City Council has had a few weeks without a public meeting, so it's been a while since my last email. I hope this finds you well.
One of the top priorities* that I ran on was "Safe Streets for people of all ages and abilities." This week's agenda contains Item I1: Middle Avenue Street Design (see below). As always, I will listen to all points of view, thoughtfully consider the trade-offs with the various options and vote in a way that is consistent with the values on which I was elected.
I hope you will also read to the bottom of this email where I present "3 Local Ways to Get Involved in Climate Action." There are so many wonderful opportunities to engage right here on the Peninsula.
Have a wonderful week.
Warmly,
*As a reminder, the top priorities that I ran on, and that guide my work, are:
This item contains the results of a resident survey about recreation and community programs desired at the new Menlo Park Community Campus (MPCC) in Belle Haven. On Tuesday, the City Council will hear a presentation about the survey results, and then discuss what and how to prioritize the programming at MPCC.
The Middle Avenue Complete Street project proposes bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements along the entire length of Middle Avenue between El Camino Real and Olive Street. This project is of significant value to D3 because in conjunction with the Middle Avenue Bike/Ped Undercrossing, there will be a direct route across town to improve connectivity to schools, parks, grocery stores, downtown and residential neighborhoods.
At Tuesday night's meeting the Council will review Staff and Complete Streets Commission recommendations that come out of safety considerations and extensive community engagement. The Council will provide direction to staff on the design of the following components of the Middle Avenue corridor:
Bicycle facility improvements (width of bike lanes and buffers)
Intersection improvements (including a trial mini roundabout at Middle and University)
Blake Street temporary closure (allow only bike and pedestrians access at Middle and Blake)
Sidewalk gap closure (fill in sidewalk gaps on the south side of Middle)
To read the staff report with details and design schematics, click here. Like all Council items, the Public is able to weigh in by making a live comment at the meeting (participation instructions at the top of the agenda here) or by emailing the Council by 5pm on Tuesday at city.council@menlopark.org.
The section of the Menlo Park Municipal Code pertaining to the timing requirements for filling a City Council vacancy (Section 2.04.190) currently contradicts State law. Given that City Councilmember Ray Mueller is a candidate for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, if he is elected to that office there may be a vacancy on the City Council following the November 8th election. Because of this possibility, it is important for the City to correct the conflict and clarify the process related to filling a Council vacancy.
At the August 23rd meeting, the majority of Council directed Staff to prepare an ordinance that defaults to the State process set forth in Government Code Section 36512, allowing City Council to determine each time a vacancy occurs whether to appoint or call a special election. This agenda item contains this ordinance. Staff has also prepared a resolution setting forth the process for appointing someone to the City Council should a vacancy occur, and should the City Council elect to fill the vacancy via appointment.
The staff report outlines the process and can be found here.
Other Items of Interest
Below are some additional items of interest:
Menlo Park Community Police Academy
Application Deadline: September 13th
The Menlo Park Community Police Academy is back. The academy gives community members a hands-on introduction to police work. Participants will get firsthand information on why and how the police department operates, as well as its organization and culture. It provides an excellent opportunity to ask questions openly and to discuss topics of interest. If you want to learn more about what police officers and staff do every day and are interested in criminal law, forensics and investigations, this is a great program for you to join.
The academy is a six-week program open to ages 18 years and older. It takes place Wednesday evenings from 6:30–9:30 p.m., from Sept. 21–Oct. 26, 2022. For more information and to apply online, visit the community police academy webpage. Applications are due no later than Sept. 13, 2022.
Coastal Cleanup Day at San Francisquito Creek
September 17th
The City of Menlo Park and Grassroots Ecology are partnering to host volunteers for Coastal Cleanup Day at San Francisquito Creek. This annual event brings communities together throughout the state to clean California's beaches, lakes, and watersheds. Join in removing trash and recyclables from our local watershed to celebrate and enhance our beautiful waterways.
All volunteers attending the workday must be registered individually and have approved the online waiver. Youth under 18 must have their legal guardian approve the waiver on their behalf. Volunteers age 12 and under require an accompanying adult.
AC Transit Announces Start of Construction for
Dumbarton Corridor Improvement Project
While many of us associate Dumbarton with the Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project and with hopes of seeing the reactivation of the out-of-commission railway, there is progress on making travel along the highway portion of Dumbarton smoother for those riding the Dumbarton Express.
AC Transit has been planning a Dumbarton Corridor Improvement Project for years that includes the installation of Transit Signal Priority (TSP) equipment, bus queue-jumps, and bus stop improvements and relocations along the corridor in Union City, Fremont, Menlo Park, and Palo Alto to improve bus reliability and reduce travel times. AC Transit, Dumbarton Express and Union City Transit buses and Stanford University Shuttles will be equipped to use TSP along the Project corridor. The construction phase of the project is anticipated to begin in Summer 2022 and conclude in Winter 2023.
For more information about this AC Transit project, please visit the project page here. Please note that this effort is not the same as MTC's Dumbarton Forward Initiative, which is a set of near-term strategies to improve efficiency and reduce delays on and near the Dumbarton Bridge.
3 Local Ways to Get Involved in Climate Action
While we are coming out of a historic heatwave brought on by climate change, many of us are feeling anxious about the future of our planet. The good news is that with the passage of the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, California banning the sale of new gas vehicles by 2035 and local sustainability champions pushing bold action, there is reason for hope. Below are a few wonderful ways, at different levels of readiness, to get involved locally in being the change we wish to see in the world.
#1 - Curious about Local Climate Action and why "Electrification" is so important? A new discussion series on Climate in Menlo Park is starting this week: "Climate Preservation: Menlo Park Community Collaborative Sessions".
Join Menlo Spark and members of the Menlo Park Environmental Quality Commission on Tuesday, September 13th at 6pm at the Belle Haven Branch Library or Wednesday, September 14th at 6pm at the Menlo Park Library for the first session in this series on Climate Preservation. The kickoff will feature an overview of the city's progress on the Climate Action Plan, with discussions about priorities and key actions.
Future sessions will include discussions on environmental justice, electric vehicles and transportation, electrification, sea-level rise, and green careers.
The Belle Haven Branch Library is located at 413 Ivy Drive in Menlo Park. The Menlo Park Library is located at 800 Alma Street in Menlo Park.
For more information click here. Contact Jeff Schmidt, Menlo Park EQC Commissioner, at jdschmidt@gmail.com, with any questions.
#2 - Thinking about "Electrification" and how to get started? Take a Green & Electrified Home Tour on September 24th to see firsthand how others on the Peninsula have electrified their homes.
On Saturday, September 24th, visit a variety of homes throughout the Peninsula and talk with the owners about their switch from gas to clean, healthy electricity. Talk with homeowners about how they chose energy-efficient water heaters, furnaces, dryers, induction cooktops, stoves and more. Learn about the cost — and the rebates you can get. Discuss whether to select a contractor — or do-it-yourself — and how to create a plan that fits your family's finances while improving your home's comfort and healthy, indoor air quality.
#3 - Already "electrifying" your home and ready for fame and fortune? Join Sustainable San Mateo County's "Electrify Everything!" Contest - Deadline to submit is September 20th.
Enter to win gift cards up to $300 in value by submitting your best green infrastructure photo(s) and short video(s) (30-90 sec. long) by 11:59pm PST on September 20th. No professional experience required. Your entry could win a great prize and will help raise awareness of the multiple benefits of electrifying our transportation and building sectors – including your own home!
