[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6227277,"mediaKeyId","3493839-db1573c324009e63c8c5e8cc71e68b44","parentId",3493839,"title","Council discusses interim frontage improvements for bike/ped routes; defers major decisions until bike–ped master plan","audioSeconds",2936,"startMs",4243000,"endMs",7179000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493839-db1573c324009e63c8c5e8cc71e68b44&start=4243&end=7179","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493839-db1573c324009e63c8c5e8cc71e68b44/thumbnail_4243000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227277/California/Council-discusses-interim-frontage-improvements-for-bikeped-routes-defers-major-decisions-until-bikeped-master-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227277-134f246b45cd050a26c12a879fc37e2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188229&Signature=FdyUCIE6IpOghjDZu-YduTQYZO~EngkbBAdv8QX-bpy43XDNGhsDcq5odn8dWShaFQTgqCv6jja5oMjP7geSBMElOqGEUUzkpUEmStwlrGtHXySEAQP7hcqR1t9QfLlxGJsMAbOHlsLcZbrx9MAZZZgQeW0-WcP46b8IvE3gyYN6rhxQeLeVksZTmey4Kmz2Yji8kTnmlPYyhEG5d-qQJtDHxx-xu-IQBFrK-rYov5cpH8dvGMXd9-jmpyHGB2zDOF41aS8fIsb15aRI8GiHcuPyh4ICHLemti4M1UUScEMQu3peCXfgvqgwN-BT3np4BtRPNJ8I7oVDWdnEvqDJuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of Atherton CA","date","2025-05-24T16:16:08.183Z","article","The Town of Atherton City Council on May 20 discussed whether significant new development should be required to build interim pedestrian or bicycle-friendly frontage improvements along designated routes, but did not adopt a new standard. Staff asked for direction about setbacks, allowable surfaces and moving permanent fixtures out of the town right-of-way ahead of any future bicycle or pedestrian project.

Staff presentation and options: Public Works Director Robert Rivati summarized the existing frontage rules: the first 3 feet measured from the edge of the improved roadway must be pervious low ground cover no taller than 5 inches, the next 3 feet may be up to 3 feet tall, and fixtures (mailboxes, keypads, boulders) are generally set back 6 feet from the edge of the road. Rivati said most full-site developments already reconstruct frontage and that the town wants to avoid forcing residents or developers to install features that would be costly to remove if the town later installs a permanent facility.

Public and developer comments: Developer Rex Venato (Pacific Peninsula Group) said his subdivision posted a bond and delayed permanent frontage work because the design requirements were not clearly defined; he asked for clear, practical interim expectations that would be removable if a later bike/ped project is installed. Several residents, including Patty Spizzifera, said they opposed presuming a bike lane and worried about losing the town’s traditional appearance. Other commenters urged a firm, stable surface in the first few feet adjacent to the gutter so that people using wheelchairs, strollers or bicycles would not be forced into loose gravel.

Council reaction and direction: Council members expressed differing views. Several members said it would be premature to adopt broad, townwide frontage requirements before completing the bike-and-pedestrian master plan update. Multiple council members supported clearer guidance that the first few feet adjacent to the roadway be a firm, stable surface suitable for pedestrians, wheelchairs and bikes when developers rebuild frontage; others cautioned against prescribing a wide mandatory setback (council discussion raised 3–5 feet as a likely range and rejected an immediate 10-foot requirement).

Outcome and next steps: The council did not change the municipal code at the meeting. Staff will continue the master-plan update with the Transportation Committee, coordinate outreach to affected neighborhoods, and return with refined recommendations. In the meantime, existing frontage rules remain in force for active projects. Staff will consider options that balance accessibility (firm, stable surface), permeability/stormwater treatment requirements, and the need to protect trees and allow driveway/gate access.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Atherton council considered requiring interim pedestrian/bike-friendly frontages for new development on designated routes but deferred major code changes until the town’s updated bike-and-ped master plan is complete.","taxTitle","Atherton Town, San Mateo County, California","taxId",72378,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227281,"Council approves overhead-electrical crossing to serve 39 Berry Lane, formalizes exemption process",342,3624000,3966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493839-db1573c324009e63c8c5e8cc71e68b44&start=3624&end=3966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493839-db1573c324009e63c8c5e8cc71e68b44/thumbnail_3624000.jpg","/articles/6227281/California/Council-approves-overhead-electrical-crossing-to-serve-39-Berry-Lane-formalizes-exemption-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227281-d54da590dde9245d2356fe474f2d6cb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188229&Signature=OOKyXSCH~CPhfqO6Qe6Sgnmx8eFxI4Nl20FDnsgIyQcPbz6pJq~MXKcpAMtPaZtxSqfbgqFING0xfC1UmtCS~Wb7BY1MMZDpRCnOaDo0lxbb4CH7B0c4npjg-TyxcGcWpsgDsfA90W8o9kNIpst4fGQ5N0muLrxKFfKGm3ycTtJ6dUcHPgRhy3UWysl0TXmaZyuCnzAmWYtKTPCVNJjfRL0Eybt7xF4H89LqKi85Ak7PBXxqNf60vdH4uk8ATb5XM01l9E1cyqrHEDeW8SYIn9iIx4~JZtM9uRka0pJtbWl8OiW0NHK3qcOs-D9bs33~B1LNcslUH-D8GufTUNFNuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Atherton City Council on May 20 approved an overhead electrical service crossing across the Atherton Channel to serve a proposed residence at 39 Berry Lane and accepted staff’s recommended process for handling future exemption requests to the town’s requirement that utilities be placed underground.

