2026-09-22 - City Council

00:01Hello, I am Mayor Betsy Nash. Welcome to

00:03the September 22nd.

00:08>> Can you please wait until uh we pause

00:11for the interpretation?

00:14Thank you.

00:16>> Hello, I am Mayor Betsy Nash and welcome

00:18to the SE September 22nd special and

00:21regular city council meeting. This is a

00:23hybrid meeting with city council, city

00:25staff, and members of the public

00:26participating virtually and at the city

00:28council chambers. Please note public

00:31comment speaker time may be limited if

00:33there are more than 10 speakers on an

00:34item. We also ask that if you are in

00:37person, please submit your speaker cards

00:39for all agenda items to the city clerk

00:41at this time. Tonight, we have

00:44interpretation services available.

00:46Please visit the table in the back for a

00:48headset. For those in virtual

00:50attendance, please note that there is a

00:52globe icon near the hand feature on your

00:54screen. Our interpreters this evening

00:57are Maya Fana and Angela Zelen. Thank

01:00you all for your time and services

01:02today.

01:21participary

01:40municipal.

02:11Roll call. I would like to introduce

02:13city council members and staff present.

02:15In the city council chambers are myself,

02:17Mayor Betsy Nash, and city council

02:20members Drew Combmes and Jennifer, I'm

02:23sorry, and Jeff Schmidt.

02:25Vice Mayor Jennifer Weise will join us

02:27in close session. City Council member

02:29Cecilia Taylor is participating remotely

02:31using provisions in the Brown Act. City

02:34Council member Taylor, please let us

02:36know if there are any persons 18 or

02:37years or older present in the room and

02:40the general nature of your relationship

02:41with the individual.

02:43>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. There is no one

02:45in the room with me over 18 years. Thank

02:49you.

02:55In accordance with government code 54953

02:58in the city council procedures manual,

03:00when one or more city council members

03:02participates remotely, agenda items

03:04requiring action will be voted on using

03:06roll call. This evening, the roll call

03:08will be taken with city council member

03:10Taylor first and then in alphabetical

03:12order using legal first name with the

03:14mayor voting last. Staff present today

03:17include city manager Justin Murphy, city

03:20attorney Nera Dory and city attorney

03:23Mary Wagner, and city clerk Judy Herren.

03:29Next is close session item C1,

03:33conference with legal council,

03:34anticipated litigation, paragraph two of

03:37subdivision D of government code section

03:4054956.9,

03:43significant exposure to litigation one

03:46case. City clerk Karen, please call for

03:48public comment for close session item

03:50C1.

03:51>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, for any

03:54member of the public who wishes to

03:56provide comment on our close session

03:58item C1 related to anticipated

04:00litigation, if you are in person, return

04:03that speaker card. If you're virtual,

04:05engage that hand feature. Calling in,

04:08please press star 9 now.

04:16Okay, this will be the final call for

04:17public comment on our close session item

04:20C1.

04:25We do have one hand raised.

04:31I would like to invite uh Pam Jones.

04:38Good late afternoon, council

04:42uh mayor and staff. Um, I would like to

04:46uh encourage the city council and the

04:49city of Menllo Park to ex resist the

04:52stress that has been put on the city.

04:55Um, that I believe that is not in the

04:58best interest of um the city nor is it

05:01following the laws that the way that

05:03that uh we are interpreting them. I also

05:06encourage you to um use all means

05:11available to you to have um Attorney

05:14General Bont actually physically see the

05:17location unless you can develop a video

05:21that um shows the reality of the area

05:25that um that he has made his decision

05:28that will deeply infect affect um

05:32because his decision does not include

05:36what the reality is of this location and

05:39why the city of Menllo Park has been

05:41following um uh the understanding of the

05:44law as it applies to um the area of of

05:48where 80 willow would reside.

05:51Thank you.

05:54>> Thank you for your comment.

05:57All right, seeing no further hands or

05:59cards.

06:13>> All right, seeing no further hands or

06:15cards, Mayor Nash, you may continue.

06:17>> Thank you. The city council will now

06:19adjourn to the closed session and

06:20intends to reconvene at approximately

06:226:30 am.

1:10:38Hello, I am Mayor Betsy Nash and we are

1:10:40reconvening the special and regular

1:10:42September 22nd city council meeting.

1:10:44Tonight we have in-person interpretation

1:10:46services available. Please visit the

1:10:48table in the back for a headset. For

1:10:50those in virtual attendance, please note

1:10:52that there is a globe icon near the hand

1:10:54feature on your screen.

1:11:30City Clerk Karen, would you please

1:11:31provide instructions to the city council

1:11:33and members of the public on how the

1:11:35meeting will proceed?

1:11:38>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, for any

1:11:41member of the public who wish to provide

1:11:43comment on an item on tonight's agenda

1:11:46after the mayor calls for comment on

1:11:48that item, we ask that you engage that

1:11:50hand feature. If you are joining us on

1:11:53Zoom, if you're calling in, you'll press

1:11:55star 9. And if you are in person, you

1:11:58can complete a speaker card at that back

1:11:59table and return it to me here at the

1:12:02clerk's desk. That concludes my

1:12:04instructions. Mayor Nash, you may

1:12:06continue.

1:12:07>> Thank you. I would now like to introduce

1:12:10city attorney Dherty for a report out

1:12:12from the close session.

1:12:17>> Uh thank you, Mayor Nash. Um there are

1:12:19no reportable actions this evening.

1:12:22>> Thank you, city attorney Mary Wagner.

1:12:27Agenda review. Agenda review provides

1:12:29advanced notice to members of the public

1:12:31and city staff of any modifications to

1:12:33the agenda. to ensure staff is available

1:12:36and prepared. Will the city council have

1:12:38any questions or comments on the consent

1:12:40calendar orformational items?

1:12:46City clerk, how many speaker cards have

1:12:49you received for the study session and

1:12:51public hearing items?

1:12:55Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

1:12:58we have received four cards for our

1:13:01study session item and zero cards for

1:13:06our public hearing item.

1:13:09Thank you. Does the city council desire

1:13:11to modify the order of any agenda item?

1:13:16Does the staff have any edits to the

1:13:18agenda?

1:13:20>> Uh, yes. Thank you, Mayor Nash. Um, I

1:13:22will be providing an update to consent

1:13:24calendar item I1 on the minutes when we

1:13:27get to consent.

1:13:29>> Thank you. Public comment. Under public

1:13:31comment, the public may address the city

1:13:33council on any subject not listed on the

1:13:35agenda. Each speaker may address the

1:13:38city council once under public comment

1:13:40for a limit of three minutes. Speaker

1:13:42time will be limited if there are more

1:13:43than 10 speakers. You are not required

1:13:46to provide your name or city of

1:13:47residence, but it is helpful. The city

1:13:50council cannot act on items not listed

1:13:52on the agenda and therefore the city

1:13:54council cannot respond to non-aggenda

1:13:56issues brought up under public comment

1:13:58other than to provide general

1:14:00information. City clerk Herren, please

1:14:02call for general public comment.

1:14:05Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

1:14:08if any member of the public wishes to

1:14:10provide comment for an item that is not

1:14:12on tonight's agenda, if you are in

1:14:15person, return that speaker card.

1:14:17virtual engage that hand feature calling

1:14:20in. Please press star 9 now.

1:14:26Okay, looks like we are currently at

1:14:28five speakers. So, this will be the

1:14:31final call for public comment for items

1:14:35not on tonight's agenda.

1:14:52Okay. Uh with that we are at

1:14:56we are at a total of five speakers

1:15:00and our first speaker will

1:15:04be Adrien Aia followed by Mary Beth Le.

1:15:15this on.

1:15:19>> Good evening, uh, mayor and members of

1:15:21the city council. My name is Adrien

1:15:24Abula. I am with the sheet metal workers

1:15:27Local 104. I'm here representing the

1:15:30hundreds of members of the electrical,

1:15:32plumber, sheet metal workers and

1:15:35sprinkler fitters who live, work, and

1:15:38razor families here in Melo Park and

1:15:41Sanel County. U I'm here to speak about

1:15:44the development project at 80 Willow

1:15:46Road, the controversial project that was

1:15:49addressed in a closed session by city

1:15:52council uh back in August. Although the

1:15:5580 Willow Road project will move

1:15:57forward, uh we still have a chance in

1:16:00the development agreement to address

1:16:02many of the concerns residents have

1:16:04expressed in opposing the project from

1:16:07community benefits, environmental

1:16:09impacts, and providing jobs that stay

1:16:12right here in in Menlo Park.

1:16:15This project can return be result in

1:16:17tens of thousands of work hours for

1:16:19local construction workforce. That means

1:16:21tens of millions of wages being spent

1:16:23here locally in our businesses right

1:16:26here in in Melo Park's economy.

1:16:29The council has a chance to ensure that

1:16:31the develop the developer commits to

1:16:33basic workforce st standards and

1:16:36provides local workers with fair wages

1:16:39benefits including health care and

1:16:41retirement.

1:16:42uh you have the opportunity to invest

1:16:44and include uh apprentices from training

1:16:47programs right here in San Matel County

1:16:49to help build it. Uh the programs that

1:16:52help veterans at risk youth and provide

1:16:55skilled and trained uh workforce. 80

1:16:58Willow Road should be a partnership

1:17:00between the community, local workers,

1:17:03and developers to provide a sustainable

1:17:06quality local jobs. Thank you for your

1:17:08service and for giving me the

1:17:10opportunity to speak here tonight.

1:17:13>> Thank you for your comment.

1:17:16Next is Mary Beth Le followed by Punam

1:17:20Solenlay.

1:17:23>> Hello, my name is Mary Beth. Um, thank

1:17:26you all for your service here. I

1:17:28>> Mary Beth, can you get a little closer

1:17:30to the mic?

1:17:30>> Oh, sorry.

1:17:31>> Thank you.

1:17:31>> I'm here representing my well myself. I

1:17:34live next door to one of the beautiful

1:17:37below market rate homes in Menllo Park

1:17:39that is now available to be purchased at

1:17:42a below market rate.

1:17:44I would like for the town to advertise

1:17:47to everyone who's eligible that they can

1:17:50see this home and then hopefully be on

1:17:53the lottery for this home. While it's my

1:17:56preference that a police officer, school

1:17:58teacher, or firefighter move into one of

1:18:00these homes, anyone that's eligible, we

1:18:03would like to see as many people apply

1:18:06as possible. And we would like to know

1:18:09if there is any kind of viewing of this

1:18:12lottery because I don't think from what

1:18:14I'm reading there is a wait list. So, if

1:18:17there's a public viewing so that we all

1:18:19know it's fair and given out carefully,

1:18:23that would make it feel like it's

1:18:25the community knows we're doing the

1:18:27right thing. And the last is if they

1:18:29could publicize a timeline because in

1:18:32our neighborhood, most homes sell within

1:18:34a few days and the houses are flipped.

1:18:37This has been available for a few weeks

1:18:38now and the previous owner says they're

1:18:42kind of up in the air as to when the

1:18:44city's going to buy it back to them at

1:18:46what price and when they're going to

1:18:48resell it. So the number one thing is

1:18:51just to make sure this is done fairly

1:18:53and openly so we can all see it. Thank

1:18:56you so much.

1:18:59>> Thank you for your comment.

1:19:02Our next speaker is Punan Solenlay

1:19:06followed by Elliot Kang.

1:19:14>> Good evening Mayor and council members.

1:19:16My name is Punam Salanki and I'm a

1:19:18health educator at Bre California of the

1:19:21Bay Area. I'm here to speak regarding

1:19:24the smokefree multi-unit housing and the

1:19:26importance of protecting residents from

1:19:29secondhand smoke in Melo Park. As part

1:19:32of my work, I visit senior centers and

1:19:35apartment communities in Menlo Park to

1:19:38educate seniors about lung health.

1:19:40Through these interactions, I have

1:19:43personally heard many seniors describe

1:19:45their challenges and how they are

1:19:48affected by secondhand smoke where they

1:19:51live. Some seniors have shared that they

1:19:54cannot even sit in their balconies

1:19:57because smoke from neighboring units

1:19:59drift into their space. Others have

1:20:01shared that they cannot comfortably sit

1:20:04outside or enjoy the common areas of

1:20:07their apartment complex because of the

1:20:09smoke. Some some are also concerned

1:20:12about smoke entering uh into their homes

1:20:15through windows, doors or ventilation

1:20:17systems.

1:20:19These are the people who do not smoke

1:20:21themselves but still exposed to

1:20:23secondhand smoke in and around their own

1:20:26homes. Secondhand smoke is not just an

1:20:28unpleasant smell. It contains harmful

1:20:31chemicals that can seriously affect a

1:20:34person's health. For seniors, this

1:20:37exposure can be especially dangerous.

1:20:40Many older adults already live with

1:20:43asthma, COPD,

1:20:45heart disease, and other respiratory

1:20:47conditions.

1:20:49Secondhand smoke can trigger uh cough,

1:20:52wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma

1:20:54attacks, and other breathing problems.

1:20:58It can increase the risk of heart

1:21:00disease and stroke. So through my work I

1:21:04have realized the secondhand smoke does

1:21:06not stay only with the person who choose

1:21:10to smoke. In multi-unit housing, smoke

1:21:13travels from one apartment or balcony to

1:21:17another and affects the neighbors who

1:21:19have no choice but to breathe in. As of

1:21:22June 23rd, 2026, 57 Menlo Park residents

1:21:28living in multi-unit housing took a

1:21:30public opinion survey. More than 85% of

1:21:34those surveys uh said they would support

1:21:38a policy that prohibits smoking inside

1:21:41their buildings and in outdoor common

1:21:43areas. In addition, more than 98%

1:21:48said they believe breathing secondhand

1:21:50smoke is harmful to people's health.

1:21:53There is also a strong support for

1:21:55smoke-free multi-unit housing trending

1:21:58across the across the state. As of

1:22:02January 1, uh, 2026, 51 municipalities

1:22:06in California now require multi-unit

1:22:09housing to be 100% smokefree indoors

1:22:13without exemptions to protect the

1:22:16resident.

1:22:18These policies cover.

1:22:21Thank you.

1:22:23Thank you for your comment.

1:22:26Next up is

1:22:29Alhilly King followed by Lucenne Tutoto.

1:22:33>> Hi everyone. Um it's good to see you

1:22:36again. I am back um with Youth

1:22:39Leadership Institute and the Smoke um

1:22:41Sonteo County Tobacco Education

1:22:44Coalition. Um, I just wanted to give you

1:22:46all an update that we will be having uh

1:22:49community um meetings and presentations

1:22:52with residents in multi-unit housing um

1:22:55uh buildings in the the month of

1:22:57October. So, if you have any um

1:22:59multi-unit residents that you want us to

1:23:01kind of engage with and talk to those

1:23:03residents, happy to schedule those

1:23:05presentations to just educate them on

1:23:07the harms of secondhand smoke, what a

1:23:10smokefree um multi-unit policy uh could

1:23:13look like um and what they can do to um

1:23:16uplift this issue in their community if

1:23:18they care about it. So, thank you. I

1:23:20just wanted to give you that update.

1:23:23>> Thank you for your comment.

1:23:25Next up is Lucen uh Tuto followed by Pam

1:23:29Jones.

1:23:37Good afternoon. Thank you for the

1:23:39opportunity to speak. My name is Lucan

1:23:41Duttoy and I'm with the Peninsula

1:23:43Conflict Resolution Center as a partner

1:23:45with the Sanonteo County Tobacco

1:23:47Education Coalition. I'm here today to

1:23:50share information about secondhand smoke

1:23:52exposure in multi-unit housing in our

1:23:55community. Just recently, a student of

1:23:57mine had asked a very critical question

1:23:59during our education prevention

1:24:01meetings. I had just finished hearing

1:24:05or giving them the harmful health

1:24:07impacts. They paused and asked, "Wait,

1:24:10what if you don't smoke but someone in

1:24:12your family does or you can't control

1:24:14the environment around you? Will you

1:24:16still be impacted? There is no safe

1:24:19level of secondhand smoke exposure. It

1:24:21can cause coronary heart disease,

1:24:23stroke, and lung cancer. And in

1:24:26children, it can trigger asthma attacks

1:24:27and respiratory infections. In

1:24:29multi-unit housing, smoke can transfer

1:24:31between units through shared walls,

1:24:33vents, and gaps, making it very

1:24:36difficult for non-smoking residents to

1:24:38avoid exposure in their homes. This

1:24:40burden of exposure is also not shared

1:24:42equally. Lower income residents in

1:24:45communities of color are more likely to

1:24:46live in multi-unit housing and often do

1:24:49not have the luxury of moving to avoid

1:24:51secondhand smoke exposure. And when

1:24:54enforcement approaches rely on fines or

1:24:56eviction, the same residents most

1:24:58affected by the issue also may be more

1:25:00likely to experience negative

1:25:01consequences from enforcement actions.

1:25:04As this body considers issues related to

1:25:07secondhand smoke exposure in multi-unit

1:25:09housing, it may be helpful to consider

1:25:11the potential benefits of education and

1:25:14cessation resources as well as the

1:25:16potential impacts of different

1:25:18enforcement approaches on housing

1:25:20stability and health outcomes. Thank you

1:25:22for your time and for your attention to

1:25:24the health of all residents in our

1:25:26community.

1:25:31>> Thank you for your comment. Our

1:25:35next speaker will be Pam Jones.

1:25:42>> Mayor, council members, and staff. Um,

1:25:45thank you again. Um, for the work that

1:25:47you are doing. Uh, I would like to

1:25:50recommend that the city uh presents or

1:25:53puts out the expenditure for a scale

1:25:55model of the 80 will road proposal. Um I

1:26:00think a scale model would h help us to

1:26:03understand how it would blend in or not

1:26:05blend in with the surrounding area. Uh

1:26:09sometimes we think that the one one

1:26:12piece that is so important in our lives

1:26:15for example um housing and particularly

1:26:19um BMRs is affordable housing is

1:26:23extremely important to me but I also

1:26:25have to look at what the cost is to the

1:26:29city and the surrounding areas to bring

1:26:33those kind of developments in. Uh we

1:26:35know that a rendering it cannot possibly

1:26:38demonstrate the relationship of a

1:26:41development such as this um to things

1:26:44like the creek um it will never

1:26:46demonstrate traffic unless we had some

1:26:49light you know an actual moving mockup

1:26:52of traffic moving up and down

1:26:54middlefield and um in Willow Road which

1:26:57actually may not be a bad idea but

1:27:00anyway just just consider that you know

1:27:02having a 3D model having that set out

1:27:04and letting people look at that and also

1:27:06maybe you know again asking the governor

1:27:10to take a look at what he is really um

1:27:13what he is really talking about so he

1:27:15has a better understanding. Thank you.

1:27:20>> Thank you for your comment.

1:27:23>> Okay, seeing no further hands or cards,

1:27:28Mayor Nash, you may continue.

1:27:31>> Thank you and thank you to all the

1:27:32public speakers. Uh next are

1:27:35presentations and proclamations. We have

1:27:37one presentation and two proclamations

1:27:39this evening. Our presentation this

1:27:41evening is H1 reimagine re-imagine

1:27:44Dumbartan with Samrans. Here to make the

1:27:47presentation is Samr director of

1:27:49planning Millie Tolson.

1:27:58Good evening everyone and um city

1:28:00council members. My name is Millie

1:28:02Tollison. I'm the director of planning

1:28:04at SAMR and I am um very excited to be

1:28:08here this evening to present to you all

1:28:10on our uh reimagine Dumbartan project.

1:28:15Um so here we go into our agenda. Um I

1:28:19am going to do a brief project overview.

