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

Council Rail Committee (Nov. 28)

Lobbyist: The committee discussed hiring a lobbyist to represent the city in Sacramento on high-speed-rail issues and voted to interview three firms. Action: None

Guiding principles: The committee discussed adopting a stance urging the termination of California's high-speed-rail project. The committee decided to split into two subcommittees, with each offering proposed wording. Action: None

City Council (Nov. 28)

California Avenue: The council voted to approve the environmental analysis, a grant application and a capital-improvement project for the streetscape-improvement project at California Avenue, which includes a reduction from four lanes to two. Yes: Unanimous

Highway 101: The council supported a staff proposal to construct a Highway 101 overpass at Adobe Creek and directed further work on the design of the proposed bridge. Yes: Unanimous

Board of Education (Nov. 29)

Calendar: The board heard testimony about proposed "mitigations" for the reformed academic calendar and asked the superintendent to refine and improve them for further review next year. Action None

Budget: The board heard a financial report, including a staff recommendation for $1.2 million to $2.8 million in mid-year cuts to the $162.4 million operating budget for 2011-12. Staff members said they will recommend specific cuts in February. Action None

Elementary Math Task Force: The board heard a presentation on the activities of the Elementary Math Task Force. Action None

Council Policy and Services Committee (Nov. 29)

Economic development: The committee discussed the wording of the city's proposed economic-development policy and recommended further revisions. Action: None

New technology: The committee recommended creating a new Emerging Technology program in the Utilities Department to encourage development of new technologies. Yes: Unanimous

Architectural Review Board (Dec. 1)

2650 Birch St.: The board reviewed a proposal by Hohbach Realty Company for a four-story, mixed-use building featuring eight residential units, ground-floor office space and an underground parking garage. The board asked the applicant to bring the project back at a later date with a new landscape plan, additional site lighting and other revisions. Yes: Lew, Malone Prichard, Wasserman Absent: Lee