HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-13 City Council EmailsDOCUM ENTS IN THIS PACKET INCLUDE:
LETTERS FROM CITIZENS TO THE
MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL
RESPONSES FROM STAFF TO LETTERS FROM CITIZ ENS
ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND AGENC IES
ITEMS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES
Prepared for: 4/13/2026
Document dates: 4/6/2026 - 4/13/2026
Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction
in a given week. 701-32
From:Alan Cooper
To:Council, City
Cc:Alan COOPER
Subject:Please do not close Churchill Ave.
Date:Monday, April 13, 2026 11:48:40 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear City Council,
I wish to express my strong opposition to closing Churchill Ave.
The only reason for closure is to prevent a possible future student suicide. Suicide, which is a
mental illness with MANY different underlying causes is tragic! And suicides will continue to
happen regardless of whether or not Churchill is closed. The focus should be on addressing
underlying causes of the mental illness.
Closure of Churchill will definitely create widespread traffic congestion, likely enhanced
auto/bike accidents and frustration of drivers and student bikers in attempts to cross town and
get to Paly High.
Potential alternative solutions:
1. Close Churchill to pedestrians (but not to autos) and
2. Employ a crossing guard 24/7 year round and
3. Fund and require all parents/students to attend special suicide awareness classes.
I live two blocks from the Churchill crossing, and every day see the auto/bike traffic
congestion from Paly and Castilleja schools. Please do not enhance this onerous traffic
situation by closing Churchill.
Thank you,
Alan Cooper
270 Kellogg Ave.
This message needs your attention
This is their first mail to some recipients.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
From:Helene Grossman
To:Council, City; City Mgr; Lo, Ria
Subject:311 responsiveness: majority of curb paint / signage requests still unanswered
Date:Monday, April 13, 2026 11:00:34 AM
Attachments:Screenshot 2026-04-12 at 1.47.59 PM.png
Screenshot 2026-04-12 at 1.48.54 PM.png
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear City Council Members and Staff:
I am writing with a follow-up regarding the PaloAlto311 category “New curb paint or
new parking signs.”
Over the last ~6 months, since October 2025, 34 tickets have been filed in this
category, averaging about 1 per week. Of those, 23 (⅔ of the tickets) remain in
‘Submitted’ status with no response.
Thanks to engagement from Council Member Reckdahl and City Manager Shikada,
more recent tickets have begun receiving responses, and that is welcome progress.
But most older tickets are still in “Submitted” status with no acknowledgement,
including some that are now more than six months old. This is a modest number of
tickets, and residents have taken the time to document specific safety concerns. The
City should, at a minimum, acknowledge and respond to these requests.
Of the 10 tickets marked “Completed,” the dispositions appear as follows:
1 was closed as a duplicate. The resident appears to have refiled only because
the original ticket had sat dormant for months.
2 involved worn-off paint or faded signs, which the City agreed to fix.
1 raised a cyclist safety issue near Paly; the City concluded it was not a problem
and took no action.
3 requested bollards to prevent illegal parking near intersections; the City
declined and said police enforcement was the answer.
3 requested red curbs or “no parking” signs for daylighting near schools or parks
where children are at risk; the City responded that paint or signs were
unnecessary because violators could be cited without it. (Example tickets are
below)
The overall pattern is troubling. Of all the tickets filed in this category during the last
roughly six months, only two resulted in action – and both were routine maintenance
of existing measures.
The City has not taken a single action in response to community requests for
new curb paint or new parking signs.
Moreover, relying on police enforcement is not practical. Public records show just 2
daylighting tickets issued citywide in the past 18 months and zero warnings. Curb
paint is a simple, lasting solution; the near absence of enforcement reflects that
police, understandably, have other priorities.
This is disappointing. The City asks residents to use 311 to report concerns and
suggest improvements, but too often the result is either silence or refusal, even when
the concern involves straightforward safety issues affecting children walking or biking
to school.
It is hard to square the current response pattern with the City’s commitment to Vision
Zero.
Many thanks,
Helene Grossman
Examples of recent tickets:
#18011136
#18031060
From:Megan McCaslin
To:Council, City
Subject:Feedback about Greer Stone agenda item #10
Date:Monday, April 13, 2026 10:51:41 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Esteemed council members,
I live at 1485 Edgewood Drive and have been a resident of Palo Alto since 1984.
The changes we have seen, not only in its commercial development, but also in its
demographic makeup, have been stark and startling.
I am writing in support of Greer Stone’s proposal to modestly restrain the impacts of
residential compounds.
When I moved to Edgewood Drive in 1991, it was a street of then-middle class
residents - the head of the Post Office, a doctor at PAMF, an architect, a therapist,
a cook. Yes, there were some professionals - a law partner, a psychiatrist, etc. But
the thing they all had in common was their neighborliness.
We had each other over for holiday cocktails. When I had a baby, neighbors
brought him presents or wrote a congratulatory note. We shared gardening
equipment - a shredder, a lawn mower, a fruit picker - and one neighbor literally
oversaw the remodel of our kitchen, arriving every afternoon to check out the day’s
work.
We were friends.
Now, we have, instead of single family homes welcoming single families,
compounds. Gifts for new babies go unacknowledged. Letters sharing local history
of their house (one of them) and the artwork and activism of the original owner are
ignored. No interaction occurs unless one is harassed by their security guards for
looking - from the sidewalk - at their various construction projects. The sidewalk is
not private property.
Not only is the creation of these compounds - now prevalent all over Palo Alto - off-
putting, unpleasant because of all the construction and truck traffic and parking, and
just plain wrong. It is also ruining the diverse and friendly composition of our streets.
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
To be scrutinized by a security guard every time I walk by my local compound,
rather than greeted by a friendly neighbor is just plain unpleasant.
The compounds create a them vs us energy. The high hedges (at least ban them)
or fences or walls are so offensive in their message of exclusion. And, from an
aesthetic point of view, they hide the elegant nature of the older houses, the relaxed
lawn leading to a beautiful old house, the front yards that by simply being a
neighbor, we all share.
Please do not let any more compounds be created. Judging from talks with the
planning director, the city is not even aware of what is going on inside them - a
school, a business, a server center. Once you allow the compounds, you shut not
only the neighborhood out with a giant F-U, but you shut out the city.
I want our neighborhoods to continue to reflect the diversity of our residents. I want
families to be able to buy houses so we see babies being strolled down the street.
Not security guards following in their cars when the Master of the Compound takes
a walk. This is weird.
Palo Alto, at least in my neighborhood, is a shell of its former self.
I want the possibility of diversity back in play. Please create rules to eliminate the
possibility of future compounds being built. I realize that doing so requires time,
money, and energy to write the laws. It may seem daunting now, in view of budget
constraints, but it would be short-term pain for a long term rescue of our wonderful
city.
It’s too late, I guess, to save Edgewood and Hamilton. But in the spirit of being
good neighbors to all Palo Alto residents, I beg you to save other neighborhoods
from this compound creation. Yes we have billionaires in our midst. But let them
abide by OUR ways, not make us bow down to theirs.
Respectfully, Megan McCaslin
Megan McCaslin
1485 Edgewood Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-380-2727
From:Adam Schwartz
To:Council, City
Subject:YES to new homes at 3606 El Camino Real (Agenda Item #8)
Date:Monday, April 13, 2026 9:53:00 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
To the Palo Alto City Council:
My name is Adam Schwartz. I’ve lived in Palo Alto for a decade in the
University South neighborhood.
Please vote to approve the application to build 321 new homes at 3606 El
Camino Real. This is Agenda Item #8 for the City Council's Regular
Meeting on April 13.
These new homes can accommodate all kinds of people:
- People earning below the area median income can live in the 37 homes
set at below-market rates.
- Families with kids can move into the homes with two and three
bedrooms, which are about half of the total homes.
- Our older neighbors now living in a detached single-family home can
downsize into a new apartment in their home city, and make room for a
new family in their old home.
- Our children and parents can live near us in these homes.
- Our civil servants and service workers can live near their jobs in these
homes.
This is a great location for new homes:
- The VTA bus line #22 has a stop near the site.
- The CalTrain at California Avenue is 1.2 miles away.
- There is a new protected bike lane right in front on El Camino Real.
- There are nearby restaurants, schools, and jobs.
I appreciate all the hard work being done by our city council and city staff
to build more homes in our community.
Sincerely,
Adam Schwartz
University South
From:Michael Kieschnick
To:Council, City
Subject:Property Aggregation Colleagues Memo
Date:Monday, April 13, 2026 9:01:50 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
I am writing to support Mr. Stone's Property Aggregation Colleagues Memo, which is on your
agenda for this evening's meeting.
I am a long time resident of Palo Alto and reside at 1467 Hamilton Avenue. I have seen the
astonishing accumulation of residential properties - at least 11 - by the Zuckerberg/Chan
family, and the enormously disruptive 8 year construction spree.
The great majority of these acquired homes now service quasi commercial purposes -
materially reducing the amount of residential homes in Palo Alto. My home is surrounded on
three sides - one by a building that appears to be used as a gym and two that are empty, no
doubt awaiting construction.
With the accelerating rise of wealth inequality, this problem will not go away and is likely to
worsen.
I urge a yes vote.
Sincerely,
Michael Kieschnick
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
From:jfleming@right-thing.net
To:Vicki@VickiforCouncil.com; pat@patburt.org; Ed@EdLauing.com; Lu, George; me@lythcott-haims.com; Reckdahl,
Keith; gstone22@gmail.com; Council, City
Cc:Clerk, City
Subject:Don"t close Churchill
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 6:17:35 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Mayor Veenker, Vice Mayor Stone and Councilmembers Burt, Lauing, Lu,
Lythcott-Haims, and Reckdahl,
I am writing to add my voice to those of the hundreds of Palo Altans who have
already contacted you to call for Churchill to remain open. As you well know,
Churchill is a critical artery for cars, emergency vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.
Closing it is asking for big trouble, including litigation against the city.
I do hope, however, that you will consider offering every parent of a troubled Palo Alto
High School student the option of transferring their child to Gunn.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Fleming
Jeanne Fleming, PhD
JFleming@Right-Thing.net
650-325-5151
From:Olga Fedosova
To:Council, City
Subject:About Cubberley Pavilion
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 6:11:37 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello,
There are many rumors about converting Cubberly Pavillion to a theatre.
I have been going to Cubberley more than 20 years for dancing every Friday.
There are not many places to practice ballrooms dancing, especially for more older people.
And dancing is a great exercise for the body, a great way to keep old ages away. And to be
healthy.
It would be terrible if this place would be closed and we can loose the opportunity to dance. It
concern our health.
Please keep Cubberly open for dancing, you will make so many people happy.
Thank you, Olga Fedosova
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Daniel Stein
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 4:10:57 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto City Council, my name is Daniel.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly
apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation
improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think
those should impact the project moving forward.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Daniel Stein
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Alexandra Konings
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: please approve 3606 El Camino Real
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 3:32:02 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hello Palo Alto city council,
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly
apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation
improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think
those should impact the project moving forward. We should not be exposing the city to
legislation by rejection proposals that are protected by state law. Furthermore, having so many
new homes nearby will help the Cal Ave businesses continue to thrive.
Thank you
Alexandra Konings
Homeowner in College Terrace
From:Kirsten Flynn
To:Council, City
Subject:321 unit 3606 El Camino project
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 2:45:07 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Honorable City Council Members,
I am writing as an involved life-time citizen of Palo Alto, one who has served the citizens of
this city as a PTA president, Mayors Green Ribbon Task Force member, and a member of the
Ventura Neighborhood CAC Committee. I currently live in the Ventura Neighborhood.
I am writing to support the PTC concerns on the safety of the project planned for 3606 El
Camino Real, and thus their concerns about the merger of these parcels.
My concern are entirely around the safe routes to school program. I also have volunteered on
the Safe Routes to School committee, and we MUST protect any hard won, incremental,
progress we have make to safeguard this system of streets. Matadero is a safe route to school
street. With the increased bicycle infrastructure on El Camino, this network becomes even
more important for ALL bicyclists, recreational, student and transportation.
Additionally I am fully supportive of increased density in my neighborhood, even as 7 stories
seems excessive. I look forward to welcoming new neighbors. This is because:
Even at 13% this apartment project would yield 40 affordable units.
The rest of the units would help our tremendous housing shortage, helping to balance
out our jobs/housing imbalance.
Because of the cost of housing in Palo Alto, we are becoming a geriatric city (with
myself as one example) This contributes to low enrollment in local schools.
Retail thrives on density, and this number of units will be a shot in the arm to local
retail. Our local businesses deserve to thrive- Celias, Di Sichuan, Indo, Thai Bistro,
even Green Mail, are doing a great job.
My preferences are that the City Council do what it can, within Builder’s remedy to:
Make the Safe Route To School safer, with a path past the project, for pedestrians,
bicyclists and cars.
Limit height to 6 stories.
Ask that the percentage of affordable units be increased to 20%
This message needs your attention
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
Also, in the future, please consider ramming through some dense projects that affect Midtown,
Old Palo Alto, Professorville, and Downtown. The neighborhoods in South West Palo are not
the only locations ripe for re-development.
Best regards,
Kirsten Flynn
From:Tyler Osgood
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: Public Comment
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 1:37:51 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Tyler Osgood and I live on Hawthorne Ave. Please
vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly
apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation
improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think
those should impact the project moving forward.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community!
Tyler Osgood
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Hayden Kantor
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: build more housing in Palo Alto!
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 1:02:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
I am a Palo Alto resident, who lives about half a mile from the proposed project, 3606 El
Camino Real. I urge you to approve it without any modifications or delay.
This stretch of El Camino is heavily blighted. It should be a vibrant neighborhood filled with
family-friendly apartments, walkable businesses (the new residents will be new customers),
bike infrastructure, and transit.
Regarding this project and also the proposed housing in the San Antonio area, I do not support
any height limits. I do not support the City Council or the Architectural or Planning
Committee meddling with the aesthetics.
I know you are hearing from residents who live nearby with lots of concerns or quibbles. Well,
I am a resident who also lives nearby who will be thrilled to see these apartments constructed.
We have to do do what is best for entire city. New housing will bring in new tax dollars,
new customers for businesses, and lower housing costs.
There is substantial evidence that the policy of IZ (Inclusionary Zoning) has not worked and
indeed functions as a tax of new housing, so I do not support maintaining these requirements
any further. Let's remove requirements and unleash new housing to make our community
more vibrant.
Thank you,
Hayden Kantor
2500 Columbia St Unit 107
Palo Alto
From:Martin Balestie
To:Council, City
Subject:Critical Infrastructure: seawater brine, wwtp primary treatment, HVAC chiller/tower optimization (recent hires/area managers/most eng & science majors: env/chem/mech/civil/cyber/interdiscipl/pub policy)
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 12:12:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hi!
Nice to touch base! Hope all is well!
Just a short email (hope it makes it through). I'm helping get the word out as regards up and coming webinar series, i.e. wwtp primary treatment, seawater brine RO, water
distribution models, PSU project fair, HVAC chiller/tower partial load optimization, BNR, SBRs, closed circuit coolers, wwtp baffle curtains, continuing funding and more. Feel
free to pass along/forward to possibly available/interested parties/dept heads/area managers/recent hires. Applies to almost all eng/science/EPC areas: env/chem/mech/ civil/
cyber/interdiscipl/pub policy. Will be glad to redirect to registration links!
Always happy my side to support engineering/education, recommended practice, student mentoring, industry/global outreach and much more. Global and digital go hand in
hand! Have a nice week start and beyond. Stay safe, healthy and happy! Best of greetings from way down south "el Sur" ... Tschusssssssssssss!! Martin
Teaching, the "profession that makes others possible," cannot be executed in isolation of others!
Driving Cost Efficiency in Brine Valorization via Low Salt Rejection Reverse Osmosis
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Informative webinar that explores the latest advancements in desalination technologies. Focus on the critical comparison between Low-Salt-Rejection Reverse Osmosis
(LSRRO) and Osmotically-Assisted Reverse Osmosis (OARO) for brine management and valorization. As the global water crisis intensifies, optimizing energy consumption and
improving operational efficiency in desalination processes is more important than ever. This is especially crucial for transforming salts from seawater brines into valuable
products, such as sodium chloride (NaCl).
Reverse osmosis membranes can help achieve a 56% reduction in total water costs through brine valorization. Participants will also learn that implementing LSRRO can lead to
substantial decreases in both capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX) by approximately the same percentage. These advantages underscore
LSRRO's potential to deliver enhanced performance without the drawbacks often associated with OARO.
By attending this webinar, you will gain actionable insights, industry-leading expertise, and practical case studies that showcase the effectiveness of LSRRO technology in
optimizing energy use for brine management. This event will also provide a unique opportunity to discuss these topics with a leading expert in the field.
Feel free to forward/circulate to likely stakeholders/incumbent parties. Will be happy to redirect to registration links!
Wastewater Treatment: Primary Sedimentation and Solids Removal
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Description: Comprehensive overview of primary treatment, the essential solids separation stage in wastewater treatment. This one-hour webinar is designed for wastewater
operators, utility board members, and municipal decision-makers seeking to understand how primary sedimentation reduces organic loading and protects downstream biological
processes.
Will cover the fundamental principles of gravity settling, typical primary clarifier configurations and equipment, key operational parameters and performance monitoring, and
routine maintenance practices. You’ll learn how effective primary treatment improves overall plant efficiency and contributes to regulatory compliance. Whether you’re new to
wastewater operations, managing day-to-day operations or overseeing infrastructure investments, you’ll gain practical insights into this crucial treatment stage.
Presenter: James Markham, Research Engineer at the Southwest Environmental Finance Center
Introduction to Water Distribution System Modeling (Part 1) Drinking Water
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026
Description: Water distribution system (WDS) hydraulic models are tools often used by engineers to perform complex hydraulic calculations during the design phase of a project.
However, these models may also be used by system staff to improve knowledge and operations of their system, aid knowledge transfer, analyze system vulnerabilities, plan for
future development, and troubleshoot problems in emergency scenarios. This webinar covers introductory topics related to WDS hydraulic modeling including what a hydraulic
model is and why it is useful, how the model works, and an overview of model development.
Learning Objectives:
What hydraulic models are and why they are useful
How hydraulic models work, including a brief history of early modeling efforts and the current state of modeling
How to develop a model including key steps such as selecting modeling software, creating a network, adding node and link information, running simulations, and checking model
predictions against reality
Presenter: Steven W.H. Hoagland, Research Assistant Professor, Tennessee Water Resources Research Center
Who Should Attend:
Managers, owners, and operators of small water systems serving less than 10,000 people
Decision-makers for water utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
Consultants and technical assistance providers serving water systems
Presenter: Steven W.H. Hoagland, Research Assistant Professor, Tennessee Water Resources Research Center
Feel free to forward/circulate to likely stakeholders/incumbent parties. Will be happy to redirect to registration links!
Optimizing Cooling Tower and Chiller Systems for Part Load Efficiency - Webinar (corporate)
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Join keynote speaker Nathan Payne, PE, Senior Project Engineer at E4E Solutions, as he explores the critical considerations that shape the overall performance of a chilled
water system. Although chillers and cooling towers are sized for design conditions, they normally operate under variable load conditions that differ significantly from those design
points. This session highlights strategies to reduce resource consumption and minimize the environmental impact of a chilled water system. Receive 1.0 PDH credit
Presenter: Nathan Payne
Feel free to forward/circulate to likely stakeholders/incumbent parties. Will be happy to redirect to registration links!
Effective and Efficient Nutrient Removal for Municipal Wastewater Treatment
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Nutrient removal in wastewater treatment is essential for municipalities that need to meet increasingly stringent discharge standards.
In this interactive Water Academy webinar, our team will explore:
The critical role hollow fiber ultrafiltration (UF) membranes and Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) systems play in advanced nutrient removal
Process intensification—and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification—with Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR).
Register now to learn about proven membrane technologies that support resilient infrastructure, fu ture-ready planning, and sustainable water stewardship across the full
spectrum of municipal wastewater nutrient removal challenges.
Feel free to forward/circulate to likely stakeholders/incumbent parties. Will be happy to redirect to registration links!
Geomembrane Baffle Curtains to Enhance Water and Wastewater Treatment (FGI)
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Geomembrane baffle curtains play a critical role in optimizing municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment processes. Their exceptional chemical resistance,
flexibility, and tensile strength make them well-suited for directing flow and improving treatment efficiency in potable water reservoirs, wastewater lagoons, and industrial process
water systems. By increasing hydraulic retention time and reducing short-circuiting, baffle curtains help enhance overall water quality and operational performance. These
systems effectively eliminate dead zones and improve the removal of key contaminants such as BOD, COD, and TSS (total suspended solids).
This webinar will explore the various geomembrane materials used in baffle curtain fabrication, along with common baffle curtain design configurations for ponds, reservoirs,
underground clearwells, and above-ground storage tanks. It will also provide an overview of manufacturing and installation methods.
Presenters: Brian Fraser & Justin Gouthreau (Layfield Geosynthetics)
Feel free to forward/circulate to likely stakeholders/incumbent parties. Will be happy to redirect to registration links!
Penn State University Climate Resilience and Adaptation Project Fair on Tuesday, April 21st from 6pm to 8pm in the Penn State New Kensington Art
Gallery. This event will include interactive projects that focus on exploring adaptation solutions for climate-related problems in power generation, transmission, and distribution
from students from a wide variety of majors. Please consider sharing this event with anyone who you think would be interested in attending (remotely or in-person). Dinner will
be provided for those who attend in-person.
Feel free to forward/circulate to likely stakeholders/incumbent parties. Will be happy to redirect to registration links!
Advantages and Design Flexibility of a True Batch SBR System for Industrial Wastewater Treatment (corporate webinar)
Date: May 14, 2026
Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBR): biological process where the phases of aeration, settling, and sludge removal alternate in each of usually two reactors. Since settling and
sludge removal occur within the biological reactors, secondary clarifiers and sludge recirculation pumping are unnecessary, significantly simplifying the civil works and
mechanical installation, and reducing the required footprint.
Fluid Coolers 101: Design, Applications and Selection (1.0 PDH) (corporate webinar)
Date: May 7, 2026
Fluid coolers, also called closed circuit coolers provide heat rejection by means of direct evaporation over coils.
Unlike open cooling towers, there is no contact between the process fluid and ambient air.
[]
Activated Sludge and Nutrient Removal for Wastewater Utilities Free Webinar Series (Wichita State; ongoing)
Join the Environmental Finance Center for a free webinar series on Activated Sludge and Nutrient Removal.
Attend any of the six sessions, each worth 1 CEU for wastewater operators!
These monthly webinars are designed for wastewater plant operators and managers.
Participate in the discussion and engage with other wastewater professionals.
Feel free to forward/circulate to likely stakeholders/incumbent parties. Will be happy to redirect to registration links!
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Small Wastewater System Funding Series - Syracuse University
Successfully securing and managing federal funding for publicly owned and decentralized wastewater treatment systems is no small task, especially with shifting
program priorities and uncertainty about future allocations. This no-cost webinar series from the Capacity Collaborative will guide participants through the entire
funding process: where to find nationally available funding, how to craft competitive proposals, and how to stay in compliance through project completion.
Designed for small wastewater systems, each session focuses on a step in the funding application and management journey, equipping participants with tools and
knowledge to increase their chances of funding success.
This series runs every other Tuesday from January 13, 2026, through May 5, 2026 . Workshops and webinars are complimentary under a cooperative agreement
with the U.S. EPA. Feel free to forward/circulate to likely stakeholders/incumbent parties. Will be happy to redirect to registration links!
Teaching, the "profession that makes others possible," cannot be executed in isolation of others!
James C. Young Project - Ken Schifftner Consulting Air Pollution Control - Balestie & Balestie Ingenieros
www.facebook.com/industrialwastewater - www.PocketGoogle.com - www.DigitalProspection.com - www.MartinBalestie.com - www.GalopeApproach.com -
www.TrumpetBible.com
UNIVERSITY MENTOR
University of Maryland: serving a third consecutive term as Computer Science Mentor Iribe Initiative Program
https://engineeringfundamentals.com/1000Ace/z-Peer-Alumni-Mentoring-Agreement-Fall-2021-signed.pdf
uc davis
University of California, Davis (College of Engineering ENG 003 Introduction to Engineering Design Showcase Evaluator): volunteered highly technical
feedback to a full one third of 45 presented student teams although initially scheduled to review just five
projects https://engineeringfundamentals.com/1000Ace/Evaluator%20Assignments%20%26%20Team%20Info%20%28Sp22%29%20U%20California%20Davis.pdf
University of Michigan: Chemical Engineering Mentoring Platform
https://engineeringfundamentals.com/1000Ace/z-umich-chemical-engineering-mentor-ucan-chemical.pdf
Penn State University: Engineering Design 100 Climate Resilience and Adaptation Design December 2025
https://engineeringfundamentals.com/1000Ace/penn-state-engineering-design-100-december-2025-invitation.pdf
Critical Infrastructure Webinars and More - 2026
[]
Activated Sludge and Nutrient Removal for Wastewater Utilities Free Webinar Series (Wichita State; ongoing; next date to be
confirmed)
Join the Environmental Finance Center for a free webinar series on Activated Sludge and Nutrient Removal.
Attend any of the six sessions, each worth 1 CEU for wastewater operators!
These monthly webinars are designed for wastewater plant operators and managers.
Participate in the discussion and engage with other wastewater professionals.
April 14, 2026 | Introducing New Operators to the World of Wastewater
Feel free to forward/circulate to likely stakeholders/incumbent parties. Will be happy to redirect to registration links!
p.s.: My good friends, my best friends computers NEVER fail to fail! You may receive duplicates of this message/others as at times I having email
snafus/bounces. Feel free to get back to me ad lib, either via balestie@umich.edu and/or cc.: Martin Balestie < answers@engineeringfundamentals.com> (1)
917 300 3024 (on and off NEW NUMBER ).
From:slevy@ccsce.com
To:Council, City
Cc:Lait, Jonathan; Knight, Julia
Subject:Growth forecast discussion at the Policy and Services committee
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 12:11:12 PM
Attachments:Analysis of Staff Growth Projections.docx
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
This memo follows a series of emails to Director Lait and Julia Knight and I thank them for
inviting me to respond with my comments and analyses of future growth trends
Steve
1
CENTER FOR CONTINUING STUDY OF THE CALIFORNIA ECONOMY 365 FOREST AVENUE 5A • PALO ALTO • CALIFORNIA • 94301
TELEPHONE: (650) 814-8553
www.ccsce.com
Dear Julie, Greer and Keith,
Background
In the fall of 2025 Director Lait and Julia Knight informed me about the upcoming
fee analysis work and sought my input on likely growth trends.
In a series of memos I documented analyses from the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
the Congressional Budget Office, the Brookings Institution and other organizations
that national population and associated job growth is expected to slow
dramatically as a result of low and declinging birth rates and lower levels of
immigration.
I provided analyses of the Plan Bay Area final growth forecast recommending that
the staff disregard these forecasts as they were way too high, internally
inconsistent and at odds with both recent trends and the national population and
job projections mentioned above.
Projecting state and regional growth and the implications for policy has been my
principal professional activity for the past 40 years and I have consulted with the
state and major regional planning agencies in the Bay Area, Southern California
and Sacramento region.
With staff’s permission I will share and update analyses provided to staff and meet
with interested members.
Comments on the Preliminary Staff Projections
First, I want to thank Director Lait and Julia Knight for providing growth projections
that reflect very modest growth.
I will continue to provide staff and the committee with updates on the growth
outlook over the coming months.
While growth in the city will be affected by city policies, market demand and
competition from neighboring cities, recent trends and the signifificant challenges
facing the region and Silicon Valley make it unlikely that Palo Alto can or will
outperform national growth trends, which are very modest at best.
2
Residential Growth
I expect that the city will add more than 6,200 housing units by 2050, mostly in the
next 15 years as a result of significan progress on ADUs with more welcoming
policies likely, with the progress council had made on approving pipeline projects,
in light of the new 7th cycle RHNA methodology and with the expectation of state
and regional support for BMR housing over the next 15 years.
At the same time, I believe the city will not achieve the staff recommended
population growth as it implies growth rates well above expected state and
national growth.
How are more housing units and lower population growth compatible?
All the recent EIRs prepared for the city by consultants have repeated a
significant error in methodology by ONLY looking at the impact of growth and
NOT considering changes in population associated with existing units.
With declining birth rates and a decline in younger population combined with a
steady increase in population 65+ means that existing and new housing units will
be occupied by fewer residents than today.
As an example between 2020 and 2025, the state added 500,000 households
without addng any population. As a result the number of persons per household
fell from 2.86 to 2.76. During this period the ratio for Palo Alto fell from 2.54 to
2.49. Futher declines are almost certain and it would be a critical mistakle to
assume current household size and composition wil continue.
I realize that this is a complex but important assumption and an happy to meet
with staff and members to discuss further.
Nonresidentail and Job Growth
Again, I commend the staff for expecting very modest growth. I have no
comments on the staff recommendation re aquare footage trends and realize this
assumption is subject to city policy and a variety of uncertainties.
The addition of 500 jobs by 2050 is a reasonable starting point subject to
continuing analyses this year.
A Comment or Two on Impact Fees
The staff analysis recognizes that impact fees can affect and impede housing
development feasibility as recognized by earlie Strategic Economics analysis.
Since council has worked hard to recognize and improve the conditions for
3
feasible housing proposals, I hope Keyser Marston does a complete and
professional analysis of the relationship between fees and housing feasibility.
In particular I hope there is rigorous analysis of appropriate park fee levels in light of
significan demographic changes that will greatly increase our older population while
probably reducing our population under 18. The California Department of Finance
expects PAUSD enrollment to decline.
I understand that parks are a critical issue for many residents but it is hard for me
to believe that the park standards when we had thousands more young residents
and far fewer older residents are the standards appropriate for the years to 2050.
I look forward to the discussion on Tuesday and will continue to share my thoughts
relevant data and projections.
Steve
From:Jim Poppy
To:Council, City
Subject:DO NOT CLOSE CHURCHILL
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 11:52:43 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
This is an overreaction to tragic occurrences. There are other ways to help prevent suicides.
Regards,
Jim Poppy
Melville Avenue
From:Craig Moye
To:Council, City; board@pausd.org
Subject:Churchill crossing comments
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 11:38:35 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto City Council members and PAUSD board members,
The loss of any child, especially from suicide, brings with it the deepest and most profound sadness
possible.
I have lived in Palo Alto for nearly 20 years now and have had one child go through Palo Alto’s public
schools and one currently at Paly. I have now lived through 3 suicide clusters here and my heart has
broken with each student death. I live near the Churchill tracks so tend to be aware of what happens
at that intersection including the most recent suicides.
Palo Alto obviously has a tragic history of suicides, so this is indeed an issue for all of us in the
community. However, I fear the emotional reaction to close the Churchill crossing is not a solution to
this ongoing crisis and is an attempt at a quick fix that distracts from the solutions that must be
examined and thoughtfully evaluated.
As our elected leaders, I implore you to look at facts, not the emotions that run high at times like
this. Here are some facts to consider:
- There is no “mandate” from citizens to close the Churchill
crossing as mentioned at the “listening session” on March
12th. The petition that was signed by 3700+ people (including me)
called for trained in-person guards who can de-escalate suicide to
be put in place immediately to reduce access to lethal means at all
train crossings in Palo Alto. Here is the most pertinent excerpt from the
petition:
o I propose a reinstatement of in-person guards, trained
professionals, who can de-escalate suicide in-person, until a
more permanent solution—like grade separation (separating
rail from commuters with underpasses, overpasses, etc.)—is
put into place. Having safety precautions will prevent any
more tragedies until then.
The petition is marked as a “victory” because that was done quickly by your joint
efforts. Thank you.
This content of the petition was misrepresented by
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
councilmember Julia Lythcott-Haims in her opening remarks at the
listening session – she said it called for the immediate closure of the
Churchill crossing. It did not. The video of those comments is here - you
can forward to 34:05 to hear this specifically. I hope it was not
intentional…else it may show bias within the rail committee.
- Although complete data on the guard’s deterrence is unavailable to
the public, evidence over the years suggests that the trained
professionals stationed at the track crossings create a powerful
reduction to lethal means at ALL crossings in Palo Alto. I believe this
is the real goal and perhaps they should remain in place permanently or at
least until the currently proposed grade separations can be built as
planned.
- Closing the Churchill crossing leaves the East Meadow
crossing a short bike ride away. Over the years, the East Meadow train
crossing has at least a 2x higher rate of suicides than Churchill…so closing
one access point leaves others available…including the overpass at the
other end of the Paly campus.
- The rail committee and XCAP spent a significant amount of
time studying the closure of the Churchill crossing and the
mitigations that would be necessary were significant and costly. This is
NOT a quick and easy fix. The XCAP report calls out at least 30
mitigations required to close the Churchill crossing. I will not call
them out here but encourage reading the report. The most knowledgeable
people on this subject at the time voted for a partial underpass as a better
solution. Let’s not dismiss their diligent work in favor of an uninformed
emotional “quick fix.”
- Palo Alto High School is NOT the only school in California or
the USA located in close proximity to train tracks. This was another
misrepresentation from the listening session by a parent. An easy AI
search can confirm this. Also, the East Meadow crossing is not in close
proximity to Gunn High School and has sadly been used more often for
suicides. That suggests proximity is not the most important factor.
- We should return to safe messaging and reporting about
suicides. The front page story about the most recent suicide goes against
all suicide prevention recommendations and are noted to be very
influential for youth. Having photos and news of suicides in local media,
especially highlighting methods used, can create contagion around
suicides. The front-page news is dangerous. Again, drawing from the CDC
report (page 117):
o media reporting has been implicated in the increased use of
train as a method of suicide and as a risk factor for rail suicide.
As a community, we owe it to our students and families to do what is best for the mental health of our
children. Here are the top level recommendations to help prevent suicides of youth (details start at
page 103 in the CDC repo ):
- Access to Evidence-Based Mental Health Care
- Family Relationships and Family-Based Programs
- Connection to School and School-Based Programs
- Identify and Support People At-Risk
- Crisis Intervention
- Suicide Postvention
- Prevention of Other Forms of Violence (such as bullying)
- Reducing Access to Lethal Means for Youth At-Risk
A specific note was included about rail crossings – closing train crossings was not recommended by
the CDC after their in-depth investigation as it calls out that most youth suicides are in the home. It
does suggest the following (see pages 116-117):
Finally, more than a quarter of suicide decedents in Santa Clara County that used
train as the method of suicide had a current mental health problem, current
depressed mood, a history of suicidal thoughts and attempts, and current or past
treatment for mental health problems. Therefore, reducing access to lethal means
related to trains could be focused on youth with existing mental health problems
and/or a history of suicidal behavior.
As mentioned above, trained guards achieve the goal of reducing lethal means and that was part of
their recommendation. Again, please consider making this a permanent solution that is not subject to
budget cuts.
There is no easy fix here. Ideally, accelerating the grade separation options that allow traffic to flow as
well as enhance safety, should be prioritized. The CDC report is over 200 pages long. It is data driven
and makes complex recommendations that require strategic planning.
I applaud the efforts of PAUSD to enhance the focus on mental health for students and especially the
trained guards at the train crossings. Perhaps we can send a signal that this is permanent and
important by transitioning from tents to more permanent structures…but this too, deserves
evaluation.
Thank you.
Craig Moye
From:Martin J Sommer
To:Council, City
Subject:Churchill Crossing
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 10:07:43 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear City Council,
In your discussions this week on wheather the Churchill Crossing should be closed to auto
traffic, I would recommend "no".
As a Palo Alto High School parent, I believe that this issue should be broken into two parts, a)
better mental health services for the students, and b) sustained traffic flow, to and from the
High School.
My son recommends that mental heath service be "mandatory", and not optional, for students
in need. Perhaps the challenge, is determining "when" someone is in need.
Regarding traffic, Alma/Churchill is a major artery for access into the campus. This needs to
remain open.
Thank you,
Martin
-- Martin Sommer650-346-5307martin@sommer.netwww.linkedin.com/in/martinsommer
"Turn technical vision into reality."
