Agenda packet — Half Moon Bay City Council, March 14, 2026

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

SPECIAL MEETING

CITY OF HALF MOON BAY
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2026
1:00 PM
ADCOCK COMMUNITY CENTER Debbie Ruddock , Mayor
535 KELLY AVENUE Deborah Penrose, Vice Mayor
HALF MOON BAY, CA 94019 Robert Brownstone, Councilmember Patric Jonsson, Councilmember
Paul Nagengast, Councilmember
This agenda contains a brief description of each item to be considered. Those wishing to address the City Council on any matter not listed on the agenda, but within the jurisdiction of the City Council to resolve, may come forward to the podium during the Public Forum portion of the agenda and will have a maximum of three minutes to discuss their item. Comments on Consent Calendar items should be made during the Public Forum section of the agenda. Those wishing to speak on a Business or Public Hearing matter will be called forward at the appropriate time during that item’s consideration.

Please Note: Anyone wishing to present materials to the City Council, please submit seven copies to the City Clerk.

Copies of written documentation relating to each item of business on the agenda are on file in the Office of the City Clerk at City Hall where they are available for public inspection. If requested, the agenda shall be available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132.) Information may be obtained by calling 650-726-8271.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, special assistance for participation in this meeting can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at 650-726-8271. A 48-hour notification will enable the City to make reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility to this meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II). http://halfmoonbay.gov

HYBRID MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT PARTICIPATION PROTOCOLS
This closed session meeting will take public comment in-person and via Zoom. Remote participation is provided as a supplemental way to provide public comment, but this method does not always work. The public is encouraged to attend in person to ensure full participation. All Councilmembers and staff will participate in person. 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. Please click to join the webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85007693509 or join by phone at 669-900-9128, using Webinar ID 850 0769 3509. If joining by phone, use *9 to raise your hand, *6 to mute and unmute.
1 1. CONVENE SPECIAL MEETING / ROLL CALL

2. INTRODUCTION

3. CITY COUNCIL RULES OF DECORUM OVERVIEW

3.A RULES

4. STAFF UPDATES

4.A CITY COUNCIL PRIORITY SETTING FOR FY 2026-27
Staff Recommendation: Receive staff reports related to Council Priority Setting for FY 2026-

27. STAFF REPORT
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 3
ATTACHMENT 4

5. PUBLIC COMMENT

6. BREAK

7. 2026-27 PRIORITY SETTING EXERCISE

8. SUMMARY / NEXT STEPS

9. ADJOURN SPECIAL MEETING
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BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HALF MOON BAY

AGENDA REPORT
For meeting of: March 14, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
VIA: Matthew Chidester, City Manager
TITLE: CITY COUNCIL PRIORITY SETTING FOR FY 2026-27
______________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION:

Receive staff reports related to Council Priority Setting for FY 2026-27.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. Appropriate funding for implementation of the priorities will be included in the Recommended Budget for FY 2026-27.

STRATEGIC ELEMENT:

This update supports all Elements of the Strategic Plan.

BACKGROUND:

The City’s Strategic Plan consists of the City Council Strategic Elements, the City Council Priorities, and the Capital Improvement Program. The Strategic Elements are high level objectives, including Fiscal Sustainability, Healthy Communities and Public Safety, Inclusive Governance, and Infrastructure and Environment. These elements provide a long-range vision for the City’s future and a consistent focus for all of the City’s services and operations. The Council Priorities are a short list of key focus areas that may change periodically, as major projects and initiatives are completed, or in response to changes in the economy, regulatory environment, or major emergencies. The Capital Improvement Program is a list of planned construction projects that covers a window of five years.

As past years, in preparation for the FY 2026-27 budget, the City Council hosted several listening sessions in early 2026, which allowed the Council to hear directly from members of the community in an open format. The purpose of the sessions was to gain additional insight into the community’s priorities, for consideration by the Council and staff as they identify how resources will be allocated over the next year and beyond. For those that were unable to participate in the listening sessions, the City offers an online survey, which was open from late January through mid-March, as well as accepting emails from individuals that want to share feedback about potential priorities for the City in the coming fiscal year. This feedback is compiled and summarized, which is attached to this report (Attachment 2) and linked to the City’s Listening Sessions webpage.
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DISCUSSION:

To help provide context for the Council’s Priority Setting Exercise, attached are several important documents, including: a summary of the City’s accomplishments to date in FY 2025- 26 (since July 1, 2025); the 2026 Listening Sessions Summary Report; a summary of current projects and efforts underway by the City; and a list of additional anticipated and potential projects for FY 2026-27. Additional information on each attachment is provided below, and a brief presentation will be shared at the Priority Setting Session on March 14, 2026.

