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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200330plCC 701-32 DOCUMENTS IN THIS PACKET INCLUDE: LETTERS FROM CITIZENS TO THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL RESPONSES FROM STAFF TO LETTERS FROM CITIZENS ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES ITEMS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES Prepared for: 04/06/2020 Document dates: 3/11/2020 – 3/18/2020 Set 1 Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction in a given week. 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Anu Kumar <anu_kumar75@yahoo.com> Sent:Wednesday, March 4, 2020 12:17 PM To:Council, City Subject:Charleston/Meadow train crossings CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello, I live at and the train runs practically in my back yard. I am disappointed that the completely underground option was eliminated for the Charleston/Meadow train crossings. The above-ground options will be a visual eyesore, and be very noisy to surrounding communities. The visual appearance of these will lower property values in our community. We live in a residential community; it is not the same as in San Mateo where the crossings are in a commercialized area. I cannot attend your meeting at 4:00 today, but would like you to consider our opinion in your decision and vote to keep the trench option on. Thanks so much, Anupama Kumar       Sent from my iPhone  Redacted 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Phil Burton <philip-b@comcast.net> Sent:Wednesday, March 11, 2020 10:28 PM To:Council, City Cc:Adina Levin; Cari Templeton; dshenster@gmail.com; Gregory Brail; Inyoung Cho; Larry Klein; Megan Kanne; Nadia Naik; Patricia Lau; philip-b@comcast.net; Reckdahl, Keith; Carrasco, Tony Subject:priorities and schedules for Grade Separation project CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  I’m writing this email just after the City announced the cancellation of the March Rail Town Hall and the Word on the  Street Transportation Series meetings.  To be clear, no one has any specific ideas, but it is reasonable to assume that the  local, and the national situation will be worse than it is at this moment.  Even within the next week or two, there may be  containment and isolation measures in place that seem inconceivable today.      Considering the life‐and‐death nature of the corona virus threat, is it reasonable for the Council to be spending a lot of  time on the Grade Separations issue?  For the XCAP to be working towards an end of April recommendation to  Council?  Perhaps it is wisdom for the Council to set a new timeline?  Perhaps it is wisdom to remove this deadline, even  if it is impossible to set a new deadlione with any certainty.  With the right now corona virus threat, how much will Palo  Alto residents maintain focus on Grade Separation issues that will have an impact years from now?    There are also practical considerations.  Members of the XCAP view the Town Hall  and Word on the Street meetings as a  vital source of community feedback.  Absent those meetings, we lose that community connection.  If these meetings are  postponed to June or July, for the sake of discussion, how much legitimacy will the entire process have if XCAP has  already made its recommendations?    Another practical consideration is both the XCAP and the community attendees have many attendees who are plausibly  in a high risk category.    Regardless of the immediate decisions for the next few weeks, I believe that XCAP needs a way to conduct meetings  online.  I realize that the Brown Act creates serious obstacles to an online meeting and I claim no expertise on the Brown  Act.  Perhaps action by the Legislature is necessary to modify the Brown Act, but we are in uncharted territory here.  Can  I suggest that Palo Alto’s lobbyist in Sacramento raise this issue with members of the Legislature.    Phil Burton  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Dave Shen <dshenster@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 7:13 AM To:philip-b@comcast.net Cc:Council, City; Adina Levin; Cari Templeton; Gregory Brail; Inyoung Cho; Larry Klein; Megan Kanne; Nadia Naik; Patricia Lau; Reckdahl, Keith; Carrasco, Tony Subject:Re: priorities and schedules for Grade Separation project CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Echoing Phil, I agree with all the below. It would be nice to hear from CC on whether our deadlines have shifted, and  then let the community know. There is enough anxiety and fear out there and I would not want to add to that with some  kind of decision on rail that might be made without their opportunity for input.     As for meeting remotely, Zoom works pretty well and would recommend that. A basic paid account can take up to 100  participants, paying for webinars gets you 1000. And you can record it. You can announce it along with the URL and dial  in numbers to join. I see that we are back on the schedule next week for XCAP and the week after potentially at the Palo  Alto Art Center. Social distancing is nice for us on the dais in chambers or on stage in an auditorium, but doesn't work  very well for the audience who are still sitting next to each other.    Or we can just table everything until the fall? Looks like the world is slowly grinding to a halt everywhere else...    Thanks, Dave      On Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 10:28 PM Phil Burton <philip‐b@comcast.net> wrote:  I'm writing this email just after the City announced the cancellation of the  March Rail Town Hall and the Word on the Street Transportation Series  meetings.  To be clear, no one has any specific ideas, but it is reasonable  to assume that the local, and the national situation will be worse than it  is at this moment.  Even within the next week or two, there may be  containment and isolation measures in place that seem inconceivable today.          Considering the life‐and‐death nature of the corona virus threat, is it  reasonable for the Council to be spending a lot of time on the Grade  Separations issue?  For the XCAP to be working towards an end of April  recommendation to Council?  Perhaps it is wisdom for the Council to set a  new timeline?  Perhaps it is wisdom to remove this deadline, even if it is  impossible to set a new deadlione with any certainty.  With the right now  corona virus threat, how much will Palo Alto residents maintain focus on  Grade Separation issues that will have an impact years from now?        There are also practical considerations.  Members of the XCAP view the Town  Hall  and Word on the Street meetings as a vital source of community  feedback.  Absent those meetings, we lose that community connection.  If  2 these meetings are postponed to June or July, for the sake of discussion,  how much legitimacy will the entire process have if XCAP has already made  its recommendations?        Another practical consideration is both the XCAP and the community attendees  have many attendees who are plausibly in a high risk category.        Regardless of the immediate decisions for the next few weeks, I believe that  XCAP needs a way to conduct meetings online.  I realize that the Brown Act  creates serious obstacles to an online meeting and I claim no expertise on  the Brown Act.  Perhaps action by the Legislature is necessary to modify the  Brown Act, but we are in uncharted territory here.  Can I suggest that Palo  Alto's lobbyist in Sacramento raise this issue with members of the  Legislature.        Phil Burton  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Rachel Croft <croftr@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 1:38 PM To:Expanded Community Advisory Panel; Council, City; City Mgr Subject:Churchill grade separation feedback CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Palo Alto City Council and XCAP,  I live on Mariposa Ave in Southgate, with our back yard along the train tracks. I have been closely following the grade separation discussions for Churchill including attending many City Council meetings, XCAP and community meetings.  To be clear, my strong preference is to put Caltrain in a citywide tunnel. For the long-term benefit of the region, Caltrain should run much more frequently – like a metro - and we should open East-West connectivity. A tunnel would make this possible and make the noise, visual impact, and safety risk non-issues, as well as open up space on top for bicycle transit and value capture. All of the remaining grade separation options have significant limitations, the most important one being that Caltrain is going to run much more frequently in the future, making the tracks and train more active, more visible, more audible, and more ever-present in our lives than it is already.   Against I remain vigorously opposed to the viaduct which would significantly impact my family and all of the families along Mariposa and Alma from Embarcadero to Peers Park. That the City of Palo Alto would elect to put a 20 foot structure with 20 foot train on top of it, including freight trains, as close as 2’ behind my back fence, is inconceivable. It would destroy the privacy and peace of our back yard, as well as significantly impact our property value. For others who live nearby, the viaduct would make trains visible and more audible for many blocks. The structure itself would be ugly, not in keeping with the nature of Palo Alto.   For I am open to both closure and Mike Price’s option. The undercrossing preserves east-west connectivity in the town, and hopefully would allow Southgate to remain within Walter Hayes zoning, which is a concern for our neighborhood. However, because the undercrossing involves significant concrete and infrastructure placement underground, it would complicate a future citywide tunnel. If there is ANY possibility we may move to a tunnel in the future, I would opt for closure instead. Closure would quiet Southgate and make Churchill safe for kids coming to school, both benefits that we value.  Mariposa Neighbors On 2/23 I hosted a group of 15 residents from Mariposa Ave. in Southgate to meet with Mike Price to hear details of his proposed undercrossing design. All of the attendees are anti-viaduct and the overall sentiment was that the undercrossing is much preferable to the viaduct, and represents a reasonable compromise between pro-closure and anti-closure residents. The group was mixed on preference for closure vs. undercrossing, so I have asked the attendees to write to you individually with their preferences.   Thank you,  Rachel Croft,    Redacted 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Chandru Venkataraman <vchandru@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 2:12 PM To:Expanded Community Advisory Panel; Council, City; City Mgr Subject:Regarding Churchill/Alma intersection discussion at XCAP CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________  Dear XCAP, City Council and Manger,  I want to express my support for the Closure + Mitigations grade separation project option at the Churchill/Alma  intersection. The reasons are:  1. Cost ‐ at an estimated cost of around $50‐65M to close the Churchill intersection AND build the bike/pedestrian underpass AND building mitigations at the Embarcadero/Alma intersection. That is orders of magnitude less than any  other option (Viaduct: $300‐400M, Partial Underpass: Est $200‐250M).  2. It helps remove the interaction of bikes and pedestrians with cars and the train at the intersection by creating a dedicated bike/ped underpass, thereby ensuring improved safety of our residents and students attending Paly and  Stanford.  It also removes an opening to access the tracks by pedestrians by closing off the rail completely through a  barrier.  3. It helps remove traffic on Churchill to both sides of Alma, improving the integrity of our neighborhoods. Our neighbors down in Southgate who live on Churchill have gotten into accidents and cannot get out of their driveways due to traffic  backups. Similarly on the other side of Alma, backups also extend beyond Emerson during peak times during the day.  4. The traffic consultants, Hexagon, have extensively researched mitigations at Embarcadero and Alma as well as Embarcadero and El Camino, and Oregon Expressway and El Camino, which show that traffic is sufficiently and  effectively mitigated with some modifications to each intersection. Similarly to point 3, it also shows that traffic will be  taken out of surrounding neighborhoods due to the creation of missing on and off ramps between Embarcadero and  Alma.  I do not support the other options because:  Viaduct ‐ I do not want a train in the skyline, causing visual issues and increasing the noise's ability to carry. It is also  much more costly and disruptive during the construction process.  Partial Underpass ‐ While traffic would decrease on the Old Palo Alto side, I do not see traffic decreasing on Southgate  side, thereby maintaining status quo of an already undesirable situation. It is also is more expensive still by orders of  magnitude, and would effectively mean closure of Alma for many years in order to construct. It would likely mean the  eminent domain seizure of at least one property, of which I am against the seizure of any of my neighbors' homes.  Please take my comments into consideration when you deliberate on your recommendations. It is the closure of  Churchill, with the construction of a bike/pedestrian underpass, and mitigations at Embarcadero and other strategic  intersections that will right the traffic patterns of our city.  Thank you for your kind consideration,  ‐Chandru  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Lucy Wang <lucywang6@yahoo.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 3:53 PM To:Council, City; City Mgr Subject:My Inputs on Churchill Grade Separation Attachments:Churchill Map.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Sir/Madam, I am strongly against both a) Viaduct and b) Mike Price's Churchill Partial Underpass Proposal. I strongly support c) Churchill Bike/Pedestrian Only Underpass or d) Churchill Railway Trench/Tunnel, which is cheaper than South Palo Alto Railway Trench/Tunnel for the following reasons. Thanks, Qiang -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ Viaduct at Churchill is a bad option. Closing Churchill with a bike/pedestrian undercrossing is the right decision. This is true for many reasons including:  A Churchill Ave. bike/pedestrian undercrossing is the only safe option for students o A bike/pedestrian undercrossing addresses the well-known safety issue for PALY students biking and walking on Churchill that has not been solved for decades o Building a Viaduct will make the safety issue significantly worse due to more and higher speed vehicles on Churchill o A bike/pedestrian undercrossing helps students bike to Greene and Walter Hays more safely and quickly  The current Churchill Ave. vehicle crossing is blatantly not effective o The total length of Churchill is only 0.8 miles. Thus, it can only serve as a local street o Churchill Ave. mainly serves traffics to/from the small triangle area of Embarcadero Rd./Churchill Ave., Embarcadero Rd./El Camino Real, and Churchill Ave./El Camino Real. (see attached map for details) o Closing Churchill has virtually no impact on all the traffic flows that are not to/from the small triangle area 2  The Churchill Ave. vehicle crossing is extremely cost- ineffective o It is only about 0.3 mile from the Embarcadero Rd. vehicle crossing o No such dense railway crossing in entire bay area or even entire US o It was for PALY students when there were very few trains decades ago o It is well-known that it extremely unsafe for PALY students  The Churchill Ave. bike/pedestrian undercrossing will help traffic in Embarcadero Rd. o There will be significantly fewer bikers on Embarcadero Rd. to slow down the vehicles o This is safer for both drivers and bikers  The Viaduct is an unwanted landmark that will divide Palo Alto o Aesthetically, the Viaduct in a low-rise residential area will stick out like a sore thumb. o No suburb wants to add this unwanted landmark, definitely not for Palo Alto o The Viaduct will split Palo Alto into the east/west, creating an undesirable divide  The Viaduct will make noise issue much worse, which is impossibly addressed o Noise will be from 360 degrees rather than 180 degrees before o Noise will propagate much far away without blocking o Noise issue is impossible to be addressed particularly on and near Churchill. Sound walls will simply not work  The Viaduct will introduce potential legal issues o The Viaduct will uproot the lives of families who live in the area. o The Viaduct will hurt tens or hundreds of families due to noise, visual, sunlight, air pollution, health, financial, etc. disasters o The questions remains if the City of Palo Alto/Caltrain has the right to build a 50-70 feet high structure and/or run trains at 20 feet high without the permission of the families in houses next to the structure. These are the people who will be most impacted by the introduction of a Viaduct. o This will likely add significant legal costs and compensations to tens or hundreds of families. 3  The Viaduct may not be safe, potentially injuring our citizens o The trains and high rise structure may fall into backyards or roofs and injure or even kill our citizens, including children who live in the area, during earthquakes or accidents. o The question remains, who will be responsible for guaranteeing the safety of the Viaduct? Who will make up for the potential loss of life? If you supported Viaduct option, please think it again.  Would you be comfortable with adding a high rise structure like highway/bridge next to your own backyard?  Would you be comfortable with having a train run next to your roof?  Would you be comfortable with living in a hazard zone that may injure or even kill your children and family during earthquakes or accidents?  Would you be comfortable with losing your home and/or significantly losing your home value?  Would you feel comfortable to support the Viaduct option that makes the lives of your neighbors uprooted because of the disasters in the previous questions? Let's Stop the Viaduct together! -------------------------------------------------------------- Issues about Mike Price's Churchill Partial Underpass Proposal 1. Much higher costs than Bike/Ped only undercrossing - Why don't we have trench/tunnel for the railway on Churchill and raise Embarcadero (vs. ? - Less than a half length than that of South Palo Alto - No or less issue on creek than South Palo Alto - Cost less than South Palo Alto - The best solution for improving traffic on Embarcadero Rd. (I am sure that we can figure out a solution to have trench/tunnel for the railway on Churchill without taking any houses) 2. The left turn from Churchill to Alma requires a “merge” into Alma even after passing the traffic light - Significant traffic jam on the left turn lane on Churchill - Virtually NO left turn from Churchill during peak traffic hours - Extremely unsafe due to the merge 4 3. The right turn from Churchill to Alma requires a “merge” into Alma - Potential traffic jam on the right turn lane on Churchill - Unsafe due to the merge 4. One lane on Churchill east bound must branch out into the left turn lane to Alma, the right turn lane to Alma, and the right turn lane to Mariposa Ave. - Traffic jam on one of them will block the entire east bound traffic on Churchill - Unsafe due to the branch out and the big messy 5. Alma south bound traffic must go down and then up and “merge” with traffic from Churchill - Significant slow down Alma south bound traffic - Extremely unsafe due to the merge 6. Alma south bound traffic must wait for a traffic light - Significant slow down Alma south bound traffic 7. The left lane on Alma north bound traffic must “merge” with traffic from Churchill - Slow down Alma north bound traffic - Extremely unsafe due to the merge 8. Messy at Castilleja/tunnel entrance and Churchill intersection - One lane branch out 3 Lanes on Churchill east bound - One lane left turn into 3 Lanes from Paly to Churchill east bound - One lane right turn into 3 Lanes on Churchill east bound - Unsafe duo to confusions 9. Much worse overall traffic in Palo Alto 5 10. Additional noise from train/cars from underground (vs. above ground only) on Churchill (This can be improved by Tunnels) 11. Ugly looking – the evil twin of Viaduct (This can be improved by Tunnels) - Trench on Churchill (3 lanes wide) - Walls on Churchill - Trench On Alma (3 lanes wide) - Walls on Alma 12. Decreasing (vs. increasing) Southgate house values (This can be improved by Tunnels) - Significantly reduce house values on Churchill - Dragging down house values of entire Southgate Map data ©2019 Google 1000 ft Page 1 of 1Google Maps 9/27/2019https://www.google.com/maps/@37.436025,-122.1473541,15z 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Phyllis Kayten <pkayten@yahoo.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 9:03 PM To:Council, City; Expanded Community Advisory Panel Cc:Rachel And Javier Croft and Gonzalez Subject:Resending my message sent March 8: Churchill Avenue intersection CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello,   I am resending this message I sent to xcap on March 8. Apparently my email was not received?     Phyllis    Begin forwarded message:  From: Phyllis Kayten <pkayten@yahoo.com>  Date: March 8, 2020 at 1:40:06 PM PDT  To: xcap@cityofpaloalto.org  Subject: Churchill Avenue intersection     On 2/23 a group of about 15 residents from Mariposa Ave. in Southgate met with Michael Price to hear  details of his proposed Churchill undercrossing option. Our group is extremely concerned and we remain  absolutely against the viaduct, which would put a gigantic structure on our back fences, or visible from  our front doors (in the case of those on the other side of the street). After hearing details of the  undercrossing design, most of the attendees, including myself, think the partial undercrossing is a  reasonable option, vastly preferable to the viaduct.      My main question is that it can’t have been analyzed by structural engineers to consider the space needs  for tunneling (and water pumping). Is it realistic to build? The underpass at Alma and Oregon  Expressway  is much wider than what’s planned for Churchill and I am not sure the space needed for the  lanes that go underground exists. There can’t just be a wall with no space on the lane borders.      If it were possible to build I strongly prefer the under crossing solution to closing Churchill, and the  viaduct, for me is not an option.      Phyllis Kayten    Redacted 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Anne Kramer <akramer@askergoworks.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 10:33 PM To:Expanded Community Advisory Panel; Council, City; City Mgr Subject:Churchill Crossing CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear XCAP, City Council Members and City Manager,    After reviewing the three options for the Churchill & Grade Separation, we support the following solutions in order of  preference:    Option 1: Close Churchill  Least intrusive and the most affordable solution which can be achieved on time and on budget and not require that any  homes be taken by eminent domain. Time and money savings on the Churchill closing can be redirected to improving  traffic at Embarcadero, Oregon/Page Mill and San Antonio.    Option 2: Churchill Partial Underpass presented by Michael Price on February 23rd.   This option separates pedestrians and bikes from cars, which would improve the safety of Churchill.     Option 3: Viaduct  We strongly opposed the Viaduct option which would be a visual blight dividing Palo Alto, impose on resident’s privacy  for those living along Alma Street and pose safety risks with elevated trains directly adjacent to homes along Alma. In  addition, this option is the most costly, longest construction time and likely to go over budget.    Thank you for your consideration in making Palo Alto a safer community while keeping our community whole.    