Hi Ms. Roberts,  

One of the projects that Sherry Kelly and before her Sylvia Vonderlinden were working on was a clarification with the City Council as to two (2) existing advisory groups, as follows:  

1. Menlo Park Art Commission, and
2. Las Pulgas Committee.

Both are still referenced on the Menlo Park website and have been on application forms and other official documents. It may be misleading to some folks on whether these two groups are still active. At some point, it would be helpful if the City Council weighed in on this and provided guidance on their importance to the city.  

Should they should be reactivated? My sense is that members of the community will volunteer and do an exemplary job with these two topics, now being somewhat brushed over.  

The ol' expression, "fish or cut bait" may apply here, that is, reactivated them or remove them altogether.  

In year 2008, I provided impassioned speeches and submitted extensive written material about the Art Commission. For my nickel, it is long over due that it be made available to this community. Short of repeating those pleas, sufficient to say, nearly every City, Council, State and at the Federal Level has some sort of Art Commission. Menlo Park used to, but is currently inactive. Perhaps in these tough economic times, the benefits of having an Art Commission are more important than ever. Also, having the Menlo Atherton Performing Art Center opening later this year may also provide reason to consider having an Art Commission to help oversee the many important decisions needed with this multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art facility.  

Your thoughts welcome.  

Thanks, Jim
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