Dear Menlo Park City Council, As do many in our community, I recognize the extreme conditions that have led you to look for areas in our City Budget to trim back and/or cut. I respectfully use the language of Menlo Together to ask that you consider prioritizing Childcare Services, Belle Haven Community Center services and our city’s climate budget over any capitol projects such as upgrading Bedwell Bayfront Park, other park equipment and trail upgrades, and planning for a downtown parking garage. These improvements can be deferred and implemented when we have climbed out of the depths of a pandemic recession. The City Council should also consider using more of the economic stabilization fund that was saved for times of emergency such as this. I am swayed to my recommendation by the following prioritization of these goals: 1. Meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and impacted residents; 2. Deferring projects where delay will not will cause harm or significantly increased costs; and 3. Maintaining the City’s capacity to restore services and achieve the City’s goals when the crisis and ensuing economic downturn have passed. Thank you for your consideration to this request, and for the work you all do on behalf of our city. Best regards, Katie Hadrovic Received on Mon Jun 01 2020 - 15:35:47 PDT
