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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2403-2799CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, April 01, 2024 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     7.Policy and Services Recommendation Regarding Use of Board and Commissions Demographic Data Supplemental Report added City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR Lead Department: City Manager Meeting Date: April 1, 2024 Report #:2403-2799 TITLE Policy and Services Recommendation Regarding Use of Board and Commissions Demographic Data RECOMMENDATION The Policy and Services Committee recommends City Council approve the following use of Board, Commission and Committee (BCC) demographic data: Demographic data collected on the current BCCs, and corresponding data for Palo Alto as a whole, will be distributed to the City Council as a reference prior to making new BCC appointments. BACKGROUND The Policy and Services Committee discussed this item as part of the quarterly race and equity update at the March 12, 2024 meeting. At that meeting the Committee discussed the previous (2021) BCC survey results (Attachment A) with local contextual demographics data for Palo Alto. The Committee also discussed two broader questions: How should the BCC demographic survey response data be shared with the full City Council for consideration when making new appointments? And How should the City assess BCC member socioeconomic demographics? This question is relevant for future BCC demographics surveys. The 2024 BCC demographics survey questions are included for context as Attachment B to this report. The Committee took the following action: ANALYSIS The Committee recommends that the City Council receive the BCC demographics survey results prior to the interviews for new BCC members. This information would be provided consistent with expectations set with BCC members when survey responses were solicited: the demographic data will be aggregated to maintain anonymity and will not be reported on a per- commission basis. Providing the data to the full City Council prior to BCC interviews for the annual recruitment process is intended to be informational only for the City Council. This provides an annual opportunity for the City Council to observe changes over time in overall demographic representation on the BCCs. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT There is no anticipated fiscal impact for this item. Staff conducts and analyzes the survey data and prepares the reports for presentation to the City Council. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Staff coordinates with the Clerk’s Office to ensure the list of BCC members is accurate and up to date. Staff also connects with BCC members to request participation in the BCC demographics survey and shares the aggregated results publicly online. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Council action on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because Council's receipt of BCC demographic data is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5). ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Palo Alto BCC Survey Summary 2021 with Community Context Attachment B: BCC Demographic Survey, 2024 APPROVED BY: Ed Shikada, City Manager Attachment A 1 Palo Alto Boards, Committees, and Commissions Demographic Data Survey 2021 Conducted Summer 2021 A total of 34 participants responded to the survey. The survey was shared with members of all of Palo Alto’s Boards, Committees, and Commissions (BCCs). The results reflect aggregate voluntary information shared from BCC members. Most questions show the table and chart results as percentages. Survey Results: Years Percent 0-5 years 3% 6-10 years 9% 11-15 years 9% 16-20 years 6% 21+ years 71% Not a Palo Alto resident 3% Grand Total 100% Reason Percent I (or my partner) moved here to attend Stanford 12% Just liked the community 3% Moved here to live near family* 9% Moved here to live near work 32% Moved here to raise a family 18% Not a Palo Alto Resident 3% Palo Alto is my hometown (I was born or raised here as a child)* 18% Schools* 6% Grand Total 100% *Palo Alto as hometown also includes spouses, "Schools" was a written-in response, “Moved here to live with family” also includes one "other" who said they moved here to live near friends. 3%9%9%6% 71% 3%0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 0-5 years 6-10 years 11-15 years 16-20 years 21+ years Not a Palo Alto resident Question 1: How many years have you lived in Palo Alto? 12%3%9% 32% 18% 3% 18% 6%0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% Question 2: What is the primary reason you initially located to Palo Alto? Attachment A 2 Question 3: Housing - Do you own or rent your current residence? (For the purpose of the survey, you own your home even if you have an outstanding debt that you owe on your mortgage loan). Own/Rent Percent Own 85% Rent 12% Not a Palo Alto Resident 3% Grand Total 100% Gender Percent Female 50% Male 50% Non-binary 0% Decline to state 0% Grand Total 100% Not a Palo Alto Resident 3% Own 85% Rent 12% Question 3: Rent, Own, Other Female 50% Male 50% Question 4: What is your Gender? Attachment A 3 Age Group Percent 25-39 15% 40-59 35% 60+ 47% Decline to state 3% Grand Total 100% 15% 35% 47% 3% Question 5: What is your age group? 