1. FY 2025-26 City Accomplishments (to date). The last several years have been challenging for the City. The ongoing structural deficit has limited funding and required staff to cut back on costs wherever possible, including holding several key positions vacant in order to achieve savings as well as provide flexibility in evaluating the staffing and structure of the organization going forward. This past year the Council established an Ad Hoc committee to work with staff on an organizational study, and recently hired a specialized consultant to assist in this effort. This process has recently kicked off, and is expected to continue for several months, with the hope that some recommendations can be implemented through the FY 2026-27 Budget, including filling some of the existing vacancies. Unfortunately, the City has experienced significant staff turnover during the last two years, with 40% of positions turning over, and a current vacancy rate of 28%. Although some of these positions are being recruited and filled at this time, this significant change has created additional stress and workload issues for existing staff.

Other uncertainties have been challenging as well, all of which take a toll on morale and productivity. Despite all of this, the City has accomplished quite a bit and should be proud of the output and quality of work of staff. The attached Accomplishments list is a testament to the commitment of staff and dedication to serving the community and moving the Council’s policies and priorities forward.

2. 2026 Listening Sessions Summary Report. As shared above, the attached report helps provide an overview of feedback received from the community in the leadup to the Council’s Priority Setting Session. The report includes all of the feedback received through the listening session process, as well as a summary of key themes that received the most comments. Additional takeaways include reduced engagement from previous years, despite increased outreach and marketing efforts to ensure the community was aware of the opportunities to share their feedback. Significant ongoing national and international challenges may have played a role in the community being less engaged locally than in past years, and the Spanish language session was notably poorly attended, especially by our immigrant community members, who traditionally have attended in significant numbers. Immigration and other fears likely played a role in that change. Staff will evaluate the ongoing approach to collecting feedback as part of this process, and will likely make recommendations for adjustments prior to kicking off this process in 2027.
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3. Current projects and efforts underway by the City. Prior to identifying and discussing new priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, it is important for the community and Council to understand the current workload and bandwidth of staff, which helps to establish remaining bandwidth for additional projects and programs. As shared above, the City is currently significantly understaffed, with remaining staff feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin due to increasing demands and expectations from the Council, community, and overall local government landscape. These challenges are not isolated to Half Moon Bay, but with a smaller workforce (46 full-time positions authorized), many responsibilities lie with single staff or small teams, so any vacancy creates pressure to pick up additional responsibilities regardless of bandwidth. With current efforts underway to evaluate and refine the organizational structure of the City and then fill vacant positions, staff are hopeful that in the near future additional bandwidth will become available. In the meantime, the Council and leadership team will need to be especially thoughtful about how many new or changed priorities are included this Fiscal Year and how they are prioritized and scheduled. The attached list only includes significant efforts underway or known to necessarily be initiated in the coming months, and does not include more routine, day-to-day responsibilities of staff, many of which require significant time on any given day. The list includes both program and policy level projects, as well as capital projects. The Department of Public Works is currently preparing the 5-year rolling Capital Improvement Program, as well as the draft Capital Improvement Plan for the upcoming fiscal year. These items will be included in the budget process later this year. The capital projects included in this attachment are intended to identify the most significant projects underway or on the immediate horizon.

4. Additional anticipated and potential projects for FY 2026-27. In addition to the existing projects in Attachment 3, staff have identified several additional potential projects that are anticipated to be required in the coming fiscal year or that have come to light over the past fiscal year and will require consideration and prioritization by the Council and leadership team.

Given the City’s ongoing fiscal and staffing constraints, this year’s priority setting process will need to focus on ensuring existing projects and efforts have enough resources available to continue to move forward, and any additional projects will need to be carefully considered and prioritized in the context of these constraints.

