City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.org City Council
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Date: 1/25/2022
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Regular Session
A. Call To Order
Mayor Nash called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Present: Combs, Mueller, Nash, Taylor, Wolosin
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson, City Attorney Nira Doherty, City Clerk Judi A.
Herren
The City Council recognized John Arrillaga and his contributions to Menlo Park.
C. Agenda Review
Staff reordered public comment for closed session item K1.
The City Council pulled item F3. for discussion.
D. Presentations and Proclamations
D1. Proclamation: Condemning Anti-Semitism (Attachment) Mayor Nash read the proclamation (Attachment).
Tyler Gregory, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council accepted the proclamation.
D2. Proclamation: Taking a Stand Against Human Trafficking in the Bay Area (Attachment) Mayor Nash read the proclamation (Attachment).
Pamela Estes San Mateo County Human Trafficking Program Coordinator accepted the proclamation.
D3. Proclamation: Recognizing Starla Jerome-Robinson
Mayor Nash read the proclamation (Attachment).
Starla Jerome-Robinson accepted the proclamation.
E. Public Comment
Meta representative Ashley Quintana spoke on the opening of the pedestrian bridge over Bayfront Expressway and Meta Park.
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.org K1. Closed Session – Public Comment
K1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: David Fogel et al. v. City of Menlo Park, Case No. 21-CIV-06674 None.
F. Consent Calendar
F1. Accept the City Council meeting minutes for December 28, 2021 and January 7, 2022 (Attachment) F2. Adopt a resolution approving the City Council Community Funding Subcommittee’s recommendations for 2021-22 community funding allocations; and authorizing a fiscal year 2021-22 budget amendment and appropriation in the amount of $17,000 from general fund unassigned fund balance (Staff Report #22-012-CC)
F3. Waive the competitive bidding process; and authorize the city manager to execute a master agreement with Optony Inc. in an amount not to exceed $130,000 per year to support 2030 climate action plan implementation and clean energy infrastructure for the Menlo Park Community Campus project (Staff Report #22-013-CC)
The City Council received clarification on waiving of the competitive bid process and City staff resources.
F4. Adopt a resolution to accept Federal Emergency Management Agency Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant funds, if awarded, and authorize the city manager to execute a memorandum of understanding with partners for a portion of the Strategy to Advance Flood Protection, Ecosystems and Recreation along the San Francisco Bay project (Staff Report #22-014-CC)
F5. Award a construction contract to Radius Earthwork Inc. for the Middle Avenue and Nealon Park pedestrian improvement project (Staff Report #22-018-CC) F6. Award a construction contract to Columbia Electric, Inc. and appropriate $211,300 in assigned funds from the general fund for the series circuit and street light replacement in the Suburban Park and Flood Triangle neighborhood project (Staff Report #22-019-CC) ACTION: Motion and second (Wolosin/ Combs), to approve the consent calendar, passed unanimously.
G. Regular Business
G1. Adopt an urgency ordinance temporarily closing the north bound travel lane on the 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue and a portion of Ryan’s Lane, and authorizing the establishment and issuance of temporary outdoor activity permits allowing businesses to safely conduct their businesses outdoors during the COVID-19 state of emergency (Staff Report #22-021-CC) Interim City Manager Justin Murphy made the presentation (Attachment). Café Zoe owner Kathleen Daly spoke in support of the street closure to vehicle traffic and temporary outdoor activity permits.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.org Oros spoke in opposition of the street closure to vehicle traffic and spoke in support of parklet closures only.
Alex Beltramo spoke in opposition of the street closure to vehicle traffic and in support of parklet closures only.
Chamber of Commerce CEO Fran Dehn spoke in support of the street closure to vehicle traffic and temporary outdoor activity permits.
The City Council discussed staff returning with design standards for the parklets, alignment of expiration dates for permits and street closures, the vision of the Downtown’s future, and City Council Downtown Subcommittee charge.
The City Council received clarification on temporary outdoor use permit program on a month to month basis and street closure without an expiration and HdL’s Downtown market study.
