City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov City Council
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Date: 3/25/2025
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Locations: Teleconference and
Belle Haven Community Campus
100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Special Session
A. Call To Order
Mayor Combs called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Present: Combs, Nash, Schmidt, Taylor, Wise
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Justin Murphy, City Attorney Nira Doherty, Assistant City Manager Stephen Stolte, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk Judi A. Herren C. Closed Session
C1. Conference with legal counsel – anticipated litigation Initiation of litigation (paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of §54956.9): One potential case Regular Session
D. Call To Order
Mayor Combs re-called the meeting to order at 6:21 p.m.
E. Roll Call
Present: Combs, Nash, Schmidt, Taylor, Wise
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Justin Murphy, City Attorney Nira Doherty, Assistant City Manager Stephen Stolte, Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk Judi A. Herren F. Report from Closed Session
No reportable actions.
G. Agenda Review
None
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov H. Public Comment
• Alberto Garcia spoke on the need for additional space, accessibility and services for seniors at the Belle Haven Community Campus (BHCC).
• Glafira Garcia spoke on the need for additional space, accessibility and services for seniors at BHCC.
• Ernesto Cruz spoke on the need for additional space, accessibility and services for seniors at BHCC.
• Steve Shaw spoke in support of Senate Bill (SB) 457 related to Builder’s Remedy projects and for it be added to a future City Council meeting agenda. • Jacqui Cebrian spoke in support of the BHCC library and on transitioning rails as bike/pedestrian trails and access.
• Arlene Navarro spoke in support of City Council meetings at BHCC and the need for additional space, accessibility and services for seniors at BHCC.
• Ismael Oseguera spoke in support of additional public noticing for City Council meetings and the need for additional space, accessibility and services for seniors at BHCC. • Bill Kirsh spoke in opposition of traffic impacts to Partridge Avenue and the lack of support from staff.
I. Presentations and Proclamations
I1. Presentation: Recognize achievement of LEED Platinum certification for the Belle Haven Community Campus
Library and Community Services Director Sean Reinhart made the presentation. • Jenny Michel explained the challenges of achieving and maintaining LEED Platinum certification and in support of additional space, accessibility and services for seniors and disabled at BHCC.
I2. Presentation: Homeless services in Menlo Park
Assistant City Manager Stephen Stolte, County of San Mateo Center on Homelessness Chloe Richter, WeHope representative Clyde Burgess, LifeMoves representative Valerie Lomeli, Lynette Reynoso and Sarah Fields and crisis response clinician with the City of Menlo Park Crisis Response and Community Wellness Team (CWCRT) Meredith Roberts made the presentation (Attachment).
• Jane Perry spoke on concerns of homeless living conditions and the mental health of those who may not have access to the programs described in the presentation. • Katherine Dumont spoke in support of homeless services and housing for recreational vehicles (RVs).
• Jenny Michel spoke on the need for continued robust services for the homeless. • Will requested City Council to address the root causes of homelessness, supporting outreach efforts and ways the community can contribute to the efforts of the organizations.. • Lucia Soto spoke in support of homeless services and concerns on police response times to homeless service calls.
The City Council discussed the grant funding opportunity for homeless services.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov The City Council received clarification on how to contact services for homeless, volunteer and donation opportunities and the need for additional data.
J. Consent Calendar
J1. Accept the City Council meeting minutes for February 11, 2025 (Attachment) J2. Consider and adopt a resolution initiating the Menlo Park Landscaping Assessment District proceedings for fiscal year 2025-26 (Staff Report #25-044-CC) J3. Award a construction contract to A. Teichert & Sons, Inc. dba Teichert Construction for the 2025 Street Resurfacing project (Staff Report #25-045-CC)
J4. Receive and file City Council and advisory body annual attendance report for March 2024 – February 2025 (Staff Report #25-046-CC)
J5. Receive and file the investment portfolio reports for Dec. 31, 2024 (Staff Report #25-047-CC) J6. Authorize the city manager to execute an agreement with PG&E to replace high voltage circuits for the West Menlo Series Circuit Street Light project (Staff Report #25-048-CC) ACTION: Motion and second (Taylor/ Nash), to approve the consent calendar, passed unanimously.
K. Study Session
K1. Provide direction on program enhancements and new project options to continue implementation of the communitywide electrification program (Staff Report #25-049-CC) Sustainability Manager Rachael Londer made the presentation (Attachment). • Pam Jones spoke in support of solar and electrification.
The City Council received clarification on administration of the new priorities, residents unable to participate due to income, servicing rental communities, costs of electrification, timelines and deadlines and matching rebates.
The City Council discussed staff impacts, increasing outreach and engagement, solar and battery storage systems and risks of portable electric heating units as a part of rental electrification kits.
