TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
Special Joint Meeting of the Town Council and Planning Commission Wednesday, June 10, 2026
5:00 PM
MAYOR: Craig Taylor
VICE MAYOR: Mary Hufty
COUNCILMEMBERS: Rebecca Flynn,
Judith Hasko, Helen Wolter
A G E N D A
HISTORIC SCHOOLHOUSE - 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028 Remote Public Comments: Meeting participants are encouraged to submit public comments in writing in advance of the meeting. Please submit your public comments by using the online form, by 1:00 PM on the day of the meeting. Time permitting, your correspondence will be uploaded to the website. All received questions will be forwarded to the Portola Valley Town Council for consideration during the meeting and included in the public record. Members of the public may also provide comments in person at the meeting. The agenda and staff report will be posted on the Town’s website by approximately 5:00 PM the Friday prior to the meeting. Additionally, technology permitting, the public body will take questions using the Raise Hand button for those who attend the meeting online or by phone. The Mayor will call on people to speak by the phone number calling in. Remote participation is provided as a supplemental way to provide public comment, but this method does not always work. The public is encouraged to attend in person to ensure full participation.
In-Person Public Comments: Please fill out and submit a Public Comment card to the Town Clerk or Mayor prior to speaking. The Mayor will call your name at the appropriate time. Each speaker's time is limited to three (3) minutes. The Mayor reserves the right to limit speaker's time, depending upon the number of speakers or other circumstances.
Assistance for People with Disabilities: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Town Clerk at (650) 851-1700 or by email at [email protected]. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the Town to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION VIA ZOOM
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1 CHAIR: Lynda Brothers
VICE CHAIR: Ronny Krashinsky
COMMISSIONERS: Doug Morss,
Nicholas Targ, Karen Vahtra
Councilmember Rebecca Flynn will be participating remotely from 64 Fidippidou Street, Paralia Marathona, 19007 Greece
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ANNOUNCEMENT OF REMOTE ATTENDANCE / ROLL CALL
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
4. REGULAR AGENDA
a. Receive Update from the Resilience Planning Town Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee b. Receive Update and Provide Direction on the 2026 Draft Safety Element
5. ADJOURNMENT
Public comment will only be taken on agenda items. Please submit a speaker's slip located at the front of the room to the Town Clerk of Mayor, prior to speaking. Each speaker's time is limited to three (3) minutes.
The next Regular Town Council meeting will be held on June 10, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
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. 2 Amended subcommittee report
TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT
TO: Mayor and Members of the Town Council
FROM: Mayor Taylor and Councilmember Flynn
DATE: June 10, 2026
RE: Receive Update from the Resilience Planning Town Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Town Council receive an update from the Resilience Planning Town Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee.
BACKGROUND
Given the urgency of enhancing our safety infrastructure, on June 11, 2025, the Town Council established two Town Council Ad Hoc Subcommittees: 1) Safety Element Subcommittee to oversee the process of completing a draft Town Safety Element document; and 2) Town Resilience Planning Subcommittee to create a comprehensive list of potential safety initiatives for future action. According to the June 11, 2025 staff report, the Town Resilience and Planning Subcommittee was formed to prepare 1) a draft list of safety initiatives roughly divided into high, medium and low priorities; 2) a recommendation on whether a multi-disciplinary Safety Task Force is warranted and how best to engage existing safety committees and the community. In the motion to create the committee is not decisionmaking body and should only focus on the two items enumerated in the report.
The Resilience Planning Town Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee is returning to the Town Council on June 10, 2026 with an update regarding the first task. The Subcommittee will also provide a verbal update on the status of the second status.
For the June 10, 2026 meeting on the Safety Element, we are providing drafts of the safety and resilience list (S&R List), and a process for managing the list. The S&R list is an important adjunct to the Safety Element, allowing us to capture the feedback of our safety committees and residents without having to continuously update the Safety Element as well as provide a process for tracking safety goals and accomplishments for the Town and the Committees.
DISCUSSION
The Town’s Safety Element of our General Plan is the overarching view of our approach to the Town’s safety priorities. The Safety Element, when paired with a set of safety and resilience initiatives, begins to address in a concrete way the significant safety issues facing the Town. The safety and resilience list provides a more detail-oriented view.
The Safety Element of the Town of Portola Valley General Plan was last updated July 28, 2010. The first Public Draft Safety Element was circulated for public review in October 2022. The Town received comments from the public, and key Town committees, including: the Geologic Safety Committee, Wildfire 3 Preparedness Committee/Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW), Sustainability Committee, and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
All comments have been reviewed; many have been incorporated into the Safety Element as policies.
The remaining comments are being moved into the S&R list. The attached S&R list is a first draft, the final list will be available shortly.
Recommendation:
1. We recommend that the Town Council formalize the safety and resilience list and associated process at a future Council meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Safety and Resilience List Description
2. Safety and Resilience List DRAFT
4 Safety and Resilience List
Adjunct to Safety Element
Prepared by the Resilience Planning Town Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee Purpose:
To provide a centralized, running list of potential safety-related tasks for use by the Council, Staff, and Town Committees. This list serves as a repository for future initiatives that may be considered as formal work items. The intent is to maintain a lightweight and flexible structure where designated groups can periodically review entries to determine which items should be elevated to active project status.
Format:
• Title: A concise name for the initiative.
• Description: A brief explanation of the safety need or project goal. • Activities: Key actions required to complete the task. • Additional Notes: Any relevant context, dependencies, or background information.
• Resource Sizing (S/M/L): An estimate of the level of effort required. • Proposed Lead/Follow-up: The individual or committee responsible for driving the task. Fill-in when item becomes active
• Expected Completion: A target timeframe or deadline for the project. Fill-in when item becomes active
• Date Added: The date the entry was logged.
• Original Author: The person or body who proposed the initiative. • Category: The specific domain of safety (e.g., wildfire, seismic, traffic, or emergency preparedness).
• Ref: A unique tracking ID or reference number.
• Ranking: The current priority level assigned during the review cycle.
Process for maintaining the list:
• Submission: Any committee, staffer, or council representative can propose a safety-related task by emailing a brief description of the task or project to the central repository.
• Maintenance: The list will be hosted in a shared document accessible to designated administrators who will ensure new suggestions are logged and categorized. The list will be publicly available via the Town website. • Review Cycle: On an annual basis, the Council or a designated subcommittee will convene to review all pending items with the intent of providing the Council with a prioritized list of tasks to be considered during the priority setting session. 5 • Evaluation Criteria: During the annual review, items will be assessed based on urgency, resource availability, and alignment with current town priorities. • Action Determination: Items deemed high-priority or actionable will be brought back to Council, while others may be archived or retained on the list for future consideration.
• Town Council approved actionable items will be assigned to Town Staff and/or to Safety Committees.
Other groups can review the list at the time of their choosing. For example: safety committees are recommended to review the list prior to setting their committee goals for the following year.
6 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-1 EMGMT
Evacuation and Readiness - Be ready for wildfires with community alerts, evacuation routes, and family plans. EPC / WPC SR1.1 Evac 1 CT
S-1 EMGMT Evaluate participation in SMC alert and Genasys Protect (formerly Zone haven) and continue to promote their use (EPC goal?). EPC SR1a Evac 2 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Engage WPV-Ready on best practices for family preparedness -- Family evacuation plan, GO bags, etc. (WPC goal?) WPC SR1b Prep 3 CT
S-1 EMGMT Post weekly Preparedness Calendar steps to the community (based on SMC emergency management handout) (EPC goal?) EPC SR1c Prep 4 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Encourage WPV-Ready/WFPD to distribute annual best practices handout EPC / WPC / Town
Council
SR1d Prep
5 CT
S-1 EMGMT Complete AM radio upgrade (EPC goal, in progress) EPC Q1 2027 SR1e Comm 6 CT S-1 EMGMT Install signage for AM radio (EPC goal, in progress) N/A Completed SR1f Comm 7 CT S-1 EMGMT
Follow up on prior EPC work that reviewed Fehr & Peer (F&P) Evacuation Study and assigned priorities to the recommendations from that study (EPC goal?)
EPC / Town
Council SR1g Evac
8 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Document existing evacuation routes and post them on the Town website. EPC has gathered this information; it needs to be consolidated into a single document and posted. (EPC goal?)
EPC / Town
Council SR1h Evac
9 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Form Alpine Corridor working group by year’s end (Council goal) - Charter to analyze options and potential improvements for the Alpine corridor. Town Council SR1i
10 CT
S-1 EMGMT Home Vegetation Management – Reduce risks to people and homes. SR2.2 Prep 11 CT S-1 EMGMT Continued engagement by WPC on best practices WPC SR2a Prep 12 CT S-1 EMGMT
Continued engagement with WFPD in support of their 24-01 fuel mitigation ordinance EPC / WPC SR2b Prep
13 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Creation and maintenance by WPC of a vendor list for residents that need assistance with vegetation management/fuel reduction WPC SR2c Prep 14 CT
S-1 EMGMT Continued engagement by Conservation Committee on best practices Conservation SR2d Prep 15 CT
S-1 EMGMT Continued engagement with WPV-Ready on best practices (WPC goal?) WPC SR2e Prep 16 CT
1 of 16
7 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-1 EMGMT
Provide the committees with a simple mechanism for distributing information through Town channels (Staff goal?) Staff SR2f MarCo m 17
CT
S-1 EMGMT
[This year, focus on education with simple and effective strategies. Next year, work with WFPD to implement Home Hardening ordinance. First priority is vegetation management] SR3.3 Emgt
18 CT
S-1 EMGMT Town Emergency Operations – Update and modernize local emergency operations. SR5.5 Emgt 29
CT
S-1 EMGMT Revise and update Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) EPC / Town Council SR5a Emgt 30
CT
S-1 EMGMT Provide support to EPC subcommittee, as needed (EPC goal, in progress) EPC SR5aa Emgt 31 CT
S-1 EMGMT Plan for staff review and Council adoption of EOP Council SR5ab Emgt 32 CT S-1 EMGMT Determine model for EOC (Emergency Operation Center) EPC SR5b Emgt 33 CT
S-1 EMGMT Include coordination and expected roles of WPV-CERT and Public Works Council SR5ba Emgt 34 CT
S-1 EMGMT Evacuation and Readiness MT1.1 Evac 39 CT
S-1 EMGMT Establish Evacuation Responsibilities Emgm
t
FP1 H+
66 CT
S-1 EMGMT Define Shelter In Place (SIP) Infrastructure Locations and Preparedness SR5c Emgm t
FP9 H+
67 CT
S-1 EMGMT Improve and Coordinate communications and active command protocols Emgm t
FP11 H+
68 CT
S-1 EMGMT Integrate Evacuation Plans for Schools and Sequoias Emgm t
FP2 H
69 CT
S-1 EMGMT Define Evacuation Education Programs Emgm
t
FP14 H
70 CT
S-1 EMGMT Identify vehicle crash emergency clearance crews Emgm t
FP5 M+
71 CT
S-1 EMGMT Management of Daytime Employee Evacuation Emgm t
FP10 M+
72 CT
S-1 EMGMT Local traffic management strategies per section 4 of report Emgm t
FP4 M
73 CT
S-1 EMGMT Investigate potential for qualified local residents for traffic control as needed
Emgm
t
FP6 M
74 CT
2 of 16
8 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-1 EMGMT Create working group to identify and plan to mitigate hazards along evacuation routes Evac FP7 M
75 CT
S-1 EMGMT Local street accessibility improvements Access for emergency equipment Evac FP8 M 76 CT
S-1 EMGMT Multi-agency evacuation assessment and plan with Woodside and Los Altos Hills Evac FP13 L+
77 CT
S-1 EMGMT Evacuation strategies for local stables and horse owners Evac FP16 L+ 78 CT
S-1 EMGMT Coordinate w/SamTrans availability and travel time for buses for evacuation Evac FP3 L
79 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Explore Early evacuation notifications for constrained parcels area 6, upper Los Trancos, Upper Alpine areas, and Ladera Community Evac FP15 L 80 CT
S-1 EMGMT Investigate widening Alpine Road to facilitate evacuation Evac FPA 81 CT
S-1 EMGMT Define emergency communications protocols for TIS and coordination with public safety agencies EPC Q1 2027 Emgm
t
FPB
82 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) - Currently there is no ability to active/open an EOC. What does the Town want to do? What does EPC recommend to do?
EPC Q1 2027 Emgm
t
FPC
83 CT
S-1 EMGMT Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) - Outdated. What does Town Council wish to do? EPC role? EPC Q1 2027 Emgt FPD
84 CT
S-1 EMGMT AM1680 Signs-Resolution passed to place signs N/A Completed Emgm t
FPE
85 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Work with SMC Emergency Management Department.on Ladris evacuation software (EPC/staff) EPC/Staff SR1.2 Emgt
86 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Update and educate other safety committees and the community on Evacuation and Readiness (EPC) (To be continued in 2026) EPC SR1.3 MarCom 87 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Coordinate with Firewise groups and HOAs to document information about each residence and to identify doctors, special needs people, pets, horses, pools, wells, and other key data points.
GSC, WFC,
EPC
MT1e Emgt
98 CT
S-1 EMGMT
Signage: Road signage on Red flag warning days WFPD/
WPC/
EPC/PW
MTg EMGT
99 CT
S-1 EMGMT EPC? EPC MT6aiii MarCom 106 CT
3 of 16
9 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-1 EMGMT Recovery Planning EMGT SR5d 110 CT
S-1 EMGMT Determine process for review and tracking of Safety and Resilience implementation Goals TC / staff SR9 Resil
112
CT
S-1 EMGMT Establish areas of refuge and communicate to the public (EPC) MT6b EMGT 114
CT
S-1 EMGMT
Evaluate possibility of evacuation through the rear of Town Center to Christ Church in the event access over Portola Road is ruptured at Town Center.
LT5d
124
CT
S-1 EMGMT Evaluate possibility of evacuation of Upper Alpine through the Fogarty property (GSC and EPC) LT5e
125
CT
S-1 EMGMT
Evaluate readiness in the event of cascading hazards that could occur after a major earthquake (fire, liquefaction, lateral spread, off-fault ground disruption, and flooding) LT5f
126
CT
S-1 EMGMT Create a Resilience Document for Portola Valley based on SPUR Safe Enough to Stay Report LT5g 127
CT
S-1 EMGMT
Run an annual shake out exercise coordinated with the U.S. Geological Survey’s annual exercise as well as with rapid response teams from San Mateo County, State & federal governments.
(GSC and
EPC) LT5h
128
CT
S-1 EMGMT Evaluate a town water well at Town Center. LT51i 129 CT S-1 EMGMT
Incorporate into the Town’s Emergency Operations Plan a hazard and risk analysis for cascading hazards and the recommended emergency and longer-term responses. Develop likely scenarios for cascading hazards.
The plan needs to address how to control and mitigate the resulting risks in an environment of:
• Significant medical emergency needs in a hampered infrastructure with an escalating fire hazard situation.
• Water and firefighting efforts may be severely damaged • Likelihood that one or all evacuation routes will be blocked. • Possible widespread overload of all emergency services in a multi city disaster
• Communication systems may be damaged.
• Need for public education for the plan to address this hazard.
GSC : Work with the
Town’s partners (WFPD,
surrounding towns and
cities, SMC, SCC) and the
safety committees (EPC,
GSC, SC, WPC) to produce
a comprehensive
evacuation study for the
Town and its sphere of
influence, using: (1) bestcase, likely, and worst-case scenarios for cascading
hazards and (2) best
estimates for future
population density.
old SE
with CC
S-1.1 S-1.1a-1
4 of 16
10 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-1 EMGMT
Create a specific process within PV operations that works jointly with Staff, Committees, and WFPD to develop and update specific action plans required to meet the Safety Element goals for review by the TC yearly.
This process along with id of responsible parties will be presented to the TC at the beginning of each year. At the end of each year the responsible organization/staff member will collect progress reports from the involved committees, staff, and any associated agencies and report to the TC on the progress for the year. Additional agencies who will be consulted in the development of action plans will be: utility providers, adjacent communities, SMC EM, Firewise and neighborhood groups, emergency operations personnel, and large landowners.
recommendation from
EPC;
old SE
with CC
S-1.1 S-1.1b-1
S-1 EMGMT
Enhance information gathering and sharing resources to support future evacuation events.
old SE
with CC
S-1.1
S-1.1b-2
S-1 EMGMT
Work with our neighboring communities of Palo Alto, Woodside, and San Mateo County to modify our road infrastructure where needed to support evacuation.
old SE
with CC
S-1.2 S-1.2-1-1
S-1 EMGMT
Actively recruit more volunteers for CERT WPC old SE
with CC
S-1.5
S-1.5a -1
S-1 EMGMT
Communicate to the citizens in Portola Valley what services cannot be provided by the Town of Portola Valley during and after an emergency and therefore will be the responsibility of each individual citizen. old SE
with CC
S-1.5
5 of 16
11 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-1 EMGMT
Implement periodic (annual) evacuation drills covering all aspects of evacuation including covering communication systems, shelter in place procedures, and emergency management structure for residents, schools, and stakeholders.Many of these drills may only test the emergency operation of the management structure, emergency personnel, and notification and communication structure, but all aspects of the evacuation plan eventually need to be tested and explored in these drills.
