Hi,
Thanks for all you do in service of our City.
As you know, I was at the last City Council Meeting where the Safe Streets project status was discussed. I am pleased that the City has decided to continue the effort and, in particular, that Blake Street will remain closed at Middle Ave for the time being.
I was struck by Councilman Comb’s voting against finalizing “no parking along Middle,” with his comment that “there may have been other alternatives…”. And indeed, there was one that I don’t think got proper air time: restricting parking along Middle only during posted hours. I remember this coming up in discussions with Hugh and Kevin, but it was dismissed out of hand. I think a lot of the dissatisfaction expressed, particularly by one of my neighbors, is entirely seated in the loss of parking. And yet restricting parking along Middle during commute hours could actually work, but it was dismissed out of hand. And I do not recall the reasons for this. Maybe something about enforcement? If so, I have 2 comments: (1) there is virtually no enforcement of the present no parking rules along Middle, and that did not stop its enactment, and (2) WHY can there not be enforcement of posted hours (e.g., No Parking 7:30 AM – 9 AM, 2 PM – 4 PM)? Money to pay an “enforcer?” I would much rather pay a human to do this job than to pay, e.g., for a controversial automated license plate reader program, for example. But that’s another subject.
Another thing that could reduce the pain to my neighbors who have lost parking on Middle would be to allow them to park on Blake (entering, of course, from College). The street, and much of Allied arts, has “residents only” parking signs that have not been needed, or enforced, for years. They were originally installed because the management at the auto dealerships along El Camino did not allow their employees to park on their property, which resulted in employees parking along the streets of Allied Arts all day 5 days a week. These restrictions are no longer needed, and should be removed immediately. We could then invite our neighbors to park on Blake Street.
Happy to discuss any time.
Sandy
--
Sandy Napel, Ph.D.
Professor of Radiology, Emeritus
Co-director Radiology 3DQ Lab
Co-director Integrative Biomedical Imaging Informatics at Stanford (IBIIS)
James H. Clark Center
318 Campus Drive Room S323
Stanford, CA 94305-5450
Phone: (650) 725-8027
Fax: (650) 724-4972
E-mail: snapel@stanford.edu
Home page: http://www.stanford.edu/people/Sandy.Napel
From: Betsy Nash
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 9:59 AM
To: Sandy Napel
Subject: Upcoming agenda items and other announcements (week of 5/19/24)
Upcoming agenda items and other announcements (week of 5/19/24)
Hi Neighbors,
There are many items on Tuesday’s council agenda, including a study session to review the proposed Parkline (aka SRI) mixed-use masterplan project. See below for more information.
Also, please note that tomorrow morning (Sunday 5/19) some of our neighborhood streets will be closed from about 8:45am to 10am to accommodate the 2024 Schoolhouse Rocks 5K, Fun Run & Festival. (fun run map)
* Olive Street will be closed from Santa Cruz Avenue to Bay Laurel Drive.
* Bay Laurel Drive will be closed from Olive Street to Arbor Road.
* San Mateo Drive will be partially closed where it connects Bay Laurel Drive.
* Arbor Road will be closed from Bay Laurel Drive to Creek Drive.
________________________________
Here is this week’s line-up of City meetings:
Monday 5/20 (7pm) – Planning Commission, including:
* 500 Willow Rd. (gas station convenience store / Carl Cook) – Public Hearing for architectural control permit and sign review
* F1. Consider and adopt a resolution to approve architectural control for exterior modifications to an existing gas station located in the C-MU (Neighborhood Mixed Use) zoning district at 500 Willow Road. The project is also requesting sign review for four internally illuminated signs, with two proposed on the canopy, one proposed above the entrance to the gas station convenience store, and one proposed freestanding monument sign that would be 18 feet in height. One of the canopy mounted signs would feature lettering greater than 18 inches in height and one proposed sign would feature bright colors (red) comprising more than 25 percent of the sign area. (Staff Report #24-025-PC)
* 720 Santa Cruz Ave. (Somm Cellars Wine / Dane Bunton) – Public Hearing for architectural control and use permit
* F2. Consider and adopt a resolution to approve an architectural control permit to modify the exterior facades of an existing commercial building and a use permit for a Type-41 license from State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for onsite alcohol service (beer and wine only) associated with a full-service restaurant, Type-21 ABC license for off-site alcohol sales (beer, wine, and distilled spirits) associated with a liquor store that would include ancillary tasting events at 720 Santa Cruz Avenue, and modifications to previously permitted outdoor seating for a proposed restaurant and retail liquor store, in the ECR-D-SP (El Camino Real-Downtown Specific Plan) zoning district, at 720 Santa Cruz Avenue. (Staff Report #24-026-PC)
* Capital Improvement Plan – informational item
* G1. Receive an update on the 2024-25 Capital Improvement Plan. (Staff Report #24-027-PC)
Tuesday 5/21 (5:30pm) – City Council, including:
* Youth poetry - presentation
* D1. Presentation: Menlo Park Youth Poetry Voices presentation
* Parkline (aka SRI) – study session
