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eled streets in the Willows, will receive an unpredictable added traffic volume as will their side streets. In a survey mailed to residents, the highest concern was “speeding,” yet this plan does virtually nothing about speeding. The second highest was “no concern.” Assuming the 73 percent of the Willows who didn’t even respond were also expressing “no concern,” we can expect an explosion of conflict if their traditional routes are disrupted and traffic is diverted to their streets. I ask the City Council to stop this fiasco in-the-making. Eric Doyle Laurel Avenue, Menlo Park
Council asked to stop Willows traffic study Editor: I am appealing to the citizens of Menlo Park to urge the City Council to stop the current Willows area-wide traffic study initiative from moving forward to the next costly step. This proposal will be on the City Council’s agenda June 7. For the third time, the city has spent excessive amounts of tax-payer’s money to appease a small, vocal minority of Willows residents who want the study, while a majority of residents are not in favor of the traffic mitigation proposals. Already this time, over $100,000 has been spent on consulting fees to derive a flawed set of proposals for traffic mitigation within the Willows neighborhood, in addition to countless hours of staff time and neighborhood meetings. In April, the Menlo Park Traffic Commission voted not to advance the proposal. Please ask the City Council to do the same. We can’t afford to continue to spend money and staff time on an initiative that is so flawed and largely unwelcome in the neighborhood. Julie Forbes O’Keefe Street, Menlo Park
Ad for Saltworks could mislead on housing Editor: The ad recently put out by Cargill and DMB about their City in the Bay is designed to make us think that a senior who has trouble affording the basics would be able to afford Below Market Rate (BMR) housing there. Here’s a little reality check. Those of us who have looked into it know that when developers build BMR units they price them at the top of the legal formula for “Below Market Rate.” Such units are never “affordable” on a small income. Not without a subsidy.
‘Granny’ heritage oak is worthy of saving By Carol Taggert
possible nesting places for species such as the t 300 years of age, they call her “Granny.” Acorn Woodpecker, a cavity nester. She proIn truth, she is a healthy, robust middle- vides safe nesting sites, food, and refuge for ager with others like her mammals and a myriad of bird spehaving been known to exceed 600 cies. On any early morning or evening years. one can see birds flying in and out of She is a Valley oak, a tree endemic the tree. to California and the largest of all How old is 300 years? The Pilgrims oak tree species in North America. had arrived on our eastern shores only Her height is 65 feet, with a spread80 or so years prior to when, as an ing canopy of rich green foliage infant, Granny sent her new tap roots stretching 75 feet. deep into the soil. In her youth, at the GUEST Within that canopy her topmost age of almost 100 years, this country branches cradle a massive nest, OPINION had a new president, and the Bill of possibly that of a hawk, which is Rights was adopted. California was partially camouflaged by thick healthy foliage admitted into The Union and gold was disand not easily seen without binoculars. covered when she was a mere 150 years old. The diameter of her trunk is 60 inches with When she celebrated her approximate 200th a circumference of 189 inches or nearly 16 feet. birthday, Leland Stanford had settled in our She resides on 15th Avenue, off Marsh Road, area and the railroad connecting the east to in Menlo Park. the west was celebrated. During all this time, A 2008 McClenahan arborist’s report noted this oak had provided shade and a food source her condition to have “good vigor with nor- for the Ohlone Indians of our area. mal shoot growth.” A few old holes indicate Now, today there is talk of cutting this
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Now, it is a worthy thing for a city to subsidize low-income housing. I am all for it. But it is extremely deceptive and downright cruel to create an ad to make it seem that the developer will actually provide housing “affordable” to low-income seniors. In fact, if the project is approved, Cargill and DMB can sell out and build nothing at all. Ah well, that’s Cargill and DMB empty promises for you. They will be laughing all the way to the bank while local taxpayers are left holding the bag. Gail Sredanovic Ashton Avenue, Menlo Park
Trash talk has no place in Saltworks discussion Editor: Arizona-based DMB, developer for the Cargill salt ponds, resorts to vulgar mud-slinging in response to a damaging survey against their Saltworks project. Dave Boyce’s article quotes DMB’s spokesman Jay Reed as saying, “David Lewis has as much credibility about public opinion in Redwood City as Tiger Woods does talking about marital fidelity.” Trashy talk is common these days. However, it is disrespectful in such a serious discussion. And it only appears to communicate that DMB is getting really desperate. Gita Dev, Woodside
Saltworks No requirement to provide senior housing Editor: DMB, the developer of the Saltworks in Redwood City, is running full-page ads titled, “Affordable housing for our seniors,” and promises the development “will provide hundreds of new affordable homes for Redwood City’s seniors.”
