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Home My WebLink About0359.092- July 2], 1992 The Honorable ~ity Council Palo Alto, California Not.S from Town Hs11 .Me_~t i_i:tS Members of the Council! "'""'-------. THE SUBJECT OF THIS REPORT ISA COUNCIL PRIORnY Attached is a transcript of the notes ~hich ~ere taken during the group discussions at the Town Hall Meeting held on July 20, .1992. The groups addressed the three Council priorities for 1992: Palo Alto1a Bconomic Future, Palo Alto's Relationsbip with East Palo Alto, and People in crisi8~ The Hayor requested that staff mak.e the notes available to council as an aid in determining how Council a~d the City might proceed in evaluating and implementing the various ideas and suggestions put forth. Respectively submitted, // 7'?I tile?&. IVta fl---- CCI RUDlN ,~ Sista~t to ~~~ City Manager I ........ ~"""-~ ~ 1) l!: FL ltOG . \ As istant City Mana~ Attachment VRjJFjFlJ<{!' ;;.t"L-.----~--.. ~",~,.~'.... ,- ,-.~ ~:h;~;~":" .- - PALO ALTO" S ECOb'C1UC FOTURE Will city's Cann limit affect future? City uses too many consultants (should use inb~ri1al resources more) Frustration .because CIP de\'elop~d by staff. Resurrect ci tizens" commi~tee? Funding decreased because of budget~ Possible ways to cut expenses: • Unnecessary sidewalk repair • How does City decide to repair roads? • Spending efficiently? • Contract oversight • Storm drain fees • Cable TV (AT&T) New RevenuesL What "Would Council consider? • Transfer tax • Utility tax • Landscape/lighting assessment • Debt/bond for capital projects Strategic 'Plan: What are options to meet $3-5 mi Ilion structural deficit? • Land use-related revenues • Fees/charges • Taxes • Public/private pc;rtnership • Staff salaries • Utility transfers • Management efficiencies • CUt services Business relationships need i~provinq (bet~er communication) ~ Use management e~~ertise in P~lo Alto companies~ Housing is important, too -makes for sustainability of ov~rall envirorrment. El Camino amo-rtizat ion: residential. Why? Sell city cable sr.;;.tem? small business is being pushed out by 1 < ;:-.. Long-term utility contract.s: ho· .... 00 they affect Genet"al Ft,;nd? Special interest groups shouldn' t run budget process. staff salaries and benefits sho~ld be looked at. Downtown businesses (cleanliness) citizens are ..... illing to cut services: e.g., libraries, parks, staff, Senior Center. utility rates going up ..... ithout: I='ublic being told why. Use ballot initiatives to decide how to cut services. Need to att,ract/retain retail business. Will cOUlm'.lni ty pay more? Use COlt.lll.unitl' groups to make decisicns. Coordinate economic agenda with surrounding cities. city should consider using its investI:lcnt portfolio as venturE:: capital. Support s~all business as w~ll as big. 2 • .-"til i:rtn. "".'~' '~ " , I I I 1 , ! , I , ! J j I : -. • PALO AL~O'S RELATIONSHIP WITH E~ST PALO ALTO I,!IBTIllG ACTI"~ITIES Tutol'ing Program (program currently exists in EPA) • treed to p:o:-ovide excfl_ange (people to people) • :r: 'd to provide volunteers to assist in EPA Black and wnite Ball ir. palo Alto F:xpand the prograr::: to be more incl .... sive ot EPA COJrOlUHICATIOHS Promote communication/dialogue between the two cities • Reality is that apartheid stil: exists • Suggest a joint meeting with East Palo Alto • Need to understand historj' of EPA • Establish rapport with people • Group e)(p_~cise to develop community • Community picnic held in June was a success. • Potluck exchanges Concern ~ith lack of getting to knov people from the two communities Important to meet people/groups to exchange information/learn about. each other -meetings should have purpose Use religious groups Need on-going edLlcaticn Task Forces to formulate ideas for linkages • communi~y ~orurns Official level v. community folks • Do not reinvent wheel • Vision/leadershi? (heartfelt call to action) PC'.litical Issue::. Dispelling myths in o~n community 1 -:-.... ""'l£I". ~"' .• "'."'