1
00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:42,560
Call to order the January 12th, 2026

2
00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,479
meeting of the PaloAlto City Council.

3
00:06:44,479 --> 00:06:47,039
Would you kindly call the role?

4
00:06:47,039 --> 00:06:50,070
>> Of course. Council member Lithnes.

5
00:06:50,070 --> 00:06:50,080
» Of course. Council member Lithnes.

6
00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:50,390
>> Yes.

7
00:06:50,390 --> 00:06:50,400
» Yes.

8
00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:51,670
>> Mayor Vinker

9
00:06:51,670 --> 00:06:51,680
» Mayor Vinker

10
00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,590
>> here. [laughter] Council member Rectal

11
00:06:53,590 --> 00:06:53,600
» here. [laughter] Council member Rectal

12
00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:54,230
>> here.

13
00:06:54,230 --> 00:06:54,240
» here.

14
00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:55,350
>> Council member Bert

15
00:06:55,350 --> 00:06:55,360
» Council member Bert

16
00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:55,909
>> here.

17
00:06:55,909 --> 00:06:55,919
» here.

18
00:06:55,919 --> 00:06:56,950
>> Council member Lowing

19
00:06:56,950 --> 00:06:56,960
» Council member Lowing

20
00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:57,430
>> here.

21
00:06:57,430 --> 00:06:57,440
» here.

22
00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:58,550
>> Vice Mayor Stone

23
00:06:58,550 --> 00:06:58,560
» Vice Mayor Stone

24
00:06:58,560 --> 00:06:59,990
>> here. Council member Lou

25
00:06:59,990 --> 00:07:00,000
» here. Council member Lou

26
00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:00,309
>> here

27
00:07:00,309 --> 00:07:00,319
» here

28
00:07:00,319 --> 00:07:02,309
>> for the record. All present.

29
00:07:02,309 --> 00:07:02,319
» for the record. All present.

30
00:07:02,319 --> 00:07:04,629
>> Thank you very much.

31
00:07:04,629 --> 00:07:04,639
» Thank you very much.

32
00:07:04,639 --> 00:07:07,360
The first item on our agenda is a closed

33
00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,680
session item uh conference with the city

34
00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,520
attorney potential litigation. Um so may

35
00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,440
I have a motion to Well, no. So is there

36
00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,479
any public comment on our close session

37
00:07:20,479 --> 00:07:22,560
item one? [snorts]

38
00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:23,990
>> There are no requests to speak and no

39
00:07:23,990 --> 00:07:24,000
» There are no requests to speak and no

40
00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:25,360
hands are raised on Zoom.

41
00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,670
>> Okay, great. So it's a closed session

42
00:07:27,670 --> 00:07:27,680
» Okay, great. So it's a closed session

43
00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:29,440
item. Do I have a motion to go into

44
00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:30,240
close session?

45
00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:31,350
>> So move

46
00:07:31,350 --> 00:07:31,360
» So move

47
00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:32,150
>> second.

48
00:07:32,150 --> 00:07:32,160
» second.

49
00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:33,749
>> All right. I think that was allowing on

50
00:07:33,749 --> 00:07:33,759
» All right. I think that was allowing on

51
00:07:33,759 --> 00:07:37,120
the motion and Lou on the second.

52
00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,110
>> All right. Taking the vote. Council

53
00:07:39,110 --> 00:07:39,120
» All right. Taking the vote. Council

54
00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:40,080
member Rectal.

55
00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:40,390
>> Yes.

56
00:07:40,390 --> 00:07:40,400
» Yes.

57
00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,390
>> Council member Lifod Hayes here. Vice

58
00:07:42,390 --> 00:07:42,400
» Council member Lifod Hayes here. Vice

59
00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,560
Mayor Stone Stone.

60
00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,309
>> Yes. [laughter]

61
00:07:46,309 --> 00:07:46,319
» Yes. [laughter]

62
00:07:46,319 --> 00:07:47,510
>> Mayor Vinker.

63
00:07:47,510 --> 00:07:47,520
» Mayor Vinker.

64
00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:48,309
>> Yes.

65
00:07:48,309 --> 00:07:48,319
» Yes.

66
00:07:48,319 --> 00:07:49,430
>> Council member Lou.

67
00:07:49,430 --> 00:07:49,440
» Council member Lou.

68
00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:50,150
>> Yes.

69
00:07:50,150 --> 00:07:50,160
» Yes.

70
00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:51,270
>> Council member Lowing.

71
00:07:51,270 --> 00:07:51,280
» Council member Lowing.

72
00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:52,550
>> Yes.

73
00:07:52,550 --> 00:07:52,560
» Yes.

74
00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:53,749
>> And council member Burton.

75
00:07:53,749 --> 00:07:53,759
» And council member Burton.

76
00:07:53,759 --> 00:07:54,070
>> Yes.

77
00:07:54,070 --> 00:07:54,080
» Yes.

78
00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,629
>> Motion carries. All right. Thank you. So

79
00:07:56,629 --> 00:07:56,639
» Motion carries. All right. Thank you. So

80
00:07:56,639 --> 00:07:59,440
we will adjourn into close session and

81
00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,360
by our agenda it's estimated that we

82
00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,000
will be back by 6:20. With any luck

83
00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,160
we'll be back earlier, we might be back

84
00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,319
later. Um but we will look forward to

85
00:08:08,319 --> 00:54:46,790
reconvening in open session then.

86
00:54:46,800 --> 00:54:50,720
order and uh open session. Now,

87
00:54:50,720 --> 00:54:53,119
I do have a report out to make from our

88
00:54:53,119 --> 00:54:55,680
closed session. Council did meet in

89
00:54:55,680 --> 00:54:57,920
close session and we have one reportable

90
00:54:57,920 --> 00:55:00,079
action. Council authorized the city

91
00:55:00,079 --> 00:55:02,559
attorney to initiate litigation in one

92
00:55:02,559 --> 00:55:05,839
case. And with that, we will move on to

93
00:55:05,839 --> 00:55:08,000
agenda changes, additions, and

94
00:55:08,000 --> 00:55:09,680
deletions. City manager.

95
00:55:09,680 --> 00:55:12,150
>> Thank you, mayor. Uh, no changes to your

96
00:55:12,150 --> 00:55:12,160
» Thank you, mayor. Uh, no changes to your

97
00:55:12,160 --> 00:55:14,079
agenda this evening, but did want to

98
00:55:14,079 --> 00:55:16,800
note uh for both uh public and council

99
00:55:16,800 --> 00:55:19,280
awareness that the order of the agenda

100
00:55:19,280 --> 00:55:22,480
is a little unusual uh in the sequence

101
00:55:22,480 --> 00:55:25,520
of action or discussion items. As such,

102
00:55:25,520 --> 00:55:27,839
uh in particular, item number 15, which

103
00:55:27,839 --> 00:55:30,240
is listed at the end of your agenda, is

104
00:55:30,240 --> 00:55:33,280
largely an internal city uh topic. and

105
00:55:33,280 --> 00:55:37,040
as such uh would be conducive to either

106
00:55:37,040 --> 00:55:39,119
um continuing if you're not able to get

107
00:55:39,119 --> 00:55:40,880
all the way through it or deferring it

108
00:55:40,880 --> 00:55:44,480
if heaven forbid it's later and uh you

109
00:55:44,480 --> 00:55:45,839
don't get to it this evening. But just

110
00:55:45,839 --> 00:55:48,640
wanted to note that for your awareness.

111
00:55:48,640 --> 00:55:52,309
>> Yeah, thank you for that uh note. Um you

112
00:55:52,309 --> 00:55:52,319
» Yeah, thank you for that uh note. Um you

113
00:55:52,319 --> 00:55:53,440
know, hopefully we'll be a little

114
00:55:53,440 --> 00:55:54,480
earlier. I know we don't like to

115
00:55:54,480 --> 00:55:56,960
agendaize things that late. When we

116
00:55:56,960 --> 00:55:59,280
moved the agenda into this particular

117
00:55:59,280 --> 00:56:01,040
order, we didn't have times associated

118
00:56:01,040 --> 00:56:04,480
with it yet. And uh seeing that we will

119
00:56:04,480 --> 00:56:06,640
assess how we're doing uh when we reach

120
00:56:06,640 --> 00:56:09,200
item 15.

121
00:56:09,200 --> 00:56:11,599
Okay. Uh and with that, we'll move on to

122
00:56:11,599 --> 00:56:14,160
public comment on matters not on the

123
00:56:14,160 --> 00:56:16,319
agenda. Madame clerk, do we have

124
00:56:16,319 --> 00:56:17,440
speakers?

125
00:56:17,440 --> 00:56:23,349
>> Yes, we have 11 requests to speak.

126
00:56:23,359 --> 00:56:24,880
» All right. Well, if we could invite them

127
00:56:24,880 --> 00:56:27,599
up for two minutes each.

128
00:56:27,599 --> 00:56:30,630
>> Great. Our first speaker is Sven T. And

129
00:56:30,630 --> 00:56:30,640
» Great. Our first speaker is Sven T. And

130
00:56:30,640 --> 00:56:33,280
just to as a reminder for our members of

131
00:56:33,280 --> 00:56:35,359
the public, two minutes, there is a

132
00:56:35,359 --> 00:56:39,359
timer on the uh screen as well as on the

133
00:56:39,359 --> 00:56:56,150
podium.

134
00:56:56,160 --> 00:56:59,839
Oops, we just saw it. So at Stanford

135
00:56:59,839 --> 00:57:03,440
they study everything and they study

136
00:57:03,440 --> 00:57:05,520
hope as well. And so this is the results

137
00:57:05,520 --> 00:57:07,680
of this professor. Next slide please.

138
00:57:07,680 --> 00:57:09,920
And he says hope is comprised of three

139
00:57:09,920 --> 00:57:11,520
things

140
00:57:11,520 --> 00:57:14,079
either collectively or individually to

141
00:57:14,079 --> 00:57:16,640
envision a better future than what we

142
00:57:16,640 --> 00:57:20,480
have right now. Two, the willpower and

143
00:57:20,480 --> 00:57:24,480
the motivation to get there. Three, the

144
00:57:24,480 --> 00:57:27,520
actual road map to where we're going to

145
00:57:27,520 --> 00:57:30,960
this vision of something better. Hope.

146
00:57:30,960 --> 00:57:32,880
That's what hope is. You need three

147
00:57:32,880 --> 00:57:36,640
things. The vision, the willpower to do

148
00:57:36,640 --> 00:57:38,720
it, and the path to get there. Next

149
00:57:38,720 --> 00:57:41,440
slide, please. Sorry. So, what do I

150
00:57:41,440 --> 00:57:46,160
have? I have a vision of an all electric

151
00:57:46,160 --> 00:57:47,920
utility.

152
00:57:47,920 --> 00:57:50,160
My motivation,

153
00:57:50,160 --> 00:57:53,839
I love you guys. We're all parents here

154
00:57:53,839 --> 00:57:56,319
and I've decided as I drift into

155
00:57:56,319 --> 00:57:57,839
spirituality

156
00:57:57,839 --> 00:57:59,599
that I don't know the difference between

157
00:57:59,599 --> 00:58:02,720
my child and somebody else's child.

158
00:58:02,720 --> 00:58:04,720
They're innocent

159
00:58:04,720 --> 00:58:06,960
and they're not responsible for our

160
00:58:06,960 --> 00:58:10,160
actions or inactions. So I am highly

161
00:58:10,160 --> 00:58:14,799
motivated cuz every kid is my kid and

162
00:58:14,799 --> 00:58:17,680
the path that's the hard part. That's

163
00:58:17,680 --> 00:58:20,720
where we work together to make this

164
00:58:20,720 --> 00:58:22,240
happen [clears throat]

165
00:58:22,240 --> 00:58:24,240
because it's going to require some

166
00:58:24,240 --> 00:58:26,960
sacrifice and some time and some energy

167
00:58:26,960 --> 00:58:29,520
and some money to get there. But it

168
00:58:29,520 --> 00:58:33,280
needs like that road map and it needs a

169
00:58:33,280 --> 00:58:36,960
date to say, "Hey,

170
00:58:36,960 --> 00:58:41,440
our utility used to supply natural gas

171
00:58:41,440 --> 00:58:43,200
to the residences, the commercial

172
00:58:43,200 --> 00:58:45,680
buildings, and the industrial sites, but

173
00:58:45,680 --> 00:58:49,920
we don't anymore because we love our

174
00:58:49,920 --> 00:58:55,750
children." Thank you.

175
00:58:55,760 --> 00:59:12,095
» Our next speaker is Sarah S.

176
00:59:12,105 --> 00:59:14,000
» [clears throat]

177
00:59:14,000 --> 00:59:16,150
>> Hi, I'm Sarah and I'm an eighth grader

178
00:59:16,150 --> 00:59:16,160
» Hi, I'm Sarah and I'm an eighth grader

179
00:59:16,160 --> 00:59:18,319
at Ellen Fletcher Middle School. Um, you

180
00:59:18,319 --> 00:59:20,079
might remember me from a few weeks ago

181
00:59:20,079 --> 00:59:21,839
when I talked about how using an

182
00:59:21,839 --> 00:59:23,599
induction stove has helped me and my

183
00:59:23,599 --> 00:59:27,119
family, including my two cats. So, I'm

184
00:59:27,119 --> 00:59:29,520
sure everyone in this room knows that

185
00:59:29,520 --> 00:59:32,559
smoking is bad for you. This image is a

186
00:59:32,559 --> 00:59:34,799
page on the city of PaloAlto website

187
00:59:34,799 --> 00:59:36,960
explaining the effects of smoking and

188
00:59:36,960 --> 00:59:39,200
the city's numerous e efforts to prevent

189
00:59:39,200 --> 00:59:43,119
it. If you scroll down, we you can't um

190
00:59:43,119 --> 00:59:44,559
we can see that the city has done a

191
00:59:44,559 --> 00:59:45,839
great job getting this information out

192
00:59:45,839 --> 00:59:47,839
to people and has made a huge effort to

193
00:59:47,839 --> 00:59:50,720
keep Palo Alto cleaner and safe from

194
00:59:50,720 --> 00:59:52,960
these harmful substances.

195
00:59:52,960 --> 00:59:54,960
Below the image, it says tobacco use

196
00:59:54,960 --> 00:59:57,920
kills nearly 40,000 Californians every

197
00:59:57,920 --> 01:00:00,720
year. Well, what if I told you that

198
01:00:00,720 --> 01:00:03,359
using a natural gas burner is the same,

199
01:00:03,359 --> 01:00:05,839
if not more harmful, than breathing in

200
01:00:05,839 --> 01:00:08,880
secondhand smoke? In fact, researchers

201
01:00:08,880 --> 01:00:10,640
at um Stanford's Door School of

202
01:00:10,640 --> 01:00:12,640
Sustainability measured benzene

203
01:00:12,640 --> 01:00:15,440
emissions from stoves in 87 homes in

204
01:00:15,440 --> 01:00:17,520
California and Colorado and found that

205
01:00:17,520 --> 01:00:20,720
natural gas and propane stoves emitted

206
01:00:20,720 --> 01:00:22,720
benzene that frequently reached indoor

207
01:00:22,720 --> 01:00:25,200
concentrations above benchmarks set by

208
01:00:25,200 --> 01:00:27,760
the World Health Organization.

209
01:00:27,760 --> 01:00:29,920
These benzene levels were above the

210
01:00:29,920 --> 01:00:31,920
upper range of indoor concentrations

211
01:00:31,920 --> 01:00:34,960
seen in secondhand tobacco smoke. You

212
01:00:34,960 --> 01:00:37,040
might be thinking that since you're not

213
01:00:37,040 --> 01:00:38,480
using the stove all the time, you're not

214
01:00:38,480 --> 01:00:40,160
emitting these harmful chemicals all the

215
01:00:40,160 --> 01:00:43,040
time. But actually, these stoves leak

216
01:00:43,040 --> 01:00:46,559
methane even when they're turned off.

217
01:00:46,559 --> 01:00:48,400
It's so important that we spread

218
01:00:48,400 --> 01:00:50,960
awareness about this topic. Using a

219
01:00:50,960 --> 01:00:52,880
natural gas stove is not just an

220
01:00:52,880 --> 01:00:54,559
environmental issue, but it's bad for

221
01:00:54,559 --> 01:00:56,640
our lungs.

222
01:00:56,640 --> 01:00:58,240
Do we really want to be breathing in

223
01:00:58,240 --> 01:01:00,079
human carcinogens and polluting the air

224
01:01:00,079 --> 01:01:02,720
when there's a better solution?

225
01:01:02,720 --> 01:01:04,880
If the city can put in an effort to

226
01:01:04,880 --> 01:01:07,440
reduce smoking, then I think we can

227
01:01:07,440 --> 01:01:08,799
definitely put in an effort to spread

228
01:01:08,799 --> 01:01:10,960
awareness about natural gas stoves.

229
01:01:10,960 --> 01:01:26,230
Thank you. Our next speaker is Zara H.

230
01:01:26,240 --> 01:01:28,400
Hi everyone. My name is Zara Harwell and

231
01:01:28,400 --> 01:01:30,000
I'm a junior at Palato High School and

232
01:01:30,000 --> 01:01:31,200
I'm going to be talking about this

233
01:01:31,200 --> 01:01:33,119
pamphlet that the city provides and it's

234
01:01:33,119 --> 01:01:34,400
supposed to have like sort of everything

235
01:01:34,400 --> 01:01:36,000
you need to know about gas safety and

236
01:01:36,000 --> 01:01:38,240
gas appliances. Um, and while I do want

237
01:01:38,240 --> 01:01:39,280
to acknowledge that I'm very grateful

238
01:01:39,280 --> 01:01:40,799
that the city offers this cuz it has a

239
01:01:40,799 --> 01:01:41,839
lot of good information especially

240
01:01:41,839 --> 01:01:43,680
regarding gas leaks, I think there needs

241
01:01:43,680 --> 01:01:45,119
to be a lot more added in the health

242
01:01:45,119 --> 01:01:47,040
section right here. That's all we have

243
01:01:47,040 --> 01:01:48,559
about health and all it covers is what

244
01:01:48,559 --> 01:01:50,240
happens when there's a gas leak. But it

245
01:01:50,240 --> 01:01:51,839
doesn't mention what my fellow intern

246
01:01:51,839 --> 01:01:53,359
Sarah just mentioned how just being

247
01:01:53,359 --> 01:01:54,799
around a gas stove. There doesn't have

248
01:01:54,799 --> 01:01:56,559
to be a leak that there's other really

249
01:01:56,559 --> 01:01:58,319
harmful gases that are emitted on the

250
01:01:58,319 --> 01:02:00,079
daily and just being exposed to them can

251
01:02:00,079 --> 01:02:02,000
be really harmful. Um it also doesn't

252
01:02:02,000 --> 01:02:03,680
mention certain age groups. Little

253
01:02:03,680 --> 01:02:05,599
children are way more susceptible to

254
01:02:05,599 --> 01:02:07,760
these gases as well as senior citizens.

255
01:02:07,760 --> 01:02:10,000
Um on a personal level, I live with my

256
01:02:10,000 --> 01:02:12,400
grandmother, so she's 85. So if there's

257
01:02:12,400 --> 01:02:14,400
just being around gas appliances, even

258
01:02:14,400 --> 01:02:16,240
if there's not a leak, um benzene,

259
01:02:16,240 --> 01:02:18,400
methane, nitrogen dioxide, they're

260
01:02:18,400 --> 01:02:19,599
emitted every time you use it. and

261
01:02:19,599 --> 01:02:20,799
that's really harmful for her to be

262
01:02:20,799 --> 01:02:22,559
around because she's older, her immune

263
01:02:22,559 --> 01:02:24,640
system is weaker. Um, so having a lot

264
01:02:24,640 --> 01:02:25,839
more information regarding these things

265
01:02:25,839 --> 01:02:27,119
would I think be really helpful since

266
01:02:27,119 --> 01:02:28,720
this pamphlet is supposed to be like

267
01:02:28,720 --> 01:02:30,160
everything and anything you need to know

268
01:02:30,160 --> 01:02:34,480
regarding gas safety. Thank you.

269
01:02:34,480 --> 01:02:47,430
>> Our next speaker is Avo S.

270
01:02:47,440 --> 01:02:49,520
Good evening, council. My name is Aros

271
01:02:49,520 --> 01:02:51,280
Sha and I hope you're all doing well.

272
01:02:51,280 --> 01:02:53,359
I'm a junior at Paul Alto High School.

273
01:02:53,359 --> 01:02:55,520
Um, and I would like to share my

274
01:02:55,520 --> 01:02:56,960
appreciation with you all for passing

275
01:02:56,960 --> 01:03:00,480
the dark sky ordinance last month. Um, I

276
01:03:00,480 --> 01:03:02,480
walked outside a couple nights ago and I

277
01:03:02,480 --> 01:03:04,240
could see more stars than usual, which

278
01:03:04,240 --> 01:03:05,680
just going to hope is something more

279
01:03:05,680 --> 01:03:10,319
than coincidence. Um, I thought that it

280
01:03:10,319 --> 01:03:12,799
was a nice gesture in passing it that we

281
01:03:12,799 --> 01:03:14,960
upheld our values of public wellness and

282
01:03:14,960 --> 01:03:17,119
belonging as well as climate action and

283
01:03:17,119 --> 01:03:20,160
protecting the environment. Um, and I

284
01:03:20,160 --> 01:03:23,520
hope that council this year extends um

285
01:03:23,520 --> 01:03:26,640
its dedication to those priorities by

286
01:03:26,640 --> 01:03:29,359
committing to public health and climate

287
01:03:29,359 --> 01:03:31,119
action in the household residential

288
01:03:31,119 --> 01:03:34,400
sector. um by urging residents to

289
01:03:34,400 --> 01:03:36,240
electrify and helping residents

290
01:03:36,240 --> 01:03:38,319
electrify their gas stoves. I think this

291
01:03:38,319 --> 01:03:40,960
aligns very well with public health and

292
01:03:40,960 --> 01:03:42,480
you've seen the science Zara very

293
01:03:42,480 --> 01:03:45,039
eloquently explained that you know the

294
01:03:45,039 --> 01:03:46,640
gas safety busher should be something

295
01:03:46,640 --> 01:03:49,280
that says everything about gas and it

296
01:03:49,280 --> 01:03:50,960
doesn't. It's missing something that's

297
01:03:50,960 --> 01:03:53,200
quite frankly very easy to include and

298
01:03:53,200 --> 01:03:55,200
the science is very clear. It's very

299
01:03:55,200 --> 01:03:56,960
harmful. Children in homes with gas

300
01:03:56,960 --> 01:03:59,359
stoves are 42% more likely to develop

301
01:03:59,359 --> 01:04:02,240
asthma. Um, I've experienced respiratory

302
01:04:02,240 --> 01:04:04,240
symptoms myself and I know that probably

303
01:04:04,240 --> 01:04:06,720
a lot of people in this room have the

304
01:04:06,720 --> 01:04:08,400
there are easy solutions that we could

305
01:04:08,400 --> 01:04:11,680
be taking and currently we are not. Um,

306
01:04:11,680 --> 01:04:14,799
and I am very very willing to work with

307
01:04:14,799 --> 01:04:17,520
council and staff to develop solutions.

308
01:04:17,520 --> 01:04:20,079
Um, I if we could get a referral to a

309
01:04:20,079 --> 01:04:21,440
staff member who would be willing to

310
01:04:21,440 --> 01:04:24,079
meet and talk um to help us devise a

311
01:04:24,079 --> 01:04:27,440
solution, I would be very gratefully um

312
01:04:27,440 --> 01:04:30,559
in appreciation of that. Um, and if

313
01:04:30,559 --> 01:04:31,839
there are other ways that we can work

314
01:04:31,839 --> 01:04:33,920
together to solve this, I think that

315
01:04:33,920 --> 01:04:36,880
will make a very big impact. Thank you.

316
01:04:36,880 --> 01:04:46,870
>> Our next speaker is Peter D.

317
01:04:46,880 --> 01:04:48,640
» I'm so impressed by those previous

318
01:04:48,640 --> 01:04:51,119
speakers. Um, I'll associate myself with

319
01:04:51,119 --> 01:04:53,280
their comments and great to see students

320
01:04:53,280 --> 01:04:56,400
out and educating us and motivating us.

321
01:04:56,400 --> 01:04:59,359
Uh, Peter Dremar Palto resident Uh,

322
01:04:59,359 --> 01:05:01,839
Mayor Vinker, congratulations. Vice

323
01:05:01,839 --> 01:05:04,079
Mayor Stone, congratulations. All

324
01:05:04,079 --> 01:05:05,760
council members, thank you so much for

325
01:05:05,760 --> 01:05:08,480
serving us. Um, I just wanted to comment

326
01:05:08,480 --> 01:05:12,240
briefly on the leadership changes at uh,

327
01:05:12,240 --> 01:05:14,720
Third Thursday, which is an event I've

328
01:05:14,720 --> 01:05:16,480
been going to since the beginning and

329
01:05:16,480 --> 01:05:17,839
really enjoy it, and I know I've seen a

330
01:05:17,839 --> 01:05:19,839
lot of you there as well. So, it's been

331
01:05:19,839 --> 01:05:23,119
a a wonderful community treasure.

332
01:05:23,119 --> 01:05:25,440
And I know that there's a lot of things

333
01:05:25,440 --> 01:05:27,280
that happen behind the scenes that I'm

334
01:05:27,280 --> 01:05:29,760
not aware of. I'm no expert on on what

335
01:05:29,760 --> 01:05:33,680
happened, but uh the story in the papers

336
01:05:33,680 --> 01:05:36,880
was that there was a petition that

337
01:05:36,880 --> 01:05:40,559
gathered 30 signatures from supposedly

338
01:05:40,559 --> 01:05:43,440
um business owners on Calav that wanted

339
01:05:43,440 --> 01:05:47,200
to see leadership change, but no one

340
01:05:47,200 --> 01:05:49,119
seemed to have seen the petition or if

341
01:05:49,119 --> 01:05:51,520
they had, they didn't have access to it.

342
01:05:51,520 --> 01:05:53,359
And so out of curiosity, I filed a

343
01:05:53,359 --> 01:05:55,359
public records act request. And I've

344
01:05:55,359 --> 01:05:57,839
always had great experiences with City

345
01:05:57,839 --> 01:06:00,000
of Palto staff. They do a wonderful job

346
01:06:00,000 --> 01:06:01,680
at providing information and being

347
01:06:01,680 --> 01:06:04,000
transparent. And I did receive the

348
01:06:04,000 --> 01:06:07,359
petition. Um it did have 30 names on it

349
01:06:07,359 --> 01:06:09,440
but no affiliations.

350
01:06:09,440 --> 01:06:11,599
And in a summary it explained that they

351
01:06:11,599 --> 01:06:14,160
started collecting they being anonymous

352
01:06:14,160 --> 01:06:17,119
people or someone I don't know um

353
01:06:17,119 --> 01:06:18,559
started collecting signatures from

354
01:06:18,559 --> 01:06:20,559
business owners and managers and then

355
01:06:20,559 --> 01:06:22,480
employees and then the general public.

356
01:06:22,480 --> 01:06:24,960
So, it's very unclear of the 30

357
01:06:24,960 --> 01:06:26,960
signatures gathered over an 8-month

358
01:06:26,960 --> 01:06:29,280
period, how many were actual uh business

359
01:06:29,280 --> 01:06:31,200
owners. And my understanding is that

360
01:06:31,200 --> 01:06:33,200
Carol Garen went out and collected quite

361
01:06:33,200 --> 01:06:35,680
a few few more signatures supporting

362
01:06:35,680 --> 01:06:39,200
keeping her um over just a two-year

363
01:06:39,200 --> 01:06:41,520
period. So, again, you know, I don't

364
01:06:41,520 --> 01:06:43,920
know all the details, but Palo Alto

365
01:06:43,920 --> 01:06:45,440
sometimes gets criticized for the

366
01:06:45,440 --> 01:06:49,920
Powalto process that we just

367
01:06:49,920 --> 01:06:51,839
um I hope we'll do better next time.

368
01:06:51,839 --> 01:06:52,720
Thank you.

369
01:06:52,720 --> 01:07:01,109
>> Our next speaker is Alice S.

370
01:07:01,119 --> 01:07:04,720
» Okay. Hi, my name is Alice Snider and

371
01:07:04,720 --> 01:07:06,960
I'm a senior in high school. I go to

372
01:07:06,960 --> 01:07:09,760
Notre Dame, San Jose and I live in Baron

373
01:07:09,760 --> 01:07:13,119
Park. Uh I wanted to express uh the

374
01:07:13,119 --> 01:07:15,520
importance and impact of switching to

375
01:07:15,520 --> 01:07:18,160
induction stoves. To me, the most

376
01:07:18,160 --> 01:07:21,280
important things are uh limiting indoor

377
01:07:21,280 --> 01:07:23,839
air pollution and creating a healthy

378
01:07:23,839 --> 01:07:26,079
environment indoor and outdoors. Thank

379
01:07:26,079 --> 01:07:33,750
you. Our next speaker is Walter C.

380
01:07:33,760 --> 01:07:35,680
» Good evening, madame mayor and city

381
01:07:35,680 --> 01:07:38,079
council members. My comments are tonight

382
01:07:38,079 --> 01:07:39,920
in regard to the recently cancelled

383
01:07:39,920 --> 01:07:42,640
third Thursday event. As a longtime Los

384
01:07:42,640 --> 01:07:44,880
Altos resident, I had witnessed how its

385
01:07:44,880 --> 01:07:46,960
first Friday event changed the dynamics

386
01:07:46,960 --> 01:07:49,599
of my city. So when Miss Garson asked if

387
01:07:49,599 --> 01:07:51,359
I would help out on the new event she

388
01:07:51,359 --> 01:07:53,200
was starting in PaloAlto called Third

389
01:07:53,200 --> 01:07:55,920
Thursday, I did not hesitate. I watched

390
01:07:55,920 --> 01:07:57,839
firsthand the joy that the event brought

391
01:07:57,839 --> 01:07:59,920
to Cal A.

392
01:07:59,920 --> 01:08:02,240
Um I as well as many others were shocked

393
01:08:02,240 --> 01:08:04,079
to hear the event was cancelled. I was

394
01:08:04,079 --> 01:08:05,680
even more shocked at how the news was

395
01:08:05,680 --> 01:08:07,920
divulged and the reasoning behind it

396
01:08:07,920 --> 01:08:09,680
because there wasn't a reason, not a

397
01:08:09,680 --> 01:08:11,839
solid one. It was claimed that there was

398
01:08:11,839 --> 01:08:13,760
petition addressing it to the chamber

399
01:08:13,760 --> 01:08:15,680
foundation asking for Miss Garson's

400
01:08:15,680 --> 01:08:17,839
removal. However, when she asked to see

401
01:08:17,839 --> 01:08:19,440
it so she could address people's

402
01:08:19,440 --> 01:08:21,839
concerns, she was told not to get

403
01:08:21,839 --> 01:08:24,000
involved. There was no official

404
01:08:24,000 --> 01:08:25,600
agreement between the chamber and Miss

405
01:08:25,600 --> 01:08:27,679
Garsten. And when she requested a fiscal

406
01:08:27,679 --> 01:08:29,679
sponsorship agreement, the chamber

407
01:08:29,679 --> 01:08:32,400
cancelled its support instead.

408
01:08:32,400 --> 01:08:34,000
When she went to the city manager to

409
01:08:34,000 --> 01:08:35,839
seek support while obtaining a new

410
01:08:35,839 --> 01:08:38,000
sponsor, she was told the city decide to

411
01:08:38,000 --> 01:08:40,400
cancel the event. Miss Garen was

412
01:08:40,400 --> 01:08:42,239
shocked. The city council had just 3

413
01:08:42,239 --> 01:08:44,960
months earlier allocated $40,000 to fund

414
01:08:44,960 --> 01:08:46,560
Third Thursday and now the city was

415
01:08:46,560 --> 01:08:49,359
cancelling it. This made no sense. When

416
01:08:49,359 --> 01:08:50,880
asked why, it was once again the

417
01:08:50,880 --> 01:08:52,799
fictitious petition that no one could

418
01:08:52,799 --> 01:08:54,640
produce.

419
01:08:54,640 --> 01:08:57,359
So a petition a petition did finally

420
01:08:57,359 --> 01:08:59,679
materialize, but as stated earlier, it

421
01:08:59,679 --> 01:09:02,159
did not have any valid information on

422
01:09:02,159 --> 01:09:04,400
it. My question to the city council is

423
01:09:04,400 --> 01:09:06,400
who is running the city? On one hand,

424
01:09:06,400 --> 01:09:08,319
the council is allocating funds while

425
01:09:08,319 --> 01:09:10,239
the city manager is cancelling the event

426
01:09:10,239 --> 01:09:12,719
you just funded. Canceling it based on

427
01:09:12,719 --> 01:09:14,640
whose recommendation? The chambers

428
01:09:14,640 --> 01:09:17,199
foundation, a single council member, a

429
01:09:17,199 --> 01:09:19,279
directive from the city council. There's

430
01:09:19,279 --> 01:09:21,359
no transparency. The only truth that

431
01:09:21,359 --> 01:09:23,120
remains is that third Thursday was a

432
01:09:23,120 --> 01:09:26,159
very successful event and Mrs. Garen's

433
01:09:26,159 --> 01:09:28,239
reputation has been tarnished by false

434
01:09:28,239 --> 01:09:30,960
accusations. Accusations were then used

435
01:09:30,960 --> 01:09:32,960
to justify by the city for removing

436
01:09:32,960 --> 01:09:35,520
quote firing her. The city owes Miss

437
01:09:35,520 --> 01:09:37,759
Garson a public apology for how she was

438
01:09:37,759 --> 01:09:38,960
treated.

439
01:09:38,960 --> 01:09:41,110
>> I also beg the question based on how she

440
01:09:41,110 --> 01:09:41,120
» I also beg the question based on how she

441
01:09:41,120 --> 01:09:42,719
was treated, why would anyone waste

442
01:09:42,719 --> 01:09:44,640
their time and energy as a volunteer in

443
01:09:44,640 --> 01:09:46,000
this community?

444
01:09:46,000 --> 01:09:54,870
>> Our next speaker is Claudia B.

445
01:09:54,880 --> 01:09:57,920
» Hello, it's Claudia Bloom. Thank you for

446
01:09:57,920 --> 01:10:00,880
the time and thank you for making this a

447
01:10:00,880 --> 01:10:03,280
a platform. I'm going to follow up with

448
01:10:03,280 --> 01:10:06,080
the Carol Gerston support. I've been a

449
01:10:06,080 --> 01:10:08,640
PaloAlto resident for 33 years and I'm

450
01:10:08,640 --> 01:10:10,719
currently the director of director of

451
01:10:10,719 --> 01:10:12,880
the PaloAlto School of Chamber Music now

452
01:10:12,880 --> 01:10:15,760
in its 11th year of operation. Our

453
01:10:15,760 --> 01:10:18,080
musicians were featured this past

454
01:10:18,080 --> 01:10:21,600
October 16th at the 3rd Thursday Cal A

455
01:10:21,600 --> 01:10:24,080
Festival thanks to Carl Garen who

456
01:10:24,080 --> 01:10:27,040
invited us to participate. As you may or

457
01:10:27,040 --> 01:10:29,600
may not know, Carol started this

458
01:10:29,600 --> 01:10:33,199
festival in May of two 2023

459
01:10:33,199 --> 01:10:36,159
23 and it's been going ever since. And

460
01:10:36,159 --> 01:10:39,360
hallelu hallelua for that. I'm a

461
01:10:39,360 --> 01:10:42,880
professional musician and this has been

462
01:10:42,880 --> 01:10:46,080
a vital part of uh PaloAlto for many

463
01:10:46,080 --> 01:10:48,400
years and something that people have

464
01:10:48,400 --> 01:10:50,400
greatly appreciated.

465
01:10:50,400 --> 01:10:54,480
I experienced a a a positive experience

466
01:10:54,480 --> 01:10:57,840
the whole time that she was helping us

467
01:10:57,840 --> 01:11:00,480
with chairs that were provided for

468
01:11:00,480 --> 01:11:02,960
audience members to enjoy classical

469
01:11:02,960 --> 01:11:05,600
music which is underappreciated and

470
01:11:05,600 --> 01:11:08,719
under supported. Our musicians range

471
01:11:08,719 --> 01:11:11,280
from very young to very old. that it's

472
01:11:11,280 --> 01:11:15,120
an intergenerational program and our

473
01:11:15,120 --> 01:11:17,679
students couldn't have been more excited

474
01:11:17,679 --> 01:11:19,679
about this and the audience was

475
01:11:19,679 --> 01:11:21,920
extremely enthusiastic.

476
01:11:21,920 --> 01:11:23,920
Without Carol, this would not be

477
01:11:23,920 --> 01:11:27,199
happening in our community and without

478
01:11:27,199 --> 01:11:28,960
Carol

479
01:11:28,960 --> 01:11:31,360
um we wouldn't have things like this

480
01:11:31,360 --> 01:11:35,520
happening. Carol is is a lifechanging

481
01:11:35,520 --> 01:11:39,440
person who has changed PaloAlto.

482
01:11:39,440 --> 01:11:42,880
She has uh she has made enormous strides

483
01:11:42,880 --> 01:11:45,360
and is going to continue doing this and

484
01:11:45,360 --> 01:11:48,159
it would be a real shame not to be

485
01:11:48,159 --> 01:11:50,080
continuing to support her [snorts]

486
01:11:50,080 --> 01:11:51,920
because she makes a difference in

487
01:11:51,920 --> 01:11:54,640
everyone's lives. I have only positive

488
01:11:54,640 --> 01:11:57,679
things to say about Carl Garen. Thank

489
01:11:57,679 --> 01:12:05,270
you. Our next speaker is Hillary G.

490
01:12:05,280 --> 01:12:07,440
Hi, good evening. Um I am Hillary Glenn.

491
01:12:07,440 --> 01:12:10,000
I'm the co-leader of the Palato 350

492
01:12:10,000 --> 01:12:12,400
Silicon Valley team and shockingly I'm

493
01:12:12,400 --> 01:12:14,000
not here to talk about switching to

494
01:12:14,000 --> 01:12:16,400
electric. Um instead I'm here to speak

495
01:12:16,400 --> 01:12:18,719
on support in support of Carol Garen and

496
01:12:18,719 --> 01:12:21,199
the work she did on third Thursday. Uh

497
01:12:21,199 --> 01:12:23,040
we really took advantage of it as the

498
01:12:23,040 --> 01:12:24,800
Thrifty Silicon Valley team. We had

499
01:12:24,800 --> 01:12:26,320
great experiences. We were at three

500
01:12:26,320 --> 01:12:29,199
different events last um year. At all of

501
01:12:29,199 --> 01:12:31,040
them we talked to renters and family

502
01:12:31,040 --> 01:12:32,640
with children who are, as we all know,

503
01:12:32,640 --> 01:12:34,719
are kind of our sweet spot to uh get

504
01:12:34,719 --> 01:12:37,600
electrification happening. Um, I will

505
01:12:37,600 --> 01:12:39,280
say that Carol is a very talented

506
01:12:39,280 --> 01:12:41,679
organizer. She's very good at event

507
01:12:41,679 --> 01:12:44,159
promotion. She, even though she nagged

508
01:12:44,159 --> 01:12:45,199
me a lot to do it, it was very

509
01:12:45,199 --> 01:12:47,840
effective. Um, her logistical skills and

510
01:12:47,840 --> 01:12:49,760
ability to balance conflicting needs are

511
01:12:49,760 --> 01:12:51,920
very, very good. Um, I would really

512
01:12:51,920 --> 01:12:54,000
encourage the city to figure out a way

513
01:12:54,000 --> 01:12:56,960
to sit down with the uh the restaurants

514
01:12:56,960 --> 01:12:59,120
and other tenants on Calab and figure

515
01:12:59,120 --> 01:13:01,360
out a way that they can work together

516
01:13:01,360 --> 01:13:03,360
because I do think we're missing a very

517
01:13:03,360 --> 01:13:04,960
strong organizer who made a big

518
01:13:04,960 --> 01:13:08,000
difference in the city. Um, and I think

519
01:13:08,000 --> 01:13:10,000
there are a number of nonprofits who had

520
01:13:10,000 --> 01:13:11,199
they known that this was happening

521
01:13:11,199 --> 01:13:12,880
tonight to speak to on Carol's behalf,

522
01:13:12,880 --> 01:13:15,199
they would have shown up too. So, I I

523
01:13:15,199 --> 01:13:16,800
urge you to do that. But since I'm up

524
01:13:16,800 --> 01:13:17,920
here, I'm going to take what How many

525
01:13:17,920 --> 01:13:19,520
seconds do I have left? Ha. A few

526
01:13:19,520 --> 01:13:22,400
seconds left to just say totally excited

527
01:13:22,400 --> 01:13:24,000
about more talking about induction

528
01:13:24,000 --> 01:13:26,880
cooktop. Uh the 350 Silicon Valley Palto

529
01:13:26,880 --> 01:13:28,960
team. We have a professional project

530
01:13:28,960 --> 01:13:30,800
manager on our team who's ready to step

531
01:13:30,800 --> 01:13:32,640
in if you guys want to give us a grant

532
01:13:32,640 --> 01:13:34,800
to buy some induction loaner units. We'd

533
01:13:34,800 --> 01:13:37,360
be very happy to do that and run that

534
01:13:37,360 --> 01:13:39,760
for the city. Thank you.

535
01:13:39,760 --> 01:13:47,030
>> Our next speaker is Herb B.

536
01:13:47,040 --> 01:13:49,120
Uh, Mayor Rink, Vice Mayor Stone, and

537
01:13:49,120 --> 01:13:51,280
council members, I attended the utility

538
01:13:51,280 --> 01:13:53,440
advisory commission uh meeting last

539
01:13:53,440 --> 01:13:58,000
Wednesday on the fiber uh project update

540
01:13:58,000 --> 01:14:00,960
uh in which it's still uh the plan to

541
01:14:00,960 --> 01:14:02,640
have the city be an internet service

542
01:14:02,640 --> 01:14:07,440
provider. And uh I think that that was a

543
01:14:07,440 --> 01:14:12,000
key part of the decision to not do uh

544
01:14:12,000 --> 01:14:16,800
bond bond funding. Uh the city uh h has

545
01:14:16,800 --> 01:14:19,520
no uh [gasps]

546
01:14:19,520 --> 01:14:22,320
expertise or training in in a

547
01:14:22,320 --> 01:14:24,800
competitive environment. Uh as an

548
01:14:24,800 --> 01:14:27,199
internet service provider or the pro or

549
01:14:27,199 --> 01:14:30,080
connecting the last mile or

550
01:14:30,080 --> 01:14:32,320
customer premises equipment or an

551
01:14:32,320 --> 01:14:34,400
incident of property ownership. And

552
01:14:34,400 --> 01:14:37,520
despite the uh flexible rates that you

553
01:14:37,520 --> 01:14:40,480
have approved essentially you would need

554
01:14:40,480 --> 01:14:45,679
uh the customers to change uh prices. Uh

555
01:14:45,679 --> 01:14:50,000
and also what you would want to have are

556
01:14:50,000 --> 01:14:53,199
someone running the network and uh being

557
01:14:53,199 --> 01:14:56,080
an internet service provider uh who has

558
01:14:56,080 --> 01:15:00,159
a you demonstrated you know competence

559
01:15:00,159 --> 01:15:02,239
of already what they've done and also

560
01:15:02,239 --> 01:15:05,600
who has a uh commitment and demonstrated

561
01:15:05,600 --> 01:15:08,000
uh commitment to privacy

562
01:15:08,000 --> 01:15:11,679
uh including uh guarding against using

563
01:15:11,679 --> 01:15:14,000
customer information for targeted

564
01:15:14,000 --> 01:15:16,719
advertising. ing and tracking purposes.

565
01:15:16,719 --> 01:15:18,159
What I've objected is an as an

566
01:15:18,159 --> 01:15:20,880
alternative which is the city extend the

567
01:15:20,880 --> 01:15:24,136
dark fiber network and that the fiber

568
01:15:24,136 --> 01:15:25,520
[snorts] project be set up as a separate

569
01:15:25,520 --> 01:15:27,760
fund which is a customer of the dark

570
01:15:27,760 --> 01:15:30,239
fiber network and the dark fiber network

571
01:15:30,239 --> 01:15:33,760
has reserves to do that and it would be

572
01:15:33,760 --> 01:15:37,120
uh the stream of income from the fiber

573
01:15:37,120 --> 01:15:40,320
promises project uh which would pay off

574
01:15:40,320 --> 01:15:43,280
any uh loans against the dark fiber

575
01:15:43,280 --> 01:15:47,840
network. Uh the advantage of that uh is

576
01:15:47,840 --> 01:15:49,679
that you can have set a separate price.

577
01:15:49,679 --> 01:15:50,550
>> Time is up

578
01:15:50,550 --> 01:15:50,560
» Time is up

579
01:15:50,560 --> 01:15:52,390
>> for fiber. Thank you.

580
01:15:52,390 --> 01:15:52,400
» for fiber. Thank you.

581
01:15:52,400 --> 01:15:58,229
>> Our next speaker is Deborah G.

582
01:15:58,239 --> 01:16:00,320
» This is the flyer that's gone up over

583
01:16:00,320 --> 01:16:03,440
town um advertising the uh city

584
01:16:03,440 --> 01:16:05,280
sponsored event uh Martin Luther King

585
01:16:05,280 --> 01:16:06,640
Junior Day. And the first thing I

586
01:16:06,640 --> 01:16:08,880
noticed about this flyer from a distance

587
01:16:08,880 --> 01:16:11,840
I saw, oh my gosh, what's red, black,

588
01:16:11,840 --> 01:16:14,719
green, and white? You all know what red,

589
01:16:14,719 --> 01:16:17,440
black, black, a green or white is. Um,

590
01:16:17,440 --> 01:16:20,880
yeah. And there it is. City of Palo Alto

591
01:16:20,880 --> 01:16:22,880
logo on it. It's double-sided. Probably

592
01:16:22,880 --> 01:16:24,800
came out of your print shop. Um, and

593
01:16:24,800 --> 01:16:30,159
maybe this was an oversight. Uh, but um,

594
01:16:30,159 --> 01:16:31,440
you know, the city should know better.

595
01:16:31,440 --> 01:16:33,199
This is an incredibly provocative thing

596
01:16:33,199 --> 01:16:36,560
to do. Um, you know, how about red,

597
01:16:36,560 --> 01:16:39,520
white, and blue instead of green? I mean

598
01:16:39,520 --> 01:16:43,280
you even if it was unintentional

599
01:16:43,280 --> 01:16:46,960
um it's unacceptable. Thank you.

600
01:16:46,960 --> 01:16:49,669
>> Oh

601
01:16:49,669 --> 01:16:49,679
» Oh

602
01:16:49,679 --> 01:16:58,709
our next speaker is Valen V.

603
01:16:58,719 --> 01:17:00,640
Hello all. This is my first time doing

604
01:17:00,640 --> 01:17:03,920
this. My name is Vilen Varnasi and I'm a

605
01:17:03,920 --> 01:17:06,000
10th grader at Los Altos High School

606
01:17:06,000 --> 01:17:08,480
though I live in Palo Alto. Back in

607
01:17:08,480 --> 01:17:10,640
seventh grade, I vividly remember

608
01:17:10,640 --> 01:17:12,640
playing a soccer game at the Cberly

609
01:17:12,640 --> 01:17:15,040
Turfield. During the game, the skies

610
01:17:15,040 --> 01:17:17,520
were orange and smoke filled. I was

611
01:17:17,520 --> 01:17:19,199
struggling to breathe and so are a lot

612
01:17:19,199 --> 01:17:22,239
of my teammates. Gas stoves are one of

613
01:17:22,239 --> 01:17:25,840
the root causes of polluted environments

614
01:17:25,840 --> 01:17:28,320
and increase in emissions.

615
01:17:28,320 --> 01:17:31,600
Gas stoves also release toxic fumes such

616
01:17:31,600 --> 01:17:34,400
as methane, which are detrimental to

617
01:17:34,400 --> 01:17:36,080
young children's health and are

618
01:17:36,080 --> 01:17:39,120
carcinogenic. I strongly believe and

619
01:17:39,120 --> 01:17:41,440
support the idea that Palo Alto City

620
01:17:41,440 --> 01:17:42,960
Council should move to an allect

621
01:17:42,960 --> 01:17:46,480
electric utility. Thank you.

622
01:17:46,480 --> 01:17:48,070
>> And that concludes public comment on

623
01:17:48,070 --> 01:17:48,080
» And that concludes public comment on

624
01:17:48,080 --> 01:17:50,239
items not on the agenda.

625
01:17:50,239 --> 01:17:51,669
>> All right. Well, thank you, Madame

626
01:17:51,669 --> 01:17:51,679
» All right. Well, thank you, Madame

627
01:17:51,679 --> 01:17:53,920
Clerk, and thank you to our speakers. Uh

628
01:17:53,920 --> 01:17:56,400
particularly thanks to our students. We

629
01:17:56,400 --> 01:17:59,199
appreciate you being here. Um, and just

630
01:17:59,199 --> 01:18:01,920
as a a point of process, so we can't

631
01:18:01,920 --> 01:18:04,080
engage on subjects not on the agenda

632
01:18:04,080 --> 01:18:07,600
ourselves, but in terms of process, um,

633
01:18:07,600 --> 01:18:09,920
city manager, we have a youth climate

634
01:18:09,920 --> 01:18:12,320
advisory board, which could be a way of

635
01:18:12,320 --> 01:18:15,679
giving input. So, I don't know, uh, if

636
01:18:15,679 --> 01:18:17,440
you all know about that or want to apply

637
01:18:17,440 --> 01:18:19,360
for that next time around or have

638
01:18:19,360 --> 01:18:21,360
friends who are on it who could talk

639
01:18:21,360 --> 01:18:24,159
directly to staff, but that's a process

640
01:18:24,159 --> 01:18:25,679
option.

641
01:18:25,679 --> 01:18:27,760
I'm getting nods. So anyway, and

642
01:18:27,760 --> 01:18:30,480
obviously to any of us directly. Um,

643
01:18:30,480 --> 01:18:33,120
okay. So we will

644
01:18:33,120 --> 01:18:34,320
ask

645
01:18:34,320 --> 01:18:35,830
>> Sure. Council member Bert.

646
01:18:35,830 --> 01:18:35,840
» Sure. Council member Bert.

647
01:18:35,840 --> 01:18:38,070
>> Thanks. And because I'm afraid we're

648
01:18:38,070 --> 01:18:38,080
» Thanks. And because I'm afraid we're

649
01:18:38,080 --> 01:18:40,960
going to lose uh those speakers before

650
01:18:40,960 --> 01:18:43,360
we have council comments, I just want to

651
01:18:43,360 --> 01:18:45,600
know the speakers who had spoken on the

652
01:18:45,600 --> 01:18:49,120
on the methane health issues that at our

653
01:18:49,120 --> 01:18:50,880
sustainability and climate action

654
01:18:50,880 --> 01:18:56,159
committee uh we had received uh similar

655
01:18:56,159 --> 01:18:59,440
u uh uh recommendations from community

656
01:18:59,440 --> 01:19:03,199
advisors and that the committee itself

657
01:19:03,199 --> 01:19:07,040
has really embraced that our messaging

658
01:19:07,040 --> 01:19:10,159
on uh electrification should focus far

659
01:19:10,159 --> 01:19:12,400
more on the health impacts than it has

660
01:19:12,400 --> 01:19:14,960
to date. So, we're with you on that.

661
01:19:14,960 --> 01:19:17,679
Thanks.

662
01:19:17,679 --> 01:19:21,510
>> All right. So, moving on to uh council

663
01:19:21,510 --> 01:19:21,520
» All right. So, moving on to uh council

664
01:19:21,520 --> 01:19:23,360
member questions, comments, and

665
01:19:23,360 --> 01:19:26,640
announcements. Um I'm I'm going to start

666
01:19:26,640 --> 01:19:28,800
just given what's going on right now.

667
01:19:28,800 --> 01:19:31,840
Um, it's been an exciting first week as

668
01:19:31,840 --> 01:19:34,560
may mayor with a groundbreaking and an

669
01:19:34,560 --> 01:19:37,920
international visit. And I uh want to

670
01:19:37,920 --> 01:19:39,840
issue a huge congratulations to our

671
01:19:39,840 --> 01:19:41,920
sibling city, Bloomington, Indiana, and

672
01:19:41,920 --> 01:19:44,239
Indiana University on going from a

673
01:19:44,239 --> 01:19:46,480
program with a football program with the

674
01:19:46,480 --> 01:19:48,159
most losses in the history of major

675
01:19:48,159 --> 01:19:49,600
college football to playing in the

676
01:19:49,600 --> 01:19:52,000
national championship next Monday night.

677
01:19:52,000 --> 01:19:54,640
And I mention that because we are hoping

678
01:19:54,640 --> 01:19:56,960
to get together a watch party with our

679
01:19:56,960 --> 01:19:58,640
sibling city. And so that's something

680
01:19:58,640 --> 01:20:00,400
that should be a lot of fun for any of

681
01:20:00,400 --> 01:20:02,000
you who are interested in watching

682
01:20:02,000 --> 01:20:06,239
national championship football. Um,

683
01:20:06,239 --> 01:20:08,400
but the the real reason I wanted to to

684
01:20:08,400 --> 01:20:12,080
go first is I wanted to uh mention

685
01:20:12,080 --> 01:20:14,159
something on a more serious note, which

686
01:20:14,159 --> 01:20:17,040
is the ICE shooting in Minneapolis last

687
01:20:17,040 --> 01:20:20,159
week, which has put cities back on the

688
01:20:20,159 --> 01:20:23,120
front lines. Um what we saw there and

689
01:20:23,120 --> 01:20:24,960
the reaction out of Washington has

690
01:20:24,960 --> 01:20:27,840
shaken many in this community.

691
01:20:27,840 --> 01:20:30,239
Approximately 400 people showed up last

692
01:20:30,239 --> 01:20:32,800
night at a vigil in front of city hall

693
01:20:32,800 --> 01:20:34,800
um including council member Lithcott HS

694
01:20:34,800 --> 01:20:38,400
and me. This tragic and heartbreaking

695
01:20:38,400 --> 01:20:40,880
killing must be addressed headon to

696
01:20:40,880 --> 01:20:43,120
ensure the safety on the streets of all

697
01:20:43,120 --> 01:20:46,320
American cities including PaloAlto.

