Hello Council,
Thank you for your unanimous decision to NOT place a charter measure on the Nov 6, 2018 ballot. I appreciated your thoughtful
discussion and your willingness to reconsider the matter
As a next step, you seemed to agree with Vice Mayor Mueller’s request that Council take further action this year. That could
include forming a charter commission. I’ve researched California Government Code
[https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&division=2.&title=4.&part=1.&chapter=2.&article=]
and it appears to me that members of a Charter Commission need to be approved via the voters. That could be during a special
election or a regular election. Naturally, I could be mistaken and Council might be able to appoint such a Commission.
I also agree with Mayor Ohtaki’s comment that there are residents who would like to serve on a charter committee. As this is a new
process for most of us, I’m writing to send links to materials that I’ve found particularly helpful in my own education process:
1.Guide for Charter Commissions.
[https://www.cityofoberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/National-Civic-League-Guide-for-Charter-Commission.pdf] Sixth Edition.
This thoughtfully written guide is an excellent resource. While more focused on municipalities desiring to change an existing
charter, it’s helpful for cities newly considering becoming a charter city. I especially liked the Public Outreach section.
2.Model City Charter. [https://www.cityofoberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/National_Civic_League_Model_City_Charter.pdf]
Eighth Edition. Provides a helpful menu of possible provisions that could be included in a charter as well as commentary on them.
Also provides useful background.
3.Comparative Information on City Charters from California’s Largest Cities.
[https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/15_01rev_150114.pdf] I have found no similar-style document on charters from smaller
cities. Developing such a comparative report could be a useful next step. I link to it here as an example.
A right kind of charter could help MP to be more effectively governed. However, more is needed!
We also need a citywide shared vision, strategic plan and a set of core values to guide how we go about achieving our vision.
Residents need to be deeply involved in developing these.
The only related items that I’ve seen are inadequate. The City of Menlo Park Values Statement
[https://www.menlopark.org/DocumentCenter/View/15836/OUR-values?bidId=] at the HR site seems aimed mostly at staff and business
interests. I don't think the public was involved in developing them either. The MP mission statement
[https://www.menlopark.org/DocumentCenter/View/3141/City-Council-Procedures-Manual?bidId=](in the City Council procedure manual)
is almost identical to the one in the City of Oxnard’s [https://www.oxnard.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Procedures-Manual.pdf]
council manual. While perhaps at some prior point our mission was developed as part of an authentic community engagement process,
it likely has been a while since it was developed. Instead, MP needs an updated mission that logically stems from a citywide
shared vision, core values and strategic plan -- unique to Menlo Park.
On a related note, I’ve seen the term “the community’s vision” (or similar) in staff reports, and the recent budget document.
However, I’ve yet to see actual specifics in the form of a written vision statement. This troubles me as the phrase is used to
justify the decisions made, or the recommendations detailed, in the reports. Unfortunately, the less civically engaged resident
might accept the assertions at face value -- thinking that he or she just missed the engagement process. While staff writing these
reports may sincerely think that the content truly responds to the “community’s vision,” it’s time to actually develop a written
vision statement based on authentic (and widespread) resident involvement.
For now, I recommend that staff refrain from using the “community’s vision” phrase unless they also supply actual specifics.
Details of the community engagement process (that led to this type of assertion) is also needed.
Not having a shared vision, strategic plan, and core values – creates problems in MP. We have multiple individual plans, but no
overall strategic plan. (Individual plans may also lack an authentic engagement process.) The lack of a shared vision, strategic
plan and core values has led to, at times, reactive-decision making, decision churn, and late-night Council meetings. I’ve also
seen Council become the “integration point” for projects that would have arrived at your docket in a more “baked” form if MP had
had a strategic plan in place.
I hope that Council will decide to institute a formal visioning and strategic planning process at your January planning meeting.
However, there are low-key, low-cost ways to get started earlier as part of the effort related to becoming a charter city.For
example, you could start to hold “listening” or “dialogue” sessions with the public on the topic of their vision for MP.
Naturally, someone would need to take notes or otherwise capture the ideas. There are other low-key ways to get started such as an
online survey mechanism. I suspect that residents will have other suggestions as to what could be started, now. The important
thing would be to start!
Lynne Bramlett
Lynne.e.bramlett@gmail.com [Lynne.e.bramlett@gmail.com]
