CITY OF PACIFICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
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Mayor Mary Bier
Mayor Pro Tem Tygarjas Bigstyck
Councilmember Mike O'Neill
Councilmember Sue Vaterlaus
Councilmember Sue Beckmeyer
City Council Regular Meeting 1 July 11, 2022
REGULAR and ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING
July 11, 2022 (MONDAY) – 7:00 PM
www.cityofpacifica.org
Mayor Mary Bier called the meeting to order on July 11, 2022 at 8:51 PM 7:00 PM REGULAR MEETING
Call to Order
Mayor Bier called the Regular Meeting to order at 8:51 p.m.
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Mary Bier Mayor Present
Tygarjas Bigstyck Mayor Pro Tem Present
Mike O'Neill Councilmember Present
Sue Vaterlaus Councilmember Present
Sue Beckmeyer Councilmember Present
City Clerk Coffey took a verbal roll call.
Staff Present: Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager; Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney; Yulia Carter, Asst. City Manager; Lisa Petersen, PW Director; Christian Murdock, Acting Planning Director; Bill Glasgo, Acting Police Chief; Ron Myers, Fire Chief; Sam Bautista, PW Dep. Director; Lawrence Henriquez, Assoc. Civil Engineer; Michael Perez, PB&R Director; Bonny O’Connor, Sr. Planner; Tommy Yu, IT Manager; Sarah Coffey, City Clerk.
Reading of Land Acknowledgment
Mayor Bier read the Land Acknowledgment.
City Clerk Coffey explained the conditions for having City Council meetings pursuant to Government Code Section 54953 (as amended by AB 361), to conduct necessary business as an essential governmental function as a teleconference meeting with no meeting location open to the public. She also gave information on how to present public comments participating by Zoom or phone.
City Council Regular Meeting 2 July 11, 2022
Salute to the Flag led by Councilmember Beckmeyer
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Proclamation - Brian Martinez Retirement
Mayor Bier read a proclamation acknowledging the retirement of Brian Martinez from Public Works.
PW Director Petersen stated that Public Works has felt so fortunate to have had Brian Martinez for 30 years working for Public Works, and the proclamation included all the contributions he made to the Public Works Department and the city and they were grateful for all he has done and they wish him the best in his retirement.
Councilmember O’Neill thanked him, and he has known him since he has been on Council and possibly before that as he has been dedicated, honest and forthright. He stated that the city will be at a loss without his knowledge but he knows he is going to retire, ride a motorcycle across country and enjoy himself. He was sorry he couldn’t make his retirement party.
Councilmember Vaterlaus has known him for 20 years and was going to say the same thing Councilmember O’Neill said, as he always say what it was and it was important to get the out there. She appreciated that and she will miss him.
Councilmember Beckmeyer appreciated him as he taught her what she needed to know and she knew nothing about wastewater, long before she ran for Council. He has been nothing but helpful, polite, respectful and responsive. She thought he was a model of what we all want to be. She stated that Councilmember O’Neill missed some great speeches at the retirement event, one that she can’t even paraphrase well, but she loved the reference to the Mt.
Rushmore of Wastewater and she has to bump off one of his people from the Mt. Rushmore of Wastewater in order to put Brian Martinez on there.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that he didn’t know him until he asked for a tour of our storm drain system. He stated that they talked about how a lot of people don’t know the difference between wastewater and storm water and he was one of those people. It became obvious to him that he needed to catch up in a hurry and Brian Martinez was the one giving him a tour of the pump stations in Linda Mar and Highway One. As he was giving him the tour and teaching him how the system works, he was referencing his decades of knowledge from having lived on Anza and knowing exactly what living through that flooding is like. He stated that it wasn’t that they are losing this institutional knowledge of over 30 years but knowledge coupled with being a true Pacifican, having been raised here and acting upon his job from the perspective of someone who wants to do it right as, at the end of the day, it is his true home. He will be missed.
Mayor Bier stated that what she remembers about Brian Martinez growing up, he was the cool guy that she was too shy to talk to. She stated that watching him in his whole career has been amazing and reading the proclamation shows that he was the man of Wastewater and did so much work for our city. She understands if he didn’t stay with them but they will miss him so much. She saw some hands and opened public comments.
City Clerk Coffey introduced the speakers.
Chris Redfield, Pacifica, stated he met Mr. Martinez in 2013 when they had issues regarding City Council Regular Meeting 3 July 11, 2022
the Linda Mar flooding and to say he is not a stand-up guy would be an understatement. He stated that he had picked him out right away when he started in the Public Works business when he first met him, and he is a big guy with big shoes to fill to keep up with what he has done with the Plant, etc. He stated he is the real deal and he wished him luck in his retirement.
He hoped they bug him to come back to help out when needed.
City Clerk Coffey stated Remi Tam had his hand raised but may not be able to unmute himself.
Mayor Bier stated that he can always send his comment to Council and they will be sure that Mr. Martinez gets it, and then closed public comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Bier asked if there were any items Councilmembers would like to pull from the consent calendar.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck didn’t know if he needed to pull the minutes to make a couple mild adjustments and asked the City Attorney.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that he did not.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that, following public comments, he will make a couple of minor adjustments.
Mayor Bier opened public comments.
City Clerk Coffey introduced the speakers.
Brenda Maxwell, Pacifica, stated that she raised her hand accidentally and was waiting for public comments.
