TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
Special Meeting of the Town Council
Monday, May 1, 2023
2:00 P.M.
Jeff Aalfs, Mayor
Sarah Wernikoff, Vice Mayor
Judith Hasko, Councilmember
Mary Hufty, Councilmember
Craig Taylor, Councilmember
VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION VIA ZOOM
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SPECIAL MEETING (ASCC INTERVIEWS) AGENDA
HISTORIC SCHOOLHOUSE - 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028 Remote Public Comments: Meeting participants are encouraged to submit public comments in writing in advance of the meeting. Please submit your comments using this online form by 1:00 PM on the day of the meeting. Time permitting, your correspondence will be uploaded to the website. All received questions will be forwarded to Council, Commission, or Committee members for consideration during the meeting and included in the public record.
Additionally, technology permitting, the public body will take questions using the Raise Hand button for those who attend the meeting online or by phone. Phone callers may provide comments by pressing *9 on your phone to "raise your hand" and *6 to mute/unmute yourself. The meeting Chair will call on people to speak by the phone number calling in. Remote participation is provided as a supplemental way to provide public comment, but this method does not always work. The public is encouraged to attend in person to ensure full participation.
Assistance for People with Disabilities: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Town Clerk at (650) 851-1700 or by email at [email protected]. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the Town to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Persons wishing to address the Town Council on any subject may do so now. Please note, however, that the Council is not able to undertake extended discussion or action tonight on items, not on the agenda. Speakers' time is limited to three minutes.
3. COMMISSION INTERVIEWS
a. Conduct Interview Sessions and Appoint Commission Members for the Following:
• 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
4. ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Town Council meeting will be held on May 10, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. ******************************************************************************************************************* Land Acknowledgement:
The Town of Portola Valley acknowledges the colonial history of this land we dwell upon—the unceded territory of the Ramaytush (rah-my-toosh) Ohlone, Tamien Nation, and Muwekma (mah-WEK-mah) Ohlone, who endured a human and cultural genocide that included removal from their lands and their sacred relationship to the land. Portola Valley recognizes that we profit from the commodification of land seized from indigenous peoples and now bear the ecological consequences. We seek to understand the impact of these legacies on all beings and to find ways to make repair.
Interview Schedule
2:05 – 2:35 PM Rebecca Flynn (Updated Letter of Interest) 2:45- 3:15 PM Joslyn Parenti Gray (Updated Letter of Interest) 3:25 – 3:55 PM Danna Breen (Updated Letter of Interest) Lucy Neely (Withdrawal Notice)
Carter Warr (Withdrawal Notice)
Jennifer Paine McKay (Withdrawal Notice)
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Jennifer McKay
Kari Chinn
Re: ASCC interviews to be rescheduled
Saturday, April 1, 2023 6:05:24 PM
Hi Kari,
Thank you for reaching out and getting this application process all back on track.
I will wait out this term and look to apply in the following year. Thank you for your time on this and I so appreciate the possibility and opportunity.
My very best,
Jennifer Paine McKay
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Lucy Neely
Kari Chinn
Re: ASCC interviews to be rescheduled
Monday, April 10, 2023 10:21:48 AM
Hi Kari,
Very sorry. I realize I didn’t write back with my clear answer yet. I’m still keeping my ASCC application as withdrawn. Not applying. Thank you.
Lucy
Thank you,
Lucy
On Wed, Apr 5, 2023 at 10:41 AM Kari Chinn <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Lucy,
I wanted to check in with you to see if you are still interested in applying for the ASCC.
If you are can you please send me a confirmation that you would like to interview again.
We have several possible dates we can conduct the interviews. We need to find a date where all the candidates can come in.
Please see the below dates and times and provide the dates and times you are available.
You will only need to come in for no longer than an hour. So if you are free for only part of the window of time on the particular date just let me know the hours you are available.
April 27 - 10 AM – 3 PM
May 1 - 12 Noon – 4 PM
May 2 - 12 Noon – 3 PM
May 5 - 9 AM – 11 AM or 2 PM – 4 PM
May 9 - 12 Noon – 4 PM
If you have any questions let me know.
Thank you,
Kari
From: Kari Chinn
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 4:39 PM
To: Kari Chinn <[email protected]>
Subject: ASCC interviews to be rescheduled
Hello,
We are working to reschedule the interviews for the open ASCC positions. I am emailing to see if you are still interested in applying for one of these two open positions. We have your original Letter of Interest and that can still be submitted to the Town Council. If you would like to continue with the process, please send me an email stating your intent to continue with the interview process. If you are not interested in continuing, please send me an email stating your interest in pulling your application.
Thank you for your patience in this process. As soon as we have some possible dates for interview we will reach out to check your availability.
Thank you,
Kari
Kari Chinn
Communications & Community Engagement Analyst
Town of Portola Valley
Tel: 650.851.1700 Ext. 221
www.portolavalley.net
Follow us:
--
Lucy E Neely
Sausal Creek Watershed, San Francisco Bay Area
On unceded Ramaytush, Tamien, and Muwekma Territory
1 Melissa Thurman
From: DANNA BREEN
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 4:55 PM
To: Melissa Thurman
Subject: Re: Hi Melissa,
Honorable Council Members,
I am applying for one of the two short term vacancies on ASCC and either is fine by me, because I am stepping up because the two senior members of ASCC have stepped down. As you know I served on the Conservation Committee for twelve years. It was my home committee and was such a rich pleasure to participate with this knowledgeable gang. I feel like everyone in town govt should get their feet wet there. I then applied to ASCC where I was a commissioner for close to 20 years. l served with the most remarkable neighbors and staff and we did fabulous work. Even though we have never been the style police, we helped Portola Valley have the look of great integrated design, responsible landscape, darkness and subservience to nature. We helped neighbors talk to each other and come to mutually satisfactory resolve. But the process was different and I’d like to help ASCC get back to a more gestational process which will take time, but I think it is a worthy goal. I’d like to help guide the process again.