Sincerely,  David & Anne Kramer        1 Baumb, Nelly From:Christian S. Eversull <eversull@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 9:29 AM To:Expanded Community Advisory Panel Cc:Council, City; City Mgr Subject:RE: Resident of Southgate, Input RE: Churchill Rail Grade Separation to XCAP with cc to City Council CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. To Whom it May Concern: As residents of Southgate, our family has been following closely and participating in discussions regarding rail grade separation at Churchill and along the peninsula. We understand that this is necessary to support increased rail traffic and from our perspective, it appears to be an infrastructure decision and investment for the next 50-100 years. We appreciate the diligent work of the city including XCAP to take on this enormous project at the city level which should realistically be coordinated along the peninsula and funded at the state level. Given this circumstance we acknowledge that a tunneling or split level approach seems unachievable, although considering the long term impact it remains disappointing that a more ambitious plan is not realistic for the corridor. With this background, we would like to convey our preferences with respect to options currently under discussion. 1. Our first preference would be the partial underpass as proposed by Mike Price. This would appear to maintain excellent traffic flow and minimally disrupt adjacent properties. In planning for this solution which would conceivably increase traffic on Churchill, it would seem prudent evaluate the possibility of moving the roadway further away from the neighborhood and toward Paly and considering addition of a right hand turn lane from the west end of Churchill onto El Camino. 2. Our second preference would be closure. 3. We are very opposed to the option of a viaduct. As our property is on Mariposa close to Churchill, and as currently proposed the viaduct would overshadow our house which we find highly undesirable. But, from a broader perspective, elevated rail is generally not found in the middle of residential neighborhoods and would create a significant feeling of separation in the community. If we project ahead 20 or 30 years, I would anticipate that the east side of Southgate and west side of Alma which are now residential neighborhoods (an have been so since the 1920s when our house was built) would evolve to commercial use or other use more consistent with the new environment. As an afterthought, it would seem that there is great opportunity to improve traffic flow at Embarcadero including improved access to Alma at Embarcadero and we would hope that these opportunities are also being considered. Thanks for your time and all of the diligent work that is being applied to this issue. Best Regards, Chris and Becky Eversull -- Christian S. Eversull, MD 650.283.3833 (mobile) eversull@gmail.com Redacted 2 The information in this transmittal (including attachments, if any) is confidential and is intended only for the recipient(s) listed above. Any review, use, disclosure, distribution or copying of this transmittal is prohibited except by or on behalf of the intended recipient. If you have received this transmittal in error, please notify me immediately by reply email and destroy all copies of the transmittal. Thank you. 1 Baumb, Nelly From:J.C. <jcrenners@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 10:47 AM To:Council, City Cc:City Mgr; Expanded Community Advisory Panel Subject:Churchill Partial Underpass Option CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council,     I am writing to let you know that I strongly support the Churchill Partial Underpass Option in that it separates  pedestrians and bikes from cars, thereby making the Churchill much safer and enjoyable for everyone in the community.   On 2/23 a group of 15 residents from Mariposa Avenue in Southgate met with Michael Price to hear details of his  proposed Churchill undercrossing option.     This group is extremely concerned and we remain absolutely against the viaduct, which would put a gigantic structure  on our back fences, or visible from our front doors (in the case of those on the other side of the street). After hearing  details of the undercrossing design, most of the attendees, including myself, think the partial undercrossing is the most  reasonable option, vastly preferable to the viaduct. The viaduct is much more expensive and will clearly divide and  exclude our existing community. The viaduct option would be an unprecedented move to have such a hideous structure  built into the backyards of our homes and communities.    There remains a contingent that still strongly supports closure, who are very concerned about making Churchill a main  thoroughfare, and also are concerned with the cost and extent of construction of either the viaduct or the  undercrossing.     Please let me know if you would like further commentary from our group and feel free to reach me at 917.642.7271  should you have any questions or require additional information.    Sincerely,  JC Renners    Palo Alto, CA 94306    Redacted 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Peter Coughlan <petercoughlan@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 11:29 AM To:Council, City; Expanded Community Advisory Panel; CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.com Subject:Southgate resident preference for Churchill rail crossing CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear XCAP, city council, and city manager,     I have lived in the Southgate neighborhood for the last 19 years.    My preference for the proposed Churchill grade crossing are:    1) full underground tunnel   2) Mike Price’s hybrid option  3) permanently close Churchill    Peter  Peter Coughlan petercoughlan@gmail.com     1 Baumb, Nelly From:Nat Fisher <sukiroo@hotmail.com> Sent:Thursday, March 5, 2020 12:43 PM To:Jonsen, Robert Cc:Nat Fisher; Council, City Subject:virus: students sent home CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Was the parent of the 2 students taken from PA schools tested for the virus? There has been no news since the students were sent home. Are they still quarantined? Natalie Fisher Palo Alto 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Jesse Norfleet <jesse@midpenmedia.org> Sent:Wednesday, March 11, 2020 4:41 PM To:Jesse Norfleet Subject:Disseminating COVID-19 and other emergency information to the public CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  To our city partners,   The Midpen Media Center would like to offer our support and services to assist in the dissemination of vital information  to our communities. Especially during this time of crisis, when there is so much fear and confusing information being put  out. We would like to offer our channels,  government, access and youTube as additional venues to get out your  messages. If you have current video materials or Bulletin Board information we would be happy to get them running on  our channels. If you have projects that may need video production support we are happy to be of assistance there as  well.     Please feel free to contact me by email or phone, if you have questions or community messages and alerts that we may  be able to help distribute.  --  Jesse Norfleet  jesse@midpenmedia.org  Youth and Community Engagement Manager     Midpen Media Center  650 494-8686 ext. 28    www.midpenmedia.org  900 San Antonio Road   Palo Alto, CA 94303    1 Baumb, Nelly From:Fine, Adrian Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 7:47 PM To:Nadia Naik Cc:Kniss, Liz (external); Gaines, Chantal; Larry Klein; Shikada, Ed; Council, City Subject:Re: Changes to Brown Act for COVID19 I’d love to see xcap continue their work       On Mar 12, 2020, at 19:42, Nadia Naik <nadianaik@gmail.com> wrote:    FYI the following Executive Order makes provisions for Brown Act changes during this time (see point  11)    https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp‐content/uploads/2020/03/3.12.20‐EO‐N‐25‐20‐COVID‐19.pdf    I presume this will guide how the XCAP meeting, currently still scheduled for Wednesday, is conducted.     Nadia     On Thu, Mar 12, 2020 at 8:31 PM Liz Kniss <lizkniss@earthlink.net> wrote:  We’ve declared emergency as well, but will have CC meet on Monday nite.  The question re closing schools is still to be decided I guess.    liz  On Mar 11, 2020, at 10:36 PM, Nadia Naik <nadianaik@gmail.com> wrote:      CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.   FYI   ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: City of Menlo Park <no‐reply@menlopark.org>  Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 10:30 PM  Subject: Menlo Park declares local emergency; takes action to close public facilitie  To: <nadianaik@gmail.com>    2 Menlo Park declares local emergency; takes action to close public facilities, programs over COVID-19 On March 10, 2020, the San Mateo County Health Officer issued an updated statement that acknowledged “evidence of widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in San Mateo County.” On March 11, City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson, under Menlo Park Municipal Code Chapter 2.44, signed a Proclamation of Local Emergency within the city of Menlo Park to address the COVID-19 pandemic. During its special meeting this evening, the City Council unanimously voted to ratify the proclamation of local emergency in Menlo Park, authorizing the City Manager to adopt emergency orders or regulations to ensure the health and well-being of the public and to mitigate the effects of the local emergency. The City Council further directed staff to take immediate action to temporarily close public facilities and suspend programs. Effective immediately, city facilities will be closed to the public, with the exception of senior services and childcare centers, which will close at the end of business, Friday, March 13. This is to allow patrons, participants and parents to make alternate arrangements over the weekend. “The health and safety of our employees, residents and businesses remains the highest priority. We encourage those who are sick or who are at higher risk for serious illness to stay at home,” said City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson. “This proclamation provides us the flexibility to position resources and to best address this public health crisis.” “This is a global outbreak that requires us to prepare for significant disruptions to our daily lives. We must take action now. The health and safety of the Menlo Park community is our highest priority. Our neighbors, friends and family can work together through neighborhood associations, CERT and emergency preparedness classes. When we are informed, we are stronger together and more resilient. Preparedness and prevention is our best defense,” said Mayor Cecilia Taylor. This local emergency shall continue until it is terminated by proclamation of the City Council. Pursuant to Section 8630 of the Government Code, the City Council shall proclaim the termination of a local emergency at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant. The need for continuing this local emergency shall be reviewed within 60 days by the City Council. 3 For the latest updates, visit menlopark.org/coronavirus and subscribe to “Menlo Park City News” at menlopark.org/notifyme. Updates and information are also shared on the city social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Copyright 2020 City of Menlo Park. All Rights Reserved. 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 If you no longer wish to receive emails from us, you may Unsubscribe. Powered by Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.     1 Baumb, Nelly From:Arlene Goetze <photowrite67@yahoo.com> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 12:48 PM To:Sara Cody Subject:Good News about V-min C in C/hina CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Vit. C IVs overcome China virus but Facebook & Google block it. See articles below. --------- From National Vaccine Information Center----- High Doses of Vitamin C Used to Prevent and Treat Coronavirus Infections in China Published March 10, 2020 | Holistic HealthAs reported by Orthomolecular Medicine News Service on Mar. 3, 2020, the government of Shanghai in China announced that it is recommending that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) be treated with high amounts of intravenous vitamin C, with dosage recommendations varying from 50 to 200 milligrams per kilogram of body weight to up to 200 mg per kg per day.1 2 “These dosages are approximately 4,000 to 16,000 mg for an adult, administered by IV,” said Atsuo Yanagisawa, MD, PhD, who is president of the Tokyo-based Japanese College of Intravenous Therapy in Tokyo, Japan. “This specific method of administration is important because vitamin C’s effect is at least ten times more powerful by IV than if taken orally.”1 2 The official backing for vitamin C therapy for COVID-19 by the Shanghai government follows several small independent studies and at least three clinical trials reporting successful treatment of coronavirus patients with vitamin C,1 2 3 4 5 6 7 including one at Xi’an Jiaotong University Second Hospital. According to a statement released by the hospital: > On the afternoon of February 20, 2020, another 4 patients with severe new coronaviral pneumonia recovered from the C10 West Ward of Tongji Hospital. In the past eight patients have been discharged from hospital… [H]igh-dose vitamin C achieved good results in clinical applications. We believe that for patients with severe neonatal pneumonia and critically ill patients, vitamin C treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after admission… [E]arly application of large doses of vitamin C can have a strong antioxidant effect, reduce inflammatory responses, and improve endothelial function. . . Numerous studies have shown that the dose of vitamin C has a lot to do with the effect of treatment. . . [H]gh-dose vitamin C can not only improve antiviral levels, but more importantly, can prevent and treat acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress (ARDS).”1 2 The associate director for the clinical trials, Richard Cheng, MD, PhD of the United States, has been working closely with medical and governmental authorities in China to encourage Chinese hospitals to implement vitamin C therapy—through both high oral doses and by IV.1 2 Dr. Cheng said, “Vitamin C is very promising for prevention, and especially important to treat dying patients when there is no better treatment. Over 2,000 people have died of the COIV-19 outbreak and yet I have not seen or heard large dose intravenous vitamin C 2 being used in any of the cases. The current sole focus on vaccine and specific antiviral drugs for epidemics is misplaced.”2 The use of vitamin C is also supported by the Shanghai Medical Association (SMA). Based on a clinical study involving more than 300 patients, the SMA is recommending high doses of vitamin C even for light infections of coronavirus. The SMA’s ‘Shanghai Plan’ calls for 50 to 100 mg per kg of bodyweight per day to as much as 200 mg per kg via IV for critically ill patients.8 “We need to broadcast a message worldwide very quickly,” urged Dr. Cheng. “Vitamin C (small or large dose) does no harm to people and is the one of the few, if not the only, agent that has a chance to prevent us from getting, and can treat, COVID-19 infection”2 ________________________________ References: acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress, ALI, ARDS, Atsuo Yanagisawa, China, coronavirus, COVID-19, Japan, Japanese College of Intravenous Therapy, Marco Cáceres, National Vaccine Information Center, NVIC, Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, Richard Cheng, Shanghai Medical Association, Shanghai Plan, SMA, The Vaccine Reaction, Tokyo, Tongji Hospital, vitamin C, Xi’an Jiaotong University Second Hospita China Treating Coronavirus COVID-19 with Intravenous Vitamin C Report from China: Three Intravenous Vitamin C Research Studies Approved for Treating COVID-19 By Andrew W. Saul, Global Research, March 03, 2020 Orthomolecular.org 21 February 2020 https://www.globalresearch.ca/three-intravenous-vitamin-c-research-studies-approved- treating-covid-19/5705405?print=181 Intravenous vitamin C is already being employed in China against COVID-19 coronavirus. I am receiving regular updates because I am part of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board to the International Intravenous Vitamin C China Epidemic Medical Support Team. Its director is Richard Z. Cheng, MD, PhD; associate director is Hong Zhang, PhD. Direct report from China OMNS Chinese edition editor Dr. Richard Cheng is reporting from China about the first approved study of 12,000 to 24,000 mg/day of vitamin C by IV. The doctor also specifically calls for immediate use of vitamin C for prevention of coronavirus (COVID-19). See this. A second clinical trial of intravenous vitamin C was announced in China on Feb. 13th. In this second study, says Dr. Cheng, > “They plan to give 6,000 mg/day and 12,000 mg/day per day for moderate and severe cases. We are also communicating with other hospitals about starting more intravenous vitamin C clinical studies. We would like to see oral vitamin C included in these studies, as the oral forms can be applied to more patients and at home.” Additional information here. And on Feb 21, 2020, announcement has been made of a third research trial now approved for intravenous vitamin C for COVID-19. WHO Impressed by Chinese Response to Coronavirus Outbreak Dr. Cheng, who is a US board-certified specialist in anti-aging medicine, adds: > “Vitamin C is very promising for prevention, and especially important to treat dying patients when there is no better treatment. Over 2,000 people have died of the COIV-19 outbreak and yet I have not seen or heard large dose intravenous vitamin C being used in any of the cases. The current sole focus on vaccine and specific antiviral drugs for 3 epidemics is misplaced.” He adds that: > “Early and sufficiently large doses of intravenous vitamin C are critical. Vitamin C is not only a prototypical antioxidant, but also involved in virus killing and prevention of viral replication. The significance of large dose intravenous vitamin C is not just at antiviral level. It is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that kills most people from coronaviral pandemics (SARS, MERS and now NCP). ARDS is a common final pathway leading to death. “We therefore call for a worldwide discussion and debate on this topic.” News of vitamin C research for COVID-19 is being actively suppressed Anyone saying that vitamin therapy can stop coronavirus is already being labeled as “promoting false information” and promulgating “fake news.” Even the sharing of verifiable news, and direct quotes from credentialed medical professionals, is being restricted or blocked on social media. You can see sequential examples of this phenomenon at my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/themegavitaminman . Google and Facebook block vitamin news Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) has, literally, met with Google and Facebook and other media giants to stop the spread of what they declare to be wrong information. See this. Physician-directed, hospital-based administration of intravenous vitamin C has been marginalized or discredited. Scientific debate over COVID-19 appears not to be allowed. Ironically, Facebook, blocking any significant users’ sharing of the news of approved vitamin therapy research, is itself blocked in China by the Chinese government. As for the internet, yes, China has it. And yes, it is censored. But, significantly, the Chinese government has not blocked this real news on how intravenous vitamin C will save lives in the COVID-19 epidemic. Here is the protocol as published in Chinese. Medical orthodoxy obsessively focuses on searching for a vaccine and/or drug for coronavirus COVID-19). While they are looking for what would be fabulously profitable approaches, we have with vitamin C an existing, plausible, clinically demonstrated method to treat what coronavirus patients die from: severe acute respiratory syndrome, or pneumonia. And it is available right now. Forwarded by Arlene Goetze, No Toxins for Children, photowrite67@yahoo.com 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Nat Fisher <sukiroo@hotmail.com> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 1:37 PM To:Fine, Adrian Cc:Council, City; Jonsen, Robert Subject:cases in PA? CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Mayor, How many confirmed virus cases do we have in Palo Alto? I cannot tell from the news. Does the number include Stanford? Natalie Fisher Palo Alto 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Genevieve Kolar <kolargenevieve@fhda.edu> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 5:29 PM To:Council, City Subject:Suspending evictions for COVID-19? CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hi Councilmembers,      My name is Genevieve Kolar and I am one of two students representatives on the Foothill‐DeAnza Board of Trustees. As  I gather info to share with my fellow students, I’m wondering if Palo Alto is planning to follow San Jose’s lead and  suspend eviction amidst the current COVID‐19 crisis. If not, I hope you will consider it.     Many Foothill and De Anza students are temporarily not working because their employers are closing down, so paying  rent will be a struggle— not to mention the many students who are housing insecure and struggling with stable housing  under normal circumstances.     We’re trying to find emergency funds for students  in crisis, and of course maintain all necessary precautions to prevent  further outbreak. In the meantime, halting evictions seems like the humane, necessary, logical step to carry out.     Thank you for your consideration, please let me know! I know you all must be bearing a lot right now, and hope you are  doing well despite the unprecedented circumstances.   Thank you for your continued allyship with our community college district. I’m available to answer any questions you  may have about our colleges or student needs.       With gratitude,  Genevieve Kolar  (Pronouns: she, hers)  De Anza College student  Foothill‐De Anza CCD Student Trustee          1 Baumb, Nelly From:Chiara Sabatti <sabatti@stanford.edu> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 7:37 PM To:Council, City Subject:Serious Mitigation Measures Needed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Please consider the data in the following article.   Action needs to be taken NOW. There are no middle terms.  We are not different from the rest of the world.  This is not an economic crisis. This is a health issue. Economy will be better if we take care of the health issue.    https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus‐act‐today‐or‐people‐will‐die‐f4d3d9cd99ca    Best regards    Chiara Sabatti  1 Baumb, Nelly From:eschwimmer@lfrep.com Sent:Friday, March 13, 2020 3:49 PM To:Council, City Subject:COVID-19 Preparedness and Response - Outreach from Longfellow Real Estate Partners at Palo Alto Technology Center CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Palo Alto City Council,     As a fellow member of the Palo Alto community, I would like to introduce myself and offer our assistance and support  during this time of extreme stress for the community.  Longfellow Real Estate Partners represents the owner of Palo Alto  Technology Center in Palo Alto, including eight business and their associated employees.     Our experienced property management team is actively working to provide guidance, resources and reassurance to the  community of businesses on our campus while each staff member simultaneously juggles personal matters and  concerns, like everyone right now.  We empathize with the stress everyone is experiencing while we collectively  determine appropriate next steps in a rapidly changing environment.      