HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 13977
City of Palo Alto (ID # 13977)
City Council Staff Report
Meeting Date: 2/5/2022 Report Type: Action Items
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Title: Consideration and Selection of 2022 City Council Priorities
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
Recommendation
Policy and Services Committee recommends that Council consider and select the 2022 City
Council Priorities.
Background
In October 2012, City Council approved Priority Setting Guidelines (CMR #3156) and outlined
the role for the Policy and Services Committee in this activity. Per the Guidelines (included with
CMR #13744), a priority is defined as a topic that will receive particular, unusual and significant
attention during the year. Additionally, there is a goal of no more than three priorities per year,
generally with a three-year time limit. Policy and Services Committee discussed potential City
Council priority topics at the December 14, 2021 meeting (CMR #13744; action minutes not yet
available) and moved to refer a refined/cleaned up list to the City Council for consideration in
the 2022 Priority Setting process.
The original report (CMR #13744) and its attachments are found in Attachment A to this report.
Additional information was also gathered as part of a community survey and is attached to this
report.
The 2021 Priorities, as selected at the City Council’s Annual Retreat on January 30, 2021 (CMR
#11957; Minutes) are as follows:
- Economic Recovery
- Housing for Social and Economic Balance
- Social Justice
- Climate Change – Protection and Adaptation
Discussion
Staff e-mailed current City Council members requesting their suggestions for priority topics to
be included, to be received by December 1, 2021. The suggestions received by the time of this
publication are included in this memo. As recommended by Policy and Services, the duplicates-
removed/cleaned up priorities for full City Council discussion are as follows, alphabetically:
City of Palo Alto Page 2
1. Accelerate Climate Change Actions And Implementation Of The SCAP
2. Affordable Housing And Socioeconomic Balance
3. Belonging And Social Justice
4. Healthy City Healthy Community
5. Post Pandemic Economic Recovery And Local Economic Development And Support
6. Public Safety
7. Push Back On State Legislation That Trumps Local Control
8. Rebalance Infrastructure Plan
9. Redesign And Streamline Internal And External City Processes
The Policy and Services Committee discussed the full version (CMR #13744) of the list above
and also discussed the possibility of maintaining the current priorities into the next year but
ultimately decided to forward the cleaned up list of ideas to the full City Council for discussion
at the 2022 retreat.
Community Survey through Open City Hall
In addition to soliciting the City Council for suggestions on City Council 2022 priorities, staff also
released an Open City Hall survey to gather additional priority suggestions from the community
at large. The online survey was open from early December 2021 through January 18, 2022. The
survey forum had 409 visitors to the webpage and gained 275 specific community responses.
The full report including individual responses can be viewed in Attachment B. To summarize,
some of the most frequently commented on priorities to focus in the coming year included:
• Community and Economic Recovery
• Public Safety
• Climate Change
• Housing
• Community Services, Libraries
• Transportation
• City Infrastructure
In addition to the online survey, several community members emailed the City Council directly.
Attachment C contains emails received from the public.
Timeline, Resource Impact, Policy Implications
No additional resource impact is expected at this time, though future budget allocations and
policy recommendations could result from applying the priorities to community and staff work.
Stakeholder Engagement
The community and the City Council have been solicited for their input and suggestions
regarding the priorities. The community weighed in through the Open City Hall survey platform
as well as the ability to send emails to the City Council through city.council@cityofpaloalto.org.
City of Palo Alto Page 3
Environmental Review
This is not considered a project as defined by CEQA.
Attachments:
• Attachment A: December 2021 Policy and Services Priorities Report
• Attachment B: 2022 City Council Priorities, Community Survey through Open City Hall
• Attachment C: 2022 City Council Priorities, Emails
City of Palo Alto (ID # 13744)
Policy and Services Committee Staff Report
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Meeting Date: 12/14/2021
Title: Discuss and Make Recommendations for the 2022 City
Council Priority Setting Process and Follow Up Discussion on Council Retreat
Referral to Discuss Possible Edits, Changes, or Updates to the City Council
Procedures and Protocols Handbook
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Policy and Services Committee discuss and consider making
recommendations to the City Council regarding 2022 priorities and, potentially, format and
facilitation for the Council’s annual retreat in January or February.
The Policy and Services Committee should also consider and discuss potential substantive edits,
changes, and revisions to the City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook (CPP or
Handbook) and recommend desired changes to the City Council for consideration at its annual
retreat in January 2022.
Background:
In October 2012, the City Council approved Priority Setting Guidelines (CMR #3156) and
outlined the role for the Policy & Services Committee in this activity. Per the Guidelines
(Attachment A), a priority is defined as a topic that will receive unusual and significant
attention during the year. Additionally, there is a goal of no more than three priorities per year,
generally with a three-year time limit.
The 2021 Priorities, as selected at the City Council’s Annual Retreat on January 30, 2021 (CMR
#11957, Minutes) are as follows:
-Economic Recovery
-Housing for Social and Economic Balance
-Social Justice
-Climate Change – Protection and Adaptation
Previous years’ priorities are found in Attachment B.
Handbook Background:
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Attachment A
City of Palo Alto Page 2
The Municipal Code provides that the City Council should adopt “a handbook of procedural
rules governing any aspect of the conduct of meetings and hearings for the Council and its
standing committees, including but not limited to agenda requirements, the order of business,
rules of order, rules of evidence, closed session procedures and rules for public participation in
meetings” (PAMC section 2.04.100). The City Council adopted the first version of the City
Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook in the early 2000s.
The Handbook calls on the City Council to review its procedural rules and protocols annually.
(CPP, Protocols Section 3.1, p. 34). This is typically done at the City Council’s January retreat.
The Handbook has been amended numerous times over the years with updates to particular
sections, though the core of the document has remained largely unchanged for over 20 years.
Most recently, the City Council adopted a set of changes on February 1, 2020 (CMR #11036;
Minutes), during the annual City Council Retreat, with approval following a referral to Policy
and Services.
In June 2021, the Policy and Services Committee discussed the City Council Procedures and
Protocols (CMR #12341) and decided to: recommend that the City Council hires a consultant to
cleanup and reformat the handbook to improve readability and ease of use for City Council
Members, Staff and the public (Minutes).
That recommendation was taken to the City Council in August 2021 (CMR #13446) and the City
Council approved the following: to approve the retention of a consultant to clean up and
reformat the City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook (Minutes).
Discussion:
Staff e-mailed current Council members requesting their suggestions for priority topics to be
included, to be received by December 1, 2021. The suggestions received by the time of this
publication are included in this memo. The community is also being solicited for suggestions. It
will remain open and available to the community for inclusion at the Council retreat, date TBD.
At the retreat itself, the community can also attend and express their views at the meeting. The
purpose of this solicitation is to help inform the Council on priorities for the upcoming year.
The Council preliminary suggestions (listed below) will help organize ideas into groupings in
advance of the retreat so staff and Council can prepare for a productive retreat. Council
members are free to modify choices at the Policy and Services Committee meeting or Council
retreat. The National Community Survey, formerly known as the National Citizens Survey, will
not take place this year (as directed in the City budget to a bi-annual process), thus that input
will not be available this year to help inform the priority setting process. The Policy and Services
Committee may make recommendations regarding the priorities as well as regarding the
retreat format and facilitator. Of note, the Human Relations Commission, in their presentation
to the Policy and Services Committee as part of the September Race and Equity Update shared
an interest in the City Council considering “Belonging” as a possible Council priority.
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City of Palo Alto Page 3
Following solicitation of City Council members for their topics of interest, the topics received
are listed below in alphabetical order:
1. Affordable housing (unless it is already an ongoing item based on being a priority
multiple times already)
2. Civility and respect in public discourse, to reinforce a welcoming community and a sense
of belonging for all community members
3. Climate Change – Protection and Adaptation; Accelerate Climate Actions (mentioned 5
times)
4. Development and support for community-serving businesses, revitalization of shopping
districts
5. Economic Recovery
6. Healthy City, Healthy Community (to address health and equity concerns in the
community; include diversity and inclusion here, particularly around increasing diversity
of City staff especially in public safety)
7. Healthy City, Healthy Community
8. Housing for Social and Economic Balance (mentioned 2 times)
9. Implementation of sustainability and climate action plan
10. Local Economic development
11. Partner with housing providers to add a variety of housing types throughout the city
12. Post-pandemic fiscal sustainability
13. Public Safety
14. Push Back on state legislation that trumps Local Control
15. Rebalance infrastructure plan (update/modify list of Council-approved projects and
funding methods)
16. Redesign and streamline internal and external City processes to become a more nimble
organization
17. Respond to significant changes in work location (fewer visitors in Palo Alto each day, the
City’s own workforce's needs and preferences, residents spending more time at home)
18. Social Justice
Council Protocols and Procedures:
Staff is working with a communication and copy-editing specialist on reorganizing and
simplifying the CPP document to improve clarity and make the Handbook easier to use.
Substantive revisions will not be made at this stage. The draft document will be presented to
the Policy and Services Committee when the draft is further along.
In the meantime, the Policy and Services Committee expressed interest in reviewing the City
Council’s ideas for substantive changes to the Handbook. These items will be further discussed
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City of Palo Alto Page 4
at the City Council retreat in early 2022. Those items are listed in the June report (CMR
#12341). In the June 2021 report, staff also shared a list of some items for the Committee to
consider. At this time, staff is holding off on bringing forward those items until the reformatted
Handbook is completed. This allows staff to focus on the Handbook reformatting in partnership
with the consultant and also gives staff time to further refine those staff-generated CPP
suggestions.
Timeline, Resource Impact, Policy Implications
No additional resource impact is expected at this time. This discussion will inform the annual
Council retreat, currently TBA, pending appointment of a new Mayor, but usually held in late
January or early February of each year.
Stakeholder Engagement
Council members and the community have been or are being solicited for their thoughts and
topic suggestions. At the retreat itself the public can also attend and express their views during
the meeting.
Environmental Review
This is not considered a project as defined by CEQA and no review is required.
Attachments:
• Attachment A-Priority Setting Guidelines
• Attachment B-Past Council Priorities
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City of Palo Alto
City Council Priority Setting Guidelines
Approved by City Council: October 1, 2012
Last revised: October 1, 2012
Background
The City Council adopted its first Council priorities in 1986. Each year the City Council reviews
it’s priorities at its Annual Council Retreat. On October 1, 2012 the City Council formally
adopted the definition of a council priority, and the Council’s process and guidelines for
selection of priorities.
Definition
A Council priority is defined as a topic that will receive particular, unusual and significant
attention during the year.
Purpose
The establishment of Council priorities will assist the Council and staff to better allot and utilize
time for discussion and decision making.
Process
1. Three months in advance of the annual Council Retreat, staff will solicit input from the City
Council on the priorities to be reviewed and considered for the following year.
a. Council members may submit up to three priorities.
b. Priorities should be submitted no later than December 1.
c. As applicable, the City Manager will contact newly elected officials for their input by
December 1.
d. The City Clerk will provide timely notice to the public to submit proposed priorities by
December 1. The Policy and Services Committee shall recommend to the Council
which suggestions if any shall be considered at the City Council retreat.
2. Staff will collect and organize the recommended priorities into a list for Council
consideration, and provide to Council no less than two weeks in advance of the retreat.
3. The Policy and Services Committee, each year at its December meeting, shall make
recommendations about the process that will be used at the Annual Retreat paying
particular attention to the number of priorities suggested by Council members. The
recommended process is to be forwarded to Council for adoption in advance of the Council
retreat.
Guidelines for Selection of Priorities
1. There is a goal of no more than three priorities per year.
2. Priorities generally have a three year time limit.
Attachment A 4.a
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ATTACHMENT B
Past Palo Alto City Council Priorities, By Year for the last six years:
2021
• Economic Recovery
• Housing for Social and Economic Balance
• Social Justice
• Climate Change – Protection and Adaptation
2020
• Housing, with special emphasis on affordability
• Sustainability, in the context of the changing climate
• Improving mobility for all
2019
• Climate Change
• Grade Separation (choose preferred alternative by end of the year)
• Traffic and Transportation
• Fiscal Sustainability
2018
• Transportation
• Housing
• Budget and Finance (create an infrastructure funding plan)
• Grade Separation (choose preferred alternative by end of year)
2017
• Transportation
• Housing
• Infrastructure
• Healthy City, Healthy Community
• Budget and Finance
2016
• The Built Environment: Housing, Parking, Livability, and Mobility
• Infrastructure
• Healthy City, Healthy Community
• Completion of the Comprehensive Plan 2015-2030 Update
4.b
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1 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
Contents
i.Summary of priorities 2
ii.Individual priorities 3
Summary Of Priorities
As of January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM, this forum had:Topic Start Topic End
Attendees:413 November 30, 2021, 10:15 AM January 18, 2022, 12:00 PM
Priorities:275
Hours of Public Comment:13.8
2 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Individual Priorities
Name not available
December 1, 2021, 1:40 PM
Crime and public safety: recently there have been a spate
of robberies, assaults, and burglaries
Traffic and congestion: traffic around Palo Alto has been
steadily getting worse
City infrastructure: additional investment in electric and
Internet infrastructure to prepare the city for 21st century
needs
Name not available
December 1, 2021, 7:23 PM
Active Transportation: Walking, Biking, & Transit
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 7:55 AM
Crisis management: there are times when change is not
driven by community choice as much as response to crisis
and Palo Alto is living through a period of multiple crises,
including: climate change, drought, income inequality,
social justice, public safety, affordable housing, COVID,
hyper-partisanship, political dysfunction, inflation,
crumbling/evolving infrastructure, and so on. How should
the Council better recognize, or explicitly address, the
context of crisis management and likelihood of significant
change in the long-term conditions for living and working
and raising families in our community? For example:
remote working as it impacts jobs:housing, traffic, school
enrollment, retail, employment, etc. How will our post
crisis future differ from the prior status quo and how can
we optimize by managing change?
Bill Fitch
in Evergreen Park
December 2, 2021, 3:41 PM
Public safety should always be the highest priority.
Maintain an excellent police and fire capability. Next is
housing and homelessness. I would like to see PA take a
leadership role in proposing new high rise housing on the
peninsula rather than fighting state regulations in court.
Finally, resolve the caltrain crossing issues with the best
outcome for bikers not cars.
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 4:52 PM
Traffic flow - it’s starting to get congested again
Crime and security - there have been a lot of petty crimes
lately.
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 6:31 PM
Literally just build as much housing as humanly possible.
Stop putting caveats and zoning on it. Build. More.
Housing.
Name not shown
in Charleston Meadows
December 2, 2021, 7:30 PM
1. Sustainability
2. Diversity and Inclusion , Social Justice
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 8:18 PM
Economic recovery for businesses, low tax rates, updated
schools,pre community activities and events, esp for kids.
No interest in advancing social Justice issues or equality
issues. None.
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 8:21 PM
Low taxes, esp for doing business in Palo Alto, reinstating
the gifted and talented program for kids, recruiting and
paying teachers well, more community events, eg
3 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Christmas parades like the one Los Altos just had. Not
interested in advancing social justice. Not interested in
affordable housing.
Abhishek Bajoria
in Midtown/ Midtown West
December 2, 2021, 8:23 PM
We need to fight climate change. More and safe bikes lanes
in Palo Alto means that short car trips are no longer
necessary, which will add up to tons of CO2 saved. Let’s
make Palo Alto more bike friendly!
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 8:28 PM
Want anonymous input.
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 8:38 PM
Safety issues. The crimes around the city are increasing,
which makes people feel insecure. We need more police to
protect people and be strict on the criminals.
Ken Horowitz
in University Park
December 2, 2021, 8:54 PM
1)Healthy City, Healthy Community. Health is the greatest
wealth. The #1 priority for the Council should be to support
proven policy initiatives that put the health of our residents
first. The American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes
Association, the American Cancer Society, the American
Heart Association, the California Black Heath Network, the
Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, and many other
organizations support a sugary drink tax. And the
California voters who passed sugary drink taxes have given
their cities millions of dollars in revenue to address critical
health needs. Soda taxes should be everywhere including
in Palo Alto. I understand that the City Council is
considering two ballot measures such a business tax as
well as a utility tax. However I believe that residents will
favor a ballot measure that has a specific purpose, and a
sugary drink tax will direct its monies on healthy initiatives
for residents such as students’ well being. It is not
unreasonable to put multiple tax measures on the
upcoming November election. And I hope the City Council
will do such!
2)Renovate Cubberley. Buy out the remaining unplanned
acres owned by PAUSD and incorporate them into the
acres owned by the City into a new community center that
serve the needs of residents. Currently, the buildings there
are a liability. Get on with it, City Council!
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 9:08 PM
More hours and activities through the library, as a safe
space for students, resource for the community, and way
to bond
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 9:09 PM
Lower taxes to encourage more small businesses to help
our downtown and California street thrive again.
Businesses such as restaurants, store fronts, gyms, spas,
and other services make this a great place to live and work
Name not available
December 2, 2021, 9:10 PM
More funding and services for various students at PAUSD,
more staff support to help with different levels, from those
who are above grade level to those who are struggling.
Individualized attention for students. Our schools attract
residents. Maintaining top quality schools is a must for our
city
Name not available
December 3, 2021, 8:20 AM
Climate change and adaptation to its many impacts on our
City is my first priority. Cybersecurity, especially of our
utilities, is a close second.
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Name not shown
in Palo Verde
December 3, 2021, 1:38 PM
Please prioritize eliminating Caltrain Horn noise at all
crossings - particularly PA Avenue.
Thank you
Tal Samet
in Midtown/ Midtown West
December 4, 2021, 2:43 PM
Palo Alto should prioritize mitigating the envoirmental
effect to the neighborhood just across the city facilities in
mid town. There several facilities that negatively effect the
environment, including the city facilities just across the
101, the electrical power station, multiple office space with
various licenses. All results in very poor air quality and
pullotion. The city shoul do a study and take all measures
to improve the quality of air for those of us the leave
between Fabian way and Oregon express way. Thanks!
