HomeMy Public PortalAbout20180507plCC 701-32
DOCUMENTS IN THIS PACKET INCLUDE:
LETTERS FROM CITIZENS TO THE
MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL
RESPONSES FROM STAFF TO LETTERS FROM CITIZENS
ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES
ITEMS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES
Prepared for: 5/7/2018
Document dates: 4/18/2018 – 4/25/2018
Set 1
Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet
reproduction in a given week.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:46 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Stan Hutchings <stan.hutchings@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, April 18, 2018 2:16 PM
To:PALO ALTO WEEKLY-Letters to the Editor; Council, City
Subject:A quick, cheap fix for the grade separation issue
It seems to me, the quickest, cheapest solution to the grade separation issue is to build bike/pedestrian underpasses,
like the one under Alma at Homer, at N. California, under 280 between Moorpark and Tisch Way. And/or, at probably
lower cost, bike/pedestrian overpasses, such as those that cross 101 near Oregon, Woodside near Middlefield, and
other places around the Bay. Leave the rail crossings open for motor vehicles ONLY. Don't worry, drivers will soon
figure out that a detour to San Antonio, Embarcadero or Oregon Expy is faster than waiting for the trains. Meanwhile,
peds/bikes can cross in safety if they are REQUIRED to use the overpass. This would enhance the safety for peds/bikes at the crossings and cause just a few minutes delay for vehicles.
At the same time, coordinate the traffic lights at main arteries to let the additional traffic flow smoothly, especially
during commute hours. It's really poor design to have vehicles stop at each subsequent stoplight, rather than getting
successive green lights that encourages a smooth flow. Stop-and-go-and stop-again-and-again lights are a major
cause of traffic delays.
Regards,
Stan Hutchings, 285 Rinconada Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:11 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Elizabeth Wong <elizabethwong2009@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, April 23, 2018 8:13 AM
To:Gitelman, Hillary; Lait, Jonathan
Cc:Stump, Molly; Keene, James; Council, City; Andrew Wong; Jaime Wong
Subject:Approval of 620 Emerson Street
Dear Ms. Gitelman and Mr. Lait.
Please let me know via email whether or not you have approved the demolition and construction of 620
Emerson St., Palo Alto. This project was approved by the ARB on April 5, 2018. I plan to APPEAL the approval of this project as soon as you have approved it and want to do so before the
appeal period elapses.
Thank you for your assistance. Elizabeth Wong
650 814 3051
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:11 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Connie Butner <butner7@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, April 23, 2018 10:15 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Arastradero/Charleston Corridor
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing about the proposed changes to Arastrader/Charleston. I am very concerned about how these changes may negatively impact our community.
Arastradero/Charleston is already very impacted with traffic during peak hours - in the morning when children are trying to get to school is one of them. The road is two lanes on Charleston, which becomes one lane at Arastradero and El Camino and then branches out again later on near Terman. The reverse is true going the other way. During commute hours, it is a s.l.o.w journey. I routinely see cars passing other cars in the bike lane. To further narrow this road, I believe, is dangerous to bicyclists. Questions I have concerning this project since it was approved many years ago: How has traffic changed on Arastradero? Our
population has grown and so the number of cars traveling this road has increased. Gunn High School has increased their
enrollment - has there been any recent studies done in regards to the traffic around (and into and out of) Gunn. The same
question applies to Terman Middle School - what does enrollment look like now as compared to the enrollment when the
Arastradero/Charleston plan was approved. Our town has changed quite a bit since this proposal was put in place. In my
opinion, it would not be wise to continue until we have updated information to make sure these changes will actually
accomplish what they are set out to accomplish. Our community is not shrinking - it continues to grow. We need infrastructure
that can handle our growth. Making roads narrower, adding obstacles in the middle of the roads (planters, etc), making corners larger and harder to navigate - all these things do not support the growth that our town is seeing. Going ahead with these changes on Arastradero/Charleston Road is a disservice to anyone who has to use it and makes navigation harder and more dangerous.
Please let me know what traffic surveys have been done and how traffic and our population have changed since this plan was first approved.
Thank you for your time,
Connie Butner
650-814-4183
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:08 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Nadia Naik <nadianaik@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, April 21, 2018 8:32 AM
To:De Geus, Robert; Gitelman, Hillary; Keene, James; Mello, Joshuah; Shikada, Ed; Council,
City
Subject:Article about CAHSR business plan
This article has a good “deep dive” into some of the latest problems with the CA HSR 2018 business plan.
http://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/los-angeles/15288-california-s-transportation-future-the-fatally-flawed-centerpiece
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:46 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Arlene Goetze <photowrite67@yahoo.com>
Sent:Wednesday, April 18, 2018 12:35 PM
To:Joe Simitian; Cindy Chavez
Subject:CURING Disease is BAD for Business (Goldman Sachs)
Forwarded by Arlene Goetze, NO Toxins for Children, photowrite67@yahoo.com
Projects abound to raise funds to find the cure for diseases. But is anyone
really looking? Drugs used to treat diseases would then be out
of business. So do drug companies really want to find cures?
Goldman-Sachs reveals that would be bad for business.
**1986, there were 11 vaccines and 12.8% of US children had a chronic
illness. **2017, there were 54 vaccines— 54% of children suffer from chronic illness
or developmental disability—many associated with vaccine injuries.
** 1 in 45 children have autism--lifetime cost of $1.4 million
World Mercury Project (WMP) Notes: this article exposes how Goldman writes
"Is curing patients a sustainable business model? WMP is working to change this.
By the World Mercury Project Team
From the World Mercury Project, April 18, 2018
Could Goldman Sachs Report be Exposing Pharma's Real
End Game-Drug Dependency vs Curing Disease?
Together, the U.S. government and American families are spending billions on
medications, therapy, insurance, education, housing, etc. to address the epidemics
of chronic childhood diseases. These include autism, ADHD, diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid
arthritis, cancer, allergies (including deadly peanut allergies), autoimmune conditions,
obesity and more. The costs are staggering.
A recent government survey found that 1 in 45 children ages 3 through 17 have been
diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The estimated average lifetime cost to
care for a child with autism is $1.4 million if they do not have intellectual disability. An
estimated 1 in 5 persons with autism also has intellectual disability. This increases
the average lifetime cost of care to $2.3 million.
WMP is calling for a new paradigm that tries to stop the rise of chronic disease and
cure those who are suffering now. Since these epidemics are occurring in children, the
long-term consequences of so many sick children could be dire for our nation and economy
in the future.
The rise in chronic illness in children is coterminous with the vaccine schedule.
In 1986, there were 11 vaccines and 12.8% of our nation’s children had a chronic
illness. In 2017, there were 54 vaccines—and 2011 figures report an astonishing 54% of
children suffer from chronic illness or developmental disability—many of which have been
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:46 PM
2
associated with vaccine injuries. WMP believes the U.S. plan must be to do everything
possible now to prevent chronic diseases in children and it should start with investigating
our broken vaccine program.
“Is curing patients a sustainable business model?”
On April 10th, Goldman Sachs (GS) released a report called “The Genome Revolution.” In it,
GS asked, “Is curing patients a sustainable business model?” People with chronic illnesses
and those who have loved ones suffering with ongoing conditions will find the GS comments
repugnant.
Both childhood epidemics and opioid addiction are at record highs. Partner those facts
with the notion that “one shot and done vaccines” are a thing of the past as today’s failing
vaccines require more boosters and it begs the question, Could the Goldman Sachs report
be exposing pharma’s real end game of drug dependency vs. curing disease?
> The following is an excerpt from a new CNBC investing report:
> Goldman Sachs analysts attempted to address a touchy subject for biotech
companies, especially those involved in the pioneering “gene therapy” treatment:
cures could be bad for business in the long run. “Is curing patients a sustainable
business model?” analysts ask in an April 10 report entitled “The Genome Revolution.”
> “The potential to deliver ‘one shot cures’ is one of the most attractive aspects of gene
therapy, genetically-engineered cell therapy and gene editing. However, such treatments
offer a very different outlook with regard to recurring revenue versus chronic therapies,”
analyst Salveen Richter wrote in the note to clients Tuesday.
“While this proposition carries tremendous value for patients and society, it could
represent a challenge for genome medicine developers looking for sustained cash flow.”
> Richter cited Gilead Sciences’ treatments for hepatitis C, which achieved cure
rates of more than 90 percent. The company’s U.S. sales for these hepatitis C
treatments peaked at $12.5 billion in 2015, but have been falling ever since.
Goldman estimates the U.S. sales for these treatments will be less than $4 billion this
year, according to a table in the report.
