[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5978799,"mediaKeyId","5793408-3dd3df5dc4de923b95865fd10a5ff265","parentId",5793408,"title","City manager says EPC must clear council or staff before formally engaging Menlo College; members push for student data work","audioSeconds",578,"startMs",1938000,"endMs",2516000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793408-3dd3df5dc4de923b95865fd10a5ff265&start=1938&end=2516","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793408-3dd3df5dc4de923b95865fd10a5ff265/thumbnail_1938000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5978799/California/City-manager-says-EPC-must-clear-council-or-staff-before-formally-engaging-Menlo-College-members-push-for-student-data-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978799-da6fd4cd0e52d7e26c0670d22ceb2f8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770597476&Signature=Qq3LhqdWXgiOq5ATn7z0tF-IriWDK8jBUE1lBuV~pljcX2EjyQ7VguTCFKpPsfjjemHoGGgShnsTlbvEv0nVbYVg8sQ9vuWMpEOVtghB25eSgo0kvFWPv7rEbO1g~rU0bR8ryJRf3YS4lsNsZdyw6~3L2ZfzJ1sS7Vb7xaKqZ-Mnc9bpGRAUtC2sKyLNXhwVx-5tMkwkIpcNMUaW97FPTh-av6gUapwe94egUP3nZGptBFdxaBVqP8WFNOELxiImOLs9nYWgUOfPQaD2yx2nBkO8LKqCPY8OysXMLGjtqad7L-4GDGH1Rg7c0gdm0HJZIdOynsySb~S1Zd-CHYZjBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of Atherton CA","date","2025-09-18T20:13:26Z","article","At the Environmental Programs Committee meeting members debated whether subcommittees or individual committee members may approach Menlo College or other outside organizations on behalf of the town without prior council direction. City Manager George told the EPC that the committee is advisory and that programmatic activities involving staff time or resources require council direction or staff-led implementation.

The city manager framed the committee’s role in two parts: 1) making recommendations to council upon request and 2) assisting staff in implementing council-established programs and policies. “The committee is an advisory committee, not an action committee,” George said during the discussion, warning that independent outreach can create expectations of town action and staff resource commitments.

Committee members pushed back, saying volunteers have in the past arranged demonstrations and pilots (for example, a sheep demonstration and other locally arranged activities) and that exploratory conversations with Menlo College about water or electricity use could help identify cost‑effective interventions. Committee member Ken described plans to explore campus hot‑water and dormitory electricity strategies and said he and other volunteers could compile research and potential pilot proposals to present to staff and council.

Key points of disagreement and resolution
- Data and scope: Committee members want to explore Menlo College’s water and energy usage because campus reductions could meaningfully affect town-level emissions estimates. Staff and the city manager noted Menlo College is not included in the town’s CAP dashboard and that obtaining campus data or performing an attribution analysis could require consultant work or formal data requests.
- Authority and process: The city manager repeatedly said outreach or actions undertaken as representatives of the EPC require staff coordination or council direction. Committee members said they can perform fact‑finding and bring back ideas, but staff emphasized that formal programs, pilots, or procurement require town approval.
- Next steps: The parties agreed on a path forward: volunteers and subcommittees may do limited fact‑finding and prepare proposals, but any engagement that would commit staff time, town resources or formal partnerships must be routed through staff and, if necessary, approved by the Town Council.

