HomeMy Public PortalAbout20211213plCCFrom:tagba martin
Date:Monday, December 13, 2021 9:57:19 AM
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לומתאמ ךל יתחלשש ראודל הנע וא וישכע יילא רשקתה אנא ,בוט ברע םולש
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Uncle Ernie
Subject:Richard Gage 9/11 UNLEASHED NO LIES RADIO
Date:Monday, December 13, 2021 9:14:52 AM
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https://noliesradio.org/archives/186108
From:Randy Popp
To:DuBois, Tom
Cc:Council, City
Subject:ARB Appointments - Monday, December 13, 2021 SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY Item #3
Date:Sunday, December 12, 2021 11:55:56 PM
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Mayor DuBois, Vice-Mayor Burt, and Members of the Council:
I’ll get right to the point. After following the interviews for ARB I do not believe you have enough
properly qualified candidates to fill all the open seats. I respectfully recommend you defer the
appointment of candidates and reopen recruitment in the hopes of a more qualified pool.
I hope you all know that I am an advocate for the Architectural Review process in Palo Alto. As anArchitect who has been responsible for leading some of the larger and more complex projectsrecently built, I see the benefit of analysis and critique which is an integral part of navigatingentitlements in our City. I believe the highly technical and inherently subjective discussion whichoccurs as part of the ARB process results in a clearly exhibited project evolution that is positive.
I have been a Licensed Architect for more than 30 years and have worked on a range of project types
spanning residential, multi-family, senior living, education, medical, office, research and
development, community service, hospitality, and restaurants. I have been responsible for leading
entitlements for many projects which required ARB interaction including the Taube-Koret Campus
for Jewish Life (JCC), the Marriott Hotels on San Antonio Road, the ArtX (Analog) Hotel on El Camino,
and numerous others.
I am proud to have been selected to serve both as a Member and Chair of the ARB between 2012and 2015. I believe that was in no small part a result of the experience and education that is part ofmy background. As a single-person firm, out of a concern for conflict-of-interest, I elected to resignmy position but not before I had gained a clear understanding of the workings and complexity fromthe Board side of the process. Every 2 weeks I received a packet with a detailed staff report alongwith a set of drawings for anywhere from 1 to 5 projects. It’s fair to say that while applicants spendhundreds of hours developing the information, as a Board member I only had days to gain anunderstanding of all the materials in preparation for a hearing. It was my responsibility to fully graspthe project scope, review what was often dozens of sheets of plans, elevations, sections, details,photometric reports, landscape layouts and plant lists, civil site plan sheets with drainage, bio-swales, and utilities, Green Building conformance, Energy compliance, and material samples. Theseare not simple documents and while a part of the process is to evaluate aspects of the projectaesthetics, the review must consider all the technical, zoning, and code requirements for everyproject. Fire and life-safety issues affect design. Material installation affects design. Accessibilityrequirements affect design. Having facility with all these elements is critical to being a capablereviewer. In my opinion, most of the applicants you have been presented with have not had theeducation or opportunity necessary to develop the experience that is required to capably review theprojects that are in the ARB purview.
I recognize that our Municipal Code defines that the Council appoints an “Architectural Review
Board consisting of five persons…and at least three of whom shall be architects, landscape
architects, building designers or other design professionals.” During my time on the ARB I served
with an attorney, Wynne Furth, and would use that as an example of a person who was limited in
ability to critically comment on projects in the manner that was required. While I very much
appreciated her attention to the zoning regulations, staff is capable of managing that aspect. Wynne
was vocal about her aesthetic preferences and often spoke of practical matters relative to the design
but regularly deferred technical and more complex aesthetic decisions to the design professionals on
the board. I know from that experience it makes the board less effective. Applicants deserve capableanalysis and constructive critique and must be given direct and clear information about what issuccessful or elements needing more attention or further development.
I’ll end by suggesting that a temporarily short board with skill is better than a full board without. Irecognize that we do not want to discourage people from applying for these positions but as withany job, you must possess the necessary education, skill, and experience to be successful bothindividually and as part of a team. The decision to place a candidate on the ARB has decades ofimpact on our City as those individuals guide applicants toward our goal of quality buildings. I hopeyou will carefully consider the impact elevating an unqualified candidate to the ARB could have.
Thank you,
Randy
Randolph PoppA R C H I T E C T
904 High StreetPalo Alto, CA 94301650.427.0026408.666.6516 mbwww.rp-arch.com
From:Jeff Chang
To:Council, City
Subject:In support of Castilleja project
Date:Sunday, December 12, 2021 11:27:05 PM
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________________________________
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a twenty year resident of Palo Alto and parent of a Casti student, I am writing in support of the Castilleja project
before the Council.
Our daughter greatly benefits from her education at Casti, and its mission supporting Women Leadership.
I also feel that Castilleja has been working over many years in good faith with the city and the neighborhood to craft
a plan which best suits all stakeholders.
I hope that you can support the plan.
Thank you,
Jeff Chang
50 Morton Way, Palo Alto
From:Manjun Martin
To:Council, City
Subject:Option to require any proposed residential building resulting in Palo Alto population increase to have signed
contract for water at 145gpcp
Date:Sunday, December 12, 2021 9:33:38 PM
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________________________________
Dear City Council:
We are in the middle of a long draught with no end in site. In spite of the clear environmental crisis there is
continued pressure on Palo Alto to increase housing and increase population density which will only increase the
negative impact of drought on our treasured green environment.
I suggest that the city require any proposed building including ADUs, split lots and multi-family structures include
as a pre-requisite the requirement that the builder have a signed contract deeded over to CPAU with water rights to
provide to CPAU additional, NEW water supply at rate of 145gpcd(equal to current gallons per capita per day for
gross PA usage) over a period of 50 years with any projected additional cost burden on existing customers pre-paid.
Each additional 750 square feet of residential space can be considered to be average for a single person and
therefore an split lot with an additional structure of 1500sqft would require 270gpcd.
This requirement is targeted to preserve Palo Alto residential areas and preserve our Tree City over the upcoming
decades of severe drought. Existing CPAU customers should not pay for or have their water rationed because
builders for their own profit want to cram more people into our city.
Sincerely,
Paul S. Martin
From:Virginia VanKuran
To:Council, City
Subject:Public Comment - City Council Meeting, December 13, Agenda Item 19
Date:Sunday, December 12, 2021 7:05:15 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
I would like to thank the City Council for establishing the S/CAP Ad Hoc Committee. I’veattended most of the Committee Meetings, watched the All-Electric Homes webinar and
completed the survey. All were informative, well presented and allowed plenty of time forquestions and comments.
The S/CAP Ad Hoc Committee and the City Department of Utilities staff have done an
excellent job and I would like to express my appreciation for all of their work so far. Giventhe enormity and number of work items to complete in the coming months and years I urge the
City Council to keep the S/CAP Ad Hoc Committee in place for as long as needed and as theyare willing to serve so there can be an ongoing collaboration.
I support both of the S/CAP Ad Hoc Committees recommendations to the City Council and
urge the Council to accept the draft S/CAP 3-Year Work Plan and the staffingrecommendations.
Personally as the owner of a single family residence the first Outstanding Need described by
the Committee is my top concern -
We need to reassure people and businesses that there will be sufficient, low cost energy
and that our electric utility will be able to provide the high levels of reliability andresilience we need and expect.
I agree with the Committee on the rest of Outstanding needs as key items for consideration.
Regards,
Virginia Van Kuran879 Garland Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94303
From:Loran Harding
To:Loran Harding; alumnipresident@stanford.edu; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; David Balakian; bballpod; fredbeyerlein; Leodies Buchanan; beachrides; boardmembers; Chris Field; Cathy Lewis; Council, City; dennisbalakian;Doug Vagim; Dan Richard; Daniel Zack; david pomaville; esmeralda.soria@fresno.gov; eappel@stanford.edu;francis.collins@nih.gov; fmerlo@wildelectric.net; grinellelake@yahoo.com; Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov;George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu; huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; jerry ruopoli; Joel Stiner; kwalsh@kmaxtv.com;kfsndesk; karkazianjewelers@gmail.com; lalws4@gmail.com; margaret-sasaki@live.com; Mayor; Mark Standriff;newsdesk; news@fresnobee.com; nick yovino; russ@topperjewelers.com; Sally Thiessen; Steve Wayte;tsheehan; terry; VT3126782@gmail.com; vallesR1969@att.net; Irv Weissman;mthibodeaux@electriclaboratories.com
Subject:Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicron doubling.
Date:Sunday, December 12, 2021 5:33:25 PM
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From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Sun, Dec 12, 2021 at 4:52 PM
Subject: Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicrondoubling.
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Sun, Dec 12, 2021 at 4:02 PM
Subject: Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicrondoubling.
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Sun, Dec 12, 2021 at 1:27 AM
Subject: Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicrondoubling.
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Sun, Dec 12, 2021 at 1:24 AM
Subject: Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicrondoubling.
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Sun, Dec 12, 2021 at 12:56 AM
Subject: Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicrondoubling.
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Sun, Dec 12, 2021 at 12:14 AM
Subject: Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicrondoubling.
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Sat, Dec 11, 2021 at 2:11 AM
Subject: Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicrondoubling.
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Fri, Dec 10, 2021 at 7:59 PM
Subject: Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicrondoubling.
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Fri, Dec 10, 2021 at 7:55 PM
Subject: Dr. John Campbell in UK Friday, Dec. 10, 2021- International Omicron doubling.To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
Sunday, December 12, 2021
To all-
Dr. John Campbell for today, Friday, December 10, 2021-- Omicron doubling. Whereit is doubling now and in how many days. 3 or 4 days in UK. Scotland is going to force all
those who test positive to self-isolate and that will shut down the Scottish economy, says Dr.Campbell.
International omicron doubling - YouTube
Dr. Campbell is still hopeful based on the data from South Africa that cases will be
mild. Omicron does break through immunity caused by vaccination and natural immunityacquired from having survived Delta, e.g. But, cases can be mild for both. Pfizer said this
week that three shots of Pfizer vaccine can neutralize the Omicron variant. Recall thoseneutralizing antibodies: Pfizer says vaccine booster dose protects against omicron variant
(nbcnews.com)
Here is Dr. Campbell for Saturday, December 11, 2021: "Good fortune with
Omicron": As more data comes in from S. Africa, Omicron looks less and less of animpending disaster. This is the most hopeful vid. Dr. Campbell has produced on Omicron to
date. Important vid. Strongly recommended. "Omicron could end the pandemic". BTW, Iheard a blurb on KCBS-SF to the effect that in 1918, the flu pandemic started to taper off in
the summer of 1920, so two years into it. And they didn't have vaccines. In fact, they didn'tknow what a virus was (!).
Good fortune with omicron - YouTube
If you are planning to sell your stocks and run for the hills due to Omicron, as many have
done recently, this may change your mind. I havn't sold a share in months. J. Powell taperingthe Fed's treasury bond purchases is also spooking the market. That is one way to rein in the
economy and fight inflation, but does the economy really need reining in right now? Manyindicators show not. I'd like to see the more direct approach to high inflation: Get the records
of big companies that have been raising prices unconscionably and crack down on them withdirect federal action: Oil companies, food producers and sellers, apparel makers, building
supply companies, appliance makers, etc. Why raise interest rates and damage the stockmarket? That hurts workers who have saved in retirement accounts and they are not the
brigands who have been hiking prices while the getting is good. They see Biden as a patsy anddon't see him cracking down on them. He should surprise them. There was some rumbling a
few days ago about requesting company records, but it seems to have faded.
Let's see: We have brigands in board rooms raising prices and so let's damage the littlepeople trying to save for retirement by wrecking the stock market. Fair is fair. Here's an idea:
Pass laws requiring companies to re-institute the wonderful defined benefit pension plans, likethe one I got from GM. In the early 80s the rich companies who were having to fund their
pension plans somehow got Congress to pass Sec. 401(K) of the IRC. How they so influencedCongress is one of the mysteries of the sea, but they did. I've turned this over and over in my
mind and I cannot see how they did it. Then they cancelled their pension plans. What a royalscrewing for the American people, but that is what Congress is there for. The average worker
has something like $40,000 in his 401(K) account. When he retires, he MUST NOT lose thatmoney because he will be too old to earn it again. SO, he will have to invest it so safely that
he'll earn maybe 1% on it. What is 3% of $40,00? Let's get wild. What is 5% of 100,000?$5,000 taxable. So the question becomes: Can people live on $400 per month plus SS? 40%
of all workers have no retirement savings at all. A more realistic rate on the savings nest egg is3%. Can people live on 3% taxable of $60,000? That is $1,800 per year or $150 per month
plus SS. I think that when people with 401(K) plans instead of the great defined benefitpension plans start to retire, there is going to be a rather unpleasant and severe reaction to the
govenment that let this happen to them. If you only ever watch one more hour of TV, go toYoutube and watch "The Retirement Gamble". PBS, ~2013. I've seen it 20 times. Until and
unless Congress does something for the average Joe and mandates the great defined benefitpension plans by employers again, you open a traditional IRA account at Vanguard and put
Vanguard Index funds in it. They are all listed on one page on the Vanguard website. Themoney goes in tax-free and compounds tax free until you are 75 when you must, under IRS
rules, start to withdraw some percent of it each year and pay tax on it as you do. When youwithdraw the money, you will be in a low tax bracket. I get not one centavo from Vanguard
for recommending this. Look at the expense ratios on some of the Vanguard Index funds atwww.vanguard.com .05% means they take 5 one-hundredths of one percent per year of the
money you have in there. If you have $50,000 invested there, they take $25 as their annual fee.Many mutual funds inside of 401(K) plans take 2% per year as their fee. 2% of $50,000 is
$1,000. $25 v. $1,000. Some even take 5%, or $2,500, of your $50,000 every year as theirfee! If you only lose 2% per year to fees, you lose 60% of your growth over 40 years, "The
Retirement Gamble" shows. Most people with a 401(K) don't have the remotest idea of thepercentage fee the mutual funds in the account are charging. They just see that their balance
never goes up much.
The Retirement Gamble: the retirement gamble documentary - YouTube
How many people reading this will actually do what I recommend here. None. "Too bad
for you", says Jack Bogle, founder of Vanguard in the documentary. Some people do this,however. When you click on one particular Vanguard Index fund, go to "portfolio" at the
bottom of the page. There you see the stocks the fund invests in. In the case of the VanguardIndex 500 fund, the 500 largest companies in the US, you see that they have maybe $450
billion invested in the biggest holding, Apple AAPL. That is one of the 500 stocks in theIndex 500 fund. So not all are sheep to the slaughter at the hands of the actively managed
mutual fund industry- the mutual funds in the 401(K)s. Watch "The Retirement Gamble" tentimes before you pick up the phone and call Vanguard. You'll figure it out.
I just looked at www.vanguard.com. They make you have a user name and PW now to
look around in there. So google "Vanguard Index funds" and click on one of the Vanguardbanners. There you can look around inside Vanguard. The Index 500 fund has an expense ratio
of 0.13% So they deduct 13 one-hundredths of 1% each year as their fee. On $50,000, thatwould be $65 per year. A 2% fee at an actively managed mutual fund, the kind in your
401(K) account, would be $1,000 per year. So see how you can pile up a lot more money witha Vanguard Index fund inside of a traditional IRA at Vanguard? You are going to need that
money at age 75. Call Vanguard. Tell them you want to open a traditional IRA at Vanguardand put Vanguard Index funds in it. They send you forms. You fill them out and mail them
back. You'll need a brokerage account at Vanguard. Tell them you want one. They send you aform, you send it back and you'll have a brokerage account at Vanguard. The money going
into an IRA has to be "earned income", money you earn, not dividend income, e.g. The Indexfunds can have a minimum investment of $3,000 or $5,000, but the funds trade as ETFs too,
so they trade like a stock. These can cost $70 per share, e.g., so you don't have to start with a$5,000 minimum investment. You could buy 5 shares of the ETF at $70 or $350 as your
opening investment.
L. William Harding Fresno, Ca.
L. William Harding
Fresno, Ca.
From:Nancy Neff
To:Council, City
Subject:December 13 Council meeting, Public Comment: Campaign finance reform
Date:Sunday, December 12, 2021 5:31:22 PM
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To Mayor Dubois, Vice Mayor Burt and Council Members:
I’m Nancy Neff, a volunteer coordinator for the California Clean Money
Campaign, a nonpartisan organization devoted to reducing the undue influence
of money in politics, and a member of the local campaign finance Task Force.
Regarding enhanced disclosure:
This refers to displaying the names of funders on political ads that are paid for by
a committee that is independent of and not coordinating with the candidate –
also known as independent expenditures. They pay for a lot of those glossy
mailers you get. It applies to all types of ads, such as robocalls, social media,
print, or text message. Enhanced means that Palo Alto would increase the
number of ads that must show who paid for them. We would scale the state law
down to the local level by reducing from $50,000 to $2500 the amount you can
spend before being required to disclose independent expenditures on the ads.
This will enable voters to be aware of the major players and who they are
supporting in Palo Alto races.
The main criticism I’ve heard about enhanced disclosure is that it doesn't solve
everything. It doesn’t. In the Citizens United decision the US Supreme Court
said that independent expenditures cannot be limited. But it also said that
disclosure is necessary and proper as the antidote for the unleashing of
unlimited political spending by corporations and other groups. If people know
who is paying for ads, Chief Justice John Roberts said,
“This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give
proper weight to different speakers and messages.”
We can’t limit independent expenditures, but we should do what we can, by
disclosing them.
I urge Council to address runaway campaign spending by adopting the three
proposed reforms in time for the 2022 elections.
Thank you very much for your time and attention.
Nancy Neff
3150 Emerson St
Palo Alto CA 94306
From:Mahakathitha Ananda
To:Council, City
Subject:Requesting Resolution of Appreciation
Date:Sunday, December 12, 2021 2:12:27 PM
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Dear City Council of Palo Alto,
I hope this email finds you well. I am reaching out on behalf of SHRIKAILASA Nation in a request for a
resolution recognizing the SPH for the contributions made throughout the State of California and
nationwide, the Hindu diaspora, in the field of health, wellness, spiritual wellbeing, peace, women
empowerment, youth empowerment, cultural preservation, free education, humanitarian services, and
much more.
About the occasion/ Honoree:This resolution commemorates the achievements thus far of The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism (“SPH”),Jagatguru Mahasannidhanam (“JGM”), His Divine Holiness (“HDH”) Bhagavan Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam,recognized as the 1008th living incarnation of Paramashiva as per Sanatana Hindu Dharma (“Hinduism”) and byHis predecessors of enlightened masters and adepts. Since the young age of 16, The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam has been single handedly and tirelessly revivingKAILASA worldwide, inspiring the dispossessed Hindu Diaspora to reclaim their Hindu centric freedom andstand unified for the centuries-old Hindu genocide - despite enduring and surviving more than two decades ofrelentless social, political, intellectual, religious, cultural, linguistic, economic, legal and digital persecution.
As the face of the unified Hindus worldwide, The SPH has also been honored and coronated as the 1008thAcharya Mahamandaleshwar (the head for all spiritual leaders) of Atal Akhada (ancient apex body of Hinduism),coronated as Mahamandaleshwar (Supreme Spiritual Head) of Maha Nirvani Akhada (largest apex monasticorder) and the youngest Mahamandaleshwar, ordained as the 233rd Guru Mahasannidhanam (Pontiff) of ThondaiMandala Aadheenam, ordained as the 293rd Guru Mahasannidhanam (Pontiff) of ShyamalapeetaSarvajnapeetam, ordained as the 293rd Guru Mahasannidhanam of Dharmamukthi Swargapuram Aadheenam,and coronated as the 203rd Emperor of Suryavamsa Surangi Samrajyam.
In the current world crisis and ongoing unprecedented pandemic, KAILASA Nation has opened its doors toprotect those most in need and for its life positive, all inclusive, universal policies sourced from Hinduism,revived by The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam. The SPH has enriched more than one billion individuals overthe past 27 years across the globe, including in the State of California. Attached is a proclamation draft you coulduse as you see fit to draft the resolution.
ABOUT KAILASA USA:
KAILASA has a presence in nearly all 50 states through a network temples, youth centers, spiritual
healing centers, online presence, extended campuses of the largest Hindu University in the world,
Nithyananda Hindu University, food banks and libraries with major hubs in cities of Los Angeles, San
Jose, Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Jersey City, Edison, Phoenix,
Seattle, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Columbus, Delware, Charlotte, New York City, Atlanta, Bethesda
and Washington D.C.
