2026-10-13 - City Council

00:00I am Mayor Betsy Nash and welcome to the

00:02October 13th special and regular city

00:04council meeting. This is a hybrid

00:06meeting with city council, city staff,

00:08and members of the public participating

00:10virtually and at the city council

00:12chambers. Please note public comment

00:14speaker time may be limited if there are

00:17more than 10 speakers on an item. We

00:19will also ask that if you are in person,

00:21please submit your speaker cards for all

00:23agenda items to the city clerk at this

00:25time. Tonight we have interpretation

00:28services available. Please visit the

00:30table in the back for a headset. For

00:33those in virtual attendance, please note

00:35that there is a globe icon near the hand

00:37feature on your screen. Our interpreters

00:39this evening are Maya Fana, Angelica Via

00:43Gran de Gonzalez.

00:45Thank you all for your time and services

00:47today.

00:55interpret.

01:23Gracias.

01:29>> Roll call. I would like to introduce

01:31city council members and staff. Present

01:33in the city council chambers are myself,

01:35Mayor Betsy Nash, Vice Mayor Jennifer

01:37Weise, and city council members Drew

01:39Combmes, Jen Jeff Schmidt, and Cecilia

01:42Taylor. Staff present include city

01:44manager Justin Murphy, city attorney

01:47Nera Dhorty, and city clerk Judy Harren.

01:51Next is the close session C1 conference

01:54with labor negotiators government code

01:57section 54957.6

02:00Six agency designated representatives

02:03city manager Justin Murphy city attorney

02:06Nara Dorty legal council Charles Sakai

02:09employee organization unrepresented

02:11employees

02:13and C2 conference with legal council

02:15existing litigation paragraph 1 of

02:18subdivision D of government code section

02:2154956.9

02:24name of case Willow project LLC versus

02:27city of Menllo Park a California city

02:30and the city council of the city of

02:31Menllo Park and the community

02:33development department of the city of

02:36Menllo Park and doze 1 through 20 case

02:39number 26-c7675.

02:47City clerk, please call for public

02:49comment for close session items C1 and

02:51C2. Thank you, Mayor Nash. So at this

02:54time, if any member of the public wishes

02:56to provide comment on our close session

02:58item C1, conference with labor

03:00negotiators or item C2, conference with

03:03legal counsel for existing litigation.

03:06If you are in person, return that

03:08speaker card virtual engage that hand

03:10feature. Calling in, please press star

03:139. Now,

03:17this will be the final call for public

03:19comment on our closed session items C1

03:22and C2.

03:26Seeing no hands or cards, Mayor Nash,

03:28you may continue.

03:30Thank you. Uh, the city council will now

03:32adjourn to the close session and intends

03:34to reconvene at approximately 6:30 p.m.

04:58We are here.

05:09I didn't say I didn't know that.

05:15So, is there a way that somebody

05:21more fun than you're gonna have? I

05:22guarantee it.

05:27>> Yes.

05:34Is there any online updates? So, we

05:36could go to the park and be checking

05:37while we're there.

1:03:20Hello, I am Mayor Betsy Nash and we are

1:03:22reconvening the special and regular

1:03:24October 13th city council meeting.

1:03:26Tonight we have in-person interpretation

1:03:28services available. Please visit the

1:03:30table in the back for a headset. For

1:03:32those in virtual attendance, please note

1:03:34that there is a globe icon near the

1:03:36hands feature on your screen.

1:03:52Fore

1:04:17Gonzalez.

1:04:24City Clerk Heron, would you please

1:04:26provide instructions to the city council

1:04:27and members of the public on how the

1:04:29meeting will proceed? Yes. Thank you,

1:04:31Mayor Nash. So, for any member of the

1:04:34public who wishes to provide comment on

1:04:36an item on tonight's agenda. If you are

1:04:38in person, we ask that you complete a

1:04:40speaker card, which are at that back

1:04:42table over there. You can return that to

1:04:44me. If you are virtual, after the mayor

1:04:47calls for comment on the item you wish

1:04:49to speak, we'll ask that you engage that

1:04:52raised hand feature. And if you're

1:04:54calling in, you'll press star 9 at that

1:04:56time. That concludes my instructions.

1:04:59Mayor Nash, you may continue.

1:05:02Thank you.

1:05:04I would now like to introduce city

1:05:05attorney DHY for a report out from the

1:05:08close session.

1:05:09>> Thank you, Mayor. There is no reportable

1:05:11action.

1:05:13Agenda review. Agenda review provides

1:05:16advanced notice to members of the public

1:05:18and city staff of any modifications to

1:05:20the agenda. To ensure staff is available

1:05:22and prepared, will the city council have

1:05:25any questions or comments on consent

1:05:27calendar orformational items?

1:05:33So, I would like to um make comments on

1:05:36I7 and M2,

1:05:40but I do not need um staff available.

1:05:54>> City Clerk Karen, how many speaker cards

1:05:55have you received for the study session

1:05:57and public hearing items?

1:05:59>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

1:06:00we've received one speaker card for our

1:06:03study session and zero for the public

1:06:06hearing. Thank you.

1:06:07>> Thank you. Does the city council desire

1:06:10to modify the order of any agenda item?

1:06:15Does the city staff have any edits to

1:06:17the agenda?

1:06:18>> Yes, thank you, Mayor Nash. I will be

1:06:19making an update on consent calendar

1:06:21item I related to city council meeting

1:06:24minutes.

1:06:27>> Public comment. Under public comment,

1:06:29the public may address the city council

1:06:31on any subject not listed on the agenda.

1:06:33Each speaker may address the city

1:06:35council once under public comment for a

1:06:37limit of 3 minutes. Speaker time will be

1:06:39limited if there are more than 10

1:06:41speakers. You are not required to

1:06:43provide your name or city of residents,

1:06:45but it is helpful. The city council

1:06:48cannot act on items not listed on the

1:06:50agenda and therefore the city council

1:06:52cannot respond to non-aggenda issues

1:06:55brought up under public comment other

1:06:56than to provide general information.

1:06:59City clerk, please call for general

1:07:01public comment. Thank you, Mayor Nash.

1:07:03So, at this time, if any member of the

1:07:05public would like to provide comment for

1:07:08an item not on tonight's agenda, if you

1:07:11are in person, please return that

1:07:13speaker card. virtual. Engage that hand

1:07:16feature. Calling in. Please press star 9

1:07:20now.

1:07:25Okay, we are currently at

1:07:29five speakers. So, this will be the

1:07:31final call for public comment for items

1:07:34not on tonight's agenda.

1:07:44Okay, we will start with our

1:07:48five

1:07:50and our first speaker will be

1:07:56uh

1:07:58Aronth Satbot followed by Dan Crow.

1:08:14My name is Taran Satlat.

1:08:16>> Can we get a little bit closer to the

1:08:17microphone?

1:08:19>> My name is Taran Satlat. My husband and

1:08:22I live at 300 Sand Hill Circle in Menlo

1:08:24Park. I serve on the board of directors

1:08:28of the Sand Hill Circle Association, one

1:08:30of the two HOAs on the Circle. Before I

1:08:33do anything else, I would first like to

1:08:36thank Vice Mayor Jennifer Weiss for

1:08:39meeting with me and her follow-up emails

1:08:41in the past several months. Thank you.

1:08:45I had submitted a copy of the petition

1:08:48regarding the San Hill Road repaving

1:08:50project with 155 signatures from both

1:08:54HOAs on the circle. So, I'm not going to

1:08:58repeat everything that is in the

1:08:59petition since you all have a copy of

1:09:01it. We know that the city of Menllo Park

1:09:04is totally aware of the dangerous road

1:09:06conditions and has been for the past few

1:09:09years.

1:09:10We have been told that in order to

1:09:12repave the road, Sharon Heights Golf and

1:09:15Country Clubs tunnel under Sand Hill

1:09:18Road needs to be reinforced. Sand Hill

1:09:21Road is our only access road. Without

1:09:24it, there is no ingress, egress, no fire

1:09:28protection, no medical emergency

1:09:30response, and no

1:09:32police protection.

1:09:35What we hear is that the city has been

1:09:38working and trying to negotiate with the

1:09:40Sharon Heights Golf Country Club

1:09:42regarding the tunnel maintenance since

1:09:44the city has no record indicating who's

1:09:47responsible for the tunnel maintenance.

1:09:50A very big mistake happened many years

1:09:52ago when the permit or whatever it is

1:09:54legally called was issued to the club to

1:09:58build a tunnel either in 1961 when the

1:10:01club was built or anytime thereafter

1:10:04without assigning maintenance

1:10:05responsibilities for a structure in a

1:10:08private club that affects a public road.

1:10:12What I cannot compute in my head is how

1:10:14the fate of residents of 180 homes with

1:10:18over 400 individuals and many businesses

1:10:21at 3,000 Sand Hill Road in case of a

1:10:25disaster like an earthquake or the

1:10:27tunnel failing due to heavy trucks

1:10:29servicing the company uh the community

1:10:32is in the hands of the city and a

1:10:35private club without us having any say

1:10:37in it.

1:10:39This is a crucial matter.

1:10:41I'm going to leave you with one

1:10:43question.

1:10:45Why is it optional to play with people's

1:10:48lives? Thank you very much for your

1:10:51time.

1:10:54>> Thank you.

1:10:56Next up is Dan Crow, followed by Helen

1:11:00Ingson.

1:11:10I'm waiting for my full three minutes

1:11:12here.

1:11:14Working on resetting. Give me just one

1:11:15moment. Thank you.

1:11:25Okay.

1:11:33Ready. Great. Mayor, members of the city

1:11:36council, thank you for allowing us to

1:11:37address you this evening. This is a

1:11:39crucial matter. Just as Terran said, my

1:11:41name is Dan Crowe. Um, my wife Helen,

1:11:46the lady in the red glasses, and I moved

1:11:48here three years ago from Topeka,

1:11:50Kansas. We moved here because our

1:11:53daughter and our three grandchildren

1:11:55live here, um, which happens to be also

1:11:59next to my wife, Helen. We bring them

1:12:01along because we think it's important

1:12:03for them to to be exposed uh to civics

1:12:06and to maybe how uh representative

1:12:09democracies work in our country. So

1:12:11while they may have rather gone swinging

1:12:13in the park, we've got them here to

1:12:15learn how this works. Um we are here

1:12:18because we we live at 300 Sand Hill

1:12:21Circle. Uh we we uh when we moved here

1:12:24uh we fell in love with Menllo Park. We

1:12:27still love Menllo Park, but do have some

1:12:29major concerns about the road. U for

1:12:32those of you and I I believe council

1:12:34person Wise, Vice Mayor Wise is familiar

1:12:36with that road as I believe that's

1:12:38that's her ingress and egress to and

1:12:40from work. Um and I do appreciate her

1:12:42attention that she's given to this. Uh

1:12:45but but the the answers remain

1:12:47unanswered. Um, in my previous world of

1:12:51private practice law, I represented lots

1:12:53of homeowners associations. Uh, and I

1:12:56have appeared in front of several city

1:12:59council members and various governing

1:13:01bodies. Um, and I have a general feel

1:13:04for what those responsibilities are for

1:13:06you and what we have as citizens as

1:13:08responsibilities. Um, this particular uh

1:13:11road is very concerning. As Terran said,

1:13:14it's our only ingress and our only

1:13:16egress. Uh we have we have the last few

1:13:19weeks we have been experiencing road

1:13:21construction. No, let me edit that. Uh

1:13:23construction for a water mane that's

1:13:26been laid down Sand Hill Road and it's

1:13:29been interesting and manageable. That

1:13:32project has been I think planned by the

1:13:34city and we appreciate you doing that.

1:13:35Thank you. Uh and and that has been done

1:13:38with organization and and time advanced

1:13:41notice. If something were to happen to

1:13:43this road, there would be no advanced

1:13:46time notice for that to occur. We would

1:13:48be completely cut off. Um, I'm disturbed

1:13:52by the fact that the city has known

1:13:53about this for a long time. I'm

1:13:55disturbed with by the fact that that

1:13:57nothing's happened. Um, I'm disturbed

1:14:00that the, as I understand it, the uh the

1:14:04country club seems to be calling the

1:14:06shots here. uh in my world of private

1:14:09practice law, I know that there are

1:14:10methods by which you can get a court's

1:14:13attention uh whether by a rid of

1:14:15mandamus or by a condemnation or an

1:14:17eminent domain action to make this

1:14:20happen. So I guess my request is why

1:14:23hasn't this happened and and can it

1:14:25please happen? And that's all I have.

1:14:28Thank you for your attention.

1:14:31Thank you to be your comment. Helen

1:14:35Ingressen followed by Bruce Adonado.

1:14:41>> Good evening, city council. My name is

1:14:44Helen Ingerson. I am the president of

1:14:46the Sand Hill Circle Association

1:14:50and I would

1:14:53without reiterating everything that has

1:14:56been said, I'd like to put an

1:14:58exclamation point on that. They Terrane

1:15:01and Dan have done a very good job of um

1:15:04explaining our concern and the fact that

1:15:08we could get 151 signatures should be

1:15:12somewhat significant. Um,

1:15:17we're concerned that we're going to be

1:15:19if there is an emergency, if there is an

1:15:21earthquake, we will be stranded there.

1:15:25We will have no help whatsoever.

1:15:28And so, I guess my question is this very

1:15:32nice conversation that appears to be

1:15:35happening with Sharon Heights Golf Club

1:15:37needs to be a little less nice. And

1:15:40who's the point person that's making

1:15:42this happen?

1:15:46And then what's the deadline? There has

1:15:48to be a deadline.

1:15:51So

1:15:54that is my concern and um I thank you

1:15:57very much for your time.

1:16:00>> Thank you for your comment.

1:16:03Next up is Bruce Adonado followed by Dr.

1:16:06Erica Freilature.

1:16:10>> Thank you. Uh, I come from the academic

1:16:13world and in that world they say never

1:16:16try to follow someone with an English

1:16:18name, a siphon, a hyphenated last name

1:16:22or an attorney from Topeka, Kansas.

1:16:25Because Dan Crow pretty much said it

1:16:29very eloquently. Um, just for bragging

1:16:32rights, I've been a resident of Menel

1:16:34Park for over 75 years. In fact, I was

1:16:37the building inspector for the city of

1:16:39Menlo Park for a day in 1958 when I was

1:16:43in the sixth grade. So, beat that. Okay.

1:16:47So, so I just want to say I live on

1:16:50Santos Circle as well and for the past

1:16:52five years I've been complaining about

1:16:55the surface of that road which is really

1:16:57bad and it is in a quote failed state

1:17:02and then all of a sudden in the last

1:17:04couple of weeks I heard about this new

1:17:06problem that we can't resurface it

1:17:08because of the tunnel from Sand Hill uh

1:17:11from Sharon Heights Country Club and

1:17:13some dispute. they own the tunnel for

1:17:15some bizarre reason under a public

1:17:18roadway and they don't want us to fill

1:17:20the tunnel or work on it or whatever.

1:17:23And so I'm hearing I I just want to know

1:17:25who's going to be the point person for

1:17:26this, what the negotiation is, and when

1:17:29can we expect to find out this is

1:17:32resolved. I think it's a real important

1:17:35city project. Thank you.

1:17:41>> Thank you.

1:17:43Next up is Dr. Erica Freiler.

1:17:51>> Good evening, Mayor Nash and council

1:17:54members.

1:17:55>> I moved to

1:17:56>> Can you get a little bit closer to our

1:17:57microphone?

1:17:58>> Thank you.

1:17:59>> Mayor Nash and council members. I moved

1:18:01to Sand Hill Circle in 92 from Los

1:18:05Angeles and worked at UCSF for until

1:18:092011. Now I'm working from home.

1:18:12Tonight I represent the west side of the

1:18:15Sand Hill Circle because there's an east

1:18:17side and a west side with different

1:18:18associations

1:18:20and their signatures came from both

1:18:22sides. But my perspective today comes

1:18:25from I have a medical background and I'm

1:18:29proud of the neighborhood coordinators.

1:18:31So is uh m Mrs. Ellison and Crystal and

1:18:37um we even had Brandon over you, one of

1:18:40the your recent hires a couple of years

1:18:42ago, Mr. Brandon Bonret Brandon Brown

1:18:46and his dog Tyler to come and talk to

1:18:49our people because we have a regular

1:18:51program of disaster preparedness.

1:18:55Being a neighborhood coordinator for

1:18:56disaster preparedness and certified by

1:18:59the fire department for Melo Park, I'm

1:19:02greatly concerned about this problem.

1:19:04And that's the perspective I bring here.

1:19:06And especially since now there's extra

1:19:09large equipment that is laying down

1:19:13water pipes that are this big and

1:19:15they're digging six foot deep. So I

1:19:17can't imagine what happens when they

1:19:20reach the place where the bridge is. So

1:19:22it is very very urgent to say the least

1:19:25to take this into consideration.

1:19:28I've never been before the council

1:19:30before. So it's a real pleasure to see

1:19:32this lovely hall and to meet you to see

1:19:35you in person. Thank you very much for

1:19:37your attention.

1:19:39>> Thank you.

1:19:46>> Okay, I am seeing no further hands or

1:19:49cards.

1:19:52Mayor Nash, you may continue.

1:19:54>> Thank you very much. Um would staff like

1:19:57to make any comment at this time.

1:20:00>> Uh yes, Mayor. It's just to uh uh thank

1:20:03the um members that uh spoke this

1:20:05evening. We have received the uh

1:20:07petition. We are, as people have said,

1:20:09aware of the issue. Happy to follow up

1:20:12with the two uh representatives from the

1:20:14um homeowners association. And that

1:20:16probably be the the best way for uh

1:20:18staff to uh work with them and keep them

1:20:20informed. As a number of people

1:20:23identified, the key is the Sharon

1:20:24Heights Golf and Country Club and we

1:20:26have been in a number of discussions

1:20:28with them and we'll continue to kind of

1:20:30uh press that matter to kind of come to

1:20:32a resolution that would enable uh the

1:20:33work to be done as in a safe fashion. So

1:20:36we are indeed working with the um golf

1:20:39and country club on that.

1:20:42>> Thank you.

1:20:44Thank you for everyone who came tonight,

1:20:45especially the kids who came here rather

1:20:47than to the park.

1:20:51So, next we have presentations and

1:20:54proclamations. We have three

1:20:55proclamations tonight and two pro two

1:20:57presentations.

1:21:52So, the first proclamation tonight is

1:21:54H1, recognizing Latino Heritage Month.

1:21:57City Clerk Karen, please call for public

1:21:59comment on item H1.

1:22:01>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this

1:22:03time, if any member of the public wishes

1:22:05to provide comment on our first

1:22:07proclamation for Latino Heritage Month,

1:22:10if you are in person, return that

1:22:12speaker card virtual engage that hand

1:22:14feature. Calling in, press star 9 now.

1:22:20Final call for public comment on our

1:22:22first proclamation recognizing Latino

1:22:25Heritage Month.

1:22:27Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

1:22:29continue.

1:22:32Latino Heritage Month, observed annually

1:22:34from September 15th to October 15th,

1:22:37celebrates the rich history and vibrant

1:22:39culture of the Latino, Latina, and Lat

1:22:42Latinx community, recognizing that their

1:22:45history is a vital part of California

1:22:47history. This year's theme, Unidos Somos

1:22:51Mas, which means together we are more,

1:22:54emphasizes the power of collection,

1:22:56collective action, and celebration.

1:22:59We would like to invite San Monteo

1:23:01County Latina Latino Latinex

1:23:05Collaborative Co-chair Dr. Gabriella

1:23:07Perez to accept the proclamations.

1:23:16>> Thank you so much. Um on behalf of the

1:23:18Sonteo County Latino AX Caborative, we

1:23:22are honored to receive this Latino

1:23:24Heritage Month proclamation. Thank you

1:23:26for recognizing the contribution of our

1:23:28Latino communities and the collective

1:23:30work we do to support their well-being

1:23:32in Sonteo County. As we celebrate this

1:23:35month, we honor our histories, culture,

1:23:38traditions, and the people who shape our

1:23:40county every day. The recognition is

1:23:43specially especially meaningful because

1:23:45it affirms that our voices, experiences,

1:23:48and contribution matters. Our work

1:23:50starts with relationship, listening to

1:23:52families, bringing partners together,

1:23:54and creating spaces where people feel

1:23:56seen, respected, comfortable, and asking

1:23:59for support. Language, culture, and

1:24:02belonging are essential and meaningful

1:24:03to our work. We recognize the strength

1:24:06within our communities while

1:24:08acknowledging the barriers many families

1:24:10face. Honoring resilience also means

1:24:12ensuring people have the support,

1:24:14resources, and opportunities they

1:24:16deserve. I am grateful to be a member of

1:24:19our collaborative and a member in the

1:24:21community um who contributes their time,

1:24:24perspective, and care. We share this

1:24:26honor with them and with the families

1:24:28whose experiences guide our work. May

1:24:31this proclamation inspire and continue

1:24:33commitment beyond this month to a Sano

1:24:35County where every family feels valued,

1:24:37connected, and supported. Thank you very

1:24:39much.

1:24:50What's

1:25:06up?

1:25:23The next proclamation is H2 recognizing

1:25:26domestic violence awareness month. City

1:25:28clerk Karen, please call for public

1:25:29comment on item H2.

1:25:32>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

1:25:35if any member of the public wishes to

1:25:36provide comment on our second

1:25:38proclamation recognizing domestic

1:25:40violence awareness month, if you are in

1:25:43person, please return a speaker card.

1:25:45Virtual engage a hand feature. Calling

1:25:47in, press star 9 now.

1:25:51Okay, we currently have one speaker.

1:25:53This will be the final call for public

1:25:56comment on our second proclamation

1:25:59recognizing domestic violence awareness

1:26:01month.

1:26:05Okay, I'd like to invite up an Draper.

1:26:23Will this work? Mayor, members of the

1:26:25council, thank you for this opportunity.

1:26:27My name is Annne Draper. I live in

1:26:29Menllo Park and I am now currently the

1:26:32president of the alumni association of

1:26:35Alpha Kai Omega in Sonteo County. Our

1:26:39sororities philanthropy main

1:26:41philanthropy

1:26:43is domestic violence reduction and

1:26:46awareness and that means all 300,000

1:26:50collegiates and alumni throughout the

1:26:52United States work on these two

1:26:55philanthropies and aims. So on behalf of

1:26:57the Sanonteo County Alumni Association

1:27:00of AlphaKai, we'd like to thank you for

1:27:03uh taking up this proclamation and

1:27:05issuing it today. So thank you very

1:27:06much.

1:27:10Thank you.

1:27:13And with that, uh no further hands or

1:27:16cards. Thank you.

1:27:18>> Thank you.

1:27:20Domestic violence awareness months call

1:27:23on all of us to remember that the

1:27:25domestic and intimate partner violence

1:27:27remains a critical and underreported

1:27:29issue in our society which

1:27:31disproportionately affects marginalized

1:27:33individuals and their families.

1:27:35Organizations such as Kora are here to

1:27:38help. For more information on Kora's

1:27:40resources, please visit korasupport.org.

1:27:44We would like to invite Kora Human

1:27:46Resources Director Tracy Cook to accept

1:27:48the proclamation.

1:28:01>> Thank you, Mayor and Council members. Uh

1:28:04October is domestic violence awareness

1:28:06month and it's a time to recognize the

1:28:08individuals and families affected by

1:28:10domestic violence and to reaffirm our

1:28:12commitment to building a safer,

1:28:14healthier community. Kora stands with

1:28:17all survivors and reaffirms our place as

1:28:19the only DV agency in Sonteo County.

1:28:22Kora will continue to work to provide

1:28:24access to life-saving care for those

1:28:26seeking to leave a relationship that

1:28:28includes intimate partner abuse. CORE

1:28:31provides a full service array of

1:28:33services, including a 24-hour crisis

1:28:36line, emergency shelter services,

1:28:38housing services, legal services, mental

1:28:41health services for survivors and their

1:28:43impacted family members. And we also

1:28:46work actively in the community on

1:28:48prevention and engagement in the hopes

1:28:50that information and education will

1:28:52serve as a catalyst to preventing future

1:28:54abuse. Domestic violence can affect

1:28:57anyone regardless of age, background, or

1:29:00income. Behind every statistic is a

1:29:02person whose safety, dignity, and

1:29:04well-being matter. As a community, we

1:29:07have a responsibility to raise

1:29:09awareness, support survivors, and ensure

1:29:12that those experienced abuse, uh, those

1:29:14that are experiencing abuse know they

1:29:16are not alone. Kora is proud to stand

1:29:19with our community as we continue to

1:29:21break the silence, recognize the signs

1:29:23of abuse, and connect those in need with

1:29:25local resources and support services.

1:29:28And together, through education,

1:29:30compassion, and action, we can help

1:29:32prevent domestic violence and create a

1:29:34community where everyone feels safe and

1:29:36respected. Thank you all for your

1:29:38support.

1:30:15tonight. The final proclamation is H3,

1:30:18recognizing cyber security awareness

1:30:20month. City Clerk Heron, please call for

1:30:22public comment on item H3. Thank you,

1:30:24Mayor Nash. So at this time, if any

1:30:26member of the public wishes to provide

1:30:28comment on our final proclamation H3

1:30:31recognizing cyber security awareness

1:30:34month, if you are in person, return a

1:30:36speaker card, virtual engage that hand

1:30:38feature calling in, press star 9. Now

1:30:46this will be the final call for public

1:30:47comment on our proclamation H3

1:30:50recognizing cyber security awareness

1:30:53month.

1:30:56Seeing no hands or cards, Mayor Nash,

1:30:58you may continue.

1:31:00>> In 2026, it is more important than ever

1:31:02to make sure our data is secure. In

1:31:05cyber security awareness month, we

1:31:07observe the importance of tools such as

1:31:09strong passwords, enabling multiffactor

1:31:12authentication, updating software, and

1:31:14learning how to recognize fraudulent

1:31:16activity in order to keep our

1:31:18information safe. We would like to intro

1:31:21to invite Menlo Park IT manager Danny

1:31:24Daniels to accept the proclamation.

1:31:40On behalf of the city, I'm honored to

1:31:42accept this proclamation recognizing

1:31:44October as cyber security awareness

1:31:46month. Uh your support underscores the

1:31:48importance of cyber resilience in

1:31:50protecting city services. We also

1:31:53encourage all residents to stay alert

1:31:55against cyber crime, turn on multifactor

1:31:57authentication, uh keep passwords and

1:32:00security codes strictly private. Thank

1:32:02you for your support.

