City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.gov City Council
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Date: 8/11/2026
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Locations: Teleconference and
City Council Chambers
751 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Special Session
A. Call To Order
Mayor Nash called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
B. Roll Call
Present: Combs, Nash, Schmidt, Taylor, Wise (remote)
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 legal counsel – anticipated litigation (Paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Gov. Code Section 54956.9) Significant exposure to litigation: One case
Documentation related to this agenda item are attached to this agenda (Attachment) Regular Session
D. Call To Order
Mayor Nash re-called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m.
E. Report from Closed Session
No reportable action.
F. Agenda Review
Staff continued item H3. to a future meeting.
G. Public Comment
None.
H. Presentations and Proclamations
H1. Proclamation: Guild Theatre 100-year anniversary (Attachment)
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.gov Mayor Nash introduced the item.
The Guild Theatre General Manager Barry Synoground and Director of Marketing Julie Schuchard accepted the proclamation (Attachment).
H2. Proclamation: The Almanac 60-year anniversary (Attachment) Mayor Nash introduced the item.
Editor Andrea Gemmet and Staff Writer Arden Margulis accepted the proclamation (Attachment).
H3. Presentation: Annual Library Commission work plan report out (Attachment) Continued to future meeting.
H4. Presentation: Annual Parks and Recreation Commission work plan report out (Attachment) Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Joseph Grass made the presentation (Attachment).
The City Council discussed additional engagement with the community.
I. Consent Calendar
I1. Accept the City Council meeting minutes for June 23, 2026 (Attachment) I2. Authorize the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with ICF International, Inc. to prepare an addendum to a certified environmental impact report for revisions (Parkline Phase 2) to the Parkline Master Plan development project located at 201, 301 and 333 Ravenswood Ave. and 555 and 565 Middlefield Rd. (Staff Report #26-130-CC) I3. Consider and adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a funding agreement with the Association of Bay Area Governments, on behalf of the Bay Area Regional Energy Network, to accept $100,000 in grant funds for the Belle Haven Child Development Center Electrification project (Staff Report #26-131-CC)
I4. Approve an appropriation from unassigned funds in the Bayfront Mitigation fund for the Willow Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Improvements project (Staff Report #26-132-CC) I5. Receive and file the investment portfolio quarterly reports for March 31, 2026 (Staff Report #26-133-CC)
I6. Consider and adopt a resolution to uphold an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval and deny 1) a use permit to determine the floor area limit on a lot less than 5,000 square feet in area, and to construct a new two-story, single-family residence on a vacant substandard lot with regard to minimum lot width, depth, and area in the R-1-U (Single Family Urban Residential) zoning district, at 305 Haight St. and 2) six variance requests to reduce the interior side setback to three feet where five feet is required, reduce the corner side setback to six feet where 12 feet is required, reduce the rear setback to 13 feet where 20 feet is required, reduce the number of required offstreet parking spaces to one compliant space where two compliant spaces are required, increase the maximum building coverage from 722 square feet to 729.4 square feet, and increase the height City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.gov of the daylight plane to approximately 23 feet, 11 inches where 19 feet, six inches is required (Staff Report #26-134-CC)
I7. Consider and adopt a resolution approving the fiscal year 2026-27 investment policy for the City and the Successor Agency (Staff Report #26-135-CC)
ACTION: Motion and second (Taylor/ Combs), to approve the consent calendar, passed unanimously.
J. Public Hearing
J1. Consider and adopt a resolution to approve a vesting tentative map for a major subdivision to merge two parcels into one and subdivide the site with eight residential condominium parcels and one common area parcel at 335-355 Pierce Rd. (Laurel Landing by Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco), and deny a fees concession request made under State Density Bonus Law, Government Code Section 65915 and relevant amendments (Staff Report #26-136-CC) (Presentation)
Senior Planner Calvin Chan made the presentation (Attachment).
Mayor Nash opened the public hearing.
John Tastor spoke in support of the project and waiving the recreation in-lieu fees. Mia Saliman-Molingzio spoke in support of the project and waiving the recreation in-lieu fees. Cathy Bard spoke in support of the project and waiving the recreation in-lieu fees. Will Oursler spoke in support of the project and waiving the recreation in-lieu fees. June Shin spoke in support of the project and waiving the recreation in-lieu fees. Miyko Harris-Parker spoke in support of the project and waiving the recreation in-lieu fees. Pam D. Jones spoke in support of the project and waiving the recreation in-lieu fees. Charles Chapa spoke in support of the project.
Mayor Nash closed the public hearing.
The City Council received clarification on recreation in-lieu and impact fees timing and due dates, duration of unit affordability, State Density Bonus Law fees concession and the loss of funding through the Stanford Affordable Housing Fund.
