City Manager Weekly Update Blog Series: March 1, 2021

Learn about recent 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 facing the community. This blog series summarizes these weekly updates.

If you’d prefer to watch the City Manager share this week’s updates and news at the March 1, 2021 Council meeting, click the video below.

Timestamped City Council Video: City Council Meeting — March 1, 2021

COUNTY ANTICIPATES SHIFT TO RED TIER, VACCINE & TESTING UPDATES

County Anticipates to Shift to Red Tier as Early As March 3*

Red Tier eases restrictions; allowing increased indoor activities. County shift to State restrictions related to outdoor youth sports went into effect February 26.

Go to City Home page under “News” for Details or click here.

For a recent County of Santa Clara News Announcement on the shift to the Red Tier, go here.

County Vaccine Updates continue at sccfreevax.org

Vaccinations eligibility continues for healthcare personnel, long-term care facility residents, and people who are age 65 and older. Access expanding to workers in education and childcare, emergency services, and the food and agriculture industries. Effective February 28.

For County vaccine data bases and other details, go here.

COVID-19 Testing Reminder

COVID-19 testing continues to be a critical tool to fight the spread of the virus. Testing availability this week in Palo Alto continues on March 2 and 3 with testing company Curative and on March 5 through our partnership with the County of Santa Clara.

Go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/testing for timely information on upcoming testing opportunities and to book your appointment online.

NEW RESTAURANT RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM

Restaurant Relief Grant Application Process Closes on March 8

The Palo Alto Restaurant Relief Grant Program was announced this week and established following a Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) commitment of $1 million to launch emergency relief programming supporting restaurants in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, unincorporated Menlo Park, unincorporated North Fair Oaks, Palo Alto, and Redwood City impacted by the pandemic. $250,000 will support Palo Alto’s Restaurant Relief Grant Program.

To apply for the grant process, go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/restaurantrelief or from the home page click on Restaurant Relief under “News”

Restaurant Rescue: New community-driven effort

Restaurant Rescue a community-driven effort was launched recently to encourage the community to support Palo Alto and East Palo Alto restaurants. To sign up for the Takeout Pledge and to learn more, go to restaurantrescue.org.

STATE OF THE CITY — MARCH 4

Join Mayor Tom DuBois for this year’s State of the City Address on Thursday March 4 at 7:00 p.m. This year’s event will be virtual.

Register now by going to the City’s home page under “News” or direct to bit.ly/PAStateoftheCity2021

CHANGES TO FOOTHILLS PARK ENTRY FEES & MORE

Park Fee on Weekends Implemented

Vehicle entrance fees are being collected on weekends and holidays. A weekday fee implementation will begin later in the Spring.

• Daily Vehicle Entrance Fees is $6 per vehicle per day.
• Free for entry: City designated volunteers volunteering that day in the preserve, Active Military, veterans, students with ID who are driving, and vehicles with disabled person placard/license plate.

Annual Pass Available

Annual Pass: $65 for non-residents, $50 for residents, 25% discount for seniors

• Free for active military, veterans, and low-income visitors (resident or non-resident)
• Annual Pass may be interchanged between two vehicles in the same household. Provide both license plate numbers at time of Annual Pass purchase.

Annual passes can be purchased:

• Online at www.CityofPaloAlto.org/enjoy and click on “Memberships”
• By Phone Monday-Friday only at (650) 463–4949
• In-person at Lucie Stern Community Center on Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

For additional details about these and other changes at Foothills Park, go here.

HOUSING ELEMENT WORKING GROUP APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSES MARCH 5

Housing Element Working Group Recruitment Closes March 5

The application period to serve on the Housing Element Working Group is open now. The deadline to apply is March 5. City Council will consider applications and select members at the April 5, 2021 meeting. The Working Group will start meeting in May 2021.

For more information and to apply, go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/heupdate.

NOTABLE UPCOMING COUNCIL ITEMS

Tentative Council Items

March 8:

• Retail Ordinance
• Castilleja School Project Public Comment Period, No Action to be taken
• Finance Committee Recommendation to Update Impact Fees
• Grand Jury Response on “Why Aren’t There More Female Fire Fighters in Santa Clara County”

March 15:

• Castilleja School Project Council Consideration/Action

March 22:

• Prescreening of Town & Country Village proposal for medical office use
• Prescreening of 123 Sherman to rezone to Planned Home Zoning to develop a housing and office mixed-use project.
• Community and Economic Recovery Strategy

March 23:

• Connecting Palo Alto Rail Grade Separation Update and Final Report From the Expanded Community Advisory Panel (XCAP)

April 5

• Police Department Year in Review Study Session
• Unhoused services Study Session
• Council selection of the Housing Element Working Group

STAY INFORMED

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

Gain Coronavirus Updates at: CityofPaloAlto.org/Coronavirus

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

Call us: (650) 272–3181

Community Support Call Center is available to answer community questions