Attachment A - Palo Alto Cubberley Community Site Phase One Survey Analysis

220‐7517
Palo Alto Cubberley Community Site
Phase One Survey Analysis
Results of a Study Conducted April 28‐May 7, 2025

2 Survey Methodology
(Note: Not All Results Will Sum to 100% Due to Rounding) April 28‐May 7, 2025Dates
Dual‐mode Voter Survey Survey Type
Palo Alto VotersResearch Population
437Total Interviews
(Full Sample) ±4.9% at the 95% Confidence Level
(Half Sample) ±7.0% at the 95% Confidence LevelMargin of Sampling Error Contact Methods
Data Collection Modes
2008, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021 & 2022Survey Tracking Tex t
Invitations
Telephone
Calls
Email
Invitations
Telephone
Interviews
Online
Interviews

3 Community Context
4 Q3. ^Not Part of Split Sample
44%
32%
23%
18%
15%
14%
12%
7%
34%
25%
26%
21%
18%
19%
18%
21%
16%
23%
23%
25%
23%
25%
23%
40%
5%
16%
23%
23%
36%
23%
35%
29%
4%
5%
13%
7%
19%
12%
The cost of housing
Lack of available housing
Climate change
Lack of adequate shelter and services for people
who are homeless
^The amount you pay in local taxes
^Waste and inefficiency in local government
^The amount people pay in City taxes
The risk of natural disaster, such as earthquake,
flooding, heat waves or wildfire smoke
Extremely Serious Problem Very Serious Problem Somewhat Serious Problem Not Too Serious Problem Don't Know Extremely/Very Serious Problem
78%
58%
50%
39%
34%
33%
31%
28%
Please consider the following issues that some people suggest are problems facing Palo Alto. Please indicate whether you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or not too serious a problem for residents of Palo Alto.

Palo Alto voters are intensely concerned about the cost of housing, with few other issues a concern for even half of those polled. 5 Q3. Please consider the following issues that some people suggest are problems facing Palo Alto. Please indicate whether you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or not too serious a problem for residents of Palo Alto. ^Not Part of Split Sample 14%
7%
7%
11%
6%
5%
5%
11%
18%
13%
9%
16%
9%
7%
4%
16%
33%
26%
30%
35%
18%
20%
13%
54%
32%
31%
47%
40%
55%
39%
54%
5%
9%
23%
6%
12%
29%
24%
Too much housing growth and development
^The condition of the local economy
A lack of activities or dedicated spaces for teens
and young adults
Litter and nuisances from homeless encampments
The risk of wildfire or megafires
A lack of activities or dedicated spaces for children
A lack of activities for senior wellness
Too much job growth
Extremely Serious Problem Very Serious Problem Somewhat Serious Problem Not Too Serious Problem Don't Know Extremely/Very Serious Problem
25%
25%
21%
20%
19%
15%
12%
8%
Most do not see “a lack of activities or dedicated
spaces for children” as a serious problem.
6 Experiences with the
Cubberley Community Center
7 Q4.
32%
38%
17%
12%
1%
Very familiar
Somewhat familiar
Not too familiar
Not at all familiar
Don't know
Total
Familiar
87%
87% are familiar with the Cubberley Center.

How familiar are you with the Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto on Middlefield Road? 8 Q5 Split A, Split B & Total..
5%
23%
30%
21%
22%
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't know
Condition Services and Programs Available
Total
Satisfied
28%
Total
Dissatisfied
51%
Most are dissatisfied with the condition of the Cubberley Center, but happy with the services and programs available there.

How satisfied are you with the (HALF SAMPLE: condition of) (HALF SAMPLE: services and programs available at) the Cubberley Community Center?
(Asked of Those Familiar with the Center Only, n=381)
9%
38%
16%
3%
34%
Total
Satisfied
47%
Total
Dissatisfied
19%
9 Q6.
18%
40%
17%
17%
8%
Great need
Some need
A little need
No real need
Don't know
A Little/
No Real Need
34%
Great/
Some Need
58%
In your personal opinion, do you think that Palo Alto has a great need, some need, a little need, or no real need for additional funds for recreation facilities and services including classes, camps, fitness programs or drop‐in casual spaces? Nearly three in five see at least some need for additional funding for recreation facilities and services in Palo Alto.
10 Introducing a Potential Ballot
Measure Concept
11 Voters heard or read a brief description of the
Cubberley site and plans for a bond measure.