1:32:14Sorry.

1:33:04Next we have proclamations and

1:33:06presentations. Next are the

1:33:07presentations. Our first presentation

1:33:09tonight is H4 Sequoia Healthcare

1:33:12District. Here to make the presentation

1:33:14is Sequoia Healthcare District CEO

1:33:16Pamela Curtsman.

1:33:25Good evening and thank you Mayor Nash

1:33:27and council again. My name is Pamela

1:33:30Curtsman. I'm CEO at Sequoia Healthcare

1:33:32District and I want to thank you for

1:33:34this opportunity for me to share the

1:33:37work of the district. I'm here to

1:33:40provide a brief overview of who we are,

1:33:44how we invest our local resources, and

1:33:48the impact to of these dollars and these

1:33:51investments in Menllo Park. But most

1:33:55importantly, I'd like to reinforce that

1:33:58we're a resource and a partner to the

1:34:00city of Menllo Park in addressing our

1:34:03community's health needs.

1:34:06Now, I get to learn how to do this.

1:34:08Okay, I think where do I want to point?

1:34:13>> Awesome. Okay, our mission and vision.

1:34:18>> Our mission is really straightforward

1:34:20and that's to improve health by

1:34:22expanding access to care and promoting

1:34:24wellness.

1:34:26As a special local district, we have a

1:34:29responsibility

1:34:31to invest taxpayer dollars where they

1:34:34make the most meaningful difference. Our

1:34:37vision is that every resident has the

1:34:39opportunity to achieve optimal physical

1:34:42mental health at every stage, every

1:34:46stage of their life, regardless of age,

1:34:48income, or their circumstances.

1:34:52And we focus on identifying gaps in

1:34:55services and investing where community

1:34:57needs are the greatest.

1:35:02Okay, don't let this little next slide

1:35:04scare you. It's a lot.

1:35:06But uh oops

1:35:10I'm gonna give you a little bit of

1:35:12history

1:35:14how we go. Here we go.

1:35:16>> So there is just a slight delay. So um

1:35:19yeah I think you're set

1:35:22>> calm down. I get so excited when I talk

1:35:24about this stuff. [laughter and snorts]

1:35:26>> Um this slide does look like a lot. It

1:35:28is 80 or I'm sorry close to 90 years of

1:35:32history on this slide. So I'm going to

1:35:34break it down in just four quick bullet

1:35:35points. Um the district was established

1:35:38in 1946. It was through the efforts of

1:35:41nine local women really. They were from

1:35:43San Carlos came together said we need a

1:35:46a health facility uh in this growing

1:35:49community and um Sequoia Hospital was

1:35:53born and they opened their doors in 1950

1:35:55and for decades we ran Sequoia Hospital.

1:36:00That's what we did and we became

1:36:04actually a a real recognized institution

1:36:06for cardiac care over that time. And

1:36:09then in [clears throat] 1996 we had a

1:36:12major transition. the district entered

1:36:15into an agreement with Catholic

1:36:16Healthcare West to really run the

1:36:19operations. And when they did that, it

1:36:22allowed us to redirect the district

1:36:25resources toward a much broader

1:36:27community health uh to address those

1:36:31broader community health needs and

1:36:32really to keep people out of the

1:36:34hospital.

1:36:36And so then we fast forward to today.

1:36:40We've continued to evolve. We're

1:36:42investing millions of dollars annually

1:36:45in medical, dental, and mental health

1:36:47care, school wellness, food security,

1:36:49and other essential community services.

1:36:52But through all that in that slide,

1:36:54what's most important about this history

1:36:57is that while our role has changed

1:36:59significantly over the 90 years that

1:37:02we've been around, our purpose hasn't.

1:37:06We were created by the community to

1:37:08address unmet health care needs and

1:37:10that's exactly what we continue to do

1:37:12today. We simply have a much broader

1:37:15reach and a different model for

1:37:17delivering our impact.

1:37:25We are governed by a five member board

1:37:27publicly elected representing the

1:37:30different geographic zones throughout

1:37:32our district. Our board establishes

1:37:35policy. It sets strategic priorities and

1:37:37oversees the responsible investment of

1:37:39public funds. Menllo Park is represented

1:37:43through the district's geographic

1:37:44governance structure. Uh Kama Garcia

1:37:47Lockach is your representative.

1:37:49Unfortunately, she was unable to be here

1:37:52tonight. Um she is a very busy medical

1:37:55clinician and is doing a m gazillion

1:37:59things, but she will um she's here to

1:38:01represent Menllo Park uh our district

1:38:04and um has quite um a good track record

1:38:08for supporting the needs in the in your

1:38:10local community. And what's great about

1:38:12this board is it brings a variety of

1:38:14professional and community perspectives

1:38:16to this work. Um so that we

1:38:21can assess the different needs and make

1:38:23sure that we address them through the

1:38:24different perspectives and experiences

1:38:26of the board.

1:38:30So grant making is the core of the

1:38:33district's work. We're not a health care

1:38:36provider ourselves. Instead, we invest

1:38:39in organizations already doing important

1:38:42work in the community. Our nonprofit

1:38:44partners bring the expertise, the

1:38:47relationships, and the infrastructure

1:38:49needed to deliver the care and do it so

1:38:52most effectively.

1:38:54We do serve as a funer, a convenor, a

1:38:57catalyst. We help organizations respond

1:38:59to these emerging needs and we filled

1:39:02gaps in services.

1:39:05This model allows us to maintain a

1:39:08relatively lean organization so we can

1:39:10direct the majority of our district

1:39:12resources into the community.

1:39:19Last year, the district invested

1:39:21approximately $18 million in community

1:39:24health programs and services. These are

1:39:27a few here. These investments support

1:39:30everything from medical, dental, and

1:39:33mental health care to food assistance,

1:39:35prevention, and services for older

1:39:38adults.

1:39:39Behind these dollars are residents

1:39:42receiving care and support they might

1:39:44otherwise go without.

1:39:46So, our focus is increasingly on

1:39:49understanding and measuring the outcomes

1:39:51of these investments, not simply how

1:39:54much money we distribute.

1:40:02Menllo Park.

1:40:04An estimated 9,500 residents are served

1:40:07in the Menllo Park 94025

1:40:10area zip code. There's a list of them

1:40:13here. There's many many um Kora being

1:40:16one of them being longtime supporter of

1:40:19Kora.

1:40:21during this um I'm sorry uh as you can

1:40:25see we support a broad network of

1:40:27community organizations serving your

1:40:28residents. All in all uh our portfolio

1:40:32again is around um 90 nonprofits and a m

1:40:36many of those are served here in Menlo

1:40:38Park. These partners address a range of

1:40:41needs including mental health as I said,

1:40:43food security again as I said, but

1:40:45reproductive health care, housing and

1:40:47stability and support for older adults

1:40:49right here in Menllo Park. And these

1:40:52organizations provide these essential

1:40:54services that otherwise would not be

1:40:56covered by traditional health care or

1:40:58other government funding.

1:41:01And I want to emphasize these are your

1:41:04residents and these investments

1:41:06represent a meaningful extension of the

1:41:09health and social services available to

1:41:11the Menllo Park community.

1:41:19So we've recently embarked on a new

1:41:21strategic plan.

1:41:23This was adopted just in April. It's our

1:41:262629 strategic plan and it reflects the

1:41:29changing health care landscape and the

1:41:31needs that we're seeing throughout our

1:41:33communities. Healthc care access is

1:41:36becoming more challenging than ever,

1:41:39particularly for low-income residents

1:41:41and those vulnerable populations.

1:41:44Federal and state policy changes, rising

1:41:46costs, and pressure on our local

1:41:48nonprofit safety nets are creating

1:41:49additional challenges. Our strategic

1:41:52plan is designed to help us respond

1:41:54thoughtfully, direct resources where

1:41:56they're needed most, and to measure our

1:41:59impact.

1:42:02And this is how we're doing it. Our

1:42:05primary focus moving forward is access

1:42:07to care.

1:42:09We've organized our investments around

1:42:11three priorities. access to medical,

1:42:14dental, and behavioral health care,

1:42:17food insecurity,

1:42:19and prevention and systemic barriers to

1:42:22health. Because we recognize that health

1:42:24is influenced by much more than what

1:42:26happens in the doctor's office. Food

1:42:29security, transportation, and the

1:42:30ability to navigate services play a

1:42:32crucial role. We're also strengthening

1:42:35accountability so that we can better

1:42:37demonstrate that public dollars are

1:42:39producing meaningful results.

1:42:47So, I'm gonna leave you with some final

1:42:49thoughts.

1:42:51One is that with the understanding that

1:42:55the district is much more than a

1:42:57grant-making organization,

1:42:59we're a resource, a convenor, and a

1:43:02partner to local government and the

1:43:04organizations serving our communities.

1:43:06Our investments are intended to fill

1:43:08critical gaps. They aren't otherwise

1:43:11funded by insurance, health care

1:43:13systems, or government programs. As the

1:43:16needs of our communities evolve,

1:43:18collaboration with cities like Menllo

1:43:20Park become even more critical. We want

1:43:24to hear from you and we want to hear

1:43:28from your constituents about the health

1:43:30and wellness challenges you're seeing

1:43:31among your residents and where we might

1:43:34work together.

1:43:41I want to thank you council again for

1:43:43your time and your service to the Memo

1:43:45Park community. I invite you to reach

1:43:48out directly with any emerging concerns,

1:43:50opportunities for collaboration or

1:43:53organizations that could benefit from

1:43:55connecting with the district who are not

1:43:56already connected with us

1:44:00because we know that no single

1:44:02organization can address all the

1:44:03healthcare challenges facing our

1:44:05communities. But by us working together,

1:44:08sharing what we're seeing, and being

1:44:09strategic about how we invest and where

1:44:12we put our resources, we can really make

1:44:14a difference together. I hope you'll

1:44:16think of the Sequoia Healthcare District

1:44:18as a partner and a resource to Menllo

1:44:20Park. We want to be a part of those

1:44:22conversations, particularly as the needs

1:44:25for our residents continue continue to

1:44:27change. I welcome questions at this

1:44:31time.

1:44:35Thank you. Um I think at this time we

1:44:37will go to public comment. City clerk

1:44:39Karen, would you please call for public

1:44:41comment on item H4?

1:44:43>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Nash. So at this

1:44:45time, if any member of the public wishes

1:44:47to provide comment on H4, our

1:44:50presentation from the Sequoia Healthcare

1:44:52District. If you are in person, return a

1:44:55speaker card. Virtual engage that hand

1:44:57feature. Calling in, please press star 9

1:45:00now.

1:45:04This will be the final call for public

1:45:06comment on our presentation from the

1:45:08Sequoia Healthcare District.

1:45:13Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

1:45:14continue.

1:45:15>> Thank you. I would now like to open for

1:45:17city council questions and any

1:45:20discussion.

1:45:23So, I guess I would just like to say um

1:45:26thank you so much for the presentation

1:45:28and you and I've met with Mitchell

1:45:30before to um talk about this. Um I

1:45:33really appreciate what Sequoia

1:45:35Healthcare District is doing. I really

1:45:37really hope that someday soon Sequoia

1:45:40Health District will cover all of Menllo

1:45:42Park and um look forward to that those

1:45:45discussions.

1:45:46>> We will have them when you're ready.

1:45:50>> Thank you. That's it. Okay.

1:45:54Again, thank you. I look forward to

1:45:56continuing the dialogue and you know how

1:45:58to find me. Thank you so much.

1:46:04The final presentation tonight is H5 San

1:46:07Monteo County Transportation Authority.

1:46:10Here to make the presentation is CKG

1:46:12program director Jeff Lap.

1:46:15Welcome.

1:46:16>> Thank you. Thank you. Good evening,

1:46:19Mayor Nash and uh council members. Uh

1:46:21again, I'm Jeff Lap, program director

1:46:24from the City County Association of

1:46:25Governments of Sonteo County, or CCAC

1:46:27for short. Thank you for having us on

1:46:28the agenda. Uh tonight, I'm here today

1:46:31tonight with an update on the Sonteo

1:46:33Countywide Transportation Plan, or the

1:46:35CTP, and this is a joint effort between

1:46:38CACAG and the Sonteo County

1:46:40Transportation Authority.

1:46:46Uh so for this evening I'll cover the

1:46:48process, the draft vision and goals, uh

1:46:50Menlo Park's draft project list, the

1:46:52draft programs and initiatives within

1:46:54the plan and next steps.

1:47:02This an overview of the CTP. Um it

1:47:04really creates a vision for the future

1:47:06of transportation here in Sonteo County.

1:47:08Think of it as our highest level

1:47:10transportation policy framework for

1:47:12Sonteo County. Uh second, it sets CCAG

1:47:15and SMCTA priorities and guides

1:47:17decision-m. And so this would this plan

1:47:19would ultimately trickle down to efforts

1:47:22like the countywide uh bicycle and

1:47:24pedestrian plan. And then finally, it

1:47:26informs the planning, funding, and

1:47:29delivery of local and regional

1:47:30transportation improvements.

1:47:36So just a current timeline of where

1:47:37we're at. Uh we kicked off this effort

1:47:39last winter. Uh we went to every city's

1:47:42transportation committee or to the

1:47:44council where there was no committee. Um

1:47:46we asked what the needs are today and

1:47:48what is missing looking to a uh horizon

1:47:51year of 20150. Since then we've drafted

1:47:54the the vision goals and project list

1:47:56with input from your staff. Now we're

1:47:59going back on the road to every city

1:48:00council for feedback on the draft vision

1:48:02and goals and priority projects. And

1:48:04that runs through the end of the year.

1:48:06The draft plan is scheduled to be

1:48:07circulated uh this winter, early 2027

1:48:10and final and the final plan in spring

1:48:13of 2027.

1:48:19So just a snapshot of our round one

1:48:21outreach efforts. We made 23

1:48:23presentations to city transportation and

1:48:24countywide committees. This included the

1:48:26Menlo Park Complete Streets Commission

1:48:28back in January. We reviewed 15 prior

1:48:31countywide outre out outreach efforts

1:48:33including work done by CACAG uh the SAMR

1:48:37and the TA. Uh we we we wanted to do

1:48:39this so we didn't want to recreate the

1:48:41wheel and ask uh people to comment on

1:48:43the same things twice. We interviewed

1:48:45six community based organizations about

1:48:47the needs they see on the ground and we

1:48:49kept up one uh accessible website

1:48:52through the process and uh we sought

1:48:54input on four things. uh validating the

1:48:56travel trends in in the data based on

1:48:58previous countywide outreach needs and

1:49:01challenges, priorities for the next

1:49:02decade and draft CTP goals.

1:49:08Sorry. Okay, so uh this is kind of a

1:49:11snapshot of what we heard from community

1:49:13members and the size of the text

1:49:15reflects how many times each theme was

1:49:17raised in our outreach. So, the biggest

1:49:19needs we heard uh were the safety and

1:49:21comfort improvements, more frequent

1:49:23transit and highway 1 and El Camino Rail

1:49:25improvements. We heard those pretty much

1:49:27across the board. Uh closing network

1:49:29gaps, so meaning the last pieces that

1:49:32would reduce barriers to access, more

1:49:34east west connections to and from the

1:49:36coast, more support for school trips,

1:49:38and a new focus on autonomous vehicles

1:49:40and ebikes. And also there was just uh

1:49:43other things to celebrate too like the

1:49:44successful CALR electrification.

1:49:50Uh so before the next few slides here's

1:49:52the feedback we are looking for uh from

1:49:54you all. Um as I go through the next few

1:49:57slides please keep these four questions

1:49:58in mind. Uh and I'll come back I'll have

1:50:00this slide available at the end of at

1:50:02the end of my presentation.

1:50:08So here's the draft vision statement.

1:50:09The Sanonteo CTP envisions a county

1:50:11where residents, workers, and visitors

1:50:14can travel safely, reliably, and with

1:50:16convenient choices across all modes.

1:50:18People connect people easily connect to

1:50:20v to daily needs via streets, trails,

1:50:24transit service, and highways that are

1:50:26resilient and endure for generations.

1:50:32And so for the goals, we narrowed down

1:50:34the plan to four primary transportation

1:50:36goals. Uh the last CTP had many more,

1:50:38but we really wanted goals that are

1:50:40easier to measure and more achievable

1:50:42over the next 25 years. So, so starting

1:50:44with the top left, um reduce how much

1:50:47people need to drive each day, enhance

1:50:50the resilience and comfort of our

1:50:51streets, trails, and transit stops. Make

1:50:53streets safer and prevent serious

1:50:55crashes, and move people faster and more

1:50:58reliably.

1:51:03So another um part of this effort was uh

1:51:06we wanted to come up with the project

1:51:08team wanted to come up with a new equity

1:51:10definition. Currently there's many def

1:51:12many different definitions used by our

1:51:14partner agencies. SAM cran had their own

1:51:16equity definition. We had our own. The

1:51:19metropolitan transportation com uh

1:51:20commission also had a Bay Area

1:51:22regionwide one. But we we really wanted

1:51:24one that was really focused on Sanonteo

1:51:26County. And so we came up with a

1:51:28simplified definition based on uh four

1:51:30variables uh income, race, vehicle

1:51:32ownership, and rental cost burden. And

1:51:35so by introducing tiers, we now consider

1:51:37more of the county in our equities

1:51:39equity based planning and funding

1:51:41decisions. So uh about 49% of households

1:51:45are now covered under this equity

1:51:46definition up up from 21% from the

1:51:49previous definition. And so again this

1:51:51becomes a layer in our uh funding uh

1:51:55methodologies and equity equity based

1:51:57planning for transportation.

1:52:05So the CTP is normally used to identify

1:52:08regionally significant projects and so

1:52:10that definition comes from MTC and a

1:52:13project qualifies it to meet if it meets

1:52:14any one of these criteria. changes in

1:52:17roadway or rail capacity, changes in

1:52:19transit level service system costs, or

1:52:22if the project is over 250 million.

1:52:26And so if the projects don't meet that

1:52:27criteria, how are those other projects

1:52:29captured? Um so they're captured through

1:52:31programmatic funding categories. So um

1:52:34it covers kind of the smaller

1:52:36transportation efforts that are not

1:52:37regionally significant. And most

1:52:40projects that local jurisdictions

1:52:41deliver fall into these into these

1:52:43categories instead of being listed

1:52:44individually, but they are still showing

1:52:46consistency with the CTP. And so some of

1:52:49those uh categories include um

1:52:52transportation demand management,

1:52:53pedestrian, pedestrian bicycle um and uh

1:52:58grade separation or uh multimotal uh

1:53:00projects. And so, for example, um a $10

1:53:03million complete streets project

1:53:05wouldn't be listed individually in this

1:53:07plan, but it would fall under this

1:53:09programmatic category and still be

1:53:10consistent uh with the with with the

1:53:13CTP.

1:53:16And so, why are we generating a list?

1:53:17So, it gives us a better understanding

1:53:19of local priorities. And so because the

1:53:22the regionally signific significant list

1:53:24is rather short, uh we asked every city

1:53:27for its its uh five top five local

1:53:30transportation priorities. This way

1:53:32it'll uh show where CKG and the TA can

1:53:35help find resources to help move these

1:53:37projects forward, things like technical

1:53:39assistance and grant support. And it

1:53:41also positions projects for regional

1:53:42funding. and then how it will inform uh

1:53:45plan Bay Area60 which is the Bay Area

1:53:48kind of uh regional transportation

1:53:50longrange plan. Um

1:53:53this this list is unconstrained.

1:53:55However, MTC will be asking the county

1:53:57for a fiscally constrained list. So by

1:54:00having this um put together before that

1:54:03it puts us uh our priorities in place

1:54:05and ready to go when MTC is looking for

1:54:07that list in the probably in the next

1:54:09year or so.

1:54:13And so, uh, with working with your

1:54:15staff, we come, we, uh, we have here

1:54:17the, uh, five or the five projects of,

1:54:21uh, priority for Menllo Park. Um, I try

1:54:25to read this. The Middle Avenue bike and

1:54:29pedestrian undercrossing, the Willow

1:54:31Road class 4 bike lanes, the Middlefield

1:54:34Road, Willow Road bike and pedestrian

1:54:36improvements, Sand Hill and Santa Cruz

1:54:39bike and pedestrian improvements, Marsh

1:54:41Road Corridor and Interchange bicycle

1:54:43and pedestrian improvements. And uh the

1:54:46other project listed below is is a sign

1:54:48regionally significant project. Um it is

1:54:50the El Camino Royale uh multimodal

1:54:52improvements or also known as the Grand

1:54:54Boulevard initiative. That is a joint

1:54:57effort between the TA and Samrans with

1:54:59uh uh different um uh um proposed

1:55:04improvements along the corridor.

1:55:09So aside from capital projects, uh these

1:55:11are the programs or initiatives or CACAG

1:55:13and the TA want to study, find funding,

1:55:16pursue grants or lead. The top row is

1:55:18more of our established projects such as

1:55:19safe routes to school or our

1:55:21transportation demand management TDM.

1:55:24The bottom row is emerging initiatives.

1:55:26This is what came out of our first round

1:55:28of outreach. So um we heard a lot of uh

1:55:30autonomous vehicle integration. Uh

1:55:33ebikes was a big topic and also mobility

1:55:35for uh older adults.

1:55:41So tonight we're looking your fe we are

1:55:43looking for your feedback on the vision

1:55:44and goals. Do these resonate with you?

1:55:47Are these the right um uh priority

1:55:50projects? Uh does the mix of programs or

1:55:53initiatives address your key

1:55:54transportation concerns between now and

1:55:562050? And anything missing uh anything

1:55:58you're not seeing in this update that

1:56:00you think the CTP should address?

1:56:04So again, um we have a website our we we

1:56:07are continuing our outreach with our

1:56:09focus groups and CBO engagement

1:56:11throughout the fall. uh we are touring

1:56:13all councils through the end of the year

1:56:15and the draft public review uh will be

1:56:17available uh next early next year. So

1:56:21that concludes my presentation. I'm

1:56:22going to go back one slide to the

1:56:24questions um and again thank you um for

1:56:28the opportunity to present and uh I'm

1:56:31just have my laptop open so I could take

1:56:32notes if there's any comments. Thank

1:56:34you.

1:56:35>> Thank you very much. Uh city clerk,

1:56:38let's go to public comment on item H5,

1:56:40please. Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at

1:56:43this time, if any member of the public

1:56:45wishes to provide comment on our

1:56:48presentation H5 from the San Monteo

1:56:51County Transportation Authority, if you

1:56:53are in person, please return that

1:56:55speaker card. Virtual, engage that hand

1:56:58feature. Calling in, press star 9 now.

1:57:04Okay. currently have one speaker. So,

1:57:06this will be the final call for public

1:57:08comment on item H5, the presentation

1:57:11from San Mateo County Transportation

1:57:14Authority.

1:57:17Like to welcome up Sally Cole.

1:57:22>> Okay. Yeah, sure. Of course. Yeah.

1:57:24>> Thank you. Um, hi, Sally Cole with

1:57:27Complete Streets. um commission. I

1:57:29actually just wanted to commend Jeff

1:57:30because I feel like San Mateo County,

1:57:33excuse me, has been really proactive and

1:57:35helpful to our commission to come

1:57:37frequently and present your initiatives

1:57:39and your direction. And it's really good

1:57:41to put things in context. I actually was

1:57:43just popping up here tonight because

1:57:44when I was reading through the project

1:57:46list, I didn't realize you'd asked the

1:57:47city for the top five. So, it explains

1:57:49why there were five things, but I did

1:57:51think that there was something possibly

1:57:53missing, which is uh safe routes to

1:57:55school. And the reason that popped to my

1:57:57mind is having worked on vision zero um

1:58:01action plan um I thought one of the

1:58:04points it made that I really appreciated

1:58:06and has guided our work or my work um is

1:58:09that it's it's obviously so important to

1:58:11look at high crash corridors and you

1:58:13solve a lot of collision problems and

1:58:14lower and get to our vision zero goals

1:58:16by addressing high crash corridors. Um

1:58:18but there you also want to really look

1:58:21after vulnerable populations even if

1:58:23those aren't on high crash corridors. Uh

1:58:25we know that um the the people who get

1:58:29the hit I guess kids under 15 um get hit

1:58:32the most on bikes um by cars in the

1:58:35city. And I also know that there are a

1:58:38lot of um routes to school the most some

1:58:40of the most popular routes to school

1:58:42like Oak Avenue to Oaknull um that

1:58:44aren't high crash corridors um and but

1:58:47need improvements like bike lanes really

1:58:49across the city. So as useful as it is

1:58:52to think sort of big project by big

1:58:53project, I think we have to continue to

1:58:55think systemically across like

1:58:58initiatives like what if we addressed

1:59:00looked at all the safe schools routes to

1:59:03schools and which are vulnerable. Um it

1:59:05would probably roll up to a pretty

1:59:07sizable pitch to the county for funding.

1:59:09Um if we really wanted to make sure

1:59:11there were bike lanes on all those

1:59:12roads. So um my pitch tonight was to add

1:59:15it to the list. I understand there only

1:59:17five items, but then I'll just say I

1:59:18hope we can keep in mind and keep the

1:59:20conversation open with the county um

1:59:23that you know that we hope to do cross

1:59:26city systemic initiatives that uh

1:59:28address um significant vulnerable

1:59:30populations wherever they are. Thank

1:59:32you.

1:59:35>> Thank you for your comment. Um with that

1:59:38saying no further

1:59:40may continue.

1:59:42>> Thank you. Um thank you for the

1:59:43presentation. I would now like to open

1:59:45for city council questions.

1:59:51>> Uh, council member Schmidt.

1:59:54>> Um, thanks for the presentation. Um, and

1:59:57um, all the work on this. I think

1:59:58transportation is one of the things that

2:00:00we're uh we're going to be spending a

2:00:02lot of time talking about over the next

2:00:04few years. Uh, the two two questions.

2:00:08Um, one is so I understand we're in the

2:00:10preliminary stages. um what's the rough

2:00:13timeline for this to all get fleshed out

2:00:15and then as we look for things like

2:00:18technical assistance and funding and

2:00:20grants what's the ballpark time um when

2:00:23when do you feel like some of that will

2:00:24start to actually emerge into real

2:00:26opportunities?

