Fwd: City Staff recommends new committee of FORMER electeds to decide Rail Infrastructure investments.

[Palo Alto Citizens]

Dear Neighbors,

>> On Monday,  August 19, 2019, the City Council will be discussing rail infrastructure and grade separations (note: tentative time is 9:15 PM per the agenda)

The latest City Staff report proposes the establishment of a Rail Blue Ribbon Committee to advise the City Council on the Selection, Funding, and Support for Grade Separation Projects.

Council Agenda: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=43366.45&BlobID=72894 
Staff Report: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=59253.98&BlobID=72902

Additional details below.

Thank you.

Mandar

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Nadia Naik <nadi...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 12, 2019 at 2:29 PM
Subject: City Staff recommends new committee of FORMER electeds to decide Rail Infrastructure investments.
To: opana_news <opana...@googlegroups.com>, PAN <paneigh...@googlegroups.com>

Dear Neighbors, 

On Monday,  August 19, 2019, the City Council will be discussing rail infrastructure and grade separations (note: tentative time is 9:15 PM per the agenda) 

The latest City Staff report proposes the establishment of a Rail Blue Ribbon Committee to advise the City Council on the Selection, Funding, and Support for Grade Separation Projects. 

Council Agenda: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=43366.45&BlobID=72894
Staff Report: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?t=59253.98&BlobID=72902

I've snipped highlights of the report below - but, as always, please read the full document for context: 

From the Staff Report (bolding and highlight is mine):

(Note: XCAP is the Expanded Citizen Advisory Panel - Full disclosure: I'm a member of XCAP) 

"As proposed, the RBRC would be additional to the XCAP  and distinct in the following aspects:

• The RBRC would not evaluate technical aspects of grade separation options, but use the evaluation developed by staff and the XCAP to formulate recommendations to the City Council.
• The RBRC would be selected by and report directly to the City Council, and as such be subject to Brown Act and applicable conflict of interest rules (effectively precluding individuals with real estate or financial interests potentially affected by the alternatives). RBRC meetings would be open to the public and supported by staff.
• The RBRC would provide advice to the City Council that reflects an
understanding of the political environments locally and regionally, and the advocacy viability of options in light of these considerations.
• The RBRC would require some parameters to conduct its business, such as selection of a chair/vice chair and voting on recommendations."

....

"With the basic concepts outlined above, staff recommends that the RBRC would ideally be comprised of former Palo Alto mayors or city councilmembers. These individuals have direct experience in balancing the complex and competing issues presented here, but would also, as a body, demonstrate to regional stakeholders the significance of the grade separation issue to Palo Alto.

Subject to City Council approval to pursue this approach, staff would also recommend that the City formally request the following organizations actively participate in RBRC
discussions in a non-voting capacity:

• Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce,

• Stanford University,

• Caltrain,

• VTA, and

• Silicon Valley Leadership Group;

as well as any other organizations the Council feels essential to informed decision making and setting the groundwork for subsequent steps.
If the City Council approves this approach, staff requests City Council direction on two key elements: (1) the RBRC’s scope of assignment, and (2) its composition and
selection of individuals. "

-----

If you have comments/concerns/questions - please email cityc...@cityofpaloalto.org

If you'd like to make a public comment - the meeting is this coming Monday, August 19th, with a tentative time of 9:15 PM. 

As always, remember you can watch City council meetings live on TV (Channel 26 or 29) or on your computer to see if the council is running early (which is rare) or late - (which is more likely). To watch online, go to: https://midpenmedia.org/

Nadia Naik