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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2604-6321CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, May 11, 2026 Council Chambers & Hybrid 4:30 PM     Agenda Item     4.FY 2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget - Finance Committee Update and Council Budget Discussion. CEQA Status – Not a project Late Packet Report added, Staff Presentation, Public Comment   City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: STUDY SESSION Lead Department: Administrative Services Meeting Date: May 11, 2026 Report #:2604-6321 TITLE FY 2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget - Finance Committee Update and Council Budget Discussion. CEQA Status – Not a project This report will be a late packet report published on May 7, 2026. APPROVED BY: Lauren Lai, Administrative Services Director 8 9 1 6 City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: STUDY SESSION Lead Department: Administrative Services Meeting Date: May 11, 2026 Report #:2512-5685 TITLE FY 2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget - Finance Committee Update and Council Budget Discussion. CEQA Status – Not a project RECOMMENDATION This study session is intended to facilitate next steps in the FY 2027 Budget process. I The study session also provides an opportunity for the Finance Committee to discuss with the City Council the status of FY 2027 budget review in preparation for the Committee’s budget wrap-up work on May 19, 2026. Staff recommends that the City Council: Review the current proposed budget adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets and Municipal Fee Schedule in alignment with the work completed by the Finance Committee on May 5, 2026 and May 6, 2026; Review the areas of focus for the City Council as identified by the Finance Committee and staff; and Provide feedback to the Finance Committee on any areas of focus or additional deliberations to review as part of the Budget Wrap-up Meeting scheduled for May 19, 2026. ANALYSIS Finance Committee reviewed the FY 2027 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets and Municipal Fee Schedule at the Finance Committee Meeting on May 5, 2026 and May 6, 2026. This report supports the discussion on the Finance Committee proposed adjustments to the FY 2027 budgets and/or Municipal Fee schedule. 8 9 1 6 FY 2027 Budget documents are referenced below: FY 2027 City Manager Proposed Budget Transmittal Letter1 FY 2027 Proposed Operating Budget2 FY 2027 Proposed CIP Budget3 Budget Transmittal to City Council (May 4, 20264) - Agenda Report Finance Committee Review of Proposed Budgets (May 55 and May 6, 20266) Agenda Report Finance Committee Review of Proposed Municipal Fee (May 6, 2026) Agenda Report FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW 1 https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/administrative-services/city-budgets/fy-2027-city- budget/proposed/fy-2027-proposed-transmittal-letter_online.pdf 2 https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/administrative-services/city-budgets/fy-2027-city- budget/proposed/fy-2027-proposed-operating-budget_revised.pdf 3 https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/administrative-services/city-budgets/fy-2027-city- budget/proposed/fy-2027-proposed-capital-budget-book_online.pdf 4 https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=18709 5 https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=18568 6 https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=18574 8 9 1 6 ATTACHMENTS APPROVED BY: 1 Nonprofit Funding Levels Options for Consideration Option A: No Additional Funding Option B: Keep Total Nonprofit $’s Flat at FY2026 Level $6.74M Option C: Add Specific Additional Direct Allocations Option D: Maintain FY2026 Phase I Grant Funding Levels Includes: •FY27 budget direct allocations* ($78,280) •$111k partially funds add’l Direct Allocations** •No funding for NPW Phase I grant process Includes: •FY27 budget direct allocations* ($78,280) •$165,418 partially funds add’l Direct Allocations** •No funding for NPW Phase I grant process Includes: •FY27 budget direct allocations* ($78,280) •$235k fully funds add’l Direct Allocations** •No funding for NPW Phase I grant process Includes: •FY27 budget direct allocations* ($78,280) •$235k fully funds add’l Direct Allocations** •$193,366 to allocate to NPW Phase I grant process Funding Gap $0 $54,418 $124,000 $317,366 *FY2027 Proposed Budget Direct Allocations (Ongoing) = Environmental Volunteers ($10,780), Neighbors Abroad ($17,500) & YCS YCI ($50k) **Additional Direct Allocations = Magical Bridge ($150k), Cal Ave Music/PARF ($40k) & UNAFF ($45k) Attachment A 1 Nonprofit Funding Levels Options for Consideration Option A: FY 2027 Proposed Budget Option B: Add $54,418 Option C: Add $124,000 Option D: Add $317,366 Description Proposed budget assumptions Keep Total Nonprofit $’s Flat at FY2026 Level $6.74M Make Specific Additional Allocations Maintain FY2026 Phase I Grant Funding Levels HSRAP & CDBG & Operating Services $6,492,914 $942,971 HSRAP + $152k CDBG + $5,397,943 Operating Services (includes $200k for allcove) FY 27 Budget Direct Allocations $78,280 Ongoing $: Environmental Volunteers ($10,780), Neighbors Abroad ($17,500) & YCS YCI ($50,000) Additional Direct Allocations**$111,000 For partial direct allocations &/or Phase I $165,418 (Partial funds) ($111k + $54,418) $235,000 ($111k + $124k) $235,000 ($111k + $124k) $0 $0 $193,366 (remainder of the $317k)NPW Phase I grant process Total Nonprofit $’s $6,682,194 $6,736,612 $6,806,194 $6,999,560 Funding Gap from Proposed Budget $54,418 $124,000 $317,366 **Additional Direct Allocations $235k = Magical Bridge ($150k), Cal Ave Music/PARF ($40k) & UNAFF ($45k) Attachment A Attachment B:CIP – KPIs: track delays, cost increases, & deferred spending by program area. Original % Reappropriated Project Deferrals by Program Area and Project Attachment B:CIP – KPIs: track delays, cost increases, & deferred spending by program area. Cost Increases by Program Area and Project Attachment B:CIP – KPIs: track delays, cost increases, & deferred spending by program area. Cost Increases by Program Area and Project (continue) Attachment B:CIP – KPIs: track delays, cost increases, & deferred spending by program area. Attachment C Public Tree Maintenance Objectives For public tree maintenance, the main objectives for tree work associated with our target 7- year pruning cycle are: • Public Safety. This involves tree work to achieve hazard reduction, pedestrian clearance, vehicle clearance, and sign or street light visibility. For some species and situations this may also involve crown reduction and/or end weight reduction pruning. • Tree Health. This work focuses on the removal of dead, damaged, or diseased tree parts. This may also include removal of basal sprouts and defects such as crossing branches. • Tree Longevity. This work focuses on structural pruning to ensure long term tree stability and growth. The goal of the maintenance program is to keep the tree growing