> “GILD is a case in point, where the success of its hepatitis C franchise has gradually
exhausted the available pool of treatable patients,” the analyst wrote. “In the case of
infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, curing existing patients also decreases the number
of carriers able to transmit the virus to new patients, thus the incident pool also declines …
Where an incident pool remains stable (eg, in cancer) the potential for a cure poses less risk
to the sustainability of a franchise.”
CNBC reported that GS analysts didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The World Mercury Project is addressing the chronic health issues plaguing our
children by educating our communities, leaders and federal agencies to bring about
meaningful change on the most important issue of our lifetime—the health and well-being
of our children.
Everyone—children, parents and family, education leaders and teachers, health care
and insurance providers, businesses (like Goldman Sachs and pharmaceutical companies)
that employ graduates, our country’s military and more—has a stake in this fight to restore
our children’s health. As children are the keys to our successful future and prosperity, we
don’t have a moment, or the health of any child, to lose.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:46 PM
3
Sign up for free news and updates from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the World Mercury
Project. Your donation will help to support us in our efforts.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:09 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Bette Kiernan <betteuk@aol.com>
Sent:Saturday, April 21, 2018 11:04 AM
To:slanders@gb-a.com; typo@gb-a.com; dalexander@gb-a.com; rhunt@gb-a.com;
Council, City
Subject:Earth Day special request
Dear Suzanne,
I am sure you are already aware of the City of Palo Alto Ordinance that bans vehicle
idling
for more than two or three minutes after it is parked. Please see link below.
However, residents and visitors alike idle their cars frequently for far longer time
periods
routinely in the parking areas adjacent to the creek. Often people do this to talk
on
phones and charge them when they can do so without polluting and wasting fossil fuels.
The area along the creek is one of the few places in Palo Alto where one can gain
respite
from constant traffic noise and fumes. It is worth valuing and caring.
During this time of global warming and the Bay Area's extreme high pollution, it would
be
praiseworthy if you would encourage enforcement of the city's ban.
Please will you place a notice in the newsletter, and also make it possible to alert
security when vehicles are idling for a long time?
Given the large population residing at Oak Creek-it will make a difference.
We are richly blessed to live adjacent to the Native American preserve. Bountiful species of birds, wildlife and plants live by the creek. What better way to honor
that special heritage?
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:09 PM
2
I would be very grateful.
Thank you.
Bette
https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/31/palo-alto-bans-idling-of-vehicle-engines/
Aug 31, 2017 - Construction vehicles, tech shuttle buses and even Mark
Zuckerberg's private security detail must stop their idling. The Palo Alto City Council voted 8-0 Monday night to approve an ordinance that bans running engines more than two or three minutes after a vehicle is parked or queued.
Bette Kiernan, MFT
845 Oak Grove Avenue
Suite 110
Menlo Park, CA
94025
(650) 324-3639 betteuk@aol.com
www.betteconsulting.com
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:48 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Ken Joye <kmjoye@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, April 20, 2018 12:59 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Finance Committee infrastructure discussion
I was not able to attend the 17 April 2018 meeting of the Finance Committee, but watched the first portion of
that via the MC video. I would like to offer my comments on the meeting and Staff Report #9107.
The most significant comment at the meeting was made by Jim Keene: “most of these things are correlated with
really big issues in our city”. I say that because the most important issue facing Palo Alto is climate change,
which you have the ability to address via concrete actions.
The Comprehensive Plan has a number of goals around sustainability and the 2014 infrastructure plan which Council approved contains a set of projects which will improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities. I agree with
Councilmember Scharff who stated at the Finance Committee meeting that “we can do all core infrastructure
projects” and hope that you reaffirm commitment to building all of the bicycle and pedestrian improvements in
that 2014 plan. By doing so, we will be further along toward our 80/30 GHG reduction goal.
Regarding the polling results presented to the Finance Committee by FM3 on the 17th, I would like to highlight
a couple of points:
"Providing safe routes for bicyclists and pedestrians” was deemed Extremely Important by 26% of
respondents, a ranking exceeded only by a stable 911 system (at 35%)
"Providing safe routes for bicyclists and pedestrians” was deemed 10% more Extremely/Very Important than “Providing adequate parking" (61% vs 51%)
Please retain funding for complete streets. I acknowledge that this may be challenging in the face of
community response to the newly built Ross Road facilities. Consider this: in the FM3 report, specific
questions got less favorable responses than the more general questions (e.g., adequate parking: 51% vs. downtown parking: 44%). Your take-away from the polling data should be that providing safe
routes for bicyclists and pedestrians is a “do it tomorrow” priority, to borrow the expression of FM3’s Dave
Metz.
thank you for your service, Ken Joye
Ventura neighborhood
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/25/2018 11:15 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Clerk, City
Sent:Tuesday, April 24, 2018 7:48 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:FW: remove Verizon’s “Cluster 1” project (17PLN-00169) from the Consent Calendar
Thanks,
B‐
Beth D. Minor | City Clerk | City of Palo Alto
250 Hamilton Avenue| Palo Alto, CA 94301
T: 650‐ 329‐2379 E: beth.minor@cityofpaloalto.org
City Clerks Rock and Rule
From: Janet Gu [mailto:janetlipingding1120@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2018 10:24 PM
To: Clerk, City <city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>
Subject: remove Verizon’s “Cluster 1” project (17PLN‐00169) from the Consent Calendar
Dear Staff:
I believe the Director’s decision to allow Verizon to install hundreds of pounds of cheap, ugly equipment on poles within a few yards of residents’ homes was not correct.
Verizon’s claims that it cannot underground its equipment are not credible (Palo Alto will be
undergrounding its utilities throughout the Cluster 1 neighborhoods, so surely Verizon can
underground its equipment there as well). And
Please grant approval to Verizon to install its cell towers only on the condition that the company locate all of its equipment, except the antenna, underground in flush-to-the-ground vaults with no
protuberances (this is what sophisticated cities are now requiring of the telecom industry).
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:11 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Stephanie Munoz <stephanie@dslextreme.com>
Sent:Sunday, April 22, 2018 7:07 PM
To:letters@smdailyjournal.com
Cc:roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu; Ruth Chippendale; Court Skinner; chuck jagoda; Council,
City; Gitelman, Hillary; info@burlingame.org; M. Gallagher
Subject:Guest Perspective: housing paid for by taxpayer dollars.
Thanks, Cynthia Cornell, for the warning about the misuse of public resources. Hopefully, the citizens of Burlingame can profit from the unhappy experience of Palo Alto with rogue Capitalism. At
the beginning of the post Sputnik era, there was a unique opportunity to put Stanford's genius and
Stanford's extensive lands together with the rezoning power of the City of Palo Alto, and they built,
together, an industrial park which was, and is, the eighth wonder of the world. But they didn't bother
to put in housing for the workers, or even to replace the potential houses for which the land had previously been zoned. As the new employees sought housing, Northern Santa Clara County and
southern San Mateo County filled up, displacing working class homeowners and renters. The farther
away from the job they went, the more congested the roads became. Meanwhile, our two counties
kept on piling on money-making entities, oblivious to the fact that at some point they were going to
have to buy back the land value they had so cavalierly given to commercial interests, in order to provide essential social services. For Burlingame,that time is now.
A structure on publicly owned land meant to "serve the physical and mental health needs of (its)
community " could, and should, be organized so as to permit SRO units affordable to social security
retirees and SSI recipients who could pay only $600. a month, with the costs shared by a federal subsidized lunch program, day care, senior day care, a computer library, wellness work-out, pool, and
other community facilities compatible with the senior residence, with preference given to people who
do not have cars, but would share a bus or van to ferry them to SamTrans or the train. About three
hundred units would be financially self-sustaining. The complaint of "density" is illusory. What
neighbors don't want is cars competing for what they think of as "their" free curbside parking. Think of it as three hundred cars taken off the road during the daily commute, and three hundred precious
parking spaces freed.
Housing for All Burlingame needn't worry about getting public support for this use of the property. All
you have to do is advertise that you are taking applications for this residence at 501 Primrose Road on Monday, May 7. at 6pm. I don't know about San Mateo County, but Santa Clara County has 5,000
homeless, the vast majority of whom used to be housed in the normal, free market manner until the
market was artificially diminished to serve the ends of force-feeding the goose which lays the golden
eggs.
Stephanie Munoz
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:46 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Bob Wenzlau <bwenzlau@neighborsabroad.org>
Sent:Thursday, April 19, 2018 7:55 AM
To:Council, City
Cc:Keene, James; Nickel, Eric; Gaines, Chantal; Cristina Cismas; Smith, Toni
Subject:Heidelberg Student Exchange Recap Video
Council members,
We are half way through a student exchange with Heidelberg through the BEAM program. This video is a gift
by a german student with a view of Palo Alto and our sprit. Next step, Palo Alto high school students to Heidelberg in June. The video is on this link:
Video Link to Heidelberg BEAM Recap
While I have your attention, we had a wonderful street celebration last week with mariachi and folkloric dancers to celebrate the Pierce engine finally being shipped to Oaxaca filled with supplies as well as blankets for earthquake victims made by YCS. The Chief made special recognition of our Heidelberg guests. You get a
glimpse in the video.
