City may OK financial study for downtown parking garage City may OK financial study for downtown parking garage (January 11, 2006)

The vision of a parking garage in downtown Menlo Park may inch a step closer to reality at the January 10 City Council meeting.

The council will consider approving a $30,000 contract with the San Francisco-based consulting firm Wilbur Smith Associates to determine how to finance a four or five-level parking garage.

Last April, the council directed staff to develop a proposal for a garage that will give the city a minimum of 320 new parking spaces in Plaza 3 on the north side of Santa Cruz Avenue at University Drive.

Wilbur Smith consultants would be asked to examine finance options, including sharing costs between downtown property owners and the city.

If approved, a final draft report will be finished by June, said Art Morimoto, the project's supervising engineer.

City staff is also asking the council to approve $7,000 in staff cost for the project. To date, the city has spent $50,000 on garage studies.

The council meets at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at the Civic Center, between Alma and Laurel streets.

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