A-2-3-2 Provide yearly test for residents, schools, and stakeholders for notification and evacuation communication systems. A-2-3 Implement yearly town wide education to create public awareness of how emergency evacuations will occur. These will include education of all aspects of evacuation: communication systems, schools, shelter in place procedures, and the town emergency management structure.
These individual actions
from WPC are better
suited for
Safety&Resilience List but I
combined them into a
higher level action A2-3 -
WPC | A-1-1Test, improve
and update the Evacuation
Plan with periodic mock
evacuation drills. Many of
these drills may only test
the emergency operation
of the management
structure, emergency
personnel, and notification
and communication
structure, but all aspects
of the evacuation plan
eventually need to be
tested and explored in
these drills. [S&R]A-1-
2Provide yearly test for
residents, schools, and
stakeholders for
notification and
evacuation
communication systems.
[S&R]A-1-3Implement
yearly town wide
education to create public
old SE
with CC
S-1.6 S-1.6a - 1
6 of 16
12 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-1 EMGMT
Explore the removal of fire safety locks from single-access neighborhoods. Single egress/ingress streets in PV make up 40%
of our streets serving 75%
of all parcels. According to
the Housing Element 589
parcels are constrained in
terms of egress and
naturaldisasters. Those
parcels should be notified
annually via postcard or
mailers that they really
need to be prepared
because egress could be
constrained.
old SE
with CC
S-1.6 S-1.6c-1
S-1 EMGMT
Enhance existing town programs to further reduce fire hazards along public roads and rights of way. Vegetation management should focus on thinning low branches and dense trees to the maximum extent possible within the public right of way.
old SE
with CC
S2.13 A-2.13-1-
2 S-1 EMGMT
Investigate the feasibility of establishing special assessment districts to improve road capacity, and adequate water supply.
WPC comment old SE
with CC
LOCATE
S-1 EMGMT Update the PV Red Flag Warning ordinance 2021-437 to include no street parking. [S&R]
WPC comment old SE
with CC
LOCATE
S-1 EMGMT
Establish a program to evaluate utility poles for hazardous conditions which could block roads during evacuation and work with Utility companies to rectify these hazards.
old SE
with CC
S-1.10c-1
S-1 EMGMT
Conduct early hazard condition notifications to all residents and conduct early evacuation warnings for high-risk areas or areas where constrained conditions require lengthy evacuation.Ensure residents know they are in a location without sufficient emergency route access or capacity, particularly those in single-egress parcels.
WPC comment old SE
with CC
S-1.6c-3
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13 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-1 EMGMT
Ensure residents understand evacuation protocols, are familiar with Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) resources, and have signed up for SMC Alert.
old SE
with CC
S-1 EMGMT
such as::
a. Additional vehicle pullouts at key hillside locations. b. Limiting or restricting on-street parking at key hillside locations. c. Potential for construction of new or improved emergency access routes.
d. Roadside clearance improvements.
e. Creation of easements and emergency access roads for areas with constrained parcels.
old SE
with CC
S-1 EMGMT
Continue to evaluate information on evacuation learned from other communities, especially those which have suffered wildfires, for improvements needed in Portola Valley’s evacuation plan. NIST and NFPA will also provide key analysis in this area as they release new data and analysis.
old SE
with CC
S-1 EMGMT
Provide periodic updates for evacuation traffic studies as road structures and housing in Portola Valley changes and identify necessary road improvements.
old SE
with CC
S-1 EMGMT For Wayside Rd and Woodside Highlands, investigate an alarm warning system. [S&R]
WPC comment old SE
with CC
S-1 EMGMT Establish periodic evaluation of water system capability, including resident inputs. (EPC Comment)
old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE Home Hardening – Reduce risks to people and homes. SR3.3 Fire 19 CT S-2 FIRE Engage WPC on education for home hardening WPC SR3a MarCo
m 20
CT
S-2 FIRE Provide information on easy to achieve home hardening (WPC goal?) WPC SR3aa Fire 21 CT
S-2 FIRE Engage WPV-Ready on best practices WPC SR3b Fire 22 CT S-2 FIRE Distribute information through Town channels SR3c MarCo
m 23
CT
S-2 FIRE Firewise Communities – Reduce risks to people and homes. WPC SR4.4 Fire 24 CT S-2 FIRE
Public acknowledgement of the creation and continued work of Firewise Communities by the Council. (Council goal?) Council SR4a MarCo
m 25
CT
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Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-2 FIRE Engage WPC and WPV-Ready to ensure existing Firewise Communities are successful WPC / WFPD SR4b Fire
26 CT
S-2 FIRE
Encourage Firewise community organizers to provide their members with documentation about their application and community goals. WPC SR4ba Fire 27 CT
S-2 FIRE
Engage WPC to assist in forming Firewise Communities to complete the coverage of all of Portola Valley (WPC goal?) WPC SR4c Fire 28 CT
S-2 FIRE Smoke Ready - Prepare for the health impacts of wildfire smoke in the community. EPC / WPC SR6bb Fire
37 CT
S-2 FIRE Ensure Town’s 10-year plan for road right of way maintenance is budgeted and implemented MT1a Fire
40 CT
S-2 FIRE Document Cal Water fire hydrant coverage and pressure [Owner? Is this WFPD?] MT5b Fire
50 CT
S-2 FIRE Document PGE’s plans for undergrounding electrical lines MT5c Fire 51 CT S-2 FIRE Wildfire Risk Reduction LT1.1 Fire 52 CT
S-2 FIRE
Collaborate with WFPD and area partners to create a Wildfire Risk Reduction Buffer Area (WRRBA) plan, identifying high risk areas surrounding Portola Valley and the plan for needed improvements including brush clearance, controlled burns, and fire breaks.
LT1a Fire
53 CT
S-2 FIRE
Collaborate with relevant parties (Large landowners, MROSD, POST, San Mateo County) on critical buffer areas, including Jasper Ridge, Arastradero, Los Trancos, Skyline, Stanford, Woodside Horse Park, and Ladera.
LT1b Fire
54 CT
S-2 FIRE Encourage WFPD to identify and document fire prone ravines and adjacent properties. LT1c Fire
55 CT
S-2 FIRE
Building Standards - Consider specific development criteria for areas within designated high-risk zones (e.g. Limiting higher density, detailing fire safety enhancements) LT2a Fire
56 CT
S-2 FIRE
Building Standards - Explore adopting Passive House standard as an alternative standard to Title 24 (see references below) for more rigorous fire and smoke-resistant buildings. LT2b Fire
57 CT
S-2 FIRE Require wood shake roof up to current code on change of ownership WPC MT3b Fire 100
CT
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Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-2 FIRE Work with Town to get Feb 2024 decking ordinance approved. (WPC) WPC MT3c Fire 101
CT
S-2 FIRE WPC already doing bi-weekly comms for wildfire tips WPC MT6ai MarCom 104 CT S-2 FIRE
Continued engagement by Conservation Committee on best practices for landscape and vegetation management , etc (CC? CC MT8.1 FIRE 109
CT
S-2 FIRE Home insurance - Understand and gather information on housing insurance challenges WPC SR8a Fire
111
CT
S-2 FIRE Signage for no smoking on trails Trails MTfii Fire 113 CT S-2 FIRE Work with Town to educate residents on the approved decking ordinance. WPC LT2g 133
CT
S-2 FIRE
Encourage the use of fire-resistant vegetation for landscaping in all parcels, especially in high fire hazard areasEmphasize landscaping plants and maintenance practices that prevent or slow the spread of fire: 1) maintain vertical clearance between understory vegetation and tree canopies (avoid or reduce ladder fuels), 2) retain patches of understory habitat, separated by horizontal clearances, to support wildlife species, 3) keep vegetation healthy, and 4) remove dead vegetation other than selected snags that may be important for wildlife.
WPC comments old SE
with CC
S2.12S-2.12a-1
S-2 FIRE
Establish responsibility and enforcement mechanisms Public comment old SE with CC
S2.13A-2.13-1-
1 S-2 FIRE
Collaborate with WFPD to identify all streets in Portola Valley that do not comply with California Fire Safe Regulations to ensure that firefighting apparatus has adequate access.
Public Comment old SE
with CC
S2.30S-2.30a-1-
1 S-2 FIRE
Evaluate existing open space areas to identify fire-hazardous vegetation as well as the presence of any protected or special-status species. [S&R] EPC sub comments |
WPC Comments and new
actions
old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE
As needed, develop plans to increase the fire safety of open space areas without impacting species that should be protected. [S&R] old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE Establish a schedule for periodically monitoring the fire-safety of open space areas. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
10 of 16
16 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-2 FIRE Clean up fire hazards within town’s open spaces and trail easements. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE Remove highly flammable trees such as Eucalyptus in town owned spaces. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE Assess whether fuel breaks are needed within the interior of large open space areas. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE
Avoid fuel reduction in riparian zones and creek setbacks except where it is essential for public safety. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE
Provide education on avoiding fuel reduction in riparian zones and creek setbacks except where it is essential for public safety. old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE
Make information on all landscaping standards and practices available on the town website in clear, accessible formats.
Wpc comment old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE
Evaluate the need, feasibility, and benefits of modeling, threedimensional mapping, or characterizing understory vegetation to support predictive modeling of wildfire spread.
WPC comment old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE Require the installation of ember resistant vents for home resale and specified building permits. [S&R]
Wpc addition old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE
Work with WFPD to update and expand the home hardening ordinance to existing buildings in high and very high fire hazard severity zone areas. old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE Adopt a comprehensive wildfire retrofit code or plan for existing homes. WPC comment old SE with CC
S-2 FIRE
Collaborate with Firewise community leaders to communicate information about wildfire preparedness to residents.
old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE
Target specific neighborhoods and Firewise Committees. Tailor messages and solutions to fit their specific needs. Design programs to empower neighborhood leaders with information and tools to allow them to transform their community. Encourage multi-home projects within communities to create defensible space or to install home hardening measures, such as ember resistant vents. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
11 of 16
17 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-2 FIRE
Support all home owners with home hardening information, solutions, incentives, and assistance with creating defensible space and reducing home ignition. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
S-2 FIRE
Update ordinances to requied removal of the Flammable Five (Eucalyptus, Monterey Pine, Acacia, Juniper, and Cypress) when building permits are issues for new construction or major remodels (if close to structures) old SE
with CC
S2.17 S-2.17a
S-2 FIRE
Provide education on the appropriate landscaping tools at the appropriate times of year under appropriate weather conditions and with the appropriate safeguards and safety equipment. old SE with CC
S-3 SEISMIC Earthquake Safety Map (GSC and Staff goal) GSC SR7a MarCom 89 CT S-3 SEISMIC Publicize and communicate the new information through Town newsletter and PVForum (GSC goal) GSC SR7b MarCom
90 CT
S-3 SEISMIC Update Town geological maps. (GSC goal, in progress with Consulting Town Geologist) GSC SR7c Geo
91 CT
S-3 SEISMIC
Create Neighborhood level maps: Over the course of the year create documents that describe the geo hazards for each neighborhood, consequences of geo hazards in terms of evacuation. GSC SR7d Geo 92 CT
S-3 SEISMIC GSC to provide summaries of expert information. (GSC) GSC SR7e Geo 93 CT
S-3 SEISMIC
Document the actions of Japan to monitor, bring awareness, communicate, prepare for earthquakes and disasters. (GSC 2026 goal) GSC MT1b Geo 95 CT
S-3 SEISMIC
GSC to coordinate with EPC and PW staff to identify the services and support needed in the immediate, medium, and longer time period after an earthquake. (GSC, EPC) GSC/EPC MT1c Geo
96 CT
S-3 SEISMIC
GSC to engage with PW and EPC to develop plan for rapidly assessing damage after earthquake. Identify road closures on major evacuation routes.
GSC/PW/
EPC
MT1d Geo
97 CT
S-3 SEISMIC
GSC to create document with information collected on safety and resilience. Work with EPC to avoid duplication. (GSC and EPC) MT6c Geo 115
CT
S-3 SEISMIC Seismic resistance retrofitting GSC MT7 116 CT 12 of 16
18 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-3 SEISMIC This year, focus on education, on shear resistance and foundation hold downs (GSC). GSC MT7a
117
CT
S-3 SEISMIC Future years, focus on finding funding for earthquake retrofits. GSC MT7b 118
CT
S-3 SEISMIC
Goal: to maintain a viable community after a large, damaging earthquake.
What is the minimum infrastructure needed for residents to want to stay? GSC/EPC LT2d 119
CT
S-3 SEISMIC
Consider a new set of standards for temporary occupancy permits after earthquake. Yellow-tagged buildings may be safe on a temporary basis; Houses may not have working utilities; houses may have suffered partial damage, with parts of houses still safe for occupancy until restoration.
GSC/EPC/Sta
ff LT2e
120
CT
S-3 SEISMIC Earthquake defensive structure and planning LT5.1 121 CT S-3 SEISMIC Establish specific development criteria for high seismic risk (fault zones) LT5a 122
CT
S-3 SEISMIC Identify steep slopes and high susceptibility to land sliding or creep. LT5b 123
CT
S-3 SEISMIC
Create and regularly update a map showing all active and potentially active faults, all landslide zones, and all infrastructure (roads and utilities) crossing those zones within Town limits, its sphere of influence, and adjacent areas.
old SE
with CC
S-3 SEISMIC
In consultation with Cal Water and WFPD, establish and maintain adequate emergency water supplies in areas served by water lines that cross active fault traces.
old SE
with CC
S-3 SEISMIC Develop backup plans that anticipate our major evacuation routes becoming impassible.
old SE
with CC
S-4 GEOL Geologic Safety GSC SR7.1 88 CT
S-4 GEOL GSC? GSC MT6aiv MarCom 107 CT
S-5 FLOOD Evaluate Town flooding and inundation hazards (GSC) LT5j 130 CT
S-5 FLOOD Commission a new master storm drainage report and update it at least once every (ten?) years. PW LT5k
131
CT
13 of 16
19 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-5 FLOOD
Compile and retain all historical and ongoing records of flooding and near flooding from storm drains and streams, including ephemeral streams.
Collect public and private reports of flooding to identify areas for improvement in the storm drainage system.
old SE
with CC
S-5 FLOOD
Identify any parcel (not just those in new developments) that is subject to flooding, and for each such parcel define the type of flooding and potential depth of flooding.
old SE
with CC
S-5 FLOOD
Compile and keep records of all flooding, public and private, and all modifications made to improve drainage and creek bank stabilization.
GSC comment old SE
with CC
S-5 FLOOD
Explore feasibility of restoring creek ecologies and creating transitional habitat zones to build resilience and ecosystem services. old SE
with CC
S-6 RES Vulnerable Populations - Address the social and economic vulnerabilities of people in the community. SR6ba Resil
36 CT
S-6 RES Recovery & Rebuilding SR6bc Resil 38 CT
S-6 RES Sustainable Energy Use MT2.2 Resil 41 CT
S-6 RES Review Town Center energy use with the goal to reduce energy usage MT2a Resil 42 CT
S-6 RES Replace lighting with high efficiency lights (PCE grant, in progress) MT2b Resil 43 CT
S-6 RES Building Standards MT3.3 Resil 44 CT
S-6 RES Approve 2025 Building Code cycle MT3a Resil 45 CT S-6 RES
Topic 4: Supplemental Safety Measures for HE - Coordinate and ensure that the Town’s ongoing safety-related activities also consider the cumulative projected increase in Town population and housing units arising out of HE adoption and adopt mechanisms to coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions with respect to safety measures such as the evacuation plan.
MT4aa Resil
46 CT
S-6 RESILIENCY
Topic 5: Impact of HE on Services and Infrastructure -Understand projected growth in demand on services and infrastructure resulting from increased population and housing units in Town under the HE, and potential impact on Town budget, and develop strategy for maintaining or improving current service levels.
