Set 1/1 - City of Palo Alto

701-32

DOCUMENTS IN THIS PACKET INCLUDE:

LETTERS FROM CITIZENS TO THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL

RESPONSES FROM STAFF TO LETTERS FROM CITIZENS

ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS

ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES

ITEMS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES

Prepared for: 8/31/2015 Document dates: 8/12/2015 – 8/19/2015

Set 1/1Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet

reproduction in a given week.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 5:06 PM

Carnahan, David

From: Svendsen, JaniceSent: Monday, August 17, 2015 5:04 PMTo: Council Members; ORG - Clerk's Office; Council Agenda Email; Mason, Suzanne; Keene, James;

Shikada, EdCc: Gitelman, Hillary; Sartor, Mike; Perez, Lalo; Fong, Valerie; Sullivan, Jessica; Betten, Zariah;

Eggleston, Brad; Lightbody, James; Keith, ClaudiaSubject: Council Questions - August 17 2015 Agenda

Dear Mayor and Council Members: On behalf of City Manager Jim Keene, please find below in bold responses by city staff in regard to council questions on tonight’s agenda. Given the late receipt of these questions the City manager will read the responses to council at the meeting. Item #1 Update on Integrated Parking Strategy for Downtown: Parking Management,

Parking Supply and Transportation Demand Management What was the total business population used for the EMC research (how many businesses)? What source did they use to identify how many businesses are in Downtown PA?

Response: Staff will respond orally during the study session.

On the Parking Wayfinding signs, the maps show "Lot Directional Signs" on University and Hamilton but not Lytton. Isn’t Lytton considered one of the major routes through downtown? Why no directional signs there?

Response:

Staff will respond orally during the study session.

Item #12 Approval of First Amendment to Contract with American Reprographics Company, LLC ("ARC") for an archiving and Information Management Solution

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City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 5:06 PMMoving to electronic document management. Report cites Purchasing Division as example that 20% of work day was lost to records retrieval. With the efficiencies of this new system, are we expecting to see any reduction in staffing required in any departments? Similar question on office space, report mentioned 25% of floor space was committed to storing records in one department – will this move decrease city office space needs in a substantial way?

Response:

The efficiencies gained from scanning and electronic retrieval will primarily allow departments to shift new capacity to more important activities such as planning, customer service, decreasing turn‐around times, and implementing new tools, such as the upcoming ERP review and implementation. Administrative positions were eliminated during the downturn and have not been replaced. By freeing up office space at City Hall, by reducing the physical space for records, City staff will be better allocated throughout City Hall to allow for improved customer service and work group collaboration. In the Purchasing Division of ASD, this has resulted in a more open floor plan so customers are welcomed and served more quickly and efficiently on the Mezzanine and the team is able to collaborate better with a new common team space. In addition, three Revenue Collection staff members were relocated to the mezzanine space in purchasing allowing for Utilities to move customer service to the first floor. Over time the freeing up of office space dedicated to records at City Hall could potentially allow some City staff to return to City Hall from external facilities, but more time and study is needed to confirm this possibility.

Item #14 Approval of Amendment Number 4 to Contract for El Camino Park Restoration Project When is El Camino Park scheduled to reopen?

Response: Construction on El Camino Park CIP project is tentatively scheduled to be complete in November 2015, with the artificial turf fields available then. However the sod fields will need more time to establish and should be open within the first two months of 2016.

Item #18 Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline use Through Electrification

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 5:06 PM Why are projects starting with residential, which is 37% of natural gas use versus commercial which is 73% of usage?

Response:

Staff’s efforts began with residential appliances and passenger vehicles, in part because residential appliances tend to be more standardized and have a higher turnover rate compared to commercial equipment. Staff agrees that it is important to address the commercial sector and multifamily residential, in addition to just single family residential. As discussed on page 6 in the staff report in response to the colleague’s memo, in reference to the residential single family electrification study:

“Staff expects to undertake a similar high level assessment of the cost effectiveness of for commercial building applications. An initial survey suggests that heat pump technologies for water and space heating applications are feasible in small and medium sized commercial buildings; in many of these smaller buildings, which account for about 40% of the square footage of all commercial buildings in Palo Alto, HPSH applications are not uncommon, and retrofitting smaller buildings with HPSH is relatively less burdensome. However, retrofitting existing large commercial buildings for space heating applications is likely to be cost prohibitive. The commercial sector is being discussed and analyzed in greater detail in coordination with the SCAP process. Furthermore, workplan items 4, 8, and 10 are related to exploring feasibility and reducing barriers of electrification of commercial buildings.

Item #23 Resolution to Adopt Drought Surcharges and a 4% Water Rate Increase

The description on how drought charges will work is somewhat vague.

Response:

The proposed drought surcharges would be added to all water rate schedules and be adjusted in the future whenever water rates are adjusted. In a normal year, the drought surcharges would not be active; they would only be imposed upon Council action, as needed to mitigate the financial impacts to the Water Fund from the loss of revenue that results from customers saving water. Three levels of drought surcharges (10/15%, 20%, 25%) represent the amount of water savings or revenue loss that we can expect from various water reduction requirements in a drought. For residential customers, there are two drought surcharges: one for each tier. The Tier 2 surcharge is higher than the Tier 1 surcharge. The Tier 1

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 5:06 PMand Tier 2 surcharges depend on what level of drought surcharges the Council chooses to impose. For example, if the Council chooses to impose the surcharges corresponding to a 20% water use reduction (as staff proposes), the Tier 1 surcharge will be $0.39/CCF and the Tier 2 surcharge will be $1.14/CCF for residential customers. The Tier 1 surcharge will apply to all usage up to 6 CCF, and the Tier 2 surcharge will apply to all usage above 6 CCF. So high users need to cut back more in order to keep their bills from increasing. Non‐residential customers have drought surcharges that are flat (no tiers.)

What is the definition of a conserving customer vs non‐conserving? Over what time frame will this be measured?

Response:

We agree that the labels used on the charts are fairly confusing since most of our customers are conserving to some degree. What we meant is that if a customer conserves more after the imposition of the drought surcharges, their bill would go up less, or even go down from what it would have been in a non‐drought year without the surcharges. If they do not conserve (or if they have already conserved), their bill will be higher after imposition of the surcharges. The surcharges are not based on whether customers are achieving a specific target, therefore, there is no formal definition of a “conserving customer.” For the calculations in the staff report, we assumed a conserving customer cuts indoor usage 9‐12% and achieves the remainder of their savings through cuts to outdoor usage.

If a customer has cut back significantly already but cannot reduce further are they considered conserving?

Response:

When the drought surcharges are imposed by Council, all customers will pay the surcharge for all the water they use, even those customers who have already conserved. Those who have already conserved will see their bills increase, but not as much as those who have not conserved. It’s worth remembering that these surcharges are being imposed for the purpose of cost recovery, not as a form of incentive or punishment related to conservation. However, because of the way the surcharges are designed, more of the cost will fall on customers who fail to conserve and less will fall on conserving customers. In addition, customer who are conserving are still saving money compared to a normal year, while those not conserving end up paying more than in a normal year.

Item #24 VTA Call for Projects

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 5:06 PMCan you provide a very rough estimate of the number of daily users in Palo Alto for each transportation project category – Transit, Bicycle, Local Streets, Highways, and Expressways?

One of the projects we list is “Construction of new parking facilities” – has VTA indicated the sales tax can be used for parking garage construction?

Response Jim Lightbody will have the information for an oral response during Ed’s presentation on the action item related to the VTA Call for Projects (item 24).

Thank you, Janice Svendsen

Janice Svendsen | Executive Assistant to James Keene, City Manager 250 Hamilton Avenue | Palo Alto, CA 94301D: 650.329.2105 | E: [email protected] Please think of the environment before printing this email – Thank you!


Carnahan, David

From: Chi-Kwan Yen <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 8:05 AMTo: Norman BeamerCc: Council, City; City Mgr; [email protected] Group Crescent;

[email protected]: Re: [CPNA] Comments re Residential Parking Permit Program

Norm, I support your position on this matter. As the situation becomes more clear to me, this permit parkings in esidential street needs to be revised. Chi-kwan Guinda street On Wed, Aug 12, 2015 at 9:00 PM, 'Norman Beamer' via Crescent Park PA <[email protected]> wrote:

August 12, 2015

1005 University Ave

City Council

City of Palo Alto

Re: 8/17/15 Agenda Item 1: “Parking and TDM Update” Study Session

Dear Councilmembers:

Regarding the “Parking and TDM Update” Study Session scheduled for August 17, as Agenda Item 1, and the associated Staff Report (5777), please consider the following:

As the September 15 implementation of the Downtown RPP District approaches, residents of Crescent Park are increasingly apprehensive of the inevitable “spillover” effect of the RPP program. It seems highly likely that, as soon as downtown employees and other commuters realize that all they have to do is park a few blocks further away in order to avoid a parking fee, they will do so. In addition to folks simply walking a few more blocks to get to their destination, it has been observed that commuters park blocks away from their destination and then use a bicycle or other such conveyance to go the “last blocks” of their commute. We find small comfort in the optimistic predictions of the TDM program; or the provision for a small number of additional parking spaces in the garages resulting from valet parking. Even less comfort: according to the report, the staff has given up on the idea of satellite parking with shuttles.


Carnahan, David

From: Ken Alsman <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 7:36 AMTo: Norman BeamerCc: Council, City; City Mgr; <[email protected]>;

<[email protected]>Subject: Re: [pan: 2172] Comments re Residential Parking Permit Program

I am still amazed that no‐one seems to be willing to point a finger to the reason ‐ the $500 million + public subsidy to downtown

development projects. Or the need for downtown owners to foot the bill for any and all attempts at solutions.

Sent from my iPad

On Aug 13, 2015, at 12:00 AM, "'Norman Beamer' via Palo Alto Neighborhoods" <[email protected]> wrote:

August 12, 2015 1005 University Ave

City Council City of Palo Alto

Re: 8/17/15 Agenda Item 1: “Parking and TDM Update” Study Session

Dear Councilmembers:

Regarding the “Parking and TDM Update” Study Session scheduled for August 17, as Agenda Item 1, and the associated Staff Report (5777), please consider the following:

As the September 15 implementation of the Downtown RPP District approaches, residents of Crescent Park are increasingly apprehensive of the inevitable “spillover” effect of the RPP program. It seems highly likely that, as soon as downtown employees and other commuters realize that all they have to do is park a few blocks further away in order to avoid a parking fee, they will do so. In addition to folks simply walking a few more blocks to get to their destination, it has been observed that commuters park blocks away from their destination and then use a bicycle or other such conveyance to go the “last blocks” of their commute. We find small comfort in the optimistic predictions of the TDM program; or the provision for a small number of additional parking spaces in the garages resulting from valet parking. Even less comfort: according to the report, the staff has given up on the idea of satellite parking with shuttles.

I expect that other neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the Downtown District have similar concerns.


You may recall that, in 2012, a previous attempt to institute a parking permit district in the Professorville neighborhood was rejected by the council because, as then Mayor Yeh observed, “This [proposal] is moving around a problem. . . . And my greatest concern is that a lot of the neighbors who are not in the zone would be negatively impacted for whatever time duration we'd have the program.” (Palo Alto Online, July 17, 2012.) The present program will fail for the same reason if nothing is done to prevent such spill-over.

It is certainly unfair that the Downtown North and South Neighborhoods have had to bear the burden of commercial parking intrusion on their streets. All one has to do is walk or drive around those areas to see that the current situation is intolerable. For that reason, the RPP program is necessary, along with the other measures that the city is taking. However, as unfair as the current situation is to the areas near the Downtown district, some might argue that those areas have long been affected by commercial parking, and one might sympathize with the concern that the business owners and employees have that this new program is a jarring change to the status quo. After all, the current Comprehensive Plan, enacted in 2007, states that “On-street parking in residential areas is generally plentiful and free to residents. The exception is in residential areas near business districts, where on-street spaces are often used by employees and customers.” Thus, for better or worse, the longstanding status quo is that areas near the Downtown business district have suffered non-resident parking intrusion. For this reason, it appears that the Council has approved an RPP program that continues to allow a fairly significant degree of commercial parking intrusion in the Downtown residential areas even under the new program.

But this rationale does not apply in any way to Crescent Park. In contrast to the Downtown neighborhoods, Crescent Park has not, in the 100 years or so of its existence (at least insofar as my house is concerned), ever been subject to commercial parking intrusion. It is not acceptable to “spread the pain” to our neighborhood, as the Planning Director seems to believe (see Minute excerpts below).

You may recall that at the December 2, 2104 City Council meeting, I raised this concern during public comment on the RPP Ordinance. I urged that “proper implementation of the annexation provision was not supposed to allow any non-resident commuter parking permits in annexed blocks” (Minutes at 116-168). In response to a question from Council Member Holman regarding my comment, Planning Director Gitelman acknowledged that the issue of non-resident parking should be addressed in the Resolution on a District-by-District basis, but then offered that, “In Downtown, employee parking should be distributed evenly.” (Minutes at 116-170). Actually, as I recall, she said something to the effect that the program should “spread the pain.”


This response gave me concern, and so later in the meeting, when the Downtown Resolution was up for comment, I again “expressed concern about parking problems shifting with implementation of an RPP Program” — and others raised the same issue. (Minutes at 116-184). In response to that concern Council Member Burt stated that “a major decision of Phase 2 was whether nonresident permits would be sold in annexed areas” (Minutes at 116-187). (To which I would add that this concern also applies to Phase 1.) Whereupon the following exchanges ensued (Minutes at 116-187 through 188):

Ms. Sullivan reported the program did not state the City would not sell employee permits for blocks that might be annexed. That would characterize annexed blocks differently from the original area. Council Member Burt did not believe that should be an administrative decision. He asked if that was a component of annexation or of Phase 2.

Ms. Sullivan responded annexation.

Council Member Burt suggested his concern could be addressed through an amendment that stated the Council would have to authorize the sale of nonresident permits in adjacent, annexed areas.

Ms. Gitelman requested a rationale for treating the new areas differently from the original area.

Council Member Burt stated Mr. Beamer spoke to concerns. Areas adjacent to the proposed RPP District were not impacted by parking issues at the present time. Adjacent areas would be impacted when the RPP Program was implemented.

Ms. Gitelman acknowledged that within the impacted areas there were variations.

Council Member Burt commented that it was a policy decision. He suggested including a provision that non-resident permits for adjacent areas that would be annexed would only be sold subsequent to Council authorization.

Council Member Klein advised that Section 10.50.080 of the RPP Ordinance stated the City Council could approve, deny, or modify an annexation.

Council Member Burt clarified that the Council could place conditions when it reviewed an annexation proposal.

Council Member Klein interpreted the RPP Ordinance as the Council had the authority to attach conditions to annexation.


The provision of the 12/15/14 Residential Preferential Parking Districts Ordinance (No. 5294) as enacted, which is referred to in the above exchange, provides:

10.50.080 Annexation of New Areas to Existing Districts

Residents of any block may petition the director for annexation into a contiguous RPP District. . . . If the petition meets the criteria established in administrative regulations adopted by the director, a resolution annexing it to the RPP District shall be . . . submitted to the city council. . . . The city council may approve, deny, or modify the annexation.

I fully expect that such annexation proposals will be forthcoming, and urge that the Council direct the Planning Department to formulate administrative regulations that provide for resident-only parking in the annexed areas, given that these areas have not previously been subject to non-resident parking intrusion. Such resident-only permit areas would be similar to the established resident-only College Terrace RPP district.

In further support of this request I submit the following additional point:

Section 10.50.060(b)(5) of the Ordinance specifically provides for the option of establishing a Residential Preferential Parking District with no merchant or non-resident parking permits.

Furthermore, the Ordinance provides that “Residential preferential parking districts are intended to restore and enhance the quality of life in residential neighborhoods by reducing the impact of parking associated with nearby businesses and institutional uses.” (§ 10.50.010) Given that the area of Crescent Park outside the RPP district does not presently have any such impact, the sense of the Ordinance requires that there be no impact whatsoever.

It is noted that the RPP Resolution makes reference to California Vehicle Code Section 22507, but that statute limits the right to accord preferential parking privileges to merchants “adjacent to the streets for their use and the use of their guests.” There are no merchants that are “adjacent” to any Crescent Park streets.

In sum, as the U.S. Supreme Court has held, in approving a resident-only parking permit ordinance (Arlington County Board v. Richards (1977):

To reduce air pollution and other environmental effects of automobile commuting, a community reasonably may restrict on-street parking available to commuters, thus encouraging reliance on car pools and mass transit. The same goal is served by assuring convenient parking to residents who leave their cars at home during the day. A community may also decide that


restrictions on the flow of outside traffic into particular residential areas would enhance the quality of life there by reducing noise, traffic hazards, and litter.

Very truly yours,

Norman Beamer

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Carnahan, David

From: John Guislin <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 4:02 PMTo: Gitelman, HillaryCc: Richard Brand; Sullivan, Jessica; Atkinson, Sue-Ellen; Keene, James; Elaine Uang; Michael Hodos;

Neilson Buchanan; Gab Layton; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Gennady SheynerSubject: Re: August 19 RPP meeting agenda

Hillary, Canceling a Stakeholder meeting less than a week before its scheduled date is yet another example of how little the city values the effort and input from citizens. I understand that the RPP project is about to launch and that it requires attention, but if supporting a website launch is all the assigned staff can handle, they you have understaffed the project. There are many important issues yet to be decided for RPP to be successful and that is the reason for the agenda request sent by residents. We are rushing into Phase 1 of RPP and do not even have a plan to collect and analyze the data on permit sales and use - the sole purpose of Phase 1. And there is currently no plan for how Phase II will address the tough issues that will finally result in reduced parking intrusion into residential neighborhoods. If this program is too complex for the city to implement and manage with current staff, then perhaps it's time for a ballot initiative for residential only parking wherever requested by residents. In dismay, John Guislin On Thu, Aug 13, 2015 at 2:42 PM, Gitelman, Hillary <[email protected]> wrote:

Richard and Other Stakeholders:

Thanks for copying me on this message. I have requested that Jessica and Sue‐Ellen reschedule the August 19 stakeholder meeting so they can focus on roll‐out of the permit program over the next couple of weeks.

The downtown RPP program is the biggest permit parking program that the City has ever implemented and flyers are going out in the mail to all residents and businesses tomorrow. Also, the permit website will go live over the weekend so that people can start creating accounts and purchasing/obtaining permits. The website process will require folks to scan and upload documentation to demonstrate that the qualify for a permit(s), and we expect to spend lots of our time next week responding to phone and email inquiries. Sue‐Ellen is also planning to help people who don’t have access to a computer by spending time at the library, Channing House, and Avenidas, and we are making final preparations for uncovering the signs and starting enforcement in mid‐September.


If next week goes well, we will set a new date for the stakeholder meeting during the first week of September. Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide during the next couple of weeks – hold on tight!

Hillary

Hillary Gitelman | Planning Director | P&CE Department 250 Hamilton Avenue | Palo Alto, CA 94301

T: 650.329.2321 |E: [email protected]

Please think of the environment before printing this email – Thank you!

From: Richard Brand [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 12:16 AM To: Sullivan, Jessica; Atkinson, Sue-Ellen Cc: Gitelman, Hillary; Keene, James; John Guislin; Elaine Uang; Michael Hodos; Neilson Buchanan; Gab Layton; Shikada, Ed Subject: August 19 RPP meeting agenda

Sue-Ellen and Jessica: We the undersigned RPP Stakeholders request that the following important items be placed on the agenda for our August 19th RPP meeting. We have reached the cusp of implementing the data collection effort – Phase I. While we expect little parking relief from Phase I, we Stakeholders did agree to this plan as a 6 month-only data gathering step leading to Phase II. Therefore we expect to continue in an active role of advising city staff on priorities and key program elements for the forthcoming design of Phase II.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 5:30 PM 1. Phase I data collection, analysis details and reporting schedule 2. Ph II framework issues under review (begin work and objectives defined) 3. An updated RPP program implementation schedule that includes Ph II milestones The success of this program will mark a milestone for our city and we must ensure that the work progresses according to the Council’s mandate. Gab Layton is presently out of town so could not concur. Also we need to know the location of the meeting. A public notice should also be posted soon on the RPP w-site. Thank you: Richard Brand Neilson Buchanan John Guislin Michael Hodos Elaine Uang

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:21 AM

Carnahan, David

From: Richard Brand <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 8:53 PMTo: [email protected]; Council, CityCc: [email protected]: ID 5777 Aug 17 council Study Session

Council members and Staff: Page 3 of this report contains information on the status of the RPP program. In the first paragraph of text on this page and I paraphrase, it states that Staff has continued to meet with the Stakeholder group. I would add as an RPP Stakeholder, the last scheduled committee meeting I have attended was in April. There was a June meeting which I could not attend due to being on vacation. We have had very only 3 meetings this year even though several of us Stakeholders have requested more knowing there are a myriad of project details to deal with including what is the list of data to be gathered from the 6 month Phase I program. No data has been identified in the Stakeholders meetings Also and I quote from the report: "Staff expect to continue to work with the stakeholder group to develop the Phase 2 program parameters, and are scheduled to come back to Council in December with a preliminary recommendation on the Phase 2 program, as anticipated in the Council resolution from December 2014." I would ask Council to question Staff on if/how they will meet this date given that there has been no previous discussion with Stakeholders of Phase II this past year AND the most recent RPP meeting scheduled for the 19th of this month where Ph II planning was to begin, has been cancelled by Staff. The reason given for the cancellation was that Staff would be too busy with details (Ph I). I can only offer that if Staff had held the meetings with Stakeholders that we requested and they reference in this report where we could have helped them develop a Q&A document on Ph I, then we could have helped them by offloading some of the questions coming from my own neighbors and others. I have been asked several times about the details of Ph I now that the signs are up but can provide little information. Therefore by using the expertise developed with Stakeholders I would suggest that Staff could have be freed up to have the scheduled Stakeholder meeting this month to help develop a Ph II. Sincerely, Richard Brand 281 Addison Ave


Carnahan, David

From: Jeffrey Rensch <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 3:37 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Transportation vision Monday night

Dear Mayor Holman and Council members: I know you will receive excellent letters from Transform and from Palo Alto Forward regarding the positions our City takes on future transportation initiatives from VTA. Your letter in the staff report, written together with other cities, is a good one but might emphasize some of the best ideas and programs more than it does: - We need to push very strongly that an equitable proportion of funding comes to North county and is not exclusively sunk into San Jose BART, good as that project is - We need to push very strongly for initiatives that combat SOV trips. From this point of view, efforts at trip reduction (or shifting trips to public transport or rideshare, etc) are better tools for fighting congestion than widening roads, which simply will attract more SOV uses. This applies to Page Mill as well, as I believe you have already emphasized. - Caltrain needs to be fully funded, and supported by first/last-mile initiatives and other tools - Our best local programs deserve funding! This includes tools for safer biking and it might well include the local shuttle and more. This is a time and an opportunity to aim high, Thanks for listening Jeff Rensch, [email protected], 741 Chimalus Dr, 650-493-3401


Carnahan, David

From: [email protected]: Monday, August 17, 2015 8:47 AMTo: Council, CitySubject: Support the parking and transportation update

Honorable Council, I'm writing to support the parking and transportation update, especially the daily parking change which provides a better garage permit alternative to street parking. (Agenda Item #1). This alternative parking fee schedule will help those who lost their free neighborhood parking space. Sincerely yours, Amy Sung _____________________________________

AMY SUNG 宋慧瑛 Navigate the California Dream with you

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Pacific Union | Mobile 微信 +1.650.468.4834 License# 01436684 1706 El Camino Real | Menlo Park [email protected] like my FB Page: Amy's Real Estate,


Carnahan, David

From: Bob Wenzlau <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 9:12 AMTo: UACCc: Council, CitySubject: Support of Mark Harris for UAC

Commissioners, Please consider Mark Harris for the Utility Advisory Committee. I have known Mark in a professional and community capacity for over 30 years (wow!). As a young employee at City of Palo Alto, I worked with him on conservation efforts in the late 70s, and then worked on regional solid waste management issues (North County JPA) while he worked for City of Mountain View. He was always a mentor for me. Mark brings forward many attributes that are numerous as he would serve our City and the UAC.

He is familiar with rate structure. He served as City staff in the 70s working on utilities and rates. He would bring both acumen but also insight into rate analysis.

He served on the Infrastructure committee and through that helped bring forward the concepts of a management system for our infrastructure.

He carries a tremendous lens that can discern utility issues, but at the same time has a politic that will work well in the deliberations of the UAC.

As a teacher, he was able to bring business topics forward, and help create understanding.

While I know the UAC seeks many balancing topics, ultimately their is a fiduciary duty to be met, and Mark would hit that duty squarely out of the park. We are lucky to have him as a community member, and even more lucky that he is offering to server our City through the UAC. Mark did not ask for this endorsement, but as I learned of his application, was compelled to share my support. Yours, Bob Wenzlau -- Bob Wenzlau [email protected] 650-248-4467

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Carnahan, David

From: herb <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 2:23 PMTo: Council, City; Clerk, CitySubject: August 17, 2015, Council Meeting, Item #17: ABC Grant Funds

Herb Borock P. O. Box 632 Palo Alto, CA 94302 August 16, 2015 Palo Alto City Council 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 AUGUST 17, 2017, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, RECEIPT OF ABC GRANT FUNDS Dear City Council: The proposed Resolution for this agenda item refers to the "Downtown Entertainment District" that appears to be a name first used in the funding application but in no prior City document approved by the Council. Therefore, I wonder whether that name is appropriate in the Resolution. The Scope of Work accurately reports "The City is over-saturated with licensed premises". The over-saturation of premises licensed to serve alcohol is a direct result of a prior Council's willingness to accede to the request of Downtown property owners to amend the Zoning Ordinance to eliminate the restriction on the number of establishments per block that can serve alcohol, and to eliminate the restriction on the minimum distance between establishments serving alcohol. Perhaps it is time to revisit those decisions. Thank your for your consideration of these comments. Sincerely, Herb Borock

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Carnahan, David

From: Bruce Hodge <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 10:02 PMTo: Council, CityCc: Friend, Gil; Foster, Jonathan; Cook, James F.; Hays, WaltSubject: Please support the staff workplan for reducing natural gas and gasoline use

Honorable City Council Member, I’m writing to urge you to vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443 This work plan is an excellent next step in fashioning an effective response to climate change from the City. Please note that the Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously in favor of this plan. Sincerely yours, Bruce Hodge


Carnahan, David

From: Debbie Mytels <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 11:05 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Supporting UAC Recommendation re: Fuel Switching

Dear Members of the Plo Alto City Council, Our City has long been known as an environmental leader, and as Council members, you have been following in this important tradition. You now have an important opportunity to further this leadership with the UAC recommendation before you on Monday, August 17, to establish a work plan to evaluate and implement a program to encourage fuel switching from natural gas to our clean Palo Alto electricity over the next few years. this work plan can determine additional reductions in Palo Alto's CO2 emissions -- and demonstrate further leadership to other cities throughout the nation. The fuel switching study plan is on the Consent Calendar (#5961) for Monday night. I encourage you to support this item without further debate. It simply allows for the staff to begin an in-depth analysis of how fuel switching will affect our community and how it might be accomplished. There will be much more time to debate this issue when the relevant data is brought forth as a result of further study by the CPAU staff and the Utilities Advisory Commission. Please do not let the statements of a few misinformed residents, some of whom are evidently climate change "deniers," to deflect our city from moving forward to study this important approach that was unanimously approved by the Council's Utilities Advisory Commission. Sincerely, Debbie Mytels 2824 Louis Road Palo Alto, CA 94303


Carnahan, David

From: Bruce Hodge <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 9:39 PMTo: Hodge, BruceSubject: Brief letters to PA City Council needed re: Carbon Free Palo Alto

Dear Friends, Here's another important update from Bruce Hodge of Carbon Free Palo ALto. There's an important vote next Monday at the PA City Council about the "fuel switching" concept (moving away from natural gas appliances and into using clean electric energy). Bruce has written a short sample letter that you might copy and add a few words of your own in support. Please add your voice in support! Cheers, Debbie Mytels = = = = = = = = = = = = Carbon Free Palo Alto Supporters, Sorry to send out another email so soon, but this is really important! Write an email to the City Council about fuel switching In my last email I talked about work plans for fuel switching that were approved by the Utilities Advisory Commission and are on the consent calendar for the City Council meeting on August 17th. Items on the consent calendar are normally approved without discussion. However, even though this item is on the consent calendar, it could still be challenged. The City Council has received a number of emails from constituents opposed to the fuel switching concept. Most of them are not particularly well informed and hence draw erroneous conclusions. You can read the letters (so far) here: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443. The letters are at the end of the document. Just to make sure that OUR voices are heard, we need to get emails to the Council in favor of the staff recommendation. Here's the address for emails to the Council: [email protected] Please send this in the next few days and BCC me or let me know you wrote so that I can judge our response. Here’s some text you can use, but feel free to change or use your own words.

Honorable City Council Member, I’m writing to urge you to vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 2:37 PMThis work plan is an excellent next step in fashioning an effective response to climate change from the City. Please note that the Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously in favor of this plan. Sincerely yours, xxx

[And while we're talking about writing letters, here's a sample letter to write to our State legislators -- addresses below-- about proposing a modification to SB 350:]

Dear xxx, I’m writing to urge you to consider a key modification to SB 350. In general, SB 350 has very good goals: 1) 50% RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) by 2030 2) 50% reduction in petroleum use by 2030 3) 50% increase in building energy efficiency by 2030 However, #3 is flawed because it doesn’t contain an explicit link to carbon reduction like the other items. This allows the building sector to install more fossil fueled devices in the name of efficiency. This is counterproductive and unhelpful, since new fossil fueled devices can have lifetimes of more than 15 years. Instead, I’d like to urge you to help change goal #3 to this: "Reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from energy use in existing building by 50% by 2030". This would ensure that the building sector is pursuing the same goals as the other sectors. Please let me know what you think of this modification. Thanks for your consideration. Sincerely yours, xxx

Below are relevant snippets from my original email for reference.