This message needs your attention
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
From:John Melnychuk
To:Council, City
Cc:Veenker, Vicki; Stone, Greer; Burt, Patrick; Lauing, Ed; Lu, George; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith;
Shikada, Ed
Subject:Vice Mayo Stone"s Colleagues" memorandum to encourage fair development standards in neighborhoods. I
Support.
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 10:05:54 AM
Attachments:Microsoft Word - Council - Fair standards of development..docx.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Re: Support for Stones’ Colleagues Memo on Mitigating Impacts of PropertyAggregation in Residential Districts for Monday April 13. Fair Development Standards to Protect Neighborhoods
April 12, 2026 Hello Mayor Veenker, Vice Mayor Stone, Councilmembers Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims,Reckdahl Thank you for your service. Regarding this item: Staff provided a thoughtful, comprehensiveanalysis that outline the complexity of the issue. I support Vice Mayor Greer’s position. Council Must Act—Carefully and Fairly Despite the delicacy of politics and challenge of devising a balanced policy, I support ViceMayor Stone’s effort to create clear, common-sense standards for neighborhood development.Palo Alto benefits from successful residents and businesses—but strong communities dependon good neighborly conduct. When that breaks down, Council must step in—not to punishsuccess, but to protect fairness and preserve neighborhood character. Real Examples of ImbalanceA wealthy landowner challenged public coastal access in a dispute involving the CaliforniaCoastal Commission.
Closer to home, Caltrain operations—more trains, higher speeds, and persistent noise—have
created real impacts, including safety concerns and tragic loss of life.We also see aggressive
use of “Builder’s Remedy” to push projects without regard forneighborhood context, and
telecom installations in residential areas with limited sensitivity to community standards.
A Simple StandardWhen power—whether private or corporate—is used without regard for neighbors, thecommunity is harmed. A Reasonable Path ForwardCouncil already sets limits on noise, construction hours, building scale, and parking. This is anatural extension of that role. Most act responsibly—but when they do not, Council should actwith restraint and balance to ensure no one’s influence comes at the expense of others. Conclusion
Please move forward with this thoughtful effort.
Respectfully,John MelnychukFairmeadow, Palo Alto, CA
(650) 906-5656
jdmelnychuk@icloud.com
City Council Submission
KEY TAKEAWAY: Council should act—carefully and fairly—to prevent misuse of
wealth and power from harming neighborhood quality of life.
Re: Support for Colleagues Memo on Mitigating Impacts of Property Aggregation in Residential
Districts for Monday April 13. Fair Development Standards to Protect Neighborhoods
April 12, 2026
Hello Mayor Veenker, Vice Mayor Stone, Councilmembers Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl
Thank you for your service. Regarding Item number StaI provided a thoughtful, comprehensive analysis
that outline the complexity of the issue. I support Vice Mayor Greer’s position on this issue.
Council Must Act—Carefully and Fairly
Despite the delicacy of politics and challenge of devising a balanced policy, I support Vice Mayor
Stone’s eIort to create clear, common-sense standards for neighborhood development. Palo Alto
benefits from successful residents and businesses—but strong communities depend on good
neighborly conduct. When that breaks down, Council must step in—not to punish success, but to
protect fairness and preserve neighborhood character.
Real Examples of Imbalance
A wealthy landowner challenged public coastal access in a dispute involving the California
Coastal Commission. Closer to home, Caltrain operations—more trains, higher speeds, and
persistent noise—have created real impacts, including safety concerns and tragic loss of life.
We also see aggressive use of “Builder’s Remedy” to push projects without regard for
neighborhood context, and telecom installations in residential areas with limited sensitivity to
community standards.
A Simple Standard
When power—whether private or corporate—is used without regard for neighbors, the
community is harmed.
A Reasonable Path Forward
Council already sets limits on noise, construction hours, building scale, and parking. This is a
natural extension of that role. Most act responsibly—but when they do not, Council should act
with restraint and balance to ensure no one’s influence comes at the expense of others.
Conclusion
Please move forward with this thoughtful eIort.
Respectfully,
John Melnychuk
Fairmeadow, Palo Alto, CA
From:Amie Ashton
To:Council, City
Subject:Support for 3606 ECR!
Date:Sunday, April 12, 2026 12:08:29 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Mayor Veenker and Honorable City Council,
I write in support of the project at 3606 El Camino Real. We need more modern and well-
equiped (AC, washing machines, energy efficient appliances, proper insulation, etc.) housing
units in our city at all income levels.
This project will bring hundreds of larger family-sized units close to local jobs, schools,
shopping, and restaurants. It will decrease our jobs/housing ratio, providing workers an
opportunity to live near their jobs, mode-shift out of cars, and reduce traffic, noise, and
climate/air quality impacts. This is a great project for our city in a a great place - the
innovative, Council-created El Camino Real Housing Focus Area!
Please encourage the applicant to provide adequate and ample bike parking. The #1
transportation-related issue I hear from renters is that there is a real lack of space to securely
park bikes, especially e-bikes. Further, bike rooms need to provide power outlets (many of
them) to charge e-bikes as more and more families and individuals move to a car-light
lifestyle. This is something our city should do everything to support!
Please approve this project without delay so we can bring these housing units online as soon as
possible.
Thank you,
Amie Ashton
From:Francis Larkin
To:Council, City
Subject:Please do not close Churchill Avenue
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 9:40:52 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I'm writing to oppose the proposed closure of Churchill Avenue.
Like everyone in our community, I'm heartbroken by the recent losses and want the city to
respond meaningfully. But closing Churchill is the wrong tool. It pushes heavy student, bike,
and pedestrian traffic onto an already overloaded Embarcadero corridor, splits our
neighborhoods, isolates Southgate, and risks becoming permanent under the label of
"temporary."
The interventions that actually match the problem — in-person crossing guards, school and
family mental health support, and the long-planned pedestrian/bike tunnel and grade
separations — deserve our focus and funding. The XCAP process already studied this crossing
in depth; please don't set that work aside under time pressure.
I respectfully ask Council to vote no on the closure and instead direct staff to accelerate
guarding, mental health resources, and grade-separation planning.
Thank you,
Francis Larkin
951 Bryant St., Palo Alto
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Rachel Tien
To:daustin@pausd.org; Council, City; board@pausd.org
Subject: [Urgent Proposal] Prioritize Student Lives: Relocate Paly High School to Safe Land / [緊急建議] 生命優先：請遷
址 Palo Alto 高中至安全地帶
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 9:38:24 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
親愛的市議員與學區董事會成員 / Dear City Council and School Board Members,
我寫這封信是為了表達我對 Palo Alto 青少年自殺危機的極度擔憂與具體建議
I am writing to express my profound concern regarding the ongoing youth suicide crisis in
Palo Alto and to offer a definitive proposal.
1. 生命價值高於一切 / Lives Over Property Values
過去數十年來，鐵軌悲劇不斷發生 任何預算 房價或建設債務的考量，都不應置於學
生的生命安全之前 如果現有地點無法保護孩子，唯一的答案就是搬遷
For decades, tragedies on the tracks have recurred. No budget, property value, or construction
debt should ever be prioritized over a student's life. If the current location cannot keep our
children safe, relocation is the only answer.
2. 遷校至史丹佛土地 / Relocate to Stanford Land
我提議立即啟動與史丹佛大學的誠意談判，租用其內部遠離鐵軌的安全土地（租期 50
至 90 年）將學校物理性地撤離危險區域，是防止衝動行為最有效的治本之道
I propose an immediate and sincere negotiation with Stanford University to lease safe, inland
property far from the tracks (for 50 to 90 years). Physically removing the school from danger
is the most effective way to prevent these tragedies.
3. 展現道德決斷力 / Demand for Moral Leadership
我們需要具備勇氣與決斷力的領導者來推動這項變革 如果現任官員無法將 拯救生
命 視為最高任務，我們將要求換人，讓有能力的人來解決問題
We need leaders with the courage and resolve to implement this change. If the current
administration cannot make "saving lives" their highest priority, the community must seek
This message needs your attention
The subject has non-English characters.
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
new leadership capable of solving this crisis.
死去的學生的靈魂在看著我們的選擇 請立即行動，不要再讓任何一個生命流失
The souls of the students we have lost are watching our choices. Please act now—do not let
another life be lost.
一位深切關心學生生命的市民 / A concerned citizen prioritizing student lives
Mingyu Tien
Although AI organized the content for me, but it is what my truly suggestion.
God bless Palo Alto High Students and Palo Alto community
From:Mary Hanks
To:Council, City
Subject:NO to closing Churchill
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 9:26:11 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Dear City Council,
My name is Mary Hanks and my husband and I have lived on the 100 block of Melville Ave for the last 10 years. I
use the Churchill crossing to bike to Stanford Hospital where I work as a nurse (as well as daily for other
walking/biking/driving trips around Palo Alto).
Closing Churchill is the wrong response to a tragedy. It’s natural for the parents & students to want to take some
kind of action but closing the crossing entirely would be ineffective and overly burdensome to the rest of the
community. Trains will continue to pass though Palo Alto, so closing the crossing does not remove lethal means.
There is alternate access to the tracks within an easy walk/bike ride from the school. Burdens to the community
would be numerous, but if we are focusing on preventing loss of life, we should consider the fact that 3 students
have perished in a 2 year period but how many people would suffer as a result of delayed emergency transport?
There are times of day when the Embarcadero & University underpasses are so jammed up that even with lights and
sirens, it’s difficult to get emergency vehicles through. There is abundant data proving that TIME is a primary driver
in stroke & heart attack outcomes. Speedy patient transport to Stanford must be prioritized.
Less importantly, but still a safety factor - closing the Churchill crossing would render the bike path between
Churchill & Homer useless. This is going to divert bike traffic into the neighborhoods, where cyclists share the road
with motorists. In my almost 10 years of biking to work in Palo Alto, I observe a significant portion of PALY
students riding without bike helmets or lights, and frequently running stop signs or riding on the sidewalks where
they are less visible before entering an intersection at speed. The Bryant “bike boulevard” has fewer stop signs
which results in motorists speeding in that corridor. Adding additional bike traffic to the neighborhoods where there
are no marked lanes is likely to increase accidents. Accidents (not suicides) are the leading cause of death in
teenagers according to the CDC. These are just a few downstream effects that all relate to safety. The nuisance of
having to reroute/general traffic impacts would also be unreasonably burdensome to the community at large.
Between PALY & the city, we’re already spending $1.7 million on safety officers at all 4 crossings. Let us observe
the results of this investment before adding interventions.
The toll of student suicides is heart-wrenching for our whole community, there’s no denying that. And while the
potential lives lost to other causes (delayed emergency transport, accidents) can only be predicted, not quantified,
they are no less worthy of your consideration. We must continue to hold the needs of the community as a whole
while we comfort those grieving loss and allow our crossing guards to do their jobs.
Thank you,
Mary
From:Hank Sousa
To:Council, City
Subject:DON"T CLOSE CHURCHILL
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 5:25:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers:
Closing Churchill is not the solution. I suggest working with Caltrain to implement a quiet
zone on both sides of Paly. Does it make sense to close off the entrance to Paly on the
Churchill side except for permitted parkers and large event parking (like football games,
etc.)? It sounds like you are already working on the quad gate safety solution, so that is
appreciated. Spend some additional time re-reading the Mike Price letter as he did a marvelous
job summing up the whole issue.
Urge parents to lighten up on the kid pressure to get into the most prestigious universities.
When I told my pop I got accepted to San Jose State and the University of Arizona he was
thrilled. Urge PAUSD to institute a rule that students' cell phones be in locked pockets during
the school day. Don't let the students decide cell phone policy.
What about a low sound wall running along the Paly side of the tracks?
The guards at the crossings seem like a good, proven idea. The cost seems manageable as
well. Extend the contract to five years?
Many thanks for evaluating solutions to the difficult problems facing the city.
Regards,
Hank Sousa
Melville Ave.
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Pia Thurlemann
To:Council, City
Subject:Concerns regarding the proposed conversion of Cubberley Pavilion into a theatre
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 5:10:55 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear council members
I love the big dance floor at Cubberley Pavilion in Palo Alto, where every Friday
we have Ballroom dancing. Many people drive as far from San Jose and San
Fransisco, to enjoy the big dance floor and to socialize on a Friday night.
It seems a waist of money to destroy this building, where we have dance parties.
Sports groups and other people are using the gym as well.
Is it possible that theater works can use the gym some of the time and build next to
the existing theater an extension at Cubberley?
I hope we find a solution where all the different community members, groups will
be happy and can work together to build a great new center.
Thanks for your consideration for a better plan.
Pia Thurlemann
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Linnea
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 4:15:04 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Linnea Wickstrom and I live in Monroe Park.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our
community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as
improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Linnea Wickstrom
Sent from my iPhone
From:Andie Reed
To:Council, City
Subject:DON"T CLOSE CHURCHILL
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 3:28:29 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Council Members:
Thank you for taking on this issue so quickly, and inviting public comment. Here in North
Old Palo Alto, we are deep in texts, emails and conversations with each other, as we are
surrounded by Alma, Embarcadero, Kingsley, Emerson and Churchill and we host entryways
to two schools, Palo Alto High and Castilleja. We are exceedingly familiar with the car and
foot/bike traffic during commute time for students. What I hear from my neighbors are
fearful concerns about safety, not inconvenience, if Churchill is closed at Alma.
Please don't close Churchill!
I want to emphasize my experience from running across the Churchill RR crossing and
walking the sidewalk under Embarcadero to Town & Country many times per week.
Currently, Churchill carries the load of student peds/bikes/e-bikes/scooters mornings and
afternoons, which would likely switch to Embarcadero. There are no bike lanes or shoulders
on Embarcadero, but kids will need to get under the tracks via the tunnel to get to Paly.
Kids on bikes on Embarcadero sidewalks is frightening, as driveway vehicles don't expect
them. If they instead approach Embarcadero via Emerson, from either the north or south,
peds/bikes/scooters will have to cross two Embarcadero merge lanes to get onto the
sidewalk under the tunnel. The below grade Embarcadero sidewalks are not built for the
masses of students I see crossing at Churchill, and will become a recipe for disaster. Also,
eastbound Embarcadero car traffic, including traffic merging onto Embarcadero at Alma,
gets backed up at Emerson and Bryant, with cars turning right to drop-off students at
Castilleja during the same times as the Paly students are at those corners trying to get to
the tunnel at Embarcadero. I fear the results presented by this magnitude of unsafe
conditions.
DON'T CLOSE CHURCHILL: here is a summary of salient points
gathered from neighbors and friends who are gnashing teeth and revving
up their opposition closing Churchill.
- where will students/staff currently using Churchill to cross the tracks go?
Cars, bikes, scooters and peds will all be competing to get under the
tracks on the elevated sidewalk along Embarcadero to get to and from the
school (already not recommended by Safe Routes to School program due
to high-speed vehicle slip lanes)
- suicide clusters have appeared in Palo Alto in the past, Paly (twice),
Gunn (twice), why would now be a good time to take away an important
artery?
- most suicides are adults; these events occur using other RR crossings
and other means (guns and pills being prominent)
- in-person safety guards appeared quickly on all RR crossings; they have
worked in the past and need to be given time to work again
- schools and parents need to determine how to find solutions to the tragic
teen mental health issues, "bullying" in school, acceptance of all kids, etc.
- what happened to plans to build a pedestrian/bike tunnel for this
exceedingly well-used crossing, even as the City continues to plan for
grade separations?
- closing Churchill has been studied and modeled at length during XCAP
hearings, which carefully reported numerous mitigations required and
long-term planning
- additional cars on Embarcadero, already a traffic nightmare, will increase
emissions and long waits
- police and fire emergency vehicles will be slowed by the additional
distance and the increase in traffic
- what does "temporary" mean; residents fear that once it gets closed,
Churchill may never get reopened
- closing Churchill splits our community in two; isolates Southgate
Thank you for your hard work.
Andie Reed
Palo Alto, CA 94301
530-401-3809
From:Winter Dellenbach
To:Council, City
Subject:Item #8 3606 ECR
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 12:47:45 PM
To: City Council Members
From: Winter Dellenbach
Date: 4-11-26
RE: Item #8, 3606 El Camino Real
I realize this is a builders remedy project with a density bonus and therefore limitations apply to City
oversight. That said, here are some of my concerns about the 3606 El Camino Real mega-development. I
welcome gaining more affordable housing in our City, but this project isn’t reasonable in its immensity,
particulary given the cumulative impacts with the Creekside Inn proposed development just a few feet
away.
Displacement - I hope this annoys you even half as much as it annoys me
To really drive the nail into one's heel, the applicant’s proposal is to demolish 3 multifamily apartment
buildings (two and three story) on Kendall which will result in eviction of 38 households. Losing one’s
housing, as we know, is devastating, yet never is the word “displacement” mentioned in this packet.
If this landlord owns more than 10 units of housing, PAMC 9.68.060, Tenant Relocation Assistance
payments are required to be paid by owner to each household. Payments differ as to household size with a
range from about $8,000 to $20,000 in 2025, much more assistance than the owner waiving 1 months rent
as seems to be proposed in the packet.
Please confirm if the owner cumulatively owns if over 10 units in the 3 apartment buildings to be
demolished. If so, displaced tenants will be better positioned in seeking new housing than if PAMC
9.68.050 applies (10 or few units owned only get 1 months rent).
The Number of BMR Units
Is there anyway Council and require more than the paltry 37 BMR dwelling units (13% of 284 units with
density bonus = 37)? Without the bonus, there would be 42 BMR units (13% of the 321units actually
proposed = 42). This of course way under the 20% formerly required.
Unless there is a work around, this very large project will produce little affordability. If anyone thinks
Sacramento cares about affordable housing, they aren’t paying attention.
Please ensure that the BMR units will be distributed throughout the project, not isolated as a group in a sort
of low-income mini-ghetto.
It also seems there is an insufficient variety of unit sizes (studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms). Council has a good
track record of ensuring a variety of sizes to allow for a variety of household sizes, finding that this is
necessary for a healthy community. Make sure this needed variety is guaranteed.
Bike Safety
Matadero Ave. on the proposed projects north side, is a safe route to school. It is 30-feet wide for only its
first 75-feet west of El Camino. It then suddenly narrows to just 18-feet as it continues into Barron Park.
The applicant proposes to widen the avenue by moving City utility vaults, poles, and removing a City street
tree.
Curvy Kendall Ave. varies some from 26 feet to a bit wider.
On both Matadero and Kendall, there is to be ingress/egress for 391cars and service vehicles from the
projects parking areas.
Given overflow street parking and ingress/egress issues, any shred of bike safety on Matadero will surely be
lost.
This project as proposed is not safe nor do I think it can effectively be made so.
Street Parking
What is developers plan to effectively mitigate traffic and overflow parking onto neighborhood streets and
its effect on Matadero’s safe route to school? There are 391 parking spaces proposed. Dollars to donuts
more than 70 households out of 321 will have 2 cars with the extra on unusually narrow adjacent streets.
Loading
It is vital, given the information above, that no off-site loading zone or refuse pick-up is permitted.
Providing sufficient onsite loading or refuse pickup should be a condition of approval.
The staff report/packet states:
The project includes one required loading space for developments with more than 50 units in
conformance with PAMC Chapter 18.24 objective standards.* However, the loading space is not
consistently shown across plan sheets. Therefore, a condition of approval has been added to
ensure that this off-site loading space is provided. Some plan sheets also show an on-street
loading area for both Matadero Avenue and Kendall Avenue. Given that: 1) the loading space on Kendall
Avenue is designed for refuse pickup.
*3 June 15, 2020, City Council Resolution 9894
(Palo Alto Local Transportation Impact Analysis Policy):
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=61625&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto
School Route; 2) a loading space is already provided within the parking garage adjacent to the
lobby; 3) additional loading spaces are not required; and 4) the applicant does not have rights
to the City’s right-of-way, a condition of approval has been added requiring that the proposed
loading zone on Matadero Avenue be removed on the plans submitted for building permit.
Height of Project
Adjacent to this 85-foot development are a couple of 2 story apartment buildings on Kendal. Across this
curvy narrow street are some 1-story homes.
What is the plan to protect residents of these homes and 2-story apartment buildings from being
overwhelmed by the bulk and 85-foot height of the proposed development? And to protect their privacy?
Matadero Creek
I estimate the creek is 200 feet if measured from the inner western edge of the proposed development, not
300 feet as stated in the staff report/packet. Just saying.
From:Michele Gibson
To:Council, City
Subject:Thoughts on closing Churchill
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 9:40:23 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Closing Churchill was the recommendation of the city-appointed XCAP committee in 2021.
This group studied these issues in detail. The current situation could be seen as a nudge to do
the right thing and follow this recommendation.
I strongly favor closing Churchill, with the caveat that traffic calming measures on Alma need
to be taken.
And long term Churchill Ave is an ideal place for a bike/pedestrian tunnel.
I live in Old Palo Alto & use Churchill for biking (often) & by car (rarely). Our kids went to
Paly & biked (or walked) using Churchill daily.
Good luck with your decision. Thanks for asking for our input.
Michele Gibson
Old Palo Alto
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
From:Tom Booth
To:Council, City
Subject:Future of Cubberley Pavilion
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 9:28:24 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
I am a Palo Alto resident, and have been a dancer at the Cubberley Pavilion for many
years. I have attended the presentations over future plans for the Cubberley site. My
understanding was that the same square footage would be preserved as the existing pavilion,
but probably located on a somewhat different area of the Cubberly campus.
However there was a caveat attached to the plans. There exist only plans for enough
funds for for the first of three phases of the Concordia plan, and those funds have yet to be
voted on by Palo Alto residents.
I understand that TheaterWorks has offered to pay part of the cost for the Pavilion to be
converted into a theater.
I also understand that the Pavilion structurally isn't safe to remain it is. But I have never
heard what might be done to bring the Pavilion up to safe standards and keep it as a working
facility for not only Palo Alto but also the surrounding community to use as a sports and
dancing facility.
Of course it is tempting to accept money for a big project such as this would be however:
1. TheaterWorks already has theaters at Lucie Stern and and downtown Mt. View. Why do
they need additional space? Even if they share the cost of replacing the Pavilion it will
still be at a substantial expense to Palo Alto.
2. My understanding is that phases 2 and 3 are not now anything more than a plan without
funds. If Palo Alto tears down the Pavilion to build a theater in the space, it is entirely
possible that the replacemnt for the Pavilion will never take place. Or if it does, it will not
be the same size as the existing facility.
3. The Condordia plan as presented would not take down the Pavilion until the replacment
gym was built and ready for use. If the TheaterWorks plan is accepted and building starts
as soon as funds are available it may be months before replacement space for the gym is
available (if ever). As far as the dancing community it might has well never be replaced.
It will be decimated.
This message needs your attention
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
4. It is not clear what the cost would be to bring the gym up to current safety standards.
Without knowing that, how does the Palo Alto community know that the cost of
"refurbishing" the gym would be far less to the city than it's share of a theater cost?
Regards, Tom Booth, Manuela Ave. Palo Alto
From:hebiux García-Bolio
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 8:49:38 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Hebe García- Bolio and I live in a section 8
Apartment - Sheridan Ave.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly
apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation
improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think
those should impact the project moving forward.
I was homeless; found a despicable shelter and then a more humane: for women only.
Sometimes , people are not trained to treat the homeless with Dignity, Respect while we are
seeking our potential .
There are those that are trained and go beyond : with Joy, Dignity and Respect.
Kudos to them and you!
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Hebe Garcia-Bolio
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Shane Pizzo
To:Council, City
Cc:City Mgr
Subject:Support for 3606 El Camino Real
Date:Saturday, April 11, 2026 7:28:44 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Members of the Palo Alto City Council,
I am writing to voice my support for the apartment building development at 3606 El Camino
Real.
My family owns and manages commercial property in Palo Alto, so I drive by this site often.
Density in this location makes lots of sense to me, since it is both along El Camino and not
in the middle of a neighborhood. The location has good transit and biking options nearby at
California Avenue, bikeability to many commercial campuses, and good access to both 280
and 101. Altogether, it seems like a great location to add denser housing to Palo Alto.
Palo Alto, both as a rental market and housing market, has become largely unaffordable for
most people. That is in no small part due to a lack of new apartments that have been added
to the City housing supply over the past several decades. So it is great to see some projects
finally coming forward, which will hopefully increase the supply enough to make a dent in
the scarcity of housing in the area.
Please vote to approve the 3606 El Camino Real Project.
Thank you,
Shane Pizzo
Propervise, Inc.
CA DRE # 01964516
Cell - 408-891-1104
Email - Shane@propervise.com
www.propervise.com
This message needs your attention
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
From:Sheri Furman
To:Council, City
Subject:April 15 Item 1 Letter re Churchill Crossing
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 9:30:06 PM
Attachments:Churchill Xing PAN letter.docx
Please see the attached letter from PAN regarding the Churchill Crossing item.
Thank you.
Sheri Furman
PAN Co-chair
To: Palo Alto City Council
From: PAN - Palo Alto Neighborhoods
Date: April 7, 2026
Subject: Why PAN Disagrees with the Closure of the Churchill Caltrain Crossing
Dear Honorable City Council Members, At our recent PAN meeting, we discussed the City’s
consideration of closing the Churchill Caltrain crossing, and we are writing to share our perspective.
Based on available information and prior analysis, PAN does not believe that closing the Churchill
crossing is the right approach at this time.
We appreciate the City Council’s swift response to the student-led petition to add 24/7 security guards
to the grade crossings, along with additional physical security measures by Caltrain. At the same
time, we are concerned that a closure, particularly without significant mitigation measures in place,
could shift risk rather than reduce it, displacing impacts to other roads and neighborhoods.
This perspective is not about traffic convenience, but about overall student and public safety and
avoiding actions that could unintentionally increase risk elsewhere. We believe there is a better path
that improves safety more comprehensively across the city while minimizing unintended
consequences.
We respectfully offer the following points for consideration:
1. Near-term safety measures and path forward
We appreciate the City Council’s quick action, supported by the student-led petition from over 3,000
signatories, to deploy 24/7 in-person guards at the track at all grade separations along the corridor.
This approach has proven effective in the past and provides immediate protection, while also creating
space to carefully evaluate longer-term solutions. Several efforts to further reduce risk are already
underway, and we encourage continued focus on these strategies. In addition, options such as horn
silencing may be achievable without requiring closure. We encourage fast-tracking the work needed to
create quiet zones citywide.
2. Significant mitigations previously identified
The potential impacts of a Churchill closure have been studied previously as part of grade separation
planning. Those analyses identified a number of mitigation measures that would likely be necessary to
address the resulting traffic and safety impacts, including:
● Reconstruction of the Alma bridge over Embarcadero to support four lanes and a southbound
left turn pocket at Alma and Kipling
● Tunnel at Churchill for pedestrians and bicycles
● Add a pedestrian and bicycle overcrossing above Embarcadero at Town & Country
● Add a traffic signal at Alma and Kipling
● Add a traffic signal at Alma and the Embarcadero slip ramp to allow left turns onto Alma
● Reconfigure the intersection at Kipling and Embarcadero to allow left turns from Kipling and
add a traffic signal
● Adjust signal timing at Oregon and El Camino and add turning lanes
● Add traffic signals at the exit and on-ramps at Oregon and Alma
● Reconfigure the California Avenue bike and pedestrian tunnel to support increased users (e.g.,
requiring cyclists to walk bikes, adding lighting, and possibly cameras)
● Add turn lanes on Embarcadero at El Camino (which may require use of PAUSD property)
A 2024 City report estimated that implementing many of these mitigations could cost up to $115
million.
These measures were identified to prevent significant new congestion delaying emergency response
times and new safety hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, and students, and without them, closing
Churchill would likely introduce significant new risks.
3. Safety considerations without mitigations in place
Without these mitigations, increased traffic on Embarcadero would likely interact with students
traveling by foot and bicycle, creating safety concerns. Similarly, diverting students to the California
Avenue tunnel or Embarcadero underpass could introduce additional congestion and conflicts, given
that the Cal Ave tunnel and both Embarcadero sidewalks under Alma are relatively narrow and not
designed to accommodate safe two-way pedestrians and bikes. In short, a closure without mitigations
would create new safety hazards and put people at risk in other ways.
4. Emergency access considerations
Changes to circulation could affect first responders, ambulance service to Stanford Hospital, and
evacuation routes, particularly in neighborhoods such as Southgate. The delay in emergency
response should consider not only the longer distances of more circuitous routes, but also the overall
increase in traffic along the remaining primary crossings (Oregon/Page Mill and Embarcadero), which
are already known pinch points in the City’s network.
5. Timing and decision-making
Given these considerations, we do not believe that a closure would improve overall safety under
current conditions. Efforts should instead focus now on advancing proven safety measures, including
expanded on-site supervision, mental health supports, and citywide prevention strategies, while
continuing to evaluate solutions that improve outcomes across all crossings.
6. Equity and resource allocation
We recognize that this issue is part of a broader and deeply important challenge related to student
well-being. Continued investment in mental health resources, along with stronger community support
systems, is essential alongside any infrastructure decisions. What is needed is a thoughtful,
comprehensive approach to youth mental health and suicide prevention that brings these efforts
together. The City’s long-term planning has emphasized the importance of east–west connectivity.
Any changes to the Churchill crossing should be evaluated in that broader context.
Focusing primarily on a single location risks overlooking the broader, citywide nature of this challenge.
With limited resources and funding, we encourage the City to make decisions that reflect the needs of
the entire community.
Transportation mitigations are, unfortunately, slow to implement and very expensive. Funding
significant mitigation measures could affect other priority projects, including the Charleston crossing,
which the City Council had already identified as a priority for grade separations, given historic safety
concerns, expected housing growth, and the lack of any grade separations in south Palo Alto.
Our concern throughout is not about preserving existing traffic patterns, but about ensuring
that any action taken meaningfully improves safety for students across the entire city.
We appreciate the Council’s attention to these complex issues and encourage a thoughtful,
comprehensive approach that balances safety, equity, and long-term community needs.
Sincerely,
Becky Saunders & Sheri Furman, PAN Co-chairs
From:Susan Kemp
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 9:22:20 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is [INSERT NAME] and I live in [INSERT NEIGHBORHOOD].
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our
community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as
improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.
[CUSTOMIZE HERE WITH WHY YOU CARE OR DELETE].
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
[INSERT NAME]
Sent from my iPhone
From:Patty Irish
To:Council, City
Subject:The Commons Request for Additional Units
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 3:57:42 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Mayor Veenker and Council Members,
I am writing one more time about the Commons. You may
reconsider your earlier decision. If not then ignore this.
I have been very discouraged with your treatment of the owners
of the Commons, the Rellers. The Rellers are very professional
owners of the Commons and our community has benefited greatly
from the services they have provided many people in their
declining years.
They know what they are doing - how to deliver quality care. They
know where they need to place new units and the fact that the
new rooms cannot be placed at the front of the property - for the
residents sake. It has been clear as they tried to get approval that
they needed a critical number of new units to make it work. It is
also clear that when a group decides to bring all the NIMBY
arguments to you, it works. Even though that area is full of
parking and traffic problems from the Keys School, Goodwill, other
businesses and the complex traffic patterns that need to be
addressed to enhance the businesses you may hope will stay and
at best thrive.
I hope you will consider finding ways to help people like the
Rellers succeed. It would be a welcome change.
Thanks for your consideration,
Patty Irish
--
Patty Irish
850 Webster St. #628
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-324-7407
650-245-3906 cell
How do you tell a story that has been told the wrong way for so long?
From:Joseph Doniach
To:Council, City
Cc:Barbara Powell
Subject:Agenda Item 8: 3606 El Camino Real
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 3:57:11 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Joseph Doniach and I live in Greenmeadow.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our
community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as
improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project.
Palo Alto residents have to accept the reality that the city needs more multi family housing. There simply isn’t the
space for single family housing, and the housing shortage is the primary reason for the insanely high cost of housing
in the SF Bay Area. If we want to have a community that includes regular people with regular jobs, we simply
MUST build more affordable housing and that necessarily will be multi family housing.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community.
Joseph Doniach
From:Hamilton Hitchings
To:DWRSearsville@water.ca.gov; Gregory.G.Brown@usace.army.mil; CESPN-GR-submittal@usace.army.mil;
stev.rothert@water.ca.gov; jhamilton@esassoc.com; Searsville@stanford.edu
Cc:Council, City
Subject:Searsville Dam Project Input
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 3:42:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Friday April 10th, 2026
Dear Mr. Brown, Mr. Rothert, Ms. Hamilton, and Searsville Project Review Team,
My name is Hamilton Hitchings. I am a long-time Palo Alto resident and homeowner.
To protect Palo Alto and East Palo Alto, I urge Stanford, the Army Corps, and the CEQA
lead agency to select the 900,000-cubic-yard Off-Haul alternative, which would remove
sediment from behind Searsville Dam before tunnel installation instead of risking
downstream sediment deposition and added flood danger.
The key point is simple: downstream flooding from project-driven sediment
accumulation is not an existing condition. It is a project impact, and it must be fully
studied and fully mitigated. Just as important, the current Notice of Intent does not
expressly identify downstream flooding from project-caused sediment deposition
and reduced channel capacity as a project impact, even though it acknowledges a risk
of downstream sand deposition from flushed sediment and potential indirect effects along
the full 12-mile reach of San Francisquito Creek. That omission should be corrected in the
EIR/EIS.
Today, the dam traps sediment. The proposed project would instead create a gated tunnel
and a multi-year flushing phase designed to move trapped sediment downstream during
storm events. Stanford cannot treat any resulting loss of channel capacity or increase in
downstream flood risk as merely a background condition when the project itself would
newly mobilize and route that sediment downstream by design. CEQA and NEPA require
that impact to be expressly identified, analyzed, and mitigated.
The EIR/EIS should therefore quantify where sediment would deposit, how much channel
capacity would be lost, how much flood elevations would rise in downstream communities,
and how much sediment the proposed downstream detention basin would actually capture.
The current project materials do not provide that detention-basin capture number.
The agencies should also require gate operations from day one that reduce peak flows to
Palo Alto and East Palo Alto, rather than delaying stronger flood-protective operations
during the initial multi-year flushing period. Stanford’s own materials say the gate and
tunnel are intended to attenuate peak flows downstream. That flood-protection function
should be an enforceable operating requirement.
The 1998 flood showed exactly what is at stake: more than 400 homes in Palo Alto and
East Palo Alto flooded above floor level. Families were displaced for at least nine months,
and homes required major repairs before they were habitable again. A restoration project
must not increase flood danger for downstream families.
Hamilton Hitchings
Palo Alto, CA
From:Angelo Orciuoli
To:Veenker, Vicki; Burt, Patrick; Lauing, Ed; Lu, George; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Stone, Greer;
Council, City
Subject:Public Safety & Environmental Concern – 4000 Block of Fabian Street, RV Encampments
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 3:33:41 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
My name is Angelo Orciuoli, and I am writing on behalf of AOK Capital, LLC. I own and
operate our family firm at 825 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto, adjacent to the 4000 block of
Fabian Street.
I am reaching out to formally express serious and ongoing concerns regarding individuals
residing in oversized vehicles (RVs) along the 4000 block of Fabian Street. The situation has
escalated to the point where it presents significant risks to public safety, security, and the
environment.
Over recent months, I have documented and reported multiple incidents to the Palo Alto
Police Department, including:
Theft of personal and business property
Unauthorized use of water and electricity
Discharge of raw sewage into the street
Aggressive and threatening behavior toward myself and my staff
Additionally, individuals in these vehicles appear to be operating an unpermitted vehicle
repair and service activity from the public roadway. This has resulted in the release of used
motor oil, automotive fluids, paint, and other hazardous substances directly onto the street.
These materials pose a clear environmental hazard, with potential impacts to the local
watershed and ultimately the San Francisco Bay.
While the Palo Alto Police Department has been responsive within the scope of their
authority, the persistence and escalation of these issues suggest that a broader, coordinated
response is needed.
I respectfully request that the City Council consider:
Increased enforcement of existing municipal codes related to oversized vehicle
habitation and public right-of-way use
This message needs your attention
This is their first mail to some recipients.
