Hello Council,
The staff report (18-055-CC) for the draft charter process and timeline has some concerning details. It starts by asserting that
"over the years, Menlo Park has wanted to pursue certain initiatives that were only available to charter cities."
The vague, "over the years" and "Menlo Park" and "certain initiatives" should be more specific. How many years? Who is "Menlo
Park?" Staff? Council? The public deserves the details.
The "certain initiatives" phrase that the unspecified "Menlo Park" wants to implement pertains to a sweeping list of potential
initiatives. Agreeing to this would give too broad powers to staff and council. As explained in paragraph four, staff recommends
that council adopt a "simple enabling charter" that would give the city "power to establish local regulations in the key municipal
areas of public works contracts, purchasing, public financing, utilities, revenue retention, land use, elections, fines and
penalties." The list seems more like items that staff gets involved in and then presents to Council. Giving staff even more power
(without enough accountability, transparency and responsiveness to the public) is not a good idea and this will be rejected by
voters.
I agree with Steve Chessin and Jen Wolosin's recommendations on this topic. Adopt a simple charter that is completely transparent.
Focus the charter on codifying the districting plan that you adopt. If you want to add changes later, than do that in a way that's
transparent and allows for a public vote.
Voters will reject a too-broad charter that is basically a blank check for staff and/or council to fill in.
Lynne Bramlett
