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HomeMy Public PortalAboutSeptember 12, 2023 City Council Emails701-32 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: 9/12/2023 Document dates: 9/11/2023 – 9/12/2023 Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction in a given week. From:Min Zhou To:Council, City Subject:PLEASE PRESERVE THE ENTIRE BAYSIDE CANNERY BUILDING Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 11:20:45 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from zmm0209@yahoo.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear city council members, I was very impressed by the history and the beauty of the historic Bayside Cannery Building. Imade a short video to document part of the history behind the building. Please, please preserve the entire building for us and for our children. Here is the link to my production: Preserve the Entire Bayside Cannery Building Sincerely, Min Zhou Journalist & Filmmaker Preserve the Entire Bayside Cannery Building From:holzemer/hernandez To:Council, City Subject:Action Item #2, 200 Portage Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 11:18:16 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ Dear Mayor Kou & Council Members, Although there is no public comment allowed on the Cannery tonight (except on the project's economic analysis), I hope you will take 5 minutes to watch and listen to the attached YouTube video on the Cannery below which was made over this past weekend. I hope it will be useful and informative to you. https://youtu.be/_tyUDZOXTzg?si=qHESrrJAKVSe89Wk In addition, I hope you will come early to the Council Chambers tonight to view a very special Thomas Foon Chew display about him, his accomplishments, and why his Cannery here in Palo Alto is so important to our City and the entire region. I would like to remind the Council that by approving the proposed Developer's Agreement (without major changes) and allowing the destruction of 40% of the Cannery will destroy any historical significance to the building and eliminate it from any future listing as an historic structure. This was the final analysis of the City’s own two historic consultants -- Page & Turnbull, Rincon Consultants. In addition, the proposed new modifications to the remaining "monitor roofs" section of the historic building would be so numerous, that that part of remaining section would not be historic either. In other words, nothing "historically significant" would remain on the site if demolition is allowed to proceed. Finally, it's important to note that the HRB will be having a hearing this week to review whether the Cannery will be added to the City's own Historic Inventory and a preliminary application with the National Trust for Historic Presevation is now underway, listing it as one of the nation's most endangered historic places. Terry Holzemer 2581 Park Blvd. #Y211 Palo Alto, CA 94306 From:Bridget McCormick To:Council, City Subject:Bike and Pedestrian Safety Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 11:11:53 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from bstolee@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou, Vice Mayor Stone, and Honorable City Council Members, I’m writing to you about the accident that happened shortly after school dismissal on September 9th, 2023, when one of our Escondido elementary school students was hit by a car. This accident has had a big impact in our community. I went to Escondido, and was a crossing guard as a 5th grader, in a school effort to help kids safely cross at intersections. This may not be a solution for safety we would like to re- adopt, but I want you to know there has always been an understanding of the crossing risk for kids before and after school. It isn't only that intersection that is concerning. I bike to school with my children every day and it has always been a challenge to feel safe with all the cars around us. The construction project has created more bike, pedestrian and car traffic funneling through just a couple streets and increased the danger for kids. We cannot let this happen again to another child or family and change needs to happen. There are many actions/variables that could have helped prevent this from occurring in the first place. I’m writing today to ask you to support two immediate actions with Escondido Elementary and PAUSD: 1. Crossing Guards: Put crossing guards in place at Stanford Avenue and Escondido Road as well as Stanford Avenue and Hanover Street during all times children are likely to be present before and after school. 2. Traffic Lights & Crossing Signal Audit: Audit the crossing signals at the Stanford Avenue and Escondido Road intersection and eliminate variable behavior. The traffic signals change from the morning to afternoon creating a very unsafe crossing environment for children (and adults). Beyond these immediate actions, we need additional follow-up on the following two items: 1. Traffic Management Plan: Review and/or create a long-term plan for traffic management at and around Escondido Elementary prioritizing pedestrian and bicycle safety. 2. Construction Impact: Review current Escondido Elementary construction plans, their immediate impact on traffic safety, and if any changes can be made to improve long term safety. Thank you for your attention to keep our students safe. Yours, Bridget McCormick (mom of Fiona in 3rd grade and Matilda in Kindergarten) From:Remi Tan To:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Council, City Subject:2923-09-12 agenda item 2 Re: 2023-09-05 Agenda Item 7 redevelopment of Bayside Cannery a 340 Portage Comment Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 11:04:58 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from remitan@sbcglobal.net. Learn why this isimportant Honorable City Council Would like to express my continued opposition to the project as currently designed, as itwould destroy 40% of the existing historic building, and would respectfully request the city Council to deny the project and recommend to be redesigned preserving the historic cannery.Again there is interest and also having a Chinese history museum, which ideally would be located in part of the historic cannery. Please see my previous comments below. Thank you and Best Regards, Remi Tan, AIA LEED AP BD+C Architecture, Green BuildingReal estate investment and brokerage 650 291 3097 Sent from my iPhone On Sep 5, 2023, at 8:56 PM, Lythcott-Haims, Julie <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Dear Remi, thank you for taking the time to write to us. I appreciate you. Julie Julie Lythcott-Haims Council Member, City of Palo Alto On Sep 4, 2023, at 12:34 PM, Remi Tan <remitan@sbcglobal.net>wrote: Some people who received this message don't often get email fromremitan@sbcglobal.net. Learn why this is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of theorganization. Be cautious of opening attachments andclicking on links. Dear Honorable City Council: Also I heard some Chinese Americans in Palo Alto and on the peninsula are interested in having a Chinese American History Museum. This historic building would be perfect for this and the History Museum could be part of the community center. Thank you and Best Regards, Remi Tan, AIA, LEED AP BD+CArchitecture, Green/Sustainability Consulting, and Real Estate Investment 650-291-3097 Dear Honorable City Council: I am a Bay Area architect and a second generation Chinese American. It hascome to my attention that 40% of the historic Bayside Cannery is slated fordemolition to be replaced by townhouses. While I certainly understand theneed for more housing in Palo Alto, in this case this is coming at the expenseof removing a very historically significant building. As per the RinconConsultants and Page and Turnbull Cultural Resource study below, this is avery rare industrial agricultural building owned by a Chinese Americanimmigrant, Thomas Foon Chew. What makes this story even morecompelling is that the cannery was the third largest after Delmonte and Dole.(see highlighted excerpts below from the Cultural Resource Study.) What makes this story even more amazing is Thomas Chew managed tobuild and run a large successful business during a time of open and legislatedracial discrimination when Chinese and Asians were prohibited from owningproperty in CA due to the 1913 Alien Lands Law that was only repealedin1956, and when Chinese were also unable to immigrate to our country dueto the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act that was only abolished in 1965. Also it is my understanding that the CA Historic Resource Commission isscheduled to review this very building for including in the CA HistoricalBuildings Register and the Nation Historic Building Register next week on09/14/2023. Reviewing the project site plan, the project can be reconfigured to place thenew housing to the north and south of the existing historic building in theexisting parking lots. These north and south parking lot portions site couldaccommodate equal and maybe even more housing units than currentlyproposed if done with denser apartment/condo style buildings. Parking canbe shared between the residential and commercial use in the historic building.Alternatively, the inside of the historic building could be adaptive reused,maintaining historic features into desirable loft style apartments/condos. Partof the historic structure can be devoted to public use in lieu of the twoproposed public parks at the NE and S part of the sites. Given the historical significance and rarity of the building, the upcoming review by the CA Historic Resource Commission, the fact that the housing can be built on the open parking lots to the north and south of the existing historic building and the historic building could be adaptive reused into housing, and the study's conclusion of a significant impact to historic resource, I strongly urge the City Council to deny this project as designed and require the developer to retain the historicbuilding and redesign the project to be in compliance with the cultural resource study's recommendations. Excerpts from Appendix C of the EIR Cultural Resources Study by Rincon Consultants and Page and Turnbull Page 14 "340 Portage Avenue and the associated office building were previously recorded and evaluated for historic significance for the City of Palo Alto by Page & Turnbull, Inc. and found eligible for listing in the CRHR. The site’s significance was described in the Page & Turnbull evaluation as follows: 340 Portage Avenue and the associated former office building to the southeast appear to be individually significant under Criterion 1 in association with historical events important to the history of Palo Alto. Agricultural industries, including fruit and vegetable canning, were once the dominant industries in Santa Clara County. The oldest portions of the cannery building, itself, were constructed in 1918 for the Bayside Canning Company, which was owned by Chinese immigrant and prominent canning mogul, Thomas Foon Chew. Under Chew, the Bayside Canning Company rose to become the third largest fruit and vegetable cannery in the world in the 1920s, behind only Libby and Del Monte. After Chew’s death, the cannery was subsequently purchased and operated for more than twenty years by the Sutter Packing Company, another fruit and vegetable cannery. The Sutter Packing Company significantly expanded the cannery building and its operations throughout the 1930s and 1940s as it prepared for and raced to meet the demands of World War II. The expansion projects included the construction of the extant office building at 3201- 3225 Ash Street to the southeast of cannery building at 340 Portage Avenue. For a time, the cannery was the largest employer in the Mid Peninsula, and when it closed in 1949, it was the largest employer in Palo Alto. The trajectory of canning operations at the plant —which began in the early twentieth century, peaked in the 1920s, increased production to meet the demands of World War II, and then quickly declined as residential development and new industries began to replace agricultural industries in the postwar period— corresponds closely to the broad pattern of the history of the canning industry in Santa Clara County. The building is a rare surviving example of Palo Alto’s and Santa Clara County’s agricultural past. As a result, the building at 340 Portage Avenue does appear to be individually significant at the local level under Criterion 1. The period of significance under this criterion begins in 1918, when canning operations began at the site under the Bayside Canning Company, and ends in 1949, when the Sutter Packing Company’s canning operations at the building ended." Page 20 "this impacts analysis finds that the project would result in the material impairment to a historical resource and result in a substantial adverse change in the significance of a resource. Furthermore, it does not comply with the Secretary’s Standards and as proposed and would result in a significant impact to a historical resource for the purposes of CEQA." Thank you and Best Regards, Remi Tan, AIA, LEED AP BD+CArchitecture, Green/Sustainability Consulting, and Real Estate Investment 650-291-3097 Virus-free.www.avast.com From:Karen Holman To:Council, City Subject:Cannery preservation alternative example Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 10:51:01 AM Attachments:Adaptive reuseCC.