HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200622plCC11701-32
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: 06/22/2020
Document dates: 6/3/2020 – 6/10/2020
Set 11 of 12
Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet
reproduction in a given week.
10
Baumb, Nelly
From:Geri <geri@thegrid.net>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 8:45 PM
To:letters@padailypost.com
Cc:Geri Mc Gilvray; Mike Bechler
Subject:Curfew and secrecy
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
Pics 13,14 and 15 were honest cops. I don’t know how to separate them out from my roll.
The city leaning on Sheron to lie about his word goof still hurts us all.
Shikada hurt us all acting like a dictator last week.
The city NOT PAYING enough, or more of their OWN
PENSION gifts, and basing their UN earned raises on what another bloated city gets, ( SAN MATEO sometimes) hurts us
all!
THE COUNCIL Quietly giving THEMSELVES $11, 000,000.
(Mayor Scharf brought it up. It was seconded.)
For upholstery, in 2016, “and for whatever”
was wrong! Nobody cared!
I know you couldn’t find it in the minutes, but I was sitting right in front of The council.
KOU and Tanaka were not in the council yet.
I saw Stanford Center all boarded up today! It made me sad.
But I wanted to say that there are a lot of good cops here.
They are just NOT ASKED TO ENFORCE SPEEDING, here on my Middlefield, which is important to at least 33 of my
friends.
Please see .that David Price sees this.
I don’t give a darn if it’s printed.
11
Sorry, I am so “DEVICED OUT”
that I can’t separate the police photo from the part of my camera space they were in.
Sent from my iPhone
Tired of staying in,
Geri Mcgilvray
Everyday safety and walkability
Palo Alto
Redacted
12
Baumb, Nelly
From:Alexandra Papa <xannpap@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 8:41 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Written public comments for council meeting
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Council Members,
I wanted to voice my concerns about the city of Palo Alto Police Department's lack of movement over banning
chockholds/strangle holds after the murder of George Floyd, but also in general. I am also concerned about the high
level of arrests for low‐level crimes compared to other police forces, such as San Mateo. In addition, I believe that the
police force could benefit from regular, yearly training from mental health professionals to increase understanding and a
trauma informed response.
Thank you,
Alexandra Papa
13
Baumb, Nelly
From:Rabbi Amy Eilberg <rebamy1@gmail.com> on behalf of Rabbi Amy Eilberg <rebamy@eilberg.com>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 5:30 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Please do the right thing!
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear members of the Palo Alto City Council,
I am a rabbi and interfaith/social justice activist in Palo Alto. I understand that tonight you are
considering a proposal to substantially address structural inequities in the systems governing police
action in Palo Alto. I know that in some cases, Palo Alto has already addressed requested reforms.
But there is so much more to do to ensure that black and brown people receive the full dignity they deserve
and can relax their constant fear that an encounter with a police officer could be fatal.
I ask you to adopt the full “8Can’tWait” proposal put forward by Rev. Kaloma Smith. Doing so would offer a
significant message of support to black and brown people in Palo Alto, and to all of us who hunger for justice.
To fail to do so would be a gross failure of leadership.
Many thanks for your consideration,
Rabbi Amy Eilberg
There is a turning point on this path when we understand that the pain and heartbreak in life is not an obstacle, but
rather fuel for awakening. When we understand this deep in our bones, the resistance softens. We can turn willingly
towards the truth, even when it’s hard. (Oren Jay Sofer)
Rabbi Amy Eilberg
(she/her/hers)
Spiritual Director, Kindness Coach, Peace and Justice Educator
rebamy@eilberg.com
www.rabbiamyeilberg.com
Author, From Enemy to Friend: Jewish Wisdom and the Pursuit of Peace (Orbis Books)
14
Baumb, Nelly
From:Carl Darling <cdarling@sbcglobal.net>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 5:03 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:attended the meeting of Police Chief Advisory Board today and
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
After almost 2 years of meetings and public appearances wanted to offer my support to him at this time of budget
planning. My input is to give the police a high priority in the process of budget cuts. When compared to the Fire dept. I
would look at cuts to the Fire dept instead. This is from my experience as a long time resident
I feel that we are fortunate to have the Chief at this time to be a mediator. This is a high quality police dept and this is
known within the area. I am interested in being part of the human relations group and am a retired engineer for major
firms in this area and internationaly
Regards,
Carl Darling
http://cdarling@sbcglobal.net
Redacted
15
Baumb, Nelly
From:Thomas Carey White IV <thwhite@stanford.edu>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 4:39 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 All,
My name is Thomas White, and I’m a resident of Palo Alto. I’m calling in to support in the strongest terms the Black Lives
Matter Movement and the commitment to Review Police and Public Safety Practices. However, I think we need to do
more than just incremental reform.
It is clear that the Palo Alto Police Department needs a fundamental change. I have deep respect for our
servicemembers, but asking armed police officers to solve the countless problems plaguing the city is just asking for
problems. The city needs to fundamentally reimagine the role of the police, letting them do what they are good at while
reallocating a lot of funding to community programs to prevent these problems at their source.
If this is not taken, the PAPD will continue to struggle with acts of violence and injustice. The time to reform our broken
system is now. Please help build alternatives to the policing system immediately.
And, in the meanwhile, pass all of these today, they’re easy and effective and cannot wait any longer: 8cantwait.org.
This is a historic moment. Please do the right thing.
Best,
Thomas
16
Baumb, Nelly
From:Anna <pandahour@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 4:20 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Comments for tonight's City Council hearing
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
I'm writing to express my dissatisfaction with the Council's proposed Black Lives Matter Resolution. The Resolution does
absolutely nothing ‐‐ it makes no real commitments to root out systemic and systematic racism.
As a Palo Alto resident, I want to see an actual plan from the City Council that addresses how the Council plans to re‐
examine policies, practices, and programs to root out inherent racism and discrimination, as well as a plan to
redistribute police funding to new frontline services (I.e. mental health professionals, social workers, educational
services, etc.).
We need increased accountability, which includes firing Officer DeStefano. We don't want performative allyship. We
want REAL action, REAL change. We're determined to see justice prevail and we're prepared to vote in Councilmembers
who will see to that.
In Solidarity,
Anna Berman
17
Baumb, Nelly
From:Michael Solorio <msolorio312@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 4:16 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Public Comment for 6/8 meeting
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hi,
My name is Michael Solorio and I want to urge the Council to disarm and defund the Palo Alto police department. The
police department has shamefully inflicted violence upon Black and Brown people and increased the wealth disparity
between ethnic groups. Therefore if you're committed to supporting your residents of color, and if you really believe
Black Lives Matter, you should reallocate resources from the police budget into community development programs.
18
Baumb, Nelly
From:Sophie Tsang <sophie@compass.com>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 3:54 PM
To:Council, City
Cc:Sophie Tsang
Subject:regarding budget cut on police department
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
hi City Council,
I am a palo alto resident. I have gone through Citizen police academy, and currently on the police chief advisory
board, because I volunteered to participate, Robert didn't call me to ask me.
I answered Steven Lee's inquiry on Nextdoor and Chinese parent weChat group, and want to make sure my opinion is
known here.
Cutting the budget in police force or hiring is putting our safety at risk. Assuming they are bad cops because they are
cops is no different than being a racist. Palo Alto police are not Minnesota police.
Being a palo alto resident and having to fight for keeping the police department intact against 'popular opinions' is just
ridiculous. If there are not enough law enforcement officers, when crimes happen, who do we call? Supporting BLM
movement does not equal to reducing police funding, just the opposite. And taking opinions from people who know
nothing about what police do nor don't care to know, or people who don't live in Palo Alto, I don't get it. We elected city
counsel to make the right decisions on our behalf, please at least take the time to understand what police do.
Thank you,
‐‐
Sophie Tsang
Broker Associate, MBA
DRE#01399145
www.SophieTsang.com
Redacted
19
Baumb, Nelly
From:Heidi Schwenk <heidi29@me.com>
Sent:Saturday, June 6, 2020 12:06 PM
To:Council, City; City Mgr
Subject:Saturday June 6, 2020, 11:56 AM Protest!
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
Hello City Council, Mayor & Manager,
Were you here?! I hope so!
This picture is only one taken before the protest started. More to come!
Palo Alto needs serious reform in every way ‐ all city hall salaries reduced, no one is to be left out, no programs cut the
benefit the mental and physical health of the community, no programs stopped or vital police or firefighters let go to
protect the health and welfare of all citizens (youngest to oldest).
Sincerely
Heidi Schwenk
Sent from my iPhone
20
Baumb, Nelly
From:Albert Henning <albertkhenning@yahoo.com>
Sent:Saturday, June 6, 2020 12:09 AM
To:City Mgr; Police; Council, City
Cc:Supervisor Simitian
Subject:Curfew; and, accountability
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Mr Shikada and City Council members,
Thank you for ending the curfew. Thanks to Chief Jonsen and PAPD for their efforts the last few
days. And thanks to my friends and neighbors, for continuing to perform responsibly as well.
As for my earlier comments regarding trust: In light of the recent events dominating our country's
attention, I wonder now if Council regrets the changed contractual arrangement with OIR Group, as
reported in the PA Weekly last December (link)? And very much to the point: when will PAPD and the
City release the report regarding the incident of 17 February 2018?
