Half Moon Bay City Council Regular Meeting - October 2, 2024
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Half Moon Bay City Council Regular Meeting - October 2, 2024
The Half Moon Bay City Council met on October 2, 2024, at the Adcock Community Center in a hybrid format. The meeting featured proclamations for Hispanic Heritage Month and Domestic Violence Prevention Month, presentations on community initiatives, and discussions on several policy items including automated license plate readers, bridge repairs, and commission appointment processes. The council approved a two-year ALPR pilot program, a maintenance plan for Main Street Bridge, and a contract amendment with JobTrain, while deferring formalization of the commission appointment policy until after the election.
Proclamations & Presentations
- Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation: Mayor Jimenez presented the proclamation to Sandra and Elkin, two local students recognized for academic achievement and community leadership. The mayor noted his own background as a Mexican immigrant and first such mayor of Half Moon Bay.
- Domestic Violence Prevention Month Proclamation: Mayor Jimenez read the proclamation highlighting that more than 1 in 3 women, 1 in 4 men, and 1 in 2 transgender individuals experience intimate partner violence. CORA’s hotline received over 8,200 calls last year; 2,400 individuals participated in education programs; 94 adults and children received emergency shelter; 76 households received rental assistance; 1,925 people sought legal assistance; and 485 individuals received therapy. Lynn from CORA accepted the proclamation and provided the hotline number (1-800-300-1080) and invited the city to join the "Speak Up" prevention program.
- Mayor’s Announcements: The Pumpkin Festival will be held October 19-20.
- Closed Session Report: The council met in closed session prior to the meeting to discuss real property negotiations (555 Kelly Avenue) and existing litigation (Meg and Gas v. City). Direction was provided, nothing to report.
- City Manager Updates:
- Karen Decker announced the College of San Mateo will open a coastal educational facility at 650 Mill Street on Thursday, October 17, at 4:00 p.m. RSVP required.
- Maggie Rodriguez announced Elections Night Out on Wednesday, October 30, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Half Moon Bay Library.
- A community conversation on healthcare access and urgent care will be held Tuesday, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. at the Oceano Hotel in Princeton.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1.A–1.C: Approved unanimously without discussion: waiving reading of resolutions, response to grand jury report on restaurant exteriors, and response to grand jury report on compost compliance.
- Item 1.D (Parks and Recreation Commission Bylaws – Youth Members): Pulled by Councilmember Ruddock for discussion. The commission requested adding two youth voting members (ages 14–18). Councilmember Ruddock and Mayor Jimenez expressed preference for non-voting advisory roles, with Jimenez suggesting seniors over freshmen. City Manager provided context that the Bike/Pedestrian Advisory Committee has voting youth members, and the commission sees voting as essential for full civic engagement. Councilmember Penrose and Vice Mayor Rarback supported voting membership. The motion to adopt as written passed 4-1, with Mayor Jimenez dissenting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the public forum.
Discussion Items
- 3.A. Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) Pilot Program: Staff presented a two-year pilot with 16 units at 7 locations (including Main & Hwy 1, Main & 92, Redondo Beach Road & Wavecrest) at a cost of $108,900 from COPS grant funds. A usage and privacy policy was developed with input from community privacy experts and modeled after Palo Alto's policy. Councilmember Brownstone proposed amending the policy to explicitly protect First Amendment rights of free expression and assembly, which was accepted. Councilmember Ruddock expressed concerns about cost but voted yes; Vice Mayor Rarback voted no. Motion passed 4-1.
- 3.B. JobTrain Contract Amendment: Councilmember Jimenez recused himself from discussion and vote due to his employment with JobTrain. Staff reported that the city’s agreement with the county for the Opportunity Center services was extended to September 2025, and this amendment extends JobTrain's contract to September 30, 2025, for $350,372. City Attorney provided a legal opinion that the contract may proceed with proper recusal. Councilmembers requested quarterly performance reports, which staff confirmed are already provided. Motion carried 4-0 (Jimenez recused).
- 3.C. Main Street Bridge Maintenance Options: Staff presented four priority areas: east-side walkway, wooden railings, stucco, and west-side walkway. Total project up to $200,000 from the general fund, funded by a favorable year-end fund balance surplus of about $3 million. Councilmembers supported using redwood for walkway replacement rather than composite or plywood, emphasizing historic preservation and ADA accessibility. The first phase (east-side walkway and railings) expected to be complete by end of 2024 after Pumpkin Festival. Motion carried unanimously.
- 3.D. Commissions/Committees Appointment Process: Staff presented three options: (1) status quo with formalized deadlines and full-council interviews; (2) subcommittee recommendation; (3) district-based appointments. Additional considerations included anti-nepotism policy and term limits (max two terms). Councilmembers Ruddock, Penrose, Brownstone, and Rarback expressed strong preference for maintaining the current decentralized process (each council member appoints from their district but preference not required) and opposed term limits and anti-nepotism, with Ruddock questioning the timing and motive. Mayor Jimenez suggested a more independent committee, but others disagreed. The consensus was to keep the current process but codify it in a written policy after the November 2024 election. Staff will return with a policy for adoption.
