TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
Historic Schoolhouse
765 Portola Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
Jeff Aalfs, Mayor
Sarah Wernikoff, Vice Mayor
Judith Hasko, Councilmember
Mary Hufty, Councilmember
Craig Taylor, Councilmember
COUNCIL MINUTES – MAY 10, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 PM
Present: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, and Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor
Absent: None
2. FOUNDERS AWARD PRESENTATIONS
The Mayor and Council of the Town of Portola Valley conferred Founders Awards on Sue Crane and Gary Nielsen. Each made statements about their experiences serving the Town.
The following also spoke:
• Jon Silver
• Danna Breen
Recess: At 7:28 p.m. Mayor Aalfs called a break for refreshments.
Reconvene: At 7:40 p.m. Mayor Aalfs reconvened the meeting with all present.
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following spoke during oral communications on non-agenda items:
• Jon Silver
• Rita Comes Whitney
• Dan Cornew
• Todd Van Horne
• Randy True
• Anne Kopf-Sill
4. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve Council Minutes
Action Minutes of April 28, 2023 – Special Meeting
Action Minutes of May 01, 2023 – Special Meeting
Action Minutes of May 01, 2023 – Special Meeting – AASC Action Minutes of May 02, 2023 – Special Meeting
B. Approval of Warrant List – May 10, 2023
Vice Mayor Wernikoff pulled the May 1, 2023 minutes to correct the record. She voted in favor of appointing Rebecca Flynn; therefore, the ayes were Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, and Councilmembers Taylor and Hufty. Councilmember Hasko voted no.
Motion: Councilmember Taylor made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Wernikoff to approve the Consent Calendar minus item 4.A.4. Unanimous.
Motion: Councilmember Hasko made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Wernikoff to approve Item
4.A.4. as corrected. Unanimous.
Minutes of the May 2023, Town Council Meeting
5. PUBLIC HEARING – ADOPTION OF HOUSING ELEMENT AND CONFORMING GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENTS
Mayor Aalfs reported on the Closed Session of May 9, 2023. With Councilmember Hasko recusing herself to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, the remaining Council voted four to zero to approve a tolling agreement with Public Safety 4 PV and to appoint an Ad Hoc Committee of Councilmembers Hasko and Taylor to negotiate a potential settlement with its principals.
Mayor Aalfs explained the Housing Element would be considered now and staff would answer questions on all matters except for the properties of 4370, 4388, and 4394 Alpine. These properties will be discussed later to allow Vice Mayor Wernikoff to recuse herself due to possible financial conflict of interest, and Councilmember Hasko to recuse herself due to proximity.
Planning and Building Director Laura Russell made a presentation and answered questions regarding everything other than the three Alpine properties.
The following spoke in public comments
• Nan Shostak
• John Silver
• Katherine Gilpin
• Serra Simbeck
• Rita Comes Whitney
• Peter Lipman
• Martin (no last name listed)
• Karen Askey
• Jim Stromberg
• Alex Von Feldt
• Greg Franklin
• Kristy Corley
• Ellen Vernazza
• Jeff Kraus
• Peter Draeger
• Randy True
• Todd Van Horne
Recess Meeting
At 9:33 p.m. Mayor Aalfs called for a ten-minute recess.
Reconvene Meeting
At 9:42 p.m. Mayor Aalfs called the meeting to order with the following present: Councilmembers Taylor and Hufty, and Mayor Aalfs. Councilmember Judith Hasko and Vice Mayor Sarah Wernikoff were absent for the purpose of abstaining from discussion and action on 4370, 4388, and 4394 Alpine due to conflicts of interest.
Motion: Councilmember Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hasko, to include 4370, 4388, and 4394 Alpine in the sites inventory.
Ayes: Councilmember Taylor, Councilmember Hasko, and Mayor Aalfs.
Nays: None
Absent for abstention: Councilmember Hasko, Vice Mayor Wernikoff.
At 9:59 p.m., Vice Mayor Wernikoff and Councilmember Hasko returned to the Council meeting.
Motion: Councilmember Hufty made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Taylor to approve the Housing Element without Exhibit D. Unanimous
Minutes of the May 2023, Town Council Meeting
Motion: Councilmember Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hasko to amend the Housing Element Attachment 1, Exhibit D. “Supplemental Findings Regarding Fire Safety Issues” by striking the sixth paragraph which begins with the word “Second,” approve the Housing Element as amended, and adopt the following resolution. Unanimous.
Resolution No. 2926-2023 of the Town Council of the Town of Portola Valley adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element update and other General Plan amendments required to conform with the updated Housing Element.
6. REGULAR AGENDA
A. Participation in Multi-Jurisdictional Shared Housing Team Motion: Councilmember Hufty made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Taylor to authorize the Interim Town Manager to execute the Letter of Intent to participate in the multi-jurisdictional Shared Housing Team.
B. Not-for-Profit Funding for agencies providing services benefiting the Town, its residents, or the larger Peninsula community, in an amount not to exceed $21,621.
The following spoke in public comments:
• Rita Comes Whitney
• Betsy Morgenthaler
• Katherine Gilpin
Motion: Vice Mayor Wernikoff made a motion to approve $15,000 and allocate funding on a prorata basis. Councilmember Taylor seconded and amended the motion to add that the Council will get clarification on CERT. The amended motion carried unanimously.
7. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL AGENCIES REPORTS The Mayor announced that the liaison reports were in the agenda packet.
8. TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Interim Town Manager Young announced a Sheriff’s Department “show and tell” to be held May 24, 2023 and answered questions.
Rita Comes Whitney commented.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 11:25 p.m. The next Regular Town Council meeting will be held on May 24, 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.