[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6013771,"mediaKeyId","5793487-057b4757f87b47ecd4018c954dc88fc2","parentId",5793487,"title","Atherton council tells staff to keep exploring Menlo College housing options; legal limits on council fundraising stressed","audioSeconds",2323,"startMs",458000,"endMs",2781000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793487-057b4757f87b47ecd4018c954dc88fc2&start=458&end=2781","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793487-057b4757f87b47ecd4018c954dc88fc2/thumbnail_458000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6013771/California/Atherton-council-tells-staff-to-keep-exploring-Menlo-College-housing-options-legal-limits-on-council-fundraising-stressed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6013771-3f2d09f4c69bca92bf28465ed43ab276/orig.mp4?Expires=1770941230&Signature=YI2iyoYGHHwuja9n-XM-eGptpNnJBp6bAxSJi6J6d3m7B0AAnfQTyzQUCEcuywczFUeh7BUWJCAFv0jZ57AoYe8PA63m7Djh2kAFZjVA0x5klOl8y0mRdZbFi-Zw6A9PNwXk74PAs-T3Tf0cNM-5uxMWHpl~1QT6gtLWKCvn09uUTUaKzJ7Hyp1UoHmFePPmbsdpYkLChMNmBU4zOkRwyqCO3C-WpHCHQUh-eYfa6TSRU4D27B9UBkCYGvHn~3c44r8uFgnYS74n9A6Zt6efACHVMpcfaPh0XpP72n9dn~J-gvvDBr16hVnsPphd-wine51tCVJc6myd10EzGKNS8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of Atherton CA","date","2025-09-04T00:00:00Z","article","The Atherton Town Council directed staff to continue exploring options for campus housing at Menlo College and Menlo School, endorsing three approaches identified in a staff report: pursuit of grants and loans, soliciting public‑private partnership (P3) partners, and a donor-driven fundraising strategy. Councilors stopped short of committing town tax dollars to a conceptual plan but some members suggested limited matching funds could motivate outside donors.

Town Planner Britney Bendix summarized staff’s work to date: “Menlo College is very much willing and eager to pursue housing on their site. However, they lack the financial means to put forth not just the development, but kind of an effort to spearhead the development right now.” Bendix outlined three possible town roles: research and pursuit of grants and loans, a competitive solicitation to identify P3 partners, and support for a donor-driven effort such as a resident committee to seek a major donor.

Council discussion emphasized practical constraints. Bendix and councilors said the college prefers housing primarily for its students and employees and would not accept broad third‑party rentals; revenue from a P3 would flow to the college, limiting the town’s leverage. A public commenter who identified themselves as the head of a nearby middle school said teacher housing is an urgent need but warned the college lacked funds to build and that replacement parking would be required.

Some council members said initial work should center on staff-supported searches for grants and loans and on outreach to foundations and potential donors. Councilor Widmer said the most productive near-term step is using staff resources to identify funding. Several councilors estimated that creating a conceptual plan to attract donors or a developer could cost roughly $50,000 to $100,000; one councilor suggested the town could match resident fundraising to get a project moving, while others reiterated reluctance to use tax dollars to underwrite development on land the town would not own.

Town Attorney Mona advised caution about council members actively soliciting donations. “You can do that, but there’s disclosures that you need to make, pursuant to the FPPC. It’s called a behested payment,” she said, and added that council members who take a public role in fundraising risk bias or the need to recuse from future land-use or entitlement decisions, citing common-law standards that require elected officials to act with “disinterested zeal.”

Council direction recorded in the transcript was to keep staff engaged with both Menlo College and Menlo School, prioritize grant and loan research and outreach, and return to the council with milestones and updates. No formal vote or allocation of town capital funds for a conceptual plan was recorded; the council asked staff to report back and to continue outreach.