698
01:20:46,320 --> 01:20:48,960
So to keep Palo Alto safe, I hope my

699
01:20:48,960 --> 01:20:50,640
colleagues will stand with me in calling

700
01:20:50,640 --> 01:20:53,840
for three things. First, a full and

701
01:20:53,840 --> 01:20:55,280
independent investigation of the

702
01:20:55,280 --> 01:20:57,199
incident so that those who should be

703
01:20:57,199 --> 01:21:00,080
held accountable are held accountable

704
01:21:00,080 --> 01:21:02,159
and an investigation of the policies and

705
01:21:02,159 --> 01:21:04,480
training or lack of training in things

706
01:21:04,480 --> 01:21:06,560
such as deescalation that led to the

707
01:21:06,560 --> 01:21:09,440
shooting. Um, such policies could

708
01:21:09,440 --> 01:21:12,159
include the provision of medical care.

709
01:21:12,159 --> 01:21:14,400
We had an incident right here at

710
01:21:14,400 --> 01:21:17,040
Stanford Hospital whereas decisions as

711
01:21:17,040 --> 01:21:19,040
to when the patient was ready for

712
01:21:19,040 --> 01:21:21,520
release, family access to the patients,

713
01:21:21,520 --> 01:21:23,199
presence of ICE in a private hospital

714
01:21:23,199 --> 01:21:26,000
were all called into question. And last

715
01:21:26,000 --> 01:21:28,080
week, ICE denied a physician access to

716
01:21:28,080 --> 01:21:30,159
the shooting victim, meaning that these

717
01:21:30,159 --> 01:21:32,880
policies are still problematic, deeply

718
01:21:32,880 --> 01:21:35,520
troubling, and in need of review.

719
01:21:35,520 --> 01:21:38,239
Second, PaloAlto will continue its

720
01:21:38,239 --> 01:21:41,199
policy of police independence from ICE.

721
01:21:41,199 --> 01:21:44,239
Our police chief has said, and I quote,

722
01:21:44,239 --> 01:21:46,880
"Let me be clear, our department policy

723
01:21:46,880 --> 01:21:48,960
expressly forbids officers from

724
01:21:48,960 --> 01:21:50,719
inquiring about an individual's

725
01:21:50,719 --> 01:21:53,120
immigration status for purposes of

726
01:21:53,120 --> 01:21:55,760
immigration enforcement. Moreover, our

727
01:21:55,760 --> 01:21:57,920
policy and state law prohibit

728
01:21:57,920 --> 01:22:00,000
cooperation with federal authorities for

729
01:22:00,000 --> 01:22:03,360
the purpose of immigration enforcement.

730
01:22:03,360 --> 01:22:05,199
Third, we will continue our pursuit of

731
01:22:05,199 --> 01:22:07,120
legal actions that prevent the federal

732
01:22:07,120 --> 01:22:08,560
government from withholding grant

733
01:22:08,560 --> 01:22:12,000
funding absent cooperation with ICE. The

734
01:22:12,000 --> 01:22:13,840
resolution that council adopted last

735
01:22:13,840 --> 01:22:16,719
year uh resulted in the city joining

736
01:22:16,719 --> 01:22:18,960
three federal lawsuits and those suits

737
01:22:18,960 --> 01:22:20,880
have successfully procured preliminary

738
01:22:20,880 --> 01:22:23,280
injunctions that protect us from

739
01:22:23,280 --> 01:22:25,360
executive orders that would otherwise

740
01:22:25,360 --> 01:22:27,360
threaten PaloAlto's federal funding

741
01:22:27,360 --> 01:22:30,400
based on our policy not to take a

742
01:22:30,400 --> 01:22:33,199
direction from ICE.

743
01:22:33,199 --> 01:22:35,440
Finally, I want to follow the lead of

744
01:22:35,440 --> 01:22:38,239
the Minneapolis mayor and ask our

745
01:22:38,239 --> 01:22:39,920
community to rise to the occasion and

746
01:22:39,920 --> 01:22:42,639
show our best selves. While we may be

747
01:22:42,639 --> 01:22:45,120
angry, I was proud that our community

748
01:22:45,120 --> 01:22:47,760
showed up with peace and responded with

749
01:22:47,760 --> 01:22:52,080
love last night. So, ICE, if you come

750
01:22:52,080 --> 01:22:55,120
back to Palo Alto, please know that in

751
01:22:55,120 --> 01:22:57,199
this town, we respect the law and will

752
01:22:57,199 --> 01:23:00,560
not disrupt lawful operations.

753
01:23:00,560 --> 01:23:02,480
But please also know that if the

754
01:23:02,480 --> 01:23:05,040
operations are unlawful, we will demand

755
01:23:05,040 --> 01:23:07,440
accountability and pursue every avenue

756
01:23:07,440 --> 01:23:10,159
to keep our residents safe. I have sworn

757
01:23:10,159 --> 01:23:12,080
an oath to uphold the constitution as

758
01:23:12,080 --> 01:23:14,480
have my colleagues, our police officers,

759
01:23:14,480 --> 01:23:16,960
and every one of our staff members, and

760
01:23:16,960 --> 01:23:20,320
we intend to honor it. In Palo Alto, we

761
01:23:20,320 --> 01:23:22,400
may speak with different voices and hit

762
01:23:22,400 --> 01:23:25,679
different notes, but let's work together

763
01:23:25,679 --> 01:23:27,760
to speak in harmony and to keep each

764
01:23:27,760 --> 01:23:32,790
other safe. Council

765
01:23:32,800 --> 01:23:38,550
member Bertney.

766
01:23:38,560 --> 01:23:40,400
Okay, we'll turn off that light. Anyone

767
01:23:40,400 --> 01:23:44,310
else?

768
01:23:44,320 --> 01:23:46,480
» Council member

769
01:23:46,480 --> 01:23:49,040
Lowing.

770
01:23:49,040 --> 01:23:50,470
>> Okay. Thanks. So I just wanted to report

771
01:23:50,470 --> 01:23:50,480
» Okay. Thanks. So I just wanted to report

772
01:23:50,480 --> 01:23:53,440
briefly that uh last week we met with

773
01:23:53,440 --> 01:23:57,840
the we meaning the mayor and myself uh

774
01:23:57,840 --> 01:24:01,040
met with the incoming council general of

775
01:24:01,040 --> 01:24:04,159
uh Deutseland uh Germany. Uh I had a

776
01:24:04,159 --> 01:24:06,800
previous interface with his predecessor

777
01:24:06,800 --> 01:24:08,719
who's been reassigned in the diplomatic

778
01:24:08,719 --> 01:24:11,040
corps back to Germany. Uh so he was here

779
01:24:11,040 --> 01:24:13,679
and I did a handoff uh to our mayor and

780
01:24:13,679 --> 01:24:15,520
we had a I thought pretty fruitful

781
01:24:15,520 --> 01:24:18,080
conversation for almost almost an hour.

782
01:24:18,080 --> 01:24:22,159
Um, and then pictures appeared on his

783
01:24:22,159 --> 01:24:25,120
Facebook from right over here. So, the

784
01:24:25,120 --> 01:24:27,040
the torch has been handed uh for the

785
01:24:27,040 --> 01:24:29,840
German relationship.

786
01:24:29,840 --> 01:24:33,510
>> Oh, sorry. His name is Theo Kittis.

787
01:24:33,510 --> 01:24:33,520
» Oh, sorry. His name is Theo Kittis.

788
01:24:33,520 --> 01:24:34,950
>> Thank you, Council Member Lowing.

789
01:24:34,950 --> 01:24:34,960
» Thank you, Council Member Lowing.

790
01:24:34,960 --> 01:24:37,840
Council member Liths.

791
01:24:37,840 --> 01:24:40,070
>> Thank you, Mayor Vinker. Uh, I

792
01:24:40,070 --> 01:24:40,080
» Thank you, Mayor Vinker. Uh, I

793
01:24:40,080 --> 01:24:43,280
appreciate you're mentioning um

794
01:24:43,280 --> 01:24:48,000
the shooting in Minneapolis of Renee

795
01:24:48,000 --> 01:24:50,960
Nicole Good and

796
01:24:50,960 --> 01:24:53,600
um the various things you mentioned

797
01:24:53,600 --> 01:24:57,199
about our city's response to the

798
01:24:57,199 --> 01:25:00,320
presence of that kind of law enforcement

799
01:25:00,320 --> 01:25:02,960
activity in our nation, in our cities.

800
01:25:02,960 --> 01:25:04,800
Um

801
01:25:04,800 --> 01:25:06,639
the vigil last night right here at city

802
01:25:06,639 --> 01:25:08,400
hall as the mayor mentioned was really

803
01:25:08,400 --> 01:25:10,320
extraordinary. I think actually the

804
01:25:10,320 --> 01:25:13,280
Palito weekly said over 500 uh which is

805
01:25:13,280 --> 01:25:15,199
amazing. I figured they would undercount

806
01:25:15,199 --> 01:25:16,560
you know the media that was underount

807
01:25:16,560 --> 01:25:18,000
the number the crowd size but I think

808
01:25:18,000 --> 01:25:20,320
they got it right. Um and I just want to

809
01:25:20,320 --> 01:25:22,239
express my gratitude to Indivisible

810
01:25:22,239 --> 01:25:24,000
PaloAlto Plus and the other

811
01:25:24,000 --> 01:25:26,960
organizations that helped uh to really

812
01:25:26,960 --> 01:25:28,880
scramble and put something together so

813
01:25:28,880 --> 01:25:34,400
quickly. I um also attended a um

814
01:25:34,400 --> 01:25:36,880
uh gathering at Town and Country on

815
01:25:36,880 --> 01:25:41,440
Friday um at noon or over the lunch hour

816
01:25:41,440 --> 01:25:44,639
which was a protest at Embaradero and El

817
01:25:44,639 --> 01:25:48,880
Camino um all related to uh the

818
01:25:48,880 --> 01:25:50,960
activities in Minneapolis and the

819
01:25:50,960 --> 01:25:53,360
killing of Renee Nicole Good and I

820
01:25:53,360 --> 01:25:54,639
believe there was an event on Saturday

821
01:25:54,639 --> 01:25:56,239
as well. So our community has really

822
01:25:56,239 --> 01:25:59,280
mobilized quite quickly. Uh people are

823
01:25:59,280 --> 01:26:01,760
hungry to do something, yearning to

824
01:26:01,760 --> 01:26:05,120
gather with others, um to stand up for

825
01:26:05,120 --> 01:26:07,920
what we know is right and necessary. And

826
01:26:07,920 --> 01:26:10,000
anybody listening who didn't know about

827
01:26:10,000 --> 01:26:12,719
these events and wants to be involved,

828
01:26:12,719 --> 01:26:14,960
uh there are plenty of ways to to find

829
01:26:14,960 --> 01:26:16,960
out about such things, follow the right

830
01:26:16,960 --> 01:26:19,520
groups. Uh but you can definitely go to

831
01:26:19,520 --> 01:26:22,080
my website, julieforpow.com,

832
01:26:22,080 --> 01:26:25,040
where I uh sent out uh a flyer promoting

833
01:26:25,040 --> 01:26:29,280
these events before they happened. Um

834
01:26:29,280 --> 01:26:32,239
um with respect to mental health, I want

835
01:26:32,239 --> 01:26:34,239
to acknowledge uh that we've been

836
01:26:34,239 --> 01:26:36,960
informed that uh there was a life that

837
01:26:36,960 --> 01:26:38,800
ended at the train tracks this weekend,

838
01:26:38,800 --> 01:26:42,400
a middle-aged adult. Um

839
01:26:42,400 --> 01:26:45,199
um this is an ongoing concern for all of

840
01:26:45,199 --> 01:26:48,080
us I know and we are trying to address

841
01:26:48,080 --> 01:26:50,880
issues of mental health from many angles

842
01:26:50,880 --> 01:26:52,560
including partnering with the nation's

843
01:26:52,560 --> 01:26:54,239
leading organization on youth mental

844
01:26:54,239 --> 01:26:57,920
health uh the Jed Foundation um and

845
01:26:57,920 --> 01:27:00,000
making changes at the tracks as well.

846
01:27:00,000 --> 01:27:03,520
And um I want to acknowledge that a

847
01:27:03,520 --> 01:27:05,280
community member, Mayor Lucas, pulled

848
01:27:05,280 --> 01:27:07,360
together an event called Candles and

849
01:27:07,360 --> 01:27:10,719
Hugs, which happened right before our

850
01:27:10,719 --> 01:27:13,040
reorganization. So it was last Sunday,

851
01:27:13,040 --> 01:27:15,840
the 4th. It was a gathering um a

852
01:27:15,840 --> 01:27:18,880
candlelight gathering here at city hall

853
01:27:18,880 --> 01:27:22,880
um to acknowledge and commemorate and

854
01:27:22,880 --> 01:27:26,000
and offer support for those affected by

855
01:27:26,000 --> 01:27:28,239
um youth suicide.

856
01:27:28,239 --> 01:27:30,080
And uh I'm saying this because I know

857
01:27:30,080 --> 01:27:31,360
it's hard to talk about these things,

858
01:27:31,360 --> 01:27:32,560
but I think we're learning as a

859
01:27:32,560 --> 01:27:35,120
community that more conversation is

860
01:27:35,120 --> 01:27:37,679
better than less. Uh so I do this

861
01:27:37,679 --> 01:27:39,600
deliberately and to acknowledge that

862
01:27:39,600 --> 01:27:42,080
we're all um struggling in our in our

863
01:27:42,080 --> 01:27:43,440
own way as a city with with an

864
01:27:43,440 --> 01:27:45,760
underlying grief related to uh the fact

865
01:27:45,760 --> 01:27:50,639
of of suicide. Um

866
01:27:50,639 --> 01:27:53,440
on a more upbeat note, uh the Cubberly

867
01:27:53,440 --> 01:27:56,320
ad hoc continues to be hard at work. my

868
01:27:56,320 --> 01:27:58,639
colleagues, uh, Council Member Bert and

869
01:27:58,639 --> 01:28:00,960
Council Member Rectal, and I along with

870
01:28:00,960 --> 01:28:03,760
our, uh, city staff, um, continue at

871
01:28:03,760 --> 01:28:06,880
this effort, uh, to prepare a ballot

872
01:28:06,880 --> 01:28:10,400
measure, uh, to put before our residents

873
01:28:10,400 --> 01:28:12,960
this fall. And just this week, our third

874
01:28:12,960 --> 01:28:15,760
poll went out to the community um, to

875
01:28:15,760 --> 01:28:18,560
gauge further appetite for the project

876
01:28:18,560 --> 01:28:22,880
and um, so on. And so, to the extent you

877
01:28:22,880 --> 01:28:24,880
receive the poll, please don't hang up.

878
01:28:24,880 --> 01:28:26,560
uh please participate. We want to know

879
01:28:26,560 --> 01:28:30,960
your thoughts. And um I also want to

880
01:28:30,960 --> 01:28:33,920
acknowledge that fire station 4 uh had

881
01:28:33,920 --> 01:28:36,080
its groundbreaking uh a few days ago. A

882
01:28:36,080 --> 01:28:38,239
number of us were there. Uh it's very

883
01:28:38,239 --> 01:28:40,880
exciting to see uh not only the fire

884
01:28:40,880 --> 01:28:44,239
station um getting rebuilt, but to see

885
01:28:44,239 --> 01:28:46,320
that it is in this gorgeous Iller style,

886
01:28:46,320 --> 01:28:49,280
very fitting of the neighborhood, and um

887
01:28:49,280 --> 01:28:51,040
I know it's going to be something we're

888
01:28:51,040 --> 01:28:52,960
all extremely proud of when it is

889
01:28:52,960 --> 01:28:55,600
completed. The one surprise at the

890
01:28:55,600 --> 01:28:57,360
groundbreaking, at least for me, was

891
01:28:57,360 --> 01:29:00,480
that uh our fire chief revealed that

892
01:29:00,480 --> 01:29:05,679
there was a um time capsule buried in uh

893
01:29:05,679 --> 01:29:09,679
an element of the old um fire house and

894
01:29:09,679 --> 01:29:12,000
he opened up the time capsule and read

895
01:29:12,000 --> 01:29:15,120
the note that was in there. And it's

896
01:29:15,120 --> 01:29:17,040
really cool when the past is in dialogue

897
01:29:17,040 --> 01:29:19,360
with the present. And that's what I

898
01:29:19,360 --> 01:29:22,159
think uh opening up time capsules can

899
01:29:22,159 --> 01:29:24,320
do. So, here's to planting more time

900
01:29:24,320 --> 01:29:26,239
capsules as we continue to lay

901
01:29:26,239 --> 01:29:29,360
foundations uh for what's next. Um, one

902
01:29:29,360 --> 01:29:30,880
day people will wonder what were the

903
01:29:30,880 --> 01:29:33,440
people in in our era thinking and a time

904
01:29:33,440 --> 01:29:35,280
capsule is a wonderful way to give them

905
01:29:35,280 --> 01:29:39,520
a hint. That's it for me. Thank you.

906
01:29:39,520 --> 01:29:43,510
>> Thank you. And uh seeing no more lights,

907
01:29:43,510 --> 01:29:43,520
» Thank you. And uh seeing no more lights,

908
01:29:43,520 --> 01:29:46,080
we'll move on to our second item, which

909
01:29:46,080 --> 01:29:48,560
is a study session. Review and discuss a

910
01:29:48,560 --> 01:29:50,800
2025 Q4 council priorities and

911
01:29:50,800 --> 01:29:53,920
objectives and format of the 2026

912
01:29:53,920 --> 01:29:56,800
council annual retreat.

913
01:29:56,800 --> 01:29:59,920
I'll turn it to staff. Is that going to

914
01:29:59,920 --> 01:30:01,520
be

915
01:30:01,520 --> 01:30:03,430
>> Yep. Uh let's see. We will have an

916
01:30:03,430 --> 01:30:03,440
» Yep. Uh let's see. We will have an

917
01:30:03,440 --> 01:30:06,639
ensemble cast as you might expect with a

918
01:30:06,639 --> 01:30:09,120
topic uh this broad. So I'll ask our

919
01:30:09,120 --> 01:30:12,239
assistant city manager Lupita Holamos to

920
01:30:12,239 --> 01:30:15,040
lead off uh and then we'll have uh

921
01:30:15,040 --> 01:30:18,320
others uh chime in as the case may be. I

922
01:30:18,320 --> 01:30:20,080
think I I would like to just give a

923
01:30:20,080 --> 01:30:21,760
little bit of context for the council

924
01:30:21,760 --> 01:30:25,440
and and in particular in the context of

925
01:30:25,440 --> 01:30:27,360
your meetings over the next few weeks.

926
01:30:27,360 --> 01:30:30,639
Uh tonight we will review the status of

927
01:30:30,639 --> 01:30:33,040
calendar year 2025

928
01:30:33,040 --> 01:30:35,280
uh priority objectives as we've referred

929
01:30:35,280 --> 01:30:38,560
to them and uh this really uh sets the

930
01:30:38,560 --> 01:30:41,440
stage uh for the uh city council's

931
01:30:41,440 --> 01:30:44,080
retreat on January 24th. So two weeks

932
01:30:44,080 --> 01:30:47,520
really uh from today. Uh so again at

933
01:30:47,520 --> 01:30:49,840
this point you'll get a a report on last

934
01:30:49,840 --> 01:30:52,000
year and then in two weeks you'll be

935
01:30:52,000 --> 01:30:54,000
discussing the current year. So we

936
01:30:54,000 --> 01:30:56,080
really uh hope that this sequence is

937
01:30:56,080 --> 01:30:58,400
helpful for you uh so we're not cramming

938
01:30:58,400 --> 01:31:00,800
everything into the retreat uh day

939
01:31:00,800 --> 01:31:03,760
itself and also uh we can take your

940
01:31:03,760 --> 01:31:07,679
feedback on the 25 uh objectives uh as

941
01:31:07,679 --> 01:31:09,920
we are preparing additional information

942
01:31:09,920 --> 01:31:12,560
for your consideration on January 24th.

943
01:31:12,560 --> 01:31:14,400
So with that, Miss Alamos.

944
01:31:14,400 --> 01:31:16,629
>> Thank you Mr. Shada. Good evening Mayor

945
01:31:16,629 --> 01:31:16,639
» Thank you Mr. Shada. Good evening Mayor

946
01:31:16,639 --> 01:31:18,719
and Council. Lupita Alamos, assistant to

947
01:31:18,719 --> 01:31:23,679
the city manager. Um and uh next slide.

948
01:31:23,679 --> 01:31:25,920
For tonight, as Mr. Shakata has already

949
01:31:25,920 --> 01:31:28,239
covered, we'll be discussing those um

950
01:31:28,239 --> 01:31:31,280
2025 priority objectives uh outcomes and

951
01:31:31,280 --> 01:31:33,760
then moving on to the 26 retreat for the

952
01:31:33,760 --> 01:31:36,159
second part of the presentation.

953
01:31:36,159 --> 01:31:39,440
Next slide. Wonderful. Um so tonight

954
01:31:39,440 --> 01:31:41,600
we'll be just very briefly covering each

955
01:31:41,600 --> 01:31:44,719
of the uh four priorities um that were

956
01:31:44,719 --> 01:31:47,600
adopted in 2025. This includes climate

957
01:31:47,600 --> 01:31:49,199
action, adaptation, and natural

958
01:31:49,199 --> 01:31:51,679
environment protection, um, economic

959
01:31:51,679 --> 01:31:53,760
development and retail vibrancy,

960
01:31:53,760 --> 01:31:55,760
implementing housing strategies for

961
01:31:55,760 --> 01:31:58,400
social and economic balance, and public

962
01:31:58,400 --> 01:32:01,520
safety, wellness, and belonging.

963
01:32:01,520 --> 01:32:03,520
So, supporting the implementation of

964
01:32:03,520 --> 01:32:06,320
these four priorities were 70 objectives

965
01:32:06,320 --> 01:32:10,159
or projects. And of those um at the end

966
01:32:10,159 --> 01:32:15,199
of the fourth quarter of 2025, 66% of

967
01:32:15,199 --> 01:32:19,600
those were marked as completed. Um 23%

968
01:32:19,600 --> 01:32:23,840
were marked as behind. Uh seven 7%

969
01:32:23,840 --> 01:32:25,920
continue to be on track with a change in

970
01:32:25,920 --> 01:32:28,080
scope with from either council or

971
01:32:28,080 --> 01:32:32,239
council committee. And uh 4% of those uh

972
01:32:32,239 --> 01:32:35,280
were placed on hold. And you'll briefly

973
01:32:35,280 --> 01:32:38,800
hear um just some highlights on a few of

974
01:32:38,800 --> 01:32:41,920
these uh different um categories from

975
01:32:41,920 --> 01:32:47,040
our staff. Um and first we will have our

976
01:32:47,040 --> 01:32:50,800
um um section our priority on climate

977
01:32:50,800 --> 01:32:52,880
action and adaptation natural

978
01:32:52,880 --> 01:32:56,480
environment. And with that we have Mr.

979
01:32:56,480 --> 01:32:59,910
Egleston.

980
01:32:59,920 --> 01:33:01,679
» Good evening Mayor Vinker and city

981
01:33:01,679 --> 01:33:03,840
council. uh Brad Igson, director of

982
01:33:03,840 --> 01:33:06,159
public works.

983
01:33:06,159 --> 01:33:11,270
So uh next slide please.

984
01:33:11,280 --> 01:33:13,440
Okay, so for the climate action and

985
01:33:13,440 --> 01:33:15,520
natural environment uh protection

986
01:33:15,520 --> 01:33:20,080
priority, 79% of the 24 objectives were

987
01:33:20,080 --> 01:33:22,639
completed in 2025.

988
01:33:22,639 --> 01:33:24,800
Uh want to note this really reflects

989
01:33:24,800 --> 01:33:27,440
very significant progress in a number of

990
01:33:27,440 --> 01:33:30,159
different SCAP uh sustainability climate

991
01:33:30,159 --> 01:33:32,639
action plan areas.

992
01:33:32,639 --> 01:33:34,480
and that the climate action and

993
01:33:34,480 --> 01:33:37,199
sustainability committee as well as our

994
01:33:37,199 --> 01:33:39,679
working group of community members were

995
01:33:39,679 --> 01:33:41,920
uh an important factor in in advancing

996
01:33:41,920 --> 01:33:43,760
much of this work and making sure we

997
01:33:43,760 --> 01:33:46,960
could get through it. So just briefly

998
01:33:46,960 --> 01:33:49,520
the completed highlights on this slide

999
01:33:49,520 --> 01:33:52,239
cover 12 of those 24 completed

1000
01:33:52,239 --> 01:33:55,440
objectives. Uh some of the ones uh shown

1001
01:33:55,440 --> 01:33:58,639
here include construction projects like

1002
01:33:58,639 --> 01:34:01,760
the grid modernization pilot project uh

1003
01:34:01,760 --> 01:34:03,199
as well as the new road bridge

1004
01:34:03,199 --> 01:34:05,360
replacement and Hamilton Avenue storm

1005
01:34:05,360 --> 01:34:08,719
drain uh improvement projects. There are

1006
01:34:08,719 --> 01:34:11,600
mobility related plans uh including the

1007
01:34:11,600 --> 01:34:13,440
safe streets for all action plan

1008
01:34:13,440 --> 01:34:16,639
adoption and uh council's initial review

1009
01:34:16,639 --> 01:34:18,560
of the draft bicycle and pedestrian

1010
01:34:18,560 --> 01:34:21,440
transportation plan. the adoption of the

1011
01:34:21,440 --> 01:34:23,600
reach codes. Um that turned out to be

1012
01:34:23,600 --> 01:34:25,600
quite a project this year that had to be

1013
01:34:25,600 --> 01:34:28,000
fasttracked because of uh new state

1014
01:34:28,000 --> 01:34:31,120
legislation AB130.

1015
01:34:31,120 --> 01:34:34,800
Uh several SAP plans. Uh I won't name

1016
01:34:34,800 --> 01:34:37,760
them all, but they include the uh 2026

1017
01:34:37,760 --> 01:34:40,880
and 2027 work plan, which is scheduled

1018
01:34:40,880 --> 01:34:42,719
to come to council for approval on

1019
01:34:42,719 --> 01:34:44,639
February 9th. So you'll be hearing about

1020
01:34:44,639 --> 01:34:47,679
that soon. And just noting the photos on

1021
01:34:47,679 --> 01:34:50,560
this slide are from our very successful

1022
01:34:50,560 --> 01:34:53,040
climate action workshop that was held in

1023
01:34:53,040 --> 01:34:56,239
December uh and helped to finalize some

1024
01:34:56,239 --> 01:34:58,080
of the input that went into the work

1025
01:34:58,080 --> 01:35:00,960
plan that you'll be hearing about and

1026
01:35:00,960 --> 01:35:03,120
then as well several approvals that were

1027
01:35:03,120 --> 01:35:05,840
for programs on uh build different types

1028
01:35:05,840 --> 01:35:07,920
of building electrification

1029
01:35:07,920 --> 01:35:10,639
and uh multifamily EV charging in

1030
01:35:10,639 --> 01:35:18,470
particular. Next slide.

1031
01:35:18,480 --> 01:35:20,800
Okay, so this is the list of the five

1032
01:35:20,800 --> 01:35:22,400
objectives

1033
01:35:22,400 --> 01:35:25,120
uh that are shown either as on track or

1034
01:35:25,120 --> 01:35:27,760
behind but were were not completed

1035
01:35:27,760 --> 01:35:30,400
according to whatever uh criteria we had

1036
01:35:30,400 --> 01:35:33,520
described for the year. So on these I'm

1037
01:35:33,520 --> 01:35:35,520
not going to speak to them individually.

1038
01:35:35,520 --> 01:35:38,000
Um we'll be happy to take questions if

1039
01:35:38,000 --> 01:35:40,159
you have them at the end of the

1040
01:35:40,159 --> 01:35:42,639
presentation. I do want to note that

1041
01:35:42,639 --> 01:35:45,760
none of these are on hold. They're all

1042
01:35:45,760 --> 01:35:48,560
moving. Uh really important progress has

1043
01:35:48,560 --> 01:35:51,040
been made on all five of these and

1044
01:35:51,040 --> 01:35:52,719
several of them are expected to be

1045
01:35:52,719 --> 01:35:54,480
completed in the first quarter of this

1046
01:35:54,480 --> 01:35:58,159
year. Thank you.

1047
01:35:58,159 --> 01:36:02,629
>> Thank you. Next, um we have the economic

1048
01:36:02,629 --> 01:36:02,639
» Thank you. Next, um we have the economic

1049
01:36:02,639 --> 01:36:05,360
development and retail vibrancy section

1050
01:36:05,360 --> 01:36:06,960
priority

1051
01:36:06,960 --> 01:36:10,239
and here to present is Mr. Andrade.

1052
01:36:10,239 --> 01:36:13,360
Actually, before he jumps in, let me, as

1053
01:36:13,360 --> 01:36:15,679
I typically would do, introduce our new

1054
01:36:15,679 --> 01:36:18,480
staff member. Uh, Alex Andrade is our

1055
01:36:18,480 --> 01:36:20,800
new economic development manager and

1056
01:36:20,800 --> 01:36:23,199
assistant to the city manager. Uh, I

1057
01:36:23,199 --> 01:36:24,400
know many of you have had the

1058
01:36:24,400 --> 01:36:26,239
opportunity to meet him individually,

1059
01:36:26,239 --> 01:36:28,639
but this is, I believe, his first uh,

1060
01:36:28,639 --> 01:36:30,639
appearance with city council. So, Mr.

1061
01:36:30,639 --> 01:36:33,040
Andrad, please proceed. Good evening,

1062
01:36:33,040 --> 01:36:35,920
mayor, vice mayor, and city council. As

1063
01:36:35,920 --> 01:36:37,760
our city managers mentioned, my name is

1064
01:36:37,760 --> 01:36:40,159
Alex Andrade. I think I'm in my fourth

1065
01:36:40,159 --> 01:36:42,239
week and I'm with the city manager's

1066
01:36:42,239 --> 01:36:45,679
office and focusing on on economic

1067
01:36:45,679 --> 01:36:47,119
development. So, it's a real pleasure to

1068
01:36:47,119 --> 01:36:49,760
be in front of you here today. The

1069
01:36:49,760 --> 01:36:51,600
economic development and retail vibrancy

1070
01:36:51,600 --> 01:36:54,000
priority is made up of interventions and

1071
01:36:54,000 --> 01:36:56,159
investments that enhance Palo Alto's

1072
01:36:56,159 --> 01:36:58,400
business climate and ensure that the

1073
01:36:58,400 --> 01:37:01,119
local economy is healthy. I want to give

1074
01:37:01,119 --> 01:37:02,960
you a little bit of data just to kind of

1075
01:37:02,960 --> 01:37:05,360
give you a sense of where we are. While

1076
01:37:05,360 --> 01:37:08,159
the Q3 2025 University Avenue retail

1077
01:37:08,159 --> 01:37:11,280
vacancy rate is approximately 13% and

1078
01:37:11,280 --> 01:37:14,080
essentially the same as a year ago, the

1079
01:37:14,080 --> 01:37:18,080
Q3 2025 vacancy rate retail vacancy rate

1080
01:37:18,080 --> 01:37:21,199
on Calav is 6.4%.

1081
01:37:21,199 --> 01:37:23,679
Which is down from approximately 12% a

1082
01:37:23,679 --> 01:37:25,360
year ago.

1083
01:37:25,360 --> 01:37:29,520
Last year there were roughly 38 retail

1084
01:37:29,520 --> 01:37:31,119
and commercial businesses that opened in

1085
01:37:31,119 --> 01:37:33,199
Palo Alto. And I think that's really

1086
01:37:33,199 --> 01:37:35,360
important because what that tells me is

1087
01:37:35,360 --> 01:37:37,119
that business operators are invested in

1088
01:37:37,119 --> 01:37:39,040
Palo Alto because there are economic

1089
01:37:39,040 --> 01:37:42,239
opportunities here. There's talent here

1090
01:37:42,239 --> 01:37:43,920
and they want to add vibrancy and

1091
01:37:43,920 --> 01:37:46,239
character to our business districts. I'm

1092
01:37:46,239 --> 01:37:47,440
really excited about having the

1093
01:37:47,440 --> 01:37:49,119
opportunity to be in front of you at

1094
01:37:49,119 --> 01:37:52,560
your council retreat on January 24th and

1095
01:37:52,560 --> 01:37:55,199
expanding the

1096
01:37:55,199 --> 01:37:57,520
um conversation and appropriate economic

1097
01:37:57,520 --> 01:37:59,520
development solutions for Palo Alto's

1098
01:37:59,520 --> 01:38:01,679
economy. So, I'm going to get into this

1099
01:38:01,679 --> 01:38:04,320
what's on the screen now in terms of

1100
01:38:04,320 --> 01:38:06,320
several city council priorities that

1101
01:38:06,320 --> 01:38:09,760
have been completed. Examples include

1102
01:38:09,760 --> 01:38:11,600
the city council approving staff to

1103
01:38:11,600 --> 01:38:13,679
proceed with the preliminary design and

1104
01:38:13,679 --> 01:38:16,639
environmental review of a 274 space

1105
01:38:16,639 --> 01:38:18,800
parking garage. The next step is for

1106
01:38:18,800 --> 01:38:21,199
staff to engage the historical review

1107
01:38:21,199 --> 01:38:22,480
review board followed by the

1108
01:38:22,480 --> 01:38:25,840
architectural review board to explore

1109
01:38:25,840 --> 01:38:28,560
options for long-term improvements. On

1110
01:38:28,560 --> 01:38:30,719
December 1, 2025, the city council

1111
01:38:30,719 --> 01:38:32,800
approved an amendment to the downtown

1112
01:38:32,800 --> 01:38:37,040
and Calav steam cleaning contract for

1113
01:38:37,040 --> 01:38:40,159
sidewalk and garage pressure washing. In

1114
01:38:40,159 --> 01:38:42,320
terms of the wireless communication

1115
01:38:42,320 --> 01:38:44,639
facility regulations, the city council

1116
01:38:44,639 --> 01:38:47,040
held a public hearing on a draft

1117
01:38:47,040 --> 01:38:49,679
ordinance on May 19th followed by a

1118
01:38:49,679 --> 01:38:52,159
second reading uh which took place on

1119
01:38:52,159 --> 01:38:54,639
June 9th, 2025.

1120
01:38:54,639 --> 01:38:56,400
I'm going to now move to the next slide,

1121
01:38:56,400 --> 01:38:59,360
please. And I'm going to focus on

1122
01:38:59,360 --> 01:39:02,000
several projects. And you'll see on the

1123
01:39:02,000 --> 01:39:04,639
slide there that there are four projects

1124
01:39:04,639 --> 01:39:06,560
that are in bold. And so I'm just going

1125
01:39:06,560 --> 01:39:08,800
to give you uh an update on that. And

1126
01:39:08,800 --> 01:39:10,880
you'll also notice that in your report,

1127
01:39:10,880 --> 01:39:13,679
it indicates that these project projects

1128
01:39:13,679 --> 01:39:16,480
are behind. However, I want to say that

1129
01:39:16,480 --> 01:39:18,719
uh there actually is work being done and

1130
01:39:18,719 --> 01:39:22,239
it's in progress. So objective 211

1131
01:39:22,239 --> 01:39:24,719
outdoor activation of Cal Avenue.

1132
01:39:24,719 --> 01:39:25,760
Through this objective, the

1133
01:39:25,760 --> 01:39:27,760
architectural review board was formed to

1134
01:39:27,760 --> 01:39:30,239
provide feedback on permitting options,

1135
01:39:30,239 --> 01:39:32,639
parklet standards, and pre-approved

1136
01:39:32,639 --> 01:39:35,520
parklet design modifications for Calav.

1137
01:39:35,520 --> 01:39:37,679
Parklet and sidewalk dining options and

1138
01:39:37,679 --> 01:39:39,360
illustrations have been developed for

1139
01:39:39,360 --> 01:39:41,840
year-round weather based on merchant

1140
01:39:41,840 --> 01:39:43,600
feedback.

1141
01:39:43,600 --> 01:39:45,520
Next steps for this project consist of

1142
01:39:45,520 --> 01:39:48,000
an architectural re review board meeting

1143
01:39:48,000 --> 01:39:49,679
followed by a recommendation by city

1144
01:39:49,679 --> 01:39:51,520
council consider for city council

1145
01:39:51,520 --> 01:39:53,760
consideration by the close of the

1146
01:39:53,760 --> 01:39:57,679
current fiscal year. Objective 212 which

1147
01:39:57,679 --> 01:40:00,639
is the signed plan for Calav. This

1148
01:40:00,639 --> 01:40:02,560
project has been bifurcated into two

1149
01:40:02,560 --> 01:40:04,159
separate projects with one moving

1150
01:40:04,159 --> 01:40:06,480
forward and the other one on hold. The

1151
01:40:06,480 --> 01:40:08,320
project in progress is led by public

1152
01:40:08,320 --> 01:40:10,800
works and consists of two signs

1153
01:40:10,800 --> 01:40:12,639
including a monument sign that's located

1154
01:40:12,639 --> 01:40:15,679
at the El Camino Rial Calav intersection

1155
01:40:15,679 --> 01:40:17,840
and a welcome banner on Oregon

1156
01:40:17,840 --> 01:40:19,679
Expressway.

1157
01:40:19,679 --> 01:40:21,840
These are anticipated to be complete in

1158
01:40:21,840 --> 01:40:26,719
late quarter 3 or early Q4 2026. The

1159
01:40:26,719 --> 01:40:28,719
project on hold is the wayfinding

1160
01:40:28,719 --> 01:40:30,239
signage plan to ensure there is

1161
01:40:30,239 --> 01:40:32,639
additional business engagement and to

1162
01:40:32,639 --> 01:40:35,520
identify additional resources and m

1163
01:40:35,520 --> 01:40:37,760
maintenance needs.

1164
01:40:37,760 --> 01:40:40,560
Objective 215. This is the street design

1165
01:40:40,560 --> 01:40:43,360
for Ramona Street. The project is led by

1166
01:40:43,360 --> 01:40:46,320
public works. The spherical bowlards and

1167
01:40:46,320 --> 01:40:48,159
meridian barriers will be installed on

1168
01:40:48,159 --> 01:40:50,639
Ramona Street for pedestrian safety by

1169
01:40:50,639 --> 01:40:52,800
the end of this month which will result

1170
01:40:52,800 --> 01:40:54,800
in the removal of the orange water

1171
01:40:54,800 --> 01:40:58,239
barriers. Objective 222 which is the

1172
01:40:58,239 --> 01:41:00,960
retail vibrancy ordinance. This project

1173
01:41:00,960 --> 01:41:02,800
is led by planning and development

1174
01:41:02,800 --> 01:41:05,520
services. The proposed options and

1175
01:41:05,520 --> 01:41:07,520
recommendations will reduce regulatory

1176
01:41:07,520 --> 01:41:09,760
barriers for businesses applying for

1177
01:41:09,760 --> 01:41:12,639
permits and will result in a more robust

1178
01:41:12,639 --> 01:41:14,960
retail environment. So the next steps

1179
01:41:14,960 --> 01:41:17,440
for us will be to get in front of the

1180
01:41:17,440 --> 01:41:19,920
retail committee on January 22nd and

1181
01:41:19,920 --> 01:41:21,440
thereafter the process requires

1182
01:41:21,440 --> 01:41:22,639
returning to the planning and

1183
01:41:22,639 --> 01:41:24,239
transportation commission followed by

1184
01:41:24,239 --> 01:41:27,280
the city council's consideration for the

1185
01:41:27,280 --> 01:41:30,880
retail revitalization strategy in Q2 of

1186
01:41:30,880 --> 01:41:32,400
2026.

1187
01:41:32,400 --> 01:41:35,440
That concludes the uh this priority

1188
01:41:35,440 --> 01:41:37,600
project update and I'll be available for

1189
01:41:37,600 --> 01:41:39,520
questions after the presentation. Thank

1190
01:41:39,520 --> 01:41:41,600
you.

1191
01:41:41,600 --> 01:41:44,480
Okay, our next priority is implementing

1192
01:41:44,480 --> 01:41:46,719
housing strategies for social and

1193
01:41:46,719 --> 01:41:50,480
economic balance. And to uh provide a

1194
01:41:50,480 --> 01:41:53,199
summary of that is Mr. Lee.

1195
01:41:53,199 --> 01:41:56,870
>> Good evening, mayor and city council.

1196
01:41:56,870 --> 01:41:56,880
» Good evening, mayor and city council.

1197
01:41:56,880 --> 01:42:00,560
About uh let's see, 70% of our um

1198
01:42:00,560 --> 01:42:02,080
housing strategies for social and

1199
01:42:02,080 --> 01:42:04,400
economic balance are either completed or

1200
01:42:04,400 --> 01:42:07,360
um on track. Uh many of these are

1201
01:42:07,360 --> 01:42:09,760
reflected on the um accomplishments to

1202
01:42:09,760 --> 01:42:12,320
the right. We have uh introduced a

1203
01:42:12,320 --> 01:42:15,440
number of uh housing production related

1204
01:42:15,440 --> 01:42:18,000
ordinances that are increasing uh

1205
01:42:18,000 --> 01:42:19,679
housing production on our commercial

1206
01:42:19,679 --> 01:42:23,040
areas and in multif family areas. We

1207
01:42:23,040 --> 01:42:25,600
have uh updated our accessory dwelling

1208
01:42:25,600 --> 01:42:28,719
unit ordinance and uh last year had our

1209
01:42:28,719 --> 01:42:31,360
highest uh number of ADU applications

1210
01:42:31,360 --> 01:42:34,159
filed with the city which was 244.

1211
01:42:34,159 --> 01:42:36,239
Every year we continue to see more of

1212
01:42:36,239 --> 01:42:38,960
those applications filed.

1213
01:42:38,960 --> 01:42:42,560
As a whole, we have over 3,000 units in

1214
01:42:42,560 --> 01:42:44,880
our pipeline uh for housing units that

1215
01:42:44,880 --> 01:42:46,560
are slated to be going through the

1216
01:42:46,560 --> 01:42:48,000
entitlement process and the building

1217
01:42:48,000 --> 01:42:50,320
permit process.

1218
01:42:50,320 --> 01:42:53,199
We begun have begun work on the uh San

1219
01:42:53,199 --> 01:42:56,000
Antonio Road area plan. Uh this is

1220
01:42:56,000 --> 01:42:58,000
moving quickly and there's a number of

1221
01:42:58,000 --> 01:42:59,199
meetings that are taking place this

1222
01:42:59,199 --> 01:43:01,040
quarter and the city council will have

1223
01:43:01,040 --> 01:43:02,239
an opportunity to weigh in on this

1224
01:43:02,239 --> 01:43:04,719
project again uh in early April and

1225
01:43:04,719 --> 01:43:08,080
again on June to provide a um direction

1226
01:43:08,080 --> 01:43:11,119
on a preferred um alternative.

1227
01:43:11,119 --> 01:43:13,280
Uh late last year the city council

1228
01:43:13,280 --> 01:43:15,679
considered a number of uh uh housing

1229
01:43:15,679 --> 01:43:19,520
options for the um 1acre parcel that we

1230
01:43:19,520 --> 01:43:21,600
are uh going to get as a part of the

1231
01:43:21,600 --> 01:43:25,440
subra uh development agreement. Um

1232
01:43:25,440 --> 01:43:27,840
and we also entered into and made a lot

1233
01:43:27,840 --> 01:43:31,920
of uh progress on um lot t uh engaging

1234
01:43:31,920 --> 01:43:34,400
with alta housing and we anticipate an

1235
01:43:34,400 --> 01:43:37,119
application to be filed uh very shortly

1236
01:43:37,119 --> 01:43:40,080
for that project. Uh work was uh

1237
01:43:40,080 --> 01:43:42,320
presented to the city council and uh

1238
01:43:42,320 --> 01:43:43,760
staff received direction on the fair

1239
01:43:43,760 --> 01:43:45,920
chance ordinance. We have updated our

1240
01:43:45,920 --> 01:43:47,440
development impact fees and more

1241
01:43:47,440 --> 01:43:49,679
recently have embarked on a much larger

1242
01:43:49,679 --> 01:43:51,280
project to update all of our development

1243
01:43:51,280 --> 01:43:53,280
impact fees and to do a housing uh

1244
01:43:53,280 --> 01:43:54,800
feasibility study as a part of that

1245
01:43:54,800 --> 01:43:57,840
effort. [sighs] And we've also initiated

1246
01:43:57,840 --> 01:43:59,760
um phase one to address oversized

1247
01:43:59,760 --> 01:44:02,320
vehicle impacts. If we can go to the

1248
01:44:02,320 --> 01:44:04,560
next slide, please.

1249
01:44:04,560 --> 01:44:06,560
Uh there are some projects that are uh

1250
01:44:06,560 --> 01:44:10,400
either uh behind or on hold. Um starting

1251
01:44:10,400 --> 01:44:12,400
with project home key which will provide

1252
01:44:12,400 --> 01:44:14,320
transitional housing and services for

1253
01:44:14,320 --> 01:44:16,560
unhoused residents. This is a project

1254
01:44:16,560 --> 01:44:19,280
that met some initial uh project delays

1255
01:44:19,280 --> 01:44:22,080
uh in the construction uh process but a

1256
01:44:22,080 --> 01:44:25,280
revised schedule uh midyear last year.

1257
01:44:25,280 --> 01:44:27,520
Uh remains on track with that project

1258
01:44:27,520 --> 01:44:30,320
anticipated to um be completed in

1259
01:44:30,320 --> 01:44:33,840
spring. Um the next priority or

1260
01:44:33,840 --> 01:44:37,199
objective to identify uh funding sources

1261
01:44:37,199 --> 01:44:40,239
for affordable uh housing development is

1262
01:44:40,239 --> 01:44:42,320
currently on hold. Uh much of the staff

1263
01:44:42,320 --> 01:44:43,600
that would be working on this is

1264
01:44:43,600 --> 01:44:45,280
currently working on project home key

1265
01:44:45,280 --> 01:44:48,000
and also our oversized vehicle uh

1266
01:44:48,000 --> 01:44:50,719
program. So there's a resource challenge

1267
01:44:50,719 --> 01:44:53,440
there. The next two items related to the

1268
01:44:53,440 --> 01:44:55,679
retail uh excuse me the rental registry

1269
01:44:55,679 --> 01:44:58,880
program and anti- rent gouging um are

1270
01:44:58,880 --> 01:45:00,960
expected to go to policy and services I

1271
01:45:00,960 --> 01:45:03,440
believe in March uh with updates. We

1272
01:45:03,440 --> 01:45:04,800
have some good data from the rental

1273
01:45:04,800 --> 01:45:06,560
registry program. Uh we've just been a

1274
01:45:06,560 --> 01:45:08,480
little bit delayed in getting it to uh

1275
01:45:08,480 --> 01:45:10,400
to the council to share that information

1276
01:45:10,400 --> 01:45:13,920
with you. And uh the second to last one

1277
01:45:13,920 --> 01:45:15,520
is the downtown housing plan. This one

1278
01:45:15,520 --> 01:45:18,480
is actually mostly on track. Um you'll

1279
01:45:18,480 --> 01:45:22,400
recall uh last year SB79 became um was

1280
01:45:22,400 --> 01:45:24,800
adopted or signed into law. It becomes

1281
01:45:24,800 --> 01:45:27,760
effective in July. Uh we look forward to

1282
01:45:27,760 --> 01:45:29,440
meeting with the city council appointed

1283
01:45:29,440 --> 01:45:31,760
ad hoc from late last year to uh have

1284
01:45:31,760 --> 01:45:33,360
some discussions to decide to what

1285
01:45:33,360 --> 01:45:35,360
extent if at all we want to incorporate

1286
01:45:35,360 --> 01:45:38,239
SB79 into that uh planning initiative.

1287
01:45:38,239 --> 01:45:40,960
And the last item on this list is um

1288
01:45:40,960 --> 01:45:43,119
looking at ways to um further

1289
01:45:43,119 --> 01:45:45,360
incentivize um housing development over

1290
01:45:45,360 --> 01:45:46,960
commercial development by possibly

1291
01:45:46,960 --> 01:45:49,600
adjusting um commercial floor area in

1292
01:45:49,600 --> 01:45:51,679
our commercial zones. And with that, I

1293
01:45:51,679 --> 01:45:56,229
will turn it over back to Lepita.

1294
01:45:56,239 --> 01:45:59,679
» Okay. Up next is our last priority on

1295
01:45:59,679 --> 01:46:02,719
public safety, wellness, and belonging.

1296
01:46:02,719 --> 01:46:05,840
And here to present that is Miss Cotton

1297
01:46:05,840 --> 01:46:08,239
Gaines. Good evening, mayor and city

1298
01:46:08,239 --> 01:46:10,239
council. Chantel Cotton Gains, deputy

1299
01:46:10,239 --> 01:46:13,040
city manager. Uh really excited to give

1300
01:46:13,040 --> 01:46:15,280
a very brief overview of the last

1301
01:46:15,280 --> 01:46:17,679
priority section, particularly because

1302
01:46:17,679 --> 01:46:20,400
most of the objectives are completed.

1303
01:46:20,400 --> 01:46:24,239
And so just wanted to uh visually show

1304
01:46:24,239 --> 01:46:25,679
some of the progress made over the

1305
01:46:25,679 --> 01:46:27,040
course of this year. You should see

1306
01:46:27,040 --> 01:46:29,679
yourself and some photos on the screen.

1307
01:46:29,679 --> 01:46:31,679
Uh so see your work also reflected in

1308
01:46:31,679 --> 01:46:33,119
what's happening. So we were able to

1309
01:46:33,119 --> 01:46:35,520
open the public safety building. Uh, a

1310
01:46:35,520 --> 01:46:37,040
lot of work went into that by a lot of

1311
01:46:37,040 --> 01:46:39,679
folks. So, um, tons of gratitude there.

1312
01:46:39,679 --> 01:46:42,159
Also, fire station 4 groundbreaking was

1313
01:46:42,159 --> 01:46:44,400
referenced earlier this evening. Uh,

1314
01:46:44,400 --> 01:46:46,080
being able to award that contract was

1315
01:46:46,080 --> 01:46:47,920
one of the items on the list. And so,

1316
01:46:47,920 --> 01:46:50,239
last uh, week is a great time for us to

1317
01:46:50,239 --> 01:46:53,440
show that visually to the community. Uh

1318
01:46:53,440 --> 01:46:55,199
you also see there one of the items that

1319
01:46:55,199 --> 01:46:57,199
is on the equity action plan or wellness

1320
01:46:57,199 --> 01:46:59,119
and belonging action plan was being able

1321
01:46:59,119 --> 01:47:01,440
to have a dashboard that is having all

1322
01:47:01,440 --> 01:47:03,600
of our workforce demographic information

1323
01:47:03,600 --> 01:47:06,800
available to the public so that um that

1324
01:47:06,800 --> 01:47:08,159
information is able to be seen,

1325
01:47:08,159 --> 01:47:10,000
understood, people can analyze it. It

1326
01:47:10,000 --> 01:47:12,080
was a static PDF the year before and

1327
01:47:12,080 --> 01:47:14,400
we've been able to make that into a

1328
01:47:14,400 --> 01:47:16,320
interactive dashboard. And so that's one

1329
01:47:16,320 --> 01:47:18,400
of many items in the action plan but one

1330
01:47:18,400 --> 01:47:20,639
that we're really proud of completing.

1331
01:47:20,639 --> 01:47:22,719
The other item on here is coverly master

1332
01:47:22,719 --> 01:47:24,880
plan. So also referenced earlier this

1333
01:47:24,880 --> 01:47:26,800
evening. Lots of work going into that

1334
01:47:26,800 --> 01:47:29,040
through the ad hoc committee and staff

1335
01:47:29,040 --> 01:47:31,119
um and continuing to progress that very

1336
01:47:31,119 --> 01:47:33,520
important initiative forward. The last

1337
01:47:33,520 --> 01:47:35,360
image that's reflected on the screen is

1338
01:47:35,360 --> 01:47:37,920
enhance and expand inclusive programs

1339
01:47:37,920 --> 01:47:40,239
and services. And so you see a great

1340
01:47:40,239 --> 01:47:42,719
event there that was put on by our

1341
01:47:42,719 --> 01:47:44,400
community services department. It's just

1342
01:47:44,400 --> 01:47:45,920
one example of the work they're doing.

1343
01:47:45,920 --> 01:47:47,679
We have a new staff member that came on

1344
01:47:47,679 --> 01:47:49,760
board in December. Uh and so we're

1345
01:47:49,760 --> 01:47:51,520
really looking forward to enhancing that

1346
01:47:51,520 --> 01:47:54,960
work throughout the year. So next slide,

1347
01:47:54,960 --> 01:47:57,440
please. The few items that are remaining

1348
01:47:57,440 --> 01:48:00,639
for us to continue to work on are the

1349
01:48:00,639 --> 01:48:02,480
three that are on the screen. So the

1350
01:48:02,480 --> 01:48:04,320
first is implementing the wellness and

1351
01:48:04,320 --> 01:48:06,960
belonging action plan. There are 26

1352
01:48:06,960 --> 01:48:08,880
items that are on that action plan and

1353
01:48:08,880 --> 01:48:11,920
we also added the training related to

1354
01:48:11,920 --> 01:48:13,440
Islamophobia,

1355
01:48:13,440 --> 01:48:16,000
anti-semitism, and anti-Palestinian hate

1356
01:48:16,000 --> 01:48:18,159
as one of those items. And so we have

1357
01:48:18,159 --> 01:48:20,159
been advancing along the way, but not

1358
01:48:20,159 --> 01:48:22,480
all of the 26 items are completed. And

1359
01:48:22,480 --> 01:48:25,280
so we have that still here as um still

1360
01:48:25,280 --> 01:48:27,840
moving along, but it is behind schedule.

1361
01:48:27,840 --> 01:48:30,719
The other item on here is open 445 Brian

1362
01:48:30,719 --> 01:48:32,320
Street Community Center and it's

1363
01:48:32,320 --> 01:48:34,560
actually uh soft open right now. So

1364
01:48:34,560 --> 01:48:36,080
between the time of the printing of this

1365
01:48:36,080 --> 01:48:38,560
report and today, uh we can mark this

1366
01:48:38,560 --> 01:48:41,520
one as completed as well. And the last

1367
01:48:41,520 --> 01:48:45,040
item uh which is related to Gatsby or

1368
01:48:45,040 --> 01:48:47,920
sorry not Gatsby sorry GBAZ which is the

1369
01:48:47,920 --> 01:48:51,040
groundbased augmentation system project

1370
01:48:51,040 --> 01:48:52,480
uh our staff has done quite a bit of

1371
01:48:52,480 --> 01:48:54,560
work with that along with uh vice mayor

1372
01:48:54,560 --> 01:48:56,880
stone in terms of engaging with SFO

1373
01:48:56,880 --> 01:49:00,320
staff to review complete and appeal um

1374
01:49:00,320 --> 01:49:03,119
the SFO's draft EIR and recommended

1375
01:49:03,119 --> 01:49:04,800
airport plan. So, there has been a lot

1376
01:49:04,800 --> 01:49:06,719
of work done on this item, but because

1377
01:49:06,719 --> 01:49:09,760
the item specifically says to um call

1378
01:49:09,760 --> 01:49:12,800
out and I believe related to a

1379
01:49:12,800 --> 01:49:15,199
consultant help, we still mark that as

1380
01:49:15,199 --> 01:49:17,760
um ongoing as opposed to marking it as

1381
01:49:17,760 --> 01:49:19,199
complete. But a lot of work has been

1382
01:49:19,199 --> 01:49:20,480
done throughout the year related to

1383
01:49:20,480 --> 01:49:22,480
that. And that concludes this section.

