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Council adopts antidisplacement plan, directs staff to start tenant‑assistance and legal‑aid programs
Summary
After extensive public comment, the council approved a three‑year antidisplacement plan that prioritizes tenant assistance and legal aid, preservation incentives and a rental‑registry study; staff cited a $250,000 MTC grant to seed tenant assistance programs.
Menlo Park — The City Council voted unanimously to adopt the city’s antidisplacement plan, which packages a prioritized set of strategies the city will pursue over the next three years to prevent involuntary displacement and support low‑income renters.
Ariana Milton, housing division analyst, told the council staff reviewed 23 community-suggested strategies and organized them into pillars focused on preserving affordable housing, protecting tenants, and promoting stability and prosperity. Milton said the recommendation prioritizes tenant assistance and legal aid, and noted an initial $250,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission that staff expect to use as seed funding for tenant‑assistance and legal‑aid programs.
Public commenters, including tenant advocates, neighborhood residents and climate‑resilience stakeholders, expressed broad support. Angela Evans, who said she lives in Menlo Park, told the council she supported staff recommendations and the Menlo Spark additions to mitigate potential electrification impacts on tenants.
Council discussion focused on implementation speed, whether the city could accelerate some measures, and partnerships with regional providers such as Heart. Councilmembers directed staff to explore a phased rollout and report back annually to the Housing Commission and Council. A motion to approve the plan that incorporated Menlo Spark recommendations carried unanimously after a second.
What’s next: staff said tenant assistance and legal‑aid programs will begin implementation steps immediately with the intent to launch in the coming months; staff will return to the council with program details and budget requests as required.