Robert Hutchinson, Pacifica, stated that he couldn’t download the agenda and he asked if Item 6 was on the consent calendar.
City Clerk Coffey stated that it was.
Mr. Hutchinson asked why they are doing virtual meetings, as he didn’t understand. He gave his thoughts and suggestions on what laws were in effect that applied and what the city was allowed to do to meet safely.
Christine Boles, Pacifica, stated that she wanted to speak on item 6, giving her thoughts and options on the issue to be more creative for those who are not technically savvy.
Mayor Bier closed public comments.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck thought they will be talking about going back to in person later and he will save his comments on that. He stated that he thought it was a good idea to continue, given the spikes in Covid recently, and he asked the City Attorney if she had some perspectives on the requirements for triggering AB361.
City Council Regular Meeting 4 July 11, 2022
City Attorney Kenyon stated that there are orders from the state that allows teleconference and Zoom meetings due to the Covid pandemic and Pacifica is following all those guidelines.
Regarding to the reference to the CDC guidelines, they are the guidelines that the state has mandated that they follow and that is where the social distancing comes from. She stated that the ability for Council to go into Zoom meetings is based on AB361, cited in the resolution.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck then referred to packet page 27, second line from the bottom, it say “Mayor pro Tem appreciated having an abscess” and he thought he said in that moment, was “having not asked in advance”. He referred to packet page 54, seven paragraphs down in the very last line, “in general, they would pay for getting real fireworks or not”, he thought he said was “in general, if they would vote for getting rid of fireworks or not”. He asked that, if they can pass the consent with those two minor corrections to the minutes, that was his motion.
Councilmember Vaterlaus seconded the motion.
City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Sue Vaterlaus, Councilmember
AYES: Bier, Bigstyck, O'Neill, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer
1. Approval of Disbursements for 5/16/22 through 5/31/22.
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve attached lists of disbursements for 5/16/22 through 5/31/22.
2. Approval of Minutes
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve the minutes of the City Council Meeting held on June 13, 2022.
3. Continuation of Proclamation of Local Emergency of the Pacifica Coastline from Westline Drive to the End of Beach Boulevard.
PROPOSED ACTION: Accept report and make a determination that conditions of local emergency continue to exist within the Pacifica Coastline from Westline Drive to the end of Beach Boulevard.
4. Continuation of Proclamation of Local Emergency at the Anza Pump Station.
PROPOSED ACTION: Accept Report and Make a Determination that Conditions of Local Emergency Continue to Exist at the Anza Pump Station at the Pacifica State Beach.
5. Continuation of Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency Regarding Novel (new) Coronavirus ("COVID-19”).
PROPOSED ACTION: Accept report and make a determination that conditions of local emergency continue to exist regarding Novel (new) Coronavirus ("COVID-19”).
6. Consideration of a Resolution Making Findings as Required by AB 361 to Continue to Permit the City Council and City Commissions and Committees to Conduct Teleconferenced Meetings Due to Health and Safety Concerns Relating to COVID-19 City Council Regular Meeting 5 July 11, 2022
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to adopt a Resolution making findings pursuant to AB 361 to authorize the City Council and City Commissions and Committees to conduct teleconferenced meetings due to health and safety concerns relating to COVID-19.
7. Approve Purchase Agreement with Parkson Corporation for Bar Screen Repair PROPOSED ACTION: Move to Approve the Purchase Agreement between the City of Pacifica and Parkson Corp. for the repair of two existing Bar Screens located at Linda Mar and Sharp Park Pump Stations in the amount not to exceed $210,797 and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
8. Notice of Completion for the FY 2021-22 Base Repair Project PROPOSED ACTION: Move to Adopt the Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pacifica accepting completion and directing the City Manager to file Notice of Completion for the FY 2021-22 Base Repair Project; and Authorize the City Manager to release the retention funds to the contractor.
9. Notice of Completion for the Frontierland Park Drainage & Walkway Improvement Project
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pacifica accepting improvements and directing the City Manager to file a Notice of Completion for the Frontierland Park Drainage & Walkway Improvement Project; and authorize the City Manager to release the retention funds to the contractor.
10. Approve New Job Classifications, Reclassifications, and Compensation Schedules PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a resolution approving new job classifications and reclassifications, including compensation schedules as detailed in the staff report.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
City Clerk Coffey introduced the speakers.
William Bradford, Pacifica, stated he lives in East Fairway and they believe Council and staff have violated the Brown Act in finalizing the list of neighborhood streets that allows over-sized vehicles and violated the CEQA requirements and expressed his thoughts on the issue, asking that they void all decisions.
Remi Tam, Pacifica, expressed his concerns and specific recommendation on the ongoing issues on fireworks, giving a specific example.
Erin Macias, Pacifica, stated she would like the city to agendize the issue of short-term rentals, giving her concerns and suggestions in this issue. She added that she would like the IT department to make the city’s website easier to find items the public is interested in.
Robert Hutchinson, Pacifica, stated that no one is being mean to Council, just caring about the city and being enthusiastic, and he expressed his thoughts on this issue.
Brenda Maxwell, Pacifica, expressed her disappointment with City Manager, Council, PRC and Planning Commission regarding their decisions on RV parking permits, specifically sharing City Council Regular Meeting 6 July 11, 2022
her thoughts on the issue and requested they rethink their decisions.
