PORTOLA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – JUNE 27, 2023
CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Mayor Aalfs called the Special Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Assistant Town Manager Stocker called the Roll Call:
Present: Councilmembers Judith Hasko, Craig Taylor, and Mayor Jeff Aalfs Recused: Councilmember Mary Hufty
Absent: Vice Mayor Sarah Wernikoff
Others: Interim Town Manager Howard Young, Assistant Town Manager Corie Stocker, Town Attorney Catherine Engberg
PUBLIC COMMENT
David Cardinal
CLOSED SESSION - CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION At 6:00 p.m., Mayor Aalfs recessed the meeting to Closed Session for significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of California Government Code Section 54956.9: PublicSafety4PVNow, Inc., a Delaware corporation Govt. Code § 54956.9(d)(2): “[a] point has been reached where, in the opinion of the legislative body of the local agency on the advice of its legal counsel, based on existing facts and circumstances, there is a significant exposure to litigation against the local agency.
At 6:59 p.m., the Mayor and Council adjourned the closed session and moved into regular session.
CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Aalfs called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers Judith Hasko, Mary Hufty, Craig Taylor, and Mayor Jeff Aalfs
Absent: Vice Mayor Sarah Wernikoff
Mayor Aalfs explained that Vice Mayor Wernikoff, who is out of town, will observe the meeting on Zoom. She will be able to comment but cannot vote due to Brown Act posting requirements.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Rita Comes
David Cardinal
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Aalfs announced that the Council voted in Closed Session to extend the tolling agreement with PublicSafety4PVNow, Inc. until September 11, 2023. The motion carried as follows:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs and Councilmembers Hasko and Taylor
Absent: Vice Mayor Wernikoff
Recused: Councilmember Hufty
CONSENT CALENDAR
The Council pulled items 7.e, 7.f. and 7.h. from the Consent Calendar.
Councilmember Hasko made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hufty, to approve the remaining items (7.a, b, c, d, and g) on the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor Nays: None
Absent: Vice Mayor Wernikoff
a. Approval of Minutes - June 14, 2023
b. Approve Warrant List - June 27, 2023
c. Approve Contract extension for engineering and plan check services with Nolte Associates, Inc, doing business as NV5, Inc. d. Accept memo on Housing Element Post Adoption Plan Update e. Approve the Professional Services Agreement with Pinpoint Talent Comments on 7.e:
Rita Comes
David Cardinal
Betsy Morgenthaler
Councilmember Hasko made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hufty, to approve Item 7e. The motion carried as follows:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor Nays: None
Absent: Vice Mayor Wernikoff
f. Approve reauthorization of the Town Treasurer as the Authority for Management of the Town’s Investment Programs Item 7.f. Interim Town Manager Howard Young answered questions Kristy Corley asked a question during public comments.
Councilmember Hasko made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hufty, to approve Item 7.f. on the Consent Calendar. The motion carried as follows:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor Nays: None
Absent: Vice Mayor Wernikoff
g. Appoint Bob Wrucke and Steve Ingebritsen to the Geologic Safety Committee and Maryann Berkowitz to the Parks and Recreation Committee h. Amend Charter of the Emergency Preparedness Committee Item 7.3. Cindy Rodas, Finance Director, answered questions.
Item 7.h. Councilmember Hufty made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hasko, to approve Consent Calendar Item 7.h. The motion carried as follows:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor Nays: None
Absent: Vice Mayor Wernikoff
PUBLIC HEARING – ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 ANNUAL BUDGET Cindy Rodas, Director of Finance, and Starla Robinson, management consultant, presented the Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and answered questions from the Town Council.
The following spoke in public comments:
Karen Askey
David Cardinal
Rita Comes
Betsy Morgenthaler
Alyson Wood Illich
Kristi Corley
Vice Mayor Sarah Wernikoff
Councilmember Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hasko, to reduce the allocation for the Housing Element Post Adoption line item to $50,000 and approve the resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Annual Budget:
Resolution No. 2929-1-2023 of the Town of Portola Valley adopting the Operating and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2023-24. The resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs and Councilmembers Hasko and Taylor Nays: None
Abstain: Councilmember Hufty
Absent: Vice Mayor Wernikoff
Recess Meeting: At 8:53 p.m., Mayor Aalfs called for a recess until 9:00 p.m.
Reconvene Meeting: The Special Meeting reconvened at 9:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Aalfs, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor
Absent: Vice Mayor Wernikoff
9. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL AGENCIES REPORTS Various members reported on committee meetings.
Kristy Corley commented
10. INTERIM TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Interim Town Manager Howard Young reported on several issues.
Rita Comes commented
11. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:20 p.m., the Mayor adjourned the June 27, 2023 Special Meeting. ______________________________ ______________________________ Jeff Aalfs, Mayor Jennifer Torres, Town Clerk
Approved by the Town Council at its July 12, 2023 regular meeting.
Volume 46
Minutes of June 27, 2023