Dear City Council-
Im sharing a small amount of feedback for the small amount of time Ive
actually been able to make the task force meetings. I would like to first
echo Meredith Rohrs comments about the process. It is interesting that
only the Belle Haven pool is being put under the hybrid umbrella and the
burden is placed on local citizens to craft a schedule that matches our
needs. I have noticed since moving to Belle Haven in 2007 that every time
I want some sort of city service or benefit, I have to show up, or join and
committee, or write to city council to sustain it or make it more fair or
help it to match the needs of the residents. Belle Haven has a smaller
population than the city as a whole, but, because of past
infrastructure choices, is isolated from the rest of our city. The burden
of accessing centrally located city services is greater for Belle Haven
than the rest of the city and yet every time I find a new hobby or
interest, it seems to need an advocacy group to have it continue. Its
exhausting. But that seems to be the pattern, so here I am advocating
again. The burden on residents to show up and tell you what we want again
and again and again is something the city really needs to think about. Why
is it so challenging to reflect the needs of a whole neighborhood that has
been surveyed and surveyed and surveyed without also asking us to create
our own pool program as well.
I only recently decided to take up swimming as I wanted a low impact
exercise that I could continue into my old age - and we have that lovely
new pool facility. I dont know what needs our aquatic center has or
should have because I am a casual swimmer. And I dont know the full story
behind it all, but as an observer, it is clear there is some tension
between city council and the private company managing the pool. Again, Im
unsure why that is, but its pretty obvious and perhaps that is part of the
issue.
What I hope you take away from this ramble is that I want the city to do a
better job of putting good choices in front of people who may not even know
what to be asking for, I want a better system for keeping those wishing to
attend task force meetings in the loop about them, and I want the city to
figure out why they dont need to survey folks on the other side of 101
about what services they want, but its been a steady stream of surveys and
neighborhood committees for the 17 years Ive lived in Belle Haven.
Thank you for your time and effort trying to ensure that all Menlo Park
residents have access to the same quality programming, no matter which
neighborhood they live in.
Jacqui Cebrian
Resident of Belle Haven
Member of the Complete Streets Commission (though speaking for myself)
Past member of the Library Commission and Transportation Management Plan
Committee.
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What Im reading/just finished (audio/print/ebook):
[image: Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books: A Novel By Kirsten
Miller Cover Image]. [image: Pocket Bear By Katherine Applegate Cover Image]
[image: Troubling Tonsils! (Jasper Rabbits Creepy Tales!) By Aaron
Reynolds, Peter Brown (Illustrator) Cover Image]
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