HomeMy Public PortalAbout20180820plCC 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: 8/20/2018
Document dates: 8/01/2018 – 8/08/2018
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 | 8/9/2018 10:16 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Michael Hodos <mehodos@mac.com>
Sent:Wednesday, August 08, 2018 7:11 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Airplane Noise - Opportunity
City Council Members:
I urge you to add this item to the August 13 City Council Agenda.
At the current time Palo Alto has no official channel and therefore no voice with which to communicate with
the SFO or the FAA. Consequently, Palo Alto must be proactive and communicate its position on the new
flight path protocol to SFO at least a month before SFO submits its so-called "innovative approach requests" to
the FAA in December. Please don’t miss this first opportunity to influence a design that could reduce noise for
Palo Alto residents.
Thank you!
Michael Hodos
944 Bryant Street
mehodos@mac.com
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:16 AM
2
Carnahan, David
From:Art Roose <artifacts_photography@earthlink.net>
Sent:Tuesday, August 07, 2018 11:26 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Airplane Noise
Hello,
Please schedule the airplane noise issue for the August 13th Council meeting.
Thanks,
Art
Art Roose (artifacts_photography@earthlink.net)
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:16 AM
3
Carnahan, David
From:Ray Dempsey <rademps@aol.com>
Sent:Wednesday, August 08, 2018 7:40 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Per Council Member Lydia Kou's suggestion
I used to work for Eastern Airlines out of Boston and airplane “noise” isn’t noise to me. I rather like looking up
to see beautiful planes flying overhead. Yet, I understand not everyone feels that way and, in any case, Palo
Alto should have a voice about aviation in the Bay Area.
"Palo Alto must be proactive and communicate its position on GBAS to SFO at least a month before SFO
submits their innovative approach requests to the FAA in December 2018. We hope that the City won’t miss
this first opportunity to be proactive in influencing a design that could reduce noise for many Palo Alto
residents, as well as, other residents in neighboring cities."
Ray Dempsey
1036 Bryant St.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:01 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Colleen Crangle <crangle@alumni.stanford.edu>
Sent:Monday, August 06, 2018 12:26 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:animal care services
City Council:
I am writing to urge you to formalize the agreement at your Aug. 13 meeting for
Pets In Need to provide animal care services for the City of Palo Alto. Pets
In Need has a long and successful record of caring for our companion
animals and it will be an asset to our city.
Colleen Crangle
60 Kirby Pl
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:07 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Virginia Smedberg <virgviolin@hotmail.com>
Sent:Monday, August 06, 2018 5:54 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:animal shelter and Pets in Need
Dear council members,
From what I have read, this partnership between the City and Pets in Need would be a wonderful
arrangement, so I am writing to ask you all to please make this partnership official.
I especially like their no‐kill policy; and they have a proven track record, which is the kind of group we
obviously would want to connect with.
Please do this at your 13 August meeting. My pets have always been from shelters!
Sincerely,
Virginia Smedberg
441 Washington Ave
PA 94301
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:59 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Gee Gee Lenhart <gee2mag@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, August 05, 2018 12:13 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:charleston et al.
Whoever is responsible for all the changes on Charlelston should have his/her head examined. The "bulbouts"
are insane! They will cause crashes where bicycles, cars and walkers will collide at the corners. I hate what
Palo Alto is becoming. Leave well enough alone, we are full up and do not want to further ruin our quality of
life.. Please stop the growth now. There are many other cities that need development for their economies to
flourish. We do not. If you want to live in a big city please move. G. Lenhart
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/2/2018 2:47 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:wabrew@gmail.com on behalf of William Brew <wabrew2@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, August 01, 2018 5:56 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:follow up on airplane noise recommendations
I was at the city council meeting on May 7 (all the way to the end) where the council voted to have staff prepare
plans and suggest steps that could help reduce the airplane noise.
When will the council follow up on these actions?
Thank you.
William Brew
587 Greer Rd.
Palo Alto CA 94303
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:02 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:brian susan anuskewicz <basdesigns@icloud.com>
Sent:Monday, August 06, 2018 3:48 PM
To:Kniss, Liz (internal); Council, City; Mello, Joshuah
Subject:Palo Alto traffic
Greetings to All,
In reading an email from a council member late last week I was both surprised and disappointed in some of the comments made
by Mayor Kniss with regards to traffic in Palo Alto and in particular downtown. The only common viewpoint I can share with
the mayor is that "if they [residents] find traffic to be a problem they could email her". In doing so I am not going to be able to
make all points that need to be made, but this is a start of a conversation between those who believe that there is a problem,
a serious problem, with traffic and those who don’t.
