|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Menlo Park Fire Protection District has purchased a residential property next door to its fire station on Almendral Avenue (Station 3) in Atherton, Chief Harold Schapelhouman said June 4.
Chief Schapelhouman said the district’s board, in a closed session meeting on May 31, authorized negotiating to buy the property at 28 Almendral Ave. It had been listed at $4.3 million by Maya and Jason Sewald of Pacific Union International.
It is a 0.9-acre lot with a three-bedroom, two-bath home and a pool.
The chief said the district will release details of the purchase when escrow closes, scheduled for Thursday, June 7.
He said the district “uses reserves it accumulates to conduct strategic property acquisition and fire station replacement.” The district had $72.1 million in reserves at the end of the 2015-16 fiscal year, more than 200 percent of its annual spending.
The district is also negotiating to purchase property from St. Patrick’s Seminary, next door to its Middlefield Road fire station in Menlo Park. It recently purchased a home at 114 Santa Margarita Ave. in Menlo Park, adjacent to the district’s administrative headquarters at 170 Middlefield Road, with the plan of renovating it as offices for additional administration and fire prevention employees
He said the district’s large reserve funds allow the district to acquire property “without moving to a debt model,” such as borrowing money or passing bonds.
“The fire board and I believe in not borrowing additional funds to accomplish these types of transactions,” he said. “We live within our means and our goal is to always try and expand and update our existing facilities with minimal service disruption and maximum financial benefit to our customers and taxpayers without further obligating either.”
The district plans to replace its existing fire stations, building a new station every two years over 10 years, according to a 2016 “deployment action plan.”
Construction of a new fire station in East Palo Alto (Fire Station 2) was completed in April 2016. Ground was broken on a new downtown Menlo Park fire station (Fire Station 6), and a fire district museum, in January.
The plan calls for the district’s station on Middlefield Road (Fire Station 1) to be rebuilt starting in June 2018. It had called for the station on Chilco Street (Station 77) in Menlo Park to be replaced in 2020, but neighbors have protested that plan, and instead a new station may be built in the nearby industrial area. The original plans in Belle Haven had called for purchasing at least two nearby residential parcels for a new driveway and station expansion.
In 2022, according to the plan, a new station will replace Station 4 on Alameda de las Pulgas in unincorporated West Menlo Park.
Ok town council, the fire district has done something good for Atherton and the entire district that includes all the communities it serves in San Mateo county.
Please get on board, work with the Fire district, maybe they’ll accommodate your needs first, and change their building schedule of a new fire house. Stop spending our tax money on worthless projects as you have concerning your Fire district study.
Anyone know if a Fire Department can build whatever they want in a residential neighborhood without city and surrounding homeowner’s approval ?
The FD gives themselves approval behind closed doors to purchase a home in a residential n’borhood so they can expand.
Does the City and the surrounding neighborhood not have something to say about an expansion of a FD ?
Says in an article in The Post from last week that the FD had to compete against 3 other bidders. The article says they prevailed at a purchase price of $4.6 against a list price of $4.3.
to MBJ – I believe that government agencies, including the FD, still need to comply with building codes and regulations of the respective city. I’m sure the FD is being strategic in its process by planning for future needs and requirements. The FD, I’m sure, would also be a good neighbor by trying to fit into the community.
All one has to do is look at the growth that has occurred in our area; the growth has produced many more cars on the roads which means more traffic, etc. With this growth comes the need for infrastructure improvements, including more fire and police services.
Atherton town council had demanded the MPFD pitch in for the town center, and build a new station as part of the building to lower the costs. When MPFD refused, they were retaliated against by a “cost study”.
My read of this is MPFD is thumbing their nose at the Atherton council by spending the money, but in a way they are choosing to, not the town council.
By the way, if the new town center is so obviously affordable without tax increases, why did this whole cat fight need to play out between Atherton and the MPFD? Tomorrow is June 6, and there are a lot of lines to read between!
I urge Atherton residents to vote YES on Measure A. We need a new police station NOW.
Peter,
Noticed the other day while out walking that a white MP fire vehicle (Truck) chose to make a left hand turn from Middlefield Rd onto Santa Monica St next to the fire station (not the first time). This is against the law, no left turn allowed. What gives with the Fire Dept. personnel ignoring the posted signs as well as the median that is there to prevent such things? Should I send you a picture next time or who do I mention this too. This was not an emergency call.
Fire Protection District Board meetings are regularly scheduled and open to the public. When a group of us from Belle Haven showed up we were welcomed and listened to. I am sure that the same thing would happen if people from Atherton showed up. It can be hard to keep up with all the public meetings around here, but it can also be worth the effort.
So when will Atherton just throw in the towel and get their Caltrain station closed. It’s unused and a waste of valuable real estate.
@Belle Haven according the article and one that was in The Post – the firemen made this decision behind closed doors – so no chance for residents to be welcomed and heard in Atherton.
Didn’t the firemen create a debacle in your neighborhood recently ? Something about sending out post cards re: eminent domain of a couple of homes. Apparently a snafu that they quickly remedied but geesh way to rattle the residents. Glad it worked out for the homeowners.
State law allows the fire district board to meet behind closed doors to discuss property acquisitions and discuss negotiations.
There is nothing unusual or untoward about it. Imagine the circus it would become if this was done in public and the seller knew the fire district’s negotiating position going in.
The fire district should be commended for making this strategic purchase when the opportunity arose. Even if construction is still years off, securing land for a future station project is wise. It serves all residents of the fire district well.
I wouldn’t think they would discuss the purchase of property in a public meeting prior to escrow closing.
California Code 54956.8. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a
legislative body of a local agency may hold a closed session with its
negotiator prior to the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of real
property by or for the local agency to grant authority to its
negotiator regarding the price and terms of payment for the purchase,
sale, exchange, or lease.
Atherton does NOT need a new police station. What it needs to do is be smart and fiscally responsible and outsource the police services to the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office. The County has taken over police services in numerous cities in the county saving MILLIONS of dollars of their respective tax dollars. The Sheriff brings WAY more experience, professional service with unlimited resources at their fingertips. Get smart Atherton…you do not need the little teeny police department with kids working their with zero experience. Embarrassing at the least and a total and complete waste of money.
Bravo Menlo Fire!!! This town and its leadership need to be taken to task. They tried to strong arm you…now show them who is actually in charge of Fire Service for the Atherton Community. The ridiculous thought of Atherton starting its own Fire Department for an area that really is not all that busy it outrageous. Anyone who knows what it costs to start, maintain and staff a fire department WITH paramedics would not even propose such a wasteful idea. MPFD is and has always been outstanding to the residents of all areas it serves. Don’t fix what isn’t broken…
@Really? Good point. The train station is not needed, trains will not be stopping. This real estate can be put to better use.
I have always found Atherton PD to be a first rate department, staffed by dedicated professionals. The majority of officers have been recruited from adjacent departments and they bring a wealth of experience in all facets of police services. Anyone who doubts this should examine their credentials. We are fortunate to live in a place with a dedicated department. Just ask those who live in a city that contracts with the Sheriff’s Department for police services. Deputies will be prioritized to those areas most in need of police services. You can forget about property checks or a quick response to virtually every call like we enjoy now.