Ed Markey, Pacifica, stated he was speaking on the over-sized vehicle lodging and shared his thoughts and concerns on this issue.
Christine Boles, Pacifica, stated that, while she knows she can’t discuss the appeal hearing content, but then shared her thoughts and concerns about the process which she thought was unfair. She then referred to the comment about being mean to Council when they are just trying to make the city better and shared her thoughts on the issue. She also expressed her concerns on the fireworks issue.
Phil Lindsay, Pacifica, stated his thoughts and concerns about RV parking on Ridgeway Drive and the vetting process.
Sharon Lindsay, Pacifica, referred to the need for an EIR for RV parking on Ridgeway and other areas and expressed her specific thoughts and concerns.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember O’Neill stated that he was on vacation and had nothing to report.
Councilmember Vaterlaus went to the Sunset Ridge Unity Day which was a great experience and was worthwhile for the community. She met with the chair of the Fog Fest and it is going forward. She went to Brian Martinez’ retirement party and most of her meeting are coming up this week.
Councilmember Beckmeyer had a couple of meetings with citizens about things about REACH codes and concerns on what the city might do in terms of changing building codes around electrification. She received a phone call from an individual concerned about seawall and she was going to attend the farewell for the chief but had to be postponed due to illness. She was only in her part of town, the south end in Linda Mar, and her observation of the 4th of July was that it was less intense than in the past. She thanked the community and was praying for that in terms of peace.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck reiterated that his heart and mind is with Ukraine every day. He enjoyed that Unity event at Sunset Ridge and it was lovely to see elected officials come to Pacifica from all over the county. He stated that the gentleman from Fire House 71 showed up to show their support which was awesome. He was looking forward to saying goodbye to the chief and he left some BBQ in the police station for them and he thought it would have been nice to say goodbye to him. He stated that there was a North County Fire Authority meeting and was a big couple of weeks checking in with Fire Department and meeting with Fire Chief Ron Meyers before the meeting to get a deeper understanding. He stated that the budget was adopted for North Coast County. He enjoyed the 4th of July with John Nibbelin and his son cooked a wonderful BBQ. He referred to the PRC board meeting, stating that they are expanding their personnel and getting more office spaces, as well as getting a second van to allow people to order food and de-stigmatize the need to get services. He stated that, currently, PRC serves one in seven Pacificans but they could easily be serving half of all Pacificans. He stated that their back to school program is getting underway, and the public can donate backpacks. He stated that we are No. 3 in the county in terms of homelessness, and the good news is we are down from No. 2, but the numbers went up and we are third behind Redwood City and East Palo Alto. He stated that they passed their budget and we are toward City Council Regular Meeting 7 July 11, 2022
the end of budget season everywhere. He stated that they raised the term limits on the board members to six years. He stated that this year there will be a virtual Palm-a-Palooza, the big fundraising event for PRC every year. He stated that Brian Martinez’ party was awesome and he was looking forward to being in the Fog Fest parade, adding that Covid is still a thing so he asked everyone to be as safe as they can get themselves to be, and as someone who has experienced Covid recently, he recommended getting vaccinated which is why he thinks he did not get as sick as he might have.
Mayor Bier thanked Coast Pride and Pacifica School District for working closely with the city for our unity event which was a response to a LGBTQ Pride flag that was burned at Sunset Ridge.
She stated that it was a beautiful event, and she thanked the firefighters when they pulled up in the fire engines which she thought was really cool. She thanked everyone who came out to speak as their collaboration with Coast Pride is so important to work are doing and will be doing moving forward. She was informed today that another flag was stolen from Oceana High School and she thinks something is going on there. She stated that we need to address it by being together and showing our strength and love. She attended Brian Martinez’ retirement and she spoke to many citizens in the past couple of weeks and she has about six or seven walks and talks with different constituents and enjoyed spending the time learning that most of them are concerned about the General Plan. She stated that it has been a little quiet and, as others said, most of her meetings are this week.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Woodhouse stated that he has two quick announcements. He stated that Acting Police Chief Bill Glasgo is going to complete the second part of his second announcement. He wanted to speak about kicking off the new fiscal year focused on the Council’s new priorities and, in terms of the upcoming Housing Element process, they are in the process of designing what the public engagement strategy will look like for the housing element and, as Council remembers, they budgeted an additional $20,000 for this fiscal year budget related to implementing robust public engagement in that process, and Acting Planning Director Murdock and he will be putting together a strategy to bring to Council on their August 8 meeting to consider the public engagement process for the Housing Element update and get that rolling.
He stated that his second item is, over the last month or more, he and outgoing Police Chief Steidle, as well as Captains Clement and Glasgo, interviewed many applicants for the Police Chief’s Advisory Panel and were able to select ten panelists, and he was taking this opportunity for Acting Chief Glasgo to announce the panelists with short versions of their bios, and it will be public information with their longer bios will be posted on the police department’s website. He stated that the police chief’s advisory panel is a best practice that not a lot of communities have it, but our policing work plan after the murder of George Floyd it was identified as something they wanted to do but they needed to wait until they could meet in person and they couldn’t do it in the middle of Covid. He stated that it was a two-way communication channel to meet with the police chief and command staff and give feedback from the community to them to learn about policing in Pacifica and give feedback the other way as well. He stated that process launched with Chief Steidle and the first meeting was held during his last week. He then asked Acting Chief Glasgo to announce that membership.