according to its natural form whenever possible. Most tree species do best when allowed to grow based on their genetics. This generally results in fewer long-term issues, and lower overall long-term maintenance costs. Correction of major issues when a tree is young and then minimal regular maintenance to catch new issues involving the main objectives of public safety, tree health or tree longevity as they arrive is our core maintenance strategy. In order to include aesthetics as a stand-alone maintenance objective, a significant budget increase would be required for the Street Tree Maintenance contract. Reducing the pruning cycle down to a 3- or 4-year return time would allow for an increased level of service. At that higher level of service an increase in proactive maintenance would allow for greater attention to smaller details, leading to more emphasis on aesthetics. This would catch potential tree issues when small, and corrective measures would be more minimal than if they occurred during a 7-year return time. Purely aesthetic pruning tends to lead to artificially perfect trees, requiring even more maintenance than a 3-year cycle could provide to maintain the forced shape. An example of this level of maintenance would be the urban canopy at Disneyland or other similar highly manicured resort destinations. It should be noted that the Electric Line Clearance Tree Trimming Contract is part of a separate program. That contract has a much narrower scope of work and does not provide whole tree maintenance as part of the scope for either private or public trees that require line clearance pruning. The main objectives for that work focus primarily on compliance with state regulations on clearance distance and public safety. May 11, 2026 www.paloalto.gov/budget1 FY 2027 PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS Finance Committee Update & Council Discussion BUDGET CONVERSATIONS & CALENDAR 2 MAY 4 MAY 5 & 6 MAY 11 MAY 19 JUNE 15 Finance Committee Budget Workshops: Review the proposed budgets and recommend amendment(s) Study Session City Council: Finance Committee check- in with the City CouncilCity Council: FY 2027 Proposed Budget Overview: Discuss guidance for Finance Committee colleagues City Council Budget Adoption: Adopt Operating & Capital budgets (as amended by the Finance Committee) Finance Committee Budget Wrap-up: Based on the input from the May budget meetings, recommend final adjustment(s) to proposed budgets for Council adoption •Balanced budget utilizing multi- year strategies to navigate fiscal challenges over several years •Preserves most valued City services, Council priorities, and once in a generation investments •Reflects staff’s hard look at all services, service delivery approaches and efficiencies, and use of contracts as a starting point for Council deliberations 3 OVERVIEW Preserving valued city services Community Centers, teen center, Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, parks, playgrounds, open space preserves remain open and maintained Police & Fire response to all priority emergency calls, ensuring health and safety, and implementing single-role EMS Five libraries will remain open with a single day closure of Children’s library Ensure health and safety measures are addressed on our streets, sidewalks, and trees Utility services - water, electric, gas, wastewater, and sewer services will continue including key investments and maintenance Support the Development Center and planning requests, building permits, and code enforcement Manage traffic signals maintenance and timing and youth education through safe routes to school www.paloalto.gov/budget •Operating budget totals $1.05 billion (1.9% increase), with General Fund totals $310.98 million (1.1% decrease) •Capital budget totals $313.6 million in FY 2027 and $1.20 billion over the five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) •Multi-year strategy to solve projected General Fund $17.1 million (or 5.5%) budget deficit. •Continues the FY 2026 budget reductions. •Projects Budget Stabilization Reserve between 17.4% to 18%. 4 PROPOSED BUDGET OVERVIEW MULTI-YEAR GENERAL FUND BALANCING •Current service level and revenue portfolio •Disciplined ongoing costs with limited one-time funds use, including ADC in FY27 to FY30 •BSR within range of 15% to 20% but projected to decline to bottom of range (15%) 5 PROJECTIONS ($ million)FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 FY 2030 GENRAL FUND Projected Surplus/(Deficit) 15.1% BSR @18.5% - Policy Target $ (11.48) *Sales Tax prior year adjustment may be more favorable increasing BSR by $2 M to $55.7 M or 18% OTHER FUNDS FY 2026 Adopted FY 2027 Proposed Electric 6%6%** Gas 12%*9% ** Water 10%8% Wastewater 20%16% Refuse 0%3% Storm Drain 2%3% Monthly Bill Amount $441.50 $477.80 Monthly Bill Change 9%* $37.80 8% $36.30 Additional actions included in the Proposed Budget address non-General Fund activities including but not limited to: •Parking Funds •Utility rate changes to the right 6 *Rates reflect rate change update in February 2026 due Cost of Service Analysis (COSA). **On 4/21 Finance Committee recommendation Electric from 6.0% to 4.5%, Gas split 2:1 vote SUMMARY OF FINANCE COMMITTEE As of May 6th May 11, 2026 www.PaloAlto.gov/budget 7 8 ADJUSTMENT(S) AND PARKING LOT OV E R V I E W •Used as a running list of items Committee approves adjusting, items for further discussion (parking lot), and recommended use of funds available. •Status reviewed at the end of each day •Will inform the basis of the discussions with Finance Committee at budget wrap 9 FC RECOMMENDED BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS (as of May 6, 2026, 5pm) Date Finance Committee Adjustments to Budget FY 2027 GF (cost)/source Potential FY 2028 GF Dept Subtotal Sources (Revenue) $ 5/5/2026JMZ Conservation Costs and explore utilizing existing conservation programs to fulfill the AZA requirements to the extent possible | Reduce 64,000 CSD 50% of Cost - Contingent upon match from (51,250) POL 50% of Cost - Contingent upon match from PAUSD (March June) (307,715) POL - recommend the City Council approve budget allocation and -June ($200k) and additional towing capacity to include CMO 6--Profit Work Plan - Option C (see other details in motion)CMO Subtotal Costs (Expense)$ (802,965)- Potential Funds Remaining Net (cost) / source $ (802,965)$ TBD 10 FC RECOMMENDED BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS (as of May 6, 2026, 5pm) Date FY 2027 Council Contingency 5-$ 125,000 * Consider exception of CC ($30k) 30,000 11 Date Parking Lot Items FY27 GF (cost)/ source Potential FY28 GF (cost)/source Quiet Zones Construction, direct staff to return with revised timing figures. Evaluate funding sources for Grade separation. (Accelerate funding to FY27-FY28 with Direct staff to add the Chimalus ROW as a project in CIP. (OOT will return May 19 Information regarding the marginal benefit of restoring Office of Transportation staffing to work on critical City priorities. (OOT To return FC May 19) Consider lateral hiring bonuses in the Police Department as part of the FY 27 (PD will return May 19) Council to approve Finance Committee recommendation that any additional grant funding that may be authorized by the Council be processed through HSRAP. Balancing strategy will prioritize reduction to CIP FINANCE COMMITTEE - “PARKING LOT” (as of May 6, 2026, 5pm) Finance Committee Recommendation for Council Referrals 1)AI strategy. 