City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov City Council
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Date: 11/12/2024
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Locations: Teleconference and
City Council Chambers
751 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Regular Session
A. Call To Order
Vice Mayor Combs called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Present: Combs, Doerr, Nash, Taylor (Remote – AB 2449 Just Cause), Wolosin
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Justin Murphy, City Attorney Nira Doherty, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk Judi A. Herren
C. Closed Session
C1. Conference with real property negotiators pursuant to Government Code §54956.8 Property location: 1215 Chrysler Dr.
City negotiators: Justin I.C. Murphy, Nira Doherty
Negotiating parties: James Albera
Under negotiation: Price, terms of payment, property negotiations C2. Conference with legal counsel – anticipated litigation (Paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Government Code §54956.9) Significant exposure to litigation: One case D. Call To Order
Vice Mayor Combs re-called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
E. Roll Call
Present: Combs, Doerr, Nash, Taylor (Remote – AB 2449 Just Cause), Wolosin
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Justin Murphy, Assistant City Manager Stephen Stolte, City Attorney Nira Doherty, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk Judi A. Herren F. Report from Closed Session
No reportable actions.
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov G. Agenda Review
None.
H. Public Comment
Greg Conlon spoke in support of quiet zones.
Ravenswood City School District Superintendent Gina Sudaria spoke on the Ravenswood Promise and Learner Profile.
Bill Kirsch spoke in support of bike and pedestrian safety measures on Partridge Avenue.
I. Presentations and Proclamations
I1. Proclamation: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (Attachment) Vice Mayor Combs introduced the proclamation (Attachment).
San Mateo County Office of Education Safe Routes to School Coordinator Theresa Vallez-Kelley accepted the proclamation.
J. Consent Calendar
J1. Accept the City Council meeting minutes for October 8, 21 and 22, 2024 (Attachment) J2. Authorize the city manager to execute a three-year extension of the enterprise license agreement with Esri for geographic information system software (Staff Report #24-188-CC) ACTION: Motion and second (Nash/ Doerr), to approve the consent calendar, passed unanimously.
K. Study Session
K1. Review and provide feedback on the alternative proposals to meet the below market rate housing requirements for the project at 1162 El Camino Real (Staff Report #24-192-CC) Community Development Director Deanna Chow made a presentation (Attachment).
The Applicant made a presentation (Attachment).
Lynn Huidekoper spoke in support of low and very-low income housing in the City. Adina Levin spoke in support of low, very-low income and senior housing. Katherine Dumont spoke in support of the proposal for a land donation to Eden Housing and the level of affordability of the units.
The City Council received clarification on in-lieu fee amounts and methodologies, monthly rent for 30-50% AMI (area median income) and City Council next steps and action timeline.
The City Council discussed below market rate (BMR) agreement options, risks and sharing risks between City and Applicant and local preference for rental units.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov The City Council directed a land donation transfer to Eden House as an alternate to payment of a residential in-lieu fee, establishing performance standards as part of the negotiations for the land transfer and a desire to include city preferences in adherence to the City’s BMR guidelines.
The City Council took a recess at 9:08 p.m.
The City Council reconvened at 9:16 p.m.
L. Regular Business
L1. Waive the first reading and introduce an ordinance amending Title 11 of the municipal code to revise sections related to stopping, parking, and standing for vehicles, and establish parking restrictions for oversized vehicles (Staff Report #24-189-CC) Police Chief Dave Norris made the presentation (Attachment). Peter Banzhaf spoke in support of the ordinance and housing residents living in recreational vehicles (RV).
My-kel Hall spoke in support of permanent RV parking locations. Aileen Lattmann spoke in support of the ordinance and housing residents living in RVs. Jess Hudson spoke in support of a “care first” approach and on concerns for the RV residents’ displacement.
Katherine Dumont spoke in support of additional study and analysis, consideration of parking programs before adoption of an ordinance and care for RV residents. Andrew Wong spoke in support of the ordinance and housing residents living in recreational RVs.
Lupita spoke in support of permanent RV parking locations.
The City Council received clarification on the ordinance model, providing a safe parking program, neighboring jurisdictions with locations for overnight parking, cities with RV or oversized vehicle ban litigation, overnight or after hour parking violations, permitting options and administrative regulations and guidelines.