Overall, the City is trending in the right direction, with new staff being hired and financial outlooks improving. The recent mid-year budget report indicated a shrinking deficit, and replenishing reserves to policy levels both indicate a positive outlook. With the organizational assessment underway, it is hoped that in the coming fiscal year staffing can be stabilized and additional positions filled. This will eventually lead to additional bandwidth and the opportunity to evaluate additional priorities and projects. In the meantime, continuing to make progress on existing projects and providing high levels of service and effectiveness in delivering the City’s core services should be a main focus for the Council and leadership team. 5

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ATTACHMENTS/LINKS:

1. FY 2025-26 Accomplishments

2. 2026 Listening Sessions Summary Report

3. Current Projects List

4. Potential Projects List
6 Attachment 1
FY 2025-26 Accomplishments (first 8 months)
Programs/Projects-
• Through concerted efforts to cut costs, improve efficiency, and increase revenues, made significant improvement on the City’s ongoing structural deficit and fully funded reserves at the City’s 50% (30% operating/20% economic uncertainty) policy level with additional unencumbered fund balance that will support future efforts to balance the budget while limiting impacts on residents
• Made improvements and successfully implemented the 2nd year of the rental registry and rent stabilization program, with improved communications, compliance, and outcomes o Hosted a tenant workshop to educate renters on their rights and obligations, as well as connect resources
• Supported the opening of the Stone Pine Cove neighborhood and selection process for the residents of 46 new units of affordable housing.
• Adopted and implemented the Downtown Vitality Ordinance, including development of collateral and outreach materials
• Launched the City’s first GIS system and Public Map Viewer, supporting staff and providing easy access to the community seeking information on parcels, zoning and land use, and other map based information.
• Worked closely with residents and businesses and made progress in efforts to resolve ongoing flooding issues along the Pullman Watercourse in the Miramar neighborhood. • Executed an agreement with the County’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement to enhance outreach, education, and enforcement of the City’s Minimum Wage o Hosted a know your rights workshop for workers in Half Moon bay • Secured a $500 thousand Coastal Commission grant to initiate the LCLUP Implementation plan • Collaborated with community organizers to host the community’s fist Diwali event, with significant attendance and expectations of a larger and more elaborate event in future years • Hosted more than two dozen regional officials at the Council of Cities event, which featured a well-received presentation from a local entrepreneur • Added two Youth representatives to the Recreation Commission, growing the voices and diversity of viewpoints on this important advisory commission • Implemented the CloudPermit online permitting and management system, streamlining the building permit process and providing additional information and resources for residents and contractors while increasing staff efficiency and improving data tracking and retention
• Implemented and supported several new recreation programs including a popular new beach volleyball league, the tiny toddlers open gym program, expanded access to the pickleball courts at Cunha Middle School, and new contract recreation classes – Coastside Country Line Dancing (one of the most popular classes we’ve ever hosted), Tai Chi for adults, and several music classes.
• Analyzed and made improvements to the City’s business license process, which will ultimately simplify the application process and shorten the timeline for new businesses to 7 obtain a business license in the City.
• Hosted of the first major movie production in Half Moon Bay in more than a decade, bringing additional revenue to several local businesses and organizations, as well as the City, and ultimately adding to the appeal of the City as a place to produce films and to visit filming locations.
• Completed and launched the City’s Laserfiche Public Portal online digital record system, providing easier access for the public to City records, and potentially reducing staff workloads related to public records requests.
• Collaborated with the Coastside Chamber of Commerce and hotels to increase the Hotel Business Improvement District assessment from $1 to $2 per room night, doubling revenues and providing additional resources to support tourism marketing and promotion efforts, which should lead to additional economic impacts and revenues to local businesses and the City
• Received authorization to enter into an MOU with the Half Moon Bay – Kariwa Sister City Association to allow installation and maintenance of a new cultural garden at the library, commemorating 30 years of this great program
• Supported the ongoing Doordash “Dashloop” reusable foodware pilot program • Hosted several important events, including the 3rd Remembrance Day event, National Night Out block parties, Veteran’s Eve recognition event, and Faith Leaders Breakfast • Launched a new digital budget book production process that includes a user-friendly online budget portal
• Initiated SB707 implementation, which modifies the Ralph M Brown Act and expands meeting and teleconference requirements
• Transitioned the City’s internal attorney services to Burke, Williams and Sorenson, LLP • Managed the following: Building Permits – 435 applications received, 398 permits issued, 45 in process; Planning Permits – 53 applications received, 39 permits issued, 26 in process; Code Compliance Cases – 35 reports, 14 resolved/closed, 21 in process; Measure D – 215 staff hours in Phase 1 Council Allocations and Phase 2 Individual Planning Commission Allocations since November 2025
Capital Projects-
• Adopted Phase 2 of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, which is a comprehensive strategy to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for its impacts.
• Completed construction of the John L. Carter Park Improvement project and opened the park for several events. This newly developed outdoor amphitheater will host many important arts and culture and other community events, while supporting economic development in the downtown and driving new revenues to the City • Made significant progress on the City Facilities Electrification project, constructing solar panel arrays at two City facilities and installing new electric equipment (replacing natural gas appliances and equipment) at several facilities. This project is ongoing and will help the City be more resilient in the future while saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions 8 • Completed and 2025-26 pavement management project, improving street conditions in the Alsace Loraine neighborhood
• Completed trail repair project, replacing and improving asphalt surfaces on heavily used portions of the California Coastal Trail near Poplar Beach • Made significant progress towards important upcoming construction projects, including the Eastside Parallel Trail Segment 4 project and Highway 1 North Safety Improvements 9 City of Half Moon Bay
City Council Listening Sessions Summary
Spring 2026