25-39 40-59 60+ Decline to state Race / Ethnicity Percent American Indian or Alaskan Native 0% Asian 9% Black or African American 0% Hispanic or Latino/Latinx and White 6% Multi-racial 3% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0% White 71% Decline to state 12% Other 0% Total 100% 0%9%0%6%3%0% 71% 12%0%0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80% Question 6: Race and Ethnicity (check all that apply). Attachment A 4 Question 7: Education - What is your highest level of school completed? If currently enrolled, mark "Student". * No respondents chose “Student” so it is not listed in this chart. Question 8: How do you identify your socioeconomic status? (Note: this was an open-ended question; answers were coded/tallied) Self-Described Socioeconomic Status Percent Upper Middle Class 29% N/A 29% Middle Class 26% Adequate 3% Lower Middle Class 3% Secure 3% Upper Class 3% Do Not Understand Question. 3% Grand Total 100% Question 9: What is your Employment Status Status Percent Employed full-time 35% Retired 35% Employed part-time 15% Seeking opportunities 9% A homemaker 3% Self-employed 3% Grand Total 100% Education Percent Bachelor's degree 21% Master's degree 44% Doctorate degree (e.g. PhD, EdD, MD, etc.) 32% Decline to state 3% Grand Total 100% 21% 44% 32% 3%0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Bachelor's degree Master's degree Doctorate degree (e.g. PhD, EdD, MD, etc.) Decline to state Question 7: Education Attachment A 5 Question 10: Employer Type: Please Describe Your Work Employer Type Percent Employee of a for-profit company or of an individual, for wages, salary, or commissions 35% Self-employed 24% Government employee 12% Retired 12% Employee of a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, or charitable organization 6% Decline to state 3% Self-employed and Employee of a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, or charitable organization 3% Self-employed and Employee of a for-profit company or of an individual, for wages, salary, or commissions 3% Currently not working 3% Working without pay in family business or farm 0% Total 100% Question 11: Employment Location – Note the general area in which your employer is located. Location Percent Palo Alto 26% San Jose or Silicon Valley outside of Palo Alto 21% N/A 18% San Francisco 18% Decline to state 3% Home 3% Out of State 3% San Mateo County 3% Santa Clara & San Mateo County 3% Southern California 3% Grand Total 100% Attachment A 6 Question 13: How did you hear about the opportunity to join your current Board/Commission/ Committee? (Check all that apply) Question 14: Are you a member of a Board/Commission/Committee that conducts quasi-judicial hearings (Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Board, or Planning Transportation Commission)? No 68% Yes 32% Grand Total 100% 65% 26% 9% Question 12: Number of children under the age of 18 live in your household? 0 1-2 3-4 Attachment A 7 Question 15: Do you have any additional comments? [Open-ended responses are provided below] Council should appoint the best candidates available at the time there are openings. Do not set up a quasi-quota system to mandate diverse candidate membership. The HRB needs to hire a Historic Planner. HRB has been without a historic planner for several years. This has had a major impact on the ability of the HRB to function. It is an honor to serve the City of Palo Alto! Thank you! Thank you for gathering this information. It is my hope that our boards and commissions are represented by all people of Palo Alto. A diverse board brings more conversation and better decisions. The real diversity problem on our b&c’s is a diversity of expertise. Too many under qualified individuals without proper knowledge making recommendations. Retired, but employer was initially in Palo Alto, then Santa Clara, then Cupertino, then SF It has been an honor to serve Thanks Thank You! Glad you are doing the survey. It seems to be very tough to find folks to serve currently I am in favor of the new policy limited individuals to two terms on boards and commissions. Attachment A 8 For context of the broader community demographics in Palo Alto as of the 2020 Census and the 2010 Census, below are two charts which represent the community demographics. Source: US Census Bureau and Palo Alto Weekly. Palo Alto Boards, Committees and Commissions Demographic Data Survey 2024 Question 1: How many years have you lived in Palo Alto? 0-5 years 6-10 years 11-15 years 16-20 years 21+ years Not a Palo Alto resident Question 2: What was the primary reason you initially located to Palo Alto? I (or my partner) moved here to attend Stanford Liked the community Moved here to live near family Moved here to live near work Moved here to raise a family Palo Alto is my hometown (I was born or raised here as a child) Schools Not a Palo Alto Resident Question 3: Housing - Do you own or rent your current residence? (For the purpose of the survey, you own your home even if you have an outstanding debt that you owe on your mortgage loan). Not a Palo Alto Resident Own Rent Question 4: What is your gender identity? Woman Transgender Woman Man Transgender Man Genderqueer/gender-fluid Non-binary Two-spirit Prefer not to answer Other Question 5: Please identify which of the following describes your sexual orientation. Asexual Bisexual Heterosexual Lesbian Gay Pansexual Queer Questioning or unsure Prefer not to answer Other Question 6: What is your age group? 