Volume 47
April 23, 2025
PORTOLA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – APRIL 23, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Vice Mayor Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Roll Call was taken by the Clerk.
Present: Councilmembers Rebecca Flynn, Mary Hufty, Helen Wolter, and Vice Mayor Craig Taylor
Absent: Mayor Judith Hasko
Others: Interim Town Manager Mark Linder, Town Attorney Catherine Engberg, Finance Director, Anthony McFarlane, Interim Planning and Building Director Terrence Grindall, Clerk Consultant Christine Boland
2. PRESENTATIONS / PROCLAMATIONS
a. Presentations from CalWater and Woodside Fire Protection District regarding future preparedness and infrastructure that may be needed in the event of increased population in Portola Valley
Interim Town Manager Linder introduced the item, and Dawn Smithson, CalWater and Kimberly Guilacci, Woodside Fire Protection District, gave presentations.
The following member of the public provided comment:
• Karen
3. TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Interim Town Manager Linder reported on the following:
• Announced several upcoming budget meetings
• Reported that Mayor Hasko was absent on a cancer research fundraising trip
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
The following members of the public provided comments:
• Rita Comes Whitney
• Karen Vahtra
• Caroline Vertongen
• Karen Askey
• Leslie
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April 23, 2025
5. CONSENT AGENDA
Consent Agenda items 5.d., 5.e. and 5.f were removed from the Consent Agenda and discussed separately and out of sequential order.
Vice Mayor Taylor invited Public Comment on the remainder of Consent Agenda items.
Public Comment
• Caroline Vertongen
• Ellen Vernazza
• Rita Comes Whitney
Motion and second, Hufty and Wolter, moved approval of Consent Agenda items 5a, 5b and 5c. The motion carried 4-0-1, with Mayor Hasko absent. a. Adopt Special Meeting Minutes of March 31, 2025
b. Adopt Regular Meeting Minutes of April 9, 2025
c. Approve Warrant List of April 23, 2025
d. Waive Second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2025-452, Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Portola Valley amending Title 18 [Zoning] of the Portola Valley Municipal Code for the Town of Portola Valley to Address the Issues Raised by the State Housing and Community Development (HCD) in their Technical Assistance Letter dated October 16, 2024 (Residential Multi-Family).
Planning & Building Director Grindall clarified that the parking lot adjacent to the Little League baseball field was excluded from the zoning and clarified on Page 3 of the Ordinance. Vice Mayor Taylor invited public comments on Consent Agenda item 5.d.:
The following members of the public provided comments:
• Charlie Ford
• Aden Sweeney
• Jen Sweeney
• Bailey
• Bowen
• Susan Ford
• Anngi
• Rita Comes Whitney
• Craig Eckstein
• Luca
• Steve Erickson
• Kristi C
• J.D. Mumford
• Dan McDonough
• Martin Miller
• Karen Askey
• Dale Pfau
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April 23, 2025
• Nancy Bovee
• Danna Breen
• Nan Shostak
• Randy Gabrielson
• Caroline Vertongen
• Leslie
The Council asked questions and discussed the item.
Motion and second, Flynn and Taylor, moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-452, with the following clarifications (underlined) to Page 3, paragraph 1, as follows:
Chapter 18.15.04 Development Standards
Note 2. A 2.48 acre portion of The Dorothy Ford Park Site (APN 77272010) (included in Table 6-6 of the 2023-2031 housing element), which shall exclude the existing little league baseball field and the adjacent surface parking lot serving the baseball field (as shown on the conceptual site plan on page 127 of the 2023-2031 housing element), shall be permitted to be developed as high density housing and that owner-occupied and rental multifamily uses are allowed by-right for housing developments in which 20 percent or more of the units are affordable to lower-income households on the specified portion of the Dorothy Ford Park Site (APN 77272010).
Motion carried by a vote 3 – 1 – 1, with Councilmember Hufty dissenting. Mayor Hasko was absent.
e. Waive Second Reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2025-453, Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Portola Valley Amending Title 18 [Zoning] of the Portola Valley Municipal Code for the Town of Portola Valley to Address the Issues Raised by the State Housing and Community Development In their Technical Assistance Letter dated October 16, 2024 (Mixed Use)
Motion and second, Flynn and Taylor, moved adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-453, Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Portola Valley Amending Title 18 [Zoning] of the Portola Valley Municipal Code for the Town of Portola Valley to Address the Issues Raised by the State Housing and Community Development In their Technical Assistance Letter dated October 16, 2024 (Mixed Use). The motion carried 4-0-1, with Mayor Hasko absent.
f. Adopt Resolution No. 2965 - 2025, Approving a Records Retention Schedule, Authorizing Destruction of Certain City Records
Clerk Consultant Boland gave a presentation. The Council asked questions and discussed the item. The following amendments were proposed:
• Amend video / audio retention period to 10 years for committees; • Extend retention of Committee agenda packets to four years; • Include historic barn inspections under the historical records section; • Extend retention of grant applications to seven years; • Consult Town Historian before discarding any potential historical records, when appropriate.
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April 23, 2025
Motion and second, Hufty and Wolter, moved adoption of Resolution No. 2965-2025, Approving a Records Retention Schedule, Authorizing Destruction of Certain City Records.
Motion carried by a vote 4 – 0 – 1. Mayor Hasko was absent.
6. REGULAR AGENDA
a. Presentations by Bicycle, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee and Trails and Paths Committee
Edward Holland, Bicycle, Pedestrian, & Traffic Safety Committee Chair and Fred Leach, Trails and Paths Committee Chair, provided presentations, respectively.
The Council asked questions and discussed the item. Vice Mayor Taylor invited public comment.
Public Comment
• Kristi C.
7. COLLEAGUE MEMORANDUM / AGENDA SETTING
None.
8. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE, LIAISON COMMITTEE, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES
REPORTS
Councilmembers reported on several regional and local meetings they attended recently.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Vice Mayor Taylor adjourned the meeting at 11:09 p.m.
Approved by the Town Council at its May 14, 2025 regular meeting.