HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 13769City of Palo Alto (ID # 13769)
Office of the City Clerk
City Council CAO Report
Meeting Date: 11/16/2021
Title: Board and Commission Interviews for the Planning & Transportation
Commission, Architectural Review Board and Historic Resources Board
From: Lesley Milton, City Clerk
Recommendation
Conduct interviews with applicants for scheduled vacancies on the Architectural Review Board, the Historic Resources Board, Planning and Transportation Commission.
Discussion
The Fall 2021 Boards and Commission recruitment effort invited applications September 16, 2021 through October 26, 2021 through the new online application process and an expansive public outreach campaign. A total of 36 qualified applications were received during the extended recruitment period. Open positions include the following:
•Two (2) positions on the Planning and Transportation Commission, withterms ending December 15, 2025.•Three (3) positions on the Architectural Review Board, with terms ending2024.•One (1) unexpired position on the Historic Resources Board, with a termending December 15, 2022.•Four (4) positions on the Parks and Recreation Commission, with threeterms ending December 15, 2024 and one unexpired term endingDecember 15, 2022.
At the November 8, 2021 City Council meeting the Council elected to interview all qualified applicants received during the Fall recruitment effort. Interviews of the selected candidates will be held over the course of two Special City Council meetings:
November 16, 2021 at 5:00 PM •Planning and Transportation Commission Applicants•Architectural Review Board Applicants•Historic Resources Board Applicants
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November 22nd, 2021 at 5:00 PM
•Parks and Recreation Applicants
Appointments are anticipated to be presented for approval at the December 13, 2021 Meeting.
Schedule of Interviews for November 16, 2021
PTC
5:00-5:15 Leonard Ely (in person)
5:15-5:30 Kathryn Jordan (undecided)
5:30-5:45 Arthur Keller (in person)
5:45-6:00 Chunming Niu (Zoom)
6:00-6:15 Nisar Shaikh (in person)
6:15-6:30 Brigham Wilson (in person)
6:30-6:45 Keith Reckdahl (in person)
6:45-7:00 Stephanie Safdi
7:00-7:10 Break
HRB
7:10-7:20 Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz
ARB
7:20-7:30 Peter Baltay (in person)
7:30-7:40 Bin Zhou (Zoom)
7:40-7:50 Jim Xiao (undecided)
7:50-8:00 Valerie Driscoll (Zoom)
8:10-8:20 David Hirsch (Zoom)
8:20-8:30 Yujin Jeon (in person)
8:30-8:40 Manix Patel
*Orange is tentative schedule* BOLD indicates they have applied for more than one position.
Membership Requirements
Each Board or Commission has different requirements for appointment such as mandatory residency, specialized training, or professional service in a specified area. For each of the Board or Commission with current vacancies,
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the requirements are listed below as well as the applicants for each.
Planning and Transportation Commission: Two positions Terms ending December 14, 2025 •Palo Alto Residency(PAMC 2.20.010)
Architectural Review Board: Three positions Terms ending December 15, 2024 •At least three members must be architects, landscape architects,
building designers or other design professionals. (Two positionsfulfilled, one vacant)•No Palo Alto residency requirement(PAMC 2.21.010)
Historic Resources Board: One position (unexpired) terms ending December 15, 2022 •Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of history, architecture orhistoric preservation.•One member shall be an owner/occupant of a category 1 or 2 historicstructure, or of a structure in a historic district; (Fulfilled)•Three members shall be architects, landscape architects, buildingdesigners or other design professionals (Fulfilled)•At least one member shall possess academic education or practicalexperience in history or a related field. (Fulfilled)(PAMC 2.27.010)
Parks and Recreation Commission: Three positions Terms ending December 15, 2024 and one unexpired term ending December 15, 2022 •Each member of the commission shall have a demonstrated interestin parks, open space and recreation matters.•Palo Alto Residency(PAMC 2.25.010)
Public Outreach
The Fall 2021 Boards and Commission recruitment invited applications September 16, 2021 through October 26, 2021 through the new online application process. Palo Alto Municipal Code 2.16.060 requires public notification regarding vacancies of the Commissions as follows, “The City Clerk shall exercise their discretion in choosing the method of advertisement that will most effectively reach potential candidates.” Based on the September 14, 2021 Policy & Services Committee meeting report (available here) regarding Board and Commission Member demographics and community representation the City Clerk’s office expanded recruitment efforts through additional means to “most effectively reach potential candidates”.
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This recruitment was advertised through various methods including paid
print advisements in The Palo Alto Weekly and the Daily Post; via the City’s website and social media channels; in physical locations of the Palo Alto Libraries and Community Centers; and distributed by e-mail and through established distribution lists to community based organizations, individuals and City subscription based notification lists.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Attachment1.a: PTC Applicants (PDF)
• Attachment1.b: ARB Applicants (PDF)
• Attachment1.c: HRB Applicants (PDF)
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Planning and Transportation Commission
Application
Name Bryna Chang
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of. a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
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1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Planning and Transportation
Commission?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
Bryna Chang Page 2
No
Other: Currently serve on PTC
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
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information and request that the
following contact information:
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Bryna Chang Page 3
Current PTC Commissioner
MBA 2003, Stanford Graduate School of
Business, Stanford University
BS Biology, 1997, Stanford University
I have strong skills in strategy, operations, and
teamwork. Most recently, I lectured at the
Stanford Graduate School of Business on
"Innovation and Problem Solving" and "Critical
Analytical Thinking." Earlier, I ran the MBA
Program Office at Stanford, where I managed the
strategy and operations of one of the top MBA
programs in the US; I also spent time directing
the Stanford Public Management Program. I have
past experience in internet product management
and management consulting.
Stanford University (Graduate School of Business)
Lecturer
Last Employer
I have been a dedicated volunteer with Palo Alto
Schools for many years:
Gunn High School Site Council, 2020 -present
JLS Middle School PTA Executive Board, Auditor,
2021 -present
JLS Middle School Site Council, 2018 -2021
JLS Middle School PTA Executive Board, VP
Community Service, 2019 -2021
JLS Middle School PTA Executive Board, VP
Membership, 2017-2019
PAUSD Parent Advisory Group to the Elementary
Report Card/Progress Report Committee, 2013-
2015
Hoover Elementary Site Council Chair, 2012-2013
Hoover Elementary Site Council, 2011-2013,
2014-2016
Hoover Elementary Green Team parent leader,
2014-2019
Hoover Elementary Room Parent, 2010-2019
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Application Questions
1. What is it about the Planning and
Transportation Commission that is
compatible with your experience and of
specific interest to you, and why?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Commission that is of
particular interest to you and describe
why you are interested in it. If you have
never been to a Commission meeting, you
can view archived videos from the Midpen
Media Center.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
Bryna Chang Page 4
Hoover Elementary Project Cornerstone ABC
Reader (social emotional learning/anti-bullying),
2014-2018
In addition, I have worked with a number of
community organizations:
Silicon Valley Boychoir Board of Directors, 2015 -
2021 (Treasurer, 2018 -2021; President 2016-
2018)
Greenmeadow Community Association swim
team head data committee, 2020 -present
Palo Alto Little League team manager/coach,
2014
I have watched Palo Alto change over the last 40 years, in some
ways for the better, and in some ways which I wish were different.
I grew up here and attended Nixon, JLS, and Gunn. Fourteen
years ago, after living in Menlo Park for a few years, my husband
and I chose to move back to Palo Alto because we valued the
community character and city services that make Palo Alto
different from surrounding cities and a wonderful place to live.
Because I rolled off of some of my larger community
commitments last spring, I am now hoping to engage more deeply
in this city that has given so much to me and my family.
Years ago, I first started thinking about transportation and
planning in the context of the impact on traffic on our
neighborhoods and the ability of our kids to get safely to and from
school, especially along Charleston, where as a traffic safety
volunteer for Hoover Elementary, I'd witness close calls between
kids and commuters on a daily basis. I participated in some of the
Charleston corridor planning meetings. I realized our city's
population doubled during the day, and learned about the
housing/jobs imbalance, something that our city inadvertently
created over the course of many years.
Since many new housing developments seem likely to be built in
the southern half of Palo Alto, I'm particularly interested in
representing south Palo Alto neighborhoods as we work on
addressing housing and other issues.
In my short time on the PTC, two of the issues
that have been of the greatest interest to me are:
South Palo Alto Bikeways Project: This project
impacts a bike, pedestrian, and car thoroughfare
that my family travels daily, and is a critical route
for students traveling to and from school for the
southern half of Palo Alto. I was gratified to be
able to share both the school and resident
perspectives in a way that hopefully helped
change the outcome of the project. Long before I
knew the project would come to the PTC, I
worked with the JLS principal and PTA to
increase community input and visibility; on the
PTC, I was grateful I had additional context from
many years on the JLS Site Council and PTA.
Having on-the-ground experience biking, driving,
and walking also made it much easier to pull out
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3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Planning and
Transportation Commission achieve, and
why? How would you suggest
accomplishing this?
(1587 characters max)
4. Planning and Transportation
Commission Members work with the
documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents,
please describe that experience.
Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
Bryna Chang Page 5
salient points from some of the traffic studies to
give feedback to the project team. It is always
tough to balance multiple stakeholder needs, but I
hope my familiarity with the streets in question
helped me better understand the issues and
represent all resident viewpoints.
Medical office at Town & Country: This item
might have led to long-term changes with
unintended consequences at a beloved Palo Alto
retail center. The small amount of research I did
on retail health underscored for me that the City
needs to consult experts for much-needed data
so we can make thoughtful and holistic updates to
our retail strategy.
1. To conduct city business fairly and efficiently while
incorporating a wider range of voices in Palo Alto. I'm hoping to
provide a conduit for the Asian community to get involved, since I
have so many relationships from the days I was a Hoover parent
(Hoover is over 80% Asian or South Asian).
Related to the first issue, I'd like to see greater involvement of
families with school-age children in decisions that the PTC makes.
These folks are often too busy to pay attention to issues beyond
the schools, and yet from talking to them, I know they are
interested. Anything that affects Palo Alto also affects the quality
of life for Palo Alto families, and yet many times, families are
unaware. We can generate awareness by plugging into the Palo
Alto Council of PTAs (PTAC).
To continue building connections between the City and PAUSD
when it comes to planning and transportation. Planning and
transportation issues impact our schools, and schools impact our
planning and transportation. The simplest example is the school
commute, but there are land use questions as well, such as with
Cubberley. I'd do this by reaching out to the School Board (I have
already been working with PAUSD Board Member Jesse
Ladomirak), District Office, and school sites, as appropriate.
I read the Comprehensive Plan cover to cover in
preparation for joining the PTC earlier this year. I
also participate in community surveys leading up
to the development of the Comp Plan.
The rest of my experience with these documents
has been in referencing them as appropriate in
preparation for items that came before the PTC
over the last few months I've been a
commissioner. For example, I've referenced parts
of the Zoning Code several times (e.g., when
Town & Country requested the inclusion of
medical office space), and I referenced the SOFA
plan when preparing for a parcel map change
application in the SOFA area that came before the
PTC.
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If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Bryna Chang
Date Completed 10/09/2021
Bryna Chang Page 6
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Planning and Transportation Commission
Application
Name Leonard Ely
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone -
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices Yes
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of. a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
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1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Planning and Transportation
Commission?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
Leonard Ely Page 2
Yes
Email from the City
I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post
to the City's website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I have read and
understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at
any time by providing written notice to the Palo
Alto City Clerk.
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information and request that the
following contact information:
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. What is it about the Planning and
Transportation Commission that is
compatible with your experience and of
specific interest to you, and why?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Commission that is of
particular interest to you and describe
why you are interested in it. If you have
never been to a Commission meeting, you
can view archived videos from the Midpen
Media Center.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
Leonard Ely Page 3
Living in Palo Alto for 71 years. BS in Business
Administration. California Real Estate Sales
Person License. Leadership Palo Alto
Renault & Handley
Real Estate Sales person
Current Employer
Class of 1989 Leadership Palo Alto, Stevenson
House President, Ability Path Board Member, Palo
Alto Family Y Board Member, Palo Alto Red Cross
Board Member, Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo
Board. Currently on the MOAH Board and the
Palo Alto Community Fund
As a member of the Palo Alto community for 71 years I believe
that I can bring a long term prospective to the Planning and
Transportation Commission
The ongoing need for housing, the ADU process,
density and height limits.
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3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Planning and
Transportation Commission achieve, and
w hy? How would you suggest
accomplishing this?
(1587 characters max)
4. Planning and Transportation
Commission Members work with the
documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents,
please describe that experience.
Experience w ith these documents is not
required for selection.
(1 173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
I would like to see the City adopt an approach that better supports
both the short term and long term, inevitable, growth of Palo Alto.
As a Real Estate Broker I am aware of all of these
documents, especially Zoning, but am far from an
expert on them.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Leonard Ely
Date Completed 10/22/2021
Leonard Ely Page 4
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Planning and Transportation Commission
Application
Name Kathryn Jordan
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of. a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
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1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Planning and Transportation
Commission?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
Kathryn Jordan Page 2
Yes
Other: friend
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.a
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information and request that the
following contact information:
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. What is it about the Planning and
Transportation Commission that is
compatible with your experience and of
specific interest to you, and why?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Commission that is of
particular interest to you and describe
why you are interested in it. If you have
never been to a Commission meeting, you
can view archived videos from the Midpen
Media Center.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
Kathryn Jordan Page 3
City address
City number
BA Political Science, Stanford University
MSM, Stanford University
N/A
N/A
Current Employer
I am currently serving on the City's Housing
Element Working Group.
I have served as Parent Network co chair with the
PTSA at PAHS, as a coach with AYSO, served as
a volunteer in many capacities at Duveneck
Elementary School and also Jordan (now Greene)
MS. I also serve as the President of the Palo Alto
Plaza HOA.
I am a resident of Palo Alto; I also serve as the President of the
HOA of a multi family, mixed use complex in downtown Palo Alto.
I am a parent of a school age child in PAUSD. I am much invested
in the community, and I am very much interested in how land will
be used in Palo Alto.
The proposed Castilleja expansion which came
before the PTC and City Council comes to mind.
I am interested in it as I live adjacent to
Embarcadero Road, and the expansion would
greatly affect traffic along Embarcadero Road for
a lengthy period of time. Also, I'm interested in
the project because of the history of Castilleja; its
use permit as it applies to the enrolled # of
students, and also b/c of Castilleja's prior history
of being a girl's boarding school located in a
residential neighborhood. Its plans to expand its
student enrollment are also of interest.
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3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Planning and
Transportation Commission achieve, and
why? How would you suggest
accomplishing this?
(1587 characters max)
4. Planning and Transportation
Commission Members work with the
documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents,
please describe that experience.
Experience w ith these documents is not
required for selection.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
I would like to see the PTC preserve Palo Alto's community feel,
while accommodating change and development over time, and at
the same time respecting residents' private property rights.
We built a home in Palo Alto, and I became well
acquainted with the zoning code during that time.