The City Council directed staff to support advancing all seven priorities as outlined in the staff report:
• Offer a matching rebate
• Expand income eligibility to 120% of area median income (AMI) • Electrify the Belle Haven Child Development Center (BHCDC) • Increase marketing and outreach
• Serve select rental properties
• Provide rental electrification kits
• Install residential solar and battery storage systems
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov L. Regular Business
L1. Consider and adopt a resolution accepting the 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report, including the Housing Element and Environmental Justice Element, and annual housing successor report (Staff Report #25-052-CC)
Senior Planner Calvin Chan made the presentation (Attachment). • Pam Jones spoke in support of the Environmental Justice (EJ) Element and recommended providing hardcopies of the EJ Element Action Guide to increase viewership opportunity and understanding of progress.
• Adina Levin spoke on the importance of the EJ Element, affordable housing and antidisplacement strategy development. • Katherine Dumont spoke in support of the implementation of the Housing and EJ Elements and affordable housing in Downtown.
The City Council received clarification on accessory dwelling units (ADU) amnesty and state programs, ADU applicability for electrification incentives, public events and housing resource fair, rental registry, home vacancy tax and opportunities to support ADU upgrades.
The City Council discussed BHCC pool hours and the importance of providing equitable services, providing access to healthy and affordable food, community outreach, and advancing affordable housing generally and the Downtown affordable housing project.
ACTION: Motion and second (Nash/ Wise), to adopt a resolution accepting the 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report (APR), which includes the Housing Element and Environmental Justice Element, and the annual housing successor report, passed unanimously.
M. Informational Items
M1. City Council agenda topics: April 2025 (Staff Report #25-051-CC) M2. Oversized vehicle administrative regulations (Staff Report #25-050-CC) • Katherine Dumont requested clarification on the time frame for pre-citation warnings, signage, property and costs to owners.
N. City Manager Report
City Manager Murphy reported on the Community Resources Fair March 29 at BHCC.
O. City Councilmember Reports
Vice Mayor Nash reported on City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG) Resource Management and Climate Protection (RMCP) Committee and Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) meetings.
Mayor Combs reported on Senate Bill (SB) 457 and the oversize vehicle ordinance.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 menlopark.gov City Councilmember Schmidt reported out on the oversize vehicle ordinance.
P. Adjournment
Mayor Combs adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m.
Assistant to the City Manager/ City Clerk Judi Herren
These minutes were approved at the City Council meeting April 29, 2025.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
Encampment Resolution Fund Grant
I2-PRESENTATION
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 6 of 40
Homeless Street Outreach
• Continual engagement and
placement of unhoused
residents by building
connections with ongoing
client services; By‐Name List
Interim Housing• Provide immediate placement
in Emergency Shelter with
Housing Focused Case
Management
Rapid Rehousing• Provide a Rapid Rehousing
plan for clients placed inpermanent shelter throughhousing focused casemanagement Dignity on Wheels• Supply services for
encampment clients to
shower, do laundry, and use
restroom facilities
Homeless Engagement
Assessment & Linkage (HEAL)
• Ensure ongoing Behavioral Health
and Recovery Services for
Substance Abuse and Mental
Health disorders
Street Medicine• Field based medical case
management and treatmentand connection to County
Psychiatrist
CoordinatedEntry/Diversion• Connect individuals
with interim housingopportunities
Goal: Permanent Housing
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 7 of 40
Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) Grant
Data as of March 17, 2025
ENGAGED
INDIVIDUALS
ENGAGED
HOUSEHOLDS
74 104
Currently Engaged with Outreach Teams in Menlo Park
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 8 of 40
ERF Outcomes in Menlo Park
Data as of March 17, 2025
INDIVIDUALS
HOUSED
INDIVIDUALS
SHELTERED
8 1
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 9 of 40
WeHOPE
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 10 of 40
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 11 of 40
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 12 of 40
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 13 of 40
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 14 of 40
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 15 of 40
Thank you!
