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- CLOSED SESSION AND REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY- NOVEMBER 8, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER- CLOSED SESSION 5:30 PM
Closed Session Roll Call
Present: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, and Councilmembers Hufty, Hasko, and Taylor
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
• None
3. CLOSED SESSION
At 5:30 PM, the Mayor and Council adjourned for closed session for the following:
a. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION 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.
b. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Govt. Code section 54957) Interim Town Attorney Catherine Engberg
Adjourned Closed Session
At approximately 6:53 PM, the Mayor and Council adjourned the closed sessions and moved into regular session
4. CALL TO ORDER- REGULAR SESSION
The Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Town of Portola Valley reconvened at 7:04 PM
Regular Session Roll Call
Present: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, and Councilmembers Hufty, Hasko, and Taylor
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following spoke during oral communications:
• Rita Comes
6. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Interim Town Attorney, Catherine Engberg, announced there was nothing to report out reported out from closed session meeting
Minutes of the November 8, 2023, Regular Town Council Meeting
7. TOWN MANAGER REPORT
There are no written materials, and the Town Council does not take action under this agenda item.
• No public comment for Item 7- Town Manager Report
8. CONSENT AGENDA
The following spoke in public comments:
• Caroline Vertongen
Mayor Aalfs pulled item 8 c. and Councilmember Hasko pulled item 8 a. a. Approval of Minutes- Regular Meeting Minutes of October 25, 2023 Mayor Aalfs asked for a motion to approve item 8 a. as written Councilmember Hasko made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Taylor, to approve item 8 a. of the consent agenda. The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hufty, Hasko, and Taylor Nays: None
b. Approval of Warrant List- 11/08/2023
Mayor Aalfs asked for a motion to approve item 8 b.
Councilmember Taylor made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Wernikoff, to approve item 8 b. of the consent agenda. The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hufty, Hasko, and Taylor Nays: None
c. Appointments to Geologic Safety and Trails and Paths Committee’ to fill unscheduled vacancies Mayor Aalfs pointed out that although the Trails and Paths committee was selected on the application by Nancy Freier, it was mentioned in the background field that she was interested in the Conservation Committee. Mayor Aalfs decided to pull the application to get clarification from applicant and bring it back to the December council meeting for approval.
Mayor Aalfs asked for a motion to approve the Geologic Safety application for Troy Douthit.
Councilmember Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hufty to approve item 8 c. of the consent agenda. The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hufty, Hasko, and Taylor Nays: None
9. REGULAR AGENDA-PUBLIC HEARING
a. Town Manager Update and State of the Town
Presentation by Town Manager, Sharif Etman
• Council requested for PowerPoint used during presentation to be posted on website for public access and review
Minutes of the November 8, 2023, Regular Town Council Meeting
The following spoke in public comments:
• David Cardinal
• Betsy Morgenthaler
• Kristi Corley
• Rusty Day
• Alyson Wood-Illich
• Caroline Vertongen
• Rita Comes
Mayor Aalfs asked for a motion to approve item 9 a.- approval of $135,000 for Krisch & Co. to assist the finance department with audits
Councilmember Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hufty to approve item 9 a. of the regular agenda. The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Aalfs, Vice Mayor Wernikoff, Councilmembers Hufty, Hasko, and Taylor Nays: None
b. Review and discuss the (Draft) Affordable Housing Fund Policy Colleagues Memo The following spoke in public comments:
• David Cardinal
• Alyson Wood-Illich
• Judith (no last name provided)
• Rita Comes
10. COUNCIL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL AGENCIES REPORTS Oral and written reports arising out of liaison appointments to both in-town and regional committees and initiatives. The Town Council does not take action under this agenda item.
The following spoke in public comments:
• Caroline Vertongen
• Kristi Corley
11. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:32 PM, the Mayor adjourned the November 8, 2023 meeting. The next Regular Town Council meeting will be held on December 13, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.