Topic: Alma Street- downtown Palo Alto
Mayor Kniss’s comment at council meeting: "I think some our our reports of traffic are really exaggerated. The same with Alma
[street] I have not discovered this so if some of you have this experience recently … you know, send me an email or something
like that”.
My response to both of these comments:
Having lived and worked on Alma Street for close to twenty years I see the traffic problems differently from the mayor. The
mayor’s traffic comments are taken from the prospective of being part of the traffic, part of the problem in not seeing traffic but
driving in it. This is no way to make judgement on the proliferation of the massing of drivers attempting to get both into
downtown and out. The mayor’s comment of “And like you I drive a lot.” does not help if all the same people massing on Alma
Street have this same self attitude. This is what is making traffic congestion. So seeing traffic when one is 'in traffic' is not the
way to observe traffic and make comments of the experience.
The way to observe traffic problems is to be stationary from the traffic. I have for years observed the traffic on Alma Street thru
a nineteen foot tall living area window that looks both out and into the downtown area. From the deck you can see the
northbound traffic coming to a complete halt from a traffic light over a block away. This backup is five days a week, morning
and evening commutes, and has steadily grown to increase every year without any mitigation of traffic brainstorms, thus
becoming a non-solution.
What makes traffic congestion today different from the past years:
1. The increase of single car occupants commuting. The fabrication of these people getting out of their cars to take ‘alternative
transportation’ is unfounded on Alma Street.
2. The increase of commercial delivery services to the downtown businesses has grown to where most downtown streets are
littered with the delivery trucks almost all day long. Years ago the Ace Hardware store would take delivery of propane tanks for
sale maybe once or twice a week, today there is a six day delivery in place. And this is true for most businesses and services in
the downtown area. Food delivery takes place almost round the clock [Whole Foods] with every daily delivery a
'specialty service’. This is completely unregulated,unnecessary and a foolish service that did not exist until recent years. You
can run into tractor trailers on Alma Street which normally service warehouses outside the urban areas now delivering 'five
cases of Coke' on many of the side streets making havoc of the flow of traffic.
3. The increase of Construction traffic adds congestion and pollution on Alma Street as these drivers may be heading downtown
or be heading over to Menlo Park and Stanford construction sites. Construction sites don’t start until 7am but on Alma Street
they can be heard at 5:30am on making their way untethered by enforcement of traffic laws or transportation requirements of
hauling debris from construction sites. The commercial trucks with tandem haulers are on Alma Street for most of the day
driving in pods of four or six at a time. They drive without regard for laws or regulations. point this means the speed limit of 25
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:02 AM
2
mph on Alma Street not being close to their speeds. The tandem haulers are equipped with a cover to keep their debris load
from blowing out and down the local This was true for the trucks running on Alma Street over the past few days to remove the
debris from the two dealerships in Menlo Park that are currently being torn down. It is common knowledge that car service
businesses are notorious for toxins in their building materials. But here they come on Alma Street with their covers tucked
away. Their lack of concern noticed as they travel south untethered to the laws and regulations. Why does this need to persist?
Results: Alma Street has become a four lane Turnpike.
The only positive note from the mayor’s comments on traffic in the Palo Alto area is that this may start a traffic conversation
this city has not had with its informed residents.
With best regards,
Brian Anuskewicz
Alma Street
brian anuskewicz
basdesigns@icloud.com
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/2/2018 2:47 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Sumita Vasudeva <sumita.vasudeva@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, August 02, 2018 11:34 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Partnership with Pets in Need
Dear council members,
Thanks so much for all your efforts for the city of Palo Alto. This is just a quick note to support the merger of
our shelter with Pets in Need.
I hope that this will come to fruition soon.
Best,
Sumita
(916) 712-0846
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:11 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Debbie Nichols <debbiegailnichols@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, August 07, 2018 6:29 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Pet Shelter
Dear Mayor Kniss and City Council, I encourage you to vote to partner Pets in Need with the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.
We need to keep our animal shelter open.
Thank you.
Debbie Nichols
2070 Bryant Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:00 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:JIM POPPY <jamespoppy@comcast.net>
Sent:Monday, August 06, 2018 11:33 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Please formalize agreement with Pets in Need
City Council,
The partnership between Palo Alto and Pets In Need would be a national model for the humane treatment of
animals in public shelters. Please formalize the agreement with Pets in Need. The City stands to save money
too!
Regards,
Jim Poppy
135 Melville Ave.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:10 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Suzanne Keehn <dskeehn@pacbell.net>
Sent:Tuesday, August 07, 2018 12:42 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Please read and Consider when deciding what to build!
