June 27, 2023 Tip - Join the Discussion on the 2023 WFPD Ordinances. Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. "Tensions between residents and town officials have intensified, with some hiring attorneys in recent weeks to investigate actions by town committees and council members, including one "massive" Public Records Act request filed by attorney and former San Jose mayor Chuck Reed related to the Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee and its consideration of changing the zoning of the Nathhorst Triangle neighborhood for denser housing development.Vice Mayor Sarah Wernikoff (on March 21), Megan Koch, Jennifer Youstra, Karen Vahtra and Marianne Plunder have all resigned from the committee in the last half year. Building & Planning permit counter hours:M-F: 8 am to 12 pm, Created By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. All rights reserved. M-F: 8 am to 12 pm, 1 pm to 5 pm Portola Valley, CA 94028, Town Hall hours of operation: Who IS PVNU? Portola Valley residents gathered at Town Center on Friday, April 8, to discuss wildfire safety measures. Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed. San Mateo County Alert System SMC Alert is our primary emergency notification system. June 13, 2023 Tip - Whats Going On With Insurance Rate Filings? Portola Valley, CA I would like to volunteer on this committee! Mission Portola Valley Neighbors United (PVNU) works to increase understanding of local public policy issues such as fire and seismic safety, affordable housing, and natural habitat, to encourage informed and active participation in governance, and to influence public policies through education and advocacy. Blogs Complaints about misinformation, lack of civility. Send a welcome email . Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee | Portola Valley, CA City Council Town of Portola Valley Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the City Council Town of Portola Valley Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them. Tensions have been rising between some residents and town officials over housing development and wildfire prevention efforts. San Mateo County Alert System SMC Alert is our primary emergency notification system. Craig Hughes. Unhelpful to whom? Historic Resources Committee | Portola Valley, CA "The meetings are longer and more frequent than she was prepared for with her other commitments and conflicts to deal with," according to the meeting minutes. Examples given include repeated failure to attend meetings, violation of ethical standards, disruptive behavior and repeated failure to abide by commission/committee handbook rules. Become a member today. Dubious attacks on committee members and members of the public using the Almanac has become the norm for PV Town government. 765 Portola Rd, Rebecca Flynn, who runs the town's online social network PVForum, posted on the site that a few people in town are on a moderated status "because they have shown themselves to be unable to post respectful messages. In the forward to the Town's Committee Handbook, former mayor and founding father Bill Lane writes, "Today, with demands from a growing population, we have seen more traffic, the need for development controls, increased use of our schools, library, trails, playing fields, and so forth, not only by our own residents, but also our neighbors. Building & Planning permit counter hours:M-F: 8 am to 12 pm, Created By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. "Wernikoff said that over the last four months, town staff and council members have "spent an inordinate amount of time debunking misinformation. His letter to PV Town Council, coauthored by the two other safety committee chairs, can be read on pg 173 of the March 23, 2022 Town Council meeting agenda. I do not allow those types of messages through. M-F: 8 am to 12 pm, 1 pm to 5 pm 4th Tuesday,7:00 pm,Historic Schoolhouse. Town Committees | Portola Valley, CA Pfau, who was one of the founding members of the wildfire committee, could not be reached for comment.Hughes, who is also a member of the committee, noted it's not common to remove a committee member from their position.Portola Valley Neighbors United, which was founded in January 2020 to "respond to several difficult town issues and preserve the town's rural nature," said Pfau "has been a candid and thoughtful" vice chair of the committee. Gary Ernst In May-2021, the Town banned new plantings of the Flammable Five: Juniper, Cypress, Acacia, Pine, and Eucalyptus. The chief purpose of the Historic Resources Committee is to maintain an archive of historic documents, maps and photographs for the residents of the Portola Valley region to enjoy (one may visit the archive at the Portola Valley Library). Craig S. Taylor An election in coming and it will be nice to see who is running. It's amazing how perfectly nice people can flip to become instruments of their own personal agendas when elected or selected for a position in power. Town Attorney Cara Silver said texting during a meeting is permitted, provided a member does not send text messages to a quorum, which Wernikoff didn't do. TownSquare The Town of Portola Valley was founded in 1964 by a group of civic-minded residents, who donated countless hours performing the necessary tasks to support the operation of a small municipal government. Cultural Arts Committee | Portola Valley, CA Useful video presentations for