HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 7976
City of Palo Alto (ID # 7976)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Special Orders of the Day Meeting Date: 6/19/2017
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Proclamation Recognizing Penny Ellson for SRTS Work
Title: Proclamation Honoring Penny Ellson for 15 Years of Service to the Palo
Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Attachments:
Attachment A- Proclamation for Penny Ellson (DOCX)
Proclamation
Honoring Penny Ellson
WHEREAS, Penny Ellson has led parent advocacy since fall 2004 in support of the local Safe Routes to
School partnership goals to “reduce risk to students en route to and from school and encourage more families
to use alternative to solo driving more often”; and
WHEREAS, Penny Ellson has been instrumental in leading the transformation of the long-standing
partnership for child bicycle and pedestrian safety between the Palo Alto Council of PTAs, the City Council,
and Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Board of Education into a partnership that includes the goals
of Encouragement, Evaluation and Equity in addition to the original emphasis on Engineering, Enforcement
and Education; and
WHEREAS, as a dedicated PTA volunteer since fall 2002, Penny Ellson developed a district-wide model
for fall and spring school-based events to encourage all school commute modes that reduce congestion as well
as promote healthy physical activity and foster a safe transition to independent walking and biking; and
WHEREAS, Penny Ellson has recruited, trained and nurtured generations of parent volunteer Safe Routes
to School champions in 17 PAUSD schools over the last thirteen academic years in her role as chair or co-chair
of the Palo Alto PTA Council Traffic Safety Committee as her children moved through PAUSD schools
(Fairmeadow Elementary, JLS Middle and Gunn High); and
WHEREAS, Penny Ellson has also been active for more than 17 years in advocating the vision of streets
for all users in support of the development and completion of elements of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and
the Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan, including the Charleston/Arastradero Corridor and the Maybell
Bicycle Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of her many years of service to Palo Alto, Penny Ellson’s contributions to the
longevity and sustainability of the program was recognized, both by the Safe Routes to School National
Partnership, the Palo Alto Council of PTAs, helping put Palo Alto on the forefront of the nation’s Safe Routes
to School programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, H. Gregory Scharff, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto, on behalf of the City
Council do hereby proclaim appreciation to Penny Ellson for her efforts to improve the quality of life for all
Palo Altans.
Presented: June 19, 2017
______________________________
H. Gregory Scharff
Mayor