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

City Council (Dec. 13)

Packard Court: The council voted not to name a small street in a new development "Packard Court" and directed its Policy and Services Committee to reconsider the city's policies for naming streets. Yes: Unanimous

Suicide prevention: The council adopted a suicide-prevention policy and approved the 41 Development Assets framework for youth and teen well-being. Yes: Unanimous

Annual review: The council recapped its 2010 accomplishments. Action: None

Board of Education (Dec. 14)

Teen well-being: The board heard an update on the district's efforts toward supporting teen well-being through various initiatives, including free mental health referrals and suicide-prevention training for secondary school staff members. Action: None

Enrollment projections: The board discussed district-wide enrollment projections presented by consulting demographers Lapkoff & Gobalet and agreed to hold a study session on the findings early next year. Action: None Duveneck building plans: The board heard a presentation on renovation plans that include a new two-story building that will have eight classrooms and conversion of some current classrooms to a library. Action: None

Policy and Services Committee (Dec. 14)

Council protocols: The committee voted to revise the council's policy regarding private meetings with developers. Under the new policy, council members are discouraged from speaking with project applicants until after the projects have been considered by the Planning and Transportation Commission and the Architectural Review Board. Yes: Unanimous

Staffing flexibility: The committee discussed a staff proposal to give the city manager more flexibility to hire temporary employees and transfer employees from one position to another. Action: None

Parks and Recreation Commission (Dec. 14)

Priorities: The commission discussed its 2011 plans and decided to set open-space protection, community health and wellness, and Community Service Department planning their priorities for the year. Yes: Unanimous.

Planning and Transportation Commission (Dec. 15)

Development applications: The commission voted to change its policy guarding ex parte communications. Under the new policy, commissioners are no longer discouraged from holding private meetings with project applicants, provided they disclose these meetings. Yes: Garber, Lippert, Tanaka, Tuma No: Fineberg, Keller Absent: Martinez

Architectural Review Board (Dec. 16)

3000 Hanover St.: The board held a preliminary review for an addition to an existing building at the Hewlett Packard campus. Action: None