TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
Special Meeting of the Town Council
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
6:00 PM
Judith Hasko, Mayor
Craig Taylor, Vice Mayor
Mary Hufty, Councilmember
Rebecca Flynn, Councilmember
Helen Wolter, Councilmember
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HYBRID MEETING
A G E N D A
HISTORICSCHOOLHOUSE - 765PortolaRoad,PortolaValley,CA 94028 REMOTE MEETING ADVISORY: On March 1, 2023, all public meetings in Portola Valley returned to conducting inperson meetings. A Zoom link is provided for members of the public to participate remotely. However, the Town cannot guarantee there will be no technical issues with the software during the meeting. For best public participation results, attending the meeting in person is advised.
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1. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Speakers' time is limited to three (3) minutes.
3. STUDY SESSION
a. Discuss and update of Town Council Priorities
4. ADJOURNMENT
The next regular Town Council meeting will be held on March 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM 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.
______________________________________________________________________ TO: Honorable Mayor and Town Councilmembers
FROM: Mark Linder, Interim Town Manager
Corie Stocker-Pedalino, Assistant Town Manager
DATE: March 2025
TOPIC: Update on Town Council Priorities
In March 2024, the Town Council adopted five overall goals with corresponding priorities. The March 26th Town Council Study Session is a check-in on the status of these goals and priorities. Attached are updates for each goal area.
The five goal areas are:
• Financial Responsibility and Long-term Viability
• Safety
• Responsible Land Use
• Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness
• Environmental Sustainability.
The updates include priorities that are complete, in progress, and those where the work has not started.
Please review the enclosed priority chart and comment on the following in our March 26th session:
First, review the priorities within the same goal area, and target those the interim Town Manager should focus on through June 2025 and December 2025.
Second, discuss whether these priorities need to be refined in a manner that would help unify the Town and strengthen the Town. For example, consider whether we should engage our various commissions and committees to collaborate on one or more of the safety-related priorities.
Third, confirm that the priorities, with refinements and target dates, are appropriate to be brought forward for ratification at a future Town Council meeting.
Process
Consider each goal and the individual items listed within it. Ask questions and confirm the status. Consider which areas should be the Interim Town Manager’s focus by June 30th and which by December 31st.
If Town Council members wish to refine or provide more detailed guidance on any items in a goal area under discussion, they should make suggestions during the discussion.
Staff will make notes of any such refinements or details that are agreed upon during the meeting in the right hand (currently open) column.
MEMORANDUM
TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
Provide direction to staff on which items the Town Council wishes to be achieved by June 30th and December 31st. Staff will prepare a report summarizing the discussion for ratification at a future Council meeting.
Town of Portola Valley- Town Council Priority Refinement 2025 TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LONG-TERM VIABILITY Strategies Status Refinement/Direction/Date
Prepare a staffing plan for the Finance
Department, to include hiring a Finance
Director
Completed
Articulate a plan for finances and a financial
managementstructure in the Town
In Progress (mid-way)
Educate the community on the Town finances In Progress (mid-way) Implement the recommendationsfrom the
Krisch & Company report
In Progress (close to
completion)
Complete audits In Progress(mid-way)
Professionalize financial controls Completed
Provide regular financial reports to Town
Council
In Progress(permanently
on-going)
Develop and implement the necessary
infrastructure to efficiently process and collect
fees
In Progress (mid-way)
Town of Portola Valley- Town Council Priority Refinement 2025 TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY: SAFETY
Strategies Status Refinement/Direction/Date
Take action on the Evacuation Plan Completed
Complete Safety Element In Progress (started)
Conduct Assessment of the Emergency
Operations Center
Not Started
Update the Emergency Operations Plan Not Started
Examine role of the volunteer Police
Commissioner
Completed
Explore options to augment services to the
public
Not Started
Re-Establish regular Town Council Safety
Meetings
Not Started
Enhance community understanding of
crime statistics and related Town activity
In Progress (started)
Implement home hardening requirements Completed
Town of Portola Valley- Town Council Priority Refinement 2025 TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY: RESPONSIBLE LAND USE
Strategies Status Refinement/Direction/Date
Begin Implementation of the post-adoption
plan for the Housing Element
In Progress (mid-way)
Develop guidelines for an opt-in program Not Started
Implementation of ADU/JADU support
program
In Progress (mid-way)
Align zoning regulations with the Adopted
Housing Element
In Progress (close to
completion)
Develop and implement an open space
preservation plan
Not Started
Begin exploration of a Town Center Master
Plan to include recreation needs and other
potential uses of the Town Center
Not Started
Town of Portola Valley- Town Council Priority Refinement 2025 TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY: ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS Strategies Status Refinement/Direction/Date
Fill vacancies In Progress (mid-way)
Establish customer service metrics In Progress (started) Promote transparency through enhanced
communication
In Progress(permanently
ongoing)
Update the committee and commission handbook In Progress (mid-way) Cultivate a high performing team In Progress (mid-way)
Update the Town website In Progress (started)
Town of Portola Valley- Town Council Priority Refinement 2025 TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Strategies Status Refinement/Direction/Date
Develop climate action plan In Progress(started)
Implement reach codes Not Started
Advocate for sustainability e<orts at the state
level
Not Started