City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Community Services
Meeting Date: September 28, 2026
Report #:2607-6546
TITLE
Approval of a Letter of Intent with Maker Nexus for collaboration on a long-term public-private partnership for a new multi-generational makerspace at the Cubberley site; CEQA status - Mitigated Negative Declaration Approved on May 19, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Maker Nexus for collaboration on a long-term public-private partnership for a new multi-generational makerspace at the Cubberley site (Attachment A).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City staff and the Cubberley Ad Hoc committee are coordinating with community partners to advance elements of the Cubberley project using a public private partnership model. A proposed partnership with Maker Nexus would create a new and more expansive makerspace at the Cubberley site for people of all ages and abilities. Staff recommend Council approve a Letter of Intent (Attachment A) with Maker Nexus to formalize a joint commitment to further advance this project component.
BACKGROUND
The City is advancing a plan to redevelop a 15-acre portion of Cubberley, guided by the Cubberley Conceptual Master Plan and associated CEQA environmental document adopted by the City Council on May 18, 20261. The City and the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) have a memorandum of understanding that would enable the City to purchase seven acres to support a reimagined community center and fund school improvements. The City currently owns eight acres at Cubberley; acquiring an additional seven acres would create an opportunity 1 City Council, May 18, 2026; Agenda Item #13; SR #2512-5750, https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/viewer/preview?id=0&type=8&uid=2a17e949-762d-4b3e-8ba5- f92086da72b0
to update the ageing facility for the benefit of the community. Funding the land purchase and site improvements could be possible through a combination of funding sources including a ballot measure, nonprofit partnerships, philanthropy, grants, and development fees.
An LOI with the Friends of the Recreation Wellness Center was approved by the City Council in December2, 2024, and an LOI with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley was approved by the City Council on February 9, 2026. Additionally, Staff will be recommending that Council approve Letters of Intent with Avenidas, HeartFit for Life, and Palo Alto Community Child Care in October. These LOIs are intended to demonstrate the City’s commitment to advance certain elements of the Cubberley project through partnering with organizations that provide a community benefit and share in project costs.
There has been extensive foundational work completed to support the advancement of the Cubberley Project, including several actions by the City Council. Attachment B shares a summary of actions to date and the history of the Cubberley site.
ANALYSIS
Public Private Partnerships provide an opportunity to advance elements of the Cubberley project through a combination of City and private investment while offering valuable programs and services to the community. Several community nonprofit organizations have expressed interest and both staff and members of the Ad Hoc are engaging in conversations with potential partners, including TheatreWorks Silicon Valley and the Friends of the Recreation Wellness Center.
A makerspace is a shared workshop where people gather to design, create, invent, and learn. A makerspace provides workspace and access to shared tools and equipment for the community to use either independently or as part of a class or workshop. Maker Nexus is a membershipbased non-profit makerspace currently located in Sunnyvale, California. Their mission to empower people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, create, and innovate in a collaborative community along with lowering barriers to craftsmanship, building confidence, creating opportunity and fostering a culture of creativity and resourcefulness, is closely aligned with the City’s vision for the Cubberley site. Maker Nexus is open to people of all ages and offers classes, programs, and camps.
The existing makerspace at Cubberley is an approximately 1,100 square feet room dedicated to the MakeX program, a teen focused drop-in creative space. MakeX provides teens the opportunity to learn how to use tools and software under the guidance of teen mentors, or work individually on their own projects. The City does not lead any classes or camps in the MakeX space. During development of the Cubberley Conceptual Master Plan, there was considerable community input to include an expanded makerspace in the concept, including from teens currently involved in the MakeX program.
A public-private partnership with Maker Nexus would bring a successful community-focused maker space to Cubberley and contribute toward funding an element of the Cubberley project for community benefit. The LOI establishes a framework for future actions and outlines mutually cooperative strategies to guide ongoing discussions on key terms and conditions of future agreements. Following approval of the LOI, the City and Maker Nexus will establish terms for a future agreement that will include cost sharing, fundraising goals, timelines, management structures, and other terms.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
While implementation of the actions described in the LOI are expected to have a significant positive impact for the City with a new program offering to the community, there is no fiscal impact associated with approval of this LOI, as it is not a legally binding agreement. The full scope including costs of a new makerspace at Cubberley has not been developed. Future agreements could include a cost-sharing component that would be considered as part of a full project cost and benefit analysis. Future agreements would be brought forward to Council for review and consideration.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Community outreach and stakeholder engagement efforts for the project have been extensive and remain a central component of the overall process. Engagement with community partners has been ongoing and is intended to understand which community organizations may have an interest in contributing financially to development of the site while bringing exciting community programs and events to Cubberley.
During the extensive community engagement for the conceptual master planning process, inclusion of a new makerspace at Cubberley was strongly supported to foster creativity and community learning.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Council adopted an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Cubberley Conceptual Master Plan on May 19, 2026 (SCH Number 2026030129).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Letter of Intent with Maker Nexus
Attachment B: Background on the Cubberley Project
APPROVED BY:
Kristen O'Kane, Community Services Director