Make Your Voice Heard on Election Day
Election Day is right around the corner on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Palo Alto makes it easy to cast your vote early with its Ballot Drop-Off box right outside the doors of City Hall and early voting opportunities at Rinconada Library, Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 5-6. At the Council’s last meeting on Oct. 17, we voted to endorse Measure A, a $950 million bond measure placed on the ballot by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. If approved by the voters, the measure would provide funding to acquire or improve an
estimated 5,000 affordable-housing units throughout Santa Clara County and provide assistance to 1,000 first-time home buyers. The measure is groundbreaking for its inclusion of not just low-income, but moderate- income individuals and families who might not qualify for aid under other housing programs. Passage of Measure A requires a two-thirds majority approval.
Tackling Our Transportation Challenges
On Oct. 24, the Council agreed on the goals and structure of a stakeholder committee to advise us on a local business tax and other ways to fund new local transportation programs. You can find the full Staff
Report here. It’s a major step in our broad initiative to reduce congestion and parking problems.
Connect with us!
Regional Efforts Secure $1 M Federal Grant
Palo Alto is part of a regional consortium that is working toward finding mobility alternatives to commuting in solo vehicles. The consortium was awarded a $1 million federal grant for a Bay Area Fair Value Commuting Demonstration project. The project aims to reduce single-occupant vehicle driving from 75 percent to 50 percent in the Bay Area using commuter trip reduction software, a multi-modal trip planning app and workplace parking rebates.
We modeled our pilot after Stanford’s successful commute program that charges single occupancy drivers and uses that revenue to fund
alternatives including computer rail passes, bikes and on-demand rideshare services. The grant includes a $450,000 two-year placeholder for Palo Alto, but the distribution and allocations are still being finalized.
The consortium is spearheaded by the City of Palo Alto and Joint Venture Silicon Valley on behalf of a 23-member group with eight project supporters including local cities, counties, transit agencies, nonprofits, employers, rideshare vendors and planning agencies.
Bike Palo Alto & the Bike and Roll Expo
The 7th Annual Bike Palo Alto Day had a special featured destination this year- a new stop along the route for the newly added Bike and Roll Expo that took place in front of City Hall. Over a thousand people turned out for the Oct. 2 events to enjoy booths filled with vendors featuring alternatives to car-based transportation.
Visitors enjoyed test
driving electric bikes, seeing the latest bikes, scooters and other low- carbon transportation options available, and tricking out their bikes at the decorating station. Some of the other highlights included:
• Free bike safety check and maintenance
• Helmet fitting
• Local bike maps highlighting routes in and around Palo Alto Thanks to the many local businesses who participated!
Next Steps for the Comprehensive Plan
A plan to protect and improve our natural environment is in the works and we want your input. On Open City Hall, you will find the draft Natural Environment and Safety Element for our new Comprehensive Plan posted in the Digital Commenter tool. This element looks at Open Space, Water Resources, Energy, Climate Change, Noise and other issues dealing with our natural environment. You can read comments and share your own ideas that will be forwarded to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), who is helping advise the Council on the Comprehensive Plan update.The deadline to submit your feedback is by 9 a.m. on Nov. 9.
Newest Art in the Park Installation
Make sure to stop by King Plaza to see the latest rotating temporary art exhibit, The Running Wall, built by artist Aaron Lee Benson. Made from 2x4 lumber, the
serpentine winding maze of wood flows through part of the plaza, creating a seating element that can be used for lunches and lounging in the park.
It took three days to build and will be on display until spring 2017. At that time the wood will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.
Saluting Veterans
The City is hosting a large Veterans Day Recognition event on Monday, Nov. 7 at Mitchell Park Community Center. I will emcee the event along with Council Member Karen Holman. We will honor local vets, including a WWII POW and hear from
Lieutenant General Rex C.
McMillian, Commander of Marine Forces Reserve and
Marine Forces North. The event will also include information and resources and is scheduled from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Come join us to salute our veterans.
Film Festival: “Compass for a Better World”
The 19th annual United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) is currently underway and this year’s theme is Compass for a Better World.
UNAFF runs
through Oct. 30 with a focus on human rights and sustainable development goals. The films are being shown at various venues here in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Stanford University and San Francisco.
Through the years UNAFF has screened some of the most awarded and talked about documentaries in the industry, including seven that went on to win Academy Awards and twenty-eight that were nominated. For a list of this year’s films, click here.
Trick or Treat on Cal Avenue
Finally, start your Halloween festivities a day early and bring your little goblins to the 22nd annual California Avenue Trick or Treat & Halloween Carnival on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. There will be trick or treating at businesses between El Camino and Park Boulevard and I will be judging the costume contest.
Children’s singer Andy Z will also be performing and there will be carnival games.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween.
Pat Burt Mayor