KAILASA USA has been serving Americans nationwide since 2003 and California since 2006. Since
then, we have expanded, providing humanitarian services free of cost, collaborating with organizations,
donation centers, and community members around the state. We are a vibrant, diverse and inclusive
community whose primary purpose is to serve our fellow Americans through holistic life solutions from
authentic Hinduism and growing. During the pandemic, our volunteers mobilized to donate thousands
of pounds of food to our local food banks and provided free online support through free yoga,
meditation, prayer events and classes, to help our fellow citizens to sail through the pandemic.
PROCLAMATION DRAFT TEMPLATE (please use as you see fit):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1imvpnDFmjfNssNIT5vpUxus4JA7OFecV4wr9E-_jVSg/edit?
usp=sharing
Sampling of Past Proclamations & Certificates
1.United States Senator: https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/USA_-_Tim_Kaine_-
_10/14/2021_(Proclamation)
2.California State Senate Recognizes KAILASA and Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam, ‘Nithyananda
Day’: https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/United_States_-_Senator_Connie_Leyva_-
_1/3/2020_(Proclamation)
3.Premier of Ontario, Canada:
https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/File:20210812_10005_235832719_FB.jpg
4.House of Representatives Pennsylvania (USA):
https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/File:USA_40thChaturmasya_Pennsylvania_Citation_Aug_28_2020.pdf
5.State of Texas – House of Representatives:
https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/File:20210812_1006_239896773_FB.jpg
6.Minister of Labor, Mauritius: https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/Mauritius_-
_His_Honourable_Soodesh_Satkam_Callichurn_-_05_Jan_2021_(Proclamation)
7.Mayor of Montclair, California (USA): https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/USA_-
_Honorable_Javier_Dutrey_-_05_Jan_2021_(Proclamation)
8.Mayor of Pomona, California (USA) : https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/USA_-
_Mayor_Tim_Sandoval_-_9/21/2021_(Proclamation)
9.Mayor of Gainesville, Florida (USA): https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America_-
_Lauren_Poe_-_9/14/2021_(Proclamation)
10.Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina (USA): https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/File:USA---Vi-
Alexander-Lyles---(Proclamation)-1Wve1EmrohCgsCdyO-R8B0Gbvrnu-WQbL.pdf
11.Mayor of City of San Jose, California (USA):
https://kailasapedia.org/wiki/File:20210812_1003_236413275_FB.jpg
12.Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey (USA): https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/USA_-
_Steven_M._Fulop_-_3/1/2022_(Proclamation)
13.Mayor of City of Santa Clara, CA (USA): https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/USA_-
_Mayor_Lisa_M._Gillmor_-_Jul-28-2021_(Proclamation)
14.Mayor of Milpitas, California (USA): https://tinyurl.com/Milpitas2020
15.Mayor of Delaware, Ohio (USA): https://tinyurl.com/Delaw11
16.Mayor of Montclair, California (USA): https://tinyurl.com/HonJD2021
17.Mayor of City of Palmdale (USA): https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/File:USA---Mayor-Steve-
Hofbauer---(Proclamation)-1IrfqePnSBskwDlEqF8_MYztRvEZygFma.pdf
18.Mayor of City of Harare, Zimbabwe: https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe_-
_Mayor_Cllr._Stewart_Musarurwa_Mutizwa_-_10/13/2021_(Proclamation)
19.Mayor of Entebbe Municipality, Uganda: https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/Uganda_-
_Mayor_Fabrice_Rulinda_-_9/20/2021_(Proclamation)
20.Member of Parliament, Jamaica: https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_-_G._Anthony_Hylton_-
_7/27/2021_(Proclamation)
21.U.S. House of Representatives, Chaplain: https://tinyurl.com/CChaplain
Date needed by: January 3, 2022
We would like to know if this is possible and we hope you consider our request. Feel free to reach out if you haveany questions at +1(424)399-0801. Thank you.
Kind Regards,Brenda J (Mahakathitha)
From:Larry Klein
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda item # 19
Date:Sunday, December 12, 2021 12:52:42 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
I urge your support for a vigorous program to convert all buildings in Palo Alto from using gas
to using electricity.
In your consideration of such measures I hope you will:
Act Boldly. Climate change is our greatest challenge. The world, particularly industrialized nations, has been slow to respond. The time for half measures is over.
In this connection please consider the plan adopted just last month by the City Council ofIthaca, New York (population 30, 000) to convert all of its city's buildings, public and private,
residential and non-residential, from gas to electricity by 2030 using a variety of fundingsources other than the city budget ($100 million has already been contributed). Ithaca is the
home of Cornell University (Student population 23,000) and thus has some similarities to PaloAlto/Stanford.
Move Swiftly. Let's not get bogged down in the usual Palo Alto process or in environmental
reviews. Set an accelerated time table and make sure the staff lives up to it.Each day in Palo Alto, on average, four or five gas heated water tanks come to the end of their
useful lives. This is the best time to convert a gas hot water system to electric. Let's not losemany more of these opportunities.
Use Mandates. Getting people to act voluntarily is of course always preferable to mandating
behavior. But sometimes, as shown in the Covid vaccination situation, mandates arenecessary. Climate Change is emphatically such a situation.
Respectfully submitted,
Larry Klein
Mayor, City of Palo Alto, 1984-85, 1989, 2008City Council Member, 1981-89, 2005- 2014.
From:LWV of Palo Alto
To:Council, City
Cc:City Mgr; City Attorney
Subject:Dec. 13 City Council meeting Public Comments--campaign finance reform
Date:Saturday, December 11, 2021 11:33:53 AM
Attachments:LWVPAtoCCfinalpubcommentdec13.docxLWVPA to City Council_ Campaign Finance Reform Proposal (2) (1)attpublcommentdec13.docx
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Dear Mayor DuBois, Vice Mayor Burt and Council Members, Please find attached the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto's Public Comments on
campaign finance reform for the Dec 13 City Council meeting, together with our detailedstudy and proposals for reform.
--
League of Women Voters of Palo Alto
3921 E. Bayshore Road Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: (650) 903-0600Web: www.lwvpaloalto.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/PaloAltoLeague/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lwvpaloalto
3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org
December 11, 2021
Dear Mayor DuBois, Vice Mayor Burt, and Honorable Council Members: Re:December 13 Council meeting--Public Comment--Campaign Finance Reform I’m Lisa Ratner, advocacy chair of LWV of Palo Alto, on behalf of the League, urging Council to enact three campaign finance
reforms: 1) voluntary limits of $30,000 on how much a candidate can spend on campaigns; 2) limits of between $250--$500 on what donors can give to candidates; and 3) expanding the public’s right to know who is influencing local elections by lowering the amount of spending that triggers disclosure requirements on political ads from $50,000 to $2,500.
Over 100 cities and counties in California have enacted similar reforms, and cities of greater population than Palo Alto have enacted even lower limits than what we propose.
Unlimited campaign spending distorts democracy by allowing the biggest spenders to have the loudest voice. It raises concern over how candidates without access to wealth can afford to run for public office. It creates the appearance of undue influence by donors and distrust of government where the interests of people who can give only small or no donations are ignored. It
raises the specter of unlimited anonymous spending by independent groups influencing elections.
The League’s mission is to increase participation by citizens in government, both as informed voters and as candidates for office. Democracy depends on engaging people from all social and economic sectors to participate in government, not just
those with access to wealth.
The need to raise outsized amounts of money to run for Palo Alto City Council has deterred many good people from running.
Our local League created a task force more than a year ago to study the issue. Here’s what we found.
Campaign spending by candidates in 2020 rose 66% over the amounts spent in 2014, dwarfing election spending in cities much larger than Palo Alto.
In Palo Alto council races between 2014 and 2020, donations were dominated by a very small group of wealthy donors. This
does not reflect a community where all voices are heard equally.
We urge the Council to put these three common sense reforms on its agenda for study and adoption before the 2022 election. These reforms are based on the League of Women Voters long-held state and national positions on Money in Politics.1 Thank you. Lisa Ratner League of Women Voters of Palo Alto Advocacy Chair
1Our detailed study and proposed reforms are attached to this Public Comment as part of the public record. The donation limit would apply to single source, whether individual or entity, from inside or outside Palo Alto.
3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org
1
December 10, 2021 RE: Campaign Finance Reform in Palo Alto: Limiting Donations and Expenditures, and Increasing Political Ad Disclosures Dear Mayor Tom DuBois, Vice Mayor Pat Burt, Council Members Alison Cormack, Eric Filseth, Lydia Kou, Greer Stone, and Greg Tanaka The League of Women Voters of Palo Alto is seeking support for specific campaign finance reforms from the Palo Alto City Council. We have examined this issue since March 2021 and have received advice and input from campaign finance experts, including Common Cause and the California Clean Money Campaign. This is not a new issue; the Council and the community have discussed campaign finance reform periodically for over two decades. We urge the Council to adopt three reforms prior to the next Council election cycle. The reforms are: voluntary campaign expenditure limits; mandatory donation limits below the $4900 state default limits; and expanded disclosures on political advertising. League’s Position on Campaign Finance Reform: The League of Women Voters acts based on its positions and after study and member agreement on public policy issues. The League believes that methods of financing political campaigns should: ● Combat the appearance of undue influence of elected officials by their donors; ● Provide for reasonable voluntary limits on campaign expenditures and reasonable mandatory contribution limits; ● Ensure the public’s right to know who is using money to influence elections for candidates and ballot measures; ● Ensure that candidates have sufficient funds to communicate their messages to the public; ● Promote citizen participation in the political process; ● Enable candidates of diverse backgrounds and means to successfully compete; and ● Allow candidates to spend more time studying and communicating on issues of importance to voters and less time fund-raising. Background: Campaign Finance Reform in Palo Alto Elections: Palo Alto currently has no voluntary spending limits on City Council elections, nor has it enacted donation limits lower than the state default amount of $4900 (effective January 1, 2021). In 1996, Palo Alto did enact a voluntary spending limit of $14,000, but Council suspended it (on advice from the City Attorney) in 1998 due to concerns about court decisions invalidating spending limits under the First Amendment. By 2006, a court decision (Randall v. Sorrel) made it clear that voluntary (not mandatory) spending limits are permissible, as are reasonable mandatory contribution limits to candidates from a single source. In 2007, two Palo Alto City Council members (supported by the city attorney’s opinion) proposed a voluntary campaign spending limit of $30,000 and mandatory caps on individual contributions at $300 per donor, but the Council failed to adopt the proposals.
3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org
2
Why Palo Alto Needs Campaign Finance Reform: Running for City Council in Palo Alto (population 68,572) is much more expensive than cities of equivalent or larger size, and is dominated by large donations. Spending and donations have both skyrocketed since 2014. A Maplight study of Palo Alto campaign donations and spending between 2014 and 2018, found here, confirms that big-dollar donors are the dominant force in Palo Alto elections. ● During three election cycles between 2014--2018, the top 25 contributors gave one-third of all the money
raised by all the candidates. ● The average amount raised by a winning Palo Alto council member rose 57% between 2014--2018 from $40,000 to $63,000. ● Small donors (less than $100) comprised only 3% of candidate funding over three elections. A recent analysis of the California Fair Political Practice Commission (FPPC) filings for the 2020 Palo Alto City Council elections showed results similar to the Maplight study, demonstrating the stark difference between the impact of the largest donors and small dollar donors. ● In 2020, the average amount winners raised increased to $66,620. Palo Alto City Council candidates raised a combined total of $439,532 in itemized monetary contributions. ● Just 20 donors, each of whom gave over $3,500, accounted for 29% of all itemized contributions. ● 47% of itemized donations came from the 94301 zip code in Palo Alto (just 27% of the city’s population), far more than any other zip code in the city. Recommended Reforms: The League of Women Voters set out to identify campaign finance reform measures that combat the appearance of undue influence, allow candidates to get their message out, ensure maximum citizen participation, protect the public’s right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and enhance political equality for all citizens. (The reform measures we considered but did not recommend for 2022, along with why we did not recommend
them, are summarized here.)
Therefore, we recommend that City Council adopt the following three campaign finance reform measures in time for the 2022 elections: ● Reasonable voluntary campaign expenditure limits, with incentives for candidates who comply; ● Reasonable mandatory donation limits; and ● Enhanced disclosures of spending on political advertising.
Reasonable voluntary campaign expenditure limits encourage candidates to spend less time fundraising and more
time focusing on the issues and communicating their positions to voters. Voluntary spending limits would also make running for City Council more accessible to all Palo Alto residents, regardless of their financial resources, enhancing participation in government by people of all socio-economic backgrounds. We recommend a voluntary campaign expenditure limit of $30,000 (indexed to inflation), similar to Cupertino’s limit, a city of comparable size.
Reasonable mandatory contribution limits per candidate from a single source help to ensure that candidates are not
overly reliant on a few wealthy donors to finance their campaigns. They also compel viable candidates to build a broader base of smaller and generally more diverse contributors. These limits do not apply to a candidate’s personal contributions to their campaign. We recommend mandatory contribution limits of $250 for candidates who do not accept voluntary expenditure limits and mandatory contribution limits of $500 for those who do. (The mean
3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org
3
mandatory contribution limit for California cities under 100,000 which have enacted such limits is $438.) Individuals contributing to Palo Alto City Council candidates can currently contribute up to the state limit of $4900. Enhanced disclosure of the funding of political ads enables voters to know who is spending money to influence elections. We recommend extending the provisions of the Political Reform Act regarding disclosure on political ads to include disclosure of the top five largest contributors of $2,500 or more, and if a contributor is a committee, disclosure of the top three contributors to the committee, similar to Mountain View’s campaign finance disclosure ordinance. As in Mountain View, covered advertisements exclude ads paid for by a candidate or candidate-controlled committee. Also excluded are communications from an organization to its members other than a communication from a political party to its members. Palo Alto currently requires disclosures be printed on political ads only if the expenditure is over the state threshold of $50,000. Voluntary expenditure caps and campaign contribution limits may shift campaign spending to independent committees. That is why enhanced disclosure of who is funding ads goes hand in hand with expenditure caps and campaign contribution limits. Which Other Bay Area Cities and Counties Have Adopted These Reforms? Since the Supreme Court made voluntary spending limits and mandatory donation limits permissible in 2006, a number of California cities and counties (more than 80) have adopted the reforms we are recommending. These reforms are straightforward and Palo Alto could easily model its reforms on other cities’ ordinances. The FPPC has a link to all California cities and counties which have adopted contribution and expenditure limits. The table below includes links to Bay Area city and county ordinances that are similar to the ordinances we are recommending.
City/County (population) Voluntary Expenditure Limit (VEL) Individual Donation Limit Enhanced reporting and disclosure of independent expenditures?
Belmont (24,961) -- $500 --
Cupertino (60,381) $30,000 (2020 election)
-- --
Hayward (159,293) $79,309 $1,000 with VEL* $250 without VEL --
3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org
4
City/County (population) Voluntary Expenditure Limit (VEL) Individual Donation Limit Enhanced reporting and disclosure of independent expenditures?
Mountain View
(81,656)
$27,400 (2020 election)
$24,073 (2016 election)
Yes. $2,500
threshold
Newark (42,573) $42,573 ($1/resident) $500 with VEL* $100 without VEL --
Oakland (390,000) At-large candidate: $.50/resident
District candidate: $1.50/resident
$500 with VEL* $100 without VEL
Yes
Redwood City (86,380) $2.25/district resident $1,000 --
San Mateo County
(764,442)
$1,000 --
Santa Clara County (1,956,259) $250,000 $1,000 with VEL* $500 without VEL --
City of Santa Clara (127,721) $46,420 for at-large candidates $630 with VEL* $310 without VEL --
*In these cities, the donation limit is higher if a candidate chooses to adopt voluntary expenditure limits.
See California Common Cause Report “No Limits: Campaign Contributions in Local Elections”, 2016, for a review
of donation limits. Conclusion: Fueled by a campaign spending “arms race,” Palo Alto campaign expenditures and donations are out of control,
undermining faith in representative democracy, fostering the appearance of undue influence of elected officials by donors, and making participation in city elections out of the reach of ordinary citizens.
These reforms are long overdue. Now is the time to limit campaign contributions well below the state $4900 limit,
and voluntarily agree to stop runaway campaign expenditures.
3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org
5
In order to make these reforms effective as soon as possible, we urge the City Council to direct the city attorney and the city manager to draft an ordinance including the campaign finance reforms described in this proposal, to be effective for the November 2022 election. We appreciate your serious consideration and prompt action.
Liz Kniss, President
cc: Ed Shikada, City Manager Molly Stump, City Attorney LIST OF SUPPORTERS (see next page)
3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org
6
We the undersigned support the proposed campaign finance reforms, as outlined in the above letter.
Catherine Crystal Foster Community leader
Jennifer DiBrienza Member, Palo Alto Unified School District, Board
of Education
Peter Drekmeier Past Mayor of Palo Alto
Ellen Forbes Past President, League of Women Voters of Palo
Alto
Jonathan Foster Past member, Palo Alto Utility Advisory
Commission
Terry Godfrey Past Board member, Palo Alto Unified School
District, Board of Education; Past President League
of Women Voters of Palo Alto
Karen Kalinsky Board Member, League of Women Voters of Palo
Alto; member Local Campaign Finance Reform task
force
Yoriko Kishimoto Past Mayor of Palo Alto
Liz Kniss Past Mayor of Palo Alto; President, League of
Women Voters of Palo Alto
3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org
7
Trent Lange President, California Clean Money Campaign
Nancy Neff Regional Coordinator at California Clean Money
Campaign; member League of Women Voters of
Palo Alto Local Campaign Finance Reform task
force
Vic Ojakian Past Mayor of Palo Alto
Sigrid Pinsky Past President, League of Women Voters of Palo
Alto
Aisha Piracha-Zakariya Past President, League of Women Voters of Palo
Alto
Gail Price Past member, Palo Alto City Council; member
League of Women Voters of Palo Altos Local
Campaign Finance Reform task force
Lisa (Elizabeth) Ratner Vice President Advocacy, League of Women Voters
of Palo Alto; member Local Campaign Finance
Reform task force
Nancy Shepherd Past Mayor of Palo Alto; Board Chair, Palo Alto
Community Child Care; Past President, League of
Women Voters of Palo Alto
Megan Swezey Fogarty Associate Vice President for Community
Engagement, Stanford University
3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 903-0600 www.lwvpaloalto.org
8
Elizabeth Weal Community leader, Member League of Women
Voters of Palo Alto Local Campaign Finance Reform
task force
Marie Wolbach Community leader
From:Yahoo Mail.®
To:Honky
Subject:BEST LISTEN UP PEOPLE AND RISE UP COVID / CORONA NO MORE DEADLY THAN THE FLU THESE VACCINES
CAUSE DAMAGE !
Date:Saturday, December 11, 2021 5:50:01 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Attorney Fuellmich on Nuremberg 2.0: Justice will Not Come by the Courts but by the People Rising Up
Attorney Fuellmich on Nuremberg 2.0: Justicewill Not Come by the Courts...
Dr. Reiner Fuellmich practices law in Germany and in California, andhe has been exposing the crimes against hum...
Lem
Lem
"Kill the cockroach!" Listen to what this priest is saying. The"unclean" can be slaughtered anytime by a conf...
From:Aram James
To:Stump, Molly
Cc:Council, City; City Mgr; Shikada, Ed; Scheff, Lisa; robert.parham@cityofpaloalto.org; Enberg, Nicholas; Tannock,
Julie; Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew
Subject:Dec 6, 2021 city council meeting
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 10:34:04 PM
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Hi City Attorney Molly Stump:
At last Monday’s, December 6, City Council meeting, I made the following oral CaliforniaPublic Records Act Request: Thus far I have received no acknowledgment of my CPRA
REQUEST.
1. Molly please release information regarding the amount of money the city has thus far spentin defending against the law suit filed in the Joel Alejo matter. ( $20 million dollar law suit) (
involves canine attack, canine handler Nicholas Enberg)
2. Molly please release the information regarding the monies thus far expended by the city in
defending the law suit filed in the Julio Arevalo matter ( brutal violent beat down
of Mr. Arevalo in front of Happy Donut $19 million suit.- Beat down by
former PAPD agent Thomas Destefano)
Sincerely,
Aram James
From:Michelle Kuang
To:Council, City
Subject:Let"s keep our car(e)free space!
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 8:53:54 PM
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important at http://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification.]
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on links.
________________________________
I urge you to make University Avenue and Ramona Street open for pedestrians and bicycles, and closed to
automobiles, PERMANENTLY. It's a matter of quality of life!
