Hi Nikki,
I hope you are doing well. We are writing to follow up on the Belle Haven Seniors’ Petition, as we have yet to receive any updates from your office. While we appreciate that seniors have finally received their old chairs, we remain deeply concerned about the prolonged delay. Why did it take the City a full year to provide the chairs, especially when this issue was clearly raised in the initial petition?
Unfortunately, earlier this month, a senior fell from a chair — an incident that could have been prevented if the matter had been addressed in a timely manner.
The City Council often refers to the Environmental Justice Element, but many of the concerns raised by seniors remain unresolved. This ongoing inaction gives the impression that meaningful progress is being delayed or overlooked.
Regarding the piano, you mentioned on April 9, 2025, that staff were working on it. Has there been any progress? If assistance is needed in sourcing a piano, please let us know the budget and size requirements — we are happy to support this effort.
On that same date, you also wrote:
“These call out a few additional topics that were raised, like the space comparison to the prior center, piano (we are working on obtaining an electric keyboard), and the portable dance floor to eliminate the concerns about the outlets during dance classes, for example. We’ll be working with senior center program staff to get updates on the status of the items that are outstanding to follow up in the coming weeks.”
Do you have a timeline for when these updates will be shared?
In regard to the restrooms, you confirmed on April 9 that they are ADA accessible and noted that staff were exploring the installation of automatic door openers. Has there been any progress on implementing these improvements? Seniors still find the restroom doors heavy and difficult to manage without assistance.
On April 4, you stated that an emergency exit plan was in place for the second floor. However, during a visit to the facility a month later, neither library nor front desk staff were aware of such a plan. This raises serious concerns about emergency preparedness. Has staff been properly trained, and what is the current status of the evacuation procedures?
Additionally, on April 16, you mentioned that staff were working to clarify the spaces available to seniors and to address questions related to safety and seating. Despite this, there has been no follow-up communication, and seniors remain uninformed.
To date, the petition has been submitted twice, and progress continues to be exceedingly slow. A year ago, both City Manager Justin Murphy and Library and Community Services Director Sean Reinhart committed to making improvements and drafted a list of proposed changes. Yet, the only action taken to date has been the return of the chairs — an issue that should have been resolved a year ago.
We respectfully request a comprehensive update on each of the items mentioned above. If additional support or resources are needed to move these efforts forward, please let us know — we are ready and willing to assist.
I have CC’d the City Council email so they, along with the public, are aware of City staff’s progress on these issues.
Thank you for your time and continued attention to these important matters.
Sincerely,
Belle Haven Seniors and Residents
________________________________
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 5:00 PM
Subject: RE: Support Needed for Belle Haven Senior Center Improvements
Thank you, Mr. Hernandez for this additional information and your feedback. I appreciate you are a volunteer and we appreciate your service and engagement!
We are working with staff to help clarify the spaces available for seniors, and your other questions about chairs and safety. I shared your feedback about the pamphlets with our staff as well.
Regarding your question about the petitions and signature gathering, we prefer to first make sure that folks are aware of the rules prior to any action to temporarily suspend their ability to visit our facilities. I would not expect anyone to be punished or banned for soliciting signatures, unless it clearly continues after they are alerted to the rules.
Hope this helps. We will continue to work on these issues!
Thank you,
Nikki
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Nicole H. Nagaya, P.E. (she/her)
Deputy City Manager
City Hall - 1st Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6781
menlopark.gov
See www.pronouns.org to learn more about why I share my pronouns.
Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: Support Needed for Belle Haven Senior Center Improvements
Hi Nikki,
Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed response. I appreciate the clarification regarding communication with City Councilmembers and your explanation about the Brown Act — that makes perfect sense. There’s no need to reach all the members; I will include only our Councilmember, Cecilia Taylor, and City Manager Justin Murphy moving forward.
I also want to thank you for confirming that all of the suggestions we shared are being reviewed, not just those related to safety. It is reassuring to know that staff are taking the time to evaluate each point seriously, and we understand that some items will naturally take more time to address.
Thank you as well for sharing the responses from last summer’s Lunch and Learn, and for the continued efforts around dance classes, the piano, and the portable dance floor. I did want to mention that the notes are somewhat difficult to read, even for someone like me who is bilingual in English and Spanish and has pursued higher education both in the United States and Mexico.