2)onsultant best practices narrative, including impacts to date as part of 3)Palo Alto Golf Course P&L in a more complete way and evaluate golf fees, 4)outdoor recreation programs located at Cubberley. 5)- Evaluate acceleration of certain capital repair needs for Cubberley including potentially utilities 6) overtime budgeting for the Police Dept during the FY 28 budget process. 7)efficiency opportunities in Fire Dept during the FY 28 budget process. 12 BUDGET HEARING RECOMMEND - REFERRALS (as of May 6th 5:00PM) www.PaloAlto.gov/budget Finance Committee Request for Council MAY 11, 2026 (via this presentation) 1)Employee Childcare Pilot Program within the Long Range Financial Forecast (No near-term financial impact, recommend adjust forecast ongoing costs, include in May 11 CC memo) 2)CIP – KPIs: track delays, cost increases and deferred spending by program areas (Include the additional information in CC Memo May 11, include summary in the CIP budget transmittal/publication) (see CMR attachment) 3)Roth Building Maintenance *Park Drain Improvements (PG-21000) – (update CIP project text to prioritize Roth water intrusion) Tree Trimming objectives (see CMR attachment) 13 BUDGET HEARING REQUEST – CONVEY TO COUNCIL www.PaloAlto.gov/budget 1 Nonprofit Funding Levels Options for Consideration Option A: No Additional Funding Option B: Keep Total Nonprofit $’s Flat at FY2026 Level $6.74M Option C: Add Specific Additional Direct Allocations Option D: Maintain FY2026 Phase I Grant Funding Levels Includes: •FY27 budget direct allocations* ($78,280) •$111k partially funds add’l Direct Allocations** •No funding for NPW Phase I grant process Includes: •FY27 budget direct allocations* ($78,280) •$165,418 partially funds add’l Direct Allocations** •No funding for NPW Phase I grant process Includes: •FY27 budget direct allocations* ($78,280) •$235k fully funds add’l Direct Allocations** •No funding for NPW Phase I grant process Includes: •FY27 budget direct allocations* ($78,280) •$235k fully funds add’l Direct Allocations** •$193,366 to allocate to NPW Phase I grant process Funding Gap $0 $54,418 $124,000 $317,366 *FY2027 Proposed Budget Direct Allocations (Ongoing) = Environmental Volunteers ($10,780), Neighbors Abroad ($17,500) & YCS YCI ($50k) **Additional Direct Allocations = Magical Bridge ($150k), Cal Ave Music/PARF ($40k) & UNAFF ($45k) 1 Nonprofit Funding Levels Options for Consideration Option A: FY 2027 Proposed Budget Option B: Add $54,418 Option C: Add $124,000 Option D: Add $317,366 Description Proposed budget assumptions Keep Total Nonprofit $’s Flat at FY2026 Level $6.74M Make Specific Additional Allocations Maintain FY2026 Phase I Grant Funding Levels HSRAP & CDBG & Operating Services $6,492,914 $942,971 HSRAP + $152k CDBG + $5,397,943 Operating Services (includes $200k for allcove) FY 27 Budget Direct Allocations $78,280 Ongoing $: Environmental Volunteers ($10,780), Neighbors Abroad ($17,500) & YCS YCI ($50,000) Additional Direct Allocations**$111,000 For partial direct allocations &/or Phase I $165,418 (Partial funds) ($111k + $54,418) $235,000 ($111k + $124k) $235,000 ($111k + $124k) $0 $0 $193,366 (remainder of the $317k)NPW Phase I grant process Total Nonprofit $’s $6,682,194 $6,736,612 $6,806,194 $6,999,560 Funding Gap from Proposed Budget $54,418 $124,000 $317,366 **Additional Direct Allocations $235k = Magical Bridge ($150k), Cal Ave Music/PARF ($40k) & UNAFF ($45k) 1 Finance Committee Recommendation - Nonprofit Funding Levels MOTION: Councilmember Lauing moved, seconded by Councilmember Burt, to recommend the City Council tentatively approve: •Option C for the appropriation modified the budget column; Add $124,000 funding for additional direct allocations to Magical Bridge, Cal Ave Music and Special Events, and UNAFF; •Parking lot item for the Council to approve Finance Committee recommendation that any additional grant funding that may be authorized by the Council be processed through HSRAP. MOTION PASSED:3-0 Note, for FY27 budget, the Canopy nonprofit contract is reflected at $368,450, a reduction of $43,550. It was previously noted at $412,000 to Council in an April 6, 2026 study session, prior to publication of the proposed FY27 budget. 17 Technical Adjustments Given complexity, volume and timing of the proposed budget, subsequent to publication, staff have found technical adjustments necessary to ensure accuracy in the adopted budget.A full list will be provided to Finance Committee on May 19th. •Utility – gas & electric: adjust duplicate entry for SCAP program and debt financing •Adjust FY 2026 reductions made ongoing (FTE impacts erroneously omitted) •Based on final reductions, reconciliation to ensure all allocations across internal service funds (e.g. benefit costs, vehicles, etc.) are balanced •Realignment of revenues/costs to align with revised utility rates •Staff will strive to ensure the General Fund fiscal impact for technical adjustments remains de minimis or net zero. The community is encouraged to join the budget conversations: •Finance Committee Budget Hearings: May 5 at 9:00 A.M. May 6 at 9:00 A.M. May 19 at 1:00 P.M. – Wrap-up •City Council Budget Discussion: May 11 at 5:30 P.M. •City Council Budget Adoption: June 15 at 5:30 P.M. All meeting details listed at https://www.paloalto.gov/budget JOIN THE BUDGET CONVERSATION •Receive update on the detailed work reviewing the budget documents •Clarify understanding of current status and policy decision the Committee seeks feedback on •Provide guidance to Finance Committee colleagues for their final recommended adjustments scheduled on May 19th. City Council FY 2027 Budget Adoption scheduled on June 15th. •Budget and meeting details listed at www.paloalto.gov/budget COUNCIL DISCUSSION 19 Conclude May 11, 2026 www.paloalto.gov/budget From:Rob O"Connor To:Council, City Subject:Please support trees in Palo Alto Date:Monday, May 11, 2026 8:04:11 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Palo Alto City Council Members I am writing to address the cuts under consideration to the Palo Alto Urban Forestry budget, including a 10% reduction to funding for the city partnership with Canopy. When you walk into a neighborhood that has a great feel, it is because there are large trees and shade. Without them it is just asphalt, concrete, grass, shrubs, wood, stucco and punishing summer heat. Without the lovely large trees in the Palo Alto City Hall courtyard, we would be left with a hot and modestly unattractive concrete building instead of an inviting space to congregate. As a Palo Alto resident and lover of trees, I have seen over the years that it is nearly impossible to prevent a determined landowner from removing trees. But we can plant