2:00:27>> Yeah, thank you for the question. I

2:00:29think um you know on a kind of a

2:00:32parallel path with this update um we

2:00:36have uh you know caggneta have current

2:00:39kind of technical assistance right now

2:00:40to help kind of with local projects to

2:00:42help move forward but I think um once

2:00:45this plan gets um adopted we'll have

2:00:47kind of have a more framework in place

2:00:49more kind of organized structure to kind

2:00:51of help our local agencies try to get

2:00:54funding to kind of get projects off the

2:00:55ground and get started.

2:00:57Um, okay, great. And then the second

2:01:00thing is um I I think I'm going to be um

2:01:03jumping on this theme pretty regularly.

2:01:05So, we we have a in our current um

2:01:09housing element cycle and then likely in

2:01:11our future housing element cycle, we've

2:01:12got a pretty heavy development corridor

2:01:15along Middlefield. So, one of the

2:01:17projects that I want to make sure is on

2:01:18your radar is what I would call kind of

2:01:21middle middlefield, Willow, and

2:01:23Ravenswood all together. The reason I

2:01:25highlight that is there are six major

2:01:27developments that are either in our

2:01:30current current housing element or or

2:01:31likely will be um considered for our

2:01:35future housing element. So um just so

2:01:37you know what those are. There's

2:01:39discussions about downtown development.

2:01:41Uh USGS 80 willow SRRI the fire station

2:01:45is on middlefield and then potentially

2:01:47the civic center is something under

2:01:49consideration for our next housing

2:01:50element. That's all within a two mi

2:01:52roughly a two-mile span uh span as the

2:01:54crow flies. It's going to be very heavy,

2:01:57very transportationoriented,

2:02:00really concerned about traffic. So, I

2:02:01want to make sure I uh like I said, I'm

2:02:04going to be kind of pushing on that

2:02:05pretty regularly for any resource, any

2:02:07support we can get. Want to make sure

2:02:09it's on you guys radar and I think we

2:02:11can take it offline to talk about what

2:02:13that looks like. So, absolutely. Thanks.

2:02:14Thank you.

2:02:23Thank you, Mayor Nash. Um, and and thank

2:02:26you, Jeff, and and welcome to CCAC. Um,

2:02:29I wanted to follow up on what uh Chair

2:02:32Cole brought up as far as um making safe

2:02:35routes and especially infrastructure um

2:02:38a part of the priorities for Menlo Park.

2:02:41Um, a few of our schools are in

2:02:43different school districts and so

2:02:45sometimes the safe routes plan looks a

2:02:48little bit different for each school.

2:02:50Um, one school in particular, well

2:02:52actually it's a few schools that are on

2:02:54one street that are in a high um a high

2:02:58collision corridor. Um, but just trying

2:03:01to find out how would you add how would

2:03:04we add safe routes um to school as a

2:03:08priority? Um but more specifically the

2:03:10infrastructure improvements so not just

2:03:13programs.

2:03:14>> Yeah, thank you for the question. Um so

2:03:17safe routes is a in one of our kind of

2:03:19established initiatives or programs for

2:03:21CKG and for the county. So um we we'll

2:03:23definitely have uh a programmatic fund

2:03:27like there'll be a programmatic funding

2:03:30category for safe routes types of

2:03:31projects that kind of those smaller

2:03:33projects can kind of fall into and still

2:03:36be considered for funding in the future.

2:03:38Um, in regards to the the list from

2:03:41Menllo Park, um, you know, we're we're

2:03:44happy to work with staff. Again, um,

2:03:45we're not we're not bounded by five

2:03:48projects if if there's if there's if

2:03:51it's at the pleasure of the board or the

2:03:53council to add another one. That's all

2:03:54that's that's it's that's we're flexible

2:03:56to do that. And if we were to make safe

2:03:59routes infrastructure improvements a

2:04:01priority, how will CCA support Menlo

2:04:05Park staff?

2:04:07>> I think well, we have our countywide

2:04:09safe routes to school program and we um

2:04:11we work with the um uh county office of

2:04:14education on that. They do a lot of uh

2:04:17um uh uh what do you call it? uh they do

2:04:21a lot of initiatives working kind of

2:04:23linking um city staff and school

2:04:26districts to work on improvements to

2:04:28safe schools. So definitely have that

2:04:30kind of um make sure uh you know staff

2:04:33is aware of those those opportunities as

2:04:36well.

2:04:37>> And my last question is along your

2:04:40journey between now and 2027 working on

2:04:42this draft will you come back to each

2:04:44city? This will be kind of the the road

2:04:47show for for the councils and then um we

2:04:51will be uh presenting to the CKG board

2:04:54and to the TA board about draft and and

2:04:56then of course we'll once the draft is

2:04:58released for public comment we'll make

2:04:59sure that that that will get to kind of

2:05:02all our member agencies.

2:05:04>> Thank you.

2:05:09I have I think a simple question and

2:05:10that is what is autonomous vehicle

2:05:13integration?

2:05:15>> Yeah. So, um, we recently worked on a,

2:05:20um, autonomous vehicle strategy with the

2:05:23TA and we're looking at, um,

2:05:27opportunities to integrate. Well, I I

2:05:30know they're here already, but we're

2:05:31looking at other um ways to kind of

2:05:34integrate uh AVs um whether it be

2:05:37through like microtransit

2:05:39um and other kind of opportunities to

2:05:41kind of connect more people like via

2:05:43like first last mile getting to uh

2:05:46places.

2:05:46>> Great. Thank you. And then I had a

2:05:48question about um your equity tiers.

2:05:51>> Yeah.

2:05:52>> And that is um what is the tier one

2:05:55versus tier two? And I guess what I'm

2:05:57specifically honing in on is um we do

2:06:00have an underserved population in our

2:06:04Bayfront area which is from 101 to the

2:06:06um Bay and it does not look like they

2:06:09are um listed as a um special equity.

2:06:15>> Yeah. Yeah. So it was um we we did tier

2:06:17one or two just kind of based on um for

2:06:20those four for those four variables we

2:06:22established a score and based on the

2:06:24thresholds it was either in a tier tier

2:06:26one or tier two based on kind of the the

2:06:28the severity of those variables and I

2:06:32will um check on that area. I know I I

2:06:36did before I came here I did take a look

2:06:38there are some areas that have been

2:06:39identified in Melo Park but I'll double

2:06:41check on that um for that area.

2:06:43>> Thank you. And please um ask council

2:06:47members or staff if there's any um if

2:06:49you have any questions. Thanks um

2:06:51Council Member Taylor. And thank you

2:06:53Mayor Nash. Just as a a followup, it

2:06:55would be great if you do a walking tour

2:06:57with me, Jeff, so I can show you the

2:07:00areas that Mayor Nash is referring to.

2:07:03>> Thank you.

2:07:04>> Thank you.

2:07:06>> Uh Council Member Schmidt,

2:07:09>> also a quick followup. Um um I think

2:07:11Marsh um it's remind me it's one of the

2:07:15first times I'd seen autonomous vehicle

2:07:17integration and I'm wondering if the

2:07:20thoughts are around um when you're

2:07:23integrating looking at the total cost of

2:07:25ownership for vehicles for vehicle

2:07:28ownership and being able to reduce the

2:07:30number of vehicles on the road because

2:07:32of autonomous vehicles like I I I

2:07:34wouldn't want that to be a net ad like

2:07:37it is today but are there strategies

2:07:39that you're starting to look at where um

2:07:42you can we can figure out integration to

2:07:45remove cars off the personally owned

2:07:48cars off the road. Is that part of the

2:07:50dialogue or can we make it part of the

2:07:51dialogue? I will have to check on that

2:07:54but um yeah point. Yeah, we'll look into

2:07:59that.

2:08:06>> All right. Thank you so much.

2:08:08>> Thank you very much.

2:08:11Next, we have the consent calendar.

2:08:13Under the consent calendar, the city

2:08:15council may take action to approve

2:08:17routine business items in one motion

2:08:19unless a city council member, city staff

2:08:21member, or a member of the public

2:08:22requests that an item be discussed or

2:08:24continued to a later date. City Cler

2:08:27Karen, please provide the update to item

2:08:30I1. Yes, thank you, Mayor Nash. So, uh,

2:08:33there will be an edit to item I1, uh,

2:08:36for the September 15th minutes, um,

2:08:40adding to the approval of the agreement

2:08:44with Axion that, um, approval for

2:08:47activating ALPR technology would be

2:08:49approved by the city council.

2:08:52Um, and also we do have, um, another

2:08:54staff update to item I4, and I will turn

2:08:57it over to our public works director,

2:08:59Aelia Mitch.

2:09:13Good evening, council members. Aelia

2:09:15Mitch, public works director. We do have

2:09:17a request for item I4. This is the item

2:09:20on uh license agreement and PG&E

2:09:23easement for West Bay. Uh we are

2:09:25requesting that to recommendation one,

2:09:28city council um approve giving authority

2:09:31to make additional edits to the license

2:09:34agreement per the city manager and city

2:09:36attorney's perview.

2:09:39So it's a a slight edit to um to the

2:09:41license agreement recommendation.

2:09:45So this remains as part of the um

2:09:48consent package but has a this with a

2:09:50slight edit

2:09:51>> with an addition to recommendation one

2:09:53pertaining to the license agreement.

2:09:56>> So that edit specifically would be

2:09:59requesting additional authority to

2:10:01pursue modifications to the maintenance

2:10:03provisions of the license agreement as

2:10:05deemed necessary by the city manager and

2:10:07city attorney.

2:10:14Are there I've got a comment. Does

2:10:15anyone else have um So, I'm supportive

2:10:19of the staff's recommendation to allow

2:10:21staff to further discuss maintenance

2:10:23obligations with West Bay Sanitary, but

2:10:25I'd like um Westbay Sanitary to remain

2:10:27responsible for the maintenance

2:10:29requirements that are currently set

2:10:31forth in the proposed license agreement.

2:10:38And does that need to be documented in

2:10:40any way or just as part of the

2:10:44>> I think that's your direction to the

2:10:46city manager and city attorney.

2:10:48>> Wonderful.

2:10:50>> In making any modifications.

2:10:52>> Excellent. Thank you.

2:10:54>> All right. And then I had one um comment

2:10:58if I can find it to um for I7 and that

2:11:03is um on the authorize the city manager

2:11:06to execute a maintenance agreement with

2:11:08Medallion Landscape Management Inc. for

2:11:10the median and rightofway landscape

2:11:12management service maintenance services.

2:11:15And um currently there's about $46,000

2:11:20coming from the downtown parking permit

2:11:22fees fund. And um I would like to make

2:11:26sure that for next year there is another

2:11:28source um looked at so that those funds

2:11:31are available for um the downtown

2:11:35um possibly the downtown parking garage.

2:11:42All right. Um

2:11:45any other comments on consent calendar?

2:11:48Okay. Um

2:11:49>> and just to clarify for mayor that's

2:11:53direction to staff today there there

2:11:55will be a a process that we need to go

2:11:56through for um

2:11:58>> next year's budget. Correct. Thank you.

2:12:00Great. Thanks.

2:12:01>> Thank you so much. Yeah. Um just to

2:12:03hopefully

2:12:05avoid using those funds for anything but

2:12:07the downtown garage. Thank you. Um,

2:12:13actually, did we do public comment

2:12:14already on the Oh, I'm sorry. Um, let's

2:12:17please do public comment on the consent

2:12:19calendar.

2:12:21Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

2:12:23if any member of the public wishes to

2:12:25provide comment on our consent calendar

2:12:27items, I one, city council meeting

2:12:30minutes. I two, receive and file the

2:12:342027 local minimum wage.

2:12:37I three,

2:12:39the city's response to the grand jury

2:12:43report is our flock of ALPR cameras

2:12:46properly tended.

2:12:48I4 um authorizing a license agreement

2:12:51with West Bay Sanitary District and

2:12:54adopting a resolution of a grant of

2:12:56utility easement to PG&E.

2:12:59Uh I5

2:13:02is an agreement

2:13:04uh for BMR housing program admin

2:13:08services.

2:13:09Consent item I six uh an agreement for

2:13:12legal services and item I7 an agreement

2:13:16for median right ofway and landscaping

2:13:20services. If you are in person and have

2:13:23not already please provide a speaker

2:13:25card. If you are online, engage that

2:13:28hand feature. Calling in, please press

2:13:31star 9 now.

2:13:35Okay, looks like we are at three

2:13:37speakers. This will be the final call

2:13:40for public comment on our consent

2:13:42calendar items I through I7.

2:13:47Great. Our first speaker will be Scott

2:13:50Herser, followed by Will Oler, and these

2:13:53are both on item I3.

2:14:02Good evening. My name is Scott Herser.

2:14:04I'm a Menllo Park resident, an activist.

2:14:07I sit on the Complete Streets

2:14:09Commission, but I'm speaking as a

2:14:12private citizen tonight. This evening,

2:14:16instead of me telling you that ALPRs

2:14:19can't be secured, I'm going to let the

2:14:21media do it.

2:14:23The Almanac, August 19th, 2025. Quote,

2:14:27"Despite promises of strict oversight,

2:14:30the Menllo Park Police Department

2:14:31accidentally let out ofstate agencies

2:14:34tap into its license plate reader

2:14:37system, a breach of state law that city

2:14:39officials failed to disclose until

2:14:41questioned by the Almanac." End quote.

2:14:45KQED, August 28th, 2026.

2:14:48Quote, "Menlo Park Police is tightening

2:14:51its license plate reader data sharing

2:14:53policies after finding that an outside

2:14:56organization misused its data for the

2:14:58second time since 2025." End quote.

2:15:03How many times are we going to turn a

2:15:05blind eye to the inescapable fact that

2:15:09the systems that ALPR vendors sell to

2:15:12municipalities like ours are

2:15:15fundamentally impossible to secure?

2:15:18I have talked with our own Chief Norris

2:15:23about this talk uh topic and I take him

2:15:25at his word. I'm not arguing that he's

2:15:28not trying.

2:15:30It's that the ALPR systems that exist

2:15:33today are fundamentally in opposition to

2:15:37privacy preservation and data autonomy.

2:15:41Today is October 13th.

2:15:44Since the start of this month, 19 US

2:15:48cities have stopped doing business with

2:15:49flock. 19.

2:15:52That's nearly 1.5 cities a day. Grand

2:15:56jury or no grand jury, my ask is that

2:16:00council makes the decision that adds

2:16:03Menllo Park to that list. Thank you for

2:16:06your time.

2:16:09>> Thank you. Next up is Will Oller,

2:16:12followed by Katherine Dumont.

2:16:14>> Good evening. Uh, my name is Will Usler.

2:16:16I serve on the housing commission. Uh,

2:16:19I'm speaking as a private resident

2:16:20tonight. I'm sad to see this item on the

2:16:22consent calendar because I think the

2:16:23grand jury reports findings deserve

2:16:25council discussion and honestly action.

2:16:28I appreciate that the police have taken

2:16:30action to rectify the serious findings

2:16:32in the grand jury report. I don't have

2:16:34specific requests for changes to the

2:16:35letter except to note that I really

2:16:37would appreciate more transparency on

2:16:39the reasons why our system is queried. I

2:16:42think that they should be releasable

2:16:43publicly and if the argument is that

2:16:46there is too much volume to review

2:16:47that's too much volume to be searching

2:16:49our personal data. Um I think generally

2:16:52I object to this vision of policing

2:16:54surveillance doesn't make us safer but

2:16:56it does violate the public trust. Um,

2:16:59and I really hope that we'll eventually

2:17:01find our way to to policing that doesn't

2:17:03involve ALDRs.

2:17:08>> Thank you for your comment.

2:17:10All right, turning to Katherine Dumont.

2:17:12And Katherine, if you could let us know

2:17:14which item you are speaking on.

2:17:18>> Hi, good evening. Thank you, Judy. Uh,

2:17:20yes, I'm also speaking on uh item I3,

2:17:23the flock camera.

2:17:26>> Great. Go right ahead. Thank you. Thank

2:17:28you. Uh yes, Mayor Nash and Vice Mayor

2:17:32um and council. Um I'm very concerned. I

2:17:36echo uh Mr. Oller's concern. Catherine

2:17:40Deont Men Park resident um that uh this

2:17:43is a consent item and not a a study

2:17:47session. Um and it's some very serious

2:17:51concerns raised in the report. um uh the

2:17:54data sharing with a private um

2:17:58institution, the University of Stanford

2:18:01um is one of them. Uh but just in

2:18:04general uh the data retention

2:18:07um policy that we have where Flock has

2:18:12itself has reduced the data retention

2:18:15recommendation to 7 days. Um I feel like

2:18:18we need we're behind on on this topic in

2:18:22terms of concern of citizens um like

2:18:25myself.

2:18:27Um so I I hope this would be taken

2:18:30seriously that the recommendations uh

2:18:32will be followed and um and we will give

2:18:36serious consideration

2:18:39um before the renewal of of the flock

2:18:43contract that there will be um some

2:18:45serious discussions about this u with

2:18:47the with the count at the council. Thank

2:18:50you.

2:18:53you.

2:18:56All right. Seeing no further hands or

2:18:58cards,

2:19:02Mayor Nash, you may continue.

2:19:05Thank you. Are there any um comments

2:19:08from uh [clears throat] about the dis?

2:19:11Okay. I guess I will um just comment on

2:19:14the um about the ALPRS and I will say I

2:19:18too am concerned and it's something

2:19:21which will be raised um as a separate

2:19:25item most likely with the next council

2:19:28um since that seems appropriate given

2:19:31where we are in the um

2:19:34in the calendar with an election coming

2:19:37up. Um the next the agreement is going

2:19:42to expire in February and I believe that

2:19:45that will be when there's a very good

2:19:47opportunity to um actually make some

2:19:49changes. Tonight we are really um

2:19:52looking at the grand jury letter and the

2:19:55response to the grand jury letter as

2:19:57opposed to ALPRs more more generally.

2:20:00I'll also make a comment just that um a

2:20:02number of us have been receiving uh

2:20:05concerns from local residents about the

2:20:08private cameras that are going in as

2:20:11well um which are not under the

2:20:13jurisdiction of the city and we have

2:20:15been asked to um see what we can do to

2:20:19um

2:20:21secure them at all. So just when this

2:20:23comes up again, I would like to um I

2:20:26request that the um veil cameras and

2:20:30other cameras be um included in that uh

2:20:33discussion. So thank you. Um having said

2:20:38that, I'd like to see if there's a

2:20:40motion and a second on the floor to

2:20:42approve the consent calendar.

2:20:50I'll make a motion to approve.

2:20:58>> Thank you. I have a motion on the floor

2:21:00by Vice Mayor Weise and a second by city

2:21:03council member Combmes to approve the

2:21:05consent calendar with the addition of

2:21:07the following language for item I4 uh to

2:21:10recommendation one. approve staff's

2:21:13additional authority to pursue

2:21:15modifications to the maintenance

2:21:17provisions of the license agreement as

2:21:20deemed necessary by the city manager and

2:21:22the city attorney.

2:21:24Any further city council question or

2:21:26discussion?

2:21:28Seeing none, please proceed with voting.

2:21:40And the motion passes unanimously. Thank

2:21:43you.

2:21:46Thank you.

2:21:48Study session. Study sessions are an

2:21:50opportunity for city staff to introduce

2:21:52an item that will require policy

2:21:54direction from the city council in the

2:21:56near future. City staff will provide a

2:21:58presentation. I will then call for

2:22:00public comment. After public comment,

2:22:03the city council will discuss the matter

2:22:04interactively with staff. The city

2:22:07council will not take an action on items

2:22:09addressed in study sessions. The city

2:22:11council may provide direction to city

2:22:14staff for preparation of additional

2:22:15analysis or information necessary when

2:22:18the item returns to the city council for

2:22:20action.

2:22:22The study session tonight is J1. provide

2:22:25direction on the 600 block plaza

2:22:27configuration or closure. Here to

2:22:30introduce the item is economic

2:22:31development manager Colette Hannah.

2:22:36>> Thank you.

2:22:43>> Switch it to this one.

2:22:45Am I okay?

2:22:50Nope. Oh, there we go. Okay. Awesome.

2:22:52Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Nash,

2:22:54members of the council, Colette Hannah,

2:22:56economic development manager, and as was

2:22:58mentioned, yes, I'm presenting tonight

2:23:00on the 600 block public plaza as a

2:23:02review to confirm direction before we

2:23:05proceed with next steps.

2:23:11So, as an overview of what we'll discuss

2:23:12tonight, as I mentioned, we'd like to

2:23:14check in um on direction for the plaza.

2:23:17I'll provide a brief overview of the

2:23:19background of the closure, review the

2:23:21current status and options for

2:23:23consideration for either remaining a

2:23:24plaza or reopening the vehicle travel

2:23:27lane.

2:23:30So, our recommendation and where we are

2:23:32seeking feedback is on three different

2:23:34options of maintaining the plaza in its

2:23:37current configuration and footprint.

2:23:40reducing the size to more of a community

2:23:42space and reopening the vehicle lane on

2:23:44Santa Cruz Avenue between Curtis and

2:23:46Doyle Streets or removing the plaza

2:23:48altogether with no community space in

2:23:50reopening the vehicle lane.

2:23:55As a background, council adopted

2:23:57resolution 6860 in August of 2023. The

2:24:01resolution allowed for the street

2:24:03closure on Santa Cruz Avenue between

2:24:05Curtis and Doyle and was presented as a

2:24:07means of aiding in downtown vibrancy

2:24:10providing a community space and

2:24:12established consistent with the El

2:24:14Camino Rial downtown specific plan. In

2:24:17June of last year, council considered an

2:24:19item to repeal the resolution and reopen

2:24:22the closed portion of Santa Cruz. A

2:24:25direction was ultimately given to staff

2:24:27to maintain the closure and proceed with

2:24:29development of design concepts for the

2:24:32plaza. In July of last year, initial

2:24:35design concepts were presented with

2:24:37direction given to staff to further

2:24:39refine with community input. In November

2:24:42of 2025, a design concept was presented

2:24:45reflecting the council and community

2:24:47feedback. Uh furniture was proposed for

2:24:49the plaza space. uh direction was given

2:24:52on furniture options and furnishings

2:24:55ultimately were purchased and set up in

2:24:57the plaza.

2:25:02So if we've moved forward as staff with

2:25:04the plans to build out the plaza, picnic

2:25:06and bastro tables were placed in the

2:25:07space to provide seating and provide

2:25:10more of a community gathering space

2:25:12while staff works on the process of the

2:25:14full build out of the design and then

2:25:16eventually with construction.

2:25:19The plaza has been used by a local

2:25:21business, local nonprofits for music and

2:25:24other events, and library and community

2:25:26services is using the space as needed to

2:25:28supplement its current downtown events.

2:25:32Staff has also gone through the process

2:25:34of selecting a consultant for design of

2:25:36the plaza, which includes finalizing the

2:25:39design and developing plans. And again,

2:25:41this initiates the process for um

2:25:43ultimately construction.

2:25:46Lastly, a maintenance worker has been

2:25:48hired who will service the downtown

2:25:50area, including a focus on the plaza for

2:25:53oversight, recognizing the need to

2:25:55address cleaning and litter issues and

2:25:57maintenance of furniture. Additionally,

2:26:00to help address cleanliness, we're

2:26:02installing a sign to encourage the

2:26:04community to participate in upkeep um

2:26:06and proper trash disposal.

2:26:13So, as part of the design development

2:26:14for the plaza, public engagement events

2:26:16were held to get feedback on design

2:26:18elements. These were incorporated into

2:26:20the proposal um request and and the

2:26:23scope of work for bringing on a

2:26:25consultant.

2:26:26That feedback was broad with interest to

2:26:29reopen the lane on Santa Cruz as well as

2:26:31to maintain the plaza. There was also

2:26:33extensive feedback on how the plaza

2:26:35should function as a community gathering

2:26:37space, emphasizing the importance of

2:26:40flexible design that accommodates a

2:26:42variety of uses. We've received some

2:26:45recent feedback to reopen the vehicle

2:26:47travel lane and potentially remove the

2:26:49plaza, which is where we're seeking

2:26:51direction tonight again before moving

2:26:53forward with next steps again as a part

2:26:56of that uh recent feedback from the

2:26:58business community in particular.

2:27:04So, the options for consideration before

2:27:06you tonight where we'd like feedback.

2:27:08Um, first option is the current scenario

2:27:11with the buildout of the plaza. Option

2:27:15two would be a smaller community space

2:27:18um reopening the vehicle travel lane.

2:27:21And option three would be to reopen the

2:27:23the travel lane and remove a plaza

2:27:26altogether and uh restore the parking

2:27:29spaces.

2:27:30So I'll go through these now in more

2:27:32detail.

2:27:35So under option one, we have our current

2:27:37configuration and footprint with the

2:27:39closed eastbound lane, a dedicated bike

2:27:42lane and the full plaza space. The space

2:27:45is city provide currently has city

2:27:47provided picnic and beastro tables as I

2:27:50mentioned earlier with seating capacity

2:27:52for around 70 people and as I mentioned

2:27:55it is used in event program

2:27:58pop-up events and that sort of thing. A

2:28:01consultant has been selected calendar

2:28:03associates to work within the design

2:28:06concept that was presented previously

2:28:08and to create building plans and to move

2:28:10toward construction of the plaza. So

2:28:13they would be working with this design

2:28:15concept to adjust it as needed um and

2:28:17then develop plans and then again

2:28:19eventual construction.

2:28:21Additionally, the consultant is creating

2:28:23a plant pallet for the plaza which would

2:28:25also be developed for Santa Cruz Avenue

2:28:28creating consistency and cohesion in the

2:28:30landscaping of the street and the plaza

2:28:33and the overall downtown.

2:28:39So the second option for your

2:28:41consideration is to open the eastbound

2:28:44vehicle travel lane, remove the

2:28:46dedicated bike lane and keep a smaller

2:28:48community space similar to the um nearby

2:28:52outdoor dining streeteries. So it would

2:28:54be a similar uh depth to the existing

2:28:57streeteries. We would engage the

2:28:59consultant to reinvision this smaller

2:29:02space to be more of a community um

2:29:05communal space potentially as just

2:29:07outdoor dining. Due to the size, there

2:29:09might be limited opportunity for

2:29:10programming, but it might be an

2:29:12opportunity for just outdoor dining.