'Glut of Overpriced Apartments' Has Made Rents Fall for Rich, Soar for Poor in Cities
Nationwide
'Glut of Overpriced Apartments' Has Made
Rents Fall for Rich, Soar ...
By Common Dreams
In some U.S. metro areas, rents for low-income residents have
increased by more than 40 percent since 2011, new ...
Suzanne Keehn
4076 Orme ST.
94306
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:01 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Lorraine Brown <wordpress@castillejamasterplan.com>
Sent:Monday, August 06, 2018 1:57 PM
To:Scharff, Gregory (internal); Kniss, Liz (internal); DuBois, Tom; Filseth, Eric (Internal); Fine,
Adrian; Holman, Karen; Kou, Lydia; Tanaka, Greg; Wolbach, Cory; Clerk, City; Council,
City
Subject:Please Support Castilleja
Dear Mayor Kniss and Members of the Palo Alto City Council,
My name is Lorraine Brown and I live in Palo Alto, California. I am writing to you as a long time resident of Palo Alto and
supporter of Castilleja School.
Castilleja was founded 110 years ago to equalize educational opportunities for women. Today, Castilleja seeks to close
the female leadership gap by gradually adding students over four years. Making this opportunity available for more
young women is central to furthering that mission.
As a Palo Alto resident, I am proud to have Castilleja in our city. The school has been an indispensable community
partner and is committed to maintaining its neighbors’ current quality of life. Castilleja has already implemented robust
Traffic Demand Management initiatives, and has repeatedly pledged to neighbors not only to do more, but that the
admittance of new students will be dependent on the continued success of the school’s traffic programs.
Now more than ever, at a time when national politics has devolved into shouting matches and one‐upmanship,
Castilleja’s mission of serving girls and young women from Palo Alto and other nearby cities is critically important.
Please do not let the loudest voices in the conversation obscure the robust support for Castilleja found throughout our
wonderful city.
Sincerely,
Lorraine Brown
lobrown170@gmail.com
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:54 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:John or Mary Schaefer <jmschaefer8@comcast.net>
Sent:Friday, August 03, 2018 12:13 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Re: [CPNA] Mayor Kniss says traffic problems are exaggerated
Councilmember Liz Kniss and the Palo alto City Council
To say there is no traffic problem around University Avenue defies reality. If you do not live within the traffic
nightmare you do not understand that the choices of other exits or entrances from 101 are not available if you
can’t get out of your driveway. The neighbors who live around University Avenue are stuck. Trapped in their
homes.
Mary Carey Schaefer
Palo Alto City Council Meeting July 30 2018
Transcript of comments on traffic from Mayor Kniss
TIME STAMP 2:58:30 – 2:59:50
“OK I'm just going to make a couple of comments and one of them is
about traffic.”
“And, like most of you I drive a lot. And one of the things that I found
really puzzling is about a month ago when I needed to leave town and
get out on the freeway and I’ve heard how often University is jammed or
Oregon may be jammed, there are other routes you can take. I happened
to take Channing. I took it at 5 o’clock one day and it was about the
same as if I had taken it at 1 o’clock in the afternoon.”
“I think some of our reports of traffic are really exaggerated."
"The same with Alma. I drive Alma…(addresses noise in the audience)..
I have not discovered this so if some of you have this experience
recently… you know, send me an email or something like that.”
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:54 AM
2
“But I think if you are willing to try alternate routes - not go your normal
route - I think you’ll find that the traffic is not as overwhelming as you
might think.
We are here on the corner of Hamilton and Ramona and Forest as so
forth. I seldom walk out and see any real traffic.”
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City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:58 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Palo Alto Free Press <paloaltofreepress@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, August 05, 2018 10:50 AM
To:Aram James
Cc:Jonsen, Robert; Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; dcbertini@menlopark.org;
gkirby@redwoodcity.org; Council, City; council@redwoodcity.org;
stevendlee@alumni.duke.edu; HRC; Cullen, Charles; chuckjagoda1@gmail.com;
myraw@smcba.org; swagstaffe@smcgov.org; jrosen@da.sccgov.org; Stump, Molly;
mdiaz@redwoodcity.org; Keene, James; Kniss, Liz (internal);
molly.o'neal@pdo.sccgov.org; allison@padailypost.com; dprice@padailypost.com;
acisneros@CApublicrecordslaw.com
Subject:Re: Avoiding another Jorge Hernandez case—in Palo Alto—will the PAPD adopt best
police practices- and abandon the imbou & reid interrogation techniques —tactics
with a long history of leading to coerced false confessions and subsequent wrongful
convic...
This interrogation room of the PAPD was initially refused.... through a CPRA...
