HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 14580
City of Palo Alto (ID # 14580)
Office of the City Clerk
City Council CAO Report
Meeting Date: 8/22/2022 Report Type:
Title: Interviews for the Human Relations Commission
From: Lesley Milton, City Clerk
Recommendation Conduct interviews with all applicants for the Human Relations Commission. Discussion Boards and Commissions are established as advisory bodies to the City Council, made up of community volunteers that provide essential feedback on matters of importance to the community. The City Clerk’s office advertises and recruits for vacancies, the Council considers the applications, interviews desired candidates, and makes recommendations for appointment for the open positions.
Commissioner Patti Regehr resigned from the Human Relations Commission on May 31, 2022. As such, the current vacancy staff is requesting to be filled is: • One (1) position on the Human Relations Commission, with term expiring March 31, 2023
A total of 6 applications have been submitted during the recruitment period. On Monday August 8, 2022 the City Council directed that all applicants be scheduled for interview and consideration. The interview schedule will be as follows: Schedule of Interviews for August 22, 2022
Human Relations Commission
5:00 PM Donald Barr In-person
5:10 PM Katie Causey Virtual
5:20 PM Chitra Sharma In-person
5:30 PM Tracy Navichoque In-person
Page 2
5:40 PM Sunita De Tourreil Virtual
5:50 PM Kat Synder In-person
Membership Requirements Per PAMC 2.22.010, The Human Relations Commission requires each member of the commission to have Palo Alto residency. Human Relations Commission: One position Term ending March 31, 2023 • Palo Alto Residency Public Outreach Palo Alto Municipal Code 2.16.060 requires public notification regarding vacancies of the Commissions as follows, “The City Clerk shall exercise their discretion in choosing the method of advertisement that will most effectively reach potential candidates.” Based on the September 14, 2021 Policy & Services Committee meeting report (available here) regarding Board and Commission Member demographics and community representation the City Clerk’s office expanded recruitment efforts through additional means to “most effectively reach potential candidates”. The Human Relations Commission special recruitment invited applications from June 10, 2022 through July 27, 2022 through the new online application process. The vacancy was advertised through various methods in partnership with the Communications team. This included paid and digital print advertisements in the Daily Post and Palo Alto Weekly; via the City’s website and social media channels; in physical locations of the Palo Alto Libraries and Community Centers; and distributed by e-mail and through the City subscription-based notification lists.
ATTACHMENTS:
• HRC - All Applications_Redacted (PDF)
Human Relations Commission
Application
Submission date:15 July 2022, 1:40PM
Receipt number:8
Related form version:3
Personal Information
Name Donald Barr
Address
City
Postal Code
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident?Yes
Do you have any relatives or members of your
household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto,
who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are
Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term
applied for?
Yes
1 of 7
Fair Political Practices
California state law requires board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse
serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto
which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission?
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your
spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Human
Relations Commission?
City Website
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website
Read the code, and check only ONE option below:I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post to
the City’s website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I have read and
understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at any
time by providing written notice to the Palo Alto City
Clerk.
Alternate Contact Information - Address
Alternate Contact Information - Phone Number
Alternate Contact Information - Email
2 of 7
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training, experience,
certificates of training, licenses, and professional
registration.
(621 characters max)
MD - University of California, San Francisco 1973
PhD - Sociology, Stanford University 1993
Licensed physician in California, 1974 - present
Faculty, Stanford University, 1993 - present, teaching
courses on U.S. Health Care Policy and on Racial and
Social Inequality in Health.
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Stanford University
Occupation Professor of Pediatrics, and of Education (by
courtesy)
Is your Company/Employer your current one or last?Current Employer
Please describe your involvement in community
activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including
dates and any offices held.
(1242 characters max)
For more than 2 decades I have been involved in
developing affordable housing in Palo Alto and in
providing services to the homeless. I founded the
Community Working Group and led the non-profit
organization in the development of the Opportunity
Center in Palo Alto, which provides housing, social
services, and medical care to the homeless. I also led
the organization's effort in developing the affordable
housing facility at 801 Alma in Palo Alto. I served on
the Board of the organization for more than 10 years. I
founded the nonprofit organization that is now the
Peninsula Healthcare Connection (PHC), and currently
serve as Board Secretary. PHC is a federally certified
(lookalike) health clinic that provides medical services
and social services support to the currently homeless
and to the formerly homeless who have been placed
in housing. For the past year I have also served on the
Board of Directors of Avenidas, the senior services
agency in Palo Alto. I have also worked for more than
two decades at Stanford to reduce racial inequalities
in access to medical school. With my support, a
substantial number of former Stanford students from
under-represented racial minorities have become
successful health care professionals.