The City Council discussed housing the homeless and RV residents, avoiding pushing RVs to neighboring cities, §§11.24.009, 11.24.025, 11.24.075 of the proposed ordinance and policy and regulations around impacts to the unhoused and homeless.
ACTION: Motion and second (Taylor/ Wolosin), to introduce and read by title only, the ordinance subject to removing §§5, 6 and 7 and removing all recitals related to oversized vehicles, 4-1 (Combs dissenting).
ACTION: Motion and second (Taylor/ Wolosin), to continue the oversized recitals to 2025 with the newly seated City Council, 3-2 (Combs and Doerr dissenting).
M. Informational Items
M1. City Council agenda topics: November – December 2024 (Staff Report #24-193-CC) M2. Police department quarterly update – Q3 July – September 2024 (Staff Report #24-187-CC) (Informe de Personal #24-187-CC)
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov M3. Update on childcare survey results and preliminary research and analysis of preschool needs (Staff Report #24-190-CC)
M4. Update on the emergency water storage/supply project (Staff Report #24-191-CC) N. City Manager Report
None.
O. City Councilmember Reports
Mayor Taylor reported out on the Housing Leadership Council (HLC) conference, antidisplacement and the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Agency meetings. Mayor Taylor also reported out on the removal of city attorney billing resulting from a May closed session.
City Councilmember Nash reported out on the South Bayside Management Authority, Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) and anti-displacement meetings and the Menlo Park Police Department swearing in ceremony.
Vice Mayor Combs reported out on opposing the removal of city attorney billing resulting from a May closed session.
P. Adjournment
Vice Mayor Combs adjourned the meeting at 11:02 p.m.
Assistant to the City Manager/ City Clerk Judi Herren
These minutes were approved at the City Council meeting December 10, 2024.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
roclamation
RUBY BRIDGES WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
Thursday, November 14, 2024
WHEREAS, Ruby Bridges is an icon of the American civil rights movement who at the age of six years old in 1960, became the youngest member to integrate public schools in the American South; and
WHEREAS, segregation continued to exist in various states despite the Supreme Court of the United States' 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education barring any state laws allowing racial segregation in public schools; and WHEREAS, Ruby Bridges was the lone student of her group of African-American students to integrate William Frantz Elementary School in the City of New Orleans on November 14, 1960, being escorted by four federal agents while bravely walking amongst protesters full of vitriol; and WHEREAS, the San Mateo County Board of Education adopted a resolution in 2019 that November 14, or the following Wednesday should it fall on a weekend, be henceforth annually known as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in the County of San Mateo to celebrate the spirit of inclusivity; and WHEREAS, the California State Senate adopted a resolution in 2021 that November 14, or the following Wednesday should it fall on a weekend, be henceforth annually known as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in the State of California to recognize Ruby Bridges' role in the civil rights movement; and WHEREAS, the City of Menlo Park Safe Routes to School program encourages children to bicycle and walk to school to develop life-long skills and independence in their community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Menlo Park will participate in its fifth annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, partnering with local schools and the community in promoting walking to school and inclusive communities.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that I, Drew
Combs, Vice Mayor of the City of Menlo Park, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, November
14, 2024 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in the City of Menlo Park. - -
ice Mayor
November 12, 2024
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 12, 2024 Page 5 of 42 1162 EL CAMINO REAL STUDY SESSION
Deanna Chow Community Development Director
K1-STAFF PRESENTATION City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 12, 2024
Purpose of study session
Project background
Alternative BMR options
Next steps
2 PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Review alternative proposals to meet the below market rate (BMR) housing requirements for the residential project at 1162 El Camino Real City Council provides feedback
No action
3 PURPOSE OF STUDY SESSION
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
506-556 Santa Cruz Ave./1125
Merrill St. (Santa Cruz Project)
– Three (3) coordinated mixed-use projects
– Planning Commission approved – May
2018
• +/- 0.76-acre site
• Nine (9) residential units
• Approximately 27,000 sf of nonmedical office, retail and restaurant uses
• Flexibility in satisfying BMR
requirement
– Construction completed June 2021