Policing in this nation must be reformed from top to bottom. Personnel. Leadership in the department.
Leadership in the union. Leadership and management from the City and Council. Tactics, training,
and technology. Policing itself: the attitudes, assumptions, and expectations on behalf of police
officers must change. The law, the DAs, and the courts. All must be reformed.
Do you all have the mindset to see your way through to the reforms which must be made? Will you
follow the lead of the City Council of Minneapolis?
We have two major forces in society -- one relating to health, the other relating to justice -- which
dictate that we cannot, we will not return to the 'old normal'. Please: stop fighting the changes which
must be made. Lead, or get out of the way.
Sincerely,
Al Henning
=======
Albert K. Henning, PhD
199 Heather Lane Palo Alto, CA 94303
(mobile)
albertkhenning@yahoo.com
On Wednesday, June 3, 2020, 11:05:01 AM PDT, Albert Henning <albertkhenning@yahoo.com> wrote:
Dear City Manager Shikada, Chief Jonsen, and members of the City Council,
Redacted
21
The City Manager has imposed a 10-day curfew, as of last night. The duration is highly dissimilar to
surrounding communities. The explanations given fall short of reasonable justification, and so appear
to be simply rationalizations.
This community is intelligent, yet responsible and compliant. We can handle the light of truth. The bar
for evidence, and the expectations for transparency in extraordinary circumstances (such as
imposition of an unprecedented curfew), are high. You have fallen short.
Mr Shikada and Chief Jonsen joined two ministers Monday to write, in part: "We condemn the actions
and inaction of the police officers in Minnesota and we do not tolerate or condone this type of
behavior in Palo Alto at any level. Their actions have had a tremendous impact on all police officers
serving communities like Palo Alto all across our great nation."
While laudable, the statement is not believable. The events of 17 February 2018 -- which came to
light in a video revealed in July of 2019, and which were discussed in an interview between Chief
Jonsen and Gennady Sheyner, published on 13 March 2020 -- belie the statement entirely.
Elaboration is unnecessary.
So, while I have full faith in the County and its health officer regarding the justification for the shelter-
in-place orders relative to SARS-CoV-2; and, while I have complied, and will comply, with those
orders; yet, I have little faith in you, regarding this imposition of a curfew. I don't know who convinced
you the curfew order was a good idea. I don't know what data you relied upon. You give us little
information, then ask us to trust your judgement. But I cannot, because your behaviors relative to the
Alvarez case prove you are not worthy of that trust.
The events from Monday were disruptive but peaceful; I could hear much of the commotion from my
second-floor window, and what I heard was corroborated by news reports. Tuesday, the first night of
the curfew, I see nothing in the news, and heard nothing of import, compared to Monday. Law
enforcement is to be commended for eschewing Monday the heavy hand deployed by, for instance,
the President in Lafayette Square. That's a great start toward rebuilding trust. But you have far to go.
And the process of arriving at a curfew, and the curfew itself, are steps backward.
Sincerely,
Al Henning
=======
Albert K. Henning, PhD
199 Heather Lane Palo Alto, CA 94303
albertkhenning@yahoo.com
Redacted
1
Baumb, Nelly
From:Randi Brown <ranbrow202@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, June 9, 2020 1:10 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Community member support for 8 Can't Wait policies and broader reform
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Palo Alto City Council Members,
Thank you for your service to the Palo Alto community. I am emailing to add my voice to many others asking for progress
towards social justice in policing.
I am grateful for your resolution to support the Black Lives Matter movement. I hope that next week this commitment
translates into adoption of the policies outlined in the "8 Can't Wait" campaign, including banning use of the carotid
restraint, requiring use of de‐escalation techniques, establishing a use of force continuum, and requiring that all
instances in which an officer points a firearm at a civilian are reported.
I also hope that the council will continue to ensure opportunities for the voices of black community members to be
heard in these conversations for how to reform Palo Alto's policing.
Finally, I ask that the city council establish a working group to generate a plan for addressing the larger‐scale racial
disparities in Palo Alto and neighboring communities; specifically, differences in access to housing and equitable
education. As a well‐resourced community, I believe Palo Alto has an opportunity to research and implement large‐scale
reforms to move towards justice for community members who hold minority ethnic and racial identities as well as to set
an example for the nation as a whole.
Many thanks,
Randi
2
Baumb, Nelly
From:Vera Michalchik <vera.michalchik@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 5:49 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Please adopt 8can'twait
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
As a long time resident, I take these matters seriously and feel responsible for their implementation.
Thank you,
Vera Michalchik, PhD
3
Baumb, Nelly
From:Charisse M. Counsil <cmyung@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 3:59 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Item 4a. Palo Alto Reform
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
As a bay area native and current resident I am fortunate to have witnessed 4 decades of innovation and
entrepreneurship. Here in the Silicon Valley we have been pioneers of change and brought new technologies, platforms
and ideas to the world. Through this we have gained global power and influence. But we have failed to apply that same
innovation and progress here in our home town, to our justice system and we have failed our black and brown residents
and communities. But now we have a chance to course correct, to be a model of social change and justice in the way
that we have been a model in technology and innovation. I stand with Kaloma and the ideas brought forth as tangible
ways we can take action to end injustice.
4
Baumb, Nelly
From:Jan Terry <janterry@sbcglobal.net>
Sent:Monday, June 8, 2020 3:37 PM
To:Michael and Gen Briggs
Cc:Council, City; City Mgr; Fire; Police; OES; Mark Nadim; Blackshire, Geoffrey
Subject:Severe Reduction of Police and Fire Coverage for Palo Alto Hills Neighborhood
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Gen,
Thank you for copying me on your response to Lydia Kou, City Council Member. Lydia did not support the cuts to the
Police and Fire as well as Greg Tanaka and Tom DuBois, but four other members voted against her. Remember that
when you vote next time. These are my views and advice about the current situation.
Public Safety is NOT the number one priority for the City of Palo Alto. The Mayor of Palo Alto, Adrian Fine, was
quoted as saying public safety is the “core obligation and responsibility in the community.” But he clearly does not believe
this because he voted for all the cuts. Essentially, the City Council has told us it is not as important as the Newell Bridge
for the Crescent Neighborhood or the Library in the College Terrace Neighborhood. The cuts to Police and Fire are
savage, and do not reflect a balanced view of the importance of safety and service to Palo Alto Community. When you
have a medical emergency, an automobile accident with injury, a house fire, or a wildlands fire, the response time will be
very long. Before the cuts, it took 17 minutes from the time the Fire Department gets the call from dispatch, to arrive to
our street. I know this from personal experience. The City Council thinks our fallback will be Santa Clara County Fire,
which would be double the response before the cuts. The City Council must think that Santa Clara County Fire will not
also be facing fiscal cutbacks.
You have the right to protect yourself and your property. It’s called the Castle Law, and is not the same as Stand
Your Ground. I personally do not believe in having guns in my house because they could be stolen or
misused. However, others do not agree with me. The break-ins and burglaries in our neighborhood so far, have been
when the occupants have been gone. Not one of those cases has been solved, or even actively investigated after the
initial crime visit. Cameras, alarms and locked doors can act as a deterrent, and even those have not been successful in
the last four burglaries.
The biggest threat to your safety right now is fire. The fire season has started and we hear of grass fires throughout
the Bay Area. If you haven't already done so, you need to get your GO BAG prepared with two days of clothing, your
medication for at least two weeks, and any other things you need to be away safely for several weeks. Plan your
evaluation and share it with your family and perhaps your neighbors. I know our Fire Department will do everything
they can with Santa Clara County Fire and CalFire backing them up with air support. But, I fear this will be as big a
fire season as the last three years. Please remember the advice that was given to us last summer at the meeting at my
house from Palo Alto's Office of Emergency Services about keeping your landline, having secondary lighting, and
water. Most of the deaths in these last major fires were from asphyxiation. Your N95 masks with valves will be important
to have, get them now if you don't have them. Never turn on your air conditioner in your car as you are driving away. The
Palo Alto Golf and Country Club is a designated "safe zone," with its grass and water, but you must decide if the smoke is
so bad you need to get further away towards the Bay. They have no accommodations for overnight shelter.
I know this all sounds scary. But, the fact that the City Council would cut back the very services that might save lives this
summer because they do not have the courage to put off infrastructure improvements, brings our risk into a sharp focus.
Sun, Jun 7 at 10:18 PM
Dear Ms. Kou,
Please tell me this is not true. The city is cutting FIRE AND POLICE at this time of year, and in the current atmosphere !
5
That is the most irresponsible thing I have ever heard. PROTECTION of our lives and property is their FIRST obligation
. The news
states there will be “brownouts” that could see closures of fire stations when staffing is too low and that the POLICE are
FACING THE
BIGGEST CUTS . If there is a fire at that particular time, then what ? Or, if a protest becomes violent, then what ?
Citizens are not able to put out fires or protect themselves. Unless they suggest we all go out and buy guns, what is the
council’s
plan to mitigate their responsibility.