Q7. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
The 35 ‐acre Cubberley site, located at 4000 Middlefield Road, originally operated as Cubberley High School in 1956. Today, the City owns 8 acres of the site, where it operates a community center for classes and activities in arts, culture and athletics, and sub ‐leasing additional space at City‐subsidized rates to various non‐profit and community‐serving groups.

Some people have proposed that the City issue a bond measure to purchase an additional 7 acres of the site. $65.5 million would be paid to the Palo Alto Unified School District for the land. Any additional bond proceeds would be used to repair, upgrade and redevelop the community center, creating a destination with activities, amenities, and offerings that promote learning, joy, and wellbeing where all cultures and generations belong. 12 Q7. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
23%
39%
13%
11%
13%
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
Total
Oppose
24%
Total
Support
62%
Three in five support a bond based on this information, though fewer than one‐quarter are “strongly” in favor.
13 Voter Priorities and Goals
for a New Center
14 Evaluating Voter Priorities and Goals for the Center Voters were asked to consider a list of goals
the City could have for the future
Community Center at Cubberley, and rated
them on a 7‐point scale, with “one” meaning
“not important at all” and “seven” meaning
that the goal is “very important.”
We then asked voters to tell us how
important a range of potential components
of the plan were to them –e x t r e m e l y
important, very important somewhat
important, or not too important.

15 53%
41%
39%
38%
37%
36%
35%
32%
32%
30%
30%
30%
29%
25%
21%
11%
15%
13%
20%
15%
14%
19%
22%
24%
21%
21%
20%
19%
14%
18%
21%
12%
68%
54%
59%
53%
51%
55%
57%
56%
53%
51%
50%
49%
43%
43%
42%
23%
Efficient use of taxpayer dollars
*Providing opportunities for community members to gather and experience joy Pedestrian and cyclist safety
Balancing buildings with green space
*Serving children and their families
*Providing a place for community members to hang out, connect, and learn *Serving teens and young adults
*Providing places to enjoy music and the visual and performing arts Flexibility as the community and its needs shift
Supporting community wellness
Serving seniors
Environmental sustainability
Providing opportunities to participate in community wellness activities *Providing a central hub for the community
*Supporting music and the visual and performing arts
*Reflecting community pride
7 (Very Important) 6
Top voter goals include giving a place for people to experience gather and joy –a n d efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

Q9. Please consider the following goals the City could have for the future Community Center at Cubberley. Please use a scale of one to seven, where “one” means the goal is not important at all and “seven” means that the goal is very important. You may choose any number from one to seven. *Split Sample Mean
Score

5.9 5.5

5.5 5.4

5.6 5.5

5.6 5.4

5.5 5.3

5.3 5.1

5.2 5.0

5.1 4.1
16 40%
35%
35%
29%
23%
33%
23%
23%
34%
37%
36%
39%
45%
29%
38%
36%
18%
19%
21%
23%
26%
27%
25%
30%
5%
8%
4%
5%
4%
7%
11%
9%
4%
4%
^Repairing and upgrading outdated electrical wiring
^Preserving trees and green space
^Upgrading buildings to meet current earthquake
safety standards
^Repairing and upgrading outdated plumbing
Providing safe spaces for children and teens
after school and in the summer
Providing after‐school and summer programs for
local children and teens
^Improving accessibility for people with disabilities
Providing space for gathering and community building
Extremely Important Very Important Somewhat Important Not Too Important Don't Know Q10. ^Not Part of Split Sample
Please consider some things that could be priorities in the plan for the future Community Center at Cubberley. Please indicate how important each one is to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important.

High priorities for the future center include preserving green space, and upgrading electrical wiring, plumbing and earthquake safety.

