HomeMy Public PortalAbout20170724plCC701-32
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: 7/24/2017
Document dates: 7/5/2017 – 7/12/2017
Set 1
Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet
reproduction in a given week.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/6/2017 7:38 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Palo Alto Free Press <paloaltofreepress@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, July 05, 2017 5:19 PM
To:michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com; stephen.connolly@oirgroup.com; Council, City
Cc:Keene, James; Dave Price; sdremann@paweekly.com
Subject:Fwd: [Records Center] Public Records Request :: W000835-070217
SIr,
Do you have any comments on your woefully negligent review with city council and or the general public concerning your contracted police audit report before going public? Over a million dollars spent!
Mark
FakeNews Dave Price #FakeNews PaloAltoWeekly
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Palo Alto Public Records Center" <paloaltoca@mycusthelp.net>
Date: July 5, 2017 at 4:47:28 PM CST
To: paloaltofreepress@gmail.com
Subject: [Records Center] Public Records Request :: W000835-070217
Attachments:
080707.pdf
CMR_271_09.pdf CMR-_292-08.pdf MINUTES_090601.pdf
--- Please respond above this line ---
07/05/2017
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/6/2017 7:38 AM
2
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of July 02, 2017, Reference # W000835‐070217
Dear Mark,
I am writing in response to your requests for documents under the California Public
Records Act (Govt. Code § 6250 et seq.) received by the City on 7/2/2017.
Your request mentioned Total number of times Police Auditor has met with city council
since 2008. Provide dates and content of meetings (Agenda)
The City has reviewed its files and has located responsive records to your request. Find
links to the 4 responsive records above this message.
You can also access these records by logging in to the Records Center at the following
LINK.
If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, please contact me.
Sincerely,
David Carnahan
Deputy City Clerk
To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the [NAMEOFSYSTEM]
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/6/2017 4:56 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
Sent:Thursday, July 06, 2017 2:02 PM
To:Dan Richard; popoff; richard.wenzel; boardmembers; Tranil Thomas; Leodies Buchanan;
dennisbalakian; David Balakian; Mark Kreutzer; Mayor; Mark Standriff; Raymond Rivas;
info@superide1.com; lxcastro93@yahoo.com; leager; esmeralda.soria@fresno.gov;
paul.caprioglio; bretthedrick; CityManager; Council, City; beachrides; Joel Stiner
Subject:Fwd: Chinese train- grid and batteries- 200 KM on batteries. Of interest to CHSRA?
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
Date: Thu, Jul 6, 2017 at 1:25 PM
Subject: Fwd: Chinese train- grid and batteries- 200 KM on batteries. Of interest to CHSRA?
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
Date: Thu, Jul 6, 2017 at 12:55 PM
Subject: Fwd: Chinese train- grid and batteries- 200 KM on batteries. Of interest to CHSRA? To: Dan Richard <danrichard@mac.com>, boardmembers <boardmembers@hsr.ca.gov>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Date: Thu, Jul 6, 2017 at 12:31 PM
Subject: Chinese train- grid and batteries- 200 KM on batteries. Of interest to CHSRA?
To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>
Thurs. July 6, 2017
Dan- This might be of interest. Notice in the last paragraph that they have a deal with Southeastern
Pennsylvania Transit Authority.
They say their hybrid train can run 200 KM on batteries. 125 miles, San Jose to Merced maybe.
Certainly Gilroy to Merced. Or San Francisco to Gilroy easily. No need for Caltrain electrification, if it falls
through.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2017-07/05/content_29994980.htm
Years ago I suggested to you that HS trains could run on batteries some of the time. Charge up while in
stations.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/6/2017 4:56 PM
2
Batteries are getting a lot better, as you know. The lithium metal batteries with solid polymer electrolyte
from Ionic Materials are a interest to me, and I have recommended them to GM. Here is the company:
www.ionicmaterials.com
Their battery was featured in a Nova program, Search for the Super Battery. I recommend it if you have
not seen it. Ionic Materials is shown at about half way through this Nova.