• No on-site BMR unit
4 SANTA CRUZ AVE.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
1162 El Camino Real (1162 ECR
Project)
– Planning Commission approved – Feb. 2021
• +/- 0.19-acre site
• Nine (9) residential units
• 1 BMR unit (Very-low income studio)
– 2 BMR units (off-site requirement for the
Santa Cruz Project)
• One (1) bedroom, 1 bathroom – Lowincome unit
• Two (2) bedroom, 2 bathroom – Lowincome unit
– Site is vacant land
5 1162 EL CAMINO REAL
PROJECT BACKGROUND
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
June 2021 - Completion of Santa Cruz Project
April 2023 – Approval of revised BMR agreements
June 2023 – Original due date for Santa Cruz Project BMR obligation September 2023 – City Council feedback on HIP housing funding request, including land dedication
March 2024 – Eden Housing submits NOFA for 100% affordable, 26-unit senior housing project
Nov. 12, 2024 (tonight) – City Council study session on alternative BMR options May 4, 2025 – New due date for Santa Cruz Project BMR obligation 6 SUMMARY OF KEY DATES
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Refer to Table 3 in the staff report
Construct two on-site BMR units by developer per 1162 ECR Project BMR Agreement
Developer to pay BMR in-lieu fee of approximately $4.5 million Land donation from developer to City
Developer to directly transfer land to Eden (in-kind payment of in-lieu fee) Other (e.g. hybrid of land donation and in-lieu fee payment) 7 BMR AGREEMENT OPTIONS
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
City Council feedback on BMR options
Staff recommends payment of the $4.5 million BMR in-lieu fee – Payment due by Aug. 4, 2025 If City Council is interested in the land donation:
– Conduct peer review of appraisal to confirm land value – Provide direction if land should be transferred to City or Eden – Staff to return with next steps for accepting the property as an alternative means Provide direction on another option
8 NEXT STEPS
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
THANK YOU
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Menlo Park City Council
Study Session
Offsite Land Dedication
Dixie Baus, Director of Real Estate Development
November 12th, 2024
K1-APPLICANT PRESENTATION City Council Regular Meeting Minutes November 12, 2024
We believe that home is where your start is
Every day, we create the housing needed to make sure all of our neighbors have a place to call home. And advocate for still more. Because safe and affordable housing helps families stay secure, allows communities to thrive, and solves many of our cities’ most pressing challenges.
EDEN HOUSING, INC.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
ABOUT EDEN – Who we are
• California-based non-profit
established 56 years ago
• 170+ properties in 15 counties
& 50 cities
• 11,000+ homes
• 25,000+ residents
• Full-Service
• Development
• Property Management
• Resident Services
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
ABOUT EDEN – Our Experience
Types of developments:
• Public/Private Partnership on public land
• Inclusionary work with home builders
• Developer-driven land purchase
Financing:
• Low-income housing tax credits
• Local and state gap financing programs.
• State programs include:
– Infill Infrastructure Grant Program
– Multifamily Housing Program
– Transit-Oriented Development
– Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Land Dedication– Recent Similar Projects
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Dedicated Land to Eden Housing
41 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Project Concept
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
HOUSING PROJECT OVERVIEW
Homes for seniors
• 26 units of 100%
Affordable Housing
and 1 manager’s unit
26 studios
26 homes total
and (1) 2-bed
manager’s unit
Focus on sustainability
• 0 parking stalls on
an efficient 0.17
acre site
• Secured
bike facilities
• Free transit
passes
• Xeriscape
landscaping
On-site amenities
• Resident
Resource
Networking
Center
• Outdoor
gather area
• Technology Suite
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Site Location Details
Age restricted senior housing for those 55 and older
Caltrain Menlo Park Station – 0.1 miles
Grocery – 0.3 miles
Library, Recreation Center, Park – 0.3 miles
Downtown Menlo Park – 0.1 miles
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
STREET FRONTAGE
El CAMINO REAL
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
UNIT PLANS
TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
PEDESTRIAN
EXPERIENCE
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Community Benefits
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Community Benefits
RHNA Goals
Affordability Level
Percentage of
Area Median
Income
2023-2031
Regional
Housing Need
Allocation
Eden Proposed
Project
Extremely Low Income Up to 30% AMI 740 4
Low Income Up to 60% AMI 426 22
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Land Valuation
1162 El Camino Real
Lot Size: 0.17 ac
Dedicated Land Value: $3.6m
In addition: A chance for seniors who would otherwise be priced out to enjoy an exciting part of Menlo Park.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Thank you!
