City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov City Council
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
Date: 4/18/2023
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Locations: Zoom.us/join – ID# 814 7839 7160 and
City Council Chambers
751 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Members of the public can listen to the meeting and participate using the following methods. If you have issues viewing the meeting, please email the city clerk at [email protected].
How to participate in the meeting
• Submit a written comment online up to 1-hour before the meeting start time:
[email protected]
Please include the agenda item number you are commenting on. • Access the meeting real-time online at:
Zoom.us/join – Meeting ID 814 7839 7160
• Access the meeting real-time via telephone at:
(669) 900-6833
Meeting ID 814 7839 7160
Press *9 to raise hand to speak
• Watch meeting:
• Cable television subscriber in Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Atherton, and Palo Alto:
Channel 26
• City Council Chambers
Note: City Council closed sessions are not broadcast online or on television and public participation is limited to the beginning of closed session.
Subject to Change: The format of this meeting may be altered or the meeting may be cancelled. You may check on the status of the meeting by visiting the city website menlopark.gov. The instructions for logging on to the webinar and/or the access code is subject to change. If you have difficulty accessing the webinar, please check the latest online edition of the posted agenda for updated information (menlopark.gov/agendas).
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.
Regular Session
A. Call To Order
B. Roll Call
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov City Council Special Meeting Agenda
April 18, 2023
C. Special Business
C1. Interviews of Planning Commission applicants (Attachment) (Note: No action will be taken at this meeting. Appointments are scheduled for the April 25, 2023 City Council meeting.)
Not a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) project.
D. Closed Session
D1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9
Name of case: Tobias Kunze and Liliana Kunze Briseno v. City of Menlo Park (Case No. 3- CIV00590)
Not a CEQA project.
D2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9:
(One potential case)
Not a CEQA project.
D3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: (One potential case)
Not a CEQA project.
E. Adjournment
At every regular meeting of the City Council, in addition to the public comment period where the public shall have the right to address the City Council on any matters of public interest not listed on the agenda, members of the public have the right to directly address the City Council on any item listed on the agenda at a time designated by the chair, either before or during the City Council’s consideration of the item.
At every special meeting of the City Council, members of the public have the right to directly address the City Council on any item listed on the agenda at a time designated by the chair, either before or during consideration of the item.
For appeal hearings, appellant and applicant shall each have 10 minutes for presentations.
If you challenge any of the items listed on this agenda in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Menlo Park at, or before, the public hearing.
Any writing that is distributed to a majority of the City Council by any person in connection with an agenda item is a public record (subject to any exemption under the Public Records Act) and is available by request by emailing the city clerk at [email protected]. Persons with disabilities, who require auxiliary aids or services in attending or participating in City Council meetings, may call the City Clerk’s Office at 650-330-6620.
Agendas are posted in accordance with Cal. Gov. Code §54954.2(a) or §54956. Members of the public can view electronic agendas and staff reports by accessing the City website at menlopark.gov/agendas and can receive email notification of agenda postings by subscribing at menlopark.gov/subscribe. Agendas and staff reports may also be obtained by contacting City Clerk at 650-330-6620. (Posted: 4/13/2023) AGENDA ITEM C-1 Page C-1.1
Current C ty Counc l d str ct District 5
How d d you hear about th s opportun ty (check all that apply) Email If I am appo nted, the C ty s author zed to post the follow ng nformat on on the c ty webs te (please select at least one):
Cellphone: Yes
Bus ness phone: No
Home phone: No
Ema l: Yes
Application acknowledgement and submittal
I cert fy that the answers g ven here n are true and complete to the best of my knowledge.
I agree
S gnature
Link to signature
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DISTRICT 5 Page C-1.3
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Descr be your understand ng of the respons b l t es of the adv sory body that you are apply ng for and how your personal commun ty or profess onal exper ence relate to these respons b l t es
Complete Streets Commission:
It is my understanding that the Complete Streets Commission’s primary responsibilities are to advise the City Council on Transportation projects and solutions that help advance our stated goals as part of Vision Zero, our Climate Action Plan, and our Transportation Master Plan. The commission also reviews large MP construction projects through the lens of transportation.
I would bring two valuable sets of experiences to the Complete Streets Commission:
First, I rarely drive, and overwhelmingly interact with our transportation systems, routes, lanes and intersections either on my bike or on foot (this includes taking my kids to school every day, to the farmers market, the pool, the library, playgrounds and more). I therefore will bring a nondriver’s perspective to the Complete Streets Commission, helping us move MP beyond the car-centric development philosophies that have guided the cityscape in the past.
