2026-10-27 - City Council Special and Regular Meeting

00:00Betsy Nash and welcome to the October

00:0227th special and regular city council

00:04meeting. This is a hybrid meeting with

00:06city council, city staff, and members of

00:08the public participating virtually and

00:10at the city council chambers. Please

00:13note public comment speaker time may be

00:15limited if there are more than 10

00:16speakers on an item. We also ask that if

00:19you are in person, please submit your

00:20speaker cards for all agenda items to

00:22the city clerk at this time. Tonight, we

00:25have interpretation services available.

00:27Please visit the table in the back for a

00:29headset. For those in virtual

00:31attendance, please note that there is a

00:33globe icon near the hand feature on your

00:35screen. Our interpreters tonight this

00:38evening are Ricardo Dado and Angelica

00:42Vagrand de Gonzalez. Thank you all for

00:45your time and services today.

00:56Angelic, are you able to provide that

00:57interpretation?

01:08Can you hear me?

01:09>> Yes. Go right ahead. Thank you. I

01:11apologize.

01:47Roll call. I would like to introduce

01:49city council members and staff present.

01:51In the city council chambers are myself,

01:53Mayor Betsy Nash, Vice Mayor Jennifer

01:56Weise, and city council members Drew

01:58Combmes, and Jeff Schmidt. City Council

02:00member Siccilia Taylor is participating

02:02remotely using provisions in the Brown

02:04Act. City Council member Taylor, please

02:06tell us, let us know if there are any

02:08persons 18 years or older present in the

02:11room and the general nature of your

02:12relationship with the individual.

02:14>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. There is no one

02:16in the room with me under 18 or over 18.

02:20Thank you.

02:21>> Thank you. In accordance with government

02:24code 54953 and the city council

02:26procedures manual when one or more city

02:29council members participates remotely

02:31agenda items requiring action will be

02:33voted on using roll call this evening.

02:36The roll call vote will be taken with

02:38remote city council member Taylor first,

02:41then in alphabetical order using legal

02:43first name with the mayor voting last.

02:46Staff present include city manager

02:48Justin Murphy, city attorney Nera

02:50Dhorty, and city clerk Judy Herren.

02:54Next is the close session

02:56C1 conference with legal counsel

02:58existing litigation paragraph one of

03:01subdivision D of government code section

03:0454956.9

03:06name of case Willow project LLC v city

03:10city of Menllo Park a California city

03:13and the city council of the city of

03:15Menllo Park and the community

03:17development department of the city of

03:18Menllo Park and doze 1 through 20 case

03:22number 26 6-c7675.

03:28City clerk Karen, please call for public

03:30comment for close session item C1. Thank

03:33you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time, if

03:35any member of the public wishes to

03:37provide comment on item C1, conference

03:40with legal counsel for existing

03:42litigation. If you are in person, return

03:44a speaker card and virtual engage that

03:47hand feature calling in. Press star 9.

03:49Now,

03:52this will be the final call for public

03:54comment on close session item C1.

03:59Seeing none, Mayor Nash may continue.

04:03Thank you. The city council will now

04:05adjourn to the closed session and

04:07intends to reconvene at approximately

04:096:00 p.m.

52:36Hello, I am Mayor Betsy Nash and we are

52:38reconvening the special and regular

52:40October 27th city council meeting.

52:42Tonight we have in-person interpretation

52:44services available. Please visit the

52:46table in the back for a headset. For

52:48those in virtual attendance, please note

52:50that there is a globe icon near the hand

52:52feature on your screen.

53:00Was notes

53:21glob

53:23sir.

53:40City Clerk Heron, would you please

53:41provide instructions to the city council

53:43and members of the public on how the

53:45meeting will proceed?

53:46>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, for

53:48members of the public who wish to

53:50provide comment on an item on tonight's

53:52agenda, if you are in person, we ask

53:54that you return a speaker card. If you

53:57are virtual, after the mayor calls for

53:59comment for the item you wish to speak,

54:01you'll engage that hand feature. And if

54:03you are calling in, you'll press star 9

54:05at that time. That concludes my

54:07instructions. Mayor Nash may continue.

54:10>> Thank you. I would now like to introduce

54:13city attorney Dherty for for a report

54:15out from the close session.

54:17Thank you, mayor. There is no reportable

54:19action.

54:21>> Thank you. Agenda review. Agenda review

54:24provides advanced notice to members of

54:25the public and city staff of any

54:27modifications to the agenda. To ensure

54:30staff is available and prepared, will

54:32the city council have any questions or

54:34comments on consent calendar

54:35orformational items?

54:41City Clerk Karen, how many speaker cards

54:43have you received for the regular

54:45business items? Thank you, Mayor Nash.

54:47We have received no speaker cards at

54:49this time.

54:50>> Thank you. Does the city council desire

54:52to modify the order of any agenda item?

55:00Public comment. Under public comment,

55:02the public may address the city council

55:04on any subject not listed on the agenda.

55:06Each speaker may address the city

55:08council once under public comment for a

55:10limit of 3 minutes. Speaker time will be

55:13limited if there are more than 10

55:14speakers. You are not required to

55:16provide your name or city of residence,

55:18but it is helpful. The city council

55:20cannot act on items not listed on the

55:22agenda and therefore the city council

55:25cannot respond to non-aggenda issues

55:27brought up under public comment other

55:29than to provide general information.

55:31City clerk Herren, please call for

55:33general public comment. Thank you, Mayor

55:35Nash. So, at this time, if any member of

55:38the public wishes to provide comment for

55:40an item not on tonight's agenda, if you

55:43are in person, return that speaker card

55:46virtual engage that hand feature.

55:48Calling in, press star 9. Now,

55:53this will be the final call for public

55:55comment for items not on tonight's

55:57agenda.

55:59Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

56:01continue.

56:04Next are the presentations and

56:06proclamations. We have three

56:07proclamations this evening.

56:44The first proclamation tonight is H1

56:47National Bullying Prevention Month. City

56:50Clerk Karen, please call for public

56:51comment on item H1.

56:54Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

56:56if any member of the public wishes to

56:58provide comment on item H1, our

57:00proclamation uh recognizing National

57:03Bullying Prevention Month. If you are in

57:06person, return that speaker card.

57:08Virtual engage that hand feature.

57:10Calling in, press star 9 now.

57:15Final call for public comment on our

57:17proclamation H1, National Bullying

57:20Prevention Month.

57:23Seeing none, May Nash, you may continue.

57:26Tonight, we recognize October 2026 as

57:29National Bullying Prevention Month in

57:30Menlo Park, underscoring our community's

57:33commitment to ensuring that people of

57:35all backgrounds feel safe, supported,

57:37and included. This proclamation

57:39highlights the widespread impacts of

57:41bullying and encourages everyone to help

57:43build a community where respect,

57:45empathy, and positive connections can

57:47thrive. We would like to invite Menllo

57:49Children's Center staff Jenna Filin,

57:52Stephanie Seazer, and Freddy Winn to

57:54accept the proclamation.

58:12Good evening, mayor, council members,

58:14and everyone joining us tonight. We are

58:17Freddy, Jenna, and Stephanie, a part of

58:19Menllo Children's C Center's afterchool

58:21program. We would like to thank you for

58:24recognizing National Bullying Prevention

58:26Month. When we talk about preventing

58:28bullying, we are really talking about

58:30the everyday experiences that shape

58:33whether someone feels welcome. A child

58:35who is invited into a game, a child who

58:38is listened to,

58:40someone who defends that child by a

58:43peer. They all learn something very

58:46important that they belong. This

58:49October, our city programs are turning

58:51this idea into an actual action. We want

58:55children to notice when someone feels

58:57left out to understand how their choices

59:00affect others and know that they can

59:02create a welcoming environment.

59:07[clears throat]

59:08In our afterchool program, Be the One

59:10encourages children to talk openly about

59:13teasing, exclusion, and what it means to

59:16be an upstander. Walk in my shoes gives

59:19children different scenarios such as

59:22rumors or cyber bullying and gives them

59:25a chance to think through those

59:27scenarios and practice responding

59:29thoughtfully in situations such as that.

59:33Our children are also making kindness

59:35pledge cards and preparing kind messages

59:39for a community group through a service

59:41project. And our preschoolers are

59:44exploring friendship, feelings, and

59:47helping hands through stories and art.

59:50Our senior programs are sharing words of

59:53encouragement and appreciation.

59:56On October 21st for Unity Day, we came

59:58together in orange as a visible show of

1:00:01solidarity and support.

1:00:08The value of these activities is not

1:00:10simply what grids created or displayed.

1:00:13It is what happens afterwards when a

1:00:15when a child notices somebody sitting

1:00:17alone,

1:00:19chooses to include them or asks an adult

1:00:21for help when needed. We hope those

1:00:24choices become habits that reach outside

1:00:26of our outside of our centers that goes

1:00:29into their homes, neighborhoods, and

1:00:31schools. Each age group plays a role and

1:00:35every act is considered hope. Every act

1:00:38of consideration helps shape the

1:00:41communication around uh the community

1:00:42around us. Sorry. We appreciate the city

1:00:45council for giving this issue attention

1:00:48and for recognizing the work

1:00:51happening across our programs. May this

1:00:53month encourage all of us to move

1:00:55forward from this move from this

1:00:57awareness to action sorry one thoughtful

1:01:00choice at a time. Thank you.

1:01:30Oh my gosh, thank you so much.

1:01:51The next presentation is H2, United

1:01:54Against Hate Week. City Clerk Karen,

1:01:56please call for public comment on item

1:01:58H2.

1:01:59>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Nash.

1:02:02So at this time if any member of the

1:02:04public wishes to provide comment on our

1:02:06proclamation H2 united Against Hate

1:02:09Week, if you are in person, return that

1:02:12speaker card virtual engage that hand

1:02:14feature calling in. Press star 9 now.

1:02:19And this will be the final call for

1:02:21public comment on our Proclamation H2

1:02:25united Against Hate Week.

1:02:41Okay, seeing none, Mar Nash, you may

1:02:43continue.

1:02:46United Against Hate Week, October 18th

1:02:48to 24th, 2026. Whereas the city of

1:02:51Menllo Park is a community that respects

1:02:53diversity and affirms our commitment to

1:02:56safety and belonging for all residents.

1:02:58And whereas hate presents a threat to

1:03:01communities everywhere and creates an

1:03:02atmosphere of fear and division. Whereas

1:03:06reported hate crimes have increased

1:03:07dramatically across the United States.

1:03:10And whereas the city of Menlo Park is

1:03:13dedicated to preventing and opposing

1:03:14hate and intolerance in our communities.

1:03:17And whereas education, compassion,

1:03:20critical thinking, and cooperation are

1:03:22key to unlocking understanding and

1:03:24embracing differences between people.