Our strategy of getting Palo Alto to think more about fuel switching is starting to have some success. In response to a colleague’s memo that we advocated through a draft memo https://www.dropbox.com/s/uvf2l48mgf959xl/Colleague%27s%20Memo%20Draft_3.pdf?dl=0, the City staff has developed work plans for studying and deploying fuel switching strategies. These plans were recently approved unanimously by the Utilities Advisory Commission and are on the consent calendar for the City Council meeting on August 17th, which virtually assures passage. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443 http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2015/07/30/palo-alto-looks-to-get-people-to-switch-off-natural-gas

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 2:37 PMProposed modification to SB 350 Another recent positive development is the passage of an omnibus of climate-related bills in the California State Senate, including SB 350 and SB 32. http://focus.senate.ca.gov/climate In general, SB 350 has very good goals: 1) 50% RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) by 2030 2) 50% reduction in petroleum use by 2030 3) 50% increase in building energy efficiency by 2030 http://focus.senate.ca.gov/sites/focus.senate.ca.gov/files/climate/505050.html However, we think that goal #3 is flawed. In the words of one of our advocacy partners, Michael Winkler, “It is very difficult to measure, very difficult to achieve and does nothing directly about one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions associated with buildings, direct natural gas combustion for space heating and water heating.” Michael proposes that the text be changed to this: "Reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from energy use in existing building by 50% by 2030". He goes on to explain… “This modified goal would include fuel switching from natural gas to electric heat pumps.” “In PG&E territory with the existing electricity generation mix, fuel switching by itself will immediately reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from space and water heating by more than 50%.” “As the percentage of non-fossil electricity sources continues to increase, the greenhouse gas reduction benefit of switching from natural gas to electric heat pumps will automatically increase.” “We in California especially want to avoid having building owners install new natural gas appliances which would lock in greenhouse gas pollution for the 15+ year life of the equipment.” “My proposed goal is fairly easy to calculate simply by logging electricity and natural gas consumption in each existing building and multiplying by the annual average pounds of CO2 per kWh for electricity and pounds of CO2 per therm for natural gas.” We agree with Michael’s proposal and hope you do, too! There’s still time to modify the language in this bill either before the Assembly votes on it or in the conference committee before it goes to Governor Brown’s desk. Please consider sending an email to our state representatives, as well as to Senator de León, the author of SB 350, and to Fran Pavley, author of the original groundbreaking AB 32. If you’re comfortable in doing so, please mention Carbon Free Palo Alto in your email. Assemblymember Rich Gordon: http://asmdc.org/members/a24/ Senator Jerry Hill: http://sd13.senate.ca.gov/send-e-mail Senator Kevin de León : http://sd24.senate.ca.gov/contact/email Senator Fran Pavley: http://sd27.senate.ca.gov/contact


Bruce Hodge Carbon Free Palo Alto: http://carbonfreepaloalto.org Climate Crisis: http://flip.it/t71d7 Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarbonFreePA >> Have some friends that should be getting these emails? Have them sign up here: sign up as a supporter >> Want to opt out of these emails? Just reply w/ a short message.


Carnahan, David

From: Kurt Kelty <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 3:22 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Carbon Free Palo Alto Update

Honorable City Council Members, I’m writing to urge you to vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443 This work plan is an excellent next step in fashioning an effective response to climate change from the City. Please note that the Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously in favor of this plan. Personally, we are starting renovation on our house to eliminate the natural gas connection and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. We’d like to see the City go in the same direction. Sincerely yours, Kurt Kelty 735 Homer Ave


Carnahan, David

From: Frank Viggiano <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 5:57 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: City Council Item # 5961

Honorable City Council Member, I’m writing to urge you to vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443 Previous City initiatives have shown that renewable, carbon-free electric generation is already cost effective. Now lets demonstrate that electricity can power many of the things which have traditionally been powered by fossil fuels. For example, owning an electric car has shown me that petroleum-powered cars are neither better, nor cheaper to run. The roadblocks are for the most part simply human resistance to change. We are a very educated city. Let's show our ability to look at things analytically and not emotionally. Sincerely yours,

Frank Viggiano 830 Talisman Drive Palo Alto, CA 94303


Carnahan, David

From: Lisa Altieri <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 10:44 AMTo: Council, CitySubject: Utility Advisory Commission Recommendation, 8/17 Council Meeting

Honorable City Council Members, I’m writing to urge you to vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443 Dr. Mark Jacobsen, Stanford University and top Energy & Environmental Consulting firms including E3 and others have established electrification and renewable electricity to be the most effective path to address climate change. In Palo Alto, we have taken the first step to provide 100% renewable electricity. This plan incorporates the next step - electrifying our transportation and building infrastructure. This work plan, approved unanimously by the Utilities Advisory Commission, is an excellent next step in fashioning an effective response to climate change from the City. Thank you for your time and all your efforts for the City of Palo Alto. Regards, Lisa Altieri Palo Alto resident 530 Barron Ave.


Carnahan, David

From: Sandra Slater <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 9:42 PMTo: Council, CityCc: Keene, James; Friend, GilSubject: Electrification of Palo Alto's Utility

Dear Palo Alto City Council Members, I am writing to you today in support of the Utilities Advisory Commission’s recommendation to reduce our carbon footprint through electrification. I see this fuel switching program as a necessary step in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Natural gas is composed largely of methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2. The extraction of natural gas through fracking has many deleterious effects on water, land and air -- above and beyond the methane emissions. According to a 2014 Energy Science and Engineering Report from Cornell University, regarding the use of natural gas a bridge fuel, “...methane is far more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2, so even small rates of methane emission can have a large influence on the GHG footprints of natural gas use.” The Report concludes that natural gas is not an effective “bridge" fuel. As stated in my previous letter to you and the UAC, I would like to see residents "opt-out" of our Green Gas program as we navigate our way to electrification of our homes and businesses. While purchasing carbon offsets is not a panacea it is a bridge to electrification of our utility. The City should be mandate that all new construction use our “green” electricity for all its energy needs going forward and provide serious subsidies and incentives for all natural gas appliances as they are retired from residents’ homes and commercial enterprises. If the reduction of greenhouse gases is a value that Palo Altans hold dear (and I believe it is), then it is imperative that we follow our values with action and support the electrification of our utility as quickly as possible. Thanks for your consideration of this initiative and for all you do for the City of Palo Alto. Sincerely, Sandra Slater


Carnahan, David

From: Bret Andersen <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 11:55 AMTo: Council, CitySubject: In Support of Fuel Switching

Honorable City Council Members, I urge you to vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443 With it's focus on electrification of transport and building heating/cooling systems, this work plan is an excellent next step in forming a comprehensive and effective response to climate change by the City. Please note that the Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously in favor of this plan. Sincerely yours, Bret Andersen Palo Verde Neighborhood, Palo Alto


Carnahan, David

From: Elizabeth Weal <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 8:32 AMTo: Council, CitySubject: Re: Carbon Free Palo Alto Update (Send an email to City Council) (Aug. 12, 2015)

Honorable City Council Member, I’m writing to urge you to explore fuel switching options that will reduce Palo Alto residents' use of natural gas. Specifically, I am requesting that you vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443 This work plan is an excellent next step in fashioning an effective response to climate change from the City. Please note that the Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously in favor of this plan. Sincerely yours, Elizabeth Weal


Carnahan, David

From: Vanessa Warheit <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 8:06 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Fuel Switching

Dear City Council, I’m writing to urge you to vote in favor of the staff report: "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015, and I understand that the Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously in favor of this plan. (http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443) Having reviewed the work plan, I feel it provides the city with an excellent next step in responding to the urgent need to address climate change. Please vote in favor, so that we can continue to move forward in achieving our climate action goals as quickly and effectively as possible. Sincerely yours, Vanessa Warheit 2301 Hanover Street Palo Alto

— Vanessa Warheit linkedin.com/in/vanessawarheit 415-225-4435 [email protected] *** I’m fasting for the climate, on the 1st day of every month between now and the COP21 climate talks in Paris this December. If this email was written on the first of the month, please forgive any aberrant behavior, as it is likely inspired by low blood sugar. More information on Fast for the Climate is here: http://fastfortheclimate.org ***


Carnahan, David

From: Rosenblums(pol1) <[email protected]>Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2015 9:38 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Council Meeting of August 17, Agenda item 18 on Consent Calendar

Honorable City Council Members, I’m writing to urge you to vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. This work plan is an excellent next step in fashioning an effective response to climate change from the City. By advocating for the use of heat pumps in all future construction it puts the city squarely on a path to reducing its carbon footprint,. This is a logical follow up to Palo Alto making its electricity supply carbon free. The Utilities Advisory Commission has voted unanimously in favor of this plan. Sincerely yours, Stephen Rosenblum Old Palo Alto


Carnahan, David

From: Ken Novak <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 9:13 AMTo: Council, City

City Council Members, I’m writing to urge you to vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443 This work plan is an excellent next step in fashioning an effective response to climate change from the City. We have built a carbon-free electricity portfolio, and now is the time to exploit it to reduce other sources of emissions. Our local experts on the Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously in favor of this plan. Sincerely yours, Ken Novak [email protected] 650-400-7975


Carnahan, David

From: Vickie Martin <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 4:03 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Vote in favor of staff report ID#5961 -- Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Strategies

Honorable City Council Member, I’m writing to urge you to vote in favor of the staff report titled "Utilities Advisory Commission Recommendation to Approve Work Plan to Evaluate and Implement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies by Reducing Natural Gas and Gasoline Use Through Electrification”, (ID # 5961). This item is on the consent calendar for next Monday, 8/17/2015. http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48443 This work plan is an excellent next step in fashioning an effective response to climate change from the City. Please note that the Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously in favor of this plan. Sincerely yours, Vickie Martin

Palo Alto 94306


Carnahan, David

From: Minor, BethSent: Monday, August 17, 2015 10:23 AMTo: Lindgren, Gary; Council, CityCc: Carnahan, DavidSubject: RE: Agenda Item 18, Fuel Switching AKA Electrification

Hi Gary, You are able to speak to an item on the consent agenda, even if council does not pull it from consent. Please complete a speaker card and we will give it to the Mayor, so she can call your name towards the beginning of when they take up consent calendar. The public is provided 3 minutes to speak on any item on the agenda or any subject that is under their purview. If you have any further questions, please let me know. Thanks,

B‐

Beth D. Minor | City Clerk | City of Palo Alto 250 Hamilton Avenue| Palo Alto, CA 94301 T: 650‐ 329‐2379 E: [email protected]

City Clerks Rock and Rule

From: Gary Lindgren [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2015 10:12 AM To: Council, City Subject: Agenda Item 18, Fuel Switching AKA Electrification Attention City Council, I would like to speak to agenda item No. 18 ( Fuel Switching / AKA Electrification) at the August 17, 2015 council meeting. If at all possible please remove this item from the Consent Calendar so that I can speak on this item. Thank you, Gary Lindgren

Gary Lindgren 585 Lincoln Ave Palo Alto CA 94301 650-326-0655 Check Out Latest Seismometer Reading cymonsplace.blogspot.com @garyelindgren


Be Like Costco... do something in a different way


Carnahan, David

From: Craig Lewis <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 1:00 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Fuel-switching recommendations from staff & UAC (unanimous) - SUPPORTAttachments: Gas v electric.pptx

Dear Mayor Holman & Councilmembers,

The consent calendar tonight includes a staff recommendation to pursue fuel-switching to electricity, away from natural gas and gasoline. There are many reasons to support such fuel-switching and the Utility Advisory Commission (UAC) unanimously agrees. I want to emphasize the following three reasons:

1. While Palo Alto is carbon free on its electric power, the City still has a typical carbon footprint in regards to everything else. This means that the vast majority of Palo Alto's carbon footprint now comes from gasoline for transportation and natural gas for space heating and hot water.

2. Although some people worry about stranding Palo Alto's natural gas infrastructure, fuel-switching is extremely slow; paced primarily by new construction. Hence, it would be a miracle if fuel-switching could happen in existing built-environments at a pace that exceeded the depreciation schedule of the existing natural gas infrastructure. The real trick for City leadership is avoiding unwise investments in new natural gas infrastructure that could indeed become stranded over the multi-decade lifespan of natural gas infrastructure.

3. For leadership tasked with considering emergency preparedness, electric service is far more resilient than natural gas service. As clearly shown in the attached chart, restoration times for electric service are an order of magnitude faster than for gas service. The source report can be found at the link below, and summaries provided in Table 3 and Figure 4 show restoration times for a variety of critical infrastructure facilities that are estimated in the San Francisco Bay Area following a magnitude 7.9 earthquake (M7.9).

http://www.sfgsa.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=12025

Fuel-switching to electricity from natural gas and gasoline is key to transitioning to renewables and is fundamental to nearly every Palo Alto environmental and sustainability objective. As noted, fuel-switching is also critical for emergency preparedness. Please feel free to contact me... Best regards,

Craig Lewis

Executive Director

Clean Coalition 16 Palm Ct

Menlo Park, CA 94025

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 2:53 PM650-796-2353 mobile

[email protected]

www.clean-coalition.org

The Issue

Data Credit: Lifelines Council

0 0 0 02.5

5

10

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65

100

5

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9597 98.5 100 100 100 100

1 DAY 2 DAYS 3 DAYS 1 WEEK 2 WEEKS 3 WEEKS 1 MONTH 2 MONTHS 3 MONTHS 6 MONTHS

Potential Service Restoration Timeframes (M7.9 Earthquake)

Gas Electricity


Carnahan, David

From: herb <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 2:56 PMTo: Council, City; Clerk, CitySubject: August 17, 2015, Council Meeting, Item #19: Action Minutes

Herb Borock P. O. Box 632 Palo Alto, CA 94302 August 16, 2015 Palo Alto City Council 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 AUGUST 17, 2015, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AGENDA ITEM #19 ACTION MINUTES, MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.04.160 Dear City Council: The staff report and the draft Ordinance refer to the subject Municipal Code section as both 2.04.060 and 2.04.160. See, for example, the title of the staff report and the title of the draft Ordinance. Section 2.04.060 is about the election of the Mayor and Vice Mayor. Section 2.04.160 is about the Council minutes. I urge you to remove this item from the Consent Calendar for the purpose of amending and retaining section 2.04.160(d) to require Council approval of the Action Minutes. When the City Clerk reported to you about the type of minutes produced in other jurisdictions, nothing was said about what those jurisdictions do with the Action Minutes once they are produced. Other jurisdictions place the draft Action Minutes on their agendas where the governing body reviews, amends as necessary, and approves those minutes before they are signed by the presiding officer and attested to by the clerk before being kept as permanent records that are accessible to the press and public. That's how Action Minutes are processed by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, the California High Speed Rail Authority, and cities and towns throughout California.

dcarnah

Example1

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:26 AMTherefore, before adopting the proposed Ordinance, I urge you to amend and retain section 2.04.160 to read: "(d) At the meeting following publication, council action minutes shall be agendized by the city clerk for the council's approval. Corrections to the minutes shall be made at the meeting. Council members may submit their corrections in writing or orally to the city clerk's office before the time of the meeting. The city clerk shall distribute a written copy of all corrections received during regular business hours to all council members at the meeting." Since the May 6, 2015, Council action that led to this agenda's proposed ordinance there has been a gap created where the Municipal Code has required minutes to be prepared by the City Clerk and approved by the City Council, but there have been no agenda items for minutes approvals for over two months. In addition, to amending and retaining section 2.04.160, I urge you to direct the city clerk to place on your agenda for approval action minutes for all meetings for which you have not yet approved any minutes. Thank you for your consideration of these comments. Sincerely, Herb Borock


Carnahan, David

From: herb <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 4:03 PMTo: Council, City; [email protected]: August 17, 2015, Council Meeting, Item #23: Water Rate Increase

Herb Borock P. O. Box 632 Palo Alto, CA 94302 August 16, 2015 Palo Alto City Council 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 AUGUST 17, 2015, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AGENDA ITEM #23 WATER RATE INCREASE Dear City Council: The calculations of water rates are not consistent with the court's decision in Capistrano Taxpayers Association v. City of San Juan Capistrano (Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, Case No. G048969), Certified for Publication (Request for depublication denied by Supreme Court, Case No. 226906). Private businesses and the City of Palo Alto itself are not being charged for irrigation water (for example, for the golf course and for Greer Park), although the court ruled that providing potable water and providing recycled water is the same service (emphasis in the original), while Palo Alto treats recycled water as a separate service. By treating recycled water as a separate service from potable water, the City itself is not paying its share of the capital costs of providing potable water that is immediately available to the City for irrigating Greer Park and gold course, thus increasing all other customers cost of potable water. Reject the proposed rate increase, and direct staff to recalculate and re-notice the new rate increase after including recycled water users in the same customer base as potable water users. Thank you for your consideration of these comments. Sincerely,

dcarnah

Example1

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:22 AM Herb Borock


Carnahan, David

From: Sandra Slater <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 11:52 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: SCC Transportation 2016 Ballot Measure

Dear Palo Alto City Council Members, Thank you for reviewing and considering Santa Clara County transportation investments for the 2016 ballot measure, and and providing an opportunity for community input. Following are recommendations to provide effective transportation solutions for Palo Alto and for Santa Clara County. North Santa Clara County equity Analysis shows that 80% of spending recent ballot measures have gone toward the BART-Silicon Valley project. The current measure needs to have stronger direct benefits for North Santa Clara County. Strong Caltrain investments Palo Alto has the second highest Caltrain ridership on the line following San Francisco, and the city would benefit from a strong package investments in capacity, safety, and reliability. These investments include:

longer platforms with level boarding, to carry more passengers and provide faster service grade separation funding, employing the successful strategy used by Santa Clara County to provide a large pot

of funds that is allocated periodically when cities have ready projects. This gives cities more power to plan locally.

funding commitment from VTA to meet its annual budget obligations for Caltrain operations and maintenance more frequent service to South Santa Clara County, which would help reduce commute traffic to Palo Alto,

according to recent research fro transportation demand initiatives Analyze alternatives to extending BART beyond the Diridon Station in downtown San Jose in order to free up

funding for other pressing needs throughout the County. TDM/TMA matching funds To help fulfill the goals of Palo Alto and other cities to reduce vehicle trips, VTA is creating a new program providing matching funds for city transportation demand management programs. Palo Alto would benefit from this program to help reduce vehicle trips to congested areas such as Downtown and Stanford Research Park. TDM for Page Mill congestion relief

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:19 AM We support strong investments to reduce congestion on the Page Mill corridor. The County Expressway study indicated that widening Page Mill would provide very short term relief. Instead, we should support Stanford University’s proposals to focus on transportation demand management strategies to reduce congestion. We should seek VTA funds for measures including more frequent Cal Ave Caltrain service, last-mile shuttles, express buses, and other investments as supported by the TDM planning in progress. Planning for a countywide and intercounty transportation network Palo Alto is joining a group of cities calling for a comprehensive planning process to create a robust backbone transportation network. We support robust planning and alternatives analysis, but do not recommend a billion dollar investment in projects that are not yet defined. A comprehensive, low-stress bicycle network We recommend that Palo Alto apply for funds to complete missing links in a comprehensive network of trails, protected bike lanes, and bike boulevards, within Palo Alto and crossing city boundaries. Thanks again for holding this meeting and hearing community input regarding the most effective spending plan to improve transportation in Palo Alto and Santa Clara County. Sincerely, Sandra Slater Palo Alto Steering Committee


Carnahan, David

From: David Coale <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 1:07 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: City projects and goals for the possible VTA tax measure

Dear Palo Alto City council,

In reading over the staff report for VTA projects, I liked very much all the train, bike and pedestrian projects listed. Hopefully this will help Palo Alto get to a platinum level rating for a bike and pedestrian friendly city. That said, Palo Alto needs more resources to make this happen sooner as we are already behind in the goals the city set for the implementation of the bike and pedestrian plan, which will not be enough to obtain the platinum rating the city is seeking.

On the larger goals and policies I was surprised to see the plan is missing some very important goals and policies that should be included in both the local and regional goals and in the letter to the VTA from the north county cities.

While there is a lot on the input from the comp planning process, there is nothing on the city’s Climate Protection Plan, soon to be the SCAP and compliance with AB32, SB375 and the likely passage of SB350. With the long time frame of this possible tax measure, addressing climate change should be front and center with more then the statement: “Projects should help minimize Green House Gas Emissions and Vehicle Miles Traveled”, which was in the Envision Silicon Valley Goals. I would have expected this type of statement to be predominate in the Palo Alto goals and in the letter to the VTA.

I think there should also be a goal to reduce SOV trips by 30% by 2040. This type of goal was not mentioned anywhere directly and needs to be stated so that we can measure our progress in this area.

Please consider adding language to the VTA letter that directly address the goals of GHG reduction and mode shift as we need real measurable goals for the selected projects and funding of this tax measure.

Page Mill lane expansion projects

With the above goals mentioned, Palo Alto should reject the Page Mill lane expansion project as other alternatives have not been tried first and this project will only encourage car use and increase Palo Alto’s GHG emission and is in general not sustainable with the eventual out come that it will only decrease traffic for 10 years before things are clogged up again. It has been proven over and over again that we cannot build our way out of traffic congestion.

We need to seek other solutions first, such as TDM which could be far more effective, quicker to implement, longer lasting, sustainable and compatible with the city’s goals in the soon to be released SCAP and updated comp plan.

Please consider these changes to the VTA project list and letter from the north county cities.

Thanks for your consideration,

David Coale

Carbon Free Palo Alto Bike Palo Alto Former Acterra Board member


Carnahan, David

From: Richard Brand <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 10:59 PMTo: Council, City; Keene, JamesCc: Carol Malcolm; mmqosSubject: Call for Projects ID # 5937

Esteemed City Council members:

Welcome back! We have a key regional transportation item which is not on the Staff list. Major commuter traffic backups are occurring weekday afternoons eastbound on University Avenue, Midddlefield Road at the Menlo Park line and US 101 as a result of VTA funds being promised but not being delivered. That project is the restoration of the Dumbarton Rail line to/from the east bay to help relieve congestion from the Dumbarton vehicle bridge. Presently commuters from the east bay and points further east have to either commute in the morning to the Peninsula via auto on Dumbarton or even highway 237 or else take the Altamont Express into San Jose and then transfer to Caltrain. A Dumbarton commuter train which connected to the Altamont Express, Amtrak Calif. and even BART could provide a key link between these east bay rail lines and then Caltrain in Redwood City.

In the past S.C. County sales tax measures, funds have been promised by VTA to support the restoration of Dumbarton Rail. However, like funds promised for the Palo Alto Intermodal transportation Center in the 2000 tax measure, these funds too have been diverted to the BART to San Jose project.

Recently there was an op‐ed in the Mercury News written by Carl Guardino of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SLVG). In that he argues that BART to San Jose and then Santa Clara must be funded. But the BART line would provide no benefit to Palo Alto let alone the other cities of SC County. According to the VTA web site, the link to Santa Clara which is redundant to Caltrain, is expected to cost $4 BILLION today. The potential tax measure being discussed by SLVG and others would raise $6 B. You can guess where SLVG wants the new funds to go.

As our Supervisor Joe Simitian was quoted recently in the Daily Post. “….the numbers are revealing.” 80% of all of the County sales tax revenues since the 2000 ballot measure have gone to fund the BART link between another county and the city of San Jose. This time the north portion of our County must receive a major portion of revenue from the proposed tax.

One of the Envision Goals on attachment D states: “Improve regional connectivity and seamless travel.” A Dumbarton Rail link to the east bay fits this goal well. As Menlo Park has reopened their review of the Dumbarton rail restoration and San Mateo County has some funds already allocated to this project, the cost estimate for the VTA portion would be in the neighborhood of $250M or 6.25% of the cost of BART from San Jose to Santa Clara.

I urge you to add and prioritize Restoration of Dumbarton Rail to your key project list. If in doubt just try getting to 101 from downtown anytime between 4 and 6:30 Monday thru Friday.

Sincerely Richard Brand 281 Addison Ave


Carnahan, David

From: Steve Raney <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 8:58 AMTo: Council, CityCc: Shikada, Ed; Lightbody, James; Gitelman, Hillary; Friend, Gil; Keene, JamesSubject: Aug 17 item #24 VTA Sales Tax: 50% SOV coming

Dear City Council, Outside of the Envision Silicon Valley project list, there is a “perfect storm” brewing to bring about 50% single occupancy vehicle commute mode share. This has two implications for VTA’s sales tax Call for Projects: 1) A project to update the long-range County Regional Transportation Plan should be funded, with specific direction: a) align with state long-range “CTP2040” climate/transportation goals, b) focus on reducing VMT/GHG. 2) Efforts to increase roadway capacity, such as SCC Expressway 2040 projects for new lanes and Page Mill “flyovers” should be FROZEN for a few years until TDM efforts play out fully. SOV commute shift to 50% is 1,000 times more cost-effective and climate-friendly. Some examples of bold leadership towards 50% SOV commute mode share: 1. CTP2040 Alt 3 (California Transportation Plan 2040, Alternative 3): * 2040 transport GHG = 20% of 1990 emissions. * Accelerate transport electrification. * 75% increase in per mile vehicle operating costs to reduce VMT/GHG by 17.3%. * Convert HOV2 to HOV4 – convert two-person carpool lanes to four-person * Double transit & biking. * “Road capacity enhancing strategies were rejected due to concerns these would ultimately increase VMT.” California is the only state with a plan to meet Kyoto 2040 GHG targets. While some will view California as “anti-car,” it is more appropriate to consider the state to be: pro-climate, pro-health (active transport), pro-sharing, pro-collaboration, and pro-efficiency. 2. The pioneering “Trip Cap,” the Stanford General Use Permit #1, resulted in 41.9% SOV commute mode split. The cost of “A Lot” parking permits is roughly $3.60 per day. Stanford provides one of the richest sets of commute incentives, including Caltrain GoPass, Marguerite, cash for biking/carpooling. Resultant commute mode split: 41.9% SOV, 23.6% Caltrain, 13.9% bike, 8.4% carpool, 7.5% bus, 3.1% walk. Trip reduction avoided $107M in parking space construction costs. 3. Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View, and Menlo Park now have Trip Caps. Mountain View’s adopted Feb 2015 TDM Trip Cap translates to an SOV requirement of between 30% and 45%, depending on the density of employees within buildings (the number of employees per 1,000 square feet):

Jobs per 1K sf Required SOV 4 45% 5 36% 6 30%

One employer faces $100K fines for each one percent SOV above target. MTV trip cap: http://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=15164 4. New Silicon Valley TMA/TDM efforts are forming at a rapid pace. Palo Alto’s downtown TMA and the Stanford Research Park TMA are excellent examples.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:19 AM5. The City of Palo Alto / Joint Venture Mobility as a Service project (http://bit.ly/1HLwRuu ) has attracted VTA, Fremont, Mountain View, Commute.org (Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance), Google, RideScout, and Lyft as partners. The MaaS project creates a seamless, door-to-door combination of transportation modes — public and private transit, bikeshare, rideshare, carshare, vanpool, taxi, employer commute benefits, and electric scooter/bike lease — to reduce private auto usage. 6. The upcoming S/CAP “moon shot” scenario promises to move even faster than state climate policy, towards lower-than-50% SOV. 7. The 2009 “Moving Cooler” Report (by ULI, APTA, EDF, FHWA, FTA, NRDC, and EPA) has been influential in state climate-focused transport planning. The “big conclusion” is that to hit aggressive GHG reduction targets, VMT must be reduced by increasing price. Transport energy efficiency increases are not sufficient. There is a direct line between Moving Cooler and CTP2040. Moving Cooler may also influence S/CAP. A variety of VMT reduction remedies are explored, providing a path to reduce US VMT by 28%. Kind regards, - Steve ============================= Steve Raney, Cities21: smart mobility Pitman Ave., Palo Alto


Carnahan, David

From: Mark Nadim <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 5:06 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Message from the City Council Home Page

Honorable Mayor and Council Members With the proposed VTA tax measure going to be on the ballot next year, I reviewed the staff report of the proposed projects for the city, it is imperative that we have a shorter list of proposed projects so we do not give the selection of projects for north county to a VTA employee with no knowledge of our needs. I would like to propose the following items, 1. Reduce the list to less than 10 projects and prioritize them topping the list, - grade separation - bike lanes 2. Limit BART extension to Diridon station even if 0.5 cent tax passes. 3. Add Dumbarton Bridge rail corridor to the list 4. No extra lanes on Page Mill, instead add express buses in 15 - 20 min intervals from Alameda, San Mateo and San Francisco counties 5. Have a fixed budget for CalTrain Thank you. Mark Nadim


Carnahan, David

From: Chris Lepe <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 1:59 PMTo: Council, CityCc: Hodge, Bruce; Jeralyn Moran; Sandra Slater; Yoriko Kishimoto; Adam Stern; Adina Levin; Debbie

Mytels; Gail Price; Mark Nadim; Robert Neff; Vanessa WarheitSubject: Recommendations for Monday's Council discussion on VTA's call for projectsAttachments: VTACallforProjects_PACouncil_8.16.15.pdf

Honorable Mayor, Vice Mayor, and City Council,

Monday’s City Council Study Session on VTA’s call for projects for the Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) and the planned 2016 transportation funding measure (Envision Silicon Valley) presents a very important opportunity to improve the future of Palo Alto and the region. Because of limited funding in the proposed measure to meet countywide transportation needs, we feel that it is important that the Council prioritize the list of projects in the staff report for submission to VTA. The following are our recommendations for Monday’s discussion.

