Welcome to the 11th edition of the D3 Download! You can access the archive of my past newsletters here: https://jenwolosin.com/newsletters. I welcome any feedback you have about this newsletter. Also please forward this email to friends and neighbors and encourage them to sign up for my mailing list (to do so, visit jenwolosin.com and scroll to the bottom of any page to where it says, "Join Jen's Mailing List"). I believe that an informed and engaged community is a stronger community.
Have a wonderful week.
Sincerely,
City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 27th at 5pm
*Note: The City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 27th, will begin with a closed session at 5pm. The closed session is not open to the public - though public comment can be received on the item (labor negotiations) 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.
Below are just a few of the many agenda items coming before Council during open session on Tuesday:
J7. Authorize the formation of the Community Engagement and Outreach Committee for the housing element update project. The Housing Element is a plan developed every 8 years that covers how the city will address its housing needs, including the type of housing, affordability level, and where it can be built. As part of Menlo Park's Housing Element process, the city is creating a Housing Element Community Engagement and Outreach Committee made up of residents from diverse backgrounds who live throughout the city. To apply to serve on this committee, fill out an application here by May 12th. The City Council is expected to appoint members at the May 25th meeting. Also included in the staff report for this item is Attachment A which proposes a City Manager's advisory group on racial equity.
Interim services during Menlo Park Community Campus construction (Senior center services [at Arrillaga Recreation Center], Onetta Harris Community Center [at Belle Haven Branch Library] and Neighborhood Services Center)
Lower-risk public services currently operating in modified format - indoor library access and outdoor recreation (Indoor public access to Main Library and Belle Haven Branch Library, Outdoor recreation programs, and Virtual classes and event)
Police lobby
Phase 2
Moderate-risk indoor community services programs (Indoor recreation programs targeted to children and youth [not including gymnastics], and then targeted to the general population)
City Council chambers for meetings of elected and appointed government bodies
Phase 3
High-contact indoor programs, including gymnastics
City Hall for general public access
Phase 4
Facility rentals
Special events
All other indoor programs
K2. Approve the creation of a new fund for one-time revenue, amend the fiscal year 2020-21 budget, and approve direction for development of the fiscal year 2021-22 budget. This item includes how to handle contributions from Facebook required in a 2017 Development Agreement "to be spent on services that benefit the safety of the local community but otherwise at the sole discretion of the City." The funds were originally used to increase "the full-time equivalent personnel by 6.0 sworn officers in the police department." Included in this topic is a staff recommendation to take unrestricted general funds to fund the 2021-22 "staffing costs associated with increased public safety services", meaning policing, originally funded by Facebook. This item also discusses the American Rescue Plan federal funds, which are anticipated to bring $6.53 million to the city.
UPDATES from Recent City Council Meeting
Below are a few updates from the April 20th City Council Meeting:
D2. ConnectMenlo community amenities. UPDATE: Council expressed an interest in an In-Lieu Fee for community amenities (it first needs to go to the Planning Commission), directed staff to return with an analysis of the potential impacts to projects in the pipeline if the community amenity list is revised, and directed staff to create an application "gatekeeper" process for community amenities that may run concurrent with the development review process.
E2. Adopt Resolution No. 6621 to amend the 2030 climate action plan (CAP) to include scope of work for 2021 implementation. UPDATE: Council unanimously adopted the 2021 implementation plan for the CAP, and revised CAP 1 (existing building electrification) to move forward step-by-step, to first review the soon-to-be-released cost effectiveness analysis and then direct staff on next steps. (For those looking at the details, the wording of CAP 1 implementation [on pages E-2.12 & E-2.13 of the staff report here] retained items 1&2, removed items 4&5, and altered item 3 to read, "City Council reviews policy/program options and EQC recommendations and directs staff on next steps.")
Climate Action (with CAP #1 - existing building electrification - as highest priority)
Housing Element
Connect Menlo Community Amenities Update
Menlo Park Community Campus
Reimagining Downtown
Caltrain Corridor Quiet Zone
Middle Avenue Rail Crossing and Complete Street
The 2021-2022 budget will initially be prepared to include funding needed for the above projects. Stay tuned for updates about the budget process, to be completed by end of the fiscal year (June 30th).
Other Items of Interest
Below are a handful of additional items that may be of interest.
COVID 19 Vaccination Clinic by Ravenswood Family Health Network (Saturday, May 1st, and ongoing on Saturdays) - Have you gotten vaccinated? Do you know anyone who needs a vaccine? The Ravenswood Family Health Network, along with support from Belle Haven Action, Rotary and other entities and organizations are running a weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Facebook in Menlo Park. These clinics are now open to anyone 16+ who lives or works in San Mateo County free of charge (Note: Only Pfizer is currently approved for 16 & 17 year old's). Please spread the word. For more information visit https://ravenswoodfhn.org/covid-information/covid-19-vaccination.
SamTrans Community Meeting (and/or Survey Link) about Proposed Changes to Bus Routes (Wednesday, May 12th, 5:30pm) - SamTrans is considering several different alternatives to bus routes in the area. You can share your thoughts by attending a community meeting on Wednesday, May 12th at 5:30pm (Zoom link is http://bit.ly/reimaginesouth) or you can take an online survey here.
Get $200 from Peninsula Clean Energy to Rent an EV for 2 to 3 Days - Thinking about getting an Electric Vehicle (EV), but not sure if you'll like it? The EV Rental Rebate Program from Peninsula Clean Energy aims to make it easier for San Mateo County residents to experience what it’s like to own and drive an EV by providing a rebate up to $200 to cover the cost of an EV rental for 2-3 days. For more information, click here. If you end up trying it out, let me know what you think.
Climate Change and Housing: Re-Thinking Land Use for our Planet's Future (Wednesday, May 12th at 5pm) - Palo Alto Forward and the 350 SV Palo Alto Team are hosting a panel about how to design neighborhoods to promote more energy efficient, sustainable cities with robust parks and open spaces. Panelists will include Amanda Eaken, Director of Transportation, American Cities Climate Change Challenge at Natural Resources Defense Council and Justin Wang, Advocacy Manager at Greenbelt Alliance. To register, click here.
