Editorial: Years of living with construction? Editorial: Years of living with construction? (August 25, 2004)

Major infrastructure catch-up projects disrupt neighborhoods throughout town, but frayed nerves and disruption could be helped by sharply improved communication
oise, dust and jarring metal plates on roadways have marked the last several months in many Palo Alto neighborhoods.

Some exasperated residents say it's been something between Hell and a Perfect Storm of city construction projects coupled with new residential construction that is causing repeat trenching, heavy-equipment work, street closures and traffic-clogging diversions.

Millions of dollars have been committed to rebuilding major segments of the city's often-invisible infrastructure under the "CityWorks" program initiated four years ago by City Manager Frank Benest. Virtually every aspect of the city Utilities Department operation is being renewed, starting with the oldest -- some were laid in more than a half century ago -- and most at risk.

Nearly $10 million in such construction is underway this year, comprising more than $3 million in underground electrical upgrades, $3.3 million in underground gas mains, $772,000 in water main replacements and $2.6 million in sewer main replacements. Notably absent from the above is work on replacing the city's aging storm-drains network. That is awaiting a city policy decision on funding, following defeat of a special fee four years ago.

Then comes the news, as outlined in the Weekly news section this week, that the construction will continue in different phases through 2010.

Despite the inconvenience, most residents are philosophical about the mess, realizing it's a necessary negative to living in a modern community and world. The biggest gripes in recent years have been, "Why has it taken so long?" and, "It's about time!"

But one strong complaint that seems well grounded is that the city needs to find a better way of communicating with each neighborhood about what is being planned, why it is needed, how long it will take and how much disruption there will be. The advance notice of three to seven days is reasonable -- the problem seems to be false expectations created by underestimates of how long the work would take, and lack of follow-up.

"It's been hell. It's gone on a month longer than they said it would," Emerson Street resident Avril Wilsher told the Weekly. But she and others praised the courtesy of construction crews nonetheless.

Some residents suggest that the city hire a neighborhood liaison for the utility projects -- a good idea but for the city's current financial pinch. A far better idea would be to use existing staff use the Internet to get the word out to neighborhood leaders, most of whom now have some form of electronic communications with most residents. The city has created a new internal Web page to help various city departments better coordinate city projects to minimize duplication of digging or repaving. Some form of that should be made public.

The Weekly's community Web site, Palo Alto Online -- visited by more than 6,000 persons per day -- would be glad to help spread the word about neighborhood-construction updates.

This may not be a mountain-lion level of drama -- but sustained neighborhood disruption needs to be communicated to residents with as much diligence as some emergency situations.

Editorial: Return of 'the egg' requires compromise Editorial: Return of 'the egg' requires compromise (August 25, 2004)
Forget the big baylands recycling center, the big housing projects in south Palo Alto and all the traffic problems -- 'the egg' is coming back.
That is the nickname given to 7-foot-tall egg-shaped creation called "Digital DNA," made of old circuit boards and approved by the city's Public Art Commission for placement in Lytton Plaza in the heart of downtown Palo Alto. The original $10,000 sculpture, by San Francisco artist Adriana Varella, was destroyed in a warehouse fire in May. It had been stored while an alternative vision for Lytton Plaza -- some type of modern water feature or large fountain -- was considered.
Developer Roxy Rapp and former Mayor Leland Levy had been discussing the fountain idea with city officials, and Levy says he's not sure there's room for the egg. Art commissioners feel the same about the fountain.
Come ON, folks. The plaza ought to be big enough for both, properly designed in a way that enhances each. At least sit down and explore the possibilities openly, and knock off any behind-the-scenes lobbying with council members.
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