10 www.halfmoonbay.gov
Table of Contents
Background ...........................................................................................................................1 Meetings Summary …............................................................................................................1 Session Format ...………….………………......................................................................2 Session Highlights …….….….......................................................................................2 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………....4
Appendices:

1. Listening Session PowerPoint Presentation

2. Consolidated Comments from in-Person Sessions

3. Additional Comments Received via Website Form Submission and Email 11 1
Background
In preparation for the FY 2026–27 budget, the City Council hosted in-person Listening Sessions to hear directly from community members in an open forum. One session was conducted in English with Spanish interpretation, and the other in Spanish with English interpretation to support broader participation.

In addition, members of the Council hosted an Interfaith Listening Session, where faith leaders and business owners shared their perspectives, concerns, and recommendations.

For community members who were unable to attend or preferred not to speak during the sessions, the City website also provided an opportunity to submit feedback online.

This Listening Sessions Summary document provides an overview of the discussions from these sessions and incorporates community input received through the online submission process.

Meetings Summary
The purpose of the listening sessions was to hear directly from the community about their priorities for the coming year and beyond. The sessions were broadly noticed through the following means:
 City of Half Moon Bay Website
 Half Moon Bay eNews
 Nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
 Radio Advertisements on KHMB
 Half Moon Bay Review – online advertisements
The sessions were held on the following dates:

Faith Leader Listening Session – in person
Thursday, January 29
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue
General English Listening Session – in person with Zoom hybrid option (Spanish interpretation provided)
Thursday, January 29
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue
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General Spanish Listening Session - in person with Zoom hybrid option (English interpretation provided)
Sunday, February 1
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue
Listening Sessions Format
City staff coordinated and moderated the Listening Sessions. Residents were invited to share their thoughts one at a time and were free to raise any issues or topics they felt were important. Although no strict speaking limits were established, participants generally kept their remarks brief and respectful of others’ time. After everyone in attendance had a chance to speak, participants were invited to add any further comments. Consistent with the requirements of the Brown Act, City Councilmembers and staff limited their responses during the general sessions to providing only broad informational clarification. Staff compiled a written summary of the public feedback, which is included as an attachment for reference.

Each meeting ran for roughly one hour to ninety minutes.

Session Highlights
Attendance: Total attendance was around 50 participants.  Some participants attended more than one listening session. While demographic data was not formally collected, general observations suggest that middle-aged adults represented the largest share of attendees, followed by older adults.  Participation among Latino community members at the in-person sessions was notably limited, which may have been influenced by the current immigration climate.  As in past years, young adults have historically been underrepresented in these types of engagement opportunities.

Alternative Forms to Submit Feedback
Website Form and Email Submissions
In late January, an online survey was made available on the City Website at www.halfmoonbay.gov/listeningsessions. As of March 12, 2026, 34 submissions were received through the feedback form, and 12 submissions were received via email to [email protected]. All feedback received digitally is included in two appendices, one for the website form and one for the email submissions. 13 3
Community Feedback: Key Themes
Key Themes: Several topic areas were brought up frequently in the sessions, and in the channels provided to those who could not attend in person sessions.

Overall, residents emphasized prioritizing essential services, safety, practical infrastructure improvements, and equitable community support.

The highest interest from feedback received both in person and online can be categorized in the following areas:
 Housing and Affordability
 Public Safety and Privacy
 Economic Vitality and Downtown Activity
 Infrastructure and Public Works
 Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities
 Climate Resilience and Sustainability
 Governance, Accountability, and City Processes
 Education and Transportation Access
Housing and Affordability
Housing affordability emerged as the most frequently raised concern, particularly during the Spanish-language session and via online submissions. Residents expressed that local workers, service staff, and lower-income households are increasingly unable to keep up with rent and cost-of-living increases, while wages remain generally stagnant.