3 of 7
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Human
Relations Commission and what experience would you
bring to the position?
(1518 characters max)
The Palo Alto community is facing a number of
challenges, some as a result of the pandemic and
some unrelated to the pandemic. Seniors – those age
65 or older – are one of the groups most affected by
these challenges. As a member of the Board of
Directors of Avenidas, I have committed to addressing
the personal and social needs of seniors in Palo Alto.
Issues such as social isolation as a result of the
pandemic and rising costs of housing have impacted
the lives of a number of senior residents of Palo Alto.
As a member of the HRC I would work both to learn
about and to address these issues. As I have also
been working for many years to support the homeless
population in our community, I would also address the
needs of this population as a Commissioner. As a
member of the HRC I would build on my experience
addressing the needs of seniors and of the homeless
to work to understand and to support the needs of all
members of our community, with a focus on the
needs of socially and economically disadvantaged
populations.
4 of 7
2. Please describe an issue that recently came before
the Commission that is of particular interest to you and
describe why you are interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center.
As part of the May 24 meeting, the HRC established a
series of “ad hoc sub-committees” to address issues
that are part of the 2022-23 HRC Work Plan. I note that
the membership of the sub-committee on
“Housing/Homelessness – Advocacy” was “TBD”,
which I take to mean to be determined. As a
Commissioner, I would hope to play a role in this
important public health issue. Through my work in
support of the homeless, I am aware that there are a
number of groups in the population we consider
homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. These
include the recently housed, the unhoused who come
to the Opportunity Center for services, and the
unhoused who remain isolated and do not seek
services. It is important to learn more about these
populations through collaboration with both County
agencies and community organizations that focus on
the needs of these populations.
I also note that, in identifying the issues to be
addressed by the HRC ad-hoc committees, the social
and economic needs of the population of seniors in
our community were not included. I would advocate to
establish an ad-hoc committee to assess and address
the needs of seniors. In this role I would work to
collaborate with Avenidas in addressing this issue.
5 of 7
3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you
like to see the Human Relations Commission achieve,
and how would you help in the process?
(1656 characters max)
As I have indicated in my response to the earlier
questions, I would like the HRC to focus on
understanding and supporting the needs of seniors
and of the homeless. A key step in this process would
be to gather data from other governmental agencies
and from community groups on the social, economic,
and health care needs of these groups. The
Commission can then suggest to the City Council and
the City government steps that might be taken to
address these needs. As an additional goal, I would
encourage the HRC to address the needs of another
group in our community: workers in the retail and
service sectors of our community. It would be
important to learn about the typical wages and
income of these workers, and where their income
places these workers on the spectrum of housing
affordability (e.g., moderate-income, low-income,
very-low-income). As the City Council continues to
consider options for expanding housing in our
community, including the housing needs of workers
will be essential. The HRC could play a central role in
this process.
4. Human Relations Commission Members work with
the documents listed below. If you have experience with
any of these documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(690 characters max)
Human Services Needs Assessment (2020)
Muni Code 9.72 – Mandatory Response Program
Community Services Element of the Comprehensive Plan (2017)
I have no personal experience with any of these
documents. As a member of HRC, I would read each
of these documents to learn about the issues they
address.
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please
upload below.
Tall Tree-2006.pdf
6 of 7
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.
Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Donald A Barr
Link to signature
Date Completed 07/15/2022
7 of 7
Select FILE --> PRINT to print this story.
News - Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Education, housing activists win 'Tall Tree' awards
Honors planned for Barbara Spreng, Donald Barr, Children's Health Council, Lockheed
Martin Advanced Technology Center
by Jay Thorwaldson
School-leadership activist Barbara Spreng and advocate for the homeless Donald Barr, M.D., have been named 2006 recipients of the
Tall Tree Award by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce.
The Children's Health Council has been cited as outstanding non-profit organization and the Palo Alto-based Lockheed Martin
Advanced Technology Center as outstanding business, due to its support for community programs.
The awards will be presented Wednesday, April 5, at the 26th annual Tall Tree Awards dinner, this year at the Crowne Plaza Cabana
hotel in Palo Alto.
Spreng will receive the award for "outstanding volunteer" for her years of work on behalf of Palo Alto schools, including key roles in
raising funds, and for her community and education work generally.
