HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2501-3959CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, January 06, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
4.Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding Public Service to Greg
Tanaka as Councilmember Supplemental Report added
Resolution EXPRESSING APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO GREG LIN TANAKA FOR SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, Greg Lin Tanaka was first elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020; and WHEREAS, throughout his tenure, Greg maintained strong connections with diverse stakeholder groups such as the Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, Historic Resource Board, Human Relations Committee, Lytton Gardens, VTA Grand Blvd, Valley Water District, Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education, Rail Committee, Silicon Valley Board of Realtors, Art Commission, Art Center Foundation, Transportation Management Association, etc. while balancing neighborhood interests with economic vitality, demonstrating a clear ability to build consensus and drive positive change across multiple sectors of the community; and WHEREAS, Greg demonstrated his commitment to transparency and accessibility by hosting weekly office hour sessions throughout his tenure to provide residents an open channel to engage with a councilmember, voice their concerns, share feedback, and discuss community issues in a collaborative and approachable setting ensuring their voices were heard in council deliberations; and
WHEREAS, in response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Greg demonstrated steadfast leadership by advocating for innovative strategies to revitalize the local economy. Serving as Liaison to the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business and Professional Association, and other key organizations, fostering collaboration and growth in the city’s tech and innovation sectors. He supported data-driven decision-making processes to ensure optimal resource allocation, and championed financially responsible policies and directed his efforts toward restoring stability and resilience for the residents of Palo Alto; and WHEREAS, Greg has consistently advocated for innovative engineering sciences that promote equitable access and drive Palo Alto toward the latest technologies. His work is focused on improving the quality of life for residents by advancing sustainable and inclusive solutions. He has solidified Palo Alto’s role as a technology and innovation hub by advocating for the inclusion of software development in the City’s Comprehensive Plan, opposing overregulation of emerging technologies like SB-1047, and hosting educational webinars to keep the community informed on advancements and challenges; and WHEREAS, Greg’s transformative leadership in urban development has significantly enhanced Palo Alto's livability by spearheading the California Avenue Streetscape Project to improve pedestrian and bicycle access, and advocating for the closure of California Avenue to vehicular traffic, creating a vibrant public space that revitalized local businesses. He also led collaborative efforts with the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority to address environmental concerns and proposed innovative transportation solutions, including a scooter share program and a strategic partnership with Tesla to test the Cybercab robotaxi as a sustainable option for the City's Link program; and
WHEREAS, Greg demonstrated strong leadership as Chair of the Finance Committee and Policy and Services Committee, championing fiscal responsibility, transparency, and innovative governance. His unwavering dedication to residents of Palo Alto, his visionary approach to driving change, and his advocacy for fiscally responsible policies serve as a lasting inspiration to all who have had the privilege of witnessing his leadership. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby honor and expresses its deepest gratitude to Councilmember Greg Lin Tanaka for his outstanding public service, innovative leadership and unwavering dedication to the betterment of Palo Alto and records the appreciation of the Council, residents, and businesses for his meritorious service and commitment as a Palo Alto Councilmember. ADOPTED: January 6, 2025
ATTEST: APPROVED:
________________ _________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________ _________________
City Manager City Attorney
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City Council
Supplemental Report
From: Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Meeting Date: January 6, 2025
Item Number: 4
Report #:2501-3959
TITLE
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT: Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding
Public Service to Greg Tanaka as Councilmember
RECOMMENDATION
For Council to review and approve the updated resolution expressing appreciation for
outstanding public services to Greg Tanaka as Councilmember.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Updated - Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding
Public Service to Greg Tanaka as Councilmember
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Resolution EXPRESSING APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO GREG LIN TANAKA FOR SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL WHEREAS, Greg Lin Tanaka was first elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020; and
WHEREAS, throughout his tenure, Greg worked with diverse stakeholder groups such as the Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, Historic Resources Board, Human Relations Committee, Lytton Gardens, VTA Grand Blvd, Valley Water District, Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education, Rail Committee, Silicon Valley Board of Realtors, Art Commission, Art Center Foundation, Transportation Management Association, etc. while balancing neighborhood interests with economic vitality; and WHEREAS, Greg demonstrated his commitment to transparency and accessibility by hosting weekly office hour sessions throughout his tenure to provide residents an open channel to engage with a councilmember, voice their concerns, share feedback, and discuss community issues in a collaborative and approachable setting ensuring their voices were heard in council deliberations; and WHEREAS, In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Greg worked diligently to support efforts aimed at revitalizing the local economy. As Liaison to the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business and Professional Association, and other key organizations, he focused on fostering collaboration and encouraging growth in the city’s tech and innovation sectors. Greg emphasized data-driven decision-making to promote effective resource allocation and supported fiscally responsible policies; and