Thank you and staff for the continued support. And BEAM is becoming a great vehicle for city-school partnering where our high school students work on smart city themes.
I copied in the two teachers at PAUSD leading BEAM as well as our VP for Heidelberg - all working tirelessly.
Bob
--
Bob Wenzlau President
Neighbors Abroad of Palo Alto
650-248-4467
Facebook | Web | Twitter | Join
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:08 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, April 20, 2018 10:55 PM
To:paloaltofreepress@gmail.com; Council, City; stevendlee@alumni.duke.edu; HRC;
dprice@padailypost.com; emibach@padailypost.com; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com
Subject:Judge Persky finally speak out re Michele Dauber’s bogus recall effort —win lose or
draw -Dauber will go down as an all time loser
Follow the link below to view the article.
http://mercurynews.ca.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=3a09d1362
Sent from my iPhone
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:46 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Christina Detchemendy <cdetch@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, April 19, 2018 10:27 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Love the Ross Road Bike Boulevard!
Hi, I wanted to let you know my family is loving the new bike boulevard on Ross. We have lived near the corner of Ross and Louis for 14 years. We have two kids who are currently at JLS and they bike to school daily. We know there has been some animosity towards this project but wanted to tell you thank you for making this project happen.
Both our kids say they feel safer biking to school and they love the new roundabout on Ross and Meadow. Our daughter regularly bikes on Ross from our house to her friend near Oregon Expressway. She told us she feels safer biking the bike boulevard rather then biking all the way down Louis in the bike lane. The fact that
they feel safer was especially gratifying to hear from our son - he was clipped by a car while crossing his bike in the crosswalk at Louis and Ross a few years back. The car drove away without stopping - he was unhurt but still shaken by the experience. We applaud all efforts to increase the safety of bike riders in Palo Alto!! Thanks,
Christina Detchemendy
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:08 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Daniel Lilienstein <dlilienstein@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, April 21, 2018 9:40 AM
To:Council, City
Cc:skypossepost@gmail.com
Subject:Message from the City Council Home Page
Airplane noise is really bad over my home, and I bet over many of yours; if not then certainly it affects many of
your constituents. You know the history- the FAA imposed a new system a few years back that essentially built
a freeway over our heads, without permission and without due process for the people on the ground. That kind
of "taking" is not legal for any other government entity; why can we not change this, especially when there are other choices?
The PACC has decided not to sue the FAA while we have the chance. This seems like a terrible mistake unless
you can point to some pending action that has a chance of making a difference. Come on folks, be creative! Do
something, and let us all pitch in to support you. I'm sending a copy of this note to Anna Eshoo. Who else should I write? Where can we go, citizens who feel
they are being ignored and abused?
Daniel Lilienstein
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/25/2018 12:57 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Amy Keohane <amykeohane@hotmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, April 25, 2018 11:58 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:New traffic pattern at Middlefield and Embarcadero
Hi All,
Not sure who I should write this too but I thought I would start with the city council. I am not sure who
approved this plan with this whole road diet thing. I was heading southbound on Middlefield at 6:40 or in the
evening. I was stopped back further than walter hayes trying to go straight. This whole one lane going south
or making a right is a complete nightmare. The bus stop is on Middlefield right past Embarcdero. The bus was
stopped for 10 min or so. That means the traffic could not move. You cant go around the bus as their is this
new left turn on Middlefield going on to Embarcadero. Another waste of tax money. What was wrong with
left/straight lane heading south on Middlefield and then the far right lane could be a right turn land only.
This whole traffic calming on Middlefield is a nightmare. What it does do is put me and others back on the
side streets.
Another right now is the closure on University, it seems the work is going on forever and again has put more
traffic on Everett and Hamiliton, the side roads. Where is the watchdog on all these projects.
Amy Keohane
650‐346‐5306
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/25/2018 11:15 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Leslie Murdock <lfmurdock@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 24, 2018 1:35 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Palantir Knows Everything About You
I recommend every Council Member read this article slowly from start to finish and ask the question: Is the
City's silence and cooperation with this company indirectly complicit in their activities?
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2018-palantir-peter-thiel/
Thank you
Leslie F. Murdock
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:48 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:John Guislin <jguislin@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, April 20, 2018 9:05 AM
To:Norman Beamer
Cc:CPNA CrescentPark; Council, City; Keene, James
Subject:Re: [CPNA] Tree trimming
Norm,
My understanding is that the tree trimming is outsourced and the skill level of the contractor is highly variable.
In our case, they chopped the top completely off a small street tree that now looks like a deformed, scraggly bush.
John
On Fri, Apr 20, 2018 at 8:59 AM, 'Norman Beamer' via Crescent Park PA <crescent-park-pa@googlegroups.com> wrote: Has anyone else been confronted with city tree trimmers cutting street trees way back to avoid power lines? I'm not sure the degree
of cutting is necessary, or whether there is an approach more accommodating to aesthetics of the trees, etc. --
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Crescent Park PA" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to crescent-park-
pa+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to crescent-park-pa@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/crescent-park-pa.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:48 PM
2
Carnahan, David
From:Nancy Teater <nrt@hamilton.com>
Sent:Friday, April 20, 2018 1:26 PM
To:Norman Beamer; CPNA CrescentPark
Cc:Council, City; Keene, James
Subject:Re: [CPNA] Tree trimming
On the recent round of tree trimming, I noticed that the contractor that was working on our street
was trimming more thoroughly than usual, but not too much. The contractor was Asplundh (sp?). In
previous years, I thought they did not trim enough.
Nancy Teater
On 4/20/2018 8:59 AM, 'Norman Beamer' via Crescent Park PA wrote:
Has anyone else been confronted with city tree trimmers cutting street trees way back to avoid power lines? I'm not
sure the degree of cutting is necessary, or whether there is an approach more accommodating to aesthetics of the trees, etc.
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Crescent Park PA" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to crescent-
park-pa+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to crescent-park-pa@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/crescent-park-pa. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:04 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Lisa Krieger <lkrieger@bayareanewsgroup.com>
Sent:Friday, April 20, 2018 8:58 PM
To:Sheila Hoar
Cc:Norman Beamer' via Crescent Park PA; Norman Beamer; Keene, James; Council, City
Subject:Re: [CPNA] Tree trimming
A 10’ clearance is required.
They often aim to take more than 10’ - often 15’ or 20’ - from fast-growing species like eucalyptus.
But you can hold them to 10’ w/ conversations/negotiations.
Lisa Krieger
Guinda St.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 20, 2018, at 8:14 PM, Sheila Hoar <sheilahoar@comcast.net> wrote:
My home is on a corner surrounded by The City's Magnolia trees that significantly
invade my property. In the past,
following repeated calls for service and finally receiving it, I am left with cause to wonder
why I made the effort!
When they finally do come, they "snip" here and there, and there is no noticeable
difference. So I feel the pain of
those of you who have experienced the opposite result, I, personally, would be grateful for a similar outcome!
Sheila Hoar
On April 20, 2018 at 8:59 AM 'Norman Beamer' via Crescent Park PA <crescent-
park-pa@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Has anyone else been confronted with city tree trimmers cutting street trees way back to avoid
power lines? I'm not sure the degree of cutting is necessary, or whether there is an approach more accommodating to aesthetics of the trees, etc.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:04 PM
2
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Crescent Park PA" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to crescent-park-pa+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to crescent-park-pa@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/crescent-park-pa. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Crescent Park PA"
group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to crescent-park-pa+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to crescent-park-pa@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/crescent-park-pa.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:07 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Nancy Teater <nrt@hamilton.com>
Sent:Saturday, April 21, 2018 6:58 AM
To:Sheila Hoar
Cc:Norman Beamer' via Crescent Park PA; Norman Beamer; Keene, James; Council, City
Subject:Re: [CPNA] Tree trimming
Does the City freak out if you hire your own trimmer? Would you get a ticket or something? And yes, with the
city service, you never know if you are getting someone who is experienced.
Nancy
On Apr 20, 2018, at 8:14 PM, Sheila Hoar <sheilahoar@comcast.net> wrote:
My home is on a corner surrounded by The City's Magnolia trees that significantly
invade my property. In the past,
following repeated calls for service and finally receiving it, I am left with cause to wonder
why I made the effort!
When they finally do come, they "snip" here and there, and there is no noticeable difference. So I feel the pain of
those of you who have experienced the opposite result, I, personally, would be grateful
for a similar outcome!
