HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-21 City Council (2)TO:
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL 2
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: POLICE
DATE:JULY 21, 2003 CMR:364:03
SUBJECT:APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MONTHS
OF JULY AND SEPTEMBER AS BLOCK PARTY MONTHS AND
SUSPENDING THE ASSOCIATED PERMIT APPLICATION FEES
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve the attached resolution that henceforth designates the
months of July and September every year as block party months and suspends the normal block
party permit application fees.
DISCUSSION
In July 1996, the Council approved a proclamation that designated the month of August of that
year as "Block Party Month" as part of Mayor Lanie Wheeler’s Palo Alto Together initiative.
The Council suspended the block party permit fees for August as an incentive for more
neighborhoods to join together for camaraderie. Staff has received requests from residents
about suspending permit fees every summer since then. Staff believes that this type of
neighborhood interaction and celebration results in a positive community environment. Staff
also believes that the suspension of the block party permit application fees for the two months of
the year that most block parties take place would encourage more neighborhoods to hold these
events.
For the last three years, staff has received the most requests for block party permits for the
months of July and September. Many of the permit requests are associated with the July 4 and
Labor Day holidays. Since 2000, 108 permit application requests have been received for those
two months. While the majority of the requests (67) have been for September, the second
highest month (41) has been July. Staff believes that suspending the application fees during
both of these months covers the time period most block parties are held throughout the City.
CMR:364:03 Page 1 of 2
Staff would maintain the current permit application process. Block party kits consisting of
block party ideas were made available to residents in 1996 and staffwould propose providing
those on an ongoing basis to neighborhoods who would apply for permits during July and
September. Permit applications are on-line on the Police Department’s website for access by
residents.
RESOURCE IMPACT
The current block party permit fee is $30. Using the average of 36 applications per year over
the last three years, the associated revenue reduction would be approximately $1,080 a year.
Most block party applications take about 20 minutes to process. Based upon the 36 applications
per year, staff has been able to handle the workload associated with the permit requests for those
two months.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This resolution is consistent with City policy.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
Police Chief
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
EMIL~-HARRISON "
Assistant City Manager
CMR:364:03 Page 2 of 2
CITY OF PALO ALTO
RESOLUTION
BLOCK PARTIES MONTHS
WHEREAS,Palo Alto is a thriving community that draws upon its greatest resource--its
citizenry; and
WHEREAS,the people of Palo Alto enjoy a unique quality of life that is based on the strong
bonds of genuine care and respect among the residents; and
WHEREAS,these bonds are continually strengthened by the people of Palo Alto through their
participation, contribution, leadership, time, talent, commitment, diversity,
volunteerism, and selfless acts," and
WHEREAS,it is important to continue to build upon and maintain the unique quality of life
through neighbor-to-neighbor interaction for present and future generations to
enjoy; and
WHEREAS,the City of Palo Alto wishes to continue building community respect shared among
its citizens by celebrating with citywide block parties to share a few hours, a few
stories, a few games, and a few edibles with neighbors new and old; and
WHEREAS,the majority of neighborhood block party permit requests are received for the months
of July and September.
NOW,THEREFORE, I, DENA MOSSAR, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto, on behalf of the City
Council, do hereby proclaim July and September as BLOCK PARTIES MONTHS
and suspend bloek party permit application fees for those months, and encourage
residents to host blockparties on their streets to applaud their own virtues that make
this community a wonderful place to live in.
DENA MOSSAR
Mayor
City of Palo Alto
July 2003