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Residents ask Palo Alto to avoid scheduling meetings during Rosh Hashanah; committee says it will try to adjourn by 7 p.m.
Summary
Two residents asked the committee to avoid scheduling public meetings during the high holidays, citing Rosh Hashanah; the committee said it would try to finish the special meeting by 7 p.m.
Two residents raised concerns during public comment Sept. 22 that the special committee meeting conflicted with the start of Rosh Hashanah and asked the city to avoid scheduling important public meetings during the 10-day High Holy Days period.
Public commenter Herb B. told the committee that Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset in Palo Alto and that meetings scheduled during the 10-day period can prevent some people from attending or watching. "It might be better to just continue this meeting until the end of the 10-day period so that everyone have an opportunity who wants to come and participate," he said.
A second commenter, Jennifer, said she supported Herb B.'s concerns and noted the sensitivity of scheduling public meetings on major religious holidays.
Committee Chair Tom Stone acknowledged the concerns and said the committee would make an effort to finish the meeting by 7 p.m. because the session included a single agenda item and two candidate interviews that the committee expected to complete that night. "We're gonna make every effort that we can to be done by 07:00," Chair Stone said during the meeting.
No formal scheduling policy changes were proposed or adopted at the meeting; the remarks were recorded as public comment for staff and council consideration.
