Half Moon Bay City Council Meeting - February 3, 2026
Half Moon Bay City Council Meeting - February 3, 2026
The Half Moon Bay City Council met on February 3, 2026, for a regular meeting that included a presentation from the San Francisco Peninsula Tourism Marketing District, several city manager updates, public comments on housing and farm worker issues, and council actions on consent calendar items, appointments, and a consulting agreement. Key outcomes included approval of a dispatch services agreement, reappointment of architectural advisory committee members, and authorization of an organizational assessment.
Consent Calendar
- Items Approved Unanimously (8A–8D, 8G): Waiving reading of resolutions, meeting minutes from January 20 and 29, 2026, and approval of legal services retainer amendment.
- Item 8E (Minutes of Past Meetings): Approved 3-2, with Councilmember Nagengast and Councilmember Johnson abstaining due to not being on the council at the time.
- Item 8F (9-1-1 Dispatch Services Agreement): Approved unanimously after discussion. The agreement with San Mateo County covers July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030 at a total cost of $4,312,564. Councilmember Nagengast clarified this is separate from the law enforcement sheriff contract and covers 24/7 dispatch services.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Harvey (public comment during City Manager updates): Expressed strong opposition to the ALPR (automated license plate reader) pilot program, citing ACLU concerns about mass surveillance and data privacy. Referenced Mountain View City Council's decision to disable their Flock cameras due to unauthorized data access by law enforcement agencies. Urged council to reconsider the program.
- Carolina (public forum): Spoke in support of rent control and dignified housing for low-income residents. Stated that some families pay $4,500 rent for a single bathroom and kitchen with eight people living in the house. Called for action on 555 Kelly project and better housing policies.
- Rocio Avala Garcia (public forum): Criticized the council's previous decision on rent control, stating that working people work double shifts to pay rent and should not have to face rent increases. Urged reconsideration.
- Joaquin Jimenez (public forum): Emphasized the importance of farm workers and economic mobility. Highlighted the Economic Recovery Initiative, Job Train, Renaissance Center, and Rancho San Benito's efforts to train farm workers to become farmers. Stressed need for dignified housing for essential workers and preserving farmland on the coast.
- Lisette Soliz (public forum): Program manager for Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, reported that services continue to thrive in partnership with Coastside Hope. Announced the first edition of Coastside Thrive magazine and a five-year anniversary celebration for Bay Area Orchids on February 14.
- Barry Hathaway (public forum): CEO of Job Train, reinforced commitment to the community. Announced receipt of funding for another 18 months in new location at Coastside Hope. Emphasized the need to invest in people's earning power to address housing affordability.
Discussion Items
- Presentation by San Francisco Peninsula Tourism Marketing District: John Hutar presented the district's strategic plan, including pillar: support destination asset development (venue improvements, tourism master plan), maximize destination experience (food/ beverage events, Bay Trail work), and strengthen organization. Highlighted recent campaigns with 186,000 Instagram viewers, 5,500 interactions, and 2,000 shares. Announced upcoming events: Heritage Fire (July 26), Whiskeys of the World on the coastside, and a countywide restaurant festival (April 23–May 3). Councilmembers discussed balancing events between coast and bay, outdoor recreation, and engaging farmers and fishermen. City Manager Chittister praised the team's proactive engagement.
- City Manager Updates:
- DoorDash Dash Loop Pilot: Todd Seeley described a three-month reusable container pilot program starting February 1, involving local restaurants. Containers are returned to bins inside restaurants, collected and cleaned by Dispatch Goods. Benefits: up to 98% waste reduction, 60% CO2 reduction. No city right-of-way impact. Councilmember Johnson noted a bin was seen outside; staff will investigate.
- Housing Element Certification: Leslie reported that HCD conditionally certified the housing element adopted in November, but requires zoning updates to demonstrate compliance due to time lapse. Work will begin immediately on LCP amendment for zoning updates, expected within four to five months including Coastal Commission review.
- Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR): City Manager reported that a 16-camera pilot program at 7 intersections was fully deployed in late 2025. Due to concerns about surveillance and data privacy, the Sheriff's office held meetings with Flock vendor and follow-up will include county supervisors and attorneys. Staff will schedule a council session to discuss whether to continue the program.
- Feature Film Production: A feature film will be shot in Half Moon Bay starting mid-February, using local businesses and hiring locals as extras. Impacts on Main Street and coastal areas; production company doing direct outreach. City updated fee schedule to generate extra revenue. Specifics about the film are confidential.
- Budget Listening Sessions: Two sessions held; online feedback form available through March 10. Priority-setting workshop scheduled for March 14.
