The Menlo Park City Council is currently setting its top strategic priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts July 1. Since our five-person city leadership includes three new members, it’s especially important that this round they hear the views and preferences of a wide cross-section of residents and local businesses, way more than the small percentage of voters who attended a recent public workshop.

I encourage you to not only treat this blog post as an additional opportunity to share your ideas with others but also email them directly to the city council at [email protected]

What are your recommendations and the reasons for them?

I will start the ball rolling by offering mine.

My Recommendations

1. Grade Separations – complete a study of fully elevated grade separations, select a final grade separation alternative and apply for county and state funding.

2. Transportation Master Plan – Complete this planning cycle.

3. Downtown Parking – Investigate and approve one or more alternative solutions.

4. El Camino Real/ Downtown Specific Plan – Measure actual progress on proposed civic improvements and establish a 5-year timetable for completing outstanding ones. Review and update building regulations.

5. Train Station Area Civic Plaza – Complete a design study of the public plaza proposed in the Specific Plan (coordinate with grade separation planning)

6. Comprehensive Bike Network Plan – Update existing (2004), set priorities and establish a 5-year implementation schedule



NOTE:

You can view the status of each of the existing city strategic priorities as of December 2018 here.

1. Transportation Master Plan
2. Citywide Safe Routes to School Program (non-infrastructure)
3. Implement El Camino Real/ Downtown Specific Plan
4. Downtown Parking Structure
5. The Guild Theatre - Land Use Entitlement Approval
6. District Elections