Mark Safe Report
Environmental health and hazardous materials intervention
Coordinated outreach and relocation efforts for individuals living in these vehicles
Long-term policy solutions to address the growing impact of RV habitation in industrial
and commercial zones
I am committed to being part of a constructive solution and am available to provide
documentation, including photos and video evidence, to support these concerns.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I urge the City to take prompt and
meaningful action to ensure the safety, health, and viability of this area for businesses,
employees, and the broader community.
Sincerely,
Angelo Orciuoli
AOK Capital, LLC
825 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 996-7992
From:Beau Heidrich
To:Council, City
Cc:Switzer, Steven
Subject:3606 El Camino
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 2:43:16 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
City Council and Staff,
I am writing to support the project at 3606 El Camino.
This property has sat vacant for so long and I think its great someone proposed a productive use for
this property. The current state of that property, which consists of a smog shop, a rusted chain-link
fence guarding a field of weeds, a construction dumpster, and an abandoned office building, is an
eye sore.
We are all aware of the risks involved if we fail to hit our RHNA numbers and approving a project of
this scale is a necessary move to ensure the City maintains its local zoning control and doesn't lose
those rights to the state again.
Another benefit of building here is that this location will support all of the people working along
Page Mill, at Stanford, or within the California Ave and Downtown districts. Putting housing density
where the jobs are will encourage residents to use alternative modes of transit and help reduce
traffic congestion.
Sincerely,
Beau Heidrich
This message needs your attention
No employee in your company has ever replied to this person.
This is a personal email address.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
From:DANIEL ASMAT
To:Planning Commission
Cc:Council, City
Subject:[INSERT SUBJECT HERE ABOUT SUPPORT FOR 788 San Antonio Road]
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 2:12:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Hello Palo Alto PTC, my name is [Daniel asmat and I live in [Ipalo alto ].
Please vote to advance 788 San Antonio Road, which will bring a range of housing options to the San Antonio Area.
I support the lower parking ratio, which reflects the city's vision for the future of housing and multi-modal
transportation along the corridor.
[CUSTOMIZE HERE WITH WHY YOU CARE OR DELETE].
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
[daniel asmat
Sent from my iPhone
From:slevy@ccsce.com
To:Council, City
Cc:Armer, Jennifer; Raybould, Claire; Sauls, Garrett; Lait, Jonathan
Subject:3606 ECR
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 2:02:43 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Mayor Veenker and council members,
I write in support of the staff recommendation and in strong support of this project.
The applicant has a long-time local housing presence in Palo Alto, a strong positive
reputation for caring about the long-term future of our city and has been receptive
whenever possible to suggestions during this proposals road to council.
As you know, the project will provide more than 300 units in a location designated by the
city for higher density housing.
Additional pluses are that all the BMR units will be for low income residents, a substantial
number of larger units and the project will have additional amenities.
I listened to the PTC hearing and am aware of the stated concerns.
The staff report lays out clearly why an El Camino garage entrance is a poor idea.
While residents are entitled to their personal perspective on safety issues, I believe the
applicant has addressed how the garage entrances and exits can be safely managed for
pedestrians and bikers.
I encourage you to continue the council's recent strong support of housing that meets the
goals set out by the city.
This proposal deserves our support.
Stephen Levy
From:Bente
To:Council, City
Subject:Keep The Pavilion Open for Ballroom Dancing
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 12:50:59 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
To Whom It May Concern:
I have been ballroom dancing at Cubberley for 25 years. It has been an integral part of my life for enjoyment of
dancing, learning new techniques and exercise which helps keep me grounded. Please do not tear down the
Pavilion!
BENTE LARSEN
Sent from my iPhone
From:Cara Silver
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: 3606 El Camino
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 12:49:05 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Cara Silver and I live in the midtown neighborhood.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly
apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation
improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think
those should impact the project moving forward.
We so desperately need more housing —anywhere it can be accommodated— for our seniors,
our children and young families moving to the area. Development costs are skyrocketing and
development grinding to a halt. Please do not impose additional costs on a ready and able
developer.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community!
Best,
Cara Silver
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Sarah J. Bell
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: Please approve 3606 El Camino
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 12:41:04 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Sarah Bell and I've lived in Palo Alto on and off
since 2005.
When I first arrived in Palo Alto, you could rent a really nice two-bedroom apartment in
downtown for 1,800 a month. Nowadays, a one bedroom will easily cost double that amount.
We need to build more housing so that the next generation of college grads and young families
can afford to live here.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly
apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation
improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think
those should impact the project moving forward.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Sarah Bell
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Gina Dalma
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 11:19:41 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Gina Dalma and I live in Midtown. Please vote to
approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to
our community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around
the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the
project moving forward.
We need more affordable housing in our community to ensure it remains vibrant and diverse.
Gina D. Dalma
e: gina@dalma.org
p: (980) 722.2660
Let’s connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/gina-dalma/0/53/b47/en
From:Susan Setterholm
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 10:46:09 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Susan Setterholm] and I lived in the Greenbrae.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to the
community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as
improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.
I want my son to be able to live in Palo Alto and educate his family in the school district.
Thank you for supporting more homes in the community,
Susan Setterholm
From:bitew tisase
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 10:39:37 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
!
Dear Members of the City Council,
I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed housing
development that includes 321 homes, with 122 two-bedroom units and 38
three-bedroom units.
This proposal represents an important opportunity to provide much-needed
family-sized housing in our community. Too often, new developments
focus primarily on smaller units, leaving limited options for families who
wish to live and grow in our city. By including a significant number of two-
and three-bedroom homes, this project helps address that gap and supports
a more inclusive and balanced community.
I am concerned that the Planning Commission recommended denial despite
the project being consistent with state housing law. Moving forward with
this development would not only align with those legal requirements but
also help the City avoid potential legal risks. More importantly, it would
demonstrate a commitment to planning for future generations and ensuring
that families of all sizes have the opportunity to live here.
Family-friendly, multi-family housing is both necessary and achievable,
and this project is a clear example of that potential. I respectfully urge the
City Council to approve this proposal and take a meaningful step toward
This message could be suspicious
Similar name as someone in your company.
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
expanding housing opportunities in our community.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
BITEW Tisase
From:Rob Schreiber
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: Approval of 3606 El Camino housing development
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 10:29:23 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
The project at 3606 El Camino has so much going for it.
It has a builder who can and will build it; it "pencils out".
It addresses parking.
It will replace a completely underused, blighted stretch of the depressing,
embarrassing South Palo Alto El Camino.
It will bring over 300 younger, less wealthy individuals and families into our ever more
economically homogeneous city, add demand for retail and services, reduce the
commute times for these new residents, and add students to the public schools,
which should continue to be at the core of what makes this city special.
Please vote to approve it. No objection based on bicycling or other secondary
considerations should be allowed to delay or derail it. We need housing and we
need investment and we need redevelopment of antiquated decaying streets. We
need these things now.
Thank you for considering these things before deciding.
Rob Schreiber
(A resident of Greenmeadow)
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
Mark Safe Report
From:Fred Kohler
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 10:19:12 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is [INSERT NAME] and I live in [INSERT NEIGHBORHOOD].
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our
community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as
improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.
[CUSTOMIZE HERE WITH WHY YOU CARE OR DELETE].
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
[INSERT NAME]
Sent from my iPad
From:Lori wainen linberg
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: [Please support more affordable housing
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 10:08:07 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Lori Linberg
and I live in Palo Alto
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our
community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, such as
improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think those should impact the project moving forward.
Presently, in our area, EMTs, ER technicians, surgical technicians, radiological technicians, phlebotomist, CNA‘s,
childcare workers, teachers, teachers, assistants and janitors, as well as many other fields cannot afford housing in
the area. We cannot afford communities without these important services. They deserve to have a home where their
children can grow up with Hope and a place to play outside in the same joys that everyone else has. They are
contributing to the well-being of our communities and we would be lost without them and we’re losing them on a
regular basis. In fact, we’re even losing doctors in the area because of the high cost of living.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Lori W Linberg
Sent from my iPad
From:Pat Kinney
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: [INSERT PUBLIC COMMENT TITLE]
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 10:00:39 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Esteemed Palo Alto City Council,
My name is Patricia Kinney and I live in the Duveneck/St Francis neighborhood, formerly in the Ventura
neighborhood.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly apartments to our
community. I also support the city making additional transportation improvements around the project, but I do not
think those should impact the project moving forward.
This location is close to transportation, parks and schools, and would be an ideal location for families.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Patricia Kinney
From:Barb V
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8: supporting multi-family housing
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 9:52:43 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Barb Voss and I live in Palo Alto Redwoods (4250
El Camino Real).
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly
apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation
improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think
those should impact the project moving forward.
I know first-hand the struggle for educators like me to find housing in Palo Alto, as I recently
went through a housing transition. The location of the proposed housing is great - accessible to
transit and central to major services. It will be a great addition to the El Camino corridor and
contribute to the continued revitalization of this area.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Barb Voss
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Bill Fitch
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item 8:
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 9:52:03 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto city council, my name is Bill Fitch and I live in Evergreen Park.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family-friendly
apartments to our community. I also support the city making additional transportation
improvements around the project, such as improved bike infrastructure, but I do not think
those should impact the project moving forward.
.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Bill Fitch
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
Mark Safe Report
From:James AuBuchon
To:Council, City
Subject:Opposition to conversion of the Cubberly Pavilion to anything other than a ballroom dance floor.
Date:Friday, April 10, 2026 8:30:32 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
I strongly recommend that you reject the proposal to convert the Cubberly Pavilion into a theater.
Theaters are plentiful. In fact, there is a theater next to the Pavilion that appears to be under-used. I have observed
this personally; I dance in the Pavilion faithfully every week.
As a ballroom dance venue, the Pavilion is unique. Consider the requirements for such a venue.
1. Unlike other forms of dance, Ballroom dance requires a large floor. A small floor, the size of a basketball
court for example, is not adequate. The dancers travel, often swiftly, across the floor. Ballroom dance can not be
done well on a crowded floor.
2. There should be no posts, columns, or other obstructions on the floor.
3. The floor should be a hardwood, sprung floor of the type used also in gymnasiums.
4. There should be convenient parking for 400 people in a location to which and in which women are not afraid
go alone at night.
5. It should be reasonably accessible from main roads.
6. There should be provision for seating.
7. There should be a lobby area with restrooms, ticket sales, etc.
I know of no other such facility in the Bay area. The floor in the Pavilion is truly unique. Its loss would be a shame.
Further the Pavilion exists; it is paid for. Why waste money converting a unique, free, and very flexible facility into
a common, expensive, and single-use boondoggle?
Promises to provide a comparable facility on the other end of the campus are not dependable. They are subject to
unpredictable technical problems, unpredictable political problems, unpredictable additional demands on the space,
unpredictable financial difficulties, and possible design compromises that would likely make the new facility
unsatisfactory.
The ballroom dance community has used the Pavillion for decades. Its location and reputation are well known.
Though hundreds of people currently use the Pavilion for ballroom dance, attendance did decline during the recent
Wuhan virus pandemic. We are in the process of steadily increasing our attendance toward prepandemic levels. A
move to another, not well known, less convenient, location would hamper those efforts.
The Pavilion is an important part of the lives of many people. It would be sorely missed. I urge you to avoid
conversion to a theater and any other modification that would destroy a truly unique dancefloor.
James R. AuBuchon
1194 Keystone Court
San Jose, CA 95132
(408) 434-9373
From:CosmosExplorer
To:jack@jhidary.com; Council, City; Police; info@magiqtech.com; 311@cityofevanston.org
Subject:Identification or recognition of reliable information during cross-validation of uncertain properties of functional
objects.
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 7:39:08 PM
Attachments:Memorandum.docx
2 Mars-2. Non-protein form of biological life..docx
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Sorry, there are too many photos!
Hello, I offer incredible information for general knowledge and analysis. The topic isn't
so much complex as it is strange and uncertain. Take a look at the NASA photos posted
in the app—you'll undoubtedly be amazed. It turns out Mars is habitable, and it has its
own Martian non-protein life form—a full-scale ecosystem with all the necessary food
chains, including higher forms of intelligence.
You don't need to be an expert astrobiologist to reach this conclusion; simple attention
and an open mind are sufficient. Why doesn't NASA publish an article in Science or
Nature about such a monumental event? I believe our philosophy of thought and
theological doctrines, which we ourselves have ignorantly invented, are to blame here,
and which still have the force of law and the right to forbid scientists from seeing the
obvious, as in the days of Galileo or Socrates.
All photographs are dated and referenced to NASA sources. But we're not talking about
alien bases, but about "mineral life" on Mars, an unknown, specific form of mineral
matter with traces of conscious activity and traces of man-made production.
Two sources are provided: the collection in the appendix and the photos with comments
posted on the forum:
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=261.555
https://www.koob.ru/bykovsky/
Sorry, there are too many photos!
This message needs your attention
No employee in your company has ever replied to this person.
This is a personal email address.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
Take a close look at the compiled collection of selected photos – the same unusual-
looking objects with clearly specific shapes appear in different areas of Mars.
Example #1
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=261.msg86206#msg86206
NASA specialists can compare the already selected and systematized collections
themselves – Mars has its own life form.
Apparently, theological views and doctrines are interfering with purely scientific work.
The problem of non-protein life forms has long been discussed on many forums.
But note that methods for the targeted study of living matter differ in that the hallmark of
life is a "response to action," and such examples have been observed but ignored.
For example, a rock "moved" during an attempt to drill. Curiosity stopped exploring and
left, whereas the correct approach is to continue observing—taking a series of photos
and comparing the results.
Here's more detail.
"Bonanza King rock 'moved' when touched by Curiosity's robotic arm."
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=2212.msg78961#msg78961
P.S.
The Moon also shows signs of the presence of organized action.
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=2212.msg79041#msg79041
Science does not know the words “I believe I don’t believe” science is an experiment
and directed research, excuse my bad English.
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
«NASA Detects Movement in Martian Sand Dunes»
GIF
https://science.nasa.gov/resource/advancing-dune-in-nili-patera-mars/
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-orbiter-catches-mars-sand-dunes-in-motion/
https://scitechdaily.com/nasa-detects-movement-in-martian-sand-dunes/
The movement of a dune with spots relative to the surface without mixing the sand, which supports the idea that Mars
has its own ecosystem; according to this theory, the "dunes" are one link in the food chain.
GIF
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Seasonal_processes_in_the_Northern_polar_dunes_with_Flow_Like_Features.gif/400px-
Seasonal_processes_in_the_Northern_polar_dunes_with_Flow_Like_Features.gif
Regardless of the surface texture, i.e. the presence or absence of spots and stripes, the dune moves relative to the surface
as a single, "coherent unit," as if the sand grains moved individually, i.e., saltation: all spots on the surface disappeared
due to mixing and smearing of the background.
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=261.msg87359#msg87359
NASA settled on the strange formulation of Martian dunes as "coherent units," a sort of union of sand and dust moving without the saltation effect, i.e., self-propelled as a single
entity. This acknowledged the non-trivial nature of Martian dunes, but did not go further either in terms of their behavior, which is atypical for a typical dune, or in terms of the
strange form of living matter. Moreover, it did not extend this "coherence" to the entire Martian ecosystem, as its own biological environment of a non-protein nature.
Therefore, the bykovsky blogger group has generated material based on a cross-analysis of all NASA documents. The proposed action is the creation of a conciliation commission (an
order from President Trump or Congress) to study the issue of the habitability of Mars and the extent of its man-made state, as well as the possibility of actions to establish contact
and conclude alliances or agreements on mutual intent.
https://www.koob.ru/bykovsky/
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=261.555
http://www.sciteclibrary.ru/rus/avtors/b.html
http://tonos.ru/articles/marslife7
«NASA's Perseverance rover has uncovered kaolinite-rich, bleached rocks in Mars' Jezero
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/new-mars-boulder-clues-past/
https://www.astronomy.com/science/mars-rover-discovers-a-strange-red-planet-rock/
https://www.space.com/astronomy/mars/bleached-martian-rocks-offer-fresh-evidence-of-a-wetter-and-warmer-mars-but-where-did-they-come-from
«На поверхности Марси заметили загадочный светлый камень: он пока единственный в своем роде
https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/styler/poverhni-marsi-pomitili-zagadkoviy-svitliy-1719311227.html
«Светлые камни на Марсе указали на миллионы лет дождей Rutab.net
https://rutab.net/b/novosti-nauka/2026/01/27/svetlye-kamni-na-marse-ukazali-na-milliony-let-dozhdey.html
«На поверхности Марси заметили загадочный светлый камень: он пока единственный в своем роде
https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/styler/poverhni-marsi-pomitili-zagadkoviy-svitliy-1719311227.html
«Светлые камни на Марсе указали на миллионы лет дождей Rutab.net
https://rutab.net/b/novosti-nauka/2026/01/27/svetlye-kamni-na-marse-ukazali-na-milliony-let-dozhdey.html
The first two photos were taken six months ago.
Perseverance Sol 1162 Jun 4 2024, “White Stone” in this area there are several signs of hidden activity, which can include any difference from the general color background, since
without constantly operating processes, the presence of differences in color is impossible, due to dust precipitation.
https://mastodon.social/@65dBnoise/112527256691375965
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/521/117/420/572/759/small/5540d19fa3d16e86.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/521/112/372/499/320/small/f9799d97c794257e.jpeg
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=8796&pid=263949&mode=threaded&start=100#entry263949
Perseverance Sol 1357
https://mastodon.social/@65dBnoise/113729577249642570
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/729/574/540/462/299/original/db67fdaeae0ef6f5.jpg
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020-raw-images/pub/ods/surface/sol/01357/ids/edr/browse/zcam/ZR0_1357_0787406288_144EBY_N0640000ZCAM09423_1100LMJ01.png
Архив Сол 1164
https://areo.info/mars20/ecams/1164/ фото отсутствуют
https://areo.info/mars20/ecams/1163/
Opportunity took the photo 10 years ago.
“White stump” was seen before, photos of Opportunity and Spirit.
Most likely, Percy found a similar phenomenon, but not the same.
Оппортьюнити Sol 04011
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERB/sol/04011.html
https://areo.info/mer/opportunity/4011/#11
is confirmed by a rupture along a characteristic fracture, a fracture that coincides on both halves.
Number 11, the sliding of the stone from the stump-base is highlighted, apparently the place of birth and growing up, and temporary residence until the moment of maturation.
Number 1V, V - the same unoccupied “stump-bases” are found near nearby boulders.
Number-111, the most interesting place, unknown form of contact between boulders-stones, possible insemination or aggression.
The stone demonstrates transformation and mobility - the “sliding” of the stone from the pedestal most likely means the mobility of the stones, according to the living version, stones
They are an elastic shell filled with sand-dust, the medium in which the metabolic process takes place. The rocks appear to move very slowly on our time scale.
Opportunity Sol 4005
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERB/image/04005/1P483731125ESFCMX8P2402L2M1.html
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERB/sol/04005.html
Opportunity Sol 4014
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERB/sol/04014.html
Opportunity Sol 4063
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERB/sol/04063.html
The birth of crawling stones on a “stump”, but legally this act must be called the day of majority.
Such stones sliding from the stump were photographed by Spirit.
Spirit took the photo 17 years ago.
The conclusion is simple, more than plausible, all three groups of scientists and operators worked separately
and did not conduct a joint analysis.
Spirit Sol 567
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERA/image/00567/2P176701217RADADAEP2531R5C1.html
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERA/sol/00567.html
Spirit Sol 678
https://areo.info/mer/spirit/672/
http://sciteclibrary.ru/ris-stat/1793/image021.jpg
http://sciteclibrary.ru/rus/catalog/pages/8387.html
Spirit Sol 678
https://areo.info/mer/spirit/677/
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERA/image/00677/2P186464681RADAJQVP2266R2C1.html
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERA/image/00677/2P186466076RADAJQVP2266R2C1.html
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERA/sol/00677.html
http://www.midnightplanets.com/web/MERA/sol/00672.html
Perseverance Sol 1167 Jun 4 2024,
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=55048
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=8796&pid=263948&mode=threaded&start=100#entry263948
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53961562317_ab2895f269_6k.jpg
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=8771&pid=264467&mode=threaded&start=600#entry264467
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=55049
The blooming hill resembles a lawn with a huge assortment of vegetation and animals - grass, bushes, mushrooms,
sheep, wolves, the diversity of species implies a difference in age - young growth, adult male and female
individuals. Which automatically implies a time scale for the presence of a particular sample on the surface, as well
as a difference in chemical composition and internal structure.
Link to full text
https://www.koob.ru/bykovsky/mysteries_of_the_moon_and_mars
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=366.225
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=261.495
Abstract
Vacuum and non-protein biota on the Moon and Mars, both civilizations of the technogenic type. Paradoxical
photos indicating signs of the presence of a biological ecosystem. Articles in that turn the idea of the formation of
the Moon upside down.
«Revolutionizing Lunar History: Scientists Introduce a New Timeline
https://scitechdaily.com/revolutionizing-lunar-history-scientists-introduce-a-new-timeline/
New Time Scale For The History Of The Moon Published
https://phys.org/news/2024-01-scientists-scale-scheme-earth-moon.html
List of articles and links to sources of information inside the book.
https://www.koob.ru/bykovsky/mysteries_of_the_moon_and_mars Forum
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=366.240
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=261.540
The revolution
began when the measured slope angle of large craters, obtained by the altimeter of an orbiting satellite,
showed that the steepest slopes are at the largest craters, in this context, according to the meteorite
version of their formation - dozens of the largest craters were formed quite recently! Since the
steepness of the slopes reaches 65 degrees, then при frequent earthquakes, including catastrophic ones from
the fall of the same large asteroids. Accordingly, the widespread collapses and landslides caused by this, in such
conditions slopes with a large angle of inclination cannot exist for a long time, even one million years. Moreover, it is
necessary to correctly count not the years, but the number of successive cataclysms that occurred in a given place.
And if several nearby craters nevertheless have steep slopes, then these are not meteorite craters!
Particularly noteworthy in this context are the poles of the Moon, literally pitted with craters located literally
right next to each other, and in the AMS photo, terraces and steep cliffs are visible…. IM-2 Athena of IM +
orbital Lunar.
While at the base of the cliffs there are not even significant accumulations, out of caution the authors of the
publications set modest boundaries of 70–110 million years.
«Fig. 1: The locations of the 59 investigated craters with fresh morphologies and diameters larger than ~20 km.
“The locations of 59 studied lunar craters with fresh morphology and diameters greater than 20 km are shown. Craters with the
same age as Copernicus are indicated by red circles.”
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17115 -6
“for recent late Copernicus slope deformation processes, since its age is known (70–110 Ma)” «Fig. 1: The
locations of the 59 investigated craters with fresh morphologies and diameters larger than ~20 km. “The
locations of the 59 investigated lunar craters with fresh morphologies and diameters larger than ~20 km are
shown. Craters with the same age as Copernicus are indicated by red circles.”
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2022JE007726
But there is a paradox of what is observed with common sense (physics), let's consider the example of the "Daedalus"
triad, it turns out that according to stratigraphy, first the smallest crater was formed, then the middle one, and only then
a huge asteroid fell close to them, throwing out thousands of cubic kilometers of rock, and ... without any visible effect on
the already existing satellite craters, as detailed in Chapter 3 "Atypical Craters of the Moon".
Moreover, on the Moon, judging by the fact that approximately 59 craters with a diameter of 20 to 180
kilometers are fresh, of which 13 even retained not only steep slopes but also a light ray system that has not
yet disappeared after the impact, hence the meteorite version the formation of all of the above, all of them were
formed not only recently but also miraculously without mutual overlap and action, as if they were the stems of the crown
of plants, when subsequent shoots do not affect the shape and condition of the previous ones growing nearby!
Moreover, for the contrast of the light background of the rays to disappear, several centimeters of newly fallen rock are
quite sufficient, whereas in fact, based on the available material from the ejection from the bowl of the 100-kilometer
crater, this condition would have been met many times during the fall of rock from these very fresh 59 craters, but for
some reason the color alignment did not occur...
- Reason?
Moreover, the lunar mass is 81 times less than the Earth's, so how did all these meteorites fall to the Moon, bypassing the
Earth with its strong gravitational field? Again, the highest density of craters on the Moon's surface is in the polar
regions, while most asteroid orbits are located in the ecliptic plane! Moreover, in contrast to the Moon, on Earth or Mars
(whose orbit is much closer to the asteroid belt) there are practically no meteorite craters in the polar regions. Therefore,
the questions asked are rhetorical, since from everything known, the logical one has long been suggested conclusion -
lunar craters are not of meteorite origin but a product of the local ecosystem. That is, the Moon is inhabited and has its
own complex ecosystem with many interconnected links in the food chain, including intelligent inhabitants who created
the crater cities.
Let's list the facts: on the Moon, with the sunrise, a dusty atmosphere is formed, at the same time, seismometers installed
by the Apollo mission recorded awakening, widespread shaking of the surface, in addition, from the side of large craters,
seismometers recorded increasing flows of noise reminiscent of the hum of a working factory or subway.
Additionally, the delivered rock samples have signs of living organisms, and all the samples were cut with a knife, i.e.
these are not breccias or simple rocks like fragments of fallen meteorites, but something similar to lumps of stuck dust,
which the astronauts called - light, soft lumps of dust! In addition, almost immediately the samples, while in the vacuum
chamber, began to decompose, gradually falling apart and turning into a pile of fragments. in volume many times smaller
than the original body.
The process is similar to the decomposition of dead terrestrial organisms; the composition of the gases released has
not been published.
External signs are also similar to the signature of animals - skin, muzzle, anus, mimicry (difference in color and texture of
the belly and back), large animals have teeth, the presence of traces and excrement, which the astronauts called
"puddles" of frozen glass and "cow" dung,
and the surface of some excrements (dung) does not have traces of micrometeorites (fresh) or a low
density of microcraters (recent) see Chapter 4,5,6.
Moreover, flat stones similar to unusual creatures have microcraters on both sides, which indicates
a long time of being on the surface, i.e. possibly a long period of life or a long stay after death.
A simple explanation for the immobility of large rocky animal objects during the Apollo mission
astronauts' inspection is most likely poisoning by gases from rocket engines, which are detrimental
to vacuum life forms.
Mars
Signs of life in the Martian ecosystem: objects that look like dunes have the same shape regardless of the relief, whether in
the mountains or on the plain, and dunes of different configurations, sometimes a very strange shape, move regardless of
the relief areas, constantly and everywhere, regardless of the strength of the wind, but only in
accordance with the season.
Moreover, the dunes contain several fractions: dust particles, sand grains and balls up to 0.6 mm in size, the movement of
which at a normal wind speed of several meters per second is completely excluded, due to the understandable conditions
of low density.Martian atmosphere. In addition, the surface of the dunes is covered with a kind of lumps of 4-5 mm in
size, as for the shape similar to the earthly dunes, then in the case of Martian dunes, the shape of the dune is due to the
need to optimize the ventilation of the entire surface.
In favor of the biota, it can be written down that the damage caused by the bucket or wheels of the Mars rovers quickly
heals, and the track disappears without a trace even faster than in terrestrial conditions. In the photo, the dunes move as
a "coherent unit" - a union of sand and dust, according to the terminology of NASA specialists.
There are also
photos where the dunes leave a clearing after passing through thickets of stones, moving on their slopes even large
boulders the size of a car. Moreover, we will pay attention. that the stones are local vegetation, which is indicated by the
subsequent overgrowing of the clearing after some time, approximately in hundreds or thousands of Earth years.
The motley state of the Martian surface is physically impossible due to the dusty atmosphere without the constant
participation of metabolic processes, the constant process of dust absorption, as well as the huge diversity of the form of
Martian objects, which is quite compatible with the version of the presence of a complex ecosystem, similar in number of
species to the Earth. Moreover, the technological stage of development, For example, in the photo of Spirit and
Opportunity there are many light spots on individual units of the rovers, appearing after sunset. For more details, see
Chapter 1,2 of the book, the content of which is constantly updated as new photos are received.
Epilogue
As a result, we formulate amazement at the amazing form of excision of the exclusive right to objective transmission of
information, NASA's views have an excessive delicacy of approach, which are far from adequate to the situation that has
arisen, when instead of targeted studies of the identified anomalies and a systemic assessment of those hitting the pupils
video cameras crawling under the wheels of facts. the presence of an organized substance that attracts attention, for
example, “the dunes move as a coherent unit, a union of sand and dust,” which is impossible without the participation of
the entire coherent Binomial Newton, i.e. the participation of the entire pyramid of the ecosystem.
Now we are all witnessing a simple fuss about an attempt to cover up an epochal discovery. As if if we wait a little longer,
the inhabitants of the neighboring planet will disappear without a trace in the haze of a mirage, and in their place will
appear sources of water and rescue bunkers filled with sand will be dug up, filled with
folios covered with icons and symbols of the ever-worsening state of health, ecology and
disappearing atmosphere, where it is becoming increasingly difficult to breathe… long-awaited
signs – we have found them! Here on the walls are still warm shadows of their yesterday presence
and in the starship's cabin there is an open map... the hangar and launch tower can still be repaired and we can fly
further to new horizons our descendants will leave their genes everywhere even inside the black hole, see Chapter 4.
But the text edition along the line of life is different, biota is widespread everywhere and the form of organized matter is
significantly wider than the scope of our and your current ideas, as a randomly occurring phenomenon once and only on
Earth, and without a preliminary exponential enumeration of options, but immediately as soon as they appeared conditions for the normal development of systemic connections that the norm for unlimited time of existence in the
infinite Universe, the beginning of time and the emergence of space is a relic (rudiment) of the construction of the Three
Elephants standing on the Turtle, invented from the theological views of being, since it is impossible to control unlimited
space from one center. Now, after the discovery of the non-trivial nature of the ecosystem of the Moon and Mars, it is
necessary to concentrate on preparing credentials and a draft agreement on the principles of peaceful coexistence for the
benefit of all participants in the greatest event. Temporary problems with theology are obvious - destruction, bifurcation
of the collective consciousness are inevitable, but to continue to ignore the facts means to aggravate the situation and
become like the behavior of insects crawling on the body. The prospects are multi-valued - with the potential to buy and
exchange theoretical and practical information and now unknown resources with incomprehensible properties, perhaps
in the field of consciousness transformation (they for some reason they do not use radio waves, which means they have
advanced into the area of non-electromagnetic radiation) and the consequences, the preliminary limits of which are set
out in Chapter 0.7.
ps
Все выводы основаны на общедоступных материалах в основном это фото из
архивов НАСА.
I'm Oleg Bykovsky, an independent researcher of material generously provided by
NASA for all to see. It's been about 20 years since I wrote: "An Open Letter to the NASA
Team. Photo Gallery. Analysis of Signs of Life on Mars. NASA's Triumph! Part 1."
http://www.sciteclibrary.ru/rus/catalog/pages/8384.html
Archives and Forums
http://www.sciteclibrary.ru/rus/avtors/b.html
"There is Life on Mars! No Free Radicals. (Read 112,191 times)"
"Who created us: chance, God, or Space Engineers? How old are they, what are their
characteristics?
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=1881.msg87287#msg87287
ps 2
All conclusions are based on publicly available materials, primarily photos from NASA
archives.
NASA specialists were aware of all the facts from the start, and my letters were met with
the response, "Stop writing, you're interfering with our work." Let me remind you that the
Apollo missions also discovered artifacts indicating the presence of a different form of
biota, after which lunar exploration was postponed, and the seismometers already
installed by the astronauts were shut down on orders from Houston. Read more in this
article.
Archives and Forums
http://www.sciteclibrary.ru/rus/avtors/b.html
«There's life on Mars! No free radicals. (Read 112,191 times)"
«Жизнь на Марсе есть! Без свободных радикалов. (Прочитано 112191
раз)»
http://www.sciteclibrary.ru/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1151233462
All articles and Book
https://www.koob.ru/bykovsky/
https://www.koob.ru/bykovsky/mysteries_of_the_moon_and_mars
Quantum Portal Forum
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?board=1.0
Big forum
https://bolshoyforum.com/forum/index.php?board=30.0
Moscow State University Forum – Geology
https://forum.web.ru/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=2579&start=900
Problems of Philosophy and Theology
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?board=6.0
Problems of Philosophy and Theology
http://quantmag.ppole.ru/forum/index.php?topic=1881.msg87287#msg87287
ps
All conclusions are based on publicly available materials, primarily photos from NASA
archives.
From:Elizabeth Lee
To:Council, City
Subject:Churchill Ave.
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 6:58:29 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear PACC,
Please find another solution to preventing suicide other than closing Churchill. Security
guards, effective student mental health services, changing cultural expectations . . . thank you.
Elizabeth Lee, LMFT
650 346-4071
liz@funghi.com
Author of The House at 844 1/2 http://goo.gl/BauAk
From:Jan Strohecker
To:Council, City
Subject:Don’t close Churchill
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 6:43:59 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear City Council,
Don’t close Churchill.
Mental health classes should be taught
In schools. NO BUlling Allowed! If a student
Is bulling someone they should be held accountable…ie, suspended …. Put on their
School record which follows to college applications!
Closing Churchill divides Palo Alto communities!
Please don’t close Churchill.
Jan Strohecker
Hamilton Ave
Put crossing guards in place again
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:sweeney9@sbcglobal.net
To:Council, City
Cc:Steven Sweeney
Subject:Cubberley Pavillion
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 5:31:08 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear City Council,
Thank you for your dedicated service to our community.
Please consider keeping Cubberley Pavilion open and continue to use Lucie Stern and the City of
Mountain View for TheatreWorks' great shows.
This will accomplish at least two important objectives.
1. Eliminate the need to use taxpayer funds to finance the optional conversion.
2. Help maintain the physical, emotional, and social well-being for any new or devoted
dancers that now use Cubberley Pavillion for weekly lessons and dances.
Respectfully,
Steven Sweeney
Sunnyvale, CA
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
From:Samina Sundas
To:Council, City
Subject:Fwd: You are cordially invited to experience Eid with your fellow Muslim community members
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 5:26:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Please join us for Eid Festival (celebration of Muslim holidays)
Samina Sundas
Overview
free Annual Eid Festival with:
Complimentary gourmet Pakistani dinner
Desserts from around the world
Cultural experiences
Mehndi (Henna) artistry
Nasheed (Spiritual singing)
Neighbors of all faiths building community
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
Mark Safe Report
The name Eid al-Fitr translates as "the festival of the breaking of the fast".
This event is sponsored by AMV Foundation in cooperation with the
City of Palo Alto.
Link for registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eid-festival-celebration-of-
muslim-holidays-tickets-1985012491798
From:jschniedwind@comcast.net
To:Council, City
Subject:Potential adverse impact of closing Churchill especially for cyclists
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 5:23:22 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
By way of introduction, my wife and I live on Waverley Street in old Palo Alto. We have had
three children graduate from Paly and are deeply saddened by the suicides which have
occurred along the tracks. There don’t seem to be any good actions for the City Council to take
in stemming them. I do think that among them closing Churchill permanently is the worst.
Many reasons have been given regarding the cost/hardship it would impose on city residents
and non-residents who use Churchill. While I am not privy to the data or the expertise that the
Council and staff have, I want to highlight a couple of negative effects. One is the increased
traffic that will be occur on Waverley as (in our case) northbound traffic on Alma switches over
to Waverley to make the left hand (westbound) turn onto Embarcadero. This could be
especially problematic in the morning right before classes start. The second and more
potentially troubling effect is what closure will do the bike traffic which uses Churchill. I have
cycled for 30 years and from experience of riding on the sidewalks under Embarcadero to get
to/from El Camino, cyclists particularly on the south side will converge on to the narrow
sidewalks. It’s particularly problematic along Embarcadero where the sidewalk on the
southside intersects the exit to Alma and where there is a concrete island. It’s not a
straightforward transition plus there’s a blind curve just beyond it due to shrubs on one of the
properties. The sidewalks between Alma and Emerson and Emerson and Bryant are not
designed to handle the increased bike traffic that is likely to result. I know of at least one crash
between cyclists at that curve going in opposite directions one of whom wasn’t paying
attention. And this happened not at the beginning or end of the school day when the students
congregate. You should ride it some time to see what I mean. If you decide to close Churchill,
then the responsible thing to do would be to put significant resources into mitigating this
problem.