Could you please discuss this with the other council members to let them know we are frightened, anxious , and unhappy
residence
of 39 years. The survey results I saw, showed that I am far from alone in this.
Sincerely,
Gen & Mike Briggs
6
Baumb, Nelly
From:Carol Muller <cblue@stanfordalumni.org>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 11:38 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Independent Police Auditor
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Members of the City Council,
I commend Palo Alto for its farsightedness in contracting with an independent police auditor (OIR Group). In these
perilous times of overlapping challenges of COVID‐19, plummeting resources due to the impact of COVID‐19, civil unrest
due to inequalities sustained over centuries of neglect and exacerbated by COVID‐19, and evident police brutality, we
need an independent police auditor more than ever.
I would like to see the City Council take a much stronger stand for regularity, timeliness, and especially, transparency,
with respect to the auditor's reports. These reports should not be solely under the purview of the City and its Police
Department. If the police are acting appropriately, and an independent auditor verifies their actions, those together can
give Palo Altans greater confidence in and respect for their police force.
The original arrangement with the independent police auditor was set up the way it was for a reason. Changing the
process, as the City Manager proposed, and the City Council approved, in December 2019
(https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=61887.82&BlobID=75662) is a recipe for mistrust. I
hope you will consider restoring this process to its original construct, so that it can continue to function with integrity in
Palo Alto. As our elected officials, please trust but verify.
Thank you,
Carol Muller
Palo Alto, CA
1
Baumb, Nelly
From:David Bergen <david.bergen@outlook.com>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 3:47 PM
To:Shikada, Ed; Council, City
Subject:Pilot closure of University and California Avenues- YES!
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hello,
I am writing to support the pilot closure of University and California Avenues to allow more outdoor dining during the
summer months. This will really help our restaurants to survive during the severe measures taken to combat the
pandemic. Impact on parking and traffic will be minimal. Please support our small businesses by supporting this
measure!
Sincerely,
David Bergen
Palo Alto resident
2
Baumb, Nelly
From:Jake Millan <biodieselmillan@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 2:33 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Closing University and Cal Ave for Cars
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hi Palo Alto City Council and Mr. Shikada,
Please, please, please restrict cars to University and Cal Ave immediately and indefinitely. This is such a great idea and
has failed in other parts of the world, but I really think Palo Alto is the perfect place for it to succeed. I look forward to
safely dining and enjoying the activated outdoor spaces.
Thanks,
Jake Millan
Palo Alto Resident ‐ Downtown North
‐‐
Jake Millan mobile) biodieselmillan@gmail.com
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Redacted
3
Baumb, Nelly
From:Mimi Salmon <mimi.salmon@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 2:20 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Shared Streets proposal for University Ave and Cal Ave
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hello,
I strongly support this proposal to close University Ave and
California Avenue to auto/bus traffic and open the streets for dining
and shopping. If there are side streets that could benefit, they
could be closed as well. (I'm thinking of Evvia and several other
restaurants that are not directly on University or Cal Ave.)
Please implement this proposal,
Mimi Salmon
2491 Bryant Street
Palo Alto CA.
‐‐
Mimi Salmon
cell:
mimi.salmon@gmail.com
Redacted
4
Baumb, Nelly
From:Amber Morgan Smith <5happysmiths@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 1:03 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Out door dining in California Ave and University
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hello
Just wanted to voice my support of closing z University and California Ave to allow restaurants to open and provide
outside dining. Great idea!!!
Amber Smith
5
Baumb, Nelly
From:Eva Dobrov <eva.dobrov@yahoo.com>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 12:51 PM
To:Shikada, Ed; Council, City
Subject:Closing University Avenue and California Avenue
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
Dear City Council,
I understand you are discussing whether to close University Avenue and California Avenue temporarily to allow for
outdoor dining space and additional space for pedestrians.
I would like to voice my support for this proposal. Outdoor dining is the only way I would consider visiting a restaurant
for the foreseeable future. This will allow the space restaurants need to stay in business.
Thank you for your consideration,
Eva Dobrov
Ventura Court, Palo Alto
6
Baumb, Nelly
From:Bill Fitch <facehiker@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 8:29 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Open Cal ave and University to pedestrians
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
I support the idea of opening our streets to pedestrians and closing for cars to help restaurants and businesses. Great
idea!
Bill Fitch
50 year resident of Palo Alto.
7
Baumb, Nelly
From:shantha.rm@gmail.com
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 7:10 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Writing in Support of pilot program to close California and University Avenue to cars
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Just Do it.
Thanks,
Shantha
Greenmeadow Area Resident
Palo Alto
8
Baumb, Nelly
From:Linda Henigin <linda@brail.org>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 12:04 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:I support closing University and Cal Ave to cars
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hello City Council Members and City Manager Shikada,
I am a resident of Palo Alto, and I support the plan to close California and University Avenue to cars, which
would open them both up to pedestrians in need of safe, social distancing and would allow our small
businesses to get back to work.
Thank you!
Linda Henigin
2046 Edgewood Drive
‐‐
Visit Vote.org https://www.vote.org/ to check your voter registration status, register to vote, apply for an absentee
ballot, and sign up for election reminders. Pass it on!
9
Baumb, Nelly
From:GASTON OLVERA <gaston.olvera@icloud.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 7:26 PM
To:Council, City
Cc:Shikada, Ed
Subject:I strongly support closing University Ave and California Ave to car traffic
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
I strongly support closing University Ave and California Ave to car traffic In order to allow for more outdoor dining area
so that the restaurants can attempt to go back to normal.
There are proven occasions (Farmers market, art festival & World Music Day) that show how people respond to the
opportunity of walk‐in on the street while strolling those streets.
Please consider a 2 month trial period. And maybe later this could become permanent or perhaps limited to Friday,
Saturday and Sunday.
For a more walkable community!
Best regards,
Gastón Olvera
Palo Alto CA
Sent from my iPhone
THIS MONDAY City Council will be discussing a potential pilot program to close California and University Avenue to cars ‐
opening it up to pedestrians in need of safe, social distancing and allowing our small businesses to get back to work.
Want to see this happen? Email City Council and the City Manager TODAY:
city.council@cityofpaloalto.org;
Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org
Blog post with more details: https://www.paloaltoforward.com/shared_streets_pilot
10
Baumb, Nelly
From:Glen Segal <glen.segal@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 4:57 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Please close Uni and Cal Ave.
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
Dear City Council,
Please close University Avenue and California Avenue to allow restaurants to operate safely. This will help the small
businesses, help the community’s spirits and our sales tax revenue.
It’s difficult for our great city to act quickly, but speed is necessary in this environment. This is the time to make a
statement and support our businesses and our community. Setting this up as a one or two month trial may be a good
way to molify concerns.
Thank you for your consideration.
Glen Segal
833 Southampton Drive
Palo Alto, Ca.
Redacted
11
Baumb, Nelly
From:William Courington <billcour@sonic.net>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 4:24 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Outdoor dining pilot on University and California
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
I favor a trial if parking can be accommodated without overwhelming nearby residential neighborhoods. This seems
more likely downtown because garage parking is available.
And if evaluation criteria can be agreed to in advance and supported with data collection so the success/failure of the
program can be objectively judged. Reversing what looks like a failed pilot could be politically painful without data. (Ha,
ha, in Palo Alto, even with data.)
William Courington
Byron St.
12
Baumb, Nelly
From:Ms Dawn Billman <dawn_billman@yahoo.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 3:59 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Please close off University and Cal Ave so that the restaurants can open
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
We all need to be safe. Restaurants need the business and people need to SAFELY get out of the
house.
Please close University and Cal Ave to vehicles so that the restaurants can open for business.
Thank you.
Kindly,
Dawn Billman
1450 University Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Redacted
13
Baumb, Nelly
From:helena barrios vincent <helena@hbvarchitecture.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 3:59 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:In support of closing University & California Avenues to traffic to allow for restaurant to operate
outside
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Coulcilmembers and Mr. Shikada,
I am writing to express my support for closing University Ave. & California Ave. to vehicular traffic in order to allow only
pedestrian circulation and to allow restaurants to operate outside to allow them for larger capacity while the pandemic
requirements are in place.
As an architect, I believe it can also serve as a study to see the potential impact of this measure on the character of the
streets, the impact on local businesses and the effect of potentially increased traffic on adjacent streets.
Thanks, Helena Barrios Vincent AIA
helena barrios vincent aia leed ap
principal
hbv architecture
www.hbvarchitecture.com
helena@hbvarchitecture.com
Redacted
14
Baumb, Nelly
From:Linnea WICKSTROM <ljwickstrom@comcast.net>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 2:45 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Yes for pilot closing of University and California Ave to cars
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Members of the City Council, Mr. Shikada
YES to the pilot program to close California and University Avenue to cars ‐ opening it up to pedestrians in
need of safe, social distancing and allowing our small businesses to get back to work.
Linnea Wickstrom
Monroe Drive
Palo Alto
15
Baumb, Nelly
From:Annette Isaacson <annetteisaacson@comcast.net>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 1:09 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:letting restaurants use University Avenue and California Ave for seating
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear City Council Members,
I think restaurant owners and the public would love to have more outdoor seating
during the pandemic. I think people will feel safer eating outdoors, and this, in
turn, will help bring our businesses back.
