Video
Transcript
Segment 1
[00:00:00] Mayor Betsy Nash: the globe icon near the hand feature on your screen. Our interpreters this evening are Angelica Figron, De- De Gonzalez, Amanda Sosa, Richard Delgado, Angela Thielen. Thank you all for your time and services today.
[00:00:29] Public Speaker: Buenas noches, si necesitan interpretación, por favor pasen aquí a la parte de atrás por unos audífonos. Gracias.
[00:00:43] Mayor Betsy Nash: Roll call. I would like to introduce City Council members and staff present. In the Belle Haven Community Campus center are myself, Mayor Betsy Nash, Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise, and City Council members Drew Combs and Jeff Schmidt.
[00:01:00] Mayor Betsy Nash: City Council member Cecilia Taylor is participating remotely under Assembly Bill 2449, just cause. City Council member Taylor, please provide a description of circumstance under AB 2449.
[00:01:31] Mayor Betsy Nash: City Council member Taylor, are you able to hear us at this time?
[00:01:43] Mayor Betsy Nash: Okay, it does look like City Council member Taylor is having some technical issues unmuting. We can give it a minute or two to see if her microphone's able to be engaged.
Segment 2
[01:02:26] Mayor Betsy Nash: Hello, I am Mayor Betsy Nash and we are reconvening this special December 16th City Council meeting. This is a hybrid meeting with City Council, City staff and members of the public participating virtually and in the Belle Haven Community campus. I would like to introduce attorney Assistant City Attorney Wagner for a report out from closed session.
[01:04:48] Assistant City Attorney Wagner: Thank you Mayor Nash. You met in closed session on two items that are listed on your agenda. There's no reportable action tonight.
[01:04:55] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. Agenda review. Agenda review provides advance notice to members of the public and city staff of any modifications to the agenda order and any requests from city council members. Does the City Council wish to pull any items from the consent calendar or informational items?
[01:05:20] Mayor Betsy Nash: Does the City Council wish to modify the order of any agenda item? Thank you. Public comment. Under public comment, the public may address the City Council on any subject not listed on the agenda. Each speaker may address the City Council once under public comment for a limit of three minutes.
[01:05:46] Mayor Betsy Nash: Speaker time will be limited if there are more than 10 speakers. You are not required to provide your name or city of residence, but it is helpful. The City Council cannot act on items not listed on the agenda and therefore the City Council cannot respond to non-agenda issues brought up under public comment other than to provide general information. City Clerk Herren, please call for general public comment.
[01:08:05] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you, Mayor Nash. So at this time if any member of the public wishes to provide comment on general public comment for items not on tonight's agenda, if you are participating in person, now is the time to return that speaker card here to the clerk's table. If you're virtual, engage that hand feature. Calling in, please press star nine now.
[01:08:31] City Clerk Judi Herren: Looks like we are at 11 speakers, so this will be the final call for public comment for items not on tonight's agenda. Had one additional hand raised, so Mayor Nash, we are at 12 speakers on this item.
[01:08:57] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. We will limit public comment to two minutes per speaker.
[01:09:02] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you. One moment to bring our timer up and our first speaker will be Amigo Harris Parker followed by Ma Yanli.
[01:09:20] Public Speaker Amigo Harris Parker: Good evening, Mayor Nash, Councilmembers Taylor, Wise, Schmidt and Combs. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share a few words. As 2025 comes to a close, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank City Council and staff. I can imagine the work you do and the time and contribution each of you has made for this city representing Menlo Park is rewarding and exhausting.
[01:09:47] Public Speaker Amigo Harris Parker: And I can tell you as a resident it is appreciated. You show up dedicated to your post, your district, your position, the city. To each of you I thank you. Thank you for stepping up and stepping into the spotlight to represent Menlo Park. Mayor Nash, Councilmembers Wise, Councilmember Taylor, Councilmember Schmidt, Councilmember Combs, thank you.
[01:10:13] Public Speaker Amigo Harris Parker: City Manager Justin Murphy, thank you. You hold a position of great responsibility and you hold it with integrity and graciousness and amazing patience. Thank you for your open door policy, your willingness to meet, your ability to be gracious while taking all the questions that come your way. Thank you for listening and for being committed to providing a response.
[01:10:38] Public Speaker Amigo Harris Parker: City Clerk Herren, City Clerk Sandoval, Executive Assistant Castidos, senior office assistant Escobar Romero, thank you for all you do. You really are superheroes without capes. Thank you for representing Menlo Park to the highest standards full of sincerity and smiles.
[01:11:05] Public Speaker Amigo Harris Parker: Thank you Public Works Director Azalea Mitch and all the Public Works staff. Special thanks to Public Works employee Rick Pacheco for helping residents find solutions. Miss Natalia Jones, thank you and the BHCC staff for your time, work and support at BHCC. Thank you to Miss Natalia and Mr. John Weaver for the event planning.
[01:11:31] Public Speaker Amigo Harris Parker: And last but certainly not least, Chief Norris, Miss Nicole Acker, Miss Myra Lombra, MPD records and dispatch personnel, MPD commanders and all levels of MPD officers, thank you. Chief Norris, thank you for showing up, listening, communicating and sitting at the table.
[01:12:07] Public Speaker Ma Yanli: Hi, Ma Yanli. We wish have a sewing machine class next year. We are very happy and interesting the sewing class this year and too I wish we, we still keep the English writing class. We want to keep member we will the English don't be forget.
[01:12:31] Public Speaker Ma Yanli: And three, on September, we cannot get in the floral class no, not, no notify. November, teacher Joelle told us we will no sewing machine next year but November 18 the day we came already no more machine.
[01:13:22] Public Speaker Ma Yanli: So now I am so nervous and worry about everyday, maybe someday I come to the Belle Haven Senior Center the door is close, maybe cannot get in. So and how come so sudden they didn't let us know.
[01:13:50] Public Speaker Ma Yanli: And the last is also please don't, don't get mad at those who speak up at city council. We only want to receive good service. Happy holiday.
[01:14:00] Public Speaker Glafira Garcia: Buenas noches, mi nombre es Glafira García, estoy aquí para ah, soy ah residente de Belle Haven y solamente estoy quiero preguntarle con respecto al City Manager y a los concejales porque permiten que el personal trate mal a los seniors.
[01:14:26] Public Speaker Glafira Garcia: Están aplicando reglas donde no hay claridad. Cada día estamos peor. Por ejemplo, nos sacan de las clases y luego nos ponen en lista de espera y des- y en lista de espera y su lista de ellos refleja que está llena.
[01:14:52] Public Speaker Glafira Garcia: Pero va uno a la a la al salón de clases y y están vacíos los asientos. Entonces no entendemos por qué nos tratan así y no nos han resuelto nada sobre la petición que hicimos, no nos han dado nuestros espacios.
[01:15:18] Public Speaker Glafira Garcia: Estamos este pues muy ah no vemos que haya organización con los dirigentes de aquí de de los programas de aquí. Entonces estamos muy ah muy estresados. En vez de venir los seniors a a pasársela a pasárnosla bien aquí venimos a que nos estresen con puros problemas que nos causan. Ok? Muchas gracias, buenas noches.
[01:15:47] Public Speaker: Hello, good evening, my name is Glafira Garcia, I'm a resident of the city of Menlo Park. And I'm here to ask why you allow the staff here to mistreat seniors. There's no clear rules, they sign us off our classes and they put us in a waitlist.
[01:16:13] Public Speaker: They and they say that their list is full but when we go to the classrooms we see a lot of empty seats. Why do you allow them to treat us like that? And we also haven't been given a solution to our petition.
[01:16:39] Public Speaker: We are not given any space, things are very unorganized. And this creates a lot of stress for us in a place where we are supposed to come and have joy and enjoy being here, instead we are stressed.
[01:17:05] Public Speaker Alberto Tinagero Garcia: Soy Alberto Tinajero García, residente de Belle Haven. Con respeto quiero decirles a la mesa del consejo que seguimos siendo ignorados los seniors. Queremos recordarles lo mismo de la petición. No tenemos plan de seguridad, no han arreglado las las puertas de los baños.
[01:17:31] Public Speaker Alberto Tinagero Garcia: No han arreglado los topes del piso, no nos han dado el espacio para las mesas de billar y dominó. En dos años no ha habido resultados. Doctor, señor, Dick Combs, la última vez que estuve aquí al frente le pedí respeto básico para los seniors y usted dijo que cada que venimos cambiamos la historia.
[01:17:57] Public Speaker Alberto Tinagero Garcia: Nos hace pensar que usted no está en la realidad de Belle Haven, primer distrito, porque nos están imponiendo reglas que no sabemos de dónde vienen, pero sí sabemos quién las aplica. No quieren que los abuelos traigan a sus nietos o nietas.
[01:18:33] Public Speaker Alberto Tinagero Garcia: No quieren niños pero sí los utilizan a los niños para que sirvan comida a los seniors. Abril 25 le llamaron la atención a un senior que traía a su nieta y tuvo que ir a la emergencia y murió el 26 de abril. Es un atropello. Sentimos su pie en el cuello.
[01:18:49] Public Speaker Alberto Tinagero Garcia: Nos están violando la primera enmienda, el derecho de expresión. Nos damos cuenta de todo pero nos da miedo hablar. Estamos amenazados por el director Cham. Discúlpenme, gracias.
[01:18:55] Public Speaker: Hello, my name is Alberto Tinagera Garcia and I respectfully come in front to talk to you and respectfully ask not to continue to be ignored. We don't have an insurance plan, the doors to the bathrooms have not been fixed, the floors have not been fixed, we have not been given billiard tables.
[01:19:21] Public Speaker: It's been two years that we've been asking for support and have received nothing. We are only asking for basic respect. We always, we are always told that we come here with a different story every time. You are giving us rules, we don't know where these rules are coming from, but we know who applies them.
[01:19:47] Public Speaker: I'm specifically talking about a senior who brought their grandchild to this center on April 25th. He was told not to bring this child, however you do use children to feed the seniors. The day after this senior was told not to bring his child, he went to the emergency room and passed away.
[01:20:13] Public Speaker: We are only asking that our First Amendment be respected, that we don't feel threatened because we do feel threatened and we cannot express ourselves. We feel threatened by Mr. Champ.
[01:20:27] Public Speaker Jason Primuth: Good evening. I'm here to talk about TIDE Academy here in Menlo Park. I realize this is the City Council not the school board, I get that. But I'm here to share my experiences. My name is Jason Primuth, I've been a Menlo Park resident for more than 20 years.
[01:20:50] Public Speaker Jason Primuth: And one of the main reasons we chose to raise our family here was the reputation of the schools, and that reputation was well earned. Our kids had a wonderful experience at Laurel and Encinal and Hillview. Those schools did right by our family.