Name not available
December 4, 2021, 5:35 PM
PALO alto needs to focus on its brand, which is excellent
schools, a thriving downtown, a great place to live and to
work. We need to focus on keeping competitive on these
fronts
- for schools we should have more funding towards
buildings, newer facilities, staff, activities
- for community we should continue to have more events
such as concerts at Mitchell park, magical bridge, tree
lighting, or even things like the parade at Los Altos
- help neighbors get to know each other through funding
for neighborhood events and associations, which will keep
our neighborhood safer
- safety for businesses and home, better police
enforcement from petty crime as such porch package
thieves to more major things
- have a thriving downtown, help small businesses recover
with lower taxes
- make it friendly for businesses to continue to have offices
in downtown
Name not available
December 4, 2021, 6:44 PM
Assistance to homeless, decriminalizing sleeping in
vehicles, provisions of more public shower services
Name not available
December 5, 2021, 12:49 PM
Stop buying public art with city money. It doesn't enrich
the community, nor uplift the spirit; it's a waste of money.
Name not available
December 5, 2021, 1:00 PM
Remove all political and social justice messaging on public
property. The anti-ICE messaging along Embarcadero
(since removed) should never have been there. The
similarly-colored political messaging on the Palo Alto Art
Center should never have been there and should be
removed immediately. Neither installation is "art"--if this is
the rationale for displaying such work, please find
politically neutral art instead. Political messaging in all
forms is acceptable on private property (residences,
commercial buildings, etc.), but should never be on public
property.
Name not available
December 5, 2021, 7:53 PM
I think there should be a free ice cream day each week.
This would make people feel better and be happier.
Name not shown
in University South
December 6, 2021, 9:28 AM
1. Economic recovery: Save our downtown and commerce
centers, so that we can have a thriving sales tax base.
Make it easy for new businesses to start up and also
acquire the space that they need. Palo Alto is a regional
destination and without economic growth and recovery we
cannot achieve any other goals like social justice.
2. Airplane noise
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
3. Infrastructure: Communication infrastructure like Fiber.
Bicycle and Pedestrian infrastructure.
Name not available
December 7, 2021, 1:20 PM
40% of Palo Altans are renters. I am a teacher in PAUSD
and have rented an apartment here for the past five years.
My income has risen (you can see it available publicly
online), as has my rent, and I am going to be priced out of
the city this year because my rent went up and I cannot
continue to put half of my money towards it. Prioritize
renters and people living in poverty - there are so many of
them, they are invisible, they don't know where to go for
help, and your focus on landlords' rights and zoning are -
not only a palimpsest of Palo Alto's redlining and
blockbusting - they are harming people, especially
children. If you can't win without big money, that should
really tell you a lot about YOUR values and priorities that
you care more about keeping your power to serve a select
few rather than actually do your job.
Name not shown
in Oak Creek
December 8, 2021, 10:35 AM
Stanford University should be encouraged to build more
housing on campus for students and staff.
Name not available
December 8, 2021, 11:19 AM
Palo Alto needs to build more high-density, middle-income
housing.
Name not shown
in Evergreen Park
December 9, 2021, 11:34 AM
I would like more rental protection. I am one of the 46% of
Palo Alto citizens who are renters. My husband and I now
live on Social Security and savings and have rented our 1-
bedroom apartment for about 35 years. My landlady is
giving us a rent break since we help with apartment
repairs, but she wants to sell the building. We’re afraid that
the new owners would raise or rent a lot. It would be very
difficult for us to move due to our bad backs. Thank you for
your help.
Name not available
December 9, 2021, 12:29 PM
Housing, Housing, Housing! As a renter, I have no safety
nets. My building is being sold, and I will have to move out
of the area because, as someone who earns under $100K, I
will not be able to afford housing at a new apartment. I
make too much for ultra-low income housing, and besides,
the waitlists are ridiculously long. The way Palo Alto treats
low-middle income earners is despicable.
Name not available
December 9, 2021, 9:25 PM
Remove climate change from list. Nothing Palo Alto does
alone makes any difference to a global issue.
Ligia Murillo
in Community Center
December 10, 2021, 11:48 PM
I would like to see parks with activities for teenagers. I wish
the education for low income students would improve.
More after school programs for low
income students.
Name not available
December 11, 2021, 7:17 AM
Look at balance of attention given South vs North Palo Alto
and especially Southwest Palo Alto
( Green Acres, Ventura and Barron Park )
and retail on El Camino in Southwest Palo Alto -seems
very unequal.
Name not shown
in Greenmeadow
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
December 16, 2021, 9:18 AM
The intersection from San Antonio Way onto San Antonio
Ave is a safety nightmare and badly needs redesign. Cars
bear down on cars attempting to cross onto the avenue
and merge in before the light on Middlefield. I have heard
and experienced many stories of close calls or people
crossing over the dimpled part of San Antonio Ave before
the merge to turn left at Middlefield. Please consider
putting in barriers instead of dimples to address this at
least.
Second I would love for the city to reengage on jet noise
over South Palo Alto. The FAA only understands one thing:
litigation. Other communities has successfully use
lawsuits as a means of getting change.
Name not shown
in Barron Park
December 16, 2021, 9:26 AM
HOUSING, HOUSING and HOUSING are my top 3 priorities.
Teachers, secretaries, firefighters, nurses, etc. cannot
afford to live here anymore. Once they go, they're not
coming back. We can't keep our heads in the sand and only
think about ourselves because "we've got ours". Enough
with the nonsense arguments about traffic, historical
nature of the city, etc. I am fortunate enough to live in a
$5M+ home and even I see how ridiculous it is getting here.
Name not shown
in Midtown/ Midtown West
December 16, 2021, 9:27 AM
Carefully planned, sustainable afffordable housing with
excellent design, access to public transportation and safe
outdoor spaces including parks.
A plan to prevent the predictable and likely affects of
climate change on existing built housing and
infrastructure, to be accomplished within a decade.
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 9:29 AM
Any stated priorities as their implementation implies
improving infrastructure and physical plant should be
emphasized.
Name not shown
in College Terrace
December 16, 2021, 9:31 AM
I feel very strongly that priorities should be focused on
protecting the environment. This includes dealing with the
climate crisis, and protecting Foothills Park. If there is any
way to go back to having the park open only to Palo Alto
residents, I believe that the decision to open up the park to
all should be reversed. Only by protecting the environment
can we hope to deal with other problems for the long term.
So, my priorities are: 1) deal with climate crisis; 2) reverse
the opening up of Foothills Park to all; 3) 2 smaller things
are tied for third place: make sure the animal shelter is fully
funded; and have the College Terrace Library be open
during the hours it was open pre-pandemic. The animal
shelter and the College Terrace Library are two things that
the city council has tried repeatedly to obliterate, but they
are a small part of the budget and are really important, so
that efforts to shut them down are particularly egregious.
The College Terrace Library is such a small part of the
library and community service system, but serves a large
community. Mid-town has the huge major library and
community center. Downtown has the downtown library,
the Children's Library, and the Main Library, and the last
two are near the zoo. All of that is on one side of El Camino.
The only kind of community center on the other side of El
Camino is the College Terrace Library. So fully reopen the
library!!!! Efforts to shut it down are shameful.
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
December 16, 2021, 9:32 AM
I think the priorities for 2022 should be the same as in
2021.
Name not shown
in Barron Park
December 16, 2021, 9:33 AM
Housing for the unhoused.
7 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Care for the city's urban forest
Improved public transportation
Dick Schultz
in Palo Verde
December 16, 2021, 9:39 AM
The first priority for 2022 should be more housing. It is a
tragedy that families who grow up in Palo Alto can't afford
to live here.
So the second, third, and fourth priorities are also more
housing. The next is more police protection and
neighborhood security - we
should not have to worry about burglaries at night, at home
- additional security cameras may work. Thanks for your
commitment to Palo Alto.
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 9:43 AM
Please hire the appropriate consultants to help figure out
how to revitalize downtown. Closing university and/or
parklets are very popular but a professional opinion on how
those ideas actually work in the long run is needed.
Reacting to a few retailers and restaurateurs and
landlords’ opinions is not way to formulate a plan. Also,
please get rid of the antiquated arbitrary 50’ height limit, at
least for residential, and encourage more housing. Thanks
for listening
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 10:05 AM
Provide support to gardeners so they can switch to electric
leaf blowers.
No more new office projects!
Name not shown
in Barron Park
December 16, 2021, 10:09 AM
I fail to see why Palo Alto has to grow/get bigger. Given
that we are already built-out - the only way to go is up....is
that what you really want?
Traffic is getting worse as we add more people and more
businesses. We are putting a strain on infrastructure that
was not intended for this many people.
AND that infrastructure cannot not be adequately modifed
ad finitum (Arastadero, etc.). Polititians love growth
because it means more $ for them to spend - our $ is
better spent elsewhere. New development needs to cease.
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 10:09 AM
Caltrain Grade Separation. Let's protect our kids (and
others) from the trains.
Likewise, more support for our kids wellbeing.
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
December 16, 2021, 10:09 AM
Housing the homeless and food insecurity should be at the
top of the list
Name not shown
in Old Palo Alto
December 16, 2021, 10:27 AM
Ban gas leaf blowers AND ENFORCE THE BAN. Residents
of Palo Alto deserve some peace and quiet. Gardeners who
can’t work without using a gas blower to push everything
out into the street can work somewhere else.
And wouldn’t it be nice if Palo Alto PD wrote tickets for all
the loud cars racing around town with modified or NO
exhaust system? Oh wait, that will never happen.
And how about bring our building permitting/inspections
into line with our neighboring cities?
Name not shown
in Duveneck/ St Francis
December 16, 2021, 10:28 AM
8 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Infrastructure, such as roads, needs improvement. Roots
are turning many roads into a series of speed bumps,
Improved infrastructure will help everyone, regardless of
economic level.
Jean-marc mommessin
in Fairmeadow
December 16, 2021, 10:37 AM
We are often woken up by the loud horn of the rail crossing
of both charleston/alma and East meadow/alma.
These horns are at midnight, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3, 4pm..
Other rail crossings in Palo Alto and Menlo have been
exempt from the train required or allowed to horn in the
middle of the night. Can you please address this significant
sound pollution problem for the community. Thank for
your attention to this matter.
Jeralyn Moran
in Barron Park
December 16, 2021, 10:43 AM
I encourage our Palo Alto City Council to highly prioritize
(move to top of the list) Climate Change Mitigation; please
commit to equal focus on protecting ALL remaining
Wildlife Habitat under its jurisdiction!
M A Michel
in University South
December 16, 2021, 10:43 AM
Housing that can be afforded by parents of children
otherwise we will close schools again. Housing must be
more dense, smaller and in the main part of the city.
Converting empty office Building to small apartments
sounds like a good idea.
Just do it asap.
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
December 16, 2021, 10:52 AM
I believe the city of Palo Alto is over-staffed at the
management level (higher paying jobs) and understaffed
on the front lines (those that actually do the work for the
citizens of Palo Alto). In other words we are top heavy and
getting more so every year. This leads to higher cost for
less tangible value, and if not stemmed sooner than later,
we will find ourselves in a major budget hole due to pension
commitments, etc.
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 10:59 AM
We should be sure that the utilities rate structure is
harmonious with the goals of moving from gas to
electricity. Perhaps gas could be surcharged to pay for
discounts on electricity. Right now the incentives are
missing to encourage moving to electricity for heating,
cooking, etc.
Bill Leikam
in Barron Park
December 16, 2021, 11:05 AM
Protect wildlife at the baylands and in the hills. As it stands
at Byxbee Park, the mowing and the removal of coyote
bush on the hillsides is making life extremely difficult if not
downright impossible for the predators and others in the
baylands to survive. Without predators, the baylands'
ecosystem is out of balance resulting in a trophic cascade.
Restoration of riparian habitat is needed. This will increase
the biodiversity of the baylands thus making it a healthy
place for all wildlife to live.
David Coale
in Barron Park
December 16, 2021, 11:05 AM
Climate Change with a priority on our GHG reduction goal
of 80% by 2030.
Transportation
Housing
Name not shown
in University South
9 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
December 16, 2021, 11:38 AM
Sustain efforts to mitigate aviation impacts.
Name not shown
in Downtown North
December 16, 2021, 11:58 AM
Priorities should be resident based. 1. More park space
and facilities for residents. The Fry's site would be perfect
for a large park and civic space. Make it a priority. 2. Write
a population policy that shows that adding more residents
is bad for the natural environment and will add more CO2
and will lessen our chances of getting to our conservation
goals. At the same time fight back against Sacramento
sponsored growth and support the recall initiative to
overturn growth promoting bills like SB9 and SB10. 3.
Stop approving new buildings on the other side of US101
since they will be underwater soon and taxpayers should
not be held responsible for building levees to protect
buildings that should never have been placed there in the
first place.
Name not shown
in Duveneck/ St Francis
December 16, 2021, 12:00 PM
Priorities
* Climate change
*Housing for lower income, including a parking space for
those living in motor homes
*Replacement of grade crossing with under or overground
- keep Churchill open as a through street
^More commercial, less offices downtown
*More reasonable building inspection criteria
Name not shown
in Research Park
December 16, 2021, 12:10 PM
The biggest challenge for Palo Alto remains having
affordable places to live. The city has not kept pace with
others in the region on housing construction and was even
singled out in a New York Times op-ed for being uniquely
resistant to allowing and encouraging housing of any kind.
We need to change this narrative by allowing and
encouraging housing at all income levels. The city is
unaffordable due to a lack of supply and more housing is
needed to make Palo Alto a place where more than just the
incredibly wealthy or inheriting elite can live. Further, Palo
Alto is an example of the legacy of red lining and housing
discrimination. Buying housing is a wealth building tool
that is inaccessible to too many in and outside of our
community. In order to address the sins of the past, we
need to develop a positive future where people feel
welcome and where housing is available to all. Turning
parking lots and strip malls into housing should be a top
priority for the city, as well as, creating more density near
transit.
Name not shown
in University Park
December 16, 2021, 1:21 PM
My priorities:
1. Eliminate homeless population. One of the things that
attracts the homeless to Palo Alto is the free meals. We
could either eliminate them or move the distribution center
to east of 101. Also, crack down on the people living in RVs
on El Camino.
2. Get the police out of their cars and onto the streets to
reduce crime.
3. Provide incentives to attract retail back to the downtown
area.
Name not shown
in Downtown North
December 16, 2021, 1:33 PM
This exercise has almost no value because no targets or
measurements are attached to the priorities. For a
community that demands data and accountability, this
exercise is an embarrassment. Council members who join
in this exercise are not up to the job.
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 1:54 PM
10 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Reduce utility costs, property taxes, etc.
Name not shown
in University Park
December 16, 2021, 2:05 PM
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input regarding
the adoption of the 2022 Palo Alto City Council priorities.
As your email mentions that the adopted priorities usually
have a three-year limit it would be of value to let us know
the year that each of the four listed was adopted.
//Regarding the 2021 priority "Climate Change -
Protection and Adaptation: adherence to a strong action
plan to fulfill the 2030 agenda for sustainable
development":
The sustainable development plan should focus on the
automobile emissions of commuters and residents, which
is the largest producer of CO2 emissions and not on the
elimination of natural gas service to our residents.
Incentives to turn to electric heat, water heaters and
stoves are a good idea for those who want to make that
change. However, we strongly oppose the plan now
discussed by the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Ad
Hoc Committee to end natural gas service to our residents
in 2025 and note that the total cut-off proposal does not
include those most able to pay for the expensive
conversions to all-electric, industry and the city itself.
//Enforce existing laws and codes forbidding transients
living in the streets, parking garages and in parked
vehicles.
The needs of these individuals vary greatly from mental
health issues, to severe economic hardship to drug and/or
alcohol addiction, and they should be addressed. However,
if you do not enforce the law regarding this behavior you
become a magnet for attracting individuals to this area.
Food banks are a great idea but handing out three
prepared meals a day and allowing illegal behavior is not,
we believe, doing much to really help these suffering
people. It is a blight on our city and a factor in street crime.
Building housing will help a few, but if you build housing for
those in the street and do not enforce our laws, more will
come. According to the Bay Area Council Economic
Institute "Between 2017 and 2020, the Bay Area’s
homeless population grew by 6,878 individuals to a total of
35,118—accounting for more than a quarter of the growth
in the total U.S. homeless population." San Francisco has
provided tens of millions in aid to those living on their
streets; portable bath and clothes washing trucks, food,
bathrooms, eliminating drug use enforcement, and even
human feces reporting websites and cleanup crews and
how has that worked out? We appreciate the steps you are
taking to address this problem but feel that many residents
believe that this problem should be in the list of priorities
for 2022 with a clear statement that our laws and codes
will be enforced.
//Return retail shops to the University Street and
California Avenue areas.
Over the past ten years there has been a steady loss of
retail shops in our downtown areas.
Walgreens is gone, Stanford Electric is now in Mountain
View, we lost our sporting goods store, two stationary
shops, University Art is now in Redwood City, several
clothing shops and some of our favorite places to drink and
dine. Our big property owners took the high rents they
could demand from dot coms as retail was forced out. The
City Council finally forced new downtown construction to
keep ground-floor retail in place but due to the economy,
online sales and COVID we now face empty storefronts. A
microcosm of these changes can be found on the ground
floor of those beautiful old apartments on the corner of
Forest and Gilman. The ground floor was once parking
spaces for the renters, which was then replaced by retail
and now is fully occupied by dot coms.
The big developers have been provided for much by our
city and we hope that same consideration will be used to
draw retail back to our Palo Alto. Wave property taxes, give
utility discounts and offer grants to businesses that stay in
operation for a set period of time.
Thank you for your consideration of these suggestions.
Name not shown
in Midtown/ Midtown West
December 16, 2021, 2:11 PM
Do not allow car dwelling in residential neighborhoods.