MT4ba Resil
47 CT
14 of 16
20 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-6 RESILIENCY Public Utility Emergency Preparedness MT5.5 Resil 48 CT S-6 RESILIENCY
Work with utilities to document and update, if necessary, comprehensive utility safeguards for wildfire, earthquakes, flooding, and landslides MT5a Resil 49 CT
S-6 RESILIENCY Re-establish Sustainability Committee LT3a Resil 58 CT S-6 RESILIENCY Encourage solar panel and battery storage uptake LT3b Resil 59 CT S-6 RESILIENCY Work with PCE and staff on Microgrid creation LT3c Resil 60 CT S-6 RESILIENCY Work with PCE and PGE on Demand Response Systems LT3d Resil 61 CT
S-6 RESILIENCY Work with Sustainability Committee on researching V2G, V2H options LT3e Resil 62 CT
S-6 RESILIENCY Safety Initiatives Financing - Grants and grant writing LT4a Resil 63 CT S-6 RESILIENCY Safety Initiatives Financing - Fund raising, PV Fund LT4b Resil 64 CT S-6 RESILIENCY Safety Initiatives Financing - Long-term ongoing funding LT4c Resil 65 CT
S-6 RESILIENCY Add battery backup to Town Center SC Climate 94 CT S-6 RESILIENCY Communication to the Town Residents MT6 MarCom 102 CT S-6 RESILIENCY
Establish monthly, bimonthly or quarterly Public Communications from the safety committees (GSC, WPC, EPC, Sustainability) MT6a MarCom 103
CT
S-6 RESILIENCY CC already doing monthly PSAs CC MT6aii MarCom 105 CT S-6 RESILIENCY Participate in Town Monthly Seminar Series (RF) MT6c Resil 108 CT S-6 RESILIENCY Establish Portola/Sand Hill working group LT5i Resil 132 CT S-6 RESILIENCY
Collaborate with Cal Water on water rationing programs in the event of drought declarations. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
S-6.7
S-6.7a-1
S-6 RESILIENCY
Collaborate with SMC Environmental Health on new graywater regulations and composting toilets, modeled on those in Arizona and New Mexico. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
S-6.7
S-6.7a-2
S-6 RESILIENCY
Collaborate with Westbay Sanitary District on sewer reclamation projects and expansion of sewer in Town. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
S-6.7
S-6.7a-3
S-6 RESILIENCY
Encourage water use reduction by expansion of greywater and rainwater, and explore greater recycling of wastewater to prepare for longer drought durations. [S&R]
old SE
with CC
S-6.7
S-6.7a-4
15 of 16
21 Safety Resilience List - DRAFT - 06/05/2026
Goal Number
Goal Name
Sub-action
Sticky Comment
Responsible Party
Resource sizing (S/M/L)
Expected Completion Date
Original author
Category
F&P Ref
Ranking
O
Merge Source
Policy ID #1
Action ID #1
S-6 RESILIENCY
Continue to encourage drought-tolerant native landscapes. [S&R] old SE with CC
S-6.7a-5
S-6 RESILIENCY
Develop local renewable energy generation and storage for the Town to build energy resiliency. Expand the use of smart grid and electricity demand response technologies to reduce strains on the electrical infrastructure.
Sustainability Comment old SE
with CC
S-6.8b-1
S-6 RESILIENCY
Expand green building checklists, increased air sealing and insulation practices, and passive house standards to reduce the need for energy and air conditioning and improve resilience and energy efficiency.
Sustainability Comment old SE
with CC
S-6.8b-2
S-6 RESILIENCY
Encourage expanded use of renewable energy, solar and wind power adoptions, battery technology, and electric vehicle expansion and charging infrastructure.
Sustainability Comment old SE
with CC
S-6.8b-3
S-6 RESILIENCY
Encourage and expand all-electric housing construction, green building checklists, increased air sealing and insulation practices, and passive house standards to reduce the need for energy and air conditioning.
Sustainability Comment old SE
with CC
S-6.8b-4
S-6 RESILIENCY
Expand the use of smart grid and electricity demand technologies to reduce strains on electrical infrastructure.
Sustainability Comment old SE
with CC
S-6.8b-5
S-6 RESILIENCY
Provide increased education to residents to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainability Comment old SE
with CC
S-6.8b-6
16 of 16
22 TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY
STAFF REPORT
TO: Mayor and Members of the Town Council
FROM: Sarah Cawrse, Planning & Building Director
DATE: June 10, 2026
RE: Receive Update and Provide Direction on the 2026 Draft Safety Element
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Town Council and Planning Commission receive information and provide direction to staff on the 2026 Draft Safety Element.
BACKGROUND
The Safety Element is one of the State-mandated elements of the General Plan, and recent amendments to State law require local jurisdictions to update their safety elements. The Town initiated work for a Safety Element Update in 2021, which included community engagement and outreach, and issued a 2022 Draft Safety Element for public review. Since then, the Town’s technical team, including staff and consultants, as well as support from the Town Council subcommittees, have developed this 2026 Draft Safety Element based on:
The 2022 Draft Safety Element, including previous comments from Committees and community members on the 2022 Draft.
Guidance from the Town Council subcommittees.
The existing Safety Element, last amended on July 28, 2010.
State law, guidance from the State and regional agencies, and best practices.
This 2026 Draft Safety Element represents the Town’s overall goals, policies, and actions to facilitate resilience and prosperity. The 2026 Draft Safety Element meets the requirements of State Planning and Zoning Law, California Government Code Section 65302(g). Pursuant to State law, this Element identifies and discusses the following hazards of concern for the Town:
Emergency Management and Preparedness
Wildfire and Urban Fire Hazards
Seismic/Geologic Hazards
Flood Hazards
Climate Adaptation and Resilience
The full 2026 Draft Safety Element document is provided for review in Attachment 1. Additional information may be found on the project’s website here:
https://www.portolavalley.net/departments/planning-building-department/safety-element-update
DISCUSSION
This agenda item is intended to allow staff to provide information on the 2026 Draft Safety Element and to seek direction from both the Town Council and Planning Commission through a joint Study Session 23 during a special meeting. Public comments on the 2026 Draft will be accepted at the public meeting.
Additional agenda details with a proposed agenda and time frames for the joint Study Session discussion are below:
5:00pm – 5:15pm
Receive update from the Town Council Resilience Planning and Safety Element Ad Hoc Subcommittee
5:15pm – 5:30pm
Presentation
5:30pm – 6:00pm
Time reserved for public comment
6:00pm – 6:50pm
Questions and comments from Council and Commission members Next Steps:
The 2026 Draft Safety Element will be available for public review and comment from May 29 – June 30, 2026. During this time, Town Committees and community members are invited to provide written comments by June 30
th
through this link here.
All comments received through the Study Session and Public Review Period will be evaluated and considered, and the 2026 Draft Safety Element will be updated as needed based on time and available budget. The revised version will be submitted to the mandated State agencies for review (e.g., Cal FIRE, State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Geological Survey, Cal OES). Comments from these agencies will be addressed as needed and a final version of the 2026 Draft Safety Element will be produced and brought forward to Planning Commission and Town Council for formal recommendation and adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to this agenda item. However, additional General Fund budget for the revision of the Safety Element may be needed if extensive comments are provided and Council direction is provided to incorporate the revisions. In this case, staff will return to the Council for a request for additional budget authorization before proceeding.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2026 Draft Safety Element
24 Portola Valley General Plan
Safety Element
May 2026
DRAFT
25 DRAFT
26 Town of Portola Valley General Plan
Safety Element
Adopted by Portola Valley Town Council on
__________________________________________________
DRAFT
27 Town of Portola Valley General Plan
Safety Element
Revised 2026
TOWN COUNCIL
Craig Taylor (Mayor)
Mary Hufty (Vice Mayor)
Judith Hasko (Council Member)
Rebecca Flynn (Council Member)
Helen Wolter (Council Member)
PLANNING COMMISSION
Commissioners (5)
Lynda Brothers (Chair)
Ronny Krashinsky (Vice Chair)
Nicholas Targ
Karen Vahtra
Doug Morss
PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Sarah Cawrse
SAN MATEO COUNTY SHERIFF
DEPARTMENT
Placeholder
WOODSIDE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
Placeholder
CONSULTANTS
Urban Planning Partners
Atlas Planning Solutions
DRAFT
28 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Table of Contents
Safety Element Overview .................................................................................................... 1 Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 1 Relationships with Other Elements and Plans................................................................... 2 Consistency with the Other General Plan Elements............................................................................ 2 Integration with the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan ........................................................... 3 Compliance with the California Regulatory Environment .................................................................... 4 Organization and Definitions............................................................................................ 7 Focus ............................................................................................................................. 7 Environment and Conditions of Portola Valley.................................................................................... 7 Safety Risk Analysis for Portola Valley ............................................................................................... 7 Hazard Evaluations.............................................................................................................. 9 Emergency Management and Preparedness ..................................................................... 9 Emergency Operations Plan ............................................................................................................. 9 Hazard Prevention and Response Strategies.................................................................................... 11 Seismic and Geologic Hazards.......................................................................................15 Seismically Induced Surface Rupture.............................................................................................. 15 Seismic Shaking ............................................................................................................................ 18 Ground Failure............................................................................................................................... 18 Liquefaction .................................................................................................................................. 19 Slope Instability (Landslide/Mudslide)............................................................................................. 19 Other Seismic/Geologic Hazards .................................................................................................... 23 Flood Hazards...............................................................................................................25 Flooding........................................................................................................................................ 25 Dam Failure/Inundation ................................................................................................................. 25 Fire Hazards..................................................................................................................27 Wildland Fire ................................................................................................................................. 27 Urban Fire ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Climate Adaptation and Resilience ................................................................................32 Safety Goals and Policies .................................................................................................. 34 Implementation Actions
DRAFT ....................................................................................................56 29 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
DRAFT
30 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Element Overview – Purpose
1 Safety Element Overview
The Safety Element is designed to establish goals, policies, and implementation programs that will protect the Town of Portola Valley from risks associated with earthquakes, floods, fires, landslides, and other environmental hazards identified by the local community. By identifying these hazards and the appropriate related policies, the Safety Element is intended to effectively reduce the potential for life threatening, property damaging, and economically and socially detrimental events. In addition, this element is used as a guide for establishing land use patterns that minimize the exposure of Town residents to excessive natural and human-caused hazards.
Purpose
The Safety Element is one of the state-mandated elements of the General Plan. It represents the Town’s overall goals, policies, and actions to facilitate resilience and prosperity. This Safety Element meets the requirements of California Government Code § Section 65302(g). Under State planning law, this Element identifies and discusses the following hazards of concern for the Town:
• Emergency Management and Preparedness
• Wildfire and Urban Fire Hazards
• Seismic/Geologic Hazards
• Flood Hazards
• Climate Adaptation and Resilience
The Town cannot be made hazard free, but the planning process can be used to minimize exposure to dangerous conditions. This is the concept of acceptable risk, and it is an inherent part of the planning process. Every community must decide what public safety standards are acceptable, and the actions needed to maintain those standards. For planning purposes, an acceptable level of risk is one at which a hazard is deemed to be a tolerable exposure to danger, given the expected benefits to be gained. For some types of risk, numerical measures have been defined to identify the threshold of acceptable risk. In the case of seismic or flooding hazards, for example, specific locations may be identified for mitigation based on their distance from known faults or location within a FEMA designated flood zone.
The impacts of climate change pose an increasing and growing challenge to the safety and wellbeing of the residents of Portola Valley. California will continue to experience the effects of climate change in different ways, including increased likelihood of drought, flooding, wildfires, heat waves, and severe weather. In addition to climate change planning becoming necessary on its own merits, SB 379 requires jurisdictions to update their Safety Element to address applicable adaptation and resiliency strategies.
This Safety Element, in conjunction with the San Mateo County Multijurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP), is the best avenue for understanding and mitigating natural and human-caused hazard risks within this community.
DRAFT
31 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Element Overview – Relationships with Other Elements and Plans 2 Relationships with Other Elements and Plans
Consistency with the Other General Plan Elements
Safety considerations are integrated throughout the General Plan to create an internally consistent framework that prioritizes the community's well-being. The Portola Valley Safety Element is an essential component of the General Plan and works in tandem with its other elements to guide these efforts.
Land Use Element
The Land Use Element establishes the overall framework for development and ensures consistency across all General Plan elements. It supports hazard mitigation by guiding land use decisions that avoid placing sensitive uses in areas exposed to natural and human-caused risks.
Open Space Element
The Open Space Element provides a framework for preserving lands critical to natural resource protection, public health and safety, and recreation. It supports hazard mitigation by maintaining buffers and limiting development in environmentally sensitive and hazard-prone areas.
Recreation Element
The Recreation Element guides the provision of recreational opportunities within the community to support the well-being of residents. Coordination with the Safety Element promotes both physical and mental health and supports community resilience during and after hazard events.
Housing Element
The Housing Element identifies and analyzes existing and projected housing needs and contains the official policies for the preservation, conservation, rehabilitation, and production of housing in the Town of Portola Valley. The Housing Element provides a detailed analysis of Portola Valley’s demographic, economic, and housing characteristics as required by State Law..
Historic Element
The Historic Element identifies and protects significant cultural resources through preservation policies and decision-making guidance. Integration with the Safety Element helps reduce risks to historic assets from natural hazards while maintaining community character.
Circulation Element
The Circulation Element establishes policies for safe and efficient movement of people, goods, and services throughout the community. Coordination with the Safety Element enhances emergency evacuation, reduces congestion on critical routes, and improves overall public safety.
DRAFT
32 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Element Overview – Relationships with Other Elements and Plans 3 Trails and Paths Element
The Trails and Paths Element guides the development of a connected network of non-motorized routes throughout the community. This network can support emergency access and evacuation while promoting safe, alternative mobility options.
Scenic Roads and Highways Element
This element establishes policies to preserve and enhance the visual quality of designated scenic corridors. By managing roadway design and development, it supports safety by maintaining clear, wellfunctioning transportation routes in hazard-prone areas.
Conservation Element
The Conservation Element provides policies to protect and manage natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas. It supports hazard mitigation by identifying fragile ecosystems and ensuring environmental considerations are integrated into development decisions.
Noise Element
The Noise Element establishes standards and policies to reduce noise exposure and protect sensitive land uses. It complements the Safety Element by guiding the placement of noise-sensitive uses away from highnoise and potentially hazardous areas.
Sustainability Element
The Sustainability Element promotes environmental stewardship through greenhouse gas reduction, resource conservation, and green building practices. These efforts enhance long-term community resilience to climate-related hazards and support overall public health and safety.
Integration with the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan The Safety Element is primarily a planning and regulatory tool that sets the long-term vision and land use policy for reducing risk, addressing all aspects of community planning — housing, open space, circulation, and more — through a safety lens. The Town's section of the federally mandated Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) serves as an operational action plan, assigning responsibilities, timelines, and costs for concrete projects to mitigate identified hazards and vulnerabilities. The MJHMP serves three primary purposes:
1) It provides a comprehensive analysis of the natural and human-caused hazards that threaten the Town, with a focus on mitigation;
2) It keeps the Town of Portola Valley eligible to receive additional federal and state funding to assist with emergency response and recovery, as permitted by the federal Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) of 2000 and California Government Codes § 8685.9 and § 65302.6; and 3) It complements the efforts undertaken by the Safety Element.
The MJHMP complies with all requirements set forth under the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 202 DRAFT
2. Sections of the Safety
33 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Element Overview – Relationships with Other Elements and Plans 4 Element are supplemented by the MJHMP, incorporated by reference in this element, as allowed by California Government Code § 65302.6.
Note: Portola Valley Town Council adopted its current MJHMP in 2022. To access Portola Valley’s MJHMP, visit the Town’s Emergency Management website dedicated to emergency plans at:
https://www.portolavalley.net/community/emergency-preparedness-information/emergency-operations-plan Compliance with the California Regulatory Environment
The contents and processes surrounding the creation and maintenance of this Safety Element are governed by the following California state requirements.
California Government Code § 65302(g)(1)
California Government Code § 65302(g)(1) establishes the legislative framework for California's safety elements. This framework consolidates requirements from relevant federal and state agencies, ensuring that all cities comply with the same statutory mandates. These mandates include:
• Protecting against significant risks related to earthquakes, tsunamis, seiches, dam failure, landslides, subsidence, flooding, and fires as applicable. • Including maps of known seismic and other geologic hazards. • Addressing evacuation routes, military installations, peak-load water supply requirements, and minimum road widths and clearances around structures as related to fire and geologic hazards, where applicable.
• Identifying areas subject to flooding and wildfires.
• Avoiding locating critical facilities within areas of high risk. • Assessing the community's vulnerability to climate change. • Including adaptation and resilience goals, policies, objectives, and implementation measures.
California Government Codes § 8685.9 and § 65302.6 (2006) California Government Code § 8685.9 (also known as Assembly Bill 2140, or AB 2140) allows California counties and cities to be considered for additional state cost-share on eligible Public Assistance projects by adopting their current, FEMA-approved local hazard mitigation plans (LHMPs) into the Safety Element of their General Plan. This adoption, along with other requirements, makes the county or city eligible to be considered for part or all of its local-share costs on eligible Public Assistance projects to be provided by the state through the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA).
The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for the Town of Portola Valley was developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and followed FEMA’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan guidance.
The LHMP incorporates a process where hazards are identified and profiled, the people and facilities at risk are analyzed, and mitigation actions are developed to reduce or eliminate hazard risk. The implementation of these mitigation actions, which include both short and long-term strategies, involve planning, policy changes, programs, projects, and other activities. The following link provides access to the San Mateo County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan that include Portola Valley’s annex to the plan.
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Safety Element Overview – Relationships with Other Elements and Plans 5 California Government Code § 65302(g)(2) adopted through AB 162 (2009) This Code requires that, upon the next revision of the Housing Element, the Safety Element is also reviewed and updated as necessary to identify information regarding flood hazards.