[01:21:20] Public Speaker Jason Primuth: Our older child graduated from Menlo-Atherton a few years ago. MA is a fine school, but it's not the right school for every student. With 2,300 students, our son struggled along with other kids with learning challenges. Despite real effort from dedicated staff, the school simply couldn't meet his 504 accommodations. He didn't fail MA, MA failed him.
[01:21:45] Public Speaker Jason Primuth: So when our younger child approached high school, we made a different choice. They enrolled at TIDE Academy and for the past year and a half they have thrived. TIDE is a special place, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
[01:22:05] Public Speaker Jason Primuth: Qualitatively, it's a place where students are truly known. They welcome kids who don't fit neatly into large traditional environments regardless of race and gender identity, disability, socioeconomic background or learning style. It's a welcoming environment for kids who struggle, for kids who get bullied and for kids who don't fit in elsewhere.
[01:22:25] Public Speaker Jason Primuth: But quantitatively, TIDE is just as impressive. More than 80% of TIDE students are minorities compared to about 60% district-wide. TIDE serves twice the percentage of students with IEPs, 504s and other learning accommodations. It is the only district school east of 101.
[01:22:41] Public Speaker Jason Primuth: Half the school's students live in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven or North Fair Oaks, all historically disadvantaged areas. It has a 100% graduation rate. And while district enrollment is declining, TIDE enrollment has increased for two consecutive years. This is not a failing school, it's a success story.
[01:22:49] Public Speaker Joy Sykes: Thank you, Mayor and Councilmembers. My name is Joy Sykes and I am a Menlo Park resident and parent speaking in support of TIDE Academy students and staff. Tonight I am asking you to do two concrete things.
[01:22:56] Public Speaker Jason Primuth: But I'm not here to praise TIDE, I'm here because it's at risk of being closed. A few weeks ago, a single trustee proposed shutting TIDE down due to low enrollment. A subcommittee was formed and the public learned after the fact that closure was on the table.
[01:23:11] Public Speaker Jason Primuth: And from what we've been able to gather, the school could be shut down as early as the upcoming school year. Closing TIDE is not a budget decision, it's a values decision. Thank you very much.
[01:23:20] Public Speaker Joy Sykes: One, formally agendize and adopt a City of Menlo Park resolution opposing the closure of TIDE Academy by the Sequoia Union High School District and two, in that resolution, clearly call for specific conditions that must be met before any decision about closure is made, including full financial transparency, equity analysis and a multi-year enrollment strategy.
[01:24:00] Public Speaker Joy Sykes: As a city, Menlo Park cannot vote on school closures, but you do have a powerful voice. A formal resolution from this council would send a clear message that Menlo Park expects transparency, integrity and a genuine commitment to equity from the high school district that serves our youth. It would also show TIDE students and staff that their city sees them, values them and is willing to stand with them.
[01:24:40] Public Speaker Joy Sykes: I ask that your resolution do three things. One, explicitly state the council's opposition to closing TIDE Academy at this time given its demonstrated value to students and the community. Second, call on Sequoia Union High School District to meet clear conditions before considering any closure, including full public disclosure of the data and analysis being used,
[01:25:05] Public Speaker Joy Sykes: a detailed equity impact analysis, an explanation of how closure would align with the district's adopted goals and a transparent exploration of alternatives to closure. Third, direct the Mayor or designated council liaisons to transmit this resolution to the Sequoia board and superintendent and to represent the city's position at any meetings or hearings where TIDE's future is discussed. Thank you for your time and I respectfully urge you to place this resolution on an upcoming agenda and adopt it as soon as possible. Thank you.
[01:25:12] Public Speaker Ismael Osseguera: Good evening. I became a senior member back in 2010 when it used to be Onetta Harris Community Center. Since day one I fell in love with all the people that attended this family, this friendly family oriented center. The staff they had made you feel part of a loving caring family. I said to myself I found my second home and I want to be part of it.
[01:25:40] Public Speaker Ismael Osseguera: I became a volunteer right away and enjoyed helping people in all kinds of different things and ways on different ways. The thing is since they demolished the old building, we appreciate this new building but things are never going to be the way they used to be. Because the old senior center we were family oriented and here we don't feel any of that family oriented
[01:26:01] Public Speaker Ismael Osseguera: because all the staff and most of the people, they don't treat us the way they supposed to. So we want to have them and become like a large family that we used to be. Because once you're used to being like a large family and they treat you bad that's not a good feeling.
[01:26:26] Public Speaker Ismael Osseguera: So I hope you can do something you know about it so we can unite and become a large loving family that we used to be between employees and seniors. Because they seem to forget that we're talking about seniors. They have to be having a little bit more patience with us because once you become a senior you don't have, you're not in your right mind sometimes.
[01:26:51] Public Speaker Ismael Osseguera: So we appreciate if they can if we could all work together and get this to be our second home the way we had. Thank you.
[01:27:41] Public Speaker Charlotte Read: Good evening Councilmembers and staff and a special congratulations to Mayor Nash and Vice Mayor Wise. Thank you all for serving our community with dedication and integrity. My name is Charlotte Read and I'm a Menlo Park District 4 resident.
[01:28:01] Public Speaker Charlotte Read: I live around the corner from Draeger's and there's a safety issue I wanted to bring to your attention. At the intersection of Menlo Avenue, there are two crosswalks, one running in parallel to Draeger's and one running perpendicular. There is an image of the intersection that I provided to the city clerk for your further review at the conclusion of the meeting.
[01:28:31] Public Speaker Charlotte Read: The parallel crosswalk has orange flags pedestrians can use to cross, which has been very helpful and reassuring as I use them to cross the street to do my shopping in downtown. The perpendicular crosswalk has a stop sign but no holder to place the flags unlike the other stop signs across the street.
[01:28:41] Public Speaker Charlotte Read: That perpendicular crosswalk is arguably more dangerous to cross because drivers don't need to make a turn to go through that intersection, they come straight on. I actually was almost hit by a car a few months ago because a driver was going too fast and wasn't looking since there was no turn.
[01:28:51] Public Speaker Charlotte Read: Other people crossing may not be so lucky. The past week or so, people have been wanting to feel safer crossing the street in that area and have been using the flags but sticking them in the bushes across the street because there's nowhere else to put them.
[01:29:01] Public Speaker Charlotte Read: Due to the proximity to our schools and downtown businesses, I am asking respectfully that City Council explore putting flag holders on the other stop sign on Menlo Avenue to match what the other stop signs have at that intersection to make it easier and safer for people to cross. Thank you.
[01:29:24] Public Speaker Laura Peterson: Hi. I for many years enjoyed the Menlo Park senior center and good job Menlo Park for providing that and of course now things have changed some. In November, I had a conversation with Rondell regarding my status in an exercise class and his manner was...
Segment 3
[01:30:00] Public Speaker Patricia Mayo: ...to me hostile and authoritarian and cause me great anxiety. He asked me to leave and that if I didn't he would make sure I was not allowed to return there. And I just don't want anyone else to have this experience, to be treated in such a manner. There are other ways of handling things and, you know, I hope things might change. Thank you.
[01:31:47] City Clerk Judi Herren: Next speaker is Lena Doe followed by Patricia Mayo.
[01:31:53] Public Speaker Lena Doe: I am speaking on the consent agenda item. So I don't...
[01:31:57] City Clerk Judi Herren: You want to speak on a consent...
[01:31:58] Public Speaker Lena Doe: Yeah, I think that's what I put. I didn't indicate the item number, but it was supposed to be for the consent agenda item.
[01:32:06] City Clerk Judi Herren: Okay. Okay. Well we'll move this over to H2. Thank you Lena. Okay, so next up will be Patricia Mayo.
[01:32:24] City Clerk Judi Herren: Patricia should be able to unmute your mic at this time.
[01:32:28] Public Speaker Patricia Mayo: Okay. Can you hear me?
[01:32:31] City Clerk Judi Herren: Yes, we can. Go right ahead.
[01:32:33] Public Speaker Patricia Mayo: Thank you. Um, I have been an instructor at the Senior Center in Menlo Park. Um, I was there since 2017. I have been with Menlo Park since 2001 at first at a small business. I've worked at, I've taught as, at seven different ones in the Bay Area senior centers. By far my favorite was at Menlo Park Senior Center in Belle Haven. Until the summer of 2024. I've written emails to you city council but had no replies.
[01:33:20] Public Speaker Patricia Mayo: I've followed what's been happening, which has been shocking, depressing, and quite disturbing. Honestly, I have never seen anything like this at other centers I've taught at. Seniors do not have to sign petitions for support. If they voice their concerns, they are treated with respect. Complaints are not punished, but listened to, regarded as valuable feedback and responded to with kindness and real effort and change.
[01:33:55] Public Speaker Patricia Mayo: Please consider that we seniors have paid into the tax base longest. I believe we need to treat each other with respect, fairness, and compassion. We desperately need this from our public officials. We need to value and support people for speaking up and calling out injustice. Our actions are not complaints. Our actions are proof that we care and value each other and this center. Please, do you care? Please show us with your actions. Thank you.
[01:34:28] City Clerk Judi Herren: Our next speaker will be Olga Z followed by Tamar.
[01:34:39] Public Speaker Olga Yushina: Um, hi. Hello. Um, happy holidays. Um, my name is Olga Yushina. I'm a Menlo Park parent and community advocate for families whose children don't always fit into large traditional school environments. I am here to talk about Tide Academy, which is very important to us. Um, many of us here tonight because the Sequoia Union High School District is moving quickly towards closing Tide Academy, which is a gem, a real true gem for Menlo Park.
[01:35:20] Public Speaker Olga Yushina: It's a small thriving public high school without clear explanations or meaningful public process, they are just, you know, moving on with the process. I understand that this is not the school board meeting and I'm here not to ask you to make an educational decision, of course. I'm here because Tide is a source of pride for us, for Menlo Park, and an important community asset. Tide reflects the city's values of inclusion and care for residents with different needs.
[01:35:57] Public Speaker Olga Yushina: It serves students from minority communities, students who have experienced bullying, and students who need a smaller, more supportive environment. Those students are not failing. The system simply does not work the same way for everyone. So, while the city does not run schools, city leaders do have a responsibility to be mindful of how decisions affect residents, especially families and minority communities who depend on equitable access to opportunity.
[01:36:35] Public Speaker Olga Yushina: I'm asking you as city leaders to recognize Tide as a community asset and a point of pride and to use your voices to encourage transparency, community engagement, and thoughtful consideration before any irreversible steps are taken. Please send a clear message to Sequoia School Board that Tide belongs in Menlo Park. Thank you so much and have a great holidays.
