Oct 21, 2021

6 min read

City Manager Weekly Blog Series: October 18, 2021

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 October 18, 2021 Council meeting.

Timestamped City Council Video: City Council Meeting — October 18, 2021

PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

Get Vaccinated — sccfreevax.org

The Public Health Department strongly recommends everyone 12 years and older to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit sccfreevax.org or talk to your current healthcare provider about scheduling an appointment to get vaccinated.

Free COVID Testing Continues

Curative testing is offered every Tuesday at the Mitchell Park Library parking lot and each Wednesday at City Hall.

The next County administered testing will be hosted on Thursday, October 28 at the Cubberley Pavilion.

Schedule an appointment that works with your schedule today!

KING PLAZA ARTIST RESIDENCY FINALISTS*

*This event happened prior to this blog being published.

The community is invited to watch presentations by three artists for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King Artist Residency Tuesday, October 19 at 3 p.m. via Zoom. The artists gave presentations about their previous work, their experience in creative community engagement, and their proposal for the King residency in Palo Alto, which will result in temporary art installations in King Plaza. Members of the public will be able provide feedback on the three proposals. For more information and the Zoom link visit: www.cityofpaloalto.org/publicart.

UPLIFT LOCAL COMMUNITY MEETING*

*This meeting happened prior to the blog being published. Watch the recording of the community meeting by clicking the link below.

Join staff and the community tomorrow evening for an informal check-in meeting to provide feedback on the Uplift Local program.

The Zoom webinar will be held from 5:30–6:30, Tuesday October 19.

Details can be found on the City calendar. Watch a recording of the meeting here.

COMMUNITY TOGETHER: RECOGNIZING AND REPORTING HATE CRIMES IN THE COMMUNITY*

*This meeting happened prior to the blog being published. The meeting recording is available in the link below.

In the wake of recent national events and increased attention on hate crimes, join the City with presentations from Palo Alto Police Department, Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, and other community stakeholders for an open discussion on Oct. 20 about hate crimes and how they are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. Officials will also discuss the City’s ongoing conversations and work surrounding race and equity. The City of Palo Alto strongly denounces hate crimes of all kinds and encourages members of our community to promptly report these incidents by calling our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329–2413, or 9–1–1 if it is an emergency. To learn more in advance of the meeting, read the blog post “Steps the Community Can Take to Help Stop Hate Crimes.”

The CommUNITY Together: Recognizing and Reporting Hate Crimes in the Community meeting will take place at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Learn more here.

Watch the CommUNITY Together meeting recording here.

SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE ACTION SURVEY

The City launched a new Sustainability and Climate Action Plan survey to gain input from the community about priorities related to the S/CAP. Help the City gather community input around this important priority by sharing your thoughts.

If you missed last week’s Ad Hoc Committee meeting, you can watch the meeting and review the presentation on the City’s website www.cityofpaloalto.org/climateaction.

Take the survey today!

PALO ALTO DIGITAL FORUM LAUNCHED

The City launched a new digital platform to engage community members on City priority initiatives. The new digital platform engages community members on City priority initiatives like Palo Alto Fiber, an initiative to potentially provide high-speed, reliable internet to your home and business. Community members can come together to learn more and have a channel for engagement with each other and the City. Check out the Palo Alto Digital Forum here: forum-palo-alto.hub.arcgis.com.

Initially, the Digital Forum includes a Palo Alto Fiber Hub where you can learn about the project, benefits, engage together, gain online resources, and much more. Visit the Palo Alto Fiber Hub and be the first to share why you are excited about the potential of locally provided high-speed internet through the City’s fiber initiative. Stay up to date and check back as new initiatives are added and more resources become available! Join the conversation at https://fiber.cityofpaloalto.org.

JOINT COUNCIL/PTC/ARB MEETING

Staff is in the process of revising requirements for the development standards and processing of wireless communication facilities.

To update the ordinance, a joint meeting is being planned with the Council, Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) and Architectural Review Board (ARB).

The joint session would allow staff to present foundational information regarding wireless communication facilities, their permitting, and state and federal laws bearing on local consideration of wireless communication facilities and allow for uniform presentation of information and asking of questions among recommending and decision-making bodies.

The study session is tentatively set for the November 15 Council meeting. As the packet becomes available, go to cityofpaloalto.org/councilagendas for more.

THE GREAT SHAKE OUT

As the 32nd anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake approaches on October 17, we are reminded that earthquakes can strike at any moment, so it’s important to be prepared.

A recent blog post “Earthquake Preparedness: Steps You Can Take to Be Ready” shares how you can prepare for the next big one.

Practice makes perfect, as you can see City Manager Ed Shikada practiced Monday morning in advance of the earthquake drill with the City Council.

VOLUNTEER ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION

Are you interested in volunteering for the City and providing your expertise to a board or commission? The City is recruiting for ten (10) open seats on Boards and Commissions.

Help our City continue fostering economic recovery, make progress on City priorities, and further the City’s legislative process by volunteering to join a board or commission today!

You can apply to be placed on:

Architectural Review Board
Historic Resources Board
Parks & Recreation Commission
Planning & Transportation Commission

The deadline to apply for a position is October 26, 2021.

Applications and more information can be found at bit.ly/bcapplications. For more about all boards, commissions and committees, go here.

NOTABLE TENTATIVE UPCOMING COUNCIL ITEMS

October 25

Study Session two pre-screenings: 1033 Amarillo and 660 University Avenue
Objective Standards Ordinance
Preliminary Quarterly Financial Update
340 Portage Road Future Uses

November 1

Permit Parking Actions
Grade Separation: Churchill Workplan
Project HomeKey Update

November 8

Ballot Measure Update
Renter Protection Policy Recommendations

November 15

Joint City Council, Architectural Review Board, and Planning and Transportation Commission study session
Sustainability/Climate Action Ad Hoc Update
Califronia Avenue Temporary and Permanent Street Closure Discussion

December