Move people more efficiently and decarbonize our transportation system: Over the next 15 years, Santa Clara County will add the equivalent of two times the size of Sunnyvale’s population. The implications of these additional residents and workers traveling by the dominant Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) model would be catastrophic for the quality of life of Palo Alto and surrounding cities, the economy, and the environment. By 2040, we need to have a transport system that is almost completely decarbonized. The City must focus on moving more people with fewer cars and providing vastly improved options for walking, biking, carpooling, and public transportation within and outside of its jurisdictional boundaries. Projects that induce demand for driving and do not reduce carbon emissions, such as expressway widening, should be eliminated from the measure. The City can send a strong message to VTA by deprioritizing or eliminating projects that increase Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT), such as expressway widening projects, and focusing on the following strategies.

Expand mode shift programs: We are encouraged that the City is establishing trip goals and Transportation Management Association services for areas including downtown Palo Alto. VTA is proposing a new program that could be funded by the ballot measure, with funds to be used for targeted mode shift programs and to support city-driven initiatives to reduce vehicle trips in dense/densifying areas. The City should advocate for significant funding in this pot and take advantage of the program to fund congestion reduction in growth areas.

Invest in rapid transit: One of the keys to moving people efficiently is investing in a robust rapid transit network; however, there is no plan for rapid transit in Silicon Valley beyond the few individual transit infrastructure investments currently planned by VTA. We are encouraged by the leadership of the City of Palo Alto in insisting that a regional plan for rapid transit be developed and that significant funding be allocated to implement new rapid transit routes.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:34 AMUpgrade Caltrain: Palo Alto depends on Caltrain access to communities surrounding the Palo Alto, California Ave, San Antonio stations; however Caltrain is facing capacity constraints and would benefit from significant upgrades. The City of Palo Alto should support a package of improvements including electrification and longer platforms to increase Caltrain capacity to support the City's sustainable growth. Grade separations will also help improve safety, relieve traffic congestion and enable more frequent service in the future.

Improve the bus network and last mile connections to key transit corridors: Most people agree that VTA’s bus network is inadequate for the growing needs of our region. The City should advocate for improving the bus network by increasing funding for greater service frequency, longer hours of service, faster and more reliable travel, level boarding with enhanced transit stops, and a more dignified and convenient transit riding experience. VTA could also include funding for more affordable fares for low income populations, such as MUNI’s free youth transit pass program. In addition, the City could request funding for improved last mile access to employment centers, social service providers, residential areas, and major transit stops.

Expand innovation: Funding should be set aside for flexible spending on new innovations as they become available and to leverage the huge potential of the sharing economy to move people with fewer cars. A funding pot should be established for new transit models and service options as technology continues to progress.

Invest in bicycle and pedestrian safety: It is vital to increase funding to make our streets safer for walking and biking, especially around schools, major transit stops, and areas with high numbers of injuries and fatalities. The City should request funding to expand its low-stress bike network within and beyond city lines, including physically separated bike paths and crossings of barriers such as freeways, rail lines, and creeks. School districts may also benefit from more funding for safe routes to schools programming to reduce SOV travel and increase safety.

Equitably distribute funding: It’s clear that we cannot have a repeat of the 2000 Measure A, which directed most of the funding to the BART to San Jose project while ignoring the transit needs of the rest of the county. We agree that safeguards must be established in the next measure to ensure a more equitable geographic distribution of funding. At the same time, sales taxes are regressive in nature, taxing low income households more as a percentage of their income. Spending must benefit low income and disadvantaged populations in order to avoid deepening existing social inequities.

Advocate for BART extension cost-saving measures: The City should insist that VTA to explore cost saving measures as part of the multibillion dollar Silicon Valley BART extension in order to free up funding for other pressing countywide needs. Cost-saving possibilities include terminating the extension at the San Jose Diridon Transit Center and considering alternative locations to the Santa Clara maintenance facility. VTA should also pursue other funding options such as Mello Roos financing districts to free up funds for other transportation priorities.

Stabilize our communities: The rising cost of living is putting tremendous pressure on residents and workers, especially low income and transit dependent households, resulting in displacement and gentrification in many

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:34 AMcommunities. The City can take a leadership role by requesting that tax revenues be allocated to supporting the production and retention of affordable housing near transit. Ensuring that low income households can live near great transit is an important strategy for increasing transit use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

We look forward to Monday’s City Council study session and in working with you to help craft a measure that best meets the needs of workers and residents in Palo Alto and across the region.

Sincerely,

Adam Stern

Executive Director, Acterra

Adina Levin

Director, Friends of Caltrain

Bruce Hodge

Carbon-Free Palo Alto

Chris Lepe

Senior Community Planner, TransForm

Debbie Mytels

Midtown resident & environmental educator

Gail Price,

Former Palo Alto City Councilmember

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:34 AMJeralyn Moran

Palo Alto resident

Mark Nadim

Palo Alto resident

Robert Neff

Member, Palo Alto Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (For identification purposes only)

Sandra Slater

Palo Alto resident

Vanessa Warheit

Palo Alto resident

Yoriko Kishimoto

Former Mayor of Palo Alto

-- Want to improve your community and your commute? Let us know what your priorities are for Santa Clara County's next transportation funding measure! Fill out our short survey and attend an upcoming community meeting in Gilroy, Mountain View, Central San Jose, and East San Jose. Chris Lepe, Senior Community Planner, Silicon Valley TransForm 48 South 7th Street, Suite #103, San Jose, CA 95112 (408) 406-8074 Sign up for our emails at www.TransFormCA.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin, too.


Carnahan, David

From: Adina Levin <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 9:06 AMTo: Council, CitySubject: Transportation Ballot Measure

Dear Council Members, Thank you very much for this opportunity for public discussion regarding investment recommendations for the upcoming VTA ballot measure. A few comments relating to investments in Caltrain, mode shift, and a sustainable transportation network:

1. In order for Palo Alto and other cities’ Transportation Demand Management/Vehicle Trip Reduction initiatives to work, Caltrain will need to be able to carry more passengers. It is helpful to encourage investments in longer platforms to carry more passengers.

2. The ballot measure should include a funding commitment from VTA to meet its annual budget obligations for Caltrain operations and maintenance. 3. The ballot measure should include substantial funds for grade separations. Palo Alto would benefit from from an approach similar to the San Mateo program, which has provided substantial funding for grade separations, and cities are able to apply for funding as they are ready to move forward with projects. 4. More frequent Caltrain service to South Santa Clara county is likely to be of benefit to Palo Alto, based on preliminary TDM research showing that many workers commute to Palo Alto from San Jose and further south in Santa Clara County. 5. Palo Alto’s ask for shuttle funding can be broader - expressing intent to seek for matching funds for the TDM programs. VTA is creating a brand new program to provide matching grant funds for city-supported programs to reduce vehicle trips in dense/congested areas. This program can fund not only last-mile shuttles but more frequent bus service, express shuttles, carpool/vanpool programs, and other programs supporting specific objectives to reduce vehicle trips. The program could be a big help in improving collaboration and alignment between VTA and cities on the investments needed to increase transit ridership and relieve congestion 6. Palo Alto would benefit from strong investments to reduce congestion on the Page Mill corridor. Much of the Page Mill congestion is commuting to Stanford Research Park. City Council will be requiring stronger TDM as a condition for development in SRP. Stanford’s Transportation program is starting to work on plans to reduce driving to SRP. Palo Alto should support Stanford University’s proposals to invest on transportation demand management to reduce congestion instead of road-widening, which would provide only temporary relief. Palo Alto would benefit from seeking VTA funds for measures including more frequent Cal Ave and South County Caltrain service, last-mile shuttles, express buses, and other investments as supported by the Stanford’s TDM planning in progress. 7. VTA should analyze alternatives to extending BART beyond the Diridon Station in downtown San Jose in order to free up funding for other pressing needs throughout the County.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 12:22 PM8. Cities including Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Cupertino are recommending a comprehensive study to develop a system-wide plan for a backbone transit network in Santa Clara County with connections to other counties. The study should include an “alternatives analysis” looking at the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches, and creating project recommendations ready to apply for federal funding. Thanks again for the opportunity to comment. Sincerely, Adina Adina Levin Friends of Caltrain http://greencaltrain.com 650-646-4344


Carnahan, David

From: Murphy, Seamus <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 11:19 AMTo: Council, CityCc: Keene, JamesSubject: Caltrain Envision Silicon Valley RequestAttachments: List for VTA_8 12 15.pdf

Councilmembers, Thank you for considering responding to VTA’s Call for Projects for the Potential Envision Silicon Valley 2016 Transportation Tax Measure. A list of proposed Caltrain improvements is attached for your review and potential discussion at tonight’s council meeting. Caltrain has shared this list with VTA as well. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions. Otherwise, Mark Simon, Executive Officer for Public Affairs, will be present at tonight’s meeting and can provide information as needed. Many thanks, Seamus P. Murphy | Caltrain, SamTrans, SMCTA Director, Government & Community Affairs 1250 San Carlos Avenue | San Carlos, CA 94070 650.508.6388 | [email protected]

Caltrain: Candidate projects for the Santa Clara County 30-year, half cent, sales tax measure Updated 8.12.15

Footnotes: 1) CalMod 2.0: Costs based on conceptual design, subject to change. Longer Platforms at 5 stations, 9 platforms. Estimate $1m per platform. Level

Boarding at ~25”, anticipate additional outside funding if level boarding at ~50”. 10 stations, 21 platforms. $2.75m per platform. 2) Safety Enhancements: Estimate for one grade separation between $50-$150, based on PCEP EIR. Crossing Hazard Mitigation Program is approximately

$200,000 per crossing. 3) Overall: Assumes full funding by VTA and/or partner agencies, doesn’t factor in potential federal/state matches. List contains capital projects only, no

operation funding.

Project Name Serves Description Costs in FY15

Electrified, Modernized Trains / Station Modifications (CalMod 2.0)

Caltrain Improve performance, reduce pollutants, improve operations, capacity, service and reduce dwell time

o Full EMU Conversion SCC’s Share o Longer EMUs (8-car) SCC’s Share o Longer Platforms in SCC o Level Boarding in SCC

$214m

System Performance and

Reliability

Caltrain, CC,

& ACE,

Amtrak

Reduce delays, improve operational flexibility, reliability and speed movement through congested area (track reconfigurations)

o Guadalupe River Bridge Project SCC’s share o Terminal Projects SCC’s share o Cross-overs SCC’s share o Holdout Rule - College Park Station, SJ in SCC

$58m

Station Improvements Caltrain, local cities

Station improvements / access needs i.e parking improvements, bike facilities, transit connectivity, ticket vending machines, and station enhancements in Santa Clara County.

$42m

Safety Enhancements Caltrain, local

cities

Establish program to fund short and long term safety projects such as quad gates and grade separations in Santa Clara County. Eligible at-grade locations: PA (Alma St, Churchill Ave., East Meadow Dr., Charleston Ave); MV (Rengstorff Ave., Castro St.); SV (Mary Ave, Sunnyvale Ave.); SJ (Auzerais Ave., West Virginia St.)

$502m – $1,502m

Maintain Railroad Caltrain Funding for SCC’s share of the cost to maintain the railroad in a state of good repair.

$419m

Total $1.235-2.235B


Carnahan, David

From: Bret Andersen <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 2:39 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: PA Priorities for VTA Plans - Agenda Item 24 - 8/17/15 Council Meeting

Honorable City Council Members, I urge you to consider focusing on the following priorities in your discussions with City Staff regarding the City's response to VTA's "Call for Projects" and the proposed countywide Envision Silicon Valley 2016 Tax measure. 1. Move people more efficiently by reducing SOV rates: Further attempts to serve the additional residents and workers moving to our area in the coming years with the traditional Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) model would be catastrophic for the quality of life of Palo Alto and surrounding cities. Given limited public resources, the City and region must focus on moving more people with fewer cars and providing vastly improved options for walking, biking, carpooling, and public transportation. We cannot afford to waste money and time on investments that do not result in mode shift and that encourage more driving. Projects that induce demand for driving, such as expressway widening, should be eliminated from the measure. 2. Improve the bus network: Most people agree that VTA’s bus network is inadequate for the growing needs of our region. The City should advocate for improving VTA’s bus network by increasing funding for greater service frequency, longer hours of service, faster and more reliable travel times, level boarding with enhanced transit stops, and a more dignified and convenient transit riding experience. VTA could also include funding in the measure for more affordable fares for low income families, seniors, and students, such as MUNI’s free youth transit pass program. 3. Improve last mile connections to transit: The City should request funding for improved last mile access to employment centers, social service providers, residential areas, and major transit corridors such as El Camino Real and Caltrain. 4. Safe streets for walking and biking: It is also vital to increase funding to make our streets safer for walking and biking, especially around schools, major transit stops, and areas with high numbers of injuries and fatalities. The City should request funding to expand its low-stress bike network within and beyond city lines, including physically separated bike paths and crossings of barriers such as freeways, rail lines, and creeks. I believe your strong support for action along these lines will propel us along the most effective and high value path to a more efficient and sustainable transportation system for all. Sincerely yours, Bret Andersen, Carbon Free Palo Alto, Palo Verde Neighborhood, Palo Alto


Carnahan, David

From: Caryn Huberman <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 3:54 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Please read and heed Dave Price editorial 8/17/15

To the members of the Palo Alto City Council: I encourage you to please read the Dave Price editorial of today entitled "Council should learn from past mistakes". Price makes excellent points, particularly his "five‐point plan". Hoping your votes tonight will reflect a tough and rational view of local transportation sales tax dollars going forward.Let's not repeat past mistakes. Respectfully, Caryn Huberman Yacowitz *** http://www.carynyacowitz.com I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel Arthur A Levine Books, Scholastic

dcarnah

Example1


Carnahan, David

From: herb <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 3:49 PMTo: Council, City; Clerk, CitySubject: August 17, 2015, Council Meeting, Item #17: Commercial Housing Fund

Herb Borock P. O. Box 632 Palo Alto, CA 94302 August 16, 2015 Palo Alto City Council 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 AUGUST 17, 2015, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AGENDA ITEM #17 AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND BALANCES Dear City Council: Before you determine the actual amount of money you can expend for the Buena Vista Mobile Home from sources other than the Residential In-Lieu Housing Fund, I urge you to get a report from staff for the Fiscal Year 2015 transactions for both the Residential Housing In-Lieu Fund and the Commercial Housing In-Lieu Fund. On January 12, 2015, you received the Annual Status Report on Development Impact Fees for Fiscal Year 2014 (ID #5385) that contained an accounting of the transactions in the Commercial Housing and Residential Housing In-Lieu Funds for that year. Fiscal Year 2015 ended on June 30, 2015. Before you take any further action on spending or facilitating the spending from in-lieu housing funds, I urge you to direct staff to provide you in an agenda packet an accounting for Fiscal Year 2015 for the Commercial Housing and Residential Housing In-Lieu Funds in the same format and detail as shown for the prior year in staff report ID #5385. Thank you for your consideration of these comments. Sincerely, Herb Borock

dcarnah

Example1


Carnahan, David

From: herb <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 3:36 PMTo: Council, City; Clerk, CitySubject: August 17, 2015, Council Meeting, Item #25: Commercial Housing Fund Guidelines

Herb Borock P. O. Box 632 Palo Alto, CA 94302 August 16, 2015 Palo Alto City Council 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 AUGUST 17, 2015, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AGENDA ITEM #25 COMMERCIAL HOUSING FUND GUIDELINES Dear City Council: I urge you to reject staff's recommendation to amend the Affordable Housing Guidelines to permit use of the Commercial Housing Fund for preservation of existing units. The unambiguous language of Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 16.47.040 adopted by Ordinance No. 4743 on April 8, 2002, and the legislative history of that ordinance's adoption make clear that the low-income and moderate-income housing requirement and alternative in-lieu payment to the city's housing fund for commercial projects is for the purpose of providing newly constructed additional housing to satisfy ten percent of the housing demand of employees generated by the commercial or industrial development in a market where there is already too little low-income and moderate-income housing for the existing demand. You should not place this affordable housing program in jeopardy based on a determination by an anonymous "legal expert on housing matters" who has not provided a timely public written opinion together with the documents on which that opinion has been based. It is telling that the summary of the "expert" opinion says the opinion is based on a review of only the guidelines and the nexus studies, but omits any mention of reviewing the Municipal Code, city staff reports, or minutes of Council, committee, board, and commission meetings that provides the best evidence of whether the Commercial Housing Fund can be used to purchase existing units.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:25 AM If you follow staff's advice, then any of the developers who paid in-lieu fees to the Commercial Housing Fund can sue to obtain their fees back. Should they be successful, as I believe they would be, then the General Fund would have to pay back the $7.7 million, because the Commercial Housing Fund dollars would have already passed through multiple hands: Caritas, Jisser, contractors, and sub-contractors. Further, once it is determined that it is illegal to spend Commercial Housing Funds as recommended by staff, the City's ability to continue using the Commercial Housing Requirement in the Municipal Code would be subject to being nullified. Before you amend any part of the Municipal Code or make any further commitments to the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park, you need to have before you the developer's (i.e., Caritas) entire proposal, including all financial projections and sources of funds. The mobile home park residents had been represented by a public interest law firm that was working with the residents to enable the residents to own the mobile home park. Now the plan is for Caritas to own the park and for the residents to pay rent. The mobile home park residents now own their mobile homes and would be paid for their value by Jisser if Jisser decided to redevelop the park. Now Caritas tells you that they will replace the "coaches" without telling you that the residents would have to pay rent for those coaches and would have to get rid of their mobile homes without payment from Caritas. Press reports indicate that it would require $12 million to rehabilitate the mobile home park's infrastructure, but the mobile home park residents would have to pay for the rehabilitation if no philanthropic organization or individual shows up to donate the funds needed to rehabilitate the infrastructure. The Council's fiduciary responsibility over the in-lieu housing funds requires you to have the complete project description and budget presented to you prior to the time you make decisions to commit funds or change the Municipal Code to facilitate the project. Thank you for your consideration of these comments. Sincerely, Herb Borock


Carnahan, David

From: Paul Seaver <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 3:05 PMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Paul Seaver [email protected] Fairmeadow


Carnahan, David

From: Jamie Beckett <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 7:47 PMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Jamie Beckett [email protected] Evergreen Park


Carnahan, David

From: Alex Woo <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 10:05 PMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Alex Woo [email protected] Fairmeadow


Carnahan, David

From: Jeff Keller <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 10:06 PMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Jeff Keller [email protected] Duvenek/St. Francis


Carnahan, David

From: Ree Dufresne <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 1:00 AMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Ree Dufresne [email protected] Barron Square/Barron Park


Carnahan, David

From: Kevin Hauck <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 10:53 AMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Kevin Hauck [email protected] Green Acres


Carnahan, David

From: Lauren Maeda <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 10:53 AMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Lauren Maeda [email protected] Green Acres


Carnahan, David

From: John Kelley <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 5:02 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: August 17, 2015 Agenda, Item 26 --- Daniel Garber and Steve Levy Should Be Commended for

Their Willingness to Serve on the CAC

Via Email: [email protected] Honorable Karen Holman, Mayor Honorable Greg Schmid, Vice Mayor Honorable City Council Members City of Palo Alto 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto CA 94301 Re: August 17, 2015 Agenda, Item 26, "Discussion of Possible Adjustments to the Comprehensive Plan Update Community Advisory Committee (CAC)" Daniel Garber and Steve Levy Should Be Commended for Their Willingness to Serve on the CAC Dear Mayor Holman, Vice Mayor Schmid, and City Council Members, Amid repeated and continuing calls for greater civility in public discourse in Palo Alto, I was very saddened to read the letter from Sheri Furman, et al. dated on or about July 30, 2015 ("July 30th Letter"). One of the great strengths of the "Our Palo Alto 2030 Summit" on May 30th, 2015 was the respect that participants showed for one another, even towards those having very different opinions on important issues. The Citizens Advisory Committee ("CAC") should be a forum in which respectful exchanges of views could continue in an effort to find common ground. Daniel Garber and Steve Levy should be commended for volunteering to serve on the CAC. By any standard, they are among the most knowledgeable and experienced members of our community concerning planning, land use, transportation, and many other issues. Their willingness to dedicate their time and energy to serving the entire community, despite their other professional and personal commitments and responsibilities, is laudable. I am personally most grateful that they are willing to represent all members of the community on the CAC. The assertions in the July 30th Letter that Daniel Garber and Steve Levy should not serve on the CAC lack foundation and substance. At the outset, it should be noted that numbered paragraphs 1 and 2 of that letter fail to cite any controlling statute, ordinance, rule, or other authority. Daniel Garber's professional work on behalf of the City ended several years ago. Surely it would be unwise to disqualify every person who has ever worked for the City, or for that matter the Palo Alto Unified School District --- every police officer, firefighter, and teacher, among many others --- from participating in civic affairs during the rest of their lives. Perhaps more to the point, elected leaders at nearly every level of government in the United States are compensated by the jurisdictions they serve, and they do not have a conflict of interest as a result of being so compensated at the very time of their service. Similarly, the claim that Daniel Garber "stands to benefit professionally from decisions made by the CAC" cannot withstand scrutiny. The CAC exists to advise the City Council, where final decision-making authority

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:14 AMresides. Every person who lives or works in Palo Alto may --- and, let us hope, should --- stand to benefit, both personally and professionally, as a result of the advice the CAC will ultimately provide to the City Council; such benefits would signify that the CAC had done its job well. Even if there were some applicable "revolving door" rule for Palo Alto --- and none has been identified --- the July 30th Letter twists that concept around 180 degrees. Dan is volunteering his time for the benefit of the community by serving on the CAC; by providing such volunteer service, he is certainly not being paid by a defense contractor or other large corporation to lobby former subordinates or to exploit his relationships with City staff or members of the City Council. The July 30th Letter's arguments concerning Steve Levy are equally unpersuasive. I do not know whether Steve "is a paid advisor to ABAG and other government agencies" or not, but, if so, that merely confirms that he has considerable professional knowledge and expertise that is highly valued, and we should be thankful that he too is willing to volunteer as a member of the CAC. That does not create a conflict, especially because ABAG is not the City of Palo Alto; indeed, members of the City Council routinely serve on multi-jurisdictional bodies, while being compensated by the City. Steve's writing about planning issues is neither a conflict of interest nor a potential violation of the Brown Act. If we were (a) to prohibit people who write articles or blogs, or who submit letters or emails to the City or to papers in our community, or (b) to close the CAC to people who have previously run for public office and articulated their viewpoints in public, or who might do so in the future, then very few people would care to serve on the CAC. We should not expect people to forsake their First Amendment freedoms to volunteer for our community. If the City Council chooses to "direct[] the City Manager to reopen applications and add 3-5 members to the committee by specific category" (http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48430, p. 1), then, rather than relying upon the incorrect assertions of the July 30th Letter, the City Council should instead focus on promoting civility, enhancing representation, and furthering informed civic discourse by seeking greater participation from what are, perhaps, two of the most underrepresented groups on the CAC, namely, those who rent their homes and those under the age of 35. Even more importantly, however, the City Council should reject the very spirit of the July 30th Letter and instead should strive to make the CAC as productive as possible by promoting cooperation rather than contentiousness. The concluding portions of the Palo Alto Weekly's July 17, 2015 editorial, "Nine years in --- A citizens committee," admirably addressed the key objective of building trust and understanding: "Before rushing to criticize or marginalize this group of 20 citizens willing to devote a big chunk of time to a rather thankless task, it would be good to realize this group has no real power and whatever battles or impasses it encounters will wind their way to the council in due course. So instant critics should stand down and focus on how to support and influence the process rather than attack it. There are historical examples of similar citizens committees in Palo Alto that have worked, and some that haven't, and the key to the successful ones has been their ability to build enough trust and understanding of each other's motivations, concerns and desires that they are able to find common ground. The process, which will be subject to the state open-meetings law and therefore should be fully transparent, may achieve little — or it may result in the discovery that the opinions and values held by committee members aren't as divergent as it may seem today.

These particular 20 residents may not reflect the breadth of our community as much as we and others would like, but it is clearly diverse enough to ensure that robust discussion on the future of Palo Alto takes place. And whether or not they and the staff reach consensus on language to describe that future, it will all wind up back in the lap of the council anyway, where long and tedious review is virtually assured." (http://www.paloaltoonline.com/print/story/2015/07/17/editorial-nine-years-in-8212-a-citizens-committee)

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:14 AM For these reasons, I urge you to join in commending Daniel Garber and Steve Levy for their willingness to serve on the CAC and to support the CAC as it takes on the real work that lies ahead. Respectfully submitted, John Kelley


Carnahan, David

From: Fred Balin <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 9:04 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: #26 (CAC): Drop 2, Add Until Representative

Council Members, Top Level Overall Summary 1. I am agreement with the 10 remedies in the PAN/PASZ joint letter. 2. Daniel Garber and Stephen Levy, despite their skills, background, and accomplishments, and for different reasons do not have the support of a large segment of the community and should step down from the advisory committee. They will still have ample opportunities to participate, advocate, and influence through the channels available to other members the public. (My rationale regarding each to follow in separate emails.) 3. The make-up of voting members of the advisory committee is skewed against the prevailing community sentiment as reflected by the most recent council election as well as the direction of the council since the Mayfield PC referendum. Representative distribution is essential to ensure public confidence, especially as we come to the hot-button Comprehensive Plan elements of land use, transportation, and housing. Therefore, add two or more committee members until your perception of the distribution is consistent with current community sentiment on these issues. Thank you, Fred Balin 2385 Columbia Street


Carnahan, David

From: Fred Balin <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 10:44 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: #26 (CAC): Re Daniel Garber

Have resent removing the word “Draft” from the subject field. What I sent a few minutes ago was the final. -Fred Balin Council Members, Summary Daniel Garber achieved a notable record of service during his 6-1/2 year tenure on the Planning & Transportation Commission, including two terms as chair. From this vantage point, he is noted for his expertise in his field, hard work, research, and careful deliberation and comment. For many years he has also been a strong supporter of TheatreWorks, as trustee, financial contributor, provider of services, and advocate for the organization in its quest for a permanent facility. But when the interests of John Arrillaga, beginning in 2011 to build office towers on Stanford land near downtown, intersected with an opportunity for TheatreWorks to become the public benefit of this very large project, Mr. Garber began along a path that blurred the lines between professional work and project advocacy; arms-length connection and potential conflict of interest. This was clearly evident to the many who the packed the city council chambers on December 2, 2012, when he made his presentation as city contractor, but also as a determined advocate for Mr. Arrillaga’s massive project, whose public benefit was a home for the theatre company he had served as trustee for many years. As a result, Mr. Garber does not have the support of a large segment of the community to be on the citizen’s advisory committee. A change in his standing on the committee (e.g. to co-chair, vice-chair, or regular committee member) will not resolve the issue or enable public confidence in the committee. Mr. Garber is far from the only person who lost standing during the 27 University process, and so we forgive his mis-steps and move on, albeit it is essential that he step down at this time from this committee, and support the greater good. He will still have ample opportunity to provide input into the process, just as other non-committee members do. ---- Detailed Background and Reasoning Late Thursday afternoon, March 1, 2012, the day after the 5-day council packet-release window of the time, the clerk's office released a revised agenda for the following Monday’s council meeting. It included a new, end-of-agenda staff report from the city manager’s office: a request to fund $250,000, which was earmarked for design expenses from Intermodal Transit Funds set aside for the city via the Stanford Hospitals and Medical Center Development Agreement. An additional $2,250.00 also in the Intermodal Transit Funds account, was earmarked for actual development. As

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:14 AMstated in the development agreement, the combined funds were to be used for "the development of an attractive, landscaped passive park/green space with a clearly marked and lighted pedestrian pathway, benches and flower borders.” (bold type is mine) [ http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/41644 ] The report also stated that John Arrillaga had approached the city about construction of a new office and theatre project related to 27 University Avenue, the first news to the public of such plans, which investigative reporting 9 months later revealed had been discussed in a secret process, bereft on any written communications between the developer and the city, going back to July 2011. [ http://www.paloaltoonline.com/print/story/print/2010/12/17/planning-commissioners-back-private-meetings ] The staff report also stated that the $250,000 in park and pedestrian design funds were to be used to facilitate coordination with the 27 University Avenue project. The Council approved the request for funds formally initiating a process that would result in a huge citizen pushback, a scathing civil grand jury report, and expenditures that appear to bear no useful return. [ http://www.scscourt.org/court_divisions/civil/cgj/2014/PA.pdf ] No consultants were identified in the March staff report, but by then Mr. Garber had resigned from the Planning & Transportation Commission. News of his resignation, the city’s selection of his firm for design services, the choice of TheatreWorks as the organization for the project’s theatre, as well as Mr. Garber's position on the the TheatreWorks board were reported by the press at the end of March. [ http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morguepdf/2005/2005_07_13.paw.section1.pdf ] Next month, an April 9th staff report to the council described the role of FGY (Fergus, Garber, Young) Architects as “to provide expertise in the architectural design for the office buildings and the theatre. These architectural services,” the report continued, "will supplement the applicant team and will focus on design ideas for enhancing the public spaces and cohesively integrating the public and business oriented uses at the site.” The scope of the services for FGY Architects appeared to be extending. The proposed contract was for $64,330 out of $256,030 allocated among three groups. Five months later, at the September 24, 2012 council meeting, staff returned to the council with items for additional expenditures, a total authorization of $286,000 from Intermodal Funds. $85,000 would go to Fergus Garber Young for Professional Services for new work in a “Phase 2.” The scope of work consisted of: A. Specific Plan Development 1. Agency and Stakeholder Engagement, Continued 2. Theatre Use Entitlement Development 3. City Council Presentation, including Exhibit Production, Staff Report Review, Public Presentation (Bold emphases above are mine.) B. Application Support 1 Meetings with Applicant(s), Continued 2. Review of Applicant Designs concepts, Continued