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:58 AM
2
Note the similarities as shown in the article....Years ago I was personally detained and questioned by PAPD
Wagner and Bonilla using the aforementioned techniques.
This book sits prominently in my legal library....
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:58 AM
3
Both Wagner and Bonilla are masters in deception and will make use of ALL of the about mentioned tactics of
coercion to entrap you, and place you in a crime you did not commit. As well documented in the now infamous
PAPD Jorge Hernandez case.....
Lessons learned? Never, never trust the police.....Especially this police chief! His truths of community
deception, coercion, and false statements...are slowly, but surely, being revealed....through popcorn and
lemonade stand propaganda... Masterfully done....diversion....
Mark
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 5, 2018, at 1:26 AM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2017/03/07/the-seismic-change-in-police-interrogations
Shared via the Google app
Sent from my iPhone
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:59 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Palo Alto Free Press <paloaltofreepress@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, August 05, 2018 5:48 AM
To:Aram James
Cc:Jonsen, Robert; stevendlee@alumni.duke.edu; HRC; Kniss, Liz (internal); Council, City;
fred124c41@gmail.com
Subject:Re: Chief Robert Jonsen —please read- and then consider- Fred Smith’s request( see
his earlier email from yesterday) that Palo Alto implement a Safe Parking Program —
and in the mean time- instruct your officers to back off citing RV dwellers —Thanks, A...
Compelling article Aram. Despite the decline in national unemployment numbers...BTW I was an analyst for the bureau
labor statistics for...ATT.
Unfortunately, if you look at the short tract record of Mr. Jonson’s, his priorities based on his tweets are:
1. Police Recruting
2. Lemonade stands
3. Popcorn machines
This chief is completely out of touch with the trenches of the Palo Alto community, namely the impoverished and
disenfranchised.
Those in our community who continue to resort to living in their vehicles...out of necessity I might add.... (Necessity
defense)
Mark
Sent from my iPad
> On Aug 5, 2018, at 1:34 AM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> FYI: Dear Chief Robert Jonsen:
>
> Please read the below compelling piece re the Santa Barbara Safe Parking Program. Once you have read the article ‐
please push the powers that be in Palo Alto—including the city council, city manager, city attorney, et al...to implement
ASAP‐a similar program in Palo Alto.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Aram James
>
> https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture‐news/the‐sharp‐sudden‐decline‐of‐americas‐middle‐class‐
234917/amp/
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:13 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Roberta Ahlquist <roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu>
Sent:Wednesday, August 08, 2018 8:53 AM
To:Stephanie Munoz
Cc:Council, City; chuck jagoda; Court Skinner; Ruth Chippendale
Subject:Re: Cities' responsibility to the residents.
Yes, write a letter adding these good ideas. We need they to stop ignoring the issue.
r
On Tue, Aug 7, 2018 at 4:30 PM, Stephanie Munoz <stephanie@dslextreme.com> wrote:
Good, Roberta, good, good good.! I would like also to ask the city council to make all low income
housing money go farther by 1)joining other cities to demand that the federal government offer
housing on unused military bases.to all veterans/ 2)spinning off single SS and SSI recipients into tiny
(200 square foot) hotel rooms in Grade A buildings of several hundred under private ownership,
which could turn a profit even at a rent of $600 each, rent controlled, if there were enough of them
,and 3a) .renting city owned property to city employees, particularly teachers, 3b getting private
employers, also, to rent workers' housing adjacent to their work. Plus, as you've recommended,
saving low income existing homes.This would save the public subsidies for the most difficult to
house, the minimum wage workers with families.Yours till the kitchen sinks, Stephanie
From: "Roberta Ahlquist" <roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu>
To: "Council, City" <city.council@cityofpaloalto.>
Sent: Monday, August 6, 2018 2:08:03 PM
Subject: Low-income housing fund
th3
Dear Council People:
We hope that you will rethink the needs of the community if the hotel tax passes. We need
to start building a fund for low-income housing in the city. EPA has already committed
a % of their incoming budget for LOW-INCONE housing.