I also have read through quite a bit of the City's
Comp plan, in preparation for applying to be on
the PTC. I have read about CEQA and
understand the purpose of the Act, and its
relation to development projects.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Kathryn Jordan
Date Completed 10/23/2021
Kathryn Jordan Page 4
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Planning and Transportation Commission
Application
Name Arthur Keller
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone -
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of. a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1.a
Packet Pg. 22
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Planning and Transportation
Commission?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
Arthur Keller Page 2
No
Community Group,Email from the City,City Website
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.a
Packet Pg. 23
information and request that the
following contact information:
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Arthur Keller Page 3
Ph.D. in data science, Computer Science Dept.,
Stanford University
Minerva Consulting
Consultant
Current Employer
Planning and Transportation Commission for the
City of Palo Alto, 2006-2014, Vice Chair, 2013-
2014
Co-Chair, (Comprehensive Plan) Citizens
Advisory Committee, City of Palo Alto, 2015-2017
Member, Housing Element Working Group, City of
Palo Alto, 2021-present
Member, Environment and Water Resources
Committee, Santa Clara Valley Water District,
2015-present, Vice Chair 2018-2019, Chair 2020,
Vice Chair 2021-present, (Chair, Climate Change
Mitigation Working Group, 2017-present)
Founder of Adobe Meadow Neighborhood
Association, 2005
Gunn PTSA Public Transit Coordinator, 2008-
present
Gunn High School Facilities Steering Committee,
2009-2014
Member, IEEE Standards Working Group, Voting
Systems Electronic Data Interchange, 2004-2015,
Past Chair 2013-2015, Chair 2010-2013, Vice
Chair 2009-2010
Member, IEEE Computer Society Standards
Activities Board, 2010-2013
Ohlone Elementary School, Palo Alto, CA, Site
Council, 2001-2003, Student Directory Chair and
Email Moderator, 2001 -2004, Direct Appeal Chair,
2001-2002
1.a
Packet Pg. 24
Application Questions
1. What is it about the Planning and
Transportation Commission that is
compatible with your experience and of
specific interest to you, and why?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Commission that is of
particular interest to you and describe
why you are interested in it. If you have
never been to a Commission meeting, you
can view archived videos from the Midpen
Media Center.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Planning and
Transportation Commission achieve, and
why? How would you suggest
accomplishing this?
(1587 characters max)
4. Planning and Transportation
Commission Members work with the
documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents,
please describe that experience.
Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
Arthur Keller Page 4
My experiences on the Planning and Transportation Commission
and on the Comprehensive Plan Citizen Advisory Committee will
be of value on the PTC. I currently serve on the Housing Element
Working Group.
I was instrumental in initiating the bicycle-pedestrian bridge over
101 at Adobe Creek by getting the City Council to put a feasibilty
study in the CIP budget in 2010. After many years, it is finally
nearing completion.
I got the City Council to participate in the SAFER Bay project in
2014 as part of the CIP review. Without this project, the feasibility
study would not have been completed in June 2019 and the Army
Corps of Engineers would not be engaging in their study currently
of this important project to reduce tidal flood risk for over 2000
homes and other key infrastructure in Palo Alto.
On September 30, 2020, the PTC considered
Rental Housing Protection in a study session. The
City has not enacted the Palmer fix. The City has
not produced low-income housing in proportion
to the need. With the increase in land prices, it
will be that much harder for low-income housing
developers to compete for the land.
I would like the PTC to achieve an increase of low-income housing
production through land use and zoning. For example,
opportunities exist in rezoning unused office uses to housing
uses.
I was co-chair of the committee that authored the
current Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan. I am
familiar with the others documents from being on
the PTC.
1.a
Packet Pg. 25
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Arthur Keller
Date Completed 09/23/2021
Arthur Keller Page 5
1.a
Packet Pg. 26
Planning and Transportation Commission
Application
Name Chunming Niu
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of. a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1.a
Packet Pg. 27
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Planning and Transportation
Commission?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
Chunming Niu Page 2
No
Email from the City
I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post
to the City's website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I have read and
understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at
any time by providing written notice to the Palo
Alto City Clerk.
1.a
Packet Pg. 28
information and request that the
following contact information:
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. What is it about the Planning and
Transportation Commission that is
compatible with your experience and of
specific interest to you, and why?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Commission that is of
particular interest to you and describe
why you are interested in it. If you have
never been to a Commission meeting, you
can view archived videos from the Midpen
Media Center.
(1449 characters max)
Chunming Niu Page 3
PhD in Chemistry from Brown U
Postdoctoral training at Harvard and Columbia U
Professor at Xian Jiaotong University
(China) ,2012-2019
VP of R&D at Unidym, 2008-2012
Director of Chemistry at Nanosys, 2001 -2007
Senior Scientist at Hyperion Catalysis, 1993-2000
Inventor/co-inventor of 86 Issued US patents,
coauthored more than 150 peer reviewed
publications, more than 18000 Google citation.
none
Retired scientist
Last Employer
Member of ACS, AAAS, and MRS
1) involved in a couple of startups, enjoyed planning, setting
everything up from scratch
2) City has changed a lot since I moved here in 2003, very much
concern the city's future development which will have adverse
effect on quality of life for all of us living in the city.
Small cell tower on the top of utility poles.
Look and noise
1.a
Packet Pg. 29
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Planning and
Transportation Commission achieve, and
why? How would you suggest
accomplishing this?
(1587 characters max)
4. Planning and Transportation
Commission Members work with the
documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents,
please describe that experience.
Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Future development -In steps with Al age, improving business
environment and quality of living
Internet service into city utility service
New areas for business park
Raise k-12 education national ranking
None
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Chunming Niu
Date Completed 10/23/2021
Chunming Niu Page 4
1.a
Packet Pg. 30
Planning and Transportation Commission
Application
Name Keith Reckdahl
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone -
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of. a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1.a
Packet Pg. 31
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Planning and Transportation
Commission?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
Keith Reckdahl Page 2
No
Email from the City
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.a
Packet Pg. 32
information and request that the
following contact information:
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Keith Reckdahl Page 3
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of
Minnesota
M.S., Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, Stanford
University
Lockheed Martin Space
Engineer
Current Employer
Palo Alto Parks & Recreation Commission
(February 2013 -Present)
Palo Alto Housing Element Working Group (April
2021 -Present)
Palo Alto North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan
(April 2018 -June 2021)
Palo Alto Expanded Community Advisory Panel
(June 2019 -April 2021)
1.a
Packet Pg. 33
Application Questions
1. What is it about the Planning and
Transportation Commission that is
compatible with your experience and of
specific interest to you, and why?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Commission that is of
particular interest to you and describe
why you are interested in it. If you have
never been to a Commission meeting, you
can view archived videos from the Midpen
Media Center.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Planning and
Transportation Commission achieve, and
why? How would you suggest
accomplishing this?
(1587 characters max)
Keith Reckdahl Page 4
My experience on the NVCAP and Housing Element working
group showed me that housing is Palo Alto's biggest challenge.
To address our jobs/housing imbalance, we should increase
height and density in locations where it is appropriate, but also
respect the impacts that new development can have on
surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, we also must provide
these new residents with the same quality of life as the rest of Palo
Alto, which includes nearby parks and convenient bike/ped
connections.
We cannot let our new housing consist entirely of micro-units. We
must determine how to ensure that new housing produces a
variety of unit sizes--appropriate for singles, couples, and families.
Larger units perhaps could be encouraged by adjusting zoning
requirements for some parcels or by offering FAR bonuses for
producing a variety of units within a development. But such
incentives must be carefully designed to avoid unintended
consequences.
Palo Alto's desirability is a mixed blessing, as its expensive
housing produces a monoculture of professionals. Finding room in
our community for low-wage workers not only improves the lives
of those workers, but also improves our community. Furthermore,
housing subsidies for teachers, utility workers, and first
responders are returned in the form of increased productivity and
improved availability for work. The biggest challenge to below-
market housing is creating funding sources.
As a member of the NVCAP working group, I was
very interested in the PTC meetings involving the
NVCAP alternatives. Since the SOFA area plan
successfully created a large amount of housing in
a livable neighborhood, similar results were
expected from the NVCAP process. However, the
lack of a single landowner made NVCAP more
challenging, with the resulting NVCAP design
becoming more aspirational than SOFA's
implementable plan. The North Ventura area will
require additional planning, but it hopefully will
also produce a livable neighborhood similar to
SOFA.
1. The PTC and Council need to evaluate the Housing Element
update and determine the zoning changes or other programs
needed to ensure that the proposed housing sites are actually
developed.
2. The City must study how to mitigate the traffic that will be
produced by our new housing. While increasing mass transit use
is important, the City shuttle had limited success and the City
does not control the frequency of VTA service. The City should
study various incentives for increasing use of public transit,
comparing their cost and effectiveness. Additionally, the City
needs to study how to increase bike/pedestrian transportation.
Ensuring pleasant and safe bike/ped routes reduces car traffic,
reduces pollution and carbon emissions, and improves residents'
physical and mental well-being.
1.a
Packet Pg. 34
4. Planning and Transportation
Commission Members work with the
documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents,
please describe that experience.
Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA} I (2000} and II (2003} Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008}
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
3. Palo Alto's retail businesses have been stretched by internet
competition and COVID-19. The City needs a thoughtful response
to retail vacancies and reduced sales-tax revenues. Responding
too quickly may prevent the free market from reducing the high
rents that drove away some businesses, but ignoring secular retail
trends may prevent our retail sites from evolving towards new
markets. This will require collecting hard data on different types of
retail, retail-like, and medical establishments in order to
understand customer volume for each category and also what
establishment types complement nearby establishments and
which have customers who are unlikely to visit nearby businesses.
I am familiar with CEQA and Baylands Master
Plan from my work on the Parks Master Plan. My
work on NVCAP and Housing Element has
familiarized me with the other documents,
particularly the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning
Code.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Keith Reckdahl
Date Completed 10/25/2021
Keith Reckdahl Page 5
1.a
Packet Pg. 35
Planning and Transportation Commission
Application
Name Stephanie Safdi
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone -
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of. a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1.a
Packet Pg. 36
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Planning and Transportation
Commission?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
Stephanie Safdi Page 2
No
Email from the City
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.a
Packet Pg. 37
information and request that the
following contact information:
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Stephanie Safdi Page 3
I am a land use and environmental lawyer
licensed to practice in California. I received my
law degree and Masters in Environmental Mgmt
from Yale in 2013, Masters in Philosophy from
Cambridge University UK in 2006, and B.A. from
Harvard College in 2005. I clerked on the federal
circuit and district courts and was an
environmental law fellow at Shute, Mihaly &
Weinberger. From 2018 through this August, I was
Deputy County Counsel for County of Santa
Clara, where I advised the Planning Dept. and
Consumer & Environmental Protection Agency. I
am now a lecturer and clinical supervising
attorney at Stanford Law School.
Stanford University
Attorney/ Clinical Supervising Attorney and
Lecturer in Law
Current Employer
During my tenure at County of Santa Clara, I
served as an elected union board member for the
County Counsel Attorneys Association from 2020
through 2021 . In addition to my core public
service work, I was a leader in the County's
emergency responses to COVID-19 and the SCU
Lightning Complex Fires. I served as General
Counsel for the County Emergency Operations
Center from February 2020 through September
2020 and advised on wildfire cleanup and
remediation from September 2020 through
August 2021 . I have volunteered for get-out-the-
vote programs during each major political cycle
since moving to California in 2015 and am an
active volunteer and co-op instructor at my
daughter's daycare (Children Center of the
Stanford Community). I volunteered with Seattle
Inspiring Connections Outdoors (and outdoor
experiential education program for urban youth)
from 2013 through 2015. I was Co-President of
the Yale Environmental Law Association from
2010-2011 and Board Member from 2011 -2013
and American Constitution Society Co-President
1.a
Packet Pg. 38
Application Questions
1. What is it about the Planning and
Transportation Commission that is
compatible with your experience and of
specific interest to you, and why?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Commission that is of
particular interest to you and describe
why you are interested in it. If you have
never been to a Commission meeting, you
can view archived videos from the Midpen
Media Center.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
Stephanie Safdi Page 4
from 2010-2011 , among other volunteer positions
and offices.
I have been practicing in California land use and environmental
law for most of the past decade, engaged in legal and policy
questions around housing, planning and development,
inclusionary zoning, conservation, transportation planning, and
environmental reviews. I now teach law students to practice in
these areas at Stanford Law School and previously advised
County departments in the legal and policy dimensions of land
use decisions. As a resident of Palo Alto since 2018, I have been
an invested follower of application cycles and community debates
around and policy discussions of projects that have come before
the Planning Commission and City Council, though my prior role
with the County limited my ability to participate directly in the
administrative process due to conflicts. As a young parent, I am
personally invested in affordability and accessibility of our city;
and as an environmental and administrative law practitioner, I am
personally and professionally invested in sound and inclusive
administrative processes, civic participation in agency
decisionmaking, informed public discourse, and thorough and
timely reviews of proposed actions. I aspire to be a partner in
these processes by serving on the Commission and helping to
guide the complicated land use policy decisions before the City.
On June 30, 2021, the Commission considered
Staff's proposed set of changes to its existing
ADU Ordinance intended to help meet the City's
lack of affordable housing supply by incentivizing
the construction of deed-restricted ADUs. After a
five-hour public meeting, the Commission agreed
to recommend advancing several measures that
would help streamline and facilitate the affordable
ADU application and permitting process --like
consolidating approvals and removing certain
permitting fees --but was divided on the more
substantive proposals, like increases to ADU
per/parcel floor area allowances and permitting
an additional onsite ADU. The issue showcases
difficult interactions of state and local law. For
instance, state law has exempted ministerial
approvals of ADUs from CEQA, imposes
significant limits on local discretion in ADU
zoning, and provides certain statutory ADU
construction entitlements to homeowners, while
leaving discretion to local agencies to go above
the statutory minimum allowances and to govern
construction and design features for public safety.
ADU construction has emerged as one of the
bright spots in the City's tackling of housing
supply issues, though there is a significant ways
to go to ensure that ADUs are truly meeting local
housing needs by facilitating residency in the city
of people and families who serve the community
but cannot afford the price tag to live here.
1.a
Packet Pg. 39
3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Planning and
Transportation Commission achieve, and
why? How would you suggest
accomplishing this?
(1587 characters max)
4. Planning and Transportation
Commission Members work with the
documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents,
please describe that experience.
Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
(1) I would like to see the Commission tackle expanding transit-
oriented housing supply and, in particular, increasing affordable
housing. Not only are these objectives State-legislated, but they
are foundational to quality of life for City residents and workers. As
Stanford faculty, my husband and I have subsidized access to
housing and childcare. Most do not, and we have watched our
non-Stanford friends leave Palo Alto neighborhoods in droves due
to lack of access to family-friendly rental units and right-sized,
accessible homes. Likewise, our daycare has struggled with
teacher retention due largely to costs of living and commute times
for teachers who cannot reside where they work. These
experiences are pervasive and challenging and need to be
tackled head-on to create a city that works for everyone. (2) I
would like to see the City more aggressively tackle safe and
accessible public transit, bike infrastructure, and public EV
charging infrastructure. These issues are at the heart of municipal
climate mitigation opportunities and responsibilities. Prioritizing
this infrastructure also creates a more worker and family-friendly
urban environment and builds out our collective spaces with an
eye toward the needs of the future. As one of many residents
dismayed by recent accidents between cars and cycling school
children, I also see focusing on bike corridor safety as central to
livability and important for public responsiveness. (3) I would like
to focus on planning for permanent walking streets, and like civic
spaces, that serve businesses and build community.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): I am
an experienced CEQA practitioner, having
defended public agencies in CEQA challenges,
represented plaintiffs in CEQA lawsuits, and
advised County departments and other public
agencies on CEQA compliance. I also teach
CEQA at Stanford Law School.
Palo Alto Code and Charter: I interacted with
various provisions while practicing at County of
Santa Clara. I am likewise very familiar with the
County Code.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Stephanie Safdi Page S
1.a
Packet Pg. 40
Signature Stephanie Safdi
Date Completed 10/26/2021
Stephanie Safdi Page 6
1.a
Packet Pg. 41
Planning and Transportation Commission
Application
Name Nisar Shaikh
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of. a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1.a
Packet Pg. 42
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Planning and Transportation
Commission?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
Nisar Shaikh Page 2
No
Email from the City
I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post
to the City's website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I have read and
understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at
any time by providing written notice to the Palo
Alto City Clerk.