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 8:14 AMMr. Garber’s role now included interactions with TheatreWorks, which probably raised new questions about his relationship to the organization. Somewhere around this time, Mr. Garber resigned from the TheatreWorks Board of Trustees, where he had served for 7 years. As mentioned, he was a strong financial supporter of the organization. The TheatreWorks 2014 Annual Report show contributions of over $10,000 from both Mr Garber and his firm. Mr. Garber’s firm also performed architectural services for the organization, as indicated by $40,000 in payments during the 2011-2012 fiscal year via the organization’s IRS Form 990, publicly available. Was there a conflict of interest in relation to Mr. Garber’s role at any time during the two phases of his contractual employment with the city and with regard to his connection with TheatreWorks? I do not know, and will leave it at that. More importantly from this perspective was that the scope of services indicates that Mr Garber was continuing his transition from providing just professional architectural services to the city and toward becoming the chief advocate for the overall 27 University Avenue project. By the time the plans for 27 University Avenue and its proposed new land use designation “Arts and Innovation District" came to the council for review in December, 2012, the public was in an uproar following the publication of the Weekly investigative piece and a realization of the massive size of the project, among other things. Ever close to the pulse, the city manager in his opening comments pulled some decisions off the staff report, but this did not dissuade many from staying and/or speaking. Mr. Garber made his presentation. The video is no longer on the city or Media Center’s web site; the staff report minutes are sparse, possibly deferring to the video. However the impression for people who attended was indelible. He was building a case with research and well-crafted visual and overlays, but with logic that astounded. For example: the building heights for 27 University Avenue were modest compared with Hoover Tower, 525 University, and just a tad above Channing House and Palo Alto Square and other projects developed before the 50-height limit of the ‘70s. The footprint of the project would be smaller than Palo Alto Square, City Hall, PAMF, and 525 University. [This and other presentation slides within the 352 staff report can be found at http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/32229 ] Mr. Garber was selling the project, and it was a sales pitch that was way out off touch with the public sentiment. "27 University” arose from a perception among some that it was possible to build just about anything in Palo Alto. The proposal and its process backfired, and together with another misguided over reach for 395 Page Mill Road PC, and the referendum on the Maybell Avenue the direction of staff and the council has changed. Mr Garber found himself pressing a position that was way out vogue to a re-awakened public as part of his transition from professional architect and designer into something else, an advocate. Neither went over well, and that it is why he is to step from the CAC at this time. Thank you. -Fred Balin 8/16/15


Carnahan, David

From: Kate Vershov Downing <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 2:32 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: PASZ/PAN letter on CAC

Dear City Council Members, As a Planning and Transportation Commissioner, one of my responsibilities is to drive civic engagement. I’m active in community life and help explain our city government’s processes and how to get involved to my neighbors. Getting people involved is no small feat in Palo Alto. We are a city of very bright individuals who are already dedicated to extraordinary professional pursuits, our families, our schools, and a number of community organizations. The people who step up are truly amazing people who are giving every last bit of themselves back to the community. They deserve our praise and our thanks. When I listen to my neighbors talk about the letter sent to the City Council by members of PASZ and PAN, the sentiment I’m hearing is that they’re glad they didn’t apply for the CAC because the reward seems to be public personal attacks and immediate and unfounded allegations of illegal activity. I can’t really argue with that. It’s hard for me to convince anyone that having an opinion on setbacks or parking spaces is worth public humiliation and the threat of criminal prosecution. The City Council created a process for selecting and appointing members of the CAC; if the City Council is truly dedicated to deepening community engagement then it needs to stand by its decisions and make clear to the community that it won’t allow volunteers to be bullied and intimidated. The City Council needs to make clear that its appointments aren’t conducted on the basis of a litmus test; it makes appointments on the basis of both community dedication and subject matter expertise and it won’t attempt to pack committees after-the-fact with a preferred point of view. Here, the CAC application specifically listed the sorts of expertise the Council was interested in having on the CAC. Among them were architecture and economics, both eminently vital for city planning. The City Manager made his appointments accordingly. The complaints being lodged against Steve Levy and Dan Garber, however, seem to be of the nature that would be lodged against any architect or economist that the City could have appointed. Is Palo Alto now going to be held hostage by the likes of Congressional leaders who insisted that experts on global warming would not be allowed to address Congress anymore because they had a “conflict of interest”? Are we really going to take the stance that those residents who know most about how to plan a city and have had the most experience in dealing with regional bodies are the ones we least want on our committees? We should be thankful that our small city has widely recognized experts who are willing to volunteer their time to make Palo Alto a better place to live. Sincerely, Kate Downing


Carnahan, David

From: Fred Balin <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 11:27 AMTo: Council, CitySubject: #26 (CAC): Re Stephen Levy

Stephen Levy is an economist, Palo Alto resident and — of most relevance here — director of an organization that provides assessments of economic and demographic trends (as per description on his firm’s website). Mr. Levy has been a paid consultant for the Association of Bay Governments (ABAG), a regional planning agency comprised of unelected officials that the council has pushed back on with regard to its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers. Are Mr. Levy’s ties to ABAG not a conflict of interest of substance with regard to being a voting member on the citizen’s advisory committee? ‐‐‐‐ ABAG is also highly controversial among local residents. It is quite possible that a grass‐roots push in and among communities for ABAG reforms will intensify and reach the state legislature before municipalities begin plans for the next housing element cycle. Concern regarding ABAG was raised at a “Java with Jerry (Hill)” at Printer’s Cafe a little over a year ago, which I and some of you attended. The Senator listened, grasped the issues, appeared supportive of the concerns, and offered a few ideas. ‐‐‐‐ The methodology for determining (RHNA) numbers are complex, opaque, and even subject to disagreement across sister agencies, which happened in the last housing cycle when ABAG and the Department of Finance came up with different population growth projections. To add to the confusion, RHNA methodology is also a shifting target. Allocations in the last cycle were based on population growth in the region, but more recently ABAG has moved to a "shift share” model which begins with national figures, not local, and employment levels, rather than population. It then feeds into a “black box” of computations spitting out where the jobs should be at the city level. Mr. Levy was contracted to implement the shift share model for ABAG. Clearly understanding these methodologies is certainly not for the faint of heart, myself included. And that is an additional concern with regard to Mr. Levy’s presence on the committee. His extensive knowledge in his field, in his specific work on shift share for ABAG and other agencies, and in the arcane but pivotal world of housing allocation methodologies would carry undo weight on the committee. Mr. Levy’s expertise can best be utilized through the many channels he already makes use of as well as providing input to the committee directly as a member of the general public. Thank you, Fred Balin 2385 Columbia Street


Carnahan, David

From: Sheri Furman <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 2:36 PMTo: Gitelman, Hillary; Council, CityCc: Dennis, Jeremy; Keene, JamesSubject: RE: Aug 17 CAC Agenda Item

Hillary, thanks for the clarifications. The update is a complex process and I do appreciate the efforts of you and your department. However, I stand by my concerns. May I be proved to be misguided. Regards, sheri

-----Original Message----- From: "Gitelman, Hillary" Sent: Aug 17, 2015 1:58 PM To: "Furman, Sheri" , "Council, City" Cc: "Dennis, Jeremy" , "Keene, James" Subject: RE: Aug 17 CAC Agenda Item Sheri: Thank you for this email regarding the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). We know you received your information from others who were at the meeting, but perhaps they did not give you a full picture. Please see the clarifications offered in BOLD below. Hillary & Jeremy

Dear City Council,

I thank you for considering my and many others’ concerns about the Comp Plan Citizens Advisory Committee and acknowledge that some changes have been made, such as assigning co-chairs and allowing the public to speak before the meeting. However, I still have some serious concerns after reviewing the proceedings of the August 11 CAC meeting. The draft proceedings of August 11 have not been issued, and will be provided to the CAC for review and adoption at their next meeting. The staff report lists “an ambitious schedule of CAC meetings and City Council meetings which will only be possible if the Comprehensive Plan Update is truly just an update, and not a complete revision or rewrite of the current Comprehensive Plan.” It also state that “Members of the CAC will be asked to review materials provided in advance of meetings, and will be primarily engaged in reviewing and commenting on (rather than writing) draft plan language.” If you are referring to the City Council staff report for tonight’s conversation, you are correct. We believe that the current Comp Plan is generally accepted as a forward-looking document that does not require wholesale revision, even though there are some critical issues that need to be addressed. Of course, the ultimate decision as to the nature and magnitude of changes will be up to the City Council, and the Council has requested input from the CAC on policies and programs. The City Council itself will decide on the structure, vision, and goals associated with each element of the plan. The August 11 meeting was devoted to the Community Services and Facilities Element, the statistics of which are:

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 2:51 PM 1998-2010 Community Services and Facilities Element had 32 policies and 27 programs

88% of the existing policies and programs are being carried over to the amended element; 10% of the existing policies and programs are deemed complete; 63% of the old policies and programs were edited; 25% of the old policies and programs were carried over with no change and

21 new policies and 52 new programs were added How can this possibly be considered just an update? These statistics relate to the version of the element recommended by the PTC. A key question that the City Council and the CAC will grapple with is how to incorporate (or not) the recommendations of the PTC. And how can 20 people in one meeting cover 21 new policies and 52 new programs? The answer is they can’t and they didn’t. There was no step-by-step discussion of the new policies and programs. Who will ultimately vet these? And what will happen when we get to the really critical transportation and land use issues? Asking people to give general comments on proposed goals and policies doesn’t make the best use of the committee’s time. If new and revised policies and programs are proposed to be included in the revised Comp Plan, the committee needs to specifically review them for appropriateness. The CAC had a good initial conversation about Community Services & Facilities Element on August 11 and will revisit the topic again in October if we stay on our current schedule. Many members of the CAC had clearly prepared for the August 11 meeting and were able to compare and comment on the existing Comp Plan and the PTC’s recommendation, offering their own observations and direction. Every element will be agendized for this kind of analysis and “brainstorming” at one or more meetings of the CAC. Based on these discussions and on the City Council’s direction about the structure, vision, and goals of the element, a revised draft element will be developed for close review and recommendation by the CAC. Some committee people don’t even actually know what the Comp Plan is or its purpose. How can they make informed decisions? The CAC members heard a briefing on general plans at their first meeting and have all of the information available to them to enable a robust discussion about the existing comp plan and the PTC’s recommendations. If the members require additional information or support, there is an opportunity on each agenda to ask for that. And does every elected/appointed official need to be introduced at each meeting? This is a common courtesy that staff believes is appropriate. I again ask that full minutes be provided within a week of the meeting so the public can understand and comment on the points discussed and any decisions made. As noted above, our intention is to prepare draft proceedings that are forwarded to the CAC for their review and adoption at their next meeting. This is a standard practice for meeting minutes. I still support adding a few more people from South Palo Alto to better represent city-wide concerns, but it’s also obvious that the real problem is the disorganized and rushed schedule of meetings. We’ve dawdled for many years over updating the Comp Plan and now we’re in the position of rushing through many extremely critical issues that impact this city’s future. Would it not make more sense to divide the group into subcommittees to discuss specific elements and then have a larger discussion on how those elements interrelate? That worked well with the Cubberley CAC. The City Council has prioritized completion of the Comp Plan Update, and also decided to establish a CAC. The draft schedule of meetings, which will be a subject of discussion at this evening’s Council meeting, attempts to outline a process that would be completed in 2016 with

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/17/2015 2:51 PMinput from the CAC on all of the elements. The City Council can direct us to change the process and adjust the completion date if that is their wish. The PTC made extensive use of subcommittees and was criticized for this because subcommittees are not governed by the Brown Act. Also, subcommittees cannot be effectively staffed on an ongoing basis. For both reasons, the CAC’s rules anticipate that subcommittees may be used, but in limited circumstances when subcommittees are given a specific charter and deadline. The City Council can direct us to change this along with changes to the schedule and completion date if desired. I ask that you have a discussion about what you really want the CAC to accomplish and find the best way of doing so. “We solicited public input” just isn’t sufficient for such a serious issue. I’ve read the Comp Plan; most of its vision is fine. We seem to think every new idea must be enshrined in it, when it should be a master plan, not a blueprint. Please understand that I care deeply about the city I have lived in for 40 years, half of which I have been an active community participant – MRA (20 years), PAN (17 years), 2 Housing Element committees, the Cubberley CAC, the website design committee, several council campaigns and numerous emergency preparedness activities. I am not anti-housing, -growth, -development. To borrow from a PAN forum, “It’s a Question of Balance.” And our city is way out of balance between development and quality of life. So why am I not on the committee? Because I foresaw the very issues I’ve mentioned and because my strength is detailed analysis of issues, something not likely to happen in these meetings. Thanks Sheri for all of your hard work and the insights you have offered and continue to offer on planning issues. Like the Housing Element Community Panel that you participated on last year, the CAC will have far ranging discussions, highlight specific areas of agreement and disagreement, and ultimately make a recommendation on each element of the Comp Plan. I know they would appreciate your input and participation, and would happily receive that input through the “digital commenter” on the website, or more traditional email and oral comments.

Regards,

Sheri Furman

The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location .




From: Sheri Furman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2015 10:22 PM To: Council, City Subject: Aug 17 CAC Agenda Item Please see the attached.


Carnahan, David

From: Drew Dennison <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 3:37 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Letter to City Council

Dear Mayor Karen Holman, Vice Mayor Greg Schmid and City Council Members, I am 24-year-old resident of Palo Alto. I have lived here for 2+ years with my wife and we've been getting more involved in our community. We really enjoyed the Comp Plan summit and we've attended and spoke before city council. I am writing today to express my opinion that we should increase the number and diversity of the CAC members. I believe at a lot of the policies will have a long-term impact on Palo Alto and as such, I believe it's important we add more young members. Having more young voices will help ensure Palo Alto is remains a vibrant city where young people continue to want to live. We are renters and would appreciate more advocates for renters' needs on the CAC. The things are are most important to me is the ability to find housing. We wanted to live close to work to minimize the pollution from driving, but we had a hard time finding an opening. The policies city government makes will impact the lives of current and future renters. Respectfully, Drew Dennison

dcarnah

Example1


Carnahan, David

From: Bruce Crocker <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 5:10 PMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Bruce Crocker bruce.c@pitango‐us.com Crescent Park


Carnahan, David

From: Solon Finkelstein <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 10:25 AMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Solon Finkelstein [email protected] College Terrace


Carnahan, David

From: Fred Balin <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 8:10 AMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Gitelman, HillarySubject: Citizen's Advisory Committee for Comprehensive Plan

Dear City Council, Jim Keene, and Hillary Gitelman We agree with the concerns about the Citizen's Advisory Committee expressed in the letter you received from the leaders of PAN and PASZ. We urge you to consider these ideas and reform the CAC in order to provide trustworthy, fair, and broad community representation. ‐‐ Fred Balin [email protected] College Terrace


Carnahan, David

From: TC Rindfleisch <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 2:57 PMTo: Council, CityCc: Keene, James; Shikada, Ed; Alaee, KhashayarSubject: Some Quantitative Measurements of Aircraft Overflight Noise in Palo AltoAttachments: Preliminary Quantitative Analysis.PACC.150812.pdf

Dear City Council Members, thank you for your consideration and support in addressing aircraft overflight noise issues in Palo Alto under the new re‐routing instituted by the FAA NextGen program. The attached letter describes some recent work I have done to provide you with additional information that helps quantify the character of the noise resulting from those decisions, the impact it is having on our community, and some recommendations for how to move forward. Sincerely, Thomas C. Rindfleisch 31 Tevis Place Palo Alto, CA 94301 EMail: <[email protected]>

dcarnah

Example1

Thomas C. Rindfleisch August 11, 2015

Page 1 of 14

Dear Palo Alto City Councilmembers:

First, thank you for your attention and help in seeking reconsideration of FAA decisions over the past year about NextGen aircraft flight paths over Palo Alto. This letter is to provide you with additional information about the character of the noise resulting from those decisions, the impact it is having on our community, and some recommendations for how to move forward.

Introduction Some time ago I wrote about recordings I made in June illustrating subjectively the interference of aircraft overflight noises with TV watching at our house (see this link). Such subjective examples do not have much credibility with the FAA, SFO, etc. when objecting to noise levels, even though a survey (also summarized at the above link) indicates that over 70% of residents find the newly increased noise from aircraft overflights to be extremely intrusive and disruptive.

To better quantitate the aircraft noise we are exposed to, I began working on noise monitoring in July. I bought a Reed SD-4023 Sound Level Meter/Datalogger to start collecting our own data, so that we might compare that with noise monitoring data the FAA and SFO may begin collecting in Palo Alto sometime in August. This is a report on the quantitative results I have obtained to date, which I believe support the subjective impressions of very persistent and intrusive overflight noise levels from low-flying aircraft in our community since late last winter.

I believe the preliminary data I describe below is accurate and revealing. It is highly suggestive that the changes in noise levels over Palo Alto from NextGen exceed the thresholds set by the FAA for a finding of objectionable noise, and we would like to see this new regime reconsidered through an open, frank, and earnest discussion about how we might take advantage of the bay area’s unique geography and access routes to minimize the noise over any populated areas. Our intention is not to push the noise to another community but, rather, to find a rerouting of the traffic that is a suitable compromise between safety, noise impact, and efficiency. We believe that there are alternatives to the re-routing (including the bay or other more lightly populated areas such as the regional open space properties) that would be a better solution for everyone.

The need to objectively understand the extent and nature of the noise effects Palo Alto has come to experience is an important step toward these goals. This requires more comprehensive noise surveys and analyses that we hope the FAA will undertake (but which the citizens could tackle as a kind of crowd-sourced study if the FAA does not). If the early results presented here hold, then the FAA should take appropriate action.

My studies should be seen as a work in progress in several respects:

(1) My sound measurements were taken over a limited period of time so far (July 12-16, 2015) and must be extended over time to more thoroughly characterize the temporal (daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, and long-term trend) aspects of aircraft noise in our community.

(2) The measurements were taken from a single residential location (my home) and must be broadened to reflect the noise characteristics throughout the community.

(3) Finally, much of what I have done is to develop a feasible methodology to measure and analyze physical noise data from various perspectives to better characterize the impact aircraft noises are having on our community under NextGen routing. The computer programs and tools I have built are prototypes and need to be polished for more routine production use.

http://www.tcracs.org/tcrwp/aircraft-noise-061215/


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(Note: this subject is fairly technical so I will try to explain what I did in intuitive terms first, and include at the end some more technical detail for those interested.)

Raw Data The Reed meter measures sound energy falling on its microphone, taking samples every 2 seconds with a sensitivity curve simulating the frequency response of the human ear. These measurements are time stamped and written to a small SD card whose contents can be uploaded to a computer and analyzed in Excel or other data analysis programs. The recorded intensity values are expressed in decibels (dBA), a logarithmic scale commonly used for sound level measurements as compared to the faintest audible sound. (A logarithmic intensity scale is used because the dynamic range of sounds is so large – see this link for more detail on sound measurements).

As a first step, I logged data for 5 days starting at 8:22 AM on Sunday, July 12 in my back yard (31 Tevis Place, Palo Alto, CA 94301), and running continuously until 7:38 AM on Thursday, 7/16. I then organized the records by day (0:00 AM - 23:59 PM; i.e., 43,200 records per day) for analysis. A typical set of raw measurements for Monday, July 13 is shown in Figure 1.

You can see that the data include a noisy ambient background ranging from about 38 dBA at night to about 50 dBA during the day. A number of narrow vertical spikes are superimposed on this background corresponding mostly to aircraft overflights, but also including other localized ambient noise events. Recall that a measurement is taken every 2 seconds, so individual spikes are not resolved on the plot at the scale shown in Figure 1. They can be seen more clearly in Figure 2, which shows a small portion (7:30 - 8:30 AM) of the record in Figure 1, blown up on the horizontal (time) axis.

Figure 1. Raw data from Reed sound meter for July 13, 2015.

http://www.noisequest.psu.edu/index.html


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In Figure 2 you can clearly see the background (between about 40 and 50 dBA) and the 11 peaks corresponding to aircraft overflights that occurred in this one-hour period. This background comes from the ambient neighborhood noise and the peaks are either sharp noises (like an object falling, a yell, etc.– look at the narrow peaks just before 7:36 and 7:52 marked with red arrows) or low-altitude airplane overflights seen as the wider peaks (around 1-1:30 minutes in duration).

Figure 2. Expanded view of the interval 7:30 8:30 AM from Figure 1.

Data Analyses In addition to simply plotting these data as above, we can do various calculations of interesting noise measures. For example:

The FAA Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) — is a single number, the day-long average of a sound intensity record shown such as shown in Figure 1 (the average is done in linear intensity space and then converted back to dBA units). The DNL supposedly represents an assessment of the impact of aircraft noise, and "accounts for increased human sensitivity to noise at night by applying a 10 dB penalty to nighttime events (during the 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM time period). The DNL value for Figure 1 is 53.3 dBA.

The California Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) — CNEL is a variant of the DNL developed in California, which includes an extra 5-decibel penalty on noise during the 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM evening time period, as well as the 10-decibel penalty on noise during the 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM time period. The CNEL is again a single number that purports to represent the impact of aircraft noise. The CNEL value for Figure 1 is 53.8 dBA.

The problems with the DNL and CNEL measures are well-known in that these overall average noise measures do not account for the disruption of localized intense and often recurring


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sounds during daily activities. The best noise metric(s) to accurately quantify the impacts of aircraft noise on human health, learning, annoyance, speech disruption, sleep disturbance, etc., particularly in situations where communities were previously unaffected by aircraft noise, have yet to be determined. Although the FAA is pursuing some research efforts in this area, they are not progressing at a rapid pace and governments in Europe have taken the lead. These traditional measures are nevertheless the criteria the FAA uses to judge impact of aircraft noise and unless the DNL/CNEL is greater than 65 dBA, they are not obligated to do any mitigation.

For a person under the flight path of low-flying aircraft, what matters most is not the average noise over a 24-hour period, but rather, for common activities, the extent to which one's concentration on a task at hand is broken by aircraft noise. This means that we need to worry in some detail about when, how much, how long, and how often we are exposed to aircraft sounds in our analyses.

To do this, we have to isolate each aircraft overflight peak and measure some more directly relevant parameters: such as how big each peak is, how long it lasts, and how close it follows on to similar events around the same time. I spent a fair amount of time writing, testing, and tuning a computer program to analyze the raw data to identify and extract each peak corresponding to an overflight event. This is a fairly complicated program in that it has to find the upper bound of the dynamically varying ambient background noise to establish a threshold to detect bigger aircraft noise peaks. It also has to make sure that candidate overflight peaks are neither too short nor too long. Once a peak is found that matches these criteria, its location in time, its maximum height, and its overall size (total sound energy under the peak) are calculated. (See further details near the end of this message.)

DNL & CNEL Values with and without Aircraft Noise

One of the simplest things we can do is estimate the values of DNL and CNEL with and without aircraft noise. This is relatively easy once we have identified the locations and extents of aircraft noise peaks. Using a spreadsheet program (like Excel), we can replace each peak with the average ambient background noise level seen near the peak, and recalculate DNL and CNEL values. Table 1 shows the result of doing this for each of the 24-hour sound records in the 5-day recording I made.

Effect of Overflight Noise on DNL and CNEL Estimates

With Overflight Noise W/O Overflight Noise Change Adding Overflights

DNL (dBA)

CNEL (dBA)

DNL (dBA)

CNEL (dBA)

Δ DNL (dBA)

Δ CNEL (dBA)

Mon, 7/13 (Full day) 53.3 53.8 48.3 48.7 +5.0 +5.1

Tue, 7/14 (Full day) 54.4 54.7 48.3 48.7 +6.1 +6.0

Wed, 7/15 (Full day) 55.0 55.5 49.8 50.4 +5.2 +5.1 Table 1. Effects of presence/absence of aircraft noise on DNL/CNEL

As can be seen, the presence of overflights in the data adds approximately 5-6 dBA to the FAA measures, corresponding to a factor of 3.5-4 increase in average intensity of the sound. Now clearly Palo Alto has always had a certain level of noise from aircraft in the past, so it might be argued that these differences in DNL and CNEL measures could be a bit of an overestimate. On the other hand we have visually scanned all of the daily noise records at high time-axis resolution to be sure the extracted peaks are reasonably overflight events. There were a few


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small dubious peaks that slipped through, but more often, there were peaks that were most likely overflights that were below the conservative detection threshold level. This means we are including in the background some of the smaller amplitude overflight noise (probably from aircraft that did not come close to flying directly over my house).

As a result, we believe the table above shows a fairly accurate estimate of the significant changes brought on by the recent realignment of aircraft flight paths with the new NextGen system. One of the qualities that Palo Alto has enjoyed as a community is that it has always been a relatively quiet place to live. The NextGen changes have affected that profoundly.

Sound Exposure Level (SEL) Calculations

Another calculation we can do is to replace each recorded overflight peak with a simulated peak that is a composite metric that represents both the intensity of the sound and its duration. This measure is called a Sound Exposure Level (SEL) and it represents the total acoustic energy transmitted to the listener during the overflight event. Mathematically, an SEL is the intensity of a constant sound that would, in one second, generate the same acoustic energy as the actual time-varying noise event. For sound from aircraft overflights, each of which typically lasts 30 seconds to a minute or more, the SEL represents a better metric to use in assessing noise levels from overflight events, although it does not capture the effects of the repetitiveness of successive overflights nor the duration of an episode of high traffic.

Figure 3 shows the record for Monday, July 13, with the recorded overflight peaks converted to SELs. You can see that the peaks are now uniformly narrow (1 second wide) and have amplitudes of around 70 - 80 dBA, corresponding to the integrated sound energy delivered by the whole recorded peak. The heights of the SEL peaks may more closely represent the impact of individual events, but the DNL and CNEL statistics are only changed moderately. When computed over the SEL chart in Figure 3, the DNL(SEL) statistic is 55.7 dBA (instead of 53.3) and CNEL(SEL) is 56.3 dBA (instead of 53.8). We believe that the use of the SEL measure still falls short of capturing the local repetitiveness and duration effects of vexing aircraft noise.


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Figure 3. SEL representation of aircraft noise peak magnitudes for July 13.

Overall Magnitude of Aircraft Overflight Disruptions

There are a number of metrics that have been studied to try to capture various aspects of the impact of overflight noises (see these links, link-1 and link-2, for a discussion):

Time Above a Specified Level (TA) Time Above Ambient Level (TALA) Time Audible (TAUD) Number-of-events Above a Specified Level (NA)

These can be computed over various time intervals, such as high-traffic and low-traffic times of the day. These each suffer from being single figures of (de)merit though that leave out other dimensions of the noise context (e.g., maximum amplitude and the distribution of amplitudes are ignored in the TA and NA series, and the duration of events is ignored in the NA measure).

In the following, we explore some multi-parametric ways to characterize the magnitude of repetitive aircraft overflight noise intrusions from our data set. One approach is to calculate histograms of raw peak heights and SEL amplitudes to show the distribution of aircraft noise intensities we are exposed to. Having the peaks now isolated and measured makes this easy to do with a spreadsheet program like Excel. Rather than doing this analysis just for Monday, July 13, we summarize the data from all 5 days during which data were recorded. Figure 4 shows the overall histogram for raw peak heights and Figure 5 shows the histogram for SEL heights (a total of 866 peaks are included in the histograms).

http://www.noisequest.psu.edu/noisebasics-metricsexistingprograms.html

http://www.noisequest.psu.edu/noisebasics-metricsuseful.html


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Figure 4. Distribution of raw aircraft overflight event intensities for July 12-16.

Figure 5. Distribution of aircraft overflight event SELs for July 12-16.

The mode of the distribution of raw peak heights is about 62 dBA with a half width variation of about +/- 8 dBA. The mode of the distribution of SEL heights is about 74 dBA with a half width variation of about +/- 9 dBA. These noise levels, especially at the higher end of the distributions, represent a significant disruption to daily activities. This way of presenting the data clearly leaves out the detailed time dimension of overflight events, although the histogram counts and the time interval covered in the histogram gives a measure of how often especially intense events happen. Such disruptions are immediately felt events when they happen, and are not an


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assessment done at the end of the day when you might imagine tallying your overall noise experience (DNL or CNEL) for the day. What matters if a conversation or other activity is interrupted because of disruptive overflight noise is that in that moment the effect is felt and evaluated.

The Frequent and Incessant Nature of Overflight Disruptions

From these same tabulations of overflight peak parameters, we can calculate other measures of the repetitive nature of these events. One measure is the frequency of overflight events based on the time between successive peaks. In order to have a more stable measure, we smooth out peak-to-peak time interval variations by measuring the mean time intervals separating successive running groups of 5 adjacent overflight peaks. The admittedly rather cluttered graphs of Figure 6 show smoothed diurnal event frequencies for each of the 5 days during which data were recorded.

Figure 6. Overflight event frequencies for successive peaks as a function of time of day.

In its current form in Figure 6, this chart ignores event amplitude information, although one could imagine adding another dimension to the chart showing graphs for varying amplitude thresholds. A take-home message from this plot is that there seems to be no obviously consistent pattern of overflights from day to day. One should expect some natural schedule and statistical variability, as well as variations from day to day due to interactions among the airports in the metroplex (SFO/OAK/SJC) where the configuration of one airport can affect the traffic patterns of the others. Nevertheless, some general features can be seen in the frequency patterns in Figure 6, as better illustrated in the histogram of event frequencies shown in Figure 7 (846 overflight frequency measurements are tabulated in this histogram). These features include:


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(a) traffic decreases (but does not disappear!) during the middle-of-the-night hours. In fact there are highly intrusive flight events just after midnight, until around 4:00 AM. Then, beginning around 4:30 AM, overflight frequencies start increasing toward the waking hours of the new day;

(b) flight traffic starts to increase noticeably at around 5:00 - 6:00 AM with big early morning peaks until about 10:30 AM;

(c) there are bursts of traffic throughout the mid-day and afternoon; and

(d) traffic again increases significantly from around 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM or midnight.

During the main part of the waking day, we see consistent traffic at a rate of around 10 - 12 overflights per hour (one every 5-6 minutes!). These frequencies increase during some times of the day to 20-25 flights per hour (one flight every 3 minutes!).

