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Facebook’s long-term stay tied to benefit deal By Sandy Brundage Almanac Staff Writer
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acebook may at times feel as if everyone in Menlo Park expects a helping hand from the social networking giant. With the demise of the city’s redevelopment agency, along with other budget troubles, there’s a sense that a company worth billions of dollars could be a savior. Those hopes got a dash of reality at the Feb. 14 City Council meeting. On the agenda was a discussion of what public ben-
efits Facebook should deliver in exchange for its planned Willow Road campus expansion. As community members sat in the audience in the council chambers holding signs that read “Like” next to Facebook’s “thumbs up” icon, David Ebersman, the company’s chief financial officer, made it clear that while the company is currently happy with its new Menlo Park home, the next few months of negotiation will decide whether Facebook sticks around longterm. “We’re ready to engage constructively in negotiations,” he
said, “and hoping the council will enter negotiations with considered, appropriate goals.” Councilman Rich Cline advised everyone to be realistic, noting that the city has its own budget restructuring to do and can’t rely on one organization as a solution. Facebook is not, he said, going to save everybody’s life and give everyone a job. “There are so many people lined up now to talk to Facebook about what they need,” he commented, “that I think it’s overwhelming for Facebook, overwhelming.” Facebook is asking to swap the
existing cap of 3,600 employees for limiting traffic to and from its main Willow Road campus — now known as 1 Hacker Way — to 15,000 daily trips, including 2,600 during rush hours. As the council narrowed the list of which public benefits to negotiate, key areas included completing a one-mile gap in the Bay Trail; affordable housing; creating an ongoing community foundation; jobs; penalties for exceeding the vehicle trip cap; and in lieu fees to compensate for lost tax revenue. The city’s negotiation team plans to present proposed terms
for the development agreement to the council in April, according to staff. On the team are City Attorney Bill McClure, Public Works Director Chip Taylor, Development Services Manager Justin Murphy, and one non-staff member, former city and former county manager David Boesch. Mr. Boesch joined the team as Interim City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson has a conflict of interest and incoming manager Alex McIntyre doesn’t start until March 5, halfway through the negotiating period, staff said. A
Career takes another turn as Tom Huening retires By Dave Boyce Almanac Staff Writer
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an Mateo County Controller and San Mateo resident Tom Huening is retiring effective March 31 after serving in the post since 1999, putting another notch on the belt of his varied career. He flew jet fighters for the U.S. Navy over Vietnam, then passenger jets for TWA for 17 years. He managed a commercial real estate firm and has passed California’s certified public accountancy (CPA) test. He earned post-graduate degrees in law and business. And he has served in three elected county offices: five years (1981-86) on the board of the community college district, 11 years (1987-98) as county supervisor, and about 11 years (1999-2012) as controller. “I consider (retirement) a career change,” Mr. Huening, 70, said in an interview about his current plans. “You might say I can’t hold a job, or that I have a short attention span.” Because the county needs a controller — the office, with a staff of 41, monitors efficiency in county government — the Board of Supervisors is likely to appoint rather than have an election for Mr. Huening’s successor, he said. The controller’s office had 53 employees when Mr. Huening took over, he said. His first order of business: commission an operational audit from the firm Deloitte & Touche. As distinct from a financial
“I want to focus full time on writing,” says Tom Huening. “I don’t have time to do that part time.”
audit, an operational audit looks at how an agency might work smarter and spend less, he said. As the staff count has evolved downward over time, the workload has gone in the opposite direction. The costs of governing the county have doubled or trebled, he said. The office has six or seven CPAs on staff, he added. County grand juries have a mission similar to the controller’s office in that they often subject government agencies to critical analysis, and the controller’s office will assist when asked. “We’re in the same kind of business,” Mr. Huening said. “We have a technical staff that can help them and frequently we do.” See TOM HUENING, page 8
Almanac photo by Michelle Le
Model coach Charleston Pierce and M-A seniors watch a video of their rehearsal performance.
M-A fashion show makes M-AGIC Seniors at Menlo-Atherton High School will take center stage Saturday, Feb. 25, in “M-A MAGIC, Be Captivated,” the PTA’s biggest annual fundraiser, in the Performing Arts Center on campus. The show, featuring fashions and dance, will be staged three times (at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.). A luncheon, catered by Modern Taste, will be held at 11:45 a.m. in the cafe adjoining the center.
Starring 240 members of the senior class, the fashion show has been at tradition at M-A for more than 36 years, dating back to the days when the fundraiser was known as the “Pumpkin Lunch.” “Our main excitement this year has centered around Charleston Pierce, our energetic runway coach,” says fashion show spokesman Kathy Oppenheimer. “Through his Model 101 classes (six in all), he has taught the seniors to
walk with confidence. An engaging person, he has given these kids a great gift as they move forward in life.” “He is bringing so much contagious energy and enthusiasm to this event,” adds M-A mom Rosalie Cornew. A former model, Mr. Pierce leads talent workshops for models, and is an event host and fashion show producer in San Francisco. See FASHION, page 8
February 22, 2012 N The Almanac N 5