City Manager Weekly Blog Series: June 20, 2022

Learn about City of Palo Alto updates and news.

Each Council meeting, City Manager Ed Shikada provides “City Manager Comments” sharing recent City news, and updates for the community to stay informed on important issues. This blog series summarizes these weekly updates.

You can also watch the City Manager share this week’s updates and news at the June 20, 2022 Council meeting.

Timestamped City Council Video: City Council Meeting — June 20, 2022

COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE

CDC Authorizes COVID-19 Vaccine for Young Children

On Saturday, June 18, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky approved emergency use authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine for kids 6 months to 5 years old. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were approved for use, see below chart. Santa Clara County plans to begin providing the vaccine starting Tuesday, June 21 by appointment only, visit www.sccfreevax.org.

Talk to your healthcare provider or find a vaccine clinic here.

Continued Palo Alto Testing Options

Ravenswood Family Health Center and Mayview Health Center Mobile unit continue to provide COVID-19 vaccine and boosters, and antigen testing in Palo Alto at the Office of the Public Defenders parking lot, 231 Grant Ave., on Tuesdays in June from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. The County and Curative provide testing opportunities throughout the City. The next County testing at the Palo Alto Art Center is June 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment only.

Find out more about the mobile unit and other testing opportunities here.

THANKS FOR JOINING US AT THE MSC OPEN HOUSE!

Thanks to all the community members who joined us at the MSC Open House this past Saturday! We had a great turnout and lots of fun sharing our City services at work with the community.

SAVOR THE SUMMER IN PALO ALTO

As the weather warms up and the days get longer, opportunities to get out abound in Palo Alto. This summer, connect as a community and bring the whole family to the array of fun events going on. A new blog shares these key events and activities to look out for, including the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo’s Super Family Sundays, Magical Bridge Summer Concerts, Hot Dog Productions at Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, the Library’s Summer Reading Program, Friday Night at the Art Center and more. The blog also provides summer heat safety tips and resources.

Read the blog here.

FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN PALO ALTO

All types of fireworks, even those labeled “safe and sane” are illegal in Palo Alto including bottle rockets, roman candles, firecrackers, and sparklers. Fireworks are responsible for thousands of fires and injuries each year.

To keep the community safe, if you see or hear illegal fireworks, call the 24-hour non-emergency line at (650) 329–2413. You can also surrender fireworks of all kinds at any Palo Alto Fire station. Palo Alto Police patrol personnel do their best to deter the use of illegal fireworks by performing high-profile and frequent patrols of our parks and schools, historically areas of high fireworks usage, and promptly responding to calls from our community reporting the illegal activity. Stay safe by leaving fireworks to the professionals.

For more, visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/fireworks.

SPEND 4TH OF JULY IN PALO ALTO

Gather up your picnic gear and join the Community Services Department on July 4th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mitchell Park. Enjoy an afternoon of live music and family fun. The kid’s area will include games and bouncy inflatables! Plus, food trucks will be on site to purchase food, or you can pack your own lunch and come join the fun. This is in place of the City’s annual chili cook-off.

Learn more about the 4th of July celebration here.

SAVE THE DATE FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Each year on the first Tuesday in August, we come together to celebrate community connections. After a two-year hiatus, National Night Out is back on Tuesday, August 2. Palo Alto Police are hosting a block party on the 200 block of Forest Ave. from 5–8 p.m. Enjoy popcorn, games, and police cars on display, and have the chance to chat with police officers and connect to the community.

Want to host a National Night Out event in your neighborhood? Learn more and get started by visiting www.cityofpaloalto.org/PAPDNationalNightOut

NOTABLE TENTATIVE UPCOMING COUNCIL ITEMS

June 21

• Hazmat Regulation

• Consideration of a Homekey Project third story design located at 1237 San Antonio Road

• Potential gun sales regulation

• Reproductive Rights Resolution Colleagues Memorandum

The City Council will be on summer break from June 22 to August 1.

August and beyond

• Airplane Noise Study Session

• Palo Alto Fiber Joint Study Session with the Utilities Advisory Commission

• Housing Element Goals, Policies, and Programs Approval

• 800–808 San Antonio Road Study Session

• Buena Vista Mobile Home Park Study Session

Find City Council meeting agendas, minutes, and videos at cityofpaloalto.org/councilagendas.

BE INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED

Read the City Manager Comments Blog Series at: Medium.com/paloaltoconnect

Gain Coronavirus Updates at: CityofPaloAlto.org/Coronavirus

Sign Up for Open Town Hall

City Calendar of Events and Meetings: CityofPaloAlto.org/Calendar

City of Palo Alto Website: CityofPaloAlto.org

Sign Up for City Updates at: CityofPaloAlto.org/newslettersignup

Santa Clara County Cooling Centers: bit.ly/HotWeatherSafetySCC