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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: STUDY SESSION
Lead Department: Community Services
Meeting Date: June 9, 2025
Report #:2503-4313
TITLE
Cubberley Project: Discuss First Round Polling Results and Feedback from Community and Stakeholder Engagement Activities and Review an Update on the Workplan for the Cubberley Master Plan and Consideration of November 2026 Ballot Measure; CEQA Status – the Master Plan will undergo CEQA review
RECOMMENDATION
This is a study session and no Council action is requested. Staff will present the findings of first round polling results related to the Cubberley Master Plan project and provide an update on the project workplan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This staff report outlines the results of the first community poll (Attachment A), shares community engagement milestones coming up, and updates the work completed to date.
The focus of the first poll was to survey voter input on the goals and future of the community center and possible support for a tax or bond measure. Overall, the poll found broad majority support for improvements at the Cubberley site. Surveyed voters place highest priority on bringing the facility up to modern standards for electrical, plumbing, safety, and accessibility; early childhood education; affordability and efficient use of taxpayer dollars; and overall repairs for the facility.
BACKGROUND
There has been extensive foundational work completed to support the advancement of the Cubberley Project, including several actions by the City Council. Attachment B shares a summary of actions to date and the history of the Cubberley site, including the April 21 City Council discussion on poll themes, April 22 Parks and Recreation Commission progress update, and results of the March 19 Co-Design Master Plan community meeting.
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Work completed to date can be found on the City’s website at www.paloalto.gov/cubberleyproject. Staff reports related to this project can be found under the “Archived Work on Cubberley” section of the webpage.
ANALYSIS
Community Poll Number One Results
Gauging public opinion, ballot measure strategic planning, and community and stakeholder engagement are integral components of the Cubberley Project workplan. The work plan is designed to establish an iterative approach with multiple touchpoints throughout the development and refinement of the Master Plan, and advance placement of a ballot measure for the November 2026 election. The focus of the first poll was to survey voter input on the goals and the future of the Cubberley site and possible support for a tax or bond measure. The Cubberley Ad Hoc Committee (Committee) provided input on themes to survey, and other polling elements. The City Council reviewed the draft poll outline on April 21, 20251 and supported the launch of this poll.
The poll ran from April 28 to May 7, with a total of 437 residents interviewed via phone and online. The poll results are attached to this report (Attachment A) and summarized below. - There is broad majority support for improvements at the Cubberley site; reaching the two-thirds voter threshold requires refinement of community engagement and messaging.
- Voters place the highest priority on efficient use of taxpayer dollars, basic building improvements (wiring, earthquake, plumbing) and greenspace. The most persuasive messages focused on basic repairs and safety improvements, as well as providing childcare at the site and affordable opportunities for recreation. - Voters viewed certain amenities as less important; some examples are pickleball, tennis courts, and dog parks.
- Voters have strong majority support and are willing to pay $250 per year, per household, in additional taxes for the project. Some are willing to pay as much as $500 per year, while support at the two-thirds threshold in this initial poll was not achieved.
The next two polls will inform voter support in more detail.
The next community poll will be launched in November 2025 to test voter opinion of a refined concept plan, a possible phased approach, tax characteristics, and bond sizing. The third community poll, expected to launch in spring 2026, will be the final poll and will test voter support of ballot measure language.
1 City Council, April 21, 2025: https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=166428&repo=r- 704298fc&searchid=5c25b728-47de-40dd-9c90-b4ab8711320d
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As next steps, the Cubberley Master Plan will be refined based on community input and poll results, by December 2025 for Council adoption in March 2026. Simultaneously, results will inform changes to the community engagement and outreach plan.
Cubberley Vision Statement
On February 18, 2025, the City Council created a Vision Statement for the future of the Community Center, describing it as “a vibrant and beloved destination with activities, amenities, and offerings that promote learning, joy, and wellbeing where all cultures and generations belong,” with the intention that the community would help shape and expand upon it.
At the first community meeting on March 19, participants engaged in conversations about the initial statement and offered meaningful additions. Based on this input, the final Vision Statement now reads (new language in italics): “Cubberley will be a vibrant, beloved, and adaptable destination that promotes learning, connections, joy, and wellbeing where all cultures and generations belong.” This refined statement will be presented back to the community at the upcoming meeting on June 12.
Cubberley Workplan Progress
As the various project elements advance it is important to recognize the interdependencies that exist and are necessary to meet the timeline. Each workplan step is intentionally designed to inform the next – input and data received during the previous and current master planning efforts inform the polling themes and questions, while poll results will inform the concept plans for a new community center at the Cubberley site. Given the constrained timeline and resources needed to complete multiple and complex bodies of work, it is important to maintain focus on the critical path to ensure milestones are met.
