Menlo Park: Parks commissioner says he'll run for council seat Menlo Park: Parks commissioner says he'll run for council seat (January 25, 2006)

** Richard Cline is the first to announce his candidacy.

By Rory Brown

Almanac Staff Writer

An outspoken critic of how Menlo Park is handling a plan to build a golf course and playing fields at Bayfront Park has told the Almanac he will run for a Menlo Park City Council seat in November.

Parks and Recreation Commissioner Richard Cline is the first to declare his candidacy in an election that will determine who will occupy three of the five council seats. The terms of council members Nicholas Jellins, Mickie Winkler and Lee Duboc expire at the end of the year.

The three, who often vote together on major issues, including the golf course plan, have not said whether they will run.

On a 3-2 vote November 1, the council authorized the city manager to negotiate an agreement with Highlands Golf LLC to prepare designs and environmental studies for an 18-hole golf course and three lighted playing fields at Bayfront Park.

Mr. Cline urged the council to consider alternatives, and said the decision needed more public input.

"I'm not running against anybody," said Mr. Cline. "I'm running because I want to put an objective approach back in the council. This is pretty much a two-party city."

Mr. Cline, who chaired the parks commission last year, was appointed to the commission in 2001 with support from Councilman Jellins and then-Councilman Steve Schmidt. He was reappointed with unanimous support in 2004.

Mr. Cline is a member of a five-person task force working with leaders of local sports groups and open space advocates to see what the city needs in terms of playing fields, and if the golf course proposal is the best option.

He said he wants to see the council encourage residents to help solve the city's problems rather than rely solely on an overworked city staff.

"You have to try and include the community as much as possible in decisions -- that's the best way to go," he said. "But I know that's easier said than done."
Stu Soffer?

Former planning commissioner Stu Soffer said he's considering running for council.

"I've been asked by several people to run," said Mr. Soffer. "But I haven't made a decision, and I don't know when I'll make a decision."

He was appointed to the commission in 1998, filling the seat previously occupied by Mr. Jellins, who was elected to the council that year. Mr. Soffer was reappointed in 2000, before the election of Ms. Duboc and Ms. Winkler.

In 2004, the current council majority appointed three new members, replacing Mr. Soffer and one other commissioner seeking reappointment.

Mr. Soffer disagreed with the council majority on several issues when he was on the commission.

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