After wading through the weeds of policymaking for much of the year, Palo Alto officials will consider a fuzzier, more philosophical question at their special meeting tonight: What are the city's core values?
The exercise, which is scheduled to begin at around 8:20 p.m. tonight, is a product of the City Council's decision earlier this year to decouple "values" from actionable "priorities" at its retreat in February. Under the new framework, priorities are limited in scope and have a three-year time limit. With that in mind, the council ditched the perennial priorities relating to economic and environmental sustainability set as its three 2013 priorities: The Future of Downtown and California Avenue: Urban design, Transportation, Parking and Livability; Infrastructure Strategy and Funding; and Technology and the Connected City.
Tonight, the council will zoom out and consider the more abstract issue of values, things that according to a staff report are "foundational and ongoing (timeless) and should be assumed to inform the Council's decisions and staff actions every day and in every applicable encounter." The council's Policy and Services Committee considered the issue in March and set forth a small menu of "proposed core values" for the city to consider and ultimately adopt. Under the committee's proposal, the committee's chair (currently, Liz Kniss) would meet with the mayor (currently, Greg Scharff) and City Manager James Keene to hash out the final details and come up with guiding principles and a mission statement.
The core values proposed by the committee are: quality of life, safe and healthy community, stewardship (which refers to both financial sustainability and environmental sustainability), open government and civic participation; and innovation and entrepreneurship.
To set up the discussion, each council member submitted a list of proposed guiding principles and core values, with the number of items ranging from three (Kniss) to 13 (Karen Holman). Nearly everyone suggested fiscal sustainability and environmental sustainability. Civic engagement, youth well-being and emergency preparedness also featured prominently on members' lists.
Some suggestions are more abstract than others. Holman, for instance, proposed "quality in all endeavors that foster pride in results," while Gail Price suggested "active participation in regional issues" and "integrity and compassion."
The council discussion is scheduled to begin at 8:20 p.m. tonight in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Ave. It will follow closed session to discuss the status of the city's negotiations with the Service Employees International Union, Local 521.
The discussion of core values will be followed by two other closed-door discussions. The first will focus on the city's ongoing negotiations with the Palo Alto Unified School District over the school district-owned portion of Cubberley Community Center at 4000 Middlefield Road. It will be followed by a discussion of the city's effort to purchase the downtown post office at 380 Hamilton Ave. from the U.S. Postal Service.
Comments
Crescent Park
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:00 am
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:00 am
Great to hear about this process. Many of the core values being discussed though sound like they could apply to any city. What are the things that make Palo Alto unique and how does that tie directly to our values? Our past and our place offer some guidance: ie location, on the Bay = environmental stewardship. birthplace of Silicon Valley = innovation/entrepreneurship. Stanford = known for great schools/education at all levels.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:08 am
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:08 am
Wonder if Mayor Scharff will repeat his claim that "the building is the benefit"--adding another dimension to the "timelessness" of the Palo Alto Process?
Or how having the Council authorize underparking for downtown property developers--forcing motorists to park in the neighborhoods is another of the many "Palo Alto values" that are "timeless".
Really do have to wonder if this is the best use of both staff, and Council time?
Green Acres
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:18 am
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:18 am
Great! This Council is having a discussion about values. I'd distill it to:
Values: Get Some
and
Remember we are Public Servants, i.e., that means we serve the public first, not ourselves or developers.
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:26 am
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:26 am
Values: To make the community safe for developers.
To cut more traffic lanes to create more traffic jams to discourage people from driving cars to show how "green" we are.
No doubt this will have as much "value" as the Utility Dept's "mission" statements which never, ever mention providing cost-effective services and LOWER rates.
Midtown
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:44 am
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:44 am
How about getting off the bicycle kick. The latest reports about parking problems at the local colleges are a clear demonstration that the younger generation is NOT interested in a biking commute. The sooner the Council and planners recognize that four-wheeled transport is here t stay, the sooner they will begin to make better decisions about housing density, parking, lane narrowing and so forth. We CAN be green and still practical.
Old Palo Alto
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:47 am
on Sep 30, 2013 at 11:47 am
I really think that value of service is critical - as "newly minted" said so well above, it's about serving the public, not monied interests. I think we need a discussion with the public about what Palo Alto should become and whether its more urbanization or a residential community. Either viewpoint is valid, and I know people that favor both sides. Let's put it to the community and then set policy to achieve what the community wants.
Registered user
Barron Park
on Sep 30, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Registered user
on Sep 30, 2013 at 12:18 pm
There is nothing wrong with providing pathways usable by bicycles as long as this direction is not: 'to the exclusion of cars (and trucks')
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Sep 30, 2013 at 12:35 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Palo Alto Core Values: Quid Pro Quo for the developers who underwrote my election and any future campaign.
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Sep 30, 2013 at 12:40 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 12:40 pm
I hope the "values" represent the values of the residents not just the Council members. For example, quality of life is a great value, but what constitutes quality of life is different to different residents.
Evergreen Park
on Sep 30, 2013 at 1:26 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 1:26 pm
I hope the council discusses how to regain a set of values and how to regain the public's trust.
An important topic would be why Palo Alto allows members with financial investments in certain developments, especially developments south of Oregon, are allowed to remain on the council. This is highly illegal everywhere else but here!
Palo Alto has lost its way, lost its vision and lowered its standards for far too long.
