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Welcome. This is the August 26th, 2026
economic development committee. Clerk,

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can we take role?
>> Council member here.

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» Council member Lou
>> here.

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» Chair Real
>> here.

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» Vice Mayor Stone
>> here.

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» For the record, three present.

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» Okay.
Next, we have in-person public comment

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on items that are not on the agenda. So,
you can talk about anything that's under

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the purview of this commission.
Our

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first speaker is Gu

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to the microphone.

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» All right. So, I don't know if this is
out of order or, you know, even relevant

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to this particular meeting, but [snorts]
um I've been thinking a lot about the

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last meeting I attended and um the idea
of making uh Ramona Street or parts of

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downtown entertainment districts.
Um, and it's something I'd like to

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continue exploring.
[clears throat] I believe making the

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close part of Ramona
the entire entertainment district makes

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the most sense from a control
perspective due to the existing

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barriers. Maybe there's a carve out for
the wine room. Um, but of course I

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understand the difficulty of uh managing
that when you have two, three, four

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blocks that are all considered that. So,
I guess I don't want to ruin one idea

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or, you know, just cuz one idea isn't
great doesn't mean we can't

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turn tune it down. Of course, you know,
I have my own interest in this

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obviously, but um you know, on Ramona,
this is something we deal with anyway.

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So, I show up at 8 in the morning and
there's glassware from Nola on one of

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the red chairs and we're kind of chasing
people down with beers and telling them

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they can't go down the street. So, I
guess people are naturally doing it. And

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when we with all those chairs there and
the environment there, it makes sense

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that people feel like they want to do
that, you know? [gasps]

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So I think we should just design the
space for that to happen. Um, and I

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guess it's part of like a broader
thought of mine about that street in

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general, which we've gone [gasps]
back and forth a lot on. Um, but you

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know, I think that there really is an
opportunity with the existing businesses

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that are there. Osteria, Nola, Koopa. I
mean, these are some of the longest

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standing businesses in Palo Alto as far
as food service is concerned and just

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the beauty of the street um I think
should really be celebrated. Uh and

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right now it feels like we're all kind
of on a a different page. Uh we've been

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dealing with, [snorts] you know, I've
had this woman arrested three times in

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the last two weeks coming into my
business at the pro. Um, and there are

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ways to design these spaces to just uh
dissuade people from behaving this way.

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Um, and just make it a little harder for
them uh to be there loitering. [gasps]

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Um, so I just wanted to bring it back
up. I from my understanding there's a

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period of time now that they're
experimenting with this on California

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Avenue and at some point there'll be a
report maybe in the fall about how

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that's going. So my thought was to, you
know, kind of piggyback off that

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assuming there's a positive there's
positive feedback from that um and kind

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of give downtown an opportunity to also
um I guess in parallel be be part of

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that the benefits of all that. Um
California is a much bigger street with

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a lot more to manage. So I don't think
it'll be very difficult. Um,

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and you know, my ultimate hope is to
create a bit of a center of gravity

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there and positive energy, whether it's
through music, um, these art walks that

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I'm working on, having just things that
are occurring and happening, uh, on that

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street in conjunction.
>> Okay. In conjunction with what goes on

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here, uh, in the front, I think there
could be a synergy there since they're

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so close to each other.
>> Thank you. You're welcome.

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That concludes public comment for items
not on the agenda. In person public

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comment.
>> Okay. Thank you. We move on to the first

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action item. The business retention
expansion and attraction strategy.

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Alex, you taking over?
>> I am. Good afternoon, economic

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development committee. My pleasure to be
here before you. The first agenda item

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as as the chair just indicated the
business retention expansion and

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attraction strategy known as the Brea
strategy. I want to start by saying that

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this came about in January when you were
at your council retreat regarding uh

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values, priorities and objectives. And
two things came from that. One of the

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four priorities is enhancing business
vibrancy and something that was

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discussed throughout is government
efficiency. Those two aspects are a part

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of this Brea strategy. So if we can go
to the next slide please.

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I'll start by saying economic
development sits at the intersection of

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people, place and prosperity. When
economic development is done well, it

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can result in really good job uh
opportunities, good quality job

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opportunities, um economic vitality for
the community, businesses succeed, and

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really what's important for us here at
the city is revenue generation. It

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allows for the city then to pay for
essential services of course that our

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community has become accustomed to. So
that's just the the background there.

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The Brea strategy has two technical
categories. Number one being enhancing

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business vibrancy followed by engagement
and promotions. So the Brea strategy is

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also going going to focus on
strengthening the tax base, developing a

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competitive and unique advantage,
looking at our real estate assets from

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an entrepreneurial perspective, business
and community engagement, promotions,

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marketing, and activation activities.
So, we're really trying to be proactive

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in our economic development work
program. Before we go to the next slide,

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I also want to say that this item was
actually before the economic development

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committee in March, but because of other
priorities, it wasn't considered. So,

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here we are, August 26th. But, uh, just
know that because of government

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efficiency, economic development has
already commenced some of these

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implementation actions that you will
hear about next and in some instances

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completed others. Next slide please.

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So as it relates to the first objective,
we're trying to strengthen the tax base

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here. Uh for us in economic development,
we are constantly looking at data. We

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want to be able to respond to any
changing trends and the three revenue

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sources that we constantly look at are
sales tax revenues, transit occupancy

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tax, which is tot
revenues. What we're trying to achieve

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here is to create and formalize a
corporate visitation program. So when

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you look at our top 25 sales tax
generators, economic development would

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reach out to the top 10, for example.
What we'd like to do before the end of

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this calendar year is reach out to three
of the top 10 to 25 businesses.

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The other objective here on the screen
has to do with new investment

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opportunities. we have to uh be ready
and pivot when a new business is coming

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in or a business is threatening to leave
or needing expansion services. And so we

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intend to develop a list of both
financial and non-financial incentives

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right now. It's not to say that we need
them, but it does help staff with

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supporting and growing um our businesses
uh especially when it starts when it be

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begins to um relate to starting a
business. scaling the business because

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we want to make sure that they stay
here. An example of a non-financial

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incentive for us could be permit
facilitation, for example. That's part

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of our daily uh course of work. A
financial incentive could be executing a

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tax sharing agreement, for example, with
a company. Next slide, please.

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So, we have a very interesting and uh
unique competitive advantage here. We're

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not the only city along the peninsula
that has venture capital incubators and

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accelerators, but I would say that we
have a pretty significant number of

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these types of businesses here. The
number of foreign investment offices

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that are located here off of Calav and
particular in our downtown is uh really

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something to be proud about. We've
already had meetings with the council

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general, the innovation center of
Denmark. We're in communication with

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Japan Innovation Campus again to um
schedule a meeting to find how we can uh

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create partnerships and cultivate our
innovation and entrepreneurial

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ecosystem. Um we've been in touch with
Playground Global and so that's just a

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really important um competitive
advantage that we have to put forth. We

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are always in competition regarding
investment and so we'd rather have

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investment come to Palo Alto versus our
neighbors to the south or neighbors to

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the north.
The other objective on the screen has to

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do with the flyer on the right hand side
of the screen which is providing our

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small business community with technical
assistance. So we Ruth and I are working

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with the Silicon Valley Small Business
Development Center as well as the NorCal

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Small Business Development Center to
provide an access to capital training.

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So in late September and early October,
we will host a three module access to

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cap to capital training and it's really
important to help our business

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businesses be able to overcome
challenges, build capacities and just

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have the technical assistance um to put
their business plan um in effect. Next

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slide please.
So real estate assets very important for

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us in economic development. Real estate
is synonymous with economic development

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and so fermenting relationships with our
real estate network is really important.

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In particular, our real estate brokers,
they're the eyes and ears of the real

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estate community. Of course, uh I would
include the property managers and

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development uh community members as
well. We are constantly in communication

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with them. And so what we intend to do
here uh is to host a real estate broker

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roundt where we can have a panel
conversation and invite representatives

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of course from the real estate industry
but have representatives from both

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building and planning to talk to our
development community about uh any

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changing uh land use or um or zoning
type of flexibility that you for example

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um recommended to the city council such
as the retail vitality ordinance. And so

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the market, as we all know, changes
quite quickly. And unfortunately,

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us in local government can't uh pivot as
quickly, but when we're talking to

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representatives in the real estate
world, it allows economic development to

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um be better informed and um
proceed with particular strategies in

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that regard. Now in terms of real estate
assets, we should all know what is it

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that the city owns in terms of its real
estate. And so we are piloting a program

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where we would utilize our real estate
assets for revenue generation. Economic

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development along with the city
manager's office executed a license

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agreement with NOVU for the use of 20
dedicated parking spaces lot it should

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say parking garage lot Q. Now, the
result of that is a three-year term and

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approximately $300,000 in revenue. This
is a pilot program that we would like to

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scale, and we will speaking we'll be
speaking to other potential businesses

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and or hotels that may have a similar
need. Our parking uh structures are not

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being used to the extent that they were
uh before the pandemic in terms of

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demand. Next slide, please.
So we're moving on to engagement and

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promotions. Uh oftent times we are in
the relationship business and so we like

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to work at the speed of trust and so
public and private partnerships are

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absolutely uh important for us to
leverage resources for community

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projects. I mentioned retail vibrancy
ordinance. Uh just uh recently the city

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council approved the second reading of
that. So Ruth and I would be sharing

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that information with our real estate uh
community as well as uh businesses, the

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business improvement district. There is
um interest by staff to begin to

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reassess and bring that business
improvement district back downtown. We

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have started hosting regularly monthly
scheduled downtown and university avenue

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stakeholder meetings.
And so what we really want to achieve

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here is to go to the business community
and e the economic development team here

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would like to create office hour events
where we would be stationed on Calav as

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well as University Avenue for additional
business and community engagement. We

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want to go to where the business
community is, the small business and

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retail community. Moving on to the other
objective here, the entertainment zone

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ordinance. Our vice mayor there is in
that photo um who cut the ribbon for the

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inaugural Thursday live event which uh
we now are moving into our fourth event

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tomorrow. We've activated the
entertainment zone. Thank you to the

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economic development committee. You've
recommended to the council and an

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ordinance was approved in the spring. We
have hosted thus far two entertainment

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zones. We tomorrow night will be our
third entertainment zone. We uh are

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working with our city manager's office
intern. There are two surveys that we've

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developed and we're going to start
surveying both the business community

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and the community at large that comes
and attends. We expect to utilize the

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results in such a way that we come back
to the economic development committee

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and share what's worked, what hasn't,
what can we do to make sure that if

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there's an opportunity to move the
entertainment zone to Ramona Street, it

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would be a well functioning machine at
that point based on our learnings. Next

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slide, please.
>> So Ramona was part of the ordinance

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rather. Well, you all um thought that uh
we staff should be thinking bigger

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» and staff thought it would be best for
safety and for security to focus on Cal

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Avenue as a pilot just to learn what's
going to work and what's not. Um, as we

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heard earlier from one of our business
owners here in downtown, clearly Calav

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is much larger than Ramona Street. But
we just want to make sure that we go

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through this pilot program and have a
better understanding of how to roll out

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a successful entertainment zone here in
downtown. And I think we we can do that

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based on some of the learnings that we
are currently.

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» So, did the ordinance have both and
we're just implementing CAV? I thought I

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thought both were in there. I think that
uh well, I had a conversation with our

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city attorney's office and I believe
that there might be an opportunity to

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amend the existing ordinance in order to
add Ramona Street onto that existing

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ordinance. That would be the mechanism I
believe. So, and so we would confirm

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that. We could come back to the economic
development committee with that.

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» Alex is correct. Um council members, so
you have an enabling ordinance. We just

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have to enable the specific districts.
So you would amend your current one to

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add downtown Ramona or one of those
areas. Um but you have the foundation

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when you established co-op.
>> Okay.

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» So Alex uh was correct.
>> Okay. Thank you. Next slide please.