Thank you.
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
John Schniedwind
From:gel@theconnection.com
To:Council, City
Subject:Middlefield at Lincoln Ave.
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 3:38:11 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hello City Council,
Three months ago there was another automobile accident at the intersection of Middlefield and
Lincoln Ave. This intersection has a huge list accidents all because of speed and bad visibility. A
simple way to fix this is to get the corner resident to trim their hedge. But this is problematic and as
I’m sure they want to cut road noise and keep their privacy. There is a solution that meets both of
these requirements. At the inside corner of the corner house sidewalk, go 10 feet in both directions,
then draw a kitty corner line connection these 2 points. Then move or plant new shrubbery inside this
line and remove the shrubbery outside this line. Now drivers going west on Lincoln would now have
better visibility of oncoming traffic. The resident can have noise reduction and privacy. The city has
had very large cost with this intersection for law suits and police work. There many other
intersections in Palo Alto with this same problem. For me the intersection at Lincoln and Bryant, fast
drivers on Bryant and bad visibility. I have to creep out slowly and across the crosswalk to check for
cars. Examples of corner houses with good visibility and 2-way stops is at Lincoln and Cowper, also
at Addison and Waverley. How about a city campaign with information about this issue in the monthly
Utility Bills. Hopefully people will assist to make Palo Alto safer.
Can You Make This Happen,
Gary Lindgren
585 Lincoln Ave.
Palo Alto CA 94301
650-326-0655
Check Out Latest Seismometer Reading
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Chinese proverb
Be Like Costco…do something in a different way
Don’t trust Atoms…they make up everything
Fortune Favors The Brave
A part of good science is to see what everyone else can see but
think what no one else has ever said.
The difference between being very smart and very foolish is
often very small.
So many problems occur when people fail to be obedient when
they are supposed to be obedient, and fail to be creative when
they are supposed to be creative.
The secret to doing good research is always to be a little
underemployed. You waste years by not being able to waste
hours.
It is sometimes easier to make the world a better place than to
prove you have made the world a better place.
Amos Tversky
From:Art Liberman
To:Council, City
Subject:Reject 3606 El Camino unless the developer makes changes
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 3:33:41 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Council -
The plans for 3606 El Camino indicate the entry and exit from parking for all the
apartments going onto neighboring streets and not onto El Camino. Please ensure
that the developer revises the plans to have entrances and exits on El Camino. The
Creekside Inn project, across Matadero Avenue from this project, initially had exit and
entrance from the parking on Matadero Avenue, but they changed their plans to have
entrance and exit from El Camino. something similar needs to change for this project
as well. Please do not approve this project in its current form.
Matadero Avenue is a narrow street with one traffic lane in each direction. It is a
collector street, being one of only two streets that go in and out of Barron Park with
signalized intersections on El Camino. Furthermore, Matadero Ave.is a designated
Bicycle Boulevard by the City of Palo Alto Office of Transportation. The plans indicate
that the other entrance and exit from the parking for this project is proposed to be on
Kendall Ave., which is also a very narrow street. Both Matadero Ave and Kendall Ave
are classified as "safe routes" for children who walk and ride bikes to and from Barron
Park School. Here is a link to a pdf of the map. barron-park-elementary-walk-roll-map-
2022.pdf). While the Builder has proposed these plans as 'builder's remedy',
California state laws state that the safety of individuals is paramount.
The possibility of likelihood of serious congestion at the intersection of Matadero Ave
and El Camino has created concern among residents in Barron Park. Because of the
Bicycle Lanes on El Camino, the City of Palo Alto has instituted No Right Turn on
Red at this and every signalized intersection with El Camino. Unless this housing plan
is changed, i think you and anyone with any knowledge of the neighborhood would
know that the backup and gridlock on Matadero Avenue would become horrendous
each and every morning! The roadway would become paralyzed. In fact, it could
become so bad that people living at 3606 El Camino may not be able to leave their
apartments.
The developer has created these plans without any meetings or discussions or
interactions with the residents of the Barron Park neighborhood. The BPA Board has
written a long and thoughtful letter to the Council, opposing the plans.
Thank you all for your service to residents of Palo Alto.
Art Liberman
Resident of Barron Park and
member of PABAC
From:Tony Montini
To:Council, City
Cc:Switzer, Steven
Subject:3606 El Camino Real
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 2:57:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
To the Palo Alto City Council and Staff,
I am writing to express my support for the 3606 El Camino Real project. Although I reside in
San Jose, for my entire life Palo Alto has been an extension of my hometown.
I have great memories in Palo Alto, including happy hours at Miyake’s, sports at the Old Pro,
and trivia nights at the Nut House. I now understand that there is a lack of newer, high-
quality housing options. I still visit frequently, and when a friend mentioned that there was a
new housing project being proposed, I wanted to make my voice heard. Sadly, many of the
businesses I mentioned have since closed, but I believe that when you bring in a new
generation of young professionals (which happens when you create new housing), you
create the customer base needed for new and hip businesses to emerge.
By approving this project, you are creating a reason for the next generation of professionals
to stay in Palo Alto rather than looking elsewhere for modern housing, as I did. I hope to
see this project move forward.
Sincerely,
Tony Montini
Sent from my iPhone
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
From:Amy Thomson
To:Council, City
Subject:Support for 3606 El Camino Real
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 2:14:54 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Palo Alto city council,
My name is Amy Thomson and I'm the policy director for the Silicon Valley Bicycle
Coalition. One of our priority campaigns over the last 20 years has been reimagining El
Camino Real to be a complete street with abundant and affordable housing.
Please vote to approve 3606 El Camino Real, which will bring much-needed family friendly
apartments to our community. The shortage of homes in San Mateo County and the state hurts
our vulnerable residents first and foremost. We need to support homes along transit- and
resource-rich corridors like El Camino Real in Palo Alto.
Thank you for your vote to support the future Bay Area we deserve - one with safe streets and
access to homes.
This message needs your attention
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
From:Denise Benatar
To:Council, City
Subject:Cubberly Ballroom
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 11:56:23 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Please do not change the location of Friday night Cubberly Ballroom dances.
I have been dancing there since 2012 and Judy and Samy have formed a community of dancers
that love what Judy and Samy do and the experience they have created.
If there were no Cubberly dances in the basketball pavilion, I would never have started dancing
14 years ago which I continue to this day.
Please keep this location as a gym so that both sports’ teams and dancers can continue to
enjoy the space for years to come.
Thank you.
Denise Benatar
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Melanie Bentley
To:Council, City
Cc:Switzer, Steven
Subject:3606 El Camino Real Support
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 11:44:53 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
To the Members of the Palo Alto City Council,
My name is Melanie Bentley and I am writing in support of3606 El Camino Real. I work locally as a
nurse at Stanford in the Pediatric ICU, and one of the most common issues I hear about from new
staff is the lack of housing options in the area.
My colleagues and I work long and stressful hours, and many of us also face the additional burden of
a long commute. There is a real need for quality, local housing options that are near our work and
provide the kind of wellness amenities that help us decompress after a shift.
Having a modern, reliable place to live close to the hospital would make a world of difference for the
healthcare community. It allows us to focus on our patients rather than the time spent in traffic, and
it helps our staff feel more connected to the community we serve. This project is a sensible use of
the El Camino corridor and provides exactly the type of housing we need to support our local
workforce. I hope you will approve this development on Monday.
Sincerely,
Melanie Bentley
This message needs your attention
No employee in your company has ever replied to this person.
This is a personal email address.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
From:upcomingsales@friendspaloaltolib.org
To:Council, City
Subject:April 2026 Book Sale - Friends of the Palo Alto Library
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 11:13:14 AM
BOOK SALE
NEWSLETTER
THIS WEEKEND AT
CUBBERLEY
Visit our web site
CUBBERLEY USED
BOOK SALES
Saturday April 11
Main Room 11am - 4pm
Bargain Room 9:30am - 4pm
Children's Room 10am - 4pm
Popup Music Sale Rained Out
Sunday April 12
All Rooms 1pm - 4pm
FEATURED IN
APRIL
Pokemon Cards
(in Children's Room)
New Books
(Main Room special)
4000 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto
NE corner of the Cubberley
Community Center
(650) 213-8755
www.fopal.org
Maps and Directions
More information on the sales
Donate your used books, DVDs, &c
ALL NET PROCEEDS GO TO HELP PALO
ALTO LIBRARIES
Main Room
In our Main Room, prices are way below
what used book stores charge.
Hardcover books start at $3 and
softcover books start at only $2.
No numbered tickets this month!
Please note that due to crowding during
the first two hours of the Book Sale, no
strollers, rolling carts, etc. can be
brought into the Main Room. This is for
the safety of shoppers and volunteers
alike. By 12:30 or so, the crowd thins
out and shoppers are welcome to bring
these items into the sale.
Children's Book Sale
The Children's Room is located in the
portable next to the soccer field near
Greendell School. It is entirely filled
with children's books and toys. You'll
find picture books, school age fiction
and non-fiction, fiction for teens, award
winners, non-English titles, CDs and
DVDs, and books for parents and
teachers, many for 50 cents or $1.
Strollers are welcome in the Children's
Room at any time.
Bargain Books in H-2
The Bargain Room is located in Rooms
H-2 and H-3 of the Cubberley main
campus, between our Main Room and
Middlefield Road. On Saturday,
paperbacks are $1, hardcovers are $2,
and children's books are 50 cents each.
The room also contains many records,
CDs, and DVDs at $1 each. On Sunday,
the room opens at 1 pm and all prices
are half off. Or, save even more on
Sunday by buying green FOPAL reusable
bags from us for $4/ea (or bring your
own grocery-size reusable bag) and
stuffing them with any items in the
room for $5/bag. Fill four bags at
$5/bag and fill a fifth bag FREE!
Library News
National Library Week is April 19-25 and the San Francisco Giants are having a Library Day
game with the Marlins on April 26. Tickets may be purchased via this link with $5 of each
purchase to benefit the Palo Alto City Library. On the way to checkout is a question "Which
Library are you supporting?" with a drop-down menu and the choice "Palo Alto City Library"
is the one to benefit the Library.
April is National Poetry Month.
April is also Earth Month.
April is also Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Heritage Month.
You can find out about these sorts of things in a slightly more timely manner from the Palo
Alto City Library Blogs page. Or you can subscribe to them with an RSS reader.
You could find out about other things by subscribing to the Library's mailing list. Like us,
they send one or two messages per month, more usually one.
There is also the Library's events calendar that has a lot besides when the Library is
closed.
-Frank McConnell
Music Pop Up Sale
Due to forecasted rain the Monthly Music Pop Up Sale will not be held this weekend.
There is still plenty of music to be found inside the Main Room and in the Bargain Room
in building H2.
We apologize for the inconvenience but there is simply no other place to keep our LPs,
CDs, and cassettes out of the rain.
Plan on visiting us again in May when we will have two months worth of new selections.
-George Chaltas
Tools
Good News! Tools are moving outside next to the Music Sale on Saturdays so we can
spread out and you can buy starting at 10am.
Bad News! Outside sales are cancelled due to rain.
Good News! We will be back.
Bad News! Toolcan Sam R.I.P. 1931 - 2026
-Toolio
New Books
We have got over one hundred copies of You With the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate.
selling them for just $4.00 each. Why? Because we have lost our minds and we hate
making money! ISBN 9780316594929
-Newt N. Newman
Politics
In tumultuous times you may ask yourself, "What should I do?" It's obvious. Go to the
FOPAL book sale of course and specifically to the Politics section. Buy a couple books.
Read something. Be the change that you wish to see in the world.
Home & Crafts
In Crafts we go from beads and mosaics, to paper craft with stamping and stenciling.
There's a world of knitting: handknits, handbags, sweaters and more. You'll find beautiful
books on flower arranging, including The Ways of Flowers: Enriching Our Homes, Our
Fashions, Our Spirits. Don't miss The Basket Book: Over 30 Magnificent Baskets to Make
and Enjoy. This month we have titles on friendship gifts and the art of gift wrapping. In
addition to knitting, browse through other fabric arts including: sewing, quilting,
embroidery, cross-stitch, and crochet.
Our Beauty shelf includes several titles on natural beauty plus fashion trends, including The
Parisian Woman's Guide to Style. A new addition: Dressed to Kill by Virginia Bates and
Daisy Bates. Our Home shelves are bursting with new titles for decorating and
entertaining. Don't miss House Thinking: A Room-by-Room Look at How We Live,
showcasing the emotional impact our homes have on our lives. You'll find several titles on
organizing and storage, plus building, renovating, and repair. There are numerous kitchen
and bath resources. America and international home design styles will give you inspiration
for your latest project.
eShelf photos can be found at <https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html>.
-Virginia Perry
Antiques & Collections
This month we have an eclectic group of jewelry, silver, and gem books: Imperial
Surprises: A Pop-Up Book of Fabergé Masterpieces, Forks, Knives, and Spoons, and Oscar
Heyman: The Jewelers' Jeweler, to name a few. For something completely different, try
Pipe: The Art and Lore of a Great Tradition. In April it's all about the house. First, A Field
Guide to American Houses; then several titles on the English home: The Perfect English
Country House, Insiders' England, The Glory of the English House, and Life in the English
Country Cottage. Discover these and other titles for your collecting reference.
eShelf photo can be found at <https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html>.
-Virginia Perry
Children's Room
April is the coolest month, especially in the Children's Room where we are offering over
1,500 Pokemon cards! These include a big selection of circle, diamond, and star cards;
trainers, energy cards, and some special editions like Halloween and Pokemon Go. We also
have a great selection of Japanese Pokemon cards. The rarest cards will be sold "a la carte"
see photos of some of our Pokemon cards, click the link for the Children's Vintage section
or the link for the FOPAL Special Sale Books section.
For the Beginning Readers in your life, you'll find LOTS of Mo Willem's Elephant and Piggy
books and many inexpensive book sets. Look for fun DVDs for home viewing; and peruse
our books for new parents, as well as parents of teenagers, and of kids with special issues.
Once again, our Activity section has loads of games and puzzles, including some with
dinosaur themes. We're featuring a special selection of wooden toys, in addition to joke
books, puzzle books, and graphic novels (including some boxed sets).
Visit our special sale table in Non-Fiction--there we have a nice collection of First Discovery
books, perfect for ages 3 to 9 (and older, too); a large collection of Horrible books: Horrible
Science, Horrible Geography, Horrible History; and a graphics collection of Science Comics.
In Fiction, check out our Fantasy section: We have two beautifully illustrated books--Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (originally $40, now $12) and The Tales of Beedle the Bard
(originally $35, now $10). Please note that all Eoin Colfer books have been moved from the
low bookcase to the far wall. We received a large donation of those books from Bell's
Books, including two autographed first editions. The low bookcase is now dedicated to Erin
Hunter's Warriors series. Lastly, check out Classics where we have a lovely illustrated
reproduction of the 1924 edition of Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Camel with the Wrinkled
Knees, by Johnny Gruelle, and a special annotated edition of Hans Christian Andersen's
Fairy Tales.
Our Picture Books include a variety of 5-Minute story books such as Winnie the Pooh,
Daniel Tiger, and My Little Pony. You'll also find board books, pop-ups, and lift-the-flap
books for the younger children. Note to teachers: We have a variety of titles in our Multiple
Copies box, including The Story of Ferdinand.
Finally, April is National Poetry Month, so let’s celebrate! You'll find many poetry books
(think Shel Silverstein and Mark Prelutsky) in the corner by the Snow White poster, and
many good quality editions of Mother Goose rhymes in the rack by the door.
-Miriam Landesman
Children's Vintage
This month Children's Vintage is featuring some nice Nat Geo books for animal lovers of
all ages. Whether you like sea creatures (The Mysterious Undersea World) or land animals
(Zoos Without Cages) or something in-between (Secrets from the Past), we've got you
covered. We've also got an absolute treasure trove of Landmark history books, all in very
good dust jackets to add to your collection, or some matching editions in L.M.
Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series. And finally, Wizard of Oz fans will absolutely
want to snatch up Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse of Oz.
See photos of all these books at fopalbooks.com. Follow us on Instagram
@friendsofthepaloaltolibrary.
-Lisa Heitman
Poetry
In April we will celebrate
The month of verse that we create:
The thirtieth anniversary
Of National Month of Poetry.
Women poets take the stage
Writing of both joy and rage,
While rhymers from most everywhere
Allow us to their wisdom share.
https://fopalbooks.com/poetry.html
-Mandy MacCalla
The West
This month in addition to the books on California, San Francisco and the Bay Area,
Stanford and Palo Alto, we have received a large donation of books on the West. We have
books on Cowboys and Cowgirls, Men and women ranchers, men and women desperados,
as well as books on places in many of the western states. The shelves are quite full.
-Ed Walker
Sociology/Anthropology
The Sociology/Anthropology section features a collection of 530 titles. The books cover
a wide range of topics, including social theory, race and inequality, cultural studies, and
global history. Both classic works and contemporary publications are available. Many of the
books come from respected academic publishers and are in good condition. Visitors will find
works addressing urgent contemporary issues alongside foundational theoretical texts. As
the following two examples show, browsing this section is an excellent opportunity to
discover influential authors as well as lesser-known voices.
Jürgen Habermas's Legitimation Crisis is a major work in critical social theory. In this book,
Habermas analyzes the structural tensions within advanced capitalist societies, particularly
the relationship between economic systems and political legitimacy. He argues that modern
states must continually justify their authority to citizens, especially in times of economic
instability. A "legitimation crisis" occurs when governments fail to maintain public trust and
support. Habermas links economic crises to broader political and social disruptions,
showing how systemic problems can spread across different spheres of society. Drawing on
and revising Marxist theory, he develops a sophisticated framework for understanding late
capitalism. Its arguments remain highly relevant today in discussions of governance and
inequality.
Racism and Migrant Labour by Robert Miles examines the relationship between racism and
labor markets, focusing on how migrant workers are positioned within capitalist economies.
Miles analyzes how racial ideologies are used to justify inequality and exploitation in the
workplace. The text combines theoretical insight with concrete social analysis, making it
both intellectually rigorous and socially relevant.
Shelf photos can be found at <https://fopalbooks.com/social.html>.
European Languages
European Languages received a lot of fiction in Spanish, and in French, among other
things, some very nice cookbooks, and a thriller called Mamie Luger.
-Susan Strain
Judaica
Browse the Judaica section for books on the Jewish religion and culture including editions
of the Torah and other basic texts, Kabbalah, Jewish history, the Holocaust, memoirs,
Israel, Jewish Women, the Jewish American Experience and other related subjects.
Special this month -
Master of Dreams : a memoir of Isaac Bashevis Singer
The Golden Age of Jewish Achievement
Last Days in Babylon: The History of a Family, The Story of a Nation
Jerusalem Diaries: In Tense Times
Treasures of Jewish Art: From the Jacobo and Asea Furman Collection of Judaica
Jews and Medicine - Religion, Culture, Science
Vagabond stars: a World History of Yiddish theater
Antisemitism in America by Chuck Schumer
Most fiction with Jewish themes will be found in Modern Literature/Classics or Current
Fiction. Books entirely in Hebrew are shelved in the European Languages section.
Shelf photos at https://fopalbooks.com/judaica.html
-Charlotte Epstein, Judaica Section Manager
Nature
In a world where data centers represent an existential and environmental threat to our
planet, support the original analog data center - the library. At the Nature section this
month, we're brimming with books about local California nature, and with the weather
getting warmer, there's never a better time to go to the beach than now. Read up about
coastal foraging, whales and seals in the Oceanography subsection. Or How to Read a Tree
in the Trees section. Or learn more about wicked insects in the Insects category. Whatever
book you choose, you're choosing the greener option and supporting local community at
FOPAL.
-Serena Bramble
Self Help/Personal Growth
Spring is a time for plant growth -- Want some nurturing for your Personal Growth? Stop
by and peruse all 4 bays in my section. Featured books this month are: The Listening
Book; The Mind; Illuminated; Shift; and The Nervous System Reset. There are 5 full
shelves of 'Popular on Amazon' books that I separate out to pique your interest. Check out
the 9 'Great Courses' sets on different psychology subjects; especially good for audio
learners. Also of note, is a pop up section for Non Violent Communication-a classic and still
very popular set of life changing tools for Healthy Relationships. There are 3 copies of the
main book along with a Workbook and 'Living Non Violent Communication'. As usual, I've
put some books into subsections for your convenience. Enjoy your browsing,
-Marnie
Curious Books
Curious Books now has dedicated shelving for books of diminutive dimensions. Our
variety of small books has expanded to include nature guides, drama, and a diverse
misfits.
-Donya W.
Bargain Room
Another month where Music is a shining beacon on the hill. Tons of CDs, Vinyl and Sheet
Music this month. Computers, Cooking, History, Psychology and Self Help are all well
represented. Greeting Cards? Got em! Tons of Magazines and Maps? Got em!
-The Boogie Woogie Frugal Boy From Company B
Donations
We accept donations on Monday through Friday from 3-5 pm in the Main Room, and on
Saturday with extended hours from 1-5 pm. But we close to donations in the week before
the sale so that we can prepare the Main Room for the sale, which means that we are
closed for donations from Sunday April 5 through Sunday April 12. Please hold your
donations until Monday April 13.
Please read our donation guidelines before you bring materials to us. Also look at that page
if you need to bring us a donation larger than six boxes or outside our usual donation
times, it has information on scheduling appointments and requesting a pickup.
In addition to books, vinyl, DVDs, CDs, toys, etc. We now accept the following types of
donations:
Cameras
Tools
Watches
Clocks
Typewriters
See our full list of accepted donations at fopal.org/donate.
Suggestions?
We're always eager to hear your suggestions for ways to improve our book sale. Please
email us at suggestions@friendspaloaltolib.org.
This notice comes to you from the non-profit organization Friends of the Palo Alto Library. No trees were
felled in the making of this e-mail. Visit our web site. Become a member by joining online.
Be sure to receive your own free copy of this e-mail notice so that you'll know about all special upcoming
books sales. To sign up, just e-mail us. We carefully protect the privacy of your e-mail address. We will not
share your e-mail address with any other organization and we will not use it for any purpose other than to
send you these notices. If you do not wish to receive these e-mail notices in the future, please reply with
the words "Remove Me" in the first line of the text.
From:Val Steil
To:Council, City
Subject:I am in favor of closing Churchill Ave and construction of the Seale Avenue Tunnel - April 15 Meeting to Close
Churchill
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 8:46:19 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
To Palo Alto City council:
The most important reason to close Churchill avenue is for the students of Palo Alto
High School for this generation and for the next and many other future generations
of High school Students , also the bicycle tunnel at Seale avenue once done is
going to be used by everyone , including obviously students, but also community
members , bicyclists, children and adults, and at the other end of the tunnel is going
to be a peaceful place to walk and bike in the Peers Park and from there to Paly
High ,and many other places, like the restaurants and the commercial area at
California Avenue, the Seale avenue bike and pedestrian tunnel will be a great
addition together with closing of Churchill Avenue to form a complete Opening of a
new walkable area connecting both sides of Alma
Thanks
Val Steil
114 Kellogg Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 84301
650–387-4852
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
From:Debby Fife
To:Council, City
Subject:Against Churchill closing
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2026 8:24:23 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
I agree with those arguments already put forth against closing Churchill, and would add that more time, money, and
effort should go into rooting out the causes of the suicides. Parenting is very hard, perhaps nowhere more so than in
the kind of entitled, me centered community that Palo Alto has become.
Sent from my iPhone
From:Nadia Naik
To:Council, City; Clerk, City
Subject:Public Comment: Evaluation of the Temporary Closure of the Churchill Avenue Rail Crossing
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 10:05:37 PM
Attachments:Subject_ Churchill Crossing – Why the XCAP and Consultant Work Shows Closure Cannot Occur Without Full
Mitigations.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
!
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
Please find attached my public comment regarding the Evaluation of the TemporaryClosure of the Churchill Avenue Rail Crossing for your Special Meeting on Wednesday,April 15, 2026.
This comment reflects careful review of the XCAP report and the supporting
consultant analyses, and is intended to help inform your deliberations on the
potential impacts of a temporary closure.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,Nadia Naik
This message could be suspicious
Similar name as someone in your company.
This is a personal email address.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
Subject: Churchill Crossing – Why the XCAP and Consultant Work Shows Closure
Cannot Occur Without Full Mitigations
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
As you consider the possibility of a temporary closure of the Churchill Avenue crossing, it is
important to ground that discussion in the extensive work already completed by the Expanded
Community Advisory Panel (XCAP) and the City’s consultants.
For those who may not know, the XCAP was created by the City of Palo Alto in 2019 to evaluate
options for grade separations at the city’s rail crossings. The panel consisted of community
representatives and worked intensively over approximately 18 months, holding 47 meetings
and contributing roughly 1,500 volunteer hours, with support from detailed technical analysis
by City consultants.
Taken together, the XCAP process represents the culmination of years of policy discussion,
technical study, and community engagement, rather than a one-off analysis. The length of
this process reflects the reality that these are complex, citywide infrastructure decisions that
require coordination across multiple agencies and involve high cost and long-term
consequences.
The work done on grade-separations, taken as a whole, leads to a clear and consistent
conclusion: Churchill cannot be closed, even temporarily, without first implementing a
comprehensive set of infrastructure improvements, including a grade-separated bicycle
and pedestrian crossing, without creating significant disruptions and safety risks across
the network.
This conclusion does not rely on a single viewpoint. Rather, it emerges from the full body of
analysis, including traffic modeling, engineering concepts, and policy evaluation, which together
demonstrate how interconnected Palo Alto’s east–west transportation system is and how
dependent the closure concept is on mitigation.
Churchill Is a Critical Link in a Constrained Network
The XCAP report emphasizes a fundamental constraint: Palo Alto has only seven crossings of
the Caltrain corridor, and changes at one crossing affect the others.
Closing Churchill removes one of those limited connections. The consultant's work (Hexagon
and AECOM) makes clear that the result is not reduced demand, but redistributed demand,
primarily onto Embarcadero Road and Oregon Expressway.
The Closure Concept Was Always Dependent on Extensive Mitigations
The XCAP process did not evaluate closure as a standalone action. It evaluated “Closure with
Mitigations” as a complete package.
Based on traffic studies, the consultants identified a coordinated set of required improvements
across multiple corridors, including:
(XCAP Report, Section 4.1.1, pp. 23–24)
A. Construction of a bike/pedestrian overcrossing at Embarcadero Road and Alma Street.
B. Reconstructing or replacing the existing Alma Street overpass over Embarcadero Road.
C. Adding a right-turn lane from eastbound Embarcadero Road to Kingsley Avenue.
D. Adding a left turn lane from southbound Alma Street to Kingsley Avenue.
E. Installation of two new signal lights on the Alma Street overpass at Embarcadero Road,
at the Embarcadero slip road, and at Kingsley Avenue.
F. Installing a new signal at Embarcadero Road/Kingsley Avenue/High Street with two
possible options: one that provides full connectivity to and from High Street, or an option
that maintains the movements to and from High Street as they are today.
G. Improvements at Embarcadero Road/High Street for bicycles and pedestrians per the
Neighborhood Traffic Safety and Bicycle Boulevard (NTSBB) projects plans.
H. OptimizesignaltimingatElCaminoandEmbarcaderoandinstallanadditional westbound left
turn lane on Embarcadero onto El Camino and northbound right turn lane on El Camino
onto Embarcadero Road.
I. Signalize on Alma Street both on/off ramps at Alma and Oregon Expressway.
J. Optimize signal timing and install a westbound right turn lane and northbound right turn
lane from Oregon Expressway to El Camino Real.
These mitigations are visible in the figures below.
Figure 8 shows Mitigations A through G, Figure 9 shows Mitigation H, Figure 11 shows
Mitigation I and Figure 10 shows Mitigation J.
These are not incremental changes. They are system-level interventions, intended to absorb
the traffic that would be displaced from Churchill and to maintain safe operations across the
network.
The fact that such a large package of improvements was identified is itself evidence that
closure cannot function safely or effectively without them.
XCAP Identified Additional Needs Beyond the Consultant Package
Even with the consultant-recommended mitigations, XCAP concluded that further measures
were likely necessary to make the system function safely and effectively.
These include:
● A comprehensive bike and pedestrian connectivity plan
● A new bike/ped crossing at Seale to relieve pressure on other crossings
● Improvements to the Embarcadero/High/Emerson corridor
● Redesign of the Lincoln/Kingsley/High intersection to manage traffic spillover
● Addressing student pick-up/drop-off conflicts along the Embarcadero slip road
● Evaluating additional signalization and network adjustments, including at North
California/Alma
(XCAP Report, Section 4.6.1, p. 69)
This reinforces a key point: the consultant package was necessary, but not sufficient, and
closure depends on a broader set of coordinated improvements.
Bike and Pedestrian Separation at Churchill Is Foundational
A central element of the Closure with Mitigations concept is the assumption that people
walking and biking would still have a safe, direct crossing at Churchill, even if vehicles do
not.
XCAP specifically supported a grade-separated bicycle and pedestrian undercrossing that
would pass under both the rail line and Alma Street, fully separating users from vehicle traffic
(Executive Summary, p. vii; Section 4.1.1) .
This is critical. Without that facility:
● Students and cyclists would be diverted to longer, less direct routes
● Existing crossings such as California Avenue and Embarcadero would see increased
pressure
● Conflicts between pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles would increase
In other words, the safety rationale for closure depends directly on building the bike/ped
undercrossing first.
The Analysis Shows Network Effects Were Significant and Not Fully
Modeled
The work completed through XCAP and the consultants also makes clear that the impacts of
closure extend beyond a single intersection.
Different analyses within the report highlight that:
● Traffic redistribution would affect multiple corridors simultaneously
● Some impacts, such as network-wide congestion and queuing, were not fully
modeled
● Effects on school traffic, transit operations, and long-term conditions require further
study
(XCAP Report, pp. 68–69)
Rather than undermining the conclusions, these findings reinforce them: if anything, the risks
of closure without mitigations may be understated rather than overstated.
The Key Takeaway for Council
The XCAP and consultant work does not support the idea that Churchill can be closed first and
mitigations added later. It shows the opposite:
● Closure was only ever studied as part of a full mitigation package
● That package includes major infrastructure investments across multiple corridors
● Even with those measures, additional improvements were identified as necessary
● A grade-separated bike/ped crossing at Churchill is essential, not optional
Taken together, this body of work demonstrates that closing Churchill without these
improvements would not be a neutral or reversible step. It would create immediate and
predictable impacts to connectivity, congestion, and safety across the city.
Temporary Closure
A closure without mitigations, even if temporary, would create unacceptable safety risks by
forcing hundreds of cyclists and pedestrians onto the two nearest crossings: Embarcadero and
the California Avenue bike/pedestrian tunnel. Neither is equipped to safely absorb that volume.
At Embarcadero, cyclists heading to Palo Alto High School would be pushed into a highly
constrained environment where the most direct route requires riding on the south-side sidewalk.
It is unlikely that riders would cross to the north-side bike lane only to cross back again,
meaning bikes and pedestrians would be mixed in a narrow space along a busy arterial. This
creates predictable conflicts and unsafe conditions, particularly during peak school commute
times.
The California Avenue tunnel presents a different but equally serious problem. Its grade is
approximately 12%, well above the 8% ADA standard, which causes cyclists to pick up speed
as they descend. While signage instructs riders to dismount when pedestrians are present, in
practice many do not. The combination of steep grade, limited visibility, and high volumes of
bikes, pedestrians, and e-bikes regularly results in unsafe interactions. Previous attempts to
control speed, such as installing a metal maze to force dismounting, were removed because
they created congestion within the tunnel.
In short, diverting significant additional traffic to either of these crossings would not be a
manageable inconvenience, it would concentrate users into already constrained facilities and
create conditions that are demonstrably unsafe.
If the City moves forward with closing Churchill without the mitigations identified through the
consultant and XCAP process, it risks shifting one set of safety concerns to another. Any
resulting accidents could be foreseeable, and proceeding under those conditions may raise
concerns about potential liability.
Conclusion
Any consideration of the closure of Churchill should remain grounded in the full framework
developed through the XCAP and consultant process, and no closure should be pursued
without first implementing the infrastructure and safety measures that make that concept viable.
Thank you for your careful attention to this issue and for your continued commitment to
data-driven decision-making.
Sincerely,
Nadia Naik
Former Chair of XCAP
From:Harold Javitz
To:Council, City
Subject:Please keep the Cubberley Pavilion as a Gym
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 9:17:12 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
For the past 15 years I have been dancing at the Cubberley Pavilion. It has served as an
excellent venue – far better than any alternative location I have experienced due to its large
footprint.
I am concerned that the planned replacement for the Pavilion will not be as well suited for
dancing. For example, if the replacement is on the second floor of a large gymnasium the
acoustics may not be adequate.
I don’t think it is a good decision for the city to spend 35 million dollars on changing the
Pavilion into a venue for TheatreWorks or for TheatreWorks to exhaust their donors by
requesting a matching amount in donations. Theatreworks already has 2 venues (Lucie Sterns
in PA and the Mountain View center for the Performing Arts) which serve it well. In contrast,
there is an unmet need for more gymnasium space. By upgrading the Pavilion to meet current
building codes the city would presumably save a substantial amount of money, while the new
gymnasium in conjunction with the Pavilion would increase the supply of much needed
gymnasium space.
Thank you for your consideration of my comments.
Sincerely,
Harold Javitz
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
From:Lynn Kearney
To:Council, City
Subject:Keep Cubberley’s gym
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 6:03:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Please please please keep the gym as a gym at Cubberley!!!
From:Simon Manka
To:Council, City; City Mgr
Subject:Support for 3606 El Camino Real Housing Project
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 5:18:29 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
I am writing to express my support for the proposed housing development at 3606 El Camino
Real.
Palo Alto urgently needs more housing, and this project is exactly the kind of infill
development the city should be encouraging. Adding new multifamily homes along a major
corridor like El Camino Real is a smart way to create more housing opportunities while
making efficient use of existing urban land.
I appreciate that this proposal would replace underutilized properties with a substantial
residential project that can help address the city’s housing shortage. Thoughtful projects like
this are important to Palo Alto’s long-term future, affordability, and sustainability.
I encourage the City Council to approve the 3606 El Camino Real project.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Simon Manka
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first mail to some recipients.
Mark Safe Report
From:Jacob Tsabar
To:Council, City
Subject:Bad PAL experience
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 5:14:14 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Please see attached screen shot.
Sorry for the small print, but Next Door doesn’t allow me to forward or copy the posting since
they deemed it “disrespectful”.
I posted this on Next Door but it was decided by them it was “disrespectful”. Someone on
Next Door suggested I forward this to the city council, as a number of people commented that
the service is “poor”, that they do not know how to get to it, and that they are not sure why PA
has this service t all.
5:04PM Wed Apr 8
S 62% 4
J
Jacob Tsabar
Ventura • 1d • *
...
Bad experience with Palo Alto Link - we decided to use the PAL service. The car arrived with a fairly young g
driver of Indian decent. He didn't acknowledge us except to verify my partner's name. While driving to out
destination, the driver was listening to a very loud Hindu person talking. No recognition of us when we got out of
the car either!
To return home, we again order a PAL car, and amazingly the same driver showed up. He wasn't happy that we
were not at the exact spot his map told him to pick us up, which was across the street from where we were, and
the wrong direction of where we were to go!
He changed lanes and I told him to take us home he needs to be in the right lane. He didn't respond, and
continued driving with short stops and starts.
My partner was not liking what was going on. i again told him how to get to our place, which he didn't like to hear.
He than used his phone and told me that he has to pick up another person before taking us home! However,
turned out his new passenger was on El Camino Real south of where we were (Stanford Mall) or where we live
(College Terrace). His route directed him to turn to Alma St. before returning to El Camino Real. He missed the
location of his pickup point, drove north on ECR, made a U-Turn and drove to where his pickup should have been.
But no one showed up. He waited, with us in the car for a while and I nudged him to take is home. He was a very
unhappy and rude driver. He finally agreed and took us home, changing his route and making the ride even
longer, despite me telling him to not turn around since he already was on the correct route. He blamed his app
driving directions for the issue.
Long story short - it was a most unpleasant experience.
My partner sent a message to PAL but their response seemed to have been a standard type response. Her
second message to PAL was not replied to.
