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Menlo Park: Council endorses global warming pledge

After receiving unanimous support from the Menlo Park City Council, Mayor Kelly Fergusson will sign off on the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

The agreement, signed by mayors from more than 400 cities — including Palo Alto and Portola Valley — commits cities to try to lower municipal greenhouse gas emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2012, in an effort to curb global warming.

The council voted 5-0 on May 1 to endorse the agreement, and to authorize city staff to spend $35,000 to determine what level of greenhouse gas emissions are currently emitted by the city.

"I feel we have to do everything in our power to take steps to address global warming," Mayor Fergusson said. "The human race has got to act. This is a matter of life or death."

Clark Kepler pitches 'Go Green' series

Kepler's owner Clark Kepler is the latest of a growing chorus of voices calling for a greener Menlo Park. Mr. Kepler plans to pitch his store's "Go Green" series at the Wednesday, May 9, meeting of the Green Ribbon Citizen Task Force — a committee of residents focused on curbing global warming.

The meeting is set for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the basement of the Menlo Park Library, at 800 Alma St.

The "Go Green" events are scheduled for this summer, as Kepler's is partnering with environmental organizations to present information on alternative energy solutions, preserving open space, organic farming, and other techniques to help the environment, according to a press release.

City to repave Sand Hill Road

The traffic may be bad, but driving on Sand Hill Road will soon be a smoother ride.

The Menlo Park City Council voted 5-0 on May 1 to repave the popular road from Santa Cruz Avenue to I-280.

The repaving is scheduled to start in June, and be completed by September, according to city staff. The project is estimated to cost about $1.58 million.