Sincerely,
Michelle
From:Pat Kinney
To:Council, City
Subject:December 13 Council meeting, Public Comment: Campaign finance reform
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 8:53:05 PM
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Fueled by a campaign spending “arms race,” Palo Alto campaign expenditures and donations are out of control, undermining faith in representative democracy, fostering the appearance of undue influence of elected officials by donors, and making participation in city elections out of the reach of ordinary citizens.
These reforms are long overdue. Now is the time to limit campaign contributions well below the state $4900 limit, and voluntarily agree to stop runaway campaign expenditures.
I support the League of Women Voter resolution that the Palo Alto City Council shouldsupport campaign finance reform measures for the City scaled to the size of the city that
should include:● Voluntary spending limits,
● Mandatory campaign contribution limits lower than the state default level of $4900, and● Disclosure on political advertisements of top funders based on spending lower than the
state threshold of $50,000.
SIncerely,Patricia Kinney
689 Wildwood LanePalo Alto, CA
From:Pat Landman Herriot
To:Council, City
Subject:Another idea for Churchill crossing/closure issue
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 8:17:31 PM
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If there were a way for Park Bl to be opened for brief periods from Churchill to California Aveon weekdays to allow for an alternative to Alma route for the Southgate area; It might be the
least expensive solution.For the sake of the cyclists perhaps there could still be a bike lane alongside.
Thanks,Pat
-- Sent from my mobile device
From:Jeff Brown
To:Council, City
Cc:City Attorney
Subject:Requesting Help in Overruling Claim (No. C21-0053) Rejection by City Attorney"s Office
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 5:55:50 PM
Attachments:Water Leak Beneath City Tree at 660 Lincoln Avenue.msginvoice_57033.pdfWorkPlan_660LincolnAve_WaterLeak.pdfRe City of Palo Alto Claim C21-0053.msgClaim Number C21-0053.msgRe Claim Number C21-0053 (attn Terence Howzell Chief Assistant City Attorney).msgRE City of Palo Alto Claim C21-0053.msg
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Dear Members of the Palo Alto City Council,
I am writing to you as my representatives in the city government to ask for your help in reviewing
and hopefully reversing what I believe to be an unfair and thinly-reasoned decision by the City
Attorney’s Office to reject my claim against the city. The claim is for reimbursement of damages
sustained in July 2021 from a broken water line – just downstream of the city water-meter, in the
city planting strip – in front of our house, and for the resulting work required to fix it and restore our
service.
The attached email (Subj: Water Leak Beneath City Tree at 660 Lincoln Avenue), which I sent to the
city’s Public Works and Utilities departments on the day of the break, provides the initial background
for my claim. The descriptive text and amount paid in the attached plumbing contractor’s invoice
(“invoice_57033.pdf”) give further background. And, page 3 of the attached informal work plan that
I submitted to the city for permitting illustrates the location of the water-meter box at the time of
the break and the location and path of the new water-meter box and piping, respectively, that
needed to be installed as a result of the break. The path of the original downstream (i.e., broken)
piping went a short distance parallel to the street, from the water meter to beneath the adjacent
sycamore tree, and then perpendicular to the street in a straight run to hookup on the front of the
house.
Along with the documentation discussed above, I’ve attached ten photographs that, I believe, help
further elucidate my claim. The three photos labelled “Original Meter Box_0#” show the position of
the original water meter and the problems it presented. Photo “Hose Bib_01” was shot with my back
against the sycamore and shows the tree being in line with the plumbing hookup on the front of the
house. “Hose Bib_02” shows the original water-supply pipe extending directly away from the house
and toward the tree. “Hose Bib_03” and “…_04” show the newly installed pipe, hose bib, and valves.
And, the four “Damage to Yard_0#” photos illustrate the extensive damage incurred by our front
yard as a result of the work needed to remedy the water-meter and piping situations and restore our
service.
The last four attachments show email correspondences between the City Attorney’s Office and me
regarding my claim, filed on August 30, 2021. The final email includes a letter stating as the sole
justification for rejection of my claim as . . .
Utilities Rule and Regulation 21 Section H part A and B.
The Customer is responsible for maintenance of the on-site Water Distribution system
downstream of the Water Meter in accordance with the Palo Alto Municipal CodeChapter 16.08, including the Water Meter vaults and boxes as shown on Diagram A
below.
I have two issues with this justification:
First, it fails to acknowledge that, with almost complete certainty, it was the city (tree) that was
responsible for the damage and required repairs to my on-site Water Distribution system. I don’t
understand how this is any different than if, for example, the city were to deny its responsibility for
damage and repair to my car if it were legally parked on the street and struck by a city vehicle.
Second, it fails to acknowledge that, with total certainty, it was the placement of the city water
meter with respect to the city tree that prevented the possibility of a simple, in-place pipe repair and
instead necessitated the extensive street work, replumbing and yard damage that ensued.
I respectfully ask that you please rescind the City Attorney’s rejection of my claim and, at the least,
have the city reimburse me for the full cost I had to pay for the plumbing work on my property that
resulted from this event.
Sincerely,
Jeff Brown
660 Lincoln Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 328-7191
← Lin thanks Eden for granting NBA wishes
Jeff Adachi, may his memory be a blessing →
From:mark weiss
To:Council, City; tomforcouncil@gmail.com; Alison Cormack; Pat Burt; Greer Stone; Filseth, Eric (external)
Cc:Howard, Adam; Van Der Zwaag, Minka; Shikada, Ed; O"Kane, Kristen; Jason Miller; Drekmeier, Peter; Matt Gonzalez;DeMarzo, Elise; Terry Acebo Davis
Subject:Jesus for Mayor
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 5:09:24 PM
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Church service at City Hall on May 22, 2021 in possible
violation of the First Amendment ‘No Establishment’ clause
aka ‘separation of church and state’
Posted on May 24, 2021 by markweiss86
I only have about 10 minutes this week to articulate what was bothering me so on
Saturday (May 22, 2021) about a church service being held at City Hall.
Here is the sign that was posted.
Is this a permit? Did City Of Palo Alto give a permit to hold a church service at City Hall?
Is directly in front of City Hall — in other photos the words CITY HALL make this
obvious — the same as in City Hall?
Would the same event be more appropriate at a park, like at Lytton Plaza, two blocks
away? (Or the Farmers’ Market grounds, adjacent?)
Did City Attorney Molly Stump rule or not on whether this violates the separation of
church and state?
Did City Manager Ed Shikada rule or not on whether this violates the separation of
church and state?
I saw the Chief of Police Robert Jonsen at the event — he did not speak; did he issue
the permit?
If the same 300 or so Christians and 10 or so speakers appeared at 250 Hamilton and
made the same speeches or prayers, sang the same songs and hymns but did not seek a
permit per se, is that less a challenge to the First Amendment (First Amendment reads
“Congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of a religion” — it is freedom of
religion and here freedom from religion)?
Would the same event with one Jewish speaker be more in compliance with the First
Amendment?
If Reverend Bruce Reyes Chow, or Reverend Kaloma Smith had included the two
words “Shabbat Shalom” — “good sabbath” — in their respective presentations, as I
suggested they do, would that be more in compliance with the First Amendment?
Should we agree that we will not rent City Hall for future church services, prayer vigils or
prayer services?
Was Kaloma Smith the only member of leadership involved in the event? What was his
role (besides being a speaker)?
What is the significance of the fact that the plaza and building were built in 1970 and then
in 2008 we put up a plaque dedicating the Plaza per se to “King Plaza” in honor
of Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King?
Does making the same space next week available for a Jewish vigil make the whole thing
ok, equal time, equal access?
Why doesn’t government — leadership — conduct government at City Hall? (Covid is
ending, when will government reconvene? Similar: is a government by mediation and
electronic media the same as government in person? Can Tom Dubois and Ed Shikada
hold meetings of council outside, in front of City Hall, as the Vineyard just did)?
Could the Vineyard et al hold the same event and the same production value and same
permits but sing not “Everlasting Love of Jesus” but “We Shall Overcome”?
Could they produce the same event without advertising it? I.e, especially in Covid time,
with state and county health protocols, could they produce an event, sing, make prayers
but not advertise and have no attendees, and then film it and show it later, for example
on the internet?
Does referencing George Floyd and Black Lives Matter make it okay to defy the First
Amendment regarding Church and state? Is there an expediency to the George Floyd case
or anniversary that makes us ignore the First Amendment issue?
Stay tuned.
Peace.
—Mark Weiss
Earthwise Productions
Plastic Alto blog
Lions with Wings label
former City Council candidate — 8,000 votes
former candidate for arts, library, human relations, architectural review board and
planning commissions
student of Vincent Starzinger at Dartmouth College, 1984 (“History of the US
Constitution and The Supreme Court” — although I got a C)
And1:
NBA star and former Paly player Jeremy Lin and Reverend Bruce Reyes Chow spoke at
the rally/concert/vigil/service. Jeremy Lin said that God let him down regarding
Jeremy’s attempt to play in the NBA this season. Then he read a prayer about the “peace
keepers”. God bless.
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Days of show with Diunna
Greenleaf (performing tonite
in Palo Alto, 8:30 at The
Mitch, presented
by Earthwise)
November 18, 2021
In "music"
‘Oh, Death’ and Lions
with Wings
October 19, 2021
In "music"
David Boyce Philip Greenlief
Duo of improvised tenor sax
plans show Saturday at Lytton
Plaza three p.m. sharp
Related
October 11, 2021
In "jazz"
David Boyce Philip Greenlief Duo of improvisedtenor sax plans show Satu...
I don’t have a permit but I am paying two musicians, David Boyce andPhilip Greenlief, to play a concert at Lytt...
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To:Council, CitySubject:Looking For Something Fun to do Tonight or this Weekend? Try Out Our New Guide InsideDate:Friday, December 10, 2021 12:58:11 PM
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From:upcomingsales@friendspaloaltolib.org
To:Council, City
Subject:Super Sensational Seasonal Book Sale - Friends of the Palo Alto Library
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 12:34:48 PM
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Visit our web site
CUBBERLEY USED
BOOK SALES
Saturday December 11
Main Room Members' Early Sale 9am -
11am
Main Room General Sale 11am - 4pm
Bargain Room 9:30am - 4pm
Children's Room 10am - 4pm
Sunday December 12
All Rooms 11am - 4pm
FEATURED INDECEMBER
History
Children's Room/HolidayVinyl/LPs Main Room
Photography
Puzzles & Games
4000 Middlefield Road
Palo AltoNE corner of the Cubberley
Community Center
(650) 213-8755
www.fopal.org
Maps and Directions
More information on the sales
Donate your used books, DVDs, &c
ALL NET PROCEEDS GO TO HELP PALO ALTO
LIBRARIES
Marty's (Main) Room
In our Main Room, prices are way below
what used book stores charge. Hardcoverbooks start at $2.00 and softcover booksstart at only $1.00.
NO NUMBERS WILL BE ISSUED FOR NON-
MEMBERS FOR THIS SALE. IF YOU ARE NOT
A FOPAL MEMBER SIMPLY SHOW UP AT
11AM.
Please note that due to crowding during the
first two hours of the Book Sale, no strollers,
rolling carts, etc. can be brought into the
Main Room. This is for the safety of shoppers
and volunteers alike. By 12:30 or so, the
crowd thins out and shoppers are welcome to
bring these items into the sale.
Children's Book Sale
The Children's Room is located in the
portable next to the soccer field near
Greendell School. It is entirely filled with
children's books and toys. You'll find picture
books, school age fiction and non-fiction,
award winners, non-English titles, CDs and
DVDs, and books for parents and teachers,
most for 50 cents or $1. Strollers are
welcome in the Children's Room at any time.
Bargain Books in H-2
The Bargain Room is located in Rooms H-2
and H-3 of the Cubberley main campus,between Marty's Room and Middlefield Road.On Saturday, paperbacks are 50 cents,hardcovers are $1, and children's books are50 cents each. The room also contains manyrecords, CDs, and DVDs at $1 each. OnSunday, the room opens at 11 am and allprices are half off. Or, save even more onSunday by buying green FOPAL reusablebags from us for $2/ea (or bring your owngrocery-size reusable bag) and stuffing themwith any items in the room for $5/bag. Fillfour bags at $5/bag and fill a fifth bag FREE!
(We no longer receive sufficient used paper
grocery bags along with donations for this
purpose.)
News from the Library, by E-mail and RSS
All Library branches will be closed on Friday December 24 and Saturday December 25 for
the Christmas holiday, and Friday December 31 and Saturday January 1 for the New Year'sholiday. Downtown, College Terrace, and Children's Libraries will be closed from FridayDecember 24 through the end of the year. Children's Library will re-open on TuesdayJanuary 4, and College Terrace and Downtown Libraries will re-open on Thursday January6. You can read more about this, and about other Library news here.
If you have ever given the Library your e-mail address, like this newsletter editor did when
he signed up for a Palo Alto Library card, you have probably noticed that they are sending
you one to a few e-mails per month since the start of the pandemic.
If you haven't been getting these e-mails, and are curious, there's an archive of them
here. The messages linked from the archive page have links to a subscription page.
If you prefer this sort of thing in your RSS reader instead of your e-mail, you can get the
RSS feed here. (This may open in your RSS reader instead of in your browser.)
December 2021 sales notes
December is a time for giving and receiving, here at FOPAL are giving our members
another Members' Early Sale. All FOPAL paid members will receive earlier than the normal
11am entrance time. Because of this, the usual Main Room entry procedure is changed.
See the section below pertaining to the Members' Early Sale.
Christmas is around the corner and we've got plenty of Christmas books, DVDs, and more.Look for the Winter Holidays display just a few steps from the entry door on the rightwall.... Look for Holiday CDs in the Bargain Room/H2. The Children's Room Holidaysection is bursting with hundreds of books in great condition, many are gift-able. ThePhotography section manager has filled their shelves. An internet access glitch preventedmany boxes from being able to be priced for the December sale. As a result, thePhotography section will have more offering to come in January 2022. The same is truefor the History section managers, who received so many books that they'll be featured asa special again in January.
Look for gift-able Puzzles & Games in their usual spots as well as a holiday selection
across from the specials section just to the left as you enter the Main Room. Vinyl
collectors will appreciate a nice selection of better LPs next to the CD rack this month. And,
look for dozens of groovy vinyl offerings including, classical, jazz, rock, holiday, and other
genres, as always in the Bargain Room!
FOPAL Members Get the First Pick at Members' Early
Sale
A fun and fabulous FOPAL Members' Early Sale is scheduled for Saturday, December 11th.
Twice a year, FOPAL holds a Members' Early Sale, at which members of the Friends of the
Palo Alto Library are admitted early to the Main Room sale.
Life and Sponsor Members Enter at 9am
At our Members' Early Sale, Life Members and Sponsors (each with up to one spouse or
guest) may enter at 9am and can purchase up to 100 books per membership from 9am to
10am. Each (Life or Sponsor) member must give the one Purchase Slip per membership to
the cashier before 10am in order to purchase up to 100 books. If a Life Member exits
without purchasing all 100 books, he/she may take the Purchase Slip and reenter to fill out
the 100 books as long as they are purchased by 10am.
Other Members Enter at 10am
Members at all other levels can enter the sale at 10am, and purchase up to 25 items permembership except Family Members may purchase up to 25 items for each of two adultmembers at a time. All members may enter with their families, including oneaccompanying adult and children.
At 11am, non-members are admitted. The limit on purchasing 12 books at a time lasts
until there is no longer a line waiting to enter. New memberships can be purchased and
expired memberships can be renewed beginning at 8am.
Ticket Handout Procedure
At the Members' Early Sale, tickets are given only to members of FOPAL and are for two
lines: one for entry at 9am, one for entry at 10am. Each member will get just one ticket,
although Life & Sponsor Members may bring one guest between 9am and 10am and other
Members may bring in their families, consisting of one other adult and minor children,
beginning at 10am.
We do encourage members to bring Membership Cards even if expired; they do help theticketing move more quickly. People who come early are members of FOPAL and so there'sa greatly reduced line for the 11am general entry. No tickets are given out for the 11amgeneral entry line.
You may renew your membership, or join FOPAL, that day. Renew, or join now at
www.fopal.org/join!
Children's Room
"No waiting for ships to unload at overcrowded ports--shop the Children's Room for gifts
you can take home from the sale. Browse our many boxes of Christmas books, DVDs, and
CDs, all at rock-bottom prices. Elsewhere, our Beginning Readers section has lots of
choices at every level including Star Wars and superhero books and beginners' books on
space, history, and biography. World Languages has seven copies of Le Petit Prince, along
with some Christmas books in Spanish, German, French and Russian. There are also
Chinese non-fiction sets on Chinese history and Western music, as well as readers and
educational materials. On the Non-Fiction shelves you'll find many giftable books on
assorted topics to interest the children on your list. Check out School-Age Fiction for
beautiful gift sets, some in their original shrink wrap, suitable for elementary through high
school readers. There's also a giftable version of Harry Potter, and an expanded selection
of the best books for children and young adults. The "popular authors" cart is loaded to the
gills. Look for great values on the Giftable Hardback Picture Books shelves and on the
Board Books table under the front windows. There is also a bin of giftable Paperback
Picture Books, and many Little Miss and Mr. Men small books that are perfect stocking
stuffers. For games, puzzles, and crafts supplies, look in the Activities sections, where
you'll also find books to intrigue budding scientists and mathematicians. There are many
bags of scale models of wild animals (lions and tigers and bears, etc.) in various sizes.
Finally, the shelves of Humor and Graphic Novels are well stocked with Garfield, Calvin and
Hobbes, Adventure Time, Tin Tin, Peanuts, and many other titles. Happy shopping!" -
Carolyn Davidson
Fiction Boutique
"Welcome to the excellent selection of recent novels from which to choose gifts for family,
friends and for yourself.
EXAMPLES:
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, 2019;
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, 2020;
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, 2021, rated as a Best Seller by The New York Times,
USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.
"In addition, we have our regular categories of novels by award-winning authors, stories
that take place in bookshops or libraries and shelves devoted to individual writers.
"All best wishes for the New Year!" -Marian Knox
Reference
"This month (December) the reference section has many additions to the Genealogy shelf."
-Bruce Heflinger
Judaica
"Browse the Judaica section for books on the Jewish religion including editions of the
Torah and other basic texts, Kabbalah, Jewish history, the Holocaust, memoirs, Israel,
Jewish Women, the Jewish American Experience and other related subjects.
"New this month - Hitler's Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields; A Second
Exodus: The American Movement to Free Soviet Jews; Burning Lights: A Unique Double
Portrait of Russia by Bella Chagall; Not by the Sword: How the Love of a Cantor and His
Family Transformed a Klansman; A Book of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice.
"Most fiction with Jewish themes will be found in Modern Literature/Classics or CurrentFiction. Books entirely in Hebrew are shelved in the European Languages section." -
Charlotte Epstein
Health
"The Health Section has a copy of the new book: Metabolical by Robert H. Lustig, MD, MSL.
He recounts the path of the processed food industry, and how it has 'ruined our health,
economy, and environment in the past 50 years.'
"Another good read is the 'looks-like-new' book about F. M. Alexander...the individualresponsible for developing The Alexander Technique: a muscular re-education programused by thousands of folks around the world (particularly actors, singers and dancers).
"The Diet Section is brimming with every type of diet for those who want to start the New
Year off with healthy eating and a healthy outlook. Don't forget the $1 bargains under that
section, with even more dietary advice." -Suzanne Cholko
European Languages
"The French section is overflowing with books that are new to us this month, including a lot
of dictionaries for language lovers. Several are slang dictionaries. There's even a
'Dictionary of Words That Don't Exist'." -Susan Strain
Historical Fiction
"The Historical Fiction section has a large number of medieval and Renaissance
mysteries, including works by Kate Sedley and Peter Tremayne, arranged along two
bottom shelves of the free-standing bookcase. There are many recently donated books by
Philippa Gregory and Bernard Cornwell. And there are recently published historical novels
on the top shelf." -Historical Fiction
Self-Help
"Featured books this month include some published in 2021: Divergent Mind;
Neurodharma; Universal Human; and Connection. Other featured books are: The New Long
Life; Overcoming Paranoid and Suspicious Thoughts; Maybe You Should Talk to Someone;
Messy, the Power of Disorder to Transform our Lives. Most books new this month are in the
sections marked Popular on Amazon and New Arrivals - enjoy browsing! If you have a
focused interest check out the Sub-Sections which include: Happiness; Emotions; Mental
Illnesses; Addiction; Creativity; Relationships; Communication; Mind/Brain;
Spiritual/Inspirational; Aging; Grief/Loss; Family and Parenting Teens. As you consider
changes you might want to bring to your life in the New Year consider checking out the
Workbooks section. Enjoy paying bargain prices for your books and supporting the
recycling of our precious resources. Wishing you Peace," -Marnie
Religion
"Among the new inventory:
"Six-volume edition of Clarke's Commentary on the Holy Bible from 1836.
