Volume 47
Minutes of October 30, 2024
PORTOLA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – OCTOBER 30, 2024
1. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Mayor Wernikoff called the Special Meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. Roll call was taken.
Present: Councilmembers Jeff Aalfs, Mary Hufty, Craig Taylor Vice Mayor Judith Hasko and Mayor Sarah Wernikoff
Absent: None
Others: Interim Town Manager Corie Stocker-Pedalino, Town Attorney Catherine Engberg, Interim Planning and Building Director Terrence Grindall, Clerk Consultant Christine Boland
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following members of the public addressed Town Council:
• David Cardinal
3. CLOSED SESSION
The Council convened a Closed Session at 5:35 p.m. to discuss the following:
a. PUBLIC EMLOYMENT (Government Code section 54957)
Consider the qualifications of candidates for the position of Interim Town Manager
b. PUBLIC EMLPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Government Code section 54957) - Conduct periodic check-in with Interim Town Manager Corie Stocker-Pedalino
4. 7:00 P.M. – RECONVENE SPECIAL MEETING
At 7:10 p.m. Mayor Wernikoff reconvened the Special Meeting. Town Attorney Engberg reported that no action was taken in Closed Session.
Mayor Wernikoff invited public comment for items not on the agenda. • Rita Comes
• David Cardinal
a. Consideration of appointing seven members to ad hoc Evaluation Committee to review potential sites for building affordable housing
Vice Mayor Hasko reported that she and Councilmember Hufty served on the ad hoc Evaluation Committee to interview residents to serve on a committee to review potential Volume 47
Minutes of October 30, 2024
sites for building affordable housing. The committee interviewed 11 residents and recommended appointment of Karen Askey, Nona Chiarello, Joselynn Gray and Karen Vahtra to the committee, noting that the Council also needs to appoint a representative to the committee as well.
Mayor Wernikoff invited public comment. None was received.
Councilmember Aalfs made a motion to appoint Karen Askey, Nona Chiarello, Joselyn Gray and Karen Vahtra to the ad hoc committee as well as appoint Councilmember Hufty, as the Council’s representative, to serve on the ad hoc Affordable Housing Site Evaluation Committee. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Taylor and carried unanimously by roll call vote.
b. Consideration of options for selection of recruiting firm for Interim Town Manager Vice Mayor Hasko outlined the process the ad hoc committee (Vice Mayor Hasko and Councilmember Hufty) went through to select a recruiting firm to search for an Interim Town Manager. Two firms were being considered; Greg Larsen and Baker-Tilley.
Mayor Wernikoff invited public comment. The following members of the public addressed the Town Council:
• David Cardinal
• Kristi Corley
• Carolyn Vertongen
• Rita Comes
• Karen Askey
Councilmember Aalfs made a motion to select the firm of Baker-Tilley as the recruitment firm to conduct the search for an Interim Town Manager, seconded by Councilmember Hufty. The motion included continuance of the ad hoc Interim Town Manager search subcommittee consisting of Vice Mayor Hasko and Councilmember Hufty, to serve as liaisons to the recruiting firm. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. c. Receive presentation from Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District regarding Hawthorns Area Plan project
Mayor Wernikoff recused herself from the discussion on the agenda item, after receiving advice from the Fair Political Practices Commission. At that time, Mayor Wernikoff left the meeting (7:50 p.m.). Vice Mayor Hasko introduced the item and chaired the remainder of the Council meeting.
Town Council Attorney Engberg advised that her law firm, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP also represents the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District on other matters, (not the Hawthorns project) and that no apparent conflict of interests had been identified.
However, she wanted the statement on the record.
Volume 47
Minutes of October 30, 2024
Suzanna Chen, Assistant General Manager of the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, introduced herself and discussed the work done by the Hawthorns Public Access Working Group over the past year. She discussed the informational presentation and next phases of the project, including would be the environmental review and development of a refined plan.
Ms. Chen introduced the project team of Tina Hugg and Ashley Mac, and consultants, who provided a comprehensive presentation on the Hawthorns Area Plan to solicit early Council and public comment on the plan.
Co-chairs of the Public Access Working Group, Rachelle Asland and Ellen Quinn, provided comments.
Vice Mayor Hasko invited public comment on the presentation. • Lana Norris
• Linda Olsen
• Leslie Kriese
• Duf Sundheim
• Charles Maroni
• Caroline Vertongen
• Nan Shostak
• Karen Askey
• Kristi Corley
No action was taken on the agenda item.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Vice Mayor Hasko adjourned the Special Meeting at 9:51 p.m. ______________________________ _______________________________ Sarah Wernikoff, Mayor Christine Boland, Clerk Consultant Approved by the Town Council at its meeting of November 13, 2024.