The Half Moon Bay City Council held a special meeting on December 19, 2024, at the Adcock Community Center to present the 2024 State of the City, recognize outgoing councilmembers, swear in new councilmembers, and select the mayor and vice mayor for 2025. The printed agenda carries a date of December 16, 2024, while the meeting timestamp is December 19, 2024; this summary follows the timestamp. The council also acted on the consent calendar and continued a public hearing on the proposed sale of city land for a 47-unit affordable farmworker housing project.
Mayor Joaquin Jimenez presented the 2024 State of the City, highlighting accomplishments and commitments, including:
Crystalin, from the Coastside Chamber of Commerce, reported that the Opportunity Center is now serving more than 300 people per month, compared with about 10 per month at its former Main Street office. Annie Malley, Half Moon Bay Library branch manager, reported more than 200,000 library visits, more than 200,000 items checked out, and library staff visits to more than 400 community sites.
May I have a roll call, please? Councilmember Brownstone? Here. Councilmember Penrose? Here. Councilmember Reddit? Here. Vice Mayor Rebecca? Here. Mayor Jimenez. Here. Yeah, quorum. Thank you. May we stand for the pledge. Thank you, thank you. Beautiful crowd today. So we're gonna move on to uh having our presentation, uh, the state of the city 2024. Uh Mr. Mayor, before we get started, I just wanted to provide a little bit of context. Um historically, the state of the city was a separate event, and we we schedule a meeting, we'd we'd invite our friends and family, and the mayor would get up and do a PowerPoint presentation. Was not the most fun event in the history of this city. Uh during COVID, we had to get creative, and so um PC TV came in and filmed uh our first video um session, and it was really really well liked. And so over the last couple of years, we've decided to move it to this meeting. It's a great way to end uh the term of mayor to celebrate the accomplishments of the city under that mayor and to close out uh the year. And so tonight you'll see a beautiful video, and uh, we're grateful for the team for putting it together, and uh by being video, we can go back and watch it anytime we want. So, with that, let's get started. Actually, I like that idea and going back and watching it. Thank you, Matthew. I am Joaquin Jiménez, you mayor, and I'm honored to welcome you to the 2024 State of the City Add. Thank you for taking the time to be here as we reflect on where we've been, where we are, and where we're heading as a community. Tonight, we explore how a rich past has shaped the Hafen Bay we cherish today, and how together we can build a more vibrant, equitable and resilient future. Hafom Bay has a history rooted in agriculture, a legacy of hard work, resilience, and community. From the early days of ranching and farming, the land has thrived because of the dedication of farm workers whose labor has sustained our economy and nourished generations. Our heritage is moving into the fabrics of celebrations from the proud presence of forces in a fourth of July parade to traditions like vaquero days, the Holy Ghost Festival, Dia de los Muertos, and the Pumpkin Festival. These events honor not just our history, but the enduring spirit of those who laid the groundwork for Halfum Bay's identity. This year, we marked the sun moment in our history. In a census act of violence, the tragedy illuminated the inequities phase borough farmwork community. Particularly the humane living conditions, many indoor. In response, our city took decisive action. We rehouse, displaced families, and began building a permanent farm worker housing at the 80s stone point. This work isn't just about addressing immediate needs. Equity is not just a goal, it is a commitment to ensure every resident of Half Home Bay can try. Affordable housing remains a key priority. This year, we took both steps to protect our most vulnerable residents by enacting tenant protections, including a rental registry and rental stabilization. These measures safeguard tenants from unjust evictions and rent hikes, providing stability for families who call this community home. Access to healthcare on the coast side has long been a challenge. In partnership with the Samatel County and Dignity Health, we address the gap by opening an urgent care facility right here on our main street. This clinic offers expanded services to ensure every resident has access to care, regardless of insurance. Mental health is another critical area to focus. Through the CARES program, we continue to provide vital support for those individuals in crisis, connecting them with the resources or commitment to equity expense to economic opportunity.