1.a
Packet Pg. 43
information and request that the
following contact information:
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. What is it about the Planning and
Transportation Commission that is
compatible with your experience and of
specific interest to you, and why?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Commission that is of
particular interest to you and describe
why you are interested in it. If you have
never been to a Commission meeting, you
can view archived videos from the Midpen
Media Center.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
Nisar Shaikh Page 3
PhD Mechanical Engineering
Retired, Entrepreneur, professor.
Retired, AlcanzarSolar
Engineer, teacher
Last Employer
Volunteer as tutor for local after school program,
habitat for humanity,abroad for environmental
work in Peru and educational in india.
Variety of engineering practice of 45 years included included
transportation related interest. No direct involvement.
Various traffic issues, including impact on housing
plannings.
1.a
Packet Pg. 44
3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Planning and
Transportation Commission achieve, and
why? How would you suggest
accomplishing this?
(1587 characters max)
4. Planning and Transportation
Commission Members work with the
documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents,
please describe that experience.
Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Safety and environmental considerations in meeting needs of
transportation and mobility.
General interest as a resident, nothing deep or
specific. 20 years of continuous living in Palo Alto
and general interest in community activities.
Please confirm that you have read the No
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Nisar Shaikh
Date Completed 10/25/2021
Nisar Shaikh Page 4
1.a
Packet Pg. 45
Planning and Transportation Commission
Application
Name Brigham Wilson
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of. a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1.a
Packet Pg. 46
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Planning and Transportation
Commission?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
Brigham Wilson Page 2
No
Community Group,Email from the City,City Website
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.a
Packet Pg. 47
information and request that the
following contact information:
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. What is it about the Planning and
Transportation Commission that is
compatible w ith your experience and of
specific interest to you, and why?
(1449 characters max)
Brigham Wilson Page 3
I am a passionate student of city planning. For the
past 5 years, I have closely followed our city's
plans and policies to balance increasing our
housing supply while maintaining the character
and desirability of our development. My training
has been a decade of self-study of the relevant
text books and thought-pieces on land use, urban
design, and construction.
Google
Program Manager
Current Employer
Member and Chair of the Library Advisory
Commission (2017-2020)
Palo Alto Police Department Citizen Police
Academy participant (2017)
Community Gardener at Johnson Park (2018-
Present)
Member of Stanford Congregation of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2016-2020)
Membership Clerk and Organist for The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near
Middlefield and E. Charleston (2020-2021)
I love city planning and transportation logistics. I am interested in
serving on the Planning and Transportation Commission because
the design of our city is important, I have the knowledge for urban
design, and I have the passion for civic oversight and committee
workings. As Palo Alto continues to grow, keeping a balance
between new construction and renovations along with our history
and character is integral to our personality as a community. I
follow proposed residential, commercial, and landscape proposals
in our county and analyze their merits environmental impact,
impact on housing supply, meeting residential and commercial
needs, open space conservation, and visual appeal. Having been
on the Library Advisory Commission and chairing it for one year, I
understand how to collaborate with City Council, review and
decide on proposals, and request and respond to input from
fellow citizens.
1.a
Packet Pg. 48
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Commission that is of
particular interest to you and describe
why you are interested in it. If you have
never been to a Commission meeting, you
can view archived videos from the Midpen
Media Center.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Planning and
Transportation Commission achieve, and
why? How would you suggest
accomplishing this?
(1587 characters max)
4. Planning and Transportation
Commission Members work with the
documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents,
please describe that experience.
Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA} I (2000} and II (2003} Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
On June 30th of this year, the Commission
discussed how to encourage the affordability of
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This is an
important issue because our city needs to create
more than 6 thousand housing units in the next
decade and that is going to be hard. ADUs will be
a useful tool for homeowners to leverage existing
city infrastructure to accommodate new residents
without a significant negative impact on the
character of our neighborhood appearance,
parking, or traffic. There are other solutions we
need to explore and implement, including vacant
lot use, mixed-use residential units above existing
retail, and new construction. I love the passion of
the stakeholders involved, the complexity of the
interests, and the need for real action that both
helps solve the regional housing scarcity while
preserving what makes Palo Alto one of the best
cities in the world to live in.
While serving on the Planning and Transportation Commission I
would help create the mandated 6,086 units by 2031 in a manner
that preserves the character of each neighborhood. We would
increase density where it is most appropriate aesthetically and
focus on parcels that are underused or vacant or near major
transit centers. As a non-homeowner but 5+ year resident, I would
be a more impartial collaborative partner, able to balance the
needs of the many stakeholders involved in these discussions
while being loyal and driven to find the optimal outcome.
When I was on the Library Advisory Commission,
I read the Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan
(2017) to ensure that our recommendations
aligned with the long-term vision of the city.
I have looked at some of the other documents to
begin to become familiar with them, but will study
each of them further upon my being selected to
serve on the Architectural Review Board so that I
know the regulations and requirements
necessary.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
Brigham Wilson Page 4
1.a
Packet Pg. 49
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature
Date Completed
Brigham Wilson Page 5
Brigham Wilson
10/24/2021
1.a
Packet Pg. 50
Archictectural Review Board Application
Name Peter Baltay
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? No
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
1.b
Packet Pg. 51
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Peter Baltay Page 2
No
Email from the City
I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post
to the City's website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I have read and
understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at
any time by providing written notice to the Palo
Alto City Clerk.
1.b
Packet Pg. 52
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
Peter Baltay Page 3
Experienced local architect based in Palo Alto.
MArch-University of Washington
MS Civil Engineering-Columbia University
CA Licensed Architect C26413
CA Licensed Contractor B655625
Member AIA
TOPOS Architects
Architect
Current Employer
Active member of the Palo Alto professional
architectural community.
Two term Palo Alto ARB incumbent.
Previous Redwood City ARB member
Previous San Mateo County Design Review Board
member
Previous youth soccer coach/club officer
A strong Architectural Review Board can help enhance the quality
of the built environment in Palo Alto through focused and
discerning design reviews. A sensitive Architectural Review Board
listens to all, and makes sure all are heard, before making
recommendations. An active Architectural Review Board takes
part in the democratic process, voicing clearly reasoned opinions,
then abides by the will of the majority. I believe I bring these
values to the Architectural Review Board. I volunteer my time to
help the community that is my professional home .
An applicant proposed removing the houses from
several individual and adjoining properties,
effectively creating a large compound. While not
directly prohibited by the zoning ordinance, such
redevelopment is contrary to the Palo Alto
Comprehensive Plan. In recommending denial of
the application, the Architectural Review Board
pushed beyond the administrative comfort level of
the planning staff to enforce an important and
basic principle-the character of our residential
neighborhoods must be preserved.Experienced
local architect based in Palo Alto.
MArch-University of Washington
MS Civil Engineering-Columbia University
1.b
Packet Pg. 53
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
CA Licensed Architect C26413
CA Licensed Contractor B655625
Member AIA
The Architectural Review Board must continually strive to provide
clear and consistent reviews of development applications. We
must firmly uphold our codes, policies and design standards while
ensuring that applicants and the public receive an impartial review
based on reasoned facts and professional experience. We must
support our opinions with clear statements that are easily
understood and provide direct guidance to minimize inefficiency
and repeated reviews.
Garden Court Hotel-Waverley Street. A large
building that successfully breaks down its mass
with a pleasant outdoor street level cafe and
active and a pedestrian friendly hotel entrance.
Fire station at Newell and Embarcadero. A
modern building with materials and technology of
our time, yet respectful of the adjacent park,
honoring the redwood tree in front and with a
positive civic presence.
I have am familiar with these documents through my professional
work and design reviews on the Architectural Review Board. I
have been active in helping craft updates to the ADU ordinances
for the zoning code and the new Objective Design Standards for
residential development.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Peter Baltay Page 4
1.b
Packet Pg. 54
Signature Peter Baltay
Date Completed 10/20/2021
Peter Baltay Page 5
1.b
Packet Pg. 55
Archictectural Review Board Application
Name Valerie Driscoll
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? No
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
1.b
Packet Pg. 56
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Valerie Driscoll Page 2
No
Other: I was connected to Palo Alto City Hall meetings and
discovered the opening when I lived there.
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.b
Packet Pg. 57
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
Valerie Driscoll Page 3
Attendance of City Meetings in San Jose, Palo
Alto, regarding revenues, traffic issues, all topics
related to functions of the City. 15 plus years of
education and work experience in business with
some investigation work, some experience with
an Architecture company and some Hi-Tech
related work. Please see resume, it is brief and
very informative.
Not currently employed
Currrently not working
Current Employer
The Democratic Party meetings until I moved and
then Covid 19 hit. I have attended the City Hall
meetings in Palo Alto and San Jose for many
years with a strong interest.
I am interested because I have experience with work in
Architectural company and have taken course work which relates
to this interest, my studies have been in management and
business with some experience as well attending meetings with
the City Council, especially when I lived in Palo Alto. It is best to
review my resume for more.
Issues related to housing concerns and revenues
as well as J. Paul Project and traffic concerns,
progress in City Management plans for the city.
There are numerous interests, too many to list
here, but this gives you enough. All of these
concerns and how they affect revenues, the
population, growth related issues, and how the
city can manage its resources to fulfill it's plans
for projects and watching those projects being
planned, the obstacles to being able to fulfill what
the City can do and the problems it may cause in
traffic and city renovations, changes, benefits and
challenges to its residents, (which are numerous)
are all of interest, including how to house the
homeless and make improvements and to
1.b
Packet Pg. 58
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Valerie Driscoll Page 4
preserve what is dear to the City and its History
and Architecture as well which is part of the
overall beauty and charm of this unique City.
There are many issues, I have not been able to
attend meetings in quite sometime, therefore I
cannot speak to a recent issue. These are the
ones I recall vividly and they all interest me. This
is my best answer. Thank you.Attendance of City
Meetings in San Jose, Palo Alto, regarding
revenues, traffic issues, all topics related to
functions of the City. 15 plus years of education
and work experience in business with some
investigation work, some experience with an
Architecture company and some Hi-Tech related
work. Please see resume, it is brief and very
informative.
To work with and maintain the standards that are what the City
wants and how to achieve parity with its financial goals and
possibilities. The codes and statutes as well as the plans and ideas
would have to be reviewed obviously to get some sense as to
where the City wants to go now. It has been awhile. I'm not sure
how much things have changed and their goals, frankly. I am
interested to learn.
I don't know at present. I have been too busy and
Covid 19 and concerns have taken too much
time, with all the societal changes. The J. Paul
project was a great but projects involving
architecture I have not currently seen. I have not
been able to come to the meetings, obviously. I
am interested to learn.
Thank you.
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines 1993, detailing the urban
guidelines for improving the downtown areas. I recall meetings
about lots of these types of ideas and potential plans, and this
interests me in many ways. The designs, the plans for the city. It is
fun and exciting and functional, well planned. How financially it
could be achieved is an interesting process to be part of, in its
diversity. That is my best answer. Thank you
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Packet Pg. 59
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Valerie Driscoll
Date Completed 10/21/2021
Valerie Driscoll Page 5
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Packet Pg. 60
Valerie M. Driscoll
Career Objective: To work in your Parks and Recreation Division Commission.
San Jose City Democratic Party meetings until March 2020. City of Palo Alto; City Hall of San Jose and Santa Clara County Meetings involvement: Revenues; Transportation; Traffic; City/County Social Development;
Housing; Zoning; City/County Planning and Development; Budget. Palo Alto City Hall: Being considered for position with City Hall: Their Historic Reesources Board position with City Council, which has been left open for me to interview for.
Internship: Investigations- Atlas Investigations, San Jose, CA: Administrative Assistant to Owner, and database, computer input Skip Traces and Background Checks; Filing misc. duties 12/2010-1/2011. I am a graduate of the Global School of Investigations of Massachusetts and California.
Offered Investigations position paid or volunteer by well-known Civil, Criminal/ Bankruptcy attorney with fine reputation, well known by the Sheriff’s Dept. San Jose CA: Thomas Salcicia. Two weeks later he died. It was a shock to the legal community and to the Sheriff’s Dept. June 2016.
Healthcare- Breathe California, e.g. (American Lung Association) 501 C3: Teaching, database management, article writing, general office and internet, some marketing consulting regarding advertising, phones and accounts updating, processing.12/ 2010- 01/2011.
Sociology- Counseling Internship Trained by Licensed Social Worker to Counsel Mentally Ill clients: Agency: ACT, San Jose: 2009-2010. Political Campaign Support to David Cortese, Santa Clara Supervisor: 2010-2011. Asked to run for office while volunteering with Alza Corporation/
2 terms: Voter Registration, Sunnyvale and San Jose. Santa Clara County Recreation/Transportation: Dept. Land and Water Preservation; Public Meetings: Transportation; Traffic Meetings; League of Women Voters.
Author of Economics Book Guide, regarding City/ County Governance and the Economy of Silicon Valley and the United States. Safety and Emergency Preparedness Representative with the City of Palo Alto Home Owner’s Community.
Work Experience: Oil Transport Company, San Jose, CA: 08/1993-09/1993: Accountant Mgr. Auditor A/P, A/R database files, with auditing, checking year-to-date totals, and Bookkeeping office administration: Job-Costing; W-2’s, Payroll assistant: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, QuickBooks and Peachtree software. Education was sought fulltime in Business; Psychology: Liberal studies, as well as greater opportunity work experiences, the goal: To find a company with a more
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defined succession plan, studied Psychology and Business.
Cisco/Lucent: 04/1993-08/1993: AP/AR Assistant to Management Accounts/administration: Saved the company 1 million dollars before they became Cisco, negotiated contracts with Working with Account vendors; Tracking;
Correspondence; Team environment; multi-tasking; bookkeeping, databases and hardcopy, files, full service. Seeking permanent position with succession plan because company position was transitional. Goodman Ball Defense (Missiles), Mountain View, CA: 04/1992-04/1993 Jr.
Accountant: Duties included: Assistance with payroll related functions; Use of Peachtree software; AP/AR in purchasing and records; Job-costing; Organization of Logs; Fixed Asset Accounting, database files; Year-to-date files; W-2s; Double Entry bookkeeping Data base files and hard copy; Journals, ledger input (On Financial forms). H.R. duties were carried out. There were cutbacks in Defense
during that time/better offer toward a hope for a company with a better succession plan. Paid Internship and Job: Law Offices, Palo Alto, CA 12/1991-04/1992: Intern Law Administration: Civil, Criminal and Probate: Agency type of practice on Park Blvd. behind Superior Court. Court documents and prep for court, many. San Mateo Apartment Complex Management: 09/1991-12/1991: Administrative
Assistant to Management, some bookkeeping; Correspondence; Team; assisting
with tenant types of issues, maintenance. Continued education, relocated, higher
education was available and opportunities to train. Career sought, better succession plan. Transitioning during this time to Silicon Valley training, schools, relocation to Silicon Valley.
Education: Associates Degree: West Valley College, Saratoga, CA 9/2000-6/2003
Liberal Studies/Paralegal:2000-2003; Fort Hays State University/Global School of Investigations, MA/CA, graduate: 2009-2010; Quick Learning School: San Jose, CA: A. Pre-licensing: Insurance: Health and B. Code and Ethics Certificate: 4/24/2010-5/15/2010- 52 hours total, completed.
Palo Alto, San Jose City Government meetings: 2010-2015 also: Formerly San Mateo College, San Mateo County 1980-1990. Tech with Comp USA until Accounting position available in addition to work at College of San Mateo: drafting, and work later in Silicon Valley with an Architect on Blueprints and plans for building: 1982-1983 (nothing permanent available).
