Portola Valley Weekly Update August 11, 2022

This week's update:

• Honoring George Mader- Portola Valley’s First Town Planner
• Town Council Meeting Summary – August 10
• The Town of Portola Valley will be Performing Street Resurfacing Beginning Monday, August 22
• Wildfire Preparedness Committee Tip - Right of Way Mitigation in 2022
• Filing for Nomination to the Town Council is Open until August 17th
• Reminder – Gas Leaf blowers are illegal in Portola Valley
• Free Home Composting Workshop August 27th
• August 16 - Town Hall Closing at 4 PM
• August 25 -Portola Valley Summer Concert Series - The Joint Chiefs Band
• September 17 - Town Picnic & Zots to Tots

Honoring George Mader- Portola Valley’s First Town Planner

Portola Valley’s first Town Planner, George Mader, has passed. With nearly 40 years spent as our Town Planner George has guided the Town’s vision for creating a vibrant community in an “urban open-space preserve” environment. He was a pioneer in building and planning for geologic safety. He authored the Portola Valley General Plan that created the foundation for the community we all value today. George’s kindness, leadership and knowledge will be deeply missed.

The flags at Town Center will be at half-mast to honor his service to the Town.

You can learn more about George by reading these articles about his work, and an interview conducted by Virginia Bacon with George in 2014.

• Almanac News- Jun 23, 2010 - Portola Valley council honors George Mader
• Interview with George Mader – Part 1 by Virginia Bacon and Nancy Lund
• Interview with George Mader – Part 2 by Virginia Bacon and Nancy Lund
• Connections - The EERI Oral History Series – George G Mader
• Almanac News- May 12, 2010 - Shaping the character of Portola Valley

Town Council Meeting Summary – August 10

A summary of the most recent meeting held on August 10th is now available. The Town Council adopted the draft evacuation study and directed staff to include the draft study the ongoing Safety Element update and its incorporation into other Town hazard and disaster planning efforts. Due to Zoom technical difficulties, there is no video recording available for the meeting on August 10th. Please refer to the Summary and Draft Minutes for the meeting found on the Town Council Agenda and Minutes page.

The Town of Portola Valley will be Performing Street Resurfacing Beginning Monday, August 22

This project will consist of applying surface seals to the road surface. Work is scheduled to take place on the streets listed here, weather permitting. The repairs will include grinding worn areas, crack sealing, a surface seal treatment, and repainting traffic markings.

Traffic will have limited access through those streets during the street resurfacing process. Traffic controls within the construction area will be in place. Normal construction hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Two days prior to construction, “No Parking” and “Tow-away” signs will be posted with the effective time and date. Roads will be reopened to full traffic and parking at the end of each working day, however, during the construction period, loose gravel and an uneven pavement surface will result from removing the surface asphalt. For the entire project, we estimate it will take 1 week for crack sealing, 2 weeks to repair damaged pavement sections, 1 week to remove traffic striping, 1 week to apply surface seals (this phase will involve road or lane closures between 5-6 hours for curing), and 1 week to repaint traffic markings. To maintain competitive prices, the contractor, O’Grady Paving, Inc. (650-966-1926). is allowed to schedule the work in a cost-effective manner which may result in a time lag between repair, required curing times, and resurfacing.

We are aware that there will be residents who will be inconvenienced by the street resurfacing work and we ask for your cooperation and understanding. These improvements will result in an improved street that will serve the area for many years.

Wildfire Preparedness Committee Tip - Right of Way Mitigation in 2022

The Wildfire Preparedness Committee has created a series of tips to help the community prepare for wildfire season. You can see the current tip and download any past tips on the website.

Filing for Nomination to the Town Council is Open until August 17th

On November 8, 2022, Portola Valley voters will elect three members to the Town Council for a four-year term. The nomination period starts on Monday, July 18, 2022. Since an incumbent is choosing not to file nomination papers, the deadline to file will be extended an additional five days to August 17, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.

Issuance and Receipt of Nomination Papers will be conducted by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please set up an appointment with the Town Clerk for both issuance and submittal of nomination papers. Issuance of nomination papers is being conducted virtually via Zoom meetings. To schedule an appointment to pull or file nomination papers, please email Melissa Thurman, Town Clerk at mthurman@portolavalley.net.

ELIGIBILITY TO RUN FOR TOWN COUNCIL

Any member of the public who meets the requirements below may run for office in the Town of Portola Valley.

• Be at least eighteen years of age
• Be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of California
• Be a registered voter of the Town of Portola Valley

For information on the November 8, 2022 election, and to find a list of qualified candidates, please visit the Town Elections page.

Reminder – Gas Leaf Blowers are Illegal in Portola Valley

On January 23, 2019, the Town Council passed a law banning the use of gas-powered leaf blowers as well as electric leaf blowers over 65 decibels. The law went into effect on January 23, 2021. Please remind your landscapers that they are required to use electric leaf blowers in Portola Valley. Printable information in English and Spanish is available to share.

In the two years leading up to the ban, the Town offered an incentive program to all residents and businesses in Portola Valley to turn in their gas-powered leaf blowers and receive money to help offset some of the cost of buying a new electric leaf blower. Forty-one residents participated in the program.

Free Home Composting Workshop August 27th

Do you want to start composting at home? Join a no-cost two-hour workshop through the County of San Mateo's Sustainability Academy.

Learn how to turn your food scraps, leaves, and plant cuttings into nutrient-rich compost that helps your garden retain moisture, suppress weeds, and prevent soil erosion, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It is rewarding to know you are turning what some consider organic waste into a nutrient rich organic material for your garden. There will be a demonstration bin complete with live worms!

Admission is free, but space is limited! Priority will be given to those who live, work, and go to school in San Mateo County.