Portola Valley Weekly Update April 6, 2023

This week's update:

• Planning Department to Upgrade Permitting Software - System Offline Friday, April 7th at Noon through Monday, April 10th
• Are You Ready for Wildfire?
• California Fire insurance is changing this Spring!
• What’s Blooming Now?
• Wildfire Preparedness Committee Tip- What the insurance industry knows about your home
• Submit Comments on MTC’s Draft 2023 Public Participation Plan By April 10
• Upcoming Events

Planning Department to Upgrade Permitting Software - System Offline Friday, April 7th at Noon through Monday, April 10th

The Planning & Building Department has been working with IT to test and deploy an upgraded, cloud-based version of their permitting software. To complete the deployment, the permitting system will be offline from noon on Friday, April 7th through Monday, April 10th. The new system is expected to be online at start of business on Tuesday, April 11th. We appreciate the community's patience as we deploy and implement this new software.

Are you ready for a wildfire?

Portola Valley continues to face a threat from wildfire. While the recent rain has helped our drought conditions, the threat of wildfire is as prevalent as ever. The vegetation that is currently growing in response to increased rain will soon become flammable fuel in the summer’s heat.

Attend the Portola Valley Wildfire Preparedness Fair at Portola Valley Town Center Saturday, April 22, 2023, 10 am to 2 pm. Don’t wait until it is too late: start preparing now!

• Learn how to help protect your home from ignition during a wildfire event. Visit 25 Exhibits including vendors, manufacturers, and experts in wildfire preparedness, defensible space, and home hardening.

• Learn how your insurance policy may change this year. Attend a lecture series including a presentation by representatives from the California Department of Insurance on California’s new wildfire safety insurance regulation.

• Learn how to be prepared in case of evacuation. Keep your family safe!

Protecting your home from an ember storm is a journey. Review your roadmap and discover how the Wildfire Preparedness Fair can help you make your home safer from wildfire.

Portola Valley Wildfire Preparedness Fair

Saturday, April 22, 2023, 10 am to 2 pm

Portola Valley Town Center, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley

California Fire insurance is changing this Spring!

Did you know that in May 2023, California’s new wildfire safety insurance regulation will begin to take effect?

You may be able to obtain discounts for fire mitigation work and receive vital information about your home’s wildfire risk score.

Learn more by attending a presentation at the Wildfire Preparedness Fair, given by representatives of the California Department of Insurance. Visit the CDI exhibit and ask questions about your home and insurance policy.

Begin your research on fire mitigation efforts that may save you money and keep your home safer from wildfire.

• Visit 25 Exhibits including vendors, manufacturers, and experts in wildfire preparedness.
• Learn about a Class-A Fire rated roof and ember and fire-resistant vents.
• Landscape specialists will explain how you can maintain a defensible space around your home by removing flammable vegetation.
• Become part of a Firewise community and take advantage of insurance discounts.

Portola Valley continues to face a threat from wildfire. Don’t miss this perfect opportunity to learn how you can keep your family safe and help your home survive a wildfire.

What’s Blooming Now?

Early Spring Wildflowers

Here is a selection of currently blooming local wildflowers. These don’t seem to be commercially available, but Hounds tongue seed is easy to collect – from your pants legs. Many have had excellent success expanding small patches by clearing any weeds around the bases of the plants they’d like to encourage. Weed-whacking around them works well on larger areas.

Wildfire Preparedness Committee Tip - What the insurance industry knows about your home

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.

Submit Comments on MTC’s Draft 2023 Public Participation Plan By April 10

There is just one week left in the public comment period for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Draft 2023 Public Participation Plan, which closes on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 5 p.m.

Members of the public are encouraged to review the draft document and provide feedback online. Feedback also can be emailed to info@bayareametro.gov with the subject line “PPP 2023,” or mailed to MTC Public Information Office, 375 Beale Street, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94105.

Whether tackling congestion or reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Bay Area must consider many priorities in planning the next three decades for transportation, housing, economic development and environmental resilience. Policymakers rely on continued conversation with members of the public to inform a shared, sustainable vision for the Bay Area’s future.

The public comment period offers community members the chance to review and provide feedback on the proposed framework for how MTC will conduct public engagement activities. The draft plan proposes enhancements geared toward better reaching Equity Priority Communities, more comprehensive public engagement techniques and a refinement of the guiding principles for engagement.

Following the public comment period, MTC staff will review the input received and update the draft plan as needed before bringing it to the Commission for final adoption, which is slated for early summer 2023. To request a printed copy of the draft document, please call MTC’s Public Information Office at (415) 778-6757.

Learn more about MTC’s Public Participation Plan.