This week's Council agenda contains eighteen separate items! Most of them are either Consent Calendar items (voted on in one motion unless a Councilmember pulls something) or Informational Items (not typically discussed), but still, there's a lot to get through on Tuesday night. Tuesday (12/5) is the last meeting of the year with typical scheduled business items. Next week's Council meeting is primarily ceremonial as the Council will rotate its positions and appointments. Stay tuned.
Below are a handful of Tuesday night's agenda items:
E1. Waive the second reading and adopt ordinances [related to Zoning changes made at the November 28th Council Meeting].
On November 28th the City Council held a special meeting to approve extensive modifications to the City's zoning stemming from the Housing Element Update process. You can read about the amendments in my newsletter from last week here. At that meeting, the City Council voted on many items and The Almanac has a story covering some of those actions. This Tuesday's meeting (December 5th) includes Consent Calendar Item E1 which is a procedural step necessary for final adoption of the changes voted on last week.
F1. Introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance amending the City’s comprehensive master fee schedule for the city manager’s office, community development, library and community services, and public works departments, and Menlo Park Municipal Water.
According to the staff report for Agenda Item F1, "The City Council adopts fees to recover the cost for services to minimize the demand on general taxes for services that have an individual benefit. The master fee schedule reflects fees charged by all city departments. Amendments typically occur annually in order for fees to reflect the current costs of providing services; to bring fees closer to full cost recovery targets; to add new fees when applicable for new city services; and/or to eliminate fees for discontinued services." Some of the fees covered in the proposed amendments include, but are not limited to, modifications to the electric vehicle charging stations, building permits and parks and recreation programs and facilities.
H1. Provide direction on potential updates to level of service, transportation impact analysis and transportation demand management policies.
Some of Menlo Park's transportation guidelines were developed approximately 30 years ago. In an effort to update our City's analysis standards to prioritize safety and to promote the reduction of single occupancy vehicle travel, the Council will hold a study session on Tuesday night (Agenda Item H1). As someone committed to making our streets as safe and comfortable as possible for people of all ages and abilities traveling in all modes, this item is of particular interest to me.
I2. Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team (CWCRT) – overview for City Council.
In Information Item I2, Menlo Park Police Chief Dave Norris describes how Menlo Park will join the San Mateo County Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team (CWCRT) Pilot Program. The program embeds mental health clinicians into police departments to provide a crisis co-response to calls involving mental health issues. I am proud that our police department is joining this important initiative.
I3. Update on the Caltrain quiet zone study.
The establishment of a Quiet Zone is of great interest and importance to residents of District 3. Informational Item I3 provides an update on progress being made towards the establishment of a Caltrain Quiet Zone. At this stage, the City has selected BKF Engineers to develop the railroad gate designs.
I4. Update on the City’s Five Year Street Maintenance Plan.
The City of Menlo Park maintains approximately 96 miles of roadways across 348 streets. The City has a detailed pavement maintenance system which tracks the conditions of every road and helps staff prioritize which streets need repaving work, and to what extent. Information Item I4 is an update on the City's 5-Year Street Maintenance Plan.