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.________________________________ Good morning. I do apologize for getting this to you at this late hour, but the matter before you is a critical one that will haveforever impacts. No doubt you have heard from a number of people including me that preservation alternatives in the EIR arelacking. Taking just one suggestion that was put forth for consideration in the EIR but not explored, the following has beendeveloped for your consideration as an example of analysis that isappropriate for making decisions that require Statement of Overriding Considerations. I recall the Tree Preservation alternative that was performed when the Stanford Medical Center project wasproposed. That was a true alternative that sought to save the majority of the trees that would have been destroyed ifStanford’s original plan had gone forward and if a Tree Preservation alternative had not been seriously considered.As a result of this analysis and respect for theotherwise Significant Impact, Stanford chose the Tree Preservation Alternative, and that is what was built. I hopeyou will take seriously the need for true alternatives to demolishing the Cannery, a cultural resource that is rare inthe Valley of Hearts Delight, as Page & Turnbull indicated in their historic analysis. Thank you. Karen To: Palo Alto City Council From: Former Mayor Karen Holman Date: September 12, 2023 Subject: Adaptive Reuse and Economic Return Dear City Councilmembers: Let me urge you to consider an approach that could save the entire historic cannery and still provide Sobrato with the same amount of office it seeks and approximately the same number of new townhomes. As the diagram below shows, this put parking into the cannery portion formerly occupied by Fry’s, avoids building a new two-story garage north of the cannery, and instead puts townhomes in the location of the proposed garage. This approach (and others) were not examined in the economic analysis provide to the Council. Nor were they examined as preservation alternatives as required by CEQA. Only one sentence in the EIR discussed this option, and it claimed that the cannery could not accommodate parking while retaining its historic status, but the layout above requires minimal changes to exterior walls. The staff report further claims that the rearrangement would “drastically” reduce the number of townhomes that could be built, whereas the layout above actually provides three townhomes more than Sobrato’s plan. Even if a few of those townhomes cannot be built due to setback or daylight plane limitations, this layout still provides 73 townhomes compared to the 74 in the Sobrato design. That is not a drastic reduction. Simply put, the above layout and similar ones demonstrate that the economic analysis and the EIR given to the Council failed to consider feasible alternatives to the demolition of the cannery, despite that being required by law. Following are a number of advantages of the approach above, including: • This layout has 73 to 77 townhomes, about the same as in the 74 in the Sobrato design • The layout provides about as much office space in the cannery building as Sobrato seeks • Based on the above, it should generate about as much revenue as Sobrato is seeking • An architect might find ways to add more townhomes by adjusting their layouts to better fit the site • Unlike Sobrato’s plan, existing office tenants in the east sides of the cannery will not need to move, saving relocation costs and inconvenience. • No ramp is needed for south garage entrance as that portion of the cannery is at grade … the north side is only a foot or so above grade • Parking would be under the monitor roof area, potentially enabling anyone using the garage to see the truss structure, as the ARB has requested • Only minor alterations are needed for garage entrances, as large openings already exist from prior use • Ventilation for the indoor parking can be through the roof so no other wall modifications should be needed • The cost of retrofitting a portion of the cannery for parking and potentially adding stackers or a second level to meet capacity goals are offset by the many millions of dollars and environmental impacts eliminated by not needing to construct the two-story garage in the Sobrato plan • Retail could be added in various places since the entire cannery building is preserved, including the north portion that could accommodate outdoor dining • This design puts fewer townhomes in a row, thus giving the interior streets more access to light and air • Many townhomes in this design are farther from the train, better shielding them from noise; no townhomes are moved closer to the train • Acacia (the street on the north side of the cannery) can accommodate trash cans along it on pickup day, simplifying garbage handling • Since this plan puts a street or alley on all four sides of the cannery, it provides more of the visual separation recommended for historic resources than does the Sobrato plan • The design offers sidewalks on Acacia, which we suggest to be renamed Thomas Foon Chew Way, and some street parking for guests and overflow Please note that the drawing aims to show the general arrangement and is not precise as to tree layout and such. Of course, no conceptual design is ever perfect, and I’m certain the layout above can be improved. And there are likely other alternatives that benefit both Sobrato and the City, meaning the public. But none appear to have been modeled financially, and there’s no evidence adaptive reuse of any sort was studied or evaluated by an independent architect esp since the report to the HRB indicates the alternative with an out-of-scale comparison of 218 units in the cannery building was performed by the applicant’s own consultant. Given that at least this approach presented here appears to meet the major project goals for office and housing and preserves 100% of the historic cannery building, I urge you to have it and other alternatives as required by CEQA to be further developed and studied before allowing the demolition of a huge portion of the cannery and forever destroying its historic cultural value. Thank you. Former Mayor Karen Holman From:Gordon H Chang To:Council, City Subject:Bayside Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 10:47:29 AM Attachments:PA City Council.pdf Some people who received this message don't often get email from gchang@stanford.edu. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Please see attached. September 12, 2023 Dear Palo Alto City Council members, I am a professor of American history at Stanford University, a former Senior Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, and the Olive H. Palmer Professor in the Humanities. My most recent book examines the history of Chinese railroad workers on the construction of the first transcontinental railroad and early Chinese American history in Palo Alto. I have also written about the Japanese American community in Palo Alto and have a love of local history. The history of Asian Americans in Palo Alto, and San Mateo County generally is marred by many tragic and unpleasant events. As a fourth generation Californian, I write to support efforts to preserve the former cannery operated by Thomas Foon Chew. It would be a way to accentuate the positive in our past and current community The Bayside Cannery is a place that can honor Chew and the early Asian American pioneers in Palo Alto, who have not previously been memorialized. An original physical historical site that everyone can visit today will deepen their understanding and appreciation of history. Because of arson, physical destruction, and neglect, most of the other physical structures established by early Chinese in California are now gone. You have a unique and special opportunity to preserve this invaluable historical site. My children attended Palo Alto schools and they benefitted from the information related to the physical sites named in honor of the Ohlone people and to Juana Briones park. Please think of our future generations and what they should learn about the place they call home. The many visitors from around the world who visit Palo Alto will also appreciate the structure. With respect, Sincerely, Gordon H. Chang 59 Peter Coutts Circle Stanford, CA. 94305 From:Gordon H Chang, via an autoresponder To:Council, City Subject:away from my mail [Re: [Request received] Ticket # 1407] Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 10:47:15 AM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from gchang@stanford.edu. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ I am away with irregular access to email until September 15. My response to you will be delayed. Thank you for your patience. Gordon From:Marsha Fong To:Council, City Subject:Preservation of the Thomas Foon Chew Bayside Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 10:41:18 AM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from marshafong@sbcglobal.net. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ Dear Palo Alto City Council, I am writing to express my concern about the potential demolition of the Thomas Foon Chew’s Bayside Cannery building. As a Chinese American who has lived in Santa Clara County for over 60 years, it is important to me that the contributions of Chinese Americans to our region be preserved for generations to learn from and appreciate. Having actual historical sites preserved in full, versus reading stories or viewing plaques or markers, bring alive the history of our community and our place in the history of Santa Clara County and California. I therefore urge you to not demolish the historic Thomas Foon Chew Cannery building. Sincerely, Marsha Fong From:Deborah Goldeen To:Council, City Subject:What Should Happen Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 10:14:52 AM Attachments:fIWPw-IWgwlPkCoy4313NPRp4_d9EurfsMXJK8H-9U7- Q0VgWqEAh4iFn_cpKb699e7hFnwp7Amvwnuf6s_Vj1x9vEBegC5lvTnw88t8ZEbocgj9PPowmjeJX5idZXUw1w=w1280.