Good morning Mayor Keith, Mayor Pro Tem Ohtaki, Councilmembers and Menlo Park Staff, I had the pleasure of meeting Derek Schweigart last night at the Bedwell meeting and I quickly explained Resilient by Design. I wanted to introduce myself. I am Claudia López, Community Engagement Director for Resilient by Design. I am working very closely with Michael Barber from Sup. Dave Pine's office and with the Office of Sustainability. You may have heard about Resilient by Design http://www.resilientbayarea.org/about/ >, but in case you haven't, this Challenge is a collaborative research and design project that brings together local residents, public officials and local, national and international experts to develop innovative solutions to the issues brought on by climate change that our region faces today. In a yearlong challenge, teams of engineers, architects, designers and other experts will work alongside community members to identify critical areas throughout the Bay Area and propose exciting, new, community-based solutions that will strengthen our region’s resilience to sea level rise, severe storms, flooding and earthquakes. The result will be 10 new implementable projects that offer an imaginative and collaborative approach to resilience. By seizing the critical need to address climate change as an opportunity to bring about a stronger, safer Bay, we are protecting shoreline communities and preparing for the local challenges brought on by sea level rise. On Monday, October 16, we will take Design Teams to Bedwell Bayfront Park. Len Matterman, SAFER Bay Project, Lewis Knight, Facebook and ideally a representative from the City and Friends of Bedwell Park will talk to Design Teams. I know the City of Menlo Park is working on a Bedwell Master Plan. Can someone please discuss how Bedwell Bayfront Park is built on top of a landfill, and it is surrounded on three sides by the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge? We plan to be at the park for about 1 hour before we end the day at Cooley Landing for a community event. *Here are some details for Bedwell Park Tour:* *Bedwell Bayfront Park Tour | 3:10 - 4:00PM* Speakers Confirmed: Len Materman (SAFER Bay Project), Lewis Knight (Facebook), TBD (Friends of Bedwell Bayfront Park), Councilmember Ray Muller (City Council) *Agenda:* -City can welcome teams to the site, and provide an overview/history of Bedwell. (TBD) -Len will provide an overview of the SAFER Bay Project, highlighting: the relatively aggressive SLR assumption being used; the public private partnership; the complexity of having multiple cities, counties, jurisdictions participating in this initiative; permitting challenges; and opportunities for future work. -Lewis Knight will speak about Facbook’s efforts at the Bedwell site, their work with the SAFER Bay Project, and how FB is thinking about “resilience” on it’s campus and in the community. Can Menlo Park welcome Design Teams and talk about the history of the park? On a different note, we are pleased to say that Acterra, Youth United for Community Action (YUCA), Canopy, the City of East Palo Alto, San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine and The Office of Sustainability of San Mateo County, as well as community leaders, faith based leaders, city elected officials, youth leaders and residents will join us! The special panel, "A Resilient East Palo Alto: Perspectives from the Community” will have youth leaders, a community member (a trained architect and lifelong EPA resident), East Palo Alto City Staff and the Vice Mayor of East Palo Alto will facilitate. The conversation will be around how the community envisions solutions for combatting sea level rise and the effects climate change is having on vulnerable communities in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven. *Details:* Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Time: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Location: Cooley Landing Substation, 2000 Bay Rd., East Palo Alto, CA 94303 I've CC:ed Marisa Villarreall, my coworker, who I am working very closely with to ensure we provide Teams and the community an amazing collaborative experience. Let us know if you have questions. We hope you can join us! Thanks so much, Claudia López -- *Claudia López* Community Engagement Director Resilient by Design 375 Beale St, Suite 800 | San Francisco, CA 94105 (650) 290-4705 c | resilientbayarea.org Facebook https://www.facebook.com/resilientbayarea/ > | Twitter http://twitter.com/ResilientBay > | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/resilientbayarea/ > Received on Thu Oct 12 2017 - 07:43:52 PDT