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And then of course we have we'll have a
question and answer session and we're

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happy to answer and get a little bit
deeper on these uh these issues. We're

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going through this presentation
relatively quickly. There's a lot more

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in attachment A of the staff report. So,
uh, 2026 activities and events, people

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want to be where other people are. And
that's why we want to cultivate a

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vibrant and what's known as quote
unquote sticky public places. And

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certainly, we're doing that on Calab
with the entertainment zone and Thursday

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live. We have promoted variety of
activities, some of which you see the

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flyers there on the right hand side,
Thursday live, FIFA, World Cup. I think

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our businesses that are listed on that
matchwatch uh promotions list did really

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well from a business perspective and
then of course BTS concerts and and

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future concerts that Stanford may host.
The last objective is innovation and

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entrepreneurship branding. We want to
continue to enhance our brand which is

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of course a leader in innovation and
entrepreneurship from a global

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perspective. And so we like to partner
with our foreign investment offices.

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They see the value in being here.
They've been here for a long time. We

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should start building relationships with
them. The takeaway here would be a

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destination marketing website in
partnership with the Chamber of

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Commerce. The next slide, please. Will
actually give you some mockups of what

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the website could look. We we we're
working on this. Uh likely it'll go live

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in by the end of the year. And so people
that are coming to Palo Alto would have

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an opportunity to plan their perfect day
and shopping, eating, dining, playing

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and a variety of interest points. So
this is a uh website that the chamber of

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commerce will own. They will ma maintain
this. Of course the the city is

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sponsoring this. So we have uh ability
of course to share our our thoughts. Our

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communications team is engaged here. So
we're excited about this. There will be

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a sizzle reel uh which would be bas
basically a 30 or 60sec um video that

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gets people excited about coming to Palo
Alto. This is the last slide uh except

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for the recommendation slide. So again
just want to uh end where I started

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which is the Brea strategy is focused on
two things. one being the

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city council priority of enhancing
business vibrancy. And please know that

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we were intending to get in front of you
much earlier. And so due to government

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efficiency, we uh started implementing
some of these implementation actions and

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in some instances have completed some of
these items.

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The recommendation here on the screen,
the economic development committee will

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receive a presentation of the Brea
strategy and make a recommendation to

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the city council to approve the
strategy. That concludes the

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presentation and happy for us to take uh
any questions you may have.

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» Okay. Do you guys have any clarifying
questions before we move to public

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comment?
>> Okay, let's go to public comment.

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Our

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[snorts]

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first speaker is Steve L.

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on.

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» So,
first I came to

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» slide a little closer your mouth here.
>> Okay.

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» Thank you.
to thank you for

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promoting
retail vitality by expanding

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um what we consider retail
and by allowing

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household population serving services to
be located in the downtown area. Um

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Nancy and I live there. We are major
shoppers including um enormous time

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spent on Ramona.

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I'd like to encourage you and and Alex
to take that welcoming attitude

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toward high wage job creation whether
that's traditional offices or labs or

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R&D. The research park I think just got
a big auto technology

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startup. Um, you've got a whole set of
actions there that you can take. As a

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regional economist, I got to tell you,
it's tough. Santa Clara and Sunnyvale in

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particular, other cities, but they have
large advantages in terms of open land

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and they're going gung-ho for high wage
job

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» [snorts]
>> um activities.

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So, I hope you work it out. I don't have
any specific suggestions. Obviously,

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um if you all can work something out
with Stanford Research Park, that seems

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to be an ideal
location for that. Um

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two other points about Stanford that
should involve the strategy.

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one is um either today or Thursday or
Friday, they're going to release the

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draft general use permit program. Um
council member Lowing and I are on the

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advisory committee. I have been pushing
them hard to think of the relationship

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of their land use plan to economic
growth and innovation both in terms of

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the um campus activities but also the
research park. Um and finally,

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we all know that their activities,
whether it's shopping center with

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visitors spending um the hospital and
the research park with people coming um

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all of the Stanford activities, sports
and parents weekend that fill our hotels

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and fill our sales tax and transit
occupancy tax coffers. I think the

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working relationship with Stanford would
be helpful.

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» Thank you, Steve.
[clears throat]

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» Our next speaker is John S.
[laughter]

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» Red is on. Thank you. Uh John, John
Shank with Thoitz Brothers. Um, thank

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you all for being a part of this
committee. I think it's critically

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important and it's a great place, I
think, for us to be able to engage with

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you and when the when appropriate,
engage in two-way conversations and not

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just the one way, but um we're here uh
to be helpful when we can. Um, in terms

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of today's agenda and the things that I
was peeking at in the in the staff

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report, I want to remind
you guys that the through the street

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sense program that happened two years
ago, three, 20 years ago, something

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there was a lot of effort that went into
that at least I think from the staff

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side, but also from the community side.
Lots of engagement, lots of meetings,

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lots of walking the blocks, all these
sorts of things that culminated in their

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report. Um sadly I don't think a lot was
made of it but I think it's worth

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dusting off and not necessarily starting
feeling like oh we have to start over

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there there are new facts new slightly
different retail trends or these other

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things but the bulk of it I think was
very on I didn't love every aspect of it

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but it represented I think a tremendous
amount of work so I think that would be

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a good thing for [snorts]
um and Alex you weren't here but I I

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think it's a good thing to use as a
base. Um I think

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[clears throat] one of the one of the
one aspect of their report had to do

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with events, gathering spaces, all of
this. And in the downtown, not speaking

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of Calab or elsewhere, but in the
downtown, they targeted this. They said

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right here we should we the city should
be figuring out how do we make King

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Plaza how do we make this a center point
and then it can tie into Centennial Way.

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It can tie into Ramona Street. I think
at that time Ramona Street closure

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wasn't final or it was being banned
around but I think there's great

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synergies there and it's a tre on top of
the biggest. I mean it's got all the

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parking underneath all of this. I think
it's a great place to focus. As I look

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around, I feel like it's a lot of wasted
space in a way. It's plenty fine, but

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why not make it a place for the concerts
or the gatherings or the school events

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or whatever it is. So, I [snorts] think
that's something we ought to think

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about. Um, as for the bid, I know it's a
kind of a a smaller nuance in here. We

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you all stopped collecting it, I don't
know when, 10 years ago, 8 years ago or

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something like this. I caution against
starting it before

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um I would say before I can not me not
me personally but we can then

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communicate to a retailer why are you
paying this additional fee what's it

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going to do and I wouldn't do it on the
hopes that we're going to have a great

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00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:19,520
marketing campaign that's going to start
after I think we need to be able to go

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and say because I don't know a single
retailer who has all this extra money

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today so here's a tax No, here's what
we're doing. Here's what we're going to

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do. They've been asking for cleanliness,
safety,

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and they think their taxes already
should pay that. So, if we're going to

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say pay more,

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thank you.
>> Our next speaker is Alex G.

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» Hi, Alex Joonoto with Inventory
Management. And first I just want to say

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00:26:50,320 --> 00:27:00,799
um really do appreciate the the
dedication to the business retention and

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um an appreciation for business which I
think hasn't always been the case in the

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town. I think maybe the whole COVID
situation taught us everything that we

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00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:18,480
can't take things for granted and um the
retail preservation uh retail

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enhancement initiative just passed with
the zoning has already been very helpful

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I can tell you immediately helpful in
terms of an expansion of uses and I

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think you're going to see some
interesting things coming to the town uh

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with regards to the uh Brea plan I think
there's a lot of great ideas in there, a

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lot of great energy. Uh I'd like to
suggest maybe something that's not quite

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on the list at the moment, which is uh
using the economic development resources

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00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:58,720
to help inform uh planning and council
meetings. I always think it's kind of

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strange that there are resources such as
you go to ask the planning comm uh

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00:28:01,279 --> 00:28:07,919
planning staff about something, they
give you the planning, here's what the

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00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:13,679
code says. You go ask the city attorney,
hey, what does the law say? Lost in all

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00:28:11,039 --> 00:28:18,640
this seems to be what are the economic
consequences of this decision we're

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00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:24,080
being asked to make? And um that sort of
analysis I think would be really

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00:28:20,399 --> 00:28:30,320
helpful. Um it also is kind of the
language of the business community when

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00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:36,799
when you speak in terms of let's say
return on investment or

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um uh what is the revenue impact of of
this decision.

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It communicates to to us that you are
speaking a language that we understand

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and that you are considering these
things and they're important to your

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decision-m process. So, I'm just
suggesting that that would be a nice

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00:28:52,960 --> 00:29:02,880
addition to how we do the public
hearings and this would be an added

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00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:07,440
resource to provide that analysis for
you. Thank you.

349
00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:10,720
Okay. Thank you.
>> That concludes public comment for item

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one.
>> Okay.

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George Greer, do you want to start it
off?

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00:29:17,385 --> 00:29:25,039
[clears throat]
>> Okay. might need a second wrap as I

353
00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:31,200
organize some of my thoughts. Um, yeah,
I appreciate this work. I think this all

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00:29:27,919 --> 00:29:35,760
makes sense and sets
sort of valuable groundwork. Context

355
00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:41,919
building is uh uh work that we want to
do. I'm glad that we've been doing it

356
00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:47,840
and not holding ourselves to uh uh to
our agendas. Um

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00:29:45,679 --> 00:29:53,520
I think the
uh big picture thought is just that we

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00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:57,360
already of course in August uh we this
is entitled the 2026 plan. So I'm

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00:29:55,840 --> 00:30:03,679
already thinking you know what's next
right like we're going to learn from uh

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the investors and potential investors
and real estate brokers. Um but then my

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00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:16,480
hope is that next year we can uh
uh

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have a series of concrete programs to
sort of fall out of that. Um I'm curious

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00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:27,120
at this stage if we have a sense of yeah
what the

364
00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:31,840
yeah what we've learned and if there's
any inkling of where we'll take these

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00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:36,480
learnings for next year's plan
assuming there is a plan next year. you

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00:30:33,679 --> 00:30:40,880
know, correct me if I'm wrong.
>> Yeah, thank you for that question. I'd

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00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:45,360
like to start and acknowledge that yes,
I think back in 2022 is when the

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economic development strategy was
approved by the city council and I was

369
00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:53,679
just looking at it earlier because it's
important. It does lay a foundation for

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00:30:52,559 --> 00:30:58,080
uh for the work that we're doing today
in economic development. And I'm pleased

371
00:30:55,760 --> 00:31:02,240
to say that and if you if we want to go
deep we can but I'm pleased to say that

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00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:07,840
many of those strategies have actually
been approved have been completed and or

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00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:12,640
are currently underway.
In terms of your question about this

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00:31:09,919 --> 00:31:19,440
setting the foundation, I do agree that
um the intent is to be proactive in our

375
00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:24,640
economic development work and recognize
that we have an economic development

376
00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:29,120
strategy but one that's looking forward
um that takes a look at a traditional

377
00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:34,720
approach to economic development. The
economic development strategy of a few

378
00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:37,919
years ago I think has worked but really
was coming out of the pandemic and our

379
00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:44,080
needs were different. We're in a
post-pandemic economy so we have to

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00:31:39,919 --> 00:31:49,279
recognize that um the private sector
moves quickly as I was indicating

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00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:53,919
earlier and staff and rather just the
local government doesn't move as quickly

382
00:31:50,799 --> 00:31:58,559
as the market does. Um, I I would hope
that at some point in the future, we can

383
00:31:56,559 --> 00:32:05,440
have a formal conversation about a
revised economic development strategy

384
00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:06,720
that then becomes the work plan for Ruth
and I.

385
00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:10,960
» Okay.
>> Our client base is roughly 4,000

386
00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:16,960
businesses, brick and mortar. There are
more businesses than that when it comes

387
00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:23,360
to um work from home and other types of
businesses, but uh we we have limited

388
00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:29,200
capacity as well. But I I am excited
about where we can go in 2027 and

389
00:32:26,559 --> 00:32:33,519
excited about your um retreat that
you'll have in January. Same values,

390
00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:37,600
priorities, and objectives. And
hopefully we can just continue to um

391
00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:42,960
build off of this foundation.
>> Okay. So, there would be an updated plan

392
00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:47,600
in 2027 uh if the council priority
continues to be business retention and

393
00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:52,159
economic development and all that.
>> I I would hope so. But to get to your

394
00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:59,120
point, um I would like to dive deeper
and better understand the city council's

395
00:32:55,840 --> 00:33:02,559
um uh desires and what is it that you
want to accomplish as we move into a

396
00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:06,880
traditional economic development
program. So we can have the the true

397
00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:10,320
strategies with the implementation
actions. So I think that would be an

398
00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:12,320
important conversation.
>> Okay.

