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Record of Proceedings

Special Meeting of Half Moon Bay City Council – January 13, 2026 (Closed Session)

City Council — Tuesday, January 13, 2026
BodyHalf Moon Bay, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

You want to go check with um to convene the special meeting of January 13th, 2026.

0:16

Um the time is now 645 p.m.

0:21

Uh could we have a roll call please?

0:24

Um council member Brownstone here, Councilmember Nagingas here, Councilmember Johnson here, Vice Mayor Benrose here.

0:36

Um so I'm going to an open session identifying the closed session items that we will be considering and they are item four A, Conference Legal Counsel Existing Litigation, Government Code Section 54956.

0:53

Subsection D1, name of case, City of Halfland Bay versus Thomas J.

0:57

Gearing et al.

0:58

Zemoteo Superior Court, Civil Number 21, CIV 01560.

1:04

Name of case, Gearing et al.

1:05

vs.

1:06

City of Hartman Bay, USDC, civil number three, colon 21 CBJ 01802-EMC.

1:17

Item 4B, conference with legal counsel existing litigation, government code section 54956.9, subsections D1.

1:25

Name of case, Casamura Homeowners Association et al.

1:28

versus California Council Commission et al.

1:30

City of Halfman Bay Real Party and Interest, San Mateo Superior, Court Case number 19-CIV-04677, California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District Case number 168645.

1:44

Item 4C, conference with legal counsel existing litigation, government code section 54956.9, subsection D1.

1:52

Name of case, Casomero Homeowners Association et al.

1:54

versus California Council Commission et al.

1:56

City of Catholic Bay, no party and interest, San Mateo Superior Court case number 21 CIV-03202 and item 4D conference with legal counsel existing litigation government code section 54956.9 subsections D1.

2:12

Name of case Ellingson versus City of Halfland Bay dash San Mateo Superior Court case number 25-CIV-0483.

2:22

At some point do I state that I will refuse myself from item 4D.

2:28

Yes, right now I can say it right now.

2:30

Okay, I I'm going to recuse myself from item 4D.

2:34

Thank you.

2:34

If you're going to talk to each item separately, I will leave the room.

2:37

Is that the last item?

2:39

That is the last right.

2:41

So we're going to do the first three and then you can leave after that.

2:44

Um do we have any uh public comment on the closed session items?

2:50

No public comment.

2:57

Um so seeing no public willing to wanting to comment, I will now convene to closed session.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Pending Litigation█████████████████████████████████████████████50%
Summary of Proceedings

Special Meeting of Half Moon Bay City Council – January 13, 2026 (Closed Session)

The Half Moon Bay City Council convened a special meeting on January 13, 2026, at 6:45 PM to enter closed session for discussions with legal counsel regarding four existing litigation cases. The meeting was held at the Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay, CA. All councilmembers were present: Mayor Debbie Ruddock, Vice Mayor Deborah Penrose, Councilmembers Robert Brownstone, Patric Jonsson, and Paul Nagengast. No public comments were made on the closed session items. Councilmember Nagengast recused himself from Item 4D (Ellingson v. City of Half Moon Bay) and stated he would leave the room when that item was discussed. The council then proceeded to closed session.

Identification of Closed Session Items

  • Item 4A: Conference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation (Govt. Code § 54956.9(d)(1)) — City of Half Moon Bay v. Thomas J. Gearing, et al. (San Mateo Superior Court Case No. 21-CIV-01560) and Gearing et al v. City of Half Moon Bay (USDC Civil No. 3:21-CVJ-01802-EMC).
  • Item 4B: Conference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation (Govt. Code § 54956.9(d)(1)) — Casa Mira Homeowners Assn. et al. v. California Coastal Commission et al. (City of Half Moon Bay, Real Party in Interest) (San Mateo Superior Court Case No. 19-CIV-04677; California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District Case No. 168645).
  • Item 4C: Conference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation (Govt. Code § 54956.9(d)(1)) — Casa Mira Homeowners Assn. et al. v. California Coastal Commission et al. (City of Half Moon Bay, Real Party in Interest) (San Mateo Superior Court Case No. 21-CIV-03202).
  • Item 4D: Conference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation (Govt. Code § 54956.9(d)(1)) — Ellingson v. City of Half Moon Bay (San Mateo Superior Court Case No. 25-CIV-04838). Councilmember Paul Nagengast recused himself from this item.

Public Comments on Closed Session Items

  • No members of the public came forward to comment on the closed session items.

Key Outcomes

  • The council identified the closed session items as listed above.
  • Councilmember Nagengast recused himself from Item 4D and indicated he would leave the room during that discussion.
  • The meeting then adjourned to closed session at approximately 6:45 PM. No open session votes or decisions were taken.

Meeting Transcript

You want to go check with um to convene the special meeting of January 13th, 2026. Um the time is now 645 p.m. Uh could we have a roll call please? Um council member Brownstone here, Councilmember Nagingas here, Councilmember Johnson here, Vice Mayor Benrose here. Um so I'm going to an open session identifying the closed session items that we will be considering and they are item four A, Conference Legal Counsel Existing Litigation, Government Code Section 54956. Subsection D1, name of case, City of Halfland Bay versus Thomas J. Gearing et al. Zemoteo Superior Court, Civil Number 21, CIV 01560. Name of case, Gearing et al. vs. City of Hartman Bay, USDC, civil number three, colon 21 CBJ 01802-EMC. Item 4B, conference with legal counsel existing litigation, government code section 54956.9, subsections D1. Name of case, Casamura Homeowners Association et al. versus California Council Commission et al. City of Halfman Bay Real Party and Interest, San Mateo Superior, Court Case number 19-CIV-04677, California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District Case number 168645. Item 4C, conference with legal counsel existing litigation, government code section 54956.9, subsection D1. Name of case, Casomero Homeowners Association et al. versus California Council Commission et al. City of Catholic Bay, no party and interest, San Mateo Superior Court case number 21 CIV-03202 and item 4D conference with legal counsel existing litigation government code section 54956.9 subsections D1. Name of case Ellingson versus City of Halfland Bay dash San Mateo Superior Court case number 25-CIV-0483. At some point do I state that I will refuse myself from item 4D. Yes, right now I can say it right now. Okay, I I'm going to recuse myself from item 4D. Thank you. If you're going to talk to each item separately, I will leave the room. Is that the last item? That is the last right. So we're going to do the first three and then you can leave after that. Um do we have any uh public comment on the closed session items? No public comment. Um so seeing no public willing to wanting to comment, I will now convene to closed session.

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