It is about time that the city started leading by example.

While this council majority has supported taking pledges, funding studies, paying for-profit PG&E for carbon credits, and brow-beating developers into LEED compliance, it has yet to "walk-the-walk."

We are building a new police station in Belle Haven without any significant green features and now the council seems to be wavering on spending a mere $144,000 out of a $7.3 million project to install solar panels.

Mr. Arrillaga has already been incredibly generous and accommodating with the city on LEED compliance. It's time for the city to show that it is willing to do more than talk-the-talk about environmentalism and pay for the installation of solar panels.

We don't need a study to know that it is the right thing to do.

If the budget is tight, take the money from what we are spending on studying green initiatives, or bike tunnels, or new parking garages.

Actions speak much louder than words!

Is this s deal that is going sour? Few understand that this 55 foot monster building will completely dwarf the buildings in place and that our incompetent planning staff has not even begun to solve parking problems. Menlo Park needs a gym facility like this like a hole in the head. Present council is totally incompetent and our present City Manager knows nothing but big is better.

How could an issue like this suddenly appear. Sounds like another screwup in the Rojas administration --- recalling $400,000 budget deficit problems and not even being able to send of a letter to the EIR on the High Speed Rail. Time to really review him and make sure he doesn't get a new contract.

Absurdly vicious comments yet again by one of our famous no-growther, no goer residents.

An $8M gift for a new gym is bad, planning for change is bad, new development is bad, everyone on council is incompetent, no one on city staff should be paid for work...this is such a tired cliche of our town.

Sour deal is so out of touch with the shifting demographics in this community it is sad.

The site placement of the new building, the types of materials, the types of windows (and coverings) can matter a lot in terms of conserving energy with passive solar in mind. An active solar array can be helpful, too. The city should investigate the passive solar issue as well, and push for those aspects of the LEED project.

I agree 100% Truth, I'm glad some of us are fighting back with the poor attitudes, and glass half empty crowd. We've got some great opportunities to improve our gem of a city, the gym will be fantastic, and well used. Next are the eye sores on El Camino and tackling the push back on HSR, we can't let HSR divide this town!

Solar panels are the way to go. Anyone saying otherwise is globally (not locally) out of touch.

I do believe in the City Manager but not with all the council. But to those who critize the modernization of Menlo Park. "MOVE, leave the city if you don't like it."

How close will the high speed rail line be to the new gym? WIll it need to be demolished? Will it vibrate when the trains go by.

The city so far is ignoring this possibility.

John, many people have acknowledged your generosity. I would like to acknowledge your patience. Gift Horse + Menlo Park + Mouth = Study. Redirect you generous gift to your favorite charity where it will actually be appreciated AND put to use.

How many issues like this are the citizens of MP going to put up with. The City Manager was involved directly in the negotiations on the Gym. How can an issue like solar panels suddenly appear. Council should be furious since they approved a project without being given the full details.

How many more mess ups are we going to put up with from this guy, who makes over $200K / year. We have $400K budget mistakes. We have letters not being sent to the court in the High Speed Rail lawsuit.

We have had no leadership about cutting staff size so that the endless budget deficits are erased. No, all we have is his insistence that we build bigger and denser, don't worry about traffic or quality of life. Present council and City Manager not getting the job done. When does the City Manager's contract expire? Is it this year? Should Council already be looking for a replacement?

Has the city even asked John A for this kind of support, or to alter the building to make it as energy efficient as possible? Construction costs will be lower than when he made his offer. Reasonable people can work things out, but they have to try.