[01:37:04] City Clerk Judi Herren: Our next speaker will be Tamar followed by Adina Levin.
[01:37:24] Public Speaker Tamar: Good evening everyone. Can you hear me?
[01:37:27] City Clerk Judi Herren: Yes, go right ahead.
[01:37:31] Public Speaker Tamar: Yes, uh, good evening everyone and thank you for listening and to the public comments. Um, I also want to talk about the issue that was raised by a few of the speakers, uh, which is Tide Academy, the school in Menlo Park and East Menlo Park, uh, going on the chopping block so to speak and very, very quickly and carelessly by the Sequoia Union High School District.
[01:38:05] Public Speaker Tamar: Um, I will be honest and say that I am not a resident of Menlo Park. I am actually a resident of Redwood City, neighboring city. And for all of our lives, my two boys that I have in Tide Academy right now, they've always been going to private schools. And when we were looking for a high school, we knew what we wanted and we had many options because my kids can adapt in other schools and although one of my children has an IEP, he would have probably been okay.
[01:38:39] Public Speaker Tamar: But we knew that we wanted a special community for them to be able to continue to thrive. And we found that at Tide Academy. So we are actually the minority perhaps in Tide Academy because we are not Hispanic, we have not been through many other options. We came from a private school and we chose to go to Tide Academy because of what it is. It is a small public school that emphasizes caring for each one of its members, that has an amazing academic program.
[01:39:19] Public Speaker Tamar: It is a very warm and inviting community for anyone regardless of their background, regardless of what school they came from, what ethnicity they are, what language they speak, we felt at home. And I've been there now for almost, we have been there now for this is our second year and it has proven to be so. On top of that, the academics clearly speak for themselves. We spend more time in Menlo Park because of going to Tide Academy and I would only wish that the city would care about having such a star, such an example of success in its area and would want to support that. Thank you very much and happy holidays to everyone.
[01:40:13] City Clerk Judi Herren: Our next speaker is Adina Levin.
[01:40:21] Public Speaker Adina Levin: Hello, um, good evening, uh, Mayor and City Councilmembers and staff. Adina Levin, Menlo Park resident. And I wanted to uh quickly express some thanks for the recent completion of a project that has been in the city's queue for a long time. And I am talking about the pedestrian crossing of El Camino Real, um, at Ravenswood, the side of the intersection that is in the Palo Alto direction.
[01:40:56] Public Speaker Adina Levin: Um, this is a project that had been in the queue since the uh El Camino Real and downtown specific plan. And um the project has come up and recently been completed. Uh, I use the area as a pedestrian frequently. I've used that crosswalk multiple times. I see people, other people using that crosswalk. Um, it is a very useful addition to um, you know, people walking around and going to and from things like the library and the civic center and the train. And so just wanted to give thanks to the recent completion of this project. Thank you.
[01:41:41] City Clerk Judi Herren: Okay, seeing no more hands or cards, Mayor Nash, you may continue.
[01:41:48] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you and thank you to all the public speakers tonight. Consent calendar. Under the consent calendar, the city council may take action to approve routine business items in one motion unless a city council member, city staff member or a member of the public requests that an item be discussed or continued to a later date. City Clerk Herren, do we have any public comments on the consent calendar?
[01:42:13] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you, Mayor Nash. So at this time, if any member of the public wishes to provide comment on consent calendar items H1, City Council meeting minutes, or item H2, a city manager execute amendment for the city property at 555 Ravenswood Avenue. If you're in person, now is the time to complete that speaker card and return it here to the clerk's table. If you're virtual, engage that hand feature. Calling in, please press star nine now.
[01:42:45] City Clerk Judi Herren: Looks like we are currently at about six speakers, so this is the final call for public comment on consent calendar items H1 and H2. Okay, we are at total of six speakers. And our first speaker will be Catherine Carlton followed by Sarah G.
[01:43:20] Public Speaker Catherine Carlton: Um, I'm here to to speak about the Junior League. I joined the Junior League when I first moved to Menlo Park because frankly I just had two miscarriages, I didn't know anyone, I was lonely, it seemed like something good to do to meet people. I was blown away at how not only does the Junior League help the community, it does a huge amount of training for women, training for leadership.
[01:43:44] Public Speaker Catherine Carlton: And because of this Junior League members tend to go on to found things like My New Red Shoes, they get poached and and recruited to sit on the board of the Vista Center for the Blind, Princess Project, a lot of different other great work that they do. And I know some of my colleagues are going to talk about some of the the fantastic things that we've set up here like Habitat for Humanity, the Children's Museum. Um, I want to talk about how my my personal experience in some of the things that we've done.
[01:44:11] Public Speaker Catherine Carlton: I I first was an after-school tutor at the Boys and Girls Club here and loved that. And then I was a mentor at HIP Housing. After that I ended up back at the Boys and Girls Club, we were teaching girls coding. And then I ended up uh with a team researching and drafting legislation to fight human trafficking of children. And that changed my life. I ended up doing that for a few years and we worked over many years with Joe Simitian, with uh Rich Gordon, with Fiona Ma, S. Joseph Swanson, people all over uh to really make a difference.
[01:44:56] Public Speaker Catherine Carlton: For example, uh we created the Postnatal Depression Task Force for the state of California and established May as perinatal depression awareness month. We expanded breast cancer treatment to cover uninsured women in California. We established a minimum inpatient care standard for women following childbirth. We helped create the children's bicycle law to help protect children on bicycles and make them safer coming to and from schools.
[01:45:31] Public Speaker Catherine Carlton: Uh we helped establish the kids' license plate that you can get that helps fund child abuse prevention and injury prevention programs. And the the impact isn't just problematic, programmatic, it's it's financial. Uh beyond the rent that we pay, then over 12,000 a year, uh since 2002 and almost 25 years, it's members have directly invested 1.5 million dollars to maintaining and improving the gatehouse.
[01:46:00] Public Speaker Catherine Carlton: If the city were able to if they were responsible for the upkeep, it wouldn't just be the financial cost, as you know it would be significantly higher because you have to factor in the staff cost uh which we know it's not just the cost, it's the time is already stretched really thin. The new building now requires over 200,000 dollars in roof and structural maintenance with that. And an extended lease would allow the Junior League to undertake this work which would save the city both money and significant staff hours.
[01:46:30] Public Speaker Catherine Carlton: On on every level, the community service, the leadership development, financial stewardship, the historical preservation, um the Junior League is fantastic in that it doesn't just serve the community, it develops leaders who then can continue to serve beyond their time in the League. We've been here in this community since the 1970s and we've really loved being part of Menlo Park.
[01:46:58] Public Speaker Catherine Carlton: And I really cannot say enough great things about the Junior League. I've kind of aged out, but still love to to support them as a fantastic part of our community. And uh I hope that you support them like we do. And Betsy and Jennifer, we are recruiting new members and we would love to have you as members as well. So um I just want to thank you guys for your support and um come down to the pancake breakfast, we have done it a day, we'd love to see you there. Thank you.
[01:47:34] City Clerk Judi Herren: Our next speaker will be Sarah G followed by Christy Bonham.
[01:47:41] Public Speaker Sarah G: Hi, um, my name is Sarah G and I'm a resident of Menlo Park, um, I was born and raised here also. Um, but yeah, I I actually wanted to read a testimony from former Senator Richard Gordon. He wasn't able to make it.
[01:48:03] Public Speaker Sarah G: 'During my years as the executive director of a major non-profit in San Mateo County and during my tenure as a member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the California State Assembly, I had the opportunity to work with the Junior League on several major projects. Specifically, the Junior League was instrumental in the creation of Daybreak, a shelter for homeless youth. They also founded Rebuilding Together, which has played a key role in efforts to keep people appropriately housed.
[01:48:36] Public Speaker Sarah G: While the mission of the Junior League is to train women in leadership roles, they do so by building community and community assets. Their contributions to the community cannot be adequately measured as their work is often done without fanfare for the League itself. Their presence in Menlo Park grounds them in our community. It would be a tremendous loss if they were forced to move. The Junior League has supported this community and I ask you to support them by continuing their lease. Sincerely, Richard Gordon.' Thank you.
[01:49:14] City Clerk Judi Herren: Next speaker is Christy Bonham followed by Charlotte Reed.
[01:49:20] Public Speaker Christy Bonham: Uh, good evening, Mayor Nash, Vice Mayor Wise, and Honorable Councilmembers Combs, Schmidt, and City Manager Justin Murphy. Thank you for having us. Um, my name is Christy Bonham and I am President-elect of the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula for this upcoming uh year. Congratulations again to Mayor Nash and Vice Mayor Wise. I want to read a testimonial from one of our members, Virginia Kang-Karali, who could not be here tonight.
[01:50:01] Public Speaker Christy Bonham: Um, she said, 'Thank you to past Mayor Drew Combs for his leadership as Mayor during a challenging but exciting year. And once again congratulations to Mayor Nash and Vice Mayor Wise.' She says, 'Apologize for not being able to attend tonight's council meeting, but I am at our monthly fire board meeting tonight, so Christy was kind enough to offer to read my comments to renew the Junior League's lease to the gatehouse for as long as possible.
[01:50:46] Public Speaker Christy Bonham: When I moved to Menlo Park more than 30 years ago, the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula welcomed me with open arms and right away. I knew that I had found a home with women who were and are still committed to community service and who had a significant impact on our community in the broadest sense of the word. From extensively supporting the Rosalie Rendu Center, center in East Palo Alto to providing fire safety education to children in the Junior League's service area, particularly in the Menlo Park Fire Protection District service area.
[01:51:28] Public Speaker Christy Bonham: My involvement with the Junior League's Survive Alive House project back in 1998 to 1999 has been foundational for me as a director on your fire board. To this day, fire safety education for children and families is one of my highest priorities. This partnership between the Junior League and the fire district gets stronger every year. And now as a sustainer in the Junior League and a fire board director, I am so proud that the League is an active partner with the fire district for our annual pancake breakfast, which attracts hundreds of guests throughout the peninsula.
[01:52:15] Public Speaker Christy Bonham: This partnership is one that I wholeheartedly support and know that many council members past and present support as well. And the heart of the Junior League is our gatehouse. Like the very valued partnership the League has with the fire district, I know that the League values the partnership with the city of Menlo Park. The gatehouse has been a training ground for provisionals getting their feet wet as new volunteers, events that support the League and the city, as we have seen with receptions at the gatehouse after the City Council's reorganizations, a headquarters for operations so that the League can continue to fulfill its mission throughout the peninsula by advancing women's leadership for meaningful community impact and training through volunteer action, collaboration, and again more training, as many other uses of the gatehouse.
