Portola Valley: Council candidates agree on taxes, Town Center rebuild Portola Valley: Council candidates agree on taxes, Town Center rebuild (October 12, 2005)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

Judging from what the candidates said at a forum October 4, the next Portola Valley Town Council will maintain pretty much the same positions on every major issue -- from preserving open space to building a new Town Center -- as the current Town Council.

Close to 60 people crammed the historic schoolhouse last week to hear four candidates for three seats on the Town Council at the forum presented by the League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County.

Veteran council members Ted Driscoll and Richard Merk are facing Maryann Moise Derwin and Sally Ann Reiss, both community volunteers running for their first elective office. Since Councilman George Comstock is not running for re-election, Portola Valley is assured of a council with at least one woman.

While their experience and styles differ markedly, the four candidates say they support the core values on which the town was founded in 1964: preserving open space; low-cost, volunteer-led government; maintaining trails; open communications; and controlling development to preserve the town's rural character.

"I'm for keeping the night sky dark," said Mr. Merk, a 25-year volunteer who has served 10 years on the Town Council. "We need to temper the change that goes on around us."

Mr. Driscoll, the senior member of the council who is running for a fourth term, said: "We're 5,000 people in one boat. We should emphasize the things that join us, not those which divide us."

Ms. Reiss, a former business executive who has lived in Portola Valley for 10 years, stressed her business background and leadership in half a dozen town activities. "We need more communication," she said.

Ms. Derwin, who has worked hard for Portola Valley schools, promised to "listen to all sides and look at facts."

The candidates appeared to agree on two major issues before the town: They support replacing Town Hall, which straddles the earthquake fault and has been ruled unsafe. And they favor Measure H on the November 8 ballot, which would renew the 5.5 percent utility users tax and produce revenues for the general fund; and its companion Measure I, a 2 percent utility tax dedicated to open space acquisition.

Mr. Driscoll said the cost of building a new Town Center complex will be some $20 million, while the town has socked away about $4 million. If efforts at private fundraising fall short, the town can consider whether to go to the voters for a bond measure or parcel tax, scale back the project, or both.

"We will not start the project until we can pay for it," he said."

Ms. Reiss, who is co-chair of the funding committee, said: "A lot of things still need to be worked out. We need to create a process."

The 5.5 percent utility tax needs to continue "if we want to maintain roads, trails, fields -- and police," said Councilman Merk.

Ms. Derwin noted, "We get such a small potion of the property tax, we do need it."

Mr. Driscoll pointed out that Portola Valley receives only 4 percent of the property tax compared to 18 percent in Hillsborough and 10 percent in Atherton. "We can lower it [the utility tax] if we don't need it," he said.

While the candidates did not directly clash on issues, their final summaries suggest their priorities.

"We're all so wealthy. My property has appreciated by a factor of six," said Mr. Driscoll. "The challenge is managing change brought on by big wealth."

Ms. Reiss said she'd like "to regain the trust of people in the community. We have to work hard at fostering trust."

Mr. Merk said he wants to "preserve what brought us here and keeps us here." He said he didn't want homes with imposing walls in front of them, as there are in some neighboring communities.

Ms. Derwin added, "Preserving what we have is worth holding the line for."

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