Attachment C - PTC Applications - Redacted — Palo Alto City Council, September 14, 2026

Planning & Transportation Commission
Application
Submitted on 14 August 2026, 5:18PM
Receipt number 96
Related form version 20
Personal Information
Name Adam Schwartz
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City Palo Alto
Postal Code 94301
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
California state law requires board/commission members to file a disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission ,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).

Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:

1. Engage in business with the City;

2. Provide products or services for City projects; or

3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission? No
1 of 4

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 Planning and Transportation Commission?
Community Group
Palo Alto Weekly
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website 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.

Personal and Job Experience
Occupation Lawyer
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've worked as a lawyer for 30 years. I worked at the ACLU of Illinois from 1996 to 2015, and I've worked at the Electronic Frontier Foundation since 2015.

My professional experiences have prepared me well to serve on our city's Planning & Transportation Commission. I can quickly identify and understand large volumes of information about relevant facts, laws, and policies. I can help identify compromise solutions to thorny problems, giving the most people the most of what they want. I can communicate clearly and kindly, in writing and in person, about complicated and contentious questions. I support open and inclusive processes to yield the best answers.

The subjects that typically arise at the P&TC (such as land use) are outside the subjects of my career (such as data privacy). But for the reasons above, I believe many of the requisite skills overlap closely. I would not be able to perform legal work for Palo Alto, but I understand that such work is not required from P&TC members.

Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.

In 2015, my family moved to Palo Alto. My kids attended local schools here, and we've greatly enjoyed many of the city's amenities and opportunities. We'd like more people to be able to enjoy them, too.

Since 2023, I've been a volunteer with Palo Alto Forward. In that role, I've done my best to learn about the policy choices and local debates that surround homes, parks, transit, retail, bikes, and more. I've also spoken and written about these issues before city policymakers and residents.

Of course, the work of a city commissioner is very different than the volunteerism of a neighbor-advocate. Commissioners must listen to the wisdom, and attend to the needs, of all city residents.

Commissioners must follow the facts where they lead. They must comply with applicable state and city laws, as interpreted by the city's law office. The best plans will often cut a middle path through a variety of perspectives from a variety of organizations, 2 of 4
experts, and stakeholders.

Application Questions

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Planning &
Transportation Commission and what experience would you bring to the position?
I love living in Palo Alto. Here and throughout the Bay Area, we have generous people, outstanding job opportunities, gentle weather, and spectacular open lands. Perhaps most important, we have thoughtful policy makers and an engaged citizenry.

I'd like my family and friends to be able to live near me and enjoy all of this. But many of them have been displaced, or prevented from moving here at all, by the high price of a home. I am interested in serving on the P&TC in order to help make plans to ensure that more people can find a home that is affordable to them. I understand that in making these plans, the P&TC must respect and protect all city residents.

The experience I would bring to the P&TC includes 30 years as a lawyer, and three years as an engaged neighbor on some of the issues that come before the P&TC. I describe this in greater detail above.

2. Please describe an issue that recently came before the Commission that is of particular interest to you and
describe why you are interested in it. If you have never been to a Commission meeting, you can view archived videos
from the Midpen Media Center.

Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center .

On December 10, 2025, the P&TC considered whether to approve a plan to build 145 new townhomes (including 19 affordable homes) at 2100 Geng Road. Ten days earlier, I sent the P&TC an email supporting this plan, and on March 16, 2026, I spoke before the City Council in support. I am pleased that both the P&TC and the City Council voted to move forward with this plan.

I am interested in this type of P&TC issue for many reasons. First, the P&TC often works with other stakeholders to improve plans.

Here, the P&TC ensured more native trees will be included on site.

Second, the P&TC often takes a lead in grappling with emergent policy questions. Here, an issue was whether to build new homes between the Bay and Route 101. Third, the P&TC can play a role in helping new neighbors find new homes in Palo Alto. Here, the Geng Road town home development will help hundreds of people find access to work, schools, and parkland in our beautiful city.

3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Planning and Transportation Commission achieve, and how would you help in the process?
If appointed, I'd like to see the P&TC continue to guide sound policymaking about how Palo Alto can build new homes in a manner that respects the needs of current residents and complies with state laws.

We are fortunate that our current P&TC is comprised of
committed experts. So if I was appointed, my first task would be to listen and learn. That said, my 30 years as a lawyer have prepared me to quickly digest large and complicated questions, to stive for solutions that work for everyone, and to communicate clearly and respectfully.

4. Planning and Transportation Commission 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.

Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
If selected for the P&TC, I would promptly read all of these documents, and be ready on day one to comply with them. 3 of 4
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.

Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.

View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.

Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Adam Schwartz
Link to signature
Date Completed 08/14/2026
4 of 4

Planning & Transportation Commission
Application
Submitted on 27 August 2026, 2:48PM
Receipt number 98
Related form version 20
Personal Information
Name Aubrey Whitcomb
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City Palo Alto
Postal Code 94303
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
California state law requires board/commission members to file a disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission ,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).

Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:

1. Engage in business with the City;

2. Provide products or services for City projects; or

3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission? Yes
1 of 4

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 Planning and Transportation Commission?
City Website
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website 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.

Personal and Job Experience
Occupation Vice President, General Manager
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.

VP/GM, Neiman Marcus, Palo Alto (2022 to present): full P&L accountability for one of the company’s highest-volume stores and a 150-person organization; responsibility for a large public- facing operation including sales, service, client experience, safety, deliveries, concession relationships, events, and facility upkeep.

Director, Sales & Client Experience, Neiman Marcus, Beverly Hills (2019 to 2022). Multi-Unit Assistant General Manager, DFS Group/LVMH, San Francisco (2018 to 2019): directed sales across multiple luxury boutiques; led a major renovation program. Earlier leadership at Bloomingdale’s (including Palo Alto), Gucci, and Nordstrom (1999 to 2018). Co-founder of two small businesses:

Cielo Aircraft Care (aviation services) and Powered by ARIE LLC (software). B.S., Organizational Leadership, Azusa Pacific University. MIT Sloan Executive Education: Executive Certificate in Digital Business (expected 2026); Artificial Intelligence:

Implications for Business Strategy (2025).

Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.

Member, Stanford Shopping Center Merchant Board (2023 to present); elected by fellow merchants to serve two years as Merchant Board President before continuing as a board member.

The board is a merchant association focused on center marketing and the shared interests of the retailers; leading it involved representing dozens of Palo Alto businesses, building consensus among them, and working with center management. I sponsor my store team’s ongoing volunteer partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, and have volunteered there myself over the years. As a Palo Alto resident and the leader of one of the city’s largest retail employers, I engage regularly with community stakeholders, local institutions, and neighboring businesses on shared issues including traffic, safety, and events.

Application Questions

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Planning &
Transportation Commission and what experience would you bring to the position?
I’m the VP and General Manager of Neiman Marcus in Palo Alto, and for the past three years I’ve represented Stanford Shopping Center’s merchants, including two years as their elected Merchant 2 of 4
Board President. Every day I see how the city’s decisions about land use, parking, and transportation affect the businesses and people here. I’d like to bring that perspective to the Commission.

My experience includes full P&L responsibility for one of Neiman Marcus’s highest-volume stores, with a team of 150, building consensus among dozens of merchants who don’t always want the same thing, and small business ownership with my spouse, including a company that operates at Palo Alto Airport. I would disclose those interests and recuse where appropriate. My family also rents our home here, and I think a renter’s perspective is worth having in these conversations.

Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center .