Key feedback included:
 Support for Measure D, senior housing, the 555 Kelly Avenue project, rent stabilization programs, tenant legal services, and rental assistance.  Suggestions for programs that benefit both tenants and landlords, including reduced permit fees for housing improvements and incentive-based approaches instead of strict rent control.
 Concerns about the polarization of the housing discussion, with some supporting middle-income housing and practical housing programs.
 Access to healthcare and medical programs for residents who do not qualify for standard insurance or Medi-Cal coverage was also highlighted as a related concern.

Public Safety and Privacy
Safety and privacy issues were the second most frequently raised topic. Residents emphasized both physical and digital safety concerns.
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Key feedback included:
 Opposition to license plate readers (Flock cameras) due to privacy risks, misuse by law enforcement, and data security concerns. Residents noted the use of AI to track vehicles, times, locations, patterns, and occupants, with concerns about data being accessed by ICE, FBI, and other federal agencies. Calls were made to deactivate cameras, terminate contracts, and audit the system.  Traffic safety concerns included truck routes, motorcyclist risks, angled vs. straightin parking on Main Street, and pedestrian safety along Highway 1 and Main Street.  Flooding along Pilarcitos Creek, downtown safety, and elder-friendly initiatives were also highlighted.

Economic Vitality and Downtown Activity
Residents expressed strong interest in supporting downtown businesses and strengthening economic activity.

Key feedback included:
 Protection of small businesses through formula business ordinances.  Improved wayfinding to help visitors navigate Main Street and discover local businesses.
 Strategies to connect beach visitors to downtown retail and restaurants, including signage, QR codes, and integrated programs.
 Support for arts and cultural activities as economic drivers, not just cultural enrichment.

Infrastructure and Public Works
Infrastructure and maintenance issues were frequently discussed. Residents highlighted both functional improvements and cost-conscious project planning.

Key feedback included:
 Scope and cost concerns regarding Poplar Street improvements, with a preference for simpler and more practical designs.
 Roadway improvements to reduce congestion, including parallel routes to Highway 1.  Widening and separation of the Coastal Trail for pedestrians and cyclists.  General maintenance priorities, including road paving, trail upkeep, and open public restrooms.
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 Clarification of City versus County responsibilities for services such as sewer, water, and mental health support.

Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities
Residents emphasized improving public recreational spaces and access to facilities.

Key feedback included:
 Upgrades to Kitty Fernandez Park to make it a functional and welcoming community space.
 Public access to the planned pool at Half Moon Bay High School for swimming lessons and recreation.
 Activation of the proposed City Hall parklet, with commitment to engineering, design, and City funding to move the project forward.
 Support for advancing planned development projects, including the 555 Kelly Avenue site.

Climate Resilience and Sustainability
Community members highlighted energy and environmental resilience as a growing priority.

Key feedback included:
 Interest in solar microgrids (“grid-making infrastructure”) to ensure power reliability during outages and reduce long-term energy costs.  Support for energy investments that could be funded by reallocating money from programs with lower public benefit, such as security camera subscriptions.

Governance, Accountability, and City Processes
Residents consistently emphasized the need for transparent, responsive, and accountable governance.

Key feedback included:
 Publishing Council agenda items in advance to allow adequate time for review.  Careful vetting of contractors and vendors to prevent mismanagement or misuse of funds.
 Proactive, timely maintenance and repair of infrastructure.  Clear communication about project costs, delays, and City responsibilities. 16 6
Education and Transportation Access
Some residents highlighted the importance of education and transportation equity.

Key feedback included:
 Expanded transportation options for students traveling to community colleges across San Mateo County, particularly for those balancing work and study.  Increased support for low-cost, accessible programs to reduce barriers for service workers and other isolated groups.

Conclusion
Overall, participation in the listening sessions was limited this year, and online submissions and written feedback provided a more accessible channel for community input. While those who attended in person offered valuable perspectives, the lower turnout suggests that the City may benefit from evaluating the current engagement format. Future outreach could include additional virtual options, such as more and smaller Zoom-based listening sessions, to improve accessibility and participation. The City may also consider allocating resources for broader outreach and promotion to increase community awareness and engagement.

Based on the feedback received, the Council’s previous priorities (most recently set in FY 2024-25) - Affordable Housing; Public Health, Safety, and Emergency Preparedness; Economic Development; Community Climate Resilience and Sustainability; and Transportation, Circulation, and Mobility - continue to reflect issues of concern to the community, though the context around these priorities continues to evolve. Community comments also raised related topics that may warrant consideration in future discussions, including community services, communication and outreach, education, and potential impacts of federal policy changes.