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
Based on this poor experience and the position were in because of the driver and because of the route the PAL
system created, we decided that we will not ride their service again!
凸
Comments closed
Thank you,
Jacob Tsabar
330 Ventura Ave, Apt 3, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Jacob
+1-832-316-7620
Sent from my iPad
From:Penny Brennan
To:Council, City
Subject:Please Vote "NO" on Approval of the 3606 El Camino Project
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 4:28:14 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Councilmembers,
I urge you to vote "NO" on approval of the 3606 El Camino project.
Each time I read the letters, and listen to the presentations, of the developers and supporters of
this project, I have to wonder whether they have ever personally visited the site of the
proposed project, including personally walking or driving along the streets that border it,
especially during early morning and late afternoon commute times. Historically, the project's
developers have paid little attention to potential negative impacts of this very tall, very high-
density building on its surrounding environment, especially its negative traffic and safety
impacts on Barron Park and Ventura residents. In my opinion, City Council should not
approve this project until the negative traffic and safety impacts of this project are thoroughly
understood and then mitigated through correction of the building's current design flaws.
In earlier letters I detailed my concerns about traffic and public health and safety hazards
posed by the ill-siting of the building's main ingress/egress (on narrow, busy Matadero
Avenue). Another ingress/egress of concern is sited on Kendall Avenue, at the other side of
the building. All of the building's garbage/recycling/compost pick-ups are planned to occur
there. At the Architectural Review Board meeting developers told us that there would be
garbage pick-ups two times a week from the Kendall side of the building. (Which is, perhaps,
an underestimate, given > 1,000 people will reside in the building?) A twice-weekly pick-up
practice would entail six refuse truck pick-ups per week: two each for landfill, recycling, and
composting disposal. Even a minimum twice-weekly pick-up practice will frequently block
traffic, and endanger bicyclists and pedestrians, on the very narrow, twisting Kendall Avenue
six times a week. The landfill, recycling, and composting trucks will have no easy way of
turning around to return to El Camino and will make their way through Barron Park streets in
the early morning, possibly corresponding with student bicyclists and pedestrians making their
way to the Barron Park Elementary, Fletcher Middle, Gunn High, and other schools in the
Barron Park neighborhood. This consideration underscores the importance of a thorough
traffic safety analysis of the proposed 3606 El Camino project and provides another public
health and safety grounds for City Council to oppose the 3606 El Camino project.
In an email dated January 19, 2026, I asked Albert Yang, Palo Alto City Attorney, about
public safety as legal grounds for the City of Palo Alto to oppose the 3606 El Camino
Builder's Remedy project. Paragraph 5 of his March 31, 2026 email response states, "...In the
case of the hazards to bicyclists and pedestrians, the City’s Office of Transportation has not
identified any objective, written public health or safety standards that the project violates." My
response to that statement is: Of course it has not. To my knowledge, the City's Office of
Transportation has never vetted the 3606 El Camino project for violation of public health or
safety standards. I think that City Council should request that the Office of Transportation do
so, and that it should furthermore formulate objective, written public health and safety
standards that can be used by the City to protect residents of Palo Alto from serious
transportation-related public health and safety violations such as those posed by the 3606 El
Camino Builder's Remedy project.
Thank you for considering my concerns.
Sincerely,
Penny Brennan, PhD
Ventura Neighborhood
From:Eduardo F. Llach
To:Council, City
Cc:Teri Llach
Subject:We Advocate to temporarily close Churchill to Save Lives
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 4:08:40 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
!
Thank you, Council Members, for your time and interest in our opinions on Churchill Ave
We are advocating for the temporary closure of Churchill Ave to Save Lives.
We attended the PAUSD meeting with the students and parents of suicide victims.
I know the mother of a child who, unfortunately, died on Churchill Ave a few years back. She,
her family, friends, and schoolmates are devastated by the unnecessary death caused by the
train.
There are 10,478 at-grade rail crossings in CA. Palo Alto High is the only school with one
next to it. We have 1,817 kids crossing the tracks an average of 1,000 times daily.
With the 6 remaining Palo Alto Crossings, we'll have the same # of residents per crossing as
our neighbors - approximately 11,000 PA residents per crossing, which matches the number of
residents per crossing for Redwood City, Menlo Park, and Mountain View. They manage
their traffic and cross the railroad tracks without issue, so we should also be fine with 6
remaining crossings for the 68,000 residents in PA.
The 6 other options to cross the tracks are on average every 2/3rds of a mile. This takes a bit
over a minute by car and over two minutes by bike, barely enough time to hear a song on your
AirPods.
No other schools have rail horns blaring just yards away, reminding students of the imminent
danger next door and the annual loss of their friends and teammates.
Let’s do the right thing and focus on student safety and mental health.
Let’s not choose ease of driving or time to cross the tracks over the safety and mental health of
our students. There are plenty of options to drive, bike, or walk to an appointment, making it
fast and easy to get to where you want to go in Palo Alto.
Let’s temporarily close Churchill Ave to see the actual impacts, see the results of quieting the
This message could be suspicious
The sender's email address couldn't be verified.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
railroad horns on the students, and the increased safety of kids getting to school without
having to cross the tracks.
Thank you, Eduardo
Eduardo F. Llach
36 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto
From:mike@mikeforster.net
To:Council, City; Transportation
Cc:Bhatia, Ripon
Subject:Update: Viaduct - the best grade separation approach for Palo Alto
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 12:57:52 PM
Attachments:Palo Alto - Caltrain Viaduct Grade Separations - Mike Forster v14.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
April 8, 2026
Palo Alto City Council
Palo Alto Transportation Department and Committee
Ripon Bhatia, Senior Engineer
Everyone,
The recently released CA HSR 2026 draft business plan raises questions about
when and even if the uncertain and expensive Tamien to Gilroy will ever be
completed. Recently Caltrain announced from Caltrain that service would be
reduced or perhaps even eliminated without the proposed sales tax increase.
So the primary driver for Palo Alto grade separations of increased rail traffic is
highly questionable.
I respectfully request and recommend the following:
1 Palo Alto immediately suspend further work on the designs for the
currently selected grade separations - such design expenses may turn out to be
entirely wasted.
2 Palo Alto determine if there a combination of other incentives warrant
grade separations: auto/bike/pedestrian safety (including suicide prevention);
eliminate cross-tracks auto/bike/pedestrian traffic flow interruptions; future
savings on cross-tracks bike/pedestrian underpasses; and perhaps others.
3 If the answer to number 2 is yes, then restart design work only on an
approach with two viaducts: Embarcadero to Cal Ave and Oregon to San
Antonio Ave. The attached updated report shows the lower cost, minimal
disruption, elimination of property acquisition and flooding issues, and less
construction surprise risk of this approach.
My report supporting this conclusion is attached and is also available at:
https://mikeforster.net/caltrain/palo-alto-caltrain-viaducts-a-better-approach/
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Mike Forster, Evergreen Park
420 Stanford Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650 464 9425
mike@mikeforster.net
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"ReconnectPaloAlto" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to
reconnectpaloalto+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/reconnectpaloalto/21b801dcaf35%2448550090%24d8ff
01b0%24%40gmail.com.
NOTE:
To change
the image
on this
slide,
select the
picture
and delete
it. Then
click the
Pictures
icon in the
placeholde
r to insert
your own
image.
Two Caltrain Viaducts
Grade Separations
for Palo Alto:
Summary
Concept
Conceptual Approach
Construction Approach
Costs and Future Savings
Timeframe
Best Solution Matrix
Conclusion
Addendum
The End: Viaduct Examples
Mike Forster
March 2026
mike@mikeforster.net
www.mikeforster.net
Previous versions submitted to PA City Council:
2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
1
Palo Alto Online, June 14, 2023
Palo Alto architect Joe Bellomo's vision for high-speed rail
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2009/11/27/arch
itect-calls-for-design-contest-for-high-speed-rail
Viaducts – Summary:
Comparable or lower cost, less disruption, shorter timeframe,
less risk, better future traffic patterns, enables future cost reductions
•The viaducts approach has construction costs comparable to or much lower than the other alternatives.
•Cost avoidance from not lowering roadways at all:
•Cost to lower the roadways and reconfigure nearby roadways and intersections
•Cost for acquisition of private properties for expanded road footprint.
•Cost of changing utilities under the roadways.
•Cost of pumps to handle sea level rise and groundwater for lowered roadways.
•Cost of a permanent maintenance and flooding risk issue
•Avoids personal costs for families of affected homes.
•Loss of part or all of a property, driveway length and access, and street parking.
•Reduces assembly timeframe and periods of disruption during construction.
•Only a few days of disruption at vehicle crossings because no changes to roadways.
•Risk avoidance due with simpler viaduct approach.
•Simplicity reduces risks of surprises and cost and schedule overruns of complex approaches.
•Enables major cost reductions for future cross-town bike-ped underpasses including:
•Grade level crossings, no tunneling, at Seale, El Dorado, El Verano, Lindero.
2Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts:
Conceptual approach
•All construction within the Caltrain ROW.
•Avoids complications of impacting Alma for duration of construction.
•Remove freight traffic from viaducts.
•Enables shorter vertical curvature and higher gradients.
•Perhaps reduces viaduct requirements without freight train weight.
➢Either: Eliminate freight traffic altogether, or ...
➢Or: keep a third shoofly grade-level track for freight only, with quad gates.
➢Vehicle, bike, and ped traffic can handle infrequent freight trains.
•Shorter vertical curvature and higher gradients enables two viaduct sections:
1) Embarcadero to Cal Ave Station – up to Churchill, down to Cal Ave.
2) Oregon to San Antonio Ave. – up to Meadow, down from Charleston to SA Ave.
•Viaduct screens and/or trees on one or both sides for residential privacy.
•Narrow bridge widths at University, Embarcadero, and Oregon
prevent shoofly tracks without likely major complex bridge construction.
•Two grade-level shoofly tracks within the ROW.
•From Oregon to Charleston, both tracks on east side of ROW.
•From Embarcadero to Cal Ave station, one track on east side, one on west side.
•Temporary: Caltrain borrows part of Peers Park for west side shoofly track,
returns it to Palo Alto when complete.
•Long term: Freight (if it continues) will use the eastmost side track with quad gates.
•Remove west or both shoofly tracks for a future bike-ped parkway or other uses.
3Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
H St, Union City:
Freight rail line
and BART
Viaducts:
Conceptual approach avoids all major, expensive, risky Issues
4
Palo Alto Station
at grade level
extended to 800 feet
Me
a
d
o
w
Ch
a
r
l
e
s
t
o
n
San
Antonio
Ave
Stanford Station
(keep or abandon?)
Cal Ave Station
at grade level
extended to 800 feet
Ch
u
r
c
h
i
l
l
Pa
l
o
A
l
t
o
A
v
e
Se
a
l
e
Churchill / Meadow / Charleston Avenues roadways
unchanged avoids:
•Private property acquisition
•Ped/bike tunnel residential parking impacts
•Complexity, convoluted underpasses, roundabout
•Traffic congestion from new traffic patterns
•Under-street utilities impacts
•Future sea level rise, flood impacts
Viaduct enables new grade-level cross-town
connections and other options:
•Bike/ped underpasses beneath viaduct
with low-cost paving approaches and
pedestrian signals across Alma.
•Citywide greenspace, bike/ped path, or other
uses under and adjacent to the viaduct.
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Current track
at grade level
El
D
o
r
a
d
o
El
V
e
r
a
n
o
Li
n
d
e
r
o
Turnouts
Turnouts
Shoofly tracks including turnouts
1.8%
0.9%
Turnouts
Viaduct 22 feet: 17 feet clear +
5 feet girder to track over
Churchill, Meadow,
Charleston, Lindero
Viaduct 13 feet: 8 feet clear +
5 feet girder to track
over Seale, El Dorado, El Verano
Viaducts
0.99 mile
0.79 mile 1.86 mile
2.06 mile
0.9%
1.4%
1.1%
0.8%
0.1%0.45%
Smoother Option from El Dorado to Charleston
Turnouts:
0.1 mile / 528 feet
Freight on permanent 3rd track enables
higher viaduct gradients, shorter vertical curves
5Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts:
Construction approach
•Caltrain weekday daytime operations continue uninterrupted.
•Construction during weekday nights and weekend nights or days.
•Viaduct construction approach
•Prefabricated piers and spans precast offsite, delivered to Caltrain ROW for assembly.
•Prefabricated piers and spans assembled within Caltrain right-of-way.
•Churchill: 0.79 miles / 4200 feet; 100 -foot spans; 42 spans, 41 piers.
•Meadow/Charleston: 1.86 miles / 9800 feet; 100-foot spans; 98 spans, 97 piers.
•Total: 2.65 miles; 140 spans, 138 piers
•Two crews concurrently to minimize overall construction time.
•1 crew on Churchill, 1 crew on Meadow/Charleston
•Install the Churchill/Meadow/Charleston shoofly tracks and quad gates
over a single weekend each, minimizing cross-town traffic disruption.
•Install the Churchill/Meadow/Charleston Caltrain overpass spans
over a single weekend each, minimizing cross-town traffic disruption.
6Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts:
Costs
•Construct shoofly tracks: $4M/mile
•Construct viaducts: $200M/mile ($180M/mile referenced; short segments are more expensive)
•Upgrade Palo Alto, Cal Ave stations – extend platforms to 800 feet for CA HSR ($2M each)
•Remove shoofly track(s): $1M/mile
•New crosstown bike-ped connections: Seale, El Dorado, El Verano, Lindero ($1M each)
•Colorado too close to Cal Ave for viaduct gradient; Loma Verde too close to El Dorado
Embarcadero to San Antonio Ave viaduct project
Item Per Mile Subtotals Totals
$M Miles $M $M
Churchill
Construct shoofly tracks, turnouts 4.00 0.99 3.96
Viaduct 200.00 0.79 158.00
Remove shoofly track(s), turnounts 1.00 0.99 1.00
162.96
Meadow/Charleston
Construct shoofly tracks, turnouts 4.00 2.06 8.24
Viaduct 200.00 1.86 372.00
Remove shoofly track(s), turnounts 1.00 2.06 1.00
381.24
Total for viaduct project construction 544.20
Per Each Count Subtotals
Future 4 connections at $1M each 1.00 4.00 4.00 4.00
Total with 4 connections 548.20
7Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts:
Costs in range or lower to much lower than alternatives
Plan Combinations >A B C D Viaducts
Plans
Churchill Closure with
Mitigations
Partial
Underpass
Closure with
Mitigations
Partial
Underpass
Meadow/Charleston Hybrids Hybrids Underpasses Underpasses
Costs $M $M $M $M $M
Churchill 115 318 115 318 163
Meadow/Charleston 477 477 844 844 381
Totals 592 795 959 1,162 544
Future Costs: new crosstown connections at $62M each $1M each
3 or 4 connections 187 187 248 248 4
Overall Costs including new crosstown connections
779 982 1,207 1,410 548
Notes
Costs in 2026 dollars.
Combination costs are based on midpoints from sources in Addendum: Costs.
Meadow/Charleston Hybrids as one "podium" enables Lindero grade-level crossing, so $62M x 3 + $1M x 1.
Viaducts: Costs:
Future cost savings for bike-ped crosstown connections
8Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Base map: Google Earth Project Annotations: Mike Forster
Homer
Seale
new ped signal
U Embarcadero Churchill Cal Ave)
El Dorado
new ped signal
El Verano
new ped signal
CharlestonMeadow
Lindero
new ped signal
New crossing underneath Caltrain viaduct Existing crossing
•Over $200M cost savings:
•4 crossings at $61M savings per crossing.
•Just a paved path under viaduct and a pedestrian beacon for crossing Alma.
•No tunneling required
•$1M cost per grade-level crossing vs. $62M latest Menlo Park Middle tunnel underpass project.
•$350K paving plus $750K pedestrian beacon (like those on El Camino)
9Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts: Timeframe
Construction and assembly timeframe parameters,
Overlapping tasks as much as practical
•Begin precasting piers, viaduct spans, other components - early
•Construct shoofly tracks – Multiple teams, overlapping tasks
•Prepare roadbeds, install track including turnouts: up to 1 month with 2 teams
•Up to 2 weeks to install the track on the prepared roadbed with 2 teams
•Install, test, activate catenary poles, wires: up to 2 weeks - overlap roadbed and track installation
•Interruptions:
•Crossings: 1 weekend at each crossing (Churchill, Meadow, Charleston)
•Caltrain: 1 weekend to install 8 turnouts with 4 teams
•Install piers, viaduct spans, catenaries – Multiple teams, overlapping tasks
•Prepare pier footings – 1 day per footing
•Piers, spans, tracks: up to 3 months
•Catenaries: up to 1 months
•Testing: up to 2 weeks
•Cutover from old tracks to new: 1 weekend
•Interruptions:
•Crossings: 1 weekend at each crossing (Churchill, Meadow, Charleston)
•Remove one or both shoofly tracks, catenaries
•Up to 2 weeks; minimal cross-traffic disruptions at Churchill, Meadow, Charleston
•For construction timeframes, see page: Notes and References: Assembly Parameters and Durations
Viaducts: Best Solution Matrix:
Viaducts the best or the same in all categories
10
See Notes and References for PA studies re Noise and Vibration (2020) and water impacts (2024).
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Combinations>
Mead/Charl, Churchill
Combination A:
Hybrids, Closure
Combination B:
Hybrids, Underpass
Combination C:
Underpasses, Closure
Combination D:
Underpasses, Underpass Viaduct
Simplicity to avoid risk to cost,
construction timeframe
Moderately complex,
medium risk
Moderately complex,
medium risk
Very ccomples,
high risk
Very complex,
high Risk
Simple,
low risk
Maintain, Improve All Modes
East/West Connectivity Mixed Results Mixed Results Mixed Results Mixed Results Maintains
Maintain or Improve
Traffic Patterns Mixed Results Mixed Results Inconveniet traffic patterns Inconveniet traffic patterns Maintains
Bike-Ped Circulation: Clear,
Safe, Separate from Autos Improves Improves Improves Improves Improves
Minimizes Caltrain
operation disruption
Minimal disruption,
shoofly tracks
Minimal disruption,
shoofly tracks
No disruption,
construction below
No disruption,
construction below
Minimal disruptions,
Shoofly tracks
Reduce Rail Noise and
Vibration (Study, July 2020)Best Best Significant (with barrier)Significant (with barrier)Significant
Construction Noise and
Vibration (Study, July 2020)Severe Severe Severe Severe Moderate
Timeframe of Construction 4 fyears, 2 years 4 years, 2.5 years 4 years, 2 years 4 years, 2.5 years TBD;
much shorter than others
Minimize Visual Changes Significant Significant None None Significant;
less than berms
Minimize Property
Acquisition No property acquisitions Some property acquisitions Signifcant property
acquisitions
Signifcant property
acquisitions No property acquisitions
Minimize impacts on driveway
access, parking, street safety Driveways affected Loss of street parking Loss of street parking Loss of street parking No impacts
Minimize Disruption and
Duration of Construction Major disruptions Major disruptions Major disruptions Major disruptions Minimal disruptions
Avoid Sea Level, Groundwater
Issues (Study, January 2024)
Need pump, long-term
maintenance, risk of flooding
Need pump, long-term
maintenance, risk of flooding
Need pump, long-term
maintenance, risk of flooding
Need pump, long-term
maintenance, risk of flooding No risk
Avoid Utilities Relocation Utilities relocation required Utilities relocation required Utilities relocation required Utilities relocation required No relocation required
Minimize Trees
Removal or Trimming
TBD;
shoofly placement dependent
TBD;
shoofly placement dependent
TBD;
shoofly placement dependent
TBD;
shoofly placement dependent
TBD;
shoofly placement dependent
Grade Separations Cost $592M $795M $959M $1,162M $544M
Include 4 New Connections
Cost $779M $982M $1,207M $1,410M $548m
Viaducts:
Conclusion: Viaduct grade separations are the best solution for Palo Alto
11
•Construction and disruption timeframes for the non-viaduct approaches
could be much longer than 2 and 4 years
•And these might be additive: might result in disruptions of 6 years or longer
•Closing any 2 of the 3 crossings concurrently would cause
crosstown traffic to come to a halt
•Even if this report’s budget and timeframe are a somewhat optimistic and could increase ...
the viaducts option will still:
•Have a comparable or lower cost
•A shorter assembly timeframe
•Less risk for cost and schedule than the other complicated approaches
•Enable future savings on east-to-west crossings
•Satisfy all of the qualitative criteria:
•Much less disruption
•No property acquisitions
•No impacts on parking or driveways
•Better traffic patterns
•Avoids long-term water mitigation maintenance (including pumps)
•Avoids utilities relocations
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaduct: Addendum:
Costs: Comments on Sources
12
•$180M/mile is a good budgetary estimate for PA Caltrain HSR viaduct construction
•15% to 65% higher than all but 1 of the comparable projects referenced in this report
•All comparison projects had larger scope or characteristics than PA Caltrain
•CA HSR: $180M/mile, adjusted for inflation (2011 to 2026)
•Only source found for CA HSR viaduct/bridge construction
•US automobile roadway estimates: 4 of 5 between $109M/mile and $156M/mile, adjusted for inflation
•HSR likely more costly than roadways due to HSR infrastructure requirements
•All of these projects had greater characteristics than PA Caltrain:
•Australia: light rail viaduct: $130M/mile, adjusted for inflation and relative construction costs
•But with greater characteristics than PA Caltrain:
•Lativa, Estonia, Lithuania: HSR viaduct: $128/mile, adjusted for inflation and relative construction costs
•But with greater characteristics than PA Caltrain:
•All projects had medium to long constructions timeframes
•15, 24, 36, 41, 43, 48, and 60 months
•Some recent other example projects have achieved faster timeframes
•Even if the assembly timeframes are long, the viaducts approach has minimal disruption and traffic impacts
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaduct: Addendum:
Costs, Parameter Comparisons
13Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Parameter supports the $180M estimate because the cost is lower or the characteristics are larger than Palo Alto.
Viaduct: Addendum:
Costs: Palo Alto, Menlo Park Current Proposals
14
•Palo Alto Churchill Closure with Mitigations: $115M midpoint, $104M to $126M, tracks at grade level, Churchill vehicle traffic closed /
bike-ped underpass and upgrades at Embarcadero and Page Mill, night and weekend traffic limitations, 2 years
•https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/transportation/rail/connecting-palo-alto/fact-sheet/churchill-
closure_factsheet_pa_june_7_2024.pdf
•Palo Alto Churchill Partial Underpass: $318M midpoint, $285M to $351M, tracks at grade level, Churchill/Alma vehicle/bike/ped traffic
access limited, loss of street parking, property acquisitions, 2.5 to 3 years
•https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/transportation/rail/connecting-palo-alto/fact-sheet/churchill-partial-
underpass_factsheet_pa_june-3_2024.pdf
•Palo Alto Meadow-Charleston Hybrids: $477M midpoint, $428M to $526M, tracks raised 15 feet, Meadow-Charleston traffic access
limited, no property acquisitions but driveways affected, 4 years
•https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/transportation/rail/connecting-palo-alto/fact-sheet/meadow-charleston-
hybrid_factsheet_pa_june-6_2024.pdf
•Palo Alto Meadow-Charleson Underpasses: $844M midpoint, $756M to $932M, tracks at grade level, Meadow-Charleston traffic
closed/Alma traffic limited during construction, property acquisitions, 4 years
•https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/transportation/rail/connecting-palo-alto/fact-sheet/meadow-charleston-
underpass_factsheet_pa_june-3_2024.pdf
•All share these characteristics: pump station/long term maintenance and risk of flooding, utilities relocation, construction 2 to 4 years;
2026 dollars.
•Underpass costs, Menlo Park / Middle Avenue: $62M
•https://nationaltoday.com/us/ca/menlo-park/news/2026/02/04/menlo-park-struggles-to-fund-costly-rail-crossing-project/
•Underpass costs, Palo Alto / Homer Avenue: $13.6M ($5.2M 2005, 2.6 inflation 2026 February); likely no longer allowed by Calt rain
•https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2005/05/05/homer-tunnel-officially-opens
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts: Addendum:
Costs: California, US, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina
15
•Viaduct: cost per mile for CA HSR: $180M, 2026 dollars; $9.8B / 113 miles, $90M midpoint estimate, 2011 dollars
•https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/BPlan_2012CostChanges09_12.pdf page 10
•Viaduct: cost per station for heavy rail transit (HRT): $45.9M (adjusted 2026 dollars; 6 HRT projects)
•https://projectdelivery.enotrans.org/fta-capital-costs-database/
•Grade-level east track moved/new cost per mile: $3.0M, 2026 dollars; $2.6M for new HSR single track; increased for catenaries..
•https://www.scribd.com/document/428116190/2017-RailRoadEngineering
•Viaduct: cost per mile for a 2-lane automobile roadway: $156M, 2026 dollars; $235M / 1.9 miles, 2021 dollars.
•Location: Tampa, Selmon West Extension.
•Construction timeframe: 41 months.
•https://aspirebridge.com/magazine/2022Spring/AspireBook_Spring22_2022DesignAwardspdf.pdf pages 12-16
•https://www.tampa-xway.com/initiatives/completed-projects/selmon-west-extension/
•Viaduct: cost per mile for a 2-lane automobile roadway: bridge: $147M, 2026 dollars; $450M / 3.2 miles, 2025 dollars.
•Location: North Carolina, Alligator River.
•Construction timeframe: 36 months.
•https://aspirebridge.com/magazine/2026Winter/Aspire-Winter2026.pdf
•Viaduct: cost per mile for a 2-lane automobile roadway bridge: $115M, 2026 dollars; $60M / .6 miles, 2023 dollars.
•Location: North Carolina, Harkers River Bridge
•Construction timeframe: 15 months (spread over 33 month due to no April to September construction restriction).
•https://aspirebridge.com/magazine/2023Fall/Aspire-Fall2023.pdf pages 24-29
•Viaduct: cost per mile for a 2-lane automobile roadway bridge: $109M, 2026 dollars; $55M / .6 miles, 2021 dollars.
•Location: South Carolina, Harbor River Bridge.
•Construction timeframe: 43 months.
•https://aspirebridge.com/magazine/2023Summer/Aspire-Summer2023.pdf pages 26-29.
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts: Addendum:
Costs: Texas, Australia, Baltic States
16
•Viaduct: cost per mile for a 6-lane automobile roadway expansion: $222M, 2026 dollars;
$1.5B / 7.6 miles, 2024 dollars.
•Location: San Antonio, Northeast Expansion Central.
•Construction timeframe: 60 months (including a large non-viaduct scope)
•https://aspirebridge.com/magazine/2024Summer/Aspire-Summer2024.pdf pages 5
to 9.
•https://www.txdot.gov/35nex/nex-central.html
•Viaduct: cost per mile for 2 single track rail viaducts: $130M, 2026 dollars; Aus$190/km,
converted, adjusted for relative construction factor, 2018 dollars (Australia).
•Location: Melbourne Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project
•Construction timeframe: 24 months.
•https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/no-more-level-crossings-between-dandenong-and-
city
•https://www.constructionbriefing.com/news/how-do-infrastructure-project-cost-
and-timelines-compare-across-nations/8035523.article (US vs Australia, US vs
France)
•Viaduct: cost per mile for a 2 track rail viaduct: $128M, 2026 dollars; $72M Euro /km,
converted, adjusted for relative construction factor, 2026 dollars (Lativa, Estonia,
Lithuania).
•Location: Lativa, Estonia, Lithuania: Rail Baltica project.
•https://www.railbaltica.org/news/kalev-kallemets-rail-baltica-is-a-necessary-and-
relatively-inexpensive-megaproject/
•https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-
explained/index.php?title=Comparative_price_levels_for_investment (France vs.
Baltic)
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Melbourne
Viaducts: Addendum
Timeframe parameters
17
•Catenary renewal: 0.4 miles per day; up to 150 miles (250km) per year / 365.
•https://uic.org/com/enews/article/at-uic-the-world-s-rail-platform-french-innovation-in-catenary-renewal-for-the
•Piers, drilled: 2 piers per day for piers greater than 60 inches in diameter
•https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/Structures/StructureResources/NCDOT%20Working%20Days%20Guidelines%20f
or%20Structure%20Construction,%2001-05-2016.pdf
•Track, new per day: 0.5 miles per day (8-hour shift)
•“replace 10,000 ties or several thousand feet of rail in a concentrated work window (often 48 hours)” (Google AI
response)
•3250 ties per mile, for 10,000 ties (above), 3 miles over 48 hours, 1.5 miles per 24 hours
•https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,774445
•Viaduct span lengths: 100 feet applied here (98 to 145 feet in practice); 19,200 feet means 192 spans, 191 piers
•https://www.pci.org/PCI_Docs/Publications/PCI%20Journal/2014/Spring/Full-span%20precasting%20for%20light-
rail%20transit%20and%20high-speed%20railway%20bridges.pdf
•Viaduct spans installed per shift or day
•1 span per day: https://www.idc-
online.com/technical_references/pdfs/civil_engineering/Longer_and_Longer_Concrete_Viaducts_for_Transportation_
Growing_Needs.pdf
•2 spans per day https://www.pci.org/PCI_Docs/Publications/PCI%20Journal/2014/Spring/Full-
span%20precasting%20for%20light-rail%20transit%20and%20high-speed%20railway%20bridges.pdf
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts: Addendum:
Timeframe Parameters and Durations
18Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Item Action Parameters Per shift etc.Days
Shoofly tracks With turnouts, catenaries
Tracks 6.10 miles (3.05 miles x 2, but concurrently)0.5 miles 7
Catenaries 6.10 miles (3.05 miles x 2, but two teams)0.4 miles 8
On-Site Assembly Viaducts 14,000 feet; 100-foot spans; 140 spans, 138 piers
Pier footings and caps 138; 2 teams, 2 per day; overlap with spans 2 per shift per team 35
Spans 140; 2 teams, 2 per day; overlap with piers 2 per shift per team 35
New tracks on spans 2.65 miles; overlap with spans 0.5 mile 6
Catenaries 2.65 miles; overlap with tracks 0.4 miles 8
Testing Inspections (overlap with catenaries), trial runs 14
Activation 2 days 2
Disruptions
Caltrain Turnouts installation (4 teams)1 weekend 2
Churchill/Meadow/Charleston Shoofly tracks, quad gates (4 teams)1 weekend each 3
Churchill/Meadow/Charleston Viaduct overpasses (1 team each)1 weekend each 3
Caltrain Turnout(s) removal (4 teams)1 weekend 2
Viaducts: Addendum:
General Information
19
General Configuration Parameters
•CA HSR platform length: 800 feet
•https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/shorter-platforms-for-california-high-speed-rail/
•Clearance above roadways: 17 feet (16.6 feet) for California
•https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/traffic-operations/documents/hov/hov-guidelines-2020-a11y.pdf
•Inflation calculator, non-residential construction: 4.7% average per year
•https://edzarenski.com/category/inflation-indexing/
•Pedestrian crossing candidate locations in Palo Alto
•Note: This report moves Colorado and Loma Verde to El Dorado and El Verona, for sufficient distance from Oregon.
•https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/transportation/projects/southern-palo-alto-bikeped-railroad-
crossings/spa-ped-bike-connectivity_existing-conditions-report_final.pdf
•Pedestrian hybrid beacon costs (Caltrans): $300K to $1.5M; used $750K plus $350 for paving and other costs
•https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety-programs/documents/policy/202505-tsb-25-01-phb-guidelines-
a11y.pdf
•Rail height above clearance: 5 feet (4 to 5.5 feet)
•https://meadhunt.com/designing-steel-plate-girder-bridges/
Best Solution Matrix References
•Criteria based on Appendix E, City Council Staff Report, Meeting Date 9/5/17.
•Expanded criteria and evaluations by Mike Forster.
•Vibration/Noise Study, July 2020:
•https://connectingpaloalto.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Noise-Vibration-Comparative-Analysis-Report.pdf Page
24
•Sea Level Rise Study, January 2024:
•https://connectingpaloalto.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Attachment-C-Sea-Level-Rise-Assessment-1.pdf
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts: Addendum:
Embarcadero to Cal Ave: Construction Sequence
20
Constraints
Constraints
•ROW width requires one shoofly track on either side of existing tracks
Sequence
•Install new eastside poles and catenaries at the Alma edge to cover the existing eastside track and shoofly
•Remove the existing eastside poles and catenaries
•Install new eastside shoofly track
•Use existing eastside track and shoofly for Caltrain operations
•Borrow part of Peers Park from Palo Alto
•Install new westside poles and catenaries for the shoofly track
•Remove existing westside poles and catenaries
•Install new westside shoofly track
•Use both shoofly tracks for Caltrain operations
•Remove existing Caltrain tracks
•Install Embarcadero to Cal Ave viaduct
•Use viaduct for Caltrain operations
•Remove westside poles, catenaries, shoofly track
•Retain and use eastside shoofly track for freight traffic
•Return borrowed part of Peers Park to Palo Alto
• Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
Viaducts: Addendum:
Elevation Profile: Embarcadero to Churchill
21Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
46 feet49 feet
68 feet
Turnouts to shoofly tracks
Distance: 528 feet
Grade up and over Churchill
Distance: 1056 feet
22 feet = 17 feet clearance + 5 feet beam to track
Grade level / current track level
Embarcadero
Bridge
Churchill
Avenue
Viaduct track level
Track vertical curvature not
depicted or accounted for
1.8% gradient
Viaducts: Addendum:
Peninsula Examples
22
•Burlingame: Chose a viaduct plus berm approach: fully elevates tracks, does not lower roads
•https://burlingame.org/DocumentCenter/View/2932/Presentation -Slides---Virtual-Community-Meeting-July-13-2022-PDF
•https://www.caltrain.com/media/33194/download
•San Bruno: Viaduct-like - as built:
•Minimal road lowering at San Bruno Ave
•Minimal or no road lowering at San Mateo Ave
•Little or no impact on nearby properties
•Redwood City: Favoring a viaduct approach, plan 1A, north of Highway 84
•Caltrain grade separation plans take shape in Redwood City | Local News | smdailyjournal.com
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
San Bruno
Avenue San Mateo Ave
Broadway
(proposed)
Cadillac Way underpass (proposed)
Similar to future
Palo Alto Bike-Ped crossings
Viaducts: The End:
Visually Attractive Examples of Viaduct Grade Separations
•Elevated tracks do not have to be berms that might divide cities.
23
(Images from Google Earth / Streetview)
Montessoro, Italy Paris, France - Bercy Sunnyside, NY
Paris, France – Blvd. St. Jacques Union City, CA – Kennedy Park - BARTBerlin, Germany – SPUR 2017
Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaduct - Approach and Costs - Mike Forster – April 2026 v14
From:John King
To:Council, City
Subject:Barron Park Association letter re :3606 El Camino
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 4:06:40 AM
Attachments:BPA_Letter_re_3606 El Camino.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
Please find a letter approved by the Barron Park Association board regarding the proposed
3606 El Camino Real, Palo Alto development.
Please include for the upcoming council discussions about the neighborhood concerns
of the proposal.
Respectfully submitted,
John W. King
President
Barron Park Association
724 Barron Avenue
Palo Alto, CA. 94306
Johnwadeking@gmail.com
650-483-2710
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
1
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
The Barron Park Association Board of Directors is writing to express neighborhood concerns
regarding the proposed development at 3606 El Camino Real. We agree with the Planning and
Transportation Commission’s recent decision not to approve the proposed lot consolidation due
to the lack of sufficient information related to its suitability.
Our primary concern focuses on traffic and safety. Entrances and exits for the 321-unit
development should not be located on Barron Park’s small, residential streets. Given the
magnitude of this project — representing approximately a 20% increase in Barron Park’s
residential density — access points must be placed on El Camino Real rather than on narrow
neighborhood streets. Barron Park includes narrow, single-lane streets, many without sidewalks
or shoulders. These streets cannot safely accommodate a substantial increase in vehicular traffic
seeking to bypass gridlocked intersections near the proposed development’s side-street
driveways. (See the example photos below.)
Matadero Avenue is designated as a Safe Routes to School corridor, a Palo Alto Bike Boulevard,
and an Emergency Vehicle Access Route. Maintaining safety and accessibility on Matadero and
its feeder streets is critical. Increased congestion from a large development would directly
compromise pedestrian, cyclist, automobile, and emergency vehicle safety.