I’m most interested in the Commission’s work on retail
preservation along El Camino Real. Retail is my profession, so I understand from the operator’s side what makes a store viable and what makes one fail. Preservation rules that don’t account for those realities can end up protecting storefronts that sit empty, and that doesn’t help anyone. I’ve followed the Commission’s work on this and I appreciate how hard the balance is: protecting neighborhood-serving retail while recognizing that not every location can support it. This is the kind of question where I think real retail operating experience would be useful to the Commission and to Council.

3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Planning and Transportation Commission achieve, and how would you help in the process?
Three things. First, I’d want to support the Council’s business vibrancy priority with recommendations based on how commercial districts actually work, so good intentions turn into open, successful businesses. Second, housing. Nearly all 150 people on my team commute in because they can’t afford to live near where they work, and my own family rents here. I’d want the
Commission’s housing reviews to be thorough but predictable, so projects that meet the city’s commitments move. Third,
transportation safety and flow: safe rail crossings, bike routes people trust enough to use, and relief for the bottlenecks around Embarcadero and El Camino Real that my employees and
customers sit in every day. As for how I’d help: I prepare thoroughly, I ask practical questions, and I’ve spent 25 years finding agreement among people with competing interests. I'd expect that to be useful here.

I’ve operated a large commercial property at Stanford Shopping Center under the conditions the Zoning Code creates, from the tenant’s side. Through my family’s business at Palo Alto Airport, I know the Baylands area first-hand, though not the Master Plan document itself. And I know the El Camino corridor’s retail dynamics well, which is what the Design Guidelines and Master Plan Study address. I haven’t worked directly with the
Comprehensive Plan, CEQA, or the area plans. Before my first meeting I would study them, starting with the Comprehensive Plan’s land use and business elements. Learning dense material quickly is part of my job, and I’m comfortable saying what I don’t know yet.

If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.

Whitcomb.Aubrey.docx
3 of 4
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.

View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.

Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Aubrey Whitcomb
Link to signature
Date Completed 08/27/2026
4 of 4

AUBREY WHITCOMB
Palo Alto, CA 94303 | | | linkedin.com/in/aubreywhitcomb Palo Alto resident, retail operations executive, and small business owner

PROFILE
Operations leader responsible for one of Palo Alto's major retail destinations, with day-to-day accountability for a large public-facing commercial property, a 150-person organization, and one of the company's largest store P&Ls. Elected by fellow Stanford Shopping Center merchants to two years as Merchant Board President. Co-owner of two small businesses.

Interested in serving Palo Alto by contributing practical experience in commercial districts, budgets, and public accountability.

COMMUNITY & CIVIC LEADERSHIP
Board Member; past President, Merchant Board of Directors | Stanford Shopping Center | 2023 to present • Elected by fellow merchants to a two-year term as president of the merchant association, representing dozens of Palo Alto retailers on shared interests; continue to serve as a board member. • Sponsor my store team's ongoing volunteer partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley; have volunteered there myself over the years.

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
Vice President & General Manager | Neiman Marcus, Palo Alto | Aug 2022 to present • Full profit-and-loss accountability for one of the company's highest-volume stores and a 150-person organization; three consecutive years of record volume through an ownership change and corporate restructuring. • Daily responsibility for a large public-facing operation: sales, service, and client experience; safety and security; deliveries; concession partner relationships; events; and facility upkeep. • Team engagement well above the company average on the annual survey; built a twelve-person leadership team by developing internal talent.

Director, Sales & Client Experience | Neiman Marcus, Beverly Hills | 2019 to 2022 • Sole director under the GM at a 300-person flagship; 95% workforce retention through data-led people leadership.

Multi-Unit Assistant General Manager | DFS Group (LVMH), San Francisco | 2018 to 2019 • Directed sales across multiple high-volume luxury boutiques; led a major multi-year renovation program.

Earlier Leadership | Bloomingdale's, Gucci, Nordstrom, and others | 1999 to 2018 • Progressive roles across Bay Area retail including Bloomingdale's Palo Alto; led Mobile POS rollouts that became company-wide standards; Bloomingdale's Executive of the Year, 2009 and 2010.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP
• Cielo Aircraft Care, co-founder: private aviation services built from zero, including market entry, permitting, and insurance.
• ARIE (Powered by Arie LLC), co-founder: California software company; lead pricing, positioning, and operations.

EDUCATION
• B.S., Organizational Leadership, Azusa Pacific University; MIT Sloan Executive Education certificates in Digital Business (expected 2026) and AI strategy (2025).

Planning & Transportation Commission
Application
Submitted on
27 August 2026, 3:32PM
Receipt number
99 Related form version
20 Personal Information
Name
Brian Hamachek
Cell Phone Number
6505564141
Home Phone Number
Email Address
[email protected]
Are you a Palo Alto resident?
Yes
Address
152 Melville Avenue
City
Palo Alto
Postal Code
94301
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
California state law requires board/commission members to file a disclosure of financial interests (
Fair Political Practices Commission
,
Conflict of Interest
,
Form 700
).

Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:

1. Engage in business with the City;

2. Provide products or services for City projects; or

3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission? No
1 of 4
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 Planning and Transportation Commission?
Email from the City
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website 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.

Personal and Job Experience
Occupation Software Entrepreneur
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 was born and raised in Palo Alto and have lived in half a dozen different neighborhoods. I am a computer scientist and software entrepreneur that has founded and led multiple venture backed technology companies. I have also held senior engineering and architecture roles at Microsoft, HP, Portworx, StorSimple, and Cardiac Designs. My professional experience includes managing complex technical projects, analyzing large datasets, building scalable systems, and evaluating tradeoffs among cost, usability, reliability, and long-term impact. This analytical and problem- solving background would inform my approach to land-use, transportation, infrastructure, and development decisions before the Commission.

Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.

I have been actively engaged in Palo Alto civic issues, particularly housing, land use, transportation, public safety, city spending, and the long-term character of the community. I have developed several public-interest projects, including Palo Alto Civic, a website which summarizes all city council and commission meetings, which is used by thousands of residents. I also broadcast the Palo Alto Police and Fire Dispatch radio online to help residents stay informed. I have also served as a judge for Palo Alto’s first civic hackathon. I’m a long time member of the Palo Alto Tennis Club and on the board of directors for the Palo Alto Tennis Association non-profit.

Application Questions

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Planning &
Transportation Commission and what experience would you bring to the position?
I was born and raised in Palo Alto and care deeply about what this city will look and feel like decades from now. Land-use and transportation decisions are among the most consequential choices local government makes, particularly as Palo Alto responds to significant state housing mandates while trying to preserve the qualities that make the city special.
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My background is as a software entrepreneur and engineer. I have spent my career solving complex problems, working with large amounts of data, and finding practical solutions within difficult constraints. I would bring that same analytical approach to the Commission. I am willing to dig deeply into staff reports, ordinances and state law, ask difficult questions, and evaluate proposals based on their actual long-term consequences for residents.

Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center .

The recent discussion of the proposed 82-unit, eight-story development at 332 Forest Avenue particularly interested me.

The project illustrates one of the most important questions facing Palo Alto: how we accommodate additional housing, adhere to state mandates, while preserving livability and neighborhood character.

I do not believe we need to just accept the scale of development state law makes possible. The Commission should aggressively utilize the options and leverage the City still retains, such as enforcing the objective standards in our planning code, to achieve better projects. I am particularly interested in understanding where state law genuinely removes local discretion and where the City may simply be failing to use the authority it still has. That distinction will be increasingly important to Palo Alto.

3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Planning and Transportation Commission achieve, and how would you help in the process?
My goal would be to help the Commission become more rigorous, creative, and proactive in shaping Palo Alto’s growth. The City faces substantial pressure from state housing laws, but that makes thoughtful local planning even more important. I would like the Commission to focus on achieving well-designed projects, protecting neighborhood transitions, addressing traffic and infrastructure impacts, preserving trees and open space, and ensuring that growth improves rather than diminishes Palo Alto’s quality of life.