1:03:27And whereas we seek to join other

1:03:30communities and cities across the

1:03:32country in this annual United Against

1:03:34Hate Week as an important step in

1:03:36bridging divisions while strengthening

1:03:38and healing our communities. Now

1:03:40therefore, be it proclaimed that I,

1:03:42Betsy Nash, mayor of the city of Menllo

1:03:44Park, on behalf of the city council and

1:03:46city, do hereby proclaim and celebrate

1:03:48October 18th to 24th as United Against

1:03:51Hate Week in Menllo Park. We would like

1:03:54to introduce police c commander Tony

1:03:57Dixon to accept the proclamation.

1:04:08Hi, good evening and thank you. The

1:04:10Menllo Park Police Department is

1:04:11committed to fostering a safe,

1:04:13inclusive, and welcoming community where

1:04:16everyone is treated with dignity and

1:04:17respect. To that end, on behalf of the

1:04:20men and women of our department, I'm

1:04:21happy to accept this proclamation

1:04:23recognizing United Against Hate Week.

1:04:58Yeah.

1:05:01[laughter]

1:05:04Thank you. Thank you.

1:05:23Final proclamation tonight is H3

1:05:26recognizing age up day. City clerk

1:05:28Karen, please call for public comment on

1:05:30item H3.

1:05:32>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So for any member

1:05:34of the public wishing to speak on our

1:05:37proclamation H3 recognizing age up day.

1:05:41If you are in person, return that

1:05:43speaker card. Virtual engage that hand

1:05:45feature. Calling in. Press star 9 now.

1:05:50Final call for public comment on our

1:05:53proclamation H3 recognizing age up day.

1:05:58Seeing none, mayor nash may continue.

1:06:01Tonight we are recognizing October 8th,

1:06:032026 as AgeUp Day in honor of AgeUp's 25

1:06:07years of service advocating for and

1:06:09supporting older adults and people with

1:06:11disabilities in long-term care

1:06:13facilities throughout Menllo Park and

1:06:15San Monteo County. This proclamation

1:06:18celebrates Age's vital programs,

1:06:20including the OMBbudsman services and

1:06:22community outreach efforts, which

1:06:24protect residents rights and help keep

1:06:26our older community members connected,

1:06:28supported, and safe. We would like to

1:06:30introduce We would like to invite

1:06:33OPMsman Alan Kornfield to accept the

1:06:35proclamations.

1:06:47Good evening. I'm Alan Kornfield and I'm

1:06:50an ombbudsman with Sanonteo County under

1:06:53the umbrella of Age Up. I'd like to

1:06:56thank Mayor Nash, Vice Mayor Wise, city

1:06:59council members, and city administrators

1:07:03for letting me come tonight. On behalf

1:07:05of Age Up and Ombbudsman Services of

1:07:08Sanonteo County, I want to thank the

1:07:09city of Menlo Park and your leadership

1:07:12for this recognition. Age Up Ombbudsman

1:07:15Services visits residential care

1:07:18facilities to advocate and protect the

1:07:20rights of and safety of older adults

1:07:22while helping them remain active,

1:07:24connected and engaged in their

1:07:25communities in Menllo Park. These

1:07:28communities include Athetherton Park

1:07:30Postacute Skilled Nursing, Meadow

1:07:33Gardens, also known as Peninsula Elderly

1:07:35Care, Silver Oaks, also known as Menllo

1:07:39Oaks, and the two Sand Hill assisted

1:07:43living residential care facilities. We

1:07:45also visit day programs including Rosner

1:07:48House.

1:07:49These facilities represent approximately

1:07:52280 long-term care residents, and that's

1:07:55only in Menllo Park. There are 20 cities

1:07:58in Santa uh Sanonteo County. Since July

1:08:01of 2026,

1:08:03our fiscal year, we have visited 265

1:08:06facilities for a total of,097 visits. So

1:08:10far,

1:08:12we are truly honored to receive this

1:08:14proclamation and we especially

1:08:15appreciate the attention it brings to

1:08:17the needs and rights of older adults in

1:08:19all of our communities.

1:08:22Our goals are simple. To protect the

1:08:24rights and safety of older adults in

1:08:27care homes while helping them remain

1:08:30active, connected, and engaged in their

1:08:32communities.

1:08:34We're very proud to be celebrating 25

1:08:36years of OMBbudsman services of Sanonteo

1:08:38County and it means a lot to have the

1:08:40city of Menlo Park celebrate this

1:08:42milestone with us. Again, on behalf of

1:08:44Age Up, I wish to extend our sincerest

1:08:47gratitude.

1:10:10Next, we have the consent calendar.

1:10:11Under the consent calendar, the city

1:10:13council may take action to approve

1:10:15routine business items in one motion

1:10:17unless a city council member, city staff

1:10:19member, or a member of the public

1:10:20requests that an item be discussed or

1:10:22continued to a later date. City clerk,

1:10:25do we have any public comments on the

1:10:27consent calendar?

1:10:29Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

1:10:31if any member of the public wishes to

1:10:33provide comment on consent calendar item

1:10:35I1, city council meeting minutes, or

1:10:39item I2, the adoption of a ordinance

1:10:42amending setbacks and subdivision

1:10:45sections of the Menllo Park municipal

1:10:47code. If you are in person, return that

1:10:50speaker card. Virtual engage a hand

1:10:52feature. Calling in, press star 9 now.

1:10:58Final call for public comment on our

1:11:01consent calendar items I1 and I2.

1:11:08Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

1:11:10continue.

1:11:14All right. Is there um any discussion or

1:11:16is there a motion and a second on the

1:11:18table to approve the consent calendar?

1:11:22Motion to approve.

1:11:26Second.

1:11:28>> Thank you. I have a motion on the floor

1:11:30by Vice Mayor Weise and a second by city

1:11:33council member Combmes to approve the

1:11:36consent calendar. Any further city

1:11:38council question or discussion?

1:11:41Seeing none, by roll call vote, city

1:11:44council member Taylor,

1:11:46>> yes.

1:11:47>> City council member Combmes,

1:11:49>> yes.

1:11:50>> City council member Schmidt,

1:11:51>> yes.

1:11:52>> Vice Mayor Wise,

1:11:53>> yes. Mayor Nash.

1:11:55>> Yes. And the motion passes unanimously.

1:11:58Thank you. Regular business. Under

1:12:01regular business, the city council

1:12:02considers recommendations from city

1:12:04staff on policy matters or

1:12:06administrative actions that require city

1:12:08council approval. The first regular

1:12:10business item tonight is J1. Consider

1:12:13and approve program guidelines to

1:12:15establish rental assistance and legal

1:12:17assistance programs. Here to introduce

1:12:19the item is management analyst to Adam

1:12:23Patterson.

1:12:26>> Good evening, city council and members

1:12:28of the public. My name is Adam Patterson

1:12:30and I am a management analyst in the

1:12:32city's housing team. I am presenting

1:12:34tonight on proposed uh rental and legal

1:12:37assistance.

1:12:41Tonight, staff asked that the city

1:12:42council consider and approve rental

1:12:44assistance and legal assistance program

1:12:46guidelines. This presentation will

1:12:48include background about the programs, a

1:12:50summary of the proposed guidelines, and

1:12:52a preview of the next steps if approved.

1:12:57The city previously partnered with

1:12:58Samaritan House on a city-f funed

1:13:00housing assistance program. That program

1:13:02most recently received a round of

1:13:04funding of $250,000 in two in 2022 with

1:13:08220,000 of that available for assistance

1:13:11and funds were exhausted in early 2025.

1:13:15Samaritan House data indicated that 76

1:13:17households and 213 individuals were

1:13:19served and that approximately 85% of

1:13:22those funds were used for rental

1:13:24assistance payments. The remaining funds

1:13:26were used for deposits, mortgage

1:13:28assistance, or utility assistance

1:13:30payments. Since then, programs in both

1:13:32the city's housing element and

1:13:34environmental justice element commit the

1:13:36city to developing an anti-displacement

1:13:38strategy, including increasing access to

1:13:40legal assistance for tenants facing

1:13:41eviction. In May of this year, the city

1:13:44council adopted the city's first

1:13:45anti-displacement plan. During that

1:13:48process and as part of that plan, a

1:13:49number of strategies were identified.

1:13:51Rental assistance and legal assistance

1:13:53were programs identified for uh as

1:13:56priorities for implementation.

1:13:59To bolster these efforts, the city

1:14:01applied for and was awarded $250,000

1:14:03from the Metropolitan Transportation

1:14:05Commission's transit oriented

1:14:07communities policy planning grant for

1:14:09housing policy development

1:14:11to develop these program guidelines. uh

1:14:14staff collaborated with heart of

1:14:16Sanonteo County uh who also worked on

1:14:19the anti-displacement plan and uh other

1:14:23um aspects considered uh were feedback

1:14:25from that plan, evaluation of the

1:14:27previous program, interviews with

1:14:29service providers and experts, and

1:14:32consideration of the MTC TOC policy

1:14:34requirements as compliance with those uh

1:14:37may enhance the city's competitiveness

1:14:38for future grant funding opportunities.

1:14:43The housing commission has had the

1:14:45opportunity to review and provide

1:14:46feedback on these programs. On September

1:14:482nd, the commission reviewed draft

1:14:50components of the programs through a

1:14:51study session. The commission provided

1:14:53feedback in a number of areas and the

1:14:55project team worked to incorporate this

1:14:56feedback into the program guidelines

1:14:58were appropriate which will be discussed

1:15:00later. Otherwise, the feedback will be

1:15:02included in the forthcoming request for

1:15:03proposals asking the respondents to

1:15:05address the feedback in their proposals.

1:15:07On October 7th, the housing commission

1:15:09reviewed the draft program guidelines

1:15:10and recommended them for approval to the

1:15:12city council.

1:15:16For the rental assistance program

1:15:17guidelines, staff proposes that $75,000

1:15:21be made available in program funding in

1:15:23year one of the program. To comply with

1:15:25MTC TOC policy, each program must be

1:15:27funded at a minimum of $300,000 over

1:15:30four years. That's per per program. So

1:15:32$600,000 total. So $75,000 represents a

1:15:35quarter of that of that funding in year

1:15:37one. Uh income eligibility is proposed

1:15:40at at or below 80% of the area median

1:15:43income for Sanonteo County. Per MT MTC

1:15:46TOC policy, uh the requirement is to

1:15:48target these programs at at low-income

1:15:50households. The household must have a

1:15:52current valid lease for a unit located

1:15:54within an incorporated Menlo Park and

1:15:57assistance would be available up to

1:15:58$5,000 with the final assistance amount

1:16:01being determined through the application

1:16:02process. So that $5,000 figure is not a

1:16:04guaranteed amount. It's a cap. Um and

1:16:07households would be eligible for

1:16:09assistance once every 12 months.

1:16:12Assistance eligible uses of assistance

1:16:14would be on current or past rent,

1:16:16utilities, and associated late fees. Uh

1:16:18and the the intent of the program and

1:16:19the MTC TOC policy is to help keep

1:16:22current tenants in their units.

1:16:25The application would also require a

1:16:26documented need for assistance as well

1:16:28as income verification for eligibility.

1:16:32Based on housing commission feedback,

1:16:33the project team removed a suggested

1:16:3512-month minimum tenency requirement.