Portola Valley residents. The flyer was distributed in a neighborhood which, without any outreach to or communication from the Town to the affected residents, was proposed to be rezoned for up to 20 units per acre. Portola Valley: PAC aimed at unseating council members announces Just serve the members of the town---ALL of them, not just the ones you agree with, or whom push forward your own personal projects. This community is lucky to have you as a reporter. If there were any other reason for the dismissal, one might wonder why he remains chairman of the Emergency Preparedness Committee. Whether it was unclogging culverts during winter rainstorms or clearing trails, this group of intrepid founding fathers (and mothers!) Mr. Phau has only been trying to get the town to put fire safety building standards and safe evacuation plans in place before building very high density housing in this very high fire area. She will be a great addition to the Town. Get uninterrupted access to important local city government news. Building & Planning permit counter hours:M-F: 8 am to 12 pm, Created By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. Absent were Tomars and Youstra.Committee members could not be reached for comment. Portola Valley Neighbors United PVNU Rezoning would be catastrophic for the residents of that neighborhood, who are at risk of losing their homes and the equity theyve built up. Portola Valley, CA 94028, Town Hall hours of operation: If the mayor is the council liaison, as Mayor Craig Hughes is for the wildfire committee, then the vice mayor, Wernikoff, acts in place of the mayor. Special Pubs PR MediaRelease Frankly, if you are going to dish out crazy mud, you can't expect not to get a little dirty. I dont know what 20 units per acre will actually look like, but Im guessing itd be something similar to what is depicted in the photo. Chiariello replaced her, according to meeting minutes. Building & Planning permit counter hours:M-F: 8 am to 12 pm, Created By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. Portola Valley Neighbors United, which was founded in January 2020 to "respond to several difficult town issues and preserve the town's rural nature," said Pfau "has been a candid and thoughtful" vice chair of the committee. Vice chair of Portola Valley wildfire committee ousted, and town PV under the current town government has become a mess. Portola Valley's mayor reveals why fellow council candidate was fired April 25, 2023 Tip Thank you for supporting the PV Wildfire Preparedness Fair! All these grown-ups yelling about and hurling insults. Wow, total muck racking. Help sustain the local news you depend on. Adopted minutes for prior meetings are available by clicking on "All Past" link below. Portola Valley is uniquely poised between pristine wilderness and a hub of human innovation. Those who have resigned have cited the large time commitment of the committee. on Oct 3, 2022 at 1:07 pm Meg is a registered user. About. "For example, a flyer circulating in the Nathhorst Triangle neighborhood last month stated that the "actual density" of new units in the neighborhood would be three- to four-stories high, even though the town has not yet specified how tall the buildings would be if the area were to be rezoned. "It takes an enormous amount of time but it doesn't help the community.". 765 Portola Rd, All upcoming meetings for this Committee are listed below in chronological order. Section II - Administration: 115 Town Committees The Woodside Highlands Road Maintenance District was formed in 1972 to support the maintenance of the area's roads. April 4, 2023 Tip - What the insurance industry knows about your home, March 28, 2023 Tip -California Zone Zero Survey, March 21, 2023 Tip - Lessons from Lick Observatory, March 14 2023 Tip - CAL FIRE Interactive Webinar Series, March 7, 2023 Tip -Being Ready not Lucky; Wildfire Preparedness Fair, February 28, 2023 Tip - Ignition Resistant Decking, February 21, 2022 Tip - Quick Take-Aways to Increase Resilience, February 7, 2023 Tip - Winter Storm Recovery; CERT Class March 25-26, 2023, January 24, 2023 Tip -Earthquake Preparedness Resources, January 17, 2023 Tip -Understanding the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps. M-F: 8 am to 12 pm, 1 pm to 5 pm All upcoming meetings for this Committee are listed below in chronological order. A Portola Valley resident's threatened lawsuit against the Town Council and Planning Commission if they don't rescind their votes approving environmental studies for the town's housing and safety plan, has been delayed until at least Sept. 11. Overviews of the ordinances are in the WPC agenda packets for June and July (pending), or watch the May and June meeting recordings on the town youtube channel. It's INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR for someone who is supposed to be listening, serving with an open mind, and considering what is being said at the meeting in which they are present. Advertising Info Texting during a meeting is just one of infinite new scenarios and possibilities engendered by technology. Kim Marinucci -Vice Chair Portola Valley reluctantly settles lawsuit alleging Brown Act Were all in the same boat. The committee does this by promoting programs to enhance the environment through protection of native habitat and by helping to ensure that all land development respects and preserves the natural condition of the area. Town