18-24 25-39 40-59 60+ Prefer Not to Answer Question 7: Race and Ethnicity - Please specify your race and ethnicity (check all that apply). Hispanic or Latino/Latinx American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian Black or African American Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander Two or more races White Prefer not to answer Other Question 8: Education - What is your highest level of school completed? If currently enrolled, mark "Student". GED Some college Associate’s Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's degree Doctorate degree (e.g. PhD, EdD, MD, etc.) Student Prefer not to answer Question 9: What is your employment status? Employed full-time Retired Employed part-time Seeking opportunities Homemaker Self-employed Question 9.5: If you are retired, what was your income during the last 12 months of employment? $150k or less $150k-$250k $250k-$350K $350k or higher Question 10: What is your household income? $150k or less $150k-$250k $250k-$350K $350k or higher Retired Question 11: Do you own properties other than your primary residence? Yes No Question 12: How many children (if any) under the age of 18 live in your household? 0 1-2 3 or more Question 13: How did you hear about the opportunity to join your current Board/Commission/ Committee? (Check all that apply) City Clerk City Council member Social Media Nextdoor City’s website Newspaper or other media Word of mouth Newsletter Other Question 14: Are you a member of a Board/Commission/Committee that conducts quasi-judicial hearings (Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Board, or Planning Transportation Commission)? Yes No Question 15: Do you have any additional comments? Question 16: Which Board, Commission or Committee do you represent? (this is for statistical counting purposes only: your anonymity will be maintained) Architectural Review Board Historic Resources Board Human Relations Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Public Art Commission Planning and Transportation Commission Stormwater Management Oversight Committee Utilities Advisory Commission City Council Supplemental Report From: Ed Shikada, City Manager Meeting Date: April 1, 2024 Item Number: 7 Report #:2403-2828 TITLE Supplemental Report - Policy and Services Recommendation Regarding Use of Board and Commissions Demographic Data RECOMMENDATION Accept this supplemental report which contains the 2024 Boards and Commissions Demographics Data. ANALYSIS The attached report includes the initial analysis of the responses to the 2024 Survey of Boards and Commissions Demographics Data. This information is shared as informational material for the City Council. Staff will upload the final report online as well. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Palo Alto Boards, Committees, and Commissions Demographic Data Survey 2024 APPROVED BY: Ed Shikada, City Manager Attachment A 1 Palo Alto Boards, Committees, and Commissions Demographic Data Survey 2024 Conducted Spring 2024 Response Rate: A total of 37 participants responded to the survey. This is an increase from the 2021 survey where 34 respondents participated in the survey. The total number of possible respondents in 2024 was 52 (it was a total of 50 possible respondents in 2021). This equates to a 71% response rate in 2024, up from the 68% response rate in 2021. Brief Methodology: The survey was created as a form through the City’s Open Cities web platform. The survey link was shared via email with all members of every Palo Alto Board, Committee, and Commission (BCCs). Staff sent a few reminders throughout the data collection period of February 23-March 20. The results reflect aggregate voluntary information received from BCC members. Summary of Data Format: Most questions show the table and chart results as percentages. 2021 Data and Palo Alto context are also shared as relevant. Survey Results: Question 1: How many years have you lived in Palo Alto? # of Years Percent 2024 2021 0-5 years 14% 3% 6-10 years 5% 9% 11-15 years 8% 9% 16-20 years 5% 6% 21+ years 59% 71% Not a Palo Alto resident 8% 3% Grand Total 100% 100% 14% 5%8%5% 59% 8%3% 9%9%6% 71% 3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 0-5 years 6-10 years 11-15 years 16-20 years 21+ years Not a Palo Alto resident Q1: How many years have you lived in Palo Alto? 2024 2021 Attachment A 2 Question 2: What was the primary reason you initially located to Palo Alto? Reason Percent I (or my partner) moved here to attend Stanford 11% Liked the community 16% Moved here to live near family 8% Moved here to live near work 16% Moved here to raise a family 14% Palo Alto is my hometown (I was born or raised here as a child) 24% Schools 5% Not a Palo Alto Resident 5% Grand Total 100% Question 3: Housing - Do you own or rent your current residence? (For the purpose of the survey, you own your home even if you have an outstanding debt that you owe on your mortgage loan). Own/Rent Percent 2024 2021 Own 81% 85% Rent 19% 12% Not a Palo Alto Resident 16% 3% Grand Total 100% 100% Palo Alto context: the percentage of homeowners in Palo Alto is 56% and renters in Palo Alto is 44% according to the 2020 US Census Data. 11% 16% 8% 16%14% 24% 5%5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Question 2: What was the primary reason you initially located to Palo Alto? 81% 19%16% 85% 12%3% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Own Rent Not a Palo Alto Resident Q3: Housing -Do you own or rent your current residence? 