Strong police force to fight rampant crime.
Mark Shull
in Old Palo Alto
11 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
December 16, 2021, 2:52 PM
Palo Alto has been heavily impacted by air traffic
concentration over the city due to new FAA procedures,
and theeffect of long-term and recent air traffic shaping
(e.g., the new PIRAT procedure) by the SFO Roundtable.
Having been denied membership since 1997, this
concentration will continue to increase so long as the City
of Palo Alto remains largely passive in its response to FAA,
SFO and Roundtable initiated traffic shifts.
Moreover, SFO is in the process of replacing its 80 year old
landing system with a GPS based system, as well as
rearchitecting arrivals to accommodate reduced
separation and spacing. Once implemented, this new
system and its initial procedures are likely to stay in place
for many decades.
While the city faces many issues, the City must find a
means for effective air traffic mitigation, particularly with
respect to SFO and the changes its new arrival systems will
bring. This cannot be delayed -- because the new system
is going in now -- so it needs to be a priority in 2021.
Thank you.
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 2:57 PM
without protection of the environment, nothing else
matters in the long run. Everything else is related to this.
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
December 16, 2021, 3:39 PM
I would like to add more focus on community safety (more
police patrols in the community/neighborhoods) and
improved road/street conditions and general
transportation infrastructure to the list of priorities.
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 4:02 PM
I would like council to address the uptick in crime in our
city. Increase police budgets to allow more patrolling and
change laws to provide stricter penalties for break ins,
theft and assault. These criminals should not be walking
free in our neighborhood.
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
December 16, 2021, 4:02 PM
Please make the constant airplane noise a part of your
emphasis !!
We’ve been working on this for years with no relief !! We
need the weight of city government behind us.
Thank you.
Sallie and Jay Whaley
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 4:12 PM
Teens and youth programming multiplied
Affordable safe, quality Housing
Equity and inclustion
Healthcare
Climate
Jobs
Name not shown
in Midtown/ Midtown West
December 16, 2021, 4:18 PM
Please prioritize climate change and related mitigation,
including flooding and other foreseeable impacts on our
community, as well as social justice (focusing on social
justice will by its nature ensure better and more affordable
housing for all).
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 5:37 PM
I support the four priorities already articulated by city staff.
Please add to this agenda abating the constant and
disturbing noise from aircraft heading to SFO. This has
seriously eroded our quality of life in Palo Alto.
12 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Name not shown
in Old Palo Alto
December 16, 2021, 6:00 PM
1. Airplane noise reduction.
2. Change-up the flight path to avoid flying repeatedly over
the same homes in Palo Alto.
3. Require planes to fly at a minimum of 8000 feet over
Palo Alto.
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 6:07 PM
Stop the intrusive airplane noise from planes flying to SFO
Name not available
December 16, 2021, 7:56 PM
1- Lack of action on reducing airplane noise in Palo Alto
over the last 8 years is unacceptable. a) reduce airplane
noise from SFO bound flights. b) reduce increasing
airplane noise from Palo Alto Airport flights. b) Establish
quantitative monitoring of noise and acceptable limits. c)
Recall elected officials who do not act on these priorities.
d) All objectives should have quantitative goals and
specified times for completion.
2- Cars are speeding in residential neighborhoods in
bringing students to and from local schools. Case in point:
speeding on Southampton drive to pickup and dispersal
sites. Southampton Drive needs a speed bump between
Portal and Newell and/or a traffic control radar or officer.
STEPHEN ROSENBLUM
in Old Palo Alto
December 16, 2021, 8:52 PM
With regard to climate change the city is way behind in its
80x30 goal and needs to set up programs with timelines
and benchmarks to assure success.
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
December 16, 2021, 9:20 PM
I think the council needs to stop bemoaning that PA is
unaffordable, when it does little to make it not more
affordable. In fact, it is the policies and bureaucracy that it
espouses that create the imbalances, increasing costs, etc.
Slow growth, cumbersome land use and permitting,
Nimbyism, and NO NO NO. What do you expect to
happen? Prices of homes go up because, we are limiting
development, making it more costly, and not allowing even
development as of right to happen-yet the hand wringing
and complaints happen on why can't we have more
affordability here in PA? It does not make sense. Why
can't we look to smart growth, enabling developers and in
fact encouraging them to create housing that we need, and
why don't we want more offices, labs and business here,
they bring taxes and more street life. I am baffled by the
hand wringing of the council about things that it has
control over and can enable. The complaints, shoulder
shrugging needs to stop. Get moving on solving issues and
do it without raising taxes; enough is enough. We are so
lucky in that we have a world-class university, and yet PA
wants to limit it, we are so fortunate that we have so many
that want to come here and live, work, or study--why would
we want to artificially constrain it...we are lucky...many
places are jealous of what we have, let's not strangle
progression of our community. We should look to allow for
growth and opportunity, not box it in until companies say
we are done...we have lost several big HQs recently, and
many say good riddance? Do we want this town to be full
of just a bunch of super rich, and people on welfare or living
on the streets? We can do better.
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
December 16, 2021, 10:19 PM
Crime has exploded in our multi-family community. I have
lived here for 10+ years. It has completely transformed
from a safe, pleasant community to--for over 2 years now--
a place of constant crime and break-ins.
We have provided the police with many videos of the
crimes being committed, clear pictures of the
perpetrators, pictures of the cars, pictures of the license
plates, etc. Nothing is done.
The SAME criminals come back week after week, often
multiple times on the same week, terrorizing our
community and children.
13 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
We change the gate codes, change the doors, add locks,
etc. The criminals hack the Doorking, break the
doorknobs, use power tools to cut through the gate, break
the glass, call residents pretending to be Fedex employees,
etc etc.
We physically chase them away over and over again. The
SAME criminals return over and over again.
In fact, they often don't even bother to wear facemasks
when committing the crimes, even though we have visible
video cameras & signs warning of video cameras. They
have no fear about their faces or cars being caught on
camera because they know nothing will be done. They
know they can rob and terrorize Palo Alto residents with
impunity.
Please make public safety a priority so that our community
of 100+ can live and sleep in peace, and so our children can
play in our courtyard without fear.
Please provide police the resources they need to protect
our residents.
Name not shown
in Downtown North
December 16, 2021, 11:23 PM
I would like homelessness to be addressed. We need a plan
and enforcement of the plan.
Name not shown
in Community Center
December 17, 2021, 9:53 AM
1. Palo Alto needs to ensure that all issues are looked at
through a climate change lens---first and foremost.
Objectives and measurements must be included.
2. Housing----with empty office spaces in downtown and
elsewhere and new work patterns emerging, examine
opportunities to convert 2nd floors and above to moderate
housing for service workers etc. (Reverse the unfortunate
loss of the President Hotel as housing)
3. Focus on mitigating air traffic noise and flight pollution
over the city before SFO/SJC set in concrete coming
changes.
Name not available
December 17, 2021, 1:00 PM
crime & airplane noise are my priorities.
Name not available
December 17, 2021, 2:47 PM
The Council should focus on building as much housing, of
all types but with an emphasis on density, as possible.
Name not shown
in Green Acres
December 17, 2021, 3:24 PM
Reduce airplane noise for Palo Alto and its neighbors.
Joerg Rathenberg
in Crescent Park
December 17, 2021, 3:55 PM
PLEASE STOP THE AIRPLANE NOISE
Quite honestly, I don't care about anything else you have
as a priority.
It has been what - 8 years? - since the airplane noise over
Palo Alto Crescent Park became unbearable.
This is a killer priority for any anyone living in our
admittedly geographically limited neighborhood.
The noise level is asbolutely intolerable and we spend as
little time as possible in our home in Palo Alto.
Retiring here is unthinkable, unless, of course, we will have
turned deaf by then.
Anyone who had to spend the entire day having 100 or
more planes fly over your house at 3000 ft would go crazy
in just a few weeks.
To me it is extremely disappointing that the city has not
been able to do anything at all, in spite of hundreds of
thousands of noise complaints that no one seems to
notice.
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
December 17, 2021, 4:49 PM
14 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Crime: there are several theft happened in our community
in the past year, in particular mail theft
Homeless: We need a plan to execute.
Name not available
December 17, 2021, 5:53 PM
Safety - our Altaire community has experiencing multiple
thefts. The theives just came day time night time and take
all the packages from the mailroom. We have filed multiple
police reports and PAPD did nothing. This type sof thefts
are increasing and threathen the safty of our community.
Name not shown
in Evergreen Park
December 17, 2021, 6:06 PM
Climate change is most important!
Name not available
December 18, 2021, 6:19 AM
Complete new safety facilities (police/fire dept)
Having a balanced budget
Name not shown
in Leland Manor/ Garland
December 18, 2021, 1:08 PM
The City should continue to advocate for less airplane
noise.
Mary Jane Marcus
in College Terrace
December 18, 2021, 11:11 PM
Our #1 priority should be regional well-being -- partnering
closely with EPA, Mountain View, Menlo Park, to make sure
we are doing everything possible to help everyone thrive,
not just Palo Altans. COVID testing, vaccine sites -- can the
cities come together to make one commitment together,
like ending food insecurity. It seems insane anyone should
not have enough food in this region. How can we get
there?
2) Housing everywhere for everyone
3) Climate change - promoting the Palo Alto owned utility
model to other cities and regions. Ending all gas use in any
renovation. Making chargers, solar more accessible to
everyone. (it's very hard for renters to have chargers)
Name not shown
in Community Center
December 19, 2021, 7:47 AM
Aviation noise and pollution: Since 2015 hundreds, if not
thousands of Palo Alto resident's lives have been made
miserable by SFO NextGen flight paths. A few hundred
people are miserable enough to take whatever actions they
can to allieviate the pain. The city's continued engagement
with this issue is essential.
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
December 19, 2021, 1:21 PM
As I type this, I hear yet another low-flying plane, flying to
SFO and generating much noise and pollution overhead.
Living in a suburban area, I expect some airplane noise and
pollution, but not this often and this loud.
Additional paths to SFO should be used to spread the noise
and pollution equitably.
Name not shown
in Charleston Meadows
December 19, 2021, 3:01 PM
Beautification for South Palo Alto (including Monroe Park).
This includes but is not limited to: moving utility lines
underground, adding additional greenery along streets,
etc.
Name not available
December 19, 2021, 6:54 PM
15 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Climate change top priority.
A general plan for the City .. we build pay no attention to
traffic, schools. Think about them as an afterthought.
Keep City green, parks and playing fields are essential.
Jennifer Landesmann
in Crescent Park
December 21, 2021, 10:52 AM
My appeal to Council for 2022 Palo Alto priorities is as
follows:
1. Air traffic noise and pollution - to declare the seriousness
of impending federal actions that pose risk to the City
2. Health and welfare, with special attention to youth and
vulnerable citizens
3. Resident engagement beyond surveys, or City Agendas -
more actual Town Halls
Aviation pollution impacting all corners of the City is a
threat to health and welfare, productivity, safety, and
quality of life. At risk from Council inaction are the very
basic quality of life needs that make a City attractive and
safe to live, work, and raise a family. I can't think of any
higher responsibility than to protect people, youth and
children from being assailed by industrial levels of noise
and air pollution.
The Department of Transportation recently disclosed the
FAA survey and study of 10,000 people around the country
that found that the number of people "highly annoyed" by
air traffic noise is an order of magnitude greater than
originally estimated by the FAA. The DOT study also found
that "noise from airplanes, helicopters are far more
annoying than other sources" (this quoted phrase is from a
3/26/21 Washington Post headline about the study).
Beyond "annoyance" however are very real health impacts
that are especially harmful when aircraft noise disrupts
sleep. The FAA survey did not include youth, and children
who are more affected.
The number of Council's constituents affected by air traffic
noise is also greater than the number of people who
complain. The number of complainants about excessive
and intrusive noise can range from 200 - 600 people
(daily). In 2014, the City had a SWOT activity related to the
Comprehensive plan using this same forum, to look at the
City's strength's, weaknesses, opportunities and threats -
several Palo Alto residents provided input to the City's
SWOT activity and named aircraft noise then as a threat to
health and welfare, productivity, and safety.
I hope that Council will begin 2022 by demonstrating to the
FAA that our community takes people's well being
seriously and will direct necessary and urgent attention to
protect its citizens. Thank you.
Name not available
December 21, 2021, 10:31 PM
I hope the city council puts addressing the huge increase in
theft as a top priority. We need more police personnel
patroling the streets. My community is tired of having
bikes, packages, and mail stolen.
Name not available
December 22, 2021, 2:42 PM
Reduce crime
Bring economic viability to downtown centers
More community activities at parks
Jade C
in Research Park
December 23, 2021, 12:50 PM
As in years past, the City and YMCA have co-hosted the
Palo Alto Health Fair. Please make it a priority in 2022 as
we have pandemic mental health and physical health
issues that should be addressed. Thank you.
Name not available
December 23, 2021, 1:01 PM
Please continue to focus mainly on economic recovery.
Without that, other objectives may not achievable. We
need a strong economic base to accomplish other great
community goals! Remember that business is important to
the balance of the community and should be encouraged
to flourish, not be punished, especially since so many are
fighting for survival after all of the COVID shut downs.
Helping business helps the entire community!
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Please also try to stop or contain the splitting of lots and
higher density housing in our lovely single family home
neighborhoods, the very nature of our city and its charm
are at stake. The ABAG groups will never be happy, no
matter how many residences are built since there will
always be a deficit compared to jobs. So please don't
destroy our special city trying to fix what is un-fixable.
Thank you!
Claudia Truesdell
in Crescent Park
December 23, 2021, 1:31 PM
The Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, S/CAP is my
top priority. Please treat climate change as the emergency
it is. Move quickly to finalize planning and start
implementing. There is so much groundwork that you can
lay now in education and outreach. Please prioritize this for
the sake of the future, for our kids and the natural world.
Name not shown
in University Park
December 23, 2021, 2:00 PM
--The climate has been changing since the world began.
Climate change computer models are manipulated to
appear we are the cause. Don't screw up the economy
over climate change. More control and regulation is a
politician's mantra.
--Columbus is getting a bad rap. He was only trying to find
a new world, inspired by God. He had no idea that he would
come across indigenous people that were already fighting
one another, had only tribal structure and had no property
ownership. They were simply occupiers before the settlers
became occupiers. It took a lot of courage to do what he
did, and he never intended for the abuse that followed.
Ancestors of indigenous people came from all over the
world, from Mongolia to Jerusalem to Babylon. I was born
here, so I'm indigenous. I won't apologize for my skin
color. And I honor Columbus and the indigenous people.
--A mandate on electrification with a deadline is unrealistic.
Our grid can't handle the increased load. And electric cars
are a great polluter before they even go to market, when
considering the mining and processing materials for
batteries. And they are delivered all over the world on
diesel trucks. Solar panels have a life span. Think of where
they will go and how they will be recycled.
--All lives matter. That's about as all-inclusive as you can
get. To achieve diversity, we have to stop segregation in all
its forms. Stop asking people what their color is. Stop
pandering. The answer to discrimination is not more
discrimination. The answer is ignoring the differences and
embracing them. The greater number of black violence is
caused by blacks. Let's concentrate on strengthening the
family unit.
--The rainbow flag is a nice sentiment, but it does not
represent a government entity. Therefore it does not
belong in front of City Hall. Otherwise, there are a lot of
other flags you will need to add to the Pavilion. Remember,
the United States flag stands for unity already. 'United'
being the operative word here, and 'e pluribus unum'.
Hang the rainbow flag in your yard. If our flag doesn't
mean 'unity' to you, then change that. We don't need
another flag.
judith fields
in Evergreen Park
December 23, 2021, 5:54 PM
Palo Alto no longer feels safe. The woman being robbed at
the train station, the woman being stabbed on University
Ave. The continued thefts of packages and rumored break-
ins at Palo Alto Central. People who steal less than $950.
worth need to be pursued and prosecuted. We obviously
need more police, and funding. for them. Judith Fields
Kai Ju Liu
in Palo Verde
December 24, 2021, 12:05 PM
1. Make a final decision on our rail crossings this year.
Seriously.
2. Allow a company like AT&T or Xfinity to build out our
residential fiber this year. Seriously.
Elisa Y
in Charleston Terrace
December 25, 2021, 10:54 PM
The city and the Palo Alto Family YMCA have cohosted
health fairs annually, but stopped due to COVID. However,
mental health, especially dealing with COVID impacts, and
physical health are on everyone's mind, and having a
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
health fair to address those issues, in my opinion, should
be one of the city's top priorities. Please consider bringing
the health fair back in 2022. Thank you.
Name not available
December 27, 2021, 12:59 PM
My priorities for the city of Palo Alto
1. Quality of life
safety, thefts and violent crime, noise, open spaces for city
residents, people/infrastructure match, and other such
things.
2. Transparency of city government
reduce pet projects
reduce projects driven by outside interests
reduce projects driven by career interests or specific
interests of city employees and council members
align city attorney with interests of the city residents, not
city government
reduce coercive laws. the council treats the city as if it's its
toy.
3. Reduce business spaces, rezone for parks or housing.
this is the only realistic way to control cost of housing
4. Stop trying to save the world. Focus on solving city's
immediate problems.
5. Help the housing situation by subsidizing those whom
the city (residents and government) think should be able
live in the city. There are millions who want to live in Palo
Alto. We can't subsidize them all, so make a fair system. Do
not try to control or manage the residential real estate
market, rental or purchase.
Arnout Boelens
in Midtown/ Midtown West
December 30, 2021, 11:15 AM
Dear City Council,
With the Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan being
updated I would like to encourage Council to make active
transportation one of the City's priorities this year. There
are many good reasons to support and encourage active
transportation:
* The City is falling short on its own CO2 emission
reduction goals. Active transportation can help the City
meet these goals. Walking and bicycling emit
far less CO2 than internal combustion powered vehicles
and do not require an expensive upgrade of the electricity
grid.
* As shown by the success of the Safe Routes To School
Program, offering a viable alternative to driving can
significantly reduce traffic congestion.
