1. Follow-up on Cartan Field Neighborhood Meeting
Staff met with representatives from Menlo School/Menlo College (MS/MS) along with adjacent neighbors to talk through a couple of scenarios for development of Cartan Field. The meeting was very well received and the School (primary) took consecutive feedback on the proposed project. Most of the feedback revolved around several areas:
- Noise monitoring should be installed in the new development where feasible
- Neighbors would prefer tennis or parking adjacent to their rear yards rather than baseball or athletic field
- Concerned about pool noise - find a representative pool that can be seen as an example of the type of development and test it / visit it for noise
- Concerned about traffic impacts on Alejandra during heavy use periods
- Prefer landscaping to netting along rear fence lines but it’s neighbor dependent
- Eliminate the whistles from along side the back yard areas
- Provide a list of conditions of use acceptable to all - no activity on Sundays, holidays, etc.
- Consider relocating the pool on College property
- Issues continue to arise related to controlling rental activity - needs better monitoring and enforcement
Next steps for the project are the following:
- MS/MC should take in the feedback received at the meeting
- MS should adjust the plan where feasible
- MS should update the noise and traffic analysis based on a new plan design
- MS should “rate” the noise by use (pool, field, tennis, parking, etc.)
- MS should add mitigative measures related to uses - hours, noise monitoring, enforcement, etc.
- MS should add a list of other mitigative measures to the plan - screening, fencing, landscaping, etc.
- MS should add a visual of the pool structure
- Once complete, have a final meeting with the neighbors before submittal to the Town
- Once complete, submit the project to the Town for normal processing through planning, environmental, etc.
2. Menlo Park Fire Protection District - Time Based Performance Standards
Following the Town, the County, and the City of Menlo Park discussing the modification of El Camino Real and Middlefield Road, the Fire District Board of Directors began a conversation around time-based performance standards for emergency response. They completed an updated Standards of Cover Assessment and recently adopted the linked Resolution No. 1818-2015 adopting time-based performance measure standards for the District.
As mentioned prior, Alex McIntyre and I sent emails back to the Chief asking what exactly that meant for our respective agencies. I asked did it mean that the Fire District would enhance its commitment to the communities it serves through the investment in capital infrastructure improvements that go directly toward meeting or improving the time-based performance standards - such as roadway improvements, signal synchronization projects, pre-emption devices, bike lanes (to add width to a roadway), dedicated bus lanes (for bus and emergency response), and identification of and development of new station locations to enhance response? Alex McIntyre echoed the questions and further asked what authority it carried and whether there was any binding impact on the communities.
The Chief advised that through their Standards of Cover, they evaluated the locations of all current stations and determined that, overall, they are in good to great locations. New locations were proposed and reviewed but it was determined that they would not significantly improve response times, costs were prohibitive, and adjusting deployment in areas like the Bayside of 101 made more sense.
The Chief also advised that Atherton’s current road configuration benefits emergency response into Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks and Redwood City. However, the same cannot always be said for those communities that create a cumulative negative affect on emergency response and response times. As an example, the Chief advised that the traffic control devices in North Fair Oaks daily impede emergency response for Engine 5 that protects portions of Atherton. Further, the Chief advised that further development changes along Middlefield will impact local response times to Atherton.
3. Inside Look at the Town’s Police Department
4. Check from Atherton Now
The Town received a check from Atherton Now to cover the donation requirement for the Schematic Design Phase.
5. Bed Bugs at the Library
Staff received a note from Anne-Marie Despain, Director of Library Services updating the Town on the issue of bedbugs at the Library. Palo Alto City Library and Menlo Park Library recently reported bedbugs in their locations, resulting in short library closures to deal with the situation. Staff there have indicated that the discovery was minor and in the furniture (not the books). Staff are alert to the situation(s) and if found, will work with contract pest control to immediately deal with the issue.
6. Las Lomitas School District - Detention Basin
Staff met with the District Superintendent and School Board President (who happen to be present at the time) and their Bond Projects Manager to discuss the possible storm water detention basin. The District was very receptive, especially since the ball field’s renovation is not funded through their bond program. They shared a master plan drawing showing the relocated entrance aligned with Walsh Road, for which they are planning a traffic signal. Staff suggested that they also look to underground utilities across their entrance. Staff will be meeting with them again soon to develop more detailed plans as a prelude to preparing a Memorandum of Understanding for the project. It was expressed that the Town may be interested in participating in the project.
7. Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program
Samtrans has asked that the Town consider submitting a letter of support for a grant application. The project involves El Camino Real and will facilitate the design of multimodal streetscape improvements, in partnership with Caltrans, to create a roadway that is safe and accessible for all users, is integrated with proposed sustainable development, and encourages pedestrian and transit activity and investment. The “Targeted Multimodal Improvements” project will prepare conceptual designs to improve safety in high opportunity case study segments, selected based on bicycle and pedestrian collision data. Public engagement via interactive workshops will enable Corridor communities to define their vision for healthy streets that are safe, sustainable, multimodal, and economically beneficial, while still accommodating traffic. A Final Report will detail the results of the case studies, including designs, design approval and funding guidance, and lessons learned for replication. This project will enable jurisdictions along El Camino Real, as well as other similar urban corridors, to move quickly and easily into implementing multimodal safety improvements.
8. ABAG - MTC Land Use Planners and Funding
The San Mateo City Manager’s Association met this week to discuss this issue. A subcommittee of Manager’s was formed to meet with the Executive Director of the MTC to discuss slowing down the conversation to allow member agencies to fully digest the impacts and considerations. While the Manager’s Group was not interest in taking a position because of the political and policy issues related to the conversation, it was noted that there could be serious affects to migrating land use planning into transportation planning - primarily from a governance and representative position.
It was the general consensus that a decision of this magnitude should not be rushed and that local agencies should have a chance to be involved not only in the discussion but in the ultimate governance framework.
9. Series Circuit Street Light Replacement Project Update
Staff continues work with PG&E and the design consultant to move this project along. Field investigation revealed that 36 lights (in 4 separate areas) require replacement. Staff expects to receive information from PG&E regarding the improvements and the circuitry design in November.
In the interim, staff is planning to install sample lights so that the public may provide input on the proposed new lights, prior to finalizing any design and seeking Council approval. The consultant is analyzing the Town’s street light operations and will include recommendations in their report on issues related to LED conversation and other options moving forward.
10. Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan
The consultant and staff have moved the draft Plan through the Fire District and staff with comments. Following discussion the Plan will be moved to a community meeting, then the Transportation Committee and then back to the Council.
11. Marsh Road Channel
We will be asking the Regional Water Quality Control Board for final approval or denial on our project application and let us move through the appeal route if necessary. If you recall, there was the specific request/condition to remove the bottom of the channel and return it to a more riparian nature. That is not our project. There are options, but we need to do repairs to this channel sooner rather than later. The engineering firm walked the channel with the RWQCB representatives and noted additional areas needed for repair that had changed recently and areas where more bulging had occurred. There remains a sense of urgency. We will be getting legal counsel involved if necessary.