Shameful marathon city council meeting this Tuesday

Taxpayer asks how the council can "do justice to complex topics with such a full agenda?" A rhetorical question -- obviously the council can't do justice to them. The next logical questions: Who is running this show? And why?

It is useful to actually read the Staff Report before leaping to conclusions about what the agenda topic on the General Plan Update actually calls for:

"The City Council meeting of October 6, 2015 provides the Council and members of the public an
opportunity to provide feedback on the Draft Land Use and Circulation Elements and Draft Bayfront Area
zoning summary. The Council’s guidance on the issues such as affordable housing will be important as we
continue through the process. Although NO FORMAL ACTION (caps added)is required on the Draft Land Use and CirculationElements and Bayfront Area zoning summary, the Council should discuss and provide comments,authorize the revised schedule with additional community, GPAC and Planning Commission meetings, and confirm the composition of the GPAC."

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I have just completed reading the Staff report and all of its attachments - it is very well done and worth reading.

Citizenship requires participation.

I have now just completed reading the Staff Report on the Specific Plan review.

It asks for City Council "direction to staff on whether or not to pursue changes in the following
standards:
• Rear Setback
• Maximum Setbacks
• Sidewalks
• Personal Improvement Services Parking Rate
• Transportation Demand Management Programs
• Electric Vehicle Recharging Stations
• Hotel Parking Rate
• Additional Parking Reductions for Mixed-Use Projects in the Station Area Sphere of Influence
• Proposed Changes by Pollock Financial Group:
• Gross Floor Area Calculation
• Major Vertical Façade Modulation"

Again, all totally reasonable issues and well within the capability of the Council to discuss in the course of this meeting.

Concerned citizens should review the report and utilize the public comment period to make their view known.

Mayor Catherine Carlton is in charge of the Menlo Park City Council Agenda.

Residents should ask Mayor Carlton why she approved putting the General Plan and the Specific Plan on the same agenda? Did she direct it?

Residents should ask Mayor Carlton why she waited until after Stanford submitted it's new project proposal to schedule the Specific Plan review?

Residents should ask Mayor Carlton how many times she met with Stanford this year, regarding their project, prior to scheduling the Specific Plan review?
Did she know the bike tunnel wouldn't be included in the new project proposal?

Residents should ask Mayor Carlton why she has set on the same agenda, not one, not two, but three proclamations, as well as a Community Services Report in addition to the selection of two commissioners, prior to beginning the discussion on the General Plan?

Residents should ask Mayor Carlton why she scheduled the General Plan discussion before the Specific Plan review? The Specific Plan review predictably should elicit more public comment as it was the subject of Measure M and occurs only once every two years. The General Plan is not close to completion.

Residents should ask Mayor Carlton what time she expects to begin public comment on the Specific Plan review?

Then ask yourself if residents of neighboring cities like Palo Alto, Atherton, and Portola Valley would accept an agenda like this.

The city should provide counseling for residents that are upset by this agenda.

@ PC "citizenship requires participation"
Yes, and it requires time to digest new information on top of family and work obligations. It's easier to participate when Council meetings end before 10 PM on a school/work night, too. Many of us are not retirees.

We all make our choices,

That is what democracy is all about,

Some people just like to complain about any and everything. Some always have an excuse about time and obligations. Too bad, so sad. Being a citizen is work and voting requires knowledge and participation.

I'm curious - not only who but when are agendas set and how far into the future? They should be reasonably scheduled so citizens can have time to absorb the information for each meeting with plenty of time prep. It seems an agenda for a community this size should be at least 4 weeks out. The government owes consideration and leeway to its own, who, by the way, elect them.

And when will they replace the temporary manager? Is this on their agenda?

Thank you poster for this article.

The 'me first' society is in full swing on this topic.
Those who benefit are happy to have critical city documents jammed through a single Council meeting and without even enough advanced warning to actually read the documents.

Particularly enjoyable are the snarky, mocking and self-important comments of some posters who clearly support the status quo - as it works well for them.

A side note, If you crawl through the city online archive (I did) - you will be surprised by just how much info is actually written down in City documents - without being reported on or being made truly and easily accessible to residents. It's there, but you have to dig for it.

Those who support and perpetuate the obfuscation are shameless.

Let's have an appropriate process for scheduling council meetings and timely posting of specific agendas and the same for *timely* and easy access to critical city documents.

Citizenship was never meant to be an easy ride. Given the Brown Act nothing is done in secret and any citizen who wants to be informed and participate can do so. Bot don't expect to be spoon fed.

And remember that the Council members were elected to do their job and they spend a LOT of time doing it - for almost no compensation.

I expect people I helped elect to hold public meetings at hours the public can attend. Many of us have school kids, jobs. We want to participate but the huge agendas with little notice and the long meetings make that impossible. I heard that the specific plan review didn't start until after 11 pm. Really?.
That is not a transparent or inclusive process.

I say skip all the preamble nonsense to each council meeting such as the Pledge of allegiance, proclamations, waffling public comment, and general posturing and get straight to the agenda. That would be Democracy in Action!