Healthcare, Oil industry, Bio Tech, and Non-profit 501 C3, as well, Apartment
Complex Admin. Property Manager Assistant: Strong literacy in Microsoft
Word/Windows: Excel Spreadsheets, some charts; Power Point, Outlook,
QuickBooks, Peachtree software. Was a p/t tech. with Computer USA,
built computer systems hardware computers with Stanford University
Engineers: Worked with Hardware/software- 1986; Windows XP; Windows7;
Windows 10; Explorer 9, 10; Programming and Networks skills, and html, Java;
QC in computers manufacturing; Accounts management of database; DOS;
Perl, C++; PeopleSoft. San Mateo: College of San Mateo 80-89.
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Archictectural Review Board Application
Name David L Hirsch
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone -
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
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Packet Pg. 63
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
David L Hirsch Page 2
No
Email from the City.City Website
I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post
to the City's website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I have read and
understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at
any time by providing written notice to the Palo
Alto City Clerk.
1.b
Packet Pg. 64
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
David L Hirsch Page 3
--Harvard College BA 1957; The Cooper Union
(Architecture) 1963-1966
Harvard Graduate School of Design MArch 1966-
68; Reg. Arch. 1973 NY State
Sr. Urban Designer, Mayor's Off. of
Developement; Founding Principal, Urban
Architectural Initiatives (UAI) 1996-2017
N/A; Retired from UAI
Architect
Last Employer
From 1970-2012 I was a resident of Brooklyn, NY
and active in the neighborhood of Park Slope, as
a member of the local Civic Council. I helped in
the application to the Landmarks Commission to
obtain approval for the neighborhood and initiated
several neighborhood environmental
improvements.
In Palo Alto I volunteered to assist the selected
Consultant to organize the recent Cubberley
Study with a series of community meetings.
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Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
David L Hirsch Page 4
I would be pleased to continue as an ARB member with the
purpose of helping to guide the quality of the built environment of
Palo Alto. I also have an interest in becoming more pro-active in
proposing alternative opportunities where feasible and reasonable
to some of the critical issues facing Palo Alto. We are a city that
searches for rational progress while delighting in creative,
sometimes conscientious expressions, symbolized by our unique
Black Lives Matter street painting or the shoes of fallen heroes on
our public plaza.
I have participated with fellow board members in reaching a
consensus on many projects, and, I believe, improved in one way
or another. It is often a search for the essence of projects which
sometimes is expressed by the presenter, but sometimes
unrealized. Very often it is a question of the relation to the context,
massing, proportions, scale, the coordination of materials, or the
incorporation of the natural environment. Or all of these together,
as defined in the six ARB Findings.
It is important to have participated in all aspects of architecture to
be able to be an effective critic: to have begun with the blank
sheet of paper and with a described program and to have followed
projects through the construction phase to occupancy.
I feel that I am well qualified to serve on the ARB because of my
personal experiences as an architect, an urban designer and
someone who has three years on the ARB.
Clearly the most consequential and controversial
project this past year was the Castilleja's new
campus plan. The ARB Board agreed that the
Kellogg side of the campus building was an
overwhelmingly long elevation and required
changes to create segmented modulations to
reduce the impact. My rejected proposal was to
divide the mass in two sections to allow a major
entry that would lead through to the center
courtyard. As an intended drop off location this
seemed a reasonable idea.It could be one more
entry to alleviate other campus access locations
and, at the same time significantly reduce the
extreme length of the facade. It is critical to note
that projects of this scope and importance must
be shared with the ARB at the early schematic
phase and even at other preliminary phases in
order to address this kind of issue before the
program is so advanced that it becomes a
commitment. At that point we are only discussing
superficial issues.
One of our ARB Findings is "to create an internal
sense of order and desirable environment for
occupants, visitors and the general community". I
note the reluctance to consider this requirement
by our board and that to focus exclusively on
exterior considerations led to our unfortunate
acceptance of a level of classrooms completely
below grade, the result of zoning rules and limited
design objectives. We must insist that natural light
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Packet Pg. 66
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
David L Hirsch Page 5
is equitably distributed, an environmental
requirement.Harvard College BA 1957; The
Cooper Union (Architecture) 1963-1966
Harvard Graduate School of Design MArch 1966-
68; Reg. Arch. 1973 NY State
Sr. Urban Designer, Mayor's Off. of
Developement; Founding Principal, Urban
Architectural Initiatives (UAI) 1996-2017
I believe it is important that the Council examines the many
capabilities of its selected advisors to realize the best
opportunities to shape the inevitable change.
I am enthusiastic about the recent suggested possibility that the
ARB and PTC will have a joint meeting to discuss common goals. I
hope that the result of this meeting would be to consider the
opportunity to influence a broader study of transportation,
planning and architectural considerations. We might call these
potential developments 'urban design creations'. As a sample of
this kind of project, consider the concept for the Hamilton Parking
Lot at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Waverly Street that
Peter Baltay and I are proposing. As a policy proposal, to develop
the city's parking lots, the merger of the two reviewing agencies is
a critical connection: the architectural program is important and
the parking and other transportation and planning issues are
equally critical. And both must conjoin to be appropriate and
complete proposals. Peter and I hope that our work to date might
translate into one or two projects that might be started now
through the RFP process. It is possible for the City to select
developers utilizing a program similar to the one we have
described in our schematic plans. But for this to be scaled up to a
larger impact on the city's general growth, it needs the combined
coordination and analysis of both the ARB and PTC in
collaboration and coordinated with the Planning and
Transportation Departments.
See illustrations attached below.
Each project presented to the ARB is described by the Planning
Department with the relevant elements of the Comp Plan and
Zoning Resolution, indicating whether they merit approval. Much
of the Comp Plan and significant parts of the Zoning are based on
insights of community values. This distinguishes them from many
other strictly objective, mathematically described codes. I have
found these Palo Alto social and aesthetic values, although
subjective, to be mostly very reasonable and compelling.
I am the only member of the ARB who voted against the new
Zoning because it is my contention that it is inappropriate to
create, as required by the State, overly specific regulations based
on arbitrarily determined dimensions as a substitute for these
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Packet Pg. 67
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature
Date Completed
David L Hirsch Page 6
subjective principles. Some aspects of the Comp plan should be
revised. However, the substitution of the proposed objective
replacement imposes unnecessary limitations on submitters and
is blind to the State's obvious intention to radically up-zone
development for a significant increase in FAR and the elimination
of local height limitations.
I am aware of these other documents and have studied them as
needed.
7\5857 40\ARB Photos.pdf [SCANNED, FILE
SAFE]
Yes
David L Hirsch
10/10/2021
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Architect: Henry Hobso n Richard son
Land scape: Frederick Law Olm sted
The pre-emin ent Architect and Landscape Architect of t he mid -19th
Ce ntu ry des igned t he main quad of Sta nfo rd. I ad mire t he massive
rusticated stonework fac;ade and arches, t he ove rh ang ing red t il ed
roof, the co nt inuity of the colo nn ades, t he deeply recessed win dows,
t he o rt hogonal p lanning wit h mo numenta l ent ri es. Th e ent ire
complex is a consiste nt use of t hese elements.
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Architect: Pei Cobb and Freed
These two symmetri ca l bu il din gs are o n axis to t he prev ious
photograp h, a cont in uation of t he ca mpus g ri d. They mainta in the
related campus scale, but t he fl at stone arcn es are a mode rn, more
delicate ly sca led des ign. Th e se cond fl oor is sepa rated fro m t he
grou nd fl oor colo nnade, defined around t he entire perim ete r wit h a
setba ck of co nt inuous win dows with a repeat of t he red t il e deeply
overh ang in g roof fl oatin g above. Th e large lin ea r st reet lin ed pa lm s
are a d ramatic relation to t he lower bu il dings and a repetit ion of t his
path-defining featu re.
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Architect: Norman Foster
My favorite new Sta nfo rd cam pus bu ild ing is t he Bio -X. I like t he way
it sweeps arou nd t he two sides of a cou rtyard with all of t he
laboratori es facing inwa rd with fl oor to ceiling g lass, revea lin g the
fascinatin g inner work spaces wit h all of their complex apparatus and
study areas. Perimeter wa lkways hu ng from the roof see ms so
appropriate for Ca lifo rnia weather wit h an open bri dge conn ecting
t he two sides of the courtyard. Access to t he cent rally located open,
deck level eating areas is co nve nient. The entire bu il d in g be nefits
fro m t he free fl ow of air t hroughout. Th e roof foll ows t he cu rvin g
shape of t he bu ild ing but fl oats free of the lower fl oors, a d ramatic
departu re fro m the no rm .
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Architect: Polshek and Partners
Bes ides t he add it io n to t he Ca nter, t he successo r firm co nt in ued at
Sta nfo rd wit h t he Bin g and the Anderso n. It is notable how t he new
wing attach es co mfortably to t he octagonal rea r proj ectio n of the
ori g in al bu il ding, but does so in its own moderni st, cubist style,
sym bolic of t he contemporary art of t he new win g.
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·;~ .' .. ~ <(,_ __ _
Architect: Joseph Bell omo
The office structures at Unive rsity at Alm a are a se ri es of raw co ncrete,
glass and expressed fl oor slab fo rm s wit h a fac;ade overl ay of meta l
scree ning. The two bu il din gs are des igned as sepa rate masses with
t he two-story o ne o n Unive rsity and t he ta ll er structure o n t he Alm a
corn er. A passage between t he two co nn ects to Hig h St reet. I think
t he massin g design decisions were carefully co nsidered, especially t he
decisio n to divide t he fo rm s into sepa rate elements and the use of t he
scree ning as a unifyin g and softenin g element. The asse mb lage fits
t he shape of the site and t he passage as an urba n gesture is notable.
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I
Architects: (Original) Pedro de Lemas
(Later structures) Birge Clark and others.
The iconic block of Ra mo na Street neve r ceases to int rigue me. Lig ht
plays on all t he va ried forms creatin g a special effect. By havin g a
sin gle stucco pa lette wit h a general co nformance to non-sta ndard
windows and va ried fo rms all ows the ent ire bloc k to appea r to be o ne
exp ress io n alt hough it was developed at d ifferent t im es and for
different uses.
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Architect: Unkn own
The Hizas hi mult iple housin g bu il d ing o n Lytton nea r Middlefi eld,
t hough wa rn at t he edges, is a hidden ge m. I ad mire t he way it plays
wit h the shapes of t he res idences, wa lkways and sta ir towers to fo rm a
consistent exp ressio n. I t hink it is notable t hat t he des ig ners were
carefu l to incl ude the commo n use of the open courtyard inte rior
spa ce and to se lect ve ry appropriate plant in gs as shad ing devices that
are full -g rown now. Because t he bu ild ing is elevated fro m t he street,
t he be low grade ga rage is filled with natu ral light, a pleasa nt
departu re fro m bu il d in gs wit h pa rkin g in the cell ar.
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Architect: David L. Hirsch
A house on a limited sized lot with ease ment setback requ irements
uses hori zonta l zinc faced su rfaces, exposed steel and g lass bays and
cl erestory frames wit h a cont rasting bri g ht colo red stu cco wa ll and
soft, natural grasses and concrete slabs that mirro r the reced ing
patte rn, and subtly lead to a g lass encl osed lobby ent rance.
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Packet Pg. 76
Archictectural Review Board Application
Name Yujin Jeon
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? No
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
1.b
Packet Pg. 77
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Yujin Jeon Page 2
No
Email from the City
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.b
Packet Pg. 78
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
Yujin Jeon Page 3
-
I have 25 years experience as a commercial and
residential architectural designer. Currently I'm
president of Jeon Design. I've worked at several
large architecture firms including VBN Architects
as Design Director, MBH Architect as Senior
Designer, and Michael Willis Architect as Senior
Designer. I graduated from FIDM studying interior
design.
Jeon Design
President/CEO/Architectural Designer
Current Employer
This is a great opportunity to have my first chance
to work with such a great city as Palo Alto. I
worked with many people in the planning
department, David Chung, Brian Jones, and Val
Perez-lbardolasa as I did work on the Sweet
Maple restaurant project on University Ave.
Everyone was wonderful to work with as I
completed my construction documents.
Palo Alto is one of my dream cities to live in at some point in my
life. Being a creative designer I would like to have the opportunity
to contribute to making this city beautiful through design. It would
be an honor to be a part of this team and I would enjoy meeting so
many different people that are making a living here. I worked on
many different large commercial projects such as mixed-use
buildings in San Francisco and also worked on many well-known
restaurant projects. PF Chang in the Stanford shopping center,
Sweet Maple on University Ave as examples. I have also helped
develop some large multi family homes and single private high-
end custom homes in locations all over the Bay Area, Beverly
Hills, and Shanghai.
Currently I am attending many design reviews
with our home projects in many different cities. I
am always interested to hear other people's ideas
and their perspective other than my own. I would
also love to learn what the city's perspective is on
the process. I love to learn, share ideas, and help
and meet other people.
I have 25 years experience as a commercial and
residential architectural designer. Currently I'm
1.b
Packet Pg. 79
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Yujin Jeon Page 4
president of Jeon Design. I've worked at several
large architecture firms including VBN Architects
as Design Director, MBH Architect as Senior
Designer, and Michael Willis Architect as Senior
Designer. I graduated from FIDM studying interior
design.
I would like to see many more LEED certified projects as this is
important to me for our future. Instead of thinking of single
projects look at them from a larger perspective and how we can
create more functionality, beauty, and vibrant community.
I think good architecture is harmonious design,
inside and outside. Design and plans in order to
make human meet with nature. As a designer, we
provide spaces to make a happy and meaningful
place for everyone. I think the most beautiful
architecture is Pantheon in Rome because it is
the oldest concrete dome and most innovative
design. Structurally, there is nothing, 30' diameter
opening on the ceiling in the part that requires
the most reinforcement. This is an innovative and
iconic building.
Sequence is one of most important elements in
architecture. A story with a flow, a narrative that is
created by successive small events that are
related to each other. Ando Tadao is my favorite
architect because his architecture has sequence.
It is like watching a movie with a climax.
I've reviewed portions of the Downtown urban design guide.
My business website is at
jeondesign.com
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Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature
Date Completed
Yujin Jeon Page 5
20\5857 40\Yujin Jeon REFERENCES.pdf
[SCANNED, FILE SAFE]
Yes
Yujin Jeon
10/25/2021
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R E F E R E N C E S
All contact info is available upon request
Jeondesign.com
Yujin lead the Milpitas BART station’s interior design while with VBN Architects. This station
consisted of a prominent public concourse, underground platforms and public art. In addition to
poetically and precisely guiding the interior materials colors, finishes and placement, Yujin also
coordinate the overall interiors theme with the artists so that the final outcome is a harmonious
balance of colors, textures and forms all assembled to delight the travelling public. In addition,
she and I had the opportunity to successfully collaborate on several interior design projects
including law offices, schools and college buildings. Working with Yujin is a treat of a lifetime
and I have been seeking opportunities to work with her again. Her energy, joy and creativity are
an asset to every project lucky enough to have her contribution.
Eli Naor CEO VBN Architects
Yujin genuinely considers this project as her own. She, herself, negotiates the best possible deals
with suppliers and contractors. She really goes above and beyond. All transactions are very
transparent. She also has vast experience dealing with city officials in obtaining necessary
permits. She won't give up until all issues are resolved. There were a few scares from building
inspectors but she diligently took care of them in a very timely manner. I strongly encourage
you to call me if you have any questions.
Jiyeon Choi, Sweet Maple Restaurant owner
Palo Alto, CA
Yujin is quite simply the most talented individual that I have ever had the pleasure to meet.
Yujin combines masterful design with flawless execution to create incredible, sophisticated
works of art. Her vision, talent and driven personality are simply beyond compare and her work
must be seen to be believed. I highly recommend Yujin for your client’s design projects - large
and small”.
