Stormwater Management Oversight Committee
Application
Submitted on 17 March 2024, 10:18pm
Receipt number 5
Related form version 7
Name Ambika Pajjuri
Cell Phone Number 4085642130
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City
Postal Code
Do you have any relatives or members of your household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto, who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term applied for?
Yes
Fair Political Practices
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Storm Water Community Group Personal Information
1 of 4
Management Oversight Commission?
Read the code, and check only ONE option below: I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post to the City’s website the attached Board and Commission Application intact. I have read and understand my rights under Government Code Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at any time by providing written notice to the Palo Alto City Clerk.
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website Occupation I am a Product Management leader that recently left my job at Amazon and am currently on a sabbatical. In ~9 years of experience at Amazon, I built products and teams at multiple organizations at Amazon (Amazon Retail, AWS and Amazon Devices) and we brought delightful products to market ranging from Amazon Echo (Alexa) to Augmented Reality experiences like virtual try-on of Lipstick using ML.
As a leader of the Product Management organizations I led teams with first defining the vision and then bringing the big picture concepts to life.
This needed robust prioritization (using data driven inputs from customers and clarity on business differentiation), collaboration with stakeholders across the organization and building the optimal strategy and right go to market. As a Palo Alto resident of over 15 years, I am looking to give back to the community through volunteering my time and apply my expertise gained through the corporate world.
Please list your relevant education, training, experience, certificates of training, licenses, and professional registration.
If describing work experience, please include
company/employer name and occupation.
My professional education includes an MSEE degree from Columbia University and have taken various technical, product management and branding courses.
My most recent corporate work experience is at Amazon, where I was a GM that led product teams (product management, design and program management) at various orgs within Amazon over the last 9 years.
Relevant Professional Experience:
- I have completed the Board Readiness program administered by Neythri (https://neythri.org/) and am prepared to join non-profit and corporate boards as a director and advisory board member. I am also an advisory board member at a stealth startup.
- Prior to Amazon, I was an Entrepreneur and Product Management professional at various startups (Inquus/OpenStudy, KidSenz, Itron/Silverspring networks, 2Wire, Airvana)
Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.
I have been an active participant in volunteer organizations at school. I believe we need to get more women into STEM and leadership roles and some of my volunteer activities are reflective of this passion. A few activities I have been involved include:
- A registered Girl Scouts volunteer since 2012 to present - Currently volunteer for Space Cookies, a girls-only high school FRC (FIRST Robotics) robotics team.
- 2012-2024, Advisory Board member at WomenStartup, a Bay area organization focused on the empowerment of women entrepreneurs in technology, helping them grow and succeed in the technology sector. - 2011 - 2015 - Volunteer at YMCA Project Cornerstone
Personal and Job Experience
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Stormwater
Management Oversight Committee and what experience would I am passionate about using my expertise and experience to volunteer for community and environmental causes. Cleaning up waste and Application Questions
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you bring to the position? building sustainable solutions are critical for our planet's future. Palo Alto's Stormwater Management Committee particularly interests me.
I like California's strong focus on storm water quality and have followed some of the approaches and innovations. My skills will be useful in working with the committee to review and help shape strategies and proposals for projects funded by Stormwater Management Fees. To me, this is an opportunity to leverage my experience to help develop programs that manage pollution and also utilize storm water as a resource for more sustainable solutions.
I believe my skills in developing and implementing plans, along with my passion for environmental well-being, would make me a valuable asset to the committee. I'm eager to contribute to this role.
2. Please describe an issue that recently came before the Storm Drain Oversight Committee that is of particular interest to you and describe why you are interested in it.
I am interested in what's being done to help alleviate flooding events like was expected with the new year's eve storm event. As one of the few cities that got the funding measure approved, I understand that we have started proactively fixing infrastructure issues by installing new storm systems and upgrading others. With climate change increased rainfall seems to have become a norm resulting in flooding issues in Palo Alto continuing each year. I am interested in seeing parallel processing of projects and also regularly including Green Stormwater Infra improvements happen. It will also be good to report on goals/forecasts vs accomplishments each year to show what is working and areas for improvement.
3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Storm Drain Oversight Committee achieve, and how would you help in the process?
With delayed projects and increased inflation, project costs keep rising. I would like to see if the committee can help reduce delays. For example, can the committee influence or recruit help to move Google dependencies if those are a source for delays? Another example is to identify combining projects if they garner more competitive bids. I also liked the examples presented by the staff of opportunistically putting in flap gates when possible to reduce flooding scenarios - given the long term benefits, I would ask the committee to recommend doing this as a goal for most ongoing infra projects to get more of these to happen in a planned way. Another improvement I can help with is to reporting on goals/forecasts vs accomplishments each year to analyze what is working and areas for improvement.
4. Storm Drain Oversight Committee Members work with the documents listed below. If you have experience with any of these documents, please describe that experience. Experience with these documents is not required for selection.
I do not have direct experience with these plans or budgets but have led and participated in rigorous planning and budgeting in my corporate job each year.