Here is the Nova program "Search for the Super Battery":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxZrQ5yPsLI
Higher energy density and far safer than current lithium ion batteries.
What if you did not string catenary between Gilroy and Merced?
Trains leaving Gilroy going north could charge up their batteries all during the run to San Francisco and
during stops in San Jose, Redwood City and SF, and continue to charge them during the run back down to
Gilroy and during stops in RW City, San Jose and Gilroy. Then lower the pantograph and run on batteries east
to Merced.
Trains leaving Merced southbound could charge their batteries all during the run to Bakersfield and during
stops in Fresno, Hanford and Bakersfield. Also during the run back up to Merced and during stops in Hanford,
Fresno and Merced. Then lower the pantograph and run on batteries west to Gilroy.
All of this would eliminate the catenary between Gilroy and Merced if installing and maintaining it is problematic in the coast range.
Ionic Materials says that it will be 2 or 3 years before they have solved the reliability and scalability issues
with their batteries.
Your man in the San Jose area was heard on KCBS a couple of weeks ago discussing maybe elevating HSR
through the Dearedon station in San Jose. With 135 trains per day passing through there now, that might be
solution, he said. I'd just note that there was a plan to run HSR on an elevated track 40 or 50 feet in the air
through Fresno. There was opposition, and alternatives were found. I would anticipate opposition in San Jose.
LH
LH
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:56 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Mark Shull <shull.mark@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, July 08, 2017 6:05 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:Fwd: County Introduces New Online Survey Tool to Measure Internet Speed
Hi. This is a good idea in my opinion.
We have a home in Montgomery County, where we actually have fiber to the home. The speeds are good, but
its in large part because the county stays on top of Verizon and Comcast.
We pay for 150 mbps from Comcast in Palo Alto, but my connection from two different locations in Palo Alto (
measured using Comcast's own tool) is often half of what it should be. I think it would be a good idea for the City to support an app like this that provides data to hold Comcast accountable.
Thanks,
Mark Shull 2020 Tasso St.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Hans Riemer, Councilmember <Councilmember.Riemer@mccouncilmd.lmhostediq.com> Date: Fri, Jul 7, 2017 at 4:04 PM
Subject: County Introduces New Online Survey Tool to Measure Internet Speed
To: shull.mark@gmail.com
Dear residents:
Since joining the County Council, I have worked to create access to super
high-speed internet service. Whether for education, entertainment or
economic development, broadband is critical infrastructure and we need to plan for it just as we plan for transportation or water.
Now I need your help to crowd-source our county's access to the internet. Below please find information about our new CheckSpeedMontgomery
initiative, which if you participate will help the County bring greater
transparency to the market. Knowing who has what access will hopefully
enable us to both negotiate more effectively with incumbent providers as well as attract new providers into the county.
Take a look at CheckSpeedMontgomery.com.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:56 AM
2
Thank you,
Hans Riemer
Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of thi s pi ctu re from the In ternet.Hans Riemer Logo
Councilmember
At-large
Right-click download help protecOutlook prautomatic dthi s pi ctu reIn ternet.Visit Hans o
Right-click download help protecOutlook prautomatic dthi s pi ctu reIn ternet.Follow Han
Right-click download help protecOutlook prautomatic dthi s pi ctu reIn ternet.Visit Hans'
County Introduces New Online Survey Tool to
Measure Internet Speed
ROCKVILLE, MD., June 28, 2017 -- County Executive Ike Leggett and
Council Vice President Hans Riemer today announced the launch of a new Web-based civic engagement tool, CheckSpeedMontgomery.com,
and urge residents to take the survey. With the introduction of this
website, the County hopes to learn about the quality of internet service
received by residents and businesses.
CheckSpeedMontgomery.com tests internet speed; collects and shares
user-generated information about broadband service rates, quality, and customer satisfaction. The data gathered from this website will help the
County better understand where residents and businesses access high-
quality internet service and where service may need improvement.