1384
01:49:22,480 --> 01:49:24,960
Thank you.

1385
01:49:24,960 --> 01:49:27,350
>> Thank you. Um, and before we conclude

1386
01:49:27,350 --> 01:49:27,360
» Thank you. Um, and before we conclude

1387
01:49:27,360 --> 01:49:30,239
this section, um, and turn it back to,

1388
01:49:30,239 --> 01:49:32,480
uh, the council for questions or

1389
01:49:32,480 --> 01:49:34,480
feedback, I did also want to point out

1390
01:49:34,480 --> 01:49:38,159
that we have launched our, um, council

1391
01:49:38,159 --> 01:49:41,600
priorities dashboard. These are now uh,

1392
01:49:41,600 --> 01:49:44,080
available on the city council priorities

1393
01:49:44,080 --> 01:49:46,000
web page, and it's just an improvement

1394
01:49:46,000 --> 01:49:48,800
of how the community can um, engage a

1395
01:49:48,800 --> 01:49:52,000
little better with the um, objectives

1396
01:49:52,000 --> 01:49:53,840
and and the priorities set by this

1397
01:49:53,840 --> 01:49:56,480
council.

1398
01:49:56,480 --> 01:50:00,639
And with that, I'll turn it back to um

1399
01:50:00,639 --> 01:50:03,679
Oh, I was going to do this.

1400
01:50:03,679 --> 01:50:13,280
Okay. All right. Okay. Next, we will um

1401
01:50:13,280 --> 01:50:16,639
present also on the um 26 city council

1402
01:50:16,639 --> 01:50:21,750
retreat process.

1403
01:50:21,760 --> 01:50:23,920
On uh December 9th, the policy and

1404
01:50:23,920 --> 01:50:25,760
services committee met to provide

1405
01:50:25,760 --> 01:50:27,760
feedback on the retreat process as is

1406
01:50:27,760 --> 01:50:31,199
called in the council handbook. Um at

1407
01:50:31,199 --> 01:50:33,760
the at its meeting, the U policy and

1408
01:50:33,760 --> 01:50:35,600
services committee recommended that the

1409
01:50:35,600 --> 01:50:38,239
council continue its 2025 priorities

1410
01:50:38,239 --> 01:50:40,239
into 2026.

1411
01:50:40,239 --> 01:50:43,600
as well. Uh then discussed that the uh

1412
01:50:43,600 --> 01:50:46,639
focus of the retreat would um best be

1413
01:50:46,639 --> 01:50:49,280
served by focusing on maybe the

1414
01:50:49,280 --> 01:50:51,040
development and prioritization

1415
01:50:51,040 --> 01:50:54,080
prioritization of mid-level goals. And

1416
01:50:54,080 --> 01:50:58,719
this idea of middle level goals is a um

1417
01:50:58,719 --> 01:51:01,760
way to bridge our existing framework of

1418
01:51:01,760 --> 01:51:04,480
council priorities which is very high

1419
01:51:04,480 --> 01:51:08,560
level um areas um to very to our council

1420
01:51:08,560 --> 01:51:12,239
objectives which are very um specific um

1421
01:51:12,239 --> 01:51:15,920
and um smarty uh projects. So the idea

1422
01:51:15,920 --> 01:51:18,159
of mid-level goals is a desire to bridge

1423
01:51:18,159 --> 01:51:21,920
those um two and create uh more

1424
01:51:21,920 --> 01:51:26,560
mid-level um goals to um identify what

1425
01:51:26,560 --> 01:51:30,800
should be achieved in that year.

1426
01:51:30,800 --> 01:51:34,400
So the proposed agenda um if this is

1427
01:51:34,400 --> 01:51:37,360
what the council should uh desire would

1428
01:51:37,360 --> 01:51:40,719
then focus on orienting um the focus of

1429
01:51:40,719 --> 01:51:43,199
the retreat. Uh opening up with a

1430
01:51:43,199 --> 01:51:45,679
question on on retreat focus followed by

1431
01:51:45,679 --> 01:51:48,719
a discussion on any suggested mid-level

1432
01:51:48,719 --> 01:51:52,080
goals and a pri prioritization of those.

1433
01:51:52,080 --> 01:51:54,560
And then following um that would be a

1434
01:51:54,560 --> 01:51:56,719
discussion on ad hoc committees and the

1435
01:51:56,719 --> 01:52:00,080
strategies um to achieve our goals and

1436
01:52:00,080 --> 01:52:05,750
then followed by next steps.

1437
01:52:05,760 --> 01:52:08,880
So in conclusion what we are asking um

1438
01:52:08,880 --> 01:52:12,400
the the council tonight is then to

1439
01:52:12,400 --> 01:52:15,840
provide provide us with um any questions

1440
01:52:15,840 --> 01:52:18,880
or feedback on the outcomes of the 2025

1441
01:52:18,880 --> 01:52:21,920
priorities. Um and with that looking

1442
01:52:21,920 --> 01:52:24,239
into 2026

1443
01:52:24,239 --> 01:52:27,760
um as well as provide um feedback on the

1444
01:52:27,760 --> 01:52:31,360
um recommended process uh as as

1445
01:52:31,360 --> 01:52:32,960
described by policy and services

1446
01:52:32,960 --> 01:52:36,400
committee for the 2026 retreat.

1447
01:52:36,400 --> 01:52:38,560
So, if I could just close um to

1448
01:52:38,560 --> 01:52:40,880
reiterate this last point, we've we've

1449
01:52:40,880 --> 01:52:42,480
certainly heard uh from the committee

1450
01:52:42,480 --> 01:52:43,760
specifically and the council more

1451
01:52:43,760 --> 01:52:46,239
generally or PNS committee as I'm

1452
01:52:46,239 --> 01:52:48,800
referring to that uh for your retreat on

1453
01:52:48,800 --> 01:52:50,880
January 24th, the desire to kind of

1454
01:52:50,880 --> 01:52:54,480
level up the u priorities as they're

1455
01:52:54,480 --> 01:52:57,360
described. We've got a recommendation to

1456
01:52:57,360 --> 01:52:59,599
proceed with the basic four priorities.

1457
01:52:59,599 --> 01:53:03,199
It has been uh u adopted by the council

1458
01:53:03,199 --> 01:53:05,840
for 2025. And so the real question for

1459
01:53:05,840 --> 01:53:09,679
2026 is how much detail and in what

1460
01:53:09,679 --> 01:53:12,639
areas you want to uh focus any

1461
01:53:12,639 --> 01:53:16,400
supplement. Uh again gotten the

1462
01:53:16,400 --> 01:53:18,960
impression that 70 objectives was a bit

1463
01:53:18,960 --> 01:53:22,320
much. So an interest in reducing that uh

1464
01:53:22,320 --> 01:53:24,800
to a more manageable set. So I think

1465
01:53:24,800 --> 01:53:28,320
that that's the plan going into our uh

1466
01:53:28,320 --> 01:53:31,119
retreat for the 24th and would uh uh

1467
01:53:31,119 --> 01:53:32,480
certainly look forward to any feedback

1468
01:53:32,480 --> 01:53:35,760
you have uh this evening.

1469
01:53:35,760 --> 01:53:37,440
All right. Well, thank you uh thank you

1470
01:53:37,440 --> 01:53:39,599
Miss Alamos for coordinating all of

1471
01:53:39,599 --> 01:53:42,000
this. Uh thank you to all the staff for

1472
01:53:42,000 --> 01:53:44,480
their presentations and for being here

1473
01:53:44,480 --> 01:53:47,360
tonight. So many of you and honestly for

1474
01:53:47,360 --> 01:53:49,360
all the work by all the staff that went

1475
01:53:49,360 --> 01:53:52,480
into that 2025 report and uh achieving

1476
01:53:52,480 --> 01:53:56,960
all those objectives. Um, just as um,

1477
01:53:56,960 --> 01:53:59,119
PNS chair, I want to add just a couple

1478
01:53:59,119 --> 01:54:01,280
of comments on the go forward retreat

1479
01:54:01,280 --> 01:54:03,280
process because I'm I think all of us on

1480
01:54:03,280 --> 01:54:05,119
the committee are eager to hear what our

1481
01:54:05,119 --> 01:54:07,280
colleagues think would be a productive

1482
01:54:07,280 --> 01:54:09,119
way to conduct that, but I wanted to

1483
01:54:09,119 --> 01:54:11,520
give just a little more background on on

1484
01:54:11,520 --> 01:54:15,040
what you've described. Um, so first of

1485
01:54:15,040 --> 01:54:17,360
all, the the PNS recommendation to

1486
01:54:17,360 --> 01:54:19,440
continue those four priorities for a

1487
01:54:19,440 --> 01:54:22,560
second year, I believe, was affirming

1488
01:54:22,560 --> 01:54:24,639
council's prior recommendation that we

1489
01:54:24,639 --> 01:54:26,480
do this on a two-year cycle. We didn't

1490
01:54:26,480 --> 01:54:29,040
just come up with that as a new idea. We

1491
01:54:29,040 --> 01:54:31,199
were presented with, you know, the

1492
01:54:31,199 --> 01:54:32,639
council having thought about that before

1493
01:54:32,639 --> 01:54:34,239
and we looked at those priorities and

1494
01:54:34,239 --> 01:54:36,239
thought that was a good idea in this

1495
01:54:36,239 --> 01:54:38,800
instance given the priorities and how

1496
01:54:38,800 --> 01:54:43,040
they seem to continue to be such. Um

1497
01:54:43,040 --> 01:54:46,639
but yes uh you know following up on what

1498
01:54:46,639 --> 01:54:48,960
staff has said we we did notice of

1499
01:54:48,960 --> 01:54:50,560
course that those priorities are so

1500
01:54:50,560 --> 01:54:53,119
broad uh and high level that it really

1501
01:54:53,119 --> 01:54:56,400
didn't give staff a lot of direction.

1502
01:54:56,400 --> 01:54:58,159
So, we have four priorities and we had

1503
01:54:58,159 --> 01:55:00,639
70 objectives that were kind of a

1504
01:55:00,639 --> 01:55:03,119
laundry list or a to-do list of of of

1505
01:55:03,119 --> 01:55:05,280
how how to, you know, within those

1506
01:55:05,280 --> 01:55:06,880
priorities, but it really didn't have

1507
01:55:06,880 --> 01:55:08,880
council weighing in on timing or

1508
01:55:08,880 --> 01:55:13,840
importance of those. Um so the mid-level

1509
01:55:13,840 --> 01:55:16,639
goals that we're asking you know our

1510
01:55:16,639 --> 01:55:18,639
colleagues to propose discuss and

1511
01:55:18,639 --> 01:55:21,199
priorities prioritize

1512
01:55:21,199 --> 01:55:22,639
are really designed to give staff

1513
01:55:22,639 --> 01:55:25,360
greater direction without micromanaging

1514
01:55:25,360 --> 01:55:29,199
how they're accomplished. So we are

1515
01:55:29,199 --> 01:55:31,440
recommending discussing at the retreat

1516
01:55:31,440 --> 01:55:34,239
what is really missionritical and what

1517
01:55:34,239 --> 01:55:36,800
is somewhat more flexible recognizing

1518
01:55:36,800 --> 01:55:39,199
that it's all important work. And so,

1519
01:55:39,199 --> 01:55:43,440
um, and interestingly, I did notice that

1520
01:55:43,440 --> 01:55:44,800
you whereas we've kind of backed

1521
01:55:44,800 --> 01:55:46,719
ourselves backed into these, um,

1522
01:55:46,719 --> 01:55:48,719
mid-level goals, it's really consistent

1523
01:55:48,719 --> 01:55:51,520
with what the policies and procedures

1524
01:55:51,520 --> 01:55:53,679
uh, manual originally said about

1525
01:55:53,679 --> 01:55:57,199
objectives because it recommended that

1526
01:55:57,199 --> 01:55:59,360
uh, we have three to four priorities

1527
01:55:59,360 --> 01:56:01,599
with two to three objectives each. So,

1528
01:56:01,599 --> 01:56:03,199
even if you take the max of that, that

1529
01:56:03,199 --> 01:56:05,440
would be 12 objectives and we have 70.

1530
01:56:05,440 --> 01:56:07,280
So I think we're kind of going back to

1531
01:56:07,280 --> 01:56:09,520
that, you know, can we get a manageable

1532
01:56:09,520 --> 01:56:11,119
number that we can really sort of

1533
01:56:11,119 --> 01:56:13,599
compare and contrast uh in terms of the

1534
01:56:13,599 --> 01:56:17,440
advice we would give to staff. Um and

1535
01:56:17,440 --> 01:56:19,199
you know just to give you an like an

1536
01:56:19,199 --> 01:56:20,960
example um because sometimes that makes

1537
01:56:20,960 --> 01:56:23,280
it more real without really advocating

1538
01:56:23,280 --> 01:56:26,320
for any particular thing. Um you notice

1539
01:56:26,320 --> 01:56:28,480
like in the 2025 report we just went

1540
01:56:28,480 --> 01:56:30,719
through um on the uh economic

1541
01:56:30,719 --> 01:56:33,360
development and retail vibrancy um

1542
01:56:33,360 --> 01:56:35,520
priority there were a whole lot of

1543
01:56:35,520 --> 01:56:38,159
things about Ramona about Calav that

1544
01:56:38,159 --> 01:56:40,560
were individual objectives but perhaps a

1545
01:56:40,560 --> 01:56:42,880
mid-level goal is advanced car-free

1546
01:56:42,880 --> 01:56:44,960
streets. So, it's kind of, you know, do

1547
01:56:44,960 --> 01:56:48,480
we care about that versus maybe under

1548
01:56:48,480 --> 01:56:50,800
public safety, wellness, and belonging,

1549
01:56:50,800 --> 01:56:52,480
there's a whole lot of items about what

1550
01:56:52,480 --> 01:56:54,880
to do about Cberly, but maybe Cubberly

1551
01:56:54,880 --> 01:56:57,599
is in at a high level. Then how would we

1552
01:56:57,599 --> 01:57:01,199
how would we rank those in terms of uh

1553
01:57:01,199 --> 01:57:02,960
prioritization and and what needs to

1554
01:57:02,960 --> 01:57:04,400
happen fast, what needs to happen in

1555
01:57:04,400 --> 01:57:07,760
2026. So, that's kind of the feel for

1556
01:57:07,760 --> 01:57:10,000
why you have this recommendation in

1557
01:57:10,000 --> 01:57:15,520
front of you. Um, and the other why is

1558
01:57:15,520 --> 01:57:17,440
that last year we didn't get the 70

1559
01:57:17,440 --> 01:57:19,840
objectives set until May 5th, I think it

1560
01:57:19,840 --> 01:57:22,639
was. So, the year was literally like a

1561
01:57:22,639 --> 01:57:25,040
third gone by the time we even, you

1562
01:57:25,040 --> 01:57:27,440
know, signed off on the 70. So, we're

1563
01:57:27,440 --> 01:57:29,440
hoping we can do this more quickly. We

1564
01:57:29,440 --> 01:57:30,800
have the same group that had the

1565
01:57:30,800 --> 01:57:33,280
discussion last year. if we start with

1566
01:57:33,280 --> 01:57:35,679
those basic priorities or you know tweak

1567
01:57:35,679 --> 01:57:38,800
them a little but can really get at you

1568
01:57:38,800 --> 01:57:40,960
know spend our time together chewing

1569
01:57:40,960 --> 01:57:42,960
through what do we really care about for

1570
01:57:42,960 --> 01:57:47,280
2026. Um so and and can we get that to

1571
01:57:47,280 --> 01:57:49,280
staff you know in the next month or so

1572
01:57:49,280 --> 01:57:51,760
as opposed to 3 or four months later. So

1573
01:57:51,760 --> 01:57:54,560
that was the why. But I'm really you

1574
01:57:54,560 --> 01:57:56,400
know interested in everyone's thoughts

1575
01:57:56,400 --> 01:58:01,920
on on the how. Um, and I before I go uh

1576
01:58:01,920 --> 01:58:03,679
to others, I want to see if either of my

1577
01:58:03,679 --> 01:58:05,840
colleagues on the policy and services

1578
01:58:05,840 --> 01:58:07,920
committee would like to comment further

1579
01:58:07,920 --> 01:58:12,149
on that.

1580
01:58:12,159 --> 01:58:13,760
» I'm not getting a lot of enthusiasm. So,

1581
01:58:13,760 --> 01:58:16,480
apparently I got it close to right.

1582
01:58:16,480 --> 01:58:18,229
>> Okay, I guess I got it close to right.

1583
01:58:18,229 --> 01:58:18,239
» Okay, I guess I got it close to right.

1584
01:58:18,239 --> 01:58:20,639
Okay. Um, let's do uh one round of

1585
01:58:20,639 --> 01:58:21,920
comment and then we'll go to public

1586
01:58:21,920 --> 01:58:23,520
comment. Is that a legacy light or is

1587
01:58:23,520 --> 01:58:25,119
that a new light?

1588
01:58:25,119 --> 01:58:29,189
>> Oh, okay. Council member Beal.

1589
01:58:29,189 --> 01:58:29,199
» Oh, okay. Council member Beal.

1590
01:58:29,199 --> 01:58:31,520
Yeah, I agree with the policy and

1591
01:58:31,520 --> 01:58:35,119
services that I think the organization

1592
01:58:35,119 --> 01:58:36,320
last year ended up being a little

1593
01:58:36,320 --> 01:58:39,040
unfocused and having 70 we really spread

1594
01:58:39,040 --> 01:58:41,599
our attention and I'd really like to I

1595
01:58:41,599 --> 01:58:44,000
think trim that down we'd have better uh

1596
01:58:44,000 --> 01:58:46,159
production I think uh you know in the

1597
01:58:46,159 --> 01:58:48,719
past we've had or we still do have these

1598
01:58:48,719 --> 01:58:51,440
enduring values then we also have

1599
01:58:51,440 --> 01:58:53,040
priorities and the priorities were meant

1600
01:58:53,040 --> 01:58:57,199
to be uh narrow categories that where we

1601
01:58:57,199 --> 01:58:59,360
were going to make exceptional progress

1602
01:58:59,360 --> 01:59:02,239
over a shortterm period. And now if you

1603
01:59:02,239 --> 01:59:04,719
look at our past 10 years, nine of the

1604
01:59:04,719 --> 01:59:06,480
past 10 years we've had housing on it.

1605
01:59:06,480 --> 01:59:08,080
And that doesn't smell like a short-term

1606
01:59:08,080 --> 01:59:09,840
priority. That smells like an enduring

1607
01:59:09,840 --> 01:59:12,960
value. And same with climate. Last seven

1608
01:59:12,960 --> 01:59:15,119
years we've had climate on. And so that

1609
01:59:15,119 --> 01:59:16,639
also would be another enduring value.

1610
01:59:16,639 --> 01:59:18,000
And those are both really important

1611
01:59:18,000 --> 01:59:20,639
things. But I'm not sure if it makes

1612
01:59:20,639 --> 01:59:22,960
sense if you're going with a model that

1613
01:59:22,960 --> 01:59:24,639
the priorities are short-term where you

1614
01:59:24,639 --> 01:59:26,000
really want to catch up. you really want

1615
01:59:26,000 --> 01:59:28,960
to make extraordinary progress on these

1616
01:59:28,960 --> 01:59:32,480
narrow items, then housing and climate

1617
01:59:32,480 --> 01:59:34,880
should be an enduring value. But the way

1618
01:59:34,880 --> 01:59:36,719
it's set up right now, we don't tie any

1619
01:59:36,719 --> 01:59:38,480
objectives to enduring values. And so

1620
01:59:38,480 --> 01:59:39,840
I'm not sure how exactly how to work

1621
01:59:39,840 --> 01:59:43,280
that if you have climate tasks that you

1622
01:59:43,280 --> 01:59:45,280
think are really important. How would

1623
01:59:45,280 --> 01:59:48,080
you wrap that? Because right now all our

1624
01:59:48,080 --> 01:59:50,239
objectives are tied to priority. Well,

1625
01:59:50,239 --> 01:59:51,760
that's the other thing is that not every

1626
01:59:51,760 --> 01:59:54,639
good idea has to be a priority. We have

1627
01:59:54,639 --> 01:59:57,520
70 items on here. Some of them are I

1628
01:59:57,520 --> 01:59:59,520
mean all of them are pretty good ideas.

1629
01:59:59,520 --> 02:00:01,199
I looked through the last night and say,

1630
02:00:01,199 --> 02:00:02,560
"Well, would I throw any of these out?"

1631
02:00:02,560 --> 02:00:03,840
And they all No, they're all really

1632
02:00:03,840 --> 02:00:06,880
good. Uh but I think we really want to

1633
02:00:06,880 --> 02:00:08,719
say no, not every good idea goes on the

1634
02:00:08,719 --> 02:00:10,480
priority list. I think we really want to

1635
02:00:10,480 --> 02:00:12,800
reserve that for great ideas. And the

1636
02:00:12,800 --> 02:00:14,080
other good ideas we're going to do

1637
02:00:14,080 --> 02:00:16,239
anyway, but this is really where are we

1638
02:00:16,239 --> 02:00:18,320
going to concentrate? Where can like for

1639
02:00:18,320 --> 02:00:20,480
example home key really important for

1640
02:00:20,480 --> 02:00:22,960
the city? I'm not sure how much leverage

1641
02:00:22,960 --> 02:00:26,719
we had to accelerate home key. Uh and so

1642
02:00:26,719 --> 02:00:28,400
should have that been on that list

1643
02:00:28,400 --> 02:00:30,639
because even if it was important to us,

1644
02:00:30,639 --> 02:00:32,320
even if we wanted to accelerated, I

1645
02:00:32,320 --> 02:00:34,080
don't think we had the ability to. So I

1646
02:00:34,080 --> 02:00:35,199
question whether that should be on

1647
02:00:35,199 --> 02:00:38,800
there. Okay. Thank you.

1648
02:00:38,800 --> 02:00:40,229
>> Thank you. And I guess one thing I

1649
02:00:40,229 --> 02:00:40,239
» Thank you. And I guess one thing I

1650
02:00:40,239 --> 02:00:44,080
forgot to mention is that um for the

1651
02:00:44,080 --> 02:00:45,679
objectives themselves down at the more

1652
02:00:45,679 --> 02:00:48,639
granular level just out of the committee

1653
02:00:48,639 --> 02:00:52,239
uh we were also uh recommending that

1654
02:00:52,239 --> 02:00:54,480
those be prioritized into the tier one

1655
02:00:54,480 --> 02:00:56,480
and two as described in the staff report

1656
02:00:56,480 --> 02:01:00,560
and I personally um was under the

1657
02:01:00,560 --> 02:01:01,920
impression coming out of the committee

1658
02:01:01,920 --> 02:01:03,440
meeting I didn't it didn't get captured

1659
02:01:03,440 --> 02:01:04,960
in the staff report so I don't know what

1660
02:01:04,960 --> 02:01:07,840
my colleagues think uh was that we could

1661
02:01:07,840 --> 02:01:09,599
still it's It's not like we couldn't

1662
02:01:09,599 --> 02:01:12,400
suggest um objectives or things to do

1663
02:01:12,400 --> 02:01:13,920
that we would like to see on the staff

1664
02:01:13,920 --> 02:01:16,320
list. It was more just aimed at that

1665
02:01:16,320 --> 02:01:18,560
higher level prioritization as in terms

1666
02:01:18,560 --> 02:01:22,239
of spending our time. So I would still

1667
02:01:22,239 --> 02:01:25,440
like to see in there an ability to name

1668
02:01:25,440 --> 02:01:27,199
things that we thought were urgent for

1669
02:01:27,199 --> 02:01:30,000
this year. Um

1670
02:01:30,000 --> 02:01:34,229
so I just wanted to add that

1671
02:01:34,239 --> 02:01:37,360
uh Council Member Bert.

1672
02:01:37,360 --> 02:01:39,910
>> Thank you. Um so first I'd like to say

1673
02:01:39,910 --> 02:01:39,920
» Thank you. Um so first I'd like to say

1674
02:01:39,920 --> 02:01:44,480
that I think that um as much as this is

1675
02:01:44,480 --> 02:01:47,599
70 may be too many having them there

1676
02:01:47,599 --> 02:01:51,040
seems to have had a real impact on the

1677
02:01:51,040 --> 02:01:54,320
organization having clear focus and

1678
02:01:54,320 --> 02:01:56,400
deadlines that they are attempting to

1679
02:01:56,400 --> 02:01:58,320
hit. And even if they don't hit it on

1680
02:01:58,320 --> 02:02:00,719
all of them everybody is being

1681
02:02:00,719 --> 02:02:03,679
accountable for what were the reasons we

1682
02:02:03,679 --> 02:02:05,920
couldn't quite make it or what happened

1683
02:02:05,920 --> 02:02:08,639
or whatever. and and it it gives a real

1684
02:02:08,639 --> 02:02:12,560
ability to uh focus on what's important

1685
02:02:12,560 --> 02:02:14,960
um both internally in the organization

1686
02:02:14,960 --> 02:02:18,159
and as it gets reported to us and the

1687
02:02:18,159 --> 02:02:21,520
public and then um

1688
02:02:21,520 --> 02:02:23,599
uh so I I think there's real value there

1689
02:02:23,599 --> 02:02:26,080
that we want to continue to embrace and

1690
02:02:26,080 --> 02:02:28,639
that I guess the other part is even

1691
02:02:28,639 --> 02:02:30,400
though it's this real long list the city

1692
02:02:30,400 --> 02:02:33,440
manager has come back uh multiple times

1693
02:02:33,440 --> 02:02:36,000
during a year to give us updates is it

1694
02:02:36,000 --> 02:02:36,800
quarterly

1695
02:02:36,800 --> 02:02:41,280
Yeah. And it just has kept a focus and a

1696
02:02:41,280 --> 02:02:43,679
public awareness of all those things

1697
02:02:43,679 --> 02:02:46,000
that are being done. So I like the idea

1698
02:02:46,000 --> 02:02:48,400
of these mid-level way some of this may

1699
02:02:48,400 --> 02:02:53,599
be um uh uh nomenclature because I think

1700
02:02:53,599 --> 02:02:55,199
what we have in the procedures and

1701
02:02:55,199 --> 02:02:58,560
protocols talks about objectives and

1702
02:02:58,560 --> 02:03:00,960
these are really projects

1703
02:03:00,960 --> 02:03:04,320
um uh that would fulfill maybe certain

1704
02:03:04,320 --> 02:03:06,400
higher level objectives is how it might

1705
02:03:06,400 --> 02:03:08,880
be organized. So I I think we we can

1706
02:03:08,880 --> 02:03:11,040
still have both things and whether we

1707
02:03:11,040 --> 02:03:16,400
refine it um uh I'm open to that. Um

1708
02:03:16,400 --> 02:03:19,599
I I also like what PNS had talked about

1709
02:03:19,599 --> 02:03:23,040
on the um having these tiers of our most

1710
02:03:23,040 --> 02:03:25,840
important ones that we are going to try

1711
02:03:25,840 --> 02:03:29,199
to uh hell or high water accomplish and

1712
02:03:29,199 --> 02:03:31,760
the others are very important. Uh they

1713
02:03:31,760 --> 02:03:34,400
aren't maybe we'll do it but they just

1714
02:03:34,400 --> 02:03:37,280
aren't of the same highest importance.

1715
02:03:37,280 --> 02:03:40,719
And then um

1716
02:03:40,719 --> 02:03:42,880
uh one of the things that I as much as

1717
02:03:42,880 --> 02:03:46,080
I've valued this I thought that by

1718
02:03:46,080 --> 02:03:48,480
trying to take all these important

1719
02:03:48,480 --> 02:03:50,639
projects that are being done in the city

1720
02:03:50,639 --> 02:03:54,639
and it's a lot uh and shoehorn them in

1721
02:03:54,639 --> 02:03:57,199
to saying well they have to fit within a

1722
02:03:57,199 --> 02:03:59,760
council priority a council priority and

1723
02:03:59,760 --> 02:04:02,080
what I see is some of them actually help

1724
02:04:02,080 --> 02:04:04,480
fulfill more than one priority and

1725
02:04:04,480 --> 02:04:07,599
others don't really fit and yet we've

1726
02:04:07,599 --> 02:04:10,080
created this structure where it's there.

1727
02:04:10,080 --> 02:04:13,440
So I think from the way to format it

1728
02:04:13,440 --> 02:04:17,760
going forward I I would uh maybe have

1729
02:04:17,760 --> 02:04:20,320
another category that is all the others

1730
02:04:20,320 --> 02:04:23,360
and maybe look at how they align to core

1731
02:04:23,360 --> 02:04:26,400
values. I mean, we aren't replacing the

1732
02:04:26,400 --> 02:04:31,040
new bridge because we adopted climate ch

1733
02:04:31,040 --> 02:04:35,040
action as a priority. And even within uh

1734
02:04:35,040 --> 02:04:37,920
the great set of accomplishments on the

1735
02:04:37,920 --> 02:04:41,440
climate action area, about half of them

1736
02:04:41,440 --> 02:04:43,520
are things that we really didn't

1737
02:04:43,520 --> 02:04:46,080
initiate because we prioritize the

1738
02:04:46,080 --> 02:04:48,480
climate plan, which we have done in the

1739
02:04:48,480 --> 02:04:51,840
last four years or so. um we've really

1740
02:04:51,840 --> 02:04:54,560
elevated that uh prioritization and seen

1741
02:04:54,560 --> 02:04:56,960
real progress, but that didn't drive

1742
02:04:56,960 --> 02:04:59,199
these projects, some of these projects

1743
02:04:59,199 --> 02:05:01,119
being here. So, I think we should reook

1744
02:05:01,119 --> 02:05:04,320
at that. Um,

1745
02:05:04,320 --> 02:05:08,950
and then, um,

1746
02:05:08,960 --> 02:05:12,400
and then lastly, uh, I wanted to, um,

1747
02:05:12,400 --> 02:05:15,040
follow up on Council Member Rectal's

1748
02:05:15,040 --> 02:05:17,199
kind of

1749
02:05:17,199 --> 02:05:20,880
saying we we really have had a a number

1750
02:05:20,880 --> 02:05:25,360
of our council priorities that really, I

1751
02:05:25,360 --> 02:05:28,000
think, more are our enduring values and

1752
02:05:28,000 --> 02:05:30,560
that we may need to update those to make

1753
02:05:30,560 --> 02:05:34,000
them more clear to embrace those. But

1754
02:05:34,000 --> 02:05:37,040
once again, uh the the priorities can

1755
02:05:37,040 --> 02:05:39,760
change. I would say that this year we

1756
02:05:39,760 --> 02:05:44,080
should be considering um our our are

1757
02:05:44,080 --> 02:05:48,080
really our uh organizational uh

1758
02:05:48,080 --> 02:05:51,440
efficiency and innovation to be able to

1759
02:05:51,440 --> 02:05:53,280
accomplish what we're hoping to

1760
02:05:53,280 --> 02:05:56,400
accomplish with a tighter budget. I mean

1761
02:05:56,400 --> 02:05:58,639
this is going to drive a lot of things

1762
02:05:58,639 --> 02:06:02,159
and um and that may be a much more

1763
02:06:02,159 --> 02:06:07,040
focused area of one or two years. Um and

1764
02:06:07,040 --> 02:06:09,599
by no means do I as it's you all know

1765
02:06:09,599 --> 02:06:12,560
would I say oh I want to dep prioritize

1766
02:06:12,560 --> 02:06:15,199
our climate action plan for instance or

1767
02:06:15,199 --> 02:06:18,159
some of these others. Um but but that

1768
02:06:18,159 --> 02:06:22,080
can be in strengthening our our council

1769
02:06:22,080 --> 02:06:24,960
value statement for things that

1770
02:06:24,960 --> 02:06:26,960
our climate plan is not going to end in

1771
02:06:26,960 --> 02:06:29,280
two or three years and the climate issue

1772
02:06:29,280 --> 02:06:31,280
isn't going to end in that time frame.

1773
02:06:31,280 --> 02:06:32,960
So anyway, those are my initial

1774
02:06:32,960 --> 02:06:34,960
thoughts.

1775
02:06:34,960 --> 02:06:38,069
>> Thank you, Council Member Liths.

1776
02:06:38,069 --> 02:06:38,079
» Thank you, Council Member Liths.

1777
02:06:38,079 --> 02:06:41,350
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um

1778
02:06:41,350 --> 02:06:41,360
» Thank you, Mayor. Um

1779
02:06:41,360 --> 02:06:44,480
I think a challenge for me um going into

1780
02:06:44,480 --> 02:06:46,239
my fourth year of this is I think

1781
02:06:46,239 --> 02:06:48,000
everybody has maybe a slightly different

1782
02:06:48,000 --> 02:06:51,599
definition of value, priority,

1783
02:06:51,599 --> 02:06:54,719
objective, project, etc. And it's been

1784
02:06:54,719 --> 02:06:56,239
articulated a bit here tonight. Does

1785
02:06:56,239 --> 02:06:57,760
something belong at this level or this

1786
02:06:57,760 --> 02:06:59,920
level? um something enduring like

1787
02:06:59,920 --> 02:07:01,840
climate, housing, does that belong as an

1788
02:07:01,840 --> 02:07:03,360
enduring value instead of showing up

1789
02:07:03,360 --> 02:07:06,159
repeatedly on a priorities list which

1790
02:07:06,159 --> 02:07:08,159
our handbook until recently I think said

1791
02:07:08,159 --> 02:07:10,079
priorities do not repeat or priorities

1792
02:07:10,079 --> 02:07:11,440
only last for three years. Well, that's

1793
02:07:11,440 --> 02:07:13,520
clearly not been the case. So, we've

1794
02:07:13,520 --> 02:07:15,679
been trying to align our practice um

1795
02:07:15,679 --> 02:07:17,920
with our language. The question I want

1796
02:07:17,920 --> 02:07:19,920
to ask is

1797
02:07:19,920 --> 02:07:23,440
I feel like sometimes um the menu, what

1798
02:07:23,440 --> 02:07:25,840
do we call it? The placemat. What is it?

1799
02:07:25,840 --> 02:07:26,880
Placemat.

1800
02:07:26,880 --> 02:07:29,270
>> Placemat. the placemat as it's called

1801
02:07:29,270 --> 02:07:29,280
» Placemat. the placemat as it's called

1802
02:07:29,280 --> 02:07:32,079
this lengthy list of 70 objectives under

1803
02:07:32,079 --> 02:07:34,719
the four priorities which is updated for

1804
02:07:34,719 --> 02:07:37,280
us quarterly which we really appreciate.

1805
02:07:37,280 --> 02:07:39,440
I feel like sometimes the impression I

1806
02:07:39,440 --> 02:07:41,679
get from staff or maybe it's it's stated

1807
02:07:41,679 --> 02:07:43,840
outright is these are council's

1808
02:07:43,840 --> 02:07:45,520
objectives. There are too many. You

1809
02:07:45,520 --> 02:07:47,040
know, there's a lot. It's an exhaustive

1810
02:07:47,040 --> 02:07:49,040
list. We're busy with other things and

1811
02:07:49,040 --> 02:07:51,440
we got your 70 things. And it begs the

1812
02:07:51,440 --> 02:07:54,320
question, you know, wait a minute. These

1813
02:07:54,320 --> 02:07:56,400
aren't just council's pet projects that

1814
02:07:56,400 --> 02:07:58,480
we want to add to your workload. These

1815
02:07:58,480 --> 02:08:01,599
are actual in many cases things that

1816
02:08:01,599 --> 02:08:05,040
would be at top the staff list if you

1817
02:08:05,040 --> 02:08:06,560
guys were the ones creating the list and

1818
02:08:06,560 --> 02:08:09,040
telling us what matters most.

1819
02:08:09,040 --> 02:08:10,880
Put differently,

1820
02:08:10,880 --> 02:08:12,480
it might be helpful to know of the, you

1821
02:08:12,480 --> 02:08:14,159
know, there are 70 things that we're

1822
02:08:14,159 --> 02:08:18,000
paying attention to. Is that 1% of what

1823
02:08:18,000 --> 02:08:20,239
staff is doing, 10% of what staff is

1824
02:08:20,239 --> 02:08:23,599
doing, 50% of what staff is doing, most

1825
02:08:23,599 --> 02:08:26,320
of what more than 50% of what staff is

1826
02:08:26,320 --> 02:08:28,239
doing? I'm I'm trying to get clear on

1827
02:08:28,239 --> 02:08:29,840
what's

1828
02:08:29,840 --> 02:08:32,079
what are we adding to your plate in the

1829
02:08:32,079 --> 02:08:35,040
name of a council priority supported by

1830
02:08:35,040 --> 02:08:37,840
objectives that y'all would not

1831
02:08:37,840 --> 02:08:40,400
prioritize if council wasn't coming in

1832
02:08:40,400 --> 02:08:43,040
saying hey this matters to us and if

1833
02:08:43,040 --> 02:08:44,639
there aren't that many things on that

1834
02:08:44,639 --> 02:08:48,639
list and perhaps there are um I would

1835
02:08:48,639 --> 02:08:51,440
love to feel as we discuss this that we

1836
02:08:51,440 --> 02:08:55,599
are more aligned that this isn't council

1837
02:08:55,599 --> 02:08:57,520
yanken staff chain with these 70

1838
02:08:57,520 --> 02:09:00,800
placemat items, but rather this is a

1839
02:09:00,800 --> 02:09:02,560
joint articulation of, you know what,

1840
02:09:02,560 --> 02:09:06,880
these are the most, you know, urgent

1841
02:09:06,880 --> 02:09:08,880
important

1842
02:09:08,880 --> 02:09:12,320
um high high focus areas. And I I I

1843
02:09:12,320 --> 02:09:14,880
honestly don't know how many super

1844
02:09:14,880 --> 02:09:17,679
important things are not on this list,

1845
02:09:17,679 --> 02:09:21,440
uh, for example. Um, and why is that?

1846
02:09:21,440 --> 02:09:22,960
Why are those things not council

1847
02:09:22,960 --> 02:09:26,239
objectives? Um, so I know I'm, you know,

1848
02:09:26,239 --> 02:09:28,480
I'm sort of asking a big perhaps unclear

1849
02:09:28,480 --> 02:09:29,520
question, but you're nodding your head

1850
02:09:29,520 --> 02:09:31,360
and taking notes, so maybe you have some

1851
02:09:31,360 --> 02:09:35,510
idea of what I'm getting at.

1852
02:09:35,520 --> 02:09:43,830
» Thank you, Council Member Lowing.

1853
02:09:43,840 --> 02:09:45,199
» Okay. I thought the city manager was

1854
02:09:45,199 --> 02:09:46,480
going to respond to that question.

1855
02:09:46,480 --> 02:09:48,159
That's my pause, but it's okay.

1856
02:09:48,159 --> 02:09:51,270
>> Well, I I I could I to be honest, I'm

1857
02:09:51,270 --> 02:09:51,280
» Well, I I I could I to be honest, I'm

1858
02:09:51,280 --> 02:09:52,960
struggling a bit with it. I I would just

1859
02:09:52,960 --> 02:09:55,280
offer the reflection that we certainly

1860
02:09:55,280 --> 02:09:58,320
don't want to leave the impression that

1861
02:09:58,320 --> 02:09:59,679
things are only on the list because

1862
02:09:59,679 --> 02:10:02,400
they're important to you. To your point,

1863
02:10:02,400 --> 02:10:05,679
there is a shared ownership on uh I'd

1864
02:10:05,679 --> 02:10:07,599
say at least many if not all of the

1865
02:10:07,599 --> 02:10:10,400
items. Uh that said, we do look to the

1866
02:10:10,400 --> 02:10:13,280
council to tell us what you feel is the

1867
02:10:13,280 --> 02:10:15,840
most important and that reflects itself

1868
02:10:15,840 --> 02:10:18,400
not only in the list of what's on on our

1869
02:10:18,400 --> 02:10:19,920
priorities

1870
02:10:19,920 --> 02:10:22,159
as we've referred to as objectives, but

1871
02:10:22,159 --> 02:10:23,920
also what we bring forward as a part of

1872
02:10:23,920 --> 02:10:26,560
your budget, what we set in terms of the

1873
02:10:26,560 --> 02:10:29,520
the the policy options in front of you.

1874
02:10:29,520 --> 02:10:34,320
So uh I I would simply note that it's a

1875
02:10:34,320 --> 02:10:37,119
it's a shared u responsibility both for

1876
02:10:37,119 --> 02:10:39,920
development and uh the the

1877
02:10:39,920 --> 02:10:44,400
identification of what's on the list

1878
02:10:44,400 --> 02:10:46,629
>> and and just because we we come back to

1879
02:10:46,629 --> 02:10:46,639
» and and just because we we come back to

1880
02:10:46,639 --> 02:10:48,480
this and and I think that's what we were

1881
02:10:48,480 --> 02:10:50,800
trying to do with PNS was not have it

1882
02:10:50,800 --> 02:10:53,199
just be generated by council but have us

1883
02:10:53,199 --> 02:10:55,679
at this higher level of directionality

1884
02:10:55,679 --> 02:10:57,760
and prioritization and let the

1885
02:10:57,760 --> 02:10:59,360
professionals you

1886
02:10:59,360 --> 02:11:01,119
identify objectives. We can also pitch

1887
02:11:01,119 --> 02:11:02,480
in on that, but we don't necessarily

1888
02:11:02,480 --> 02:11:04,239
have to do that, all of those. So,

1889
02:11:04,239 --> 02:11:08,159
that's why it wouldn't be just ours.

1890
02:11:08,159 --> 02:11:08,480
Council

1891
02:11:08,480 --> 02:11:09,910
>> member Lowi.

1892
02:11:09,910 --> 02:11:09,920
» member Lowi.

1893
02:11:09,920 --> 02:11:13,350
>> Okay. Um, just a few things. One is

1894
02:11:13,350 --> 02:11:13,360
» Okay. Um, just a few things. One is

1895
02:11:13,360 --> 02:11:16,400
that, you know, the the 70 objectives um

1896
02:11:16,400 --> 02:11:18,639
even last year that felt a bit too big

1897
02:11:18,639 --> 02:11:21,440
for me. Not that they weren't object um

1898
02:11:21,440 --> 02:11:23,679
essential, but we don't need to know

1899
02:11:23,679 --> 02:11:26,320
that level of detail in some cases. So,

1900
02:11:26,320 --> 02:11:28,159
um I'm I'm in support of getting that

1901
02:11:28,159 --> 02:11:31,440
one way or the other uh down this year.

1902
02:11:31,440 --> 02:11:33,280
Also, the fact that most of these

1903
02:11:33,280 --> 02:11:35,199
objectives now that we're in January are

1904
02:11:35,199 --> 02:11:39,440
70ish 75% complete suggest that maybe at

1905
02:11:39,440 --> 02:11:41,679
least with the resources allocated, they

1906
02:11:41,679 --> 02:11:45,280
weren't achievable. Um not not I mean

1907
02:11:45,280 --> 02:11:46,639
that's discounting a couple that were

1908
02:11:46,639 --> 02:11:48,320
intentionally postponed that we all

1909
02:11:48,320 --> 02:11:49,871
understand.

1910
02:11:49,871 --> 02:11:50,229
>> [clears throat]

1911
02:11:50,229 --> 02:11:50,239
» [clears throat]

1912
02:11:50,239 --> 02:11:54,229
>> So, um, uh, secondly, I'm just strongly

1913
02:11:54,229 --> 02:11:54,239
» So, um, uh, secondly, I'm just strongly

1914
02:11:54,239 --> 02:11:56,800
in favor of the idea of waiting the

1915
02:11:56,800 --> 02:11:59,119
objectives. Um, I believe we talked

1916
02:11:59,119 --> 02:12:00,880
about that last year and decided not to

1917
02:12:00,880 --> 02:12:02,400
do it, but I really think that's an

1918
02:12:02,400 --> 02:12:04,239
important thing to do cuz even if it's

1919
02:12:04,239 --> 02:12:06,719
70 or if it's 50 or if it's 40, um, some

1920
02:12:06,719 --> 02:12:07,920
things are going to have to get, you

1921
02:12:07,920 --> 02:12:09,760
know, a lot of pedal to the metal and a

1922
02:12:09,760 --> 02:12:12,320
lot of financing and others not so much.

1923
02:12:12,320 --> 02:12:14,159
And we kind of know what those are. or

1924
02:12:14,159 --> 02:12:15,840
if we don't, that's also a way to sort

1925
02:12:15,840 --> 02:12:18,239
out um if staff doesn't really agree

1926
02:12:18,239 --> 02:12:20,000
with the urgency of a particular

1927
02:12:20,000 --> 02:12:22,800
priority. Uh we can upgrade that so that

1928
02:12:22,800 --> 02:12:25,920
we're all on the same page.

1929
02:12:25,920 --> 02:12:27,520
There's another discussion in there

1930
02:12:27,520 --> 02:12:30,480
about um

1931
02:12:30,480 --> 02:12:32,159
in terms of the prioritization that

1932
02:12:32,159 --> 02:12:35,119
might be based on if it was skipped

1933
02:12:35,119 --> 02:12:37,599
there's not an immediate risk to the

1934
02:12:37,599 --> 02:12:40,880
process which I don't think is

1935
02:12:40,880 --> 02:12:43,280
full enough because that's sort of the

1936
02:12:43,280 --> 02:12:45,360
downside of well nothing's going to die

1937
02:12:45,360 --> 02:12:46,560
you know nobody's going to die or

1938
02:12:46,560 --> 02:12:48,400
something but what I think we want to

1939
02:12:48,400 --> 02:12:51,040
optimize is those things that we think

1940
02:12:51,040 --> 02:12:53,520
are really important benefits for our

1941
02:12:53,520 --> 02:12:57,760
citizens so um if we drop that if we

1942
02:12:57,760 --> 02:12:59,440
drop

1943
02:12:59,440 --> 02:13:00,800
I can't come up with an idea right now

1944
02:13:00,800 --> 02:13:02,320
but if we drop one of those that it's

1945
02:13:02,320 --> 02:13:04,800
not going to be a disaster if we don't

1946
02:13:04,800 --> 02:13:07,199
get that benefit done and we think

1947
02:13:07,199 --> 02:13:08,639
that's an important priority for the

1948
02:13:08,639 --> 02:13:10,560
citizens in the next you know 12 to 18

1949
02:13:10,560 --> 02:13:13,040
months that should be included so I

1950
02:13:13,040 --> 02:13:14,480
don't think it should just be risk

1951
02:13:14,480 --> 02:13:15,920
oriented and I don't know if that was

1952
02:13:15,920 --> 02:13:17,520
your intent but that's how the words

1953
02:13:17,520 --> 02:13:19,360
came out so that's why I wanted to to

1954
02:13:19,360 --> 02:13:22,227
raise that one

1955
02:13:22,227 --> 02:13:24,239
[clears throat] um

1956
02:13:24,239 --> 02:13:26,320
I'm going to need some tutoring on what

1957
02:13:26,320 --> 02:13:29,199
mid-level objectives are because I'm not

1958
02:13:29,199 --> 02:13:31,199
sure in the scheme of things what we're

1959
02:13:31,199 --> 02:13:33,119
trying to define there. Uh if we're

1960
02:13:33,119 --> 02:13:35,040
going to combine them and that sort of

1961
02:13:35,040 --> 02:13:37,760
bridging idea from the priorities,

1962
02:13:37,760 --> 02:13:40,159
it seems to me like that overlaps with

1963
02:13:40,159 --> 02:13:42,400
our um some issues are more important

1964
02:13:42,400 --> 02:13:45,119
than others and and mid-level. So I

1965
02:13:45,119 --> 02:13:47,280
think we are going to have a almost like

1966
02:13:47,280 --> 02:13:48,960
a a contract where you go in and the

1967
02:13:48,960 --> 02:13:50,239
definitions from an attorney are right

1968
02:13:50,239 --> 02:13:51,520
up front of all these things.

1969
02:13:51,520 --> 02:13:54,079
priorities, objectives, mid-level

1970
02:13:54,079 --> 02:13:56,079
objectives, and so on. So, we don't get

1971
02:13:56,079 --> 02:13:58,800
confused in the six or seven hours that

1972
02:13:58,800 --> 02:14:01,199
we're doing this retreat. Just seeing if

1973
02:14:01,199 --> 02:14:02,480
people are paying attention to that

1974
02:14:02,480 --> 02:14:05,199
comment. Um, and you know, the last

1975
02:14:05,199 --> 02:14:06,239
thing just in the first round of

1976
02:14:06,239 --> 02:14:09,520
comments is um I'm not sure we should be

1977
02:14:09,520 --> 02:14:11,360
making a decision before we walk into

1978
02:14:11,360 --> 02:14:16,639
that um um retreat that we don't want to

1979
02:14:16,639 --> 02:14:19,040
make any changes to the four priorities.

1980
02:14:19,040 --> 02:14:20,400
It might be that some should be

1981
02:14:20,400 --> 02:14:22,560
combined. It might be that just saying

1982
02:14:22,560 --> 02:14:24,400
with the theme of council rectal for a

1983
02:14:24,400 --> 02:14:26,560
minute that one of them becomes, you

1984
02:14:26,560 --> 02:14:29,199
know, more of an enduring value. Uh, and

1985
02:14:29,199 --> 02:14:30,960
we might say something is so crucial

1986
02:14:30,960 --> 02:14:32,639
that we really really want to pump it up

1987
02:14:32,639 --> 02:14:35,280
to being one of the four. Um, that said,

1988
02:14:35,280 --> 02:14:37,040
I don't want to get four or six or

1989
02:14:37,040 --> 02:14:39,920
eight. Um, so the the the brevity is

1990
02:14:39,920 --> 02:14:41,760
going to be an important discipline for

1991
02:14:41,760 --> 02:14:45,040
us. Thank you.

1992
02:14:45,040 --> 02:14:47,990
>> Thank you, Council Member Lou.

1993
02:14:47,990 --> 02:14:48,000
» Thank you, Council Member Lou.

1994
02:14:48,000 --> 02:14:49,669
>> Thank you.

1995
02:14:49,669 --> 02:14:49,679
» Thank you.

1996
02:14:49,679 --> 02:14:53,119
Um just a few comments and reactions.

1997
02:14:53,119 --> 02:14:55,040
Firstly, I like the idea of having a

1998
02:14:55,040 --> 02:14:56,719
priority focused around internal

1999
02:14:56,719 --> 02:14:59,599
capability and efficiency. I think that

2000
02:14:59,599 --> 02:15:01,760
is timely and I think there are a lot of

2001
02:15:01,760 --> 02:15:03,599
opportunities.

2002
02:15:03,599 --> 02:15:06,000
I agree that we can have a lot of

2003
02:15:06,000 --> 02:15:08,480
priorities, but I also agree that 70 is

2004
02:15:08,480 --> 02:15:10,560
probably too many. We can certainly be

2005
02:15:10,560 --> 02:15:12,880
in the dozens. There are things in our

2006
02:15:12,880 --> 02:15:17,679
current list like um uh executing on

2007
02:15:17,679 --> 02:15:19,840
work plans that are already approved

2008
02:15:19,840 --> 02:15:23,280
that are frankly quite vague and maybe

2009
02:15:23,280 --> 02:15:25,280
not that informative to staff or

2010
02:15:25,280 --> 02:15:26,960
council. You know, they're just a few

2011
02:15:26,960 --> 02:15:28,960
examples like that. But we should be

2012
02:15:28,960 --> 02:15:30,960
really disciplined about what we think

2013
02:15:30,960 --> 02:15:32,800
of as a priority because that means

2014
02:15:32,800 --> 02:15:35,119
we're going to trade off against it. Uh

2015
02:15:35,119 --> 02:15:37,679
trade off other work to get that done.

2016
02:15:37,679 --> 02:15:41,760
Um and continuing that I think these

2017
02:15:41,760 --> 02:15:45,840
goals should be hard. I think it is okay

2018
02:15:45,840 --> 02:15:47,840
to miss goals and it is okay for us to

2019
02:15:47,840 --> 02:15:49,679
be ambitious

2020
02:15:49,679 --> 02:15:53,280
and to also set some norm uh which of

2021
02:15:53,280 --> 02:15:55,040
course we'll figure out over time but

2022
02:15:55,040 --> 02:15:57,280
getting twothirds of our objectives done

2023
02:15:57,280 --> 02:15:59,280
I think is actually a good number. We

2024
02:15:59,280 --> 02:16:01,040
want to stretch ourselves so that in

2025
02:16:01,040 --> 02:16:03,119
some years we can do a little bit better

2026
02:16:03,119 --> 02:16:04,880
or in some years we might do less but we

2027
02:16:04,880 --> 02:16:06,639
can sort of break down and understand

2028
02:16:06,639 --> 02:16:10,239
why that happened. Um

2029
02:16:10,239 --> 02:16:13,199
so having fewer goals but also notably

2030
02:16:13,199 --> 02:16:16,159
having harder goals is important.

