Mayor Vicki Veenker will deliver Palo Alto's 2026 State of the City address on Wednesday, Aug. 19, covering council priorities and what the city calls "community successes" during a summer packed with major decisions at City Hall.

City Manager Ed Shikada flagged the address during his weekly update to the City Council on Monday, Aug. 10, listing it alongside progress on the long-delayed Public Safety Building move-in, citywide construction impacts and upcoming transportation workshops.

The city promoted the event on X in late July, saying Veenker would share updates on council priorities and council values.

The city's event page invites residents to "connect with the community and learn about the City Council's 2026 priorities and progress on other focus areas."

The address arrives one week after the candidate filing deadline for the Nov. 3 council election, with three seats on the ballot. As we reported Aug. 11, a candidate had entered the race by the day before the extended Aug. 12 deadline. Veenker's own seat is among those up for election.

Public Safety Building still waiting for police

Shikada's update also referenced "move-in progress" at the $123.5 million Public Safety Building at 250 Sherman Ave. The city has not confirmed whether police officers and dispatchers have actually relocated from their old Forest Avenue headquarters.

The three-story facility had its grand opening in November 2025. Police still hadn't moved in as of the spring. A dispute with general contractor Swinerton Builders, which filed more than 300 change orders seeking over $20 million in additional funding, stalled the Phase 2 move-in that would bring officers and 911 dispatchers into the building.

"The delay in Phase 2 completion and move in is largely due to staff having to contract with third-party contractors for work the general contractor has refused to do," Public Works Director Brad Eggleston told San José Spotlight in May.

The city had been relying on outside contractors to finish smoke-control systems in the detention area, fume hood certification, audio-visual work and elevator access controls before police could move in.

Shikada's update also flagged community workshops on rail grade separation scheduled for Aug. 25 and Aug. 27, which the Ledger has covered separately.

The specific time and venue for the Aug. 19 State of the City have not been posted. Residents can check paloalto.gov/StateoftheCity for time and venue details.