NOT YET ADOPTED Attachment A
1 145_20251017_ts 24
Resolution No.
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Approving the Palo Alto Museum’s Donor Recognition and Naming Framework for the City’s Roth Building
R E C I T A L S
A. The City’s Roth Building is leased to the Palo Alto Museum (“Museum”).
B. The City’s “Naming City-Owned Land and Facilities” policy (“Policy”) guides the naming of City facilities and portions of them.
C. The City and the Museum wish to express appreciation and recognize donors who have made significant gifts to the Museum’s fundraising campaign as detailed in the attached Palo Alto Museum Donor Recognition and Naming Framework.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES as follows:
SECTION 1. The attached Palo Alto Museum Donor Recognition and Naming Framework for the new Palo Alto Museum (Exhibit A) is approved, subject to Council action for any future approvals as may be required under the Policy.
SECTION 2. CEQA. The Council finds that the adoption of this resolution does not meet the definition of a project under Public Resources Code Section 21065, thus, no environmental assessment under the California Environmental Quality Act is required.
//
//
//
//
//
//
NOT YET ADOPTED Attachment A
2 145_20251017_ts 24
SECTION 3. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect immediately on its passage.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: November 3, 2025
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
__________________________ _____________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
__________________________ _____________________________ City Attorney or Designee City Manager
_____________________________
Director of Administrative Services
To: Palo Alto City Council
From: Palo Alto Museum CEO & President and Board of Directors Date: October 13, 2025
Subject: Request for Council Approval of the Palo Alto Museum Donor Recognition and Naming Framework
The Palo Alto Museum (formerly the Palo Alto History Museum) is an independent nonprofit partner of the City of Palo Alto. It is scheduled to open in February 2026 in the fully restored Roth Building at 300 Homer Avenue, a City-owned landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The rehabilitation of this historic structure and a new life as a museum establishes it as a cornerstone of Palo Alto’s cultural and civic life.
The Museum is where history, community, and innovation meet—linking past legacies, today’s conversations, and future possibilities. It will celebrate the people and ideas that shaped Palo Alto, connecting local stories to global impact through exhibits, programs, education, and partnerships. Dedicated to preserving and sharing Palo Alto’s legacy of innovation, civic leadership, and creativity, the Museum will serve as a welcoming gathering place for residents, students, and visitors—a dynamic hub for connection, learning, and inspiration.
Originally built in 1932 as the Palo Alto Medical Clinic and designed by noted architect Birge M.
Clark, the Roth Building remains one of the City’s architectural treasures. After years of collaboration, the City and Museum completed a comprehensive restoration that preserved its historic character while upgrading the facility to meet modern seismic, accessibility, and sustainability standards. The reimagined interior now supports a range of community activities –discovery, learning, and gathering–within a flexible, energy-efficient space that honors the past and will serve the public in new and dynamic ways for generations to come.
The Museum reflects a two-decade public–private partnership between the City and an independent nonprofit organization. That partnership has resulted in the rehabilitated Roth Building as a public asset, while the Museum’s board and supporters led private fundraising and program planning to bring it to life as a vibrant community institution.
Unlike the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo which is City operated, funded and staffed, the Palo Alto Museum operates independently under a 40-year renewable lease and is solely responsible for raising and managing all funds for exhibitions, programs, and operations. 1 Exhibit A
Fundraising for the Roth Building renovation and Museum build-out began in the early 2000s, well before the City adopted its updated 2008 Naming Policy and Procedures. From the outset, naming opportunities for rooms and features within the building were offered to encourage major contributions toward restoration. Throughout this process, the Museum Board has consistently committed to retaining the Roth Building name in accordance with the City’s policy.
Although the City’s revised naming policy was adopted in 2008–requiring City Manager and Council approval for naming individual rooms or sub-sites– the new procedures were not communicated to the Museum until October 2024. By that time, naming commitments for 11 spaces or features, 2 trees, 7 benches, and numerous commemorative bricks had already been secured from donors whose generosity helped make the project possible.
The following table summarizes the building spaces or features and donors as of October 2025:
Palo Alto Museum Naming Framework to Date (As of October 2025)
Named
(Total $1.75M)
Interior Spaces or
Building Features
First and Second Floors (11)
Gloria Brown
Beth Bunnenberg
Birge Clark Family
Chinese Community
In honor of Gary Fazzino
Pitch & Cathie Johnson
Ralphy Libby
Mario Family
Nancy Mueller
Deborah & Peter Wexler
Lanie & Dave Wheeler
Exterior Spaces 0
Exterior Trees Courtyard Trees (2)
Deborah & Peter Wexler
Exterior Benches 7
Exterior Bricks More than 100
The following maps show the Museum’s named and available spaces (as of October 2025):
2 Exhibit A
3 Exhibit A
The Museum remains committed to honoring all existing donor recognitions while maintaining the Roth Building name in full alignment with City policy. There are clear and practical reasons for continuing to recognize these early commitments and to preserve naming as a vital fundraising tool.
The 2008 City naming policy was adopted after the Museum’s early naming opportunities had already been offered and secured. The Museum was not informed of the revised process until 2024, well after many of these commitments were in place.
As a privately operated nonprofit that leases and manages the City-owned Roth Building, the Museum depends on private philanthropy rather than City funding. Naming opportunities were– and continue to be–an essential component of this public–private partnership, providing philanthropic resources needed to complete restoration, open the Museum, hire and support staff, and sustain operations. Upholding these commitments also protects donor trust and reinforces confidence in future fundraising.
As the Museum prepares for its opening in February 2026, naming opportunities continue to play a key role in attracting major donors, meeting financial goals, and building a strong foundation for long-term success. Ongoing fundraising is essential to offset operating costs, protect and enhance the City’s investment in the historic Roth Building, hire and support staff, and provide public educational and cultural programming.
Going forward, new naming and recognition opportunities will follow this proposed framework.
All existing and future recognition will preserve the Roth Building name, fully consistent with City policy. Naming of building spaces and features will apply only to Museum-managed spaces and will be clearly defined as limited within the Museum’s lease period. Should the Museum ever relocate or cease operations, all donor naming commitments would conclude. This approach provides clarity and accountability, aligns with City policy, and continues a partnership model that leverages private philanthropy for public benefit.
The following table provides a summary of current and prospective naming opportunities within the Museum. These spaces—representing more than $9 million in potential philanthropic support—reflect both the Museum’s fundraising priorities and its commitment to transparency and public stewardship. The list may evolve as design, programming, and donor interest further develop.
Palo Alto Museum Naming Framework - Going Forward (As of October 2025)
4 Exhibit A
As the Museum’s opening approaches in Spring 2026, new recognition opportunities will play a vital role in fundraising for exhibitions, public and educational programs, staffing, and operations. Through this shared public-private effort, the Palo Alto Museum will preserve a treasured civic landmark, strengthen community, and celebrate the enduring spirit of innovation, creativity, and belonging that defines Palo Alto.
The Museum deeply values its partnership with the City of Palo Alto and remains committed to honoring City policies while advancing a shared vision for a vibrant cultural center in the heart of our community. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the City Council and staff to ensure the Palo Alto Museum opens successfully and thrives as a lasting source of civic pride, community connection, discovery and learning, and inspiration for generations to come.
5 Exhibit A