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RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO OPPOSING THE 2022 MENLO BALANCE BALLOT MEASURE
PROPOSITION (MEASURE V)
WHEREAS, the Ravenswood City School District (“District”) is committed to empowering every student to fully engage critically and creatively in their education with the skills and mindsets necessary to successfully fulfill their unique potential; and
WHEREAS, to fulfill this mission, the District needs to be able to recruit and retain high quality staff within our community in the face of rising housing costs; and WHEREAS, currently just one-third of District staff report having a "safe, secure, and affordable housing option" and of recent survey respondents, 2% are currently unhoused, 43% are considering leaving District employment due to their housing situation and 85% of staff members have incomes that make them eligible for affordable housing (i.e. less than $149,100 for a family of four); and WHEREAS, the District owns vacant property at the site of the former Flood School in Menlo Park that the Board has sought to develop into housing; and WHEREAS, as part of the public procurement process the District received a compelling proposal for a project that would create up to 90 units of affordable housing with a preference for District staff while also bringing into the District substantial new unrestricted revenue; and WHEREAS, developing that project would require a change in the zoning at the site; and WHEREAS, the proposed Menlo Balance initiative would, according to a recent impartial City of Menlo Park analysis, “create a significant barrier or constraint to development” of the project on the Flood School site; and
WHEREAS, if approved, the Menlo Balance initiative would set a precedent that would make it more difficult for low-income residents, people of color, and other vulnerable populations to access safe housing options throughout the State of California.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO HEREBY opposes the Menlo Balance initiative Measure V in its current form PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of October 2022, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
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Ruben Abrica, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
James Colin, City Clerk Valerie J. Armento, Interim City Attorney