Candidate Forum Opening and Closing Remarks

By Kristin Duriseti

Prepared introductory and concluding remarks on my background, qualifications, and vision as a Council Candidate

Opening Remarks

Good evening. My name is Kristin Duriseti, and I am running for Menlo Park City Council.

I want to thank the League of Women Voters for hosting the Candidates Forum tonight. I am delighted to be here.

Sixteen years ago, my husband and I bought our first home in the Willows neighborhood, where we began raising our family, and we now live in West Menlo. We chose to live in Menlo Park for the same reasons that many choose to live here + its wonderful, family-friendly neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, convenient access to work, and excellent schools.

It was through the schools that I first became involved in our community. I have volunteered extensively in the classroom, for the PTO, on the Laurel School Site Council, and the recent successful update to the Oak Knoll Safe Routes to School.

I graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, and I have graduate degrees from the University of Michigan in Economics and Political Science, with my doctoral dissertation on international climate policy. I currently work at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, where I manage the academic journal, Climatic Change.

As an Environmental Quality Commissioner for six years, including one year as Chair, I have worked to:

• Implement regional flood control measures that preserve the natural beauty of San Francisquito Creek and its ecosystem,
• Eliminate the use of pesticides on City property, especially in parks where children play,
• Encourage energy upgrades by local businesses that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money,
• Develop a Water Resource Management program that addresses in a holistic and responsible manner the long-term needs of our residents,
• Protect the viability of our aquifer as an important water source of last resort that should not be used by the Sharon Height Golf and Country Club to irrigate their lawns, and
• Resolve Heritage Tree conflicts in a manner that is sensitive to the interests of the property owner and protects our valuable and valued urban tree canopy.

I will bring a vision for long term planning that will set Menlo Park on the path towards a more sustainable and viable future.

I will bring my practice of digging into the details in order to understand the fundamentals of the issues facing Menlo Park, which ultimately leads to finding more effective solutions.

I will bring an informed perspective that takes into account the wisdom and values of our residents and envisions the broad implications of our policy choices in order to find practical solutions.

I will work hard to serve our community and would be honored to have your vote. Thank you.

Closing Remarks

Menlo Park is at a crossroads, and our next Council will make many critically important decisions that will determine whether we are on course towards a sustainable future. With my background in economics and climate policy, I bring a deep understanding of the synergies between economic viability and environmental sustainability, and I truly believe in the potential for positive outcomes through collaboration.

We need Council Members who do more than just listen to our residents; we need Council Members who are able to discern the legitimate concerns raised by residents and make sure that critical questions are addressed. Working on the Oak Knoll Safe Routes to School Update, I made sure that the interests and recommendations of the residents were included in the final report. I believe this inclusive and collaborative process resulted in a successful outcome, where previous efforts that short-circuited valuable community input had been expensive failures.

We need Council Members who have a vision for a sustainable future that addresses our long-term needs in a holistic and proactive manner. Over two years ago, the Environmental Quality Commission recommended to the City Council that Menlo Park develop a Water Demand Management plan In contrast to our community's relative success in reducing trash headed to the landfill, we are woefully behind in reducing our water usage, despite over a decade of evidence pointing to the urgent need for water conservation. We need strong leadership to take immediate and continuing action to responsibly manage our precious water resources.

We need Council Members who consider all sides of an issue to understand the interests and perspectives of the various stakeholders. Perhaps the most significant issue facing the next Council is the General Plan Update, which will establish new zoning regulations in the Belle Have neighborhood (between 101 and the Bay), as well as city-wide transportation planning. I will bring a holistic approach to ensure that land-use, housing, and transportation are meaningfully integrated, and that our community, economy, and environment are protected and enhanced. As a current member of the General Plan Advisory Committee, I have listened to our residents at every study session and studied these issues closely. I am optimistic that, with the right leadership, we can achieve these multiple goals in a complementary manner in order to realize the widely shared vision for a walkable and livable community.

I will prioritize support for local businesses and restaurants, a better jobs-to-housing ratio, and more affordable housing. I will advocate for safer bicycle and pedestrian corridors and more convenient regional transit alternatives. Above all, I want to ensure that we preserve our beautiful neighborhoods, increase access to truly public open space, continue to provide excellent city services, and protect the great quality of life in Menlo Park.

I am honored that this vision and perspective has earned me an endorsement from the Sierra Club, six former Menlo Park Mayors, and hundreds of residents from all across the city. It would be my great honor to add your vote and support for a more sustainable future for us all. Thank you.