Public Comment - City Council Emergency Meeting 01.05.2022 Agenda Item C-1
Dear Mayor Wolosin, Vice Mayor Taylor, Council Members Combs and Nash, City Manager Justin, staff, fellow neighbors and members of the public,
I am hoping to provide my written comments into the record since I was unable to attend the emergency meeting last night, January 5th, 2023. I have watched the recorded meeting.
To Council Member Combs point, Im 1000% that the neighbors can take more ownership of our own streets. Here are some ideas to further demonstrate our commitment to being responsible and invested neighbors:
1. For the City to have a campaign (in addition to the raw materials provided, thank you so much by the way), to train neighbors to lay sandbags, clean drains, identify and report issues and hazards, radio or back up communication training, monitor social media platforms for neighbors in need of help, etc.
2. In addition to asking residents to supply themselves a go bag and be storm ready, ask neighbors to participate in cleaning our own streets, those that are able bodied of course.
* In addition to all other supplies, ask us to stock a contractor’s broom (a broad sturdy broom), weather or canvas/leather gloves, safety goggles, safety vest, okay/help signs for windows, a paddle for moving water, etc.
* Double bonus, if you have a sump pump or generator or surplus water supply, etc. have residents share these resources with one another as people become blocked etc.
* Does the City keep a list of all radio holders, both FRS and HAM?
* Relatedly, is there a campaign to get radios and training to our neighbors without access to resources? Does the City have a goal of training and supplying radios to 100 neighbors in District 1 by the end of 2023 or something comparable?
* Where does the City list out the channels we are to use as back-up when the power and internet go down?
3. As mentioned, we have gratitude to the responders, the works crews, the utility crews who left their homes and families to help us with our infrastructure. The assumption is perhaps correct in that those that directly serve us live outside our city bounds.
* Lets honor our first responders by granting a home here. In honor of the floods of January 2023, we dedicate to erect one 90 unit complex in each neighborhood, (except a moratorium on new density in District 1, of course).
4. Parking - grant parking overnight in elevated areas away from the creek once the threshold for possible flood is achieved to neighbors directly affected by the creek flood. Post this program information on the website.
5. Communications - MenloPark.gov - I have subscribed but if I dont have an application like twitter or nextdoor, I want to be able to go directly to the menlopark.gov site and see what other neighbors and businesses are doing and experiencing. We must own our communication platform needs.
* Have categories for needs or information such as hazards, resources, medical, etc. Give neighbors super simple templates to communicate (MPC Ready and CERT goes through these).
* I personally experienced some serious hazards but was confused about where to report or why Ravenwood at Middlefield was closed, but nothing on the website saying stay away from that area…
* Implement a prominent public comment arena for neighbors to communicate to neighbors such as this street is flooded, power out here, trees downed there, and obstructions in storm drains everywhere.
* Similar to NextDoor, taking the conversation to the MenloPark.gov site gives real time information first responders, neighbors, and managers can review during and after the fact.
* Radio Use: What radio channels is the City using to broadcast notifications?
* Daly City and San Bruno have been without power and internet disruption for 48 hours now. I have both HAM (license) and FRS radio, but if services were cut, I have no idea how Menlo is communicating to us.
* Market Force for Preparedness: City can help drive market force for preparedness, and training, by practicing standard preparedness protocol, which it is lacking currently:
* Dedicate an entire page to emergency preparedness, trainings, resources, and invite neighbors to practice with a weekly or monthly check-ins
6. Bravo that we are increasing City emergency responsive staff and infrastructure - would like to see this increased because when the entire City is impacted, you need to rely on organized neighborhoods to respond as well, which we did, but you could not see it on the City website.
* Agree with Tom that we should lower or revise the threshold that triggers emergency response.
* I dont see mention of MPC Ready or CERT on the menlopark.gov website. Perhaps I am missing it, but there should be a central location for all these resources to be sure I’m not missing it.
7. Density: As seen on NextDoor application, many neighbors are elderly, mobility impaired, or resource scarce requesting various assistance. Our sprawl is doing us no favors by having the able bodied neighbors away from the mobility impaired folks. Additionally, with mixed use with retail ground level, the building is by design storm and earthquake ready.
8. Tom and Lynnes comments even further: This was our wake up call.
* We now have definite information about what happens when our systems are tested. What are we doing with that information? Are we planning on interviewing neighbors or surveying their experiences and concerns, recommendations etc?
* Note: We are still unaware of the impacts of an actual system failure - such as a high surf bringing in sea water through the Bay, by way of District 1, into flooding the lower elevated neighborhoods. We had no evacuation routes posted for those of us living in affected areas.
* The assumption must be a worst case scenario such as another wet system coupled with a major fire and/or earthquake.
9. Mudslides - understanding the dangers, going door to door to engage homeowners and business owners - is this something the City is at work on cause I have not seen this program.
10. Shelters and meeting locations - there needs to be an easy to find map of all locations for refuge during a disaster.
* There should also be access to real time information like how full the shelter is or if its obstructed in any way, etc. Is one location drawing blood to mitigate medical shortages, etc.
* Is another location providing hot food? Is another location looking for hot food, supplies donations? Is someone on a raft going around checking on neighbors, ideally with a vat of hot food for anyone they encounter who needs sustenance.
11. Tracking known hazards - is the City keeping track of the problematic areas during the flooding?
* Drainage inconsistencies: Through the Seminary Oaks or Vintage Oaks development, every couple of houses has a storm drain. Through the Willows, or South of Willow Road, drains are dispersed every few blocks.
* As Willow Road and Middlefield became overwhelmed, it bled into the commercial parking lots. What redundant system is in place for these major arteries for traffic and flooding? Do you have back up sump pumps to divert excess water? Where can that information be located on the website?
* Neighbors place threshold ramps in the curb which obstructs the flow of water to these infrequent drains.
Thank you and glad you all weathered well, pun intended.
Jenny Michel
Coleman Place Neighborhood Block
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Jen Michel
HAM: KJ6MJH
DRE #01900228
Cell: 650.400.8299
E-mail: restorativeeco@gmail.com