[01:53:28] Public Speaker Christy Bonham: All Junior League members take pride in this partnership with Menlo Park and want to continue it. Please renew the lease for as long as possible and continue partnering with the Junior League to make a difference in our peninsula communities. Thank you, Virginia.'
[01:53:48] City Clerk Judi Herren: Our next speaker will be Charlotte Reed followed by Lena Doe.
[01:53:55] Public Speaker Charlotte Reed: Hello again, Mayor Nash, councilmembers and city staff. My name is Charlotte Reed, I'm a Menlo Park resident and an absolutely zealous, thrilled, proud member of the Junior League and I've been a member for a very long time. It's a great point of pride for me. The women in green you see tonight not only represent the absolute best of Menlo Park but the best and brightest of our region, bringing their skills, energy, and heart to solve for our community's greatest challenges from housing to food insecurity, maternal health, child education, child welfare and beyond.
[01:54:49] Public Speaker Charlotte Reed: In my own experience, the meetings that I've had with fellow members at the gatehouse have empowered me to achieve what I thought was impossible and push myself in ways that I had never pushed myself before. I can certainly say that as a result of my involvement with the League, as an organization that trains and empowers future leaders, they were instrumental in helping me secure a place in the class of 2026 of Emerge California, which is a program that trains women to enter public service.
[01:55:31] Public Speaker Charlotte Reed: Councilmember Combs, you said in your November 2025 newsletter that public-private partnership will be the key to unlocking the full potential of our downtown. I respectfully encourage all of you to extend that strategic thinking to our chapter of the Junior League and our home and lease at the gatehouse. We are an organization that's headquartered in Menlo Park that has already been doing the work and driving results with key partnerships and grants with organizations over the years including HIP Housing and Samaritan House.
[01:56:18] Public Speaker Charlotte Reed: By renewing our lease, the Junior League will be able to help the city of Menlo Park bridge the gap between long-term vision and short-term wins to help protect the most vulnerable members of our community. Additionally, our lease that we have on Santa Cruz Avenue for our shop is a critical part of our mission and being able to be geographically connected to the shop and being headquartered in the same town has a huge impact on our operations and the way that we're able to serve the community. I respectfully ask that you do everything in your power to extend the lease for as long as possible for the Junior League. Thank you so much for your time.
[01:57:13] City Clerk Judi Herren: Next speaker is Lena Doe followed by Kirsten Fabos.
[01:57:19] Public Speaker Lena Doe: Good evening city staff and Mayor Nash, Vice Mayor Wise and community councilmembers. As the current president of the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula, I hold immense pride to be in this position. When I joined the League over two decades ago, I had a choice of any league in the Bay Area to join. And the reason I joined this league was the women were welcoming and even though they didn't know me from Adam or Eve, they saw me as someone who would fit in and be an immense leader in the League.
[01:58:03] Public Speaker Lena Doe: And that was over two decades ago and there are some women in this room that I looked up to as presidents and as leaders and I'm happy to be following in their shoes. Um, as a second-time president, not of this league, but of another league, I know what it's like to have pride in your league and the reason I came back to Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula was when it was time to sustain a league, as a sustainer you don't have to actively participate in the day-to-day stuff but you can sustain a league by volunteering here and there or giving money and stuff like that.
[01:58:43] Public Speaker Lena Doe: I made a promise to myself as well as the friends I made over two decades ago that I'd come back to this league. Little did I know that I'd come back as a sustainer and two years later I would be back in the active circuit and be president of this league. But, you know, this league has provided me not only immense friendships but immense opportunities for leadership. I served on the California SPAC which is the delegates of members of all the leagues in California where we provide advocacy, where we do legislation, where um a lot of people have already spoken about.
[01:59:27] Public Speaker Lena Doe: But our reach does not only reach the community, we've done legislation statewide as well as federal. So the power of women making change in the community is immensely done in this league. But as a former policy aide and a legislative aide, I know what it's like to look at budgets. And I'm going to reach out to you guys as you know members of City Council and as city staff. When you look at a budget, when you have a nonprofit willing to set aside money to maintain a building that is historically registered, a building that wasn't historically registered before we became stewards of this um building.
[02:00:15] Public Speaker Lena Doe: And look at making sure that we have the funds to keep the roof historically the way it's supposed to be, make sure that every parts of the the building is maintained to the highest standard and they're willing to put in over 200, two million dollars over 20 years, you know, that is something that as a former staff member I look at and say that's a no-brainer. You know, you want someone to help you with that because not only we're saving you money by doing this on ourselves, but we're great stewards. We've been a great community partner and we would, you know, my wish for you is to give us a multi-year lease so then we can actually start working on fixing this roof because it's over 200,000 dollars that we have set aside, but we can't, you know, take that money and spend it if we only have one year or two year lease. So thank you and please consider renewing our lease for multi-year.
[02:01:37] City Clerk Judi Herren: Next speaker is Kirsten Fabos.
[02:01:44] Public Speaker Kirsten Fabos Livingston: Thank you very much. Hello Mayor Nash, Vice Mayor Wise and esteemed City Councilmembers. My name is Kirsten Fabos Livingston and I am proud to have been a member of the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula for 25 years. I don't know if you can see it, but I'm also wearing green in support of the League. In the past 25 years, some placements have included serving on the California State Public Affairs Committee that has supported and co-authored state legislation to improve the lives of children and families in Menlo Park.
[02:02:34] Public Speaker Kirsten Fabos Livingston: serving as the community development director that has awarded grants to local community nonprofits totaling approximately 100,000 dollars a year. And I'm also currently the sustainer co-director, a position that keeps our approximately 300 sustaining members within our community engaged with the League. Our sustaining members have served their active time in the League balancing work, family, and other volunteer commitments. They receive their training in running effective meetings, nonprofit organizations, and fundraising, and many of them are still making invaluable contributions to the local community.
[02:03:31] Public Speaker Kirsten Fabos Livingston: As a matter of fact, many of them are still volunteering at nonprofit boards, some even volunteering for nonprofits they have founded. A tagline that I think describes the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula best is women building better communities. For the past 60 years through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers, we are doing just that for Menlo Park and other mid-peninsula communities. Since 1970, the historic Latham Hopkins Gatehouse in Menlo Park has been our home where we have conducted countless meetings, trained generations of peninsula women, evaluated and awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash grants to more than 200 local nonprofit organizations and supported more than 100 community service projects.
[02:05:02] Public Speaker Kirsten Fabos Livingston: We realize the gatehouse needs capital improvements and we are absolutely willing to fund those. I feel like we've been wonderful caretakers and stewards of the gatehouse and its beautiful grounds. What we request is an extension of the lease for the gatehouse to make our investment in the future of the gatehouse worthwhile. And we request that lease to be extended as long as possible. Thank you for your consideration.
[02:05:33] City Clerk Judi Herren: Okay, seeing no further hands or cards, Mayor Nash, you may continue.
[02:05:40] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you and thank you for the wonderful comments and testimonies about the Junior League. So at this point um we are I'm looking for a motion and second on the table to approve the consent calendar unless there's any discussion.
[02:06:04] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: I just want to make sure I understood the consent um item and uh because I think uh what we're really proposing here is there is an extension to get us through a broader study session in early 2026. Um and that's where we'll make the longer term decision about how long to extend the lease for.
[02:06:23] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: So there's no removing the lease tonight if we move forward with the consent calendar, it's it's a year's worth of time to kind of construct a proposal for a longer term lease and we'll get that on the calendar in pretty short order I would imagine. So that's that's the nature of the consent item as I'm understanding it.
[02:06:51] Mayor Betsy Nash: That is correct. Um to extend the lease until January 2027 and hold a study session in early next year um to actually discuss this with the idea that we will um move forward with um deciding on what to do with the with the lease at that time.
[02:07:19] Councilmember Drew Combs: Yeah, thanks. Um a question for staff. Uh there were several comments or at least a couple of comments about the condition of the roof. Um has staff made any assessment on its own about like how long um should it last until major work is done on the roof?
[02:07:55] City Manager Justin Murphy: Uh, sorry, I just need to get used to the microphone setup in this room. Uh, yes, so we know time is of the essence with dealing with the roof and so we'll be uh keeping a close eye in partnership with the current tenant, the Junior League. Um and so that's why we do think it's timely to move forward and if something can be resolved in less than a year that'd be great, it'd be uh great to take care of the roof within the calendar year 2026 one way or the other.
[02:08:33] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Sorry, I know I'm getting really specific but a lot of people came out to make comments so I want to make sure I understood. So the roof discussion will be part of that broader study session, it'll be a holistic look at the roof and the repairs that are needed, all that's going to be part as well as any contractual items, or do we already know what we need to do with the roof and that's going to be separate somehow?
[02:09:36] City Manager Justin Murphy: Uh, let's see. So there's a chance that given um as nature may present itself, there may be something more urgent that we'll need to address and we'll address that as needed. So uh part of it will depend I'll say like what the weather's like. So but you're sort of chiming in on that. The city sees it as its responsibility. Um for long-term, for long-term for sure, yes.
[02:10:21] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Yeah, but if anything happens in the moment, like in the next 12 months, like right, the the city sees it as its responsibility to to take care. That part I'm not... Okay, all right, thanks. It'll depend on what the lease says. Yep. Okay, all right, totally fair.
[02:10:59] Mayor Betsy Nash: But the city did um staff is recommending the 12 month lease extension with the study session and we will um move ahead from there.
[02:11:11] Mayor Betsy Nash: Does anyone want to uh entertain a motion? Well, I will go ahead and move then um the consent calendar.
[02:11:24] Councilmember Drew Combs: I was going to say I did want to extend my appreciation to um everyone in the Junior League who who came out, I also enjoy the PowerPoint presentation, um which I thought was very informative and for me personally, um very much appreciate um and understand the Junior League as a steward of the Gatehouse which I think is like the oldest gatehouse in California or maybe the last existing uh gatehouse.
[02:12:04] Councilmember Drew Combs: Um and so and I do think um the Junior League's tenancy and stewardship is certainly what makes it special in part today. I would say that I do think that there are larger discussions to be had about um city property and long-term leases and whether it even should be your obligation to repair the roof or should it be our obligation. Uh I do think that that's a discussion that the city uh needs to have and the City Council needs to have, um and that will that will take take some time.
[02:12:45] Councilmember Drew Combs: Um I do think we should get to some clarity on uh in the interim who's responsible for what as it relates to to the lease. Um but um but that's some understanding of my position and with that I'll second the Mayor's, it was the Mayor's motion, right? The Mayor's motion.
