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City View
A round-up of Palo Alto government action this week

City Council (May 17)

High-speed rail: The council heard a presentation from Caltrain about pending legislation involving funding for high-speed rail. The council also accepted a list of guiding principles for high-speed rail. Yes: Burt, Klein, Price, Shepherd, Scharff, Schmid, Holman Absent: Espinosa, Yeh

Infrastructure Commission: The council voted to create a new blue-ribbon commission to consider the city's infrastructure backlog and possible ways to pay for the backlog, which is currently estimated at about $500 million. The committee would include 15 members, including three members with technical expertise and two with financial expertise. Yes: Burt, Klein, Price, Shepherd, Scharff, Schmid, Holman Absent: Espinosa, Yeh

City Council Finance Committee (May 18)

Police budget: The committee voted to maintain funding for crossing guards in the proposed Police Budget for fiscal year 2011. Yes: Klein, Schmid, Scharff No: Espinosa

Traffic team: The committee voted to keep funding for four of the five members of the Police Department's traffic-enforcement team. Yes: Klein, Espinosa, Scharff No: Schmid

Fire Department: The committee asked the Fire Department to re-examine its proposed 2011 budget and identify more savings and efficiencies. The committee will review the budget again at a later date. Yes: Klein, Schmid, Scharff No: Espinosa

Planning and Transportation Commission (May 19)

High-speed rail: The commission reviewed and commented on the Alternatives Analysis for high-speed rail segment between San Francisco and San Jose. Action: None

Human Relations Commission (May 19)

Diversity: The commission heard updates on its pending Diversity and Inclusion Project and on this year's World Music Day. Action: None

High-Speed Rail Committee (May 20)

High-speed rail: The committee heard a presentation from the city's technical and environmental consultants on the alternatives analysis for the San Francisco-to-San Jose segment of the rail lie. Action: None

Caltrain: The committee approved, in concept, Caltrain's proposed amendments to Senate Bill 965, which governs expenditures of federal-stimulus funds. Yes: Unanimous

Architectural Review Board (May 20)

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital: The board held a preliminary review for the proposed expansion of the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. The board generally supported the proposed design but recommended some changes to colors and landscape elements in the project. Action: None