Dear City Council Members and senior staff,
After reviewing the agenda for tonight's city council meeting some questions came to mind that I wanted to raise.
First, let me express my enthusiasm for moving forward with the Middle Road pedestrian and bike underpass. Hidden in the staff report are the devilish details that I don't quite understand, largely around the pricetag for the right of way. Still, this is an exciting project that will create an essential conduit for crosstown pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
In addition, this seems like a great opportunity to assert my support for the city to build Caltrain overpasses or underpasses as was discussed at last week's State of the City. When electrification of the train tracks happens, if the cars can't go over or under, we will need to go to Palo Alto or Redwood City to cross El Camino Real. Our city is difficult to reach already, it will become harder to get into and out if we don't continue to move forward with an overpass or underpass.
Additional questions:
1) What action is being taken by the city to ensure a competitive wage for rank and file city employees? The interim budget statement seems to indicate a significant staff vacancy issue. Do we have data on why non management staff are leaving? What are we doing to ensure that employees are not leaving due to compensation issues that we have the money to address?
2) What action is being taken by the city to ensure that promised funds from development agreements will be allocated toward community benefits that residents want? Tonight you are discussing payments to a Downtown (Public) Amenities Fund that to my knowledge has yet to be created. Prior development agreements have also referenced dollar amounts that that resulted in "in kind" donations rather than actual currency. Or payments were made to the General Fund for improvements that ended up being funded by grants. Being transparent about what the money is and where it goes is extremely important to residents.
3) Why can't we open the Menlo Park libraries on Sundays? This service is used by residents of all ages, and deserves the funding and staffing that will make both spaces accessible as much as possible.
Just some thoughts as we head into the last meetings of the year.
Thanks for your consideration, and for your service,
Julie Shanson
Oak Court