Barron Park also faces unique infrastructure limitations. Vehicular access is restricted on the
north and west by Stanford Research Park, Rivian, Varian, Bol Park, and the VA Hospital.
Matadero and Los Robles serve as primary entrances and exits, yet both dead-end at Bol Park
and the VA. In emergency situations, these constraints present serious concerns. Large-scale
projects must include plans that do not further restrict emergency access.
2
The neighborhood remains burdened by overhead utility wires, increasing fire risk in an area
already constrained by limited evacuation routes. Adding significant density without addressing
this vulnerability exacerbates safety risks to current residents who have very limited emergency
exits from Barron Park.
Additionally, the intersection of El Camino and Matadero is already hazardous. Traffic now
frequently backs up onto El Camino, blocks crosswalks, and creates gridlock conditions. This
would worsen with the primary driveway for 3606 ECR less than 100 ft from the intersection.
There is, of course, no right turn on red in either direction. Introducing additional vehicle volume
from a 321-unit development will worsen congestion and heighten safety risks for pedestrians,
cyclists, and drivers.
While the City anticipates reduced automobile use due to proximity to ECR, this has not been the
experience in Barron Park. Over the past twenty years, automobile traffic has steadily increased.
Streets adjacent to ECR are routinely fully parked overnight. Despite an active cycling
community, most residents rely on cars for employment, groceries, medical care, schools, and
daily needs. Reliable alternative transportation options remain limited.
We respectfully urge the Council to ensure that:
1.All resident entrances and exits be located on El Camino Real.
2.Emergency access and evacuation constraints be addressed prior to approval.
3.Infrastructure and fire safety risks be mitigated.
4.Architectural design strive to be compatible with the existing neighborhood and
design standards per the ARB request for improvements to the building front face.
5.Appropriate setbacks, terracing, and landscaping be incorporated to create
meaningful transition zones between higher-density buildings and smaller nearby
residences.
3
Palo Alto has demonstrated that new developments can be thoughtfully integrated into
established neighborhoods. We rely on the City Council and City Commissions to approve
projects that enhance, rather than compromise, the safety and character of Barron Park for both
current and future residents.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors of the Barron Park Association
bpapaloalto.org
Example on a Typical Day: Matadero Avenue Opening Onto El Camino
Location of photos: Matadero Avenue with ECR in the background. The proposed apartment
driveway is approximately where the brown UPS truck is parked (on the right).
Notice the absent shoulder on the north side of Matadero (on the left in both photos), and the
unsafe pedestrian/cyclist zone on the south side (on the right in both photos) due to parked cars.
It is not unusual to have one lane blocked by a mail or delivery truck. As a designated Safe Route
to School, Palo Alto Bike Boulevard, and an Emergency Vehicle Access Route, bikes may take
the lane with autos, but this is especially hazardous to young children inexperienced with traffic.
Also, notice that cars passing large, parked delivery trucks (here, UPS and Amazon) must use
both lanes for pedestrian safety. As you see in the photo on the right, the white car approaching
us has moved into the opposite lane to avoid a parked truck.
4
From:Harry Jin
To:Planning Commission
Cc:Council, City
Subject:SUPPORT FOR 788 San Antonio Road and 3606 El Camino Real Housing Projects
Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 12:04:36 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto PTC, my name is Harry Jin and I live on Stanford's Campus.
Please vote to advance 788 San Antonio Road, which will bring a range of housing options to
the San Antonio Area. I support the lower parking ratio, which reflects the city's vision for the
future of housing and multi-modal transportation along the corridor.
Housing in the Bay Area is a major issue that I see personally. Myself, and the other
students I know at Stanford have really struggled with both housing choice and
housing cost, making the process of finding jobs in the local area and taking research
positions over summer much more difficult. If finding housing remains this difficult, I
may not be able to stay in Palo Alto or the Bay Area in the long term, when I actually
look for a job, even though the best companies in my field are based in the area, just
because of how much of an issue housing is.
This housing project is a great step towards providing more housing options, so that
more people can stay in the area and take advantage of its amazing opportunities for
education and employment. Housing and homelessness is a long term issue that
greatly affects Palo Alto and the surrounding area. Consistent action needs to be
taken now, by our current government, not punted to later in the future, when the
issue will only grow more significant. The only good way to solve the housing crisis is
to predictably approve housing projects like this, because delays and unpredictability
make completing housing projects much more difficult. Approving these housing
projects without delay is an excellent step in creating a Palo Alto that overcomes our
current housing crisis.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Harry Jin
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
From:Mircea
To:Council, City
Cc:Switzer, Steven; pafd@cityofpaloalto.org; Lindsey, Stephen; Reifschneider, James; Transportation; Alison Rivera;
John King; Kristan Green; Dror Katzav; Yu Wang; Liberman, Art; CHaggerty@valleywater.org; Kellie Stafford
Subject:COMPREHENSIVE OPPOSITION TO PROJECTS 25PLN-00243 & 3400 ECR - Monday April 13th 2026 City Council
Agenda
Date:Tuesday, April 7, 2026 10:07:09 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Grounds for Denial: Unmitigable Threat to Public Safety, Emergency Access, and
Riparian Integrity
TO: Palo Alto City Council; Architectural Review Board; Planning Department
FROM: Barron Park resident and property owner since 2006: 572 Chimalus Dr. Palo
Alto, CA, 94306
I. Executive Summary
This letter serves as a formal objection to the 7 parcels merger and development as
submitted at 3606 El Camino Real. Under Gov. Code § 65589.5(d)(2), we contend
these projects create a specific, adverse impact on public health and safety that
cannot be mitigated. The "traffic dump" from 3606 and 3400 ECR (combined 1,500+
daily trips) onto the Matadero Road bottleneck will physically obstruct emergency
response and endanger student commuters on a verified high-injury corridor.
II. 20-Year Traffic Safety & Accident Data Integration
The intersection of El Camino Real (ECR) and Matadero Road is an established
danger zone. In the last 20 years driving the Matadero/Barron Park stretch several
times a day, I have seen the Palo Alto Fire/Ambulance department attending to a
biker at the corner of ECR and Matadero-CreekSide Inn corner averaging several
times a quarter. Those records are real.
High-Injury Network (HIN): A 2024 city-commissioned study found that 14% of all
Palo Alto crashes occur on ECR, which comprises only 4% of the city's roads.
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
20-Year Collision Trends: Over the past two decades, one-third of all bicycle and
pedestrian accidents in Santa Clara County have occurred on the Palo Alto
segment of ECR.
Vulnerability of Minors: Matadero Road is a designated Safe Route to School.
Historical data shows an average of one injury every month on the Palo Alto ECR
corridor, frequently involving children and teenagers.
Recent Conflicts: As recently as 2024, ECR has been flagged by Caltrans as
particularly prone to bike crashes. Introducing massive vehicle volume into this exact
"Safe System" plan area directly violates the city's duty to protect student commuters.
III. Emergency Response Jeopardy (Barron Park Access)
Matadero Road is a Major Street Connector for the Barron Park neighborhood.
Blocking this artery will delay life-saving Fire, Police, and Ambulance services.
PAFD Performance Decline: The Palo Alto Fire Department (PAFD) 90th percentile
response time was 9:16 in 2024, failing to meet the city's 8-minute safety target.
Physical Obstruction: The 3606 ECR driveway sits within 100 feet of the
ECR/Matadero corner. The resulting vehicle queuing will gridlock Matadero Road,
physically preventing emergency units from Station 4 (already under-staffed
via cross-staffing) from reaching Barron Park residents during medical emergencies.
No Feasible Mitigation: There is no engineering solution exists to widen the
Matadero Road creek crossing without destroying the protected riparian corridor.
IV. Matadero Creek & Environmental Safety Reasons for Denial
Riparian Integrity: The project footprint sits within 100 feet of the Matadero Creek
bank. This proximity violates the intent of the Stream Corridor Protection
Ordinance and risks bank failure.
Flood Hazard (PAMC 16.52): Subterranean parking for nearly 400 cars near an open
creek bank creates unmitigable hydrostatic pressure risks during flood events.
Ecological Impact: The cumulative density and runoff from both projects pose a
"quantifiable risk" to the creek's habitat and downstream flood capacity.
V. Final Legal Conclusion
The Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) already voted 3-2 to recommend
denial based on these "serious public health problems." We urge the City Council to
prioritize Safe Routes to School and Barron Park emergency access over
inappropriate density and the City Council should grant no project driveways that
would dump more cars on Matadero Rd. when El Camino Real Driveway Access
exists and is implementable today. Developer cares more about the building's
appearance on ECR —which resembles a shoebox anyway—than the integrating a
driveway on ECR which will protect the safety of Barron Park school children,
residents' daily traffic and emergency responders.
As a Barron Park property owner and resident since 2006, I urge you to deny the size
of this project and demand that driveways be placed on El Camino Real. Builder's
remedy does not override the safety and health of Palo Alto residents; this is a clear
fact and finding here. Stand up for Palo Alto residents who elected you to protect us
while building safe housing.
I want you to be left with reading this article and think what you will be voting for:
Two Fatal Collisions in Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills within a Week — Silicon Valley
Bicycle Coalition
Per the article link above: "Over the past decade, one-third of bicycle and
pedestrian accidents in Santa Clara County have occurred on El Camino Real in
Palo Alto. Shockingly, this statistic translates to an average of one person,
often a child or teenager, being injured each month in Palo Alto."
Thanks
Mircea Voskerician
572 Chimalus Dr. Palo Alto
Actionable Steps for Council Members
Request a Police/Fire Department/Ambulance Response Records Audit:
Formally request a 20-year collision log specifically for the ECR/Matadero corner.
This will be an eye-opener.
Mandate a Cumulative Access Study: Model the simultaneous "morning peak" and
" evening peak" output and input from both development driveways including 3400
ECR (existing hotel or new proposed development) on Matadero Road.
From:Sherry Listgarten
To:Council, City
Subject:Thank you for the discussion on SARAP
Date:Tuesday, April 7, 2026 8:21:08 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear City Council,
Thank you for the productive discussion during the study session about the San Antonio Plan. I was relieved to hear
that you appreciate how bad the traffic is now (LOS grade F), and so you pressed hard for some proactive traffic
modeling of possible scenarios. I appreciated the interest in local/neighborhood services for residents, and the
discussion of how best to achieve that. I appreciated the discussion around affordability, and how we might get more
of those units. And, finally, I appreciated the discussion around pacing/metering any further upzoning, with
recognition of city staff's shifting Overton window of height and density for this area.
I am flummoxed by the so-called "progressive" legislation that seems to just enrich and empower property owners
and developers only to motivate development of high-priced housing and office space for tech companies. That
seems so wrong, but politics = money. I hope Palo Alto can do better than that.
So again, thank you for your efforts on this.
-- Sherry.
P.S. For those of you who are looking at heights/density on El Camino and at the MTV-developed portion of San
Antonio Road, keep in mind those roads are 50% wider. San Antonio is just two lanes in each direction in the
SARAP area. (Well, one at the freeway, but that will be fixed in ... 10 years if we're lucky.)
From:Patrick McGannon
To:Planning Commission
Cc:Council, City
Subject:Voicing my support for housing at 788 San Antonio Road
Date:Tuesday, April 7, 2026 6:48:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking
on links.
Hello Palo Alto PTC, my name is Casey McGannon and I live in Green Acres 2.
Please vote to advance 788 San Antonio Road, which will bring a range of housing options to the San Antonio Area.
I support the lower parking ratio, which reflects the city's vision for the future of housing and multi-modal
transportation along the corridor.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Casey McGannon
Donald Drive
Palo Alto, CA
From:Elliot Margolies
To:Planning Commission
Cc:Council, City
Subject:support for affordable housing proposal
Date:Tuesday, April 7, 2026 2:15:59 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello Palo Alto PTC, my name is Elliot Margolies and I live in Barron Park.
Please vote to advance 788 San Antonio Road, which will bring a range of housing options to
the San Antonio Area. I support the lower parking ratio, which reflects the city's vision for the
future of housing and multi-modal transportation along the corridor.
As noted by Joint Ventures Silicon Valley, the lack of affordable housing is a key
driver of other inequities throughout Silicon Valley. This applies to Palo Alto
where the last big study showed over 3.5 as the jobs to housing ratio.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Elliot Margolies
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first mail to some recipients.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
From:Alice Smith
To:Council, City
Subject:Please close Churchill crossing
Date:Tuesday, April 7, 2026 1:23:14 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
To the City Council and the City of Palo Alto Residents.
The safety of children far exceeds the inconvenience to the community. Please
close Churchill between Alma and an appropriate place beyond the tracks, thus
blocking off access to the tracks. If needs be, build a cement/metal bike/footbridge
above the train like the bike/walking bridge over 101. We need to progress the under
track or over track car system at Charleston and East Meadow whether or not there is
ever a high speed train system. We have prevaricated for far too long.
Alice Schaffer Smith
850 Webster Street #520
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(c) 650 283 2822
“If the meanest man in the republic is deprived of his rights then every man in the
republic is deprived of his rights.”
—Jane Addams, 1903
From:Steven Atneosen
To:Planning Commission
Cc:Council, City
Subject:[INSERT SUBJECT HERE ABOUT SUPPORT FOR 788 San Antonio Road]
Date:Tuesday, April 7, 2026 1:06:08 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hello Palo Alto PTC, we are Steven Atneosen and Caroline Dahllof, and we live in the
Crescent Park neighborhood of Palo Alto.
Please vote to advance 788 San Antonio Road, which will bring a range of housing options to
the San Antonio Area. I support the lower parking ratio, which reflects the city's vision for the
future of housing and multi-modal transportation along the corridor.
Thank you for supporting more homes in our community,
Steven Atneosen
Caroline Dahllof
atneosen@hotmail.com
From:Mikhael, Hemali
To:district1@bos.sccgov.org; District2@bos.sccgov.org; supervisor.lee@bos.sccgov.org;
supervisor.ellenberg@bos.sccgov.org; district5@bos.sccgov.org
Cc:Matt.Morley@cityofgilroy.org; Rob.Fleeup@cityofgilroy.org; jhernandez@milpitas.gov; jschoonover@milpitas.gov;
Christina Turner; marcus.hernandez@fire.ca.gov; McCarthy, Kimbra; Jones, Brian; Shikada, Ed; Lindsey,
Stephen; Maguire, Jennifer; robert.sapien@sanjoseca.gov; jgrogan@santaclaraca.gov; rtorres@santaclaraca.gov;
Tim Kirby; dpistor@sunnyvale.ca.gov; Gabriel Engeland; Williams, James; nicholas.clay@ems.sccgov.org;
Kenneth.Miller@ems.sccgov.org; john.mills@ceo.sccgov.org; greg.bozzo@cityofgilroy.org;
dion.bracco@cityofgilroy.org; tom.cline@cityofgilroy.org; terence.fugazzi@cityofgilroy.org;
zachary.hilton@cityofgilroy.org; carol.marques@cityofgilroy.org; kelly.ramirez@cityofgilroy.org;
CityCouncil@milpitas.gov; citycouncil@morganhill.ca.gov; Councilmembers; Council, City;
Matt.mahan@sanjoseca.gov; Rosemary.kamei@sanjoseca.gov; Pamela.campos@sanjoseca.gov;
Anthony.tordillos@sanjoseca.gov; David.cohen@sanjoseca.gov; Peter.ortiz@sanjoseca.gov;
Michael.mulcahy@sanjoseca.gov; Bien.doan@sanjoseca.gov; Domingo.candelas@sanjoseca.gov;
Pam.foley@sanjoseca.gov; George.casey@sanjoseca.gov; mayorandcouncil@santaclaraca.gov;
council@sunnyvale.ca.gov; smeadows@losaltosca.gov; llang@losaltosca.gov; pdailey@losaltosca.gov;
jweinberg@losaltosca.gov
Subject:Emergency Ambulance Services Letter
Date:Tuesday, April 7, 2026 12:18:29 PM
Attachments:Emergency Ambulance Services Letter.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hello Honorable Board Members,
Please find attached a letter from City Managers and Fire Chiefs in the County regarding
concerns about the current state and future direction of the Santa Clara County Emergency
Ambulance Service System.
Respectfully,
Hemali Shah Mikhael
Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Office of the City Manager
O: 650-903-6601 | F: 650-963-3043| MountainView.gov
Pronouns: She/Hers
April 3, 2026
Honorable Otto Lee District 3, President
Honorable Sylvia Arenas, District 1, Vice President
Honorable Betty Duong, District 2
Honorable Susan Ellenberg, District 4
Honorable Margaret Abe-Koga, District 5
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
70 W. Hedding Street
San José, CA 95110
RE: EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES
Honorable Board Members:
This letter is respectfully submitted to you by the undersigned City Managers and Fire Chiefs to
call your attention to concerns that have arisen regarding the ongoing state and future direction
of Santa Clara County Emergency Ambulance Service system.
According to the Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Care Committee report dated November
21, 2024, our county experiences more than 139,000 emergency 9-1-1 medical calls annually.
These calls are answered by an integrated system of fire department first responders and private
ambulance crews, working together to provide lifesaving care. This system relies on two essential
components:
1.All-hazard fire department personnel trained to rescue, provide aid, and initiate basic and
advanced life support (BLS/ALS) by first responders; and
2.Ambulances that continue patient care and provide transport to emergency departments.
While this model has saved countless lives, the business structure supporting it is neither
efficient, effective, nor equitable. Fire agencies cannot recover even the marginal costs of
delivering BLS/ALS services, while the private ambulance provider recovers 100% of its costs and
profit. In recent years, significant ambulance response delays have forced fire departments to
commit additional apparatus and fire ambulances to the 9 -1-1 system, or in the worst of cases,
leaving patients in critical need of life saving measures with no access to timely transport,
negatively affecting our ability to provide adequate patient care and other emergency services.
Docusign Envelope ID: 901BBEB3-0986-4FA2-A979-D25DF86A2736
Emergency Ambulance Services
Page 2 of 6
Despite repeated assurances from the County EMS Agency that these issues are being addressed,
the countywide ambulance crisis continues with no meaningful improvement. During Calendar
Year 2025, the County issued Standard Dispatch Orders (SDOs) #10 and #11—indicating low
ambulance availability—570 times. In total, Santa Clara County was in SDO 10/11 for 542.8 hours
during 2025, approximately 2 hours per day, with the average SDO 10/11 activation lasting 57
minutes. This clearly demonstrates that the system does not have enough ambulances to meet
demand. These conditions routinely result in 20 - 30+ minute delay response times, tying up fire
units throughout the county and leaving cities and fire districts with inadequate fire, rescue,
hazmat, and EMS coverage.
In 2020, the EMS Agency further intensified the crisis by modifying the AMR contract to
significantly reduce late-response penalties. Previously, AMR was required to meet a 12-minute
response standard in each of the five geographic zones at least 90% of the time. Under the current
contract, penalties apply only if AMR falls below 92% performance system -wide, eliminating
incentives to maintain timely responses within individual communities. This change has
materially contributed to the delays our community members now experience when seeking
emergency care.
We also continue to see increasing deployment of Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances (units
without paramedics) dispatched to emergency medical calls in place of ALS ambulances. This
practice places additional strain on fire agencies. When a BLS ambulance transports an ALS
patient, the firefighter/paramedic must accompany the patient to maintain ALS care, placing a
fire company out of service for 1.5 - 2 hours on average in north county and 2.5 to 3+ in south
county. This depletes countywide fire coverage, shifts critical responsibilities onto local agency
paramedics, and allows AMR to bill patients for care performed by taxpayer-funded personnel
with no reimbursement to the cities or fire districts.
This situation is neither sustainable nor acceptable. The current model forces local taxpayers to
subsidize a private business and diverts resources away from reinvestment in the EMS system,
undermining the safety of residents experiencing medical emergencies.
At monthly Fire Chiefs Association meetings, County EMS Director Nick Clay verbally shared that
local agencies should expect the following features in a future system:
1.Intent to align First Responder Agreement effective dates with ambulance provider
agreement(s).
2.Exclusive Operating Area with dispatch of BLS ambulances to 9-1-1 emergencies.
Docusign Envelope ID: 901BBEB3-0986-4FA2-A979-D25DF86A2736
Emergency Ambulance Services
Page 3 of 6
3.Establishment of new response time performance zones and standards and elimination of
12-minute Advanced Life Support ambulance standard, shifting to performance based
solely on patient outcomes.
4.New clinical standards with performance incentives (and/or liquidated damages).
5.Allowance for system innovations during agreements terms.
6.Expanded public access to healthcare information.
7.First Responder Advanced Life Support Integration.
8.ALS ambulances will be dispatched based on Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMS
protocols).
9.Elimination of first-responder reimbursement to fire departments.
10.Elimination of SDO #3, which currently permits use of fire department ambulances during
shortages.
11.EMS agency is drafting the next RFP for 9-1-1 ambulance transport (with fire service
solicitation for input/collaboration)
Many of these changes are already occurring. While County EMS recently requested input from
the Santa Clara County City Managers and Fire Chiefs Associations, this falls short of meaningful
collaboration and was perfunctory. Furthermore, although we were concerned that participating
in a countywide study would not be helpful, the results of this study have not yet been shared
with us. This lack of engagement is counterproductive to improving our mutually shared 9-1-1
emergency ambulance system. The Santa Clara County City Managers Association has therefore
formed a subcommittee on this issue.
As you know, Santa Clara County’s population is both growing and aging. Our residents’ medical
needs have increased dramatically, far outpacing population growth and driving significant rises
in call volume. All agencies must reinvest in the EMS system simply to keep pace with demand.
Unfortunately, the current dynamics with the County EMS Agency and 9-1-1 ambulance contract
does not foster a collaborative environment that supports system success.
Docusign Envelope ID: 901BBEB3-0986-4FA2-A979-D25DF86A2736
Emergency Ambulance Services
Page 4 of 6
For decades, fire agencies in Santa Clara County have partnered with the County to ensure
residents receive rapid ALS response whenever they call 9-1-1. Our firefighter/paramedics
provide immediate stabilization and work together with the private ambulance contractor to
ensure safe transport. Given the EMS Agency’s lack of collaboration to date, we are concerned
that the forthcoming contract will continue to force local taxpayers to subsidize private-sector
profits while underfunding the public-sector responders who carry most of the workload.
As the County develops a new RFP for 9-1-1 ambulance services, we respectfully request that
County Administration and the EMS Agency be directed to meaningfully engage with local
agencies to develop a collaborative approach to the RFP that reflects our shared interest in
providing service to the public at manageable costs.
The EMS system is built on a foundation of first responders, city and county firefighters who are
funded by the taxpayers of each city and fire district. The next RFP must acknowledge,
compensate, and fully integrate this essential public service, including opportunities for fire-
based ambulance transport. Restoration of a first-responder fee, authorization of fire department
ambulance transport, and enforcement of ALS response times consistent with nationally
recognized standards are specific steps that can support a collaborative approach to EMS services.
In light of the severity and duration of this crisis, we also request the following immediate and
long-term actions:
1.Reinstate the original AMR requirement of a 12-minute response time in each of the five
geographic zones at least 90% of the time, with meaningful penalties for noncompliance.
2.Delay any expansion of County EMS proposals involving BLS only responses or the
elimination of response-time standards until the 9-1-1 ambulance system is reliably
staffed and functioning.
3.Reconsider restrictions on SDO #3 and allow unrestricted use of fire-based ambulances.
4.Ensure that the next 9-1-1 ambulance RFP is not exclusive, allows fire departments to
transport, and includes a Fire Department representative with “201” transport rights in
the development process.
Docusign Envelope ID: 901BBEB3-0986-4FA2-A979-D25DF86A2736
Emergency Ambulance Services
Page 5 of 6
City Managers are happy to arrange briefings to expand on the challenges that communities in
your districts face. As the regulatory authority and contracting entity, the County has a statutory
responsibility to recognize the current system as a failing essential service and to take decisive
action in partnership with local fire agencies.
We thank you for your leadership in restoring a functional, equitable, and accountable 9 -1-1
ambulance system for Santa Clara County.
Respectfully,
City Manager _____________________________
Matt Morley
Fire Chief _________________________________
Rob Fleeup
City Manager _____________________________
Jared Hernandez (Acting)
Fire Chief _________________________________
Jason Schoonover
City Manager _____________________________
Christina Turner
Fire Chief _________________________________
Marcus Hernandez
City Manager _____________________________
Kimbra McCarthy
Fire Chief _________________________________
Brian Jones
Docusign Envelope ID: 901BBEB3-0986-4FA2-A979-D25DF86A2736
Emergency Ambulance Services
Page 6 of 6
City Manager _____________________________
Ed Shikada
Fire Chief _________________________________
Stephen Lindsey
City Manager _____________________________
Jennifer Maguire
Fire Chief _________________________________
Robert Sapien
City Manager _____________________________
Jōvan Grogan
Fire Chief _________________________________
Ruben Torres
City Manager ______________________________
Tim Kirby
Public Safety Chief___________________________
Daniel Pistor
City Manager _______________________________
Gabriel Engeland
CC: City Councils – All Signatory Cities
James Williams, County Executive
John Mills, Deputy County Executive
Nick Clay, EMS Agency Director/Chief
Kenneth Miller, EMS Medical Director
Docusign Envelope ID: 901BBEB3-0986-4FA2-A979-D25DF86A2736
From:Fix Our Shelters
To:admin@fixourshelters.org
Subject:MEDIA ALERT: CEASE AND DESIST UPDATE — Is the San Francisco SPCA using donor millions to defend shelters
accused of illegal practices?
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 7:08:40 PM
Attachments:attachment-5 (3) (1) (1).png
SF SPCA contract with Bruce Wagman, San Jose Animal Care (1).pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
April 6, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ALERT: Is the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SF SPCA) using $$ millions in donor funds to bankroll the legal defense of shelters
accused of illegal practices, horrific conditions, lack of food and clean water, medical
neglect, animal abandonment, and retaliation against whistleblowers?
Sacramento, CA: Earlier this year, over 100 cease-and-desist notices were served to
municipal animal shelters across California for violations of multiple state animal protection
laws. These actions were brought on behalf of Fix Our Shelters (FOS), and other rescue and
advocacy groups. These groups are represented by Ryther Law Group, LLP, an animal rights
law firm. The Cease and Desist notifications illuminate systemic and pervasive violations of
animal protection laws at municipal shelters statewide.
Advocates have obtained documents showing the San Francisco SPCA is using its vast
resources and money, raised through donor contributions and grants, to fund the legal defense
of multiple Municipal Animal Shelters throughout California accused of illegal practices
outlined in the CEASE and DESIST notifications.
SF SPCA hired Attorney Bruce Wagman and law firm Riley, Safer, Holmes, and
Cancila, a large, national law firm, to represent and defend multiple Municipal Animal
Shelters accused of violations of animal protection laws across the state.
The cost to San Francisco SPCA, and by extension its donors, to pay for legal services
could easily be in the $$ MILLIONS of DOLLARS.
Municipalities have a duty and fiduciary responsibility to provide lawful, humane care for
animals in their custody. When they allow privately funded legal teams with deep pockets and
agendas to defend illegal practices instead of correcting potentially unlawful conduct, it is a
dereliction of their duty to protect and care for animals and to be accountable to taxpayers
funding these services.
This message needs your attention
This is their first email to your company.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
San José, CA: Partners in Animal Care & Compassion (PACC), represented by Ryther Law
Group, LLP, initiated legal action against the City of San José and its Animal Care Division,
alleging violations of animal protection laws, including inhumane shelter conditions, medical
neglect, failure to operate the shelter humanely, animal abandonment and other violations of
animal protection laws.
The attached contract shows just one example of the potentially hundreds of thousands of
dollars the San Francisco SPCA will pay directly to Bruce Wagman and the law firm Riley,
Safer Holmes, and Cancila to defend the City of San José against legal action brought by
PACC detailing numerous serious violations of animal protection laws.
Based on San Jose’s own audit of animal care services and voluminous documentation from
PACC , violations include animals confined in overcrowded kennels covered in feces and
urine, lack of adequate food and water, inadequate or botched veterinary care causing
suffocation and death, refusal to accept stray animals at their doors, retaliation against
volunteers and rescues, and numerous other claims.
PACC: “We are well aware of Bruce Wagman’s affiliation with SF SPCA. When we noted
he was cc’d on the city’s response to our legal action, we assumed Bruce was acting
independently, separate from his role at SF SPCA. We were stunned to discover that SF
SPCA would be funding Wagman’s work to defend a shelter that is generally accepted to be
among the worst in the state. We have reached out to SF SPCA CEO Jennifer Scarlett to
urge her to reconsider this harmful use of funds and have to date not heard back.”
Fix Our Shelters: “San Francisco SPCA paying lawyers to defend claims of violations of
animal protection laws highlights a profound contradiction: an organization whose very
name states they are a SOCIETY for the PREVENTION of CRUELTY to ANIMALS is
FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING the LEGAL DEFENSE of municipal shelters accused of
violating animal protection laws.
That donor-funded resources intended to advance and improve animal welfare are being
used to defend against claims of harm to animals is nothing short of OUTRAGEOUS. This
arrangement should raise serious concerns with the California Attorney General’s Office
regarding the potential misuse of charitable funds that donors intended to help—not harm
—animals. This conduct clearly does not align with their stated mission: “To ensure every
companion animal has access to quality medical care, compassionate shelter, and a loving
home.”
Background: San Francisco SPCA played a central role in promoting “reduced intake”
policies that shifted responsibility for animals out of shelters and into communities, claiming
they were “innovative” despite documented warnings as early as 2014 that these practices
violate state law and exacerbate overpopulation. Penal Code §597: “Every person who
willfully abandons any animal is guilty of a misdemeanor.”
Common sense dictates that allowing animals to remain unsterilized in communities leads to
exponential population growth and directly contributes to today’s surge in unwanted animals
—including puppies and kittens—increased public safety risks (such as dog bites, maulings,
and rabies), overcrowded shelters, skyrocketing euthanasia, and hundreds of thousands of
uncounted stray and abandoned (“ghost”) animals left to fend for themselves.
Currently, San Francisco SPCA’s CEO Jennifer Scarlett, opposes the proposed San Francisco
City mandatory spay/neuter ordinance to address rising puppy intake, overcrowding, and
increased euthanasia. This position is consistent with Scarlett’s stance that “reducing intake”
of animals into shelters is “innovative” and preferred to spay neuter, the only proven method
to reduce overpopulation, the number of animals coming into shelters and euthanasia. See
article in the SF Chronicle regarding spay neuter ordinance:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s-f-eyes-mandatory-spay-neuter-law-21992551.php
While SF SPCA claims that shelter populations, including puppies, were lower in 2020 due to
COVID, the reality is numbers dropped then and since because of “reduced intake” policies
that turned animals away illegally through programs such as appointment-only intake, capacity
of care, managed intake, and so-called community sheltering while essentially ignoring spay
and neuter to reduce animal overpopulation.
For years, prominent players in the animal welfare industry have pushed these illogical and
illegal “reduced intake “ programs including San Francisco SPCA, Cal Animals, UC Davis
Koret Shelter Medicine, Best Friends, ASPCA, San Diego Humane Society and many
others. Of note, their combined assets and annual revenues easily exceed BILLIONS of
$$.
Yet instead of using the majority of their vast resources to tackle and reduce overpopulation—
they fueled it, driving the entirely preventable, and tragic consequences unfolding in animal
shelters and communities across California.
Media Contacts:
Fix Our Shelters – admin@fixourshelters.org
Elyse Mize: 916-213-6706 or 916-626-9524
PACC: Kit O’Doherty, 650-274-5236
!
" #$%&'() *+,-./0!),)+
1#23&4225%3&46678$&982%:;),)<
0< !+./))*+--.
=285>8>&1#23&?&=85&@AB&15AC$2852&4D%%%52
0E FG E ;
:
HI
J ;K I
L; M
N OOI P
F; EJ
K Q
0E
E
E ;R
F;E J
SK Q
&
0MT P0US VWO00XLTTYVOOVZ
[(&&4\]^^_^'`&=1ab^&
[([& \%5%8$0E
EE
GE EE
G
c
c
E ;Q
[(d& ^ef#g#2A0E
E
E
G REFIGE E
E F;
^ef#g#2&4
h c
^ef#g#2&i E O
^ef#g#2&1 P Lj
[(k& 9#%l2JS
K E ;
;
ES
m
Q
[(n& iCA#5%AA&983AJh S;K
Jh S;K E
;
GE E ;M
F Q&
[(o& ^52#%&4D%%%520E E I
R c
E
E
E QP
E Q
[(p& 4%5>%52A0E ;F
;F;G
R
F;E
Q
d(&&4\]^^_^'`&`^]_&
0E
E
SE
EE
F;E ;
-F
GQ
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, 06
5%@06341223
C/--D7EAF-E-DFGHI7FD
C/J K>L*M-D, =*M,L NO P Q R P R FST*U*8-:V 5R
& R O P R W X V
C/Y- :ZZ*8* ;>+-D, =*M,L N! P Q R [ " #( P R
R O P \ ] R & P R O P ^ #\( P R
\ R O P V
C/Y/J- :_8T *`>8* ; 5R
[ &
! P
[ R R W X & [ R a V
C/Y/Y- ?* ,M8 bL-:_8T *`>8* ; 5R W
R a R &
! P & R P ^ ] R FST*U*8-K
R P V 5R W R a R & ! P
R"R [ ] \
\R & V 5R [
R R & R ! P ^ R R & " R P ^
R R & " R R P V 5R W
R a ] R ! P R
V
c/--I.dF.dIE.:eef-EgIddF?
h/--7IdfbD-7E.dG:7dg:.:iFG
5R
X " R !"
$
5" ^ R W &
!
R $V #j3( @6@%02
W & k R
!
l
V" m' V"P
!
lV ^ 0Rn
o^ ! 2@006
5R W R" R \P " \
" P " R [ V
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, C 06
5%@06341223
DEFG ;HE+8>;8IH-.> , : ,>- J-K L
0M
M
6M
N/O DEFG ;HE+8>;8-K L 5P Q R R S &R S
S T & P P P S &
T
U& T & & & P QVM
W/--X.?YAY.?Y.Z-7[.Z\:7Z[\
W/] ^,;, >+ 5P P & R & &
T
& M 5P " &
P
T P
& P
_ " &
M 5P PR
"P
S P S "
&
T U&
Q R
PR
P "PM
W/O DEFG ;8 >G8 H S' P ` 1 P !" T P
& S "T " " & " ST "
P
&
Q P P !" M
W/a- X;b, ;*89 5P P & P S "
S "
R P
P U S P 00 S QM
c/--DZ:.?:\?-[-AY\[\d:.7Y-
5P & P &
"T &
& P e R M 5P & P _ & P e R Q
P & & P & f & " & R
V & U
M
]g/--7[dAY.D:ZX[.-
5P h ! P " &
_ P P" P M
!P"P P h ! Q S &
" P T P
_ T P
h !T Q P & P QV
P P "M Q
U & & ' " P
_ S P Q & P
_
M 5P
" P &
" M !P P iUP S eM
]]/--X.?Yd.XX7:ZX[.-
]]/]- [F+*B>8* ; 5P - P T
P P P
T
&
" " T T " T ' T U& S P j
T QP & % T & T
P Q "
- 5P _ " " &
& P e R
! R k
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, @ 06
5%@06341223
!
" " C D E F C
GC
&
G
F H
- !
" F & "FC &
"FC C C DC I
D
F &&
"F
& #( G
F
J
I C
I G F &I G
F & F K F
!" H
!