2031
02:16:16,159 --> 02:16:20,000
Uh, one thing that I noticed is that in

2032
02:16:20,000 --> 02:16:22,159
a couple of cases,

2033
02:16:22,159 --> 02:16:25,280
present an ordinance uh actually

2034
02:16:25,280 --> 02:16:27,119
referred to passing an ordinance and

2035
02:16:27,119 --> 02:16:31,040
that was what meant it was uh uh

2036
02:16:31,040 --> 02:16:33,359
complete. But there's another example

2037
02:16:33,359 --> 02:16:35,280
like present a renter protection fair

2038
02:16:35,280 --> 02:16:37,679
chance ordinance to council where it's

2039
02:16:37,679 --> 02:16:40,080
considered complete because council

2040
02:16:40,080 --> 02:16:42,000
heard it I guess in a study session or

2041
02:16:42,000 --> 02:16:46,240
something in April. And so we really

2042
02:16:46,240 --> 02:16:48,559
need to make our goals harder and less

2043
02:16:48,559 --> 02:16:51,359
squishy because if present means

2044
02:16:51,359 --> 02:16:53,280
different things in different contexts

2045
02:16:53,280 --> 02:16:55,120
and present just means someone on

2046
02:16:55,120 --> 02:16:57,040
council or some committee or council

2047
02:16:57,040 --> 02:16:59,679
heard it uh at least once like that's

2048
02:16:59,679 --> 02:17:03,439
not um how we actually want to set goals

2049
02:17:03,439 --> 02:17:07,120
and motivate ourselves. Um just one more

2050
02:17:07,120 --> 02:17:09,840
thought about mid-level goals. I think

2051
02:17:09,840 --> 02:17:11,920
of that as what do we actually want to

2052
02:17:11,920 --> 02:17:14,319
get done? Why do we even have these

2053
02:17:14,319 --> 02:17:18,080
objectives? So, uh there are many

2054
02:17:18,080 --> 02:17:19,920
objectives around climate, but to

2055
02:17:19,920 --> 02:17:21,840
council member Bert's point as well,

2056
02:17:21,840 --> 02:17:23,599
some of them are just things we would do

2057
02:17:23,599 --> 02:17:26,399
anyways. But having an objective like

2058
02:17:26,399 --> 02:17:28,479
reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by

2059
02:17:28,479 --> 02:17:32,160
X% so that we are on track for uh

2060
02:17:32,160 --> 02:17:35,519
whatever 80 by30 or you know goals that

2061
02:17:35,519 --> 02:17:38,160
we might tweak or sub goals. um that is

2062
02:17:38,160 --> 02:17:41,679
very clear to staff uh what metrics we

2063
02:17:41,679 --> 02:17:44,639
want to hit. Um it is very clear why we

2064
02:17:44,639 --> 02:17:46,639
are doing those four projects that

2065
02:17:46,639 --> 02:17:49,439
ladder into uh or those four objectives

2066
02:17:49,439 --> 02:17:51,679
that m that ladder into that mid-level

2067
02:17:51,679 --> 02:17:54,559
goal. And it's also clear to staff,

2068
02:17:54,559 --> 02:17:57,120
okay, between these four work items on

2069
02:17:57,120 --> 02:17:59,200
climate, I should trade off one or the

2070
02:17:59,200 --> 02:18:01,439
other because the real goal is to get on

2071
02:18:01,439 --> 02:18:03,599
a path to reduce uh greenhouse gas

2072
02:18:03,599 --> 02:18:07,439
emissions. Um, and we could structure

2073
02:18:07,439 --> 02:18:09,040
our housing goals in a similar way where

2074
02:18:09,040 --> 02:18:12,160
the mid-level goal might be to uh get X

2075
02:18:12,160 --> 02:18:13,920
units of affordable housing in the

2076
02:18:13,920 --> 02:18:15,519
pipeline. And we could think of some of

2077
02:18:15,519 --> 02:18:17,200
those as 100% affordable. We could think

2078
02:18:17,200 --> 02:18:18,719
about some of those as inclusionary

2079
02:18:18,719 --> 02:18:23,519
housing. We can, uh, uh, try to really

2080
02:18:23,519 --> 02:18:27,359
sort of optimize for a goal. Um,

2081
02:18:27,359 --> 02:18:29,120
uh, we can think about similar things

2082
02:18:29,120 --> 02:18:33,920
for vision zero. uh um

2083
02:18:33,920 --> 02:18:36,880
uh mental health, a variety of other uh

2084
02:18:36,880 --> 02:18:38,319
mid-level goals. So, those were just

2085
02:18:38,319 --> 02:18:41,200
some more examples I want to chime in.

2086
02:18:41,200 --> 02:18:42,559
Thanks.

2087
02:18:42,559 --> 02:18:44,790
>> Thank you, Council Me uh Vice Mayor

2088
02:18:44,790 --> 02:18:44,800
» Thank you, Council Me uh Vice Mayor

2089
02:18:44,800 --> 02:18:45,920
Stone.

2090
02:18:45,920 --> 02:18:48,549
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. I just first

2091
02:18:48,549 --> 02:18:48,559
» Thank you, Madame Mayor. I just first

2092
02:18:48,559 --> 02:18:52,399
want to really appreciate staff for how

2093
02:18:52,399 --> 02:18:53,920
much we have been able to get

2094
02:18:53,920 --> 02:18:56,960
accomplished last year. you make us look

2095
02:18:56,960 --> 02:18:59,760
so good. And so we just just appreciate

2096
02:18:59,760 --> 02:19:01,519
all the work that has gone into this. I

2097
02:19:01,519 --> 02:19:03,280
really always like this exercise of

2098
02:19:03,280 --> 02:19:05,280
being able to reflect back and just be

2099
02:19:05,280 --> 02:19:08,559
reminded of how much really has been

2100
02:19:08,559 --> 02:19:12,559
accomplished and I I it's been

2101
02:19:12,559 --> 02:19:14,000
beneficial here in the discussion

2102
02:19:14,000 --> 02:19:16,080
tonight. seems like I'm I'm kind of I'm

2103
02:19:16,080 --> 02:19:17,920
glad having been on policy and services.

2104
02:19:17,920 --> 02:19:19,920
Seems like our recommendation is is

2105
02:19:19,920 --> 02:19:23,120
generally being supported, but getting a

2106
02:19:23,120 --> 02:19:25,599
lot of really great ideas of how we can

2107
02:19:25,599 --> 02:19:28,080
continue to tweak this process moving

2108
02:19:28,080 --> 02:19:30,240
forward. Just following up on on Council

2109
02:19:30,240 --> 02:19:32,479
Member Lou's point there, I really liked

2110
02:19:32,479 --> 02:19:35,359
the idea of kind of creating harder,

2111
02:19:35,359 --> 02:19:38,319
more concrete goals. I I've often found

2112
02:19:38,319 --> 02:19:41,120
I think a lot of times kind of goals are

2113
02:19:41,120 --> 02:19:42,960
put into place almost as a way to be

2114
02:19:42,960 --> 02:19:45,200
able to just kind of check them off even

2115
02:19:45,200 --> 02:19:47,760
though it's kind of ongoing work that

2116
02:19:47,760 --> 02:19:51,359
staff and our and our organization would

2117
02:19:51,359 --> 02:19:54,000
do anyways. And so if we can be more

2118
02:19:54,000 --> 02:19:57,200
intentional so we can really look back

2119
02:19:57,200 --> 02:19:59,120
and and say, "Wow, we actually

2120
02:19:59,120 --> 02:20:02,880
accomplished this meaningful measure, I

2121
02:20:02,880 --> 02:20:04,080
I think that would be far more

2122
02:20:04,080 --> 02:20:05,600
beneficial for for us, for the

2123
02:20:05,600 --> 02:20:08,399
community, and give staff a a better

2124
02:20:08,399 --> 02:20:10,319
sense of what we're trying to achieve."

2125
02:20:10,319 --> 02:20:11,840
So I think anything anytime we're seeing

2126
02:20:11,840 --> 02:20:14,160
a an objective that is just kind of

2127
02:20:14,160 --> 02:20:17,920
worded as continue this I don't know how

2128
02:20:17,920 --> 02:20:20,560
beneficial that that is unless it really

2129
02:20:20,560 --> 02:20:23,280
is moving towards achieving a goal. So I

2130
02:20:23,280 --> 02:20:27,120
really like liked that point

2131
02:20:27,120 --> 02:20:30,160
overall for for this retreat. love the

2132
02:20:30,160 --> 02:20:32,479
idea that we are sticking with the idea

2133
02:20:32,479 --> 02:20:35,520
of our our four primary objectives and

2134
02:20:35,520 --> 02:20:38,720
diving deeper into that during that

2135
02:20:38,720 --> 02:20:42,319
actual retreat. I agree. I think we all

2136
02:20:42,319 --> 02:20:46,000
agree 70 objectives is a bit overly

2137
02:20:46,000 --> 02:20:48,319
ambitious and I think we all recognize

2138
02:20:48,319 --> 02:20:50,720
that at the at the time, but I'm not

2139
02:20:50,720 --> 02:20:54,000
quite sure where that healthy medium is.

2140
02:20:54,000 --> 02:20:56,319
I I also agree with Council Member Lou.

2141
02:20:56,319 --> 02:20:58,000
I think we did a pretty good job at

2142
02:20:58,000 --> 02:21:00,160
achieving especially the more more

2143
02:21:00,160 --> 02:21:02,880
meaningful objectives and where we fell

2144
02:21:02,880 --> 02:21:05,680
short generally makes a lot of sense.

2145
02:21:05,680 --> 02:21:08,479
Some out of our control uh others not.

2146
02:21:08,479 --> 02:21:11,200
But I think staff's uh staff's

2147
02:21:11,200 --> 02:21:14,240
discretion in prioritizing in real time

2148
02:21:14,240 --> 02:21:17,040
is discretion that we should provide you

2149
02:21:17,040 --> 02:21:19,040
as the professionals to make those to

2150
02:21:19,040 --> 02:21:21,200
make those judgments. loved the idea of

2151
02:21:21,200 --> 02:21:23,280
of council member rectal how you kind of

2152
02:21:23,280 --> 02:21:27,920
kept describing our I guess enduring

2153
02:21:27,920 --> 02:21:31,439
values. Um thought that was I I I really

2154
02:21:31,439 --> 02:21:33,359
like that. I've always struggled with

2155
02:21:33,359 --> 02:21:35,520
that as as well. Housing climate have

2156
02:21:35,520 --> 02:21:37,600
been objectives ever since I've been on

2157
02:21:37,600 --> 02:21:39,680
this council. I am curious and maybe

2158
02:21:39,680 --> 02:21:41,520
tonight is not the place to to have this

2159
02:21:41,520 --> 02:21:44,640
discussion because this isn't for this

2160
02:21:44,640 --> 02:21:47,280
year's retreat, but but looking forward,

2161
02:21:47,280 --> 02:21:49,120
I'd just kind of be curious getting

2162
02:21:49,120 --> 02:21:52,880
staff's feedback on how how does that

2163
02:21:52,880 --> 02:21:55,359
make then your work more challenging if

2164
02:21:55,359 --> 02:21:56,479
we're saying we're not going to have

2165
02:21:56,479 --> 02:22:00,319
housing and climate as a annual kind of

2166
02:22:00,319 --> 02:22:03,680
priority. We give you of course we're

2167
02:22:03,680 --> 02:22:05,760
going to give you others to fill in

2168
02:22:05,760 --> 02:22:09,439
those. How then do you achieve these

2169
02:22:09,439 --> 02:22:10,960
enduring

2170
02:22:10,960 --> 02:22:13,200
um values that we have of housing,

2171
02:22:13,200 --> 02:22:17,120
climate, etc. while taking on additional

2172
02:22:17,120 --> 02:22:18,399
ones? And so I think that's something

2173
02:22:18,399 --> 02:22:21,600
for us all to to think about cuz you

2174
02:22:21,600 --> 02:22:23,680
know we we might be left with having to

2175
02:22:23,680 --> 02:22:26,240
keep these as objectives as various

2176
02:22:26,240 --> 02:22:27,680
things like the affordable affordable

2177
02:22:27,680 --> 02:22:30,160
housing crisis and others um that we

2178
02:22:30,160 --> 02:22:32,560
that we continue to wrestle with. And

2179
02:22:32,560 --> 02:22:34,880
then just final thought, I think we've

2180
02:22:34,880 --> 02:22:36,960
talked about this a a little bit and

2181
02:22:36,960 --> 02:22:41,680
again more long-term, so maybe 2027

2182
02:22:41,680 --> 02:22:45,359
is rethinking about these um objectives

2183
02:22:45,359 --> 02:22:48,000
is not really one-year objectives, but

2184
02:22:48,000 --> 02:22:49,840
more on that two-year cycle. So, if

2185
02:22:49,840 --> 02:22:50,880
we're really going to stick with this

2186
02:22:50,880 --> 02:22:54,160
idea that our council priorities last

2187
02:22:54,160 --> 02:22:57,439
for two years, then maybe our objectives

2188
02:22:57,439 --> 02:22:59,359
should as well. Maybe that comes down to

2189
02:22:59,359 --> 02:23:01,280
the tiering that we're going to do that

2190
02:23:01,280 --> 02:23:02,640
there's going to be some more immediate

2191
02:23:02,640 --> 02:23:04,720
ones that we can get done in a year.

2192
02:23:04,720 --> 02:23:06,960
Others that we recognize might be more

2193
02:23:06,960 --> 02:23:08,960
of a 2-year objective. I think that

2194
02:23:08,960 --> 02:23:11,120
would obviously kind of depend on on on

2195
02:23:11,120 --> 02:23:14,640
what it is. So glad we are

2196
02:23:14,640 --> 02:23:17,200
I think being just being more um

2197
02:23:17,200 --> 02:23:19,040
intentional with this with this process

2198
02:23:19,040 --> 02:23:20,319
in a way that's going to be able to make

2199
02:23:20,319 --> 02:23:23,359
it more meaningful. And I I'm excited at

2200
02:23:23,359 --> 02:23:24,960
what the mayor mentioned that we're

2201
02:23:24,960 --> 02:23:25,920
going to be able to actually come up

2202
02:23:25,920 --> 02:23:27,760
with objectives early on in the year

2203
02:23:27,760 --> 02:23:30,720
rather than adopting them in in May and

2204
02:23:30,720 --> 02:23:33,680
then expecting greater than 70%

2205
02:23:33,680 --> 02:23:37,040
completion come January. So given that's

2206
02:23:37,040 --> 02:23:38,479
the reality we're we're working with,

2207
02:23:38,479 --> 02:23:41,439
I'd say well done and looking forward to

2208
02:23:41,439 --> 02:23:44,319
the retreat. Well, I was going to to lay

2209
02:23:44,319 --> 02:23:46,720
down the challenge here that I sus I I

2210
02:23:46,720 --> 02:23:50,080
would say success for all of us would be

2211
02:23:50,080 --> 02:23:52,720
to come out of the retreat on the 24th

2212
02:23:52,720 --> 02:23:54,720
with the statements, whatever the

2213
02:23:54,720 --> 02:23:57,920
statements will be. Uh and and so that

2214
02:23:57,920 --> 02:24:00,880
tall order, but uh uh staff is uh

2215
02:24:00,880 --> 02:24:03,120
prepping and and would look forward to

2216
02:24:03,120 --> 02:24:05,600
trying to reach that immediate

2217
02:24:05,600 --> 02:24:08,399
objective.

2218
02:24:08,399 --> 02:24:11,750
>> All right. Well, thank you colleagues. a

2219
02:24:11,750 --> 02:24:11,760
» All right. Well, thank you colleagues. a

2220
02:24:11,760 --> 02:24:14,800
lot of good thoughtprovoking feedback,

2221
02:24:14,800 --> 02:24:16,960
but I'm going to hold that thought uh to

2222
02:24:16,960 --> 02:24:19,280
see if we have any public comment on

2223
02:24:19,280 --> 02:24:24,950
this item.

2224
02:24:24,960 --> 02:24:26,960
» Yes, we Yes, we do. We have one request

2225
02:24:26,960 --> 02:24:27,920
to speak.

2226
02:24:27,920 --> 02:24:37,750
>> Okay.

2227
02:24:37,760 --> 02:24:49,990
Our first speaker is Hamilton.

2228
02:24:50,000 --> 02:24:53,280
Okay, I'll assume that's a yes. Um, I

2229
02:24:53,280 --> 02:24:55,600
have three comments on three different

2230
02:24:55,600 --> 02:24:58,640
areas. The first is that I like the

2231
02:24:58,640 --> 02:25:01,359
current structure of goals and specific

2232
02:25:01,359 --> 02:25:04,640
projects. What concerns me about

2233
02:25:04,640 --> 02:25:07,840
mid-level goals is that they're not

2234
02:25:07,840 --> 02:25:09,680
smart. Specifically, they're not

2235
02:25:09,680 --> 02:25:11,359
specific, measurable, achievable,

2236
02:25:11,359 --> 02:25:13,840
relevant, and time bound. And I think it

2237
02:25:13,840 --> 02:25:17,120
just adds a layer that may not be that

2238
02:25:17,120 --> 02:25:19,920
helpful. Uh,

2239
02:25:19,920 --> 02:25:22,399
for example, this thing about make

2240
02:25:22,399 --> 02:25:25,520
progress on Ramona, it's not specific,

2241
02:25:25,520 --> 02:25:27,920
achievable, time bound. It's not doesn't

2242
02:25:27,920 --> 02:25:30,080
really have any accountability built in.

2243
02:25:30,080 --> 02:25:32,240
And that leads into the second point,

2244
02:25:32,240 --> 02:25:35,760
keep a one-year cycle. Um, I think

2245
02:25:35,760 --> 02:25:38,720
because we want to remain adaptable. We

2246
02:25:38,720 --> 02:25:41,680
want to measure our progress every year

2247
02:25:41,680 --> 02:25:44,319
and we have a lot of upcoming changes.

2248
02:25:44,319 --> 02:25:45,520
So, I don't want us to become

2249
02:25:45,520 --> 02:25:47,040
complacent.

2250
02:25:47,040 --> 02:25:48,560
In a way, I feel like we're becoming

2251
02:25:48,560 --> 02:25:51,439
overly complacent. We have the Fed who's

2252
02:25:51,439 --> 02:25:53,520
going to who's in the process of cutting

2253
02:25:53,520 --> 02:25:56,319
local funding. We have Fed overreach,

2254
02:25:56,319 --> 02:25:57,680
which we're going to have to continue to

2255
02:25:57,680 --> 02:26:00,160
grapple with. international instability

2256
02:26:00,160 --> 02:26:02,160
and we could have rapid changes in the

2257
02:26:02,160 --> 02:26:04,479
economy. So I just want to make sure we

2258
02:26:04,479 --> 02:26:08,000
maintain our ability to respond rapidly

2259
02:26:08,000 --> 02:26:11,120
just as we had to when co arrived. And

2260
02:26:11,120 --> 02:26:15,040
the third is uh the utility budget and

2261
02:26:15,040 --> 02:26:18,080
revenue is larger than the general fund

2262
02:26:18,080 --> 02:26:21,840
yet they really seem to ignore our city

2263
02:26:21,840 --> 02:26:24,640
priorities. In my recent foray into the

2264
02:26:24,640 --> 02:26:26,960
natural gas rates, I found an

2265
02:26:26,960 --> 02:26:29,200
organization that was very compliance

2266
02:26:29,200 --> 02:26:32,560
focused and opaque at at the exclusion

2267
02:26:32,560 --> 02:26:36,000
of all other city priorities.

2268
02:26:36,000 --> 02:26:40,880
I we we struggled to uh get them to

2269
02:26:40,880 --> 02:26:42,800
consider climate and they basically said

2270
02:26:42,800 --> 02:26:45,680
we're not considering climate because um

2271
02:26:45,680 --> 02:26:48,560
we don't want we don't want to expose

2272
02:26:48,560 --> 02:26:50,880
ourselves to any liability. and they

2273
02:26:50,880 --> 02:26:53,680
took a hyperconservative stance that was

2274
02:26:53,680 --> 02:26:56,720
beyond what was legally required. So as

2275
02:26:56,720 --> 02:26:59,600
we look at these priorities, ignoring

2276
02:26:59,600 --> 02:27:02,399
half of the income to the city that goes

2277
02:27:02,399 --> 02:27:04,000
through the utility I think would be a

2278
02:27:04,000 --> 02:27:06,399
mistake. And so I'd like an increased

2279
02:27:06,399 --> 02:27:09,840
focus on the utilities and getting them

2280
02:27:09,840 --> 02:27:12,640
aligned with with our goals and

2281
02:27:12,640 --> 02:27:16,399
priorities. Thank you.

2282
02:27:16,399 --> 02:27:17,990
>> And that concludes public comment for

2283
02:27:17,990 --> 02:27:18,000
» And that concludes public comment for

2284
02:27:18,000 --> 02:27:20,880
study session item two.

2285
02:27:20,880 --> 02:27:25,359
All right. Thank you. Um, so

2286
02:27:25,359 --> 02:27:27,280
I want to reflect on what I've heard so

2287
02:27:27,280 --> 02:27:31,439
far so that we can get to um, sort of an

2288
02:27:31,439 --> 02:27:34,080
outline for this retreat that we feel

2289
02:27:34,080 --> 02:27:37,439
comfortable enough with knowing that

2290
02:27:37,439 --> 02:27:39,040
between now and then we're all going to,

2291
02:27:39,040 --> 02:27:40,880
you know, digest a lot of this and

2292
02:27:40,880 --> 02:27:42,960
cogitate and probably come there with

2293
02:27:42,960 --> 02:27:46,080
some even more

2294
02:27:46,080 --> 02:27:49,920
uh, evolved, I'll say, ideas. Um, you

2295
02:27:49,920 --> 02:27:51,520
know,

2296
02:27:51,520 --> 02:27:53,760
it's it's a tricky thing to do and I

2297
02:27:53,760 --> 02:27:55,920
think a lot of it is uh nomenclature as

2298
02:27:55,920 --> 02:27:59,359
council member Liths uh suggested

2299
02:27:59,359 --> 02:28:01,920
um

2300
02:28:01,920 --> 02:28:08,880
when PNS considered uh whether or not we

2301
02:28:08,880 --> 02:28:12,319
should um have the the same priorities

2302
02:28:12,319 --> 02:28:14,000
as part of the two-year cycle that we

2303
02:28:14,000 --> 02:28:17,120
had posited previously. Um, it wasn't

2304
02:28:17,120 --> 02:28:19,280
the idea that it wasn't so much making a

2305
02:28:19,280 --> 02:28:20,880
rule that we would always have two-year

2306
02:28:20,880 --> 02:28:22,640
priorities. It was looking specifically

2307
02:28:22,640 --> 02:28:25,040
at these four and saying, you know, is

2308
02:28:25,040 --> 02:28:26,880
housing, climate, economic development,

2309
02:28:26,880 --> 02:28:29,600
public safety still the sort of the top

2310
02:28:29,600 --> 02:28:32,240
four categorical priorities that we have

2311
02:28:32,240 --> 02:28:34,479
and and I and at least the three of us

2312
02:28:34,479 --> 02:28:37,120
unanimously said yes. But that doesn't

2313
02:28:37,120 --> 02:28:38,800
mean we can't change them. We certainly

2314
02:28:38,800 --> 02:28:41,040
can discuss them. Um, there's some

2315
02:28:41,040 --> 02:28:42,720
interesting ideas tonight around that. I

2316
02:28:42,720 --> 02:28:44,720
also think that again getting back to

2317
02:28:44,720 --> 02:28:48,720
this nomenclature idea um

2318
02:28:48,720 --> 02:28:51,920
you know when you talk about uh council

2319
02:28:51,920 --> 02:28:54,479
rectal the enduring values so I'm

2320
02:28:54,479 --> 02:28:56,240
looking at the council values that are

2321
02:28:56,240 --> 02:29:00,560
in the um PNP handbook right before the

2322
02:29:00,560 --> 02:29:05,280
annual council priorities and um

2323
02:29:05,280 --> 02:29:07,439
they're kind of different in nature um

2324
02:29:07,439 --> 02:29:09,920
although overlapping we we're talking

2325
02:29:09,920 --> 02:29:12,800
about values would guide decisions that,

2326
02:29:12,800 --> 02:29:13,840
and I'll just give you a couple

2327
02:29:13,840 --> 02:29:17,200
examples, balance revenues and expenses,

2328
02:29:17,200 --> 02:29:19,600
are environmentally sustainable. So,

2329
02:29:19,600 --> 02:29:21,439
kind of baked in there are some of the

2330
02:29:21,439 --> 02:29:25,439
ideas we've talked about. Um,

2331
02:29:25,439 --> 02:29:28,240
I I think that, you know, our our

2332
02:29:28,240 --> 02:29:33,510
question is

2333
02:29:33,520 --> 02:29:35,200
no one's I don't think anyone's

2334
02:29:35,200 --> 02:29:37,680
suggesting we not do climate or not do

2335
02:29:37,680 --> 02:29:39,760
housing or any of that. It's more what

2336
02:29:39,760 --> 02:29:42,800
is the structure of a conversation where

2337
02:29:42,800 --> 02:29:46,160
we can give staff more direction on

2338
02:29:46,160 --> 02:29:47,760
prioritization

2339
02:29:47,760 --> 02:29:50,240
and

2340
02:29:50,240 --> 02:29:53,840
talking through each of 70 ideas may not

2341
02:29:53,840 --> 02:29:55,840
be the most efficient way to do that.

2342
02:29:55,840 --> 02:29:59,280
Although I do agree that I think I think

2343
02:29:59,280 --> 02:30:01,359
we were still suggesting both staff and

2344
02:30:01,359 --> 02:30:02,960
the committee that the objective still

2345
02:30:02,960 --> 02:30:05,680
be created and written and identified

2346
02:30:05,680 --> 02:30:07,840
and reported on and that a timeline be

2347
02:30:07,840 --> 02:30:09,520
attached and all of that. It's just that

2348
02:30:09,520 --> 02:30:11,920
a lot of that would be done by staff

2349
02:30:11,920 --> 02:30:14,479
pursuant to the recommendations which

2350
02:30:14,479 --> 02:30:18,640
were fewer. Um and so that's the idea

2351
02:30:18,640 --> 02:30:20,880
and those objectives would still be

2352
02:30:20,880 --> 02:30:25,840
smarty objectives, right? and and so we

2353
02:30:25,840 --> 02:30:27,520
aren't trying to get away from that. The

2354
02:30:27,520 --> 02:30:31,680
question is how do we how do we uh in

2355
02:30:31,680 --> 02:30:34,399
some kind of efficient way

2356
02:30:34,399 --> 02:30:37,920
get this give some feedback on these

2357
02:30:37,920 --> 02:30:39,920
areas and I quite like the idea of

2358
02:30:39,920 --> 02:30:42,240
saying well hey you know what what are

2359
02:30:42,240 --> 02:30:43,680
the things that are special this year

2360
02:30:43,680 --> 02:30:45,280
what are the things that must do this

2361
02:30:45,280 --> 02:30:48,399
year um and and that I think we we need

2362
02:30:48,399 --> 02:30:51,600
to talk about and this was an effort to

2363
02:30:51,600 --> 02:30:55,439
try to um craft a structure to do that

2364
02:30:55,439 --> 02:30:57,840
but I I'm certainly open to whatever

2365
02:30:57,840 --> 02:31:02,640
works. Um, but I I think that

2366
02:31:02,640 --> 02:31:05,520
giving sort of the the the the critical

2367
02:31:05,520 --> 02:31:09,600
musthaves this year um whether it's uh

2368
02:31:09,600 --> 02:31:13,600
because they're time bound or um

2369
02:31:13,600 --> 02:31:16,160
be because we just uh we think it's a a

2370
02:31:16,160 --> 02:31:21,359
oneshot deal um is important. Um, and I

2371
02:31:21,359 --> 02:31:24,399
think the the to-do list, um, sort of

2372
02:31:24,399 --> 02:31:27,920
the objectives could be

2373
02:31:27,920 --> 02:31:30,560
generated by staff with our input, be

2374
02:31:30,560 --> 02:31:32,000
referred to committees in some

2375
02:31:32,000 --> 02:31:34,240
instances. You know, the climate, um,

2376
02:31:34,240 --> 02:31:37,040
ESCAP work plan is very much like the

2377
02:31:37,040 --> 02:31:40,560
objectives here. Um, and so I I I think

2378
02:31:40,560 --> 02:31:42,000
there may be other ways to do that, but

2379
02:31:42,000 --> 02:31:46,160
I I just want at the retreat to have a

2380
02:31:46,160 --> 02:31:49,120
discussion that isn't just, hey, here's

2381
02:31:49,120 --> 02:31:50,960
high level categories and here's a to-do

2382
02:31:50,960 --> 02:31:52,240
list. I think we need something in

2383
02:31:52,240 --> 02:31:53,920
between because y'all are really smart

2384
02:31:53,920 --> 02:31:58,080
about strategy. Um, so that's my general

2385
02:31:58,080 --> 02:32:01,120
thoughts. Are there additional comments

2386
02:32:01,120 --> 02:32:03,040
on

2387
02:32:03,040 --> 02:32:07,429
our structure going forward?

2388
02:32:07,439 --> 02:32:09,600
Council member Bert.

2389
02:32:09,600 --> 02:32:13,200
Yeah, I'd just like to follow up um that

2390
02:32:13,200 --> 02:32:16,479
uh uh I think that the the council

2391
02:32:16,479 --> 02:32:20,560
values one that uh when we throughout

2392
02:32:20,560 --> 02:32:24,000
the year we put up our priorities, but

2393
02:32:24,000 --> 02:32:26,080
when we created those values, it really

2394
02:32:26,080 --> 02:32:29,840
was for this intention to uh live up to

2395
02:32:29,840 --> 02:32:32,960
what's in our procedures and protocols

2396
02:32:32,960 --> 02:32:36,160
around what our annual priorities are

2397
02:32:36,160 --> 02:32:39,520
supposed to be and not lose sight of

2398
02:32:39,520 --> 02:32:42,640
things that remain very important to the

2399
02:32:42,640 --> 02:32:46,160
city, the staff, uh the council, and

2400
02:32:46,160 --> 02:32:49,840
they are going to stay important. And so

2401
02:32:49,840 --> 02:32:53,120
I they were composed at one time and a

2402
02:32:53,120 --> 02:32:56,080
little bit on the fly. And I think that

2403
02:32:56,080 --> 02:32:58,479
uh we could spend uh a little bit of our

2404
02:32:58,479 --> 02:33:02,160
retreat time to um see how we want to

2405
02:33:02,160 --> 02:33:04,560
improve them uh and just have them

2406
02:33:04,560 --> 02:33:08,640
capture more accurately what we are um

2407
02:33:08,640 --> 02:33:11,280
thinking of as those enduring values.

2408
02:33:11,280 --> 02:33:14,000
And then just a reminder that um in that

2409
02:33:14,000 --> 02:33:18,560
same uh page 35 on our uh council

2410
02:33:18,560 --> 02:33:23,200
protocols uh booklet um it's that the

2411
02:33:23,200 --> 02:33:25,040
goal of no more than three or four

2412
02:33:25,040 --> 02:33:27,520
priorities a year

2413
02:33:27,520 --> 02:33:31,200
um and have a two to threeyear time

2414
02:33:31,200 --> 02:33:34,000
limit which for the mo we've tweaked

2415
02:33:34,000 --> 02:33:36,319
them a little bit in a word or two but

2416
02:33:36,319 --> 02:33:38,240
as council member rectal said and

2417
02:33:38,240 --> 02:33:40,240
council member lithgods

2418
02:33:40,240 --> 02:33:45,120
um they they've really um uh been

2419
02:33:45,120 --> 02:33:48,960
enduring uh as what are supposed to be

2420
02:33:48,960 --> 02:33:50,800
uh a more narrow time frame set of

2421
02:33:50,800 --> 02:33:53,439
priorities. And lastly, that they will

2422
02:33:53,439 --> 02:33:55,840
receive particular unusual and

2423
02:33:55,840 --> 02:33:58,479
significant attention during that year.

2424
02:33:58,479 --> 02:34:04,080
And that doesn't say that um these other

2425
02:34:04,080 --> 02:34:08,319
projects and uh goals actually that the

2426
02:34:08,319 --> 02:34:11,280
city has uh will not continue to have

2427
02:34:11,280 --> 02:34:14,720
priorities and and have uh fulfillment

2428
02:34:14,720 --> 02:34:17,760
of those projects. It's just that it's

2429
02:34:17,760 --> 02:34:20,000
an an additional particular emphasis. So

2430
02:34:20,000 --> 02:34:21,840
I think we want to return to kind of

2431
02:34:21,840 --> 02:34:25,520
thinking about that. Um and um so for

2432
02:34:25,520 --> 02:34:28,399
that reason I'm I I one I look forward

2433
02:34:28,399 --> 02:34:33,600
to actually the the um uh priority

2434
02:34:33,600 --> 02:34:35,359
setting discussion to see what we might

2435
02:34:35,359 --> 02:34:38,479
change and at the same time um uh

2436
02:34:38,479 --> 02:34:40,479
integrate that with an update to the

2437
02:34:40,479 --> 02:34:42,319
core values and then doing these other

2438
02:34:42,319 --> 02:34:45,840
things that PNS had recommended um

2439
02:34:45,840 --> 02:34:48,720
around the tiers and and other aspects

2440
02:34:48,720 --> 02:34:51,680
that we've already discussed. So, um I

2441
02:34:51,680 --> 02:34:53,040
think we'll have a good discussion on

2442
02:34:53,040 --> 02:34:55,920
the retreat.

2443
02:34:55,920 --> 02:34:59,110
>> Thank you. Um

2444
02:34:59,110 --> 02:34:59,120
» Thank you. Um

2445
02:34:59,120 --> 02:35:02,160
I might suggest at this point I I I I

2446
02:35:02,160 --> 02:35:04,479
agree with that and I think it's um you

2447
02:35:04,479 --> 02:35:06,080
know we had talked last year about the

2448
02:35:06,080 --> 02:35:08,880
fact that um we'd sort of run over the

2449
02:35:08,880 --> 02:35:10,399
two to threeyear limit and that it

2450
02:35:10,399 --> 02:35:12,560
wasn't so much just this you know the

2451
02:35:12,560 --> 02:35:14,479
goals had kind of I'm sorry the

2452
02:35:14,479 --> 02:35:17,200
priorities had kind of morphed away a

2453
02:35:17,200 --> 02:35:20,399
bit from what was set forth in the P&P.

2454
02:35:20,399 --> 02:35:23,520
What I'm thinking uh we might do just to

2455
02:35:23,520 --> 02:35:28,160
to to move this along is um

2456
02:35:28,160 --> 02:35:30,399
on the proposed agenda that I believe we

2457
02:35:30,399 --> 02:35:34,319
need to vote on um to some degree. No,

2458
02:35:34,319 --> 02:35:36,070
>> really your your call on whether you'd

2459
02:35:36,070 --> 02:35:36,080
» really your your call on whether you'd

2460
02:35:36,080 --> 02:35:38,479
like to uh ultimately this is setting up

2461
02:35:38,479 --> 02:35:41,760
a future meeting. So you can either

2462
02:35:41,760 --> 02:35:43,680
give us general direction or specific as

2463
02:35:43,680 --> 02:35:44,479
you see fit.

2464
02:35:44,479 --> 02:35:47,110
>> Okay. Well, then maybe it'd be simple.

2465
02:35:47,110 --> 02:35:47,120
» Okay. Well, then maybe it'd be simple.

2466
02:35:47,120 --> 02:35:48,399
Well, just looking at the proposed

2467
02:35:48,399 --> 02:35:50,880
agenda as it's set forth here, I I think

2468
02:35:50,880 --> 02:35:52,960
that we could insert and we can cogitate

2469
02:35:52,960 --> 02:35:54,960
it on on it between now and then. For

2470
02:35:54,960 --> 02:35:57,920
example, the uh retreat facilitator, I

2471
02:35:57,920 --> 02:36:00,319
know she's in touch with staff and and

2472
02:36:00,319 --> 02:36:02,240
I'll be having a conversation with her.

2473
02:36:02,240 --> 02:36:04,880
Um, we could have discussion of values,

2474
02:36:04,880 --> 02:36:06,640
priorities, and suggested mid-level

2475
02:36:06,640 --> 02:36:09,040
goals with the idea that we're not going

2476
02:36:09,040 --> 02:36:12,319
to that this is this is aimed at

2477
02:36:12,319 --> 02:36:14,479
streamlining and and we were what we

2478
02:36:14,479 --> 02:36:15,840
were trying to do was was have a more

2479
02:36:15,840 --> 02:36:18,240
focused discussion here, but I I think

2480
02:36:18,240 --> 02:36:22,319
that what we've heard tonight um

2481
02:36:22,319 --> 02:36:23,920
means that we really need to get on the

2482
02:36:23,920 --> 02:36:26,160
same page with nomenclature upfront. And

2483
02:36:26,160 --> 02:36:28,880
so perhaps we can can can do that and

2484
02:36:28,880 --> 02:36:31,920
and talk about these values. And then uh

2485
02:36:31,920 --> 02:36:34,080
the rest of it I think um as council

2486
02:36:34,080 --> 02:36:36,479
member Bert said um we can can roll

2487
02:36:36,479 --> 02:36:38,560
through those prioritization and other

2488
02:36:38,560 --> 02:36:41,680
conversations. So if if you don't need

2489
02:36:41,680 --> 02:36:43,760
anything more um unless somebody wants

2490
02:36:43,760 --> 02:36:45,200
to make a motion. H council member

2491
02:36:45,200 --> 02:36:45,840
rectal

2492
02:36:45,840 --> 02:36:47,349
>> I just want to make a couple comments.

2493
02:36:47,349 --> 02:36:47,359
» I just want to make a couple comments.

2494
02:36:47,359 --> 02:36:47,990
>> Certainly.

2495
02:36:47,990 --> 02:36:48,000
» Certainly.

2496
02:36:48,000 --> 02:36:52,230
>> I mean it all comes down to the the task

2497
02:36:52,230 --> 02:36:52,240
» I mean it all comes down to the the task

2498
02:36:52,240 --> 02:36:55,040
that we're want staff to do and how it's

2499
02:36:55,040 --> 02:36:56,640
organized really doesn't matter. it

2500
02:36:56,640 --> 02:36:58,479
comes down. But one thing I think is

2501
02:36:58,479 --> 02:37:00,319
really important is where do you want to

2502
02:37:00,319 --> 02:37:03,040
make exceptional progress here? And by

2503
02:37:03,040 --> 02:37:04,720
broadening out the priorities, we've

2504
02:37:04,720 --> 02:37:06,800
lost that and do we want to return to

2505
02:37:06,800 --> 02:37:08,880
that? Is that important to identify some

2506
02:37:08,880 --> 02:37:10,319
narrow areas where we want to make a lot

2507
02:37:10,319 --> 02:37:13,600
of progress? I I'm not sure about that.

2508
02:37:13,600 --> 02:37:15,840
The other is that right now all the

2509
02:37:15,840 --> 02:37:17,840
objectives have to be tied to a

2510
02:37:17,840 --> 02:37:20,240
priority. And do we need that? Can we

2511
02:37:20,240 --> 02:37:21,600
just say no, this is a really important

2512
02:37:21,600 --> 02:37:23,120
thing. It doesn't tie to one of the

2513
02:37:23,120 --> 02:37:25,280
priorities. For example, if housing was

2514
02:37:25,280 --> 02:37:27,600
off, we might have housing tasks that we

2515
02:37:27,600 --> 02:37:29,680
want to do even though housing wasn't a

2516
02:37:29,680 --> 02:37:32,560
priority. Uh so right now, do we want to

2517
02:37:32,560 --> 02:37:34,479
keep that linkage, that mandatory

2518
02:37:34,479 --> 02:37:36,000
linkage of having priorities linked to

2519
02:37:36,000 --> 02:37:37,840
objectives?

2520
02:37:37,840 --> 02:37:39,270
>> Great. And maybe that's something we can

2521
02:37:39,270 --> 02:37:39,280
» Great. And maybe that's something we can

2522
02:37:39,280 --> 02:37:40,880
bake in at the beginning. What I love

2523
02:37:40,880 --> 02:37:42,880
about this discussion is I think all of

2524
02:37:42,880 --> 02:37:46,240
us are on the same page that we want

2525
02:37:46,240 --> 02:37:49,520
this to be a meaningful exercise. And

2526
02:37:49,520 --> 02:37:50,960
that was exactly it. I felt it had

2527
02:37:50,960 --> 02:37:53,439
gotten so broad and so high level that

2528
02:37:53,439 --> 02:37:55,600
we'd kind of lost

2529
02:37:55,600 --> 02:37:57,280
the appropriate role for council input

2530
02:37:57,280 --> 02:37:59,280
to to do that prioritization. What do we

2531
02:37:59,280 --> 02:38:01,120
really really care about this year? And

2532
02:38:01,120 --> 02:38:03,040
so I think we're all on the same page in

2533
02:38:03,040 --> 02:38:04,960
that and we'll we'll try to we'll we'll

2534
02:38:04,960 --> 02:38:06,880
work through the specifics and the

2535
02:38:06,880 --> 02:38:11,120
nomenclature and all that uh in a couple

2536
02:38:11,120 --> 02:38:13,680
weeks. Right. [laughter]

2537
02:38:13,680 --> 02:38:16,240
All right. Okay. Okay. Well, uh, seeing

2538
02:38:16,240 --> 02:38:18,720
no further lights and and you, I guess,

2539
02:38:18,720 --> 02:38:20,960
have the direction you need.

2540
02:38:20,960 --> 02:38:22,469
>> Yes. We'll follow up and again, we

2541
02:38:22,469 --> 02:38:22,479
» Yes. We'll follow up and again, we

2542
02:38:22,479 --> 02:38:23,760
expect we'll be providing some

2543
02:38:23,760 --> 02:38:25,200
additional information for council in

2544
02:38:25,200 --> 02:38:27,600
advance of the study uh, the retreat

2545
02:38:27,600 --> 02:38:28,479
itself.

2546
02:38:28,479 --> 02:38:30,630
>> Okay. And I I just want to do one more

2547
02:38:30,630 --> 02:38:30,640
» Okay. And I I just want to do one more

2548
02:38:30,640 --> 02:38:32,080
thank you to staff. I know you're all

2549
02:38:32,080 --> 02:38:33,439
here and we didn't ask you a lot of

2550
02:38:33,439 --> 02:38:35,760
questions about your objectives and and

2551
02:38:35,760 --> 02:38:38,080
that you reported on, but you know, I

2552
02:38:38,080 --> 02:38:39,520
concur with my colleagues that were

2553
02:38:39,520 --> 02:38:41,439
thrilled to see the progress. I think we

2554
02:38:41,439 --> 02:38:43,840
can follow up uh elsewhere on specific

2555
02:38:43,840 --> 02:38:45,920
ones, but thank you all for your work

2556
02:38:45,920 --> 02:38:47,840
that went into the report we received

2557
02:38:47,840 --> 02:38:51,439
tonight. So, with that, yes. Oh, I'm

2558
02:38:51,439 --> 02:38:52,960
sorry, Council Member Lats.

2559
02:38:52,960 --> 02:38:53,910
>> I'm sorry. Yeah, I might have

2560
02:38:53,910 --> 02:38:53,920
» I'm sorry. Yeah, I might have

2561
02:38:53,920 --> 02:38:56,640
misunderstood the uh plan. So, I thought

2562
02:38:56,640 --> 02:38:57,920
we were going to ask staff some

2563
02:38:57,920 --> 02:39:00,399
questions, but we had just pivoted to uh

2564
02:39:00,399 --> 02:39:03,120
talking more about the organizational

2565
02:39:03,120 --> 02:39:05,680
stuff. So, we we can

2566
02:39:05,680 --> 02:39:07,349
>> um Well, I don't want to be the only

2567
02:39:07,349 --> 02:39:07,359
» um Well, I don't want to be the only

2568
02:39:07,359 --> 02:39:11,520
one. I know they're all here. So, um I I

2569
02:39:11,520 --> 02:39:13,040
just wanted to ask the question if I'm

2570
02:39:13,040 --> 02:39:14,880
if I'm the only one I can take it

2571
02:39:14,880 --> 02:39:17,040
offline, but if there were others who do

2572
02:39:17,040 --> 02:39:18,560
a quick round of that, but let's try to

2573
02:39:18,560 --> 02:39:20,080
keep it just because we have a long

2574
02:39:20,080 --> 02:39:21,600
agenda, but yeah, please go ahead.

2575
02:39:21,600 --> 02:39:23,910
>> Okay. Well, um I'll join the mayor in

2576
02:39:23,910 --> 02:39:23,920
» Okay. Well, um I'll join the mayor in

2577
02:39:23,920 --> 02:39:25,920
thanking all of you for uh all of the

2578
02:39:25,920 --> 02:39:28,640
work that's reflected in um the

2579
02:39:28,640 --> 02:39:30,160
presentations that you brought forth

2580
02:39:30,160 --> 02:39:33,040
tonight. And um I did want to ask

2581
02:39:33,040 --> 02:39:36,319
director late um it was clear in the

2582
02:39:36,319 --> 02:39:38,800
report and in your presentation

2583
02:39:38,800 --> 02:39:44,479
that um housing 3.2.6 six, which is to I

2584
02:39:44,479 --> 02:39:45,920
believe it's to identify funds for

2585
02:39:45,920 --> 02:39:48,720
affordable housing. Um, essentially says

2586
02:39:48,720 --> 02:39:51,680
that staff time has been cannibalized

2587
02:39:51,680 --> 02:39:53,680
because of work other important work

2588
02:39:53,680 --> 02:39:57,040
like OSV impacts. And I think there was

2589
02:39:57,040 --> 02:39:58,640
another item that you mentioned that

2590
02:39:58,640 --> 02:40:01,680
kind of prevented staff from focusing on

2591
02:40:01,680 --> 02:40:03,439
this one. So, could you say a little bit

2592
02:40:03,439 --> 02:40:05,359
more about that? I'm raising it because

2593
02:40:05,359 --> 02:40:08,399
I think on October 20th when we had our

2594
02:40:08,399 --> 02:40:10,880
big meeting on oversized vehicle impacts

2595
02:40:10,880 --> 02:40:14,560
and how to support RV dwellers, we

2596
02:40:14,560 --> 02:40:16,240
unless I missed it were not presented

2597
02:40:16,240 --> 02:40:18,080
with, hey, you go forward with this,

2598
02:40:18,080 --> 02:40:20,160
here's what we're not doing on housing

2599
02:40:20,160 --> 02:40:23,200
and um it I don't know that would have

2600
02:40:23,200 --> 02:40:24,640
changed anything, but I think it's it's

2601
02:40:24,640 --> 02:40:26,880
a pretty material thing. So, I was

2602
02:40:26,880 --> 02:40:29,040
surprised to see that sort of this was a

2603
02:40:29,040 --> 02:40:30,399
trade-off. Could you say more about

2604
02:40:30,399 --> 02:40:33,200
that, please, Miss Mcdana? Uh thank you

2605
02:40:33,200 --> 02:40:35,200
Melissa Mcdana, assistant to the city

2606
02:40:35,200 --> 02:40:37,680
manager uh and lead on both both of

2607
02:40:37,680 --> 02:40:40,399
those items. [laughter]

2608
02:40:40,399 --> 02:40:44,399
So when when we got to October 20th to

2609
02:40:44,399 --> 02:40:47,040
get to that date, the exact same staff

2610
02:40:47,040 --> 02:40:48,880
resources

2611
02:40:48,880 --> 02:40:51,760
were working on that policy and services

2612
02:40:51,760 --> 02:40:55,200
item to get it to council on the 20th.

2613
02:40:55,200 --> 02:40:59,200
Um then council gave us direction to

2614
02:40:59,200 --> 02:41:01,920
immediately work on some time bound

2615
02:41:01,920 --> 02:41:06,240
things um at that council meeting

2616
02:41:06,240 --> 02:41:08,960
which is what we we worked on. There was

2617
02:41:08,960 --> 02:41:12,160
no way to do that and to do the uh

2618
02:41:12,160 --> 02:41:14,720
priority objective on affordable housing

2619
02:41:14,720 --> 02:41:15,840
financing.

2620
02:41:15,840 --> 02:41:16,469
>> So if I could

2621
02:41:16,469 --> 02:41:16,479
» So if I could

2622
02:41:16,479 --> 02:41:18,469
>> which had a more

2623
02:41:18,469 --> 02:41:18,479
» which had a more

2624
02:41:18,479 --> 02:41:19,520
open timeline.

2625
02:41:19,520 --> 02:41:21,510
>> Yeah, if I could uh perhaps amplify or

2626
02:41:21,510 --> 02:41:21,520
» Yeah, if I could uh perhaps amplify or

2627
02:41:21,520 --> 02:41:22,880
clarify a little bit beyond that. So

2628
02:41:22,880 --> 02:41:24,479
clearly this was written from a city

2629
02:41:24,479 --> 02:41:26,720
manager's office perspective in terms of

2630
02:41:26,720 --> 02:41:29,520
the staff support that was anticipated

2631
02:41:29,520 --> 02:41:31,920
uh to be needed in order to work on

2632
02:41:31,920 --> 02:41:35,920
affordable housing funding. And so uh

2633
02:41:35,920 --> 02:41:38,160
that that is true. You you started your

2634
02:41:38,160 --> 02:41:40,399
question as as pointing to director late

2635
02:41:40,399 --> 02:41:42,960
and for understandable reasons. Uh but

2636
02:41:42,960 --> 02:41:44,960
uh I think it's as worth noting that we

2637
02:41:44,960 --> 02:41:47,120
had not anticipated that their staff was

2638
02:41:47,120 --> 02:41:48,560
going to do much more than they already

2639
02:41:48,560 --> 02:41:50,880
had. Uh that said, you know, on this

2640
02:41:50,880 --> 02:41:53,120
broader topic of of affordable uh

2641
02:41:53,120 --> 02:41:56,319
housing funding, uh we have been engaged

2642
02:41:56,319 --> 02:41:59,040
in legislative initiatives and so really

2643
02:41:59,040 --> 02:42:01,520
we'll continue to track that as a as a

2644
02:42:01,520 --> 02:42:03,520
potential resource aside from anything

2645
02:42:03,520 --> 02:42:04,960
developed specifically here in Palo

2646
02:42:04,960 --> 02:42:08,309
Alto.

2647
02:42:08,319 --> 02:42:11,359
» So it's gone but not forgotten.

2648
02:42:11,359 --> 02:42:15,270
>> Okay. Thank you. And um Director Okaine,

2649
02:42:15,270 --> 02:42:15,280
» Okay. Thank you. And um Director Okaine,

2650
02:42:15,280 --> 02:42:19,920
um with regard to 445 Bryant, um I've

2651
02:42:19,920 --> 02:42:22,319
been delighted to read about and hear

2652
02:42:22,319 --> 02:42:26,080
about the um opening, which is not far

2653
02:42:26,080 --> 02:42:28,960
away, the um city-owned building will

2654
02:42:28,960 --> 02:42:32,240
house La Coma and a new teen center. And

2655
02:42:32,240 --> 02:42:34,479
I see the new teen center written up as

2656
02:42:34,479 --> 02:42:37,040
designed by and for teens. And I'm

2657
02:42:37,040 --> 02:42:38,560
wondering if you could let us know which

2658
02:42:38,560 --> 02:42:40,399
of our teen groups did we work with and

2659
02:42:40,399 --> 02:42:43,120
give us some examples of uh what the

2660
02:42:43,120 --> 02:42:45,680
result will be. Um what will it offer?

2661
02:42:45,680 --> 02:42:47,439
When will it operate? How will it

2662
02:42:47,439 --> 02:42:51,359
interact with LAA in the same building?

2663
02:42:51,359 --> 02:42:53,520
Thank you, Council Member Kristen Okaine

2664
02:42:53,520 --> 02:42:56,479
Community Services Department. So yes,

2665
02:42:56,479 --> 02:42:59,200
the teen center is planning we're

2666
02:42:59,200 --> 02:43:01,120
planning on opening in February. We're

2667
02:43:01,120 --> 02:43:03,280
just putting some final touches on it.

2668
02:43:03,280 --> 02:43:05,840
Um the way that we engaged with teens

2669
02:43:05,840 --> 02:43:09,120
was a couple of ways. One was through an

2670
02:43:09,120 --> 02:43:12,240
online survey um where we asked specific

2671
02:43:12,240 --> 02:43:14,240
questions about what they might like in

2672
02:43:14,240 --> 02:43:17,120
the teen center. Um

2673
02:43:17,120 --> 02:43:21,590
>> and who received that survey?

2674
02:43:21,600 --> 02:43:23,760
» I would have to get back to you on that.

2675
02:43:23,760 --> 02:43:25,680
Um it's

2676
02:43:25,680 --> 02:43:27,510
>> teens in our own groups or broader

2677
02:43:27,510 --> 02:43:27,520
» teens in our own groups or broader

2678
02:43:27,520 --> 02:43:28,560
groups of teens.

2679
02:43:28,560 --> 02:43:31,030
>> So both. So teens in our own groups, but

2680
02:43:31,030 --> 02:43:31,040
» So both. So teens in our own groups, but

2681
02:43:31,040 --> 02:43:33,680
then we also share those links. Um we

2682
02:43:33,680 --> 02:43:35,520
ask our teen leadership groups to share

2683
02:43:35,520 --> 02:43:37,200
them broadly with their networks and

2684
02:43:37,200 --> 02:43:39,120
then we also share them on social media

2685
02:43:39,120 --> 02:43:42,319
for anybody. Um so that was one way and

2686
02:43:42,319 --> 02:43:45,359
then the other was um we did an

2687
02:43:45,359 --> 02:43:48,710
openhouse

2688
02:43:48,720 --> 02:43:51,840
at the teen center at Mitchell Community

2689
02:43:51,840 --> 02:43:55,279
Center and we did a couple of workshops

2690
02:43:55,279 --> 02:44:00,000
where we asked them to um do some mockup

2691
02:44:00,000 --> 02:44:02,240
drawings for us on what they might like

2692
02:44:02,240 --> 02:44:04,640
um to be to have in the teen center. And

2693
02:44:04,640 --> 02:44:06,880
then when we we scaled that down into a

2694
02:44:06,880 --> 02:44:08,800
couple of options and ask them to weigh

2695
02:44:08,800 --> 02:44:11,920
in on those options.

2696
02:44:11,920 --> 02:44:13,269
>> Okay. Thank you very much. You're

2697
02:44:13,269 --> 02:44:13,279
» Okay. Thank you very much. You're

2698
02:44:13,279 --> 02:44:15,439
welcome. Appreciate the update. And with

2699
02:44:15,439 --> 02:44:17,760
my time being up, I just want to welcome

2700
02:44:17,760 --> 02:44:20,479
uh Mr. Andrade. Uh welcome to the city.

2701
02:44:20,479 --> 02:44:22,160
There's a lot ahead of you and we're all

2702
02:44:22,160 --> 02:44:25,600
very motivated to help you succeed uh in

2703
02:44:25,600 --> 02:44:27,040
this important work. Thank you very

2704
02:44:27,040 --> 02:44:31,110
much.