The City Council directed staff to update new temporary outdoor use permit program to allow parklets/street cafes in off-street parking spaces remain on a month to month basis and current parklets/street cafes in off-street parking spaces to align with the Downtown street closure expiration.
ACTION: Motion and second (Nash/ Combs), to adopt an urgency ordinance to continue the Downtown street closure program to reflect continued temporary closure of the north bound 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue and a portion of Ryan’s Lane, passed unanimously.
G2. Provide feedback on the Caltrain quiet zone implementation plan request for proposals (Staff Report #22-020-CC)
Assistant Public Works Director Hugh Louch and Associate Transportation Engineer Phong Vo made the presentation (Attachment).
Marcy Abramowitz spoke in support of the quiet zone and resident participation and requested that the request for proposals (RFP) include California specific experience with quiet zones and inclusion of the pedestrian crossing at the Menlo Park Caltrain station. Adina Levin spoke in support of the quiet zone and the Palo Alto Avenue crossing horn noise impacts to Menlo Park residents.
Adrian Brandt spoke in support of the quiet zone.
Susannah Ragab spoke in support of the quiet zone.
George Ugras spoke in support of the quiet zone and including the Palo Alto Avenue crossing.
The City Council discussed including the Palo Alto Avenue crossing in the RFP, including the pedestrian crossing at the Menlo Park Caltrain station, and California experience with quiet zones in the RFP.
The City Council received clarification on the selection of vendor as qualification-based opposed to cost-based.
ACTION: Motion and second (Wolosin/ Taylor), to authorize the quiet zone implementation plan request for proposals per the feedback of the City Council, passed unanimously.
H. Informational Items
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.org H1. City Council agenda topics: January – February 22, 2022 (Staff Report #22-015-CC) H2. Police department quarterly update – Q2 July – September 2021 (Staff Report #22-016-CC) H3. Personnel activity report as of January 2022 (Staff Report #22-017-CC) I. City Manager's Report
Interim City Manager Justin Murphy reported out on the opening of the pedestrian bridge at Meta Park, provided an update on the housing element project, and a housing element virtual meeting on February 12, 2022.
J. City Councilmember Reports
None.
Adjournment to Closed Session
Mayor Nash adjourned to the closed session at 8:22 p.m.
K. Closed Session
K1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: David Fogel et al. v. City of Menlo Park, Case No. 21-CIV-06674 No reportable actions.
L. Adjournment
Mayor Nash adjourned the meeting at 9:55 p.m.
Judi A. Herren, City Clerk
These minutes were approved at the City Council meeting of March 1, 2022.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.org NOVEL CORONAVIRUS, COVID-19, EMERGENCY ADVISORY NOTICE
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According to City Council policy, all meetings of the City Council are to end by midnight unless there is a super majority vote taken by 11:00 p.m. to extend the meeting and identify the items to be considered after 11:00 p.m.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
CONDEMNING ANTISEMITISM
WHEREAS, antisemitism remains a serious and growing danger for Jews in the United States and around the world; and
WHEREAS, antisemitism is the centuries-old bigotry and form of hate faced by Jewish people simply because they are Jews, often involving the use of stereotypes and myths; and WHEREAS, nearly one in four Jewish Americans said they experienced antisemitism in the past year according to a study released on October 25, 2021, by the American Jewish Committee; and WHEREAS, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, nearly 60 percent of religious-biased hate crimes in 2020 targeted Jewish Americans, who make up no more than 2 percent of the U.S. population; and WHEREAS, according to an Anti Defamation League report, 2,024 antisemitic incidents were reported nationwide in 2020 – the third highest year on record – and 289 incidents occurred in California; and WHEREAS, on January 15, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas, a man with a gun entered Congregation Beth Israel during services and took three congregants and a rabbi as hostages. And in California, recent antisemetic incidents have included fliers at Santa Monica elementary schools linking Jewish people to the COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-vaccine movement (January 13, 2022), in Santa Rosa, vandalism of a Holocaust Memorial statue (January 7th, 2022), and in Los Angeles, two Jewish diners were assaulted outside a restaurant after the assailants asked who was Jewish (May 18, 2021); and WHEREAS, Jewish neighbors in our own community are fearful of the current uptick in antisemetic incidents and hateful rhetoric; and
WHEREAS, the City of Menlo Park has a duty to speak out against all forms of discrimination and hate, and draws its strength from its diverse population, of which many self-identify as Jewish; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that I, Betsy Nash, Mayor of the City of Menlo Park, on behalf of the City Council and City, hereby condemn antisemitism and stand with the Jewish people.