California Government Code § 65302(g)(3) adopted through SB 1241 (2012) This Code requires the Safety Element to identify and update mapping, information, and goals and policies to address wildfire hazards. As part of this requirement, any jurisdiction that includes State Responsibility Areas or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Areas, as defined by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, is required to transmit the updated element to said Board for review and approval.
California Government Code § 65302(g)(4) adopted through SB 379 (2015) This Code requires the Safety Element to address potential impacts of climate change and develop potential strategies to adapt/mitigate these hazards. Analysis of these potential effects should rely on a jurisdiction's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan or an analysis that includes data and findings from the State of California's Cal-Adapt website.
California Government Code § 65302(g)(5) adopted through SB 99 (2019) This Code requires the Safety Element to identify evacuation constraints associated with residential developments, specifically focused on areas served by a single roadway.
Note: Refer to the Portola Valley Wildfire Traffic Evacuation Capacity Study located on the Town’s website for additional detail.
California Government Code § 65302.15(a) adopted through AB 747 (2020) and AB 1409 (2021) This Code requires the Safety Element to be reviewed and updated as necessary to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios. The bill would authorize a Town or county that has adopted an LHMP, emergency operations plan, or other document that fulfills commensurate goals and objectives to use that information in the Safety Element to comply with this requirement by summarizing and incorporating by reference that other plan or document in the Safety Element.
National Flood Insurance Program
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created in 1968 to help communities adopt more effective floodplain management programs and regulations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for implementing the NFIP and approves the floodplain management plans for participating cities and counties.
Note: Portola Valley participates in the NFIP and uses Title 18, Chapter 18.32 of the Portola Valley Municipal Code to administer flood management regulations throughout the Town.
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Safety Element Overview – Relationships with Other Elements and Plans 6 Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act (1972)
The Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act (California Public Resources Code [PRC], Chapter 7.5, § 2621-2699.6) was intended to reduce the risks associated with surface faults and requires the designated State Geologist to identify and map "Earthquake Fault Zones" around known active faults. Per PRC § 2623(a), cities and counties shall require a geologic report defining and delineating any hazard of surface fault rupture before the approval of a project. If the jurisdiction finds no undue hazard of that kind exists, the geologic report on the hazard may be waived, with the State Geologist's approval. For a list of project types, please refer to PRC § 2621.6.
Note: The Town of Portola Valley contains an Alquist-Priolo Special Study Zone due to the local presence of the San Andreas Fault, which requires strict building restrictions, geologic reports, mandatory disclosure, and setback requirements for any land use or development projects in the zone.
Seismic Hazards Mapping Act
The Seismic Hazards Mapping Act (California Public Resources Code, Chapter 7.8, § 2690-2699.6) created a statewide seismic hazard mapping and technical advisory program in 1990 to help cities and counties more effectively address the effects of geologic and seismic hazards caused by earthquakes. Under PRC § 2697, cities and counties shall require a geotechnical report that defines and delineates any seismic hazard before approving a project located in a seismic hazard zone. If the jurisdiction finds that no undue hazard of this kind exists based on information resulting from studies conducted on sites near the project and of similar soil composition to the project site, the geotechnical report may be waived. After a report has been approved or a waiver granted, subsequent geotechnical reports shall not be required, provided that no new geologic datum or data warranting further investigation is recorded. Each jurisdiction shall submit one copy of each approved geotechnical report, including the mitigation measures to be taken, if any, to the State Geologist within 30 days of its approval of the report. For a list of project types, please refer to PRC § 2693.
Cortese List
Government Code § 65962.5 (typically referred to as the "Cortese List") identifies sites that require additional oversight during the local permitting process as well as compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The list generally comprises properties and businesses that generate, store, or have been impacted by hazardous materials/wastes. Many properties identified on this list may be undergoing corrective action, cleanup, or abandoned and in need of these activities.
Note: The Town of Portola Valley regularly references this list as part of development application review to determine if properties with these conditions are located within the Town.
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Safety Element Overview – Organization and Definitions
7 Organization and Definitions
This element is organized to be consistent with best practices for General Plan Elements. The goals, policies, and implementation actions/programs establish the Town's formal approach to safety-related issues. A definition of these key terms is provided below:
• Goal: A general statement of the desired community outcome. It is denoted as Goal S-X in this element.
• Policy: Policies are directives that guide a community's efforts to meet its goals. They are denoted as Policy S-X.X in this element.
• Implementation Actions or Programs: A list of recommended programs and future actions necessary to achieve element goals and policies; implementation actions are defined as S-X.Xa in this element.
Many of the previous Safety Element’s policies have been incorporated into this element either as an updated policy or an implementation action. Modifications to the previous text language occurred to ensure new goals, policies, and implementation actions meet Town needs and best practice standards.
Focus
Environment and Conditions of Portola Valley
Portola Valley is an affluent, rural residential community in San Mateo County characterized by hilly, wooded terrain and significant open space. Its safety profile is primarily defined by its location along the San Andreas Fault and its high
susceptibility to wildland fires due to dense vegetation and limited evacuation routes. The Town maintains strict building setbacks and vegetation management programs to mitigate the spread of wildland fires and reduce the risk of damage from ground movement. The Town faces moderate risks from riverine and precipitation-based flooding, particularly in low-lying areas during heavy rainfall.
The Town's location and history with hazards make it likely that Portola Valley will experience risks from seismic, flooding, and adverse weather events in the future, and the impact of a changing climate is likely to intensify many of these risks. Drier, hotter weather will likely cause more frequent drought conditions and potentially affect water supplies. Wetter and more intense winter storms could increase the possibility of infrastructure failure or inundate parts of Portola Valley that have never experienced flooding in the past.
Safety Risk Analysis for Portola Valley
California Government Code § 65302(g) identifies safety risks that should be examined and, if found applicable to the conditions surrounding Portola Valley, provided for within the Town’s Safety Element.
Town of Portola Valley
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8 Adaptations for climate change, though not a hazard itself, are also required by state law to be included within this process, as variations in environmental conditions can impact some of the natural hazards affecting the Town.
Portola Valley has been evaluated for the following hazards and safety risks:
Hazard / Safety Risk Applicable to Portola Valley
Emergency Preparedness § 65302(g)(1), 65302(g)(5)
Emergency Operations Plan Yes
Hazard prevention and response strategies Yes
Evacuation Yes
Seismic and Geologic Hazards § 65302(g)(1)
Seismically-induced surface rupture Yes
Seismic shaking Yes
Ground failure Yes
Tsunami --
Seiche --
Subsidence --
Liquefaction Yes
Slope instability (mudslide/landslide) Yes
Other seismic/geologic hazards* Yes
Flood Hazards § 65302(g)(2)
Flooding Yes
Dam failure/inundation Yes
Fire Hazards § 65302(g)(3)
Wildland fires Yes
Urban fires Yes
Climate Adaptation and Resilience § 65302(g)(4)
Drought Yes
Extreme heat Yes
Severe wind Yes
Severe storms Yes
* This category includes any other seismic hazards identified pursuant to Chapter 7.8 (commencing with Section 2690) of Division 2 of the Public Resources Code, and other geologic hazards known to the legislative body DRAFT
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Hazard Evaluations – Emergency Management and Preparedness 9 Hazard Evaluations
Emergency Management and Preparedness
The ability to anticipate, evaluate, and mitigate potential risks posed by both natural and human-caused hazards is paramount to a Town's longevity. In many cases, hazard events may occur with little to no notice.
This Emergency Preparedness section consolidates and briefly describes the Town of Portola Valley's emergency management planning efforts and concerns.
Emergency Operations Plan
Portola Valley proactively addresses emergency management needs through the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). The EOP supports the Town’s response to disasters, including but not limited to earthquakes, floods, wildfires, severe weather, other natural or human-caused hazards and cascading hazards. The EOP anticipates that the Town would experience casualties, significant property damage, and utility service interruptions following a major hazard event (earthquake, wildfire, etc.). The potentially catastrophic effects of an earthquake on the San Andreas Fault would more than likely exceed the response capabilities of both the Town and the County. The potential for cascading hazards such as a seismic event and simultaneous wildfire/urban fire is likely and should be planned for.
The EOP outlines the general authority, organization, and response actions for staff and emergency personnel to undertake when disasters happen. Key goals/functions for this plan include:
• Identifying who is in charge during disaster response and clarifying who does what. • Listing the necessary jobs for disaster response and what each person is to do. • Ensuring survivability and availability of government services, or the continuity of government. • Helping to understand the Town’s emergency organization. • Providing guidance for disaster education and training.
Fire prevention and suppression is under the jurisdiction of Woodside Fire Protection District (WFPD). Law enforcement is provided, under contract, by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office (SMCSO).
Mitigation
The EOP, in conjunction with the MJHMP, identifies and assesses the natural and human-caused hazards that threaten the Town. It also recommends proactive policy and procedural actions that reduce the risks associated with these hazards. This preemptive planning is intended to decrease the probability of emergency situations and to minimize the effects, should one occur. Examples of hazard mitigation and prevention can be found in many Town policies, but they are most prominently displayed in the numerous municipal codes regulating construction and development. For example, the installation of flexible jointing on pipelines is a highly effective, proactive seismic hazard mitigation strategy. These specialized joints allow pipeline systems to withstand violent ground movements, reducing, or even preventing, damage DRAFT
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Hazard Evaluations – Emergency Management and Preparedness 10 Preparedness
Emergency preparedness focuses on activities that equip a community to respond to a disaster. These activities typically involve preparing plans addressing life safety, emergency response, and evacuation; purchasing and storing emergency supplies; and conducting training and exercises to practice response activities. As part of the Town's preparedness initiatives, the Portola Valley Wildfire Traffic Evacuation Capacity Study (Evacuation Analysis), found on the Town’s website, has been prepared to identify potential evacuation routes and evacuation zones. As part of this analysis, single ingress/egress locations have been mapped, and locations within the Town that have impaired access roadways have been identified. These locations may require earlier evacuation notifications during an emergency incident. These potential constraints may affect evacuation activities and inform future improvements to evacuation efforts.
Emergency preparation is more than just documenting and planning for evacuation. Ensuring that individuals and households are prepared is equally important. To that end, the Town relies on several community organizations, including the following:
• NFPA’s Firewise USA: A nationally recognized program to promote fire resilience • WPV-CERT: The Woodside-Portola Valley Community Emergency Response Team • WPV-Ready: Woodside-Portola Valley Ready, a community-led disaster preparedness organization
• EpiC: Emergency Preparedness in Communities, a local organization sponsored by the Town and WFPD
The town also convenes a number of official and ad-hoc committees composed of residents that serve in advisory and support roles to the Town Council. Several of these committees have helped with issues addressed in this safety element.
Response
Emergency response activities typically focus on actions necessary to save lives and prevent further property damage during an emergency/disaster. These activities are conducted in coordination with the emergency response procedures of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department and Woodside Fire Protection District. To guide response activities, the Town relies on implementing the EOP and working closely with volunteer organizations such as the WPV-CERT, which helps orchestrate internal and external communications, logistics, and assistance during large-scale emergencies. If Town resources become overwhelmed, the Town will request support through the Operational Area—consisting of the county and all political subdivisions within that county, including incorporated cities and special districts—using automatic aid and mutual aid agreements currently in place. However, the Town recognizes that mutual aid resources are dependent on availability and may be limited during a large regional incident. Therefore, consideration for strengthening self-sufficiency should be a priority.
Recovery
Recovery activities typically occur after an emergency/disaster event. These activities focus on reestablishing services to impacted areas, repairing and/or reconstructing damaged buildings and infrastructure, and assisting residents and businesses with pe DRAFT
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Hazard Evaluations – Emergency Management and Preparedness 11 Depending on the scale and type of incident, recovery could occur in specific community locations and/or require specialized expertise to address the issues created. Cleanup of hazardous waste is considered part of the recovery from a major disaster event.
Hazard Prevention and Response Strategies
Municipal conditions that heighten fire and geologic hazard risks or constrain the Town's response capacity must have prevention and response strategies in place, where applicable. The following conditions are addressed in compliance with California Government Code § Section 65302(g)(1).
Evacuation Planning
In the case of a general evacuation, WFPD and SMCSO are the lead agencies. To facilitate evacuation, the Town has identified key evacuation routes (Figure 1) and constraints (Figure 2) that may affect evacuation.
Known earthquake faults cross Town emergency evacuation routes and public utility infrastructure. Figure 4 (see page 17) depicts the approximate locations of these fault crossings—places where the Town’s emergency routes could be rendered impassable during and after an earthquake. Evacuation is a key concern for Town staff and residents; essential policies within this Element have been developed to assist with evacuation capabilities. These policies are, in part, based on the analysis and recommendations contained within the Evacuation Analysis, which can be accessed on the Town’s website.
Evacuation Routes
The Evacuation Analysis prepared by the Town identifies the routes used for evacuation purposes. Figure 1 depicts the potential evacuation routes that could be used during a hazard event. These roadways are intended to meet evacuation needs; however, the Town recognizes that some constraints may affect evacuation, such as narrow roadways, bridges, and topography. These locations may be vulnerable if failure or blockage occurs. Figure 2 identifies both constrained access roadways (single ingress/egress conditions) and parcels that use these roadways (constrained parcels). These constrained locations are required to be identified by California Government Code § Section 65302(g)(5) [SB99].
Road Widths and Clearances Around Structures
Portola Valley and WFPD implement ordinances and standards to minimize fire hazards. The WFPD’s ordinances and standards cover topics such as location of fire hydrants, provision of sprinklers, roadway widths, and vegetation management, as well as providing the basis for fire response capabilities and planning for future community needs.
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Hazard Evaluations – Emergency Management and Preparedness 12 Figure 1. Potential Evacuation Routes for Portola Valley DRAFT
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Hazard Evaluations – Emergency Management and Preparedness 13 Figure 2. Constrained Access Roads and Constrained Access Parcels DRAFT
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Hazard Evaluations – Emergency Management and Preparedness 14 Military Installations
While no military installations are situated within the Town, several facilities are located within a 35-mile radius. These installations provide essential training and operational support for various branches of the armed forces, contributing to the broader regional emergency response and security infrastructure. • Moffett Federal Airfield/NAS Sunnyvale (located approximately 10–15 miles away, in Sunnyvale) • Parks Reserve Forces Training Area- Camp Parks (located approximately 30–35 miles away, in Dublin)
Military installations near urban areas can serve as critical infrastructure, significantly strengthening regional safety by enabling rapid disaster response and bolstering long-term resilience. Depending upon the proximity to the jurisdiction, location can create complex planning and land-use challenges. Their presence necessitates careful integration into local planning to balance national defense operations with community safety.
Peak-Load Water Supply Requirements
Domestic water is supplied to Portola Valley by the California Water Services Company (Cal Water), Bear Gulch District. The district also serves the communities of Atherton, Woodside, parts of Menlo Park, parts of unincorporated Redwood City, and adjacent unincorporated portions of San Mateo County, including West Menlo Park, Ladera, North Fair Oaks, and Menlo Oaks. The Bear Gulch District considers fire flow needs when determining appropriate levels of service.
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15 Seismic and Geologic Hazards
Seismic and Geologic Hazards are traditionally addressed together because they both involve the movement of the Earth's surface. Although some geologic events (landslides, subsidence, erosion, etc.) can and do occur independently, the primary catalyst for their occurrence is often a seismic event, commonly called an earthquake. A key consideration for seismic hazards is the potential for cascading effects resulting from an event.
Seismically Induced Surface Rupture
The Earth's crust is composed of large tectonic plates that are in constant motion, moving toward, away from, or past one another. This constant movement means that where two plates grind past each other, friction can cause them to become "stuck". As the plates continue to push, immense energy builds up at the point of friction. Eventually, this stress overcomes the friction, causing the plates to suddenly shift and release the stored energy as an earthquake. This abrupt release can sometimes cause the ground itself to break and displace, a phenomenon known as surface fault rupture. Structures built over a surface rupture are especially vulnerable to damage from ground displacement, which can sever pipelines and destroy roads and bridges.
Geologists have found that earthquakes occur along faults, which are zones of weakness in the earth’s crust. When a fault experiences an earthquake, there is no guarantee that all the stress has been relieved. Another earthquake can still occur. In fact, relieving stress along one part of a fault may increase it in another part.
California is seismically active because of the movements of and between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate. The major boundary between these plates, the San Andreas Fault, runs through San Mateo County and Portola Valley.
The Town is bisected by the San Andreas Fault Zone, which is made up of a number of individual fault traces along which movement has occurred at some time in the past. Some of these fault traces are active; some are deemed to be inactive; and others are poorly defined or are as yet unrecognized, and the possibility of their activity is under question. The San Andreas Fault Zone is considered an Alquist-Priolo Special Study Zone by the state of California due to the fault’s known surface rupture hazards.