399
00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:15,760
» With the city council, with the economic
development committee and then council

400
00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:22,080
thereafter.
>> Okay. Um I did have a couple of thoughts

401
00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:27,919
uh and I'd be curious for other council
members thoughts about um new investment

402
00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:32,399
opportunities, property tax bases, uh
the sort of office and commercial side

403
00:33:29,919 --> 00:33:38,080
of things. Um, in my mind, one of the
biggest things we did this year was uh

404
00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:44,559
modify the shrink wrap rule such that
buildings downtown could uh redevelop

405
00:33:41,919 --> 00:33:48,960
not in wild and extravagant ways with
like massive amounts of new floor area,

406
00:33:46,799 --> 00:33:54,240
but just
uh more basic reinvestment can sort of

407
00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:58,799
actually happen. Um, and that was
something that we got from the sort of

408
00:33:56,399 --> 00:34:02,960
broader community. I think local
architects have just brought that on

409
00:34:00,159 --> 00:34:06,880
their own. I think one of the really big
opportunities is to see if there are

410
00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:12,639
other wins, other things we can sort of
pick up like that. Uh other obstacles

411
00:34:10,399 --> 00:34:18,800
that we might have already heard from
from different real estate professionals

412
00:34:14,240 --> 00:34:22,560
or different companies. And so that's uh
the kind of thing that I was curious if

413
00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:27,119
you had heard anything about and the
kind of thing I'd be interested in

414
00:34:23,919 --> 00:34:31,679
continuing next year um or continuing
just as a direct consequence from these

415
00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:36,320
items. Um,
another point that I'm not quite sure

416
00:34:34,079 --> 00:34:41,919
how to reconcile was I know way back
earlier in the year policy and services

417
00:34:38,399 --> 00:34:48,320
committee had a discussion about
uh in mixed use zones

418
00:34:45,679 --> 00:34:53,919
or maybe just in general discouraging
office development. And so there's sort

419
00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:59,599
of one hand that says we want uh our
companies to thrive and VCs to invest in

420
00:34:57,040 --> 00:35:03,040
startups and you know people to buy
lunch in Palo Alto and whatnot. And then

421
00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:08,640
there's this other thread that says we
want to uh

422
00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:16,240
uh
both promote not just promote multif

423
00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:22,079
family housing but uh discourage office.
And so where's the city landing on that?

424
00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:26,560
Uh
what's the next step? And how when do we

425
00:35:24,079 --> 00:35:31,040
actually reconcile uh these two
different urges?

426
00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:35,040
» Sure. Thanks, Council Member Buu. Um
also, I forgot Kylie Nose, assistant

427
00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:39,920
city manager. I think you're really
hitting on uh an inherent tension that

428
00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:45,920
we are going to continue to run up
against um as an organization that we

429
00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:51,520
haven't necessarily really faced um as
we've not been in an area of the level

430
00:35:49,599 --> 00:35:56,160
of development that we're looking at um
in today's day and age. So actually I

431
00:35:53,920 --> 00:36:00,720
think one of the notes that you'll see
and I think one of the public comments

432
00:35:57,839 --> 00:36:07,119
was extremely relevant of needing to do
fiscal analysis when we're talking about

433
00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:11,359
land use. Um because ultimately and uh
Mr. Andradi can explain in greater

434
00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:16,320
detail than I can but typically as you
may imagine from a tax revenue

435
00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:22,240
projections and a tax revenue generation
um housing typically obviously generates

436
00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:26,800
less tax revenue than is needed to
provide the services. Whereas commercial

437
00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:31,680
uses will typically generate the tax
base to help support your day-to-day

438
00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:36,560
population which includes those
employees as well as your residential

439
00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:41,760
population. So as we're finding this
balance between developing more housing

440
00:36:39,119 --> 00:36:46,240
as we need to, we also need to find the
balance to make sure that 10 years from

441
00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:51,119
now our future selves are not kicking
ourselves for eroding our economic base.

442
00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:55,839
So um I
>> strong agree with that. Um I think the

443
00:36:53,440 --> 00:37:01,800
policy and services discussion from what
I recall um

444
00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:01,800
uh

445
00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:09,040
you know was as equally focused on
discouraging office as encouraging

446
00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:12,800
multif family. Uh and you know this is
months ago so I'm not quite getting it

447
00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:15,839
right I'm sure but I'm just curious if
there's a timeline for when

448
00:37:14,240 --> 00:37:17,119
» CD requirement that we had to talk about
that.

449
00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:18,800
» Well
>> that was a program that was in the

450
00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:23,839
house.
>> Yes. Yes. We wanted

451
00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:28,320
» and when we talked about encouraging
uh housing it was no we have to

452
00:37:25,359 --> 00:37:32,880
discourage this program was designed to
discourage office.

453
00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:35,599
» Yes. And so and that was a little skewed
just because that was the parameters of

454
00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:39,680
that study.
>> Okay. So we had to study it but we don't

455
00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:42,720
necessarily have to follow up with that
and

456
00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:47,839
» correct the direction
to make those policy choices. Um, and

457
00:37:46,079 --> 00:37:52,240
obviously the questions you're asking I
think are good ones and are hard to

458
00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:55,680
remember, right? As you were brought
individual items. So really appreciate

459
00:37:54,160 --> 00:38:00,640
you being able to kind of cross
reference. Um, this is going to come up

460
00:37:57,599 --> 00:38:05,040
as we look at everything from the more
recent uh housing development projects,

461
00:38:03,599 --> 00:38:10,320
but also especially when we're thinking
about coordinated area plans, right? Uh

462
00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:15,040
there was a a paragraph in the last uh
staff report for the San Antonio area um

463
00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:18,480
where and if you recall council's
conversation about San Antonio was do we

464
00:38:17,359 --> 00:38:22,560
want to maintain the same square
footage? Do we want to maintain the same

465
00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:26,720
headcount? Do we want to you know of
commercial space versus the housing and

466
00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:31,839
all of those decisions have real
financial impacts. And so I think um as

467
00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:36,880
we make policy decisions, as you as a
council body make policy decisions, um

468
00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:42,240
looking at each of the pieces but not
losing the forest through the trees is

469
00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:45,520
going to be an important um tenant um
and habit as we move through these

470
00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:50,640
individual decisions.
>> Yeah. Can I please may I add to

471
00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:57,520
assistant city manager Jose? I agree
with everything that uh she just shared.

472
00:38:53,680 --> 00:39:02,320
two two thoughts here and I'll use uh
General Motors as an example because

473
00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:09,440
they signed recently a 340,000 square
foot lease and um

474
00:39:07,359 --> 00:39:16,480
technology and the private sector
continue to evolve. We we often talk

475
00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:20,880
about office here, but a company like GM
doesn't just need office. They need

476
00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:27,599
rollup doors. They need flex space. It's
R&D and office. So it's it's a variety

477
00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:32,400
of different types of employment lands
and their needs.

478
00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:36,800
» So often times we we we talk about
office here, but it's it's other

479
00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:43,280
commercial um types of real estate uh
needs as well. And my last point is that

480
00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:48,400
housing and
office and those commercial uses can

481
00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:53,680
coexist and and really need to our
employment lands to just add to our

482
00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:58,800
assistant city manager nose. Employment
lands ultimately help the city with

483
00:39:56,400 --> 00:40:03,280
long-term fiscal sustainability.
>> Yeah,

484
00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:09,760
I totally understand that. Um
uh just sort of visv the 2026 and 2027

485
00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:15,520
planning. Uh it's still not exactly
clear like when if the you know housing

486
00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:21,440
element program that to discourage
offices is actually coming back or when

487
00:40:18,880 --> 00:40:26,880
and how it might be reconciled with
economic development.

488
00:40:23,040 --> 00:40:30,240
» Sure. Um and I think it um that's on
that's a little bit of all of our

489
00:40:28,160 --> 00:40:34,240
responsibility, right? So, as the chair
just mentioned, there are certain

490
00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:39,599
elements or programs within the housing
element that staff do need to move

491
00:40:36,240 --> 00:40:44,240
through to abide by what we adopted. And
as we move through those, I think it's

492
00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:47,760
incumbent on us and uh the council to
make sure that as we're exploring those

493
00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:52,480
programs and what ultimately we may or
may not want to adopt, weighing the

494
00:40:49,599 --> 00:40:56,240
economic impacts with the, you know,
housing policy impacts and then making

495
00:40:54,320 --> 00:41:00,640
those decisions as each of those
programs move through review. um in the

496
00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:06,079
context of the whole as opposed to
pieces. So we are as staff making a

497
00:41:03,119 --> 00:41:09,040
conscious effort to make sure that um we
are thinking through whether those

498
00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:13,119
programs come to this committee or
policy and services and regardless of

499
00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:17,359
what committee they go to since they
can't go to two. Um making sure our

500
00:41:15,359 --> 00:41:21,359
economic development team is plugged
into our planning and development

501
00:41:18,960 --> 00:41:25,040
services team to make sure we're vetting
things in that whole picture so that the

502
00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:30,079
council is best informed to make those
policy calls. So, it's not going to be

503
00:41:27,359 --> 00:41:34,000
it's not like it's a singular here's the
outcome, but as we move through each of

504
00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:38,880
these project reviews in alignment with
our housing element, we will continue to

505
00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:42,960
bolster our internal coordination to
help feed the council and community the

506
00:41:41,359 --> 00:41:45,280
information relevant to make those
decisions.

507
00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:49,599
» Okay.
>> And so, yes, that item is going to come

508
00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:53,359
back. Um, in fact, I think there are are
other programs that are coming up as

509
00:41:51,440 --> 00:41:57,760
well, uh, associated with the housing
element that we may even choose to bring

510
00:41:55,359 --> 00:42:01,119
to this committee instead of PNS.
>> Um, and so it'll follow the normal

511
00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:03,440
process of committee and then full
counsel.

512
00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:10,160
» Okay. All right. I can stay tuned for
that. Um, last note just on the transit

513
00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:15,760
occup occupancy revenue base point. Um,
uh, I know that you're going to talk

514
00:42:12,560 --> 00:42:20,400
with the top 25 or at least a
significant chunk of the top 10

515
00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:24,560
businesses. Uh, I'm particularly
interested in what comes out of that.

516
00:42:22,160 --> 00:42:28,079
I'm thinking about the Sherton Hotel,
how it's a giant parking lot. I'm

517
00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:33,440
thinking about the Coronet Motel, which
is amazing location on Calav, going to

518
00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:39,839
be uh has an SB79 development. So, it's
going to be converted into housing. Uh,

519
00:42:35,520 --> 00:42:45,040
but there are plenty of other uh motel,
hotels that are mostly just surface

520
00:42:41,680 --> 00:42:49,359
parking. Um, and from some
conversations, it's just prohibitively

521
00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:55,680
intimidating to even think about
redeveloping a hotel in Paul Alto. So,

522
00:42:52,880 --> 00:43:00,319
if we sort of get the parameters of what
hotels really need and if we can sort of

523
00:42:58,319 --> 00:43:07,839
affirmatively put out there like, hey,
we're going to

524
00:43:02,319 --> 00:43:13,119
we're interested potentially in uh
uh some sort of program to promote the

525
00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:17,920
redevelopment or development of X hotels
or X hotel square footage. I think that

526
00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:24,640
would be something I'd be interested in
uh seeing if we learn anything about. Um

527
00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:32,400
because I love hotels. They have retail
cafes. They get a lot of people who

528
00:43:27,119 --> 00:43:36,079
spend money on Calav and downtown. Um
uh

529
00:43:34,079 --> 00:43:42,720
they have a lot of uh often quite good
service jobs. So yeah, um would be

530
00:43:39,599 --> 00:43:48,079
interested in hotels as we follow up and
talk about what's next in 2027.

531
00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:55,680
» Thank you. that's noted
and agree with the the jobs and the uh

532
00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:59,839
the revenues of course
>> agree.