Regarding this specific note:
“During Senior Center operating hours, Senior Center users have exclusive use of multiple spaces in the BHCC, including the community room, senior lounge, makerspace, movement studio, and flex classroom. This amount of space is comparable to the old facility. Seniors also have access to the gymnasium, fitness center, and all-ages library.”
We believe further clarification is needed to help seniors understand how they can use these areas — and importantly, what the rules are, so they do not inadvertently get into trouble. For instance, those who were collecting signatures for the petition were not aware this was against facility guidelines. One senior even mentioned that others have been soliciting or promoting religious beliefs in the building. A few weeks ago, I was shown a pamphlet from Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
I will speak with the seniors and ask them to stop collecting signatures inside, especially since you have been keeping us updated on the progress being made. However, I would strongly recommend organizing an informational session with the seniors to go over the facility guidelines and why they matter — to promote a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment for everyone.
Also, can you please clarify: will the seniors who collected signatures be banned/punished from the facility?
Regarding the restrooms, I am glad to hear they are ADA compliant and that you are exploring the installation of push-button mechanisms. That would make a meaningful difference for many in our community.
In terms of the petition signature policy, thank you again for bringing it to our attention. I will help spread the word that any signature gathering must take place outside. Again, I believe an in-person session explaining not only the rules, but their importance in maintaining a nurturing space, would be very helpful.
Keeping the seniors informed will take work at the beginning, but it will save a lot of confusion, complaints, and misunderstandings in the future. Clear communication now will go a long way — and who knows, the City might even be recognized with the prestigious TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) Award for excellence in building operations and community service!
I also have a few questions:
1. Are safe, comfortable, and accessible chairs available for every senior?
2. Is there a system to ensure everyone receives one? How do they request or access them?
o We are concerned that if only some seniors receive these chairs, others may feel excluded or may compete for them.
Lastly, I want to gently remind you that I am a volunteer and not a city employee. When will someone from the City be coming to speak directly with the seniors to let them know their voices are being heard and that work is underway to address their concerns?
What is the status of the Senior Center safety plan? I have heard in the news “The Big One” is coming soon — and understandably, we need to be prepared, and no one wants to be reading safety cards during “The Big One.”
Thank you again for your time, transparency, and continued efforts on behalf of our community.
Best regards,
Belle Haven Seniors and Allies
________________________________
Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 5:30 PM
To: Eduardo Lopez Hernandez >; Murphy, Justin I C >
Subject: RE: Support Needed for Belle Haven Senior Center Improvements
Hi Mr. Hernandez,
Thanks for this additional information. I’ve moved the city councilmembers to bcc so they are aware we are in touch. We don’t typically reply to emails received with all five Councilmembers included to prevent a brown act violation, since communications between a majority of the Councilmembers must occur in an open public meeting.
We are working on all of the suggestions you shared, my note from last week was only to let you know that we were reviewing all of them and to address the topics that included concerns about safety. My apologies that wasn’t clear. We are looking at the full list of suggestions you provided, some of them will take more time to respond to in detail. I can assure you that we take these issues seriously, and are working to address them as best and quickly as we can.
In the meantime, I’m also attaching here (in English and Spanish) the responses that we generated from the lunch and learn last summer. Senior center program staff developed these responses, and they’ve been posted in the building since last September. These call out a few additional topics that were raised, like the space comparison to the prior center, piano (we are working on obtaining an electric keyboard), and the portable dance floor to eliminate the concerns about the outlets during dance classes, for example. We’ll be working with senior center program staff to get updates on the status of the items that are outstanding to follow up in the coming weeks.
For the restrooms, I can confirm they are ADA accessible. We are exploring some other options in response to the feedback about the weight of the doors (like a push button that automatically can open the door). We hear you, and understand this is a concern and is an uncomfortable time to ask for help opening them. It will take some time to evaluate the options, get permits and install something like this, but we will be exploring further.
