Dear Council, I was surprised to watch your Oct 15, 2019 Council meeting and see the below agenda item added without the public being given 72 hours notice. The topic is not listed in the original https://www.menlopark.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/ArchivedAgenda/_10152019-1735 > or the amended http://menlopark.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=menlopark_47b2110cc7229f08af6ff14bf7e95d6c.pdf&view=1 > Oct 15 Council Agenda. Both are posted here https://www.menlopark.org/AgendaCenter/PreviousVersions/_10152019-3343 >. I only see the topic in the agenda that is linked to the video of the meeting. https://menlopark.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=6&clip_id=2112 > H1-2. MOTION: 4. Authorize staff (City Manager & City Attorney) to work with Facebook to prepare an agreement for Council approval outlining the parameters, process, including community engagement. etc. of Facebook’s offer to build a Multigenerational Comm The public should have been given 72 hours to know about this topic, so they had time to prepare comments as to who should be on the negotiating team. I listened to Mayor Mueller's justification for adding the topic (i.e. that Staff wanted to move quickly). However, Council didn't need to make a motion to have a team of Staff/District 1 Representation/Facebook to start preliminary discussions. Unless I am missing something, I believe the lack of 72-hour notice violated the Brown Act. https://www.cacities.org/Member-Engagement/Professional-Departments/City-Attorneys-Department/Publications/Open-Public-IV_-A-Guide-to-the-Ralph-M-Brown-Act-(.aspx > I request that the Mayor reschedule this topic for the October 29th Council meeting and that the Oct 15 motion be rescinded. Between now and then,District 1 Council Member Taylor should be present at all meetings with Facebook regarding their offer. There is no reason why the H1-2 motion needed to be rushed through at the Oct 15, 2019 meeting so that the City Manager and City Attorney could be the "official" negotiating team. To repeat my prior point, preliminary talks could have begun without the Motion. To me, the purpose of the motion was to restrict the participation to the City Attorney and City Manager, and to formally exclude District 1 Council Member Taylor, or her delegate, as a direct member of the negotiating team. The rushed motion also perpetuates a toxic status quo" in Belle Haven that residents find objectionable. They want a direct seat at the decision-making table, and to have a direct role in City decisions affecting their day-to-day lives. Keeping Council member Taylor informed as to the City Manager and City Attorney's negotiations with Facebook is not enough. That is no substitute for a direct seat at the negotiating table where she can hear the discussion and speak up directly. Council Member Taylor lives in Belle Haven and knows her district whereas the City Manager and City Attorney (unless they have moved recently) do not live in Belle Haven. As Sheryl Bims so eloquently details in her letter http://ccin.menlopark.org/att-20633/Building_Community_Together_10-15-19docx.pdf > to council, this project should move forward with the community playing an active role in all aspects. It's more than time for a change in the local government culture in Menlo Park and the Facebook offer could be a big step forwards towards that change. Like Ms. Bims, I also I commend Facebook for recognizing a true need in the community and the way that they first went to the Belle Haven Community to make their offer. I appreciate their approach and that they realize that the Belle Haven residents have stated that they want their new Branch Library at the Onetta Harris Center. I certainly hope that someone from Facebook is reading this email and that Facebook will not allow negotiations without adequate representation from District 1. Facebook, please stand up for the rights and preferences of the District 1 residents who are bearing the burden of the downside of your extensive presence in Menlo Park. Please insist that Council Member Taylor is part of any meetings on this topic pending Council's re discussion of this matter. Lynne Bramlett Received on Fri Oct 25 2019 - 13:13:09 PDT