G F F !" L
MM/N- O* *8>8* ;- ;-PQ+*B>8* ; 5F G " G 00L0 GI F &&
F R
F
C C " C '
C R& G
F " " E
F
C &
" L -
MM/S-- ?T89-8 -?,U,;V 5F J G " G 00L0 GI && F R
R E G
E " F
C C &
"
F 113 13L3 F I L W& F
J E K C
F C E R& C F
F G' F G "
G 00L0 GI L
MM/X-- Y;ZT >;[, 5F
J &
E F 0
I F G " F 00L 5F J G "
F 00 &&
EF F F K G
F !" I
" " L
MM/\-- ]T =*=>+ --5F J G " F 00 I I F R&
F !" L
MN/--Y.]^_:.7`-_`a^Y_`b`.c]
MN/M- d,;, >+ 5F F &
E F F K F `ef*Q*8-7
F !" L
MN/N- ? [T ,;8>8* ; g & "
I C F G F
J
" D " #h
D i" h(C F
D i" J E &&IC
" & E F F K `ef*Q*8-7L
MN/S- 7f>;B,Z 5F
D i"
E I C E "C
F K
`ef*Q*8-7L
MS/--Pj.`_]kYA-P-jP_l-A_P?^7c
MS/M- Pm;, Zf*< 5F
E "F
F E " ED & # "
K I ( E F & F C
EF
G
F
F & ""
G
F
& F J I & F !" &C E "C &C C
E C C F I & I # I
noD
p(L $E F " F " "C J I C R&
&C & I " E F F J q C
" C C
C C
G " E G &I F
L
MS/N- 7 <9 *Bf8 5 F R & G
5 01 F W C F oD
ED F &
"F F oD F &&
F
L r
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, 06
5%@06341223
C D D C
EF GF C H
GI C C J
" C
&
"C C GF GC K
LM/M- N;8,;8* ;>++9-O *88,P/-
LM/Q- 7 ;RS+8>;8TR-U,SR, E C C V W & G I C
& C EF X&
&J K -
LQ/--?NY7ZOY[U\-O-]OU^-AUO?[7_
LQ/L- A `*a*8* ; bX & C c J
C V C G d J
GI C
C
C G " C &
#( EF I #J(
J G C
I #( & & I D & D
J
C
J C & " D &
C !" K
LQ/e- . 8*f*g>8* ; 5C G
C V d J
C &
EF I C C C G
&C J "K
LQ/M- Z* *8- ;-A `*a*8* ; 5C &C J J 0hK0 JD &&
J G C J C & C i D K
LQ/Q- YS =*=>+ 5C 0h D D C X& C !" K
Lj/--:[?N_)N.YA\7_NO.-O-U\7OU?Y-
Lj/L- U,8,;8* ;-A, * P --5C C C G " # D
k
l(
6
C C
W &
C C
!"
" & d J
G
! " I JF I D I DC I C FI C
" C W C" & " D I C W
X& J C" C
m
! EF C D " W & K
Lj/e- A PSg*;B-U,g PR !
" C !" " C & C C
d C
I C
n" I C V I C
!
I C
! I " & D
C
d I G "I
& & C
K 5C C & C d
" J CI
C
" & J
C & K 5C C & C d
C
K
Lj/M Y8>8,-:SP*8 o G C pD 3@hK1I C
J
J' J
C ! G C " C W & C
!" C & C !" X q0IK
Lr/--.O.s?NY7UNtN.:_NO.).O.sAU\\U\.7\-
Lr/L- A `*a*8* ; 5C C " I " & I
& C J I XI I " I " I X I & D
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, 1 06
5%@06341223
"
C D
C E
" F 5E &E D && "C E "C
C
C C & C " D C G C "C
&& E & E C C & G " &
C D "
&E "F
HI/J- K;8,;8* ;>++9-L *88,M/-
HI/N- OPQR ;8 >R8S 5E E D 0F0 E !" E
D E E E !" F
HT/--7L.UK7V-L-K.VWXWOV
HT/H- Y,;, >+ 5E & E Z E E
ZC " &
Z E E Z & " E !" F 5E
EC E [ C Z Z
"
" && F 5E E G
&& & " E !" F 5E E
E D " " E ZE E &
& E !"
&& C E
E
Z " D Z
" G " E
&& F
HT/J- *+*;B- -T\\ E
! #]G
30 ^F( E E E & C & " G E
!" C EG " _ 1 ZE EG _ 1
& " Z E E
C E E Z "
[ E " _ 1 ^ D
E [ `
& E _ 1 E 6
E & D "
& " G E !" D ^ _ 1
Z E E ^ & E
!`
_ E " _ 1 Z E E
a b Z E &
D E [
E & " E _ 1 " &D G F
" c 031F6C G ZE "
&D G C & Z E "G "
C &
E D
E E Z E Z D & D
E "E%
G &
&D " ZE d &
& D
E
" &D G F eD G f E G &D
C C E E & G
E Fg! D _ #_ (
% " D _ 1 E"E E _ & " Z E "Fg
HT/N- P8P ,-O, =*R,S 5E bZ " E E Z " Z E " & "
G E
5E a & E G ^ D
E !"
&& Z E " E & "
& & " E & hijikl G C &
E G
^ D
E !" & & %&E &
&' `
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, 3 06
5%@06341223
C && D E " C
F
C & " & & " C & C
G H
5C
& E " DC & I
I
& " C G F E
C !" "C CG E
E
& G J
KL/--M.NOPQ.RM.S:TTU-APMMP:VTM-APQ7WPMRM.S-AQTO7U
KL/K- X,;, >+ 5C C & E " C !" D C
0%02I YC E
Z " C " G "
[ \ I]
^%I Y_G
E
J]
KL/`- A a*b*8* ;- c-7*89-d;e*;B-c -Ad fa>g,- c-h*;B+,-h, =*;B-V 88+,e-i>8, 5C
j &
C
C E C &C " % G " E D k &
C D "
E
" I G " k &
G C
l _ "
G H
DC C C "C m % D C %&E D H
DC C E G E D I C " &E
G DC " F D E E C C
J
! G m " E
C " % G " E D
C EG k & E & E
D G &G E
C
"
E
C n J
KL/o- M;=* ; ,;8>++9-A ,c, >b+,-A fd , ,;8-A +*f9 5C _G
E
I " D C E &
& I C
j D E C
D " m C&44DDDJ' J"G4C 4CD p q0366J _G
& & G C & j Dm D I
DC G & E I E
5C
4
E &
& # J J 6rI @rI 0r
\ && I C & I C I J(H
5C _ "
% & F & H
5C G C
E G C I & &
" C
G C & H
5C & D &#(H
\ G G D C I " E G
G " E D C &E G & J
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, 2 06
5%@06341223
CD/--EFGHI.:EIJ.
CD/C- -7 ;=,;*,;K, L M &
M !"
N
" O " M M &
P M Q N' M R &
&& N & " R N " S M &
N N
& N & M
R M #( PM M
P "" T 5M P M M O M Q
PM M N 1 U V
R M M P T
CD/W- XI;8,;8* ;>++9-J *88,YZ
CD/[- ?,+*=, 9- \-] ^ _ M V M !" Q M V M M &
` " M &O M
M M aS & &
N
M & M R & M P T
CD/b- XI;8,;8* ;>++9-J *88,YZ
CD/c G,K,*<8- \-. 8*K, d && M &O Q &
R & M P
P N N M & N N T
N PQ PM M O T
We/--.JEI7Ff
We/C- H>;;, - \-g*=*;B-. 8*K, ! M ` N
M !"
N P "Q N O % Q & O h Q &"
& & T
We/W- ]i,;-F\\,K8*=, ! M M % O PM
&O M O SP " M & # T"T
&Q % Q M P SP " (T ! M M
&
O O PM &
O T ! M M
O 6
& M h T
We/[ E -]i -g*=,; ! M N P M & " " M
!" N " O M O N P " M &&&
" O "
5 M
j
!
R k
!
5"
L Q 0M d
jQ ! 2@006
l3%@6@%02
T" m' T"O
5 M
! U a"
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, 0 06
5%@06341223
CD/E- 7F>;B*;B-7 ;8>G8-H;I >8* ; J K &
K" L "
M " " K !" N
&L " K K"
K K &
& K O
CP/Q:RS-TUST-AVSWS.THX.
CP/P- 7 <+*>;G,-Y*8F-Q>B,->;Z-U [ -\>Y] ^
N & " M_
K !" ^ K &
M K && N ^ M" K
MO !&& N M
^ N ^ K ` ` N !^
K N ^ K a L " b"
^ K a L " b"
^ K a c b" d O
CP/C- *;>+-e[ZB ,;8]f-?,G*]* ;]f->;Z-X Z, ] ` && K ^ g ' " ^
^ h MK K && KL N iK K &
&& K i& O
L L "
"L " K
j & N^ K j L N J ^ K
a d Jk
! ^
K "L
L _ M K K
L " M" K MO
CP/l- A * -e[ZB ,;8]->B>*;]8-7 ;][+8>;8->;Z) -*8]-m[nG ;8 >G8 ] - op qr$q$r 5q
!r
JJcJ$5^ d$s5!$5 !``q
c 5!5 q5 ! jq dJj !$p `q$! sjrcJ$5^
jJ qqd$ d
d
jJ
J!5q$r 5d b!rJ !$j ds
!b `
dc ! ds
5 d
q$tJ5qr!5d
p rdtJ
$cJ$5 !rJ$ p `q$jq$r ! 5d 5J d$s5!$5 !$j q5
so d$5
! 5d
#( u q$ 5J `qtJ pJ!
qd
5d JvJ s5q$r 5q !r
JJcJ$5O
d$s5!$5 `s
5J
!``q
c 5!5 q5 d
q5 so d$5
! 5d
#( ! !5q`qJj
!$j dcqJj bq5 !$p s sjrcJ$5^ jJ qqd$ d
d
jJ
O
CP/E- e[ZB ,;8]- -?,G*]* ;]-?[ *;B-T, - I-7 ;8 >G8 q
" K K
!" ^ L "
"L "
' " ^
" K N &
& M_ K !" K
L
&& N M" K M^ K ' " ^ ^
K M & L
^ K K d Jk
! ^
K 0@
K ' " ^ N " K
' " ^ O N K &&
&
M K
K ' " ^ ^ ^ K &L K
w d Jk
! M K
L & M K K ' " ^
M K L
" K ' " ^ O
CP/x- 7*89y]-V*BF8-8 -Q*8FF +Z-A>9 ,;8 bK
N &
& M_ K !" K N L
&& N M" K
M N
' " ^ "L "
M K & M_
K !" ^ K
L K "K M KK &
K
' " ^ K N O
CP/z- {>8, *>+-| ,>GF ` &
M K
& K N K
K !" O K N K
L N K !"
4
K L N K !" 4 MO
CP/}- . 8*G,-8 -7*89-V,+>8,Z-8 -Q>B,-TF,I8-A ,=,;8* ; $ &L K
w d
Jk
! k K K N d Jk
! ^ J ^ @K `^ a^ ! 2@006O 5K $ &L
K &
K &L K !" ^ "
^
&L K NL K k K O
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, 00 06
5%@06341223
CC/--DEF7GHH:.GIJF
CC/K- L*M8N-A O*P*8,Q 5R & R S R R& 0T3 R
U V & W SR R "
&R X
" &
& "
" T 5R R
" &
"
&R X X
R& 0T3T 5R Y Z R X T0
X RT
CC/C- ?*N[\>+*M*]>8* ;- M- , -G <+ 9,,N 5R & R S R
R& 0T0 R
Y V & W SR R "
&R X
" &
&Z " Z R
S R R 4R
& X T 5R R R
W &
" &
Z " S Z R& 0T0T 5R
Y Z R X T X RT
CC/^- _>*=, - M->-`* +>8* ; 5R
Y S Z
Z R !" X
R
S Z
R Z X
R T
CC/a :]],<8>;],- M-F, =*],N-. 8->-_>*=, 5R
Y &
Z Z X
S Z
&
&& X R Z Z X W
"R W
b W
R
R !" T
CC/c- 7 <+*>;],-d*8O-H>dN --5R R & Z S R && X
W SW W " T 5R X "
S
X
R Y X " &
S R
& SW W
" R SR R !" T
CC/e- f\N*;,NN-g>h 5R & S R
R
X i
i & W b W S R i & R
!" T
CC/j :NN*B;>P*+*89 --ki & R i R !" R l R
XW R R "
& R !" S R R m Y
& S T 5R m W R m Y W
Z R !"
Z R &Z T
CC/n- L =, ;*;B-H>d -- S "Z R & R !" T
CC/o- ?*N<\8,N --!
" " R !" S X Z X
R R
& R
W R U m Z R
$R m T
CC/Kp-F\ =*=>+- M-A =*N* ;N --q
& R !" X W R &
R X T
CC/KK-r,>Q*;BN --5R iR X R " Z
X
T s
CC/KC-Gh,]\8* ;-*;-7 \;8, <> 8N 5R !"
X i
X &
X
R &
& &W R SR R SR i Z R
X X " SR R t " R R R
T
!" #$% & ' (
)*+,-. / 012345%6
7*89-:88 ;,9-:<< =>+-?>8,
@
A>B, 0 06
5%@06341223
CC/DE-FG,- H-I+,J8 ;*J-K*B;>8L ,G --M N O &N P P
O
&
Q N &
" N &
" Q
" Q N N
" R O N " S " T 5N
U &
" V O " N WX
0@@T 5N U
" V N R P
&&
"
" " N"
&&X P
N
T
CC/DY 7 ;GL+8>;8-A *=*+,B, -- Z O
NX [ P " N
" & T \N N [ Q " N
O
] Q P
N T
P X N P PN T ^ N P
X Q Z O
P &
& N O N N
Z T 5N Q & N P & X "
X P N & Q " N ON &
P N P' N
T 5 X
[ N " Q N
- " Q P
" " N Q
N Z O
XX N &
O N N Z ]
O N N & Q N
N Q
X ON O & N
Q O P N O
P' N
Z
% & X " T
___`
___`
___`
___`
___`
___`
___`
___`
___`
___`
___`
___`
___
! "# $$ %& '() * + ,
-./ 0 % 1 * 2 3
456" 7# 89:;<=)>
?5@A B@@ C"A BDD E!6 F!@"#
G
H!I"# 8 8
=)G8>;<9::;
JKLMNMO B# P?QHJ Q NBPM? PJRSM?JP
'() * + ,
=/ / *3 $ 3 $ $ 3 0 / / JTU5V5@ BW =/
/ *3 $ 3 $ $ 3 0 X $ 0
/ JTU5V5@ B / / Y W
Z* X [ % 3 / *3 $ * \ $ & $3 $ *
/&/ /
%
] ^ $ / * [ & [ $ &3 $
/ & *& * _ / _ $ &[ 0 $ `$ $
%& $ [ 2 $ $ [ $ [ a3 $ [ / $
$ [ $ ** 0 & $ _W
b7 P@!@c@ A !Cd R"Ic6!@ A ? D65!Ce" Mffc"f
% /
$ / *
g * $ **
& $ & $ $ 0
& /
Y * `$ $ %& [ / Y * 0 /[ $ /
h
2$
%$3 $ 3 _ X
i7 H 65e5"fj N"f@ H !e@5e"f !Cd "k H I ! f
$ $ 3 _ *$ / * $ $$ * & * $
* _ / _ $ 0 * _ /
%$3 * &3 & / *
$ $ 3 _ * [ & $ [ $ 0 * * _
/ *&
l7 R"Ic6!@ A JCm e" "C@ R"D "f"C@!@5 C !Cd BdE e!eA
* ** /
%
] ^ $ 3 * $ & 0&/ 0
&
& [ $ & & & ** / *
$
n7 O !5C5CIj Jdce!@5 C o QCI 5CI ? cCf"6
3 $ & & $ / _
X
p $ $3 _ &
Y 3 * & $ [ / q [ $ * $
$
! "# $$ %& '() * + ,
-./ 0 12/ % & *
345" 6# 789:;<)=
>4?@ A?? B"@ ACC D!5 E!?"#
F
G!H"#7
<)F7=:;899:
IJKLMLN M# OP"5?" GAQO G H ! G! ?4R4C!?4 B
! "# $$ %& '() * + ,
-./ 0 1
2
345" 6# 789:;<)=
>4?@ A?? B"@ ACC D!5 E!?"#
F
G!H"#7 =
<)F7=:;899:
IJKLMLN ># L OPQA >I QIRPLQISI NO
T U $ .* T / * $ / $ /
%& & + * $& **
V/ /
T
V /T / * / W / $ 0
T & T
* W T *
0X
A6 S4B4 Y OZ C" [ LB\Y !BZ"
W & / 0 0$
7X </ W & *W $ $ 0
1 W ] ^ 0
W & '_ `, a (0 ^ 7b $
X </ W & *W $ $ 0
1 W ] a (0 % 7 W &
%0 0
X W & / 0 $ $ V $T )V $ $ / $
0 b $
=X cd U * 2 $ 0
/ 0 $ $
-*
0
b $
eX 0
- $ ] W
$ $X
</ / 0 $ $ & / * W & 2 $ 0W **W $
0
/
f
d g& X
M6 S4B4 Y h4 4?\ [ LB\Y !BZ"
/ /
7X ^ 0
i7TT * 0$
+
T * +
$ **
$& X 1 0
1 / V / &
&& & $T / / & && & / **
*
/
*+ ; / & && & / 0 V / 2 $ b
$
X %0 0
i7TT 0 $ & * $ 0$
+
$
**
$& b $
=X cd U * $ -*
0
cd U *
2 $ 0
/ 0 $ $ -*
0
i7TT *
$ b $
eX 0
- $ ] i7TT * $ i7TT
&& & X
>6 E"jYZ?4k5"\ !Bj O"5[lLB\Y "j Q"?"B?4 B\
%
$ $ 0 ) $ 0 $ $ T $ **W $ 0
U
d g& X
! "# $$ %& '() * + ,
-./ 0 1
2
345" 6# 789:;<)=
>4?@ A?? B"@ ACC D!5 E!?"#
F
G!H"# =
<)F7=:;899:
E6 I?J" KBLM !BN" G D4L4 BL
</ * O 0 $ $ O / P & *Q
7R S 0
%$ %0 0
Q &
R </
TO O *
$ & 0 Q $
$$ $ * 0
& Q * $ 0
0 / O U *$ $ * $ * U
* P $O $ $ 0
U $ 0 P $O $O
/ $ 0P $ 0
R </ Q & / *
/ * * $ $
O O *
R
0R V Q & / 0 *
*
O
O *
O & $ R %
)
$ 0
O O *
O & / 0 .
V $ / 0 P / R
R %
*
P / * & *Q / * 0
/
Q & *Q $ $
O O *
O & R
$R Q & / / W / **
*
/
$ & P/ $ 0&/O . * P / * /
/ W 0
R
R Q & / P Q 0& Q /
O O
*
O $ & R
R XY W * $ -*
W 0
Q & / P Q 0& Q /
TO O
*
O $ & R
=R Z$ Q &
1 Q & 0 $ [ $ \ *
O / Q $ / * $ / $
Q P $ P / /
$ / Q & / 0 $ * $ / '=,
Q $ / %& R
]R % Q &
-/ *
2 $ 0
/ %& / 0 $ $ / Q & /
0 * $ $O Q $ $O $O $ $ . * /
'=, $
V *
P / 0 & Q
O . * / '7, $
W * P / **
/ Q *
* R
^6 ANN"C?!_454?@ ` KBLM " L
1 0 * $ P / *0
V
Y Z& R
! "# $$ %& '() * + ,
-./ 0 1
2
345" 6# 789:;<)=
>4?@ A?? B"@ ACC D!5 E!?"#
F
G!H"#= =
<)F7=:;899:
6 I" 4J4K!?4 B J > D" !H"
/ /
L / $ $ & M & 2 $
0
/ %& N </ $ $ / *
0 & $ 0
* / O $ 0
/ 0 $ M & 0 /N
/ 0 $ *$
P&Q+ N&M
$
RST
P U& 1
- V 7W/ T <L
RV % 9F77=)79F
X6 YZ[K B? !K? \
/ $ 0 0 $ $ * / 0
* $ $ / 0N
From:Amber Makker Bansal
To:Council, City
Subject:Public Comment Re Agenda Item 3
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 5:25:09 PM
Attachments:4.6 Public Comment Agenda Item 2 PTC San Antonio Road Area Plan.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hello. I hope this email finds you well. I have attached a public comment pertaining to agenda item 3,
the San Antonio Area Plan for today’s meeting. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Amber Bansal
April 6, 2026
Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
RE: Agenda Item 2, San Antonio Road Area Plan Land Use and Transportation
Alternatives
To the Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission,
We are undergraduate students associated with Palo Alto Forward, an organization that
supports efforts to expand housing opportunities and improve multi-modal transportation options
for people. We appreciate the City’s ongoing work to plan for additional homes and enhanced
street design through the San Antonio Road Area Plan.
This plan presents an important chance to advance the objectives of Palo Alto’s Housing
Element, which anticipates that a large share of future housing will be located along the San
Antonio corridor.
We encourage the Commission to consider the following priorities to contribute to affordable,
accessible neighborhoods in the future:
Encourage a mix of uses, including both housing and office space. Thriving neighborhoods
are typically those that integrate places to live, work, and shop. Nearby examples demonstrate
the value of this approach: in Redwood City, office development has helped fund affordable
housing, while San Mateo’s Hillsdale area has been transformed into a mixed-use district with
housing, retail, and workplaces. The San Antonio corridor has the potential to support similar
patterns of development, consistent with the City’s goal of creating complete neighborhoods.
Survey results also indicate that a majority of respondents support including office uses
alongside residential development.
Allow greater residential capacity throughout the plan area. Providing flexibility in zoning
will make it possible to deliver more housing at a range of income levels. While current feasibility
studies point to 8-story buildings as the most typical outcome, recent proposals—such as the
17-story Mollie Stone’s redevelopment—highlight how additional height can unlock significantly
more homes, including affordable units, while maintaining essential neighborhood services like
grocery stores. Therefore, we support the staff’s proposal to allow building heights up to 250
feet and a minimum of 90 feet, especially on larger sites such as the Maxar property. Taller
buildings could be concentrated toward the southern portion of the corridor, with heights
stepping down closer to established residential areas to create a more gradual transition.
Prioritize safe, high-quality bike infrastructure by advancing Alternative MSA-3 with Class
IV protected bikeways on both sides of the corridor. Given that San Antonio Road carries
significant truck traffic, physically separated bike lanes are critical for safety. Thoughtful design
that fully separates cyclists and pedestrians from vehicles will not only improve safety but also
support future growth and help meet climate goals by making it easier for residents to rely less
on cars.
Thank you for your consideration,
Amber Bansal and Kay Thiam
From:Leanne McAuliffe
To:Lu, George; Lauing, Ed; keith.reckdahl@paloalto.org; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Veenker, Vicki; Council, City;
julie.lythcott-haims@paloalto.org; julie.lythcott-haims@paloalto.org; julie.lythcotthaims@paloalto.org
Subject:Agenda Item 5, Council Meeting April 6 - Turf replacement contract approval - Set your own PFAS requirements
and limits.
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 4:52:35 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Council Members,
Supplemental information for Agenda Item 5 was just added. It is exactly right, there are
currently no regulations for PFAS in artificial turf which is exactly why you should set your
own requirements.
Require that "PFAS free" does actually mean NO PFAS are in any of the artificial turf
components. That includes the carpet fibres, the backing, the shockpad, and any other layers
of plastic. When consumers hear PFAS free that is exactly what they expect. Zero PFAS.
Anything else is misleading to a consumer and the public that will be using this field. If it is not
Zero, then disclose this to the public and disclose exactly what PFAS and what amounts of
those PFAS have been found.
To say that any testing proves that any PFAS in a product are "unintentionally added" is
ridiculous and meaningless. No testing proves if something was intentionally added or not.
That claim is reliant purely on statements by the manufacturer. Statements are meaningless.
And besides that, any amount of PFAS in artificial turf, whether intentionally added or not, are
simply there. And if they are there, that a problem, full stop.
In the absence of regulations, just as the artificial turf industry can set its own standards, so
should you! And since your obligations and loyalties lie with the community and children that
will use this field please set the most protective standard and require all artificial turf
components used in Palo Alto public facility truly have ZERO PFAS (proven by Eurofins testing
of 70 PFAS to parts per trillion - with and without SPLP, as well as TOP Assay testing).
Kind regards,
Leanne McAuliffe
Resident of Los Gatos
From:Cynthia Fan
To:Lauing, Ed; Lu, George; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Veenker, Vicki; Council, City
Subject:4/6/26 Agenda Item 5 – Supplemental report does not resolve PFAS concerns
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 4:42:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachmentsand clicking on links.
Hi Council,
I see that staff have added a second supplemental report for Item 5, this one intended to address some of the PFAS
concerns I alerted you to in my public comment in the thread attached below.
The report emphasizes, as I did in my comment below, that “PFAS-free” has no standardized definition. The report states
that testing of the Mayfield Complex turf confirmed the manufacturer did not intentionally add PFAS.
However, I don’t see how that confirmation should be considered satisfactory by you or the public. As I explained in my
comments below, the absence of intentionally added PFAS does not mean the product is free of PFAS—or that it does
not release PFAS at levels unsafe for the watershed.
If tests of a quarantined sample of the product from the manufacturer demonstrate it can shed any detectable level of
PFAS, the cause is irrelevant. It doesn’t matter if the cause is residuals or impurities that can come from using PFAS
processing agents. It doesn’t matter if the cause is some other source the manufacturer has failed to address. It doesn’t
matter what the manufacturer’s intent was. What matters is whether PFAS can shed from the product.
Please ask staff to clarify how the City has decided that the PFAS levels detected to shed from the Mayfield turf
are considered reasonably safe for the watershed.
It’s clear City staff have realized that since they failed to put PFAS requirements in the Mayfield contract, they have no
strong case to make a claim against FieldTurf when it comes to Mayfield’s PFAS. That’s why staff are emphasizing in
this supplemental report that “PFAS-free” and “non-detect” have no standardized definitions. For Mayfield, those
undefined terms were all the City was relying on to protect the watershed. When it comes to watershed contamination
from Mayfield, the City has no easy recourse to pursue with the vendor. So the most friction-free path forward for staff is
for everyone to assume the detected level of PFAS in the Mayfield turf is acceptable to watershed experts. But is it?
According to whom?
This is exactly why the El Camino contract needs explicit PFAS requirements, vetted by environmental and watershed
experts. If FieldTurf cannot meet those requirements, the City should seek a vendor that has done a better job reducing the
unintentional PFAS in their products. If (a) no vendor can prove they’ve done a better job and (b) the amount of PFAS
that can shed from artificial turf remains a risk to the watershed in the opinion of watershed experts, then you have a
bigger conversation before you.
Thank you for addressing this critical issue.
-Cynthia Fan
Begin forwarded message:
From: Cynthia Fan <cynthiafan247@gmail.com>
Date: April 6, 2026 at 4:21:02 AM PDT
To: Ed.Lauing@paloalto.gov, George.Lu@paloalto.gov, Julie.LythcottHaims@paloalto.gov,
Keith.Reckdahl@paloalto.gov, Pat.Burt@paloalto.gov, Greer.Stone@paloalto.gov,
Vicki.Veenker@paloalto.gov, City.Council@paloalto.gov
Subject: 4/6/26 agenda item 5: Unambiguously define PFAS expectations in turf contract
Hi Council,
I’m writing to flag what appears to be a serious oversight. I can find no mention of PFAS in the El Camino
Park turf replacement contract included under Item 5 of the 4/6/26 consent agenda.
Please pull this item from consent for discussion.
To protect the City’s interests and ensure enforceability, staff should be directed to amend the contract to
unambiguously define:
(a) the City’s PFAS requirements for the full turf system, and
(b) the consequences if those requirements are not met.
At minimum, please clarify the following with staff:
1. PFAS standards must be clearly defined and expert-informed
PFAS requirements should be developed with input from environmental and water quality
experts.
2. “No intentionally added PFAS” is not sufficient
This phrase is increasingly used but is not protective. PFAS contamination—intentional or not—
poses the same risk to our watershed. If tests of a quarantined sample of the product from the
manufacturer demonstrate it can shed PFAS, the cause is irrelevant. It doesn’t matter if the cause
is supply chain contamination, processing agents, or some other source the manufacturer has
failed to address. The manufacturer’s intent doesn’t matter. What matters is whether PFAS can
shed from the product.
3. The entire turf system must be covered
Testing and compliance must apply to all components, including carpet fibers, carpet backing,
shockpads (new and reused), infill, adhesives used in system construction, nailer boards (new
and reused), and geotextiles. Other agencies have found PFAS in multiple components.
Examples:
Carpet fibers: The El Camino Park contract proposes Fieldturf’s Vertex product. This product
has been shown to shed detectable levels of PFAS. Independent, unpaid, expert testimony has
been provided regarding testing results and can be accessed via the citations on page 3 of this
letter from the nonprofit Safe Healthy Playing Fields, Inc.
: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/cm52dn1g9ssgi7b9f10qc/2026-03-11-SHPFI-to-Carlsbad-
BOE.pdf?rlkey=hlpatoxc3bzrado0dco1czjb3&st=uh99evhn&raw=1
Nailer boards: FieldTurf advertises that it recycles used synthetic turf carpets into new nailer
boards. However, because PFAS are persistent, that means that if used carpets had PFAS in
them, PFAS could also be present in the new nailer boards.
Shockpad: Test results show the Portsmouth, NH shockpad had 61 ppm:
https://nontoxicdovernh.wordpress.com/2021/09/15/tests-detect-dangerous-pfas-chemicals-in-
portsmouths-new-synthetic-turf-field/ El Camino Park’s proposed system will retain the existing
Brock shockpad. Brock says their products don’t contain PFAS :
https://www.mvcommission.org/sites/default/files/docs/PFAS%2520Letter%2520Brock%2520USA.pdf
However, independent testing found 26 ppm in Brock’s shockpad, as reported on page 5 of this
2024 document published by University of Massachusetts:
https://www.uml.edu/docs/PFAS%20in%20Artificial%20Turf%20-
%20Academic%20Municipal%20%26%20Other%20Tests%20Aug%202024_tcm18-386957.pdf
Adhesives: That U. Mass document also states that PFAS were found in the adhesives used to
construct the turf system.
At Council’s 1/12/26 meeting, the turf Ad Hoc committee members reassured the public that the artificial turf
the city would be procuring for El Camino Park would be PFAS-free:
Mayor Veenker said (at timestamp 3:09:06) “We'll contract for turf that doesn't contain PFAS and
can do the testing to confirm that.”
Councilmember Burt said (at timestamp 3:18:25) “We're going to have not only materials that the
supplier is asserting will be PFAS-free but that we are going to do testing on.”
However, recent experience suggests caution continues to be warranted. FieldTurf previously asserted, in a
letter to the City (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RfesQmGBRyP8VaqnnRgHCLRowfcoXVn0/view?
usp=drivesdk), that its product for the Mayfield Complex project was “PFAS-free”. Yet the City’s own
consultant concluded that claim was unsubstantiated
(https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/at36n55s9udf67vbuzxzm/2025-05-02-Palo-Alto-has-Field-Turf-PFAS-test-
data-evaluated-by-independent-expert.pdf?rlkey=400ui4l5pjrby365mi3klhruo&st=37xg154h&raw=1).
Despite that the City had the consultant’s input a month prior to finalizing a FieldTurf contract for the
Mayfield renovation, the version of the contract in the June 9, 2025 Council agenda Item 9 appears to include
no clearly defined PFAS requirements: https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/community-
services/staff-report-contracts/open-space-parks-and-golf/field-turf-usa/field-turf-usa-inc-c25193640.pdf
What lessons were learned from Mayfield? Have PFAS test results been received? If so, what do they show?
If Mayfield testing shows PFAS can shed from the turf system, the City may find itself in a weak position.
The City’s ability to enforce its expectations may be limited. Vendors may argue that “PFAS-free” was not
contractually defined, no term was violated, and the City interpreted the phrase “PFAS-free” differently than
the vendor intended. This is not hypothetical. A nearly identical situation occurred in Portsmouth, NH:
https://www.eenews.net/articles/our-community-has-been-deceived-turf-wars-mount-over-pfas/
I shared that cautionary tale with you before the Mayfield vote and asked that the contract be pulled from
consent for discussion. You opted not to do so.
I urge you not to repeat that mistake. Please pull the El Camino contract from consent and address this now.
Please ensure the El Camino contract clearly defines PFAS requirements and establishes enforceable
remedies if standards are not met.
If no vendor can meet these requirements, the City should evaluate alternatives or, at minimum, select the
product with the lowest verified PFAS levels.
PFAS already contaminate our water, our environment, and our bodies. This is an opportunity to avoid
adding to that burden.
Thank you,
Cynthia Fan
From:Cynthia Fan
To:Lauing, Ed; Lu, George; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Veenker, Vicki; Council,
City
Subject:4/6/26 agenda item 5: Add irrigation to the turf renovation contract?
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 3:26:02 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hi Council,
A few questions to ask staff regarding item 5, El Camino Park’s artificial turf
renovation:
1. With what frequency does the City routinely clean its artificial turf of
things like blood, sweat, Gatorade, bird droppings, etc.?
2. Does this renovation contract include installation of irrigation?
3. If not, how does the maintenance team perform routine cleaning of the
plastic turf surface?
Should irrigation be added to the contract?
Thanks,
Cynthia Fan
P.S. Even if you have a policy prohibiting sticky drinks on artificial turf, you do
realize renters don’t necessarily comply, right? There was a pile of what looked
like Gatorade bottles on the middle of El Camino Park’s plastic field yesterday
during a large event.
See
usp=drivesdk
and
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YWE5-
bqFRTASqhLldO6aMYoVkNhf37eA/view?usp=drivesdk
From:Cynthia Fan
To:Lauing, Ed; Lu, George; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Veenker, Vicki;
Council, City
Subject:4/6/26 Agenda Item 5: Disavow on record turf study’s 4x carrying capacity finding.
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 2:57:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hi Council,
Parents in Santa Monica are struggling to push back against plans to replace their elementary
school playground with artificial turf. Their district is relying in part on a consultant study
their district commissioned, a key finding of which is that “one synthetic turf field provides
the equivalent capacity of three to four natural grass fields.”
Sound familiar?
Guess where they got that highly influential conclusion from.
They got it directly from the turf study YOU commissioned.
The cited source of the claim is the Palo Alto 2025 turf study. (The key finding appears on the
page ii of the Santa Monica report and the citation appears on page
50: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kXRZhCSmM0qNWbJbyv_R29RZWQegVlE_/view )
With your turf study findings, you are influencing multimillion dollar decisions, potentially
taking away the only authentic green space 6 year olds have access to during school recess,
and potentially contributing environmental and public health harms to communities well
beyond your jurisdiction. You are also propping up the artificial turf industry, which is of
course why you were lobbied during the turf study period by the industry tradegroup Synthetic
Turf Council and manufacturer TenCate. They foresaw the potential leverage that a favorable-
to-them report from Palo Alto would have.
This use of Palo Alto’s 4x carrying capacity finding is not isolated. I raised this concern to
you in January after staff in a Montana city cited the same 4x finding in attempt to persuade
their council to approve artificial turf:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0jy82mut4uwvnr8zu3w6x/2026-01-12-1-Fan-to-Palo-Alto-
City-Council.pdf?rlkey=b1tmev41k0kzfaw67406ft1ow&st=z012onzo&raw=1
Although you chose not to formally accept your turf study, the report—and its 4x capacity
claim—will remain forever public and, unless you do something to counter it, will continue to
be cited by other agencies as fact.
I ask that you use Agenda Item 5 to state clearly, on the record, that Palo Alto does not,
and will not, rely on the turf study’s inadequately substantiated carrying capacity
finding to justify artificial turf installations.
This clarity matters. Over time, the context behind your decision not to accept your turf
study’s report will fade, but the 4x figure will persist and continue to be cited without
qualification.
Your current actions already implicitly reflect your skepticism. If the City trusted a 4x
advantage, there would be little reason to pursue a pilot to increase natural grass capacity. That
pilot signals the issue is not settled. However, your skepticism needs to be made explicit.
Other agencies look to Palo Alto as a credible source. When a 4x carrying capacity claim
appears in a City report, it is treated as authoritative—whether or not that report was formally
accepted. That is why this figure is now being repeated elsewhere.
Declining to accept the report was not the same as disavowing inadequately substantiated
findings. Without a clear statement from you, this inadequately substantiated carrying capacity
claim will continue to be relied upon.
I respectfully ask that you:
explicitly reject the inadequately substantiated 4x carrying capacity finding, or
formally reject the report, or
adopt a resolution that the study’s findings will not be used to inform future field
surface decisions.