Ending
Staff agreed to prepare a short summary of the meeting and the options discussed; EPC subcommittees will refine proposals and, if a program requires staff time or funding, staff will take a recommendation to council for direction or budget approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Environmental Programs Committee Meeting July 17, 20251","oneSentenceSummary","A dispute at the EPC meeting centered on whether Environmental Programs Committee volunteers can initiate outreach, data requests or programs with Menlo College without explicit council direction; the city manager said the committee is advisory and should route program proposals through staff and council before acting.","taxTitle","Atherton Town, San Mateo County, California","taxId",72378,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5978804,"Atherton committee recommends annual spring and fall anchor events to support Climate Action Plan goals",4576,1116000,5692000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793408-3dd3df5dc4de923b95865fd10a5ff265&start=1116&end=5692","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793408-3dd3df5dc4de923b95865fd10a5ff265/thumbnail_1116000.jpg","/articles/5978804/California/Atherton-committee-recommends-annual-spring-and-fall-anchor-events-to-support-Climate-Action-Plan-goals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978804-0e119db525c1384469de7ca7e945e9da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770597476&Signature=EIwCFOufwr4AhSbHzuPgKC3fjbDqZoZDSiAEYGo8arafE7jYsSzLYazuExy4Q30~i8sPxJxl9ziOLUuzbUogb1f2f9Q5RtgwpnpMNJTe3FSqv-uDqYQ4h83BrQoStcZNquK8tpNHUW60B8fx6wPwznCUSqGRmQD79Tly6iqhn4EtmwLVXfUaBLUaEzizydgECBVYjF4gugJ-1s6yr-2gZgHtfOYue7ZIzTEcmTp8oi37fyNMMcNHHySAWxkQYIJjDszq460~Aler92zAnH6HU~O8oofPIl49Ad0KxN8SgsoJ4nAvtPt9FhXNlcYmZkOhrJ~6q50lG3qRWpy9hhfhgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its meeting the Atherton Environmental Programs Committee considered staff’s recommendation to structure public education around two annual “anchor” outreach events — one in spring and one in fall — to support implementation of the town’s updated climate action plan and drive behavior change on building energy, water use, transportation and waste.

The committee reviewed the Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2023 update and the town’s targets — a 49% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below a 2005 baseline by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2045 — and discussed ways the EPC could help with outreach and implementation.

Staff recommendation and rationale
Staff recommended the EPC adopt a programming rhythm of two anchor events a year: a spring workshop (staff suggested a composting workshop as a low-cost, high-engagement example) and a fall event with a rotating environmental focus such as building electrification, water conservation, wildfire resilience or air quality. “I recommend that the EPC consider structuring its annual programming around 2 anchor events per year, 1 in the spring and 1 in the fall,” the staff presenter said.

Why it matters: the CAP and implementation constraints
The committee heard that Atherton adopted a climate action plan in 2016, undertook a five-year review in 2021, and adopted a 2023 update prepared with county sustainability staff. Staff said full implementation of the plan’s 61 updated strategies will require coordinated action by town staff, partner agencies and the community; certain outreach and any program that requires staff time or money would require council approval.

Specific program ideas discussed
- Composting workshop (spring): staff argued this is low-cost, familiar to residents and aligns with state mandates on organic waste diversion; the committee discussed procurement options and on-site distribution logistics.
- Fall rotating topic: building electrification (including reach-code implementation for new construction), water conservation, and electrifying landscaping equipment were all raised as possible themes.
- Partnerships: staff suggested partnering with Menlo College and Menlo-Atherton High School for youth engagement and potential student-led research support; members discussed opportunities to use student researchers but noted data access and resource constraints.
- Demonstrations and pilots: committee member Ken proposed annual demos or an expo of battery-powered landscaping equipment and robotic mowers to demonstrate alternatives to gasoline-powered machinery and to test business models for landscapers; staff flagged that pilot demonstrations would be feasible but noted any contract or funded pilot would need council or city‑manager approval.

Legal and measurement constraints
Committee members and staff discussed measurement limits in regional emissions reporting — county- or state-level inventories use assumptions and averages that may not isolate campus contributions without additional, town-directed data collection. The staff report cites state climate goals under AB 32 and SB 32 and referenced state organic waste diversion law (SB 1383) as part of the policy context for outreach.

Fiscal impact and next steps
Staff characterized the proposed anchor-event model as having limited fiscal impact for basic workshops (instructor fees or materials would be minor), while larger pilot projects or consultant-led analyses would require council approval. Committee members asked staff to draft a plan for the proposed spring composting workshop and for potential fall themes; staff agreed to prepare summaries and work with EPC subcommittees on program development before returning with recommendations.