My son owns two restaurants in SF. He would love to have outdoor seating in the
street up there, but the business streets don't have back alleys for deliveries, so they
can't. University Avenue and California Avenue both have the luxury of having back
alleys so deliveries can continue even if the street is closed.
It's worth a try. Try a one month experiment. Otherwise, our restaurants are going to
go out of business and that will be a big loss to Palo Alto.
Sincerely,
Annette Isaacson
2550 Webster St.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
16
Baumb, Nelly
From:Kelly Johnson Barthelemy <kbarthelemy@stanford.edu>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 1:51 PM
To:Shikada, Ed; Council, City
Subject:Extending business into the streets
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Mayor Shikada and City Council,
My family appreciates and is strongly in favor of allowing local businesses to extend into the streets during certain hours
of the day and evening. It is a great idea and a fantastic way to not only support our local businesses, but a way for those
of us in the community to get out and see one another in a safe manner.
Let’s get people back to work and back to socializing – SAFELY!
Regards,
Kelly Barthelemy
Palo Alto resident
Kelly J. Barthelemy, Engagement and Outreach
Stanford University | Office of Development
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center | 326 Galvez St., Stanford, CA 94305
| kbarthelemy@stanford.edu
Redacte
d
17
Baumb, Nelly
From:Ellen Smith <ef44smith@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 3:25 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Shared streets
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
I support a pilot program to close California and University Avenue to
cars - opening it up to pedestrians in need of safe, social distancing and
allowing our small businesses to get back to work.
Ellen Smith
1469 Dana Ave.
18
Baumb, Nelly
From:Barbara Gretler <bgretler@icloud.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 12:44 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Pilot Program
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hello,
As a resident of Palo Alto since 1999, I fully support a pilot program to close California and University Avenue to cars ‐
opening it up to pedestrians in need of safe, social distancing and allowing small businesses to get back to work.
Thank you for reading my email and taking my opinion into count.
Sincerely,
Barbara Gretler
Matadero Ave
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
19
Baumb, Nelly
From:Salmon, Charles <Charles_Salmon@intuit.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 12:25 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Closing University and California avenues
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
I strongly support the pilot programs to close these streets to cars. I think it’s an excellent idea.
css
20
Baumb, Nelly
From:susan chamberlain <suschamberlain@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 11:47 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:YES to closing Cal ave and University ave to cars
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
An emphatic YES!!! to closing Cal ave and University Ave. to cars. a win‐win on many fronts ‐ a boon to restaurants on
those streets, less cars, pedestrian friendly.
Thank you
Susan Chamberlain
121 Byron St.
Palo Alto
21
Baumb, Nelly
From:Joyce Beattie <jycbyt@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 11:54 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Close California and University Avenues
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hopefully this will allow the businesses on these streets to continue to serve us and thrive. And we will have
the joy of open trafficless plazas.
This will be enhanced by your far seeing expansion, NOT elimination of a REAL Citywide free shuttle service
for west as well as east Palo Alto City residents. Not just Middlefield, Lytton, and ½ block of E.Charlston Rd.
C'mon, do something we can be proud of NOW and for the future!
Please.
Joyce Beattie
22
Baumb, Nelly
From:Susie Hwang <shwang@me.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 11:42 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Please open up PA commercial streeets
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
University Ave and Cal Ave, so that our restaurants and other businesses can make it, and so that we can support them
safely.
Thank you,
Susie Hwang
23
Baumb, Nelly
From:David Kleiman <dkleiman@d2realty.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 11:40 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Street closure University and Cal Avenues-Input from a downtown resident and multiple property
owner
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
I'm a commercial developer and downtown resident, living in one of my properties.
I commend the council on considering this novel idea.
My hope is that this idea be tried for a very short period of time, perhaps a week or so, to gauge the impact, both
positive and negative, that results from it.
I hope that the positive effect that's anticipated does in fact materialize, and that conversely, any negative impacts, such
as the resultant traffic flows that will be required, will not make it difficult to navigate the downtown area for those in
motor vehicles.
I can state without hesitation that the intersection of High & University becomes very challenging when University is
closed at that intersection during special events. Traffic backs up towards Stanford, and forces people into
using alternate routes, such as Embarcadero, as workarounds.
Perhaps it would be best to commission a traffic study to gauge these impacts, before embarking on this experiment.
Thank you for considering these thoughts.
Sincerely,
David Kleiman
24
Baumb, Nelly
From:Judith Wasserman <jwarqiteq@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 11:40 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Closing streets so restaurants can open
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear City Council and City Manager Shikada ‐
Temporarily closing University Avenue and California Avenue to car traffic is a brilliant idea with no down side, since it is
temporary and easily reversed.
Our local businesses are hurting; please do this to help them. According to the Chamber of Commerce, there is
overwhelming support among the merchants.
Thank you very much,
Judith Wasserman
Bressack & Wasserman Architects
751 Southampton Drive
Palo Alto CA 94303
ph:
fx:
www.bressackandwasserman.com
Redacted
Redacted
25
Baumb, Nelly
From:TUBA PALO ALTO <tubapaloalto@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, June 3, 2020 4:53 PM
To:Greg St.Claire
Cc:67576 Subway; Apple, Kara; Charlie Weidanz; Cormack, Alison; Eggleston, Brad; Elena Kadvany; Emily
Perry Wilson; George, Robert; Guillaume Bienaime; Horrigan-Taylor, Meghan;
Joyhome_ca@hotmail.com; Kleinberg, Judy; Kniss, Liz (external); Shikada, Ed; Sprout Cafe; Tanner,
Rachael; akiko@yayoi-us.com; alisi@oldpropa.com; blake@thepawineroom.com;
cafevenetia@gmail.com; carrubba@gmail.com; ciao@gelataio.us; Council, City;
currypizzahouse@gmail.com; douglas@onigilly.com; eat@bevri.com; estherwg1951@gmail.com;
evvia@evvia.com; faith@bellsbooks.com; francisco@pizzamyheart.com; frankattpg@aol.com;
hello@dangordons.com; hello@oldpropa.com; human@saltandstraw.com; info@burmaruby.com;
info@curryupnow.com; info@gong-cha-usa.com; info@joyarestaurant.com; info@roohpaloalto.com;
info@steampaloalto.com; info@tacolicious.com; info@taipanpaloalto.com; info@tubapaloalto.com;
info@vinolocale.com; info@wbnorcal.com; jselzer@paloaltobicycles.com; justin wong;
justinyoungyun@gmail.com; kiana.bueler@saltandstraw.com; kiana.bueller@saltandstraw.com;
kristinegamble@philzcoffee.com; mazen@crepevine.com; mike@thepawineroom.com;
mk@maumgroup.com; nancy@coupacafe.com; nasaraejohnson@vervecoffee.com;
neeraj@sliderbarusa.com; paloalto@noburestaurants.com; paloalto@pizzeriadelfina.com;
paloaltothai@gmail.com; peter@sushirrito.com; quob@hotmail.com; ramona@coupacafe.com;
robfischer@mac.com; roussell@orenshummus.com; saundra.nguyen@sweetgreen.com;
scoopyoulater@gmail.com; son.vo@comcast.net; ssinchek1@gmail.com; ssinchek@gmail.com;
suewcw@gmail.com; tanya@tamarinegroup.com; thelowdown@birddog.com; thepatio@gmail.com;
thetaproompa@gmail.com; ty@sushirrito.com; wafa@creamnation.com; whitney@fivetengifts.com
Subject:Re: University Ave Summer Street Program
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hi
What’s newest update ?
Ben
On Tue, Jun 2, 2020 at 5:07 PM Greg St.Claire <greg@avenir‐rg.com> wrote:
Everyone,
I have a very successful parklet in San Carlos in front of Town. I am in agreement that parklets work best unless you
have an incredibly dense restaurant stretch on both sides of the street. They have far less impact on the flow of a city
and they are a desired design element of any downtown location. I am just finishing a draft of a parallel parklet and I
have a design for angled parking (Town) I am happy to host a Zoom meeting this week to discuss some design ideas.
Apologies for dropping off the radar. I am dealing with reconceptializing my entire company, changing POS systems and
most recently boarding up everywhere.
What I do know is the largest real estate holders are not in favor of closing streets. They are in favor of parklets. We all
spoke last week.
Best,
Greg
26
Greg St Claire
Owner
Avenir Restaurant Group
www.avenir‐rg.com
www.townsc.com
www.nolas.com
www.milagrosrc.com
www.ranchoalena.com
www.alpineinnpv.com
On Tue, Jun 2, 2020 at 9:52 AM Emily Perry Wilson <emily@birddogpa.com> wrote:
Good morning,
Thanks to all for the proposal and input. I was on by phone yesterday and agree that parklets are the most viable,
beneficial option. I don’t support closing the streets.
I appreciate that most seem to understand the urgency and that quick action should be taken.
Stay well,
Emily
emily perry wilson
BIRD DOG
birddogpa.com
managing partner
m
On Jun 2, 2020, at 9:28 AM, Guillaume Bienaime <guillaumebienaime@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello all,
I need to state that I am not in support of closing the streets. I believe this is a weak move that will
only benefit restaurants on University Avenue. I believe this is a PR stunt that avoids offending the
constituents in Palo Alto.