trees!!! Planting a tree that many of us will not be present to enjoy at maturity, is nothing less than an act of love and commitment to our community. Planting trees with Canopy is much more than hiring a contractor who plants a tree and never returns. Canopy partners trees with people, and helps residents choose an appropriate tree in the right location. But even more, Canopy tree plantings bring together community volunteers, families, and residents of all ages, introducing them to the physical process and joy of tree planting while creating an environment with cleaner air, cooler temperatures, greater climate resilience, and expanding the influence of nature in our urban setting. Canopy provides science based planting techniques along with young tree care, which in partnership with tree stewards and volunteers delivers an astoundingly high survival rate for new trees. We are living in an uncertain time that will require many difficult decisions by the Palo Alto City Council. My request is that you find a way to fully support Urban Forestry and your 30 year partnership with Canopy. Trees are as essential as roads and our water systems. In a changing environment, they provide clean air and cool, beautiful neighborhoods and climate resilience. We are living in a time of a thousand cuts, small and large, that make our lives just a little bit worse every day. By fully funding Urban Forestry and Canopy you have the chance to enhance the joy, comfort and health of our community, and to make every day just a little bit better for Palo Alto residents. This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report Best Regards Rob O'Connor Canopy Executive Board Member 788 Josina Ave Palo Alto 94306 From:Alan Lee To:Council, City Subject:Please Maintain Funding for Urban Forestry Programs, including Canopy"s Partnership Date:Sunday, May 10, 2026 10:02:57 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear City Council, I’m writing to urge you to maintain funding for Canopy and Urban Forestry. As a South Palo Alto resident, I have directly benefited from Canopy’s work. In December 2023, Canopy helped me plant several trees at my home. They organized a team of five volunteers who helped me dig through my rock-hard soil and get the trees planted properly. Before working with Canopy, I had struggled to keep previous trees alive. What made the difference was not just receiving trees, but receiving the right trees and the education to care for them. Evany Wang at Canopy gave me guidance that was practical and expert. She helped me choose native species, taught me how to support them, provided follow-up notes, and made sure I had the information I needed to care for the trees successfully. That guidance has helped me care not only for these trees, but for the rest of my plants as well. I’m happy to report that the trees are doing well. The experience did more than add trees to my property. It helped me get to know my neighbors, learn about tree care, and feel more connected to the broader effort to make Palo Alto greener and more resilient. This program is an efficient and meaningful use of time and resources. It supports residents, builds community, and contributes directly to a healthier urban forest. Please maintain funding for Canopy and Urban Forestry. This is exactly the kind of community-based climate action Palo Alto should continue to support. Sincerely, Alan Lee South Palo Alto resident This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report From:Sarah Burgess To:Council, City; Ed Fike Subject:NonProfit Partnership Workplan Date:Sunday, May 10, 2026 9:03:17 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. I appreciate the efforts being made to put together a transparent plan for the City to work with nonprofits. Having participated on behalf of Neighbors Abroad last year in the Phase I of this plan, I would like to offer the following observations: It is impossible to gather all non-profits into a workplan for budgeting purposes, because “non-profit” is an IRS tax category, rather than a financial budgeting category. It is similar to trying to budget for all City payments to corporations or to partnerships. Or, to look at a group getting public scrutiny at the present time, all City contracts with consultants. If Council would like to support grants for community services, there should be a budget category for those grants, with an amount and a defined statement outlining the parameters for application. This would allow the creation of a simple application following these parameters, and with this, the transparency sought. Gathering all non-profits into one bucket compares apples to oranges, services provided in lieu of city staff being compared to community enrichment; services for cultural enrichment compared to services for those less fortunate than most. The needs are all there, but they should not all share in the same funding allocation any more than they would if they were corporations billing for services or consultant fees. They need to be budgeted for by the service they provide to the city, not their IRS standing. Trying to create this process has been so difficult because it just doesn’t make any sense. Sarah Burgess Co-Vice President, Oaxaca President Emerita Phone 650-996-3331 Web www.neighborsabroad.org Email sarah.burgess@neighborsabroad.org 355 Alma Street, Palo Alto, California 94301 From:Winter Dellenbach To:Council, City Subject:Budget - Possible Canopy funding cut Date:Sunday, May 10, 2026 4:23:01 PM Dear Council Members - It will be a surprise to none of you that I ask you to not cut Canopy’s budget. As you know, I helped to write our current Tree Protection Ordinance and am a huge advocate for protecting and increasing our tree canopy given trees enormous impact on climate, health and beauty of our residents and City. Canopy was the key active partner in creating our new ordinance, lending its expertise over the year it took to complete it. It is now considered the gold standard ordinance in California. That Canopy manages to do all it does for our City within its current contract is one of the best bangs on the buck in the budget. Its program in planting 10,000 trees in south Palo Alto (which has far fewer trees than in the north) is one blow-mind example of its work. Given that we will lose thousands of trees over the next years due to massive development is all the more reason for a robust Canopy organization to be maintained. As a consultant with developers and in collaboration with our City Urban Forester, Canopy will help ensure we lose as few trees as possible. While our Tree Protection ordinance has a No-Net-Loss of trees replacement requirement, it will be 2 or more decades before new trees will be large enough to substantially replace those lost, including many native mature trees we rely on for carbon sequestration and heat cooling. Just as we need our tree canopy to literally help us survive, we need Canopy to keep doing its work on behalf of us all. Winter Dellenbach From:Sally O"Neil To:Council, City Subject:Canopy"s funding