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

City Council (Sept. 4)

Trails: The council voted to submit a joint application with Stanford University seeking $10.4 million in Santa Clara County funds for a host of recreational improvements, including a new bike bridge over Highway 101 and a system of trails around the Stanford Dish. Yes: Burt, Holman, Price, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd Absent: Espinosa Recused: Klein, Yeh

Contract: The council approved a new contract with the management and professionals group. The agreement includes greater employee contributions toward pension and health care and a 3 percent increase in base salary. Yes: Burt, Holman, Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh Absent: Espinosa

Board of Education (Sept. 4)

Ballot propositions: The board voted to endorse Propositions 30 and 38, both education-funding propositions on California's November ballot. Yes: Klausner, Tom, Townsend Abstain: Mitchell Absent: Caswell

2012-13 priorities: The board voted on a list of district "focused goals" for 2012-13, including implementation of the district's new homework policy and Elementary Math Task Force results and efforts toward student social-emotional health. Action: Unanimous

Student achievement: The board heard a report on 2012 California Standards (STAR) Test results for elementary and middle school students, including an analysis on progress in narrowing the achievement gap among ethnic and socioeconomic subgroups. Action: None

Utilities Advisory Commission (Sept. 5)

Electric: The commission discussed recommending the City Council appoint a citizen-advisory committee to solicit community input about the city's electric undergrounding policy. Yes: Eglash, Foster, Hall Absent: Chang, Cook, Melton Abstain: Waldfogel

Power:The commission voted to recommend approving a power-purchase agreement with Brannon Solar, LLC, for up to 52,000 megawatt hours per year of energy over 25 years at a cost not to exceed $91 million. Yes: Eglash, Foster, Hall, Waldfogel Absent: Chang, Cook, Melton

Architectural Review Board (Sept. 6)

Stanford Shopping Center: The board discussed a request by Macy's Inc., for a new three-story commercial development at the Bloomingdale's site at Stanford Shopping Center. The board did not vote on the project but expressed concern about the height of the proposed building. Action: None