Hello Menlo Park City Council,  

My name is Bill Evans, and I live on Santa Margarita Avenue with my wife

and 2 children, ages 12 and 15. We've lived in the Willows community for over

15 years and we've enjoyed the Seminary Oaks Park since its creation in the

late 90's. The park has become quite central to our recreational activities and

we're often playing baseball, frisbee or just sitting on the grass under the many

shade trees, looking at cloud formations. It truly is an idyllic resource for everyone

fortunate enough to have its use.  

I recently became aware of a proposal to install a reservoir system underneath the park

and became quite concerned about how this proposal reached such an advanced stage

without any public involvement. Through the public outreach meeting hosted by the DPW,

I discovered that the proposed location includes a large pump-house that serves 2 purposes:

to disinfect the water that resides within the reservoir (hence requiring chemicals) and to replenish

the water within the tank on a continuous basis (meaning the pumps are constantly running). Also,

the pump house will have a large wall built around it and the structure itself will occupy a sizable

footprint at the park.  

I visited a similar pumping facility in Mountain View, which was referenced at the DPW

meeting as a fine example of such a reservoir and pump facility. During my visit to that site, I was

disturbed by the size of the fencing around the pump house, and more so, by the number of warning

signs surrounding the facility: "Danger: High Voltage" along with several indicating the presence of chemicals

and flammable materials. Also, the site had several eye-wash stations - presumably for emergency use

only, but clearly indicating that dangerous chemicals are used within the station itself.  

I believe such a facility is inconsistent with the purpose of the Seminary Oaks Park, and I am concerned

about the potential dangers such a pump-house introduces on the children and adults who use the

park.  

I implore the City Council to re-examine the site selection for the emergency reservoir, and request

that the Council seek close public involvement through this process. Let's jointly arrive at a solution

for our community water needs, and work as truly cooperative team on the right solution for all of us.  

I appreciate your time.  

Thanks,

Bill Evans

275 Santa Margarita Ave

Menlo Park, CA 94025

650-823-7254             Received on Mon Jun 30 15:44:49 2008