[02:13:04] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you. So I do have a motion on the floor by Mayor Nash and a second by City Councilmember Combs to approve the consent calendar. Any further City Council question or discussion? Seeing none by roll call vote. City Councilmember Combs.
[02:13:18] Councilmember Drew Combs: Yes.
[02:13:21] City Clerk Judi Herren: City Councilmember Taylor.
[02:13:22] Councilmember Cecilia Taylor: Yes.
[02:13:23] City Clerk Judi Herren: City Councilmember Schmidt.
[02:13:33] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Yes.
[02:13:34] City Clerk Judi Herren: Vice Mayor Wise.
[02:13:35] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: Yes.
[02:13:36] City Clerk Judi Herren: Mayor Nash.
[02:13:37] Mayor Betsy Nash: Yes.
[02:13:38] City Clerk Judi Herren: And the motion passes unanimously. Thank you.
[02:13:42] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you and thank you for the great turnout from Junior League. So next we have a study session. Study sessions are an opportunity for city staff to introduce an item that will require policy direction from the City Council in the near future. City staff will provide a presentation, I will then call for public comment.
[02:14:15] Mayor Betsy Nash: After public comment, the City Council will discuss the matter interactively with staff. The City Council will not take any action on items addressed in study sessions. The City Council may provide direction to city staff for preparation of additional analysis or information as necessary when the item returns to the City Council for action. The study session tonight is I1, provide direction for a public meetings transportation, location, interpretation and translation services accessibility policy. Here to introduce the item is City Clerk Judi Herren.
[02:14:54] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you, Mayor Nash, Vice Mayor Wise and City Councilmembers. Today's study session introduces a proposed framework for a public meeting accessibility policy. Staff seeks your direction to develop a policy for future City Council consideration. Tonight we'll review current practices and present recommendations. No action will be taken tonight but looking for City Council direction to shape the policy.
Segment 4
[02:15:00] Public Speaker Alberto Tinagero Garcia: accommodation by having them here because of the item on the agenda has a critical effect on the community or is one such as when we really decide to talk about displacement where there's going to be a different kind of input when you come to people's home and we're the ones that tend to be the most affected by this one. So again, coming here also is a way that we maybe be able to engage our news residents that live in the high rise the high density apartments over near Haven on Haven Avenue as well as near Marsh Road because we have a substantial population there that most people don't even think about and they don't have any services over there so by bringing meetings to them would be a way of really making them feel engaged as a part of the city. So again thank you for the work that you're doing, seasons greetings and all the other things and hope that you have a safe holiday. Thank you.
Segment 3
[02:15:30] City Clerk Judi Herren: The EJ element adopted in 2024 is a guide in this effort. It emphasizes multilingual outreach, equitable engagement, and hosting meetings in underserved communities. This policy aims to assist with implementing those goals. Menlo Park is a multilingual community. Nearly four in 10 residents speak a language other than English at home with Spanish being the most common.
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[02:16:00] City Clerk Judi Herren: Invite Adina Levin.
Segment 3
[02:16:05] City Clerk Judi Herren: While services have been provided, there is no formal policy guiding consistent accessibility across public meetings. Here are our meeting accessibility current practices. Transportation services have been offered for three City Council meetings since 2023 with limited ridership. This includes three pickup and drop-off locations in the Belle Haven neighborhood to and from City Council meetings held at the City Council chambers.
Segment 4
[02:16:09] Public Speaker Adina Levin: Adina Levin with Menlo Together and we did want to first of all support what Pam Jones has just said and we did support the environmental justice element including the access provisions that were recommended. Glad that the city council is considering these and will leave it there supporting what Ms. Jones has said. Thank you.
Segment 3
[02:16:32] City Clerk Judi Herren: The City Council is holding the second meeting uh this evening at BHCC and six of our seven commissions have hosted meetings at BHCC in 2025. Spanish interpretation has been provided by public request or when staff anticipates a need for a topic like the environmental justice and safety elements or budget public hearings and meetings held at BHCC. This includes the use of four interpreters, two in person and two virtual.
Segment 4
[02:16:48] City Clerk Judi Herren: invite Marlene.
[02:16:58] Public Speaker Marlene: Mayor, city council members and staff, my name is Marlene and I also supported outreach with the environmental justice and safety element and have worked in the community for five years and trying to make it providing civic engagement so we have residents making sure that their voices are heard but also in helping ways that the city and also other even other groups and agencies are able to connect with residents in a meaningful way.
Segment 3
[02:17:09] City Clerk Judi Herren: Translation of written material is limited to specific agenda items such as the police RIPA report and the housing and environmental justice elements. Moving on to staff's recommendations for transportation, staff is recommending that transportation services would be offered for meetings with significant community impact, which is the current practice. This supports access for Belle Haven residents and aligns with our environmental justice or EJ goals. The estimated cost is 220 dollars per meeting.
Segment 4
[02:17:31] Public Speaker Marlene: And I also want to extend a thank you to the interpreters here today. I know how hard they work and how meaningful that is to the residents to be able to engage in these meetings and have their voices heard as we heard at the beginning of the meeting. It was a little bit hard to hear about Google Translate. I think that yes it can be an easy way to just generally translate information but I think that we do really need to think about that and have people that have knowledge about what are the best ways to translate any language from any language because a lot of the times it doesn't make sense.
Segment 3
[02:17:50] City Clerk Judi Herren: Looking at our location recommendations, hosting meetings at BHCC increases accessibility and visibility in an underserved area. Staff recommendations for meeting locations is to comply with the EJ. EJ action item EJ7.D.3 is to conduct City Council meetings in underserved communities at least twice per year. Action item EJ7.D.5 evaluate scheduling of public meetings in order to allow for a wide range of participation options around typical and atypical working hours.
Segment 4
[02:18:15] Public Speaker Marlene: If you travel and you're trying to communicate with people a lot of the times it's gibberish. And so I think just keeping that in mind and trying to use a glossary of best practices of translating a word to word so that we can understand it and not just say we checked the the box it translated from English to Spanish English to another language. So just want to keep that in back of your head as well. Thank you.
Segment 3
[02:18:35] City Clerk Judi Herren: Staff understands this as commissions hosting one meeting per year at BHCC. Meetings held at BHCC do use over 20 additional staff hours for facility setup, technology testing, and taking down. For interpretation services, um I want to refresh everyone's memory that interpretation refers to the live person interpretation of a meeting. Staff recommends a cost-effective model using Zoom and one interpreter at all public City Council and commission meetings.
Segment 4
[02:18:39] City Clerk Judi Herren: Seeing no further hands or cards, Mayor Nash you may continue.
[02:18:46] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you and thank you to all the public speakers and especially a shout out the I appreciated the shout out to our translators here tonight. Thank you. So with that I would like to open for City Council discussion. Who would like to go first? Councilmember Combs.
[02:19:08] Councilmember Drew Combs: Yeah thank you Mayor Nash. I want to make sure I understand so as it relates to the interpretation recommendations so that's $700 a meeting?
Segment 3
[02:19:12] City Clerk Judi Herren: This ensures Spanish-speaking residents can participate. The approximate cost of virtual interpretation in this recommendation would be a range of 160 to 800 dollars per meeting. This is of course dependent on the length of the meeting. In comparison, our current interpretation services which utilize four interpreters averages 3,000 per meeting.
Segment 4
[02:19:23] City Clerk Judi Herren: Councilmember Combs can you repeat that question I apologize?
[02:19:25] Councilmember Drew Combs: The the interpretation services the the proposal at $700 at that cost estimate is is that $700 a meeting?
[02:19:34] City Clerk Judi Herren: Yes that's an approximate cost for a four-hour meeting. So depending on length it's $160 per hour so.
Segment 3
[02:19:40] City Clerk Judi Herren: For our translation services, and this is services for written uh material provided, staff is recommending continuing our human translated staff reports and attachments for the Police Department quarterly update and RIPA report and items related to General Plan amendments. Staff is also evaluating tools to expand access to agendas and minutes in multiple languages. In the interim, the use of web-based transition tools like Google Translate can be used to translate agendas, minutes, and public hearing notices into Spanish and subsequently published to the city's website.
Segment 4
[02:19:43] Councilmember Drew Combs: And and that would be every meeting or the meeting that triggers a special like interpretation engagement model?
[02:19:55] City Clerk Judi Herren: Yes thank you for the question. The idea would be to provide it at all city council meetings and all commission meetings. So for every meeting offering the interpretation services and the single interpreter would be virtual and be able to provide the translation of a Spanish received comment in English.
Segment 3
[02:20:26] City Clerk Judi Herren: And while tonight's discussion has no fiscal impact, future policy implementation will require budget allocations. On the screen are the estimates that will assist in planning. Input received by the City Council this evening will be used to prepare a formal policy for City Council review and approval. Future City Council public meeting accessibility policy agenda items will include proposed standards, best practices, and estimated costs for City Council review, approval, or additional direction.
Segment 4
[02:20:34] Councilmember Drew Combs: Okay and so what's the status quo what do we currently do?
[02:20:38] City Clerk Judi Herren: Currently we have four interpreters so we've got the two in person the two virtual so we're providing a live in-person interpretation and then whoever's on Zoom and opts into the Spanish channel they're hearing it live. The recommendation is to present a screen within each of the meeting venues that have closed captioning in Spanish via Zoom which is at no cost and so any Spanish speaker would be able to see the meeting in Spanish and then if someone were to provide a live comment in Spanish we'd have our one interpreter who is virtual who can provide that interpretation.
Segment 3
[02:21:30] City Clerk Judi Herren: Staff is seeking City Council direction on transportation, locations, interpretation and translation services. The City Council may consider expanding beyond the minimum staff recommendations. And with that, I am happy to answer any clarifying questions or open it up to public comment.
[02:21:53] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you City Clerk Herren. Let's open it up to public comment at this time.
[02:21:59] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you, Mayor Nash. So at this time, if any member of the public wishes to provide comment on our study session item I1 related to meeting accessibility policy. If you're in person, you can return that speaker card here to us at the clerk's desk. If you're virtual, engage that hand feature. Calling in, please press star nine now. Okay, currently have one speaker. So this will be the final call for public comment on our study session item I1. All right, like to invite Pam Jones.
Segment 4
[02:21:59] Councilmember Drew Combs: And so but like so the the four interpreters that's not every meeting?
[02:22:18] City Clerk Judi Herren: Correct that's just a select a few meetings.
[02:22:22] Councilmember Drew Combs: And so then the plan of $700 for every City Council and every commission meeting right? Because right now we're providing any interpretation for commission meetings?
[02:22:33] City Clerk Judi Herren: We are not.
[02:22:35] Councilmember Drew Combs: Okay so so what do we know roughly like what would be the total of every commission meeting and every City Council meeting?