Date:Saturday, May 9, 2026 5:41:46 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear City Council, I urge you to maintain full funding for Palo Alto's urban forestry programs, including the funding for Canopy's work. As you know, trees are a long-term investment in our community's health. Cutting the funding today means that health will suffer over the next 10 to 100 years. Funding cuts mean that fewer trees will be planted and fewer trees will be cared for. The long-term effects are just that -- they will affect our lives and those of future Palo Alto residents. Given that trees are part of the city's essential infrastructure, they deserve continued care, and that means funding. Cutting expenditures is not an easy task, I know. But please do not put our tree budget on the chopping block. Sally O'Neil 25-year Barron Park resident Canopy volunteer and Board member This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report From:Laura Martinez To:Council, City Subject:Urban Forestry Programs Date:Saturday, May 9, 2026 1:10:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Palo Alto City Council, My name is Laura Martinez and I have been a volunteer with Canopy for over 20 years. I support Urban Forestry Programs because: Trees keep our neighborhoods cool and clean the air we breathe Planting trees helps us build community and protect public health for future generations I'm writing to ask that you maintain full funding for urban forestry programs, including Canopy's partnership. Thank you, Laura Martinez Community Member and Canopy Board Member 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 From:Brinda Govindan To:Council, City Subject:cuts to Canopy Date:Friday, May 8, 2026 10:39:50 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear City Council, Please do not cut funding for Canopy from the city budget! Trees are essential for our well-being,and Canopy does a great job of stewardship in Palo Alto. Thank you, Brinda Govindan This message needs your attention This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report From:Tom Holzer To:Council, City Subject:Urban forestry budget cuts Date:Thursday, May 7, 2026 10:21:07 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Council I am writing to you to reconsider your proposed cuts to urban forestry in Palo Alto, and particularly the support you provide to Canopy. Trees are a major factor in making Palo Alto a wonderful place to live. I cannot tell you how many times I have hosted visitors who remark on the wonderful foliage we have. I always tell them that I think of my good fortune whenever I am outside (walking, biking, driving, walking the dog, etc).. More importantly, trees are one part of Nature that are compatible with urban development. But trees must be protected and nurtured. They require a long-term investment of money and effort. I strongly urge the Council to continue to support non-profits like Canopy.at their current levels. Future residents will thank you. Tom Holzer 15 Phillips Road tom.holzer@gmail.com This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report From:Guadalupe Aceves To:Council, City Subject:Stand up for Palo Alto Trees Date:Thursday, May 7, 2026 3:09:34 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Palo Alto City Council members, I am writing in support of maintaining full funding for urban forestry programs, including the partnership with Canopy. I began volunteering with Canopy 30 years ago as I knew the importance and benefits of trees in our community. Through my volunteer work with Canopy, I passed on the love of trees to my three children who are now adults. Planting trees along the 101 freeway walls, local parks, schools and homes has brought communities together in the healthiest way possible. Trees are cool! Trees clean the air we breathe! Trees provide vital habitat! Trees protect public health I ask that the City of Palo Alto maintain full funding to the Urban Forestry budget, Including Canopy Partnership. Please protect what we have built. In community, Guadalupe Aceves This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report From:Susan Rosenberg To:Council, City Cc:JP Renaud Subject:Canopy Date:Thursday, May 7, 2026 1:44:28 AM Dear Palo Alto City Council, Don’t repeat Palo Alto’s ugly history of reduced funding for our trees. Working closely with the City of Palo Alto staff, Canopy has profoundly changed the health of the urban forest by leveraging your funding in ways far beyond your capacity. Canopy was a budding urban forestry nonprofit thirty years ago but is currently seen as a leader in the field. Now is not the time to reduce funding. Thank you, Susan Rosenberg Canopy Co-founder From:yuet berry To:Council, City Subject:Funding for Canopy Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 9:46:33 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi city council I’m writing to support full funding for urban forestry programs. Canopy is a vital part of our community in keeping us green and planting trees to keep us healthy in our neighborhoods. Please provide full funding to Canopy & programs like it. Thank you so much for considering, Yuet Berry From:Virginia Smedberg To:Council, City Subject:trees in our city! Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 9:06:22 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear fellow Tree City dwellers, Our "urban forest" is one of our resources - and I think it must be given at least as much weight as streets and infrastructure in budget planning. I am writing to ask you to maintain full funding for urban forestry programs. And I would ask that you include Canopy's partnership - they have played an important role in making and maintaining this forest. cheers - virginia smedberg 441 Washington Ave (under the just-blooming Catalpas whose blossoms smell like grape candy!) EARTH without ART is just EH This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report From:dedra hauser To:Council, City Subject:Please don"t cut back on urban forestry funding Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 6:59:39 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To all City Council members, I urge you to fully fund our urban forestry programs. Trees are not amenities. They are critical infrastructure and one of the best investments we can make in holding back climate change. When I moved to the peninsula I chose to live in Palo Alto because of the street trees and the beautiful canopy that differentiated Palo Alto from most of the surrounding communities. As a landscape designer and long-time volunteer at Canopy I have helped to expand, improve and maintain these trees, and to grow the canopy in East Palo Alto and southern Palo Alto. Cuts in funding for tree maintenance cost me thousands of dollars when my street tree fell on my garage and cut off the electricity several years back. I know you have difficult choices to make when the budget needs to be cut. But it would be very shortsighted to further cut city spending on this crucial resource. Sincerely, Dedra Hauser 410 Stanford Avenue