1:28:22Um give you a little bit of a sense of

1:28:24what we heard during our first round of

1:28:27community engagement. Um and then um

1:28:30share with uh with you all our proposed

1:28:33project design alternatives and lastly

1:28:36provide um information information on

1:28:39ways that the community um can provide

1:28:42input during our current community

1:28:43outreach phase.

1:28:50Um so a bit of a project overview. Um

1:28:53reimagine Dumbartan is a feasibility

1:28:56study. Um it is also a vision uh to

1:29:00transform the former freight line known

1:29:02as the Dumbartan rail corridor into a

1:29:05fivemile long or so um busway and

1:29:09walking and bicycling trail between

1:29:11Redwood City and East Palo Alto. So you

1:29:14can see on the map that the extents of

1:29:16the project are uh University Avenue in

1:29:20the southern part of the of the study

1:29:22area um up to um Middlefield Road in

1:29:26Redwood City, North Fair Oaks. Um

1:29:29ultimately with the uh bus service

1:29:32making a connection all the way into

1:29:33Redwood City Transit Center.

1:29:39And so why reimagine Dumbartan uh today?

1:29:43Um, as um most folks in this area know,

1:29:46the Dumbartan corridor is uh very

1:29:48underutilized or unutilized and

1:29:51essentially just acts as a barrier today

1:29:54um between communities and it's been

1:29:56like that for multiple decades. Um so

1:29:59reimagined Dumbartan would really seek

1:30:02to reconnect communities by creating new

1:30:05bicycling and walking connections both

1:30:07along and across the corridor. um be a

1:30:12great way to provide faster and more

1:30:14reliable transit service um through uh

1:30:18zero emission bus service which would be

1:30:20operated on this corridor. Uh improve

1:30:23active transportation and community

1:30:25placemaking

1:30:27um and really respond to the changing

1:30:29travel needs um and development patterns

1:30:32that we're seeing in southeast Sanonteo

1:30:34County. um addressing yes the

1:30:37transportation needs of both recent and

1:30:39future development now um while bringing

1:30:42improvements to the corridor and to the

1:30:44neighborhoods that are near it sooner.

1:30:47This project wouldn't preclude preclude

1:30:50a potential passenger rail service,

1:30:52which has been studied many times over

1:30:54the years. Um, but again is really a

1:30:57vision to activate and bring

1:30:59improvements to the neighborhoods and to

1:31:02southeast Sanonteo County uh soon.

1:31:08So, there are really three um major

1:31:11project components. Um the first is of

1:31:15course SAMR. We're uh the county's bus

1:31:18agency and we're always looking for ways

1:31:21to create faster, more reliable, and

1:31:24more frequent transit service. So this

1:31:27dedicated bus project would add nine new

1:31:30bus stations um with connections into

1:31:33Redwood City Transit Center. And by

1:31:35being a dedicated um rightofway for

1:31:38buses, the buses would move really um

1:31:41quickly and reliably, not getting stuck

1:31:43in traffic. Uh the second component is

1:31:47that a continuous walking and bicycling

1:31:49trail. So nearly four miles of paved

1:31:52trail um between the um University

1:31:56Avenue where the trail could connect to

1:31:58the Bay Trail and other recreational um

1:32:01bicycling um opportunities um as well as

1:32:04Middlefield Road in North Fair Oaks. Um

1:32:07and lastly, community access and

1:32:09placemaking. Um we'll talk a little bit

1:32:12more about this later, but um multiple

1:32:14new access points, multiple new

1:32:16crossings um as well as opportunities

1:32:19for um recreational and community

1:32:22spaces.

1:32:26So looking back, we did do a um first

1:32:30round of community engagement on this

1:32:32project in early 2026. We did um dozen a

1:32:37dozen popup events. We did community

1:32:39meetings, a survey that got more than a

1:32:41thousand responses,

1:32:43um road show presentations, including we

1:32:46did present to the Menllo Park Complete

1:32:48Streets Commission at that time. Um and

1:32:52some of the key takeaways that we heard

1:32:54during that outreach um was uh community

1:32:59priorities included

1:33:01better regional connectivity. So, it was

1:33:04interesting how people are really

1:33:05already thinking about how they could

1:33:07use this uh service to get um much

1:33:12further than even Redwood City Transit

1:33:14Center. Um they want to go they're think

1:33:16people were thinking how can I get to

1:33:17Cal Train? How can I get even to BART

1:33:19and places on BART? Can we act uh use

1:33:22this corridor also for buses to the East

1:33:25Bay? So, people were really already

1:33:27thinking about this project as a great

1:33:29opportunity for even broader regional

1:33:32connections. Um, of course, people um

1:33:35are always looking for uh access to more

1:33:39places on transit as well as uh

1:33:41improvements to the speed and the

1:33:43reliability of transit, getting where

1:33:46they want to go faster, more competitive

1:33:48with driving. Um, and people are really

1:33:51excited about the compatibility of the

1:33:53project with a walking and bicycling

1:33:55trail as well. Um, we certainly heard

1:33:59the sentiment of the existing uh

1:34:01corridor being a barrier. Um, and

1:34:05interest from the community in sort of

1:34:08the potential of activating the corridor

1:34:11to reduce or mitigate some of the uses

1:34:14that we see out there unfortunately

1:34:16today which might include camping or

1:34:18dumping and some of the things that we

1:34:20don't want people to be using the

1:34:22corridor for. Um people were interested

1:34:25in the project sort of mitigating those

1:34:27type of things. Um and then people did

1:34:30have questions about noise, about

1:34:33privacy, particularly for neighbors who

1:34:35do today live um fairly close to the

1:34:38corridor. So, those are sentiments that

1:34:41we heard and we acknowledge and we um

1:34:44want to continue conversations about how

1:34:46we can um mitigate for those type of

1:34:49concerns um in terms of maintaining

1:34:52privacy and safety. Um and uh but but

1:34:57one thing I do want to mention or just

1:34:59reiterate is that this service um bus

1:35:02service on this corridor would be

1:35:04operated with zero emission buses. SAM

1:35:06Trans is converting our whole fleet to

1:35:08zero emission buses um which are quiet

1:35:12and no tailpipe emissions and have a lot

1:35:15of great benefits.

1:35:19So looking um uh a bit more at the

1:35:22corridor and what we're proposing. A

1:35:25couple of images just to show um I'm

1:35:27sure people have seen this a lot though

1:35:29maybe not from an aerial view. Um, but

1:35:32this is a couple of examples of what the

1:35:34corridor looks like today. The image on

1:35:37the left is at the Fifth Avenue

1:35:40crossing. Um, although it the trip the

1:35:44railroad tracks are a bit more defined

1:35:45in that area, they are not used. Um, and

1:35:49then on the right is a different

1:35:51scenario. This is um on the other side

1:35:54of US 101 closer to Willow um where you

1:35:58can see the corridor is just extremely

1:36:00overgrown and obviously not used um for

1:36:03uh railroad service.

1:36:07Uh but in the future, this is a

1:36:10cross-section of uh what the project

1:36:12could look like and how the uh

1:36:15approximately it's about a 100 feet um

1:36:17ride ofway would be used. So, actually,

1:36:20maybe just starting on the bottom image,

1:36:23um it's a little hard to see on the

1:36:25screen here, but um at stations, so

1:36:29where there's a new bus station, there

1:36:30would be um really high quality bus

1:36:33stops, shelters, benches, great waiting

1:36:36area, um two lanes of bus uh bus lanes,

1:36:41bus only lanes, um in one in each

1:36:43direction, as well as the possibility of

1:36:45a passing lane, which could help for bus

1:36:47service. Um, and could also have a

1:36:50really cool, one of the things that

1:36:51we've heard from peer projects, other

1:36:53agencies that have done projects like

1:36:55this is actually the potential for

1:36:56emergency services to use this type of a

1:36:59corridor, which a passing lane could be

1:37:01really handy for, um, as kind of a cool

1:37:03co- benefit of a project like this. Um,

1:37:07and then there would be um, planting

1:37:09strips, areas for for landscaping, um, a

1:37:1320 foot wide multi-use trail, so walking

1:37:16and bicycling. Um and then another

1:37:19planting uh strip for um creating some

1:37:22separation.

1:37:24Um on the top where we are in between

1:37:27stations, there is much more space for

1:37:30recreational areas and I'll talk a

1:37:32little bit more about that um in the in

1:37:35a future slide, but we would have that

1:37:37two lanes of bus uh bus only lanes um as

1:37:42well as a continuation of the multi-use

1:37:44path. And um again many uh footage for

1:37:50uh planting, landscaping or maybe even

1:37:52some small recreational spaces.

1:37:58Um so talking a little bit about the

1:37:59transit service, uh there would be um

1:38:02what we have modeled so far is up to

1:38:05eight buses per hour. That could include

1:38:07a couple of regional buses to or from

1:38:10the East Bay. um that the travel time on

1:38:15the corridor would be about 13 minutes

1:38:17between um University Avenue and

1:38:19Middlefield Road. So a big time savings

1:38:22for people riding transit, especially

1:38:24compared to our current service, even

1:38:26current SAM trans service um is fairly

1:38:28ciruitous because this is also a barrier

1:38:32for us in running very efficient transit

1:38:34service. Um there would be nine new bus

1:38:37stations um about every half mile or so

1:38:41um between them. Um and we are assuming

1:38:43that folks will primarily walk, bicycle,

1:38:46maybe use micromobility

1:38:49um type of services to get to uh the

1:38:52stations. And one of the things that we

1:38:54are doing is working with local

1:38:56jurisdictions on what kind of projects

1:38:58we might want to couple or bundle with

1:39:00this project to make sure that we get

1:39:02good access for bicycles and people

1:39:04walking.

1:39:08Um turning to active transportation. So

1:39:11again, a continuous fourmile long um

1:39:15paved walking and bicycling trail

1:39:17connections to the East Bay or I'm sorry

1:39:20to the Bay Trail could be to the East

1:39:21Bay over the Dumbart and Highway Bridge.

1:39:23Um but uh connections to the Bay Trail.

1:39:27Um and based on some comparable

1:39:30projects, we estimate that this trail

1:39:32could be used by up to or more than a

1:39:34thousand people daily. looking at some

1:39:37comparable projects with similar land

1:39:39uses um nearby to us. Um but really

1:39:43excited about creating a walking and

1:39:46bicycling um facility that um both

1:39:50reduces bicycle travel times, again more

1:39:52direct between key destinations, but I

1:39:55think really importantly creating a

1:39:57really comfortable bicycling experience

1:39:59that could be enjoyed by um users of all

1:40:02ages and abilities.

1:40:07Um, yep. So, one another great um

1:40:10component of this project would be a new

1:40:12crossing over US 101. Um, so you can see

1:40:16the existing condition of a uh bridge

1:40:19over US 101 today. Um, connecting uh

1:40:23Menllo Park to Menllo Park actually. Um,

1:40:26but on the right you can see the

1:40:28dedicated bus way as well as a walking

1:40:30and bicycling trail on the on the right.

1:40:36Um and lastly, community access and

1:40:39placemaking. We um have 15 new access

1:40:43points and three new crossings. Those

1:40:45are just crossings for people walking

1:40:47and bicycling, not new roadway

1:40:48crossings. Um but again, kind of

1:40:52breaking down that barrier and creating

1:40:54those connections between neighborhoods.

1:40:57um and uh excited about the possibility

1:41:00of some potential uh recreational areas,

1:41:04small these would be kind of small

1:41:06pocket park type of things. But one of

1:41:09the things that we're um asking in our

1:41:11survey that's currently live and online

1:41:14and we invite people to take is which of

1:41:16these might people want to see at

1:41:19different potential um what we're

1:41:21calling recreational opportunity areas?

1:41:23So, small fitness or exercise zones,

1:41:27playgrounds, dog parks, picnic areas,

1:41:30gathering spaces. Um, we think there's a

1:41:34lot of potential for this project to

1:41:35also incorporate things like this.

1:41:41Okay, so wrapping up, um, a lot of

1:41:44people ask about our timeline. So, on

1:41:47the top is just the timeline for our

1:41:49current feasibility study. So, I would

1:41:51say we're a little bit more than halfway

1:41:54through. We are in our second round of

1:41:56engagement right now through the end of

1:41:58October. Um, and after that ends, we'll

1:42:02we'll take all the feedback that we get

1:42:04from uh the public as well as some of

1:42:07the technical work that's ongoing right

1:42:09now and put together a preferred

1:42:11alternative uh project design. Um and

1:42:15then in the spring, our plan is to take

1:42:18that to the SAM Trans board of directors

1:42:21um seek their um feedback on it as well

1:42:25as their um adoption of a preferred

1:42:28alternative and should they um give us

1:42:31sort of the green light and and there's

1:42:33good reception to move forward um we

1:42:35would move as quickly as we can into an

1:42:37environmental study phase as well as

1:42:40preliminary engineering. Um we think

1:42:43environmental, preliminary engineering

1:42:45and final design would take about four

1:42:47years during which time we would also be

1:42:49pursuing construction funding. Um but if

1:42:52we hustle we are hoping we could maybe

1:42:54be in construction in the early 2030s.

1:43:02So last last slide here is just a plug

1:43:04to u inviting people to get involved.

1:43:07Um, now is really a ch a great chance

1:43:10and a great time to help us refine our

1:43:13designs. Um, and we have a QR code here.

1:43:17Also have a project website.comdumbartin

1:43:20where you can find our survey. Um, you

1:43:23can always people can always email us

1:43:25dumbartinamtrans.com.

1:43:27Um we can call our customer service line

1:43:31and language interpretation is also

1:43:33available for people who want to call um

1:43:36and learn about the the project in

1:43:38different languages.

1:43:42So I think that's all for us. So maybe

1:43:45I'll go back to this slide or we can

1:43:47take it down. But I'm I'm happy to

1:43:48answer any questions. Thank you.

1:43:51>> Thank you very much. Uh first I think we

1:43:53will call for public comment please. Uh

1:43:55city clerk Karen.

1:43:56>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this

1:43:58time, if any member of the public wishes

1:44:01to provide comment on our presentation

1:44:03H1 reimagine Dom Burton, if you are in

1:44:07person, return a speaker card virtual

1:44:09engage that hand feature. Calling in,

1:44:12please press star 9 now.

1:44:16So, it looks like we do have two

1:44:19speakers. So, this is the final call for

1:44:22public comment on our presentation item

1:44:25H1.

1:44:42Okay, so our first speaker will be

1:44:45Martha Funkhouser followed by John

1:44:48McKenna.

1:44:59Martha, you should be able to unmute

1:45:02your microphone at this time.

1:45:16Okay, Martha, I will uh come back to you

1:45:18and we will go to John McKenna.

1:45:24>> Hello. Can you hear me?

1:45:26>> Yes, go right ahead.

1:45:27>> Okay. Thank you. This is John McKenna. I

1:45:29serve on the city's environmental

1:45:31quality commission. uh speaking as an

1:45:33individual and I admit I joined this

1:45:35presentation late so I'm going to make a

1:45:37very uneducated public comment but what

1:45:40from what I did see it looks really

1:45:41interesting I just have two uh requests

1:45:44um and apologies if this was mentioned

1:45:46in the presentation but um I would just

1:45:49ask that whatever sort of vehicles are

1:45:52used for this whether it's buses or

1:45:54trains that they be 100% zero emission

1:45:58electric and um in regards to potential

1:46:02recreation areas. I just ask that um

1:46:05there is no artificial turf uh used in

1:46:09the design of of those areas. And that's

1:46:12it. Thank you.

1:46:14>> Thank you for your comment.

1:46:19Okay, it does look

1:46:22like Martha has lowered their hand.

1:46:29Okay, seeing no further hands or cards,

1:46:35Mayor Nash, you may continue.

1:46:39Thank you. Um, I guess first, Miss

1:46:41Tison, would you like to respond to the

1:46:44public comment?

1:46:46>> Um, sure. So, yes, the plan is, um, SAMR

1:46:50is actively converting all our entire

1:46:52fleet into zero mission buses,

1:46:54consistent with the state uh, mandate to

1:46:56do so. So, um, yes, the plan would be

1:47:00for zero mission buses to be the bus,

1:47:02the type of bus that would be operated

1:47:04on this corridor. Um, and noted

1:47:07regarding artificial turf. We're not

1:47:08quite there in the design process, but

1:47:10I've made a note about that.

1:47:13>> Thank you. Um, I'd now like to open for

1:47:16city council questions.

1:47:24Questions and comments.

1:47:27I just want to I didn't want to break

1:47:28the rules. Um uh thanks so much for the

1:47:31presentation. I I really appreciate it

1:47:33and and also want want to thank thank

1:47:35you for the Sam trans team engagement um

1:47:39as it relates to this project. I know

1:47:40you guys have set up um shop some

1:47:42Sundays and the farmers market and and

1:47:44been very open to answering all the

1:47:46questions residents have and I know you

1:47:49guys did a presentation specifically for

1:47:50the suburban park community and we've

1:47:52been trying to plan one for the

1:47:54Laurelite community. Yeah, I think I'm

1:47:56I'm uh the blocker there. So, I am I am

1:47:58working on that. But I I want to say it

1:48:01sounds like a a really great project. Um

1:48:05and um and and again very much

1:48:08appreciate the the partnership so far

1:48:10and and and I would say I I appreciate

1:48:14that the project seemed

1:48:18scaled to something that can be

1:48:19delivered. Um, and I know that we all

1:48:22have lots of plans and lots of ideas for

1:48:24what the Barton Corridor could be. Um,

1:48:28if you know someone had an unlimited

1:48:31checkbook. Um, but this is something

1:48:33again, not that this is going to be a

1:48:35cheap project by any stretch of the

1:48:37imagination, but but it is something I

1:48:39think very much tailored uh in a way

1:48:41that seems actually deliverable and and

1:48:44does like sort of take this through line

1:48:47and our community and and make use of it

1:48:48in a way that I think we all see um

1:48:51would would be a benefit to all the

1:48:53communities along that corridor. So,

1:48:56thank you very much for the presentation

1:48:58and I know we're there's still still a

1:49:00ways to go but but but also appreciate

1:49:02the community engagement.

1:49:06>> If I could just mention, thank you for

1:49:08bringing it up. We are going to be at

1:49:10Menllo Park Farmers Market this coming

1:49:12Sunday. We're going to be at Bell Haven

1:49:14Community Campus in early October. And

1:49:16we are also um we have also been

1:49:20literally just in people's driveways in

1:49:22neighborhoods like with our poster

1:49:24boards talking to people. So we're open

1:49:25to that too. However we can reach people

1:49:27who are interested. So thank you.

1:49:33So thank you so much and I echo um what

1:49:36council member Comb said. Um, and I

1:49:38guess what I very much appreciate also

1:49:41is that there's an access point um to

1:49:44our Bell Haven community campus and that

1:49:47will actually bring the two

1:49:48neighborhoods together, which just is

1:49:51something that's very exciting that

1:49:52we've been trying to get done. Um, if

1:49:55there's any way to expedite some like an

1:49:57access point ahead of the building of

1:50:00the entire um system, that would be

1:50:03excellent. But really excited for that.

1:50:06Thank you.

1:50:09Any other comments?

