Community Engagement

Community engagement and civic participation is an important priority for the City and several community engagement options and ongoing communication on city programs, services and events are available to help inform City Council decision-making. The City uses a range of engagement approaches such as online surveys, polls, Annual Community Survey, neighborhood town halls, issue-specific town halls, focus groups, community meetings and workshops, and boards, commissions and City Council meetings. These engagement opportunities also support the implementation of the City’s workplans, and enhance City services and programs. Stay up to date with City news here.

Learn more and join the conversation today.

City Service Feedback

As a learning organization, the City of Palo Alto invites and encourages your feedback. Engage with staff by providing feedback on our customer service, programs, and other services provided to the public.

Palo Alto Digital Forum

The Palo Alto Digital Forum uses ESRI, an ArcGIS platform, to engage through community mapping. The Digital Forum serves as a hub for the community to stay informed, engage, and connect together on key initiatives.

Palo Alto Community Survey

The Palo Alto Community Survey is a community feedback tool that helps the City Council and City staff understand community perspectives on services and programs, as well as unmet needs and priorities.

Neighborhood Town Hall

In partnership together, the City of Palo Alto, City Council, Palo Alto Neighborhoods, and community leaders are hosting a series of town halls to connect, hear about City updates, and gain input on neighborhood issues.

Upcoming Town Halls

The next round of Neighborhood Town Hall meetings is being planned and will be discussed at an upcoming Council meeting.

Previous Town Halls

August 20, 2025

Neighborhoods: Downtown North, University South including Professorville, and Sand Hill Corridor

June 11, 2025

Neighborhoods: Palo Alto Foothills, Esther Clark Park, and Miranda on June 11, 2025.

March 28, 2024

Neighborhoods: Crescent Park, Duveneck/St. Francis, Community Center, and Triple El
Where: Duveneck Elementary School

October 15, 2023

Neighborhoods: Midtown and Palo Verde
Where: El Palo Alto Room, Mitchell Park Community Center

September 24, 2023

Neighborhoods: Leland Manor, Old Palo Alto, and Southgate
Where: Greene Middle School, 750 N California Ave.

June 11, 2023

Neighborhoods: College Terrace, Evergreen, Mayfield, Ventura, and Palo Alto Central
Where: Palo Alto High School - Peery Family Center (Large Gym)

March 26, 2023

The City of Palo Alto and Neighborhood Leaders hosted a Neighborhood Town Hall on Sunday, March 26, 2023 with the neighborhood areas of Greenmeadow, Greendell, Walnut Grove, Fairmeadow, Charleston Meadow, Charleston Garden, Charleston Village, Adobe Meadow, Meadow Park, and Greenhouse. Meeting topics included: Land use/zone changes, Traffic issues, Rail Grade Separation, Crime update, Cubberley update, and brief updates on housing, Charleston/Arastradero Corridor, El Camino Real Repaving. Find meeting resources below.

October 2022

The City of Palo Alto and Neighborhood Leaders hosted a Neighborhood Town Hall with the neighborhood areas of Barron Park, Barron Square, Greenacres I, Greenacres II, Palo Alto Orchards and Monroe Park on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. Meeting topics included: Traffic Issues, Crime Update, and Brief updates on Housing Element, local elections/Measure K&L and Sustainability priorities, Creekside Inn Prescreening Process. Find meeting resources below.

Flyers and Other Resources

Open Town Hall

Open Town Hall is an online forum for civic engagement. You are invited to read what others are saying about important Palo Alto topics, then post your own statement. The comments will be available to City officials making decisions on these topics.

San Antonio Road Area Plan Design Concepts - Deadline: March 29

Visit Open Town Hall

Community Engagement Events & Opportunities

Find other engagement events, workshops, and meetings on the City's web calendar. More Hot Topics like Rail Grade Separation, ways to connect, and more can be found here.

Cubberley CEQA Public Comment Period Open & Conceptual Master Plan Posted

The draft Conceptual Master Plan & California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) offers environmental clearance to approach upgrades on the Cubberley Community Center Campus over time, representing a concept that should be considered adaptable and dynamic as the project phases continue to progress. Planned property acquisition plus a three-phased approach guides the long-term vision for the site, combining new construction and renovation. This phased approach is necessary as funding is secured (and will need to come from multiple sources) while limiting disruption to existing programs and services. City Council will consider the draft Conceptual Master Plan tentatively on April 20. The environmental review continues with the recent release of the Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for a 30-day review period that assesses potential environmental impacts and identifies measures to reduce these impacts.

Share input by April 1.

Temporary Churchill Ave Rail Crossing Closure Review

Staff is initiating the necessary analysis to evaluate what would be required to implement a temporary closure at the train crossing at Churchill Ave and Alma St. Share your thoughts with the City as we evaluate the possibility of a temporary closure of the Churchill rail crossing through an online form. Community feedback received through the website feedback form will be shared with the City Council as they consider next steps tentatively scheduled for April 20.

Learn more and share input on a temporary Churchill Ave closure