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 16 of 40
CWCRT
COMMUNITY WELLNESS CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM
Crisis Co-Response | Menlo Park Police Department
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 17 of 40
3 RVs
Crisis Response:Crisis= Life Stressor > Available Coping Resources 1 Schools2 Unhoused Population
PRIMARY GOAL SECONDARY GOAL Connect to Resources Reduce Strain on Emergency Services Reduce recidivism
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 18 of 40
Expanding the communitywide
electrification programRachael Londer, Sustainability Manager K1-PRESENTATION
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 19 of 40
Funding background
State grant of $4.5 million to be
expended by June 2026 oncommunitywide electrification
The City executed an agreement with
Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE)electrify homes in Belle Haven City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 20 of 40
Home Upgrade Program background
No-cost installation of the following
measures for eligible homeowners:
- Heat pump space heating/cooling-
Heat pump water heater
- Induction stove/electric oven and
cookware
-
Electric dryer
- Electrical remediation, if needed to
electrify appliances
- Minor energy efficiency and
weatherization, if needed
- Electric vehicle (EV) charging outlet
Sign up: Bit.ly/MenloParkHomeUpgrade
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 21 of 40
Outreach highlights
Participation in community
events and meetings
Working with Climate
Resilient Communities for canvassing and community engagement Collaborating with
complementary programs
Posting information in
Belle Haven
City staff sharing information about Home Upgrade at the Housing Resource Fair, 2024 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 22 of 40
Home Upgrade participation
Project status Sept. 2024 –
Feb. 2025
Scheduled home assessments
49 Completed home assessments
28 Signed participation agreements
13 Projects completed 4 Induction stove and electric oven installed in Karen Williams’ home
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 23 of 40
Review of potential options
Priority Recommendation1 Offer a matching rebate2 Expand income eligibility to 120% of area median income (AMI)3 Electrify the Belle Haven Child Development Center (BHCDC)4 Increase marketing and outreach5 Serve select rental properties 6 Provide rental electrification kits7 Install residential solar and battery storage systems City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 24 of 40
Home Upgrade Program enhancements
Offer a matching rebate (priority #1) Expand income eligibility to 120% of area median income (priority #2)
Increase marketing and outreach
(priority #4)
Heat pump water heater and electric dryer
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 25 of 40
Home Upgrade Program enhancements
Serve select rental properties
(priority #5)
Install residential solar and battery
storage systems (priority #7)
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 26 of 40
New project options
Electrify the Belle Haven Child
Development Center (priority #3)
Provide rental electrification kits
(priority #7)
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 27 of 40
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council provide direction on program enhancements and new projects as prioritized by staff and the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) outlined in this evening’s presentation City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025 Page 28 of 40
2024 General Plan
Annual Progress Report
Calvin Chan, Senior Planner
Tom Smith, Principal Planner
Deanna Chow, Community Development Director
L1-PRESENTATION City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
Background: Annual Progress Report (APR)
General Plan: blueprint for
meeting the community’s
long-term vision
APR describes General
Plan implementation
Documents 2024 activities
- Housing Commission
review (March 5)
- Planning Commission
review (March 24)
Submitted by April 1st
General
Plan
Environmental
Justice (EJ)
Circulation
Noise
Safety Open Space &
Conservation
Land
Use
Housing
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
Planning Commission Mar. 24 Meeting Motion
“The Planning Commission recommends the City Council accept the 2024 General Plan Annual Progress Report (APR), which includes the Housing Element and Environmental Justice
Element, with an important note that while Menlo Park should be proud of our status as one of the few jurisdictions in California to technically produce sufficient housing, that fact should not decrease the urgency with which our City must keep attacking the challenge of housing production, because the details of our current trajectory are not enough to give us confidence that the City’s current approach will ultimately meet the state’s RHNA [Regional Housing Needs Allocation] requirements, much less the spirit stated in of our City’s housing element.”
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
Housing Element APR & EJ Element APR
Housing Element APR
tracks status of
implementing the 2023-
2031 Housing Element
EJ Element Action
Guide update tracks
progress implementing
EJ Element
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
Housing Element Implementation Highlights
Partnering with non-profits to
provide housing rehabilitation
Developing an Anti-Displacement
Strategy with HEART SMC
Conducting outreach and sharing
housing resources
Supporting healthy indoor
environments
Collaborating with nonprofits and
supporting veterans Oak Gardens groundbreaking, Feb. 2025 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
Housing Production
Total New
Housing
Units
Above
Moderate Low Moderate Very Low
6 740 426 496 1,284 2,946 th Cycle RHNA Allocation
2024 New Units 81 31 26 38 176
118 99 116 718 1,051 Total New Units
(June 2022-Dec. 2024)
Percent Complete 15.9% 23.2% 23.4% 55.9% 35.7%
Remaining RHNA Units 622 327 380 566 1,895
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
EJ Element Implementation Highlights
Priority #1
Provide safe, sanitary, and
stable homes
Priority #2
Promote access to high quality
and affordable food
Priority #3
Reduce pollution exposure and
improve air quality
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
EJ Element Implementation Highlights
Established EJ Element
Implementation Fund
Developing Anti-Displacement
Strategy
Outreach events with resources
for providing safe, sanitary, and
stable homes
Climate Action Plan
implementation with air quality
education and outreach
2024 Love Our Earth Festival
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
EJ Element Implementation Highlights
Planting new trees along
US-101 sound walls and in
Belle Haven
Providing equitable access
to Belle Haven Community
Campus (BHCC) programs
Completing Belle Haven
Traffic Calming Project
Launching EJ Element
webpage Front terrace at BHCC
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
New webpage: menlopark.gov/EJElement
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
Other General Plan Elements Implementation Highlights
Safety Element: Emergency and disaster preparedness events and training (English and Spanish), heat relief through three cooling centers
Circulation Element: Vision Zero Action Plan to eliminate traffic fatalities; Safe Routes to School Program; Belle Haven Traffic Calming Project
Noise Element: Planting of trees along sound walls and alternative pavement options
Open Space/Conservation Element: Climate Action Plan 2025-2030 actions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030; coordination with other agencies on opening of Flyway Trail and other open spaces City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025
Recommendation
Adopt resolution
accepting the 2024
General Plan APR
City of Menlo Park staff, 2024
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2025