._IIiIl ... _"'r .... _",.' ",".," " "-'-'-" - ! Youth Develop~ent Corp. in EPA • • • • Addresses health hazards -e.g., tobnCCO, AIDS educatio~ Includes East Palo Alto/East Menlo Park Youth involvement in community Video showing the ~routh and FPA residents Bring all di .... .ersity groups together --kids' activities between the two communities is ext1.'emely important. ECONOMIC Vl~BILITY Palo Alto i:a cQ1'!unitted to help East Palo Alto's g_conol'r'.ic base (capital base) Assist in making DeMonet project a reality Auto dealerships directed -t.oward East Palo Alto, redirecting sales revenue from Palo Alto to East Palo Alto Work on a plan to join ~he two cities --joint services (e.g., fire services}. Issues are: • Housing costs • Relationship concerns Palo Alto should ackno'Wledge and recognize qood collaborations between two cities. Concern expressed that it is the: responsibility of the state/federal government for cities suffering from poverty. 2 • , i I t I Note: o PEOPLE IN CRISIS • Childre~ in crisis • • • • • • Senior Cent.er Homeless Low-cost housing !ntergeneration~l connections Minority youth residing in Palo Alto Need for expos~re rparticul~rly in the ~a3e of child~en) to broader community than insular Palo Alto The priority is people in crisis (not. just fareilies or children) HI.ORrTY YOUTH • Minority youth are usually assumed to not belong in PA • Police involveroEnt and reactions • community perceptions • False assumptions/accusations' , Sensiti vi ty training is lleeded Increasing enrollment of ;:oinori ty students from Ravens'Wood School District {Tinsley program) • • He,"" to shift What police interaction"? initial perceptions training occurs re minority encountersl There should be immediat:e. Council clarifio::ation of city policy ..... he.n complaints re discrimination are voiced in Oral Communications before the council. Importance or Council le~dership Will community be part of problem? or of solution1 Involve Youth Council There are two counselors at Gunn and Paly high schools -can be mediators for sensitivity trai~ing Minoritr = black, Hispanic, other groups (broad defi.niti-on) Problems at ventura School site -v&ndalisrn 1 -",~." ..... ""!L .... IIiiI·*'·~9!![iiolllllirIl7o!J ... '[ .. n .. ' .... "· ... '".~" .~="\o,,.' --<" ,---• . '-;, ~; . _",:_,;?f;:'; -.. ' BOKELESS Homeless c!1 i Idren must receive eligible for childcare services. fam.ilies. medical clearance first to be This is a probl-em for hO!rteless • Get:. ... crd Ol.lt. -M~yficld Community Clinic will provide medical care for people in need. (SeC Courthouse basement on Grant Avcnu~ in Pale Alto) Merchal"lt.s' situa.tion -dO'<olnto ...... n panhandling == trAnother way" pL"ojec-t: being launched in re8ponse. Contributions ",ill go to agencies that provide. housing~ food, mental health, s~bstance 2buse and medical care. • How to document that contribution t.o Another Wa}' has beer. made: (but.ton to weer?) Linkage ~ith Veterans Administration? community hiring of homeless -how dces s~~ Carlos do it? How to help those who· 'wiant to work. find 'Work? clearinghouse for available jobs? HoW" to reach these 'Who don't go to Urban J.1inistry? Is there a Regional issue as ~ell -other cities are also facing it. COST OF SERVICES :rtf PALO ALTO A common bond linking the needs of.?eOple in Crisis cuts across age groups Fees tend to go up at sa,me time the resources ava i lable to People in Crisis are diminishing. 2 .f. > .. ~. SENIOR ISSt:l_~ Foothill College contil1'.lir,q education program f·or seniors: is falling apart -cos~s increasing Example of failure of ntrickle oo"Wn"-every agency/level cl government is expCl."iencing similar probleIrls. seniors a~e working, alsv volunteering at child care centers - a g~od example of interge~erational program Active recruitment for seniors in childcare programs: successf~l examples are gardening proj ect, story tell ing. accompanying children in special activities Future prograro -intergencrational housing • possible sites: across from senior center? • Resource people? Ho ... to sta~~ in Palo Alto: How to get into housing? considar housing programs ...,here pcrtion of rent payment go into a special fund for: • for down payment • for life care Joint project -Palo Alto and East Palo Alto • Use site in East Palo Alto -!Dore affordable b·~t equally accessible. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS Has the "rainy day" come? Should City reserves be used to maintain services for people in Crisis? Modify -where federal ~oney goes. Directly endow non-profits and community-based organizations, bypassing the bureaucracies. In light of State budget situation, the problems of progra~ funding will get .... orse. J