Committees The Town of Portola Valley was founded in 1964 by a group of civic-minded residents, who donated countless hours performing the necessary tasks to support the operation of a small municipal government. That behavior might make us feel powerful, but its demoralizing for everyone and actually makes communication harder. I heard that Pfau was removed because he was being antagonistic and disruptive on the committee, and his behavior was a main reason other committee members were quitting. Portola Valley, CA 94028, Town Hall hours of operation: She said she had to step away to care for a family member and because she's taken a new job. Print Edition/Archives We can't claim to be a great community if we don't do this. The goal is to go out into Portola Valley and find the flowers pictured treasure-hunt style. Two members of the Town Council and a wildfire committee member agreed to oust Dale Pfau from the committee, which advises the Town Council on ways to reduce wildfire danger and increase resident resiliency in an emergency. The Portola Valley Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee's objective is to assist the Town Council in implementing the Open Space objectives spelled out in the Town's Master Plan. Don't miss out on the discussion! Courtesy Judith Hasko. The committee, which is designated to have nine members, shrank to five on April 6 when another committee member resigned, citing pressing personal commitments pulling her away from the volunteer position. Also, Im on a couple town committees and I think texting during a meeting is fine, and even helpful, as long as the brown act isnt violated, which it sounds like it wasnt in this situation. Examples given include repeated failure to attend meetings, violation of ethical standards, disruptive behavior and repeated failure to abide by commission/committee handbook rules. After months of speculation, Portola Valley Mayor Craig Hughes told the public why a fellow Town Council candidate was fired from his role on a town committee. Along with the impact of two other WFPD ordinances planned for 2023, all existing and new homes will be affected. The Town's Conservation Committee is a resource to help . The Historic Resources Committee was originally established in 1982 as theArchives Committee. Patricia McCrory If the mayor is the council liaison, as Mayor Craig Hughes is for the wildfire committee, then the vice mayor, Wernikoff, acts in place of the mayor.Fire prevention has been a lightning rod issue in town, with some members of the community calling for the town government to do more. The objectives of the Cultural Arts Committee are to: Bring together the various cultural interests in the community in order to facilitate communication, interaction and mutual support; Increase cultural awareness among residents of Portola Valley by sponsoring and supporting local cultural activities in the areas of art, music, science and . Our commission and committee volunteers, working in concert with the Town Council, ensure the unique quality of life we all enjoy in this very special place continues. ""It's super frustrating," she said. Koch said she was resigning from the wildfire committee because "she does not have the extra time she had when she took this on," according to Dec. 13, 2021, meeting minutes from the Architectural and Site Control Commission, which she sits on.Koch said that she's been yelled at in public about the committee not adopting more strict rules for building in town to prevent fire, but also has received hugs from residents for her work. For more information you can read the Colleagues Memo byclicking here. 765 Portola Rd, "This means that I have to waste my time (frequently) approving all their new postings before they are allowed to reach the PVForum. January 10, 2023 Tip - A Winter Storm thank you to Public Works! willingly . The California Constitution states: "The protection of the public safety is the first responsibility of local government and local officials have an obligation to give priority to the provision of adequate public safety services" (Art. Photo by Angela Swartz. Building & Planning permit counter hours:M-F: 8 am to 12 pm, Created By Granicus - Connecting People and Government. Angela Swartz joined The Almanac in 2018 and covers education and small towns. Ron Eastman Through volunteerism, we not only provide support for our Town; we obtain the rich rewards of friendship and of truly making a difference, while setting a meaningful example for future generations." Encourage all adult members (18 and older) of your family to subscribe. At times it initiates fund raising programs for open space projects in the town. Time to read: about 7 minutes. May 16, 2023 Tip - WhatWe Learned About Emergency Action and Response, May 9, 2023 Tip - What We Learned from the DIY Panel, May 2, 2023 Tip - What We Learned from the CA Dept of Insurance (CDI). Wernikoff resigned from the committee before the Brown Act accusations came about, citing the time-consuming nature of the committee and the fact she's also on another time-intensive committee, the Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee. Each and every volunteer's service, irrespective of the level, is critical to this incredible community's continued success! All this antagonismwhen people feel like theyre being attacked, they become defensive and have a harder time listening with an open-mind.