Evergreen Park
on Sep 30, 2013 at 1:48 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 1:48 pm
This is a good idea, Palo Alto is turning into a tech version of Hollywood and has too much money and doesn't know what to do with it. Stop building just to build. Every square inch of the city does not need to be built. Stop turning this what used to be a down to earth University town into high class snob. I agree with "Another Cynic" Palo Alto has lost it's vision. Get rid of that monstrousity of a building on the corner of Homer and Alma. It's not modern it's a concrete wall that looks like a prison. Stop pushing the zone limits and building 3 or 4 story buildings up to the edge of every property. Stop letting so much population in. If there's not room, then there's no room. Allow surrounding cities to thrive from the Palo Alto success. And for heavens sake, give some money back to the Police Force. Crime is up and if we don't pay attention Palo Alto will turn into a overly dense populated city with a crime problem. We are an education people who know how to access knowledge when wanted, is 5 libraries really necessary? This city does a lot of good, but also a lot of damage. It's not what it used to be. BRING BACK HOBEES!
Barron Park
on Sep 30, 2013 at 2:10 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 2:10 pm
PA Weekly can you post a link to the council members' value lists?
Old Palo Alto
on Sep 30, 2013 at 3:04 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 3:04 pm
It's too little too late, from this city council. Our current city council have been disgraceful stewards of our town. The city council sees the handwriting on the wall that they are not going to be re-elected when their terms are up. They are trying to salvage their reputations with all this core value nonsense.
It doesn't take a genius to realize that this council is corrupt and that they are not working in the best interest of Palo Alto and its citizens. They are working in the best interest of themselves, in the way of payoffs, political contributions, kickbacks, etc.
Community Center
on Sep 30, 2013 at 3:09 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 3:09 pm
"Some suggestions are more abstract than others. Holman, for instance, proposed "quality in all endeavors that foster pride in results," .
Wow. She really said that???
As I have stated before, Holman is in way over her head as a council member. Completely out of touch with reality and the real needs of our city.
Old Palo Alto
on Sep 30, 2013 at 3:13 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Here are the "core values" of the Palo Alto City Council:
1) Get more re-election contributions from developers.
(Especially if I sell out to them and let them build ugly, cheaply constructed monster buildings with no parking)
2) Sell out to developers so my law firm, wife's architectural firm, etc, get business from the developers that I suck up to.
3) Get a bike bridge or other city structures named after myself.
4) Get invited to fancy parties and allowed to stay at developers Hawaiian and summer homes, free of charge.
5) Perks from the city.
6) A sense of power by lording it over the citizens of Palo Alto.
7) Use the PA city council position as a stepping stone to higher political positions.
8) Free 24 hour a day reserved parking space in a choice location in the city hall garage.
Green Acres
on Sep 30, 2013 at 4:32 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 4:32 pm
@ Take a Hike,
Don't forget:
9) Spend lavishly on boondoggles like trips to visit other cities for another study of their fiber networks or $2.1million to cosmetically renovate city council chambers and $8million for a gym out at the Baylands near the boondoggle golf course while the kids on the other side of town where the schools are get to stare at high-density developments because CC won't man up and just pay for the actual cost of all the things it wants to plop out of sight in those neighborhoods south of Oregon.
Old Palo Alto
on Sep 30, 2013 at 6:32 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 6:32 pm
Newly Minted Cynic:
Here are a couple more "core values" of this city council:
10) Spend many hours at council meetings discussing whether the town should fly a multi color gay flag.
11) Spend money on finding out the color of Palo Alto. It turned out to be a muddy green. What a joke.
Community Center
on Sep 30, 2013 at 8:38 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 8:38 pm
Here's another one:
12) manipulate the city election process so that there will be a council seat to run for when you are termed out of your elected position
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Sep 30, 2013 at 10:38 pm
on Sep 30, 2013 at 10:38 pm
Have to say that Take a Hike is right on the money! Could not agree more!
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 1, 2013 at 6:28 am
on Oct 1, 2013 at 6:28 am
The core values proposed by the committee are: quality of life, safe and healthy community, stewardship (which refers to both financial sustainability and environmental sustainability), open government and civic participation; and innovation and entrepreneurship.
>>
These are wonderful sounding values, but why have they not been invoked in decisions that have been made in the past.
If these values were here we would still have a bowling alley, teen centre, charming library buildings (updated not razed), decent affordable shopping, pay per hour parking, intersections that make sense, Baylands interpretive center and boardwalk open and functional rather than dangerous.
It is obviously evident that there have been no values in the past and I am delighted to hear that now we have values and life is going to be so different.
Or, am I reading this wrong?????? Perhaps I should just hold my breath.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 1, 2013 at 11:23 am
on Oct 1, 2013 at 11:23 am
And a good question, if they get $300k from the Castilleja fine, where will it to? I suspect it will just vanish.
Charleston Meadows
on Oct 1, 2013 at 2:25 pm
on Oct 1, 2013 at 2:25 pm
I think we need to come up with better questions and criteria for people running for city office. So far we don't dive into their vision and intent regarding development and future planning goals during the election process. Looking at the comments above there is a general disappointment with the results of who we elected. We need to get people with better management and financial experience. The city is hiring too many "Consultants" to perform analysis which should be born by the hired staff. We do not need people wasting time on their personal causes - or we should know what those personal causes are during the election process. PA is not a major city with infrastructure elements like major airports, major ports, etc. Let's get real in that we are a city that supports a major institution of learning. We are also a city with a highly educated population that needs to focus more of where this city is trying to go and qualify the goals of the people running it during the time when we have the vote.
Ventura
on Oct 1, 2013 at 2:29 pm
on Oct 1, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Palo Alto's enduring, if not timeless value? Real Estste.
In the meantime, consider Oscar Wilde's definition of a cynic: "A cynic is someone who knows the price of everything qnd the value of nothing."
Old Palo Alto
on Oct 1, 2013 at 2:36 pm
on Oct 1, 2013 at 2:36 pm
The Palo Alto City Council and core values? Sounds like an oxymoron to me!