“Ensuring consistent, high-speed broadband connectivity is critical to an
enhanced quality of life for residents; access to necessary tools for our
students; and a strong infrastructure for businesses,” said Leggett. “Having residents share their internet speeds, helps the County identify
areas where the community is not receiving advertised speeds and helps
the County identify underserved parts of our community.”
The County expects to leverage this information to partner with non-
governmental sectors, including the County’s commercial
telecommunications infrastructure and services providers, to improve services throughout the County. Results of the survey will be discussed
in public forums and in meetings with cellular carriers, cable franchisees,
and right-of-way operators to foster a participative and collaborative
approach to achieving improvements in the coming months.
“It’s no secret that availability of high-speed networks has become as
important as roads and other types of infrastructure,” said Riemer. “As we plan our future initiatives on wireless and wireline broadband infrastructure, it’s important to understand where we are strong and
where our residents and business need improvements.”
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:56 AM
3
Residents can visit CheckSpeedMontgomery.com from most devices to
take the free survey. The data provided will be available publicly through
the site and later at data.montgomerycountymd.gov.
“It takes approximately two to four minutes to complete the survey and
will help the County identify which general areas within the County may need improved services and digital connectivity for residents,” said
Sonny Segal, chief information officer, for the County’s Department of
Technology Services.
This test does not collect browsing information such as web searches.
Using an interactive map, survey data will be available for download.
The survey will look at results by area not by individual so there will be no loss of privacy. In planning improvements, the County and service
providers will want to know how constituents are currently using
broadband and what deficiencies they may be experiencing.
At the request of Riemer, CheckSpeedMontgomery.com was developed
through a partnership between PowerUp Labs and the Department of
Technology Services, and the survey is available in several languages spoken in the County.
For more information about this new, online survey and how you can
participate, visit CheckSpeedMontgomery.com.
# # #
Hans Riemer was elected to the Montgomery County Council in 2010 and 2014 and represents over one million residents as an At-Large Member. Hans serves as the Council’s Vice President and Lead for Digital Government, working to make county government smarter and more user-friendly.
Office of Councilmember Hans Riemer
100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 240-777-7964 councilmember.riemer@montgomerycountymd.gov http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/riemer/ If you do not want to receive these emails, please unsubscribe here.
Right-click download help protecOutlook prautomatic dthi s pi ctu reIn ternet.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:55 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Jo Ann Mandinach <joann@needtoknow.com>
Sent:Friday, July 07, 2017 10:44 AM
To:Council, City; Keene, James
Subject:Input on Downtown Bike Lanes / Drought Surcharge
Hello. 2 short points.
1) You're seeking input on the Downtown Project. Here's mine: I totally oppose putting bike lanes on University.
Please see Donna Diamond's column today on why it's totally ridiculous for one of our busiest streets and one of the few
direct ways to get to/from 101.
2) Please explain why we're STILL being charged the $25 monthly drought surcharge when the drought officially ended
in
February. It's now July and we all get our accounts credited $100
or $125 credit for the months of
over‐billing, Also please stop preaching that we should conserve
because when we do, you only "raise our rates because we're not using enough."
Most sincerely,
Jo Ann Mandinach
Jo Ann Mandinach
Need To Know Info Solutions
http:.//www.needtoknow.com
650 329‐8655 or cell 650 269‐0650
Palo Alto, CA 94301
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:53 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:De Geus, Robert
Sent:Thursday, July 06, 2017 5:35 PM
To:Council, City
Cc:Keene, James; Keith, Claudia; Shikada, Ed; Svendsen, Janice
Subject:La Comida Update
Good afternoon Council Members,
Thought I would send a quick update on Avenidas and La Comida. Stevenson House Board has agreed to
house La Comida for the first year of construction at Avenidas 450 Bryant St., and assuming the partnership
goes well we hope they will be able to stay there until the Avenidas remodel is complete. Moreover, La Comida
has an interest in a second temporary location, however, they would like to first get underway at Stevenson
House and then evaluate their capacity to support a second location.
Regarding La Comida’s long term home and possible return to Avenidas, we have identified a fitting mediator
through Palo Alto mediation and have tentatively scheduled a first meeting for next week Wednesday. Both
parties are genuinely interested in finding a workable solution. The City is providing the space for the
mediation, and I will continue to support both non-profits as they work through possibilities and common
interests.