We would also like to be a resource to you and the larger community to the extent your organization is able to  incorporate our intent with everything else you must be confronting at this time.      My contact information is included below for reference. We'd very much like to hear from you where we might be able  to partner with other local organizations in support of the broader community needs.  I have also sent this same  message to the Mayor in case that is a more appropriate forum for engagement on this.     Best wishes to your constituents, and beyond, for a safe and healthy future.      Best Regards,  Evan    Evan Schwimmer Managing Director Longfellow Real Estate Partners, LLC T 650.489.7951 M 415.613.3004 E eschwimmer@lfrep.com www.lfrep.com Creating space for new ideas.   1 Baumb, Nelly From:Blas Jacob Cabrera <blasjacobcabrera@icloud.com> Sent:Saturday, March 14, 2020 4:37 PM To:Council, City Subject:Fwd: Plan to Stop Coronavirus exponential spread CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.      Subject: Plan to Stop Coronavirus exponential spread  The Carnivorous Outbreak seems to be heading a direction of overwhelming the western medical  system. This could be for many reasons, including more social contact than eastern cultures, and no past  history of SARS outbreaks to initiate the new required infrastructure to stop the spread of this  exponential virus. Ive been working on creating a plan that communities could use to prepare, and  address exponential growth of the Carnivorous. This is certainly NOT the only plan out there, but it is  important because it addresses all 7 components of the Front Lines of stopping the virus’s exponential  spread that seemed to work in Asia and and does not seem to exist in Italy, Europe and US. This plan  does NOT address the 100’s of other details required to deal with Carnivorous for any community, so  this is NOT a comprehensive plan by any means. Be sure to follow local health official websites and  prepare yourself before worrying about this larger scale plan. Here is the link to the Plan, anyone is  welcome to edit it and help improve or link better  plans: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX‐ 1vSYQy7dlI0Bjcc4JVWA8UtOlxMwnem7Nhd86LdhoMM4QzihF8_L8_buiw_YN0YEMWNlg7H2QCdkHUAh /pub  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Neil Murphy <wnmurphy@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 1:33 PM To:Council, City Subject:Quarantine CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Greetings,     There is a tsunami coming, and our hospitals and healthcare workers are about to get absolutely rocked.    Our infection rates in the US are exactly on schedule to match Italy's, where their excellent healthcare system has been  overwhelmed, and patients over 65 presenting with arrest in the ICU are not even assessed by staff, and left to die.    The next few days are critical at suppressing the asymptomatic spread of infection.     Extreme isolation works. Hubei province was able to completely halt the exponential spread once they implemented a  lockdown. If we do this now, we can reduce the numbers of our parents and grandparents who suffocate to death by  orders of magnitude.    We are being encouraged to self‐isolate, but because people aren't obviously sick now, we assume wrongly that  transmission is not occurring. We need decisive measures, and we need them right now.    I strongly urge you to request that all businesses in Palo Alto shut down on an emergency basis, excluding grocery stores  and pharmacies.    We have a very narrow window within which to take action to limit the silent, exponential spread that is occurring right  now. For the sake of our first responders, doctors, nurses, parents, and grandparents, I'm pleading with you to take  stronger action.    Thank you,    ‐Neil Murphy  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Trish McBride <earth2trish@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 5:00 PM To:Minor, Beth Cc:Council, City Subject:Re: Message from the City Council Home Page Thank you! I will let the station know. Our schedule is all messed up due to the students leaving.  —Trish    Sent from my iPhone    > On Mar 15, 2020, at 10:50 AM, Minor, Beth <Beth.Minor@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote:  >   > Hi,  >   > Yes they will be with social distancing enforced.   >   > Sent from my iPhone  >   >> On Mar 15, 2020, at 10:40 AM, Trish McBride <earth2trish@gmail.com> wrote:  >>   >> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  >> ________________________________  >>   >> In light of the corona virus, will the city council still be meeting tomorrow?  >> Trish McBride  >> KZSU Radio  >>   >> Sent from my iPhone  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Mike Chen <mikechen97@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 9:51 PM To:Council, City Subject:Please Shut Down Bars Due to COVID19 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hi there,     I just saw the news of LA Mayor Garcetti shutting down bars to minimize the spread of COVID19. Along with Governor  Newsom's guideline to shut down bars, make restaurants at half capacity, and emphasize takeout/delivery, I believe this  is the best balance of keeping food and employment going while protecting our local population. I urge the city to do the  same. Given how crowded bars are as I drive by them, it's clear that a number of people are not taking this seriously.     Unfortunately, northern Italy did not take the outbreak seriously and their current state of lockdown is the result (this  article by an Italian journalist is eye‐opening and  harrowing: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/13/opinion/coronavirus‐cautionary‐tale‐italy‐dont‐do‐what‐we‐ did/). Please help the Bay Area beat this and do the right thing.    Mike    ‐‐   Mike Chen | Writer Guy  As seen on Tor, The Mary Sue, The Portalist, and more  HERE AND NOW AND THEN (Mira Books, 2019) / A BEGINNING AT THE END (Mira Books, 2020)  http://www.mikechenbooks.com  Twitter / Instagram: @mikechenwriter  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Fred Kohler <kohler70@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 10:23 PM To:Council, City Subject:Seniors CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Now that seniors are restricted to self‐isolation at home, I am concerned about ensuring the distribution of food and  necessities to seniors.     Because of limitations of availability and cost, seniors are at a disadvantage in using delivery services, which are  overwhelmed in dealing with people who have the capability to self‐shop and dealing with shortages.    Some seniors have younger friends and relatives nearby who can act on their behalf.  For those who do not, the city  should assure that delivery services are made available at a reasonable cost and in a reliable manner.    Thank you for taking into consideration the needs of those who are most vulnerable.    Fred Kohler  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Sam Cheng <sam@samcheng.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 11:59 PM To:Council, City Subject:Farmers' Markets and the novel Coronavirus CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello City Council,       I'm writing to encourage you to modify the format of our farmers' markets in the face of this coronavirus outbreak.      We visit our local farmers' market (on California Ave) on a weekly basis; it's our main source of fruit, produce, dairy,  eggs, and chicken.  I was surprised to see it open today! (Sunday, March 15th)      I know there is a 'grocery' loophole, but the market is fundamentally different than a grocery store, which is open seven  days a week and therefore has only a few dozen people in the store at any time.  In contrast, because the farmer's  market is open only for a few hours per week, it attracts a large crowd of shoppers, hundreds at a time, in close  proximity with each other.  This presents a major risk of contagion.    I understand that farmers need to sell their perishable produce in order to survive, and I believe in the health benefits of  fresh produce.  I fear that the market, and the farmers who bring their produce to it, would not recover from months of  closure.    Therefore, I am asking you to temporarily change the format of the market — perhaps finding a parking lot and  providing a permit for the entire week.  The Paly parking lot will be pretty empty, for example.  This would eliminate  the large crowd that gathers every Sunday, while allowing farmers to sell their food, which would spoil otherwise.    Other disease mitigation ideas include hand sanitizer dispensers, hand washing stations at the market, or crowd‐control  measures to limit the number of people in the market at any one time.    I have also contacted Ron Pardini of the Urban Village Farmers' Market Association, asking for his cooperation in curbing  this outbreak.  Perhaps someone in his organization can help organize staffing and communication.    Please consider these and other changes to preserve public health over the next few months!       Thank you,       Sam Cheng  Palo Alto Resident  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Pat Burt <patburt11@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 3:43 PM To:Council, City Cc:Holman, Karen (external); Lanie Wheeler; 'YORIKO KISHIMOTO'; Greg Schmid (external); patburt11 @gmail.com; Nadia Naik; Neilson Buchanan; DON MCDOUGALL Subject:Item 6A: Letter and outline to CC re COVID19 actions Attachments:City Coronavirus Planning 031620-.docx Importance:High CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  City Council Members,   To urgently address the COVID‐19 emergency, the city needs to expand on its development of comprehensive near‐term  and contingency planning and actions specific to the coronavirus risk, coordinate with neighboring communities and  regions, and provide thorough, transparent communications to the public. A group of community leaders, including  domain experts and those with emergency response backgrounds, have drafted the attached outline to support the  city’s response to the contagion, covering:   Planning   Communication   Coordination   Governing  We appreciate that many of the actions in this outline are already being undertaken by the city to varying degrees, while  others need to be initiated. The March 2 city manager’s report provided a high‐level summary of city plans and actions  to date,   https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=47590.11&BlobID=75601. However, much  greater transparency and actions are required with many of the needed actions being beyond the city’s normal role. The  overriding considerations should be whether the needs exist and who will meet those needs, if not the city?  We are fortunate to be able to rely on the Santa Clara County Public Health Department (SCCPHD) as the lead agency for  public health matters. However, they are not the lead for emergency response planning nor actions within the city. The  role of the city government in leading and coordinating community planning and actions needs to be clarified and  communicated broadly to the community. Greater transparency promotes public confidence. Critically, as the  implications of the situation continue to escalate, the city must strive to be proactive rather than reactive in the face of  escalating challenges. To the extent we can get ahead of the curve, the city can reduce the degree of health impacts and  moderate subsequent economic ramifications.  The city and the council are facing exceptional challenges. Cities have long recognized that internal resources cannot  meet the far greater demands in the event of an emergency, made worse if the staff itself is impacted by the event.  Leveraging community knowledge and physical resources are vital, even while immediate demands on staff compete  with their availability to plan and collaborate. As the city ramps up its capabilities, plans and actions, we recommend  that the mayor appoints an Emergency Task Force to support those efforts, composed of domain experts and civic  leaders, either as an expanded Citizens Corp Council or as a complementary advisory group.     2 Most of all, this is a time for our community to come together to support each other, guided by the city on how we can  be most effective.    We appreciate the commitment of the city staff and council to meet these unprecedented challenges and we are  available to support your efforts.    Sincerely,    Neilson Buchanon, former CEO El Camino Hospital  Patrick Burt, former Mayor  Peter Drekmeier, former Mayor  Karen Holman, former Mayor, and current MROSD Director  Yoriko Kishimoto, former Mayor  Don MacDougal, former CEO, and current Environmental Volunteers Director  Nadia Naik, XCAP Chair  Greg Schmid, former Vice‐mayor  Lanie Wheeler, former Mayor    Palo Alto Coronavirus Planning and Actions To urgently address the COVID19 emergency, the city needs to develop comprehensive near-term and contingency planning and actions specific to the coronavirus risk, coordinate with neighboring communities and regions, and provide thorough, transparent communications to the public. A group of community leaders, including domain experts and those with emergency response backgrounds, have drafted the attached outline to support the city’s response to the contagion. It covers: • Planning • Communication • Coordination • Governing We appreciate that many of the actions in the outline are already being undertaken by the city to varying degrees, while others need to be addressed. The March 2 city manager’s report provided a high- level summary of city plans and actions to date, https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=47590.11&BlobID=75601. However, much greater transparency and actions are needed with many of the needed actions being beyond the city’s normal role. The overriding considerations should be whether the needs exist and who will meet those needs, if not the city? We are fortunate to be able to rely on the Santa Clara County Public Health Department (SCCPHD) as the lead agency for public health matters. However, they are not the lead for emergency response planning and actions within the city. The role of the city government in leading and coordinating community planning and actions needs to be clarified and communicated broadly to the community. Greater transparency promotes public confidence. Critically, as the implications of the situation continue to escalate, the city must strive to be proactive rather than reactive in the face of escalating challenges. To the extent we can get ahead of the curve, the city can reduce the degree of health impacts and moderate subsequent economic ramifications. Planning. Trying to move from reactionary responses to proactive planning is a difficult and necessary challenge. A guiding principle of emergency planning is to envision where we might be after the event and think about what could have been done better beforehand. In other words, get ahead of the curve rather than react to what has already happened. What escalations might occur in the coming weeks, and how can we plan for those contingencies? o Identify which roles and responsibilities are solely under the lead or purview of the County Public Health Department, which are led by the county Office of Emergency Services (OES), and which the city needs to lead under the city OES Incident Command System. o Develop a city plan specific to COVID-19 contagion and pandemic diseases, including quarantine issues. The plan would be within the city Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/34121. o Regularly convene staff, businesses, the medical community, community partners and citizens to engage aggressively in identifying and coordinating COVID-19 current responses and contingencies through the Palo Alto Citizen Corp Council (CCC). https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/boards/corps.asp. Consider expanding the CCC with members or entities particularly appropriate to this emergency (ex. faith institutions). Assure that participants understand the criticality of this CCC at this time. Recognize that these meetings should transition to virtual options immediately to abide by transmission guidelines and to respect that competing emergency demands on the participants. o Plans to contend with disruptions in the availability of essential service personnel; police, fire, utilities, health care, trash, etc. What happens when masses of health care workers are themselves quarantined? (eg Davis recently had 120 medical personnel quarantined due to exposure to just one or two known patients, https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/29/health/uc-davis-health-care-workers-self- quarantine/index.html and 25 emergency workers in Washington State are off the job for monitoring, https://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending/coronavirus-2-dozen-first- responders-quarantined-washington-state/RJRADMRRZNBRDLEXFREY2BBH2Q/). Should a portion of essential service personnel, who have not been exposed, be under voluntary quarantine to assure their availability? o Supplies and Essential Goods. Potential supply shortages might exist in light, moderate and severe scenarios, and how should they be addressed? What emergency pre- emptions should exist to assure essential supplies for critical public and private personnel? Contingency planning for disruption on critical supplies, such as in-house sterilization capabilities. Assistance in providing essential supplies to residents with limited abilities (i.e. seniors, disabled), including through our extensive ESV system of volunteers. o Training. Assure that training stipulated in the EOP is adequate for pandemic illnesses, and that appropriate personnel training is current, including of the mayor and city council on their roles. How to respond to potentially contagious or ill people? How to respond to fear or chaos? How to reduce the risk of transmission? o What are the plans and status of our community medical providers and hospitals to contend with a large volume of testing and patient influx, potentially with reduced staff availability? What facilities and sites may be needed and what role can the city play in communicating medical responses and supporting those efforts? o What regular city and council business must continue on schedule and what can be deferred? o The city council and staff should begin a review of the financial implications of the emergency and whether the city should modify the pace of certain projects in light of the need to focus personnel on the emergency along with likely revenue declines. o Worst Case Scenarios. Anticipation, contingency planning, and training. Monitor more effected communities and countries for severe impacts and responses that we may not have anticipated. In addition to long term earthquake and flood risks, our strong community focus on emergency preparedness was prompted in response to 911 and the SARS threat in the early 2000s when there was widespread fear of worse events. • Communication. o Provide a transparent COVID-19 response plan available and pushed out to the community, consistent with and as a subset of the city Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/34121. o Assure that communication decisions will be based on best practices with guidance from the Director of the city. o Provide daily updates to the community. Clarify what information is mandated and what are guidelines. Advise citizens and businesses on when and how to seek medical attention, how much social interaction should be limited, and how individuals and businesses can best reduce the risk of transmission (ex. food preparation and avoidance of oral/fecal transmission guidelines). Particular focus on communication to most vulnerable and/or most difficult to reach community members; ie homeless/RV dwellers, elderly, and immigrant populations. o Use MidPen Media Center for notifications and videos of best practices (i.e. hand washing, masks, social interactions, etc.). o Establish how to respond to false rumors. o What role can the city provide in communicating to businesses what their responsibilities are and what support is there for them at the state and federal levels (ex. CA EDD Work Sharing Program)? How can the city broadly communicate retail/hospitality and other business best practices to reduce transmission risks? What guidelines should be provided to retailers to reduce hoarding? o Assure that emergency preparedness materials and plans are readily available to residents through the city website, the city Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/34121. o Use the paid media to communicate updates and to promote residents and businesses to sign up for City alerts. • Coordination. o What are the roles of other agencies in training, coordination and central command? o What is our coordination with the county Public Health and Emergency Office of Emergency Management? o What questions or requests to fill information gaps should we make to the County Health Dept (ex. food preparation guidelines, oral/fecal transmission concerns)? o What coordination is the city doing with schools (PAUSD, private schools, Stanford Univ), the local medical community/hospitals and surrounding communities? o What “call to action” should be considered to mobilize businesses, non-profits and residents with who have expertise or resources that can leverage city resources? Should the mayor convene an emergency advisory council of community members with technical and civic expertise? o Schools. Who will they coordinate with and what support will they receive from the city and others? What community impacts are anticipated under school closure scenarios? o Emergency Service Volunteers (EVTs) and Palo Alto Office of Emergency Services. What are the roles of city Emergency Response Volunteers (ESV’s) in leveraging limited government resources (i.e. communicate with least able residents who are self quarantined and help assure they have adequate food or medicine)? What planning with the ESV leadership is occurring specific to this issue? What additional pandemic training is needed specific to understanding symptoms, minimizing the transmission, targeted neighborhood communication/preparation and addressing needs of self-quarantined residents, especially the elderly or those with special needs? Can other volunteers, such as teens out of school, be leveraged in support of these efforts? • Governing. o Legal Issues. Review with the city council and appropriate city management of existing city emergency-related policies and municipal ordinances as defined in the city Emergency Operations Plan. Review of existing state and federal laws that define the automatic authorities of cities in the event of emergencies or triggers within emergencies. What additional municipal ordinance updates that the city attorney should prepare for the city council? For example, the EOP ordinance does not appear to reflect the current number of council members required for a council quorum to act as an emergency body. o Implementation of current County Public Health and CDC guidelines on restrictions of non-essential public meetings or events, as well as communication of latest precautions for those attending public meetings and risk reductions for public meetings that continue to occur. Sample guidelines from Washington State Attorney General regarding how to hold “critical” meetings: http://mrsc.org/getmedia/4c439dc1-e20c- 4098-88b0-b91fd52fe5ad/w3agcoronaopma.pdf.aspx. Sample guidelines regarding telecommuting for public meetings: http://mrsc.org/Home/Stay-Informed/MRSC- Insight/February-2020/Remote-Meeting-Attendance-guidelines.aspx. Sample telecommuting policies: http://mrsc.org/Home/Explore-Topics/Personnel/Local-Rules- and-Policies/Telecommuting.aspx o Specific guidance from City Council on what is considered “critical” to ensure Staff time is spent appropriately commensurate with the importance of an issue/committee/etc. o The EOP may benefit from clarifications about the role of the city council during emergencies similar to the San Jose EOP, https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showdocument?id=42015. o What additional ordinances should be considered in anticipation of such emergencies? o What plans are needed for virtual government meetings, including potential expanded use of video conferencing? 