Figure 7. Histogram of overflight events as a function of time of day. Note that events in a given hourly bin do not necessary come in succession at that hour on a given day.

Another way to illustrate the statistics of overflight event frequencies is to compute a histogram of the frequency measurements themselves as derived from Figure 6. This histogram is shown in Figure 8 (again, 846 overflight frequency measurements are included in this histogram).


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Figure 8. Histogram of frequencies for successive overflight events.

Clearly the mode of the distribution is at 12 events per hour (one every 5 minutes), but the distribution has a long tail so that on a significant number of occasions we have up to 30 events per hour (one every 2 minutes). These high rates happen during the busiest times for flight traffic which interfere significantly with resident morning and evening hour activities. Remember, these overflight frequencies measure the average time intervals between 5 successive peaks, not instantaneous frequencies. Thus, they represent sustained repetitive noise patterns that are especially annoying at the higher frequencies.

Conclusion

The bottom line, whether or not aircraft noise disturbs you, is that these data support the claims by residents that aircraft overflights have become very loud and occur frequently and repetitively during the day and night. In particular, the data shown in Table 1 (comparing DNL values with and without overflight noise peaks) suggest that in re-routing the flight paths around SFO/OAK/SJC, the FAA may have violated their own rules (less than 5 dBA increases in areas with ambient DNL levels in the 45-60 dBA range). This observation, and the search for better metrics to assess noise impacts on residents, argue strongly for reconsideration of the decisions leading to the current NextGen traffic patterns. I believe these reconsiderations should include:

(a) a more detailed and comprehensive survey of noise in the Palo Alto area as a function of geography and time, with an eye toward comparisons with other impacted communities since any solution is largely a zero-sum game,

(b) an examination of alternative flight re-routes that are higher in altitude and take place primarily over the bay to minimize noise exposure, and

(c) an examination of improved approaches to ensure that the noise that does remain over populated areas is not concentrated over a few unfortunate communities.

In the meantime, I and my colleagues will continue to collect and analyze data to see how stable over time and geography these analyses are.


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Thomas C. Rindfleisch 31 Tevis Place, Palo Alto Senior Research Scientist, Emeritus Departments of Medicine and Computer Science Stanford University Director, Emeritus Lane Medical Library Stanford University School of Medicine

Acknowledgement

It is a pleasure to acknowledge Juan Jose Alonso, Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University, for a number of very helpful conversations to critique and refine the work described here.


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More Technical Details In my measurements, the Reed sound level monitor unit was set to use A-profile weighting, slow response, and 2 second sampling to conform to FAA measurement guidelines. I used the vendor calibration unit (SC-05) and a foam wind shield (SB-01). The vendor specifications for the unit are as follows:

Specifications:

Measuring Range: 30 to 130dB Resolution: 0.1dB Accuracy: 31.5Hz ± 3.5 dB, 63 Hz ± 2.5 dB, 125 Hz ± 2.0 dB, 250 Hz ± 1.9 dB, 500 Hz ± 1.9 dB, 1 kHz ± 1.4 dB, 2 kHz ± 2.6 dB, 4 kHz ± 3.6 dB, 8 kHz ± 5.6 dB Frequency Weighting: A: Human Ear Listening; C: FLAT Response Time Weighting: Fast: 200ms; Slow: 500ms Frequency Range: 31.5 to 8,000Hz Auto Sampling Time: 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, 60, 120, 300, 600, 1800, 3600 seconds Microphone: Electric Condenser Microphone Memory Card: SD memory card, 1 GB to 16 GB Data Output: USB/RS232 PC computer interface AC Output: 0.5 Vrms corresponding to each range step Output Impedance: 600Ω Power Supply: 6 x 1.5V UM3/AA batteries Dimensions: Meter: 245 x 68 x 45mm; Microphone: 12.7mm dia. Weight: 489g (1.08 lb)

The device appears to be accurate and stable for the purposes of this study, good to +/- a couple of dBA. I also checked the degree to which the wind shield might affect measured values without wind present and found it to be negligible.

Our neighborhood is very quiet and I believe that most of the sharp peaks (at least those with widths typically around 20-60 seconds, such as illustrated in Figures 2 and 10 below) correspond to aircraft overflights. I have checked quite a few random peaks with the playback feature of Flightradar24 to verify this, but have not done so for all because I don't have access to the radar database to do that programmatically (doing it by hand is too tedious)

The most important features of my data analysis computer program are (a) being able to measure an appropriate upper bound for background ambient noise levels as a function of time of day, and (b) detecting aircraft overflight sound peaks that rise above this dynamic threshold while filtering out peaks that are too narrow or too wide for a typical overflight. All calculations are done using linear scale sound intensity values rather than decibel values. Starting with a nominal background estimate, I measure the background mean and variance using simple exponential weighting functions to track changes with time. If y(t) is the signal level at time t, then the new weighted average value, v(t), is:

v(t) = y(t) + f * v(t-1)

where f is a weighting constant less than 1. The closer f is to 1, the longer the "memory" of the weighting.


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"v" is not updated during the analysis of a possible peak. The upper bound I use for the background threshold at time t is the background mean at t plus 3.5 times the square root of the variance at t (standard deviation). This is quite a stringent criterion for detection meaning that we only find large peaks.

Noting that the peaks of louder aircraft events stay above threshold longer than quieter overflights, I adjust the upper width threshold for detecting valid aircraft peaks proportional to the square root of the log of the peak maximum (as if the peak had a Gaussian shape). If several overflights take place within an interval less than that of a single aircraft transit, their sound level peaks may get merged and counted as one event rather than several.

To illustrate the results of this procedure, Figure 9 below shows the computed background mean (green) and the peak detection threshold (red) for the day-long record on July 13, and Figure 10 shows these values for the sub-period, 7:30 - 8:30 AM, with higher resolution.

Figure 9. Raw data from Reed sound meter for July 13, 2015 showing the estimated mean background (green) and the associated peak detection threshold (red).


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Figure 10. Expanded view of the interval 7:30 8:30 AM from Figure 9.

As can be seen, this peak detection algorithm is conservative in calculating SELs in that it ignores peaks that are near the background noise level and it does not include the wings of peaks extending below the threshold.


Carnahan, David

From: Barbara Millin <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 8:01 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: mid of night airplane noise

Dear Council, Last night at 1:10am I was awakened by an airplane that sounded like it was landing in my bedroom. It may have been Virgin America 1681 from LAX. This was followed by a heavy freight train at 1:30 that shook the house. I understand there have been some meetings with FAA around air noise. What do you recommend I do to get my concerns heard?Mi

What about train noise? Thanks Barbara Millin 1944 Emerson St.


Carnahan, David

From: Kathy Riley <[email protected]>Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2015 8:13 AMTo: Council, CitySubject: A stupidity

Hello City Council Members, This morning on my daily walk, I was shocked to see that 125 shrubs and 125 sprinkler heads (the number provided bythe landscaper doing the work) were being planted/installed on a short little connector path between Georgia Ave and the Gunn property. Aren't we in the middle of a drought? I get emails from the city utilities monitoring my water usage against the usage of my neighbors. I save gray water from the kitchen and cold water from the shower. The lawn in front of my condominium has gone brown. The shrubs in the front planter box are struggling with minimal watering twice a week. And the city has the chutzpah to put in 125 plants and sprinklers on path of maybe 20 to 25 feet! The landscaper told me it was for "safety"! The only safety issue is the Gunn students who ride their bicycles through the path with total disregard for the signs at either end of the path to "walk your bike". Shrubs aren't going to solve that problem. Oh, and by the way, these 125 shrubs will have to be pruned and maintained. I think that will come out of the taxes I pay. Regards, Kathryn Riley 4122 Thain Way


Carnahan, David

From: Jean Wren <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 6:23 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Caltrain

The first thing that needs to be done is to separate the Caltrain crossing from auto traffic. Second, Caltrain needs to improve its schedule so that there are more trains during off peak hours. These trains need to connect directly with local busses. Dream wish is for Caltrain to move its station to a more convenient area closer to businesses. Jean wren 800 Matadero Ave Palo Alto, CA Sent from my iPad


Carnahan, David

From: lisa delong <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 9:14 AMTo: Council, CitySubject: Edgewood Plaza grocery store!

Hello, This email is to request that the Edgewood shopping center group is made to fulfill it’s promise to find a grocery store replacement for the Fresh Market that left 5 months ago. As a family in the neighborhood of the plaza, we really used and appreciated the quality grocery store that was there and hope that another one is found soon. Thank you, Lisa DeLong


Carnahan, David

From: Molly McDougall <[email protected]>Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 8:01 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Edgewood Plaza

I live at 55 Tulip Lane Palo Alto and I would like to join my fellow neighbors in insisting the City impose all appropriate

and significant penalties on the management group for violating its agreement to provide a grocery store in Edgewood

Plaza. I strongly support the need for a grocery store and believe the management group should be held accountable for

providing a grocery store in the current space formerly held by Fresh Market to meet the needs of the local community.

Sincerely,

Molly McDougall

55 Tulip Lane

Palo Alto, CA

650‐856‐0638


Carnahan, David

From: Kay Helms <[email protected]>Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 6:32 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Edgewood Plaza - Grocery Story

As a resident/owner at 55 Tulip Lane Palo Alto, I would like to join my fellow neighbors in insisting the City impose all appropriate and significant penalties on the management group for violating its agreement to provide a grocery store in Edgewood Plaza. We strongly support the need for a grocery store and believe the management group should be held accountable for providing a grocery store in the current space formerly held by Fresh Market to meet the needs of the local community.

Sincerely,

Kay Helms

55 Tulip Lane

Palo Alto, CA

650-856-0638

Sent from my iPhone


Carnahan, David

From: Gitelman, HillarySent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 4:45 PMTo: Michael Strohecker; Council, CityCc: Lait, Jonathan; Fehrenbach, ThomasSubject: RE: Edgewood Plaza Grocery Store: Builder Contract Request

Dear Mr. Strohecker: Thanks for this email/request. The requirement for a grocery store at Edgewood Plaza is included in the zoning regulations that apply to the center, which is not an agreement per se, but there are penalties that can be applied if the zoning regulations are not followed. There are two separate Planned Community (PZ) zoning ordinances that establish the regulations, and I’ve included a link to the later one here: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/39188 To summarize, the ordinances giving Sand Hill Properties the right to develop their site mandates a series of “public benefits” including “Provision of a grocery store in the 20,600 sq. ft. building.” Thus, the owner has an affirmative obligation to find a grocery store to occupy the Edgewood store, and Ordinance 5224 specifically mandates that the property owner “shall ensure the continued use of the 20,600 sq. ft. building as a grocery store for the life of the Project.” The ordinances do not specify a penalty for non‐compliance, but the City has a penalty schedule that can be applicable. The penalty for zoning violations is $500/day. There is a precedent (in an agreement with College Terrace Center market developer) for allowing six months for re‐tenanting a grocery space, and we think this provides good guidance regarding what should be considered a reasonable period of time for releasing prior to assessing penalties. The six month period will end in September. Please let me or Jonathan Lait (copied here) know if we can answer further questions. Hillary




From: Michael Strohecker [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 8:17 AM To: Council, City Subject: Edgewood Plaza Grocery Store: Builder Contract Request Dear City Council, Would you please email me (or send a link to) the pdf form of the developer agreement for Edgewood plaza. We would like this in hand by Wednesday if possible.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/19/2015 11:33 AMWe have a neighborhood meeting this week concerning the grocery store and in preparation we would like to review the contract the City of Palo Alto has with the Edgewood Plaza builder. It is our understanding that the builder agreed to have a grocery store in the plaza in exchange for increasing the residential density. We would like to review the language used in this contract to better understand what we as Palo Alto citizens living in the neighborhood have as rights and what mechanisms the City of Palo Alto have available to ensure the builder delivers on the agreement. Our neighborhood looks forward to supporting the city council in this matter. Thank you and regards, Michael


Carnahan, David

From: Emily Risberg <[email protected]>Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 1:22 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Edgewood NEEDS a grocery store…

Dear city council, I cannot make the next city council meeting, but I want to have my voice heard. We were so happy with the Fresh Market and having groceries close by. Please do what you can do to help a grocery story return to Edgewood Plaza. Apparently they are keeping the rents too high so a store cannot afford the space. I know our neighborhood would support another grocery store. We DON'T need another drug store in town! -Sincerely, Emily Risberg --

Emily D. Risberg Coach, St. Francis High School CERT, NPC Duveneck-St. Francis Volunteer, Stanford Blood Center 35 Tulip Lane Palo Alto, CA 94303 650.862.1382 iPhone


Carnahan, David

From: Elise Singer <[email protected]>Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 10:30 AMTo: Council, CitySubject: edgewood plaza

Hello, We live at 558 Jackson Drive in Palo Alto. Please impose significant fines on Edgewood Plaza for breaching it's contract by not having a grocery store in the plaza. It has already been many months since Fresh Market left. They are not making a true effort: they are attempting to charge a rent the market clearly will not bear. It is our city's responsibility to press the owners to hold up their contractual duties. The empty space is hurting the neighborhood. A drugstore would be completely inappropriate. Packaged unhealthy food is NOT the equivalent of a grocery store. We already have multiple drug stores within walking distance on Middlefield. Thank you, Elise Singer -- Elise Singer MD, MBA (510)735-7725


Carnahan, David

From: michal shalon <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 9:20 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Grocery Store at Edgewood Plaza

Dear City Council Members, Our community of Crescent Park, Green Gables and DSF has wanted a grocery store for a very long time. We've long wanted an alternative to driving all the way downtown to a very crowded Whole Foods Market or even further. We were so happy to have the Fresh Market come to the Plaza and we all gave them substantial business even though they were far from perfect for all of our needs. When they left and we found out the facts--they hadn't failed for lack of business--we were hopeful that a replacement, maybe even a better option, would soon fill the space. Five months later we are still waiting. I know that there are things that the developer can do to encourage a grocery store to occupy the space. Offering a lower rent of course is the strongest incentive. I also know that part of the developer's agreement required a grocery as an anchor store. I strongly believe that the city needs to impose significant recurrent penalties on the developer until they find a suitable grocery to replace Fresh Market. We do not need a Target Express type store or a drugstore. That would significantly alter the family friendly, neighborhood feel of Edgewood Plaza. We need either a full service grocery or at the very least a vegetable/fruit market that offers a variety of fresh produce and some cheeses and meats, like a Segona or Milk Pail. I think it's so important these days to make healthy unprocessed foods easily available to our families. I believe the city needs to make the right decision to support the health of our community, and put pressure on the developers to keep their agreement. Michal Shalon 155 Island Drive


Carnahan, David

From: Lisa Kerr <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 8:44 PMTo: Lenore Cymes; Council, CitySubject: Grocery store in Crescent Park

Dear City Council,

I am writing to say that the difference between having a shopping center in Crescent Park/Green Gables (or not), absolutely makes a difference to our neighborhood.

Please don't let this organization pull a "Bait and Switch" on Palo Alto, once again. Hold them to the agreement of a grocery store. If they have to charge less rent, so be it. They picked a store that was doomed to fail from day one. The product did not line up with Palo Alto's customers, and the employees were never properly trained. I believe it was the original intent of the shopping centers owner to not follow through with their agreement of renting to a grocery store. They should be held up to their agreement. This is a recurrence of what happened on 3455 Alma.

Whether it is their loss or not they need to stick with their original agreement. Do not let yet another drug store come in. There are at least 3 downtown, and 3 in Midtown.

Thank you for consideration, Lisa Kerr [email protected] 650-326-8112 853 Forest Ave Palo Alto, CA 94301

On Mon, Aug 17, 2015 at 7:27 PM, Lenore Cymes <[email protected]> wrote:

What goes into shopping center affects all of us living in Crescent Park/Green Gables and DSFNeighborhood.

Please take the time to attend an open public meeting on Thurs Aug 20 at 124 Edgewood Drive - 6:30 - learn what is at stake, and how proactive we need to be. Txs


Help Get a Grocery Store Back at Edgewood Plaza

The Fresh Market closed down five months ago. The shopping center is asking any new grocer to pay a high rent [per Daily Post, August 4] with no takers. Meanwhile, the City has yet to penalize the shopping center for violating its legal requirement to have a grocery store. And there’s the possibility the shopping center wants to instead have a drugstore-like business.

Please join us and other Neighbors in insisting the City impose all appropriate penalties on Edgewood Plaza. That will encourage it to lower the rent enough to attract an actual grocery store. You can:

Attend a community meeting on Thursday, August 20 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at 1924 Edgewood Drive for the latest news on getting a grocer and a review of the known facts about the requirements for this space.

Email the City Council at [email protected] to insist they impose significant penalties on the center for violating its agreement

to provide a grocery store

Come to the City Council Meeting on Monday, August 24 at 7 pm at 250 Hamilton to address the council or just show support – the more

who come, the more impact we’ll have - and you needn’t stay long

Contact: [email protected] ● 312-479-7500

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Carnahan, David

From: Bonnie Street <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 8:00 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Grocery store at Edgewood Plaza

I want to see a grocery store at Edgewood Plaza. It was a pleasure to shop at Fresh Market. Sincerely, Bonnie Street 1146 Hamilton Ave. Sent from my iPhone


Carnahan, David

From: Joseph Kott <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 12:44 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: Fwd: Editorial on Sustainable Transportation in Today's Edition of Palo Alto Weekly and Palo

Alto Online

Dear Palo Alto City Council, FYI, follow the link below to a thoughtful editorial by my friend Jay Thorwaldson in today's Palo Alto Weekly and Palo Alto Online editions. Jay, always both fair-minded and civic-minded, has been an intelligent voice for enlightened public policy in Palo Alto for many years. I am proud that he was a fan of mine, albeit not always uncritically so, during my tenure as Palo Alto's Chief Transportation Official. A good and decent man. http://www.paloaltoonline.com/print/story/2015/08/14/off-deadline-can-vehicle-traffic-ever-be-controlled-or-made-sustainable Best regards, Joe Kott Joseph Kott, PhD, AICP, PTP 2533 Carmel St. Oakland CA 94602

8/18/2015

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Issues With Switching to Electrical Appliances for Heating Needs

In Response to Staff Report:“Staff Evaluation of the Cost‐Effectiveness of Switching from Fossil Fuels to Electricity for Residential Home Appliances and Passenger

Vehicles”, 8/17/2015

Gary Lindgren585 Lincoln Ave, Palo Alto CA 94301650‐326‐[email protected]

I have reviewed the above titled report and have concluded that there are several deficiencies

1. In calculating operating costs, there were no examples of how the costs were calculated with actual appliances available on the market. Assumptions have serious errors.

2. Palo Alto is not an island onto itself. We import almost all of the electricity, we have no power plants of our own. The electricity that comes to Palo Alto is not marked “for Palo Alto only, it is carbon neutral.”

3. What if all of California was encouraged to switch from natural gas to electricity for their heating needs. Most of California’s electricity is generated in power plants powered by natural gas and some coal from out‐of‐state power plants. The efficiency of power plants is only 40%. Compare that to home natural gas fueled water heater of as high as 82%. For space heating, efficiencies can be as high as 95%. Green house gases would greatly increase if we stopped using natural gas in our homes.

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8/18/2015

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Electricity and Natural Gas Each Have Their Optimum Uses

Electricity:motors, electronics (TVs, PCs, radios, etc.), lighting, cooking, EV charging, etc.Natural Gas: Heating water, home space heating, cooking, vehicle fuel, etc.

Note that both electricity and natural gas have uses in cooking. Personally I prefer electricity to power my cook‐top. It is non‐polluting inside and safer than natural gas. Last Spring I replaced my old flat‐plate cook‐top with an induction cook‐top. I produced a YouTube video describing the installation procedure and also experiments on the speed of bringing water to boil with both the flat plate and induction cook‐tops. The induction cook‐top is more efficient. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgC0pJ62UuoI also think that the new cook‐top has better fine control than the much coveted control of a gas stove.

Energy Costs

Electricity and natural gas are sources of energy. Electricity is measured in kilowatt‐hours (KWH) and natural gas in Therms (one Therm = 100,000 BTUs).1 KWH = 3413 BTU1 Therm = 100,000 BTUNow convert KWH to Therms1 Therm=100,000 BTU/3413 BTU/KWH1 Therm = 29.3 KWH

Last December our house used 951 KWH and cost $128.98 or $0.1356/KWH or 0.1356/KWH x 29.3 KWH/Therm = $4.07/ Therm (for Tier 3 pricing, $5.11/Therm)Also we used 83.65 Therms of natural gas for $96.25 or $1.15/ Therm.Now we can compare apples and apples: $5.11/Therm (electricity)/$1.15/ Therm (gas) = 4.44On an energy basis electricity costs 4.44 times more than natural gas.

8/18/2015

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Heat Pump Water HeaterHybrid mode

For this analysis I used the Rheem HB50RH Hybrid Heat Pump water heaterSee: http://www.rheem.com/products/water_heating/tank/hybrid50 gallon, EF=2.45, 8700 BTU/hour (heat pump heating), 4500 watts upper coil and 2500 watts lower coil, EF is 0.9 for the coils.Assume for analysis we need to heat 50 gallons with a temperature rise of 90 deg F.This means we need 37,516 BTU.For each hour we can get 8700 BTU from the heat pump. From the coils 7KW x 0.9 x 3413BTU/KW or 21,546 BTUTotal output = 30,246 BTUTime required = 37,516/30,246/ Hour = 1.24 hours Power Required ( 1 hour) = 8700 BTU/2.45 /(3413 BTU/KW) + 7 KW = 8.04 KWOr 8.04 x 1.24 hour =9.97 KWHCost = 9.97 KWH x $0.174/ KWH = $1.73 for heating 50 gallons with temperature rise of 90 degrees F.

Heat Pump Water HeaterHeat Pump mode

Hybrid heat pump water heaters can be operated in several modes, heat pump only, hybrid mode (heat pump + coils), and coils only.Now we analyze heat pump mode (no coils). From the previous slide: need 37,516 BTU to heat 50 gallons with 90 degree temp. rise.37,516 BTU/ 8700 BTU/ hour= 4.31 hoursPower Required ( 1 hour) = 8700 BTU/2.45 /(3413 BTU/KW) = 1.04 KW Or 1.04 KW x 4.31 hour = 4.46 KWHCost = 4.46 KWH x $0.174/ KWH = $0.78 for heating 50 gallons with temperature rise of 90 degrees F. But it took 4 hours 30 minutes.

Specification sheet states: First Hour Rating is 57 G.P.H. and recovery is 21 G.P.H 90 degree rise.

8/18/2015

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Natural Gas Water Heater

For this analysis I used the Rheem RHE50 water heater.See: http://www.rheem.com/product/residential‐gas‐water‐heaters‐professional‐prestige‐series‐high‐efficiency‐condensing‐power‐direct‐vent48 gallon capacity, EF=0.82, 40,000 BTU/ hourRecall we need 37,516 BTU to heat 50 gallons with 90 deg. Temperature rise.40,000 BTU/hour x 0.82= 32,800 BTU/ hour37,516 BTU/ 32,800 BTU/hour =1.14 hour1.14 hour x 40,000 =45,751 BTUOr 100,000 BTU/Therm /45,751 BTU = 0.45 ThermCost = 0.45 Therm x $ 1.15/ Therm = $0.52 to heat 50 gallons with a temperature rise of 90 deg. F. It took only 1 hour and 9 minutes.

Specification sheet states: First Hour Rating is 93 G.P.H. and recovery is 48.5 G.P.H 90 degree rise.

Water Heater Conclusion

Comparing the heat pump hybrid water heater with a high efficiency natural gas fueled water heater showed that even when operated in pure heat pump mode, it’s operational cost is 1.5 times that of the natural gas fueled water heater. In the hybrid mode ( heater coil assist) the operational cost is 3.3 times that of a natural gas water heater.

It also should be noted that the heat pump water heater can’t be installed in a small closet. Ideal would be an unheated attached garage. Heat pump water heaters put out cold air and so one would not want to put one in a heated space.

8/18/2015

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Heat Pump Space HeatingHeat pumps for space heating is like an air conditioner operated in reverse. For this analysis, assume a heat load of 80,000 BTU/hour. To a non expert it seems this calls for two 4 ton heat pumps installed next to the residence. Rheem 049JEC seems good.See: http://cdn.globalimageserver.com/fetchdocument‐rh.aspx?name=rprl‐jec‐specification‐sheetsCalculation will be at 2 outdoor temperatures: 47 degrees F., COP = 3.6, 80,000 BTU/hour / 3.6= 22,000 /hour input power22,000 BTU/ hour/ 3428 BTU/ hour/KW = 6.49 KW6.49 KW x 1 hour = 6.49 KWHCost is 6.49 KWH x $0.174/KWH = $1.13/ hour of heating17 degrees F., COP = 2.3 The heating efficiency of heat pumps goes down when the outdoor temperature goes down. Typically resistance heating is used when the outdoor temperature drops below 40 degrees F. The 2 heat pumps put out only 62,000 BTU. Resistance heating of 18,000 BTU makes up the rest.62,000 BTU/ hour/ 2.3 = 26,956 BTU/ hour /3413 BTU/KW = 7.86 KW/ hour18,000 BTU/ hour/ 3413 BTU/KW =5.25 KW/hour7.86 + 5.25 = 13.11 KW Power for 1 hour 13.11 x 1 hour = 13.11 KWH Cost is 13.11 KWH x $0.174/KWH = $2.28/ hour of heating

Natural Gas Space Heating

This is simple for a gas furnace. Load is 80,000 BTU/ hour, EF = 0.95. 80,000 BTU/hour /.95 = 84,210 BTU /hour84,210 BTU/ hour/ 100,000 BTU/ Therm = .84 ThermCost is 0.84 Therm x $1.15/Therm = $0.96/ hour

Comparing heat pump spacing heating at 47 degrees F. heat pump costs 17% more than a natural gas furnace.Comparing heat pump spacing heating at 17 degrees F. heat pump costs 2.37 times more than a natural gas furnace. In Palo Alto the winter temperature will be warmer than 17 degrees F. so the cost factor should be better than 2.37 times.

8/18/2015

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Thoughts and Conclusion

I suggest that the staff report be rewritten with calculations for real electrical appliances and not use faulty assumptions as the report has used now. The report should emphasize efficiency both at the power plant and in the home. The goal should be to use less electricity not more. Suggest switching to LEDs for lighting. Add dimmers where appropriate. Strip out any goals of having community meetings and tell residents that they should switch to electrical water heaters and electrical space heating. For solar water heating suggest backup with natural gas water heater.

I was taken aback when I read on page 12, para. 4 from the previous page of Recommendations and Next Steps, Identify and Eliminate Internal System and Institutional Barriers for Switching to HPWHs. From those words I concluded that there are safeguards that prevent inefficient systems (HPWH) from being implemented and there needs a way to get around these rules. This is something I would be embarrassed to have in a report.


Carnahan, David

From: [email protected]: Friday, August 14, 2015 2:46 PMTo: Clerk, City; Van Der Zwaag, Minka; Council, City; City MgrCc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Bains, PaulSubject: Mitchell Park Buena Vista picnic and an attached Save the Date...Attachments: PWHFlyer and Registration Invite.docx

Hope to see you at the Mitchell Park Buena Vista picnic tomorrow, Saturday, August 15, 2015. It will be great to meet and greet our Buena Vista Mobile Home residents again in this informal setting. As part of my homeless advocacy, I would like to find housing and services for a woman named Debora' (Dee) who has recently gotten out of prison. She has been in contact with Down-town Streets Team members, Chris and Rachel...and as such seems to be in the right head space for supportive housing. She stays in the homeless encampment on N. Wolfe in Sunnyvale. One stumbling block for getting housing is that she has a delightful Chihuahua; dogs require special permission, etc. Perhaps, with concerted effort and follow-up, something can work for her, and hopefully soon. See you tomorrow? Cybele LoVuolo-Bhushan 3838 Mumford Place Palo Alto, CA. 94306 (H) 650-424-8110 (M) 415-429-9830 P.S. I have attached information regarding an October 14, 2015, Fund-Raising Event for Project WeHOPE Shelter in East Palo Alto. I am sponsoring a table for 10, and would be honored if you could be my guest; please see the attachment for details. We are inviting many decision makers to the event. Hope you can make it. Please R.S.V.P. to Cynthia at Project WeHOPE: [email protected] Cybele LoVuolo-Bhushan 3838 Mumford Place Palo Alto, CA. 94306 (H) 650-424-8110 (M) 415-429-9830

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Carnahan, David

From: [email protected] on behalf of Bill Kelly <[email protected]>Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 10:42 PMTo: Keene, James; Gitelman, Hillary; Council, CityCc: [email protected]: Re: [chimalus] Cyanide presence near residential homes

I hold Art Lieberman up as a model of civic engagement and I hope you take heed of his concerns. I'm hoping that the problems with Sodium Cyanide will awaken our long dormant council to the issues of CPI. Until a few years ago the Potassium Cyanide was stored in a storage shed on the CPI property line 15 feet (the distance of the Water Districts green belt) from my back fence and about 75 feet from my daughters bedroom. The recent disaster in China was a result of mixing the Sodium Cyanide with water. While on the subject of CPI, does Councilman Burt's past employment history as a promoter of the plating industry rise to the level of forcing him to recuse himself? It seems every delay in this long, long process has been at the behest of Mr. Burt's 'helpful' suggestions. I would argue that he is more conflicted than any Stanford spouse and therefore should recuse himself on any discussion or vote on CPI. Hoping to hear a response, Bill Kelly 632 Chimalus Dr On Sat, Aug 15, 2015 at 12:33 PM, Art Liberman [email protected] [chimalus] <[email protected]> wrote: Council – I’m sure you’ve all read about the disastrous explosions in Chinese port city of Tianjin several days ago. Rescue workers and chemical warfare experts are still wading through the rubble and fires that continue to smolder. A principle concern now is that toxic chemicals remain in the area: among the most serious is sodium cyanide. Let me remind you that a significant amount of potassium cyanide, chemically very similar to -and as highly toxic as - sodium cyanide, is stored and used in the electroplating shop of CPI that is adjacent to residences in my neighborhood of Barron Park. If you are not familiar with cyanide chemicals: “... Historically, cyanide has been used as a chemical warfare agent, and it could potentially be an agent for a terrorist attack.