1:50:13Uh, Council Member Combmes,

1:50:14>> I will say and I I have to um just

1:50:16acknowledge that um I know I and Council

1:50:20Member Taylor, maybe others get

1:50:22routinely, I think it's every quarter,

1:50:24an email about the overpass. um and and

1:50:27specifically the fact that um there is

1:50:30lots of graffiti on it and and who

1:50:32actually um has responsibility for it

1:50:36and we go on the circle of SAM trans of

1:50:39Union Pacific of I I don't know what I I

1:50:41think I've been on that circle um a

1:50:43number of times and so um hopefully um

1:50:46it is not until the beginning of this

1:50:48project that that we can we can address

1:50:51um the graffiti uh but at least with

1:50:54this project um we can see a future

1:50:56where there is someone some single

1:50:58entity that is actually taking uh

1:51:00ownership for that that um the bridge

1:51:02crossing over highway 101. But again for

1:51:05the community members who very regularly

1:51:07um reach out about again the concern

1:51:09that like that the greedy has been there

1:51:11for for years um I I did want to

1:51:14acknowledge that.

1:51:19>> Thank you very much.

1:51:21>> Thank you.

1:51:22>> And now we'll move down for the

1:51:24proclamations.

1:51:57So, next next are the proclamations. The

1:51:59two proclamations tonight are H2,

1:52:02National Recovery Month, and H3, Suicide

1:52:05Prevention Month. City Clerk Herren,

1:52:07please call for public comment on items

1:52:09H2 and H3.

1:52:11>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

1:52:13if any member of the public would like

1:52:15to provide comment on our proclamations

1:52:17this evening, H2 National Recovery Month

1:52:20or H3 Suicide Prevention Month, if you

1:52:24are in person, please return a speaker

1:52:26card. Virtual engage that hand feature.

1:52:29Calling in, please press star 9 now.

1:52:36Okay, currently have one card.

1:52:40This is the final call for public

1:52:42comment on our proclamations H2 and H3.

1:52:50Right. I'll be welcoming up Jenny

1:52:52Michelle.

1:53:03Dear mayor, council members, and

1:53:05dedicated staff, my name is Jenny

1:53:07Michelle, and I'm a native and current

1:53:09resident of District 3. Personal

1:53:11comments on H3.

1:53:14For several years, I have come before

1:53:16you to speak openly about my four decade

1:53:19experience with suicidal ideiation. I am

1:53:22proud to do so, but it's not easy. As

1:53:25many of you know, I have experienced

1:53:27abuse within my family until my mother

1:53:30died when I was 20. It began with my

1:53:33mother, then my father, and later my

1:53:36aunt and her husband, Rod, who moved in

1:53:38with us in the early8s to help offset

1:53:41the mortgage. The intrusive thoughts and

1:53:44memories are debilitating.

1:53:47And I know I'm not alone. I left Notre

1:53:50Dame and Belmont in the mid '9s because

1:53:53that culture was normalized. A bad grade

1:53:56could mean you were being beaten by your

1:53:58guardians or worse. Corporal punishment

1:54:01may be less visible now, but I would

1:54:03argue that it still exists. It is just

1:54:06simply hidden. Sexual assault by older

1:54:09men was often ignored and went without

1:54:11consequence. And in many ways that

1:54:13remains true today.

1:54:17One result of my chronic post-traumatic

1:54:20stress is major depression. It feels

1:54:24like something's creeping up on my neck

1:54:26and threatening to take over. Depending

1:54:29upon many factors, it does so weekly.

1:54:33That when that happens, I am unable to

1:54:36function. Moving through the day like

1:54:38molasses, best suited for stillness and

1:54:40hibernation.

1:54:42Yes, I have taken medication. After a

1:54:44mushroom ceremony with one of my

1:54:46psychotherapists, I unexpectedly found a

1:54:48renewed desire to stay even when the

1:54:51depression and debilitating symptoms

1:54:53last for weeks. That desire is still

1:54:56tested and I continue to call 988 during

1:54:59crisis when I feel I have no other way

1:55:02through. along with my incredible

1:55:05husband, son, doctors, and strong

1:55:08support system. Daily walks, buses, and

1:55:10trains keep me regulated. Transit floods

1:55:14my body with healthy chemicals and helps

1:55:17quiet that creep. Giving up car

1:55:20dependence was necessary for my health,

1:55:23but it also became a powerful tool for

1:55:25regulation. Again, I am not alone, but

1:55:29the transit I rely on is at risk. Prop

1:55:32RTM must pass because I need that

1:55:35healthy reset every morning. The

1:55:38proclamation is always appreciated, but

1:55:40transit is essential for me. Please show

1:55:43that you care about people like me and

1:55:45voting yes to keep transit strong. Thank

1:55:48you.

1:55:52>> Thank you for your comment.

1:56:12National Recovery Month, recognized

1:56:14annually in September, reminds us that

1:56:16behavioral health is essential to

1:56:18overall health and highlights the

1:56:20important work of substance abuse,

1:56:22treatment, and prov prevention providers

1:56:25who help light the path to meaningful

1:56:27and lasting recovery. The 2026 theme,

1:56:32recovery happens together, emphasizes

1:56:34that recovery is built through

1:56:35partnerships, collaboration, and

1:56:37community.

1:56:42With the suicide prevention month

1:56:44proclamation, we acknowledge that

1:56:46suicide is a preventable national and

1:56:48state public health problem with no

1:56:50single cause. highlight the vital

1:56:53importance of equitable and

1:56:55intersectional mental health services

1:56:57and encourage open conversations about

1:56:59mental health that break down barriers

1:57:01and increase understanding. Resources

1:57:03are available and you are not alone.

1:57:06Anyone can dial 988 toll-free in San

1:57:10Monteo County to talk to someone who can

1:57:12help.

1:57:13We would like to invite local advocate

1:57:15and former behavioral health

1:57:17commissioner John Butler to accept the

1:57:19proclamations.

1:57:24John, you should be able to engage your

1:57:26microphone at this time.

1:57:42John, are you able to unmute your end?

1:57:54Okay, I'm going to try one

1:57:58other thing here, John.

1:58:09Okay, looks like unfortunately we're

1:58:11unable to hear our acceptor.

1:58:15Um, but John, we appreciate that you

1:58:17were able to attend this evening and

1:58:19we'll definitely be getting you copies

1:58:20of these proclamations.

1:58:24Okay. And so with that, we can continue.

1:58:27Thank you, Mayor Nash.

1:59:07Consent calendar. Under the consent

1:59:09calendar, the city council may take

1:59:11action to approve routine business items

1:59:13in one motion unless a city council

1:59:15member, city staff member, or a member

1:59:17of the public requests that an item be

1:59:19discussed or continued to a later date.

1:59:22City Clerk Karen, please provide the

1:59:23update to item I1.

1:59:26>> Yes, thank you. Uh, Mayor Nash, I did

1:59:29want to make a brief update to our

1:59:32minutes from the August 20 uh 25th city

1:59:37council meeting. Um we had a

1:59:40um city council initiated item that uh

1:59:44city council directed staff prepare a

1:59:47formal staff report for the complete

1:59:49streets commission and the edit to the

1:59:52minutes is adding um that the direction

1:59:55was not only the staff report but

1:59:57related to the ebike ordinance followed

1:59:59by the county. So just clarifying that

2:00:01in the motion. Thank you.

2:00:04>> Thank you. Uh, city clerk Karen, do we

2:00:06have any public comments on the consent

2:00:08calendar?

2:00:09>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, for any

2:00:12member of the public who wishes to

2:00:14provide comment on our consent calendar

2:00:16items, I one, city council meeting

2:00:19minutes. I two, um, a resolution

2:00:23amending the city's conflict of interest

2:00:25code. I three, the blanket purchase

2:00:29orders with Amazon and byite. I4, an

2:00:34agreement for independent audit

2:00:36services, or I5, the adoption of a

2:00:40resolution for destruction of obsolete

2:00:43records. If you are in person, return

2:00:46that speaker card virtual engage hand

2:00:49feature. Calling in, please press star 9

2:00:52now.

2:00:57Okay, this will be the final call for

2:00:59public comment on our consent calendar

2:01:01items.

2:01:04Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

2:01:06continue.

2:01:08>> Thank you. Uh, is there a motion and a

2:01:10second on the table to approve the

2:01:12consent calendar?

2:01:17>> Motion to approve.

2:01:23>> I can second.

2:01:25>> Thank you. I have a motion on the floor

2:01:28by Vice Mayor Wise and a second by city

2:01:30council member Schmidt. Any further city

2:01:34council question or discussion?

2:01:37Seeing none, by roll call vote, city

2:01:39council member Taylor,

2:01:41>> yes.

2:01:43>> City council member Combmes,

2:01:45>> yes.

2:01:46>> City Council Member Schmidt,

2:01:47>> yes.

2:01:50>> Vice Mayor Wise,

2:01:51>> yes.

2:01:52>> And Mayor Nash,

2:01:54>> yes.

2:01:55And the motion passes unanimously. Thank

2:01:58you.

2:01:59>> Thank you. Study session. Study sessions

2:02:02are an opportunity for city staff to

2:02:04introduce an item that will require

2:02:06policy direction from the city council

2:02:08in the near future. City staff will

2:02:10provide a presentation. I will then call

2:02:12for public comment. After public

2:02:15comment, the city council will discuss

2:02:16the matter interactively with staff. The

2:02:19city council will not take an action on

2:02:21items addressed in study sessions. The

2:02:24city council may provide direction to

2:02:26city staff for preparation of additional

2:02:28analysis or information necessary when

2:02:30the item returns to the city council for

2:02:33action.

2:02:34The study session is J1 review and

2:02:37provide feedback on proposed revisions

2:02:39to the approved parkline master plan

2:02:41project to redevelop the SRRI research

2:02:44campus with a residential office R&D and

2:02:48retail mixeduse project located at 2011

2:02:52and 333 Ravenswood Avenue and 555 and

2:02:57565 Middlefield Road. Here to introduce

2:03:00the item is principal planner Karina

2:03:02Sandmeier.

2:03:05Uh, good evening, Mayor Nash and council

2:03:08members. So, I'll be um providing a

2:03:11brief presentation on the Parkline um

2:03:14revised master plan study session.

2:03:21Uh so the purpose of tonight's study

2:03:24session is to receive a presentation

2:03:26from the applicant team, solicit public

2:03:29comments, request clarifying information

2:03:31from the applicant, consider planning

2:03:35commission's feedback, and provide

2:03:37feedback on the revised project to

2:03:39comprehensively redevelop the project

2:03:41site with a residential office and

2:03:44neighborhood serving commercial mixeduse

2:03:46project.

2:03:57So this slide shows the project site and

2:04:00project vicinity. Uh the project site is

2:04:03the SRRI campus along Ravenswood and

2:04:062011 Ravenswood Avenue. Adjacent uses

2:04:10include city hall, the former USGS

2:04:13campus, McCandless office complex, and

2:04:16Burgess Classics.

2:04:24The project was initially approved in

2:04:262025 by city council um with the

2:04:29following actions. Certification of the

2:04:32final EIR. Amendments to the general

2:04:35plan land use element and land use map.

2:04:39Amendments to the zoning ordinance and

2:04:41zoning map. Adoption of a conditional

2:04:43development permit. Approval of a below

2:04:47market rate housing agreement. Approval

2:04:49of a vesting tenative map. An adoption

2:04:52of a development agreement between the

2:04:54city and the project applicant.

2:05:01This slide shows the approved project

2:05:03and the approved site plan. It included

2:05:06800 dwelling units, including 251 below

2:05:09market rate units, up to 1 million

2:05:12square ft of non-residential

2:05:14development, publicly accessible open

2:05:17space, and bicycle and pedestrian

2:05:20connections.

2:05:26The revised project um or phase two

2:05:30would increase the number of housing

2:05:31units, consolidate office and R&D, add

2:05:36community serving retail and restaurant

2:05:38space, increase office building heights,

2:05:42modify various project development

2:05:44regulations,

2:05:46revise the approved CDP, BMR housing

2:05:49agreement, heritage tree removal permits

2:05:52and vesting tenative map architectural

2:05:55Control review for building design and

2:05:57site improvements would also be needed.

2:06:04And this slide shows the revised project

2:06:06site plan. It would include 1,082

2:06:09dwelling units including 294 below

2:06:13market rate. Um the office R&D space

2:06:16would be consolidated

2:06:18and it would in the site plan would

2:06:20include low-rise retail along Ravenswood

2:06:22Avenue. Uh the balance of the project

2:06:25would be single family homes in two unit

2:06:28types

2:06:30and the project would also include town

2:06:32homes and the three multifamily

2:06:35uh buildings would remain essentially in

2:06:37the same place and the parkland

2:06:40dedicated to the city would be uh larger

2:06:43than in the approved project.

2:06:49Uh the proposed CDP amendments would

2:06:52include an increase in the number of

2:06:54dwelling units, reduced setback

2:06:58setbacks, decreased minimum lot sizes,

2:07:00increased height, increased maximum

2:07:03parking rates, modification to

2:07:05modulation requirements

2:07:08and modification of the development.

2:07:11Modification of the def definition of

2:07:13growth floor area applicable to the

2:07:15project to exempt balconies with columns

2:07:18larger than 12 in

2:07:25modifications to the BMR guidelines. Uh

2:07:28so the applicant is requesting two

2:07:30concessions under state density bonus

2:07:32law. One for the types and location of

2:07:35BMR units and so that would allow the

2:07:38required 15%

2:07:40BMR units for the forale portion of the

2:07:43project to all be located in the

2:07:45attached town homes and the second

2:07:48concession would be for flexibility on

2:07:50construction of the single family units

2:07:52before construction of the BMR units.

2:07:56The applicant is also requesting to

2:07:58modify other requirements in the BMR

2:08:01guidelines um related to bedroom count,

2:08:04proportionality,

2:08:05unit size and uh number of parking

2:08:08spaces.

2:08:13So, the planning commission held a study

2:08:15session last Monday. Um, the majority of

2:08:19commissioners supported solar ready

2:08:22balconies, no artificial turf or public

2:08:25open spaces, a buffer between Park Line

2:08:28and Burgess Classics, protected bike

2:08:31lane, a protected bike lane along

2:08:34Ravenswood Avenue, flexibility on

2:08:36construction of the single family units

2:08:38before construction of the BMR units, as

2:08:42well as the other proposed modifications

2:08:44to the BMR guidelines, a plan to move

2:08:47away from the use of diesel backup

2:08:49generators and for staff to develop a

2:08:52comprehensive traffic management plan uh

2:08:54for the Middlefield Road corridor.

2:09:01A majority of commissioners did not

2:09:04support a 28 foot height limit for

2:09:06single family homes abuing the Burgess

2:09:09Classics. And no commissioner supported

2:09:12a requirement to enable a virtual power

2:09:14plant.

2:09:20And this slide includes suggested topics

2:09:22for tonight's discussion. Um those

2:09:25include the planning commission

2:09:27feedback, land uses and site density and

2:09:30intensity, application of GFA definition

2:09:34related to covered balconies, the site

2:09:37layout, site access, linkages to other

2:09:40sites and within the project site,

2:09:43including bicycle and pedestrian access,

2:09:46conceptual architectural styles, design,

2:09:50layout, and modifications to open space,

2:09:52the treatment of the property, edge

2:09:54between the project site and the 345

2:09:58Middlefield Road project site, parking

2:10:01locations and ratios and sustainability

2:10:04measures.

2:10:08And so we have the next steps for the

2:10:10project. Uh the applicants currently

2:10:13preparing a resubmitt

2:10:15staff will review that for completeness

2:10:17once it's submitted. Um once the

2:10:20project's deemed complete, staff will uh

2:10:23conduct the consistency review. The SQUA

2:10:26review um will also be starting soon and

2:10:29future meetings for the project would

2:10:31include housing commission, planning

2:10:34commission and city council.

2:10:41So thank you. That concludes my

2:10:43presentation. Happy to answer any

2:10:45questions. And I believe um Mark Murray

2:10:48from the applicant team also has a

2:10:49presentation.

2:10:59Let's go ahead with the applicant team

2:11:01presentation. Thank you.

2:11:08>> Good evening, Mayor Nash, Vice Mayor

2:11:09Wise, and members of city council. I'm

2:11:10Mark Murray with Lane Partners.

2:11:14Lane is a real estate development firm

2:11:16that's been based in Menlo Parks since

2:11:17it was founded about 21 years ago. Uh

2:11:20very excited to be back in front of this

2:11:21council again tonight to discuss the

2:11:23latest evolution in the park line

2:11:24project. I think it was almost exactly a

2:11:27year ago we were we were in front of you

2:11:28and getting our approvals for the last

2:11:30iteration, but I think we all left those

2:11:32approvals with the expectation that

2:11:34we're going to come back and continue to

2:11:36improve uh and refine the project. Uh as

2:11:38you'll recall kind of in the last months

2:11:40of that approval process we agreed to

2:11:42reduce the commercial area significantly

2:11:45going from 1.38 million square feet

2:11:47which we had proposed for I think you

2:11:49know five plus years reduce that to a

2:11:51million square feet in total commercial

2:11:54and then reduce the office to 925,000

2:11:57square feet as an absolute maximum. As

2:11:59part of that we said you know we're

2:12:01going to come back and add housing. We'd

2:12:03like to have a streamlined process to do

2:12:05so and now we've done that. So now we

2:12:07have an additional 282 homes uh in

2:12:10addition to the 800 that were approved

2:12:12in in the last phase of the project. All

2:12:14of these are for sale homes. So in

2:12:16addition to all the BMR rental units

2:12:19that were available and committed to in

2:12:21phase one, we'll now have 49 for sale

2:12:24below market rate units. Uh the other

2:12:27major addition that we made in this new

2:12:29phase based on community feedback was

2:12:32the addition of of retail village. So

2:12:34before, as you you may recall, we had

2:12:36kind of an office amenity building and

2:12:38it was going to have food and beverage

2:12:40amenities as well that we're going to

2:12:42open to the public, but not truly

2:12:44retail. And we heard a lot of that from

2:12:46both commission and council in the

2:12:47community. So as you'll see now, we have

2:12:49a pretty meaningful uh retail village,

2:12:52which we hope will create an amenity

2:12:54base, not just for occupants and

2:12:55residents of Parkline, but for the wider

2:12:57wider neighborhood and community. And

2:13:00you know, these additions created a real

2:13:01challenge because we didn't want to we

2:13:03didn't want there to be trade-offs. We

2:13:04wanted this to all be additive and not

2:13:06have, you know, we're adding housing,

2:13:08but we're losing, you know, losing park

2:13:10dedication or something else. So, we

2:13:12worked really hard to kind of maintain

2:13:13all the things we promised in phase one,

2:13:15and I think we accomplished that. Uh, so

2:13:17we're really proud of what's in front of

2:13:18you and look forward to discussing it.

2:13:19And with that, I'll turn it over to Mark

2:13:21Schwep with S Soom who's our design

2:13:22lead. Thanks.

2:13:28>> Thanks, Mark. And thank you uh council

2:13:30in advance for your time. I'll go

2:13:32quickly in the in the interest of time.

2:13:35And let's see if this is working.

2:13:40Oh

2:13:42yes. Okay. So you heard heard from Mark

2:13:45that the project's significant change is

2:13:47a reduction in the commercial area. Um

2:13:50but disproportionate to the reduction of

2:13:52the amount of commercial area is its

2:13:54footprint. Uh this plan shows in red the

2:13:57previous footprint of the commercial

2:13:59land uses. In yellow is the residential

2:14:02and on the right is the new plan in

2:14:04which the office and retail have been

2:14:06condensed to the northern end of the

2:14:08site uh closest to transit and furthest

2:14:11from the single family homes at the

2:14:13southwest of the site. Uh the previous

2:14:16plan on the left and the new plan on the

2:14:20right. Uh the numbers tell part of the

2:14:22story going from 37 to 14 acres of

2:14:25commercial land use and 800 to,082

2:14:28residential units but they don't tell

2:14:31the complete story about the character

2:14:32of this of this place which will now uh

2:14:35really benefit from this mix of uses and

2:14:39from a public realm and quality of

2:14:41landscape and architecture that I think

2:14:43draws from the distinctiveness of Menlla

2:14:45Park but also brings it into the future

2:14:49anchored by a single and two-story

2:14:52pedestrian scale retail of of many types

2:14:55and sizes and all woven together by open

2:14:58spaces ranging from intimate ones for a

2:15:01small conversation to uh multi-acre

2:15:03spaces that can be programmed for civic

2:15:05events.

