Cecilia Taylor; Templeton, Cari Subject:I Am a Jewish Student at Columbia. Mahmoud Khalil Is One of the Most Upstanding People I Have Ever Met Date:Sunday, March 16, 2025 3:06:57 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I Am a Jewish Student at Columbia.Mahmoud Khalil Is One of the MostUpstanding People I Have Ever Met We cannot allow fascists to use the pretext of Jewish safety to attack ourcommunities. JONATHAN BEN-MENACHEM MAR 16 ∙PREVIEW ∙GUEST POST READ IN APP Protesters rally in Foley Square in Lower Manhattan on March 10, 2025, to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil. Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images A     Packet Pg. 80     As a Jewish student at Columbia University, I was disgusted by the White House’s cynical, smirking claim that it is acting in the interests of Jewish safety in detaining my Palestinian comrade, Mahmoud Khalil, last weekend. To announce Mahmoud’s abduction, the White House pushed social media posts reading “SHALOM, MAHMOUD.” The Christian fascists are gleefully, wickedly invoking the Hebrew goodbye as they terrorize us. Upgrade to paid Mahmoud is one of the most upstanding people I have ever met. Alongside other Jewish student activists, I only ever felt Mahmoud’s respect, solidarity, and strength. As Mahmoud told CNN last spring, “I believe that the liberation of the Palestinian people and the Jewish people are intertwined and go hand-by-hand, and you cannot achieve one without the other.” Anyone who has met Mahmoud knows that the White House’s smear campaign is just a shallow pretext to unleash state violence against student activists and further divide already traumatized communities. Who Will Be Left to Fight With Us?... Subscribe to Zeteo to unlock the rest. Become a paying subscriber of Zeteo to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content. Upgrade to paid A subscription gets you: Support Mehdi’s brand of accountability journalism Unlimited access to all exclusive content (shows, podcasts, newsletters) Live Q&As with Mehdi + more! A     Packet Pg. 81     LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Zeteo1640 Boro Place 4th floor, McLean, VA 22102 Unsubscribe A     Packet Pg. 82     Parks and Recreation Commission Supplemental Report Lead Department: Community Services Meeting Date: April 11, 2025 Item Number: 2 Report #:2504-4500 TITLE Supplemental Memo: Review FY25 Parks and Recreation Commission Accomplishments – Vice Chair Greenfield BACKGROUND The Recreation Wellness Center Accomplishments have been updated in Attachment B. ATTACHMENTS Supplemental Attachment A: Updated PRC 24 25 Accomplishments 2     Packet Pg. 83     Project/Goal 1: Master Plan Review the process for planning and implementation of the Parks, Trails, Natural Open Space, and Recreation Master Plan (Parks Master Plan) for consistency and coordination with the annual CIP process. Work with staff to conduct a review of the existing policies and progress to inform planning efforts, enhance interdepartmental coordination, and implement best practices. •The ad hoc met with staff on December 3, 2024 to review the FY 2025 - 2029 CSD Capital Plan for Parks, Open Space, and Golf projects. •The ad hoc recommended updates to the CIP project list and provided input. •The PRC reviewed and provided feedback on the CIP plan on December 18. 2024. Based on direction, the CIP plan was brought back for review and discussion again on January 28, 2025. Project/Goal 2: Park Dedication FY25 Pursue and evaluate top priority potential sites and identify potential new sites to recommend dedicating as parkland within our community •Worked with staff reviewing a prioritized list of 7 potential locations for parkland dedication suitability. •(Will) present and discuss 2 sites to (potentially) recommend for partial parkland dedication. •Updates for Tower Well Site, dedicated as parkland in March 2024: o As directed by City Council, reviewed and then supported recommended name change of Tower Well Park to Frederick Eyerly Park in May 2024. o Ribbon-cutting ceremony in April/May 2025. Project/Goal 3: Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan (BCCP) Update •Working to revive the BCCP effort that began in October 2017 and stalled on several occasions •Met on multiple occasions with staff to determine a path forward including an estimated timeline •Review of multiple chapters in progress, including: o Work to update the draft to reflect current conditions o Work to define scope of modifications to the existing draft plan along with recommendations for future amendments and/or plans o Work to highlight