Sheila Hoar
On April 20, 2018 at 8:59 AM 'Norman Beamer' via Crescent Park PA <crescent-
park-pa@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Has anyone else been confronted with city tree trimmers cutting street trees way back to avoid power lines? I'm not sure the degree of cutting is necessary, or whether there is an approach more
accommodating to aesthetics of the trees, etc.
-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Crescent Park PA" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to crescent-park-pa+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:07 PM
2
To post to this group, send email to crescent-park-pa@googlegroups.com..
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/crescent-park-pa.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Crescent Park PA"
group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to crescent-
park-pa+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to crescent-park-pa@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/crescent-park-pa.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:48 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Keene, James
Sent:Friday, April 20, 2018 12:20 PM
To:Steve Rock; Council, City
Cc:Reichental, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed
Subject:Re: Facebook and Palo Alto 311
Thanks Mr Rock. Shared your concern with our CIO.
Get Outlook for iOS
From: Steve Rock <rock_js@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2018 11:45:58 AM
To: Council, City
Subject: Facebook and Palo Alto 311
Dear Folks,
Below is a message I sent to the city manager over a week ago about
PaloAlto311 using Facebook. I did not get a reply.
This link Business Insider is to an article about the spying done when
this type of login is used.
Please eliminate all logins to city websites that use Facebook or Google
to protect our privacy.
-Steve
Stephen Rock
3872 Nathan Way Palo Alto CA 94303
ser84@columbia.edu
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Steve Rock <rock_js@sbcglobal.net>
To: "James.Keene@cityofpaloalto.org" <James.Keene@cityofpaloalto.org>
Sent: Monday, April 9, 2018 2:03 PM
Subject: Facebook and Palo Alto 311
Dear Folks,
James.Keene@cityofpaloalto.org
The top option on the login to Palo Alto 311 is Facebook. Considering
all the privacy issues, I think that Facebook should be removed as a login
option from all city websites. The sooner the better.
-Steve
Stephen Rock
3872 Nathan Way Palo Alto CA 94303
ser84@columbia.edu
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:51 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Greg McShea <gjmcshea@yahoo.com>
Sent:Friday, April 20, 2018 2:36 PM
To:City Mgr; Police; Council, City
Subject:Recreational Vehicles parked on El Camino
On 6/23/17 this article appeared in the Palo Alto Weekly stating that city officials were going to crack down on
the large number of RVs parked on El Camino Real across from Palo Alto High School &
Stanford: https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2017/06/23/city-to-crack-down-on-el-camino-rvs
As of today there are still at least 3 dozen RV/trailer vehicles parked in the stretch of ECR from the Palo Alto
Medical Foundation to Stanford Avenue. It appears in the 9+ months since there articles publication there has
been little to no progress on this. In fact the sliver Airstream trailer pictured in the article still sits there on El
Camino Real today with no vehicle attached.
I would like to re-voice my concerns on this issue (this is the second time I have written on this) and would ask
the city to please actually enforce the parking ordinance to encourage these vehicles to move. I have the
following concerns with these vehicles located in their current location:
1. If there are people dwelling in the vehicles (I assume there are) it creates a transient population living right
across the street from one of our high schools.
2. If there are people living in these vehicles it is hard to imagine they are properly disposing of their waste. I
would not like to see Palo Alto end up like East Palo Alto did with RV dwellers dumping sewage in to storm
drains: https://paloaltoonline.com/news/2017/11/15/protest-over-rv-evictions-in-east-palo-alto 3. Some of the RVs even have their "bump out" sections extended almost intruding in to the lane of traffic and
creating hazards for cyclists.
4. In general I would like to see the laws of our city enforced. This issue has existed for a very long time and the
city is obviously aware of it. It is time to take some consistent & permanent action.
Thanks,
Greg McShea
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:47 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Janet Gu <janetlipingding1120@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, April 19, 2018 10:23 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:remove Verizon’s “Cluster 1” project (17PLN-00169) from the Consent Calendar please
Dear Council member:
I believe the Director’s decision to allow Verizon to install hundreds of pounds of cheap, ugly
equipment on poles within a few yards of residents’ homes was not correct.
Verizon’s claims that it cannot underground its equipment are not credible (Palo Alto will be
undergrounding its utilities throughout the Cluster 1 neighborhoods, so surely Verizon can
underground its equipment there as well). And
Please grant approval to Verizon to install its cell towers only on the condition that the company locate all of its equipment, except the antenna, underground in flush-to-the-ground vaults with no
protuberances (this is what sophisticated cities are now requiring of the telecom industry).
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:09 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Erika Harrington <erikaharrington@me.com>
Sent:Saturday, April 21, 2018 7:37 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Ross Rd Bike Boulevard
Dear City Council,
My two boys attend Ohlone Elementary school (grades 3 and 5) and we commute from the Charleston Meadow
neighborhood. For years the boys have asked that we bike to school, but I never felt comfortable getting them across
town in the morning traffic.
Earlier today, we rode our bikes to Midtown, using the Ross Rd. bike boulevard as our primary route. It was fantastic!
The boys are so excited that we now have a safe and easy route to school.
Thank you for making these changes to our roads. My boys are getting to the age where they will be biking around town
more independently, and I am happy to see that the City is making our cycling students a priority.
Best regards,
Erika Harrington
Sent from my iPhone
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:13 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Nadia Naik <nadianaik@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, April 22, 2018 9:03 PM
To:Council, City; Keene, James; Shikada, Ed; Gitelman, Hillary; Mello, Joshuah; De Geus,
Robert
Cc:info
Subject:Stanford's involvement in Caltrain Business Plan
Attachments:Excerpt of 2018-04-05 JPB Agenda Final.pdf
Attached is the excerpt from the Caltrain board meeting agenda that shows Stanford's involvement in helping
Caltrain with their new business plan.
A few things that stood out to me:
3. Stanford will respond to any requests for clarifications from the JPB related to the Business Plan or
Work Product in an expeditious manner. Stanford is not, however, obligated to respond to any requests for clarifications that would require Stanford to disclose information it considers confidential
or sensitive.
and this:
Stanford will not undertake and will not provide to the JPB any Work Product under this Agreement that includes any of the following:
A. Analysis or recommendations directly relating to:
1. Operational modeling of Caltrain service, including specific schedules or stopping patterns.
2. Real estate or other financial interests held by Stanford.
3. The JPB's Go-Pass program.
B. Stamped engineering drawings.
Nadia Naik
CARRD
Page 1 of 3
14239683.3
AGENDA ITEM #10
APRIL 5, 2018
PENINSULA CORRIDOR JOINT POWERS BOARD
STAFF REPORT
TO: Joint Powers Board
THROUGH: Jim Hartnett
Executive Director
FROM: Michelle Bouchard
Chief Operating Officer, Caltrain
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH
STANFORD UNIVERSITY AND FUNDING AGREEMENTS FOR MEMBER AGENCY
SUPPORT OF THE CALTRAIN BUSINESS PLAN, AND AMENDMENT TO INCREASE
THE CAPITAL BUDGET TO BY $1.5 MILLION TO $72,823,295.
ACTION
The Staff Coordinating Council (SCC) recommends the Board:
1. Authorize the Executive Director, or his designee, to enter into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Leland Stanford Junior
University (Stanford) to establish a partnership through which Stanford
would provide technical assistance for the Caltrain Business Plan.
2. Authorize the Executive Director, or his designee, to enter into funding
agreements with the San Mateo County Transit District, City and County of
San Francisco and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, or their
designees, for the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) to receive
up to a total of $1.5 million in funding and in-kind support for the
development of the Caltrain Business Plan.
3. Increase the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18 Capital Budget by $1.5 million from
$71,323,295 to $72,823,295.
SIGNIFICANCE
In February, 2018, the Board of Directors (Board) adopted the Caltrain Business Plan
Business Strategy and Scope of Work. These documents outline a comprehensive
program of technical and policy work that staff will undertake over the coming year.
The Business Plan is the JPB's first planning effort of this kind. The Business Plan has been
scoped to include long-range demand modeling, and service and infrastructure
planning, as well as organizational analysis and an assessment of Caltrain’s interface
with the communities it traverses.
Page 2 of 3
14239683.3
Staff has developed an approach to deliver the Business Plan that relies on a
partnership with Stanford University as well as financial support from multiple public
sources. This approach and associated funding plan will be described in more detail in
a brief presentation by staff as part of the April Caltrain Business Plan Project Update.
The recommended actions will provide the Executive Director with the authority to
execute the attached MOU with Stanford, under which Stanford will conduct several
significant aspects of the Business Plan Scope of Work at no cost to the JPB. Stanford's
participation will not be included in the JPB's budgeted revenues or expenses; rather, it
will supplement budgeted funding received and expended by the JPB to complete the
Business Plan.