1:16:37The housing commission felt strongly

1:16:39that whether someone has lived in the in

1:16:41the city for one month or one year, they

1:16:43are no less a resident and their

1:16:44eligibility should not be impacted by

1:16:46that. The housing commission also felt

1:16:48that households may experience

1:16:50independent financial setbacks requiring

1:16:52assistance. Therefore, eligibility

1:16:54should renew every 12 months rather than

1:16:56a once per lifetime eligibility uh

1:16:58policy.

1:17:02The eligibility criteria of the legal

1:17:04assistance program would mirror much of

1:17:06the rental assistance program criteria,

1:17:08but would differ depending on the level

1:17:09of service. The project team broke the

1:17:11legal assistance down into three levels

1:17:13of service. Level one focuses on uh

1:17:16education and prevention. So that would

1:17:18come in the form of workshops,

1:17:20educational workshops and 30-inute

1:17:21consultations. Level two includes

1:17:24limited scope representation which would

1:17:26include more hands-on case management

1:17:28and assistance in responding to eviction

1:17:30notices. This type of service helps

1:17:32affected households avoid a default

1:17:34judgment. And a default judgment is when

1:17:36uh a judgment is made in favor of the

1:17:39landlord just due to a lack of response

1:17:42from the tenant. So this would help get

1:17:43get them to file the paperwork and be

1:17:45able to respond to that eviction notice

1:17:46and know what to do in that situation.

1:17:48Level three service would include full

1:17:50representation which could be in court

1:17:52if needed. Um but the the project team

1:17:55has chosen to focus the resources on the

1:17:58level one and two services and focusing

1:18:00on education and prevention. And the

1:18:02project team uh this would not preclude

1:18:04assistance seekers from receiving level

1:18:06three service but it would not be

1:18:08specifically funded within the scope of

1:18:10this program. The housing commission

1:18:12also felt uh that focus on education and

1:18:14prevention was the best use of program

1:18:16funds to reach as many folks as

1:18:17possible.

1:18:20Uh also based on housing commission

1:18:21feedback uh and to reduce the friction

1:18:24for those seeking assistance, the

1:18:26friction of the application process, the

1:18:27project team is proposing a

1:18:28self-certification for level one

1:18:30service. U an example of that would be

1:18:33for an educational workshop. folks could

1:18:36attest that they meet the income

1:18:37eligibility requirements. If they would

1:18:39require service beyond level one, they

1:18:41would have to go through full a full

1:18:42elig eligibility um application.

1:18:49Given the specialized nature of these

1:18:51programs, the project team uh believes

1:18:54that a a full request for proposals or

1:18:56RFP is necessary to identify the service

1:18:58providers.

1:19:00The project team is proposing a combined

1:19:02RFP for these programs allowing for

1:19:04proposals for one or both services or

1:19:07for a propo two two service providers to

1:19:10to apply as partner agencies. Um, one

1:19:14service provider estimated that

1:19:15approximately 80% of eviction cases are

1:19:18related to non-payment of rent. And the

1:19:20project team felt that that this

1:19:21approach uh would emphasize the the

1:19:24complimentary nature of these programs

1:19:25and allow for a nimble um assistance

1:19:29between the two programs for folks.

1:19:32Other housing commission feedback that

1:19:34is intended to be addressed in the RFP

1:19:36included a dedicated hotline for for

1:19:38folks accessing this program. A texting

1:19:41option, uh, meeting a 48 hour response

1:19:44time, a centralized intake point and

1:19:47triage of cases, especially considering

1:19:50these programs are meant to complement

1:19:51each other between the two

1:19:53and additional ways to streamline the

1:19:55application process. Mentioning again

1:19:56the the the friction of the application

1:19:58process. Understanding the time time is

1:20:00often of the essence for folks reach uh

1:20:03that are seeking this type of

1:20:04assistance. So we would like the

1:20:06respondents to be able to provide us

1:20:07with a solution for how we can

1:20:09streamline uh the application time.

1:20:14Other program requirements uh include

1:20:16quarterly data reporting and that would

1:20:18include quarterly reporting to help

1:20:20staff understand program effectiveness

1:20:22and community needs. Uh some of that

1:20:24data reporting should include household

1:20:25information, uh time to receive

1:20:27assistance, assistance effectiveness,

1:20:30follow-up, total number of inquiries and

1:20:32case outcomes, and geographic data to

1:20:34better understand the distribution of

1:20:36the need. And this data collection is

1:20:38designed to help staff understand

1:20:39program effectiveness and possible

1:20:42program adjustments as this first year

1:20:43is designed to act as a pilot. So staff

1:20:46expect this to be an iterative process.

1:20:49Uh this would also uh include an

1:20:52opportunity for the housing commission

1:20:53and its anti-displacement subcommittee

1:20:55to uh review program data and and make

1:20:58future recommendations on program

1:20:59updates and improvements.

1:21:03There there's also a required outreach

1:21:05strategy as part of these programs which

1:21:07will be formalized in the grant

1:21:08reimbursement submission documents as

1:21:10well as in the RFP. Uh this includes

1:21:12dedicated program pages for the for

1:21:14these on the city website, multilingual

1:21:17outreach materials, outreach at

1:21:18community events which uh will also be

1:21:21incl required of the service provider to

1:21:23attend these events and table and be and

1:21:25be available uh and wide city staff

1:21:27awareness. just came up uh with the

1:21:28housing commission to ensure

1:21:30understanding that folks may go to may

1:21:32not always go to city hall, they may go

1:21:34to to the library, they may go to the

1:21:35BHCC looking for assistance, looking for

1:21:37help, making sure other city staff are

1:21:38aware that these programs are available

1:21:40so they can provide these resources to

1:21:41folks.

1:21:46Staff asked that the city council

1:21:47consider and approve these program

1:21:48guidelines to establish rental and legal

1:21:50assistance programs. If the programs are

1:21:52approved, the RFP is anticipated to be

1:21:54released on November 2nd. With that

1:21:57timeline, proposals would be due on

1:21:59December 4th and service provider

1:22:01selection and agreements would be

1:22:02expected to be brought to city council

1:22:03for consideration in winter 2027.

1:22:06The pro during that time, the project

1:22:08team will also be working on finalizing

1:22:09and submitting documentation necessary

1:22:11for the grant reimbursement.

1:22:15Thank you for your time and

1:22:16consideration. Staff and Hart are

1:22:18available to answer any questions.

1:22:21>> Thank you. Are there any clarifying

1:22:24questions?

1:22:25Okay, I have one and that is can you

1:22:28define winter 2027

1:22:30please

1:22:34>> without uh I think

1:22:38yeah I think first quarter of 2027

1:22:41>> and thank you I think the and also the

1:22:43feedback from the housing commission is

1:22:45>> to to implement as quickly as possible

1:22:47so hopefully earlier in that quarter but

1:22:51yes

1:22:52>> thank you very much

1:22:54all All right. Uh, city clerk Karen, do

1:22:56we have any public comments on this

1:22:57item?

1:22:59>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

1:23:01if any member of the public wishes to

1:23:04provide comment on our regular business

1:23:07item J1, uh, program guidelines to

1:23:10establish rental and legal assistance

1:23:12programs. If you are in person, return

1:23:15that speaker card virtual engage that

1:23:18hand feature. Calling in, please press

1:23:20star 9 now.

1:23:24This will be the final call for public

1:23:26comment on our regular business item J1

1:23:30related to rental and legal assistance

1:23:32programs.

1:23:35Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

1:23:37continue.

1:23:39Thank you. I would like to open for city

1:23:41council questions and discussion.

1:23:47Who would like to

1:23:49start?

1:23:51Council

1:23:55member Schmidt.

1:23:56>> Um, thank you, Mayor Nash. Thanks for

1:23:58clarifying. That was my my very first

1:24:00question about winter, so it's good to

1:24:02to know that's not a year from now. Um,

1:24:04the um I I think one of my first

1:24:07questions was around the um I have two

1:24:10questions. One was around the 5K and

1:24:12assistance

1:24:13one time per 12 month period. and given

1:24:17the amount of rents and other things.

1:24:20Um, you know, I'm just curious how we

1:24:22came to that calculation given that that

1:24:25certain residents might need more

1:24:27assistance. So, I'd just love a little

1:24:28more background.

1:24:31>> Sure. Thank you. Um,

1:24:34it's a delicate balance of trying to

1:24:38reach as many households as possible

1:24:39while providing the the necessary

1:24:41assistance. Um,

1:24:45looking we did look at peer

1:24:46jurisdictions. It is on the higher side

1:24:49for compared to peer jurisdictions. Um,

1:24:53the previous program was also at $5,000

1:24:55per household. And looking at the number

1:24:59of folks it reached and kind of the

1:25:01average, even though it wasn't

1:25:02necessarily all for rental assistance,

1:25:04for example, it was around $2,900 per

1:25:06household. Um, granted that was 3 years

1:25:10ago or the, you know, the last 2022 to

1:25:132025, everything's increasing, rents are

1:25:15increasing, utilities are increasing.

1:25:16Uh, I think it was it was that balance

1:25:18of um trying to reach as many folks as

1:25:22possible while still providing a meaning

1:25:24meaningful amount of assistance. And in

1:25:26the in the interviews with part of the

1:25:29research was interviews with Samaritan

1:25:31House, the previous provider, and they

1:25:32felt that $5,000 was still an

1:25:34appropriate amount based on their

1:25:36experience.

1:25:37Great. And then maybe a second kind of

1:25:39related question is um the ongoing

1:25:42funding stream for this is are we going

1:25:45to do like a three-year and evaluate or

1:25:48I'm just curious how the the ongoing

1:25:50funding structure will look.

1:25:52>> So it's proposed for the the that

1:25:55initial the initial $600,000 funding

1:25:58between the two programs over four years

1:25:59is proposed from the BMR fund. Um and

1:26:02that has been identified um as part of

1:26:04this process.

1:26:06I at that point the intention would be I

1:26:09think to to to

1:26:11re-evaluate if we would how if we would

1:26:14continue the programs uh and if and how

1:26:16we would fund those programs and

1:26:17continue the programs.

1:26:19>> Okay. Thank you.

1:26:28>> All right. I will um I had a question

1:26:31and that is um possibly more for my

1:26:34colleagues and that is um I actually

1:26:38thought that um there should be some

1:26:41sort of minimum residency requirement

1:26:43for the um rental assistance. I

1:26:47appreciate the no minimum for legal

1:26:49assistance, but it seems at least one

1:26:51month to three months or so would make

1:26:54sense to me for the rental assistance

1:26:57because you don't I mean

1:26:59hopefully someone isn't overextended

1:27:01going in they um and maybe it's 30 days

1:27:06one month because things come up but I

1:27:10guess I um having no minimum seemed um

1:27:15like it was in the I I think it would be

1:27:17good to have some minimum other

1:27:19thoughts.

1:27:25Council member Coms.

1:27:26>> Yeah, thanks. And making sure I

1:27:28understand. So having

1:27:31um minimum and saying that like you paid

1:27:34rent for at least some period of time

1:27:38and then after that period of time you

1:27:42face some challenges paying the rent.

