TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
Regular Meeting of the Town Council
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
7:00 P.M.
Jeff Aalfs, Mayor
Sarah Wernikoff, Vice Mayor
Judith Hasko, Councilmember
Mary Hufty, Councilmember
Craig Taylor, Councilmember
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER – All Councilmembers were present.
2. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following members of the public spoke during Oral Communications:
• Rita Comes
• Kristi Corley
• Leslie Kriese
• Nan Shostak
• Caroline Vertongen
• Jon Silver
4. CONSENT AGENDA
The following members of the public spoke regarding the Consent Agenda:
• Rita Comes (Items 4.d. and 4.g.)
• Caroline Vertongen (Items 4.d. and 4.g.)
• Leslie Kriese (Items 4.d. and 4.g.)
• Betsy Morgenthaler (Items 4.d. and 4.g.)
• Kristi Corley (Items 4.d. and 4.g.)
• Karen Askey (Items 4.d. and 4.g.)
• Lucy Neely (Item 4.g.)
Councilmember Hasko requested to pull Item 4.a. to correct names of speakers listed in the minutes.
Councilmember Taylor requested to pull Items 4.d. and 4.g.
M/S Hasko/Taylor to approve Items 4.b., 4.c., 4.e. and 4.f. of the Consent Agenda. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
M/S Wernikoff/Taylor to approve Item 4.a. of the Consent Agenda. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
M/S Hasko/Taylor to approve Item 4.d., adopting the resolution and creating a Subcommittee of Hasko/Hufty to review the HCD templates. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
M/S Taylor/Wernikoff to deny Item 4.g. Motion carried 4-1 with Councilmember Aalfs opposed by roll call vote.
a. Approval of Action Minutes for the Regular Meeting of December 14, 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. Authorize Town Manager to Execute Any and All Contract Amendments with Department of Housing and Community Development
Town of Portola Valley – Council Minutes
January 11, 2023
e. Adoption of Resolution Ratifying the Proclamation of Existence of Local Emergency Issued by Director of Emergency Services and Further Proclaiming the Continued Existence of the Emergency
f. Adopt a Resolution in Support of the Mack E. Mickelson Arthritis and Rehabilitation Center Therapy Pool Located at the Mills Health Center in San Mateo California g. Authorize Lucy Neely to Serve as Chair of the Finance Committee and the Race and Equity Committee
5. REGULAR AGENDA
a. Appoint Commission Members for the Following:
• Two Short-Term Vacancies on the Planning Commission, with One Seat’s Term Expiring in December 2023, and One Seat’s Term Expiring in December 2024; and • Two Short-Term Vacancies on the Architectural Site Control Commission, with One Seat’s Term Expiring in December 2023 and One Seat’s Term Expiring in December 2024
The following members of the public spoke regarding the item:
• Betsy Morgenthaler
• Rita Comes
• Caroline Vertongen
• Dale Pfau
• Leslie Kriese
Jeff Aalfs, Mayor, opened nominations for one short-term seat on the Planning Commission, with the seat’s term expiring in December 2023.
M/S Hufty/Taylor to nominate Lynda Brothers
M/S Wernikoff/Aalfs to nominate Ronny Krashinsky
Motion by Hasko to nominate Karen Vahtra. No second provided.
After a roll call vote, Lynda Brothers was appointed to the Planning Commission with a vote of 4-1 with Vice Mayor Wernikoff voting for Ronny Krashinsky. Lynda Brothers will serve on a short-term seat, which will expire in December 2023.
Jeff Aalfs, Mayor, opened nominations for one short-term seat on the Planning Commission, with the seat’s term expiring in December 2024.
M/S Taylor/Aalfs to nominate Ronny Krashinsky
M/S Aalfs/Wernikoff to nominate Rebecca Flynn
Motion by Hufty to nominate Karen Vahtra. No second provided.
M/S Hasko/Hufty to nominate Carter Warr.
After a roll call vote, Ronny Krashinsky was appointed to the Planning Commission with a vote of 3- 2 with Councilmembers Hasko and Hufty voting for Carter Warr. Ronny Krashinsky will serve on a short-term seat which will expire in December 2024.
M/S Taylor/Hufty to postpone nominations and voting for the two vacancies on the Architectural Site Control Commission and re-open the recruitment to January 27, 2023, with interviews and appointments to occur in a special meeting that will take place the week of January 30, 2023. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
b. Approve Council Appointments to Regional and Local Bodies for 2023 The following members of the public spoke regarding the item:
Jeff Aalfs, Mayor, announced that there were two omissions to the report: Commute.org and Race and Equity Committee.
Town of Portola Valley – Council Minutes
January 11, 2023
Mary Hufty, Councilmember, volunteered to serve on Race and Equity.
Sarah Wernikoff, Vice Mayor, volunteered to serve on Friends of the Library.
M/S Wernikoff/Taylor to approve the Mayor’s list of Council appointments to regional and local bodies for 2023, as amended. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
6. COUNCIL COLLEAGUE MEMOS
a. Discuss Colleagues Memo from Mayor Aalfs Entitled “Suggested Change to Committee and Outside Meeting Liaison Reports”
Jeff Aalfs, Mayor, presented the item.
The Town Council agreed to begin providing written reports on the meetings they attended for future agenda packets.
b. Discuss Colleagues Memo from Vice Mayor Wernikoff Entitled “Council Meeting Start Time – Discussion of Earlier Meeting Time”
Sarah Wernikoff, Vice Mayor, presented the item.
The Town Council chose not to change the meeting start time to 6:00 p.m. c. Discuss Colleagues Memo from Vice Mayor Wernikoff Entitled “Lifetime Achievement Award”
Sarah Wernikoff, Vice Mayor, presented the item.
The Town Council chose to create a subcommittee to review this award proposal. The subcommittee will be Vice Mayor Wernikoff and Councilmember Hasko. d. Discuss Colleagues Memo from Councilmember Hufty Entitled “General Plan Resident Working Group”
Mary Hufty, Councilmember, presented the item.
The following members of the public spoke regarding the item:
• Jon Silver
• Rita Comes
• Caroline Vertongen
• Leslie Kriese
The Town Council directed Councilmember Hufty to work with Councilmember Hasko on defining the role of the group and to present the item at a future meeting. e. Discuss Colleagues Memo from Mayor Aalfs and Councilmember Taylor Entitled “Proposed Council Commitments to a Post-Adoption Housing Element Process” Jeff Aalfs, Mayor and Craig Taylor, Councilmember, presented the item.
The following members of the public spoke regarding the item:
• Rita Comes
• Bob Adams
The Town Council agreed that the document needed further work and they chose to disband the previous subcommittee of Jeff Aalfs and Craig Taylor and created a new subcommittee of Judith Hasko and Craig Taylor to work on phrasing and details within the document. f. Discussion Item from Councilmember Hufty – Code of Ethics for Town Council The Town Council chose to continue the item to the meeting of January 25, 2023.
Town of Portola Valley – Council Minutes
January 11, 2023
7. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL AGENCIES REPORTS The Councilmember listed below reported on attending the following meeting:
• Sarah Wernikoff – ADU Ambassador Meeting
The following member of the public spoke regarding the item:
• Rita Comes
8. TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Jeremy Dennis, Town Manager, provided the report verbally.
The following member of the public spoke regarding the item:
• Kristi Corley
• Rita Comes
• Bob Adams
9. ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 11:41 p.m.