In addition, the recommended actions will authorize the Executive Director to execute
funding agreements with the JPB's member agencies or other public agencies that
agree to partially or entirely contribute member agencies' equal one-third shares of
financial support for the Business Plan effort, in a cumulative amount of up to $1.5
million. While the majority of member agency support will be monetary contributions,
some in-kind services may be needed, such as transportation demand modeling.
BUDGET IMPACT
The MOU with Stanford will not be reflected in the JPB budget; Stanford's assistance will
be entirely in-kind, therefore, there is no budget impact associated with that proposed
partnership.
Up to $1.5 million is anticipated to be contributed to the JPB for the Business Plan by
other public agency partners, as discussed above. Accordingly, an amendment to the
FY 2018 Capital Budget is needed to increase both revenues and expenditures by $1.5
million for a new total FY 2018 Capital Budget of $72.8 million.
Additional budget amendments are expected over the next several months as
additional funding sources become available for the Business Plan, primarily through
pending State of California grant processes.
BACKGROUND
In 2017, the JPB secured full funding for the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project and
issued notices to proceed to its contractors for corridor electrification and purchase of
Electric Multiple Unit railcars. Now that construction on this long-awaited project has
begun, the agency has the opportunity to articulate a long-term business strategy for
the future of the system. The initial concept for a Caltrain “Business Plan” was brought to
the Board in April of 2017. The Board reviewed a draft scope of work for the Business
Plan in December of 2017 and adopted a final Business Strategy and Scope of Work in
February of 2018.
In addition to the support detailed above from Stanford and the JPB's member
agencies and their partners, California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) also will
support the Business Plan under existing intergovernmental agreements with the JPB.
Page 3 of 3
14239683.3
Finally, the JPB has applied for funding from the State's Transit and Intercity Rail Capital
Program (TIRCP) that could be used towards various planning projects including the
Business Plan. If TIRCP funds become available for the Business Plan, staff will return to
the Board to seek authority to accept the funds and further amend the Capital Budget
as it relates to the Business Plan.
As some funds required to complete the Business Plan will not be available immediately,
staff will carefully monitor expenditures to ensure that Business Plan costs stay within
then-available funds.
Prepared By: Sebastian Petty, Senior Policy Advisor 650.622.7831
1
14157868.9
DRAFT
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
between the
PENINSULA CORRIDOR JOINT POWERS BOARD (JPB)
and
LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY (STANFORD)
for
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CALTRAIN BUSINESS PLAN
This Memorandum of Understanding (Agreement) is entered into on the ___ day of
_______________, 2018, by and between the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board
("JPB") and Leland Stanford Junior University ("Stanford"). Hereinafter, the JPB and
Stanford may be individually referred to as “Party” or collectively referred to as “Parties.”
RECITALS
A. The JPB is the owner and managing authority for the Peninsula Rail Corridor
between San Francisco and San Jose and is responsible for the delivery of
the Caltrain passenger rail service operating between San Francisco and
Gilroy.
B. The JPB seeks to develop a Caltrain Business Plan ("Business Plan"), in
collaboration with government agencies, community partners, contractors and
stakeholders, that explores economic, policy, and technical approaches that will
allow the JPB to identify a long term service vision for how the railroad will grow.
The Business Plan will also seek to identify options for how the Caltrain
organization can evolve to support the service vision and how the railroad can
strategically and equitably manage its interface with surrounding communities in
a way that generates value and minimizes impacts.
C. At its February 1, 2018 meeting, the Board of Directors of the JPB ("Board")
approved a Final Business Strategy and Scope for the Business Plan, which is
attached hereto and incorporated as Exhibit A.
2
14157868.9
DRAFT
D. Stanford desires to provide in-kind support to the development of the Business
Plan.
E. This Agreement sets forth the terms under which the JPB and Stanford will
collaborate to develop the Business Plan.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, the JPB and Stanford agree as follows:
SECTION I
TERM AND TERMINATION
The term of this Agreement will extend until the adoption of the Business Plan by the
JPB Board, currently anticipated to be in one year. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time with reasonable notice to the
other Party.
SECTION II
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Stanford's Role and Responsibilities
1. Stanford will collaborate in good faith with the JPB to support development
of the Caltrain Business Plan in accordance with the JPB Board-adopted
Scope of Work.
2. Stanford will provide in-kind assistance to the JPB to deliver the Business
Plan in accordance with the Strategy and Scope of Work adopted by the
JPB Board and the Project Charter described in paragraph II.C.1, below.
Stanford's in-kind assistance may include, but may not be limited to: staff
and faculty participation and technical expertise, reports, designs,
drawings, plans, specifications, schedules, studies, memoranda, and other
documents to further the development of the Business Plan (collectively
"Work Product"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Stanford agrees that
3
14157868.9
DRAFT
Work Product performed for and provided to the JPB will not include any
of the material set forth in Section V, Exclusions.
3. Stanford may contract with one or more third parties to produce the Work
Product. However, before Stanford engages any other party to produce
the Work Product, Stanford must inform the JPB and permit the JPB to
conduct an analysis of potential conflicts of interest related to such other
party under State law (including, but not limited to California Government
Code sections 1090, et seq., and California Government Code sections
87100, et seq.).
4. Stanford will participate in meetings as set forth in Section III.
5. Stanford will respond to any requests for clarifications from the JPB
related to the Business Plan or Work Product in an expeditious manner.
Stanford is not, however, obligated to respond to any requests for
clarifications that would require Stanford to disclose information it
considers confidential or sensitive.
B. JPB's Role and Responsibilities
1. The JPB will serve as the project lead for the development of the Business
Plan, and will perform and manage the Scope of Work described in
Exhibit A through an integrated structure, including Stanford as a partner.
2. The JPB will determine, in its sole discretion, the contents of the final
Business Plan, including the inclusion or exclusion of any Work Product or
any portion or derivative work thereof and Stanford shall not be liable for
any of the decisions made by the JPB.
3. The JPB will coordinate and participate in meetings as set forth in Section
III.
4. The JPB will provide guidance and feedback to Stanford related to
Stanford's development of any Work Product included in the Project
Charter.
4
14157868.9
DRAFT
5. The JPB may contract with one or more third parties to complete any or all
elements of the Business Plan.
C. Joint Responsibilities
1. The Parties agree to negotiate in good faith and execute a Project Charter
that will memorialize further terms related to the roles and responsibilities
and day-to-day cooperation of the Parties in developing the Business
Plan.
2. The Parties agree to collaborate on identifying and developing external
funding sources for the Business Plan. Either or both Parties may
contract with one or more third parties to fund the Work Product and/or
other elements of the Business Plan.
SECTION III
MEETINGS
The Parties will actively participate in each occurrence of the following meetings unless
both parties agree to change the schedule:
A. Stanford / JPB Coordination Meetings: Staff level meetings to be held not more
than monthly between the JPB and Stanford to discuss specific coordination
issues related to the partnership between the two entities and the coordination of
Work Product development.
B. Partner Working Group Meetings: Staff level meetings to be held not more than
monthly between the JPB, Stanford and other project partners to collectively
review Work Product and to coordinate the month-to-month development of the
project.
C. Project Stakeholder Meetings: Staff level meetings to be held not more than
quarterly between the JPB, Stanford and a larger group of project partners,
stakeholders, and community members to discuss and review the Business Plan.
D. Partner Executive Group Meetings: Chief executive-level meetings to be held
not more than quarterly between the Executive Director of the JPB, the Vice
5
14157868.9
DRAFT
President of Lands, Buildings and Real Estate of Stanford and the chief
executives of other project partners, or their designees, to discuss and review the
Business Plan.
E. Other meetings as mutually agreed between the Parties.
SECTION IV
OWNERSHIP OF WORK
A. The Work Product is and will be the joint property of the JPB and Stanford. The
JPB's use of Work Product in the development of the Business Plan does not
grant Stanford any interest in the final Business Plan regardless of the amount or
kind of Work Product Stanford provides, or the manner in which it is used.
Stanford may use the Work Product for other purposes.
B. The JPB agrees to include, at Stanford's request, attribution in a form reasonably
acceptable to Stanford in the Business Plan, and any portion or draft thereof, that
contains Work Product or any portion or derivative work thereof.
SECTION V
EXCLUSIONS
Stanford will not undertake and will not provide to the JPB any Work Product under this
Agreement that includes any of the following:
A. Analysis or recommendations directly relating to:
1. Operational modeling of Caltrain service, including specific schedules or
stopping patterns.
2. Real estate or other financial interests held by Stanford.
3. The JPB's Go-Pass program.
B. Stamped engineering drawings.
6
14157868.9
DRAFT
SECTION VI
FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
Each Party will bear its own costs in the performance of this Agreement. Neither Party
incurs any financial obligation of any kind to the other Party by executing this
Agreement, or by providing or accepting any Work Product.
