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• Major Milestone Achieved to Redevelop the Former Fry’s Electronics Site
• National Preparedness Month: Take Control in 1, 2, 3
• Mosquito Treatment in South Palo Alto Tonight at 10 p.m.
• Palo Alto Airport Long Range Facilities & Sustainability Plan Community Meetings: September 21
• Weekly City Manager Updates: September 11, 2023

Major Milestone Achieved to Redevelop the Former Fry’s Electronics Site

The City Council achieved a major milestone this week with unanimous approval to redevelop the former Fry’s Electronics site at 340 Portage within the North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan (NVCAP) area. Key components of this approval include:

• Restoration and adaptive reuse of 60% of the historically significant cannery, 
• Construction of 74 new townhome condominiums,
• Dedication of 3.25 acres for new open space including a one-acre site to be developed by the City for 100% affordable housing, with $5 million to support next steps, and
• Incorporation of historic displays and art within the development, as well as initiating renaming Portage Avenue and new park in honor of Chinese entrepreneur Thomas Foon Chew.

Read a community update authored by former Mayor Tom DuBois and current Mayor Lydia Kou on their recommendations advancing this development agreement last year. For the full details of these actions, read the September 12, 2023 staff report. This milestone supports the Council’s 2023 Priority focused on Housing for Social and Economic Balance and furthering the 2023-2031 City’s Housing Element.

National Preparedness Month: Take Control in 1, 2, 3

Emergencies happen unexpectedly. Plan ahead for the unexpected. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) established National Preparedness Month every September to raise awareness and offer tools to protect yourself and your loved ones before, during and after an emergency strikes. All month, we'll be sharing ways to stay safe and take action in case of an emergency.

Mosquito Treatment in South Palo Alto Tonight at 10 p.m.

The County of Santa Clara Vector Control District will be conducting mosquito control treatment on Thursday, September 14 starting at 10 p.m. in areas of South Palo Alto and Mountain View. The treatment will take approximately 2-4 hours and will use truck-mounted equipment to help reduce the mosquito population in the area and the risk of West Nile virus. Read more and click here to view an interactive map of treatment areas. Community health is all of our responsibilities and residents can help by reducing standing water in your yards and notify the City if you see an injured or deceased bird. Palo Alto Police Department’s Animal Control Officers routinely submit deceased birds found in Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills to Vector Control to run West Nile Virus detection tests. If you see an injured or deceased bird, please help by contacting Animal Control at (650) 329-2413 so they can retrieve and send it to Vector Control for testing.

Palo Alto Airport Long Range Facilities & Sustainability Plan Community Meetings

The community is invited to attend a community meeting to provide input and guidance on the planning process for the Palo Alto Airport. The next meetings are Thursday, September 21 at 11 a.m. in Menlo Park or 5 p.m. in East Palo Alto to share feedback on recommendations, ask questions, and learn about next steps of the long-range facilities and sustainability plan development. These are open house style and staff will be sharing the same information at both meetings.

Weekly City Manager Updates: September 11, 2023

City Manager Shikada continues to share updates at each Council meeting highlighting details on upcoming events, City services, City Council discussions planned, and action taken at the meeting. The Mitchell Park Teen Center opened this week for middle and high school students. Learn about job openings with the City. Find a summary of Council actions related to permanent parklets, 340 Portage (Fry’s Electronics site), and more. Read these updates and a summary of City Council actions here. 

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: It’s been one year since Santa Clara County adopted the use of 9-8-8, a crisis service and suicide prevention hotline. Help share this community resource in observance of September being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. 988 is available nationwide, 24/7 as an easy to remember three-digit dialing and texting code, with a chat feature on 988lifeline.org. Connect with trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress including thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crises, emotional distress, and other reasons to connect.

Tackling Too Much Tech: Using too much technology can have negative effects on mental and physical health, including sleep deprivation, eye strain, and isolation. This 10-Step Guide to Digital Detox provides resources to help combat these side effects and build healthier tech habits.

Recipe of the Week: It’s officially fall because all our favorite pumpkin flavored foods and drinks are back. Pumpkins are nutrient dense and contain benefits for our heart. Check out this healthy (we promise!) pumpkin cookie recipe to jumpstart your pumpkin-loving season properly.

Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15 – October 15 we honor the history, culture, and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Check out colorful visual art, compelling literary works, relentless activism, events and more in the Palo Alto City Library’s list.

Caltrain Promotion Fares: Take your family and kids on Caltrain with their promotion fares now through January 2024. Get 50% off parking, $1 youth fare, 3-day unlimited pass for hybrid commuters, plus group and family day passes. Visit Caltrain.com/promos for more details.

September 17 is Constitution Day: Explore digital resources from the National Archives to learn about the Constitution. On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created.

National Voter Registration Day is September 19, 2023!: National Voter Registration Day efforts are designed to ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to vote, creating broad awareness of voter registration opportunities to reach tens of thousands of voters who may not register otherwise. Visit their website to check your registration and learn about the national program to increase voter registration. There are also paid job opportunities with the County of Santa Clara to help with the upcoming elections.

How to Maintain Well-Being During College Prep: On Wednesday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m., join Tiffany Phu, a certified college and career services professional, to learn about maintaining wellness while balancing school and preparing for college. This webinar is free and open to all. Please register to receive the Zoom link, which will be emailed 30 minutes before the workshop.