Council action and project: the council approved an application to extend an overhead electrical line from an existing pole behind 70 Elena Avenue to a new pole near the channel easement at the rear of 39 Berry Lane; the cable will then be brought underground to serve the property. The council motion (vote unanimous) also accepted staff’s proposed multi-step process for applicants seeking exemption from the undergrounding requirement.

Exemption process and costs: staff described the process: applicants must file a formal application with PG&E requesting underground service; if PG&E declares underground service infeasible, staff will meet with the developer and PG&E to evaluate alternatives (distance, poles, transformers, cost and physical constraints). If no viable alternative exists, staff will pursue an exemption and present the request to council. The town will work with the finance director to develop a cost-recovery fee that covers staff time for coordination; staff said state law limits fees to cost recovery rather than punitive charges.

Why it matters: Atherton’s municipal code requires new utility service for development to be placed underground. Developers asked for clarity and an explicit exemption process so applicants know when the town will consider allowing overhead service. The council chose to formalize a process rather than leave the town without a clear path for cases where undergrounding is physically infeasible.

Public record and next steps: staff will include the fee schedule in the June 2025 fee resolution for adoption and will return to council with any recommended municipal-code amendments that clarify the exemption process. The council’s approval for the 39 Berry Lane crossing is project-specific; any future exemptions will follow the clarified process and come before council for approval unless the code is revised to delegate authority to staff.","Atherton approved an overhead electrical crossing and directed staff to formalize a process and fee for exemptions to the town's undergrounding requirement; the specific project will place an overhead line across the Atherton Channel to a new pole at 39 Berry Lane and then underground to serve the property.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227287,"Atherton council adopts 15 mph school-zone limits, backs 25 mph on Valparaiso and investigation of Middlefield",2343,1191000,3534000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493839-db1573c324009e63c8c5e8cc71e68b44&start=1191&end=3534","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493839-db1573c324009e63c8c5e8cc71e68b44/thumbnail_1191000.jpg","/articles/6227287/California/Atherton-council-adopts-15-mph-school-zone-limits-backs-25-mph-on-Valparaiso-and-investigation-of-Middlefield","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227287-7cd4d68bcc0ae835a119b3a45c612dc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188229&Signature=dmk3dDUJKNBalApoN0BCH4cbpx45~llEPhfSA5DUBf6vs65ayqi9bhmMULw0KWso1bOqn5VGfqAvTDvL4uBzzOEIoM8bW1lDmfzScQC5A~C1GA5B0xLn3Nb1aCkbnpxUUZnM4BaC9MRzX70V3eT4U0vhTu-~3o1oaNn8YrghMKIhYngWHZxYpLo7D~6AoN0hINUcw1TdAllG4HlfacwhM05jQa8lYt28WyQMN2n~XN8MLV4wAzs49OR0RX1gUOBOvITUEL0njS-Rn0t4r7-p2DtCOCryE-Qow6S6L2WnLTujaU4vq1qtH~c9XRnK3jrGP1vpqfr3s1Emttg2xwVxZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Atherton City Council on May 20 adopted a resolution setting 15 mph speed limits at designated school-zone frontages and asked staff to investigate lower limits on arterial corridors, including a potential 25 mph reduction on Middlefield Road. The council also confirmed support for a 25 mph speed limit on Valparaiso Avenue.

The change implements recommendations from the town’s Transportation, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee and relies on provisions in the California Vehicle Code that allow reductions in school zones where criteria are met. Public Works Director Robert Rivati described the legal framework and said the vehicle code permits reductions to as low as 15 mph in residential streets with speeds under 30 mph and one lane per direction. Council members voted unanimously to adopt the resolution as amended to include additional street segments identified in staff tables.

Why it matters: Council members, parents and bicycle-safety advocates said the town should prioritize child safety after a recent fatal collision near Encinal Elementary that participants said underscored risks for people walking and bicycling. Public commenters urged the council to include Encinal Avenue among the school-zone reductions and recommended that staff track whether new signage and engineering measures reduce speeds.

Most important facts: the council approved a resolution to set 15 mph in the school-zone sections listed in the staff report’s two tables (vote: unanimous). Council signaled support for setting Valparaiso Avenue at 25 mph and directed staff to prepare an ordinance and analysis to reduce Middlefield Road from 30 to 25 mph and to investigate whether some arterial frontages near schools can be posted at 15 mph when children are present.