I also understand that staff at BHCC observed some individuals soliciting signatures on a petition inside the building over the last few days related to the senior programs. I wanted to pass along that it is against our facility usage guidelines to collect signatures inside our recreation facilities. This policy helps ensure everyone feels welcome and not pressured to sign something, and prevents our staff from being placed in an uncomfortable position to evaluate content of any signature gathering exercise in accordance with our other guidelines – therefore, we don’t allow any solicitation of signatures inside. A copy of the guidelines are here on our website:
https://menlopark.gov/Government/Departments/Library-and-Community-Services/About-us/Policies-and-procedures#section-17
We most definitely encourage you to submit the petition and continuing to gather signatures! We just do not allow those activities to occur inside the building, they need to do so outside. If you can please help pass that message along, we would appreciate it.
Thank you,
Nikki
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Nicole H. Nagaya, P.E. (she/her)
Deputy City Manager
City Hall - 1st Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6781
menlopark.gov
See www.pronouns.org to learn more about why I share my pronouns.
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 1:21 PM
Subject: Re: Support Needed for Belle Haven Senior Center Improvements
Hi Nikki,
Thank you for your prompt response and for providing detailed feedback on the petition and the accessibility concerns.
The Belle Haven Seniors and Allies appreciate your clarification regarding the building’s adherence to ADA requirements and the review conducted by the building official. It is reassuring to hear that the site meets current regulations, and we are grateful for the efforts made to ensure the curb ramp and path of travel are accessible to individuals with mobility challenges.
However, at the previous senior center, there was a ramp at the entrance, which made a significant difference. While we understand the building is ADA compliant, we hope you can empathize with the seniors experience. A more accessible entrance at the front of the building would be ideal.
On a related note, we did not hear you mention the bathrooms. Are the restrooms ADA accessible? While I personally do not have trouble opening the doors, many seniors do and often require assistance. As you can imagine, this is a sensitive issue, and no one wants to feel exposed or embarrassed, especially in a restroom. It is essential that the facilities are fully accommodating, as privacy is important, particularly when it comes to bodily functions. While this may not affect everyone personally, it is important to consider how others experience the building.
In the previous space, there were opportunities for dance and other recreational activities, but now those are limited due to the high risk of tripping over outlets or chairs. I want to emphasize that for many seniors, the senior center is their only place for socializing and recreation. For those of us without accessibility or financial issues, we have the option to visit other venues for recreation and socialization, such as Redwood City. However, for the seniors, this is often their only option.
Additionally, we did not hear you mention the piano, the need for more space, or the safety plan. Do you have any updates on these items? While safety plan cards are available in the building, as Mayor Combs noted in the last council meeting, many things felt suboptimal when we started using the BHCC. We cannot afford to discover that the safety plan is suboptimal in a life-or-death situation. In my experience, emergency drills are crucial, especially for seniors. We strongly suggest conducting drills with the seniors so they are better prepared in case of an emergency. We will not have the luxury of time to fix any issues if something goes wrong or people get hurt.
Lastly, you mentioned that the chairs have always been available for the seniors “upon request.” However, this is the second petition the seniors have started. In the last petition, the seniors requested safer, more comfortable chairs, which need to be provided, please. I signed the first petition too. The seniors even met with Justin and Sean about this. If these chairs were requested last year and are available, why have they not been provided to the seniors yet? How many incidents from the chairs would have been prevented? It feels as though the City’s focus has been more on securing the LEED Award rather than ensuring the building is accessible, safe, and functional for the Belle Haven community.
The seniors are looking forward to hearing more about the plans for addressing the ground-level outlets in the dining/event hall and the other missed items from the petition. When will executive leadership schedule a meeting to speak with the seniors? I want to emphasize that if executive leadership does not take the time to meet with the seniors and discuss their concerns, it sends a message of disrespect and suggests that the city does not value the Belle Haven community residents. While I do not speak for the seniors, and as someone without accessibility issues, I cannot fully express their needs, I do want to ensure their voices are heard.
Thank you again for taking the time to review the petition and share these updates. The seniors look forward to staying in touch as we continue to work toward improving the center for everyone in the community.
Best regards,
Belle Haven Community Campus Seniors and Allies
________________________________
Sent: Friday, April 4, 2025 11:48 AM
Subject: RE: Support Needed for Belle Haven Senior Center Improvements
Hi Mr. Hernandez,
Thanks for sending over this petition and sharing your concerns. I wanted to let you know they’ve been received, and we are reviewing them to see what we can do.