2:29:16The current beastro tables could remain

2:29:18and repurpose the picnic tables that are

2:29:21currently in the plaza to other parts of

2:29:23the city. We would also work with the

2:29:26consultant to determine how landscaping

2:29:28would tie in based on the initial scope

2:29:31of work that we had outlined to develop

2:29:33a plant pallet.

2:29:39So the third option for your

2:29:41consideration is to fully open both the

2:29:44vehicle travel lane and the parking

2:29:46spaces removing the seating and the

2:29:48dedicated bike lane. uh this would open

2:29:52up approximately 7 to nine parking

2:29:54spaces in that process as well.

2:30:00So next steps um if we move forward with

2:30:03option one um there would be moving

2:30:06forward with the um um consultant

2:30:09calendar associates um that again would

2:30:12develop the uh final design the plans

2:30:15associated with that and the

2:30:17construction to follow. We would

2:30:20continue programming with the different

2:30:22nonprofits, with businesses. Um there

2:30:25are plans in place currently for an

2:30:27event at the end of October, the fourth

2:30:29Friday's events that's been taking place

2:30:31that would continue in um October. Uh

2:30:34the winewalk has used the plaza and plan

2:30:37to use the plaza going forward for the

2:30:40registration location for their winewalk

2:30:42event, the min park winewalk winewalk.

2:30:45Um, and then we're looking into possible

2:30:48programming to coincide with Light of

2:30:50the Season, which would be held in the

2:30:52plaza and along Santa Cruz. So, those

2:30:54would continue.

2:30:57And then we would continue with the

2:30:58signage necessary to again encourage the

2:31:01community with the upkeep and guide um

2:31:04usage of the plaza as well.

2:31:08With option two, um we would revisit the

2:31:12scope of work with the designer um for a

2:31:14smaller again community oriented space

2:31:17and again adjust to more of a streetery

2:31:19size. Uh the planters would be removed

2:31:22along with the vehicle lane barriers.

2:31:25The dedicated bike lane would also be

2:31:27removed. That would require some asphalt

2:31:30grinding. Um and then we would also open

2:31:33up the eastbound um vehicle uh travel

2:31:36lane and striping touchups would likely

2:31:39be required. That would be working with

2:31:42um council, I'm sorry, with public works

2:31:45to um uh bring on a contractor to do

2:31:49that work as well as staffing for

2:31:51removing of the furniture, removal of

2:31:53the um uh barriers and the other factors

2:31:58that public works would be working on.

2:32:01With option three, um that would be and

2:32:03potentially option two, but also but

2:32:05definitely option three would require a

2:32:07repeal of resolution 6860.

2:32:11Again, the planters being removed, um

2:32:14the dedicated bike lane with the asphalt

2:32:15grinding, um opening up the uh eastbound

2:32:19vehicle travel lane and the uh striping

2:32:22touchup definitely for the travel lane

2:32:24as well as for the parking spaces. We

2:32:27would come back to council with the

2:32:29repeal of that resolution in the next

2:32:31two to three council meetings. Um and

2:32:34again pursuing uh work with the

2:32:37contractor for the striping and the

2:32:40asphalt grinding which would be led by

2:32:42public works.

2:32:49So again, this is where we are seeking

2:32:51feedback

2:32:54and I will leave it here

2:32:57and I'm available. Thank you for your

2:32:59time. Available for any questions that

2:33:01you may have.

2:33:04Thank you so much. Um, city clerk Karen,

2:33:06do we have any public comment on this

2:33:08item?

2:33:09>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this

2:33:12time, if any member of the public wishes

2:33:14to provide comment on our study session

2:33:17item J1 direction on the 600 block plaza

2:33:21configuration,

2:33:22if you are in person, return that

2:33:24speaker card. Virtual, engage that hand

2:33:27feature. Calling in, please press star 9

2:33:31now.

2:33:36Okay, it looks like we currently have

2:33:38five speakers. So, this will be the

2:33:40final call for public comment on our

2:33:43study session item J1 related to the 600

2:33:47block plaza configuration.

2:33:52All right, our first speaker will be

2:33:54Will Oller, followed by Laura Milan.

2:34:00>> Good evening. Uh, my name is Will Osler

2:34:01still. I'm also still on the housing

2:34:03commission and I'm still speaking as a

2:34:04private citizen. Um I was downtown at

2:34:07the last fourth Friday event. People

2:34:08were dancing in this this park space. Um

2:34:11the band was there. I think it was a

2:34:12real comparison to me to another band

2:34:14who was um kind of shoehorned up against

2:34:17Ace Hardware with almost nobody on the

2:34:19sidewalk because there was still car

2:34:20traffic going by. Um

2:34:23recently I had a CO exposure and needed

2:34:25to go get tests and I appreciated being

2:34:27able to tie my dog up in this space and

2:34:29and duck in for for 3 minutes. Um, I see

2:34:32kids there uh with um um and I guess

2:34:37primarily what I'm asking is keep the

2:34:38full current size. I think it's a useful

2:34:40space as it is. Um I think it's

2:34:42important to have a dedicated bike lane

2:34:44and a place for kids to to ride into

2:34:46downtown and a place for them to to hang

2:34:49out. Um

2:34:51in general, I'd love to see a more

2:34:52pedestrian and bike friendly downtown. I

2:34:54really think this is part of that. And

2:34:57um I'd also generally like us to get

2:34:59past relitigating this uh space every 6

2:35:03months. I'd like to get to a place where

2:35:04it's a permanent part of our downtown.

2:35:07So option one, please. And thank you so

2:35:09much.

2:35:11>> Thank you. Next up, Laura Milan,

2:35:14followed by Marne Foody.

2:35:17>> Hello. Hello. I'm Laura Milan uh on the

2:35:20finance and audit commission but

2:35:21speaking for myself um I am one of the

2:35:23co-founders of downtown men fund who

2:35:25runs the fourth Friday's events so I

2:35:26have a very unique perspective to be a

2:35:29part of the downtown business

2:35:30association and understand the business

2:35:31needs and be the organizer of fourth

2:35:34Fridays and understand very deeply how

2:35:36the plaza is working. Um when I say we

2:35:38organize the event it is me carrying

2:35:40a-frames and cones around often uh me

2:35:43deciding where to put the bands. Um that

2:35:45is hardware spot. Yes, that was a

2:35:46mistake. it um it did not have to do

2:35:48with the with the street being open. Um

2:35:50but I wanted to to talk about option

2:35:52number two, which I really think is the

2:35:54best of both worlds. It's um it's

2:35:56something we've talked about before.

2:35:57It's something we've talked about the

2:35:58with the businesses often. And when I

2:36:00say it's the best of both worlds, I

2:36:02don't mean it's a compromise. I mean

2:36:04that the the plaza as it exists today on

2:36:06one side of the street, if you're

2:36:08hosting an event and cars are whipping

2:36:10by westbound, it's actually not a great

2:36:13experience. So, what I would propose we

2:36:15do with option number two is we keep the

2:36:18eastbound street open to traffic 90% of

2:36:20the time when very few people are in the

2:36:22plaza and they could very happily be

2:36:24sitting in a 3/4 size plaza. But when we

2:36:27want to host a community event, which is

2:36:30as we see amazing for the community

2:36:33through Fourth Fridays and other things,

2:36:35um we should shut down the whole thing

2:36:36both directions. Make it actually safe,

2:36:39actually fun. Um, we can put in

2:36:41automatic retractable ballards. They go

2:36:44up, they go down. If a firetruck needs

2:36:46to come through, they go down

2:36:47automatically. And, um, I think thinking

2:36:49about cost and and and,

2:36:52um, cost benefit analysis, um, I've done

2:36:56a lot of listening to what everyone

2:36:57wants and I haven't figured out why

2:36:59option two with automatic ballards

2:37:01wouldn't actually make everyone quite

2:37:05happy. So, uh, putting that forth as as

2:37:08an idea that I, uh, would love for us to

2:37:10talk about. Thank you.

2:37:13>> Thank you. Next up, Marne Foody,

2:37:17followed by Virginia Changali.

2:37:21>> Good evening, mayor, members of the

2:37:23council, and city staff. Thank you so

2:37:25much for inviting us up to speak today.

2:37:27The mission of the downtown Menllo Fund

2:37:29is to revitalize downtown, and the

2:37:31single best way to do that is to bring

2:37:33people downtown. Foot traffic is the

2:37:36lifeblood of retail. It is the spark

2:37:39that ignites the flywheel of long-term

2:37:41economic development. This is why option

2:37:44two with the addition of ballards as

2:37:47Laura was s suggesting to allow for

2:37:50community gathering events is the best

2:37:52solution for the plaza. Since July,

2:37:55we've been hosting we downtown Milo Fun

2:37:58fourth Friday events downtown. Some of

2:38:00you have been there. This has been an

2:38:02amazing success. We are seeing literally

2:38:04hundreds of people coming not just from

2:38:06Menllo Park but from the surrounding

2:38:08area to our downtown. They're looking at

2:38:11our retail. They're dining in our

2:38:13restaurants. This um some of the owners

2:38:16uh the owner of Cafe Roma said that

2:38:19business has doubled on fourth Fridays

2:38:22for him. The owner of Levant Desserts

2:38:25reported a 50% jump in sales during our

2:38:27September event, noting there was a

2:38:29feeling the street was alive for the

2:38:31first time. The this is a vision of what

2:38:34we could have, what we want more of, and

2:38:37we need to build the momentum.

2:38:40We had hoped to expand our series to a

2:38:42full schedule of events in 2027.

2:38:44However, if the council eliminates the

2:38:47plaza, that's option three, then our

2:38:50ability to easily close the road and

2:38:52host events will be mitigated. The

2:38:55council has itself identified downtown

2:38:57vibrancy as a top priority for years 25

2:39:01through 27, emphasizing that public

2:39:04space activation is a key to this goal.

2:39:07Creating the plaza space has been the

2:39:10only true concrete action that I am

2:39:12aware of that the council has taken to

2:39:15date. Please don't reig on this by

2:39:18removing it completely. And I would

2:39:20agree that keeping it in option one is

2:39:24going to be very problematic to the

2:39:26businesses 70% of which have said that

2:39:29they want through traffic.

2:39:31I hope that this decision to revisit the

2:39:34600 block design is not based on budget

2:39:37because we had understood that the funds

2:39:39had been reserved. Our downtown

2:39:41infrastructure needs investment

2:39:44immediately. I drove downtown tonight

2:39:46and it was very very dark. It's be dark

2:39:49because the lights don't work. The

2:39:51median lights don't work. We've had to

2:39:54scale back our program for from now for

2:39:57the next three months because it is too

2:40:00dark downtown to host events. Unlike

2:40:03other cities like Los Altos that host

2:40:06events year round, we have a safety

2:40:08issue with our infrastructure.

2:40:12We urge you tonight to keep the momentum

2:40:14going. support option two with the

2:40:16Ballards so that we can truly make the

2:40:18space usable for all. Thank you.

2:40:23>> Thank you.

2:40:27Next up is Virginia Changali followed by

2:40:32Adrien Silva.

2:40:38Can y'all hear me? Thank good evening

2:40:41council members. I'm Virginia Cheng

2:40:43Karali and I'm here today as the board

2:40:46president of the Menllo Park Fire

2:40:47Protection District Board of Directors.

2:40:50Thank you for looking at this item um

2:40:52the Santa Cruz area, Santa Cruz Avenue

2:40:54area, the 600 block specifically

2:40:57um of the three options and thank you to

2:41:00staff for outlining the three options

2:41:01and putting them into the staff report.

2:41:04Obviously, the fire district and first

2:41:05responders would like to have number

2:41:08three um as much space as possible to

2:41:11make sure that our emergency response

2:41:14vehicles get to an incident, which as

2:41:17you know can be a life-saving incident

2:41:19in a very timely manner. But at the same

2:41:22time, we also recognize that option two

2:41:26could also provide that that um that

2:41:30space that we need but also al be a a

2:41:32community space which I think some

2:41:34others have alluded to today uh with

2:41:37these removable ballards or whatever. I

2:41:39don't know what the details are, but if

2:41:41you want those spaces that's there, but

2:41:44there would be an option so that at

2:41:45least our emergency vehicles can get

2:41:48through, especially if there's more

2:41:49development in the downtown area. Um,

2:41:53but I think the most important thing for

2:41:55the fire district right now is that we

2:41:59collaborate in a more active um and

2:42:02actively engaged way because I think

2:42:05when this area was closed down, the fire

2:42:08district really was not consulted and so

2:42:11former chief, retired chief Harold

2:42:13Chapelman had to put up these barriers

2:42:16just to make sure that we didn't have

2:42:18another incident like they had in Santa

2:42:20the Santa Monica Pier

2:42:22people were being run over without any

2:42:24kind of measure to to halt vehicles. So,

2:42:28I'm just hoping that in the future as we

2:42:31move forward, y'all move forward because

2:42:33this is your property and and and you've

2:42:35got land use decisions that I know

2:42:37you're taking into consideration every

2:42:39aspect and viewpoints here. Um, that the

2:42:42fire district be part of the

2:42:44conversation so that we can work

2:42:47together to make our community safe. I

2:42:50think every single person in this room

2:42:52believes that safety is a top priority

2:42:55and it should be. So that's what I would

2:42:58like for us to continue to work on. I

2:43:00know that um city manager Justin

2:43:03Murphy's been very engaged with Chief

2:43:05Mark Lorenzan, but I think that we can

2:43:08be more actively engaged. So I

2:43:10definitely would would definitely

2:43:12promote and encourage and support that.

2:43:15Um, pretty much that is all that I have

2:43:18to say, but I just want to say one more

2:43:20thing on our November agenda. We are

2:43:23going to be talking about um some of the

2:43:26development projects like the

2:43:28middlefield road corridor including 80

2:43:31willow road, USGS,

2:43:33um, SRRI and probably our emergency

2:43:36response routes. That's on the November

2:43:37agenda. So, if anyone would like to

2:43:39attend that meeting, please. Thank you.

2:43:45Thank you.

2:43:47Next up is Adrienne Silva.

2:43:53>> Uh good evening uh members of city

2:43:56council.

2:43:58Uh my name is Adrien Silva. I'm a

2:44:00downtown resident and frequent user of

2:44:02the Santa Cruz Public Plaza. Uh please

2:44:04keep the plaza footprint as it stands

2:44:06today. Do not reopen that block to

2:44:08vehicle traffic. Public gathering spaces

2:44:10are inherently a compromise. While we

2:44:12all would appreciate more efficient

2:44:14traffic flows into and out of downtown,

2:44:16this should not be done at the expense

2:44:17of scarce and well-used public space.

2:44:21The public plaza is not perfect, but

2:44:23allowing car traffic to squeeze out or

2:44:24eliminate it is even less perfect. The

2:44:27benefits to our downtown would be

2:44:28negligible if drivers saved a few

2:44:30minutes getting to El Camino. While

2:44:32option two seems like a great

2:44:34compromise, I think that keeping that

2:44:37car traffic closed would allow that

2:44:39public space to be what it can be

2:44:42throughout the week, especially um in

2:44:44the afternoons during the middle of the

2:44:46week um when all of the kids go there

2:44:49and congregate and they have enough

2:44:51space to spread out. So, um option two

2:44:54would definitely compact that space and

2:44:57remove some of the usability as it's

2:44:59being used now. I think it is a great

2:45:00space for um scheduled events and it's

2:45:03great to see people using that space um

2:45:06you know people dancing and and being in

2:45:08downtown Menlo Park at night. I love

2:45:10seeing that but um removing that space

2:45:13for kids and daytime weekday users um I

2:45:17think is is a detriment to to the public

2:45:19space. Um reopening the vehicle to

2:45:22reopening the vehicle lane to make car

2:45:24traffic a little faster will not bring

2:45:26back shuttered businesses. It will not

2:45:28bring more customers to our downtown

2:45:30shops or restaurants, and it will not

2:45:32lead to new leases being signed in long

2:45:34vacant storefronts. What it will do is

2:45:36increase traffic volume and vehicle

2:45:38speed on Santa Cruz Avenue, which is

2:45:40supposed to be the heart of our

2:45:41downtown. Santa Cruz Avenue is more than

2:45:44just a throughway to El Camino, and I

2:45:46would love our city council to remember

2:45:48that. Um, it accommodates commerce,

2:45:50pedestrians, chance encounters,

2:45:52children, cyclists, buses, public

2:45:54gatherings, and third spaces for our

2:45:56kids. It is okay to dep prioritize car

2:45:59traffic on the one shared space in

2:46:00Menllo Park where walking with your

2:46:02child or running into a neighbor is more

2:46:04important than car throughput. So just

2:46:06let's remember those trade-offs. Um I do

2:46:08however think the public that the plaza

2:46:10should remain flexible. Um after

2:46:12November, after we start working on

2:46:14building housing downtown, we can look

2:46:15at the space again. I can see how a

2:46:17temporary reconfiguration of the plaza

2:46:20could allow for a redirection of traffic

2:46:23in order to reduce the impacts of

2:46:24downtown housing construction. But let's

2:46:27cross that crosswalk when we get to it.

2:46:29Um, in closing, public spaces that are

2:46:32wellused and loved by our community are

2:46:34hard to come by. Reducing or removing

2:46:36these spaces to improve driver travel

2:46:38times by a few minutes is simply not

2:46:40worth it. Thank you.

2:46:46Thank you.

2:46:48All right, we are seeing no further

2:46:50hands or cards.

2:46:53Mayor Nash, you may continue.

2:46:56Thank you and thank you to all the

2:46:58speakers um in the very heartfelt

2:47:01comments. I would like to now open for

2:47:04public council discussion. I think what

2:47:07I'd like to do to start is take a straw

2:47:10poll from people and see where they are

2:47:13and um definitely want to give everyone

2:47:17a chance to um have their to make

2:47:19comments. Um but I sort of wanted to see

2:47:24how we line up um at this point. So, um

2:47:32I don't um

2:47:35do we just want to go right down this

2:47:37row and um state No. Okay. [laughter]

2:47:41Do we um

2:47:43Council Member Combmes?

2:47:45>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, I I'm just

2:47:47going to say where I am like Right. And

2:47:49and

2:47:50>> and then we can make comments later as

2:47:51far as talking about how Yeah. Um

2:47:54>> and this isn't a final

2:47:55>> Yeah. So, so um I um like it meant that

2:48:01I could change during this, but what I'm

2:48:03going to say is that like I haven't

2:48:04changed since the last time we we took

2:48:07up this issue and that my preference was

2:48:09was that we reopen the vehicle travel

2:48:12lane um u but retain the on street

2:48:18parking area um as as a as a plaza of

2:48:22sorts. And so that's where I was last

2:48:24time. Um, I think at that time it was a

2:48:274-1 vote because there's lots of talk

2:48:29about Drew and 4-1 votes. [laughter] So,

2:48:31I'll I'll make that note. Um, uh, and

2:48:35yeah, I I remain um there, but I I am

2:48:39open to seeing if if there has been some

2:48:42some movement from the rest of the

2:48:43council and and again, maybe there will

2:48:45be some movement from me tonight.

2:48:48>> So, option two at this time.

2:48:54Um so I am torn. Um I am generally tend

2:48:59to be more towards option one. I

2:49:02definitely can be persuaded to option

2:49:05two. I do have some uh clarifying

2:49:07questions. Um

2:49:11and

2:49:12yes, I I just I have some clarifying

2:49:14questions for staff, so I'll leave it at

2:49:15that for now.

2:49:19So, I'm sorry. Where did you end up?

2:49:21>> I'm like between [clears throat] option

2:49:22one and two.

2:49:23>> Okay.

2:49:25>> Um,

2:49:27so I have um

2:49:30I definitely want to explain this, but I

2:49:32am actually at option three.

2:49:39>> Going to be a fun night. [clears throat]

2:49:41Um, I like uh Council Member Combmes, I

2:49:44haven't changed. Uh, I'm I believe

2:49:47option one. Um, I I don't think it's

2:49:49healthy to relitigate this every 6

2:49:51months and I want to see I mean we

2:49:54agreed on a design and it's only 25% of

2:49:56the way there. So, um, yeah, I'm still

2:49:59option one.

2:50:07Thank you, Mayor Nash. Um, I am

2:50:11leaning towards option two.

2:50:18Thank you all. Um, so we definitely

2:50:20don't have a consensus at this point.

2:50:22Um, Vice Mayor Weiss, why don't you go

2:50:24ahead with your clarifying questions,

2:50:25please? Uh, yes. And I do want to um say

2:50:29I do agree with uh, Council Member

2:50:31Schmidt, I did have several businesses

2:50:33contact me when we were discussing this.

2:50:36I believe it was over the summer and

2:50:37they were very adamant that this

2:50:40remained closed and now some of the same

2:50:41businesses are wanting it opened. So

2:50:44yes, I I agree. Um it's not ideal that

2:50:47we keep switching our minds. Um so I

2:50:50just want to point that out. Um but I do

2:50:54have a couple questions and I apologize,

2:50:55Miss Hannah. I don't know that you are

2:50:57the right person for these questions,

2:51:00but we'll see. Um so as was mentioned in

2:51:03some of the um public comments tonight

2:51:07is the idea of keeping uh one lane of

2:51:12traffic open and then uh having the

2:51:14streetery and then being able to expand

2:51:17it when we want uh for public events

2:51:20feasible.

2:51:23I'm sorry. Um, Vice Mayor Wise, if you

2:51:26could clarify, are you asking if it is

2:51:28feasible to do so or if that is the

2:51:31intent the intent of that of that

2:51:34option?

2:51:34>> Uh, feasible to do so. I just want to

2:51:36make sure because I know that, you know,

2:51:39I know, for example, for like Halloween

2:51:41Hoopla coming up, we close the whole

2:51:43street. Um, I just know that there's a

2:51:44lot of like coordination and safety

2:51:46measures that need to be taken when we

2:51:48do that. So, I just want to make sure

2:51:50that if we are going to close the 600

2:51:53block like once a month or whatever it

2:51:55is, um that that's even an option and

2:51:58feasible with like staff time and

2:52:01[clears throat]

2:52:03um in terms of staff time, I don't know

2:52:05that I am necessarily the the right

2:52:07person for that to answer that question,

2:52:09but I will say that the plan with option

2:52:12two or any of the options um or I guess

2:52:15actually option one or option two, we

2:52:18would have to revisit what the design

2:52:19look like um would look like in order to

2:52:23allow for activation of the space um as

2:52:26well as what options we could consider

2:52:29for closure of the street especially

2:52:31with option two um if that were

2:52:34something that we wanted to do um in

2:52:36terms of being able to close to close

2:52:39the street that is something that is an

2:52:41option with with either one with either

2:52:45option one or option two as you

2:52:47mentioned is happening now with with

2:52:49library and community services in the

2:52:50event that they're doing with Halloween

2:52:51Hoopla. So that is an option through the

2:52:54permitting process to do so and there is

2:52:56obviously a process as a part of that.

2:52:58Um but that would be the case with

2:53:00either option one or option two. Okay,

2:53:02that's good to know just because I what

2:53:04I am getting at is um it especially in

2:53:08the presentation and the photos that

2:53:09we've seen and having been downtown I do

2:53:12feel like the space is used quite a lot

2:53:14and I mean especially um now that we

2:53:16have the fourth Fridays um I just think

2:53:19it would be a shame to not have such a

2:53:22wonderful space. Um, and again, I know a

2:53:25lot of work went into hiring uh the

2:53:27consultants and reviewing the plans. So,

2:53:29it just seems like a waste to um not use

2:53:33it, but

2:53:35um I would be open to option two if we

2:53:39were able to um expand the streetery

2:53:44for those public events.

2:53:47And that would be a part of the design

2:53:49consideration of how do they open it up

2:53:52so to speak. um to include the

2:53:55surrounding area. Um the intent with the

2:53:58design is to have move movable pieces

2:54:01not permanent pieces as part of the

2:54:02resolution. That was one of the factors

2:54:04to be considered. So that would be one

2:54:07of the things that would have to be

2:54:08included in the design consideration is

2:54:10how do we potentially move things so

2:54:13that they maintain safety but also open

2:54:16up to um the street if we wanted to

2:54:19close that particular area close the

2:54:22street um in that particular area.

2:54:25>> Okay. Thank you.

2:54:28Council member Com

2:54:30>> just um continue with that line because

2:54:32I want to make sure I understand though

2:54:34with option one it's less important or

2:54:37necessary right to close off the street

2:54:39because an option one is the current is

2:54:41the status quo right and so what's

2:54:44excess for lack of a better word or

2:54:47surplus um is the bike lane right and

2:54:50and so

2:54:52could you foresee of a scenario where we

2:54:54would need to like close off the bike

2:54:57lane like right if if we if we kept it

2:54:59normal, like wouldn't that current size

2:55:01be enough? I'm I'm just trying to

2:55:03understand because I can see the need of

2:55:05closing off the streets for option two

2:55:08because you have a smaller plaza and so

2:55:10for larger events, you you would try to

2:55:12make use of that space.

2:55:14>> Yeah. And it would it would depend on

2:55:16the event. Um there would be some events

2:55:18where it would be more um of an

2:55:21effective event um to broaden the area,

2:55:25to expand the area. Um but yes, it it's

2:55:28definitely the case that the plaza in

2:55:31its current configuration and current

2:55:32footprint does provide enough space for

2:55:36some type of activation.

2:55:39>> Okay. Thanks. Um and just two points

2:55:43which won't necessarily be my last but

2:55:45um I would like to say though like I

2:55:47mean acknowledging that that

2:55:49[clears throat] I have been consistent

2:55:51on this issue, but I'm not trying to

2:55:53give myself brownie points. I mean if we

2:55:54look at something like that we talked

2:55:56about earlier briefly flock that is a

2:55:58position where I have evolved and so I I

2:56:00know that like in this in this seat um

2:56:04on this body where you're making these

2:56:06decisions um there can be a number of

2:56:08different factors to to cause you to to

2:56:10change. Um this is one where my

2:56:14[clears throat] my thinking has not

2:56:15changed. I would also say I don't think

2:56:17that like relitigating something in and

2:56:21of itself is a bad thing. Uh I think the

2:56:23goal should always to try to be to get

2:56:25to the right conclusion. The right

2:56:27conclusion for the community, the right

2:56:29conclusion for stakeholders and there

2:56:30can be disagreement as to what that

2:56:32right conclusion is. But you know

2:56:34relitigating is not a bad bad thing.

