Palo Alto council interviews candidates for HRC, UAC and PTC; mental health, AI and housing surface as priorities

Palo Alto — After adopting an ordinance tied to the U.N.’s CEDAW principles, the council on March 23 conducted interviews of applicants for the Human Relations Commission (HRC), Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) and Planning & Transportation Commission (PTC).

The HRC candidates highlighted mental health, homelessness and cross-community engagement. Ellen Bobb (HRC applicant) pointed to mediation experience and local service programs, saying the HRC’s forthcoming five-part work plan should address mental health, community safety and housing. Rona Hu, a Stanford psychiatrist, emphasized youth and adult mental-health services and bilingual outreach; she noted experience running inpatient units and programs for parents. Razel (Bridal) Rosenberg, an engineering manager and renter, said she would focus on youth mental health, community engagement and safe AI use in library and public programs.

UAC applicants discussed utilities rates, regional partnerships and electrification strategy. Robert Phillips (incumbent) urged the commission to maintain a strategic governance view and suggested better liaison work with the council and regional agencies. Megan Mauder (UAC incumbent) and Greg Scharf (UAC chair) emphasized long-term planning, regional coordination on wastewater and nutrient markets, and scrutiny of capital expenditures. Applicants flagged rising water rates and the need to manage capital investment trade-offs.

PTC interviewees addressed housing location and process improvements. Tom Siegel emphasized infill around commercial corridors such as California Avenue and parking-structure strategies; Forrest Peterson (incumbent) stressed lived experience with transit and flood protection and recommended stronger cross-staff collaboration on creek and flood modeling; Brenda Chang pointed to recent PTC moves on bird-friendly and dark-sky rules as accomplishments and emphasized clearer transmission of PTC discussion to council.

Across panels, candidates repeatedly raised youth mental health and the social effects of AI as priorities, and several cited equity and affordability as cross-cutting themes. Council members noted the value of lived experience—renters, youth, and long-time residents—among applicants and said appointments will be decided at future council meetings.