*CORRECTION*
NEW DISTRICT MAP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS APRIL 14TH
(See "Final Independent Redistricting Commission Meeting" item below.)
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This past week I had the opportunity to attend a virtual presentation on En-ROADS, a global climate solutions simulator that allows users to easily understand the impact of various climate actions. The online tool was created by MIT Professor John Sterman to provide anyone a way to test and explore cross-sector climate solutions. I highly encourage you to play around with the tool, to see what level of global action is required to meet humanity's greatest challenge.
It can be tempting to look at the tool and conclude, "With such a daunting challenge ahead of us, and with this being a global problem, why bother trying to address this at the local level/in Menlo Park? If China won't address this problem, why should we?" To this, Professor Sterman argues, "What [the United States] does absolutely matters. We are the largest economy in the world, the largest cumulative emitter of greenhouse gases. If we don't take a leadership position, I don't see how we can expect the developing nations to do so. This includes China, but certainly also includes India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and any other South Asian, South East Asian nations, all of Africa, all of Latin America. I don't think we've got a prayer of getting them to take the actions that are needed [without U.S. leadership]. Everybody matters. U.S. leadership matters, and U.S. leadership in Washington will be a lot stronger if actions are taken at the grassroots, local level in every city, every town in every state. Everybody matters." (Click here to view the presentation and hear Dr. Sterman answer my question about local action at minute 38:06.)
This week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued the third volume of its latest assessment report. As the The Economist writes, "The third report offers a comprehensive menu of possibilities for how humans could stabilise the climate and avoid catastrophic global warming while fulfilling the commitments made in the 2015 Paris agreement. The aim of that pact was to keep average global warming to between 1.5°C and 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The IPCC's menu includes options for power generation and energy efficiency, transport, buildings, urbanisation, agriculture and food security, forestry, consumer choices and much more besides. Its 278 authors have gone to great pains to offer a smorgasbord of opportunities to reduce emissions and stabilise the climate, and to point out that not all are eye-wateringly expensive. There is just one catch. In order to meet the Paris goals, humanity must order just about everything on the menu, and fast." (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2022/04/09/the-latest-ipcc-report-argues-that-stabilising-the-climate-will-require-fast-action)
At Tuesday's April 12th City Council meeting there are two agenda items directly related to climate action: G1 and I4 (see more about them below). There is also an upcoming event on Saturday, April 16th from 10am-2pm, "We Love Earth" at Flood Park, where you can learn more about ways to get involved in climate action.
This is an all hands-on-deck moment in time. No one can sit out this challenge. As Dr. Sherman put it, at the conclusion of his presentation, "Everybody is needed. Everybody can contribute. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it."
According to Agenda Item G1's staff report, "In 2019, natural gas consumption in buildings accounted for 41% of Menlo Park's greenhouse gas emissions. Electrifying Menlo Park's buildings will be a key factor to reach carbon neutrality in the next eight years [per our Climate Action Plan]. The City has already made progress by requiring new buildings to be all electric in 2020, but these measures will not be enough for the City to reach its goal. The City will need to use a combination of incentives, programs, education and regulations to transition the existing building stock in Menlo Park to be all-electric."
On Tuesday night the City Council will hold a study session to consider a partnership with BlocPower, a privately held startup company with a mission to rapidly green American cities. As stated, "BlocPower could provide Menlo Park a turnkey electrification program that includes project management, incentive coordination, contractor and equipment procurement, and financing (if desired) to all building owners in Menlo Park. BlocPower can also support building owners on other sustainable projects such as energy efficiency, renewable energy/battery storage, electric vehicle charging, and/or address the health and safety needs of a building. By being a one-stop shop for building owners, they help reduce the challenges experienced by building owners that want to voluntary electrify. BlocPower’s mission also includes developing local workforces that enable people of color or low-income workers to access high paying jobs or establish a business that supports decarbonization."
More information about the partnership and resources required are in the staff report.
As the staff report for Item I4 states, "The Race To Zero is a global campaign (established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in June 2020) to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions and investors for a healthy, resilient, zero-carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth." By joining the Race To Zero, the City will receive tools and technical assistance to help Menlo Park get to carbon neutrality by 2030. The staff report notes that impacts on staff resources would be minimal, and that joining the campaign would build further capacity towards reaching our climate goals.