2024 2021 Attachment A 3 Question 4: What is your gender identity? (Note: The 2021 BCC survey had less categories. That survey showed 50% Female and 50% Male). Palo Alto Context: the US Census only shows “Female persons” and lists it as 51.7% of the Palo Alto population. Question 5: Please identify which of the following describes your sexual orientation. This is a new question in the 2024 BCC survey regarding sexual orientation. Gender Percent Woman 68% Transgender Woman 0% Man 32% Transgender Man 0% Genderqueer/gender-fluid 0% Non-binary 0% Two-spirit 0% Prefer not to answer 0% Other 0% Grand Total 100% 68% 0% 32% 0%0%0%0%0%0%0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Q4: What is your gender identity? 0%3% 78% 0%0%3%0%0% 16% 0%0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Q5: Sexual Orientation Attachment A 4 Question 6: What is your age group? Note: in the 2021 BCC Survey, this age question did not include the age 18-24 category. The US Census Bureau does not separate age groups in the same way as the BCC Survey. But shows 27.2% of age 18 and under; 53.5% of ages 19-64; and 19.3% of age 65 and older. Question 7: Please specify your race and ethnicity (check all that apply) 2024 2021 Palo Alto* American Indian or Alaskan Native 0% 0% 0.3% Asian 22% 9% 34.8% Black or African American 5% 0% 2.1% Hispanic or Latino/Latinx and White 0% 6% 7.3% Two or More Races 5% 3% 8.9% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0% 0% 0.2% White 62% 71% 48.7% Prefer not to answer 5% 12% 0.0% Other 0% 0% 0.0% * Source: US Census Bureau 3% 11% 35% 51% 0%0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 18-24 25-39 40-59 60+Prefer Not to Answer Q6: Age Group Age Group Percent 18-24 3% 25-39 11% 40-59 35% 60+ 51% Decline to state 0% Grand Total 100% 0% 22% 5%0%5%0% 62% 5%0%0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Q7: Race and Ethnicity (check all that apply) 2024 2021 Census Palo Alto Attachment A 5 Question 8: Education - What is your highest level of school completed? If currently enrolled, mark "Student." Note: There were less categories in the 2021 BCC survey. That survey showed that 21% had a Bachelor’s degree; 44% had a Master’s degree; 32% had a Doctorate degree; 0% student; and 3% declined to state. Question 9: What is your Employment Status Status Percent 2024 2021 Employed full-time 51% 35% Retired 32% 35% Employed part-time 3% 15% Seeking opportunities 3% 9% A homemaker 5% 3% Self-employed 5% 3% Grand Total 100% 100% Education Percent GED 0% Some college 0% Associate’s Degree 0% Bachelor's Degree 27% Master's degree 54% Doctorate degree (e.g., PhD, EdD, MD, etc.) 19% Student 0% Prefer not to answer 0% Grand Total 100% GED Some college Associate’ s Degree Bachelor' s Degree Master's degree Doctorate degree (e.g. PhD, EdD, MD, etc.) Student Prefer not to answer 2024 0%0%0%27%54%19%0%0% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Q8: Education -Highest level of school completed 51% 32% 3%3%5%5% 35%35% 15% 9% 3%3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Employed full- time Retired Employed part-time Seeking opportunities Homemaker Self-employed Q9: What is your employment status? 2024 2021 Attachment A 6 Question 10: What is your household income? Income Percent $150k or less 22% $150k-$250k 16% $250k-$350K 24% $350k or higher 24% Retired 14% Grand Total 100% Note: The 2021 BCC survey did not record household income. Questions 10 and question 11 seek to assess socio-economic status of BCC members. Question 12: How many children (if any) under the age of 18 live in your household? 67% 31% 3% 65% 26% 9% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 0 1-2 3 or more Question 12: Children under the age of 18 in your household 2024 2021 22% 16% 24%24% 14% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% $150k or less $150k-$250k $250k-$350K $350k or higher Retired Q10: Household Income Question 11 further assessed the retired BCC members and responses show that 100% of the retired respondents do not own properties other than their primary residence and 0% of retired respondents do own properties other than your primary residence. This is additional contextual socioeconomic information. Attachment A 7 Question 13: How did you hear about the opportunity to join your current Board/Commission/ Committee? (Check all that apply) Question 14: Are you a member of a Board/Commission/Committee that conducts quasi-judicial hearings (Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Board, or Planning Transportation Commission)? No 51% Yes 49% Grand Total 100% Question 15: Do you have any additional comments? [Open-ended responses are provided below] It'd be interesting to collect neighborhood information (to make sure neighborhoods are well- represented) and whether people live in multi-family housing. Jewish I would love to see more board business conducted after core business hours. I think the city may be missing out on candidates for boards that meet during the day who do not have flexibility during business hours. Will the Commissions learn the results of this survey? 2% 33% 13% 19% 8% 15% 4% 4% 2% 0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35% Nextdoor Word of mouth City's website Other City Clerk City Council member Social Media Newsletter Newspaper or other media Q13. How did you hear about the opportunity to join your BCC?