I have lived in PV since the 70s when my parents moved to Westridge and to my marvelous old shack on alpine in ‘91. We live in concert with the land and as the years have gone by it is still wonderful here…but we need to listen more to our fellow residents and to the earth.
Please let me know when you are interviewing and I will be there, Respectfully yours, Danna Breen Sent from my iPad
> On Jan 17, 2023, at 4:13 PM, Melissa Thurman <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hello Danna,
>
> You may send a letter of interest to me and I will ensure the Council receives it. I will also notify you of the interview/appointment date, when one has been chosen. Thank you. >
> -Melissa Thurman, MMC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DANNA BREEN
> Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 4:08 PM
> To: Melissa Thurman <[email protected]>
> Subject: Hi Melissa,
>
> I am applying for the vacancy on ASCC? How to? Write a letter to each > council member. Thanks, danna
>
> Sent from my iPad
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Joslyn Parenti
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2023 5:08 PM
To: Town Center
Subject: Architectural and Site Control Commission (ASCC) Hello Town Council,
I am interested in volunteering for the Architectural and Site Control Commission (ASCC).
As a resident of Portola Valley for 11 years, it would be my privilege to serve on the committee. I sincerely value preserving the unique character of the area, while simultaneously accommodating the need for future development. I have over 30 years of work experience in architecture, design, and construction. My LinkedIn profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/joslyn123/ .
Please let me know if there is additional information I can provide.
Regards,
Joslyn Gray
-----------------------------
The Portola Valley Town Council is seeking two volunteers to serve on the Town's Architectural and Site Control Commission (ASCC). One of these term’s expires in December 2023 and the other expires in December 2024.
The ASCC consists of five members appointed by the Town Council, and meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. The ASCC is charged with the review and approval of design review applications and site development permits, including applications for new homes, second units, larger additions, second-story additions, and commercial buildings. In addition, the ASCC provides comments on conditional use permits, subdivisions, variances, and other matters referred by the Town Council, the Planning Commission, or Town Staff.
To apply, please submit a letter of interest to the Town Council to [email protected] by 5:00 pm on January 27, 2023. The Town Council will conduct interviews and appoint new members at a scheduled meeting on The week of January 30, 2023 This time is TBD to change, dependent on the number of interviews to be conducted. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Town Clerk, Melissa Thurman at [email protected].
Portola Valley, CA 94028
Dec. 21, 2022
Re: Planning Commission
To: [email protected]
After much deliberation and consulting with other residents about the ASCC and the Planning Commissions, I’ve decided to volunteer to serve on the Town's Planning Commission (PC).
Portola Valley is facing important planning decisions over the next year and beyond that will shape how the Town can develop in a manner that will respect our commitment to the preservation of open space and the conservation of our natural environment. All decisions of the Planning Commission must be made balancing our General Plan with the laws and regulations of the state of California.
Portola Valley exists in a stunningly beautiful landscape of mountains, hills, and steep ridges straddling the geologically active San Andreas Fault, covered with oak forests and riparian zones along creeks and riverbeds. It’s critical that all land use plans respect and preserve that uniqueness while also making it possible for a wider variety of families and individuals to join Portola Valley.
There are several activities in my background that would be relevant for the Planning Commission.
I have a very strong analytical background with master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and INSEAD in France. This background enables me to easily grasp complex concepts, understand detailed government regulations, and make logical decisions.
I have closely followed the massive efforts of the Ad-Hoc Housing Element Committee, Stanford Wedge Redevelopment project, and the Safety Element and have frequently contributed multiple ideas for meeting our housing goals. The efforts to refine the Housing Element as well as find solutions for increasing affordable housing in our Town in a manner that respects and preserves our natural environment will continue to be active efforts for several years to come as the Town grapples with finding locations for affordable housing.
I’ve been on the Sustainability Committee for many years (and the Water Conservation Committee, prior to that). Given the extreme and critical situation of climate change, it is vitally important that the Town continue to encourage the adoption of green and sustainable building practices and be at the forefront of those efforts. I routinely attend lectures, workshops, and green home tours on green building, air sealing, energy efficiency, water conservation, and passive house building and have a strong understanding of sustainable building practices.
In addition, I’ve recently been serving on the ADU Ambassadors Team where I’ve become very familiar with the new regulations for ADUs and JADUs. As the Town seeks to find lower impact housing, ADUs and JADUs represent a significant portion of our new Housing Element that can meet those requirements with less of a visual impact on the Town as a whole.
Finally, I’m very knowledgeable about building plans, zoning regulations, permitting, and architectural drawings as I have been involved in the past in designing my own remodel and general contracting a major project at my own property.
Regards,
s/Rebecca Flynn
From: Carter Warr
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2023 11:08 AM
To: Melissa Thurman <[email protected]>
Cc: Jeremy Dennis <[email protected]>; Jeff Aalfs <[email protected]> Subject: Re: PC/ASCC Question from Town Council - Response Needed Dear Melissa,
With this email I withdraw my application for the Town commissions. I has become clear that the Council is uncomfortable with the number of potential conflicts of interest I could potentially have with the performance of commission duties.
Carter J. Warr, AIA, CSI, NCARB
CJW Architecture
www.cjwarchitecture.com