That’s a Wrap! - After Action Report Town Council Meeting of February 11, 2026

Council Meeting Date: February 11, 2026 (Full Agenda link) 

Video Link: Town Council Meeting Video Recording 

Details of each item can be found in the Agenda

The City Council met for the Regular Meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with a proclamation for recognition of the Santa Clara Valley Science and Engineering Fair Association (SCVSEFA) Science Fair winner Camelia Burnham from Portola Valley, pictured below with the Town Council.

Next, there was a proclamation recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month. Finally, there were annual committee presentations by the Emergency Preparedness and Open Space Committees.

The Council received the Town Manager Report that included the following information:

• There was a major telecommunications service interruption today. Large numbers of utility workers were on scene all day doing repairs at both locations. One-way traffic control is in place on both Portola and Alpine so plan your travel accordingly. I do not have information on how long the full repairs will take. If there are extended outages in the future, we will work with our CERT team to increase wifi access in and outside the library for our residents to stay connected.
• Town Hall is closed for Presidents Day Holiday on Monday.
• Come meet the new Sheriff Ken Binder, Supervisor Ray Mueller, and Mayor Craig Taylor on Saturday, February 21st at 3:00 pm at Robert’s Market. It will be an informal meet and greet and you can ask questions.

Then, the Council accepted public oral communications. One comment was made.

The Council moved on to the Consent Agenda (~8:00 pm) consisting of items a to d. Items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine in nature and are generally considered in one motion and adopted by a single vote of the Council.  Please see the Agenda for this month's Consent Agenda. A typographical error in the minutes was noted. Following an opportunity for comments and questions, the Council approved all items.

Next up was the Regular Agenda (~8:04pm), which included one item:

• Presentation and Receipt of Mid-Year Budget Update.

A staff report was made, with questions and discussion by the Town Council. Public comments were accepted. No action was taken and it was discussed that a revised resolution would be presented at the next Council meeting on the consent calendar agenda.

The last item on the Agenda was the Subcommittee, Liaison Committee, and Regional Agency Report. (~10:20 pm).

Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 10:25 pm, that as they say - was a wrap! 

The next meeting of the City Council is a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

For more information and calendar of events, visit the Town's website.

Thanks for reading!
 
Darcy Smith
Town Manager
Town of Portola Valley
dsmith@portolavalley.net  

 That’s a Wrap! - After Action Report Town Council Meeting of January 28, 2026

Council Meeting Date: January 28, 2026 (Full Agenda link) 

Video Link: Town Council Meeting Video Recording 

Details of each item can be found in the Agenda

The City Council met for the Regular Meeting on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with a presentation from HIP Housing for the annual calendar recognition and overview of the Home Sharing Program. Next, there was a presentation on the Town AM Radio Project by the Chair and members of the Town Emergency Preparedness Committee. The station is currently broadcasting 24/7 with a looped message containing information regarding emergency preparedness. New messages with the latest information can be quickly uploaded and the system can broadcast live messages as needed. To receive the broadcast, tune your radio to AM-1680. 

The Council received the Town Manager Report that included the following information:

• Thank you to everyone who made the Wildlife Day a success on Sunday. This is a new event organized by the Nature and Science Committee to bring awareness to Town’s Wildlife Protection Month, dedicated to defining areas of wildlife vulnerability, identifying opportunities for safe crossings, and strengthening community understanding of how humans and wildlife can coexist in harmony within our shared environment.
• There was a Finance Committee meeting yesterday. Finance Director Tony McFarlane presented the Interim Financial Statements for Fiscal Year 2022-23 and the current fiscal year Mid-Year Budget Update.
• Based on the completion of two audits, the corrections/adjustments made by the Finance Staff over the last four fiscal years, the beginning FY 25-26 General Fund Reserve balance has increased from $2.2 million to $2.9 million. This is a $700K increase.  This extends the runway so to speak, but still not long enough for a safe landing. 
• In other good news, the last FY 2024-25 ended with a small surplus of $80,000. As many of you know, this was not easy to do, but you are all to thank for your hard work to achieve this.
• Last, our Current Fiscal Year revenue is up 1.8% over the prior year, and expenses are 6.1% under the prior year.   This is a true apple to apple comparison as the accruals have been adjusted out of both fiscal years.  This is a major accomplishment led by Tony, but we still have a lot of work ahead to achieve long-term fiscal stability.

Then, the Council accepted public comments on items not on the agenda. Councilmember Wolter made a personal statement as a member of the public.

The Council moved on to the Consent Agenda (~7:52pm) consisting of items a to g. Items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine in nature and are generally considered in one motion and adopted by a single vote of the Council.  Please see the Agenda for this month's Consent Agenda. A typographical error in the minutes was noted.

Item 7e and 7f, was pulled for a separate vote. Item 7e was modified to change the Historic Resources Committee to a Working Group, and to correct a typographical error. Comments were made on Item 7f. Following an opportunity for comments and questions, the Council approved all items.

Next up was the Regular Agenda (~8:02 pm), which included two items: 

• Receive Information and Provide Direction on the Town of Portola Valley Commission and Advisory Committee Policies and Procedures Handbook Staff made a presentation, and the Council asked questions of staff and provided comments. The Handbook Working Group representative Patty Dewes made a presentation. Public comments were made. The Council provided direction to staff and the working group.
• Presentation by the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Traffic Safety Committee. No action was taken. You can see the Committee 2025 highlights and 2026 priorities here.

The last item on the Agenda was the Subcommittee, Liaison Committee, and Regional Agency Report. (~10:13 pm). 

Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 10:15 pm, that as they say - was a wrap! 

