Half Moon Bay City Council Special Meeting: State of the City and 2025 Leadership Selection - December 19, 2024
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Half Moon Bay City Council Special Meeting: State of the City and 2025 Leadership Selection - December 19, 2024
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.
State of the City Presentation
Mayor Joaquin Jimenez presented the 2024 State of the City, highlighting accomplishments and commitments, including:
- Rehousing families displaced by the January 2023 shooting and building permanent farmworker housing at 880 Stone Pine Road.
- Enacting tenant protections such as a rental registry and rental stabilization.
- Partnering with San Mateo County and Dignity Health to open an urgent care facility on Main Street.
- Continuing the CARES mental health crisis support program.
- Opening the Opportunity Center of the Coastside and launching the Coastside Adventure Studio, described as the nation's only accelerator dedicated to resilience technology.
- Bringing college back to the coast via the return of college to San Mateo, plus completing a climate adaptation plan and downtown streetscape master plan.
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.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Naomi Patridge congratulated incoming councilmembers and advised them to be respectful and honest with citizens.
- Another public commenter thanked Mayor Jimenez and Vice Mayor Harvey Rarback for their leadership and praised the State of the City video.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved Consent Calendar items 1A-1D by a 5-0 roll call vote: waived reading of resolutions and ordinances; adopted a resolution declaring final results of the November 5, 2024 General Municipal Election; accepted the November 2024 warrants list; and adopted a resolution receiving the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
- The council later adopted the 2025 City Council meeting calendar by voice vote.
Acknowledgment of Outgoing Councilmembers and Swearing-In
- Councilmembers and community members thanked outgoing Mayor Joaquin Jimenez and outgoing Councilmember Harvey Rarback for their service. Representatives from Senator Josh Becker's and Assemblymember Marc Berman's offices presented legislative resolutions, and a representative from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors' office presented Board of Supervisors resolutions.
- County resolutions recognized Jimenez as the first Mexican immigrant to join the Half Moon Bay City Council and noted his farmworker advocacy; Rarback was recognized for his work on the CARES program, Peninsula Clean Energy, and other initiatives.
- Mariah Gregoriev praised Rarback's eight years of service and expressed belief that the community broadly supports recent changes, including CARES, farmworker housing, and climate action.
- Jimenez gave remarks in Spanish and English, saying his work continues and inviting new generations of leaders to step forward; Rarback reflected on his two terms and the need to support farmworkers and mental health services.
- Patrick Johnson (District 2) and Paul Naganagas (District 3) were sworn in as new councilmembers and delivered brief remarks.
Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor
- Councilmember Debbie Ruddock and Councilmember Robert Brownstone were nominated for mayor. Under Rosenberg's rules, the most recent nomination was voted on first.
- Brownstone was elected mayor by a 3-2 roll call vote: Brownstone, Johnson, and Penrose voted yes; Naganagas and Ruddock voted no.
- Debbie Ruddock was nominated and unanimously elected vice mayor by a 5-0 vote.
- Newly elected Mayor Brownstone said he looked forward to the year, encouraged public participation in listening sessions and meetings, and noted he had previously served as mayor during COVID.
Public Hearing: 880 Stone Pine Road
- The council considered a resolution of public interest and convenience approving the sale of a 6.87-acre portion of 880 Stone Pine Road (APN 056-260-180) for construction of a 47-unit affordable farmworker housing project.
- The council voted to continue the public hearing to January 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard at the Ted Adcock Community Center.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar items and the 2025 calendar were adopted.
- State and county resolutions honored outgoing Mayor Jimenez and Councilmember Rarback.
- Patrick Johnson and Paul Naganagas took their oaths of office.
- Robert Brownstone was elected mayor for 2025 (3-2); Debbie Ruddock was elected vice mayor (5-0).
- The 880 Stone Pine Road public hearing was continued to January 21, 2025.
- The meeting recessed for a reception and was scheduled to reconvene at 7:45 p.m. for a joint study session with the Planning Commission and Architectural Committee.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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