* It is much cheaper to walk and bike than to own a
motorized vehicle. Promoting active transportation allows
Palo Alto residents of lesser means to have equitable
access to community resources and jobs.
* Making sure all people's basic needs are met within a
short walking or bicycle riding distance, will allow the City
to fulfill it's housing obligations
without increasing traffic.
* An active lifestyle offers significant health benefits to all
Palo Alto residents.
* Active transportation encourages local shopping and
would thus be beneficial to our local businesses.
The financial outlook of the City is improving and investing
in active transportation would offer a great return on
investment. Typically the best
results are obtained when combining programs with
infrastructure investments. One program the City could
invest in is adult cycling classes. These would
increase the confidence of Palo Alto residents as they ride
around town. On the infrastructure side the City should
adopt a road safety policy and finally
address some long standing hazardous locations, including
many of the intersections along El Camino Real.
Kind regards,
Ava, Nicole, & Arnout Zoeller Boelens
Name not available
December 30, 2021, 2:24 PM
Airplane noisr
Name not shown
in Charleston Meadows
December 30, 2021, 3:59 PM
Housing, Housing, Housing
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Name not available
December 30, 2021, 4:01 PM
City Council needs to come to terms with the problems
with the City and the Humane Society (Pets in Need).
spend the money...upgrade the building. Palo Alto needs
their service in our community.
Thanks
Name not shown
in Greenmeadow
December 30, 2021, 5:04 PM
Climate change
Community/Neighborhoods/Discourse
Affordable housing (affordable, not market-rate)
Mental and physical wellness
John Kunz
in Leland Manor/ Garland
December 30, 2021, 8:55 PM
Address the rampant, scary and dangerous auto speeding
on city streets. Drivers take 20 and 25 mph limits as a joke.
marty klein
in Palo Verde
December 31, 2021, 11:42 AM
1. Take airplane noise pollution more seriously. Sooner or
later air traffic will increase to and surpass pre-COVID
levels. Pressure our House representative and SFO
administrators to restore the old over-the-Bay flight
paths.
2. Everyone complains about traffic. Stop slowing cars
down with roundabouts, road diets, new bike lanes, etc..
Frank Holland
in Midtown/ Midtown West
December 31, 2021, 12:54 PM
Push-back on Sacramento's high density housing
regulations, and if necessary Palo Alto should become a
sanctuary city to fight this tyranny. If Palo Alto residents
want more high density housing, then the residents should
decide (not the politicians in Sacramento)!
Local zoning regulations are best developed by the
affected stakeholders who understand the specific knock-
on effects related to schools, parking, traffic patterns, and
the full range of effects on the city's infrastructure from
grocery stores to parks and libraries, etc.
Arguably there is a case for high density housing, but
COVID is driving changes in employment and housing
trends: more work from home, less need to commute to
an office, some exodus from Silicon valley, more need for
backyards for young children, etc. Whether these trends
continue, reverse or morph into a different direction is to
be determined, but the local residents are best positioned
to adjust zoning regulations in response to changes in the
housing and employment environment.
Sacramento has not solved state wide problems, for
example:
- we need a safe and reliable electric grid,
- we need forest management to prevent forest fires,
- ostensibly an “easy” task, but delayed implementation of
DHS Real Identification requirements, and
- regulations and taxes are the worst in the nation (as
reported by Forbes) for business.
Let's not let Sacramento dictate how we should evolve our
Palo Alto community.
Name not available
January 1, 2022, 11:24 PM
I wish the Downtown areas of Palo Alto were more clean
and attractive. Palo Alto doesn't look as "polished" as it
should. Both the downtowns sidewalks could be steam
cleaned, especially University Avenue.. The street dining
was not as attractive on University downtown, as it was in
The Cal Ave area downtown. Some potted greenery might
help.
Some other nearby towns must have made a plan, and had
regulations about the attractiveness and uniformity
features of their temporary outdoor "dining rooms."
I would love to see Cubberly remodeled. It's a visually
depressing place to go.
19 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
I would like to see more police on bicycles in our downtown
areas.
I think police visibility cuts crime.
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestions.
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
January 3, 2022, 2:13 PM
Top priorities should be:
1) Efficient operation of City government: staffing at the
appropriate level, with salaries and benefits that are
competitive with the private sector.
2) Public safety
3) Estimate and publish cost-benefit analysis for every
project and mandate, particularly "climate"-related
activities. For those, reject any activity where CO2
mitigation exceeds the California cap-and-trade market
price ($23.69/tonne for the past year). CO2 mitigation in
Palo Alto will not make any difference to global
temperatures, but it's downright stupid to spend taxpayer
money on projects that don't meet that hurdle.
4) Simplify and shorten the building permitting and
inspection process and architectural and community
reviews. Provide incentives to the Development
Department for reducing project delays.
Hamilton Hitchings
in Duveneck/ St Francis
January 4, 2022, 10:12 AM
Public Safety - should be our highest priority. Reduce
covid spreading, reduce risk of wildfires and floods, reduce
home theft and violent crime.
Climate Change - Protection and Adaptation: Palo Alto’s
efforts towards 80/30 help other cities see what is
possible. We also must preserve our urban tree canopy.
Housing for Social and Economic Balance - continue
creating below market affordable housing opportunities to
maintain and increase socioeconomic diversity while
advocating for local control and protecting our single
family neighborhoods.
Name not shown
in Leland Manor/ Garland
January 8, 2022, 11:19 AM
Airplane noise. This problem affects many Palo Alto
residents, including at night. If solutions are not pursued,
the problem will get worse as air traffic continues to grow.
Brian Tucker
in Leland Manor/ Garland
January 8, 2022, 12:59 PM
my main concern is airplane noise because it disrupts my
sleep and I think it will ultimately lower Palo Alto property
values.
Linda Henigin
in Duveneck/ St Francis
January 10, 2022, 12:43 PM
Housing, transportation, and Climate Change are all
intertwined. We need to build denser housing so that that
we live and work closer together, which will mean we can
use less carbon moving from place to place because we
can walk, bicycle, and use electric cars. I hear a lot from
this Council on what we cannot do, where we cannot build,
what changes we cannot make. I hope to hear more
leadership from this Council on what we can do, where we
can build, and what changes we can make, since the world
is changing around us. Let's work within the world we have
now and into the future, rather than the world we either
wish we had or that we had in the past. Thank you.
gary fine
in College Terrace
January 10, 2022, 1:04 PM
housing at all levels
Rohin Ghosh
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 10, 2022, 3:43 PM
Building lots of dense housing, especially affordable
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
housing. Stop fighting state fair housing laws and actually
follow them.
Pass robust tenant protections.
Improve transit, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure.
Expand services to unhoused residents and end all police
harrassment. Lots more safe parking lots. End RV towing.
Joel Kohn
outside Palo Alto
January 10, 2022, 6:38 PM
Palo Alto should strive to build more housing, both market
rate and affordable wherever possible. We as a state are in
a crushing housing deficit and we need to do everything
possible to fix it.
scott oneil
in Charleston Terrace
January 10, 2022, 9:28 PM
The region in general and the city in particular desperately
need more housing at all income levels. We're turning our
children into economic refugees, exporting our housing
crisis throughout the country, and discrediting the notion
that liberal governance can provide broad-based
prosperity at a time when this endangers democracy itself
in the United States of America. The city must take bold
action to produce vastly more housing.
Multiple recent lawsuits reveal our police department to be
unusually brutal, in a country with a severe problem of
police brutality. Even after adopting 8-cant-wait reforms,
the city is writing a six-figure check to compensate a victim
who was assaulted *while sleeping.* Was "Duty to Protect"
upheld, and if not, what was the accountability for officers
involved? City must follow up and ensure that policy is
upheld.
Allegations of coverup activity in another recent suit reveal
that we must implement externally-driven accountability,
rather than letting the PD self-investigate complaints.
The city should adopt strong whistleblower protections for
PD employees.
Name not shown
in Old Palo Alto
January 11, 2022, 1:23 PM
While the City looks into installing fiber networks in the
City, why not combine it with putting all utilities
underground? In the 30+ years I have lived in my home,
the City has ripped up my street several times yet there
has been no progress on moving the utilities underground.
Each year the City spends $$$$ to have trees pruned and
in the winter we all can see the disfigured trees with their
lopped off branches. Seems a concerted effort might reap
benefits in several areas.
Name not shown
in University Park
January 11, 2022, 3:34 PM
The Human Resources department is a revolving door of
immoral and unethical practices that leave employees
feeling inadequate and unheard. Management needs to be
reconsidered and the current Director and Assistant
Director need to retire. What happened to the human
aspect of Human Resources?
Name not shown
in Ventura
January 11, 2022, 6:02 PM
Less dense expensive unattractive housing. More
community activities and resources! Why can’t you make
El Camino more attractive, especially with all the new
housing on it. PA needs more activities, music venues,
roller rinks, pubs, etc.
Name not shown
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 11, 2022, 10:00 PM
More housing, especially multi-family
More transit friendly, especially through greater use of
paid parking
Climate change
Economic recovery
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Name not available
January 11, 2022, 10:19 PM
Affordable housing. Increasing density. Encouraging
diversity and inclusion. Supporting low income folks.
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 8:15 AM
Pensions
Pensions
Get rid of the pensions
Kathy Miller
in Community Center
January 13, 2022, 8:26 AM
The League of Women Voters has put forward an excellent
proposal for local campaign finance reform that would
enact a $30,000 voluntary expenditure limit to rein in
excessive campaign spending in City Council elections, cap
campaign donations at $500, and require PACS that pay
for campaign ads to disclose contributors who donated
$2500+ to the PAC in the previous 12 months. Palo Alto is
lagging behind neighboring cities such as Mountain View,
Cupertino and Santa Clara that have passed similar
measures. At a time when national politics is riven with
multiple threats to democracy, this Council should unite
around these campaign finance reform measures as a
simple means of restoring faith in government and
elections.
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 8:27 AM
Climate change is by far the biggest threat facing our city
and our country and should be the number one priority.
There is so much our municipality can do to fight climate
change we need to muster the political will, spend the
effort and the funds to drastically lower our greenhouse
gases with all due speed.
Second, housing, Third, economic recovery, Fourth Social
Justice
Dawn Billman
in Crescent Park
January 13, 2022, 8:59 AM
Please focus on solutions to help new businesses reside in
Palo Alto and keep the local retailers that we have. It is
time to be creative. What we are doing is not working. The
Los Altos and Menlo Park downtown areas are thriving. It is
discouraging to walk down University and Cal Ave and see
ALL the empty store fronts. We need thriving businesses to
provide a tax base.
Low income housing near the retail businesses and
Caltrain, bus lines.
Crime in the city is terrible. We need to do a better job of
working with our police. We need them visible in the
communities.
Happy to learn that we plan to build affordable housing for
teachers. Thank you for supporting this plan and working
with the county to make this happen.
Name not shown
in University South
January 13, 2022, 9:43 AM
continue with:
Economic Recovery,
Housing for Social and Economic Balance, and
Climate Change - Protection and Adaptation
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 9:50 AM
I agree with the previous priorities. Housing people is a
moral imperative. It also will reduce commutes and traffic
congestion and strengthen our community.
Gregory Watson
in Palo Verde
January 13, 2022, 10:42 AM
Affordable housing is an imperative for the council to
address. I am pleased to see that the council has adopted
this as a top priority for the year.
Another area is to do everything we can to support PAUSD
in its efforts to protect student mental health in these
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
times of COVID.
Elizabeth Beheler
in Charleston Meadows
January 13, 2022, 12:09 PM
I would like to see more serious solutions around creating
affordable housing. I'd also really appreciate some focus
on the shifting needs of community recreation around
covid (ex, Cubberley Community Center). I very much
appreciate the efforts city council has made in
environmental conservation around composting.
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 12:25 PM
No 1 - dramatically reduce all crime and improve security
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 3:19 PM
1. Citywide municipal fiber to the premises (FTTP)
(meaning all residences and businesses can have access).
It's been a dream for more than two decades. Time to
make it a reality.
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 5:59 PM
I agree with the high level priorities presented. However,
please do not loose sight of important traffic issues:
continue to improve biking infrastructure and choose a
grade separation option for East Meadow and Charleston
that is least impactful to neighborhoods around them
(trench or underpass but NO viaduct). Thank you for all
you do for our city.
Name not shown
in Old Palo Alto
January 13, 2022, 6:15 PM
While I think it is responsible to consider all the corridors
adjacent to Cal Train for multi-story/ multi family dwellings
up to 5 story, I am in agreement with PA City Council to
make every effort to strike down SB9&10!! If I had wanted
to live in a San Francisco like environment, I would have
accepted their recruitment effort to hire me as Director of
Public Health Nursing. I choose to remain in a city where I
could walk safely, in any direction, and do, a city where I
can help host a Block Party to better know neighbors and
include them in Disaster Preparedness and Response, a
city where I can grow fruit and vegetables that I can also
share with neighbors, which I do. I could go on, but I think
you get my point. My great grandmother was born at
Indiana Ranch in Yuba County. I do not want Developers to
be able to ruin/damage our excellent/responsible City!!
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 6:18 PM
Why do I have to make a statement?
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 6:49 PM
Crimes against both people and property have increased in
Palo Alto. It is frightening to those of us who live here.
Please focus on solving such basic problems.
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 7:02 PM
Climate change is by far the biggest threat facing our city
and our country and should be the number one priority.
There is so much our municipality can do to fight climate
change we need to muster the political will, spend the
effort and the funds to drastically lower our greenhouse
gases with all due speed.
Second, housing, Third, economic recovery, Fourth Social
Justice
Name not available
January 13, 2022, 7:13 PM
Totally agree with Dawn Billman that small businesses are
sorely lacking in Palo Alto. Menlo Pk and Los Altos have
livelier downtowns.
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Palo Alto is awash in vacant apartments (example-Page
Mill/El Camino area) and empty office buildings. We don’t
need more of either!! Please focus on bringing back retail,
besides restaurants.
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
January 13, 2022, 8:58 PM
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback. City
services like parks, bike boulevards, libraries, and a well
run government were what drew us to Palo Alto over
nearby neighborhoods.
We should continue to lead the way in providing these
types of infrastructure for the future: fiber to the home
(and all utilities while the roads are dug up), climate
change adaptations (especially in/near flood zones),
increased roads / transport to handle new development,
and housing programs so more people who work in Palo
Alto can live here as well.
Thanks for your consideration!
Name not shown
in University South
January 14, 2022, 4:52 AM
Please work towards creating a vibrant, welcoming and
economically healthy downtown by permanently closing
University Avenue to traffic and making a walking mall with
options for outdoor dining, comfortable seating and kiosks
for flowers, green grocers, etc.
We have such fantastic potential.
Add climate change prevention to our protection and
adaptation efforts. It is not enough to backfill. We also have
to make clear and significant efforts to stop it in its tracks.
Let's focus on unifying and connecting our neighborhoods
and becoming 'one Palo Alto' rather than a bunch of
scrappy folks fighting over resources. We are one of the
wealthiest communities in the country and should be
leading by example rather than using our advantage to
promote personal interest.
Pamela Kharaka
in Palo Verde
January 14, 2022, 7:14 AM
Traffic lights to be sensitised, not programmed. Sitting
waiting with no cars or people in an intersection.
Road repair. When work opens a section of a road (for the
house changes) those that fill the section are not required
or checked to make it blend into the contour of the road.
Streets (particularly Middlefield in South Palo Alto) are
jerking our spines! Another bad street is bay shore road
from Loma Verde to where it meets the buildings. Many
others. Plus El Camino. Just spreading more tarmac does
NOT make the road even!
Markus Fromherz
in Barron Park
January 14, 2022, 8:25 AM
My priorities are climate change action (reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to electric
appliances and cars, etc.), affordable housing, more
measures to reduce individual traffic and increase options
for biking and public transit, and improved walkability of
key streets like University Ave. and California Ave.
Lisa Ratner
in Fairmeadow
January 14, 2022, 9:06 AM
The League of Women Voters has put forward an excellent
proposal for local campaign finance reform that would
enact a $30,000 voluntary expenditure limit to rein in
excessive campaign spending, cap campaign donations at
$500, and require PACS that pay for campaign ads to
disclose contributors who donated $2500+ to the PAC in
the previous 12 months. Palo Alto is lagging behind
neighboring cities such as Mountain View, Cupertino and
Santa Clara that have passed similar measures. At a time
when national politics is riven with multiple threats to
democracy, this Council should unite around these
campaign finance reform measures as a simple means of
restoring faith in government and elections.
Name not available
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
January 14, 2022, 9:11 AM
Youth mental health and wellness
Name not shown
in Southgate
January 14, 2022, 9:13 AM
Housing plan for PAUSD educators so they can afford to
live in their own community.
Name not shown
in Barron Park
January 14, 2022, 9:18 AM
My priorities for city: (1) Health - recovery from COVID-19.
(2) Decide on CalTrain grade separations and start
implementing.
Matthew Lennig
in Community Center
January 14, 2022, 9:21 AM
City Council should prioritize the quality of life for
residents above all else. Council should establish a
standing committee on quality of life. Here are some of the
quality of life priorities:
1) Strictly enforce the ban against gasoline leaf blowers
2) Build a new swimming pool at Mitchell Park
3) Ban vehicular traffic on the commercial section of
University Avenue
4) Add bicycle paths and protected lanes
5) Deploy more inverted-U bicycle racks, including at
Rinconada Pool.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 9:24 AM
Keep supporting Art Center, Theatre, Zoo Museum,
libraries and other important social establishments.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 9:26 AM
Reduce Criminal Activity, Fund Police
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
January 14, 2022, 9:32 AM
My priority is the environment.
Name not shown
in College Terrace
January 14, 2022, 9:36 AM
We have seen increasing incidents of break-in stealing and
robberies in neighborhoods and commercial of Palo Alto
and surrounding cities. It directly threatens the security
and safety of our daily life. We want to see the City of Palo
Alto to take actions to improve the situation and make our
city safer.