I would personally contribute by carefully studying the legal and technical constraints surrounding each issue, challenging assumptions, using data where possible, and looking for solutions beyond the obvious choices presented to the Commission. I am especially interested in identifying areas where Palo Alto still retains meaningful local discretion and making sure that authority is used effectively.

Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
I have become increasingly familiar with Palo Alto’s land-use framework through my research into current development, housing, transportation, and infrastructure issues. I have reviewed portions of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Code, the City Charter, and relevant area plans in evaluating proposed developments and the limits of local authority under state housing law. I have also studied CEQA at a practical level in connection with development review and environmental impacts.
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If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.

Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.

View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.

Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Brian Hamachek
Link to signature
Date Completed 08/27/2026
4 of 4

Planning & Transportation Commission
Application
Submitted on 2 September 2026, 10:15PM
Receipt number 103
Related form version 20
Personal Information
Name Christopher Kao
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City Palo Alto
Postal Code 94301
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
California state law requires board/commission members to file a disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission ,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).

Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:

1. Engage in business with the City;

2. Provide products or services for City projects; or

3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission? No
1 of 4

Personal and Job Experience
Occupation Senior Software 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.

I hold a Master's in Robotics (2019) from the University of Pennsylvania, plus dual bachelor's degrees in Computer Science (Penn Engineering) and Economics (Wharton), 2018. In March 2026, I completed the California Planning Commissioners Academy, covering housing law, CEQA, ethics, the Brown Act, and RHNA. I hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate, which I have used to conduct traffic studies and parking analyses in East Palo Alto and Palo Alto.

I served on East Palo Alto's Planning Commission (June 2025- August 2026) and the SMCTA Community Advisory Committee (July 2025-August 2026), and chaired East Palo Alto's Public Works and Transportation Commission (June 2022-June 2025).

I'm a Senior Software Engineer at General Motors on autonomous vehicle tooling, after the same role at Cruise. Earlier: Meta, JPMorgan Chase, Built Robotics, and founding Philly By Drone.

That mix shapes how I read staff reports, apply housing law, and ground land-use recommendations in field data.

Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.

I served as Commissioner on the East Palo Alto Planning Commission (June 2025-August 2026), reviewing development, zoning, housing, and CEQA matters and recommending action to Council. I also served on the SMCTA Community Advisory
Committee (July 2025-August 2026), advising on Measure A and regional transportation funding.

Before that, I chaired East Palo Alto's Public Works and Transportation Commission (June 2022-June 2025), overseeing streets, sidewalks, traffic calming, bike/ped safety, and the University Avenue bridge project. From February 2023 to October 2024, I was a Fellow with the San Mateo County Office of Education's School Travel Fellowship, helping install three Safe Routes to School traffic circles, including at Fordham and Notre Dame.

I've been President of my homeowners association since February 2024 (50+ homes, ~200 residents), and I co-founded the East Palo Alto Sun (epasun.org) in December 2021, reporting on 2 of 4
housing, transportation, and safety.

Application Questions

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Planning &
Transportation Commission and what experience would you bring to the position?
I love Palo Alto's people, trees, Baylands, and that walking, biking, and Caltrain are real ways to get around, not just ornaments. That character isn't automatic, though. MTC's Bay Crossings Study forecasts Dumbarton corridor daily person-trips rising about 41 percent from 2010-2035, from 95,200 to
133,900, entering on University Ave and 101 whether or not we plan for them. Stewardship means planning for that load now, so the canopy, neighborhoods, and streets keep working later.

I try to ground that stewardship in real data and in bringing people together. I've flown drone footage over East Bayshore Road and Laura Lane showing how signal timing backs up traffic into East Palo Alto's evening commute, and proposed a fix. I also led a community meeting on Palo Alto Airport that brought together residents of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, and neighboring cities on both sides of the issue.

I want PTC so land use and transportation get decided together, with findings Council can use.

Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center .

The issue I keep coming back to is the loss of local control under new state housing rules. At the March 2026 Planning
Commissioners Academy, about 75 percent of the room raised their hands when asked whether their cities were writing objective design standards just to stay in the process, against a triple whammy: AB 130's 60-day clock, SB 330's lock on local rules, and Density Bonus Law waivers. I saw that same tension here on August 12, at 332-350 Forest Avenue, where a Planned Home Zoning hearing sat right next to an SB 79 fallback filed in the July window. One commissioner reportedly characterized the SB 79 alternative as something that could mean significantly less community input.

What concerns me is a process that skips the room entirely. Well- crafted objective standards keep design, trees, and neighbors in the record, without pretending state law is optional. I'd rather see Palo Alto write those standards for El Camino, San Antonio, and downtown than have them written for us.

3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Planning and Transportation Commission achieve, and how would you help in the process?
If appointed, I'd work the workplan, not a personal agenda, with a few priorities:

First, fact-find on slow building and business permits. Downtown and California Avenue owners keep citing electrical and fire review. PTC can take testimony and recommend whether permits are the bottleneck.

Second, help finish the San Antonio land use and bike/ped work on PTC's calendar. About a third of Housing Element RHNA sits on that corridor, and height without a safe street isn't a real plan.

Third, keep a usable local path, through PHZ and objective standards, so housing isn't decided only by SB 79.
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Fourth, give input on quiet zone design: median, gate, signage, and striping design, and ensure consistency with the
Comprehensive Plan's Transportation Element, especially Policy T-3.17 on safer crossings and T-3.18 on minimizing noise near homes.

I'd take a subcommittee seat and write findings Council can use.

With SOFA I (2000) and II (2003), I reviewed both plans with Planning staff at the Development Center when we made an offer on a home in that area. I like how the former PAMF site became Heritage Park, walkable blocks that feel seamless while grandfathering legacy businesses.

I haven't yet read the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, City Charter, CEQA, El Camino Real Design Guidelines, the 2007 Master Plan Study, or the Baylands Master Plan, but I look forward to it, as I did with comparable plans for East Palo Alto and other cities' documents I have read.

If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.

Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.

View the Boards and Commissions Handbook
.

Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Christopher Kao
Link to signature
Date Completed 09/02/2026
4 of 4

Planning & Transportation Commission
Application
Submitted on 26 January 2026, 11:55pm
Receipt number 87
Related form version 18
Personal Information
Name Daniel Phillip Benas
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City Palo Alto
Postal Code 94306
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
California state law requires board/commission members to file a disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission ,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).

Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:

1. Engage in business with the City;

2. Provide products or services for City projects; or

3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission? No
1 of 3

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 Planning and Transportation Commission?
Daily Post
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website 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.

Personal and Job Experience
Occupation Corporate Finance
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.

Education--BS Business-UC Berkeley; MBA-UCLA. CPA-
California (active); Texas. I have 45 years of experience in Finance and Accounting primarily in Technology Companies. I have spent the last 30 years in Senior Management positions. I have worked in Public Accounting, F-500 such as Occidental Petroleum, Xerox and Currently Head of Finance (VP Level) for Business Wire-A Berkshire Hathaway Company. I have worked in the
Semiconductor industry with13 years at Cypress Semiconductor, 3 years at Monolithic Power. and 5 years at Pre-IPO Silego which was acquired by Dialog Semiconductor. I have also worked in the Networking, Software, and Life Sciences industries.

Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.

I am currently on the Board of Directors of the Portola Castle Rock Foundation, a small NFP that supports infrastructure improvement and educational programs at Portola and Castle Rock State Parks.

I am also a docent at Big Basin Redwoods primarily working on Roving/Wilderness Patrol. Prior to moving to Palo Alto in 1995, I was Treasurer of Peninsula Temple Sinai in Foster City.