533
00:43:58,160 --> 00:44:05,359
» Yeah, thank you. I think the the bra
strategy is is a good one. I think this

534
00:44:01,599 --> 00:44:10,160
is a great starting point. Uh
your presentation answered several of my

535
00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:15,760
questions. So, appreciate that. Uh
couple areas I wanted to dive a little

536
00:44:11,839 --> 00:44:20,400
deeper into like on promotions and
marketing [clears throat]

537
00:44:17,119 --> 00:44:25,359
goes into kind of 2026 activities. We're
already 3/4ers of the way through the

538
00:44:22,640 --> 00:44:30,319
through the year. Um so kind of starting
to look towards maybe end of the year

539
00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:36,079
and 2027
opportunities.

540
00:44:31,920 --> 00:44:40,079
Are there are there plans to try to
activate some more of our shopping

541
00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:44,720
districts over the holidays? I I've
known we've know we've tried things over

542
00:44:42,960 --> 00:44:51,440
the last couple years that I I think
have helped. I I think we still fall

543
00:44:48,480 --> 00:44:58,720
short of just so many other that so many
other cities.

544
00:44:53,280 --> 00:45:02,079
uh what um what Los Altos does for I
can't remember what they call it, but

545
00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:09,280
it's like a whole there's a whole night
of holiday shopping. Um um I don't know.

546
00:45:06,319 --> 00:45:14,400
I'd love to see like European style
Christmas markets on on Calav or just

547
00:45:12,240 --> 00:45:18,079
other opportunities or I mean Ramona
Street would be a gorgeous location for

548
00:45:16,400 --> 00:45:21,920
something like like that. I mean, people
tend to really love popup events and

549
00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:26,560
especially when we can tie them into
holiday and and shopping. I just think

550
00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:29,720
there's more opportunities for us to to
do that.

551
00:45:30,160 --> 00:45:38,480
Thank you for the the comments and um
please know that we have not forgotten

552
00:45:35,200 --> 00:45:42,160
about the popup uh retail conversation
and that's something that um we've

553
00:45:40,480 --> 00:45:47,520
started having some conversations with
some property owners and we're we're

554
00:45:43,839 --> 00:45:51,839
learning about that. Um as it relates to
activating or promoting other business

555
00:45:50,160 --> 00:45:57,119
districts that too is incredibly
important for us too. Um, we do spend

556
00:45:55,200 --> 00:46:02,400
quite a bit of time on Calab and in our
downtown. And that's not to say that,

557
00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:07,760
um, we're not tracking or monitoring
other business districts around the

558
00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:12,319
city. We we are. Uh, oftent times it can
be based on need. Uh, for example,

559
00:46:10,480 --> 00:46:18,000
there's a there's a local grocery store
that uh is needing assistance. So, that

560
00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:21,440
has been one of the things that's
driving us to this particular business

561
00:46:19,680 --> 00:46:28,400
district uh for a business retention
effort. Um so so yes we uh staff we like

562
00:46:26,240 --> 00:46:33,680
to be out on field and and visit the
different business districts. To your uh

563
00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:39,359
comment about just overall activation
whether it's holidays or other types of

564
00:46:36,560 --> 00:46:44,800
uh seasonal type events. Yes, that is
something that we would like to further

565
00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:49,599
explore. um and perhaps something in
2027 just based on conversations we're

566
00:46:46,960 --> 00:46:53,040
having here to give us ample time for
planning and coordinating things of that

567
00:46:52,319 --> 00:46:56,960
nature.
>> Okay. Well, yeah,

568
00:46:54,800 --> 00:47:01,440
» council member, I'll just add it is
important to note that many of those

569
00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:05,680
that you've seen around are not
organized by the city jurisdiction, but

570
00:47:03,599 --> 00:47:09,359
by a business improvement district that
has a governing board that will choose

571
00:47:07,920 --> 00:47:13,520
to spend that time and invest in
something like that or their local

572
00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:18,000
chamber of commerce. So, an event like
you're describing um like a winter

573
00:47:15,760 --> 00:47:23,359
holiday market on the larger scale are
typically ones that would be done in

574
00:47:20,400 --> 00:47:27,599
partnership with another organization,
which I think is another reason why the

575
00:47:25,359 --> 00:47:32,400
Brea strategy has that foundation of
wanting to move forward with um

576
00:47:30,560 --> 00:47:36,480
reinvigorating the downtown business
improvement district as another

577
00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:41,760
community member mentioned, right? We
need to demonstrate the value for them

578
00:47:38,480 --> 00:47:47,839
and help them u navigate that. Uh but I
think that's the other thing to realize

579
00:47:43,839 --> 00:47:51,839
in terms of capacity and where that
energy can lie.

580
00:47:49,599 --> 00:47:56,800
» Yeah. No, I think it's it's a good it's
a good point, but also see like what

581
00:47:55,119 --> 00:48:02,160
we're capable of when the city seems to
convene these like like Thursday live

582
00:47:59,760 --> 00:48:06,560
and and so bringing those partnerships
but kind of seems like the city

583
00:48:04,079 --> 00:48:10,160
» could maybe convene those and and push
that forward. We need those

584
00:48:08,240 --> 00:48:14,640
organizations to convene I think is I
guess where I'm identifying like we

585
00:48:12,720 --> 00:48:19,680
don't have a downtown bid. It's been on
pause. So we need to get those

586
00:48:17,200 --> 00:48:24,640
organizations running so that we can
convene them to move forward cuz for

587
00:48:22,160 --> 00:48:31,200
example Thursday live yes we make that
convening um we are that convenor but we

588
00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:37,119
do rely on PARF to actually produce the
event right. So we need to find that

589
00:48:33,359 --> 00:48:41,280
partner or establish that partner um in
order to move through the larger scale.

590
00:48:39,599 --> 00:48:45,520
So I think what I'm hearing is is that
there's a desire to continue down that

591
00:48:42,960 --> 00:48:49,760
path so that we can build on it to hold
those larger events.

592
00:48:46,880 --> 00:48:54,319
» And that's in the strategy.
>> It's foundationally in the strategy of

593
00:48:52,079 --> 00:48:58,079
building up our work with the chamber,
building up potentially reinvigorating

594
00:48:56,720 --> 00:49:03,520
that downtown business improvement
district. Um and by hosting regular

595
00:49:01,680 --> 00:49:09,680
connections with the different business
districts, it is forming a routinized

596
00:49:07,839 --> 00:49:13,680
cadence to help them coordinate and
organize together cuz it has to be that

597
00:49:12,079 --> 00:49:18,160
partnership, right? The city can't just
be the only one um leaning in. So I

598
00:49:16,319 --> 00:49:21,920
think that's you know these are stepping
stones as uh Mr. Andradi said

599
00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:25,599
identifying the relationships getting
them getting everybody to understand the

600
00:49:23,839 --> 00:49:30,000
value of that coordination and then
building as you build in the governance

601
00:49:27,680 --> 00:49:31,839
the investment and the programs.
>> Sounds good.

602
00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:39,440
» Awesome.
>> Thank you. Um and then on enhancing kind

603
00:49:36,800 --> 00:49:43,880
of the PaloAlto
brand um

604
00:49:44,480 --> 00:49:52,240
I think that seem I think that sounds
like a a good idea. I think I have a

605
00:49:49,440 --> 00:49:55,200
better sense of what you what you mean
by that. I know something we've, you

606
00:49:53,920 --> 00:50:02,079
know, kind of talked about over the
years as well is

607
00:49:58,960 --> 00:50:11,599
um kind of literally leaning into kind
of the PaloAlto brand and ways in which

608
00:50:06,000 --> 00:50:15,839
we can almost market it in in ways and
whether that's partnering with another

609
00:50:14,160 --> 00:50:21,599
group or selling our own kind of
PaloAlto swag. I mean, I've I've noticed

610
00:50:18,720 --> 00:50:27,119
at at times when other stores have have
done that that has been like Patagonia

611
00:50:23,520 --> 00:50:32,319
and did kind of a some sweatshirts and
things with the PaloAlto uh with Palo

612
00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:38,559
Alto on it. And I've heard that that was
like really popular. And if I go around,

613
00:50:35,599 --> 00:50:43,599
it's I know um
I have this there's this there's this

614
00:50:41,520 --> 00:50:49,680
great brand in California. They make
hats with like cities kind of on them

615
00:50:46,559 --> 00:50:53,119
and they do it for just all. Anytime
I've gone around and I've worn it,

616
00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:58,160
people are excited about it. Well, where
did you get that? So, I think there was

617
00:50:54,640 --> 00:51:01,680
an an interest in in that and I don't
think we've ever leaned into it. I know

618
00:50:59,599 --> 00:51:06,079
I think it's a small piece of this, but
I'd love I'd love to see that kind of

619
00:51:04,480 --> 00:51:11,760
built out a little more. I I think
there's a demand for it. Um

620
00:51:08,800 --> 00:51:16,640
» Yeah. Thank you. And
I even saw was Walgreens had some

621
00:51:15,040 --> 00:51:23,200
PaloAlto
swag and it was Yeah, somebody I think

622
00:51:20,319 --> 00:51:28,720
my wife bought me a It's It is not good
quality. I've never [snorts]

623
00:51:24,960 --> 00:51:31,520
I have never worn it. It's terrible. So,
but even they're getting into it. I've

624
00:51:30,079 --> 00:51:36,240
never I've never gone into a Walgreens
in any other city that had swag of that.

625
00:51:34,319 --> 00:51:40,559
So, I think there's there's a real
desire for it out there. Um, and then

626
00:51:38,800 --> 00:51:46,079
finally, I've always been kind of
surprised that we don't lean into more

627
00:51:42,720 --> 00:51:51,359
to the history of Silicon Valley and
creating this as a as a destination. And

628
00:51:48,720 --> 00:51:56,720
there's so many incredible points of
interest just right here in downtown.

629
00:51:53,760 --> 00:52:02,319
And it's hard to show it off and there's
small little plaques and nothing of it's

630
00:52:00,480 --> 00:52:05,920
it's hard when I when I like when I
travel around the world where people

631
00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:09,040
want to come to Palo Alto and Silicon
Valley and I always have to kind of like

632
00:52:07,520 --> 00:52:12,559
say like yeah it's a great place but
there's also I don't know how you would

633
00:52:11,040 --> 00:52:18,160
get around and see these things as a as
a tourist. Um and and so yeah, I I think

634
00:52:16,559 --> 00:52:22,079
there's opportunities there to increase
an interest in tourism and making it a

635
00:52:20,240 --> 00:52:27,920
little easier to be able to find those
points of interest and celebrate it. And

636
00:52:25,680 --> 00:52:35,359
um so so I think that kind that could go
into enhancing the PaloAlto brand.

637
00:52:32,480 --> 00:52:39,440
If I may, uh, just as an example, Cal
Train reached out to economic

638
00:52:37,280 --> 00:52:45,599
development and they've started this
promotion where at every Cal Train stop,

639
00:52:43,119 --> 00:52:51,119
they are adding interest points and
things to do, shop, um, dine on their

640
00:52:49,280 --> 00:52:56,559
website. And so they reached out to us
and I provided an interest point for

641
00:52:53,280 --> 00:53:02,319
downtown, the museum, the HP garage, a
variety of course of hotels and uh,

642
00:52:59,440 --> 00:53:08,400
retail and restaurants. And so that I
thought was a very creative way of

643
00:53:04,480 --> 00:53:14,640
utilizing the train stops. And here for
us, Cal Train, this is the second um

644
00:53:10,640 --> 00:53:19,599
highest used Cal Train line after uh San
Francisco's uh Fourth and King station.

645
00:53:17,599 --> 00:53:24,000
So uh things like that, just walking
tours would be something that's

646
00:53:21,040 --> 00:53:29,119
interested. Our um website that we're
working on or chamber working on will

647
00:53:26,319 --> 00:53:36,160
have a aspect where you can plan your
day. And so it it will have an

648
00:53:32,880 --> 00:53:41,920
interactive approach to a variety of uh
places to visit interest points from the

649
00:53:38,960 --> 00:53:46,240
bay to the hillside. So we look forward
to sharing more of that when it's ready.

650
00:53:44,480 --> 00:53:49,960
» Yeah. Yeah. I'm looking forward to that.
>> Okay. Thank you.