We need parklets NOW!!!!!! What are we afraid of?
The city needs to hire an architect, create blueprints and hire contractors. It does not need to be
complicated.
I will be sending a more elaborate proposition shortly, but wanted to make sure my position is clear.
Thank you,
Guillaume`
On Tue, Jun 2, 2020 at 9:16 AM Sprout Cafe <sproutcafe@gmail.com> wrote:
Please ignore my previous email everyone. Sorry for the confusion as it was for a different recipient.
Stay safe!
Redacted
Redacted
27
On Jun 2, 2020, at 9:14 AM, Sprout Cafe <sproutcafe@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Shikada,’
FYI, the changes you guys are making on our Doordash Menu is affecting our current
integration on Chowly. We are switching services from them but just thought I
remind you guys of that. We will deactivate Chowly once we go live with Checkmate.
Also, the menu COVID 19 meal kit is not part of our Doordash menu. I deactivated it
a few times but noticed it keeps popping back up. If I deactivate a menu item, should
I let you guys know also so it won’t be put back on Doordash?
For our Caviar integration, is that also going to happen when we go live on
Doordash?
Thank you,
Vinh
On Jun 1, 2020, at 10:54 PM, Shikada, Ed
<Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org> wrote:
Hello all –
With apologies for the delay, attached is the presentation from
today’s meeting as well as the following link to the public health
order update:
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Documents/Appendix‐C1‐
Additional‐Businesses‐06‐05‐20.pdf
Best regards,
‐‐Ed
<image002.png>Ed Shikada
City Manager
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329‐2280ed.shikada@cityofpaloalto.org
28
‐‐‐‐‐Original Appointment‐‐‐‐‐
From: Shikada, Ed
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2020 8:35 PM
To: Shikada, Ed; Kara Apple; Tanner, Rachael; Meghan Horrigan‐
Taylor; Eggleston,
Brad; nancy@coupacafe.com; ssinchek@gmail.com; kristinegamble
@philzcoffee.com; justinyoungyun@gmail.com; tanya@tamarinegro
up.com; GuillaumeBienaime@gmail.com; suewcw@gmail.com; jselz
er@paloaltobicycles.com; quob@hotmail.com; whitney@fivetengifts
.com; faith@bellsbooks.com; saundra.nguyen@sweetgreen.com;
Alison Cormack; Liz Kniss (external); Judy Kleinberg; Charlie
Weidanz; carrubba@gmail.com; frankattpg@aol.com; Greg St.Claire;
Elena Kadvany
Cc: nasaraejohnson@vervecoffee.com; douglas@onigilly.com; sprou
tcafe@gmail.com; francisco@pizzamyheart.com; kiana.bueler@salta
ndstraw.com; neeraj@sliderbarusa.com; wafa@creamnation.com; p
eter@sushirrito.com; ty@sushirrito.com; son.vo@comcast.net; akiko
@yayoi‐
us.com; mazen@crepevine.com; ssinchek1@gmail.com; roussell@or
enshummus.com; thetaproompa@gmail.com; info@steampaloalto.c
om; scoopyoulater@gmail.com; estherwg1951@gmail.com; info@w
bnorcal.com; kiana.bueller@saltandstraw.com; human@saltandstra
w.com; mk@maumgroup.com; paloaltothai@gmail.com; currypizzah
ouse@gmail.com; info@burmaruby.com; info@roohpaloalto.com; c
afevenetia@gmail.com; info@joyarestaurant.com; paloalto@nobure
staurants.com; info@curryupnow.com; evvia@evvia.com; thepatio
@gmail.com; info@tacolicious.com; hello@dangordons.com;paloalt
o@pizzeriadelfina.com; hello@oldpropa.com; ramona@coupacafe.c
om; mike@thepawineroom.com; blake@thepawineroom.com; thelo
wdown@birddog.com; eat@bevri.com; thelowdown@birddogpa.co
m; info@tubapaloalto.com; info@zolapa.com; info@taipanpaloalto.c
om; info@gong‐cha‐
usa.com;info@vinolocale.com; ciao@gelataio.us; alisi@oldpropa.co
m; Joyhome_ca@hotmail.com; George, Robert; 67576 Subway;
justin wong; robfischer@mac.com
Subject: University Ave Summer Street Program
When: Monday, June 1, 2020 3:30 PM‐4:30 PM (UTC‐08:00) Pacific
Time (US & Canada).
Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84562957571
Dear Downtown Business Owner,
In anticipation of the (hopefully soon) Health Order allowing on‐site
and outdoor dining, the City of Palo Alto requests your participation
in planning for pilot closure of University Avenue. As soon as next
weekend, we could be ready to implement street closures to support
your business recovery and active customer enjoyment.
29
Preliminary plans for street closures are being developed for closure
of University Avenue between Waverley Street and Emerson
Street. Initially, the pilot would run Thursday mornings thru Sunday
evenings, beginning June 4 or the first Friday after on‐site dining is
allowed by the Santa Clara County Health Officer through the month
of June.
The goal of this closure is to encourage businesses to use the public
spaces and residents to support our local businesses. We will use
this opportunity to see what works in terms of use and access to the
shared spaces, safety, parking, and staffing requirements.
The City is organizing this kickoff meeting with businesses to
coordinate plans and address issues. Feel free to forward this
invitation to others that may be interested. Staff also welcomes
your feedback at citymgr@cityofpaloalto.org.
Best regards,
‐‐Ed Shikada
City Manager
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84562957571
Meeting ID: 845 6295 7571
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,84562957571# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,84562957571# US (Houston)
Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 845 6295 7571
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kBdAvZEDZ
<Summer Streets 6‐1‐2020.pdf>
‐‐
Guillaume Bienaimé
Proprietor
Zola
zolapa.com
barzolapa.com
1
Baumb, Nelly
From:Jamie O'Connell <jpdoconnell@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 2:02 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:SUPPORT for California Avenue closure pilot
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Councillors and Manager Shikada,
I am writing to strongly support the pilot plan to close the California Avenue commercial district to vehicle traffic and
use the street for outside dining for local restaurants, perhaps among other uses. I live one mile from the district, and
my family and I shop and eat there very frequently. We regularly bike, walk, and drive to and through the area that
would be closed.
Closing the street to traffic would benefit businesses and customers. We are gravely concerned for the survival of
various beloved restaurants — yet we are reluctant to eat indoors due to the infection risk from Covid‐19. We long to
return to them, but would only feel comfortable doing so at outside tables that were placed far apart. Even those
establishments that had outdoor space — such as Joanie’s Cafe, where my wife and I had a standing couple date until
March — do not have enough to safely distance tables. The proposed street closure would solve this problem
beautifully.
We see no downside to the pilot, and would support implementing it permanently, 24/7. Traffic flows easily along
parallel streets, nearly all of the parking for the shopping district is easily accessible from them, and California Ave itself
has few parking spaces.
Usually in municipal governance you face difficult tradeoffs between needs and groups of citizens. This is a wonderful
and rare initiative with no serious downsides—and which is urgent now to support local businesses on the brink. It
also can bring pleasure to residents and a sense of community after months of quarantine — but at safe distances.
We were looking forward to enjoying outdoor dining on California Avenue this weekend and are disappointed that the
plan has been delayed. Please initiate it as soon as possible!
Sincerely,
Jamie O’Connell
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Jamie O’Connell
Lecturer in Residence
Stanford Law School
559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305
Tel: Redacted
2
Email: joconnell@law.stanford.edu
Website: https://law.stanford.edu/directory/jamie-oconnell/
______________________________________________________________________________________________
3
Baumb, Nelly
From:Devon Elizabeth Ryan <devonr@stanford.edu>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 1:58 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Support for Making California Avenue Pedestrian
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Dear City Manager Shikada and members of the Palo Alto City Council,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for a pilot program to make the commercial zone of California Avenue
closed to car traffic and open to pedestrian activities. More space for outdoor dining will help our beloved local
businesses recover more from the hit they’ve taken during the Covid‐19 pandemic as well as give a new, fun and vibrant
shopping and dining experience for residents who frequent this area. I live about a 12 minute walk from Cal Ave
restaurants and would appreciate the opportunity to visit them with more options for social distancing and outdoor
space. This would be a wonderful thing for our community and I urge you to support it.
Thank you,
Devon Ryan
1430 Columbia Court
Palo Alto, CA 94304
4
Baumb, Nelly
From:Enoch Choi <enochchoi@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 1:21 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Open streets to outdoor seating
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
As a palo alto homeowner and past PAMF partner and now full time SCVMC practicing physician caring for covid patients
on the front lines, I agree with a Palo Alto business owner who said, “Opening streets to outdoor seating would be
brilliant for the community and essential for restaurants to survive. Strongly appreciate and support this idea.”