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. This is Cedric Pitot de La Beaujardiere’s vision for the Fry’s Stie. Anytime the city councilwants to initiate something world class, I’d be down for that. From Palo Alto Online Town Square, July 2021: Throughout the North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan (NVCAP)process I've advocated for a particular land use design pattern which I think would satisfy many of the criteria for a successful plan. I have modeled this design pattern in the hopes that it may provide the council and community with a successful resolutionof the NVCAP challenge. You can see images of this proposal and a more detailed description here:Web Link In a nutshell, I modeled a few multi-family residential and mixed use buildings in a form I call the Garden Apartment andarranged them within the North Ventura area. The design is pedestrian oriented, humanist and ecologically beneficial. It brings significant additional housing and park space to the area along with a mix of retail, commercial, and community space, allwithin a human-scale envelope which respects adjacent single family residences. The essential form of the Garden Apartment is a buildingterraced such that every occupant has access to rooftop gardens. Its animating principle is that every person should have a home and access to nature. This proposal is mid way between the medium and high density alternatives, and has a much reduced impact particularly on neighboring single-family residences. It offers over 1,400 bedrooms, 1M sq.ft. Residential, 1M sq.ft. Open Space, and334K sq.ft. Commercial space (a net decrease of 50K sq.ft. from existing uses). It preserves the most historically significant and visually interesting portions of the Historic site: the section of the cannery building with the monitor roofs, and the ranch houseon Ash and Portage. From a bird's eye view, most surfaces arenaturalized open space. Keep in mind that the dimensions, spacing and distribution ofresidential vs commercial could be adjusted to best meet the communities needs. If you like this proposal, please inform the council atCity.Council@cityofpaloalto.org or the staff at NVCAP@cityofpaloalto.org Ventura Vision: Garden Apartments sites.google.com From:Derrick Lim To:Council, City Subject:9-12-2023 City Council Item #2 Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 9:51:22 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from ahyeebrew@att.net. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Mayor and Members of the City Council, My comments are for agenda item 2 (3200 Park Blvd/340 Portage). While the city may have met the statutory requirements for noticing and public hearings it seems like the city process could have benefited more by identifying and including local non-profit historical and cultural groups and advocates at the beginning. Unless you are paid staff, a professional consultant, or an appointed commissioner, it is extremely difficult to be aware of the project in a timely manner, understand the process, decipher documents, and participate at a high level when the process is lengthy, layered, and well underway. This situation is exacerbated when councilmembers are elected at-large instead of by district. The level of advocacy, knowledge, and accountability is just not the same despite best efforts and good intentions. For clarification, is the dedication of land for the park a “donation” or a “requirement” of the Quimby Act? Perhaps I missed it in the 283 page staff report. What is the overriding consideration for the 10-year development agreement when the usual length of time is 2-3 years? Is this extended time in the city’s best interests? Is the rational sufficient to bind future councilmembers to the agreement at the risk of changes in market conditions,legislation or changing city council priorities? Does the city have the resource capacity or institutional memory to effectively monitor the agreement for this length of time? The historic maintenance covenant is a nice gesture, but it is hard to ignore the factthat 40% of the building’s most prime features will be altered, severely undermining any possibility of formal historical designation of what remains. Finally, there is concern whether implementation of the historic maintenance covenant (e.g., panels, signage, art) will appropriately reflect the full weight andcontext of the building and founder’s significance (e.g., Bayside Cannery was also in Isleton) when all too often history is interpreted, written, and displayed by others, not to mention absence of indigenous land acknowledgement. Derrick Lim From:Jon Kinyon To:Council, City Subject:BAYSIDE CANNERY - letter in favor of full-preservation Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 9:39:09 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from jon.kinyon@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear members of the Palo Alto City Council, My name is Jon Kinyon. I am a 5th-generation Palo Altan. Some of my family also lived inthe old west town of Mayfield, which is where Thomas Foon Chew chose to expand his business in 1918. This is my third letter to you, and I wish to expand on the building's history. Among all of the historical significance surrounding the Bayside Cannery, which I and othershave laid out, I'd like to point out that this structure is one of the last two or three surviving non-residential buildings of the old town of Mayfield, which was annexed by Palo Alto in1925. Mayfield's history, also present in this Cannery, is worthy of preservation. The town of Mayfield predates the city of Palo Alto by 40 years and was thriving long before Stanford University was even dreamed up. The town was racially integrated long before many surrounding towns. Evidence of this isclearly seen when one looks at old photographs of school children from Mayfield versus Palo Alto. Non-caucasians were forbidden from owning property in Palo Alto, yet Mayfield had asmall thriving Chinatown. This is likely one reason Thomas Foon built his cannery there. He was free to purchase the property, construct an industrial building, and hire people of all races. The town of Mayfield had one of California's first black lawmen, Sam McDonald, who wasappointed Deputy Marshall of Mayfield in 1904. Years later, he served as a Secret Service Agent for the Treasury Department, Deputy Constable for Palo Alto, and Deputy Sheriff forSanta Clara County. It took a long time before Palo Alto was able to catch up with the industry already established in Mayfield, not to mention its more inclusive views on matters of race. So, in a very real way,Mayfield significantly influenced our beloved city of Palo Alto. Let's preserve and celebrate that important history and connection. This building deserves to stand proud for generations tocome. From:winston chew To:Council, City Subject:Bayside Cannery Building Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 9:26:17 AM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from winstonfchew@sbcglobal.net. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ I grew up in Palo Alto . The Bayside Cannery Building is a part of my home neighborhood . My parents owned the JD food market on the El Camino Real . All five children were educated in the great school system and the community benefited . Many of my peers grew up and were successful for being a part of this south Palo Alto neighborhood . We all have seen dynamic changes all around and about us . It is usually for the greater good . But there are some things that we should preserve for future generations so that they can see what their parents- grandparents-great grandparents-great great grandparents experienced during their lifetime . Here is a great example and opportunity to show the world how a community can help and show we care about each other . Winston Franklin Chew Sent from my iPad From:Mary Stavn To:Council, City Subject:Escondido Elementary safety concerns Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 8:49:56 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from mstavn@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou, Vice Mayor Stone, and Honorable City Council Members, My daughter witnessed the accident that happened shortly after school dismissal on September 9th, 2023, when one of her friends and fellow Escondido student was hit by a car. Due to the timing of dismissal, many students and parents watched this horrible accident and its aftermath. Thankfully, the child survived. We have been an Escondido family for the past seven years, and we have current 4th and 2nd graders. This intersection has always been concerning, and the lack of crossing guards and lack of safety measures continues to be a concern. Please consider the following requests to make our school safer, and to prevent further irreparable accidents. I’m writing today to ask you to take three immediate actions: 1. Crossing Guards: Put crossing guards in place at Stanford Avenue and Escondido Road as well as Stanford Avenue and Hanover Street during all times children are likely to be present before and after school. 2. Traffic Lights & Crossing Signal Audit: Audit the crossing signals at the Stanford Avenue and Escondido Road intersection and eliminate variable behavior. The traffic signals change from the morning to afternoon creating a very unsafe crossing environment for children (and adults). 3. Community Meeting: Call a meeting with Escondido Elementary community/parents and PAUSD to discuss next steps. Beyond these immediate actions, we need additional follow-up in the following areas: 1. Traffic Management Plan: Review and/or create a long-term plan for traffic management at and around Escondido Elementary, prioritizing pedestrian and bicycle safety. 2. Construction Impact: Review current Escondido Elementary construction plans, their immediate impact on traffic safety, and if any changes can be made to improve long term safety. Thank you for your attention to keep our students safe, and I look forward to working with you and the school community as we all work together. Kindly, Mary Stavn (Parent of Gemma, grade 4 and Alexander, grade 2) From:Charlie Weidanz To:Council, City Subject:One Week Left - Register Today: Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 8:12:19 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Tuesday, September 19, 2023 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Volvo-McLaren Palo Alto 4190 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94306 Palo Alto Volvo-McClaren will be discussing the future in automotive trends Connect with fellow professionals and business owners. Enjoy light refreshments and drinks. Chamber Members: Free Guests: $20 >RSVP Online This email was sent on behalf of Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce 355 Alma St Palo Alto, CA 94301.To unsubscribe clickhere. If you have questions or comments concerning this email or services in general, please contact us by email at info@paloaltochamber.com. This email was sent on behalf of Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce 355 Alma St Palo Alto, CA 94301.To unsubscribe click here. If you have questions or comments concerning this email or services in general, please contact us by email atinfo@paloaltochamber.com. From:Kelly Tsai To:Council, City Subject:Please preserve Thomas Foon Chew’s Cannery! Save this historical heritage for future generations! Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 7:54:08 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from kellyptsai@yahoo.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.Dear Honorable City Council Members: I urge you to stop the demolition of Thomas Foon Chew's cannery. It is an important cultural site which is historically significant and deserves to be saved. Save this historical heritage for our future generations to admire and remember! Thank you for your serious consideration in making this historical decision. Sincerely yours, Kelly Tsai From:Matt luis To:Council, City; denislevin@gmail.com Subject:Tennis lessons Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 7:12:03 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from matthewluis008@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello,My name is Matthew, I want to know if you offer private tennis lessons? If yes, you can reach me by email for more details and inquiries.thanks. From:Lum To:Council, City Subject:Preserve Bayside Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 3:16:11 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from cherryl.and.darrel@gmail.com. Learn why thisis important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council, I urge you to stop the demolition of Thomas Foon Chew's cannery. It is an important culturalsite which is historically significant and deserves to be saved. Thank you for your consideration. Cherryl Lum From:Dave Yick To:Council, City Subject:Fwd: Support Preservation of the Former Bayside Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 12:06:10 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from dave.yick@chcp.org. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Mayor Kou and City Council Members, I would appreciate it if you would review this video which emphasizes the importance of preserving the entire Bayside Cannery Building. Your attention to this issue is greatly appreciated. Preserve the Entire Bayside Cannery Building Preserve the Entire Bayside Cannery Building ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Dave Yick <dave.yick@chcp.org> Date: Tue, Sep 5, 2023 at 1:27 PMSubject: Support Preservation of the Former Bayside Cannery To: <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Mayor Kou and City Council Members, Palo Alto and the Sobrato Group have a unique opportunity to preserve the Thomas Foon Chew cannery and to support its designation as a California historical site. The very existence of the cannery in Palo Alto and its historical prominence both locally and nationally speaks volumes about the extensive and relatively unacknowledged contributions of the Chinese and of Chinese Americans in California as well as nationally. This is a major omission parallel to the failure to recognize the work of Chinese railroad workers on the Transcontinental Railroad — a story that repeats itself over and over again when it comes to the contributions of minorities and other marginalized groups in this country—a country whose greatness is built upon its diverse citizenry and their belief in the American dream. The cannery also speaks to Thomas Foon Chee’s belief that his entrepreneurial spirit could be successful in Palo Alto. The Chinese Historical & Cultural Project (CHCP) and the Chinese American Historical Museum is the most prominent Chinese American Historical organization in the South Bay Area. Our mission is to promote and preserve Chinese American history and culture through outreach activities. It is my personal belief that preserving this former cannery site as a designated California Historical Site would be a most important centerpiece in furthering this mission. Dave YickBoard President Chinese Historical & Cultural Project / Chinese American Historical Museum P.O. Box 5366San Jose, CA 95150-5366Cell 408-250-5861dave.yick@chcp.org PROMOTE EDUCATE PRESERVE -- Dave YickBoard President Chinese Historical & Cultural Project / Chinese American Historical Museum P.O. Box 5366San Jose, CA 95150-5366Cell 408-250-5861dave.yick@chcp.org PROMOTE EDUCATE PRESERVE From:Wendy Yee To:Council, City Subject:The Thomas Foon Chew Bayside Cannery in Palo Alto, CA Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 11:20:31 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from wjy@msn.com. Learn why this is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.Dear Members of the City Council of Palo Alto: Please vote to save and preserve this historic Thomas Foon Chew Bayside Cannery built in1918 at 340 Portage Ave in the City of Palo Alto for all present and future generations ofAmericans, as part of Asian-American Bay Area history. These rare historic structuresdefinitely merit preservation even though they date from a time in our past when life was verydifferent from life today. Younger generations and generations not yet born need to be able tosee where and how earlier 20th century Californians worked to earn their living and supportand rear their families. Thank you for your most serious consideration and help in preserving our Bay Area Chinese-American history. Sincerely,Wendy J. Yee774 San Luis RdBerkeley, CA 94707 Mobile: (510) 499-4543wjy@msn.com P.S. My late aunt, Lonnie Yee Young and her husband, Fred Young, Sr. were the founders andlongtime owners of Young’s Florist Co. near the University Ave exit off Hwy 101. Theyprovided outstanding flowers for many Palo Alto companies and families for multiplegenerations over many decades. If Aunt Lonnie and Uncle Fred were still alive, they would feel very proud if you vote topreserve this Bayside Cannery. From:Aram James To:Tannock, Julie; Foley, Michael; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Shikada, Ed; Jethroe Moore; Wagner,April; Sean Allen; Council, City; Shana Segal; Josh Becker; Angie Evans; Vara Ramakrishnan; Robert. Jonsen;Binder, Andrew; Human Relations Commission; Joe Simitian; Jensen, Eric; Figueroa, Eric; Hornung, Joel; JoeSimitian; Jeff Rosen Subject:Nurse Keeps License After Denying Care To Dying Black Man Begging For Help Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 10:29:21 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ https://youtu.be/0SrnYZ8-kxY?si=lgiKRZEN9VTUcgAJ Sent from my iPhone From:Michael Marken To:Council, City Subject:Stop the proposed demolition of the Historic Bayside Cannery! Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 9:03:29 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from retiredattorney2019@gmail.com. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ The proposed demolition of the historic Bayside Cannery would make it ineligible as a registered historical site by the State of California. This demolition would destroy what was once the third largest such cannery in the world and a tribute to the immigrant Thomas Foon Chew who founded and ran the Cannery. This Cannery was an important source of employment for the citizens and immigrants of Santa Clara County. The proposal to demolish the Cannery Building by the Sobrato group suggests it will allow lower cost housing to be built but does not fund such a project. It does grant Sobrato a zoning change to build profitable office space on the site. Stop this attempt to destroy an important piece of Palo Alto history and development in this area! Michael John Marken 8261 Skyline Circle Oakland, CA 94605" Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki; Council, City; Binder, Andrew; Sean Allen; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Reifschneider, James;Wagner, April; Josh Becker; Jethroe Moore; David S. Norris; Cecilia Taylor; bnash@menlopark.gov; Enberg,Nicholas; Joe Simitian; Michael Gennaco; Jeff Rosen; Human Relations Commission; Shana Segal; Angie Evans;Foley, Michael; Tannock, Julie; Hornung, Joel; Rebecca Eisenberg Subject:The Police Chief "Retired" After This Stop Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 8:56:08 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ https://youtu.be/hZOMmTfz3wM?si=2b4AYP6Upd2tShS5 Sent from my iPhone From:Margarita Mendez To:Council, City Subject:Rezoning 3265 El Camino Real Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 8:30:14 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from mlmendez@me.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Good evening honorable city council members and former Fletcher parents. My name isMargarita Mendez. I am a proud Spanish teacher at Ellen Fletcher middle school and a lucky homeowner. I ride my ebike to school almost every day and can attend sporting events,concerts and plays after school to support my current and former students. I can do this because because i live within 10 miles of Fletcher unlike our school librarian who commutesfrom Walnut Creek every day. The Academy while not a site in the current housing element that was rejected by the state twice, does indeed help increase inventory. I support the rezoning of the property at 3265 El Camino Real and am thankful that someonein our community is doing something concrete about the housing crisis and believes that teachers and staff that support Palo Alto youth deserve to work in the community they serve.We are essential and integral to the Palo Alto community and PAUSD staff presence makes PA a better place to live and grow up. I remember in 1993 when I started teaching I made just $24,000 a year. I was able to rent anapartment for one year with a roommate. It was struggle. Rents were significantly less then they are today and I had less than $5,000 in student loan debt from graduate school, unlike myyounger colleagues. But after 10 months I moved back home with my parents for 6 years. I saved money, got married and bought my first house. Rents are through the roof andhomeownership is out of the question for my current colleagues who are under 30. In the next 10 years about 44% or 30 of the current staff members, including myself will retire fromFletcher. Nearly half of our current staff members will retire. Young teachers and staff will take our place but where will they afford to live? Rezone the property at 3265 El CaminoReal. Approve the academy project. Thank you. Margarita L MéndezEnviado desde mi iPhone From:Monica Yeung Arima To:Council, City Cc:Dennis Backlund Subject:Revised comments of the Cannery project by Dennis Backlund dated Sept 10, 2023 Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 7:34:40 PM Attachments:Dennis Backlund Comments - Sept 10th.docx Some people who received this message don't often get email from myarima@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.September 10th, 2023 Dear Members of the Palo Alto City Council, I served on the City Historic Resources Board for four years, and from 2000 until myretirement in 2014 I was the City‘s Historic Preservation Planner, working in the then-named Department of Planning and Community Environment in Palo Alto City Hall.Based on these 18 years of historic preservation experience I have been able to reviewthe Sobrato Organization’s proposed project for the former Bayside Cannery buildings inthe Ventura area of Palo Alto with some understanding of the issues involved in theproject. I will first observe that the Historic Resources Evaluation by Page and Turnbull presentsin detail the surviving historic character-defining features of Cannery Building, twofurther reports, the Final Environmental Impact Report on the 200 Portage AvenueTownhouse Project portion of the Cannery project, and a report by SobratoOrganization’s historic consultant, Architectural Resources Group, evaluate Sobrato’sproposal to demolish approximately 40 percent of the 1930’s and 1940’s portion of theCannery Building while retaining the original 1918 portion of the Cannery. The Final EIR and the report by Architectural Resources Group conclude that demolitionof 40 percent of the building to provide a site for the proposed townhouses would violatethe Secretary of the Interiors Standards for Rehabilitation and therefore should not becarried out. I recommended that the City Council support this conclusion. Finally, I recommended that the treatment of the 1918 original portion of the CanneryBuilding conform to the recommendations in the Final EIR presented by RinconConsultants, and the recommendations of the Architectural Resources Group report.Today the fenestration of the monitor roofs of the 1918 building have been largelycovered over or removed so that the front of the monitor roof structures have blankwalls now. I recommend that windows be restored at the front of the monitor roofstructures so that they will appear as close as possible to the 1940 photograph ofthe1918 building on page 31 of the Page and Turnbull Historic Resource Evaluation. To conclude, the public testimony presented at the September 5, 2023 Council Meetingrevealed the large and deep concern of Palo Alto’s Chinese American citizens that thestory of Thomas Foon Chew’s establishment of the Bayside Cannery at its locations inPalo Alto, Isleton, and Alviso (now part of San Jose) be preserved in the memory ofCalifornians. To this end a bronze plaque should be created to tell the Chinese story ofBayside Cannery, a plaque that ideally would be mounted on a freestanding boulder aswas done with the plaque in front of the house beside the celebrated Hewlett-PackardGarage. The Bayside Cannery plaque should be placed in front of the 1918 portion of theBayside Cannery. With appreciation to the City Council for considering my comments, Dennis BacklundLytton Garden, Palo Altodennisbacklund256@gmail.com Best regards, Monica Yeung ArimaYarkin Realty (LIC 01185969) 650 888-4116 (Cell)650 215-9914 (Home Office eFax) Website: http://www.myarima.com From:Tom DuBois To:Council, City; Clerk, City Subject:Sept 12 Council Meeting - Item #2 Improved Virtual Preservation for 3200 Park Boulevard/340 Portage - Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 4:43:55 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Council Members, As a member of the council ad-hoc (along with Mayor Kou) that negotiated with Sobrato on this project, I believe the agreement represents a fair compromise for both parties, with neither getting what they wanted entirely and with benefits for both. Because past council actions