City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.gov City Council
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Date: 2/10/2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Locations: Teleconference and
City Council Chambers
751 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Regular Session
A. Call To Order
Mayor Nash called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Present: Combs, Nash, Schmidt, Taylor, Wise
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 C. Agenda Review
None.
D. Public Comment
None.
E. Consent Calendar
E1. Accept the City Council meeting minutes for January 13, 2026 (Attachment) E2. Consider and adopt a resolution initiating the Menlo Park Landscaping Assessment District proceedings for fiscal year 2026-27 (Staff Report #26-016-CC) E3. Authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with MIG, Inc. to prepare the environmental review for the proposed Menlo Park Fire Protection District Headquarters development project at 300 Middlefield Rd. and temporary fire station at 114 Santa Margarita Ave. for the amount of $193,618 and future augments as may be necessary to complete the environmental review for the proposed project (Staff Report #26-017-CC)
ACTION: Motion and second (Taylor/ Wise), to approve the consent calendar, passed unanimously.
F. Study Session
F1. Emergency preparedness efforts update (Staff Report #26-019-CC) Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Brandon Bond made the presentation (Attachment).
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.gov • Jenny Michel spoke on engaging residents, the community and business when developing the EOP (emergency preparedness plan).
The City Council received clarification on qualifying events, mitigation strategies, EOC (emergency operations center) staff training and commission and committee training opportunities.
The City Council discussed the progress made on emergency preparedness, engaging with businesses and community, life safety, SMC alert sign-ups and training opportunities.
G. Informational Items
G1. City Council agenda topics: February – March 2026 (Staff Report #26-020-CC) G2. Police department quarterly update / Q4 October – December 2025 (Staff Report #26-015-CC) (Informe de Personal #26-015-CC)
G3. Update on request for proposals for development on Parking Plazas 1, 2 and 3, and tentative project schedule (Staff Report #26-018-CC)
• Anthony Draeger spoke in support of no further action on the development of Downtown Parking Plazas until after the November election.
• Karen Grove spoke in support of affordable housing on Downtown Parking Plazas.
The City Council discussed the timeline of City Council actions in parallel with the ballot measure and Housing Element implications.
H. City Manager Report
City Manager Justin Murphy reported out on the Community Funding Program application period through March 5 and the upcoming city hall solar carport construction impacts to city hall parking lots.
I. City Councilmember Reports
Mayor Nash reported out on the Black Liberation celebration at Belle Haven Community Campus.
J. Adjournment
Mayor Nash adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m.
Assistant to the City Manager/ City Clerk Judi A. Herren These minutes were approved at the City Council meeting March 10, 2026.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
February 10, 2026
Emergency and Disaster
Preparedness Update
Brandon Bond, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
F1-PRESENTATION
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 3 of 18 Agenda
Policy Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Emergency Operations Plan Program Growth Community Preparedness 2 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 4 of 18 Policy Direction
Emergency and disaster preparedness a City Council priority since FY 2023–24
Municipal Code Chapter 2.44 "Emergency Services"
establishes emergency authority
Compliant with California Disaster Services Act (CDSA) and Nation Incident Management System (NIMS)
Maintains eligibility for FEMA disaster assistance and mitigation funding
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 5 of 18 Field IC
Local Government
Operational Area
CalOES Region
State
Federal
Locally Executed | State Managed | Federally Supported
Standardized Emergency Management System
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 6 of 18 Local Hazard Mitigation Planning
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) updated every five years - Currently in the update phase to be completed by the end of 2026 Evaluates natural and human-caused hazards Guides long-term risk reduction and resilience investments Flooding Earthquake Climate Change
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 7 of 18 Key Risks for Menlo Park
Increased wildfire smoke and
severe weather impacts
Localized flooding events in
recent years
On-going seismic activity in
Northern California
Pope-Chaucer Bridge removal of debris from San Francisquito Creek Jan. 9, 2023Photo by Magali Gauthier City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 8 of 18 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
Newly written EOP to be presented
to City Council in June 2026
Defines roles, responsibilities, and
EOC activation
Supports life safety and continuity
of Government
Ensures compliance and access to
disaster recovery assistance
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 9 of 18 City Roles During a Disaster
City Council
- Sets policy
City Manager
- Sets strategy
Emergency Operations Center
- Responds based on the strategy
8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 10 of 18 Program Growth
Emergency Preparedness
Coordinator hired May 2024
Expanded focus on, mitigation,
preparedness, response and recovery
Strengthened integration of people,
systems, and partnerships
Monthly Emergency Services
Working Group meetings
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 11 of 18 Staff Preparedness & Training
381 employees (full and part time)
trained as Disaster Service Workers
30 City leaders completed EOC
operations training
Participation in The Great
ShakeOut
Evacuation training and drill at
BHCC
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 12 of 18 Emergency Communications
Activated Government Emergency
Telecommunication Services for key staff
Improved SMCAlert system and
testing
Developed 44 pre-scripted alert
templates
Purchased deployable backup
communication systems
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 13 of 18 Emergency Operations Center Readiness
Improved EOC infrastructure and
connectivity
Conducted tabletop and
functional exercises
- 2024 Flooding - 2025 Wildfire - 2026 Earthquake
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 14 of 18 Regional Coordination
Established a collaborative work
relationship with San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) Participation in San Mateo County DEM
and regional EOC exercises
Engagement in homeland security and
emergency management working groups
Support for regional events and largescale incidents City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 15 of 18 Community Preparedness
CERT collaboration and
community workshops
- Three workshops focused on bilingual delivery in Belle Haven Partnerships with Red Cross and
Salvation Army
Expanded public outreach and
education
10% increase in SMCAlert
registrations
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 16 of 18 15 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 17 of 18 Conclusion
Significant progress across
training, readiness, and outreach
Improved ability to respond
to and recover from emergencies
Emergency preparedness
remains a core City focus
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 10, 2026 Page 18 of 18