Thank you, I will keep you updated things progress.
Rob
Rob de Geus
Deputy City Manager, and
Acting Director, Community Services Department
1305 Middlefield Road | Palo Alto, CA 94301
D: 650.463.4951 | F: 650.321.5612 | E: Robert.deGeus@cityofpaloalto.org
“Engaging Individuals and Families to Create a Strong and Healthy Community”
From: De Geus, Robert
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2017 4:38 PM
To: Council, City
Cc: Keene, James; Keith, Claudia; Shikada, Ed; Svendsen, Janice
Subject: La Comida Update
Good afternoon Council Members,
This past week representatives of La Comida, Avenidas and the City met to discuss our common interests in
finding both short and long term solutions for the Senior Nutrition Program. It was an important first step in
finding a workable path forward, and I was encouraged to hear significant shared interests between the
organizations.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:53 AM
2
Regarding a short term solution, for the period of time the 450 Bryant street facility is being renovated
(scheduled to begin September 1st); La Comida are close to securing an agreement with Stevenson House in
the south Palo Alto to prepare and serve lunches. Stevenson House Board will vote on the agreement on June
22. There is some sensitivity, so La Comida asks that we do not assume this is a done deal until the board votes.
Further, the dining space at Stevenson House is limited, and the location will not be convenient for many of the
seniors that live in north Palo Alto. Consequently, La Comida is also looking for a location closer to downtown.
We discussed several short term locations for a second location in north Palo Alto, including Lytton Gardens
and Lucie Stern Community Center. Avenidas and City staff will help La Comida explore these and other
potential sites next week.
Regarding a long term solution, we agreed at our Wednesday meeting that it would be productive for Avenidas
and La Comida to return to mediation to consider how we might best design a sustainable senior nutrition
program at the renovated and expanded 450 Bryant St.
All parties will meet again on Friday June 23.
Thank you,
Rob
Rob de Geus | Director
Community Services Department
1305 Middlefield Road | Palo Alto, CA 94301
D: 650.463.4951 | F: 650.321.5612 | E: Robert.deGeus@cityofpaloalto.org
“Engaging Individuals and Families to Create a Strong and Healthy Community”
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:54 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Sally Mahoney <stmahoney@sbcglobal.net>
Sent:Friday, July 07, 2017 10:41 AM
To:editor@paweekly.com; news@padailypost.com; editor@AlmanacNews.com;
editor@MV-Voice.com; City Mgr; Council, City; Keene, James; DuBois, Tom; Filseth, Eric
(Internal); Fine, Adrian; Holman, Karen; Kou, Lydia; Scharff, Gregory (internal); Tanaka,
Greg; Wolbach, Cory; supervisor.simitian@bos.sccgov.org
Cc:Friends; Sally Mahoney; Bill Blodgett; Alan Bennett; Amy Andonian
Subject:La Comida-Stevenson House Joint Announcement
Attachments:SH LAC joint announcement 7.7.2017.docx
We are pleased to share the attached press release.
Sally Mahoney 706 Matadero Avenue Palo Alto CA 94306
(650) 566-1532;(cell) (650) 714-6161
stmahoney@sbcglobal.net
PALO ALTO SENIOR HOUSING INC. LA COMIDA
Dba STEVENSON HOUSE DE CALIFORNIA
Press Release July 7, 2017
Page 1. of 2.
La Comida de California and PASHPI/Stevenson House have reached an agreement that will bring
the La Comida seated lunch program to Stevenson House on an interim basis, September 1, 2017 –
August 31, 2018. It is an interim agreement because La Comida continues to search, with the help
of City officials, for suitable downtown Palo Alto space for the long term.
The program will provide interested Stevenson House residents as well as other Palo Alto seniors
with an attractive mid‐day meal and the companionship of seated service. A suggested $3 lunch
donation is modest because La Comida is supported by the Senior Nutrition Program of Santa Clara
County and by the City of Palo Alto. Stevenson House has a well‐equipped but currently unused
commercial kitchen and years of working experience with La Comida though its off‐site delivered
lunch program.
