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

City Council (March 26)

Animals: The council directed its Policy and Service Committee to evaluate the city's options for outsourcing animal services to another agency. Yes: Unanimous

Taxes: The council directed its Policy and Service Committee to consider a possible tax measure for the November ballot to pay for infrastructure repairs. Yes: Burt, Espinosa, Holman, Price, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh Absent: Klein

Board of Education (March 27)

Counseling: The board heard a consultant's recommendations and public testimony on guidance-counseling programs at Gunn and Palo Alto high schools. Action: None

Elementary mathematics: The board heard a report from the 28-member Math Task Force on increasing opportunities for elementary students to be challenged in math. Action: None

Staff reductions: The board approved reductions of 3.75 staff positions in maintenance, data processing and human resources. Yes: Unanimous

Utilities Advisory Commission (March 27)

Water rates: The commission supported a staff recommendation to raise the city's water rates but disagreed with staff's proposed tier structure for the new rates. The commission recommended retaining existing "Tier 2" rates for water customers and to raise "Tier 1" rates as needed to make up the balance of the shortfall in the city's Water Fund. Yes: Cook, Eglash, Foster, Keller, Melton No: Waldfogel

Wastewater; The commission supported a staff proposal to raise wastewater collection rates by 5 percent on July 1, 2012. Yes: Unanimous

Planning and Transportation Commission (March 28)

Bicycle plan: The commission reviewed the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and voted to support the recent revisions to the plan. Yes: Unanimous