many years ago paused the commercial amortization process, 100% housing does not appear feasible without Sobrato’s agreement. And because of new state laws like SB330, the applicant could potentially move forward with their housing project without city input. Instead, both parties came together in good faith and hashed out an agreement that allows for codifying what has been existing office use, creation of some new housing, and some land going to the city. Understanding the trade-offs involved, Council approved the term sheet 7-0, subject to the project going through the review process, culminating with the item before you now. The agreement accomplished many of the goals supported by a vast majority of the North Ventura working group (and supported by members of the public who spoke at council meetings) such as new housing, 2 acres of new parkland, the opportunity for some creek restoration, another acre of land for low income housing, money, limited parking impacts, and so on. The Council ad-hoc also negotiated for some historic preservation including the monitor roofs restored similar to what it was under Thomas Foon Chew, views from a retail location / cafe of the interior of the roofs and a historic interpretive display. I respect that some members of the community want full historic preservation. The ad-hoc was not able to negotiate that and it may be a battle you can not win. As Council considers the historic significance of the site I would like to suggest an alternative. Failing full physical historic preservation, as a compromise, I’d like to suggest that Council improve one of the Mitigation Measures, CR-1 Building Recordation, on packet page 230 and add language for a stronger virtual preservation. Virtual preservation of buildings is gaining traction as technologies improve with higher resolution capture and playback possible. My “day job” has been working with virtual reality technology and I want to share some of the things that are now possible. Many places are now laser scanning buildings in 3D and creating experiences where you can virtually walk through historic places (some examples below) using a VR headset and also from a web browser on any device. Before demolition occurs, I suggest we do this type of scanning to preserve the data of the building, inside and out, captured and archived in its “as built” condition. . Council should strengthen the language of CR-1 to additionally include "capture the entire Fry's building interior and exterior using a 3D laser scanning service to generate historic preservation assets in 2D and 3D, as well as applying “As Built” photography methods to document the deconstruction of that portion of the building subject to demolition.". This goes beyond the current language in the staff report. I don’t think the council should recommend a specific vendor, but as an example of the capabilities required, GPRS has a national presence, several offices in California and specializes in the type of high quality capture and documentation I am recommending. One of their services is historic preservation. You can see info on this company at https://www.truepointscanning.com/deliverables. You really need to see what I mean. I'm providing two examples below. Please click on them and I'll think you'll get a visceral feeling for the difference between simple photos and text and a 3D experience. 1. Frank Llyod Wright House in Oberlin, OH - shows how the structure of a building can be presented. https://matterport.com/discover/space/TiAgRZRYmeC 2. San Jose Rose Garden - a local example of an exterior space and setting https://matterport.com/discover/space/fnv8srV3rpv For background, you can skim this article which explains the differences in the techniques of laser scanning and photography. Really the best solution is both. High-res photographs coupled with 3D scanning which captures measurements and the three dimensional volume, linked together. https://www.navvis.com/blog/is-lidar-or-photogrammetry-better-for-building-capture. A firm like GPRS can deliver a "TruView" format that links photos and 3D data. Thanks for your consideration, Tom DuBois From:Kathleen Foley-Hughes To:Council, City; Clerk, City Subject:Item #9 on September 11, 2023 Council Meeting Agenda Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 4:30:31 PM Attachments:HSRAP Public Comments - Agenda Item 9 - Palo Alto City Council - September 11, 2023 - Kathleen Foley-Hughes, Ada"s Cafe.docx.pdf Some people who received this message don't often get email from kathleen@adascafe.org. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members, City Manager and City Clerk, Attached are Public Comments being Submitted to You for distribution to the Council, the City Manager and City Clerk in connection with Agenda Item #9 for the City Council Meetingtonight, September 11, 2023. Thank you so much, Kathleen Foley-Hughes Founder and Executive DirectorAda's Cafe From:John Shenk To:Council, City; Kou, Lydia; Lauing, Ed; Burt, Patrick; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Tanaka, Greg; Stone, Greer; Veenker,Vicki Cc:Shikada, Ed; Guagliardo, Steven Subject:Item 10 Council Agenda 09-11-2023 Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 3:57:41 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from john@thoitsbros.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. We are writing to express a request from all those signing this email that the Permanent Parklet Program Standards be modified in a couple critical areas so as to not be detrimental toretailers in the downtown. We believe that with these modifications the parklet program will minimize the impacts to non-food retailers as we work together to agree upon a a design andinvestment package to make our downtown first rate. We are concerned that the experts have concluded that the proposed parklets are not safe from vehicles and yet the City is moving forward. Our visitors and customers safety should beparamount. The loss of parking spaces must be accounted for and the only feasible solution is for the City to reauthorize the construction of the public garage at Hamilton/Waverley that waspreviously to be built (redesign and construction as soon as practical). We are confounded that Palo Alto’s parklet construction is not required to comply with fundamental California Building Codes. These building codes are applied vigorously to allconstruction in Palo Alto. There is no justification to compromise on public safety and welfare by, for example, skirting electrical code safety and basic public health standards suchas adequate bathroom facilities. Palo Alto is better than this and our standards should show that we care, we prioritize safety, and we value the public’s health. No rational reason tocreate exemptions or loopholes. As Streetsense and the current Public Works design consultants have recommended, please do not allow a myriad of different designs (materials and colors) to be possible. [This alsoapplies to the potential signage to be applied if the existing building addresses are no longer visible.] Best is to set forth a design that is of a quality worthy of being in our downtown. Los Gatos is an example of this standard. Without a single design, materials, colors, etc determined we will have what we have today which is not cohesive and a detraction to theimage of a first class retail district. Streetsense pointed out how well T&C and Stanford are able to manage these issues as they are under single ownership. Our retailers need the City toset forth the design for all to follow. Using the current Public Works' landscape architect working on the downtown plan would be most efficient. Allowing one retailer to install a parklet in front of a neighboring retailer is harmful to thatretailer. When asked recently by a prospective retailer looking at spaces on University Avenue, “Can anyone build a parklet in front of this store?” My answer was that the City isconsidering allowing just that with the caveat that if she objected she would have to build and activate a parklet. She asked if she could just request that the parking space remain a parkingspace. The answer should be “Of course”. Please restrict parklets to the public space directly in front of the applicant’s store. Enforcement is currently ineffective and virtually non-existent and this is unfair to retailers. Please dedicate sufficient resources (which will require more meaningful funding) to have code enforcement regularly inspect and enforce all standards and equally important will beongoing cleanliness standards (which are missing). To allow a retailer to use the public space, take away parking which benefits all retailers, and not be held to constantly inspected highstandards requires stout enforcement. Today, neighbors of some parklets suffer from trash, dirty/greasy sidewalks, restaurant tables, chairs, and other equipment being in front of theirstores. Today, many parklets are not built to their approved standards. This is not equitable to the non restaurant retailers. Cleanliness is much harder the more food there is served on pubicproperty. A comprehensive cleaning policy must be implemented. The incremental cost of such cleaning should be funded from the annual fees collected from parklet operators. Outdoor spaces are wonderful. But to maintain equity amongst all retailers we ask that youmodify these proposed standards to not hurt those that do not have a parklet or those that prefer parking. Our downtown must be inviting and supportive to all retailers and notdominated by a few food services. Sincerely, John Shenk, Thoits Bros., Inc. Aki Kanematsu, ONIGILLYMeghan Kawkab, The Patio Shanghai Bi, Tong SuiJaiswal Balgobind, Cielo Brady Fuerst, Keen ShoesBrad Ehikian, Premier Properties Rob Fischer, Resposado & Palo Alto Creamery To recap: 1) Parklet construction should comply with all applicable building codes (ADA andbuilding).2) Issue a specific design standard for parklets to create a seamless high quality retailenvironment.3) Only allow a retailer or property owner to install a parklet directly in front of theirstore.4) Adequately fund an enforcement mechanism such that parklets are built andmaintained following the strict policies. From:David Bergen To:Council, City Subject:Please support teacher housing at 3265 El Camino Real Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 3:19:34 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello, I am writing in strong support of the proposal for affordable teacher housing at 3265 El Camino Real. As a longtime Palo Alto resident, I attended Palo Alto schools as did my child. I recognize theimportance of quality teachers for our community, and the benefit that we gain by having our teachers be able to live here and be a part of the community. This project has unique benefits,being within transit or bike reach to many Palo Alto schools. No project is perfect, but I really encourage you to work on ways to say “yes” to this affordable teacher housing proposal, rather than look for excuses to say “no”. Our community will greatly benefit by this project, and I urge your support. Sincerely, David Bergen 771 Southampton Drive, Palo Alto From:Carly Walker To:Council, City Subject:Support for teacher housing at 3265 El Camino Real Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 2:01:20 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from carly.a.walker@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council, I am a Palo Alto resident (1460 Columbia Pl) and PAUSD parent (Nixon Elem), as well as asupporter of affordable housing. I cannot attend the city council meeting this evening, so I wanted to write to voice my wholehearted support for the proposed development at 3265 El Camino Real that plans toinclude affordable housing for teachers. My son's teacher currently has a long commute to Palo Alto because she has been priced out of the area. This new development could greatly benefit teachers and families in Palo Alto. Kind regards,Carly From:Deborah Goldeen To:Council, City Subject:Don"t Save the Cannery Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 1:01:07 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from deborah.goldeen@sonic.net. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. According to a Sept 6 article in Palo Atlo Online(https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2023/09/06/community-debates-sobrato-project-one- last-time-before-council-decision ) you all are going to make a decision about the Fry’s sitetonight? I don’t see anything on the agenda about that. I do know that College Terrace Neighborhood Association raised such a fuss about the building of University Terrace that they delayed it’s development by six years. Their objectionwas increased traffic. Now that that site is no longer industrial, there is LESS traffic, so their fears were unfounded. When Palo Alto approved ADUs, the was all sorts of online hyesteria about how “all of PaloAlto will be R2!” and the city would explode with ADUs. Didn’t happen. When I canvassed Ventura neighborhood, I heard the same kind of hysteria over the Fry’s site. Like University Terrace, developement of the Fry’s site isn’t going to affect Venturaneighborhood all that much. The Fry’s site has always been seperate from that neighborhood. The people who say they want to “Save The Cannery!” could care less about history and instead are just people who abhor change. Devleopment of the Fry’s site is ten years overdue.The no changers have been given more than enough already. Deborah Goldeen, 2130 Birch, 94306, (650)799-3652 From:Corliss Lee To:Council, City Cc:Min Zhou Subject:Thomas Foon Chews cannery Date:Monday, September 11, 2023 11:49:46 AM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from corlissmlee@gmail.com. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clickingon links.________________________________ Dear City Council members, Please preserve the Thomas Foon Chew cannery. It’s an important site in memory of the Chinese in America. Pleasedon’t destroy it. Thank you for your consideration, Corliss Suen Lee From:Roberta Ahlquist To:Council, City Subject:Fwd: FRY"S NEEDS TO BE ZONED FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING Date:Saturday, September 9, 2023 5:14:46 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Here is the corrected version of the letter I sent. Many thanks,Roberta ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Roberta Ahlquist <roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu>Date: Fri, Sep 8, 2023 at 6:17 PM Subject: FRY'S NEEDS TO BE ZONED FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSINGTo: Roberta Ahlquist <roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu> Dear Council: 8/5/2023 1. WE HAVE A SERIOUS HOUSING CRISIS 2. WE DESPERATELY NEED LOW-INCOME HOUSING FOR OUR SERVICE SECTORWORKERS, SENIORS, JANITORS AND OTHER LOW-WAGE WORKERS 3. THIS SITE IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING PARCELS YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER 4. SOBRATO HAS/IS BUILDING LOW-INCOME HOUSING IN OAKLAND 5. BE COURAGEOUS: KEEP THE ZONE RESIDENTIAL AND PROMOTE ARENTER'S REMEDY AS WE SEEK FUNDS FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSES FOR OUR WORKERS. Sincerely, Roberta Ahlquist Co-cair of PA Senior Low-income Housing Committee From:Henry Etzkowitz To:Council, City Cc:henry etzkowitz; Roberta Ahlquist; Kristina Loquist; perrysandy@aol.com Subject:Fwd: 5 September Notes (2) Date:Friday, September 8, 2023 2:45:05 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from henry.etzkowitz@triplehelix.net. Learn whythis is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.Continuation of Notes on Cannery site reuse: If proposers are sincere in their intention to gain landmark status forthe cannery then application should be made before any changes areintroduced. A noted in the presentation demolition of part of thecannery might preclude landmark designation. Therefore, landmarkdesignation should be achieved as an initial step with proposedchanges offered in the context of that designation Although some housing in the form of townhouses is proposed forthe site, there was no mention in the presentation of whether it wouldhave a significant impact on meeting the Element requirement for 6kadditional units. Given the extent of the site (15 acres) any proposal should be evaluated on its contribution to meetingElement objectives Air rights, mentioned by an architectural review board applicant as apossible solution for funding train relocation should be considered tomeet public needs for affordable housing. The so-called “buildersremedy” provides a way forward for market rate housingconstruction. We suggest a “renters remedy” of 40% or more of anyhousing proposal to be funded by sale of air rights created byincreased building height to provide for all levels of affordablehousing, allowing teachers, firefighters, children of current residents,seniors and others the opportunity to live in a multi-class, diversecommunity. There was no discussion of why townhouses, rather than a mix of housing typeswas the optimum use of the site. Given that an industrial building is available forreuse, it would seem that “lofts” combining living and working space would be asolution that takes advantage of large interior space rather than viewing it as anobstacle. New York’s SOHO and other similar reuse of industrial space provide apossible model for the cannery Sent from my iPhone From:Jayme Chew To:Council, City Subject:Save the Bayside Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 9:47:25 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from jaylynchew@yahoo.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello Palo Alto city council. My name is Jayme Chew and I am the great granddaughter of Thomas Foon Chew. I amwriting to implore you to preserve the Bayside Cannery site in Palo Alto and vote NO on the proposed development by Sobrato. This site is a testament to the perseverance and grit it takes for immigrants to make it in thiscountry. My great-grandfather provided jobs and housing to those who had little opportunityand was a pioneer in the canning industry. By demolishing 40% of this site will destroy thehistory of the building and diminish Thomas Foon Chew’s legacy. The residents of Palo Altodeserve the chance to learn about Thomas Foon Chew and to experience the cannery withoutlosing out on the historical significance. If this project goes through then I ask that proportions of the Cannery be preserved in the PaloAlto history museum, as requested by my father Thomas Chew. Please consider alternatives to the proposed development that would preserve more of theintegrity and historical significance of the Cannery. The city of Palo Alto should be invested inhonoring the Chinese heritage of the area. Thank you. Jayme Chew From:Alexis Links To:Council, City Subject:Please save the cannery -- a letter from Thomas Foon Chew"s great-granddaughter Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 9:43:51 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from alexislinks@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. May it please the council and Madam Mayor, My name is Alexis Jade Links and I am the great granddaughter of Thomas Foon Chew. I am also an Emmy nominated Casting Director - I work everyday to diversify the stories you’re told on television both about peoplelike you and unlike you. I try to follow in my great grandfather’s footsteps to be inclusive and open minded in all ofmy work. I'm sure you will agree that it is essential that we acknowledge the land upon which we stand - the native landgenerations before us stole. It is important to me that those who step upon 3200 Park know precisely where theystand. It is imperative to me that the next generation of young people in Silicon Valley can visit the site either intentionallyor even unintentionally - now either to shop or to live or to work, and that when they do, they know where they are. They are not just at a local coffee shop.They are not just at a Payless.* They are not just working in a cubicle loft with a skylight. *Post 2020, it’s my experience and understanding that retail is one of the top failing businesses globally. The developers themselves admit actuallythat filling the space with retail is an uphill battle. My point is, I don’t want those people who live here and work here to feel it’s just another building. I don’t want the one shopper that you’ll be lucky to patronize these businesses to think they’re "just getting a latte." I want them to know they are on safe ground. Where being diverse was and is welcome. I want the beautiful art being proposed to be accessible to the public and visible to those who may be unable to enter. I do not want, as Madame Mayor so aptly put, "random asian art" to represent this story. I want this space and its message to be clear in its design. The images proposed look like any other set of condos or shopping areas throughout California. I'd never know, looking at these images that this was The Cannery. I want people who come here to know that these new homes and offices are built on innovative, fertile, inclusive, ground. I should be able to look at this building and point to it and tell people what it stands for. As a community, we should be able to point to it. At minimum, we should be able to recognize it. Like my uncle, Thomas William Chew, who spoke moments ago, I beg you to make every effort to conserve any and all character defining features. To save them, if you don’t use them for display in a museum. If you vote to move forward with this project I will clearly understand that you’d prefer to lose money on retail space and build what Silicon Valley does not need - office space - than proudly display and preserve an emblem of inclusion; this undeniably historical site. Before you vote, think of what you knew of Thomas Foon Chew before you heard of this proposal. I doubt any of you read of him in a history book. You have the privilege and opportunity to vote on this - and with this vote you either erase this story and personally aid in burying it forever, or, you keep yourselves open to preserving or even celebrating this historical and essential site in your and my history. Thank you for your consideration and time reading this. Please help me preserve our history. If you are open to conversation, or need more information from me, I'd be happy to engage in any way you'd need. Alexis Jade "AJ" Links -- AJ Linksshe/her/hersalexislinks@gmail.comaj@prcasting.com(408) 332-8834www.alexisjadelinks.com From:Aimee Yan To:Council, City Subject:Save the cannery! Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 9:20:10 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from aimee_yan@yahoo.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. I am the president of San Mateo Organization of Chinese Americans. We are a social justiceand advocacy group for AANHPIs We have a national office in Washington DC and will be celebrating 50 years anniversary It important to preserve history and honor the work and legacy of the people who have made our state and Bay Area great, whether it is hi tech, agriculture, fishing, etc We need to preserve our Chinese American history for our children and future generations.They need to know the stories and the struggles of those early Chinese immigrants amid a backdrop of Anti-Asian bias, feel a sense of connection to their Chinese roots and people, and maintain a sense of cultural pride when they see that the broader community values saving their cultural icons. Palo Alto is about 35% Asian (22,600 out of 64,000 residents), and 21% are Chinese. There is a real emphasis in DEI and honoring our ethnic immigrant communities at this time inhistory. Please keep the cannery intact. It could eventually be a center for history of AANHPIs and immigrants who have made our area great as it is. What a treasure for our area. Aimee Yan 2023 president Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone From:jim chiao To:Council, City Cc:myarima@gmail.com Subject:Thomas Foon Chew"s Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 8:45:59 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from jim_chiao@yahoo.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council members: As a former cannery worker, I support the effort to preserve the Bayside Cannery, Thomas Foon Chew’s cannery factory built in 1918. I studied Chinese American history in my spare time. In the late 19th and early 20th century, thousands of people were employed in the canning industry in the Bay Area, including approx. 