2705
02:44:31,120 --> 02:44:32,880
» Well, I actually have a question as

2706
02:44:32,880 --> 02:44:38,399
well. Um, and it's on the climate action

2707
02:44:38,399 --> 02:44:40,800
priority that director Eglesson reported

2708
02:44:40,800 --> 02:44:43,279
on, but it may or may not be director

2709
02:44:43,279 --> 02:44:46,080
late because it's 1.2.3,

2710
02:44:46,080 --> 02:44:49,359
which is a stream/crete corridor setback

2711
02:44:49,359 --> 02:44:51,200
requirements. [laughter]

2712
02:44:51,200 --> 02:44:54,960
I I thought it might be um I'm just

2713
02:44:54,960 --> 02:44:56,880
curious about this because this this is

2714
02:44:56,880 --> 02:44:59,120
what I think was one of the very first

2715
02:44:59,120 --> 02:45:03,760
things that my cohort uh addressed on

2716
02:45:03,760 --> 02:45:09,190
council. Um and

2717
02:45:09,200 --> 02:45:11,920
it it it uh we were hoping to to have it

2718
02:45:11,920 --> 02:45:15,359
I think back this year and um I know at

2719
02:45:15,359 --> 02:45:18,080
the PTC it says roadblocks. Uh the PTC

2720
02:45:18,080 --> 02:45:20,080
requested further amendments to address

2721
02:45:20,080 --> 02:45:21,680
concerns about potential impacts to

2722
02:45:21,680 --> 02:45:24,319
properties. Um and then it has next

2723
02:45:24,319 --> 02:45:26,160
steps. The revised ordinance is

2724
02:45:26,160 --> 02:45:29,439
anticipated to return to PTC in 2026. So

2725
02:45:29,439 --> 02:45:31,600
are we not going to see it this year or

2726
02:45:31,600 --> 02:45:35,040
how are what how where does that stand?

2727
02:45:35,040 --> 02:45:37,349
>> Yes, it will be before the city council

2728
02:45:37,349 --> 02:45:37,359
» Yes, it will be before the city council

2729
02:45:37,359 --> 02:45:38,960
this year. I think the plan is to go to

2730
02:45:38,960 --> 02:45:40,319
the planning and transportation

2731
02:45:40,319 --> 02:45:42,479
commission in the first quarter and then

2732
02:45:42,479 --> 02:45:44,160
wrap up there and then we would be able

2733
02:45:44,160 --> 02:45:46,479
to come back to uh the city council.

2734
02:45:46,479 --> 02:45:50,399
It's um delayed but not uh forgotten as

2735
02:45:50,399 --> 02:45:51,359
referenced [laughter] earlier.

2736
02:45:51,359 --> 02:45:52,950
>> Yeah. Well, I I see that it says on

2737
02:45:52,950 --> 02:45:52,960
» Yeah. Well, I I see that it says on

2738
02:45:52,960 --> 02:45:54,640
track, but the next steps just sort of

2739
02:45:54,640 --> 02:45:56,800
stopped with PTC and 26. I thought, "Oh,

2740
02:45:56,800 --> 02:45:58,880
please tell me it's not going to be 27

2741
02:45:58,880 --> 02:46:00,080
before we see it." Okay.

2742
02:46:00,080 --> 02:46:02,150
>> No, it's just a little more complicated

2743
02:46:02,150 --> 02:46:02,160
» No, it's just a little more complicated

2744
02:46:02,160 --> 02:46:04,000
as we got more into it and it just takes

2745
02:46:04,000 --> 02:46:05,680
a little bit more time to go through it.

2746
02:46:05,680 --> 02:46:07,110
>> Okay, understood. All right. Well, I

2747
02:46:07,110 --> 02:46:07,120
» Okay, understood. All right. Well, I

2748
02:46:07,120 --> 02:46:09,120
will look forward to that one. Thank

2749
02:46:09,120 --> 02:46:13,120
you. Um any others?

2750
02:46:13,120 --> 02:46:15,830
>> No. Okay. Well, I'll reiterate my thanks

2751
02:46:15,830 --> 02:46:15,840
» No. Okay. Well, I'll reiterate my thanks

2752
02:46:15,840 --> 02:46:18,640
and uh we'll close this item. Thank you

2753
02:46:18,640 --> 02:46:21,200
all.

2754
02:46:21,200 --> 02:46:24,479
All right. So, that concludes our study

2755
02:46:24,479 --> 02:46:27,200
session and takes us to our consent

2756
02:46:27,200 --> 02:46:29,120
calendar.

2757
02:46:29,120 --> 02:46:33,840
Do we have any uh requests to pull uh or

2758
02:46:33,840 --> 02:46:36,160
other

2759
02:46:36,160 --> 02:46:39,200
on the consent calendar?

2760
02:46:39,200 --> 02:46:40,800
Do we have I guess we should probably

2761
02:46:40,800 --> 02:46:42,960
take public comment first, but do we

2762
02:46:42,960 --> 02:46:44,399
have any public comment on the consent

2763
02:46:44,399 --> 02:46:45,520
calendar?

2764
02:46:45,520 --> 02:46:47,110
>> No, mayor. There are no requests to

2765
02:46:47,110 --> 02:46:47,120
» No, mayor. There are no requests to

2766
02:46:47,120 --> 02:46:48,640
speak and no hands are raised for

2767
02:46:48,640 --> 02:46:50,640
consent calendar items.

2768
02:46:50,640 --> 02:46:52,710
>> Okay. Council member Liths,

2769
02:46:52,710 --> 02:46:52,720
» Okay. Council member Liths,

2770
02:46:52,720 --> 02:46:54,790
>> I'd like to register a no vote on items

2771
02:46:54,790 --> 02:46:54,800
» I'd like to register a no vote on items

2772
02:46:54,800 --> 02:46:56,640
10 and 11.

2773
02:46:56,640 --> 02:46:59,990
>> Okay.

2774
02:47:00,000 --> 02:47:02,720
Any others?

2775
02:47:02,720 --> 02:47:04,479
No. All right.

2776
02:47:04,479 --> 02:47:05,750
>> I would like to move the consent

2777
02:47:05,750 --> 02:47:05,760
» I would like to move the consent

2778
02:47:05,760 --> 02:47:07,200
calendar.

2779
02:47:07,200 --> 02:47:09,990
>> Thank you. Do I have a second?

2780
02:47:09,990 --> 02:47:10,000
» Thank you. Do I have a second?

2781
02:47:10,000 --> 02:47:11,990
>> Second.

2782
02:47:11,990 --> 02:47:12,000
» Second.

2783
02:47:12,000 --> 02:47:13,670
>> All right,

2784
02:47:13,670 --> 02:47:13,680
» All right,

2785
02:47:13,680 --> 02:47:15,200
Madame Clerk, when you're ready, would

2786
02:47:15,200 --> 02:47:55,830
you kindly call the role?

2787
02:47:55,840 --> 02:47:57,840
Vice Mayor Stone.

2788
02:47:57,840 --> 02:47:58,150
>> Yes.

2789
02:47:58,150 --> 02:47:58,160
» Yes.

2790
02:47:58,160 --> 02:47:59,429
>> Council member Bert.

2791
02:47:59,429 --> 02:47:59,439
» Council member Bert.

2792
02:47:59,439 --> 02:47:59,910
>> Yes.

2793
02:47:59,910 --> 02:47:59,920
» Yes.

2794
02:47:59,920 --> 02:48:01,510
>> Mayor Vinker.

2795
02:48:01,510 --> 02:48:01,520
» Mayor Vinker.

2796
02:48:01,520 --> 02:48:03,359
Yes. Council member Liths.

2797
02:48:03,359 --> 02:48:03,750
>> Yes.

2798
02:48:03,750 --> 02:48:03,760
» Yes.

2799
02:48:03,760 --> 02:48:04,870
>> Council member Lou.

2800
02:48:04,870 --> 02:48:04,880
» Council member Lou.

2801
02:48:04,880 --> 02:48:05,190
>> Yes.

2802
02:48:05,190 --> 02:48:05,200
» Yes.

2803
02:48:05,200 --> 02:48:06,150
>> Council member Rectal.

2804
02:48:06,150 --> 02:48:06,160
» Council member Rectal.

2805
02:48:06,160 --> 02:48:06,469
>> Yes.

2806
02:48:06,469 --> 02:48:06,479
» Yes.

2807
02:48:06,479 --> 02:48:07,590
>> Council member Lowing.

2808
02:48:07,590 --> 02:48:07,600
» Council member Lowing.

2809
02:48:07,600 --> 02:48:07,990
>> Yes.

2810
02:48:07,990 --> 02:48:08,000
» Yes.

2811
02:48:08,000 --> 02:48:10,950
>> Motion carries.

2812
02:48:10,950 --> 02:48:10,960
» Motion carries.

2813
02:48:10,960 --> 02:48:13,590
>> All right. Thank you.

2814
02:48:13,590 --> 02:48:13,600
» All right. Thank you.

2815
02:48:13,600 --> 02:48:15,040
And with that, we'll move on to city

2816
02:48:15,040 --> 02:48:15,760
manager.

2817
02:48:15,760 --> 02:48:17,030
>> I'd like to talk to my

2818
02:48:17,030 --> 02:48:17,040
» I'd like to talk to my

2819
02:48:17,040 --> 02:48:19,510
>> I'm so sorry. Thank you.

2820
02:48:19,510 --> 02:48:19,520
» I'm so sorry. Thank you.

2821
02:48:19,520 --> 02:48:20,469
>> Please go ahead.

2822
02:48:20,469 --> 02:48:20,479
» Please go ahead.

2823
02:48:20,479 --> 02:48:22,710
>> Thank you very much. Um, I voted no on

2824
02:48:22,710 --> 02:48:22,720
» Thank you very much. Um, I voted no on

2825
02:48:22,720 --> 02:48:25,760
items 10 and 11, uh, simply because I

2826
02:48:25,760 --> 02:48:28,399
have concern that the motion we passed

2827
02:48:28,399 --> 02:48:30,560
on October 20th

2828
02:48:30,560 --> 02:48:33,359
with regard to the impacts of RV

2829
02:48:33,359 --> 02:48:35,520
dwellers on businesses and residents and

2830
02:48:35,520 --> 02:48:39,200
our intent to dis to um,

2831
02:48:39,200 --> 02:48:41,279
uh, investigate more safe parking

2832
02:48:41,279 --> 02:48:45,439
options for RV dwellers that those two

2833
02:48:45,439 --> 02:48:48,560
branches of uh, you know, a very

2834
02:48:48,560 --> 02:48:52,800
difficult um, situation um are not

2835
02:48:52,800 --> 02:48:55,439
proceeding at the same pace. Um it's

2836
02:48:55,439 --> 02:48:57,600
frankly much harder to find safe parking

2837
02:48:57,600 --> 02:48:59,920
lots and I know our staff is working on

2838
02:48:59,920 --> 02:49:02,160
it. I'm not uh this is not a ding on

2839
02:49:02,160 --> 02:49:05,040
anybody. This is um an articulation of a

2840
02:49:05,040 --> 02:49:06,800
concern that one piece of it is

2841
02:49:06,800 --> 02:49:09,359
proceeding um with greater expediency

2842
02:49:09,359 --> 02:49:11,439
than the other which I think was

2843
02:49:11,439 --> 02:49:14,560
predictable and um so we find ourselves

2844
02:49:14,560 --> 02:49:17,920
with with uh a lot more to say on on the

2845
02:49:17,920 --> 02:49:20,560
front end and less on the back end. I

2846
02:49:20,560 --> 02:49:23,200
have confidence that um that will write

2847
02:49:23,200 --> 02:49:25,840
itself over time. Um but I in the

2848
02:49:25,840 --> 02:49:28,000
meantime, humans are being impacted by

2849
02:49:28,000 --> 02:49:30,800
these uh ordinances that we've passed.

2850
02:49:30,800 --> 02:49:32,479
Um and they're being impacted during the

2851
02:49:32,479 --> 02:49:34,560
holidays. We're impacted during the

2852
02:49:34,560 --> 02:49:36,479
holidays and so it's hard to see us with

2853
02:49:36,479 --> 02:49:39,760
such uh fervent effort on the one hand

2854
02:49:39,760 --> 02:49:42,720
um uh knowing that the the second piece

2855
02:49:42,720 --> 02:49:46,000
um is just going to take longer to to um

2856
02:49:46,000 --> 02:49:48,000
put into place. So that's the reason for

2857
02:49:48,000 --> 02:49:51,279
my no votes. Thank you.

2858
02:49:51,279 --> 02:49:53,600
Thank you, city manager.

2859
02:49:53,600 --> 02:49:55,510
>> Yes. Thank you, mayor, members of the

2860
02:49:55,510 --> 02:49:55,520
» Yes. Thank you, mayor, members of the

2861
02:49:55,520 --> 02:49:58,080
council. If I could ask the city clerk

2862
02:49:58,080 --> 02:50:00,479
for assistance with a few slides. I'll

2863
02:50:00,479 --> 02:50:03,359
keep this uh quick. I do want to note,

2864
02:50:03,359 --> 02:50:05,439
and I don't have a slide for this, uh uh

2865
02:50:05,439 --> 02:50:07,439
just to reiterate appreciation for

2866
02:50:07,439 --> 02:50:08,880
council members and community members

2867
02:50:08,880 --> 02:50:11,439
that joined us uh for the fire station

2868
02:50:11,439 --> 02:50:13,359
4, affectionately known as the Mitchell

2869
02:50:13,359 --> 02:50:17,200
Park Fire Station u uh groundbreaking uh

2870
02:50:17,200 --> 02:50:19,760
last week. and uh certainly look forward

2871
02:50:19,760 --> 02:50:22,640
to that construction proceeding uh

2872
02:50:22,640 --> 02:50:24,880
expeditiously and having the new fire

2873
02:50:24,880 --> 02:50:26,800
station in service along with

2874
02:50:26,800 --> 02:50:28,640
appreciation to the coverly community

2875
02:50:28,640 --> 02:50:31,600
that is uh uh bearing with the temporary

2876
02:50:31,600 --> 02:50:34,880
uh station on campus. Uh let's go to the

2877
02:50:34,880 --> 02:50:38,240
next slide please.

2878
02:50:38,240 --> 02:50:40,240
All right. Well, again much uh

2879
02:50:40,240 --> 02:50:42,640
conversation already but uh what we're

2880
02:50:42,640 --> 02:50:44,240
referring to actually we don't have it

2881
02:50:44,240 --> 02:50:47,520
on here. 429 Brian Street. There's a

2882
02:50:47,520 --> 02:50:50,399
change in the address. Turns out the 445

2883
02:50:50,399 --> 02:50:52,720
is actually the parking garage. So, for

2884
02:50:52,720 --> 02:50:54,000
those who are looking for the new

2885
02:50:54,000 --> 02:50:56,960
community center, it is at 429 Bryant

2886
02:50:56,960 --> 02:51:00,160
Street. And uh this just a quick teaser

2887
02:51:00,160 --> 02:51:04,080
on uh how uh gorgeous the uh facility

2888
02:51:04,080 --> 02:51:06,720
looks. Uh now that uh we've had some

2889
02:51:06,720 --> 02:51:08,240
interim improvements. I think it's

2890
02:51:08,240 --> 02:51:10,240
important to manage expectations. We

2891
02:51:10,240 --> 02:51:13,279
noted that uh more can and should be

2892
02:51:13,279 --> 02:51:16,000
done uh at this facility uh but

2893
02:51:16,000 --> 02:51:18,080
sufficient at this point to open our

2894
02:51:18,080 --> 02:51:20,960
doors and working with Lakomeda uh for

2895
02:51:20,960 --> 02:51:24,399
their transition and as noted here uh

2896
02:51:24,399 --> 02:51:27,840
that uh we have uh uh grand opening

2897
02:51:27,840 --> 02:51:29,920
details being finalized and more to come

2898
02:51:29,920 --> 02:51:32,479
but reservations are already uh being

2899
02:51:32,479 --> 02:51:36,000
taken. Next slide please.

2900
02:51:36,000 --> 02:51:37,920
Speaking of reservations and

2901
02:51:37,920 --> 02:51:41,520
registrations, uh the enjoy catalog uh

2902
02:51:41,520 --> 02:51:44,880
is now moving to the virtual enjoy

2903
02:51:44,880 --> 02:51:46,960
catalog because we are making the

2904
02:51:46,960 --> 02:51:50,160
transition to a digital uh format and so

2905
02:51:50,160 --> 02:51:52,080
as many of us have become accustomed to

2906
02:51:52,080 --> 02:51:54,399
receiving that catalog in the mail. This

2907
02:51:54,399 --> 02:51:56,880
will now be a postcard uh that you'll

2908
02:51:56,880 --> 02:52:00,319
receive and uh that uh will now refer

2909
02:52:00,319 --> 02:52:02,479
you to what has always been our online

2910
02:52:02,479 --> 02:52:04,560
registration system. So change

2911
02:52:04,560 --> 02:52:07,600
management in the works. Uh but again we

2912
02:52:07,600 --> 02:52:09,120
were this is just part of getting the

2913
02:52:09,120 --> 02:52:11,840
word out uh that summer camp

2914
02:52:11,840 --> 02:52:15,120
registration is beginning on uh February

2915
02:52:15,120 --> 02:52:17,520
5th as noted here. Uh we know that

2916
02:52:17,520 --> 02:52:20,640
that's a very important date on people

2917
02:52:20,640 --> 02:52:23,120
families uh calendars. So just want to

2918
02:52:23,120 --> 02:52:25,120
get the word out early and uh more

2919
02:52:25,120 --> 02:52:27,680
information to come on registration.

2920
02:52:27,680 --> 02:52:29,680
Next slide please.

2921
02:52:29,680 --> 02:52:31,520
Then also throughout the month of

2922
02:52:31,520 --> 02:52:33,279
January, we've got a number of community

2923
02:52:33,279 --> 02:52:36,960
events upcoming uh that families and and

2924
02:52:36,960 --> 02:52:39,840
members of our community uh would uh be

2925
02:52:39,840 --> 02:52:42,319
welcome to participate in ranging from

2926
02:52:42,319 --> 02:52:45,120
final movies at Cubberly through uh

2927
02:52:45,120 --> 02:52:47,760
upcoming uh Lunar New Year uh activities

2928
02:52:47,760 --> 02:52:49,120
at the end of the month with the

2929
02:52:49,120 --> 02:52:51,200
library. Uh so more detail here on the

2930
02:52:51,200 --> 02:52:54,560
city's calendar. Next slide, please.

2931
02:52:54,560 --> 02:52:58,080
Also uh ongoing activity, our artlift

2932
02:52:58,080 --> 02:53:02,319
grant program uh which has uh always

2933
02:53:02,319 --> 02:53:05,600
generated tremendous uh works uh and

2934
02:53:05,600 --> 02:53:07,279
certainly want to reinforce local

2935
02:53:07,279 --> 02:53:10,319
opportunities for local artists uh and

2936
02:53:10,319 --> 02:53:13,680
uh that uh program is now launched and

2937
02:53:13,680 --> 02:53:17,200
deadline is February 20th city uh at our

2938
02:53:17,200 --> 02:53:20,399
uh city's website pelto.gov/artist

2939
02:53:20,399 --> 02:53:22,080
opportunities.

2940
02:53:22,080 --> 02:53:24,560
Next slide please. Then finally, looking

2941
02:53:24,560 --> 02:53:26,640
forward to the upcoming city council

2942
02:53:26,640 --> 02:53:30,080
agendas next or or just actually this

2943
02:53:30,080 --> 02:53:32,880
week, Thursday, if anyone sees a city

2944
02:53:32,880 --> 02:53:34,800
council meeting posted, note that this

2945
02:53:34,800 --> 02:53:37,840
is our closed session uh only and so

2946
02:53:37,840 --> 02:53:39,600
will not be a regular city council

2947
02:53:39,600 --> 02:53:41,840
meeting. Then uh there will be no

2948
02:53:41,840 --> 02:53:44,399
meeting next Monday uh due to the Martin

2949
02:53:44,399 --> 02:53:47,200
Luther King Jr. holiday. Instead, you'll

2950
02:53:47,200 --> 02:53:50,240
meet on Tuesday, January 20th. a number

2951
02:53:50,240 --> 02:53:53,040
of items uh shown here, a study session

2952
02:53:53,040 --> 02:53:55,359
with your community survey results. Uh

2953
02:53:55,359 --> 02:53:57,439
our legislative guidelines and the long

2954
02:53:57,439 --> 02:53:59,600
range financial forecast. Again, that's

2955
02:53:59,600 --> 02:54:02,880
next week, Tuesday. Uh then next

2956
02:54:02,880 --> 02:54:05,520
Saturday will be the city council's

2957
02:54:05,520 --> 02:54:08,080
retreat that we've spoken to. Then the

2958
02:54:08,080 --> 02:54:10,560
following meeting will be on February

2959
02:54:10,560 --> 02:54:12,720
2nd. So there's also no meeting on I

2960
02:54:12,720 --> 02:54:15,120
guess it would be the 28th or

2961
02:54:15,120 --> 02:54:18,319
thereabouts. Um no, that would be the

2962
02:54:18,319 --> 02:54:21,200
26th. Thank you. No meeting on the 26th

2963
02:54:21,200 --> 02:54:23,920
of January. Next meeting is February

2964
02:54:23,920 --> 02:54:26,960
2nd. Then we've got a number of items uh

2965
02:54:26,960 --> 02:54:29,040
shown on that agenda as well as through

2966
02:54:29,040 --> 02:54:31,520
the remainder of February. So with that,

2967
02:54:31,520 --> 02:54:33,439
mayor. Um that completes my comments.

2968
02:54:33,439 --> 02:54:36,000
Back to you.

2969
02:54:36,000 --> 02:54:38,230
>> Thank you very much.

2970
02:54:38,230 --> 02:54:38,240
» Thank you very much.

2971
02:54:38,240 --> 02:54:40,479
All right. So we'll move on to our

2972
02:54:40,479 --> 02:54:47,190
action item uh 13.

2973
02:54:47,200 --> 02:54:49,680
Oh, okay. Please go ahead.

2974
02:54:49,680 --> 02:54:51,349
>> Thank you. Uh, city manager, could you,

2975
02:54:51,349 --> 02:54:51,359
» Thank you. Uh, city manager, could you,

2976
02:54:51,359 --> 02:54:52,800
it was alluded to tonight that the

2977
02:54:52,800 --> 02:54:55,200
retreat is 8 hours long or 6 hours long.

2978
02:54:55,200 --> 02:54:56,960
I'm not sure that we have been given the

2979
02:54:56,960 --> 02:54:58,640
exact start and stop. I'm wondering if

2980
02:54:58,640 --> 02:54:59,760
you have that.

2981
02:54:59,760 --> 02:55:01,750
>> Let's see. I think the start time is

2982
02:55:01,750 --> 02:55:01,760
» Let's see. I think the start time is

2983
02:55:01,760 --> 02:55:03,920
9:00 a.m. I don't think we set an end

2984
02:55:03,920 --> 02:55:06,160
time to it. So, we did want to,

2985
02:55:06,160 --> 02:55:08,790
>> but you will. [laughter]

2986
02:55:08,790 --> 02:55:08,800
» but you will. [laughter]

2987
02:55:08,800 --> 02:55:11,590
>> Well, I think that's uh

2988
02:55:11,590 --> 02:55:11,600
» Well, I think that's uh

2989
02:55:11,600 --> 02:55:13,920
at at the discretion of the council. you

2990
02:55:13,920 --> 02:55:16,640
know, we um we're trying to try to get

2991
02:55:16,640 --> 02:55:18,640
as much done as we can on that retreat

2992
02:55:18,640 --> 02:55:21,040
day. So, again, I don't have a specific

2993
02:55:21,040 --> 02:55:24,000
end time.

2994
02:55:24,000 --> 02:55:29,269
>> Yeah, we nor do I, but uh hoping for,

2995
02:55:29,269 --> 02:55:29,279
» Yeah, we nor do I, but uh hoping for,

2996
02:55:29,279 --> 02:55:32,000
you know, early afternoon, not hitting

2997
02:55:32,000 --> 02:55:34,080
not going the full day, but that

2998
02:55:34,080 --> 02:55:36,080
requires us to be sort of focused and

2999
02:55:36,080 --> 02:55:36,880
organized, but

3000
02:55:36,880 --> 02:55:38,469
>> Oh, we could make plans for dinner,

3001
02:55:38,469 --> 02:55:38,479
» Oh, we could make plans for dinner,

3002
02:55:38,479 --> 02:55:39,040
let's say.

3003
02:55:39,040 --> 02:55:39,429
>> Yes.

3004
02:55:39,429 --> 02:55:39,439
» Yes.

3005
02:55:39,439 --> 02:55:39,990
>> Okay.

3006
02:55:39,990 --> 02:55:40,000
» Okay.

3007
02:55:40,000 --> 02:55:41,910
>> Or we could arrange for dinner. No, no,

3008
02:55:41,910 --> 02:55:41,920
» Or we could arrange for dinner. No, no,

3009
02:55:41,920 --> 02:55:43,520
no. That's why I think we should talk

3010
02:55:43,520 --> 02:55:43,840
about

3011
02:55:43,840 --> 02:55:47,030
>> the happy hour. [laughter]

3012
02:55:47,040 --> 02:55:50,160
All right. Thank you.

3013
02:55:50,160 --> 02:55:52,790
>> All right. [sighs and gasps]

3014
02:55:52,790 --> 02:55:52,800
» All right. [sighs and gasps]

3015
02:55:52,800 --> 02:55:55,439
So, now we'll move on to 13. Study and

3016
02:55:55,439 --> 02:55:58,080
assessment of PaloAlto turf systems and

3017
02:55:58,080 --> 02:56:00,080
direct staff to proceed with El Camino

3018
02:56:00,080 --> 02:56:02,080
Park synthetic turf replacement and

3019
02:56:02,080 --> 02:56:05,760
natural grass pilot. Welcome, Director.

3020
02:56:05,760 --> 02:56:07,920
Okay. I assume I'm turning it over to

3021
02:56:07,920 --> 02:56:09,680
you for a staff presentation.

3022
02:56:09,680 --> 02:56:11,510
>> You are. Thank you very much. Good

3023
02:56:11,510 --> 02:56:11,520
» You are. Thank you very much. Good

3024
02:56:11,520 --> 02:56:13,439
evening um Mayor Vinker and council

3025
02:56:13,439 --> 02:56:15,439
members. I'm Kristen Okaine with um the

3026
02:56:15,439 --> 02:56:17,359
community services department. I'm

3027
02:56:17,359 --> 02:56:20,880
actually going to turn um the mic over

3028
02:56:20,880 --> 02:56:23,279
um straight away to Sarah Robastelli

3029
02:56:23,279 --> 02:56:25,680
who's our division manager of open space

3030
02:56:25,680 --> 02:56:27,600
parks and golf and who has really been

3031
02:56:27,600 --> 02:56:30,160
leading this project. And then online we

3032
02:56:30,160 --> 02:56:33,680
also have Anthony Stevenson with Lloyd

3033
02:56:33,680 --> 02:56:37,359
um sports and engineering. I think

3034
02:56:37,359 --> 02:56:38,880
that's the right title. So I'm going to

3035
02:56:38,880 --> 02:56:41,840
turn it over to you Mr. Robustelli.

3036
02:56:41,840 --> 02:56:44,080
Lovely. Thank you so much. Good evening,

3037
02:56:44,080 --> 02:56:47,200
uh, mayor, city council members. Um, as

3038
02:56:47,200 --> 02:56:49,120
Kristen mentioned, Sarah Robastelli,

3039
02:56:49,120 --> 02:56:50,880
division manager for open space, parks,

3040
02:56:50,880 --> 02:56:53,920
and golf. Online, you're correct. Uh, we

3041
02:56:53,920 --> 02:56:56,800
have Anthony Stevenson, principal for

3042
02:56:56,800 --> 02:56:59,600
uh, Lloyd Consulting Group. Tonight

3043
02:56:59,600 --> 02:57:02,160
staff is presenting the study and

3044
02:57:02,160 --> 02:57:05,279
assessment of PaloAlto turf systems and

3045
02:57:05,279 --> 02:57:07,920
the associated recommendation related to

3046
02:57:07,920 --> 02:57:11,040
El Camino Park um El Camino Park. This

3047
02:57:11,040 --> 02:57:14,000
item returns to council following your

3048
02:57:14,000 --> 02:57:17,120
November 17th, 2025

3049
02:57:17,120 --> 02:57:20,240
direction to form a city council ad hoc

3050
02:57:20,240 --> 02:57:22,160
committee and request additional

3051
02:57:22,160 --> 02:57:25,120
information and clarification on several

3052
02:57:25,120 --> 02:57:27,600
topics related to the turf study and the

3053
02:57:27,600 --> 02:57:30,800
El Camino Park project. If you go to the

3054
02:57:30,800 --> 02:57:33,840
next slide as background,

3055
02:57:33,840 --> 02:57:36,720
uh, community services manages four

3056
02:57:36,720 --> 02:57:39,520
synthetic turf fields across three

3057
02:57:39,520 --> 02:57:42,800
locations, El Camino Park, Stamford, and

3058
02:57:42,800 --> 02:57:46,000
Peloto community playing fields. Um,

3059
02:57:46,000 --> 02:57:48,000
throughout this presentation, I'm going

3060
02:57:48,000 --> 02:57:51,520
to be referring to that uh, complex as

3061
02:57:51,520 --> 02:57:54,960
Mayfield as well as Coverly.

3062
02:57:54,960 --> 02:57:57,520
El Camino Park was originally scheduled

3063
02:57:57,520 --> 02:58:00,240
for a synthetic replacement. However,

3064
02:58:00,240 --> 02:58:02,560
city council directed staff to pause

3065
02:58:02,560 --> 02:58:05,359
that project and instead redirect

3066
02:58:05,359 --> 02:58:08,160
funding towards a comprehensive turf

3067
02:58:08,160 --> 02:58:11,120
study to better inform uh future

3068
02:58:11,120 --> 02:58:14,720
decisions. The Mayfield project just

3069
02:58:14,720 --> 02:58:17,680
this last month in December was

3070
02:58:17,680 --> 02:58:20,960
substantially completed and Cberly is

3071
02:58:20,960 --> 02:58:26,230
anticipated for replacement in 2028.

3072
02:58:26,240 --> 02:58:29,680
Uh next slide. The turf study was

3073
02:58:29,680 --> 02:58:32,479
designed to provide an objective

3074
02:58:32,479 --> 02:58:36,399
datadriven evaluation of turf systems

3075
02:58:36,399 --> 02:58:39,279
used by athletic used for athletic

3076
02:58:39,279 --> 02:58:41,600
fields. The study focused on

3077
02:58:41,600 --> 02:58:44,479
environmental and health considerations,

3078
02:58:44,479 --> 02:58:48,160
costs, durability, usability, and the

3079
02:58:48,160 --> 02:58:50,160
scope was adjusted to incorporate the

3080
02:58:50,160 --> 02:58:52,960
Santa Clara County public health report

3081
02:58:52,960 --> 02:58:56,560
released in January of 2025.

3082
02:58:56,560 --> 02:59:00,080
El Camino Park was used as a case study

3083
02:59:00,080 --> 02:59:02,720
allowing staff and consultants to

3084
02:59:02,720 --> 02:59:05,760
combine local operational knowledge with

3085
02:59:05,760 --> 02:59:09,120
independent technical expertise.

3086
02:59:09,120 --> 02:59:11,439
The intent of the study is not to

3087
02:59:11,439 --> 02:59:13,840
mandate one single solution, but to

3088
02:59:13,840 --> 02:59:16,880
rather to establish a consistent

3089
02:59:16,880 --> 02:59:19,760
framework to support informed

3090
02:59:19,760 --> 02:59:22,800
decisionmaking for future athletic, uh,

3091
02:59:22,800 --> 02:59:25,600
field replacements.

3092
02:59:25,600 --> 02:59:29,200
Um, this next slide, um, I've titled,

3093
02:59:29,200 --> 02:59:31,920
you know, the turf study project, uh,

3094
02:59:31,920 --> 02:59:33,840
calendar. However, it really could have

3095
02:59:33,840 --> 02:59:37,760
been titled community engagement. Um, I

3096
02:59:37,760 --> 02:59:40,080
really want to underscore to council as

3097
02:59:40,080 --> 02:59:43,359
well as the public the robust robust

3098
02:59:43,359 --> 02:59:46,080
community engagement process that that

3099
02:59:46,080 --> 02:59:48,800
incurred throughout this process. Uh,

3100
02:59:48,800 --> 02:59:51,359
the project was launched in June of

3101
02:59:51,359 --> 02:59:55,279
2025. It included f focus groups in

3102
02:59:55,279 --> 02:59:59,439
July. Um, that included athletic users,

3103
02:59:59,439 --> 03:00:01,920
park and rex playing fields ad hoc

3104
03:00:01,920 --> 03:00:05,600
committee as well as the Sierra Club.

3105
03:00:05,600 --> 03:00:08,800
Um, a draft report was released on

3106
03:00:08,800 --> 03:00:12,560
August 13th and followed up by a formal

3107
03:00:12,560 --> 03:00:14,960
public comment period throughout uh,

3108
03:00:14,960 --> 03:00:18,080
September 3rd. The study was discussed

3109
03:00:18,080 --> 03:00:20,720
at multiple park and recreation uh,

3110
03:00:20,720 --> 03:00:23,920
meetings and was presented to city

3111
03:00:23,920 --> 03:00:27,359
council November 17th. Um following that

3112
03:00:27,359 --> 03:00:30,720
meeting, city council informed uh formed

3113
03:00:30,720 --> 03:00:33,680
an ad hoc committee which met on

3114
03:00:33,680 --> 03:00:37,760
November 24th as well as December 9th.

3115
03:00:37,760 --> 03:00:39,840
During those meetings, staff

3116
03:00:39,840 --> 03:00:41,359
specifically

3117
03:00:41,359 --> 03:00:44,800
um was specifically received further

3118
03:00:44,800 --> 03:00:48,800
evaluation to clarify risk mitigation me

3119
03:00:48,800 --> 03:00:51,680
measures. The recommendation before you

3120
03:00:51,680 --> 03:00:53,680
this evening reflects this follow-up

3121
03:00:53,680 --> 03:00:58,800
work. On the next slide um is is your

3122
03:00:58,800 --> 03:01:01,760
action that took place on November 17th

3123
03:01:01,760 --> 03:01:04,479
forming that ad hoc. And on this next

3124
03:01:04,479 --> 03:01:07,680
slide we I will discuss risk mitigation

3125
03:01:07,680 --> 03:01:10,319
measures as it's been a central focus of

3126
03:01:10,319 --> 03:01:12,479
both the turf study as well as

3127
03:01:12,479 --> 03:01:17,120
subsequent polity policy discussions.

3128
03:01:17,120 --> 03:01:20,479
So, uh, the parks and watershed

3129
03:01:20,479 --> 03:01:23,120
protection as well as storm drain work

3130
03:01:23,120 --> 03:01:25,920
groups met at three locations. At

3131
03:01:25,920 --> 03:01:28,240
Mayfield, drainage is completely

3132
03:01:28,240 --> 03:01:31,359
subsurface and there are no open drains

3133
03:01:31,359 --> 03:01:35,040
requiring filtration. Um at El Camino

3134
03:01:35,040 --> 03:01:39,439
Park, staff has now ordered 13 inlets,

3135
03:01:39,439 --> 03:01:43,200
hats, filters, as well as three exterior

3136
03:01:43,200 --> 03:01:47,120
sock filters for uh installation. At

3137
03:01:47,120 --> 03:01:50,160
Cubberly, we currently have uh filters

3138
03:01:50,160 --> 03:01:53,040
around the track area and staff are

3139
03:01:53,040 --> 03:01:55,920
evaluating whether additional filtration

3140
03:01:55,920 --> 03:01:58,240
is warranted.

3141
03:01:58,240 --> 03:02:02,080
Um, I also have a graph that may be

3142
03:02:02,080 --> 03:02:04,319
handy at the very back of this slide

3143
03:02:04,319 --> 03:02:08,640
deck if we um it it may give a better

3144
03:02:08,640 --> 03:02:10,960
picture and I apologize I didn't add

3145
03:02:10,960 --> 03:02:14,640
this earlier but um key areas of concern

3146
03:02:14,640 --> 03:02:17,200
that were raised by council as well as

3147
03:02:17,200 --> 03:02:23,439
the ad hoc committee um and uh let's see

3148
03:02:23,439 --> 03:02:27,359
the public include PAS infill materials

3149
03:02:27,359 --> 03:02:30,800
storm water protection, uh, surface heat

3150
03:02:30,800 --> 03:02:34,479
and ongoing GMAX, uh, performance.

3151
03:02:34,479 --> 03:02:37,439
Historically, PAS testing was not

3152
03:02:37,439 --> 03:02:40,319
conducted for synthetic turf materials.

3153
03:02:40,319 --> 03:02:43,920
Moving forward, staff will uh, pursue

3154
03:02:43,920 --> 03:02:46,880
material testing and manufacturer

3155
03:02:46,880 --> 03:02:49,680
verification as part of the replacement

3156
03:02:49,680 --> 03:02:52,240
uh, projects. This represents a change

3157
03:02:52,240 --> 03:02:55,439
in practice compared to our earlier uh,

3158
03:02:55,439 --> 03:02:57,760
installations. I also wanted to

3159
03:02:57,760 --> 03:02:59,680
highlight that the recommendation before

3160
03:02:59,680 --> 03:03:03,760
you this evening significantly reduces

3161
03:03:03,760 --> 03:03:07,359
plastic content uh compared to what

3162
03:03:07,359 --> 03:03:10,000
existed what currently exists at El

3163
03:03:10,000 --> 03:03:14,560
Camino Park. Previously fields use a

3164
03:03:14,560 --> 03:03:19,040
thermoplastic elastimemer or TPE infill.

3165
03:03:19,040 --> 03:03:21,359
Their proposed replacement would use

3166
03:03:21,359 --> 03:03:24,560
natural cork infill, which removes the

3167
03:03:24,560 --> 03:03:27,600
vast majority of plastic from the infill

3168
03:03:27,600 --> 03:03:32,080
material and has um has the added

3169
03:03:32,080 --> 03:03:33,920
benefit of reducing surface

3170
03:03:33,920 --> 03:03:35,680
temperatures.

3171
03:03:35,680 --> 03:03:38,720
Storm water protection has also been

3172
03:03:38,720 --> 03:03:40,240
strengthened.

3173
03:03:40,240 --> 03:03:42,960
Earlier fields did not include storm

3174
03:03:42,960 --> 03:03:46,640
drain filtration as a standard practice.

3175
03:03:46,640 --> 03:03:49,359
Today's staff coordinates closely with

3176
03:03:49,359 --> 03:03:52,560
the parks watershed protection and storm

3177
03:03:52,560 --> 03:03:56,000
drain work groups to assess site

3178
03:03:56,000 --> 03:03:59,840
specifics uh drainage needs. GMAX

3179
03:03:59,840 --> 03:04:03,120
testing has been conducted annually to

3180
03:04:03,120 --> 03:04:06,240
monitor surface hardness and staff will

3181
03:04:06,240 --> 03:04:09,520
continue to practice with increased

3182
03:04:09,520 --> 03:04:12,160
scrutiny as fields approach their end of

3183
03:04:12,160 --> 03:04:14,479
life.

3184
03:04:14,479 --> 03:04:17,359
Um, slide seven, if you go to

3185
03:04:17,359 --> 03:04:20,319
playability impacts, the study also

3186
03:04:20,319 --> 03:04:22,800
evaluated systemwide

3187
03:04:22,800 --> 03:04:26,399
playability and capacity impacts based

3188
03:04:26,399 --> 03:04:29,040
on current usage

3189
03:04:29,040 --> 03:04:32,800
and the city standard winter closure for

3190
03:04:32,800 --> 03:04:35,359
natural grass fields from December

3191
03:04:35,359 --> 03:04:38,160
through February and sometimes March.

3192
03:04:38,160 --> 03:04:40,720
Removing the synthetic turf at El Camino

3193
03:04:40,720 --> 03:04:45,520
Park would displace approximately 1,221

3194
03:04:45,520 --> 03:04:49,439
players annually, including about 570

3195
03:04:49,439 --> 03:04:52,160
PaloAlto residents. There is currently

3196
03:04:52,160 --> 03:04:55,840
no uh available capacity at other fields

3197
03:04:55,840 --> 03:04:58,640
to absorb that displaced use during

3198
03:04:58,640 --> 03:05:02,399
winter during the winter season. And if

3199
03:05:02,399 --> 03:05:05,439
you go to the next slide, based on the

3200
03:05:05,439 --> 03:05:08,000
findings of the turf study, community

3201
03:05:08,000 --> 03:05:11,040
input and direction from the city

3202
03:05:11,040 --> 03:05:13,359
council ad hoc committee, staff is

3203
03:05:13,359 --> 03:05:15,680
bringing forward before you this

3204
03:05:15,680 --> 03:05:18,800
evening. first uh to proceed with

3205
03:05:18,800 --> 03:05:21,600
replacing synthetic turf fields at El

3206
03:05:21,600 --> 03:05:24,160
Camino Park using improved synthetic

3207
03:05:24,160 --> 03:05:27,040
turf with organic infill while

3208
03:05:27,040 --> 03:05:29,680
implementing risk management measures

3209
03:05:29,680 --> 03:05:31,920
including storm water filtration,

3210
03:05:31,920 --> 03:05:34,319
enhanced maintenance practice and

3211
03:05:34,319 --> 03:05:38,560
related uh mitigation. Secondly, to

3212
03:05:38,560 --> 03:05:42,080
pursue a natural grass pilot project to

3213
03:05:42,080 --> 03:05:45,520
enhance playability and durability. Once

3214
03:05:45,520 --> 03:05:47,920
cost estimates are available, staff will

3215
03:05:47,920 --> 03:05:50,479
return to city council for review,

3216
03:05:50,479 --> 03:05:54,160
including any uh uh potential requests

3217
03:05:54,160 --> 03:05:57,040
for appropriation. This is anticipated

3218
03:05:57,040 --> 03:06:01,200
to occur as part of the fiscal year 202

3219
03:06:01,200 --> 03:06:05,040
uh7 budget. And then thirdly, to

3220
03:06:05,040 --> 03:06:07,279
continue exploring opportunities to

3221
03:06:07,279 --> 03:06:10,479
transition to synthetic turf, transition

3222
03:06:10,479 --> 03:06:13,520
away from synthetic turf at coverly over

3223
03:06:13,520 --> 03:06:17,200
time. In close, this um in closing, this

3224
03:06:17,200 --> 03:06:20,319
is concludes staff presentation and we

3225
03:06:20,319 --> 03:06:24,630
are available for any questions.

3226
03:06:24,640 --> 03:06:27,520
Um we'd like to turn it over to the ad

3227
03:06:27,520 --> 03:06:29,200
hoc.

3228
03:06:29,200 --> 03:06:33,190
>> All right. Thank you. Um, so, uh, I was

3229
03:06:33,190 --> 03:06:33,200
» All right. Thank you. Um, so, uh, I was

3230
03:06:33,200 --> 03:06:35,680
chair of the ad hoc, uh, serving on it

3231
03:06:35,680 --> 03:06:37,279
along with council member Bert and

3232
03:06:37,279 --> 03:06:40,080
Council Member Lowing. So, I will start

3233
03:06:40,080 --> 03:06:41,600
with a couple comments and then see if

3234
03:06:41,600 --> 03:06:45,200
they want to add anything. Um, but first

3235
03:06:45,200 --> 03:06:47,200
of all, thank you, Director O'Ne, Miss

3236
03:06:47,200 --> 03:06:50,479
Roseelli, and your team for uh, dealing

3237
03:06:50,479 --> 03:06:53,040
with the second toughest issue in

3238
03:06:53,040 --> 03:06:54,880
PaloAlto. I think the first is pickle

3239
03:06:54,880 --> 03:06:57,840
ball, but this is a pretty tough one. Um

3240
03:06:57,840 --> 03:07:01,200
uh thanks also to the PRC and the many

3241
03:07:01,200 --> 03:07:04,640
residents who spent a lot of time um and

3242
03:07:04,640 --> 03:07:06,880
effort providing comments and feedback.

3243
03:07:06,880 --> 03:07:08,640
We've gotten a lot of emails, but I also

3244
03:07:08,640 --> 03:07:11,040
know you've shown up at a lot of places

3245
03:07:11,040 --> 03:07:13,279
uh a lot of meetings uh on all sides of

3246
03:07:13,279 --> 03:07:15,359
this issue and it does matter to us and

3247
03:07:15,359 --> 03:07:18,800
we do appreciate it. Um I will say that

3248
03:07:18,800 --> 03:07:21,760
the committee really angsted over this.

3249
03:07:21,760 --> 03:07:25,120
Um, a year and a half ago when uh I was

3250
03:07:25,120 --> 03:07:27,200
serving on finance at the time and and

3251
03:07:27,200 --> 03:07:29,920
this issue first came up, I was ready to

3252
03:07:29,920 --> 03:07:32,399
just say no uh to synthetic turf

3253
03:07:32,399 --> 03:07:34,800
replacement field. It was really the

3254
03:07:34,800 --> 03:07:37,600
biochemist in the environmentalist in me

3255
03:07:37,600 --> 03:07:40,560
um that uh was really concerned about

3256
03:07:40,560 --> 03:07:43,359
it. And I think um at our last council

3257
03:07:43,359 --> 03:07:44,960
meeting, I think council member Bert was

3258
03:07:44,960 --> 03:07:47,040
the the most skeptical of synthetic

3259
03:07:47,040 --> 03:07:49,520
turf. And so all three of us took this

3260
03:07:49,520 --> 03:07:52,000
very very seriously. um in terms of the

3261
03:07:52,000 --> 03:07:55,600
concerns about PAS um synthetic infill,

3262
03:07:55,600 --> 03:07:59,200
microplastics, heat effects and more. Um

3263
03:07:59,200 --> 03:08:01,040
but I'm also the mother of two daughters

3264
03:08:01,040 --> 03:08:03,760
who played soccer for between 10 and 13

3265
03:08:03,760 --> 03:08:06,800
years a piece and uh also a co-founder

3266
03:08:06,800 --> 03:08:08,720
and former general counsel of a

3267
03:08:08,720 --> 03:08:11,680
professional soccer league. Um so this

3268
03:08:11,680 --> 03:08:13,520
is something that has been really

3269
03:08:13,520 --> 03:08:16,640
personally challenging for me. Um, so we

3270
03:08:16,640 --> 03:08:18,960
had two in-depth uh ad hoc meetings

3271
03:08:18,960 --> 03:08:20,800
where we really drilled down on these

3272
03:08:20,800 --> 03:08:23,600
issues and and uh particularly the

3273
03:08:23,600 --> 03:08:28,240
concerns about um the um the concerns

3274
03:08:28,240 --> 03:08:30,640
about synthetic fields and how we could

3275
03:08:30,640 --> 03:08:33,040
minimize them. And I really appreciated

3276
03:08:33,040 --> 03:08:34,560
that last chart that you pulled up

3277
03:08:34,560 --> 03:08:36,640
because that's what I wanted to add. I'd

3278
03:08:36,640 --> 03:08:38,960
just seen the the

3279
03:08:38,960 --> 03:08:41,359
first part of the deck. Uh because we

3280
03:08:41,359 --> 03:08:43,279
really did learn that synthetic fields

3281
03:08:43,279 --> 03:08:45,600
have improved a lot uh since the prior

3282
03:08:45,600 --> 03:08:48,000
field was installed.

3283
03:08:48,000 --> 03:08:50,319
That there's less shedding of blades

3284
03:08:50,319 --> 03:08:52,880
that we can and have plans to implement

3285
03:08:52,880 --> 03:08:55,920
technology to mitigate the shedding of

3286
03:08:55,920 --> 03:08:58,000
blades to keep them out of our storm

3287
03:08:58,000 --> 03:09:00,399
water drains. And also there's field

3288
03:09:00,399 --> 03:09:02,399
sweeping. We have the drain hats and

3289
03:09:02,399 --> 03:09:06,399
socks that you described. Um, also that

3290
03:09:06,399 --> 03:09:08,080
we'll contract for turf that doesn't

3291
03:09:08,080 --> 03:09:10,240
contain PAS and can do the testing to

3292
03:09:10,240 --> 03:09:13,279
confirm that. Um, we'll use only organic

3293
03:09:13,279 --> 03:09:15,760
infill that does not add to or

3294
03:09:15,760 --> 03:09:18,960
contribute any plastic content and that

3295
03:09:18,960 --> 03:09:20,800
these new fields are apparently cooler

3296
03:09:20,800 --> 03:09:23,920
than the old synthetic fields. So, while

3297
03:09:23,920 --> 03:09:26,000
I think we all still had some lingering

3298
03:09:26,000 --> 03:09:29,760
concerns, they're much lesser than they

3299
03:09:29,760 --> 03:09:32,080
were before we went into this deeper

3300
03:09:32,080 --> 03:09:35,120
dive. um and much lesser than prior

3301
03:09:35,120 --> 03:09:38,479
iterations of synthetic turf. Um but we

3302
03:09:38,479 --> 03:09:42,000
also drilled down on field usage um and

3303
03:09:42,000 --> 03:09:44,399
the results that were reported out uh a

3304
03:09:44,399 --> 03:09:47,120
few minutes ago by Miss Robustelli and

3305
03:09:47,120 --> 03:09:50,560
there was just no way to replace the El

3306
03:09:50,560 --> 03:09:52,960
Camino fields with grass without

3307
03:09:52,960 --> 03:09:56,560
displacing huge numbers of players. And

3308
03:09:56,560 --> 03:09:58,000
that's troubling for the reasons that

3309
03:09:58,000 --> 03:10:01,439
many of you have articulated. Um, so we

3310
03:10:01,439 --> 03:10:04,240
made the recommendation to replace the

3311
03:10:04,240 --> 03:10:07,439
El Camino field with synthetic turf this

3312
03:10:07,439 --> 03:10:10,720
year. But going forward, as was

3313
03:10:10,720 --> 03:10:12,479
mentioned, we are directing or we

3314
03:10:12,479 --> 03:10:14,720
recommend that council direct staff to

3315
03:10:14,720 --> 03:10:17,680
explore ways now to transition away from

3316
03:10:17,680 --> 03:10:20,399
future replacements with turf uh by

3317
03:10:20,399 --> 03:10:22,800
seeing if we can increase playing hours

3318
03:10:22,800 --> 03:10:26,160
on other fields. Uh so starting with

3319
03:10:26,160 --> 03:10:28,399
this enhanced grass pilot to see how

3320
03:10:28,399 --> 03:10:30,560
many additional hours playing hours we

3321
03:10:30,560 --> 03:10:32,640
might be able to get out of a natural

3322
03:10:32,640 --> 03:10:36,240
grass field that could be iterated. Um,

3323
03:10:36,240 --> 03:10:38,479
and then also it was mentioned as that

3324
03:10:38,479 --> 03:10:40,479
third item, continue to explore

3325
03:10:40,479 --> 03:10:42,240
opportunities to transition from

3326
03:10:42,240 --> 03:10:44,640
synthetic turf at Cberly because that's

3327
03:10:44,640 --> 03:10:46,960
the next one up and I think it's 28 uh

3328
03:10:46,960 --> 03:10:48,960
when that's coming up and we have a

3329
03:10:48,960 --> 03:10:53,040
little runway and we can look at options

3330
03:10:53,040 --> 03:10:55,760
uh including the hybrid turf that I've

3331
03:10:55,760 --> 03:10:58,720
mentioned from time to time and that's

3332
03:10:58,720 --> 03:11:01,840
something that is also evolving and

3333
03:11:01,840 --> 03:11:05,200
whereas it has much greater wearability,

3334
03:11:05,200 --> 03:11:08,560
playability than um grass in in in the

3335
03:11:08,560 --> 03:11:11,680
winter. Uh all grass, it's still largely

3336
03:11:11,680 --> 03:11:15,359
grass and so it has much less um content

3337
03:11:15,359 --> 03:11:18,399
uh that's not the natural growing grass.

3338
03:11:18,399 --> 03:11:20,880
Right now, most of those are synthetic

3339
03:11:20,880 --> 03:11:24,240
the the the hybrid part of it. So you'll

3340
03:11:24,240 --> 03:11:28,080
have, you know, it's it's it's depends

3341
03:11:28,080 --> 03:11:29,760
on the vendor and and installation

3342
03:11:29,760 --> 03:11:32,080
techniques, but you know, 60 80 some

3343
03:11:32,080 --> 03:11:36,080
percent of natural grass with um uh

3344
03:11:36,080 --> 03:11:38,080
right now synthetic grass blades in

3345
03:11:38,080 --> 03:11:40,880
there that will grow around, but they're

3346
03:11:40,880 --> 03:11:43,439
piloting ones that are all organic. So

3347
03:11:43,439 --> 03:11:45,520
even if the uh the other parts of the

3348
03:11:45,520 --> 03:11:49,359
hybrid aren't um growing, they are they

3349
03:11:49,359 --> 03:11:51,920
are organic and non-synthetic. So that's

3350
03:11:51,920 --> 03:11:54,240
something that uh we could also explore

3351
03:11:54,240 --> 03:11:56,399
between now and then and see if some

3352
03:11:56,399 --> 03:11:58,560
combination of that yields enough

3353
03:11:58,560 --> 03:12:01,600
playing hours that we can avoid doing

3354
03:12:01,600 --> 03:12:03,040
that in a couple years. So that's not

3355
03:12:03,040 --> 03:12:05,200
before us tonight, but I did want people

3356
03:12:05,200 --> 03:12:07,680
to know um that that's the direction is

3357
03:12:07,680 --> 03:12:11,359
to to explore uh a transition as we move

3358
03:12:11,359 --> 03:12:13,760
forward that would

3359
03:12:13,760 --> 03:12:15,439
if we can pull it off allow us to have

3360
03:12:15,439 --> 03:12:19,359
our cake and eat it too. So, um, that's

3361
03:12:19,359 --> 03:12:21,920
my, uh, report, but, uh, Council Member

3362
03:12:21,920 --> 03:12:23,840
Lowing.

3363
03:12:23,840 --> 03:12:25,510
>> Yeah, thank you. Uh, that was very

3364
03:12:25,510 --> 03:12:25,520
» Yeah, thank you. Uh, that was very

3365
03:12:25,520 --> 03:12:28,000
thorough and almost had these folks

3366
03:12:28,000 --> 03:12:30,560
sitting in our ad hoc committees. Um,

3367
03:12:30,560 --> 03:12:33,040
and the point of this all was that as

3368
03:12:33,040 --> 03:12:35,359
you know, we moved [clears throat] to

3369
03:12:35,359 --> 03:12:37,760
continue this item till it's called a

3370
03:12:37,760 --> 03:12:39,359
date uncertain, which is now uh,

3371
03:12:39,359 --> 03:12:41,760
tonight. Uh and the fundamental reason

3372
03:12:41,760 --> 03:12:45,040
for that was that we just didn't have a

3373
03:12:45,040 --> 03:12:47,760
uh comprehensive set of data uh from the

3374
03:12:47,760 --> 03:12:49,200
consultant on all these issues that

3375
03:12:49,200 --> 03:12:51,439
you've heard about uh to make a fully

3376
03:12:51,439 --> 03:12:53,840
informed decision on this really tough

3377
03:12:53,840 --> 03:12:56,560
issue. Uh and that's why we said let's

3378
03:12:56,560 --> 03:12:58,720
take a few weeks and get the answers to

3379
03:12:58,720 --> 03:13:00,960
that so that we're fully informed on

3380
03:13:00,960 --> 03:13:02,960
being responsible in these decisions.