From:richard d To:Council, City Subject:Urban Forestry budget Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 4:30:00 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i I'm a recipient of 3 Urban Forestry trees. Please don't cut a budget that provides health and beauty to me, my children and my grandchildren. Please think long term. Thank you, Richard DeFrancesco 230 Chestnut Ave. This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report From:Susan Hartzell To:Council, City Subject:Canopy Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 3:33:46 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Please do not cut the budget for Canopy. Our urban forest is one of the gems of Palo Alto, and the envy of our neighboring towns. It keeps us cool, it keeps us quiet, it keeps us calm. Let’s celebrate, not economize. —Susan Hartzell Susan and Harry Hartzell 850 Webster Street Apt 430 Palo Alto, CA 94301 This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report From:David Cortesi To:Council, City Subject:Support for urban forestry and canopy Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 2:35:30 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i I urge you to retain full funding for our urban forestry programs and our partnership with Canopy. David Cortesi 850 Webster st. #621 Palo Alto 94301 This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report From:Pallavi Tibrewal To:Council, City Subject:Maintain Full Funding for Urban Forestry and Canopy Partnership Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 2:30:49 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Palo Alto City Council Members, I am writing to urge you to maintain full funding for Palo Alto’s urban forestry programs, including the City’s longstanding partnership with Canopy. Palo Alto’s urban forest is critical infrastructure for climate resilience, public health, and community well-being. As recent City and Canopy reports highlight, while new tree plantings are increasing, older native trees—especially oaks—are declining in several neighborhoods, underscoring the need for sustained investment and long-term stewardship. () Canopy has been a key partner to the City for decades, working with residents and volunteers to plant, monitor, and care for thousands of trees, particularly through initiatives like the South Palo Alto Tree Initiative. Their community-based model not only expands tree canopy but also ensures trees survive and thrive through ongoing care and education. Beyond planting, Canopy plays a critical role in advancing tree equity, engaging youth, and building community ownership of Palo Alto’s urban forest. Their work reflects a broader mission to “grow and sustain equitable urban forests for all,” combining environmental impact with community engagement and workforce development. Reducing funding at this stage would risk reversing progress and weakening a proven partnership that has delivered measurable results. Sustained investment is essential to protect Palo Alto’s existing canopy, expand it where gaps exist, and ensure resilience in the face of climate challenges. I respectfully ask the Council to prioritize and maintain full funding for urban forestry programs and the City’s partnership with Canopy. The long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits far outweigh the near-term costs. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to Palo Alto’s future. Sincerely, Pallavi Tibrewal This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report 3130 Louis Road, Palo Alto From:Stepheny McGraw To:Council, City Cc:jp@canopy.org Subject:Restore Urban Forest Funds! Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 2:24:59 PM Please restore and sustain Palo Alto’s funds for trees and urban forest protection. The State mandated 6000 plus housing units need trees to counteract all that extra cement and extra population’s additional heat. When one walks City streets on hot days, especially in the summer, the difference between our older homes with gardens and the mammoth, new mausoleum-style houses with only mulch and a few succulent/native plants is palpable. No gardens, no trees and a hell of a lot of additional heat. We are, after all, still Palo Alto. Not Cement Alto. Stepheny McGraw 3303 Thomas Drive From:Julia Brubaker To:Council, City Subject:Support for crossing guards Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 12:13:07 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Honorable City Council Members, Our city is facing very difficult budget decisions, but I am writing to urge you to preserve funding for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards. Crossing Guards have been crucial to the safety of thousands of Palo Alto children, including my own. I have 3 students in the district and am so grateful to our crossing guards. My middle schooler took a hard fall on his skateboard just after crossing and the crossing guard ran to his side and called 911. She took such good care of him. I cannot imagine keeping our kids safe without them. PAUSD school children walk and bike to school in large numbers, requiring this support at critical intersections. The warranting process for getting an Adult Crossing Guard assigned is rigorous, so we really only have them where we know they are most needed. As the city has densified, traffic has increased, requiring greater reliance on mode shift. It is increasingly important that we do what is necessary to maintain public streets that are safe for all residents, and especially school-bound children. Please prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and support fully funding School Crossing Guards. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Julia Brubaker Parent at Greene Middle School and Walter Hays This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report From:Pawan Bir Kohli To:Council, City Subject:Ongoing budget cuts of crossing guards Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 7:19:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Hello As a resident of Palo Alto with twins biking to Gunn High School everyday I urge the city council to not decrease the number of crossing guards. Our children’s safety should be more important than other budget items. Please do not decrease the crossing guards Thanks Pawan Bir Kohli 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 From:M O"Neill To:Council, City Subject:crossing guards safety - please don"t cut this vital resource Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 6:22:45 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i city.council@PaloAlto.gov Dear Honorable City Council Members, Our city is facing difficult budget decisions, but I’m writing to urge you to preserve funding for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards. These crossing guards play a direct and meaningful role in keeping children safe—including my own. Each morning on Louis Road, I watch the crossing guard step into the street, stop traffic, and create a moment of calm in what would otherwise be a busy, unpredictable intersection. Before the guard was there, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable letting my kids ride to school on their own. Cars move quickly through that area, and it only takes one distracted driver for things to go wrong. Now, because of that consistent, watchful presence, my kids have the independence to bike to school safely. It’s a small daily interaction, but it makes a real difference—for them and for me. Our kids walk and bike to school in large numbers, and they rely on this support at critical intersections. The process for assigning an Adult Crossing Guard is already rigorous, which means they are placed where they are truly needed. As our city grows and traffic increases, this kind of safety infrastructure becomes even more essential. Please prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and continue fully funding School Crossing Guards. Their impact is immediate, visible, and deeply felt by families like mine. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Matt O'Neill - resident on Loma Verde Ave This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report From:Tom Welsh To:Council, City Subject:Please do not cut the crossing guard budget Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 5:38:00 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Honorable City Council Members, I strongly urge you not to cut the crossing guard budget. For the past nine years, my two kids and I have biked to and from Palo Alto public schools every morning and afternoon. Having the crossing guards at the busiest intersections is crucial for our safe arrival at school and back home. Although there is a budget shortfall, raising the incremental revenue that we need is preferable to making cuts to public safety that directly affect our kids. I am not sure why there is a budget shortfall, but child safety should not be subject to cuts as a result. Thank you for your service and for prioritizing our children's safety. Best, Tom Welsh Leland Manor neighborhood of Palo Alto This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report From:Asha Weinstein Agrawal To:Council, City Subject:Support for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 5:10:30 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Honorable City Council Members, I am writing to urge you to preserve funding for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards. Crossing Guards have been crucial to the safety of thousands of Palo Alto children, including my own son (now at Paly, formerly Addison and Greene). PAUSD school children walk and bike to school in large numbers, requiring this support at critical intersections. The warranting process for getting an Adult Crossing Guard assigned is rigorous, so we really only have them where we know they are most needed. As the city has densified, traffic has increased, requiring greater reliance on mode shift. It is increasingly important that we do what is necessary to maintain public streets that are safe for all residents, and especially school-bound children. Eliminating any of the crossing guard positions would put children walking and biking to school at risk. Further, some parents would likely chose to drive their children rather than risk a less safe walk or bike commute, thus adding more traffic to city streets at a congested time. Please prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and support fully funding School Crossing Guards. Thank you. This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Asha W. Agrawal Parent of a Palo Alto High School freshman From:pennyellson12@gmail.com To:Council, City Cc:"Lara Anthony"; "Rachel Vazquez-Reina" Subject:City Budget for TONIGHT Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 4:52:36 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Honorable City Council, The Safe Routes to School Partnership in Palo Alto is founded on maintaining a balance among the 6E’s: Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Equity and Engagement (which includes Enforcement). It is not possible to achieve and sustain traffic safety without all of these. The City, PAUSD and PTA partners collaborate effectively on the first three, but only the police can effectively enforce vehicle code (which includes management of Crossing Guard service) on critical public street intersections that make up the city’s school commute routes. The proposed FY2027 budget eliminates funding for Adult Crossing Guards. Please remember that each approved Adult Crossing Guard location undergoes a rigorous warranting process. If clear safety need for Crossing Guard support did not exist at these locations, the guards would not be there. Eliminating Adult Crossing Guards at any of these locations will create risk. For instance, The East Meadow/Alma crossing carries k-12 students to Hoover and Fairmeadow ES, JLS MS, and Gunn HS on foot and on bikes to school twice each day. In the morning, school commutes converge with morning commute traffic where hundreds of students cross a multi-lane crosstown expressway posted 35MPH. The intersection is challenging, and many parents would not let their students walk or bike without an Adult Guard present—for good reasons. Understanding the difficult budget problems that you are grappling with, I would not put undue pressure on you. However, I feel compelled to request that you please give these proposed cuts another look. (See PAUSD and CoPA Resolutions Endorsing the Safe Routes to School Partnership Consensus Statement.) PTA Transportation Safety Representatives, value their ongoing partnership with the city and PAPD. Please give appropriate heightened review to a budget decision that very likely will have important effect on the safety of school-bound children in our community. Please define what alternate plan is in place to keep these school crossings safe before cuts are made. Finally, I understand that the City School Transportation Committee (CSTSC) was informed that these cuts were coming at their 4/23 morning meeting. There was a City School Liaison Committee meeting that evening, but only e-bikes, not this proposed city budget cut, was on the agenda. It is disappointing that, though city staff knew PTA Reps and high level PAUSD staff would be present, city staff did not agendize this important cut for discussion that evening. That would have been an excellent opportunity to open a conversation with PAUSD about cost sharing. Thank you for or your service to our community and for giving our concerns your usual thoughtful attention. Sincerely, Penny Ellson (former PTA Safe Routes to School Chair, 17 years, speaking as an individual) Virus-free.www.avg.com From:Helene Grossman To:Council, City; City Mgr Subject:Do Not Cut School Crossing Guards Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 4:42:09 PM Attachments:Screenshot 2026-05-04 at 4.36.58 PM.