"The Old English Version of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Part 1
(Section 2).
"Quaker Records of Southern Maryland and of Baltimore and Hartford Counties.
"Besse, A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers, for the Testimony of a
Good Conscience....
"Myers, Immigration of the Irish quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750.
"McCabe, Cross and Crown, 1875, re persecuted men and women for religion.
"CD of The Handbook for Genealogists, US version.
"Robert Parker, On Greek Religion, and Jan Bremer, Greek Religion." -Nancy Cohen
Mysteries & Thrillers
Yr hmbl newsletter editor has been prevailed upon to tell you that this month the
Mysteries & Thrillers section has three shelves of books from 2020 and 2021 and
(directly opposite) two shelves full of books by Cara Black, Colin Cottrell, Barbara Cleverly,
Louise Penny, and Helene Tursten. That is all.
Records in the Main Room
"Some artists we will have: Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, Supertramp, Steely Dan,
Alan Parsons Project, Styx, Meat Loaf; music to have cocktails with (exotica, hawaiiana, big
band, smooth jazz, crooners (male and female)" -Henry Yu
Donations
We have made it past Drop-off Donations 3.0 and have returned to accepting donations
without the need to make an appointment.
HOWEVER....
We must pause accepting donations until December 13 while we prepare for the monthly
sale. Please hold your donations until then.
We also plan to be closed December 24 and 25 for the Christmas holiday, and December31 and January 1 for the New Year's Holiday.
Please read our donation guidelines before you bring materials to us.
All that said, our normal hours for drop-off donations are Monday through Saturday, 3pm-
5pm. (But not the week before the sale.)
This notice comes to you from the non-profit organization Friends of the Palo Alto Library. No trees werefelled in the making of this e-mail. Visit our web site. Become a member by joining online.
Be sure to receive your own free copy of this e-mail notice so that you'll know about all special upcomingbooks sales. To sign up, just e-mail us. We carefully protect the privacy of your e-mail address. We will notshare your e-mail address with any other organization and we will not use it for any purpose other than tosend you these notices. If you do not wish to receive these e-mail notices in the future, please reply withthe words "Remove Me" in the first line of the text.
From:Nancy Olson
To:Council, City
Subject:Dec 13 Council Meet: Public Comment- Campaign Finance Reform
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 12:25:32 PM
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on links.
________________________________
I urge you to support the three items to improve citizen participation in our government!
Nancy Olson
2431 Bryant Street
Palo Alto 94301
From:Wesley Church Office
To:Council, City
Subject:Programs
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 11:01:03 AM
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To whom it may concern:
My name is Ana Fusimalohi, I am currently the Church Secretary/Building
manger here at Wesley United Methodist Church @463 College Ave, Palo
Alto. I am writing the City, in regards to assistance/programs we mayhave in our City that can support us with the mission our church is
currently working on.
Every February, through Hotel de Zink, we provide shelter to our lessfortunate brothers and sisters! Our goal today is to do it once a month,
with the goal of doing it every week. Our current pastor is the pastor of
two congregations. At the Methodist Church of Wesley & St. Andrews. St.
Andrews is currently providing free food to anyone who needs it, and hereat Wesley, we prepared food and delivered it to the homeless (ranging
from Palo Alto to San Jose), and our current project is preparing "Blessed
Bags" or "Goody Bags" for the homeless, for which we are currently
accepting any and all donations.
Our Pastor Saulisi Kanongata'a would like a meeting with anyone who
could help/guide us thru our mission, and we can have the meeting in
person or via zoom. Please let us know at your earliest convenience.Blessed Holiday to the Staff of the City Council.
Warm Regards,
Ana Fusimalohi
Office & Building ManagerWesley United Methodist Church
wesleypaloalto@yahoo.com
(650) 327-2092
From:Glenda Jones
To:Council, City
Cc:Glenda Jones
Subject:Limit candidates spending
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 9:53:07 AM
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important at http://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification.]
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
Please consider limited spending requirements for candidates to the Palo Alto City Council.
Glenda M JonesPalo Alto resident
From:Michelle Wiles
To:Council, City
Subject:It’s been a year…
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 9:04:51 AM
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It’s been a year since you kicked the can down the road and spit in the face of survivors byapproving a new contract for Downtown Streets Team amidst verified harassment and
misappropriation of your funds. When are you planning to vote on the Downtown StreetsTeam contract renewal and what lie will you tell yourself when you give them more money to
continue their harassment.
I hope in the past year you’ve taken the time to reflect on how you funded known sexualharassers, were blatantly lied to in a city council meeting and still gave funds, plus failed to
hold your vendors accountable despite a dozen women telling their stories of harassment thathappened in your city. Defund Downtown Streets Team, set the precedent, be the change, tell
women you believe them and prove they can believe in you.
As a reminder, I sent all requested documentation to your city attorney. She never answeredmy emails or follow ups but that proof exists and is in your hands to make an informed
decision.
Michelle Fox Wiles
From:Julia Ishiyama
To:Council, City; Architectural Review Board; Planning Commission
Subject:ARB and PTC statements
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 8:25:41 AM
Attachments:Ishiyama ARB statement 12.2.21.docx
Ishiyama PTC statement 12.8.21.docx
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Dear Council members, Commissioners, and Board members,
I have recently spoken at ARB and PTC meetings in support of Castilleja's modernization
plan, and I am attaching both of my statements here for your reference. Thank you again foryour consideration.
Best,
Julia Ishiyama
Julia Ishiyama’s December 2 statement to Palo Alto Architectural Review Board
Good morning board members and staff. Thank you for your hard work and your time today.
I’m speaking to you today as a child raised in Palo Alto and as an adult invested in its future. I
was born here and attended Castilleja for seven years, walking from my family’s house on
Lowell Ave. I’ve recently moved back from Colorado to this place that I’ve always known was
home. Since returning, I can see how much has changed—and what has stayed the same.
Palo Alto has grown and evolved.
Neighborhood mainstays like Paly High and the Junior Museum and Zoo have undergone major
renovations to better serve the community. Castilleja deserves the same chance to
modernize. I have followed the project since its inception, and I’ve seen how the school’s plans
have evolved in response to City and neighborhood input. From design to tree preservation to
square footage, their project is ready for approval.
While much has changed in Palo Alto, much remains the same.
The Bay Area is booming, but in my personal experience, the residential blocks of Old Palo Alto
are as quiet as ever—thanks in part to Castilleja’s rigorous Transportation Demand
Management efforts to reduce car trips in the neighborhood. I urge you to approve the
proposed garage that maximizes the number of underground parking spots, which will go even
farther to preserve neighborhood tranquility. I recognize that the City Council has suggested 52
spaces be allowed underground, and I hope you will support at least that many, but I’d ask this
board to additionally consider the design that allows 69 spaces below grade. My understanding
is that this would not increase the size of the garage or the number of total spaces. It would
simply keep more cars off the street level, a win-win in line with the city’s Comprehensive Plan,
which prefers underground parking to surface lots.
Another constant: the tree-lined streets that I loved as a girl and now value as a local
homeowner still have a beautiful canopy. I’m grateful that Castilleja has worked diligently to
preserve and add trees to the neighborhood. In particular, I hope the Board will appreciate the
school’s updated pool proposal, which includes plans to relocate a stairway and transformer to
responsibly protect another tree. The new plans for deliveries also provide options that further
reduce street-level impacts, whether delivers stay above grade but off the sidewalk or move
below ground.
I understand that you have already endorsed the school’s prior plans. Please do so again and
allow Castilleja to move forward so it can continue to educate more girls in a modern,
sustainable, and beautiful campus that I would be proud to have as part of my neighborhood.
Julia Ishiyama’s December 8 statement to Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission
Good evening commissioners and staff.
I appreciate your review of Castilleja’s Conditional Use Permit and Transportation Demand
Management plan. I live close to the school in Old Palo Alto, and I welcome a detailed analysis
that will ensure residents the peaceful enjoyment of our neighborhood.
I am also confident that the current plan to allow a gradual enrollment increase up to 540
students stands up to scrutiny. I understand the concerns about traffic, but by making any
enrollment increase conditional on “no net new trips” and imposing substantial fines, you have
already created an incentive structure that guarantees compliance. And under its current
leadership, Castilleja has been a good citizen and has kept its word on TDM.
A small, vocal group of residents still objects. But it is clear based on the public record that they
won’t be satisfied by any amount of additional mitigation or monitoring and are instead
intractably opposed to anything other than de minimis enrollment increases. I understand that
the City Council has asked you to identify procedures that would allow for a larger increase, and
I ask that you approach this stage of the approval process by taking into account the five long
years of hard work that you know even better than I do has included careful consideration of
the right path forward. Please, hone your recommendation based on legitimate criticism, but
don’t let a refusal to compromise take us backwards.
Since I’ve been bold enough to suggest the motives of my neighbors, I’ll reveal mine: I am a
Castilleja alum who wants to see both my school and my city succeed—goals that I know from
experience go hand in hand. Castilleja’s unique educational environment is not available
anywhere else in the area, and the option of a local, single-sex school has enabled thousands of
Palo Alto’s young women to grow and thrive. The students educated at Castilleja are your
friends, neighbors, babysitters, and dog walkers. Castilleja alums, teachers, and staff members
shop alongside you at the California Avenue farmer’s market and jog next to you at the
Moonlight Walk and Run. We are part of this community, and as a Palo Altan who has always
valued giving back, from serving on Congresswoman Eshoo’s student advisory board as a high
schooler to supporting local nonprofits as a working professional, I consider any good that I’m
able to do here to be a return on Castilleja’s investment in me.
I’m also proud that in the inclusive city where I was raised, Castilleja can offer a quality
education to others throughout the region—particularly to young women from under-
resourced school districts. In the past, I’ve heard commenters and city officials discuss
residency as a potential enrollment factor, and I urge this commission not to limit the
opportunities available to families who cannot afford to live in Palo Alto and access our
excellent schools. Doing so would cut against the values of diversity and equity that we as a
community espouse.
I want to be clear: I do not come by my support uncritically. I will always push my alma mater to
do better as a member of this community. But I support the parking, design, and enrollment
changes as currently proposed because this is a good plan on its merits—one that holds the
school to good behavior and supports its ability to be a real force for good in Palo Alto. I urge
you to support this plan as well.
Thank you.
From:Vania Fang
To:Council, City; Architectural Review Board; Planning Commission
Subject:Castilleja modernization project
Date:Friday, December 10, 2021 12:20:55 AM
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Hi,
I spoke at the PTC hearing last night regarding the Castilleja agenda item and I would like toshare my comments with you:
I live across the street from Castilleja on Kellogg Street, and I cannot wait for this project to
be approved. I want to look out my windows onto an updated campus with more trees and green space.
The various garage plans, which we have seen today, will move parking from our
neighborhood streets to below ground. Whichever plan you choose will also reroute some pick up and drop off below ground. All of this will improve conditions in the neighborhood and
enhance the value of the homes in the nearby area.
As you all know, Castilleja is a highly sought after school. People move to Palo Alto because of our outstanding schools, and Castilleja is among them.
I truly appreciate the years of work that Castilleja has put into listening to neighbors’
questions and concerns. Now, I hope you will listen to my concerns. I am counting on you to approve this project once and for all. You have sent it forward to the city council with your
endorsement before. With these improvements, it should be easy to do so again. Please urge the city council members to do as they have been entrusted to do—to follow your informed
and careful guidance to approve this project.
During this long process, the school has willingly met every change requested by City Council and City staff as the goal posts kept moving. This has now resulted in additional alternatives
for you to review on their merits. I trust you to find the best among these plans and to help bring this long chapter to a close. Please continue to urge the city council to support this
proposal. Thank you very much.
Vania
From:Bill Burch
To:Council, City
Subject:Speaking in support of Castilleja School at last nights PTC meeting
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 8:44:10 PM
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Dear Council members,
I wanted to share with you from last night’s PTC meeting.
Thank you,
Bill Burch777 Marion Avenue
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------
Members of the Planning and Transportation Commission, thank you for this opportunity tospeak on behalf of Castilleja School.
My name is Bill Burch. My family has lived in Palo Alto for over 40 years and in that time
we’ve come to love and appreciate our community. We are blessed with wonderful naturalresources stretching from the Baylands to Foothill Park. We also enjoy our cultural treasures
including The Children’s Theater, fantastic libraries, Stanford University, and yes, I wouldinclude Castilleja School as well.
We can thank the foresight of those who came before us for these gifts. We should also
appreciate the stewardship of our current civic leaders for such great new resources as the newBaylands Bike Bridge and the Junior Museum. The “Palo Alto Process” can be painstakingly
arduous at times, but wonderful things can be achieved.
It’s in that spirit of “process” that I’d like to take you back nearly 10 years ago when Castillejafirst reached out to City staff and neighbors about their plans to upgrade the campus and desire
to increase enrollment.
Since those initial meetings, Castilleja has shown good faith and a willingness to listen andcompromise. For example, on-campus events were drastically cut to reduce impacts, deliveries
& pickups have been reduced and limited (at a cost to the school ) to improve conditions in theneighborhood. And, the school has limited it’s hours of operation.
Castilleja’s TDM or Traffic Demand Management program has grown to become a “way of
life” with daily trips reduced by up to 31%..by adding new bus routes, providing dedicatedmorning and afternoon shuttles to Caltrain and East Palo Alto, as well as requiring employees
to commute by alternate means three days a week and park off-site on those days they dodrive.
Castilleja advocates for internal carpools and ride-sharing while encouraging cycling and
walking for all community members who can do so.
That willingness to listen and compromise is reflected in the evolving campus design. Thearchitects have reduced the massing of the buildings along Kellogg and Bryant, while the
underground parking and the pool area have been reconfigured to further protect trees. As youknow, the school is now offering several different options for the garage and two choices for
the location of deliveries in response to guidance from the City Council.
A 10 year process..and all the while, time keeps passing.
And all the while, Castilleja cannot offer admission to students who are seeking this education.Every year spent in process, negotiation, and compromise has resulted in scores of young
women being shut out from joining the Castilleja community.
Time is passing.
The school is making compromises..many of them. And it begins to feel like it will never beenough, like there will always be a new issue to delay this process. This project has been
receiving unprecedented scrutiny for over 10 long years.
Meanwhile, while we are spend so much time talking about setbacks and trees and trafficpatterns, we are forgetting the human impact.
Castilleja is a school that is different from other schools. It’s not the right place for everyone,
and luckily Palo Alto has other outstanding choices for students who are seeking a larger coedenvironment. But for girls in Palo Alto who are looking for something else, Castilleja is right
in our midst, walking and biking distance away, waiting for them.
And waiting.
Meanwhile, I know there are residents who take issue with the fact that some students comefrom outside Palo Alto; they want Castilleja to cater only to our direct community, not to the
surrounding towns. I feel compelled to point out that this line of thinking sounds a lot likepeople want to build a wall around Palo Alto to keep the “outsiders” out and hoard our
resources only for ourselves.
In truth, some of the students who come from surrounding towns live in areas where theschools are not as strong, where they don’t have local options like Paly and Gunn and this
chance to attend Castilleja is an opening to opportunities they can’t access any other way.
Whether we like to admit it or not, independent schools—like Castilleja with 22% of itsstudents receiving tuition assistance—are one of the most powerful ways to gain equal access
to educational opportunity. Especially in the Bay Area where real estate values make living inwell-resourced school districts impossible for many families.
Time is passing.
I realize that many Palo Altans are concerned about growth. But let me remind you this project
is not an expansion. The proposed building has a smaller footprint, and car trips are capped.The school has responded to neighbors, community members, city staff, and city leaders with
modifications that improve everything from drop-off patterns..from facade materials… torooflines.
Tonight you will weigh in about enrollment, the garage, and events. Let’s run through what
has already been done over the past ten years on these topics:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Events have already been brought to
within the limits you set. Quite frankly, a further reduction in the number ofevents would weaken the communal fabric of the school.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->The garage has been reduced to preservetrees and improve conditions in the neighborhood. The school has offered several
different compromises there.
So let’s return to enrollment—the actual students who want to learn at Castilleja. The schoolwill make sure they do so without adding trips. I know that critics have cast doubt on this
promise, but their doubts are unfounded. Castilleja is already keeping this promise, with bettertransportation demand management than anyone in the Bay Area.
Castilleja will do what it takes to keep car trips level because Castilleja wants to educate more
girls. This isn’t a big high tech company, factory or a corporate office park. It’s a small school
that seeks to build a 21st century learning space and gradually add more students..without
adding traffic.
If we step back for a moment, one could argue that years spent on debate have begun to makethe proposal seem much bigger than it really is.
Remember…small school, smaller footprint, and a gradual and modest increase in
enrollment..with no new traffic.
Let’s seize the opportunity to switch the onerous “Palo Alto Process” to one of Palo Alto“Progress”.
The conditions of approval can be met. Let’s continue to respect the ideals of Palo Alto..great
schools, commitment to the greater good, opportunity, and community.
It would seem to me that this proposal “checks all the boxes.”
Thank you.
From:Tran, Joanna
To:Council, City
Cc:Executive Leadership Team; ORG - Clerk"s Office
Subject:Council Consent Agenda Questions for December 13: Items 6, 7, and 10
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 6:46:15 PM
Attachments:image001.pngimage003.pngimage004.pngimage006.pngimage007.pngimage008.pngimage009.png
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
On behalf of City Manager Ed Shikada, please view responses to questions from Councilmembers
Cormack and Tanaka regarding the Monday, December 13 Council Meeting consent agenda item at
this link. The amended agenda can be found here.
Thank you,
Joanna
Joanna Tran
Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Office of the City Manager
(650) 329-2105 | joanna.tran@cityofpaloalto.org
www.cityofpaloalto.org
From:Ellen Smith
To:Council, City
Subject:December 13 council meeting, Public Comment: Campaign finance reform
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 5:48:04 PM
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Dear Councilmembers:
I strongly endorse campaign finance reform for city elections and urge you to put
campaign finance reform on your agenda to study and then enact reforms for the
2022 elections.
As many other cities in the Bay Area have done, Palo Alto should act to:
Limit the ever-increasing cost of our elections by enacting a voluntary
campaign spending limit of $30,000 which will still enable candidates to gettheir message out.Limit the size of campaign donations to combat undue influence from a small
number of wealthy donors. Capping donations at $500 if a candidate accepts
Voluntary Expenditure Limits (VEL) and at $250 if a candidate rejects VEL,will reward candidates who accept VEL. Limiting campaign donations willalso weaken reliance on large donations, lessen the appearance of undue
influence, and maximize citizen participation in the political process by
incentivising candidates to build a broader base of smaller contributors.Disclose who pays for political ads. Although recent court decisions have
determined that cities cannot limit independent spending which supports or
opposes a candidate or ballot measure, a city can require disclosure of that
spending. Lowering the threshold to $2500 for disclosing the top contributorsto political ads (from the state threshold of $50,000) will ensure the public’sright to know who is spending money to influence local elections.
Ellen Smith1469 Dana Ave.
Limit the arms race in spending. Average spending in Palo Alto council
races has skyrocketed an alarming 66% between 2014-2020 to over $66,000,
far higher than cities with larger populations. In Mountain View (20% larger
than Palo Alto), candidates spent no more than $27,400 under Mountain
View’s voluntary expenditure limits ordinance. The need to raise massive
sums of money in Palo Alto deters citizens without access to big donors from
running. Campaign expenditure limits will enable candidates to spend less
time raising money and more time talking about issues with voters. Enacting
a voluntary campaign spending limit of $30,000 will still enable candidates to
get their message out.
Limit the size of campaign donations to combat undue influence from
wealthy donors. Palo Alto elections are dominated by a very small number
of wealthy donors, creating the appearance of undue influence. Just 20
donors each giving more than $3500 accounted for 29% of candidate
donations in 2020 and only 25 donors accounted for 30% of donations in
elections between 2014-2018. Capping donations at $500 if a candidate
accepts Voluntary Expenditure Limits (VEL) and at $250 if a candidate rejects
VEL, will reward candidates who accept VEL. Limiting campaign donations
will also weaken reliance on large donations, lessen the appearance of
undue influence, and maximize citizen participation in the political process
by incentivising candidates to build a broader base of smaller contributors.