1:27:45>> I guess I saw it as that you've at least

1:27:46lived in Menllo Park for a month in your

1:27:49current residence. Um so yes, that would

1:27:52equate to having paid at least one month

1:27:54of rent or whatever minimum time we

1:27:57decide. Um yeah, because you you have to

1:28:00be residing in Menlo Park, right? So um

1:28:04uh um I I don't like have any specific

1:28:09objection to that. I I think from a um

1:28:12an oper operalization

1:28:16point of view like is does that present

1:28:19additional challenges

1:28:21um to implement like a requirement like

1:28:24that to then sort of

1:28:27additionally check and assure that the

1:28:32person applying for assistance has has

1:28:34you know lived in and paid rent or lived

1:28:36in Menllo Park let's say um I won't put

1:28:39my addition

1:28:40but has lived in Menlo Park for at least

1:28:42a month or something.

1:28:44>> So I I don't know that it would be

1:28:47difficult to track necessarily. I think

1:28:51even as laid out

1:28:54um you know functionally speaking when

1:28:56someone they do there is a requirement

1:28:58to have a a valid lease agreement which

1:29:01means you would have paid likely first

1:29:03months in security deposit. So, I think

1:29:06it still would

1:29:09function in a way that would provide at

1:29:11least one one month. Um, and

1:29:13understanding that

1:29:15well, it if folks are past due on rent,

1:29:18that likely would not occur until

1:29:20they've been there for at least a month

1:29:21or more. So I think operationally it

1:29:24would still

1:29:26um provide some minimum baseline level

1:29:28of like establishing residency

1:29:31um as is but through through just having

1:29:35a valid lease agreement. Um

1:29:36understanding that but it would not

1:29:38necessarily be you know unable to

1:29:42provide have incorporate some some

1:29:45minimum level of residency if that was

1:29:47preferred.

1:29:51So then right now the sort of minimum

1:29:54bar is a lease agreement, right?

1:29:56>> Basically, yes.

1:29:57>> Like we're assuming at a minimum to have

1:30:00at least a government to your point,

1:30:02repeating what you said, they likely pay

1:30:04first and last or first in some security

1:30:06deposit or something like that. And so

1:30:08>> correct.

1:30:09>> Um

1:30:11I think I would be com I'm comfortable

1:30:13with with that. Um

1:30:16just I mean for me I I would want to

1:30:19like if this is

1:30:22you know it could be something where

1:30:23where we like ask for a check-in on the

1:30:26specific aspect of the program to see

1:30:29then like a year's time or something if

1:30:30it is an issue like right if we feel

1:30:33that like some disproportionate

1:30:34percentage are going to people who like

1:30:37have a lease that has where the ink is

1:30:40still wet on it then then I think we can

1:30:43you know address it at that

1:30:46Thank you, Council Member Taylor.

1:30:49>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. And I'm

1:30:52comfortable with

1:30:543 to six months.

1:30:57My concern considering the amount of

1:30:59money that is in the pot

1:31:04that will [clears throat] have more

1:31:06residents that are receive that would

1:31:09receive it as opposed to residents that

1:31:11have been here a while that are having

1:31:12difficulty. So I think there should be a

1:31:15minimum amount of time that folks have

1:31:18lived here. Um and I had a question um

1:31:23for Mr. Patterson.

1:31:25Are there any guidelines with Samaritan

1:31:28House that requires a minimum amount of

1:31:31residency?

1:31:34>> Yes, thank you. Uh the program with

1:31:36Saran House did have a minimum 12-month

1:31:38residency requirement and that was the

1:31:41original uh suggestion in in the

1:31:43guidelines and the housing commission

1:31:45felt strongly to to remove it. So the

1:31:48the project team did remove it, but

1:31:49there was in the Samaritan House

1:31:51program. There was Yes.

1:31:52>> The Samaritan House program that the

1:31:54city funded or or a separate program,

1:31:57the Samaritan House,

1:31:59>> the city funded program.

1:32:00>> Okay. And this if any someone

1:32:04participated in the city funded program,

1:32:07would that exclude them from receiving

1:32:09any um assistance from Samaritan House?

1:32:14>> I do not believe it would. Um, and in so

1:32:17I'm sorry if they if they were

1:32:19participating in the city funded

1:32:20Samaritan House program.

1:32:22>> Yes.

1:32:22>> And so in No, in Samaran House in

1:32:26interviews with them uh and in their

1:32:28reports from that program, they

1:32:29indicated that, you know, they really

1:32:31tried hard not to turn any folks away.

1:32:32So if someone didn't qualify for the

1:32:34criteria of the city's program, they

1:32:37would find um other funding from other

1:32:39sources to help uh with that with that

1:32:42individual.

1:32:44>> Thank you. I I'd be comfortable with

1:32:46with three months and hopefully this

1:32:50would come back to the council or come

1:32:52back as a report um to see how well it's

1:32:55working or not working and maybe some

1:32:57suggestions from staff to improve it.

1:33:00And also I'm hoping that the ongoing

1:33:04source of funding will be BMR funds. Um

1:33:08considering I know that the focus is

1:33:10around production um but there is a need

1:33:13around protections obviously and then

1:33:15also preservation.

1:33:17So considering that the BMR funds I

1:33:20don't know how many millions of dollars

1:33:22is in there at the moment um based on

1:33:24the recent NOA. However, if we're only

1:33:27putting $75,000 from the BMR funds into

1:33:31this program, I think it's well worth it

1:33:33being an ongoing source of funding.

1:33:42Thank you. Other thoughts? So, we've now

1:33:45got um

1:33:48I guess um Vice Mayor Weiss, what are

1:33:50your thoughts about this in general, but

1:33:53specifically about the minimum

1:33:56Uh yes. So for the minimum, I'm actually

1:33:58more inclined um to stay with it as is

1:34:02uh just the, you know, valid lease

1:34:05agreement. Um which I guess would imply

1:34:07that they've been there a month. Uh just

1:34:10because I don't know. I can think of so

1:34:11many

1:34:13situations where like what if you move

1:34:15in and then you get laid off? I don't

1:34:17know. I I just I worry that um I just I

1:34:21guess I can think of a lot of reasons.

1:34:24um where someone would need this even if

1:34:26they've only lived there a month. Um

1:34:29that being said, I mean, I know um I I

1:34:33definitely see uh Council Member

1:34:35Taylor's point, but I'm sure staff will

1:34:38be tracking, you know, who is requesting

1:34:40these funds, how long they have lived

1:34:42here. So yes, like my colleague said, um

1:34:45I would it would be interesting to see

1:34:47that data um when we do get a report,

1:34:51>> but you would be in favor of not having

1:34:53a requirement and then tracking it.

1:34:55>> Yeah. Okay. Same as um Yes.

1:34:57>> Council member Com. Thank you,

1:35:00>> Council Member Schmidt.

1:35:05>> [clears throat]

1:35:05>> Yeah, I I think um I'd probably agree

1:35:08with my colleagues just given the um

1:35:13fragility sometimes folks can find

1:35:14themselves in the the fewer barriers we

1:35:17put up the the better. So I think I'm

1:35:20tending to agree with them

1:35:25>> and I think um

1:35:28the other point is just to emphasize

1:35:30longerterm residence.

1:35:32>> Yep. Obviously.

1:35:33>> Yeah. Actually,

1:35:34>> yeah, that's a fair point. I think if we

1:35:36if we have a case management ability

1:35:38along with this, I I I agree with that.

1:35:40Yeah.

1:35:43>> Um, Council Member Taylor, do you you

1:35:46handis raised? Do you still have

1:35:48comments or Council Member Taylor?

1:35:51>> No, I do not. Thank you.

1:35:53>> Thank you. Um, all right. It seems we

1:35:57have three who are favoring leaving it

1:35:59as is without any um residency

1:36:03requirements. Um

1:36:08any other points of discussion or can

1:36:12would someone like to make a motion?

1:36:16>> Council member Schmidt.

1:36:17>> I I had a few more but if anybody else

1:36:19wants to go ahead I just some detail I

1:36:21wanted to tease out.

1:36:24>> Thanks. Um, so I think I have three

1:36:27questions on program mechanics and and

1:36:30maybe a request, but I I want to hear

1:36:32how staff responds. One is um I'd love a

1:36:35little more detail on outreach strategy

1:36:38um because I think in this instance it

1:36:41may be a little more complex. So that

1:36:42that's kind of question one just a

1:36:44little more detail there.

1:36:47>> Sure. So um

1:36:51some of the outreach is part of the the

1:36:53requirements of the TOC policy. Um so

1:36:57there would be

1:36:59you know the dedicated pages on the city

1:37:00website. Uh working through um city

1:37:03digest posts and social media. Um

1:37:09I think we would try to work with

1:37:10community based organizations throughout

1:37:12the city to distribute materials and

1:37:14make other assistance providers aware of

1:37:16the programs. Uh we would also request

1:37:19that the service pro this be part of the

1:37:21RFP and proposal process to see what the

1:37:24what types of outreach that the the the

1:37:26service providers can also offer because

1:37:29they all have relationships in within

1:37:32their fields and with in the community.

1:37:34Um

1:37:37we we also talked about having

1:37:38distribution of materials at schools. Um

1:37:42I think at and and um

1:37:46another one is property property

1:37:48managers. So trying to get that make

1:37:51property managers are aware that this

1:37:53resources available to their tenants

1:37:54they can help to be proactive as well. I

1:37:56think being proactive is an important

1:37:57part because rather than folks having

1:38:00tight timelines to get the assistance

1:38:02the sooner you can get ahead of it the

1:38:03better. Um so it would be and this and

1:38:06it wouldn't be limited to this and this

1:38:07is again part of the iterative process

1:38:09as we learn what's working and what's

1:38:10not working finding out um you know

1:38:12folks are learning more from word of

1:38:14mouth in the community and how we can

1:38:15how we can support that and so this

1:38:18would be the baseline level of strategy.

1:38:21>> Um that's sounds good. So second um

1:38:25question in the legal assistance program

1:38:28you had the focus on the education and

1:38:31prevention.

1:38:32Um I'd be curious uh for a deeper

1:38:37description of the education part. Um

1:38:39just a little context. Uh I have been um

1:38:43working with the resident on a lot of

1:38:45these pieces uh and also as supervisor

1:38:48Gosha's office to try to unpack um this

1:38:51countywide web of services um you know

1:38:54adjacent agencies like Samaritan House

1:38:56Kora uh BHS you know and and often these

1:39:00need to be delivered in packages or

1:39:03coordination. So, um I'd be curious.

1:39:08I was curious if that showed up in the

1:39:09legal assistance program under educa or

1:39:13education fell under that, but is is

1:39:16that going to be education just on the

1:39:17legal assistance part or or is there

1:39:19going to be some element of here's a web

1:39:22of services mostly at the county level?