Extremely/Very
Important
74%
72%
71%
68%
68%
63%
61%
59%
17 19%
25%
18%
17%
14%
21%
17%
17%
37%
29%
34%
35%
35%
26%
30%
29%
26%
29%
34%
32%
34%
25%
32%
29%
16%
14%
12%
13%
14%
25%
15%
22%
4%
4%
6%
Providing early childhood education
Providing an emergency evacuation center or
“resilience hub,” that can be used in case of natural disaster ^Providing space to experience art, performing arts,
or visual arts
^Providing space for hands‐on learning in science,
technology and the arts
^Providing places for senior services
Providing a cooling and respite center for
very hot, cold or smoky days
^Repairing and upgrading the community theater
^Providing parking
Extremely Important Very Important Somewhat Important Not Too Important Don't Know Q10. Please consider some things that could be priorities in the plan for the future Community Center at Cubberley. Please indicate how important each one is to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important. ^Not Part of Split Sample Majorities also prioritize early childhood education spaces and allowing the center to be used as a “resilience hub.”
Extremely/Very
Important
56%
54%
52%
52%
49%
47%
47%
46%
18 17%
14%
20%
19%
11%
13%
15%
15%
28%
30%
24%
24%
31%
27%
23%
23%
32%
29%
36%
34%
37%
29%
40%
33%
20%
19%
17%
20%
16%
28%
18%
25%
8%
4%
5%
4%
4%
Building a flexible space gymnasium for team and
individual athletics
Providing daycare services
^Providing space for non‐profit organizations
Providing affordable dance studios, so that artists can continue to work in the Bay Area
Providing adult education classes
Providing a warm‐water therapy pool for seniors, children, people with disabilities, and those recovering from injury Providing space for spontaneous social connections
Building a fitness center for strength training and
cardio exercise
Extremely Important Very Important Somewhat Important Not Too Important Don't Know Q10. Please consider some things that could be priorities in the plan for the future Community Center at Cubberley. Please indicate how important each one is to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important. ^Not Part of Split Sample Relatively low priorities include athletics, adult education, and spontaneous social connections.

Extremely/Very
Important
45%
45%
44%
43%
42%
39%
38%
38%
19 11%
9%
11%
9%
10%
7%
5%
27%
26%
19%
18%
15%
15%
13%
6%
33%
32%
36%
31%
38%
31%
30%
35%
27%
26%
31%
38%
33%
44%
48%
53%
6%
4%
4%
Providing affordable artists’ studios, so that artists can continue to work in the Bay Area
Providing English as a second language classes
Providing language classes
Providing a community pool
Providing a community kitchen
^Providing a dog park
Providing tennis courts
Providing pickleball courts
Extremely Important Very Important Somewhat Important Not Too Important Don't Know Q10. Please consider some things that could be priorities in the plan for the future Community Center at Cubberley. Please indicate how important each one is to you personally: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important. ^Not Part of Split Sample Larger shares say pickleball, tennis courts and
a dog park are “not too important” to them.

Extremely/Very
Important
37%
35%
30%
27%
25%
23%
18%
9%
20 Q13.
55%
35%
18%
15%
19%
24%
31%
29%
7%
13%
17%
18%
16%
24%
28%
33%
4%
5%
5%
5%
$250
$500
$750
$1,000
Very Willing Somewhat Willing Somewhat Unwilling Very Unwilling Don’t Know Total Unwilling
Total
Willing
23%73%
37%58%
46%49%
51%44%
No matter how the money was raised, please indicate whether you would be very willing, somewhat willing, somewhat unwilling, or very unwilling to pay each of the following amounts per household per year in additional taxes.

Most are willing to pay as much as $500 in additional
taxes per household per year to fund the project.
21 Messaging and Movement
22 Ranked by Very Convincing
(STANDARDS) Most Cubberley Center buildings are more than 70 years old. They were built well before modern internet, and do not meet current disabled access and earthquake safety standards. Palo Alto residents deserve a community center that is modern, safe and accessible to the entire community. (ECE) Families with children are struggling with the cost of childcare in the Bay Area. This project will create dedicated space for childcare and early childhood education for families from all walks of life. ^(AFFORDABILITY) As the cost of living goes up, it is more important now than ever to invest in free or low‐cost places for exercise and play that everyone can use close to home. Palo Alto should invest in creating an affordable, accessible place where people can gather to lea rn, play, read, enjoy the arts, experience joy, and connect with one another .
(REPAIRS) Cubberley Community Center facilities have sign ificant structural issues with deteriorating electrical wiring and plumbing. Most buildings are beyond t heir useful life and would be very costly to repair . That’s why we should invest in a new, safe, accessible and modern facility for our community to share into the future.
^(LONG RUN) The longer we wait to repair our recreation and community center, the more it will cost us in the long run. By making the investment to take care of these buildings today, we can avoid more costly problems in future years.
(PAUSD) A bond measure for a community center at the Cubberley site is a win ‐win for our community.

