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
1. CALL TO ORDER 7:07 PM
Present: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor
Absent: None
Mayor Aalfs reported out on the last closed session meeting on August 3, 2023
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following spoke during oral communications:
• Ellen Vernazza
• Dale Pfau
• Robert
• Rita Comes
• Randy True
• Caroline Vertongen
• Rusty Day
• Leslie Kriese
• Gene Chaput
• Betsy Morgenthaler
• Danna B
• Edith Collin
• Kristi Corley
• Linda Brothers
3. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approval of Minutes for Closed Session and Regular Meeting of July 12, 2023 b. Approval of Warrant Lists- 07/26/2023 and 08/03/2023 c. Approval of Grand Jury ADU Report and Response
d. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into Master Agreements with California Department of Transportation for Federal-Aid Projects - Resolution No. 2933-2023 a Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into Master Agreements with California Department of Transportation for Federal-Aid Projects Councilmember Taylor pulled item 3 c. from the Consent Agenda for further discussion Vice Mayor Wernikoff made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Taylor, to approve the remaining items (3 a., b., and d.) on the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor Nays: None
Councilmember Hasko made a motion to approve consent item 3 c. with Councilmember Hufty’s suggested edits, seconded by Councilmember Taylor. The motion carried by the following vote:
Minutes of the August 9, 2023, Regular Town Council Meeting
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor Nays: None
The following spoke during public comment:
• Karen Askey
4. REGULAR AGENDA
a. Update on Housing Element Status and Next Steps
The following spoke during public comment:
• Rita Comes
• Caroline Vertongen
• Linda Brothers
• Bob Adams
• Betsy Morgenthaler
• Karen Askey
• Randy True
• Rusty Day
• Helen Walter
• Krisi Corley
Council decided by majority vote to approve $15,000 instead of the requested $30,000 to continue working with the HCD reviewer
Councilmember Taylor motioned to approve the funding, seconded by Councilmember Hufty. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor Nays: None
Public comments on item 4 a.
• Caroline Vertongen
• Nicholas Targ
b. Discuss and Review Colleagues Memo from Councilmembers Hasko and Taylor entitled “Post-Adoption Plan Subcommittee Update”
Judith gave a presentation on the Housing Element
The following spoke during public comment:
• Randy True
• Nan Shostak
• Rusty Day
• Caroline Vertongen ceded her time to Randy True
c. Discuss Council Subcommittee to Review Draft Emergency Evacuation Plan Taylor reported on the Emergency Evacuation Plan and requested consideration of a subcommittee to evaluate the EPC evacuation plan.
Councilmember Taylor and Mayor Aalfs volunteered to work as the Emergency Evacuation Subcommittee
Minutes of the August 9, 2023, Regular Town Council Meeting
Vice Mayor Wernikoff motioned to approve the formation of the subcommittee, seconded by Councilmember Hasko. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hasko, Hufty, and Taylor Nays: None
5. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL AGENCIES REPORTS Councilmember Taylor reported on the Emergency Evacuation Plan and requested consideration of a subcommittee to evaluate the Evacuation Plan.
The following spoke during public comment:
• Caroline Vertongen
6. INTERIM TOWN MANAGER REPORT
There are no written materials, and the Town Council does not take action under this agenda item.
7. ADJOURNMENT
At 11:05 PM, the Mayor adjourned the August 9, 2023 meeting. The next regular Town Council meeting will be held on August 23, 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.