Disclose who pays for political ads. Recent court decisions have
determined that cities cannot limit independent spending which supports or
opposes a candidate or ballot measure. But a city can require disclosure of
that spending. Lowering the threshold to $2500 for disclosing the top
contributors to political ads (from the state threshold of $50,000) will ensure
the public’s right to know who is spending money to influence local
From:Sonya Bradski
To:Council, City
Subject:Please Support Local Campaign Finance Reform
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 5:29:16 PM
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Dear City Council of Palo Alto:
Please put campaign finance reform on your agenda to study and enact these reforms for the2022 election. I think we are spending too much money on getting local officials elected.
elections.
Please take action ASAP.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sonya Bradski
Concerned Voting Palo Alto Citizen
From:Andie Reed
To:Planning Commission; Council, City
Subject:Castilleja Expansion
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 2:43:50 PM
Attachments:PTC GFA+BasicNumbers.PDF
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Dear Commissioners,
Thanks for studying this project and listening to all the public speakers, making for such a
long night last night.
I appreciated Rachel and Madina getting me back on the schedule so I could speak, since Ihad technical difficulties. As a follow-up, I wanted to highlight some easy points.
PNQLThere seemed to be some confusion during disclosures. Our neighborhood group, PNQL,offered our "Neighbors' Perspective" binder, containing documents previously sent to thePTC, to all 7 commissioners, asking where to deliver it. Five responded, two didn't.
VARIANCE/Gross Floor AreaThanks to the city council for asking staff to solicit a professional surveyor to confirmexisting Gross Floor Area. It's a very important report, and needs to be addressed by thePlanning Commission sooner rather than later.
Here's the link: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/planning-amp-development-services/new-development-projects/1310-bryant-street/castilleja-school-building-survey-and-gfa-111721.pdf
I attach a summary in two pages:
1.The Dudek GFA Survey results, with the city staff's addition of 2 columns; the proposed
demolished SF, and retained and proposed SF.2."Basic Numbers" chart, including the new information. I always send this page to you,
because otherwise it's hard to see all of the important numbers together on one page.
A Variance is required for the difference between Proposed Gross Floor Area(128,000SF) and Allowed GFA (81,000SF), or 47,000SF. A Variance is not granted for the difference between Proposed Gross Floor Area and currentGFA, which is how it was presented in the "Finding" voted on by the PTC 11/4/2020, staffreport Packet Pg. 28, https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/planning-and-transportation-commission/2020-agendas-
minutes-and-staff-reports/ptc-11.4-castilleja.pdf.
Please read Code Section 18.76.030(c)(1)(B) as you study the findings, and note thatthe school increased the size of their own lot by merging residential lots and getting the cityto grant the 200 block of Melville to the school.A Variance is not required if the applicant tears down and rebuilds in the same footprint. The school keeps saying they are replacing the footprint, but they are tearing down 5smaller buildings to be replaced by one very large building, and that requires a Variance. AVariance is not based on footprint, it is based on GFA. There is a problem when the squarefootage being requested for a Variance does not appear in the staff report.
Maybe this is an area that could be negotiated, to reduce the large building to save existingparking lots, but not require the school to go all the way back to 81,000SF. This would takeaway the need for the garage.
You have a tough job. We appreciate your work.
Thanks and have a good weekend.
Andie
--
Andie Reed CPA160 Melville Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
530-401-3809
castilleja Grosg Floor Area (above grade s;euare Footage)
I
City Council requested accurate measurement if squarel footage for Castilleja,s expansionproject, The city planning staff solicited a prof{ssionally prepared "Building Survey
and Gross Floor Area Assessment" (Nov 1,5,20PD, and it shows that current, existing
Gross Floor Area is substantially in excess of wlrat is allowed by code (138K vs. B1K SF),
Please read this fascinating report,
i
i
The below schedule appeared in the ARB staff r[port, wjth staff's adjusting out Dudek,s
reporting. Subtracting out the volumetrics Ooefn't comply with code; these are the actualt"numbers,
i
i
Staff report for the ARB (I2/2/202I) states t
the zoning requirements of volumetrics. ho
were both re-built after 1993, the year staff
correctly reported to the city. The meehanic
Not reporting the correct floor area that compli$s with code does not relieve the applicantfrom the reality that their Gross Floor Area lslrSe,a+S, and their proposed GFA is
L28,687SF and allowed is 8lr3g5SF,
i
i
Castilleja's allowed Gross FloorArea is g1,3g5si. Their proposed GFA is t28,6g7.
Until this expert report was produced, there had ueen many inconsistencies as to
the actual currentl GFA, Now we know.
i
iNeighbors are not against the school rebuildinq
increase in students.
This below is from the ARB report, packet pg
Floor Area allowed by Code (pAMC 18.12.040 T
spreadsheet "Basic Nurnbers"
Castilleja requested a Variance (att,d).
L2/3/2O2t
Demolished Proposecl
33,793
12,360
2,863
884
37,7-/g 77,420
t38,346 87,079 t28,687
(81,385)
PNQL r'[
17 7\4
Original filing affcr /
Var request)error fou
33,600
17,797
1? q44
5,868
1,901
1t2O3
42,O00
TOTAL
per Dudek
Arrillaga Campus C
Admin, Chapel
Gym
Ely Arts Building
lvla intena nce
Pool Equipment
Rhoades Hall
Dudek's results:
,600
,78r
q44
,B6B
Qn1
203
L7,754
12,360
2,963
884
37,179
Square footage in excess of Code (Variance Reqluest):47t3O2
1,,
BASIC NUMBERS IUpDATED 1,2/6/20211. (SENT TO pTC SAME DAy)
I
I
I
IBasic numbers frorn the Nov 2021 ptans preppred by the school and
Dudek Nov 15, 2021 "Building survey and Grols Floor Area Assessment":
I
I
I
which translates to 81,385 sq ft:
i
Square Feet
Ca lcu lations:
268,783
2,25O
7q 1?q
5.
6
7
Lst 5,000 sq ft @ .45 = 2,250 | S,OOO 0.45
remaining sq ft @ ,30 = 79,135 i 263,783 0,30
I
The proposed floor area exceeds allowed Cdn Ov:
IActual Floor Area Ratio requested by the sclhool : (#7 / #I)
Floor Area Stated in Request for Variance u[O tf,"." plans:
Allowed Floor Area Ratio (see above) |
Percentage increase requested by school: tISOS- .303)/.303
Double-check: F,ercentage increase in SF;l (54400/91385)
i
I
I
I
81,395
L28$87
B.
9.
10.
11,
11.
o A)o l[V]'4.ce(
; =;; ll'wr.rtx
'v tTho0.505 ned\y
0.67
d-fo-SF:::, an uat'O/-/o ,o Y- ^ -"i5
From:Lian Bi
To:Council, City; Architectural Review Board; Planning Commission
Subject:My comments for yesterday"s hearing
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 2:39:50 PM
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Hi,
Below is my comments for yesterday's hearing.
As a near neighbor of Castilleja, I want to speak about two issues: TDM and the garage.
I am happy that after your hearings about Castilleja last fall, it was finally fully understood that the garage
would not bring more cars to the neighborhood. Opposing voices have tried to confuse the issue, but I
appreciate that you read the EIR carefully, studied the proposal, and were able to see through those
attempts. Castilleja is a TDM leader. I wish other organizations in Palo Alto would follow its lead.
Throughout the pandemic, Castilleja has only improved upon its TDM, with additional buses for students
who are not ready to return to Caltrain yet. Castilleja’s commitment to keeping car trips low will not waver
because that is the only way the school will be permitted to enroll more students in the high school. No
cause for doubt here. Castilleja is already pivoting to do whatever it takes to keep car trips low.
As for the garage, I am a strong supporter. It is a gift to the neighborhood, a wise investment in the long-
term aesthetics and infrastructure of Old Palo Alto. The options before you all improve quality of life and
preserve trees. Please remember that the new tree plan also adds over 130 new trees to campus,
another HUGE gift to our neighborhood.
I am looking forward to seeing this project finally begin. Please act quickly to lend your support again.
Offer the city council clear guidance toward a better future for my neighborhood with underground parking
on Castilleja’s modernized, sustainable campus.
ThanksLian Bi
From:Jim Fitzgerald
To:Council, City; Architectural Review Board; Planning Commission
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 2:11:26 PM
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Hello Committee Members and Council Members,
I’m Jim Fitzgerald, a long-time resident of Palo Alto. I am here tonight to provide myunqualified support for Castilleja’s new redevelopment plan. I want to thank all of you for yoursupport and endorsement of the previous redevelopment plan and it is just unfortunate weneed to tie up your time to address this project once again due to a small group of objectors.Everything about this updated project provides improvements for all parties. Includingexceptional education for more young women, reduced traffic flow, enhanced beautificationof the campus and neighbor facing building and grounds. I might add This was accomplishedwith the first plan you all approved. This new plan just goes further in that direction.
This new Castilleja plan goes even further in preserving trees, reducing traffic and car trips,
limiting hours of operation and educational events, and further enhancing the aesthetics ofthe campus for neighbors with lower rooflines, increased setbacks, and more undergroundsquare footage. These steps have created additional burdens on Castilleja in delivering on its
noble mission, but in continuing to be a quality neighbor they are committed to these changed
plans and working through the operational inefficiencies they may create. In doing so they canfinally build the modern facility needed to nurture and educate our next generation of Womenleaders.
As always Castilleja has bent over backwards to meet the concerns and objections of thosewho oppose this project. However, No one is deluded that any plan will satisfy this obstinate
group, so I would advise you to not hold your breath waiting for concurrence from them.
What matters most is this committee has already endorsed an excellent redevelopment plan.This new plan addresses the concerns of the City Council and is an even better plan than thelast. This plan should receive your enthusiastic RE-recommendation and in particular support
for the larger parking option of this plan and I request you provide that as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Jim Fitzgerald
-- Jim FitzgeraldM: 650 888-1293Email: jimfitz8@gmail.comhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/jimfitz8
αιεν αριστευειν
From:Virginia VanKuran
To:Council, City
Subject:December 13 Council meeting, Public Comment: Campaign finance reform
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 1:45:54 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
As a resident of Palo Alto and member of the Palo Alto League of Women Voters I urge youto adopt the following election reforms recommended by the League in our letter to the
Council dated November 4th, 2021.
Voluntary expenditure limits (VEL)--that is the maximum a candidate can spend ontheir campaign--of $30,000.
Mandatory donation limits from a single source (whether a person or an entity, such as acorporation) of $500 for candidates who accept Voluntary Expenditure limits and $250for those who don’t.
Lowering the threshold for disclosing the source of spending on political ads by anindependent committee to $2500 (from the state level of $50,000).
Please add campaign finance reform to your agenda for study and enact these reforms for the2022 elections.
Thank you,
Virginia Van Kuran 879 Garland DrivePalo Alto, CA 94303
From:Redress Grievance
To:chuck jagoda
Cc:Dave Price; Council, City; Raj Jayadev; Rebecca Eisenberg; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Charisse Domingo; Pastor
Greg, UniLu; Gregorio, Rose; Blanca Bosquez; Sandy Perry-HCA; Roberta Ahlquist; Bains, Paul; Joe Simitian;
Chris Richardson; Ed Frey; Brian; sally herrin
Subject:Re: Why didn"t the officers squeal on "the Fuse"?
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 1:22:32 PM
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Mr. Price has never, never demonstrated a public response to anyone including yourself...
Mr. Price is Merely interested in generating revenue and has no interest in social changes. That's the bottom line... Chuck...
Self indemnity, not going to happen as long as there are police Lobbyists and powerful police
unions.
The Palo Alto Police has demonstrated a long history an extremely long history of abuses.
City council members past and present have done nothing to rain in the terror that the citizensof Palo Alto have been faced with over the years.
City council members are complicit in the behavior of the Palo Alto Police Department.
There will come a point in time the insurance company that insures the city of Palo Alto will
no longer except their premiums as a result of multi million dollar settlements being paid outto the victims of police abuse.
We believe Molly Stump the defense attorney for the city of Palo Alto should be disbarred for
violating the fundamental rights of those who have been abused by the Palo Alto Policedepartment.
She has a fiduciary responsibility to protect its citizens and assure all citizens constitutional
rights are protected she has failed in this regard and falls under the heading of "moralturpitude". An actionable item under the California state bar association.
Mark Petersen-Perez, editor-in-chief, Palo Alto Free Press, reporting from Nicaragua
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 9, 2021, at 1:50 PM, chuck jagoda <chuckjagoda1@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Dave,
I think it's because (as the words indicate), there is tremendous admiration for the Fuse's violent behavior. As the
officer says, to him-- that's great policing! I doubt he's the only officer supportive of beating down helpless minority
victims.
And then there are all the other reported incidents of police attacking unarmed citizens who are members of minorities
and offensive to the taste of the attacking officer.
I think we have to consider the evidence of a well-entrenched culture of violent cruelty toward helpless and handcuffed
victims. Police need to find better outlets for their rage.
Then there's the terribly cruel and indefensible, maddened dog attack of the man in his own backyard in Mountain View
by a Palo Alto canine unit.
It's long past time to face and respond to these continuing examples of policing in the tradition of the Derek Chauvin
school of public policing which we saw result in the death of George Floyd.
The Palo Alto reaction to these police crimes has been slow, hard to find examples of, and non responsive.
How long will Palo Alto continue to ignore, encourage, and accept police violence to minority residents?
When will PAPD require new hires to self-indemnify? Or will Palo Alto continue to invite large penalty payments in
satisfaction of multi-million dollar lawsuits?
Is this the citizenship we want to teach our young?
Are we all aware that the systemic inequality we hear about in national news is going on at great public expense right
here in Palo Alto, former beacon of enlightened leadership?
Chuck Jagoda
Member of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Peninsula Branch
408.373.1449
Sunnyvale
From:Barbara Gross
To:Council, City; Architectural Review Board; Planning Commission
Subject:Castilleja Modernization Project
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 1:10:06 PM
Attachments:Castilleja.pdf
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My comments expressed last night at the PTC meeting are below.I support this project on its merits.
The time and cost - both lost and spent - on this process seem to go unnoticed and/orunappreciated.
As people in charge of local government, you have experienced this with the construction ofthe fire station on Newell and Embarcadero, the California Ave Garage, the Public Safety
Building.
Please approve this project and move on.Thank you// Barbara Gross
Good evening, this is Barbara Gross. I live, work and vote in Palo Alto. Thank you for sending this proposal forward with
your approval last year. At the city council’s direction, the school has improved upon the previous design, which should
make this quite easy for you to review and return to the council with your support.
Among the improvements:
· More trees are preserved.
· There are many options for underground parking.
· There are choices for the pool and the delivery bay
You may have noticed by now that over the years, the goalposts for this project keep moving. What’s more, the school is
getting confusing and seemingly contradictory guidance at times. With these many different choices for the size and
configuration of the garage, you can help find a fair compromise that will stop this constant shifting of the debate.
The delivery options on Emerson both vastly improve on current conditions, moving deliveries further inside campus and
below grade or behind a sound wall. Both options take neighbors’ needs and concerns into account. I see that the school,
again in the spirit of compromise, is open to either option.
At the same time, I hear opposing voices who seem to be open to nothing at all. It becomes harder and harder to honor
those perspectives when the school has spent years listening, adjusting, and making changes that just never seem to be
enough.
Please, approve this project—AGAIN.
From:Roy Maydan
To:Council, City; Architectural Review Board; Planning Commission
Subject:Castilleja Proposal
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 12:32:11 PM
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I spoke at the PTC meeting last night regarding the Castilleja proposal. Below is the originaltext of my comments.
Good evening members of the commission. I am Roy Maydan and I have lived in Downtown
North for over 25 years. I am grateful for the attention you have given this project. As acitizen who wishes to see City leaders make decisions that will positively impact our property
values, our quality of life, and our community, I especially appreciate that you have alreadysupported the merits of this proposal.
Therefore, I am really disappointed to be speaking to you again at yet another hearing on this
project, as this does seem to deny the hard work you have already put into this process. Thegood news is that you have acted in clarity and conviction in the past, and I am sure these
improvements will only increase your desire to see this project become a reality.
Your previous review of this project solidified what the data in the EIR proved -- that thegarage will not bring more cars to the neighborhood. Now you just need to determine how
many parking spots should go below ground and how many should remain on the surface. While I support a proposal keeping as many cars off the street as possible while preserving the
trees, I trust your leadership as you make that decision. However, please keep in mind that thestaff report estimated that Option E will result in a shortage of parking spaces.
Most of all, it is important for leaders to be able to decide -- then act on those decisions. You
have decided once, and this review further defines the plans you have already supported. NowI hope you will make a choice and urge the city council to act.
Roy Maydan
131 Byron Street
From:Cindy Chen
To:Council, City; Architectural Review Board; Planning Commission
Subject:Supporting a 69-car garage for Castilleja
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 12:21:30 PM
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Thank you Commissioners for this opportunity to speak. I live on Emerson Street very
close to the Castilleja campus, and I want to express my appreciation for the garage
options presented to you this evening. I recall last year when the City Council directed
the school to reduce the garage capacity to 52 cars. At the time, it struck me as an
arbitrary number -- it was significantly smaller in order to address concerns of a few
neighbors, but why 52? Did they actually know the number of spots that could fulfill
the school’s required spaces per city code? Did they know the number of spots that
would still allow more trees to be preserved? Did they somehow conjecture that the
52 car capacity would mitigate traffic in a way that no other number could?
The answer to these questions is an emphatic NO. The 52 car limit was an arbitrary,
finger in the wind number. Unfortunately, its effect is to significantly impair the
school’s ability to educate more young women. And yet, to oblige, the school has
submitted plans to you that meet Council’s limit. Instead of recommending that plan,
however, please approve their garage with a 69-car capacity. The slightly larger
capacity will get more cars off the streets, it will prevent parking on Spieker Field, it
preserves trees, and it STILL adds no additional traffic on any surrounding street,
including Emerson - my street.
I thank you for your continued attention. I know some of you are terming out soon on
the PTC, and I appreciate your service.
Cindy Chen
From:chuck jagoda
To:Dave Price; Council, City; Raj Jayadev; Palo Alto Free Press; Rebecca Eisenberg; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto;Charisse Domingo; Pastor Greg, UniLu; Gregorio, Rose; Blanca Bosquez; Sandy Perry-HCA; Roberta Ahlquist;Bains, Paul; Joe Simitian; Chris Richardson; Ed Frey; Brian; sally herrin
Subject:Why didn"t the officers squeal on "the Fuse"?
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 11:50:44 AM
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Hi Dave,
I think it's because (as the words indicate), there is tremendous admiration for the Fuse's violent behavior. As the officer says, to him--
that's great policing! I doubt he's the only officer supportive of beating down helpless minority victims.
And then there are all the other reported incidents of police attacking unarmed citizens who are members of minorities and offensive to
the taste of the attacking officer.
I think we have to consider the evidence of a well-entrenched culture of violent cruelty toward helpless and handcuffed victims. Police
need to find better outlets for their rage.
Then there's the terribly cruel and indefensible, maddened dog attack of the man in his own backyard in Mountain View by a Palo Alto
canine unit.
It's long past time to face and respond to these continuing examples of policing in the tradition of the Derek Chauvin school of public
policing which we saw result in the death of George Floyd.
The Palo Alto reaction to these police crimes has been slow, hard to find examples of, and non responsive.
How long will Palo Alto continue to ignore, encourage, and accept police violence to minority residents?
When will PAPD require new hires to self-indemnify? Or will Palo Alto continue to invite large penalty payments in satisfaction of multi-
million dollar lawsuits?
Is this the citizenship we want to teach our young?
Are we all aware that the systemic inequality we hear about in national news is going on at great public expense right here in Palo Alto,
former beacon of enlightened leadership?
Chuck Jagoda
Member of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Peninsula Branch
408.373.1449
Sunnyvale
From:Yahoo Mail.®
To:Honky
Subject:In politics there are NO coincidences If it happens YOU CAN BET IT WAS PLANNED THAT WAY (FDR) NOW HERE
(SEE AND HEAR) IT IS
Date:Thursday, December 9, 2021 11:29:09 AM
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From:Yahoo Mail.®
To:Honky
Subject:What is the anagram of the new variant OMICRON? and should we get a SECOND opinion Dr. Fauci? TRUTH
REVEALING
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 11:56:39 PM
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'He Wants To Deny The Reality Of What He Said, What He Did!': Ron Johnson Rips Fauci On Senate
Floor
'He Wants To Deny The Reality Of What He Said,
What He Did!': Ron Johnso...