2:56:36There are a number of things over the

2:56:38course of our country within our

2:56:40democracy where we've relitigated it to

2:56:43what I think we would all say is the

2:56:44right the right conclusion if that had

2:56:46not been relitigated. And there was some

2:56:48fundamental things in our government and

2:56:51our society which I can point to and say

2:56:53that we very much relitigated it and

2:56:55that relitigation was a bad a good

2:56:57thing. So relitigation in and of itself

2:56:59is is not I I just want to point out is

2:57:01not a bad thing. Um but but again I I've

2:57:06I've been clear on where I stand on this

2:57:07position but appreciate that like again

2:57:09like I say there is who knows how many

2:57:11positions on in my time on this council

2:57:13where my my thinking has evolved and

2:57:14changed.

2:57:19Council member Schmidt.

2:57:21>> Yeah. Um, [clears throat] yeah. Just a

2:57:23little additional perspective as well.

2:57:25And then I had um two Well, actually,

2:57:27let me start with two quick questions.

2:57:29Um, how long has the street actually

2:57:32been closed for? I I saw the the dates

2:57:35and the ordinances, but but do we know

2:57:37physically how long has it been? Two

2:57:40years, two and a half years.

2:57:43>> It's physically enclosed. So, how long

2:57:45is that? Is that

2:57:48[clears throat]

2:57:48so the street's been physically closed?

2:57:50So, so I want to Yeah. So, so I want to

2:57:55put that out there as a point that um I

2:57:59understand people change and they have

2:58:01reactions, but you know, and they want

2:58:03to they want to see things go back to

2:58:05the way they were, but but it's been

2:58:06closed for six years. I mean, like

2:58:08that's just a a fact. Um, and the the

2:58:12world hasn't ended is kind of the the

2:58:14the end of that sentence. The the second

2:58:16question is um you know I I

2:58:21am curious about so things like Ballards

2:58:24and all that those are those last minute

2:58:26additions always make me a little crazy

2:58:30because they sound like a good idea but

2:58:31then it makes me wonder if like

2:58:34[clears throat] are we too early to

2:58:36actually then have this discussion

2:58:37because how do you factor something like

2:58:39that in that might be appealing

2:58:42and then how do we factor in the design

2:58:45of option two, which might also be

2:58:47appealing, but we don't have either of

2:58:49those to to to relitigate, right? So,

2:58:52I'm definitely not trying to punt the

2:58:54ball, but I both of those sound

2:58:56intriguing, but until I could see them,

2:58:59it's really hard to say we should go

2:59:00with option two and get rid of option

2:59:02one because, you know, we have a we have

2:59:05a better promised future with option two

2:59:08that we haven't seen yet. So, I'm just

2:59:10curious your perspective about the um

2:59:13the promise of a better future with

2:59:15option two, but without actually seeing

2:59:17the the physical options and being able

2:59:20to discuss those. Do you do you have a

2:59:22view on that?

2:59:24>> Uh thank you for that question, Council

2:59:26Member Schmidt. Um, one of the things

2:59:28that that was noted in the presentation

2:59:30is that we definitely would need to go

2:59:33back to the um, consultant to look at

2:59:38that space since the configuration, the

2:59:40footprint, the square footage, all of

2:59:41those things would change um, and how to

2:59:44design a space and what would be

2:59:46included in that space. Um, ballards

2:59:49were not a part of that consideration.

2:59:51So that would have to be a part of the

2:59:52equation going forward if if if council

2:59:55provided direction that that uh you

2:59:56wanted that as part of the

2:59:57consideration. Um what would the seating

3:00:00look like? As I mentioned, would we have

3:00:01space for activation? We talked about

3:00:04the landscaping. So yes, it's it's

3:00:06definitely an unknown that we would need

3:00:07to to um go back to the designer to

3:00:10create um a concept for that now new

3:00:14space and new footprint.

3:00:16>> Yeah. Um that's great. And then one

3:00:18comment on um on relig like that's a

3:00:21good example of I don't know whether

3:00:23that's relitigating positive or

3:00:24negative. I would say my perspective is

3:00:26that's super situational. Um you know it

3:00:29all depends on perspective. I think

3:00:31we've relitigated things on women's

3:00:32rights and other things recently that

3:00:34was not positive. Right. So I I would

3:00:37say relitigation is super situational.

3:00:40Um, and

3:00:43so I I I would rather see progress. Um,

3:00:47partly that was because I came down and

3:00:49saw both of you at farmers market and I

3:00:51purposely rode my bike and like a geek I

3:00:54took my little packet and I tried to

3:00:55envision I again rode the bike lane to

3:00:58get a sense of the protection and I

3:01:00stood out for a moment after the farmers

3:01:02market and just sort of held up the

3:01:05design and tried to picture in my mind

3:01:07the space and the decision in front of

3:01:09us. And I I would say two things that

3:01:12kept me on option one not desiring to

3:01:15relitigate was um the bigger space

3:01:18provides for students throughout um

3:01:22sorry beyond just events. A fully

3:01:24designed space would provide a much

3:01:27nicer place for um for students and

3:01:30other people who are out there. Now I

3:01:32understand it's hard to be patient with

3:01:35um uh something that's partial and it it

3:01:38doesn't look great right now. I

3:01:40understand why some of the businesses

3:01:41and folks are reacting and commenting,

3:01:43but it's 25% of the way through the

3:01:45vision, right? When you actually sit out

3:01:47there and visualize, you go, this will

3:01:49be a really nice space regardless of

3:01:51whether we have events or not. So, part

3:01:53of what's keeping me in the option one

3:01:55camp is I visualize what this is going

3:01:58to be and you know, we'll have

3:02:00programming, we'll have not programming,

3:02:01we'll have a nice place to lounge, much

3:02:04nicer than we have today. Um, so very

3:02:07thoughtfully I went back and did the

3:02:09bike lane again and tried to envision

3:02:12the space with our our printout here.

3:02:14And um, I'm purposely staying on option

3:02:17one because I think it was the right

3:02:19vision in the first place and we just

3:02:21need to ask people to be a little more

3:02:23patient because it takes a city a while

3:02:25to get these things done. So anyway,

3:02:27I'll shut up now, but hopefully that was

3:02:29useful.

3:02:32>> Council member Taylor.

3:02:34>> Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Nash. Um,

3:02:36with option one, what would be if do you

3:02:40have an idea of how long it would take

3:02:41to actually take it from 25% to 100%.

3:02:46>> Yes, thank you for that question,

3:02:47Council Member Taylor. So, um, if we

3:02:50move forward with the, um, consultant

3:02:53that was selected, again, Calendarer

3:02:55Associates, um, the design process

3:02:57would, um, be completed in spring of

3:03:00next year. Uh, the construction bidding

3:03:02would start in the summer.

3:03:04And then the um construction would start

3:03:07start in the fall with um expected

3:03:10completion at the end of next year. So

3:03:12about a year from now is what we'll be

3:03:14looking at for full buildout of option

3:03:16one.

3:03:17>> Thank you.

3:03:19>> Good question.

3:03:23>> Council member Com.

3:03:24>> Okay, quick comment though, Mayor Nash,

3:03:26I do want you to explain your evolution

3:03:28[laughter] on this.

3:03:31Um, but I I will say that like in in my

3:03:35experience and as someone who has been

3:03:38on council since co um the business

3:03:41community has been fairly clear uh for a

3:03:44very long time that they preferred the

3:03:47street open and and maybe at one point

3:03:50there were a few businesses that were in

3:03:53favor of the closure, but my experiences

3:03:56has been that like the substantial

3:03:58majority of the businesses downtown uh

3:04:01favored and had favored for a very long

3:04:03time uh a full a full opening and that's

3:04:06how we got to this you know this this

3:04:08this sort of last island right it is was

3:04:11what's what's left over from um during

3:04:13co at one point was was more complete

3:04:16closure

3:04:17uh and so it it is not that the business

3:04:20community downtown you know gets the say

3:04:23or the final say um or their position is

3:04:27most important you know we're we're all

3:04:29stakeholders. But I do think of it in

3:04:33the light of what else we're asking of

3:04:35the business community downtown. You

3:04:38know, one of the key most important

3:04:40things for downtown, I think we'd all

3:04:42agree, is success in moving forward as

3:04:46it relates to um housing downtown.

3:04:50Um, and that's something also the

3:04:53business community um has had lots of

3:04:55concerns about and in that scenario I am

3:04:59willing to say I hear your concerns.

3:05:02They are valid but there are these

3:05:05larger goals um that I think outweigh

3:05:08them. But then that does lead me to to

3:05:11grant them some difference when it comes

3:05:13to this situation. Um because I don't

3:05:16really know the larger goal. Like I

3:05:18appreciate and you're right, Council

3:05:20Member Schmidt, for that little section.

3:05:22If you're on your bike, you're

3:05:23protected, but it's it's an island. It's

3:05:25not connected to anything, and there are

3:05:26no real plans to connect it to anything

3:05:28in in in the future. And so, I don't

3:05:32know like the extensiveness of the value

3:05:35of it when I'm weighing in against what

3:05:37I think of as almost unanimous um a

3:05:41unanimous desire from the business

3:05:42community to see that reopened. And we

3:05:45can go back and forth about like whether

3:05:49their

3:05:50desires or or whether the outcome they

3:05:53think they're going to get they're going

3:05:55to get with the reopening. Um because

3:05:59there are examples of you know more

3:06:01pedestrian downtowns at this moment

3:06:04being a not great state. Um Third Street

3:06:06Prominade in Santa Monica comes comes to

3:06:08mind. There's examples of downtowns

3:06:11where you have full access still not

3:06:13being a great state. and and there's

3:06:14examples of of the reverse. But what I

3:06:17do say is that like

3:06:21the men and women in our downtown

3:06:22business communities are the ones that

3:06:24are there every day, right? They are the

3:06:27ones who have staked their livelihoods,

3:06:29um you know, their time, their energy in

3:06:33into those businesses and trying to make

3:06:35it a success. Um and and they from their

3:06:39vantage point, which is better than

3:06:42mine, they see that they think that

3:06:44there will be value in the street being

3:06:46open and that ha having residents,

3:06:49customers being able to, you know, drive

3:06:52through um uh Santa Cruz and and I don't

3:06:56have any specific information to counter

3:06:59that. And so since they're everyday

3:07:01again, I will give them a certain amount

3:07:02of of difference. And so hopefully that

3:07:05is my last comments. And now we're going

3:07:06to get get to Mayor Nash and and her

3:07:08going from option one option three.

3:07:11>> So I have done a complete 180 on this.

3:07:14And I guess the first thing I want to

3:07:16say is just I love the idea of having a

3:07:19place for people to meet friends, kids

3:07:21to meet after school, um somewhere to

3:07:24bring your work, your some food, relax

3:07:27with a book. Um and I also think that

3:07:30the protected bike lane has been a

3:07:32benefit is a benefit. And I want to call

3:07:34out staff has found a very good workable

3:07:37solution for that bike lane. I think it

3:07:39um now is working well with the stop

3:07:41sign there and how they've angled it.

3:07:44And so I think that's working and I'd

3:07:47actually love to see a plaza expanded at

3:07:49some point and just generally a larger

3:07:52pedestrian area downtown. I just think

3:07:54right now is not the time. Um the plaza

3:07:58has taken far too long to get

3:08:01implemented. No fault. It's just the way

3:08:04things work. And in the meantime, people

3:08:07are not taking care of the area. I go

3:08:09down there every day. Um I've actually

3:08:11changed.

3:08:13If we had had this discussion a month

3:08:14ago, I would still be at one at this

3:08:17point, having gone down there every day.

3:08:20People are just not taking care of the

3:08:22area. It's often dirty. It's not

3:08:23inviting for people to stop. Um we need

3:08:26people who are using the area to leave

3:08:28the place clean and inviting.

3:08:31you know, there many times the there's

3:08:33it's just completely littered with

3:08:35trash. I know that staff has a picture

3:08:37that they took um of what it looks like.

3:08:40And while the city's starting to clean

3:08:42the the place, it still means that

3:08:44there's there's a mess overnight. So, as

3:08:46long as we have, you know, people are

3:08:48not taking care of it. And I think that

3:08:51um that in addition to just looking

3:08:55ahead to the potential um downtown

3:08:57construction,

3:08:59we're going to need all the streets open

3:09:01um for vehicles for the traffic

3:09:03circulation for construction activity

3:09:06and supporting convenient access for our

3:09:08downtown merchants. Um I also think with

3:09:11the winter weather, the plaza will not

3:09:13be well used.

3:09:16So, I think that now is the time where I

3:09:19believe we need to open up the street.

3:09:22Um, in large part because of what we're

3:09:24going to be doing downtown, regardless

3:09:27of how P

3:09:29ends up, there's still going to be

3:09:31construction downtown. We've got a new

3:09:33project now at 800 Oak Grove, which will

3:09:36certainly have some impacts. There are

3:09:38hopefully other projects that will be

3:09:40coming forward. And um I since I'm on

3:09:43the dis I won't say anything about P. Um

3:09:48but I would like a future council to

3:09:50reconsider this downtown amenity. Um I

3:09:53do think it's really important. I think

3:09:55it's really critical. Um but I just feel

3:09:57like now is not the right time. Um, I

3:10:00also liked the idea of um one of the um

3:10:06people um emailing us said um I like the

3:10:10idea of revisiting a small plaza on

3:10:12Curtis Street possibly um sooner rather

3:10:16than later. Um I think it would have to

3:10:19be um yes to tables and no to astroturf.

3:10:23Um we do not want to do that again. Um,

3:10:26and I think if this is chosen, it's

3:10:28something where we'd have to do the we

3:10:30should do the design, we should get

3:10:32everything ready to implement before

3:10:34closing the block and then install it

3:10:36right away once the block's closed. I

3:10:38think this way, which we um, you know,

3:10:40we did not choose. It was closed because

3:10:42of um, COVID and then we've decided to

3:10:45prolong it. Um, and we've there's been

3:10:48many different um, things going on here.

3:10:52But I think um I guess I I just think we

3:10:55need to open it. I've been considering

3:10:58um option number two and I just don't

3:11:02see it being viable. Um the staff report

3:11:04says that the picnic tables would be

3:11:06removed. We'd be using the small um cafe

3:11:09tables which are nice, but I just don't

3:11:11think it gives the same opportunities as

3:11:15um the picnic tables do. And I think um

3:11:20I am not in any way a designer, but just

3:11:25thinking about we'd have to have a

3:11:26non-porous um side so that people don't

3:11:29run into the street with the traffic

3:11:32going by on B um it just um I think it's

3:11:36a very hard design to make it really

3:11:38worthwhile and we still would be making

3:11:41um we still would be work dealing with

3:11:45uh for the

3:11:47probably a year and a quarter or so with

3:11:50um

3:11:51a

3:11:53very um not much furniture. Um and we um

3:11:58I don't I do not know how to get people

3:12:00to clean up after themselves. I think

3:12:03that it's something where the signs

3:12:05would certainly help. Um but until we

3:12:09can until people can

3:12:12stop leaving trash which not only is

3:12:14makes it unattractive for people to sit

3:12:16there but it also overnight it attracts

3:12:19rats and um you know just other vermin.

3:12:24I just think right now we um would do

3:12:27best for everyone

3:12:29unfortunately by opening it up and then

3:12:32seeing whether we can put more picnic

3:12:34tables down at Fremont Park. um see what

3:12:37we can do. I absolutely I love seeing

3:12:39the kids there. Um I don't love seeing

3:12:41the mess that um not just the kids that

3:12:44everybody everybody leaves.

3:12:54>> Yeah. So I think uh you bring up a um I

3:12:58think a point worth exploring because we

3:13:01had done the earlier Curtis Po

3:13:05um pilot and and that was something that

3:13:09immediately

3:13:11relatively quickly the community had

3:13:14some concerns about because um there was

3:13:18the astral turf but then um it it seemed

3:13:21to have not been kept up quite well and

3:13:23and then became something that attracted

3:13:26um the unhoused.

3:13:29And so it's interesting because for this

3:13:33um [clears throat]

3:13:36this plaza concept or pilot, however you

3:13:39want to call it, those issues didn't

3:13:42really appear until somewhat recently.

3:13:45And and I do want to acknowledge that

3:13:46for a number of years, Ali, the owner of

3:13:50Bishova,

3:13:52very actively

3:13:54um maintained and took care of of of the

3:13:58plaza area. Um and that's essentially is

3:14:03the kind of vigilance that's needed to

3:14:05make these things work. And without

3:14:07that, it's clear that then some of the

3:14:10very concerns that we um that became

3:14:14apparent with the Curtis pilot then

3:14:16became apparent with the um with with

3:14:19with the plaza here. And so I think to

3:14:22to your point, Mayor, um unless there is

3:14:27a commitment to some very active uh you

3:14:31know, maintenance and attention, then I

3:14:34think you're going to have those those

3:14:36issues that um that I think we would all

3:14:40describe as as not not ideal.

3:14:43Though a more sort of practical question

3:14:46is could the picnic tables not be sort

3:14:48of like turned horizontal?

3:14:51um to like so that they were horizontal

3:14:54to the curb and to the street. And

3:14:56again, obviously, I appreciate there

3:14:57would be less of them there, but it

3:15:00seems like you could still retain at

3:15:02least a few picnic tables with a smaller

3:15:06footprint that option two offers. Um,

3:15:10but again, I will say that like I favor

3:15:12option and I don't know if that was

3:15:14really a question or I was just saying.

3:15:16Um, I still favor option two because I I

3:15:19think I think it has become something

3:15:21that like Watts in the community really

3:15:23value and I think to just take it away

3:15:26completely. Um, you know, would would

3:15:29really be disappointing for a number of

3:15:31people. Uh but in either way, retaining

3:15:35it in any fashion, I I have that the

3:15:37concerns and so it was great to hear

3:15:38that we were like hiring someone as it

3:15:41relates to to maintenance. Um but but

3:15:43that that is my concern.

3:15:46>> Mayor,

3:15:46>> agree. I would just say um in the last

3:15:48few days um they're including the

3:15:50weekend, which I don't know how that

3:15:52worked. Thank you. Um there has been um

3:15:56city staff out there in the mornings

3:15:58cleaning it up, which has really been

3:16:00great. doesn't take care of the

3:16:01overnight rodent issue. Um, but it

3:16:04certainly made it much more, you know,

3:16:06just nice again. Um, but that puts

3:16:09quite, you know, we do have someone

3:16:11hired, but that's there's a lot of other

3:16:13things on Santa Cruz Avenue that could

3:16:15be in downtown that could also use some

3:16:17attention and that really focuses on

3:16:20that one area.

3:16:26>> Council member Taylor, thank you, Mayor

3:16:28Nash. Um my my [clears throat] question

3:16:30is with option two, what's what would be

3:16:33the timeline for option two?

3:16:38That timeline has not been established

3:16:40yet because we're we have an unknown of

3:16:43what the design would look like, but we

3:16:46do have the um um consultant in place.

3:16:50So we move forward with the contract and

3:16:51revise the scope for them to uh create

3:16:55something for uh option two. We would

3:16:58have to come back to you after we have

3:17:00established that with what the timeline

3:17:01for the buildout of that would look

3:17:03like.

3:17:03>> Okay.

3:17:04>> Thank you.

3:17:10>> But but just so I'm understand with

3:17:12option two, it would be phased, right?

3:17:13There'd be one point at which you like

3:17:15sort of just contract the plaza and then

3:17:19a fuller buildout would come later,

3:17:21right? You wouldn't wait for final

3:17:23designs and a fuller build out for

3:17:25option two to contract it, right? Do you

3:17:28you would phase that or if I'm

3:17:33>> happy to jump in. Um yeah, we would

3:17:37first take the the council action to

3:17:39reopen the vehicle lane. So that would

3:17:41be a city council meeting. Then we would

3:17:43need to schedule our contractor to come

3:17:45out for the asphalt grinding, the

3:17:47restriping, those types of things to

3:17:49actually open the lane.

3:17:50>> Um and then reconfigure the space so

3:17:53that it's safe. So we could, like you're

3:17:54saying, contract in the meantime, but it

3:17:56would take a longer period to work with

3:17:59calendar and associates to to just kind

3:18:02of revise what we want to do with a

3:18:04smaller plaza.

3:18:04>> Yeah.

3:18:07>> Do you have any idea how you would um

3:18:11keep the lane [clears throat]

3:18:13keep it safe? So for example, on the

3:18:15streeteries, they have a definite it's

3:18:18completely blocked off from the street.

3:18:19I would imagine that you'd need to do

3:18:21something similar um in this case. So,

3:18:24it really would be you could just enter

3:18:26the plaza um from the sidewalk or from

3:18:30the end, but not um you wouldn't want

3:18:33people crossing lanes of traffic, I

3:18:35assume.

3:18:36>> Right. And I I think you used the term

3:18:37non-porous earlier. Yeah. That um I

3:18:40think we would just need to think

3:18:41through how to most safely implement

3:18:43that in the interim period.

3:18:46I'll just add that we would likely use

3:18:48the guidelines established with the

3:18:50streeteries

3:18:51um which um allow allow for safety

3:18:54obviously. So thank you uh council

3:18:57member Schmidt.

3:18:58>> Yeah, I want to make sure I'm tracking

3:19:00it as well because

3:19:02as I thought about option three, I just

3:19:04had this big question of why would we

3:19:06even keep the straighteries like that?

3:19:09It it's one of the well because if you

3:19:11look at the option there that is that

3:19:13feels very exposed to traffic parking

3:19:17you know I I'm trying to get a sense of

3:19:19>> but we have to have that throughout the

3:19:21city you know throughout that

3:19:24Santa Cruz Avenue if you look at the

3:19:26streeteries

3:19:27>> right correct thank you

3:19:28>> so we would have the same kind of

3:19:30barrier so the the reason is in option

3:19:33one obviously the the barrier is extra

3:19:35space and all the stuff that we have so

3:19:38we would do the same thing. We would

3:19:40have the same kind of barrier setup that

3:19:42we have further down the road.

3:19:44>> Correct. Like at Colette, at Roma, at

3:19:46Camper. Okay.

3:19:47>> Um and I believe before CO we actually

3:19:52that was how

3:19:54>> um Beast Vita and Left Bank were set up.

3:19:58>> Okay. So So Okay, got it. So that that

3:20:00that is more protected than it looks on

3:20:02the diagram essentially. Yeah. Okay.

3:20:12Yeah.

3:20:15>> So, I guess um does anyone want to

3:20:18should we take another straw poll? Um

3:20:22where are people?

3:20:24>> Council member Taylor. Thank you, Mayor

3:20:26Nash. So, with with option three,

3:20:28there's still streeteries.

3:20:30>> Yeah,

3:20:30>> there's still streeties and I understand

3:20:33your safety concerns. Yeah, it just

3:20:35looked like it was very exposed.

3:20:41>> But in option three to be clear like the

3:20:43current plaza will be turn return to on

3:20:46street parking ultimately like it'll

3:20:48look like it looked before before the

3:20:50pandemic.

3:20:51>> But we would adjust barriers to protect

3:20:54the that's kind of what I was getting at

3:20:55is we would adjust barriers to protect

3:20:58the streetery in option three

3:21:00>> because right now it's just extra space

3:21:02around. There's no through traffic right

3:21:04next to the streeteries,

3:21:05>> but they've got barriers right there. I

3:21:07don't I I mean maybe staff can make a

3:21:09comment, but I don't believe the

3:21:11barriers for um the streetery need to be

3:21:14changed. There would be pl actually

3:21:20>> because the streeteries are just those

3:21:21things that have the essentially a

3:21:24cement roundings and those tables

3:21:26remember at least a during part of some

3:21:29time ago, right? were using they had set

3:21:32up tables like left bank and bishrovita

3:21:34outside of the streetery. Right.

3:21:36>> Right. Which is now where we have those

3:21:37little those round tables.

3:21:39>> Right.

3:21:39>> Um but that's not part of the streetery.

3:21:42So and as far as I know the streetery is

3:21:44all like enclosed and so it's not not a

3:21:47a a safety issue but like a car would be

3:21:50parking like next to the shrutery but

3:21:53there there is the little cement thing.

3:21:55>> Okay. So there would be that's that's

3:21:56what I was getting at is is between the

3:21:58parking and the the now open traffic

3:22:00both both in option two and option three

3:22:02there would be the barriers would be

3:22:04moved closer to the streetery itself it

3:22:06sounds like so

3:22:07>> I don't believe that the barriers for

3:22:09the streetery would move it would be

3:22:10just like at camper where you've got

3:22:12parking right there

3:22:14>> and you've got cars going by

3:22:16>> and so it would look just I'm

3:22:19envisioning it would be just like at

3:22:20camper

3:22:21>> as I understand it nothing here touches

3:22:23the streeteries

3:22:25Correct. The existing streeteries with

3:22:27the restaurants adjacent to the plaza

3:22:29would remain.

3:22:31>> Okay.

3:22:31>> And they are are following the

3:22:32guidelines as outlined in the the

3:22:35outdoor dining street guideline.

3:22:38>> Okay.

3:22:40>> Council member Taylor.

3:22:41>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, I I remember

3:22:45when this was on the council's agenda 6

3:22:48years ago and what the intention um was

3:22:51then and for me now looking at option

3:22:55one, it was an opportunity to see

3:22:58something improved downtown and and that

3:23:02was the goal. Now, it's looking at that

3:23:06same goal in figuring out um how to

3:23:10include it since downtown is on the city

3:23:13council's priority list. So, something

3:23:14to look at, but including next year

3:23:18creating community space downtown um in

3:23:22addition to the parks. Um and then also,

3:23:27so I'm leaning towards option three

3:23:29because I know you were going to do um a

3:23:31straw poll. Uh my concern is just I feel

3:23:34like I'm displacing our young folks that

3:23:36are hanging out downtown. Um and also

3:23:39wanted to to look at Fourth Fridays as

3:23:43well and the concern around lighting. Um

3:23:45it's my understanding that the a permit

3:23:49to close the street off as possible for

3:23:51Fourth Friday. So, that's not an issue,

3:23:53but addressing other safety concerns.

3:23:56Um, downtown for me is something that

3:23:59needs to be addressed if they're going

3:24:00to continue. Um, it's it's not possible.