3381
03:13:02,960 --> 03:13:04,399
You know, there there are a number of

3382
03:13:04,399 --> 03:13:06,399
big gaps and you've you've heard about

3383
03:13:06,399 --> 03:13:07,760
some of the ones that we've that we've

3384
03:13:07,760 --> 03:13:10,800
looked at. Um, so we want to take a

3385
03:13:10,800 --> 03:13:12,160
deeper dive and that's exactly what we

3386
03:13:12,160 --> 03:13:15,840
did. Um, one of our local news sources

3387
03:13:15,840 --> 03:13:17,840
said that the council punted on this

3388
03:13:17,840 --> 03:13:21,120
issue. Um, that is completely incorrect.

3389
03:13:21,120 --> 03:13:23,279
Um, since we're in the playoff season,

3390
03:13:23,279 --> 03:13:25,439
I'll stay with the football analogy. Uh,

3391
03:13:25,439 --> 03:13:28,880
it was more of a timeout on the field.

3392
03:13:28,880 --> 03:13:30,399
Uh, and in this case, you know which

3393
03:13:30,399 --> 03:13:34,000
field we're talking about. Um because

3394
03:13:34,000 --> 03:13:36,560
what we needed to do was just take that

3395
03:13:36,560 --> 03:13:38,560
time out and dig in and fill the gaps

3396
03:13:38,560 --> 03:13:40,319
and look at our playbook so to speak to

3397
03:13:40,319 --> 03:13:42,800
figure out even some of our own uh data

3398
03:13:42,800 --> 03:13:45,840
such as you know the the the pressure on

3399
03:13:45,840 --> 03:13:47,200
the fields particularly in the winter

3400
03:13:47,200 --> 03:13:48,800
months and the summer months. And so

3401
03:13:48,800 --> 03:13:51,680
there was just a very cooperative effort

3402
03:13:51,680 --> 03:13:54,239
uh at the end of the year between staff

3403
03:13:54,239 --> 03:13:56,399
and and the ad hoc back and forth with

3404
03:13:56,399 --> 03:13:58,479
as you know the first first ad hoc

3405
03:13:58,479 --> 03:14:00,000
meeting starting a week after we made

3406
03:14:00,000 --> 03:14:02,080
this this motion uh and as we're getting

3407
03:14:02,080 --> 03:14:04,319
ready for the holidays. So uh because of

3408
03:14:04,319 --> 03:14:06,319
that we didn't quite make a December

3409
03:14:06,319 --> 03:14:08,000
return but we're here but we're here

3410
03:14:08,000 --> 03:14:12,239
now. Um, and you saw the the the summary

3411
03:14:12,239 --> 03:14:14,560
items and particularly the items that

3412
03:14:14,560 --> 03:14:18,960
were um um sort of incremental to what

3413
03:14:18,960 --> 03:14:20,560
we were talking about the other day and

3414
03:14:20,560 --> 03:14:22,399
that was uh you know the mitigation

3415
03:14:22,399 --> 03:14:25,359
measures and a full understanding of the

3416
03:14:25,359 --> 03:14:28,239
cost assumptions during a life cycle. Um

3417
03:14:28,239 --> 03:14:30,080
the the consulting report was a little

3418
03:14:30,080 --> 03:14:32,960
bit um uh missing on that. uh obviously

3419
03:14:32,960 --> 03:14:36,319
the field usage uh and then as uh the

3420
03:14:36,319 --> 03:14:39,439
mayor just said these um uh

3421
03:14:39,439 --> 03:14:41,680
possibilities for what can we do going

3422
03:14:41,680 --> 03:14:43,920
forward on other kinds of of turf as

3423
03:14:43,920 --> 03:14:47,040
well as uh how how can we get this uh

3424
03:14:47,040 --> 03:14:49,600
actual natural grass field going. So

3425
03:14:49,600 --> 03:14:52,080
that's the comm the motion you see is

3426
03:14:52,080 --> 03:14:54,399
committed to all of that. And then in

3427
03:14:54,399 --> 03:14:56,319
the interim another sort of benefit of

3428
03:14:56,319 --> 03:14:58,560
the process I think for the council is

3429
03:14:58,560 --> 03:15:00,880
that uh we heard from a massive number

3430
03:15:00,880 --> 03:15:03,040
of of citizens that we hadn't heard from

3431
03:15:03,040 --> 03:15:05,600
before. Uh a large proportion of the

3432
03:15:05,600 --> 03:15:07,279
emails that we got were actually from

3433
03:15:07,279 --> 03:15:10,560
parents of youth that uh used El Camino

3434
03:15:10,560 --> 03:15:12,560
specifically. Um and they were all

3435
03:15:12,560 --> 03:15:14,399
asking us to retain the turf so that the

3436
03:15:14,399 --> 03:15:15,760
winter season didn't have to be

3437
03:15:15,760 --> 03:15:18,960
scrapped. Uh it was sort of

3438
03:15:18,960 --> 03:15:20,880
it was as simple as that and our our

3439
03:15:20,880 --> 03:15:22,800
field study as that you just saw on this

3440
03:15:22,800 --> 03:15:26,000
slide uh said the same thing. Uh we also

3441
03:15:26,000 --> 03:15:28,080
got uh a number of emails from from

3442
03:15:28,080 --> 03:15:29,840
doctors saying that the current

3443
03:15:29,840 --> 03:15:32,479
generation of of uh turf products is is

3444
03:15:32,479 --> 03:15:33,920
definitely way better. Do we have

3445
03:15:33,920 --> 03:15:37,600
further to go? Yeah, we do. Um but also

3446
03:15:37,600 --> 03:15:39,760
emphasized in those same letters that

3447
03:15:39,760 --> 03:15:42,000
mental health is as important as

3448
03:15:42,000 --> 03:15:43,920
physical health. And so these particular

3449
03:15:43,920 --> 03:15:45,920
doctors that wrote in uh were were

3450
03:15:45,920 --> 03:15:48,239
supportive of this. Um so I think

3451
03:15:48,239 --> 03:15:50,399
overall the ad hoc believes that the

3452
03:15:50,399 --> 03:15:52,319
current staff report which we

3453
03:15:52,319 --> 03:15:54,640
effectively helped uh get that new staff

3454
03:15:54,640 --> 03:15:57,600
report ready um you know represents a

3455
03:15:57,600 --> 03:16:00,960
balanced approach on a a controversial

3456
03:16:00,960 --> 03:16:04,080
item that doesn't have 100% answers but

3457
03:16:04,080 --> 03:16:06,960
um we know you know a lot more than we

3458
03:16:06,960 --> 03:16:10,239
did um you know eight weeks ago and are

3459
03:16:10,239 --> 03:16:12,800
comfortable with the recommendation.

3460
03:16:12,800 --> 03:16:13,680
Thank you.

3461
03:16:13,680 --> 03:16:15,670
>> Thank you, Council Member Bert.

3462
03:16:15,670 --> 03:16:15,680
» Thank you, Council Member Bert.

3463
03:16:15,680 --> 03:16:17,990
>> Yeah, thank you. Um, so just

3464
03:16:17,990 --> 03:16:18,000
» Yeah, thank you. Um, so just

3465
03:16:18,000 --> 03:16:19,680
supplementing

3466
03:16:19,680 --> 03:16:23,040
uh the comments of my colleagues, uh, I

3467
03:16:23,040 --> 03:16:27,120
I want to say that as as um, our mayor

3468
03:16:27,120 --> 03:16:30,000
and and the staff have noted. Uh what we

3469
03:16:30,000 --> 03:16:33,520
have are looking at now in the El Camino

3470
03:16:33,520 --> 03:16:40,080
Park artificial turf is uh a far better

3471
03:16:40,080 --> 03:16:42,239
product than what we have historically

3472
03:16:42,239 --> 03:16:43,840
had and most communities have

3473
03:16:43,840 --> 03:16:47,520
historically had. Uh we had already uh

3474
03:16:47,520 --> 03:16:51,600
changed the uh the filler materials from

3475
03:16:51,600 --> 03:16:53,760
uh

3476
03:16:53,760 --> 03:16:57,840
from uh uh uh rubberized materials to

3477
03:16:57,840 --> 03:17:01,439
cork uh even at the Mayfield location.

3478
03:17:01,439 --> 03:17:04,960
And that not only has um an

3479
03:17:04,960 --> 03:17:08,239
environmental impact, it has a health

3480
03:17:08,239 --> 03:17:11,279
impact because of volatile organics that

3481
03:17:11,279 --> 03:17:14,880
were uh being um emitted from those

3482
03:17:14,880 --> 03:17:17,920
materials. And it has a very significant

3483
03:17:17,920 --> 03:17:20,160
heat impact. Uh and that was one of the

3484
03:17:20,160 --> 03:17:22,080
things we hadn't even talked about at

3485
03:17:22,080 --> 03:17:24,880
the council that we ended up uh digging

3486
03:17:24,880 --> 03:17:26,720
deeper into the committee at the

3487
03:17:26,720 --> 03:17:30,239
committee level. And um it goes from

3488
03:17:30,239 --> 03:17:32,720
very significant heat differential for

3489
03:17:32,720 --> 03:17:35,359
artificial turf to something closer to

3490
03:17:35,359 --> 03:17:40,640
much closer to uh natural turf. Um, but

3491
03:17:40,640 --> 03:17:44,239
I I really came into that process

3492
03:17:44,239 --> 03:17:49,920
wanting to um have answers on

3493
03:17:49,920 --> 03:17:52,960
do we have to have artificial turf at El

3494
03:17:52,960 --> 03:17:56,000
Camino in order to meet the playing uh

3495
03:17:56,000 --> 03:17:59,600
playability me needs, the user needs and

3496
03:17:59,600 --> 03:18:02,319
the data that we got really proved to us

3497
03:18:02,319 --> 03:18:07,439
that we do. And then second, can we to a

3498
03:18:07,439 --> 03:18:10,080
great degree mitigate the environmental

3499
03:18:10,080 --> 03:18:13,760
health and safety impacts of the

3500
03:18:13,760 --> 03:18:16,960
artificial turf? And as been noted, the

3501
03:18:16,960 --> 03:18:19,200
progress in the materials is has gone

3502
03:18:19,200 --> 03:18:22,960
forward on the on the uh filler. Uh now

3503
03:18:22,960 --> 03:18:26,560
on the blades um we had real significant

3504
03:18:26,560 --> 03:18:29,120
concerns because a lot of uh these

3505
03:18:29,120 --> 03:18:32,319
earlier materials had POS materials and

3506
03:18:32,319 --> 03:18:35,840
in fact even today many or most of them

3507
03:18:35,840 --> 03:18:39,840
P do uh but we're going to have um not

3508
03:18:39,840 --> 03:18:42,720
only materials that the supplier is

3509
03:18:42,720 --> 03:18:46,000
asserting uh will be POS free but that

3510
03:18:46,000 --> 03:18:49,040
we are going to do testing on. Correct.

3511
03:18:49,040 --> 03:18:52,469
>> Great. Um and then we had a concern that

3512
03:18:52,469 --> 03:18:52,479
» Great. Um and then we had a concern that

3513
03:18:52,479 --> 03:18:54,080
we realized about runoff from

3514
03:18:54,080 --> 03:18:56,960
nanoplastics which is not insignificant.

3515
03:18:56,960 --> 03:19:00,080
And that's where uh the presentation

3516
03:19:00,080 --> 03:19:04,160
showed a bunch of um uh actions we're

3517
03:19:04,160 --> 03:19:06,160
going to take to filter the runoff

3518
03:19:06,160 --> 03:19:09,840
materials which we didn't even think of

3519
03:19:09,840 --> 03:19:13,359
as either a primary problem or that it

3520
03:19:13,359 --> 03:19:17,040
could have a a strong solution maybe not

3521
03:19:17,040 --> 03:19:19,680
a perfect one. Um, so out of this

3522
03:19:19,680 --> 03:19:22,800
process, we're going to have uh better

3523
03:19:22,800 --> 03:19:26,560
fields at El Camino than we would have

3524
03:19:26,560 --> 03:19:29,520
otherwise. And so I think uh it not only

3525
03:19:29,520 --> 03:19:32,479
has led to good decisions, but it's

3526
03:19:32,479 --> 03:19:36,319
actually led to better actions. Thanks.

3527
03:19:36,319 --> 03:19:39,110
>> All right. Thank you. Um,

3528
03:19:39,110 --> 03:19:39,120
» All right. Thank you. Um,

3529
03:19:39,120 --> 03:19:40,960
are there any other council members who

3530
03:19:40,960 --> 03:19:42,800
wish to comment before we go to public

3531
03:19:42,800 --> 03:19:46,070
comment?

3532
03:19:46,080 --> 03:19:48,080
All right. Seeing none, uh, Madame

3533
03:19:48,080 --> 03:19:51,120
Clerk, how many public commenters do we

3534
03:19:51,120 --> 03:20:05,429
have?

3535
03:20:05,439 --> 03:20:08,160
So, without the approximately 10 or so

3536
03:20:08,160 --> 03:20:09,840
hands that additional hands that were

3537
03:20:09,840 --> 03:20:13,279
raised on Zoom, we have 30. So, um I'm

3538
03:20:13,279 --> 03:20:16,479
assuming about 45.

3539
03:20:16,479 --> 03:20:16,790
>> All right.

3540
03:20:16,790 --> 03:20:16,800
» All right.

3541
03:20:16,800 --> 03:20:19,510
>> Once I add the Zoom, uh comments in.

3542
03:20:19,510 --> 03:20:19,520
» Once I add the Zoom, uh comments in.

3543
03:20:19,520 --> 03:20:21,750
>> Okay. Thank you so much. So, we're going

3544
03:20:21,750 --> 03:20:21,760
» Okay. Thank you so much. So, we're going

3545
03:20:21,760 --> 03:20:24,640
to go with a minute each. Um what I want

3546
03:20:24,640 --> 03:20:28,239
would encourage you to do is um if you

3547
03:20:28,239 --> 03:20:31,040
agree with Bob who just spoke, you can

3548
03:20:31,040 --> 03:20:34,160
let us know that. Um we we uh we hear

3549
03:20:34,160 --> 03:20:35,840
the same thing over and over. We lose a

3550
03:20:35,840 --> 03:20:37,760
little focus sometimes. So, you can use

3551
03:20:37,760 --> 03:20:39,439
up your full minute, but if you want to

3552
03:20:39,439 --> 03:20:42,640
add on to to others, that's fine. Uh,

3553
03:20:42,640 --> 03:20:46,399
one just reminder, um, if you agree with

3554
03:20:46,399 --> 03:20:48,080
something someone said, that's that's

3555
03:20:48,080 --> 03:20:51,200
great, but we don't allow any audible,

3556
03:20:51,200 --> 03:20:52,960
um, acknowledgement of that. We want to

3557
03:20:52,960 --> 03:20:54,800
keep it safe for all speakers of

3558
03:20:54,800 --> 03:20:56,720
differing viewpoints. If you want to let

3559
03:20:56,720 --> 03:20:58,399
us know, you can do the sign language

3560
03:20:58,399 --> 03:21:00,399
like this if you're applauding, but um,

3561
03:21:00,399 --> 03:21:02,479
we just encourage you no no clapping or

3562
03:21:02,479 --> 03:21:06,640
or or uh, vocalizations in response. Um,

3563
03:21:06,640 --> 03:21:09,279
that said, the clerk will uh call the

3564
03:21:09,279 --> 03:21:11,279
names of the speakers in the order in

3565
03:21:11,279 --> 03:21:12,880
which they've signed up, and she'll let

3566
03:21:12,880 --> 03:21:15,040
you know who's next so you can be ready

3567
03:21:15,040 --> 03:21:16,960
to please come on down so we can move

3568
03:21:16,960 --> 03:21:18,319
through this quickly because we want to

3569
03:21:18,319 --> 03:21:21,600
get through uh to the actual uh council

3570
03:21:21,600 --> 03:21:25,920
deliberations tonight. So, there we are.

3571
03:21:25,920 --> 03:21:27,439
All right. So, Madame Clerk, if you

3572
03:21:27,439 --> 03:21:29,520
would take over and and and call our

3573
03:21:29,520 --> 03:21:32,479
public speakers for being here.

3574
03:21:32,479 --> 03:21:35,429
>> Our first speaker is Manny D. As the

3575
03:21:35,429 --> 03:21:35,439
» Our first speaker is Manny D. As the

3576
03:21:35,439 --> 03:21:37,760
mayor noted, you have 1 minute to speak.

3577
03:21:37,760 --> 03:21:40,239
The timer is on the podium. And for

3578
03:21:40,239 --> 03:21:43,279
those that are speaking on Zoom, the

3579
03:21:43,279 --> 03:21:47,040
timer will be displayed on the screen.

3580
03:21:47,040 --> 03:21:54,790
Our first speaker, Manny D.

3581
03:21:54,800 --> 03:22:01,990
» Did you say Manny?

3582
03:22:02,000 --> 03:22:03,600
» Uh, good evening. My [clears throat]

3583
03:22:03,600 --> 03:22:06,080
name is uh Manny Diaz. I'm a consultant

3584
03:22:06,080 --> 03:22:09,920
for um Tikcake Grass. They're the global

3585
03:22:09,920 --> 03:22:11,680
artificial turf manufacturer in the

3586
03:22:11,680 --> 03:22:14,800
world and I have a letters here we have

3587
03:22:14,800 --> 03:22:17,359
previously submitted and first of all I

3588
03:22:17,359 --> 03:22:20,640
wanted to thank staff and the study that

3589
03:22:20,640 --> 03:22:23,439
you folks have done. Uh a lot of

3590
03:22:23,439 --> 03:22:24,640
improvements have been done on

3591
03:22:24,640 --> 03:22:28,640
artificial turf and right now uh Tucat

3592
03:22:28,640 --> 03:22:30,800
is is probably the leading researcher

3593
03:22:30,800 --> 03:22:32,960
dealing with artificial turf and we

3594
03:22:32,960 --> 03:22:35,439
actually have a product at PAS free

3595
03:22:35,439 --> 03:22:37,279
since 2023.

3596
03:22:37,279 --> 03:22:39,120
We also have the product that doesn't

3597
03:22:39,120 --> 03:22:41,120
have infill which is the concerns that

3598
03:22:41,120 --> 03:22:43,279
many had raised before. So significant

3599
03:22:43,279 --> 03:22:44,399
improvements have been made on this

3600
03:22:44,399 --> 03:22:46,160
product. So we recognize the concerns

3601
03:22:46,160 --> 03:22:47,920
that the community has on environmental

3602
03:22:47,920 --> 03:22:49,760
stuff. So, I want to thank you for for

3603
03:22:49,760 --> 03:22:52,239
doing the study.

3604
03:22:52,239 --> 03:22:54,160
I'll leave this letter here for for you

3605
03:22:54,160 --> 03:22:57,279
folks. Thank you.

3606
03:22:57,279 --> 03:23:05,990
>> Our next speaker is Angela D.

3607
03:23:06,000 --> 03:23:09,520
» Hi. Um I'm really pleased that your one

3608
03:23:09,520 --> 03:23:12,239
of your priorities um for this year is

3609
03:23:12,239 --> 03:23:13,920
the protection of the natural

3610
03:23:13,920 --> 03:23:16,880
environment and um I can hear that

3611
03:23:16,880 --> 03:23:19,920
you've done a lot of study on uh the

3612
03:23:19,920 --> 03:23:23,359
environmental impact of the um the turf

3613
03:23:23,359 --> 03:23:26,640
that um that is being proposed.

3614
03:23:26,640 --> 03:23:30,960
But I want to suggest that uh just

3615
03:23:30,960 --> 03:23:33,920
because it's a better product doesn't

3616
03:23:33,920 --> 03:23:36,080
mean that it's actually good for the

3617
03:23:36,080 --> 03:23:38,800
environment. And I also want to say that

3618
03:23:38,800 --> 03:23:42,160
I've been thinking that um uh even

3619
03:23:42,160 --> 03:23:44,239
though it's it's odd to me that even

3620
03:23:44,239 --> 03:23:46,720
though students um there are fewer

3621
03:23:46,720 --> 03:23:50,160
children in PaloAlto now um than there

3622
03:23:50,160 --> 03:23:54,000
used to be when we only had grass fields

3623
03:23:54,000 --> 03:23:56,399
that there's more of a demand. And I'm

3624
03:23:56,399 --> 03:23:58,399
not sure that maybe it's good for

3625
03:23:58,399 --> 03:24:02,319
students to be doing that many hours on

3626
03:24:02,319 --> 03:24:06,640
um of practice every um every week. Uh

3627
03:24:06,640 --> 03:24:08,880
maybe they could cut back on a little

3628
03:24:08,880 --> 03:24:09,279
bit

3629
03:24:09,279 --> 03:24:10,070
>> time is up

3630
03:24:10,070 --> 03:24:10,080
» time is up

3631
03:24:10,080 --> 03:24:13,510
>> of time on the field. Thanks.

3632
03:24:13,510 --> 03:24:13,520
» of time on the field. Thanks.

3633
03:24:13,520 --> 03:24:19,910
>> Speaker is Claire E.

3634
03:24:19,920 --> 03:24:22,399
Hi, my name is Claire Elliot and I'm a

3635
03:24:22,399 --> 03:24:25,279
PALA resident and a retired ecologist.

3636
03:24:25,279 --> 03:24:27,040
And there's plentiful evidence that

3637
03:24:27,040 --> 03:24:29,040
plastic is harmful to people and the

3638
03:24:29,040 --> 03:24:32,640
planet. Um there's the microplastics

3639
03:24:32,640 --> 03:24:34,399
that spall off, but and we've talked

3640
03:24:34,399 --> 03:24:36,960
about additives like PAS, but PAS is

3641
03:24:36,960 --> 03:24:39,359
only one of oh no thousands because

3642
03:24:39,359 --> 03:24:40,720
there are thousands of different

3643
03:24:40,720 --> 03:24:44,000
compounds that are PAS chemicals. Um but

3644
03:24:44,000 --> 03:24:45,359
there are many other additives that are

3645
03:24:45,359 --> 03:24:47,760
toxic that can leech out of the plastics

3646
03:24:47,760 --> 03:24:49,439
and then also be incorporated in the

3647
03:24:49,439 --> 03:24:50,880
material that breaks down in the

3648
03:24:50,880 --> 03:24:53,840
environment and become toxic to the to

3649
03:24:53,840 --> 03:24:57,520
the to the wildlife. So I am frankly

3650
03:24:57,520 --> 03:24:59,760
dismayed that we're still considering

3651
03:24:59,760 --> 03:25:02,080
plastic coating our parks with this

3652
03:25:02,080 --> 03:25:06,319
material. Um, it's

3653
03:25:06,319 --> 03:25:07,920
really not an environmentally sound

3654
03:25:07,920 --> 03:25:10,319
decision and I thought PaloAlto being a

3655
03:25:10,319 --> 03:25:11,680
city that generally makes

3656
03:25:11,680 --> 03:25:13,520
environmentally sound decisions. So,

3657
03:25:13,520 --> 03:25:15,520
it's disappointing. I think it's

3658
03:25:15,520 --> 03:25:18,319
extremely important that you formally

3659
03:25:18,319 --> 03:25:21,840
reject the flawed turfs study and remove

3660
03:25:21,840 --> 03:25:22,880
it from the website.

3661
03:25:22,880 --> 03:25:25,110
>> Your time is up.

3662
03:25:25,110 --> 03:25:25,120
» Your time is up.

3663
03:25:25,120 --> 03:25:25,750
>> Wow.

3664
03:25:25,750 --> 03:25:25,760
» Wow.

3665
03:25:25,760 --> 03:25:30,710
>> Our next speaker is Magdalena C.

3666
03:25:30,710 --> 03:25:30,720
» Our next speaker is Magdalena C.

3667
03:25:30,720 --> 03:25:32,239
Let's see. Just a reminder while you're

3668
03:25:32,239 --> 03:25:34,399
walking up, if if uh if you aren't able

3669
03:25:34,399 --> 03:25:35,680
to complete your comments and want to

3670
03:25:35,680 --> 03:25:37,120
send them in by email, if you haven't

3671
03:25:37,120 --> 03:25:39,687
previously, you're welcome to do so.

3672
03:25:39,687 --> 03:25:41,750
[clears throat]

3673
03:25:41,760 --> 03:25:44,239
» Good evening. My I'm Magdana from the

3674
03:25:44,239 --> 03:25:46,239
Venture neighborhood. I'm here tonight

3675
03:25:46,239 --> 03:25:48,479
one more time to plead with you to

3676
03:25:48,479 --> 03:25:50,640
reject the turf study and promise to run

3677
03:25:50,640 --> 03:25:52,399
a pilot study of grass turf here in

3678
03:25:52,399 --> 03:25:54,560
Panoalto so we can make a fair

3679
03:25:54,560 --> 03:25:57,120
comparison between plastic grass and the

3680
03:25:57,120 --> 03:25:59,439
real McCoy natural grass turf. There are

3681
03:25:59,439 --> 03:26:01,120
many studies that show there are more

3682
03:26:01,120 --> 03:26:02,960
injuries sustained by players playing on

3683
03:26:02,960 --> 03:26:06,479
artificial turf. Do we care? I do. Let

3684
03:26:06,479 --> 03:26:09,760
us not fall prey to yet another company

3685
03:26:09,760 --> 03:26:11,760
industry that is chasing the almighty

3686
03:26:11,760 --> 03:26:13,439
buck at our children's expense. History

3687
03:26:13,439 --> 03:26:15,920
has a long track record of corporations

3688
03:26:15,920 --> 03:26:17,920
telling the public either half-truths or

3689
03:26:17,920 --> 03:26:20,319
outright lies. Think Chevron. Think the

3690
03:26:20,319 --> 03:26:22,080
sugar manufacturers. Think the tobacco

3691
03:26:22,080 --> 03:26:23,920
industry and Monsanto with its glyph

3692
03:26:23,920 --> 03:26:27,680
phosphates. Let's not be conned. Please.

3693
03:26:27,680 --> 03:26:29,359
Lead Consulting has a serious flawed

3694
03:26:29,359 --> 03:26:31,120
analysis yet seems to be pushing this

3695
03:26:31,120 --> 03:26:33,200
product and why to sell more of it no

3696
03:26:33,200 --> 03:26:35,120
matter what. No matter the cost of

3697
03:26:35,120 --> 03:26:36,399
health to the environment or our

3698
03:26:36,399 --> 03:26:38,239
children. Think carefully what your

3699
03:26:38,239 --> 03:26:42,000
legacy is going to be before you make

3700
03:26:42,000 --> 03:26:43,600
your vote. Thank you.

3701
03:26:43,600 --> 03:26:51,349
>> Our next speaker is Andrea W.

3702
03:26:51,359 --> 03:26:53,120
» Good evening. I had something else to

3703
03:26:53,120 --> 03:26:54,880
say to try to convince you that

3704
03:26:54,880 --> 03:26:57,120
artificial turf is not the best product,

3705
03:26:57,120 --> 03:26:59,200
but you guys seem to have your mind made

3706
03:26:59,200 --> 03:27:01,279
up, which is a shame. I'd really rather

3707
03:27:01,279 --> 03:27:03,120
address all the kids and the coaches and

3708
03:27:03,120 --> 03:27:05,760
the parents here to say, I wish you

3709
03:27:05,760 --> 03:27:08,479
understood. We do not oppose soccer

3710
03:27:08,479 --> 03:27:10,800
fields. What we fear is that you do not

3711
03:27:10,800 --> 03:27:13,279
truly understand the hazards that you're

3712
03:27:13,279 --> 03:27:15,040
causing yourself in the environment with

3713
03:27:15,040 --> 03:27:17,439
the micro and nanoplastics that are in

3714
03:27:17,439 --> 03:27:19,200
your body in the environment in the

3715
03:27:19,200 --> 03:27:21,040
water you're drinking including the

3716
03:27:21,040 --> 03:27:23,359
chemicals. And it's only down the line

3717
03:27:23,359 --> 03:27:25,120
in the future that you're going to come

3718
03:27:25,120 --> 03:27:27,200
to realize that you've made a big

3719
03:27:27,200 --> 03:27:29,520
mistake by accepting all this plastic

3720
03:27:29,520 --> 03:27:31,520
and your health is going to be harmed

3721
03:27:31,520 --> 03:27:33,439
because of it. And I'm sorry about that.

3722
03:27:33,439 --> 03:27:36,319
I only wish you would push more for

3723
03:27:36,319 --> 03:27:39,120
grass and well done grass than really

3724
03:27:39,120 --> 03:27:42,160
worry about plastic fields. Thank you.

3725
03:27:42,160 --> 03:27:44,550
>> Our next speaker is Palo Alto Adult

3726
03:27:44,550 --> 03:27:44,560
» Our next speaker is Palo Alto Adult

3727
03:27:44,560 --> 03:27:47,760
Soccer League.

3728
03:27:47,760 --> 03:27:49,349
>> Good evening. My name is Travis Kelly.

3729
03:27:49,349 --> 03:27:49,359
» Good evening. My name is Travis Kelly.

3730
03:27:49,359 --> 03:27:50,960
I'm the current president of Palo Alto

3731
03:27:50,960 --> 03:27:52,800
Adult Soccer League. Uh we're a

3732
03:27:52,800 --> 03:27:54,479
nonprofit and one of the prides and joys

3733
03:27:54,479 --> 03:27:58,080
of Palo Alto since 1978. Uh serving men

3734
03:27:58,080 --> 03:28:01,520
and women ages 25 to 80 plus. Um, in any

3735
03:28:01,520 --> 03:28:04,319
given week, we rent and hold 20 soccer

3736
03:28:04,319 --> 03:28:07,120
games uh in the city of Palo Alto with

3737
03:28:07,120 --> 03:28:09,200
500 plus players, several hundred of

3738
03:28:09,200 --> 03:28:11,120
whom are PaloAlto residents. Uh, the

3739
03:28:11,120 --> 03:28:12,880
vast majority of whom are in support of

3740
03:28:12,880 --> 03:28:14,960
continuing with artificial fields. And

3741
03:28:14,960 --> 03:28:16,800
while we sincerely appreciate the board

3742
03:28:16,800 --> 03:28:18,800
and the committee's um consideration of

3743
03:28:18,800 --> 03:28:20,800
all the concerns and the issues, it's

3744
03:28:20,800 --> 03:28:22,720
our stance that the benefits of the

3745
03:28:22,720 --> 03:28:24,640
continuation of artificial fields

3746
03:28:24,640 --> 03:28:26,640
significantly outweighs the detriments.

3747
03:28:26,640 --> 03:28:27,600
Thank you.

3748
03:28:27,600 --> 03:28:44,389
>> Our next speaker is Jeff G.

3749
03:28:44,399 --> 03:28:44,960
» [clears throat]

3750
03:28:44,960 --> 03:28:46,710
>> Congratulations, Mayor Vinker and Vice

3751
03:28:46,710 --> 03:28:46,720
» Congratulations, Mayor Vinker and Vice

3752
03:28:46,720 --> 03:28:48,080
Mayor Stone, and good evening, city

3753
03:28:48,080 --> 03:28:49,920
council members. I'm here to support the

3754
03:28:49,920 --> 03:28:52,479
Haddock and staff recommendation.

3755
03:28:52,479 --> 03:28:54,000
Soccer's been a major part of my life

3756
03:28:54,000 --> 03:28:56,160
since I was five, and I'm I've been a

3757
03:28:56,160 --> 03:28:58,479
proud member of the Sierra Club for for

3758
03:28:58,479 --> 03:29:01,040
40 plus years. Mental, physical, and

3759
03:29:01,040 --> 03:29:02,880
social health benefits I personally

3760
03:29:02,880 --> 03:29:04,960
experienced and witnessed include

3761
03:29:04,960 --> 03:29:07,359
invaluable life lessons such as team

3762
03:29:07,359 --> 03:29:09,760
perseverance, dealing with setbacks and

3763
03:29:09,760 --> 03:29:11,520
winning gracefully, positive role

3764
03:29:11,520 --> 03:29:13,760
modeling, stress release, team building

3765
03:29:13,760 --> 03:29:15,840
and group interactions, lifelong kinship

3766
03:29:15,840 --> 03:29:18,479
and camaraderie, joy and fun. Couple

3767
03:29:18,479 --> 03:29:20,479
more thoughts. Adult leagues and pickup

3768
03:29:20,479 --> 03:29:22,319
games offer a level playing field for

3769
03:29:22,319 --> 03:29:24,080
for uniquely broadened social

3770
03:29:24,080 --> 03:29:25,920
interactions, welcoming everyone from

3771
03:29:25,920 --> 03:29:28,720
CEOs to bottle washers. Uh if we don't

3772
03:29:28,720 --> 03:29:30,239
replace the turf at El Camino, this

3773
03:29:30,239 --> 03:29:32,800
won't stop or significantly reduce uh

3774
03:29:32,800 --> 03:29:34,399
youth or adults from playing soccer. It

3775
03:29:34,399 --> 03:29:35,439
will increase the environmental

3776
03:29:35,439 --> 03:29:37,200
footprint with more lengthier car trips,

3777
03:29:37,200 --> 03:29:39,359
reducing bike trips, traffic congestion,

3778
03:29:39,359 --> 03:29:41,120
and will increase etc. Looking forward

3779
03:29:41,120 --> 03:29:43,279
to all the comments from all the the

3780
03:29:43,279 --> 03:29:44,800
kids that are here tonight and thank you

3781
03:29:44,800 --> 03:29:46,560
for your consideration here.

3782
03:29:46,560 --> 03:29:55,429
>> Our next speaker is Omar Z.

3783
03:29:55,439 --> 03:29:59,279
Uh hello, my name is Omar Zabi. I'm in

3784
03:29:59,279 --> 03:30:01,200
seventh grade at Green Middle School.

3785
03:30:01,200 --> 03:30:03,200
I'm here today to support keeping the

3786
03:30:03,200 --> 03:30:05,840
turf field at El Camino. Turf [snorts]

3787
03:30:05,840 --> 03:30:08,239
fields support our sport activities the

3788
03:30:08,239 --> 03:30:10,399
whole year, especially in winter. This

3789
03:30:10,399 --> 03:30:12,479
is very important to our mental health.

3790
03:30:12,479 --> 03:30:14,800
And I remember when Mayfield was closed

3791
03:30:14,800 --> 03:30:20,960
and and I had to um and El Camino was

3792
03:30:20,960 --> 03:30:25,520
totally booked, I was down with very bad

3793
03:30:25,520 --> 03:30:28,080
mood that affected me at school. Dirt

3794
03:30:28,080 --> 03:30:32,080
fields aren't the place where sports h

3795
03:30:32,080 --> 03:30:34,720
where sport happening only. It's the

3796
03:30:34,720 --> 03:30:38,319
place where a lot of families use when

3797
03:30:38,319 --> 03:30:42,319
grass fields and parks are closed.

3798
03:30:42,319 --> 03:30:47,040
Lastly, the injuries in grass fields

3799
03:30:47,040 --> 03:30:49,600
um grass fields. We totally appreciate

3800
03:30:49,600 --> 03:30:52,640
the work of the city and parks, but man

3801
03:30:52,640 --> 03:30:55,359
maintaining grass fields in Pawoto is a

3802
03:30:55,359 --> 03:31:01,279
big challenge. And also in Pawoto

3803
03:31:01,279 --> 03:31:06,720
um and all grass fields have a lot of

3804
03:31:06,720 --> 03:31:11,760
holes that created a lot of injuries. In

3805
03:31:11,760 --> 03:31:13,600
addition, grass fields for some kids

3806
03:31:13,600 --> 03:31:15,840
create skin allergies which never

3807
03:31:15,840 --> 03:31:18,560
happens in turf fields. I'm going to

3808
03:31:18,560 --> 03:31:20,560
need you to wrap up quickly, but go

3809
03:31:20,560 --> 03:31:22,319
ahead. You can finish your sentence.

3810
03:31:22,319 --> 03:31:23,110
>> All right.

3811
03:31:23,110 --> 03:31:23,120
» All right.

3812
03:31:23,120 --> 03:31:23,670
>> Thank you.

3813
03:31:23,670 --> 03:31:23,680
» Thank you.

3814
03:31:23,680 --> 03:31:25,750
>> Thank you very much.

3815
03:31:25,750 --> 03:31:25,760
» Thank you very much.

3816
03:31:25,760 --> 03:31:33,110
>> Our next speaker is Robert F.

3817
03:31:33,120 --> 03:31:35,279
» Good evening. Uh my name is Robert Fitz

3818
03:31:35,279 --> 03:31:38,800
William. Uh proud parent here in Palo

3819
03:31:38,800 --> 03:31:44,239
Alto. I have been an AYSO coach to many

3820
03:31:44,239 --> 03:31:48,319
kids throughout the years. uh some of

3821
03:31:48,319 --> 03:31:52,080
which have gone on to play in college,

3822
03:31:52,080 --> 03:31:54,720
my son being one of them. That would not

3823
03:31:54,720 --> 03:31:56,479
have been possible if they didn't have

3824
03:31:56,479 --> 03:32:00,000
the opportunity to play and practice

3825
03:32:00,000 --> 03:32:02,560
in the fall, late fall and winter

3826
03:32:02,560 --> 03:32:05,680
periods. The turf fields gave that

3827
03:32:05,680 --> 03:32:08,239
ability uh for them to do that and hone

3828
03:32:08,239 --> 03:32:12,720
their skills. Um, as a person who also

3829
03:32:12,720 --> 03:32:15,840
played in Palo Alto adult soccer leagues

3830
03:32:15,840 --> 03:32:18,880
in the evening times uh in the winter

3831
03:32:18,880 --> 03:32:21,279
periods as well, that has been helpful

3832
03:32:21,279 --> 03:32:23,520
for me and I encourage you to continue

3833
03:32:23,520 --> 03:32:27,279
to keep the turf fields. Thank you.

3834
03:32:27,279 --> 03:32:35,910
>> Our next speaker is Adriana F.

3835
03:32:35,920 --> 03:32:38,319
Dear city council, my name is Eison

3836
03:32:38,319 --> 03:32:40,720
Regade and I'm a soccer player. I think

3837
03:32:40,720 --> 03:32:42,640
that the city of PaloAlto should keep

3838
03:32:42,640 --> 03:32:45,520
the fields of El Camino as turf. One

3839
03:32:45,520 --> 03:32:47,120
main point on why the fields should say

3840
03:32:47,120 --> 03:32:49,920
turf compared to grass is accessibility.

3841
03:32:49,920 --> 03:32:51,680
If there are weather problems such as

3842
03:32:51,680 --> 03:32:53,680
rain, grass fields won't be usable while

3843
03:32:53,680 --> 03:32:56,720
turf fields would be fine. To add on to

3844
03:32:56,720 --> 03:32:58,720
accessibility, it'd be much harder to

3845
03:32:58,720 --> 03:33:00,640
take care of grass fields shown with the

3846
03:33:00,640 --> 03:33:03,279
example of the grass fields of Greer

3847
03:33:03,279 --> 03:33:06,239
Park. Another main concern is safety.

3848
03:33:06,239 --> 03:33:08,640
And I can assure you that as a player,

3849
03:33:08,640 --> 03:33:10,319
turf fields are much safer than our

3850
03:33:10,319 --> 03:33:12,720
grass fields. On turf fields, it is

3851
03:33:12,720 --> 03:33:15,120
safer due to its evenness, whereas grass

3852
03:33:15,120 --> 03:33:17,840
fields such as JLS can be very bumpy and

3853
03:33:17,840 --> 03:33:20,800
have dangerous potholes. Overall, in my

3854
03:33:20,800 --> 03:33:23,600
opinion, turf is better for having fun

3855
03:33:23,600 --> 03:33:25,120
accessibility wise, and most

3856
03:33:25,120 --> 03:33:27,359
importantly, safety. Thank you for your

3857
03:33:27,359 --> 03:33:29,040
time.

3858
03:33:29,040 --> 03:33:40,150
Our next speaker is an L.

3859
03:33:40,160 --> 03:33:42,960
Um, hello. My name is Amana and I am

3860
03:33:42,960 --> 03:33:44,880
currently been coaching at the Palo Alta

3861
03:33:44,880 --> 03:33:47,680
Soccer Club for over 10 years. Um, I

3862
03:33:47,680 --> 03:33:49,279
have four children that have come

3863
03:33:49,279 --> 03:33:51,760
through the club. Um, I have seen

3864
03:33:51,760 --> 03:33:53,840
firsthand how important access to

3865
03:33:53,840 --> 03:33:56,479
consistent safe playing surface is for

3866
03:33:56,479 --> 03:33:58,800
kids, families, and the wider community.

3867
03:33:58,800 --> 03:34:00,800
I understand there is concern regarding

3868
03:34:00,800 --> 03:34:03,680
the PAS plastics and surface that he

3869
03:34:03,680 --> 03:34:05,840
associates for turf fields. These are

3870
03:34:05,840 --> 03:34:08,560
all very valid topics. But in the same

3871
03:34:08,560 --> 03:34:11,200
hand, due to the increasing number of

3872
03:34:11,200 --> 03:34:13,120
grass fields that are shut down because

3873
03:34:13,120 --> 03:34:14,880
of weather conditions or lacking of

3874
03:34:14,880 --> 03:34:17,600
lighting when fields close, programs are

3875
03:34:17,600 --> 03:34:19,279
cancelled, seasons are shortened, and

3876
03:34:19,279 --> 03:34:21,680
kids lose opportunities to play, stay

3877
03:34:21,680 --> 03:34:23,760
active, and be part of the team. I

3878
03:34:23,760 --> 03:34:26,640
firsthand have seen over eight of my own

3879
03:34:26,640 --> 03:34:29,760
personal players that have torn ACL's on

3880
03:34:29,760 --> 03:34:32,479
our grass fields right now. Several

3881
03:34:32,479 --> 03:34:34,319
practices we have, they've rolled their

3882
03:34:34,319 --> 03:34:37,600
ankles just by passing a ball with zero

3883
03:34:37,600 --> 03:34:40,399
contact. Being on the turf fields, the

3884
03:34:40,399 --> 03:34:44,960
lack of um players getting injured is

3885
03:34:44,960 --> 03:34:46,960
better. Okay, thank you. Our next

3886
03:34:46,960 --> 03:34:49,894
speaker is Fernando L.

3887
03:34:49,894 --> 03:34:54,469
[snorts]

3888
03:34:54,479 --> 03:34:55,520
» [clears throat]

3889
03:34:55,520 --> 03:34:58,469
>> Hello. Uh, my name is Fernando. I would

3890
03:34:58,469 --> 03:34:58,479
» Hello. Uh, my name is Fernando. I would

3891
03:34:58,479 --> 03:35:01,120
like to speak in favor of keeping turf

3892
03:35:01,120 --> 03:35:03,680
at the El Camino fields. I have been

3893
03:35:03,680 --> 03:35:06,239
coaching in PaloAlto for over 10 years,

3894
03:35:06,239 --> 03:35:08,720
starting with AYSO, followed up by high

3895
03:35:08,720 --> 03:35:11,040
school and now with the Palo Alto soccer

3896
03:35:11,040 --> 03:35:13,840
club. In those 10 years, I have not once

3897
03:35:13,840 --> 03:35:15,920
had a parent come up to me and say, "We

3898
03:35:15,920 --> 03:35:17,920
are worried about the turf." In fact, it

3899
03:35:17,920 --> 03:35:20,160
is the exact opposite. The parents and

3900
03:35:20,160 --> 03:35:22,880
players want to be at the turf fields. I

3901
03:35:22,880 --> 03:35:25,840
have had more than one player confide in

3902
03:35:25,840 --> 03:35:29,520
me personally how important soccer is to

3903
03:35:29,520 --> 03:35:31,920
them and their mental health. And by

3904
03:35:31,920 --> 03:35:34,960
taking away a turf field at El Camino,

3905
03:35:34,960 --> 03:35:39,200
we would be affecting them mentally

3906
03:35:39,200 --> 03:35:40,880
because we are worried about their

3907
03:35:40,880 --> 03:35:43,120
physical health. So we are just causing

3908
03:35:43,120 --> 03:35:47,359
one problem and by trying to fix another

3909
03:35:47,359 --> 03:35:49,439
problem which does not uh make sense to

3910
03:35:49,439 --> 03:35:53,040
me. Also I was a player at El Camino

3911
03:35:53,040 --> 03:35:55,279
when it was grass and that field was not

3912
03:35:55,279 --> 03:35:58,720
wellkept um and we do not have good

3913
03:35:58,720 --> 03:36:00,239
grass fields. Thank you.

3914
03:36:00,239 --> 03:36:08,790
>> Our next speaker is Sarah W.

3915
03:36:08,800 --> 03:36:10,720
Good evening and uh thank you to

3916
03:36:10,720 --> 03:36:13,040
everybody for their public service. I'm

3917
03:36:13,040 --> 03:36:15,760
basically here in support of uh keeping

3918
03:36:15,760 --> 03:36:20,399
the turf field at El Camino. I do want

3919
03:36:20,399 --> 03:36:22,399
to I guess make it known that I do

3920
03:36:22,399 --> 03:36:24,080
understand that there are many other

3921
03:36:24,080 --> 03:36:27,600
concerns that people have. Um and again

3922
03:36:27,600 --> 03:36:30,160
as you on the ad hoc committee have said

3923
03:36:30,160 --> 03:36:33,040
you know we have to do the best research

3924
03:36:33,040 --> 03:36:36,720
we can and weigh the um options and I do

3925
03:36:36,720 --> 03:36:38,960
feel that the turf field option is the

3926
03:36:38,960 --> 03:36:41,200
best um and so I thank you for your time

3927
03:36:41,200 --> 03:36:43,520
and consideration.

3928
03:36:43,520 --> 03:36:50,469
>> Our next speaker is David L.

3929
03:36:50,479 --> 03:36:52,720
» Hi everybody. Thank you. I am also in

3930
03:36:52,720 --> 03:36:56,000
support of keeping the turf fields. I am

3931
03:36:56,000 --> 03:36:58,319
a soccer coach here in Palo Alto for the

3932
03:36:58,319 --> 03:37:01,200
last 10 years. I my entire livelihood

3933
03:37:01,200 --> 03:37:04,479
pretty much is based on coaching. So, um

3934
03:37:04,479 --> 03:37:06,560
for me, if we have restrictions to this,

3935
03:37:06,560 --> 03:37:09,439
this can affect um my unemployment. It

3936
03:37:09,439 --> 03:37:12,000
can affect my livelihood. Not to mention

3937
03:37:12,000 --> 03:37:14,319
what everyone has said um about the

3938
03:37:14,319 --> 03:37:16,399
players. And just a couple stats,

3939
03:37:16,399 --> 03:37:19,600
according to the CDC, 36% of kids

3940
03:37:19,600 --> 03:37:22,720
currently are obese or overweight. And I

3941
03:37:22,720 --> 03:37:24,319
think the last thing we need is more

3942
03:37:24,319 --> 03:37:27,200
kids being at home and looking outside a

3943
03:37:27,200 --> 03:37:28,960
rainy window and not being able to play

3944
03:37:28,960 --> 03:37:32,000
soccer. That was actually one of my most

3945
03:37:32,000 --> 03:37:34,560
hard traumatic experiences was one of

3946
03:37:34,560 --> 03:37:36,319
our tournaments being cancelled because

3947
03:37:36,319 --> 03:37:39,120
of the rain. And uh if we had turf

3948
03:37:39,120 --> 03:37:40,479
fields at that time that wouldn't

3949
03:37:40,479 --> 03:37:41,920
happen. So I think the benefits

3950
03:37:41,920 --> 03:37:44,640
definitely outweigh the risk and we run

3951
03:37:44,640 --> 03:37:47,279
a lot of tournaments here in PaloAlto

3952
03:37:47,279 --> 03:37:49,120
which we wouldn't be able to do without

3953
03:37:49,120 --> 03:37:51,600
the turf. Thank you so much. Our next

3954
03:37:51,600 --> 03:37:55,990
speaker is Jeff H.

3955
03:37:56,000 --> 03:37:58,000
» Good evening, mayor and [clears throat]

3956
03:37:58,000 --> 03:37:59,680
council members. Uh my name is Jeff

3957
03:37:59,680 --> 03:38:01,520
Herman. I've been coaching for about 20

3958
03:38:01,520 --> 03:38:03,760
years. I'm a coach here at Palo Alto.

3959
03:38:03,760 --> 03:38:05,680
I'm also director of coaching in Valo,

3960
03:38:05,680 --> 03:38:08,239
California. [snorts] Um I've worked in

3961
03:38:08,239 --> 03:38:10,399
communities with abundant resources and

3962
03:38:10,399 --> 03:38:12,080
I've worked in communities without them.

3963
03:38:12,080 --> 03:38:13,520
And I can tell you the difference shows

3964
03:38:13,520 --> 03:38:16,560
up in kids. Uh when there isn't quality

3965
03:38:16,560 --> 03:38:18,000
field space, kids lose more than

3966
03:38:18,000 --> 03:38:20,000
practice time. They lose joy. Coaches

3967
03:38:20,000 --> 03:38:22,319
are forced to cut games, cut creativity,

3968
03:38:22,319 --> 03:38:24,399
and cut connection.

3969
03:38:24,399 --> 03:38:26,239
Soccer is one of the last spaces where

3970
03:38:26,239 --> 03:38:28,640
kids consistently show up together after

3971
03:38:28,640 --> 03:38:31,600
school, away from their phones, to move,

3972
03:38:31,600 --> 03:38:33,840
to laugh, to struggle, and to grow side

3973
03:38:33,840 --> 03:38:35,520
by side. It's where friendships are

3974
03:38:35,520 --> 03:38:38,319
formed and confidence is built and kids

3975
03:38:38,319 --> 03:38:41,760
feel like they belong. Thank you.

3976
03:38:41,760 --> 03:38:51,269
>> Our next speaker is Nicholas CR.

3977
03:38:51,279 --> 03:38:53,760
Hello, my name is Nicholas Cortez and I

3978
03:38:53,760 --> 03:38:56,800
am a current SPSA and Palto soccer

3979
03:38:56,800 --> 03:38:59,279
player. I'm also a senior at Henry Gun

3980
03:38:59,279 --> 03:39:01,920
High School. Um, I am currently in the

3981
03:39:01,920 --> 03:39:04,960
process of taking my soccer level uh to

3982
03:39:04,960 --> 03:39:06,560
college and this would not have been

3983
03:39:06,560 --> 03:39:08,560
possible without having the proper

3984
03:39:08,560 --> 03:39:10,800
facilities and being able to play on

3985
03:39:10,800 --> 03:39:13,520
these turf fields we have in Palo Alto.

3986
03:39:13,520 --> 03:39:15,920
Uh, soccer has always been a fundamental

3987
03:39:15,920 --> 03:39:18,640
part of my childhood as like many kids

3988
03:39:18,640 --> 03:39:21,200
in this community and all over the world

3989
03:39:21,200 --> 03:39:24,720
and I feel taken away these turf fields

3990
03:39:24,720 --> 03:39:26,319
and the possibilities from future

3991
03:39:26,319 --> 03:39:29,520
children. I just remember over the last

3992
03:39:29,520 --> 03:39:32,640
few months not having that Mayfield

3993
03:39:32,640 --> 03:39:36,239
complex took away a huge part of who I

3994
03:39:36,239 --> 03:39:39,279
feel I am and didn't give me the

3995
03:39:39,279 --> 03:39:42,960
opportunity to let loose of stress and

3996
03:39:42,960 --> 03:39:45,840
soccer has always been the way I

3997
03:39:45,840 --> 03:39:48,560
um help myself go through different

3998
03:39:48,560 --> 03:39:50,239
challenges I have in life. It's always

3999
03:39:50,239 --> 03:39:53,200
been my output and I feel taking away

4000
03:39:53,200 --> 03:39:56,000
this possibility from future children is

4001
03:39:56,000 --> 03:39:58,399
a negativity.

4002
03:39:58,399 --> 03:40:06,950
>> Our next speaker is LCP.

4003
03:40:06,960 --> 03:40:09,520
» Hi, my name is Elsie and I'm a Palatoto

4004
03:40:09,520 --> 03:40:11,439
resident and I played for Palto Soccer

4005
03:40:11,439 --> 03:40:13,760
Club from first grade until graduating

4006
03:40:13,760 --> 03:40:15,760
high school. I've continued my soccer

4007
03:40:15,760 --> 03:40:16,960
career and I'm currently playing

4008
03:40:16,960 --> 03:40:18,560
division one soccer at the University of

4009
03:40:18,560 --> 03:40:21,680
San Francisco. Um, year-round access and

4010
03:40:21,680 --> 03:40:24,080
reliable highquality fields in Palo Alto

4011
03:40:24,080 --> 03:40:26,160
played a huge role in my development and

4012
03:40:26,160 --> 03:40:28,800
the ability for me to reach my goal.

4013
03:40:28,800 --> 03:40:30,880
When I was younger, the nearby fields in

4014
03:40:30,880 --> 03:40:32,720
Palto made it easy for me to bike to

4015
03:40:32,720 --> 03:40:35,040
practice while my parents were at work.

4016
03:40:35,040 --> 03:40:36,560
That accessibility was extremely

4017
03:40:36,560 --> 03:40:38,960
important to me. If practices required

4018
03:40:38,960 --> 03:40:41,040
traveling outside of Palo Alto, it would

4019
03:40:41,040 --> 03:40:42,720
have been much harder for me to show up

4020
03:40:42,720 --> 03:40:45,279
consistently. El Camino is a vital

4021
03:40:45,279 --> 03:40:47,040
resource used daily by hundreds of young

4022
03:40:47,040 --> 03:40:49,040
kids and athletes. Switching to natural

4023
03:40:49,040 --> 03:40:50,479
grass would likely cause frequent

4024
03:40:50,479 --> 03:40:52,479
closures due to wear and maintenance,

4025
03:40:52,479 --> 03:40:54,239
which would reduce access for many kids

4026
03:40:54,239 --> 03:40:56,560
in the community. Although I appreciate

4027
03:40:56,560 --> 03:40:58,239
the city's environmental goals and

4028
03:40:58,239 --> 03:41:00,080
concerns, it is important to consider

4029
03:41:00,080 --> 03:41:01,840
the impact on youth development and

4030
03:41:01,840 --> 03:41:05,520
accessibility. Thank you.

4031
03:41:05,520 --> 03:41:14,710
Our next speaker is James S.

