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Connect with your community each week with the following updates on COVID-19, City services, events and programs, wellness opportunities, and family resources.

Coronavirus Report
Message from Police Chief Andrew Binder: December Update
Share Your Input: National Community Survey, 2023 Council Priorities, Car Free Streets Visioning
Reflecting on a Month of Gratitude
Palo Alto Fiber Next Steps
City Manager Weekly Community Update: December 5, 2022

Coronavirus Report

The reporting frequency for national and statewide data is shifting as the need for daily data is decreasing. For national and statewide COVID-19 data, visit the?CDC’s data dashboard and the California data dashboard. Santa Clara County continues to update cases more frequently: on December 7,?Santa Clara County reported?a 7-day rolling average of 465?new cases.

County Wastewater Data Indicates High Rates of COVID-19 in Palo Alto

The County of Santa Clara wastewater monitoring program has detected a surge in COVID-19 levels over the past month. Santa Clara County Public Health announced on Monday, December 5, that rising levels of COVID-19 were found in all four of the County’s wastewater sewersheds, which have historically proven to be an accurate indicator of COVID-19 community transmission levels. The Palo Alto sewershed levels are higher than they were in January 2022, at the height of the Omicron surge last winter. To combat rising COVID-19 cases, County Public Health encourages the community to get vaccinated against both the flu and COVID-19 as soon as possible. Go to www.sccfreevax.org to schedule a COVID-19 or flu vaccine appointment. In addition, the County offers several drop-in clinics, with no appointment needed (including a North County location!). 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Update to COVID-19 Data Tracker Metrics 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Data Tracker has been updated to display “Updated (Bivalent) Booster Dose” data for all age groups by County. This updated formatting replaces the previous metric options which were: “People with a First Booster Dose” and “People with a Second Booster Dose.” Learn more and view the data tracker here

Community Recovery and City Updates

Holiday Decorating Contest

Enter by: December 14

Decorate the exterior of your home, a front door/window, or your business in holiday-themed décor!

Learn More

Holiday Toy & Gift Drive

November 14 - December 14

Drop off new and unwrapped toys, games, gifts and more for local youth in need at various Palo Alto locations.

Learn More

Message from Police Chief Andrew Binder: December Update  

In his latest quarterly community update, Police Chief Andrew Binder discusses recent significant events and good news on Department staffing levels. He also introduces the community to the Department’s new canine Koudy, provides an update on Department community engagement initiatives, and shares information about the Department’s data collection efforts as part of the Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA). Read the community message here.  

Share Your Input: National Community Survey, 2023 Council Priorities, Car Free Streets Visioning

The City encourages and appreciates the community’s input and feedback. Three online surveys seek community input to help inform on current services and programs, community needs and priorities, and visioning for car free streets:

National Community Survey Open Through December 19: The annual Community Survey is a critical community feedback tool that helps the City Council and City staff understand community perspectives on current services and programs, as well as unmet needs and priorities.

Feedback on 2023 City Council Priorities: Each year, the City Council reviews its priorities for the year at its annual Council Retreat which will be scheduled in January 2023. A Council priority is defined as a topic that will receive significant attention during the year. Community input will be provided to the City Council in preparation for their retreat to inform their discussion on annual priorities. Share your input here.

Car Free Streets-California Avenue and Ramona Street Visioning: Share your input on the future visioning of California Avenue and Ramona Street! This survey is part of the first phase of outreach with more engagement planned in early 2023, and is split into two sections, a focus on California Avenue and a focus on Ramona Street. 

Find these community surveys and other engagement opportunities here.

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