Application Questions

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Planning &
Transportation Commission and what experience would you bring to the position?
Proper planning and transportation is crucial to maintaining Palo Alto as a desirable place to live and work. Much of Palo Alto has become too congested and the economic ecosystem is crowding out core businesses and start-up accessibility. Even for certain basic services, one must leave Palo Alto as it has become unaffordable to provide them here. Affordability has become a mantra across the country, and this is certainly relevant in Palo Alto. I have extensive experience with companies that are known for cost control which is a crucial component of affordability.

Although not the most important item in the scheme of things, one recent topic is very relevant for me which is the Pedestrian plan. I do a great deal of walking here in Palo Alto and I don't believe pedestrians have a voice or a high priority. Bicyclists, yes; pedestrians no. I have been nearly run over multitudes of times on 2 of 3
Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center. the sidewalks by bicycles while bike lanes service many of the same streets.

3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Planning and Transportation Commission achieve, and how would you help in the process?

1. Make Palo Alto a desirable and affordable place to set up business.

2. Maintain the residential and suburban nature of Palo Alto.

3. Have traffic that flows efficiently and enough Parking to support business' without disturbing the suburban feel.

4. We are blessed to live in a city where we can walk anytime of the day or night without fear except for being plowed over by bicycles on the sidewalk. I would like to revisit the balance between walking, bicycling, and motorized vehicles. Also, the new e-bikes are causing havoc on sidewalks and bike lanes as they are ostensibly motorcycles. I believe this is a particular danger for adolescents/teenagers and others that is not being addressed.

Daniel Benas Resume.11.03.25.doc
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.

View the Boards and Commissions Handbook
.

Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Daniel P Benas
Link to signature
Date Completed 01/26/2026
3 of 3

DANIEL BENAS, CPA (active)
• Palo Alto, CA 94306

Highly accomplished & results-driven, 30+ years of experience in scaling, ramping and monetizing companies, developing motivated finance teams, spearheading finance-related practices along with verifiable success in streamlining operations. Organizational scope includes Fortune 500, Controllership of three public companies and successful pre-IPO companies.

Core Competencies include: Technical Accounting (US GAAP, SEC Reporting & Revenue recognition); ASC 606 Implementation; IPO Experience; Collaborative Leadership; Effective Recruiter, Talent Development and Mentoring, Building organizational capability; Financial Planning and Analysis; Scaling and Ramping Operations; M&A Diligence & Integration; Sarbanes-Oxley/ Processes and Procedures; ERP Implementation; Treasury & Bank Relationships; Successful leadership through public company restatements and SOX remediation; Legal Relationships; Multi-Disciplined Manager of: Human Resources, IT, Facilities and Production Control Depts.

EXPERIENCE
BUSINESS WIRE-A BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY COMPANY- Vice President-Finance 2020-Present • Finance Head reporting to CEO. Leading Finance portion of operational turn-around of media-tech company acquired by BRK • Responsible for Corporate and Operational Accounting, FP and A and systems enhancements within Finance • Reduced close by one week; numbers to management Day 3. Streamlined accounting processes; rebuilt accounting team • OTC process reengineering and automation. Implemented Esker OTC system and customer portal. DSO improved by 45 days. • Implemented AP Express-routing and approval SW; executed a 10- year catch-up upgrade of Oracle. • Facilitated 22% YoY revenue growth. Increased dividend cash flow to BRK by over 30%. Manage team of 46 PULMONX CORPORATION (LUNG), Redwood City, CA-Vice President-Controller 2019-2020 • Hired by late-stage pulmonary device manufacturer to lead company through S-1 process & to be public company Controller • Hired and built public company accounting team; took close from annual hindsight to 7 day monthly close in 6 months • First S-1 filing done within 5 months of hire and 2019 FY filing done in 54 days with public flip on February 28, 2020 • Minimal SOX deficiencies (non-reportable); IPO placed on hold due to COVID-19 • Developed full absorption cost accounting system for company’s Redwood City manufacturing plant SILEGO TECHNOLOGY (SLGO), Santa Clara, CA Vice President – Corporate Controller 2014- 2019 • Led late-stage semiconductor company through restatement process to complete confidential S-1 filing • Cured 18 MW over 18 months allowing Silego to file with zero MW’s • Led effort to early adapt Topic 606, Revenue Recognition within S-1 filing process; prepared road-show and IB packages • Drove implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP system • Built multinational finance team of 12 in the US, Taiwan, Ukraine and PRC; set up offshore tax structure (ETR 5%) • Developed audit worthy cost accounting reporting process, timely close and budgeting processes • Sale to Dialog Semi. (DLG.DE) for $300M; retained for integration as Top 25 performer. Achieved 99% of deal potential • Retained by Dialog to lead Finance for their World-Wide Operations Group (Manufacturing, IT, Quality, Procurement.) SOAProjects, Mountain View, CA; Technical Accounting Consultant (before/after Callidus) 2011- 2014 Positions included: 1) supporting a Singapore IPO IFRS filing for a US based Medical Device Firm; 2) supporting acquisition of two public company REIT’s with $18B market cap; 3) Interim Controller position supporting a QAD ERP installation and UK product launch for a pre-IPO medical device co; 4) Interim Controller for a public military contractor; 5) SEC filings for a semiconductor firm CALLIDUS CLOUD (CALD), Pleasanton, CA; Vic e President – Corporate Controller 2011 – 2013 • Managed finance staff of 20 for an $100M+ public SaaS company directing all areas of accounting including revenue recognition
• Performed financial due diligence and led integration for eight international acquisitions (combined purchase price of $40M+) in Serbia, India, New Zealand, and the UK; set up 200 person “in-sourced” entity in India saving company $5M in OPEX • Implemented financial segment of NetSuite ERP system

CORSAIR COMPONENTS (formerly CORSAIR MEMORY), Fremont, CA 2009-2010 Vice President – Corporate Controller
Recruited to restructure the worldwide financial organization of a $400M late-stage electronics company with sales in Europe, U.S., Russia, and Latin America and manufacturing in Taiwan and China. • Reduced audit costs by $1.1M (65%); Remediated four MW’s enabling Company to become IPO-ready • Shortened close from sixteen to four days resulting in a streamlined process for reporting • Rebuilt the financial staff through the recruitment of six key hires and termination of non-performers; managed a staff of eighteen in four worldwide locations
• Coordinated the set up of the offshore trading company in Hong Kong and logistics center in South China • Signed off as principal accounting officer on Company’s S-1 filings which were completed on schedule • Revamped revenue process resulting in removal MW and an overall reduction in delinquent chargebacks of $2M

DANIEL BENAS Page Two

MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS (MPWR), San Jose, CA; Vice President – Corporate Controller 2006 – 2009 Recruited to turn around the financial organization of a $180M publicly traded firm facing numerous legal challenges and de- listment from NASDAQ.
• Directed the successful 3-year restatement within two months of hire which enabled the company to avoid being de-listed • Successfully took company through Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) remediation curing five material weaknesses and established normal financial operations with timely closes
• Rebuilt the financial staff with the recruitment of 8 key hires and termination of non-performers; managed WW staff of 20 • Set up operations and hired financial staff for new manufacturing facility in Chengdu