4032
03:41:14,720 --> 03:41:17,040
Hi, I'm James. Uh, I'm a current college

4033
03:41:17,040 --> 03:41:19,359
soccer player, but I played on the Powto

4034
03:41:19,359 --> 03:41:22,160
fields for 15 years. Uh, I think that

4035
03:41:22,160 --> 03:41:24,239
whatever small environmental changes

4036
03:41:24,239 --> 03:41:26,640
might come from the grass fields do not

4037
03:41:26,640 --> 03:41:29,439
justify taking the opportunity to play

4038
03:41:29,439 --> 03:41:33,120
away from 500 to a,000 kids who really

4039
03:41:33,120 --> 03:41:36,000
enjoy that time playing soccer. And also

4040
03:41:36,000 --> 03:41:38,080
having played on both uh poorly

4041
03:41:38,080 --> 03:41:40,479
maintained grass fields and turf fields,

4042
03:41:40,479 --> 03:41:43,439
injuries are much more common on grass

4043
03:41:43,439 --> 03:41:45,439
fields because they're bumpy, they're

4044
03:41:45,439 --> 03:41:47,760
uneven, they're slippery, and turf

4045
03:41:47,760 --> 03:41:50,319
fields are much more like easy to play

4046
03:41:50,319 --> 03:41:53,200
on uh and much less likely to get

4047
03:41:53,200 --> 03:41:56,239
injured on a turf field. Thank you.

4048
03:41:56,239 --> 03:42:07,670
>> Our next speaker is Rodrigo B.

4049
03:42:07,680 --> 03:42:09,600
Hi, good evening. Um, my name is

4050
03:42:09,600 --> 03:42:12,560
Monnique Palifox and I actually took uh

4051
03:42:12,560 --> 03:42:16,000
Rodrigo's speaking turn. Um, thank you

4052
03:42:16,000 --> 03:42:18,160
for allowing us the space and the time

4053
03:42:18,160 --> 03:42:21,040
to come and share our thoughts. My son

4054
03:42:21,040 --> 03:42:25,520
Eli has played for PaloAlto SVSA club

4055
03:42:25,520 --> 03:42:28,319
for about 4 years now. Prior to that,

4056
03:42:28,319 --> 03:42:30,319
he's been playing soccer since he was 5.

4057
03:42:30,319 --> 03:42:32,880
He's about to be 18.

4058
03:42:32,880 --> 03:42:36,000
Recently, um about a year ago, while

4059
03:42:36,000 --> 03:42:38,399
playing on a grass field in a

4060
03:42:38,399 --> 03:42:41,040
tournament, he broke his ankle.

4061
03:42:41,040 --> 03:42:44,640
Um his ankle got caught in a hole on the

4062
03:42:44,640 --> 03:42:47,520
grass field as he was running up, got

4063
03:42:47,520 --> 03:42:50,720
caught, broke his ankle. He was out of

4064
03:42:50,720 --> 03:42:54,239
the sport for over 6 months. It affected

4065
03:42:54,239 --> 03:42:56,000
him mentally. It affected him

4066
03:42:56,000 --> 03:42:59,760
physically. Um, and I really don't want

4067
03:42:59,760 --> 03:43:01,359
anyone else to have to go through

4068
03:43:01,359 --> 03:43:03,279
anything like that. It was very hard as

4069
03:43:03,279 --> 03:43:05,920
a parent to see that, to go through it

4070
03:43:05,920 --> 03:43:07,920
with him.

4071
03:43:07,920 --> 03:43:10,479
And I feel that sometimes grass fields

4072
03:43:10,479 --> 03:43:12,720
tend to have less maintenance.

4073
03:43:12,720 --> 03:43:14,070
>> Your time is up.

4074
03:43:14,070 --> 03:43:14,080
» Your time is up.

4075
03:43:14,080 --> 03:43:15,990
>> So, I would just ask that you consider

4076
03:43:15,990 --> 03:43:16,000
» So, I would just ask that you consider

4077
03:43:16,000 --> 03:43:17,840
keeping the turf fields. Thank you.

4078
03:43:17,840 --> 03:43:30,469
>> Our next speaker is Cynthia F.

4079
03:43:30,479 --> 03:43:32,800
Plastic starts polluting the water cycle

4080
03:43:32,800 --> 03:43:34,880
from the moment it's manufactured. This

4081
03:43:34,880 --> 03:43:36,960
pollution continues throughout usage and

4082
03:43:36,960 --> 03:43:39,120
for many years beyond disposal. This is

4083
03:43:39,120 --> 03:43:40,560
part of the reason a reduction in

4084
03:43:40,560 --> 03:43:42,880
plastic production is being pursued as

4085
03:43:42,880 --> 03:43:44,960
part of the global plastics treaty that

4086
03:43:44,960 --> 03:43:48,000
hundreds of nations are working hard on.

4087
03:43:48,000 --> 03:43:49,680
Unfortunately, progress is stalled by

4088
03:43:49,680 --> 03:43:52,479
industry and our own federal government.

4089
03:43:52,479 --> 03:43:53,920
So, to help reduce pollution of the

4090
03:43:53,920 --> 03:43:55,439
water cycle, it is very important

4091
03:43:55,439 --> 03:43:57,120
communities work at the local level to

4092
03:43:57,120 --> 03:43:59,840
voluntarily reduce plastic consumption.

4093
03:43:59,840 --> 03:44:02,239
We have to normalize making do with a

4094
03:44:02,239 --> 03:44:04,800
lot less plastic, and we can make do

4095
03:44:04,800 --> 03:44:07,600
without plastic grass. The sacrifice is

4096
03:44:07,600 --> 03:44:09,920
relatively small. Converting El Camino's

4097
03:44:09,920 --> 03:44:11,920
plastic field to real grass, would per

4098
03:44:11,920 --> 03:44:14,399
the staff report require only 570

4099
03:44:14,399 --> 03:44:17,120
people, which is less than 1% of

4100
03:44:17,120 --> 03:44:19,040
PaloAlto residents to shift to other

4101
03:44:19,040 --> 03:44:20,960
activities and for only a few months

4102
03:44:20,960 --> 03:44:23,279
during rainy season in order to benefit

4103
03:44:23,279 --> 03:44:25,760
100% of residents by helping reduce the

4104
03:44:25,760 --> 03:44:27,840
microplastics in a shared essential

4105
03:44:27,840 --> 03:44:30,000
resource, drinking water. It's time to

4106
03:44:30,000 --> 03:44:31,680
improve the playability of Peloto's

4107
03:44:31,680 --> 03:44:33,760
grass fields and El Camino to real

4108
03:44:33,760 --> 03:44:34,800
grass. Thank you.

4109
03:44:34,800 --> 03:44:43,670
>> Our next speaker is Robin P.

4110
03:44:43,680 --> 03:44:46,000
Hello mayors and city council members.

4111
03:44:46,000 --> 03:44:48,160
My name is Robin. I'm 14 years old and I

4112
03:44:48,160 --> 03:44:49,840
live in Palato. Thank you for giving me

4113
03:44:49,840 --> 03:44:52,479
this chance to speak today. For students

4114
03:44:52,479 --> 03:44:54,960
like me who train seriously. Being able

4115
03:44:54,960 --> 03:44:57,520
to practice year round is extremely

4116
03:44:57,520 --> 03:44:59,520
important. Turf fields make this

4117
03:44:59,520 --> 03:45:01,120
possible. During the winter when it

4118
03:45:01,120 --> 03:45:03,520
rains, turf fields allow us to keep

4119
03:45:03,520 --> 03:45:05,600
training instead of cancing practice for

4120
03:45:05,600 --> 03:45:08,000
weeks at a time. Without turf, it's much

4121
03:45:08,000 --> 03:45:10,080
harder for players to improve and stay

4122
03:45:10,080 --> 03:45:13,199
motivated. By supporting turf fields,

4123
03:45:13,199 --> 03:45:15,120
you are supporting young athletes like

4124
03:45:15,120 --> 03:45:17,680
me, helping us continue to grow, learn,

4125
03:45:17,680 --> 03:45:19,760
and pursue what we love. Thank you very

4126
03:45:19,760 --> 03:45:22,239
much for listening.

4127
03:45:22,239 --> 03:45:31,830
>> Our next speaker is Wendy L.

4128
03:45:31,840 --> 03:45:34,239
» Good evening. Thank you for giving me

4129
03:45:34,239 --> 03:45:37,680
the opportunity to speak. I'm here today

4130
03:45:37,680 --> 03:45:42,000
to express my support for turf fields.

4131
03:45:42,000 --> 03:45:45,120
I'm a mom of two boys who play soccer

4132
03:45:45,120 --> 03:45:47,600
here in Palter.

4133
03:45:47,600 --> 03:45:50,319
The student who just spoke is my son

4134
03:45:50,319 --> 03:45:52,239
lobbying.

4135
03:45:52,239 --> 03:45:56,319
From a mom's perspective, soccer is more

4136
03:45:56,319 --> 03:45:59,359
than a sport. It helps my children stay

4137
03:45:59,359 --> 03:46:03,520
healthy, focused, and confidence. Our

4138
03:46:03,520 --> 03:46:06,080
family moved from Laning Seattle to

4139
03:46:06,080 --> 03:46:09,680
Palato three years ago because we wanted

4140
03:46:09,680 --> 03:46:12,640
more opportunities for our kids to be

4141
03:46:12,640 --> 03:46:15,760
active and grow through sports. Fields

4142
03:46:15,760 --> 03:46:20,160
like Camno Park are a big part of what

4143
03:46:20,160 --> 03:46:23,359
makes Palato such a great place for

4144
03:46:23,359 --> 03:46:26,640
families. Turf fields make a real

4145
03:46:26,640 --> 03:46:29,760
difference for families like ours. When

4146
03:46:29,760 --> 03:46:33,840
it rains, grass fields are often closed

4147
03:46:33,840 --> 03:46:36,800
and the practices are cancelled. Turf

4148
03:46:36,800 --> 03:46:40,560
fields allowed kids to keep playing.

4149
03:46:40,560 --> 03:46:42,790
>> Thank you so much.

4150
03:46:42,790 --> 03:46:42,800
» Thank you so much.

4151
03:46:42,800 --> 03:46:48,389
Our next speaker is Adam O.

4152
03:46:48,399 --> 03:46:50,960
» Hi, my name is Adam Olsen. I'm a

4153
03:46:50,960 --> 03:46:53,279
longtime resident of Palo Alto who had

4154
03:46:53,279 --> 03:46:56,399
two kids who played for AYSO and Palo

4155
03:46:56,399 --> 03:47:00,319
Alto soccer club. I'm here to advocate

4156
03:47:00,319 --> 03:47:03,120
um maintaining the artificial turf field

4157
03:47:03,120 --> 03:47:06,560
at El Camino. I my favorite speaker so

4158
03:47:06,560 --> 03:47:09,439
far was one of the players James S, who

4159
03:47:09,439 --> 03:47:13,279
pointed out that the infinite decimal

4160
03:47:13,279 --> 03:47:17,040
change to the environment is uh worth

4161
03:47:17,040 --> 03:47:19,439
paying that price for the benefit of

4162
03:47:19,439 --> 03:47:23,760
thousands of people. And it the idea

4163
03:47:23,760 --> 03:47:27,120
that you would close the field for for

4164
03:47:27,120 --> 03:47:32,319
months on end for such a small benefit

4165
03:47:32,319 --> 03:47:36,080
um strikes strikes me a as really weird.

4166
03:47:36,080 --> 03:47:39,040
Also the patronizing speakers who think

4167
03:47:39,040 --> 03:47:41,520
that we're too dumb to understand this.

4168
03:47:41,520 --> 03:47:44,640
I'm a professor in public health and um

4169
03:47:44,640 --> 03:47:46,880
look how healthy the soccer players look

4170
03:47:46,880 --> 03:47:48,960
versus the people who spoke against the

4171
03:47:48,960 --> 03:47:52,080
soccer fields.

4172
03:47:52,080 --> 03:48:04,630
Our next speaker is Pete C.

4173
03:48:04,640 --> 03:48:06,640
» Hi, Mayor and Council members. I'm Pete

4174
03:48:06,640 --> 03:48:08,000
Chen. I'm the current regional

4175
03:48:08,000 --> 03:48:10,160
commissioner for Paloto Ayso, a

4176
03:48:10,160 --> 03:48:12,160
volunteerrun soccer organization that

4177
03:48:12,160 --> 03:48:14,239
has been here in Palo Alto since the

4178
03:48:14,239 --> 03:48:16,000
late60s. I believe we're one of the

4179
03:48:16,000 --> 03:48:17,920
oldest and longest running sports

4180
03:48:17,920 --> 03:48:20,080
organizations here. [snorts] on behalf

4181
03:48:20,080 --> 03:48:22,080
of our organization and the thousands of

4182
03:48:22,080 --> 03:48:23,520
children who have grown up playing

4183
03:48:23,520 --> 03:48:26,479
soccer here, myself included. I am uh I

4184
03:48:26,479 --> 03:48:28,479
I grew I was raised here in Palo Alto

4185
03:48:28,479 --> 03:48:30,479
playing soccer and many other sports.

4186
03:48:30,479 --> 03:48:33,600
I'm currently a parent and a coach uh

4187
03:48:33,600 --> 03:48:35,600
with the organizations and we fully

4188
03:48:35,600 --> 03:48:38,960
support the effort to improve our turf

4189
03:48:38,960 --> 03:48:41,359
fields here. It's it's vitally important

4190
03:48:41,359 --> 03:48:43,199
that we provide these opportunities for

4191
03:48:43,199 --> 03:48:47,680
kids today, kids in the future. Um the

4192
03:48:47,680 --> 03:48:49,680
health risks that we've talked about, I

4193
03:48:49,680 --> 03:48:51,920
think we've we understand that most of

4194
03:48:51,920 --> 03:48:54,239
the complaints I get actually uh

4195
03:48:54,239 --> 03:48:56,720
concerning health and safety issues tend

4196
03:48:56,720 --> 03:48:59,600
to uh tend to uh be about the the grass

4197
03:48:59,600 --> 03:49:01,359
fields, about the holes that some people

4198
03:49:01,359 --> 03:49:03,600
mention, about bald spots, about poor

4199
03:49:03,600 --> 03:49:05,840
irrigation inconsistencies. We

4200
03:49:05,840 --> 03:49:07,520
understand we love grass when it's

4201
03:49:07,520 --> 03:49:08,800
consistent.

4202
03:49:08,800 --> 03:49:10,150
>> Thank you very much.

4203
03:49:10,150 --> 03:49:10,160
» Thank you very much.

4204
03:49:10,160 --> 03:49:19,910
>> Our next speaker is Natalie S.

4205
03:49:19,920 --> 03:49:21,840
Uh, hi. I'm Natalie. Thank you for the

4206
03:49:21,840 --> 03:49:24,560
opportunity to speak today. Um, I'm a

4207
03:49:24,560 --> 03:49:26,560
student at Johns Hopkins University. I

4208
03:49:26,560 --> 03:49:28,800
play soccer there. Um, I grew up playing

4209
03:49:28,800 --> 03:49:31,040
on El Camino and Mayfield for my entire

4210
03:49:31,040 --> 03:49:34,720
life. Um, and I'm also like a premed

4211
03:49:34,720 --> 03:49:36,720
student and a neuroscience major and I

4212
03:49:36,720 --> 03:49:38,479
think it's like very important to

4213
03:49:38,479 --> 03:49:40,239
maintain public health and to reduce

4214
03:49:40,239 --> 03:49:42,399
plastic in the environment. Um, I think

4215
03:49:42,399 --> 03:49:43,760
that there are just like endless other

4216
03:49:43,760 --> 03:49:45,600
ways to do that. And I think the ben or

4217
03:49:45,600 --> 03:49:49,040
the drawbacks of taking away fields from

4218
03:49:49,040 --> 03:49:52,160
so many players and the like physical

4219
03:49:52,160 --> 03:49:54,399
impact on not playing soccer for so many

4220
03:49:54,399 --> 03:49:55,840
months and not being able to have this

4221
03:49:55,840 --> 03:49:58,399
time outside would just um totally

4222
03:49:58,399 --> 03:50:01,040
outweigh the like benefit to the

4223
03:50:01,040 --> 03:50:03,439
environment and to their physical

4224
03:50:03,439 --> 03:50:05,760
health. Um, and yeah, I think it would

4225
03:50:05,760 --> 03:50:09,439
be uh devastating for the community if

4226
03:50:09,439 --> 03:50:11,920
um there was no field to play on for

4227
03:50:11,920 --> 03:50:14,319
that many months of the year. Thank you.

4228
03:50:14,319 --> 03:50:30,630
>> Our next speaker is Linda HK.

4229
03:50:30,640 --> 03:50:32,160
» Linda, you should be able to unmute

4230
03:50:32,160 --> 03:50:34,319
yourself and speak.

4231
03:50:34,319 --> 03:50:36,319
Hello, my name is Linda Hutchkins Nolles

4232
03:50:36,319 --> 03:50:37,760
and I'm the co-founder of Mothers

4233
03:50:37,760 --> 03:50:39,920
Outfront Silicon Valley. Our

4234
03:50:39,920 --> 03:50:42,080
organization comprised of mothers and

4235
03:50:42,080 --> 03:50:44,319
allies working for a livable climate for

4236
03:50:44,319 --> 03:50:46,560
all children supports returning the

4237
03:50:46,560 --> 03:50:49,120
fields at El Camino to natural grass

4238
03:50:49,120 --> 03:50:51,279
fields. This is because it's better for

4239
03:50:51,279 --> 03:50:53,120
children's health, better for their

4240
03:50:53,120 --> 03:50:55,359
safety, better for the environment, and

4241
03:50:55,359 --> 03:50:57,520
better for the climate. We ask you to

4242
03:50:57,520 --> 03:50:59,279
listen skeptically to the claims of the

4243
03:50:59,279 --> 03:51:01,279
industry similar to the cigarette

4244
03:51:01,279 --> 03:51:04,319
industry that this product is safe. It

4245
03:51:04,319 --> 03:51:06,880
is patently unsafe as has been

4246
03:51:06,880 --> 03:51:09,920
documented by many health professionals

4247
03:51:09,920 --> 03:51:13,040
who have written in requesting the Santa

4248
03:51:13,040 --> 03:51:17,760
Clara County to ban artificial turf. The

4249
03:51:17,760 --> 03:51:19,279
industry is one of the most powerful

4250
03:51:19,279 --> 03:51:21,439
lobbyists on the planet. This is the

4251
03:51:21,439 --> 03:51:23,840
prochemical industry and I would expect

4252
03:51:23,840 --> 03:51:26,080
more of the Palo Alto city council than

4253
03:51:26,080 --> 03:51:27,920
to be hoodwinkedked by the greenwashing

4254
03:51:27,920 --> 03:51:30,080
of this industry. You have been climate

4255
03:51:30,080 --> 03:51:32,239
champions. Please continue to be climate

4256
03:51:32,239 --> 03:51:34,479
champions. Please insist that all the

4257
03:51:34,479 --> 03:51:36,160
grass fields be maintained so children

4258
03:51:36,160 --> 03:51:38,160
can play on safe grass fields. Thank

4259
03:51:38,160 --> 03:51:40,160
you.

4260
03:51:40,160 --> 03:51:48,469
>> Our next speaker is Nicole L.

4261
03:51:48,479 --> 03:51:51,760
Hello, I'm Nicole and I'm a student and

4262
03:51:51,760 --> 03:51:54,080
throughout high school I've played on

4263
03:51:54,080 --> 03:51:56,800
several outdoor sports, but um more

4264
03:51:56,800 --> 03:52:00,080
specifically uh I'm speaking for my

4265
03:52:00,080 --> 03:52:02,720
friend who has played soccer all of her

4266
03:52:02,720 --> 03:52:06,720
life and she um she grew up playing on

4267
03:52:06,720 --> 03:52:09,199
natural grass fields, but going into

4268
03:52:09,199 --> 03:52:11,359
high school we only had artificial turf,

4269
03:52:11,359 --> 03:52:13,680
so she didn't have a choice. And the

4270
03:52:13,680 --> 03:52:16,000
first year that um she played on

4271
03:52:16,000 --> 03:52:17,920
artificial turf, she got three

4272
03:52:17,920 --> 03:52:20,160
concussions even though she didn't

4273
03:52:20,160 --> 03:52:22,800
change her um playing style

4274
03:52:22,800 --> 03:52:24,800
significantly. And the reason is because

4275
03:52:24,800 --> 03:52:29,680
artificial turf even though um it people

4276
03:52:29,680 --> 03:52:32,960
are saying that it's not really that

4277
03:52:32,960 --> 03:52:36,720
different. Um, she can attest, and a lot

4278
03:52:36,720 --> 03:52:38,880
of my friends in high school can also

4279
03:52:38,880 --> 03:52:41,840
attest, that artificial turf is not um

4280
03:52:41,840 --> 03:52:43,840
any better for athletes than natural

4281
03:52:43,840 --> 03:52:51,830
grasses, which I suggest you switch to.

4282
03:52:51,840 --> 03:52:59,030
» Our next speaker is Andrea V.

4283
03:52:59,040 --> 03:53:01,600
Hello, my name is Andrea Ventura. I

4284
03:53:01,600 --> 03:53:03,199
represent an organization called Clean

4285
03:53:03,199 --> 03:53:06,319
Water Action and our hundreds of members

4286
03:53:06,319 --> 03:53:09,920
in PaloAlto. I want to clarify two

4287
03:53:09,920 --> 03:53:11,359
things that have been said that are

4288
03:53:11,359 --> 03:53:14,239
absolutely false. One is that the

4289
03:53:14,239 --> 03:53:16,720
environmental impacts

4290
03:53:16,720 --> 03:53:19,840
um are minor. We are talking about huge

4291
03:53:19,840 --> 03:53:22,720
problems related to off-ging, plastic

4292
03:53:22,720 --> 03:53:25,439
pollution um and other problems that

4293
03:53:25,439 --> 03:53:28,080
affect public health. But most

4294
03:53:28,080 --> 03:53:31,760
importantly, my expertise is around PAS.

4295
03:53:31,760 --> 03:53:35,600
And there is no such thing as PAS free

4296
03:53:35,600 --> 03:53:38,560
artificial turf. What manufacturers will

4297
03:53:38,560 --> 03:53:41,760
tell you is they don't use PAS to make

4298
03:53:41,760 --> 03:53:44,880
the actual product. But what they're not

4299
03:53:44,880 --> 03:53:47,279
telling you is they cannot make that

4300
03:53:47,279 --> 03:53:51,120
product um without using PAS in the

4301
03:53:51,120 --> 03:53:54,720
machinery to extrude the blades. So that

4302
03:53:54,720 --> 03:53:57,439
plastic which is already problematic is

4303
03:53:57,439 --> 03:54:00,640
going through pre PAS and I work in a

4304
03:54:00,640 --> 03:54:02,160
coalition of national

4305
03:54:02,160 --> 03:54:03,429
>> your time is up.

4306
03:54:03,429 --> 03:54:03,439
» your time is up.

4307
03:54:03,439 --> 03:54:06,389
>> There has never been p uh artificial

4308
03:54:06,389 --> 03:54:06,399
» There has never been p uh artificial

4309
03:54:06,399 --> 03:54:09,840
turf that has tested negative for PAS.

4310
03:54:09,840 --> 03:54:10,880
It's a it's a lie.

4311
03:54:10,880 --> 03:54:13,429
>> Your time is up. Our next speaker is

4312
03:54:13,429 --> 03:54:13,439
» Your time is up. Our next speaker is

4313
03:54:13,439 --> 03:54:19,030
Laura F.

4314
03:54:19,040 --> 03:54:20,800
Mute.

4315
03:54:20,800 --> 03:54:23,670
>> Hello. My name is Laura Fay. I urge the

4316
03:54:23,670 --> 03:54:23,680
» Hello. My name is Laura Fay. I urge the

4317
03:54:23,680 --> 03:54:25,520
council to reject the installation of

4318
03:54:25,520 --> 03:54:27,199
plastic surfaces for health,

4319
03:54:27,199 --> 03:54:29,600
environmental and safety reasons. In the

4320
03:54:29,600 --> 03:54:31,439
staff presentation today, the level of

4321
03:54:31,439 --> 03:54:34,239
PAS was not actually reported, just that

4322
03:54:34,239 --> 03:54:36,720
it is quote tested and manufacturer

4323
03:54:36,720 --> 03:54:39,279
verified unquote. Respectfully, this is

4324
03:54:39,279 --> 03:54:41,840
a contentfree statement as trust in

4325
03:54:41,840 --> 03:54:44,720
industry self-reporting is incredibly

4326
03:54:44,720 --> 03:54:48,720
low uh and untruthful as the earlier um

4327
03:54:48,720 --> 03:54:50,880
speaker mentioned. With respect, I'm

4328
03:54:50,880 --> 03:54:53,120
stunned uh hearing from parents that are

4329
03:54:53,120 --> 03:54:54,640
willing to expose their children to the

4330
03:54:54,640 --> 03:54:56,720
health and heat hazards of artificial

4331
03:54:56,720 --> 03:54:58,800
turf in the face of well publicized

4332
03:54:58,800 --> 03:55:01,199
scientific findings linking PAT to

4333
03:55:01,199 --> 03:55:03,520
cancer and endocrine disruption. The

4334
03:55:03,520 --> 03:55:05,040
youth have little perception of the

4335
03:55:05,040 --> 03:55:07,040
risks they are exposed to. Let's hope

4336
03:55:07,040 --> 03:55:08,720
that these young people don't pay with

4337
03:55:08,720 --> 03:55:11,199
health complications down the line. If

4338
03:55:11,199 --> 03:55:13,279
the council does vote in favor of

4339
03:55:13,279 --> 03:55:15,600
installing artificial turf, I strongly

4340
03:55:15,600 --> 03:55:17,199
urge the council to mandate highly

4341
03:55:17,199 --> 03:55:19,120
visible safety warnings alongside the

4342
03:55:19,120 --> 03:55:22,160
turf fields. Much like Prop 65, labeling

4343
03:55:22,160 --> 03:55:24,560
these warnings should

4344
03:55:24,560 --> 03:55:26,000
parents and children to the human

4345
03:55:26,000 --> 03:55:28,399
hazards of the exposure of PAS. Thank

4346
03:55:28,399 --> 03:55:30,160
you.

4347
03:55:30,160 --> 03:55:37,429
>> Our next speaker is Leanne M.

4348
03:55:37,439 --> 03:55:40,080
As a soccer mom, I support real turf.

4349
03:55:40,080 --> 03:55:42,319
With petrochemical plastic turf, there's

4350
03:55:42,319 --> 03:55:45,040
one crucial orbe accidental filter

4351
03:55:45,040 --> 03:55:47,439
that's getting overlooked. The kids that

4352
03:55:47,439 --> 03:55:49,840
play on them. Our kids should not be

4353
03:55:49,840 --> 03:55:51,840
filters for the microplastics, other

4354
03:55:51,840 --> 03:55:54,000
toxins, or excessive heat from plastic

4355
03:55:54,000 --> 03:55:56,239
turf, especially when they have no

4356
03:55:56,239 --> 03:55:59,120
choice where they play. But at this

4357
03:55:59,120 --> 03:56:01,359
moment, [clears throat] you and only you

4358
03:56:01,359 --> 03:56:03,120
have the choice of what sports surface

4359
03:56:03,120 --> 03:56:04,960
they play on and what they're exposed

4360
03:56:04,960 --> 03:56:07,439
to. Sports families supporting plastic

4361
03:56:07,439 --> 03:56:09,760
are relying on a wholly incomplete staff

4362
03:56:09,760 --> 03:56:12,640
report. Kids supporting plastic don't

4363
03:56:12,640 --> 03:56:14,960
understand what they're supporting and

4364
03:56:14,960 --> 03:56:16,880
they should not have to bear the burden

4365
03:56:16,880 --> 03:56:19,279
of that knowledge or resulting worry.

4366
03:56:19,279 --> 03:56:21,600
It's our duty of care to protect them

4367
03:56:21,600 --> 03:56:23,920
from the worry and the risk of toxic

4368
03:56:23,920 --> 03:56:26,160
exposures by exercising the

4369
03:56:26,160 --> 03:56:28,399
precautionary principle in times of

4370
03:56:28,399 --> 03:56:30,880
scientific doubt. Please earnestly

4371
03:56:30,880 --> 03:56:34,560
pursue real grass fields. Real grass and

4372
03:56:34,560 --> 03:56:39,520
soccer. It's not one or the other.

4373
03:56:39,520 --> 03:56:45,590
>> Our next speaker is Becky S.

4374
03:56:45,600 --> 03:56:47,120
Good evening, council members. This is

4375
03:56:47,120 --> 03:56:50,080
Becky from Ventura. I do uh agree with

4376
03:56:50,080 --> 03:56:51,680
the previous speaker. This should not be

4377
03:56:51,680 --> 03:56:54,560
a zero sum game and we should not be uh

4378
03:56:54,560 --> 03:56:56,560
asked to choose between two really poor

4379
03:56:56,560 --> 03:56:58,960
options. The staff report listed all the

4380
03:56:58,960 --> 03:57:00,640
mitigations that will be implemented to

4381
03:57:00,640 --> 03:57:02,239
make sure these materials don't degrade

4382
03:57:02,239 --> 03:57:04,000
into our environment. Would this

4383
03:57:04,000 --> 03:57:06,000
enforcement be akin to other monitoring

4384
03:57:06,000 --> 03:57:08,239
and enforcement boondoggles legion in

4385
03:57:08,239 --> 03:57:10,319
this city? The city has a poor track

4386
03:57:10,319 --> 03:57:11,760
record of accountability and code

4387
03:57:11,760 --> 03:57:13,600
enforcement. I don't believe we have the

4388
03:57:13,600 --> 03:57:15,600
moral high ground to say that we will

4389
03:57:15,600 --> 03:57:17,600
follow through and hold companies and

4390
03:57:17,600 --> 03:57:19,760
individuals accountable to make sure

4391
03:57:19,760 --> 03:57:21,520
that these mitigations are carried out

4392
03:57:21,520 --> 03:57:24,560
to the letter. You can just say no to

4393
03:57:24,560 --> 03:57:26,560
the installation of additional toxic

4394
03:57:26,560 --> 03:57:28,720
carcinogenic forever chemicals in our

4395
03:57:28,720 --> 03:57:30,560
playing fields and playgrounds like

4396
03:57:30,560 --> 03:57:33,279
Bullwear Park for instance. and and stop

4397
03:57:33,279 --> 03:57:35,600
the running off into our waterways that

4398
03:57:35,600 --> 03:57:37,600
drain into the bay. Tonight, you can

4399
03:57:37,600 --> 03:57:39,359
just say no to putting adults and

4400
03:57:39,359 --> 03:57:41,600
children at risk. You can say no to

4401
03:57:41,600 --> 03:57:43,680
contamination of our watershed. And I

4402
03:57:43,680 --> 03:57:46,160
did happen to pull like four sheds

4403
03:57:46,160 --> 03:57:48,239
pieces of grass off my granddaughter

4404
03:57:48,239 --> 03:57:49,600
when I put her in the bathroom. Your

4405
03:57:49,600 --> 03:57:52,950
>> time is up. Park. Okay. Thank you.

4406
03:57:52,950 --> 03:57:52,960
» time is up. Park. Okay. Thank you.

4407
03:57:52,960 --> 03:58:00,550
>> Our next speaker is Pam B.

4408
03:58:00,560 --> 03:58:03,920
» Good evening. Uh please do not approve

4409
03:58:03,920 --> 03:58:06,479
the flawed study and assessment as it is

4410
03:58:06,479 --> 03:58:09,520
now given uh all the questions and

4411
03:58:09,520 --> 03:58:11,520
concerns expressed by the council and

4412
03:58:11,520 --> 03:58:13,439
community at the last meeting. I

4413
03:58:13,439 --> 03:58:15,600
strongly support the natural grass pilot

4414
03:58:15,600 --> 03:58:17,040
project and hope that staff will

4415
03:58:17,040 --> 03:58:19,359
carefully consider who they hire as

4416
03:58:19,359 --> 03:58:21,520
natural grass consultant. I'd love to

4417
03:58:21,520 --> 03:58:23,199
know the name of the aronomist who

4418
03:58:23,199 --> 03:58:25,920
consulted with staff. I don't know where

4419
03:58:25,920 --> 03:58:28,319
evidence of less shedding with newer

4420
03:58:28,319 --> 03:58:31,359
turfs comes from when current warranties

4421
03:58:31,359 --> 03:58:33,760
for quote newer artificial turf is

4422
03:58:33,760 --> 03:58:36,239
warranted to lose up to 50% of the blade

4423
03:58:36,239 --> 03:58:38,399
height with more limited warranty for

4424
03:58:38,399 --> 03:58:41,520
high high use areas. There's a field in

4425
03:58:41,520 --> 03:58:43,840
San Jose with infill-free plastic turf

4426
03:58:43,840 --> 03:58:45,760
and full chunks are shedding off of that

4427
03:58:45,760 --> 03:58:47,920
field over the past year since it was

4428
03:58:47,920 --> 03:58:51,600
installed. So newer isn't always better.

4429
03:58:51,600 --> 03:58:54,080
Cork infill still gets hot. Please

4430
03:58:54,080 --> 03:58:55,920
install heat monitors on all of these

4431
03:58:55,920 --> 03:58:58,239
fields for player safety and install

4432
03:58:58,239 --> 03:59:00,000
signs that better inform players and

4433
03:59:00,000 --> 03:59:02,000
parents about the artificial turf health

4434
03:59:02,000 --> 03:59:06,479
concerns. Your time is up.

4435
03:59:06,479 --> 03:59:12,309
Our next speaker is Susan H.

4436
03:59:12,319 --> 03:59:14,720
» Good evening. I'm Susan Hinton, chair of

4437
03:59:14,720 --> 03:59:17,040
the Sierra Club Loma Pria Plastic

4438
03:59:17,040 --> 03:59:19,520
Pollution Prevention Committee. I want

4439
03:59:19,520 --> 03:59:22,080
to be forthright. Today we face a

4440
03:59:22,080 --> 03:59:24,399
climate crisis that is also a global

4441
03:59:24,399 --> 03:59:27,040
health crisis. Here in California, we've

4442
03:59:27,040 --> 03:59:29,840
seen the impacts. Wildfires, floods,

4443
03:59:29,840 --> 03:59:32,319
droughts, and extreme heat. We're also

4444
03:59:32,319 --> 03:59:35,520
seeing more disease appear. Plastic is

4445
03:59:35,520 --> 03:59:38,319
an enabler of these impacts. By

4446
03:59:38,319 --> 03:59:40,560
installing acres of multi-layered

4447
03:59:40,560 --> 03:59:43,359
plastics, we are actively and knowingly

4448
03:59:43,359 --> 03:59:46,399
contributing to this global decline. We

4449
03:59:46,399 --> 03:59:48,800
should ask ourselves what kind of world

4450
03:59:48,800 --> 03:59:51,439
we want our children to inherit. One

4451
03:59:51,439 --> 03:59:53,520
where ecosystems are diminished and

4452
03:59:53,520 --> 03:59:55,760
public health is compromised or one

4453
03:59:55,760 --> 03:59:58,319
where they can run on living grass, hear

4454
03:59:58,319 --> 04:00:01,359
birds, and watch pollinators at work.

4455
04:00:01,359 --> 04:00:04,880
Biodiversity supports both mental and

4456
04:00:04,880 --> 04:00:08,160
physical health. The choice is clear. Do

4457
04:00:08,160 --> 04:00:10,960
the right thing. Install plants, not

4458
04:00:10,960 --> 04:00:14,960
plastic. Thank you.

4459
04:00:14,960 --> 04:00:20,150
Our next speaker is Courtney J.

4460
04:00:20,160 --> 04:00:21,840
» Good evening. My name is Courtney

4461
04:00:21,840 --> 04:00:24,239
Jansen. I am a soccer coach and both of

4462
04:00:24,239 --> 04:00:26,720
my kids play competitive soccer. They

4463
04:00:26,720 --> 04:00:28,720
have played on a pelto grass fields at

4464
04:00:28,720 --> 04:00:30,800
Levit and right now they practice on the

4465
04:00:30,800 --> 04:00:33,040
artificial turf field at Fair Oaks Park

4466
04:00:33,040 --> 04:00:36,000
in Sunnyville. That field is a Gen 4

4467
04:00:36,000 --> 04:00:37,840
field which means it has all of the

4468
04:00:37,840 --> 04:00:39,359
improvements that were discussed today

4469
04:00:39,359 --> 04:00:41,920
by council members and in reports. And

4470
04:00:41,920 --> 04:00:45,199
let me tell you, it sucks. I have a long

4471
04:00:45,199 --> 04:00:46,720
list of reasons for why, but I'm going

4472
04:00:46,720 --> 04:00:48,960
to just pick two tonight. The first is

4473
04:00:48,960 --> 04:00:52,160
the infill. You heard organic infill.

4474
04:00:52,160 --> 04:00:55,040
Organic does not mean chemical free. It

4475
04:00:55,040 --> 04:00:57,120
means made of plants and then modified

4476
04:00:57,120 --> 04:00:59,120
to adapt. My kids come home from every

4477
04:00:59,120 --> 04:01:01,120
practice with their cleats and socks

4478
04:01:01,120 --> 04:01:03,120
with infill, which they then litter

4479
04:01:03,120 --> 04:01:05,760
around my house. Second, I heard a lot

4480
04:01:05,760 --> 04:01:07,520
of concern about artificial turf fields

4481
04:01:07,520 --> 04:01:09,600
being closed or not being closed. Fair

4482
04:01:09,600 --> 04:01:11,359
Oaks is closed right now for 6 to 8

4483
04:01:11,359 --> 04:01:13,359
weeks for renovations. So artificial

4484
04:01:13,359 --> 04:01:15,279
turf fields closed too. It's not just

4485
04:01:15,279 --> 04:01:17,359
grass. Please go with grass, not

4486
04:01:17,359 --> 04:01:21,520
artificial turf. Thank you.

4487
04:01:21,520 --> 04:01:28,630
>> Our next speaker is Ane D.

4488
04:01:28,640 --> 04:01:31,199
» Hi, my name is Anne Desai and I've been

4489
04:01:31,199 --> 04:01:33,600
a soccer player for 10 years. I'm urging

4490
04:01:33,600 --> 04:01:35,359
the city of Palo Alto to install

4491
04:01:35,359 --> 04:01:37,279
organically managed grass sports fields

4492
04:01:37,279 --> 04:01:39,359
and to replace the plastic at El Camino

4493
04:01:39,359 --> 04:01:42,000
Park with grass. While I do appreciate

4494
04:01:42,000 --> 04:01:43,680
the studies conducted by the council

4495
04:01:43,680 --> 04:01:45,920
members about the environmental impacts,

4496
04:01:45,920 --> 04:01:48,000
we have all collectively failed to

4497
04:01:48,000 --> 04:01:51,680
address the 58% increase of injury that

4498
04:01:51,680 --> 04:01:54,720
artificial turf has. I too have rolled

4499
04:01:54,720 --> 04:01:57,520
my ankles, broken my ankles, seen my

4500
04:01:57,520 --> 04:01:59,600
brother break his tibia, and witnessed

4501
04:01:59,600 --> 04:02:01,840
my teammates literally lose their soccer

4502
04:02:01,840 --> 04:02:03,760
scholarships because they've torn their

4503
04:02:03,760 --> 04:02:06,720
ACL's on artificial turf in the

4504
04:02:06,720 --> 04:02:08,239
wintertime.

4505
04:02:08,239 --> 04:02:10,239
All of the proponents of artificial turf

4506
04:02:10,239 --> 04:02:12,239
today have claimed that grass fields

4507
04:02:12,239 --> 04:02:14,000
have not been properly maintained, and

4508
04:02:14,000 --> 04:02:15,840
that is the root of the problem.

4509
04:02:15,840 --> 04:02:17,279
Speaking with my teammates and other

4510
04:02:17,279 --> 04:02:19,120
athletes, the general consensus is that

4511
04:02:19,120 --> 04:02:20,640
we would rather play on a

4512
04:02:20,640 --> 04:02:22,800
well-maintained grass field rather than

4513
04:02:22,800 --> 04:02:25,040
an artificial turf one. I believe that

4514
04:02:25,040 --> 04:02:26,880
the city of Palo Alto should focus more

4515
04:02:26,880 --> 04:02:28,880
on better maintaining its grass fields

4516
04:02:28,880 --> 04:02:30,560
rather than pushing this false narrative

4517
04:02:30,560 --> 04:02:32,479
that artificial turf is better. Thank

4518
04:02:32,479 --> 04:02:32,720
you.

4519
04:02:32,720 --> 04:02:35,910
>> Your time is up. Our next speaker is

4520
04:02:35,910 --> 04:02:35,920
» Your time is up. Our next speaker is

4521
04:02:35,920 --> 04:02:45,110
Sue.

4522
04:02:45,120 --> 04:02:46,800
» Sue, you should be able to unmute

4523
04:02:46,800 --> 04:02:51,030
yourself and speak.

4524
04:02:51,040 --> 04:02:52,960
» Uh, tonight I would like to present you

4525
04:02:52,960 --> 04:02:54,880
with one important fact about artificial

4526
04:02:54,880 --> 04:02:57,600
turf fields and cancer rates among young

4527
04:02:57,600 --> 04:03:00,160
people in Western democracies.

4528
04:03:00,160 --> 04:03:01,920
The countries that are most likely to

4529
04:03:01,920 --> 04:03:04,800
have both relatively low youth cancer

4530
04:03:04,800 --> 04:03:07,279
rates and relatively few artificial turf

4531
04:03:07,279 --> 04:03:09,359
fields for youth sports are the

4532
04:03:09,359 --> 04:03:12,000
following. Greece, low childhood cancer

4533
04:03:12,000 --> 04:03:13,840
incidents and very limited artificial

4534
04:03:13,840 --> 04:03:16,160
turf infrastructure compared to Northern

4535
04:03:16,160 --> 04:03:18,960
Europe. Ireland, low childhood cancer

4536
04:03:18,960 --> 04:03:20,560
incidents and a strong preference for

4537
04:03:20,560 --> 04:03:23,520
natural grass in schools and clubs with

4538
04:03:23,520 --> 04:03:25,680
relatively few artificial fields per

4539
04:03:25,680 --> 04:03:28,239
capita. Sweden and Norway both have

4540
04:03:28,239 --> 04:03:30,640
relatively low youth cancer incidents

4541
04:03:30,640 --> 04:03:32,960
compared to the US and both also have

4542
04:03:32,960 --> 04:03:34,960
relatively few artificial turf fields

4543
04:03:34,960 --> 04:03:37,439
for youth sports especially compared to

4544
04:03:37,439 --> 04:03:40,479
the US. The most recent global data show

4545
04:03:40,479 --> 04:03:43,439
that youth cancer incidence is higher in

4546
04:03:43,439 --> 04:03:45,600
the US than in the European Union as a

4547
04:03:45,600 --> 04:03:48,160
whole. Certainly correlation is not

4548
04:03:48,160 --> 04:03:50,239
causation but it is an important

4549
04:03:50,239 --> 04:03:52,720
correlation to take note of. Cigarette

4550
04:03:52,720 --> 04:03:54,560
companies used to claim that smoking was

4551
04:03:54,560 --> 04:03:56,560
safe even

4552
04:03:56,560 --> 04:03:58,319
are using doctors and smokers

4553
04:03:58,319 --> 04:04:00,160
testimonies and so-called science to

4554
04:04:00,160 --> 04:04:02,000
reassure the public. But we all know

4555
04:04:02,000 --> 04:04:02,479
what happened.

4556
04:04:02,479 --> 04:04:03,590
>> Your time is up.

4557
04:04:03,590 --> 04:04:03,600
» Your time is up.

4558
04:04:03,600 --> 04:04:06,790
>> Okay, that's it.

4559
04:04:06,790 --> 04:04:06,800
» Okay, that's it.

4560
04:04:06,800 --> 04:04:14,550
>> Our next speaker is Shrui G.

4561
04:04:14,560 --> 04:04:16,720
» Good evening uh mayor and uh council

4562
04:04:16,720 --> 04:04:19,040
members. I'm a palata resident, a mom to

4563
04:04:19,040 --> 04:04:21,199
a six-year-old who plays au soccer and a

4564
04:04:21,199 --> 04:04:23,120
volunteer with mothers up front and I

4565
04:04:23,120 --> 04:04:24,960
support for natural grass grass at

4566
04:04:24,960 --> 04:04:26,960
Elmeino Park. I want to address the

4567
04:04:26,960 --> 04:04:28,800
claim that PAS free or infill-free

4568
04:04:28,800 --> 04:04:30,479
artificial turf is good enough even

4569
04:04:30,479 --> 04:04:32,800
without PAS artificial turf is still a

4570
04:04:32,800 --> 04:04:35,359
plastic system that heats up sheds plus

4571
04:04:35,359 --> 04:04:37,359
microplastics and sends runoff into our

4572
04:04:37,359 --> 04:04:39,600
stormwater system ultimately towards

4573
04:04:39,600 --> 04:04:41,359
bailance one of our most sensitive

4574
04:04:41,359 --> 04:04:43,840
ecosystems. I also want to respond to

4575
04:04:43,840 --> 04:04:45,840
some of the concerns about year- round

4576
04:04:45,840 --> 04:04:48,399
soccer and mental health. Soccer is not

4577
04:04:48,399 --> 04:04:50,080
a sport that's just played in America.

4578
04:04:50,080 --> 04:04:51,760
It's played around the world and at the

4579
04:04:51,760 --> 04:04:53,600
highest level under FIFA and in leagues

4580
04:04:53,600 --> 04:04:56,160
like La Liga. The best players train and

4581
04:04:56,160 --> 04:04:58,160
compete on natural grass. I agree with

4582
04:04:58,160 --> 04:05:00,640
my fellow commenter previously AI who

4583
04:05:00,640 --> 04:05:02,640
mentioned about uh you know playing on

4584
04:05:02,640 --> 04:05:04,399
natural grass even in rain because those

4585
04:05:04,399 --> 04:05:05,920
fields are well designed and well

4586
04:05:05,920 --> 04:05:08,000
drained. So if families really want to

4587
04:05:08,000 --> 04:05:09,760
raise athletes in PaloAlto, we should

4588
04:05:09,760 --> 04:05:12,319
let kids play the way elite athletes

4589
04:05:12,319 --> 04:05:14,560
actually play on natural grass. This is

4590
04:05:14,560 --> 04:05:16,720
the most responsible long-term choice

4591
04:05:16,720 --> 04:05:19,840
for kids health and palo's values. Thank

4592
04:05:19,840 --> 04:05:21,600
you.

4593
04:05:21,600 --> 04:05:32,309
>> Our next speaker is Nick S.

4594
04:05:32,319 --> 04:05:34,800
» Hi there. I'm a Palo Alto resident, uh,

4595
04:05:34,800 --> 04:05:37,760
father of two who, uh, frequently use

4596
04:05:37,760 --> 04:05:40,239
the turf fields. I'm also, uh, in the

4597
04:05:40,239 --> 04:05:42,000
adult soccer league that uses the turf

4598
04:05:42,000 --> 04:05:44,080
fields. Uh, currently there are just no

4599
04:05:44,080 --> 04:05:47,359
substitutes for those. The grass fields,

4600
04:05:47,359 --> 04:05:48,960
uh, the previous caller was saying we

4601
04:05:48,960 --> 04:05:51,199
should play on grass. If we had super

4602
04:05:51,199 --> 04:05:54,000
nice grass fields like uh, Barcelona or

4603
04:05:54,000 --> 04:05:55,600
Real Madrid, that would be great, but

4604
04:05:55,600 --> 04:05:58,560
they do not exist. Um the turf fields

4605
04:05:58,560 --> 04:06:01,279
are invaluable for offering playing

4606
04:06:01,279 --> 04:06:04,000
time, the durability and just the

4607
04:06:04,000 --> 04:06:07,279
overall surface. It's it's better and uh

4608
04:06:07,279 --> 04:06:09,680
I think fewer injuries occur. The turf

4609
04:06:09,680 --> 04:06:12,399
field or the the natural grass fields uh

4610
04:06:12,399 --> 04:06:15,120
in Palo Alto are quite holy and ready.

4611
04:06:15,120 --> 04:06:17,199
Uh so I think it would be a travesty if

4612
04:06:17,199 --> 04:06:21,040
you removed the turf fields.

4613
04:06:21,040 --> 04:06:23,760
Our

4614
04:06:23,760 --> 04:06:31,189
next speaker is Vivvec K.

4615
04:06:31,199 --> 04:06:34,160
Hi, my name is Nha. I am a PaloAlto

4616
04:06:34,160 --> 04:06:37,120
resident and I play soccer for Palo Alto

4617
04:06:37,120 --> 04:06:39,920
soccer Club. I'm here tonight uh in

4618
04:06:39,920 --> 04:06:42,960
favor of the El Camino soccer field

4619
04:06:42,960 --> 04:06:46,000
remaining as a synthetic turf field.

4620
04:06:46,000 --> 04:06:47,760
Every single day I look forward to

4621
04:06:47,760 --> 04:06:49,680
having soccer practice. And no matter

4622
04:06:49,680 --> 04:06:52,239
what, I feel great after practice.

4623
04:06:52,239 --> 04:06:54,160
Without the turf field at El Camino

4624
04:06:54,160 --> 04:06:56,560
Park, my teammates and I will not be

4625
04:06:56,560 --> 04:06:58,800
able to enjoy the sport that is so dear

4626
04:06:58,800 --> 04:07:01,520
to us due to a lack of fields and grass

4627
04:07:01,520 --> 04:07:04,080
field closure in the winter months. The

4628
04:07:04,080 --> 04:07:06,960
turf fields in Palo Alto, especially El

4629
04:07:06,960 --> 04:07:12,080
Camino, is are invaluable to the entire

4630
04:07:12,080 --> 04:07:16,640
soccer community. Thank you. Our

4631
04:07:16,640 --> 04:07:22,309
next speaker is Ruchi R.

4632
04:07:22,319 --> 04:07:24,800
» Hi, my name is Ruchi R. I'm a Girl Scout

4633
04:07:24,800 --> 04:07:26,960
and also a soccer player and I'm in

4634
04:07:26,960 --> 04:07:30,479
support of um having real grass. While

4635
04:07:30,479 --> 04:07:32,319
it's true that artificial turf has

4636
04:07:32,319 --> 04:07:34,800
improved compared to older versions,

4637
04:07:34,800 --> 04:07:37,760
improved doesn't mean still safe. Uh

4638
04:07:37,760 --> 04:07:39,760
it's still plastic, still contains

4639
04:07:39,760 --> 04:07:41,600
chemical additives, and still sheds

4640
04:07:41,600 --> 04:07:44,560
microplastic. It also still heats up far

4641
04:07:44,560 --> 04:07:47,120
more than natural grass. All of this

4642
04:07:47,120 --> 04:07:49,279
means that it's not safe for soccer

4643
04:07:49,279 --> 04:07:51,600
players and it can create a lot more

4644
04:07:51,600 --> 04:07:53,600
injuries.

4645
04:07:53,600 --> 04:07:56,239
We should try to support the children

4646
04:07:56,239 --> 04:07:58,960
and our community and help them be able

4647
04:07:58,960 --> 04:08:01,359
to reach their full potential and that's

4648
04:08:01,359 --> 04:08:04,479
without injuries. So, I support having

4649
04:08:04,479 --> 04:08:07,199
real grass. Thank you.

4650
04:08:07,199 --> 04:08:08,960
Our

4651
04:08:08,960 --> 04:08:18,550
next speaker is Wen Jing.

4652
04:08:18,560 --> 04:08:20,960
Good evening, council members. I'm a

4653
04:08:20,960 --> 04:08:23,520
parent who lives in Palato and I have

4654
04:08:23,520 --> 04:08:26,560
two and I have two kids who both play

4655
04:08:26,560 --> 04:08:28,479
soccer here.

4656
04:08:28,479 --> 04:08:31,439
Actually, my oldest kid has played the

4657
04:08:31,439 --> 04:08:35,439
soccer for more than 10 years. I I I

4658
04:08:35,439 --> 04:08:37,920
appreciate the council's concern for

4659
04:08:37,920 --> 04:08:39,920
community health and the effort [snorts]

4660
04:08:39,920 --> 04:08:42,239
that went into improving fields like

4661
04:08:42,239 --> 04:08:44,399
Mayfield.

4662
04:08:44,399 --> 04:08:47,520
For by kids, soccer is where they run,

4663
04:08:47,520 --> 04:08:50,319
they breathe, and connect with friends.

4664
04:08:50,319 --> 04:08:53,199
When fields are unavailable, they don't

4665
04:08:53,199 --> 04:08:56,479
just lose practice, they lose joy and

4666
04:08:56,479 --> 04:08:58,880
routine. During the Mayfield

4667
04:08:58,880 --> 04:09:01,279
construction, children were pushed onto

4668
04:09:01,279 --> 04:09:04,160
extremely small, crowded spaces. They

4669
04:09:04,160 --> 04:09:06,800
were frustrated, bumping into each other

4670
04:09:06,800 --> 04:09:09,840
and unable to truly play and enjoy

4671
04:09:09,840 --> 04:09:13,520
soccer. That experience showed us how

4672
04:09:13,520 --> 04:09:16,560
long construction and the field and the

4673
04:09:16,560 --> 04:09:20,160
field closures affect families. Grass

4674
04:09:20,160 --> 04:09:20,960
fields can be

4675
04:09:20,960 --> 04:09:21,990
>> your time is up.

4676
04:09:21,990 --> 04:09:22,000
» your time is up.

4677
04:09:22,000 --> 04:09:25,030
>> Warm and slippery

4678
04:09:25,030 --> 04:09:25,040
» Warm and slippery

4679
04:09:25,040 --> 04:09:27,439
and sometimes increase the risk of

4680
04:09:27,439 --> 04:09:29,840
injuries.

4681
04:09:29,840 --> 04:09:33,189
>> Okay, I think that's Thank you.

4682
04:09:33,189 --> 04:09:33,199
» Okay, I think that's Thank you.

4683
04:09:33,199 --> 04:09:38,469
>> Our next speaker is Roham.