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Ambika Pajjuri
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Link to signature
Date Completed 3/17/2024
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Stormwater Management Oversight Committee
Application
Submitted on 26 February 2024, 10:50am
Receipt number 3
Related form version 7
Name Gregory Bennett
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City
Postal Code
Do you have any relatives or members of your household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto, who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term applied for?
Yes
Fair Political Practices
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Storm Water Other: Instagram Personal Information
1 of 3
Management Oversight Commission?
Read the code, and check only ONE option below: I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my home address, phone numbers, and email address from the attached Board and Commission Application prior to posting to the City’s website.
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website Occupation I am currently an investor and non-profit executive, and I invest in and drive non-profit funding for climate change related technology.
Please list your relevant education, training, experience, certificates of training, licenses, and professional registration.
If describing work experience, please include
company/employer name and occupation.
I hold a Bachelor's degree in International Political Economy, an interdisciplinary major from the University of Illinois at Champaign- Urbana. I have worked in finance for over ten years now, in various roles and in various countries. My LinkedIn (which is public) describes my work experience more effectively.
Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.
I recently moved to Palo Alto, so I have not held any offices/volunteer positions here before. I have volunteered at numerous community focused activities since I was a teenager, a few of which include:
teaching SAT Prep to low income students, park clean up days, local summer festivals, citizen safety commissions/neighborhood watch.
Personal and Job Experience
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Stormwater
Management Oversight Committee and what experience would you bring to the position?
Last winter, our property flooded due to an atmospheric river. The City of Palo Alto was excellent about letting residents know ahead of time and getting them prepared with sandbags, etc. I would like to lend my service to the city since they helped us ahead of time, and I'd like to add my experience in understanding the effects of climate change on our local watershed.
2. Please describe an issue that recently came before the Storm Drain Oversight Committee that is of particular interest to you and describe why you are interested in it.
The management of the stormwater management fund and the implementation of the 2017 ballot measure improvements are very interesting to me - precisely because it is the business of the town being done!
3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Storm Drain Oversight Committee achieve, and how would you help in the process?
I would like to lend my skills to the administration of the stormwater management fund, and I would like to offer my experience to ensure that the most up to date climate science is being integrated into future stormwater management plans.
4. Storm Drain Oversight Committee Members work with the documents listed below. If you have experience with any of these documents, please describe that experience. Experience with these documents is not required for selection.
I have read and understand all of these documents.
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.
Application Questions
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Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Gregory Bennett
Link to signature
Date Completed 2/26/2024
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Stormwater Management Oversight Committee
Application
Submitted on 22 February 2024, 4:24pm
Receipt number 1
Related form version 7
Name Kevin Mayer
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City
Postal Code
Do you have any relatives or members of your household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto, who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term applied for?
Yes
Fair Political Practices
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Storm Water Other: Multiple sources Personal Information
1 of 3
Management Oversight Commission?
Read the code, and check only ONE option below: I request that the City of Palo Alto redact my home address, phone numbers, and email address from the attached Board and Commission Application prior to posting to the City’s website.
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website Occupation Retired Environmental Engineer, US Environmental Protection Agency (Senior Superfund Project Manager); Project Management including planning, community involvement, regulatory and contract oversight.
Specialization in Groundwater and Stream Remediation, Hydrogeology, Water Chemistry and Treatment of Hazardous Chemicals
Please list your relevant education, training, experience, certificates of training, licenses, and professional registration.
If describing work experience, please include
company/employer name and occupation.
California Professional Engineer (Civil Engineering) License 54367 - Current, issued 1995
B.A. (1975) Rice University, Houston, TX, double major in Biology and Behavioral Sciences
M.S. (1980) University of Washington, College of Forest Resources, Seattle WA, (chemistry and microbiology of soil and water) M.S. (1989) Stanford University, Civil/ Environmental Engineering (groundwater contaminant transport and remediation) Admitted to PhD candidacy.
US Environmental Protection Agency, Pacific Southwest Region 1990- 2017, Superfund Senior Project Manager, primarily remediation (cleanup) of contaminated groundwater, also major stream water and soil cleanup projects. Expertise in federal and state regulations, large contracts, scientific and engineering planning and oversight, legal enforcement, formal and informal interagency work with federal, state (CA and NV), tribal and local entities, and major responsibilities for involving and communicating with local communities and media.
Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.
(1990 -2017) Coordinated and participated in direct communication and face-to-face meetings with local communities in US EPA Superfund projects, forging strong ties and communication links with community members and organizations with extraordinarily positive results for both the community and the EPA projects. Leveraged resources and expertise to benefit community needs and priorities, which would not be possible without understanding the specific local community situation. (2018 - Present) ESV (Block Coordinator) in the Adobe Meadow neighborhood.
As a Palo Alto resident since January 1984 with two daughters in PAUSD (1996-2009), I volunteered with many youth and adult athletic organizations in soccer, running and bicycling.
(1980-1984) Project Coordinator with Seattle Metropolitan wastewater division (now King County) with responsibility for community communication for projects to reuse treatment solids as soil amendments.