[02:22:43] City Clerk Judi Herren: I don't have the amount right now but I we could come up with an estimate and provide that to the Council.
[02:22:48] Councilmember Drew Combs: Okay and so and then the transportation that that proposal is connected to again special meetings or would that be every meeting? Where we would provide because stepping back right the transportation currently is provided for special meetings and and so is the recommendation for the transportation to continue for just special meetings or for every meeting?
Segment 3
[02:22:55] Public Speaker Pam Jones: Good evening Pam Jones resident of Menlo Park Belle Haven neighborhood. Uh, welcome to the community campus. It's been a while since you have been here. Uh, thank you Mayor Nash, Vice Mayor Wise and Councilmembers and staff. Um, really appreciate the report and the detail in it. Um looking forward to seeing the budget on the actual cost when it's recommended of all of these things.
[02:23:40] Public Speaker Pam Jones: It is really critical to have these services here in this part of the community and I also see it as a part of some of you may remember that document that we worked on for a number of years, Connect Menlo. You know, we cannot be a connected city unless we are really reaching out to all of the uh all of the city. Um this really ensures that the all residents are welcome so we know that you welcome us when you come here to Belle Haven.
Segment 4
[02:24:07] City Clerk Judi Herren: Yes great question. So yeah the recommendation is continue the current practice which would be offering it for things like priority goal setting annual budget public hearing and any general plan amendments. That's what we're currently offering it for and that would be the new recommendation as well is to continue that practice.
Segment 3
[02:24:16] Public Speaker Pam Jones: And um and that we're a part of the decision-making and regardless of whether or not it actually directly affects us we should be a part of all of the decisions made affecting the city because we really are one city at the end of the day. Um, in addition to the recommended meetings, um it's also important to consider there may be times when additional meetings that a special...
Segment 4
[02:25:25] Councilmember Drew Combs: Okay and you said that with regards to the transportation it had to date the use had been limited um what is the number for limited?
[02:25:39] City Clerk Judi Herren: So on March 18th of 2023 we had zero riders. September 24th 2024 is zero riders. June 10th 2025 eight riders. And I do believe that the June 10th sounds like a budget public hearing event or meeting and then in March and September those would have been perhaps priority setting March 18th of 23 and then a general plan amendment or element item on September 24th of 2024.
[02:26:28] Councilmember Drew Combs: Um and then my my final question for for the moment at least um uh has the city ex so so in that transportation is from the Belle Haven community campus to Council Chambers correct me if I'm wrong um has the Council has the city historically anyone recall ever provided transportation to Council Chambers from any other parts of the city and have and has there been some analysis of whether there exists the need or desire or interest in other parts of the city for having transportation to certain council meetings?
[02:27:15] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you for the question. We do offer it from three locations within the Belle Haven neighborhood. Um it is I believe Ivy Plaza the Belle Haven community campus and the third location I would have to
[02:27:29] Councilmember Drew Combs: But all within District One.
[02:27:31] City Clerk Judi Herren: Yes
[02:27:31] Councilmember Drew Combs: Yeah nothing from like you guys don't go to Sharon Heights Plaza shopping plaza there is no no shuttle there. Okay alright thanks.
[02:27:48] Mayor Betsy Nash: Actually I'd like to ask one clarifying question on that on interpretation services. Um I know on the website there is a 72 hour a form and request form for 72 hours. So are we only providing interpretation services currently for um Council meetings that have had um someone request it within 72 hours?
[02:28:10] City Clerk Judi Herren: Yes so the current practice for interpretation is by request with that 72 hour form and then we also offer them automatically at meetings held at BHCC and for again special topics environmental justice safety element um I think those would be the buckets yeah and budget currently.
[02:28:37] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. Councilmember Schmidt.
[02:28:42] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Um thank you I appreciate the work on this because I I feel like that this is one of those those things that could easily be missed in how we engage with our residents. A couple quick things on the transportation interpretation and translation um I'm feeling inclined to go with staff recommendation working out some of the nuance of of that with an emphasis on City Council. I think I'm less worried about some of the commissions because those are a lot more specialized and less likely to be attended
[02:29:25] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: but the one part that I want to request us to think about is on the location um I feel pretty strongly that we should maybe consider doubling the number of City Council meetings to four held here and maybe two per commission a year. I know in the EJ we've got a baseline but you know one of the best things I've been able to do over the last three years is attend the CCCT meetings with Belle Haven leaders and listen to resident voices.
[02:30:15] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: And so I feel like the more we're here the more it's going to engage different community members so I think we need to be here. I don't think we need to necessarily be sitting behind that dais. I would sit on a street corner if it allowed us to listen to residents in District One more actively and on a more regular basis so I'm hoping that we can increase the number of City Council meetings and commission meetings in the Belle Haven location. Thanks.
[02:31:09] Mayor Betsy Nash: Vice Mayor Wise.
[02:31:11] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: Thank you. So just yeah providing my thoughts here um on transportation I actually was very um excited to see this. I know um it is an additional cost to the city and this is just an idea I realize it might not have support but maybe if um and I don't know if this is even possible but maybe if a certain number of residents wanted to go to a meeting and could like request the shuttle like the way that we currently have them request interpretation and maybe like if a certain number sign up then we could have the shuttle go for that meeting.
[02:32:08] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: I realize that we already do it for special meetings but I think it would be nice to also include it for meetings that folks just want to go to generally. Um would be happy to do two meetings here would be happy to do four meetings here. Um so happy to be flexible on that. Um I'm actually very supportive of the interpretation generally for all City Council meetings but also for the commissions. I completely understand it does sound like it is a large commitment in terms of budget
[02:33:25] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: but I would still like to see what that number would be for both City Council and commissions just because I realize that commissions are obviously more specialized but I just don't I just think it would be great to just see more engagement and I just think if you like can't understand what's going on you're never going to you know tap into the meeting so I just think it would be a great and wonderful thing to do. So again don't know if there's support but I would love to see what those numbers are for what that would cost. Um and I think that's it. Thank you.
[02:34:03] Mayor Betsy Nash: Councilmember Combs.
[02:34:05] Councilmember Drew Combs: Okay thanks. Well since we're going through and providing the thoughts I'll provide my thoughts going down the list of staff recommendations. Transportation I would be in favor of discontinuing current practices because they're not being used. So to to me it it's a really simple decision there possibly in the case of the annual budget workshop but other than that I I think it's clear that it was a good idea but it is not actually being used by by residents on any any consistent basis.
[02:34:52] Councilmember Drew Combs: I do like in theory the Vice Mayor's thinking as it relates to transportation of of like having some critical mass requirement. But then my question would be that like if if that's the case if we're saying that like oh we we're looking for a critical number a key number of residents and then we'll provide the transportation services I think the question then would be then why wouldn't we provide that for Sharon Heights or why wouldn't we provide that for West Menlo if they if a group of residents in those areas or those neighborhoods also met whatever our bar was?
[02:35:49] Councilmember Drew Combs: It to me it would suggest then that this would be something that you would offer across the city especially since again offering it specifically in District One has for the most part is not not being used. Um so going down the locations again I I think the two council meetings in at the community campus is I would be aligned with that I would not be aligned with more. I do think we you know governments have a seat of government um and sometimes it's not the most convenient.
[02:36:40] Mayor Betsy Nash: Councilmember Taylor.
[02:36:45] Councilmember Cecilia Taylor: Thank you Mayor Nash. I will start with the transportation um for my feedback or for my direction and that is I'm not sure what was in the shuttle study um I do know that the shuttle does not run in the evening time which could actually provide transportation throughout the city to Council meetings and also to commissions. So if there's any feedback in there that may be useful in this I I do believe that giving access throughout the city is helpful. Um also and I believe uh not sure if Vice Mayor Wise made this comment just around um some type of of on-demand so if it's requested that it's made available.
[02:36:51] Councilmember Drew Combs: I would actually say that like for instance you know Washington DC is not very convenient if you live in California but that's where our national seat of government sits. In the case of Menlo Park the seat of government the Burgess complex is actually in the center of the city for the most part and so I think having more sessions at the community campus while it seems like a good idea it does make it less accessible for those on the west side of town.
[02:37:33] Councilmember Cecilia Taylor: Um I do believe that we do need to create access throughout the city. Um however if there has been limited access or none um in some areas maybe we need to pay more attention there. As far as locations um I'm supportive of having two plus Council meetings at BHCC since these are our city facilities um where we do own land that we can actually use that space um to provide additional access to our residents.
[02:37:46] Councilmember Drew Combs: And to be clear those on the west side of town for these meetings are traveling in traffic at that moment whereas in theory you're you're sort of traveling against traffic traffic patterns at that time of day. Um and so yeah I think so um you can shake but but either way Burgess Park is centrally located and this is not and that is a fact. And so and I do think we have to like have questions about like when we are we have this idea in our head about making something more accessible are we making it less accessible for other groups of people.
[02:38:05] Councilmember Cecilia Taylor: Um as far as the Spanish um the interpretation um I am supportive of making sure that the majority of our translations are done by a person by a translator. I do know there is regular training there is additional care given to translating from one language to the other when it is a person. And let's see and as far as the interpretation um I am comfortable with the recommendation from City Clerk Herren and I think I have covered everything. Was there something else that we needed to provide direction on?
[02:38:52] Councilmember Drew Combs: And you know that reminds me it's a few weeks ago um I actually in one of my final acts as mayor hosted a group of third graders from Belle Haven Elementary School to City to City Hall to City Council Chambers and the police also put on a presentation and I provided them with a you know presentation about city government. And one of the things in my my PowerPoint presentation that I do to for kids to show them like what government does is I I show them recent projects like so like the Willows Park or Coleman the Coleman Avenue bike lanes.
[02:38:58] Mayor Betsy Nash: I believe you've covered it. Thank you.
[02:39:55] Councilmember Drew Combs: I have also shared and I show for these these third graders from the Belle Haven Elementary School about the Belle Haven community campus. Not only had those third graders never been to the community campus not one of them they never even heard of it and their teacher. Nicole Casadas with the city managers office who was there with me we both looked at each other shocked. The city paid $50 million for this and you're in school you've got third graders a few blocks away and they hadn't even heard of it and their teacher hadn't even heard of it.
[02:40:57] Councilmember Drew Combs: That's what we should be focused on. That's should be the focus like how is it that the few blocks away they never Miss Casadas you know so shocked she's like I'm going to go right now and get some brochures on the community campus to bring here and you cannot leave this um you cannot leave this field trip without it. And so for me like that is when we talk about accessibility that is the accessibility I think we should be worried about and focused on that there are third graders who are going to school just a few blocks away who when I talked about this campus did not know what I was talking about.