Cyanide exists in gaseous, liquid, and solid forms. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN, also known as prussic acid) is a volatile liquid that boils at 25.6 °C (78.1 °F). Potassium and sodium cyanide salts are water soluble; mercury, copper, gold, and silver cyanide salts are poorly water soluble.”

This is from the Medscape website, where more information about cyanide toxicity and its effects can be found: Cyanide Toxicity: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology


Cyanide Toxicity: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology Cyanide toxicity is generally considered to be a rare form of poisoning. However, cyanide exposure occurs relatively frequently in patients with smoke inhalation from residential or industrial fires. View on emedicine.medscape.com Preview by Yahoo

Imagine if a fire or explosion were to occur at CPI involving cyanide materials, which are in both solid and liquid form at CPI. Is the Fire Department capable of responding without risking their own lives? Can they be sure that individuals living in homes adjacent to the electroplating shop would not be injured or killed n such a circumstance? This manufacturing operation with its store of extremely hazardous materials should never have been allowed to have been built so close to a residential zone. It should be moved away from residences as soon as possible. You charged the Staff 10 months ago to come up with a proposal that would make use of extremely hazardous materials near residences and other sensitive receptors non-conforming, which would be the first step in an amortization procedure. Where is this proposal? When will you act? How long will it take? Will the City of Palo Alto act only after a serious accident occurs? Arthur Liberman 751 Chimalus Drive __._,_.___

Posted by: Art Liberman <[email protected]>

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Carnahan, David

From: Boyd, HollySent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 9:04 AMTo: Richard PlaconeCc: [email protected]; Alaee, Khashayar; Sartor, Mike; Keene, James; Gitelman, Hillary; Art

Liberman; David Boxerman; Council, CitySubject: RE: matadero line markings and intersection issue

Dick, Thank you for these thoughts. Holly

From: Richard Placone [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 6:17 PM To: Boyd, Holly; Council, City Cc: [email protected]; Alaee, Khashayar; Sartor, Mike; Keene, James; Gitelman, Hillary; Art Liberman; David Boxerman Subject: Re: matadero line markings and intersection issue Holly, I suppose I have to accept the inevitable, regardless of how wrong this thinking is IMO. Why do I think this way? Here's why, for what it is worth to city's planners: I have experienced much greater discourtesy on the part of bikers using Matadero ever since the mid-line stripping has been removed. Many bikers, including children, seem to think that now Matadero is for their exclusive use, the cars be damned. I have followed adults riding at 10 to15 miles per hour down the center of Matadero, and had no choice but to creep along behind them. A light tap on the horn gets me the finger. One such biker arrived at ECR where the light was RED, but since there was no traffic at thatmoment, he proceeded through the red light and crossed this usually busy street. What would have happened if a police officer had seen me do such a thing in my car?. My point is, that while the city is spending millions of dollars on making the roads safer for bikers, it is ignoring the problems many, if not most of these bikers cause car drivers. Running stop signs and traffic lights is common practice throughout the city. I have watched droves of teenage and middle school bikers on Maybell zip right through the stop sign at one of the side streets in droves, while frustrated drivers hesitate to proceed after stopping, and they have the right of way. The possible solution, which I have suggested to the city before, is that a city/school wide change in attitude toward bikers is needed. All bikers should be required to have their bikes licensed. Stores in Palo Alto selling two wheeled bikes of all kinds should be required to include a license with the sale, which is then sent to the police department for recording. Periodic checks of bikes on the streets that reveal that the bike is not licensed should be ticketed and possibly fined. Bikers of all ages should be required to take a test of the rules of the road, similar to the ones taken by drivers. These could be handled in the schools and/or by periodic Saturday "testing day" conducted by the police department. A side benefit of such practices would instill in children, esp, a new found respect for the policemen.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 2:35 PMAdult bikers will likely object to these new regulations, but logic tells me that if we are all to "share the road", to which I do NOT disagree, then all users should be aware of and demonstrate their awareness via periodic testing, licensing and so on. Better police patrols for period of time where bikers breaking the law would experience fines, have a record as drivers experience, and possibly short term confiscation of their bikes, would soon cause bikers to think twice before breaking the law. As it is, we have two classes of road users, the car drivers who are required to pay stringent fees for the privilege, annually at that, take tests every five years and get traffic tickets when caught violating the laws, and the other class where anything goes, and car drivers be damned, for I am a biker and am entitled. Granted, not all bikers fit into this class, but enough do that prompts me to object to the decision on Matadero. I'd like to know when our city officials are going to start becoming not just creative re this issue, but fair minded as well. Sincerely, Richard C. Placone Chimalus Drive Barron Park/Palo Alto

From: "Boyd, Holly" <[email protected]> To: David Boxerman <[email protected]>; Art Liberman <[email protected]>; "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>; "Alaee, Khashayar" <[email protected]>; "Sartor, Mike" <[email protected]>; "Keene, James" <[email protected]>; "Gitelman, Hillary" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 4:41 PM Subject: RE: matadero line markings and intersection issue The striping plan does include the use of centerlines through the “curvy” conflict areas near Tippawingo and Josina, but does not use a centerline for the “straight line” stretches of Matadero Avenue. The removal of the centerline on the “straight line” stretches is intended to make the bike boulevard safer and more comfortable for bicyclists to use. The idea is that cars will be less hesitant to give space while passing bicyclists without the center line stripe. This is an accepted approach for roadways like this. The yellow centerlines on the “curvy” part will be a combination of double yellow and dashed. Art is correct, we do not use a single yellow line for two-way roadways. White edge line striping will be restored after the slurry seal as well. As part of a larger citywide outreach process we may use standard white sharrows instead of the green back sharrows that were presented, as we are shifting to a more structured approach towards where to locate “green colored” pavement treatments based on community input. We will also include the pedestrian crossing signs for the Matadero crosswalk. For additional warning signage, we will consider using a standard MUTCD warning sign (examples below) to warn of an upcoming intersection. We wouldn’t use a “BLIND INTERSECTION” sign, because this is not a standard sign for the situation on Matadero. However, we need to be mindful to not have too many signs in one area. Sign clutter will decrease the effectiveness of all signage.


Best Regards, Holly

-----Original Message----- From: Gitelman, Hillary Sent: Monday, August 10, 2015 8:20 AM To: David Boxerman; Art Liberman; [email protected]; Boyd, Holly Cc: [email protected]; Alaee, Khashayar; Sartor, Mike Subject: RE: matadero line markings and intersection issue Thanks David. (Holly = can you coordinate our response to these items this week? Thanks, Hillary) Hillary Gitelman | Planning Director | P&CE Department 250 Hamilton Avenue | Palo Alto, CA 94301 T: 650.329.2321 |E: [email protected] Please think of the environment before printing this email – Thank you! -----Original Message----- From: David Boxerman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, August 07, 2015 5:52 PM

Holly Boyd, P.E. Senior Engineer

Public Works Engineering 650.329.2612

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 2:35 PMTo: Art Liberman; [email protected]; Boyd, Holly; Gitelman, Hillary Cc: [email protected]; Alaee, Khashayar; Sartor, Mike Subject: RE: matadero line markings and intersection issue Hello, All I'll add a few comments to Art's email regarding the 'S' curve intersection at Josina/Tippawingo/Matadero. When Matt Brunnings was involved with the asphalt removal, sewer replacement and street repaving in our neighborhood, I had discussions with him about the danger present at this intersection and how to minimize the possibility of accidents. Crosswalk(s) was one of them. The one that's been installed has made it a safer journey to get to the other side of the street, and I think all the pedestrians are thankful for its installation. Another issue was warning drivers of the blind intersection. As things stood at the end of the street replacement'project, a sign was going to be installed following the resurfacing warning drivers of a BLIND INTERSECTION AHEAD or something of that nature. It's been several years; you've had changes in your traffic engineering department, and possibly the concept has been forgotten or never was passed on. I hope you'll consider installing such a sign, and you might want to confer with Matt regarding this. He and Murdo were very supportive of the idea and intended to act on it at the completion of the project. Seems to me like that time would be now. Here's to safe streets for bikers and walkers. David Boxerman -------------------------------------------- On Fri, 8/7/15, Gitelman, Hillary <[email protected]> wrote: Subject: RE: matadero line markings and intersection issue To: "Art Liberman" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "Boyd, Holly" <[email protected]> Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>, "Alaee, Khashayar" <[email protected]>, "Sartor, Mike" <[email protected]> Date: Friday, August 7, 2015, 2:27 PM #yiv0494052135 #yiv0494052135 -- _filtered #yiv0494052135 {font-family:Calibri;panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} _filtered #yiv0494052135 {font-family:Tahoma;panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;} _filtered #yiv0494052135 {font-family:Georgia;panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;} _filtered #yiv0494052135 {font-family:Verdana;panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;} _filtered #yiv0494052135 {font-family:HelveticaNeue;panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;} #yiv0494052135 #yiv0494052135 p.yiv0494052135MsoNormal, #yiv0494052135 li.yiv0494052135MsoNormal, #yiv0494052135 div.yiv0494052135MsoNormal {margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:12.0pt;} #yiv0494052135 a:link, #yiv0494052135 span.yiv0494052135MsoHyperlink

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 2:35 PM {color:blue;text-decoration:underline;} #yiv0494052135 a:visited, #yiv0494052135 span.yiv0494052135MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple;text-decoration:underline;} #yiv0494052135 p.yiv0494052135MsoAcetate, #yiv0494052135 li.yiv0494052135MsoAcetate, #yiv0494052135 div.yiv0494052135MsoAcetate {margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:8.0pt;} #yiv0494052135 span {} #yiv0494052135 span.yiv0494052135link-enhancr-element {} #yiv0494052135 span.yiv0494052135link-enhancr-view-on-domain {} #yiv0494052135 span.yiv0494052135EmailStyle20 {color:#1F497D;} #yiv0494052135 span.yiv0494052135BalloonTextChar {} #yiv0494052135 .yiv0494052135MsoChpDefault {font-size:10.0pt;} _filtered #yiv0494052135 {margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;} #yiv0494052135 div.yiv0494052135WordSection1 {} #yiv0494052135 Thanks Art & Dick. We’ll get back to you next week. Hillary Hillary Gitelman | Planning Director | P&CE Department 250 Hamilton Avenue | Palo Alto, CA 94301 T: 650.329.2321 |E: [email protected] Please think of the environment before printing this email – Thank you!

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 2:35 PM From: Art Liberman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, August 07, 2015 2:23 PM To: [email protected]; Boyd, Holly Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Alaee, Khashayar; Gitelman, Hillary; Sartor, Mike Subject: matadero line markings and intersection issue I have followed the email conversations initiated by Dick Placone, and attended the previous bicycle boulevard community meetings. At those meetings, the issue of yellow lines was discussed (removing the ones in the center), but not carefully explained nor were alternatives proposed. About single solid yellow lines: I'm certainly not an expert on the roadway markings, but it from what I've read, it appears that single solid yellow lines are not recommended for use on roadways. The following from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices ... " A single solid yellow line shall not be used as a center line marking on a two-way roadway." Chapter 3B - MUTCD 2009 Edition - FHWA

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 2:35 PM Chapter 3B - MUTCD 2009 Edition - FHWA Back to Current Edition | Back to Part 3 Table of Contents 2009 Edition Chapter 3B. Pavement and Curb Markings Section 3B.01 Yellow Center Line Pavement Mar... View on mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov Preview by Yahoo

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 2:35 PM However, a dotted yellow line could be used and I think that might be a good marking for this roadway. I think that is used on Los Robles, also a collector street in Barron Park. I would like to hear the views of the traffic engineers about this. An alternative is placing periodic yellow reflective bumps along the roadway. Neither of these suggestions were discussed at the bicycle boulevard community meeting, but I think either one would provide an improvement in safety for both bicyclists and motorists. Also, a solid line (white?) along the edge would provide an indication of a safe zone for pedestrians on this narrow collector street. An additional point - There is one intersection along Matadero between El Camino and Laguna, and it's is a tricky one because it is a 4-way intersection at an S curve in the roadway with a cross walk on a speed table in the middle of the curve. I have attached an image that I extracted from Google Earth that I have annotated: - 1) a double yellow line at this intersection is required - it is a blind curve and both cars and bicycles need to follow the turn for reasons of safety. Furthermore, cars coming from El Camino wishing to turn left onto Josina often make a shortcut and 'cut the curve' and enter Josina in the wrong traffic lane. - 2) the crosswalk is invisible for cars driving on Matadero from either direction until they enter the turn. So signs marking the crosswalk (yellow triangles in my image with PED XING wording) are needed on Matadero along the sides of the roadway in both travel directions at an appropriate distance from the crosswalk so that drivers would be able to stop if a person were in the crosswalk or entering the crosswalk.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/13/2015 2:35 PM Thank you for your consideration - I would appreciate hearing your response to my suggestions. Arthur Liberman


Carnahan, David

From: Wayne Martin <[email protected]>Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 11:32 AMTo: Council, City; Keene, JamesSubject: Support For Adjustment To Comp Plan Advisory Panel

Palo Alto City Council City of Palo Alto Palo Alto, CA 94301 Elected Council Memers: Subject: Support For Adjustment To Comp Plan Advisory Panel I support an adjustment in the membership of the so-called Comp Plan Advisory Council--with a focus on increasing "Residentialist" representation. The market value of Palo Allto properties that are dedicated to homes is well over $40B--based on data from the Santa Clara County Assessor's Office. It makes no sense for the people holding this much in property not to be adequately represented in any group that is considering the future of the City. Wayne Martin Palo Alto www.scribd.com/wmartin46


Carnahan, David

From: Rachel Wright <[email protected]>Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 7:45 PMTo: Council, City; Martineau, CatherineSubject: Trees removed

I just wanted to make you aware 2‐3 very large street trees were removed during construction on on Kingsley between Ramona and Emerson. Perhaps the trees were failing and/or the removal was authorized, but I hope this does not set a precedent for major construction in the older neighborhoods. Thanks for looking into it. Sincerely, tree lover, Rachel Wright Sent from my iPhone


Carnahan, David

From: Winter Dellenbach <[email protected]>Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 11:28 AMSubject: Wall Street Journal - Buena Vista story - Palo Alto’s fight to save a Silicon Valley trailer park

from the real-estate boom

Buena Vista Folks - here below is the link to the just-posted Wall Street Journal news story on Buena Vista - photos and charts included. The story will be available on newsstands tomorrow, Saturday - front page, national edition. It includes some "breaking news": Mr. Jisser and Mr. Simitian say Caritas made an informal offer last week but decline to name the price. Caritas confirms it made the offer. Mr. Jisser says he is waiting for formal bids from the group and from developers. The miracle (we hope) that is Buena Vista keeps making news. Perhaps this story will matter to others - individuals and towns - as they are grapple with similar situations. Perhaps it can help or inspire. Thank you Christina Passariello for taking time and care with this story (Christina is a long time reporter for the WSJ, currently with the SF bureau). See you at the picnic tomorrow. Community Media will video the picnic and documentary filmmaker Elizabeth Lo will be shooting for her BV documentary. Winter Friends of Buena Vista fobv.org

Palo Alto’s fight to save a Silicon Valley trailer park from the real-estate boom - Christina Passariello http://on.wsj.com/1PcRtS2


Carnahan, David

From: Adina Levin <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 7:13 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: VTA piloting flexible shuttle service (as mentioned tonight)

As Council Members Dubois and Wolbach mentioned, VTA is starting to pilot new dynamic shuttle options that could be of help for some of Palo Alto's needs... http://www.greencaltrain.com/2015/08/vta‐seeks‐to‐pilot‐dynamic‐transit‐services‐in‐sunnyvale‐and‐the‐tasman‐zone/ VTA seeks to pilot dynamic transit services in Sunnyvale and “the Tasman Zone” The “last mile” between Sunnyvale’s downtown Caltrain station and the Peery Park office complex is one of the areas where VTAis seeking pilot new dynamic transit options. The new dynamic services promise to meet underserved needs for transit connectivity and routes. The new services also create opportunities ‐ and raise questions ‐about transit service integration and equity. Sunnyvale’s Peery Park is an office park about a mile North of the downtown Caltrain station (and covering a mile to the east of the Moffett Park Light rail station). The City is imposing fairly strong vehicle trip limits for Peery Park, with required measurement and penalties, to reduce traffic from the new developments. Sunnyvale isn’t requiring priced parking, but is imposing maximum parking limits. A proposed dynamic‐service shuttle would provide service that is a hybrid between a fixed shuttle route and a custom route. It would basically travel between Peery Park and Downtown, and be able to deviate to pick up and drop off at custom locations. Riders will be able to book a trip from smartphone or computer, with telephone as a backup. During the mid‐day non‐commute period, the shuttles will be able to take people to lunch and errands, and serve nearby residents as well as workers. Sunnyvale and VTA applied together for an MTC Transportation Demand Management grant to fund the pilot. Another location proposed for a dynamic service pilot is “the Tasman Zone," a region in North San Jose and Santa Clara with offices and housing roughly bounded by 237, Montague Expy, Guadalupe River, and Coyote Creek. Another way to look at the Tasman Zone is the area of the VTA light rail map containing the Champion, Tasman, Cisco, and River Oaks stations. The boundaries of the area will be worked out as part of the pilot project. <http://www.greencaltrain.com/wp‐content/uploads/2015/08/vtatasmanzone.png> <http://www.greencaltrain.com/wp‐content/uploads/2015/08/thetasmanzone.png> Sunnyvale Peery Park Last Mile and the Tasman Zone are among a set of pilots that VTA is planning to conduct, starting this fall, testing different locations and service models for dynamic transit services. Other use cases for dynamic transit that VTA might may pilot include medium and long‐distance express shuttles for high tech employment campuses, and connections for areas with dense housing.

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/19/2015 2:33 PMVTA’s dynamic transit pilots will not compete with the “any to any” ride‐hail services provided by Uber and Lyft or ParaTransit service ‐ where a driver will take a passenger to any destination ‐ but will focus on a specific area, with varying pickup and/or dropoff locations. The pilots will use recommissioned “community bus” vehicles that can carry up to 26 passengers, with bike racks and a wheelchair lift. VTA’s business goals for the program are to increase overall transit ridership with connections to core bus and rail services, and to improve cost per passenger and fare recovery rates compared to the VTA average. The technology for the pilot program will be provided by RideCell. The technology provides interfaces for smart phone, web and phone call, and gives riders with real‐time vehicle tracking and schedule information, with purchasing features including subscription, reservation, and pre‐payment. The technology provides VTA with optimized routing and vehicle scheduling services to create the specific route on the fly based on customer requests. RideCell won the contract for the pilot based on an RFP <http://www.vta.org/about‐us/Procurement?pid=a0Q1200000D9A7nEAF> , which received interest from startups (TransLoc, RideCell) as well as giants including IBM and Siemens. A different take on dynamic services is being pursued by Palo Alto’s emerging Transportation Management Association, which is exploring partnerships with ride‐hail services <http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/48423> Lyft and Uber to provide and subsidize first‐last mile transit connections, and possibly short carpool commutes, in order to reduce downtown congestion and parking demand. In recent years, the private sector has been outcompeting public transit with private shuttles and flexible first/last mile transit connections. The tech giants running long‐distance shuttle routes have received criticism for filling gaps that were left by the public transit system. Meanwhile, two for‐profit companies seeking provide express bus service, RidePal which market to office parks, and LEAP, a peak‐hour premium commute bus connecting San Francisco Marina neighborhood to the Financial district, recently went of business. Public transit services, or public/private partnerships, could potentially pursue gaps in the market that would increase transit ridership, without the burden faced by RidePal and LEAP to make a profit and provide returns to investors. People often ask whether private companies with dynamic technology and data‐driven routes will make public transit obsolete. But there are also opportunities for the public sector to take advantage of the technologies to provide better service that is available to more people. VTA’s pilot raises a number of questions and concerns. * Integrated payment. One of the goals of the program is to explore opportunities for better last mile connections to core rail and bus routes. While the pilot provides better‐integrated service to light rail and Caltrain, the payment experience will be the opposite of integrated. During the pilot period, riders will not be able to pay with Clipper, the Bay Area’s common transit card, and the Clipper system is notoriously inflexible regarding testing out new pricing mechanisms. It may take until 2019 with Clipper 2.0 before these types of services can be paid for with Clipper. * Integrated fares. VTA will be testing out a variety of fare structures, but it seems as though VTA may be seeking to charge a premium price for the last‐mile transit connection. If so this strategy will be taking the opposite direction to Stanford University’s extremely successful fully subsidized Marguerite shuttle system, which without any dynamic features to date, enables nearly a 25% Caltrain mode share for University employees, at no cost to riders. * Equitable access for workers. VTA is defining the goals of the pilot as increasing overall transit ridership and increasing farebox recovery while considering equity. An issue to consider, in balancing these goals, is the fact that Santa Clara County has large numbers of low‐income workers who commute by car because the public transit system is not cost‐effective for their needs. In the Sunnyvale pilot, VTA will be working with the emerging Transportation Management Association, potentially bringing in employer and developer funding. Can funds be used and the service be priced so that people who are janitors and food service workers can afford efficient transit, not just engineers and managers? * Equitable access for residents. One of the markets that VTA is considering serving is “ “housing clusters near major transit stations/stops.” Will the goal to improve farebox recovery steer the service toward only market rate new housing developments? Or will the pricing structure and service model also reach out to lower‐income neighborhood that are dense, not far from major transit stations, and currently have a high rate of driving?

City of Palo Alto | City Clerk's Office | 8/19/2015 2:33 PM* Inter‐county service. While VTA touts the fact that 80% of Santa Clara County commuters stay within the County, Apple contends that more than half of their long‐distance shuttles cross county lines. Will VTA’s interest in data‐driven routes lead it to more actively work to reduce barriers to inter‐county service? Which, if any, of the service models will be effective in attracting riders? How can VTA best balance its goals of ridership, revenue, and equity? VTA is planning on experimentation, and the pilots will help answer these questions. What’s next? Following a round of public review, VTA will return to the VTA Committees and Board of Directors in October to request approval to implement the Pilot Program, and to present final recommendations regarding the service plan, fare structure, equity analysis, and additional pilots to implement in the future. Adina Adina Levin Friends of Caltrain http://greencaltrain.com 650‐646‐4344


Carnahan, David

From: Geri Mc Gilvray <[email protected]>Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 6:33 PMTo: Council, City; Keene, James; Bonilla, RobertCc: A-MIKE BECHLER; Mary Triggs; Kathy Nordman; Melanie GurunathanSubject: WATER TABLE DRAINING/MIDTOWN, MIDDLEFIELD TRAFFIC SPEEDING

dear city leaders, I know the the job of our city is to create revenue, and, a lot of our builders are helping raise Our tax base. BUT seven houses are draining our well water into the drainage ditches night and day, FULL force. I heard someone is bringing a petition with 100 signatures to stop this. The Basements are too big and too deep. Citizens called me. Harper Street is wasting our water for a whole year. Someone on Webster has cracks in Their ceiling from a Webster draining. A million cubic feet of water would cost ME $$15,000 dollars! The water from 804 Moreno, which looks like it has been strip mined, alone would have watered every lawn for the citizens in Midtown. Please stop supporting this basement building travesty. ALSO , please! James Keene, tell the police to restore the ENFORCEMENT of the 25 mile an Hour speed limit on Middlefield Road at Marion street. The cars are like a stampede of two ton Horses coming at us at the nursery school there. FEW ACCIDENTS are Ever reported. Also, support cal TRAIN getting everything it needs. people deserve to sit down, and, be safer than we have been lately. VTA has had nothing but empty , often speeding, buses with up to three people the whole time I've lived here. giant, empty buses. The door to door shuttle had worked. VTA SHOULD HAVE NO SUPPORT FOR taking our el camino lane for themselves. It's too bad they have power over the trains. Dave Price said today that only 1% of three counties use the TRAIN, but, I have read that it It is 70,000 people a day . correct me if that is wrong. That's more than the whole population of Palo Alto, and, it is Quieter than the awful Bart, and, safer than the highways. and, I am with Pat Burt on making the Crossings safe. Geri SIGLER MCGILVRAY EVERYDAY SAFETY AND WALKABILITY FOR ALL OF MIDDLEFIELD ROAD, INCLUDING Midtown! Palo Alto 650‐328‐2416 Please forgive: no time to fix all the mistakes today Sent from my iPad


Carnahan, David

From: [email protected] on behalf of Dan Mahoney <[email protected]>Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 12:24 PMTo: Council, CitySubject: We need to stop the speeding in the city

I'm getting very concerned that no one pays any attention to the speed limits in the city, and something needs to be done about it. I can't imagine that it would take that big an effort to do an all-out effort for about a week and start ticketing speeders so that they get the word, but doing nothing endangers walkers, other drivers, and normal citizens. Oregon Expwy normal speed is around 50 mph, as is Alma. I would imagine that no one drives 25 on Embarcadero anymore. It makes it difficult to merge onto those streets since oncoming traffic is on top of you before you know it. A directive from you to the police force to start enforcing the limits would be greatly appreciated by everyone. It just now seems like no one cares, and if that's the case, then change the speed limits. Dan Mahoney 2267 Tasso St -- Dan Mahoney [email protected]

\S �UG l 1

August 12, 201 S

Lt Colonel John Morrow, Commander United States Anny Corps of Engineers 1455 Market Street, #16 San Francisco, California 94103

Dear Colonel Morrow,

Fw � \v\iKe Sorter Joe1eres\

tC � C\�\tO\fice Jmice�m Uso. NG\lo.rret;

We realize that you are personally familiar with the two projects along San Francisquito Creek. We greatly appreciate the time that you have spent onsite and otherwise to ensure that the projects move forward. We are writing to seek the Corps' advice and assistance.

The cities of Palo Alto, Menlo Park and East Palo Alto will once again be facing winter without having the flood protection of the projects. NOAA estimates that there is a 90% chance of a 1997 /98 El Nino-like winter.' As you know, the February 1998 rain produced a flood that heavily impacted all three .cities. We are writing to respectfully request that the Corps provide any technical or legal assistance that may be tequested by the JP A or the three cities, and that may be appropriate to provide for purposes of <;!.'eating winter stonn preemptive projects. Iii compliance with the lt1,w; these communities need to be able to take actions that wili protect lives during the coming winter. However, the 'law aiid the engineering choices are complex. Corps guidance Would be very helpful;

· · · · ·

Second, given the life safety concerns of flooding in this area, we would greatly appreciate it if the Corps would take the lead in e:ilcouraging all feder�l agencies to prpmptly and appropriately evaluate the permit applications for the two projects. Whether or not the difficult storms materialize this winter, the project that is downstream ofl-lighway 101 could, if pel'ltlitted this year, be under construction this coming year. This would be of enormous value to the affected communities.

We would greatly appreciate the Corps' leadership in working even more closely than in the past with the cities i;md the JPA as they deal with complex questions involving p�rmitting and construction, both in the near-term With respect to this winter, and with respect to the two longerterin projects. Ol>viously there are constraints on �he Corps as there are on any organization, but we believe that the Corps is in the best position to help move the overall situation forward at an

accelerated pace to pr�vent the loss of human life and significant damage to property.

1 Please see enclosed article

We would· like to meet with you once you have a chance to review this request, and as soon as schedules permit. We view this. situation as urgent. Our staff can assist in setting up this meeting and th�y are available at Karen Chapman, [email protected],,: and Kathleen Wentworth, [email protected]. We are not asking for miracles. Those are the province of another power, but we are asking for extraordinary leadership in the public interest-precisely the strength of the United States Anny Corps of Engineers.

Respectfully yours,

Jackie Speier Member of Congress

AnnaEshoo Member of Congress

cc: Brigadier General Mark Toy, United States Army Corps of Engineers Mayor Karen Holman, Palo Alto James Keene, City Manager, Palo Alto Mayor Catheri�e Carlton, Menlo Park Alex Mcintyre, Menlo Park City Manager Mayor Lisa Gauthier, East Palo Alto Carlos Martinez, City Manager, East Palo Alto San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority Board of Supervisors, San Mateo Co'unty John Maltbie, County Manag�r, County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors, Santa Clara County Jeffrey Smith, County Executive, County of Santa Ciara

/

El Nifio weather event is biggest since 1997, may trigger soaking winter storms

BIJ Paul Roger.�, San JoseM�roury News, 7/10/15

As Pacific Ocean temperatures continue to warm and trade winds shift, federal scientists now say that the El Nino w�ther event that's eltlerging eould be one of the strongest on record. ·

With California desperate for rellef fi:om $t$ punishing four-year drought, the trend ts significantly increasing the cha1tces that storms will drench the state this winter, according to a new report released by federal scientists Thursday. And scientists say the conditions are lining up in ways not seen since the win�r of 1997-98, when downpours filled resel'Voirs and s�nt rive� ;raging during the last majoi' Ei Nifio.

. Tb� deck Ora Pacllkia bQma'blihg� preea��y over� erOdlng bluff on Feb. 23, 199$; (Robin Welner/Associated Preas) "That's good news fo� Caltfomla;11 said Mtke Halpert, deputy director for NO:AA's climate pr�ction center in College Park, Maryland. ,;'I'here are obviol1sly no guarantees, bu� !lbove-

. .. .. .

normal r$inf3ll is becoming more likely." The ch�µ�� 8,re now "greatel,' than 90 percent" thatElNifio condition& that began in March will rem&in througb tliis. whiter, according to the monthly El Niiio report from

.the National (.lceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That's up froin 85 percent last month and 50 percent ironi four months age>. ''We are on the right path now. We want to see it continue to strengthen and build ... and certainly to not weaken any time before the new year," said Califomta•s state climatologist, Michael Anderson, who is with tbe state Department of Water Resources.

i ., !

