June 23, 2026 - City Council

The City of Menlo Park City Council held a meeting on June 23, 2026, focusing on several key procurement and budgetary matters. The Council discussed and adopted the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and capital improvement plan, which includes a total expenditure budget of $151.1 million and $13 million in new capital funding. The budget was balanced without using reserves and incorporated expenditure reductions and revenue enhancements, including a proposed 20% increase in gymnastics fees to reduce subsidies. The Council also approved a successor labor agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 829, expiring June 30, 2027. Additionally, the Council considered amendments to the El Camino Real Downtown Specific Plan to allow more diverse land uses, including conditional approval for banks and financial institutions with size limits, and permitted small-scale commercial recreation and personal services to enhance downtown vibrancy. The Council directed staff to provide annual informational reports on the downtown area and discussed potential future study sessions on downtown vibrancy and budgetary challenges. Public comments addressed topics such as employee compensation, downtown business development, environmental quality commission appointments, and water management planning.