1:39:25There doesn't seem to be a lot at the

1:39:26state level or locally. Um how's that

1:39:29going to be folded in? And if it if it's

1:39:31not something we're thinking about,

1:39:33could we fold it in? Could we make it

1:39:34part of the RP to make sure that

1:39:36education is about the web of services

1:39:38available to folks in these situations?

1:39:43>> Um, it's a great question and

1:39:44suggestion. I

1:39:46I would say not necessarily was in in

1:39:49the thinking for these educational

1:39:50workshops. It's more about the legal

1:39:51assistance program, what's available,

1:39:52making sure folks know uh that it think

1:39:55what is it what to do in certain

1:39:56situations and what what their rights

1:39:58are and what they can do and how to get

1:40:00assistance. I think that's a great

1:40:01suggestion to include that. I mean,

1:40:04folding really nicely into the this the

1:40:05fact that these programs

1:40:07having joint awareness between these two

1:40:09programs is so important. Having greater

1:40:11awareness of everything else that's

1:40:12available is a is a great suggestion.

1:40:14That'd be that'd be great. The last

1:40:15thing and I promise it's the last one.

1:40:17Um, is there any So, another thing I

1:40:20kind of learned is it's confusing often

1:40:23for residents in the situation on the

1:40:24case management side. Um, and I'm just

1:40:27curious to to help them navigate a a set

1:40:30of services. So, is there going to be

1:40:32some kind of a case management um

1:40:34mechanism embedded in the program or uh

1:40:38if not I mean could you just describe

1:40:39how that might might work? So that would

1:40:42be something we are would ask as part

1:40:44part of the RFP uh for whether because

1:40:47it could be different depending on

1:40:48whether it's two agencies coordinating

1:40:50together or one agency taking on both.

1:40:52Uh but that is an ask of how to um

1:40:55having an easy like single point of

1:40:57intake having someone who's managing you

1:40:59through the two knowing like which type

1:41:01of assistance you might need. You might

1:41:02need both. So that is uh an intention to

1:41:04be included in the RFP for um the

1:41:07proposer the the agencies to propose how

1:41:09they would manage cases and and triage

1:41:12between the two programs.

1:41:13>> Perfect. Thanks,

1:41:18>> Council Member Taylor. Anything more?

1:41:21>> Thank you. Um but would someone like to

1:41:25make a motion and a second? And I just

1:41:26want to say I think it it's a very very

1:41:30um strong program both of them and

1:41:32especially together. Thank you so much.

1:41:39>> I'll move. Right. Then there's no no

1:41:40changes to the staff recommendation.

1:41:42Right.

1:41:43>> I'll second.

1:41:46>> Thank you. So, I have a motion on the

1:41:48floor by city council member Combmes and

1:41:50a second by city council member Taylor

1:41:52to approve program guidelines to

1:41:54establish rental assistance and legal

1:41:57assistance programs. Any further city

1:42:00council question or discussion?

1:42:02Seeing none, by roll call vote, city

1:42:05council member Taylor,

1:42:07>> yes.

1:42:09>> Uh, city council member Combmes,

1:42:10>> yes.

1:42:12>> City Council Member Schmidt,

1:42:13>> yes.

1:42:14Vice Mayor Wise.

1:42:16>> Yes.

1:42:17>> And Mayor Nash.

1:42:18>> Yes.

1:42:19>> And the motion passes unanimously. Thank

1:42:21you.

1:42:22>> Thank you.

1:42:26The next regular business item is J2.

1:42:29Consider and adopt a resolution to

1:42:31update the user fee cost recovery

1:42:33policy. Here to introduce the item very

1:42:36soon is going to be Assistant

1:42:39Administrative Services Director Finny

1:42:41Lei.

1:43:03Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, and

1:43:04council members. Tonight, I'm here to

1:43:06provide an update on the city's user fee

1:43:09cost recovery policy, including

1:43:11recommendation recommended revisions and

1:43:13future considerations. The goal of this

1:43:16revision is to align cost recovery

1:43:17classifications with a current master

1:43:19fee schedule, incorporate staff

1:43:22recommended adjustments to selected fee

1:43:24program, and identify future

1:43:26considerations for potential policy and

1:43:28fee updates.

1:43:33Tonight's presentation will cover three

1:43:35areas. The proposed policy and fee

1:43:38program updates, items identified for

1:43:41future consideration, and the

1:43:42recommended next steps.

1:43:49This slide here presents three fee

1:43:51program changes for the city's cost

1:43:53recovery policy. First, the Bell Haven

1:43:56Youth Cent's cost recovery

1:43:58classification would change from medium

1:44:00to low to better reflect its current

1:44:03cost recovery level. The Bell Haven

1:44:05school age- title 22 program would also

1:44:08be renamed to Bell Haven Youth Center to

1:44:11reflect the services currently provided

1:44:14and the Bell Haven Community School

1:44:16designation will be removed as it is no

1:44:19longer in use.

1:44:21Second, congregate nutrition now renamed

1:44:24as the senior nutrition program is also

1:44:26recommended for reclassification from

1:44:28medium to low recovery level. This

1:44:31reflects its current cost recovery level

1:44:33and recognizes its broader community

1:44:35benefit and support for older adults.

1:44:39Voluntary donations will continue to be

1:44:41accepted and the program could be added

1:44:44to the master fee schedule if mandatory

1:44:46fees are considered in the future.

1:44:49Finally, for tennis court reservations,

1:44:52staff proposes increasing the cost

1:44:54recovery classification from medium to

1:44:56high. Unlike the first two programs,

1:44:59tennis court reservations provide a more

1:45:01direct private benefit to individual

1:45:04users supporting a higher level co of

1:45:07cost recovery.

1:45:10Tensore reservation changes if approved

1:45:13will be incorporated into the fiscal

1:45:15year 202728

1:45:17master fee schedule update process.

1:45:22Several administrative updates are also

1:45:24proposed, including removing the master

1:45:26fee schedule page references to simplify

1:45:29future revisions and correcting minor

1:45:32formatting, clerical and minor content

1:45:34related issues. These changes improve

1:45:37clarity, consistency without altering

1:45:40the policies intent or substance.

1:45:47Looking ahead, there are two items for

1:45:49future consideration. First, city

1:45:51council may wish to review the heritage

1:45:54tree appeal fee to determine whether an

1:45:56adjustment is appropriate while ensuring

1:45:59the fee does not create an undue barrier

1:46:01to public access um to the appeals

1:46:04process. Currently, permit applicants

1:46:07pay $1,494

1:46:10compared with $200 for community

1:46:12members,

1:46:14representing a significant difference

1:46:15between the two groups.

1:46:18Second, the electrification permit fee

1:46:20waiver and credit program provides

1:46:22waivers for

1:46:24and credits for plan check and

1:46:26inspection fees for qualifying

1:46:27electrification projects. The

1:46:30Environmental Quality Commission or EQC

1:46:33is scheduled to discuss the program in

1:46:35January of 2027 and may update its

1:46:38recommendation.

1:46:39Staff will continue to monitor these

1:46:41items and bring forward recommendations

1:46:43as appropriate.

1:46:49for tonight. Staff recommend that city

1:46:52council um please consider and adopt a

1:46:54resolution approving the revised user

1:46:57fee cost recovery policy. Following

1:47:00adoption, staff will prepare the fiscal

1:47:02year 2027-28

1:47:04fee updates to incorporate the

1:47:06recommended changes and align fees with

1:47:09updated policy and framework. The new

1:47:12master fee schedule is expected to be

1:47:14presented for council consideration at

1:47:16the public hearing in April 2027.

1:47:22Thank you for your time and happy to

1:47:24answer any questions you may have.

1:47:26>> Thank you. Are there any clarifying

1:47:28questions?

1:47:31>> All right. Uh, city clerk Karen, do we

1:47:33have any public comments on this item?

1:47:35>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

1:47:37if any member of the public wishes to

1:47:39provide comment on regular business item

1:47:42J2, consider and adopting a resolution

1:47:45to update the user fee cost recovery

1:47:48policy. If you are in person, please

1:47:52return a speaker card. Virtual engage

1:47:54that hand feature. Calling in, press

1:47:56star 9 now.

1:48:01This will be the final call for public

1:48:03comment on regular business item J2

1:48:06related to the user fee cost recovery

1:48:11policy.

1:48:14Seeing none, Mayor Nash, you may

1:48:16continue. Thank you. I would now like to

1:48:18open for city council

1:48:21questions and discussion.

1:48:26Council member Combmes.

1:48:28Yeah, thank you, uh, Mayor Nash. Um,

1:48:31[clears throat]

1:48:32as far as the, um, at least two items

1:48:36that, um, staff called out or brought

1:48:39attention to in connection with future

1:48:42considerations, it just want to provide

1:48:44some of my my thinking on it. Um, one,

1:48:47as it relates to the heritage tree

1:48:49appeal fee. And so, um, as it stands

1:48:53now, if you are appealing a heritage

1:48:57tree decision

1:49:01not on your property, not your tree,

1:49:04then we have severely reduced the cost

1:49:07of that appeal. Um, but if you are

1:49:10appealing a decision on a tree you own,

1:49:15we are not reducing that that fee at

1:49:19all. And so what you could um

1:49:25have in a situation which you have had

1:49:28and do have is that uh in the instance

1:49:32of a heritage tree uh designation or or

1:49:36heritage tree some determination as it

1:49:37relates to the health of the tree or

1:49:40whether it it should uh could possibly

1:49:43be removed. Um the city requires you to

1:49:46have a report done. um that report is no

1:49:50less than $1,400.

1:49:52Um and then as I've had residents, the

1:49:56report came back and said that like yes,

1:49:58the tree is not healthy. Um it should be

1:50:00taken down. Um but then that is

1:50:03something then the the city's arborist

1:50:05reviews and makes the final call. And so

1:50:07there's been situations where um the

1:50:10city arborist then said, "Well, I

1:50:11disagree. I think the tree is healthy."

1:50:14um [clears throat]

1:50:15and it should um uh and you can you can

1:50:18trim it or prune it. And then what we

1:50:21tell residents is that if you want to

1:50:22appeal the decision of the city

1:50:25arborist, then you have to pay another

1:50:27$1,400.

1:50:29Um and and to to me it's like one we

1:50:33make people pay $1,400 for a report. In

1:50:36some cases, these reports say that like

1:50:37yes, the tree is unhealthy. So they pay

1:50:39$1,400 for a report where the tree is

1:50:41unhealthy. And then the the city

1:50:44arborist disregards that report. And

1:50:46again, I'm not a tree expert. She's a

1:50:48tree expert, but these are the facts on

1:50:49the ground. And then we say, "Oh, and by

1:50:51the way, you have to pay another $1,400

1:50:53if you want to actually get another

1:50:55attempt to validate the report, the

1:50:58findings of the report we initially made

1:50:59you pay $1,400 for." And and and as you

1:51:02can imagine, this is very frustrating

1:51:03for residents. It's very frustrating for

1:51:05me. Um and and so I would like to um and

1:51:09if you are again if you are appealing a

1:51:12a a tree removal decision on someone

1:51:15else's property I think is it is it like

1:51:17$150 or something like that or

1:51:20>> $200

1:51:20>> $200

1:51:22um and and I don't know that I like

1:51:24understand the policy behind that. um

1:51:27that that again especially in the case

1:51:29of like if someone actually has a report

1:51:33that says that like the tree is

1:51:35unhealthy and should be removed like

1:51:37right um um that they would then have to

1:51:40pay if the city arborist disagrees with

1:51:42them that they would have to pay like

1:51:44more than seven times uh what their

1:51:48neighbor might have to pay to appeal a

1:51:50decision. So I've talked that to death.

