Dear Council Members,
Please see my comments below about the upcoming vehicle purchases that I originally sent to Vice Mayor Nash earlier tonight.
Regards.
Randy Ferrando
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Nash, Betsy
To: rfermfer
Sent: Sunday, October 24, 2021, 08:31:17 PM PDT
Subject: Re: upcoming agenda items and other announcements (week of 10/24)
Hi Randy,
Yes, I agree! I encourage you to send these comments to city.council@menlopark.org> (aka CCIN) so that the City Manager, executive team, and other councilmembers hear directly from a resident. I also plan to raise these issues at the council meeting.
Thank you so much,
Betsy
From: Randy Ferrando >
Date: Sunday, October 24, 2021 at 7:33 PM
To: "Nash, Betsy" >
Subject: Re: upcoming agenda items and other announcements (week of 10/24)
Hi Betsy,
I find it interesting that our Police Department wants to replace several patrol vehicles. Have you ever noticed how many patrol vehicles are parked in the Police parking lot? Anytime of the day or night there is at least 12-15 patrol vehicles sitting in the lot. Have you ever asked how many patrol vehicles we have compared to how many officers we have on duty? I understand that the City should should have a couple of spares, but to have that many unused vehicles is a waste of money. It appears that the police department isn't using the vehicles they already have.
Has the City ever done a fleet survey to determine if the fleet is sized properly? They have companies that track vehicle/equipment usage over the course of time to determine if vehicles/equipment are being regularly used, or under used. Many times vehicles that are underused can be removed from the fleet, and rented when needed. This is a cost effective way cut operating expenses while reducing GHC emissions.
I also don't think purchasing three Telsa's for patrol vehicles is wise as these are not manufactured as pursuit approved vehicles. The domestic built police vehicles are engineered and built with specific components to withstand high speed pursuits. I don't believe a Tesla (even a modified Telsa by a third party) is engineered and designed for high speed pursuits. What if during a high speed pursuit with one of these Tesla's an accident occurs causing property damage or physical injury to a person(s)? What happens when it's discovered that the City was using a vehicle that was not designed, built or intended for this specific activity? This opens up the City to a huge liability issue.
I hope these questions are asked and adequately answered before moving forward with these expensive fleet purchases.
Thanks for your time.
Randy Ferrando.
On Sunday, October 24, 2021, 01:18:16 PM PDT, Nash, Betsy > wrote:
Hi neighbors!
Wild weather outside! Residents can obtain sandbags. (more information>)
Please, please, please consider applying to be on the Independent Redistricting Committee (more information>; application>). Too few applications were received so the deadline has been extended to this Friday 10/29. Contact the City Clerk’s Office> with any questions.
These upcoming events may be of interest to you.
Tuesday 10/26 - City Council meeting (agenda>), including:
* Housing Element
* H2. Consider land use strategy options to meet the City’s Housing Element Regional Housing Needs Allocation for the planning period 2023-2031, and identify a preferred land use scenario for further evaluation as part of the environmental review process (Staff Report #21-210-CC>)
* Menlo Park Community Campus
* G1. Public Hearing -- Resolution No. 6679: Consider adoption of a Resolution of Necessity and authorize the initiation of eminent domain proceedings to acquire property interests necessary for the Menlo Park Community Campus Project (Staff Report #21-206-CC>)
* Labor agreement
* H1. Adopt Resolution No. 6678 to ratify a successor agreement between the City of Menlo Park and Menlo Park Police Officers’ Association expiring August 31, 2024 (Staff Report #21-204-CC>)
* Sea level rise
* F3. Authorize the Mayor to sign the City’s response to the San Mateo County’s grand jury report: “California’s Ground Zero for Sea Level Rise” (Staff Report #21-207-CC)>
* Housing assistance program
* F4. Adopt Resolution No. 6680 to amend the tenant assistance program administered by Samaritan House to increase program funding with the use of American Rescue Plan funds in the amount of $250,000 and expand program guidelines to include mortgage assistance
(Staff Report #21-208-CC>)
* Sustainable municipal vehicle fleet
* F6. Award vehicle purchase contracts to National Auto Fleet Group, Altec Industries, Tesla, and Volvo Construction Equipment and Services for the purchase and modifications of electric and hybrid police vehicles, medium/heavy-duty trucks, and a towable compressor; approve the purchase of Tesla police patrol electric vehicles as a pilot program; and approve an appropriation from the unassigned general fund balance for the fiscal year 2021-2022 vehicle purchase (Staff Report #21-213-CC>)
Wednesday 10/27 - Parks and Recreation Commission meeting (agenda>), including:
* D3. Menlo Park Community Campus programming – background information (Staff Report PRC-21-028>)
Other city items:
* 10/28: Menlo Park’s Climate Action Plan presentation with Q&A at MP Library (more information)
* 11/6: Menlo Park Community Campus Groundbreaking Ceremony (more information>)
* 11/15: Menlo Park Community Campus programming joint meeting with Library Commission and Parks & Rec Commission
* 11/17: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (observed) (more information>)
* 11/30: Going from Gas to Electric presentation with Q&A at MP Library (more information)
Other items:
* 10/27: Grand opening of Bon Marché -- a French-inspired outdoor market in downtown Menlo Park (more information>)
* Let’s Talk Housing San Mateo County events:
* 10/27: Housing and Racial Equity (more information>)
* 11/10: Housing in a Climate of Change (more information>)
* 12/1: Putting it All Together for a Better Future (more information>)
* 11/4: Bayfront Canal and Atherton Channel Flood Protection and Ecosystem Restoration Project update (more information>)
* Whether you commute to or from San Mateo County by transit, carpool, vanpool, bicycle, walking, or telecommute, there's a program for you. (more information>)
* This week in San Mateo County Health (more information for the week of 10/25/2021>; county vaccine clinics>)
Take care,
Betsy
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Betsy Nash
Vice Mayor
City Hall - 2nd Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-380-3986
menlopark.org>
