[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6670765,"mediaKeyId","2172020-7da5c6a41739340ed2ec81d6cbdf5474","parentId",2172020,"title","Palo Alto staff lay out FY26–30 capital plan; residents urge adding Eleanor Party Park restroom to FY26 budget","audioSeconds",3411,"startMs",4945000,"endMs",8356000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172020-7da5c6a41739340ed2ec81d6cbdf5474&start=4945&end=8356","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172020-7da5c6a41739340ed2ec81d6cbdf5474/thumbnail_4945000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6670765/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-staff-lay-out-FY2630-capital-plan-residents-urge-adding-Eleanor-Party-Park-restroom-to-FY26-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670765-8c08f190bfc6fca524a71408cbdb2bd2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775635084&Signature=P6tJaK-Yw-8TQ-vSMApw9TzMpdpkkymQezD05zF2DA6KViewG~rWRjw8sHkL62xyJjPpn5O4o4JLU3vY8PZncgYbmun6iPY~rvJ2F-VmfGNwZ~4Ai3MmKjm~kGlIm81DUUkvZrj-y2hS9dpXeD8Pw6usDvXue7NGW1bMFPIxQR~foXOwC3DBeMlMlV0XZW5xt6MYmoziXRZ6d2fk9MYgxssdXb-YHP1knzwpngRvsGPrL4~ceCpTlVh138WepkIg3~ChuWnHgr~jXt2O7dO0f4CqB0aHywwOse~ZnfHvk0leoRyiIOTymiyxkWvcUf209Dq5tYq2omVaAoBHWMzuqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Palo Alto","date","2025-01-30T05:20:33.91Z","article","Palo Alto Parks and Recreation staff presented an expanded five-year capital improvement program (CIP) plan and answered commissioner questions about individual projects, timelines and funding. The presentation covered roughly two dozen proposed projects for fiscal 2026 and additional projects through 2030, including play-area replacements, park restrooms, open-space improvements and planned eucalyptus removals.

\"This presentation is a follow-up to last month's CIP discussion with additional information on each CIP as requested by the Commission,\" said Lam Do, senior parks staff, as he reviewed the project list and the city's CIP timeline. Do explained that only the first-year funding (fiscal 2026) would be adopted by council in the coming budget process while later years remain planning estimates.

During public comment and the presentation, multiple speakers urged that the city prioritize installing a restroom at Eleanor Party Park. \"There's an urgent need ... for a restroom at this location,\" said Sharon Erickson, a resident and volunteer at the park, asking the commission to \"recommend it be added to the 2025–26 capital budget and installed as soon as possible.\" Nancy Kawakita, another resident speaker, echoed the request and asked staff to identify next steps so the survey results (open through Feb. 13) could be reflected in the May budget timeline.

Staff described the necessary steps and timing if the commission were to recommend a restroom at that site: additional community engagement, coordination with Public Works for site design and utility connections, procurement of a prefabricated unit, and construction/installation. Staff cautioned the process typically includes design, procurement and construction steps that can take many months. \"It has to go through a design phase ... then procurement ... ordering phase, which can be a 6 month lead time,\" one staff member said when describing schedule risks.

The commission and staff also discussed a number of CA-specific CIP items and operational details raised during the presentation: Foothills Nature Preserve projects (dock replacement, dam seepage study), ongoing park and trails maintenance projects, athletic-court resurfacing, dog-park funding (every-other-year budget cadence), and a proposed expanded Foothills Nature Preserve library pass program. Parks staff said the library program had been expanded from a one-day paper pass to a two-week, reserveable, physical pass system across the library system; staff reported there are 75 passes distributed across five libraries.

Commissioners pressed for greater clarity in the CIP documents, including: (1) year-by-year figures that separate the amount requested for FY26 from five-year aggregates; (2) clearer descriptions where projects listed as \"complete\" still require future phases; and (3) identification of projects that will need future funding beyond FY26. Commissioner Greenfield also asked that staff provide more detail on the turf-replacement study for city playing fields; staff said they would leverage the recent Santa Clara County study and local usage data to prepare recommendations.