INFINERA CORPORATION (INFN), Sunnyvale, CA; Vice President – Finance/Corporate Controller 2001 – 2006 Employee number 37 in a telecom networking manufacturer utilizing proprietary semiconductor technology. Company created the first digital optical network reducing product size by 2/3 and cost by 50% • Secured a $30M debt package with Silicon Valley Bank. Package also contained working capital financing • Created two asset-backed loan packages totaling $10M which reduced operating burn by 10% • Raised $167M in Series B-E financing from venture, corporate, and international government investors • Coordinated auction procurement tasks enabling Indium Phosphide Fab to be built for $15M • Established an Indian subsidiary to perform software development saving $8M annually utilizing a government-sponsored tax holiday program; led site selection in Bangalore
• Drove turnkey outsource-manufacturing process saving $10M+/yr. • Involved in setting up initial $140M revenue transaction with Level 3 which led to IPO • Led team that implemented Microsoft-Great Plains ERP system in preparation for IPO • Managed Human Resources, IT and Facilities departments in 2003-2004

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR (CY), San Jose, CA 1989 – 2001
Vice President – Corporate Finance (1999 – 2001)
Led a 42-person team in a $1.3B corporation. Managed Internal, External and SEC Reporting, Consolidations, Financial and Strategic Planning, Shared Services and Financial IT Systems. Coordinated the annual audit as well as interfaced with audit committee. Oversaw preparation for Board of Director’s meetings and analyst conferences. • Led overhaul of capital acquisition & planning processes resulting in the successful completion of over $1B in capital projects • Negotiated and integrated ten successful acquisitions (totaling $300M annual revenue) • Implemented new versions of Oracle and Ariba Travel and Expense system • Drove process improvements in finance transactional functions that enabled successful transfer to Cypress Philippines Director – Worldwide Sales and Marketing Finance (1998 – 1999) • Directed all financial planning and accounting activities in support of Sales & Marketing worldwide including revenue and distributor accounting, commissions, and A/R
• Led multiple cross-functional process re-engineering teams including automating and streamlining the consignment process which led to channel growth of $60M in one year
• Simplified and automated the Distributor Accounting system saving the Company $3M per year in false debits Finance Director – Worldwide Manufacturing (1996 – 1998) • Directed financial planning and accounting for all manufacturing entities- $16M improvement in profitability during tenure • Set up Finance department for the first 100% Cypress-owned Asian plant in the Philippines; part of site development team • Transferred most manufacturing, cost accounting, and transactional activities to the Philippines saving $400K/year Controller, Production Control Manager and Business Unit Manager-Datacom Division (1989-1995) • Member of management team that grew division from $6M to $250M becoming the most profitable in CY • On team that did initial offshoring at CY moving to assembly and test facilities in Thailand dropping product costs over 50% • Led production control team meeting or exceeding forecasts for eight consecutive quarters • Ran EOL business unit, profitably harvesting end of life products XEROX CORPORATION (XRX), Fremont and Santa Clara, CA 1982 – 1989 Senior Auditor /Manufacturing Financial Planning Manager/Memorywriter Controller OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM (OXY), Houston, TX – Treasury 1981 – 1982 LAVENTHOL AND HORWATH CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS (Size-#10 worldwide) 1980 – 1981

EDUCATION / ACCREDITATIONS
UCLA – ANDERSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, Los Angeles, CA, MBA – Finance UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (HAAS), Berkeley, CA, B.S., Business Administration – Honors CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT – California (active) and Texas (active) PLATINA NETWORKS- Finance Technical Advisor- Santa Clara, CA-Series A networking company 2015-Present ATLAS MAGNETICS- Finance Advising CFO—Reno NV, L’viv-Ukraine—Series A semiconductor company 2021-Present Planning & Transportation Commission
Application
Submitted on 18 February 2026, 6:20pm
Receipt number 91
Related form version 18
Personal Information
Name Jeff Watt
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City PALO ALTO
Postal Code 94306
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
California state law requires board/commission members to file a disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission ,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).

Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:

1. Engage in business with the City;

2. Provide products or services for City projects; or

3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission? No
1 of 4

Excluding your principal residence, do you or your spouse own real property in Palo Alto?
Yes
How did you learn about the vacancy on the Planning and Transportation Commission?
Community Group
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website 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.

Personal and Job Experience
Occupation Retired
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.

Education: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Stanford University Work Experience:
2022-2025: Altera Corp. (an Intel Company), Altera Fellow and Principal Investigator for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programs on extremely high-bandwidth silicon- photonic optical interconnect and liquid-nitrogen-temperature integrated circuits
2016-2022: Intel Corp., Intel Fellow, Silicon Design and Architect of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Technology,
responsible for leading silicon technology pathfinding and design- technology co-optimization
Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.
2025-Present: Board member of the Palo Alto Historical
Association
Application Questions

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Planning &
Transportation Commission and what experience would you bring to the position?
I have lived in Palo Alto for over 30 years and have closely followed planning and transportation issues throughout that time.

I care deeply about maintaining the city’s livability while improving the effectiveness of its decision-making. I have seen projects where extended process and repeated revisions did not necessarily produce better outcomes and believe that we can do better.

Professionally, I am an engineer who has led highly complex, time- and budget-constrained programs in the semiconductor industry for Intel and the US government (DARPA). My work requires disciplined, data-driven analysis; balancing cost, performance, and schedule; and making practical decisions under real constraints. I also bring firsthand experience navigating Palo Alto’s planning system, including the variance process, after building two homes for my family here. I would contribute structured problem-solving, focus on measurable impacts, and an 2 of 4
emphasis on timely, implementable outcomes.

Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center .

The recent proposed update to the Stream Corridor Protection Ordinance (SCPO) particularly interests me. The analysis and recommendations by staff and consultants, along with the discussion at PTC meetings highlighted to me the importance of a more thorough data-driven approach to achieve a balanced outcome that can be supported by the community. Environmental protection is critical, but in this case standards should be grounded in actual hydrologic, ecological and on-the-ground conditions, and aligned with regional guidance. The impact on property owners' reasonable and long-established use of their property must be very carefully weighed against the intended benefit of the ordinance. In the case of the SCPO, the significant amount of feedback from the community late in the process illustrates the opportunity for improved outreach in the future.

This issue also reflects the broader need for disciplined analysis and balanced tradeoffs in Commission decisions.

3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Planning and Transportation Commission achieve, and how would you help in the process?
If appointed, I would like to see the Commission advance disciplined, evidence-based decision-making that results in balanced outcomes supported by the community, and improve the timeliness of recommendations to Council. The PTC plays an important role in ensuring that staff analysis is rigorous, alternatives are clearly evaluated, and decisions are grounded in measurable impacts.

I would support these goals by applying structured, data-driven analysis and focusing discussions on constraints, feasibility, and long-term outcomes. My experience managing complex programs under cost and schedule pressures would help keep deliberations focused and balanced, while maintaining high community
standards and improving predictability in the planning process.

I also have experience with parts of the Zoning Code having built two houses for my family over the past 30 years in Palo Alto. This experience includes Chapter 18 of the Municipal Code on Zoning and Chapter 20 of the Municipal Code covering Precise Plans including setback lines. I successfully navigated the Palo Alto variance process to contest an error on the special setback map pursuant to Chapter 20.08.020 which was modified by Ordinance No. 2036 in 1961.

If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.

Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.

View the Boards and Commissions Handbook
.

Yes
3 of 4
Signature Name of signatory: Jeff Watt
Link to signature
Date Completed 02/18/2026
4 of 4

Planning & Transportation Commission
Application
Submitted on 1 September 2026, 8:29PM
Receipt number 100
Related form version 20
Personal Information
Name Justin Chen
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City Palo Alto
Postal Code 94303
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
California state law requires board/commission members to file a disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission ,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).

Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:

1. Engage in business with the City;

2. Provide products or services for City projects; or

3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission? No
1 of 4

Personal and Job Experience
Occupation Nonprofit Founder, Transportation Researcher, Student 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’m a junior at Paly with a 4.00 GPA.