Ending
Committee members asked staff to refine program proposals, estimate any required staff time or contractor costs, and present a short implementation plan and timeline at a future EPC meeting so the committee can decide what to recommend to council.","Town staff recommended the Environmental Programs Committee (EPC) structure outreach around two annual anchor events — a spring composting workshop and a fall rotating topic — to support implementation of Atherton’s 2023 Climate Action Plan update and the town’s targets for 2030 and 2045.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5978810,"Earth Day at Holbrook Palmer Park drew about 150–175; town doubled event budget to $10,000",302,86000,388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793408-3dd3df5dc4de923b95865fd10a5ff265&start=86&end=388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793408-3dd3df5dc4de923b95865fd10a5ff265/thumbnail_86000.jpg","/articles/5978810/California/Earth-Day-at-Holbrook-Palmer-Park-drew-about-150175-town-doubled-event-budget-to-10000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978810-ad2f57528fca545ec250d9004b7c5536/orig.mp4?Expires=1770597476&Signature=RbAHlGduJI-XqIdDatrDFrV-8tB4v9TX3-f2DkC7gCHhEQaI2jMPpjolsb4WxlvUZdzzF~SmmwvQzXmM6eqQHJ6WjgVe2bVDZtXLChwZ-~sKNOlLxl5tcsW00qZhwhO1~dr7ARTAh8WYE~yZA30z~6Nff6UDPnjO8cDET0PrbdLocRzPCHM3psLDh7~2eLWRn5QB0YLdjpmc-optbFt9ZSqa3RC1tRkKKW7pXwC6N-tn0tDACYzIDxqWYY7oqZ8YA6DZtApwyO34Oi4Upglar9tCe8zimzLemou8aQKLs4jyrtR99q7xNYzpaF~Re5NFyZ7IQvPznWRPx3Wpd09AfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff and the Atherton Environmental Programs Committee (EPC) reviewed the town’s Earth Day event, held Sunday, April 27, at Holbrook Palmer Park, saying staff estimates attendance at roughly 150 to 175 people and noting the Town Council increased the event budget to $10,000 this year.

The staff report said the event ran roughly 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and included exhibitors from local groups and city departments, demonstrations such as a reptile show and a falconry display, food trucks limited to vegetarian/vegan options in recent years, and a bike valet run by local Boy Scout and Girl Scout volunteers. “I would estimate that we had around a 150 to a 175 people come to the park,” the staff presenter said during the committee meeting.

The nut graf: the committee and staff framed Earth Day as community outreach tied to the town’s climate goals, and this year’s planning followed a council decision to move the event logistics from the EPC to staff. Committee members and staff agreed to fold lessons learned into next year’s planning to increase appeal for families and broaden vendor food choices.

Committee discussion and details
- Attendance and timing: Staff estimated 150–175 visitors during the 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. window; members attributed lower turnout to overcast weather and the event’s placement on a Sunday. The staff presenter said turnout was “a little lower this year because of the weather.”
- Budget: The committee heard that the council increased the event allocation from $5,000 in prior years to $10,000 for this year to account for rising costs. The staff presenter called out that council’s budget increase when summarizing the event.
- Programming and vendors: The event included a traveling reptile show, a “Beetle Lady” insect display, a West Coast Falconry demonstration, a DIY table from the Atherton Library and local exhibitors such as HIP Housing and the police department. Staff noted the town has asked food trucks in the last two years to provide vegetarian or vegan options; vendor and visitor feedback recommended adding some meat options next year.
- Youth engagement and attractions: Several committee members pressed for more visible, centrally located activities for children (past attractions cited included a sheep demo and interactive lawn-mower-vs-sheep demonstration). Committee members and staff discussed exploring a mix of signature attractions and more interactive activities to retain family attendance.
- Operations and volunteers: The committee flagged that volunteers (local scout troops) ran the bike valet for no cost; staff reported about 100 vegan popsicles were distributed as a reward for people who walked or biked to the event.

Context and next steps
Staff and committee members agreed to bring the lessons from this year into planning for 2026, including: offering both vegan/vegetarian and some meat vendor options; identifying at least one high-visibility children’s attraction; and coordinating with subcommittees and staff to craft event proposals for council review. Staff said the council’s increased funding is likely to continue if event costs rise.

Ending
Staff and EPC members said they will incorporate the feedback into next year’s outreach plan and return to the committee with a refined proposal; staff will circulate a short meeting summary for subcommittee follow-up.","Town staff and the Environmental Programs Committee reviewed the April 27 Earth Day event at Holbrook Palmer Park, reporting roughly 150–175 attendees, volunteer-run bike valet, a focus on vegetarian vendors and children’s exhibits, and a council increase in the event budget from $5,000 to $10,000.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City manager says EPC must clear council or staff before formally engaging Menlo College; members push for student data work

Atherton committee recommends annual spring and fall anchor events to support Climate Action Plan goals

Earth Day at Holbrook Palmer Park drew about 150–175; town doubled event budget to $10,000