Dear Representatives of the City of Menlo Park,
I am writing on behalf of Mack Terrace HOA, representing approximately 20
families located at 190 E O’Keefe Street, in The Willows neighborhood.
Over the past 1-2 months, we have observed the installation of “No
Overnight Parking 2 AM - 5 AM - Citywide” signage throughout The Willows.
However, our block of East O’Keefe Street appears to have been excluded
from this rollout.
This is not a new issue for our street. Overnight parking by non-residents
occurs consistently on a daily basis, and the absence of signage reinforces
the perception that this block is not subject to the same restrictions as
the rest of Menlo Park. The new signs are therefore critical not only for
enforcement, but also as a clear visual reminder that this section of the
street is part of Menlo Park and subject to its regulations.
Specifically:
• Vehicles are regularly parked overnight on our block, likely avoiding
enforcement in nearby signed streets.
• Cars park daily near corners and directly on red curbs, blocking
visibility at our community entry/exit points. This has been an ongoing
safety concern for a long time and has not been resolved through existing
measures such as red curb extensions.
• Without posted signage, overnight parking restrictions cannot be
effectively enforced on this block.
Given that the City is actively implementing these restrictions across The
Willows, we respectfully request:
1. Installation of “No Overnight Parking 2 AM - 5 AM” signage on the Menlo
Park portion of East O’Keefe Street to ensure consistency with surrounding
streets (particularly near 190 E O’Keefe St).
2. A traffic or safety review of our block, especially around our community
entrances, where visibility is frequently compromised.
3. Evaluation of additional measures (e.g., bollards at red curbs or other
physical deterrents) to address the persistent safety issues.
As a border street with East Palo Alto, East O’Keefe is particularly
vulnerable to inconsistent enforcement and would benefit from being
included in the current implementation effort.
We would appreciate confirmation that this request has been received, along
with any next steps or an estimated timeline.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued efforts
to improve safety in The Willows.
We are also copying our district councilmember, Drew Combs, given the
ongoing impact to our community.
Sincerely,
Jose Rodriguez
HOA Board Member
Mack Terrace HOA
190 E OKeefe St