In terms of accessibility, I can share some initial feedback. The building was designed and constructed to meet all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the time of construction, and our building official further reviewed the site after your email last Friday to verify if anything in the regulations had changed since then. He verified the site does meet all current requirements. The curb ramp is placed near the ADA parking spaces so that those with mobility challenges can access the sidewalk directly adjacent to where they parked, without having to walk or travel through the parking lot. There is also a striped walkway that indicates the path of travel through the parking lot to the curb ramp to help guide people to the ramp. That path of travel has to meet certain slope and distance requirements as well to ensure it can be traversed by those with disabilities or mobility challenges. There is an emergency exit plan in place for the second floor, as this is a requirement prior to opening the building. We will continue to work with senior center staff to communicate this to the attendees of the center so everyone knows what to do in case of emergency.
Regarding your request for chairs from the prior center, I wanted to confirm that they are available for use. Senior center staff should be available to provide them to anyone upon request.
We are have been arranging the dining tables in the dining/event hall to cover the ground-level outlets while we evaluate if there are options to reconstruct them with a cover that is flush with the ground.
We will keep looking into the other suggestions, and follow up as we have more information.
Thank you again for your feedback.
Best,
Nikki
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Nicole H. Nagaya, P.E. (she/her)
Deputy City Manager
City Hall - 1st Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6781
menlopark.gov
See www.pronouns.org to learn more about why I share my pronouns.
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2025 6:38 PM
Subject: Support Needed for Belle Haven Senior Center Improvements
Dear City of Menlo Park Residents,
We, the undersigned, are reaching out to request your support in advocating to the City Council for critical improvements to the Belle Haven Community Campus. As members of this community—many of whom are seniors or individuals with disabilities—we urge the City to address several pressing concerns to ensure that the Senior Center is a safe, inclusive, and functional space for all.
Our Requests:
1. ADA-Accessible Chairs for People with Disabilities
The current chairs have led to multiple incidents of seniors tripping and falling. We request chairs specifically designed for individuals with disabilities, prioritizing safety and comfort. Unlike the carefully selected furniture in the previous building, these chairs were added without considering accessibility needs.
2. More Space and Staff for Activities
We miss the vibrant community events we once had, including Día de Reyes, Mardi Gras, and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. This year, these events were canceled due to staffing shortages. We request additional space and staff to restore these cherished traditions. The previous building had multiple rooms for activities and spaces to relax, fostering a stronger sense of community.
3. Safe Ground Outlets
The current placement of ground-level electrical outlets poses a significant tripping hazard, especially for those with limited mobility. Many seniors have already tripped over these outlets. We urge the City to relocate or cover them to prevent further accidents.
4. Return of the Piano
The Senior Center’s piano brought great joy and was a beloved part of our community activities. We respectfully request its return, as it played a vital role in fostering creativity, connection, and well-being.
5. ADA-Accessible Bathrooms
Many seniors struggle to open the bathroom doors without staff assistance, which is not always available. We request ADA-compliant bathrooms that allow independent use. Additionally, the bathroom upstairs is impractical for those attending classes on the second floor.
6. Adequate Space Around the Pool Table
In the previous building, a large social space accommodated two-person tables and four card tables. Now, the pool table is crammed into the entryway hallway, creating an unsafe and uncomfortable environment for socializing.
7. Wheelchair-Accessible Entrance
The current wheelchair ramp is located at the far end of the pool area, making access difficult and unsafe for those with mobility challenges. We request the installation of an additional accessible entrance closer to the main entrance for improved convenience and safety.
8. Supportive Seating for Art & Craft Classes
The current stools used for art and craft classes are uncomfortable and do not provide adequate support for seniors. We request ergonomic seating to ensure full participation in these creative activities.
9. Emergency Safety Exit Plan
Many classes take place on the second floor, raising concerns about emergency evacuation for individuals with mobility challenges. We request that the City develop a clear and accessible safety exit plan to ensure all seniors can evacuate safely in an emergency.
We strongly believe these improvements will create a safer, more welcoming environment for all seniors in our community. Your support is crucial in making these necessary changes a reality.
?? Please sign our online petition to show your support: https://chng.it/Tx8p5Ttfrh
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to working together to advocate for a better Belle Haven Community Campus.
Sincerely,
Belle Haven Seniors and Allies
