Portola Valley committee agrees to explore 1 Shoreline pilot to improve homeowners' insurance access

The Portola Valley wildfire-preparedness committee voted unanimously to take the next step to engage 1 Shoreline to investigate developing a small-scale pilot aimed at improving homeowners' access to private wildfire insurance.

Len Matterman, who runs the San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District, known as 1 Shoreline, told the committee that "insurability to us means access to affordable insurance," and described the agency's plan to work with private insurers, local residents and nonprofit partners on targeted neighborhood pilots.

Carolyn Kooske, executive director of the nonprofit Insurance for Good, said insurers use proprietary, structure-focused models that differ from public hazard maps and that the pilot would use carrier modeling to identify cost-effective mitigation packages that materially reduce structure-to-structure risk. "The industry is really focused on a different type of model," Kooske said, describing the need for coordinated packages of measures rather than piecemeal fixes.

Why it matters: Committee members said the town faces rising insurance costs and increasing Fair Plan concentration in local ZIP codes. Matterman cited county data showing a sharp increase in Fair Plan exposure and argued a small, focused pilot could demonstrate whether insurer-aligned mitigation plus coordinated financing makes private-market coverage more available or affordable for participating homes.

What the committee authorized: The motion approved by the committee directs members to engage with 1 Shoreline to investigate implementing a pilot (identifying a neighborhood, defining scale and outreach, and returning with more detailed recommendations). The vote was to investigate and does not commit the town to funding or implementation.

Discussion highlights: Committee members pressed 1 Shoreline and Insurance for Good about realistic outcomes and messaging. One member urged caution about promising restored coverage; Kooske and Matterman said the effort should avoid overpromising and focus on measurable outcomes such as premium reductions or improved access off the Fair Plan. The presenters said insurer partners (including Mercury Insurance) have indicated willingness to discuss specific mitigation actions and discounts, and that pilots tend to work best where Fair Plan concentration and homeowner motivation intersect.

Next steps: Matterman and Kooske said they will work with the committee to identify candidate neighborhoods, refine modeling and financing plans, and return with results and recommendations at a future meeting. The committee's motion named exploration and engagement as the immediate next step.