Name not shown
in Leland Manor/ Garland
January 14, 2022, 9:42 AM
1. Aircraft Noise
2. City Infrastructure
3. Traffic and transportation
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 9:59 AM
The City needs to prioritize reducing the constant SFO
arrival traffic over our community. The traffic is near non-
stop again, with three arrival routes over us. The jet traffic
over Palo Alto concentrates noise and particulate pollution
over the community. It is well past time for the council to
prioritize this important community health issue. This is
also a climate change issue. Transportation is one of the
biggest contributors to climate change and air travel is one
of the fastest growing contributors within the
transportation category.
25 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Rebecca Ward
in Old Palo Alto
January 14, 2022, 10:09 AM
The City needs to prioritize reducing the constant SFO
arrival traffic over our community. The traffic is near non-
stop again. The jet traffic over Palo Alto concentrates
noise and pollution over the community. It is well past time
for the council to prioritize this community health issue.
This is also a climate change issue. Transportation is one
of the biggest contributors to climate change and air travel
is one of the fastest growing contributors within the
transportation category.
Andrea Gara
in Community Center
January 14, 2022, 10:09 AM
I believe that the most important challenge facing all of us
is climate change. I applaud the City Council for their
serious attention to this matter, particularly the Ad Hoc
Committee. The upheaval that we face if we don't manage
to avoid the worst damages from climate change will make
all of our other very worthy goals much harder to achieve.
Density in housing has been shown to reduce carbon, and
addressing our housing shortage, thereby cutting down on
commuting in our area, must be a part of our response. It is
also the right thing to do considering the humanitarian
housing/homelessness crisis we face. Thank you.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-
news/2021/aug/22/cities-climate-change-dense-sprawl-
yimby-nimby
Sharon Lee-Nakayama
in Charleston Terrace
January 14, 2022, 10:39 AM
Crime of home mail theft, home package thefts, breaking
and entering into gated multi-home townhouses,
department store mob thefts.
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
January 14, 2022, 10:45 AM
Safety, Quality life and civic amenities are more important
than listed priorities.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 10:46 AM
The environment is ALWAYS the priority. If that is not
cared for, nothing else will matter, ultimately.
james logan
in College Terrace
January 14, 2022, 10:54 AM
Excellence in local government - Select and employ the
best and brightest people for emloyment should be the
first priority
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 11:09 AM
Please continue to make airplane noise and flights over
Palo Alto a priority.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 11:16 AM
Safety, Safety, Safety. We have criminals freely roaming
our property and casing our house. They’ve dismantled
the security system at our complex. They come back
weekly. They have unlocked our community mailboxes and
stolen the mail, and perhaps our identities. They steal our
packages. The same people week after week. We have
them on video, and we get their license plates. What we
don’t get is arrests or safety.
Our kids can no longer play outside in the community. We
keep our doors locked even when we are inside. Is this
what Palo Alto has become?
I can’t imagine any public officials keeping their jobs if this
continues.
Name not shown
26 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
in Charleston Terrace
January 14, 2022, 11:16 AM
Please prioritize student well-being, as they've been
through an incredibly stressful and isolated time
throughout the pandemic.
Name not shown
in Research Park
January 14, 2022, 11:20 AM
The importance of community connectedness and mental
health cannot be understated during these unprecedented
times. This is especially true for our community's youth.
Please prioritize youth mental health.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 11:23 AM
(1) Palo Alto owes a duty of care to rebalance our housing
stock to include housing for (a) the unhoused (b) those
who work in Palo Alto School District, City government who
are not in the executive branch of these agencies (c) low
income local workers. We need to help the Palo Alto
Housing Corporation and require all new development
projects and companies with more than 100 employees to
provide resources monetary and in kind to help solve our
housing needs. and ensure parking is available at all
developments recognizing that we are not at real
dependency on public transportation. HIGHEST PRIORITY
: We should oppose the regressive attempt to overturn
State rules arising under SB 9 and 10. That any of our
council is fostering the undermining of the State legislative
action seems contrary to good public policy and very much
anti-social. I am very disappointed in the lack of leadership
shown by certain council members on this issue. It appears
to me to be discriminating against housing in the name of
being protective of our neighborhood values. 2. We must
not put another piece of cement on the wetlands of the
Baylands and if possible get rid of the airport at the
Baylands. (3) Where practicable reduce Palo Alto specific
services which can be done as a joint venture with other
Peninsula cities to reduce the overhead of running small
cities in an urban / suburban environment (to wit: police,
fire, emergency services, ambulance, street maintenance,
water treatment, sewage...) so that climate-related sea-
rise and other environmental long-term dangers can be
addressed at a very high priority: protecting the water
table, sewage treatment plant etc.
Ken Joye
in Ventura
January 14, 2022, 11:24 AM
1. addressing climate crisis -- please consider all issues
through this filter
2. affordable housing -- expand use of incentives to 100%
affordable developments
3. resurrect NTSBB2 -- please implement Park/Wilkie
improvements
Name not shown
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 14, 2022, 11:29 AM
Climate change is my first priority. Second is lowering
crime rate. We have been living in Palo Alto since 1998 and
we have been feeling increasingly less safe. Reports of
violent crimes are increasing, walking around downtown at
night does not feel safe, etc.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 11:34 AM
I think that environmental sustainability is the lense
through which all of the priorities can be viewed for long
term growth and health of the city.
Jason Titus
in Professorville
January 14, 2022, 11:44 AM
The city should have three main priorities - reducing CO2
emissions (through electrification, increased rooftop solar
& energy storage, and facilitating low carbon transit -
biking, EVs, and public transit), preparing for climate
change, and increasing housing availability through
increased density (especially near low carbon transit
hubs).
27 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 11:46 AM
IF THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOT #1,
THEN, ULTIMATELY, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 11:47 AM
CLIMATE AND ADAPTATION IS #1.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 1:13 PM
#1 Climate Change Action
Brigham Wilson
in University South
January 14, 2022, 1:20 PM
I feel sad that the library keeps having to limit hours. Our
city has so many openings for jobs that don't pay enough
for people to live in our city. If we want to have students,
librarians, nurses, teachers, waiters, cooks, and other folks
working in our city, we need to have housing they can
afford. If we don't offer housing, we won't be able to fill
jobs, and then we won't have the services we enjoy. Here
are three ideas that would increase supply:
- Change zoning within 500 yards of a Caltrain station to
more dense than R-1
- Develop mixed use areas in current office parks (like Palo
Alto Square) instead of looking to church parking lots.
- Increase density in R-1 areas near Midtown shops on
Middlefield
All three of these ideas increase density in walkable areas
that wouldn't increase the parking/traffic burden as much
as other solutions.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 1:33 PM
* Climate Change -- All decisions should be made with
sustainability in mind. Biking, community-serving
businesses, parks, creek restoration are all good.
* Community -- How can the city council improve our
feelings of community, even in the face of Covid
restrictions? Planning and architecture can improve
community interaction or reduce it. Same with the use of
outdoor space. A few benches or plazas are not enough
unless the right businesses are supported nearby.
Business recovery is not enough without gathering space.
The choice to keep 2 blocks of California Ave closed was a
good decision -- but even more can be done.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 2:08 PM
Focus on making progress on housing and climate change,
not just talking about it and coming up with reasons why
every single proposed development is somehow against
our standards. Enforce leaf blower ordinance, perhaps
with community service officers. Stop wasting time and
money fighting SB9&10 and "airplane noise". We live in the
21st century and it's time to face up to it. Recognize that
the folks you hear at meetings don't represent the majority
of the actual taxpayers in the city, who are too busy with
Valley jobs and kids to join meetings. Make the NIMBYs
raise money and actually pay for things if they want things
like the Roth building museum or add a swimming pool at
Cubberley or Mitchell Park. It's not all up to "somebody
else" to pay for it.
Name not shown
in University Park
January 14, 2022, 2:38 PM
no statement
Name not shown
in Palo Verde
January 14, 2022, 3:23 PM
Affordable Housing for Social and Economic Balance (for
low-income seniors, transitional housing for homeless,
teachers, public safety workers)
Social Justice (in hiring, grants for minority-owned
businesses)
Youth Mental Health Support (partnering with the school
district on increasing wellness/teen programs at Mitchell
Park)
28 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
More Services for Seniors (in-home assistance network,
transportation options, finding housemates)
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 3:37 PM
End covid restrictions in Palo Alto
Reduce barriers to build housing, operate businesses, and
live healthy and prosperous lives
Start saving a percentage of the city's financial reserve's in
bitcoin to protect against inflation
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
January 14, 2022, 3:50 PM
End covid restrictions in Palo Alto
Start savings a percentage of city's financial reserves in
Bitcoin to protect against inflation.
Reduce barriers to building housing and operating
businesses
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 3:51 PM
Crimes, both violent and non-violent have become a
serious problem in Palo Alto, and crime prevention needs
to be a priority for the city. There are many reports of
robberies, both unarmed and armed. My community has a
serious, frequent theft problem, and despite surveillance
videos showing faces as well as license plates, it's difficult
to get the Palo Alto police to ever follow up beyond taking a
report.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 4:07 PM
1. Addressing the Climate Crisis
2. Affordable housing
3. Culture and arts: libraries, children's theatre, open air
music events, etc - with focus on it being free or at least
(actually) affordable, so that the whole community can
benefit from them!
4. Social justice, equity, and inclusion
Jeff Hoel
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 14, 2022, 4:56 PM
1. Citywide municipal fiber to the premises (FTTP)
(meaning all residences and businesses can have access).
It's been a dream for more than two decades. Time to
make it a reality.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 5:44 PM
Crimes, both violent and non-violent have become a
serious problem in Palo Alto, and crime prevention needs
to be a priority for the city. There are many reports of
robberies, both unarmed and armed. My community has a
serious, frequent theft problem, and despite surveillance
videos showing faces as well as license plates, it's difficult
to get the Palo Alto police to ever follow up beyond taking a
report.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 5:48 PM
Crimes, both violent and non-violent have become a
serious problem in Palo Alto, and crime prevention needs
to be a priority for the city. There are many reports of
robberies, both unarmed and armed. My community has a
serious, frequent theft problem, and despite surveillance
videos showing faces as well as license plates, it's difficult
to get the Palo Alto police to ever follow up beyond taking a
report.
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
January 14, 2022, 5:49 PM
Crimes, both violent and non-violent have become a
serious problem in Palo Alto, and crime prevention needs
to be a priority for the city. There are many reports of
robberies, both unarmed and armed. My community has a
serious, frequent theft problem, and despite surveillance
videos showing faces as well as license plates, it's difficult
to get the Palo Alto police to ever follow up beyond taking a
report.
29 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Name not shown
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 14, 2022, 6:55 PM
1. Allow building more housing by drastically reducing
zoning restrictions - in particular allowing denser and more
mixed use zoning. Make significant public investments in
affordable housing
2. Work to build safer, more walkable and bikeable streets
3. Focus on helping businesses with effective Covid-19
interventions like ventilation to protect workers and allow
more businesses to stay open and keep the economy
strong
4. Invest in climate mitigations and clean energy
Jennifer Liu
in University Park
January 14, 2022, 8:56 PM
Please put public safety as a high priority task. For the
past couple of years, there are more robbery and thefts in
our neighborhood. I don’t feel safe any more. This needs
to be fixed. Thank you.
NAPHTALI KNOX
in Crescent Park
January 14, 2022, 9:14 PM
1. Affordable housing: Through policy and rhetoric,
promote smaller units and affordability throughout the
city.
2. Crime: Crack down on retail and residential invasions
and burglaries. Financially support the police in the
endeavor.
Name not available
January 14, 2022, 9:18 PM
I’m worried about safety and public school education. Both
issues got worse in past two years
Name not shown
in Palo Verde
January 14, 2022, 9:30 PM
We absolutely have to improve overall safety in PA by
greatly reducing all kind of crimes. Unless the city feels
safe to live, nothing else matters
Name not shown
in College Terrace
January 14, 2022, 9:37 PM
Level crossings! This has been discussed ad nauseum for
years. The city has a surplus; use it, and anything you can
get from the states or feds, and get it done. San Carlos
and other cities have done it. How many more accidents
does it take? And don’t even think about closing Churchill
Ave. We need to get across town, and once high speed rail
comes along, it will be impossible. Please!
Name not shown
in Research Park
January 14, 2022, 9:50 PM
Would appreciate the City Council looking through the
lenses of the well-being of the residents of Palo Alto &
social justice in making decisions on priorities.
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
January 15, 2022, 12:26 AM
Make Palo Alto a Safe Community to live and visit.
LAUREN ANGELO
in Old Palo Alto
January 15, 2022, 5:23 AM
Continued City funding and support of the vital Community
Services that make Palo Alto such a wonderful place to live
and visit. Please continue to provide the funding needed
by the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, the Children's
Theatre, the Palo Alto Art Center, and the libraries. Thank
you!
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
30 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
January 15, 2022, 6:00 AM
1. Remove restrictions on housing construction, including
zoning and requirements for size, parking, etc. Streamline
processing of building permits.
2. Reduce regulatory and taxation burden on business.
Same as #1 with different focus.
3. Justice: Establish policy against qualified immunity and
civil forfeiture. Do not enforce laws against victimless
crimes, especially regarding drugs and immigration. Do not
cooperate with other agencies in enforcing such laws.
4. Financial responsibility: Stop spending money on non-
essentials, for example public art. Get all city employees
onto defined-contribution retirement plans. Put local taxes
on the ballot to be repealed (50% to repeal!).
5. Economics: Avoid feelgood policies whose unintended
consequences make things worse, among them rent
control, minimum wage regulations, electrification
mandates.
6. Education: Work to open Palo Alto schools to students
from less affluent neighboring communities. If Palo Alto
taxpayers are to subsidize anything in the social justice
area, let it be education opportunities.
7. My personal gripe: Stop making streets less safe for
cyclists under pretense of making them bicycle friendly.
Examples: Middlefield from Oregon to Channing,
Arastradero from El Camino to Gunn, University at Center
or W Crescent. Never put bollards or curbs in the street
(exception: wrong-way bike lane on Homer, Alma to High).
Craig Taylor
in Crescent Park
January 15, 2022, 8:57 AM
Actions should improve citizen's lives with the most
efficient use of city funds. Address congestion, parks,
schools, libraries, crime, roads... local issues for a local
government.
Programs should have measurable impacts and costs.
Karen Kalinsky
in Fairmeadow
January 15, 2022, 11:58 AM
In addition to the given priorities:
1. Encourage voter participation in local elections for City
Council and PAUSD School Board by enacting city
ordinances that create limits on individual donations to at
most $500; and voluntary expenditure limits to at most
$30,000 (lower limits for school board). This will make
many more voters think that their smaller donations to
candidates matter; and will allow potential candidates who
don't have access to large funding (including more people
of color and more diverse backgrounds) to consider
running for office. This supports the DEI priority as well as
a commitment to participatory democracy.
2. Act expeditiously to decide on plans for replacing all the
at-grade train crossings. The Meadow and Charleston
crossings are in dire need of improvement given the large
number of students biking and walking across these
intersections. Please keep in mind that the same solution
will not necessarily work for both crossings since Meadow
is much narrower than Charleston. Visual impacts are
important, but not as important as creating safe crossings
for everyone (cars, pedestrians, bike riders, people with
disabilities, etc.).
Name not available
January 15, 2022, 2:17 PM
Protect our neighborhoods -- put safeguards in against
SB9 & SB10
Economic Recovery -- help small businesses to survive &
keep the city vibrant
Climate Change -- protect homeowners from floods
Consider parking & traffic (people WILL continue to have
cars) when approving new developments
Name not available
January 15, 2022, 4:08 PM
Social justice/diversity/inclusiveness/equity: Implement
campaign finance reforms as proposed by the League of
Women Voters of Palo Alto to:
(1) decrease the cost of running for City Council through
voluntary spending ceilings, which will support a diverse
field of candidates;
(2) decrease reliance on a small number of wealthy donors
through mandatory donation caps, which will enhance the
importance of smaller donations from more people and
encourage increased citizen participation; and
(3) improve disclosure of PAC money by reducing the level
of donations to PACs that will trigger disclosure of the top
donors on political ads, so voters will know who is
supporting candidates or ballot measures.
31 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Name not available
January 15, 2022, 8:59 PM
Dramatically reduce carbon emissions.
Focus on fiscal responsibility.
Build and repair physical infrastructure.
Name not available
January 16, 2022, 3:48 AM
Lets have more public events, get togethers, picnics,
entertainment.
larry alton
in Downtown North
January 16, 2022, 4:10 AM
Lets have more get togethers, picnics, entertainment.
Larry Alton
Megan Fogarty
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 16, 2022, 9:37 AM
Posting as an individual. Priority ideas from me:
1) Developing sense of place - nurture civic spaces,
business corridors, arts, community service. Bring us
together through our recreation and culture resources.
2) Continue work on housing affordable for all in our
community (in particular our most vulnerable children and
families) and climate change impacts.
3) Local campaign finance reform - insure that Palo Alto is
an active and thriving democracy.
The League of Women Voters has put forward an excellent
proposal for local campaign finance reform that would
enact a $30,000 voluntary expenditure limit to rein in
excessive campaign spending, cap campaign donations at
$500, and require PACS that pay for campaign ads to
disclose contributors who donated $2500+ to the PAC in
the previous 12 months. Palo Alto is lagging behind
neighboring cities such as Mountain View, Cupertino and
Santa Clara that have passed similar measures. At a time
when national politics is riven with multiple threats to
democracy, this Council should unite around these
campaign finance reform measures as a simple means of
restoring faith in government and elections.
Lawrence Garwin
in Community Center
January 16, 2022, 2:18 PM
2022 Priorities for Palo Alto City Council:
(In no particular order, so please read the entire list. Thank
you for your kind consideration of these suggested Council
priorities.)