Betsy Nash, Mayor
January 25, 2022
DocuSign Envelope ID: 883BF2CD-2FEE-4EAC-8E4D-AAD86768FD21 D1-PRESENTATION City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
TAKING A STAND AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE BAY AREA WHEREAS, the United States Senate designated January 11 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in 2007 and, beginning in 2010 by Presidential Proclamation, each January has been designated National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking involves commercial sexual exploitation and labor exploitation. Sex trafficking is defined as “a commercial sex act that is induced by force, fraud, or coercion,” but if the person has not attained the age of 18 years old, force, fraud or coercion is not required. Labor trafficking is defined as, “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery”; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking is a human rights violation, and a violation of both federal and California law, it also promotes the breakdown of families and communities, fuels organized crime, deprives countries of human capital, undermines public health, and imposes large economic costs; and WHEREAS, the FBI has identified California and the San Francisco Bay Area as an area of high prevalence for human trafficking. Although human trafficking is illegal, victims often do not recognize their victimization, do not know that help is available, or where to seek assistance; and WHEREAS, forced labor, involuntary domestic servitude, and commercial sexual exploitation of adults and youth and have been found to exist within local communities; and WHEREAS, public awareness about human trafficking still needs to reach broader communities and communicate more information about the nuances of this crime; and WHEREAS, the County of San Mateo has dedicated resources including the San Mateo County Human Trafficking Program, and has supported the efforts of the San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association, and has partnered with other governmental and non-governmental organizations to identify and address human trafficking within San Mateo County; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that I, Betsy Nash, Mayor of the City of Menlo Park, on behalf of the City Council and City, do hereby recognize January 2022 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and encourage City Councilmembers, employees, and residents to support the County of San Mateo’s efforts in the fight against human trafficking.
Betsy Nash, Mayor
January 25, 2022
DocuSign Envelope ID: 9A0CBAC1-AA58-4611-905E-372B4206121B D2-PRESENTATION City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
RECOGNIZING STARLA JEROME-ROBINSON
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to show appreciation to Starla Jerome-Robinson for her service and commitment to our City and wish her well on her retirement from public service; and WHEREAS, Starla is a longtime Menlo Park resident and joined the City of Menlo Park as the Assistant City Manager in 2008; and
WHEREAS, on October 29, 2018, Starla re-joined the City of Menlo Park team as its Interim City Manager, and on April 1, 2019, she accepted the permanent position of City Manager; and WHEREAS, Starla has demonstrated an unwavering dedication and fortitude in leading the city during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating leadership by quickly adopting technological systems that allowed many City services to continue and staff to effectively and efficiently perform their duties while working remotely; and
WHEREAS, the City of Menlo Park undertook several projects to ensure a high quality of life for residents during Starla’s tenure, including project approval and start of construction on the Menlo Park Community Campus, adoption of the City’s Transportation Master Plan, repaving Willow Road with quiet asphalt and new speed feedback signs, adoption of the City’s Reach Code and the 2030 Climate Action Plan, initiation of the Housing Element Update including the preparation of the City’s first Environmental Justice and Saftey Elements, establishing a citywide Safe Routes to Schools program, overseeing the move to fully districted city council elections, hired and transitioned to a new Police Chief, and kept city childcare services running during the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Starla demonstrated her support of local businesses by adopting modifications city-wide to encourage outdoor dining and activities in the face of the pandemic; and WHEREAS, Starla showed great care for her employees health, safety and wellness during the pandemic, and conducted bi-weekly “Thursday Mornings with Starla” webinars to communicate and connect with all employees, resulting in a team of professionals who performed their good work for our residents; and WHEREAS, Starla demonstrated resourcefulness and creativity in working with the City Council, and all members of the management team; and
WHEREAS, Starla is well respected and trusted in her profession and by her colleagues, and will be missed for her genuineness, depth of knowledge, and passion for public service and the City of Menlo Park; and NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that I, Betsy Nash,
Mayor of the City of Menlo Park, on behalf of the City Council and the City, congratulate and express our sincere gratitude to Starla Jerome-Robinson for her loyalty and service over the past years and wish her well on her retirement.