I’m the Founder and Executive Director of the New Urbanism Initiative, a youth-led nonprofit advocating for more livable and equitable cities. I’ve led youth to work with Caltrain, BART, and elected officials throughout the Bay Area on transportation and urban planning issues.

I’m a researcher with the University of California Institute of Transportation Studies, where I develop comparative case studies and research on sustainable transit funding.

I interned with Palo Alto Councilmember Lythcott-Haims, supporting policy communication, and served as a paid Research Assistant at Stanford’s DDL Lab, analyzing deliberations.

Received a Gold and Silver Medal from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for a photo documenting local protests and an essay examining segregationist urban-planning, respectively.

Received a Bronze from Harvard International Review Writing Competition for an essay examining how TOD can improve
accessibility for the elderly.

Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.
.New Urbanism Initiative—Founder, Executive Director
May ‘26—Present
newurbanisminitiative.org
Founded NUI and led youth to advocate for more livable, equitable, and sustainable cities. Direct the organization’s advocacy and enable youth to work with transit agencies, elected officials, and community leaders across the Bay Area on transportation and urban-planning issues.

Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE)—Youth Ambassador (YA) Jan. ‘25–Present
Co-founded and led PiE’s YA Program, where I recruit student ambassadors, present at PiE Board meetings, support fundraising and outreach campaigns, and organize events that engage students and families. Helped strengthen PiE’s $5 million annual fundraising to support PAUSD schools.

Kara—Volunteer
Oct. ‘24–Present
Volunteer with Kara, a Palo Alto nonprofit providing grief support 2 of 4
services. Advised fundraising efforts, canvassed local businesses and secured sponsorships, and served as Kara's designated photographer for major events.

Application Questions

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Planning &
Transportation Commission and what experience would you bring to the position?
I’m a lifelong Palo Alto resident, and three generations of my family live here, giving me a deep connection to the city. I would love to serve because the Commission makes decisions that will shape how Palo Alto grows, moves, and houses people—and young residents will live with those decisions the longest. As a Paly student who bikes to school daily, I experience the city’s transportation system firsthand and would bring a youth perspective rarely represented in formal planning decisions. In Palo Alto, a city of innovation driven by young people, that perspective is much needed. I also bring substantive experience: I founded the New Urbanism Initiative, a youth-led organization focused on transit, walkability, biking, and housing; conduct transportation research with the UC Institute of Transportation Studies; interned with the Palo Alto City Council; and led youth to work directly with BART, Caltrain, state legislators, city councilmembers, and county supervisors on urban policy.

Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center .

The 332 Forest Avenue proposal interests me because it tests how Palo Alto can add substantial housing in one of its most transit-accessible areas while addressing neighborhood impacts. I followed the project through earlier discussions and the August 12 PTC hearing on the PHZ proposal to replace a 16-unit, two- story building with an 8-story, 82-unit development near Downtown and Caltrain. I was especially interested in debate over off-site BMR units, requested height and daylight-plane flexibility, lot-line changes involving the adjacent Casa Real property, tree and privacy impacts, and parking and bicycle access. To me, the issue was highly interesting because it shows a planning challenge of making housing feasible while considering
compatibility, affordability, and public opinions. Through my UC ITS research and New Urbanism Initiative work, I study this same relationship between housing, transit, and land use, making the Commission’s discussion especially relevant to me.

3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Planning and Transportation Commission achieve, and how would you help in the process?
If appointed, I would focus on three goals: expanding housing opportunities—especially transit-oriented housing near Caltrain and VTA corridors; improving the safety and connectivity of Palo Alto’s bicycle and pedestrian network; and making youth participation in planning more meaningful and consistent. I would support policies that reduce car dependence while expanding housing choices and access to jobs, schools, and services. I would also work to make Commission discussions more accessible to younger residents and encourage earlier youth input on projects that directly affect how they experience the city. I would contribute by bringing both firsthand experience as a daily cyclist and a strong record of youth leadership and community
involvement in Palo Alto. Through my work with public transit agencies and policymakers, I’ve developed a practical
understanding of transportation and planning challenges, which I use to develop forward-looking solutions that serve the broader community.
3 of 4

Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
I have read through the zoning provisions of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, as well as the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. I am most familiar with the South of Forest Area (SOFA) plans, which I read closely while following the 332 Forest Avenue proposal and the Commission’s discussions around objective design standards. I was especially interested in how SOFA connects housing density with transportation—for example, allowing greater density for senior housing near transit when automobile trips can be reduced.

That stood out to me because it closely parallels research I have done on transit-oriented development and compact-city planning in Toyama, Japan. Reading SOFA also helped me understand how Palo Alto’s older planning goals around density, affordability, design, and transit now interact with newer state housing requirements and objective standards. I would look forward to developing a much deeper familiarity with these documents if appointed.

If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.

Justin Chen's Resume.docx
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.

View the Boards and Commissions Handbook
.

Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Justin Chen
Link to signature
Date Completed 09/01/2026
4 of 4

Justin Chen
Palo Alto, Calif. |

EDUCATION

Palo Alto High School Aug. 2024 – Present High School Diploma
● Expected graduation: June 2028
● GPA (Unweighted): 4.00/4.00
● Courses (Non-exhaustive):
○ AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP US History, AP English Language ○ AP Chinese (5), Introduction to Analysis and Calculus, Chemistry Honors, Advanced Journalism and Media Studies, Beginning Journalism
○ AP Human Geography (5), AP Computer Science Principles (5), Algebra 2 & Trigonometry Accelerated, Biology Honors
● Activities & Organizations:
○ Features Editor, Verde Magazine
■ verdemagazine.com/staff name/justin- chen
○ Varsity Member, Speech and Debate Team, Congressional Debate ○ Advanced Lab Counselor, Speech and Debate Camp

EXPERIENCE

New Urbanism Initiative May 2026 – Present Founder, Executive Director
● The New Urbanism Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a youth-led organization advocating for more livable and equitable cities. Through policy research, political advocacy, and sparking civic engagement, NUI fights for effective public transit, walkable, bikeable streets, and reduced car dependence. ● newurbanisminitiative.org

University of California, Institute of Transportation Studies, Davis Center July 2026 – Present Researcher
● UC Institute of Transportation Studies is a research collaboration lab between UC Davis, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and UCLA advancing transportation research, policy, and innovation. ● Worked directly with Director Susie C. Pike on “Building a Sustainable Future for California Public Transit”, a research initiative to transform public transit in California by developing sustainable funding models and policies that help transit compete more effectively for riders and street space. Conducted qualitative and quantitative research, gathered and analyzed transportation data, developed case studies, and helped guide project direction. ● ucits.org/projects/building-a-sustainable-future-for-california-public-transit/

Stanford University, Deliberative Democracy Lab June 2025 – June 2026 Paid Research Assistant
● Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab is a research lab under the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies’ Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law promoting effective discourse in democracies through deliberation.
● Worked with Prof. James S. Fishkin and Associate Director Dr. Alice Siu, contributing to the design and refinement of deliberation protocols through qualitative analysis of deliberation sessions focusing on legislative proposals.

City of Palo Alto, Councilmember Julie Lythcott-Haims’ Office April 2025 – Oct. 2025 Social Media & Outreach Intern
● Julie Lythcott-Haims is an elected councilmember for the City of Palo Alto. ● Worked directly with Councilmember Julie Lythcott-Haims on a weekly basis to produce, edit, and publish social media content. Supported policy communication and constituent engagement through digital outreach.

HONORS & AWARDS

National Gold Medal, Photography March 2025 Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards
● Documented hotel labor strikes in San Francisco. The longest-running and most prestigious creative recognition program for teens in the United States and Canada. Received a Gold Medal, placing in the top 0.3% (1,000 of 310,100) of 2025 national

submissions. Invited to Carnegie Hall in New York City to attend the national gold medalist award ceremony. Qualified for nationals by earning a gold key in the California Bay Area Art Region, placing in the top 5% (400 of 7,200) of the region’s 2025 submissions.

