Portola Valley Update August 22, 2025

This Week's Update

• Neighborhood Cleanup Saturday August 23
• Town Hall Labor Day Closure
• Meet and Greet the New Town Manager
• Town Hall with Congressman Sam Liccardo and Mayor Judith Hasko
• TOWN PICNIC AND ZOTT’S TO TOTS
• Zone Zero - Simplified; a Tip brought to you by the Wildfire Preparedness Committee
• What's Blooming Now?
• Community Emergency Team (CERT) Basic Skills Training
• Upcoming Town Events

Neighborhood Cleanup Saturday August 23

Town Hall Labor Day Closure

Town Hall will be closed Monday September 1st for Labor Day. Per the Town's Noise Ordinance, No Construction or landscaping activities allowed on September 1st for Labor Day.

Meet and Greet with the New Town Manager

Please join us for a meet and greet with our new Town Manager, Darcy Smith, on Wednesday, August 27, 6:15PM – 7:00PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the new Town Manager, and enjoy light refreshments.

The meet and greet will take place before Town Council's regularly- scheduled meetings at 7:00PM.

** Two or more Town Council Members may be Present**

Town Hall with Congressman Sam Liccardo and Mayor Judith Hasko

Congressman Sam Liccardo and Mayor Judith Hasko are hosting a town hall on August 25th at 6:00 PM. Fill out the form via the link below to let us know if you can make it! The tow hall will be held in Portola Valley Community Hall.

https://forms.gle/Pb8qN6c9EBCsnhvB7

TOWN PICNIC AND ZOTT’S TO TOTS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2025

FUN RUN START: 10AM

TOWN PICNIC: 11AM to 1PM

Fun Activities, Tasty Food, & a Rockin’ Band!

🎈Dunk Tank - new this year! 🎈Petting Zoo & Pony Rides

🎈Jumpy Houses & Slides for Big and Little Kids🎈Face Painting

🎈Climb into the WFPD Firetruck 🎈Cub-Scout hosted games

🍔Support your local scouts’ BBQ booth or try the Taco Truck🌮

🎸Enjoy the tunes from a local band, Up and To The Right🎸

ZOTT’S TO TOTS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Click here to register: https://portolavalleyca.portal.opengov.com/categories/1089

ROAD CLOSURES!

Please note that portions of Alpine and Portola Roads (from Rossotti’s Alpine Inn to the Town Center) will be closed along the race route beginning at 9:45am until approximately 10:45am.

QUESTIONS? WANT TO VOLUNTEER? WILLING TO BE DUNKED?💦

Please contact AskeyKaren@gmail.com OR patty33937@gmail.com

Zone Zero - Simplified; a Tip brought to you by the Wildfire Preparedness Committee

WFPD is conducting defensible space inspections across the entire fire district, over 3 years. The latest estimate from Fire Marshal Kim Giuliacci is that they will get to Portola Valley in 2026.

Complying with the home assessment reports will reduce wildfire risk in Portola Valley, but a big challenge will be implementing Zone Zero. Zone Zero means removing combustible materials and vegetation within 5 feet of structures. It is a big change in aesthetics, but it is a necessity brought on by climate change, increasing dryness, and extreme winds. The insurance crisis will continue unless we all work individually and in concert to reduce our wildfire risk.

Not sure what to do? To get started, the SF Chronicle has an excellent overview of Zone Zero. See the following 2 graphics of a non-compliant home and a Zone Zero compliant home.

When you’re ready for more details, see WFPD’s webpage on Defensible Space, and check out the Guidelines for ordinance compliance. If you’re still not sure what to do, you can schedule an ad hoc assessment from WFPD, or contact the WPC via the Google Form at the end of this article.

What's Blooming Now?

Gumplant Grindelia

Gumplant belongs to the sunflower family (Asteraceae) and is readily identifiable by its medium-sized bright yellow flower heads and dark green, shiny leaves. It is a quirky, gangly plant that thrives during the hot summer months, when not much else is in bloom; the daisy- like flowers are an important pollen source. The plant, especially the flower buds, are covered with resin, a sticky substance that gives the plant its name. The gum is thought to protect against herbivores and against damage from ultra-violet radiation. They need little to no water, self-seed sparingly and are easily contained.

Community Emergency Team (CERT) Basic Skills Training