Kathy Vendel
Walnut Creek, CA
From start to finish, Yujin and her team have been absolutely amazing to work with. Yujin
helped us with an ADU project that posed many challenges due to its location on a steep slope.
She patiently and creatively helped us work through all the challenges, and we were very
pleased with the final results. Not only is Yujin a top-notch architect and excellent at what she
does, but she is also just an incredible person - reliable, patient, generous, kind, excellent
communicator, and a great advocate for her clients. We feel so fortunate to have found Yujin,
and highly recommend her services to anyone!
Michelle Chun
Lafayette, CA
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We can’t thank you enough for your time and professionalism.
You were extremely helpful in transforming our home into a space that reflects both of our
styles. With great ease you offered insight and solutions to our designs needs while keeping our
budget in mind. You kept us involved throughout the process discussing everything; you
remained so patient with every meeting, and kept us focused.
When we get it photographed, we will definitely get you images for your portfolio!
Val Perez-Ibardolasa
I know Yujin since 2004. She designed several of my real estate development projects. Yujin is
very talented. She knows how to transform a developer vision into a magnificent turnkey project.
She is sophisticated, creative, dedicated and trustworthy. She treats each project like it’s her
own. Yujin is a solution-oriented thinker that deliver a top-notch product. I will definitely bring
her on to my next real estate development project.
Adi Cohen, Developer
San Francisco, CA
Yujin is the best. She made the changes in our restaurant done in a timely and smart manner. I
highly recommend her for her insight and ideas that are not only smart but cost effective.
Parry Tong
Postino Restaurant Owner
Lafayette, CA
Yujin is extremely talented; she is passionate and diligent about her work. Her clients’ trust is
her highest priority. She often tells us “I am friends with all my clients” and we have
appreciated her genuine caring for us and our daughter. She has met every single deadline she
or we have set, usually early. She has meticulously designed and redesigned in order to get it
“just right” for us and our family and lifestyle, while making extremely helpful suggestions to us
along the way. She has been very, very generous with her time and patient with us. Her artistic
vision, her detailed design work, her knowledge of code, and direct collaboration with the City
of Orinda, resulted in a design that moved very quickly through city and county review
processes.
We couldn’t be more pleased with her work to date and fully trust that she will work
productively with our contractor to help get us into our new beautifully-designed home with as
few disruptions as possible and within budget.
We have been so pleased with her work and would be happy to answer any specific questions
you may have for us about our experience working with (Yujin) Jeon Design.
Peter Weis and Laura Ryder
Orinda, CA
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"Jeon Design is a completely professional firm. Always keeps appointments, always available to
consult via phone, email, or in person. Tremendous time saving attributes when time is indeed
money. I let Yujin be in charge of the construction as the Construction Admin. The best decision I
have made. She watches every detail, saves cost without sacrificing the quality, she deals with
surprises which are inevitable in any demolition/rebuild project.
Yujin is professional, passionate, hard working, pleasant, trustworthy, and an honest designer.
Her work is worth much more than her fee. I have already decided to work with her on our next
project. She will definitely deliver results more than you expect."
Steven Choi, Sweet Maple Restaurant Owner
San Francisco, CA
Jeon Design is the rare design firm we’re all looking for because they treat every project like it’s
their own project. Because their services are including Architecture but also interior design and
ar, all the important part of project are taken into account during project. They area there from
step one to the last step and beyond, thinking together with us about our goals and how to
achieve them. Jeon Design is a key factor to the success of our restaurant, taking “EVERY”
aspect into regards during the full process!
Merijn Terheggen, Restaurant Owner
Spicy I am Restaurant Owner Almeda, CA
Jeon Design has finished a Design for a 20,000 sq. ft French Villa Custom Home in China. Yujin
work shows exceptional details to the quality of the design, with luxury material selection to
represent an authentic French living style. The interior space design has enhanced the
originality of the French style from the exterior architectural design; and bring it to the final
touch of the decoration details throughout the mansion. She has outstanding professional
knowledge and design creativity with passion and dignity.
Sindy Shi, Associate Architect, Dahlin Group
Pleasanton, CA
We have had the privilege to work with Yujin of Jeon Design for our complete Eichler home
remodel project. Yujin embraced the modifications needed to fit today's lifestyles with energy,
imagination and expertise. Yujin is constantly committed to her clients' full satisfaction and
works painstakingly hard to achieve it. Yujin has the unique ability to make you feel as if you are
the most important client she has and her enthusiasm for design is infectious. And when Yujin
says she will save you money on her project, believe it - she will! Thanks to her help, we have
turned our dreams of living modern into a reality. Thank you, Yujin!
Michael & Christianna Cohen
Walnut Creek, CA
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I would like to recommend Yujin Jeon of Jeon Designs. Her website is: www.jeondesign.com
I worked with Yujin on my investment property in the East Bay. Yujin was the architect /
designer for the project. She has an eye for design. She is also detail oriented, very professional
and provides the best solutions for redesigning the property. She stayed within the timeframe
and budget allocated for the project and still provided the best customer service and quality of
materials to make the home look outstanding. I have received many compliments on the design
and layout of the property from many potential buyers. The house sold in less than two weeks
on the market.
I will be working with her on other future projects.
Angie McCulloch
Orinda, CA
That is such a good experience and happy time to work with you at my home project. You have
shown a deep and sensible comprehension of what designs I had been dreaming of for my new
home. You are extremely talented at reading my mental pictures of what I had hoped for. You
totally changed the style I had in my mind to a much better, more beautiful, modern and
functional design that I had ever dreamed or imagined. Therefore, I highly recommend your
capabilities as a first choice Home Designer. I am confident in your abilities to work far beyond
to increase the future value of my home. If your client would like ask me about you, don't
hesitate to call me. Thanks again for your hard working.
Jack and Susan Chu
Orinda, CA
Yujin was an absolute delight to work with! I finally took the plunge and decided to remodel my
bathroom. Yujin transformed my ugly, outdated bathroom into an amazing spa-like bathroom
that even fit my budget. I really appreciated how Yujin was always accessible when I needed her.
She had amazing insight and a great deal of skill. She came to the table with concrete, detailed
plans for action, lined up contractors, shopped for furniture and accessories, and monitored the
efforts of various contractors and deliveries. Yujin was very picky and insistent on getting things
right and the contractors always worked extra hard for me because they wanted her future
business. I would highly recommend Yujin for any type of remodeling project.
Jill Hudson
Orinda, CA
We were so happy with our decision to hire Yujin to help create a vision for our home.
She has a beautiful sense of style that drew us in from the beginning. She worked closely with
my husband and I to help determine the best types of materials, colors, layout, etc - from the
standpoint of both design and functionality. We were thrilled with the final plans, which
included updates to our kitchen, living room, family room and bathrooms. Yujin is focused,
dedicated to her projects and has extreme attention to detail. We are excited to implement the
plans as we know they will help turn our home into our dream home. Thank you, Yujin!
Michelle Yoshinaka,
Lafayette, CA
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I recently worked with Jeon Design on a bathroom remodel. Initially I was overwhelmed with
the project, but once I started working with Yujin I realized that her expertise and great taste
was exactly what I was looking for. One thing that I really appreciated about Yujin was that she
didn’t dictate a design to me at the outset, but rather listened to what I knew I wanted and
helped me extrapolate my ideas and desires into areas of decoration and design that would not
have occurred to me on my own.
I’m extremely pleased with the outcome of my bathroom remodel and if I ever have to leave
this house, I won’t hesitate to call Yujin again. I have already referred several friends and
neighbors to Yujin and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again.
Rodney
Walnut Creek, CA
An open letter to a prospective client of Yujin Jeon or Jeon Designs:
I worked with Yujin Jeon on a two bathrooms remodel project in my
residence. Both bathrooms - we only have two - were known “eventual upgrades” for us
when we purchased our home, but the master bath developed a major issue and suddenly the
bathrooms became top priority.
Because of the suddenness, I hadn’t been studying magazines and going to tile places for
months - I was a blank slate as far as my plans and goals for the two spaces. Yujin met my
husband and myself after work one evening and walked through the place and asked us some
good questions, and bounced some ideas off of us about what we liked, what we wished for
(more and discreet storage) and how long we planned to own the home, and our budget and
our timeline. She also asked about how much we wanted to be involved in the design decisions.
The next thing we knew, she had a proposal, some samples (tile, paint colors, pictures of
hardware, etc.), and several fantastic ideas - not only about wonderful things we could do, but
also about how we could save money in places we didn’t need to spend more, and how we
could stretch our dollars on a few items that we’d really love. She also had thought through
how a family of four could realistically remodel two bathrooms in parallel while always having a
commode and a shower in service. Yujin’s brilliant design, patient and genial demeanor, and
eye for ways to meaningfully stretch our budget were perfect for us. As a working mom herself,
she also fully appreciated the logistical challenges of conducting a remodel in a two career, two
parent, two child family. Very quickly, I came to have an absolute trust in Yujin’s
recommendations.
I can recommend Yujin and Jeon Designs without reservation. I would be very happy to talk
further with any prospective client. My cell number is 415-215-0785, or you can email me at
Cathy O’Sullivan
Walnut Creek, CA
Yujin provided excellent design service and guided me through the whole renovation process. She integrates her client’s preferences and also provides technical expertise such as ADU requirements and timelines. I can not say enough about Jeon Design. Betty Hong Oakland, CA
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I’ve had a long-standing relationship with Yujin working with her as a colleague. I completely
trusted her and her taste which is why we didn’t hesitate to have her work on our home
addition and remodeling project. Yujin is extremity talented and has a fabulous eye for what
works. She brings the work on time, is organized professional, and always suggests ways to save
money without jeopardizing the quality. We highly recommend her Thank you Yujin!!!
Niran Amir
Tiburon, CA
Yujin, you're a wonderful person to work with, and I love the space you have created!
Can't wait to see how it will turn out when it's complete. THANK YOU Yujin!!!
Toon Ong
Walnut Creek, CA
Jeon Design dedication to our project as if it was her own home. Between work and kids we are
so busy so having Yujin as involved in our project is a huge help. She also took the time to
educate us and help us define our own taste and ideas. Yujin is one of the most honest,
hardworking, dependable professionals that we have ever worked with. We highly recommend
her talents as an interior designer and architect!
Daniel
Tiburon, CA
I’ve had a long-standing relationship with Yujin working with her as a colleague. I completely
trusted her and her taste which is why we didn’t hesitate to have her work on our home
addition and remodeling project. Yujin is extremity talented and has a fabulous eye for what
works. She brings the work on time, is organized professional, and always suggests ways to save
money without jeopardizing the quality. We highly recommend her Thank you Yujin!!!
Niran Amir
Tiburon, CA
What a joy it is walking into my newly remodeled bathroom! I can't believe it was created, out
of the space, what was already here! You have the creative ability to make beautiful
surroundings out of ordinary rooms! Your vision, collaboration, passion & enthusiasm for your
work, is reflected in the satisfaction of your clients. Thank You, I'm so very Happy with my new
bathroom.
Sarah
Alameda, CA
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We can’t thank you enough for your time and professionalism. You were extremely helpful in
transforming our home into a space that reflects both of our styles. With great ease you offered
insight and solutions to our designs needs while keeping our budget in mind. You kept us
involved throughout the process discussing everything; you remained so patient with every
meeting, and kept us focused. When we get it photographed, we will definitely get you images
for your portfolio!
Val
Oakland Hill, CA
*I just wanted to say thank you again for all of your hard work and assistance with our bathroom
remodel. You have opened our eyes on the possibilities and made the process smooth and easy.
Here is my phone number which you can pass along as a reference for future clients. Thank
you!
Nick Gregor
Oakland, CA
"Yujin is so delightful to work with. She is creative, efficient, savvy, and has excellent sense of
design. She helps make our home exceptionally beautiful and very functional."
Bophany Huot
San Francisco, CA
Yujin transformed our drab space into one of the most iconic offices in the startup industry. She
created a beautiful workstation and fully equipped kitchen space that perfectly reflects our
company's DNA and creative culture. Typical reactions we get from guests: "Beautiful",
"Amazing", and my personal favorite: "Wow!" Yujin also wonderfully executed a 4x12' rustic
dining table, the centerpiece of our space, and got creative to make it within our budget.
Conrad Chu
Munchery CEO, Co-founder | San Francisco, CA
Her remarkable ideas never fails our expectation. In addition, Yujin has a kind and bright
personality.
The most important, she delivers projects on time and on budget, and her follow up skills really
make her stand out. I took great pleasure in watching my place changed. Now we can enjoy the
feelings of warmth and relaxation she has created at our clinic. Thanks, Yujin!
Dr. Olivia Lee
San Leandro, CA
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We are lucky to have Yujin to design for remodeling project my house. Her professionalism is
focused on space programming, function, the selection of materials, coloring, very artistic,
efficient, time saving construction, plus her Fungsui knowledge. Especially Kitchen!!! We showed
our friends, they LOVE!
Yvonne and Sang Bak Lee
Orinda, CA
Yujin is great! I am very satisfied with the result of her work. Working with her was a pleasant
experience. Yujin is very professional and flexible. She is full of great ideas and very attentive to
the details of her work. I would definitely ask for her help again on my next project.
Katan Nantashiri
Livermore, CA
"I am writing this letter on behalf of Yujin Jeon, Jeon Design. We have worked with Yujin for
many years, she is very professional, talented and a joy to collaborate with on small and large
projects. Yujin knows her job very well and is always our first choice when a designer is needed.
I highly recommend Yujin and Jeon Design.
Jennifer E. Thompson
PolicyLink Director of Human Resources, Administration and Operations
Oakland, CA
"I love your design, and I love you! I think this is one of my best choices - hiring you to design our
house. I will definitely refer you as well as give you more projects in the future. You made my
day. I'm very happy now!"
Eva Chang Shanghai, China
Yujin really listened to my needs and brought surprising elements into my office. My office
looks fantastic! She has an incredibly rich interior design background and is extremely talented
when it comes to creating beautiful interiors! Yujin’s design is very professional, prompt,
creative, and accommodating. I have gotten many compliments on my office and I would highly
recommend using Yujin’s design without hesitation.
Dr. Chris Yi
San Leandro, CA
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Yujin and the team at Jeon Design have worked on two engagements for our organization. Yujin
has jumped in to meet us where we are and help shape our vision. She works with us as a true
partner and is patient, flexible, and creative in helping us develop and refine ideas for what will
help us achieve our goals with the space we have. Yujin also has a terrific resource pool for
materials and supplies that she leverages to maximize and stretch limited resources. She also
exerts leadership and steps back and listens at just the right time for each, throughout the
design process. Jeon Design goes the extra mile at every step."
Lauren Webster, Poliylink CFO
Oakland, CA
Thank you for your tremendous help in our restaurant project. Without your enthusiasm, diligence and hard work we wouldn’t have been able to get the permit during the COVID-19. Excellent work! I would highly recommend Yujin from Jeon Design. If you are looking for a professional work. James Maneepairojn
Blackwood Restaurant
San Francisco, CA
Game changer!!! We signed a new lease to relocate a furniture store (What A Room) and felt like
we had decent idea of how we wanted the space to look from our previous store’s layout.
However, we connected with Yujin through a referral just to see what we might be missing and to
get a few more ideas. As soon as we met with Yujin, there was no doubt that we needed her and I
am completely glad we didn’t let ourselves do the designing because what she did for us is 1000x
better. She masterfully put together materials, colors and finishes, but the main thing was create
a unique concept that fit our business. Yujin really took our business to the next level. Outside of
design, what is equally awesome is her willingness to share connections and resources. This was
also truly invaluable as we found one of a kind decor pieces and amazing deals left and right.
Simply put, we are very thankful for the experience and the result is a game changer!