In coming to this arrangement La Comida is shifting from a downtown community service facility to
a mid‐town residential setting for seniors located at 455 E. Charleston Road. In planning the
program, both Boards have been sensitive to residential issues of safety, security and privacy not to
mention transportation concerns and the lack of on‐site parking for lunch‐goers. The two Boards
are grateful to residents who have raised issues that otherwise might not have been considered and
have worked to address them.
We were helped by the expertise of the John Stewart Company, the Stevenson House property
manager, who also manages the Giovanni and Jeanne d’Arc facility in San Jose. They have a similar
program, one serving a small fraction of their residents and other seniors from the community. As
the Stevenson House property manager, the John Stewart Company supports this agreement.
Both La Comida and Stevenson House are long‐standing in service to Palo Alto, and both benefit
from its support. We both are private not‐for‐profit public benefit corporations. La Comida has a
Press Release July 7, 2017
Page 2. of 2.
need that, if not addressed, would deprive our community’s seniors of an important program of
food and fellowship, indeed, a long‐standing, much needed and loved lunch program. Stevenson
House has a kitchen and dining room, one too small for La Comida’s long term needs, but helpful for
an interim. We have agreed to make it work for Stevenson House residents and for the larger
community.
For further information:
Davina Brown, La Comida Vice‐President (650) 494‐696
Sally Mahoney, PASHPI/Stevenson House President (650) 566‐1532; (cell) (650) 74‐6161
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/6/2017 7:37 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:John Sutterfield <jsccc21@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, July 05, 2017 8:08 PM
To:Council, City; City Attorney
Subject:Malfunctioning Restroom Safety Issue
Dear Palo Alto City Council-
My family visited friends in Palo Alto this July 4th. After enjoying ourselves at the Chili Cook-off we went downtown to kill some time until the fireworks began at Shoreline. My wife used a public restroom at the
corner of Hamilton Ave and Waverley St as we waited in our car parked in an adjacent lot. From our location
we could not see the door to the restroom. As my wife was using the Toilet a homeless man opened the door
and entered the restroom momentarily. The man did not accost my wife and quickly disappeared. My wife was
quit startled but unharmed. My wife thought the door was locked and additionally the facility requires fifty cents to enter. I placed fifty cents into the receiver and entered the toilet and pressed the lock button. After
about 30 seconds I had my wife place fifty cents into the receiver even though the icon indicated that the toilet
was in use. The door opened even though it was in use and supposedly locked. I bring this to your attention for
it is a significant safety issue placing people in a very vulnerable situation. Had the homeless man been a
malefactor my wife could have been easily victimized and the City would be liable for not properly maintaining its facilities. I encourage you to remedy this problem before someone is harmed.
-John Sutterfield
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/6/2017 7:37 AM
2
San Rafael
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:55 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Mallary Alcheck <mallary11@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, July 08, 2017 7:51 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:New Mozart Music
Hello
I’m writing to let you know how valuable the New Mozart Music school is to our family and the community. Their music
programs for young kids has been a fantastic introduction for my 4 year old son. He has actually learned to read music
and is developing a love of the arts through the teachers and program.
As a Palo Alto resident for the past 5 years, I feel resources like this are what make Palo Alto a special place and what
will continue to attract young families like mine to the area. I believe it is important to draw young families here for the
future of our city and we need schools and programs like New Mozart to bring them here.
Thank you
Mallary Alcheck
558 Madison Way, Palo Alto
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:56 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Ellen Smith <ef44smith@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, July 10, 2017 9:37 AM
To:Auzenne, Tom; Council, City
Subject:Policy on billing after a water leak
I am unable to attend the Utilities Advisory Commission meeting on July 12, but I would like to state my
support for a flexible policy for billing when a water leak is detected on the property owner’s side of the meter.