The array of organizations for which she has worked include the Palo Alto Council of PTAs (PTAC), Palo Alto Foundation for
Education, Adolescent Counseling Service - she served terms as board president of all three organizations. She also has been active
with Palo Altans for Government Effectiveness, Leadership Midpeninsula, the Foundation for a College Education and others.
"Barbara personifies the meaning of 'outstanding volunteer,'" Mayor Judy Kleinberg said in a nomination letter. "She has unselfishly,
and with little recognition, devoted her talents and time to a broad cross-section of organizations committed to improving the quality of
life for children and families in Palo Alto."
Spreng also has worked as a child advocate for Kids in Common, a Silicon Valley children's advocacy organization, where she helped
create an immunization program for underprivileged children in the region.
Nancy Shepherd, another former PTAC president, noted that "Few presidents have ever served during a parcel-tax campaign, let
alone two in one year! Her service leadership style contributed directly (to) the development and final success of these campaigns."
Dr. Barr, named "outstanding professional," was founding president of the Community Working Group on Homeless Services
beginning in 1998 after a flood shut down a small drop-in center. He spearheaded the creation of the Opportunity Center, now under
construction on Encina Avenue between the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Town & Country Village Shopping Center.
"Don's devotion to responding creatively, in this very tangible way, to the problem of homelessness in our community is
unprecedented," the Rev. Jeffrey Vamos of the Community Working Group board - which nominated Dr. Barr - said of his leadership.
"Don has been the key factor in the creation of this $24 million facility," which will be "a lasting legacy to our whole community," the
Rev. Vamos said.
He noted that Dr. Barr has performed without pay the duties of a CEO in the complex, often challenging development of the center.
"He has performed this service in addition to his duties as a professor of sociology at Stanford - where he has also received the
Dinkelspiel Award for his outstanding work - and his work as a practicing physician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation," he said.
The Children's Health Council, for just over a half century, has provided diagnostic, treatment and counseling services for children and
families facing the challenges of learning disabilities and emotional and speech problems, ranging from autism to dyslexia, depression
to hyperactivity disorders.
It also operates the Esther B. Clark School for young persons aged 7 to 17 who are unable to function in public or private school
systems, typically transitioning them back into regular schools within a year or two. The school is named for the late Esther Clark, one
of the first women pediatricians on the Peninsula and an early partner with the Palo Alto Medical Clinic. The CHC was initially founded
to address needs of children stricken with polio, but evolved to include a range of complex medical problems and their side effects.
The Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (ATC), in the Stanford Research Park, is comprised of more than 700 persons
engaged for the past half century in research and development for Lockheed Martin Space Systems.
The ATC community activities have included being a founding community leader in "Palo Alto Green," the city-wide effort to create a
more sustainable environment through use of renewable energy. The company executed the first renewable power purchase nationally
by a leading defense and aerospace contractor.
The firm has donated to scores of local and regional organizations, directly and through an employee-giving program. In the past year,
it has contributed to Habitat for Humanity, Committee for Green Foothills, Community School for Music and Arts, Resource Area for
Teachers, the Marine Science Center, Camp Anytown, Junior Achievement, Teach for America, the Arts Council of Silicon Valley and
the California League of Conservation Voters - in addition to other programs.
Editor Jay Thorwaldson can be reached at jthorwaldson@paweekly.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/story.php?story_id=132
Human Relations Commission
Application
Submission date:14 June 2022, 10:54PM
Receipt number:4
Related form version:3
Personal Information
Name Katie Causey
Address
City
Postal Code
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident?Yes
Do you have any relatives or members of your
household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto,
who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are
Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term
applied for?
Yes
1 of 7
Fair Political Practices
California state law requires board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse
serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto
which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission?
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your
spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Human
Relations Commission?
Email from the City
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website
Read the code, and check only ONE option below:I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my home
address, phone numbers, and email address from the
attached Board and Commission Application prior to
posting to the City’s website. I am providing the
following alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
Alternate Contact Information - Address
Alternate Contact Information - Phone Number
Alternate Contact Information - Email
Personal and Job Experience
2 of 7
Please list your relevant education, training, experience,
certificates of training, licenses, and professional
registration.
(621 characters max)
I was born and raised in Palo Alto where I have lived
my entire life I attended PAUSD for my entire K-12
education
I graduated from the George Washington University in
2017 with a Bachelor’s in Women’s Studies where my
program primarily focused on looking at community
issues and different approaches to resolve them (for
example: addressing discrimination, harrassment,
intersectional approaches resolving conflict between
communites with complex history between eachother,
etc.).
