Dear Council Members,

The recent article in the Country Almanac mentioned that the potential donor for the new Burgess Gym construction is Mr. John Arrillaga. We are in full support of Mr. Arrillaga's donation and involvement and here is why.

We are 17 year MP residents on Valparaiso Avenue and have had three children attend both public and private schools in MP and Atherton. Our children's middle and high school campuses, Menlo School, were constructed and overseen by the school facilities staff as well as Mr. Arrillaga and we were astonished at the quality and timing of these projects. We have experienced first hand the thoughtful attention from Mr. Arrillaga's team to the architecture, fiscal management as well as neighborly attitude during the construction process. The Menlo School buildings function beautifully and came in on budget and in record time!!! How many public or private sector projects can boast such a record?

We continue to be dismayed at the bleak landscape that dots El Camino Real and how that reflects on our delightful town. The inability for quicker decisions and actions on the part of the town , some hampered by restrictions and many by conflicting Council opinions, makes us not hopeful for the future of Burgess Gym.
While our own children are now finishing high school and in college, we are saddened for upcoming children as well as the many adults, who would enjoy the facility and fear that a small minority of residents or Council members will stop Burgess' development. Please avail yourselves, and us, of Mr. Arrillaga's vast, professional development experience and generosity towards our citizens.

Thank you for your consideration of our opinions and for the long hours and hard work you put forth on our behalf.

Regards,

Tyler and Kim Glenn
1241 Valparaiso Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025 Received on Thu Jul 10 21:21:09 2008