3:24:03I'm not sure if that's possible or not.

3:24:05So, I don't know if that's a question

3:24:06[clears throat]

3:24:07um for staff.

3:24:10>> I'm sorry, Councilman Mat, could you? So

3:24:12my question is with the fourth Fridays

3:24:16um downtown if the street is opened, how

3:24:20um can the city address

3:24:22the lighting concerns that were brought

3:24:25up? Just the safety concerns.

3:24:28So if you're blocking the street off,

3:24:29the permit includes blocking the street

3:24:31off, but does it address lighting? It

3:24:34does not. The permit does not. It just

3:24:38allows for so if they were to um close

3:24:42the street, there would be a traffic um

3:24:44plan that would need to be in place um

3:24:46for rerouting traffic because of the

3:24:48closure of the street, but that would

3:24:50not address the the lighting along the

3:24:53median. And I think the lighting is

3:24:55actually a a issue every day. Um,

3:25:03am I seeing city manager Murphy, did you

3:25:07want to say anything or

3:25:12uh not right this uh maybe like being

3:25:15able to stay um

3:25:18[snorts]

3:25:19let's see uh related to the lighting. I

3:25:23just need [clears throat] assistance

3:25:24from others. But if we're talking about

3:25:25the lighting around the trees, my

3:25:27recollection was there was some ch we're

3:25:29facing some budget challenges. I just

3:25:31need to double I'm just trying to double

3:25:33check what the outcome of that was,

3:25:34which is kind of separate than than this

3:25:37primary issue at hand. So I just

3:25:39>> hear that the city council decided not

3:25:41to continue the lighting around the

3:25:43trees as the lights went out by, you

3:25:45know, we would not we can have the

3:25:47public works director confirm. So that

3:25:49was just one thing I wanted to kind of

3:25:50try to get clarity on and then we can

3:25:52move back to the across the three

3:25:54options and trying to get consensus of

3:25:56which of those options.

3:26:00>> Council member Com.

3:26:02>> So um piggybacking off of what council

3:26:06member Schmidt said, I I'd actually like

3:26:08to propose something because he said

3:26:10like, you know, I don't know like I

3:26:11don't I don't know what this is going to

3:26:12look like or or what the impact is going

3:26:15to be. So,

3:26:18um, option one, we've seen we've seen

3:26:20how this looked. It's been this way for

3:26:21some years now. Option three, we know

3:26:24how that looks because [laughter] that

3:26:25was pre- pandemic.

3:26:28Why don't we just try option two as a

3:26:30pilot? So, we don't even commit to like

3:26:32like long-term like that option two

3:26:35would be the final where to end up.

3:26:37Let's just sort of try for some period

3:26:40of time. And I know this this makes this

3:26:43even longer this this journey we're on.

3:26:46Um but but let's try for some period of

3:26:49time a pilot of option two and that be

3:26:52the only council direction in action. um

3:26:55and see because I don't know maybe then

3:26:57you say like oh yeah it is too small

3:26:59like right or or yeah like having the

3:27:01traffic you know kind of close is not

3:27:04ideal but that's you know and again and

3:27:07as we all know option two has been the

3:27:09one I've been on for for a while but it

3:27:11could have some um deficiencies which

3:27:13I'm not aware of because we've actually

3:27:15not seen it in practice and so that

3:27:17would be I guess my one proposal of how

3:27:20we might might proceed from here

3:27:23>> and I guess um My question would be

3:27:27actually I would I would think that at

3:27:29that point we would not go ahead with

3:27:31the design until we actually had an

3:27:34opportunity to see what more of it. So

3:27:36we're dealing with it again in an

3:27:40yeah incomplete state. But at least we

3:27:42know what the incomplete state looks

3:27:43like in one

3:27:47and three which is yeah

3:28:01I can get behind that. I will just say

3:28:03that

3:28:05um I'm

3:28:09>> concerned about I'm concerned about um

3:28:12the how do we keep it clean with um and

3:28:16how do we just how do we do that and

3:28:19have people actually take care of the

3:28:20area? Um, I mean it

3:28:25but I think it gets to a lot of the

3:28:27points as far as opening the street for

3:28:32um as far as yeah for construction for

3:28:35circulation. Um, again I will just say I

3:28:38hope that at some point a future council

3:28:40looks at this because I do like the idea

3:28:42of it being

3:28:44having a pedestrian bike area but now I

3:28:46do not think is the time. And and I

3:28:49would only say that like yeah, this is

3:28:51all what I'm proposing is something that

3:28:52like punts this to a new council in a

3:28:56year, but at that point they'll have

3:28:57additional data points. Um about like

3:29:01how an option two looks in practice. Um

3:29:05and and then you might I know maybe this

3:29:08is like wishful thinking. You might we

3:29:09might have some further clarity of

3:29:12downtown housing. um

3:29:14[clears throat and laughter] right uh

3:29:15and and whether then like you know like

3:29:19access is is a priority there. So, so

3:29:22going back and returning to option one

3:29:23isn't isn't something that we want to

3:29:25put on the table u because um you know

3:29:28because having access is going to be be

3:29:30a priority. And so that that's the only

3:29:32thing like I would say that you know we

3:29:34probably are in this sort of pilot

3:29:36state. We should be probably for some

3:29:39time until like I say there is there is

3:29:41like some clarity on on on if something

3:29:44is happening soon or sooner rather than

3:29:46later as it relates to downtown housing

3:29:48because like I say like in that case

3:29:50like that would become the priority and

3:29:52everything we would do at downtown would

3:29:54sort of be to um make the impacts of

3:29:58that less and and it could be that like

3:30:00you again like you have a fully open

3:30:02Santa Cruz

3:30:07>> council member

3:30:08[clears throat] Um, I'm just curious.

3:30:11So, uh,

3:30:15I think I was I was contemplating the

3:30:17the sort of punting idea. The concern I

3:30:20have is partially what [clears throat]

3:30:22um, council member Taylor articulated,

3:30:24which is it becomes the indefinite

3:30:27future, right? And it's not only just a

3:30:29year, it becomes three years and then

3:30:31maybe never. And I do think this idea of

3:30:33a community third space is is important

3:30:35and it's why I'm still sort of in the

3:30:38option one space. The question I um and

3:30:41the reason I'm not in the option two

3:30:43space is I want to make sure I

3:30:44understood from the staff report and

3:30:46from some of the comments,

3:30:49it felt [clears throat] like

3:30:51option two really limits that community

3:30:54third space. like it didn't it didn't

3:30:56come across as being very feasible as a

3:30:59great space for some of the things we

3:31:01envisioned originally. Um it's just a

3:31:04little bit of like removal of parking

3:31:05and a place to have a pick, you know,

3:31:07like a lunch. It wasn't a true third

3:31:10space. So I that's how I interpreted

3:31:12option two. Uh and I also interpreted I

3:31:14think from your comments. So is that

3:31:17kind of where we're thinking it it

3:31:19really limits it? Well, yeah. That's why

3:31:21we're we're referring to it more of a

3:31:23community as a community space rather

3:31:26than a plaza.

3:31:27>> Yeah.

3:31:28>> Um and emphasizing the change in the

3:31:31size and the configuration and the

3:31:32footprint.

3:31:33>> Yeah.

3:31:34>> Um so again, we would look at with the

3:31:37design team what we are able to do

3:31:39there, but we are identifying it as more

3:31:42of a community space rather than a full

3:31:45plaza.

3:31:45>> Yeah. Got it. And then the second quick

3:31:47question is um just sorry for I I just

3:31:51has lost my um uh uh I I don't think we

3:31:56need to go back all the way to the

3:31:58beginning but do you have an estim um a

3:32:01ballpark estimate of sunk costs like if

3:32:04we if we did option three and we reverse

3:32:06course how how much sort of time and

3:32:10energy and actual cost have we sunk have

3:32:13we have we already expended on the

3:32:15project just ballpark is is great. It

3:32:18doesn't have to be precise.

3:32:20>> I can give um at least one portion and

3:32:23then I'll um defer to um

3:32:27uh public works director um for

3:32:29[clears throat] the additional um 61,000

3:32:33was spent on the furniture. Um and then

3:32:37there's remaining budget for the the

3:32:39design and the construction as I

3:32:41mentioned um from the full budget. I

3:32:43want you to speak to that.

3:32:46>> Sure. There's staff time that was spent

3:32:48organizing the closure. We did hire a

3:32:51planner designer to give us the

3:32:53conceptual plans. I think that may have

3:32:55been maybe $30,000.

3:32:58So, there have definitely been some sunk

3:33:00costs, although some of those costs um

3:33:03in terms of the striping and all that

3:33:05that that has to be done redone anyway.

3:33:08>> Yeah. And then and then the cost if we

3:33:10were to proceed with option one, what's

3:33:13the remaining cost to be spent? I just

3:33:16to get it straight in my head,

3:33:18>> we have around $250,000.

3:33:22>> So about a 100,000 sunk cost and another

3:33:24250,000

3:33:26to to be spent. Okay, thanks.

3:33:29>> However, some of the um this furniture

3:33:33could be utilized elsewhere. Some of the

3:33:35other stuff obviously is totally sunk.

3:33:40Council member Taylor. Thank you. Thank

3:33:42you, Mayor Nash. Is it possible to use

3:33:45some of the funding that if we went with

3:33:48either option two or three to use the

3:33:50remaining funding for the lighting?

3:33:56>> Indeed. Well, the the contract we

3:33:58eliminated was part of our operating

3:34:00budget. So, those are ongoing costs. But

3:34:03what we can do is assess uh we do have a

3:34:06lot of challenges with the street

3:34:07lighting in downtown. So we can assess

3:34:09if some of those lights are out. We we

3:34:11should um we can do that this week and

3:34:15we can assess in terms of holding larger

3:34:18night events

3:34:20um how much lighting those events would

3:34:23need and assess uh things that could be

3:34:26um you know put up [clears throat] for

3:34:28those specific

3:34:30types of events.

3:34:33Thank you.

3:34:35I think we should seriously consider

3:34:38whether or not it's worth trying to

3:34:39revive the lights on the downtown trees.

3:34:42Um it seems like it's been they've been

3:34:45out as much as they've been on. And it

3:34:48may be worth

3:34:50waiting and doing a really good lighting

3:34:53plan and actually doing something that

3:34:55would um you know can be part of the

3:34:58downtown

3:35:00vibrancy

3:35:03that is a long-term fix rather than just

3:35:05something that gets us through. Um,

3:35:08having said that, you know, perhaps

3:35:09there's something that could be done for

3:35:12um

3:35:14for events that would, you know,

3:35:18not take a tremendous amount of effort

3:35:20or money,

3:35:22but I I just I really I love the way the

3:35:25trees look and I think they um they

3:35:28really light up the area nicely and it

3:35:30just seems whenever I'm really, you

3:35:33know, one night I'll be driving down

3:35:35there be or walking down

3:35:37everything will be working and I'll be

3:35:39excited and the next day or next night

3:35:42half of them are out. It just seems like

3:35:44they're really um difficult to

3:35:47work with. So I worry about putting

3:35:49money into that.

3:35:54>> [clears throat]

3:35:58>> So I guess um

3:36:01we need to wrap this up and come up with

3:36:04some um

3:36:08decision.

3:36:09does. Um I will

3:36:14so council member Combmes you started at

3:36:16two you are still

3:36:18at

3:36:20well this is like right just a study

3:36:22session right so there's no it's just

3:36:24like where there's we can get consensus

3:36:27and staff will take that direct where we

3:36:29can get like three votes towards a

3:36:31direction or some sort of directional

3:36:35um

3:36:38um

3:36:41And so I would I would say that like my

3:36:42proposal would be that like we um set

3:36:46aside

3:36:47uh resolving long-term um the the the

3:36:52long-term option or state of of the

3:36:55plaza. Uh and we would give staff

3:36:58direction to look to as a pilot um you

3:37:04know um contracting the the plaza. I'm

3:37:08still going to call it a plaza

3:37:10[laughter] whatever whatever size to

3:37:12essentially the width of of the the

3:37:16streeteries

3:37:18um for you know some period of time. I

3:37:21don't know if it's like six months or a

3:37:23year. Um, and then to come back to

3:37:26council to to make a final determination

3:37:30on on what what would be the what's the

3:37:33best long-term option or build out for

3:37:36for um for for this plaza area, whether

3:37:40it is a buildout

3:37:42with the status quo of of going back to

3:37:45option one, build that out, uh whether

3:37:48it's a buildout of option two, or

3:37:51whether at that point the council

3:37:52obviously can make a decision that it's

3:37:54it's in the best interest just to to

3:37:55fully um open um the street and return

3:38:00return that to on street parking. So So

3:38:02that's would be my proposal for for

3:38:06direction to staff.

3:38:11Um, I would be in agreement with that

3:38:13and I would add that um if we could look

3:38:18into

3:38:19uh as council member Taylor suggested

3:38:22using the money that we are then not

3:38:25spending to maybe look at lighting that

3:38:27could be a better long-term solution

3:38:29just because I do think the lights on

3:38:31the trees add a lot and if they're also

3:38:33able to be used like for events then I

3:38:35think that's like a win-win. And so I

3:38:37think that's something we should

3:38:38consider.

3:38:42So I would agree although I would not um

3:38:44I would I would suggest that we look not

3:38:47just at the trees but at whatever um any

3:38:51okay any sort of lighting downtown and

3:38:54however you know whatever works best. Um

3:38:58and I could um I could be on board with

3:39:02that as well.

3:39:05Council member Schmidt. And it's fine

3:39:07that we're not all in. I

3:39:09>> was gonna say I'm happy to be the

3:39:10contrarian view. I look I I think that

3:39:13um residents deserve a plaza. I still

3:39:16believe in the original vision. I I

3:39:18don't feel good about an unknown

3:39:20community space created over an

3:39:21indefinite period of time. It's not a

3:39:23reflection on staff. It just it kind of

3:39:25kicks the ball down the field. You know,

3:39:27we've got I mean, the thing I would say

3:39:29is we've got a concrete proposal. We've

3:39:32got it's about a year away. Um, we have

3:39:35the funds and we have a plan. Like, so

3:39:37part of the reason I haven't moved much

3:39:38is I like the original vision. I think

3:39:40we deserve a plaza downtown and it's

3:39:43concrete, you know, and and so now we're

3:39:47not to this is not a reflection on what

3:39:48you guys said, but it's just I don't

3:39:50like this. We're now kind of resetting a

3:39:52little bit into this indefinite pilot

3:39:54that we're not quite sure and what's it

3:39:55going to look like and we've done all

3:39:57this work. We've sunk some cost into

3:39:59this thing and we're a year away. So I

3:40:02it's almost like dropping the ball at

3:40:04the 10 yard line before you score a

3:40:05goal. So that's why I'm kind of the

3:40:07contrarian view is I'd like us to keep

3:40:09going, but I I understand if I'm

3:40:11outvoted on that or out if I'm not on

3:40:14the the winning side of that argument.

3:40:15So

3:40:16>> Council Member Taylor.

3:40:20>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. Um, I'm in

3:40:23agreement with what council member

3:40:27Comolmes shared and also what vice mayor

3:40:30shared as well. So it would be a pilot

3:40:34for option two

3:40:39and so um and that would not include a

3:40:42design effort right now. Correct. Okay.

3:40:45I would ask one more qu um I have one

3:40:48more request on it. Can we find a name

3:40:50for it? Because I've been finding, you

3:40:52know, it is really difficult to figure

3:40:54out when you're trying to meet people

3:40:56what to call it. And I just think

3:41:02I don't know if that's appropriate right

3:41:04now. Um, but it's just something so that

3:41:07we have a

3:41:09>> Mayor, I think you should take a page

3:41:10from our president's own book.

3:41:13[laughter]

3:41:13I say Nash Plaza. I mean, I'm just gonna

3:41:16put that one out there.

3:41:24All right. Can um would you can you wrap

3:41:28up or do you I think we're in pretty

3:41:30good consensus at this point. Yeah. So,

3:41:33what I heard was pursuing um a

3:41:35short-term approach of option two as a

3:41:37pilot 6 months to a year. Um and then

3:41:41we'll come back to council with findings

3:41:43so to speak from that. um determine

3:41:47there wouldn't be a design element as a

3:41:49part of that but just basically adjust

3:41:51the space

3:41:53um and then any remaining funds for a

3:41:56lighting plan.

3:42:02>> I guess I would determine a name. How do

3:42:04the two of perhaps I um

3:42:09do you do as professionals um

3:42:14is this workable? Do you have any

3:42:17suggestions before we close this out? Do

3:42:19you have comments or things that would

3:42:21be helpful to us? Because you know

3:42:26we're struggling with this.

3:42:30So, if I may add, so we uh we can

3:42:32definitely um

3:42:35uh create a space. We have planter boxes

3:42:38in as part of our inventory that we uh

3:42:41we removed. So, we can do that. We can

3:42:44address some of the curvature issues

3:42:46with the furniture that we actually did

3:42:48install. Um it would be very similar to

3:42:52a uh a camper streetery with the

3:42:55exception of us having to explore the

3:42:57lighting options and uh either figuring

3:43:00out a um you know solar powered median

3:43:03lighting that can be protected from

3:43:05rodents because often they're the ones

3:43:07that chew the wires and so we can assess

3:43:10that but having maybe some technical

3:43:12help on the lighting front would

3:43:14definitely be fruitful. I think in terms

3:43:16of the space we have, the furniture um

3:43:19to make make something work.

3:43:22>> And I'll just add that I think the other

3:43:24test will be what we're able to do in

3:43:26terms of activations

3:43:28um in now at a kind of a different size

3:43:30and different configuration and we can

3:43:32also work on how do we configure the and

3:43:35lay out the furniture so that there is

3:43:36space for activations as well. So, we'll

3:43:39also look at that.

3:43:42And whatever you can do to light the

3:43:44crosswalks,

3:43:46that would be really beneficial.

3:43:49Thank you.

3:43:52Any other?

3:43:54Great. Thank you so much.

3:43:56>> Mayor, mayor, just to clarify,

3:43:58>> please.

3:44:01>> Sorry. I just want to clarify with the

3:44:02team. My understanding of that is that

3:44:04we do need to return with the reszo to

3:44:06reopen the street. we need to

3:44:08memorialize that and so as part of that

3:44:10reszo instead of uh reopening with

3:44:12indefinitely it' be reopening for a 6 to

3:44:1512 month pilot or something like that

3:44:16but we've we've gone through this before

3:44:18with Ryan's lane and other things we

3:44:19have some uh templates but I just want

3:44:21to be clear there will be a agenda item

3:44:23in the next um few meetings and so just

3:44:27then trying to figure out that

3:44:28expectation of the the reszo returning

3:44:32sometime in the next few meetings and

3:44:34then it's a separate process to then do

3:44:37that constriction down. So that might be

3:44:39towards the end of this year. I don't I

3:44:41don't know exactly, but we'll have that

3:44:42timeline when we bring back the reszo to

3:44:44reopen the street temporarily.

3:44:48>> Just wanted to make sure. Yeah. Great.

3:44:49>> Helpful to have that timeline.

3:44:54>> Excellent.

3:44:56>> All right. Thank you so much.

3:44:58>> Thank you.

3:45:04So next we are going for the public

3:45:06hearing. Public hearings are a formal

3:45:09proceeding held in order to receive

3:45:10testimony from all interested parties on

3:45:13a proposed issue or action. The public

3:45:16hearing tonight is K1. introduce and

3:45:18wave the first reading of an ordinance

3:45:20to amend section 15.16.110

3:45:24setbacks of title 15 subdivisions of the

3:45:27Menllo Park municipal code to remove the

3:45:30subdivision ordinance front setback

3:45:32requirement for buildings on lots where

3:45:34lot frontage abuts the outside of any

3:45:37curve of a radius of 100 ft or less and

3:45:41default to the setback requirement in

3:45:42title 16 zoning. Here to introduce the

3:45:45item is associate planner Brian Toy.

3:45:51>> Um, thank you, Mayor Nash. Um, I'm uh my

3:45:54name is Brian Toy. I'm an associate

3:45:56planner in the community development

3:45:57department. Um, and I will be giving a

3:46:00short presentation on the um subdivision

3:46:03ordinance front setback amendment in

3:46:05front of you um today.

3:46:08Um so um most of the development

3:46:11regulations that govern um building and

3:46:15developing private property in the city

3:46:18are in title 16 which is our zoning

3:46:20ordinance. However, there are other

3:46:23titles within the municipal code that

3:46:26affect um development on private

3:46:28property. One of those is title 15 which

3:46:31is the subdivision ordinance. And within

3:46:34the subdivision ordinance, there is a

3:46:36front setback requirement for lots that

3:46:39are on a culde-sac that is different

3:46:42than the setback requirement in the

3:46:44zoning ordinance. Um so when um

3:46:49applicant like property owners um

3:46:51architects uh come forward to um attempt

3:46:56to develop a project or um on these

3:46:59lots, they generally look at um the

3:47:02zoning ordinance to see what

3:47:04requirements they need to follow. Um so

3:47:08sometimes having this uh requirement in

3:47:10the subdivision ordinance can lead to

3:47:12some confusion. We do have guidance on

3:47:14our website but people do not always

3:47:17check that. Um so that is um one of the

3:47:21reasons that we're bringing it forward

3:47:22today um is that there's a a potential

3:47:26to reduce confusion among people coming

3:47:28forward with projects. Um another one is

3:47:31that um these uh lots on a culde-sac

3:47:36basically have a different front setback

3:47:38than all the other lots around them. So

3:47:40even neighboring lots that are not on a

3:47:41culde-sac will have a different front

3:47:43setback than those lots.

3:47:46Um sorry.

3:47:49Um so this is just a little bit of a

3:47:51repeat of what I said. So the um for

3:47:54lots on a culde-sac the front setback is

3:47:56determined by title 15 in the

3:47:58subdivision ordinance rather than the

3:48:00zoning ordinance which is title 16. um

3:48:03and they can have that different front

3:48:05setback than um other properties that

3:48:08are not on a culde-sac. When we um did

3:48:12an analysis of properties that um this

3:48:15title 15 front setback requirement would

3:48:18affect, the vast majority are single

3:48:21family zoned residential properties. Um

3:48:24in our zoning ordinance, all single

3:48:26family zoned properties um have a

3:48:28setback of 20 ft. However, if they are

3:48:31on a culde-sac, that setback can vary

3:48:34quite a bit based on the actual

3:48:36dimensions of the lot um and area and

3:48:40basically it varies lot by lot what the

3:48:43required setback is.

3:48:46Um on this slide um we have a couple of

3:48:50examples. So um the blue line is uh the

3:48:5520ft zoning ordinance setback um for

3:48:58this kind of lot along a curve. Um the

3:49:02orange line is the minimum lot width. Um

3:49:06these two uh our minimum lot width

3:49:08changes based on the zoning district. Um

3:49:11so for example our single family urban

3:49:14residential zones have a minimum lot

3:49:15width of 65 ft. Our single family

3:49:18suburban residential zones have minimum

3:49:20lot width of 80 ft. Um but um with this

3:49:24subdivision ordinance front setback

3:49:26requirement basically the front setback

3:49:30and both the zoning zoning ordinance and

3:49:32subdivision ordinance is parallel to the

3:49:34curve of the front of the lot. But when

3:49:38we look at the subdivision ordinance

3:49:40front setback, that curve has to touch

3:49:43where the lot actually meets the minimum

3:49:46lot width um which is that green line on

3:49:50these diagrams. So in many cases what we

3:49:54see is that the um front setback under

3:49:58the subdivision ordinance is quite a bit

3:50:01um can be close or can be quite a bit um

3:50:05different than the sub the setback under

3:50:07the zoning ordinance. So in the example

3:50:09on the left the subdivision ordinance

3:50:12would put the front set back at 25 ft

3:50:14rather than 20 ft. In the example on the

3:50:17right, um the subdivision ordinance

3:50:19would put the setback at 57 ft rather

3:50:21than 20 ft. And so what that does is it

3:50:26um reduces the buildable area of the lot

3:50:29for a property owner and um has

3:50:31implications for where they can put

3:50:34their um if we're talking about single

3:50:36family residential, where they can put

3:50:37their main house. We have also um zoning

3:50:41uh ordinance regulations around

3:50:43accessory buildings and structures. Um

3:50:45there's quite a few um

3:50:49uh items related to development based on

3:50:51this front setback line. Um

3:50:55so um this is uh just kind of

3:51:00summarizing what I the diagrams are

3:51:02saying which is that we typically find

3:51:04that the subdivision ordinance front

3:51:06setback is greater than the zoning

3:51:08ordinance. Um and um in these two

3:51:12examples um we outlined a couple of them

3:51:14in the staff report. You can see the

3:51:16difference between the 20 foot versus 25

3:51:18ft. Um or another example 20 ft versus

3:51:2157 ft. And depending on the lot, it can

3:51:26be anywhere in between greater um it

3:51:30cannot be less than 20 ft, but it can be

3:51:33vary based on the specific lot. Um so,

3:51:38uh staff has basically brought forward

3:51:41this um item for your consideration to

3:51:45remove this subdivision front setback,

3:51:48um requirement, which would default all

3:51:52lots to the zoning ordinance front

3:51:54setback require requirement rather than

3:51:56having two different requirements. Um

3:51:59and I am uh happy to answer any

3:52:02questions you may have. Thank you.

3:52:09Thank you. Are there any clarifying c

3:52:11questions from city council before we

3:52:12open the public hearing?

3:52:17>> Um I would like to open the public

3:52:19hearing. City clerk, do we have any

3:52:22public comments on this item?

3:52:25>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So for any member

3:52:28of the public who would like to provide

3:52:30comment on our public hearing item K1

3:52:32the introduction and waving the first

3:52:34reading of an ordinance to amend section

3:52:3715.16.110

3:52:41uh setbacks of title 15 subdivisions of

3:52:43the Menlo Park municipal code. If you

3:52:46are in person return that speaker card

3:52:48virtual engage that hand feature calling

3:52:51in press star 9 now.

3:52:55This will be the final call for public

3:52:57comment on our public hearing item K1.

3:53:04Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

3:53:06continue.

3:53:07Thank you. I will now close the public

3:53:09hearing and open for city council

3:53:11discussion.