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Palo Alto Forward
Occupation Community Engagement Manager
Is your Company/Employer your current one or last?Current Employer
3 of 7
Please describe your involvement in community
activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including
dates and any offices held.
(1242 characters max)
I’ve been a member of the American Association of
University Women since 2017 and have been hired as
community advocate for them to speak on issues
such as addressing sexual harassment in schools.
In 2019 I assisted the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation
with their fundraising and community outreach.
Since I was a teenager I have actively volunteered in
Palo Alto and the Bay Area.
Between 2019 - 2020 I served on the Fund
Development Council for the Junior League of San
Francisco which supports a variety of programs in the
Bay Area including those used in Palo Alto. I was also
awarded by them for my volunteer work in the
community and my leadership.
I’ve worked on a variety of local campaigns and in
2020 ran for PAUSD Board of Education.
From the end of 2021 until last month I worked as an
Organizer for the Palo Alto Renters’ Association
primarily helping tenants in Palo Alto facing eviction
during the pandemic.
I am currently a student completing the necessary
coursework to become eligible for a Master’s in
Bioengineering.
Between 2018 - 2020 I served as Chair for the League
of Women Voters Palo Alto Committee to End Gun
Violence, I also supported their Climate Change
Committee.
Application Questions
4 of 7
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Human
Relations Commission and what experience would you
bring to the position?
(1518 characters max)
I've been interested in serving on the Human Relations
Commission the last several years, as I stated before
my undergraduate degree was in Women's Studies
and how my program worked was we would look at
the history of different communities and identities,
and each week we would get an example based on a
real case of an issue in a community (mediating a
conflict, discrimination, harassment, etc.) and we
would discuss the different interest groups and
perspectives involved, and how to solve the issue
from both a lens of community action and also policy
change. I've brought that perspective to a work with a
variety of nonprofits in the area and I've heavily
volunteered in the community since I was a teenager.
The Human Relations Commission covers a very
broad range of subjects I'm highly interested in. I also
can say from running for office I know how to be open
and seek feedback from a wide range of community
members in Palo Alto. I'm also a young LGBT+
women someone who grew up in this community and
I currently balance multiple jobs and being a student,
a huge reason I haven't applied to this commission
sooner is a 4 year unpaid position is a big
commitment, but this was the perfect timing of I know
I can commit to the next 9 months.
5 of 7
2. Please describe an issue that recently came before
the Commission that is of particular interest to you and
describe why you are interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center.
As an Organizer at the Palo Alto Renters' Association I
met with members of the Human Relations
Commission to give feedback on the impact of renters
protections in Palo Alto based on my last 6 months of
working with tenants. While there's a very wide range
of subjects the Human Relations Commission covers
that I am interested in, housing is such a critical issue
and evictions are happening now. As someone who
grew up here working as an organizer, the impact of
evictions are horrific they rip our community apart I've
seen first hand what happens in Palo Alto when
someone faces eviction whether their a single parent
just trying to keep their kid in the local schools or
they're elderly on social security and have lived in this
community for decades.
3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you
like to see the Human Relations Commission achieve,
and how would you help in the process?
(1656 characters max)
While this appointment is only for 8-9 months I would
love to help the Human Relations Commission in any
manner possible in furthering their work to support
independent investigation of the hate crimes that have
occurred the last several years, as their occurrence
has been deeply unsettling. If this was 9 months
where we had an unlimited amount of time and
resources I would love to work to further support our
LGBT+ youth in Palo Alto whether through a pride
celebration or youth community resources.
6 of 7
4. Human Relations Commission Members work with
the documents listed below. If you have experience with
any of these documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(690 characters max)
Human Services Needs Assessment (2020)
Muni Code 9.72 – Mandatory Response Program
Community Services Element of the Comprehensive Plan (2017)
NA
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please
upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.
Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Katie Causey
Link to signature
Date Completed 06/14/2022
7 of 7
Human Relations Commission
Application
Submission date:13 June 2022, 8:57PM
Receipt number:3
Related form version:3
Personal Information
Name Sunita de Tourreil
Address
City
Postal Code
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident?Yes
Do you have any relatives or members of your
household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto,
who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are
Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term
applied for?
Yes
1 of 5
Fair Political Practices
California state law requires board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse
serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto
which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission?