Steven Lam
What a room owner
San Jose, CA
Yujin at Jeon Design is a delight to work with! At the recommendation of a friend, we hired her
to redesign our small French bistro after a fire. From the start, we were won over by her
professionalism, creativity and design expertise. I must admit, we are not the easiest customers
to work with, and we had very particular ideas about the design we hoped to achieve. Yujin
worked tirelessly to deliver multiple iterations of our vision within a very short timeframe,
always with a smile on her face! You are too wonderful for words!!!! And we are the lucky ones
to have found you!
Jerome and Megan Meloni, Restaurant owner
San Francisco, CA
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We had a fantastic experience working with Yujin from Jeon Design. She is passionate about creating the perfect design for her clients. At the same time, she is extremely professional and responsive, making sure that our project progressed appropriately versus our expectations. Five stars! Jame Kim Orinda, CA
Yujin worked with us for a short period of time on our office space in Oakland, CA. During this
time, she displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility and creativity. She provided
invaluable guidance in regard to color schemes, design layout, furniture selection, lighting and
accessories and attention to details which made our office space so special. She took something
ordinary and made it so unique.
We can’t thank Yujin enough for all the work she has done for us. It was such a pleasure working
with her. She was always friendly with an outgoing attitude which she easily maintained while
remaining solution and design focused. She has great communication, listening and
organizational skills which kept us on time. We truly appreciate all these qualities from Yujin,
especially listening to us and working hard to understand our needs.
In summary, Yujin works speaks for itself and its truly AMAZING. We would strongly recommend
Yujin to handle your interior design.
Radhika Fox and Linda Le,
US Water Alliance
Oakland, CA
Yujin is so professional, detail oriented and on the ball. Very impressed with her service and the quick results. Highly recommend. Stewart Beatty Executive Chef. Postino Restaurant, Lafayette Yujin is very professional and talented. She designed our furniture store and delivered in timely manner. The interior of our store look more amazing than ever. Yujin is also very considerate; she put effort and check in with us once in a while to see if we need any assistance. Can't find this kind of service all the time! Quynh Le
Furniture Shop
San Jose
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Yujin was absolutely phenomenal! I own a restaurant and was looking to open up a second location. Since I originally bought my restaurant, I really had no idea how to build new one from scratch. I was very lost and confused, but Yujin was very helpful in guiding me through the process. Her attention to detail, work ethic, and vision are second to none. Since she is the designer and has an architect background, she in very knowledgeable on all aspects of the process which was incredibly helpful for a first timer like me. Also she has amazing positive energy and an absolute pleasure to be around! Huy Quach Restaurant Owner
San Jose, CA
If you are looking for an Architectural Designer, I highly recommend Yujin at Jeon Design. She not only has deep expertise in complete renovations, ADUs, new construction and additions - but she is also very knowledgeable with navigating the permitting process and knows the Lamorinda area very well. We recently finished phase 1 of our remodel and will shortly begin the larger phase 2, which includes an addition and complete re-design of our home. Yujin is amazing to work with. She is incredibly talented, professional and committed. She takes the time to listen to her client needs and genuinely cares about building the right relationships. Her enthusiasm and passion for her work is contagious. Lina Lee Orinda, CA
We feel lucky to have Yujin as our architect designer for our restaurant. She’s very professional,
responsive, stylish and genuine designer. Her work is not only amazing well designed but also
functional for operation. She always listen her clients needs and pay attention every details to
ensure the project will be satisfied. You won’t be disappointed if you’re looking for trustworthy
company,
I would 100% recommend Jeon design.
Jiew Sky Restaurant owner Palo Alto, CA We’ve worked with a number of designer/ architects without finding a really good one that
satisfies us 100%. Yujin listens and completely understands what I want this restaurant to look
and feel like and what images I want to project to customers. She considers what kinds of food,
potential customers, neighborhoods, and budget before coming up with the best design
possible. Yujin has a very keen artistic talent and is very much aware of the most up-to-date
trends in materials, textures, and colors of restaurant design. We are so happy we chose Yujin
to help us design a look for our new office. She listened to what our CEO’s thoughts were
regarding our style and what we were looking for and designed it perfectly. Giving us a beautiful
natural organic look for our lobby and a fun atmosphere for an employee Conference
Room. She was easy and fun to work with and went way beyond what is usually expected of a
designer. She even went shopping for us trying to save us money. I would not hesitate at all to
recommend her to anyone.
Jane Sutton, Moxie Inc.
Sunnyvale, CA
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Archictectural Review Board Application
Name Kathryn Jordan
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone -
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
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3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Kathryn Jordan Page 2
Yes
Community Group
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
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Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
Kathryn Jordan Page 3
-
BA, Political Science, Stanford University
MSM, GSB, Stanford University
N/A
N/A
Last Employer
I currently serve on the City's Housing Element
Working Group. I am currently the President of
the Palo Alto Plaza HOA, a mixed use, multifamily
complex in downtown Palo Alto. I have served as
Parent network Chair in the Paly PTSA, and
volunteered at both Duveneck elementary school
and Jordan Middle School. I've coached AYSO
soccer.
Because I am interested in the housing and commercial
development within the City of Palo Alto.
The expansion of Castilleja. I'm interested in this
issue because its expansion may greatly affect
both traffic on a main Palo Alto thoroughfare,
Embarcadero Road, and a residential
neighborhood, depending upon how this project
is ultimately configured. The size of the student
enrollment will also figure into the size of the
project.BA, Political Science, Stanford University
MSM, GSB, Stanford University
Maintain the character of the community of Palo Alto. I would
help by giving my time and attention to helping guide change and
development within the City of Palo Alto.
1.b
Packet Pg. 95
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
My neighbor's house at 109 Walter Hays Drive. I
think the home fits nicely on its lot and within the
existing neighborhood, while at the same time
projecting a more sleek and modern exterior.
Yes, I built a home in Palo Alto, so I am familiar with the Zoning
Code. I have also read almost all of the Comprehensive Plan. I
am familiar with the purpose of CEQA and how it applies to
development.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Kathryn Jordan
Date Completed 10/25/2021
Kathryn Jordan Page 4
1.b
Packet Pg. 96
Archictectural Review Board Application
Name Alexander Lew
Address -
City
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone -
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? No
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
1.b
Packet Pg. 97
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Alexander Lew Page 2
Yes
Email from the City
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.b
Packet Pg. 98
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Alexander Lew Page 3
250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA
Author/Illustrator of a book about the first parks,
plazas, and promenades in Europe.
Designer of residential projects in Palo Alto,
Menlo Park, and Atherton.
Associate at Solomon Architecture in San
Francisco. Projects include: 220 units of
affordable housing in an award winning New
Urbanist village in Seattle, 325 micro studios at
Stanford, and 6 townhouses in Prospect, a New
Urbanist town in Colorado.
Columbia University, Master of Architecture.
Washington University, Bachelor of Arts with
major in architecture.
Passed all NCARB exams.
Self employed
Draftsman
Current Employer
Palo Alto Architectural Review Board member.
(May 2008 -present).
Western Wheelers Bicycle Club in Palo Alto.
Board member, ride coordinator, and ride leader
(2003 -present).
Attend lectures at SPUR (San Francisco Planning
Urban Research). Ongoing.
Attend lectures at CNPS-SCV (California Native
Plant Society). Ongoing.
Attend annual tours by the Berkeley Architectural
Heritage Association. Ongoing.
Attend annual tours by the AIA San Francisco.
Attend annual tours by the Pasadena Heritage.
Attend tours by the Garden Conservancy.
Ongoing.
Volunteer at special events for Bike Palo Alto,
Grassroots Ecology, and Over the Hill Gang.
1.b
Packet Pg. 99
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
Alexander Lew Page 4
I am applying because few applications have been received to
date. I am finishing my fourth term (plus an initial partial term).
understand that term limits will come into effect soon. I can help
make the transition to the proposed Objective Standards for SB35
projects. I am experienced with designing multifamily housing,
New Urbanist subdivisions, the City's zoning ordinance, and
Comprehensive Plan. I also research the architectural and
planning history of Palo Alto and other cities.
A project that is covered under SB330 came to
the ARB recently. This project uses the existing
zoning, but only objective criteria can be used if a
denial a recommended. The project is ongoing,
so I can't go into the specifics. I can say that
many of the words that I want to use to review the
project are subjective. Many of the current
Context Based Criteria are subjective. In addition,
the neighbors are expecting more than the
minimum prescriptive requirements of the code.
Privacy, screening, shading, height, and
compatibility are always issues. Managing
expectations with the different standards of SB
35, SB 330, PHZ, and the standard zoning is
going to be a challenge.
I am researching and illustrating how great public
places achieved compatibility under completely
different political systems and societies. I am
interested in it because I know how difficult it is to
effect change at the urban scale.Author/Illustrator
of a book about the first parks, plazas, and
promenades in Europe.
Designer of residential projects in Palo Alto,
Menlo Park, and Atherton.
Associate at Solomon Architecture in San
Francisco. Projects include: 220 units of
affordable housing in an award winning New
Urbanist village in Seattle, 325 micro studios at
Stanford, and 6 townhouses in Prospect, a New
Urbanist town in Colorado.
Columbia University, Master of Architecture.
Washington University, Bachelor of Arts with
major in architecture.
Passed all NCARB exams.
I would like to utilize hybrid meetings with teleconferencing if it is
permitted. Attendance at ARB meetings has not declined during
the pandemic. Also, applicants have said that they prefer the
convenience. As a viewer for other meetings, I find it easier to
watch and participate than the cable-stream. The ARB could
better communicate its motions by writing them on screen as the
City Council does.
In reviewing the Boards & Commissions Handbook, I think the
ARB members could be more formal in addressing each other. It
has been a little more casual than the City Council. In some
years, board members have interrupted each other, resulting in
1.b
Packet Pg. 100
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Alexander Lew Page 5
portions of the verbatim minutes unintelligible. The chair should
set and maintain the standard.
University Avenue in Palo Alto. I have attached 2
site plans: one from 1895 and one from 1924. I
drew them using fire insurance maps, parcel
maps, and archive photos.
The 1895 plan indicates an unremarkable
architectural beginning: irregular buildings, no
sidewalks, no street trees, and uncertain future
for the native oaks. Only 2 of the buildings shown
remain today. Civic spirit is evident in a
community built 2 room school house at the
former Walgreens corner as well as a reading
room/meeting hall at the Apple Store site.
The 1924 plan shows a thriving main street that
has established a strong architectural context. It
was a pivotal year because the City Council
decided to extend commercial uses from
Waverley Street to Webster Street, an established
residential area. The residential area contained
several Victorian mansions and a 10 unit
multifamily project. Was it the right decision? It
allowed for growth for over 100 years.
I am familiar with all of these documents.
11\585740\20211025-University-1895.pdf
[SCANNED, FILE SAFE]
11\585740\20211025-University-1924.pdf
[SCANNED, FILE SAFE]
1.b
Packet Pg. 101
11\585740\2021-ARB-application-awards.pdf
[SCANNED, FILE SAFE]
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Alexander Lew
Date Completed 10/26/2021
Alexander Lew Page 6
1.b
Packet Pg. 102
Recent ARB projects that have won awards:
Fire Station No. 3
Shah Kawaski
2020 AIA Silicon Valley Honor Award
2555 Park
Heather Young and Brick Architecture
2020 AIA Silicon Valley Merit Award
636 Waverley
David Kleiman, Paula Shaviv, and Hayes Group
2018 AIA Silicon Valley Merit Award
2021 Andersen Windows Award
611 Cowper
Hayes Group
2018 AIA San Mateo County Merit Award
Mayfield Place affordable housing
David Baker & Partners Architects
2018 AIA Silicon Valley Citation
2018 PCBC Merit Award for affordable housing 30-60 units/acre
1.b
Packet Pg. 103
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Packet Pg. 104
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1.b
Packet Pg. 105
Archictectural Review Board Application
Name Manix Patel
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices Yes
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
1.b
Packet Pg. 106
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Manix Patel Page 2
Yes
Email from the City
I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post
to the City's website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I have read and
understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at
any time by providing written notice to the Palo
Alto City Clerk.
1.b
Packet Pg. 107
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
Manix Patel Page 3
Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona -
Class of '98
20+ years of experience in Arch.
20+ years of experience in the Hospitality
Industry
Owner (Berbeda Place Palo Alto)
Carrasco & Associates Architects, Inc.
Project Architect
Current Employer
NA
I can bring a new thought process to the ARB by using my 20+
years experience in Architecture and the Hospitality Industry.
I live and breathe ECR therefore am interested in
anything and everything that affects El Camino
Real. All projects are important.Bachelor of
Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona -Class of '98
20+ years of experience in Arch.
20+ years of experience in the Hospitality
Industry
Owner (Berbeda Place Palo Alto)
I would like to help the current ARB members in reviewing and
responding to the housing and hotel projects being presented for
approval by keeping in mind the existing communities, through
careful analysis, creative alternatives, etc.
1.b
Packet Pg. 108
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
636 Hamilton Ave. Palo Alto
I was waiting for years and years when an
Architect would propose a concrete and glass
structure and was really excited to see this.
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
Comprehensive Plan
CEQA
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
By completing numerous projects with Carrasco & Associates
Architects I have experience in the above listed guidelines.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Manix Patel
Date Completed 10/26/2021
Manix Patel Page 4
1.b
Packet Pg. 109
Archictectural Review Board Application
Name Brigham Wilson
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
1.b
Packet Pg. 110
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Brigham Wilson Page 2
No
Community Group,Email from the City
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.b
Packet Pg. 111
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
Brigham Wilson Page 3
I am a passionate student of residential
architecture and city planning. For the past 5
years, I have closely followed our city's plans and
policies to balance increasing our housing supply
while maintaining the character and desirability of
our development. My training has been a decade
of self-study of the relevant text books and
thought-pieces on land use, urban design, and
construction.
Google
Program Manager
Current Employer
Member and Chair of the Library Advisory
Commission (2017-2020)
Palo Alto Police Department Citizen Police
Academy participant (2017)
Community Gardener at Johnson Park (2018-
Present)
Member of Stanford Congregation of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2016-2020)
Membership Clerk and Organist for The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near
Middlefield and E. Charleston (2020-2021)
I am interested in serving on the Architectural Review Board
because the design of our city is important, I have the knowledge
for suburban architecture, and I have the passion for civic
oversight and committee workings. As Palo Alto continues to
grow, keeping a balance between new construction and
renovations along with our history and character is integral to our
personality as a community. I follow proposed residential,
commercial, and landscape proposals in our county and analyze
their merits environmental impact, impact on housing supply,
meeting residential and commercial needs, open space
conservation, and visual appeal. Having been on the Library
Advisory Commission and chairing it for one year, I understand
how to collaborate with City Council, review and decide on
proposals, and request and respond to input from fellow citizens.
1.b
Packet Pg. 112
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
Brigham Wilson Page 4
On Thursday, 10/7/2021, the board reviewed a
proposal to allow for external changes at the
retail/commercial site at 2585 E Bayshore Rd. I
ride my bike past this building every day on the
way to and from work and am aware of its unique
location in our city and the environmental
concerns being so close to the wetland area. I
was excited about the proposal because it was
going to change asphalt areas to landscaping,
create bike parking where there wasn't (which
encourages non-car transportation), upgrade the
exterior to a more modern look, and continue the
retail preservation waiver. I enjoy reading and
analyzing these proposals that balance so many
different characteristics of design, landscaping,
zoning, and commercial interests.I am a
passionate student of residential architecture and
city planning. For the past 5 years, I have closely
followed our city's plans and policies to balance
increasing our housing supply while maintaining
the character and desirability of our development.
My training has been a decade of self-study of the
relevant text books and thought-pieces on land
use, urban design, and construction.