1500-2000 Chinese from theBay Area who sailed from SF to Alaska every spring to work in the salmon canneries. During the Chinese Exclusion Era, the majority of Chinese were laborers, and it is quite remarkable to learn of Thomas Foon Chew's cannery and his achievement. There are very few historical buildings withChinese heritage in the Bay Area, and this cannery is definitely something worthwhile to preserve for future generations. Best Regards, Jim Chiao Advisory board, CHCP Co-chair, Friends of Children with Special Needs From:Donna Dea To:Council, City Subject:Preserve Bayside Cannery, Thomas Foon Chew"s Cannery Factory Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 7:59:39 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from donna.dea@sbcglobal.net. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To the City Council, Please preserve the Bayside Cannery, Thomas Foon Chew’s cannery factory built in 1918. As an Asian American born to parents (now in Heaven) who immigrated to the U.S.from China, I find myself searching to learn more about my heritage and culture. Asian American history is not well documented and not well taught. The rise of hate crimes against Asians is a reminder of the importance of history education. Thank you, Donna Dea From:Nelson Ng To:Council, City Subject:Please save the historic Bayside Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 6:42:26 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from lofujai@ymail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.Dear City Council, I am urging you to preserve the Bayside Cannery to allow future generations to remember the historical significance of Asian American contribution to Palo Alto. Despite the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the first generation immigrant entrepreneur Thomas Foon Chew built his cannery operation in the early 1900's to eventually became the 3rd largest Cannery in the world. As part of Palo Alto history,we need to preserve the Bayside Cannery to show the history of enduring entrepreneur spirit in Palo Alto. Thanks Nelson Ng From:Brenda Wong To:Council, City Cc:Brenda Hee Wong; Brenda Hee Wong Subject:Save the Old Cannery in Palo Alto Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 6:19:10 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from bjhwong@yahoo.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members, My name is Brenda Hee Wong. I am a Board Member of the Chinese Historical andCultural Project, also known as CHCP and Chair of CHCP’s Student Ambassador Program. I speak today to advocate for the youth of the community. In CHCP’s 35- year history we have worked diligently to preserve, educate and promote Chinese and Chinese American history and culture through outreach activities that allow interaction with original or replicated artifacts of historical or cultural significance.People appreciate, understand, and learn more when an object is in front of them. Such is the same with youth since history always seems so remote from their everyday life. If not able to be seen or heard from a direct source, their attention and awareness is lost. Being able to walk into the Bayside Cannery, see and hear storiesabout hardship, persistence and success will stimulate them to become more sensitive to a time when discrimination and racism occurred and yet with utilization of one’s intellect and creativity, struggles can bring success and a better life. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on saving the historic Bay Cannery. Brenda Hee Wong Board Member Chinese Historical & Cultural Project 408-946-4015 preferred; 408-228-2424 cell From:Wanda Ching To:Council, City; laura Peterhans Cc:Monica Yeung Arima; Lotus Fong; Connie Yu; Brenda Wong; Terry Holzemer; Rebecca Becky Sanders; Jeff Levinsky; Hal M; Wanda Ching; Gloria Hom Subject:Hi Laura! Preserve Thomas Foon Chew"s Bayside Cannery for future generations Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 6:03:26 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from chibi94303@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Laura, That's wonderful history and connection with the Bayside Cannery!! I'm passing your message on to the City Council and some of the others as a FYI. Let's hope that the Cannery will not be demolished. Best regards, Wanda 650 515-1616 ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: laura Peterhans <lkpeterhans@yahoo.com>Date: Tue, Sep 5, 2023 at 5:52 PMSubject: Re: Preserve Thomas Foon Chew's Bayside Cannery for future generationsTo: Wanda Ching <chibi94303@gmail.com> Dear Wanda: My grandfather insisted that my father, who at the time was a Stanford student a hundredyears ago, work at the local cannery for the summer rather than come home to San Diego. I think that the Bayside Cannery may have been where he worked. Later my father, Stanford alum of 1927, took over my grandfather’s position as the Presidentof Klauber Wangenheim Co., a wholesale grocery firm founded by my great grandfather in1869 in San Diego. Laura Klauber PeterhansStanford BA ’56 and MA 57. On Sep 5, 2023, at 3:35 PM, Wanda Ching <chibi94303@gmail.com> wrote: <image.png> Dear Members of the Palo Alto City Council, The historic Bayside Cannery building built in 1918 must not be demolished. Thomas Foon Chew, a first-generation immigrant was smart and worked hard, saved money and opened factories in Alviso, Palo Alto and other cities in the Bay Area. Chew was one of the largest employers in the Santa Clara Valley area. Chew's business became the 3rd largest cannery operation in the world, behind only Del Monte and Libby. He was a critical player in California’s agricultural and canning industries and revolutionized asparagus canning technology. Canned goods were so important to the housewives at the turn of the twentieth century and even today in 2023. He was a humanitarian and an exceptional businessman who achieved so much in spite of extreme difficulties dealing with racial discrimination and bigotry toward all Chinese Americans before and since the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 (which was repealed in 1943). Acknowledgement of Chinese Americans for their contributions, accomplishments in building the railroads, involvement in agriculture, fishing, canning industries and technology should be recognized as intertwined in the development of California and America. It was unfortunate that Chew died of pneumonia at the age of 41. As a testament to the respect that he received and his kindness, more than 25,000 people in San Francisco Chinatown attended his funeral. Educator Terry Holzmer said "Understanding Thomas Foon Chew is very important, and unfortunately history has all but forgotten him. He should be recognized for what he accomplished in an environment of unimaginable racial prejudice and discrimination," …. "We tend to forget this important point, if our next generation forgets where they came from, it will be a great loss to the whole society." Karen Holman, the former mayor of Palo Alto, said, "It is very important to have a physical historical site that everyone can visit. People will deepen their understanding of history because of the real experience of the physical site. Thomas Foon Chew’s legacy is an amazingly true “rags to riches” story that happened right here in Palo Alto. More people need to know of this inspirational person, Thomas Foon Chew, The Bayside Cannery and his legacy. DO NOT DEMOLISH the Bayside Cannery. We cannot allow this significant legacy to be erased from Palo Alto. Sincerely, Wanda Young Ching Resident of Palo Alto Native Palo Altan, Stanford/UCB alum, HP retiree… From:fan jiao To:Council, City Subject:Reserve Thomas Foo Chew’s factory Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 5:45:04 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from jiaofan@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello, His story is timely, as Thomas Foo came to California as an 8-year-old in 1897 during the era of the Chinese Exclusion Acts and was a multimillionaire when he died of pneumonia in San Jose in 1931 at age 42. Being lived in Bay Area for more thirty years I am keen aware of the value of land and we have been facing in-housed people’s issues in last 20 years. However what we are asking is to reserve this glorious past for a Chinese boy becoming a multimillionaire thru hard working. Fan Jiao Former PA resident 408-306-0636 From:Roberta Ahlquist To:Council, City; city.council@cityofpaloalto.com Subject:Keep Frey"s as ZONED FOR LOW-income RESIDENTAL Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 5:12:31 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council: 8/5/2023 1. WE HAVE A SERIOUS HOUSING CRISIS2. WE DESPERATELY NEED LOW-INCOME OUSIJG FOR OUR SERVICESECTOR WORKERS, SENIORS3. THIS SITE IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING PARCELS YOU HAVECONTROL OVER4. SOBRATO HAS/IS BUILDING LOW-INCOME HOUSING IN OAKLAND5. BE COURAGEOUS: KEEP TE ZONE RESIDENTIAL AND PROMOTE AARENTER'S REMEDYAS WE SEEK FUNDS FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSES FOR OUR WORKERS. Sincerely, Roberta Ahlquist Co-cair of PA Senior Low-income Housing Committee From:Remi Tan To:Council, City Subject:Re: 2023-09-05 Agenda Item 7 redevelopment of Bayside Cannery a 340 Portage Comment Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 4:53:27 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from remitan@sbcglobal.net. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Honorable City Council: Also I heard some Chinese Americans in Palo Alto and on the peninsula are interested in having a Chinese American History Museum. This historic building would be perfect for this and the HistoryMuseum could be part of the community center. Thank you and Best Regards, Remi Tan, AIA, LEED AP BD+CArchitecture, Green/Sustainability Consulting, and Real Estate Investment 650-291-3097 On Monday, September 4, 2023 at 12:34:34 PM PDT, Remi Tan <remitan@sbcglobal.net> wrote: Dear Honorable City Council: I am a Bay Area architect and a second generation Chinese American. It has come to my attention that 40% of the historic Bayside Cannery is slated for demolition to be replaced by townhouses. While I certainly understand the need for more housing in Palo Alto, in this case this is coming at the expense of removing a very historically significant building. As per the Rincon Consultants and Page and Turnbull Cultural Resource study below, this is a very rare industrial agricultural building owned by a Chinese American immigrant, Thomas Foon Chew. What makes this story even more compelling is that the cannery was the third largest after Delmonte and Dole. (see highlighted excerpts below from the Cultural Resource Study.) What makes this story even more amazing is Thomas Chew managed to build and run a large successful business during a time of open and legislated racial discrimination when Chinese and Asians were prohibited from owning property in CA due to the 1913 Alien Lands Law that was only repealed in1956, and when Chinese were also unable to immigrate to our country due to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act that was only abolished in 1965. Also it is my understanding that the CA Historic Resource Commission is scheduled to review this very building for including in the CA Historical Buildings Register and the Nation Historic Building Register next week on 09/14/2023. Reviewing the project site plan, the project can be reconfigured to place the new housing to the north and south of the existing historic building in the existing parking lots. These north and south parking lot portions site could accommodate equal and maybe even more housing units than currently proposed if done with denser apartment/condo style buildings. Parking can be shared between the residential and commercial use in the historic building. Alternatively, the inside of the historic building could be adaptive reused, maintaining historic features into desirable loft style apartments/condos. Part of the historic structure can be devoted to public use in lieu of the two proposed public parks at the NE and S part of the sites. Given the historical significance