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council Members and City Manager Shikada, I urge you to reject the proposed elimination of four school crossing guards, including the guard at Alma and Meadow. This is the wrong place to cut. The City is proposing to save about $102,500 – less than 0.01% of the City’s $1.05 billion operating budget – by eliminating crossing guards who directly protect children on their way to school. The City will barely notice this savings in its overall budget, but a child could pay the price at a dangerous crossing. Alma and Meadow is not a minor location. It is a heavily used route for Gunn students biking and walking to school. Alma is a fast, high-volume corridor where cars move quickly and make rushed turns. The crossing guard creates a protected moment that allows students to cross safely. Palo Alto has been here before. Just a few years ago, two students were seriously injured in traffic collisions, and there were calls for stronger safety measures, including crossing guards. At that time, the City stated that “Community safety is our number one priority.” City Manager Shikada stated that the goal is to “ensure the environment is as safe as we can make it.” But here we are, proposing to balance the budget on the backs of children biking and walking to school. We can do better than this. Crossing guards are one of the most direct, visible, and practical ways the City protects students on their way to school. Please restore this funding and keep all four crossing guards in place, including at Alma and Meadow. Student safety should be protected before an accident – not only after one. Thank you, Helene Grossman From:Jennifer Bruno To:Council, City Subject:Crossing Guard Funding Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 4:33:31 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Honorable City Council Members, I am writing to urge you to preserve funding for the Palo Alto Police Department’s Adult Crossing Guard program as you navigate very difficult budget decisions. Crossing guards are an essential part of keeping our streets safe, and they protect thousands of Palo Alto children every day—including my own. My child is six years old, and I bike with him to school each morning. At this age, every intersection feels like a small test of independence for him and a moment of vigilance for me. I genuinely hope that as he grows, biking or walking to school will feel normal and safe for him on his own—but I also know that that vision depends on the continued presence of crossing guards at key crossings. Palo Alto Unified School District students rely heavily on walking and biking to get to school. Our Adult Crossing Guards provide critical support at the intersections where traffic is most complex. The process for assigning crossing guards is deliberately rigorous, which means they are already placed only where they are truly needed. As our city has grown denser and traffic has increased, the need for safe, supported routes to school has only become more important. Ensuring safe public streets—especially for children traveling to and from school—should remain a clear priority. I respectfully ask that you prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and fully fund the School Crossing Guard program. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report Jennifer Bruno Parent at Ohlone Elementary From:Allie H To:Council, City Subject:Fund crossing guards Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 4:08:24 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Honorable City Council Members, Our city is facing very difficult budget decisions, but I am writing to urge you to preserve funding for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards. Crossing Guards have been crucial to the safety of thousands of Palo Alto children, including my own. PAUSD school children walk and bike to school in large numbers, requiring this support at critical intersections. The warranting process for getting an Adult Crossing Guard assigned is rigorous, so we really only have them where we know they are most needed. As the city has densified, traffic has increased, requiring greater reliance on mode shift. It is increasingly important that we do what is necessary to maintain public streets that are safe for all residents, and especially school-bound children. Please prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and support fully funding School Crossing Guards. Thank you. Sincerely, Alexandra Horevitz Nixon Elementary parent This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report From:Rachel Vazquez-Reina To:Council, City Subject:Crossing Guard Funding Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 2:07:36 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Finance Committee Members, I am the PTA Council Deputy Chair for Safe Routes to School, but I am writing today in my individual capacity to urge the Finance Committee to please direct City staff to find alternative budget cuts rather than reducing crossing guards, as currently proposed. Our children and families depend on crossing guards to get to school safely. When crossing guards aren't present, the safety for our children is directly impacted. In addition, having fewer crossing guards results in more families choosing to drive their children to school because they feel less safe walking and biking. That in turn has numerous negative downstream impacts in our community, affecting the environment, traffic congestion, the physical and mental well- being of our children and young people who would otherwise enjoy active commutes, and it makes it less safe for others to walk & bike to school since there are more cars on the road. I recognize and appreciate that you are juggling many important and competing priorities in a difficult budget year, but I implore you to please find alternative cuts as opposed to reducing critical safety infrastructure for our children. Thank you for your service and for prioritizing our children's safety. Best regards, Rachel Vazquez-Reina This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report From:Kyla Farrell To:Council, City Subject:Please keep our crossing guards Date:Monday, May 4, 2026 1:35:34 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Finance Committee Members, I’m writing as a PAUSD parent and community member to urge you to avoid cutting crossing guards and instead find alternative budget reductions. Crossing guards are essential to student safety. Reducing them makes walking and biking less safe and pushes more families to drive, increasing traffic, congestion, and environmental and health impacts. I live near the intersection of Loma Verde Ave and Louis Road, a busy crossing for families heading to Palo Verde, JLS, and Ohlone. Our crossing guard keeps traffic flowing, encourages helmet use, and provides a steady, trusted presence for hundreds of families. As a parent of elementary school children, they give me the confidence to let my kids bike to school independently and navigate this intersection safely. I understand this is a challenging budget year, but I strongly ask that you protect this critical safety support for our children. Thank you for your consideration. Kyla Farrell