Continue focus on reducing climate change. (More
detailed suggestions below.)
Roads:
Resurface dangerously bumpy bike lanes such as the one
by the high school that is eastbound on Churchill from
Alma to Emerson. Be sure they are kept free of
obstructions, such as waste bins.
Install and diligently maintain reflective paint, reflectors,
and warning signs on all bulb-outs, medians, traffic circles,
etc., that narrow biking and driving lanes throughout the
city. (Car tire strikes have darkened or removed much of
the reflective paint and reflectors, where there was any.)
Currently, many of these create a huge hazard in that
someone going straight down a street (particularly in the
bike lane) can easily hit them without warning. Design
future ones and possibly retrofit current ones to have a
soft landing spot, such as a bush, for cyclists who hit these
curbs and flip over their handle bars. (This is a serious
suggestion.)
Review all roadway signs, starting with those along
bikeways, that say, “Not a Through Street”. Amend them,
as appropriate, to say, “for motor vehicles” or “except for
bicycles and pedestrians”, as often there’s a path out the
other end. Make all signage throughout the city
appropriate for bicyclists (and pedestrians, where
appropriate), as they are legitimate road users and must
be encouraged to reduce climate change, pollution, and
the ills of sedentary living. Clarify, perhaps with CA DMV
collaboration, whether bicycles are considered “vehicles”
and have signage reflect this standard.
Air:
32 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Enforce the existing gasoline leaf blower ban, expand it to
be city-wide (not just for residential properties) and cover
all landscaping tools. Make available a downloadable flyer
for folks to share with offending property owners and yard
care workers. Create an online reporting tool for easy,
perhaps anonymous, offense reporting. Possibly have
warnings sent out without the need for staff intervention.
Ban all indoor fireplace wood fires, as they destroy the air
quality for blocks around the offender’s home and are truly
ineffective at heating the home.
Require all wood stoves to be low emission and fed with
outdoor air; catalytic converters and pellet stoves allow
relatively clean wood burning and outside air intakes
substantially lower the emissions from burning wood in a
well-sealed house and the air infiltration in a leaky house.
Consider banning all indoor wood burning and further
regulating outdoor fires.
Electricity:
Install and encourage electric load shedding and grid
storage, whether behind the meter or municipally owned or
contracted. Incentivize the former by providing rebates
and introducing instantaneous two-way electricity pricing
and a communication structure for customers’ equipment
to automatically respond to price fluctuations.
(OhmConnect currently provides a limited incentives-for-
load-shedding service to PGE and other utilities’
customers; perhaps OhmConnect could be engaged to do
the same for PA in at least the short term.) Educate local
contractors and residents on how to install and use the
aforementioned load shedding and grid storage
equipment.
Aggressively encourage building electrification and
natural-gas-free buildings by giving huge incentives to not
pipe gas to new or remodeled buildings and large rebates
to folks who do transition their appliances from gas to
electricity. Progression: Increase the reliability of the
electric supply to reduce resistance to giving up gas
appliances such as stoves, water heaters, wall furnaces,
and gas fireplaces that currently don’t require electricity.
Make no new gas connections. Ban installation of new gas
appliances. Require existing gas appliances to be replaced
by a certain date. Cap off older lines to prevent leakage.
Cap off all unused lines. Stop supplying gas altogether or
transition non-electrifiable needs to biogas, possibly
supplied through the remaining gas pipeline network.
Transportation:
Encourage the adoption of electric vehicles by people living
in multi unit and rental housing by expanding and diligently
maintaining publicly available level 1 and 2 EV chargers in
the neighborhoods and DC Fast Chargers in retail areas.
(Many municipalities very affordably install level 2
chargers on street light poles.) Require all remodels and
new dwelling units to be EV charger ready.
Encourage/require work place charging (standard 120
VAC, 15 amp outlets are all that’s needed for most
commutes) to make use of the statewide surplus of solar
energy during the day.
Follow the lead of other cities on the Peninsula by cost-
effectively grade separating the railway crossings with a
hybrid approach of raising the tracks and lowering the
cross streets to go underneath. Be sure that there are low
sound walls on the elevated tracks to protect the nearby
homes from wheel noise. (The electrified locomotives will
be much quieter than the current diesel ones, so tall sound
walls are not needed.)
Name not available
January 16, 2022, 3:28 PM
I encourage City Council to prioritize clean air and quiet
neighborhoods. Without these fundamentals, Palo Alto
becomes an unpleasant place to live, particularly for the
many folks who are working from home. As it is right now,
there is noise nearly all of the time, on every day except
Sunday -- illegal gas leaf blowers, plus gas trimmers, lawn
mowers, etc. This makes it difficult to work from home and
impossible to open windows or enjoy one's yard, even on
beautiful days. In addition, it contributes to smog and
pollution, with disastrous health consequences for both
gardeners and the most vulnerable members of our
community. It doesn't need to be like this. If the City
would strengthen and enforce the code, we all could
breathe cleaner air and enjoy our homes -- very simple
things to ask. Please prioritize this in the coming year.
Helene Grossman
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 16, 2022, 3:33 PM
33 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
I encourage City Council to prioritize clean air and quiet
neighborhoods by enforcing the gas leaf blower ban.
Without these fundamentals, Palo Alto becomes an
unpleasant place to live, particularly for the many folks
who are working from home.
As it is right now, there is noise nearly all of the time --
illegal gas leaf blowers, plus gas trimmers, lawn mowers,
etc. This makes it difficult to work from home and
impossible to open windows or enjoy one's yard, even on
beautiful days. In addition, it contributes to smog and
pollution, with disastrous health consequences for both
gardeners and the most vulnerable members of our
community. Recently, the air quality has been terrible due
to this pollution being trapped close to the ground by
weather conditions. It doesn't need to be like this.
If the City would strengthen and enforce the code banning
gas leaf blowers, we all could breathe cleaner air and enjoy
our homes -- very simple things to ask. Please prioritize
this in the coming year.
Name not available
January 16, 2022, 4:54 PM
Please prioritize enforcement of the gas powered leaf
blower ban. This saves energy and greatly improves our
quality of life. I work online at home and the constant loud
noise sabotages my work! Thanks.
Name not available
January 16, 2022, 6:09 PM
I would like to see the City Council to do something with
the increased crimes in Palo Alto.
The four announced priorities (Economic Recovery,
Housing for Social and Economic Balance, Social Justice
and Climate Change) are important. However, if people
don't feel safe to go out, and have to spend their daily
effort to protect assets from being robbed or stolen, I don't
see how the economy could recover. Without Economic
Recovery, the other three priorities are also jeopardize.
Nancy Cohen
in Green Acres
January 16, 2022, 8:48 PM
The development of Cubberley as a community center
should be high on the City's priorities. This is long overdue
and, of course, has been hindered by the School district's
decision to retain 20 acres of that land. But there is an
offer for the City to acquire an additional 7 acres; it is
imperative that the City do that while the offer is
outstanding. The tenants at Cubberley are anxious to see
if there will be a future for them and for other community
members to have space that is not encumbered by
dilapidated buildings. I am on the board of Friends of the
Palo Alto Library whose function is to support the Palo Alto
City Library from three far-flung rooms at that site. The
Concordia plan included realistic space for FOPAL and
other organizations. The plan could be adapted for a
smaller acreage. Putting Cubberley on the Capital
Infrastructure Plan now would be a significant step. Thank
you.
Nancy Mahoney Cohen
Karen P
in Duveneck/ St Francis
January 16, 2022, 9:12 PM
The 2022 priorities must include protecting people’s
health and the environment by (1) continuing and even
redoubling efforts to reverse the FAA’s actions that moved
and concentrated jet flight paths – and associated noise
and emissions – over Palo Alto, and (2) ending the use of
lead fuel by small planes at the City-owned Palo Alto
Airport.
Regarding jet traffic, the FAA has steadily increased the
number, and lowered the altitudes, of jets flying over Palo
Alto since 2015. The City punted when it had the chance to
sue about the PIRAT procedure (although I have hope that
the current Council would not make the same mistake).
And the City has been rebuffed in its efforts to “propose
recommendations” to the FAA, so the problem has
continued to worsen (notwithstanding the dedicated
efforts of Council Members Kou and Stone). While jet
traffic overall has fluctuated during Covid-19, the harmful
impact remains substantial, especially considering that
many people are trying to work or study from home. Palo
Alto residents continue to register the highest number of
jet noise complaints among Bay Area cities, according to
SFO’s Airport Director.
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Regarding Palo Alto Airport, it was named #19 in a list of
the top 100 lead-polluting small airports in the U.S.
published by a leading environmental non-profit last
August. Lead is widely known to be toxic, particularly to
children, as it causes neurodevelopmental damage and
other harm. The County of Santa Clara has ended the sale
of leaded fuel at Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose (which
was #34 on the list) because of lead emissions and their
impact on the community, and the County has further
taken steps to close Reid-Hillview. A Staff Report for
Council’s 10/18/2021 meeting said the City has been
“exploring the use of unleaded fuel” since 2014. No more
excuses or delays – Council must take immediate, decisive
action to prohibit the use of leaded fuel at Palo Alto
Airport, and it must address other emissions and noise as
well.
Name not available
January 16, 2022, 9:57 PM
The Council adopted four important priorities last year.
Progress was made, but it would .be premature to judge
any of the four complete. Therefore, I suggest Council
keep these priorities for the coming year, elaborating the
focus for the coming year.
For economic recovery, focus should be on defining
success criteria and putting in place the supporting
infrastructure to create a favorable environment for small
business. CreatIng a unique identity for Palo Alto should
enable both small start ups and local retail to succeed.
For housing, the focus should remain on affordable
housing. The Council and community have put much effort
into affordable housing. The effort has not yet
materialized into a plan. The priority merits another year.
This community is richer when its population is more
diverse If Palo Alto it’s going to sustain it’s image as a
favorable place to live and raise a family, the Council and
the community need to be more aggressive about
supporting affordable housing. Affordable housing might
mean more favorable disposition to multi family housing,
Commitment to affordable housing could be demonstrated
by setting goals/ceiling of perhaps 50% of new residential
building for multifamily homes in Palo Alto.
For social justice, a focus on enhancing a sense of
belonging is warranted. For decades, Palo Alto’s
population numbers and composition were static. Not so,
more recently. Palo Alto has grown and changed. Too
many people feel they don’t belong. Underpinning
diversity by becoming a belonging community, is the most
important priority we can pursue in 2022. After George
Floyd’s killing, many cities, including our own, made
resolutions of support for the black community. Protests,
demonstrations, study groups occurred. We must leverage
this surge and pursue, real change to get beyond the
carefully worded resolutions. Initiatives in community
engagement, housing, policing, community education can
do much to put words into action.
For climate change, a focus on transit could have positive
effects on resource. use and on quality of life for residents.
Name not available
January 16, 2022, 9:57 PM
The Council adopted four important priorities last year.
Progress was made, but it would .be premature to judge
any of the four complete. Therefore, I suggest Council
keep these priorities for the coming year, elaborating the
focus for the coming year.
For economic recovery, focus should be on defining
success criteria and putting in place the supporting
infrastructure to create a favorable environment for small
business. CreatIng a unique identity for Palo Alto should
enable both small start ups and local retail to succeed.
For housing, the focus should remain on affordable
housing. The Council and community have put much effort
into affordable housing. The effort has not yet
materialized into a plan. The priority merits another year.
This community is richer when its population is more
diverse If Palo Alto it’s going to sustain it’s image as a
favorable place to live and raise a family, the Council and
the community need to be more aggressive about
supporting affordable housing. Affordable housing might
mean more favorable disposition to multi family housing,
Commitment to affordable housing could be demonstrated
by setting goals/ceiling of perhaps 50% of new residential
building for multifamily homes in Palo Alto.
For social justice, a focus on enhancing a sense of
belonging is warranted. For decades, Palo Alto’s
population numbers and composition were static. Not so,
more recently. Palo Alto has grown and changed. Too
many people feel they don’t belong. Underpinning
35 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
diversity by becoming a belonging community, is the most
important priority we can pursue in 2022. After George
Floyd’s killing, many cities, including our own, made
resolutions of support for the black community. Protests,
demonstrations, study groups occurred. We must leverage
this surge and pursue, real change to get beyond the
carefully worded resolutions. Initiatives in community
engagement, housing, policing, community education can
do much to put words into action.
For climate change, a focus on transit could have positive
effects on resource. use and on quality of life for residents.
Valerie Stinger
in Palo Verde
January 16, 2022, 10:00 PM
The Council adopted four important priorities last year.
Progress was made, but it would .be premature to judge
any of the four complete. Therefore, I suggest Council
keep these priorities for the coming year, elaborating a
focus for the coming year.
For economic recovery, focus should be on defining
success criteria and putting in place the supporting
infrastructure to create a favorable environment for small
business. CreatIng a unique identity for Palo Alto should
enable both small start ups and local retail to succeed.
For housing, the focus should remain on affordable
housing. The Council and community have put much effort
into affordable housing. The effort has not yet
materialized into a plan. The priority merits another year.
This community is richer when its population is more
diverse If Palo Alto it’s going to sustain it’s image as a
favorable place to live and raise a family, the Council and
the community need to be more aggressive about
supporting affordable housing. Affordable housing might
mean more favorable disposition to multi family housing,
Commitment to affordable housing could be demonstrated
by setting goals/ceiling of perhaps 50% of new residential
building for multifamily homes in Palo Alto.
For social justice, a focus on enhancing inclusion and a
sense of belonging is warranted. For decades, Palo Alto’s
population numbers and composition were static. Not so,
more recently. Palo Alto has grown and changed. Too
many people feel they don’t belong. After the murder of
George Floyd, many cities, including Palo Alto, confirmied
their commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality in
carefully written resolutions. Protests, demonstrations,
and study followed. Now,initiatives in community engage,
education,, policing , and housing, are.neeeded to move
from word to action. This is the most important priority for
2022. It reveals the character of the place that is willing to
put itself into diversity and not leave words without back
up.
For climate change, a focus on public transit can lead to a
better use of natural resources and improved services to
residents, this is particularly important if zoning is
encouraging smaller Residential units with reduced parking
provisions.
Name not shown
in Crescent Park
January 16, 2022, 10:07 PM
Please enforce the gas powered leaf blower ban. Thank
you.
Rebecca Marasco
in Greenmeadow
January 16, 2022, 10:09 PM
Parks- neighborhood parks are used more than ever with
Covid- let’s put money to upkeep and improve them.
Cubberly keeps getting kicked down the road. It needs a
plan and it needs to start and get funded.
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
January 17, 2022, 12:18 AM
Please focus on making Palo Alto safer. There has been too
much theft and burglary in my neighborhood in the past 2
years. Packages and mail are getting stolen behind locked
doors. Thieves keeps on coming back. We need to have the
police follow up with these crimes instead of ignoring
them.
Name not shown
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
in Ventura
January 17, 2022, 12:25 AM
Quality of life is becoming a serious issue for Palo Alto: The
intolerable (and illegal) nuisance of gas-powered leaf
blowers, crimes against people and property, and the
urgent need for decent, off-street, non-residential parking
facilities for RV dwellers.
Cedric de La Beaujardiere
in Barron Park
January 17, 2022, 3:11 AM
1. Carbon Drawdown, Climate Change Mitigation and
Adaptation, and support for Green California
(greencal.org) movement for state-wide GHG Reduction
2. Environmental Sustainability, Stewardship and
Restoration including Renaturalization of Matadero Creek
3. Affordable Housing including for homeless
4. Economic Recovery and support of locally owned
businesses
5. Racial Equity including truth and recognition of local
native peoples
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 5:37 AM
Open space preserved and no housing
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 7:16 AM
Although there are many priorities, especially due to
COVID, I request that Cubberley be added to the capital
infrastructure plan and placed as a high priority. There has
been no action or movement in the efforts to make this
prime real estate usable and safe for our community and
the time has come.
Thank you.
Deborah Simon
Chair, Friends of Cubberley
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
January 17, 2022, 7:55 AM
Hello, Council Members.
I live in a townhouse community in Palo Alto. For the past
2+ years, we have had regularly people breaking into our
complex and stealing from our mailroom, garage, and
storage spaces. The situation is increasingly worsening
despite us taking many steps for securing our complex,
submitting surveillance videos to the police, and filing
multiple police reports. Please make crime prevention and
safety of PA residents a top priority for the city.
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 8:44 AM
The 2 stroke engines that annihilate our peace, quiet and
our air quality must be stopped. For over half my life the
leaf blowers have been illegal yet never enforced. I have
asked hundreds of gardeners to please obey the law only
to have them agree and continue using them behind the
gate or just blatantly ignore me. This should not be the way
I spend my mornings asking the neighbors gardeners to
obey the law that law enforcement should be enforcing.
Our tax dollars are taken too much to do these things that
never seem to get done. On any given day of the week I
can count up to 20 gas powered leaf blowers around town
in a small area. The state of California made these illegal to
sell as well as other gas powered polluting engines. We
know the people using them already have them but who
will stop them from being used.
"Gavin Newsom signed a law that will effectively ban the
sale of gas-powered small off-road engines (SORE) —
spark-ignited engines rated at or below 25 hp — many of
which are used in lawn and garden equipment such as
mowers, as well as logging equipment, commercial utility
equipment and specialty vehicles."
If the city of Palo Alto that I was born in cannot enforce its
own law, than I will ask the state government for some
support for help in removing these well known toxic
polluters. If we are a city truly concerned about climate,
then why is this so difficult?.
Please send a city wide letter, email and climate warning to
all residents stating their gardeners can no longer run their
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
2 stroke engines. I am really tired of trying to enforce this.
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 9:24 AM
Personal and property safety around home.
Irene Gotgelf
in Charleston Terrace
January 17, 2022, 9:56 AM
Before we address global warming or any other global
issue, we need to address local increase in crime. Palo Alto
is experiencing a significant increase in theft and
residential burglaries. That needs to be addressed first. I
and my family need to feel safe before iam asked to
contribute paying taxes to address global warming .