SECTION VII
REPRESENTATIONS
A. Stanford agrees not to issue any public announcements or press releases
regarding this Agreement or work performed thereunder without first obtaining
prior consent from the JPB.
B. The JPB agrees not to issue any public announcement or press releases
regarding this Agreement or Stanford's participation in the development of the
Business Plan without first obtaining prior consent from Stanford.
C. Neither Party may represent that the Business Plan, any Work Product, or any
portion, draft, or derivative work thereof, is the product of a partnership between
the Parties without the prior consent of the other Party.
SECTION VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
A. Stanford will indemnify, keep and save harmless the JPB, the City and County of
San Francisco, the San Mateo County Transit District, the Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, the
San Francisco County Transportation Authority, TransitAmerica Services, Inc.,
the Union Pacific Railroad Company, and any successor railroad operator of
record, and their respective directors, supervisors, officers, agents and
employees against any and all suits, claims or actions arising out of any
allegation that materials or services provided by Stanford under this Agreement
infringe or violate any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or any other
intellectual property or proprietary right of any third party.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:47 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Jennifer Mutz <jennifer.mutz@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, April 19, 2018 11:07 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Support for Verizon Antenna Plan
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
Thank you for your hard work on behalf of the city of Palo Alto. We support the current Verizon plan to install small cellular antennas on existing utility poles in
various neighborhoods around Palo Alto, including our Midtown neighborhood.
As you know, reliable and strong cellular coverage is a necessity for the following reasons: - Cell coverage can be life-saving in case of an emergency.
- Increasingly, families are relying solely on cell phones even in their homes, and are opting out
of having dedicated home phones.
- We live in the heart of Silicon Valley where cell phones are ubiquitous. Not only are people using cell phones for work and personal reasons, but in fact cell phones are sometimes expected tools in the classroom in Palo Alto high schools where digital devices are now
required.
- We are comfortable there is a low health risk to having cell phone antennas located on existing
telephone poles. - There is minimal aesthetic impact of the antennas on existing utility poles (although it would be better to underground all utilities like in our area of Midtown).
Our only request is that Verizon install the highest quality equipment (at their expense) to avoid any
additional ambient noise in the neighborhood: we have heard on Nextdoor from some home owners who live near these antennas, who also support having them and installing more, that there can be a buzzing sound associated with the equipment.
Please record our family’s request to support the Verizon cell phone antennas in the upcoming City
Council Meeting in May that will address this topic. Respectfully,
Jennifer Mutz
Andrew Mutz Palo Alto, CA (residents for over 20 years)
P.S. In response to those who have health/safety concerns about these Verizon cell antennas, quite
frankly, the highest risk we all face are people who continue to drive while texting on their cell phones. And the highest risk our family faces (and other pedestrians and bikers) are the hundreds of drivers
who on a daily basis run straight through the three way intersection without stopping at the stop signs
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:47 PM
2
in front of our home at Cowper/Colorado! We are thrilled the PAPD is re-instating the Traffic Division
to help address these issues. Thank you!
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/25/2018 12:57 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:
Sent:Saturday, April 21, 2018 1:33 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:The round about
My name is Hari, I go to school.You might know about the round about on the intersection
on Meadow drive and Ross road.Not too many people feel comfortable with that round about and there are
many kids who go there and almost fall down trying to get around it. There is also a stop sign there already so there is no reason in building one.
-
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:10 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Jeff Hoel <jeff_hoel@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, April 22, 2018 2:24 PM
To:Council, City
Cc:Hoel, Jeff (external)
Subject:TRANSCRIPT & COMMENTS -- Council's 04-16-18 meeting, Item 8 -- the resolution
opposing TFTAA
Council members,
At your 04-16-18 meeting, https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/64465
Item 8, on the Consent Calendar, was a resolution opposing the "Tax Fairness, Transparency, and Accountability Act of 2018" (TFTAA),
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/64478 which might get enough signatures (by 7-25-18) to qualify for the 11-06-18 ballot.
I would like to have seen Council pass this resolution unanimously. But that didn't happen. Council Members Tanaka and Kou
wanted to pull the item from the Consent Calendar, for the purpose of talking about it. But it takes three Council members to pull an item from Consent; two is insufficient. At this point, because of a rule in Council's procedures (see Section 2.4-F of the "City Council
Procedures and Protocols Handbook," PDF page 12), https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/34330
the only way Council Members Tanaka and Kou could say ANYTHING about the item was to vote "no" first. So they voted "no."
Ironically, Mayor Kniss chose to flout this rule by saying something about the item even though she had voted "yes." City Manager Keene also said something. (Does the rule apply also to staff? I don't see why not.)
Maybe the outcome would have been better if the item had not been on the Consent Calendar in the first place. The City Council
Procedures and Protocols Handbook (cited above) says (Section 2.4-E.6, PDF page 12), "Items may be placed upon the consent calendar by any council-appointed officer whenever, in such officer's judgment, such items are expected to be routinely
approved without discussion or debate." But, obviously, at least in retrospect, not all Council members agreed that it should have been approved without discussion.
Please see a transcript of Item 8 below the "###" line, with my further comments (paragraphs beginning with "###").
Thanks.
Jeff
------------------- Jeff Hoel
731 Colorado Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94303
-------------------
#####################################################################
04-16-18 Council video: http://midpenmedia.org/city-council-152-2-3-2-2-3/
ITEM 8:
1:50:15:
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:10 PM
2
Mayor Kniss: And, Council Member Tanaka.
1:50:17:
Council Member Tanaka: Yeah. I want to pull 8.
1:50:19:
Mayor Kniss: You what?
1:50:20:
Council Member Tanaka: Item 8.
1:50:21:
Mayor Kniss: You wanted to pull it?
1:50:22:
Council Member Tanaka: Yes.
1:50:22:
Mayor Kniss: Or vote no on it? You wanted to pull it. OK. Item number 8. Are there two people who are willing to pull item
number 8? OK, I see you, Council Member Kou. Anyone else? I don't see a third.
1:50:41:
Council Member Tanaka: Then I vote no.
1:50:42:
Mayor Kniss: OK. Vote no on it. Council Member Kou?
1:50:47:
Council Member Kou: Um hum.
1:50:47:
Mayor Kniss: The same?
1:50:48:
Council Member Kou: Same.
1:50:49:
Mayor Kniss: OK. So, with the Consent Calendar now in front of you, does anyone want to pull or add or -- OK. So, ...
1:50:50:
Council Member Scharff: I'd like to add to the Consent Calendar the rest of the items we have this evening.
1:51:01:
[laughter]
1:51:03:
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:10 PM
3
Mayor Kniss: What a good idea. So, we now have on this -- a comment on number 4 -- thank you, Penny Ellison -- I know you've left. Number 5 is still on it. Number 7. And Number 8 has two noes. So. So, we'll list those two noes and -- I want to just make
sure. Are we ready to vote? Pardon?
1:51:31:
Council Member Scharff: I'll move the Consent Calendar.
1:51:33:
**: Second.
1:51:33:
Mayor Kniss: Thank you.
1:51:36:
Council Member Scharff: (unamplified) And then they'll get to speak on it -- Lydia and ...
1:51:37:
Mayor Kniss: Yes. Right. OK. So. Tada. So, the Consent Calendar passes.
### Most items pass 8-0, with Filseth absent. Item 8 passes 6-2, with Tanaka and Kou voting "no," and Filseth absent.
But some of you wanted to speak to your no. Council Member Tanaka, do you want to speak to your no?
1:51:56:
Council Member Tanaka: Sure. So, this item, Item 8, is -- it's a resolution that staff has asked the Council to oppose a ballot measure. This ballot measure is -- is -- what it's trying to do is -- Its title is "The Tax Fairness, Transparency, and Accountability Act
of 2018."
### It is apparent to me that the proposed measure's title is NOT an honest description of what the proposed measure is trying to do.
And I wish, actually, we could actually talk about it. Because it seems to have a lot of really good elements in there. It's trying to create transparency, and accountability of city government spending, which, I think a lot of people know that I feel very strongly that
it's important that we do. This is at a time when the Council is considering going to the ballot on a infrastructure build. Which I would say that for us to do that, means that we want to ensure that our house is in order. And so, for us to automatically, on a Consent
Calendar, without any discussion, oppose a measure which is trying to improve tax fairness, transparency, and accountability doesn't seem right. I did make an attempt to try and reach out to the organization that was sponsoring this, just to see if they could send
someone here to speak on this matter. But unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to do that. So, I think it would behoove the Council to -- especially at a time when we're considering to raise taxes for our residents -- when we're going to raise the water rates,
we're looking to raise the sewer rates -- that we really spend money wisely. Because I know that, while a lot of people think that people in Palo Alto are rich and taxes don't mean anything, there are some people in Palo Alto who are really here by the skin of their
teeth. And where there -- additional taxes and spending doesn't really help them. So, I think it's really wise for us to be cautious here. And that's why I felt that we should have the discussion about -- does this make sense? Maybe not all of it makes sense, but
maybe some of it makes sense. And so, I'm disappointed that we weren't able to discuss this item.