Councilors and staff suggested a realistic internal timeline: identify a development team, financing approach and site concept by 2027–2028 so permits and a building permit could be achieved within the current housing-element cycle to count toward RHNA goals. Councilors asked staff to monitor grant opportunities and report milestones to the council; one council member said the town should pursue public education to encourage resident support and potential private donations.

The council closed the item after giving staff direction to continue work and to keep the council informed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Atherton City Council Study Session September 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors directed staff to continue work with Menlo College and Menlo School on three housing approaches—grants/loans, public-private partnerships, and donor fundraising—while town attorney warned that council-led fundraising can trigger disclosures and recusal rules.","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},6013776,"Atherton council agrees to solicit applicants, aims to fill vacancy at November meeting",145,82000,227000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793487-057b4757f87b47ecd4018c954dc88fc2&start=82&end=227","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793487-057b4757f87b47ecd4018c954dc88fc2/thumbnail_82000.jpg","/articles/6013776/California/Atherton-council-agrees-to-solicit-applicants-aims-to-fill-vacancy-at-November-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6013776-e183cdab955fb2b26e41fca8988b61e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770941230&Signature=iLY1zN4CWCIsga60XNFAEdXb3XcRTlbBZNz9jRrhAiwFITz8hM5pybr~8MnpwZmR~lBsVIepQvhO-eV7moIXVZPcYMzNt6nCqnC4bGOaozpxMrtIytEAXBsPyreU0fTwyqFI9Kiq97S4DTIT1KLGl5q3U-WEHbKnKrDspUOtzDl6-ciGtVb9u4Tz~vXXTMjJu9janB2yFCggIm-FeBVZKIXpBFYfOVm6hzSxVD2kqyJvk2PFXrUgdHhxlQw88pJWn4~gUx3iK~Eiz5qOpA9KWaOVdAt8DqaH6d7p~ACNH-F7Dh0kR1X49LA~XsQAUjIlk6et6nWh8Uq-3ZxYyq1ijQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Atherton Town Council directed staff to solicit applicants for a vacant council seat and signaled a preference to interview candidates at an October study session and make an appointment at the November meeting.

The move comes after council members debated whether to appoint an interim member immediately or allow the public to apply and vote in November. Council members discussed a short public application window and whether interviews and appointment should be split between a study session and a regular meeting.

Vice Mayor Stacy said the council should be transparent and broaden outreach so residents know the opportunity is short-term and not a full four-year commitment. “We owe it to our residents to be as transparent as possible and to show that they can trust their council,” Stacy said. Council Member Rick said he agreed with Stacy that the council should not appoint someone at that meeting and favored a public announcement and application period. “I agree with Stacy that we should not be appointing today. I think that we should go out with an announcement to the general public,” Rick said.

Council discussion covered staff recommendations to accept applications for three weeks, conduct interviews at the study session, then optionally make the appointment at the regular meeting. Several members said they were comfortable conducting interviews and voting at the same meeting if candidate information arrived in time. Council Member Whitmer noted that if staff cannot provide applicant information in time, the appointment could instead be made at the regular meeting.

By general agreement, council members expressed a preference for making the appointment effective through the November election, so the replacement would serve until voters select a successor. No formal motion or roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript; council direction was recorded as a consensus to proceed with public solicitation, interviews in October if possible, and an appointment tied to the November schedule.

Council staff were asked to prepare an announcement and, if possible, deliver applicant materials to the council by the study session so interviews could proceed there. The council closed the agenda item and moved on to the next business.

Next steps outlined by council members included a public announcement, a short application window (staff suggested about three weeks), interviews at the October study session if applicant information is available, and an appointment at the regular November meeting if the council chooses to do so.","The Atherton Town Council directed staff to solicit applicants for a vacant council seat and signaled a preference to interview in October and appoint a replacement at the November meeting; no formal vote was taken.","actionData","errors"]

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Atherton council tells staff to keep exploring Menlo College housing options; legal limits on council fundraising stressed

Atherton council agrees to solicit applicants, aims to fill vacancy at November meeting