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Atherton council tells staff to keep exploring Menlo College housing options; legal limits on council fundraising stressed
Summary
Councilors directed staff to continue work with Menlo College and Menlo School on three housing approaches—grants/loans, public-private partnerships, and donor fundraising—while town attorney warned that council-led fundraising can trigger disclosures and recusal rules.
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…
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