651
00:53:50,240 --> 00:53:57,760
» Okay. Uh I'll comment on some comments
my colleagues have made. Events I

652
00:53:55,920 --> 00:54:02,720
totally agree. I think like Pride event
downtown that was a really good social

653
00:54:00,640 --> 00:54:08,559
event and we we had so many people
crammed on King Hall King Plaza was a

654
00:54:06,240 --> 00:54:13,119
really good use of our space and having
more events like that whether they be

655
00:54:10,160 --> 00:54:16,480
here or Ramona. Uh it'd be great like on
Thrive City up in the city, they will

656
00:54:14,880 --> 00:54:19,920
have sporting events on the big screen
and people will just come and sit down

657
00:54:17,920 --> 00:54:23,280
and it becomes a social event and
they'll have some food trucks there and

658
00:54:21,599 --> 00:54:26,240
but they the big thing is that you're
coming watching this event and instead

659
00:54:24,880 --> 00:54:30,559
of watching it at home you're watching
it with your friends or with the rest of

660
00:54:28,960 --> 00:54:37,119
the community and that's a really good
thing. So anything we do to encourage

661
00:54:32,640 --> 00:54:40,720
that? Uh we had the art walk. Uh do you
have any information on how well that

662
00:54:38,800 --> 00:54:44,720
worked? I wanted to come down but I
missed that date.

663
00:54:42,480 --> 00:54:50,880
» Let's see if if Guom is still here.
There is a series where Guom uh is is

664
00:54:48,559 --> 00:54:57,040
partnering with Pamela Walsh of of
Pamela Walsh Galleries. It's a uh

665
00:54:54,079 --> 00:55:02,559
monthly series that I think goes through
November. Um

666
00:54:59,839 --> 00:55:07,359
there has been one and I heard from Miss
Walsh that it was very successful. I

667
00:55:04,720 --> 00:55:13,040
think there were five participating
galleries and we're all uh excited about

668
00:55:10,319 --> 00:55:19,119
Hower and Worth opening on October 3rd.
So that would be a new stop and from

669
00:55:16,800 --> 00:55:23,359
what I understand every art gallery
that's participating in the art walk

670
00:55:21,200 --> 00:55:28,720
would also then intend to have a
downtown restaurant that is providing

671
00:55:25,839 --> 00:55:33,440
food at the art at the art galleries and
and potential promotions there. So it's

672
00:55:31,040 --> 00:55:40,119
it's a priv it's a partnership. come up
here and talk if you want.

673
00:55:35,359 --> 00:55:40,119
» You come to a mic so you can

674
00:55:40,240 --> 00:55:44,640
» Yeah, we change a little bit of our
strategy on that. We have a website

675
00:55:42,960 --> 00:55:50,319
that's been created that will be
published hopefully next week. Um, and

676
00:55:47,920 --> 00:55:54,960
we do have all uh five galleries and
then Hower and Worth. Like I said, I'm

677
00:55:51,920 --> 00:56:00,799
doing their event October 3rd. Um, so
that's their opening weekend. It's a

678
00:55:57,440 --> 00:56:05,280
Saturday, I think. Um, but uh five gall
are on there. If you visit one gallery

679
00:56:03,359 --> 00:56:08,400
and get a stamp, then you can go to
participating food service

680
00:56:06,480 --> 00:56:12,400
establishments and get a discount. I
think it's going to be 20% off an

681
00:56:10,079 --> 00:56:17,200
appetizer or a coffee. [snorts] So,
obviously, my two restaurants are there.

682
00:56:14,960 --> 00:56:21,359
Uh, Osteria
is is participating. Uh, Nancy is as

683
00:56:19,839 --> 00:56:27,040
well. And then the coffee shop next to
it. Rob Fischer has not texted me back,

684
00:56:23,839 --> 00:56:31,920
so it's been a week. Um, but if I see
him in the streets, I will bother him

685
00:56:30,000 --> 00:56:37,680
about this. We want to try to keep it
within the blocks of the galleries. So,

686
00:56:33,920 --> 00:56:42,319
that's the idea. Um, and whether um
galleries want to partner with a

687
00:56:39,599 --> 00:56:45,599
restaurant to provide wine or beer or
non-alcoholic beverages, they're welcome

688
00:56:43,760 --> 00:56:49,920
to, but we didn't want to have to manage
that part. So, that's kind of up to the

689
00:56:47,040 --> 00:56:53,920
galleries. Um, otherwise, you visit a
gallery, get a stamp, and go get your

690
00:56:51,680 --> 00:56:57,839
discount.
>> And the city through communications does

691
00:56:56,000 --> 00:57:00,319
also help to market the
>> Okay, that was the next thing. Is there

692
00:56:59,119 --> 00:57:03,440
something that the city can do to help
us?

693
00:57:01,119 --> 00:57:07,920
» Yeah, as soon as I get this website,
it's done, but as soon as I get approved

694
00:57:05,119 --> 00:57:12,240
by the other the galleries, um because
everybody has an opinion as you well

695
00:57:10,079 --> 00:57:15,599
know. Um then we'll have it up and then
we can provide a link for you. Um it's a

696
00:57:14,160 --> 00:57:18,079
very simple site with a map and what
we're doing.

697
00:57:16,480 --> 00:57:20,799
» Did you have to do any permits or was
this just

698
00:57:18,960 --> 00:57:23,040
» No, because it's not it's not existing
anywhere other than within the units

699
00:57:22,319 --> 00:57:30,079
themselves.
>> Okay. you know, so um

700
00:57:26,160 --> 00:57:33,920
I think in the future we'd love to have
maybe, you know, it's a seasonal, we're

701
00:57:32,079 --> 00:57:38,640
thinking about it as a seasonal series.
So there'll be fall um like summer,

702
00:57:35,839 --> 00:57:42,720
fall, and then spring summer with breaks
in between so we don't kind of

703
00:57:40,319 --> 00:57:47,359
oversaturate the market. Um and also the
rainy months just aren't great for doing

704
00:57:44,319 --> 00:57:52,240
stuff like this. Um, and if once a
season we can have an event that spills

705
00:57:49,599 --> 00:57:56,799
over onto Ramona Street, maybe I uh
invite some wineries to participate.

706
00:57:54,319 --> 00:58:01,599
Obviously, again, this is um like you
were saying, it's a lot harder than it

707
00:57:58,400 --> 00:58:05,200
sounds getting all this together, but I
think the housing worth block party will

708
00:58:03,119 --> 00:58:10,079
be a good test for that. And if we could
repeat a block party that's around the

709
00:58:07,280 --> 00:58:14,640
art walk at some point maybe. But um
obviously we would need sponsors and

710
00:58:11,920 --> 00:58:19,880
someone to you know spearhead this whole
thing which is uh just harder than it

711
00:58:16,880 --> 00:58:19,880
looks.

712
00:58:19,920 --> 00:58:26,799
» Have you looked at all like big screens
on Ramona? Is that feasible economically

713
00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:31,280
or is that just too hard to do?
>> Uh so I have we have screens on Ramona

714
00:58:29,680 --> 00:58:37,920
during the World Cup and we'll have them
probably during football season. Um,

715
00:58:35,839 --> 00:58:43,520
so big screens on Ramona would have been
a licensing with FIFA or a lawsuit. Um,

716
00:58:41,280 --> 00:58:47,920
I mean the problem now honestly is that
everybody wants my money. Uh, so

717
00:58:46,559 --> 00:58:55,920
anything you do, the NFL is going to
want a piece of it. Um, you know, it's

718
00:58:51,359 --> 00:59:01,599
just um it's just endless. Um, but so
again, if we had a partner,

719
00:58:59,280 --> 00:59:07,359
well, I mean, I'll tell you, gambling
sites are contacting us now.

720
00:59:05,760 --> 00:59:11,359
It's not something we're necessarily
interested in, but we are talking to

721
00:59:08,640 --> 00:59:16,079
them to see what their thoughts are. Um,
it's not really within our values, but,

722
00:59:13,920 --> 00:59:19,760
you know, uh, these days, you know, you
got to do what you got to do. So, you

723
00:59:18,400 --> 00:59:23,440
know, if there's partnerships and people
want to pay for a screen and a city

724
00:59:21,680 --> 00:59:27,440
wants to approve having a bunch of
people out there for Monday Night

725
00:59:25,280 --> 00:59:34,079
Football or whatever it may be, but you
know, all this takes money and manpower

726
00:59:30,160 --> 00:59:37,920
and permits. Um, and uh, well, I've done
my fair share of permitting in Palo

727
00:59:35,280 --> 00:59:45,440
Alto, so if I can avoid doing that, I
will. [laughter] Um, but you know, it's

728
00:59:42,319 --> 00:59:50,079
a cool idea. Um, but everybody needs to
be on board so that we're not, you know,

729
00:59:48,000 --> 00:59:53,359
constantly hitting up against a wall,
you know. And I think like, you know,

730
00:59:51,920 --> 00:59:56,720
when you talk to people individually,
whether it's the fire department, police

731
00:59:55,200 --> 01:00:01,200
department, every everybody wants to
help, you know. Um, I think it gets

732
00:59:59,760 --> 01:00:05,680
complicated when they're not talking to
each other and nobody's kind of leading

733
01:00:03,359 --> 01:00:12,079
the charge. But, um, for the most part,
everybody's very helpful, you know.

734
01:00:08,720 --> 01:00:15,440
uh sometimes contradictory, but
it's another conversation.

735
01:00:13,520 --> 01:00:19,599
» Well, talk to Alex and Ruth. [laughter]
Need need help. They're here to help.

736
01:00:18,480 --> 01:00:26,640
They're from the government and they're
here to help. So, okay. Uh next, George

737
01:00:24,480 --> 01:00:31,760
talked about the hotels. Yeah. I I think
design standards have changed, right? It

738
01:00:29,680 --> 01:00:36,480
what used to be a big hotel is now kind
of considered small. and make sure that

739
01:00:33,520 --> 01:00:41,680
our hotel design standards are evolving
because if you have a a small hotel

740
01:00:39,359 --> 01:00:44,000
that's, you know, making some money, you
don't really have a big incentive to

741
01:00:42,960 --> 01:00:50,079
knock it down and build something
bigger. And so we really need to take a

742
01:00:46,880 --> 01:00:56,079
look at say what what design standards
are right for the hotels and do we you

743
01:00:54,000 --> 01:01:01,920
know what what other cities have to
attract new who new new hotel money and

744
01:00:59,599 --> 01:01:06,160
what do hotel operators some of these
smaller hotels especially in El Camino

745
01:01:03,839 --> 01:01:09,760
what do they need to make it worthwhile
for them to upgrade because when they

746
01:01:07,839 --> 01:01:16,319
knock down a hotel and build a new one
they have more rooms they're newer rooms

747
01:01:12,640 --> 01:01:21,520
higher cost stays and so that helps us
economically. So we should make sure

748
01:01:18,559 --> 01:01:27,200
that we're talking to them.
Okay. And then office space. Yes. Uh

749
01:01:24,160 --> 01:01:33,760
that's a sticky issue because
uh yeah, we don't want to be anti-off

750
01:01:29,599 --> 01:01:38,640
and and not evolve, but we also have to
be very judicious and and selective of

751
01:01:36,319 --> 01:01:46,559
what we say because we have a 3 to one
jobs housing imbalance. And you know,

752
01:01:42,400 --> 01:01:52,880
housing is an enabler for jobs. It it it
if you have available housing

753
01:01:49,520 --> 01:01:58,400
uh that's re appropriately priced,
you're going to be able to attract jobs

754
01:01:55,119 --> 01:02:01,440
more in offices. But if I mean that's
one of the big things of this whole

755
01:01:59,680 --> 01:02:05,680
region is that it housing is so
expensive that people don't want to move

756
01:02:02,960 --> 01:02:08,799
here. And so then what happens is the
only people can move here are the really

757
01:02:07,040 --> 01:02:14,559
high-end. So you would end up with a
very skewed community. So we have to be

758
01:02:12,640 --> 01:02:18,240
really careful about not just saying,
"Oh yeah, jobs are good." Because jobs

759
01:02:16,640 --> 01:02:21,520
are more lucrative than housing. And so
we have to be careful that we don't have

760
01:02:19,760 --> 01:02:26,160
a disincentive for housing because we
need a balanced

761
01:02:23,599 --> 01:02:32,880
and this uh that's how we got to be a
3-1 is we didn't care about uh creating

762
01:02:29,440 --> 01:02:39,200
keeping a balanced community. So that's
um we can't ignore our jobs, housing,

763
01:02:35,599 --> 01:02:45,119
and balance. Okay. So, now back to the
I'm off my soap box now. Be careful if

764
01:02:42,240 --> 01:02:50,960
you wind me up here. Um,
uh, packet page eight, you talk about

765
01:02:47,839 --> 01:02:56,079
talking with at least three of 25 sales
tax generators.

