This project has been publicly noticed several times. For the library crowd to cry foul at the 11th hour when it has had ample opportunity to weigh in puts the project in jeopardy. Also, campus wide we have adequate parking.

Menlo Park has very benign weather and a little walking is a small price to pay. A parking garage is a very expensive project. One day we may need one but we don't need one now.

Menlo Park was very fortunate to have Mr. Arrillaga offer to donate his time and money for the project. The last thing we would want to do is to cause him pull out because the City was too unreasonable or inflexible in its dealings with him.

Menlo Park has a unenviable reputation among developers. We should act prudently so that we don't sully our reputation any further.

Prudence in the present may be wisdom in the future. With the current demographic trend of more children and increasing interest in health/fitness, gyms and libraries will likely experience higher use in the future. Despite Mr. Arrillaga's generous offer, I think that the City owes it to the community to assure that the new gym allows for a multitude of uses and accommodates patrons' access conveniently, safely, and completely. Drop-off areas and parking (structures?), which could be used by everyone using facilities at Burgess, may be an expenditure that if not put forth now could create chaos later. At that time, will the City mitigate for the short term or build (better late than never?) for the long term.
I hope our City Council will slow down and think far down the line, broadly, and wisely.

I have come to the conclusion that the whole idea of putting a structure the size contemplated for the new gym in Burgess Park is the wrong thing to do. Burgess Park has rapidly become overbuilt and you should call a halt to all such building.

City Council is falling for all the pablum being fed it. No vision, no understanding of the bigger picture. We'll have a great gym, but the price will be a lot higher than the council wants to believe.