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 4:57 PM To:Doug Vagim; Loran Harding; leager; Cathy Lewis; Leodies Buchanan; Daniel Zack; Dan Richard; David Balakian; Steve Wayte; Mark Kreutzer; bballpod; Mark Standriff; hennessy; fmbeyerlein@sbcglobal.net; vallesR1969@att.net; nick yovino; Mayor; beachrides; terry; dennisbalakian; huidentalsanmateo; Council, City; kfsndesk; Pam Kelly; newsdesk; kwalsh@kmaxtv.com; dallen1212@gmail.com; eappel@stanford.edu; francis.collins@nih.gov; grinellelake@yahoo.com; steve.hogg; jerry ruopoli; lalws4@gmail.com; midge@thebarretts.com; russ@topperjewelers.com; Steven Feinstein Subject:Fwd: Analysis of virus impact on mkt over this year. It will recover. CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.             Mon. 3‐16‐20           4:21 PM  PT                 Doug‐  Just looked at Amazon   AMZN.  It c. today at $1689, down $95.85, down 5.37%.  After the close, they  announced the 100,000 new employees and the $2 rise in their min. wage.  Now AMZN in the after hours is $1718.34,  up $29.19 since the close , up 1.73% since the close today. So it really helped their stock price. They need all those extra  EEs to handle the surge in orders and the increased sales at Whole Foods, better bus. on Amazon's streaming  service.  Employees in the UK will get the pay hike too.                  KCBS said at 4:05 that County officials in 6 of the 9 BA counties have now closed all restaurants, bars, gyms.  The  3 not mentioned were Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties, the 3 north BA counties. I'll be curious if that will be applied  by co. officials here in Fresno Co.  We have had 2 cases of Covid19 in Fresno County. so far. Grocery stores, gas stations,  banks, pharmacies  and hospitals will remain open in BA.  Still no mandatory sequester of those over 65.  Police and fire  will remain on the job, they said.  Big relief. No need to hoard ammo.                      A 3,000 point drop in the DJ really impacts stock prices, even the here‐ to‐ fore resilient ones. Fun to compare  the price I got when I sold 25 stocks on thurs. Feb. 27 with their prices today.  I'm looking for the resilient ones to buy  again at the bottom. CAT has gone way down. I paid $83 per share ~3 years ago and it went over $150 recently. Now  down to $93, I think. The ice keeps melting and so they'll need to move a lot of earth. They S/B stockpiling earth moving  equipment now.                  LH  ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Doug Vagim <dvagim@gmail.com>  Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 4:10 PM           Subject: Re: Analysis of virus impact on mkt over this year. It will recover.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>    Amazon announced it's hiring 100,000 additional employees, including it's Distribution Centers & Whole Foods.      Also, increasing pay rate by $2 per hr. That's got to have a positive effect to it's stock price... Right??    2 On Mon, Mar 16, 2020, 1:00 PM Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> wrote:    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 12:49 PM  Subject: Fwd: Analysis of virus impact on mkt over this year. It will recover.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 12:40 PM  Subject: Analysis of virus impact on mkt over this year. It will recover.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>                    Monday, March 16, 2020                    Fred‐  Here is a cheering analysis of where the mkt, or at least the U.S. economy, is going:               https://seekingalpha.com/article/4332110‐15‐safe‐blue‐chips‐to‐buy‐during‐this‐bear‐ market?li_source=LI&li_medium=liftigniter‐widget            This is not 1929 all over again, and Trump is no Herbert Hoover. A bottom in the mkt may come in the spring or  early summer.  This is so long I didn't read the whole thing. I just want that bottom to arrive. I'll pour money in when it  does.  Apple and CAT will be early investments.                      Gee, they are talking about a $500 billion stimulus package when Trump didn't want the $8.5 billion a week  ago.  He said in the Dec. of Nat. Emergency that that would release $50 billion. The Fed is ready to do $1.5 trillion. They  are now in total 2008 fin. crisis mode.                    BTW, NY, NJ and Conn governors closed all gyms, etc.  effective 8 PM tonight ET. Wonder when ours will close.  No email from Planet Fitness yet. I was there Sat. night and there were 8 people on all those machines facing the big TV  screens, from front of gym to the back wall.   I was at the Shell station on Herndon and West on thurs. and when I  arrived there was ONE vehicle at the 16 pumps. I thought they were closed, but they were not.  With so many people  working from home, gas demand is down apparently.                 Gas stations, grocery stores and hospitals and, I hope, banks will remain open. They can't be so stupid as to  furlough the cops. There will be a run on ammo if they do. Somebody wants the cops to have face shields.                    KCBS says Stanford told its students to be out of the dorms by Wed. Foreign students get to stay. Wouldn't  want to fly back to Lombardy or Iran. There is talk of having the Army Corp of Engineers turn dorms and nursing homes  into hospital beds. Not sure the nursing homes are good candidates, at least the ones in Seattle.                  LH                          1 Baumb, Nelly From:Jeanne Fleming <jfleming@metricus.net> Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 6:15 PM To:Lait, Jonathan Cc:Council, City; Clerk, City; Planning Commission; Architectural Review Board; UAC; board@pausd.org; health@paloaltopta.org; 'Tina Chow'; 'Todd Collins'; 'William Ross'; French, Amy; Atkinson, Rebecca Subject:Setbacks from homes for cell towers CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Jon, I’m sorry you were not able to attend last Thursday’s meeting, and I hope you are well. I am writing to you with a specific request. But first, I want to provide a bit of context. Last December, you recommended to City Council that they allow small cell node cell towers to be placed as close as 20 feet to homes—recommended this because, you said, a 20-foot setback maximizes the percent of poles in Palo Alto on which telecom companies can install their equipment.   In making this recommendation, you explained that Staff had considered four different setbacks from homes—20 feet, 35 feet, 50 feet and 100 feet. Your analysis showed, you said, that:    A 20-foot setback would disallow cell towers on only 10 percent of utility poles (or to put it the other way, it would allow them on 90 percent of poles);    A 35-foot setback would disallow cell towers on 70 percent of poles; and    A 100-foot setback would disallow cell towers on 90 percent of poles.   (The Final Minutes of the December 16th, 2019, Council meeting do not report what you stated was the percent of utility poles on which cell towers would be disallowed were the setback from homes 50 feet.)   But the issue is not the percent of poles Palo Alto makes available to telecom companies for their cell towers. It is the number of poles the City makes available. And looking at the numbers, there is no justification for a 20-foot setback.   Consider, please, this back-of-the-envelope calculation: We know that telecommunications companies have applied to install about 150 small cell node cell towers in Palo Alto. And we know that there are about 6,000 wood utility poles in Palo Alto, 4,500 of which are located in the public right of way. We would expect that, in those large swaths of the city that are both residential and have above-ground utilities, there would be over 3,000 wood poles located in the public right of way. Do telecommunications companies really need 2,700 wood poles to choose from in siting those 150 cell towers in residential areas—that is, do they really need access to 90 percent of all wood poles, which is what a 20-foot setback is designed to provide? For that matter, how can they possibly need access to 2,100 poles, which is what a 35 foot setback would give cell carriers (i.e., 70 percent of 3,000 wood poles). True, they are likely to be filing applications to install more towers—but not hundreds and 2 hundreds of more towers. So what possible reason is there for granting such extraordinary latitude to Verizon et al., at the expense of the quality of life in Palo Alto’s neighborhoods?   To move beyond back-of-the-envelope calculations, I have twice written to the Planning Department’s Amy French and Rebecca Atkinson asking:    What are the numerators and denominators of the fractions that are the basis for the percentages you cited—i.e., what are the actual number of poles used in the setback calculations?  What methodology was used to produce the percentages you cited to Council (e.g., how many of Palo Alto’s 6,000 wooden utility poles were considered in calculating the percentages? were street lamp poles also considered? on what basis were any poles excluded from consideration?)?   Initially, Ms. Atkinson said that this information was being assembled for us. But at our meeting last Thursday, she and Ms. French told Professor Chow and me that they would not provide it. They said it would be unfair to others if they were to give us information they did not give to everyone else. But this makes no sense. We are not asking that the data shown to us be kept from others. Moreover, residents ask Staff for information all the time, and Staff provides it, without worrying about to whom they are not providing it. That said, if Staff are truly concerned that others won’t have the data I have requested, then Staff need only post it on the City’s Wireless Hot Topics page, and it will be available to the public at large. I think you will agree, Jon, that transparency is the cornerstone of good government. And I think you will also agree that when government withholds the data on which an analysis presented to City Council and the public was based, citizens might reasonably wonder about the validity and reliability of that data—might ask themselves, what are people trying to hide. Hence I am writing to you to ask that you please tell me: 1) the numerators and denominators of the fractions that are the basis for the percentages you have calculated for 20-foot, 35-foot, 50-foot and 100-foot setbacks from homes, and 2) what the methodology was for the analyses that produced these numbers.   Thank you very much for your attention and your help. Please let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Jeanne   Jeanne Fleming, PhD JFleming@Metricus.net 650-325-5151   1 Baumb, Nelly From:Dwight Clark <dwightcla@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 2:39 PM To:Council, City Subject:Message from the City Council Home Page CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  At a time when a shelter‐in‐place order is in effect, it’s troubling to see a City of Palo Alto project, the California Avenue  parking garage, on an active, business‐as‐usual schedule.    When I dropped by the field office to inquire, I was told that this was “essential infrastructure”, as determined by the  city’s Public Works Department.  Actually, this is a two‐year project for a parking garage—hardly something in the  emergency category.  Workers there intermingle in the same way the the new law seeks to avoid.  Surely the City can  insure that its public works projects honor the spirit and critical purpose of the new public health order.    D.D. Clark  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 3:20 PM To:Council, City; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Human Relations Commission; Kniss, Liz (internal); City Mgr; Emily Mibach Cc:Winter Dellenbach; wilpf.peninsula.paloalto@gmail.com; Roberta Ahlquist; Rosemary McCarthy; cromero@cityofepa.org Subject:Community Coalition Call for Specific Emergency Actions Regarding COVID-19 and the Safety of Community Members in Santa Clara County Jails and Courts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.      Community Coalition Call for Specific Emergency Actions Regarding COVID-19 and the Safety of Community Members in Santa Clara County Jails and Courts Inbox  x  To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Raj Jayadev    to supervisor.ellenberg, Mike, Dave, Supervisor, Cindy, Molly, Jeff, Laurie, james.williams, cyndie.wilks, Katja.degro To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.    We understand and appreciate you all as county administrators, elected officials, system decision-makers are coordinating quickly to respond to the ever-changing, unprecedented, crisis. Our community is anxious to offer and support solutions with you. Please see the attached letter summarizing our identified priorities and actionable steps based on our understanding of the situation in jails, juvenile hall, and courts. Underlying our call is a request for more communication from your respective offices so we may better inform our community members who are desperately and urgently looking for answers and ways to contribute to the effort to keep us all safe. We need partnership, collaboration, and community in the moment we are all in -- and look forward to working with you all to keep our community as safe and healthy as possible. We look forward to your response and welcome a call with representatives of your office and members of our coalition. - Thank you. Signed -- Coalition of Justice and Accountability (CJA), Jail and Courts Committee Lead Organizations: Letter authors: Christine Clifford (De-Bug/PACT) , Rev. Moore (SV NAACP) , Ron Hansen (PACT), Barbara Hansen(PACT), Rev. Peggy Bryan(PACT), Jose Valle (De- Bug), Raj Jayadev (De-Bug/CJA)), Jalyn Mitchell (SV Law Foundation), Jeanelly Orozco 2 Alcalá (SV Law Foundation), Aram James (De-Bug/CJA), Megan Wheelehan (SV Law Foundation) (Document is also attached) March 17th, 2020 Community Coalition Call for Specific Emergency Actions Regarding COVID-19 and the Safety of Community Members in Santa Clara County Jails and Courts To: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Santa Clara County Probation Department Santa Clara County Courts Presiding Judge Santa Clara County Criminal Court Presiding Judge Santa Clara County Presiding Juvenile Judge Santa Clara County Counsel Santa Clara County Public Health Department Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office Santa Clara County Supervising Juvenile District Attorney Santa Clara County Public Defender Santa Clara County Supervising Juvenile Public Defender Santa Clara County Office of Pretrial Services Santa Clara County Re-Entry Center From: Coalition of Justice and Accountability -- Jail and Courts Committee The COVID-19 pandemic has required Santa Clara County to enter unprecedented emergency protocols. As the county has just become one of the first jurisdictions in the country to issue a “shelter in place” status, the jails and juvenile halls still require immediate and aggressive action by key decision-makers and stakeholders to decrease the likelihood of outbreak. In fact, all of the prioritized health and safety recommendations regarding social distancing, gatherings, and hygiene are impossible in the current jail conditions. And for certain, what happens in the jails and courts will impact the rest of the county. As such, we as a coalition of community partners are calling on the following actions. Under each specific action step we list the respective justice system actors we recommend are best positioned to operationalize the step given their capacity and purview. Communication with and Protection of those Detained: To date, detainees have learned of the COVID-19 pandemic by watching television. Immediately provide detainees with information regarding the virus, symptoms, how it spreads, hygiene needed, “social distancing” and best practices for keeping living spaces sanitized. Inform the detainees of what protocols and practices the jail is putting in place to prevent the spread of the virus, particularly in regards to commonly used spaces and equipment such as showers, phones, tables and handcuffs. Provide increased opportunities and added materials for cleaning on a regular basis. Increase clothing and linen exchanges, and increase the amount of nutritious foods offered. Increase wellness checks throughout facilities by both medical and mental health 3 staff. In addition, detainees should be informed of what measures will be taken to insure safe and hygienic practices during transport, in holding cells, and in court. People in jail need access to supplies which allow them to follow the same prevention measures the public is advised to follow: hand washing, cleaning of touched surfaces, and covering coughs, sneezes and/or masks for symptomatic persons. Detainees should be informed when any interventions regarding the virus impact court, housing, visitation, commissary, or programming. Provide a phone number where detainees can ask questions regarding the virus. Allow all detainees to have free phone access to keep in touch with loved ones. Information should be provided in writing, included on the “information loop”, and updated regularly. This information should also be provided on the Sheriff’s custody website as well as information where families can direct questions and concerns relative to the jail. Increasing isolation or lockdowns are not acceptable methods of addressing this emergency. There should be a waiving of all medical co-pays. The county should provide adequate medical care including Coronavirus testing and fully staffing medical units. It is important that those reliant on the jail for necessary medications be released only with a reasonable supply and instructions for continued treatment. Telecom Companies: In order to maintain the relationships between people in prison/jail and their loved ones, and keep people informed about the development of the virus and the wellbeing of their loved ones, all telecom services should:Make all communications free of charge, including phone calls, emails, and video conferencing.Provide free access to news sources to keep people informed about the development of the virus and the wellbeing of their loved ones. Financial Services Companies: In order to facilitate the safety and well-being of those in custody and those released, all financial services should: Eliminate all transfer and transaction fees associated with individual accounts Remove limits on the number and amount of deposits or transfers to individual accounts Remove all transaction, maintenance, and usage fees associated with prepaid debit release cards. Commissary Providers: In order to ensure that all people have access to items that maintain the health and welfare of the people in prisons/jails, commissaries should: Eliminate mark-ups of all items Remove limits on the number and amount of deposits or transfers to individual commissary accounts Eliminate all transfer and transaction fees associated with individual commissary accounts Expedite money order transfers into commissary accounts (Recommended Justice System Leads: Sheriff’s Office, Public Health Department) Real Time, Accessible, Communication Strategy for Families of the Incarcerated: Immediately post a quick to navigate site that gives real time updates on status, conditions, rule changes, and contact personnel for the jails, juvenile hall and ranch, and courts. The court and jail administrators should hold regularly open multilingual webinars to update the impacted community on the quickly changing status, 4 and have an email address where questions can be left and responded to. (Community organizations are willing to help outreach for the calls.) Phone calls from detention should be free. (Recommended Justice System Leads: Sheriff’s Office) Visitation and access telephones: The dramatic reduction/elimination of visitation for persons detained in the jail is likely to negatively affect the mental health of the people isolated in the jail during the outbreak. Further, it increases the anxiety and worry of their family and friends who fear for their health and safety during this crisis. The reduction in visitation coupled with severe reductions in program time leave people in isolation. Given that court calls, attorney visits, and other types of programming are being dramatically reduced, the need for time and staff to accomplish the associated tasks and movements within the jail should also be decreased. Therefore the Sheriff should have an increased capacity to increase access to out of cell time and telephonic or video communication with their family, friends, and attorneys. (Recommended Justice System Leads: Sheriff’s Office) Adequate Release Planning for houseless persons being released: We support the effort to quickly reduce the jail’s population and release every person who can be safely introduced into the community. As the reentry resource center is closed for walk-in services, persons being released who are houseless or in need of mental health or substance use services must be provided with adequate planning and resources. The county’s houseless population is among the most vulnerable to infection and severe complications and the Sheriff’s actions to quickly release persons detained in the jail should not add to the already high number of houseless and vulnerable individuals in our county. The only way to prevent this is through adequate release planning. (Recommended Justice System Leads: Re-Entry Center, Public Health) Immediate Release of as Many Detainees as Possible: The higher the number of in custody populations is directly related to the speed and severity of the spread of COVID-19. The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office should join the Public Defender’s Office in stipulating to releases. In particular, the elderly, those with diminished health capacities, should have expedited release. Given the severity of this crisis and the disproportionate impact on inmates regarding the likelihood of death, severity of injury and psychological trauma, all of those should be released absent proof by the state that any particular inmate constitutes an immediate threat to public safety. (Recommended Justice System Leads: Presiding Judge, Sheriff’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Office of Pretrial Services) Immediate Halt to Holding New People in the Jails: While the court is working with the jail to quickly release people from detention, it should similarly be taking steps to not add new people to the jail. This can be done at the point of decision of arrest and continued to off-ramp people before an actual placement in the jail occurs. Arresting agencies should use their discretion to avoid arrest when possible. The arresting officer should move to cite and release rather than booking when possible. The District Attorney’s office should decline to file charges when possible. And finally pretrial detention of jail sentences should be avoided to again reduce the spread of COVID-19, and to fall in line with county issued social distancing protocols. (Recommended Justice System Lead: Arresting Agencies such as San Jose Police Department, Probation Department, District Attorney’s Office) 5 Reduce Exposure By Eliminating Unnecessary Court Hearings: For those who are facing court proceedings and are out of custody, every effort should be taken to reduce them returning to court while we are in emergency pandemic response mode. This means cancelling status hearings, court dates that are scheduled just to be continued, probation violations, and warrants when possible. Packing people in courtrooms is only inviting spreading of the virus, and should be avoided. This responsibility falls on arresting agencies, supervision offices (such as probation), and court actors. Charges -- such as in misdemeanor court -- should be dismissed, and any case the court feels beholden to continue should be vacated, and reconsidered in June 2020. (Recommended Justice System Leads: President Judge, District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department) Halting of Judge Manley’s status hearings: We ask that during this time, people not be required to come in to give status updates about community service and other things they are doing for retribution. People out of custody have a greater chance of coming in contact with COVID 19 and possibly showing no symptoms, therefore to ask them to come in for status updates is dangerous to court staff and officers who may be unable to keep a reasonable distance. Furthermore, the more people that are moved around in custody increases the likelihood of spread of COVID-19 within the jail. All unnecessary movement of those in custody to court and around the jail should be halted for the safety of all those in and out of custody. (Recommended Justice System Lead: Judge Manley) Reduce Unnecessary Probation Conditions: A halt to drug testing and probation meetings and imposed classes would be a way to reduce group contact amongst Santa Clara County community members. (Recommended Justice System Lead: Probation Department) Ensure People’s Due Process is Not Compromised: While closing of courts is understandable from an epidemiological perspective, doing so is in clear opposition to due process rights of those in custody. Right to a speedy trial, right to counsel right to public trial, right to confront one’s accusers – all implicated by the court’s actions. If the courts choose to deny fundamental constitutional rights by unilaterally suspending a defendant's constitutional rights-- the courts thereby forfeit their legitimacy. The clearest way to preserve the rights of those facing the courts is to allow people to be released from custody as a way for them to work with their defense attorney while also not jeopardizing their health and well-being. (Recommended Justice System Leads: All parties) Signed: Coalition of Justice and Accountability (CJA) Jail and Courts Committee Lead Organizations: Silicon Valley Law Foundation People Acting in Community Together (PACT) Silicon Valley De-Bug Silicon Valley NAACP 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Horrigan-Taylor, Meghan Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 1:10 PM To:Camilla Stampe DR Perspektiv og Fakta; Council, City Subject:RE: Fact-checking/Danish TV Hi Camilla,     Thank you for your email message. I will contact you directly with a response from the City of Palo Alto.     