The City of San Jose policy refers to a “one-time courtesy adjustment,” which allows for dealing with the water lost in a less punitive fashion than Palo Alto’s current policy of billing as if for actual use. “Adjustment” is a
word that allows for flexibility in dealing with each situation. I hope you will adopt similar language going
forward.
Ellen Smith 1469 Dana Ave., 94301
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:56 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:chuck jagoda <chuckjagoda1@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, July 09, 2017 6:22 AM
To:Council, City
Subject:Re: Fixing Palo Alto
(the previous email was sent before it was finished. This one is complete)
On Sun, Jul 9, 2017 at 4:10 AM, chuck jagoda <chuckjagoda1@gmail.com> wrote:
Members of the Palo Alto City Council,
At the City Council meeting a couple of weeks ago
I spoke to you about several matters that seem to need attention. This letter is an attempt to deal
with those matters in an organized manner.
1) One of the most obvious and dominant issues of our time is growing inequality. We're all familiar
with the statistics of CEOs making many times the money as the lower paid workers on the factory
floor, with less and less housing available at higher and higher prices, the squeezing of the middle
class, the even more intense squeezing of those we used to call the working poor (we now call them
homeless), the fact that 87 individuals own as great a share of the economic wealth of this country as
the bottom 45% of the country, and the growing disparity of rich and poor.
This has been a growing problem for the past several decades. The gap between rich and poor and
the speed of transfer of wealth from poor to rich has only increased since 2008. If you have an IRA
and a home-- those assets are worth a good deal more now than they were before the financial
collapse of 2007-8.
2) As the City Council you all have the opportunity and obligation to make lots of decisions that affect
people in their struggles with inequality and poverty. There are problems of real need around
us. Santa Clara County has an embarrassing gap between billionaires in Palo Alto and the very, very
poor in The Jungle in San Jose.
3) In the past eight years that I have been living in this area-- most of it as a resident of the back seat
of my car and several shelters-- I've noticed few shelter beds being added to the capacity of the
municipalities. In fact, from some perspectives, we've LOST shelter bed capacity. What happened to
Clare Mateo-- a women's shelter of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties? It was closed for
rehabilitation and never heard from again. What happened to the armory in Sunnyvale? It was
closed with no official thought given to replacement of the shelter beds it used to provide. And that is
very typical around here. The people who are elected to look after (among other things) the welfare
of those who are homeless don't. They would never give up their own homes for the hope of
government replacement, maybe. Someday. The same for those who are hired to perform these, in
many case, life-saving jobs. They don't think of homeless people the way they do of their own
families and their homes. Homeless people are to be discouraged and given fewer resources rather
than more resources-- according to the history and actions of the Cities on the Peninsula and Santa
Clara County.
These people who now wander the streets and sleep wherever they can find a relatively safe, clean,
place where they won't be bothered are not some invasion of foreigners, born elsewhere. Most of the
homeless people I know around here were born around here and aren't coming here because it's just
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:56 AM
2
such
a great place to be homeless, but because they've always lived here and don't want to leave, even
though the homes they once lived in they can no longer afford.
I'm not saying you all or your predecessors did it intentionally, but you've been hard on the
poor. You've made San F
r
ancis
quito Creek a park (and the people formerly living along the creek instant criminals, built no
bathrooms in parks, instituted a sit/lie ordinance, took Cubberley-- a resource that belongs to all the
people-- away from the homeless so it could be exclusively for the use of the whiter, richer neighbors
of the Meadow Park neighborhood.
Jim Keene called Cubberley a "de facto homeless shelter" like it was a bad thing instead of taking
credit for the good deed and good use of common resources for some of those who are suffering on the
lower end of the economic equality scale.
3) There are those who want you to follow those long standing traditions of not feeding stray cats that
you don't want to come around and support the things you and other City Councils have done to make
life even more difficult for the poor, evicted families whose children want to finish high school where
they started. You make decisions. You should make more of them on behalf of the poor instead of
reflexively supporting those with money and power. John Arrillaga had a housing problem. He
wanted a seven acre piece of land next to his property that had been left to the city on the condition
that it be always kept for purposes that all could use.