1:51:53[laughter] So you you you I I think

1:51:55you're um uh um clear where I I I stand

1:52:00on that and and again I I do appreciate

1:52:01that like um I think cost recovery is an

1:52:05important policy. Um but then also we

1:52:07have to understand there are lots of

1:52:09there are lots of trees um and and and

1:52:12it it can be overburdensome to to

1:52:15residents especially some residents um

1:52:17as it relates to the fees as um um in in

1:52:21terms of just the whole like um possible

1:52:23tree removal heritage tree removal

1:52:25process. Um so my thoughts on that the

1:52:28other thoughts as it relates to the

1:52:30electrification permit fee waiver and

1:52:32credit like totally supportive of this

1:52:34as I've said in um other forms or

1:52:37settings recently um we do a good job of

1:52:41setting the goals

1:52:44[clears throat]

1:52:44or having um these big um audacious um

1:52:51sort of things that we want to achieve.

1:52:54Um and and sometimes like I think we as

1:52:56a city and when I'm saying we as a city

1:52:58I'm mostly saying the city council

1:52:59providing direction to staff um miss the

1:53:02details and as I've said I think that

1:53:05like um if we are our climate change

1:53:10stance means very little if if it is not

1:53:15the easiest thing in the world to do it

1:53:16is to transition out from a gas power

1:53:19water heater to electric power water

1:53:20heater. Um, and it is not the easiest

1:53:23thing to do in the world. And then

1:53:24they'll park. And again, not because of

1:53:25staff, because I don't think council has

1:53:27provided a direction that that should be

1:53:28a priority. The priority should be less

1:53:30about like these great big goals we're

1:53:32setting and understanding like how what

1:53:35is the process for president for

1:53:36residents who are are trying to do this

1:53:39thing that we say we want them to do.

1:53:42And [clears throat] obviously I know

1:53:43this from personal experience having

1:53:44gone through the electrification process

1:53:45for my house. I know Mayor Nash, you

1:53:47have gone through it. Um and and again I

1:53:50I think it can be far easier and and so

1:53:52I I would say that like far easier, far

1:53:54more efficient and far cheaper and and

1:53:56so in that sense I would also be and I

1:53:59know this is a long wind up to say that

1:54:01like I'm very much supportive of the two

1:54:02things that have been called out for

1:54:04future consideration. Um and they would

1:54:06be like a priority for me as as we look

1:54:08to um tweaks to the um you know

1:54:13cost recovery uh policy.

1:54:20>> Thank you. Are there other comments?

1:54:25>> Council member Schmidt.

1:54:26>> Um yeah, thanks.

1:54:29Gen generally in agreement with what's

1:54:32being proposed, so that feels pretty

1:54:33straightforward. Um, I do think to

1:54:36council member Combmes's point, there's

1:54:38a point in here where electrification's

1:54:40going to be looked at by the EQC. I'd

1:54:42recommend the heritage tree stuff also

1:54:44be looked at. There was a reluctance.

1:54:46when I was on EQC to um look at that

1:54:49again because they come up I think

1:54:51during the council term for most folks

1:54:52and people were it's a little harder but

1:54:55um given new council members will be it

1:54:58it has been a while now and it might be

1:54:59worth asking EQC um to go in and look at

1:55:03the the whole thing and then figure out

1:55:05the fee part as opposed to doing it the

1:55:08other way around um because I know

1:55:09there's an appetite for it but it was a

1:55:11couple years ago it felt a little too

1:55:13early um and they're trying to make

1:55:15trees a little more central. Um so

1:55:18that's just one way to potentially get

1:55:20to better fee structures. Um the the

1:55:23second point is I I think also with um

1:55:26EQC they they did mention that they're

1:55:28going to be resetting their goals. I do

1:55:30think goals and aspirational things go

1:55:32hand inand with the the business process

1:55:35behind it or the the permit process. So

1:55:38I I think it's totally a fair thing to

1:55:40ask the EQC to look at the permitting as

1:55:42well. make sure they don't forget to set

1:55:45an ambitious [clears throat]

1:55:46goal, which is what inspires people. But

1:55:49um but I don't think we have to figure

1:55:52that out with city staff alone. I think

1:55:54EQC would be happy to look at that as

1:55:56well. So just a few future forward

1:55:58thoughts on that. Thanks.

1:56:04>> So I will just jump in um on I guess on

1:56:07both those pieces. Um, regarding the um

1:56:12permitting and the city staff, I believe

1:56:14the city is part of a countywide um if

1:56:17not regionwide effort to um streamline

1:56:20permitting for electrification projects.

1:56:23So that is already um front and center

1:56:27um both to speed it up for the residents

1:56:30and also I think to reduce the amount of

1:56:33effort that it takes on the city staff

1:56:34side. Um so that's that is happening.

1:56:38Um,

1:56:41regarding the trees

1:56:46I guess, um,

1:56:52well, one thing I would like to, well,

1:56:53okay, I came into this thinking that

1:56:56that, um, I wanted to stay with the $200

1:56:59fee for,

1:57:01um, for the, um,

1:57:05community members

1:57:07And then um I actually think I would

1:57:10like to see

1:57:12some sort of recovery for permit

1:57:14applicants. Um,

1:57:20but what you're saying actually made me

1:57:21wonder how much we should even

1:57:25I think EQC might be a good um group to

1:57:28have them look at it because I'm

1:57:30starting to wonder how much should we

1:57:31even have uh appeal process for some of

1:57:35um

1:57:37for some of these

1:57:40um trees. And I guess I

1:57:45would like to definitely see them um see

1:57:47this just sort of fully discussed. I

1:57:49know that um there needs to be I believe

1:57:52there should be some sort of definition

1:57:55um first if community member because um

1:57:57presumably that means of incorporated

1:58:00Menllo Park. Um

1:58:04and then um also on defining the permit

1:58:07applicant um is that um related to a

1:58:11development or a non-development in

1:58:14other words is commercial or residential

1:58:16um for development I think that full

1:58:20cost recovery I would personally think

1:58:22that full cost recovery is appropriate

1:58:25and I'm seeing nods um for

1:58:30situations of development

1:58:32um for the non-development. I was

1:58:34thinking um mid-cost recovery rather

1:58:36than right now it's full cost recovery

1:58:40although I certainly hear what you're

1:58:42saying and honestly I've been we have

1:58:44tried to take out a heritage a tree that

1:58:47we put in grew to be a heritage size and

1:58:50it just has weird structure and we were

1:58:52denied. We did not appeal it. Um but

1:58:55yes, there's a lot of um money that gets

1:58:58spent to do that. I guess one of the

1:59:00things that I'm concerned about is um I

1:59:04worry that some that some

1:59:07arborists may be um lean toward

1:59:12giving the resident whatever they are

1:59:14paying for, whatever they're desiring.

1:59:17And so I actually think that uh review

1:59:19by the our city arborist

1:59:23is very worthwhile.

1:59:26Um, and then how much do you

1:59:30Anyway, what to do with that exactly?

1:59:33I'm not really clear. Um,

1:59:38I think that um I I just want to give a

1:59:41shout out to the our city arborist to

1:59:43Jillian Keller who I think has just done

1:59:45been doing a fantastic job. It's a very

1:59:47very sensitive issue um for everyone and

1:59:51when it comes to trees for both the

1:59:52resident and for neighbors and for the

1:59:55community and um I think that our canopy

1:59:58here has been growing. Um I see lots of

2:00:01new trees and I think she's um really

2:00:04done a does good work. Um

2:00:10so I guess that's where I'll leave it.

2:00:12And then on the um yeah on the as

2:00:15everyone else has said on the library

2:00:17and community services and the

2:00:18administrative that sounds great. Are

2:00:20there any other comments?

2:00:28Uh just that I'm in agreement with a lot

2:00:31of what's been said. I was also in favor

2:00:33of um reducing the appeal fee for

2:00:39uh residents. So, but if folks want to

2:00:43um also send that back to EQC along with

2:00:45the electrification, I'm happy to do

2:00:46that as well.

2:00:52>> Yeah. And I I think particularly on the

2:00:56heritage tree I you just reminded me

2:00:58like Julian came in and she really has

2:01:00to follow the ordinance, right? If

2:01:01you're a half a centime well centimeter

2:01:04half an inch under a certain diameter

2:01:06it's one diameter it's one thing and

2:01:08then so so giving them the ability to

2:01:10kind of relook at that since enough time

2:01:12has passed because I think if we try to

2:01:14set the fee without reooking at the

2:01:17ordinance then it's cart before the

2:01:19horse a little bit and then she'll be

2:01:20locked into maybe some old um ways of

2:01:24valuing trees in the first place and so

2:01:26there's just a a whole ecosystem that

2:01:28Jillian operates in from uh that that's

2:01:31bigger than just the tree fee um itself,

2:01:34the tree pee field itself. So I I think

2:01:36just asking them to see if it's the

2:01:38right time to look relook at the whole

2:01:41heritage tree ordinance.

2:01:42>> Yeah, city manager Murphy.

2:01:44>> Uh yes, it was just catching me with

2:01:46that most recent statement about the the

2:01:48value of the tree. So I think that's

2:01:49covered by the ordinance, which is

2:01:50totally different than what we're

2:01:52talking about in the what's covered in

2:01:53the master fee schedule. So

2:01:56um what was framed for tonight was ex

2:02:00intended to be extremely limited. What's

2:02:02being discussed now is something that's

2:02:03much larger. So we can take that under

2:02:06advisement separately, but we are not at

2:02:09this point in time talking at all about

2:02:11the tree valuations. So, I hear that

2:02:14there might be a desire for that, but

2:02:16we'd have to reframe that completely,

2:02:17and I wouldn't yet use tonight's agenda

2:02:20item to refer that portion to the EQC.

2:02:24If it's really limited to the appeal

2:02:26aspect, I could I was kind of tracking

2:02:28that and understanding that, but if it's

2:02:29about the actual ordinance evaluation,

2:02:32tonight would not be the night to

2:02:33attempt to provide direction for the EQC

2:02:36to work on that.

2:02:38happy to figure out a way to circle back

2:02:40on that. But

2:02:41>> yeah, and if I could I could chime in. I

2:02:42would be very much opposed to a broader

2:02:45look at the heritage tree ordinance. It

2:02:47is as someone who chaired the last

2:02:49heritage tree task force uh that that

2:02:51the city done. It is quite complicated.

2:02:54It was very long and involved and and I

2:02:56think a lot of what we did or not a lot

2:02:57but some not insignificant portion of it

2:03:00then sort of got reworked.