[02:42:21] Councilmember Drew Combs: And so and I just wanted to to make my point and my reasoning on that clear. Moving on interpretation services again I think we can do things that make us feel good but what's the value if no one's actually using them? And so what I've heard is not like any analysis of whether you know we actually have some exclusive native Spanish speakers who want to listen to a library commission meeting. Have you gone there is no one who wants to listen to a library commission meeting except for the people on the library commission.
[02:43:23] Councilmember Drew Combs: And so um um and so to me again these are things that may make us feel good but I think we have to be more focused on actually delivering value. And so I would want to see some analysis of like the market and I know we're not a startup so I'm not going to but like what's the market demand here? Is it is it real would we really be providing some value or or um are we just doing things to to make ourselves so good.
[02:43:55] Councilmember Drew Combs: And so for me I would be not in favor of expanding interpretation services. Again the key City Council meetings I would say we could do a pilot of like a couple of planning commission meetings. But then again like I would say I would want to see and understand like are there people who are actually using it? If we were getting a bunch of people who who are utilizing the interpretation services for the planning commission then I think we could have a discussion about like how that might that might expand to other other commissions but again my default would not be just to roll this out across across all City Council meetings and commission meetings. Um and I'm I'm fine with the translation recommendation. Thank you.
Segment 5
[03:00:00] Staff Member: include police recruits in our vacancy rate. There are five vacancies in the police officer classification currently and three in the police recruit classification. Corporals are fully staffed currently. This vacancy rate, as I mentioned, remains unchanged since last May when the vacancy rate was presented to your council. However, it is noted that although the vacancy rate is the same percentage-wise, the number of vacancies in each of the classifications has changed.
[03:00:30] Staff Member: Since last May, there have been a high turnover in both police officer and police recruit due to a variety of factors. This recommended program is intended to be cost-neutral in the for fiscal year 25-26 and would be funded with salary savings from the vacant positions currently.
[03:01:04] Staff Member: Next slide. Next, I would like to highlight the basic elements of the program structure. There are going to be two different levels or tiers that are recommended. One tier is for police academy graduates and the other tier is for lateral police officers. Structural components for the police academy graduate tier is that the eligibility requirements that have been established are that the candidates must be a graduate of a post or peace officer standards training certified academy and also possess a valid post certificate.
[03:01:44] Staff Member: Employees that the city has sponsored to go through the police academy are not eligible for the incentive program because the city is paying for their academy education. The total incentive for the the police academy graduate tier is $10,000. And this incentive would be paid in incremental payments upon successful completion of the following two milestones: 5,000 upon successful completion of the field training officer program; and then the second would be 5,000 upon successfully passing the the probationary period and completing one year of service. So those are the two milestones for the police academy graduate tier.
[03:02:31] Staff Member: Next slide. For the other tier regarding lateral police officers, the eligibility requirements are that the candidates must have already attained a post certificate in California and have successfully completed the employing agency's probationary period of not less than one year. So they're coming to us with at least one year of experience. Any candidate with prior sworn Menlo Park city experience, we have decided that they would not be eligible for the incentive program.
[03:03:10] Staff Member: The total incentive monies that would be paid under this tier would be $40,000 and also paid in incremental payments upon successful completion of the following milestones as you can see on the screen. The initial is 10,000 upon acceptance of a final offer of employment. That makes them eligible for the first milestone but it's payable in the first actual paycheck after hire.
[03:03:42] Staff Member: The second milestone is 10,000 upon successfully passing probation and completing one year of service. Third milestone is 5,000 upon successfully passing probation and completing two years of service. The next milestone would be another 5,000 upon successfully passing probation and completing three years of service. And lastly, 10,000 upon successfully passing probation and completing four years of service.
[03:04:12] Staff Member: Just a couple of other details regarding the program structure that we're recommending is that monies paid out of this incentive program are deemed not to be pensionable as special compensation under the CalPERS regulations, and this applies to both tiers. Lastly, both tiers are based on a forfeiture model where the- this means that the incentives are paid contingent upon meeting the identified milestones over a set period of time as outlined.
[03:04:48] Staff Member: If the employee fails to meet one of the milestones, then they will forfeit their eligibility for any further incentives provided in the program. Next slide. Now I'd like to just provide a few highlights of how the administration of this police hiring and incentive program will work.
[03:05:19] Staff Member: By the way, there are program administrative guidelines that have been established and are incorporated by reference into the side letter with the POA. The program guidelines are in exhibit A of your attachment A in the staff report. Human resources will be responsible for program administration and for resolving such issues as eligibility and interpretation of program application. Human resources and the police department will then jointly review the program at least once annually to evaluate the continued need for the program.
[03:05:53] Staff Member: This review will be then used to recommend to the city manager for a determination on one of three options: one, continue the program in the current fiscal year; or two, suspend the program with 14 days' notice to the POA; or three, include funds in the proposed budget for the city council consideration for the following fiscal year. At this time we intend to have the program running for a fiscal year.
[03:06:26] Staff Member: However, we will be publicly reporting out on the status of the program and the success of the program during the annual report out on vacancies this coming May. One last item regarding program administration. The effective date of the program is February 25, 2025. This program will automatically sunset at the end of the term of the current POA MOU which expires on August 31, 2027.
[03:06:58] Staff Member: However, unless the city manager decides to extend the program in conjunction with the approval of the POA. This concludes my report and I'm happy to answer any questions.
[03:07:11] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. Uh, City Clerk Herren, do we have any public comment?
[03:07:17] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you, Mayor Nash. So at this time if any member of the public wishes to provide comment on regular business item J1 related to the MOU between the city of Menlo Park and the POA and the police hiring retention and retention incentive program, if you are in person return that speaker card, if you're virtual engage that hand feature, calling in please press star nine now.
[03:07:45] City Clerk Judi Herren: This is the final call for public comment on regular business item J1. Seeing no further hands or cards, Mayor Nash you may continue.
[03:07:58] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. I would now like to open for city council questions and discussion. Councilmember Combs.
[03:08:05] Councilmember Drew Combs: Yeah, this is not wanting to prevent any discussion here, but I'll I'll make the motion. Um, for there can be discussion. And I also want to acknowledge a, you know, major emergency event today which which required fast action from our police department. Uh, you know, my thoughts are with everyone who who were involved in that that incident. Um, but yeah, I'll I'll make the motion.
[03:08:40] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. Any other discussion? Councilmember Schmidt.
[03:08:42] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Um, thanks. I I had a question I wanted to echo what Councilmember Combs just said, but um, so I understand it's tough to attract particularly laterals um, and that we've had some retirements and other things. There was one part that I was just hoping to get a little clarification on, um, because this feels really well constructed and solid. In the background section of the report, um, it says that the incentive is designed to attract quality candidates, reduce the timeline to hire, and reduce the cost to hire.
[03:09:22] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Then the data says one and a half years is the timeline and 100K is the cost. Um, but what's a little confusing is then later in the analysis section, it says the metrics are the vacancy rate in positions, the successful performance, and the retention of employees hired. Those aren't the same thing. So if the vacancy rate goes down, the performance increases, and the retention increases but the timeline doesn't move and the costs don't move, what are we using to gauge- what's the set of metrics that's going to be used to engage whether we continue the program year over year? Two sets of metrics I think and I'm curious which one we're going to use.
[03:10:15] Mayor Betsy Nash: Would someone on staff like to address that?
[03:10:20] Staff Member: Obviously, some of the metrics are going to be the vacancy rate. It's going to be also impact the number of vacancies that are filled, whether fully staffed or a percentage that are filled, the impact on operations and community service, um, how quickly field training can be completed. It- it varies some- sometimes I think it's between four and six months. Other metrics obviously will be the cost savings as noted, the annual approximate cost for a fully trained and onboard officer is 100,000. Um, I'd maybe ask Stephen if he wants to elaborate anymore from a financial perspective.
[03:11:09] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: So, um, just to make sure I had that right. So those two variables may or may not change, the reduced timeline to hire and the reduced cost to hire. The incentive's more designed around vacancy rate and completion of the milestones, is that...
[03:11:25] Staff Member: The cost of of a hire won't change. It's just it will be um, the only way it'll be reduced rather is if we don't hire because we're fully staffed through its retention, yeah. Okay. Yeah, okay. Yeah, okay. Thank you.
[03:11:45] Mayor Betsy Nash: So I had one comment and that is, um, just to make sure that there's no, um, confusion with, um, the program about the acceptance, um, that lateral police officers are paid, um, for their acceptance of final offer that they don't- we don't get any confusion between that and that it's actually paid out in the first paycheck. And so if someone does not actually, uh, get their first paycheck, they don't- they accept the final offer but they don't actually show up, just make sure that they do not believe that they are entitled to this.
[03:12:20] Staff Member: We are working on language that addresses those issues that would be incorporated into the final offer letter so that they understand that they may be eligible by signing but the payout won't be until they're actually onboard and getting paid and it would probably be in the first paycheck. So if there's something that happens between signing an offer and then reneging then they're not going to be- they're not going to receive the the payout even though they were initially eligible they never did start.
[03:12:52] Mayor Betsy Nash: Okay. This start is what- this start and receiving the paycheck is obviously what is the real, um, okay. Thank you. Um, Councilmember Schmidt, did you actually make a second to the motion?
[03:13:04] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Um, happy to, sorry, yeah, happy to make a second.
[03:13:13] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. Um, Councilmember Wise any comments? Very good. Um, thank you. Um, so there's a motion and a second on the floor. City Clerk Herren could you please state the motion and call for the vote.
[03:13:23] City Clerk Judi Herren: Yes, thank you Mayor Nash. Um and can you refresh me on who the motioner was? I know the second was Schmidt.
[03:13:31] Mayor Betsy Nash: Combs.
[03:13:32] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you. So we have a motion on the floor by City Councilmember Combs and a second by City Councilmember Schmidt to adopt a resolution to approve a side letter of agreement amending the MOU between the city of Menlo Park and the Menlo Park POA to implement a police hiring and retention incentive program for police academy graduates and lateral police officers to address recruitment and retention challenges.
[03:14:01] City Clerk Judi Herren: Any further city council question or discussion? Seeing none, by roll call vote, City Councilmember Combs.
[03:14:06] Councilmember Drew Combs: Yes.
[03:14:07] City Clerk Judi Herren: City Councilmember Schmidt.
[03:14:08] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Yes.
[03:14:10] City Clerk Judi Herren: Vice Mayor Wise.
[03:14:11] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: Yes.
[03:14:12] City Clerk Judi Herren: Mayor Nash.
[03:14:13] Mayor Betsy Nash: Yes.
