Menlo Park council unanimously sends Downtown Parking Plazas initiative to Nov. 3, 2026 ballot

Menlo Park City Council members voted unanimously on Dec. 2 to send a citizen‑sponsored initiative that would restrict changes to eight downtown parking plazas to the Nov. 3, 2026 general municipal election for voter decision.

The action followed a formal receipt of a state‑mandated Elections Code Section 9212 impact analysis prepared for the Council. City Attorney Neera Doherty outlined the Council’s choices under Elections Code Section 9215 — including adopting the ordinance as written, submitting it to voters at a special or general election, or deferring for 10 days — and staff and consultants summarized potential fiscal, planning, infrastructure and equity impacts.

"The first public hearing is, receive the Elections Code Section 9212 report regarding the proposed initiative measure entitled Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance Initiative," City staff said as they introduced the report, which staff posted Nov. 26 for public review. Consultants told the Council the initiative would add a new municipal code chapter and would, without voter approval, restrict selling, designating as surplus, altering in a way that diminishes parking, or changing the use of the city’s eight downtown parking plazas.

The 9212 report’s fiscal section said the measure "could potentially limit housing," discourage mixed‑use or commercial projects that generate revenue, and reduce long‑term municipal revenues if redevelopment is constrained. The planning analysis warned the measure could affect the internal consistency of the general plan and the City’s ability to meet six‑cycle housing element goals. Transportation and infrastructure findings noted the initiative could reduce the city’s competitiveness for transit‑oriented funding and limit on‑site improvements such as electric‑vehicle charging or structured parking.

Public comment was sharply divided. Resident Mary Seton criticized the report and consultants, saying it showed "significant weaknesses, unsupported assumptions, unsubstantiated claims" and flagged what she described as missing consultation with fire authorities and fire‑safety modeling for large‑scale development. Adina Levin said the report usefully illustrates how the initiative "would make it more difficult for the city to meet its housing obligations," increasing vulnerability to builders' remedy outcomes. Several speakers urged placing the measure on the November general election to maximize turnout and participation; others argued the lots should remain available for housing near transit.

Council debate focused on democratic participation and practical trade‑offs. Several members said they valued putting the issue to voters; others raised procedural and cost considerations for a special election. Councilmember Jeff Schmidt moved to submit the initiative to the Nov. 3, 2026 general municipal election; Vice Mayor Betsy Nash seconded the motion. The Council voted unanimously in favor. Mayor Drew Combs, Vice Mayor Betsy Nash, and Councilmembers Jeff Schmidt, Cecilia Taylor and Jennifer Wise voted "yes."

The resolution asks San Mateo County to administer and canvass the election and establishes the schedule for submission of ballot arguments. Staff noted that if the Council had chosen a special election, the earliest compliant date under state law would have been in March 2026; staff also discussed an estimated special‑election cost in the report and the convenience of a consolidated November election.

The Council’s decision sends the initiative language to the November 2026 ballot but does not change municipal code today; any changes proposed by the initiative will take effect only if approved by the voters or if the Council later adopts the ordinance as provided by law. The Council adjourned after the vote.