Reminder to please send the remaining documents ASAP.
On Wed, Jan 21, 2026 at 4:09 PM Savita Kini
wrote:
> Hi Azalea,
>
> You last shared a design which was tagged 90% design.
>
> - Can you please send the 100% design proposal.
> - share the revised roles & responsibilities agreement between MP city &
> SMCTA as was requested by city staff at the City Council meeting in Sept
> 2025.
> - New budget for the proposed landscaping and additional fund allocation
> you are requesting from MP Taxpayers ? Your earlier proposal showed $600K
> in additional beyond SMCTA budget of $3.5M.
> - Detailed breakdown of the budget why it is higher ?
>
> Thank you.
> Savita.
>
>
> Thank you.
>
>
> On Jan 21, 2026, at 3:58 PM, Azalea A. Mitch
> wrote:
>
> Hello Savita,
> The project is in the final stages of design. In terms of status, the
> freeway lane closure plans needed as part of the construction have been
> reviewed by East Palo Alto and the City. We have been coordinating with the
> San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) as they will be
> overseeing and funding the project . The design plans are currently being
> reviewed by Caltrans (the project is on their land). The City will assist
> the SMCTA with the bidding for the construction, which is scheduled for
> later this year.
> Thank you,
> Azalea
>
>
>
>
>
>
> * Azalea A. Mitch, P.E. **(she/her)*
> Public Works Director
> City Hall - 1st Floor
> 701 Laurel St.
> tel 650-330-6692
> menlopark.gov
> See www.pronouns.org to learn more about why I share my pronouns.
>
>
> *From:* Savita Kini
> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:43 PM
> *To:* Justin I. C. Murphy
> *Cc:* Sara Miller ; Marcia Bever <
> marciabever01@gmail.com>; Richard Morel ;
> tushar.janefalkar@gmail.com; jayne3b@gmail.com; Subbu Vincent <
> subbuvincent@gmail.com>; rkhare@gmail.com; Azalea A. Mitch <
> aamitch@menlopark.gov>; Sarah E. Sandoval ;
> Drew Combs ; _CCIN
> *Subject:* Re: Willow/101 interchange Landscpaing: Public Records Act
> Request :: P002884-072325
>
> Hi Justin , Council Members,
>
> Is there further update on the completed designs for the Willows/101
> landscaping. 100% of the designs were due October 2025 per the City Council
> meeting update.
>
> It’s’ 3 months since then and I do not see any new updates on the website.
> Do we need to file yet another public records request ? Can you kindly
> honor the previous
> request and share the latest plans and commissioning for the RFP of the
> landscaping execution.
>
>
> Thank you.
>
> Savita.
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________
> LinkedIn | +1 669 226 2735
>
> On Sep 25, 2025, at 9:21 PM, Savita Kini wrote:
>
> Thank you for your note Justin.
>
> I see the project page — will you also kindly update the data on the page
> to reflect the $$ spent so far on the projects “landscaping planning”
> effort.
>
> The note on the page does not reflect the delays — the previous context
> said Project Construction would being “Spring 2025” — now you are saying
> Spring 2026.
>
> The public needs to see and hear very clearly and transparently from the
> City Staff & City Council
>
> — Why the project landscaping *plan itself is taken 2 YRS*.
> - What guarantees are in place that the city staff will leave no stone
> unturned to get this done ASAP.
>
> In the interest of public trust and commitment to equity in responsible
> development across Menlo Park, transparency on issues like this are
> critical.
>
> Will look out for your details and update to the city agenda as well as
> the project page.
>
> Thank you.
> Savita.
>
>
>
>
> On Sep 25, 2025, at 6:22 PM, Murphy, Justin I C
> wrote:
>
> Hi Savita,
>
> Thank you for your email. I am replying and placing all City
> Councilmembers in bcc.
>
> As reflected on the project webpage
> ,
> the City Council is scheduled to take action on an amendment to the citys
> agreement with the San Mateo County Transportation Authority on Sept. 30. A
> link to the City Council agenda will be available here
> later this
> evening.
>
> Hopefully, you will find the staff report helpful in providing an update
> on the project, including the next steps and timeline with the goal of
> commencing construction in the spring of 2026.
>
> Thanks,
> Justin
>
>
>
>
>
> * Justin I. C. Murphy **(he/him)*
> City Manager
> City Hall
> 701 Laurel St.