- Health Benefits for Elected Officials: Finance Director Ken presented options: extending CalPERS health benefits (legal minimum city contribution $162/month) or a separate plan (not recommended). Council discussed deferring action until after labor MOU negotiations, pending more information on Medicare impacts and comparison with other cities. Decided to postpone direction and revisit in late spring.
- Organizational and Staffing Assessment: City Manager Matthew Chittister presented a proposal to hire Matrix Consulting Group for $66,500 to conduct an assessment over two phases, with recommendations by June 30, 2026. The firm's founder Richard Brady (a coastside resident) will lead the project. Councilmember Nagengast and Brownstone, who served on the ad hoc committee, endorsed the selection. Council approved the agreement unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved 8A–8D, 8G unanimously; 8E approved 3-2 (Nagengast and Johnson abstaining); 8F approved unanimously.
- Architectural Advisory Committee Reappointments: Approved unanimously: Linda Ponzini (architect, 4-year term), Chad Hooker (at-large, 4-year term), and Steve Kakucci (landscape architect, 2-year term).
- Matrix Consulting Agreement: Authorized city manager to execute agreement not to exceed $66,500 for organizational and staffing assessment, term ending June 30, 2026.
- Health Benefits Discussion: Deferred; council directed staff to gather comparison data from other cities and return with update after labor negotiations progress.
- Future Agenda Items: Councilmember Ruddick requested a future discussion on policies for responding to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) coming to city hall. Councilmember Nagengast raised e-bike regulation; noted county and state efforts. Council agreed to keep both on radar.
- Council Reports: Councilmember Nagengast reported on League of Cities committee work including e-bikes and road charge program, and Peninsula Division meeting with legislators. Councilmember Brownstone asked for history on state preemption of local e-bike control. Vice Mayor Penrose reported on PCE battery backup seminar, SAM budget meetings, one shoreline federal appropriation for Army Corps study, and $250,000 earmark for East Side Parallel Trail design. Councilmember Johnson reported on Sewer Authority and drone airspace meeting.
Meeting Transcript
26. As a reminder, if you are joining this meeting via Zoom, you can still make public comment. During any public comment portions, attendees may use the raise your hand feature and will be called upon and unmuted when it is their turn to speak. If joining by phone, use star nine to raise your hand, and star six to mute and unmute. We also have Spanish interpretation services available in person and via Zoom. Uh one point on point language solutions is in the back left corner. If anyone needs assistance with interpretation services, on point will now provide information on how to receive interpretation services if you are in need of them. So could we hear from our translation servers? Thank you, madam mayor, council members, uh city staff, members of the public, Victor Hernandez, Spanish interpreter. We buenas noches. Could we now have a roll call of the council, please? Yes. Commissioner Councilmember Nagingast. Here. Councilmember Brownstone. Here. Vice Mayor Penrose here. And Mayor Ruddick. Here. All council members are present this evening. Thank you. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I Pledge of Allegiance to the Bag of the United States of America. And to very public for which it stands. One nation under God in the visible with liberty and justice or all. I'm going to ask for a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. May I have a second? Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay, we're moving on to item three, which is proclamations and presentations. Uh, there are no proclamations this evening. We do welcome John Hutar with the San Francisco Peninsula Tourism Marketing District for a presentation. At the end of the presentation, we will ask for any comments from council and the public. Are a number of our board members and advisory council members, uh Kevin Kretsch, our board chair, Hyatt Regency SFO, Nova Maldonado, recording in progress. Our chief advocacy officer. Blanca Rivera, General Manager of the Half Moon Bay Lodge. Uh as uh CEO of Visit Coastide and the Coast Side Chamber. Uh Cameron Palmer, I think you know him quite well, uh, from Cameron's pub and a number of other uh investments in Half Moon Bay, uh Pumpkin Festival, and Matthew Revere, General Manager of the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, who serves on our advisory council. Uh so uh just a little recap. Uh we were very honored to bring to Halfman Bay and the Ritz Carlton, the Ritz, the Michelin reveal of Michelin restaurants for California. You see a number of our board members here and staff. Uh as far as uh engagements and and our social media, uh our recent campaigns have attracted 186,000 viewers on Instagram, five thousand five hundred interactions, 2,000 shares, and interaction is when someone likes or loves or puts those uh emojis behind it. Getting behind the pumpkin festival, things to do in downtown Halfman Bay, local features, and and highlighting various businesses like Half Moon Bay Brewing. A number of uh print media uh placements, featuring uh the chef at the Ritz Carlton in Forbes magazine, Silicon Valley magazine, things to do in San Mateo County, a big national story that was assistance of the historical society going back to the artichoke wars in the late 1800s, early 1900s that were prevalent here on Coastide. We do our best to reinvest in the community, supporting the Coastal Repertory Theater, the Pumpkin Festival, and other events throughout the year.
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