Portola Valley Weekly Update January 5, 2023

This week's update:

• Farmers Market Still on for Today
• Storm Information
• Planning and Building Resource Center
• Reminder – New Building Code is Now in Effect
• Sheriff’s Contract Update – Share Your Thoughts
• Draft Safety Element Available for Review

Farmers Market Still on for Today

Do you need to fill your pantry with farm fresh foods? Our Portola Valley Farmers Market is open today rain or shine until 5 PM. The vendors who have confirmed they will be at the market today are Little Sky Bakery, Chris Meats, Gallardo Farms Produce, Fruit Tree Juice, Flowers, and Roli Roti.

Storm Information

Sandbags. The sandbags are for residents' emergency use only. The self-serve sandbag station is located at Portola Valley Town Center along the southern driveway, across from the basketball courts. The station is accessible daily and will remain available through the end of the rainy season. Learn more about the sandbag station here. Some Town-provided shovels are available for your use, but you may want to bring your own shovel as they could be in use.

Storm drains. Please check your onsite drainage pipes, ditches, and drains to confirm they are clear of debris and fully operational.

Before the last storm, Public Work crews worked to clear its roadside storm drains and culverts. Staff and volunteers are making sure our streets were safe for residents and visitors. They will continue to monitor for flooding. Extra debris collects in drainage ditches and storm drains. The Town has found sports balls, cut wood, and items from people's properly floating down our drainage ditches. Please continue to monitor and clear out drains and ditches on your street.

Stay informed of current and forecast conditions. Monitor changes in the weather forecast. Get notifications for storm emergencies by signing up for the SMC Alert Emergency Notification System and look up your zone at the Emergency tracking system if you need updates on local road closures, warnings, evacuations, and more at community.zonehaven.com

Report damage. For issues such as flooding in the street, downed trees, or other storm-related damages please report them to the Portola Valley reporting system requests to the PV Connect

For other ways to be storm-ready, visit our website at Winter Storm Preparedness | Portola Valley, CA

Planning and Building Resource Center

Did you know that the Planning and Building department has a whole section of resources to help you with information about all your planning and building projects? As you are beginning your project review the resource page to help you find the information you need for your projects.

Reminder – New Building Code Now in Effect

The California Building Standard Codes (CBSC) change every 3 years and are mandated by law to be adopted locally by city and county jurisdictions. State laws authorize local governments to enact ordinances making amendments to the California Building Standards Code.

A summary of the 2022 Building Standards Code amendments adopted by the Town Council is included below. An FAQ and handouts that will be available next week on the Town website: www.portolavalley.net

Please email planbuild@portolavalley.net should you have any questions.

GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS AMENDMENTS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION

Applies to:

1. New building from ground up.

2. Addition, remodel and/or alteration where permit scope of all permits issued in a 12-month period exceeds:

• 50% of existing floor area;
• 50% of existing wall area; or
• 50% of combination of floor and wall area

Requirements:

1. Required to be all-electric buildings.

• No natural gas or propane piping installed
• Uses electricity for cooking, clothes drying, space and water heating

2. Includes outdoor amenities such as:

• Outdoor, kitchens, grills, pool, spas, fireplaces, fire pits and outdoor heaters.

3. Electric vehicle (EV) ready space supplied by a minimum 40-ampere 208/240 branch circuit.

GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS AMENDEMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS - ADDITIONS, REMODELS & ALTERATIONS

Applies to:

1. All residential construction additions, alterations, remodels, repairs, and/or accessory dwelling unit conversions that do not meet the definition of newly constructed.

2. Where Scope of Work Includes:

• New, replacement, upgrade or relocation of an existing air conditioning condensing unit; and/or
• Replacement/upgrade to the main electric panel

Requirements:

1. If install a new, replacement, upgrade and/or relocate an existing air conditioning (A/C) condensing unit must be replaced with a reverse cycle an air conditioning heat pump.

2. If you replace/upgrade the main electric panel required to provide electrical capacity and reservation of breaker space to accommodate:

• Electric stove, clothes dryer, level 2 EV charger, photovoltaic panels, and heat pump water heater.
• A dedicated 30 amp, 240-volt branch circuit installed within three (3) feet from the existing water heater location.