Acting Police Chief Glasgo stated that they identified ten panelists to be part of the new Chief’s Advisory Panel. The first panelist is Janet Fausta, lifelong resident of Pacifica, living in the Vallemar neighborhood with her husband and two children, very involved in the community with sports, school activities and beach cleanup days, 17 years of working in the medical field at UCSF and office administrator, with experience working in a culture of rich diversity. She City Council Regular Meeting 8 July 11, 2022
challenges herself in professional and personal life and will be able to bring the panel her opinions and experiences that could help make a positive impact concerning community issues.
The next panelist is Michael Frenna, a proud member of Pacifica since 1963, living in Fairway Park area along with his wife and has two children. He is an area director for USCW Local 5, a 26,000 members of hard working retail workers union serving Northern California and firmly believes his years spent in this industry can provide the necessary optics, personality and perspective to better serve Pacifica and the Chief’s Advisory Panel. Third panelist is Michael Mau, a longtime Pacifican in Linda Mar who has been an active community member for many years, working on various city commissions, chair of Pacifica PB&R Commission, neutral member of the Pacifica’s Rent Advisory Task Force, on the Pacifica’s Age Friendly Task Force and is currently a commissioner on the San Mateo County Commission on aging. His intention is to bring neutral and partial and common sense viewpoints to this advisory panel. The fourth panelist is Carlos Ambrozak, a coastal California native for 23 years and a Bay Area resident in the Edgemar neighborhood of Pacifica. He has been building large scale software systems since his teens, leading global teams in aerospace, gaming, streaming and finance. He has done non-profit work with the Trust for Public Land and taught robotics to young adults. His career and life experience bring a community-minded and team oriented perspective that will serve the Chief of Police Panel well. The fifth panelist is Gary Furlong, a 22 year resident of Pacifica in the Pedro Point neighborhood with his husband, and a retired business planner with a diverse work history and has lived in many different areas of the country that enables him to bring a valuable perspective to the panel. The sixth panelist is Armetta Parker, who has been a resident of Pacifica since 2011, an active consultant in community engagement volunteer. She brings a breath of experience and perspective in communications, including crisis management, public relations and marketing. She and her family live in the Westview neighborhood at Milagra Ridge. The seventh panelist is Holly Smallie who resides in San Pedro Point with her family and three rescue dogs. She is currently the director of compliance at a local cannabis retail business and previously spent more than 20 years working to support individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions and developmentally struggling with academic and emotional behavior disorders. She is passionate about helping others, rescuing animals and supporting our most vulnerable community members. The seventh panelist is Sean Holle, Pacifican who lives in the Westview neighborhood. He is a practicing certified safety professional, and believes that he can serve the community of Pacifica by participating as a member on the Police Chief’s advisory panel. He stated that Kristina Ireson is an almost lifelong Pacifican and after leaving for college and other career opportunities, she now lives in Linda Mar with her husband and young child. She is a social worker, mental health therapist and educator who is passionate about community engagement and ensuring that all stakeholders have a voice at the table. The final panelist is Maria Oropeza, a 24-year Pacifican who lives in the back of the valley, born and raised in San Francisco and moved to Pacifica to be closer to the ocean and surrounded by its mountains. She has been retired for almost seven years after a 31-year career in law enforcement and brings knowledge and experience to serve the Police Chief’s advisory panel.
City Manager Woodhouse stated he has no additional communications.
Mayor Bier thanked Acting Police Chief Glasgo for being here, adding that it will be interesting to see how that plays out and she thought it will be good for our community.
Acting Police Chief Glasgo agreed.
City Council Regular Meeting 9 July 11, 2022
PUBLIC HEARINGS
11. Consider an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval with conditions of Coastal Development Permit CDP-437-22 to establish one on-street Temporary Safe Parking Program (Program) parking space (30’ by 10’) on the west side of the Francisco Boulevard public right-of-way (ROW), east of 2400 Francisco Boulevard (APN 016-322- 230) and approximately 32 feet north of the Clarendon Road and Francisco Boulevard intersection (File No. 2022-012).
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to CONTINUE the item to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on August 8, 2022.
Sr. Planner O’Connor presented the staff report.
Mayor Bier asked if anyone was present from NCCWD that wanted to say anything.
City Clerk Coffey stated that Adrianne Carr of NCCWD was present.
Mayor Bier asked the City Manager if they want to give her a moment to speak.
City Manager Woodhouse agreed if she would like to.
Adrianne Carr, NCCWD, thanked them for extending the hearing to August 8 as that was a fine request for them also.
Mayor Bier appreciated her being here and she looked forward to their conversation. She then opened the public hearing for comments on the continuance.
City Clerk Coffey introduced the speaker.
William Bradford, Pacifica, stated that he agreed with the postponement and asked that Council research the application of the appeal to all 13 spaces as the issues apply to all 13 spaces.
Mayor Bier closed the public hearing.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck moved to continue the item to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on August 8, 2022; seconded by Councilmember Vaterlaus.
City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Sue Vaterlaus, Councilmember
AYES: Bier, Bigstyck, O'Neill, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer
CONSIDERATION
12. Update on Returning to In-Person City Council Meetings PROPOSED ACTION: Hear an update about the status of the pandemic and confirm continuation of remote Zoom-based meetings for City Council and Commission/Committee meetings through September, returning to in-person meetings City Council Regular Meeting 10 July 11, 2022
beginning with the October 10, 2022 City Council meeting.
