Photo: “High Fire Danger” sign placed at the corner of Golden Oak Dr and Alpine Rd. The Fire District told the Town of Portola Valley that this area has significant fire hazard and that new development requires additional mitigations to protect firefighters and the community. The Town of Portola Valley reported to the State of California that there is no significant fire hazard in this area and no additional fire safety mitigations are necessary.

About

PublicSafety4PVNow, a 501(c)(3) public charitable corporation, was formed to promote public safety in Portola Valley by encouraging the Town Council to comply with State public safety mandates.

 

Years of appealing to the Town Council through letters, oral comments, petitions, and participation as committee members has not been effective. It’s time to insist that Portola Valley comply with State safety laws and regulations.

 

Here are some examples of how Portola Valley’s town government has subordinated safety:

– Grossly understated the risk of wildfire to life and property in formal documents submitted to FEMA
– Disregarded the Town’s own data on fire hazard severity
– Misrepresented fire hazard in a State-mandated environmental analysis and reported that NO mitigation measures are necessary to safely accommodate a 20% population growth in an 8 year period, despite repeated Fire District warnings that they are

– Buried the Woodside Fire Protection District’s Jan 2023 letter that critiqued the Town’s environmental analysis and then reneged on a commitment to the District to incorporate the recommended safety measures that the District laid out in the letter
– Denied knowledge of the Fire District’s letter in response to a formal Public Records Act request

 

With a new Town Council and new Staff, Portola Valley is poised to make a much-needed course correction. It needs your help to do it. Join our mailing list to stay informed.

 

Guiding Principles

  1. The Town of Portola Valley should comply with ALL State laws, including State public safety mandates
  2. Policy decisions should be based on the best available data.
  3. Portola Valley’s General Plan
    – was carefully crafted to protect the safety and values of Portola Valley residents, 
    – is the reason the unique and wonderful town we live in today exists, and 
    – should be changed ONLY through a public and transparent process

Meet the Board

Bob Turcott – Portola Valley resident for 18 years. Retired physician and engineer. Member of the Ad Hoc Housing Element Committee.

Ron Eastman – Portola Valley resident for 16 years. Retired astrophysicist. Served on the Ormondale PTO and Portola Valley Schools Foundation.