If social distancing is honored, the health risks are low, other than the extra pounds we add to our waist line on top of
the covid‐19 lbs we've added ;)
‐enoch
‐‐
Enoch Choi, MD
Redacted
Redacted
Redacted
5
Baumb, Nelly
From:Kevin Nicholas Kiningham <kkiningh@stanford.edu>
Sent:Friday, June 5, 2020 12:04 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Support for Outdoor Dining & Retail
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
Hello,
I’m a resident of Palo Alto and I’d like to express support for the outdoor dining and retail proposal to be discussed at
the June 8th Council meeting. I think opening streets to outdoor seating would be an excellent change for the
community and a great way to support local businesses in these challenging times.
Thanks,
Kevin Kiningham
6
Baumb, Nelly
From:Kirsten Leimroth <kleimroth@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 11:44 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Street Closures!
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attachments and clicking on links.
Please do!
This will greatly help businesses. They cannot survive with the amount of people they can fit inside. People
need this! Get it done!
Thank you,
Kirsten Leimroth
235 Byron St DT North
7
Baumb, Nelly
From:Amie Ashton <aashton@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 7:09 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Support Open Streets
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attachments and clicking on links.
Honorable City Council,
I am writing to support Open Streets for downtown and Cal Ave. I frequented both locations at least three times per
week pre‐covid, always on my bike or walking. I look forward to eating out and shopping in the beautiful summer
weather while social distancing and enjoying carless and car‐light public spaces.
Other area cities have very successfully experimented with open‐street concepts for temporary events (Mountain View,
Campbell, San Jose, etc.) and I am excited to see Palo Alto move in this direction as well but on a more permanent basis.
This is a smart move for health, business revenues, and for building community spirit! Hooray for open streets for the
protection of kids, adults, and seniors.
Amie Ashton
236 Middlefield Rd.
8
Baumb, Nelly
From:Urs Hölzle <urs.hoelzle@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 5:04 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Pilot Shared Streets
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Opening streets to outdoor seating would be brilliant for the community and essential for restaurants to survive.
Strongly appreciate and support this idea.
Thanks,
‐Urs
9
Baumb, Nelly
From:Marian Scheuer Sofaer <marian.sofaer@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 2:10 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:open city streets to restaurants
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attachments and clicking on links.
I support opening our city streets and parking lots to our local restaurants and possibly other retail without a permit
system that would require lawyers and a lot of time.
Marian Sofaer, Professorville.
10
Baumb, Nelly
From:RANETTE FLETCHER <ranette.fletcher@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 12:44 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Re: In favor of creating parklets for outdoor dining space
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attachments and clicking on links.
[sorry for the autocorrect typo!]
On Jun 4, 2020, at 12:41 PM, RANETTE FLETCHER <ranette.fletcher@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Members of the Palo Alto City Council:
I am a long time Palo Alto resident, since 1983, and love the great variety of restaurants our town has to
offer. Please seriously consider outdoor dining options for our local restaurants so that they can survive
these strange times during the pandemic.
Thank you!
Ranette Fletcher
Sent on my iPhone so please excuse my brevity or typos.
11
Baumb, Nelly
From:RANETTE FLETCHER <ranette.fletcher@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 12:42 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:In favor of creating parakeets for outdoor dining space
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attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Members of the Palo Alto City Council:
I am a long time Palo Alto resident, since 1983, and love the great variety of restaurants our town has to offer. Please
seriously consider outdoor dining options for our local restaurants so that they can survive these strange times during
the pandemic.
Thank you!
Ranette Fletcher
Sent on my iPhone so please excuse my brevity or typos.
12
Baumb, Nelly
From:Reid Kleckner <reid.kleckner@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 12:18 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:I support the shared streets pilot initiative
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attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Council and City Manager,
I strongly support the shared streets pilot program described in this chamber of commerce press release. Given the
survey results in that document, it seems that there is support for this and you are already aware of it, but I wanted to
give more positive feedback.
Thank you,
Reid
1
Baumb, Nelly
From:Roy Kornbluh <roy.kornbluh@sri.com>
Sent:Thursday, June 4, 2020 4:11 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Support for making University Avenue and California Avenue pedestrian malls
Signed By:roy.kornbluh@sri.com
Dear City Manager and Transportation Professionals,
As a longtime resident and homeowner in downtown Palo Alto, I am writing to enthusiastically support the call to make
University and California Avenues pedestrian malls.
These steps would go a long way in serving both the residents and businesses in making these areas more productive
and safer – be it during a pandemic or not.
Please seriously consider making these choices. Perhaps we could start with a temporary designation.
Thanks,
Roy
Roy Kornbluh
260 Palo Alto Avenue
Palo Alto CA 94301
Redacted
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:ronricorh@aol.com
Sent:Saturday, June 6, 2020 8:05 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
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attachments and clicking on links.
Please consider opening some of the sidewalks and streets for restaurant dining. Especially during the hours from 5 until
9. This would bring people out and help everyone to start to get back to mormal.
Thanks
Ron Hall
Channing Ave.
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Mary Anne Kochenderfer <ma.kochenderfer@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, June 6, 2020 10:47 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Close California Ave.'s commercial zone to cars
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attachments and clicking on links.
I am writing to express my support of the move to close California Ave.'s commercial zone to cars. California Avenue is a
popular spot for people to walk and shop. Closing the street to cars creates a safer and more welcoming environment. It
could also allow more shops to expand outdoors, reducing the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Best wishes,
Mary Anne Kochenderfer
1555 Drake Way
Palo Alto, CA 94304
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Steven Baker <steven.baker@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, June 6, 2020 2:26 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:I support pilot for shared streets
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In general I'd support making university and california better for pedestrians as a thoroughfare. They are both an
awkward middle ground where lots of people walk but it's not so safe.
Anyway, during this covid‐19 period to help with distancing turning them into a pilot dining/sitting/pedestrian
thoroughfare sounds like a fantastic idea.
Steve Baker
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Catherine Ross Stoll <catherine.ross.stoll@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, June 6, 2020 9:58 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Support for closing University and CA Ave to traffic
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links.
________________________________
Hi I am in support of closing Univ Ave and CA Ave to traffic and opening them up to outdoor seating for restaurants 7
days per week.
Thanks
Catherine Ross Stoll
• sent from my iPhone
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Lorna Shapiro <duckchorus@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:12 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Open up the bathrooms! (Opening up dining.)
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attachments and clicking on links.
We need access to bathrooms, too! It's unconscionable that the cities have cut that off from us, and still expect us to eat
at restaurants.
I make it over to these places by foot or bike, and I can not make it back home in time to use a bathroom. (
Handicapped senior without a car.)
Please reopen those bathrooms!!!! Otherwise, you are forcing us to use people's private yards, etc. There is nothing
private or hygienic about that ...ጮጯጰጱጲጳጴ ϦϧϨ It's so embarrassing and inhumane!
Lorna Shapiro
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Jacquie Kramer <jacquie_kramer@ymail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 7:15 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:University ave and ca ave street closure
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links.
________________________________
Please consider opening these to streets. It will work. I’ve seen main streets successfully closed in many cities.
Jacquelyn Kramer
213 Kipling Street
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Becky Brewer <b.brewha@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 7:30 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Outdoor dining/closing streets
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links.
________________________________
I completely support outdoor dining and closing of some streets to support businesses on Cal Ave and University. This is
the time. Palo Alto residents and visitors will enjoy a more walkable/bikeable area.
Becky Brewer
Sent from my iPhone
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Becky Brewer <b.brewha@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 7:33 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Outdoor dining
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links.
________________________________
And yes, 7 days a week and permanent please. This is the time.
Becky Brewer
Sent from my iPhone
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Susan Hall <hall.health@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 8:06 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Closing streets
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links.
________________________________
I love the idea of closing University and California avenues to allow space for outdoor dining, walking, shopping, etc. I
have experienced this approach most in Charlottesville VA and Burlington VT and in both places it is a huge success.
Susan Hall
Sent from my iPhone
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:sandy.ostrau@gmail.com
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 8:52 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Safe dining
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links.
________________________________
Please vote to close University Avenue to traffic so our businesses and restaurants will have a chance to survive this
pandemic. If even half of the restaurants don’t make it,(which is likely without customers) our vibrant downtown will
become a casualty. The restaurants and businesses need our support to remain!
Sandy Ostrau
730 Palo Alto Ave.
Sent from my iPhone
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Aviva Saitz <aviva@saitz.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 10:18 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:close Cal Ave & University to cars
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attachments and clicking on links.
Please! I live on Cal Ave by the train station, and can attest to the emptiness of the street the past few months. A
number of storefronts were empty before SIP, and there are many more temporarily closed. Many of our restaurants
stayed open for takeout almost from the beginning, and a few more reopened in the past few weeks. Please give them
space for outdoor tables so more customers can support them and help keep them afloat!
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Michelle Arden <michelle@arden.org>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 11:13 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Please close off University and California Ave permanently!
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links.
________________________________
City Council:
I am in favor of closing off University and California Ave permanently between Alma and Middlefield (perhaps Webster).
I am sympathetic to the concern that it will push parking and traffic into the neighborhoods, but I believe that concern is
mitigated by the possibility of making University and California vibrant public spaces. I suggest that this be essayed for a
trial period ‐ at least six months, possibly more, (so that we get beyond the pandemic), and then re‐evaluated for traffic
and parking concerns.