While serving on the Architectural Review Board I would help
create the mandated 6,086 units by 2031 in a manner that
preserves the character of each neighborhood. We would
increase density where it is most appropriate aesthetically and
focus on parcels that are underused or vacant or near major
transit centers. As a non-homeowner but 5+ year resident, I would
be a more impartial collaborative partner, able to balance the
needs of the many stakeholders involved in these discussions
while being loyal and driven to find the optimal outcome.
The half-closed streets on the south bank of the
Sortedams S0 in
Copenhagen(https://goo.gl/maps/ceadXETWQCv
yKUFT6). These row houses provide for a safe
open area for children to play, privacy in an
increased density zone, charming character, and
sufficient parking while encouraging other
methods of travel. Palo Alto has small apartment
complexes and many single-family homes, but
has too few row house developments that would
provide increased units while also conserving a
charming pedestrian environment.
Charles Street in Beacon Hill in Boston
(https://bit.ly/3pvslBK). Provides a delightful
walkable retail in addition to above-store-level
residential units. Palo Alto has premium shopping
in the Town and Country Mall, Stanford Mall, and
University Ave, Midtown, and Cal Ave that could
benefit from increased residential units that could
increase retail patronage without requiring much
more parking infrastructure. We can leverage the
1.b
Packet Pg. 113
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
already higher density areas to preserve the
single-family zoned areas.
When I was on the Library Advisory Commission, I read the Palo
Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017) to ensure that our
recommendations aligned with the long-term vision of the city.
I have looked at some of the other documents to begin to become
familiar with them, but will study each of them further upon my
being selected to serve on the Architectural Review Board so that
I know the regulations and requirements necessary.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Brigham Wilson
Date Completed 10/24/2021
Brigham W ilson Page 5
1.b
Packet Pg. 114
Archictectural Review Board Application
Name Jim Xiao
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
1.b
Packet Pg. 115
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Jim Xiao Page 2
No
Other: email invitation
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.b
Packet Pg. 116
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
Jim Xiao Page 3
-
CSLB licensed general contractor since 2019
combined with prior experience has been active
in designing, development for 8 years. finished
several projects in Palo Alto, San Jose and
Cupertino. very familiar with the new code of Palo
Alto on green building tier 1, 2 and ADU code.
20 years as software professional after leaving the
Ph.D education from LSU in computer science.
svden
builder and CEO
Current Employer
member of church committee for church
searching committee of CCIC-Sunnyvale, in the
process of searching, screening property, dual
diligence and working closely with city regarding
permitting and code requirement.
the ARB is particularly important not only to maintain the core
community value of Palo Alto, but also will help to steer the long
term vision of city's planning which would be fundamental key of a
vibrant and business-family friendly neighbor.
SB-9, SB10, SB8 along with ADU code, green
building requirements are going to totally reshape
Palo Alto, would be important for all citizen to be
assisted, get informed and comfortable for the
new change.CSLB licensed general contractor
since 2019 combined with prior experience has
been active in designing, development for 8
years. finished several projects in Palo Alto, San
Jose and Cupertino. very familiar with the new
code of Palo Alto on green building tier 1, 2 and
ADU code.
20 years as software professional after leaving the
Ph.D education from LSU in computer science.
1.b
Packet Pg. 117
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Help current homeowners to be protected to keep the old
neighborhood they like, the same time to upgrade, adapt to the
new SB-9, SB10, SB8 along with ADU code, green building
requirements. So Palo Alto will also be a welcoming city to the
young professionals and new families/
1031 Embarcadero Dr, 94303, with the great
suggestion from Bud Stammer, this is one of the
first batch of project adopted:
ADU code,
green building tier 2 for main building
green building tier 2 for ADU. also EV ready, title
24 compliant, and Tesla roof ready.
In the past 3 years has been working very closely with planning
department, building department , public works and inspection
team. very family with Zoning code. Design guideline and working
knowledge of Permit Streamline Act and interior's standard .
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature Jim Xiao
Date Completed 10/25/2021
Jim Xiao Page 4
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Packet Pg. 118
Archictectural Review Board Application
Name bin zhou
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
1.b
Packet Pg. 119
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Architectural Review Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
bin zhou Page 2
No
Email from the City
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.b
Packet Pg. 120
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on
the Architectural Review Board and what
experience would you bring to the
position?
(1449 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If you are appointed, what specific
goals would you like to see the
Architectural Review Board achieve, and
how would you help in the process?
(1587 characters max)
bin zhou Page 3
I am general contractor and architecture. I know
the detail of contruction. As resident of palo alto, I
would like to contribute my professional
knowledge to make better palo alto.
Dowell construction & development Inc
Project manager
Current Employer
I am volunteer of bond-committee memeber of
cupertino school district and work on to review
district projects and improvement to make better
cupertino schools. I like to work for community
and neighborhood and would like to commit my
service term if I am honored .
I have construction knowledge and experience. And I am design
and construction professional. I love to work for community and
neighborhood. I love to contribute my values to city and
community.
As the part of city growth, more and more home
improvement are going on. I can see several
street is getting better look and attractive. I can
contribute my knowledge and professional skills
to make the streets better.I am general contractor
and architecture. I know the detail of contruction.
As resident of palo alto, I would like to contribute
my professional knowledge to make better palo
alto.
I would like to help committee and city council to outline the
Architectural guideline and promote the guideline to all city
residents. I would help all residents to make clear choice when
they are thinking to do new construction, adding and remodel.
And also make our city planning and building work easier.
1.b
Packet Pg. 121
4. Please identify a project (or projects)
that you find to be examples of good
architecture, and explain why. You may
include samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links.
(1035 characters max)
5. Architectural Review Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection,
but will help you better understand the
work of the board.
(1173 characters max)
Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest
Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
California Environmental Quality Act
Permit Streamling Act Density Bonus Law
Secretary of the Interior's Standards
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines (1993)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
18283 Baylor Ave, SARATOGA, CA 95070 is a
good sample project for single story home
improvement. it looks clean and moden. But it
won't change too much structure and not over
heigh to damage privancy. Also the project is
green compared with full demolish and huge
structure changes.
I have understing and read El Camino Real Design Guidelines,
building code. I have building home experience in palo alto. I love
to work with other members and contribute my value.
Please confirm that you have read the Yes
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature bin zhou
Date Completed 10/25/2021
bin zhou Page 4
1.b
Packet Pg. 122
Historic Resources Board Application
Name Valerie Driscoll
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? No
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
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Packet Pg. 123
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Historic Resources Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Valerie Driscoll Page 2
No
Other: clerk and manager's offices
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my
home address, phone numbers, and email
address from the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to posting to the
City's website. I am providing the following
alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
1.c
Packet Pg. 124
Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Application Questions
1. What is it about the Historic Resources
Board that is compatible with your
experience and of specific interest to you,
and why?
(1518 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1380 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Historic Resources
Board achieve, and why? How would you
suggest accomplishing this?
(1725 characters max)
Valerie Driscoll Page 3
see resume and other application sent
None
None
Last Employer
See resume and other application
see resume and other application
see resume and other application
see resume and other application forgot to add resume ....
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Packet Pg. 125
4. Please identify a project or projects that
you find to be examples of good historic
architecture, and explain why. You may
attach samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links. If you attach
samples, Staff may request that you bring
hard copy print outs to the interviews.
(1380 characters max)
5. Historic Resources Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection.
(1104 characters max)
Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use
Element (2017)
Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 16.49
Secretary of the Interiors Standards for the
Treatment of Historic Properties (2017)
California Environmental Quality Act
The Professorville Historic District Design
Guidelines (2016)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature
Date Completed
Valerie Driscoll Page 4
See resume and other application
see resume and other application
4\5857 40\HRB -Driscoll Valerie -for merge -for
merge.docx [SCANNED, FILE SAFE]
Yes
Valerie Driscoll
10/21/2021
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CITY OF PALO ALTO. CA
CITY CLEHK'S OFFICE
fil CTTY 01· PALO ALTO, CA
~ Cl I Y l.L.l.:RK'~ OHIU: u.;
~ 17 Apr 05 j 3:47 pm
Personal Information 18 NOV 26 AH IQ: 25
Name: val eri e Madeline Ori scoll
Addres
Cell Phone:
H . ·_' _____________________ _
E-mail:
Are you a Palo Alto Resident? __ Yes _X_ No
Do you have any relatives or members of your household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto. who
are currently serving on the City Council, or Who are Commissioners or Board Members?
Yes_X_No
Are you available and committed to complete the term applied for? _x_ yes __ No
California state law and the City's Conflict of Interest Code LINK require appointed board and
commission members to file a detailed disclosure of their financial interests, Fair Political Practices
Commission, Conflict of Interest. Form 700.
Do you have an investment in, or do you serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to;
1) engage in business with the City,
2) provide products or services for City projects, or
3) be affected by decisions of the board or commission you are applying for? __ Yes _x_ No
Excluding your principal residence, do you own real property in Palo Alto? __ Yes _x_ No
How did you learn at:>out this vacancy?
__ Community Group
__ Email from City Clerk
__ Palo Alto Weekly
__ Daily Post
__ City Website
__ Flyer
Other: I expressed an interest in your department and to volunteer then applied w resume
List relevant education, training, experience, certificates of training, licenses, or professional
registration:
Accountancy Management; PowerPoint; universi ty and Jr. college trained; Trainer of
personnel in accountancy business and 501C3 affiliation/ trainer, categories of
education and service: Business and Law trai ned , specifically: Paralegal studies and
general business training as well; accountancy and H.R. -15 yrs. of experience;
Investigative training and work in the community, locally: San Jose; Law Office work
traini ng and reports/legal specific: Palo Alto: Dept.: to criminal, civil and Probate,
city budge,: concerns and meetings at1:ended at Palo Alto city Hall as wel l; social
Politi cal campaign assisting to incumbent David Cortese, supervisor Board of
Supervisors: Santa Clara county/ San Jose, and Voter Registration volunteer for more
than one term: Santa Clara county; Alza Corporation Meetings for women's wages; League
of women voters meetings ; Insurance Training with Quick Learning school: cert.
Historic Resources Board Application
Valerie Driscoll 1 of 5
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Packet Pg. 127
Employment
Present or Last Employer Internship: Atlas Investigations
Occupation: Assistant to Investigator/owner
Describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations:
L€ague of Women Voters; Voter Registration; campaign for David Cortese assisting him to
office 2011; American Lund Association trainer/Financial memberships and records
person, writing in office done there for them, internally--Administrative, community
progress/ads related, assisting with consulting re: market ideas for better marketing.
Attended meetings with Palo Alto City council budget concerns and member to safety and
Emergency preparedness and ongoing concerns for city safety. Civil Attorney: offered a
volunteer assisting position, conc~rning review of regulatory concerns in the
community. Greater interest in council assisting with city of Palo Alto.
Experience in Defense; Hi-Tech; oil Industry; Author of Book on general Economics;
Business consulting volunteer-Stanford,
1. What is it about the Historic Resources Board that is compatible with your experience. and
of specific interest to you, and why?
The type of skills sought for the position, and familiarity with budgets, cities,
regulations, laws, safety concerns, and council processes; familiarity with Economics,
statistics, city concerns related to budget and overall concerns for progress, and
city developmen,t and management; community involvement. Please see resume.
Valerie Driscoll
Historic Resources Board Application
2 ofS
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2. Please describe an issue that recently came before the Board that is of particular interest
to you and describe why you are interested in it. If you have never been to a Board
meeting you can view an archived video from the Midpen Media Center: LINK
eudget revenues and development associated With general budget fiscal management of the
city and projects associated with budget fiscal reports and budget review and
allocation for city projects and improvement.
3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Historic Resources Board
achieve, and why? How would you suggest accomplishing this?
To achieve better management of revenues and projects given proper budget allocation
for best overall management of the city, allowing also for growth and safety concerns
for the city.
Valerie Driscoll
Historic Resources Board Application
3 ofS
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4. Please identify a project or projects that you find to be examples of good historic
architecture, and explain why. You may attach samples, identify project addresses, or
provide links. If you attach samples, Staff may request that you bring hard copy print outs
to the interviews.
J Paul Project while it was in development. The concept is very interesting, although
I don't have any affiliation with anyone on that team.
S. Historic Resources Board Members work with the documents listed below. If you have
experience with any of these documents, please describe that experience. Experience with
these documents is not required for selection.
Palo Alto Cornprehens1ve Plan Land Use Element LINK
Palo Alto Mun1clpal Code Chapter 16.49 LINK
Secretary of the Interiors Standards for:
Preserving, Rehab1htating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings LINK
California Environmental Quality Act LINK
Please see resume.
Valerie Dri scol l
Historic Resources Board Application
4 of 5
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Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website
California Government Code Section 6254.21 states, in part,
ess or telephone number of any elected or appointed
official on the Internet
This consent form will not be redacted and will be attached
The full code can be read here: LINK
Read the code, and check only ONE option below:
X
I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to
Commission Application intact. I have read and understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at any time by providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
OR
I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my home address, phone numbers, and email address
from the attached Board and Commission Application
providing the following alternate information and request that they use the following contact
information instead.
Address:
__ Ho
The phone number/ address can be non-public and different than the address collected on page one.
~ OocuS,gl\•d by
Vo.U,¥it-Vns~tL
Signature: &49135T~tlo1'04F4 D t 8/31/2016 ae: _____ _
(Optional) Additional Attachmentls)
If you would like to submit a resume, work sample, etc. along with yo ur
Application, Check this box x and cl
Valerie Driscoll
Historic Resources Board Application
S of S
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Valerie M. Driscoll
Career Objective: To work in your Parks and Recreation Division Commission.
San Jose City Democratic Party meetings until March 2020. City of Palo Alto; City Hall of San Jose and Santa Clara County Meetings involvement: Revenues; Transportation; Traffic; City/County Social Development;
Housing; Zoning; City/County Planning and Development; Budget. Palo Alto City Hall: Being considered for position with City Hall: Their Historic Reesources Board position with City Council, which has been left open for me to interview for.
Internship: Investigations- Atlas Investigations, San Jose, CA: Administrative Assistant to Owner, and database, computer input Skip Traces and Background Checks; Filing misc. duties 12/2010-1/2011. I am a graduate of the Global School of Investigations of Massachusetts and California.
Offered Investigations position paid or volunteer by well-known Civil, Criminal/ Bankruptcy attorney with fine reputation, well known by the Sheriff’s Dept. San Jose CA: Thomas Salcicia. Two weeks later he died. It was a shock to the legal community and to the Sheriff’s Dept. June 2016.
Healthcare- Breathe California, e.g. (American Lung Association) 501 C3: Teaching, database management, article writing, general office and internet, some marketing consulting regarding advertising, phones and accounts updating, processing.12/ 2010- 01/2011.
Sociology- Counseling Internship Trained by Licensed Social Worker to Counsel Mentally Ill clients: Agency: ACT, San Jose: 2009-2010. Political Campaign Support to David Cortese, Santa Clara Supervisor: 2010-2011. Asked to run for office while volunteering with Alza Corporation/
2 terms: Voter Registration, Sunnyvale and San Jose. Santa Clara County Recreation/Transportation: Dept. Land and Water Preservation; Public Meetings: Transportation; Traffic Meetings; League of Women Voters.
Author of Economics Book Guide, regarding City/ County Governance and the Economy of Silicon Valley and the United States. Safety and Emergency Preparedness Representative with the City of Palo Alto Home Owner’s Community.
Work Experience: Oil Transport Company, San Jose, CA: 08/1993-09/1993: Accountant Mgr. Auditor A/P, A/R database files, with auditing, checking year-to-date totals, and Bookkeeping office administration: Job-Costing; W-2’s, Payroll assistant: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, QuickBooks and Peachtree software. Education was sought fulltime in Business; Psychology: Liberal studies, as well as greater opportunity work experiences, the goal: To find a company with a more
1.c
Packet Pg. 132
defined succession plan, studied Psychology and Business.