But Mr. Arrillaga is a rich and powerful man. He's done a lot for Stanford and could do a lot more for
Palo Alto. His importance is such that the whole City Council (with some dissent) agreed to meet with
him about a request everyone knew was inappropriate. The City Council agreed to meet with him in
private-- also very obviously inappropriate and even illegal. The whole thing came out in a Grand
Jury indictment. As far as I know the piece of property Mr. Arrillaga desired is still in the City's
hands-- for the use of the whole city.
4) What can be done? The City Council must come forward and allocute and offer at the very
minimum an apology and preferably at least take on some voluntary effort to right their wrong. If you
don't, you are teaching our children and all of us that the law is a lot less important than wealth and
power. That might makes right. That if you have money and power, you don't have to follow the
laws. The laws are for the use of the rich against the poor. The City could encourage residential
housing. Instead they kowtow to the big-dollar developers and to corporations and make the traffic
worse and the housing even more scarce and expensive and refuse to institute rent control and rent
stabilization or in fact any remedies at all.
I'll never forget listening and watching as the City Council responded to a developer of an apartment
building who petitioned the Council to change the plans for the building. Instead of putting in ten
percent of the units for lower income residency as he had agreed, he wanted to all the units full
income units and "put in a fountain which would be for the benefit of all." The City Council saw no
problem.
Please give some thought to your responsibilities in the Arrillaga Affair and your treatment of
homeless people. Many of the people in Palo Alto are embarrassed and outraged by the cruelty and
lack of charity with which the poor are treated. There are many in Palo Alto who give a lot of time and
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:56 AM
3
money into rectifying the imbalances imposed on the poor. And there are those who support the
cruelty to the poor that is traditional behavior by those in power.
The City has retroactively outfitted some of the parks with bathrooms, for which those of us with
children, grandchildren, and limited bladder endurance thank you. Juana Briones Park now has
bathrooms. For which we are all grateful. Now, how about bathrooms for Bol Park. And please stop
thinking about how you can make it more difficult for people to use their cars as shelter and
sleep. Start thinking about ways to distribute some of the wealth downward for a change. The
increasing inequality is unhealthy and an embarrassment for our country, our county, and our
cities. And something you can make helpful decisions about.
Please honor our religious and personal moral concern for our families and neighbors whom, if we all
became homeless as a result of an earthquake, everyone would be bringing water, blankets, and food
to high schools and other shelters that would be instantly opened to help.
Thank you,
Chuck Jagoda
Homeless Advocate
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/12/2017 7:57 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Palo Alto Free Press <paloaltofreepress@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 11, 2017 6:42 PM
To:Watson, Ron; Perron, Zachary; Stump, Molly; Council, City
Cc:sdremann@paweekly.com
Subject:Releasing exempt police reports to the Weekly?
Former nanny, school volunteer faces child molestation charges. Is this a mistake Mr. Watson?
exempt to unauthorized persons pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code § 6254(f) and local police record information is exempt
from the CPRA pursuant to GC 6254(k)‐Penal Code § 13300
Sent from my iPad
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:54 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Stephanie Munoz <stephanie@dslextreme.com>
Sent:Thursday, July 06, 2017 11:11 PM
To:Anna Medina
Cc:WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; David Werner; Council, City;
supervisor.simitian@bos.sccgov.org; senator.hill@senate.ca.gov; assemblymember
berman; @
Subject:response to readers' poll on vehicle habitation in Palo Alto.;about spiteful suggestions
to ban it.
I'm not really happy with the letter I sent in response to an exceptionally spiteful correspondent. My
computer keeps losing my texts, and I couldn't find what I had written for two days; then my daughter
called, by chance, as I was leaving for something I was already late to, and volunteered to talk me
through it so I took the opportunity and hastily finished it. But I can see it's too long and too diffuse. How about this?
How do we get, in the USA, folks so willing to boss their fellow citizens around? Telling people they
aren't allowed to sleep in their own cars that they've paid for, bought licenses for, smogged and
repaired is a slippery slope. Next the bullies will tell you you can't sleep in your own house, or keep it in your family, or you can't have a doctor, or you have to join the army and go kill people. People are
just putting their heads in the sand if they think the homeless are "other", and losing a home can't
happen to wonderful, entitled them.