Project Lead:
Dixie Baus
[email protected]
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS – PARKING:
CITY FACILITIES, SAFETY ENHANCEMENT AND OVERSIZE VEHICLES Dave Norris Police Chief
L1-PRESENTATION City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Waive the first reading and introduce an ordinance to address changes to enhance the City’s ability to enforce certain parking regulations and add enforcement capability in reference to oversize vehicle parking 2 RECOMMENDATION
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Key objectives
– Enhance safety
– Clarify regulations
– Address community needs
Modifications to Title 11 reinforcing enforcement capability and authority to designate areas where parking is regulated, delineate signage and enforcement authority, and close
enforcement gaps in relation to authorities and penalties. Addition to Title 11 of a municipal code section regulating oversize vehicle parking in the City of Menlo Park.
OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED CHANGES AND
ADDITIONS
3 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Section 11.24.009:
– Clarifies authority for sign installation
– Clarifies the application to city owned public parking lots and parking lots at publicly accessible park and recreational facilities, closing gaps in that language that impede enforcement
– Removes dated and unnecessary subsection on citation amounts Sections 11.24.025 and 026:
– Provide expanded authority to the public works director or designee to identify and mark no parking zones adjacent to driveways to enhance visibility and safety (“daylighting”)
TITLE 11 CHANGES
4 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Section 11.24.050:
– Reflects slight changes to the overnight parking program (ONP) to make the language more flexible to new residential developments and allows ONP to include overnight parking regulation of City facility-related parking lots.
Section 11.24.070:
– Changes the regulation language slightly in alignment with other local city regulations that provide existing authority for removal of vehicles after 72 hours in accordance with state law.
TITLE 11 CHANGES, CONTINUED
5 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Section 11.24.075:
– New regulation that addresses the adverse impacts of oversized vehicles parked on City streets.
Defines oversized vehicles
Identifies the purpose to alleviate impeded views that can create a danger to vehicles, bicycles, and
pedestrian traffic, and to prevent unhealthy and
unlawful discharge of hazardous material onto city
streets and into waterways.
ADDITION TO TITLE 11:
OVERSIZE VEHICLES
6 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Establishes exemptions, for emergency situations,
governmental operations, short-term prep of personal
RVs and commercial loading/unloading purposes.
Establishes penalties for oversized vehicles unlawfully parked on city streets between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., to
include citation and removal of oversized vehicles
parked in violation.
ADDITION TO TITLE 11:
OVERSIZE VEHICLES, CONTINUED
7 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
8 POLICE DEPARTMENT –
COMMUNITY POLICING APPROACH
ONGOING COMMITMENT OF YOUR MPPD:
• Safety permitting, the Menlo Park Police Department (MPPD) approaches all inperson contacts – including habitation in vehicles – with a “care first approach” – connecting with the human beings involved and assessing first for how we, or any available resources might help…
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
9 POLICE DEPARTMENT –
COMMUNITY POLICING APPROACH
• COMMITMENT OF YOUR MPPD, cont’d:
• In all cases where immediate public safety intervention is not needed, we will be offering options, educating about regulations and consequences, and providing ample opportunities for alternative solutions prior to and contemporaneous with any enforcement.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
10 POLICE DEPARTMENT –
COMMUNITY POLICING APPROACH
COMMITMENT OF YOUR MPPD, cont’d:
• When enforcement action must be taken, all attempts to present and provide alternatives to enforcement will have been documented through incident notes, reports, and/or recordings.
• The respect and dignity of all people in Menlo Park remains a North Star for the MPPD Team.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
Waive the first reading and introduce an ordinance to address changes to enhance the City’s ability to enforce certain parking regulations and add enforcement capability in reference to oversize vehicle parking 11 RECOMMENDATION
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024
THANK YOU
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 12, 2024