Betsy Nash, Mayor
January 25, 2022
DocuSign Envelope ID: 883BF2CD-2FEE-4EAC-8E4D-AAD86768FD21 D3-PRESENTATION City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Downtown Santa Cruz Avenue
G1-PRESENTATION City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
AGENDA ITEM
Council action on the following:
Adopt an urgency ordinance temporarily
closing the north bound travel lane on the 600
block of Santa Cruz Avenue and a portion of
Ryan’s Lane, and authorizing the
establishment and issuance of temporary
outdoor activity permits allowing businesses to
safely conduct their businesses outdoors
during the COVID-19 state of emergency
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
3 DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURES
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
Adopt urgency Ordinance No. 1085 (Attachment A), to
continue the Downtown street closure program to reflect continued temporary closure of the northbound 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue and a portion of Ryan’s Lane.
– 600 block (odd) of Santa Cruz Avenue northbound lane toward El Camino Real from Curtis Street to Doyle Street; and
– Ryan’s Lane both directions from Crane Street to Escondido Lane. Other elements of the temporary outdoor use permit program to allow parklets/street cafes in off-street parking spaces remain on a month to month basis
RECOMMENDATION
4 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
THANK YOU
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2022
CALTRAIN QUIET ZONE RFP
City Council – January 25, 2022
G2-PRESENTATION
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 14 of 24
OUTLINE
Objectives Quiet Zone Background and Requirements Draft Request for Proposals Questions and Discussion City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 15 of 24 Provide information to the City Council and the public on quiet zone requirements and opportunities
Receive feedback from the City Council and the public on draft Request for Proposal
3 TODAY’S OBJECTIVES
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 16 of 24 Caltrain has four at-grade
crossings – 0.2 miles apart
No existing quiet zone Trains activate horns 4 times ¼ mile before each crossing (16 blasts per train over 0.6 miles) Received complaints from
residents and business owners
4 BACKGROUND
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 17 of 24 Federal Rail Administration (FRA) minimum requirements for a quiet zone:
– Each crossing must have gates, flashing lights, warning time devices– Can include one or multiple crossings– Must be at least 1/2 mile in total length– Must not have a non-quiet zone crossing within ¼ mile of the first or last crossing in the zone
Quiet zones can be implemented by installing specific safety improvements or by installing alternate improvements that reduce the risk at the crossing 5 FRA REQUIREMENTS
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 18 of 24 Crossing closure or grade separation
Four quadrant gate system Gates with channelization devices Gates with medians Wayside horns 6 QUIET ZONE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 19 of 24 Final Work Plan
– Includes outreach plan
Document Review, Data Collection, Field Survey Quiet Zone Analysis – Identify options for achieving a quiet zone– Calculate risk index Cost Estimate Draft and Final Report
7 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALDELIVERABLES
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 20 of 24 The draft RFP includes feedback from the public:
- Renames the study to be an “Implementation Plan”- Clarifies the scope to indicate that we are interesting in understanding the full range of options for implementing a quiet zone
- Mixed feedback on potentially including the Palo Alto Avenue crossing in the RFP – retained as an option
8 FEED BACK FROM RESIDENTS OF
MENLO PARK
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 21 of 24 Provide feedback on the RFP and selection criteria
9 REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 22 of 24 Incorporate feedback from the City Council and community Release RFP in February Select consultant and negotiate contract Return to Council for award in April 10 NEXT STEPS
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 23 of 24
QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
11 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 24 of 24