Regards,
Michelle Arden
405 Lincoln Ave.
Professorville
Palo Alto
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Vicky Lai <victoria.w.lai@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 11:27 AM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:In support of the Shared Streets Pilot
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attachments and clicking on links.
Dear Mr. Ed Shikada and City Council,
I have been living and working in/around the Palo Alto area since 2013. I have never owned a car, relying primarily on
Caltrain, bus, and walking to get around. I would like to advocate strongly for the shared streets pilot from pedestrian
safety and equity perspectives.
Without street closures, University Ave and California Avenue are still car‐first ‐ on a near‐daily basis, my husband and I
see drivers break the law by using their phones while driving, running through the stop sign at Cal Ave & Park Blvd,
turning on red without stopping first at University Ave & High St, and ignoring pedestrian traffic/right of way along both
University Ave and Cal Ave. In order to get to work, errands, and recreation, my husband and I risk our lives as
pedestrians, often close to getting hit despite pedestrian right of way. On one occasion a road‐raged driver and
passenger who ignored pedestrians while turning on red went out of their way to park, chase us down the street, go
back to their car, drive around the block, and throw a box of food at us. There's evidence that with reduced traffic during
coronavirus, drivers are becoming more reckless and aggressive, not less. While our healthcare systems are already
inundated, we don't need more cases like when an elderly driver crashed his car into University Cafe. Until pedestrian
safety is prioritized, these downtown areas remain dangerous on a daily basis for the residents, visitors, children, and
elderly who choose (or otherwise must rely on) non‐car transportation methods.
Furthermore, Chapter 1 of Caroline Criado‐Perez's Invisible Women provides ample evidence that traditional urban
planning has a gender data gap (e.g. the analysis of Sweden's snow clearing initiative). Women disproportionately rely
on walking and public transportation to get around, and simple measures to make those modes safer provide huge
benefits for all in reducing dangerous accidents.
As devastating as coronavirus has been, please use this opportunity to rethink how we structure our community and the
kinds of behaviors we want to incentivize. The shared streets pilot will make our downtown areas much safer and more
equitable, and could do so permanently if we choose to prioritize pedestrian safety.
Thank you,
Vicky Lai
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:lizzy.tw@gmail.com
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 12:05 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Support closing University Ave for dining and retail
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links.
________________________________
Hi I found this proposal through a post by John McDowell on NextDoor. Yes I support closing blocks on University Ave
and California Ave to cars. With the unfortunate COVID event, it actually provides a good opportunity to test this idea.
Let’s give this a try and see if it should become permanent.
Thank you!
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Gail Price <gail.price3@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 1:06 PM
To:Fine, Adrian; Council, City
Subject:Tweet by City of North Vancouver on Twitter: Open Streets Study Session 6/8/20
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attachments and clicking on links.
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office preventedownload of this picture from the Internet.
City of North Vancouver
@CityOfNorthVan
Phase 1 of our Open Streets Action Plan is underway!
That’s right. We’re changing Central Lonsdale b/w 13th +
18th Streets to one lane in each direction so we can
maintain parking and create more space for everyone.
Details: ow.ly/jWyj50A0loj pic.twitter.com/Ob8SyG5W4M
6/6/20, 10:00 AM
This is one model of a Open Streets to add to many successful examples.
I support Open Streets for California Avenue and University Avenue.
Gail Price
Barron Park
Palo Alto ca.
Download the Twitter app
Sent from my iPad
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Randy Mont-Reynaud <rmontreynaud@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 1:17 PM
To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Champs Elysee - Palo Alto
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attachments and clicking on links.
Yes to closed streets and opened minds! And shuttles for seniors and others...loaner bikes at Cubberly,
elsewhere?
‐ Go Dutch! (as they do in Holland...)
‐‐
With warmest regards,
Randy Mont‐Reynaud, PhD
Our 501 c-3 is "If Pigs Could Fly - Haiti" Visit us here:
PLEASE HAVE A PEEK? If Pigs Could Fly Haiti, Fall 2019 Newsletter:
http://www.qmmunicate.org/HaitiFall19.pdf
My blog: http://www.haitinextdoor.com/
www.ifpigscouldflyhaiti.org
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Rebecca Neff <rmn4@georgetown.edu>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 2:02 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Please close university avenue car access
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links.
________________________________
It would really help keep social distancing easier and help the restaurants if university and california Avenue were closed
to car traffic. It would be more European style which would feel safer for everyone and would create a better space for
the community here.
Best,
Becky Neff
Palo Alto resident
Sent from my iPhone
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Judy Grinberg <judygrin@hotmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 4:07 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:I support Closing University and Cal Ave. to cars
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Judy Grinberg
1254 Middlefield Rd
Sent from Outlook Mobile
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Matt Glickman <matt@glickman.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 4:41 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Open university Ave and cal Ave for outside dining
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
Please do not miss this once in a generation opportunity to support restaurants when they need it, give people safer
socializing options and test out an option that has made many cities around the word more liveable and downtown
business districts more thriving.
‐ Matt Glickman
159 Melville
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Devon Cohn <devoncohn@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:01 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:closing University Ave and California Ave
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
I support the idea of temporarily closing University Ave and California Ave to traffic to allow retail and restaurants to
have outdoor space. I would strongly recommend making clear areas for pedestrian traffic (either down the middle of
the street or along the sidewalks with dining/retail space in the streets). Cross streets should be open to traffic, and
extra short‐term parking spaces should be created near the corners for delivery and take out parking ‐ especially for
drivers of services like grubhub and doordash. It is probably possible to create an extra parking space or two in the
blocked‐off street right at the intersection.
Devon Cohn
Any sufficiently advanced learning is indistinguishable from play.
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Don Jackson <dcj@clark-communications.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:01 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Revised/detailed comments regarding "Outdoor Dining & Retail" Study Session at 2020-06-08
council meeting, agenda item #8
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attachments and clicking on links.
Honorable Councilpeople,
I’ve previously written emails regarding my support for actions to facilitate outdoor dining on our streets (appended
below),
and I am pleased to see the Council/Staff study session on this topic at the 2020‐06‐08 meeting.
After further conversations with restaurant owners,
I have refined and focused my earlier thoughts,
and I now propose and support the following specific actions:
Authorize a parklet program.
Enable restaurant/business owners to apply to construct parklets in front of their establishments,
with as streamlined and expedited approval as soon as possible.
Parklets help restaurants in any location in Palo Alto, not just those on University or California Avenues.
Specifics to include:
o Entitle parklet permit holders with exclusive use of the parket.
o Waive any/all fees for these permits
o Yearly renewal of permits is reasonable
o Expedited support for relocation of any “short duration only” parking spot eliminated by a parklet to a
nearby parking spot.
Restaurant owners have shared their concern that if their parklet would remove a drop‐off/short‐
duration parking spot
that is important to a neighboring business, that the City to provide a streamlined procedure to have
any such parking space
relocated to minimize the impact on their neighbors.
Authorize public consumption of alcoholic beverages in conjunction with a meal outdoors within parklets and at
sidewalk tables.
This authorization should be coupled with the parklet/sidewalk permit,
in the (unlikely) event of repeated/ongoing compliance violations,
it would then provide a targeted and focused tool to motivate resolution.
Do NOT require a new/additional permit to serve alcohol in a parklet or the sidewalk
The Staff reports mentions the following concerns:
2
Parklet installation expense:
I understand and sympathize that some restaurant owners may find the expense of creating a parklet beyond
their current means.
It is unfortunate that in the current fiscal climate, Palo Alto is not in a position to provide a cost‐sharing
program to parklet creators,
as our neighbor Menlo Park did a couple years ago…but to paraphrase Voltaire, “let us not make perfection the
enemy of the good”,
authorizing/enabling our restaurant owners who are so able to create parklets is clearly in the best interest of the
City and residents/diners.
I believe the above two actions are the of the highest priority, and I urge Council to direct Staff to implement them
ASAP.
Other actions identified in the Staff report:
Authorize "Sidewalk Dining", and "Conversion of Private Parking for Outdoor Dining or Retail Display”
I support both these actions, but they are appropriate/applicable to a smaller number of businesses, so of lower priority
than the above.
Street Closures
This proposal does not help restaurant owners not located on University or California Avenues, a significant limitation.
What are we going to do for: Evvia, Taverna, Bird Dog, Tacolicious, Delfina, Reposado, Zola, Bistro Elan, Osteria Toscana,
and others?
The Staff report provided a good analysis of the differences between California and University Avenues.
For restaurants on University and California, my concern is that temporary street closures will not enable
restaurant owners to set up tables on a long term basis,
they’d need to remove/store/replace outdoor seating constantly.
They’d be better off with parklets and sidewalk dining!
Combined with the street‐closure impact on non‐restaurant businesses,
this seems to be a far less effective solution, with much higher adminstrative/logistical “costs”.
I feel that the parklet, sidewalk dining, and private‐parking‐lot proposals are more effective, less complex,
and have far fewer negative consequences, and are appropriate for ALL restaurant/business locations.
Given the limited capacity/bandwidth of Staff time for these proposals, I don’t want Street Closures consideration
to delay the other proposals.