WHEREAS, Greg has consistently advocated for innovative engineering sciences that promote equitable access and drive Palo Alto toward the latest technologies. His work is focused on improving the quality of life for residents by advancing sustainable and inclusive solutions. Greg has worked to strengthen Palo Alto’s position as a center for technology and innovation by encouraging the inclusion of software development in the City’s Comprehensive Plan and organizing educational webinars to inform the community about technological advancements and challenges; and WHEREAS, Greg has contributed to enhancing Palo Alto's livability by supporting projects like the California Avenue Streetscape Project, which improved pedestrian and bicycle access. He also advocated for the closure of California Avenue to vehicular traffic, helping to create a vibrant public space that benefited local businesses. Additionally, Greg proposed transportation initiatives, including a scooter share program, to address last mile challenges; and WHEREAS, Greg chaired the Finance Committee and Policy and Services Committee, championing fiscal responsibility, transparency, and innovative governance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby honor and express its gratitude to Councilmember Greg Lin Tanaka for his long-term public service, and records the appreciation of the Council, residents, and businesses for his service and commitment as a Palo Alto Councilmember. ADOPTED: January 6, 2025
APPROVED: ______________________ Mayor Greer Stone ______________________ ______________________ Vice Mayor Ed Lauing Council Member Pat Burt ______________________ ______________________ Council Member Lydia Kou Council Member Julie Lythcott-Haims ______________________ ______________________ Council Member Greg Tanaka Council Member Vicki Veenker ATTEST: ______________________ City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ______________________ ______________________ City Manager City Attorney
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City Council
Supplemental Report
From: Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Meeting Date: January 6, 2025
Item Number: 4
Report #:2501-3964
TITLE
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT: Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation for Outstanding
Public Service to Greg Tanaka as Councilmember
RECOMMENDATION
Council to review and approve the updated resolution expressing appreciation for outstanding
public services to Greg Tanaka as Councilmember.
BACKGROUND
This memo is issuing an updated resolution correcting a clerical error in the signature lines of
the resolution to add Councilmembers Keith Reckdahl and George Lu.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A1: Updated - Resolution Expressing Appreciation and Gratitude to Greg Tanaka for
Serving on City Council
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Resolution EXPRESSING APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO GREG LIN TANAKA FOR SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL WHEREAS, Greg Lin Tanaka was first elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020; and
WHEREAS, throughout his tenure, Greg worked with diverse stakeholder groups such as the Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, Historic Resources Board, Human Relations Committee, Lytton Gardens, VTA Grand Blvd, Valley Water District, Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education, Rail Committee, Silicon Valley Board of Realtors, Art Commission, Art Center Foundation, Transportation Management Association, etc. while balancing neighborhood interests with economic vitality; and WHEREAS, Greg demonstrated his commitment to transparency and accessibility by hosting weekly office hour sessions throughout his tenure to provide residents an open channel to engage with a councilmember, voice their concerns, share feedback, and discuss community issues in a collaborative and approachable setting ensuring their voices were heard in council deliberations; and WHEREAS, in response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Greg worked diligently to support efforts aimed at revitalizing the local economy. As Liaison to the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business and Professional Association, and other key organizations, he focused on fostering collaboration and encouraging growth in the city’s tech and innovation sectors. Greg emphasized data-driven decision-making to promote effective resource allocation and supported fiscally responsible policies; and
WHEREAS, Greg has consistently advocated for innovative engineering sciences that promote equitable access and drive Palo Alto toward the latest technologies. His work is focused on improving the quality of life for residents by advancing sustainable and inclusive solutions. Greg has worked to strengthen Palo Alto’s position as a center for technology and innovation by encouraging the inclusion of software development in the City’s Comprehensive Plan and organizing educational webinars to inform the community about technological advancements and challenges; and WHEREAS, Greg has contributed to enhancing Palo Alto's livability by supporting projects like the California Avenue Streetscape Project, which improved pedestrian and bicycle access. He also advocated for the closure of California Avenue to vehicular traffic, helping to create a vibrant public space that benefited local businesses. Additionally, Greg proposed transportation initiatives, including a scooter share program, to address last mile challenges; and WHEREAS, Greg chaired the Finance Committee and Policy and Services Committee, championing fiscal responsibility, transparency, and innovative governance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby honor and express its gratitude to Councilmember Greg Lin Tanaka for his long-term public service, and records the appreciation of the Council, residents, and businesses for his service and commitment as a Palo Alto Councilmember. ADOPTED: January 6, 2025
APPROVED: ________________________ ________________________ Pat Burt Ed Lauing ________________________ ________________________ George Lu Julie Lythcott-Haims ________________________ ________________________ Keith Reckdahl Greer Stone ________________________ Vicki Veenker ATTEST: ________________________ City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________ ________________________ City Manager City Attorney