2:03:02[clears throat]

2:03:03Um, so yeah, I don't I don't think that

2:03:06um uh I'm I'm I'm looking at at that and

2:03:10and and I I think what I'm looking for,

2:03:13what I'm suggesting is something I would

2:03:14very precise uh about what I see as an

2:03:17imbalance in uh the cost um that we

2:03:22present to residents who are I would say

2:03:26somewhat similarly situated. Um overall

2:03:29I don't I don't like have much

2:03:31substantive like disagreement with our

2:03:34approach to heritage trees only based on

2:03:37this idea though that like to your point

2:03:39May you're like well maybe for these

2:03:43reports like the the arborist the

2:03:45private arborists you know want to give

2:03:47residents what what what they want um or

2:03:49what they pay for but then it's like but

2:03:52we pay them we we force them to

2:03:54[laughter] to do these reports and so

2:03:57So, um, but again, whatever I say,

2:04:02hear me on this one. I'm looking for

2:04:04precision here. Like, right, this was

2:04:05just about like that cost. Um, and

2:04:08because even though I think it gets to

2:04:10nuance like when you're nuance and I

2:04:14think probably more art than science

2:04:16about a distinction of like you know

2:04:18whether a tree can be uh saved by

2:04:21trimming or whether it can't like right

2:04:24that is that's not an ordinance that

2:04:26that is very much very subjective. uh

2:04:30and two well-meaning,

2:04:33you know, well educated, well-trained

2:04:34arborists can come to differing opinions

2:04:36on on on that and and I don't know if I

2:04:38want to weigh into that. Um but yeah,

2:04:40that that's that's just my my sort of

2:04:42thoughts on on that.

2:04:47>> No, no, that sounds f to the city

2:04:49manager's point about not crossing the

2:04:51streams. I think it's totally totally

2:04:52fair.

2:04:55And I would just um actually council

2:04:57member Taylor, do you have anything to

2:04:59add?

2:05:00Okay. Um I would

2:05:05I actually I'm sure that the EQC will be

2:05:07careful if they get it. I would like to

2:05:10um be careful to make sure that we do um

2:05:12give our city arborist enough um

2:05:18enough support so that um she truly does

2:05:22make the rules, makes the decisions that

2:05:24she believes is best for

2:05:27the city, for the neighborhood. um and

2:05:29that we don't um you know diminish that

2:05:36that um ability for her to make that

2:05:39that strong decision.

2:05:42So um would anyone like to um

2:05:45[clears throat]

2:05:46make a motion and a second?

2:05:49>> I I'll move

2:05:53>> second.

2:05:54Actually, before we I I should have

2:05:57said, do you need any other do you need

2:05:59any additional information or did we

2:06:00give you one? Okay, thank you.

2:06:03>> Excellent. Thank you.

2:06:04>> Great. So, we have a motion on the floor

2:06:07by city council member Combmes and a

2:06:09second by Vice Mayor Weise to adopt a

2:06:13resolution updating the city's user fee

2:06:16cost recovery policy

2:06:19to reflect revised cost recovery

2:06:21categories and associated cost recovery

2:06:24targets and provide direction um to

2:06:27potential future fee adjustments.

2:06:30Any further city council question or

2:06:32discussion?

2:06:34Seeing none, by roll call vote, city

2:06:37council member Taylor,

2:06:39>> yes.

2:06:40>> City Council Member Combmes,

2:06:42>> yes.

2:06:42>> City Council Member Schmidt,

2:06:44>> yes.

2:06:45>> Vice Mayor Wise,

2:06:46>> yes.

2:06:47>> And Mayor Nash,

2:06:48>> yes.

2:06:49>> And the motion [clears throat] passes

2:06:50unanimously. Thank you.

2:06:53>> Thank you.

2:06:55>> The final regular business item tonight

2:06:57is J3. consider and adopt a resolution

2:07:00to amend the salary schedule effective

2:07:02November 1st, 2026. Here to introduce

2:07:05the item is administrative services

2:07:07director Brittany Melo.

2:07:10>> Good evening, city council.

2:07:12So

2:07:14see the PowerPoint being brought up.

2:07:16Awesome. So I am here tonight and

2:07:18pleased to present multiple salary

2:07:20schedule amendments for your

2:07:22consideration.

2:07:24So, first up, a reminder that the salary

2:07:26schedule lists all of the titles and

2:07:28salary ranges for all authorized

2:07:30classifications in the city, both

2:07:32represented and unrepresented. This is a

2:07:35requirement by state law as well as

2:07:37Kalpers to keep up to date. Uh, and the

2:07:39city council must approve all the

2:07:41changes to salary schedules. uh when

2:07:44appropriate and necessary, human

2:07:46resources does meet and confer with the

2:07:49impacted union beforehand to reach

2:07:51agreement before bringing these changes

2:07:53to the city council.

2:07:56So, we're here tonight to present an

2:07:59exciting new position. Uh we are looking

2:08:01to establish the community programs

2:08:03manager. So, this is a new position that

2:08:06would be leading community focused

2:08:08initiatives and projects to help respond

2:08:11to identified neighborhood needs and

2:08:13advance city priorities. So, the job

2:08:17duties in this position would really

2:08:19fall into three major buckets. So, this

2:08:22would be community initiatives, helping

2:08:24to lead projects and programs in

2:08:26underserved communities, so particularly

2:08:29the Bell Haven and Bayfront areas. and

2:08:32to [snorts] really address the

2:08:34identified needs and to improve existing

2:08:36services. Secondly, this position will

2:08:39help with capital improvements and plan

2:08:41implementation, particularly the

2:08:44environmental justice element and

2:08:46helping bring these um projects to

2:08:48fruition from that project management

2:08:50side. And finally, this position will

2:08:53focus on community engagement. um really

2:08:56helping to build relationships with the

2:08:58stakeholders um in these neighborhoods

2:09:00and serving as a key liaison between the

2:09:03city and the community members to make

2:09:06sure that we really have a good pulse on

2:09:08what the community needs and we're

2:09:10having that constant feedback stream.

2:09:17So this position would be placed in the

2:09:19unrepresented management group in tier

2:09:21one. This is a correction from the staff

2:09:23report. So, we've worked with the city

2:09:25clerk to update the attachments

2:09:27accordingly. Um, and importantly for

2:09:30this position, this will not impact the

2:09:32general fund. The funding for this

2:09:34position is proposed to come from these

2:09:37three dedicated funding sources that

2:09:39were really designed to help invest um

2:09:42in these communities. So that includes

2:09:45the Bayfront Mitigation Fund, the

2:09:47Environmental Justice Implementation

2:09:49Fund, and the Inloo Payment for

2:09:52Community Amenities Fund. So with these

2:09:55funding sources, we do have some large

2:09:58balances where developers over time have

2:10:01paid into these um funds and we really

2:10:04want to be able to draw those down with

2:10:07identified needs. So this dedicated

2:10:09position will help us do that.

2:10:11And just a note that we are working on

2:10:13the citywide class and comp study uh

2:10:16that's underway that's looking to be

2:10:18completed around April. And so we'll

2:10:20continue to analyze these type of

2:10:22positions, see if we need more or if we

2:10:24need to make any adjustments to where

2:10:25they're placed in the structure.

2:10:32Additionally, there are just a few um

2:10:34more cleanup items or minor changes. So,

2:10:37one is retitling finance and budget

2:10:40manager to finance manager. It's a

2:10:42little more industry standard. This is a

2:10:44position that is currently vacant and we

2:10:46have an open recruitment. So, send your

2:10:48folks our way. We'd be happy to have

2:10:50you. Uh we're also looking to adjust the

2:10:53salary for the chief water operator

2:10:55position. This is in ASME or our

2:10:57supervisory unit. We recently made

2:11:00market-based adjustments for the water

2:11:03positions in represented by the SEIU

2:11:06unit when we brought theou to city

2:11:08council for approval. And so this will

2:11:10help ensure internal alignment with that

2:11:12supervisor position. Finally, we're

2:11:15looking to address the bottom of the

2:11:16salary ranges for unrepresented

2:11:19management positions, bringing the

2:11:21salary width from 35% to 25%. it's a

2:11:25little closer to what the other folks um

2:11:27in the city those ranges uh and will

2:11:30help reduce kind of the overlap between

2:11:32the top of the supervisory salary ranges

2:11:35and the bottom of the management. Um

2:11:37note that there are no changes to the

2:11:39salary maximums.

2:11:43And with that um the recommendation is

2:11:45to adopt the amended resolution and

2:11:47attachments with the changes proposed.

2:11:50And that concludes my presentation.

2:11:52Thank you.

2:11:54>> Thank you. Uh, city clerk Karen, do we

2:11:56have any public comments on this item?

2:11:58>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

2:12:00if any member of the public wishes to

2:12:02provide comment on regular business item

2:12:04J3 related to amending the salary

2:12:06schedule, if you are in person, please

2:12:09return a speaker card for it. Engage

2:12:11that hand feature. Calling in, please

2:12:14press star 9. Now,

2:12:19this will be the final call for public

2:12:21comment on regular business item J1 for

2:12:24amending the salary schedule.

2:12:28Seeing none, Mayor Nash, please

2:12:31continue.

2:12:32>> Thank you. Um I'd now like to open for

2:12:34city council questions and discussion

2:12:36and um also for a motion and second.

2:12:44City Council member Taylor, did you have

2:12:46any questions, comments?

2:12:48>> No. Thank you.

2:12:51>> I don't have any discussion. I'm happy

2:12:53to make a motion. Since I'm I'll be on a

2:12:55roll with these motions, [laughter] I'll

2:12:57I'll move the staff recommendation.

2:13:02>> Second.

2:13:04Thank you. So, I have a motion on the

2:13:07floor by city council member Combmes and

2:13:10a second by Vice Mayor Weise to adopt a

2:13:13resolution to approve the following

2:13:15amendments to the city of Menllo Park

2:13:17salary schedule effective November 1st.

2:13:20One, establish a new community programs

2:13:23manager classification in the tier 1

2:13:25unrepresented management group funded

2:13:28through the Bayfront mitigation fund,

2:13:30environmental justice program

2:13:32implementation fund and inloo payment

2:13:35for community amenities fund. Two,

2:13:37update the title of the finance and

2:13:39budget manager classification in

2:13:42unrepresented management to finance

2:13:45manager. Three, adjust the salary of the

2:13:49chief water operator classification in

2:13:52American Federation of State, County,

2:13:55and Municipal Employees Local 829 for

2:13:58internal alignment with the water job

2:14:01family. And number four, adjust the

2:14:04bottom of the salary ranges to reduce

2:14:06the salary range width of unrepresented

2:14:09management positions from 35% to 25%.

2:14:13Any further city council question or

2:14:16discussion?

2:14:18Seeing none, by roll call vote, city

2:14:21council member Taylor,

2:14:22>> yes.

2:14:23>> City council member Combmes,

2:14:25>> yes.

2:14:26>> City Council Member Schmidt,

2:14:28>> yes.

