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Portola Valley anticipates the appointment of its new town manager at its upcoming Town Council meeting on July 23. Darcy Smith, who was selected after a nationwide recruitment and selection process, is expected to start on July 28 if her contract is approved by the council.
Smith recently served as the assistant city manager for the city of San Bruno and previously held the position of community development director for San Bruno and Millbrae. She brings over 28 years of experience in the public and private sectors to her new role in Portola Valley.
According to the town, Smith is not a stranger to Portola Valley. As a Stanford student in the 1990s, Smith learned about Portola Valley through her coursework, studying the town’s land use and environmental plans. As an avid hiker and cyclist, Smith says she is familiar with the town’s trails and roads over the past 30 years.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Earth systems from Stanford University and a master’s in urban and regional planning from San Jose State University. She is also a member of the International City and County Management Association, Municipal Management Association of Northern California, American Planning Association and Urban Land Institute.
Smith is known for her collaborative leadership style and expertise in budgeting and finance, land use planning, public policy, team mentoring and inclusive community engagement.
“Ms. Smith impressed the Town Council with her understanding of our community, her experience working on a broad range of local governance matters in San Mateo County and her enthusiasm for working with the Town Council, our Commissions and Committees, our residents and other stakeholders to address the challenges facing Portola Valley,” said Mayor Judith Hasko in a press release.
In a statement, Smith said she looks forward to collaborating with the council, staff and community to prioritize the town’s environmental sustainability, town operations, safety and emergency preparedness, land use and housing.
The town expressed its appreciation for Interim Town Manager Mark Linder and his support of the town over the past seven months.
According to the press release, the town will host an introductory event for local residents to meet Smith in the near future. Details for the event will be shared with the community.
Smith will make $250,000, earn an auto allowance of $250 a month and a maximum of $6,000 a year for professional growth expenses, according to the staff report attached to the Town Council’s agenda.