Personal and Job Experience
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Stormwater
Management Oversight Committee and what experience would you bring to the position?
I have no agenda to bring to the position. I offer objectivity, professionalism, and experience in many of the areas addressed in the reports and documents listed in part 4 below.
Since my retirement I have been interested in serving the community as a volunteer. Until recently, I was not able to make the structured time commitment. My career has been in public service, and this continues to be a personal priority.
Application Questions
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I am always delighted to learn in a wide spectrum of fields, and I know the importance of remaining open to unfamiliar perspectives as well as technical insights.
2. Please describe an issue that recently came before the Storm Drain Oversight Committee that is of particular interest to you and describe why you are interested in it.
I prefer not to opine on specific issues until I am educated on the Committee's deliberations and actions.
During implementation in the "real world" there can be many specific issues and decisions which are appropriate topics for consideration and oversight. Observations from the actual residents can be invaluable.
Some examples from my own experience in Palo Alto: 1) Rain barrel use by a homeowner requires a certain dedication to maintain and operate year-after-year. 2)Common knowledge supports the assumption that dry wells (very local groundwater recharge) are inappropriate in our high water table and low permeability (clay/ 'Bay Mud') soils. Yet I was surprised at how effective it is at my own residence. 3) It is common sense to avoid contaminated groundwater plumes. On the other hand, some well-considered clean water input near plumes ("recharge", injection, groundwater "mounding") have benefited plume control at some major Superfund projects.
3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Storm Drain Oversight Committee achieve, and how would you help in the process?
Oversight is a serious responsibility. As mentioned above, there can be decisions to make within a large project which profit from community insight and involvement. I have found remarkable value in perspectives from people with tangential technical expertise and local experience. I fit this description and am open to seeking and accepting perspectives from other residents and professionals.
4. Storm Drain Oversight Committee Members work with the documents listed below. If you have experience with any of these documents, please describe that experience. Experience with these documents is not required for selection.
I have read and considered these reports and documents which provide a thorough background on the analyses and priorities already developed and in place. The City Council's policy of moving forward on decisions rather than revisiting deliberations is laudable. I respect the expertise of professional staff and outside consultants and do not want to second guess their foundational work.
These documents do leave open questions, particularly regarding implementation of general and aspirational goals. Staff, not the oversight committee, should be the lead in exploring options in filling these gaps.
Direction and advice from the community-based Committee must be strongly considered if projects are to have serious prospects of short- or long-term success.
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Kevin P Mayer
Link to signature
Date Completed 02/22/2024
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Stormwater Management Oversight Committee
Application
Submitted on 22 February 2024, 5:05pm
Receipt number 2
Related form version 7
Name Ronald Owes
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City
Postal Code
Do you have any relatives or members of your household who are employed by the City of Palo Alto, who are currently serving on the City Council, or who are Commissioners or Board Members?
No
Are you available and committed to complete the term applied for?
Yes
Fair Political Practices
No
Excluding your principal residence, do you or your spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
No
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Storm Water Other: currently a member of this commision Personal Information
1 of 3
Management Oversight Commission?
Read the code, and check only ONE option below: I give permission for the City of Palo Alto to post to the City’s website the attached Board and Commission Application intact. I have read and understand my rights under Government Code Section 6254.21. I may revoke this permission at any time by providing written notice to the Palo Alto City Clerk.
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website Occupation retired Professional Civil Engineer
Please list your relevant education, training, experience, certificates of training, licenses, and professional registration.
If describing work experience, please include
company/employer name and occupation.
University of Washington BSCE, 1968, MSCE, 1971, Licensed Civil Engineer (PE), Instructor in Environmental Engineering at University of Washington, 1973, Practiced in Civil/Environmental Engineering for over 40 years as a Partner in Harper/Owes, as a Senior Vice President of HDR, etc, and as an expert witness in over 20 legal cases dealing with environmental issues.
Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.
I am a current commission member Palo Alto's Storm Water Management Oversight Commission, and a City of Palo Alto Emergency Services Volunteer
Personal and Job Experience
1. Why are you interested in serving on the Stormwater
Management Oversight Committee and what experience would you bring to the position?
I am presently serving on this Committee and believe this experience allows me to utilize my background and experience to help the City of Palo Alto.
2. Please describe an issue that recently came before the Storm Drain Oversight Committee that is of particular interest to you and describe why you are interested in it.
The annual audit and the role of this commiittee are important to understand.
3. If you are appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Storm Drain Oversight Committee achieve, and how would you help in the process?
I would like to help the committee understand if storm water expenditures are appropriate.
4. Storm Drain Oversight Committee Members work with the documents listed below. If you have experience with any of these documents, please describe that experience. Experience with these documents is not required for selection.
I am concerned with loss of permeability and green infrastructure required in these plans and measures as changes in the city's development occur.
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.
Yes
Application Questions
2 of 3
Signature Name of signatory: Ronald Owes
Uploaded signature image: rons sig.jpg
Date Completed 2/22/2024
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