Emergency Preparedness Committee forwards subcommittee report to town liaisons and discusses $1,500 budget for weather preparedness

The Portola Valley Emergency Preparedness Committee on April 2 approved a subcommittee’s notes on an exploratory resilience project and voted to forward that report to town liaisons Craig Taylor and Rebecca Flynn for review.

The committee chair moved to approve the subcommittee’s report and members voted in favor; there were no recorded nays or abstentions. The referral is intended to let the liaisons review the committee’s recommendations and return guidance on next steps.

Members then discussed what the EPC should do to prepare for significant-weather events. The chair said the committee’s operating budget is $1,500 and noted the chair has the ability to request additional funds from the town. Committee members emphasized that if the EPC is assigned additional responsibilities that require capital or resources, those needs must be articulated to the town and included on a budget request ahead of the town’s budgeting process.

Committee members described the practical next step as assembling a prioritized list of specific tasks and resource requirements to bring to a follow-up meeting with the town manager and the liaisons. The chair said they plan to meet with the town manager and report back to the full committee at its next meeting.

The committee also agreed to add budget planning to a future agenda so members can present cost estimates, spreadsheeted requests and a recommended budget that the town can review and modify. The committee set its next regular meeting for May 7, 2026, and adjourned at the end of the April 2 session.

Why this matters: the budget and scope decisions discussed on April 2 will determine whether the EPC can take on more substantial preparedness tasks or must limit its role to advisory work without additional town funding.