Their website claims that 15 percent of the homes will be sold below market rate. Seniors — and all residents — should be skeptical for a number of reasons: ■ While Redwood City encourages developers to include 15 percent affordable units, there is no requirement that they do so. ■ Developers can build fewer affordable units if they offer in-lieu fees or so-called “public benefits” like plazas, benches or community rooms. ■ No one has defined “affordable.” In fact, Saltworks has not provided prices for any of their homes. ■ Affordable units would be available to anyone who qualifies, not just seniors, and not just Redwood City residents. Don’t fall for DMB’s warm and fuzzy ads. Housing seniors is not their top priority. Pat Marriott , Los Altos
Resident would suspend downtown changes Editor: Menlo Park’s City Council insists on making substantial changes in downtown. Under some citizen pressure it now plans to first experiment with some trials. In the meantime it has spent $1 million on a consultant, so it seems that it is just itching to spend more money to justify that $1 million. After all it’s only taxpayer money. As a taxpayer, I want to know whether any of that is necessary, or just nice to do. Can we suspend the process until the City Council demonstrates that changing downtown is needed and not just the desire by some to leave a mark? Alexander Kugushev San Mateo Drive, Menlo Park
majestic oak down to simplify putting in a new back-up water system for the area’s residents. McClenahan Tree Service has suggested three workable options in order to save “Granny” and at the same time build the water system. With all the expertise and ingenuity in our area, I am sure we can preserve this magnificent specimen so that future generations will recall that people of today, living in difficult economic times, were willing to put the money and effort into saving this precious resource. Additionally, preservation gives the Water System Improvement Program of the SFPUC a great opportunity to set a precedent, proving they are responsible stewards of our environment. This tree is reminiscent of the native old growth forest that thrived in this area for thousands of years. Today, it is a natural resource asset that belongs to the entire community, not just one neighborhood. Carol Taggart lives on Valparaiso Avenue in Menlo Park. A
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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE NOTICE OF HEARING TO RECOMMEND THAT THE MENLO PARK CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE 2010 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND SBX7-7 BASELINE METHOD ONE (URBAN WATER USE TARGETS) California law requires that, in conjunction with the update to the Menlo Park Municipal Water District’s Urban Water Management Plan, the community be given an opportunity to give input on the urban water use target, its method of determining the water use target and any impacts to the local economy. The proposed Plan is available for public review at http://www.menlopark.org/departments/pwk/ UrbanWaterMP.html NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Menlo Park will hold a Public Hearing to adopt the 2010 Urban Water Management Plan and SBx7-7 Baseline Method One and water use targets for 2015 and 2020. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the City Council will hold this Public Hearing on Tuesday, the 14th day of June, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in the Menlo Park City Council Chambers, Civic Center at 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park, California, at which time and place interested persons may appear and be heard. Any person interested may appear at the public hearing and be heard on any matter related to this matter. Visit the City’s website at www.menlopark.org for City Council, public hearing, agenda, and staff report information. Dated: May 26, 2011 MARGARET S. ROBERTS, MMC, City Clerk Published in THE ALMANAC on June 1 and June 8, 2011. June 1, 2011 N The Almanac N 19