TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
Regular Meeting of the Town Council
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
7:00 P.M.
Craig Hughes, Mayor
Sarah Wernikoff, Vice Mayor
Jeff Aalfs, Councilmember
Maryann Derwin, Councilmember
John Richards, Councilmember
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER – All Councilmembers were present, including incoming Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty and Taylor.
2. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION – None.
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following members of the public spoke during Oral Communications:
• Tom Vlasic • Nina Phillips
• Rita Comes • Anne Wengert
• Sandy Sloane • Onnolee Trapp
• MJ Lee • Sen Becker Aide
4. CONSENT AGENDA
The following members of the public spoke about items on the Consent Agenda:
• Liz Babb (Item 4.e.) • Gregg Frankwood (Item 4.e.)
• Majda Jones (Item 4.e.) • David Cardinal (Item 4.e.)
• Rita Comes (Item 4.e.) • Judith Murphy (Item 4.e.)
• Ronnie (Item 4.e) • Lucy Neely (Item 4.e.)
• Jon Silver (Item 4.e.)
• Nan Shostak (Item 4.e.)
Sarah Wernikoff, Vice Mayor, recused herself from discussing and voting on Item 4.e. due to a potential conflict of interest.
Craig Hughes, Mayor, pulled Item 4.g. for clarification on the total votes cast. Melissa Thurman, Town Clerk, provided the clarification verbally.
M/S Richards/Aalfs to approve the Consent Agenda, excluding Item 4.e. and 4.g. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
M/S Richards/Wernikoff to approve Item 4.g. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
M/S Derwin/Aalfs to table Item 4.e. to a future meeting, date uncertain, until a policy on fee waivers be discussed and/or approved by Council. Motion carried 4-0-1 by roll call vote with Vice Mayor Wernikoff recused.
a. Approval of Action Minutes for the Special and Regular Meetings of October 26, November 9 and November 30, 2022
b. Approval of Warrant List
c. Adoption of a Resolution Confirming the State of Emergency and Need to Continue Conducting Town Public Meetings Remotely (a) A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Portola Valley Confirming Existing State of Emergency and Authorizing Continued Remote Public Meetings Under AB 361
d. Approve the Re-Appointment of Raymond Williams to Serve a Four-Year Term as the Portola Valley Representative to the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District
e. Approve the Willow Commons Apartments’ Request for Waiver of Town Fees for Affordable Supportive Housing Project
Town of Portola Valley – Council Minutes
December 14, 2022
f. Approve the Portola Valley ADU/JADU Survey
g. Adopt a Resolution Declaring the Results of the General Municipal Election for the Town of Portola Valley held on November 8, 2022 as Provided by Law
5. TOWN COUNCIL REORGANIZATION
a. Swearing-In of Newly Elected Town Councilmembers Judith A. Hasko, Craig S. Taylor and Mary Hufty
The following members of the public spoke during this item:
• Jon Silver
• Alex Von Feldt
• Carlos Romero
The Town Council took a recess at 8:47 p.m.
The Town Council reconvened at 8:56 p.m.
Melissa Thurman, Town Clerk, performed the Oath of Office to Incoming Councilmembers Judith A. Hasko, Mary Hufty and Craig S. Taylor.
b. Town Council Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor
Sarah Wernikoff, Councilmember, nominated Jeff Aalfs to the position of Mayor.
Mary Hufty, Councilmember, nominated Judith Hasko to the position of Mayor. Judith Hasko, Councilmember declined the nomination.
M/S Wernikoff/Hasko to nominate Jeff Aalfs for Mayor of Portola Valley through 2023. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Jeff Aalfs has been chosen as Mayor of Portola Valley through 2023.
Jeff Aalfs, Mayor, nominated Sarah Wernikoff to the position of Vice Mayor. Craig Taylor, Councilmember, seconded the motion.
Mary Hufty, Councilmember, nominated Judith Hasko to the position of Vice Mayor. Judith Hasko, Councilmember, seconded the motion.
M/S Aalfs/Taylor to nominate Sarah Wernikoff for Vice Mayor of Portola Valley through 2023.
Motion carried 3-2 by roll call vote, with Councilmembers Hasko and Hufty opposed.
As Sarah Wernikoff’s nomination received a motion and second first, a roll call vote was conducted. As the nomination carried, the motion and second for the nomination of Judith Hasko failed.
Sarah Wernikoff has been chosen as Vice Mayor of Portola Valley through 2023.
The following members of the public spoke regarding this item:
• Gregg Frankwood
• Rita Comes
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Bill Russell
After the 11:32 p.m. recess, Mayor Aalfs was advised by Town Attorney Cara Silver to re-take the votes for the positions of Mayor and Vice Mayor, using the original nominations, due to the fact that public comment had been taken after the votes had been taken earlier in the meeting.
Town of Portola Valley – Council Minutes
December 14, 2022
For the position of Mayor:
M/S Wernikoff/Hasko to nominate Jeff Aalfs for Mayor of Portola Valley through 2023. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Jeff Aalfs has been chosen to the position of Mayor.
M/S Hufty/Hasko to nominate Judith Hasko for Vice Mayor of Portola Valley through 2023.
Motion failed 3-2 by roll call vote, with Councilmembers Aalfs, Taylor and Wernikoff opposed.
M/S Aalfs/Taylor to nominate Sarah Wernikoff for Vice Mayor of Portola Valley through 2023.
Motion carried 3-2 by roll call vote, with Councilmembers Hasko and Hufty opposed.
Sarah Wernikoff has been chosen as Vice Mayor of Portola Valley through 2023.
6. REGULAR AGENDA
a. Housing Element Update and Discussion
Judith Hasko, Councilmember, recused herself from discussing and voting on Item 6.a. due to a potential conflict of interest.
Laura Russell, Community Development Director, provided the update.
The following members of the public spoke regarding this item:
• Bill Russell • Rita Comes
• Anonymous • Peter Draeger
• Bob Adams • Gregg Frankwood
• Kristi Corley • Bob
• Ron Eastman
The Council provided the following direction to staff:
• Receive input from the Planning Commission after their January 4, 2023 meeting • Created a subcommittee of Mayor Aalfs and Councilmember Taylor to prepare a Colleague’s Memo for the meeting of January 11, 2023
7. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL AGENCIES REPORTS The following Councilmembers reported local and regional meetings they attended:
• Sarah Wernikoff – Portola Valley School District; ADU Ambassador Program • Judith Hasko - ASCC
• Jeff Aalfs – Nature & Science
The Town Council took a recess at 11:32 p.m.
The Town Council reconvened at 11:39 p.m.
The following members of the public spoke regarding the item:
• Rita Comes
• Bob
8. TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Jeremy Dennis, Town Manager, provided the report verbally.
9. ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 12:08 a.m.
The next Regular Town Council meeting will be held on January 11, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
The meeting minutes were prepared by Melissa Thurman, Town Clerk, for approval at the regular meeting of January 11, 2023.