NOT Required:

1. You are NOT required to replace any of your gas appliances with electric at the end of their life (known as “burnout”) or when/if you upgrade them

2. You are NOT required to replace any of your gas (or other) appliances when you do work on your electric panel

• A/C replacement is only triggered with work on A/C unit

3. You are NOT required to replace any EXISTING outdoor amenities with electric

WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE (WUI) AMENDMENTS

Readopts the December 2021 WUI amendments except for:

1. Removed amendments that are now in State requirements (e.g., vents and roof eaves)

2. Decks

• No longer mandate noncombustible material decking.
• All decking material required to meet State minimum code of ignition resistant material.
• All decks being required to meet the code requirements regardless of distance to applicable building.

3. Detached accessory structure requirements

• All accessory structures subject to Building permit meet WUI requirements regardless of distance to applicable building. Includes ADUs and SB9 Units.
• Accessory structures not subject to Building permit but constructed closer than 30 feet to a property line meet WUI requirements.

4. Exterior columns supporting roof structures and trellises

• Constructed of noncombustible material or wrapped with noncombustible material.
• Not required when the trellis is detached, less than 120 square feet and more than 30 feet from a property line

CHANGES TO ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (ESS) AMENDMENTS

1. Residential code establishes minimum safety requirements for ESS

2. Under certain circumstances in Residential Code, would be allowed in a habitable space

3. Removes that exception = no ESS in habitable space

4. Benefits

• Provides a higher level of safety for the occupants; and
• Retains the other safety requirements established in the code

ESS Amendment DOES NOT:

1. Does not discourage ESS installations

2. Does not add cost to project

3. Does not prevent stacking of ESS when tested to UL 9540A

4. Does prevent ESS from being installed in habitable spaces like bedrooms and living rooms

Sheriff’s Contract Update – Share Your Thoughts

What are your public safety concerns? How would you like to see public safety enhanced in Portola Valley? What public safety efforts in Portola Valley are working well?

The 5-year public safety agreement between the Town of Portola Valley and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office expires in June 2023. The Town needs input from Portola Valley community members as it enters into discussions with the Sheriff’s Office about a new public safety contract.

There are several opportunities for you to provide input on your feelings about public safety. This input will be used to inform discussions about a new contract:

Learn how you can participate in the process

Draft Safety Element Available for Review

The Public Review Draft of the Safety Element is available for review and public comment. The Town’s technical team, including staff and consultants, have developed this draft based on the content of the existing Safety Element, State law, guidance from the State and regional agencies, and best practices. This draft was guided by preliminary comments received from the Sustainability Committee, Geologic Safety Committee, and Emergency Preparedness Committee on early memos prepared by the technical team.

Town Committee Review of Draft Safety Element

View the recording of the October 26 Joint Committee meeting with the Wildfire Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness, Sustainability, and Geologic Safety Committees. The technical team presented the Draft Safety Element at the meeting. These committees will have opportunities to further discuss the Draft Safety Element at their individual committee meetings.

Opportunities to Provide Input on the Draft Safety Element

There are several opportunities for members of the public to provide input on the draft Safety Element:

Submit written comments

• Submit electronic comments using the form on the Town’s website at www.portolavalley.net/safetyelement.
• E-mail comments to safetyelement@portolavalley.net

Provide input at public meetings.

• TBD Emergency Preparedness Committee meeting
• TBD Geologic Safety Committee meeting
• TBD Sustainability Committee meeting
• TBD Wildfire Preparedness Committee meeting

Members of the public are encouraged to engage in these committee meetings and provide feedback at any stage in the process. Comments on the Draft Safety Element are requested by January 13, 2023.

In addition to the committee meetings, the Planning Commission and Town Council will review the Draft Safety Element. These meetings will provide additional opportunities for community members to provide input on the Draft Safety Element. Dates for these meetings will be added to the Safety Element webpage when available.

To receive updates on meetings and other Safety Element matters, you may sign up for eNotifications on the Town’s website by going to the “Community” page, navigating to “Stay Informed,” then “Subscribe to Town eNotices” and selecting Safety Element. You may directly access the “Subscribe to Town eNotices" page here.