City Manager Woodhouse presented the staff report.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck referred to a previous comment that not everyone is not technically savvy and Zoom might be an impediment to some people participating and he thought there was a phone component to Zoom.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that there is a phone component so you can telephone, adding that they had some commenters at this meeting who phoned in.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that his next concern has to do with how people become aware of how to phone in on a Zoom call, and he asked what noticing do they do so that they are aware that people are aware they have the option to phone in.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that, other than when they started Zoom and continued normal social media, the agenda packet has all the detailed instructions on how to phone in.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck asked, if people aren’t aware prior that it is a Zoom meeting, how do they find out that it’s a Zoom meeting.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that it is part of the agenda packet which is the main vehicle when the meeting is announced, and City Clerk Coffey may be more specific about this, but it says on the actual agenda cover virtual via Zoom.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck asked for those who do not have computers how they get an agenda packet.
City Clerk Coffey stated that there are various ways to obtain copies of the agenda and information. It is available on the city’s website on the City Council’s agenda page as well a meeting portals, and hard copies of the agenda are posted at the Community Center at the front glass doors as well as at the City Council Chambers that is the meeting location which is now Zoom and it has the Zoom link dial in information and alternative ways to participate in the meeting which is viewing on Comcast Local Channel 26 and on the livestream or on the PCTV livestream which is also available on the city’s website under live stream. Agenda copies are available at the Community Center / Civic Center. They also send out emails to an email distribution list with links to the agenda materials for those on that list. They have a small list of people who receive hard copy agendas in the mail.
Councilmember O’Neill asked if they also send them to the two libraries.
City Clerk Coffey stated that she didn’t recall that the libraries are on their hard copy agenda lists but they can add the libraries to that list if needed.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that they used to be. He thought, being that there seems to be some concerns, he asked if it was possible to put a big banner on the city’s website that currently all meetings are Zoom.
City Clerk Coffey stated that they currently do have a banner on the home page that indicates that the meetings are virtual at this time and it links to Council’s agenda webpage which has City Council Regular Meeting 11 July 11, 2022
more information on how to participate and view the meetings.
Mayor Bier asked if they can also put it in the Tribune in a big way so people can see it.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that they can pay for ads in the Tribune. If the Tribune wanted to cover the results of this item and continuing Zoom, the city could encourage them to cover that information.
Councilmember Vaterlaus thought they get better participation, as it is now 10:00 pm and they have 25 people, and they didn’t have 25 people when they had in-person meetings. She thought it provides the opportunity for more people to attend these meetings than did so inperson.
Mayor Bier thought continuing to do it virtual until October is the safest for all of them and the community.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that they will want public comments.
Councilmember Beckmeyer agreed that, with the spike in cases, it was not the right time to be in public meetings and be bringing people together.
City Clerk Coffey introduced the speakers.
Robert Hutchinson, Pacifica, referred to grocery workers, retail workers, concerts, and thought they could have a meeting in person as it is not the end of the world and there are ways to be safe. He didn’t think it was legal the way they are doing it. He stated that they are cutting out a large segment of the population. He is in advertising and owns a little ad agency but he talks to big ad agencies that do million dollar studies on what works and they all don’t put all their money in the internet as most people can’t go past doing crossword puzzles on the internet or going to their Facebook page. When it comes to something like this, they are lost even though they might be online every day. It doesn’t mean that they can do this and that is for young and old people. He stated October is a long time.
Zorin Carlos, Pacifica, asked, regarding postponing to October, if there is a reason they are not following the CDC recommended guidelines. He referred to Mr. Hutchinson’s comment, stating standard businesses are open, schools are open, we can wear masks, people are vaccinated. He may not be understanding why we are concerned, as he understands there are increasing cases but there are also protocols to follow that and, if they follow what the professionals are saying in CDC or the California government mandates, they can do it in person.
Mayor Bier closed public comments.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that, as a grocery worker who regularly attends concerts and had Covid a month ago, and they have had multiple Councilmembers who have contracted Covid, multiple staff members and entering into what they knew would be a robust General Plan updated process where many people would presumably wind up crammed into a comparatively small room compared to the group of people expected. Based on constituent comment, they decided it would be in everyone’s best interest, during a massive spike, to go back to Zoom. He stated that, as a grocery worker, he has been watching lots of fellow workers who have had to miss work and that puts a strain on business when a number of people who cannot do their job City Council Regular Meeting 12 July 11, 2022
from home can’t sow up to work because they are not allowed to per guidelines. He stated that, after a concert he last attended, he had already had Covid by the time he was at that show but one person he was attending with had tested positive shortly after. He stated that the point is well taken as he would prefer to be in person and he would like to throw out for consideration and to be brought back in the future because he agrees that October is probably a better time to go back to in person, given the present spike, and he would like to explore the hybrid model with something as simple as seeing how other municipalities dealing with hybrid are doing and whether it is feasible that Pacifica could adopt it and the reasons being, if they are going to have to consider spikes periodically, it would be good instead of turning it off like a light switch of going back to Zoom then going back to in person, and having attendees who would rather be in person being annoyed that we don’t have an in person option, he would favor having both available and, if an issue, they can do what they feel comfortable with and not have to worry about turning it on or off as it is continuity and consistency is his theme at this meeting, and he would like to explore what hybrid might look like for us and what would be required. He thought that agendas in libraries would also be a good idea. He would also be fine if the mayor wanted to explore putting ads in the Tribune. He stated that, as a grocery worker and someone who advocates for mask wearing, he goes to work every day and thinking that he is dealing with the public and he sure doesn’t want to get Covid again, but he notices that, when he has a mask on, it is harder to work over the eight-hour period on his feet to the point that he finds he is more easily agitated because he isn’t getting oxygen to his brain and every day he has the discussion with himself as to whether he wants to wear a mask, lash out at customers, so it is more complicated, such as what they want, what is responsible and that is what they are trying to work their way through.