Best,  Meghan        MEGHAN HORRIGAN‐TAYLOR   Chief Communications Officer  (650)329‐2607 | Meghan.Horrigan‐Taylor@cityofpaloalto.org   www.cityofpaloalto.org                         From: Camilla Stampe DR Perspektiv og Fakta <cabs@dr.dk>   Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 1:09 PM  To: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>  Subject: Fact‐checking/Danish TV    CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council of Palo Alto    I am a host and journalist working for a Danish fact‐checking show in Denmark and I hope that you can help me with  some questions I have about the current situation in Palo Alto. The reason I am writing you is that the Danish National  Radio just aired an interview with a citizen who lives in Palo Alto and I would like to check with you to see if some of the  statements she made are true.     ‐ Is it true that everyone in Palo Alto is wearing masks at the moment?  ‐ Do you know if the police in Palo Alto has seen a raise in crime during the last couple of weeks in reaction to the corona  outbreak?  ‐ Have you heard of people in Palo Alto who are building hospitals in their own homes?   ‐ Do you happen to know if more citizen have bought a gun during the last couple of weeks in relation to the corona  outbreak?    I really appreciate if you could help me with this information or point me in the right direction to someone who might be  able to.   2   Thanks a lot.     Kind regards,   Camilla Stampe, telephone: 0045 40295080      –– – – – – – – – –  Camilla Stampe Journalist og vært, Detektor DR DR Byen Emil Holms Kanal 20, 0999 København C M +45 4029 5080 cabs@dr.dk    1 Baumb, Nelly From:Annette Kirkham <AnnetteK@lawfoundation.org> Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 4:48 PM To:Council, City Subject:Eviction Moratorium CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Mayor Fine and members of City Council,    The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley writes to request that the Palo Alto City Council consider enacting an eviction  moratorium.       We are in an unprecedented health crisis.  Yesterday, residents of Santa Clara County were ordered to shelter‐in‐place.  This order will leave thousands of our Santa Clara County neighbors without employment.  Restaurant and bar staff,  retail workers, and other hourly wage workers who typically don’t have sick leave or vacation leave will be forced to rely  on unemployment benefits.  Currently, those benefits are only $450 a week.  With the average rent in Santa Clara  County around $2700, unemployment benefits aren’t nearly enough to cover the cost of rent.  Without protection  against eviction, many of our hard‐working neighbors will be forced into homelessness.  Small businesses will be  shuttered and, without income, many of these business owners will be evicted from their commercial spaces.  If evicted  from their retail space, many of these businesses will never recover.      Yesterday, Governor Newsom issued an executive order giving local jurisdictions authority to halt evictions for renters  and homeowners.  The Governor’s order also called on financial institutions to implement an immediate moratorium on  foreclosures related to lost income from COVID‐19.  This means that when a local jurisdiction passes an eviction  moratorium, foreclosures resulting from lost rental income will be prohibited.      The draft ordinance the Law Foundation emailed to council last week protects tenants, small landlords, and small  businesses from eviction and foreclosure.  We urge that council enact an eviction moratorium and adopt an urgency  ordinance prohibiting the evictions of tenants, homeowners, and small businesses during the COVID‐19 crisis.      Providing protection from eviction will give our community some relief and comfort in this time of great uncertainty.     I appreciate your consideration of an eviction moratorium to protect the residents of Palo Alto.      Sincerely,    2     1 Baumb, Nelly From:Mitch Mankin <mitch@siliconvalleyathome.org> Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 5:29 PM To:Council, City; Clerk, City Cc:David Meyer; Lait, Jonathan; Tanner, Rachael Subject:SV@Home Position Regarding Emergency Eviction Moratorium CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Mayor Fine and City Councilmembers,    On behalf of SV@Home and members, we want to thank the City Council and city employees for all of their efforts to  keep our communities safe during a difficult time as well as the social service agencies that are working around the clock  to help those in need. We know that everyone is being impacted by this public health crisis and that the most vulnerable  members of our community, especially those who are housing insecure or experiencing homelessness, are being hit the  hardest.     We are encouraged by Governor Newsom’s Executive Order issued last night that recognizes the severity of the impact  of potentially losing one’s home during the pandemic and authorizes cities to take action to stop evictions of residents  who are experiencing extra hardships due to COVID‐19.     To that end, we urge the city to consider emergency measures that would protect vulnerable residents from evictions  during this time of financial and household strains as well as other actions that provide additional support to our  neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. As other jurisdictions consider similar measures across the County, we  encourage cities to coordinate approaches to avoid a patchwork of different policies that could confuse both tenants  and landlords.    Even in this time of social distancing, this is how we can come together as a community and help those who need it  most.    Sincerely,   Mitch Mankin Policy and Advocacy Associate Pronouns: he/him (408) 780-8915 mitch@siliconvalleyathome.org 350 W Julian St. #5, San Jose, CA 95110 Website I Facebook I Twitter I Newsletter I LinkedIn I Become a Member!     Check out our Resource Hub for all your housing data needs.    1 Baumb, Nelly From:Annette Isaacson <annetteisaacson@comcast.net> Sent:Wednesday, March 18, 2020 11:54 AM To:Council, City; Abby Bradski Subject:economic relief for folks affected by Shelter in Place CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members, Can Palo Alto require a moratorium on evictions due to the inability to pay rent? Many housecleaners in Palo Alto are being laid off due to the coronavirus, and they are just the tip of the iceberg. Many folks have less than $400 in savings. They will not be able to pay their rent. In San Francisco, Mayor Breed announce a moratorium on evictions for 6 months. What can we do in Palo Alto? Could you also tell me where to find a list of services for those who lose their employment because of the Coronavirus? Thank you, Annette Isaacson Redacted 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Jessie B <jteitz@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 7:42 PM To:Council, City Subject:Message from the City Council Home Page CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hi, I am trying to learn when the plan for Greene Middle School is going to be discussed? It has been very challenging to  learn about this project.     Thank you  Jessie Becker  Garland Drive  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Cathleen Parker <caparker.parker@icloud.com> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 9:43 PM To:Council, City Subject:safer cross walks & more bike lanes CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    I would like to support the movement in trying to make the city safer. Numerous people, especially children and  adolescents, are riding their bikes without helmets. helmets really need to be reinforced and highly encouraged for  adults as well. bike lanes need to be clear and more accessible so bikes have their space. crosswalks need to be more  recognized. a huge aide i personally believe is education. children and adults need and continuously be reminded of the  rules of the road. bikes need to stop at stop lights/signs as cars do. schools should constantly announce safety  regulations for biking/walking. it breaks my heart to hear of tragedies and stories from my elderly family members how  they are always dodging cars when walking around because cars dont seem to care for their personal space and get to  close or dont wait for pedestrians to finish crossing. please please work on this! greatly appreciated!    ‐cathleen    Sent from my iPhone  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Lily Ma <Lilyvan.Ma@Hilton.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 1:33 PM To:Council, City Subject:We're here for all your relocation and temporary housing needs! Attachments:Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto Information Sheet 03-2020.pdf Importance:High CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council,                  In challenging times, it takes a  community to move forward.  Our team at the Hilton Garden  Inn Palo Alto is here to do our  part. Know that the safety and  well‐being of guests and  associates is our No. 1 priority.  While travel may not be your  first choice right now, know  that we are taking every  possible precaution to prepare  for your stay if you are  traveling here. Thank you in  advance for your trust in us in  planning your travels. Let’s  move forward together.        LILY MA  DIRECTOR OF SALES    2     4216 El Camino Real  Palo Alto CA 94306    +1 650 843 0795     Office  +1 408 807 0963     Mobile  +1 650 843 0796     Fax    lilyvan.ma@hilton.com  paloalto.HGI.com      This transmission is not a digital or electronic signature and cannot be used to form, document, or authenticate a contract. Hilton and its affiliates accept no liability arising in connection with this transmission. Copyright 2020 Hilton Proprietary and Confidential  •Pavilion lounge •Evening room service•Indoor pool and whirlpool•Workout facility•24-hour Pavilion Pantry® convenience mart •Underground parking•Complimentary electric car charging station •Large work desk with convenient desk- level outlets, adjustable lighting and ergonomic chair •Two phones featuring voicemailand data port•Flat screen HDTV withon-demand movies, video games and complimentary HBO® •Alarm clock radio with adapterfor portable music players Our Rooms •Complimentary wired + wirelessInternet and secure, remote printing to business center•Refrigerator, microwave oven and coffeemaker •Hair dryer, iron and ironing board •USA TODAY ® delivered each morning With the Hilton Honors Event Planner Bonus Program, event planners can earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points and airline miles for qualifying events. Ask your sales person for details. HiltonHonors Hilton Honors is the only guest reward program that lets you earn both hotel points and airline miles for the same stay at nearly 5,000 hotelsglobally. 4216 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94306 Tel:650-843-0795 Fax:650-843-0796 Book Direct Paloalto.HGI.com 650-843-0795 Hilton Garden Inn PaloAlto Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto is close to downtown Palo Alto, Stanford University and Hospital, Fortune 500 companies like HP, Facebook and Google. Enjoy easy access to retail, dining and entertainment options. Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto is centrally located between San Jose and San Francisco International airports. Our Hotel •170 guestrooms, 4 suites •3105 sq. ft. of function space for up to 200 guests•Executive 12 seat boardroomavailable•Complimentary 24-hour business center •Restaurant serving breakfast +dinner •Valet and self-laundryavailable Meetings &Special Events Made Easy For guestrooms, events & meeting space inquiries, contact our Sales Team: Director of Sales: Lily Ma email: Lilyvan.Ma@Hilton.com T: 650.352.8369 Sales Manager: Kristine Piñon email: Kristine.Pinon@Hilton.com T:650.352.8367 Catering Manager: Olwen Faye Cabe email: OlwenFaye.Cabe@Hilton.com T:650.352.8369 Sales &Events Coordinator: Manny Mudhar email: Manny.Mudhar@Hilton.com T:650.352.8372 152 222 72 40 15 21 17 87 72 — Room Capacities Area Dimensions Banquet Theater Conference Classroom Reception U-shape (ft.) Great LeadershipRoom Library Room 320 720 26 x 12 x10'12 10 25 10 Hospitality Room 1720 34 x 60 x12’120 182 99 150 45 Hospitality Room I 952 34 x 28 x12'27 21 Hospitality Room II 768 34 x 22 x12'36 27 Integrity Room 1073 29 x 37 x12 72 99 72 70 33 Integrity Room I 551 29 x 18 x12'18 18 15 Integrity Room II 522 29 x 18 x12'18 18 15 © 2018 Hilton. All trademarks of the Hilton Portfolio are owned by Hilton or its subsidiaries. Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto4216 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94306 Tel:650-843-0795 Fax: 650-843-0796 Book Direct Paloalto.HGI.com 650-843-0795 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Arianne <teher74@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 12:54 PM To:Council, City Subject:#slowdown4kids #looktwice #savealife CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council,   I was writing in regards to the recent death of one of our PAUSD students as a result of collision with a vehicle while he  was riding his bike.  Last year I had written the following ARTICLE about my experience with my child almost getting hit  by a car and experiences of other children in our neighborhood.  At  the time, at the recommendation of  Palo Alto  Online editor, I had met with the Safe Routes to School leaders last year and offered to help contribute to keeping our  city streets safe for our children on and off bikes.    Our city is very busy with many many people driving in and out every day. There are so many children biking in our  neighborhoods at all hours ‐ We really need a long term, visible, and strong campaign to keep our streets safe. A  concerted effort by the City, family and schools.     I am writing to request this be a top priority for the City ‐ this is such an important and core part of our lifestyles here  and Palo Alto has felt incredibly unsafe with the traffic, fast and reckless driving over the past few years.  I am available  to help with moving this important mission forward.  Best  Arianne  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Matthieu Bonnard <mpbnyc@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 2:56 PM To:Council, City Subject:Message from the City Council Home Page - mobility in Palo Alto Attachments:Mobility in PA_032020.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  To whom it may concern Palo Alto City Council‐     Here are initial thoughts to dramatically change mobility in Palo Alto. This was triggered by the tragic recent death of  middle‐schooler Paul Lafargue.    I hope to discuss these an upcoming call kindly organized by CM Tanaka.    Sincerely,    Matthieu Bonnard        Mobility in Palo Alto Proposal of a paradigm shift, away from cars (EVs or not) Matthieu Bonnard (mpbnyc@gmail.com) Content 1. The problem 2. The challenge 3. What paradigm shift 4. Incentives (walk, bicycle, public transportation) 5. Disincentives (cars) 1. The problem: car is king in Palo Alto • Cars get a free ride (free & abundant parking) • Pedestrians are almost nowhere to be seen • Tragically, kids on their bike can get run over by a car, and die - The more cars on the road, the higher the risk 2. The challenge: disrupt car dependency & addiction Can the world capital of disruption disrupt the driving dependency & induced addiction of its constituents and visitors? 3. The paradigm shift • From: a car paradise • To: a pedestrian and biking paradise • Must be progressive – Quick wins – Longer term investment $ – Policy changes • Must combine – Incentives to walk, bike, use public transportation – and disincentives to drive What does a pedestrian & bicycle paradise look like? Pedestrian street, Sceaux, France Bicycle rush hour, Amsterdam 4. Incentives to walk & bike / Protection of walkers & bikers QUICK WINS INVESTMENT $ POLICY CHANGES Zebra crossings more visible • fresh paint • flashing lights Make University street and California street pedestrian & bicycle only Increase walk time of traffic lights on large roads (El Camino, Embarcadero, Alma) Protect zebra crossings on large roads • barrier + zebra moved away from street intersection when possible • start with Churchill/El Camino/ Alma and Cal av./El Camino) Develop city public transportation • small city buses (EVs or hybrid) • Routes and stops to match short driving patterns => residential areas to/from Cubberley, Downtown, Town & Country, libraries, gyms,etc Business trip to Amsterdam to learn best practices and develop a comprehensive bicycle plan Repeat safety training of PAUSD students Build overpasses or underpasses on large roads PAPD on (e)bikes to strictly enforce helmet requirements for minors Continuous and protected bike lanes along large roads (El Camino, Alma, Embarcadero) 5. Disincentives to drive / Punish offenders QUICK WINS INVESTMENT $ POLICY CHANGES Law enforcement: more systematic ticketing of drivers that don’t abide by safety rules around bikes Parking lots: • stop building new ones • downsize select lots • repurpose select lots • end free parking • Lead by example: (e)bikes for PAPD patrols Communicate on zero tolerance to traffic offenders Install fixed speed radars on large roads (El Camino, Embarcadero, Alma) • Increase penalty for traffic offenders More suggestions? • Launch idea campaign: Ask PA residents to submit up to 5 ideas on how to improve life of walkers and bikers and curb traffic (excluding Caltrain) Thank you. 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Sarah Bakhash <sb32159@pausd.us> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 11:04 AM To:Council, City Subject:Improving Bike Safety CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Palo Alto City Council,    I am a student in 8th grade and I attend Greene Middle School. I wanted to inform you of my concern for the safety of children. Students these days are biking everywhere. Not just to and from school; but, to sports practice, play rehearsals, tutoring, or even just to hangout with their peers. Having a packed schedule can leave you biking from after school too late at night. Many parents are worried about their child's safety especially if they are biking at night. It would be a great idea to add a light or a sign telling you to dismount off your bike. Just these little things can create a safer community for everyone. Now that school is cancelled (due to COVID-19) along with after school activities, not many teens are biking, skateboarding etc. However, when school does open, it would be a great idea to contact the school district about which roads/intersections/crosswalks are the most dangerous. Then we could put a sign or extra lights to make sure that when students cross, it is as safe as possible. Thank you so much for your time and I hope our community keeps getting safer.    Sincerely, Sarah Bakhash    1 Baumb, Nelly From:Matthieu Bonnard <mpbnyc@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, March 11, 2020 4:23 PM To:Council, City Cc:Matthieu Bonnard Subject:Message from the City Council Home Page : a tragic wake-up call CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hi     I am writing to the Council after the tragic death of a middle‐school boy who was run‐over by a car crossing El Camino.     Obviously this type of tragedy unfortunately can and does happen anywhere. Nonetheless, I believe this tragedy should  be a wake ‐up call for Palo Alto City Council.     I moved to Palo Alto about two years ago, after living about 15 years in New York City, and growing up in a French  suburb called Sceaux. near Paris, not too dissimilar from Palo Alto. After I moved, I quickly realized that Palo Alto was a  car heaven, or rather hell:    ‐ I was horrified when I realized that some people do drive their car just to get coffee    ‐ I was horrified when I realized that hardly anybody walks in the streets of Palo Alto    ‐ i was horrified that parking in Palo Alto is widely available and pretty much always free    ‐ I was horrified that one needs to be a pretty fit sprinter to safely cross El Camino. You have about 20 seconds.    ‐ I was horrified when I realized that another parking lot was being built near Walters Hays school. Of course, the optic is  great: solar panels, EV charging stations. But fundamentally, another complimentary invitation to drive more.    ‐ I was horrified when I realized that the ratio of cars to kids being dropped‐off/picked‐up at Cubberley is about 1. Zero  public transportation and what parents would allow their kids to bike on Middlefield road.     Palo Alto is the world capital of disruption. Please disrupt the driving addiction of Palo Altans and whoever drives  through Palo Alto.    Thank you, Matthieu Bonnard           1 Baumb, Nelly From:Katie Renati <windkatie@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, March 11, 2020 4:59 PM To:Council, City; Cormack, Alison Cc:Transportation Subject:Re: Intersection Louis and Charleston - SAFETY ISSUE CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello,     As my previous email to the transportation department did not get any response, and in view of the recent death of a  middle school student, I would like to point out the dangers of the intersection of Louis/Charleston.    My teenage son is now riding his bike or his skateboard daily crossing this intersection. It is a very dangerous  intersection for cars, bikers, and pedestrians.     