Public comment and analysis: Parents, including an online commenter who identified themself as an Encinal parent, and Mike Swire, chair of a county bike-and-ped advisory group (speaking on his own behalf), urged more aggressive treatment for school corridors. Swire said a protected bike lane might have prevented a recent fatality and called for the town to “prioritize limited public right-of-way for the safety of those who don’t drive.” Several council members said they wanted consistent school protections across town and asked staff to coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions (Menlo Park and San Mateo County) on shared corridors.

Staff and evidence: Rivati noted that some streets are jointly controlled by San Mateo County or Menlo Park and said staff will request coordinated signing on shared segments. Staff also displayed a regional study (CCAG and Alta) showing a youth-focused high-injury network; council members and the police chief said an updated crash-history review can inform future decisions. The manual of uniform traffic control devices (MUTCD) was cited when staff described required school-zone signage language.

What the council directed: (1) adopt the resolution placing 15 mph limits at the listed school frontages; (2) include additional streets from the staff tables in the adopted resolution; (3) direct staff to prepare an ordinance to consider safety-corridor reductions (including Valparaiso/confirmation at 25 mph) and to investigate the legal ability to set 15 mph zones on arterial approaches where permitted by state law; and (4) coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and report back with updated crash data and proposed ordinance language.

Next steps: Staff will return with ordinance language and a traffic analysis to implement safety-corridor speed changes and with recommendations on Middlefield Road and other arterial frontages. The council asked staff to consider enforcement and signage language consistent with state rules.","The Town of Atherton voted unanimously May 20 to adopt a resolution setting 15 mph speed limits at listed school-zone frontages and directed staff to study arterial reductions, supported a 25 mph limit on Valparaiso Avenue and asked staff to investigate reducing Middlefield Road.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6227273,"Atherton council waives first reading, adopts resolution to opt into California public-construction accounting act",284,852000,1136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3493839-db1573c324009e63c8c5e8cc71e68b44&start=852&end=1136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3493839-db1573c324009e63c8c5e8cc71e68b44/thumbnail_852000.jpg","/articles/6227273/California/Atherton-council-waives-first-reading-adopts-resolution-to-opt-into-California-public-construction-accounting-act","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227273-18f622d300b355f2002b5b8177efc523/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188229&Signature=Urdl7fw2kTObjQ~w8dsz1NKWxWUrHd5P4BkE4xbsIqYIZDKLYTiK8ABB85dJbbS68LvGEg3Ag6j27DBwNd16zBCBRVRIKJpbXBDv-AFHHRufej~2Pv04t~acKem0hAS4g13GxTM4HRitOZv4a25FHM~bUNuHkEY9DynhoUtxCfB1xysrtyt6BGR5LeA6NXPYBZuifcYOvy2wLYR1DhgVgBof22kzu4H0OGjpBt6HoPtIJjFqOM5ZIZq02-Sto1Ue3MNIyS0Aj3amQz4xTYSLdvidNJsJiWFF0b9jsqFkdav81DyI7RcB1HZ72IBsil~i6nAN78Nn-R8WLR1CsbKpkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Atherton City Council on May 20 introduced and waived the first reading of an ordinance amending sections of the Atherton Municipal Code related to purchasing and unanimously adopted a resolution to opt into the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA).

City Attorney Mona Ibrahim and Public Works Director Robert Rivati explained the change: recent state amendments to the public contract code permit local agencies that adopt the CUPCCAA to enter certain public-works contracts within specified limits without a formal sealed-bid process, provided the agency complies with the act’s accounting and informal bidding procedures. Ibrahim told the council the municipal-code updates align local rules with state law and that the accompanying resolution formally notifies the state that Atherton is opting in.

Why it matters: Opting into CUPCCAA gives small jurisdictions more flexibility and speed on certain public-works procurements while requiring strict accounting practices. Staff said the change does not increase the town’s spending; it is intended to improve timing and make it easier to find contractors when competitive responses are limited.

Council action: The council moved, waived the first reading and adopted the resolution; the votes were unanimous. Staff will return for the second reading and the formal municipal-code amendment and said auditors and accounting controls will be used to comply with the act’s requirements.

Next steps: Staff will bring the ordinance back for formal adoption at the second reading and will submit the town’s opting-in documentation to the state as required by the act.","The council introduced and waived the first reading of an ordinance updating Atherton Municipal Code purchasing sections to align with state changes and unanimously adopted a resolution to opt into the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act to allow local contract thresholds and streamline some public-works contracting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council discusses interim frontage improvements for bike/ped routes; defers major decisions until bike–ped master plan

Council approves overhead-electrical crossing to serve 39 Berry Lane, formalizes exemption process

Atherton council adopts 15 mph school-zone limits, backs 25 mph on Valparaiso and investigation of Middlefield

Atherton council waives first reading, adopts resolution to opt into California public-construction accounting act