Menlo Watch: Council to sign off on top priorities Menlo Watch: Council to sign off on top priorities (March 23, 2005)

Road repair, fixing up an old water reservoir, and an auto mall study are expected to be big topics March 22, when the Menlo Park City Council will vote on a list of its largest project priorities for fiscal year 2005-06.

The council pulled together an early list at a special Saturday session earlier this month, and now members will be giving a more formal approval. It's likely that a good number of residents will be on hand as well to comment on pet projects.

The city's budget won't become set in stone until after the annual spring budget hearings.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 701 Laurel St. To see the list the council will be mulling over, go to menlopark.org, click on "City Council" and go to the March 22 meeting agenda.
Kvetching and querying with the help of a PC

If you can't say anything nice ... you can always grouse to Menlo Park's city staff.

Since its inception in September 2002, the city's "Direct Connect" program that allows residents to post complaints, compliments and other messages to staff via the Internet has received 582 messages, City Clerk Silvia Vonderlinden wrote in a March 22 staff report.

Of those, 21 were accolades and 60 were suggestions, she wrote. Topping the charts were 257 questions and 244 gripes.

And the hottest topics? Streets, trees and -- you guessed it -- traffic.

To post a comment, go to the city's Web site at menlopark.org.
Compost free for Menlo residents

Everything seems to be growing and blooming like crazy in the spring weather, but some plants may need a little help. So Menlo Park residents are invited to help themselves to free compost on Saturday, April 2.

Starting at 9 a.m., residents can pick up compost just inside the entrance of Bayfront Park at the intersection of Bayfront Expressway and Marsh Road. Residents should bring their own shovels and containers.

For more information, call the city's environmental and recycling services at 330-6763.
Nominations needed for top environmental efforts

Nominations are now being accepted for heritage trees, architectural features and other projects and efforts that have enhanced the quality of Menlo Park's environment.

The awards program, organized by the city's Environmental Quality Commission, accepts nominations in the categories of resource conservation, heritage tree, cultural/historical, landscape or native habitat, residential architecture and commercial architecture. Those honored can be individuals or groups.

Award nominations are due by April 29. Forms can be downloaded from menlopark.org or picked up at the Civic Center, the Burgess Recreation Center or the library. For more information, call 330-6763.

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