Citizen Participation: The Council encourages citizen participation. The third order of business at all regular meetings is a period of Oral Communications, at which time the public may comment on any subject within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City that is not included on the agenda. Council Members do not enter into debate or discussion with speakers under Oral Communications. The presiding officer may ask the City Manager to respond at a later date. Citizens' comments on an agenda item are heard at the time Council is considering the item. Lengthy testimony should be submitted in writing prior to the meeting.
Correspondence: Addressed to the Council Correspondence (in any format, e.g., e-mail, fax) addressed to the Council is acknowledged, given an agenda number if applicable, and reproduced for all packets assembled for Council meetings. Letters addressed to the Council are not automatically agendized; Council Members may choose to place any subject on a future agenda. Any correspondence or other written material delivered to a majority of the Council becomes public record. Please contact the City Clerk's Office for further information regarding correspondence addressed to Council.
The Council Packet: The Council packet is delivered to Council Members on Thursday evenings and contains the Agenda, Minutes, Schedule of Meetings, Staff Reports, correspondence, and supporting material for each agenda item. The Schedule of Meetings and the City Council Agenda are posted to the City's web pages between 3-5 p.m. on the Thursday before the next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting. Council packet is available for public perusal in the Council Chambers by 8:00 a.m. and at the City's Libraries on Fridays.
The City Council's e-mail address is city.council@cityofpaloalto.org. E-mail correspondence addressed to, or copied to, the City Council is a public record. The e-mail Correspondence is reproduced for the next available Council packet.
Please be aware when you email the City Council, your email address becomes a public record. If you do not wish your email address to be a public record, send your correspondence via postal mail to: City of Palo Alto, Office of the City Clerk 250 Hamilton Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94301