Sincerely,
Roberta Ahlquist for the
WILPF Low-income Housing Subcommittee
Peninsula WILPF
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:48 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:mark weiss <earwopa@yahoo.com>
Sent:Friday, August 03, 2018 9:19 AM
To:Moore, Brian
Cc:Council, City; Brian Stretch; Nick Sturiale; Chris Strausser; Ztiburon Zlotnick; Noel Kidd;
Todd Kjos; Hans Delannoy; Matt Maltz; Software995 Support; Caroline Camhy; Brian
Evans; Matthew Porteus; AKIRA TANA; Ken Dauber; Michele Dauber; Eric Cohen; Cohen
Steve; STEVEN BERNSTEIN; Terry Acebo Davis; Drekmeier, Peter; Brian Keith Evans;
Jennifer Dziura
Subject:Re: hs, mom, our heads
dude you realize you accidently copied city council on this ie its now a public record?
mark
From: "Moore, Brian" <BRIAN.MOORE@UCDENVER.EDU>
To: mark weiss <earwopa@yahoo.com>
Cc: City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Brian Stretch <brianjstretch@yahoo.com>; Nick Sturiale
<nick@ignitionpartners.com>; Chris Strausser <strauss1@uw.edu>; Ztiburon Zlotnick <z tiburon@yahoo.com>; Noel
Kidd <kidd@kiddcarr.com>; Todd Kjos <todd.kjos@gmail.com>; Hans Delannoy <hdelannoy@srvusd.net>; Matt Maltz
<mattlmaltz@gmail.com>; Software995 Support <support@software995.com>; Caroline Camhy <cvc111@gmail.com>;
Brian Evans <brianevans@gmail.com>; Matthew Porteus <mporteus@stanford.edu>; AKIRA TANA
<akira@akiratana.com>; Ken Dauber <kenneth.dauber@gmail.com>; Michele Dauber <mldauber@gmail.com>; Eric
Cohen <ericcohen911@gmail.com>; Cohen Steve <stevenjohncohen@gmail.com>; STEVEN BERNSTEIN
<sexmob@rcn.com>; Terry Acebo Davis <terryacebodavis@yahoo.com>; Peter Drekmeier <pdrekmeier@earthlink.net>;
Brian Keith Evans <evansbrian@fhda.edu>; Jennifer Dziura <jen@jenisfamous.com>
Sent: Friday, August 3, 2018 8:39 AM
Subject: Re: hs, mom, our heads
I agree that CTE and Alzheimer’s must be somehow related as they both involve the accumulation of
phosphorylated tau tangle aggregations in the brain. Exactly how the two diseases are related is still a mystery.
BEM
On Aug 3, 2018, at 8:16 AM, mark weiss <earwopa@yahoo.com> wrote:
I met a man last weekend who told me he had a son my age, named HS, who died recently, at
age 50 or so. He said his son played three years of football for the local high school team, one
year for university, had CTE and eventually suicided. I also went to high school, in 1981, with
Krystin Wiggin, whose father coached at local Stanford University and she wrote an essay, in
1981,about the suicide of her father's teammate and friend . When did this start? When
and where does it stop?
Palo Alto also somewhat famously has a "suicide cluster" of young people perhaps stresed out by
their job prospects or the fate of the planet. Besides HS, I am wondering if Palo Alto has a CTE
cluster.
And if we do, so might you.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:48 AM
2
In my case, I played "flag football" at the local junior high. I was a guard on running plays and
switched to flanker on pass plays. My mom would not let me play high school (tackle) football;
she sent me to tennis camp instead of "double days". When George Seifert was a Stanford
assistant (to Bill Walsh) he told my mom at a banquet that she did the right thing, but she said he
said that I shouldn't play football unless I had a "killer instinct".
(My mom, ironically, died last week of at 87 -- a separate but related problem:
when did start? Where and when does it end?)
Yahoo.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:20 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:MEGAN BARTON <megbarton@me.com>
Sent:Monday, August 06, 2018 11:05 PM
To:Kniss, Liz (internal)
Cc:Maximilian Goetz; Council, City
Subject:Re: Traffic in Palo Alto
So glad you’re on board! Although I do think we need to wait for summer to be over for both PAUSD and
Stanford to get a true sample size of traffic before we call in the press.
In the mean time I’m happy to meet with you any time (except this Thursday as we are going to Les
Miserables in SF)- how about Friday Aug 10th? I’m also happy to have you over for tea on our front porch
and we can watch the cut through Lincoln traffic.
Megan Barton
Please pardon any typos- Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 6, 2018, at 8:22 PM, Kniss, Liz (internal) <Liz.Kniss@CityofPaloAlto.org> wrote:
Dear Megan
I like your idea of gathering late afternoon in the area that is heavily affected by the traffic.
I could be available this Thursday at 4:30 or the following Thursday at 4:30. In fact why don't we
do
This Thursday at 4:30 on August 9. and see what the turnout is and try again the following
Thursday if we haven't given sufficient Publicity.
We could notify the press, both the Weekly and the Post and I believe they would both be there.
Let me know what you think. It's a terrific idea and will draw attention to a very real problem.