766
01:02:53,760 --> 01:03:00,720
Uh, why I mean, I would think that we'd
want to talk to as many as we could. It

767
01:02:57,599 --> 01:03:07,119
says up to three, I believe was said.
And yes, the reason being is that we

768
01:03:03,920 --> 01:03:12,000
were in initially intending to be before
you in March and recognizing that we're

769
01:03:09,680 --> 01:03:16,880
moving into September, I reduced that
number in order for staff to be able to

770
01:03:14,960 --> 01:03:22,480
achieve this by the end of the year. So,
we can definitely I believe meet with

771
01:03:19,520 --> 01:03:26,799
three of the top 25 sales tax
generators. Uh recently, city manager

772
01:03:25,280 --> 01:03:31,839
and assistant city manager and I had a
conversation with uh with SpaceX and the

773
01:03:29,520 --> 01:03:36,480
real estate team. So that is a corporate
visit I would [clears throat] say. Um if

774
01:03:34,160 --> 01:03:40,640
we were at the beginning of the year the
outreach number would be larger would be

775
01:03:39,440 --> 01:03:45,280
Yeah.
>> So yes we would like to increase that

776
01:03:42,880 --> 01:03:46,960
number. I'm just this is meant for the
calendar year 202.

777
01:03:46,640 --> 01:03:48,240
» Okay.
>> Yeah.

778
01:03:47,440 --> 01:03:52,079
» Yeah.
>> Also council member and committee I'll

779
01:03:50,000 --> 01:03:55,760
just remind you you're looking at your
economic development team. So the Brea

780
01:03:54,319 --> 01:04:01,599
strategy along with the council
priorities and the underlying need to

781
01:03:58,079 --> 01:04:06,000
just make sure we're facilitating um
business applications through the

782
01:04:03,119 --> 01:04:12,880
permitting process at in an efficient uh
and clip uh certain clip to maintain the

783
01:04:09,760 --> 01:04:20,240
business time um I can't find my words
today. Um is a large body of work for

784
01:04:17,039 --> 01:04:24,480
two people. So bear in mind this
strategy and as much as I hear the wants

785
01:04:22,400 --> 01:04:28,000
from the committee members, we also are
looking at a capacity issue. Um so

786
01:04:26,880 --> 01:04:32,079
making sure we're building the
foundation and using our resources in

787
01:04:30,160 --> 01:04:36,480
the most efficient and effective
fashion.

788
01:04:32,960 --> 01:04:39,440
» Yeah, I I appreciate that comment.
I just always worried about being

789
01:04:38,160 --> 01:04:44,559
isolated and not knowing what the
business community needs. And so I want

790
01:04:42,640 --> 01:04:49,839
to interact, but I agree that there may
be things that are higher priority. Uh

791
01:04:48,160 --> 01:04:55,039
the real estate assets, I think that's a
really good idea. If we have and

792
01:04:52,559 --> 01:05:00,079
especially if there's empty space that's
not being used, renting that out to a

793
01:04:57,839 --> 01:05:04,160
hotel, that may encourage people to come
to the hotel, which gains us money, but

794
01:05:02,240 --> 01:05:07,440
we also can then rent the spaces out and
get money. So, it's a win-win. So, I

795
01:05:05,920 --> 01:05:11,920
really like that idea.
>> And I would add it also activates

796
01:05:09,359 --> 01:05:18,799
certain levels of garage structures. And
by activating the uh certain levels, it

797
01:05:15,520 --> 01:05:24,240
can detour u graffiti and other
activities that uh sometimes we see

798
01:05:21,119 --> 01:05:30,160
around town. Uh that's a good segue.
Next question is uh about homeless

799
01:05:27,520 --> 01:05:37,200
people and crime and things like that.
Uh do we have a good feeling? Are people

800
01:05:34,079 --> 01:05:42,720
in the especially downtown content with
this status quo or is it I mean I when

801
01:05:40,000 --> 01:05:46,720
we talked when we had that coffee over a
couple months ago that people were

802
01:05:44,160 --> 01:05:49,760
really irritated and I suspect that
things haven't changed.

803
01:05:49,695 --> 01:05:53,839
» [clears throat]
>> Let me start by saying that if our

804
01:05:51,359 --> 01:05:59,119
police chief was here, he would remind
uh us all that there are a couple of

805
01:05:56,880 --> 01:06:05,839
officers that are now on the street
based on a grant related to retail

806
01:06:02,960 --> 01:06:09,680
theft. And so
we're moving in the right direction in

807
01:06:07,200 --> 01:06:15,280
that respect. That grant I believe is
expected to expire in about a year. Um

808
01:06:13,359 --> 01:06:19,200
so another plug for the business
improvement district, which I think is

809
01:06:16,880 --> 01:06:27,359
important. Um I think it just depends on
who uh is at the table in terms of their

810
01:06:22,640 --> 01:06:31,920
experience and um sharing of yeah what
what's been happening. We heard from

811
01:06:29,359 --> 01:06:40,000
Guom earlier uh he gave us an example of
of uh recent activity and so um

812
01:06:37,760 --> 01:06:43,839
clearly I mean we want to appreciate and
and understand that this is happening

813
01:06:41,920 --> 01:06:52,480
especially with particular businesses. I
won't I don't need to mention the names.

814
01:06:46,319 --> 01:06:58,240
Um but uh homelessness uh crime and um
use of drugs has been reported to the

815
01:06:55,599 --> 01:07:05,119
economic development team. We often
remind the business owners to ensure to

816
01:07:01,760 --> 01:07:09,119
report and as they report this to the
police department, it just creates an

817
01:07:07,200 --> 01:07:13,200
opportunity for bundling these
citations. the district attorney has an

818
01:07:11,039 --> 01:07:17,440
opportunity to then look at it from a
from a

819
01:07:15,039 --> 01:07:23,119
from a more macro level perspective. And
um a district attorney

820
01:07:20,400 --> 01:07:27,839
participated in our in last week's the
week before uh downtown and uh

821
01:07:25,760 --> 01:07:35,440
University Avenue stakeholder and he
helped um share information related to

822
01:07:31,440 --> 01:07:38,799
that process. So yes, it it exists and
we're working through it. I will pause

823
01:07:37,119 --> 01:07:42,880
there and look to our assistant city
manager in case she has anything to

824
01:07:40,559 --> 01:07:48,400
share and or Ruth.
>> Sure. I think I'll just um acknowledge

825
01:07:45,359 --> 01:07:52,880
that there it's a challenging area um
and there are concerns in the business

826
01:07:51,119 --> 01:07:57,200
community that staff continue to hear on
a monthly basis and similar to the

827
01:07:55,359 --> 01:08:02,400
conversation that council had on Monday
about oversized vehicles and how to

828
01:07:59,359 --> 01:08:07,039
manage that um challenging and vexing
situation. There's no silver bullet.

829
01:08:05,119 --> 01:08:11,760
There's no this is what's going to fix
it all. Um but what we can commit to is

830
01:08:09,760 --> 01:08:17,120
is that we continue to listen to the
businesses, adapt and adjust. Our police

831
01:08:14,319 --> 01:08:23,120
resources are out there um trying to
educate both the businesses, their

832
01:08:19,120 --> 01:08:30,799
staff, and um using what resources we do
have to manage um the situation. And um

833
01:08:28,799 --> 01:08:35,600
I think it will continue obviously to be
a challenge. Um, but I do think we're

834
01:08:33,199 --> 01:08:39,359
committed to continuing to hear and do
our best to address.

835
01:08:37,040 --> 01:08:43,839
» Yeah. It also comes down to resources.
Again, it does, right? The the chief,

836
01:08:41,359 --> 01:08:49,520
we're asking him to do a lot. OSDs has
really taxed the the police department.

837
01:08:46,960 --> 01:08:53,839
» Yeah. The grant that uh Mr. Andrade is
identifying is a really helpful piece.

838
01:08:51,759 --> 01:08:57,359
Um because typically we would use our
special projects detail of police

839
01:08:55,759 --> 01:09:02,400
staffing to help with some of these
issues, but we've got them almost fully

840
01:09:00,080 --> 01:09:08,159
dedicated to helping with the oversized
vehicles programming. Um and work that

841
01:09:06,080 --> 01:09:12,400
we are doing there in terms of
monitoring and citations and the like.

842
01:09:10,319 --> 01:09:17,520
And so this grant enables us when we
have officers that can come in on

843
01:09:14,400 --> 01:09:21,920
overtime to do retail details basically
in the downtown area uh to help bolster

844
01:09:20,000 --> 01:09:25,279
staffing. Obviously it depends on
staffing availability. So it's not

845
01:09:23,679 --> 01:09:29,839
consistent but it is a really helpful
resource that we're able to add and

846
01:09:27,679 --> 01:09:32,960
support but uh until the funding runs
out.

847
01:09:30,560 --> 01:09:39,600
» Okay. Thank you. That's all I have.
George or Greer? Any follow-ups? Okay.

848
01:09:38,000 --> 01:09:43,920
Do you want anything you want to add or
you you said your piece?

849
01:09:41,839 --> 01:09:49,359
» Yes. Uh we've been taking notes and
really appreciate the questions and your

850
01:09:47,359 --> 01:09:52,960
thoughtful process and making sure we
have a a solid foundation for economic

851
01:09:51,359 --> 01:09:58,080
development moving forward. Thank you.
>> I I did have one one thing I I missed.

852
01:09:55,520 --> 01:10:02,000
Uh so Thursday Night Live, we get a lot
of people there. Uh are we getting those

853
01:10:00,480 --> 01:10:06,640
people to go to the restaurants or are
they just hanging out?

854
01:10:04,159 --> 01:10:11,199
And I've heard initially when Third
Thursday started, I had heard reports

855
01:10:09,120 --> 01:10:15,120
that the some of the restaurants weren't
thrilled because they weren't getting

856
01:10:12,719 --> 01:10:22,080
the business they expected. What we've
been seeing is that uh 5:00 p.m. start

857
01:10:19,440 --> 01:10:28,960
time might be a little early, but come
around 5:45 6:15 things are really busy

858
01:10:25,920 --> 01:10:34,640
on Calab. both
regarding people that are there for the

859
01:10:31,040 --> 01:10:40,960
music and listening and dancing along
with the music, but also restaurant

860
01:10:36,960 --> 01:10:45,760
patrons. So last month at the winewalk
by

861
01:10:43,040 --> 01:10:50,719
yeah by 6:30
Kal was as busy as I've seen it in my

862
01:10:48,719 --> 01:10:56,239
eight months of working with the city of
Palo Alto. So each consecutive

863
01:10:54,320 --> 01:11:00,640
activation of the entertainment zone as
well as Thursday live, we're seeing more

864
01:10:58,000 --> 01:11:04,080
and more people come onto the street.
>> Okay.

865
01:11:00,960 --> 01:11:07,280
» We're just having to rightsize the start
time

866
01:11:05,679 --> 01:11:12,400
» and
the um entertainment zone that's been

867
01:11:09,360 --> 01:11:17,600
working well. Um it has and yes, going
back to last month, it was a wine walk.

868
01:11:14,400 --> 01:11:24,000
So uh businesses like Vina Wine uh did
really well. We're hearing from other

869
01:11:20,560 --> 01:11:29,120
businesses that it's uh it's definitely
trending in the right direction.

870
01:11:26,080 --> 01:11:34,560
Tomorrow we'll start the survey so we'll
have data to share with you and have

871
01:11:31,920 --> 01:11:38,880
more data and anecdotal information to
share. But yes.

872
01:11:36,000 --> 01:11:42,719
» Okay. Thank you. Okay. We'll move on to
the next item then.

873
01:11:40,320 --> 01:11:46,719
» I believe staff you would like a motion
to approve this.

