ATTACHMENT A
Council and Council-elect Survey Responses on 2025 Priorities Per the City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook process, the Policy & Services Committee recommends to the Council, which suggestions if any, should be considered at the Annual Retreat. The Council and Council-elect were surveyed November 15 - November 27 on recommended 2025 Priorities for the Policy & Services Committee to consider, below are the responses received.
Councilmember Veenker
“I suggest:
•Climate and Sustainability Action and Adaptation (our goal is not Climate Change, it is Climate Action)
•Community Health, Safety, Wellness & Belonging
•Economic Development
•Housing for Social & Economic Balance”
Councilmember-elect Lu
“I realize the final priorities will probably evolve incrementally, so I'm taking some refinements / prioritization with existing priorities. My hope is to have the clearest possible milestones (or finish) projects that make it into our final list.”
“My top 3 (unranked):
1. Housing for Economic Balance
oClear milestones for the San Antonio + Downtown plans
oFinalize plans + restart Buena Vista redevelopment
oImplementation of Housing Element Goals
2. Economic Development
oClear milestones for Cal Ave / University streetscapes (i.e. designs and funding?) oImplement another round of retail streamlining ordinances, focused on a more complex set of zoning issues (including parking)
oPermanent parklet ordinance (with as much simplicity + documentation for
3. Community Safety and Wellness
oTaking a Vision Zero goal (with a deadline and plan to fund improvements) coming out of our Safe Systems / Bike and Pedestrian planning processes oTBD milestones for mental health resources (with a focus on youth)” Councilmember Lauing
ATTACHMENT A
Each of this year’s objectives is massive and requires a multi-year approach. As I have reflected on this, I don’t see any objective more crucial than what we already have. And we don’t want to change key objectives just for the novelty of it. If anything, I could see dropping the word “transition” this year on the economic recovery objective as we are far from the pandemic. This could help emphasize that this objective is not just about retail.
Councilmember Lythcott-Haims
Keep same priorities.
Councilmember Kou
1. Preservation & Expansion of the Natural Environment including Palo Alto’s tree canopy and open spaces.
2. Defend Palo Alto’s Charter against State mandates
3. Fiscal Frugality
Councilmember Burt
I don’t have recommendations for changes to the priorities, but I listed below in [bullets] some areas that I would like to prioritized to advance these priorities.
Climate Change & Natural Environment - Protection & Adaptation •A summary and communication program on recent and planned permitting and inspection streamlining related to solar, energy storage, and electrification appliances.
Community Health, Safety, Wellness & Belonging
•Identification of expanded or enhanced special events to date and those projected for 2025 resulting from additions made to special events staffing.
Economic Development & Transition
•A plan with milestones for Cal Ave and University Ave downtowns nearer term improvements, including a permanent parklet program for Cal Ave early in Q1 2025. •A summary and communication program of recent and planned retail related permit streamlining.
Housing for Social & Economic Balance