Bronze Medal, Academic Writing Competition Feb. 2026 Harvard International Review
● Wrote about using transit-oriented development and compact city strategies to address declining accessibility for aging populations in Toyama, Japan. Received a Bronze Medal in the Fall/Winter 2025 cycle. Passed a qualifying stage to attend the Defense Day, presenting and supporting the article.

Finalist, Annual Student Open Letters Contest June 2025 The New York Times
● Wrote about solutions to addressing the student suicide crisis in Palo Alto, California. Received an Honorable Mention Finalist award, placing in the top 0.6% (60 of 10,000) of entries for the second (2024–25) annual contest.

Global Finalist, Journalistic March 2026 Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition
● Documented efforts to address the student suicide crisis in Palo Alto, California. Placed in the top 1.5% (150 of 10,000) of all 2026 entries. Qualified for the global competition by placing within the top 10 of North American journalistic submissions, winning the regional round.

Region-at-Large West Writing, Silver Key, Critical Essay Jan. 2026 Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards
● Wrote about combating segregationist urban planning practices in the post-Reconstruction United States. Placed in the top 10% (1,000 of 10,000) of the Region-at-Large West Writing region’s 2026 submissions.

VOLUNTEERING

Kara Oct. 2024 – Present Fundraising Committee Advisor, Volunteer Photographer
● Kara is a San Francisco Bay Area bereavement nonprofit that supports thousands annually through crisis response and grief counseling services.
● Advised implementation of fundraising campaigns. Canvassed local businesses, securing sponsorships for events. Served as the organization’s primary professional-grade photographer.

Palo Alto Partners in Education, Youth Ambassador Program Jan. 2025 – Present Co-Founder
● Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE) is a nonprofit that raises over $5 million annually to fund staffing and enrichment for Palo Alto public schools.
● Co-founded and led the Youth Ambassador Program. Recruited and directed youth ambassadors, and spoke at Board of Director meetings. Organized, coordinated, and spoke at fundraising events and information sessions. Managed content creation and outreach campaigns. Hosted annual transition nights for 40+ rising high schoolers and parents to learn about high school life from student panelists.

ADDITIONAL

Technical Skills: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Lightroom, Photography, Videography Languages: English (Native proficiency), Mandarin Chinese (Working proficiency) Planning & Transportation Commission
Application
Submitted on 17 August 2026, 4:11PM
Receipt number 97
Related form version 20
Personal Information
Name Musaab Farooqui
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City Palo Alto
Postal Code 94306
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
California state law requires board/commission members to file a disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission ,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).

Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:

1. Engage in business with the City;

2. Provide products or services for City projects; or

3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission? No
1 of 3

Personal and Job Experience
Occupation Data Scientist, Intuitive Machines
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 B.A. in Data Science from UC Berkeley, with coursework in economics, statistics, data analysis, and decision-making. I currently work as a Data Scientist at Intuitive Machines in Palo Alto, where I analyze complex operational data and develop tools that support planning and decision-making. My previous
experience includes roles at Ouster, Zebra Technologies, Applied Materials, Verizon Connect, and the Stanford Social Media Lab, which strengthened my experience in quantitative analysis, research, and evaluating complex tradeoffs.

Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.

I have been involved in community and civic engagement through educational, research, and local government activities. From 2021–2023, I conducted research with the Stanford Social Media Lab focused on understanding social and civic issues through large-scale data analysis. More recently, I have become actively involved in Palo Alto civic affairs, including applying to serve on City boards and commissions and following local policy and community issues. I am particularly interested in contributing my professional background in data analysis and my perspective as a Palo Alto resident to projects that improve public spaces, recreation opportunities, and quality of life for the community.

Application Questions

1. Why are you interested in serving on the Planning &
Transportation Commission and what experience would you bring to the position?
I am interested in serving on the Planning & Transportation Commission because decisions about housing, development, transportation, and infrastructure directly shape Palo Alto’s future and quality of life. Having grown up in Palo Alto, I have seen the city evolve and would value the opportunity to contribute to its long-term planning. As a Data Scientist with a background in Data Science and Economics from UC Berkeley, I would bring an analytical, evidence-based approach while listening carefully to residents and considering the tradeoffs involved in major planning decisions.
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Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center .

I was particularly interested in the proposed housing development at 4103 Old Trace Road and the discussion around balancing new housing with transportation and neighborhood impacts. As someone who grew up in Palo Alto, I believe the City needs additional housing, but growth should also consider traffic safety, emergency access, pedestrians and cyclists, and existing neighborhoods. I found the discussion interesting because it demonstrates the difficult tradeoffs the Commission must evaluate when planning for Palo Alto’s future.

3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Planning and Transportation Commission achieve, and how would you help in the process?
If appointed, I would like to help Palo Alto plan for housing and growth while maintaining safe transportation, strong
neighborhoods, and quality of life. I would support practical improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and drivers while ensuring development decisions consider their long-term impacts.

I would contribute an analytical, data-driven perspective while listening carefully to residents, staff, and other stakeholders.

Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
I have familiarity with several of these plans and planning issues through my experience growing up and living in Palo Alto, particularly near El Camino Real. I regularly travel through the El Camino corridor and have seen firsthand how land use, housing, traffic, bicycle and pedestrian access, and development affect surrounding neighborhoods. While I have not worked
professionally with these documents, my local experience gives me a strong interest in understanding how they guide
development, and I would be committed to studying and applying them carefully as a Commissioner.

If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.
musaab_farooqui_resume.pdf
Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.

View the Boards and Commissions Handbook
.

Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Musaab Farooqui
Link to signature
Date Completed 08/17/2026
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Musaab Farooqui
• linkedin.com/in/musaabf • Palo Alto, CA
Education
University of California, Berkeley May 2025
B.A. in Data Science (Emphasis in Economics at the Haas School of Business) Relevant Coursework: The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs, Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming in C++, Object Oriented Programming in Python, Foundations of Data Science, Leading People, The Ethical Environment of Business, Risk Analysis for Engineers, Econometrics Technical Skills
Product Roadmapping, Go-to-Market Strategy, Product Requirements Documents (PRDs), Competitive Analysis, Customer Discovery, Market Research, Sales Enablement, Positioning & Messaging, Python, SQL, C++, Java, Excel, PowerBi, Tableau, AWS, Data Analysis, Data Modeling, Data Visualization, Statistics, A/B Testing, Lidar/Radar Technology
Experience
Data Scientist, Intuitive Machines August 2025 Present Built executive analytics dashboards tracking Earned Value, Actual Cost, CPI, and labor utilization, improving visibility across spacecraft bus, top, and sub assembly production lines.

Partnered with manufacturing, engineering, ﬁnance, and operations teams to translate business requirements into analytics solutions supporting production decision-making.

Designed automated labor and cost variance models resulting in a 15% reduction in labor hours across manufacturing workﬂows.

Created data pipelines integrating manufacturing, labor, and ﬁnancial systems, reducing manual reporting effort by 30% and accelerating production reviews.

Identiﬁed production bottlenecks and schedule risks through throughput analysis, increasing line efﬁciency and reducing cycle time by 12%.

Product Marketing Edge Strategy Intern, Nutanix May 2025 - Aug 2025 Developed a comprehensive go to market strategy for Nutanix’s edge computing portfolio, synthesizing input from product, technical marketing, and senior leadership to deﬁne positioning, target segments, and key differentiators.

Conducted competitive analysis of the edge computing landscape, mapping 20+ competing solutions across 4 market segments and identifying whitespace opportunities that expanded addressable market targeting by 25%.

