Half Moon Bay City Council Meeting - May 7, 2024
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Half Moon Bay City Council Meeting - May 7, 2024
The Half Moon Bay City Council met on May 7, 2024, at 7:00 PM in a hybrid format at the Adcock Community Center. The meeting included a proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month, city manager updates on sustainability and transportation, public comments on a proposed 40-unit farmworker housing project at 555 Kelly Avenue, and decisions on an energy service contract, summer beach management, and a community services grant program. The council approved the consent calendar (including three housing-related ordinances) with a 3-1 vote, and confirmed a new Parks and Recreation Commissioner.
Consent Calendar
- Waived reading of resolutions and ordinances.
- Tenant Protections Ordinance (Second Reading): Adopted a new Chapter 6.08 creating tenant protections.
- Housing Definitions Ordinance (Second Reading): Adopted amendments to Chapter 6.02 incorporating defined terms from the new rent stabilization and tenant protection chapters.
- Residential Rent Stabilization Ordinance (Second Reading): Adopted a new Chapter 6.06 establishing rent stabilization.
- Receipt of Legislative Position Letters: Received and filed position letters for SB 1077 and SB 1092.
- Denial of Claim of Merry Kathy Railsback: Denied the liability claim as recommended by PLAN JPA and Sedgwick.
- GIS Software Agreement: Approved a resolution waiving bid requirements and authorizing a three-year, $48,000 professional services agreement with ESRI for cloud-based GIS software.
- Vote: The consent calendar passed 3-1 (Councilmember Ruddock dissenting; Mayor Jimenez, Vice Mayor Rarback, Councilmember Brownstone in favor).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chloe Standez (youth representative and Eagle Scout candidate): Proposed constructing 3–5 concrete bonfire pits at Poplar Beach to provide safe, regulated gathering spaces and promote stewardship. She requested council support for a coastal development permit.
- Chad Hooker (Coastside Adult Health Center board member): Warned against Mercy Housing as a development partner, citing difficulties with the nonprofit over backup power needs for the health center's emergency operations. He urged caution regarding the 555 Kelly project.
- Juliet Kulda (30-year resident and realtor): Expressed concerns that Measure D restrictions have worsened the housing shortage and recommended excluding ADUs from the count. She also criticized the 555 Kelly design as too dense and lacking adequate parking, suggesting alternative locations or a redesign.
- George Mutif (resident): Asked the planning commission to take time to review the 555 Kelly project thoroughly, citing traffic and safety issues at the busy intersection near Cunha Middle School.
- Tara Kulda (business owner and church member): Supported dignified farmworker housing but opposed the current 555 Kelly proposal due to size, density, and parking concerns.
- Rocio Avila (Just Housing for All member): Passionately supported the 555 Kelly project, arguing that delays and opposition perpetuate housing crises and that farmworker housing should be centrally located near schools and services.
- Joanna Rukovski (resident): Praised the council's tenant protection ordinances and urged continued education efforts in multiple languages. She also expressed disappointment at opposition to the 555 Kelly project.
- Adelante speaker (translated): Expressed frustration that opposition to 555 Kelly was undermining hopes for farmworker housing.
- Other public comments (from later in the meeting) included: Carlisle Young suggested using variable message signs on 92/280 to alert drivers of delays; Rick Hernandez thanked staff and noted needed stair repairs at Poplar Beach; Hazel Joannis supported fire rings for visitors; Bob Rogers (Coastside Land Trust) offered to be a stakeholder on the Redondo Beach Road gate issue.
Discussion Items
- 3A – Municipal Energy Improvements (Energy Service Contract with Willdan Energy Solutions): Staff presented a comprehensive solar PV, EV charging, and electrification project for city facilities (City Hall, sheriff substation/EOC, community center, train depot, corporation yard). The project leverages $200,000 in city funds plus $465,000 in incentives (PCE, PG&E, IRA) and two loans, with a total not to exceed $1,485,000 (including 10% contingency). Key concerns included battery storage (deferred to a future phase), NEM 2.0 deadline (must finalize by August 2024 for EOC), and the city's structural deficit. Council adopted the resolution 4-0.
