Road repair tops Menlo Park's priority list Road repair tops Menlo Park's priority list (March 09, 2005)

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

When budgets are lean, cities generally focus on the basics. So it stands to reason that the priciest project the Menlo Park City Council ranked on March 5 as high priority for fiscal year 2005-06 is road repair and maintenance.

During a special Saturday session, the council eyed a list of possible projects for the coming fiscal year, drawing a crowd of about 35 people that filled a small room at the Burgess Recreation Center.

Topping the charts was the roadwork figure of $2.6 million, which comes from sources such as the county's Measure A sales tax, a highway users' tax and Menlo Park's general fund. The city's general fund budget in 2004-05 is roughly $29 million.

"Kind of mandatory, isn't it?" Councilman Nicholas Jellins asked rhetorically about keeping the roads in shape.

Another top-ranked project was the $350,000 replacement of the Sharon Heights water reservoir's 44-year-old roof. Staff members say the cost can be covered by payments residents make for water service.

Council members also placed high importance on projects in the Belle Haven redevelopment area, including further study of the Haven Avenue area's future as an auto mall ($126,250) and developing a plan to use land on Hamilton Avenue and at the adjacent Tyco Electronics site ($130,000). This work would be funded by property tax collected in the area.

As is often the case in Menlo Park, transportation was a hot topic. A majority of the council showed interest in installing three lighted crosswalks in the city at a cost of $105,000, despite Councilman Andy Cohen calling them "an extravagance."

Public works director Kent Steffens said the lighted crosswalks -- like the one on Santa Cruz Avenue near Sand Hill Road -- are intended to make pedestrians more visible to drivers. They may be funded from Measure A.

Another transportation project given high priority is installing video detection cameras for bicyclists at a cost of $11,000. The cameras would be installed at Willow and Middlefield roads, Marsh Road and Bohannon Drive, and Marsh and Bay roads. Paid for by Measure A and grant funds, they would ensure that bicyclists get a green light, Mr. Steffens said.

The projects were suggested by members of the council, staff and city commissions. Staff members will weave the council direction into a more detailed list of projects to be brought back at the meeting of March 22, they said.

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