Jeff Aalfs was chosen by the Portola Valley Town Council as mayor, and Maryann Derwin as vice mayor, for 2020 at the council’s Dec. 12 meeting.
Aalfs first joined the council in 2011, and previously served as mayor in 2014.
“2019 was a very demanding year as the Council tackled a range of issues from a new garbage contract to controversial housing conversations,” Aalfs said in looking back on his term as vice mayor this year. “Mayor (Ann) Wengert provided great leadership, with a focus on the Town’s fiscal health, the importance of resident feedback and desired outcomes, with an eye towards maintaining the Town’s priorities.”
As a council member, Aalfs has made environmental causes a priority through adoption of “reach codes,” rules that go beyond state requirements in mandating energy efficiency, and encouraging energy-efficient building and renewables, according to a town release.
Portola Valley is designing a Climate Action Plan with a target of 2030, planning for the Town Center to be a net zero energy facility as well as exploring additional electric vehicle charging stations at Town Center and other town facilities, according to a list of council environmental priorities for 2019-20.
Aalfs also serves as the town’s representative, and chair of the board of directors, for Peninsula Clean Energy, San Mateo County’s nonprofit electricity supplier.
He is an energy consultant helping residential and some commercial clients to comply with government energy codes and improve building efficiency.
Aalfs is married with two children and has a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of California at Los Angeles and a doctorate in genetics from Harvard University.
Derwin joined the council in 2005 and served as mayor in 2007, 2012, and 2016.
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