Surface rupturing, with horizontal displacements of 8–10 feet, took place along the San Andreas Fault through Portola Valley in the 1906 earthquake. Measurable earth strain and other geologic considerations suggest that similar or greater amounts of displacement may be anticipated for the Portola Valley area in the years ahead. Recurrence intervals for major movements along the Portola Valley segment of the San Andreas Fault are calculated to be approximately 180 years. Figure 3 shows the locations of regional faults within the County. Figure 4 shows the local faults and special study zones located within the Town.
The Portola Valley municipal code has established special building setbacks along earthquake fault traces to minimize the potential loss of property and life resulting from differential movement caused by tectonic forces. To that end, the town regularly updates, adopts, and applies the best available information on the potential for ground rupture due to faulting. Land uses should be located where the level of risk from seismic forces is deemed acceptable to the community.
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16 Figure 3. San Mateo County Fault Areas
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17 Figure 4. Portola Valley Fault Lines and Traces
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18 Seismic Shaking
Seismic shaking is the recognizable movement caused by the energy released from an earthquake.
The same mechanism that creates a surface rupture is also responsible for seismic shaking and can produce an equally devastating effect. Buildings and other structures may be destroyed because of violent shaking. Infrastructure such as roads, pipelines, and power lines is also susceptible to damage and poses additional safety concerns. Unlike surface rupture, the consequences of seismic shaking are not restricted to the area immediately surrounding the fault. Energy resonating through the ground can travel hundreds of miles and cause damage in many locations simultaneously. The closer to the earthquake's source (epicenter), the stronger the shaking will be.
Seismic shaking is of particular concern to the Town due to its proximity to numerous active faults capable of generating significant earthquakes. The San Andreas Fault, which bisects the town, is one of California's most significant earthquake faults. The fault zone within Portola Valley is complex and consists of multiple traces rather than a single, simple line; specific traces that impact the area include the active Woodside and Trancos traces. Also of note is the nearby Pilarcitos Fault, which is deemed inactive and not a source of current seismic hazard. The area faces a 60–70% chance of a major earthquake in the next two decades.1 Portola Valley and much of California are within the highest seismic risk category. Portola Valley enforces seismic safety through a combination of the California Building Code (CBC) and localized regulations in its Safety Element and Municipal Code (Titles 15 and 18). The code provides differing levels of safety based on building occupancies. In addition, provisions in the code provide detailed requirements for calculating earthquake forces and require that buildings be appropriately designed. In Portola Valley, the Building Official (or building inspector) of the Planning and Building Department, is tasked with administering the provisions of the code.
Ground Failure
The term ground failure is a general reference to any consequence of shaking that affects the stability of the ground, including ground settlement or shakedown.
Ground Settlement
Ground settlement is the gradual downward shift of the ground surface caused by the compression or displacement of underlying soil layers. It can lead to surface depressions, cracks, and misalignments in structures built above. Depending on the nature of the movement, settlement may be uniform, causing minimal disruption, or uneven, potentially leading to structural instability. The process often occurs naturally over time, altering the ground’s load-bearing capacity and affecting the integrity of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. However, the process can be accelerated by loading imperfectly compacted soils with embankments or buildings, by excessive withdrawal of groundwater, or by ground shaking resulting from earthquakes.
Seismically induced ground settlement, or shakedown, may occur very rapidly. Settlement, particularly when aggravated by human or seismic processes, may be unequally distributed over a 1 USGS -FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT PALEOSEISMIC INVESTIGATION OF THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT ZONE IN PORTOLA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. (2002, March). https://earthquake.usgs.gov/cfusion/external_grants/reports/01HQGR0009.pdf DRAFT
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19 small area (differential settlement) with damaging effects to foundations of structures resting directly on the settled ground. Ground settlement during earthquakes has been a major source of property damage in many earthquake-prone regions of the world.
Areas within Portola Valley with the highest potential for ground settlement are those shown in the Town’s geologic map (Figure 5) as alluvium, slope wash, and landslide deposits (colored with light yellows).
However, some areas underlain by other earth materials may also be subject to ground settlement.
Detailed site investigations are required to determine local settlement potential.
Liquefaction
Liquefaction is a phenomenon that occurs when intense earthquake vibrations cause saturated soil to lose stability and behave more like a liquid than a solid. This poses significant problems for buildings and other structures in areas where liquefaction can occur, as the ground may give way under the weight of the structure and its foundation. In addition, underground structures are vulnerable to liquefaction.
Portola Valley does not have sufficiently detailed geologic and engineering information currently available in order to accurately predict all sites for soil liquefaction. The possibility of liquefaction in localized areas along the valley floor, underlain by unconsolidated alluvium and a seasonally high-water table, is considered to be relatively high. The California Geological Survey has data showing areas of potential liquefaction susceptibility that would require investigation prior to development, displayed in Figure 6. 2,3
Slope Instability (Landslide/Mudslide)
Landslides, which are the downslope movement of rock and soil ranging from rapid falls to slow flows, are widespread natural hazards in the California Coast Ranges due to unstable terrain.
Triggered by natural weathering, saturation, or human activity—including construction, irrigation, and septic disposal—these events occur when forces exceed slope strength. Earthquakes frequently trigger these failures, often acting as the primary cause of widespread ground failure in California.
Generally speaking, the areas within the Town that are susceptible to landsliding are located on or adjacent to slopes and ridgelines. The California Seismic Hazards Mapping Act of 1990 requires areas identified by the California Geological Survey as Seismic Hazard Zones for landslides to have a site-specific evaluation prior to development. The California Geological Survey has mapped these areas in Figure 7. 2 California Geological Survey, Seismic Hazard Zone Report for the Mindego Hill 7.5 – Minute Quadrangle, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, California, 2005, Seismic Hazard and Zone Report 109, and Seismic Hazard Zones, Mindego Hill Quadrangle, Official Map, August 11, 2005. 3 California Geological Survey, Seismic Hazard Zones, Palo Alto Quadrangle, Official Map, October 18, 2006 DRAFT
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20 Figure 5. Geologic Map of Portola Valley
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21 Figure 6. Liquefaction Susceptibility Locations in Portola Valley DRAFT
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22 Figure 7. Landslide Susceptibility Locations in Portola Valley DRAFT
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23 Other Seismic/Geologic Hazards
Expansive Soils and Soil Creep
Expansive soils are fine-grained soils that undergo significant volume changes (swelling or shrinking) depending on their water content. These soils often contain clay minerals, such as smectite or montmorillonite, that are capable of absorbing large quantities of water into their molecular structure. The expansion and contraction may be caused merely by bulk absorption and loss of water or freezing and thawing, but soils containing truly expansive clays are subject to pronounced soil creep.
Soil creep is the imperceptibly slow, steady, and continuous downward movement of surficial soil or rock debris on a slope. It is a form of gravity-driven slope failure, where shear stress is sufficient to cause permanent deformation but not instant collapse. Soil creep may impact building foundations and damage structures.
Expansive soils may be encountered anywhere within the Portola Valley area, but they occur most frequently in areas shown on Figure 8. Many of the earth materials depicted on the map exhibit shrink-swell potential due to the presence of clay materials that change volume based on their moisture content. In order to identify and address these concerns, individual site investigations and laboratory testing are required.
Erosion and Sedimentation
Erosion is the process of detaching and transporting soil, rock, and surface materials by wind, water, ice, or gravity. Sedimentation is the subsequent deposition or settling of these transported particles in new locations, such as streams, lakes, or on land. Together, they represent the natural wearing of landscapes and the buildup of sediment.
Erosion occurs chiefly on steeper slopes in the upper reaches of drainage basins where runoff velocities are high. Sedimentation, by contrast, takes place mainly in the lower reaches of drainages where stream gradients and velocities are reduced.
Throughout much of Portola Valley and the surrounding area, the combination of natural slopes, soil structure, and native vegetation contribute to a relatively slow natural erosion rate. However, erosion can be greatly accelerated—and cause onsite and downstream sedimentation damage—wherever natural conditions are disturbed by grading and site development or by poorly controlled animal-keeping. While stream gauge or sediment load data for Portola Valley's streams is not available, it is apparent that the steep slopes descending from Skyline Boulevard to the valley floor have the highest potential for erosion.
Moderately high erosion potential also exists along some short, steep drainages in the eastern part of the Town.
With the exception of the flood plain of Corte Madera Creek, located along the Portola Valley-Woodside boundary, few persistent areas of natural sedimentation exist in Portola Valley. Most of the sediment produced by erosion is exported by stream flow beyond the boundaries of the Town. Some local sedimentation does occur along the main creeks and tributary drainages, though, where human activities have altered stream flow characteristics.
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24 Figure 8. Ground Movement Potential Map of Portola Valley DRAFT
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25 Flood Hazards
Flooding
Flooding occurs when heavy rainfall or failure in water delivery infrastructure causes accumulation of water on the ground surface. The effects of flooding may be intensified by climate change-driven droughts, as parched ground becomes less permeable. Flooding presents significant hazards to both individuals and property. Risks range from drowning in deep standing water to extensive property damage caused by even shallow water. Fast-moving water is particularly perilous, capable of sweeping away people and causing severe structural damage.
To protect the public from flood hazards, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publishes Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) that delineate the boundaries of potential flooding.
These maps identify the 1% annual chance floodplain (historically called the 100-year flood) and the
0.2% annual chance floodplain (historically called the 500-year flood). Buildings and other structures in the 100-year floodplain must meet certain requirements to receive a floodplain development permit and to qualify for NFIP insurance and federally backed mortgages.
The Town of Portola Valley has both 100-year and 500-year flood zones, as defined by FEMA, shown in Figure 9. The Town has historically experienced most of its flooding in its stream-adjacent areas during severe storm events, with significant damage reported. These areas include portions of the natural floodplains of Corte Madera, Sausal, and Los Trancos creeks. The 2015 FEMA Flood Insurance Study for Portola Valley4 delineated the 100- and 500-year floodplains for these three creeks and recommends keeping their floodways clear of any obstruction that would increase flood water elevations. Municipal code sections 17.48 and 18.32 provide the requirements used by the Town to address flooding and reduce flood risk.
Dam Failure/Inundation
Dam Failure, or damage to dam infrastructure, can be caused by natural hazards, human-caused threats, or the age and condition of a dam’s structural components. When a dam breaks, the amount and force of the water behind it can cause downstream areas to become catastrophically inundated, as stormwater drainage infrastructure would not likely be able to contain it.
Figure 9 also depicts the dam inundation zones for the Searsville and Felt Lake Dams, located north of Portola Valley. A failure of Felt Lake Dam would cause flooding along Alpine Road in Ladera, inundating the shopping center and Stanford Weekend Acres (as well as further along San Francisquito Creek into Menlo Park and Palo Alto.) Inundation from Searsville Lake would impact areas adjacent to San Francisquito Creek north of Ladera. Floodwaters from either dam failure could impact access to major transportation routes like Alpine Road and I-280.
4 Federal Emergency Management Agency, Preliminary Flood Insurance Study, San Mateo County, California and Unincorporated Areas, Volumes 1 and 2, (revised July 16, 2015) and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Portola Valley (scale 1” = 500’).
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26 Figure 9. FEMA Flood Hazard Zones in Portola Valley
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27 Fire Hazards
Wildland Fire
Wildland fire, or wildfire, is the most common type of natural hazard in California, where large areas of undeveloped or natural land can burn quickly. While they can start from natural causes like lightning, nearly 85% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by human activity, such as abandoned campfires, downed power lines, or burning debris.
High-hazard wildfire conditions arise from a combination of high temperatures, topography, high winds, accumulation of vegetation, and low moisture content in the air and the vegetation that fuels wildfires.
5 The recent climate trend toward more prolonged periods of drought also increases the likelihood of a wildfire.
Typically, wildfires have posed minimal threat to people and buildings in urban areas, but increasing human encroachment and development into natural areas increases the likelihood that bodily harm or structural damage will occur. Areas of this type of encroachment are called wildland-urban interfaces (WUI). WUI are a contributor to an area’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone designation, which is dictated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
Throughout California, communities are increasingly concerned about wildfire safety. Increased development (and subsequent fire suppression practices) in areas adjacent to wildlands, as well as frequent wildfire activity, have affected the natural cycle of the ecosystem and made it more susceptible to catastrophic wildfire activity. The state’s combination of complex terrain, Mediterranean climate, and ample natural ignition sources from productive natural plant communities make portions of California especially prone to wildfire.
Portola Valley, in particular, is characterized by complex terrain. Steep canyons and gullies with dense vegetation, such as thick brush or trees, create difficult-to-access areas where vegetation management is difficult to implement. East-west oriented canyons create funnels for strong autumn winds, which tend to amplify wildfire hazards.6 The town itself is bounded by open space land uses: Windy Hill Open Space Preserve (south), Jasper Ridge (north), Pearson-Arastradero Preserve (east), and Thornwood Open Space Preserve (west).
State Wildfire Responsibilities
CAL FIRE is required by state law to map areas with significant wildfire hazards based on terrain, weather, available fire fuels, and other relevant factors. These areas, referred to as Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ), are given a designation that mandates how buildings within must be constructed in order to protect property and reduce wildfire risk. There are three FHSZ designations, based on increasing fire hazard severity: (1) Moderate, (2) High, and (3) Very High. Figure 10 shows CAL FIRE’s FHSZ map for Portola Valley. 5 2000–2017 data based on Wildland Fire Management Information (WFMI) and U.S. Forest Service Research Data Archive 6 Portola Valley Wildfire Memo.
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28 CAL FIRE determines criteria for FHSZ mapping of both State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). The most recent criteria for each area was published in 2024 (SRA) and 2025 (LRA). CAL FIRE is also responsible for emergency response and safety within the SRA.
Local Fire Responsibilities
In the event of a fire emergency, the Woodside Fire Protection District (WFPD), CAL FIRE, and Stanford University serve the Portola Valley planning area—the geographical scope governed by the Town’s General Plan.
7 The Menlo Park Fire Protection District and the Palo Alto Fire Department also serve northern and eastern portions of the planning area. WFPD Station #8 is centrally located in Portola Valley. All these listed fire protection services can fight both structural and wildland fires.
The Town has established both an Emergency Preparedness Committee and a Wildfire Preparedness Committee; both committees are poised to coordinate efforts with the WFPD and San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services. Since its establishment in 2019, the Wildfire Preparedness Committee has taken the lead on recommending to the Town Council a variety of wildfire mitigation measures related to home hardening, vegetation management, communications, evacuation, and insurance.
Fire Hazard Severity Zones Within Portola Valley
The entirety of the town of Portola Valley is located within either a Moderate or High FHSZ, according to CAL FIRE. There are no Very High FHSZ within its LRA.
Some FHSZ data demonstrated in Figure 10:
• The entire western hillside of Portola Valley is in a High FHSZ. • The town areas within the High FHSZ contain a mix of undeveloped open space, single-family residential, and commercial uses.
• According to the multijurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, there are 146 buildings and approximately 427 people in Portola Valley’s High FHSZ. • Many of the parcels located within this High FHSZ have limited access due to narrow steep roadways and single ingress/egress conditions.
The Town regularly adopts the latest CAL FIRE and CAL WUI fire Codes (latest in 2025) to require vegetation management, defensible space, emergency vehicle access, home hardening, and minimum standards for building location, design, and construction to reduce wildfire risk. Under State law, the areas designated as High FHSZ are subject to more stringent requirements for buildings and property maintenance. 8 The
Town has adopted these requirements for all properties. 7 The Portola Valley planning area encompasses the incorporated town limits (roughly 11 square miles) and its sphere of influence, which includes the adjacent unincorporated communities of Ladera, Los Trancos Woods/Vista Verde, and Webb Ranch. 8 Chapters 4 and 5 of the 2025 California Wildland
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-Urban Interface Code
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29 Figure 10. High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Portola Valley DRAFT
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30 Historical Wildfire Data
Historic weather data suggests that the greatest wildfire threat to the Town may be driven by eastern winds, which are typically drier than ones coming from the ocean. Therefore, areas of the Town where the topography aligns with dominant fire-season winds (east-west oriented canyons) face a higher likelihood of extreme wildfire behavior.9
According to the 2021 San Mateo County MJHMP and CAL FIRE, San Mateo County has a high probability of experiencing a wildfire in any given year. However, since the 1950’s, only two wildfires have caused significant damage and triggered state or federal disaster declarations: 1956 (near Montara) and 2020 (in nearby Santa Cruz County; the CZU Lightning Complex). Figure 11 shows the historical fire perimeters and the WUI located in Portola Valley.
Urban Fire
An urban fire may begin as an isolated incident caused by a faulty electrical appliance, an absentminded cooking mishap, or an industrial malfunction, but can spread to other buildings if conditions permit. The possibility of an urban fire confronts every Town. Many factors contribute to the severity and extent of urban fires, but modern building codes and practices have helped reduce their impact. Despite these improvements, it is essential to acknowledge the risks associated with fires in urban areas. No matter its size, any fire can cause severe harm to people and damage buildings and other structures.