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your
spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Human
Relations Commission?
Email from the City
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website
Read the code, and check only ONE option below:I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my home
address, phone numbers, and email address from the
attached Board and Commission Application prior to
posting to the City’s website. I am providing the
following alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
Alternate Contact Information - Address City Hall HRC contact address (my home address
should not be listed)
Alternate Contact Information - Phone Number 650-796-5287
Alternate Contact Information - Email sunita@chocolatedividends.org
2 of 5
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training, experience,
certificates of training, licenses, and professional
registration.
(621 characters max)
I have a graduate degree in Science, worked in
medical research for many years, became an
entrepreneur and have my own business for nearly 20
years. I served on the HRC for a partial term, like the
one I am applying for, I trained to be a Court
Appointed Special Advocate in the early 2000s, for
children in the foster system.
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Happy Chocolate Experiences, LLC
Occupation entrepreneur
Is your Company/Employer your current one or last?Current Employer
Please describe your involvement in community
activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including
dates and any offices held.
(1242 characters max)
HRC Fall 2020-Spring 2021
Palo Alto Girls Softball Assistant and Head Coach
Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Human
Relations Commission and what experience would you
bring to the position?
(1518 characters max)
I served a partial term in 2020-2021, and I learned a lot
about how the organization works, the kind of grant
work we do, and how we can make sure all voices are
heard. I am interested in serving again, because it is
my main way to engage and do my civic duty, as I am
not a citizen of this country (by choice) and yet I feel I
owe my community my engagement, and it deserves
alternate points of view that come from being raised
in another country, with parents who were nationals
of yet two other countries.
3 of 5
2. Please describe an issue that recently came before
the Commission that is of particular interest to you and
describe why you are interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center.
I remain interested in all issues relating to bringing
compassion and kindness to all of our neighbors. An
ongoing issue that remains on my radar, is to do with
the unhoused, the cost of housing and ensuring that
post-Covid we are able to enable folks who are
struggling to be able to have the support needed to be
able to keep finding more opportunity, not less.
3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you
like to see the Human Relations Commission achieve,
and how would you help in the process?
(1656 characters max)
I believe that a national reckoning is necessary and
underway, to rectify inequities and economic and
racial injustices, and Palo Alto needs to do its part. It's
leaders and our community have a responsibility to
see where we have historically fallen short, and
continue to fall short, and take an honest and humble
look at how our systems (housing, policing, parks and
recreation) are not serving all. We must be the
innovative leader, showing how we take Silicon Valley
principles and apply them to community problems.
We are leaders at thinking outside of the box, and
daring greatly. We can do this with more than tech,
we can also lead the way in fostering a more inclusive
and welcoming community that is a tight knit group of
folks who are stronger together. We can show that
inclusion leads to so much more than the sum of its
parts. None of this needs to be a pure sacrifice, we
can all grow and be better by being better together.
4 of 5
4. Human Relations Commission Members work with
the documents listed below. If you have experience with
any of these documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(690 characters max)
Human Services Needs Assessment (2020)
Muni Code 9.72 – Mandatory Response Program
Community Services Element of the Comprehensive Plan (2017)
I believe I worked with the Human Services Needs
Assessment and some other guidelines used for doing
the CBDG grants and helping with the granting of
emergency funds.
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please
upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.
Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Sunita de Tourreil
Link to signature
Date Completed 06/13/2022
5 of 5
Human Relations Commission
Application
Submission date:26 July 2022, 3:46PM
Receipt number:12
Related form version:3
Personal Information
Name Tracy Alejandra Navichoque
Address
City
Postal Code
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident?Yes
Do you have any relatives or members of your
household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto,
who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are
Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term
applied for?
Yes
1 of 6
Fair Political Practices
California state law requires board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse
serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto
which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission?
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your
spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Human
Relations Commission?
City Website
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website
Read the code, and check only ONE option below:I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my home
address, phone numbers, and email address from the
attached Board and Commission Application prior to
posting to the City’s website. I am providing the
following alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
Alternate Contact Information - Address
Alternate Contact Information - Phone Number
Alternate Contact Information - Email
Personal and Job Experience
2 of 6
Please list your relevant education, training, experience,
certificates of training, licenses, and professional
registration.
(621 characters max)
Bachelors Degree in History from Northwestern
University
Master's Degree in Public Diplomacy from USC
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Stanford University
Occupation Program Manager
Is your Company/Employer your current one or last?Current Employer
Please describe your involvement in community
activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including
dates and any offices held.
