Another reprieve for Menlo Park shuttle coordinator Another reprieve for Menlo Park shuttle coordinator (December 15, 2004)

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

Now you see her, now you don't.

And now you do again.

This spring, Debbie Helming, who runs Menlo Park's shuttle bus service, saw her job hit the budget-cut chopping block. Senior citizens converged on the City Council, defending her and the service they rely on. The council gave her a temporary reprieve, letting her stay for six more months.

Last week, with time running out, Ms. Helming was preparing for early retirement. Then suddenly City Manager David Boesch was recommending that her job be restored. Turns out someone else in the transportation division who would have taken on some of the shuttle work had quit unexpectedly.

"Mind-boggling," Ms. Helming said after hearing the news. She told the Almanac that she was thrilled her position would be retained, thus keeping the shuttle service a priority. But she said early this week she still hadn't made a decision about whether she'd stay.

"It's been really hard. My life basically has been put on hold for more than six months," she said.

Mr. Boesch said his recommendation came together quickly, after transportation planner Dino Teddyputra resigned. He told the council on December 7 that unless the council objected, he would agree to keep the full-time planner position vacant for the foreseeable future and reinstate Ms. Helming's job, which is a three-quarter-time position. Council members said nothing.

Much of Ms. Helming's salary is covered by grants, but Mr. Boesch said that money could be used for other transportation projects.

Transportation manager Jamal Rahimi said his staff will have to shuffle around to cover the planner's duties, which include work on long-term, analytical projects such as the citywide bicycle plan. But now there is less worry about the day-to-day challenges of Ms. Helming's position, such as making sure drivers are running on time or fielding questions about the shuttle service, he said.

Mayor Mickie Winkler said Mr. Boesch's recommendation seems logical. "I do like her and respect her," she said of Ms. Helming.

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