Town of Atherton
Town Work Plan
FY 2025-2026
Town of Atherton
FY 2025-2026 Work Plan
Table of Contents
Introduction to Work Plan
Mission and Council Goal Areas
2025-2026 Work Plan Priorities
Priority 1: Land Use & Planning
Priority 2: Public Safety
Priority 3: Fiscal Viability and Budget
Priority 4: Infrastructure & Capital Projects
Priority 5: Climate Action & Sustainability
Priority 6: Community Events and Active Engagement
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Atherton City Council
Elizabeth Lewis, Mayor
Stacy Holland, Vice Mayor
Bill Widmer, Councilmember
Rick DeGolia, Councilmember
Diana Hawkins-Manuelian, Councilmember
Management Team
George Rodericks, City Manager
Robert Barron III, Assistant City
Manager/Finance Director
Steve McCulley, Police Chief
Robert Ovadia, Public Works Director/City
Engineer
Anthony Suber, Deputy City Manager/City
Clerk
Brittany Bendix, Town Planner (M-Group)
Fred Lustenburger, Building Official
(Interwest)
The Town of Atherton’s Work Plan is guided
by the Goal Areas established and annually
ratified by the City Council. It identifies the
primary areas of focus for Town staff to
support and advance those Goals.
The Work Plan details the principal projects
and priorities that staff will undertake during
the fiscal year in service to the community.
These initiatives are designed to further the
City Council’s Goals and other operational
objectives of the Town.
Serving as a framework for the development
of the annual budget, the Work Plan informs
the allocation of funding, staff time, and other
resources. It is intended to be a living
document—its objectives and tasks are
expected to evolve as necessary to maintain
alignment with Council direction. Projects
may be added or removed over time as
priorities shift.
In addition to the projects and initiatives
outlined in the Work Plan, Town staff
continue to perform the day-to-day
operations necessary to provide core
services to the community. While these
routine functions may not be listed explicitly,
they represent a significant portion of staff
responsibilities.
About the Work Plan
FY 2025-2026 Town of Atherton
Work Plan Introduction
1 Preserve Small Town Character & Quality of Life
2 Improve Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness
Maintain Conservative Fiscal Policies
& Financial Transparency
3 4 Be Forward Thinking
5 Maintain & Improve Public Infrastructure
6 Build Community & Promote Civic Participation
Town of Atherton Mission
The Mission of the Town of Atherton is to meet and exceed the community expectations for the provision of Town services; provide vision for improvements; and position the Town for an economically viable and sustainable future.
City Council Goal Areas
Priorities Goals Area Addressed
1 Land Use and Planning
(Focus on obtaining Housing Element certification, Updates to associated Ordinances, Updates to the Heritage Tree Ordinance, Planning & Building Process Improvements) 1 - Preserve Small Town
Character & Quality of Life
4 - Be Forward Thinking
2 Public Safety
(Burglary/Crime Prevention, Community Education, Disaster Planning, Drone Program, Directed Enforcement, ADAPT, Alarm Systems, Program Audits, Storm Preparedness) 2 - Improve Public Safety &
Emergency Preparedness
4 - Be Forward Thinking
3 Fiscal Viability & Budget
(Focus on maintaining a balanced budget, clean annual audit, managing long-term debt, diversification of revenues, and management of overtime)
3 - Maintain Conservative Fiscal
Policies & Financial
Transparency
4 - Be Forward Thinking
4 Infrastructure & Capital Projects
(Maintain and Improve Town facilities, build resilient infrastructure, implement the Town’s Master Plan Projects - Drainage, Park, Streets & Roads, Active Transportation) 4 - Be Forward Thinking
5 - Maintain & Improve Public
Infrastructure
5 Climate Action & Sustainability
(Community education, implement Climate Action Plan, adopt Green Building Codes, ensure SB 1383 Compliance, implement gas-powered leaf blower ban, electrify Town fleet) 1 - Preserve Small Town
Character & Quality of Life
4 - Be Forward Thinking
6 Community Events & Active Engagement
(Community workshops, emergency drills, summer concerts, summer movies, holiday events, social media, Town website, Town publications)
2 - Improve Public Safety &
Emergency Preparedness
6 - Build Community & Promote
Civic Participation
FY 2025-2026 Town of Atherton
Work Plan Priorities
Each year, the City Council establishes
priorities through a series of work sessions
focused on the budget, long-range financial
planning, Master Plans and capital projects, as
well as the annual City Council Goals
Workshop.
These priorities serve as the foundation for staff
efforts throughout the year. Staff translates
Council direction into actionable projects that
guide the work effort.
The priorities are listed below and further
detailed in the Work Plan objectives outlined on
the following pages.
About the Priorities
The Town’s six priorities are shaped by the
following considerations:
Projects with the greatest potential to
advance the City Council’s mission and
long-term goals
Availability of staff time and resources
Existing municipal services and obligations
The Town remains committed to delivering
essential core services while continuously
enhancing livability, quality of life, and
opportunities for meaningful civic engagement.