2:15:07Uh these buildings will share elements

2:15:10of their architectural language again

2:15:12drawn uh from the character of this

2:15:15place from the authentic nature of the

2:15:16buildings rather than decorative. And

2:15:19perhaps most importantly uh extremely

2:15:21high performing and highly sustainable.

2:15:23All the buildings are proposed to be all

2:15:25electric featuring solar generation and

2:15:28many other uh efficiency features. There

2:15:31are many different types of buildings

2:15:33though and so they have different

2:15:34architectural expressions. Uh we are the

2:15:36master plan architect and the architect

2:15:38of the commercial buildings. I'm also

2:15:40here on behalf of KTGY whose team have

2:15:43designed the forale uh residential

2:15:46product. So here's the plan. Um the

2:15:49biggest changes from a design standpoint

2:15:51other than the the distribution of the

2:15:53land use I think is the nature of the

2:15:56open space. Rather than a single large

2:15:58space which was really framed and and

2:16:01kind of defined by the large commercial

2:16:04buildings around it. We have a network

2:16:06of spaces that weave through all the

2:16:07different building types north to south,

2:16:09east to west. And those spaces are are

2:16:12activated and and kind of owned by the

2:16:14buildings adjacent to them.

2:16:17Um, it's a very porous plan. So, we've

2:16:21we've taken everything that that Mark

2:16:23and his team learned over the last five

2:16:25years and integrated into the way the

2:16:27project is accessed. We have four

2:16:29vehicular access points, but more

2:16:31importantly along the west and south, we

2:16:32have bike and pedestrian access points.

2:16:35We're sticking to those commitments to

2:16:36not add vehicular access in places where

2:16:39our neighbors do not want it.

2:16:42along Ravenswood. This is the uh

2:16:45northwestmost entry to the project,

2:16:47looking through a grove of existing

2:16:49mature trees. If you were standing there

2:16:51today, you would see SRRI's parking lot.

2:16:54Uh you see the retail and two of the

2:16:56office buildings there. That strip of of

2:16:59open space along the north is the

2:17:01location of of one of the significant

2:17:03bike pedestrian uh facilities of the

2:17:06project. That's kind of the wavy line

2:17:07running left to right. Um there's

2:17:10proposal for a class 4 bike lane on

2:17:12Laurel for dedicated pedestrian and

2:17:14cycle tracks running through the south

2:17:16and the east of the site to bring people

2:17:18up to the intersection uh which

2:17:20hopefully will connect with the future

2:17:22rail crossing of that of that same

2:17:23facility.

2:17:26These pedestrian and bike networks weave

2:17:28together a series of many different

2:17:30kinds of open spaces ranging from uh the

2:17:33city dedication which will be used for a

2:17:35soccer field. Most likely that's been uh

2:17:38enlarged to allow you know a full

2:17:40regulation size field which is one of

2:17:42the things that uh that we heard. Um

2:17:44there's the Ravenwoods Grove which

2:17:46consists of the preservation of of many

2:17:48mature trees, thinning of others and

2:17:51tight integration with a series of

2:17:53retail buildings and their indooroutdoor

2:17:55spaces. Uh the retail village is

2:17:57anchored by a one plus acre lawn which

2:18:00can be actively programmed um by city,

2:18:03by neighbor, by business owners for

2:18:06events from farmers markets to food

2:18:08trucks to movie nights uh to yoga on the

2:18:10lawn. At the southern end of the site is

2:18:13a it's a three plus acre space we're

2:18:16calling the Parkline Commons. This

2:18:18T-shaped space forms a buffer between

2:18:20the larger commercial buildings within

2:18:22the site and the residential buildings

2:18:24to the south. It has active neighborhood

2:18:26serving pieces like a playground,

2:18:29walking, jogging trails and so on.

2:18:33And along the western edge of the site

2:18:35are a series of spaces that connect the

2:18:38project to Laurel. Again, these are not

2:18:40vehicular access points. Um, these are

2:18:42walking spaces for for people and for

2:18:45dogs. There's a dog park here. Um,

2:18:49these spaces lead to the retail village.

2:18:52And we think one of the great things

2:18:53about retail and especially neighborhood

2:18:55serving retail is its ability to make

2:18:57the spaces, the open spaces around it

2:19:00feel public because people feel feel

2:19:02welcome to walk between shops. It's an

2:19:04experience of the city that everybody

2:19:06understands. and we've worked to make

2:19:08those shops uh a scale that's very

2:19:10welcoming and discreet from the larger

2:19:12office buildings. Consists of nine uh

2:19:15singlestory buildings. We're looking at

2:19:17a total area of between 40 and 75,000

2:19:20square feet of this. Um they have

2:19:22indooroutdoor spaces. They're primarily

2:19:25constructed of of timber, stone, stucco,

2:19:28and glass uh for a very pedestrian scale

2:19:31natural set of materials. In many places

2:19:34they've been planned around beautiful

2:19:36existing live oak and other trees so

2:19:39that from day one there will be shade

2:19:41and pedestrian scale animation.

2:19:44Uh the commercial development is now

2:19:47clustered in the center of the site with

2:19:49the tallest buildings as far as possible

2:19:51from the edges of the site. The uh

2:19:54parking facilities have been densified

2:19:56and scooted away from the edge of the

2:19:57site as well. They're nestled in between

2:19:59the office buildings. These buildings

2:20:01are uh are simple buildings. They have

2:20:04regular rectangular footprints. They

2:20:06vary in height from 5 to 10 stories, but

2:20:10they offer the kind of of high

2:20:12performance, highly manetized,

2:20:14sustainable, flexible office space that

2:20:17the kind of tenants that we want to keep

2:20:19in Menlo Park and draw to Menllo Park

2:20:21are looking for. They have high

2:20:23ceilings. They have indooroutdoor

2:20:25spaces. Um and the architectural

2:20:27language of them tries to to move away

2:20:29from the idea of a building as a box or

2:20:31an object and learn from the scale and

2:20:34type of architecture um that has defined

2:20:38Melo Park's favorite places as a series

2:20:41of spaces that flow in and out defined

2:20:44by their floors and their ceilings and

2:20:46their roofs rather than an object

2:20:48defined by its walls. And in fact, the

2:20:50building we're in today expresses this

2:20:52in the way its roof slides out over the

2:20:54glass and is illuminated. Um, that

2:20:56language is carried most obviously into

2:20:59the office buildings, the way their

2:21:00terraces uh open and close to the space

2:21:03inside and the views beyond. Um, but

2:21:06it's something that will work through

2:21:07the the retail buildings and the parking

2:21:10garages and all of the buildings on the

2:21:12site to some extent. Here's a view from

2:21:14that uh parkline commons looking to the

2:21:16north.

2:21:18And even the two parking garages are

2:21:21sensitively clad in finely grained

2:21:23materials. Uh concrete at the base, a

2:21:26simple expression of what a parking

2:21:27garage actually is and how it actually

2:21:29functions. Uh there's very little change

2:21:32to the multif family residential

2:21:34buildings that Grena mentioned at the

2:21:35northwest and northeast, but there are

2:21:38now over 300 new uh forale housing units

2:21:42ranging from town homes uh top right

2:21:46small lot single family homes bottom

2:21:48right and single family homes bottom

2:21:50left. Um two stories for the homes and

2:21:52three stories for the town houses.

2:21:54Again, these are the work of of KTGY and

2:21:57some images what those buildings are. So

2:21:59alto together thank you for your time.

2:22:01We think this is an incredible project

2:22:03in the heart of Menllo Park that offers

2:22:05the ability to really stitch together a

2:22:08community which is currently divided by

2:22:09the large campus uh with open space for

2:22:14users of everybody. So thanks very much.

2:22:15We have lots more information if there

2:22:17are any questions had a great discussion

2:22:19at the study session with planning and u

2:22:22happy to answer them. Thanks.

2:22:26>> Thank you. Are there any clarifying

2:22:29questions from council before we go to

2:22:32public comment?

2:22:36>> All right, city clerk Karen, do we have

2:22:37any public comments on this item?

2:22:40>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

2:22:42if any member of the public wishes to

2:22:44provide comment on our study session

2:22:47item related to the Parkline master

2:22:49project, if you are in person and have

2:22:52not done so already, please return a

2:22:54speaker card. If you are virtual, engage

2:22:58that hand feature calling in, please

2:23:00press star 9 now.

2:23:06Okay, we are currently at 78 speakers

2:23:11and this will be the final call for

2:23:14public comment on our study session item

2:23:17J1 related to the park line master plan.

2:23:27Okay, it looks like we are at

2:23:31nine speakers.

2:23:37Our first speaker will be Kristen Gracia

2:23:41followed by Nicole Gordio.

2:23:50All right.

2:23:52Good evening, Mayor Nash and members of

2:23:55the city council. Um, I'm Kristen

2:23:57Gracia, the superintendent of the Menllo

2:24:00Park City School District. The parkline

2:24:03development on the former SRRI campus

2:24:05sits within our district boundaries, and

2:24:07we are excited to welcome the families

2:24:10who will call it home. It's really

2:24:12exciting. Tonight, I want to share what

2:24:14the revised parkline plans mean for our

2:24:17schools. I feel like there hasn't been

2:24:20yet enough meaningful consideration of

2:24:22the impact on our district's future

2:24:25enrollment. I want to be sure I'm

2:24:27providing you with relevant information

2:24:30as you continue your process.

2:24:33So, for several years, school districts

2:24:35across California,

2:24:38including our district, have experienced

2:24:40a decline in enrollment. And this is due

2:24:42to the lowest birth rates we've ever

2:24:44seen across our state and of course the

2:24:46rising cost of living. However, now at

2:24:502559

2:24:52students as of today, Menllo Park City

2:24:55School District's decline is leveling

2:24:57off and seems to be plateauing. And this

2:25:00is happening just as Parkline's

2:25:01footprint is expanding. So, thanks to

2:25:04the specific information we've received

2:25:06from Mark Murray, who's been great about

2:25:08sharing information with us, our

2:25:10demographer was able to estimate the

2:25:12impact at this time. Parkline's phase 2,

2:25:18um, which includes many more units

2:25:20attractive to families, is projected to

2:25:23bring about 250 students to Menllo Park

2:25:26City School District. The impact of this

2:25:28development alone could be a 10%

2:25:31increase in total enrollment for MPCSD

2:25:34and we believe our estimate is

2:25:36conservative.

2:25:38This growth paired with USGS property

2:25:41where plans are still undetermined. I'm

2:25:43now more worried about capacity than I

2:25:46was before. These concerns require more

2:25:49active partnership. And so tonight I

2:25:52have the following specific requests.

2:25:56First, please share information early

2:25:58and in detail and Mark has done that um

2:26:02which has been very helpful. We're still

2:26:04wanting to know more about those

2:26:06apartment buildings. Um but for USGS and

2:26:09for all developments that are within our

2:26:11boundaries

2:26:12when information is available beyond

2:26:15just the number of units, the type of

2:26:18housing matters. So, and it matters to

2:26:20us because our demographer then is able

2:26:24to calculate based on housing type and

2:26:28number of bedrooms for each unit type to

2:26:31apply the correct student generation

2:26:33rates. This is really helpful to us and

2:26:36so then we can plan with smart estimates

2:26:38and instead of guesses. So, include

2:26:41school impacts in city staff reports and

2:26:44please bring the district in before each

2:26:48milestone. It's really helpful for us

2:26:50because then we can have smarter data

2:26:52and make smarter estimates.

2:26:55I'm going to go over I'm sorry. Second,

2:26:57I urge you to study traffic patterns

2:27:00with student trips in mind. So,

2:27:02thousands of families travel to and from

2:27:04school twice a day, every day of the

2:27:07week. Um, of course, weekends are

2:27:10different, but we walk, we bike, we

2:27:12drive to school. And um I think these

2:27:16patterns should be studied thoroughly.

2:27:18It was nice to hear they will be, but um

2:27:20safe routes to school, walking paths. I

2:27:23was happy to hear about the protected

2:27:24bike lanes. I'm concerned about middle

2:27:26field. Student safety is our priority.

2:27:30Third, think creatively with us. We have

2:27:32lots of examples and ideas and we'd love

2:27:35to partner in creative with creative

2:27:38thinking. Um, and then fourth, given

2:27:40these developments all lie within MPCSD

2:27:43boundaries, please consider giving MPCSD

2:27:47staff priority access to below market

2:27:50rate units. A third of our employees

2:27:53commute outside of Sonteo County. Um,

2:27:57and this is really, you know, we know

2:27:59that the benefits to a community by

2:28:01having public service workers um, live

2:28:04in the community they serve is just

2:28:07incredible and really important. And

2:28:10then finally, know that our district's

2:28:12always actively thinking about how to

2:28:14best welcome and support our students

2:28:16and community. We began preparing for

2:28:19these developments years ago when our

2:28:21board took action to adjust internal

2:28:23school boundaries, making more space at

2:28:25Enelen School in preparation. And we

2:28:28utilize the information we received from

2:28:30your meetings and we'll continue to

2:28:32study our enrollment, our capacity, and

2:28:34the impact of our development. And so

2:28:36with that, I just want to say we value

2:28:38our partnership with the city, with Lane

2:28:40partners, as well as other developers,

2:28:42and we're ready to do our share. But a

2:28:44partnership means that school impact is

2:28:46on the table. It's not in the margins

2:28:49and school impacts are community

2:28:51impacts. And so our students deserve

2:28:53that. Thank you for everything you do. I

2:28:55know you have an extremely hard job. Um

2:28:57and we appreciate you. Thank you.

2:29:01>> Thank you for your comment.

2:29:04Next up is Nicole Gordio followed by

2:29:07Oscar Mazrios.

2:29:15Good evening, mayor, council members,

2:29:17and staff. My name is Nicole Bordo. I'm

2:29:20a union carpenter, and I am honored to

2:29:23speak to you tonight on behalf of all of

2:29:25our workers. I want to share a little

2:29:27bit about myself. 12 years ago, I was

2:29:30privileged enough to become a union in a

2:29:32trade and attend attended the

2:29:35carpenters's apprenticeship program

2:29:37where I was able to learn my craft and

2:29:39receive hands-on training as well as

2:29:41mentorship. With opportunities like

2:29:44this, it helped me build a career and

2:29:46create a better future for my family and

2:29:48myself. The Parkline master plan has the

2:29:52potential to create and generate local

2:29:54jobs for the men and women here in our

2:29:57community. These developers provide

2:30:01valuable opportunities for people in our

2:30:04area from starting an apprenticeship to

2:30:08advancing through the journeyman level.

2:30:12I would like to ask, will the developer

2:30:14use a responsible contractor that

2:30:16provides meaningful labor compliance,

2:30:19apprentichip opportunities that are

2:30:21state accredited, and health care for

2:30:24workers and their families? Let's make

2:30:27sure this project does more than change

2:30:29our city's look. Let's make sure it

2:30:32reflects our community's values by

2:30:34creating good jobs, supporting working

2:30:37families, and building a stronger,

2:30:39safer, and better environment for

2:30:41everyone. When we support a project, we

2:30:44must pay attention to the workforce

2:30:48that is getting built. Our workers

2:30:51deserve nothing less. Thank you.

2:30:54Thank you for your comment. Next up is

2:30:57Oscar Mazogos

2:31:00followed by Ra Cle and R is Villi.

2:31:06Hello. Good evening. Um, thank you for

2:31:09the opportunity of speaking tonight. My

2:31:10name is Oscar Masaros and once again,

2:31:13thanks mayor, city council members, and

2:31:16staff um for the opportunity. So, my

2:31:17name is Oscar Masos. I'm a field

2:31:19representative with the carpenters

2:31:20union. I represent approximately 57,000

2:31:23members in our region, but more

2:31:24specifically the 2,000 members from

2:31:27local 217 that represent Sonteo County.

2:31:31So tonight, as you listen to this item

2:31:33and give feedback to the parkland master

2:31:35plan, I urge you to also take under

2:31:37consideration how the project will be

2:31:38built and who will be building it. This

2:31:41proposal, this proposal has the

2:31:43potential to be great to do a lot for

2:31:45the community with housing, offices,

2:31:47retail, common spaces, parks, etc.

2:31:51It has everything that we could kind of

2:31:53hope for in a proposal.

2:31:56Um, but this project could be a disaster

2:31:59as well if the developer chooses the

2:32:01wrong contractor. Wage theft,

2:32:03mclassification, underpaid workforce are

2:32:05all too real.

2:32:08We can't forget about the men and women

2:32:09who will be out there building these

2:32:11projects. That's uh why choosing a

2:32:13responsible contractor is critical. A

2:32:16responsible contractor is one who values

2:32:17the workforce and invites or invest in

2:32:20them. One who ensures workers are paid

2:32:22area standard wages so that they can

2:32:24afford to live in the communities that

2:32:25they serve.

2:32:27One who provides health and welfare

2:32:29benefits so workers can care for

2:32:31themselves and their families.

2:32:33And one who offers retirement security

2:32:35so they so that after decades of

2:32:38physical demanding work, these trades

2:32:40people can retire with dignity.

2:32:42Equally important is a strong

2:32:44apprentichip program. One that it

2:32:45creates pathways for young men and women

2:32:47to enter the trades, gain skills, earn

2:32:50while they learn, and become an and

2:32:53become the next generation of highly

2:32:54trained craftsmen and women. These

2:32:58programs don't just build careers. They

2:33:00build safe job sites, higher quality

2:33:02projects, and strong local economies.

2:33:05So, as you move forward with this

2:33:06project, I respectfully ask that you pro

2:33:08prioritize responsible contractors who

2:33:10uphold these standards. Doing so ensures

2:33:12the project delivers not only housing

2:33:14and offices buildings, but long-term

2:33:16values for workers, families, and the

2:33:19community as a whole. Thank you for your

2:33:21time and consideration.

2:33:24>> Thank you for your comment.

2:33:28Next up is Arachi and Rishili followed

2:33:34by Serena.

2:33:36Dear council members, Mayor Nash, if I

2:33:40told you that I wanted to eradicate

2:33:42cancer, but I had no relevant skills or

2:33:44a plan, what would you think? My mission

2:33:48is clearly noble, but you would be

2:33:50certain that I would I was bound to

2:33:52fail. In fact, if I tried to tackle it

2:33:55without preparation, I could do far more

2:33:58harm than good. This is precisely the

2:34:01situation with the current development

2:34:02plans in Menlo Park. We all recognize

2:34:05the need for more housing and we do

2:34:08thank Parkland partners for investing in

2:34:11it, but we lack a serious comprehensive

2:34:13strategy to execute responsibly without

2:34:17inviting disaster.

2:34:20The parkland proposal cannot be

2:34:22evaluated in vacuum. Taken together all

2:34:25of the development projects could

2:34:27increase Menllo Park's population by 50%

2:34:29or more. We do not believe our city is

2:34:32ready for an expansion of this

2:34:34magnitude. Chaotic, unchecked growth

2:34:37threatens to permanently damage this

2:34:39beautiful city for current and future

2:34:42residents. And once that damage is done,

2:34:45it is irreversible.

