That’s a Wrap! - After Action Report Town Council Meeting of April 8, 2026

Council Meeting Date: April 8, 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, April 8, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the agenda beginning with the Proclamation of California Native Plant Month which was accepted by Conservation Committee Vice Chair Judy Murphy and Member Nona Chiariello.

The Council received the Town Manager Report (~7:13 pm) that included the following information:

• There will be a Community Coffee Event with Assemblymember Marc Berman and the Mayor on Friday, April 11th at 8:30 am at the Town Center.
• There is a community clean up on Saturday, April 25th.
• We are recruiting for our Town committees including one vacancy on the Architectural & Site Control Commission.
• Last, the PV Cultural Arts Committee is running a photo contest. Entries are due by April 10th and will then be on display at the Town Center.

Then, the Council accepted public oral communications (~7:14 pm).

The Council moved on to the Consent Agenda (~7:15 pm) consisting of items a through c. 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 c was pulled for discussion and a separate vote. The Council approved all items.

Next up was the Regular Agenda (~7:25 pm), which included one item:  

1. Receive Information and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Town Operating Budget with a Focus on Expenditures

Staff made a presentation, and the Council asked questions of staff and provided comments. Direction was provided to continue working on the budget and return with additional information in the future.

Public comments were accepted.

The last item on the Agenda was the Subcommittee, Liaison Committee, and Regional Agency Report. (~8:43 pm).

Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 8:45 pm, that as they say - was a wrap! 

The next meeting of the City Council is a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, April 22, 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 March 25, 2026

Council Meeting Date: March 25, 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, March 25, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the agenda beginning with the annual committee presentations by the Wildfire Preparedness Committee.

The Council received the Town Manager Report (~7:35pm) that included the following information:

• We are recruiting for our Town committees and more. You can see a list of openings on the Town Committee webpage. We also are running a special recruitment for a Portola Valley resident to serve on the Board of Trustees of the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District. We also have a recruitment opening this week for the Architectural & Site Control Commission.
• We recognize the importance of the annual town finance audits. We are working on the fiscal year 2022-23 audit. It is anticipated to be presented to the Finance Committee in April and then the Council after that.  The remaining audits are on schedule to be completed this year.

Then, the Council accepted public oral communications (~7:37 pm).

The Council moved on to the Consent Agenda (~7:53 pm) consisting of items a through 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. The Council approved all items in one motion.

Next up was the Regular Agenda (~7:54 pm), which included two items:  

1. Receive the Annual Report on the Farmers’ Market from Good Roots and Provide Direction to Staff on Potential License Agreement Amendment 
2. Receive Information and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding Fiscal Year 2026-27 Town Budget Overview and Potential New Locally Controlled Funds Ballot Measure 

Staff made a presentation, and the Council asked questions of staff and provided comments.  Direction was provided to prepare a ballot measure for the November 3, 2026 election that includes a Town Charter and a proposed Real Property Transfer Tax to develop a locally generated and controlled funding source to be used to maintain and/or increase the current level of services and facilities provided by the City, which would become effective only if adopted by 50 percent plus one vote of the Portola Valley electorate. Public comments were accepted.

The last item on the Agenda was the Subcommittee, Liaison Committee, and Regional Agency Report. (~10:00 pm).

Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 10:03 pm, that as they say - was a wrap! 

The next meeting of the City Council is a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, April 8, 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 Special Meeting of March 16, 2026

Council Meeting Date: March 16, 2026 (Full Agenda link) 

Details of each item can be found in the Agenda

The City Council met for the Special Meeting on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 1:30 pm.

Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the agenda which included one item:

Annual Town Council Priority Setting Study Session

a. Current Priorities and Fiscal Year Achievements

b. Department Presentations

10-minute Council recess

c. Future Priorities

d. Next Steps

A staff report presentation was made, with questions and discussion by the Town Council. Public comments were accepted. The Council provided direction to add a new Priority Category of “Community”. The six priority categories help establish the top projects and guide the Town based on a shared vision for each fiscal year.

The refined Priority Categories are:

• Financial Responsibility and Long-term Viability
• Safety
• Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness
• Responsible Land Use
• Community
• Environmental Sustainability.

Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 5:37 pm, that as they say - was a wrap! 

The next meeting of the City Council is a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, March 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 March 11, 2026

Council Meeting Date: March 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, March 11, 2026 at 7:00 pm.

Following Roll Call the Council began moving through the agenda beginning with annual committee presentations by the Geologic Safety and Trails and Paths Committees.

The Council received the Town Manager Report (~7:54pm) that included the following information:

• Mark your calendars. The Broom Pull is this Sunday from 9 to 12. Come to the school house parking lot. Then, the Town Council Annual Priority Setting Study Session will be on Monday, March 16 at 1:30pm in the Buckeye Room.
• We continue to have telecommunications outrages related to suspected copper wire thefts. The latest on Portola Road was last week and today AT&T was working on repairs and had a partial road closure.The Sheriff’s Office is aware of these incidents and are keeping a close eye on this area. The community’s partnership and vigilance plays a key role in assisting the Sheriff’s Office with keeping our Town safe and protecting essential infrastructure. Copper theft along with other forms of criminal activity typically occurs at night when suspicious activity is less noticeable. Community members are asked to keep an eye out for suspicious activity around utility poles, roadside boxes and construction areas.  So, If you See Something, Say Something. Report unusual activity immediately by calling the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line or dial 911 if it’s an emergency. 

Then, the Council accepted public oral communications (~7:57 pm).

The Council moved on to the Consent Agenda (~8:00 pm) consisting of items a and b. 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. The Council approved all items in one motion.

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

1. Receive the Annual Report on the Farmers’ Market from Good Roots and Provide Direction to Staff on a Potential License Agreement Amendment

    This item was continued.

2. Receive Update and Provide Direction to Staff on the Draft Housing Element Annual Progress Report for 2025 and Consider Authorizing Staff to Submit the Draft Housing Element Annual Progress Report for 2025 to the State Department of Housing and Community Development and Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.

   A staff report was made, with questions and discussion by the Town Council. Public comments were accepted. The Council made a motion to submit the report which passed.

   The Council took a recess due to a power outage. The meeting resumed with zoom connectivity but without a video feed from the Schoolhouse.

3. Receive Information about Current and New State Brown Act Requirements

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

The last item on the Agenda was the Subcommittee, Liaison Committee, and Regional Agency Report. (~9:48 pm).

Having cleared the entire Agenda, at approximately 9:53 pm, that as they say - was a wrap! 

The next meeting of the City Council is a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, March 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