Some comments that did not emerge as a major topic may be addressed by the City without elevating to the level of an annual priority. Department staff will review the comments and develop plans to address issues that may be resolved within existing budgets and workloads.

As the Council considers its plans for the FY 2026-27 budget, this report serves as a summary of broad community input on where and how to prioritize the City’s resources.

City Council’s next steps include consideration of this material, defining priorities and a workplan for FY 2026-27, and establishing an associated budget consistent with supporting the priorities.
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Attachments:

Appendix 1: Power Point Presentation in English language Appendix 2: Consolidated Session Comments
Appendix 3: Website Form Feedback
Appendix 4: Email Feedback
18 2026 Community Listening Session
Thursday, January 29, 2026
19 o About the Priority Setting Process
o Additional Feedback Opportunities
o Our Council
o Session Goals
o Guidelines for a Productive Session
o Closing
Today’s Agenda
20 City Council Community Listening Session 1
Hybrid; English (Spanish interpretation provided)
Thursday, January 29
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Ave.

City Council Community Listening Session 2
Hybrid; Spanish (English interpretation provided)
Sunday, February 1
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Ave.

Council Priority Setting Process 2026
City Council Priority Setting Session
Hybrid; English (Spanish interpretation provided)
Saturday, March 14
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Ave
21 Submit your Feedback
• Available through Tuesday, March 10, 2026
• Online at: www.halfmoonbay.gov/listeningsessions
• Send email to: [email protected]
Other Feedback Opportunities
22 Debbie Ruddock – Mayor
Deborah Penrose – Vice Mayor
Robert Brownstone – Councilmember
Patric Jonsson – Councilmember
Paul Nagengast – Councilmember
Half Moon Bay City Council
23 Session Goals
•Hear what matters most to you/our community
•Learn about needs, challenges,
and ideas for improvement
•Gather your input to help guide City Council
decisions for the Fiscal Year 2026 - 27
24 o Housing
o Public Safety
o Transportation / Mobility
o Circulation
o Community Services
Examples
25 Guidelines for a Productive Session
•Be respectful and kind to one another
•Speak from your own experiences
•Keep comments brief so everyone has a chance to
speak
•It’s okay to have different opinions —
listening is important
26 In your opinion,
what should be
the Council focus
for FY 2026-2027?
27 Closing
•Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts
•What you shared today will inform City priorities
•We appreciate you being part of this conversation
28 We are currently
on a break! We will
be back shortly.
29 Thank you for participating!
30 City Council Listening Session #1 - January 29, 2026 Topic / Category Notes
Affordable Housing ● Affordable Housing ++, Keep Measure D as is, 555 Kelly, Senior Housing, Rent Stabilization, legal services for tenants, rental assistance,
● Different approaches to support tenants, create programs that benefit both tenants and landlords.
● Adjust fees for rental programs, to make it more affordable ● Status update on Measure D & ADU, Make priority if coming up short
● Didn’t like approach of rent stabilization, incentive landlords instead
● Reduced permit fees for landlords who update their housing units
● Security protection of the data from rent programs
● Dislike the polarization of affordable housing discussion ● Support middle income housing,
Emergency Prep / Public
Safety / Public Health
• Against license reader (Flock),
• Parking solutions on Main Street for Big trucks
• Move to parallel parking on Main Street
• Dislike straight-in parking spaces; Angled is better
Recreation / City Facilities • Open community pool (+)
Climate Resilience /
Sustainability
•
Economic Recovery /
Development
• Formula business ordinance + (protect small business and downtown)
Traffic / Transportation • More medical transportation services • Traffic ++; truck traffic going to the dump (+)
• Explore a protected turn into the dump
• Motorcyclists are a danger
• Lack of Parking
• Incentivize transportation options (expand ride plus) 31 • Don’t address traffic by adding lanes.
• Explore disincentive car traffic into town;
Other • Prioritize age friendly. (+)
• Prioritize elder adults and challenges they face. (+) • Continue to provide support to safety net providers. (+) • Explore an independent single special district for sewer services (SAM) and incorporate water (CCWD).
• Clarify the City’s responsibilities (as oppose the County’s). (i.e mental health services)
• Caltrain work needs to be communicated and dealt better City Council Listening Session #2 Spanish - February 01, 2026 Topic / Category Notes
Affordable Housing ● Requesting that rents not be raised too much. Concerned about housing
● We need help with housing. Agricultural community is
isolated community.
● Representing ALAS the only thing she would like is to put on agenda is the increase in rent the salaries for the work that they do, the cleaning and they haven’t had a raise and so the cost of living is exaggerated.
● There are many people that don’t qualify for medical because of the little amount that they make –what can we do to help them?
32 Emergency Prep / Public
Safety / Public Health
• Concerned about installation of ALPR readers and he
previously spoke about the installation and opposed. He believes that decision of ALPR’s wrong decision. He wants to note that they are not ALPR readers but are using AI to determine how many people are in car, what color is the car, time and where they are going. He referenced VM Penrose and if she drove from her home to Highway 1 there would have been various points where her information would be identified, including facial recognition. If you go over hill to Foster City there are 4 flock cameras that will record all of the same things. As you go about your day you will come across other flock cameras and all that information will be stored in a data base that is held by private company, Flock Safety, that is responsible for storing the data. Flock Safety owned by Eric Peter and principal for Palantir, which is primary software company for ICE. Flock has committed so many illegal acts with their cameras. Flock has shared data that City was told would be safe with ICE and the Border Patrol and any law enforcement officer who wants to search data base anywhere in the US. Oregon created working group between local
Police, FBI and Homeland Security. He will send email with more information. Devices are easily hacked and videos
online show how easy it is to hack system. Cameras should be immediately deactivated and contract terminated.