2:34:47You carry a historic responsibility to

2:34:49act now and preserve 170 years of legacy

2:34:53for future generations. The dramatic

2:34:55growth being proposed demands rigorous

2:34:58strategic planning, the kind that

2:35:01Superintendent Grac Gracia was talking

2:35:03about. And it should guarantee that our

2:35:06municipal infrastructure, police,

2:35:09emergency services, school district

2:35:11capacity, water supply, sanitation, and

2:35:14local road networks can actually absorb

2:35:18the shock. I actually hope that

2:35:20developers will join us in this request

2:35:24because I doubt they want to invest

2:35:26hundreds of millions of dollars in a

2:35:28declining city. When we attended last

2:35:31week's planning commission meeting to

2:35:33voice these concerns, we were dismayed

2:35:35by the sheer lack of foresight. When

2:35:38school capacity was brought up, one uh

2:35:41commission member casually suggested

2:35:43that because most district campuses are

2:35:46single story, we could simply add second

2:35:49stories to accommodate new students.

2:35:52That kind of off the cuff remark ignores

2:35:55fundamental realities. Where will the

2:35:57budget for such construction come from?

2:36:00and how will we mitigate the massive

2:36:03disruption to our children's education

2:36:06during the construction? There were

2:36:08similarly irresponsible responses about

2:36:11citizens concerns about traffic

2:36:13gridlock.

2:36:15We look to you, our elected

2:36:17representatives, to inject

2:36:19accountability into this process. Before

2:36:22greenlighting development of this

2:36:23unprecedented scale, we ask that you

2:36:26mandate comprehensive independent impact

2:36:30studies. We need a concrete, fully

2:36:33funded plan to expand our infrastructure

2:36:36before our population dramatic improves,

2:36:38[music]

2:36:39not after. Thank you for your time and

2:36:41for representing our city. I would like

2:36:44to also thank our lang partners for

2:36:47their development or for working with

2:36:48the community. I hope that our co

2:36:50cooperation will continue.

2:36:54>> Thank you for your comment.

2:36:56Next up is Serena, followed by John

2:37:00McKenna.

2:37:01>> Good evening, Mayor Nash and city

2:37:03council members. My name is Serena and

2:37:05I'm also here with Nevada Mirman from

2:37:06Midpen Housing. Uh we just wanted to

2:37:09share that Midpen is very excited to u

2:37:11be the developer of a of affordable

2:37:13housing on this site. Um, our

2:37:15partnership with Lane, um, reflects our

2:37:18shared values. Uh, we're both local

2:37:20developers, um, that, uh, aim for high

2:37:23quality development and meaningful

2:37:25community conversations. Uh, Midpen

2:37:27currently owns and operates four

2:37:29properties, um, in Menllo Park. Um, the

2:37:33the latest one is Oak Gardens for

2:37:35veterans uh, that opened earlier this

2:37:37year. Um, Parkline will add our fifth

2:37:39affordable community here. Um we just

2:37:42look forward to continuing to work with

2:37:44both Lane and the community on um uh on

2:37:48this project and look forward to the

2:37:50next steps. Thank you so much.

2:37:55>> Thank you for your comment.

2:37:58Next up is John McKenna followed by

2:38:00Britney Baxter.

2:38:04Hello uh John McKenna again um

2:38:07environmental quality commissioner but

2:38:09speaking as an individual um just wanted

2:38:12to uh say that I'm really excited about

2:38:14this project um but I think with that

2:38:17excitement it's important to acknowledge

2:38:19there are trade-offs um this is a large

2:38:22project there's going to be disruption

2:38:25uh in the area uh there will be um

2:38:30traffic impacts although I

2:38:33with the virt by virtue of the location

2:38:35of this project, uh those traffic

2:38:38impacts will hopefully be less because

2:38:40of close proximity to the train and and

2:38:45public transit. Um and of course, you

2:38:48know, we're we're going to lose a lot of

2:38:50mature and heritage trees in the

2:38:52process, but um I do I do really like

2:38:56this project. I do appreciate the um

2:38:59developer listening to the community and

2:39:02uh downsizing the commercial and and

2:39:04increasing the housing units. Um I

2:39:07really appreciate that this project

2:39:09aligns with the city's climate action

2:39:12plan in that it will be 100% all

2:39:16electric construction for the

2:39:18commercial, for the residential, for the

2:39:21retail. Um I I do feel like we we might

2:39:26want to look at a way to ensure that

2:39:28that is the end result. Um I I have no

2:39:31doubt that this developer will will do

2:39:33that, but if for some reason the project

2:39:35were to change hands, I would want to

2:39:37make sure that that that 100% all

2:39:40electric provision is is ironclad.

2:39:43And um yeah, I really appreciate the

2:39:46increased housing units. Um, I do

2:39:48support um the sustainability conditions

2:39:52uh put forth by the the planning

2:39:54commission. And um lastly, I'll just say

2:39:57that um in regards to the the the

2:40:00parkland um and the athletic field, I I

2:40:03do ask I understand it's out of the

2:40:06developers uh control, but I do ask the

2:40:08city and parks and recck department to

2:40:10ensure that that field is a organically

2:40:14managed natural grass field and that we

2:40:16don't introduce any more unnecessary

2:40:20plastic and toxic chemicals into our

2:40:23community, which affects the children

2:40:25that would play on the field would

2:40:28create an urban heat island effect and

2:40:31would result in microlastics getting

2:40:34into our ecosystems. So again, really

2:40:37excited for the project. Appreciate the

2:40:39work the developer and the city have

2:40:40done to this point and um again

2:40:43understanding there's trade-offs, but I

2:40:45think this is a real win for the

2:40:47community. Thank you.

2:40:50>> Thank you for your comment.

2:40:53Next up is Britney Baxter followed by

2:40:56Jun Chin.

2:40:59Hi, good evening council and staff. This

2:41:01is Britney Baxter. I live in D3 within

2:41:04walking distance of the project. I it's

2:41:05on my regular wedding route so I pass by

2:41:07often. Um I have followed along over the

2:41:10last several years as the project has

2:41:12taken shape and I'm in strong support

2:41:14especially with this latest revision to

2:41:15reduce the office and commercial space

2:41:17and increase the housing. And what I

2:41:19keep coming back to um and really liking

2:41:21is how the housing plan in particular

2:41:22has something for everyone. There's such

2:41:24a diverse mix of units. They're

2:41:26wonderful and really unlike anything

2:41:28else that I know in the area. There's

2:41:29the affordable units more than are

2:41:31required balanced by market rate

2:41:33ownership and rental units. And so the

2:41:35project just genuinely serves multiple

2:41:36types of households and situations and

2:41:38income levels. And I think it's really

2:41:40fitting of the opportunity that a large

2:41:42parcel like this represents. And I keep

2:41:44thinking about the people that would be

2:41:45a great fit for the homes. I am starting

2:41:48to enter the later part of my mid to

2:41:49late 30s and one sad constant thing for

2:41:52me has been that basically all of my

2:41:54friends who don't work at big tech

2:41:55companies have had to move out of the

2:41:56area and I do have like one more pair of

2:41:59friends who are a little bit younger

2:42:01haven't decided yet if they have to

2:42:02leave and I just keep thinking of how

2:42:04something like the town homes or the

2:42:05small homes at SRRI would be such a

2:42:07great fit for their situation that every

2:42:09day that we delay making progress in

2:42:11housing we lose more and more people as

2:42:13circumstances force people to leave and

2:42:15I also think of people who have shared

2:42:16their housing stories with me over the

2:42:18years. Um, like a teacher whose rent

2:42:20jumped up $500 a month and she had to

2:42:22decide whether to quit her job here and

2:42:24move and try to find another teaching

2:42:26job somewhere cheaper midway through the

2:42:27year or she could keep her job here but

2:42:30move half an hour further away to get

2:42:31the same rent and she wouldn't be able

2:42:33to spend as much time with her son after

2:42:34he comes home from school. Just no good

2:42:37options in those kinds of situations.

2:42:38Um, or I think about the nurse who told

2:42:40me that she had a 2-hour commute home

2:42:42after she finished my blood draw, or the

2:42:44restaurant staff that are living in

2:42:45overcrowded conditions with way more

2:42:47than two people to a bedroom. And our

2:42:49housing element has found, you know, a

2:42:50few years ago that these kinds of

2:42:52workforce housing stories aren't unique.

2:42:54And in fact, they're the overwhelming

2:42:55majority of people since 96% of our

2:42:57workforce commutes in. And with the way

2:42:59the prices have risen since those

2:43:01numbers were generated, I have to

2:43:02believe it's only gotten worse. So, I'm

2:43:04really excited for these homes to serve

2:43:06people who are already here in our

2:43:07community every day contributing to it

2:43:09and saving them from long commutes and

2:43:11tough decisions about what to do. And

2:43:13so, after I think, you know, all the

2:43:14revisions that this project has gone

2:43:16through, I think it's past time to stop

2:43:18talking and to start building,

2:43:19especially so these homes can be

2:43:20completed during this housing element

2:43:22cycle, which is going by really quickly.

2:43:24Um, the numbers are of course a really

2:43:25meaningful contribution to the housing

2:43:27numbers that we need to hit. Thank you

2:43:28so much.

2:43:31>> Thank you for your comment.

2:43:33Next is Jun Chin followed by Pam Jones.

2:43:40>> Good evening members of the Menllo Park

2:43:41City Council. My name is Jun Chin and

2:43:45I'm the Menllo Park community builder

2:43:46with the Housing Leadership Council of

2:43:48San Monteo County. We work with

2:43:50communities and their leaders to produce

2:43:53and preserve quality affordable homes.

2:43:56I'd first like to thank the staff for

2:43:58all their hard work in putting together

2:44:00their report regarding the Parkline

2:44:02project. On behalf of HLC, I'm speaking

2:44:05to express our full support of the

2:44:08proposed revisions to the approved

2:44:10parkline master plan project. The

2:44:13developers have returned to the city

2:44:15with meaningful improvements to an

2:44:17already strong plan, and they have done

2:44:19so by listening closely to community

2:44:22feedback. The revised plan significantly

2:44:25reduces commercial space in favor of

2:44:27more housing, 282 additional homes to be

2:44:31exact, of which 43 for sale BMR units

2:44:35are included. The project has also been

2:44:37amended with the goal of delivering

2:44:40housing by 2031.

2:44:42That focus on delivering more housing on

2:44:46a faster timeline is exactly what we

2:44:48should be supporting. Menllo Park needs

2:44:51housing to achieve its Rena goals and to

2:44:53meet the housing needs of its community

2:44:55members during this massive housing

2:44:57shortage. Parkline would help fill this

2:44:59gap. An increase in housing with a

2:45:02greater emphasis on feasibility to what

2:45:04was already an incredibly strong housing

2:45:07project is something we should welcome

2:45:09with open arms and approve

2:45:11expeditiously. Thus, HLC fully supports

2:45:15the proposed revisions to the Parkline

2:45:17project. Thank you for your time and

2:45:19consideration.

2:45:23>> Thank you for your comment.

2:45:26Next speaker is

2:45:30Pam Jones, followed by Lesie Feldman.

2:45:36>> Good evening again, Pam Jones, resident

2:45:39of Menllo Park. Um, Mayor Nash, council

2:45:43members, and staff, uh, again, I thank

2:45:46you for the work that you do and um, and

2:45:49the and the effort that goes into um, h

2:45:52having an informed public and having the

2:45:56public involved. Um, as I said in an

2:45:58earlier comment, I support housing um,

2:46:01that's realistic and I feel that this

2:46:04updated plan is just that. We're

2:46:06increasing housing which um is needed in

2:46:10Menllo Park to serve our residents, our

2:46:13current residents and those that uh work

2:46:15in the community or work nearby. And um

2:46:19we've increased the housing uh and we've

2:46:22also reduced the office and commercial

2:46:25space which tells me that Parkline has

2:46:27heard what the uh residents of Menllo

2:46:31Park have been saying and it

2:46:33demonstrates their commitment to being

2:46:35responsible developers. Um yes there

2:46:38will be challenges. there'll be some

2:46:39really big challenges and uh this kind

2:46:42of change for Menlo Park that has had uh

2:46:46for decades in fact um at least for the

2:46:49last 60 70 years has had policies that

2:46:52have restricted uh multif family housing

2:46:55and that was by design. So now that

2:46:56we're we're changing the face of Menllo

2:46:59Park, it is a challenge um for people

2:47:01and I recognize that. But I also know

2:47:04that if we work together to overcome

2:47:06these challenges and that we have uh

2:47:08some tradeoffs and um and that that we

2:47:11do um uh uh maintain the commitment to

2:47:16the housing, which is what we're talking

2:47:18about. And I think it's important for

2:47:21people to remember that the what has

2:47:24gone into the housing element that that

2:47:26started in 2021 so that this development

2:47:30uh from Parkline um has a place that's

2:47:34been made for because of what we had in

2:47:37our housing element. So, I want to thank

2:47:40the uh park line for the work that

2:47:42you're doing and I look forward to the

2:47:44completion of this this project and uh

2:47:48which means I look forward to its

2:47:50approval. I'm certain that you will be

2:47:52able to work out the needs of the uh the

2:47:55changes that will be needed in the

2:47:57project in order to be uh to fit into

2:48:01all of the rules and regulations that

2:48:03the city has. Um, thank you.

2:48:08Thank you for your comment.

2:48:10Next up is Lesie Feldman followed by

2:48:13Karen Grove.

2:48:16>> Hello, my name is Leslie Feldman and I

2:48:19am a resident in Flood Triangle. I'm

2:48:22calling um to uh thank you for your work

2:48:24on this project. I want to um echo

2:48:26comments made by the previous speakers

2:48:29to express my support for the Parkline

2:48:31project. especially happy to see the

2:48:33additional housing units and the

2:48:35reduction in office space which will

2:48:37help our job housing imbalance in in

2:48:40Menllo Park. And one thing I'm

2:48:42especially excited about with this

2:48:44project is the bicycle and walking path

2:48:47that's planned through the project that

2:48:50will allow students and all residents to

2:48:53act to go through the through the um the

2:48:57development and access Burgess Park and

2:49:00all the amenities there. that will be an

2:49:02incredible improvement to quality of

2:49:03life are folks on uh my side of

2:49:06middlefield. And I also encourage city

2:49:08council and the developer to continue to

2:49:11think about ways that public transit um

2:49:14can be incorporated into the planning

2:49:15for this site to also uh reduce vehicle

2:49:19uh miles and driving and the traffic

2:49:21impacts of this project. Um but with

2:49:24that again I I fully support this

2:49:26project and thank you for your time.

2:49:30Thank you for your comment. Next up is

2:49:33Karen Grove followed by Adene 11.

2:49:38>> Hi, good evening. This is Karen Grove,

2:49:41Menllo Park resident and leader with

2:49:43Menllo together. Um, we have been

2:49:45following along this project and just

2:49:48been astounded by how it continues to

2:49:50improve. Um, and we I am here to express

2:49:54my and Melo together's full support for

2:49:57the project and for this particular

2:49:59iteration of it for all of the reasons

2:50:02that prior speakers have mentioned that

2:50:04I'm not going to repeat because I said

2:50:06it so well. I just want to add that the

2:50:08other thing I really admire about the

2:50:10way Parkland has has been working on

2:50:14this project is the collaboration, the

2:50:18iterative response to community input

2:50:20like

2:50:22incredibly able to put together

2:50:24conflicting requirements and come up

2:50:26with something that is better um than

2:50:29the previous version. Um, and also the

2:50:32partnership which you heard about today

2:50:34from the midpen folks. Um, and the

2:50:36potential I hope for a partnership with

2:50:38Habitat for Humanity on the BMR

2:50:42ownership units which it's already an

2:50:44incredible benefit to our community. But

2:50:47if a partnership with Habitat for

2:50:49Humanity

2:50:50can get us to some of the units at least

2:50:52to even a deeper level of affordability,

2:50:55that would be even more amazing. So,

2:50:58just lots of gratitude and awe and I

2:51:02urge you to um what did somebody say?

2:51:05Stop talking and start building or

2:51:07something like that. Um yeah, because we

2:51:09do need the homes very very desperately.

2:51:13Um and for anyone who's listening, yes,

2:51:16we also need the homes on the downtown

2:51:18parking lots. Um okay, thanks.

2:51:23>> Thank you for your comment.

2:51:27Next up is Adena 11.

2:51:32>> Uh yes, Adan 11. Uh Middle Park resident

2:51:36and I'm really happy that I was able to

2:51:38get uh on to this uh Zoom call that I

2:51:43was uh wrestling with um in order to

2:51:46echo what people have said before me um

2:51:49in support of uh this project and moving

2:51:53ahead with it. Um the uh developers have

2:51:57been working with community members for

2:52:00years now. Um coming up with a a good um

2:52:06project that um it provides a lot of

2:52:09public facilities. Uh walking has a

2:52:12really badly needed housing and um you

2:52:15know more housing and uh less office as

2:52:18other people have mentioned. And um this

2:52:21is really something that we uh need uh

2:52:24very much in our community. So um

2:52:26support moving this forward um in a

2:52:30timely manner. Uh thank you very much.

2:52:34>> Thank you for your comment.

2:52:37All right, seeing no further hands or

2:52:40cards.

2:52:43Oh, apologies. We did have another hand

2:52:45raised.

2:52:48Um, it's coming in as B C iPhone.

2:52:53You should be able to unmute your end at

2:52:56this time.

2:53:01If you are calling in, you may need to

2:53:03press star six.

2:53:13So this is uh public comment from B C

2:53:18iPhone.

2:53:20Again, you may need to press star six in

2:53:23order to unmute your device.

2:53:31Okay. Doesn't look like we're able to

2:53:34get that microphone working.

2:53:40Okay.

2:53:43Uh feel free to reach out to the city

2:53:45council at city.counsil

2:53:47park.gov.

2:53:49And with that, no further hands or

2:53:52cards. Mayor Nash, you may continue.

2:53:56>> Thank you. I would like to open for city

2:53:58council discussion. Who would like to

2:54:01start?

2:54:05And I'll just say thank you to the many

2:54:08public speakers and um to the pres

2:54:12presenters as well.

2:54:13>> Thank you.

2:54:19Okay, Council Member Schmidt.

2:54:21>> All right. Um [clears throat] well, I

2:54:23have a bunch of things, but I'm actually

2:54:24going to structure it to go fairly

2:54:26quickly hopefully. Um

2:54:30well, I want to start with appreciation

2:54:32to Mark and team. I agree with a lot of

2:54:34the comments that um I really respect

2:54:36how this project's evolved and the work

2:54:39with the community especially

2:54:41that's um we don't always see that with

2:54:44our developments. So that's the the

2:54:46point of starting I I want to um make

2:54:50three comments and three areas of

2:54:51discussion then I want to come back to a

2:54:53larger topic after everybody else has

2:54:54commented. Uh one I was really happy to

2:54:57see three topics that really align with

2:55:00my personal values.

2:55:02um here in the here in the hall with us.

2:55:05Uh one was labor and apprenticeships and

2:55:09um I would encourage you know making

2:55:12sure and I've asked this of other

2:55:13developers to be sure to speak with um

2:55:16labor directly about the requests that

2:55:19they're making. I'd ask Midpen to do the

2:55:21same. It's really just about having an

2:55:23open dialogue. it's not one side versus

2:55:25the other or um somebody doing uh

2:55:29everything that labor wants or

2:55:30everything that the developer wants. Um

2:55:32I appreciate Oscar particular. I'm going

2:55:34to spend some time with the local 217

2:55:36hopefully this week. So um that's really

2:55:39important and I hope we can make sure

2:55:41there's an active dialogue there.