This agenda item is an update on the status of the priorities and work plan adopted by the City Council in April 2021. The 2021 priorities include (note: the staff report lists all of the items and updates):
Redistricting
Reimagining Public Safety
Climate Action Plan Measure #1: Explore policy/program options to convert 95% of existing buildings to all-electric by 2030
2022 Housing Element and related zoning code updates and documents
ConnectMenlo community amenities list update
Menlo Park Community Campus building
Reimagining Downtown
Caltrain rail corridor quiet zone analysis
Climate Action Plan Measure #4: Middle Avenue rail crossing and complete street
Typically by this time of the year (usually earlier), an annual Council goal setting meeting is held to allow the community to bring forward new ideas, and for the Council to discuss and determine current priorities. Due to ongoing staffing/capacity shortages, this meeting has not occurred. Stay tuned for information about a Special Council Meeting tentatively scheduled for April 19th, where a discussion is planned around the upcoming 2022/2023 budget (the City's fiscal cycle runs July 1st to June 30th). More information about staff capacity, resources and priorities will likely be addressed at that time.
This item contains two bond-related actions. The first is an accelerated refunding of the 2012 bonds in order to take advantage of low interest rates. The second item is to issue the balance of "new money" ($14,315,000) bonding capacity from the 2001 Measure T Parks and Recreation Facilities bond. This money will be primarily used to fund improvements at the Menlo Park Community Campus in Belle Haven ($8,800,000), and the balance may be used (subject to change) at Willow Oaks Park, Burgess Park, Bedwell Bayfront Park and the Menlo Children's Center. For more information, please see the staff report here.
Per the staff report for Item J3, "the City Council [has] the opportunity to further direct staff regarding decreasing residential density in the R-MU (Residential Mixed-Use) zoning district in the Bayfront Area of District 1, and increasing density elsewhere (in Districts, 2, 3, 4 and 5) in the City. The City Council may direct staff to initiate the process of implementing [associated] zoning changes. The implications of such zoning changes in light of the Housing Crisis Act’s no-net-loss provisions are discussed [in the staff report].
This informational item is provide an update regarding the Menlo Park Gymnastics program, which has been closed since March 2020. Many members of the community greatly miss the gymnastics program and are eager to see it come back online. The staff report for Item K3 outlines the timing for a decision to be made (during the 2022-2023 budget preparation).
Other Item of Interest
Below are some additional items of interest:
Reimagining Public Safety/Policing "Safe Space" District Meetings
District 3 on Wednesday, April 13th at 6pm
Community-Wide Conversation/Town Hall on June 1st
I hope you will join me and your neighbors in District 3, in a “safe space” conversation about reimagining policing and public safety. Five separate district-based conversations will be taking place across Menlo Park over the next several months, culminating in a citywide community meeting on June 1. The District 3 meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 13th at 6pm via Zoom. You can register in advance, and also look-up your address to confirm your district and see other district meeting dates, here.
The goal of these meetings is for you and your neighbors to feel comfortable speaking freely in open dialogue with a trained and unbiased facilitator, Dr. Terri Givens, to help identify pain points and areas for improvement in our police department. This is also an opportunity to discuss services and programs the police department has provided in the past or currently provides that are valuable to the community. Your feedback will be used to inform changes where necessary, identify opportunities to better serve our community and help outline a path forward.
Please note that in order to encourage residents to share their personal experiences with our public safety officers, there will not be any attendance or involvement from the Police Department at these “safe space” meetings. The meetings will not be recorded and information shared will not be tied back to individuals without their permission. That being said, the Police Department and its officers and staff are partners with us in this initiative and will attend the June 1 community meeting to hear high level feedback and will be key stakeholders in discussions about next steps.
I look forward to an open conversation with you and others at the District 3 meeting on Wednesday, April 13th at 6pm. Again, you can register here.
Apply to Serve on a City of Menlo Park Commission
(Deadline is Wednesday, April 13th at 5pm)
Menlo Park welcomes and encourages residents' active participation through serving on a city commission. Advisory commissions examine issues of community interest and make recommendations to the City Council on policy matters. Applications are now being accepted for the following commission openings:
High Voltage, Low Impact Buildings:
Electrification Efforts in San Mateo County
April 13th at 5:30pm
What is the current state of building electrification in San Mateo County and what’s next on the horizon for our existing building stock? How do the upcoming 2023 energy code, on-bill financing, microgrids, energy storage, phasing out fossil gas and more topics fit in? What actions can individual homeowners, renters, and businesses take to help electrify San Mateo County?