1:53:57:
Mayor Kniss: Council Member Kou.
1:53:59:
Council Member Kou: Um, I agree with Council Member Tanaka. Basically, this is a -- The state has come down with a lot of legislation, or proposed legislation. And I think that -- I feel that there is a need for the community to understand the ballot measures
that are coming before us. Some of the Senate bills. I would really like to see that -- you know, that our lobbyists, or people that are
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:10 PM
4
involved in all this kind of legislation from up top -- that they do come and speak to us, so that we understand what we're going to be
voting on, and what we're approving and no approving.
### Technically, the agendized item was only about TFTAA, not all the other ballot measures that the public might vote on this November.
In this case, you know, I did read it. And I see that -- And I have -- I understand that it might impede local use of taxes. And that's
not what the intention is in pulling it. It's more so that the community and the general public understand what this initiative is all about. Just to be provided an opportunity to decide based on pros and cons that's presented to them.
1:55:10:
Mayor Kniss: You can fix it. OK. Thank you. Even though I'm voting yes on it, just let me add to this that -- the meeting I was at in
Ontario last Thursday, we spent about an hour discussing this. And what ramifications it would have for local government, which are -- which are pretty extreme.
### At Council Comments (5:56:48 on the video -- see below), Mayor Kniss explained that this meeting was a meeting of the League
of California Cities' Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee.
So, that now takes us on ...
1:55:34:
City Manager Keene: Madame Mayor. 1:55:36:
Mayor Kniss: Sir.
1:55;36:
City Manager Keene: I just want to quickly say, since we did the work. I mean, I think, in general, this is in keeping with general
directives from the City Council. It's also -- you know, certainly the League of California Cities -- a lot of this is from their proposed resolution. I would respectfully differ: I don't think there is very much about transparency here, and all. And I think the two key
points that the public should be aware of in the resolution are --
### City Manager Keene is quoting from the 4th, 5th, and 6th clauses of the City's resolution.
the view that "the proposed ballot measure would allow businesses to escape from their existing obligations to pay the full cost of services that they request and receive from local" government. And "the proposed ballot measure" could "then shift the burden of
these uncovered costs of businesses interests to local general funds...." Etc. And, I would say, lastly, and the -- "...by design the proposed ballot is not ... a measure of tax fairness, but the very opposite, placing a minority of voters in control of public decision
making and negating a fundamental practice of majority rule in our democracy." Thank you.
1:56:41:
Mayor Kniss: OK. With that, we are -- pardon -- yeah, we're going on to 8A. Right.
=======================================================================
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
### Just the part that talked about TFTAA.
5:56:48:
Mayor Kniss: OK. Is -- Does anyone want to speak who didn't speak? OK. I was -- as was Council Member Wolbach -- in Ontario -
- Ontario, California. I was there on Thursday of last week, and, Cory, I think you ...
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/23/2018 1:10 PM
5
5:57:06:
Council Member Wolbach: I was there on Friday. For a Public Safety Committee.
### Here's the agenda:
http://www.cacities.org/Resources-Documents/Policy-Advocacy-Section/Policy-Development/Policy-Committees/Public-Safety/Agendas-and-Highlights/Public-Safety-Agenda-4-13-18
5:57:07:
Mayor Kniss: Right. So, I'm on the -- known as the Rev and Tax Committee, which is the Revenue and the Taxation Committee.
### The Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee of the League of California Cities met in Pomona on Thursday, 04-12-
18, according to this agenda -- with supporting documentation (44 pages): http://www.cacities.org/Resources-Documents/Policy-Advocacy-Section/Policy-Development/Policy-Committees/Revenue-and-
Taxation/Agendas-and-Highlights/Rev-and-Tax-Agenda-4-12-18 TFTAA was part of an "informational" agenda item, so apparently committee members didn't vote on it.
### More information about the Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee is available here:
http://www.cacities.org/Policy-Advocacy/Policy-Development/Revenue-and-Taxation-Policy-Committee Apparently the "highlights" of the 04-12-18 meeting will be posted here later (under "agendas & highlights").
And we were discussing, in particular, one of the things we discussed tonight, which was the transparency tax -- the tax and so
forth. And we discussed ALL the bills, for the most part, that are coming forward. One of them, certainly, was Scott Wiener's bill that had to do with housing. Most of you knew that he -- know that he has -- he has adjusted his bill pretty substantially. And we
probably want to take a look at it again and decide whether or not -- with the changes he has made, whether or not we have any interest in changing our support, non-support, or whatever. So, once again, that's the kind of issue, I think, where we should work
closely with our lobbyist.
OK. So that just says, both of us were in Ontario -- beautiful downtown Ontario -- to meet with the League of California Cities.
5:58:13:
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 4/20/2018 2:48 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Sherryl Casella <orioness@hotmail.com>
Sent:Friday, April 20, 2018 10:19 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Verison Boxes in our neighborhoods
Please require that Verizon underground the boxes they are proposing.
The one near my home (Emerson at Lowell) is very large and obtrusive... 4 1/2 feet tall and 2 1/2 feet deep.
That is literally in your face.
We live in a beautiful city. Please do not let Verizon deface it.
Sincerely,
Sherryl Casella
Date
February 15, 2018 •
•
•
March 15, 2018 •
•
•
•
April 19, 2018 •
•
May 17, 2018 •
•
June 21, 2018 •
City-School Liaison Committee
2018 Schedule
Citv/Schc MEETING D
April 19, 2018
IZl Received Before Meeting
Item
Library collaboration with PAUSD to issue students Library Cards
2018 Council Priorities
Agenda planning for 2018
Review of Recent City Council/PAUSD Board Meetings
2018 Summer Programs (City)
Planned bike and pedestrian improvements to Churchill Ave -City
Chief Transportation Official
Discussion of Agenda Topics for April and May
Review of Recent City Council and PAUSD Board Meetings
Ventura Area Plan
Safe Routes to School -Rosie Mesterhazy,
MPH, LCI #5255. Safe Routes to
School Coordinator, City of Palo Alto,
Transportation Division Department
of Planning+ Community Environment
Cubberley Master Pain
Review of Recent City Council and PAUSD Board Meetings
July 19, 2018 Cancelled due to Council and PAUSD Holiday Break
August 16, 2018 • Review of Recent City Council and PAUSD Board Meetings
September 20, 2018 • Review of Recent City Council and PAUSD Board Meetings
October 18, 2018 • Review of Recent City Council and PAUSD Board Meetings
November 15, 2018 • Review of Recent City Council and PAUSD Board Meetings
December 21, 2018 • Review of Recent City Council and PAUSD Board Meetings
To be Scheduled and/or Potential Items for discussion:
Grade Separation
Middle School Athletics
Coordination on Capital Improvement in the right of way
Pension Liability
Emergency Preparedness
Teacher & staff housing
Traffic School Team
Shared use of facilities
Teacher housing -thoughts and potential collaboration
Stanford GUP
City-School Liaison Committee
2018 Schedule
Ways for City and District to work together more effectively to accomplish shared goals
Palo Alto
Unified School District
Palo Alto Unified School District Statement Regarding
Upcoming Installation of Solar Energy Systems
The PAUSD is scheduled to begin installing solar energy systems at six school sites later this
year. Approval on the project was granted on November 14, 2017 by the PAUSD Board of
Education. Since that time, several concerns about the project have been voiced leading to
misinformation and confusion about the project being circulated, which we are seeking to
clarify below.
How & when was this decision made?
In spring 2016, the Board approved a budget authority of $75,000 for a Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
Energy Consultant, ARC Alternatives Inc. to conduct a solar feasibility analysis. After the
districtwide solar study of all eighteen PAUSD school sites, the Board has approved installations
at six sites: Palo Alto High School, J.L. Stanford Middle School, Terman Middle School, Ohlone
Elementary School, Escondido Elementary School, and Lucille M. Nixon Elementary School.
Across all six schools, the total project size will be 1,429 kW, with three different structure
types: roof mounted systems, carports, and field shade canopies.