Please let me know what can be done. I believe a traffic light and an improvement plan are in the works but it will most  likely take a long time. Something needs to be done as soon as possible.    Thank you for your response.    Katie Renati  Janice Way, Palo Alto    On Fri, Jan 17, 2020 at 6:06 PM Katie Renati <windkatie@gmail.com> wrote:  Hello,     The South Palo Alto intersection located at Louis and Charleston is VERY dangerous, especially on rainy nights. Not only  the traffic pattern is confusing for drivers new to the area, it is very unsafe for pedestrians and bikers.  My teenage son ofter rides his bike or his skateboard there and has been expressing a lot of concerns. I worry about his  safety and the safety of others crossing this intersection.    Yesterday for instance I was driving towards San Antonio, turning left. A runner activated the pedestrian crossing light  and sped through the crossing. The current warning lights are barely visible. As I am extremely careful at this  intersection, I was able to stop with plenty of space for the runner to cross. Someone who is not familiar with the area  would have most likely hit the runner.    A major accident with injury and possible death is prone to happen there.     2 questions:  ‐ I understand there is a plan for a traffic light at this intersection. When is it planned for? What can be done to  expedite the installation?  ‐ What would it take to put a more powerful warning system, like flashing beacons like these  https://www.tapconet.com/product/rrfb‐pedestrian‐crosswalk‐system    I have seen other intersections in the Bay Area with very visible warning signals. While it will take time to install traffic  lights, new warning signals can be implemented very quickly and with a reasonable cost.    Thank you for your response.  2   Katie Renati  Janice Way, Palo Alto        ‐‐   Best regards,   Katie  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Mayra Azanza <mayrazanza@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, March 11, 2020 8:26 PM To:Council, City Subject:Safety for bikers and pedestrians CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  I am a mother of a Greene middle schooler and I'm in deep shock with the tragic incident where a kid in my daughter's  grade lost his life.     California Avenue is not pedestrian nor bike friendly, and crossing El Camino wether as a pedestrian or on a bicycle is  gambling with your life.    I urge, from the bottom of my heart, to add lights at the crosswalk, more signaling, even traffic guards if possible. Losing  the life of one of our children is one life too many.    Please do something. Please help keeping our pedestrians and bicycle riders safe at all times.    Best,    Mayra Azanza  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Kara Davis <karaldavis@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, March 11, 2020 10:07 PM To:Council, City Cc:Matt Davis Subject:Message from the City Council Home Page CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Hello,    In light of the tragic loss of one of our children in the community, Paul Lafargue, due to a cyclist vs. vehicle accident on  March 6, 2020 at the intersection of El Camino Real and California Avenue, I would like to voice my support for improved  measures to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists at the major crossings for El Camino. My child also crosses at  this intersection nearly every day to go to school. It is a dangerous intersection but is a major route for pedestrians and  bikers, especially kids going to and from school. One suggestion would be to make a four way pedestrian walk signal so  that all peds/bikes can cross and there is no traffic in the intersection. This should be all day, not just at school hours  since there are always people going towards the Cal Avenue train station, and obviously the accident bringing this to  light occurred outside of normal school commuting times. This sort of signal could also be useful at the intersections  with Stanford Ave and Churchill. In addition, the bike lane approaching the Cal Ave and El Camino intersection is poor,  especially for bikers going straight and cars trying to turn right to go SB on El Camino. This could and should be improved  as this is such a heavily trafficked corridor.    Please help us keep our kids safe while supporting the biking and walking culture our community supports.    Best,  Matt and Kara Davis        Redacted 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Lesley N. Robertson <lrobertson@stanford.edu> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 12:28 PM To:Council, City Subject:Pedestrian/Cycling crossings on El Cminao. CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear Palo Alto City Council Members    In the wake of the tragic death of young Paul Lafargue,  Palo Alto student and cyclist, I implore you to initiate effective  means to protect cyclist and pedestrian crossings along the El Camino corridor. —particularly at California Avenue and  Stanford Avenue Crossings.    Hundreds of cyclists and pedestrians cross these intersections every day and there are far too many terrifyingly close  encounters.    Young Paul’s catastrophic encounter was fatal.    I urge you to act quickly and decisively to make these crossings more safe —for everyone.    Respectfully,    Lesley Robertson      1 Baumb, Nelly From:Annette Kirkham <AnnetteK@lawfoundation.org> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 2:05 PM To:Council, City Cc:Nadia Aziz Subject:Eviction Moratorium and Urgency Ordinance Attachments:Letter to City of Palo Alto eviction moratorium 3_15_20.pdf; PaloAlto_Eviction Moratorium Urgency Ordinance_.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Mayor Fine and members of City Council,    The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley asks that the City of Palo Alto enact an urgency ordinance prohibiting evictions and  encampment sweeps in the City of Palo Alto during the COVID‐19 public health crisis.  Attached please find the Law  Foundation’s letter requesting an eviction moratorium in the City of Palo Alto and a draft of an urgency ordinance for  your review.      Thank you for your consideration and attention to this very important matter.  Please do not hesitate to contact me at  (408) 280‐2410 or by email to annettek@lawfoundation.org.    Sincerely,        ORDINANCE NO. _________ AN UNCODIFIED URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO ENACTED PURSUANT TO PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.04.270 PROHIBTING EVICTIONS FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT AND NO-FAULT EVICTIONS DUE TO THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY AND SETTING FORTH THE FACTS CONSTITUTING SUCH URGENCY WHEREAS, Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.04.270 authorizes the adoption of an urgency ordinance to protect the public peace, health or safety, where there is a declaration of the facts constituting the urgency and the ordinance is adopted by four-fifths of Council Members present; and WHEREAS, the County of Santa Clara has announced a public health emergency resulting from the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; and WHEREAS, there are already dozens of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County, and as more effective and proactive testing methods are developed, this number is expected to increase rapidly; and WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the Health Officer of the County of Santa Clara issued an order prohibiting public or private mass gatherings of 1,000 people or more; and WHEREAS, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health have adopted a policy prohibiting gatherings of 250 or more people, and recommending that individuals who are at higher risk of severe illness avoid gatherings of more than 10 people; and WHEREAS, as a result of illness, illness of a family member, lay-offs, reduced hours, absences from work due to school closures, or cancelled purchase orders or services, many tenant households will suffer significant reductions in monthly income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency response measures; and WHEREAS, according to data from the 2017 American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, many Santa Clara County renters are already highly at-risk of eviction, with nearly half of all renter households paying 30 percent or more of their income in rent each month; and WHEREAS, displacement through eviction creates undue hardship for renters through stress, anxiety, and additional relocation costs that could increase susceptibility to COVID-19; and WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto City Manager proclaimed a local emergency on March 12, 2020 and the City has implemented service changes throughout its departments to limit the spread of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, in Palo Alto, there is already one confirmed case of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, the Palo Alto Unified School District has closed all schools in the district until at least April 10, 2020 to limit the spread of COVID-19, which will require many parents to stay home from work in order to provide childcare; and WHEREAS, the severe consequences of eviction, including homelessness and forcing families to move into overcrowded conditions, have the potential to accelerate the spread of the COVID-19 virus; and WHEREAS, a failure to prevent evictions during the COVID-19 emergency will exacerbate this public health emergency and long-term economic impacts for the entire community; and WHEREAS, if adopted, upon its effective date the Temporary Eviction Moratorium Ordinance will provide relief to renters from the fear of potential eviction resulting from economic dislocation that may occur as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: SECTION A. The uncodified Ordinance set out in the attached Exhibit A is hereby approved. SECTION B. The City Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby finds that there is a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety and/or welfare and a need for immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety that warrants this urgency measure, which finding is based upon the facts stated in the recitals above and in the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor’s Resolution Ratifying and Extending the Proclamation of a Local Emergency, Resolution No. BOS-2020-10. SECTION C. This Ordinance is declared by the City Council to be an urgency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety. The facts constituting such urgency are all of those certain facts set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance. SECTION D. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.04.270 and shall remain in effect until the expiration of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor’s Resolution Ratifying and Extending the Proclamation of a Local Emergency, Resolution No. BOS-2020-10, and any and all extensions or renewals of such proclamation. EXHIBIT A TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF EVICTIONS FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT AND NO-FAULT EVICTIONS DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY SECTION 1 TITLE This Ordinance shall be known as the “COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium Ordinance.” SECTION 2 FINDINGS AND PURPOSE On February 10, 2020, The County of Santa Clara declared a public health emergency resulting from the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). There are already dozens of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County, and as more effective and proactive testing methods are developed, this number is expected to increase rapidly. The Santa Clara County Health Officer has issued an order prohibiting public and private mass gatherings in the County during the COVID-19 Emergency, and as the emergency response to this public health crisis escalates, many residents will feel direct and potentially severe economic impacts. Guidance from public health officials at all levels of government have cautioned people to stay home from work if sick, maintain social distance, and cancel or postpone group events. As a result of the COVID-19 Emergency and the government-recommended precautions, many tenants have experienced sudden income loss, and further impacts are anticipated, leaving tenants vulnerable to eviction. During this state of emergency, and in the interests of protecting the public health and preventing transmission of the coronavirus, it is essential to avoid unnecessary displacement and homelessness. This Ordinance is intended to prevent this unnecessary displacement and avoid the creation of even greater public health emergency that would result from subjecting thousands more families to homelessness. SECTION 3 DEFINITIONS The following words or phrases as used in this Ordinance shall have the following meanings: A. Tenant. A tenant, tenant household, subtenant, lessee, sublessee or any other person entitled under the terms of a Rental Agreement or this Chapter to the use or occupancy of any Rental Unit. B. City Council. The term “City Council” refers to the City Council of the City of Palo Alto. C. COVID-19 Emergency. The “COVID-19 Emergency” refers to the period of time covered by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor’s Resolution Ratifying and Extending the Proclamation of a Local Emergency, Resolution No. BOS-2020-10, and any and all extensions or renewals of such proclamation. D. Landlord. An owner, lessor, sublessor or any other person entitled to receive Rent for the use and occupancy of any Rental Unit, or an agent, representative, predecessor, or successor of any of the foregoing. E. No-fault eviction. Any eviction for which the notice does not state a cause to terminate the tenancy or for which the notice to terminate tenancy is not based on alleged fault by the tenant, including but not limited to those causes listed in Civil Code Section 1946.2(b)(2). F. Rent. All periodic payments and all nonmonetary consideration including, but not limited to, the fair market value of goods, labor performed or services rendered to or for the benefit of the Landlord under a Rental Agreement concerning the use or occupancy of a Rental Unit and premises, including all payment and consideration demanded or paid for parking, utility charges, pets, furniture, and/or subletting. G. Rental Agreement. An agreement, oral, written, or implied, between a Landlord and tenant for use or occupancy of a Rental Unit. H. Rental Unit. Any building, structure, or part thereof, or land appurtenant thereto, or any other rental property rented or offered for rent for residential purposes or commercial purposes if the Rental Agreement is made between a Landlord and a Small Business. This term shall also include mobile homes, whether rent is paid for the mobile home and the land upon which the mobile home is located, or rent is paid for the land alone. Further, it shall include recreational vehicles, as defined in California Civil Code Section 799.29 if located in a mobile home park or recreational vehicle park, whether rent is paid for the recreational vehicle and the land upon which it is located, or rent is paid for the land alone. I. Small Business. Any commercial entity, however organized, that meets the size standard for a small business in the industry in which that entity operates as defined in the U.S. Small Business Association’s table of size standards by industry, codified at 13 C.F.R. § 121.201. SECTION 4 PROHIBTION ON EVICTIONS A. No Landlord shall serve a notice to terminate tenancy for nonpayment of rent, file an unlawful detainer for nonpayment of rent or otherwise evict any Tenant for nonpayment of rent during the COVID-19 Emergency. B. No Landlord shall serve a notice to terminate tenancy for a no-fault eviction, file an unlawful detainer for a no-fault eviction, or otherwise evict any Tenant for any no-fault cause during the COVID-19 Emergency, unless necessary for the health and safety of tenants, neighbors, or the Landlord. Any notice of termination served on a Tenant during the COVID-19 Emergency must contain the reason for the termination of tenancy. C. Failure to comply. A Landlord’s failure to comply with any requirement of this Chapter, including without limitation the failure to state the reason for termination pursuant to Subsection (B) herein, is a complete affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer or other action brought by the Landlord to recover possession of the Rental Unit. D. Nothing in this Ordinance shall relieve the tenant of liability for the unpaid rent, which the Landlord may seek 120 days after expiration of the COVID-19 Emergency. A Landlord may not charge or collect a late fee for rent that is delayed during the COVID-19 Emergency and for a period of 120 days thereafter. SECTION 5 LANDLORD NONCOMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT A. Defense to Eviction. Landlords must establish compliance with this Ordinance in any action to recover possession of a rental unit. Violation of this Ordinance shall be a complete defense to eviction. B. Private Right of Action. Whenever a Landlord endeavors to recover possession or recovers possession of a rental unit in violation of this Ordinance, retaliates against a tenant for the exercise of any rights under this Ordinance, or attempts to prevent a tenant from acquiring any rights herein, the tenant or City may institute a civil proceeding for injunctive relief, money damages of not less than three times actual damages, (including damages for mental or emotional distress), and whatever other relief the court deems appropriate. In the case of an award of damages for mental or emotional distress, said award shall only be trebled if the trier of fact finds that the Landlord acted in knowing violation of or in reckless disregard of the limitations of this Ordinance. The prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs pursuant to order of the court. C. Retaliation. No Landlord may cause a Tenant to quit involuntarily or threaten to bring any action to recover possession, or decrease any services, or increase the rent, or take any other action where the Landlord's dominant motive is retaliation for the tenant's exercise of any rights under the law. Such retaliation shall be a defense to any action to recover possession. In an action to recover possession of a rental unit, proof of the exercise by the tenant of rights under the law within six months prior to the alleged act of retaliation shall create a rebuttable presumption that the Landlord's act was retaliatory. D. Nonexclusive Remedy. The rights and remedies provided by this Ordinance are in addition to any rights available to the tenant under contract, statutory, or case law. E. Misdemeanor. It shall be unlawful for a Landlord or for any person who willfully assists a Landlord to recover possession of a rental unit unless, prior to recovery of possession of the unit the Landlord satisfies all requirements for recovery of the unit under this Ordinance. Any person who endeavors to recover possession in violation of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. SECTION 6 APPLICATION A. This Ordinance applies to eviction notices (of any denomination), unlawful detainer actions based on such notices, served or filed on or after the date of introduction of this Ordinance through the end of the COVID-19 Emergency. With respect to delayed payment covered by this Ordinance, a landlord may seek such rent 120 days after the expiration of the state of emergency, but not through the eviction process. SECTION 7 SEVERABILITY A. If any provision of clause of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional or to be otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other chapter provisions, and clauses of this chapter are declared to be severable. SECTION 8 NON-WAIVER A. Any waiver by a tenant of rights under this Ordinance shall be void as contrary to public policy. 4 North Second Street, Suite 1300 | San Jose, CA 95113 Phone: 408-293-4790 | Fax: 408-293-0106 | lawfoundation.org | Tax ID 52-1014751 Advancing Justice Housing | Health | Children & Youth March 15, 2020 Mayor Adrian Fine and Members of City Council City of Palo Alto 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 Via Electronic Mail Only Re: Eviction Moratorium – Urgency Ordinance Dear Mayor Fine and Members of City Council: I write on behalf of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, Sacred Heart Community Service and Affordable Housing Network of Santa Clara County to ask that the City of Palo Alto enact an immediate moratorium on all evictions during the COVID -19 pandemic. Specifically, we ask that the City of Palo Alto pass an urgency ordinance prohibiting landlords from filing nonpayment of rent evictions through the duration of the COVID-19 public health crisis in Santa Clara County. Additionally, we request that Palo Alto stop all homeless encampment sweeps and abatements while this crisis is ongoing. A proposed ordinance is attached. We are in an unprecedented public health crisis, and those who are low-income, and are already highly rent-burdened are most at risk during this crisis. There are many different ways renters’ incomes will likely be impacted, including illness, illness of a family member, work closures due to lost customers or governmental restrictions on public activities, absences from work due to school closures, and lost clients or work for those who are self-employed or work in the “gig” economy for companies such as Uber or Doordash. Given that the severe consequences of eviction – including homelessness and forcing families to move into overcrowded conditions – have the potential to spread the virus even further, the City Council must take immediate action to prevent low-income tenants from losing their housing to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County. It is critically important that any tenant who is unable to pay rent because of financial hardship related to COVID-19 can access the protection an eviction moratorium would provide. Therefore, City Council should enact an unconditional moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent without any documentation requirements or other obstacles for tenants in establishing that their inability to pay rent is related to the COVID-19 virus. 4 North Second Street, Suite 1300 | San Jose, CA 95112 P 408-293-4790 | f 408-293-0106 | www.lawfoundation.org | Tax ID 52-1014751 City Council must also ensure that landlords and tenants are aware of the moratorium and the urgency ordinance. Tenants must be given notice that these emergency protections are in place. One way that the City can ensure tenants receive this notification is to require landlords to provide their tenants written notice advising them of their rights during this public health crisis. In this notice, landlords should also be required to tell their tenants about organizations where a tenant can go to access emergency financial assistance to help them pay rent. We acknowledge that landlords may be immediately impacted by instituting an unconditional moratorium and enacting an urgency ordinance to prohibit landlords from filing new evictions. However, given the serious and potentially devastating consequences to tenants and the community at large of proceeding with evictions while COVID-19 crisis is ongoing, the City of Palo Alto should do everything it can to minimize the long-term impact of this public health crisis on its citizens and the long-term financial stability of the community. Finally, it is imperative that the City of Palo Alto take immediate action to halt all encampment sweeps within its jurisdiction. Encampment sweeps have a destabilizing impact upon unhoused residents of a community, even without the added trauma of a public health crisis such as COVID-19. Conducting encampment sweeps now would have an even greater impact upon the unhoused community as many people who are unhoused cannot access healthcare and may have weakened immune systems due to ongoing health problems. If an unhoused person is exposed to the virus and is forced from their encampment and moved to another location, there is great risk that the virus will spread from one encampment to another and throughout the community. We welcome the opportunity to discuss these comments with you. I can be reached at (408) 280- 2410 or by email to annettek@lawfoundation.org. Sincerely, /s/ Annette D. Kirkham Annette D. Kirkham Senior Attorney 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Aldrich Lau <aldrich.nk.lau@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, March 14, 2020 4:12 PM To:Fine, Adrian Cc:Council, City Subject:Littering by Palo Alto Weekly CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  The Honorable Adrian Fine Mayor of Palo Alto,   Every week a copy of Palo Alto Weekly in a blue plastic bag was thrown to my driveway or the sidewalk in front of my  driveway. I did not ask for such free service because it is a waste of natural resources and virtually littering.  