environmental stewardship and sustainability o Considerations of work flow and best practices for managing facilities and human impact 2     Packet Pg. 84     Project/Goal 4: Nature Preserve Access Policy •Met on multiple occasions with staff, including supervising rangers, to review current policy and visit open space preserves (OSPs). This included evaluating the current Access Policy implementation and acceptance, and potential trail access changes at the Baylands and Pearson-Arastradero Preserves: •Baylands Nature Preserve: analysis and recommendations (to be) shared with the PRC in April, 2025. [Details to follow] •Pearson Arastradero Preserve: analysis and recommendations (to be) shared with the PRC in April, 2025. [Details to follow] •Recommendations shared with PABAC for feedback in April, 2025, prior to discussion at PRC. •Collaborated with staff to identify areas in need of increased signage. •Worked with staff to pinpoint locations that would benefit from the installation of additional bicycle racks. Project/Goal 5: Recreation Wellness Center Work with staff to facilitate progress on the Palo Alto Recreation Wellness Center. •Collaborated with City staff on stakeholder and community outreach initiatives. •Held weekly ad hoc meetings (with occasional staff participation) to conduct outreach and research on the Recreation Wellness Center's needs, potential locations, facilities, programs, and activities. •Raised public awareness about the need for a city-operated Recreation Wellness Center. •Partnered with the City of Palo Alto and the Friends of the Recreation Wellness Center to draft and sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) on December 3, 2024, outlining the relationship between the City and the Friends group. •Provided regular status updates to the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) during monthly meetings. •Co-hosted a community meeting with City staff in January 2025 to discuss the proposed center and explore potential locations. •Continued collaboration with the Friends of Palo Alto Recreation Wellness Center Board of Directors, providing updates to the PRC based on relevant input received. Project 6: Playing Fields and Raquet Sports Review the recommend updates to playing fields and Racquet Sports policies, including synthetic turf replacement strategy, including tennis and field reservation policies. ●Policy and Best Practices Review: ○Supporting staff by reviewing regional best practices and making general policy cleanup recommendations. ○Completed an initial review of the field use policy, identifying areas for further stakeholder engagement and review. ●Field and Turf Initiatives: ○Recommending a synthetic turf replacement strategy for upcoming work at El Camino Park and the Stanford/Mayfield Soccer Complex. 2     Packet Pg. 85     ○Planning a community meeting to update field users on tournament clean-up responsibilities, goal storage, and stakeholder communications. ●Tennis Court Management: ○Reviewed CPA reservation policies and proposed reserving a specific percentage of court usage for Palo Alto residents. ○Organized community outreach with a tennis meeting scheduled for April 8, 2025, and explored ways to extend the use of existing courts (e.g., lights, additional porta potties). ○Gathered and reviewed best practices for court reservation systems from neighboring cities to support local access. ●Pickleball Initiatives: ○Supported and implemented pickleball lines at Fletcher School/Terman Park to increase access for students. ○Met with Pickleball Club leadership to discuss expanding access, including the possibility of multi-use courts at Mitchell Park. ●Coordination Efforts: ○Coordinating with staff on the timeline for the racquet sports joint task force. Project 6: Middle School Athletics •Ad Hoc met January 29 to create work plan. •Reviewed of history of MSA, reviewed research and background gathered by staff. o Options included ▪1) city remains the provider, with financial support to offset costs ▪2) MSA contracts with outside organization to operate the program or contracts out individual sports to specific non-profits. •Staff’s goal was to reach agreement/decision by school start August 15, 2025 •Staff researched information regarding possible vendors •Staff working with purchasing about required process for MSA third party vendors. •Ad Hoc scheduled meeting March 28 with Mr. Tom Haxton and colleagues to listen to his vision for MSA •Ad hoc and staff to continue to collect information on options including a timeline for presentation to Commission and report to City Council 2     Packet Pg. 86