It would provide more than $65 million for our local school st oi n v e s ti nc l a s s r o o me d u c a t i o n ,w h i l ea l s oc r e a t i n ga center for members of the community of all ages to gather, learn and play. (SENIORS) O n ei nf i v eP a l oA l t a n si sas e n i o r .T h i sp r o j e c tw o u ld provide a dedicated place where our seniors can engage in the social and physical activities that get th em out into the community, reducing isolation, preventing injury, and keeping them healthy.

This measure will provide funding to create safe, fun place s for children and teens to hang out after school and in the summer .
(SKILLS) Now more than ever, we need places for people to step away from screens, gather and learn hands‐on skills. A renovated community center can provide safe, modern places for people to experiment with 3 ‐D printers, woodworking, electrical tools, and many other valuable skills. (SWIMMING) Swimming is an important life skill and great exercise for everyone. A new pool will host swim lessons for kids, water aerobics for seniors, swim cl asses for people of all ages, and a place to cool off during increasingly hot summers.
(ACCOUNTABILITY) A bond measure to fund community center renovations and upgrades will have strict accountability provisions, including annual independent financial audits, and public review of expenditures to ensure that funds are spent efficiently, effectively and as promised. (JOY) The community center at Cubberley will be a unique place where people can gather to experience moments of joy and self‐expression – with performances, classes, and simply space to hang out and connect to one another .

Q11. Please consider the following statements from people who may support this potential measure. Please indicate whether you find it very convincing, somewhat convincing, or not convincing as a reason to support the measure. ^Not Part of Split Sample Messaging in Favor of a Bond (Continued)
24 Q7. Do you support or oppose this proposal?
Q12 & Q14. Do you support or oppose a bond measure for a new community center at the Cubberley site? 23%
35%
24%
39%
37%
39%
13%
8%
5%
13%
11%
19%
11%
8%
14%
Initial Vote
Vote After Pros
Voter After Pros and Cons
Strongly Support Somewhat Support Don’t Know Somewhat Oppose Strongly Oppose Total Oppose
Total
Support
24%62%
20%72%
33%62%
Positive messaging lifts support to seven in ten,
though the negative message reduces resets support
for the bond at three in five.
25 Conclusions
26 Conclusions
• Fully 87% are familiar with the Center – and that group is unhappy with its condition, while pleased with its programs and services.
• Overall, there is broad majority support for improvements at the Cubberley Site, but reaching approval with a two‐thirds threshold may require some careful calibration.  62% offer conceptual support for a bond measure (without a specific amount included) but only 23% “strongly support” it. However, messaging in favor lifts those figures to 75% total support and 35% strong support.
 Most express willingness to pay as much as $500 per year in additional taxes for the project at the household level, with an even broader majority at $250 per year . • Voters place the highest priority on basic building improvements – wiring, earthquake safety, plumbing and green space. Programs for youth are also popular . Most of the projects tested are viewed as at least “somewhat important,” but many lack intensity (such as pickleball, tennis courts and dog parks). • The most ‐persuasive messages also focus on basic repairs and safety improvements, as well as providing affordable childcare at the site and providing opportunities for affordable local recreation. • T h en e x ts t e pw i l lb eaP h a s eT w os u r v e y ,w h i c h– building on the findings of the current poll ‐ offers voters a more specific ballot measure proposal to consider .

Dave Metz
[email protected]
Miranda Everitt
[email protected]

Palo Alto City CouncilJune 9, 2025

Palo Alto City Council
June 9, 2025