HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 10808City of Palo Alto (ID # 10808)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Rail Communications Update Meeting Date: 10/28/2019
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Summary Title: Update From the Expanded Community Advisory Panel
Title: Update From the Expanded Community Advisory Panel (XCAP) and
Potential Community Engagement Efforts
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
Rail (Connecting Palo Alto) Update:
a.Update from the Expanded Community Advisory Panel
b.Update on Rail Communication and Potential Community Engagement Efforts
a.Update from the Expanded Community Advisory Panel
At the September 9, 2019 City Council meeting, the City Council adopted some changes to the
Expanded Community Advisory Panel (XCAP). The changes allowed the XCAP to elect a Chair
and Vice Chair as well as to take votes on recommendations, among other things. In the Council
motion, the City Council also asked the XCAP to provide no less than every other month
updates to the City Council. The XCAP update today is a follow up to the City Council action in
September. The XCAP will provide the City Council with an update on their progress to
date. The next XCAP update is planned for early to mid-December.
b.Update on Rail Communication and Potential Community Engagement Efforts
The City of Palo Alto has undertaken a community-based process to address the increased
traffic congestion expected when Caltrain electrifies the tracks and runs more trains through
the region, including the Palo Alto corridor. Caltrain’s expanded service and other changes are
outlined in their CalMod Plan and Business Plan. The City’s community-based process,
called Connecting Palo Alto, seeks to evaluate the best options to maintain community access
and address local traffic congestion as Caltrain electrified service begins in 2023.
Significant work has been achieved to date and more work is planned to gain community
feedback as part of the decision-making process that will affect Palo Alto’s future rail
AGENDA ITEM # 9
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crossings. Staff is actively working to share information about the process to inform and engage
the community as the City Council considers options in spring 2020. Staff will update the City
Council on efforts underway and seek feedback on ideas around communications and
community engagement for Connecting Palo Alto rail grade separation at this Council update
on October 28, 2019.
This discussion with the City Council is to gain their feedback on the ideas planned for
communications and community engagement. The update will also provide a general timeline
of efforts planned, including returning to the City Council in December to gain input on
establishing a Rail Blue Ribbon Committee.
An example of communications to share information about the process is the new Blog Series
on Medium.com the City of Palo Alto’s new blog platform. The first two blogs can be viewed
here. The blog series is one of many ways the City is sharing information to increase awareness
about the City’s community-driven process as it evaluates current options and plans for City
Council decisions in spring of 2020. An example of planned community engagement around the
existing options and neighborhood impacts is the upcoming community meeting scheduled on
November 7, 2019. This will represent a significant milestone in the development of
community-wide awareness of the options being considered for grade separations at
Charleston Road, Meadow Drive, and Churchill Avenue. The XCAP has been instrumental in
understanding the options being considered and ensuring that the technical analysis reflects
sensitivity to localized and community-wide perspectives. The November community meeting
will provide the first overview of work to date specifically designed for the general public since
March 2019.
As the consideration of grade separation options moves into the “community conversations”
phase in which community members will be invited to provide feedback on the options as well
as express preferences, staff is developing a framework for this engagement. This can include
open houses and town hall meetings at which the XCAP and Council can hear directly from
community members in early 2020, as well as an online surveys and other engagement
methods. Staff is also mindful of the City Council direction from September 9 to bring to
Council recommendations related to a potential Rail Blue Ribbon Commission.
These two items are an opportunity to update the City Council and gain feedback on efforts
underway as the City and community evaluates the best options to address community access
and local traffic congestion as Caltrain’s modernization and growth plans proceed.