874
01:11:45,199 --> 01:11:49,600
» Yes. Motion.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking this was

875
01:11:48,880 --> 01:11:54,800
just study.
>> We'd like to get uh well, we want to

876
01:11:51,360 --> 01:11:58,640
make sure we get um to the city council
for for consideration and hopefully

877
01:11:57,600 --> 01:12:04,560
approve.
>> Okay, we have a motion.

878
01:12:01,920 --> 01:12:10,280
» I'll move the staff recommendation.
Second.

879
01:12:05,360 --> 01:12:10,280
» Okay, cler can take a vote.

880
01:12:23,760 --> 01:12:28,000
Okay. Vice Mayor Stone,
>> yes.

881
01:12:27,199 --> 01:12:29,360
» Chair Rectal,
>> yes.

882
01:12:28,400 --> 01:12:33,360
» Council member L.
>> Yes.

883
01:12:29,760 --> 01:12:38,640
» Vote. A motion carries unanimously.
>> Okay. Thank you. And now we will move on

884
01:12:36,400 --> 01:12:43,679
to the economic development report
activity activity report for August.

885
01:12:45,625 --> 01:12:49,360
» [snorts]
>> Correct. All committee members, thank

886
01:12:47,760 --> 01:12:54,679
you for your time today. I'll be going
over the economic development activity

887
01:12:51,120 --> 01:12:54,679
report for August.

888
01:12:54,960 --> 01:13:04,560
» Get to the second slide.
>> This is a area. I'm getting

889
01:13:00,000 --> 01:13:08,800
kind of scary. Is there a sea level?
Somebody left me a car. My brother my

890
01:13:06,239 --> 01:13:13,840
school left me a card. My brother left
me a card or someone community doesn't

891
01:13:11,920 --> 01:13:18,679
want me to go.
>> Where is C14 in this garage?

892
01:13:24,960 --> 01:13:29,120
» Thank you.
>> Go ahead.

893
01:13:27,360 --> 01:13:33,199
» Awesome. We'll go ahead started. Uh so
for business updates, uh general updates

894
01:13:31,280 --> 01:13:37,199
for just what's happening around town is
destination marketing. marketing like

895
01:13:34,960 --> 01:13:41,600
Alex mentioned uh we are working with
the chamber and our hotel layers to get

896
01:13:39,679 --> 01:13:45,920
um that information on there and what we
should be promoting and looking into

897
01:13:43,360 --> 01:13:50,800
further. Um and so again hoping for that
end of year implementation. Uh next is

898
01:13:48,719 --> 01:13:54,320
the festival of arts happened this past
week. Um if you were there it was just a

899
01:13:52,800 --> 01:13:58,159
great turnout. Saw a lot of people on
the streets. I'm still trying to get

900
01:13:56,480 --> 01:14:02,400
metrics on whether or not it was
successful for the businesses of

901
01:13:59,520 --> 01:14:08,880
patreons going inside um their business,
but there was an about 1500 at a time um

902
01:14:06,239 --> 01:14:15,760
for both days. So, it's great to see a
vibrancy in downtown. Um next we have

903
01:14:11,840 --> 01:14:23,920
our BTS concert um back in May. Um so,
we got about 152 local and non-local

904
01:14:20,239 --> 01:14:30,719
attendees. Um so about 41% of them were
local regionally um and 59 um attendees

905
01:14:28,640 --> 01:14:35,600
were uh non-local and so we're working
with Stanford to get a better um better

906
01:14:33,600 --> 01:14:40,880
insight on what that impact looks like
directly for the city of Palto.

907
01:14:38,400 --> 01:14:46,560
Jumping into California Avenue like Alex
mentioned our next event is tomorrow

908
01:14:43,840 --> 01:14:50,560
from 5 to 8. Hope to see you all there.
um excited again to kick off our

909
01:14:48,400 --> 01:14:55,040
entertainment zone uh for the third
time. Um to Alex's point, we've just

910
01:14:52,960 --> 01:15:00,080
seen a lot of people engaging and and
being excited for it. Um you'll see on

911
01:14:57,360 --> 01:15:04,480
the image on the top at the bottom right
um one of the employees um that

912
01:15:02,800 --> 01:15:10,320
implementing that wristband getting the
cups and you can just see the stir um in

913
01:15:07,760 --> 01:15:14,960
on calav the excitement behind that. and
to Alex's point and mentioned um we will

914
01:15:12,800 --> 01:15:18,800
be evaluating the entertainment zone as
this is something that we're hoping to

915
01:15:16,159 --> 01:15:24,159
consider for other business districts
and also look into California Avenue um

916
01:15:22,000 --> 01:15:29,120
for the dining program implementation.
There's a couple pieces to this. Uh we

917
01:15:26,320 --> 01:15:33,360
have a repaving happening September 28th
uh to October 10th. Um that is something

918
01:15:31,600 --> 01:15:36,560
that we're proactively working with our
businesses to make sure that they're

919
01:15:34,960 --> 01:15:40,719
aware of this and the impacts that are
coming to the street. Um, and this goes

920
01:15:38,719 --> 01:15:45,600
handinhand with the implementation of
the guidelines. Um, we want to make sure

921
01:15:42,800 --> 01:15:49,520
that as soon as the repaving is
completed, um, that all of our

922
01:15:47,440 --> 01:15:54,080
businesses come into compliance um, with
the guidelines. Um, and so we've been

923
01:15:52,159 --> 01:15:57,120
meeting with our stakeholders um, and
letting them know that we're here and

924
01:15:55,520 --> 01:16:01,840
ready to support them to go through
their permitting process um, as we know

925
01:15:59,760 --> 01:16:07,320
that it could be quite a cool to
implement new items. Uh, next slide,

926
01:16:04,320 --> 01:16:07,320
please.

927
01:16:09,440 --> 01:16:17,520
Um and with that we're also tracking
business openings. Uh so we had best uh

928
01:16:14,400 --> 01:16:22,159
Beastro Demia open back in June. A lot
of movement and excitement there. We had

929
01:16:19,840 --> 01:16:27,920
uh Marv Grammen open on University
Avenue um in July. Uh and we also had

930
01:16:25,199 --> 01:16:32,159
the Card Vault um open in Town and
Country uh two weekends ago and they had

931
01:16:30,560 --> 01:16:36,239
a special appearance. Tom Brady was
there. Um so a lot of movement and

932
01:16:33,840 --> 01:16:41,520
traction there. Um we also like you
heard through conver previous uh item

933
01:16:39,199 --> 01:16:45,040
Hower and Worth is opening up October
3rd. We're proactively working with them

934
01:16:43,600 --> 01:16:49,040
through their special event permit
ensuring that we're working at their

935
01:16:46,800 --> 01:16:54,960
pace um and getting that forward. Um,
and we also have a Vietnamese restaurant

936
01:16:51,440 --> 01:16:58,239
coming to town, Mason, um, Mison Saigon,
um, that is going through the permitting

937
01:16:56,480 --> 01:17:01,760
process again, facilitating that with
them, making the introduction as

938
01:16:59,520 --> 01:17:05,840
economic development, uh, that we are a
resource to get them through the

939
01:17:03,520 --> 01:17:11,600
process. Um, and so with that, we have
with business openings comes um, the

940
01:17:09,600 --> 01:17:15,440
employment and labor force behind that.
And so this is just a metric we've been

941
01:17:13,440 --> 01:17:21,440
just tracking to see what has kind of
been happening um in our area um as well

942
01:17:18,400 --> 01:17:26,800
as regionally. And so we observed a drop
in employment between June of last year

943
01:17:23,920 --> 01:17:33,600
to June of this year. And we also
observed that we are the six sixth

944
01:17:29,679 --> 01:17:37,280
largest um employ employer um within the
Santa Clara County. Um and [snorts] so

945
01:17:35,360 --> 01:17:42,320
we're tracking that closely. Next slide
please. So

946
01:17:39,520 --> 01:17:45,920
» the labor force that's the people that
live in Palo Alto that are available to

947
01:17:44,960 --> 01:17:48,159
work.
>> Yes.

948
01:17:47,120 --> 01:17:51,040
» Okay.
>> Yeah. Gotcha.

949
01:17:49,040 --> 01:17:54,960
» Employment of those individuals that are
actually employed.

950
01:17:52,480 --> 01:17:58,080
» Okay. Gotcha.
>> Okay. Thank you.

951
01:17:55,840 --> 01:18:03,120
» Next slide, please.
Awesome. And we're also tracking retail

952
01:18:00,080 --> 01:18:09,120
property metrics. Um so quarter 2 of
2026, we're seeing an average annual

953
01:18:06,480 --> 01:18:15,520
asking rate. Um for the downtown area,
we saw um a minor increase from quarter

954
01:18:12,000 --> 01:18:20,080
2 of 2025 to quarter 2 of 2026. So it
was about less than a dollar there. Uh

955
01:18:17,520 --> 01:18:27,840
for retail vacancy rates, uh we saw a
minor decrease um from now showing 12.3%

956
01:18:24,239 --> 01:18:34,880
to last year 12.9. Um as well as our
retail square footage available um

957
01:18:30,080 --> 01:18:39,840
showing a decrease of uh about roughly 5
56,000 there. Um, and then our net

958
01:18:37,440 --> 01:18:44,719
absorption was positive, meaning that
there's a lot of demand for space. Um,

959
01:18:42,320 --> 01:18:50,400
and it's hard to accommodate as we go.
Um, as for Calav, we're we were able to

960
01:18:47,679 --> 01:18:54,640
track the average annual asking retail
rent. Um, the metric wasn't available to

961
01:18:52,719 --> 01:18:58,480
us, but again, happy to report on it
back um at our next meeting. Um, our

962
01:18:56,880 --> 01:19:05,679
retail vacancy rate, we're showing a
decrease um from 5.4% that is now to

963
01:19:02,960 --> 01:19:10,880
last year was 7.5%.
Um, so that's about one one and a half

964
01:19:08,239 --> 01:19:16,640
to 2% there. Um, for retail square
square footage available, we also saw a

965
01:19:13,520 --> 01:19:22,400
decrease from uh 17,000 approximately
where we're at now to last year of

966
01:19:19,199 --> 01:19:28,400
22,000 approximately. Um, and our net
absorption uh was a negative um one. So

967
01:19:26,000 --> 01:19:33,360
again, more spaces um have become
available. So with that, next slide,

968
01:19:31,440 --> 01:19:36,800
please. We conclude the presentation. So
I'll open up for Q&A.

969
01:19:42,960 --> 01:19:47,199
Okay,
>> there are no requests to speak for item

970
01:19:45,840 --> 01:19:51,480
two.
>> Okay, any questions?

971
01:19:51,760 --> 01:19:59,120
» Just do do we know do we know the total
economic impact on Palo Alto from

972
01:19:57,280 --> 01:20:05,199
certain special events like the BTS
concert or or World Cup activation? I

973
01:20:03,840 --> 01:20:08,640
mean, do we do we have a dollar amount
from that?

974
01:20:07,120 --> 01:20:13,040
» We don't. And so, that's something that
we're actually interested as well to

975
01:20:10,560 --> 01:20:16,320
track and see what impacts it has. Um,
especially knowing that Stanford is

976
01:20:14,719 --> 01:20:18,560
interested in more events in the future.
Um, so that's conversations we've had.

977
01:20:18,159 --> 01:20:23,840
» Okay.
>> Um, as for direct for promotions for

978
01:20:21,360 --> 01:20:27,320
World Cup, I don't believe so. and Alex
can jump in if

979
01:20:28,000 --> 01:20:34,719
» at the moment we do not have that
information but we will reach out to the

980
01:20:31,840 --> 01:20:39,280
Bay Area host committee um which is the
partner that we've been working with for

981
01:20:36,480 --> 01:20:44,560
a couple of years now we heard earlier
um in reference to licensing fees and

982
01:20:42,400 --> 01:20:52,159
things of that nature um I don't think
that data is available for FIFA

983
01:20:49,199 --> 01:20:56,960
however um anecdotally we have heard
from our restaurants bars. Earlier in

984
01:20:54,640 --> 01:21:02,800
the presentation, there was a matchwatch
uh flyer and at the bottom was a list of

985
01:20:59,600 --> 01:21:07,199
those uh businesses. I've talked to them
directly and they did better than

986
01:21:06,239 --> 01:21:11,120
expected.
>> Okay.