(1242 characters max)
Volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula
Application Questions
3 of 6
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Human
Relations Commission and what experience would you
bring to the position?
(1518 characters max)
Although I have only lived in Palo Alto since January
of 2020, I am keen to serve and contribute to my
community. As a first generation American who first
learned to speak Spanish, I have constantly seeking
ways to make equity a priority for all, especially when
it comes to language and translation. My current work
revolves around human rights and ensuring that our
right to privacy and free expression are protected in
digital spaces. I would like to contribute my fresh
perspective and dedication equality. Most of my work
in this space has been through volunteer positions but
I would like to complement that work with discussions
about policy. I am currently a program manager at
Stanford and can bring organizational, management,
and analyst skills to the commission. I have also lived
and worked abroad (Turkey, Uruguay, and
Guatemala) so I am willing seeking to integrate
worldly perspectives. In the past, I served as an
education manager for the Los Angeles World Affairs
Council and also as an arts educators for several art
museums, where I was tasked with focusing on
integration and equity for all demographics and
learning abilities.
2. Please describe an issue that recently came before
the Commission that is of particular interest to you and
describe why you are interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center.
I would like to work and learn about all topics but am
keen on contributing to the reduction of hate speech
in our communities. I am particularly interested in this
topic because my employment explicitly deals with
the nuances of freedom of speech and considers the
negative impacts of hateful discriminatory speech and
its adverse effects on communities. This topic was
explicitly debated during the March 10, 2022 meeting.
I would also like to work on human rights specific
projects.
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3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you
like to see the Human Relations Commission achieve,
and how would you help in the process?
(1656 characters max)
My goal is to ensure that all persons can participate
equally. Moreover, I would like to contribute to the
promotion of community awareness and
understanding. The pandemic has isolates us greatly.
As a relatively new community member, I would like
to sponsor more neighbor initiatives so that we can
interact with one another. My goal is to oil the wheels
of conversation. When we speak to one another, we
can put in place a better practice of listening! When
we listen, we can better understand one another. I
would also like to use the robust park system in Palo
Alto as a medium through which we can apply some
of the commission's laudable goals.
Secondly, I live next to two elderly neighbors. While I
help day to day with groceries and some digital
literacy, I would like to consider policies that could
assist our aging neighbors at a city wide level.
4. Human Relations Commission Members work with
the documents listed below. If you have experience with
any of these documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(690 characters max)
Human Services Needs Assessment (2020)
Muni Code 9.72 – Mandatory Response Program
Community Services Element of the Comprehensive Plan (2017)
None at the moment but willing and able to learn and
engage.
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please
upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.
Yes
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Signature Name of signatory: Tracy Navichoque
Link to signature
Date Completed 07/26/2022
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Human Relations Commission
Application
Submission date:17 June 2022, 5:43AM
Receipt number:6
Related form version:3
Personal Information
Name chitra sharma
Address
City
Postal Code
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident?Yes
Do you have any relatives or members of your
household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto,
who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are
Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term
applied for?
Yes
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Fair Political Practices
California state law requires board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse
serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto
which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission?
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your
spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Human
Relations Commission?
City Website
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website
Read the code, and check only ONE option below:I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post to
the City’s website the attached Board and
Commission Application intact. I have read and
understand my rights under Government Code
Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at any
time by providing written notice to the Palo Alto City
Clerk.
Alternate Contact Information - Address
Alternate Contact Information - Phone Number
Alternate Contact Information - Email
2 of 5
Personal and Job Experience
Please list your relevant education, training, experience,
certificates of training, licenses, and professional
registration.
(621 characters max)
MS Pharmaceutical Sciences - worked in the Biotech
industry for over 25 years and have a mindset to work
towards better governance and compliance in public
health for communities.
Have been part of the PTA at Duveneck and Palo Alto
High School, and volunteered heavily in the school
district for the last 11 years.
Am the block disaster coordinator and also helped
neighbors widely during Covid, esp those with
preexisting conditions and vulnerabilities.
Am actively engaged as a parent leader in the BSA
Troop 57 Boy Scout troop in Palo Alto.
My life goal is to volunteer and give back to my
neighbors and community.
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
gCompliance, Inc.
Occupation Scientist
Is your Company/Employer your current one or last?Current Employer
Please describe your involvement in community
activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including
dates and any offices held.