Liz
Mayor, Palo Alto
On Aug 6, 2018, at 9:04 PM, MEGAN BARTON <megbarton@me.com> wrote:
Dear Max,
Thank you for your reply and invitation. I do have a further question or
suggestion- I propose we hold the meeting at 4:30 or 5:00 on a Thursday or
Friday at the corner of University and Crescent or Hamilton and Lincoln. We
could then walk to his Mr Tanaka on Hamilton. Would Councilman Tanaka be
open to changing the day and location? I would like to make sure Mayor Kniss
can also attend.
Please let me know and I can organize a facebook live from whatever street
location works.
Best,
Megan Barton
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:20 AM
2
On Aug 6, 2018, at 5:37 PM, Maximilian Goetz
<max.goetz@gregtanaka.org> wrote:
Dear Ms. Barton,
My name is Max and I am a legislative aide for Councilman
Tanaka. Thank you very much for reaching out to the council.
The council has received multiple emails on the issue of traffic .
For that reason, Councilman Tanaka has decided to host a meeting
with multiple constituents on the issue at his office hours. Will you
be able to make it on Sunday, August 26th at 11:30 am? The
meeting will be held at Councilman Tanaka’s office, located at
3630 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA.
If you would like to attend, please confirm your attendance with
me. You are welcome to invite others interested in the topic, and it
would be well appreciated if they could confirm their attendance
with me as well.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, we will be broadcasting the
discussion on our Facebook Page. From there, viewers will be able
to watch the discussion live, and ask questions by commenting on
the video.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to let me know.
Best,
Max
Maximilian Goetz | Legislative Aide
Palo Alto City Council Member Tanaka’s Office
W: www.GregTanaka.org | D: (650) 665-
9734 | E: max.goetz@gregtanaka.org
Please think of the environment before printing this email – Thank
you.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:20 AM
3
This message contains information that may be confidential
and privileged. Unless you are the addressee, you may not use,
copy or disclose the message or any information contained in the
message. If you received the message in error, please notify the
sender and delete the message. Views I state are my own and may
not represent those of this Office or the full Council.
On Aug 6, 2018, at 4:14 PM, MEGAN BARTON
<megbarton@me.com> wrote:
Dear Mayor Kniss,
I’m saddened by your comments regarding traffic and
parking in Palo Alto. You state you drive a lot like
everyone else but then you say “I’ve heard how often
University.. and Oregon may be jammed” Have you
truly never experienced that??? You’ve only heard
about it? That sounds like someone that never leaves
the city limits. And please tell me why you would think
it was advisable to send people through neighborhood
streets to avoid traffic? These streets are not
designed for commuting and are not safe for heavy
traffic- and Channing only gets you so far, it does not
connect to 101. I’m baffled by your comments as a 30
year resident of Palo Alto- unless you have been
looking for traffic and parking before 7:45 am and
after 8:00 pm. How could you possibly say there isn’t
congestion on all routes in and out of our town?
Sometimes there is true gridlock at University and
101. More times than I can count I have waited over
20 minutes to move 4 blocks between Crescent and
101. We live in Professorville and I just Wazed the
drive time to Ikea at 3:55 pm, 8/6/18 and it says 21
minutes for the fastest route (3.3 miles of driving) the
shortest route is 26 minutes (1.6 miles away). I
randomly picked Ikea because it is a major landmark
on the other side of 101. The Four Seasons is 1.4
miles from my house and is listed as 16-17 minutes
drive time with three different routes never crossing
101. Today is a slow summer Monday and I can walk
to both of these locations faster than I can drive.
Please let me know if you would ever like to drive with
me when I am taking and picking up my children from
their after school activities and you can show me
these faster routes you know of. As a mother with four
active children I could really use your expertise as I
am increasingly spending more and more time getting
from points A to B to C. Try making a left hand turn
from Alma to Churchill to El Camino at 5PM during
the school year.
Sincerely,
Your Disappointed Constituant- Megan Barton
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:20 AM
4
Transcript of comments on traffic from Mayor
Kniss
Palo Alto City Council Meeting July 30 2018
TIME STAMP 2:58:30 – 2:59:50
“OK I'm just going to make a couple
of comments and one of them is
about traffic.”
“And, like most of you I drive a lot.
And one of the things that I found
really puzzling is about a month ago
when I needed to leave town and get
out on the freeway and I’ve heard
how often University is jammed or
Oregon may be jammed, there are
other routes you can take. I happened
to take Channing. I took it at 5
o’clock one day and it was about the
same as if I had taken it at 1
o’clock in the afternoon.”
“I think some of our reports of traffic
are really exaggerated."
