Menlo Watch: City Web site seeks to entice diners, hotel guests Menlo Watch: City Web site seeks to entice diners, hotel guests (February 11, 2004)

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

Trying to attract business from the media folks in town for the Scott Peterson trial -- and anyone else who might wander through -- officials have placed a list of all the restaurants and hotels and motels in Menlo Park on the city's Web site at www.menlopark.org.

David Johnson, the city's business development manager, made this announcement at the February 3 council meeting, at which the council also suggested a range of other ideas for improving the local economy and atmosphere for businesses. These included creating a Business Commission for resident volunteers and putting "Shop Menlo" fliers in school newsletters.

Mayor Lee Duboc and Councilwoman Mickie Winkler were especially supportive of Mr. Johnson's list of suggestions for streamlining the use permit process for businesses, and agreed to put the list on a later agenda for further discussion.
Menlo parks in 'good condition'

Menlo Park's parks and playing fields are "generally in good condition" because the city has been spending a great deal of money to renovate them, according to a report by Ruben Nino, director of engineering services.

Much of the money has come from the $38 million in Measure T bonds approved in 2001 by voters, Mr. Nino wrote. Some minor maintenance will still be needed, he added, recommending that the council budget $35,000 annually from the general fund for that work.

While Measure T funds will also be used to upgrade city buildings such as the Burgess Recreation Center, the report also advises using $75,000 in general fund money to commission a study on other upcoming replacement costs and timing. That work could include replacing carpets and repairing roofs at the buildings in upcoming years.

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the report at a 6 p.m. study session on Tuesday, February 10, held in the Burgess Recreation Center at 700 Alma St.
Possible garbage rate hike in Menlo Park

Businesses and residents living in multi-family dwellings may soon see an increase in their rates for garbage and recycling service. The Menlo Park City Council is set to vote Tuesday, February 10, on whether to raise commercial rates by 6.7 percent and multi-family rates by 4.8 percent.

The increase is partly due to increased operating costs and expenses incurred by the waste collection company, Browning Ferris Industries (BFI), and partly to cover Bayfront Park landfill costs such as monitoring the methane gas there, city Finance Director Uma Chokkalingam wrote in a staff report.

The rates for single-family residential customers are not being considered at this time because those are set on a fiscal-year basis, she wrote.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 801 Laurel St.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.