A leading cause of structural, urban fire is wind-driven embers during a wildland fire event. Sixty to ninety percent of home ignitions are caused by these embers.10 Urban and suburban areas surrounded by areas of dense or poorly maintained vegetation or by fuel ladders composed of understory plants have an increased risk of wildfire and, subsequently, urban fire. All current fire science published by NIST, CAL FIRE, and other research bodies emphasizes that homeowners should focus on ember- and ignition-resistance through home hardening, maintaining defensible space11, cleaning up debris, and keeping areas clear of combustibles. The Town has adopted the latest California fire code (municipal code 15.04) and the latest ordinances from WFPD (municipal code 15.16) in 2025.
9 Deer Creek Resources, 2022. Portola Valley Wildfire Memo. 10 https://firesafemarin.org/harden-your-home/how-homes-ignite/ 11 https://www.fire.ca.gov/dspace
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31 Figure 11. Historic Fire Perimeters and Wildland Urban Interface in Portola Valley DRAFT
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Hazard Evaluations – Climate Adaptation and Resilience
32 Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Although climate change is not itself a hazard, variations in environmental conditions do impact some of the natural hazards affecting Portola Valley. Projections of future conditions include increased temperatures, increased extreme heat days, changes in precipitation, more violent storms, more prolonged droughts, and changes in the size and frequency of wildfire incidents. Table 1 identifies current and projected climate change effects on Portola Valley.
Increased temperatures can act as a hazard multiplier. By the end of the century, annual mean temperatures are projected to increase between 2–11 degrees. These temperature increases are also expected to more than double the number of extreme heat days per year. Potential temperature increases are likely to more severely impact any residents living in poorly insulated structures or structures that do not meet current code requirements.
Table 1. Potential Climate Change Effects on Portola Valley Category Historic–Current
Future–End of the Century
(2070–2099)
Annual Mean Temperature 66.8°F 69.1 – 77.7°F
Extreme Heat Days (> 90.7°F) 5 Days/Year 13 – 49 Days/Year Annual Mean Precipitation 33.3 Inches 24.6 – 46.6 Inches Annual Average Area Burned 106 – 116 Acres 226.6 – 234 Acres Source: https://cal-adapt.org/
While climate change is projected to exacerbate many of the hazards already affecting the Town, many of these growing hazards may also interact with each other. Increased temperatures coupled with less precipitation (a prolonged drought) can reduce water supplies and vegetation growth. Under drier drought conditions, lower vegetation growth may actually reduce fire risk but existing vegetation may become diseased.
12 Climate change projections also suggest that annual mean precipitation may decrease. However, future rainfall events are expected to be more intense, potentially increasing the risk of flooding. These shifts in precipitation patterns may also lead to changes in local vegetation, changes in wildfire management needs, and impacts on drainage. Increased rainfall during shorter time periods could intensify flooding in the community and extend into areas that have not experienced such events before. In addition, more intense precipitation could overwhelm drainage infrastructure, which would threaten adjacent properties and structures.
Climate change is predicted to intensify severe wind and storm events in Portola Valley, driven by a warmer atmosphere that holds more moisture, resulting in higher-intensity atmospheric rivers and more frequent, 12 Drought and wildfire management impacts
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. Drought.gov. (2024). https://www.drought.gov/sectors/wildfire-management 62 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
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33 extreme "hydroclimate whiplash" swings between drought and flooding. While winter storms are expected to become more intense, bringing higher risks of flash floods and debris flows to the region's steep and often fire-prone terrain, fall and spring seasons may experience increased drought, exacerbating wildfire risks. Although there is no firm consensus on increase or decrease of average wind speeds, the frequency of "warm and wet" storms—leading to potential infrastructure-damaging winds and heavy precipitation— is likely to rise.13
Increased temperatures and decreased precipitation rates also affect how dry the soil composition and vegetative debris can be in a given area. According to Cal-Adapt, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), provides an estimate of the average number of days that dry materials may pose an increased risk to wildfire. KBDI is a cumulative value that increases on dry and warm days and decreases during rainy periods. In California, KBDI is anticipated to increase from the end of the wet season (spring) into the dry season (summer and fall). On average, Portola Valley has an observed 30-year average of 22 days per year where the KDBI is over 600 (which is the threshold for severe drought, extreme wildfire risk, and increased wildfire occurrence). By midcentury, it is projected that this threshold may be exceeded on 55–63 days per year, and at 65–95 days by the end of the century. This is an important factor to consider as it can exacerbate wildfire hazard potential in an area already susceptible to fire.
Based on the anticipated changes in temperature and precipitation in Portola Valley, increases in wildfire vulnerability are expected. According to Cal-Adapt, from 1961–1990, approximately 106–116 acres of Portola Valley annually burned on average. By the end of the century, it is projected that this amount of burn acreage could double.
13 Extreme precipitation and climate change. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. (2026, February 6). https://www.c2es.org/content/extremeprecipitation-and DRAFT -climate-change/
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Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 34 Safety Goals and Policies
Goal S-1: A community that prioritizes a culture of emergency preparedness and effective evacuation.
Policy S-1.1 Emergency Preparedness Planning. Assess emergency management needs and identify resources to prepare for current and future hazard events.
S-1.1a Recognize and prepare for cascading hazards such as a seismic event and simultaneous wildfire by undertaking a hazard and risk analysis and incorporate new findings into the Town’s Evacuation Plan.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works S-1.1b Annually review and assess mitigation strategies and hazard risk reduction activities to support emergency preparedness planning.
Responsible Department: All Town Departments
Policy S-1.2 Mutual Aid. Collaborate with local and regional agencies on hazard mitigation and emergency management projects and programs.
Policy S-1.3 Evacuation Plans. Support San Mateo County Emergency Management efforts for evacuation planning and assessment
S-1.3a Integrate school and private institution evacuation plans into Town evacuation planning efforts.
Responsible Department: Town Manager’s Office
S-1.3b Coordinate with San Mateo County Emergency Management and confirm the result of the All Hazards Evacuation Plan are aligned and compatible with Town evacuation planning efforts, ensuring adequate evacuation safety, adequacy, and capacity of evacuation routes under a range of emergency scenarios.
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Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 35 Policy S-1.4 Evacuation Preparedness. Promote efficient and effective evacuation preparedness and encourage households to:
• Use a single car for evacuation purposes, where feasible; • Coordinate with neighbors and tenants to expedite evacuation proceedings; and • Partner with community groups/organizations to help residents that need assistance.
Policy S-1.5 Emergency Response. Continue to promote the organizations within EPiC, WPV-CERT, and WPV-READY, and Town Committees to strengthen volunteer emergency response capability and promote emergency preparedness knowledge and skills at the household and neighborhood levels.
S-1.5a Coordinate Town safety committees, EpiC, Firewise communities, and neighborhoods to ensure effective preparedness.
Responsible Department: Administrative Services
Policy S-1.6 Town Evacuation Plan. Update and implement the Portola Valley Evacuation Plan.
S-1.6a Work in a collaborative effort with our public safety stakeholders, WFPD, San Mateo County Sheriff, San Mateo County Emergency Management, Town staff, and committees, schools, and institutions to create, update, and test evacuation plans.
Responsible Department: Public Works, Town Manager’s Office S-1.6b Implement the Town of Portola Valley Evacuation Plan including all recommendations to support more effective evacuation.
Responsible Department: Public Works, Planning and Building Department S-1.6c Study neighborhood level evacuation needs and make recommendations for improved egress.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department S-1.6d Explore the identification and construction of new evacuation rights of way throughout the Town.
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Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 36 Policy S-1.7 Street/ Property Signage. Work with WFPD to ensure properties and separate units are clearly identifiable for emergency response vehicles.
• Install and maintain visible street signs
• Install and maintain visible address numbering
Policy S-1.8 Evacuation Network. Require new development, redevelopment, and major remodels14 to enhance the Town’s evacuation network and facilities and comply with the Town’s evacuation planning efforts.
Policy S-1.9 Emergency Vehicle Access. Require all large new development and redevelopment within the Town to meet minimum road standards for emergency equipment including providing a minimum of two points of access by means of publicly accessible roads that can be used for emergency vehicle response and evacuation purposes.
S-1.9a Require all roads for new development comply with WFPD and Town Fire Codes to permit unrestricted access for all emergency equipment and personnel.
Responsible Department: Public Works, Planning and Building Department S-1.9b Identify additional emergency access improvements for new development standards including vehicle pullouts, restricted on-street parking, and roadside clearance standards.
Responsible Department: Public Works, Planning and Building Department Policy S-1.10 Infrastructure Resilience. Create a town-wide assessment of the vulnerabilities of existing essential infrastructure (water, gas, electrical, and communications - i.e. phone, internet, and radio) that could experience disruption during a fire, earthquake, or fire after an earthquake.
S-1.10a Investigate the feasibility of undergrounding public utilities.
Responsible Department: Public Works
S-1.10b In consultation with Cal Water and WFPD, establish and maintain adequate emergency water supplies in areas served by water lines that cross active fault traces.
Responsible Department: Public Works
14 Major remodel: Generally defined by the 50% rule, where the scope of work exceeds half of the existing structure's value or area.
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Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 37 S-1.10c Work with utility companies (gas, electric, phone, and cable) to investigate further actions (such as communication, upgrades, and undergrounding) to provide greater resilience during emergencies.
Responsible Department: Administrative Services, Public Works, Planning and Building Department
Policy S-1.11 Post Disaster Recovery. Prepare the Town for post-disaster recovery through proactive planning.
S-1.11a Develop a post disaster recovery framework (areas to consider include, updated permit processes and regulations for post-disaster conditions to allow for efficient rebuilding and long-term resilience.) Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department Goal S-2: A community better prepared for fire hazards.
Policy S-2.1 WFPD Fire Code. All development shall comply with the WFPD Fire Code and the California Wildland Urban Interface Code as adopted by WFPD and the Town of Portola Valley and incorporate recommendations from the Santa Cruz County - San Mateo County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, where applicable. All new development and major remodels shall comply with Chapters 4 and 5 requirements of the California Wildland Urban Interface Code.
Policy S-2.2 Fire Standards. Establish wildfire prevention, fire-protected development, and fireresistant construction as a high priority objective of the town’s land use, site development, subdivision, zoning, and building ordinances.
Policy S-2.3 New Development Standards. Promote new development outside of areas within High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Policy S-2.4 New Development Assessment. Require hazard assessment and mitigation plans for new development and major remodels (in areas designated as High and Very High Fire Severity Hazard Zones) as designated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or equivalent hazard designation in Local Responsibility Areas.
S-2.4a Development proposed in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone, shall require Fire Safe design and compliance with California Fire Code requirements, WFPD ordinances and best practices.
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Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department 67 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 38 S-2.4b Require annual vegetation management/ fuel reduction and ensure these activities are covered under an operations and maintenance agreement in perpetuity.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, WFPD S-2.4c Require developers to assign all vegetation management/fuel reduction requirements on common land to the association or other common owner groups responsible upon development completion and occupancy.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, WFPD S-2.4d Regulate the parcel size, development, location, and positioning of all new, non-replacement construction based on the fire hazard severity of the proposed site. These regulations should address:
• Compliance with Fire-Safe Regulations
• Minimum structure-to-structure separation
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department Policy S-2.5 New Development Design. Continue to require new development to incorporate design measures that enhance fire protection. This shall include but is not limited to incorporation of fire-resistant structural design, use of fire-resistant landscaping, and fuel modification around the perimeter of structures.
Policy S-2.6 New Development in Fire Prone Hillside Areas. New development in fire-prone hillside areas, shall comply with statewide Fire Safe Regulations (see CCR, Title 14, Sections 1270 et seq.).
S-2.6a Assess structures along slopes to determine if setbacks should be increased or if alternative methods to reduce structure-to-structure ignition by incorporating relevant construction or landscaping features should be required to protect structures in wildfire prone areas.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department Policy S-2.7 Subdivision Approval. As part of a subdivision application, applicants shall submit an analysis that includes:
• A description of the hazards within and nearby the development. • Determine the impact to the risk of the lives, properties and essential infrastructure to the parcel and the neighboring parcels.
• Measure the impact of the development on the essential infrastructure on the entire town.
• Actions that should be taken to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.
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Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 39 • The costs and means of providing ongoing vegetation management for the subdivision. • An indication of who pays for the costs involved, and who receives the benefits. • If a proposed building site requires access to adjoining parcels to maintain 100 feet of defensible space from the primary structure, an easement or other legal agreement for access should be required as permitted by law or compliance with local ordinance (2025) for fire-resistant construction with non-combustible siding and fuel mitigation • The property is required to comply with local defensible space and home hardening ordinances.
Policy S-2.8 New Critical Facilities. Ensure new public/critical facilities (schools, hospitals, fire stations, etc.), are not located in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, to the greatest extent feasible.
Policy S-2.9 Existing Development Assessment. Coordinate with WFPD on hazard assessment and mitigation plans for all large properties (50 acres and larger) located within high fire risk areas (e.g. High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones).
Policy S-2.10 Existing Development WUI/Home Hardening. Coordinate with WFPD on the development of a comprehensive WUI risk reduction program and associated funding/financing for existing development to improve defensible space, increase home and structural hardening, and increase vegetation and fuels management in wildland areas adjacent to existing development.
Policy S-2.11 Open Space Vegetation Management. Ensure public and privately owned open space brush areas are adequately maintained in accordance with WFPD and applicable state requirements.
S-2.11a Develop vegetation standards for public and privately owned open space areas to sustain native habitats as fire safe as possible.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works, Fire Protection
Policy S-2.12 Existing Development Vegetation Management. Ensure existing development implement vegetation management measures that manage and reduce wildfire risk.
Previous Version: Ensure that landowners for all existing land uses comply with all applicable state and local requirements and implement site-specific safety measures that mitigate to a low-risk condition around or near public facilities, infrastructure, and natural resources.
Policy S-2.13 Evacuation Route Vegetation Management. Ensure town-owned rights-of-way, particularly along evacuation routes, are adequately maintained from fire hazards, including the removal of ladder fuels and the flammable five.
Policy S-2.14
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Fuel Breaks. Ensure fuel breaks are adequately maintained and funded in perpetuity. 69 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 40 Policy S-2.15 Fuel Reduction Programs. Support community-wide programs to restore healthy forests and reduce flammable vegetation and other fuels through ecological thinning and prescribed burns to mitigate the risk of wildfire ignition and spread on both large and small parcels that are privately or publicly owned.
Policy S-2.16 Residential Vegetation Management Ordinance. Require development (new and existing) to comply with the latest fire code requirements from WFPD and CAL FIRE associated with vegetation management and defensible space regulations.
Policy S-2.17 Hazardous Vegetation Removal. Ensure vegetation management activities reduce fire risk, while balancing habitat loss, minimizing erosion potential, and reducing the potential for invasive species.
S-2.17a Explore the feasibility of other vegetation management strategies, including:
• Elimination of use of fire-hazardous plants
• Use of non-prolific landscaping species.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works, WFPD
Policy S-2.18 Adequate Clearance. Adequate defensible space shall be maintained around all structures to minimize direct fire exposure and to facilitate emergency access and fire suppression efforts.
Policy S-2.19 Private Road Standards. Require vegetation clearance and maintenance for all private roads and properties. In collaboration with WFPD, establish standards and requirements for access along private roads.
S-2.19a Support WFPD in implementing vegetation clearance standards for private roads to ensure safe access for emergency responders and fire fighters, and safe evacuation.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works, WFPD
S-2.19b Prohibit on-street parking where it could impede access by emergency response vehicles.
Responsible Department: San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Policy S-2.20 Fire Defense Technologies. In collaboration with WFPD and with input from town staff and town committees, periodically review and implement new fire defense DRAFT
technologies for their demonstrated effectiveness, cost, and environmental impacts. 70 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 41 S-2.20a Evaluate the feasibility and benefits of modeling, three-dimensional mapping, or characterizing understory vegetation to support predictive modeling of wildfire spread.
Responsible Department: WFPD
S-2.20b Monitor technological advances, such as fire-retardant chemical treatments for vegetation and structures, fire-detecting sensors, and sprinkler systems.
Responsible Department: Wildfire Preparedness Committee, WFPD Policy S-2.21 Infrastructure Hardening. Work with utility providers to plan for the hardening of critical infrastructure and equipment.
Policy S-2.22 Fire Suppression Needs. Coordinate with Cal Water, WFPD, and CAL FIRE, to ensure adequate fire suppression resources in the local responsibility areas meet WFPD and CAL FIRE requirements to meet current and future fire suppression needs.
Policy S-2.23 On Site Fire Protection. Coordinate with WFPD to enable access to all privately owned sources of water, such as swimming pools, for on-site fire protection use, if necessary.
S-2.23a Maintain a list of residents with fire pool pumps available for fire suppression.
Responsible Department: WFPD
Policy S-2.24 Water Storage Capacity. Coordinate with Cal Water and WFPD to ensure existing and new developments incorporate the proper landscaping, building siting and design, water pressure, and peak load water storage capacity to meet daily demands and peak load fire suppression requirements.
S-2.24a Coordinate with Cal Water and WFPD, to establish periodic evaluation of water system capability and gather resident input.
