You're getting a bonus newsletter from me this month - lucky you! There's so much happening in Menlo Park that an extra City Council meeting had to be added.
Even though vaccination rates are rising (yay!), keep wearing those masks, maintaining social distance and following guidelines.
Sincerely,
City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 6th at 6pm*
*Note: The City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 6th, will begin with a closed session at 6pm. The closed session is not open to the public - though public comment can be received on the item (C1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9) Case number: 21-CIV-01717) per the agenda's instructions. The regular open session portion of the meeting will start once closed session ends. The timing of that depends on how long closed session lasts, which is unknown.
The full City Council agenda is here. Like all City Council meeting agendas, it includes links to staff reports for each item, login/call-in information and ways to weigh in on the issues being discussed.
All of the agenda items below have been on previous City Council agendas. Some as informational items and some as items that needed to be continued.
H1 (CONTINUED FROM 3/23). Review 2030 climate action plan progress for goals No. 1 through No. 6 and provide direction to staff for 2021 implementation. In July 2020, the City Council adopted a bold Climate Action Plan (CAP) with the goal to reach carbon neutrality (zero emissions) by 2030. The CAP outlines 6 actions ranging from the conversion of all existing buildings (including single family homes) to all-electric to expanding electric vehicle charging for multifamily properties to developing an adaptation plan to protect the community from sea level rise and flooding. This item outlines progress made towards these goals and seeks Council direction on further action. If you haven't already, I highly recommend that you read our city's Climate Action Plan - it does an excellent job outlining the problem and the benefits of taking bold action.
H2 (CONTINUED FROM 3/9 AND 3/23). Direction on cost recovery policy (City Council Procedure #CC-10-001), library overdue fines and recreation user fees. The City of Menlo Park offers many services to residents, ranging from library story times, senior programs, gymnastics classes and more. To foster a healthy and engaged community, the City subsidizes many of these to encourage participation. Which programs are subsidized, and to what extent, is a matter found in the City's cost recovery policy. This item will provide direction to staff on criteria and principles that will guide what fees are charged for what services.
H3 (PREVIOUS INFO ITEM FROM 3/9). Approve criteria to guide facility reopening, service restoration, and reactivation of programs and events. As COVID cases decline and vaccination rates increase, the City must develop criteria to determine when it is safe enough and feasible to open its doors to the public, and reactivate its programs and events. The staff is seeking feedback on criteria developed, that would all need to be met in order for city-owned facilities to begin to safely reopen for indoor public access:
Vaccine eligibility and availability - All members of the general public ages 16+ are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and sufficient doses are timely available to the general populace.
Vaccination rates** - 70%+ of San Mateo and nearby county residents ages 16+ have completed the COVID-19 vaccine series.
Health orders and restrictions. No state and/or local health orders or restrictions are in effect that would otherwise prohibit reopening.
Organizational capacity readiness - Sufficient capacity and readiness of city facilities, resources and staffing are in place to successfully reopen. It could take 8 weeks lead time from the decision to reopen to being ready to reopen. Staff recommends that the planning for reopening be triggered by 50% fully vaccination rates in San Mateo and nearby counties.
Additional discussions related to facility reopening service restoration and reactivation of programs and events are tentatively scheduled for the April 13th and April 27th City Council meetings. What gets prioritized, and how, will be a major topic of these discussions.
H4 (CONTINUED AND UPDATED FROM 3/9 AND 3/23). Approve additional $40,000 appropriations for the temporary outdoor dining grant program. Last year the City Council appropriated a total of $110,000, which funded twenty, one-time $5,000 grants for Menlo Park businesses to support temporary outdoor dining facilities and a $10,000 administration fee. Due to overwhelming needs in the restaurant industry, more applicants sought funding than there were grant funds available. This item is to increase the funding by $40,000 to allow each of the 28 qualified applicants to receive a grant.
H5 (CONTINUED AND UPDATED FROM 3/23). Approve framework for use of American Rescue Plan Act funds. On March 11th, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan of 2021 that includes $1.9 trillion in stimulus measures. Included is funding for local municipalities. Menlo Park is expected to receive approximately $6.53 million in aid, which may be spent over the course of several years. This one-time money represents about 10% of our city's fiscal year 2020-21 amended General Fund budget. Staff is seeking feedback on whether the money should be used for ongoing, operational/structural needs, or one time purposes, and when the money should be used.
Below are a handful of additional items that may be of interest.
Police Reform: Opportunity or Oxymoron? (Wednesday, April 7th at 7pm). On Wednesday, San Mateo County Democrats for America and the Peninsula Democratic Coalition will be sponsoring a talk by Santa Clara County Supervisor, Joe Simitian, on police reform. Use this Zoom link to attend.
Health Impacts of Climate Change (Wednesday, April 7th at 7:30pm). 350 Silicon Valley's Palo Alto Climate Team is sponsoring a talk by Dr. Michael Martin, national president-elect of Physicians for Social Responsibility, who will present Health Issues Related to Climate Change, including how fossil fuel combustion in our homes is harmful to our health (as well as other health risks associated with climate change). Register here.
"Let's Talk Housing" - County-Led Intros to the Housing Element Process (Thursday, April 8th, 6:00-7:30pm) and Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) (Thursday, April 22nd, 6:00-7:30pm). The Housing Element is a plan developed every 8 years that covers how a city will address its housing needs, including the type of housing, affordability level, and where it can be built. San Mateo County, via "Let's Talk Housing", is holding a series of introductory meetings about the process. The County's Housing Element intro meeting is on Thursday, April 8th at 6pm on Zoom. You can register for this event here. An additional meeting about how each city is allocated their share of housing to build, its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), will follow on April 22nd at 6pm. Registration here. Stay tuned for Menlo Park-specific engagement opportunities.
This is Now: Our Climate Future (Tuesday, April 20th at 12pm). Menlo Park's beloved Kepler's is hosting a pre-recorded This Is Now interview with two of the globe’s leading climate policy advocates and diplomats, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac of Global Optimism. They propose 10 actionable steps that we all can take to turn the tide on our climate future. Register here.