Councilmember Vaterlaus stated that, during this segment, she looked up Daly City, Belmont and San Bruno and all of them are holding virtual meetings at this time and all the county meetings she is attending are all virtual as well.
Mayor Bier stated Half Moon Bay is, too.
Councilmember Vaterlaus stated that she only checked a couple of them.
Mayor Bier asked if they were finished with this item.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked if they need a vote.
City Manager Woodhouse would like to get concurrence from Councilmembers about the October 10th date, and Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck threw out the hybrid evaluation. He stated that nothing has really changed for our situation related to that as we are behind the technology curve in our City Council Chambers and have a very thinly stretched IT and City Clerk and other staff situations and trying to implement that is more difficult for us, but not impossible. They also have technology questions related to PCT and that is the information that informed the Council’s decision about our phone in for public comment hybrid model when they went back to in person and nothing has changed on that. He expressed a workload concern to really try to explore and purchase. He stated that some cities are trying to implement hybrid but are delayed from supply chains from the technology unavailability. He stated that it is something they can explore more in the future but he wanted to be very diligent about informing Council on what the impact with staff and money would be to pursue that.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that he didn’t have a sense of urgency suggesting that, when they go back to in person in October, it is simultaneous with the implemented hybrid model but City Council Regular Meeting 13 July 11, 2022
he is suggesting that, if they are going to go back to Zoom shortly after going back to in person in October which this experience suggests is a distinct possibility, he thinks they should start gathering data sooner than later so they can make an informed decision. He appreciates that the workload is what it is. He was just throwing that out for Council consideration, i.e., if they want some information back that more robustly entails how it is working in other places and what it would take to make it happen here.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that he is fine with the October meeting, and his only concern is the fact that, with back to school in August and September, they are going to have more people frequently exposing and seeing each other and he didn’t know if even October will be realistic as at this point this current variant is more virulent than measles and more contagious and easier to get. He again had no problems with shooting for October and reevaluating and depending on the shape of the Council Chambers. He didn’t want to sit on sawhorses and tables like Amazon desks.
Mayor Bier thought they have a consensus of October. She then asked if they go to the next item or should they take a break. She asked the City Attorney if she needs to call to order the adjourned special meeting.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that they need to adjourn the regular meeting and calling to order the special adjourned meeting.
RESULT: NO VOTE REQUIRED
ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Bier adjourned the Regular Meeting at 10:18 p.m.
ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING - IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING REGULAR MEETING Mayor Bier called the adjourned special meeting to order at 10:18 p.m.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that he wanted to publicly state that he did watch the Zoom recording of the June 25 meeting and has read the materials and can participate in this event.
Mayor Bier thanked him and appreciated it.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Mayor Bier called the Adjourned Special Meeting to order at 10:18 p.m.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that he wanted to publicly state that he did watch the Zoom recording of the June 25 meeting and has read the materials and can participate in this event.
Mayor Bier thanked him and appreciated it.
13. Consideration of Environmental Impact Report and California Environmental Quality Act Findings and Adoption of a General Plan Update.
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to adopt the attached Resolution to:
City Council Regular Meeting 14 July 11, 2022
A. Certify the General Plan Update and Sharp Park Specific Plan Final Environmental Impact Report, State Clearinghouse No. 2012022046 in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
B. Adopt the Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations in accordance with CEQA;
C. Adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) in accordance with CEQA;
D. Approve the General Plan Update, including the amendments incorporated into the May 2022 drafts of those documents identified by the Planning Commission and the City Council; and
E. Incorporate all maps and testimony into the record by reference.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that he is joined by the General Plan update team, including consultants from Dyett & Bhatia, Alison Moore and Andrew Hill as well as Chris Dacumos from Good City Company. He then began the staff report.
Consultant Alison Moore continued the staff report.
Acting Planning Director Murdock continued the staff report.
Mayor Bier asked if he was going to go through chapter by chapter.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that it was overall organized in that fashion from beginning to end.
Mayor Bier thought that would be helpful for her.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that he hoped they can work through each slide, get a head nod and they feel comfortable that they got it right and move on to the next one so they don’t have to come back. He stated that, if anything proves particularly challenging and they want, they can put a pin in it and come back to that for further discussion to hopefully work through the slides. He then continued the staff report.
Councilmember O’Neill asked if he can change it such as the schools in Pacifica as they have a couple of private schools in Pacifica that will have demographics and he didn’t know if they want to include preschools or just elementary or TK-12 schools.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that they can make that change, as they tailored it to reflect the specific mention of the school district statistics they have but he didn’t see any problem to broadening to all schools in Pacifica.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that they should make sure that, as Acting Planning Director Murdock has requested, they have Council consensus that the current change requested by Councilmember O’Neill is agreed by a majority of the Council so staff will know to implement that change and they will not have to return back to this particular edit.
