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

City Council (July 9)

Bicycle plan: The council approved the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, which proposes a wide range of long-term improvements to the city's bicycle infrastructure. Yes: Espinosa, Holman, Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh Absent: Burt

Housing Element: The council agreed to forward the draft Housing Element to the state Department of Housing and Community Development. Yes: Espinosa, Holman, Klein, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd No: Price Absent: Burt

Council Policy and Services Committee (July 10)

Priorities: The committee discussed the council's priority-setting process and recommended that the committee make an annual recommendation to the full council about the process of the council's annual retreat. Yes: Unanimous

Planning and Transportation Commission (July 11)

California Avenue: The commission discussed the streetscape-improvement project at California Avenue and recommended the latest proposed design enhancements, including wider sidewalks and a plaza at Park Boulevard. The commission also recommended a trial period for reducing lanes from four to two. Yes: Fineberg, Keller, Michael, Tanaka Absent: Martinez Recused: Tuma

Utilities Advisory Commission (July 11)

Electric portfolio: The commission discussed and recommended approving staff's proposed definition for "carbon neutrality" as it pertains to the city's electric portfolio. Yes: Unanimous

Electric rates: The commission approved a modified version of staff recommendation for a pilot program for time-of-use electric rates for all residential customers. Staff proposal was to adopt the pilot program only for customers with electric vehicles. Yes: Chang, Cook, Hall, Melton, Waldfogel No: Eglash

Architectural Review Board (July 12)

Ronald McDonald House: The board discussed but did not vote on the proposed expansion of the Ronald McDonald House at 50 El Camino Real. The three-story building would include 70 rooms on a 51,167-square-foot site adjacent to the existing Ronald McDonald House. Action: None