Gas leaf blowers! There are few topics in Menlo Park that generate as much passion among residents as gas leaf blowers. At Tuesday's meeting the Council will hold a study session on potential regulations around not just gas leaf blowers, but on many gas-powered pieces of landscaping equipment; including weed whackers, lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and chain saws. While many residents have expressed a desire for an immediate ban, at least on the gas leaf blowers, there are many considerations including state legislation, enforcement and implementation, city operations and budget impacts and more.
The staff report here contains a lot of valuable information, including a memo on this topic by Environmental Quality Commissioner, Leah Elkins, survey results, and a Public Works memo on operational impacts.
The topic of grade separations is returning to Council on Tuesday. Back in January 2020, the Council voted to evaluate fully elevated options for grade separation, to conduct conduct an aesthetic assessment and to assess construction impacts. Shortly after this, COVID hit, staffing reductions were made and City priorities shifted. This consent calendar item picks up from January 2020 and is essentially a confirmation of the previous Council decision to move forward with the additional studies. (Note: The cost of the studies have gone up from $215,150 to $258,000 over the almost 3 year period.)
The San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury studies a variety of topics related to local governments and makes recommendations for improvement. This agenda item contains Menlo Park's response to a recent Grand Jury report titled, "Waiter! There's a Car in My Soup!", a study on how cities in San Mateo County adapted and learned from the outdoor dining emergency measures that were put in place during COVID and how they plan to apply those experiences to future outdoor dining policies.
For those of you curious how other cities adapted their restaurant dining experiences during the pandemic, this report would be of interest to you. It is important to note that embedded in the proposed Menlo Park response to the Grand Jury findings, the City Council would be agreeing to give direction to city staff about whether to develop permanent outdoor dining regulations for potential adoption by March 31, 2023. In anticipation of this upcoming date, city staff is currently preparing a draft of design standards for outdoor dining and parklets.
On September 13th, the City Council received an update on the Middle Avenue Complete Streets project and directed staff to take the following actions:
Reduce the speed limit on Middle Avenue between University Drive and Olive Street to 25 miles per hour (MPH) as part of a package of speed limit reductions on similar residential streets that are currently signed 30 MPH (action regarding this item will return to City Council separately)
Install traffic calming at regular intervals on Middle Avenue
Establish “no parking” zones on both sides of Middle Avenue as a pilot and install buffered bikeways on both sides of the street
At Nealon Park, placing the bikeway within the existing perpendicular parking area adjacent to Middle Avenue and placing parallel parking on the outside of the bikeway, including exploring converting some parking spaces to loading zones
Install a new all-way stop sign on at Middle Avenue and San Mateo Drive
Pilot a mini-roundabout at Middle Avenue and University Drive and install permanently if the pilot is successful, contingent on resources for both the pilot and complementary educational activities
Explore closure of Shell gas station driveway with the property owner
Develop a temporary closure of Blake Street at Middle Avenue
Add a project to the five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) to install continuous sidewalk on the south side of Middle Avenue
Tuesday night's item includes a resolution to implement the majority of the features listed above. The staff report for this item also includes information about the pilot installation, schedule and plan for evaluation. Staff is planning to return to Council after approximately six months of the pilot (scheduled to begin in Summer 2023, before the start of school) to present findings and confirm the final design.
The decision-making process about where stop signs can and should be installed is highly complex. Currently, in most cases, certain "warrants" must be met in order to justify a new stop sign. These may include quantitative criteria thresholds related to vehicle volume, traffic collisions and peak hour delays, and/or qualitative criteria including left turn conflicts, visibility issues and the type of streets intersecting.
In recent years, there has been much more emphasis on street safety for road users of all different modes. The U.S. Department of Transportation has now committed to focus on safe travel for all users as a cornerstone of transportation design guidance and new rules around stop signs (and other roadway design elements), that focus on improving protections for vulnerable road users, are expected to be rolled out soon. It is anticipated that these new guidelines will make it easier to justify installing stop signs, will consider new quantitative standards, and will expand qualitative justifications.
A consideration of edits to the Menlo Park stop sign evaluation process, in line with the expected and soon to be published new version of the Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
A possible resolution to install all-way stop signs at various locations throughout Menlo Park at the following locations:
Van Buren and Ringwood Avenue
Elm Street and Pope Street
Elm Street and Central Avenue
Walnut Street and Pope Street - Beacon Street
Pope Street and Gilbert Avenue
Terminal Avenue and Del Norte Avenue
Also convert the two-way stop at Elm and Laurel Avenue to face Laurel Avenue instead of Elm Street
As stated on page G-3.6 of the staff report for this item, "The City Council's action at this time is limited to approving the Water Supply Assessment (WSA)." This means that while this action is under "Regular Business" it is essentially a heads-up to Council and the community.
This important item discusses whether Menlo Park will have enough water to accommodate the state-mandated housing capacity growth outlined in the Housing Element. As the staff report indicates, the answer to whether we will have enough water with all the possible new development, without usage reductions, is complicated.
There are multiple variables that will determine the sufficiency of our water supply. The first is whether we continue to have a drought and how long it will last. The second has to do with a State-level political battle over whether the previously approved/adopted Bay-Delta Plan will move forward or not. The Bay-Delta Plan would require the release of 40% of the "unimpaired flow" of the Stanislaus, Merced and Tuolumne Rivers in order to increase the salmonid fish populations from February to June in every year, whether wet, normal or critically dry, making the reliability to provide sufficient potable water in dry years uncertain. However, for several reasons, the Bay-Delta Plan has not been implemented at this time (pending litigation challenges, the need for action by other agencies, and potential implementation of an alternative plan.) Therefore, the WSA provides two analyses of water availability: with and without implementation of the Bay-Delta Plan.
