A process that could end in turning over Menlo Park’s city-operated child care programs to a private operator will get under way this week.
A 10-person review committee of parents, appointed officials and child care specialists will meet Wednesday, May 31, to review a draft request for proposals for private companies interested in taking over the programs.
The committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Burgess Recreation Center at 700 Alma St.
Once the proposals come in, the committee will review them — and one submitted by the city — then make a recommendation to the City Council. The council has not yet decided to privatize the programs, but at least two members are strong advocates of doing so.
The council could authorize negotiations with a private operator by September 21, and the programs could be in private hands by January — a fast-track timeline compared with the eight- to 16-month process originally recommended by city staff.
Assistant City Manager Audrey Seymour was responsible for appointing most of the review committee members, but their identities had not been made public by the Almanac’s press time.
The meeting announcement was released at about 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 26, when City Hall was closed.