From:birt harvey
To:Council, City
Subject:Campaign financing
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 6:44:15 PM
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To Council MembersI strongly support the League of Womens' Voters recommendations on city council campaign
financing.Birt Harvey
620 Sand Hill Rd. Apt 313EPalo Alto CA 94304
From:Cybele LoVuolo-Bhushan
To:Council, City
Subject:Limiting City Council Election donations
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 6:38:57 PM
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Dear Council members,
Gail Price wrote an excellent Guest Opinion article in the Friday, Dec. 3rd Weekly. She has
clearly stated the importance and rationale for limiting City Council election donations as wellas enumerating the steps that will lead to a fairer election process.
I urge you all to take the necessary steps to reform Palo Alto's City Council election. It's theright thing to do.
Thank you.Sincerely,
Cybele LoVuolo-Bhushan
From:Barbara klein
To:Council, City
Subject:Dec 13 Council Meeting Public Comment: Campaign Finance Reform
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 6:15:51 PM
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Dear Council members, I strongly support the Palo Alto League of Women Voters carefullystudied recommendations for taking big money and unattributed funding sources out of Palo
Alto City Council Elections. There should be a reasonable cap on funding to make a level playing field.
The escalation in costs for candidates to run for seats on Council is obscene, not good forrepresentative democracy, disincentive for civic involvement of wide range of qualified
people and bad for reputation of Palo Alto.
As someone who had been active in county, regional and city elections as well as AA in CAstate Assemby member district office, I strongly recommend you make Palo Alto Campaign
Finance Reform ASAP.
Barbara Kleinbkleinpa@gmail.com
620 Sand Hill Road, Apt 301B, Palo Alto 94304-2079
From:sallie whaley
To:Council, City
Subject:Campaign finance reform
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 6:01:14 PM
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important at http://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification.]
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on links.
________________________________
Please put campaign finance reform on your agenda to study and enact reforms recommended by the LWV
before the 2022 elections.
Thank you,
Sallie Whaley
Sent from my iPhone
From:Allan Seid
To:Channing House Bulletin Board
Subject:Fwd: Hate Crimes Against Asians Up 361 Percent in NYC, NYPD Reveals – AsAmNews
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 4:44:50 PM
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From: Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com>Date: Wed, Dec 8, 2021 at 4:31 PM
Subject: Hate Crimes Against Asians Up 361 Percent in NYC, NYPD Reveals – AsAmNews
https://asamnews.com/2021/12/08/hate-crimes-against-asians-up-361-percent-in-
nyc-nypd-reveals/
Hate Crimes Against Asians Up
361 Percent in NYC, NYPD
Reveals
December 8, 2021
By Adam Chau, AsAmNews
At a press conference on Tuesday, the New York City Police
Department revealed that hate crimes against Asians have increased
361 percent in New York City, CBS News reports.
The NYPD held a press conference to discuss the data it had
collected on hate crimes in the city from the beginning of 2021 to
December 5. Overall, hate crimes across the city increased by 100
percent, NBC New York reports.
Police say 129 incidents of hate against Asians were reported this
year. Only 28 incidents were reported last year, CBS News reports.
There were 503 reported incidents of hate this year. NYPD Chief of
Detectives James Essig told CBS News they’ve made 249 arrests in
connection with those incidents.
The NYPD has created a hate crimes task force to investigate hate
crimes. New Yorkers are also coming up with their own ways of
protecting their communities.
Over 1800 New Yorkers volunteered to walk people home in
Chinatown, PIX 11 reports. One woman raised over $100,000 to pay
for Uber rides to take Asian Americans home, PEOPLE Magazine
reports.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer
effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram
account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more
content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a
story, or making a contribution.
From:Stephanie Enos
To:Council, City
Subject:What happened to the gas leaf blower ban?
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 4:40:05 PM
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To every single council member that should be concerned,
At a simple stroke the city council could do more for sustainability than almost all
other actions that are being considered.
This ordinance banning gas blowers was passed years ago (2005, I believe) yet it has
never been implemented apart from a few half hearted attempts at the beginning.
It is the city council's duty to ensure that gas blowers are a thing of the past.
Why is it so difficult? All over the city people are stressed by ongoing noise and toxicfumes from these machines.
This is something that is easily fixed with huge benefits to our community as well as
the climate.
Until this is addressed, I cannot take the city council seriously in their efforts towards
sustainability.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Enos
From:Katharine Miller
To:Council, City
Subject:December 13 Council meeting, Public Comment: Campaign finance reform
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 4:22:32 PM
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Dear Council members,
In recent years, spending on City Council races in Palo Alto has gotten way out of control.This has the effect of precluding newer, more diverse people from entering the race for
Council and gives too much power to a wealthy donors.
Please pass the campaign finance reform proposal put forward by the League of WomenVoters of Palo Alto.
It is a well-researched pro-democracy proposal that is carefully designed to be fair to
candidates while returning power to voters.
Thank you.
Kathy Miller
Katharine Miller
kmiller@nasw.org
650-323-9374
From:gel@theconnection.com
To:Council, City
Subject:Housing
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 4:06:38 PM
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Hello City Council,
I recall that maybe 10 years ago, the city said that their property at about 1160 Middlefield Ave,
once used by the water utility may or could be sold. It’s been quite a few years now and we need
housing. Why hasn’t that property been developed?
Thank you,
Gary Lindgren
585 Lincoln Ave.
Palo Alto CA 94301
650-326-0655
Check Out Latest Seismometer Reading
Be Like Costco…do something in a different way
Don’t trust Atoms…they make up everything
Fortune Favors The Brave
A part of good science is to see what everyone else can see but
think what no one else has ever said.
The difference between being very smart and very foolish is
often very small.
So many problems occur when people fail to be obedient when
they are supposed to be obedient, and fail to be creative when
they are supposed to be creative.
The secret to doing good research is always to be a little
underemployed. You waste years by not being able to waste
hours.
It is sometimes easier to make the world a better place than to
prove you have made the world a better place.
Amos Tversky
Dear City Council,
Please put campaign finance reform on its agenda to study and enact
these reforms for the 2022 elections.
Dear Limit the arms race in spending. Average spending in Palo Alto
council races has skyrocketed an alarming 66% between 2014-2020 to over
$66,000, far higher than cities with larger populations. In Mountain View
(20% larger than Palo Alto), candidates spent no more than $27,400 under
Mountain View’s voluntary expenditure limits ordinance. The need to raise
massive sums of money in Palo Alto deters citizens without access to big
donors from running. Campaign expenditure limits will enable candidates to
spend less time raising money and more time talking about issues with
voters. Enacting a voluntary campaign spending limit of $30,000 will still
enable candidates to get their message out.
Limit the size of campaign donations to combat undue influence from
wealthy donors. Palo Alto elections are dominated by a very small number
of wealthy donors, creating the appearance of undue influence. Just 20
donors each giving more than $3500 accounted for 29% of candidate
donations in 2020 and only 25 donors accounted for 30% of donations in
elections between 2014-2018. Capping donations at $500 if a candidate
accepts Voluntary Expenditure Limits (VEL) and at $250 if a candidate rejects
VEL, will reward candidates who accept VEL. Limiting campaign donations
will also weaken reliance on large donations, lessen the appearance of
undue influence, and maximize citizen participation in the political process
by incentivising candidates to build a broader base of smaller contributors.
Disclose who pays for political ads. Recent court decisions have
determined that cities cannot limit independent spending which supports or
opposes a candidate or ballot measure. But a city can require disclosure of
that spending. Lowering the threshold to $2500 for disclosing the top
contributors to political ads (from the state threshold of $50,000) will ensure
the public’s right to know who is spending money to influence local
elections.
From:Mary Alice Thornton
To:Council, City
Subject:December 13 Council meeting, Public Comment: Campaign finance reform
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 3:09:09 PM
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Thank you,
Mary Alice Thornton
850 Webster St. Apt. 735
Palo Alto, 94301
From:Richard Placone
To:Council, City
Cc:Shikada, Ed
Subject:Re Proposed New Housing Rules
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 11:37:33 AM
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Greeting City Council Members,
Thank you for adopting revised regulations pertaining to the new state mandated
housing construction rules in R1 zones. I think the state's actions are ill considered,
and worse, make no mention of affordable housing. My prediction is that when
enacted, in as many cases as possible, developers will go for high-end housing, none
of which solves the real problem of affordable housing.
I have a strong suggestion for this and prospective councils. Our city governmentshould take a hard look at all possibilities in the city where affordable and even low
cost housing could be constructed. On El Camino Real between Embarcadero an
Charleston, there are several vacant lots. There are also a number of low end
buildings, some of which appear empty. Those parcels could all be rezoned formultiple housing units. I strongly suggest that you instruct the city manager's staff to
do a thorough review of this area as a location for this new kind of housing.
I note that on more than one occasion, the council has approved construction ofeither high end apartments (Page Mill Road) or office/some housing projects all along
El Camino Real. (This includes one project near Matadero that remains unfinished
for nearly this past year.)
Finally, (don't fall out of your seats,) I strongly urge you to consider conversion of the
city's golf course for this type of housing. On the 20+ acres there you could almost
meets the city's mandate.
Thank you.
Richard C. Placone
601 Chimalus DrivePalo Alto
Barron Park
From:Lindsey North
To:Council, City
Subject:local campaign finance reform
Date:Wednesday, December 8, 2021 8:39:37 AM
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Good morning,
I strongly support the campaign finance reform measures outlined in Gail Price's opinion piece last week.
This will strengthen local government. A small number of large donors should not have outsized influence
on our city council elections.
Sincerely,
Lindsey North
From:Loran Harding
To:Loran Harding; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; alumnipresident@stanford.edu; David Balakian; bballpod; fredbeyerlein; Leodies Buchanan; boardmembers; beachrides; Chris Field; Cathy Lewis; Council, City; dennisbalakian;Doug Vagim; Dan Richard; Daniel Zack; esmeralda.soria@fresno.gov; eappel@stanford.edu;francis.collins@nih.gov; fmerlo@wildelectric.net; grinellelake@yahoo.com; Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov;George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu; huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; Irv Weissman; jerry ruopoli; Joel Stiner;kwalsh@kmaxtv.com; kfsndesk; lalws4@gmail.com; leager; margaret-sasaki@live.com;mthibodeaux@electriclaboratories.com; Mayor; Mark Standriff; merazroofinginc@att.net; newsdesk;news@fresnobee.com; nick yovino; david pomaville; russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; tsheehan; terry;VT3126782@gmail.com; vallesR1969@att.net
Subject:Fwd: Dr. John Campbell in UK, Tues. Dec. 7, 2021. Latest data. Don"t miss this.
Date:Tuesday, December 7, 2021 8:06:53 PM
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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Tue, Dec 7, 2021 at 5:08 PM
Subject: Dr. John Campbell in UK, Tues. Dec. 7, 2021. Latest data. Don't miss this.To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
Tues. Dec. 7, 2021
To all- Dr. John Campbell. Excellent, latest data on Omicron. Cases are doubling in theUK every 2 or 3 days says the UK Health Secretary, who happens to be a genetic
epidemiologist. Dr. Campbell shows the case counts in countries all over the world. It is inmany countries now and will spread rapidly. Most people will be exposed to it in the next
month.
Omicron, global exposure - YouTube
The big question is: How severe is the illness it causes. If it is mild, and it seems to be,then not a disaster. If it causes severe illness, "we are stuffed", says Dr. Campbell. It is a
British expression, not sure what it means.
But a happy thought: With maybe 5 billion people still unvaccinated, a really uglyvariant could evolve that would be as transmissible as Omicron and cause severe illness. That
can still happen. If and when it does, we will be in real trouble. And Dr. Campbell has saidthat we could get a virus sometime as transmissible as measles and as deadly as Ebola.
They are saying about 3 months to get tweaked vaccines for Omicron. One Pharma CEO
said tonight that we will have an Omicron vaccine in March, 2022 if it is needed. So if you areboosted as of today, still take precautions- masking, hand washing, avoid crowds, especially
indoors, good ventilation, socially distance, good nutrition, Vitamin D- Vit. D3 I thinkCampbell urges. Your body can make calcifidiol from D3 and that can keep you out of the
hospital. Maybe look on YouTube for Dr. John Campbell discussing Vitamin D-3 and Covid.
Do you want 4 or 5 days of mild disease? Omicron can breakthrough our vaccines, it
seems, but you don't get severe illness if it does, apparently. If you are unvaccinated, you'll belucky not to get Delta. Hospitals in some parts of the US are at 200% of capacity due to Delta.
Very bad here in the Central Valley of California. The rich Republicans here make damn surethe schools are bad, and ignorance is a bad thing to have during a pandemic. ONE result of
that here is a low vaccination rate. One result among many.
L. William Harding Fresno, Ca.
From:Leila H. Moncharsh
To:French, Amy; Planning Commission; Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Castilleja PTC hearing for 12/8/21
Date:Tuesday, December 7, 2021 5:48:09 PM
Attachments:Final Letter to PTC. December 7, 2021.pdf
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Please see attached. Leila Moncharsh
LAW OFFICES
VENERUSO & MONCHARSH
DONNA M. VENERUSO (d.’09) 5707 REDWOOD ROAD, SUITE 10
LEILA H. MONCHARSH OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 94619
TELEPHONE (510) 482-0390
FACSIMILE (510) 482-0391
Email: 101550@msn.com
December 7, 2021
Planning & Transportation Commission
City of Palo Alto
250 Hamilton
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Re: Castilleja School Hearing, 19PLN-00116 EIR, Use Permits
Dear Commissioners:
I understand that the square footage numbers have changed now that Dudek has
measured the school structures on the property. As a result of the new numbers, it becomes even
more apparent that the City Council should not grant a variance and also that the EIR needs to be
revisited, as planner Ms. French notes in her staff report for your hearing tomorrow. My
understanding is that the new numbers are:
Existing = 138,345
Planned Demolition = 87,079
After demolition existing left = 51,267
Left existing + new construction = 128,687
We previously seemed to be in agreement with Ms. French that under the City’s FAR code
section, Castillleja would be in compliance with 81,385 square feet. Previously, under the
incorrect numbers of square feet provided by the school, they were 28,000 over the acceptable
FAR. Now, under the new numbers, they are apparently 47,300 square feet over the acceptable
FAR.
In prior correspondence, I strongly urged the City Council to deny the variance when the
amount over the FAR was 28,000. I again raise the same objection now that it is 47,300square
feet. Further, if your commission looks at the attached chart that you requested a year ago,
showing the history of schools receiving or being denied variances, you will note the huge
difference between what amount of square footage the City Council has allowed previously and
what is now requested. Setting a precedence for granting variances of 47,300square feet over the
Code FAR allowance makes no sense. It just would reflect poor planning.
Furthermore, the new numbers and new FAR overage emphasize the need for a new
Draft EIR and comment period on at least two topics: the project’s inconsistency with the zoning
Planning & Transportation Commission
City of Palo Alto
250 Hamilton, 5th Floor
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Re: Castilleja Project
December 7, 2021
Page 2
code and aesthetics. We repeatedly pointed out that the huge building fronting Kellog was
inconsistent with the neighborhood’s small houses.
The California Supreme Court has held that when a city acting as lead agency adds
significant new information to a DEIR after the comment period has closed and before the FEIR
is certified, as has occurred here, it must pursue “another round of consultation.” (Vineyard Area
Citizens for Responsible Growth, Inc. v. City of Rancho Cordova (2007) 40 Cal.4th 412, 447-
448, Resources Code, § 21092.1, Guideline § 15088.5.) To require recirculation, the changes
must be significant and “only if as a result of the additional information the EIR is changed in a
way that deprives the public of a meaningful opportunity to comment upon a substantial adverse
environmental effect of the project or a feasible way to mitigate or avoid such an effect.” (Ibid.)
The fault for the delay to obtain a new DEIR falls squarely with the school. There can be
no reasonable excuse for fudging the square footage numbers, leading to the need for further
environmental review.
Please recommend to the City Council that it require a new DEIR with the required
public comment period and that it deny the variance application.
Very truly yours,
Leila H. Moncharsh
Leila H. Moncharsh, J.D., M.U.P.
Veneruso & Moncharsh
LHM:lm
cc: Clients
Amy.French@cityofpaloalto.org
Planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.org
city.council@cityofpaloalto.org
Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org
{,PG1AAPS;$ R'\ CT-{Y #TAFF
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Attachment B:PA Private Schools in Residetrtial Zones
ptrZ,nilvt [hn} -t
q 'to*i
School
Names APN Address zng
Des ation Lot Size Building
soFTt
Allowed
FAR'o t CIJP Variance flotes
1
Keys School
(Lower School)
,03-193
2890 Middlefield
Road, Palo Alto, CA
94303
L24,830 12,560 38,199
CUP granted in 2010
allowing modif ications
to lhe previously
approved cUP # 90-UP
21 The increase in FAR
& nunlber of
dassrooms would not
intensify the use/
increase student
number irnd would
provide the
opportunity to tmprove
the exjsling traffic
situation.
A Variance was
required fof the
placement of the
new buildings within
the rear setback, The
distance between the
new buildings and
the rear property line
Woulcl be no less than
1n faar npr tha
concli[ionrt of
approval
Locared with a
church Expansion of
N4odular classrooms
in lvlarch 2010
2
St Elizabeth
Seton School -A
Drexel \cnool
(Grades PK-B)
t-21 -441 1095 Channing Av,
Palo Alto, cA 94301 R.1 79.1,746 54,303
Allowed FAR
53,110 sqft,
on ground
58,274 sqft
An amend nenf to CUP
#87-UP 40 in 20L2 for
addition and operation
of 3,383 sqft Pre K and
K building adjacent to
existing K-ll school This
allows idditional
student enrollment and
better vehichular
circulation
A variance to allow a
five foot excePtion to
the height limit for a
new sLructure to
house wireless
communication
a ntennas,
The CUP fi 87-UP'40
amendcd permits 59-
trP-26 and 64-UP-7
which allowed them
locatbn of church,
Rectory, Convent and
School
Torah Academy
(Grades 4-5)1 7 -26-709 3070 Louis Rd, Palo
Alto, CA 94303 19,310 4 230 6,543
CUP in 2013 for 5,524
sqft addition and
remodel The project
combined APN f 127-
26-067 and the total
l:AR allowed was 9,754
sqft The proposed FAR
was 9,752 sqft
No Variance
This project was
fjnally withdrawn in
2015
A Tru (Grades K 6)r3-43-045 1295 Middlefleld Rd,
Palo Alto, CA 94301 R-1 4,t,s26 7,215 14,108
A CUP granted in 2009
to allow after school
enrichment activities,
homewot k assislance,
and tutor ing for up to
10 childr€n at a time in
the Sunday School class
room:i of Trinity
Lutheran church.
No Variance Located with Church
Expansion in 1994
5 Bowman School
(Grades K-8)67-05-020 4000 Terman Drive,
Palo Alto, CA 94306 R-1(10,000)63,318 23,500 L9,7 45
on May 2017 cUP
approved for amending
cUP f 03 CUP-07 for
reducing student
enrollnnent number
and allowing the
students to enroll at
the new Dnnex campus
located at 693
Arastradero Road,
No VariEnce
6 castilleja School
(Grades 6-12)L24-12-034 1310 Bryant Sl, Palo
Alto, ca 94301 R-1(1o,oo0)238,782 @ W\
rl
,[[
8"
7 Athena AcademY
(Grades 1-8)41 -08-041 525 5an Antonio Av,
Palo Alto, cA 94306 R-1(8,000)r4070 18,964 | 25,976
\
CUP approved in 201:
for priva[e school and
daycare use in PAUSD
owned property \:
\\1,? Q7'(,'sn'"-^#J)2+
From:mark weiss
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed; DuBois, Tom
Subject:Fw: Express: In quest for new housing, leaders eye downtown lots
Date:Tuesday, December 7, 2021 2:23:59 PM
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Despite confused reporting by the Palo Alto Weekly, or what's left of the Fourth Estate, theCounty reports 90 new cases per million capita. That means that of the next eleven thousandpeople who lick your hand as a type of greeting, one or zero might have an undiagnosed caseof the dreaded coronavirus. I am not an epidemiologist, but I passed 7th grade math at Terman(now Fletcher) and indeed, in those days, some still recall, was a pretty good kisser.
