Hi Azalea,
Awaiting your reponse on the follow up questions and the data gathering efforts that were put in place to decide on the “streets” for resurfacing. Okeefe Speed bump just before Laurel is now broken as well - so everyone’s tires are hitting the where it’s broken.
It is quite a mystery as I watch Pope Street resurfacing without adequate traffic assessment, the transportation department should have picked up the request for traffic calming / pedestrian crossing for Central & Pope intersection as well.
Parts of Menalto from Haight -> Walnut are in very bad shape, those intersections are all high pedestrian crossing especially Menalto & Okeefe as kids from East Palo Alto walk on Okeefe to the school, and same for kids from Haight/Chester/Durham/Okeefe walk & Bike to Upper Laurel.
As I run / walk across the neighborhood- I see the LAMP Posts are all at the same distance from the intersection when I see the bright yellow crossing painted at Walnut + Central, Elm + Central, Gilbert + Central intersections where the new stop signs were put up 2+ yrs ago. That same effort should have continued through downstream to Menalto, Central, Okeefe & Pope Streets for a more detailed traffic analysis.
Kindly let us know if you want to come out and walk the neighborhood with kids & neighbors here so you can visually see / experience the actual walk/bike routes to each of the schools surrounding Willows.
Will be on lookout for further communication and action items.
Thank you.
Savita.
On Jul 14, 2025, at 9:53 PM, Savita Kini
wrote:
Hi Azalea
Thank you for the detailed summary note.
Please see our follow up questions.
1. Ms Marcia Bever (whose house was damaged) shot 2 pictures of the signage posted at 2 intersections — Walnut & Central has more prominent - "cross-traffic does not stop” signage while “Central & Okeefe” has this teeny-tiny “2-way stop” sign

2. Similarly — we run/walk/bike around willows and we are seeing similar in-consistent cross-walk markings — completely random to decipher. I went online to understand the difference between - 2 YELLOW LINES (on Central at OKEEFE intersection) vs Multiple Yellow Zebra Crossing at all 4 sides of the cross-walk at Central & Walnut — where the above big yellow signage was. If you walk further down on Walnut OR O’Connor/Wlem to Menalto — again we have very faded 2 yellow lines. Even though all of these intersections have the same cross-cross heavy Pedestrian /school kids traffic.
See these google earth images

Can you please explain the reasoning for the painting of these pedestrian crossings across all these different pedestrian cross-walks on the same streets end-to-end and perpendicular?
When was this data last gathered for the pedestrian traffic across Gilbert, Walnut, Okeefe, Central , menalto etc ? Remember that Upper Laurel did not exist until 2017.
3. We reported the accident in October 2024, so why did this stretch of Okeefe not get included in the upcoming SLURRY Work for Jul-Aug 2025. How was data obtained objectively for which streets were to be resurfaced ? Who provided input - residents or city staff ? Where can we see the online information and pictures and data collected including the source of the information?
We are looking forward to more transparency in the process, more data and will following up with FOIA requests as needed.
Thank you.
Savita.
On Jul 14, 2025, at 9:20 PM, Mitch, Azalea A wrote:
Hello Savita,
Thank you for your email and we appreciate your patience. We understand the concerns and have assessed the field conditions. Below is a summary of the improvements we completed. Because some of the requests require engineering and design, we will be including them in our 2026 Annual Slurry project, which will be in construction in summer 2026. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Azalea
Updates below:
Improve the crosswalk Markings at Central & Okeefe so its bright yellow and visible at night and day –
6/18: Completed.
Additional sign cross-traffic does not stop on the exiting central Stop signs both directions –
6/18: We installed two-way plaques, which indicate to the driver that cross-traffic does not stop. These plaques meet the City’s standard.
Additional cross-walk across Okeefe at Central and Surface mounted Cross-walk signage — there is none right now to slow traffic down for crossing same as Central & Walnut further up the block –
We inspected the existing conditions to assess potential placement of a standard crosswalk, considering the nearby electric pole. As part of our 2026 street slurry project, we will assess what needs to be engineered to upgrade the crosswalks and ramps. Below is a link to the City’s 5-year street resurfacing program for more information.
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fmenlopark.gov%2fGovernment%2fDepartments%2fPublic-Works%2fCapital-improvement-projects%2fStreet-Resurfacing-Program&c=E,1,uUSBiBjVrouQwcg33bbfDhHV-kJ8OblkVQmsSPpR5cPhXzyBvFr8lToJOrPy5XinwNiDgf89gkXy9BAtpSQRhANszz93jHAvnVdBNgf9WzG58g,,&typo=1
Measuring the height of the current speed bumps on O’Keefe and repainting them for visibility day and night - its worn out and likely shifted. –
We inspected the three speed bumps on O’Keefe (near 115, 219, 420 O’Keefe) The speed bump near 420 O’Keefe meets the City’s standards. Speed bumps near 115 and 219 O’Keefe will be rebuilt as part of the 2026 slurry project.
For the longer term potential improvements, we are adding these to our Slow Streets program.
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fmenlopark.gov%2fGovernment%2fDepartments%2fPublic-Works%2fTransportation-Division%2fSlow-Streets-Program&c=E,1,FS7lKl9tYhJBcsJ51G3o9OenkbwhjcmWNv_N-l08fcC1u-iYSuDXnKT736iZneO5WFtlUobZjCXiXaATYvOXsVi7e1IaWOqvLQV0HTcoV7S4QQv-ug,,&typo=1

