Half Moon Bay City Council Meeting

Date: September 17, 2024 | Time: 7:00 PM (Hybrid meeting)

The City Council met with three members present (Vice Mayor Harvey Rarback presiding, Councilmembers Robert Brownstone and Debbie Ruddock) due to the absences of Mayor Joaquin Jimenez and Councilmember Deborah Penrose. The agenda included consent items, a law enforcement annual report, contract amendments for the Opportunity Center, adding youth members to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the fourth-quarter financial report. Public comment highlighted accessibility issues, development concerns, and community events.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1A: Waived reading of resolutions and ordinances.
• Item 1B: Accepted the warrants list for July 2024.
• Item 1C: Adopted a resolution amending parking restrictions at the City Hall parking lot (Resolution No. C-05-11).
• All items were approved unanimously (3-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Paul Grossman (resident and civil rights lawyer): Stated that the Main Street Bridge’s deteriorated wooden sidewalks are inaccessible to people with mobility impairments, violating ADA. He urged the Council to adopt a resolution for prompt interim solutions (e.g., epoxy, plywood) and said he seeks no damages, only action.
• Brad Steinwind (resident, 2800 El Camino): Expressed support for the Planning Commission’s denial of a development application at 2800 El Camino but criticized the process for favoring the applicant, citing discrepancies in distance-to-bluff measurements.
• Rocío Ávila (ALAS Just Housing Committee): Invited the community to a vigil for just housing and Hispanic Heritage Month on September 27, 2024, from 6–8 PM starting at the Little Yellow House.
• Patrick Johnson (District 2 candidate): Announced his candidacy for City Council, highlighted past work on pathways and the Harbormaster Landing HOA, and raised concerns about safety at the Pullman Ditch trail crossing.
• Mary Burnier: Thanked the Council for supporting senior housing for farm workers, praising the Council’s compassion.
• Paul Nagingast (District 3 candidate): Stated he is campaigning for City Council and plans to door-knock district 3; encouraged residents to contact him via his website.

Discussion Items

3.A – FY 2023-24 Law Enforcement Annual Report

• Presentation: Sheriff Christina Corpus and Captain Richard Chichov reported on the Half Moon Bay Police Bureau’s performance.
  • Calls for service: 6,403 (down from 6,484 the prior fiscal year).
  • Violent crime decreased 27% (from 58 to 42 incidents).
  • Property crime decreased 37% (from 143 to 89 incidents).
  • Average response time for priority 1 calls: initially 4:23, corrected to 3:50 after removing miscategorized calls; final data pending.
  • DUI arrests rose from 22 to 65; moving citations down 11%; parking violations increased from 553 to 2,253 due to a full-time CSO.
  • Collisions decreased: fatal collisions from 2 to 1; major injury collisions from 7 to 0.
  • Highlights: Automated license plate readers led to arrests and solving of burglaries; psychiatric emergency response team (PERT) partnership; CARES program for unhoused; therapy K9 Maverick for victims.
  • Sheriff Corpus announced new sub-station on Main Street (former Chamber office) opening within two months and renovation of the old firehouse on Alveso Road into an emergency services bureau with a warming kitchen.
• Councilmembers commended the Sheriff’s Office for improved community engagement and transparency, noting the data contrasts with social media fears.
• Motion: To receive and accept the report. Carried (3-0).

3.B – Opportunity Center Contract Amendments

• Staff Report (Karen Decker): The Opportunity Center (OCC) offers workforce development, small business support, and a business incubator. Since its soft opening in January 2024, it has served 120 clients between Job Train and Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center.
  • Job Train: enrolled 60 clients, 15 placed in jobs; also provides ESL and digital skills training.
  • Renaissance: served 63 clients, hosted 10 workshops, and awarded microgrants ($1,000 each) to four graduates.
  • Coastside Venture Studio (incubator): 5 startups committed, 3 more in the pipeline; all 8 are market-ready or revenue-generating; verbal interest for funding in 2026.
  • Chamber of Commerce: foot traffic increased from 15–20 per month at old location to 350 in July 2024 at the new OCC location.
  • Total classroom rentals: 21 sessions (85 hours); meeting room rented 30 times (60 hours) by nonprofits.
• Conflict of Interest Issue: City Manager Matthew notified the Council that Job Train’s regional coordinator is Mayor Joaquin Jimenez. To avoid potential conflict, the City Attorney consulted the Fair Political Practices Commission. Out of caution, the resolution was amended to exclude Job Train’s contract extension; funding for Job Train ($350,372) will be brought back on October 1, 2024, after legal clarification. The amended resolution only covers other service providers total $718,750.
• Public Testimony:
  • Rosalba Mendez (Renaissance client): Shared how the center helped her after her daughter’s accident and provided a laptop; she started a business.
  • David Cotler (Job Train client): Received resume help and job leads; credited OCC for prompt service.
  • Mario Pérez (Job Train client): Found full-time employment after training and support, calling Job Train “a key that opens doors.”
• Councilmembers praised the OCC as a wise investment for economic mobility and noted that the funding comes from the county, not the city's general fund.
• Motion: To adopt the resolution as amended (approving contract extensions for the Chamber, American Energy Society, and Renaissance only, up to $718,750, through September 30, 2025). Carried (3-0).

3.C – Youth Membership on Parks and Recreation Commission

• Staff Presentation (John Doughty): Proposed adding two voting youth members (minimum age 14, entering freshmen through entering seniors) to the Parks and Recreation Commission, serving one-year terms (August to August, renewable once), appointed by Council. Total commission would increase from 5 to 7 voting members.
• Council unanimously supported the idea.
• Motion: Direct staff to return on October 1, 2024, with bylaw revisions to add two youth members. Carried (3-0).

3.D – Financial Report Q4 FY 2023-24

• Presentation (Ken Stiles): Unaudited year-end results.
  • Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT): $8.1M collected vs. $8.6M budget (shortfall of $450K, 5%); tourism regionally down.
  • Property taxes: $4.7M vs. $3.7M budget ($1M over, half from vehicle/loan fee allocations).
  • Sales tax: $3.1M vs. $3.2M budget ($120K shortfall).
  • Other revenues: $700K over budget (investment income, planning fees, grants).
  • Total revenue: $21.6M, $1M over budget.
  • Expenditures: $2M under budget due to salary savings ($600K), one-time savings on public safety contracts, deferral of CIP projects, and debt service refinancing.
  • General fund reserves: $11M unassigned at year-end; $3.6M assigned. The $2M surplus will be used to replenish reserves, partially offsetting the $2.4M planned draw for FY 2024-25 budget. Ongoing structural deficit remains ~$4M.
• City Manager Matthew added that the fee study is being finalized to better align charges with costs, and the city is implementing a GIS-based permitting system. Tourism marketing efforts (visitor study, potential Visit California Welcome Center designation) aim to boost TOT.
• Council noted positive direction but acknowledged the persistent deficit.
• Motion: To accept the financial report. Carried (3-0).

Key Outcomes

• Main Street Bridge ADA Issue: Council directed staff to return on October 1, 2024, with options for interim accessibility improvements (e.g., surface resurfacing) after Paul Grossman’s public comment.
• Opportunity Center: Job Train contract extension deferred to October 1, 2024, pending legal review; other provider contracts extended through September 2025.
• Parks & Recreation Commission: Staff to return with bylaws adding two youth voting members (target October 1, 2024).
• Law Enforcement Report: Accepted; Council also noted upcoming new substations (Main Street and Alveso Road) and the therapy K9 program.
• Financial Management: Staff to recommend replenishing reserves with the unaudited year-end surplus; ongoing deficit reduction efforts continue.