Respectfully,
Don Jackson
==========================. Previous email ===============================
Honorable Councilpeople,
I’m writing to urge you to support street/parking changes to enable our local restaurants to use these areas to provide
safe, outdoor, socially‐distanced dining.
3
As I know you are aware, our local resturants are facing financial ruin as a result of the COVID‐19 public health crisis, and
our restaurants are a very significant quality‐of‐life benefit to all Palo Altans.
When the City/County/State begins to allows restaurants to re‐open,
it seems likely and prudent that returning to pre‐pandemic restaurant table spacing/distancing will not be responsible
nor desirable.
It seems obvious to me that allowing “parklets” in front (and adjacent) to our restaurants would significantly help our
local restaurants to
provide safer dining, and also help restaurants get closer to their former seating capacity.
Given that we are well into Spring, and Summer is right around the corner, the weather will be the best that it can be to
make outdoor dining
reasonable and comfortable.
As a more significant move, I would also encourage and support street closures (particularly in the evening) to provide
even more outdoor space for
dining, shopping, etc. I’d propose closing much of University Avenue, and the first block of side streets like Emerson,
Ramona, and Bryant for the Spring/Summer, (again, perhaps after 5:30pm). California Avenue, the first block of Birch
Street off California, Emerson Street between Homer and University, and Hamilton between Emerson and Ramona.
Given that traffic will likely not return to pre‐pandemic levels anytime soon, and the need to help our local restaurants
and shops, I can imagine that making this Summer a more relaxed, outdoor‐dining friendly experience would provide
financial help to our local restaurants, and be a safe and responsible respite for all Palo Altans.
Respectfully
Don Jackson
================
Honorable Councilpeople:
I urge you to read this op‐ed piece from the NY Times authored by a restaurant owner regarding the challenges he and
others are facing:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/opinion/nyc‐bars‐restaurants‐coronavirus.html?smid=em‐share
Respectfully,
Don Jackson
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:B. Lynn Ware <drblynnware@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:07 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Outdoor Dining on Main Street
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
I SUPPORT the closure of Califonnria and University Avenues to let restaurants have outdoor dining.
We must find creative solutions to allow our small businesses to survive during these difficult times.
Lynn
‐‐
Bambi Lynn Ware
3596 Louis Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
T: 650‐493‐7209
C: 650‐207‐2713
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Carol Simone <quanyin@carolsimone.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:08 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Opening city streets for dining
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
Yes, I fully support open the city streets off and on University for dining possibilities.
I think it’s a great idea! It will help everyone involved.
Carol Simone
1011 Fulton Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Cynthia Tham <cynthia@thamlock.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:18 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Close University to support downtown retailers and restaurants
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Hi
I'd like to show my support for closing University Ave and California Ave to allow more space for outdoor walking and
dining 7 days a week.
I've seen this done in Dublin and it's wonderful. The city thrives and the foot traffic increases in the city center.
I look forward to more pedestrian friendly business districts.
Sincerely
Cynthia
residents in midtown for 27 years
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Emanuela Todaro <emanuela.todaro@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:20 PM
To:Council, City
Cc:Dante Malagrino
Subject:Please close California Ave and University Ave to car traffic
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on
links.
________________________________
I think it would make walking safer while we need to respect social distancing.
It would also help local restaurants, as they have been severely impacted. And last, but not least, it would be a pleasant
experience and very much in line with this trend of pedestrian areas downtown
Thanks for considering
Emanuela Todaro and Dante Malagrino
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Yael Pasternak Valek <yaelcow@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:37 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Close streets for restaurants
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
Please close downtown and CA ave to traffic to support our restaurants - that is the only way I would
ever eat out! Our businesses need this!
Thanks,
Yael
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Alan Weinstein <hopfish@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:46 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:closing streets
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening
attachments and clicking on links.
We strongly support the closing of University Avenue to provide more room for
outdoor dining and shopping.
Alan and Margo Weinstein
401 Webster St, Palo Alto, CA 94301
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Darlene Yaplee <darlene.yaplee@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:48 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Agenda Item #8 "Outdoor Dining & Retail": Yes - Parklets!
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Council,
Restaurants are limited by social distancing to 25% former capacity.
Please take action and streamline processes to help restaurants survive in these challenging times.
Yes for Parklets!
Parklets are geographically inclusive
o We need to support all restaurants in Palo Alto, including those located on and not on University and
California streets
Some citizens may worry about parking spaces, what's the use of some parking spaces if it means restaurants will go
out of business?
o Lower parking needs ‐ several businesses have gone out of business (e.g. Walgreen’s and Dan Gordan’s) or
will have reduced customers (e.g. work at home, lower hotel occupancy)
o People are willing to walk further to save businesses
o If people are worried about all day parking in front of their homes, this isn’t a restaurant problem…permit
criteria needs to be re‐evaluated
Expedite support for relocation of any “short duration only” parking spot eliminated by a parklet to a nearby parking
spot
o City to provide a streamlined procedure to have any such parking space relocated to minimize the impact on
their business neighbors
Sidewalk dining and conversion of private parking for outdoor dining or retail display
o I support these, but they are only a fit to a small number of businesses
Street closures ‐ not inclusive to all restaurants
o Restaurants outside of California and University Avenues would NOT benefit. Parklets would address all
restaurants on many streets beyond CA and University Avenues
Yes, Yes, Yes...
o authorize alcohol consumption with meals and do not require new applications for serving alcohol in
parklets
o entitle parklet permit holders with exclusive use of the parklets
o fee waivers
o pre‐approved parklet design
o annual renewals
Parklets will make the difference between a restaurant's survival and going out of business.
Please support our local restaurants to survive.
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:chao Lam <chaolam@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 5:56 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Opening up downtown street pedestrians
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Thank you for considering this issue. I wholeheartedly support this move and hope you will endorse it 7 days a week.
Thank you,
Chao Lam
193 Waverley St
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Debbie Nichols <debbiegailnichols@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 6:01 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Close University and California Ave
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________________________________
Dear City Council: I support temporarily closing University Ave and California Ave.
Debbie Nichols
2070 Bryant Street
Palo Alto
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Lori <loricott@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 6:10 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Street Closure for Dining
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________________________________
I support a temporary closure of blocks of California Avenue and University Avenue to allow restaurants to set up tables
in the street until either indoor dining is safe and allowed or the weather turns too cold and rainy for this to make sense
or be appealing to customers any longer.
Lori Cottle
895 Rorke Way
Palo Alto
Loricott@yahoo.com
Sent from my iPhone
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:M.L. Boyd <mlb15@mac.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 6:14 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:1151 Webster St-please open restaurants outdoors and close streets down
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________________________________
this will help the local restaurants but also get diners out in a socially distanced way. I have advocated closing both
California Avenue and University Avenue for years.
what a great time to test this out!
Thank you
ML Boyd
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Rich Monroe <rjmonroe968@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 6:24 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Street dining
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links.
________________________________
Sounds like a great idea. You gave our support!
Rich & Frances Monroe
Sent from my iPad
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Lucinda Tinsman <ltinsman@hotmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 6:24 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:support closing university
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Dear City Council members,
I am a resident of the Willow, Menlo Park, but I wanted to write and express my support for closing off
University so that restaurants can reopen with social distancing protocols in place. There is really no other
way, if you want to bring any life back to downtown. I'm not even sure if with the social distancing protocols in
place it will be safe enough, but people wish to test this out regardless. Please give them half a shot at doing
so safely. Otherwise, all those restaurants are going to go under.
Best,
Lucinda Tinsman
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Mamie Poggio <mgpoggio@pacbell.net>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 6:25 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:In favor of closing University Ave & California Ave for restaurant tables
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________________________________
To City Council Members:
Our family enjoys eating out at restaurants every weekend, so please do vote in favor of closing University Avenue and
California Avenue, at least on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, if not every night, so that restaurants can serve their
customers outside in front of their restaurants. This will really help restaurant businesses that are hurting right now. It
will bring cheer to more people to see other people enjoying their meals outside.
Thanks,
Mamie Gong Poggio
Resident of Palo Alto
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Maura Carta <mauracarta@googlemail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 6:33 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Close University to traffic
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________________________________
Hello Palo Alto,
I know you are meeting tonight about the possible closure of University between Waverley and Emerson, and I wanted
to support that. Please close it! Also, please make the closure of Bryant Street from Forest to Embarcadero permanent
with barriers similar to those at Lowell and Bryant.
Thank you, and be well,
Maura Carta
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Rebecca Leon <rebeccaaleon@me.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 6:43 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Closing parts of Univ. ave and Cal Ave
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________________________________
Hello,
My family and I reside in Professorville , and want to lend our strong support to closing some blocks on California
Avenue and University Avenue to support our local restaurants and businesses.
Thank you for your consideration,
Rebecca Leon
Sent from my iPhone
1
Brettle, Jessica
From:Shauny Moore <smooreva@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, June 7, 2020 6:44 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Close University & California to car traffic
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links.
________________________________
I fully support closing University and California Avenues to car traffic to restaurants and pedestrians to maintain
distance.
Thank you.
Shauny Moore
666 Kellogg Ave.
Palo Alto 94301