July 2025 Newsletter

Key Downtown Projects Move Forward

Downtown was added to the city’s priority list at the city council’s goal-planning session earlier this year. This designation indicates that staff will prioritize projects focused on reimagining and improving the downtown area. But of course, it will take collaboration between the city and other important stakeholders to realize the changes to downtown that we want to see. In recent weeks, there have been key steps toward improving downtown, from both the city government and Menlo Church.

• Menlo Church, a staple of the Menlo Park community for more than 150 years, is moving forward with a project to extensively update its outdoor area along Santa Cruz Avenue (see top image). The goal is to make the church’s “front yard” feel like an extension of Fremont Park across the street. There will also be updates to the church’s student center, aimed at making the campus a more welcoming space for parishioners and the broader Menlo Park community.

• At its meeting on July 8, the city council received and provided feedback on a presentation about possible design improvements to the 600 block of Santa Cruz Avenue (see bottom image). There will be extensive community outreach before the council finalizes a design plan. I’m excited about making this space an attractive community gathering spot. However, I also want to emphasize that improving the look and feel of downtown must include hardscape and design enhancements throughout the entire area, not just on this one block. Additionally, during the council discussion I shared my opinion that the 600 block should serve mainly as an informal gathering place. Active programming (e.g., organized community events) should generally take place in other downtown locations, such as Fremont Park. I look forward to hearing your ideas for the 600 block—and for all of downtown—in the months ahead.

Seeking a Balanced Approach to Reach 2 Project

In last month’s newsletter and at recent San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Board meetings, I shared my concerns about certain aspects of the Reach 2 project. Many details of the project—such as the height and location of the proposed flood walls—remain unclear, which has limited my ability to make a more informed assessment. However, I want to take this opportunity to share my overall thinking in greater detail.

From my perspective, the JPA staff has been most focused on appeasing competing groups of Palo Alto residents: one group appears opposed to any action by the JPA, especially actions that would impact their private property, while another group believes the JPA should pursue the most aggressive flood mitigation options.

In this environment, the JPA staff has lost sight of the specific ways in which Menlo Park residents experience the creek and would be affected by the proposed changes. As a result, there seems little appreciation of the disproportionate impacts of proposals such creek widening mostly on the San Mateo County side and repurposing a traffic lane on Woodland for flood walls.

Recent events in Texas have further underscored the importance of having a variety of flood mitigation and protection measures in place. As a member of the JPA Board, I’m committed to all residents in both counties who live in the flood zone. But as the Menlo Park representative to the board, I’m also committed to ensuring that JPA projects take a balanced and equitable approach.

Menalto Parklet’s Future and National Night Out in the Willows

• National Night Out this year will be held on August 5, 2025. As in years past, the Willows neighborhood’s National Night Out event will be hosted by Neighborhood Pizza Guy/Cafe Zoë and will take place in the parking area in front of the Menalto Avenue retail strip. There will be activities for kids and, of course, public safety personnel will make a special appearance. This event is funded, in part, by donations from the community. If you’d like to contribute, please reach out to Matt Burr ([email protected]).

• Menalto Avenue Parklet – I want to acknowledge that there have been changes to the parklet in front of Neighborhood Pizza Guy/Cafe Zoë as a result of the city’s removal of the concrete barriers. I’m actively working with all stakeholders to resolve this in a way that preserves this valued community gathering space.

Menlo Park Takes Step Towards Enacting Heat Pump Requirement

At its meeting on July 8, a majority of the council directed city staff to return with updates to the building code that would prohibit residents from replacing an air conditioner with another air conditioner. In most cases, residents seeking to replace an air conditioner would only have the option of installing a heat pump. Additionally, the majority of the council also expressed support for a further expansion of pre-wiring requirements during home renovations. These new restrictions are, of course, driven by the very real predicament that climate change represents.

While I recognize that both micro (i.e., individual) and macro-level (i.e., nation-state) actions are needed to combat climate change, I was skeptical of the direction given by the majority of the council for several reasons.

First, I’m hesitant to introduce new ordinances and codes that increase the financial burden on residents. Second, I tend to favor incentivizing residents rather than prohibiting them—which is what these new codes represent. And finally, I believe the government should fully implement changes like this in its own buildings before requiring them of residents.

Community Office Hours and State of City Address

I’m looking forward to continuing the dialogue represented by the Community Office Hours in two more sessions this month. Recent topics of discussion have included the Sunset Campus proposal, the closure of Santa Cruz Avenue, and pool operations. Due to family travel, sessions in early August will be canceled. Community Office Hours will resume on August 16th. We are also in the process of finalizing a date and location for this year’s State of the City address. My hope is that we can hold the event in District 2.

• July 19th: Community Office Hours will be hosted at Neighborhood Pizza Guy/Cafe Zoë from 9 AM to 10 AM

• July 26th: Community Office Hours will be hosted at Neighborhood Pizza Guy/Cafe Zoë from 9 AM to 10 AM

• August 2nd and 9th: Community Office Hours will be canceled due to family travel

• Date/Location to be finalized: State of the City Address

Congressman Celebrates July 4th in Menlo Park