City Council - November 3, 2025

Council unanimously approves wildfire preparedness package

The Palo Alto City Council voted 7-0 to approve a three-part wildfire preparedness package: an updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan, a resolution adopting the Emergency Operations Plan and the city auditor’s wildfire preparedness report. The action also authorized the city manager to submit the wildfire protection plan to Santa Clara County.

The wildfire plan sets a goal of containing fires to less than 10 acres. Staff described fuel-reduction work in Foothills Park and along Page Mill Road, inspections of about 130 foothills homes and a network of 50 wildland smoke sensors. The Emergency Operations Plan, generally updated about every five years, covers coordination among city departments and outside agencies during major emergencies.

The audit found that Palo Alto has strong wildfire-prevention and emergency-response programs while recommending better tracking of wildland-urban-interface violations, formalization of the Cal Fire contract, improved evacuation planning and outreach, and closer management of training and mutual-aid agreements.

Councilmembers focused their discussion on emergency-alert redundancy, regional coordination and whether Palo Alto should pursue stronger defensible-space or Zone Zero requirements. Staff said Zone Zero, the first 5 feet around a home, is not currently enforced and is being promoted as a community-driven risk-reduction measure. Staff did not identify a need for additional ordinances at this time.

Police dispatch remains the primary resource for issuing emergency alerts, with county communications and emergency-management partners available as backups, staff said. Planned next steps include updating the wildfire annex, testing alert-system redundancies and continuing public education about AlertSCC, evacuation zones, Zone Zero and Firewise Communities.

Councilmembers highlight SNAP-related food assistance needs

Councilmembers Julie Lythcott-Haims and Pat Burt highlighted local food-assistance needs related to SNAP funding reductions. Lythcott-Haims promoted community resources and a regional food-assistance list, while Burt suggested that the city and school district help Palo Alto Community Child Care cover a gap he estimated at about $2,500 per week.

During public comment, a Palo Alto Community Child Care representative described emergency grocery-card support and said the organization serves more than 800 children daily. A speaker reported raising $5,000 for 100 grocery gift cards. The council took no formal action on Burt’s suggestion.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting agenda