Recreation / City Facilities • City Hall parking lot park. As of this month, there is a desire for citizens and city to have park in that location. Erin Torme got public input on three designs and that was brought to council. Council approved in concept. There is a citizen benefactor who is willing to support most of the costs.

Project was sent to City Hall to get property surveyed-it languished there for three years but survey is available.

Sylvia Moderno donated the bell and has been fenced off and rusting for three years. What do we need to move forward – civil engineering drawings for detention system. CAD
drawings should be available. Perhaps a CDP will be needed.

The City could decide on the necessity of that and issue it to itself. The City needs to commit to project to get it shovel ready. The donor needs to see the City is committed to
project. City would need to be for civil engineering and initiative to move forward.
33 Climate Resilience /
Sustainability
• Supports vision for energy and power supply. Puerto Rico uses micro grid that combine solar and storage to power buildings even in absence of larger grid. In HMB, the City relies on power lines above ground that weaken depending on weather. He supports use of micro grids, through solar and storage, which is cheapest source of power by lifetime. At the end of their lifetime they are still generating around 70%. this is not calling for rooftop solar. He would like to see investigation into grid making solar structure and solar investment by city to see if grid making is possible.

Also protesting Flock cameras, he protests Flock’s safety as an organization. He objects to subscription services and notes that Santa Cruz cancelled subscription finding that it had been misused by federal agents. Flaws in security system have been analyzed through medium of you tube videos. Towns in eastern states have ended programs but Flock reinstalled cameras, which led to litigation. Courts in Washington State have declared video from cameras are public records. If further deployment occurs, the question is are we ready for these risks. He referenced prior agenda item specifying how much the City is spending on Flock cameras, which could fund solar energy systems.

Economic Recovery /
Development
• It would be good investment for city to review any
advancement in technology or programs that could hold
information that could be used in ways that are not intended.

I feel that if the City had something in place to do deep dive to do research for the companies that the City is going to contract with the City wouldn’t get involved in a contract that is maybe unsavory. She also finds out that something is on the agenda on Friday evening. She would like to get
information earlier, even if it is not for sure
Traffic / Transportation • She would like to focus her comments on students that go to community colleges in the bay area and those that travel to those colleges and sometimes they have to take three buses.

She would like to see more transportation and programs for travel. I would like to see more programs to make it easier to travel.
34 Other • Maid services and restaurant workers feel isolated when it comes to government assisted programs ++
• Power outages, advocacy for solar panels which might be a cheaper option (Grid making infrastructure)
• Protests against Flock Security (ALPR) cameras due to misuse by federal agencies, including ICE +3
• Control Rent increases +1
• Housing Concerns
• Council items to be advertised in advance
• Low-cost medical care – Because of wages do not qualify for Medi-Cal services • Parklet between City Hall and Nano’s - Park design which includes closing the parking exit – Wants City to cover costs and take advantage of a benefactor to start the process to build a park.
• Transportation from HMB to Community Colleges (CSM and Canada College); Rediwheels asks for many requirements
35 Print
Share your Message - Comparte tu Mensaje
Hola a todos
La comunidad de bajos ingresos que vive y trabaja en Half Moon Bay. Que es la mano de obra y el corazòn de esta ciudad tiene el derecho de tener una vivienda justa y equitativa. Es inaceptable que los trabajadores no puedan encontrar un lugar digno y asequible para poder ofrecerle a su famiia.