Responsible Department: Public Works
Policy S-2.25 Adequate Infrastructure/Roadway Capacity. Prioritize development in areas where sufficient water supply infrastructure and roadway capacity in place, to ensure adequate evacuation and emergency equipment access.
Policy S-2.26 Adequate Water Supply. Collaborate with Cal Water to maintain and enhance water supply infrastructure to ensure adequate supplies for existing and future daily DRAFT
demands and firefighting suppression requirements.
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Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 42 Policy S-2.27 Water Shut Off Procedure. Develop appropriate emergency water shut-off procedures and educate residents and property owners on proper water shut-off procedures during hazard incidents or evacuation orders.
S-2.27a Require all exterior wildfire suppression sprinkler systems to include an automatic cut off if public water supply pressure drops below a certain level.
Responsible Department: WFPD
Policy S-2.28 Firefighter Safety. Support WPFD to identify fire defense zones where firefighters can control wildfires without undue risks to their lives, and areas where firefighter safety prohibits ground attack firefighting.
Policy S-2.29 Fire Suppression Funding. Collaborate with WFPD to pursue funding for fire prevention and suppression (State grant funds, hazard mitigation funds, etc.) Policy S-2.30 Fire Risk Reduction Community. Collaborated with WFPD to become a Fire Risk Reduction Community or District through the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Policy S-2.31 Adequate Firefighter Apparatus Access. Collaborate with WFPD to identify all streets in Portola Valley that do not comply with California Fire Safe Regulations to ensure that firefighting apparatus has adequate access.
Policy S-2.32 New Development Building Code. All new development and major remodels or renovations shall comply with the California Building Code, Fire Code, and local ordinances for construction and adequacy of water flow and pressure, ingress/egress, and other measures for fire protection.
S-2.32a Require endowments or HOA-type assessments to fund long-term maintenance of wildfire mitigations.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department Policy S-2.33 Roofing and Siding. Class-A fire rated roofs and non–combustible exterior siding are required for all new development, redevelopment, major remodels, and reroofing permits within the Town.
Policy S-2.34 Property Inspections. Facilitate periodic WFPD property inspections.
Policy S-2.35 Regulation Enforcement. Work with WFPD to enforce regulations related to fireresistant construction, sprinkler systems, and early warning fire detection system DRAFT
installation and/or sirens.
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Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 43 Policy S-2.36 Regulatory Tools. Building upon CAL FIRE’s 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, use local knowledge of wildfire hazard, landscape, housing, and infrastructure to develop policies for specific hazards and create an overlay zone or a similar regulatory tool for the following types of hazards:
• Ridgelines
• Canyons
• Long Steep Slopes
• Critical infrastructure
Policy S-2.37 Home Hardening Expansion. Expand home hardening throughout the Town to reduce fire hazard vulnerability and to minimize the risk of wildfire moving from wildland areas to developed properties, or from property to property.
S-2.37a Develop a program to support residents with home hardening. The program may include various resources, private and public funding, incentives, and educational components.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department S-2.37b Streamline permit process for home hardening and fire mitigation.
Encourage residents to create ember-resistant homes by creating a wildfire mitigation permit checklist with a single permit fee (if required).
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department Policy S-2.38 WFPD Assessment Incorporation. Incorporate updated WFPD fire hazard and risk assessment findings into future Safety Element updates.
Policy S-2.39 Monitor State Law. Monitor new State laws that increase minimum building standards for WUI communities.
Policy S-2.40 Fire Reduction Incentives. Support WFPD to incentivize fire risk reduction activities and abatement and to increase enforcement mechanisms as needed for compliance.
S-2.40a Require WFPD defensible space inspection for home resale and specified building permits.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department Policy S-2.41 Setback Guidance Programs. Coordinating with WFPD, provide voluntary guidance for residents, to avoid narrow setbacks, using updated releases of the Structure Separation Experiments carried out by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, and CAL FIRE on DRAFT
structure-to-structure ignition.
73 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 44 Policy S-2.42 Existing Development Resilience Guidance. Provide guidance for increasing resilience of existing development in high-risk areas built prior to modern fire safety codes or wildfire hazard mitigation.
S-2.42a Create a list of all neighborhoods and streets without sufficient emergency route access or capacity according to Chapter 4 (Title 24, Part 7) and Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14, Div 1.5, Chapter 7).
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department
S-2.42b Identify mitigation strategies and improvements to neighborhoods and roadways identify with emergency route access constraints or capacity concerns.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department, WFPD
Policy S-2.43 Landscape Standards. Ensure all new and retrofitted landscape areas reduce or minimize wildfire susceptibility.
S-2.43a S-2.45a: Evaluate and update and/or develop landscape standards and practices that encourage fire-resilient landscapes.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department, WFPD
Policy S-2.44 Public Fire Hazard Awareness. Collaborate with WFPD to promote public awareness of fire hazards and safety measures, including outreach to at-risk populations, and evacuation procedures during wildfire events.
Policy S-2.45 Fire Hazard Reduction Awareness. Provide information on methods for reducing fire hazards through the Town’s website and newsletter, including information on clearing of plant debris and combustible materials, use of fire-resistant landscaping and defensible space, and modifying buildings to make them fire-resistant.
Policy S-2.46 Fire Safe Education Program. Develop, monitor, and regularly update a program to educate and inform the public on local and state fire code, and Fire Safe regulations.
Ensure that this program provides the latest information as provided by the Town, County, and the State. Use community-appropriate languages to ensure greater understanding by residents and visitors.
Policy S-2.47 Firewise Education Program. Create a comprehensive and cohesive resident wildfire education program that emphasizes the creation and support of fire-adapted communities and includes preparedness information and reduction of home ignition DRAFT
risk information and solutions.
74 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 45 S-2.47a Work with the Wildfire Preparedness Committee, Firewise Communities, and WFPD to assist homeowners with insurance issues.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department Policy S-2.48 Wildfire Protection Plan. Collaborate with WFPD on creating and implementing the District Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Ensure residents and town committees provide input for district specific CWPP. Support WFPD on implementing CWPP programs and actions.
Goal S-3: A community where the risks from seismic hazards are effectively managed.
Policy S-3.1 Geological Information. Ensure all geological information compiled by the Town is incorporated into Town Maps and organized and structured to be accessible by Town Staff, consultants, Geologic Safety Committee, residents, businesses, and prospective residents and businesses.
Policy S-3.2 New Construction in Fault Zone Setback. Construction of new buildings intended for human occupancy and other critical structures is not allowed within the setback of the San Andreas Earthquake Fault Zone shown on maps published by the California Geological Survey and adopted by the Town of Portola Valley unless geological studies demonstrate that the location of the fault shown on the adopted maps is incorrect.
Policy S-3.3 New Construction Fault Investigation Report. Construction of new buildings intended for human occupancy and other critical structures within the setback of a fault zone (other than the San Andreas) are required to prepare a site-specific fault investigation report by a certified engineering geologist for Town review and approval.
Also, any proposed new living space within a fault setback (consistent with the Primary fault (Pf) Zone illustrated on the Town Movement Potential Map) must be supported by a fault investigation. The corresponding report should contain at a minimum the results of subsurface investigations, locations of hazardous faults adjacent to the project site, recommended setback distances of proposed structures from hazardous faults, and additional recommended measures to accommodate warping and distributive deformation associated with faulting (e.g., strengthened foundations, engineering design, flexible utility connections). The recommendations should be incorporated into project design plans.
Policy S-3.4 Seismic Hazard Research. Encourage continued research on faults, liquefaction, and other geologic and seismic hazards within the Town.
Policy S-3.5 Infrastructure Seismic Resiliency. Ensure Town infrastructure improvements prioritize enhanced resilience and improved functioning of essential facilities, utilities, DRAFT
and roads.
75 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 46 S-3.5a Develop a Utilities and Roads Resilience Program that examines all existing utility lines that cross active and potentially active fault traces and landslide zones to determine their ability to survive fault movement (planning for a possibility of up to a 20-foot right-lateral displacement on the Woodside and Trancos traces of the San Andreas Fault) and to detail the necessary modifications if they are unable to accommodate fault movement or landslides. The program could specify that water, gas, and electric lines that cross active fault traces and landslide zones be equipped with devices which utilize the best available technology for quick shut-off and rapid reattachment consistent with providing reliable service.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-3.5b Work with the utility companies, WFPD, neighboring towns and unincorporated areas, and San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties to address anticipated damage to utility lines and roads on both public and private property following geologic hazards such as earthquakes and landslides.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-3.5c Encourage utility companies to institute an orderly program for installing shut-off devices on these lines, starting with the lines that cross the Woodside and Trancos traces and those which serve the most people.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-3.5d Require above ground crossing of utility lines where it has been determined that continued service and safety cannot be assured for subsurface lines.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-3.5e Periodically review the structural integrity of all essential facilities in the Town, and strengthen, remove, or replace those that are found to be unable to meet the policy above.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-3.5f Periodically review methods to enhance current siting, design, and construction standards for ensuring post seismic event structural integrity and functionality. Update Town requirements accordingly.
DRAFT
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
76 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 47 Policy S-3.6 Seismic Retrofits. Encourage seismic retrofits for existing homes within the Town consistent with the current California Building Code and recommendations from the California Earthquake Authority.
S-3.6a Identify funding opportunities to assist homeowners with seismic retrofit improvements.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
Policy S-3.7 State Building Code. Periodically review State building code updates and make any necessary local amendments to address local geologic, topographic, or climatic conditions.
Policy S-3.8 Liquefaction Assessment. Require liquefaction assessment studies for all development projects proposed in areas identified as potentially susceptible to liquefaction, ensuring compliance with current state code.
S-3.8a Require that all new development/projects prepare and comply with a Design-Level Geotechnical Investigation Report prepared by a Certified Engineering Geologist, Geotechnical Engineer, or qualified Civil Engineer and with Structural Design Plans as prepared by a Registered Structural Engineer.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Town Geologist Goal S-4: A community where the risks from geologic hazards are effectively managed.
Policy S-4.1 GIS Mapping. Continue to file, reference, and index geologic/geotechnical mapping and data within the Town’s Geographic Information System.
Policy S-4.2 Development Regulations. Ensure development projects mitigate hazardous geologic conditions and reduce risk to existing properties.
Policy S-4.3 New Development Geologic Review. The Town requires geologic and soil reports for all new development in areas of identified landslides or other zones of geologic hazard susceptibility, or when deemed necessary by the town geologist.
S-4.3a Require that all geotechnical investigations within the Town be prepared by a Geotechnical Engineer, Civil Engineer with geotechnical expertise, or Certified Engineering Geologist and be peer-reviewed by the Town’s oncall geotechnical consultant.
DRAFT
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Town Geologist 77 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 48 Policy S-4.4 Landslide Mitigation. When feasible, encourage structures for human habitation and public utilities to be located away from potential landslide hazard areas. Consider mitigating measures, based on geologic and other reports acceptable to the Town, which can be taken to reduce the risk from geologic hazards to an acceptable level.
Policy S-4.5 Infrastructure Location. Ensure roads and utility lines that cross landslide areas incorporate design and construction techniques to meet acceptable levels of risk.
Policy S-4.6 Geologic Development Location. When considering development in areas that contain unstable ground, it is preferable to develop on those areas of natural stable terrain and thereby avoid the potential negative environmental impacts from engineered solutions.
Policy S-4.7 Settlement Development Location. Address areas of potential settlement within the Town as part of the development process.
S-4.7a Regularly update the Town's Geologic Map that identifies geologic deposits prone to ground settlement.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Town Geologist S-4.7b Require geologic investigations for sites identified as containing, or suspected to contain, settlement-prone earth materials.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Town Geologist Policy S-4.8 Slope Maintenance. Maintain natural slopes and preserve existing vegetation, especially in hillside areas.
S-4.8a When change in natural grade or removal of existing vegetation is required, employ remedial measures to provide appropriate vegetative cover to control storm water runoff.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Town Geologist S-4.8b Give special attention to minimizing erosion problems resulting from the keeping of animals. In specific applications, these policies will be tempered by the need for fire safety.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Town Geologist Policy S-4.9 Hillside Protection. Enforce hillside protection measures that control runoff and DRAFT
erosion.
78 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 49 Policy S-4.10 Drought Resistant Vegetation. Require drought-resistant vegetation with deep root systems where appropriate in new development and major remodels to reduce overirrigation in areas of the Town prone to slope instability.
Policy S-4.11 Erosion Control. Continue to administer the provisions of the subdivision ordinance concerning landscaping and erosion control and the provisions of the site development ordinance concerning grading, giving special attention to the protective measures that are appropriate prior to the advent of seasonal rains.
Policy S-4.12 Expansive Soil Report. Where town officials have information indicating the probability of expansive or creep-prone soils, soils reports should be required with all development applications. Where such soils are confirmed, mitigation measures should be required to address the associated hazards.
Policy S-4.13 Geotechnical Report. Subdivisions, structures, or other development must prepare and comply with a Design-Level Geotechnical Investigation Report prepared by a Certified Engineering Geologist, Geotechnical Engineer, or Qualified Civil Engineer and with Structural Design Plans as prepared by a Registered Structural Engineer. The report should consider field test results and observations regarding the nature, distribution, and strength of existing soils, and provide recommendations for appropriate grading practices and project design. The recommendations should be incorporated into project design plans.
Goal S-5: A community protected from the potential risk posed by flood and dam inundation hazards.
Policy S-5.1 Flood Regulation. Minimize injury, loss of life, property damage, and economic and social disruption caused by flooding and inundation hazards.
S-5.1a Evaluate the Portola Valley Master Storm Drainage Report to identify areas of the Town’s drainage system that may require update or modification, particularly considering increased storm conditions.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-5.1b Update master storm drainage report periodically, to address changing Town needs.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-5.1c Ensure storm drain systems are functional and adequate for increased storm conditions.
DRAFT
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
79 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 50 Policy S-5.2 Flood Development Review. As part of the development review process ensure project applications adhere to municipal code requirements and flood mitigation best practices to reduce current and future flood impacts.
Policy S-5.3 Structure Location in Flood Zones. Structures cannot be erected in areas determined to be subject to “100-year floods” in accordance with FEMA requirements, unless appropriate measures will mitigate potential adverse effects on the structures and nearby properties and will not adversely affect natural riparian zones. Minor structures where there is no threat to life and little threat to property may be allowed.
Policy S-5.4 Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Rely upon federally issued Flood Insurance Rate maps to define the “100-year flood” area along the relevant portions of Corte de Madera Creek, Sausal Creek, and Los Trancos Creek unless professionally prepared hydrological reports indicate that the subject site is not within an area that is subjected to “100-year floods.”
Policy S-5.5 Floodplain Regulations. Ensure flood plain regulations in the municipal code meet the latest FEMA requirements regarding new construction, redevelopment, and major remodels.
Policy S-5.6 New Development Flood Regulations. Require floodproofing for new development in flood hazard zones.
S-5.6a Identify areas of a parcel subject to flooding categorized by type of flooding, including inundation, creek, and groundwater and by the potential depth of flooding.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-5.6b Maintain development standards to require drainage plans and to maximize retention of all storm (and basement ground) water on site to provide greater resilience to drought and to prepare for more violent and intense storm events.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-5.6c Encourage increased height above current 100-year base flood elevation requirements.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-5.6d Locate mechanical equipment, such as boilers, chillers, and air handlers for ventilation in appropriate locations to ensure operation during flooding.
DRAFT
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
80 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 51 S-5.6e Encourage and incentivize new development to incorporate curb installation that promotes ground infiltration and minimizes runoff.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department Policy S-5.7 Sea Level Rise Resiliency. Continue to work with San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District and the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority on developing and implementing adaptation options for San Francisquito Creek and its watershed
S-5.7a Continue to identify opportunities to reduce down-stream flooding from town stormwater drains and creeks.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department Policy S-5.8 Drainage Infrastructure Improvement. Replace or improve existing drainage structures such as culverts and pipes deemed to be inadequate to meet acceptable standards. Where possible, restore natural systems to convey water.
S-5.8a Develop a drainage improvement program that identifies culverts and pipes that do not meet current standards and/or natural drainages that can benefit from natural systems enhancements.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
Policy S-5.9 Drainage Regulations. Regulate development in drainages, especially in designated 100-Year Flood Zones, according to FEMA regulations.
S-5.9a Do not erect structures which will impede the flow of flood waters in a flood channel or ephemeral creek.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-5.9b All development along Los Trancos Creek, Corte Madera Creek, and Sausal Creeks should comply with the Town’s Creek Setback Ordinance (18.59).
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
Policy S-5.10 Flood Mitigation Actions. Encourage owners of buildings that are in flood-prone areas to take appropriate measures to reduce the likelihood of flood damage to their property.
S-5.10a Ensure any such measures to not increase the flood or erosion hazards to DRAFT
other properties or have adverse impacts on the natural riparian zone. 81 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 52 Responsible Department: Public Works Department
S-5.10b Investigate and identify potential funding sources to assist property owners in flood hazard retrofits, where feasible.
Responsible Department: Public Works Department
Policy S-5.11 Rainfall Runoff. Maintain appropriate vegetation on the terrain within the Town to minimize runoff of rainfall consistent with other safety practices.
