Guest opinion: Should we impose limits on City Council terms?

Ms. Johnck highlights an important and timely topic. The current council has caused the current horrific traffic situation. Blame them when it gets even worse when the projects they have approved are built.
New thinking and new energy is needed to address the problems our area is experiencing from too little housing and too many offices. The ballot box is one way to get fresh leadership.

Ms. Johnck writes about, "...congested roadways, and the threat to our crowded schools..."

The traffic problem is from all other communities passing through Menlo Park, and our local schools are experiencing a decline in enrollment. Creating districts may work against Menlo Park having officials that are effective in regards to regional traffic and transit issues.

The back stabbing and bickering of years past created an environment where incumbents were often rejected by the voters. The fact that the current council can disagree while still supporting and even endorsing each other speaks volumes to their professionalism and effectiveness.

Going back to 1990, there have only been FOUR elections where all incumbents were re-elected. In THREE of those elections, no incumbents were running. Unlike most other peninsula cities, Menlo Park has been a place where incumbents have little advantage.

• 2016 — Incumbents RE-ELECTED
• 2014 — Incumbents RE-ELECTED
• 2012 — Incumbent knocked out
• 2010 — Incumbent knocked out
• 2008 — Incumbents RE-ELECTED
• 2006 — Incumbents knocked out
• 2004 — No incumbents running
• 2002 — No incumbents running
• 2000 — Incumbents RE-ELECTED
• 1998 — Incumbents knocked out
• 1996 — Incumbent knocked out
• 1994 — No incumbents running
• 1992 — Incumbent knocked out
• 1990 — Incumbent knocked out

I'm an advocate for limiting Council terms to two four year terms, as it is with the Menlo Park Planning Commission. As with the Planning Commission, after serving on the Commission for two terms (eight years), a Commissioner can take a term off and then reapply for appointment. WE need to welcome new voices and faces to represent and lead our community. I'm also opposed to a directly elected Mayor; I believe a directly elected Mayor will limit the voice of the City Council.

@conscience writes, "We need to welcome new voices and faces to represent and lead our community."

The members of the city council were first elected by knocking out an incumbent in 2006, 2010 or 2012, so the notion that incumbents cannot be effectively challenged is absurd. Now with district elections, you'll get one voice to represent your neighborhood. With an elected mayor, you'll get one more voice to represent your interests city wide. Several maps put four of the current council members in the same district, so there is simply no way NOT to have new voices and faces.

Term limits on the MP Council? Yes, of course.

Thank you Brielle Johnck for your editorial. I believe that all Commissioners are limited to two consecutive terms and then they must be off for at least one year before re-applying. (The limits aren't just for the Planning Commission.) Commission Chairs and Vice Chairs must also change every year, according to policy governing commissions. The required yearly change brings forth new ideas and leadership approaches. It could also result in a weakened commission where the staff controls the agenda, discussions and outcomes. Good governance in our city doesn't just rest with Council. We also need a strengthened role for the residents in MP's governance which is supposed to flow from Council through the City Manager and then departments and staff. Having more residents involved (in a meaningful way) would increase transparency and accountability, and lead to better decisions and outcomes. Eight years of service is long enough to make a difference. Term limits would keep the council fresh, get more residents involved and limit special interests. Let's put term limits to the voters in a ballot referendum.

Forgot to include that I agree with "effectiveness" that our current council conducts themselves professionally during the Council meetings. (They also spend much time outside of Council meetings reading documents, attending meetings, responding to residents and so forth.) I too remember when Council members weren't always civil with each other and the public, so I appreciate how our current Council conducts themselves. My advocating for term limits is not meant as a criticism of current council members for I very much appreciate their personal sacrifice and service out of their desire to improve our quality of life in Menlo Park.