Determining Priorities
Priority Goal(s) Addressed
Land Use & Planning
(Focus on obtaining Housing Element certification,
Updates to associated Ordinances, Updates to the
Heritage Tree Ordinance, Planning & Building
Process Improvements)
1 - Preserve Small Town Character & Quality of
Life
4 - Be Forward Thinking
FY 2025-2026 Town of Atherton
Work Plan - Land Use & Planning
Land Use & Planning Priorities
Objective 1: Update the Housing Element & Obtain State Certification Objective 2: Update the Safety Element of the General Plan Update the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance for consistency with State law
Objective 3:
Update the Heritage Tree Ordinance to address Eucalyptus Trees, Tree Canopy, Redwood Trees, and Appeals
Objective 4:
Spring 2025
Fall 2025
Fall 2025
Spring 2026
Update the Animal Control Ordinance specifically relating to the keeping of chickens and other non-domesticated animals
Objective 5: Fall 2025
Objective 6: Develop and Expand an ADU Matching and Tracking Program Fall 2025 Host regular public engagement workshops on SB 9, ADUs, and Ordinance updates
Objective 7: Spring 2026
Work with multi-family project developers to address the Town’s affordable housing targets with specific emphasis on Menlo College Objective 8: Spring 2026
Develop internal process improvements for Planning and Building permitting
Objective 9: Fall 2025
Priority Goal(s) Addressed
Public Safety
(Burglary/Crime Prevention, Community Education,
Disaster Planning, Drone Program, Directed
Enforcement, ADAPT, Alarm Systems, Program
Audits, Storm Preparedness)
2 - Improve Public Safety & Emergency
Preparedness
4 - Be Forward Thinking
FY 2025-2026 Town of Atherton
Work Plan - Public Safety
Public Safety Priorities
Host Community Workshops and Education Programs focused on burglary and crime prevention
Objective 1:
Update the Alarm Monitoring Program to address IP connections and data management
Objective 2:
Take a more proactive leadership role with ADAPT to assist them with identification and development of mission and goals
Objective 3:
Host community emergency preparedness drills and workshops, partnering with ADAPT
Objective 4:
Fall 2026
Summer 2025
Fall 2025
Fall 2025
Coordinate disaster preparedness training for all staff with specific focus on staff within the Town’s Emergency Operations Center
Objective 5: Fall 2025
Objective 6: Assist Public Works with Storm Preparedness and Emergency Response Fall 2025 Host regular community engagement activities with a focus on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
Objective 7: Spring 2026
Host Community Workshops and Education Programs focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety
Objective 8: Spring 2026
Assist Planning with review and approval of the Town’s Safety Element to the General Plan
Objective 9: Fall 2025
Priority Goal(s) Addressed
Fiscal Viability & Budget
(Focus on maintaining a balanced budget, clean
annual audit, managing long-term debt,
diversification of revenues, and management of
overtime)
3 - Maintain Conservative Fiscal Policies &
Financial Transparency
4 - Be Forward Thinking
FY 2025-2026 Town of Atherton
Work Plan - Fiscal Viability & Budget
Fiscal Viability & Budget Priorities
Objective 1: Adopt a Balanced Budget
Objective 2: Prepare and Present the Annual Audit
Review the Town’s Pension Debt with the Town’s Finance Committee and make recommendations regarding Additional Discretionary Payments Objective 3:
Review the Town’s Other Post Employment Benefit (OPEB) Trust with the Finance Committee and make recommendations regarding investment policy changes and allocations
Objective 4:
Summer 2025
Spring 2026
Spring 2026
Fall 2025
Annually investigate the potential for diversification of revenues to the Town as part of the annual review of the Fee Resolution Objective 5: Spring 2026
Objective 6: Quarterly review the use of overtime within the Police Department Quarterly Work toward development of OpenGov Fiscal Transparency through the use of stories and other tools
Objective 7: Spring 2026
Objective 8: Annually review the Town’s Financial Outlook Spreadsheet Spring 2026
Priority Goal(s) Addressed
Infrastructure & Capital Projects
(Focus on maintaining and improving Town facilities,
building resilient infrastructure, implement Town’s
Master Plan Projects - Drainage, Park, Streets &
Roads, Active Transportation)
4 - Be Forward Thinking
5 - Maintain & Improve Public Infrastructure
FY 2025-2026 Town of Atherton
Work Plan - Infrastructure & Capital Projects
Infrastructure & Capital Project Priorities
Maintain and Improve where feasible Town facilities - City Hall, Pavilion, Main House, Carriage House, Library and Corporation Yards
Objective 1:
Conduct a Town Center Circulation Audit focusing on parking needs and traffic flow - inclusive of Watkins/Crosswalk
Objective 2:
Objective 3: Finalize the Train Station Museum and Host a Grand Opening Implement EV Charging Station Technologies @ the Park & Town Center Police Parking
Objective 4:
Ongoing
Summer 2025
Fall 2025
Fall 2025
Objective 5: Finalize the solar project on City Hall and activate the program Fall 2025 Implement the Annual Road Improvement Program
Objective 6: Fall 2025
Objective 7: Finalize the AT&T/PG&E Work at the Town Center COMM Building Fall 2025 Objective 8: Fall 2025
Objective 9:
Objective 10:
Objective 11:
Objective 12:
Finalize Design on the El Camino Real Drainage Project
Complete a refresh of the Active Transportation Plan (Bike/Ped Master Plan)
Spring 2026
Coordinate with Regional Partner Agencies on the El Camino Corridor Project
Implement Speed Humps on Designated Streets
Ongoing
Fall 2025
Initiate Design for the ECR/Selby Lane Intersection Improvements Fall 2025
Priority Goal(s) Addressed
Infrastructure & Capital Projects
(Focus on maintaining and improving Town facilities,
building resilient infrastructure, implement Town’s
Master Plan Projects - Drainage, Park, Streets &
Roads, Active Transportation)
4 - Be Forward Thinking
5 - Maintain & Improve Public Infrastructure
FY 2025-2026 Town of Atherton
Work Plan - Infrastructure & Capital Projects
Infrastructure & Capital Project Priorities
Objective 13:
Objective 14:
Objective 15:
Objective 16:
Coordinate a Traffic Corridor Study along Middlefield Road with focus on Watkins and Fair Oaks crossings
Objective 17: Spring 2026
Objective 18:
Objective 19: Initiate refresh on the Drainage Master Plan Fall 2026 Construct ECR Drainage Improvements (North)
Objective 20:
Fall 2027
Construct ECR Drainage Solutions (South)
Objective 21:
Fall 2029
Implement Solar Resiliency Project at Jennings Pavilion Objective 22:
Spring 2026
Initiate refresh on the Park Master Plan
Objective 23:
Fall 2027
Finalize changes to Park Tennis Courts & Incorporation of Pickleball Spring 2026 Finalize Design and Implement the Park Playground & Restroom Project Spring 2026 Finalize Design and Implement the ADLP Road Improvement Project Spring 2026 Finalize Design and Implement the Upper Atherton Channel Improvement Project
Spring 2026
Engage a Park Facilities and Event Manager Spring 2026
Priority Goal(s) Addressed
Climate Action & Sustainability
(Focus on community education, Climate Action
Plan, Green Building Codes, SB 1383 Compliance,
Fleet electrification, EV Charging)
1 - Preserve Small Town Character & Quality of
Life
4 - Be Forward Thinking
FY 2025-2026 Town of Atherton
Work Plan - Climate Action & Sustainability
Climate Action & Sustainability Priorities
Implement Programs & Policies Consistent with the Climate Action Plan Targets
Objective 1:
Install EV Charging Network and Stations @ Park and within the Police Department Parking Area
Objective 2:
Objective 3: Monitor Town Compost Resource @ Park
Objective 4: Implement Electric Leaf Blower Ban & Rebate Program Ongoing
Spring 2025
Fall 2025
Ongoing
Objective 5: Monitor Efficacy of Town Solar Infrastructure (City Hall) Fall 2025 Adopt Green Building Codes (Permissive) encouraging electrification infrastructure
Objective 6: Fall 2025
Objective 7: Implement Generator Backup System @ Library/City Hall Summer 2025
Priority Goal(s) Addressed
Community Events & Active Engagement
(Focus on community workshops, emergency drills,
summer concerts, summer movies, holiday events,
social media, Town website, and Town publications)
2 - Improve Public Safety & Emergency
Preparedness
6 - Build Community & Promote Civic
Participation
FY 2025-2026 Town of Atherton
Work Plan - Community Events & Engagement
Community Events & Engagement Priorities
Objective 1:
Review and Update Town’s Social Media Presence - Website, Instagram, NextDoor, X
Objective 2: Work with the Senior Task Force on Community Programs Objective 3: Coordinate release of Town Print Publications - Athertonian Newsletter, How to Engage Brochure
Objective 4:
Spring 2025
Ongoing
Ongoing
Coordinate release of Town Electronic Publications - That’s a Wrap, Monthly Matters, Atherton Online, News Flashes
Objective 5:
Ongoing
Implement a Community Satisfaction Survey
Objective 6:
Ongoing
Host Community Engagement Events
– Earth Day
– Easter Egg Hunt
– Halloween Festival
– Arbor Day
– Holiday Tree Lighting
– Volunteer Holiday Party
– Public Safety Open House
– Community Safety Meeting
– Summer Concerts & Movies
– National Night Out
– Annual ADAPT/RVP Dinner
– Coffee w/a Cop & Shop w/a Cop
– Annual Toy Drive
– Bicycle Safety Workshop(s)
– Neighborhood Association Meetings/Guest Speakers
Ongoing