2:14:29>> Vice Mayor Wise,

2:14:30>> yes.

2:14:31>> And Mayor Nash,

2:14:32>> yes.

2:14:33>> And the motion passes unanimously. Thank

2:14:35you.

2:14:36>> Thank you.

2:14:39Next, we move on toformational items.

2:14:41Informational items are transmitted to

2:14:43the city council in staff's effort to

2:14:45provide an update on matters of

2:14:46importance to the city council.

2:14:48Informational items are not action

2:14:50items. However, a city council member,

2:14:52city staff member, or a member of the

2:14:54public may request to make a comment or

2:14:56ask a question on any of theformational

2:14:58items. City clerk her, do we have any

2:15:01public comments on theformational items?

2:15:04>> Thank you, Mayor Nash. So, at this time,

2:15:06if any member of the public wishes to

2:15:08provide comment on ourformational items,

2:15:11I1 city council agenda topics or I2

2:15:16uh the police department quarterly

2:15:18update. If you are in person, please

2:15:21return a speaker card. Virtual engage

2:15:24that hand feature. Calling in, please

2:15:26press star 9 now.

2:15:30Okay, we have one card at this time. So,

2:15:34this will be the final call for public

2:15:36comment on ourformational items K1 and

2:15:40K2.

2:15:43All right. Welcoming up Peter Hottie for

2:15:46comment on item K2.

2:15:58See, I'm never good with this mic. H,

2:16:00there we go. I'm getting better. Um,

2:16:02good evening. I uh I talked to you guys

2:16:03before about license plate readers and I

2:16:06uh I think this is a this report is a

2:16:08good opportunity to follow up on that.

2:16:11Um I'm just going to quote a little bit

2:16:13from the report. Um it says the internal

2:16:16audit on ALPRs was conducted for the

2:16:18month of September during which there

2:16:20were 372 searches. Um

2:16:24math geek uh that's every 30 minutes.

2:16:28This town is that dangerous? Do we

2:16:30really need every 30 minutes another

2:16:33license plate reader search? For me,

2:16:35that's a question all by itself. Um, the

2:16:39audit records, and this is a quote, the

2:16:41audit records uh from Flock document

2:16:43user search activity, including the

2:16:45user, the date, and the documented

2:16:47reason for the search. The data is

2:16:50collected by Flock. As far as I can tell

2:16:52from the information that the department

2:16:54has provided, um, that's all that they

2:16:57use. uh Flock has recently streamlined

2:17:00their search process for ALPRs to guide

2:17:03officers doing the search towards giving

2:17:06a documented reason for the search that

2:17:08is both vague and compliant. And this

2:17:11has this has been well publicized. Um

2:17:15you can look for it yourself. I'm happy

2:17:16to provide references. The changes were

2:17:18made in response to the nationwide

2:17:21reports you're aware of of misuse of

2:17:23flock and it helps to make the audits

2:17:26meaningless. Um the officers need to

2:17:29give little more than choose an item

2:17:30from a popup for the reason for the

2:17:32search. Tough to audit that. Um so

2:17:36everything looks good. Congratulations.

2:17:38Flock keeps its business. The

2:17:39departments look good. Everyone's happy

2:17:41with good-looking statistics, but

2:17:43they're meaningless. to further

2:17:45strengthen oversight. The the um

2:17:48department's report goes on, the

2:17:49department implemented a regularly

2:17:51scheduled external ALP audit process

2:17:53during the second quarter of 2026.

2:17:56Again, to the best of my knowledge, this

2:17:58external audit is performed by the city

2:18:01of Athetherton's police department. Not

2:18:04really external. Um we do the same for

2:18:06them. Reciprocal arrangements between

2:18:09brother officers, not truly independent

2:18:12or external, I'm afraid. Um, I think you

2:18:16guys need to step up the oversight on

2:18:18the police department. Bottom line, this

2:18:21is we're looking at ALPRs. They're well

2:18:23publicized. There are tons of other

2:18:25statistics

2:18:26in the report. Tons of them. I don't

2:18:29know how many of them are true or not. I

2:18:31don't know how they're determined. Um,

2:18:34but you know, the the there's really

2:18:37maybe less oversight of some of those

2:18:38statistics and consequently greater

2:18:40uncertainty if they're true. Um, you

2:18:43know, for example, there is no apparent

2:18:45oversight of officer complaints. When

2:18:48I've asked the department, um, what can

2:18:51be done if a citizen disagrees with the

2:18:54finding in an officer complaint, they

2:18:56say they provide no information on that.

2:18:58So, we trust the police department to

2:19:02police itself.

2:19:04[music]

2:19:05I think we can do better. Thank you.

2:19:08>> Thank you for your comment.

2:19:16Okay. And with that, seeing no further

2:19:19hands or cards, Mayor Nash, you may

2:19:21continue.

2:19:22>> Thank you. Are there any comments from

2:19:24the council about the information items?

2:19:28Then we will move on to the city manager

2:19:31report.

2:19:34>> Uh yes, thank thank you mayor. So uh two

2:19:38themes of updates. One is related to uh

2:19:41uh events associated with the city's uh

2:19:43Halloween uh um hol week. Um so uh

2:19:48thanks to all those that helped uh plan,

2:19:52prepare, pull off, and uh enjoy the uh

2:19:55parade on uh Saturday Halloween Hoopla

2:19:58downtown. So, um, thanks to the council

2:20:01members that, uh, participated in the

2:20:03festivities. And, uh, then Sunday there

2:20:07was the pumpkin splash at our pools. And

2:20:10then tomorrow at Bell Haven Community

2:20:12Campus is a trunk or treat from 4:30 to

2:20:156. So, thanks for everybody involved

2:20:18with that. And then the second topic is

2:20:21related to um, uh, elections. Just

2:20:25making sure that people are aware that

2:20:27there are multiple dropboxes in Menllo

2:20:30Park and those locations are available

2:20:32on our website at menloark.gov

2:20:35uh/elections. So these are the county

2:20:37dropboxes. Menlo Park does host a few

2:20:40locations.

2:20:42And then also related uh from October

2:20:4631st through November 3rd, the Ariyaga

2:20:48Family Recreation Center will be a vote

2:20:50center. [gasps] Um so there's a lot of

2:20:53activity um uh during those days and

2:20:56also at the uh Bell Haven uh community

2:20:59campus. So we do have the vote centers

2:21:02as well. So that's my update for this

2:21:05evening.

2:21:09>> Thank you. Are there any reports from

2:21:12city council members since the October

2:21:1413th city council meeting?

2:21:17Council member Schmidt.

2:21:19>> Um thanks Mayor Nash. So, two um quick

2:21:22updates. One uh attended rethink waste

2:21:26uh board meeting uh was um part of that

2:21:29we did a legislative recap and um AB762

2:21:34got passed which was um one of the big

2:21:38uh bills that Rethink waste pushed

2:21:39forward sponsored by member Irwin which

2:21:42was great. Um actually Senator Becker

2:21:44played a key role. Thanks to Mayor Nash

2:21:45for helping move that through the

2:21:47process. Um but it's great. It's a sing

2:21:50it we talked about it being um something

2:21:52that was a bit of a landmark for Rethink

2:21:54Waste. It was a single-use disposable

2:21:57vapes, you know, pro prohibiting the

2:21:59manufacturer of those in California,

2:22:01which is great for landfills, fire,

2:22:03workplace safety, etc. Keeps our

2:22:05insurance rates lower as as rateayers.

2:22:07So, lots of good stuff there. We talked

2:22:09about what's next, and I'm I'm hopeful

2:22:11because we gave the exec director

2:22:13feedback to say this is a good victory.

2:22:15we need to continue thinking about this

2:22:17JPA as a climate and sustainability

2:22:20leader, not just a waste management

2:22:22organization. So, it was something to

2:22:24think through as we move into

2:22:25legislation with them um moving forward.

2:22:28The second thing I wanted to mention was

2:22:31on Saturday, October 17th, uh great

2:22:34great uh community forestry event with

2:22:37Canopy, an amazing tree planting at Bell

2:22:40Haven Elementary School and all five.

2:22:42There were about 50 trees planted, about

2:22:4480 volunteers, which was amazing. Um,

2:22:47commissioners, community leaders,

2:22:49families, and kids. Um, we actually,

2:22:52some of us were down in the uh down in a

2:22:55bioale, which is a a veis

2:22:58vegetation trench that you use for storm

2:23:00water and flooding mitigation. And um,

2:23:04just great leadership from Gina Cedaria,

2:23:06who is also out there sweating and

2:23:08planting trees with us, the

2:23:09superintendent of Ravenswood. Um but

2:23:11just an amazing event um sort of toward

2:23:15the beginning of the planting season

2:23:16with Canopy. So great to see so many

2:23:18members of the community out there um

2:23:20transforming Bell Haven Elementary. So

2:23:22that's it for me.

2:23:25>> Thank you. Any others?

2:23:29>> Okay. Um I've got a couple. Uh there was

2:23:32a Westlight 2026 board retreat. We had a

2:23:36guest presentation by Beth Vaughn who's

2:23:38the CEO of the Cal Community Choice

2:23:40Association um talking about key issues

2:23:43coming into the new admin state

2:23:45administration

2:23:46which was very interesting. Um there's

2:23:48some news westlight received an A rating

2:23:51from standard and pores and um Westlight

2:23:54is also energy has also moved their

2:23:56office to San Mateo as of this month.

2:23:59Um,

2:24:02I attended a breathing room summit which

2:24:05was co-hosted by West Light Energy and

2:24:07Stanford Center for Human and Planetary

2:24:10Health. Um, scientists, public health

2:24:13experts, policy leaders, community

2:24:15leaders, and energy partners explored

2:24:17ideas and practical solutions to improve

2:24:20health and indoor air in the kitchen and

2:24:22beyond. The common thread there was um

2:24:25there's a vast knowledge gap between

2:24:27what the scientists know about the

2:24:30negative health impacts of gas

2:24:31appliances used at home and what the

2:24:34public knows. And um while there's no

2:24:38requirements to switch from gas to

2:24:40induction o uh induction ovens or stove

2:24:43tops, um Westlite Energy offers several

2:24:46programs for those who do want to make

2:24:48the switch. And these include free

2:24:50induction stoves for incomequalified

2:24:53customers who pursue support through

2:24:55Westllight Energy's home upgrade program

2:24:58as well as free technical support for

2:25:00market rate customers.

2:25:03And um at the next council meeting uh

2:25:06next Menlo Park council meeting there

2:25:07will be an update on Menlo Park um

2:25:10climate action plan which will include

2:25:12an update on the city's home

2:25:14electrification projects which will be

2:25:16very um good and what um what we're

2:25:18doing to um

2:25:21help people switch to electrification

2:25:24and um the health impacts of that. And

2:25:27then I also was at the council of cities

2:25:30um dinner in Pacifica where we had a

2:25:33presentation about the Sanchez Art

2:25:35Center.

2:25:38So if that is all um we are adjourned at

2:25:417:57.

2:25:43Thank you.

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