The City Council discussed the city's fiscal responsibilities, potential for precedent setting in fee waiver requests, obligation to back-fill waived fees, and the opportunity for Habitat to return to the City Council to revisit funding opportunities, if necessary, at a later date.
Mayor Nash and City Councilmember Taylor relayed that they participated in prior discussions related to the Stanford Affordable Housing Fund and would communicate with their contacts to request clarifying information regarding the withdrawal of funding for Laurel Landing.
The City Council discussed the potential for Habitat for Humanity to request a fee waiver at a later date, if the project continues to have a funding gap.
ACTION: Motion and second (Taylor/ Nash), to adopt a resolution to 1) approve a vesting tentative map for a major subdivision to merge two parcels into one and subdivide the site with eight residential City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.gov condominium parcels and one common area parcel at 335-355 Pierce Rd., the Laurel Landing project by Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco, and 2) deny a State Density Bonus Law fees concession request for the project, passed unanimously.
J2. Consider and adopt a resolution amending the City’s comprehensive master fee schedule to revise building permit fees in community development (Staff Report #26-137-CC) (Presentation) Assistant Community Development Director Kyle Perata made the presentation (Attachment).
Mayor Nash opened the public hearing.
Mayor Nash closed the public hearing.
ACTION: Motion and second (Combs/ Taylor), to adopt a resolution amending the City's Master Fee Schedule to correct a clerical error in the building permit fee schedule in community development by revising the "each additional square foot" fee to eliminate a discontinuity between the square footage tiers caused by an incorrect calculation, passed unanimously.
K. Informational Items
K1. City Council agenda topics: August – September 2026 (Staff Report #26-138-CC) K2. Police department quarterly update / Q2 April – June 2026 (Staff Report #26-129-CC) (Informe de Personal #26-129-CC)
Randy Avalos requested clarification regarding non-compliant categories in Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC) searches included in the police department’s audit of its Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system. Pam D. Jones requested the city review the use of Flock cameras.
The City Council received clarification on adding additional details to the future reports and noncompliant categories.
K3. Short-term rental compliance update (Staff Report #26-139-CC) L. City Manager Report
City Manager Murphy reported out on the final summer concert road closure.
M. City Councilmember Reports
City Councilmember Schmidt reported out on Assembly Bill (AB) 762.
Mayor Nash reported out on the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), West Light Energy, Council of Cities meetings, California Water Service EOC training and the National Night Out and summer concert events.
N. Adjournment
Mayor Nash adjourned the meeting at 9:04 pm.
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025 tel 650-330-6600 www.menlopark.gov Assistant to the City Manager/ City Clerk Judi Herren
These minutes were approved at the City Council meeting September 15, 2026.
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
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CELEBRATING ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF
THE GUILD THEATRE
WHEREAS, originally opened in 1926 as a movie house, The Guild Theatre became a local institution for decades before closing as a cinema in 2019. It was later reimagined by Peninsula Arts Guild and reopened in 2022 as a live entertainment venue, the mission of which is to create an everlasting, joyful, and uplifting hub that brings people together and enriches lives; and
WHEREAS, as a local cinema, The Guild Theatre was a peninsula staple, showcasing a mix of mainstream, independent and classic films. Widely known for its midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Guild keeps the tradition alive by continuing to host Rocky Horror showings, honoring its roots; and WHEREAS, with a capacity for almost five hundred patrons, the venue now hosts a wide range of music, film, comedy, magic, presentations, panel discussions, live streams, video shoots and other programming such as charity fundraisers, birthday parties, private concerts, corporate events and more; and WHEREAS, one of The Guild's founding principles as a nonprofit organization is their unwavering commitment to community enrichment through meaningful action. The Guild champions this ethos through initiatives such as 'Doing Good at The Guild,' a series that seamlessly integrates the power of music and the arts with philanthropic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, 'Doing Good at the Guild' facilitates collaborations with artists and the charitable causes of their choosing, providing them with a unique platform to amplify their impact and embodying a collective effort towards community cohesion and positive change; and
WHEREAS, the Guild is celebrating their centennial with a special concert series, which opened on June 14 with The Rocky Horror Picture Show and continues throughout the rest of 2026; 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 and celebrate The Guild Theatre's one-hundredth anniversary.
