Portola Valley Joint
Town Council &
Planning Commission
Study Session
2026 Draft Safety Element Discussion
June 10, 2026
Meeting Agenda
• Receive Update from the Resilience Planning
Town Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee 5:00pm - 5:15pm
5:15pm - 5:30pm • 2026 Draft Safety Element Update Overview 5:30pm - 6:00pm • Public Comment
• Council/Commission Questions and
Discussion 6:00pm - 6:50pm
How Did We Get Here?
Town initiated work for a
Safety Element Update
2021
2022 Draft Safety
Element for Public
Review
2022
Committee and Public
Comments Received
2022-2023
Town Council Ad Hoc
Safety Element and Town
Resilience Planning
Subcommittees created
2025 | Summer
Town Council directed
work to complete the
Safety Element Update
2025 | Fall
2026 Draft Safety
Element
2026
Proposed Timeline
Joint TC/PC Study Session
Public Review Period
June
Evaluate Comments
Update Draft Document
July
External Agency Review
July - September
Planning Commission Public
Hearing & Recommendation
September
Town Council Public Hearing
& Adoption
October
A document that focuses on
immediate actions that may
make communities and
people safer today
A Safety Element Is Not
What Is A Safety Element? Land Use
Housing
Circulation
Open Space
Conservation
Noise
Safety
Environmental Justice*
Air Quality**
* Required if Disadvantaged Communities are located in the Jurisdiction ** Required in certain locations within California
• Mandatory chapter of the General
Plan
• Focuses on long-term actions that
address Town safety needs
• Required Components include:
Background and Technical Information
Maps of relevant hazards
Goals, policies, and implementation actions/programs
• Requires more frequent updates as a
result of legislative mandates
Land Use
Open Space
Recreation
Housing
Historic
Circulation
Trails and Paths
Scenic Roads and Highways
Conservation
Noise Element
Sustainability
Safety
Govt Code 65302 (g) (1)
Protection of the Community From Unreasonable Risks Associated With:
Seismically
induced
surface
rupture
Ground
Shaking
Ground Failure
Tsunami,
Seiche, and
Dam Failure
Slope
Instability
(Mudslides and
Landslides)
Subsidence Liquefaction
Flooding
Wildland and
Urban Fires
Evacuation
Routes
Military
Installations
Peakload
Water Supply
Requirements
Min. Road Widths
& Clearances
Around Structures
What Does a Safety Element Do?
Safety
Element
Update LHMP Integration
(AB 2140)
Wildfire Hazards
(SB 1241)
Housing Element
Update
(SB 1035)
Evacuation Analysis
(SB 99
AB 747,1409)
Climate Adaptation
(SB 379)
Extreme Heat
(AB 2684)
New State Requirements for Safety Elements
Why Update The Safety Element?
• Safety Element Overview (Purpose, Relationship to
Other Elements/ Plans, Organization, and Focus)
• Hazard Evaluations
• Emergency Management and Preparedness
• Seismic and Geologic Hazards
• Flood Hazards
• Fire Hazards
• Climate Adaptation and Resilience
• Safety Goals and Policies (includes Implementation
Actions)
Overview of the Current (Proposed) Element
Receive Feedback
from Public,
Appointed, and
Elected Officials
Identify changes
necessary to meet
Statutory
Requirements
Identify changes
that Council would
like to make beyond
required changes
Revise Safety
Element for
submittal to Cal Fire
for review.
Process Slide (What We Need From You?)
Feedback provided should focus on:
Safety Element Overview: Have we missed official
plans or references to relevant documents?
Hazard Evaluations: Have we used incorrect
information from official and reputable sources?
Goals and Policies: Is there a policy or action that is missing or one that causes concern?
Next Steps for Tonight
Council/Commission
Questions and
Discussion
Public Comment
Receive Feedback
from Public,
Appointed, and
Elected Officials
Identify changes
necessary to meet
Statutory
Requirements
Identify changes
that Council would
like to make beyond
required changes
Revise Safety
Element for
submittal to Cal Fire
for review.
Process Slide (What We Need From You?)
Feedback provided should focus on:
Safety Element Overview: Have we missed official
plans or references to relevant documents?
Hazard Evaluations: Have we used incorrect
information from official and reputable sources?
Goals and Policies: Is there a policy or action that is missing or one that causes concern?