Half Moon Bay City Council Regular Meeting – October 15, 2024
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Half Moon Bay City Council Regular Meeting – October 15, 2024
The Half Moon Bay City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at the Adcock Community Center. The agenda included a Future Leaders Civics Academy graduation, an annual report from the San Mateo County Libraries, an appeal of a planning commission decision to deny a coastal development permit for a new residence at 2800 Champs Elysee Blvd, a resolution to enter a power purchase agreement for solar panels, acceptance of a 5-year sewer infrastructure plan, and discussion of a potential community park at the Beachwood/Glencree property. The meeting featured extensive public comment and a 2-2 deadlocked vote on the residential appeal, resulting in the planning commission's denial being upheld.
Proclamations and Presentations
- Future Leaders Civics Academy Graduation: The city recognized 20 youth who completed a four-session civics and leadership academy. Mayor Jimenez praised their innovative ideas.
- Library Annual Report: Annie from San Mateo County Libraries presented the FY 2023-2024 report. Key statistics: Half Moon Bay Library had over 175,000 visitors, circulated 250,000 items, provided 60,000 digital downloads, and program attendance exceeded 20,000. Library staff attended 246 community events reaching over 8,400 people. Website visits increased 51%, Wi-Fi sessions rose 14%, laptop/hotspot usage increased 40%. 98% favorability rating. 500 volunteers contributed over 25,000 hours. 32% of staff speak another language.
- Midcoast Community Council Update: Discussed Dark Skies lighting compliance, Quarry Park festival, and changes in county financing.
Public Forum
- Patrick Johnson presented photos of illegal camping, vandalism, and environmental damage in the Pillaritos Creek riparian area. He called for a cleanup plan.
- Martin Anaya (Pacific Coast Television) announced PCT coverage of the Pumpkin Festival and the October 29 healthcare event. He reported on a PUC listening session urging HD broadcast for PCT. He also announced PCT Honors recipients.
- Crystalin (Coast Chamber) reminded of the candidate forum on October 16 at the library.
- David Shore urged denial of the Hyatt project and criticized legal costs of $184,000 in August 2024 warrants.
- Rossio Avila (Comité de Viviendas Justas) expressed concern about affordable housing, stating opposition to housing proposals is masked as something else and interpreted as racism and oppression.
- Paul Nagengast (candidate for City Council District 3) thanked voters met during his campaign.
Consent Calendar
- Warrants for August 2024 approved (5-0).
- Auditor's Reports from FY 2022-23 accepted (5-0).
Discussion Items
2.A – Appeal of Planning Commission's Denial of Coastal Development Permit at 2800 Champs Elysee Blvd (PDP-17-055)
Background: Appeal of the Planning Commission's 3-0 denial of a two-story residence. The site is in the Stuloski-Gonzalez Specific Plan. Debate centered on flooding from Pullman watercourse and LUP compliance (policies 7-51, 7-57). Councilmember Brownstone recused himself.
Staff Presentation: Senior Planner Scott Phillips reviewed history (eight hearings). City Engineer Moz Buserginia presented draft hydraulic modeling showing flooding concerns. Applicant incorporated a 25-year detention basin exceeding requirements. Peer review recommended additional hydrologic modeling as condition.
Appellant (Mark Massara): Argued project is fully consistent with policies. Property not in 100-year flood zone. Detention basin designed for up to 1,000-year storm. Off-site flooding issues predate project.
Public Comments: Neighbors opposed, citing flooding, erosion, liquefaction zone, lack of wet season soil tests, and desire to fix the ditch first.
Council Deliberation: Councilmember Penrose and Vice Mayor Rarback believed planning commission had sufficient evidence to deny. Councilmember Ruddick felt sufficient evidence existed for approval with amended conditions. Mayor Jimenez leaned toward denial.
Votes:
- Motion to deny appeal (affirm Planning Commission): Penrose (no), Ruddick (no), Rarback (yes), Jimenez (yes) – 2-2 tie, failed.