On restrooms specifically, staff said if the commission recommends proceeding, the city's capital improvement process would require further community engagement and staff would recommend the project in the FY26 budget with a possibility of design and installation following in FY27 — acknowledging that the process depends on staff capacity, procurement lead times and available budget. \"Should there be any interest in adding a restroom at Party Park, the City's capital improvement process would then require further community engagement and staff would recommend this project in fiscal year 26 budget process with a possibility of design and installation for the following year,\" staff said.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to return with more-detailed cost breakdowns tied specifically to FY26 funding and to include clearer year-by-year budget lines. Staff said they would follow up and provide additional documentation and requested renderings for high-impact projects. The city manager's office and the Office of Management and Budget will review CIP requests and return a proposed plan to council in April, with finance committee and council hearings before budget adoption in June.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreation Commission - January 28, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","Parks staff presented an updated five-year CIP plan covering proposed FY26 projects and later planning years; residents urged the commission and staff to add a restroom at Eleanor Party Park during the FY26 budget process.","taxTitle","Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California","taxId",3867,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6670768,"Palo Alto staff outline mobile amateur-radio emergency network at Fire Station 8; commissioners ask for bird, visual and CEQA details",1744,3264000,5008000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172020-7da5c6a41739340ed2ec81d6cbdf5474&start=3264&end=5008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172020-7da5c6a41739340ed2ec81d6cbdf5474/thumbnail_3264000.jpg","/articles/6670768/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-staff-outline-mobile-amateur-radio-emergency-network-at-Fire-Station-8-commissioners-ask-for-bird-visual-and-CEQA-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670768-c4efeebe99db8d4b62c093f16c894a22/orig.mp4?Expires=1775635084&Signature=Hh0IPcdPsL6-74~0oV2AmWJU0949tYONqxNyA1u1bX9bvQzZRaC5ejmzNyuIy~CrhGB2-SBvsCpPc~SlEveb~qadI1xXm6~FfG6RhToINpBgSVZskFytO9TjFwLouExAN02qICTKIoEQwrVi68MxP5-MzOFjUhVTNfm5B9kf5EwTdpf1fzSDG4HKtaiuHWKU584f~1IpyLSHuy8Q4vYzJDeNgUDF885o5ht0f3wZvldnXJXE6AFbDLvTOraEvCAaseAX93ZCIpMi9SHzWGODsLr-iUrM-379PG9ClJSKJcXRt8B0ToeVnqW0WqvAK5HdbnmqdPRcZHqVL4O6jK2cyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a proposal to place a mobile Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (ARDIN) node — including a repurposed ambulance outfitted with servers and a 60-foot trailer-mounted communications tower — adjacent to Fire Station 8 in the Foothills as a redundancy for communications during large-scale emergencies.

The ARDIN node would use unencrypted amateur radio frequencies (around 5.8 GHz) and be operated by licensed amateur-radio operators; staff said the system is intended as a contingency if other communications fail in an earthquake, wildfire or other disaster. \"The emergency radio, data network is a redundancy for communications in the event that there is an earthquake or some kind of large scale event,\" said Andres Orazoco, Emergency Services coordinator, describing the proposal and its planned location near the Foothills Nature Preserve entrance.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the benefit of additional, resilient communications. \"Having data communications when there's no more cell phone ... overload of systems is super important to us,\" said Ken Duker, one of Palo Alto's public safety chiefs, adding that the network would help the Emergency Operations Center prioritize limited resources.

But commissioners pressed for more design and environmental detail before any installation. Commissioner Kleinhaus said the packet did not include visual renderings and asked for information on \"bird-friendly\" tower design and lighting, citing U.S. Fish and Wildlife guidance on tower collisions. Kleinhaus told staff to \"look at\" guidance and either avoid guy wires or take measures to make them visible to birds.

Staff and presenters said they would provide the requested materials. \"Of course, we will get all that information in mitigation and come back to you with that,\" Orazoco said when asked whether bird-safety mitigation and tower renderings would be provided. Commissioners also asked whether any CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) review would be required; staff said they expected the unit to qualify for an exemption as a mobile unit but agreed to verify permitting and whether a park-improvement ordinance or council approval would be necessary.

Other technical and operational points discussed included: the mobile unit would be powered by a 110-volt, 20-amp run from Fire Station 8; wiring would be buried; the trailer would not exceed the height of the existing tower on the hill; and the system leverages licensed amateur (ham) radio operators so users are identifiable by call sign. \"It is above board for the FCC,\" Orazoco said, noting licensed operators must identify themselves on the network.

Commissioners also asked about ownership, security, and operations. Staff said Dr. Bob Iannucci (identified in the staff report) would retain and maintain the donated equipment at his cost; staff said that arrangement and the unit's mobility were intended to reduce city capital costs. \"Doctor Iannucci is donating this, he owns it. He's going to maintain it at his cost,\" Duker said when commissioners asked about budget implications.

No formal action was taken; the commission provided direction to staff to return with visual mock-ups, bird-safety mitigation measures and clarity on environmental review and any required council approvals. \"Yes, absolutely,\" Orazoco said when asked whether staff had enough direction to proceed with follow-up work.