3:53:17So, I have um a question as far as how

3:53:19is this publicized? The reason why I ask

3:53:22is just um there's uh we received one

3:53:26notice or one email. Did we receive was

3:53:29there any other communication other than

3:53:31that? And how many of the property

3:53:33owners on a culde-sac you know how did

3:53:36how are they aware of it?

3:53:40>> Um so um as you mentioned we did put it

3:53:43in the weekly digest. Um it is also

3:53:46published in the newspaper I believe. Um

3:53:51but we did not target um like culde-sac

3:53:55property owners specifically. Um it was

3:53:58just the normal process for any um

3:54:02public hearing for an ordinance

3:54:03amendment.

3:54:08>> Thank you. Um

3:54:17does anyone anyway any other comments?

3:54:21All right. And how many um are you ex

3:54:25There's only been five since um like in

3:54:28the last six years there've only been

3:54:30five requests for variances on this. Um

3:54:33do you know that there would be will

3:54:35this

3:54:37I will tell you. Um, looking at the

3:54:39diagram, having read the report, I was

3:54:41fine. Looking at the diagram and having

3:54:43read this one email, I'm a little bit

3:54:45concerned about the person where it um

3:54:47the setback went from 57 ft to 20 ft.

3:54:51I'm not concerned about the, you know,

3:54:53just if someone has um where the lot

3:54:55really um

3:54:59whether where there's that much

3:55:00difference.

3:55:02Does anyone else have any

3:55:06>> thoughts on that?

3:55:08Yeah, maybe maybe a different way of

3:55:10this is super vague, but I is somebody

3:55:13going to get a notice, you know, in the

3:55:16mail two months later and they go like,

3:55:19what the heck is like so I what I

3:55:21couldn't really parse from the report or

3:55:23anything else is somebody's going to get

3:55:24is someone going to get a notice of some

3:55:26sort that they have to make a change and

3:55:29then of course we get white hot fury

3:55:31because folks are unaware and this like

3:55:33so that was what I couldn't really

3:55:35figure out is is the the direct impact

3:55:38to people on existing lots or maybe

3:55:42there is none but but that's what I

3:55:44would want to avoid is somebody being

3:55:46really surprised and waking up and

3:55:47having to do something.

3:55:50Did that make sense?

3:55:51>> Um yes, that makes sense. So um there

3:55:55would not be a direct impact to any of

3:55:58the existing structures. In some

3:56:01instances, um it could potentially

3:56:04benefit the existing structure because

3:56:06they would be conforming with the

3:56:08zoning. Now, um it um so nobody unless

3:56:15you are even if you were to do a

3:56:17development project, you would just be

3:56:19complying with the zoning ordinance

3:56:21setback. Um

3:56:24we do for all building permits notify

3:56:27the direct neighbors but um for any

3:56:33building permit there's no public

3:56:35comment. It's only if it goes to

3:56:37planning commission for a use permit.

3:56:39>> Thank you.

3:56:42>> Council member Combmes. And and

3:56:43[clears throat] so remind me so in all

3:56:45cases right from removing

3:56:50the subdivision ordinance we are

3:56:55providing more developable space for the

3:56:59parcel like in in most cases we're we're

3:57:02shrinking the setback. Correct. And are

3:57:05there instances where we are we're not

3:57:07doing that? We're doing the reverse in

3:57:10in any way?

3:57:13>> Um, we haven't been able to identify any

3:57:16specifically, but we haven't looked at

3:57:19every single parcel, but in general, it

3:57:23would be um increasing the the area that

3:57:27people can build.

3:57:29>> Maybe if I could add to that. So, I

3:57:30think yeah, Mr. is correct. But uh just

3:57:32to clarify, in no case would the front

3:57:35setback be less than the zoning

3:57:37ordinance, which is the case now. So so

3:57:38yes, there would never be a a case where

3:57:41we're reducing the setback beyond the

3:57:43zoning. We're just conform or can make

3:57:45it consistent with the zoning. So

3:57:47building buildable area would always

3:57:48increase or be the same basically

3:57:51>> as okay. It's it's only this subdivision

3:57:55or ordinance that that's in in in cases

3:57:59where it's not aligned with the zoning

3:58:00ordinance, right? And and in all cases,

3:58:04it is in theory more restrictive from a

3:58:07developable area perspective. And so and

3:58:12currently these are generally because I

3:58:15remember on the the the planning

3:58:16commission, we didn't get a ton of

3:58:17these, but these were always a bear. um

3:58:20uh people on these corner or sort of

3:58:22culde-sac lots um because where yeah

3:58:27where the setback was was was calculated

3:58:29um or could could be calculated.

3:58:33So, um,

3:58:36in in current,

3:58:39you know, currently the status quo,

3:58:42if um, a homeowner

3:58:46property owner wanted to develop in that

3:58:50area between what the zoning is and what

3:58:53and and if the this sub um, subdivision

3:58:58ordinance apply, then they they could

3:59:00request a variance, right? And so that

3:59:02that's how that would be handled.

3:59:04>> Correct. The and the variance would have

3:59:06to come to city council directly.

3:59:11>> Um okay. Yeah. Um I mean gen generally

3:59:14like I'm I'm supportive here. It it it

3:59:17seems like we're we're trying to provide

3:59:18more more clarity and if anything um

3:59:21more clarity a more streamlined process

3:59:24and we're generally defaulting to a

3:59:26state where um you know people have more

3:59:30optionality as it relates to um you know

3:59:34construction renovation projects. I

3:59:37guess to the and this is where I thought

3:59:40the direction Council Member Schmidt was

3:59:42going in possibly was that

3:59:46in theory the party that could be sort

3:59:49of negatively affected is like the

3:59:50neighbor I guess like right um who may

3:59:54now have someone who has uh a smaller

3:59:59setback and I don't know depending on

4:00:01how my parcel is then maybe that could

4:00:04make them closer to me or the they're

4:00:06their whatever they're developing closer

4:00:08to me and and maybe I would want them to

4:00:10have to get a variance to to do that

4:00:12like but that that's again the only um

4:00:16like potential you know party who I

4:00:19could see like might have um a somewhat

4:00:22negative reaction. But all that being

4:00:24said, the email we got did confuse me a

4:00:26bit.

4:00:27>> Yes, me too. And I guess the question

4:00:29that I have is the side setbacks are

4:00:31still standard. So, okay,

4:00:35it's just the front. So, the side

4:00:37setbacks are still um Okay. And of the

4:00:41six that were um six variants requested,

4:00:44all six were approved without

4:00:47>> um as requested.

4:00:52In other words, essentially they've been

4:00:54going through the system as you know

4:00:57approved.

4:00:58>> Okay.

4:00:58>> Yeah.

4:00:59>> Thank you.

4:01:01All right. Any other comments or

4:01:03questions? Um,

4:01:07>> does anyone want to uh make a motion in

4:01:10a second?

4:01:11>> I'll move.

4:01:21>> Thank you. So, I have a motion on the

4:01:22floor by city council member Combmes and

4:01:24a second by Vice Mayor Wise to introduce

4:01:27and wave the first reading of an

4:01:29ordinance to amend section 15.16.1

4:01:34setbacks

4:01:39of the Menlo Park Municipal Code, which

4:01:41would remove the front setback

4:01:42requirement for lots where lot frontage

4:01:46butts the outside of any curve of a

4:01:48radius of 100 ft or less.

4:01:52Any further city council question or

4:01:53discussion?

4:01:55Seeing none, please proceed to voting

4:02:08and the motion passes unanimously. Thank

4:02:10you

4:02:12>> and thank you for your efforts. I think

4:02:14I speak for all of us and probably the

4:02:16planning commission for trying to clean

4:02:18up and um streamline the process. Thank

4:02:22you.

4:02:25Next, we have a city council initiated

4:02:27item. In accordance with city council

4:02:30procedures manual, the following agenda

4:02:31item is to be considered by the city

4:02:33council. City council members can ask

4:02:35staff questions regarding preliminary

4:02:37scope an scope analysis, resource

4:02:40requirements, and overall pri

4:02:42prioritization of future city council

4:02:44agenda items based on the citywide work

4:02:47plan. After discussion with a motion and

4:02:50second, the city council may take one of

4:02:52the following actions. Preparation of a

4:02:55formal staff report with a determined

4:02:57level of staff resources and timing for

4:02:59city council consideration

4:03:02or advisory body preparation of a formal

4:03:05staff report with a determined level of

4:03:06staff support or consideration at the

4:03:10city council's annual priority and goal

4:03:12setting process. The city council

4:03:15initiated item tonight is L1 request by

4:03:18city council member Schmidt for a future

4:03:20agenda topic. to introduce the item is

4:03:23city council member Schmidt.

4:03:25>> All right. Thanks, Mayor Nash. Um the

4:03:27goal is before 10 o'clock, so I'll go

4:03:29quick. Uh so just a few prepared things

4:03:34um as I've been thinking about this. So

4:03:37Coleman Avenue on the city side and

4:03:39especially on the county side. Uh I mean

4:03:41it's really it's a tragedy waiting to

4:03:43happen, right? I want to say it again.

4:03:45It's the multiple routes to school. Um

4:03:48it's a tragedy waiting to happen. And I

4:03:50I think as a it's our responsibility as

4:03:52council members to fix this because we

4:03:56have the power to prioritize and we have

4:03:58that opportunity now before it's too

4:04:01late. Um and how you know I think you've

4:04:03heard me say this multiple times. How

4:04:05can I confidently say that I drive and

4:04:07bike it every day? I every time I join

4:04:10all of you in chambers I come down

4:04:12Coleman. I came down Coleman tonight.

4:04:13I'll go back down Coleman. Uh, I'm glad

4:04:15I'm not riding my bike tonight because

4:04:16it's also very dark and hard to see. I

4:04:20could have taken every single picture

4:04:21that you see in that PowerPoint that was

4:04:23prepared by residents with all the

4:04:25hazards. I've shared the road with

4:04:27families and frankly I' I've had a few

4:04:30close calls myself with kids on Coleman.

4:04:33So, um, that's I think that's why the

4:04:36theme that the residents came up with in

4:04:38the PowerPoint is paint isn't

4:04:39protection. I thought that was really

4:04:41clever because that's what it kind of

4:04:43feels to drive Coleman every day or be

4:04:45on a bike. Um because paint isn't good

4:04:48enough, frankly. And that's not a

4:04:50reflection on staff. That's not a

4:04:51reflection on solution. But if we, you

4:04:54know, I I've thought a lot about this.

4:04:55And if if these were our kids biking

4:04:57down Coleman to school every day, I

4:04:59think we'd feel the same as our parents

4:05:01do. My kids have aged out of going to

4:05:02MA, but I know when they were walking

4:05:04back and forth, I I would feel some of

4:05:06that. So, um, that's partially why I

4:05:09agendaized, uh, or I'm asking to

4:05:11reorgendize this. The second thing is I

4:05:13want to be clear on another point. Um,

4:05:16residents across all our districts came

4:05:18together and they're the ones asking us

4:05:20as council members to protect them and

4:05:22their families. This this wasn't me.

4:05:24This street just happens to be in my

4:05:27district, which is why I think they

4:05:28approached me. Um, I didn't prepare the

4:05:31PowerPoint or contribute to the

4:05:33discussion, but I am happy to bring it

4:05:35forward. Um, and you know, I'm happy to

4:05:38bring it forward on their behalf. And

4:05:39also, uh, on behalf of Gina at

4:05:41Ravenswood and Kristen at, um, Menel

4:05:44Park City School District, I think

4:05:45you've all seen their comments. They

4:05:47feel passionately about, um, Coleman as

4:05:49a corridor. Final thought is,

4:05:53you know, we we prioritize lots of

4:05:55things on council. And, you know, I

4:05:57haven't been on council as long as, um,

4:05:59most of you. Um but but I think I've

4:06:01been here long enough to understand part

4:06:04a big part of our job is to look at cost

4:06:06to look at staff time to look at various

4:06:09pro um various projects to look at

4:06:11implementation challenges. That's we had

4:06:13that discussion tonight. Um we consider

4:06:17all of it but I I will always prioritize

4:06:20the safety of our kids and families. And

4:06:23to me that's what this issue is really

4:06:26all about. over every other

4:06:28consideration. I think the safety of our

4:06:30kids and families. Um doing something as

4:06:32simple as going back and forth to school

4:06:34should always be the top consideration.

4:06:36So, um I'm asking all of you to do the

4:06:39same to prioritize kids and families

4:06:41over every other consideration and

4:06:43tradeoff that we have to make. That

4:06:45feels like the most important thing. So,

4:06:47that's why I'm asking on behalf of these

4:06:49residents why I'm asking to reagendize

4:06:52this topic. So anyway, I don't usually

4:06:54do like prepared stuff, but I wanted to

4:06:56make sure I didn't miss out on anything.

4:06:57So with that, that's the introduction

4:07:00that I wanted to make. Thanks.

4:07:02>> Thank you. Um, city clerk Karen, do we

4:07:04have any public comment on

4:07:05thisformational item?

4:07:07>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

4:07:09if any member of the public would like

4:07:12to provide a comment for item L1, a

4:07:15request by city council member Schmidt

4:07:16for a future agenda topic. If you are in

4:07:19person, return that speaker card.

4:07:22virtual engage that hand feature calling

4:07:24in. Please press star 9 now.

4:07:30Okay, looks like we currently have two

4:07:31speakers this three speakers. So this

4:07:34will be the final call for public

4:07:36comment on our agenda item L1 request by

4:07:41city council member Schmidt for a future

4:07:43agenda topic.

4:07:46All right. Our first speaker will be

4:07:48Meredith Bergen Bailey, followed by Nell

4:07:51Curan.

4:07:56Thank you. I'm part of the Complete

4:07:57Streets Commission, but speaking today

4:07:59as a parent, um on behalf of several

4:08:02community groups and parents of children

4:08:04from Laurel Elementary, Hillview Middle

4:08:06School, and MA High School. Um as

4:08:08council member Schmidt mentioned, this

4:08:10group is coalesed around the concept

4:08:12that paint is not protection. Um, our

4:08:15community is so appreciative of the

4:08:16efforts the city has put toward Coleman.

4:08:19The stop sign, the speed bumps, and the

4:08:20bike lane have made a very noticeable

4:08:22difference in biking comfort. However,

4:08:24the reason our parent community still

4:08:26feels that Coleman is a high stress

4:08:28corridor is due to the fact that with

4:08:30high frequency, cars drift in the bike

4:08:32lane or park in the bike lane. This is

4:08:36very hard for young cyclists to

4:08:38navigate. It is the route to school of

4:08:41the five schools within a half mile

4:08:42terminus of Coleman Avenue. They serve

4:08:44elementary age children. The National

4:08:47Association of City Transportation

4:08:49officials suggest that bike lanes should

4:08:51be protected on streets where motor

4:08:53vehicle speed consistently exceeds 25

4:08:55mph, a street such as Coleman. We asked

4:08:58the city to enact a 12-month pilot of

4:09:01flexible posts to protect children in

4:09:03the bike lane. This will allow the city

4:09:05to gather data on safety, comfort, and

4:09:08community feedback before making

4:09:09anything permanent. We very much

4:09:11appreciate council member Schmidt for

4:09:13his help in bringing attention to this

4:09:14issue and appreciation to all of you for

4:09:16your service to the city. Thank you.

4:09:20>> Thank you.

4:09:23Next up is Nell Curran, followed by Ken

4:09:26Kushner.

4:09:36Nell, it does look like you've unmuted

4:09:39your end, but we're still not able to

4:09:41hear your audio.

4:09:43Can you double check uh your microphone?

4:09:53>> Are you able to hear me now?

4:09:55>> Yes, now we can. Thank you.

4:09:56>> Oh, great. Sorry about technical

4:09:58difficulties.

4:10:00Um, I will echo what's been said. I'm

4:10:02calling in tonight to support the

4:10:04installation of flexible posts or

4:10:06ballards on Coleman A. And I speak to

4:10:09you as a safe routes chair at both

4:10:11Laurel and Hillview schools. Ballards

4:10:13between the car and bicycle lanes are

4:10:16critical to protect our cyclists more so

4:10:18than paint alone. They add a physical

4:10:20separation, increase visibility, and

4:10:23enhance overall safety. They're a

4:10:25necessary division between bicycles and

4:10:28vehicular traffic and movement, but also

4:10:31importantly prevent cars from idling and

4:10:33parking in the bicycle lane, which

4:10:35families have reported to me as

4:10:37happening daily and which poses a

4:10:39serious safety risk for our cyclists

4:10:41trying to navigate around those cars.

4:10:43And Ballards would help alleviate that

4:10:45challenge. from our little four-year-old

4:10:48TK students who eventually become our

4:10:51graduating high school seniors. Coleman

4:10:53A is their highly traveled thoroughfare

4:10:55and we owe it to all of them and our

4:10:57community members to create safer

4:10:59infrastructure through a dedicated and

4:11:02protected bicycle lane. Plus, the

4:11:04request aligns with multiple city

4:11:06priorities including safe routes,

4:11:08reducing vehicle miles traveled, and

4:11:10other climate goals. So, I um thank you

4:11:12tonight for considering um installing

4:11:15flexible posts or ballerts on Coleman

4:11:17and your attention to this topic.

4:11:22>> Thank you.

4:11:24Next up is Ken Kersner.

4:11:31Good evening, Mayor Nash and council

4:11:33members. I'm Ken Kersner, a Menllo Park

4:11:36resident and bike infrastructure

4:11:38advocate.

4:11:39Picture Coleman Avenue at 7:55 on a

4:11:43school morning. A pair of kids pedal

4:11:45towards Laurel School in the new bike

4:11:47lane and up ahead a car sits parked in

4:11:50it. They swing out into traffic, the

4:11:53same traffic that city staff measured at

4:11:5627 to 29 mph.

4:11:59Painted lines tell that driver where the

4:12:01lane was. It gave the kids nothing

4:12:04between them and the car.

4:12:06The research explains why a few flexible

4:12:09posts changed that scene. Portland

4:12:12State's national study of protected

4:12:13lanes found that riders rated flexible

4:12:17post buffers very highly and 96% said

4:12:20that the lanes made biking safer.

4:12:24Ruter's researchers found that

4:12:25delineators cut turning drivers top

4:12:28speeds by 28%,

4:12:30twice the effect of a painted lane. and

4:12:33UC Davis found that when school routes

4:12:36feel low stress, more children ride. And

4:12:40NACTO, the national standard for city

4:12:43street design, calls for physical

4:12:45separation once traffic tops 25 m an

4:12:48hour. Coleman is above that line today.

4:12:53The pilot already proved the demand.

4:12:56Bike counts rose 21% and 79% of the

4:12:59residents asked you to keep it. The next

4:13:02step is small, lowcost, and reversible.

4:13:05A flexible post pilot, preferably spaced

4:13:08along the lines with gaps at the

4:13:10driveways. Sweeping can be handled with

4:13:12a 3-FFT bike toaded sweeper that costs

4:13:16about $4,500

4:13:18the way that Napa Bike Coalition keeps

4:13:21its protected lanes clean. We ask that

4:13:24council agendaize a 12-month flexible

4:13:27post-pilot on Coleman and let the data

4:13:30decide. Thank you.

4:13:34>> Thank you.

4:13:36Okay, seeing no more hands or cards,

4:13:40Mayor Nash, you may continue.

4:13:44>> Thank you. I'd now like to open for city

4:13:46council discussion.

4:13:49>> Uh, Council Member Schmidt,

4:13:50>> just just I wanted to add one more quick

4:13:52thing just to I know we all know this,

4:13:54but I for the public record. Um, yeah, I

4:13:57think I'm just asking us to reagendize

4:13:59the discussion, right? because I I

4:14:01remember I wanted to see this happen

4:14:03later. And as you flip through um you

4:14:06know, the worry I think that residents

4:14:08expressed to me was that they would lay

4:14:09down the cement for the speed bumps and

4:14:12then we would never quite get to this

4:14:14discussion. So I I didn't close in my

4:14:16mind the ballard discussion the last

4:14:18time we had it, but I definitely

4:14:20respected the fact that, you know, if we

4:14:22lay down cement and then it's going to

4:14:23be much harder to to put this forward.

4:14:26Um, so that's one thing is is um just

4:14:30just having the discussion and I

4:14:31understand that takes staff time and all

4:14:33that, but again such a safety issue. The

4:14:35the other thing is my kids are not going

4:14:37to be pleased that I say this, but um

4:14:40you know this this sliding here that

4:14:42says paint still ask every driver to be

4:14:44perfect. And I'll tell you like personal

4:14:46story that that was a gut punch to me

4:14:48when I read that in the deck that they

4:14:49sent me because I'm teaching my three

4:14:51boys to drive. Um, they're are nervous

4:14:53drivers, of course, they're up and down

4:14:55Coleman, you know, as they're starting

4:14:57to practice. And my oldest actually

4:14:59totaled my car when I taught him to

4:15:02drive. And we went through the P. So,

4:15:04like, imagine high school drivers going

4:15:08up and down Coleman all the time. Um,

4:15:10nervous drivers, new drivers. Um, so

4:15:13it's not just about protecting kids on

4:15:15the bike lane. It's protecting new

4:15:17drivers who, you know, we're asking them

4:15:19to be perfect. and that's not a a street

4:15:22where drivers are perfect. So, um

4:15:25anyway, just a little personal anecdote

4:15:27around um it's a driver and a kids sort

4:15:30of safety issue, too. So, thanks.

4:15:38I guess I'll start with just um in our

4:15:40council minutes which we just approved.

4:15:42It says the city council directed sta

4:15:44this is from September 15th. The city

4:15:47council directed staff to research

4:15:49street sweepers for streets with

4:15:51ballards include in the Santa Monica

4:15:53Avenue parking effort.

4:15:56one potential ballards for awareness of

4:15:59the bike bike bike lane and two further

4:16:02improvements on the southbound portion

4:16:03to improve safety at the intersection of

4:16:05Coleman Avenue and Willow Road.

4:16:09So, it's sort of I I guess I'm

4:16:13a little bit puzzled as to how we did

4:16:14not cover this before.

4:16:17Well, my understanding was they were

4:16:19going to make the speed, sorry, this is

4:16:21where I'm going to get a little um fuzzy

4:16:23in the technical that the speed bumps

4:16:26were going to be replaced that there

4:16:28wasn't quite a firm plan for the

4:16:30ballard. So, I think what the residents

4:16:31are asking is before the speed humps are

4:16:35converted to cement and it becomes

4:16:37harder to make some of these

4:16:38improvements, can we can we have that

4:16:41discussion about ballards sooner rather

4:16:43than later? I think is the the request

4:16:46as I understand it.

4:16:55>> I was just going to say it's my

4:16:56understanding that adding the speed

4:16:59humps now do not preclude adding

4:17:02ballards at any point in the future. Um

4:17:06we can get clarification on that. I do

4:17:09I'm kind of I think um going along the

4:17:12same lines as the mayor here which is if

4:17:15I remember the discussion there was

4:17:16majority support for the ballards. I

4:17:18myself would love to see the ballards

4:17:20installed. However, it's my

4:17:22understanding we do not have the staff

4:17:25capacity or time to maintain them if

4:17:28they get hit and need to be replaced the

4:17:30street sweeping. Um and I I don't I just

4:17:34I don't know what has changed since

4:17:37then. So I would ask I I kind of feel

4:17:40like

4:17:42with this request should also be a

4:17:44request of what you're proposing to cut

4:17:47from public works because from my

4:17:49understanding there we there was a

4:17:52majority support for these ballards but

4:17:55we do not have the capacity to maintain

4:17:58them or maintain a safe bike

4:18:02way. Um, so I'm I guess I I don't really

4:18:08see I don't think we are ripe to

4:18:11reagendize this at this time. Uh, but

4:18:15maybe we could get staff feedback on if

4:18:19we could add ballards despite the speed

4:18:22humps being made permanent.

4:18:28Yes, sorry on that that one discreet

4:18:31question and I saw I was seeing the the

4:18:34public works director nods but happy for

4:18:36her to speak for herself. Yeah, that my

4:18:37understanding is it does not preclude.

4:18:39Yes. So if for that one disc discreet

4:18:42question because again this is mainly a

4:18:46discussion amongst the council happy to

4:18:48kind of field questions to help in terms

4:18:50of making the decision about

4:18:51reagendizing this item. But I just want

4:18:54to make sure that we're not into a

4:18:56hourlong discussion about the merits per

4:18:58se, but that sort of discreet question

4:19:00happy to answer.

4:19:01>> Okay, great. Thank you, Council Member

4:19:04Combmes. Wasn't one of the issues

4:19:06whether the humps went into the bike

4:19:09lanes or not? Like right and that in

4:19:11theory if you had ballards like right

4:19:15then there would be because the idea

4:19:18from the residents was or the preference

4:19:21was and certainly anyone can correct me

4:19:23if I'm wrong was to not have the speed

4:19:26hump like right in in the bike lane. Um,

4:19:30part of the reasons you have the speed

4:19:31hump in the bike wing because cars would

4:19:33just swerve to like avoid it. But then

4:19:36if you had ballards like right at those

4:19:39junctions or those points, then you

4:19:42wouldn't have the case of um the car

4:19:45swerving. And so in in that sense, you

4:19:48maybe wouldn't need to come to some

4:19:50decision about the ballards before the

4:19:53speed humps if your plan was to like

4:19:55have the speed humps or people are

4:19:57shaking. So I' I've gotten this all

4:19:58wrong. Tell me tell me what I've gotten

4:20:00wrong.

4:20:01>> Yeah. And this is where at a certain

4:20:02level trying to keep the discussion at

4:20:03the city manager. Say the public works

4:20:05director is there. We could definitely

4:20:07tap her at the right time and if I

4:20:08misspeak then people can correct me.