~1./aeL
B& -'2,y Nash, Mayor
August 11, 2026
AGENDA ITEM H-1
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes August 11, 2026 Page 6 of 35 rocta a110
CELE BRA TING THE ALMANAC'S 60th ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, The Almanac was founded in August 1965 by three Portola Valley residents who put together the first four-page newspaper on the kitchen table; and
WHEREAS, The Almanac has operated out of a small office adjacent to the Woodside Post Office, within the town's telephone exchange building, from its own office in Menlo Park and now does business from the Embarcadero Media Foundation headquarters just down the street in Palo Alto; and WHEREAS, throughout its history The Almanac has brought news and information to local residents without fear nor favor. They have always believed strong journalism builds better communities like those in The Almanac coverage area - Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley; and WHEREAS, as its 60th year draws to a close, The Almanac is celebrating with music and prizes by cosponsoring Menlo Park's last Summer Concert Series show, featuring The Sun Kings, on Wednesday, August 12 at Fremont Park; and
WHEREAS, the community is invited to visit The Almanac booth at the August 12 show, where they can meet journalists, win prizes and take home a special anniversary issue of the newspaper; 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 and celebrate The Almanac's 60th anniversary.
A.;&K~ PQ .WI!: • - y Nash, Mayor August 11, 2026
AGENDA ITEM H-2
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes August 11, 2026 Page 7 of 35 1 Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Joseph Grass
Parks and Recreation
Commission: Update on
2025-2026 Work Plan
H4-PRESENTATION City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes August 11, 2026
PRC work plan 2025-26 included
Primary Goals
- PRC provides a monthly forum for public transparency and input related to parks and recreation services in Menlo Park
- Review of departments and operations
• Review public suggestion box comments and responses
• Advise on recreation program statistics
• Receive departmental updates
• Received staff presentations about recreation programs and services • Make recommendations
- Engage with the community on a range of issues
- Continue focus on Belle Haven Community Campus operation - Use 2019 Parks and Recreation Facility Master Plan as our guideline 2 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Review of Departments and Operations
Departmental policy updates reviewed and
recommendations made on:
3 Racquet Sport Court
Policy
Picnic Rental Policy
Recreation Facility
Use Guidelines Policy
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Review of Departments and Operations
Received Aquatics
survey results and
annual aquatics report
from pool operator
Received Aquatics pool
user survey results from
City staff
Received report from
Park Ranger Services
contractor
4 Burgess Pool in the fall
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Support Belle Haven Community Campus
Received a staff presentation on Belle Haven Community Campus program updates
- Staff outlined activity and engagement in each department - Feedback from users is continually collected
5 - Adjustments constantly made to better engage
with the community
Lunch at Menlo Park Senior Center Senior Walking Club Working on a 3d puzzle at BHCC City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Community Engagement Received a presentation from Friends of Bedwell Bayfront Park
Created an ad hoc
subcommittee to plan
the first Community Fun
Run at Bedwell Bayfront
Park
6 Nutty the
Squirrel runs
portions of the
6k run route
while filming a
promo clip for
the 2026K
Community Fun
Run.
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Community Engagement
7 Participants of the 2026K Community Fun Run pose with their medals after the race.
Participants of the 2026K Community Fun Run gather near a snack and hydration station.
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Community Engagement
Conducted self-guided
park tours and provided
report-outs on
observations
Hosted the City Council
liaison at the April 22
Parks and Recreation
meeting
8 Photo of Karl E. Clark Park taken by Parks and Recreation Commissioner Wonman Lee during a self-guided park tour.
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Community Engagement
Received Youth Advisory Committee Report / Support & Advise 9 A member of the Youth Advisory Committee plays reindeer ring toss while volunteering at Photos with Santa.
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
PRC Commission Members and Advisors
PRC Commissioners
- Yongdan Chunyu
- Kevin Dawkins
- Joseph Grass (Chair)
- Wonman Lee
- Shilpa Patel
- Justin Van Buren (Vice Chair)
- 1 current vacancy
Our PRC Staff Liaison is the new Library and Community Services Director Nick Szegda PRC continues to be assisted at all meetings by Management Analyst Ashley Dixon Thanks to Wonman Lee for his chairmanship last year
Thanks to departing commissioner Michele Sherman for her service Thanks to departing Library and Community Services Supervisor Tricia Mullan and Library and Community Services Director Sean Reinhart
10 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Moving Forward
The PRC will continue to support operations at the Belle Haven Community Campus
PRC will continue to support vibrant and relevant community centers and recreation services for Menlo Park residents Thank you for your support!
11 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
2026-27 Work Plan Ideas
More involvement with Youth Advisory Commission (YAC) - Attend YAC meetings
- Consider YAC projects
• Social media
• Self guided park tours (youth perspectives)
Review and edit the 2019 master plan
Create new goals similar to 6k Community Fun Run to continue to challenge ourselves next year
Establish system for tracking commission feedback received from the community and review progress at later date
Parks and Recreation Commission is looking forward to City Council’s feedback for our 2026-27 work plan
12 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Thank you!
13 Photos at Menlo Park Senior Center “Pickling Event” – courtesy Nutrition Coordinator Tony Ng City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026
Laurel Landing by
Habitat for Humanity
335-355 Pierce Rd.