Second, I have lived in 4 different countries, including Hong Kong, Spain, and the Netherlands in addition to both Northern and Southern California. I have seen how different communities, in urban, rural, and suburban settings can develop transportation priorities that benefit the entire community and incrementally work toward a better transportation system that functions cohesively across different modes of transport.
Planning Commission:
It's my understanding that the Planning Commission of Menlo Park's primary responsibilities are to review development proposals and permits and make decisions regarding the approval or denial of said development. The commission also works closely with the City Council and can recommend changes or improvements to our city's zoning, permits, and overall development process.
I am an amateur urban-planning enthusiast, having read much literature and papers on urban planning. I have lived in 4 different countries, including Hong Kong and the Netherlands, but have lived in California for the last 20 years and the Bay Area for the last 10. I feel that the diverse set of environments in which I've lived gives me a good understanding of the pros & cons of those urban environments.
My economics background gives me a good basis point for which to evaluate various city proposals and try to identify what type of ROI (either monetary or otherwise) we as a community might get out of any given project.
Descr be why you want to serve on th s adv sory body and what you hope to accompl sh as a member
Complete Streets Commission:
I feel strongly that the social fabric of a community is driven by how people get around. There is a stark difference between a community where people are isolated in their own single-occupancy vehicles, and Page C-1.6
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one where people are able to get around walking, biking, scootering, and using public transportation. Where people are able to interact with their neighbors while walking to get a morning coffee, instead of idling their cars in the Starbucks drive-through line.
What I would hope to accomplish on the Complete Streets Commission includes changes both to the culture, and to specific transportation options. At a cultural level, I’d love to remind members of our community that so many issues around transportation, traffic, and parking, are purely a result of our over-reliance on cars, and can be solved by improving our other methods of transportation. I’d love to move to a world where the conversation about multi-modal infrastructure isn’t “drivers versus everyone else,” but rather recognizes that better bus lanes, bike lanes, and improved walkability also benefit drivers by reducing traffic. I’d also love to help the city establish a framework for approving transportation projects that includes the full picture of cost savings (both direct and secondary) resulting from reduced car traffic.
Regarding specific changes I’d hope to accomplish: I’d love to capitalize on the current momentum of establishing proper bike-lanes on Middle Avenue and fully realize a complete Safe Routes to School program where we can actually have safe routes to all the Menlo Park schools that kids would be able to bike on safely without fears of injury from cars. I’d love to establish prioritized bus lanes on certain roads as well as transit signal priority, so buses wouldn’t ever need to be stuck in traffic. I’d also want to add much more bike parking (including for cargo bikes) around the city so that nobody would ever be discouraged from biking to their destination, for fear that they wouldn’t have anyplace safe to park their bikes.
That said, while I believe that deprioritizing cars in Menlo Park will absolutely help us achieve almost all of our stated goals around climate, equity, and vision zero, I also recognize that this isn’t going to happen overnight. I am an incrementalist and understand that anything with government and infrastructure will take time to implement. I would be delighted if my membership on the Complete Streets commission can start to steer the city’s priorities and projects in the right direction.
Planning Commission:
I would love to serve on the Planning Commission and be a voice in the growth and development of Menlo Park. I would say that my overall philosophy for City Planning is one of pro- smart-development. I absolutely love the cute neighborhoods of Menlo Park and how friendly everyone is while I'm going for a walk or riding my bike around town.
That being said, I recognize that there's a desperate housing shortage in California and the Bay Area and would want to be part of the solution to allow that housing to be developed in Menlo Park. I'm a strong proponent of blurring the lines (although not entirely) between residential and commercial areas in towns and feel that it's important Page C-1.7
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Descr be your understand ng of the respons b l t es of the adv sory body that you are apply ng for and how your personal commun ty or profess onal exper ence relate to these respons b l t es
The Planning Commission supports the city's General Plan for the orderly development of the city. As a council-appointed advisory body, we make recommendations and, in some cases, decisions about land use applications before the city and serve as a recommending body to Council for significant land use updates and zoning changes.
In my professional experience, I served on the district staff for US Congresswoman Jackie Speier between 2009-2014 focusing on congressional district resident needs and issue areas related to the federal government that local residents were in need of assistance with.
In early 2014, I started my job at LinkedIn Corporation as their local government affairs representative, including working with their Community Development applications for their commercial development developments globally.
I serve on the Board of Directors for Housing Trust Silicon Valley, which provides innovative financing for Affordable Housing developers in the region.