[03:14:14] City Clerk Judi Herren: And the motion passes with City Councilmember Taylor absent. Thank you.
[03:14:21] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. The next regular business item is J2 appoint city council representatives, alternates, and liaisons to various local and regional agencies and as liaisons to city council advisory bodies. Here to introduce the item is City Clerk Judi Herren.
[03:14:40] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you Mayor Nash. Uh, so this item is being returned to the city council. Uh, it is requesting that the city council make their annual appointments to various local and regional agencies and as liaisons to city council advisory bodies. Annually, the city council appoints members to represent the city or as a liaison for city council.
[03:15:02] City Clerk Judi Herren: Uh, also recommended are two newly identified liaison appointments to the San Mateo County Transit District or SamTrans and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. As a liaison, it is anticipated that the city councilmember could serve as a primary point of contact with the board member from these agencies.
[03:15:22] City Clerk Judi Herren: Uh, lastly, former City Councilmember Catherine Carlton, who currently serves on the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District, has requested a reappointment. This term is also directed by the city council for either a two or four year appointment through December 2027 or 2029. Happy to answer any questions or open it up to public comment.
Segment 6
[03:45:00] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: discussed because this subcommittee, ad-hoc subcommittee, was created with a very specific purpose um that we feel has been addressed. We are interested in disbanding this ad-hoc subcommittee, but are already in talks of how we can continue these conversations um and continue the necessary improvements that people are asking for to the space in 2026.
[03:45:29] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: So I want to make it very clear that while Councilmember Taylor and I are recommending disbanding this subcommittee, that does not mean the commitment is not there. And we will um be back in 2026 and we already have meetings scheduled to make sure that all of this gets addressed. So that's where we're at on the Belle Haven Community Campus Subcommittee.
[03:45:51] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: Since I'm also on the Community Funding Program committee, I'll go ahead and address that as well. I absolutely love being on this program committee. It was so much fun to see what our amazing local nonprofits are up to and especially because a lot of the people who ran those nonprofits came to the meeting that we had in May, so to get to meet them was absolutely fantastic. So I loved being on it. I would be so happy to do it again, but that being said, I do think it's a lot of fun, so I want to make sure everybody gets a chance. So let me know if you're- I'm happy to roll off or stay on.
[03:46:30] Mayor Betsy Nash: Councilmember Combs.
[03:46:32] Councilmember Drew Combs: I was on it for years, so I had all my fun. So I'm more- more than happy to and and appreciate I'm aligned with the recommendation from you and and Councilmember Taylor to uh to disband the subcommittee.
[03:46:50] Mayor Betsy Nash: Councilmember Schmidt, um do you want to stay on the committee or roll off?
[03:46:55] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Same here. I'm happy to share if anybody else wants to join but yeah, it was a great experience so I'm happy to do it again. And also like everyone else, I align with the ideas around the Belle Haven Community Campus to revisit in 2026.
[03:47:13] Mayor Betsy Nash: Sounds great. Um would any- and I and I would agree. And I actually it's one committee I've never been on, but I just feel like I've got um plenty on my plate, so happy to have you continue.
[03:47:28] Mayor Betsy Nash: So I think um well I will go ahead and make the motion um that Councilmember- Vice Mayor Wise and Councilmember Schmidt are on the Community Funding Program standing subcommittee and that we will disband the current Belle Haven Community Campus ad-hoc subcommittee, but that it absolutely does not mean that it will not get the attention that it needs with the um and it's also possible that in the future we can revisit that if there's a need for an actual subcommittee. Do I see a second?
[03:48:05] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: Second.
[03:48:07] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you. So the motion on the floor by Mayor Nash and a second by Vice Mayor Wise to appoint City Councilmember Schmidt and Vice Mayor Wise to the Community Funding Program committee and disband the Belle Haven Community Campus ad-hoc subcommittee. Any further city council question or discussion? Seeing none, by roll call vote, City Councilmember Combs?
[03:48:29] Councilmember Drew Combs: Yes.
[03:48:30] City Clerk Judi Herren: City Councilmember Schmidt?
[03:48:31] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Yes.
[03:48:32] City Clerk Judi Herren: Vice Mayor Wise?
[03:48:33] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: Yes.
[03:48:34] City Clerk Judi Herren: Mayor Nash?
[03:48:35] Mayor Betsy Nash: Yes.
[03:48:36] City Clerk Judi Herren: And the motion passes unanimously. Thank you.
[03:48:39] Mayor Betsy Nash: Excellent. Thank you. Go team. So informational items. Informational items are transmitted to the city council in staff's effort to provide an update on matters of importance to the city council. Informational items are not action items. However, a city councilmember, city staff member, or a member of the public may request to make a comment or ask a question on any of the informational items. City Clerk Herren, do we have any public comments on the informational items?
[03:49:06] City Clerk Judi Herren: Thank you, Mayor Nash. So at this time if any member of the public wishes to provide comment on informational item K1, City Council Agenda topics for January, or K2, an update to the city's street maintenance project. If you are in person, return that speaker card, virtual engage that hand feature, calling in press star nine now. Final call for public comment on our informational items K1 and K2. Seeing no hands or cards, Mayor Nash you may continue.
[03:49:39] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. Um are there any comments up at the dais? All right. Um then we will move on to the city manager report um with City Manager Justin Murphy.
[03:49:54] City Manager Justin Murphy: Uh yes, thank you Mayor. So I have a couple items then I I have an additional item that the assistant city manager will cover. So the uh first update is related to the uh Safer Bay project. There's a draft EIR that's been released and there's a series of public meetings that are being held. I believe one was held um today in East Palo Alto. There's a meeting here tomorrow, tomorrow night, this uh 6:00 to 8:00 PM here in the Belle Haven Community Campus and then Wednesday afternoon at the city council chambers in Menlo Park the uh normal meeting place for the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority. So Safer Bay is a uh plan that's been in place for a number of years to address sea level rise and this is a major milestone for the release of the draft EIR for improvements that uh would continue to take a lot of time to actually execute on, but from San Francisquito Creek up to uh Haven Avenue along the San Francisco Bay.
[03:51:04] City Manager Justin Murphy: So that's a plug for a meeting tomorrow and Thursday and opportunity for the public to comment on the draft EIR. Second item I have is that yesterday was the deadline for the request for proposals for the downtown uh parking lots and housing development on the downtown lots and the city did receive uh three submittals and those submittals are posted on the city's website and we sent an email out to interested parties uh advertising that it's available. More more to come later in terms of the review and the next steps, but major milestone to have those received and posted to the city's website. And so the last update I'll turn to Assistant City Manager Steven Stolte.
[03:51:54] Assistant City Manager Steven Stolte: Thank you. So my update is on the 600 block public plaza. Uh since our last study session on the topic around site furnishings, um our webpage on the public plaza will be updated shortly with a timeline for furniture install, um and then photos and locations of uh outdoor furniture around town that the public can visit and test out as well. We're also going to include information on other downtown maintenance-oriented projects, and our new economic development manager is working on that.
[03:52:29] Assistant City Manager Steven Stolte: So the furniture order with the DuMor products that you all saw at the study session um includes a mix of the large and small picnic tables, there's about eight of them, there's five round tables and then 20 associated chairs. These are the really the smaller seating options. And then you may remember a larger bench that could be configured in different ways, that's our order. Um that's our package. Um the round tables and chairs we're thinking of placing them near the streetery side of the public plaza, that's a quieter seating area, then we'll start with the picnic tables mid-public plaza and then it extends down to Curtis Street and then we'll have that um bench that can be configured towards the Curtis Street side. Um and then we're also um will be installing the ADA ramp on a quicker timeline. The one thing to note that there is a lead time here with the furniture, it's 12 to 16 weeks right now, um but we're talking with our the vendor that plans that orders this furniture um to try and get that down um on a quicker timeline but we're looking at right now a spring install of the furniture. That concludes the update.
[03:53:49] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you very much. That's exciting. Um are there any City Council um member reports since the December 9th city council meeting? Vice Mayor Wise.
[03:54:04] Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise: Thank you. Just very quickly, I know Councilmember Combs uh mentioned this earlier, but I just want to send a very heartfelt thanks. We had a very scary situation in my district today and um while I received many, many calls and texts of a lot of fear, I also received a lot of calls and texts about how well the situation was handled, how quickly um it was handled. So a huge thank you to Phillips Brooks School, to La Entrada School, to Superintendent Erik Burmeister, and of course uh to our Menlo Park Police. Um nothing could be more important to all of us than the safety of the residents, especially our children, so I'm very grateful um with how this situation was handled and de-escalated today. Thank you.
[03:54:57] Mayor Betsy Nash: So I'm not sure if I should report out after that. That was so good. Um I just wanted to report out that um last Thursday and Friday I went on a Peninsula Clean Energy education trip to Diablo Canyon nuclear power facility. And it was a six-hour tour of the power plant and we learned all about the operations, how it all works, training, safety, um security and overall it was just a really impressive operation in a stunningly gorgeous location which is right on the coast. Um anyway it was very, very interesting, happy to talk to anyone who's interested more. Thanks. Any other... Councilmember Schmidt.
[03:55:42] Councilmember Jeff Schmidt: Um thanks, and I want to echo what um the Vice Mayor said as well um about the response to that situation. Um for a quick report out, um just for awareness of the council and actually members of the public, um as part of the RethinkWaste assignment, um I'm part of their leg committee and we're working on a piece of legislation AB 762, uh sponsored by uh members Irwin and Wilson. It's centered around um basically single-use vapes and their hazards to the recycling facilities, the lithium batteries because of the way they're manufactured, um increase the fire risk for um those things going through the recycling facility. You know they're also single-use, so they're not great for the environment. Um but uh we've been working really hard to get that out of Assemblymember Berman's committee around business and professions. I think we've we've been working with supervisors across the state and mayors to get them to sign on a letter of support. You may get a request, not from me but from somebody else to sign a letter of support for this, but the idea is we want to get it out of that subcommittee, get it all the way, you know through and get it on the Governor's desk in the next session, so just know that you know even though we don't do things like resolutions and all that, we're still kind of trying to help influence some of these things that are important to our community and this is just a piece of legislation making its way through. So wanted to get that on everybody's radar.
[03:57:18] Mayor Betsy Nash: Thank you. Um and we are adjourned. Thank you to the public who've stayed with us all evening.
Segment 2
[11:59:07] Public Speaker Amigo Harris Parker: To all Menlo Park staff from maintenance to childcare to gymnastics and recreation, thank you for all your time, thank you for representing Menlo Park. Public service is not easy, but you all show up for the residents of Menlo Park and I thank you. Happy holidays and here's to a happy 2026 for all.