Palo Alto

Palo Alto is a city of 68,000 inseparable from Stanford University and Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial origin story — birthplace of HP and home to Sand Hill Road venture capital. Incorporated 1894, governed by a nine-member Council, with its own rare full-service utility system.

CivicCause organizes issues, meetings, elections, and public activity around Palo Alto so you can see what is happening locally and how it connects to broader county decisions.

Palo Alto has begun construction on a major housing development at the former Fish Market site on El Camino Real, marking a significant step toward meeting state and regional housing mandates. This project stands out amid recent state law changes and is a key part of the city’s efforts to address its housing needs despite ongoing budget challenges.

Separately, the Palo Alto City Council had regular meetings earlier this summer in June, continuing to address city governance and policy matters. Residents following local governance should also watch the upcoming Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission meeting on August 26, which will cover elections and governance topics relevant to the broader Santa Clara County area. While the city focuses on housing, ongoing fiscal concerns and housing transformation efforts remain important background issues for Palo Alto’s future planning.

Civic Signals

Top Issues in Palo Alto

Civic Activity

Elections

Upcoming meetings

Recent meetings