2:55:43Second, um, with the school, I really

2:55:44appreciate Kristen coming out and I

2:55:47would strongly encourage the five

2:55:49points, but also her her bigger point,

2:55:52which is making sure that we prioritize

2:55:54the school's role. Um, and I'm going to

2:55:58talk about more developments later, but

2:56:00make sure they're never secondary.

2:56:01There's a number of things coming in

2:56:03front of us, and I think making sure

2:56:04that the school district is more central

2:56:07to every discussion in the city. Um, I

2:56:10also want to asteris and call out the

2:56:12teacher units. So, I hope we can pay

2:56:13particular attention to to that. And

2:56:16then the environmental I appreciate the

2:56:18planning commission and Mark personally

2:56:20making time for John and the the

2:56:22planning commission really wrangling

2:56:24through a lot of the environmental

2:56:25topics that are I think everybody knows

2:56:27pretty close to my heart. Um, hopefully

2:56:29we can kind of keep looking at some of

2:56:30the smaller things that weren't

2:56:31necessarily agreed. I'd ask Midpen to

2:56:34obviously be part of those conversations

2:56:35as well. So these those three um are

2:56:39what I call kind of comments and and

2:56:41aligned with what I think is important

2:56:43in our developments. The three areas of

2:56:46discussion are really what I'm hearing

2:56:49from residents. I went to the open

2:56:51house. I've been getting emails. I've

2:56:53been cornered by residents on the

2:56:54street. Um one is really Laurel and this

2:57:00ongoing discussion about whether that

2:57:02should be ingress and egress. Um, I'd be

2:57:05curious about the changes with the new

2:57:07footprint and if that how that

2:57:09potentially changes site access. The

2:57:11second topic is setbacks. I think

2:57:14there's quite a bit of distance still

2:57:15between what Burgess residents want. Um,

2:57:18there was a little bit of discussion at

2:57:20the planning commission. I think they

2:57:21expended most of their energy talking

2:57:23about environmental stuff, but I I would

2:57:25definitely want to hear more about the

2:57:28difference between what the Burgess

2:57:30residents are looking for and what's in

2:57:31the current proposal. And then the last

2:57:33topic is is height. Um I saw five to 10.

2:57:37I'm hearing a lot about height. I um I

2:57:39had to chuckle when I heard about

2:57:40architectural language. I think you know

2:57:43architectural language is great but for

2:57:44residents height is height. So um yeah

2:57:48I'd be I'd be curious about uh to hear

2:57:50more about Laurel to hear more about the

2:57:52setbacks and to hear more about the the

2:57:55height discrepancies. And I'll save the

2:57:57other topic for later.

2:58:01So, um, Mr. Murray, would you like to

2:58:04respond at this time? Um, just give us

2:58:06an overview of each of the, um, each of

2:58:10those topics, the ingress, egress,

2:58:12setbacks, and height,

2:58:15and just where we are with the

2:58:16discussions, please.

2:58:26So starting with uh ingress and egress

2:58:28on Laurel, it's kind of a bigger

2:58:29picture. I think we heard that kind of

2:58:32consistently from folks, you know,

2:58:34Burgess Classics, Lynfield Oaks is and

2:58:36my kids go to Entel as well. So I

2:58:38understand Laurel is a main artery

2:58:40particularly for for kids. So nothing

2:58:42has changed with the ingress and eress

2:58:44versus what was approved uh a year ago.

2:58:47So starting with, you know, we cut off

2:58:49the commercial area from having access

2:58:51to Laurel kind of right from the get-go

2:58:53after having our initial open houses,

2:58:54you know, back in 2021. Uh then we

2:58:58further refined access from the

2:59:00apartment buildings. So R1, what's

2:59:02called R1 in the plans is the apartment

2:59:04building on the corner of Laurel and

2:59:05Ravenswood that now has zero access uh

2:59:09to Laurel whatsoever. Has access on

2:59:11Ravenswood and access to the interior of

2:59:12the commercial loop. Um the second

2:59:15building R2 which is further down Laurel

2:59:17kind of in the middle uh that has one

2:59:20driveway on Laurel and it's ingress

2:59:22only. So that's what was approved before

2:59:24that has not changed. And then even

2:59:26though we've added a lot of um for sale

2:59:28housing units there's still only that

2:59:30kind of battery of 19 of them that front

2:59:32on Laurel have a u a driveway there. So

2:59:35there's no connectivity to that

2:59:37additional housing to Laurel. So that

2:59:39has not changed. And obviously as it

2:59:41relates to safety, like we've taken that

2:59:42extremely seriously. We've added class 4

2:59:45bike lanes on both sides of of Laurel

2:59:48all the way from kind of Burgess

2:59:49Classics to to Ravenswood. So that was

2:59:52approved in the in the initial project.

2:59:54That will not change as well. Uh as it

2:59:56relates to setbacks, I think we have

2:59:58shrunk those. Uh but again, it's twotory

3:00:00single family homes. So obviously I've

3:00:02seen the correspondence purchase folks.

3:00:04Um you know, we had an open house, I

3:00:06think about three weeks ago, so I talked

3:00:07to some of them there. Um, I think we

3:00:10can, you know, we'll continue to listen

3:00:12to them and and refine things. You know,

3:00:14ultimately I think what we're hearing as

3:00:15well is, hey, we want screening, we want

3:00:17something, we want security, which I

3:00:18think we can pretty easily provide. I

3:00:20think we've improved security from

3:00:21having what was sort of a void at the

3:00:24back of a commercial project. And now

3:00:26it's going to be single family

3:00:27homeowners. Uh, that's either, you know,

3:00:29someone's backyard or HOA that's kind of

3:00:31everyone's shared backyard. So, I think

3:00:33from a security standpoint, uh, it's

3:00:35improved a lot. And again, it's all

3:00:36two-story product, you know. So what I

3:00:39would call the side property line which

3:00:41is you know perpendicular to Laurel you

3:00:43know we had 19 two-story homes there

3:00:45that was really wellreceived and most of

3:00:47the consternation I think we heard in

3:00:48the last goound was relating to the

3:00:50other property line because there was

3:00:52you know views of what was a a third

3:00:54parking deck which now no longer exists.

3:00:56So we've replaced that with product that

3:00:58we thought was palatable to that

3:00:59community. Uh I think we have added a

3:01:01few feet. We're trying to have you know

3:01:03not just a monolithic height. So, we

3:01:06have asked for, you know, several feet u

3:01:08which I think was approved in the in the

3:01:10zoning, but again, we don't uh that's

3:01:13not the only factor, but um so we'll

3:01:16continue to work on that. I think with

3:01:17property screening, I don't I don't know

3:01:18why another 10 or 15 feet or whatever of

3:01:21setback from building mass would would

3:01:23matter. I don't think that would help

3:01:25the situation. I understand what the

3:01:26concern is, but I think we want to have

3:01:28a chance to have solutions that work for

3:01:29us, but we'll also also meet those.

3:01:32Sorry, could you remind me what the

3:01:34third one was?

3:01:35Yeah, just the um I I think it was the

3:01:39the commercial in the office was between

3:01:41five and 10 stories.

3:01:43>> Sure.

3:01:43>> And then there was a little bit in there

3:01:44about architectural language making not

3:01:46not so impactful, but I you know for

3:01:48something 10 stories, I don't know that

3:01:50architectural language actually solves

3:01:51it. So I'm just curious where you where

3:01:54you feel like you are in discussions

3:01:55with residents relative to

3:01:57>> you know obviously it's different like

3:01:59we really went you know urbanized what's

3:02:01there you know as Mark pointed out we

3:02:03went from 37 acres of um land dedicated

3:02:07to commercial to you know 13 or 14 and

3:02:10then a lot of that is being you know

3:02:11eaten up by the retail village as well.

3:02:13So we already, you know, reduced the

3:02:15commercial square footage. So an

3:02:17architectural language like I'm more of

3:02:19a lay person, but I I think these

3:02:20buildings are beautiful. Like that is

3:02:22that is how you mitigate the impact.

3:02:24Also, that 10-story building is in the

3:02:26you know, more or less the center of the

3:02:28site. So in terms of, you know, what's

3:02:30an existing city street, what's an

3:02:32existing house, I mean, you're several

3:02:34hundred feet away, I think, I think at a

3:02:35minimum. But yeah, I I was actually

3:02:38pleasantly surprised how open people

3:02:40were, you know, at the open house and

3:02:41things like that. I would say, you know,

3:02:42most of the constrnations about, you

3:02:44know, cumulative traffic as it relates

3:02:47to everything that's that's going on in

3:02:49the community, but I think in general,

3:02:50you know, I can't speak for everybody,

3:02:52but uh we were we were pleasantly

3:02:54surprised by, you know, people liking

3:02:55the architecture and being okay with

3:02:57that kind of leaning into more urban

3:02:59design.

3:03:02If I could add to the the question or

3:03:04comment about the height of the office

3:03:06buildings, I I do think in the end

3:03:08height is the thing people notice first

3:03:10and most because it governs where you

3:03:12can see a building from and it governs

3:03:14how large it is from wherever you see it

3:03:15from. Um but equally important is the

3:03:20relationship of buildings. If you have

3:03:22for example we could have done you know

3:03:24like four sevenstory buildings and it

3:03:26would probably be um in some ways less

3:03:29striking to people. below a 10-story

3:03:30building. That would have meant that the

3:03:32northernmost building on the site, which

3:03:33is the one, you know, closest to the

3:03:35public front of the project, would go

3:03:36from five stories to seven. Um, I think

3:03:39we've taken great care to make the

3:03:40buildings different shapes and different

3:03:42heights. And so, the the tallest

3:03:4410-story part is the smallest shape. It

3:03:47is located closest to the middle of the

3:03:48site. I think in the end somebody from

3:03:52Burgess Classics, from Laurel, from

3:03:54Ravenswood, from Middlefield um will

3:03:58would see virtually no difference if

3:03:59that building were seven or eight

3:04:00stories or 10. We looked at it pretty

3:04:03carefully. Um in many cases they're

3:04:05screened heavily, especially from the

3:04:06north, by very tall trees. Um so we're

3:04:10open to the dialogue around that, but I

3:04:11do think it is very important that we

3:04:15reduce the footprint of the office

3:04:17buildings and that their heights vary.

3:04:19So those are two principles that we have

3:04:21put into the plan.

3:04:23>> Thanks. Yeah, I think that really sums

3:04:25up I I would just ask keep keep doing

3:04:27the d keep having the dialogue. Make

3:04:29sure if there are compromises that you

3:04:31feel good about and that work for

3:04:32residents, but um I appreciate those

3:04:34responses. Thanks.

3:04:37>> Thank you. Um Council Member Combmes.

3:04:43>> Sure. Thank you, Mayor Nash, and thank

3:04:45you for the presentation. I I will

3:04:47comment that I've I've heard the phrase

3:04:49or term screening and screen a number of

3:04:53times and from my planning commission

3:04:54days it usually um sent up my spidey

3:04:57senses because you know um screens you

3:05:03know can come and go. They can die. They

3:05:05go away in the winter uh depending on

3:05:09what type of uh tree or plant it is. But

3:05:13buildings don't go away. And so I I it

3:05:16that does make me um you know somewhat

3:05:19concerned when I hear a lot about using

3:05:21using screens. I I did want to there

3:05:23were a couple of things I just wanted to

3:05:25to touch on uh um which I thought uh

3:05:29Council Member Schmidt was going in the

3:05:32direction of but he didn't. I I've heard

3:05:34some concern about the the height of of

3:05:37the the houses in the sense that like

3:05:40currently they're at a height that would

3:05:42is higher than if I wanted to put a

3:05:45second story on my house. And so I think

3:05:47the question comes up is like why in

3:05:50this context in this situation should we

3:05:52allow two-story houses that are higher

3:05:56than you know someone would be allowed

3:05:59or could avail themselves of for um um

3:06:03again for a renovation or or for

3:06:05building you know bu building a house.

3:06:07And so, um, that's certainly something I

3:06:10I, um, would want to get some additional

3:06:13information on. Um, and and as it

3:06:17relates to the the the setbacks,

3:06:22um,

3:06:23when does that get final? Because I

3:06:26think some of the concern is that like

3:06:29it has been a bit of a moving target.

3:06:32What exactly

3:06:34are the setbacks? And I appreciate the

3:06:36project has changed. Um so so I will I

3:06:39will give you that. But but but that has

3:06:42been something that like um again

3:06:44certainly some of the Burgess Classics

3:06:47residents have had is is that they've

3:06:49gotten

3:06:51you know different uh figures as as it

3:06:53relates to um to the setbacks and also

3:06:56some some statements that well that

3:06:58that's going to be finalized at like a

3:07:00later stage and and so um

3:07:04that has made them them concerned

3:07:07and and so some

3:07:12uh some um additional information about

3:07:15that would be would be helpful for me.

3:07:17And then I have one one other thing, but

3:07:19then if if someone can provide some

3:07:21feedback on those things, I I'd

3:07:22appreciate it.

3:07:32or they can just be my comments that

3:07:34that I'm put into

3:07:36I put into the ether.

3:07:38>> Actually, I'm very curious what the

3:07:39setbacks are, too.

3:07:40>> Sure. So, um I assume we're we're

3:07:43talking about the single family homes

3:07:45that are adjacent to the Burgers Cloud.

3:07:47So, um, the previous plan had the 19

3:07:50along the north and the setback between

3:07:54the southern end of those buildings and

3:07:55the northern end of the existing Burgess

3:07:57Classics was 32 feet, 32 foot6 depending

3:08:00on which part it was measured for. Um,

3:08:03that's very consistent with the distance

3:08:05between the rear sides of the houses

3:08:08within the Burgess Classics. Um, they're

3:08:11also very close together in their sidey

3:08:13yards, I think 8 to 10 feet. So we

3:08:16translated that dimension to the east

3:08:18and we increased it. In some cases it

3:08:20ranges from 326 to 35 feet. So if you

3:08:24were to look at this project when it was

3:08:26finished, the distance between our walls

3:08:29that are closest to the Burgess Classic

3:08:31side and the houses on the other side of

3:08:34that are essentially the same as to the

3:08:37north and as between the houses within

3:08:39the Burgess Classic. So we have between

3:08:4132 foot6 and 35 ft between our two-story

3:08:44houses and the existing two-story

3:08:47houses. I really feel like the scale of

3:08:50those buildings um is about as close as

3:08:53you could achieve to something built 30

3:08:54years ago. Today they're within a few

3:08:56feet kind of in every direction. Um it

3:08:59is true that the architects of those

3:09:02houses are asking for about an extra

3:09:04foot of the height of the ground floor.

3:09:09things do change. At the time the

3:09:11Burgess Classics were built, they were a

3:09:13little bit bigger than what was around

3:09:14them. And so I think that one foot uh is

3:09:17a very reasonable basis compared to

3:09:19other new homes that people are being

3:09:21built. Um the roof slopes are slightly

3:09:25steeper it looks like and in some cases

3:09:27the roofs are slightly wider. So the

3:09:29very tippy top of the point uh is a

3:09:32couple feet higher than the 28 feet

3:09:34which I think is the is the city

3:09:36standard. So, that's where those two

3:09:38discrepancies are. Um, they're not

3:09:41threetory houses. They're not 12ft

3:09:43stories. It's a 10-ft ground floor

3:09:44versus a 9 foot ground floor. And again,

3:09:47I I really think the distance between

3:09:50the buildings is completely appropriate

3:09:52when you have two buildings of

3:09:54essentially the exact same type to

3:09:56continue the pattern of the spacing of

3:09:58those buildings from within the existing

3:09:59neighborhood. Um we also of course are

3:10:03committed to whatever type of fencing

3:10:05you know is mutually agreed upon by both

3:10:08sides. The discussion last week um with

3:10:12the commission there was there was a

3:10:14debate about whether what was needed was

3:10:18was a buffer or just the appropriate

3:10:20amount of space with vertical screening.

3:10:22I saw that it was translated to the word

3:10:24buffer, which when I think of I think of

3:10:26horizontal distance, but actually a lot

3:10:28of the discussion was about vertical

3:10:30screening, similar to again what you

3:10:32would find between the rear yards of two

3:10:34single family homes in pretty much

3:10:36anywhere in Mel Park.

3:10:40Um, okay. I mean, and and yeah, you can

3:10:44you can uh um uh you know, given that

3:10:47this is a study session, it's about

3:10:49providing feedback. So my feedback is is

3:10:51that there there's still some concerns

3:10:53there. Um and I like I I I hear you um

3:11:00about some of the historical context. Um

3:11:03but also there there's a sense that like

3:11:05you all set a context when there were

3:11:08certain promises made to Burgess

3:11:11Classics residents or give them they

3:11:13were given certain ideas of what a

3:11:15distance would be. And so, you know,

3:11:18your context is not the history of of

3:11:22like of how close houses could or should

3:11:25be or have been 30 years ago. The

3:11:27context is what the Burgers Classics

3:11:29residents feel that you promised them.

3:11:31Are you suggested to them and and so

3:11:33that's that's the the context that that

3:11:36I'm working from. And you don't have to

3:11:37like if you want to, you can certainly

3:11:39respond, but I I know I'm also not

3:11:41asking you to be like, you know, it

3:11:43doesn't have to be a point counterpoint.

3:11:44I'm I'm sharing with you like the the

3:11:47feedback and concern that residents have

3:11:48come to me with.

3:11:49>> Yeah. And I I think as Mark said, the

3:11:53feedback from the previous plan about

3:11:55the relationship on the north side was

3:11:57very positive.

3:11:59[clears throat] We replicated that

3:12:00slightly more in the east. The previous

3:12:02condition on the east, I I don't really

3:12:05think you can weigh them because it was

3:12:08a much bigger distance, but it was a

3:12:10multi-story parking deck at the end of

3:12:13that distance. So it it's a little bit

3:12:15uh apples to oranges. So

3:12:19I think we hear the comment and there

3:12:21will be study and we'll see if there can

3:12:24be discussions that lead to any

3:12:25optimizations there. But that's that's

3:12:27where we are right now. Thank you.

3:12:28>> Okay. Which I appreciate. Um and then

3:12:31the the final question I had was

3:12:36actually for superintendent Gracia. Um

3:12:39you had mentioned a desire that like the

3:12:43school district sort of be at like at

3:12:46the four or or be included in these

3:12:49discussions or or central to them. I'm

3:12:52trying to understand what that actually

3:12:53means. So like if you say that like if I

3:12:57said you said that like this represented

3:13:00possibly 200 new students and we're just

3:13:03talking about this development. We're

3:13:05not even going to get to USGS and some

3:13:06of the other ones. And so, and you said

3:13:08that's about 10% like increase. And so

3:13:12my question to you would be like, okay,

3:13:14you've got 10% more students. What what

3:13:17are you doing? Because I can make you

3:13:19central to the discussion. That doesn't

3:13:21mean you have seats to put those

3:13:23students in. And so I want to understand

3:13:25how you want to achieve having because

3:13:27I'm assuming you don't have them now. um

3:13:30how you get the seats to have those

3:13:32students in in a way or how we can help

3:13:34you like how is it most beneficial and

3:13:36productive for the city to help you um

3:13:39and in that in that

3:13:42um and what you need to accomplish there

3:13:46you get okay [laughter] all right to all

3:13:57Um

3:13:59I appreciate the comments that have been

3:14:00made so far. Um as I have another

3:14:05question and that is

3:14:08um

3:14:11I'd like more just comments about the

3:14:14proximity of the parkline recreational

3:14:17area to the town homes two and

3:14:19residential three. It seems like there's

3:14:22those areas um

3:14:26are close to the recreation fields and

3:14:29there's little buffer area there. And

3:14:31I'm wondering just about loose balls,

3:14:34noise, um people wandering, other

3:14:37issues. And if you have any comments at

3:14:40this point or just um please take a look

3:14:42at it as you um continue your um

3:14:46refinement. Um

3:14:54>> I think that's a good topic for u the

3:14:57city agency that finalizes the design of

3:14:59that to look at. We have worked with OJB

3:15:01the landscape architect to size the

3:15:04parcel relative to the field dimensions

3:15:06in sort of a way that is consistent with

3:15:08other urban soccer fields. So, it's not

3:15:10like the sideline is like right on the

3:15:12lot line, of course, but I

3:15:14>> it actually looks like it is.

