City Manager Weekly Blog Series: September 19, 2022

4 min readSep 22, 2022

Learn about City of Palo Alto updates and news.

Each Council meeting, City Manager Ed Shikada provides “City Manager Comments” sharing recent City news, and updates for the community to stay informed on important issues. This blog series summarizes these weekly updates.

You can also watch the City Manager share this week’s updates and news at the September 19, 2022 Council meeting.

Timestamped City Council Video: City Council Meeting — September 19, 2022

COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATE

County Rescinds Health Orders, Urges Continued Vigilance Against COVID-19

Last week, Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody rescinded the few remaining local public health orders related to COVID-19, primarily focused on healthcare workers and some City operations, staff will look into what changes may happen. County Public Health urges the community to stay vigilant against COVID-19; get vaccinated and boosted, wear face coverings indoors and around other people, and continue to test and avoid others if you have symptoms. Read the County’s news release here.

COVID-19 Testing Dates Continue in Palo Alto

Through a Santa Clara County/City partnership, testing opportunities continue at the Palo Alto Art Center on September 23 and October 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment only. Find more testing opportunities at www.cityofpaloalto.org/testing.

For more coronavirus resources, visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/coronavirus.

BE STORM READY

On Sunday, staff responded to several community calls for assistance, due to clogged storm drains and tree limb failures. With the rainy weather, it is always a good idea to be ready for future weather-related events. To prepare for the next storm, staff pulled together some general tips and resources to help the community be storm ready. Some highlights include:

Stay informed by signing up for automated notifications at alertscc.com and the Police Department’s Nixle alerts
Utilize rain barrels, cisterns, and rain gardens to catch rainwater; rebates are available for Palo Alto residents and businesses
Attend an upcoming Rain Barrel Workshop on Sat. Oct. 1 from 10–11 a.m.

For more information, tips, and ways to prepare go here.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE ART CENTER

Join the Palo Alto Art Center for a special celebration of the Fire Transforms exhibition, curated by Rina C. Faletti. The exhibit runs from September 17 — December 10 and focuses on fire as an issue of climate crisis. Artwork featured engages curiosity, wonder, and brings attention to fire’s transformative power and its realities of destruction, creativity, and beauty. Friday Night at the Art Center is this Friday, September 23 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Learn more and register to attend here.

ONE WATER PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING WORKSHOP

The City is developing a water plan that will evaluate existing water supplies to find alternate sources, define existing and future uncertainties and supply risks, and identify community needs and priorities. It’s an attempt to look at water uses and supply comprehensively and follows a City Council discussion with Valley Water about City plans related to recycled water use. The “One Water Plan” is a key action within the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. The Plan will serve as a long-term guide to better prepare for future uncertainties like multi-year drought, climate change, and more. Attend an upcoming community meeting on Wednesday, September 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in person at City Hall or via zoom to learn more.

For more information and to register, go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/onewater.

NOTABLE TENTATIVE UPCOMING COUNCIL ITEMS

September 27*
Note that this meeting was rescheduled from September 26 in observance of Rosh Hashanah

S/CAP Update Goals and Key Actions, Advanced Heat Pump Water Heater Program and 2022 Green Building and Energy Reach Code Updates (Part 1)

October 3

Council Positions on November 2022 Ballot Measures
S/CAP Update (Part 2)

The October 10 City Council meeting is cancelled in observance of Indigenous Peoples’/Italian Heritage Day

October 17 and beyond

Prescreening of 3400 El Camino Real Proposal (Creekside Inn)
2022 Green Building and Energy Reach Code Updates
North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan (NVCAP) Refined Preferred Alternative
Permanent Parklet Standards and Policies

Find City Council meeting agendas, minutes, and videos at cityofpaloalto.org/councilagendas.

BE INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED

Read the City Manager Comments Blog Series at: CityofPaloAlto.org/CityManagerBlogSeries

Gain Coronavirus Updates at: CityofPaloAlto.org/Coronavirus

City Calendar of Events and Meetings: CityofPaloAlto.org/Calendar

City of Palo Alto Website: CityofPaloAlto.org

Santa Clara County Cooling Centers: bit.ly/HotWeatherSafetySCC