Serving Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodside for 44 years.
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Editor & Publisher Tom Gibboney
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Council passes ball to Atherton voters
G
iven the entrenched position of many residents and a On another front, the council eased tensions with Facebook possible referendum on the issue, Atherton Mayor Bill when Mayor Widmer announced last week that the town and Widmer on June 29 took the wisest way out and, with the company had worked out their differences over mitigating three fellow City Council members, agreed to put the divisive increased traffic at the intersection of Marsh and Middlefield issue of building a new library in Holbrook-Palmer Park on the roads, an issue covered by an EIR accepted by Menlo Park. November ballot. Atherton said earlier that it did not agree with the report’s Criticism of the library plan endorsed by Mr. Widmer and findings and issued a veiled threat to sue if it didn’t get its way. council members Kathy McKeithen and Jim Mayor Widmer said Atherton will settle its difDobbie had become more and more intense, ferences with Facebook for $350,000. The town EDI TORI AL and many residents, as well as council members will be able to spend the funds at its own discreThe opinion of The Almanac Elizabeth Lewis and Jerry Carlson, demanded tion for use not restricted to traffic improvethat the plan be put to a vote. The mayor’s effort ments, the agreement said. to conduct a poll of 300 residents on the library’s location did Other items in the deal take on a uniquely Silicon Valley twist, not survive a vote during an earlier meeting, leading up to the with Facebook playing a consultant role by helping Atherton to council’s June 29 decision. become more tech savvy and agreeing to help the town develop Although we strongly believe it would be a mistake for Ather- a Facebook page. ton to abandon the plan to build a new library in the park, a And the company said it will donate some surplus computers 3-2 deadlock on the council does not instill enough confidence to boost the mayor’s pet project of turning Atherton council among residents to push it through. Ballot language is not yet meetings into a paperless exercise. Recycled display screens written, but we hope voters will simply be asked to answer yes or and other equipment from Facebook will help create wireless no on whether they want to locate a new library in the park. networks to help residents review documents related to items The council also agreed to seek “yes or no” votes on build- on the agenda. ing a new town center, and on allowing the local Little League There is another $5,000 in the deal for the town to spend on organization to build a new 200-seat stadium in the park. unspecified transportation improvements and up to $10,000 Although the council has been criticized by some for not mak- to plan bike routes. And the town will also get to borrow Faceing the tough decisions, in this case it is appropriate for at least book’s transportation manager from time to time to discuss the library and town center questions to go directly to voters. bike transit improvements. Both could have a substantial impact on the town for years to Overall, most Atherton residents should be happy that Mayor come. The proposal to locate permanent Little League facilities Widmer and the council have managed to turn what looked like in the park is now making its way through the planning process, a stalemate on the library and Facebook into what we hope will and we see no reason for the council to “kick this can down the be positive outcomes. The two deals remove what had been a road.” major cloud over Atherton affairs.
L ET TERS Our readers write
Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside and adjacent unincorporated areas of southern San Mateo County. The Almanac is qualified by decree of the Superior Court of San Mateo County to
Appropriate to consider housing in Portola Valley
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Editor: My hat is off to Mayor Maryann Derwin, the Town Council and staff of Portola Valley for coming up with the proposal for affordable housing on the Al’s Nursery site. The term “high density housing” is being used by opponents of innovative residential proposals to frighten residents and to inflame NIMBY passions in Portola Valley. As a former council member in Menlo Park I can assure you that I am familiar with this strategy. Eight residential units on 1.6 acres (five units per acre) is not high density. In a neighborhood that includes a viable commercial center, a couple of churches and city services, it is a reasonable, low-density use of the property. It is notably less isolated from the rest of the world than most of Portola Valley or Woodside. It is commendable that Portola Valley has joined with other San Mateo County cities, including Menlo Park, to plan for some future growth with infill devel-
14 N The Almanac N TheAlmanacOnline.com N July 11, 2012
Menlo Park Historical Association
Our Regional Heritage The swimming pool was a popular place as shown in this undated photo of Flood Park off Bay Road. The park was developed during the 1930s, giving 100 Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers jobs for a year. The pool was dug by hand and other structures were made of adobe bricks using a mixture of dirt, clay and straw, including the earth from the pool excavation.
opment such as this. Many of our neighbors in Menlo Park make more than the $85,000 per year maximum threshold established for eligibil-
ity to purchase one of the units of this proposal. They do not suffer from the presence of those of us who have lower incomes. As the saying goes, we all put on our
pants one leg at a time. Steve Schmidt Central Avenue, Menlo Park Continued on next page