"The same with Alma. I drive
Alma…(addresses noise in the
audience).. I have not discovered this
so if some of you have this
experience recently… you know,
send me an email or something like
that.”
“But I think if you are willing to try
alternate routes - not go your normal
route - I think you’ll find that the
traffic is not as overwhelming as you
might think.
We are here on the corner of
Hamilton and Ramona and Forest as
so forth. I seldom walk out and see
any real traffic.”
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:20 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:MEGAN BARTON <megbarton@me.com>
Sent:Tuesday, August 07, 2018 3:43 PM
To:Greg Tanaka
Cc:Maximilian Goetz; Kniss, Liz (internal); Council, City
Subject:Re: Traffic in Palo Alto
Sorry for all the cell phone autocorrects. I would suggest doing the Press/Facebook live feed after Stanford
starts, which is September 24th so we are collecting average day commuters.
Meg
On Aug 7, 2018, at 1:26 PM, MEGAN BARTON <megbarton@me.com> wrote:
Thanks Greg. It’s would be silly to do this before summer is over. I would suggest the doing this
press/Facebook like after Stanford is in session, Sept 24th, otherwise we will be wasting our
time.
Megan Barton
415-309-4979
Please pardon any typos- Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 7, 2018, at 8:43 AM, Greg Tanaka <greg@gregtanaka.org> wrote:
I can't do this thurs, but could the following 8/16
ᐧ
On Mon, Aug 6, 2018 at 9:24 PM, Maximilian Goetz
<max.goetz@gregtanaka.org> wrote:
Dear Liz and Megan,
I will invite Councilman Tanaka to this event and hopefully he can attend.
Best,
Max
Maximilian Goetz | Legislative Aide
Palo Alto City Council Member Tanaka’s Office
W: www.GregTanaka.org | D: (650) 665-9734 | E: max.goetz@gregtanaka.org
Please think of the environment before printing this email – Thank you.
This message contains information that may be confidential
and privileged. Unless you are the addressee, you may not use, copy or disclose
the message or any information contained in the message. If you received the
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:20 AM
2
message in error, please notify the sender and delete the message. Views I state
are my own and may not represent those of this Office or the full Council.
On Aug 6, 2018, at 8:22 PM, Kniss, Liz (internal)
<Liz.Kniss@CityofPaloAlto.org> wrote:
Dear Megan
I like your idea of gathering late afternoon in the area that is
heavily affected by the traffic.
I could be available this Thursday at 4:30 or the following
Thursday at 4:30. In fact why don't we do
This Thursday at 4:30 on August 9. and see what the turnout is
and try again the following Thursday if we haven't given
sufficient Publicity.
We could notify the press, both the Weekly and the Post and I
believe they would both be there.
Let me know what you think. It's a terrific idea and will draw
attention to a very real problem.
Liz
Mayor, Palo Alto
On Aug 6, 2018, at 9:04 PM, MEGAN BARTON
<megbarton@me.com> wrote:
Dear Max,
Thank you for your reply and invitation. I do have
a further question or suggestion- I propose we
hold the meeting at 4:30 or 5:00 on a Thursday or
Friday at the corner of University and Crescent or
Hamilton and Lincoln. We could then walk to his
Mr Tanaka on Hamilton. Would Councilman
Tanaka be open to changing the day and
location? I would like to make sure Mayor Kniss
can also attend.
Please let me know and I can organize a facebook
live from whatever street location works.
Best,
Megan Barton
On Aug 6, 2018, at 5:37 PM,
Maximilian Goetz
<max.goetz@gregtanaka.org>
wrote:
Dear Ms. Barton,
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:02 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Jo Ann Mandinach <joann@needtoknow.com>
Sent:Monday, August 06, 2018 3:34 PM
To:Council, City; Kniss, Liz (internal); Filseth, Eric (Internal); DuBois, Tom; Fine, Adrian;
Holman, Karen; Kou, Lydia; Scharff, Gregory (internal); tanaka@cityofpaloalto.org;
Wolbach, Cory
Subject:Save and fully fund the Palo Alto Animal Shelter at the 8/23 meeting.
Dear Council,
Please save and fully fund the Palo Alto Animal Shelter. Our animals are precious to us and the shelter has
been used in your appeals and polls re raising taxes, esp. the higher hotel tax that will appear on the November
ballot.
And thanks for the new Peers Park dog park. We need more resident-serving faccilities like this and the
Awaiting your reply.and your decision.