Azalea A. Mitch, P.E. (she/her)
Public Works Director
City Hall - 1st Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6692
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fmenlopark.gov&c=E,1,yqXpk6enAsTFxiuAf2JX6jxEc_tiDJy3fJZq8ppDK8pLJ1OPN6SLGUa7JjIJKsndwPc75OQtKFX8G1Lajn8yBpCjXKp5nVDNWDg-prt-&typo=1
See https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.pronouns.org&c=E,1,G7dSu00bDm8lkEVRwbyBdT_Jg7y-JOHWQHAasLb5_8IEiGX7CY7BlXrrz15CqgGJDMTiB2C16EFiw89BgFVThCKEKTuXk_TgL9lqBip6kKtJpg,,&typo=1 to learn more about why I share my pronouns.
From: Savita Kini
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2025 9:34 AM
To: Drew Combs ; _CCIN ; Combs, Drew ; Murphy, Justin I C ; Nagaya, Nicole H ; Mitch, Azalea A ; Vo, Phong T
Cc: rkhare@gmail.com; marciabever01@gmail.com; Richard Morel ; jayne3b@gmail.com; slmhome@yahoo.com; tushar.janefalkar@gmail.com
Subject: Re: URGENT FOLLOW UP -- Okeefe & Central Speed Calming, Bike & Pedestrian safety concerns.
To the City Council, Mayor Drew Combs, City Manager, Deputy City Manager, City Transportation Engineer, Public works Director,
This is a follow up from our meeting in October 2024 with Mayor Drew Combs at the corner of Central & Okeefe
after a significant life threatening and heavy property damage accident, when a speeding Car from Central hit a car on Okeefe,
sending it over the curb into Ms Marcia Bever’s home, causing significant property damage. She has still not been able to get it
fixed and covered by her “home insurance” or the insurance of the person who was speeding down central, who caused the accident.
Even after 9 months we have received zero response / outreach from anyone across the city or the public works or transportation team.
Please provide a forward looking action plan with urgency and commitment to safety of all residents in/around Willows.
Background: For last 4 yrs, I have been emailing Mayor / City council regarding comprehensive bike and pedestrian safety review, given
this area is surrounded by 4 elementary schools and lot of foot & bike traffic especially kids. My daughter was almost hit while crossing at
menalto & Central. This is very risky intersection. Back in 1998 - this intersection did have a circle but was removed apparently without due
inputs and consideration of people living in willows and on these streets.
I am copying the neighbor whose house was damaged — Ms. Marcia Bever Corner of Central & Okeefe
Other neighbors
216 Okeefe St - Tushar Janefalkar
208 Okeefe St - Richard
Corner of Central & Okeee - Jayne
Sara - across from Marcia
Corner of Okeefe & Laurel (same age kids as my daughter, walk to upper laurel) - Rohit Khare
SUMMARY of our Requests based on our discussions with Mayor Combs
Short-term quick fixes
1. Improve the crosswalk Markings at Central & Okeefe so its bright yellow and visible at night and day
2. Additional sign cross-traffic does not stop on the exiting central Stop signs both directions
3. Additional cross-walk across Okeefe at Central — there is none right now to slow traffic down for crossing same as Central & Walnut further up the block
4. Surface mounted Cross-walk signage
5. Measuring the height of the current speed bumps on OKEEFE and repainting them for visibility day and night - its worn out and likely shifted
NOTE: We also would like to know why OKEEFE not get included in the resurfacing streets across Willows. We did not see any of the streets beyond Gilbert be resurfaced
LONG TERM
1. Add measuring instruments to capture speeding on Okeefe and Central — DONE. Report the findings to residents across Central & Okeefe
2. Add speed bumps on Central
3. 4-way stop sign
OR
Traffic Circle at Okeefe & Central
OR
Additional Speed Bumps on Okeefe
Thank you.
Savita.
212 Okeefe St.
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LinkedIn | +1 669 226 2735
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LinkedIn | +1 669 226 2735
__________________________________________
LinkedIn | +1 669 226 2735
__________________________________________
LinkedIn | +1 669 226 2735