Future Discussion Items
- Councilmember Ruddock requested a future agenda item to invite county staff to present on homeless encampment policies and trends, citing a county briefing she and Vice Mayor Rarback attended. They noted Half Moon Bay’s unhoused population is rising rapidly while countywide numbers decline. Councilmembers supported the idea for a future meeting.
Key Outcomes
- ALPR Pilot Program: Approved 4-1 (Rarback opposed). Policy amended to explicitly protect free speech and assembly.
- JobTrain Contract Extension: Approved 4-0 (Jimenez recused).
- Main Street Bridge Maintenance: Approved unanimously with $200,000 allocation and redwood material preference.
- Youth Member Bylaws: Approved 4-1 (Jimenez opposed). Two voting youth members added to Parks and Recreation Commission.
- Commission Appointment Process: Direction given to retain current process and return with a formal written policy after the election.
- Future Agenda: Council asked staff to schedule a presentation on homeless encampment policy and county trends.
Meeting Transcript
Here. Mayor Hibenez. Here. You have a corrupt. Thank you. May we stand for the pledge, please. Thank you, thank you. So moved. She won. Rocco. Was there a second? Second. Council Member Brownstone. Yes. Councilmember Redick. Yes. Council Member Pedros. Yes. Vice Mayor Rebecca. Yes. Mayor Himenez. Yes. Bush Harris. Thank you. Today we're gonna have a proclamation. The Hispanic Heritage Month. The Hispanic Heritage Month is the official celebration of those who the ancestry can be traced back to Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, Central and South America. For the very young age have achieved great academic success and overcome barriers that come with the with being a first generation and immigrant students. The celebration starts on September 15th to mark the Independence Day of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, followed by Mexico on the sixteenth, Chile on the eighteenth, Belice on the twenty first. The celebration of the Hispanic comment so one semana in milentseyo, but expandio a almost the Herency Hispana in milovecent. Segida por Mexico, Chilecho and Belice el 21. It's an honor, it is an honor to uh to present and to continue to celebrate the Hispanic Latino Heritage Month in the city of Hafon Bay. Muchísimas gracias and now I can have uh Sandra and Elkin come to the podium please yes please first of all would any of you would like to make a comment or statement about the Latino Heritage Month well good evening to everyone first of all I want to say thank you so much for the opportunity for the recognition to us this for me well it's hard to express with words but this for me is golden because it not only inspires me to continue working hard in myself but also to work hard to inspire other people to become an example for other people for my people and that's my goal since I came to United States I came to United States not only to be another immigrant or another person but to set an example to send out and I'm really happy and deeply grateful that you guys have given me this recognition so far. And I want to say thank you to my family who is here for the people have supported me for the people who have believed in me and to you all to the county as cemetery. Thank you so much. Muchas thank you much Sandra good evening to everyone I would like to say thank you for everyone for also believing in me and giving me this support thank you for my Hispanic community for pushing me to work harder every single day and hopefully to make them proud one day thank you yes yes that is a feel good story uh me myself an immigrant from Mexico came to the United States at the age of uh thirteen and it's always been an honor to represent the City of Hafen Bay in power of city council and also the first mayor uh Mexican immigrant you know elected to Hafon Bay so Elkin and Sandra hope to see you here in the future you know you have my support so thank you we have a uh second uh proclamation is uh domestic violence the prevention of domestic violence today you know the month of uh october we uh we recognize as the month to prevent domestic violence to I would like to bring an attention to October is the domestic violence awareness month a critical time to The prevention of domestic violence. Today, you know, the month of uh October, we uh we recognize as the month to prevent domestic violence. So I would like to bring an attention to October is domestic violence awareness month, a critical time to shed light on the issues that affect individuals and families throughout San Mateo County, including right here in Half Mai. I first want to say thank you to nonprofit organizations, community or community to overcoming relationship abuse, uh known as CORA, along with the law enforcement and social services for their ongoing efforts to support survivors and raise awareness of domestic violence. Statistics show that more than one in three women, one in four men and one in two transgender individuals will experience some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. These numbers highlight the urgency of addressing this issue. Undocumented individuals, transgender individuals, and people living in disabilities face an increased risk of domestic violence due to the assisting system systemic marginalization, make it essential to provide target support. Last year, CORTA 24 hour crisis hotline received over 8,200 calls, and nearly 2,400 individuals participating in education programs about healthy relationships and in uh inmate partner abuse. Also, last year in San Mateo County, 94 adults and children were provided with emergency shelter, and 76 households received a rental assistance to escape abuse situations. This shows the critical role of local services in providing immediate safe safety as well as long-term solutions. During that time, 1,925 people saw legal assistance, 485 individuals received therapy to help recover from domestic violence-related trauma. This underscores the comprehensive not nature or the support provided. Addressing domestic violence requires a collective effort. Every resident can play a role in making our community safe and supporting those affected uh by intimate partner violence.
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