Weekly City Manager Updates: June 3, 2024

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PaloAltoConnect

4 min readJun 5, 2024

City Manager Ed Shikada shares brief updates at each Council meeting, highlighting details about upcoming events, City services, and City Council discussions planned. His comments are summarized through our Palo Alto Connect Medium.com series to catch up on City issues and gain the latest news.

Watch Ed share updates from the June 3, 2024 Council meeting.

Timestamped City Council Video: City Council Meeting — June 3, 2024

City Council Meeting - June 3, 2024

Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone.1…

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Heatwave Anticipated, Moderate Air Quality

The National Weather Service forecasts hot temperatures this week from Tuesday through Thursday, with a heat advisory issued for Wednesday. In addition, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued an air quality advisory Monday afternoon in response to the recent Redwood City fire. An air quality advisory continues through Thursday due to heat. Palo Alto libraries act as our local cooling centers for those that need a reprieve from the hot weather and smoky air. As we move into summer, it is a good reminder to:

Drink plenty of water
If working outdoors, take frequent breaks and reapply sunscreen
Never leave children or your pets in a car

Find more information, go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/HeatAdvisoryJune4.

City Council 2024 Priorities Community Update Series

A recent community update series on the 2024 Council Priorities shared progress on the Council’s 78 objectives that advance each priority. Each update focuses on one City Council priority and its respective objectives, related Council committee workplans, and community and stakeholder engagement necessary to advance the objectives. The community can also expect to track progress through quarterly progress reports.

Read the community update series at www.cityofpaloalto.org/PrioritiesUpdateSeries2024.

New Pricing, Better Seamless Service

Join more than 400* Palo Alto homeowners committed to creating a greener community who replaced their old water heaters with safer, cleaner heat pump water heaters.

New pricing is in effect, take advantage of recent improvements to the full-service program where the City will inspect your home, manage permits, and install a new 65-gallon heat pump water heater for only $2,300 — a fraction of the price. And, if your home needs other site preparation work, get a credit of up to $1,000.

One call does it all: (650) 713–3411. Sign up online at www.cityofpaloalto.org/switch.

*Updated with most recent data after the Council meeting.

Human Services Needs Assessment

The City is conducting a Human Services Needs Assessment Survey to better understand the community’s service needs such as food, housing, mental health, seniors, children and youth, homeless, low-income, intellectually and developmentall disabled folks, and more.

Share your human services needs, if they are being met, and what barriers or gaps in services you may be experiencing. Responses help inform priorities for Human Services Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP), a City grant program that supports nonprofits serving Palo Alto residents. The survey is also translated into Chinese, Russian, and Spanish.

Deadline to complete the survey is June 30.

Take the survey at www.cityofpaloalto.org/HSNA2024.

Notable Tentative Upcoming Council Items

June 10

Quarry Road Bus Connector Parkland Undedication
Rail Grade Separation — Review and Select Preferred Alternative

June 17; Special Start 4 p.m.

FY 2024–2025 Budget Adoption
Hydroelectricity Contract Extension
El Camino Real Bike Lane Proposal

Tuesday, June 18; Special Start 4 p.m.

Report from the Human Relations Commission: Research on the Lived Experience of Asian American, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders
Buena Vista Streamlined Review
North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan (NVCAP) Adoption
Recommended Regulatory Changes to Support Retail (removed from agenda)

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

Read past City Manager Weekly Updates and provide your input about these comments at: CityofPaloAlto.org/CityManagerUpdates.

Council Actions Summary

Council Actions

University Avenue Streetscape: Approved goals and next steps, and directed staff to expedite short-term and near-term projects and to return to Council with a preferred concept by fall 2024.

Green Building Standards: Amended the Palo Alto Municipal Code to adopt the 2022 Green Building Standards Code with modifications for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and building electrification standards.

445 Byrant Street: Operate 445 Bryant Street building as a community center with part-time use by La Comida de California and begin negotiations for a year lease.