Bl Niiio is a disruption in the weather patterns over the Pacific Ocean, when the ocean's surface warms more than normal. Those warm waters release heat, changing wind . .

directions and the jet stream. Strong m Niiios, which occur when the Paclfie Ocean is the warmest, have historically been linked to wet weather in California and South America - and droughts in Austl'alia and Asia.

As Bl Nffio conditions have continued to grow this year, Peru in recent weeks declared an Bl Nifio emergency, warning of flooding that could begin there this summer. Citigroup and the United Nations ha-ye issued warnings about potential price spikes in wheat and other food staples that would res\llt from red�ed harvests in AuStralia_ and other countries.

To be sure, California's next rainy season won't start in earnest for five more months.

And man)' of those wJU be hot summer months \\1th a high fire risk because the worst drought since California beeame a state in 1850 has left grasslands and forests bone dry. Scientists also caution that promising Bl Nifios have fizzled out in the past -- most recently last year.

But with each passing month, many scientists now say, this year!$ looking more and more · like 1997·

That year, an ocean area that scientists call the 113,4 region'; all)rtg tiie equator near Se>uth ADter.ica that Is ccinsidefed a key indicafor of El Niflo. trends was iciegree Fahrenheit .

W&rmer than normal from Aprilto June. Over the same months this year, tbe Water there was 1.6 degte� high�rthan average.

· · · · · · ·

San FranciscO recetved 41 inches ofrain the winter of 1997-98, double Its hi$toi'lc average and the m0st Since 1862.

At the peak in the wmter of 1997. the water along the.equator was 4�1 degrees above average. And n�wsµ�rcomputera at NO.AA, NASA and other-world-leading scientific institutions are projecting the tem�ratlires in that ocean tegion by November will hit close to that -3.6 degrees Fahrenheit '"·•the warmest sin� 1997,

· . . ,

Source:NASAJet�lfOnt.abomq,Y IAVAAEANIWSGROliP

John Lewis rememb!!rs that soaking winter of 1997-98. The owner of Commerelal Gutter in Fremont was so swamped with calls from people needing gutter repairs during the

. relentJt'.§8 downpours that he had a six-month waiting liet. .

11It was a frenzy, 11 he said. "My guys were wor1dng seven days a week, 10 to 12 Jiours a day. l had to turn people away."

�wis, who a)i!Q seJhn:ain barrels and water Storage tanks, said some homeowners are getting their gutters repaired now and mentioning the El Nino reports.

But could one soaking Winter end Califorriia's drought in a year?

[t's p0ssible if the state receives 150 percent or more abo�e· average rainfall, filling Shasta,

QfQVille aitd the state's other liirge.9t reservoJrs, said Anderson, the state's climatologist.

. "The potential for ninoff in the watersheds is larger than the storage capacity of the reservolr3t he said.

the state's biggest reservoirs have filled qUicid:Y before. In i978, one wet year ended the 1976-77 di:ou�t, Anderson noted, And, he added, iJ11993, heavy rains bre>uibt the 1987-92 c)rqught to a clQ�.

Last month's heavy storms Jn Te�as dumped 11 inches of rain on Houston in one nighti kllllng more than 20 people but endi�g a lengthy drought.

But to end California's entrenched dry spell, the rain would probably have to start around Thanksgiving, saturating the ground to allow steady runoff into rivers and reservoirs. �d then the storms would have to be cold enough to bulk up the Sierra snowpack so that the melting spring snow will continue to fill reservoirs.

Even then, the rainfall deficits of the past four years wouldn1t be completely erased, and groundwater that has been overpumped during the drought could take 10 years or more to replenish, Anderson noted. But the emergency situ•tion now plaguing farms and cities would largely pass with full reservoir&.

·

\ So what became of last year's RI Nifto predictions, which never panned out? The water was ·

warm, but it didn't trigger significant changes in wind directions or the jet stream in the atmosphere, experts say. But this year, those changes are already unde1way.

"It's weU coupled with the atmosphere. That never happened last year," said Jan N·un, a

meteorologist With Golden Gate Weather Services Jn Saratoga. "We get our rain from the atmosphere, not from a warm ocean. The fact we are seeing the coupll.-ig Is one of these checked boxes that is pointing toward a strong event."

Paul Rogets covers J't)Sot1rces and environmental issues. Contact him at 408-920-5045. Follow him at Twitter.eom/PatdRogersSJMN.

..

C'?:'ft��NG

[:::f1llaced Before Me.eung

[ 1 Received at Meeung

Office of the City Clerk M EMORANDUM

DATE: August 17, 2015

TO: Council Members

FROM: Beth Minor, City Clerk

#19

SUBJECT: Consent Item #19-Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Section 2.040.160 (City Council Minutes) of Chapter 2.04(Council Organization and Procedure) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Require Action Minutes and a Verbatim Transcript of all Council and Council Standing Committee Meetings, and Delete the Requirement for Sense Minutes

It was brought to our attention that the above report incorrectly listed the Municipal Code Section as 2.040.060. There was a clerical error in the hard copy of the report. The online version has the correct Municipal Code Section listed as 2.04.160. Attached you will find the corrected ordinance.

follows:

NOT YET APPROVED

ORDINANCE NO. __ _

Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Section 2.040.160 (City Council Minutes) of Chapter 2.04 (Council Organization and Procedure) of

the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Require Action Minutes and a Verbatim Transcript of all Council and Council Standing Committee Meetings, and Delete

the Requirement for Sense Minutes

The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:

SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as

A. On May 6, 2015 the City Council discussed the recommendation from the Policy and Services Committee to move to action minutes and the video of Council and Council Standing Committee meetings as the official record of those meetings. The purpose of this change is to increase the accuracy and decrease the time and cost of preparing the Council's official record of action. The Council endorsed the Committee's recommendation and added an additional requirement that verbatim minutes be prepared and made digitally available to the public, with hardcopies provided on request.

B. Action minutes are to be approved by Co�ncil in "real time" during the meeting, as Council motions are transcribed, projected for viewing by the Council and the public, and adopted, rejected or amended by Council.

SECTION 2. Section 2.04.160 (City Council Minutes) of Chapter 2.04 (Council Organization and Procedure) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

2.04.160 City council minutes.

(a) The minutes of the council shall be kept by the city clerk. The minutes shall be neatly typewritten or printed in a book kept for that purpose, with a record of each particular type of business transacted set off in paragraphs, with proper subheadings.

(b) The minutes shall include a record of all business discussed and all actions taken at regular or special meetings of the council. The minutes shall be seRSe action minutes.:.� nees net ee a vereatin:i transcri13t ef the 13receesings. Sense n:iim1tes incl1:1se all actiens taken

ans a shert svne13sis ef the ren:iarlEs ef s1:1ch ce1:1ncil n:ien:ieers, staff ans n:ien:ieers ef the 131:1elic

as s13eak 1:113eF1 a 13artic1:1lar n:iatter 1:1nser sisc1:1ssien. A recers shall ee n:iase ef the nan:ies ans

assresses ef 13ersens assressing the ce1:1ncil, tegether with a erief s1:1n:in:iary ef their ren:iarlEs

insicating whether they s13eke in s1:11313ert ef er in e1313esitien te s1:1ch n:iatter. Nething in this

sectien shall ee censtr1:1es te cen:113el registratien as a censitien te attensance at a n:ieeting.

150817 sh 0140136 1

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(c) A verbatim transcript of the proceedings shall also be prepared. As soon as possible after each council meeting the eity elerk 5hall eabl5e a eew1 ef the R'linblte5 te ee

ferwareleel te eaeh eeblneil R=1eR=18er, the eity R=!anager, ether effieer5 anel ele19artR=1ent heael5 ef the eity, all nev:519a19er5 ef general eirebllatien within the eity, anel ee R=1aele availaele te the

l'JblBlie at the frent eeblnter in the eit·1 elerk'5 effiee, the taele anel Bbllletin eearel in the eeblneil

ehaR=!eer5, anel all eity lierarie5, exee19t the Chilelren'5 Lierarythe verbatim transcript shall be made publicly available digitally and hard copies available upon request.

(el) At the R'leeting fellewing l'JblBlieatien, eeblneil R'linblte5 5hall ee agenelieeel ey the

eity elerk fer the eeblneil'5 a1919reval. Cerreetien5 te the R'linblte5 5hall ee R=!aele at the R=!eeting.

Ceblneil R=1eR=18er5 R'lay 5blBR'lit their eerreetien5 in writing er erally te the eity derk'5 effiee

eefere the tiffie ef the R=!eeting. The eity elerk 5hall eli5trieblte a written ee19y ef all eerreetien5

reeeiveel elblring regbllar Bbl5ine55 heblr5 te all eeblneil R=1eR=18er5 at the R'leeting.

SECTION 3. Severability. If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this ordinance, or the application to any person or circumstances, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and, to this end, the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.

SECTION 4. The Council finds that this project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), pursuant to Section 15061 of the CEQA Guidelines, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment.

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SECTION 5. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the date of

its adoption.

INTRODUCED:

PASSED:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTENTIONS:

ATTEST:

City Clerk Mayor

APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:

City Attorney City Manager

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I

COUNCIL MEETING <6-IJ-15 li><Y Placed Before Meeting [ ] Received at Meeting

TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL

FROM:

DATE:

SUBJECT:

CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER

AUGUST 17, 2015 STAFF REPORT: 6063

AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER REGARDING PALO ALTO'S POSITION ON NEW FUNDING FOR STATE AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

DRAFT

August 17 , 2015

The Honorable Jerry Hill

California State Senate

State Capitol, Room 5035

Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Rich Gordon

California State Assembly

State Capitol, Room 3013

Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Initial Position - City of Palo Alto's Initial Position Regarding New Funding for State and Local

Transportation Infrastructure

Dear Senator Hill and Assembly Member Gordon:

On behalf of the City of Palo Alto, I'm writing you to express the City of Palo Alto's initial position

regarding proposed new funding for State and local transportation infrastructure.

As you are aware the League of California Cities (Attachment A) and the Fix Our Roads Coalition

(Attachment B) have advocated that State leadership make a significant investment in streets and

highways across our state.

The City of Palo Alto recognizes that based on both the broad coalition of support for this effort and the

deteriorating condition of state and local roads, some proposal for how to reinvest in existing

infrastructure is likely to be voted on during this legislative session.

Given the importance and scale of the proposed investment in repairing deteriorating infrastructure we

think it is important that any new taxes to pay for this should be approved by voters.

The concept of splitting funding equally between the State and localities makes sense but we think that

local level funding allocations should be distributed directly, and without intermediaries, to the agencies

themselves in order to accelerate project delivery and ensure maximum accountability.

We also think that improvements should go towards improving our ex isting roadways in this program

and not go towards building new roadways. To that end, Legislators should consider revenue structures

that discourage single occupancy vehicle trips and encourage mode-sharing and public transportation.

Revenue proposals should also recognize the ongoing evolution of transportation and be structured so

that it does not overly fluctuate on an annual basis to the maximum extent possible; and, in addition to

improving the State's streets and highways, increased revenue should be provided for regional

transportation initiatives such as commuter rail improvements, if possible.

Finally, strong accountability requirements should be tied to any revenue increase to ensure that any

taxpayer investment is spent as it was presented to the voters; and, if a given city or agency is able to

obtain an average annual pavement condition index (PCI) score of 85 or higher than that city or agency

should be able to use its annual allocation of funds for other transportation initiatives at their discretion.

We look forward to working with you over the coming weeks as a transportation infrastructure proposal

is drafted.

Sincerely,

Karen Holman

Mayor, City of Palo Alto

CC's:

Palo Alto City Council

Palo Alto City Manager

Governor Jerry Brown

Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon

Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins

Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff

Assembly Minority Leader Kristin Olsen

Attachments:

Attachment A- League of California Cities Resolution_7-16-2015

attachment B - Fix Our Roads Coalition Letter_S-7-2015

August 13th, 2015

Re: Smart Meter Health Risks

Dear City of Palo Alto City Council,

As someone who grew up in Palo Alto, I feel ! would be remiss if I did not provide you with a copy of Federica Lamech's recent peer-reviewed study showing serious and in some cases debilitating health impacts from exposure to non-ionizing microwave radiation from so-called "smart" meters. This is very important information from a public health, epidemiological standpoint, and should not be shrugged off or ignored.

I understand you have a pilot program going, and may expand the program city wide. This would be a serious mistake based on health studies, fire risks, unfair billing issues, as well as mounting privacy and cybersecurity problems. Retaining standard reliable analog meters is the wise choice. Climate protection efforts do not require smart meters, and in fact they are likely doing more harm than good.

An essential study in understanding the fiscal waste and ineffectiveness of a smart grid in reducing carbon or meeting efficiency goals is called Getting Smarter About the Smart Grid and can be downloaded here:

http://gettiogsmarteraboutthesmartgrit;Lotgl'.

I urge you to take a second, jndependent l.ook at the truth and hype behind smart meters and asl< what is really in Pal,o Alto's best interest.

I would be happy to provide more information and references.

Josh Hart MSc Director, StopSmartMeters.org

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Self-Reporting of Symptom Development From Exposure to Radiofrequency Fields of Wireless

Smart Meters in Victoria, Australia: A Case Series Federica Lamech, MBBS

Federica Lamech, MBBS, is a medical practitioner in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Corresponding author: Federica Lamech, MBBS

E-mail address: [email protected]

The Victorian Auditor-General's November 2009

report1 criticized the rollout of smart meters, which had commenced in 2009 under a previous

government's mandate from 2006. As a result, a freshly elected Victorian Premier announced in 2010 that his government would review the program. Following a number of reports, including those by Deloitte,2 EMC Technologies,3 and Lockstep Consulting, 4 the new Victorian gov�rnment announced on December 14, 201 1, that it would continue with the program. Although the program would result in an overall net cost to consumers of $319 million dollars (NPV at

L...��--��·-

28 ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, NOV /DEC 2014 VOL. 20, 6 Lamech-Symptoms From Radiofrequency Exposure in Victoria, Australia

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2008 values), Deloitte's analysis of the costs and benefits of

the program had concluded that it made economic sense to

continue given that a large portion of the costs had already been sunk into the project.2 The rollout was scheduled to conclude by the end of 2013, but the deadline has been extended because of delays caused by technical difficulties, inaccessible sites, and customer refusals.

Issues Surrounding Rollout After installation of wireless smart meters began,

anecdotes of people developing symptoms started to be reported in mainstream media. For example, an article in the Herald Sun in Melbourne reported that Marc and Maureen Florio and their 4 children had left their home, claiming that they had been experiencing constant headaches and sleep deprivation since a neighbor's smart meter had been installed 3 weeks earlier.5

Public concerns over a number of issues with the compulsory rollout of smart meters have since intensified and multiplied. They have included ( 1) adverse health effects; (2) safety issues, such as a possible increased risk of house fires; (3) the incompatibility of the smart meter with existing wiring and appliances, possibly causing damage to electrical devices in the home; (4) privacy issues surrounding the collection and on-selling of vast amounts of data that reveal customers' energy usage patterns; (5) security issues, such as those inherent in any type of wireless communication (ie, a vulnerability to hacking and to cyber-attacks); (6) cost concerns; and (7) a perceived lack of democratic process because of the way in which the rollout had proceeded. 6 In response to these concerns, Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) released a report in July 2012, "Safety of Advanced Metering Infrastructure in Victoria;' which stated that "smart meters are safe;'7 notwithstanding the fact that ESV had mentioned in their draft in May 2012 that the issue of possible health effects was "beyond the detailed scope" of the report.8

Victoria's smart meters are electronic meters that are capable of measuring electricity consumption in 30-minute intervals and have a transmitter/antenna that is able to broadcast the collected data wirelessly to the base.6 Victoria's smart meters also have a second internal ·antenna for the Home Area Network (HAN) radio, which can be turned on when requested by the customer. 3 The electronic meter is all

that is needed to implement time-of-use tariffs (ie, charging different rates for electricity at different times); however, the remote-reading function means that meter readers are no longer required and that the power companies can disconnect and reconnect power remotely.6 In effect, a smart grid, as opposed to deployment of electronic meters, constitutes the power companies' communication system. The bulk of Victoria's power distributors use wireless mesh networks that rely on the smart meters to act as relay stations, with households' data hopping unpredictably from meter to meter, thus forming a mesh. 6 Any reflective surface can cause a deviation in the transmission route of the radiofrequency signal One distributor has deployed a WiMax network,

Lamech-Symptoms From Radiofrequency Exposure in Victoria, Australia

which involves transmission from each meter directly to a collection tower in a star-like configuration.6•9

Smart meters do not have to be wireless. Italy has completed the largest smart meter rollout to date. Their smart meters are hard-wired and communicate over the existing power lines.10 Other options have been proposed, such as communication via telephone lines, whereas fiber optic cabling has already been successfully deployed in other parts of the world.11 Claims have been made that all types of electronic meters, including wired smart meters, can introduce dirty electricity (ie, high-frequency voltage transients and harmonics) along the wiring of a house, because of their switching-mode power supply, as well as back into the main powerline.12 The function of the switching-mode power supply is to convert alternating current (AC) coming in from the power lines to direct current (DC), which is required to run the electronic meter. This process creates high frequency voltage spikes, which are emitted constantly, 24/7, and which travel aiong building wires and radiate outward from them. Critics claim that this dirty electricity can lead to short- and long-term, adverse health effects.12•13

Sources of Radiation Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) is a broad term that

encompasses both natural and human-made sources of radiation. The electromagnetic spectrum describes the continuum of different frequencies put together with the associated wavelength of each frequency.14,15 The frequency is the number of oscillations or cycles per second, whereas wavelength describes the distance between successive peaks of a wave.16 As a result, wavelength and frequency are inseparably intertwined: The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength is.14 The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into 2 main types: (I) ionizing radiation, which comprises cosmic and gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet rays; and (2) nonionizing ra�ation.1 4 •15•17

Ionizing radiation has so mac:�rgy per quantum that it is able to break chemical bonds between molecules. 14 The negative effect on health of ionizing radiation is well recognized. 17 In this report, however, the term radiation will be used to describe: noiiionizing radiation, which does not carry sufficient energy to break molecular bonds. 1 4

Nonionizing radiation includes (I) extremely lowfrequency fields, such as those emitted by electrical appliances and power lines; (2) intermediate-frequency fields, such as those used in some antitheft and security systems; and (3) high-frequency radiation, which includes radiofrequency fields, such as those produced by mobile telephones, television and radio transmitters, and radar, as well as microwaves, a subset of radiofrequency radiation, which have frequencies in the 300 MHz to 300 GHz range.16 The last are used in microwave ovens and for wireless Internet. 1 4 •15

These definitions are arbitrary but represent a useful way of describing ·different parts of the nonionizing component of the spectrum. Discussions of and research on the effects of nonionizing radiation revolve around thermal and

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, NOV/DEC 2014 VOL 20, 6 29

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nonthermal effects.17 According to the main regulatory agencies in Australia and the United States, only thermal effects are capable of affecting human health 17; however, this article will deal exclusively with the nonthermal, or biological, effects on humans of nonionizing radiation. For this reason, the author has used the terms radiation, radiofrequency, and microwaves interchangeably in this article.

As societies industrialize, an unprecedented increase in the number and diversity of EMF sources occur�. 18 These sources include (1) video display units (VDUs) associated with computers and mobile phones and their base stations;18 (2) wireless Internet, (3) digital television and radio, andmore recently-(4) wireless utility meters and their associated infrastructure. For some time, individuals have reported a variety of health problems that they relate to exposure to EMF. 18

Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome Electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome (EHS) is

characterized by a· variety of nonspecific symptoms. The most common ones include dermatological symptomsredness, tingling, and burning sensations-as well as neurasthenic and vegetative symptoms-fatigue, tiredness, concentration difficulties, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, and digestive disturbances.18 This syndrome was first described by Russian researchers in the 1950s, who called it microwave sickness.17

Although the range of estimates of the EHS prevalence in the general population is broad, a survey of self-help groups has indicated that approximately 10% of reported cases have been considered severe. 18 The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed a willingness to consider professional and public input on evidence supporting the inclusion of EHS into the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), to be released in 2015.15 Various national governments have also recognized EH;S as an emerging public problem. Sweden classifies EHS as a functional impairment, 15 whereas the Council of Europe Resolution 1815 calls for particular attention to be paid to the needs of electrosensitive people and for the introduction of special measures to protect them, including the creation of wave-free areas not covered by the wireless network.19 ·

In May 2013, the author of the current study became aware that people were registering adverse health effects from smart meters on a public Web site. Two ways existed for people to register: (1) a health register and (2) a legal register. The health register requested that people send their data to a specific e-mail address if they believed that their health had been affected following installation of smart meters, asking 2

questions: ( 1 ) ''.Are you hypersensitive to electromagnetic radiation from sources such as smart meters and mobile phones?" and (2) "Has your health been affected·following the installation of smart meters?" The legal register contained 1 similarly worded open-ended question:: "Do you believe your health has been affected by the installation of smart meters?" If the answer was "yes:' people were asked to

30 ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, NOV/DEC 2014 VOL. 20, 6

state the symptoms from which they were suffering that they believed had resulted from exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) that had been emitted from smart meters. The information could be submitted online or the form could be printed and filled in by hand, then sent to a designated postal address. Neither form of registration posed direct questions about types of symptoms or offered any form of tick-a-box questionnaire, thereby avoiding the suggestion of various symptoms, and both steered clear of a recruitmentstyle approach to the collection of information.

The author subsequently approached the managers of the Web site and the registers, and based on her status as a medical practitioner, she received permission to view people's deidentified data in both registers in hard-copy form.·It was immediately apparent to the author that people from disparate parts of Victoria were listing the same or similar symptoms from exposure to smart meters. The majority of people could not possibly have known each other, and they certainly had ' no access to information that had been registered by others, as data sent to the registers had been kept strictly private and confidential. Because the information appeared to point to a new and ongoing public health problem for Victoria, the author decided that a case series report, based on the cases in the registers, was warranted.

METHODOLOGY The author began by enlisting the agreement and

cooperation of the managers of the public Web site and registers and by instructing them on her planned methodology. The managers were given the task of selecting appropriate cases from both their health register and legal register. The cases were included when the managers could clearly identify the person by name, surname, postal address, and/or e-mail address to make sure that they were genuine registrants. In the case of children, name and surname, together with postal address and/or e-mail address of at least 1 parent; were considered sufficient for identification of the child.

The managers then proceeded to print or photocopy each qualifying individual's entry and to deidentify each case, providing the author with each person's gender, date of birth, a.'1.d the· name of his or her residential suburb. The author considered these details important for statistical purposes. Children's symptoms were reported by their parents. E-mail addresses and phone numbers were hidden by the registers' managers, and the author made no attempt to contact any person to obtain additional details or ask for clarification(s). This practice was judged by the author to be appropriate, not only for the maintenance of anonymity but also because any further questioning would have had the potential to introduce biases in reporting and interfere with its spontaneous and unsolicited nature. What was not written or written clearly was simply omitted from the report. This fact must be kept in mind when reading the case series.

The Web site's managers then proceeded to seek signed written consent to use people's deidentified data to compile a report. This request was done by sending a letter to each


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individual, mainly via post, but in a few cases in which postal addresses were not available, via e-mail. In the case of children, consent had to be signed by 1 of the parents. One case was drawn directly from the public side of the earliermentioned Web site, and for this reason, consent was not sought for that case because it was already available in the public domain. The Web site contained a significant number of publicly available cases of symptoms from smart meters; however, the chosen case was included because it was the only one that provided fully identifiable details: name, surname, residential address, and phone number. The author subsequently removed 1 case from outside the state of Victoria and I from a resident of New Zealand

Of 142 fully identifiable cases before this removal, 91 consented, with the 1 additional case being in the public domain and not requiring consent. Therefore, the sample size was 92, and the author received all deidentified submissions in hard-copy form only. They were stored in her home office under lock and key. The author intends to keep all documents for a period of 5 years after publication of this article. At the end of this period, the documents will be destroyed.

For the results, the author has used her medical experience and judgment to group symptoms into clinically relevant clusters ( eg, pain in the head was grouped with headache; tinnitus was grouped with ringing in the ears). The author has stayed quite close to the wording used in the original entries. Total numbers and percentages were calculated for each symptom cluster. Percentage values were rounded to the nearest whole number.

RESULTS Of the 92 participants reporting symptoms from exposure

to wireless smart meters, 87 were adults and 5 were children. Of the adults, the yonngest person was 23 years of age and the oldest was 74; 55 (63%) were female and 32 (37%) were male. The children were aged 6, 10, and 14 years, with the ages of the remaining 2 children unknown. The children's group was composed of 2 females and 3 males. Therefore, for the total group, 57 (62%) were female and 35 (38%) were male.

Figure I. Map of Victoria and Places of Residence of the People in the Study's Cases

meters had aggravated their conditions. The place of residence of the person representing each case study was important, because the locations illustrate that individuals reporting symptoms were not concentrated in 1 geographical area but were from different and varied parts of metropolitan and rural Victoria. Figure 1 shows the residential locations of the current study's cases marked with red dots; 67% of the Victorians in this study lived within Melbourne's metropolitan area (ie, Melbourne's suburbs), which is shaded a darker green on the map. This correlates almost perfectly with current demographics for the state, which show more than 70% of all Victorians living in Melbourne's suburbs.

As Figure 2 shows, the most common symptoms were (1) insomnia, sleep disturbance, or sleep disruption-44 people (48%); (2) headaches, head pain, or dull head-41 people (45%); (3) tinnitus, ringing in the ears, or buzzing/noises in the ears-30 people (33%); (4) tiredness, lethargy, or fatigue, including chronic fatigue, exhaustion, or weakness-29 people (32%); and (5) cognitive disturbances, inability to concentrate or think, disorientation, or memory loss-28 people (30%). Table 1 identifies the symptoms that were experienced by participants, other than the 5 most common, with their incidence. Of all the individuals, 39 (42%) did not specify whether

their symptoms were caused by their neighbors' or their own smart meters. This lack of information was not surprising, Figure 2· Five Most Common Symptoms

because that kind of information was not .sought in either the 60%

health or the legal registers. Therefore, it is of note that a total of 53 people (58%) volnnteered this data: (1) 27 (29%) claimed that their symptoms were from exposure to their neighbors' smart meters, (2) 20 (22%) thought the adverse health effects were from a smart meter at their own homes, and (3) 2 wrote that their symptoms were from both their neighbors' and their own smart meters. It is also interesting that 3 people stated that they experienced symptoms when visiting friends or relatives who had a smart meter, and 1 person became ill after exposure to a smart meter at work.

Only 7 people (8%) stated that they considered themselves to have been suffering from EHS prior to smart meter exposure. Of these, 2 felt that radiation from smart


10%

0%

48%

Insomnia Headaches Tinnitus Lethargy Cognitive Disturbance

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Table I. Other Symptoms

Symptom/Symptom Cluster n(%)

Dysesthesias, including nerve pain, neuropathy, burning sensations, tremors, cold extremities, and poor circulation

20 (22%)

Dizziness/loss of balance 19 (21%)

Heart palpitations 16 (17%)

Nausea 15 ( 16%) Onset ofEHS 14 (15%)

Pain (in joints, bones, muscles, other and including arthritic changes) 13 (14%)

Pressure/heat/weird feeling in or on head 12 (13%)

Anxiety I agitation/irritability /restlessness 12 (13%) Adverse health effects not otherwise specified 1 1 (12%) Problems with eyes or eyesight/blurred vision 10 (1 1%) Chest pain/pain in the heart 9 (10%) Rashes/ skin irritation/ skin discoloration/ dry skin 7 (8%) Aggravation of pre-existing medical condition 6 (7%)

Digestive problems/bowel irritability/stomach pain 5 (5%) Muscle spasms/ cramps/twitches 5 (5%) Nose bleeds 4 (4%)

Ear problems (ear pain, loss of hearing) 3 (3%)

Depression/loss of motivation 3 (3%)

Increased rate of infections/ colds 3 (3%)

Allergies/food sensitivities 3 (3%)

Aggravation of EHS 2 (2%)

Sinus problems 2 (2%)

Lump in throat/sore throat 2 (2%)

Weight loss/loss of appetite 2 (2%)

Swollen face/lips 2 (2%)

Bladder infections/ strains 2 (2%)

Flu-like symptoms 1 (1%)

Dehydration/thirst 1 ( 1%)

Weight gain 1 ( 1%)

Inability to talk 1 ( 1%)

Loss of motor skills 1 (1%)

Loss of feeling and movement from waist down 1 ( 1%)

Abbreviations: EHS = electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome.

It is concerning that 40% of all participants reported 4 or more symptoms, as this finding is very likely to be predictive of a greater level of disability (Figure 3). Eleven percent had devefoped only 3 symptoms, 20% only 2 symptoms, and 29% only 1 symptom. Note that the author counted "adverse health effect(s) not otherwise specified" as 1 symptom. She is of the opinion that even 1 symptom, depending on its type and severity,. could result in significant disruption for an individual. An example of this result is the experience of the person in Case 82, an adult male who developed only 1

32 ALTE RNATIVE T H E RAPIES. NOV/DEC 2014 VOL. 20. 6

symptom-chronic, severe nerve pain-and had to go on a disability pension as a result.