Having Palo  Alto Weekly in a blue plastic bag littering on a driveway is a good sign for the burglar that the house is vacant.  The  situation can translate into privacy, security and crime issues. I moved to Palo Alto in 1989 and raised a family here.  My  two children graduated from Palo Alto High and became doctor and lawyer.  We love this City and I believe you love this  city as well.  Please do something.    Thank you for your attention to this matter.  SinAldrich Lau, PhD     Palo Alto, CA 94301    Redacted 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 10:14 PM To:dennisbalakian; David Balakian; Dan Richard; dallen1212@gmail.com; Daniel Zack; dlfranklin0 @outlook.com; bballpod; Irv Weissman; Doug Vagim; beachrides; Leodies Buchanan; Cathy Lewis; eappel@stanford.edu; fmbeyerlein@sbcglobal.net; francis.collins@nih.gov; grinellelake@yahoo.com; hennessy; huidentalsanmateo; steve.hogg; jerry ruopoli; Joel Stiner; kfsndesk; newsdesk; kwalsh@kmaxtv.com; Pam Kelly; leager; lalws4@gmail.com; Mayor; Mark Kreutzer; Mark Standriff; midge@thebarretts.com; nick yovino; russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; terry; vallesR1969 @att.net; Council, City Subject:Fwd: 54 min. press briefing today, Mon. 3-16-20. Hear at 20 re the test. CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 10:01 PM  Subject: Fwd: 54 min. press briefing today, Mon. 3‐16‐20. Hear at 20 re the test.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 9:23 PM  Subject: 54 min. press briefing today, Mon. 3‐16‐20. Hear at 20 re the test.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>               Mon. March 16, 2020              To all‐  Here is 54 min. briefing by Trump, et.al. today. Listen at the 40 minute mark about the test. No fun.  Trump  said he wouldn't want to do it everyday. And, to get out of a hospital after you've had the disease and recovered, you  need the test 2X,  24 hrs. apart. Again, it's no fun.                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wndq1v7dMFQ                      Last night DW said that Trump tried to buy, for $1 billion, a pharma company in SW Germany called Curevac  that is developing a vaccine for Corona Virus. As part of the deal he wanted the U.S. to have exclusive rights to the  vaccine.  In response, some high ranking German official said that "Germany is not for sale".  They showed a researcher  in a lab at the co. talking about their work in German, oddly enough. The "vaccine" they have disables a part of the virus  up at one end which allows it to hook onto the lung tissue. If it cannot grab on, it cannot infect. They think they can start trials in June or July, 2020. We keep hearing from Fauci about "18 mos", so July would be welcomed, the report said.                      Also, the news is showing a med which is used to treat ebola patients. It is not a vaccine, but it might be an  effective treatment once you develop Covid 19. Might or might not be.   2                  I pose this question again:  About a week ago ABC network news had the blond female doctor on. She is now a  regular there. He asked her what the incubation period of the virus is and she said they don't know.  "It could be 3 days  or 10 days" she said, or words to that effect.  That would mean that one could be exposed to the virus on Monday, be  tested on Friday, be negative that day, and then be infectious three days later on Monday. Right?   If so, what good is  the test? It detects if you are infectious now having completed the incubation period, but what if you have not  completed that period. Would you not then be infectious until the end of the incubation period and think you are  negative when you were not?  Have they established the incubation period yet?                      L. William Harding                    Fresno  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 3:13 PM To:Loran Harding; Dan Richard; Daniel Zack; dennisbalakian; David Balakian; dallen1212@gmail.com; dlfranklin0@outlook.com; bballpod; Irv Weissman; Doug Vagim; beachrides; Leodies Buchanan; Cathy Lewis; eappel@stanford.edu; fmbeyerlein@sbcglobal.net; francis.collins@nih.gov; grinellelake@yahoo.com; hennessy; huidentalsanmateo; steve.hogg; jerry ruopoli; kfsndesk; newsdesk; kwalsh@kmaxtv.com; Pam Kelly; leager; lalws4@gmail.com; Mayor; Mark Kreutzer; Mark Standriff; midge@thebarretts.com; nick yovino; russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; terry; vallesR1969@att.net; Council, City Subject:Fwd: Undeliverable: Fwd: 54 min. press briefing today, Mon. 3-16-20. Hear at 20 re the test. CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Tue, Mar 17, 2020 at 1:51 PM  Subject: Fwd: Undeliverable: Fwd: 54 min. press briefing today, Mon. 3‐16‐20. Hear at 20 re the test.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Tue, Mar 17, 2020 at 1:38 PM  Subject: Fwd: Undeliverable: Fwd: 54 min. press briefing today, Mon. 3‐16‐20. Hear at 20 re the test.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>    Tues. March 17, 2020- Trump said during the 54 minute press briefing yesterday, that the governors are now allowed to buy ventilators on their own without going through the hoops of the federal red tape. Apparently that means they can go out and obtain them without following fed. rules and still get re-imbursed by the feds. All well and good if that is the case. But then, on last night's PBS Newshour, the Governor of Maryland said that that is fine, but we still need the fed government to go all out to obtain more ventilators! I know nothing about ventilators, but they will be needed to save lives if the pandemic hits really hard in the U.S. They discussed how many are available at the press briefing, including from the Pentagon. That number may not be enough, and if we don't have enough people will die as a result. I noticed that at the Rose Garden Declaration of a national emergency, Walmart, Quest, and other CEOs were present, but I don't recall any from Silicon Valley. Maybe there were some. My idea here: What company made the ventilators we have now? More than one company? Companies outside of the U.S., in China, perhaps? Are those companies still producing them? If so, can we cause increased production? Trump has shown his total contempt for California and I suppose that includes Silicon Valley. Could Silicon Valley companies start making ventilators if mandated to do so? They are good at making complex devices, like I-phones, computers, chips, etc. Ventilators should now be mandated to be made by Silicon Valley companies. They form the technology capital of the world. Trump should call a conference of those companies in SV with the knowledge base of what goes into a ventilator. At such a conference, the companies can decide how the components in a ventilator can be produced as fast as possible, gear up to produce them, and some of them can start assembling those into completed product. So the Trump administration should marshal the resources of SV to start producing large numbers of ventilators. The medical expertise of Stanford and UCSF and the 2 design and production capability of SV can get ventilators produced in big numbers before the pandemic gets a lot worse in the U.S. If Trump does not act on this, the House should add that to the list of impeachable offenses from him in this crisis. "We're all in this together, we are doing everything possible" says Trump, and then medical personel across the country say they do not have enough protective gear, and many think we won't have enough ventilators if the epidemic surges in the U.S. Francis Collins, Anthony Fauci, the CDC should comment on this likely shortage of ventilators and the idea of enlisting SV to produce more. The admin. should talk to Tim Cook of Apple, Jensen Huang of Nvidia and John Hennessey of Alphabet about this. Dr. Hennessey was president of Stanford for 15 years and now he is CEO of Alphabet. I looked him up one time and there are pages and pages of awards, publications and patents listed for him. He would know who best to approach in SV re the idea of having SV produce ventilators. LH --------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  To: dennisbalakian <dennisbalakian@sbcglobal.net>, David Balakian <davidbalakian@sbcglobal.net>, Dan Richard  <danrichard@mac.com>, dallen1212@gmail.com, Daniel Zack <daniel.zack@fresno.gov>, dlfranklin0@outlook.com,  bballpod <bballpod@aol.com>, Irv Weissman <irv@stanford.edu>, Doug Vagim <dvagim@gmail.com>, beachrides  <beachrides@sbcglobal.net>, Leodies Buchanan <leodiesbuchanan@yahoo.com>, Cathy Lewis <catllewis@gmail.com>,  eappel@stanford.edu, fmbeyerlein@sbcglobal.net, francis.collins@nih.gov, grinellelake@yahoo.com, hennessy  <hennessy@stanford.edu>, huidentalsanmateo <huidentalsanmateo@gmail.com>, "steve.hogg"  <steve.hogg@fresno.gov>, jerry ruopoli <jrwiseguy7@gmail.com>, Joel Stiner <jastiner@gmail.com>, kfsndesk  <kfsndesk@abc.com>, newsdesk <newsdesk@cbs47.tv>, kwalsh@kmaxtv.com, Pam Kelly <pkelly@svlg.org>, leager  <leager@fresnoedc.com>, lalws4@gmail.com, Mayor <mayor@fresno.gov>, Mark Kreutzer <mlkreutzer@yahoo.com>,  Mark Standriff <mark.standriff@fresno.gov>, midge@thebarretts.com, nick yovino <npyovino@gmail.com>,  russ@topperjewelers.com, Steve Wayte <steve4liberty@gmail.com>, terry <terry@terrynagel.com>,  vallesR1969@att.net, "city.council" <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>  Cc:   Bcc:   Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2020 22:14:24 ‐0700  Subject: Fwd: 54 min. press briefing today, Mon. 3‐16‐20. Hear at 20 re the test.    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 10:01 PM  Subject: Fwd: 54 min. press briefing today, Mon. 3‐16‐20. Hear at 20 re the test.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 9:23 PM  Subject: 54 min. press briefing today, Mon. 3‐16‐20. Hear at 20 re the test.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>               Mon. March 16, 2020    3           To all‐  Here is 54 min. briefing by Trump, et.al. today. Listen at the 40 minute mark about the test. No fun.  Trump  said he wouldn't want to do it everyday. And, to get out of a hospital after you've had the disease and recovered, you  need the test 2X,  24 hrs. apart. Again, it's no fun.  That little fact about the test has been a well‐guarded secret for  weeks now. Now that the truth is out, perhaps fewer people will be knocking on their doctor's door asking to have the  test unless they have good reason to think they have been exposed to the virus.                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wndq1v7dMFQ                      Last night DW said that Trump tried to buy, for $1 billion, a pharma company in SW Germany called Curevac  that is developing "a vaccine" for Corona Virus. As part of the deal he wanted the U.S. to have exclusive rights to the  vaccine.  In response, some high ranking German official said that "Germany is not for sale".  They showed a researcher  in a lab at the co. talking about their work in German, oddly enough. The "vaccine" they have disables a part of the virus  up at one end which allows it to hook onto the lung tissue. If it cannot grab on, it cannot infect. They think they can start  trials in June or July, 2020. We keep hearing from Fauci about "18 mos", so July would be welcomed, the report said. i  don't think that's the way vaccines work, but whatever works will be welcome.                      Also, the news is showing a med which is used to treat ebola patients. It is not a vaccine, but it might be an  effective treatment once you develop Covid 19. Might or might not be. We'll find out.                      I pose this question again:  About a week ago ABC network news had the blond female doctor on. She is now a  regular there. He asked her what the incubation period of the virus is and she said they don't know.  "It could be 3 days  or 10 days" she said, or words to that effect.  That would mean, maybe, that one could be exposed to the virus on  Monday, be tested on Friday, be negative that day, and then be infectious three days later on Monday. Right?   If so,  what good is the test? It detects if you are infectious now if you have completed the incubation period, but what if you  have not completed that period? Would you not then be non‐infectious until the end of the incubation period and test  negative during that time when you were not negative?  Have they established the incubation period yet? So, how does  the length of the incubation period, and especially if it is a long one for this virus, affect the reliability of the test? Is a  long incubation period producing negative results when the patient is well on the way to becoming infectious after he  takes and passes the test?  Dr. Fauci and the CDC should comment on this.                                       L. William Harding                    Fresno     1 Baumb, Nelly From:Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sent:Wednesday, March 11, 2020 2:55 PM To:Dan Richard; Mayor; dennisbalakian; David Balakian; Mark Kreutzer; Mark Standriff; midge@thebarretts.com; huidentalsanmateo; Council, City; bballpod; Irv Weissman; hennessy; Daniel Zack; Joel Stiner; leager; Cathy Lewis; eappel@stanford.edu; dallen1212@gmail.com; Chris Field; kfsndesk; newsdesk; kwalsh@kmaxtv.com; Pam Kelly; beachrides; bearwithme1016@att.net; terry; boardmembers; Steven Feinstein; francis.collins@nih.gov; grinellelake@yahoo.com; steve.hogg; jerry ruopoli; Kirk Sorensen; Leodies Buchanan; popoff; russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; toni.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; Doug Vagim; vallesR1969@att.net; Mark Waldrep; yicui@stanford.edu Subject:Fwd: New Rochelle, NY on map CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 2:32 PM  Subject: Fwd: New Rochelle, NY on map  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>, <fmbeyerlein@sbcglobal.net>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 1:44 PM  Subject: Fwd: New Rochelle, NY on map  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 1:40 PM  Subject: Fwd: New Rochelle, NY on map  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 1:25 PM  Subject: Fwd: New Rochelle, NY on map  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>    2 ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 1:12 PM  Subject: New Rochelle, NY on map  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>    Wed. March 11, 2020   Fred‐           New Rochelle, NY  on map. Near LI Sound and on its northern edge.  Across the Sound from Glen Cove, LI.,  roughly.  I95, New England Throughway to Conn. and R.I. runs near it.            Clintons' home is in Chappaqua, way north of New Rochelle, north of White Plains, in fact. So not even close to  New Rochelle. I didn't realize how far north they are. They are way up in the boonies. This map shows both towns:    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/New_York_State_Route_100_Map.svg          You see Mt. Kisco on the map. An accting mgr from San Jose branch was sent to GMAC Executive Office in NY 6  months before I was. He bought a house in Mt. Kisco and did not like the area. "Everything is green!" he  complained.  Not a damn thing there, either. Long train ride daily down to Grand Central too. I took an apartment in  Tuckahoe, just north of Bronxville. Much closer to NYC.            Another brutal day on the mkt. WHO proclaims it to be a pandemic, and stimulus pkge from Washington is still  murky. Those 2 hurt mkt. Fauci: "the worst is yet to come".             BP down $2.13, down 7.95% to $24.66,  so down 8% today. Yikes. The yield is now 9.41%, if they don't cut  the DIV.  I'm down ~25% now with BP. But geez‐ get almost 10% on your money.  Will they cut the DIV? Will they go  broke?              A press conference by Kanzlerin Merkel was scheduled for noon, Berlin time‐  3 AM PT. It was covered live on  DW and was seen here. As with Trump, they walked in at 3:31 AM PT. I watched it. Her first press conference on the  virus. I'll write it up. She just came out of a vid. conference with leaders of all 27 EU states. Said they'll keep doing those.  The EU will spend 25 billion Euros to help the member countries. They know they will pay up to deal with the disaster in  Italy. The Brits got out just in time. The plan is to slow the spread of the virus so the HC system isn't overwhelmed by the  number of pts. They said that several times. That's the goal. They are spending 140 million Euros on a vaccine, so it's not  just the U.S. working on one. It will be old people mainly who will be killed by the virus.  SLOW THE SPREAD  is the order  of the day. They can't stop it, but the HC system won't collapse if they can slow it.  Follow the WHO guidelines, they said.  Germany thinks they are about 7‐10 days behind Italy in the epidemic. Large gatherings‐ over 1,000 people, now  verboten in D. Land. Italy had 631 dead as of last night.            One tiny glimmer:  China is saying that "the outbreak is basically curbed" there. They had a crawl saying that  during the Merkel press conf. The UC Berk. prof. on KPIX said the other day that the Chinese have taken Draconian  measures. Are we willing to do that? It can be curbed in terms of new cases, the Chinese have shown, but it takes  Draconian measures to do it.          No one knows where the bottom for the mkt. will be, but that will be a great opportunity to buy stocks.  Try to  detect the bottom and make big money. Buy great cos. at the bottom and watch them jump. I have no doubt that will  happen once the virus is knocked down.     L. William Harding    Fresno  1 Baumb, Nelly From:D Martell <dmpaloalto@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, March 12, 2020 3:20 PM To:Shikada, Ed; City Mgr Cc:Jonsen, Robert; Rice, Danille; Perron, Zachary; Afanasiev, Alex; De La Vega, Janine; Binder, Andrew; Becchetti, Benjamin; Sullivan, David; Council, City Subject:Appreciation | meeting re Citizens' Police Academy CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.        Edward K. Shikada Palo Alto City Manager    Dear Mr. Shikada:    Thank you for sharing yesterday's busy schedule.     I value your perception and regard shown my concerns. You listen. Your acknowledgement means a lot. Living my life in Palo Alto, I've witnessed many changes. For me, our town has always been truly special. I appreciate your protection and leadership.   Sincerely, -Danielle  ------------------------- Danielle Martell Palo Alto City Council Candidate 2016 & 2005  dmPaloAlto@gmail.com t: 650.856.0700    1 Baumb, Nelly From:Nadia Naik <nadianaik@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 5:31 PM To:Expanded Community Advisory Panel; Council, City Subject:Emergency actions NOW to save Bay Area transit during Covid-19 crisis – 1/2 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  FYI    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Green Caltrain <donotreply@wordpress.com>  Date: Tue, Mar 17, 2020 at 2:46 PM  Subject: [New post] Emergency actions NOW to save Bay Area transit during Covid‐19 crisis – 1/2  To: <nadianaik@gmail.com>    alevin posted: " On March 16, 2020 the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 89 and Senate Bill 89, which are  now awaiting the Governor’s signature. This funding would authorize $500 million immediately and up to $1 billion in  total to be used at the Governor"   New post on Green Caltrain To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the In To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented autodownload of this picture from the Internet.   Emergency actions NOW to save Bay Area transit during Covid‐19 crisis –  1/2  by alevin   On March 16, 2020 the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 89 and Senate Bill 89, which are now awaiting the Governor’s signature. This funding would authorize $500 million immediately and up to $1 billion in total to be used at the Governor’s discretion with the purpose of providing assistance related to the impacts of COVID-19. We are asking our state government to publicly support funding for Bay Area public transit operators during this time of critical need. 1. Sign the petition NOW PLEASE: 2. Call and email your state legislators NOW PLEASE To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.   2 Here is information on the issue that you can use in your call. Short version: please direct emergency funding from AB89/SB89 to support public transportation that is providing a vital service and facing tremendous loss of revenue during the COVID-19 crisis. COVID-19 represents a threat to the health and wellbeing of all Californians, particularly our vulnerable and elderly neighbors. Our public health interventions to slow the spread of infections are necessary and welcome. Unfortunately, these same precautions, such as social distancing and sheltering in place, threaten the existence of public transit systems in the Bay Area that continue to function, as they are considered essential services that are transporting nurses, social service workers, grocery store employees, and the people who keep our society running during these trying times. On March 17, 2020, the “shelter in place” order began in nearly every county in the Bay Area. This order assumes that public transit will still be available for those requiring “Essential Travel,” which includes critical business and government functions. This means that even during the most extreme social distancing measures, our region needs safe, functioning and reliable public transit. Given our current conditions, that is not possible without additional funding. In the first week of social distancing (March 9-15), every public transit agency saw precipitous drops in ridership:  BART saw a 24%-61% drop in ridership, adding up to approximately $5 million in revenue lost  Muni averaged approximately 35-50% drop in ridership and $1 million in revenue lost  Caltrain saw a 75% drop in ticket sales, correlating with the drop in ridership  AC Transit, VTA, and other agencies have seen similar drops These figures are for last week, when many people voluntarily stayed home. With the "shelter in place" order now mandating that almost everyone stay home, this week and the following weeks are expected to see even lower ridership and more fare revenue lost. Transit operators have no idea how long the COVID-19 crisis will last, or even how long shelter in place orders will remain in effect. Therefore, we call on the California Legislature, Governor Gavin Newsom, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to urgently prioritize the following as part of the recently-passed bills to provide emergency funding:  Allocate state funding, particularly that made available by AB89 and SB89, for Bay Area public transit operators, with a focus on transit operations and fare recovery for transit operators with high farebox recovery rates, and  Ensure guidelines for state and federal pass-through funding is eligible for transit operators. 