Homelessness is the end product of reasoned choices by our betters, to dedicate land to the most productive of wealth purposes regardless of the impact on hoi polloi. Among the car-campers you
can find well-bred, college educated women, many of whom left excellent jobs to care for aged
parents, or dutiful, faithful wives left in the lurch by philandering husbands and no-fault divorce, or
discarded mistresses who loved not wisely but too well. The States and their agents, the cities, need
to see to it that housing, however small and modest, like SROs, is developed for people living on social security; it can be combined with public facilities, parks, commerce, non-profits or garages, to
share the cost of the land; moreover cities can also insist that large employers create housing at the
rate of one bedroom per employee to overcome the imbalance which already exists, and cities
should provide areas, paid of course, where RVs could congregate Far from being banned, cars
should be utilized to provide paid for shelter, immobilized cars from the State buy-back program in filled up landfill and recycling centers, and working cars which could house the owners in public
garages in the night as well as wait for workers and shoppers to grease the wheels of commerce
during the daytime.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 10:53 AM
1
Carnahan, David
From:arin middendorp <amiddendo@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, July 06, 2017 9:23 PM
To:Council, City
Subject:RV
I posted today on next door. I liven Palo Alto and Im so sad. I mentioned the towing of the RV’S makes me think of
Trump, and his plans to crack down. You can’t tow someones home away, and not replace it with a rental apartment or
fix there RV so they can move it. You are no better then Trump.
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 4:28 PM
1
Carnahan, David
From:Lew, Michele <MLew@stanfordhealthcare.org>
Sent:Monday, July 10, 2017 3:35 PM
To:Council, City
Cc:Keene, James; Sager, Sherri R
Subject:SEIU-UWH update from Sherri Sager & Michele Lew
Dear Mayor Scharff and Members of the Palo Alto City Council:
We would like to take this opportunity to let Congresswoman Swalwell and you know that Lucile Packard
Children’s Hospital Stanford and Stanford Health Care have begun negotiating a new contract for our
employees represented by Service Employees International Union‐United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU‐
UHW). The current contract is set to expire August 27, 2017. We have several sessions scheduled throughout
the next couple of months.
As always, our top priorities when negotiating employment contracts are that we have a fair and equitable
contract for our valuable employees and that we continue to ensure high quality care for all of our
patients. We are taking great care to listen and consider every proposal that has been submitted by the SEIU‐
UHW bargaining team. We are committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a mutually acceptable
agreement, in alignment with the missions of Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
Stanford.
We will keep you informed about the negotiations. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions
and concerns.
Sincerely,
Sherri R. Sager Michele
Lew
Chief Government & Community Relations Officer Local
Government & Community Relations Director
Stanford Children’s Health│ Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford Stanford
Health Care
(650) 497‐8277 (650)
498‐4639
ssager@stanfordchildrens.org mlew@
stanfordhealthcare.org
City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 7/10/2017 4:28 PM
2
Dreaming of a Better Commute & se1rn1rci~ecir
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US-101 Express Bus
Feasibility Study
SamTrans is studying the possibility of new
express bus service along the US-101 corridor
in San Mateo County to San Francisco and Santa
Clara counties. We want to hear from current
and potential riders to create an express bus
service that meets your needs. Share your ideas
and input at these upcoming free public events:
Im July 16th: Sunday Streets Mission
Dubuce to 26th Street on Valencia
San Francisco from 11 AM to 4 PM
WiJ July lith: Community Open House
SamTrans Headquarters
1250 San Carlos Ave, San Carlos at 6:30 PM
QI August 5th: San Jose Flea Market
1590 Berryessa Road, San Jose
SAM to 3 PM
(I Contact SamTrans:
Ema ii: expressbusstudy@samtrans.com
Call: 1-800-660-4287
D Check Out Our Website:
-www.samtrans.com/expressbusstudy
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