It may reasonably be expected that a random sample of the population would also report a number of symptoms at any one time, but the difference in these cases is that all

people in this study self-reported symptoms that they attributed directly to smart meters. Because EHS is a selfreported syndrome and given the current absence of a reliable assessment tool for identifying EHS in individuals,

Eltiti et al20 concluded that researchers have to rely on the


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Figure 3. Number of Symptoms per Person

individual's self-diagnosis of their symptoms as caused by exposure to EMF. The researchers proposed an EHS screening tool that is centered on the fact that an individual explicitly attributes his or her symptoms to exposure to EMF-producing object(s).20

Similarly, a survey conducted by the Dutch Electrohypersensitivity Foundation in 2007 argues that EMFaffected individuals simply know, often by experimentation, that certain pieces of electrical equipment, installations, or facilities make them sick and that most of the problems are solved when these items are switched off or the EMF exposure is lowered by shielding or increasing the distance from a device.21 This statement mirrors the experience of the majority of the Victorian cohort, who were specific in their description of their health problems as being directly related to smart meter exposure. A chronological relationship existed between the onset of exposure and symptom development.

A chronological relationship between length of exposure and an increase in the · number or severity of symptoms, however, did not necessarily exist. This finding- suggested a possible all-or-nothing mechanism, whereby smart meter exposure leads people to reach a personal threshold beyond which adverse health effects are consciously perceived. More than one-half (58%) of all the current participants also volunteered a statement with regard to the location of the smart meter( s) that they had identified as causing their symptom(s) and described clear alleviation of symptom(s) when they moved away from the smart meter(s) or when shielded from the smart meter(s).

As a consequence, a large number of people self-helped either by using shielding measures or by putting distance between themselves and the smart meter(s), which meant either relocating their bedrooms, moving to another residence, ceasing employment, restricting their movement in general, or moving out of the state of Victoria (Table 2).


.Table 2. Effect on People's Lives

Effect 1 . Having to go on a disability pension 2. Not being able to use part of one's house 3. Restricting freedom of movement 4. Spending a lot of money on shielding products 5. Causing financial problems 6. Causing relationship problems 7. Having to undergo otherwise unnecessary medical

investigations 8. Needing to see a psychologist and doctors 9. Producing general deterioration in quality of life

10. Needing to restrict time spent using a computer 1 1. Needing to avoid all EMR-emitting devices 12. Being unable to drive 13. Causing secondary stress 14. Having to temporarily move out of one's home while it

was being shielded 15. Developing concerns about long-term effects of

exposure 16. Relocating bedroom 17. Decreased performance at work 18. Being unable to work 19. Being able to feel normal only when away from home 20. Causing several issues, such as lethargy or cognitive

impairment, secondary to sleep disturbances 21. Needing to move into a caravan 25 km out of town 22. Sleeping in a van for 6 months 23. Relocating to another state

Abbreviation: EMR = electromagnetic radiation.

Figure 1 shows that people in this study were from disparate parts of the state of Victoria. They were from metropolitan as well as regional and rural areas and were not concentrated in any geographical area, which makes possible causes of symptoms related to a specific location unlikely (eg, proximity to airports, wind farms, open-cut coal mines, or chemicals used in agriculture). It is also unlikely for the reported symptoms to be associated with any seasonal factor ( eg, extremes of temperatures, degree of humidity, bushfire smoke, or a high pollen count), because the reporting period stretched between September 2012 and August 2013, which meant that symptoms were reported during all 4 seasons.

Smart meters represent an ubiquitous presence throughout the state of Victoria, having been rolled out across the entire state. Their presence is not subject to se.asonal variation. Therefore, they are a credible possible cause of the symptoms reported in this study, although a case series cannot prove causality. It can and does, however, offer a new hypothesis, one that will have to be tested by further research.

More than one-half (55) of all the cases did not state what effect the symptoms had had on their lives. This lack is possibly caused by the fact that the registration of their symptoms occurred in an open-ended style that did not

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directly ask questions other than whether they thought that smart meters had affected their health. Moreover, participants had consented for their deidentified data to be used to compile a report at a time after their initial submission to the Web site's registers. This situation had the benefit of eliminating the likelihood of a real or perceived secondary gain for registrants but also led to the writing of short, simple statements that did not elaborate on how the symptoms. had affected their lives. Table 2 provides. details about the .effect on the lives of the 37 people who made a statement about those effects ..

DISCUSSION Biological Effects of Radiation

With regard to the reported symptomatology related to wireless smart meters, it is interesting to look back at a research report by Dr Zorach R. Glaser for the Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) in the United States, completed in 1971 and revised in 1972.22 The report lists in excess of 2300 references on the biological responses to radiofrequency and microwave radiation in its bibliography. What is immediately apparent is the fact that most of the symptoms reported in the current case series were also present in the NMRI report. This fact indicates that biological effects from nonionizing radiation are the same irrespective of the device that · emits themaccounting for frequency, intensity, and duration-and that such biological effects were already known and reported to the public in 1971. In fact, Glaser mentions 2 even earlier studies that were both published in 1969.22 The value of Glaser's report lies particularly in its lack of bias and conflict of interest because the sponsoring department was the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (Navy) in Washington, DC.

In terms of the biological symptoms listed, an almost complete overlap exists with symptoms reported in the current case series. All commonly reported symptoms in the current case series, such as insomnia, headaches, tinnitus (described as buzzing about the ears in the NMRI document), fatigue, cognitive disturbances, memory problems, dizziness, buzzing in the head, heart rate problems, eye problems, chest pain, dysesthesias, anxiety, and restlessness are very clearly biological symptoms that were listed in Glaser's report,72 together ,..nib less common symptoms, such as heat/weird feeling in/on the head, skin problems, digestive problems, muscle cramps, sinus problems, depression, loss of appetite, and dehydration.22

The symptoms reported by Victorians but not mentioned in the 1971 report are (1) nausea; (2) pressure in the head; (3) pain other than head or chest pain, although the pain could be caused by changes in oxidative processes in tissues as listed by Glaser, and consequent tissue inflammation; (4) shortness of breath; (5) ear problems-pain and decreased hearing; (6) allergies and food sensitivities; (7) nose bleeds; (8) increased rate of infections/colds; (9) bladder infections/strains (IO) flulike symptoms; (11) lumps in the throat (the NMRI report instead mentions a peculiar metallic taste in the mouth); (12) swollen face or swollen lips; (13) weight gain; (14) inability to talk, which could be caused by electroencephalogram (EEG)

34 ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES. NOV/DEC 2014 VOL 20. 6

changes and/or pyramidal tract lesions as mentioned ·in the 1971 report; and ( 15) loss of motor skills or loss offeeling and movement from the waist down, which are both consistent with pyramidal tract lesions and effects on locomotor nerves that are listed in the NMRI paper. In looking at these symptoms that were not obviously listed in the NMRI report, it is important to keep in mind that the language of that report was more technical and clinical compared with the current case series, in which the author has purposely stayed true to the wording and terms used by participants and which is, therefore, less technical and less interpretive.

In 1990, a study was commissioned in response to a petition that had been signed by a group of residents in Schwarzenburg, Switzerland, who claimed to be experiencing ill

health from a shortwave-radio transmitter present in their small town. The Federal Office of Energy was charged with setting up a study group, whicp. was chaired by Dr J. Catlin, head of the Section Energy Management, and which included the University of Berne and Swiss Telecom, among others.23 The study was criticized, particularly because of Swiss Telecoms involvement and because of its 5-year duration, which was too short a time for any conclusive findings on long-term health effects, including cancer, to emerge.24 It nevertheless revealed some impressive understandings on short-term effects from exposure to radiofrequency fields. The most important of these effects was that of sleep disruption, which was very common, affecting 55% of those older than. 45 years, and which was directly associated with the electromagnetic-field strength of the transmitter.23 Other symptoms reported by residents included headaches, tiredness, general weakness, irritability, nervousness, limb pain, lower-back pain, and palpitations. Most important, personality studies were carried out that showed that symptoms were not related to a health-worrying personality but displayed a doseresponse relationship with logistic regression. The strong correlation between the type of symptoms experienced by the Victorian cohort and by the residents of Schwarzenburg, together with the shared high prevalence of sleep disruptions in both groups, should further inform assessment of the significance of the findings of the current case series.

A consensus paper of the Austrian Medical Association's EMF Working Group,· adopted on March 3, 2012, in Vienna and titled "Guideline of the Austrian Medical Association for the Diagnosis and Treatment of EMF-related Health Problems and Illnesses (EMF Syndrome);' mentions a survey carried out in Switzerland in 2001.25 In it, 394 respondents attributed specific health problems to EMF exposure. The following symptoms were reported: (1) sleep problems (58%), (2) headaches (41%), (3) nervousness (19%), (4) fatigue (18%), and (5) difficulty concentrating (16%). It is apparent at first glance that the first 2 symptoms are of the same order of frequency as for the Victorians in the current case series (Figure 4). A very similar percentage of people complained of headaches in both the current study (45%) and the Swiss one (41%) . . A similar, albeit slightly lower, number of participants reported sleep problems, such as insomnia and frequent waking, in Victoria ( 48%) versus those reported in the Swiss study (58%). All 5 symptoms


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Figure 4. Victorian Cohort Versus Swiss· Study

70%

60%

30%

58%

Sleep Problems

Headaches Fatigue Difficulty Nervousness Concentrating

11\1 Victorian cohort 11\1 Swiss study

reported in the Swiss survey corresponded to symptoms experienced by the Victorian cohort, with fatigue (32%) and difficulty concentrating (30%) being more common in Victoria and nervousness (anxiety/agitation) (13%) being less common.

The Austrian Guidelines also list a number of what their authors consider to be EMF-related symptoms: sleep problems, fatigue, exhaustion, lack of energy, restlessness,

· heart palpitations, muscle and joint pain, headaches, depression, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, anxiety, urinary urgency, anomia, dizziness, tinnitus, and a sensation of pressure in the head and the ears.25 All listed symptoms were experienced by Victorians in the current study, if the reader accepts that anomia corresponds with inability to talk and urinary urgency to bladder infections/strains . .

Short-term effects from exposure to radiofrequency fields are also mentioned in another recent publication, the Bioinitiative 2012 report prepared by 29 independent scientists and health experts from around the world. It documents bioeffects (ie, adverse health effects) and public health conclusions about effects of nonionizing radiation, including radiofrequency microwave fields. It replaces the Bioinitiative 2007 report.26 These effects involve cognition; memory and learning; behavior; reaction time; attention and concentration; and altered brainwave activity (altered EEG), as well as insomnia; discomfort; loss of well-being; sleep disruption; aberrant immune, allergic, and inflammatory responses in tissues; interference with normal cardiac function; alteration of circadian rhythms; and desynchronization of neural activity that regulates critical functions in the brain, gut, and heart. Radiofrequencies can act as disrupters of synchronized neural activity.

The Bioinitiative report offers a detailed explanation on how environmental exposures to artificial EMFs can interact with fundamental biological processes in the humai:l body.26 This finding should not be unexpected because "human beings are bioelectrical systems:'26 In addition to short-term effects, the report dwells on the long-term sequelae (pathological


Table 3. Summary of Biological Effects of Nonionizing Radiation

Effects 1. Pathological leakage of the blood-brain barrier, which

allows toxins into brain tissues 2. Pathological leakage of the blood-gut barrier 3. Altered immune function, including increased allergic

and inflammatory responses 4. Cardiovascular effects, particularly on blood pressure

and heart rate 5. Disregulation of circadian rhythms and reduced

melatonin production, which may account for insomnia

6. Nervous system effects, which include altered brainwave activity, changes in neuronal functioning a...-id changes in autonomic nervous system electrophysiology

7. Desynchronization of neural activity that regulates critical functions in brain, gut, and heart

8. Lipid peroxidation of cell membranes 9. Elevated intracellular calcium with consequent

disruption of cell metabolism 10. Poorly functioning mitochondria 1 1. Production of stress proteins as a result of the direct

interaction of EMF with the DNA molecule, whereby DNA acts as a fractal antenna (because of its coiled-coil configuration)

12. Altered biochemical functions and production of hormones

13. Increased production of free radicals and deficiencies of antioxidants such as glutathione and melatonin leading to oxidative stress

Abbreviation: EMF = electromagnetic field.

conditions) from chronic exposure to nonionizing radiation, which include genotoxicity and DNA breakages among others.26 It is not strictly within the scope of this case series to explain the biophysical mechanisms that may account for acute symptoms or -effects or to discuss the long-term serious health endpoints associated with radiofrequency radiation; however, a summary of the nonthermal biological effects of nonionizing radiation is contained in Table 3. It is distilled from the Bioinitiative report and intends to be a basic guide for clinicians.

It also needs to be mentioned that in 201 1 , the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the W HO, classified radiofrequency fields as a Group 2B Possible Human Carcinogen, based on an increased risk of glioma after 10 years or longer of cell phone use.27 The IARC clarified that the evidence for carcinogenicity applies to exposures to radiofrequency radiation from all sources, not only cell phones (ie, it is not device-specific).28 This finding has implications for the continued massive rollout of wireless technologies, in particular the wireless smart utility

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meter, which was described in a recent statement to the UK Parliament as having triggered thousands of complaints of ill health and disabling symptoms worldwide.29

Mandated, Involuntary Exposure With regard to smart meters, 2 unique features should

be considered: (1) exposure may be involuntary and (2) exposure can be universal. In Victoria, smart meters were mandated, thereby removing the individual's choice to. avoid exposure in his or her own home, and involuntary .exposure also occurred to meters in neighboring homes. Each smart meter in the mesh networks transmits an unknown and variable number of burst transmissions per day, which typically reach into many thousands in number. 30 Meters on the WiMax network,9 although not communicating with each other and.deploying only bidirectional communication between a meter and the base station, nevertheless send hourly time synchronization signals in addition to their daily session transmissions. 3

A submission by the Public Utilities Commission of California shows that only 45.3 seconds of transmissions per day (<O.l % duty cycle) still equates to 9600 transmissions.30 Exposures are likely to be physiologically additive in nature.25•26,31 Moreover, belief is increasing in the concept that intermittent pulses of radiofrequencies, such as those used in the smart grid, are more biologically significant compared with constant-type exposures, even when the time-averaged exposure is miniscule. 26•31 This kind of signal is · biologically active and not invisible to the human body and its proper biological functioning, because the unpredictable pulses disrupt the synchronized biological oscillations within cells.26 The Austrian Medical Association recommends that such periodic signals should be critically evaluated, whereas nonperiodic signals may be considered more leniently.25

In a 2012 memorandum titled "Health Risks Associated with SmartMeters:' Dr Poki Namkung, public health officer of the County of Santa Cruz (CA, USA) stated that no scientific literature exists on the health risks of smart meters because they are a new technology.31 This statement parallels the Austrian EMF Working Group's statement that "new technologies and applications have been introduced·without certainty about their health effects?'25 Dr Namkung also explains that research on the potential health risks from radiofrequencies has been funded largely by industry because little funding is available for basic scientific research.31

The report indicates:

... exposure is additive and consumers may have already increased their exposures to radiofrequency radiation in the home through the voluntary use of wireless devices such as cell and cordless phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), routers for internet access, home security systems, wireless baby surveillance monitors (baby monitors), and other emerging devices. It would be impossible to know how close a consumer might be to his or her limit, making safety a uncertainty if SmartMeters are mandatorily installed. 31

36 ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, NOV/DEC 2014 VOL. 20, 6

Again, this statement correlates with the conclusion in · the Austrian Guidelines that "multiple exposures to different

EMF sources must be taken into account:'25 Dr Namkung's conclusion that ':.. governmental agencies are the only defense against such involuntary exposure'' to mandated smart meters' nonionizing radiation emissions31 applies in a particularly relevant way to the Victorian experience.

A similar view is also shared by Dr David 0. Carpenter and 53 other scientists and doctors, who, in an article published in 2012, outline some of the effects of EMF exposure with the intent to correct some of the gross misinformation regarding wireless smart meters and advocate for the application of a precautionary principle, such as using wired meters. 32

Although some of the studies discussed in this report offer recommendations regarding wireless smart meter deployment (Table 4), virtually no published studies are available with respect to smart meters and human health, and no long-term studies exist because of the newness of the technology.

Notably, an early voice of concern on this issue was that of Don Maisch, PhD, from Tasmania, who posed the question of whether smart meters would end up creating a public health nightmare in an article published in September 2012. 33 In it, he explained how current exposure standards are outdated and no longer relevant and warned that, given the sheer number of people exposed, simply dismissing anecdotal evidence of symptoms from smart meters as a nocebo (harmless) effect without a serious research effort would be inexcusable.

Incidence of Effects This article has discussed the fact that people from

various regional and metropolitan areas in the state of Victoria, of all ages and during all seasons, have reported symptoms from exposure to the radiofrequency fields of wireless smart meters as well as the onset or aggravation of EHS and the aggravation of pre-existing medical conditions after installation of the meters. Interestingly, only 8% · of the participants in the current study stated that they had suffered from EHS prior to exposure to smart meters, which suggests that the threshold for symptom development appears to be significantly lower when it comes to wireless meters compared with that for other wireless devices.

Of an initial 142 people who had formally registered

their adverse health effects from smart meters related to the

current study, 92 consented to participation. The author

considers this number to be significant and most likely to

represent the tip of the iceberg in terms of total numbers.

Underestimation could be caused by the fact that people do

not associate their symptoms with smart meter exposure

when the symptoms are not severe or do not occur

concurrently. In addition, this underdiagnosis may be caused

by a lack of knowledge about the effects of wireless

technologies on the part of the general population and the

majority of the medical fraternity. The ongoing campaign of


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Table 4. Summary of Scientific Reports

Subject Matter and

Title Author(s) Country Year Findings Recommendations

"Bibliography of Reported Glaser22 United 1971 Provides more than 2000 No-specific recommendation; Biological Phenomena and Clinical States refex:e�ces on the prepared for the Naval Medical Manifestations Attributed to biological responses to Research Institute, Bethesda, Microwave and Radio-frequency radi_ofrequency radiation Maryland; approved for unlimited Radiation" public release

"Study on Health Effects of the Altpeter, Switzerland 1995 Notes marked No urgent protection measures; Shortwave Transmitter Station of Krebs, Piluger, deterioration of sleep review of current exposure Schwarzenburg, Berne, Switzerland" et al" quality in persons guidelines; further research

exposed to radio transmitter

"Guideline of the Austrian Medical Austrian Austria 2012 Discusses EMF-related Primary method of treatment of Association for the Diagnosis and Medical problems and outlines EMF-related health problems to Treatment of EMF-related Health Association's clinical-management consist of prevention or reduction of problems and Illnesses (EMF EMF Working approach EMF exposure Syndrome)" Group25

"Biolnitiative 2012-A Rationale for Prepared by 29 Experts 2012 Reviews more than 1800 New, biologically based public-Biologically-based Exposure experts, edited from more new scientific studies exposure standard; precautionary Standards for Low-Intensity by Sage & than 10 added to the Biolnitiative approach to RF exposure levels Electromagnetic Radiation'' Carpenter26 countries Report 2007, which cited

2000 studies on adverse health effects from extremely low frequencies and radiofrequencies

"Health Risks Associated with Namkung'1 United 2012 Indicates objective All available, peer-reviewed research SmartMeter s" States evidence supports EHS data on EMF applicable to smart

diagnosis; no scientific meters; governmental agencies to literature on health risks protect public health from of smart meters involuntary exposure

"Smart Meters: Correcting the Carpenter et Authors 2012 Summarizes long-term Application of Precautionary Gross Misinformation" al" from a and short-term health Principle, such as using wired meters

number of effects of EMF exposure, countries; in particular from smart published in meters Canada

"Electromagnetic and Dean, Rea, United 2012 Discusses different types Immediate caution on smart-meter Radiofrequency Fields Effect on Smith, Barrier States of radiation and effect of installation; further research on Human Health" (American the increasing use of effects of EM:f and RF exposure; use

Academy of wireless technology on of safer technology, including for Environmental human health smart meters Medi cine)17

Abbreviations: EMF = electromagnetic field; RF = radiofrequency; EHS = electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome.

the state government and power distributors to portray smart meters as safe has also contributed to this lack of knowledge. Even when people believe that their new symptom(s) are caused by smart meters, some are not able to report or register their symptoms because they have no Internet access, and of those who do, not all are aware of Web sites or ways to make reports.

Limitations of Current Study The main limitation of the current study is that, being a

case series, it is a descriptive, retrospective study that does not have a control arm and can therefore help formulate a new hypothesis, but can only make limited statements on the causality of correlations observed.

Another limitation, which is specific to this type of noninterventional analysis of existing nonidentifiable data, is that the author was not able to contact individual case studies and was therefore unable to clarify or add to the information given by them. For the same reason, the author was also unable to follow up these cases longitudinally, which is something that could have potentially yielded valuable information.

CONCLUSIONS This case series has discussed the most commonly

reported symptoms from wireless smart meters. Although some of these symptoms are also reported in relationship to other environmental exposures, such as proximity to airports

Lamech-Symptoms From Radiofrequency Exposure in Victoria, Australia Al TE RN AT IVE THE RAP! ES. NOV ID EC 2014 VOL 20. 6 37

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or wind turbines, Victorians in this report claimed a direct chronological association between exposure to wireless smart meters and symptom development. A look at the place of residence of people reporting symptoms does not suggest a link to any possible environmental factors that are geographically specific. Seasonal factors are also excluded, because the reporting period stretched over all 4 seasoris. The· effect of these symptoms on people's lives is far-ranging, from stress, financial problems, and unnecessary investigations to needing to move out of one's home and even to another state.

The author of the current study offers the hypothesis that some people can develop symptoms from exposure to the radiofrequency fields of wireless smart meters. This hypothesis cannot be disproven without further assessment of the affected individuals and the electromagnetic fields in which they live. An evidence-based approach, such as the one used in all other areas of medicine, must be applied, which would mean the establishment of a postrollout surveillance study and funding for further research into the particular effects of wireless smart meters, in conjunction with research into the short-term and long-term consequences of EMR exposure. Until more knowledge is accumulated and until this type of wireless technology can be proven safe, the author believes that communities should use a cautionary approach, asking for a moratorium on deployment of wireless smart meters and smart grids and for the use of safer technologies for smart meters, such as hardwiring, fiber optics, or other nonharmful methods of data transmission, including reading of meters by meter readers. Living in a wireless smart grid makes the Austrian Medical Association's recommendation to "take all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields" impossible to implement.

Dr Maisch's article title, "Smart Meter Health Concerns: Just a Nocebo (Harmless) Effect or an Emerging Public Health Nightmare?': resonates strongly with the Victorian experience so far. This question is very pertinent and one that must be urgently answered.

AUTHOR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT The author did not receive any outside funding for this research. She self-funded it and conducted the research independently.

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38 ALTE RNATIVE T H E RAPI ES, NOV/DEC 2014 VOL. 20, 6 Lamech-Symptoms From Radiofrequency Exposure in Victoria, Australia

This article is protected by copyright. ·lo snare or copy trus arnae, p1ease

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28. General remarks. In: Non-ionizing Radiation, II: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2013:33-34. !ARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans; vol 102. http:// monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/ Monographs/vol l02/ monol02-F07.pdf. Accessed February 27, 2014.

29. Written evidence submitted by Stop Smart Meters! (SMR 124). Energy and Climate Change Committee, UK Parliament. http://www.publications.parliament. uk/pa/cm201314/ cmselect/cmenergy/161/16lvwl07. htm. Published May 2013. Accessed March 11, 2014.

30. Kim AH, Nwamu CJ; Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Response To Administrative Law Judge's October 18, 201 1 Ruling Directing it to File Clarifying Radio Frequency Information. Public Utilities Commission of the State of California. http://emfsafetynetwork.org/ wp-content/uploads/20 l l / l l/PGERFDataOptoutalternatives_ll-l-ll-3pm.pdf. Filed November 1, 2011. Accessed March 11, 2014.

31. Namkung PS. Health risks associated with SmartMeters [memorandum]. Santa Cruz, CA: County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency; January 13, 2012. http:// sccountyO l .co.santa-cruz.ca. us/bds/ Govstream/ BDSvData/non_legacy/agendas/ 2012/20120 124/ PDF/041.pdf. Accessed February 28, 2014.

32. Carpenter DO, Adlkofer F, Al Salameh MS, et al Smart Meters: correcting the gross misinformation. Maison du ' 21e Siecle. July 12, 2012. http://maisonsaine.ca/smartmeters-correcting-the-gross-misinformation/. Accessed February 28, 2014.

33. Maisch D. Smart meter health concerns: just a nocebo effect or an emerging public health nightmare? Australasian Coll Nutr Environ MedJ. 2012;31(2):15-19.

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EVERY TIME YOU USE A WIRELESS DEVICE, YOU ARE EXPOSED TO MICROWAVE RADIATION. The World Health Organization (WHO) labels this radiation a Class 28 possible cancer-causing agent in the same category as lead, DDT, and chloroform. Cell phones, towers, cordless phones, tablets, laptops, "smart" meters, microwaves and wi-fi routers all add to the "electro-smog."

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MICROWAVE RADIATION IS HARMFUL TO YOU. Scientists link this radiation to diseases, �

both long-term and short-term: cancer, infertility, DNA damage, damage to fetuses, sleep £ �

problems, memory and behavior problems, heart problems and many others.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE BECOME "ELECTRO-HYPER-SENSITIVE" (EHS) and cannot tolerate even low exposures, seriously impacting their health, job, housing, and social lives.

l I

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS DO NOT PROTECT YOU. FCC guidelines were written decades ago and ignore current science linking microwaves to human disease. Cities like � S?n Fran�isco have tried to introduce mandatory

.health w�rnings on cell phones but the d\

wireless industry has suppressed these efforts with lawsuits and economic boycotts. '

�

• GET WIRED! Ethernet cables provide faster, safer, more secure internet connections.

• USE A CORDED LANDLINE. Cordless p hones are as dangerous as cell phones.

• KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. TURN IT OFF. Manuals tell you to keep phones out of your

pocket and away from your skull. Run notebook computers on battery, turn

off wireless functions, and use a corded external keyboard and mouse.

• DO NOT USE WIRELESS DEVICES INSIDE METAL ENCLOSURES, like cars, elevators,

buses, and trains. Here, radiation greatly increases, harming you and those around you.

•WIRELESS RADIATION IS NOT FOR CHILDREN OR PREGNANT WOMEN. Prenatal and child

hood exposure is linked to hyperactivity, behavioral problems, brain changes, and autism.

• DITCH THE "SMART" METER-it pulses microwave radiation 24/7/365. Demand a ·

non-electronic, electromechanical a nalog meter-no "dirty electricity" or microwaves.

•TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Browse our website for sources, scientific studies,

and solutions. Help those you love rethink their exposure and reduce their risk.

References & Resources Available at: StopSmartMeters.Org/warning [email protected] • PO Box 682 Portola, CA 96122 • Copies of this card can be ordered in quantity

STOP SMART METERS!

Joshua Hart MSc, Director StopSmartMeters.Org [email protected] P.O. Box 682 Portola, CA 961 22

\ 1

Members of the Palo Alto City Council and City Manager

Several weeks ago, I saw a city sponsored program which should be considered for future use.

A group of tree trimmers, worked their way thru lines of trees on Stone Lane and then to Ross

Road. This effort was well done and completed in a short time,"' 5 to 6 hours for both sides of

our street. Congratulations Council for "outsourcing" a much needed job and saving money.

How many jobs can be similarly "outsourced" thereby saving Palo Alto money and time? We

have a city with a manager (@$433482) and 2 assistants, totaling"'$ 700,000/yr. With our city

manager's salary being twice that of neighboring cities in this valley and twice as much as any

U.S. governor's salary; do our executives provide twice the quality or effort corresponding to

such salaries? Does Palo Alto employee's "self esteem" arise from our close proximity to

Stanford and its world class excellence (in teaching and research?) Some additional outsourcing

needs consideration now .. Can we implement other city sponsored work programs which

might be used elsewhere in Palo Alto's offices. Months ago, I've experienced a quad muscle

rupture here in Palo Alto, requiring major surgical repair. It resulted from a "bungled" building

city inspection. I still feel the lasting effects of this mishap. We need to consider "outsourcing"

such inspectors in our building department. Many folks note frequent street repairs using thick

steel covering plates. These city ramps are poorly designed to minimize frequent damage to

cars. Drivers have submitted claims for such auto damage. When our city lawyers responded to

such claims, they state that this damage was not the city's fault. There was no prior review to

the related street sites or corresponding auto damage. If these legal persons had focused on a

suggested Stanford's site; they would then see how Stanford's contractor avoids such damage

by using an extended transition ramp for street repairs. It's obvious that we need an objective

person, better than our lawyers, to carefully examine such damages and related claims. Here is

an excellent opportunity for Palo Alto to employ a more objective individual through

"outsourcing" such employees from pool of outside talented people. Out sourcing of such jobs

will help Palo Alto reduce its excessive salary /benefits packages for city employees, thereby

helping to focus on a more balanced budget.

Respectfully submitted, William Landgraf, PhD

' {. : ' l;

/ f/11/ l'"J .

I

COU�CI,L �G

[ ] �ed Before Meetmg [ '1'Received at Meeting

Members of the Council:

As we approach Phase I of the RPP, it is of course important that we address its implementation. That is one of the tasks for this evening. And let me say that kudos should go to Jessica and Sue Ellen for getting us this far successfully.

But it is equally important to address the issues down stream. Phase II will be established in December, and we need to have more public discussion about what Phase II will be. The data

gathered in Phase I will help of course, but these data only quantify the problem. Moreover, they only quantify the problem as it exists today. They do not look to the future, examining development projects in the pipeline or those on the not so distant horizon.

The Phase I data cannot define what is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, which we all know encourages development but not at the expense of the City's

neighborhoods.

For this Council must establish quantitative standards regarding the amount of parking intrusion that is fair and

reasonable. We need to know where we are going, even if initially our problems are too great to honor the standard. It is a simple matter of trust. Indeed, I submit that it is the absence

of such a Council-approved standard in the past that surely played a large role in getting us into the present crisis.

I urge Council to exercise its fiduciary responsibility and begin now to address this fundamental issue.

Thank you,

M.R. Beasley

125 Bryant Street

Set 1/1 - City of Palo Alto

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Transcript of Set 1/1 - City of Palo Alto