Cisco/Lucent: 04/1993-08/1993: AP/AR Assistant to Management Accounts/administration: Saved the company 1 million dollars before they became Cisco, negotiated contracts with Working with Account vendors; Tracking;
Correspondence; Team environment; multi-tasking; bookkeeping, databases and hardcopy, files, full service. Seeking permanent position with succession plan because company position was transitional. Goodman Ball Defense (Missiles), Mountain View, CA: 04/1992-04/1993 Jr.
Accountant: Duties included: Assistance with payroll related functions; Use of Peachtree software; AP/AR in purchasing and records; Job-costing; Organization of Logs; Fixed Asset Accounting, database files; Year-to-date files; W-2s; Double Entry bookkeeping Data base files and hard copy; Journals, ledger input (On Financial forms). H.R. duties were carried out. There were cutbacks in Defense
during that time/better offer toward a hope for a company with a better succession plan. Paid Internship and Job: Law Offices, Palo Alto, CA 12/1991-04/1992: Intern Law Administration: Civil, Criminal and Probate: Agency type of practice on Park Blvd. behind Superior Court. Court documents and prep for court, many. San Mateo Apartment Complex Management: 09/1991-12/1991: Administrative
Assistant to Management, some bookkeeping; Correspondence; Team; assisting
with tenant types of issues, maintenance. Continued education, relocated, higher
education was available and opportunities to train. Career sought, better succession plan. Transitioning during this time to Silicon Valley training, schools, relocation to Silicon Valley.
Education: Associates Degree: West Valley College, Saratoga, CA 9/2000-6/2003
Liberal Studies/Paralegal:2000-2003; Fort Hays State University/Global School of Investigations, MA/CA, graduate: 2009-2010; Quick Learning School: San Jose, CA: A. Pre-licensing: Insurance: Health and B. Code and Ethics Certificate: 4/24/2010-5/15/2010- 52 hours total, completed.
Palo Alto, San Jose City Government meetings: 2010-2015 also: Formerly San Mateo College, San Mateo County 1980-1990. Tech with Comp USA until Accounting position available in addition to work at College of San Mateo: drafting, and work later in Silicon Valley with an Architect on Blueprints and plans for building: 1982-1983 (nothing permanent available).
Healthcare, Oil industry, Bio Tech, and Non-profit 501 C3, as well, Apartment
Complex Admin. Property Manager Assistant: Strong literacy in Microsoft
Word/Windows: Excel Spreadsheets, some charts; Power Point, Outlook,
QuickBooks, Peachtree software. Was a p/t tech. with Computer USA,
built computer systems hardware computers with Stanford University
Engineers: Worked with Hardware/software- 1986; Windows XP; Windows7;
Windows 10; Explorer 9, 10; Programming and Networks skills, and html, Java;
QC in computers manufacturing; Accounts management of database; DOS;
Perl, C++; PeopleSoft. San Mateo: College of San Mateo 80-89.
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Historic Resources Board Application
Name Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz
Address
City -
Postal Code -
Cell Phone -
Home Phone
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Do you have any relatives or members No
of your household who are employed
by the City of Palo Alto, who are
currently serving on the City Council,
or who are Commissioners or Board
Members?
Are you available and committed to Yes
complete the term applied for?
Fair Political Practices No
California state law requires
board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political
Practices Commission, Conflict of Interest,
Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in,
or do you or your spouse serve as an officer
or director of, a company doing business in
Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
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2. Provide products or services for City
projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or
Commission?
Excluding your principal residence, do
you or your spouse own real property
in Palo Alto?
How did you learn about the vacancy
on the Historic Resources Board?
• Community Group
• Email from the City
• Palo Alto Weekly
• Daily Post
• City Website
• Flyer
• Other
Consent to Publish Personal
Information on the City of Palo Alto
Website
California Government Code Section
6254.21 states, in part, "No state or local
agency shall post the home address or
telephone number of any elected or
appointed official on the Internet without first
obtaining the written permission of that
individual." This consent form will not be
redacted and will be attached to the
Application and posted to the City's website.
For the full code, review the California
Government Code Section 6254.21.
Read the code, and check only ONE option
below:
• I give permission for the City of
Palo Alto to post to the City's
website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I
have read and understand my
rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this
permission at any time by
providing written notice to the
Palo Alto City Clerk.
• I request that the City of Palo Alto
redact my home address, phone
numbers, and email address from
the attached Board and
Commission Application prior to
posting to the City's website. I am
providing the following alternate
information and request that the
following contact information:
Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz Page 2
No
Other: Word of mouth
I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post
to the City's website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I have read and
understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at
any time by providing written notice to the Palo
Alto City Clerk.
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Alternate Contact Information
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training,
experience, certificates of training, licenses,
and professional registration.
(621 characters max)
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Occupation
Is your Company/Employer your
current one or last?
Please describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer and
civic organizations, including dates and
any offices held.
(1311 characters max)
Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz Page 3
I am the Conservator for SFO Museum, the
museum at San Francisco International Airport,
where I oversee the care of the museum's
permanent collection, exhibits programs, and
public art at the airport. Previously, I held
positions at the Fine Arts Museums of San
Francisco and Metropolitan Museum of Art. I am
a Professional Associate of the American Institute
for Conservation.
I hold a BA in Art History with a Minor in
Archaeology from Stanford University. I earned an
MA in Art History with an Advanced Certificate in
Conservation from New York University's Institute
of Fine Arts. I also hold an MBA from the Haas S
SFO Museum, San Francisco International Airport, the City and
County of San Francisco
Art Conservator
Current Employer
Western Association for Art Conservation,
Regional Reporter, 2010-present. I compile news
updates from the Northern California region for
the newsletter.
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Application Questions
1. What is it about the Historic Resources
Board that is compatible with your
experience and of specific interest to you,
and why?
(1518 characters max)
2. Please describe an issue that recently
came before the Board that is of particular
interest to you and describe why you are
interested in it.
(1380 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available
from the Midpen Media Center.
3. If appointed, what specific goals would
you like to see the Historic Resources
Board achieve, and why? How would you
suggest accomplishing this?
Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz Page 4
My career has focused on the preservation of art and historical
artifacts, and I think that the experience I have gained
professionally would be highly applicable to the work of the
Historic Resources Board. I am a museum-based art conservator
with a specialization in three-dimensional objects. I think that
many of the activities in my daily professional practice are very
relevant to this position, including written and photographic
documentation of works, understanding of object life-cycles, and
balancing trade-offs between object use and preservation. In my
daily work at SFO Museum, I am highly involved in the
construction and commissioning of new museum spaces within
the airport, and I have developed a general working knowledge of
construction plans and project workflow.
In addition to working on art and historical objects in a museum
setting, I have worked on both ancient and historical
archaeological sites. I also have experience as a consultant on
architectural projects, where I have worked on items including
original woodwork, built-in furniture, and stonework.
On a personal level, I find historic architecture and historic sites
extremely interesting and I see them as a valuable community
resource. I tremendously enjoy walking in historic districts and
visiting museums, historic homes, and architectural sites.
The recent discussions about the Fry's
Electronics site are interesting to me. The
evaluation of this building is a good example of
the intersection between development and
historic preservation and the multitude of
decisions and options that are inherent in
identifying and preserving historic resources.
Because of my professional experience, I have a
particular interest in the characterization and
description of the historic value of buildings. The
process of determining what makes a building
significant, from association with events, a
person, or architectural style, is analogous to how
it is sometimes necessary to define the scope of
what characterizes an artwork. I found the Page
& Turnbull Historic Resource Evaluation of the
Fry's site to be quite interesting, as it discussed
the significance of the Fry's site as residing in its
construction as a cannery building and not in its
architectural design.
I see this characterization process as particularly
critical and informative because the type and
scope of the designation informs the next steps
for the property and provides guidance for what
might be possible for the site going forward.
I noticed that the Board recently discussed the status of the Mills
Act in Palo Alto. I think it is interesting that Palo Alto does not
currently have a mechanism for property owners to apply for a
Mills Act contract, particularly given how many extraordinary
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Packet Pg. 137
(1725 characters max)
4. Please identify a project or projects that
you find to be examples of good historic
architecture, and explain why. You may
attach samples, identify project
addresses, or provide links. If you attach
samples, Staff may request that you bring
hard copy print outs to the interviews.
(1380 characters max)
5. Historic Resources Board Members
work with the documents listed below. If
you have experience with any of these
documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these
documents is not required for selection.
(1104 characters max)
Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz Page 5
architectural resources are present in the city. Developing an
updated Mills Act policy appears to be an important goal and it
sounds as though the Board has already made headway on this.
While I recognize that there may be some revenue concerns and
potential trade-offs associated with Mills Act contracts, I think it is
important to have an established mechanism for property owners
to engage with the city in this way. I would be interested in
looking at Mills Act programs in other cities that have been
successful and also in having conversations with stakeholders
within Palo Alto to help inform the development of a program
here.
It also seems that recent changes to development laws at the
state level may impact and interact with historic resources
preservation. While the exact scope of this may be somewhat of
an open question at this point, I think it is important for the HRS to
remain aware of how these state-wide changes impact resources
in Palo Alto and to be prepared to address impacts as necessary.
One of the wonderful things about Palo Alto is the
sheer amount of good historic architecture that is
present throughout the city. I think that it's hard
to discuss architecture in Palo Alto without
mentioning the work of architect Birge Clark and
developer Joseph Eichler. The Norris House at
1247 Cowper St. is an outstanding example of
Birge Clark's work in the Spanish Colonial Revival
style. The ironwork and light on the entrance
gate are particularly striking and the PAST award
that the home won in 2004 is a testament to its
thoughtful preservation. Its history as the
Newman Center, affiliated with the Catholic
Community at Stanford, is also an interesting
characteristic of the building that extends beyond
its iconic architecture and speaks to the often
fascinating and complex use histories of
significant buildings.
The designation of the Greenmeadow Eichler
neighborhood on the National Register of Historic
Places is a wonderful acknowledgment of the
contributions of mid-century architecture to Palo
Alto's landscape and to the overall story of
California's growth and history. The property at
4042 Ben Lomond is an excellent example of
sensitive preservation of mid-century residential
architecture that was honored with a PAST award
in 2007.
I am a familiar with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
the Treatment of Historic Properties as the result of my
professional experience. These standards are often relevant to
historic house and historic site museums.
As an owner and resident of a Category 2 historic home in
Professorville, I have familiarized myself with the Professorville
Historic District Design Guidelines.
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Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Land Use
Element (2017)
Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 16.49
Secretary of the Interiors Standards for the
Treatment of Historic Properties (2017)
California Environmental Quality Act
The Professorville Historic District Design
Guidelines (2016)
Other documents listed on this website as
well.
If you'd like to provide any additional
documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the
Boards and Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions
Handbook.
Signature
Date Completed
Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz Page 6
3\5857 40\Eagleston-Cieslewicz Resume 2021.pdf
[SCANNED, FILE SAFE]
Yes
Alisa Eagleston-Cieslewicz
10/21/2021
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ALISA EAGLESTON-CIESLEWICZ
EDUCATION The University of California Berkeley, CA
MBA, 2016.
New York University New York, NY
MA in Art History and Advanced Certificate in Conservation, 2008.
Stanford University Stanford, CA
BA with Honors and Distinction in Art History, minor in Archaeology, 2004.
EXPERIENCE
2008-present
2008-2013
SFO Museum: San Francisco, CA
SFO Museum Conservator (from 2014), Assistant Conservator (2008-2013)
• Leads department and oversees all aspects of conservation for forty annual
exhibits, over one hundred permanent in-terminal artworks, and thousands of
objects in the permanent collection.
• Performs conservation documentation and treatment in support of exhibits,
loans, and permanent collection maintenance, which typically involves over 500
objects annually.
• Oversaw all conservation-related elements of the construction of a new museum
building at SFO. Provided design specifications for new conservation laboratory,
conducted product and materials research in support of construction team, and
served as conservation point of contact with design-build contractors.
• Works with construction, architecture, and facilities teams to build and
commission museum-quality HVAC and lighting systems in newly-built galleries.
• Monitors climate and light levels in twenty in-terminal galleries and in SFO
Museum facility. Implements the integrated pest management policy and
conducts regular pest monitoring. Assesses installations for seismic safety.
• Developed and oversees a conservation internship position that provides part-
time, funded training in conservation for an advanced pre-program student.
• Created and implemented a museum-wide onboarding training curriculum in art
handling and condition assessment. Delivers quarterly training sessions on art
handling to museum staff.
• Hires and manages project-based and contractual conservators.
• Developed and implemented occupational safety protocols to address heavy metal
hazards in museum collection. Created fire safety plan and procedures to safely
display flammable works in SFO terminals.
• Creates annual department budget and prepares budget documentation
according to San Francisco city procedures.
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
Assistant Conservator
• Performed conservation treatment, examination, documentation, and technical
analysis on objects in the permanent collection.
• Prepared documentation and display requirements for outgoing loans.
• Conducted all conservation aspects of installations and deinstallations.
• Carried out climate and light monitoring. Developed ongoing collection
maintenance plans.
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ALISA EAGLESTON-CIESLEWICZ
2008-2016 Eagleston-Cieslewicz Art Conservation San Carlos, CA
Founder and Principal Conservator
• Founded and served as principal conservator for a private conservation practice
that provided examination, treatment, documentation, and survey services to
collectors and institutional clients.
• Oversaw all aspects of financial management and business development.
2007-2008
Summers
2004-2007
The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY
Conservation Assistant and Intern
• Examined, documented and treated objects from the Asian, European Sculpture
and Decorative Arts, Greek and Roman, Islamic, and Oceanic collections.
• Carried out technical studies of artworks, including on proposed acquisitions.
Graduate Level Internships at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Dyckman
Farmhouse Museum, Ransick-Gat Fine Art Services, and the archaeological excavations
at Aphrodisias, Turkey.
Undergraduate
2000-2004
Student curator for Finding Sellaio exhibit at Cantor Center, Conservation intern at
Cantor Center, Student representative for Panel on Outdoor Art at Stanford University,
Member of Cantor Center Outdoor Sculpture Crew, Student conservator at Stanford
University Excavations in Monte Polizzo, Sicily.
PUBLICATIONS AND
LECTURES
Invited Lecturer, University of San Francisco, Museum Studies Graduate Program
• Has delivered four lectures annually since 2012
• Curriculum covers museum environmental standards and monitoring,
conservation of three-dimensional objects, identification and conservation of
plastics, and ethical considerations in the conservation of modern and cultural
materials.
“Protecting Art in Public Spaces: Working in an In-Airport Museum,” Case-Study
Presentation at the California Association of Museums Conference, February 2019.
“The Ongoing Care of Artworks in Airports,” American Association of Airport Executives
Arts in the Airport Conference, 2014.
“The Conservation of a Baining Headdress.” ANAGPIC Conference Proceedings, 2007.
Published online at
http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~anagpic/2007pdf/2007ANAGPIC_Eagleston.pdf
“The Virgin, Child, and Saint John: Resolving the Contested Attribution of a Renaissance
Panel Painting Through Information Obtained During the Conservation Process,”
Stanford University Senior Honors Thesis. Excerpts published in the Cantor Arts Center
Journal, Volume 3, 2002-2003.
ADDITIONAL Awards: Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation, Phi Beta
Kappa (Stanford University), Cap and Gown Women’s Honor Society (Stanford
University), Lila Acheson Wallace Fellowship (New York University), Hagop Kevorkian
Fellowship in Conservation (New York University).
Languages: Proficient in Spanish and Italian. Able to read German. Basic Ancient
Greek.
Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, FileMaker, Past Perfect, Adobe Photoshop, general studio
photography techniques, certified scissor lift and boom lift operator.
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