The Atherton Town Council directed staff to continue exploring options for campus housing at Menlo College and Menlo School, endorsing three approaches identified in a staff report: pursuit of grants and loans, soliciting public‑private partnership (P3) partners, and a donor-driven fundraising strategy. Councilors stopped short of committing town tax dollars to a conceptual plan but some members suggested limited matching funds could motivate outside donors.

Town Planner Britney Bendix summarized staff’s work to date: “Menlo College is very much willing and eager to pursue housing on their site. However, they lack the financial means to put forth not just the development, but kind of an effort to spearhead the development right now.” Bendix outlined three possible town roles: research and pursuit of grants and loans, a competitive solicitation to identify P3 partners, and support for a donor-driven effort such as a resident committee to seek a major donor.

Council discussion emphasized practical constraints. Bendix and councilors said the college prefers housing primarily for its students and employees and would not accept broad third‑party rentals; revenue from a P3 would flow to the college, limiting the town’s leverage. A public commenter who identified themselves as the head of a nearby middle school said teacher housing is an urgent need but warned the college lacked funds to build and that replacement parking would be required.

Some council members said initial work should center on staff-supported searches for grants and loans and on outreach to foundations and potential donors. Councilor Widmer said the most productive near-term step is using staff resources to identify funding. Several councilors estimated that creating a conceptual plan to attract donors or a developer could cost roughly $50,000 to $100,000; one councilor suggested the town could match resident fundraising to get a project moving, while others reiterated reluctance to use tax dollars to underwrite development on land the town would not own.

Town Attorney Mona advised caution about council members actively soliciting donations. “You can do that, but there’s disclosures that you need to make, pursuant to the FPPC. It’s called a behested payment,” she said, and added that council members who take a public role in fundraising risk bias or the need to recuse from future land-use or entitlement decisions, citing common-law standards that require elected officials to act with “disinterested zeal.”

Council direction recorded in the transcript was to keep staff engaged with both Menlo College and Menlo School, prioritize grant and loan research and outreach, and return to the council with milestones and updates. No formal vote or allocation of town capital funds for a conceptual plan was recorded; the council asked staff to report back and to continue outreach.

Councilors and staff suggested a realistic internal timeline: identify a development team, financing approach and site concept by 2027–2028 so permits and a building permit could be achieved within the current housing-element cycle to count toward RHNA goals. Councilors asked staff to monitor grant opportunities and report milestones to the council; one council member said the town should pursue public education to encourage resident support and potential private donations.

The council closed the item after giving staff direction to continue work and to keep the council informed.