- Motion to grant appeal (reverse Planning Commission) with amended conditions: Penrose (yes), Ruddick (yes), Rarback (no), Jimenez (no) – 2-2 tie, failed.
Outcome: Appeal denied by default; Planning Commission decision stands.
3.A – Municipal Energy Project: Power Purchase Agreement for Solar PV
Presentation: Helen Walter and Moz Buserginia presented three options. Option 1: PPA with Peninsula Clean Energy – no upfront cost, $250,000 savings over 20 years, no maintenance burden. Option 2: WillDan solar-only – $355,000 capital, $47,000 savings. Option 3: Independent contractor – risks losing NEM 2.0 grandfathering.
Public Comment: Jimmy Benjamin asked about maintenance and savings calculation; Peter Levitt from PCE confirmed PCE handles maintenance and savings are net present value.
Council Discussion: Support for Option 1. Councilmember Brownstone disclosed his role on PCE board but voted. Staff assured other electrification projects are ongoing.
Vote: Unanimous (5-0) to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager to execute PPA.
3.B – Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside 5-Year Infrastructure Plan
Presentation: Moz Buserginia presented the Capital Improvement Program with three priority categories. Total estimated cost: $18 million (target $13.5 million). Largest project: Montara Force Main at $10.2 million, subject to litigation. Acceptance does not allocate funding; future rate increases likely.
Council Discussion: Councilmember Brownstone noted the funding gap and JPA challenges.
Vote: Unanimous (5-0) to accept the plan.
3.C – Potential Community Park on Beachwood/Glencree Property
Presentation: City Manager John and Moz Buserginia reported constraints: wetlands, LUP policies, floodplain. City is pursuing a stormwater management project with potential boardwalk nature trails. Staff recommended focusing on stormwater vision before recreation.
Public Comment: Jimmy Benjamin provided historical context on unpermitted grading and storm drain issues, emphasizing need for floodplain sponge restoration.
Council Discussion: Agreed site not suitable for active park. Directed staff to proceed with stormwater plan and consider passive recreation for grant potential. No formal vote.
Key Outcomes
- Appeal of 2800 Champs Elysee: Denied due to 2-2 tie; Planning Commission decision upheld.
- Solar PPA: Approved 5-0.
- SAM 5-Year Infrastructure Plan: Accepted 5-0.
- Beachwood/Glencree Park: No vote; direction to prioritize stormwater management with potential passive recreation.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome, bienvenidos to the Halfum Bay City Council meeting Tuesday, October fifteenth, two thousand twenty-four. Can we stand for the pledge? One nation with liberty and justice. May I have a roll call, please? Councilmember Brownstone. Here. Councilmember Penrose. Here. Councilmember Reddick? Here. Vice Mayor Rarback. Here. Mayor Jimenez. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the agenda? So moved. Second. All in favor of aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? We move on to our programations presentations. Are you guys ready? So I'm here to talk about the wonderful future leaders, Civics Academy that just finished up last week. Um, this program for those who don't know, it's a four-session youth civics and leadership academy, and we aim to help educate the youth in Half Moon Bay about the inner workings of local government. Um, we help them build personal and professional skills like public speaking, leadership skills, communication, adaptability, um, and it all culminates in a mock city council meeting. And so over those four sessions, they are working on a prod uh project that addresses a need for youth in the Half Moon Bay community, and then they present that project to a mock city council meeting. So they were all sitting very similarly to you all last week at the last session, and it's a great time, they're so smart, and I'm very excited for the future. And so I just want to let you all know that you are going to be and do so many things in this life, and we are very thankful that you let us be a part of this journey. So we're gonna go ahead and read your names. I'm gonna just do first names only, and then we're gonna ask you to stand up over here, and then we are going to ask the council to move over there, and we're gonna take some group photos. Sound good, and then you'll be free to go. Okay. So Kieran? Is Kieran here? No, Kieran. Aidan. I saw Aiden. Nice. Cheers. Yeah. Malia. Sophia with a PH. Julia. Caleb Eisen. No Amelia. Sorry.
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