Mayor Bier asked if they have a consensus, and concluded that they do.
Acting Planning Director Murdock continued the staff report.
City Council Regular Meeting 15 July 11, 2022
Councilmember O’Neill stated that Kimco recently applied and 230 units approved to tear down Burlington Coat Factory and build another multi-story apartment building there. He stated that he doesn’t mention Linda Mar Shopping Center yet Kimco, the owner of Linda Mar Shopping Center seems to be looking in that direction. He asked if they want the name of Linda Mar in there.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that the three example sites are locations identified in the draft General Plan land use element for more intensive mixed use redevelopment. He has to pull it up but his recollection is that they have not done that planned use designation change to the Linda Mar Shopping Center, and they are keeping in mind that this is carrying forward the work through 2014 to try to finalize the General Plan update. He stated that they can revisit the land use designation for the Linda Mar Shopping Center or other shopping centers, perhaps in the housing element update where they are identifying sites for significant numbers of additional housing units. He stated that it would be hard to do that, given the size of the site and the potential number of units at this stage, but that is the reasoning for why it is not listed.
Councilmember O’Neill thanked him and had a thumbs up.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated she was too, but asked that they make note of that for discussion during the housing element as she felt that way about Linda Mar Center for some time and it was very encouraged to find out months ago about their development plan in Daly City.
Acting Planning Director Murdock continued the staff report.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked, in relation to what Councilmember O’Neill brought up about Linda Mar, is it because this is a PDA specifically that they are mentioning it in conjunction with Fairmont and is there a place that they could do the same language because it is not a PDA in relationship to Linda Mar Shopping Center.
Acting Planning Director Murdock thought it was possible, and with respect to the Fairmont Shopping Center, it did come up on June 25 in the context of the PDA location, and interest in trying to maximize that shopping center as it is in the PDA may have more potential to get funding or other supportive components from regional entities because it is in the PDA. He stated that there is nothing stopping Council from making similar statements, just not reflecting the Linda Mar Shopping Center as it is not in the PDA.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked Councilmember O’Neill on his thoughts.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that they have to look into what is the definition of Priority Development Areas, and he thought it was part of the enterprise zones or something recently with some grant funding opportunities. He thought the only one in Pacifica was at the top of Skyline for a lot of minority economic challenged areas. He thought they should also include other governmental land such as the right-of-ways of CalTrans and some water district and school district properties that are on huge lots that could be available for some sort of Housing Elements.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that her question is do they do that here or in the Housing Element update.
Acting Planning Director Murdock offered his opinion that any robust land use changes at this City Council Regular Meeting 16 July 11, 2022
point would be potentially difficult to incorporate into the General Plan adoption at this evening if Council goes in that direction. He thought robust land use changes that are supportive of additional housing units are contemplated as part of the housing element process in a robust community engagement process that the City Manager mentioned earlier and he asked that they focus the energy towards that process that will follow shortly after the General Plan adoption.
Councilmember Beckmeyer was okay with that.
Acting Planning Director Murdock continued the staff report.
Councilmember O’Neill asked if he was talking about transfer density rights from Esplanade to another development in town.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that was what he was describing and it was a possibility for sites located in hazard zones such as the coastal erosion hazard location for those Esplanade Avenue bluff top sites. He thought the likelihood of that occurring on those sites is no at this point due to the eminent domain proceedings but demonstrating the point that density can actually help effectuate transfers of development rights and another reason in support of not changing that venue designation.
Councilmember O’Neill asked, if the city is the owner under eminent domain and it has the existing zoning, if the city could get cash, sell those development rights to another developer for affordable housing somewhere.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that was not an issue he has explored in any detail and the city has a variety of ways to support affordable housing including increasing the density in other locations, and that is something staff could look into but he doesn’t have an answer for that now.
Mayor Bier stated that she wanted to simplify it that they don’t want high density land zoning on bluffs because of bluff erosion. She understands what he is saying and he understands the community’s concern about the land zoning there as they don’t want to build on those bluffs.
Acting Planning Director Murdock continued the staff report.
Mayor Bier referred to on ramps and overcrossings and asked if the same language can be used in both sections.
Acting Planning Director Murdock did not see why not, adding that PW Director Petersen could offer her opinion as she is more familiar with the project and the various procedural aspects of it and outside agencies.
PW Director Petersen was sure that would be fine, as they are seeing similar things.
Mayor Bier stated that, if there is consensus on Council, they can strike out that language of the new on ramp and use the language below.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck asked clarification that she is saying to ger rid of the sentence that the project also potentially through the end of it and then instead insert additional alternatives.
City Council Regular Meeting 17 July 11, 2022
Mayor Bier asked him to repeat what he was saying.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck asked if she was saying to get rid of the last sentence under Manor Drive overpassing that this project also potentially includes .... and get rid of that and insert additional alternatives that use similar words.
Mayor Bier responded affirmatively.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated he was fine with that.
City Manager Woodhouse wanted to make sure and check with PW Director Petersen about the city’s contractual obligations about specifically evaluating the Milagra on ramp alternative, as well as other alternatives. He stated that the only thing that occurs to him is whether they need to be careful about being very transparent that the on ramp will be evaluated and other alternatives as well.