3:15:16>> It the the line that's drawn is not the

3:15:18dimension of the soccer field. Got it.

3:15:21>> So, maybe that's

3:15:22>> a little misleading. So, um we can

3:15:25provide more dimensions around that, but

3:15:27it is ultimately the city's parcel to,

3:15:29you know, design the field and the edges

3:15:31of it. Um so, we can follow up with

3:15:33that. Thank you.

3:15:35>> Thank you.

3:15:40And then I'd like a little bit more

3:15:42information about the timing of the

3:15:44affordable housing and the BMR units.

3:15:46Um, in

3:15:50talking to Mr. Murray, I was under the

3:15:52understanding that those basically after

3:15:55demolition, it'll essentially be up to

3:15:58mid pen when they get started. But I got

3:16:01concerned looking at the presentation

3:16:03again today that or tonight that there

3:16:06may be that I guess could you explain

3:16:10what the timing may be for the BMR

3:16:12housing please?

3:16:15>> Yeah yes you you correctly pointed out

3:16:17that ultimately you know we're going to

3:16:18be making a land dedication to Midpen as

3:16:21soon as they have architectural

3:16:22approval. I think they can go to kind of

3:16:23the the financing path which is that's

3:16:26part of the reason we're bringing them

3:16:27in is is they have the expertise in that

3:16:30in terms of financing 100% affordable

3:16:32housing. We as kind of the master

3:16:34developer will you know we plan assuming

3:16:36this goes to plan and we get the

3:16:39approvals of our phase 2 project. We

3:16:40plan to go immediately into demolition

3:16:42what we call horizontal work. So that's

3:16:44sort of the neighborhood building roads

3:16:46streets utilities off-site improvements

3:16:48the bike lanes we've been talking about

3:16:50things like that. So we plan to go doing

3:16:53that kind of preconstruction work that

3:16:55would benefit our components of the

3:16:57project but also midpens. So we're

3:17:00trying to be in a place all parties

3:17:01combined assuming they can achieve the

3:17:04financing they need to go vertical in

3:17:06their construction that that would that

3:17:07would occur as early as possible in

3:17:08construction in any first phase.

3:17:10>> And as

3:17:11>> so the timelines are going to be um

3:17:13after that initial preparation

3:17:15demolition and then preparation of all

3:17:17the infrastructure that's needed. the

3:17:19timelines are essentially independent

3:17:21and it'll really depend on or am I I

3:17:26guess I'm what I'm wondering is

3:17:27>> them back and you know again it's it's

3:17:30contingent upon I think midpen being

3:17:32able to achieve financing

3:17:33>> which makes sense okay but you will not

3:17:35be holding there's no reason that they

3:17:37couldn't if they if everything lines up

3:17:41they will be proceeding whenever um they

3:17:43have all the funding and

3:17:46>> there's nothing that holds them up to

3:17:49for the other housing,

3:17:50>> right? And we're yeah, there's there's

3:17:52no ties between housing. There are

3:17:53restrictions on commercial development

3:17:55>> based on how much revenue forward. So we

3:17:58>> as the commercial developer are highly

3:17:59incentivized to make sure midpen's, you

3:18:01know, proceeding, starting and

3:18:03completing as as soon as possible. So we

3:18:05we all share that goal.

3:18:06>> Wonderful. Thank you. And then I have a

3:18:09question for midpen and that's um right

3:18:12now it's you are looking at the 244

3:18:15units of um

3:18:19low income. What

3:18:22is there any possibility of making that

3:18:24very low income? Is what would it

3:18:28um basically just reducing the um

3:18:31affordability level?

3:18:36Uh yes, essentially we look forward to

3:18:39continued conversations with with folks,

3:18:41but um um we are we look at our funding

3:18:45sources that do often um incentivize

3:18:48targeting lower um AMIs. Um we also

3:18:52study the area and just make sure that

3:18:54we we do like to offer a range of AMIs

3:18:56in our community. So we do want to make

3:18:58sure we do that here as well.

3:19:02>> So when it says low, that's sort of a

3:19:03placeholder at this point. Yes, that

3:19:05covers up to the 80%. Um, but we are

3:19:08often targeting lower.

3:19:10>> Okay,

3:19:11>> thank you so much.

3:19:11>> Thank you,

3:19:15>> Vice Mayor Wise.

3:19:17>> Uh, thank you so much to everybody uh

3:19:19for all the presentations for this

3:19:21exciting project. Uh, very happily, most

3:19:23of my questions have already been

3:19:24answered. Um, but just a couple more. Uh

3:19:28I got a lot of questions from residents

3:19:30about

3:19:32um the parking structures, notably that

3:19:35we went from three to two. So for the

3:19:38developers, is the amount of parking

3:19:40stalls the same? Uh and

3:19:44um I guess or was it determined that

3:19:46three parking structures was just not

3:19:48needed?

3:19:54>> That's a great question. It's important

3:19:56to clarify that what we agreed to in the

3:19:58zoning for park line is not a gross

3:20:00number of parking stalls but a ratio. So

3:20:02what we agreed to as an absolute maximum

3:20:04is two stalls for every thousand square

3:20:06feet of office. So as you reduce office

3:20:09there's a prata reduction in in parking.

3:20:12So yeah I I don't know if the math is

3:20:14about 30% we reduce you know commercial

3:20:16by you know 400,000 ft plus or minus.

3:20:18We'll call that 30%. There's a 30%

3:20:21reduction in in the total number of

3:20:22stalls.

3:20:24Okay, that makes sense. Thank you. Um,

3:20:27and then,

3:20:29uh, for staff, I have a question. There

3:20:30was a public comment earlier asking

3:20:32about how the project is all electric,

3:20:34but if um, Lane Partners doesn't

3:20:38complete the building project, would the

3:20:39next developer be held to that promise?

3:20:42Do you know if that's true?

3:20:47Yeah, that uh conditional development

3:20:49permit includes a requirement that the

3:20:52buildings be all electric um with the

3:20:54exception of backup generators.

3:20:57>> Okay, great. That's wonderful to hear.

3:21:00And another uh question for staff. Uh to

3:21:03Superintendent Gracia's point, if

3:21:07council was interested in prioritizing

3:21:11Menlo Park City School District's

3:21:12teachers and staff or city staff for

3:21:15that matter for the BMR housing, is that

3:21:17an option? And when would we make that

3:21:20decision?

3:21:24Um, I think it could be an option, uh,

3:21:27potentially for the 100% affordable

3:21:30building. Um,

3:21:33or it may also require some changes to

3:21:35the BMR guidelines, but it's it's

3:21:37something we could look into.

3:21:39>> Okay.

3:21:41Um,

3:21:44is that something that can be um,

3:21:48advocate? Can it be um specific to this

3:21:50development or does it have to actually

3:21:52be in the

3:21:55guidelines or is are the guideline these

3:21:57are the guidelines specific for this

3:21:58development?

3:22:03Yeah.

3:22:11Yes. So the the guidelines are for the

3:22:12entire city, but the applicant is

3:22:15requesting some modifications to the

3:22:17guidelines for this project. So what I

3:22:19meant is that could be another

3:22:20modification for the project

3:22:22potentially, but we'd have to look into

3:22:24it.

3:22:26>> Okay. So the decision wouldn't need to

3:22:27be like made tonight essentially. I just

3:22:31want to make sure. No. Okay.

3:22:33Um, and then just last comment from me

3:22:37is just Superintendent Gracia, please uh

3:22:39feel free to keep me on the loop in any

3:22:41way we can help you provide amazing

3:22:43service to our community. So, we want to

3:22:45make sure that we're helping you as

3:22:47well. Thank you for being here.

3:22:50Thank you, Mayor Nash.

3:22:53That makes me wonder, um, is there any

3:22:55outreach to the Sequoia Union High

3:22:57School District since they will also be

3:22:59receiving some of these students?

3:23:04Um yes, we're planning to do outreach as

3:23:07part of the environmental review. Um so

3:23:09it'll be coming up soon

3:23:11>> and they will be specifically um

3:23:15reached out to.

3:23:16>> Yes. Yeah.

3:23:17>> Thank you.

3:23:22>> Um C Oh, Council Member Taylor.

3:23:27>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. I

3:23:30most of my questions have already been

3:23:32covered, but I wanted to make it

3:23:34specific that I'm interested in

3:23:36workforce housing for city staff.

3:23:42And I'm not sure if there will be

3:23:43modifications to the BMR policy to

3:23:46include it. Um, but I think it would be

3:23:48wise in all the developments that are

3:23:51happening in Milo Park that are building

3:23:53housing to include workforce housing.

3:23:57Thank you.

3:23:59Thank you. Uh, Council Member Schmidt.

3:24:04>> Um, [clears throat] yeah, thank you,

3:24:05Mayor Nash. Uh, so I have one more

3:24:08topic. I'm going to speak as the

3:24:11representative for district 3, but I'm

3:24:13also going to invite my colleagues in

3:24:15district 2 and district 4 to um join me

3:24:19in this. So a quick perspective um

3:24:24residents, student and parents, office

3:24:26employees, retail employees, customers,

3:24:28delivery vehicles, service and fire

3:24:30vehicles, residents pickup and drop off

3:24:33for ride share

3:24:35across bicycles, cars, public transits,

3:24:37pedestrians, and then multiply that by

3:24:40SRRI, USGS, AD Willow, fire station,

3:24:43downtown Civic Center in the next round,

3:24:46potentially Willow Road. I'm not

3:24:49inclined to vote to approve any project

3:24:52including SRRI and USGS until we figure

3:24:55out a comprehensive transportation and

3:24:57circulation plan. I just quickly

3:24:59outlined the district 2, the district 3,

3:25:03the district 4 impacts. And if you spend

3:25:05a minute thinking about that, the fact

3:25:08that we're looking at these things in

3:25:09isolation project by project is the

3:25:11wrong way to do it. And so

3:25:15I've been asking about this for a while.

3:25:17I watch planning commission. I think our

3:25:19answers as a city are um ambiguous and

3:25:22unclear on what we're going to do. So,

3:25:25I'm asking for clear prioritization if

3:25:28we have to stop work on other projects

3:25:31to make that happen with transportation

3:25:33and public works and a timeline for what

3:25:37that plan would look like because if we

3:25:39keep kicking it down the road, we're

3:25:41going to have a cumulative problem that

3:25:42divides the city across our three

3:25:44districts. So

3:25:48before I would be willing to approve or

3:25:50support even great projects like this,

3:25:52and this is not a reflection on Mark's

3:25:54project, this is the biggest issue

3:25:57facing my district, and I'd argue it's

3:25:59one of the biggest ones facing Mayor

3:26:01Nash and Council Member Combmes as well.

3:26:03So I'm going to take a pretty firm stand

3:26:05that we need to have an answer for this

3:26:07that is clear with clear timelines on

3:26:10what we're going to do, even if the

3:26:11answers are painful or challenging or

3:26:13whatever it is. So, I wanted to put that

3:26:15out there and comment as you will, but

3:26:18um that's my plan.

3:26:22>> I would love to hear from staff, but I

3:26:24will just make the comment that I think

3:26:25it is actually a city-wide issue. Um

3:26:28since everyone from district 1 and five

3:26:31as well, travel all the way across the

3:26:34city.

3:26:34>> It'll I've heard from residents in

3:26:35district one that said they won't be

3:26:37able to get across 101 with certain

3:26:39developments. So, I I totally agree.

3:26:41>> Yeah. Um,

3:26:44can you comment please? Thank you.

3:26:50>> Can I just chime in? Um because there is

3:26:54a transportation master plan that was

3:26:58completed and in theory is still the

3:27:04provides guidelines on on how we should

3:27:08approach or look at changes to the

3:27:10transportation infrastructure. And built

3:27:12into that master plan, I I sat through

3:27:14some of those meetings, not all of them,

3:27:17was an understanding that you were

3:27:19likely going to get um large scale

3:27:22developments at USGS and um and SRRI. Um

3:27:29I because I remember one of the meetings

3:27:33I sat through there was a whole

3:27:34discussion on on the possibility of um

3:27:38having two dedicated like the the center

3:27:43um lanes on Willow dedicated just to

3:27:45buses. Uh again, that that was something

3:27:48that came up. And so, um

3:27:51I I hear you, but I I also want to

3:27:55understand like what we'd be asking for

3:27:57in context of of that master plan or are

3:28:00you saying that you don't think that

3:28:02that provides any value and we should be

3:28:05starting over? Um are are there are some

3:28:08things in there that because again it's

3:28:10it's sort of like is like I remember I

3:28:13haven't looked through it. It it sort of

3:28:16provides lots of options, different

3:28:17options for how you would address the

3:28:20increased um

3:28:23impacts from from from development like

3:28:26again like you can make Willow Road a

3:28:29you know a bus lane during certain

3:28:31certain hours. Um um and so that that's

3:28:34what I would like what would we be

3:28:36asking staff to do like start on

3:28:38something new go back to that do

3:28:40something else?

3:28:44I can respond actually. Oh yeah, go

3:28:46ahead. Um, let's hear from staff because

3:28:48I also think the ERS give some

3:28:49information with the um, so let's please

3:28:55>> Thank you for the question. This is

3:28:57Diana Chow, the community development

3:28:58director. And so I think in to your

3:29:01point, Mayor Nash, uh, we do do the

3:29:03environmental work. It does look at this

3:29:05particular project. It does also take

3:29:07into consideration cumulative effects.

3:29:09And I might also look to um assistant

3:29:12city attorney uh Wagner, but the

3:29:16specific impacts and the mitigation

3:29:18measures are designed for this

3:29:20particular project. And it's so I'd be

3:29:22curious to get a little more information

3:29:24on what this master plan comprehensive

3:29:26plan would look like because we are tied

3:29:29to the mitigation measure specifically

3:29:31caused by this particular project. And

3:29:33so

3:29:35a little more guidance on what this

3:29:37vision for the the comprehensive plan

3:29:39would look like would be helpful because

3:29:42there would be improvements

3:29:45um as a result of potential impacts.

3:29:49>> Yeah, I think maybe two clarifications

3:29:51based on uh Council Member Combmes's

3:29:54point. I'm not advocating starting from

3:29:56scratch. If there are choices and

3:29:58options, great. But then let's see those

3:30:01brought to fruition. Let's see those

3:30:03actually in um let's see those in motion

3:30:06as opposed to sitting into it sitting in

3:30:08a plan that is potentially sitting on a

3:30:10shelf. The second point that I would

3:30:13bring up is I think um Miss Chow brought

3:30:15up exactly the point that I was trying

3:30:17to bring which is I don't think it's

3:30:20adequate project by project. I think

3:30:21given the relative concentration of

3:30:25massive projects in a very limited

3:30:28footprint in the city, um we need to

3:30:31look at that. Like I I'm not advocating

3:30:33we go back and look at district 5

3:30:35because it will have an impact, but it's

3:30:37not as immediate as five or six major

3:30:40developments all within a mile of each

3:30:42other. So I'm asking to move away from

3:30:44the project by project view and look at

3:30:47the reality on the ground of four or

3:30:49five major projects happening within a

3:30:52very short distance in the city and and

3:30:55a practical plan that we can bring to

3:30:57residents as opposed to a master plan

3:30:59which is just a bunch of options and

3:31:02choices and guidelines and things like

3:31:03that. So, I'm looking for a specific

3:31:06plan for a relatively

3:31:08um small footprint within the city

3:31:11that's going to really affect the whole

3:31:12city.

3:31:15>> If I may, um, Mayor Nash, to add to

3:31:18what, uh, your community development

3:31:20director stated and appreciate the

3:31:22question and understand the concern. Um,

3:31:25I think, you know, we we we have to look

3:31:27at project bypro basis and the

3:31:29conditions we can impose on specific

3:31:31projects related to their impacts.

3:31:34Um, part of the SQL analysis is of

3:31:37course cumulative impacts. Um, I think

3:31:39that we can work with your staff to

3:31:42determine what plans currently exist and

3:31:45bring forth information for the council

3:31:47to consider as you evaluate these

3:31:48projects about what other additional

3:31:51community planning tools might be

3:31:52helpful or necessary working within the

3:31:55legal framework that we have uh, as

3:31:57these projects come forward.

3:32:01That still sounded like a project bypro

3:32:03approach.

3:32:04>> No, I No, I hear you. I I think we all

3:32:06hear you that we need to look at this as

3:32:07a as a city citywide issue, as an area

3:32:11issue. When you have a number of

3:32:13projects that are being proposed, I

3:32:15think we just need to to go back, look

3:32:17at what plans exist and bring forward

3:32:20that information to you. uh and then we

3:32:22can talk about additional plans or

3:32:25information that's required to to look

3:32:28at areas in general where you have a

3:32:30number of projects that are being

3:32:31proposed.

3:32:32>> Okay. Thank you. And to be clear

3:32:36before [laughter]

3:32:38before approving any individual project

3:32:40at the city council level, my request

3:32:42would be I'd like to see that happen

3:32:44sooner. That isn't a five-year request

3:32:46after SRRI's got buildings going up. So,

3:32:49just I want to be super clear with the

3:32:51with the request and sorry this isn't

3:32:53directed at you, but uh Miss Wagner, but

3:32:56it it is a um my fear is the cumulative

3:33:00impact and the planning cycles of the

3:33:02city. We're going to be well underway

3:33:04with a couple of projects before we've

3:33:07really done the work to understand the

3:33:09impact in this region. And again, I'm

3:33:11speaking as District 3 because I'm

3:33:13hearing it a lot. I drive it every day.

3:33:15I live it every day. that's going to be

3:33:16the legacy of my time on council that's

3:33:19going to be one of the biggest things,

3:33:20but I I think it's the legacy of the

3:33:22city as the mayor brought up as well.

3:33:24So, sooner rather than later is the the

3:33:27request. Thank you,

3:33:32>> Council Member Combmes.

3:33:36>> Yeah, just to sort of like add my

3:33:38perspective to that. Um, I hear you,

3:33:43Council Member Schmidt, and and don't

3:33:46disagree at all, but it is sort of a

3:33:50little confusing to me because we talk

3:33:53about how we are we are obligated to

3:33:55produce housing like, right? And and the

3:33:58whole thing is like if we don't produce

3:33:59more housing, then we're going to have

3:34:00more tower proposals. And so like so I

3:34:04don't understand how then

3:34:07we can go and and I'm I'm not disputing

3:34:10that like yes let's do this but that

3:34:12like at the end of the day what I've

3:34:15told residents when they come to me is

3:34:17that we have this obligation to produce

3:34:18housing and essentially I've seen this

3:34:21project and my time on council go from

3:34:24600 or even under 600 housing units to

3:34:27vastly more um directly as a a directly

3:34:33in response to pressure from the

3:34:37different members of this council.