4684
04:09:38,479 --> 04:09:40,000
» Hi, good evening. My name is Rohan

4685
04:09:40,000 --> 04:09:42,640
Zammanian. I'm a physician and a father

4686
04:09:42,640 --> 04:09:45,040
of uh two children who are active soccer

4687
04:09:45,040 --> 04:09:47,279
players and have used all the fields in

4688
04:09:47,279 --> 04:09:50,399
Palo Alto. Um, as a physician, I

4689
04:09:50,399 --> 04:09:52,000
understand that there are health risks

4690
04:09:52,000 --> 04:09:55,199
to microplast plastics, to individuals,

4691
04:09:55,199 --> 04:09:57,279
and also to the community and the

4692
04:09:57,279 --> 04:10:00,000
environment. But the reality of it is

4693
04:10:00,000 --> 04:10:01,600
that all the comments that have been

4694
04:10:01,600 --> 04:10:05,040
made to some extent in uh associating

4695
04:10:05,040 --> 04:10:07,600
increased risks of cancer to just purely

4696
04:10:07,600 --> 04:10:10,880
microp plastics is is confounded. So

4697
04:10:10,880 --> 04:10:13,760
association is not causation. The second

4698
04:10:13,760 --> 04:10:15,920
thing I want to say as a physician is

4699
04:10:15,920 --> 04:10:18,960
that we all take actions that are risk

4700
04:10:18,960 --> 04:10:21,279
that have risks and have benefits. And

4701
04:10:21,279 --> 04:10:23,600
so we as parents of children who may

4702
04:10:23,600 --> 04:10:25,920
want to continue to play on turf

4703
04:10:25,920 --> 04:10:27,920
understand the risk of that and we'll do

4704
04:10:27,920 --> 04:10:30,720
our best to mitigate. So I commend the

4705
04:10:30,720 --> 04:10:33,120
community coming together. I appreciate

4706
04:10:33,120 --> 04:10:35,040
all the viewpoints that have been

4707
04:10:35,040 --> 04:10:37,600
expressed. I am for retaining and

4708
04:10:37,600 --> 04:10:42,309
improving turf fields in PaloAlto.

4709
04:10:42,319 --> 04:10:43,920
And that concludes public comment on

4710
04:10:43,920 --> 04:10:46,239
action item 13.

4711
04:10:46,239 --> 04:10:47,590
>> All right. Well, thank you, Madame

4712
04:10:47,590 --> 04:10:47,600
» All right. Well, thank you, Madame

4713
04:10:47,600 --> 04:10:50,640
Clerk, and uh I want to thank all of the

4714
04:10:50,640 --> 04:10:54,080
42 commenters for uh taking the time to

4715
04:10:54,080 --> 04:10:56,399
address us tonight. And hopefully for

4716
04:10:56,399 --> 04:10:58,239
some of the younger ones, they can sort

4717
04:10:58,239 --> 04:11:00,560
of see how communities make decisions

4718
04:11:00,560 --> 04:11:02,800
and struggle with tough issues. And I

4719
04:11:02,800 --> 04:11:04,000
want to commend you. I think this was

4720
04:11:04,000 --> 04:11:06,080
the best behaved group of large group of

4721
04:11:06,080 --> 04:11:08,239
public commenters we've had. Uh there

4722
04:11:08,239 --> 04:11:10,319
weren't outbursts. You all took turns.

4723
04:11:10,319 --> 04:11:12,960
So thank you for uh following the rules.

4724
04:11:12,960 --> 04:11:14,479
Uh

4725
04:11:14,479 --> 04:11:16,960
okay. So with that I'll bring it back to

4726
04:11:16,960 --> 04:11:20,239
the deis uh for any additional uh

4727
04:11:20,239 --> 04:11:28,229
comment from my colleagues.

4728
04:11:28,239 --> 04:11:30,479
All right folks I know some of you have

4729
04:11:30,479 --> 04:11:37,670
comments.

4730
04:11:37,680 --> 04:11:40,479
Well, in the meantime, I can ask Ah, we

4731
04:11:40,479 --> 04:11:42,560
have one. All right, Council Member

4732
04:11:42,560 --> 04:11:44,880
Rectal.

4733
04:11:44,880 --> 04:11:48,389
>> Yes, I'll take a shot. Um, I mean, youth

4734
04:11:48,389 --> 04:11:48,399
» Yes, I'll take a shot. Um, I mean, youth

4735
04:11:48,399 --> 04:11:50,399
sports, I think, are very important. It

4736
04:11:50,399 --> 04:11:53,040
helps with mental health, helps with

4737
04:11:53,040 --> 04:11:55,040
reducing anxiety, reducing depression. I

4738
04:11:55,040 --> 04:11:57,600
think there's so many good uh benefits

4739
04:11:57,600 --> 04:12:00,239
to it. And then the physical activity is

4740
04:12:00,239 --> 04:12:02,080
good for the growing body too. So, I

4741
04:12:02,080 --> 04:12:03,920
think youth sports is is very very

4742
04:12:03,920 --> 04:12:07,600
important. uh you know the best option

4743
04:12:07,600 --> 04:12:08,960
would be to have some type of natural

4744
04:12:08,960 --> 04:12:11,199
turf field but right now I don't think

4745
04:12:11,199 --> 04:12:13,279
that exists for some high use field like

4746
04:12:13,279 --> 04:12:15,359
El Camino. So I think we really do need

4747
04:12:15,359 --> 04:12:19,600
to push for a a pilot program natural

4748
04:12:19,600 --> 04:12:20,960
turf pilot program but that's going to

4749
04:12:20,960 --> 04:12:22,160
take a while to learn get up the

4750
04:12:22,160 --> 04:12:24,399
learning curve and we don't have time to

4751
04:12:24,399 --> 04:12:26,560
go through that learning curve while the

4752
04:12:26,560 --> 04:12:28,000
kids are sitting there waiting for the

4753
04:12:28,000 --> 04:12:29,680
grass to grow. So, I think in the short

4754
04:12:29,680 --> 04:12:31,520
term, we unfortunately have no option

4755
04:12:31,520 --> 04:12:33,760
but to go to the the artificial turf

4756
04:12:33,760 --> 04:12:35,840
field. There's been a lot of talk about

4757
04:12:35,840 --> 04:12:37,760
plastic exposure. You know, it's a crazy

4758
04:12:37,760 --> 04:12:39,120
world right now. There's plastic

4759
04:12:39,120 --> 04:12:40,880
everywhere, right? You go to the grocery

4760
04:12:40,880 --> 04:12:44,479
store, everything's in plastic. Uh, you

4761
04:12:44,479 --> 04:12:46,399
know, every toothbrush has plastic

4762
04:12:46,399 --> 04:12:47,520
bristles that you put in your mouth

4763
04:12:47,520 --> 04:12:50,560
every night. We have just driving in a

4764
04:12:50,560 --> 04:12:53,279
car gets exposure to microlastics.

4765
04:12:53,279 --> 04:12:56,160
uh you know uh rip vegetables like

4766
04:12:56,160 --> 04:12:58,960
carrots absorb microplastics and when

4767
04:12:58,960 --> 04:13:00,560
you even if you wash them off it's still

4768
04:13:00,560 --> 04:13:02,800
inside the carrot and same we have

4769
04:13:02,800 --> 04:13:05,359
microplastics all over the ocean. You

4770
04:13:05,359 --> 04:13:07,439
heat your fish there's microplastics in

4771
04:13:07,439 --> 04:13:10,880
it and so we have this huge microplastic

4772
04:13:10,880 --> 04:13:14,159
exposure and a turf field will probably

4773
04:13:14,159 --> 04:13:16,399
have some microplastic exposure but

4774
04:13:16,399 --> 04:13:17,920
there's no silver bullet. Even

4775
04:13:17,920 --> 04:13:19,680
eliminating that turf field still means

4776
04:13:19,680 --> 04:13:22,560
you're going to have a huge amount of of

4777
04:13:22,560 --> 04:13:25,520
of microplastic exposure. And so now

4778
04:13:25,520 --> 04:13:27,920
there's this procon. If you reduce your

4779
04:13:27,920 --> 04:13:29,680
microplastic exposure a little, but you

4780
04:13:29,680 --> 04:13:32,000
give up the benefits of youth sports, I

4781
04:13:32,000 --> 04:13:34,319
think that's a bad trade. So I I support

4782
04:13:34,319 --> 04:13:36,560
in the in the short term going to El

4783
04:13:36,560 --> 04:13:40,080
Camino putting the new turf in, which is

4784
04:13:40,080 --> 04:13:43,840
again, as Council Member Bert mentioned,

4785
04:13:43,840 --> 04:13:46,399
it has organic cork infield. would be

4786
04:13:46,399 --> 04:13:48,800
much cooler, much safer to people, much

4787
04:13:48,800 --> 04:13:51,600
safer for the environment. I think it's

4788
04:13:51,600 --> 04:13:53,520
so much better than we had even a few

4789
04:13:53,520 --> 04:13:55,760
years ago. So, I think even though it's

4790
04:13:55,760 --> 04:13:57,040
not perfect, I think that's the best

4791
04:13:57,040 --> 04:14:02,149
option right now.

4792
04:14:02,159 --> 04:14:04,080
» Thank you, Council Member Rectal. Can I

4793
04:14:04,080 --> 04:14:06,399
just ask a quick question of staff if

4794
04:14:06,399 --> 04:14:08,720
you know um when we think about where

4795
04:14:08,720 --> 04:14:11,120
youth play um they play at their schools

4796
04:14:11,120 --> 04:14:12,239
a lot and we [clears throat] are

4797
04:14:12,239 --> 04:14:13,840
obviously as a city aren't responsible

4798
04:14:13,840 --> 04:14:16,319
for those fields but do we know how many

4799
04:14:16,319 --> 04:14:18,800
of the PA USD fields are turf because

4800
04:14:18,800 --> 04:14:20,800
I'm under the impression that most if

4801
04:14:20,800 --> 04:14:23,920
not all are

4802
04:14:23,920 --> 04:14:25,279
if we don't know it's okay I was just

4803
04:14:25,279 --> 04:14:26,960
curious

4804
04:14:26,960 --> 04:14:29,110
>> um are you asking if they're artificial

4805
04:14:29,110 --> 04:14:29,120
» um are you asking if they're artificial

4806
04:14:29,120 --> 04:14:31,040
turf or natural artificial

4807
04:14:31,040 --> 04:14:32,149
>> synthetic artificial

4808
04:14:32,149 --> 04:14:32,159
» synthetic artificial

4809
04:14:32,159 --> 04:14:35,189
>> I don't have an answer to that. I

4810
04:14:35,189 --> 04:14:35,199
» I don't have an answer to that. I

4811
04:14:35,199 --> 04:14:36,960
believe at the high school level is

4812
04:14:36,960 --> 04:14:39,359
where there are some, but I don't know

4813
04:14:39,359 --> 04:14:40,080
how many.

4814
04:14:40,080 --> 04:14:41,429
>> Yeah, that that's what I was thinking

4815
04:14:41,429 --> 04:14:41,439
» Yeah, that that's what I was thinking

4816
04:14:41,439 --> 04:14:43,680
about. So, all right. Thank you. Um,

4817
04:14:43,680 --> 04:14:45,760
Council Member Lithcott HS.

4818
04:14:45,760 --> 04:14:47,510
>> Thank you, Madam Mayor. I want to first

4819
04:14:47,510 --> 04:14:47,520
» Thank you, Madam Mayor. I want to first

4820
04:14:47,520 --> 04:14:48,960
affiliate myself with the terrific

4821
04:14:48,960 --> 04:14:50,720
comments of my colleague, uh, Council

4822
04:14:50,720 --> 04:14:52,960
Member Rectal. I also want to say that

4823
04:14:52,960 --> 04:14:54,960
I, like a number of people on the day,

4824
04:14:54,960 --> 04:14:57,120
am originally a Midwesterner. Raise your

4825
04:14:57,120 --> 04:14:59,600
hand. There's four of us here who grew

4826
04:14:59,600 --> 04:15:01,680
up in the Midwest. And for the four of

4827
04:15:01,680 --> 04:15:03,359
us here who grew up in the Midwest, we

4828
04:15:03,359 --> 04:15:05,439
had snow that fell starting in October

4829
04:15:05,439 --> 04:15:08,479
or November and it lasted until April.

4830
04:15:08,479 --> 04:15:10,720
And that is why California sports teams

4831
04:15:10,720 --> 04:15:12,640
are better than those sports teams

4832
04:15:12,640 --> 04:15:15,279
because we can practice year round here.

4833
04:15:15,279 --> 04:15:17,359
And I have come to appreciate I I rode

4834
04:15:17,359 --> 04:15:20,319
crew for Stanford my freshman year here.

4835
04:15:20,319 --> 04:15:22,239
Came from the great state of Wisconsin.

4836
04:15:22,239 --> 04:15:23,840
Back east and in the Midwest, if you're

4837
04:15:23,840 --> 04:15:26,319
rowing crew, you row in an inside in a

4838
04:15:26,319 --> 04:15:28,080
tank during the winter. And in

4839
04:15:28,080 --> 04:15:30,640
California, you row in the bay.

4840
04:15:30,640 --> 04:15:32,640
And so, you know, having had that

4841
04:15:32,640 --> 04:15:34,319
personal experience, having listened to

4842
04:15:34,319 --> 04:15:37,520
countless youth and parents and coaches

4843
04:15:37,520 --> 04:15:40,239
and adults who play come in and tell us,

4844
04:15:40,239 --> 04:15:41,920
"This is something I do year round. It's

4845
04:15:41,920 --> 04:15:43,359
good for my body. It's good for my

4846
04:15:43,359 --> 04:15:47,359
mental health." Um, I have I I really do

4847
04:15:47,359 --> 04:15:50,000
appreciate that this is uh the ability

4848
04:15:50,000 --> 04:15:53,600
to be out there 24/7, 365 is a

4849
04:15:53,600 --> 04:15:55,920
competitive advantage for Californians.

4850
04:15:55,920 --> 04:15:58,319
It is what catapults us to the

4851
04:15:58,319 --> 04:15:59,760
scholarship opportunities, to the

4852
04:15:59,760 --> 04:16:02,080
admission opportunities, to the various

4853
04:16:02,080 --> 04:16:04,479
uh advanced leagues. It's it's part of

4854
04:16:04,479 --> 04:16:07,760
who we are. And um so having affiliated

4855
04:16:07,760 --> 04:16:09,920
myself with the comments about the

4856
04:16:09,920 --> 04:16:13,439
relative um uh existence of

4857
04:16:13,439 --> 04:16:15,279
microplastics from playing on a soccer

4858
04:16:15,279 --> 04:16:17,760
field versus the microplastics that are

4859
04:16:17,760 --> 04:16:19,520
there in our lives in general, which we

4860
04:16:19,520 --> 04:16:23,600
we all understand is a uh an a concern

4861
04:16:23,600 --> 04:16:25,279
we are better and better understanding

4862
04:16:25,279 --> 04:16:28,960
all the time. I am persuaded that um

4863
04:16:28,960 --> 04:16:31,040
eliminating these turf fields and

4864
04:16:31,040 --> 04:16:34,000
returning to natural grass um without

4865
04:16:34,000 --> 04:16:36,159
better without better natural grass

4866
04:16:36,159 --> 04:16:37,680
solutions that allow for year- round

4867
04:16:37,680 --> 04:16:40,159
play um is a step backwards when it

4868
04:16:40,159 --> 04:16:41,760
comes to our health and mental health.

4869
04:16:41,760 --> 04:16:50,149
So that's how I'll be voting tonight.

4870
04:16:50,159 --> 04:16:52,560
» Vice Mayor Stone.

4871
04:16:52,560 --> 04:16:54,309
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. And I I I want

4872
04:16:54,309 --> 04:16:54,319
» Thank you, Madame Mayor. And I I I want

4873
04:16:54,319 --> 04:16:57,279
to begin by uh sincerely thanking the ad

4874
04:16:57,279 --> 04:16:59,840
hoc committee for the time, the care,

4875
04:16:59,840 --> 04:17:01,760
the ser the seriousness you brought to

4876
04:17:01,760 --> 04:17:03,840
this work. I know this is an incredibly

4877
04:17:03,840 --> 04:17:06,640
difficult Simon and you listen to

4878
04:17:06,640 --> 04:17:09,439
competing priorities and you produced a

4879
04:17:09,439 --> 04:17:11,040
recommendation that I think really

4880
04:17:11,040 --> 04:17:13,760
reflects a real desire to meet our

4881
04:17:13,760 --> 04:17:16,319
community's needs. also want to

4882
04:17:16,319 --> 04:17:18,080
acknowledge the many parents and and

4883
04:17:18,080 --> 04:17:20,000
coaches and young people who have spoken

4884
04:17:20,000 --> 04:17:22,399
about the importance of reliable

4885
04:17:22,399 --> 04:17:25,040
year-round access to fields.

4886
04:17:25,040 --> 04:17:27,359
The need is is real. It deserves to be

4887
04:17:27,359 --> 04:17:29,520
taken seriously. I also especially want

4888
04:17:29,520 --> 04:17:31,680
to acknowledge the the [clears throat]

4889
04:17:31,680 --> 04:17:35,520
young speakers tonight. I was incredibly

4890
04:17:35,520 --> 04:17:37,840
moved and impressed by your by your

4891
04:17:37,840 --> 04:17:39,920
comments and your words. I also I teach

4892
04:17:39,920 --> 04:17:43,279
high school during the day and uh I I

4893
04:17:43,279 --> 04:17:45,520
was just really impressed and also just

4894
04:17:45,520 --> 04:17:47,840
impressed by your ability to make your

4895
04:17:47,840 --> 04:17:50,399
argument without belittling or bullying

4896
04:17:50,399 --> 04:17:51,760
others. And sometimes you might see

4897
04:17:51,760 --> 04:17:53,840
adults do that. Don't do that. It's not

4898
04:17:53,840 --> 04:17:56,720
effective. Doesn't work on us. It

4899
04:17:56,720 --> 04:17:58,800
doesn't work on anybody. So keep doing

4900
04:17:58,800 --> 04:18:01,279
what you're doing. And you are just a

4901
04:18:01,279 --> 04:18:03,760
testament to young people and to to

4902
04:18:03,760 --> 04:18:06,000
soccer players all around. So I was

4903
04:18:06,000 --> 04:18:09,120
really impressed. Um,

4904
04:18:09,120 --> 04:18:12,720
now I'm going to give my position. No

4905
04:18:12,720 --> 04:18:14,640
need to boo me because you could already

4906
04:18:14,640 --> 04:18:16,800
tell the scoreboard you've already won

4907
04:18:16,800 --> 04:18:18,960
on this issue. But I'm going to explain

4908
04:18:18,960 --> 04:18:22,880
why after careful consideration, I can't

4909
04:18:22,880 --> 04:18:24,960
support the recommendation before us.

4910
04:18:24,960 --> 04:18:28,000
And and the primary reason is the Santa

4911
04:18:28,000 --> 04:18:30,319
Clair County Medical Association. They

4912
04:18:30,319 --> 04:18:33,040
represent over 4,000 physicians in our

4913
04:18:33,040 --> 04:18:36,080
county and they formally recommended

4914
04:18:36,080 --> 04:18:38,479
against the use of artificial turf on

4915
04:18:38,479 --> 04:18:40,640
sports fields and playgrounds and school

4916
04:18:40,640 --> 04:18:43,760
grounds uh in their December 4th email

4917
04:18:43,760 --> 04:18:46,159
to this to this council and it's in the

4918
04:18:46,159 --> 04:18:48,159
public record. Invite everybody to go

4919
04:18:48,159 --> 04:18:50,479
read it. And I just want to pause on

4920
04:18:50,479 --> 04:18:53,279
that for a moment because in my six

4921
04:18:53,279 --> 04:18:55,439
years on this council, I don't I don't

4922
04:18:55,439 --> 04:18:57,760
ever recall receiving a letter from the

4923
04:18:57,760 --> 04:19:00,159
Santa Clair County Medical Association

4924
04:19:00,159 --> 04:19:02,880
on any issue. This is not an

4925
04:19:02,880 --> 04:19:05,439
organization that weighs in lightly or

4926
04:19:05,439 --> 04:19:09,520
often or casually. And when they do, I

4927
04:19:09,520 --> 04:19:11,120
think we have an obligation to listen

4928
04:19:11,120 --> 04:19:13,439
because at at the end of the day, I'm

4929
04:19:13,439 --> 04:19:16,239
not a doctor or a scientist. This issue

4930
04:19:16,239 --> 04:19:18,399
is far more complex than simple field

4931
04:19:18,399 --> 04:19:20,960
access. I think it's a true public

4932
04:19:20,960 --> 04:19:23,040
health issue. And on this issue, I'm

4933
04:19:23,040 --> 04:19:25,840
going to defer to the health experts at

4934
04:19:25,840 --> 04:19:28,399
at the medical association. I found the

4935
04:19:28,399 --> 04:19:29,920
recommendation to be clear that

4936
04:19:29,920 --> 04:19:32,479
artificial turf is potentially harmful

4937
04:19:32,479 --> 04:19:34,720
to human health and the environment.

4938
04:19:34,720 --> 04:19:36,960
Natural grass is safer. It's a more

4939
04:19:36,960 --> 04:19:39,279
sustainable alternative, especially for

4940
04:19:39,279 --> 04:19:41,680
children. And their position was not

4941
04:19:41,680 --> 04:19:44,800
ideological ideological. It was grounded

4942
04:19:44,800 --> 04:19:47,600
in peer-reviewed research, life cycle

4943
04:19:47,600 --> 04:19:49,920
cost analysis, and a precautionary

4944
04:19:49,920 --> 04:19:53,680
public health framework. I won't restate

4945
04:19:53,680 --> 04:19:55,520
all the findings in that letter, but

4946
04:19:55,520 --> 04:19:57,600
again, invite you all to to read it.

4947
04:19:57,600 --> 04:19:59,120
It's in the public record from December

4948
04:19:59,120 --> 04:20:02,239
4th, 2025. [gasps] So, ultimately, my my

4949
04:20:02,239 --> 04:20:04,319
vote tonight is not against youth

4950
04:20:04,319 --> 04:20:06,720
sports. It's not against

4951
04:20:06,720 --> 04:20:09,920
access. I'm committed to dedicating all

4952
04:20:09,920 --> 04:20:12,000
the necessary resources to be able to

4953
04:20:12,000 --> 04:20:14,560
invest in natural grass fields that will

4954
04:20:14,560 --> 04:20:16,399
increase playable hours for our

4955
04:20:16,399 --> 04:20:19,760
community. According to our own uh our

4956
04:20:19,760 --> 04:20:22,560
own report, we have over 20 we have

4957
04:20:22,560 --> 04:20:25,279
about 20 fields that are severely

4958
04:20:25,279 --> 04:20:27,279
underutilized. I think we could be

4959
04:20:27,279 --> 04:20:30,239
dedicating these same resources to

4960
04:20:30,239 --> 04:20:32,720
finding ways to better utilize those

4961
04:20:32,720 --> 04:20:36,319
fields and and increase um increase

4962
04:20:36,319 --> 04:20:38,960
access to it.

4963
04:20:38,960 --> 04:20:42,159
I I ultimately don't think parks I I

4964
04:20:42,159 --> 04:20:43,680
think ultimately I think parks should be

4965
04:20:43,680 --> 04:20:45,920
places that promote public health, not

4966
04:20:45,920 --> 04:20:48,239
introduce new risks. And when our

4967
04:20:48,239 --> 04:20:49,840
county's doctors are telling us that a

4968
04:20:49,840 --> 04:20:53,120
proposed solution may do harm and offer

4969
04:20:53,120 --> 04:20:55,359
a clear alternative, I believe we have a

4970
04:20:55,359 --> 04:20:57,680
responsibility to choose that safer path

4971
04:20:57,680 --> 04:20:59,279
even when it's harder. And I I think

4972
04:20:59,279 --> 04:21:01,680
it's a false choice to say we are uh

4973
04:21:01,680 --> 04:21:04,640
that we're that we're choosing synthetic

4974
04:21:04,640 --> 04:21:08,399
turf and then youth sports over choose

4975
04:21:08,399 --> 04:21:11,920
natural grass. Um we are voting against

4976
04:21:11,920 --> 04:21:13,840
youth sports.

4977
04:21:13,840 --> 04:21:15,760
Sports will continue. I think we can

4978
04:21:15,760 --> 04:21:18,319
find better ways to be able to uh create

4979
04:21:18,319 --> 04:21:20,000
um create access to it. So for those

4980
04:21:20,000 --> 04:21:22,880
reasons and with respect for the work

4981
04:21:22,880 --> 04:21:24,640
done and the needs expressed can't

4982
04:21:24,640 --> 04:21:27,120
support the recommendation as proposed.

4983
04:21:27,120 --> 04:21:28,720
But again I can I can tell I'm in the

4984
04:21:28,720 --> 04:21:30,560
minority. So am looking forward to

4985
04:21:30,560 --> 04:21:34,479
finding ways that we can at least end

4986
04:21:34,479 --> 04:21:37,520
synthetic turf for future uses, truly

4987
04:21:37,520 --> 04:21:39,279
invest in these pilot programs and other

4988
04:21:39,279 --> 04:21:41,600
ways so we can make sure that this is

4989
04:21:41,600 --> 04:21:44,239
the last time that synthetic turf is is

4990
04:21:44,239 --> 04:21:46,239
used in PaloAlto and we can move towards

4991
04:21:46,239 --> 04:21:48,239
a more green sustainable solution in the

4992
04:21:48,239 --> 04:21:50,159
future.

4993
04:21:50,159 --> 04:21:52,070
>> Council member Lou,

4994
04:21:52,070 --> 04:21:52,080
» Council member Lou,

4995
04:21:52,080 --> 04:21:54,149
>> thank you. I ultimately align myself

4996
04:21:54,149 --> 04:21:54,159
» thank you. I ultimately align myself

4997
04:21:54,159 --> 04:21:56,960
with the ad hoc and comments from uh

4998
04:21:56,960 --> 04:22:01,040
council member lithotes and rectal.

4999
04:22:01,040 --> 04:22:05,120
I think it's clear that science is still

5000
04:22:05,120 --> 04:22:08,159
catching up to artificial turf fields.

5001
04:22:08,159 --> 04:22:12,000
Uh certainly there valid reasons to warn

5002
04:22:12,000 --> 04:22:15,520
or caution against this. There are other

5003
04:22:15,520 --> 04:22:19,176
recent studies and conclusions from uh

5004
04:22:19,176 --> 04:22:19,840
[clears throat]

5005
04:22:19,840 --> 04:22:23,279
uh groups including a recent study in

5006
04:22:23,279 --> 04:22:26,640
from the uh this is a m office of

5007
04:22:26,640 --> 04:22:28,800
environmental health hazard assessment

5008
04:22:28,800 --> 04:22:33,359
from California that uh draw much more

5009
04:22:33,359 --> 04:22:37,600
ambiguity and uh look at the mechanisms

5010
04:22:37,600 --> 04:22:40,239
from which you could actually expose

5011
04:22:40,239 --> 04:22:42,159
yourself to chemicals and microplastics

5012
04:22:42,159 --> 04:22:44,000
whether it's through inhalation

5013
04:22:44,000 --> 04:22:47,199
or ingestion or through skin contact.

5014
04:22:47,199 --> 04:22:49,920
And uh

5015
04:22:49,920 --> 04:22:51,680
the point is that there are other very

5016
04:22:51,680 --> 04:22:54,880
empirical studies that

5017
04:22:54,880 --> 04:22:56,960
ultimately show that we don't have a

5018
04:22:56,960 --> 04:23:00,640
clear conclusion and that some uh but

5019
04:23:00,640 --> 04:23:02,640
that some people do believe that there

5020
04:23:02,640 --> 04:23:05,920
is marginal risk. I think in the case

5021
04:23:05,920 --> 04:23:07,840
where the science around the actual

5022
04:23:07,840 --> 04:23:10,720
health impact is so unclear, we're

5023
04:23:10,720 --> 04:23:12,960
making a reasonable and prudent approach

5024
04:23:12,960 --> 04:23:15,439
that people can choose on the

5025
04:23:15,439 --> 04:23:17,840
environmental impact. The technology for

5026
04:23:17,840 --> 04:23:20,720
both natural grass and artificial turf

5027
04:23:20,720 --> 04:23:24,560
fields is improving uh seemingly uh more

5028
04:23:24,560 --> 04:23:26,720
quickly than I would have expected. And

5029
04:23:26,720 --> 04:23:29,600
so I think our approach to uh look

5030
04:23:29,600 --> 04:23:32,000
carefully at Cberly and run pilots in

5031
04:23:32,000 --> 04:23:35,199
the meantime is uh a really considered

5032
04:23:35,199 --> 04:23:39,279
and thoughtful option. Um I agree that

5033
04:23:39,279 --> 04:23:41,199
in the long term we'd love to have

5034
04:23:41,199 --> 04:23:43,040
highquality natural grass fields

5035
04:23:43,040 --> 04:23:46,880
everywhere. Uh and uh I don't see this

5036
04:23:46,880 --> 04:23:50,319
vote as really uh stopping us from

5037
04:23:50,319 --> 04:23:52,000
achieving that long-term vision in any

5038
04:23:52,000 --> 04:23:55,279
way. So I'd also be happy to make a

5039
04:23:55,279 --> 04:24:00,229
motion. It seems like the time.

5040
04:24:00,239 --> 04:24:02,319
» Okay. Yeah.

5041
04:24:02,319 --> 04:24:03,510
>> Yeah. I'll just make a quick comment

5042
04:24:03,510 --> 04:24:03,520
» Yeah. I'll just make a quick comment

5043
04:24:03,520 --> 04:24:05,359
before I'll return to you for that. Um

5044
04:24:05,359 --> 04:24:09,359
since there are no other lights on. Um

5045
04:24:09,359 --> 04:24:11,199
it's funny, Council Member Rectal, I

5046
04:24:11,199 --> 04:24:12,800
think you took the words right out of my

5047
04:24:12,800 --> 04:24:16,239
mouth in terms of uh I I agree with you.

5048
04:24:16,239 --> 04:24:19,120
I mean, plastic is not ideal and it's

5049
04:24:19,120 --> 04:24:23,120
not even good. Um but it's everywhere.

5050
04:24:23,120 --> 04:24:25,680
It's, you know, honestly, plastics in

5051
04:24:25,680 --> 04:24:27,760
our environment are a much bigger

5052
04:24:27,760 --> 04:24:30,640
problem than one turf field because we

5053
04:24:30,640 --> 04:24:32,239
do have it in all those places you

5054
04:24:32,239 --> 04:24:34,000
describe, not just our water bottles,

5055
04:24:34,000 --> 04:24:36,399
you know, computers, pens, everywhere.

5056
04:24:36,399 --> 04:24:38,399
Um

5057
04:24:38,399 --> 04:24:39,840
so similar to what I believe it was

5058
04:24:39,840 --> 04:24:41,920
Natalie um the Johns Hopkins

5059
04:24:41,920 --> 04:24:43,920
neuroscience student said there are a

5060
04:24:43,920 --> 04:24:45,840
lot of ways that we can reduce plastics

5061
04:24:45,840 --> 04:24:49,199
and we should um but switching to

5062
04:24:49,199 --> 04:24:52,720
switching one field uh to natural grass

5063
04:24:52,720 --> 04:24:55,680
at El Camino today is not going to solve

5064
04:24:55,680 --> 04:24:58,800
this giant problem. We need a much

5065
04:24:58,800 --> 04:25:01,520
bigger solution and our goal as uh

5066
04:25:01,520 --> 04:25:04,560
council member Lou just uh referenced is

5067
04:25:04,560 --> 04:25:09,600
to start down that path. Um so you know

5068
04:25:09,600 --> 04:25:11,279
the ad hoc's recommendation was

5069
04:25:11,279 --> 04:25:14,000
three-fold. Um, it was first to proceed

5070
04:25:14,000 --> 04:25:15,840
with replacing the existing synthetic

5071
04:25:15,840 --> 04:25:18,080
turf at El Camino with improved

5072
04:25:18,080 --> 04:25:20,479
synthetic turf, but second to pursue

5073
04:25:20,479 --> 04:25:23,199
this natural grass pilot,

5074
04:25:23,199 --> 04:25:25,279
but third to continue to explore

5075
04:25:25,279 --> 04:25:26,880
opportunities to transition from

5076
04:25:26,880 --> 04:25:29,279
synthetic turf at Cubberly. And I know

5077
04:25:29,279 --> 04:25:30,880
that that can give some of the same

5078
04:25:30,880 --> 04:25:32,800
people that are proponents of the

5079
04:25:32,800 --> 04:25:34,479
synthetic turf at El Camino some

5080
04:25:34,479 --> 04:25:36,720
heartburn, but we're trying to do it by

5081
04:25:36,720 --> 04:25:38,399
really looking hard at new technology

5082
04:25:38,399 --> 04:25:40,239
and looking at all of the fields as a

5083
04:25:40,239 --> 04:25:43,040
collective. uh in the city of Palo Alto

5084
04:25:43,040 --> 04:25:45,920
is providing enough playing hours. Now,

5085
04:25:45,920 --> 04:25:48,399
I do want to note though that you know

5086
04:25:48,399 --> 04:25:50,159
when we talk about some of the currently

5087
04:25:50,159 --> 04:25:52,640
underutilized fields, a lot of those are

5088
04:25:52,640 --> 04:25:54,239
grass that can't be used in the winter

5089
04:25:54,239 --> 04:25:55,600
time. So, that's where the bottleneck

5090
04:25:55,600 --> 04:25:57,120
happens and that's what a lot of these

5091
04:25:57,120 --> 04:26:00,000
folks are talking about wanting to have

5092
04:26:00,000 --> 04:26:01,760
um the the the playing hours in the

5093
04:26:01,760 --> 04:26:03,520
winter that council member Lithcott HS

5094
04:26:03,520 --> 04:26:07,439
was referencing. Um, so if we're going

5095
04:26:07,439 --> 04:26:11,760
down a path to explore transitioning

5096
04:26:11,760 --> 04:26:13,760
away,

5097
04:26:13,760 --> 04:26:15,840
I really look at this solution as having

5098
04:26:15,840 --> 04:26:17,600
two benefits.

5099
04:26:17,600 --> 04:26:19,840
One is that we're improving the

5100
04:26:19,840 --> 04:26:22,159
situation at El Camino. We're going to

5101
04:26:22,159 --> 04:26:24,800
have a a better synthetic turf field,

5102
04:26:24,800 --> 04:26:27,359
both from a playability standpoint and

5103
04:26:27,359 --> 04:26:29,600
from a a public health standpoint

5104
04:26:29,600 --> 04:26:32,960
relative to the current situation. And

5105
04:26:32,960 --> 04:26:35,279
we're going to direct staff to start now

5106
04:26:35,279 --> 04:26:37,680
to craft a course to transitioning away

5107
04:26:37,680 --> 04:26:39,760
from set synthetic turf while

5108
04:26:39,760 --> 04:26:41,840
maintaining playing time if at all

5109
04:26:41,840 --> 04:26:44,640
possible. So

5110
04:26:44,640 --> 04:26:47,600
I I don't know that uh uh Becky would

5111
04:26:47,600 --> 04:26:49,600
agree a public commenter would agree

5112
04:26:49,600 --> 04:26:51,920
with me on the totality of what I'm

5113
04:26:51,920 --> 04:26:54,239
saying, but I do agree with her that

5114
04:26:54,239 --> 04:26:55,760
there should not be only the two

5115
04:26:55,760 --> 04:26:58,319
choices. We really right now it is. So,

5116
04:26:58,319 --> 04:27:00,399
we need to do this tur synthetic turf

5117
04:27:00,399 --> 04:27:03,840
field, but we really want to ask staff

5118
04:27:03,840 --> 04:27:06,319
to help us find a third way. And so,

5119
04:27:06,319 --> 04:27:08,159
that's, you know, with a little runway,

5120
04:27:08,159 --> 04:27:10,640
we can hopefully accomplish that. So,

5121
04:27:10,640 --> 04:27:12,720
with that, and seeing no further lights,

5122
04:27:12,720 --> 04:27:14,319
I would entertain a motion. Council

5123
04:27:14,319 --> 04:27:16,159
member,

5124
04:27:16,159 --> 04:27:17,990
>> I'll move the ad hoc and staff

5125
04:27:17,990 --> 04:27:18,000
» I'll move the ad hoc and staff

5126
04:27:18,000 --> 04:27:20,319
recommendation.

5127
04:27:20,319 --> 04:27:21,110
>> Do we have a second?

5128
04:27:21,110 --> 04:27:21,120
» Do we have a second?

5129
04:27:21,120 --> 04:27:22,229
>> Second.

5130
04:27:22,229 --> 04:27:22,239
» Second.

5131
04:27:22,239 --> 04:27:24,389
>> Thank you, Council Member Lithcott HS.

5132
04:27:24,389 --> 04:27:24,399
» Thank you, Council Member Lithcott HS.

5133
04:27:24,399 --> 04:27:26,640
Any further discussion?

5134
04:27:26,640 --> 04:27:28,479
Council

5135
04:27:28,479 --> 04:27:32,000
member or Vice Mayor Stone.

5136
04:27:32,000 --> 04:27:33,750
>> Thank you, Madam Mayor. I I just I know

5137
04:27:33,750 --> 04:27:33,760
» Thank you, Madam Mayor. I I just I know

5138
04:27:33,760 --> 04:27:35,199
I don't have the votes to make any

5139
04:27:35,199 --> 04:27:37,199
changes to this. So, I just ask if you

5140
04:27:37,199 --> 04:27:39,760
can separate out the motion of

5141
04:27:39,760 --> 04:27:42,800
separating I guess then one from the

5142
04:27:42,800 --> 04:27:47,750
rest of the motion.

5143
04:27:47,760 --> 04:27:50,080
» Yeah, I think that's fine with us. The

5144
04:27:50,080 --> 04:27:51,920
clerk can do that.

5145
04:27:51,920 --> 04:27:53,590
>> Yes.

5146
04:27:53,590 --> 04:27:53,600
» Yes.

5147
04:27:53,600 --> 04:27:56,469
>> Yeah. I mean, I I got the nod from the

5148
04:27:56,469 --> 04:27:56,479
» Yeah. I mean, I I got the nod from the

5149
04:27:56,479 --> 04:27:58,319
movement.

5150
04:27:58,319 --> 04:28:01,040
Oh, sorry. Sorry.

5151
04:28:01,040 --> 04:28:03,120
For some reason.

5152
04:28:03,120 --> 04:28:16,145
>> Thank you.

5153
04:28:16,155 --> 04:28:41,035
[clears throat]

5154
04:28:41,045 --> 04:28:58,149
» [clears throat]

5155
04:28:58,159 --> 04:29:10,630
» All

5156
04:29:10,640 --> 04:29:11,439
right.

5157
04:29:11,439 --> 04:29:12,630
>> All right. So, we can go

5158
04:29:12,630 --> 04:29:12,640
» All right. So, we can go

5159
04:29:12,640 --> 04:29:14,309
>> voting on the voting on the first

5160
04:29:14,309 --> 04:29:14,319
» voting on the voting on the first

5161
04:29:14,319 --> 04:29:18,309
motion.

5162
04:29:18,319 --> 04:29:20,399
» Council member Lithcott Hayes.

5163
04:29:20,399 --> 04:29:21,110
>> Yes.

5164
04:29:21,110 --> 04:29:21,120
» Yes.

5165
04:29:21,120 --> 04:29:22,550
>> Council member Rectal.

5166
04:29:22,550 --> 04:29:22,560
» Council member Rectal.

5167
04:29:22,560 --> 04:29:22,950
>> Yes.

5168
04:29:22,950 --> 04:29:22,960
» Yes.

5169
04:29:22,960 --> 04:29:24,550
>> Council member Lowing.

5170
04:29:24,550 --> 04:29:24,560
» Council member Lowing.

5171
04:29:24,560 --> 04:29:25,189
>> Yes.

5172
04:29:25,189 --> 04:29:25,199
» Yes.

5173
04:29:25,199 --> 04:29:26,550
>> Council member Burton.

5174
04:29:26,550 --> 04:29:26,560
» Council member Burton.

5175
04:29:26,560 --> 04:29:28,550
>> Yes. Mayor Vinker,

5176
04:29:28,550 --> 04:29:28,560
» Yes. Mayor Vinker,

5177
04:29:28,560 --> 04:29:29,429
>> yes.

5178
04:29:29,429 --> 04:29:29,439
» yes.

5179
04:29:29,439 --> 04:29:30,550
>> Council member Lou,

5180
04:29:30,550 --> 04:29:30,560
» Council member Lou,

5181
04:29:30,560 --> 04:29:31,269
>> yes.

5182
04:29:31,269 --> 04:29:31,279
» yes.

5183
04:29:31,279 --> 04:29:32,389
>> Vice Mayor Stone,

5184
04:29:32,389 --> 04:29:32,399
» Vice Mayor Stone,

5185
04:29:32,399 --> 04:29:33,030
>> no.

5186
04:29:33,030 --> 04:29:33,040
» no.

5187
04:29:33,040 --> 04:29:41,269
>> Motion carries 61.

5188
04:29:41,279 --> 04:29:44,399
Voting on the second motion. Mayor

5189
04:29:44,399 --> 04:29:45,680
Vinker,

5190
04:29:45,680 --> 04:29:46,469
>> yes.

5191
04:29:46,469 --> 04:29:46,479
» yes.

5192
04:29:46,479 --> 04:29:47,910
>> Council member Lowing,

5193
04:29:47,910 --> 04:29:47,920
» Council member Lowing,

5194
04:29:47,920 --> 04:29:48,469
>> yes.

5195
04:29:48,469 --> 04:29:48,479
» yes.

5196
04:29:48,479 --> 04:29:50,469
>> Council member, um, sorry, excuse me,

5197
04:29:50,469 --> 04:29:50,479
» Council member, um, sorry, excuse me,

5198
04:29:50,479 --> 04:29:52,159
Mayor Vice Mayor Stone,

5199
04:29:52,159 --> 04:29:53,189
>> yes.

5200
04:29:53,189 --> 04:29:53,199
» yes.

5201
04:29:53,199 --> 04:29:54,469
>> Council member Rectal,

5202
04:29:54,469 --> 04:29:54,479
» Council member Rectal,

5203
04:29:54,479 --> 04:29:56,070
>> yes. Council member Lou,

5204
04:29:56,070 --> 04:29:56,080
» yes. Council member Lou,

5205
04:29:56,080 --> 04:29:56,469
>> yes.

5206
04:29:56,469 --> 04:29:56,479
» yes.

5207
04:29:56,479 --> 04:29:57,349
>> Council member Burton,

5208
04:29:57,349 --> 04:29:57,359
» Council member Burton,

5209
04:29:57,359 --> 04:29:57,670
>> yes.

5210
04:29:57,670 --> 04:29:57,680
» yes.

5211
04:29:57,680 --> 04:29:58,790
>> Council member Lot Haynes,

5212
04:29:58,790 --> 04:29:58,800
» Council member Lot Haynes,

5213
04:29:58,800 --> 04:29:59,429
>> yes.

5214
04:29:59,429 --> 04:29:59,439
» yes.

5215
04:29:59,439 --> 04:30:04,070
>> Motion carries unanimously.

5216
04:30:04,070 --> 04:30:04,080
» Motion carries unanimously.

5217
04:30:04,080 --> 04:30:06,229
>> All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk, and

5218
04:30:06,229 --> 04:30:06,239
» All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk, and

5219
04:30:06,239 --> 04:30:08,960
we will conclude that issue. Um, it is

5220
04:30:08,960 --> 04:30:11,359
time for our break. It is also 5 minutes

5221
04:30:11,359 --> 04:30:15,359
till 10. So, I would suggest this. Um, I

5222
04:30:15,359 --> 04:30:17,439
would suggest that we take a a short

5223
04:30:17,439 --> 04:30:20,080
five minute break. um that we come back

5224
04:30:20,080 --> 04:30:21,760
and do the public improvement

5225
04:30:21,760 --> 04:30:25,680
corporation um meeting because that's um

5226
04:30:25,680 --> 04:30:26,880
important and we should get that done.

5227
04:30:26,880 --> 04:30:28,960
But at that point, we're after 10:00 and

5228
04:30:28,960 --> 04:30:33,439
I would suggest that we um

5229
04:30:33,439 --> 04:30:36,159
defer [laughter] the the last action

5230
04:30:36,159 --> 04:30:37,600
item.

5231
04:30:37,600 --> 04:30:39,750
>> Second.

5232
04:30:39,750 --> 04:30:39,760
» Second.

5233
04:30:39,760 --> 04:30:41,110
>> Okay. Well, let's go take our break and

5234
04:30:41,110 --> 04:30:41,120
» Okay. Well, let's go take our break and

5235
04:30:41,120 --> 04:30:42,479
we'll come back and talk about it. Thank

5236
04:30:42,479 --> 04:39:38,708
you.

5237
04:39:38,718 --> 04:39:41,520
really. All right. So,

5238
04:39:41,520 --> 04:39:43,840
if you have any objection to uh moving

5239
04:39:43,840 --> 04:39:48,480
forward at this hour with uh the what

5240
04:39:48,480 --> 04:39:49,360
what are we doing? The public

5241
04:39:49,360 --> 04:39:51,040
improvement corporation meeting, let me

5242
04:39:51,040 --> 04:39:54,000
know. Um and or any objection to

5243
04:39:54,000 --> 04:39:56,718
deferring action item 15, let me know

5244
04:39:56,718 --> 04:39:59,840
now because I that is our plan. I'm

5245
04:39:59,840 --> 04:40:02,878
seeing no trouble. So, we will now

5246
04:40:02,878 --> 04:40:05,120
briefly recess the city council meeting

5247
04:40:05,120 --> 04:40:07,120
and call to order a meeting of the

5248
04:40:07,120 --> 04:40:09,600
public improvement corporation board.

5249
04:40:09,600 --> 04:40:11,600
The city council serves as the board for

5250
04:40:11,600 --> 04:40:13,520
the public improvement corporation

5251
04:40:13,520 --> 04:40:16,320
pronounced or the acronym pick. Uh

5252
04:40:16,320 --> 04:40:18,160
tonight we meet as the pick board for

5253
04:40:18,160 --> 04:40:20,638
the purpose of approval of the fiscal

5254
04:40:20,638 --> 04:40:24,798
year 2025 PaloAlto PIC annual financial

5255
04:40:24,798 --> 04:40:27,360
statements. The financial statements are

5256
04:40:27,360 --> 04:40:29,440
audited annually and require board

5257
04:40:29,440 --> 04:40:32,638
approval. For the record, city clerk,

5258
04:40:32,638 --> 04:40:35,760
would you please note that yes, all

5259
04:40:35,760 --> 04:40:39,120
members of the pick are present?

5260
04:40:39,120 --> 04:40:40,230
>> All right. Does staff have a

5261
04:40:40,230 --> 04:40:40,240
» All right. Does staff have a

5262
04:40:40,240 --> 04:40:41,920
presentation?

5263
04:40:41,920 --> 04:40:44,070
>> Yes. Let me ask our assistant director

5264
04:40:44,070 --> 04:40:44,080
» Yes. Let me ask our assistant director

5265
04:40:44,080 --> 04:40:45,840
of administrative services, Christine

5266
04:40:45,840 --> 04:40:47,520
Paras, to report for staff.

5267
04:40:47,520 --> 04:40:50,708
>> All right. Thank you. Um, the PIC is a

5268
04:40:50,708 --> 04:40:50,718
» All right. Thank you. Um, the PIC is a

5269
04:40:50,718 --> 04:40:52,638
nonprofit led by the city council that

5270
04:40:52,638 --> 04:40:54,878
enables the city to issue certificates

5271
04:40:54,878 --> 04:40:59,040
of participations or COP bonds debt to

5272
04:40:59,040 --> 04:41:02,000
fund capital projects. And the bylaws of

5273
04:41:02,000 --> 04:41:04,080
the pick require that the board meet at

5274
04:41:04,080 --> 04:41:05,760
least annually to approve these

5275
04:41:05,760 --> 04:41:08,320
financial statements. Staff is seeking

5276
04:41:08,320 --> 04:41:11,360
council the board's approval of the 2025

5277
04:41:11,360 --> 04:41:13,280
financial statements. They've been

5278
04:41:13,280 --> 04:41:16,240
audited by our external auditors MGO and

5279
04:41:16,240 --> 04:41:19,920
have a clean audit opinion. Um this is a

5280
04:41:19,920 --> 04:41:22,080
annual process requirement that the

5281
04:41:22,080 --> 04:41:24,878
board receive these audited financial

5282
04:41:24,878 --> 04:41:28,080
statements and any new issuance of debt

5283
04:41:28,080 --> 04:41:30,160
would be considered separately as part

5284
04:41:30,160 --> 04:41:32,240
of those respective projects and or

5285
04:41:32,240 --> 04:41:34,638
budget development.

5286
04:41:34,638 --> 04:41:36,958
The pick has three outstanding debt

5287
04:41:36,958 --> 04:41:40,080
obligations totaling 138 million

5288
04:41:40,080 --> 04:41:42,718
outlined on table one on packet page

5289
04:41:42,718 --> 04:41:46,000
364. The three debt obligations are the

5290
04:41:46,000 --> 04:41:49,920
2018 refinancing cops that refinance the

5291
04:41:49,920 --> 04:41:53,680
20 2002b downtown parking improvement

5292
04:41:53,680 --> 04:41:56,798
project and funds renovations of the

5293
04:41:56,798 --> 04:42:00,638
golf course. the 2019 Cal a parking

5294
04:42:00,638 --> 04:42:03,600
garage project and the 2021 public

5295
04:42:03,600 --> 04:42:06,480
safety building. And that concludes my

5296
04:42:06,480 --> 04:42:12,230
verbal comments on this item.

5297
04:42:12,240 --> 04:42:14,878
» Thank you. Um do we have any public

5298
04:42:14,878 --> 04:42:18,000
comment on this item?

5299
04:42:18,000 --> 04:42:19,520
There are no requests to speak and no

5300
04:42:19,520 --> 04:42:20,958
hands are raised on Zoom.

5301
04:42:20,958 --> 04:42:23,510
>> All right. Thank you. Do we have any

5302
04:42:23,510 --> 04:42:23,520
» All right. Thank you. Do we have any

5303
04:42:23,520 --> 04:42:26,160
questions or comments from board members

5304
04:42:26,160 --> 04:42:30,788
on this item?

5305
04:42:30,798 --> 04:42:33,360
All right,

5306
04:42:33,360 --> 04:42:36,310
>> Council Member Rectal.

5307
04:42:36,310 --> 04:42:36,320
» Council Member Rectal.

5308
04:42:36,320 --> 04:42:38,550
>> So, for this payment, it's it's like a

5309
04:42:38,550 --> 04:42:38,560
» So, for this payment, it's it's like a

5310
04:42:38,560 --> 04:42:41,200
bond. Can we accelerate effectively? Is

5311
04:42:41,200 --> 04:42:43,600
it callable bond or is it a fixed

5312
04:42:43,600 --> 04:42:45,440
payment period

5313
04:42:45,440 --> 04:42:48,550
>> for these coops fixed payments? Uh, not

5314
04:42:48,550 --> 04:42:48,560
» for these coops fixed payments? Uh, not

5315
04:42:48,560 --> 04:42:49,520
callable.

5316
04:42:49,520 --> 04:42:54,230
>> Okay. So,

5317
04:42:54,240 --> 04:42:55,920
» all right. Well, then may I have a

5318
04:42:55,920 --> 04:42:59,120
motion to approve the FY2025 annual

5319
04:42:59,120 --> 04:43:01,600
financial? I asked for public comment.

5320
04:43:01,600 --> 04:43:03,690
Yeah, we we we did public comment.

5321
04:43:03,690 --> 04:43:05,040
[laughter] I know you're new at the

5322
04:43:05,040 --> 04:43:05,280
time.

5323
04:43:05,280 --> 04:43:07,110
>> So move.

5324
04:43:07,110 --> 04:43:07,120
» So move.

5325
04:43:07,120 --> 04:43:08,788
>> Okay, we have a so moved. Do I have a

5326
04:43:08,788 --> 04:43:08,798
» Okay, we have a so moved. Do I have a

5327
04:43:08,798 --> 04:43:11,680
second?

5328
04:43:11,680 --> 04:43:13,270
>> Second.

5329
04:43:13,270 --> 04:43:13,280
» Second.

5330
04:43:13,280 --> 04:43:15,030
>> All right. Thank you. Any further

5331
04:43:15,030 --> 04:43:15,040
» All right. Thank you. Any further

5332
04:43:15,040 --> 04:43:17,040
discussion?

5333
04:43:17,040 --> 04:43:19,440
Seeing none, Madame Clerk, would you

5334
04:43:19,440 --> 04:43:22,400
kindly call the role?

5335
04:43:22,400 --> 04:43:28,150
Council

5336
04:43:28,160 --> 04:43:29,440
member Bert,

5337
04:43:29,440 --> 04:43:30,070
>> yes.

5338
04:43:30,070 --> 04:43:30,080
» yes.

5339
04:43:30,080 --> 04:43:31,510
>> Vice Mayor Stone,

5340
04:43:31,510 --> 04:43:31,520
» Vice Mayor Stone,

5341
04:43:31,520 --> 04:43:31,990
>> yes.

5342
04:43:31,990 --> 04:43:32,000
» yes.

5343
04:43:32,000 --> 04:43:33,190
>> Council member Lou,

5344
04:43:33,190 --> 04:43:33,200
» Council member Lou,

5345
04:43:33,200 --> 04:43:33,510
>> yes.

5346
04:43:33,510 --> 04:43:33,520
» yes.

5347
04:43:33,520 --> 04:43:34,708
>> Council member Lithu Haynes,

5348
04:43:34,708 --> 04:43:34,718
» Council member Lithu Haynes,

5349
04:43:34,718 --> 04:43:35,030
>> yes.

5350
04:43:35,030 --> 04:43:35,040
» yes.

5351
04:43:35,040 --> 04:43:36,070
>> Council member Rectal,

5352
04:43:36,070 --> 04:43:36,080
» Council member Rectal,

5353
04:43:36,080 --> 04:43:36,390
>> yes.

5354
04:43:36,390 --> 04:43:36,400
» yes.

5355
04:43:36,400 --> 04:43:37,910
>> Council member Lowing,

5356
04:43:37,910 --> 04:43:37,920
» Council member Lowing,

5357
04:43:37,920 --> 04:43:38,310
>> yes.

5358
04:43:38,310 --> 04:43:38,320
» yes.

5359
04:43:38,320 --> 04:43:39,270
>> Mayor Binker,

5360
04:43:39,270 --> 04:43:39,280
» Mayor Binker,

5361
04:43:39,280 --> 04:43:39,590
>> yes.

5362
04:43:39,590 --> 04:43:39,600
» yes.

5363
04:43:39,600 --> 04:43:41,830
>> Motion carries unanimously.

5364
04:43:41,830 --> 04:43:41,840
» Motion carries unanimously.

5365
04:43:41,840 --> 04:43:43,350
>> All right. Well, thank you, Madame

5366
04:43:43,350 --> 04:43:43,360
» All right. Well, thank you, Madame

5367
04:43:43,360 --> 04:43:46,400
Clerk. And uh we will now adjourn the

5368
04:43:46,400 --> 04:43:49,440
pick board meeting and reconvene the

5369
04:43:49,440 --> 04:43:53,680
council meeting. And we will now adjourn

5370
04:43:53,680 --> 04:43:56,080
the council meeting. I think I got that

5371
04:43:56,080 --> 04:43:58,080
all right. Okay. [laughter] Okay. Thank

5372
04:43:58,080 --> 04:44:02,680
you all. Good night.