Menlo Park Approves Rental Aid, Tenant Legal Help After Residency Debate

Menlo Park is back in the business of keeping tenants housed. The City Council voted 5-0 to approve guidelines for new rental assistance and eviction legal aid programs, replacing a Samaritan House effort that ran dry in early 2025, after a debate over whether renters should have to live in the city for a set time before qualifying.

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• Rental and legal aid approved 5-0: $75,000 in first-year rent help, up to $5,000 per household
• No residency minimum: Council keeps aid open to all eligible leaseholders, with data tracking
• Fee policy update adopted 5-0 as councilmembers question a $1,494 heritage tree appeal fee
• New Community Programs Manager created for Belle Haven and Bayfront work, outside the general fund

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A New Safety Net for Menlo Park Renters

The basics: The city's prior rental aid program, run by Samaritan House, received $250,000 in 2022. It served 76 households and 213 individuals before its money ran out in early 2025. AMI, or area median income, is the regional benchmark used to set eligibility for housing programs.

Why it matters: The new programs carry out the city's housing and environmental justice elements and its May anti-displacement plan, both of which call for rental and legal aid. The funding is $600,000 over four years from the city's BMR (below-market-rate) Fund. The city also won a $250,000 MTC TOC planning grant, which requires at least $300,000 per program over four years.

Where things stand: "Tonight, staff asked that the City Council consider and approve rental assistance and legal assistance program guidelines," said Management Analyst Adam Patterson, who presented the item.

The rental aid program has these terms:
- $75,000 in year one
- Households at or below 80% AMI with a valid Menlo Park lease
- Up to $5,000 per household, once every 12 months

Legal assistance follows a three-level model. The city will fund Level 1, which is education, and Level 2, which is limited-scope help. It will not fund full court representation. Both programs will go out in a single request for proposals (RFP). The RFP calls for a hotline, texting, a 48-hour response goal, central intake, quarterly data reporting and multilingual outreach.

The residency fight: The Housing Commission removed a proposed 12-month tenancy minimum. "The program with Samaritan House did have a minimum 12-month residency requirement," Patterson said.

Two councilmembers wanted some version of a minimum back, with discussion ranging from about one month to six. "I actually thought that there should be some sort of minimum residency requirement for the rental assistance," said Mayor Betsy Nash. Councilmember Cecilia Taylor agreed: "I think there should be a minimum amount of time that folks have lived here."

The other side: Councilmember Jeff Schmidt argued for keeping access open. "The fewer barriers we put up, the better," he said. Councilmember Drew Combs favored no minimum while tracking the data, and he backed "a check-in on this specific aspect of the program."

Beyond the check: Schmidt also pressed on outreach, case management and education. He asked that the RFP require providers to teach tenants about the wider web of county services available to people facing eviction. "I think that's a great suggestion to include that," Patterson responded. Staff said these elements would be folded into the RFP. Taylor argued for making the BMR Fund a permanent backstop: "I think it's well worth it being an ongoing source of funding."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The guidelines passed without changes. Combs moved the item and Taylor seconded. For: 5 (Nash, Vice Mayor Jennifer Wise, Taylor, Combs, Schmidt), Against: 0, Absent: 0.

Lower-income renters with Menlo Park leases gain a city-backed fallback, including newer arrivals. Nonprofit legal and social service providers have a new contract to compete for. The quarterly reports will give the council the data it will need to revisit residency rules and future BMR spending.

What's next: Staff expects to release the RFP on Nov. 2 and to select a service provider in early 2027.

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Fee Policy Passes as Tree Appeals Draw Fire

Why it matters: The cost recovery policy decides how much of each city service is paid for by user fees and how much by the general fund. The resolution sets targets for the new master fee schedule, which is due in April 2027.

Where things stand: Assistant Administrative Services Director Finney Lay proposed these changes:
- Belle Haven Youth Center and the renamed Senior Nutrition Program move from medium to low cost recovery.
- Tennis court reservations move from medium to high cost recovery, starting with the FY2027-28 fee update.
- Several administrative clean-ups.

Staff flagged two fees for future consideration: the heritage tree appeal fee and the electrification permit fee waiver. "Currently, permit applicants pay $1,494 compared with $200 for community members," Lay said of the tree appeal fee.

The tree tangle: Councilmember Combs objected that residents pay about $1,400 for an arborist report, and then "if you want to appeal the decision of the city arborist, then you have to pay another $1,400." He tied electrification fees to the city's climate goals: "Our climate change stance means very little if it is not the easiest thing in the world to do."

Mayor Nash suggested charging development and non-development applicants differently. For appeals tied to development, she said, "I would personally think that full cost recovery is appropriate." She also praised the city arborist.

The other side: Councilmember Schmidt wanted the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) to take a wider look. "I think just asking them to see if it's the right time to look, relook at the whole heritage tree ordinance," he said.

City Manager Justin Murphy said questions about how the ordinance values trees fell outside the item, and he declined to use it as a referral to the EQC. "What was framed for tonight was intended to be extremely limited," he said. Combs also pushed back on Schmidt's idea: "I would be very much opposed to a broader look at the Heritage Tree Ordinance." He said he wanted only precision on the fee imbalance.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The resolution passed. Combs moved the item and Wise seconded. For: 5 (Nash, Wise, Taylor, Combs, Schmidt), Against: 0, Absent: 0.

Families who use Belle Haven youth programs and seniors who rely on meal services will see the city cover a larger share of costs. Tennis players will pay more of their own. Homeowners and developers will want to watch how the tree appeal fee is handled.

What's next: Any changes to the tree appeal and electrification fees would show up in the April 2027 master fee schedule.

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New Manager Targets Belle Haven, Bayfront

Where things stand: The council created a Community Programs Manager, a Tier 1 unrepresented management position. The manager will handle community initiatives, capital projects under the environmental justice element and public engagement. Three dedicated funds will pay for the job: the Bayfront Mitigation Fund, the Environmental Justice Implementation Fund and the In-Lieu Payment for Community Amenities Fund. "This will not impact the general fund," said Administrative Services Director Brittany Mello.

The same resolution also:
- Retitles the finance and budget manager position to finance manager.
- Raises pay for the chief water operator, an AFSCME Local 829 position, to align it with other water jobs.
- Narrows unrepresented management salary ranges from 35% to 25% wide without changing the maximums.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The item drew no public comment and little discussion. Combs moved the item and Wise seconded. For: 5 (Nash, Wise, Taylor, Combs, Schmidt), Against: 0, Absent: 0. The changes take effect Nov. 1, 2026, ahead of an April class and compensation study. Belle Haven and Bayfront residents gain a dedicated staff lead paid for with developer-funded accounts.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar: Approved 5-0, including minutes and adoption of an ordinance amending Municipal Code setback and subdivision sections.
• Closed session: No reportable action on the lawsuit Willow Project, LLC v. City of Menlo Park.
• License plate readers: Public commenter Peter Hottie questioned police audits of Flock license plate reader searches. He cited 372 searches in September and said the audits rely on Flock's own records, with Atherton police serving as the external auditor. "So we trust the police department to police itself. I think we can do better," he said. The council made no recorded response.
• Proclamations: The council recognized National Bullying Prevention Month, United Against Hate Week and Age Up Day. Age Up reported 1,097 visits to long-term care facilities since July.

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Looking Ahead

City Manager Murphy pointed residents to vote center locations. He also said an update on climate action and home electrification is coming at the council's next meeting.