- 3B – 2024 Summer Beach Update: Public Works Director Maz Buzurgina outlined plans for outreach (variable message signs, social media), enforcement (increased sheriff patrols, off-road vehicle), traffic management (coordination with CHP, potential shuttle services), and amenities (additional trash bins, porta-potties, stair repairs). Discussion covered the Redondo Beach Road gate closure (council directed staff to apply for a coastal development permit), fire rings (council expressed interest and directed staff to explore best practices and bring back a plan), and coupon/token programs to encourage visitors to stay and dine downtown. Council also asked for a safety audit of beach stairs before Memorial Day.
- 3C – Community Services Financial Assistance (CSFA) Program: Staff reported on the cohort model (nine safety-net nonprofits collaborating on health care access and other services). Council provided direction to continue the program at the current funding level ($300,000) for FY 2024-25, with an option to extend a second year contingent on available funding. Council suggested increasing the technical assistance/cohort coordination portion (currently $30,000) to strengthen capacity building, while reducing individual grant amounts slightly. Staff was asked to work with existing grantees and bring back a proposal.
- 3D – Appointments to City Commissions: Mayor Jimenez nominated Tito Hernandez to fill a vacant seat on the Parks and Recreation Commission. Hernandez is a lifelong Half Moon Bay resident, young parent, and athlete. The nomination was confirmed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar Approved (3-1): Three housing-related ordinances (tenant protections, rent stabilization, and housing definitions) adopted; claim denied; GIS agreement approved.
- Energy Service Contract Approved (4-0): Resolution authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Willdan for up to $1,485,000 for solar and efficiency improvements.
- Summer Beach Direction: Council directed staff to pursue a coastal development permit for the Redondo Beach Road gate, conduct a stair safety audit, and bring back a plan for regulated fire rings.
- CSFA Program Direction: Council supported continuing the cohort model with $300,000 in grants, a two-year cycle, and enhanced capacity-building funding; staff to refine details.
- Commission Appointment: Tito Hernandez appointed to Parks and Recreation Commission.
- Next Steps: The April 2024 prior meeting? The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Bienvenidos. Uh, welcome to Hafobaya City Council meeting uh May seventh, two thousand twenty four. Please Councilmember Brownstone. Here. Councilmember Reddick. Here. Mayor Himenez. Here. You have a quorum. May we stand for the pledge? May I have a motion to uh approve the agenda? Second. May I have a roll call. Councilmember Brownstone? Yes. Councilmember Reddick? Yes. Vice Mayor Rarebeck? Yes. Mayor Jimenez. Yes. Motion carries. Proclamation. We have a uh, as you know, uh May is recognized as a mental health month. It's been um through a lot. You know, during the pandemic. Even to this point. Our community, especially all children. You know, we're affected. I've done a lot of work with the with the farm work community. But one thing that actually struck me. Um late twenty twenty into early twenty twenty one. It was done by uh migrant agricultural uh cultural workers. Did a study with farm workers. I was surprised actually to see how mental health affects our farm worker community in nobody ever took note. All the mental health trauma the farm workers have gone through. Anxiety, depression. We're never recognized. The suicide rate of the farm worker community was pretty high. The use of uh drugs and alcohol was pretty high as well. What it came out does have farm worker scope. I don't know if you knew, but in the 1990s, uh there was a high epidemic of use of crystal meth among the farmworker community. The reason they started using uh crystal method, and it was not just California, it was other states as well. So they could actually work long hours because that was the only way they they could make an extra income working overtime. Many of them became addicted. In San Mateo County, I had the uh the opportunity uh to provide support to some of our local farm workers to enter programs, rehabilitation programs. Most of them made it out. And some of them, you know, uh graduated from the program, and years later they relapsed again, and there was no turning back for them anymore. Last year, uh January 2020 January 23rd, 2023, there was a tragedy in Hafon Bay. As we understand, it was related to mental health, high levels of stress.
openpublica.com