A clear statement would help prevent further misuse of this figure and signal to other agencies
that the City is not treating that key finding as established fact.
Thank you for your consideration,
Cynthia Fan
From:Mark Hollar
To:Council, City
Cc:Michele Hollar; Cain, Robert; San Antonio Area Plan
Subject:Oppose San Antonio Over Development - 60 ft Max
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 2:50:16 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear Sirs,
We are Greenmeadow residents, owning a home near the intersection of Nelson Drive and
Adobe Place. In addition, Mark works in Sunnyvale near 101, and commutes using San
Antonio intersections.
We strongly oppose building heights above 60 feet in properties that abut San Antonio Road.
Allocating more than 50% of the state's mandatory Housing Element requirements, more than
3,034 units, to a small area in South Palo Alto will overwhelm infrastructure, worsen traffic on
an already dangerous corridor, and permanently destroy our neighborhood's character.
We urge the Council to cap heights at 60 ft on properties abutting San Antonio Road between
101 and Alma, require a minimum of one parking space per unit, and distribute growth
equitably across all of Palo Alto. If absolutely necessary, the only area that seems at all
reasonable to allow taller buildings is in the Commercial / Transport / Industrial area, where
building height could possibly provide a buffer to 101. In that area a height of 75 - 85 feet
might work.
As far as distributing state requirements more equitably, we suggest that Council consider
distributing more units near the University and California Avenues train stations, along the full
length of El Camino from Menlo Park to Mountain View, and around the 101-Embarcadero
freeway entrances and exits.
Finally, at a more granular level, some observations about the Charleston / San Antonio Road
intersection. Though we appreciate the most recent improvements to Charleston between
Fabian Way and San Antonio Road, future development on Fabian Way will add to congestion
in that area. The upcoming replacement of the 101-San Antonio Road overpass with a 4-lane
‘complete streets’ overpass has the potential to mitigate congestion, and improve pedestrian
and bicyclist safety.
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first mail to some recipients.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
However, to more fully mitigate the additional traffic flow in the San Antonio / E. Charleston /
Fabian Way area, perhaps the city could provide incentives to a developer in exchange for
widening East Charleston Road from Fabian Way to San Antonio. The properties from 830 to
870 East Charleston, and possibly that whole block bounded by Fabian Way, East Charleston
and San Antonio, seem likely to eventually be developed. Widening that section from Fabian
Way to San Antonio could provide two left turn lanes from eastbound Charleston onto the
future two northbound San Antonio lanes, while at the same time maintaining two through
lanes crossing San Antonio. Increasing lanes there on eastbound Charleston, from three to
four, could go far to improve traffic flow as units are added along Fabian Way. In addition, a
better merge from eastbound Fabian Way onto southbound San Antonio could improve flow
there.
Thank you for your consideration, and please enter our comments into the public record.
Best,
Mark and Michele Hollar
From:Lee Christel
To:Council, City
Subject:Don"t Close Churchill Crossing
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 2:42:11 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Council Members,
The closure of the Churchill crossing would not eliminate access to the train tracks for
a person intent upon ending their life. The 24 hour guards are far more effective.
The closure would snarl east west traffic in Palo Alto, at a time when Embarcadero
and Oregon Expressway are already ridiculously busy at rush times.
The closure would divert vehicle and bike traffic to less controlled routes through
residential neighborhoods that are not designed for such traffic and are not safer for
bikes.
The closure would increase emergency response vehicle times, which could result far
more city-wide tragedy and loss of life.
Please, do not revisit decisions already made about this crossing following the last
protracted and comprehensive community discussion. Closing the Churchill rail
crossing is not the most direct way to address the problem of suicide in this city.
SIncerely,
Lee Christel
Midtown
From:Leanne McAuliffe
To:Lu, George; Lauing, Ed; keith.reckdahl@paloalto.org; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Veenker, Vicki; Council, City;
julie.lythcott-haims@paloalto.org; julie.lythcott-haims@paloalto.org; julie.lythcotthaims@paloalto.org
Subject:Re: Agenda Item 5, Council Meeting April 6 - Turf replacement contract approval - Sufficiently take into account
plastic surfacing for heat protocols.
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 2:27:14 PM
Attachments:AB2503 OPPOSE.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Palo Alto City Council Members,
As you approve the contract for the artificial turf field replacement and establish
comprehensive heat protocols, please taken into consideration that the California
Interscholastic Federation Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (CIF WBGT) heat protocols as they
stand today do not take into consideration the elevated temperatures on artificial turf. It is
essential that you make any heat protocols even more stringent than CIF WBGT.
Attached is a letter opposing AB2503, a proposed Assembly Bill which, among other things, is
requesting an increase in temperature threshold for desert regions, if you can believe that!
AB2503, wrong in its essence, also does not take into consideration the elevated
temperatures of plastic surfacing. The attached oppose letter highlights the issues with
managing heat on artificial turf and why protocols more stringent that the current CIF WBGT
protocol are required.
The reality is that CIF WBGT thresholds should actually be LOWERED across the board, and
even more so where artificial turf is used.
When you come to establishing the most protective heat protocols possible for the new
surfacing at El Camino Field, it is essential that you take into account the elevated
temperatures you will encounter with the new plastic artificial turf with cork infill.
Kind regards,
Leanne McAuliffe
Resident of Los Gatos
7 April 2026
AB2503- Wallis
STRONGLY OPPOSE
“Every Key Climate Indicator is Flashing Red. Humanity has just endured
the 11 hottest years of record. When history repeats itself 11 times, it is no
longer a coincidence. It is a call to act.”1 UN Secretary-General António Guterres
We the undersigned are wholeheartedly opposed to any upward adjustment to California
Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) determined categories
for outdoor practices and games, particularly for Category 3 regions, extreme desert areas.2
Heat is the leading cause of weather driven deaths globally, killing one person every minute on
average.3
California currently ranks 35th amongst all states for sports safety, as rated by the Kori Springer
Institute (up from last place in the prior reporting period).4 The rankings are based on written
policies, and do not reflect verified safety practices across states. Most schools do not have
properly trained, certified, or licensed athletic trainers,5 and fewer have necessary equipment,
such as ice baths, in order to render immediate life saving aid in the event of heat stroke.
5 https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB796
4 https://koreystringer.institute.uconn.edu/hsssp-california/
3 Carrington, D (28 Oct 2025). “Rising heat kills one person a minute worldwide, major report reveals.”
The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/29/rising-heat-kills-one-person-a-minute-worldwide-la
ncet-countdown
2 https://www.cifstate.org/governance/constitution/EXTREME_HEAT_AND_AIR_QUALITY_POLICY.pdf
1 Conley, J (26 Mar 2026). Common Dreams: UN Climate Report.
This bill would require:
● A subjective reduction in intensity and duration of sports practice sessions.
● Undefined personnel with undefined training on signs of heat illness for undefined
activities.
● Undefined protocols that enhance heat acclimatization.
● Shaded rest areas within undefined proximity to play, practice, or meeting areas.
Undefined cooling measures.
● Would require WBGT temperatures without specificity to time, play surface specific,
frequency of readings reflective of changing conditions, documentation of readings, or
requiring re/calibration of WBGT device.
● Would impose higher health risk to students, staff, visitors by use of a higher WBGT
threshold reading, and via use of prior average WBGT and historical temperature
readings over the current state of heat and climate science. It would impact well over
500 secondary schools, and hundreds of thousands of students in CIF’s Southern
Section alone.6
● Would impose higher WBGT readings in schools that do not wish to have higher limits.
● Would disallow lowering the limit of WBGT threshold in an ever heating world.
4
6 San Diego Union Tribune (18 Oct 2023) ‘By the numbers: A look at participation figures, transfers and
ejections in San Diego high school sports.”
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2023/10/18/by-the-numbers-a-look-at-participation-figures-transfer
s-and-ejections-in-san-diego-high-school-sports/
WBGT guidelines were developed in the 1950s in an effort to reduce the number of heat related
deaths among Army and Marine Corps members, not youth athletes, and are not related to
health and developmental windows unique to youth and adolescents.
CIF regulations for WBGT apply to CIF member schools (public and private), even when playing
on non-school fields. The rules are not legally mandated for non-school teams (i.e. travel teams)
that practice and play on non-CIF school or public fields. Further, CIF member schools are
secondary schools, and do not apply to the large number of youth in primary schools, or during
student breaks, emergency drills, marching band practices and events, graduations,
convocations, or other outdoor events that may take place in extreme heat both during and
outside of school hours.
For locations, such as the extreme desert locations to which this bill applies, current Category 3
requires a maximum of one hour of practice time, 20 minutes of rest breaks in that one hour, no
protective equipment, and no conditioning activities when the WBGT is between 90.1-91.9oF.
during outdoor activities. When WBGT readings are equal to or greater than 92.1oF, all outdoor
activities must be suspended. Games are allowed to pass the one hour limit with additional
hydration breaks.7
Both National Weather Service (NWS) WBGT and onsite WBGT are allowed under the CIF
regulations. NSW readings are generally lower than onsite WBGTs, and both provide
temperature readings that are significantly lower than surface temperature readings.8 This is
significant as neither NWS or onsite WBGT temperatures provide a full picture of the threat of
heat on synthetic turf fields. Research has shown that synthetic turf surface heat creates heat
islands, increases the risk of thermal burns, raises body temperature allowing for increased
dermal absorption of toxic and cancer causing chemicals; increases off gassing of toxic
chemicals; increases respiratory rates and inhalation of chemicals; decreases cognitive
function, which can lead to increased injuries; raises core body temperature leading to risk of
exertional heat illness, heat stroke, and death.
This bill would potentially impose significantly elevated health risks to athletes, coaches, staff
and observers due to extreme heat. Not all coaches, students and staff have grown up in the
extreme desert region, and an untold number are not acclimated to the climate, and neither are
visiting teams, coaches, and parents traveling into the Category 3 region for competitions.
8 Abraham, J (1 Apr 2019). “Heat risks associated with synthetic athletic fields.” International Journal of
Hyperthermia; (1), 515-516.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02656736.2019.1605096
7 Ibid, CIF Extreme Heat and Air Quality Policy
https://www.cifstate.org/governance/constitution/EXTREME_HEAT_AND_AIR_QUALITY_POLICY.pdf
9
9 Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Extreme Heat Mapping, Inland Deserts. State of California.
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/652c6def7040429bafe23c38966f8f73/page/Inland-Deserts-?vie
ws=Extreme-Heat–
CIF does not require onsite WBGT, and allows for remotely obtaining data from the NWS. There
is no system in place to require documentation of the time of day the data was obtained, nor
verification of the location and accuracy.The accuracy of WBGT obtained via NWS weather
stations has been shown to be significantly lower than onsite verification. NWS stations are
usually at airports and at a height of 10 meters. Onsite WBGTs require a height of 3 meters,
exceeding the height of a larger percentage of youth athletes.10 Youth and athletes are not flying
3 meters above fields. The range of differences between surface temperature and WBGT can
vary widely with use of phone applications, height of device, wind, and location on a playing
field. WBGT readings are, on average, significantly higher than those estimated by regional
weather stations established by the NWS (36.32oF - 36.5oF warmer onsite measurements), and
with even wider seasonal variations (average 80.42oF in June; 86.81oF in August).11 WBGT
readings are significantly lower than surface temperatures - where kids are playing, where their
feet are burned through their shoes, and their cleats are melted off.
Devices used to measure WBGT are not specified by CIF, nor is frequency or documentation of
device calibration, leaving guidelines developed by regions or Category Zones wide open for
recording and reporting inconsistencies.
WBGT should be checked on the specific surface where practice or competition is to take place
and should be rechecked as conditions change, such as when watering a synthetic surface to
lower the temperature to a safe level for play (comparable to natural grass surface12), as
increased humidity can increase the risk of heat related illnesses. Research is showing that
extremely hot, dry locations and conditions can be just as deadly as those that are hot and
humid.13 With increasing numbers of deaths occurring below the once considered maximum
threshold of survivability at 35oC (95oF) via WBGT measurement, why would any person, any
agency, any government, wish to increase the WBGT threshold? The CIF WBGT guidelines are
not sport nor surface specific, do not consider age and health related factors, and do not reflect
predicted core body temperatures.14
14 Oyama, T, Fujii, M, Nakajima, K et al (14 May 2023). “Validation of upper thermal thresholds for outdoor
sports using thermal physiology modelling.” Temperature (Austin);14;11(1):92–106.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10989705/
13 Perkins-Kirkpatrick, Gregory, CH, Vanos, JK et al (26 Mar 2026). “Deadly heat stress conditions are
already occurring.” Nature Communications; 17:2590
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70485-1
12 TenCate Pivot 2024
11 Guyer, H, Georgescu, M, Hondula, DM et al (1 Dec 2021). “Identifying the need for locally-observed wet
bulb globe temperature across outdoor athletic venues for current and future climates in a desert
environment.” Environ. Res. Lett;16, 124042.
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac32fb/pdf
10 Grundstein, AJ, Yeargin, SW, Cooper, ER et al ( 2025). “Evaluating Heat Risk: Comparing On-Site
WBGT Measurements Versus Smartphone Application Estimates.” GeoHealthVolume 9, Issue 3
e2025GH001347.
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2025GH001347
The author of this bill has ignored the oversized role synthetic turf plays in schools (preschool
through colleges and universities), and its role in climate change, loss of biodiversity, and plastic
pollution. It is made primarily from polyethylene, a fossil-fuel based plastic. It absorbs heat, and
readily reaches temperatures of 160oF to 180oF, and has even been known to reach in excess of
200oF in California. The temperature of natural grass remains within a few degrees of ambient
air.
Los Gatos, CA
105oF ambient air at 1p; July 2025
An estimated 9,000 student athletes are treated for exertional heat illness each year.15 The heat
from synthetic surfaces, even at reasonable ambient temperatures, can contribute to injuries
due to an athlete’s diminished functional level. Children are not small adults. They are more
readily impacted by heat illness due to:
● Heat production – Children have higher metabolic rates than adults which leads to
higher production of more heat.
● Body surface area – Younger children absorb more heat because they have a greater
body area to body mass ratio. For older children and teens, increased body fat and low
fitness levels can be/may be contributing factors.
● Blood circulation – Children are less able to cool their body temperature by shunting their
blood from their body core to their body surface due to lower cardiac output and smaller
blood volume.
● Sweat production – Children produce less sweat per gland and sweat at higher body
temperatures than adults, reducing their body’s ability to cool itself.
● Fluid replenishment – Children are less likely to self-regulate hydration if inadequately
supervised.
15 Kerr, ZY, Casas, DJ, Marshall, SW, Comstock, RD (Jan 2013). “Epidemiology of exertional heat illness
among U.S. high school athletes.” J. Preventive Medicine.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23253644/
Children experiencing heat illness are most likely to present with significant neurological
symptoms - from delirium, hallucinations, poor muscle control, unsteady gait, difficulty with
speaking or unclear speech, to seizures or coma. These symptoms may be readily confused
with head trauma, epilepsy, or drug overdose. Mortality is high, and if a child survives heat
stroke, their risk for recurrence of heat illness is increased.16 As the body heats, it is susceptible
to absorbing more chemicals. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as
“forever” chemicals which are one of 15 classes of chemicals found in plastics, are absorbed via
the skin.17
Deaths among high school football players from heat stroke doubled from 2015 to 2017 when
compared to the 5 preceding years.18 Football players are eleven times more likely to suffer a
heat related illness. Playing on synthetic turf is a contributing factor. Despite industry claims of
cooling technology or infill type, synthetic turf readily reaches temperatures of 160-180oF, and
can reach over 220oF. Synthetic turf creates heat islands so large they extend into surrounding
areas and are visible from satellites in space. Plastic playing fields and playground surfacing
(Pour-in-Place, PVC tiles) put children and all who are in contact with, or near, these surfaces at
high risk for acute thermal burns. At a surface temperature of 118°F, a first-degree thermal burn
occurs in 15 minutes, becoming a 3rd degree burn (full skin-thickness) in 20 minutes; at a
temperature of 140°F, 1st degree burns occur in 3 seconds, and 3rd degree burns in 5
seconds.19 Children have required admission to burn and intensive care units due to contact
with plastic surfaces.
According to research published in 2025 by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the incidence
of heat related illnesses rose by 170% between 2012 and 2023.20 Research conducted by
TenStrands on the impact of rising temperatures on counties, schools and students has shown a
trend toward school closures or remote learning due to extreme heat. The report predicted more
than 120 days of high heat, impacting some 1.6 million students would occur in at least 16
20 Merritt, TA, Bhatia, S, Solomon, C, Yu, A (Aug 2025). “Heat-Related Illness Trends at a Pediatric Health
Care System, 2012 to 2023.” Academic Pediatrics; 25,(6), 102855.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876285925000804
19 Moritz AR, Henriques FC Jr (1947). Original source. “Studies of thermal injury II: The relative
importance of time and surface temperature in the causation of cutaneous burns.” Am J Pathol.; 23:
915-941.
http://www.antiscald.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=15
18 Wertheim, J (Oct 2022). “With Hotter Temperatures Come More Football Deaths. And Black
high school players are disproportionately affected.” Sports Illustrated.
https://www.si.com/high-school/2022/10/07/football-climate-change-daily-cover
17 Ragnarsdóttir, O, Abou-Elwafa Abdallah, M, Harrad, S (June 2024). “Dermal bioavailability of
perfluoroalkyl substances using in vitro 3D human skin equivalent models.” Environment International;
188; 108772.b
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024003581?via=ihub
16 UpToDate (2023). “Heat Stroke in Children.” Online subscription based reference for health care
providers. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/heat-stroke-in-children
counties, and putting them at high risk for heat related illnesses by 2025, with an increasing
number of extreme heat days impacting a growing number of counties, schools and students
between 2025 and 2055.21
20
The off gassing of methane, ethylene, and carbon dioxide from the plastic carpet, and the
extreme heat of the surface, creates heat islands larger than the footprint of the playing field,
and are visible from satellites in space.
21 Cal Data Initiative, Extreme Heat, Ten Strands
Los Angeles USD Los Angeles USD
Santa Rosa, CA Petaluma, CA
In 2024, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released a report in April 2024 finding that
the greenhouse emissions from plastics is four times that of the aviation industry.22
Images from research published in 2024, based on data collected in 2013 and 2014, before the
explosion in synthetic turf installations, shows the striking impact these petrochemical products
have in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties:23
23 Schiavon, M, Shiflett, S, Baird, JH et al (Nov 2024). “Southern California land surface temperature
differences under different landscape composition.” Agronomy Journal; 116 (6), 2641-3382.
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/agj2.21687
22 Karali, N, Khanna, N, Shah, N (12 Apr 2024). “Climate Impact of Primary Plastic Production.” Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory Publications.
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/12s624vf
22
As noted in the 2024 study by Schiavon et al, recommending xeriscaping over drought tolerant
Bermuda hybrid grasses will lead to warmer temperatures.
“During the summer, turfgrass residential lawns could be ∼40°C cooler compared to
artificial turf. Despite being cooler than artificial turf, xeriscape lawns could be up to 30°C
warmer than natural turf lawns.” 22
Additionally, use of weed barriers, made of microplastics, frequently used in xeriscaped areas,
will increase temperatures and add microplastics to soil and water.
The bill author’s staff informed a caller on 30 March 2026 that a carve out for synthetic turf is not
needed for this bill. He claimed to have talked to “1,000s of athletic directors” who informed him
that synthetic turf only reaches a few degrees warmer than natural grass and that synthetic turf
saves millions of gallons of water.
“Grass doesn’t waste water. People do!”
Dr. James Baird, UC Riverside Turfgrass Management Program
In addition to the millions of gallons of water required to extract fracked fossil fuel, crack ethane
and manufacture plastic resin pellets for manufacturing (aka nurdles or mermaid’s tears), the
manufacturing of plastic grass carpet requires 989 gallons of water to manufacture a square
meter of plastic turf carpet.24
Synthetic turf generates 27,000 gallons of toxic runoff per acre of plastic for every one inch of
rainfall.25 Atmospheric events are predicted to increase in coming years, increasing toxic run off.
Synthetic turf requires massive amounts of POTABLE water for cleaning and cooling the surface
to a temperature comparable to natural grass for safe play. Reclaimed water is higher in salt
content and discolors the plastic and breaks down fibers more rapidly. The industry reports
2,200 gallons of potable water are needed for a regulation sized field, beginning 1 to 2 hours
25 Cotrone, V (undated). “The Role of Trees and Forests in Healthy Watersheds: Managing stormwater,
reducing flooding, and improving water quality.” Penn State Extension.
https://extension.psu.edu/the-role-of-trees-and-forests-in-healthy-watersheds
24 Waterwise UK. “How to save water: Artificial Grass’s Footprint.” Accessed 1 Feb 2025.
https://www.waterwise.org.uk/save-water/
before play, and repeating every hour throughout competition.26 Not cleaning a field (using toxic
industry recommended cleaning solvents) can expose anyone on the field to a multitude of
harmful, even potentially life threatening bacteria.27,28,29 In most cases, it will also void a warranty.
23
Plant-based infills require still more use of potable water. Some plant-based infill requires 3,200
gallons of (potable) water every 3 to 4 days to maintain hydration,30 while others require 6,500 to
8,000 gallons per 80,000 feet2 of synthetic turf every 3 to 4 weeks based on humidity.31 It should
be noted that the amount of water required to cool the surface temperature of synthetic turf to
that of natural grass is greater than the amount of water required to maintain drought tolerant
31 FieldTurf 2021
30 Shaw Sports Turf infill
29 Garg, K (Dec 2025). “Hidden Costs of Artificial Turf For The Urban Microbiome: Implications For
Environmental Equity in Santa Clara County.”
Master’s Research, San Jose State University
28 US EPA (6 Aug 2019). “U.S. Federal Research Action Plan (FRAP) on Recycled Tire Crumb Rubber
Used on Synthetic Turf Playing Fields and Playgrounds. Final Report Part 1 – Tire Crumb
CharacterizationEPA Tools and Resources Webinar.”
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-08/documents/tc_public_webinar_-_august_6_2019
.pdf slide 20
27 Valeriani, F, Margarucci, LM, Gianfraneschi, G et al (28 Aug 2019). Artificial-turf surfaces for sport and
recreational activities: microbiota analysis and 16S sequencing signature of synthetic vs natural soccer
fields. Heliyon: Heliyon 5 (2019) e02334.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02334
26 TenCate Pivot 2024
Bermuda grass varieties,32 and continue to show water savings.33,34,35 These varieties are grown
in Ramona, the Coachella Valley (in the bill author ’s district), and Stockton, attesting to their
ability to withstand drought and desert conditions. They are also appropriate for residential and
commercial use, in addition to high use playing fields. They not only cool the environment,
produce oxygen, support biodiversity, and do not add to the plastic pollution crisis, they also
reduce water requirements by 30 to 60 percent compared to older varieties of grass.36 Using
zero emission maintenance equipment and regenerative / organic techniques removes
greenhouse gas emissions and toxic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
The Governor, the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Insurance Commission,
and the California Ocean Protection Council all call for nature-based solutions to climate
change, pollution, and wildfire risk. If urgent action is not taken to reduce risks, there will be
continued loss of life, decimation of the environment, and increased economic and insurance
liabilities to all Californians.37,38,39
Testing has shown synthetic turf to be easily flammable.40 Research from Australia reports:
40 Kukfisz, B (2018). “The Degree of Flammability for an Artificial Grass Surface System.” The Main
School of Fire Service, Faculty of Fire Safety Engineering, Warsaw, Poland.
https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20184500038
39 Green, A (Mar 2024). “In Florida, Skyrocketing Insurance Rates Test Resolve of Homeowners in Risky
Areas: Research shows the soaring costs hint at widespread, unpriced risk as the global climate warms,
with states like California, Florida and Louisiana hit hardest. Inside Climate News.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06032024/florida-skyrocketing-insurance-rates/
38 Department of Insurance, Climate Insurance Working Group, (22 Jul 2021).“Protecting Communities,
Preserving Nature,and Building Resiliency: How First-of-Its-Kind Climate Insurance Will Help Combat the
Costs of Wildfires, Extreme Heat, and Floods.” State of California.
https://www.insurance.ca.gov/cci/docs/climate-insurance-report.pdf
37 Natural Resources Agency (22 Apr 2022). “Nature Based Solutions: Natural and Working Lands
Climate Smart Strategy.” State of California.
https://resources.ca.gov/-/media/CNRA-Website/Files/Initiatives/Expanding-Nature-Based-Solutions/CNR
A-Report-2022---Final_Accessible_Compressed.pdf
36 Braun, RC, Mandai, P, Nwachukwu, E, Stanton, A (17 Oct 2024). “The role of turfgrasses in
environmental protection and their benefits to humans: Thirty years later.” Crop Science; (64)2,
pp2909-3618.
https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21383
35 Coachella Bermuda Hybrid
34 Tahoma31 Bermuda Hybrid
33 Scottsdale Sports Complex, Irrigation Use Yearly Historical Chart
32 Kanaan, A, Sevostianova, E, Leinauer, B, Sevotianov, I (2020). “Water Requirements for Cooling
Artificial Turf.”
Up loaded copy: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0001506
“Glowing embers, as are commonly blown in front of an advancing bushfire, have a
temperature of around 700-800oC, and the flame of a burning leaf has a temperature of
around 700oC. Strips of polyethylene can be ignited with the flame of a match which has
a temperature of around 700oC.”41
There are no testing standards, including ASTM International, that subject materials to the
temperature or wind extremes that occur in wildfire events.
“Over the past two decades, we saw a 250 percent increase in fire speed across the
West that I don’t see slowing down anytime soon.” Fire ecologist, Jennifer Balch.42
43
1,459 (13.7%) California schools are located in or near Fire Hazard Severity Zones, with,
approximately 70.7% being in High or Very High risk zones
43 Xie, Y, Allen, J, Willis, DJ (31 Ju 2025). “Map: California public schools located in or near fire hazard
severity zones.” EdSource.
https://edsource.org/2025/map-california-schools-fire-hazard-zones/733388
42 Deng, J (11 Jan 2025). “The Dichotomy of a Deadly Paradise—How Urban Sprawl and Climate Change
Fuel LA’s Fires.” Inside Climate News.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/11012025/los-angeles-wildfires-in-altadena-and-pacific-palisades/
41 Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (Apr 2020). “Living Turf Fire Benefits Study - Literature review.”
GHD Australia.
https://www.horticulture.com.au/globalassets/hort-innovation/resource-assets/tu17008-literature-review-liv
ing-turf-fire-benefits-study.pdf
All indicators point towards a need to REDUCE CIF heat indicator
thresholds across the board, to protect all students, athletes, faculty,
staff and visitors, not increase them in the hottest inland desert areas
of the state.
We urge the author to drastically alter this bill to reflect the state of the science, and not placate
those who would put vulnerable populations at risk. Not doing homework prior to late scheduled
practices and games is not a valid reason to endanger millions of young lives.
Dianne Woelke MSN, Board Member
Safe Healthy Playing Fields, Inc.
https://www.safehealthyplayingfields.org
SHPFI is an all-volunteer nonprofit 501-c-3
Diana Carpinone, President
Non Toxic Communities
https://www.nontoxiccommunities.com
Suzanne Hume, Educational Director & Founder
Clean Earth 4 Kids
https://cleanearth4kids.org
Charles Miller, Chair
Climate Reality Project, Los Angeles
https://www.laclimatereality.org
Dr. Ronald Askeland, SD-SEQUEL Coleader
San Diegans for Sustainable, Equitable, & Quiet
Equipment in Landscaping
http://sd-sequel.org
Joe Houde, President
North County Climate Change Alliance
https://ncccalliance.org/
Dr. Sharon Ungersma, Chair
Climate Reality Project, San Fernando
https://www.sfvclimatereality.org
Linda Hutchins-Knowles, Co-Founder,
Team Coordinator
Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley
https://mothersoutfront.org
Terry Saucier, Chair
So Cal Stop Artificial Turf Task Force
Jennifer Zimmer, CoED
Mothers Out Front (National)
https://mothersoutfront.org
Danielle Scardino, Dir. of Marketing
West Coast Turf
https://m.westcoastturf.com/
From:Ah Yun, Mahealani
To:Council, City
Cc:Kyra Kazantzis; Lee Pfab; Charlie Weidanz <charlie@paloaltochamber.com>
Subject:FW: Materials supporting PA City Council Public Comment this evening
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 2:23:17 PM
Attachments:Outlook-xu0dctg4.png
Outlook-ilhqum2t.png
Dear Councilmembers,
Please see email below.
Thank you,
From: Kyra Kazantzis <Kyrak@svcn.org>
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026 11:38 AM
To: Ah Yun, Mahealani <Mahealani.AhYun@paloalto.gov>
Cc: Lee Pfab <lpfab@paccc.org>; Charlie Weidanz <charlie@paloaltochamber.com>
Subject: Materials supporting PA City Council Public Comment this evening
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear City Clerk, I hope you are well. I am writing to share materials in advance of the Palo Alto City Council meeting this evening, April 6. I will be providing public comment, and I wanted to ensure that Council Members have access to the following resources to review either be
!
This message could be suspicious
The sender's email address couldn't be verified.
This is their first mail to some recipients.
Mark Safe Report
CGBANNERINDICATOR
Dear City Clerk,
I hope you are well. I am writing to share materials in advance of the Palo Alto
City Council meeting this evening, April 6.
I will be providing public comment, and I wanted to ensure that Council
Members have access to the following resources to review either before or
after my remarks:
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits and Thrive Alliance 2026 Nonprofit
Pulse Report, which provides recent data and analysis on the current
Powered by Mimecast
Recommended Policies to Stabilize Nonprofit Service Providers During
Federal Disruption
These materials offer context on the increasing demand for services, funding
instability, and workforce pressures facing nonprofit partners, as well as
practical policy approaches local governments can take to help stabilize
essential community services during this period of fiscal uncertainty.
I would appreciate your assistance in sharing these materials with the Council.
Thank you for your time and assistance,
Kyra
Kyra Kazantzis | CEO
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits
Phone: (408) 605-6586 | svcn.org| LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Registration is open!
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of
the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error
please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is
intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not
disseminate, distribute, or copy this e-mail.
From:Erica Byrne
To:Council, City
Subject:Height limit should be higher than 90 feet.
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 1:38:57 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Hello,
I see that City Council is discussing height limits for buildings near San Antonio
Road.
A height limit of 90 feet is too low. Many people would like to have a view of the
mountains and the bay. A height closer to 250 feet would be preferable; lower stories
could be priced at a lower amount for affordable housing.
On a related topic, what happened to the proposal to put a high-rise apartment
building in the Stanford Shopping Center? More housing in that location would not
only provide more foot traffic to the shopping mall, but would also reduce vehicular
traffic from employees working at Stanford Children's Hospital, Vi Senior Community,
Stanford Hospital, Stanford University, and the shopping mall itself.
Thank you,
Erica Byrne
Palo Alto
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
This is their first email to you.
Mark Safe Report
From:Cynthia Fan
To:Lauing, Ed; Lu, George; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Veenker, Vicki;
Council, City
Subject:4/6/26 agenda item 5: Mitigate plastic pollution with a solid perimeter barrier of adequate height.
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 1:32:49 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Hi Council,
Today’s agenda item 5 is a contract for the artificial turf renovations at El Camino Park.
Please pull the item from the consent calendar and discuss with staff the option of adding a
solid barrier of an adequate height around the full field perimeter to mitigate plastic pollution
from the new plastic carpet you’re about to install there.
At your January 12 meeting, Mayor Veenker (at timestamp 3:08:40) explained one of the
reasons the Ad Hoc committee was comfortable with another round of plastic turf at El
Camino Park is that “synthetic fields have improved a lot” and “there’s less shedding of
blades.”
However, when I visited the new FieldTurf system at the Mayfield Complex yesterday, I
found plenty of loose plastic carpet fibers around the perimeter of the field, both inside and
outside the fence. Here are some videos:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JeVYpn8iTc0hGg-WY6Dlx8-XY1TZLkEh/view?
usp=drivesdk (Ignore the sound of my kids playing in background.)
and
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IfAtiAHR8kfAaKc6pA69rRkC2Ue8LOer/view?usp=drivesdk
It’s kind of foreboding that FieldTurf’s modern warranties do not specify a cap for fiber loss. I
found an older FieldTurf warranty where they did specify it. Perhaps FieldTurf modified their
standard warranty after all the litigation over widespread failure of the fibers of their
Duraspine product: https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2016/12/09/fieldturf-duraspine-
investigation
The fact that FieldTurf’s modern warranty does not make any explicit guarantees about carpet
fiber retention is unlike the warranties I’ve seen for competitors AstroTurf and TenCate.
Those each specify an explicit percentage of the carpet fiber mass that will still be present at
the end of the warranty period. Instead FieldTurf, in its warranty, confesses wear and tear is
“normal”, a function of the product construction and “usage intensity”. Since Palo Alto’s
artificial turfs are subjected to heavy “usage intensity”, how do we know that over time the
“normal” amount of fiber loss won’t be significant?
Please consider, as a mitigation measure, completely enclosing each of the City’s
artificial turf systems with a solid containment barrier/wall to keep more of the loose
plastics contained. Ensure it’s tall enough to be effective.
Short curbs, chain link fencing, and interruptions in the fencing don’t appear adequate for
containing loose plastics. Plastics can escape through unfenced areas, blow through fence
mesh, blow over short curbs, and migrate through gaps under a fence.
Perhaps this solid short curb under the chainlink fence at Mayfield was intended to help
contain loose plastic:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BSf6T8M7Jye7Pc1asGsk0oN07gbQ4tbd/view?usp=drivesdk
But here’s a video showing plastic carpet fibers still escape despite the short curb:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XgwDM4oHbFe81IkrMRx9gaSM9qTsW-0H/view?
usp=drivesdk
And obviously large interruptions in the perimeter fencing like this one at El Camino can’t
keep loose plastic contained:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iOrYKVOZHHccO_iM15IYI_erUtvX-qSq/view?
usp=drivesdk
Here are more plastic fibers outside the field perimeter at El Camino, mixed into the leaves at
the end of the parking lot:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uqm8t84FIKcBCi3Uv8szGUhpYJvT0zlM/view?
usp=drivesdk
Please ensure this plastic pollution doesn’t get hauled off with the leaves to a compost facility.
It needs to be deposited in landfill instead.
Thank you for your efforts to reduce and clean up plastic pollution. Consider a solid barrier
around the field perimeter and ensure it’s tall enough to be effective,
Cynthia Fan
From:Ellen Shay
To:Council, City; Planning Commission
Subject:Palo Alto is not on map of Important Bird Areas for National Audubon Society
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 12:26:29 PM
Attachments:image.png
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
This is the map for This is a map of IBAs with a focus on California. The IBA data is
from the Authoritative ArcGIS web service maintained by the National Audubon
Society and its Enterprise Team.
Web map
This message needs your attention
This is a personal email address.
Mark Safe Report
Powered by Mimecast
From:Leanne McAuliffe
To:Lu, George; Lauing, Ed; keith.reckdahl@paloalto.org; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Veenker, Vicki; Council, City;
julie.lythcott-haims@paloalto.org
Subject:Re: Agenda Item 5, Council Meeting April 6 - Turf replacement contract approval - Please officially state the
Study and Assessment of Turf Systems Report was not accepted
Date:Monday, April 6, 2026 12:11:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Palo Alto City Council Members,
I am assuming the Study and Assessment of Turf Systems Report, which was not accepted by
Council, is not being used as guidance in your approval of the contract for the replacement of
the artificial turf sports field at El Camino Park? Could you please formally state this today for
Agenda Item 5.
On the City Council website the Study and Assessment of Turf Systems for the City of Palo Alto
Playing Fields in original and updated form are still available. This report is being cited locally
and across the country as if it has been accepted by the Palo Alto City Council but it was not
and for good reason. Could you please update the Palo Alto City website and report to clearly
reflect that this report was not accepted by the Palo Alto City Council so that others do not
continue to reference it as if it was. This is important so that other entities, like my on town of
Los Gatos, will not be referencing and making decisions based on the insufficient and
incomplete data it contains.
Kind regards,
Leanne McAuliffe
Resident of Los Gatos