Half Moon Bay City Council Regular Meeting – September 21, 2026

Note: The agenda and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on September 15, 2026, but per instructions the date of this summary is given as September 21, 2026.

The City Council held a regular meeting beginning at 7:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, public forum, a consent calendar, and several staff reports. The most extensive discussion concerned the Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) pilot program, with council ultimately directing staff not to continue the program. Other business included approval of health benefits for council members, designation of a voting delegate for the League of California Cities conference, acceptance of the quarterly financial report, and continuance of e‑bike and EV charging items.

Consent Calendar

• Items 9A–9E were approved unanimously: waiver of reading of ordinances, approval of minutes from September 1, 2026 meetings, acceptance of August 2026 warrants, and a professional services agreement for the Highway 1 North project.
• Item 9F (medical, dental, and vision benefits for elected officials) was pulled for separate discussion and later approved on a roll‑call vote of 5‑0 after public comment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joaquin Jimenez expressed concern that the Latino community lacked representation on the council and criticized opposition to the 555 Kelly affordable housing project.
• Kevin Schnesinski shared personal experiences of hate‑motivated assaults and requested the city establish a task force to address violent crimes against vulnerable groups.
• Harvey Werbeck argued that the referendum against 555 Kelly was driven by economic interests (landlords profiting from substandard housing) and urged support for Measure Q.
• Ron Keyes questioned council’s $100,000 allocation for renters displaced by rent control removal, asked about contingency plans if Measure Q fails, and requested traffic mitigation plans for the 555 Kelly project.
• Willett Chapman drew parallels between historic housing discrimination and current opposition to 555 Kelly, urging passage of Measure Q.
• Sid Young asked about parking enforcement at the Stone Pine Cove farmworker housing, which the city manager explained is county‑owned property.
• Nancy Fontana supported the council health benefit, noting the stress of the role, and requested that family coverage be optional.
• Ron Keyes (during 9F discussion) warned of negative community perception but acknowledged the benefit’s purpose of expanding the candidate pool.
• Tim Riley suggested beautifying the northern entrance to Half Moon Bay with cypress trees.

Discussion Items

• 9F – Health Benefits for Councilmembers Staff explained the proposal offers benefits similar to staff (up to family Kaiser), aimed at attracting diverse candidates. Public comment included both support and concern about optics. The council voted unanimously to adopt the two resolutions.

• 11D – ALPR Pilot Program Update The Sheriff’s Captain, District Attorney, and a Flock representative presented: the program used 16 cameras at 7 locations since summer 2025. They highlighted life‑saving uses (suicidal person, stolen vehicles) and crime reduction (vehicle burglaries fell from 8/year to 1). Privacy safeguards include 30‑day retention, audits, and a prohibition on sharing with ICE. Public comment was heavily critical, citing national misuse, data security, and the vendor’s track record. Council members raised concerns about audits not being received, sharing data with 290 agencies, and general distrust of network surveillance. After discussion, a majority (3 members) opposed continuing the program; the city manager stated staff would wind down the contract and report back on grand jury recommendations.

• 11A – League of California Cities Conference Council selected Councilmember Nagengast as voting delegate (with city manager and CD director as alternates) and directed a yes vote on the resolution supporting local land‑use control. Approved unanimously.

• 11B – RFP for Revenue Administration Services Authorized staff to release the RFP. Approved unanimously.

• 11C – Financial Report for Quarter Ended June 30, 2026 Accepted the report showing reduced deficit and strong reserves. Approved unanimously.

• 11G – City Council Priorities Workplan for FY 2026‑28 Council received the workplan and provided feedback; staff will report back on implementation.

Key Outcomes

• Councilmember Health Benefits: Adopted (5‑0).
• ALPR Program: Council directed staff not to continue the program; contract wind‑down to begin, with a response to the grand jury due at the next meeting.
• League of Cities Delegate: Designated with a yes vote on the resolution (5‑0).
• Revenue Services RFP: Authorized (5‑0).
• Financial Report: Accepted (5‑0).
• Continuance of Items 11E and 11F: Moved to the October 6, 2026 meeting.
• Future Agenda Items: Council added items on a zero‑tolerance policy for hate crimes and exploring roundabouts for Highway 92 and Highway 1.