I was a founding board member for SV@Home between 2015-2020, a nonprofit dedicated to Affordable Housing advocacy in the region. All of these experiences have been instrumental in deepening my understanding of the need for and challenges of creating affordable housing. I've also served on two Chamber of Commerce boards, San Francisco and Mountain View, giving me a solid foundation of understanding of the community's small and large business needs.
Specifically, understanding how land-use decisions, the pace city decision making, and the policy direction at the local level which impact housing, office, and retail development all have a massive impact on the economic viability and vibrancy of a city.
Being able to leverage community service, including volunteer work for our local schools, as well as my professional experience to help ensure Menlo Park continues to make smart zoning and land use decisions that move our community forward would be an honor. It was a priviledge to serve in this capacity between 2008-2016 and doing so again after having learned so much more from other local cities, I believe I could be a strong asset to the council and to city of Menlo Park.
Descr be why you want to serve on th s adv sory body and what you hope to accompl sh as a member
Since serving on the Planning Commission eight years ago, I've continued to learn more about local public policy, issues including widening economic inequality, local and regional economic development, and the region's housing affordability crisis-- all of which are connected. I hope to bring a broad and deep perspective to Menlo Park to help the city with decisions that are informed by my 20+ years of living in Menlo Park and by my experience in business, about the needs of residents, businesses, and the environment. We all need to work together to solve our largest issues so that everyone has a place and opportunity to thrive.
Contact and residency information
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Bus ness address
Number of years as a Menlo Park res dent 27
Current C ty Counc l d str ct District 3
How d d you hear about th s opportun ty (check all that apply) City website If I am appo nted, the C ty s author zed to post the follow ng nformat on on the c ty webs te (please select at least one):
Cellphone: Yes
Bus ness phone: Yes
Home phone: Yes
Ema l: Yes
Application acknowledgement and submittal
I cert fy that the answers g ven here n are true and complete to the best of my knowledge.
I agree
S gnature
Link to signature
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How d d you hear about th s opportun ty (check all that apply) City website If I am appo nted, the C ty s author zed to post the follow ng nformat on on the c ty webs te (please select at least one):
Cellphone: No
Bus ness phone: No
Home phone: No
Ema l: Yes
Application acknowledgement and submittal
I cert fy that the answers g ven here n are true and complete to the best of my knowledge.
I agree
S gnature
Link to signature
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Descr be your understand ng of the respons b l t es of the adv sory body that you are apply ng for and how your personal commun ty or profess onal exper ence relate to these respons b l t es
From November 2019 - January 2021, I was the City Data Lead for the City of San Jose, working in the City Manager's Office. During that time, I also served as the Deputy Director for San Jose's Emergency Operations Center in charge of coordinating the response to COVID-19 for the entire city. This role required not only coordinating with Santa Clara County on the public health response, but also managing the response to all the downstream repercussions of the pandemic: food insecurity, housing insecurity, economic development, homelessness, renters policy, functioning of parks during the pandemic, and more.
As the person at the City entrusted to help use data to address these challenges, my job was to help bring quantitative rigor to decision making, program design, and policy. However, data without clear goals in mind is not all that useful. The job of City staff was to recommend and design the best way to address problems based on the priorities defined by the City Council and the community, and I could best use data to help them if City Council and the community could readily clarify the goals that were most important to the City.
As a former City staff member in a council-manager form of government, I deeply value the expertise that City staff bring to problems. My goal as part of an advisory body in Menlo Park would not be to dictate to City staff what or how to do their jobs. Rather, I see advisory bodies as helping to clarify priorities and ask the right questions so that City staff can best develop solutions in line with what matters to the community. Advisory bodies help to make clear the goals of the community so that the expertise of City staff -- and data of course! -- can be brought to bear on those goals.
In my role in San Jose, I really valued when an advisory body or a commission could help set clear direction and ask really good questions. It helped me to use data in a way that aligned most closely with the goals of the community. I hope to serve that function as part of a commission in the city where I live.
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Z p code 94025
Bus ness address
Number of years as a Menlo Park res dent 7
Current C ty Counc l d str ct District 2
How d d you hear about th s opportun ty (check all that apply) Email Other: Conversations with Councilmembers Drew Combs, Jen Wolosin If I am appo nted, the C ty s author zed to post the follow ng nformat on on the c ty webs te (please select at least one):
Cellphone: Yes
Bus ness phone: Yes
Home phone: Yes
Ema l: Yes
Application acknowledgement and submittal
I cert fy that the answers g ven here n are true and complete to the best of my knowledge.
I agree
S gnature
Link to signature
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