Most sincerely,
Jo Ann Mandinach - a dog owner
1699 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA94301
Jo Ann Mandinach
Need To Know Info Solutions
http:.// www.needtoknow.com
650 329-8655 or cell 650 269-0650
Palo Alto, CA 94301
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:09 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Wayne Martin <wmartin46@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, August 07, 2018 12:28 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:SB 1186 And Police Transparency
Emerging technologies offer police departments the opportunity for better investigation tools, and even preemptive
tools to identify criminal activity before innocent people are victimized by criminals. But, loss of privacy can result
from the use of these new technologies. A general lack of police transparency involving personal data becomes all-
too-obvious after police misuse of our data is revealed.
Few disagree that greater police transparency is needed across the land. SB 1186, a bill addressing the need for
the adoption of policies dealing with police use of surveillance technologies, has been introduced by Sen. Jerry
Hill. This bill would seem to address the need for published policies by every police department in California
(including the Highway Patrol and Department of Justice) regarding police use of this new technology—thereby
increasing police transparency.
This bill rightly proposes that meetings where these policies are to be approved by each agency’s governing body
be publicly noticed, and all proposed policies posted on each agency’s website for public review and comment.
Unfortunately, SB 1186 imposes a tremendous burden on the state’s police organizations. To comply with this law,
it would pay for regional police departments to collaborate on the policies intended for the use of surveillance
technologies so that we residents are not subject to an unknowable hodgepodge of policies providing a legal
framework for use of this, and other new technologies.
Most people treasure their privacy. Our police need to recognize this fact in their policies and actions.
Hopefully, the Palo Alto City Council will support the passage of SB 1186 with a resolution to that effect.
Wayne Martin
Palo Alto
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:18 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:k jm <kjm1445@yahoo.com>
Sent:Friday, August 03, 2018 3:32 AM
To:Kniss, Liz (internal); Council, City
Subject:Traffic in Palo Alto - it is real and stressful
Liz,
The traffic in Palo Alto is terrible -and stressful - it negatively impacts the quality of life. How is it that you do
not see it? I can not imagine it is anything other than wilful intent.
Now the City will probably allow Casti to expand with over a hundred events each year and ridiculously
increased enrollment in the middle of a family residential district with all the additional traffic. What are you
thinking?
We avoid going down University - so don't support any of those businesses. Why? Traffic and related
parking. Please take a real look around. Get stuck in the University traffic or the Embarcado traffic or
Middlefield traffic. Your view will change.
The great qualities that brought my family to Palo Alto decades ago are slowly being eroded. Why support
such?
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 10:00 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Mahendra Ranchod <mahen.ranchod@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, August 06, 2018 8:50 AM
To:Kniss, Liz (internal)
Cc:Council, City
Subject:Traffic in Palo Alto
Dear Mayor Kniss,
While I was abroad, I was sent an excerpt of comments you made at a recent meeting of the Council regarding
traffic in Palo Alto.
I would like to believe that your comments were taken out of context, and that you are as concerned as I am
about the significant changes in vehicular traffic that have occurred in our city, changes that I think are directly
related to the boom in construction of commercial buildings.
My wife and I have lived in Palo Alto for 46 years and we are very concerned about the way the increase in
vehicular traffic has changed the quality of our lives. Every Palo Altan I have spoken to shares my concern
about traffic and about the seemingly uncontrolled growth of commercial buildings. Do you not share these
concerns?
I have voted for you in every election, City and County, so I would like clarification about where you stand
regarding the two issues I have raised: growth of commercial space and traffic.
I know you are busy and that you may not be able to answer every email message you receive, but perhaps you
could refer me to printed material that express your views.
Sincerely.
Mahendra Ranchod
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/9/2018 9:54 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:RICH STIEBEL <w6apz@comcast.net>
Sent:Friday, August 03, 2018 9:41 AM
To:Kniss, Liz (internal)
Cc:Council, City
Subject:Traffic is a Problem in Palo Alto 080318o
Mayor Kniss,
Regarding your comments about traffic at the July 30th meeting, I wish to inform you that traffic in
Palo Alto IS a problem and is getting worse. Why? Three reasons:
1. The “traffic calming” efforts by our misguided traffic “engineers” have narrowed many streets
making traffic back up where it used to flow smoothly.
2. Increased office space has brought more people into Palo Alto to work than when that space
was used by retail businesses.
3. Stop lights in school areas that operate as though school were in session 24/7. This
requires cars to stop unnecessarily when there is no cross traffic and no children present. These
traffic lights also increase air pollution by requiring cars to stop, idle, and then start up again
when the light changes.
It used to take me 5 to 6 minutes to go across Palo Alto on Charleston. It has recently taken me
a half hour due to traffic. Cutting through neighborhoods becomes a necessity due to the traffic
congestion.
Rich Stiebel
840 Talisman Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94303-4435