After a request for proposals (RFP) was sent out on September 17, 2017, potential vendors
were interviewed with the Energy Service Contract Resolution being passed at the November
14, 2017 Board Meeting. The contract with the PPA provider is contingent upon PAUSD's
acceptance into the City of Palo Alto's Clean Energy Program, which provides credit to the
utility bill based on PV system generation. Unfortunately, at the time, the PAUSD solar project
didn't qualify with the City of Palo Alto's Clean Energy program, which requires that solar
installation be completed in six months' time to realize the full cost savings of the solar array.
The District's plan would take longer than six months because the panels are to be installed
during summer 2018. On December 12, 2017, the District was made aware of a change in the
City of Palo Alto's Solar Program which allowed installation of solar panels to happen over a
one-year period and still realize the full savings through the City's Clean Energy program. The
project then officially entered the design phase.
Why didn't the District seek community input on this project?
The District did in fact seek community input on this project. District staff solicited input from
site leadership, site councils, parent groups, and the City's recreation division at each site
3
Palo Alto
Unified School District
chosen for solar arrays. District staff also reached out to several local school districts to discuss
lessons learned and best practices around K-12 PV installation. Site plans were adjusted in
response to community feedback whenever feasible. Once City of Palo Alto Utilities accepted
PAUSD's Clean Energy program application, the District began a full-scale information sharing
program. Two Town Hall-style meetings were held to share more information with the
community and answer questions about PAUSD's solar plans. These meetings were held on
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the Haymarket Theatre at Palo Alto High
School, and on Thursday, February 22, 2018 from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the library at Terman
Middle School.
In addition, the District's solar panel project has been made public on the PAUSD website,
included in several Board agendas and meetings, mentioned in more than one Superintendent's
Weekly message, as well as covered in our local media (found here and here).
Why can't the solar panels go elsewhere on the PALY campus? The carport style solar array
will obstruct the view of the century old buildings.
After careful evaluation of the PALY campus, it was determined that the best placement of solar
panels would be on carports in the parking lots. Unfortunately, rooftops are not deemed an
optimal location due to the buildings' age coupled with the weight of the solar panels. A
complete rebuild of the rooftops would not only significantly raise the cost of the installation
but jeopardize the timeline of one year in which this project must be completed per city
regulations.
Shade structures on campus were also considered, but ultimately decided against because the
tree shade does not allow enough sunlight in to generate enough power. Within the City of Palo
Alto, tree survival is of the utmost importance, so removing those trees is not a viable option.
Why Should the PAUSD Go Solar?
The solar energy systems are being designed with the target of offsetting each school site's
annual electricity bill for at least 20 years. The installations will also provide benefits beyond
cost savings:
• Educational Benefits: The solar energy systems will serve as a learning laboratory for
students. The contractor who is designing and installing the solar energy systems will
provide curriculum on the subject of solar energy for teachers to share with their students.
Palo Alto
, Unified School District
• Student and Staff Comfort Benefits: The solar energy systems will serve as a shade structure
in parking lot areas and athletic play fields.
• Environmental Benefits: In total, the electricity generated by these installations will offset
the greenhouse gas emissions from over 102,000,000 miles driven by an average passenger
vehicle, or provide a reduction in carbon emissions equal to the amount of carbon absorbed
by almost 2,000 acres of U.S. forest every year.
PAUSD is in fact well behind most nearby school districts in converting to solar energy.
Converting to solar in the PAUSD was proposed in 2009, but it was determined that "going
solar" was not cost efficient. Advances in solar technology, coupled with the City of Palo Alto's
Clean Energy program now make solar energy a viable and essential way to save money at our
schools, while contributing positively to the power grid.
Media queries should be emailed to media@pausd.org and include interview topic, interview
questions and publication deadline.
' ··~J
.. > ...
6. Urban Design, Design Guidelines and Neighborhood Fabric
Develop human-scale urban design strategies, and design guidelines that strengthen and
support the neighborhood fabric. Infill development will respect the scale and character
of the surrounding residential neighborhood. Include transition zones to surrounding
neighborhoods.
7. Sustainability and the Environment
Protect and enhance the environment, while addressing the principles of sustainability.
NVCAP Objectives
1. Data Driven Approach: Employ a data-driven approach that considers community
desires, market conditions and forecasts, financial feasibility, existing uses and
development patterns, development capacity, traffic and travel patterns,
historic/cultural and natural resources, need for community facilities (e.g., schools), and
other relevant data to inform plan policies.
2. Comprehensive User Friendly Document and Implementation: Create a comprehensive
but user-friendly document that identifies the distribution, location and extent of land
uses, planning policies, development regulations and design guidelines to enable
development and needed infrastructure investments in the project area
3. Guide and Strategy for Staff and Decision Makers: Provide a guide and strategy for staff
and decision-makers to bridge the gap between the goals and policies of the
Comprehensive Plan and individual development projects in order to streamline future
land use and transportation decisions.
4. Meaningful Community Engagement: Enable a process with meaningful opportunities
for community engagement, within the defined timeline, and an outcome (the CAP
document) that reflects the community's priorities.
5. Economic Feasibility: A determination of the economic and fiscal feasibility of the plan
with specific analysis of market place factors and incentives and disincentives, as well as
a cost-benefit analysis of public infrastructure investments and projected economic
benefits to the City and community.
6. Environmental: A plan that is protective of public health and a process that complies
with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.
Page 2 of4 03/05/2018
Vesna Petresin brings a unique practice to the area. No other place in the City of Charlotte or North Carolina
focuses on the transfonnative power of light as fonn, reflecting on the human interaction to connect with cultural
expression. This artist is exploring time in relation to space, sound, image and interaction.
The "smart city" concept of this dynamic datascape is drawn from two components which change the fonn to an
accessible visuaVaudio display based upon public movement and engagement.
• Visual content is created by programmable LED light features embedded into the staircase and railings. The
light effects include subtle, safe and non-intrusive animated patterns, designed to work interactively based on data
captured from the environment as well as on presets of visual effects. The light effects are programmed along a
2417 schedule with pre-rendered sets at specific times of the day combined with responsive effects based on criteria
such as visibility, program of events at the Museum and the number of visitors.
• Audio content permeates ambient sound loops designed to respond and support the light effects. These
amplify the visitor's feeling of presence in the environment and assist their spatial navigation, by amplifying the
ranges of frequencies that translate to embodied sensations. The audio content includes composed soundscapes and
loops of sonic textures as well as key framed musical motives on specific days and at specific times to announce
events.
Additionally, the project plan is to expand from installation to an online digital experience through a contextual
component set to provide an immersive experience exclusive to each visitor entering the website. In this way,
Vesna allocates access to a wider public and allows The Mint visitor an ability to take with them a direct experience
from their museum outing.
artequitymanagement.com
ph 805.423.0113
bh@artequitymanagement.com
About V esna Petresin
Vesna Petresin is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Amsterdam University of the
Arts, The Netherlands Film Academy and a Visiting Fellow at Goldsmiths
(University of London). She has been an Artist in Residence at ZKM in Germany
and created a London-based trans-disciplinary art collective whose exploration of
optics, acoustics and psychology takes the fonnat of performance, installation and
artifact.
As a time architect, space composer and performer, her practice utilizes an alchemy of media and senses (sound,
film, space, interaction, and performance) to take art out of the white cube and bring it into an immersive
experience. The key concept is transformation -of the material, the immaterial and the self.
Vesna seeks elements to link cultures rather than separate them and pays attention to archetypal formal constants
and patterns existing both in nature, human perception and the creative process. Her work in immersive light is
ground-breaking and has been featured at Tate Modem, ArtBasel Miami, Venice Biennale, The Royal Festival Hall,
The Royal Academy of Arts, ICA, The Sydney Opera House, Vienna Secession, Cannes International Film Festival
and Kings Place among others.
Vesna's academic background in classical music and architecture has propelled her as a RSA Fellow, a Member of
R&D Society (RS), a Member of the Architectural Association, a lecturer and print author of internationally notable
publications on smart cities (Thames & Hudson, Black Dog) and writing on Leonardo da Vinci's creative
methods in relation to 21st century view of morphogenesis in art and design for Springer Publications.
About the Mint Museum and Levine Center for the Arts
The Mint Museum Uptown named the younger sister of the Mint Museum Randolph, a staple of Charlotte's
cultural center since 1936. Together, both facilities function as one in the largest art centers of Charlotte. The Mint
sits prominently as an essential part of the Levine Center for the Arts, which includes the Bechtler Museum of
Modem Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke
Energy Center.
Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, The Mint Museum Uptown space provides cutting-edge
cultural exhibitions and offers visitors ''unparalleled educational experiences." The focus on visitor experience
remains exceptional by way of the James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant,
and a museum shop. The Mint Museum Uptown' s collection boasts material with a wide range of influence from
Contemporary Art, American Art, and European Art.
For additional images, please contact Sara Hetyonk
artequitymanagement.com
ph 805.423.0113
bh@artequitymanagement.com