Vaxxed, masked and ready to roll*, Mark Weiss
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Palo Alto Online <express@paloaltoonline.com>
To: "express@paloaltoonline.com" <express@paloaltoonline.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 10:28:23 AM PST
Subject: Express: In quest for new housing, leaders eye downtown lots
*I'm actually, these days, more of a fist bump kind of guy, though inching towards the occassional manlyand light hug; probably shook hands 10 times last week.
For more conversation, go to TownSquare Home Page »
From:Jo Ann Mandinach
To:DuBois, Tom; City Mgr; Council, City
Subject:Please put airplane noise on the public agenda
Date:Tuesday, December 7, 2021 11:53:13 AM
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The economy's picking up and so is air traffic! Please keep pushing to control the
noise and frequency of the flights. Please also give some thought to restrictingflights after 10PM and before 7AM when it seemed flights took off every 20minutes!
Thanks.
Most sincerely,
Jo Ann Mandinach
From:slevy@ccsce.com
To:Council, City
Cc:Nose, Kiely; Paras, Christine; Abendschein, Jonathan
Subject:business tax planning
Date:Tuesday, December 7, 2021 11:14:10 AM
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To the Finance Committee and Council,
I would like to support a new business tax in Palo Alto
I have some questions and comments
Question
How many large parcels are there and how much of the proposed revenue will come from
these large parcels
For me and I think other residents, it makes a difference as to who will be paying the tax
Question
How will vacant space be handled
As I walk around downtown where i live and work, the number of vacant spaces seems to
be increasing and some pre-date the COVID pandemic.
If this is a business tax and not a property tax, the revenue estimates should factor invacancy adjustment as not all square feet will be occupied.
In this regard what is the current vacancy rate in PA and how does that compare to
neighboring cities
Comment
I favor extensive exemptions and will not support a tax that impacts small businesses of
any type. What is the revenue impact of exempting all businesses of under 20,000 square
feet including factoring in the administrative costs of compliance and enforcement? I believe
taxing small businesses is inconsistent with other economic and quality of life goals of our
city.
My memory is that the EPA tax widely mentioned in these proceedings was only forcommercial footage over 20,000 sq ft.
Question and comment
How do the projected revenues compare with neighboring cities like Mt View, Sunnyvale,
Santa Clara and San Jose
I remember that competitiveness is one of the valuation criteria for a business tax
structure.
I believe that the named cities are our competitors not EPA and SF. Moreover, SF now hasthe lowest job recovery rate in the region as firms are leaving for places like Oakland andoutside the region.
The firms that I know about who have left PA and stayed in the region went to the named
cities to our south.
I believe a tax can be structured that does not negatively affect competitiveness but it will
take careful thought.
Stephen Levy
resident and Director Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy
From:J Stinson
To:Architectural Review Board; Council, City; Planning Commission
Subject:Castilleja"s latest Master Plan
Date:Tuesday, December 7, 2021 9:14:55 AM
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Dear ARB -
Since you will be once again discussing Castilleja’s new master plan, I’d like to express my strong
support for the building design, and in particular comment on the lengths the school has gone to protect
more trees. I live near the school on Churchill and appreciate the beautiful landscaping on the Castillejacampus, including the canopy which includes protected redwoods and oak trees. Based on the many plan revisions the school has submitted, it’s clear that protecting trees has been ahigh priority. Castilleja has been very responsive to the Council’s and neighbors’ concerns. In particular,significant changes have been made to the pool and the parking garage in order to mitigate impacts onprotected trees. It is clear that Castilleja has gone to great lengths to re-evaluate and re-study all of the
trees to further protect a treasured part of our environment. My understanding is that their latest proposalfurther protects both tree 89 and tree 155 (the latter- in particular -if the pool is moved). They’re doingeverything possible to preserve existing trees while still adding 100 new trees to the canopy.Please recognize these improvements and approve their latest submission. This project has been underreview for far too long.Sincerely,Jason StinsonChurchill Ave.
From:Andie Reed
To:Planning Commission; Council, City
Subject:Castilleja Expansion
Date:Tuesday, December 7, 2021 6:39:03 AM
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Dear Commissioners:
We are gratified that the City Council in March requested an accurate measurement of square footagefor Castilleja's expansion project. This is very important because the school is requesting a variance toreplace current existing floor area, but that number has changed over time. Now we have an accuratecount of the SF being requested.
City planning staff solicited a professionally prepared "Building Survey and Gross Floor AreaAssessment" which we got Nov 17, and it shows that current, existing Gross Floor Area is substantiallyin excess of what is allowed by code (138KSF versus 81KSF). In turn, this information shows that theschool’s Variance request is also significantly in excess of allowed by code, more than what waspreviously known (128,687SF vs. 81KSF).
Not seeing in this PTC packet a link to this important document prepared by Dudek that finally settlesGross Floor Area, I attach it here https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/planning-amp-development-services/new-development-projects/1310-bryant-street/castilleja-school-building-survey-and-gfa-111721.pdf
Does this report come under your purview tonight? The middle of Pkt Pg 104 states tonight’s goal is"receiving public feedback and PTC direction on any further adjustments that may be necessary.....seeks the PTC's direction on any topic area that requires further analysis or project changes...”Additionally, on Pkt Pg 105, second para: “the PTC in its review has the authority to review and makerecommendations on the CUP, including a comprehensive review of the proposed TDM andthe variance…” This would seem to include this expert Gross Floor Area report.
The next paragraph discusses the split vote on the variance in Nov 2020. However, the “findings” onthe variance in the 11/4/2020 PTC staff report Packet Pg 28 doesn’t actually give the number of SFthat is being asked for in excess of code, or that the FAR they are asking for is .42 and code is .30. That’s not stated. Now the request is for FAR of .50 and code is .30.
There is a schedule in the ARB staff report Pkt Pg 19 (linked on PTC packet pg 107) showing thesummary of Dudek’s count. City staff adds the columns showing proposed demolished and proposednew building, plus some lines at the bottom that subtract out the volumetrics. At first glance, thisseems OK. But here’s the thing; Dudek was hired to provide the calculation of Gross Floor Area,analyzed with reference to current code. The two buildings that have immense extra square footagebecause of volumetrics were both re-built after the code was in effect. We have to respect Dudek’sexpertise and not change the numbers. Just because the proper SF wasn’t reported when thosebuildings were re-built does not make them compliant with code, as Dudek points out in their analysisof "what is existing GFA?".
The unabated growth of the school over the past decades, most of it SINCE the zoning codes havebeen in effect (the gym, fine arts buildings were rebuilt in 1998 and 2006, the mechanical building wasbuilt in 2001) renders the school’s “replacement of current GFA” a much larger “ask” than previouslyacknowledged.
Further review of the Plans, pages G.004 and G.005 clearly shows additional Gross Floor Area of7,100SF is being proposed but not counted. The pool equipment building at 4,300SF is not under abuilding and the lower level main building is 2,800SF larger than the first floor building. 7,100SF is thetotal of Lower Level square footage that is not under the footprint of a building, nor is it a portion of abuilding, which makes these accessory buildings that are included in GFA. This is additional squarefootage that needs to be added to the proposed GFA (see Basic Numbers chart below). Canyou ask the Planning Department to review?
Although it doesn't add to GFA, it is important to note that the underground square footage, notincluding the garage, is proposed to increase from 41,000SF to 80,000SF.
City Council Motion, item B, discusses reviewing an underground parking facility alternative that allowsa maximum of 50 percent of the required on-site parking to be below grade without counting againstthe project floor area. I want to point out the parking report from July 2021, prepared by Fehr +Peers, is linked on Pkt Pg 111, where the report is referred to. The very important point that thisreport identifies that there are currently 89 surface parking spaces on campus is not mentioned inthe staff report. City Council has determined 89 parking spaces are sufficient for this project. We understand that the school would like to move their pool in order to increase the mass and volumeof their large building, two very controversial issues. However, doing so reduces surface parking by 60spaces and takes advantage of FAR based on misstated existing Gross Floor Area. Removing 60surface parking places causes a problem they don’t currently have, as there are already 89surface parking spaces.
City Council Motion item A, touched upon on Pkt Pg. 112, states "increased student enrollmentwithout sufficient parking is anticipated to result in more school-related parking intrusionsinto the surrounding neighborhood". Of course this is true, and it causes more traffic, too, so
that's why the neighbors request that student enrollment be increased to 450 only.
Regarding an RPP, once we looked at how it would require neighbors to pay for parking which we nowhave for free, and doesn’t cover nights and weekends, during events, when we sometimes have issues,and it excludes the school, we can’t figure out why it’s mentioned. As we have stated for 5 years, wehave an understanding with the school that they park on their side of the street and we park on ours,and generally, it works great.
As to events, the link in the packet leads to a schedule that’s undecipherable. It would be helpful tohave a complete suggested list, and have the neighbors in on the conversation before any CUP isfinalized.
As to the TDM, the link goes to a 4-color public relations piece that is very impressive. Neighbors’main concern is enforcement. Strategies for counting cars include counters on campus, self-monitoring via surveys and staff/student oversight committee. Most parents just drop their children offon the streets, so we can’t see how those will be counted. We realize the City shouldn’t be having toenforce CUPs, and that the actual details of the TDM are not finalized yet.
Neighbors are amenable to an enrollment increase to 450, re-building at less volume and mass, usingcurrent surface parking spaces, and lowering the number of events at nights and weekends. We wouldlove to get behind a re-build that covers these issues.
Thank you for your hard work on this project.
Andie Reed
Melville Ave
BASIC NUMBERS UPDATED 12/6/2021 (SENT TO PTC SAME DAY)
Basic numbers from the Nov 2021 plans prepared by the school and
Dudek Nov 15, 2021 "Building Survey and Gross Floor Area Assessment":
Square Feet
Calculations:
1.The parcel size is 268,783SF (top number on page G.001). 268,783
2.The proposed plans above-grade GFA is 109,297 (same page).
3.Previously, plans showed existing GFA = 116,297 per school.
Existing GFA has been increased to 138,346SF by Dudek report.
4.The allowed Floor Area Ratio (PAMC 18.12.040 Table 2) is .3028:
which translates to 81,385 sq ft:
1st 5,000 sq ft @ .45 = 2,250 5,000 0.45 2,250
remaining sq ft @ .30 = 79,135 263,783 0.30 79,135
Total allowed Floor Area Ratio: (81385/268783)=.3028 81,385
(This has been confirmed in city documents)
5.The proposed floor area per the ARB Dec 2, 2021 staff report:
(using Dudek numbers, less proposed demo'd and plus new proposed bldg)128,687
6.Additional lower level floor area not qualified as basement:7,100
7.Total Proposed Gross Floor Area: 135,787
8.The proposed floor area exceeds allowed GFA by: 54,402
9.Actual Floor Area Ratio requested by the school: (#7 / #1) 0.505
10.Floor Area Stated in Request for Variance and these plans: 0.420
11.Allowed Floor Area Ratio (see above) 0.303
11.Percentage increase requested by school: (.505- .303)/.303 67%
Double-check: Percentage increase in SF: (54400/81385) 0.67
--
From:Kenneth Streib
To:Council, City
Subject:last nights meeting
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 11:16:30 PM
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I agree with never selling city land. Always lease and get the money. partnering with
private entities always depends on what we owe them, and what hooks get into us.
Thanks,
Ken Streib
From:Kamhi, Philip
To:Council, CityCc:Shikada, Ed; Baird, Nathan; Tran, Joanna; Nose, Kiely; Horrigan-Taylor, Meghan
Subject:RPP Parking activities update
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 10:17:42 PM
Attachments:image001.pngimage002.pngimage004.pngimage005.pngimage008.pngimage003.png
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
City Manager Shikada asked me to provide an overview of ongoing RPP activities, in light of recent concerns raised by
employers/employees about the modifications to the RPP program. In summary, these modifications follow several years of work
and Council-approved actions.
In 2019, the Palo Alto City Council approved the Parking Work Plan (ID# 1046), which included the following work plan
items to:
“Develop a “quid-pro-quo” approach to reduce RPP employee permits where the addition of “employee spaces” in garages
and lots triggers the reduction of RPP employee parking permits.” and,
“Consideration should be given to increase the cost of an RPP employee parking permit so that it is greater than the cost of a
reserved space in a garage or lot, in order to incentivize parkers to choose off-street parking over on-street parking.”
On May 26, 2020 the City Council, approved the Operating Budget (ID# 11376), which included the following: “RPP
Parking Administrative Program Revisions - This action will require significant program changes phasing theadministration of this program to allow for License Plate Recognition (LPR), virtual permits, and other modifications toallow for cost control. Staff will provide greater detail on the program changes including revised financial impacts throughcontinued discussion of potential parking program changes. This General Fund savings reflects the elimination of thecurrent General Fund subsidy to ensure the RPP Fund remains financially solvent.”
Implementing LPR to transition to virtual permits city-wide was also supported during multiple meetings with the PTC and
City Council in the past year and was approved by City Council on February 22, 2021 for use in RPP zones (ID# 11492).
The rollout of these changes, paired with the new California Avenue garage completion, and rollout of a new parking permit
management vendor, Duncan Solutions, provided an opportunity to also address other prioritized RPP adjustments as City’s
parking programs have been brought back following the cessation of enforcement during the beginning and height of the
pandemic. A multi-pronged parking item was heard at Finance Committee and then Council which included direction to
staff to price the RPP employee permits higher than the employee garage/lot permits, and to create a reduced-price (low-income) permit for the garages/lots, as well as the RPPs. These Permit pricing and permit allocation modifications had finalCouncil approval in November (ID# 13663), and included reduced-price permits discounted at 75% off in both RPP zonesand garages/lots. The following table summarizes the permit pricing and allocation modifications approved in this staffreport:
Transferable hangtag permits were not intended to increase the number of employees able to park under one permit, and a
transferable permit is difficult to monitor and limit misuse. Switching to LPR was recommended to Council as a significant RPP
parking administration cost-savings measure, and these savings are impossible to achieve if we continue utilizing physical permits.
Continued allowance of multiple users of one RPP employee permit would be equivalent to pricing RPP permits lower than the price
of garage/lot employee permits and also lower than transit passes. Ensuring a ‘one permit, one customer’ model will also give the
City the much-needed data to help make thoughtful and efficient transportation decisions. Permit sales have started today, we
currently have physical permits which expire on December 31st, and staff have been doing weeks of outreach on this sales date.
Staff believes that there is sufficient parking available to accommodate these changes, although for some employees the parking
might require extra time walking. Additional employee permit capacity has been provided in City-owned garages and lots, at lower
rates than RPP parking rates, and staff will be working to expand commercial parking opportunities where possible in the near
future. There are also day permits available in the garages and lots, for those not working on a regular daily schedule. In addition,
Staff is also working to expand Zone G (El Camino Real) in the Evergreen Park-Mayfield RPP district, and to develop additional
permit types for different uses in all of the parking programs.
As a follow-up, we will be keeping close tabs on our permit sales data and we will meet with these businesses to identify any parking
issues. If serious issues are identified, staff will delay enforcement and return to Council in January for adjustments.
We have more information on Employee Permit Pricing and Modifications in the following news article:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/News-Articles/Office-of-Transportation/RPP-EmployeeEmployer-Update
Best,
Philip Kamhi
Chief Transportation Official, Office of Transportation
City of Palo Alto
Phone: 650.329.2520
E-mail: Philip.kamhi@cityofpaloalto.org
www.cityofpaloalto.org
Use PaloAlto311 to report items you’d like the City to fix!! Download the app or click here to make a service request.
From:Aram James
To:Shikada, Ed; Tanner, Rachael; Human Relations Commission; Council, City; Planning Commission;wintergery@earthlink.net; Dave Price; Stump, Molly
Subject:Cupertino and SB -9 —will Palo Alto match Cupertino in resisting truly low and very low income housing? Will
Palo Alto make it as difficult as possible for homeowners to take advantage of SB-9?
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 7:05:48 PM
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on links.
________________________________
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/12/06/cupertino-faces-its-housing-reputation-as-sb-9-goes-into-effect-jan-
1/amp/
Sent from my iPhone
From:mcwood196@gmail.com
To:Council, City
Subject:New rental policies
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 5:36:04 PM
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I read in the Palo Alto Weekly about the Council discussion for renter protection. Allegedly, thispolicy will cover 46% of the population who rent, create a database of rental properties in the City,cap Security Deposits and expand relocation assistance. Other ideas include legal assistance duringeviction, an anti-gouging policy and restrictions on Landlord investigation of a potential Tenantscriminal record. None of these policies will create more rental units or lower apartment rents and allare likely to discourage both construction of new units and renting of vacant residences.
Instead, these policies will burden Landlords with higher costs to evict bad tenants, to maintain theirproperties and to report to a growing city bureaucracy. The policies advocated imply that Landlordsare gouging or somehow taking advantage of tenants. This simply is not happening on a large scale.Landlords like to keep paying tenants, and large security deposits, huge rent increases or notmaintaining a property are not a recipe for Landlord success. There is significant competition amongLandlords due to the current high vacancy in Palo Alto.
Contrary to the policies being discussed low-income renters are a minor issue. Fifteen percent of ourrental units are BMR-Below Market Rental-units, which are controlled by the Palo Alto Housing Corp.These units don’t need an additional layer of protection from the City. The rental caps discussedalready exist through the State of California Rent Control law. State law does allow for evictions torenovate an apartment. This is how we constantly improve the housing stock and insure that otherswill invest in apartments in Palo Alto.
The entire issue seems like a solution in search of a problem. I would suggest that the goal should beto improve and enlarge the housing stock to the benefit of the general population. The policies beingdiscusses are counterproductive to this goal. Instead, these policies will raise costs, discourageinvestment, and help a very small percentage of the current renter population.
From:Cory Wolbach
To:DuBois, Tom; Burt, Patrick; Cormack, Alison; Filseth, Eric (Internal); Kou, Lydia; Stone, Greer; Tanaka, Greg
Cc:Clerk, City; City Mgr; City Attorney
Subject:SV@Home Letter re. Item 9, Dec. 6, 2021; SB-9
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 5:07:24 PM
Attachments:image001.pngSV_at_Home Letter to Palo Alto regarding 2021-12-06 Item 9_ SB-9 Urgency Ordinance.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Mayor DuBois, Vice Mayor Burt, and Councilmembers,
Please find the attached letter from SV@Home regarding Item 9 on tonight’s agenda — SB-9
Urgency Ordinance.
Thank you,
Cory
Cory Wolbach
Community Engagement Senior Associate
SV@Home
650-248-2408
cory@siliconvalleyathome.org
Silicon Valley Is Home. Join our Houser Movement. Become a member!
350 W Julian St. #5, San Jose, CA 95110
Website I Facebook I Twitter I LinkedIn
350 W. Julian Street, Building 5, San José, CA 95110
www.svathome.org • info@siliconvalleyathome.org
TRANSMITTED VIA EMAIL
December 6th, 2021
Mayor DuBois and Councilmembers
City of Palo Alto
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Re: Item 9 - Adoption of SB 9 Urgency Ordinance
Honorable Mayor DuBois, Vice Mayor Burt, and Councilmembers Cormack, Filseth, Kou,
Stone, and Tanaka:
SV@Home advocates for increased housing supply and housing affordability throughout
Santa Clara County. We are reaching out to local cities to share information and general
recommendations about a new law, SB-9, which you are considering on tonight’s agenda.
This letter does not constitute legal advice.
About SB-9
We see SB-9 in the context of the several legislative changes and funding allocations passed
recently to comprehensively address our housing crisis. These bills preserve existing homes,
produce new homes (this is where SB-9 fits in), protect renters, and increase funding for
affordable homes and homeless homes and services. SB-9 is only one piece of the puzzle.
When the Legislature first passed laws making it easier for homeowners to create Accessory
Dwelling Units (ADUs), there was local backlash in many communities. However, in just a
few years, most opponents realized ADUs did not cause harm and actually created
opportunities for homeowners. Following the experience with ADUs, earlier this year the
California Legislature and governor passed and signed SB-9, which empowers homeowners
to split their lot into two parcels, or to turn their home into a duplex, or both. SB-9 was
supported by every legislator representing Santa Clara County.
Opportunities for Cities
Now that SB-9 is about to take effect, we encourage cities to embrace the new
opportunities provided by the law for the following reasons:
1. California adopted SB-9 based on evidence and expert economic analysis that allowing
smaller homes through lot-splits and duplexes will make more homes available to more
people at relatively more attainable prices, compared to typical single family homes, or new
houses built on existing lots.