Join Peninsula Clean Energy and Sustainable San Mateo County for an April 13th virtual Happy Hour at 5:30pm. Speakers include: Blake Herrschaft, Building Electrification Programs Manager, Peninsula Clean Energy; Diane Bailey, Executive Director at Menlo Spark and Adrienne Etherton, Sustainability Manager, City of Brisbane. Register here.
*CORRECTION*
Final Independent Redistricting Commission Meeting
Thursday, April 14th at 6pm
The Menlo Park Independent Redistricting Commission will hold their last meeting on Thursday night (April 14th at 6pm) to adopt a final map. The public has until April 14th to submit a comment on the proposed final map, available here. Please note that a previous version of this email incorrectly stated that the public comment period would be open for one week after April 14th, or until April 21st. For more information, please visit the City's website here or read The Almanac's recent coverage of the item here.
We Love Earth Festival
Saturday, April 16th from 10am to 2pm at Flood Park
Come join in a day of educational and family oriented activities to celebrate our planet. The We Love Earth Festival is a family-friendly, outdoor celebration of the earth and an opportunity to learn actions we can all take to address the climate crisis.
Many environmentally-conscious organizations around the Bay Area will be at this event and attendees can learn more about various topics including clean transportation, home electric appliances, sustainable eating, climate advocacy, and more. There will also be guest speakers, induction cooking demos, storytime, art, and a variety of live animal encounters! Visit the We Love Earth Festival page on Eventbrite to register and to find a list of event sponsors and exhibitors. I hope to see you and your family on April 16th (from 10am to 2pm)!
Caltrans Bay Area Bike Highway Study Survey
Deadline is Friday, April 22nd
Caltrans Bay Area (District 4) manages nearly 1,400 miles of State Highway corridors throughout the Bay Area, including El Camino Real and parts of Willow Road. The goal of this study is to understand where Bike Highways may be installed alongside State Highway corridors, and how they should be implemented. To take the survey visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BikeHighwaySurvey2 and to learn more about the Bike Highway Study visit https://d4bikehighwaystudy.org/. The deadline to take the survey is Friday, April 22nd.
Willow Village Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) Released
Public Review and Comment Period Closes Monday, May 23rd at 5pm
Planning Commission Meeting on April 25th
City Council Meeting on April 26th
On Friday, April 8, 2022, the City of Menlo Park released the notice of availability for the draft environmental impact report beginning the 45-day public review and comment period that closes at 5 p.m., Monday, May 23, 2022.
At the April 25, 2022, Planning Commission meeting, the commission will hold a public hearing to receive public comments on the draft environmental impact report and a project study session to ask clarifying questions and receive/offer general feedback on the proposed master plan set and architectural design of Phase 1 of the project.
The meeting agenda and staff report for the draft environmental impact report public hearing and project study session will be available for review at least 72 hours before the public meeting.
The bonus level development appraisal is available for review and identifies a minimum community amenities value of $133 million, in exchange for bonus level development. The applicant’s community amenities proposal and the city’s evaluation of it will be published shortly.
Caltrain is ready to get you to wherever you’re going, at half the price during the month of April. Caltrain reduced prices on its April Monthly pass, Day Pass, One-Way tickets and Zone Upgrades.
It's a great time to ride Caltrain. Weekday and weekend events are heating up across the Bay Area and, with Caltrain’s reduced April fares, you can take family and friends to local sporting events (Go Giants!), visit museums, go to the movies and much more. Check out Caltrain’s reduced fares at www.caltrain.com/50PercentOff.
Little Sky Bakery Opens in District 3
Ready for some deliciousness?! Little Sky Bakery, a beloved local small business that sells amazing breads and other carbs at the Menlo Park Farmer's Market, Bon Marche and Cafe Zoe, now has a permanent home in District 3! (Can you tell I'm excited?) According to a recent Almanac article, you can now visit Little Sky Bakery at 506 Santa Cruz Avenue (next to Philz Coffee) from 9am to 1pm, Wednesday through Sunday, to get your fill of treats. And(!), the owner, Menlo Park resident Tian Mayimin, has secured a lease at 1010 El Camino Real, formerly the Borrone MarketBar, and plans to open a cafe, Little Sky Kitchen, to serve prepared foods. The second location is tentatively set to open this summer. YUM!!!
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