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 7:00 PM
Present: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hasko and Hufty
Absent: Councilmember Taylor
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following spoke during oral communications:
• Judith Mendelsohn
• Jerry Shefren
• John Silver
• Rita Comes
• Serra Sembeck
• David Cardinal
• Caroline Vertongen
• Dan (no last name provided)
• Kristi Corley
3. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approval of Minutes for Regular Meeting of August 9, 2023 b. Approval of Reclassification of Assistant to the Town Manager to Senior Management Analyst
Councilmember Hufty pulled item 3 a. from the Consent Agenda for possible correction of public comment section
Councilmember Hasko pulled item 3 b. for further discussion Vice Mayor Wernikoff made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hasko, to approve Item 3 a. on the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hasko, and Hufty Nays: None
Vice Mayor Wernikoff made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hufty, to approve Item 3 b. on the Consent Agenda The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, and Councilmember Hufty Nays: Councilmember Hasko
The following spoke during public comment:
• Rita Comes
• Caroline Vertongen
• John Silver
• Betsy Morgenthaler
Minutes of the August 23, 2023, Regular Town Council Meeting
4. REGULAR AGENDA
a. Approval of Town Manager Appointment and Employment Agreement The following spoke during public comment:
• Ron Eastman
• Caroline Vertongen
• David Cardinal
• Rita Comes
• Danna B.
Councilmember Hufty made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Wernikoff, to approve Item 4 a. of the Regular Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hasko and Hufty Nays: None
5. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL AGENCIES REPORTS • Councilmember Hasko reported on the Trails & Paths meeting • Councilmember Hufty reported on the Conservation Committee meeting • Mayor Aalfs reported on the Geologic Safety Committee meeting The following spoke during public comment:
• Caroline Vertongen
• Bob Adams
6. INTERIM TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Interim Town Manager, Howard Young, gave a speech to express gratitude to the Council and Town Staff for their support. Howard Young will go back to serving in his Director of Public Works capacity and welcomed the new Town Manager, Sharif Etman to the team.
7. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:33 PM, the Mayor adjourned the August 23, 2023 meeting. The next regular Town Council meeting will be held on September 13, 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.