2. New options for lot-splits and duplexes provide new options for homeowners
(especially for those who are “house-rich,” with limited income but wealth in their property)
including, (a) generating additional income from a new rental unit, (b) downsizing and
selling a portion of their property while continuing to live on the remaining portion; and/or
(c) reconfiguring their property to better suit their family’s needs.
3. Communities across California, including Palo Alto, have taken steps to study and
grapple with historical and ongoing systemic racism, including housing segregation
Board of Directors
Kevin Zwick, Chair
United Way Bar Area
Gina Dalma, Vice Chair Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Candice Gonzalez, Secretary
Sand Hill Property Company
Andrea Osgood, Treasurer Eden Housing
Shiloh Ballard
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
Bob Brownstein Working Partnerships USA
Amie Fishman
Non-Profit Housing
Association of Northern CA
Ron Gonzales Hispanic Foundation
of Silicon Valley
Javier Gonzalez
Google Poncho Guevara Sacred Heart Community
Service
Janice Jensen Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley Janikke Klem
Jan LIndenthal MidPen Housing Jennifer Loving Destination: Home
Mary Murtagh
EAH Housing Chris Neale The Core Companies
Kelly Snider
Kelly Snider Consulting Staff Regina Celestin Williams Executive Director
Date
Re: Subject
Page 2 of 8
350 W. Julian Street, Building 5, San José, CA 95110
408.780.8411 • www.svathome.org • info@siliconvalleyathome.org
perpetuated by exclusionary zoning. Allowing duplexes and lot splits by a few homeowners will not address
these historical and ongoing issues overnight. However, encouraging production of more housing
opportunities — accessible to more people, in neighborhoods throughout the city — will be a step in the right
direction. These actions augment other efforts Palo Alto is exploring, including additional measures to protect
renters, to update the City’s Housing Element, and to affirmatively further fair housing.
In crafting SB-9, the Legislature ensured that local governments would have an opportunity to develop objective
design guidelines which enhance the feasibility and value of new duplexes and lot-splits while supporting
development that reflects the local context of each city.
We are encouraging jurisdictions to reject efforts to undermine the Legislature’s intent, or to violate the legal
parameters of SB-9 or other state laws. We have seen attempts by some local cities to undermine SB-9, which
would seem to overstep local authority and potentially expose jurisdictions to the risk of litigation. Further, as
we have seen with initial legislation on accessory dwelling units, bad faith attempts to find and exploit loopholes
in SB-9, which undermine the spirit and intent of the law, will likely be overturned by the Legislature in future
legislation. In short, efforts to purposely undermine SB-9 run the risk of being time-consuming, ineffectual, and
potentially damaging to local jurisdictions and their residents. But, if implemented thoughtfully, opportunities
for lot-splits and duplexes can help current and future residents alike without harming neighborhoods.
Next Steps
SB-9 will take effect on January 1st, and thoughtful local implementation can make it more effective,
incorporate local priorities, enhance the benefits to the community, and smooth the application process for
homeowners. Here are some points we ask Palo Alto to consider:.
•Cities may pass objective standards that do not violate SB-9 or other state laws.
•Cities should not set new, stricter standards for SB-9 than would apply to developing a house, in areas such as
FAR, lot-coverage, height, etc. It shouldn’t be harder to build a duplex or to split a lot than it is to tear down an
existing house and replace it with a single large house.
•Cities may not impose any objective standards that violate the by-right provisions of SB-9, which require
ministerial approval of redevelopment that conforms with objective design standards.
•Cities should not reduce zoned capacity, nor unreasonably constrain development so as to make it infeasible.
We appreciate your time and consideration. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions about this
new law and its implications. We welcome further discussion and opportunities for ongoing engagement.
Sincerely,
SV@Home
Sincerely,
Mathew Reed
Policy Director
From:rob levitsky
To:Planning Commission; Council, City; French, Amy; Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed
Subject:castilleja proposal - continued
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 4:46:05 PM
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PTC commissioners
this is a continuation of my last email, that got sent prematurely
I am happy to say that Urban Forestry is doing a good job of looking after the
protected trees at Castilleja, and one tool now being used is called Ground Penetrating Radar,
which allows the roots to be mapped by walking a device over the area where the roots may be located
(it emits a high frequency signal through an antenna) and reads back the reflection of roots underground.
The resulting study can clearly show the location of roots, allowing someone to know
where it might be acceptable to disturb the soil, without hurting any of the roots.
These studies will be used to minimize conflicts with tree roots.
From:rob levitsky
To:Planning Commission; Council, City; French, Amy; Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Castilleja Proposal
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 4:27:03 PM
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PTC Commissioners:
After 5 1/2 years of claiming that their proposed design was following all the rules in the Tree Ordinance, I
see a last minute submission from Castilleja, dated 11/3/2021, making an attempt to back the proposed
underground pool away from Protected Oak trees 89, 87, and 155.
Its the 2nd to last page of the last set of documents, surely to be missed by almost everyone,
and its labeled "scheme E"
Its a last minute attempt to begin to respect these Protected Trees. I only wish that Castilleja's
Architects, the City of Palo Alto Planning Officials, and the EIR consultants had respected the Protected
Trees on the site during the last 5 1/2 years - in particular Oaks 87, 89, 102, 140, 155, and Redwoods
115-120.
For 5 1/2 years, the Tree Protection Zones were incorrectly drawn on every page of drawings, misleading
everyone who looked at the drawings for impacts to trees.
Only recently, after repeated requests, did a few trees get accurate Tree Protection Zone circles drawn on
a few documents, and these clearly showed conflicts with tree roots. For example, tree 89, a large Oak in
the parking lot at Emerson and Melville, has trenches for water lines and electrical cables dug through its
TPZ, as well as a stairwell to the underground pool, a 25-30 foot deep concrete wall as one side of the
underground pool, and a large concrete pad with a 2000 Amp transformer mounted on it. And all surface
asphalt to be removed, disturbing all roots underneath the pavement.
Castilleja Architects didnt care, Planning looked the other way, the EIR consultant misinterpreted the
code, and said the plans were fine.
I am happy that finally, with enough attention, the Protected Trees are getting some respect,
at least
Their attempt to hide the tree conflicts exposed, and completely shamed out
From:Kimberley Wong
To:Planning Commission
Cc:Council, City; French, Amy; Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Comments for the Planning and Transportation Commission for 12/8/2021PTC meeting re:Castilleja ExpansionPlans
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 2:29:52 PM
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Dear Planning and Transportation Commissioners
Castilleja responded on May 25, 2021 to the March 29 Palo Alto City Council
meeting. In summary:
1. Parking Reduction: Reduce the underground parking facility to ensure
preservation of heritage trees.
2. Tree protection: Take further measures to protect heritage trees and reduce the
loss of protected trees3. Reduce Gross Floor area: Reconsider massing and compatibility of design
My question to the the Commissioners is... do the newly revised plans satisfy these
requirements? Have more trees been really protected by the encroaching buildings
that Castilleja proposes to build? In all the major projects that you have seen in PaloAlto, how many trees can survive major remodel, excavation around their roots, and
remain completely healthy years later? Has anyone looked at these statistics?
The Planning and Transportation should evaluate how this garage will encroach upona Major Bike Boulevard to enter an underground ground built dangerously close to
homes, trees and utility lines. For a school lauding its LEED buildings, the garage
certainly cannot be considered an LEED structure. It will in fact be just the opposite
and cause tremendous releases of greenhouse gasses with digging and transportingthousands soil as well as pouring tons of CO2 emitting concrete into the area.
Just recently I saw this sign on an OPEN garage at the Stanford Shopping Center at
Arboretum and Quarry Road in Palo Alto. It was quite alarming.. "Warning. Breathingthe air in this parking garage can expose you to chemicals including carbon monoxide
and gasoline or diesel engine exhaust, which are known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Do not stay in this area
longer than necessary." And the effect an UNDERGROUND garage would be muchmore hazardous for staff and young students to drive through, get dropped off in and
walk through and up through the passageways as they breath these dangerous
fumes. If the lines are backed up as usually seen at the current drop off/pick up zones
especially during pick up times, the exposure times will be much longer!
So why is Castilleja proposing plans with 5 garage designs and not one single option
WITHOUT a garage. Why hasn't City Staff or Planning and Transportation
Commissioners supported a NO-Garage option? This option will save many more
trees, utilize the parking spaces that already exist, negate the need to move to a
below grade swimming pool and reduce time, money and impact to the neighboringcommunity and its streets.
During my first and only meeting with Castilleja's Principal Ms Nanci Kauffman back in
2016, my husband and I told her that the root cause of Castilleja's impact to theneighborhood is Traffic. Parking is only the symptom. If they can really fix the Traffic
issue, then the Parking problem will go away. We continued to remind Ms. Kauffman
of this with every communication we sent her over the last five years. But she
continues to ignore that and makes excuses to push the garage forward as thehighest priority of its expansion project.
I urge that the Planning and Transportation NOT approve the garage plans. I urge
that they ask Castilleja to create a plan that does not include a garage, above orbelow ground. Building an underground garage even with half the spaces still requires
almost as much excavation and will take just as long to build. The construction and
use of it it will cause countless safety and health hazards to the bicyclists and
pedestrians on the major Bicycle Boulevard, to its staff and students inside thegarage, and to the neighboring community with traffic impacts for now and in the
future. Use what is currently available for staff and require mandatory shuttling and
ban students and parents from driving to the school.
One of the major responsibilities of PTC is to the ensure Castilleja will not have an
adverse impact to our community. The following are some of the suggestions:
Banning students from driving to the campus by implementing
compulsory shuttling program and satellite parking
Defining enrollment cap for the current site and requiring distributed campuses
to support future growth
Defining regular business hours for school as 7am-6pm Monday to Friday.
Limit to 20 events per year outside of the business hour and require the school
to apply for a permit for each of them.
Many other private schools have split their campuses, have limited number of events,
banned parents and students from driving to school and increased their shuttling
services. Thank you for directing Castilleja towards these more environmentally and
neighborhood friendly options.
Kimberley Wong
From:Alan Cooper
To:Planning Commission
Cc:Council, City
Subject:Castilleja School
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 1:30:32 PM
Attachments:Alan Coopers PTC letter Dec 6 2021.pdf
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Dear Planning Commissioners,
I am attaching a PDF letter regarding the Castilleja project for your consideration at the December 8 PTC
meeting.
Alan Cooper
To: Planning and Transportation Commission December 6, 2021
From: Alan Cooper, 270 Kellogg Ave, akcooper@pacbell.net
Subject: Castilleja School
Dear PTC members,
I have lived across the street from Castilleja on Kellogg Ave for 37 years. I support girls education, and
modernization of their campus.
I have serious concerns because the great magnitude of the project (i.e., student growth) as now
proposed will further impact the safety of the extended neighborhood and our quality of life. My
concerns regard:
New education-building size (particularily height)
Traffic movement
Pedestrian/bike safety
Parking congestion
Construction duration, parking, noise and safety
Number of school events
Monitoring and enforcement of CUP requirements
I outline my concerns for each item and make a request for action in red on each by the PTC.
New education-building size: At the last ARB meeting (12/2/21), they reversed their decision of the
prior meeting (that approved the education building) and suggested major changes to the dimensions
of the education building. One change was to raise the building 3 feet to a roof height of 33 feet. I DO
NOT SUPPORT A MORE MASSIVE/TALLER BUILDING ON KELLOGG! I accepted the prior design. Please
recommend to City Council that this ARB recommendation NOT be accepted.
Traffic movement: The concept of “no new net trips” to the school is good, but does not address the
problem of increasingly heavy traffic on neighborhood streets due to other daily Castilleja activities (e.g.
school meetings, deliveries, student buses/shuttles, etc.) that are not counted and are a persistent swirl
of often-speeding traffic and noise (tires, banging doors, etc). Please implement TDM monitoring of ALL
street traffic.
Pedestrian/bike safety: The Castilleja’s TDM manual says cars should not queue in the street, but
should drive around the block if traffic is stopped. Drivers DO NOT do this and at pickup time, cars stop
in the street on Kellogg and impatient drivers behind them speed down the street going the wrong way
in the oncoming lane. Cars stopping in the street and driving the wrong way are illegal and dangerous
for neighbors and bicycles. Castilleja has not done anything to correct this since the March 2021 Council
meeting. If this is a problem now, it will only get more dangerous with more students. Please require
Castilleja to stop this from happening (e.g., add longer queue driveway; take away parking with red curb
for cars to wait in; pay for officers to direct traffic).
Parking congestion: Parking on Kellogg across from Castilleja is ok, however, students including
freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors are permitted (by Castilleja parent handbook) to park in the
neighborhood, and are doing so. The traffic consultant report does NOT address parking outside two
blocks from Castilleja. Please monitor/count/restrict? all Castilleja parking, including that in the
surrounding extended neighborhood.
Construction duration, parking, noise and safety: One good option presented by Castilleja to minimize
construction impact on the neighborhood was to find a temporary campus, to reduce construction time
from 34 to 21 months. This option would
keep students out of the construction zone contamination/noise,
keep staff/student traffic from further congesting streets,
shorten construction delays on surrounding streets including Embarcadero
shorten time of contamination, noise, construction parking issues for neighbors
Please require that Castilleja move to a temporary campus during construction time.
Number of school events: School events bring more traffic, parking and noise to the neighborhood.
Castilleja continues to use a prior concept that all events must be onsite. The concept could readily be
modified to that of holding events (e.g. meetings, concerts, talks) offsite at other nearby facilities. A
constant flurry of school activity degrades neighborhood quality of life. The nicest days in the
neighborhood are Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years day when there is NO ACTIVITY AT ALL at
Castilleja. Please require that Castilleja have no more than 50 events at the school, and that there is no
activity at all on Sunday.
Monitoring and enforcement of CUP requirements: Castilleja has a documented history of not
following CUP guidelines as time goes on. Continual monitoring and enforcement is unfortunately
necessary to assure compliance. These steps assure that neighbors interests are being respected.
Please assure compliance with each CUP mandate, with appropriate monitoring and enforcement steps.
And, please implement a yearly or every other year assessment of the CUP with neighborhood input.
Thank you for you dedicated efforts on this complex project.
Alan Cooper
From:Liz Gardner
To:Council, City
Subject:El Camino Baseball Field, Youth and COVID -- It"s the American Thing to Do
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 1:16:42 PM
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Dear Honorable City Council,
As we all well understand, our City's youth have spent the last year and half
cooped up and unable to participate in organized outdoor activities. It is vital too,
when residential rents are so high and all youngsters and teens have been enduringtight living spaces, distance schooling, parents working on top of each other -- ouryouth should be given priority to all available city space to be in wide open and
organized playing fields.
Middle School kids need every opportunity to regularly participate together inoutdoor City wide activities on city paid for fields. It's team work and the
social interactions that mean our future. This has been such an extraordinary loss for
kids over the Pandemic. The loss is unimaginable for our young. They should not bepunished further with limited time on any city field. Baseball is the Great AmericanPastime. Let's mentor our youth for this great American sport.
Further, the Palo Alto Little League has paid $5000 for El Camino Real Fieldupgrades to accommodate the in between ages of youth baseball. These are the kidstoo big for LL Majors and too little for Babe Ruth.
Please make sure that El Camino Real field represents all ages and notably our
youth who have suffered dramatic and unprecedented changes in their lives. Critically, the very youth that need to stretch and grow as the pandemic continues to
consume our everyday lives, in our homes and schools. Kids need this much needed
scheduled space, equally. One sport or age group should not dominate over
another, especially as related to our children, our future.
Kindly,
Liz Gardner
Mayfield PlacePalo Alto650-223-3024
From:Becky Bartindale
To:Council, City
Subject:Re: Your e-mail to City Council was received
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 11:45:17 AM
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Hello. Can you please let me know if the email will be forwarded immediately or is there a long
delay?
Thank you,
Becky
--Becky Bartindale (she/her/herself)Foothill-De Anza Community College DistrictCoordinator of communications and public affairs650-949-6107 office650-269-8927 mobile
From: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>
Sent: Monday, December 6, 2021 11:04 AM
To: Becky Bartindale <bartindalebecky@fhda.edu>
Subject: Your e-mail to City Council was received
Thank you for your comments to the City Council. Your e-mail will be forwarded to all seven Council
Members and a printout of your correspondence will also be included in the next available Council
packet.
If your comments are about an item that is already scheduled for a City Council agenda, you can call
(650) 329-2571 to confirm that the item is still on the agenda for the next meeting.
If your letter mentions a specific complaint or a request for service, we'll either reply with an
explanation or else send it on to the appropriate department for clarification.
We appreciate hearing from you.
From:Jim Poppy
To:Planning Commission; Council, City
Subject:Castilleja TDM is Key. RPP Not Needed.
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 11:34:01 AM
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Dear Planning Commissioners and City Council Members,
Castilleja has done an excellent job of not parking on neighborhood streets and there
is abundant parking during school hours. See the attached photos taken today,
Monday, December 6, at 10:30am, on Bryant, Kellogg, and Emerson directly across
from the school.
An RPP for the immediate neighborhood is not needed and would in fact be
detrimental to maintaining the trust that has been established with the school.
The main focus must be on Castilleja's ability to meet and maintain their TDM
requirements. Please do not be distracted by the RPP diversion presented by staff.
The proposed TDM from the school only includes Castilleja staff and students as the
oversight committee, which is obviously fraught with peril, given Castilleja's history of
CUP non-compliance.
Any TDM must include a qualified city staff person and at least one neighbor who is
not biased. If the City is going to create spot zoning for this project, then the City must
be willing to make sure the TDM is enforced.Thank you for your work on behalf of all residents.
Regards,
Jim Poppy
Melville Ave, half a block from Castilleja
From:Becky Bartindale
To:Council, City
Cc:City Mgr
Subject:INVITATION - Foothill-De Anza DRAFT MAPS are in - pls. review and comment
Date:Monday, December 6, 2021 11:04:10 AM
Attachments:FlyerWithMap.png
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Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council members,
The Board of Trustees of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District invites you to
review draft boundary maps prepared by our consultant, Redistricting Partners, as well as maps
submitted by members of the public, to establish trustee area elections for the first time in
the Foothill-De Anza district.
The draft maps are posted at www.fhda.edu/trustee-areas. There are multiple ways for you to
comment on them, in addition to attending public hearings starting Dec. 13.
The draft maps show how local communities could be divided to create five trustee areas of
roughly equal population size for elections beginning in 2022. This change in election system
affects the communities of Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo
Alto and small portions of San Jose, Santa Clara, and Saratoga.
Will you please share this information with your friends, neighbors, colleagues and constituents
who might be interested in seeing the proposed boundary lines?
Thank you for your interest.
Best wishes,
Becky
--Becky Bartindale (she/her/herself)Foothill-De Anza Community College DistrictCoordinator of communications and public affairs650-949-6107 office650-269-8927 mobile
From:Cormac Conroy
To:Clerk, City
Subject:gasoline blowers in Palo Alto - can you please do something?
Date:Saturday, December 4, 2021 3:52:44 PM
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Dear Tom DuBois, Palo Alto Mayor:
I and my family live in Palo Alto, including a toddler.
I would like to bring to your attention the problem with gasoline-power leaf blowers we have in Palo Alto. These areused extensively by gardeners.
Have you seen this recent article from the NY TImes?
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/25/opinion/leaf-blowers-california-emissions.html
"But the gasoline-powered leaf blower exists in a category of environmental hell all its own,
spewing pollutants — carbon monoxide, smog-forming nitrous oxides, carcinogenic
hydrocarbons — into the atmosphere at a literally breathtaking rate," she wrote.
This confirms what we have been suspecting for a while - even apart from noise pollution, the gasoline-powered leafblowers are spewing out terrible pollution. The article is subscription only - but I pasted a quote above.
As I understand, these blowers are illegal - but this law is not enforced. See below.https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2019/08/23/guest-opinion-its-time-to-address-leaf-blowers-again#:~:text=May%20I%20take%20this%20opportunity,unlawful%2C%20wrongful%20and%20otherwise%20verboten.
Our family has recently invested in an electric blower and are encouraging our neighbors to use it or buy their own. But -this issue needs a city-wide initiative and leadership.
Please take some action. Palo Alto can lead this area. I believe it needs a combination of enforcement and incentives.Why not have a city-sponsored trade-in program where gardners can swap their gasoline-power blowers for electricones?
Best,
Cormac Conroy