and rarity of the building, the upcoming review by the CA Historic Resource Commission,the fact that the housing can be built on the open parking lots to the north and south of theexisting historic building and the historic building could be adaptive reused into housing,and the study's conclusion of a significant impact to historic resource, I strongly urge the City Council to deny this project as designed and require thedeveloper to retain the historic building and redesign the project to be in compliance with the cultural resource study's recommendations. Excerpts from Appendix C of the EIR Cultural Resources Study by Rincon Consultants and Page and Turnbull Page 14 "340 Portage Avenue and the associated office building were previously recorded and evaluated for historic significance for the City of Palo Alto by Page & Turnbull, Inc. and found eligible for listing in the CRHR. The site’s significance was described in the Page & Turnbull evaluation as follows: 340 Portage Avenue and the associated former office building to the southeast appear to be individually significant under Criterion 1 in association with historical events important to the history of Palo Alto. Agricultural industries, including fruit and vegetable canning, were once the dominant industries in Santa Clara County. The oldest portions of the cannery building, itself, were constructed in 1918 for the Bayside Canning Company, which was owned by Chinese immigrant and prominent canning mogul, Thomas Foon Chew. Under Chew, the Bayside Canning Company rose to become the third largest fruit and vegetable cannery in the world in the 1920s, behind only Libby and Del Monte. After Chew’s death, the cannery was subsequently purchased and operated for more than twenty years by the Sutter Packing Company, another fruit and vegetable cannery. The Sutter Packing Company significantly expanded the cannery building and its operations throughout the 1930s and 1940s as it prepared for and raced to meet the demands of World War II. The expansion projects included the construction of the extant office building at 3201-3225 Ash Street to the southeast of cannery building at 340 Portage Avenue. For a time, the cannery was the largest employer in the Mid Peninsula, and when it closed in 1949, it was the largest employer in Palo Alto. The trajectory of canning operations at the plant —which began in the early twentieth century, peaked in the 1920s, increased production to meet the demands of World War II, and then quickly declined as residential development and new industries began to replace agricultural industries in the postwar period— corresponds closely to the broad pattern of the history of the canning industry in Santa Clara County. The building is a rare surviving example of Palo Alto’s and Santa Clara County’s agricultural past. As a result, the building at 340 Portage Avenue does appear to be individually significant at the local level under Criterion 1. The period of significance under this criterion begins in 1918, when canning operations began at the site under the Bayside Canning Company, and ends in 1949, when the Sutter Packing Company’s canning operations at the building ended." Page 20 "this impacts analysis finds that the project would result in the material impairment to a historical resource and result in a substantial adverse change in the significance of a resource. Furthermore, it does not comply with the Secretary’s Standards and as proposed and would result in a significant impact to a historical resource for the purposes of CEQA." Thank you and Best Regards, Remi Tan, AIA, LEED AP BD+CArchitecture, Green/Sustainability Consulting, and Real Estate Investment 650-291-3097 Virus-free.www.avast.com From:Mike Wong To:Council, City Subject:Thomas Foon Chew cannery in so PA Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 4:24:29 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from gobearsod@yahoo.com. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ City Council: I am in favor of preserving the Thomas Foon Chew cannery. My relatives were friends of the family as they had homes and businesses near downtown PA back in the early 1900s Mike Wong Sent from my iPad From:Wanda ChingTo:Council, City Cc:Monica Yeung Arima; Lotus Fong; Connie Yu; Brenda Wong; Terry Holzemer; Rebecca Becky Sanders; Jeff Levinsky; Hal M; Wanda ChingSubject:Preserve Thomas Foon Chew"s Bayside Cannery for future generationsDate:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 3:36:27 PMAttachments:image.png Some people who received this message don't often get email from chibi94303@gmail.com. Learn why this is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Members of the Palo Alto City Council, The historic Bayside Cannery building built in 1918 must not be demolished. Thomas Foon Chew, a first-generation immigrant was smart and worked hard, saved money and opened factories in Alviso, Palo Alto and other cities in the Bay Area. Chewwas one of the largest employers in the Santa Clara Valley area. Chew's business became the 3rd largest cannery operation in the world, behind only Del Monte and Libby. He was a critical player in California’s agricultural and canning industries and revolutionized asparagus canning technology. Canned goods were so important to the housewives at the turn of the twentieth century and even today in 2023. He was a humanitarian and an exceptional businessman who achieved so much in spite of extreme difficulties dealing with racial discrimination and bigotry toward all Chinese Americans before and since the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 (which was repealed in 1943). Acknowledgement of Chinese Americans for their contributions, accomplishments in building the railroads, involvement in agriculture, fishing, canning industries and technology should be recognized as intertwined in the development of California and America. It was unfortunate that Chew died of pneumonia at the age of 41. As a testament to the respect that he received and his kindness, more than 25,000 people in San Francisco Chinatown attended his funeral. Educator Terry Holzmer said "Understanding Thomas Foon Chew is very important, and unfortunately history has all but forgotten him. He should be recognized for what he accomplished in an environment of unimaginable racial prejudice and discrimination," …. "We tend to forget this important point, if our next generation forgets where they came from, it will be a great loss to the whole society." Karen Holman, the former mayor of Palo Alto, said, "It is very important to have a physical historical site that everyone can visit. People will deepen their understanding of history because of the real experience of the physical site. Thomas Foon Chew’s legacy is an amazingly true “rags to riches” story that happened right here in Palo Alto. More people need to know of this inspirational person, Thomas Foon Chew, The Bayside Cannery and his legacy. DO NOT DEMOLISH the Bayside Cannery. We cannot allow this significant legacy to be erased from Palo Alto. Sincerely, Wanda Young Ching Resident of Palo Alto Native Palo Altan, Stanford/UCB alum, HP retiree… From:Ann Balin To:Council, City Subject:Thomas Foon Chew"s Historic Bayside Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 2:51:34 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ Dear Mayor Kou & Council Members, I am writing you as a native Palo Alton to urge you to preserve the entire Bayside Cannery and not permit the developer to demolish any portion of the structure. Why? Thomas Foon Chew’s success was an anomaly and is significant in our city’s history. His cannery contributed to our war effort during WWII to name one benefit to our country. In an earlier email to you Jon Jang, the renowned composer, cites “What is remarkable about the making of the Thomas Foon Chew’s Bayside Cannery in 1918 is that it became one of the major canneries in the world during the Chinese Exclusion Act era where in a few short years, the dominant image of Chinese lurched from despised oriental ‘other’ to wartime ally to dangerous communist threat.” Mae Ngai’s book, IMPOSSIBLE SUBJECTS: Illegals Aliens and the making of Modern America. It is your responsibility to preserve the cannery in the development agreement in its entirety exemplifying its role in Palo Alto’s history. Chew was a paper son who rose up via his brilliant entrepreneurship and defied the restraints of the racist epoch. Therefore I urge you to seize the day and declare the Bayside Cannery merits being saved in its entirety. Respectfully, Ann Lafargue Balin From:Derrick Lim To:Council, City Subject:9-5-2023 city council item 7 Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 1:59:24 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from ahyeebrew@att.net. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Mayor and Members of the City Council, My comments are for agenda item 7 (3200 Park Blvd/340 Portage). Given the documented interest in the historic significance of the cannery building (in the council staff report and public comment) and the formal application to the city’s Historic Resources Board (HRB), I am requesting that the city council postpone action until the HRB has made a determination on the application. Throughout the staff report and attachments there is documented reference to the historic significance of the cannery building to the city and region. The staff report is also clear that there are negative historic designation consequences to anydisturbance or alteration to the integrity of the building and site. Seeking historical designation post construction to almost half of the building is backwards and counter productive. If anything, that approach will most likely eliminate any chance of a fair assessment of any formal historic designation at the local, state,and federal level. An historic maintenance covenant is a nice gesture, but is after the fact that 40% of the building has been altered. The covenant also lacks the full weight of a formal historic review, designation, and mitigation to an undisturbed and unaltered building. Aside from the physical structure, there is also the issue of what kind of message the city wants to send to current and future generations on how it remembers residents who have made significant contributions to the city and region when all that is left is a building that may disappear. Derrick Lim From:Dave Yick To:Council, City Subject:Support Preservation of the Former Bayside Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 1:27:36 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from dave.yick@chcp.org. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Mayor Kou and City Council Members, Palo Alto and the Sobrato Group have a unique opportunity to preserve the Thomas Foon Chew cannery and to support its designation as a California historical site. The very existence of the cannery in Palo Alto and its historicalprominence both locally and nationally speaks volumes about the extensive and relatively unacknowledgedcontributions of the Chinese and of Chinese Americans in California as well as nationally. This is a major omission parallel to the failure to recognize the work of Chinese railroad workers on theTranscontinental Railroad — a story that repeats itself over and over again when it comes to the contributions ofminorities and other marginalized groups in this country—a country whose greatness is built upon its diversecitizenry and their belief in the American dream. The cannery also speaks to Thomas Foon Chee’s belief that his entrepreneurial spirit could be successful in Palo Alto. The Chinese Historical & Cultural Project (CHCP) and the Chinese American Historical Museum is the most prominent Chinese American Historical organization in the South Bay Area. Our mission is to promote and preserve Chinese American history and culture through outreach activities. It is my personal belief that preserving this former cannery site as a designated California Historical Site would be a most important centerpiece in furthering this mission. Dave YickBoard President Chinese Historical & Cultural Project / Chinese American Historical Museum P.O. Box 5366San Jose, CA 95150-5366Cell 408-250-5861dave.yick@chcp.org PROMOTE EDUCATE PRESERVE