Policy S-5.12 NFIP Participation. Continue participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and encourage all owners of properties located within the 100-year floodplain Zones A, AE, and X (including any repetitive loss properties), to purchase and keep flood insurance for those properties.
Policy S-5.13 Flood Zone Critical Facility Location. Require all essential and critical facilities in or within two hundred feet of 100-Year or 500-Year Flood Zones to develop disaster response and evacuation plans that address the actions that will be taken in the event of flooding.
Policy S-5.14 Waterway Setback Requirements. Administer setback requirements to ensure adequate room between developed areas and natural creek channels to not impede the flow of water and to limit the extent of development that could be affected by creekbank failure.
Policy S-5.15 Property Water Maintenance. Enforce requirements for retention of all water on properties, including stored water for landscape and/or firefighting use. Plans for homes with basements should be monitored for water release into neighboring properties or the street.
S-5.15a The effect of basements on flooding, groundwater, compaction, and settlement should be monitored and regulated to prevent the excessive withdrawal of ground water.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Town Geologist Goal S-6: A community ready to address future climate related impacts and increase resilience to hazards.
Policy S-6.1 Vulnerable Population Needs. Prioritize the needs of vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, medically fragile, or limited income, affected disproportionately by hazards DRAFT
and disasters.
82 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 53 Policy S-6.2 Vulnerable Population Hazard Identification. Engage vulnerable populations in identifying potential hazards and program responses and priorities.
Policy S-6.3 Infrastructure and Climate Change. Ensure infrastructure can accommodate changing conditions and effects associated with climate changes.
S-6.3a Look for Best Practices to develop and maintain resilient infrastructure standards.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department
Policy S-6.4 Extreme Heat. Ensure that the Town can respond to future extreme heat events.
S-6.4a Explore upgrades to electrical and HVAC equipment within Town facilities to ensure greater resilience during extreme heat, wildfire smoke events, and public safety power shutoff events.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department
Policy S-6.5 Capital Project Requirements. Promote Town capital projects in high hazard areas to adhere to higher building standards to reduce future potential hazard vulnerability.
S-6.5a Develop risk assessment guidance and resilience strategies for climate adaptation.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department
S-6.5b As part of the capital planning and budgeting process, evaluate and determine if Town capital projects located within high hazard areas, need to adhere to risk assessment guidance and identify appropriate resilience strategies.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department
Policy S-6.6 Climate Change Coordination. Strengthen emergency management capacity and coordination with San Mateo County Emergency Management and the Woodside Fire Protection District (WFPD) to address climate change impacts.
S-6.6a Incorporate the likelihood of climate change impacts into Town emergency response planning and training.
DRAFT
Responsible Department: All Departments
83 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 54 S-6.6b Incorporate locations and operations responsibility for establishing cooling centers for extreme heat events as part of the next update of the Town’s Emergency Operations Plan.
Responsible Department: All Departments
S-6.6c Incorporate the projected impacts of climate change, including extreme heat, drought, flooding, wildfire, and storm events, in the Multijurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Housing Element, Sustainability Element, Emergency Operations Plan, and other comprehensive planning efforts.
Responsible Department: All Departments
Policy S-6.7 Drought Monitoring. Monitor drought conditions and enact appropriate measures to reduce water demand in coordination with local and regional water providers.
S-6.7a Continue to collaborate with Town advisory bodies/committees, in conjunction with Town’s water service provider, to identify opportunities for water conservation and efficiencies.
Responsible Department: Town Manager’s Office
Policy S-6.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Identify the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the Town and opportunities to reduce them.
S-6.8a Develop a climate action plan that identifies the most impactful measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Town.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department
S-6.8b Work with Town advisory bodies/committees, utility providers, and regional partners to identify and develop programs and incentives that support these measures, such as electrification, renewable energy, battery storage, and electric vehicle uptake.
Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department
Policy S-6.9 Climate Adaptation. Address climate change impacts and develop adaptation strategies that focus on fire prevention and protection, flooding and severe storms, extreme heat events, public health, and the health and adaptability of natural systems.
DRAFT
S-6.9a Develop a climate adaptation plan for the Town.
84 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Safety Goals and Policies – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 55 Responsible Department: Planning and Building Department, Public Works Department
Policy S-6.10 Extreme Heat Mitigation. Ensure developments account for and mitigate future extreme heat conditions.
DRAFT
85 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Implementation Actions – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 56 Implementation Actions
Emergency Preparedness
S-1.1 – Emergency Preparedness Planning
S-1.1a Recognize and prepare for cascading hazards such as a seismic event and simultaneous wildfire by undertaking a hazard and risk analysis and incorporate new findings into the Town’s Evacuation Plan.
S-1.1b Annually review and assess mitigation strategies and hazard risk reduction activities to support emergency preparedness planning.
S-1.3 – Evacuation Plans
S-1.3a Integrate school and private institution evacuation plans into Town evacuation planning efforts.
S-1.3b Coordinate with San Mateo County Emergency Management and confirm the result of the All Hazards Evacuation Plan are aligned and compatible with Town evacuation planning efforts, ensuring adequate evacuation safety, adequacy, and capacity of evacuation routes under a range of emergency scenarios.
S-1.5 – Emergency Response
S-1.5a Coordinate Town safety committees, EpiC, Firewise communities, and neighborhoods to ensure effective preparedness.
S-1.6 – Town Evacuation Plan
S-1.6a Work in a collaborative effort with our public safety stakeholders, WFPD, San Mateo County Sheriff, San Mateo County Emergency Management, Town staff, and committees, schools, and institutions to create, update, and test evacuation plans.
S-1.6b Implement the Town of Portola Valley Evacuation Plan including all recommendations to support more effective evacuation.
S-1.6c Study neighborhood level evacuation needs and make recommendations for improved egress.
S-1.6d Explore the identification and construction of new evacuation rights of way throughout the Town.
S-1.9 – Emergency Vehicle Access
S-1.9a Require all roads for new development comply with WFPD and Town Fire Codes to permit unrestricted access for all emergency equipment and personnel.
S-1.9b Identify additional emergency access improvements for new development standards including vehicle pullouts, restricted on-street parking, and roadside clearance DRAFT
standards.
86 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Implementation Actions – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 57 S-1.10 – Infrastructure Resilience
S-1.10a Investigate the feasibility of undergrounding public utilities.
S-1.10b In consultation with Cal Water and WFPD, establish and maintain adequate emergency water supplies in areas served by water lines that cross active fault traces.
S-1.10c Work with utility companies (gas, electric, phone, and cable) to investigate further actions (such as communication, upgrades, and undergrounding) to provide greater resilience during emergencies.
S-1.11 – Post Disaster Recovery
Develop a post disaster recovery framework (areas to consider include, updated permit processes and regulations for post-disaster conditions to allow for efficient rebuilding and long-term resilience.)
Wildfire Hazards
S-2.4 – New Development Assessment
S-2.4a Development proposed in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone, shall require Fire Safe design and compliance with California Fire Code requirements, WFPD ordinances and best practices.
S-2.4b Require annual vegetation management/ fuel reduction and ensure these activities are covered under an operations and maintenance agreement in perpetuity.
S-2.4c Require developers to assign all vegetation management/fuel reduction requirements on common land to the association or other common owner groups responsible upon development completion and occupancy.
S-2.4d Regulate the parcel size, development, location, and positioning of all new, nonreplacement construction based on the fire hazard severity of the proposed site. These regulations should address:
• Compliance with Fire-Safe Regulations
• Minimum structure-to-structure separation
S-2.6 – New Development in Fire Prone Hillside Areas
S-2.5a Assess structures along slopes to determine if setbacks should be increased or if alternative methods to reduce structure-to-structure ignition by incorporating relevant construction or landscaping features should be required to protect structures in wildfire prone areas.
S-2.11 – Open Space Vegetation Management
S-2.16a Develop vegetation standards for public and privately owned open space areas to DRAFT
sustain native habitats as fire safe as possible.
87 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Implementation Actions – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 58 S-2.17 – Hazardous Vegetation Removal
S-2.18a Explore the feasibility of other vegetation management strategies, including:
• Elimination of use of fire-hazardous plants
• Use of non-prolific landscaping species.
S-2.19 – Private Road Standards
S-2.19a Support WFPD in implementing vegetation clearance standards for private roads to ensure safe access for emergency responders and fire fighters, and safe evacuation.
S-2.19b Prohibit on-street parking where it could impede access by emergency response vehicles.
S-2.20 – Fire Defense Technologies
S-2.20a Evaluate the feasibility and benefits of modeling, three-dimensional mapping, or characterizing understory vegetation to support predictive modeling of wildfire spread.
S-2.20b Monitor technological advances, such as fire-retardant chemical treatments for vegetation and structures, fire-detecting sensors, and sprinkler systems.
S-2.23 – On Site Fire Protection
S-2.23a Maintain a list of residents with fire pool pumps available for fire suppression.
S-2.27 – Water Shut Off Procedure
S-2.27a Require all exterior wildfire suppression sprinkler systems to include an automatic cut off if public water supply pressure drops below a certain level.
S-2.32 – New Development Building Code
S-2.32a Require endowments or HOA-type assessments to fund long-term maintenance of wildfire mitigations.
S-2.37 – Home Hardening Expansion
S-2.37a Develop a program to support residents with home hardening. The program may include various resources, private and public funding, incentives, and educational components.
S-2.37b Streamline permit process for home hardening and fire mitigation. Encourage residents to create ember-resistant homes by creating a wildfire mitigation permit checklist with a single permit fee (if required).
S-2.40 – Fire Reduction Incentives
S-2.40a Require WFPD defensible space inspection for home resale and specified building permits.
S-2.42 – Existing Development Resilience Guidance
S-2.42a Create a list of all neighborhoods and streets without sufficient emergency route access or capacity according to Chapter 4 (Title 24, Part 7) and Fire Safe Regulations (Title 14, DRAFT
Div 1.5, Chapter 7).
88 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Implementation Actions – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 59 S-2.42b Identify mitigation strategies and improvements to neighborhoods and roadways identify with emergency route access constraints or capacity concerns.
S-2.47 – Firewise Education Program
S-2.47a Work with the Wildfire Preparedness Committee, Firewise Communities, and WFPD to assist homeowners with insurance issues.
Seismic Hazards
S-3.5 – Seismic Resiliency.
S-3.5a Develop a Utilities and Roads Resilience Program that examines all existing utility lines that cross active and potentially active fault traces and landslide zones to determine their ability to survive fault movement (planning for a possibility of up to a 20-foot rightlateral displacement on the Woodside and Trancos traces of the San Andreas Fault) and to detail the necessary modifications if they are unable to accommodate fault movement or landslides. The program could specify that water, gas, and electric lines that cross active fault traces and landslide zones be equipped with devices which utilize the best available technology for quick shut-off and rapid reattachment consistent with providing reliable service.
S.4.5b Work with the utility companies, WFPD, neighboring towns and unincorporated areas, and San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties to address anticipated damage to utility lines and roads on both public and private property following geologic hazards such as earthquakes and landslides.
S-3.5c Encourage utility companies to institute an orderly program for installing shut-off devices on these lines, starting with the lines that cross the Woodside and Trancos traces and those which serve the most people.
S-3.5d Require above ground crossing of utility lines where it has been determined that continued service and safety cannot be assured for subsurface lines.
S-3.5e Periodically review the structural integrity of all essential facilities in the Town, and strengthen, remove, or replace those that are found to be unable to meet the policy above.
S-3.5f Periodically review methods to enhance current siting, design, and construction standards for ensuring post seismic event structural integrity and functionality. Update Town requirements accordingly.
S-3.6 – Seismic Retrofits
S-3.6a Identify funding opportunities to assist homeowners with seismic retrofit improvements.
S-3.8 – Liquefaction Assessment.
S-3.8a Require that all new development/projects prepare and comply with a Design-Level Geotechnical Investigation Report prepared by a Certified Engineering Geologist, Geotechnical Engineer, or qualified Civil Engineer and with Structural Design Plans as DRAFT
prepared by a Registered Structural Engineer.
89 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Implementation Actions – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 60 Geologic Hazards
S-4.3 – New Development Geologic Review
S-4.3a Require that all geotechnical investigations within the Town be prepared by a Geotechnical Engineer, Civil Engineer with geotechnical expertise, or Certified Engineering Geologist and be peer-reviewed by the Town’s on-call geotechnical consultant.
S-4.7 – Settlement Development Location
S-4.7a Regularly update the Town's Geologic Map that identifies geologic deposits prone to ground settlement.
S-4.7b Require geologic investigations for sites identified with or suspected to contain settlement-prone geologic earth materials.
S-4.8 – Slope Maintenance
S-4.8a When change in natural grade or removal of existing vegetation is required, employ remedial measures to provide appropriate vegetative cover to control storm water runoff.
S-4.8b Give special attention to minimizing erosion problems resulting from the keeping of animals. In specific applications, these policies will be tempered by the need for fire safety.
Flood Hazards
S-5.1 – Flood Regulation
S-5.1a Evaluate the Portola Valley Master Storm Drainage Report to identify areas of the Town’s drainage system that may require update or modification, particularly considering increased storm conditions.
S-5.1b Update master storm drainage report periodically, to address changing Town needs.
S-5.1c Ensure storm drain systems are functional and adequate for increased storm conditions.
S-5.6 – New Development Flood Regulations
S-5.6a Identify areas of a parcel subject to flooding by type of flooding, including inundation, creek, and groundwater and by the potential depth of flooding.
S-5.6b Maintain development standards to require drainage plans and to maximize retention of all storm (and basement ground) water on site to provide greater resilience to drought and to prepare for more violent and intense storm events.
S-5.6c Encourage increased height above current 100-year base flood elevation requirements.
S-5.6d Locate mechanical equipment, such as boilers, chillers, and air handlers for ventilation in appropriate locations to ensure operation during flooding.
S-5.6e Encourage and incentivize new development to incorporate curb installation that DRAFT
promotes ground infiltration and minimizes runoff.
90 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Implementation Actions – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 61 Climate Adaptation and Resilience
S-5.7 – Sea Level Rise Resiliency
S-5.7a Continue to identify opportunities to reduce down-stream flooding from town stormwater drains and creeks.
S-5.8 – Drainage Infrastructure Improvement
S-5.8a Develop a drainage improvement program that identifies culverts and pipes that do not meet current standards and/or natural drainages that can benefit from natural systems enhancements.
S-5.9 – Drainage Regulations
S-5.9a Do not erect structures which will impede the flow of flood waters in a flood channel or ephemeral creek.
S-5.9b All developments along Los Trancos Creek, Corte Madera Creek, and Sausal Creeks should comply with the Town’s Creek Setback Ordinance (18.59).
S-5.10 – Flood Mitigation Actions
S-5.10a Ensure any such measures to not increase the flood or erosion hazards to other properties or have adverse impacts on the natural riparian zone.
S-5.10b Investigate and identify potential funding sources to assist property owners in flood hazard retrofits, where feasible.
S-5.15 – Property Water Maintenance
S-5.15a The effect of basements on flooding, groundwater, compaction, and settlement should be monitored and regulated to prevent the excessive withdrawal of ground water.
S-6.3 – Infrastructure And Climate Change
S-6.3a Look for Best Practices to develop and maintain resilient infrastructure standards.
S-6.4 – Extreme Heat
S-6.4a Explore upgrades to electrical and HVAC equipment within Town facilities to ensure greater resilience during extreme heat, wildfire smoke events, and public safety power shutoff events.
S-6.5 – Capital Project Requirements
S-6.5a Develop risk assessment guidance and resilience strategies for climate adaptation.
S-6.5b As part of the capital planning and budgeting process, evaluate and determine if Town capital projects located within high hazard areas, need to adhere to risk assessment DRAFT
guidance and identify appropriate resilience strategies. 91 Town of Portola Valley Safety Element 2026
Implementation Actions – Climate Adaptation and Resilience 62 S-6.6 – Climate Change Coordination
S-6.6a Incorporate the likelihood of climate change impacts into Town emergency response planning and training.
S-6.6b Incorporate locations and operations responsibility for establishing cooling centers for extreme heat events as part of the next update of the Town’s Emergency Operations Plan S-6.6c Incorporate the projected impacts of climate change, including extreme heat, drought, flooding, wildfire, and storm events, in the Multijurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Housing Element, Sustainability Element, Emergency Operations Plan, and other comprehensive planning efforts.
S-6.7 – Drought Monitoring
S-6.7a Continue to collaborate with Town advisory bodies/committees, in conjunction with Town’s water service provider, to identify opportunities for water conservation and efficiencies.
S-6.8 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions
S-6.8a Develop a climate action plan that identifies the most impactful measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Town.
S-6.8b Work with Town advisory bodies/committees, utility providers, and regional partners to identify and develop programs and incentives that support these measures, such as electrification, renewable energy, battery storage, and electric vehicle uptake S-6.9 – Climate Adaptation
S-6.9a Develop a climate adaptation plan for the Town.
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