987
01:21:07,679 --> 01:21:17,760
» Um I don't have actual data numbers, but
just a casual conversation about how

988
01:21:13,920 --> 01:21:21,600
FIFA um during the month-long event and
was very positive.

989
01:21:19,199 --> 01:21:26,080
» Okay. You know, I I think be helpful to
know all this given with the with the

990
01:21:23,679 --> 01:21:30,640
Olympics coming up and likely more
concerts from from Stanford, just

991
01:21:28,640 --> 01:21:35,600
continue to understand what what worked,
what what didn't, and how can we

992
01:21:32,480 --> 01:21:38,320
continue to to um really lean into that
because we have a lot of special

993
01:21:36,880 --> 01:21:42,080
exciting opportunities coming up.
>> Yeah. From an economic perspective,

994
01:21:40,000 --> 01:21:46,640
we're very interested in looking at the
direct, indirect, and the induced cost.

995
01:21:45,120 --> 01:21:56,400
One thing that I feel like we're not
getting is the true direct Paulo Alto um

996
01:21:52,320 --> 01:22:01,920
uh positive externality number. I'm sure
it's positive. I just can't say at this

997
01:21:58,800 --> 01:22:05,040
point in time how positive. Uh but that
is something that we're seeking as well

998
01:22:03,600 --> 01:22:08,960
from a data perspective. Yeah.
>> Yeah. I' I've had several just of the

999
01:22:07,040 --> 01:22:13,600
interest around BTS. I've had several
people ask me what it was the economic

1000
01:22:11,600 --> 01:22:17,760
impact on on PaloAlto. So, I know
there's also, I think, just a general

1001
01:22:15,600 --> 01:22:24,880
community interest in in this.
>> Also, I will say, speaking of of BTS

1002
01:22:20,960 --> 01:22:31,040
alone, our downtown hotel core did very
well. Uh, we meet with our hotel general

1003
01:22:27,920 --> 01:22:34,560
managers on a monthly basis. And again,
in many respects, around the table,

1004
01:22:32,480 --> 01:22:40,719
they're in competition with one another,
but overall, the uh communication was um

1005
01:22:37,920 --> 01:22:45,679
that the three concert dates did really
well for local hotels. And so from a

1006
01:22:43,280 --> 01:22:50,880
toot perspective, I think from a
granular level, we can only get down to

1007
01:22:48,239 --> 01:22:57,920
the monthly toot
um uh data set, but we can do a

1008
01:22:55,840 --> 01:23:05,040
comparison to around the same time the
year before or compare it to how um

1009
01:23:01,280 --> 01:23:09,440
Coldplay did on the month of May 2025
for example, just to see the increase uh

1010
01:23:07,760 --> 01:23:13,679
or the comparable. So that's something
we we're interested in tracking as well.

1011
01:23:11,679 --> 01:23:17,840
Yeah. No, I think I think it would be I
think it'd be worth to do. So, I mean I

1012
01:23:15,840 --> 01:23:22,292
think we all felt the energy in the in
the city of the time. No, they're no

1013
01:23:19,920 --> 01:23:26,719
boys, but
[laughter]

1014
01:23:23,360 --> 01:23:32,960
just saying and
better. But um but it was fun. I I enjoy

1015
01:23:30,239 --> 01:23:39,920
what
>> Oh, I had tickets but didn't end up but

1016
01:23:35,600 --> 01:23:45,218
I've gone to the sphere so it was so
okay. I'm a BTS fan as well. Don't want

1017
01:23:42,719 --> 01:23:48,480
anyone coming after me cuz I know that's
[clears throat] the BTS army could be

1018
01:23:46,960 --> 01:23:54,960
scary.
>> I know it's already piling up. No. Yes,

1019
01:23:51,679 --> 01:24:00,560
BTS was great. I enjoyed it. All right,
I'm going to stop talking now.

1020
01:23:58,080 --> 01:24:08,159
» Okay, George. Uh, just a quick question.
I'm curious uh if it is low lift for

1021
01:24:05,600 --> 01:24:15,679
staff and included in our co-star
subscription so on to get data for the

1022
01:24:10,880 --> 01:24:21,120
city overall um uh or the city overall
excluding downtown and calav um

1023
01:24:19,440 --> 01:24:23,840
and I could go on about you know the
different data segments I'd be

1024
01:24:22,239 --> 01:24:27,840
interested in but uh is that something
we could get in future reports?

1025
01:24:26,719 --> 01:24:32,639
Yeah, if you don't mind being a little
bit more specific on what you would like

1026
01:24:29,679 --> 01:24:36,480
to see. Are you interested in retail
vacancy or Yeah, I think what generally

1027
01:24:35,920 --> 01:24:44,080
are
>> uh retail vacancies, um net absorption,

1028
01:24:42,080 --> 01:24:50,080
uh
uh asking rents if available. I think

1029
01:24:46,719 --> 01:24:54,560
those would be top of mind. Um,
I

1030
01:24:52,159 --> 01:24:59,360
don't want to create too much work where
you have to like, you know, we're very

1031
01:24:57,360 --> 01:25:02,800
particular about like the questions we
have about retail. So, I don't want you

1032
01:25:00,719 --> 01:25:06,719
to have to like draw different polygons
for like every

1033
01:25:04,800 --> 01:25:13,280
for like 10 different polygons and
report them. But, uh, uh, so I'm sort of

1034
01:25:09,600 --> 01:25:18,719
agnostic as to how the data is exactly
um, presented. But yeah, getting a sense

1035
01:25:16,880 --> 01:25:24,560
of outside of downtown and calav would
be useful. Um, you know, we're past

1036
01:25:22,320 --> 01:25:30,639
these conver I I I sense that we're
likely past these conversations from a

1037
01:25:26,159 --> 01:25:34,560
couple years ago about um serious hand
ringing about vacancies and thinking

1038
01:25:32,239 --> 01:25:41,360
about vacancy taxes and thinking about
uh uh just a lot of hand ringing. Um uh

1039
01:25:39,920 --> 01:25:47,360
but it'd be useful just to get that
data. Uh

1040
01:25:44,000 --> 01:25:50,719
um yeah,
great minds think alike. That was my

1041
01:25:49,120 --> 01:25:55,679
question too is how much work is it like
on slide four there? Because if it's not

1042
01:25:53,199 --> 01:26:02,480
much work, uh when we were on PTC, we
had the report of downtown Calav

1043
01:25:59,679 --> 01:26:07,920
University and Midtown. And the thing
that was surprising to a lot of people

1044
01:26:04,239 --> 01:26:12,400
was that El Camino, dumpy old El Camino,
had the lowest vacancies of all the city

1045
01:26:10,719 --> 01:26:14,880
and also the lowest rents, which is
probably why they had the lowest

1046
01:26:13,360 --> 01:26:19,360
vacancies. But that's always good
information. So to have the the rents

1047
01:26:16,639 --> 01:26:25,360
and the vacancies for those areas and we
also got uh Menllo Park, Los Altos, and

1048
01:26:22,719 --> 01:26:29,440
Castro Street. And that was nice to see
how like because back then university

1049
01:26:28,080 --> 01:26:32,880
wasn't doing quite as well but we were
doing better than the Castro which made

1050
01:26:30,719 --> 01:26:37,840
us think okay we're not an outlier this
is a general issue with retail. So if

1051
01:26:35,920 --> 01:26:41,120
that's not too much work I would love to
see that data.

1052
01:26:38,880 --> 01:26:44,159
» Yeah definitely explore Paul Alto as a
whole and then we can just go from there

1053
01:26:43,760 --> 01:26:47,760
for
>> if you think that's being too

1054
01:26:45,440 --> 01:26:51,679
timeconuming don't do it but uh if if
it's easy I would love that.

1055
01:26:49,760 --> 01:26:58,320
If I may, just to uh [clears throat] be
specific so we know what to produce.

1056
01:26:55,520 --> 01:27:03,520
We're looking at um similar type of data
that's on the screen, but including

1057
01:27:00,960 --> 01:27:08,159
other business districts in Palo Alto.
Is [clears throat] that that maybe the

1058
01:27:05,600 --> 01:27:14,080
primary thing is yes, we could do this,
>> have a polygon for El Camino and one for

1059
01:27:10,320 --> 01:27:18,719
Midtown. That would be the first ask. A
nice to have would be comparison to

1060
01:27:16,000 --> 01:27:24,719
Castro Street or Menllo Park and and
that would be because then that shows

1061
01:27:22,239 --> 01:27:28,480
that are there common issues or or we
doing something wrong.

1062
01:27:25,679 --> 01:27:33,520
» Yeah. Okay. That's I think definitely
doable uh within Palo Alto. We'll see

1063
01:27:31,040 --> 01:27:39,360
what we can do in comparison to
>> use cities to the north and the south. I

1064
01:27:36,400 --> 01:27:43,840
do think that um given the San Antonio
area plan, this would be uh an important

1065
01:27:42,239 --> 01:27:48,000
exercise for economic development to
have a better understanding of what's

1066
01:27:45,040 --> 01:27:51,760
happening along San Antonio and um that
general vicinity from a commercial

1067
01:27:49,840 --> 01:27:57,600
perspective as well. So yes.
>> Okay. Very good. Thank you. That's all I

1068
01:27:54,239 --> 01:28:01,880
have. Uh do we need a motion now to
accept the activity report?

1069
01:28:02,000 --> 01:28:08,360
» So move. Second. The clerk can take the
vote.

1070
01:28:09,199 --> 01:28:12,400
» Council member Lou,
>> yes.

1071
01:28:11,679 --> 01:28:13,760
» Chair Rectal,
>> yes.

1072
01:28:12,800 --> 01:28:16,400
» Vice Mayor Stone,
>> yes.

1073
01:28:14,560 --> 01:28:22,719
» Motion carries unanimously.
>> Okay. Future meetings and agendas.

1074
01:28:19,440 --> 01:28:26,320
What's What's on the menu?
We are working with the Office of

1075
01:28:24,719 --> 01:28:31,920
Transportation
on what would be considered a downtown

1076
01:28:28,880 --> 01:28:36,960
parking modernization strategy. Please
know that uh the city manager's office,

1077
01:28:34,000 --> 01:28:43,760
economic development and variety of city
departments are uh in conversation. So

1078
01:28:40,639 --> 01:28:47,360
we uh the plan would be to get in front
if it's ready to get in front of the

1079
01:28:45,440 --> 01:28:53,040
university avenue and downtown
stakeholders in September and then

1080
01:28:50,880 --> 01:28:57,840
followed by an economic development
committee in October. So, we just want

1081
01:28:54,880 --> 01:29:04,080
to make sure to do community engagement
with our stakeholders before we get that

1082
01:29:00,400 --> 01:29:09,600
information in front of you. Um, so the
uh downtown parking modernization

1083
01:29:06,400 --> 01:29:15,440
strategy uh we have some items to come
back to you, but that would be a pretty

1084
01:29:11,760 --> 01:29:20,239
significant uh agenda item for the
economic development committee. And am I

1085
01:29:17,920 --> 01:29:27,760
missing anything looking to my right,
Ruth or Assistant City Manager Nos? No.

1086
01:29:23,920 --> 01:29:34,080
Yeah, one thing that we do and and have
heard here, we from an economic demo

1087
01:29:30,400 --> 01:29:37,840
perspective want to continue to
be in communication of course with our

1088
01:29:36,320 --> 01:29:42,639
real estate network and the business
community and better understand where

1089
01:29:40,480 --> 01:29:48,320
are the pinch points, what are obstacles
to having a thriving economy. So that

1090
01:29:45,920 --> 01:29:54,159
can help with future strategies perhaps
in 2027, but that's something that we're

1091
01:29:50,480 --> 01:29:57,960
actively always trying to learn and set
ourselves up for improvement.

1092
01:29:58,560 --> 01:30:04,400
» Okay,
>> thank you. And now we will move on to

1093
01:30:02,400 --> 01:30:07,520
virtual public comment.
>> Uh there are no requests to speak for

1094
01:30:06,080 --> 01:30:15,000
virtual public comment.
>> Okay, then we are adjourned.

1095
01:30:11,280 --> 01:30:15,000
Okay, thank you.