BY ELAINE GOODMAN
Daily Post Correspondent
In contrast to previous years, the Palo Alto City Council has set at least one very specific priority for 2026: find funding to acquire and renovate Cubberley Community Center.
Cubberley was one of four priorities council approved for 2026 during its annual retreat at Mitchell Park Community Center on Saturday. The other three are: government efficiency; achieve near-term housing priority milestones; and enhance business vibrancy.
Council members said they wanted this year’s priorities to be relatively immediate items that would receive significant attention during the year.
Council’s four priorities for 2025 were:
• Climate Action and Adaptation and Natural Environment Protection,
• Economic Development and Retail Vibrancy,
• Implementing Housing Strategies for Social & Economic Balance,
• Public Safety, Wellness & Belonging.
Although choosing a single project as an annual priority felt strange to some council members, Councilman Pat Burt noted there was nothing to stop them from doing so.
The city plans to go to voters in November with a tax measure to fund the purchase of 7 acres of land at Cubber-ley from the Palo Alto Unified School District for $65.5 million. The purchase would bring the city-owned share of the Cubberley site to 15 acres. Funds from a tax measure might also help pay for renovations there.
“We have a window (in which) we’re either going to succeed or fail,” Burt said. “Without that focus, I worry we will not succeed.”
The city hired a consultant to poll voters on a potential Cubberley measure. In a November survey of 407 likely voters, a parcel tax based on a property’s square footage had the most support, at 39%, followed by a sales tax measure at 37%. A parcel tax would need a two-thirds vote to pass and a sales tax would require a simple majority.
Additional Cubberley surveys are planned.
Efficiency
In another 2026 priority, government efficiency is taking on more urgency for council members after a forecast showing budget deficits each fiscal year through 2032.
The deficits are larger than in previous projections, partly due to reduced estimates of property tax and sales tax revenue. The long-range financial forecast was presented to council last week.
On Saturday, Councilman Keith Reckdahl said efficiency and the budget should be the top focus for the year.
“The budget shortfall is like an albatross around our neck,” Reckdahl said.
“We have all these good ideas and we say, ‘Oh, it’s a good idea, but we can’t afford it.'”
Councilman George Lu pushed for adding economic development to the list of 2026 priorities, saying it goes hand-in-hand with efficiency.
Economic development could help the city bring in more revenue to counteract the budget shortfalls.
“We want to do more with less, but we also just want to have more,” Lu said.
Burt said that while the city should work to increase revenue, listing that as a priority might send the wrong message to the community, especially at a time when a Cubberley tax measure is planned.
“Is it going to convey to the community (that) we just want more money?” Burt said.
Vibrancy
Council members ultimately decided on a 5-2 vote to add “enhance business vibrancy” as a fourth priority.
Reckdahl and Councilman Ed Lauing were opposed. Reckdahl had argued throughout the meeting for keeping the priorities narrowly focused.
Council approved the other three priorities unanimously.
Housing
As part of the housing-focused priority, council members discussed seeking a “pro-housing” designation for the city from the state Department of Housing and Community Development. According to HCD, the designation is for cities that “go above and beyond” state law to promote housing development.
The designation may open more housing-related funding opportunities for recipients. Council members said they want to learn more about what’s involved in getting the designation.
As for the council’s broader priorities from 2025, those goals might not be going away. Instead, council discussed incorporating them into a list of council values – a set of general themes that may apply across several years.
The current list of council values has six items, including making decisions that are environmentally sustainable “now and in the future.” Another value is to create a healthy, safe and welcoming community for all.