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CITY COUNCIL … The council plans to hold a study session to discuss the update of the city’s bicycle and pedestrian master plan and to provide feedback on alternatives for grade separation at the Churchill Avenue, East Meadow Drive and Charleston Road rail crossings. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 29, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 362 027 238.
CITY COUNCIL … The council plans to interview candidates for the Architectural Review Board, the Utilities Advisory Commission, the Human Relations Commission and the Public Art Commission. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 362 027 238.
UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION … The commission plans to discuss the issuance of bonds to prepay for energy received under the Geysers Power Purchase Agreement; approve the Gas Utility Long-Term Plan as well as rate schedules for the gas utility; and consider the proposed Utilities Department capital budget for fiscal year 2025. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 966 9129 7246.
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD … The board plans to meet at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 965 6189 1491. The agenda was not available by press time.
Here’s a roundup of government action this past week.
City Council (April 22)
Quarry Road: The council adopted a resolution declaring its intent to place on the November ballot a measure that would “undedicate” a 0.33-acre portion of El Camino Park to enable an extension of Quarry Road to create a road for buses between the Palo Alto Transit Center on University Avenue and El Camino Real. Yes: Burt, Lythcott-Haims, Stone, Tanaka, Veenker No: Kou Absent: Lauing
History: The council voted to add 13 private properties and three city-owned properties to the local Historic Resources Inventory. Yes: Burt, Kou, Lythcott-Haims, Stone, Tanaka, Veenker Absent: Lauing
Parks and Recreation Commission (April 23)
Parks: The commission discussed possible spaces that could be dedicated as parkland. Action: None
Bikes: The commission discussed the city’s policies for bikes and e-bikes at open space preserves. Action: None
Council Finance Committee (April 23)
Utilities: The committee approved the financial plans and proposed rate schedules for the electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities. The committee also agreed to explore limiting the water rate increases to 9.5% in fiscal year 2025. Yes: Unanimous
Bike world – driving across the city yesterday I saw an electric bike on the sidewalk – Charleston – despite that there is a bike path. The electric bike was zeroing on a couple that was walking on the side walk. The bike was moving fast. Then a very small child was on the bike path doing all of the right things, but he was very tiny. This on Charleston at the signal. Then on Louis a small child on a bike crossed the intersection at East Meadow with cars at each corner waiting to cross. The more you all muddle with this the more confusion you create. You need to get the electric bikes under control – people going very fast in locations which they do not belong. Children think they are bullet proof and will get hurt because their parents are not instructing them properly. The parents are part of the problem,
Utility Rates – PA has it’s own Utility System. Is it processing any utility function for surrounding cities? Small, hilly cities – Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills, La Honda – Many locations do not appear to have the capability to meet their growing needs. We need a peninsula map of where all of the functions are taking place and how it is all being paid for. SU?
We need to know if we are subsidizing other cities.