3 Sign the petition to call for our regional institutions and state government to support public transit, its riders and operators with emergency fiscal stimulus as quickly as possible. Bay Area Legislative Delegation: Assembly Ash Kalra (916) 319‐2027  Kansen Chu (916) 319‐2025  Marc Berman (916) 319‐2024  Bill Quirk (916) 319‐2020  Evan Low (916) 319‐2028  Tim Grayson (916) 319‐2014  Rebecca Bauer‐Kahan (916) 319‐2016  Cecilia Aguiar‐Curry (916) 319‐2004  Jim Frazier (916) 319‐2011  Jim Wood (916) 319‐2002  Phil Ting (916) 319‐2019  Buffy Wicks (916) 319‐2015  Rob Bonta (916) 319‐2018  Kevin Mullin (916) 319‐2022  Marc Levine (916) 319‐2010  Senate Scott Wiener (916) 651‐4011  Nancy Skinner (916) 651‐4009  Bob Wieckowski (916) 651‐4010  Jerry Hill (916) 651‐4013  Jim Beall (916) 651‐4015  Steve Glazer (916) 651‐4007  Bill Monning (916) 651‐4017  Bill Dodd (916) 651‐4003  Mike McGuire (916) 651‐4002  alevin | March 17, 2020 at 2:45 pm | URL: https://wp.me/pZ1Wi‐Qh   Comment     See all comments     Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Green Caltrain. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. 4 Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://www.greencaltrain.com/2020/03/emergency-actions-now-to-save-bay-area-transit-during-covid-19-crisis-1-2/        1 Baumb, Nelly From:Nadia Naik <nadianaik@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 7:43 PM To:Expanded Community Advisory Panel; Council, City Subject:Fwd: [New post] Emergency Actions NOW to save Bay Area transit in the Covid-19 crisis 2/2 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  FYI part 2    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Green Caltrain <donotreply@wordpress.com>  Date: Tue, Mar 17, 2020 at 6:22 PM  Subject: [New post] Emergency Actions NOW to save Bay Area transit in the Covid‐19 crisis 2/2  To: <nadianaik@gmail.com>    alevin posted: " The United States Congress is currently working on a bill to provide relief to workers and business and to  help stimulate the US economy. Jurisdictions across the Bay Area normally collect $85 million in fare revenue per month,  the vast majority of which"   New post on Green Caltrain Emergency Actions NOW to save Bay Area transit in the Covid‐19 crisis 2/2 by alevin   The United States Congress is currently working on a bill to provide relief to workers and business and to help stimulate the US economy. Jurisdictions across the Bay Area normally collect $85 million in fare revenue per month, the vast majority of which is expected to be lost in the foreseeable future. Transit agencies in California also rely very heavily on sales tax revenues, which are expected to see a very steep decline; Bay Area public transit agencies could see a loss of sales tax revenue as large as $300 million just this fiscal year (until June 30th). We are asking our federal government to support funding for Bay Area public transit operators during this time of critical need. Please take urgent action NOW: 1. Sign this petition 2. Call and email your representative 3. Call and email Senators Feinstein and Harris: 2 1. Sign the petition below. 2. Call and email your representative 3. Call and email Senators Feinstein and Harris: Background for your comments to our representatives in DC. COVID-19 represents a threat to the health and wellbeing of all Americans, particularly our vulnerable and elderly neighbors. Our public health interventions to slow the spread of infections are necessary and welcome. Unfortunately, these same precautions, such as social distancing and sheltering in place, threaten the existence of public transit systems in the Bay Area that continue to function, as they are considered essential services that are transporting nurses, social service workers, grocery store employees, and the people who keep our society running during these trying times. On March 17, 2020, the “shelter in place” order began in nearly every county in the Bay Area. This order assumes that public transit will still be available for those requiring “Essential Travel,” which includes critical business and government functions. This means that even during the most extreme social distancing measures, our region needs safe, functioning and reliable public transit. Given our current conditions, that is not possible without additional funding. Every public transit agency is seeing a precipitous drops in ridership and revenue:  BART saw a 71% drop in ridership on Monday (3/16), which will see BART lose over $7 million per week just from fares.  Muni averaged approximately 35-50% drop in ridership last week and $1 million in revenue lost  Caltrain has seen a 90% drop in ticket sales, correlating with the drop in ridership which will cost the agency between $1.6 and $1.8 million per week.  AC Transit, VTA, and other agencies have seen similar drops With the "shelter in place" order now mandating that almost everyone stay home, this week and the following weeks are expected to see even lower ridership and more fare revenue lost. Transit operators have no idea how long the COVID-19 crisis will last, or even how long shelter in place orders will remain in effect. As my representative in Congress/Senate, I urge you to support public transit, its riders and operators with emergency fiscal stimulus as quickly as possible. 3   alevin | March 17, 2020 at 6:21 pm | URL: https://wp.me/pZ1Wi‐Qj   Comment     See all comments     Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from Green Caltrain. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://www.greencaltrain.com/2020/03/emergency-actions-now-to-save-bay-area-transit-in-the-covid-19-crisis-2-2/        1 Baumb, Nelly From:Amy Keohane <amykeohane@hotmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, March 18, 2020 10:34 AM To:Council, City Subject:Parking restrictions CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Hi I am writing to ask if the parking restrictions have been lifted during our time of shelter in place. Many of us don’t buy one as we drive to work. I feel in this time parking officers are not an essential personnel. Menlo Park has lifted and I feel  PALO Alto should do the right thing.  Amy      Sent from my iPhone  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Biby Chacon <bibychacon@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 8:25 PM To:Council, City Subject:COVID-19 Small Businesses Resiliency Fund CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello,    I've heard about the COVID‐19 Small Businesses Resiliency Fund in San Francisco but I was wondering if there is a plan to  do this in Palo Alto or in Santa Clara. I know a lot of businesses, including our home family daycare, will be hurt by this so  it would be great if you could provide us with some other resources or information on this.    Thank you, stay health and hope to hear from you soon.    Best,  Biby  ‐‐   Biby Chacon   bibychacon@gmail.com  (650)796‐2655  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Flaherty, Michelle Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 10:21 AM Subject:Business Assistance Dear friends in the Palo Alto business community,  Below, please find an updated collection of resources available to support businesses during this difficult time. You can  subscribe to updates from the U.S. Small Business Administration at:  https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USSBA_205?.   We have been posting links to helpful information for the business community on the City’s webpage regarding COVID‐ 19. Today we’ll be reformatting it with an easier to find button/link specifically for businesses.   I will send you another email in a moment with less links and more narrative from U.S. SBA, in case formatting gets lost  in cyberspace. Feel free to forward these emails onto anyone who may find them helpful.  Best wishes,  Michelle        Michelle Poché Flaherty  Deputy City Manager  250 Hamilton Ave | Palo Alto, CA 94301  D: 650.329.2533 | C: 650.509.0726    E: Michelle.Flaherty@cityofpaloalto.org   Quality|Courtesy|Efficiency|Integrity|Innovation  ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐    From: SBA San Francisco District Office <sanfrancisco@updates.sba.gov>  Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 6:05 PM  Subject: COVID‐19 Small Business Supporter Update  Announcements from the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Northern California   March 16th, 2020  Updates from the San Francisco District Office  Updates from throughout the region  Community Resources  San Francisco District Office Contacts Updates from the San Francisco District Office 2   SBA To Provide Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) Up to $2 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus. Applications can be modified and adjusted after submittal. Apply Online CA Declaration Press Release Paper Application EIDL Loans Brief Factsheets -- The unprecedented economic impacts of the Coronavirus on the business community in California are already being felt. CAMEO, in coordination with the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance, will be holding a call on Wednesday, March 18th at 4:00PM to explain the SBA disaster loan application process and answer questions from small business support organizations. We’ll cover:  What the program is  How it works and how to apply  Common missteps or misunderstandings that impact business owner applicants 3 Join the Webinar at 4:00PM March 18th (Call-in information: Dial US: +1 669 900 6833 Webinar ID: 956 176 760) -- SBA Guidance for Businesses and Employers The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). For updates from CDC, please see the following:  Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)  Preventing Stigma Related to COVID-19  Share Facts about COVID-19  CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Web page  Information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Prevention, Symptoms and FAQ See More    As a public service, the SBA may provide links to other organizations that provide information of benefit to small businesses. The links below are external links. They do not constitute an endorsement by the SBA of the opinions, products or services presented on the external sites, or of any sites linked to it.  Updates from throughout the region   The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development is compiling updates, programs, and guidance for employers across state agencies The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development has compiled helpful information for employers, employees and all Californians as it relates to the COVID-19 outbreak. 4 See More -- San Francisco Announces Local Measures to Support Small Businesses in Response to COVID-19 These efforts include deferring business taxes and licensing fees, launching a relief fund for impacted businesses, supporting nonprofits funded by the City so workers don’t lose their incomes, and working with partners in the philanthropic and private sector, as well as advocating for state and federal support for workers and businesses. The City will also be launching a website that will serve as a one-stop shop for all resources, contacts, and updates for small businesses: www.oewd.org/covid19 San Francisco Assistance Programs -- Benefits for Workers Impacted by COVID-19 The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency is keeping a central summary chart of resources available to employees from different state and federal programs. Employers should share this resource with their employees. See the Summary Chart Here Reading and Research   CDC Guidance: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers Plan, Prepare and Respond  CDC Guidance: Mass Gatherings or Large Community Event Guidance Community Resources  Printable SBA Handouts SBA Lending Data Dashboard San Francisco District Office Contacts 5   Julie Clowes, District Director  (415) 744‐8474 Julie.Clowes@sba.gov  Carlos Gutierrez, Deputy District  Director (415) 744‐8475 Carlos.Gutierrez@sba.gov  Noah Brod, Economic Development  Specialist (415) 744‐4244 Noah.Brod@sba.gov   Marlow Schindler, Lead Lender  Relations Specialist (415) 744‐6771 Marlow.Schindler@sba.gov  U.S. Small Business Administration San Francisco District Office 455 Market St, Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94501 Phone: 415-744-6820 sfomail@sba.gov sba.gov/ca/sf      This email was sent ... by Small Business Administration (SBA) ꞏ 409 3rd St, SW ꞏ Washington DC 20416 ꞏ 1-800-827-5722   1 Baumb, Nelly From:Flaherty, Michelle Sent:Tuesday, March 17, 2020 10:27 AM To:Flaherty, Michelle Subject:SBA Disaster Loans Dear friends in the Palo Alto business community,  Below, please find additional information about U.S. SBA Disaster Loans.  Best wishes,  Michelle        Michelle Poché Flaherty  Deputy City Manager  250 Hamilton Ave | Palo Alto, CA 94301  D: 650.329.2533 | C: 650.509.0726    E: Michelle.Flaherty@cityofpaloalto.org   Quality|Courtesy|Efficiency|Integrity|Innovation  ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  U.S. Small Business Administration is now accepting applications for low‐interest federal disaster loans for working  capital (Economic Injury Disaster Loans) for small businesses and private, non‐profit organizations in designated counties  of California and other states to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID‐19).   To access SBA assistance, go to the Disaster Loan Assistance portal.  You can click on “Eligible Disaster Areas” to see  what counties have been designated as coronavirus disaster affected.  As of March 16, 2020, 35 California counties were  designated including San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.  Economic Injury Disaster Loans are working capital (rather than loans for physical damage) to help small businesses and  most private, non‐profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be  met as a direct result of the disaster.  These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.   Federal law limits these to $2,000,000 maximum for alleviating economic injury caused by the disaster, and the actual  amount of each loan is limited to the economic injury determined by SBA, less business interruption insurance and other  recoveries up to the administrative lending limit.  SBA also considers potential contributions that are available from the  business and/or its owner(s) or affiliates.   These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the  disaster’s impact.  The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with  credit available elsewhere are not eligible.  The interest rate for non‐profits is 2.75%.   SBA offers loans with long‐term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years.  Terms  are determined on a case‐by‐case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.   To apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loans, click on “Apply Online” and create an account and password.  Then  submit your application.  An explanation of SBA disaster application loan process is here.  The application requires  submitting the following forms (copes of which are available here):   Business Loan Application (SBA Form 5) completed and signed by business applicant.    IRS Form 4506‐T completed and signed by Applicant business, each principal owning 20% or more of the  applicant business, each general partner or managing member and, for any owner who has more than a 50%  2 ownership in an affiliate business. (Affiliates include business parent, subsidiaries, and/or businesses with  common ownership or management).    Complete copies, including all schedules, of the most recent Federal income tax returns for the applicant  business; an explanation if not available.     Personal Financial Statement (SBA Form 413) completed, signed and dated by the applicant (if a sole  proprietorship), each principal owning 20% or more of the applicant business, each general partner or managing  member.    Schedule of Liabilities listing all fixed debts (SBA Form 2202 may be used).   Additional information may also be necessary to process your application:    Complete copies, including all schedules, of the most recent Federal income tax returns for each principal  owning 20% or more of the applicant business, each general partner or managing member, and each affiliate  when any owner has more than a 50% ownership in the affiliate business. Affiliates include, but are not limited  to, business parents, subsidiaries, and/or other businesses with common ownership or management.    If the most recent Federal income tax return has not been filed, a year‐end profit and loss statement and  balance sheet for that tax year is acceptable.     A current year‐to‐date profit and loss statement.    Additional Filing Requirements (SBA Form 1368) providing monthly sales figures.  For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center at 1‐800‐659‐2955 (TTY:  1‐800‐877‐8339) or e‐mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit www.sba.gov/disaster.   1 Baumb, Nelly From:Supervisor Simitian <Supervisor.Simitian@bos.sccgov.org> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 5:20 PM To:Council, City Subject:Public Comment CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Councilmembers,    I had hoped to come to your meeting today myself to talk about safe parking, but in light of public health guidelines, I’m  writing to you instead.     First, thank you for your leadership and partnership as we jointly address COVID‐19 and its effects on our community.    On safe parking, our office has been working jointly with your city staff, and with many of you, to look for new  opportunities to open safe parking lots. In addition to targeted outreach to businesses, in partnership with the Chamber  of Commerce, we hosted four information sessions – two in Palo Alto and two in Mountain View – about hosting safe  parking lots. We’ve started a dialogue with several lot owners, and we are hopeful that some will become safe parking  lots.    In the coming weeks we will continue to work with your staff on efforts to increase safe parking in Palo Alto, on public  and private land, and to bring a service provider to handle case management, lot monitoring, and other logistics.    Thank you,    Joe Simitian   County Supervisor, Fifth District    1 Baumb, Nelly From:Lori Khoury <khoury7eleven@sbcglobal.net> Sent:Sunday, March 15, 2020 1:44 PM To:Council, City Cc:Fine, Adrian; Lydia.Kou@cityofpalo.org; Cormack, Alison; Weiss, Julie Subject:Impact of tobacco ban to Mac's Smoke Shop in Palo Alto- would like to meet to discuss CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Mayor Fine and City Council members, I would like to request an in-person meeting or phone call to discuss the items listed below. We hope that Council will take the time to listen to our concerns and have a rigorous discussion about the impacts of the tobacco ban and how it may put us out of business. My contact information: Lori A. Khoury cell (408) 219-0148 email: khoury7eleven@sbcglobal.net I am writing as the owner of Mac’s Smoke Shop, one of the oldest retail establishments in the City of Palo Alto. We love the City of Palo Alto and wish to continue doing business in the community for years to come. We are small business and cater to those only 21 and over. A very large portion of our sales are generated from the very products you are proposing to prohibit. We are very concerned that this new ordinance will force us to close our doors by year end. From the inception of Mac’s Smoke Shop back in 1934, we have always upheld our impeccable reputation in the community. We are a legacy institution in the City and hear many wonderful stories from customers, Palo Alto residents and people who know what a great place Mac’s is. With the swipe of your pen our entire business may be gone. This proposed new tobacco ordinance will cause more harm than good. It threatens the very nature of what we have been doing for over 80 years, selling tobacco products. We will continue to take measures to ensure that no one under 21enters the store. We are moving our registers even closer to the door so that our sales associates can be hyper vigilant about who enters the store. The ordinance won’t stop people from buying flavored tobacco and vaping products, and it especially won’t have any impact on teen vaping since teens aren’t our customers. As an “adult only” store, granted an exemption to sell to only those over 21, there is no plausible reason not to continue to offer Mac’s Smoke Shop an exemption. We are educated about the products we sell, responsible about who we sell to, and know the consequences if the rules aren’t followed. We aren’t anything like the gas stations and 7-Elevens that have been cited for selling to minors. We have never been cited for any violation, passing the February sting that three merchants failed, but we passed with flying colors and will continue to do so. The neighboring city of Los Altos recognized the overly harsh consequences of imposing an ordinance prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products. One retailer, Edward’s Pipe and Tobacco, was threatened with closure without an exemption. The Los Altos Council granted an 2 exemption, but Edward’s must follow regulations to continue selling flavored tobacco. We want the council to recognize the repercussions to Mac’s Shop and grant us an exemption as well. We need the City to allow us to continue to do business as usual and continue the legacy we have worked so hard to build. The Council acknowledged in their Colleagues Memo dated December 9, 2019 that “In addition to following the county's lead, the memo recommended that the city support legislation that restricts access of minors to vaping products and provides funding for education efforts on vaping”. Mac’s Smoke Shop already restricts access to minors. Additionally, “Council members agreed that banning sales of vaping products in the city will not do much to curtail the problem. Even with the ban, Tanaka said, most people won't have trouble buying electronic cigarettes”. Residents of Palo Alto also support a less restrictive approach to curtailing the sale of vaping products “Scott Anderson, a Palo Alto resident who had previously worked in the tobacco industry, supported a more cautious approach. He agreed that the council should focus on protecting the health and wellness of the community, and did not dispute that consuming nicotine through combustible tobacco is harmful. Wholesale prohibition on vaping is not the right solution, he said". Please take a look at the photos below that show the history of such a wonderful institution. Sincerely, Neil and Lori Khoury Owners - Mac's Smoke Shop 3 4 5 1 Brettle, Jessica From:Peggy Phelan <pphelan@stanford.edu> Sent:Monday, March 16, 2020 3:55 PM To:Council, City Subject:Fw: URGENT: EREIDA READ THIS PRONTO CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Who is in charge of Green Waste? I had a terrible experience with Adrianna, the most unhelpful rude agent  ever.  I expect a response from the City of Palo Alto as well. Permission to forward the note below where it needs to  go.  I have written MANY times to the City of Palo Alto and rarely get a reply. I want one, in writing, to this.    From: Peggy Phelan  Sent: Monday, March 16, 2020 3:50 PM  To: pacustomerservice@greenwaste.com <pacustomerservice@greenwaste.com>  Subject: URGENT: EREIDA READ THIS PRONTO      I just had a terrible phone call with Adrianna. I need to reschedule my "Clean Up Day" due to the GLOBAL  MEDICAL CRISIS. Adrianna refused to accommodate me, showed no empathy or compassion, and basically  told me it would be IMPOSSIBLE to schedule. This is not an acceptable response to a global health crisis.     I pay for TWO clean‐up days and I fully intend to use both days. CHANGE your policy immediately and retrain  your agents. I am shocked and disgusted. When I asked to speak to her manager, she told me there was no  one I could speak to and all I can do is "send an email to the general customer service address." My "clean up  day" is scheduled for tomorrow. FIX all of this. I will also address this complaint to the city.  M. Phelan