Ending: Staff said they would return with the additional design, mitigation and permitting details and bring any required environmental review or permitting determinations back to the commission for an action item. The item remains a discussion item pending those materials and any formal permitting steps.","City staff presented a proposal to station a mobile Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (ARDIN) node — including a repurposed ambulance and a trailer-mounted tower — at Fire Station 8 in the Foothills. Commissioners supported redundancy but requested visual mock-ups, bird-safety measures and clarification of environmental review and permitting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6670761,"Residents and Sierra Club press Palo Alto to replace eucalyptus in preserves; staff says phased replanting is planned",1952,994000,2946000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2172020-7da5c6a41739340ed2ec81d6cbdf5474&start=994&end=2946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2172020-7da5c6a41739340ed2ec81d6cbdf5474/thumbnail_994000.jpg","/articles/6670761/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Residents-and-Sierra-Club-press-Palo-Alto-to-replace-eucalyptus-in-preserves-staff-says-phased-replanting-is-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6670761-fa8269c115fae9111f2d342a80284015/orig.mp4?Expires=1775635084&Signature=IyPc3PcsOJ-eAc6iXToWzN20emccNHVGT0IvhbaVjH5R3M7cbEhWnoYMSBWWX4LB76RgnSbvLdScf~5JHGnSEjTkhs1Qe1lFy3HOnWGJb3MgPWamkkHKUaUd2CJ3jdCs-iscs8FOOfMzDvjy8SXIRZg~LRDmNWJi~ZUb9dzwO4bU6aINrymzUgcCt-U3008T~BLsHwSdsh9rrjWgvwDIIofDKK9QdlmIflppMXb1o11VIDSnmUrEX~EAQNcbw4zFbIGnTBqbO4nhO~WOw8YWthg8ynx2nyzIOd0XHpTAVsKHgmYXYMIxGXMoEKD9K2CMClkud5d5nmCMGLUcRfy4uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and environmental advocates told the Parks and Recreation Commission they want replacement plantings after recent eucalyptus removals in the city's nature preserves, while staff said a phased replanting plan is in development.

During public comment, Doria (last name not given) thanked staff for removing eucalyptus trees in \"sensitive locations like Esther Clark Park\" but urged that the removed trees be replaced with resilient native species because the trees provided habitat and canopy. \"I just wanna emphasize the importance of replanting these trees with more resistant native species,\" the speaker said.

Dashiell Leeds, conservation coordinator for the Sierra Club's Loma Prieta (Lumber—Prieta) chapter, told the commission the organization received a notice that a large number of eucalyptus trees had been removed from Esther Clark Park \"and that these removed trees were not replaced.\" Leeds said the Sierra Club \"understand[s] the rationale behind the removal\" but asked whether the city has a plan to replace the removed trees and whether that plan would be public.

Staff responded that replanting is planned in collaboration with the Urban Forestry Department and that fall is the typical planting season for establishing new trees. Parks staff said a phased approach is planned to ensure new trees are properly established and that volunteers and partners such as Grassroots Ecology have already begun some plantings; staff reported \"trees actually that have been planted out there ... and some are caged. We've partnered with Grassroots Ecology, so they have been assisting with that.\" Commissioners asked staff to keep the commission and concerned residents informed and to provide a timing update in forthcoming department reports.

Commissioners also asked about funding for replacement plantings. Parks staff said the cost is expected to be absorbed in the department's normal operating budget for planting and that staff would consider building replacement costs into future project budgets where large removals are proposed. \"The budget is actually, it's not too expensive on that, so we would take that out of our normal operating budget. We would absorb the cost,\" staff said when asked where funding would come from.

Commissioners pressed staff to include mitigation planning in future removal projects so impacts are assessed and replacement plantings budgeted simultaneously. \"When there is a project that has impact ... the compensation should be folded into the project budget,\" one commissioner said, urging explicit mitigation commitments and timelines.

Ending: Staff said they would continue collaborating with Urban Forestry, Grassroots Ecology and volunteers on phased replanting, would work toward fall planting phases, and would bring schedule updates to future meetings. The commission asked staff to make the replanting plan public and to include species lists and maps when available.","Public commenters and the Sierra Club raised concerns after recent eucalyptus removals in Foothills and Esther Clark parks. Staff said removals reduce fire fuel and that replanting with native, drought-tolerant species is planned in a phased effort overseen by urban forestry and park rangers, with some initial plantings already installed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Palo Alto staff lay out FY26–30 capital plan; residents urge adding Eleanor Party Park restroom to FY26 budget

Palo Alto staff outline mobile amateur-radio emergency network at Fire Station 8; commissioners ask for bird, visual and CEQA details

Residents and Sierra Club press Palo Alto to replace eucalyptus in preserves; staff says phased replanting is planned