Calvin Chan, Senior Planner
1 J1-PRESENTATION
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 21 of 35
Options for City Council Action
1. Adopt Attachment A Resolution
- Staff recommendation- Approve major subdivision- Deny fees concession
2. Adopt Attachment C Resolution
- Planning Commission recommendation- Approve major subdivision- Waive recreation in-lieu fee ($372,400)
3. Direct staff to prepare a resolution to
grant a fees concession in full or in part with modifications 2 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 22 of 35
Project Overview
8 for-sale townhomes (low-income level) Housing Element Opportunity Site #60 July 13 Planning Commission Meeting Approvals:
• Use permit• Architectural control permit• Below Market Rate housing agreement• 12 State Density Bonus Law (SDBL) waivers• 4 SDBL concession requests Recommendations:
• Subdivision map approval• SDBL fees concession partial approval (waive $372,400 recreation in-lieu fee) 3 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 23 of 35
Vesting Tentative Map
Major subdivision request
- Merge 2 parcels into 1- Subdivide site with 8 residential condominium parcels and 1 common area parcel
Project conforms with Govt.
Code subdivision requirements
- Staff and Planning Commission
recommend approval
4 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 24 of 35
State Density Bonus Law Fees Concession
Habitat requests a SDBL
concession for waiver of City fees
City is not required to grant
fee concession
City may grant fees
concession in full or in part
City Council has sole authority
to waive or modify fees
5 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 25 of 35
State Density Bonus Law Fees Concession
Staff recommends denial of
fees concession
City granted $3.6 million from
BMR Housing Fund
City is providing $450k per
housing unit (highest per-unit funding contribution ever from BMR Housing Fund) City will not be repaid City must backfill waived fees 6 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 26 of 35
State Density Bonus Law Fees Concession
Planning Commission recommends
partial approval of fees concession
- Waive or substantially reduce $372,400
recreation in-lieu fee
- Consider potential setting of precedent- Recognize value and uniqueness of affordable homeownership opportunity
- Collect all other fees
Recreation in-lieu fee is a subdivisionrelated parkland dedication requirement 7 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 27 of 35
Options for City Council Action
1. Adopt Attachment A Resolution
- Staff recommendation- Approve major subdivision- Deny fees concession
2. Adopt Attachment C Resolution
- Planning Commission recommendation- Approve major subdivision- Waive recreation in-lieu fee ($372,400)
3. Direct staff to prepare a resolution to
grant a fees concession in full or in part with modifications - Confirm fee(s) to be waived- Confirm dollar amount to be waived 8 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 28 of 35
Building permit fee
adjustment
Kyle Perata, Assistant Community Development Director
1 J2-PRESENTATION
City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
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Agenda
Building fees background Updates since June 23 Master Fee Schedule and budget adoption
Proposed fee adjustments
2 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 30 of 35
Background
Building permit fees charged to recover cost of reviewing plans, issuing permits, and conducting inspections to ensure compliance with building codes and public safety April 28, City Council adopted a comprehensive update to the Master Fee Schedule (effective July 1)
- Update informed by citywide cost-of-services study
Building permit fees adjusted to increase cost recovery rate - Cost recover increased from 51% to 100%
• Adjust existing fees• Added new fees
Building permits are charged based on square footage
- The Master Fee Schedule includes tiers based on square footage- Fee for “each additional sq. ft.” between each tier was intended to increase on an even gradient between the tiers 3 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 31 of 35
Updates since Master Fee Schedule and budget
adoption Clerical error in building permit fee schedule results in a discontinuity between square footage tiers
Proposed amendment recalculates the incremental "each additional sq. ft." fees using the intended methodology - The adopted base fees (at each tier) remain unchanged 4 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 32 of 35
Example fee change (single family home)
Table 1: Example current and proposed single family (custom or model) Proposed total
fee
Proposed additional sq. ft. fee
Proposed base fee (same as current)
Current total fee
Current additional sq. ft. fee
Current base fee
Single-family residence (sq. ft.)
1,999 sq. ft. $3,623.88 $0.547 $4,170.33 $3,623.88 $0.765 $4,388.12 2,000 sq. ft. $4,388.64 $0.363 $4,388.64 $4,388.64 $0.509 $4,388.64 5 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026 Page 33 of 35
Recommendation and next steps
Recommend the City Council adopt the resolution (Attachment A) amending the Master Fee Schedule
- Revise the “each additional square foot” fee to eliminate discontinuity between tiers
- This corrects a clerical error and does not change the base fee for each tier
Revised building permit fees would be effective 60 days after adoption (Oct. 12)
6 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
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Thank you
7 City Council Special and Regular Meeting Minutes
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