The staff report outlines Menlo Park's water sufficiency, both by drought conditions and by Bay-Delta Plan outcomes. The implementation of the as-is Bay-Delta Plan, which supports keeping the rivers flowing to increase the salmon population, would require water reductions from 32 to 47% in any drought year, regardless of length, and could move us to a water shortage Stage 5 level (potential water restrictions outlined on page G-3.5). If the Bay-Delta Plan does not move forward, much fewer reductions and restrictions would be required. Note that this is a challenge facing many of the cities and counties in the Bay Area.
This agenda item also serves as a strong reminder to all of us to do what we can to reduce our own water consumption. As I stated publicly at the last Council meeting, I still have a grass lawn...something I know that needs to be replaced by drought tolerant landscaping. I'll be looking into the lawn replacement rebate program here. I'll keep you posted.
Other Items of Interest
Below are some additional items of interest:
Calling All Artists! MidPen Gateway Rising Mural Contest
Application Deadline is October 23rd
When construction is completed in summer 2023, MidPen's Gateway Rising, located on Willow Road, will be a 140-unit affordable housing community with rental apartments for families. MidPen is seeking an artist to create two murals at Gateway Rising, one on an exterior wall that will be highly visible to pedestrian traffic along Willow Road and one on an interior wall, on the first-floor lobby. A work of art that is meaningful in the context of its time and place and one that resonates with the members of the Belle Haven and Gateway Rising communities is desired. The artist selection panel jury will be giving preference to applicants local to Menlo Park, and especially Belle Haven. For more information, click here.
Willow Village Final Environmental Impact Report Released
Public Hearing at the Planning Commission on Monday, October 24th
On October 14th, the City released the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Willow Village master plan project. The Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing on Monday, October 24th (the agenda for that meeting will be available here prior to the meeting). At that meeting, the Planning Commission will review and consider the project and whether to recommend approval to the City Council on the Final EIR and project entitlements. Interested persons may appear and make oral public comments on the Final EIR. If you would like to submit written comments, you are encouraged to do so prior to the Planning Commission meeting, that is, before 5:30pm on Monday, October 24th. Comments may also be provided in advance of a future City Council public hearing (tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, November 15th - subject to change).
Written comments on the Final EIR may be submitted by email to Planning Manager Kyle Perata or by letter to:
Kyle Perata
Community Development
701 Laurel St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
*Email correspondence is preferred.
The proposed project would demolish approximately 1 million square feet of existing office and industrial buildings and redevelop the project site with:
Up to 1.6 million square feet of office and accessory uses (a maximum of up to 1.25 million square feet of offices with balance for accessory uses)
Up to 200,000 square feet of retail/commercial uses, including a grocery store, pharmacy, entertainment and restaurant uses
Up to 1,730 housing units, including 312 below market rate units (260 inclusionary units plus 52 units per the city’s commercial linkage requirement) of which 119 would be age-restricted senior housing units
Up to a 193 room hotel
Publicly accessible open space including an approximately 3.5-acre park, 1.5-acre town square, a dog park, 2-acre elevated linear park extending over Willow Road, and additional public open space
A potential publicly-accessible, below grade tunnel for Meta intercampus trams, bicyclists and pedestrians connecting the project with the West and East campuses
The requested City actions and entitlements for the proposed project include environmental review, a conditional development permit, development agreement, rezoning, general plan and zoning map amendments, vesting tentative maps and below market rate (BMR) housing agreements. The Planning Commission is a recommending body to the City Council on certification of the EIR and the proposed project entitlements.
Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce Golden Acorn Awards
Thursday, October 27th at 5pm
The Golden Acorn Awards, put on by the Chamber of Commerce, and now in its forty-fifth year, is a Menlo Park tradition. This year the Chamber recognition will focus on the Menlo Park Community, celebrating the past while welcoming the future. Efforts in the fields of Business Excellence, Community Service, Leadership, and Public Service will be celebrated. The award ceremony will take place virtually on Thursday, October 27th at 5 pm. The keynote speaker is Cyrus Sanandaji, Founder, CEO and Managing Partner of Presidio Ventures.
Halloween Hoopla Parade and Carnival Games
Saturday, Oct. 29th (See below for schedule of events)
The Downtown Menlo Park Halloween Hoopla is back on Saturday, October 29th! All are welcome to come in costume and participate in the annual parade through downtown Menlo Park to Fremont Park. All parade participants should arrive by 10:45am to the Parking Lot #1 (Maloney Street) behind Cheeky Monkey Toys. The parade begins at 11am.
After the parade, participants can go door-to-door at the local businesses for the merchant trick-or-treat. Participating Menlo Park stores will have a trick-or-treat sign on their door or window. Fremont Park will have a number of fun games and activities including crafts.
Event schedule:
Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022
10:45am: Meet for the parade
11–11:30am: Costume parade through downtown Menlo Park
11:30am–2pm: Downtown trick-or-treat and games at Fremont Park
Decorate your bike, your wagon and wear your Halloween costume and join us for Halloween inspired carnival games and activities. Games, prizes, candy, crafts, raffle prizes and entertainment will be available at this free event for the whole family. We look forward to seeing you there for this spooktacular event!
Shuttle services will provided from Belle Haven Branch Library to Fremont Park.
Peninsula Clean Energy and Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
Jointly Publish Report on E-Bikes
Check out this fabulous report put together by Peninsula Clean Energy and the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition about e-bikes in the Silicon Valley. If you're curious how the e-bike craze is impacting our local community, this is a report you won't want to miss. Read it here.