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 10:00 AM
We have experienced an increased crime rate in our
neighborhood. The same thieves stalk our neighborhood
waiting for the next packages to arrive. We live in a gated
community, yet the thieves would just breach the gates to
walk around the premises shopping for expensive bikes. It
seems as if they are getting more brazen everyday
because there are no consequences to their actions even
as we continue to report the crimes to the city police. We
just can’t believe this consistently happens in Palo Alto.
The city council need to address this immediate problem
to ensure the safety and property rights of the residents of
Palo Alto.
Peter Giles
in Charleston Terrace
January 17, 2022, 10:29 AM
I support adding Cubberly improvements to the Capital
Infrastructure Plan. There are surely planning and
incremental capital investment steps that are feasible now
to put this increasingly valuable and needed resource
higher than present on City priorities.
Jenny Munro
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 17, 2022, 11:00 AM
I would like the city council to focus on developing the
Cubberley site. Please urge the city to purchase the
additional acreage available, and to begin upgrading the
site. Also, consider Cubberley for the proposed city gym; it
is a large, easily accessible site for many of Palo Alto's
residents. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I exhort
the city to put Cubberley on the Capital infrastructure Plan.
Thank you.
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 11:25 AM
Theft is at all time high in townhomes and condos. Despite
ample evidences (videos, car license plates etc) submitted
to PA police, it seems that the same perpetrators are
coming back repeatedly and are increasingly more brazen.
This sets a bad example for future kids who think stealing
is ok and normalized in the society. It is becoming a
blemish on Palo Alto and changing narrative from a safe
city to crime infested one with administration indifference.
Please prioritize and make it a goal in your retreat. Thanks,
Kumar.
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 11:30 AM
Please stop burglars coming to Palo Alto townhomes and
steal packages, bikes etc. It erodes confidence in Palo Alto
Police and city ability for a basic human need - safety.
Forget climate change, this is more immediate and closer
to home now.
Art McGarr
in Barron Park
January 17, 2022, 12:21 PM
The City of Palo Alto has had a ban on gas-powered leaf
blowers since 2005, but this ban has never been enforced.
Without enforcement, this ban cannot possibly result in the
intended improvement in our environment. Please initiate
some long-overdue enforcement.
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Not only would this improve our quality of life in Palo Alto,
enforcement of the gas powered leaf blower ban would
also raise some money for our city government, at least to
the extent that enforcement takes place.
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 12:27 PM
As a Palo Alto resident, I am really concerned about the
crimes in Palo Alto: residential and commercial burglaries,
violent and non-violent confrontations. Something needs
to be done.
Name not shown
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 17, 2022, 1:53 PM
1) Enforce existing ordinances! e.g. ban on gas leaf
blowers, noisy cars and motorcycles roaring down Oregon
Expressway at night, abandoned vehicles, RVs parking on
front lawns, illegal parking of RVs and storage vehicles on
El Camino.
2) Why are there so many 'Ghost Houses' (empty for
years)? How many are there? We need to know. Establish
a rental housing registry; are all the ADUs being built really
contributing housing units that were intended?? Allow
high density on El Camino but not in our R1
neighborhoods.
3) Noise Reduction. Noise is the last environmental
frontier. Can we ban Caltrain horns at night? Can we at
least push FAA/SFO to reroute aircraft away from us at
night? I am awakened at 2 am and 4 am by cargo flights
when the skies are empty. These planes could easily fly a
different route.
4) Eliminate leaded gas at PA Airport. I'd like to see PAO
closed, but at least heavily tax its use. How about stopping
the annoying training flights.
Name not shown
in Downtown North
January 17, 2022, 2:22 PM
To show a basic commitment to improving the
environment (climate change)
Palo Alto should adhere to basic programs which help.
One such area , which is a law ( not enforced at all), is gas
powered leaf blowers!
Not to mentions reducing noise! Funda resource to
enforce, if nothing else an 800# for complaints.
There is zero effort currently.
Andrew Cheng
in Charleston Terrace
January 17, 2022, 2:59 PM
Crime has exploded in our multi-family community (we
have several hundred households). I have lived here for
10+ years. It has completely transformed from a safe,
pleasant community to--for over 2 years now--a place of
constant crime and break-ins.
We have provided the police with many videos of the
crimes being committed, clear pictures of the
perpetrators, pictures of the cars, pictures of the license
plates, etc. Nothing is done.
The SAME criminals come back week after week, often
multiple times on the same week, terrorizing our
community and children.
We change the gate codes, change the doors, add locks,
etc. The criminals use power tools to cut through the gate,
break the glass, hack the Doorking dialpad, break the
doorknobs, call residents pretending to be Fedex
employees, etc etc.
We physically chase them away over and over again. The
SAME criminals return over and over again.
In fact, they often don't even bother to wear facemasks
when committing the crimes, even though we have visible
video cameras & signs warning of video cameras. They
have no fear about their faces or cars being caught on
camera because they know nothing will be done. They
know they can rob and terrorize Palo Alto residents with
impunity.
Please make public safety a priority so that our community
of 100+ can live and sleep in peace, and so our children can
play in our courtyard without fear.
Please provide police the resources they need to protect
our residents.
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 3:01 PM
City Priorities for 2022:
1) Affordable housing that can be accounted for as actually
serving the community. ADU’s are just a giveaway to
landowners with no accountability for how the owners use
the unit. With no rules, the units are likely rented at market
rate, or not rented at all and just used by the owner as “in-
law” units. The City should require all such units be rented
BMR and track the rentals. The densification of structures
on residential lots with additional cars parking on the
streets just hurts everyone around the property.
2) Require timely (days, not years) enforcement of ALL
City Codes and Ordinances, incl. limits for street parking,
gas leaf blowers, cars parked on sidewalks, overgrown
dilapidated properties, etc. The City has dropped the ball
on enforcement, which is the only way to make ordinances
effective! Our streets, neighborhoods, and quality of life
suffer for lack of consequences for offenders.
3) Ban the sale of leaded fuel at Palo Alto Airport and any
other city-based pumps!! HOW can we call ourselves a
“Sustainable City” when we allow PA based planes to circle
the Baylands spewing leaded fuel? Aviation proponents
have too much power here, given their minority in this
community. Aviation interests promised unleaded fuels
were coming, and didn’t deliver in the last 10 years! Take
away the leaded Avgas pumps this year!
4) Terminate the leases to flight schools at PAO (PA
Airport). Pilot training accounts for ~80% of operations at
PAO as “touch and go” practice burns fuel and adds to
Palo Alto’s CO2 footprint. What a waste of energy! And
why is The City budget supporting this boondoggle? Let
hobby pilots keep the airport afloat, without City support.
Or shut it down and let us enjoy the Baylands Preserve as a
natural treasure.
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
January 17, 2022, 3:38 PM
Priority is crime, our mail and items are being stolen from
our homes and cars broken into, crime is rampant and no
one seems to think that it is priority.
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 3:55 PM
Please complete Cubberley Community Center and add
housing to the top in order for it to fit into this year's
priority: Housing for Social and Economic Balance: focus
on affordable and workforce housing, funding, and
achievable plans. David Moss 347 Ferne 94306
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 4:34 PM
Citywide municipal fiber to the premises (FTTP) (meaning
all residences and businesses can have access).
Name not shown
outside Palo Alto
January 17, 2022, 6:09 PM
1) I would like to see the Council go back to the Priority
they had in 2017: Healthy City, Healthy Community. There
can't be a better time to work on a healthy city and healthy
community! This priority could encompass a number of the
other topics they now have as priorities.
2) Prioritize the well being of our youth, K-12th! There can't
be a time in which our Youth need to be prioritized as now!!
Look at any Data about our youth and you will know WE
ALL NEED to prioritize our Youth!
Name not shown
in Professorville
January 17, 2022, 7:42 PM
Ban Gas Leaf Blowers
Affordable Housing Please!
Name not shown
January 17, 2022, 8:24 PM
Improve community safety and reduce crime rate
Increase police patrol
Do not use the city budge to promote cancel culture
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2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 8:50 PM
Community safety. Crimes rates are going up in Bay Area.
As local presidents I'm very concerned about our safety.
First priority for my family and I are community safety.
Paul Goldstein
in University South
January 17, 2022, 9:13 PM
I believe that Council should focus on increasing the
housing stock in Palo Alto. Affordable housing should be a
priority, but we need to build more housing period. We
should not be a community in which our teachers and
workers cannot live. We should not be forcing people to
commute (and pollute) to work here. Proving more housing
for our workers will support efforts to reduce greenhouse
emissions.
Name not shown
in Greenmeadow
January 17, 2022, 9:33 PM
Crime prevention - the City of Palo Alto and the Palo Alto
Police Department continue to neglect the Altaire
community by disregarding our complaints of multiple
thefts in the past 2 years - escalating now more and more -
thieves male and female come into the community with
and without masks at all times of the day and steal our
packages, break our lockboxes, break into our mailboxes
and make off with their loot - this is unacceptable - please
help us
Name not available
January 17, 2022, 9:57 PM
Crime Prevention should be a Palo Alto Priority
Yan Wang
in Charleston Terrace
January 17, 2022, 11:30 PM
Please address the increased crime in our neighborhood!
Felipe Fernandes Cordeiro de Morais
in Evergreen Park
January 18, 2022, 8:24 AM
Response to the post-pandemic crime wave: recent data
shows a significant increase in the crime rates after the
COVID-19 pandemic
(https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Police/Pu
blic-Information-Portal/Crime-Statistics). The Palo Alto
City Council should define a strategy to deter the criminals
to practice infractions in the city.
Increase the COVID-19 testing options for Palo Alto
residents: the new stage of the pandemic requires testing
for COVID-19 in several occasions. The population is
struggling to find at-home test kits or options to schedule
at testing sites. The City Council should discuss about
providing more testing options to the Palo Alto population.
Housing for Social and Economic Balance: Access to safe,
affordable housing
1 - Access to safe, affordable housing is an urgent issue.
a) 46% of Palo Alto’s population are renters.
b) COVID-19 was an inflection point. It showed us all how
important stable housing is, how vulnerable nearly half our
population (renters) is, and how far behind our policies and
programs are.
c) With state-wide renter protections like the eviction
moratorium ending last month, renters in Palo Alto are
facing harassment and evictions. Older renters and renters
with disabilities are experiencing this the worst.
d) Families and long-time renters are being forced out and
are unable to afford housing anywhere else.
2 - Palo Alto needs a data driven approach to housing and
the Rental Survey Program (Rent Registry) will help make
this possible.
a) In 2018, housing and a rent registry were identified as
priorities by Mayor Tom Dubois and Councilmember Lydia
Kou but we haven’t acted swiftly on them.
b) The Rental Survey Program or Rent Registry is already
on the books but just needs to be implemented
c) It would assist other renter protection efforts because
the city has almost no data on renters in Palo Alto.
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2022 City Council Priorities
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d) It would help us tailor our policies to Palo Alto and
address specific, local needs.
e) A rent registry can help us identify bad players and
policy gaps
f) It HELPS mom and pop landlords — educate them on
their responsibilities and helps separate them from bad
actors
3 - Other policies from the list
a) Expand Tenant Relocation Assistance
4 - The Bay area is extraordinarily expensive to live in and
leaves low-income and middle income neighbors at high
risk of homelessness. In Palo Alto, 80% of renters making
less than $75,000 per year are paying more rent than the
federal standard. It’s no surprise that 43% of people
experiencing homelessness lost their home when they had
a loss of income. The majority of them reported remaining
unhoused because they couldn’t find housing affordable to
them. Homelessness is closer than we think for many in
the Bay area and this is an opportunity to change that.
Name not shown
in University South
January 18, 2022, 8:51 AM
Easier, faster solar installs (permitting, inspection, etc).
Yingquan Wu
in Fairmeadow
January 18, 2022, 9:01 AM
Crime Prevention
Name not shown
in Charleston Terrace
January 18, 2022, 9:07 AM
Crime Prevention should be a Palo Alto Priority!
Name not available
January 18, 2022, 9:08 AM
Palo Alto MUST provide more housing that is affordable to
low-income renters to meet state standards.
Name not available
January 18, 2022, 9:41 AM
1. Support the Campaign Finance Reform. Neighboring
cities have implemented effective measures to reduce the
influence of money in politics and make elections clean and
accessible to all who want to serve. I urge the city to adopt
these reforms for the upcoming city election. Think not of
self interest, but the best interest of our city by having a
fair election process.
2. We have seen a surge in robberies, home break-ins and
car break-ins in our city. People no longer feel safe. Please
step up police enforcement to make our city safe. The
effort in policing is not in conflict with the social reforms
needed to address the root cause of the problem. We need
both to keep down the crime.
Mickey Suen
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 18, 2022, 9:48 AM
Sad to say I have little hope for the City Council to get the
long over due need resolved for all the people of Palo Alto.
Palo Alto Zero Tolerance for gas leaf blowers with 100%
Compliance.
Wouldn’t that be some headline. It has been really nice not
to have the gas blowers disturbing the peace during the
shelter in place for a few weeks. How wonderful it is to get
all the gardeners back to work, but unfortunately that
comes with their gas leaf blowers. On my block, there are
six houses on each side of the street and of these 12
homes, 9 use hired gardeners. All use gas blowers! When
three of them arrive at the same time, I feel like I am in a
war zone. Seems all the gardeners and homeowners have
no regard for the law.
So this is NOT an article on complaining about gas blower
since there have been many.
The headline reads “100% Compliance” ok, 99.9%
because there will always be someone who demands to be
different.
42 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
So how do we achieve 100% Compliance. It is costly for
the City to add more enforcers and the police are
overworked and frankly have more important things to do
with their time.
This is a step by step plan on how we as a city can reach
100% compliance within 6 months. In this process, reduce
and maybe even eliminate this job for the police
department, generate new revenue for the city and create
new jobs that cost the City nothing. I present this to the
City of Palo Alto as a free idea.
1. Send out one notice with the utility bill stating the law on
Gas Leaf Blowers with the statement that this is the
education part of the ordnance and the only warning that
each home will receive.
2. Setup a city website which can receive reports of
violations with a place to input address of violation and 3
pictures of the violation. These pictures should have a
time and date stamp. Following pictures are required, one
of the gardener doing the blowing, one of the gardener’s
truck with license plate or company name on the truck, and
one of the homeowner’s street address. The person
making the report name and address for the reward.
3. The city will fine both the homeowner and the gardener
(X) dollars for the first violation, (2X) dollars for the
second violation etc. Half of the fine will be kept by the City
and half will be sent as a reward to the reporter. No more
need to have a police officer spend their valuable time
running down violators and we have just created new jobs
for independent reporters.
Tim Persyn
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 18, 2022, 10:40 AM
The city council must approve housing projects for all
income levels to ensure Palo Alto is an affordable and
inclusive community.
It should develop a city-wide strategy for increasing the
number of Black and Latino residents in the city.
Cherrill Spencer
in Barron Park
January 18, 2022, 10:45 AM
Dear City Councillors
I have three priority requests.
#1 We hear that some of your staff are drafting an
ordinance based on the UN Convention to Eliminate All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), that is
good news. Please make sure you put a discussion and
vote on accepting their draft CEDAW ordinance on a
council agenda when staff tell you it is ready.
#2 Some years ago the then Mayor [working alone] took
our fine City OUT of the Mayors for Peace organization, we
had been members since about 1985. We need to rejoin
Mayors for Peace (find out more about this international
effort to abolish nuclear weapons here:
http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/ ). Membership
costs about $25 per year.
My last request is what I and many others asked for last
year:
#3 To increase access to truly affordable housing in Palo
Alto and to expand tenant protections and supports.
Examples would be, a Rental Survey or Rent Registry,
funding for Renter Relocation, and most importantly :
expanded eviction protections.
I see hardly any movement this past year on these vital
housing issues, surely we can do better in 2022?
Thank you.
Cherrill Spencer, Palo Alto resident since 1974.
stephen levy
in University Park
January 18, 2022, 10:47 AM
Housing for all income groups
Reducing existing constraints to housing proposals and
approval
Making PA a competitive city
Stuart Hansen
in Community Center
January 18, 2022, 11:09 AM
Please aggressively pursue how Palo Alto can REGAIN local
control over threats to our SFR zoning life-style (SB-9) we
worked a lifetime to obtain.
Sign-on to any petition to overturn SB-9 and aid the
process of signature gathering. Thank you so much, Stuart
and Carol Hansen
43 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Mary Jo Levy
in Midtown/ Midtown West
January 18, 2022, 11:22 AM
I support retaining the 2021 priorities and with emphasis in
two add'l areas: restoration of Library & Community
Services programs as able to pre-pandemic levels; and
vigorous, noticeable efforts to move forward renovation of
the dilapidated Cubberly site and the building of a real gym
as proposed by the Parks & Rec. Commission.
Catherine Crystal Foster
in Community Center
January 18, 2022, 11:26 AM
I would like to see Palo Alto serve as a model for other
cities in the way it includes a wide variety of residents,
creates a vibrant and progress-oriented civic life, and
executes on bold decisions about climate, housing, and
transportation. My priorities are:
1) Ensuring that the city includes and sustains a robust
variety of housing options (including a meaningful amount
of affordable housing, housing for people with disabilities,
and higher-density transit-oriented housing). This means
taking leadership to ensure that housing other than very
expensive single-family homes actually gets built.
2) Promoting climate resilience.
3) Resolving and taking action on the train crossing issue.
4) Passing local campaign finance reform, so that we limit
the time candidates and electeds need to spend raising
money (rather than talking to voters and addressing our
city's issues), avoid undue influence from donors, increase
voter trust in the system, and welcome a wider range of
candidates to the field.