(1242 characters max)
1989-1992 Built a audio book library with recorded
books for the visually handicapped in Bombay, India
1992-1994 Raised funds for natural disasters such as
floods and earthquakes in the world for the school of
Internally affairs, UConn , CT
1995-1999 Served a non-profit to assist poor children
gain scholarships.
2000-2004 Worked to raise money to serve Breast
cancer
2013 Raised money and walked 39.2 miles for Breast
cancer awareness.
2006-2017 Active volunteer in PAUSD schools,
Duveneck PTA and PALY PTA-2022 Parent leader in
BSA Boy Scouts of America Troop 57
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Application Questions
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Human
Relations Commission and what experience would you
bring to the position?
(1518 characters max)
I want to work on actionable items on the city’s
community planning and help my community
2. Please describe an issue that recently came before
the Commission that is of particular interest to you and
describe why you are interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center.
Castelija school building issue
3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you
like to see the Human Relations Commission achieve,
and how would you help in the process?
(1656 characters max)
I would like to streamline homelessness and see how
best to svt
4. Human Relations Commission Members work with
the documents listed below. If you have experience with
any of these documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(690 characters max)
Human Services Needs Assessment (2020)
Muni Code 9.72 – Mandatory Response Program
Community Services Element of the Comprehensive Plan (2017)
I do not have any experience but would love to learn
more.
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please
upload below.
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Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.
Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Chitra Sharma
Link to signature
Date Completed 06/17/2022
5 of 5
Human Relations Commission
Application
Submission date:26 July 2022, 3:45PM
Receipt number:13
Related form version:3
Personal Information
Name Kat Snyder
Address
City
Postal Code
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident?Yes
Do you have any relatives or members of your
household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto,
who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are
Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term
applied for?
Yes
1 of 8
Fair Political Practices
California state law requires board/commission members to file a
disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).
Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse
serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto
which you believe is likely to:
1. Engage in business with the City;
2. Provide products or services for City projects; or
3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission?
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your
spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Human
Relations Commission?
Other: watching HRC and City Council meetings
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website
Read the code, and check only ONE option below:I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my home
address, phone numbers, and email address from the
attached Board and Commission Application prior to
posting to the City’s website. I am providing the
following alternate information and request that the
following contact information below:
Alternate Contact Information - Address
Alternate Contact Information - Phone Number
Alternate Contact Information - Email katsnyderux@gmail.com
Personal and Job Experience
2 of 8
Please list your relevant education, training, experience,
certificates of training, licenses, and professional
registration.
(621 characters max)
User Experience Researcher/Designer, Catalina Labs,
Palo Alto, CA, 2016-2017
User Experience Researcher, Go Live Labs,
Sunnyvale, CA, 2016
M.A. Psychology, Cognition and Perception UT Austin,
2014 (PhD Coursework)
B.S. Symbolic Systems, Stanford University, 2006
Educated in PAUSD 1990-2002
Peace Ambassador Training (one evening, July 2020)
via San Jose Peace and Justice Center. Learned de-
escalation tactics useful for march and rally
organizers.
Poll Monitor Training (one evening, before each
volunteer day) via Asian Law Caucus - Northern
California chapter
Employment Information
Company/Employer Name
Ashworth College, HVAC certification program
Occupation student
Is your Company/Employer your current one or last?Current Employer
3 of 8
Please describe your involvement in community
activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including
dates and any offices held.
(1242 characters max)
- 350 Palo Alto Steering Committee Member, March
2022-present. Helped organize the 2022 Earth Day
event co-sponsored by the City of Palo Alto.
Organized an upcoming demo of an induction
cooktop powered by an electric vehicle at the Sept
25th Midtown Ice Cream Social.
- Palo Alto Against ICE, head of Ordinance
Committee, 2019-2020. The primary goal was to
research whether to and how to pass a city ordinance
that prohibits the city from contracting with any
companies that pass information to ICE. We also ran
actions such as public comment campaigns against
allowing Palantir to co-sponsor any city cultural
events, and a protest rally in front of Palantir that got
covered in Business Insider.
- Volunteer Poll Monitor - Asian Law Caucus -
Northern California chapter. November 2020 general
election, monitored 4 precincts in San Francisco. June
2022 primary election, monitored 4 precincts in
Stanislaus County.
- Co-op Director, Laurel Housing Co-op, Austin, TX,
2008-2009 Ran a 60 person housing co-op as well as
managing a team of house officers. Ran house
elections and weekly house meetings.
