The Ballot Initiative
The City must not make irreversible changes to our Downtown without your vote.
Our proposed ballot initiative would require Menlo Park voter approval before any repurposing of the public parking plazas. The future of the downtown is at stake, and the people should have the final say.
May 15, 2025 - We filed the Notice of Intent to Circulate a Petition with the City Clerk. 40+ supporters in attendance.
What would the initiative do?
The proposed measure would pass the Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance, which would require a public vote before the City can sell, lease, declare as surplus, or repurpose any of the eight Downtown parking plazas.
Changes that enhance or expand parking would not require a vote, nor would temporary events such as farmers markets. The ordinance would not block housing or anything else. It just puts control of these critical public assets into the hands of the people.
How does it happen?
Once the City Attorney provides a Title and Summary for the initiative, we will publish our Notice of Intent in the paper and start collecting signatures from residents who support the initiative. We will need signatures from at least 10% of Menlo Park’s registered voters.
If the county verifies that we have submitted enough valid signatures, the City Council can adopt the initiative outright or place it on the ballot for voters to decide. If approved, the ordinance would apply retroactively back to May 15, 2025.
How can you help?
Spread the word about the Ballot Initiative. Tell friends. Post online.
Help us collect signatures. Over 2,000 signatures will be required, and we will need help collecting them. If you might be able to help, fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you.
Why are we doing this?
Every ballot initiative can have an official “statement of reasons.” Here is ours:
STATEMENT OF REASONS
Downtown Menlo Park is more than just a business district—it’s where our community comes together. Families run errands, friends meet for coffee, and local businesses form the backbone of daily life. All of this depends on easy, reliable access—including parking.
But City officials have been pushing plans to replace our public parking lots with high-rise housing. These decisions were made with little input from residents and no vote of the people. If these plans move forward, the Downtown we know will be changed forever—more traffic, fewer small businesses, and less access for everyone who depends on it.
These parking lots aren’t surplus land—they’re essential public infrastructure. They were created for the community, and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.
This initiative ensures that the people—not just City Hall—have the final say. Any plan to sell, lease, or repurpose these public lots must first be approved by a majority of Menlo Park voters.
The future of Downtown Menlo Park is too important to be decided without us.
What are people saying?
Van Kouzoujian, Menlo Park Resident
“Downtown Menlo Park works because it’s accessible. The Parking Plazas are the infrastructure that makes that possible. If the City wants to change their use, the community—not just City Hall—should make that decision.”
Richard Draeger, Owner of Draeger’s Market
“Our market depends on customers being able to park nearby—especially older folks and families with kids. Loss of convenient parking poses an existential threat to businesses such as ours.”
Alex Beltramo, Menlo Park Resident
“This initiative simply says that any plan to diminish public parking Downtown should go to the voters. The plazas are public assets, and the public deserves a say before they’re lost forever.”
Vasile Oros, Owner of Menlo Park Ace Hardware
“People don’t just stumble into our store—they plan a visit. If they expect that parking will be difficult, they’ll go somewhere else. This initiative gives power to the people, so they can keep shopping in Menlo Park.”
Caitlin Darke, Menlo Park Resident
“As a real estate developer myself, I’m excited about ways Menlo Park can create more housing. But using the Downtown parking lots is a terrible idea. It would devastate our businesses.”
Mary Seaton, Woodside Resident
“Our family comes Downtown for everything—errands, lunch, grocery shopping, and church. I don’t want the City making irreversible changes without first asking the people of Menlo Park. That’s why I support this initiative.”