The next meeting of the City Council is a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2028 at 7 pm.

For more information and calendar of events, visit the Town's website.

Thanks for reading!
 
Darcy Smith
Town Manager
Town of Portola Valley
dsmith@portolavalley.net   

January 23, 2026

Housing Element Amendment Submitted to HCD for Review

The Town’s 2026 Housing Element Amendment was submitted to HCD for their review. The Amendment is available on the Town’s website here. Additional information is on the Town's Housing Element webpage. 

Town and WFPD Vegetation Management within the Public Right-of-way

The Town and WFPD will be distributing this informational handout directly to residents to notify them of the critical vegetation management within the public right-of-way adjacent to their property. This is an important program to increase the community's resilience against the growing threat of wildfires.

EPiC Board Meeting Presentation on Program Impact

I attended the Emergency Preparedness in Communities (EPiC) board meeting on Wednesday night. The meeting presentation includes their 2025 highlights and 2026 priorities. As noted in the presentation, 2025 built momentum and 2026 is about strengthening what works:

• Clear, understandable preparedness for residents
• Strong volunteer engagement and training
• Continued partnership with Woodside Fire and our Town

E-Bike Update

E-bikes have been rapidly increasing in popularity among town residents and students, as they offer a powerful, convenient option for students to travel to and from school, maneuver hilly terrain, and cover greater distances than traditional bicycles. However, with the rise in popularity of e-motos, which are difficult to distinguish from e-bikes but are far more dangerous in their power and speed capabilities, there has been increased concern over student safety. A December 2025 report Exploring Electric Bicycle Safety Performance Data and Policy Options for California by the Mineta Transportation Institute, which was commissioned by the California legislature found that almost 90% of electric two-wheelers surveyed at a number of northern California middle and high schools likely did not meet the standards for legal e-bikes. The report stated that many Californians “may be purchasing illegal devices without realizing it,” due to deceptive marketing material

California has significantly strengthened its e-bike enforcement framework through recent legislation. Perhaps the most significant development is the passage of AB 875, which added Vehicle Code § 22651.08. This section grants law enforcement officers the power to impound an illegal e-bike or e-moto when certain requirements are met. The Town is working with the Sheriff’s Office and PC School District to collaborate on enforcement and education. According to Superintendent Roberta Zarea, Corte Madera is seeing a sharp decrease in e-bikes on campus during the school day. 

That’s a Wrap! - After Action Report Town Council Meeting of January 14, 2026

Council Meeting Date: January 14 2026 (Full Agenda link) 

Video Link: Town Council Meeting Video Recording 

Details of each item can be found in the Agenda

The City Council met for the Regular Meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the Agenda beginning with a Proclamation for Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Mayor invited resident Rita Comes to make a few remarks and accept the proclamation on behalf of the community.

Following Roll Call the Council received the Presentation of Annual Report by the San Mateo County Library Joint Powers Authority by Carmen Letona-Adams, Branch Manager, Portola Valley and Woodside Libraries.

Next, there was a Proclamation for Wildlife Awareness Month that was accepted by Bonnie Crater of the Nature and Science Committee.

The Council received the Town Manager Report that included the following information:

• Thank you to Woodside Fire Protection District and our local CERT team and other volunteers including our mayor to helping respond to local flooding, power outages, and downed trees at the end of December. There was significant flooding of the Windmill School that required extensive sandbagging and dewatering. Please clean and continuously monitor your storm drains. They can become clogged very quickly, leading to significant flooding.
• A Request for Proposals for the design of the Ford Field Bathroom and Concessions Stand is available, with proposals due on January 26th. This would be a great project for a local landscape architect or architect if you know of any.
• We recognize the importance of the annual town finance audits. My monthly update to the community is that the fiscal year 2022-23 audit is anticipated to be presented to the Finance Committee on January 27th and then the Council on February 28.  The remaining audits are on schedule with fiscal year 2023-24 anticipated to be available this summer.

Then, the Council accepted public comments on items not on the agenda.

The Council moved on to the Consent Agenda (~7:28pm) consisting of items a to e. Items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine in nature and are generally considered in one motion and adopted by a single vote of the Council.  Please see the Agenda  for this month's Consent Agenda. Item 7f, was pulled for a separate vote. This item is to receive a report and confirm appointment of Town Councilmembers to serve as liaisons, representatives, and alternates to Town Commissions, local organizations, and regional bodies for 2026 as recommended by the mayor. The Council amended the list as follows:

• Councilmember Hufty as liaison for SFO Airport/Community Roundtable 
• Addition of Commute.Org JPA Board of Directors Board Member with Councilmember Wolter as liaison and Councilmember Hasko as alternate.

Next up was the Regular Agenda (~7:41pm), which included two items:

• Receive Update and Provide Direction to Staff on the Draft Housing Element Amendment and Consider Authorizing Staff to Submit the Draft to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)

  Staff made a presentation, and the Council asked questions of staff and provided comments.  Public comments were made. The Council approved the submittal of the Draft to HCD.

• Town Manager Mid-Year Status Update of Current Fiscal Year 2025-26 Town Council Priorities.

Staff made a presentation, and the Council asked questions of staff and provided comments.  No action was taken.

The last item on the Agenda was the Subcommittee, Liaison Committee, and Regional Agency Report. (~8:55 pm).

Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 9:02 pm, that as they say - was a wrap! 

The next meeting of the City Council is a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, January 28, 2028 at 7 pm.

For more information and calendar of events, visit the Town's website.

Thanks for reading!
 
Darcy Smith
Town Manager
Town of Portola Valley
dsmith@portolavalley.net