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- December 2024 Newsletter
December 2024 Newsletter

New Crosswalks At Bay Road/Menlo Oaks Drive

The city recently painted two additional crosswalks at the intersection of Bay Road and Menlo Oaks Drive. The aim of these changes is to increase pedestrian safety at the intersection, especially the safety of students headed to the nearby bus stop. The city is still in the process of planning a much larger project for Bay Road, which will include extensive repaving and additional crosswalk stripes.
Historic Designation Sought For 80 Willow Road

The former Sunset Magazine campus has been nominated for historical designation. The campus will be among the nominations reviewed by the State Historic Resource Commission at its meeting on February 7, 2025. This review comes as Willow Park, the name of the Builder’s Remedy project being proposed for the campus at 80 Willow Road, would require demolition of all current buildings. You can learn more about the project on the city’s website.
San Francisquito Creek JPA: Recent Developments

The November newsletter noted that the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority received a presentation on a new set of potential Reach 2 projects. Here’s a link to the report from WRA Environmental Consultants. Additionally, the SFCJPA has been in the news recently due to a pubic meeting held by the Santa Clara Valley Water District in which that agency explored pulling out of the SFCJPA. Menlo Park and Palo Alto officials remain united that the way forward is not a substantive change in the organization or membership of the SFCJPA, but a commitment of its 5 member agencies to finally deliver additional flood protection to those living in the creek’s flood zone.
New Businesses Opening in 2025

The new year will bring two new business to the the commercial strip at Menalto and Gilbert Avenues. Spiffy Pottery Studio is scheduled to go into the space vacated by the dance studio. Haven Wine & Cheese, a wine and cheese bar concept, is scheduled to occupy a space in the business plaza that has long been vacant. Use permits for both businesses were approved by the Menlo Park Planning Commission in recent months. During the course of the year, I’ve had an open line of communication with the owners of both businesses and I’m really excited that they chose Menlo Park and the Willows to make their businesses a reality.
Traffic Counters And More

Traffic Counters - You may have noticed the recent installation of traffic counters across the city and in District 2. These traffic counts are being conducted throughout the city to assess transportation improvement needs and general traffic patterns. For some locations, the city collects volume; and for others, it collects speed and volume. Here’s a map showing where the city regularly collects this information. Additional locations are added in response to traffic concerns or resident requests. More recently, locations for monitoring have been added as part of the Slow Streets program.
Woodland/Middlefield Intersection - In the new year, the city will formally kick off its analysis of the intersection of Woodland Avenue and Middlefield Road. The goal of the analysis and community engagement will be to finalize elements of a future pilot program. The pilot will be focused on increasing the safety for pedestrians crossing Middlefield and cars exiting the Willows neighborhood. In the weeks ahead, I’ll be meeting with Palo Alto officials to discuss their possible involvement and support of the pilot program.
Sanitary District Appointment - At its meeting on December 17, 2024, the city council appointed Dianne Otterby to the newly created East Palo Alto Sanitary District advisory board. I look forward to working with her to ensure that the interests of Menlo Park residents who rely on the sanitary district are adequately represented.
Welcome to New City Council Colleagues - The city council’s December 17, 2024 meeting also represented the first full meeting with my new colleagues Jennifer Wise, who represents District 5, and Jeff Schmidt, who represents District 3. I look forward to working with them in the years ahead.
Community Office Hours Go Citywide

At the city council’s reorganization meeting on December 10, 2024, I was selected as Mayor and Betsy Nash was selected Vice Mayor. I’m honored that my council colleagues entrusted me with this role for 2025. To reflect the expanded responsibilities that come while serving as Mayor, my community office hours will be on the move. I’ll host citywide office hours at various locations throughout the city on the last Saturday of each month. For all other Saturdays, my office hours will continue to be hosted at 9 am at Cafe Zoe in the Willows. The community office hours on January 25, 2025 will be hosted at Saint Frank Coffee (1018 Alma Street) at 9am, weather permitting.
Seasons Greetings
I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year.
This is a monthly newsletter from Menlo Park Mayor and District 2 Councilmember Drew Combs. The purpose of this newsletter is to inform Menlo Park residents, and specifically those in District 2, about city council matters, city projects and other city-related issues. It joins other efforts to engage District 2 residents including weekly community office hours.