Town Council Meetings
Council meetings are open to the public and are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the Historic Schoolhouse.

You may also subscribe to receive e-notices of upcoming meetings via our Subscribe to Notices page.

Public comment at open meetings of the Town Council meetings are a cherished element of local government and a critical component to the decision-making process. Feedback, opinion, and information from the public is a vital part of the Town’s inclusive process. Click here for information to potential speakers on how to prepare and provide comments at public meetings. 

Public comments received after an agenda has been posted may be found alongside the packet on the Town Calendar.

Webinar Participant Lists

Residents have asked if they are able to see a list of participants in Zoom webinar-meetings. Craig Hughes has put together a simple website integrated with Zoom data to provide this for Town webinars. You can visit the site at https://pv-zooms.rungie.com/ which will show a list of meetings. Clicking on a meeting will then display all participants in the meeting, as well as those who had been in the meeting but have left. The site will only show meetings once they have started and the first participant has joined.

2024 Portola Valley Council Regional Appointment List

Town Council Members

Jeff Aalfs term expiration: 2024 jaalfs@portolavalley.net	Sarah Wernikoff (Mayor) term expiration: 2024 swernikoff@portolavalley.net
Judith Hasko (Vice Mayor) term expiration: 2026 jhasko@portolavalley.net	Mary Hufty term expiration: 2026 mhufty@portolavalley.net
Craig Taylor term expiration: 2026 ctaylor@portolavalley.net

Portola Valley Town Councilmembers serve the community as volunteers and the Town Council has a 50-year tradition of extensive community involvement. In any given month, councilmembers typically contribute 20-25 hours in preparation for and participation in various meetings and in working with Town staff on special projects. Meetings generally take place Monday through Friday during the workday as well as in the evenings.

The Town Council holds up to two (2) meetings per month, typically on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. Councilmembers are also annually assigned to serve as liaison to the Town's 16 standing committees with many committees meeting once per month. In addition, Councilmembers rotate a liaison assignment to the Planning Commission and Architectural & Site Control Commission on a quarterly basis. Both commissions meet up to twice per month and also have field meetings as necessary in advance of project consideration at Commission meetings.

Town Councilmembers also represent the Town's interests on numerous regional boards, committees, and associations. The Town Council's participation in regional groups is essential to ensuring that Portola Valley residents have a voice in regional matters, which often benefits the Town through access to grant funds.

The Town Council is responsible for the majority of the Town's governmental functions. The Town Council:

• Receives and budgets all revenues
• Appoints the Town Manager, Town Attorney, Advisory commissions and committees, and establishes salary ranges
• Adopts ordinances, policies and regulations
• Grants franchises
• Considers appeals from decisions of the Planning Commission, Architectural and Site Control Commission, and Town Manager and may affirm, reverse or modify these decisions or findings
• Establishes fee schedules and charges for municipal services
• May buy, lease and hold real and personal property for the Town
• Has the power to declare an emergency

The Town Council Members are elected officers identified in Government Code Section 87200 and file statements of economic interests with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). Copies of the statements of economic interests filed by the elected officers may be obtained by visiting the offices of the FPPC at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/. The physical address of the FPPC is 1102 Q Street, Suite 3000, Sacramento, California 95814.

To review the Town's Conflict of Interest Code, please see Chapter 2.36 of the Town's Municipal Code.

PLEASE NOTE: email communications made to Town staff and/or Councilmembers are considered public documents and are therefore subject to disclosure. 

New Policy Regarding Texting and Emailing During Public Meetings August 2022