The milestones listed below are necessary to complete the master plan and draft a potential ordinance by Spring 2026 to reach the November 2026 ballot:
Completed Project Milestones (current step is bold)
•Feb 18, 2025 – City Council Visioning Session
•March 19, 2025 – First Cubberley Master Planning Community Meeting •April 21, 2025 – City Council direction on Poll #1 themes •April 22, 2025 – Presentation to Parks and Recreation Commission •April 28, 2025 –Poll #1 released to Palo Alto community Upcoming Project Milestones
•June 9, 2025 – City Council review of Poll #1 results
•June 12, 2025 – Second Cubberley Master Planning Community Meeting 6 7
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•August 2025 – City Council recap of second community meeting and concept plan review
•September 17, 2025 – Third Cubberley Master Planning Community Meeting •October 2025 – Council recap of third community meeting •November 2025 – Release Poll #2
•December 2025 – Final Cubberley Master Plan Presentation to City Council •March 2026 – Adopt Master Plan and CEQA
•April 2026 – Release Poll #3
•June 2026 – Council approval to place a measure on the November ballot •August 2026 – Deadline to submit Final Ballot Language for November Election •November 2026 – Election and placement of a ballot measure Other work ongoing and underway includes beginning California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis of the master plan, developing future financial and operating models to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability, developing a purchase and sale agreement with PAUSD, coordinating with the Friends of the Palo Alto Recreation Wellness Center and continuing community outreach and stakeholder engagement.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The FY 2025 Adopted Operating Budget includes a $1.0 million reserve to support real property acquisition activities. In alignment with the original intention of the reserve and various Council actions, this reserve funding has been transferred to the Cubberley Community Center Redevelopment CIP Project (CB-26000). Funding is to be used for the Cubberley Master Plan, CEQA environmental review, public opinion research services, and ballot strategy consulting services. The following uses have been or are anticipated to be incurred in FY 2025:
Table 1: Cubberley Uses
Master Plan Update (Concordia)2 $631,966
CEQA environmental review (Rincon)3 $202,322
First round polling (FM3)*4 $43,988
Strategy consultant (Lew Edwards Group)*4 $27,000
Municipal financial advisor (PFM) $20,000
Utilities study $30,000
2 City Council, December 2, 2024, Mater Plan for the Cubberley Site:
https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=112713&repo=r-704298fc&searchid=648becf4-afbf-4fe9- b851-3d58440560a9
3 City Council, December 16, 2024, Approval of Contract with Rincon Consultants:
https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=117742&repo=r-704298fc&searchid=7464f532-849e-4708- 84ca-1ac2f16d7dd6
4 City Council, February 24, 2025, Approval of Contracts with FM3 and The Lew Edwards Group:
https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=143364&repo=r-704298fc&searchid=b1a0374b-74ac-414e- a930-9ff9233a9237
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Outside counsel $25,000
Total Use $980,276
*These contracts are multi-year and additional costs are anticipated to be supported by the FY 2026 proposed real property reserve of $700,000, which is subject to City Council appropriation of funds through the annual budget process.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Community outreach and stakeholder engagement efforts for the project have been extensive and remain a central component of the overall process. The current focus is to encourage robust community participation through master planning meetings and associated polling activities.
Following the adoption of a new master plan, staff will initiate broader community outreach and engagement strategies aimed at generating excitement and awareness about the transformative potential of the future facility and campus. In the interim, staff are actively developing strategies and solutions to keep the community well-informed, engaged, and enthusiastic about the project's progress and long-term vision that will ultimately lead to a ballot measure in November 2026.
In addition to community meetings and updates to the City Council, Project updates and ways to stay involved and informed are shared through:
•Community meetings and in person engagement and Cubberley fellows assisting as ambassadors for this effort and supporting the in-person engagement, •Project website ( www.paloalto.gov/cubberleyproject),
•Online comment card asking for priorities and open field to share vision and service needs,
•City updates via medium.com blog space (February 20 5, March 276, May 157), •Project updates sent via email newsletter to the project distribution list and project updates shared through City channels including Nextdoor and other digital newsletters, •Utility bill inserts,
•Resident mailers, and
•Tabling at key City events.
5 PaloAltoConnect, February 20, 2025 – 5 Ways to Join the Cubberley Conversation:
https://medium.com/paloaltoconnect/5-ways-to-join-the-cubberley-conversation-398a667a5d15 6 PaloAltoConnect, March 27, 2025 – Themes Heard During the First Cubberley Community Conversation:
https://medium.com/paloaltoconnect/themes-heard-during-the-first-cubberley-community-conversation- 52996c534c65
7 PaloAltoConnect, May 15, 2025 – Shaping the Future of Cubberley: What We Heard – and What’s Next:
https://medium.com/paloaltoconnect/shaping-the-future-of-cubberley-what-we-heard-and-whats-next- adfa5125b714
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review is underway for the Cubberley Master Plan Project and will be brought to the City Council at a future date.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Palo Alto Cubberley Community Site Phase One Survey Analysis Attachment B: Cubberley Project Background
APPROVED BY:
Kristen O'Kane, Community Services Director