Created strategic positioning documents and messaging frameworks targeting IT decision makers and cloud architects, improving messaging clarity and stakeholder alignment by 40% per team feedback.

Engaged cross functionally with product, engineering, and partner teams to evaluate edge technology components and validate strategic assumptions.

Presented ﬁnal GTM strategy deliverable to senior leadership, incorporating stakeholder feedback and translating technical product nuances into compelling business narratives.

Data Scientist Intern, Zendar Sept 2024 Jan 2025
Analyzed sensor test data and built performance dashboards, improving data quality monitoring coverage by 35% and accelerating issue detection for AI perception model development.

Collected and processed LiDAR, radar, and camera datasets for model training and validation, increasing dataset coverage by 40% to improve perception model accuracy.

Reduced sensor platform downtime by 22% through proactive troubleshooting and maintenance of the Linux based system and web UI during testing cycles.

Collaborated cross functionally with engineering and operations to reﬁne data collection strategies and resolve discrepancies impacting model quality.

Product Management Intern (Robotics), Zebra Technologies Inc. June 2024 - Sept 2024 Designed and maintained product roadmaps for autonomous mobile robotics, conducting feasibility research, assessing business impact, and prioritizing features across 3 development cycles.

Developed and reﬁned go to market strategies that drove a 20% improvement in customer satisfaction scores by directly incorporating structured customer feedback into roadmap updates.

Conducted customer feedback interviews to surface product gaps, analyzed ﬁndings, and presented actionable insights to engineering teams, reducing feature delivery backlog by 18% through improved prioritization.

Collaborated with sales and engineering stakeholders to align product direction with customer needs and market trends.

Product Management Intern, Ouster Inc. Jan 2024 June 2024 Collaborated with engineering and operations teams to develop Product Requirements Documents (PRDs), prioritize features, and manage change requests for software and hardware sensor products.

Performed competitive analysis to redeﬁne product goals, identifying a 30% pricing gap versus key competitors and directly informing Ouster’s repositioning strategy.

Revised product documentation and technical manuals, reducing customer support escalations by 22% by enabling customers to more independently understand and adopt key sensor functionalities.

Tested new sensor features and gathered performance data, providing structured feedback to engineering for product iteration.

Served as a cross-functional liaison bridging sales, engineering, and operations to drive technical issues to resolution.

Leadership
Python Instructor, Berkeley Tech. Collaborative (BTC) Aug 2022 - May 2025

Planning & Transportation Commission
Application
Submitted on 3 September 2026, 6:39AM
Receipt number 104
Related form version 20
Personal Information
Name Tom Siegel
Cell Phone Number
Home Phone Number
Email Address
Are you a Palo Alto resident? Yes
Address
City Palo Alto
Postal Code 94306
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
California state law requires board/commission members to file a disclosure of financial interests (Fair Political Practices Commission ,
Conflict of Interest, Form 700).

Do you/your spouse have an investment in, or do you or your spouse serve as an officer or director of, a company doing business in Palo Alto which you believe is likely to:

1. Engage in business with the City;

2. Provide products or services for City projects; or

3. Be affected by decisions of this Board or Commission? No
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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 Planning and Transportation Commission?
Email from the City
Consent to Publish Personal Information on the City of Palo Alto Website 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.

Personal and Job Experience
Occupation Executive Director
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.

Foremost, I am a small business owner who has hired employees and operated those enterprises in the Palo Alto city limits and beyond as founder and CEO. Trustlab is a small technology company developing online safety tools, SEECAT offers aircraft rental services at the Palo Alto airport, and Fishbowl is a non- profit organization working with youth. I gained extensive experience on Palo Alto building regulation, construction and planning as member and president of the Palo Alto Unified School District Bond Citizens' Oversight Committee. Together with my family I have lived in our community for 20+ years, about equal amount of time as a renter, and then home owner. We have completed significant building projects incl. Construction of an ADU. My 3 kids have all attended Palo Alto middle and high schools. I was the Chairman of the Board of a local K-12 school (GAIS / ALTO in Menlo Park). I attended graduate School at Stanford (Business) and I am a Mechanical engineer by training (Masters).

Please describe your involvement in community activities, volunteer and civic organizations, including dates and any offices held.
2018-24
Palo Alto Unified School District Bond Citizens' Oversight Committee (incl. chairman)
2019 - Present
Founder and President Fishbowl Challenge (Palo Alto) -
supporting youth in creating social ventures for positive social change in their communities
2013-15
Board Member and Chairman, German American International School (Menlo Park)
2001-02
Employed full time as East Palo Alto Community Organizer (through the Hewlett Foundations OEPA Initiative)
Application Questions
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1. Why are you interested in serving on the Planning &
Transportation Commission and what experience would you bring to the position?
#1 I want to help ensure that Palo Alto remains a beautiful city with strong community bonds, that provides opportunities for businesses to thrive and is livable for the residents. #2 I want to continue giving back to the community in meaningful ways, leveraging my experiences, knowledge and passion for the people, groups and community values.

I have spent many years learning and operating with Palo Alto planning requirements. I am the CEO of several small businesses with local employees, I have been part of a number of community driven initiatives for many years, with a particular focus on local youth and children. As a hangar renter and business owner at the Airport, I have a deep understanding of airport issues. For 6 years on the PAUSD Bond Oversight committee we directed large school school construction projects in the city limits. As a Chairman of a small private school I am very aware of citizen concerns and constraints for organizations and communities alike.

Archived video meetings are available from the Midpen Media Center .

I am keen to actively help Palo Alto find balanced approaches to meeting housing mandates and offering more affordable rent options, while preserving the community character and protecting a livable city. The San Antonio Road area is a vibrant, transit- oriented community balancing diverse housing options with sustainable growth, creating equitable and livable communities, and is based on a robust community engagement process. The area should feature mixed-use development, walkable streets, strong transit connections, and ample green spaces including parks and tree-lined corridors. Key priorities in my opinion should be reduction of car dependency while preserving neighborhood character, guided by data-driven analysis of traffic patterns and community needs. Outreach and engagement with local residents is an important part of the process, to listen, learn and co-ideate.

3. If appointed, what specific goals would you like to see the Planning and Transportation Commission achieve, and how would you help in the process?
I will contribute to finding actionable ways forward to critical issues such as meeting the housing element required housing quota while preserving Palo Alto as a livable city for its residents, making sure the voice of small businesses, particularly retail and food establishments are heard so they can thrive and provide their valuable services, and as an avid biker, continue to expand the availability of non-vehicle individual transportation options. I want to contribute my extensive relevant experience on the matters in front of the PTC. I am well versed in researching, debating and finding solutions for complex and controversial issues using process, thoughtful analysis and interpersonal skills. (e.g. responsible for Safety policy for the world’s largest online platform for 10+ years which was all about compromises and finding ways forward). Most importantly, I am passionate about maintaining and strengthening a thriving Palo Alto city for a long time to come for all its residents.

Palo Alto 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2017)
Zoning Code
City Charter
California Environmental Quality Act
I am familiar with the Comprehensive Plan
I have studied and read all documents
3 of 4
El Camino Real Design Guidelines
El Camino Real Master Plan Study (2007)
Area Plans such as the South of Forest Avenue (SOFA) I (2000) and II (2003) Plans
Baylands Master Plan (2008)
If you'd like to provide any additional documents, please upload below.

Please confirm that you have read the Boards and
Commissions Handbook.

View the Boards and Commissions Handbook.

Yes
Signature Name of signatory: Thomas Siegel
Link to signature
Date Completed 09/02/2026
4 of 4

Palo Alto City CouncilSeptember 14, 2026

Palo Alto City Council
September 14, 2026