Stephanie Enos
in Barron Park
January 18, 2022, 11:28 AM
Do not let another year go by when local law is ignored and
gradually becomes irrelevant. This is the shameful history
of (not) banning gas leaf blowers that make life in certain
neighborhoods feel like a war zone. There is much grand
standing about climate change and the environment when
at a stroke the Palo Alto city council could ensure that the
ban was strictly observed, the law upheld and the air
quality vastly improved. Not only would this restore some
degree of local control but Palo Alto residents would
breathe much more easily! Adjust the original provision in
the ban to warn and then fine property owners not the
gardeners. Why bother to have a ban if it is not
implemented. This is how trust in local government is
undermined.
Name not shown
in Palo Verde
January 18, 2022, 11:28 AM
Please prioritize air quality in Palo Alto by ensuring our
code is enforced and pollution is minimized. Recently, the
air quality has been terrible due to a temperature
inversion, trapping wood smoke, vehicle exhaust, and
other particulate matter close to the ground. This has
profound effects on the health of the population. For
myself, I get headaches and cannot go outside when air
quality is low.
One of the top (and easy) things we can do for air quality is
to enforce the ban on gas powered leaf blowers. One hour
of gas leaf blower usage generates as much pollution as
driving a car 1000+ miles. It's unnecessary, it's illegal, and
it's bad for all of us. It would also have the side benefit of
reducing noise/stress in neighborhoods, particularly for
the many people who are continuing to work from home.
While Palo Alto has many needs, few things are more basic
than clean air for all of us to breathe -- please consider this,
and the health of the community, in the coming year.
Thank you.
Martin Kuhn
in Downtown North
January 18, 2022, 11:30 AM
Start executing a grade separation solution in 2022. This
project while already a priority for the city needs to be
'shovel ready' as soon as practicable. Decision making
appears extremely protracted and slow moving. City
Council - Please make tough decisions and let's move
forwards!
Name not available
January 18, 2022, 11:43 AM
44 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Please prioritize air quality in Palo Alto by ensuring our
code is enforced and pollution is minimized. Recently, the
air quality has been terrible due to a temperature
inversion, trapping wood smoke, vehicle exhaust, and
other particulate matter close to the ground. This has
profound effects on the health of the population. For
myself, I get headaches and cannot go outside when air
quality is low.
One of the top (and easy) things we can do for air quality is
to enforce the ban on gas powered leaf blowers. One hour
of gas leaf blower usage generates as much pollution as
driving a car 1000+ miles. It's unnecessary, it's illegal, and
it's bad for all of us. It would also have the side benefit of
reducing noise/stress in neighborhoods, particularly for
the many people who are continuing to work from home.
While Palo Alto has many needs, few things are more basic
than clean air for all of us to breathe -- please consider this,
and the health of the community, in the coming year.
Thank you.
Name not available
January 18, 2022, 11:47 AM
WE NEED SERVICE SECTOR HOUSING FOR OUR LOW-
INCOME WORKERS. REZONE OR USE OFFICE SPACE,
PARKING LOTS, FREY'S IS AN EXCELLENT PLACE,
PARKING LOTS ON EL CAMINO AND PAGE MILL CENTER
WHERE THERE IS MUCH PARKING, NOT ANY
APARTMETS ( CINEARTS AREA)
PROVIDE INCENTIVES AND ALSO BUILD SHLETERS FOR
THE HOMELESS!!
Name not available
January 18, 2022, 11:49 AM
Please put focus on making Palo Alto's permitting process
efficient and more user friendly.
Background: Contractors state that, due to the difficulty of
Palo Alto's permit process, they will not install solar in our
city, although they'll do the same work in other cities along
the peninsula. A Palo Alto Weekly article titled "Palo Alto
Takes Heat Over Solar Permitting" by Gennady Sheyner,
dated May 21, 2021, provides examples of what needs to
be fixed. The permitting tie-ups are in substantial conflict
with the city's goal of encouraging residents and
businesses to electrify.
Name not shown
in Downtown North
January 18, 2022, 11:50 AM
Housing cost and affordability is still the number one issue
in Palo Alto today. We are losing community, including
long term residents, due to high housing costs. This year,
2022, Palo Alto City Council's #1 priority must be the
creation of a Housing Element that meets regional
requirements and state law. Our own county, through a
Civil Grand Jury Report, has also called on our city to step
up and put together a feasible housing plan that serves our
current and future residents. If we don't act our county and
our state will hold us accountable for our lack of action.
Worst case the state may sue us or strip away our ability to
act for ourselves. As a homeowner and taxpayer I do not
want our city council to put us on a path to be sued - they
is bad governance and fiscal negligence. That's why it is
paramount that in 2022, this city council, current mayor
and vice mayor must act responsibly to prioritize, not
thwart, a legal, feasible, workable Housing Element and
long-term housing plan that meets state law, addresses
our county's concerns and serves our community as a
whole.
Patrick Ye
in Old Palo Alto
January 18, 2022, 11:51 AM
continuing to make progress on Palo Alto's climate goals.
we are running out of time, and forward thinking action
items (e.g. simplifying the solar panel approval process, a
timeline for phasing out city gas) will be critical
Name not available
January 18, 2022, 11:53 AM
I have lived on a "designated" Bicycle Boulevard (NOT
Bryant) for many years. Park-Wilkie Bike Boulevard was in
the Bike-Pedestrian Plan in both 2003 and 2012.
Improvements to calm motor traffic were to be phase 2 of
the Neighborhood Traffic and Safety Project (2017).
Please put honest effort into improving safety on Wilkie
Way for the many cyclists and pedestrians.
45 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
Bob Wenzlau
in Crescent Park
January 18, 2022, 11:59 AM
Council Priority Statement by Bob Wenzlau
Water Resources. Water is an integrated resource
managed in multiple departments and silos. Water is a
resource that has quality and quantity considerations.
Water integrates to climate, hazard via flood, health and
economy. The Utility Advisory Committee and Storm
Water Commission touch water, but neither whole a One
Water view. Council should consider charging the Storm
Water commission with oversight of One Water.
Municipal Airport. The airport is a tipping point indicator to
commitment on sustainability. Now a source of noise,
lead, carbon and land use. The airport land is also an
asset with land value of likely 1 billion dollars, yet yields no
economic return. The airport serves a wealthy clique, not
the community. As a source of housing, the airport lands
could offer 3,000 mixed use housing, with parklands and
commercial potential. Given the demand for housing, it is
arrogant that our city does not explore this option. Santa
Monica is a community that in the longterm has ceased
their airport operations.
Climate and Drawdown. Participating in the SCAP working
group, the rate of transition to achieving 80 percent
reduction cannot happen via converting toward reduced
emissions of carbon alone. There will be a lag in timing. To
maintain our commitment, the City should embrace more
investment in offsets so that we can achieve our climate
goals consistent with the timing we have set.
Transportation by Bike. A shift to transportation by bike
over automobile should be prioritize. A litmus test is the
lack of safe biking along Embarcadero where sole
preference is given to vehicle transport over bike. As bikes
continue to be required to take the longer route, this
represents the view that bikes are a secondary mode of
transport that cannot be accommodated along the most
direct routes.
Fate of Paper and Plastics. Our waste paper and plastics
continue to be shipped to Southeast Asia. Council has not
stopped this practice. Our climate calculations do not
measure that these materials are reasonably burned or
converted to carbon dioxide, and of course cause
incredible social harm. Council should not greenwash this
adverse impact, and demand that this practice stop for
Palo Alto’s waste stream.
International Engagement. Council should maintain
international as well as domestic engagement. I
appreciate the unwavering support Council maintains to
this engagement.
Ardan Michael Blum
in University Park
January 18, 2022, 11:59 AM
Dear City Councillors,
I would like to draw your attention to an area where there
might be some considerable savings.
Since moving into my apartment in downtown, I have seen
3 times in 5 years the city’s street painters re-do the
“STOP” marking (painted) on the road. This seems odd. In
other places I have lived, the paint used has been far less
prone to vanishing.
It might be interesting to investigate what paint is being
used!
Best regards,
Ardan Michael
46 | www.opentownhall.com/11402 Created with OpenGov | January 28, 2022, 1:54 PM
2022 City Council Priorities
What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2022?
From:LaNell Mimmack
To:News
Subject:2020 City Council Priorities Question
Date:Saturday, January 15, 2022 6:30:16 PM
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Why does my utility bill go up when my usage goes down?
From:ivan kissiov
To:News
Subject:2020 City Council Priorities Question
Date:Friday, January 14, 2022 10:06:06 AM
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Where do I find a summary of accomplished goals for the 2020 priorities:
Housing, with special emphasis on affordability
Sustainability, in the context of the changing climate
Improving mobility for all
Thank you,
Ivan Kissiov
840 Altaire Walk, Palo Alto, CA 94303
From:Gail Thompson
To:News
Subject:2020 City Council Priorities Question
Date:Friday, January 14, 2022 9:59:08 AM
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Thank you for the list of priorities and it is comprehensive. A question I have regarding
housing are the number of homes that remain vacant for months/years. It seems to me that
there could a time limit on how long homes can be vacant, especially those who bought them
purely for a monetary investment. There are several such homes in my neighborhood.
Gail Thompson
From:Nathan Szajnberg
To:News
Subject:2020 City Council Priorities Question
Date:Thursday, December 16, 2021 9:54:17 AM
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Priority: Safety, safety, safety above all;
I had four thefts (totalling 8,000)from my yard and car port over ten days. The police did nothing but take a report by computer.
The police wouldn't even reveal information on policing to Councilman Tanaka (unless he gotthe majority of city council to vote for this).
Now, we have gangs of smash and grab.
Make PA safe.That's true social justice!
-- Nathan M. Szajnberg, MD
http://szajnberg.com/Former Freud Professor, The Hebrew University
Training Analyst, IPA and Israel Psychoanalytic SocietiesMember, San Franciso and Israel Psychoanalytic Societies
650-272-85553941 Duncan Place
Palo Alto, Ca. 94306
From:Sharon Lee-Nakayama
To:News
Cc:Altaire Walk
Subject:2020 City Council Priorities Question
Date:Sunday, January 16, 2022 11:42:32 AM
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To Palo Alto City Council:
I know that Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 12:00 noon is the deadline for submission of
priorities . I want to let you know that I will be delivering a petition from Altaire WalkTownhouses (901 San Antonio Road) regarding our community concern on Crime in Palo
Alto.....residential as well as commercial burglaries, violent and non-violent confrontations . We believe that your 4 announced priorities (Economic Recovery, Housing for Social and
Economic Balance, Social Justice and Climate Change) are important; however, ourimmediate concerns dealing with increased Crime should also be addressed, as this directly
affects Palo Alto residents and indirectly addresses your 4 priorities.
Thank you.--
Sharon Lee-Nakayama
HOA Board
Altaire Walk Townhomes
From:Steven D. Lee
To:Council, City
Cc:Christina Schmidt Ptac; Don Austin; Mary Gloner; PTA Council EVP; PTAC Health and Wellness; Shikada, Ed;
board@pausd.org; supervisor.simitian@bos.sccgov.org
Subject:2022 City Council Priorities — PTAC Recommendation: Mental Health
Date:Tuesday, January 18, 2022 9:34:23 PM
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Dear City Council,
On behalf of the Palo Alto Council of PTAs (PTAC), we respectfully submit the attachedletter in response to the City Council’s request for public input related to 2022 City Council
priorities.
We thank you in advance, and we hope you will consider, per our letter, making MentalHealth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a 2022 City Council-level priority.
Yours in partnership,
Steven Lee
Vice President of AdvocacyPalo Alto Council of PTAs
PTAC Letter 2022 City Council…
-- Regards,
Steven Lee
From:pennyellson12@gmail.com
To:Council, City
Subject:City Council 2022 Priorities
Date:Thursday, January 20, 2022 4:11:46 PM
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Honorable City Council,
The City’s Priorities survey has closed, so I am writing to share my thoughts on 2022 City Priorities.
I find myself wondering about the way we have set priorities in the past. Categories like: Housing,
Land Use, Sustainability, Transportation, Economic Recovery have risen individually as priorities as
though they are disconnected, though we know that they are not. I hope we will think about
priorities differently this year, tying them together and focusing on more specific problems and
projects that may require staff or financial resources.
With focus on housing infill, I think about availability of school capacity, community services,
transportation, utilities in the areas of the city where this housing will be located. I think about
leveraging the advantages of infill to move us toward sustainability which can only happen if we
think comprehensively about coupling housing infill with transportation, utilities (especially water
and electricity) and community facilities improvements. The things we want-- economic recovery,
sustainability, more diverse and plentiful housing stock—are all tied to a healthy multi-modal
transportation system, the circulation system that makes a city work.
Please prioritize:
Timely decision-making that moves us toward Multi-Modal Grade Separation
The existing options already serve driver needs extremely well, but that’s not so for foot-
powered folks. Please make sure these plans are improved to integrate safe, comfortable
facilities across Alma and the rails for people who walk and bike. These are school commute
routes.
Select concepts and move toward shovel readiness this year.
Tie Housing, Transportation and Community Services Together—Adapt the Housing Element to
increase and diversify housing stock to enable planning and building housing that is well-supported
within a comprehensive community context, providing multi-modal transportation facilities,
community services and school capacity that is needed to serve added housing. Examples:
Integrate the Wilkie/Park Bicycle Boulevard plans with Ventura development plans and move
them forward together with a comprehensive plan for that area.
If the city is serious about redeveloping portions of San Antonio Road and East Meadow
Circle/Fabian Area with housing, then make sure that community services and school capacity
are preserved and rebuilt on our last, large publicly owned parcel, Cubberley, to support that
development in south Palo Alto with walkable, bikable schools and city services. These things
must be linked.
If the city is going to take a position on housing legislation, please insist that housing
mandates be accompanied by meaningful state funding for transportation, school capacity
and community service improvements.
Economic Recovery—So many cuts. It is time to restore some staffing and fund projects to get
things moving again. Move forward with hope (and good fiscal sense) as you continue to support
efforts to free our community from the many restrictions this pandemic places on our lives.
Example: OOT staff is down 23%. They were never overstaffed. Let’s get that department back up
to speed. FYI…Work on the Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Plan Update, which was supposed
to start last summer, and has not started yet because we need a Senior Planner to drive it.
Thanks for listening…and for all you do.
Penny Ellson
Virus-free. www.avg.com
From:susan chamberlain
To:Pat Burt; Council, City
Subject:City Council Priorities
Date:Tuesday, January 18, 2022 1:57:36 PM
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Dear Mayor Burt and City Council Members,
350 SV PA Climate Team is pleased to see the initiation of the Ad Hoc Committee on the
S/CAP and hope that meaningful programs will emerge as the climate crisis is getting more
dire every year.
While the Council has made climate change, protection and adaptation a priority for the last 2
years, we haven’t moved the needle anywhere near enough given the severity of the crisis. 350
SV Palo Alto Team encourages the Council to continue to make Climate Change a TOP
priority for 2022.
While the S/CAP delineates important initiatives in a broad set of important areas, we feel the
Council and Staff need to prioritize and focus on a few things that will dramatically reduce our
GHGs — namely building electrification and transportation. We need to move the needle in
these two biggest pieces of our emissions inventory immediately to get us anywhere near to
our 80x30 goal. We also need to have annual goals and benchmarks so we can track our
progress.
We’re all experiencing the effects of climate change now — even sooner than most scientists
predicted. Smoke, fire, drought, sea level rise and heat waves are becoming the norm, and the
longer we wait to fund and put programs in place, the harder (and more expensive) it will be
as 2030 is less than 8 years away.
The Governor’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year reflects his deep understanding of
the crisis we’re facing, and we implore you to act with the same courage and tenacity to
promote a healthy and safe world for our children and grandchildren.
Please “Look Up” and lead us into a habitable future.
Respectfully,
Susan Chamberlain for
350 SV PA City Climate Team
From:Matthew Lennig
To:News
Subject:City Council priorities
Date:Thursday, December 16, 2021 11:43:58 AM
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I just read the list of priorities of Palo Alto City Council. Why is quality of life in Palo Altonot a priority? I see economic recovery made the list. Does City Council prioritize retail
merchants's businesses over the quality of life of residents?
Matthew LennigPalo Alto
From:Sharon Lee-Nakayama
To:News
Subject:Priority Concern from Altaire Walk
Date:Monday, January 17, 2022 10:27:22 PM
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This is a petition signed by 107 residents from Altaire Walk concerning Crime Prevention as aPalo Alto priority.
Palo Altans for Sensible Zoning
PO Box 305, Palo Alto, CA 94302 http://sensiblezoning.org
February 1, 2022
PRIORITIES: LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS
Council’s priority for 2022 should be to maintain the quality of life while maintaining the innovative spirit that has made Palo Alto unique.
Over the past several decades, there has been a dramatic economic threat emerging from the
concentration of business activity in the City. Palo Alto has the highest concentration of workers to employed residents of just about any city in the country. This makes housing and office prices and measures of income inequality among the highest in the country and the fastest growing. This places substantial burdens on local government expenses while the business contribution to
local government is inordinately low.
What Council priorities can deal with these very real threats?
• Place a clear priority for housing over office space. Target a strict limit on new office
space and foster the growth of affordable housing. Publish regular updates that track the reduction in the current 3:1 ratio of workers to employed residents.
• But businesses that employ three times the number of city employed residents contribute
only about one-third of local government revenues. Businesses must contribute substantially more to local government expenditures for such things as affordable housing and vital services like transportation, emergency services and schools!
• Open negotiations with Stanford on contributions to local governments and school needs. The Stanford Endowment grew from $29 billion to $42 billion in the last year while the value of their properties exempt from local taxes grew as well. Look at other cities with large tax exempt private colleges. New Haven just negotiated with Yale and the state to increase annual contributions to the city by some $60 million a year to cover
the costs for local services from tax-exempt properties. Palo Alto can and should be a model for other cities at building affordable housing and working toward retaining a balanced community with fair financial contributions from all.
Palo Altans for Sensible Zoning
Contact:
Greg Schmid gregschmid@sbcglobal.net