4:20:11[clears throat]

4:20:11>> Um uh to what council member Colmes was

4:20:14reciting. I I do believe that was being

4:20:16discussed at the meeting. I I think this

4:20:19and the public works director I recall

4:20:20did talk about this. it gets to how the

4:20:22speed humps are constructed

4:20:25and um without the cuz it's asphalt you

4:20:28need to taper it. So with if you don't

4:20:30want to taper it then effectively you're

4:20:32putting in a a concrete curb like

4:20:34asphalt just doesn't like end you need

4:20:36to be able to support it. So if the

4:20:39desire there is to truly not have the

4:20:42speed humps go into the bike lanes

4:20:44that's a that's totally a different

4:20:46issue and kind of can be discussed

4:20:48separately and I would say that would be

4:20:49a longer discussion. The question that

4:20:51was posed was does the um construction

4:20:55reconstruction of these three rubberized

4:20:59um speed cushions to asphalt preclude a

4:21:03protected bike lane with ballards for

4:21:05the you know I'll be off on the like

4:21:08hundreds of linear feet. No, there could

4:21:11be these hundred of linear feet of

4:21:13ballards. you just would um frankly the

4:21:16ballers maybe won't wouldn't be at at

4:21:19the at the three speed cushions maybe is

4:21:21the way it might end up as a design but

4:21:23you could definitely have a number of

4:21:25ballards up and down create creating a

4:21:27protected bike lane with over those

4:21:28three speed cushions.

4:21:30>> Okay, thank thank you for uh um you know

4:21:34correcting my my error there. Um,

4:21:39generally I'm I'm supportive of Council

4:21:42Member Schmidt's request. I think for me

4:21:44the question is is like

4:21:47how staff would see it differently

4:21:52versus how it was proceeding following

4:21:57the meeting in which we discussed this

4:21:59item and and expressed some support for

4:22:01Ballard. like right and so as the the

4:22:04mayor recited there there was some

4:22:06direction as it related to exploring the

4:22:09placement of Ballards and that council

4:22:11was was supportive and so if

4:22:15um because council member Schmidt needs

4:22:17one extra council member or does he need

4:22:19two council members to to be supportive?

4:22:22Uh it requires and the city clerk and

4:22:25city attorney can correct me requires

4:22:27three council members. So two

4:22:28additional.

4:22:29>> So if if um uh council member Schmidt um

4:22:34got well I said I was supportive. So

4:22:37let's say if it got another person like

4:22:39how would staff see it differently than

4:22:42it was seeing it following the last

4:22:44meeting or would it see it any

4:22:45differently as as far as like you know

4:22:49the future of ballards on Coleman?

4:22:52Uh, and may Mary, do you want like that

4:22:55that Okay. Uh, so there's a a few

4:23:00different things. We collectively

4:23:02everybody wants a safe corridor like

4:23:04there there's um agreement there.

4:23:06There's definitely, you know, um

4:23:09benefits of ballers instead of paint. So

4:23:11there's there's agreement there. So get

4:23:13getting into some of the specifics. So

4:23:14in terms of the the differences, I think

4:23:16it would be helpful this evening to

4:23:18understand whether staff is indeed

4:23:20proceeding with replacing the three

4:23:22speed cushions from rubber to asphalt

4:23:24through the city standard design that

4:23:25occur was installed on middle and other

4:23:28places in the city. I think I think

4:23:30that's important so that we're not

4:23:32spending and frankly wasting time

4:23:34scoping out the the reconstruction of

4:23:36those three things before the wet

4:23:38weather and the the cold temperatures

4:23:39because if we miss this window then

4:23:40they're definitely waiting till next

4:23:42spring. So that's that's one thing is

4:23:44just this issue that we were just

4:23:46discussing about whether the um design

4:23:49of the speed cushions whether we're

4:23:50looking for design that's not the city

4:23:52standard and that's totally fair that

4:23:54the council wants to say like pause on

4:23:57that. Um, so then specific to the

4:24:00Ballards, I think it it gets to like

4:24:03when if the council this evening wanted

4:24:06to agendaize this for a future

4:24:08discussion as a practical matter for

4:24:11staff to come back with a you know a

4:24:13proper staff report that talks about the

4:24:15trade-offs and everything. We're

4:24:17probably looking at like the uh second

4:24:19meeting in December based off how things

4:24:21are going with our current agendas,

4:24:23staff time to be able to prep for

4:24:25things. That's roughly the time frame if

4:24:29we were to just simp simply like just

4:24:33focus on the Ballards regardless of this

4:24:35request like that's probably the

4:24:36earliest we would come back anyway for

4:24:38the the previous direction. I'd say the

4:24:41the difference with the previous

4:24:42direction maybe it was the Ballards was

4:24:45clear was grouped with while looking at

4:24:47Santa Monica and then also looking at

4:24:49the intersection. So if it's like a

4:24:51priority more on the Ballards, uh Santa

4:24:53Monica would be a a separate um uh

4:24:57analysis. The Willow and Coleman would

4:24:59be a separate analysis. And if it's

4:25:01really focused on the Ballards, um

4:25:05um again, we [clears throat] need to

4:25:07kind of double check everything. We were

4:25:09probably like tracking more for like ear

4:25:11early new year sometime in 2027 for

4:25:14that. So um that there's a difference in

4:25:17a in a few months potentially. So I

4:25:20think that's that's probably the

4:25:22takeaway of the difference there.

4:25:25>> A few months and

4:25:27that the asphalt would not go in at this

4:25:30point. Am I correct?

4:25:32>> Uh different that that I I believe that

4:25:34the asphalt could go forward as as as

4:25:37spec. I think we're still trying to

4:25:39track that we can beat beat beat beat

4:25:40beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat

4:25:40beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat

4:25:40beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat

4:25:40beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat

4:25:40beat beat beat beat beat beat the

4:25:40weather on that but we would have to

4:25:42hear from the council tonight saying

4:25:44>> right

4:25:44>> if there's a desire to kind of move

4:25:46forward with um

4:25:50that that's an independent discussion

4:25:52almost I just give it as a direction to

4:25:54the city manager not to uh spend those

4:25:56funds on that that project at this time.

4:26:00Yeah. And I would like as I understood

4:26:02it, what you were saying is like if the

4:26:04because the ballards were were packaged

4:26:05again separating the the speed humps,

4:26:08that's a separate issue, but the

4:26:10ballards were packaged with other safety

4:26:12measures which staff was looking at and

4:26:14that was looking like something that was

4:26:16going to come back early new year. But

4:26:18you're saying like, hey, if it's just

4:26:19like ditch all those other safety

4:26:21measures, just come back with something

4:26:23about Ballards, then we can get that at

4:26:26possibly the second week of December.

4:26:28Again, the speed humps is a separate

4:26:30issue and and I think generally like I

4:26:32don't have an ability here to say that

4:26:34like we should do something different

4:26:35than the city standard if that's what

4:26:37exists on middle and if I think to your

4:26:39point if it's it's going to um again

4:26:43represent some challenges to like have

4:26:46the humps not go into and into the bike

4:26:49lane then yeah I I would say like I'm

4:26:52I'm not inclined to revisit that issue.

4:26:53Again, welcome to see where my my other

4:26:56colleagues stand and maybe they have

4:26:58some some uh more, you know, more

4:27:02detailed information about like how that

4:27:03can be achieved. But since I don't I

4:27:05don't have it, I think I I'll default to

4:27:06what what staff is saying there. Um, and

4:27:10so yeah, like I I again then would be

4:27:13supportive of the idea of of like sort

4:27:15of ditching or depprioritizing, let's

4:27:17say, some of those other safety measures

4:27:19in connection with or in connection with

4:27:22prioritizing the ballards. But of

4:27:24course, I I think the question is to see

4:27:26where where the rest of of council is.

4:27:27But understanding that that is the

4:27:29trade-off like right that that that some

4:27:31of those other safety measures will will

4:27:33not be prioritized and there will be a

4:27:35focus on on ball arts.

4:27:38>> Clement just I ungrouping that was

4:27:40exactly the intent. Yeah. So, thank you

4:27:42for clarifying that is those things get

4:27:43deferred and we focus just on ball arts.

4:27:46>> Council member Taylor. Thank you, Mayor

4:27:49Nash. And just based on what the city

4:27:51manager just shared, um I think that we

4:27:56should let staff do their work because

4:28:00I'm I'm concerned about time um delaying

4:28:03things especially um with wet weather

4:28:06coming. I think that this we should just

4:28:10keep moving forward and since the

4:28:12ballards can be added later that that

4:28:16can be revisited. Um, but I'm I'm not

4:28:19interested in adding any more agenda

4:28:21items to the council's calendar year.

4:28:28So, I will also vote against

4:28:31putting this um forward. I think at this

4:28:34point um we have got um we've litigated

4:28:37this, we discussed it fully. I think

4:28:40there was a very passionate group from

4:28:42Santa Monica and to now

4:28:48I think what we decided is that every it

4:28:50goes together as a package. it's going

4:28:51to be look together for safety and um I

4:28:55think that to now change what we had

4:28:58done when we've we told um we heard some

4:29:02very passionate

4:29:05discussions from people who were um

4:29:07concerned about the parking on um Santa

4:29:09Monica and wasn't that where we had

4:29:12someone who can't walk to their car

4:29:14>> and this was going to so I guess that I

4:29:18just see that we've already talked about

4:29:20this

4:29:22There's a group of people

4:29:24that were part of that discussion that

4:29:26aren't here tonight. I don't know if

4:29:27they've been part of that other and we

4:29:29had a I I will stick with the plan that

4:29:33we had.

4:29:34>> Yeah. I I but I think the ungrouping is

4:29:36important because the when I saw what

4:29:39the group of residents put together,

4:29:41this is pure safety. This is pure safety

4:29:43for kids and families and Santa Monica

4:29:46was traffic and parking. parking along

4:29:49the other side. Can the delivery truck

4:29:51So, so part of the intent of this, and

4:29:54I'm reading into what the residents put

4:29:56together, is we did group um parking and

4:30:02convenience and a lot of things in this

4:30:04deferred, let's look at it later,

4:30:05including Ballards. And I think what I'm

4:30:08hearing residents ask for is Ballards is

4:30:11pure safety. It's pure let's do it as

4:30:13quick as we can. So, I think the

4:30:15grouping was artificial just so that the

4:30:17city staff could get their work done,

4:30:19which I agree with council member

4:30:21Taylor, but I think what we're saying is

4:30:24let's make part of that work the

4:30:26ballards, especially if it doesn't slow

4:30:28staff down to do the other things. So,

4:30:33that's the that's the point, right? is

4:30:35this is a sa this is a pure safety

4:30:37measure to accelerate the timing on

4:30:40versus some indefinite future sometime

4:30:43late next year.

4:30:45>> Council member Taylor, thank you. I I

4:30:48believe that that that it still can

4:30:51happen. My concern is

4:30:56if we have

4:30:58if we have work that needs to be done

4:31:00and our staff department is short-handed

4:31:06that that work would be done by a

4:31:09consultant then it would bring the item

4:31:11back to council which I see as a more

4:31:14delays. Um,

4:31:17that's to me that's my understanding

4:31:20because of the hour. Not going to say a

4:31:22whole lot more. Um, but I I I trust the

4:31:27direction that the staff is going in on

4:31:30an item that we already approved and I

4:31:33know since you will be on council um

4:31:36that this can be it can still be a part

4:31:39of the plan with Coleman Avenue. This is

4:31:42not um yeah, it's still possibilities,

4:31:46especially with what our city manager

4:31:48just shared. My concern is adding

4:31:51another agenda item to this calendar

4:31:53year and then also the potentials of

4:31:56delays in some of the whether it's the

4:31:59grouping or just the ballots. So, I feel

4:32:01like if we tamper with the plan that it

4:32:03will delay what our intentions are.

4:32:06>> Is that true? So, I'm not disputing you

4:32:09saying it. I I I thought I heard it

4:32:12doesn't delay the plan like they could

4:32:14the the staff can still proceed with the

4:32:17plan as we agreed it then we uncouple

4:32:21the ballards from this longer term

4:32:23thing. So I I want to make sure I heard

4:32:25that correctly. I don't I don't think it

4:32:27slows down staff is

4:32:30>> No, it's not slowing down staff. If we

4:32:33know what our vacancy rate is with

4:32:35staff, I'm mindful about what I'm asking

4:32:38them to do. If it requires staff to hire

4:32:41a contractor or consultant, that's

4:32:43something that comes back to either the

4:32:45city council and then we have to approve

4:32:47it. So, you're adding three steps to I

4:32:50think something that we've already

4:32:54approved. And I trust that the city

4:32:58manager, assistant city manager, even

4:33:00the city attorney and our staff that are

4:33:03here, if there are any other safety

4:33:05items that need to be implemented

4:33:07immediately, that they would bring it

4:33:08back to us if they needed to. And so

4:33:11because of our extensive conversation

4:33:13about ballots this evening, they know

4:33:15that it's important. And the fact is,

4:33:17even after the speed bumps go in, the

4:33:20ballots can still be stalled. And my

4:33:23goal is to not delay things that we've

4:33:26already approved. That's my goal. And to

4:33:28not add anything to this calendar year.

4:33:31And if some other safety issues come up,

4:33:33I trust that the staff would come back

4:33:34to council if something else is needed.

4:33:37>> And I can guarantee that staff would not

4:33:39be recommending anything that was not

4:33:40safe.

4:33:42>> Yeah. I I don't I don't think we're we

4:33:46were headed in that way. I don't think

4:33:47res I don't want to speak for residents.

4:33:48I don't think they were headed down that

4:33:51that direction as well. There's there's

4:33:53safe and then there's, you know, paint

4:33:56isn't protection. So, I I'm not saying

4:33:59staff didn't put something forward that

4:34:02was very safe, but there's there's more

4:34:04safe and there's, you know, I I'm not

4:34:07the best driver. I know that I've

4:34:09drifted into a bike lane or two in my

4:34:11time. So, I think that's why I'm kind of

4:34:14being a little bit of a stick in the mud

4:34:15here to say I don't think it's slowing

4:34:18down staff. I get that they have to

4:34:19spend a little extra time. I'm happy to

4:34:21depprioritize something as a discussion.

4:34:24I would rather do that in December as a

4:34:26discussion as opposed to I don't know

4:34:29June of next year is all I'm saying

4:34:31because safety

4:34:32>> Okay,

4:34:33>> I think we've got it. Let's take a vote

4:34:34or just figure it out. Um

4:34:38>> yeah, I mean well we can just go down

4:34:39the line [laughter] we're supportive for

4:34:41now. Um uh like I'm supportive uh like

4:34:45Coleman is incredibly [snorts]

4:34:47concentrated especially during key uh

4:34:50commute times and so I would be in favor

4:34:53of a prioritizing ballards. I would say

4:34:56um if I [clears throat] have my spidey

4:34:59senses of how this vote is going to go,

4:35:02my plea would to staff would be that

4:35:04irrespective of how this vote goes um um

4:35:07that that I think you you take into some

4:35:11mind and understanding like um all the

4:35:14obviously thought and effort and

4:35:15advocacy that went into um the

4:35:19presentation that residents put and that

4:35:21it is again it is a highly concentrated

4:35:24corridor. or um during during um you

4:35:28know school commute times and it does

4:35:31link up on one end with with you know um

4:35:35certainly you can say peninsula school

4:35:37lore campus and and an MA like right and

4:35:40and then of course on on on the other

4:35:42end you have the Willows neighborhood

4:35:43and you have Willow Oaks Park and so I I

4:35:46don't know if there's another situation

4:35:48in the city so I appreciate what my

4:35:50[clears throat] my colleagues are are

4:35:52saying but again I I would say um

4:35:55irrespective of how this vote goes that

4:35:57that um

4:35:59looking to to make this as as safe as

4:36:01possible um should be a priority.

4:36:05>> Um yes, I still don't believe we should

4:36:08agendaize this at this time for the

4:36:10December 15th meeting. That being said,

4:36:13I would love to see the ballards be

4:36:15installed. I am hopeful that we can get

4:36:17it on the agenda in December or sorry uh

4:36:20January, February, sometime ideally as

4:36:23soon as possible next year, but we've

4:36:25heard from staff that it's not possible

4:36:28at this time. We can revisit it after we

4:36:32install the safety measures we have

4:36:33already approved and have already been

4:36:35tested. And I just I feel like we need

4:36:39to

4:36:41um just respect the people who are doing

4:36:44the work and who are the ones who have

4:36:46to maintain it. Um so again, I really

4:36:49want to see this happen. I just don't

4:36:50think it's ripe for the December 15th

4:36:53meeting.

4:36:55>> I agree.

4:36:59>> Everybody knows what. So to be clear,

4:37:01this is not about respect for Aelian

4:37:03team like that has that's not part of my

4:37:06calculus. It's just kids safety now

4:37:09versus tomorrow. So, you know, just want

4:37:12to state that this isn't an opposition

4:37:14view to staff or asking staff to be

4:37:17superhuman. Um, but I feel like have

4:37:20living on this street. I see it every

4:37:22day. Um, I mean, if this isn't the way

4:37:25the vote's going to go, that's fine. Um,

4:37:29but, you know, we need to get this fixed

4:37:31sooner rather than later. So, thanks

4:37:37Thank thank you council member Smith for

4:37:40um bringing this to the council's um

4:37:43attention. Um and also I remember your

4:37:46predecessor Coleman Avenue was one of

4:37:48her um big

4:37:51projects to work on. And I know that

4:37:54throughout the city since safe streets

4:37:57is a priority for the city and between

4:38:01and I almost brought this up when

4:38:03the CCAG um executive director was here

4:38:08just about the different policies we've

4:38:11adopted over the years whether it's

4:38:12vision zero um so and then also

4:38:17daylighting um which I don't hear um a

4:38:20lot at least not at the dis um So I am

4:38:24confident that the the city the city

4:38:27staff and the city council will continue

4:38:29to focus on safety measures um for for

4:38:32all and not just one area of the city

4:38:34but all areas of the city that where

4:38:36it's hightraic corridors which is

4:38:38definitely Coleman. Um I am comfortable

4:38:43moving forward with what was approved

4:38:46already um for Coleman Avenue.

4:38:55All right. Do we need to take a motion

4:38:59on this or

4:39:01>> No, we there's no action. There's no

4:39:04there's no motion.

4:39:05>> All right. Thank you. Thank you.

4:39:08>> And um

4:39:11I think just having the information that

4:39:13the residents put together is also very

4:39:16valuable. So, thank you to the

4:39:18residents.

4:39:21Next is uhformational items.

4:39:24Informationational items are transmitted

4:39:25to the city council in staff's effort to

4:39:27provide an update on matters of

4:39:29importance to the city council.

4:39:31Informational items are not action

4:39:33items. However, a city council member,

4:39:35city staff member, or a member of the

4:39:37public may request to make a comment or

4:39:39ask a question on any of theformational

4:39:41items. City clerk Karen, do we have any

4:39:43public comments on theformational items?

4:39:46>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So for any member

4:39:48of the public who would like to provide

4:39:49comment on anformational item M1 city

4:39:52council agenda topics or M2 a release of

4:39:55the 2026 BMR housing fund notice of

4:39:59funding availability. If you are in

4:40:02person return that speaker card virtual

4:40:04engage that hand feature calling in.

4:40:06Press star 9 now.

4:40:11Final call for public comment on

4:40:13ourformational items M1 and M2.

4:40:19Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

4:40:21continue.

4:40:22>> Thank you. Um, do we have any public I'm

4:40:25sorry, do we have any council comment on

4:40:27any of the items? Uh, Council Member

4:40:30Taylor.

4:40:31>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. Uh, my comments

4:40:33are on M2. Um, and my request is that

4:40:37the council um consider

4:40:41using some of the funds um set aside

4:40:44some of the funds for the tenant

4:40:46relocation

4:40:47fund. Um also legal and rental

4:40:50assistance.

4:40:55All right. Um, my comment is also on M2

4:40:58and I wanted um assuming that this works

4:41:00with the within the guidelines to um add

4:41:04to the um NOA um somewhere to encourage

4:41:07downtown housing um development the

4:41:11developers to apply for these funds so

4:41:14that um they might be used on the

4:41:17downtown project.

4:41:22Okay, with that, um,

4:41:24>> uh, sorry, sorry, mayor. I just want to

4:41:26like double check a couple of things

4:41:28there. So, if I could ask Miss Chow to

4:41:30come up. I just want to make sure, um,

4:41:33there's [snorts]

4:41:33agreement across the council and then

4:41:37what, if anything, that requires in

4:41:38terms of a change. Um, because I think

4:41:40we're we were looking to send it out

4:41:42tomorrow. So, I just wanted to

4:41:43cross-check it. one one aspect is

4:41:46whether there on the first item that uh

4:41:49council member Taylor brought up whether

4:41:50that would change the amount of money

4:41:52that's being advertised and then the uh

4:41:54which I don't I I'm not tracking so

4:41:57that's why I'm asking and then the

4:41:58second thing is whether to actually add

4:42:00anything explicitly about downtown so I

4:42:03just want to be be clear before we send

4:42:05it out

4:42:07>> great thank you so I can address those

4:42:10items so community development director

4:42:13so to council member Taylor's uh

4:42:15comments around uh funding for tenant

4:42:18relocation, legal assistance, and rental

4:42:19assistance. So, uh separately, aside

4:42:22from the NOA, staff is working on um the

4:42:26creation of a legal assistance program

4:42:28and reviving the rental assistance

4:42:30program. So, recently they went to the

4:42:33housing commission for their input and

4:42:35we'll be bringing forward those two

4:42:36programs later this month um for the

4:42:38city council to approve. And so in the

4:42:41housing budget, we have already set

4:42:42aside some funding uh for those two

4:42:45programs. Um certainly if there is a

4:42:47desire to increase it, then we can look

4:42:49at a budget amendment if that is

4:42:51something um the council wishes to do.

4:42:53But we have separately set um knowing

4:42:55that we were going to be implementing

4:42:56those two programs as a result of the

4:42:59key priorities in the anti-displacement

4:43:01plan. Those are budgeted um with tenant

4:43:04relocation. um that is something that

4:43:07the um developer would actually pay for

4:43:10on tenant relocation. So we have not set

4:43:13aside any funding for tenant relocation.

4:43:16Um if they comply if it if a if it is

4:43:19required per either state law or through

4:43:21our city ordinance that is not something

4:43:23the the city funds

4:43:25it is there was a program that the city

4:43:28did fund. Maybe I have the wrong title

4:43:30for it and it's not the tenant

4:43:32relocation.

4:43:36several year ago. Are you thinking of

4:43:37the rental assistance

4:43:40program that Samaritan House

4:43:42administered?

4:43:43>> Yes. Yes. So, um funds uh that program

4:43:46started several years ago and funds were

4:43:48exhausted last year and so we are

4:43:50looking to um recreate a rental

4:43:54assistance program and then go out again

4:43:56with an RFP for a new service provider

4:43:58to administer that program.

4:44:00>> And that's the the program that you've

4:44:02already that you're working on?

4:44:04>> Yes.

4:44:04>> Funding. Okay. Thank you.

4:44:07>> And then uh to Mayor Nash's question or

4:44:10um encouragement around um

4:44:14uh supporting you know encouraging the

4:44:17downtown development certainly we will

4:44:18send the NOA to those particular

4:44:21developers. Um

4:44:24I I under the current uh NOA I I don't

4:44:27know if I I don't believe all of them

4:44:30would be eligible um for the funding as

4:44:34it's set aside for it could be nonprofit

4:44:36or for profofit but there is part of

4:44:39their experience um there is a

4:44:41requirement for two 100% affordable

4:44:44developments

4:44:45um I'm sorry what was that to uh having

4:44:49ownership of two 100% % affordable

4:44:53developments is part of the eligibility

4:44:56criteria. So the fact um so

4:45:02it has nothing to do with the fact that

4:45:03there that the project has not been

4:45:06selected or anything. It just is

4:45:07something that like they could still

4:45:11apply for a future project um

4:45:17>> if they would like to partner with

4:45:18someone with that eligibility criteria.

4:45:21>> I'm sorry. But the eligibility is what's

4:45:23stopping it, not the fact that the pro

4:45:25not the nothing to do with the downtown

4:45:28development timeline or anything.

4:45:30>> Correct. Correct. And so if if we want

4:45:32to modify the eligibility criteria, we

4:45:34can certainly look at that if the

4:45:35council

4:45:36>> not want to do that at this point. Thank

4:45:37you.

4:45:38>> All right. Thanks so much for that

4:45:39explanation.

4:45:43So, so I'm hearing that we're not

4:45:48putting any language around encouraging

4:45:50or per

4:45:54downtown to them um hopefully will be

4:45:57encouragement.

4:45:58>> Okay.

4:45:58>> Yeah. Thank you.

4:45:59>> Thank you.

4:46:00>> Um but basically just whatever we can do

4:46:02to help

4:46:04if depending how everything goes um to

4:46:08help us build our affordable housing.

4:46:10Thank you.

4:46:16Um, next is the city manager report with

4:46:21city manager Justin Murphy.

4:46:27>> Uh, yes, Mayor. Thank you. I would like

4:46:29to um

4:46:31uh advertise that this Thursday, October

4:46:3415th at 10:15 a.m. Um 10:15 is the Great

4:46:40California Shakeout. Uh learn more to

4:46:43prepare for earthquakes by participating

4:46:45in learning at uh menopark.gov/prepared.

4:46:51Also want to make you aware that the

4:46:54city city staff is participating in a

4:46:56coordinated countywide emergency

4:46:59exercise related to an earthquake uh on

4:47:02the same day. So a group of our staff

4:47:04will be spending much of the day in the

4:47:06emergency operations center in a

4:47:08facilitated training. So that's this

4:47:10Thursday, October 15th. That's my update

4:47:12for the today.

4:47:15>> Thank you. Are there any city council

4:47:18member reports since September 22nd

4:47:22city council meeting?

4:47:30I actually have two reports. Um one is

4:47:34Westlight Energy had their 10th

4:47:36anniversary celebration and it was a

4:47:39wonderful event with many talks and

4:47:42panel discussions.

4:47:44And then um Bosa, I just wanted to let

4:47:46people know that the Sierra Club has

4:47:48sued the SFPU, claiming the SFPU has

4:47:52inflated its water demand projections

4:47:54for years, causing unnecessary harm to

4:47:57the environment and inflating customer

4:47:58rates and that BOSA right now is um not

4:48:03a party to the RIT and the staff and

4:48:06BOSA staff and legal council um will

4:48:08just continue to track the legal

4:48:09proceeding.

4:48:11So, but there's um this is something

4:48:14that's been somewhat of an active

4:48:15discussion at BOSA and um the only thing

4:48:21I've seen is and what was sent out from

4:48:23BOSA is a newspaper article for in the

4:48:25Chronicle. If anyone wants to look it up

4:48:27um I can send out more information, but

4:48:30it's um

4:48:33interesting.

4:48:35All right. Um,

4:48:39if there's no more council member

4:48:40reports, we are adjourned. Thank you.