- Board Member (and Finance Subcommittee
Member), College Houses Board of Directors, Austin,
TX, 2008-2009
Application Questions
4 of 8
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Human
Relations Commission and what experience would you
bring to the position?
(1518 characters max)
This particular slot only runs through March and it
leaves the Climate Emergency workplan item without
any commissioners. I’ve attended the HRC meetings
for the past 3 years, I’ve watched every S/CAP
meeting, and I’m a steering committee member of 350
Palo Alto. I believe I’m well positioned to start work on
the HRC and also to help head the Climate Emergency
item.
Participating in city government meetings has taught
me the scope of different committees/commissions
and of the standard deliverables from one body to
another. Getting from ideas to action involves
understanding the city process and how different
suggestions create different administrative burdens. I
also learn some of the latest city work on
electrification through my weekly 350 Palo Alto
meetings, which gives me more context for the city's
plans around the climate emergency and can help me
make recommendations that are better scoped for the
city.
My graduate psychology background helps me digest
and summarize the latest research about racial
trauma and effective healing interventions. We need
to use every tool in our toolbox to help provide
healing and create community resiliency as hate
crimes only continue to increase.
My work in cognitive psychology, and user experience
research and design, is especially pertinent when
designing for communities with disabilities or other
marginalized communities. I would also be well-
equipped to read through that research and bring that
knowledge to the table when designing new policies.
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2. Please describe an issue that recently came before
the Commission that is of particular interest to you and
describe why you are interested in it.
(1449 characters max)
Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center.
I have followed the national conversation around
policing, racism, and criminal justice reform since
Trayvon Martin was killed in 2012, but that was mostly
educating myself on the latest academic research
around the subject. After the death of George Floyd, I
made a promise to myself to get actively involved in
these issues at a city level because I can best make a
difference at the local level. I followed the 8 Can't Wait
conversations through the HRC, City Council and
various other city forums at the time. I gave comment
where I thought appropriate - around changes in
police policy, around the first amendment right to
protest, and around the press' role in police oversight.
I even read through academic papers around police
policy reform and pulled out an actionable
suggestion, which the HRC's then Vice Chair Valerie
Stinger forwarded to City Council.
Over time and with experience, I'm learning to hone
my recommendations to better interface with city
government and I have also gradually gotten a wider
sense of the number of departments and bodies that
could and should be considered stakeholders in these
issues. I am committed to strengthening the city's
process around improving police policy as informed
by a wide variety of community, academic research,
and criminal justice perspectives.
3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you
like to see the Human Relations Commission achieve,
and how would you help in the process?
(1656 characters max)
Note: Because of the short timeframe, I would first
ask the HRC to help me scope and prioritize the
following ideas
Climate Change: develop a disability-inclusive plan for
public safety power shutoffs, wildfires, and floods.
- Collect and summarize background research on
what people across the spectrum of disability need
from emergency services.
- Interview a range of disability activists, disability
organizations, people with disabilities, and caregivers
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(when applicable) on their emergency services needs
and the barriers to meeting them.
- Seek out partnerships with governmental and non-
governmental organizations that help provide
emergency services to people with disabilities. Include
any relevant stakeholders around our city's
emergency services in this conversation.
- Start a conversation around whether any of the
organizations from the previous bullet point should be
invited to apply for HSRAP grants, including the
Emerging Needs fund.
Hate Crimes:
- Flesh out trauma-informed interventions for victims
of Hate Crimes
- Partner with a community group that holds
bystander intervention trainings and create an
advertising campaign to urge Palo Alto residents to
complete the training
Police Reform:
- The HRC's review of 8 Can't Wait (as directed by City
Council) was triggered by a national tragedy. Going
forward, it makes sense to create objective criteria for
triggering a review of police policy by the City Council
- and/or by the HRC, when applicable. I would
recommend that the HRC, in co-operation with
relevant stakeholders, draft a set of criteria for City
Council to review.
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4. Human Relations Commission Members work with
the documents listed below. If you have experience with
any of these documents, please describe that
experience. Experience with these documents is not
required for selection.
(690 characters max)
Human Services Needs Assessment (2020)
Muni Code 9.72 – Mandatory Response Program
Community Services Element of the Comprehensive Plan (2017)
I am familiar with the Human Services Needs
Assessment document as that shows up during HRC
meetings. I am not familiar with the other two, but feel
confident I could use them to fulfill my duties.
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please
upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.
Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Katherine "Kat" Snyder
Link to signature
Date Completed 07/26/2022
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