El control de renta es una medida necesaria para protejer a las personas que no pueden pagar rentas muy altas y que tiene dos o mas trabajos para poder pagar y no quedar desalojados.

La ciudad de Half Moon Bay tiene que prioritizar la vivienda vamos a seguir luchando por un Half Moon Bay mas justo y equitativo para todos.

Gracias Rocio A
What should the City prioritize in the 2026 budget? Use the field above to send us your message and make your voice heard.
¿A qué debería dar prioridad la Ciudad en el presupuesto de 2026? Escribe tu mensaje en el espacio de arriba y haz escuchar tu voz.
2026 Listening Sessions - Sesiones de Escucha - Submission #9285 Date Submitted: 1/23/2026
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36 2026 Listening Sessions
Each year as part of its budgeting process, the City Council hosts Listening Sessions to hear directly from the people who live and work in Half Moon Bay. The input received helps bring the community’s perspective into the next step in the budget process - the annual Priority Setting Session.

Both listening sessions take place at the Ted Adcock Community Center at 535 Kelly Avenue.

Listening Session 1 – Hybrid (In Person / Zoom); English (with Spanish interpretation) Thursday, January 29
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

TACC Center
Listening Session 2 – (In Person / Zoom); Spanish (with English interpretation) Sunday, February 1
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

TACC Center
Priority Setting – In Person; English (No Zoom session, but the event will be broadcast) Saturday, March 14
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

TACC Center
Unable to attend a Listening Session in-person? A Zoom option is available for each session, or you can fill this form, or send your feedback via email at [email protected].

Sesiones de Escucha 2026
Cada año, como parte de su proceso de elaboración del presupuesto, el Concejo Municipal organiza Sesiones de Escucha para escuchar directamente a las personas que viven y trabajan en Half Moon Bay. Las opiniones que se reciben ayudan a incorporar la perspectiva de la comunidad en el siguiente paso del proceso presupuestario: la Sesión Anual de Establecimiento de Prioridades.

Ambas sesiones de escucha se llevan a cabo en el Centro Comunitario Ted Adcock, ubicado en 535 Kelly Avenue.

Sesión de Escucha 1 – Híbrida (Presencial / Zoom); Inglés (con interpretación al español) Jueves, 29 de enero
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Centro Comunitario Ted Adcock (TACC)
Sesión de Escucha 2 – (Presencial / Zoom); Español (con interpretación al inglés) Domingo, 1 de febrero
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Centro Comunitario Ted Adcock (TACC)
Establecimiento de Prioridades – Presencial; Inglés (Sin Zoom, pero el evento será transmitido por TV) Sábado, 14 de marzo
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37 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Centro Comunitario Ted Adcock (TACC)
¿No puede asistir a una Sesión de Escucha en persona? Hay una opción por Zoom disponible para cada sesión, o también puede llenar este formulario o enviar sus comentarios por correo electrónico a [email protected].

Share your Message - Comparte tu Mensaje
Please replace Poplar Street (west side of Hyw 1)
Almost 3 years ago you had a pipe Dream of doing a Blvd. Street project using a million dollar grant at public meetings I said a million$ would pay for even the east side of Poplar Street. You went and opened bids and did the east side project which ended up cost way over your bid price and you had to take funds from the city budget to finish the project.

Now you say you don’t want to replace the west side of Poplar because you’re waiting for a grant to do the west side and don’t want to waste money doing it twice the project will rebuild the street, but it’s going to cost at lease 3 to 4 mil
What should the City prioritize in the 2026 budget? Use the field above to send us your message and make your voice heard.
¿A qué debería dar prioridad la Ciudad en el presupuesto de 2026? Escribe tu mensaje en el espacio de arriba y haz escuchar tu voz.
2026 Listening Sessions - Sesiones de Escucha - Submission #9349 Date Submitted: 1/29/2026
Firefox https://www.halfmoonbay.gov/Admin/FormCenter/Submissions/BulkPri... 3 of 54 3/12/2026, 5:57 PM
38 2026 Listening Sessions
Each year as part of its budgeting process, the City Council hosts Listening Sessions to hear directly from the people who live and work in Half Moon Bay. The input received helps bring the community’s perspective into the next step in the budget process - the annual Priority Setting Session.