* G1. Review and provide general feedback on the proposed Parkline mixed-use masterplan project to comprehensively redevelop the SRI campus with a residential and office/research and development (R&D) mixed-use project at 333 Ravenswood Ave. (Staff Report #24-097-CC)
* Solar and storage for city facilities - public hearing
* H1. Adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute power purchase agreements to install solar photovoltaic systems on four City facilities through the Peninsula Clean Energy Solar and Storage for Public Buildings GovPV program (Staff Report #24-091-CC)
* Menlo Uptown (aka Lume) – regular business
* I1. Adopt a resolution amending the community amenity operating covenant to provide flexibility in the required use of the community amenity space for the approved Menlo Uptown multi-family residential development project with ancillary commercial component (now referred to as Lume) at 141 Jefferson Dr. and 180-186 Constitution Dr. (Staff Report #24-093-CC)
* Permit fees – regular business
* I2. Provide direction to continue the building permit fee waiver and credit program for electrification projects (Staff Report #24-092-CC)
* Labor/employment – regular business
* I3. Receive and file report on labor relations and receive public input on upcoming labor negotiations with the Menlo Park Police Officers’ Association (Staff Report #24-081-CC)
* I5. Approve first amendment to the employment agreement between the City of Menlo Park and City Manager Justin Murphy (Staff Report #24-094-CC)
Wednesday 5/22 (6:30pm) – Parks and Recreation Commission and Library Commission joint meeting, including:
* C1. Belle Haven Community Campus opening programs (Attachment)
* D1. Library and Community Services department updates (Staff Report PRC-2024-016 / LC-2024-016)
Thursday 5/23 (5:30pm) – Budget Workshop
________________________________
Other City items:
* Calendar
* 5/18: Belle Haven Community Campus grand opening
* 5/21: Youth Poetry Reading at City Council
* 5/24 deadline: Applications due for Youth Advisory Committee
* 5/25: Music with Afroholix
* 5/27: City Holiday - Administrative Offices Closed
* 5/28: Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors
* 5/30: EarthCapades: The H2O Show
* 5/31 deadline: Applications due for New Below Market Rate housing opportunities
* 5/31 deadline: Entries due for Safe Routes Poster and Video Challenges
* 6/2: Bilingual Magic Show with Zany Zoe
* 6/3: Environmental Justice and Safety Elements Study Session
* 6/5: Garden Talk: Perennial Edibles (online)
* 6/8: Summer Flavorings and Herbs in Your Garden
* 6/8-6/9: Compost giveaway
* 6/12: Medicare Fraud Prevention
* 6/16: Fratello Marionettes: Carnival of the Animals
* 6/18: LGBTQ+ San Mateo County: Historys Mysteries
* 6/22: Zine-Making Workshop
* 6/27: Wildmind Science Learning: Wild, Odd & Weird
* News and Information
* City Council study session May 21 on Parkline project update
* New Below Market Rate housing opportunities at Middle Plaza
* Drinking water reservoir maintenance
* Join the Environmental Justice and Safety Elements Study Sessions in June
* Continued from last week:
* Upcoming night work and lane closures on Willow Road, starting May 13
* Update: New Menlo Park Municipal Water billing service vendor
* Spotlight on Belle Haven Pool opening May 20
* 2024 Schoolhouse Rocks Educational Fun Run road closures May 19
* Upcoming closures at Encinal Avenue crossing, May 17-20 and May 31-June 3
* Ongoing:
* Citywide Calendar
* City webpage for Council and Commission agendas and minutes
* Citywide feedback, comments, complaints, and suggestions
* Weekly Construction News Update
* Athletic Field Closures
* City Job Openings
* Menlo Park Public Engagement Portal - subscribe to City topics of interest
* Official Instagram page
* Community resources
* Public notices
* May 20, 2024 - Planning Commission public hearing
* Architectural Control and Sign Review/Carl Cook/500 Willow Rd.
* Architectural Control and Use Permit/Dane Bunton/720 Santa Cruz Ave.
* June meetings
* Monday 6/3 (7pm) - Planning Commission
* Wednesday 6/5 (6:30pm) - Housing Commission
* Tuesday 6/11 (6pm) - City Council
* Wednesday 6/12 (6:30pm) - Complete Streets Commission
* Monday 6/17 (6:30pm) - Library Commission
* Tuesday 6/18 (6pm) - City Council
* Wednesday 6/19 (6pm) - Environmental Quality Commission
* Monday 6/24 (7pm) - Planning Commission
* Tuesday 6/25 (6pm) - City Council
* Wednesday 6/26 (6:30pm) - Parks and Recreation Commission
________________________________
Miscellaneous items:
* 5/19: Hike at Windy Hill (Portola Valley)
* 5/19 deadline: Applications due for Grassroots Ecology Youth Stewards summer program
* 5/22: Museum as Muse: Poetry at the Anderson Collection (Stanford)
* 5/23: Healthy Homes for All: Landlords & Tenants Working Towards Electrification (online)
* 5/23: Climate Conversations: Affordable Housing and the Environment (online)
* 5/28: Affordable Housing Month 2024: Shared Parking & Mode Shifting (online)
* 5/29: Affordable Housing Month 2024: Repairing our Housing System (online)
* 5/31 deadline: Applications due for San Mateo County Youth Commission
* 6/2: Earthquakes in the Fault Zone (Los Trancos Preserve)
* 6/9: Hillview Music Teacher Mr. Vaughan’s grand farewell party (Menlo Park)
* 6/15: Open House - San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District (Burlingame)
* 6/6-8/29: Movies on the Square - double features every Thursday (Redwood City)
* Ongoing: Menlo Park Fire District – Calendar of Upcoming Community Training Events
* CDC Sun Safety Facts
Take care,
Betsy
Betsy Nash
City Councilmember
City Hall - 2nd Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-380-3986
menlopark.gov
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