> tel 650-330-6725
> menlopark.gov
> See www.pronouns.org to learn more about why I share my pronouns.
>
>
> *From:* Savita Kini
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 24, 2025 10:36 PM
> *To:* Sandoval, Sarah E ; Drew Combs <
> combs.drew@gmail.com>; _CCIN ; Murphy, Justin
> I C ; Mitch, Azalea A
> *Cc:* City of Menlo Park Public Records Center ;
> Sara Miller ; Marcia Bever ;
> Richard Morel ; tushar.janefalkar@gmail.com;
> jayne3b@gmail.com; Subramaniam Vincent ;
> rkhare@gmail.com
> *Subject:* Willow/101 interchange Landscpaing: Public Records Act Request
> :: P002884-072325
>
> Hi Justin, City council members.
>
> I have reviewed all the documents provided here with regard to Willows/101
> Interchange and there has been no further updates since 2024 !!!
>
> A few follow up questions.
>
> 1. How did the city staff conclude the landscape contractor assessment if
> the plan is 10% - 50% or 90% complete. Who is assessing this ? What is the
> “Formula” and mathematical details to determine % of landscaping plan. I
> have never in my life seen this kind of planning assessment even for a
> house or landscaping construction.
> 2. Why has the city council gone silent ? And why does the City council
> and city staff agree to new projects if you are short staffed to finish
> what was started ?
> 3. What kind of SLAs does the City Council have with the landscaping
> contractors — how they can go Scott free leaving a so called landscaping
> plan 90% incomplete for over a year !! Did we already pay for this kind of
> incomplete work ??
> 4. What is the next steps to get this project on track and completing in
> expedited manner ? Who is driving this from the city Council leadership ?
>
>
> All the residents of Willows, Suburban park, Belle Haven neighborhoods
> continue to suffer from the noise and air pollution. This is been delayed
> far too long.
>
>
> Looking forward to seeing action on this at the earliest.
>
> Savita.
> 212 Okeefe St.
>
>
>
> On Aug 28, 2025, at 5:13 PM, City of Menlo Park Public Records Center <
> menloparkca@mycusthelp.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> *Attachments:*
> PLANS_90__0423000286_240628.pdf
>
>
> --- Please respond above this line ---
>
> *City Clerks Office*
>
>
> August 28, 2025
>
> Savita Kini
> 212 okeefe St
> menlo park CA 94025
>
> Dear Savita,
>
> The City of Menlo Park (“City") is in receipt of your request seeking:
> This is regarding the willow road/101 interchange landscaping. This
> interchange was completed by Caltrans around 2018/19. The city was given
> responsibility to complete the landscaping. It is now going to be 6 yrs
> since this so-called landscaping project effort was started for
> design/consultation. But as of Jul 2025 we dont see any tree / landscaping
> planting. Infact with the brown grass drying up in summer, it has become a
> hot-spot for random wildfire
>
> Provide detail project plan, landscaping bids from different vendors, who
> was selected for the project, when is this project going to start and
> finish. Need full cost details for the landscaping - cost of trees/plants,
> labor costs and details to meet the $2M budget offered by Caltrans / San
> mateo County.
> Date Range: 1/1/2019 - 7/23/2025.
>
> Under established California Law, the City is obliged to comply with a
> request for a public record so long as the requestor makes a specific and
> focused request for information, that information is maintained by the City
> in its ordinary course of business, the information is disclosable, and the
> record can be located with reasonable effort. The Public Records Act
> provides for the inspection or copying of existing identifiable public
> records; it does not compel the City to create new records, lists,
> privilege logs or reports in response to a request.
>
> The City is required to determine whether the request, in whole or in
> part, seeks copies of disclosable public records. Consistent with that
> requirement, the City has conducted a search and is providing the document
> attached and link below:
>
> https://stories.opengov.com/menlopark/ade5a8ed-80f6-42dd-bae7-98d85d32530e/published/BEyK_o5C4?currentPageId=67c7d7d830c875b6db9a0c19
>
>
> The City considers this request fulfilled. If you require any additional
> information or have any further questions, you may contact the City Clerks
> Office at 650-330-6620 or respond to this email.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Sarah Sandoval
> City Clerks Office
>
> 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025
> tel 650-330-6620 fax 650-328-7935
>
>
> __________________________________________
> LinkedIn | +1 669 226 2735
>
>
> __________________________________________
> LinkedIn | +1 669 226 2735
>
>