3:34:39Um and and so it's like and and then

3:34:44I've I've heard like um requests for for

3:34:47more options to to purchase homes of

3:34:49what you see here, more homes that are

3:34:52or townhouse or or single family, which

3:34:54which you see here in in addition to so

3:34:56to denser housing. And again, I was the

3:34:58the guy that was giving you guys a hard

3:35:00time about the setbacks, and I'm I stick

3:35:02to my the hard time I was giving you

3:35:03about the setbacks, but overall, like,

3:35:07this is a project that um has been

3:35:12incredibly responsive to what the

3:35:15community has asked in the context of

3:35:19state mandates that like, you know,

3:35:22require us to produce, I mean, certainly

3:35:25require us to produce housing. I think

3:35:27separate from that. I think we've all

3:35:28said that we think that it is a valuable

3:35:30thing that the community produce more

3:35:32more housing and

3:35:35and I hear you like about the the

3:35:38traffic impacts. It's you know obviously

3:35:40I live in the Willows. My daughter goes

3:35:42to dance class sometimes at Alamid can

3:35:43literally take 30 minutes.

3:35:46Literally 30 minutes. Um, so and I know

3:35:50we're all in there and and you're in

3:35:51there too, but but then I also don't

3:35:53want to make it seem as though that

3:35:55there is because we can do whatever

3:35:57study or analysis we want that there is

3:35:58going to be in that some panacea

3:36:02and there just not there's there's no or

3:36:05all of those, you know, because I always

3:36:08like to tell people like the thing you

3:36:09think of your front yard really half of

3:36:11it is city right away [laughter]

3:36:13if you go back and look at the maps. And

3:36:15so, um, are we taking up people's front

3:36:18yards? Are we creating more roads?

3:36:21I I certainly don't want to be on

3:36:23council when when that item comes. Um,

3:36:26so I I do think we have to like at some

3:36:29point there are trade-offs and and there

3:36:30are things that give and and I think I

3:36:33would be disingenuous if what I told

3:36:35people like what you can expect is is

3:36:40less traffic.

3:36:43Um, I can only say I'm going to be in it

3:36:45with you,

3:36:47but but yeah, but I I I I do want to say

3:36:49preface though, like this is not

3:36:51disagreeing with anything you said. I

3:36:53think everything you said was was

3:36:54accurate and and I have caught out too

3:36:56that like there's an enormous burden

3:36:58being put on district 3 specifically.

3:37:01Um,

3:37:02uh, you know, and and and I think that

3:37:05that and of course we we we feel it in

3:37:07in district 4 and district 2, too. Um,

3:37:09but but I have called that out, but but

3:37:12I I don't know what what we do with it

3:37:14other than, you know, call it out and

3:37:16acknowledge that that it's it's it's

3:37:17it's a a not great outcome um of the

3:37:21situation we're in.

3:37:24>> Yeah, I I agree. I I I want to turn it

3:37:27over to the experts. I just want to I

3:37:28want a plan and that plan is not going

3:37:30to be pretty and that plan is not going

3:37:33to be without impacts and change and so

3:37:36I'm not prejudging what that is. I feel

3:37:38like we've got guidelines and master

3:37:41plans and thoughts and ideas and

3:37:42concerns, but um I want to be able to go

3:37:44to residents and say this is what it's

3:37:46going to be as best as we can judge. So

3:37:49I don't agree or sorry I don't disagree

3:37:51with anything you just said. It's um

3:37:54yeah. So that's that's my request before

3:37:57wanting to move forward with any of

3:37:59these projects. I'm going to stay pretty

3:38:01firm for the next couple years on that

3:38:03point because I think it's going to

3:38:04define it's going to define what the

3:38:06city looks like. So, thanks.

3:38:09>> So, I will not be on council after

3:38:11December, but I'm going to say

3:38:13[laughter]

3:38:14I do not want to see the council

3:38:18stalling projects because of this. I

3:38:20completely agree that we need to be

3:38:24looking at circulation throughout the

3:38:25city. We also have to realize that just

3:38:29um traffic is getting worse even without

3:38:33new projects. But I think it would be an

3:38:37incredible mistake to have anyone

3:38:39believe that we are, you know, that the

3:38:42future councils

3:38:44will not be approving projects until we

3:38:47get this information.

3:38:49It um to me it is a very very very bad

3:38:52message to send and absolutely opposite

3:38:55to what we want to be doing. Um it is

3:38:59not to in any way diminish

3:39:02the need for that or the fact that you

3:39:05know just to reook at

3:39:09circulation plans at information that's

3:39:11out there. Um there's also you know at

3:39:15the time when the transportation master

3:39:17plan was developed there is new

3:39:19technology there's new you know I don't

3:39:22know if we considered autonomous cars at

3:39:25that point the self you know whimos and

3:39:28all that there's lots of new information

3:39:30there are reasons to look at that um

3:39:34I know that we are incredibly short

3:39:36staffed in many areas and um I just do

3:39:41not want to see

3:39:42holding up projects for this

3:39:44information. Again, I think we all

3:39:47vigorously agree that yes, there are

3:39:50huge traffic impacts

3:39:53that are happening and they are right

3:39:55now um very much concentrated in

3:39:59district three,

3:40:02but don't please do not hold up or

3:40:05message that you will be holding up

3:40:07projects, housing projects

3:40:12for that.

3:40:12>> I mean,

3:40:14>> housing, traffic, climate, everything is

3:40:16I I just don't like that we're

3:40:18separating housing from other impacts

3:40:20around. It's why I whenever there's a

3:40:22project that comes up for housing, I'm

3:40:24always talking about climate and

3:40:26environment. Those those things are not

3:40:27separate, right? So, I hear you. We have

3:40:30staff. We're making prioritization

3:40:33choices on how transportation staff

3:40:34spends their time. And I think I'm

3:40:36putting a line in the sand to say this

3:40:39is something that we can't do it five

3:40:41years after we've approved three

3:40:43projects. So I hear you. I understand

3:40:46your point. I hope you understand my

3:40:48point, which is we've got staff. We need

3:40:50to prioritize this and it's going to

3:40:53change the nature of the city

3:40:54fundamentally more than many other

3:40:56transportation projects we're working

3:40:58on. So, I I understand the implications

3:41:00of putting a line in the sand with

3:41:02housing, but housing and traffic go hand

3:41:05in hand. This is not a NIMY thing. This

3:41:07is a this is what it's going to be like

3:41:10to be in District Three for the next 50

3:41:13years. So, uh, that's why I'm

3:41:16>> I will stop by saying I vigorously

3:41:18disagree with you that I think we need

3:41:20to proceed with our housing projects and

3:41:22yes, all of these other pieces are part

3:41:26of making our city a wonderful livable

3:41:28city that one can actually navigate

3:41:31across. Um, but please do not

3:41:37do not stall housing projects.

3:41:46I um

3:41:49what I guess are there any other

3:41:51comments at this time?

3:41:55Uh

3:41:57no. Okay. Um,

3:42:01can you tell us what you got out of

3:42:04this? Um, [laughter]

3:42:06I'm

3:42:07handing it to you rather than trying to

3:42:09after I'm anyway. Um, and actually I

3:42:12guess one other piece is that I didn't

3:42:14mention yet. Um, which is minor and I

3:42:16think it's already um, in the works and

3:42:18that's um, for the balcony solar ready.

3:42:21I think that that is something that is

3:42:22um a new technology that will be very

3:42:25very beneficial to um residents and to

3:42:28the to some extent to the grid. Um and

3:42:31my understanding is it's a matter of

3:42:33installing an electrical outlet on the

3:42:36balcony. Um I believe that um

3:42:41that Lane Partners is um on board with

3:42:43that, but it wasn't on the list. So I

3:42:45just wanted to make sure it gets it is

3:42:48added to it. Um and then if you don't

3:42:51mind um feeding back to us what you have

3:42:55heard.

3:42:57>> Yes certainly. Um

3:43:00so definitely support of

3:43:03BMR housing potentially at lower deeper

3:43:07affordability levels. Um

3:43:10housing priority for teachers.

3:43:14um a comprehensive plan for traffic

3:43:19management. And it sounds like that

3:43:20would be something outside of what what

3:43:24we would require of the developer, more

3:43:26something citywide.

3:43:29Um

3:43:35there's the question about the all

3:43:37electric buildings and that would be um

3:43:41that's in the CDP and would remain there

3:43:46um

3:43:49and certainly a need for housing and

3:43:52also the um

3:43:54impacts cumulative impacts um of various

3:43:58projects

3:44:00and prioritization of um working with

3:44:03the school district.

3:44:05Think those were my

3:44:14Yes. And the final item um just

3:44:16continuing conversations about the

3:44:18setbacks and height especially as it

3:44:20relates to the Burgess Classics.

3:44:24>> Yes. And then I think also um just

3:44:27making sure that city staff was in um

3:44:31looking at city staff being a priority

3:44:33as well as the teachers um for the

3:44:36housing.

3:44:38And

3:44:40there was a request um to have uh groups

3:44:45speak to labor.

3:44:50And I think um yeah, continue the

3:44:53conversations with the Burgess Classics,

3:44:56but not um to make it a um just continue

3:45:01conversations, see what see what

3:45:02happens, but really

3:45:05trying to move the project forward.

3:45:07Thank you.

3:45:10Anyone else any other comments?

3:45:13All right. Thank you for a very robust

3:45:16discussion.

3:45:18Thank you very much for the bring the

3:45:20project forward. Thank you.

3:45:29All right. We will now transition to the

3:45:31public hearing. Public hearings are a

3:45:33formal proceeding held in order to

3:45:35receive testimony from all interested

3:45:37parties on a proposed issue or action.

3:45:40The first public hearing is K1. Consider

3:45:43and adopt a resolution to approve a

3:45:45vesting tenative subject subdivision map

3:45:48to subdivide a property into 15

3:45:50residential condominium units in one

3:45:53commercial unit in the SPCR

3:45:56D El Camino Rial Downtown specific plan

3:46:00zoning district at 800 Oakrove Avenue.

3:46:04Here to introduce the item is associate

3:46:07planner Matt Prruder.

3:46:13Good evening and I apologize. I'm just

3:46:15getting the remote and I will begin

3:46:16shortly. Thank you.

3:46:34>> Good evening, Mayor Nash, Mayor, Vice

3:46:36Mayor Wise, Council members, members of

3:46:38the public. I am Matt Prruder, associate

3:46:41planner, and tonight I will be providing

3:46:43a brief presentation regarding the

3:46:46vesting tenative subdivision map for the

3:46:48project at 800 Oakrove Avenue.

3:46:55As a brief overview,

3:46:57the the project site is highlighted in

3:46:59yellow and it has an L shape. It is

3:47:03located at the northwest corner of

3:47:05Oakrove Avenue and Crane Street and it

3:47:08is located within the El Camino Royale

3:47:10downtown specific plan.

3:47:15At their Monday, September 14th meeting,

3:47:18the planning commission approved an

3:47:19architectural control permit for both

3:47:22renovating an existing bank building and

3:47:24converting it into a non-medical office

3:47:26building with a roof deck and removing a

3:47:29surface parking lot to construct a

3:47:3215-unit residential building. For this

3:47:35development, the planning commission

3:47:37also approved a below market rate or BMR

3:47:40housing agreement.

3:47:42The BMR housing agreement contains one

3:47:44very low income unit within the

3:47:47residential building, an inloo fee for

3:47:49the remaining 0.5 residential units

3:47:52required for the project, and a

3:47:54commercial linkage fee based on the

3:47:56office building's conversion.

3:47:58The planning commission also recommended

3:48:00approval for the vesting tenative

3:48:02subdivision map, which is tonight's

3:48:04item.

3:48:07As noted in the last slide, you are

3:48:09considering the project's vesting

3:48:11tenative subdivision map this evening.

3:48:13The map would involve subdividing the

3:48:15property into 15 residential units

3:48:18within the residential building and one

3:48:21commercial unit. This would allow the

3:48:23units to be offered for sale, including

3:48:26the BMR unit.

3:48:31The staff and planning commission both

3:48:33recommend this plan. City council adopt

3:48:36a resolution to approve the vesting

3:48:39tenative subdivision map. The proposed

3:48:42map satisfies all applicable state

3:48:46regulations,

3:48:47city general plan, zoning, and

3:48:49subdivision ordinances, and the state

3:48:52subdivision map act requirements, and

3:48:54satisfies the necessary findings which

3:48:57include the tap the map being

3:48:58technically correct, consistency with

3:49:01the general plan and specific plan,

3:49:03suitability for the proposed type and

3:49:05density of development, the map being

3:49:07unlikely to cause substantial

3:49:09environmental damage or serious public

3:49:11health problems and potential conflicts

3:49:14with the public access easements.

3:49:19Thank you all for your time this

3:49:20evening. I'm happy to answer any

3:49:22clarifying questions you may have. And

3:49:24Rob Zurkl with the applicant team is in

3:49:27person. He has no presentation but is

3:49:29available for any applicant questions.

3:49:32Thank you very much.

3:49:34>> Thank you. Um are there any clarifying

3:49:37questions from city council before we

3:49:38open for public comment?

3:49:43All right, I would like to open the

3:49:44public hearing. City Clerk Heron, do we

3:49:46have any public comments on this item?

3:49:49>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

3:49:51if any member of the public would like

3:49:53to provide comment on our public hearing

3:49:56item K1 related to the tentative

3:50:00subdivision map at 800 Oak Grove. If you

3:50:04are in person, please return a speaker

3:50:06card. Virtual engage that hand feature.

3:50:09calling in. Press star 9 now.

3:50:15This will be the final call for public

3:50:17comment on our public hearing item K1.

3:50:23Seeing no hands or cards.

3:50:26Mayor Nash, you may continue.

3:50:29Thank you. I will now close the public

3:50:31hearing and open for city council

3:50:33discussion.

3:50:35Is there any

3:50:41All right. I will just say um which is

3:50:44off topic for the specific subdivision.

3:50:48I am really excited by this project and

3:50:51um not only are we getting the uh VLI, a

3:50:55very lowincome BMR unit. It is going to

3:50:59be a two-bedroom with a den private deck

3:51:01and it's about 2,000 square feet.

3:51:04Additionally, there's going to be 12-

3:51:06foot sidewalks along Oak Grove and Crane

3:51:09Street, and we're getting new street

3:51:11lights.

3:51:13I'm very excited.

3:51:16Um, would anyone like to make a motion

3:51:20and second?

3:51:24>> Happy to move.

3:51:28>> I will second.

3:51:32>> Yeah. Apologize. Can I get a

3:51:33clarification on our seconder? Thank

3:51:36you. So, I have a motion on the floor by

3:51:38city council member Combmes and a second

3:51:40by Mayor Nash to adopt a resolution to

3:51:43approve a tentative subdivision map to

3:51:46subdivide the parcel located at 800 Oak

3:51:49Grove Avenue into 15 residential

3:51:52condominium units and one commercial

3:51:56unit.

3:51:58Any further city council question or

3:52:00discussion?

3:52:01Seeing none, by roll call vote, city

3:52:04council member Taylor,

3:52:11>> yes.

3:52:13>> City Council Member Combmes,

3:52:14>> yes.

3:52:15>> City Council Member Schmidt,

3:52:17>> yes.

3:52:18>> Vice Mayor Wise,

3:52:20>> yes.

3:52:20>> And Mayor Nash,

3:52:22>> yes.

3:52:22>> And the motion passes unanimously. Thank

3:52:25you.

3:52:28>> Thank you.

3:52:30I would um let's seeformational items.

3:52:34Informationformational items are

3:52:35transmitted to the city council in

3:52:36staff's effort to provide an update on

3:52:38matters of importance to the city

3:52:40council. Information items are not

3:52:42action items. However, a city council

3:52:44member, city staff member, or a member

3:52:46of the public may request to make a

3:52:48comment or ask a question on any of

3:52:50theformational items. City clerk Heron,

3:52:52do we have any public comments on

3:52:54theformational items?

3:52:55>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So for any member

3:52:57of the public who wishes to provide

3:52:59comment on info item L1, city council

3:53:03agenda topics, if you are in person,

3:53:06return that speaker card. Virtual engage

3:53:09that hand feature calling in. Press

3:53:11star9. Now

3:53:15this will be the final call for public

3:53:17comment on ourformational item L1.

3:53:22Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

3:53:24continue.

3:53:25Thank you. All right, we are now going

3:53:28to the city manager report.

3:53:31>> Uh yes. Uh thank you, mayor. So my one

3:53:33update this evening is about um next

3:53:36week's uh special city council meeting.

3:53:39Um the uh topic, the primary topic is

3:53:43regarding the financial feasibility

3:53:45analysis that the council requested for

3:53:48the three um proposals for the downtown

3:53:52parking lot. So plazas one, two, and

3:53:53three. So that financial feasibility

3:53:56analysis is scheduled for a study

3:53:58session next Tuesday.

3:54:01Um and that's the primary uh topic on

3:54:03the agenda next week.

3:54:08>> Thank you very much. All right. Um are

3:54:11there any reports from city council

3:54:13members since the September 15th city

3:54:15council meeting?

3:54:21All right. I've got a couple. Um there

3:54:23was a BOSA meeting. The water supply

3:54:26situation looks good. Water storage is

3:54:28slightly above historical averages.

3:54:31And we also discussed the BOSA strategy

3:54:342050 to strengthen regional water supply

3:54:36reliability and amid climate regulatory

3:54:39infrastructure and affordability

3:54:41pressures.

3:54:42And there were there's two areas where

3:54:46there's differing viewpoints in the

3:54:49onbasa that were discussed. um one is

3:54:51the Milbury operations center which the

3:54:54SFPU is promoting and Milbury is um I'll

3:54:58say concerned very concerned about and

3:55:02also the design drought which is um used

3:55:04for the long-term reliable water supply

3:55:06strategy and there's differing

3:55:08viewpoints on how conservative this

3:55:10analysis should be and how to consider

3:55:13the current usage trends and the

3:55:15long-term needs forecast.

3:55:18Um, I also attended a Stanford Next

3:55:21advisory council meeting that was um, I

3:55:23attended it in the audience and um,

3:55:27essentially Stanford Next is the

3:55:29university's long-term plan to meet

3:55:31future academic, housing,

3:55:32transportation, sustainability, and

3:55:34infrastructure needs on existing campus

3:55:36lands. The application was just

3:55:39submitted to Santa Clara County earlier

3:55:41this month, and now various groups are

3:55:44meeting to provide input. The big

3:55:46takeaway I had from this meeting um for

3:55:49Menllo Park and for San Monteo County is

3:55:51to stay involved and advocate. There is

3:55:54going to be if the project uh moves

3:55:57ahead and the um Stanford the

3:56:01application is approved um there will be

3:56:03a $und00 million in a Stanford community

3:56:06fund that will be part of the DA and

3:56:09it'll be with Santa Clara County and

3:56:11Menllo Park and Sanonteo County should

3:56:14definitely be talking regularly to them

3:56:17and try and get a seat at the table

3:56:18there. Um, beyond that, there's a

3:56:21Stanford bus tour on Friday, October

3:56:242nd. There's and then there's a coffee

3:56:27and conversation on Saturday, October

3:56:3010th about the application itself. Um,

3:56:32both of those um you can sign up on

3:56:35their website, which is on the Stanford

3:56:37Next/Engage

3:56:41um page. And um so essentially if you

3:56:45just put in Stanford next engage you

3:56:47will get served up that web page. Um and

3:56:51then finally uh council member Schmidt

3:56:53and I both attended the council of

3:56:55cities um meeting and got to see the

3:56:58ballet folklorico dance team which was

3:57:00just amazing and um got heard about the

3:57:06downtown Redwood City as a vibrant hub

3:57:08of economic activity. Um that is it. All

3:57:13right. And with that we will adjourn the

3:57:15meeting. Thank you.