PW Director Petersen stated that, to be transparent, it is true that they need to take a look at it.
They are going to be looking at other alternatives, and that would be one of the alternatives. To be transparent, it could be something Council wants to leave in there so that residents don’t misunderstand that and know the city has to look at that. Just because they take off the verbiage specifically and are more general, it doesn’t negative the city’s responsibility from having to look at that. She thought it would probably be more transparent but ultimately she leaves that up to how Council wants to do that.
Councilmember Vaterlaus stated that she would leave the wording as they changed it currently.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck thought the questions was less whether or not they are going to do the study which they are, and he has spoken in not being committed, pending the results of the study to how his vote will come down in the future. By the time they get there, they don’t necessarily know what the make-up of the Council will be or how the study might influence how they are looking at it. He thought, to the point in terms of the community, they don’t necessarily want to memorialize this project for the next 20 years. He is trying to respect how undecided he is in relation to the community.
Mayor Bier agreed, as it doesn’t necessarily need to be spelled out like that in the General Plan as they are going to be studying it regardless.
Councilmember Beckmeyer knows that they have heard from the community on the issue of an on ramp in this vicinity; however, what Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck just said is true that it is already going to be studied and the question is do they open to a phrase they use to memorialize it in the General Plan. She wants to go back to what the City Manager was saying, in terms of contractual obligations and she didn’t know what he was specifically referring to.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that it was half a question to the Public Works Director but he thought they were obligated to evaluate that on ramp in addition to other alternatives. He stated that, to draw the difference between project-specific evaluation and what would be appropriate for a General Plan policy, and he would ask Acting Planning Director Murdock when a project consistency is being considered, the project would be consistent with this policy because it would have evaluated alternatives, including an on ramp. He was trying to get that they might not need to specifically mention that one but they want to be transparent that it is one of the alternatives that would be evaluated.
City Council Regular Meeting 18 July 11, 2022
Acting Planning Director Murdock was also struggling the balance between transparency and reflecting generality that all options are on the table. He thought there was some benefit to considering rephrasing the second sentence that the Manor Drive overcrossing narrative where it could basically reflect the city is obligated under whatever the funding source is to evaluate an on ramp as well as additional alternatives and at least there is a mention that the city is obligated to evaluate it but not necessarily pursuing the on ramp of its own volition and strike the balance.
Councilmember O’Neill agreed with him as he thinks they need to articulate that this is required to look at. He thought they add something to the effect of Milagra on ramp and the thing at Paloma was a turnaround which he mentioned earlier, and put the Paloma location and the on ramp and other alternatives so all three are mentioned.
Acting Planning Director Murdock thought one idea is that, for some of the more complicated edits like this, there may be an opportunity at the right moment to take a brief recess and ask staff to actually do some wordsmithing and bring back an additional revised phrasing, as it might be hard to mentally picture all these edits and see if they make a step forward in Council’s preference towards a consensus on what this might look like.
Councilmember O’Neill asked if this one of those pins to come back to at the end.
Acting Planning Director Murdock thought it might need a pin.
Mayor Bier thought that would be great.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck appreciated this special session so he was not sure if rules are different but he wanted to give a time check and it is 10:58.
Mayor Bier stated it is 10:57.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked if they were looking for a motion.
Mayor Bier responded affirmatively.
Councilmember Beckmeyer moved to continue the meeting until midnight; seconded by Councilmember Vaterlaus.
Councilmember O’Neill asked if staff thought that was enough time.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that if you can talk faster, as he wasn’t sure as there was still a large amount of information to get through.
Councilmember Vaterlaus asked if they can amend it to 1:00 a.m.
Councilmember Beckmeyer was not fine with that but she agreed.
Mayor Bier stated that this was their opportunity for the General Plan and if she is trying to make decisions at 1:00 a.m. and her brain is hurting already, she has to think of her brain in relative to what they are talking about, so she didn’t think 1:00 a.m. was healthy.
City Council Regular Meeting 19 July 11, 2022
Councilmember O’Neill referred to the City Attorney, stating that they were keeping this meeting open and continuing it to another date and he asked if they can do that again.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that they can.
Councilmember O’Neill asked if they want to go until midnight and, at 11:45p.m., they do what they did previously and continue this to a different date.
Mayor Bier stated that she would appreciate that and they need a consensus for that.
All Councilmembers agreed.
Councilmember Vaterlaus stated that they are revising it again and continuing and the meeting now ends at 12:00 a.m.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that whomever made the original motion should withdraw that motion.
Councilmember Beckmeyer withdrew the motion.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that the seconder needs to withdraw the second.
Councilmember Vaterlaus withdrew the second.
Councilmember Beckmeyer moved to extend this meeting until midnight; seconded by Councilmember Vaterlaus.
Councilmember O’Neill made a friendly motion that they stop at 11:45 p.m. to determine the next date certain to continue this meeting.
Councilmember Beckmeyer agreed. She asked the City Attorney if she wants a new motion.
Councilmember Vaterlaus agreed.
Mayor Bier asked City Attorney if they need a new motion again.
City Attorney Kenyon responded affirmatively. As long as the maker of the motion agrees with the amendment and seconder, that can happen.
Councilmembers Beckmeyer and Vaterlaus agreed.
Councilmember O’Neill suggested that any of the pin stuff Acting Planning Director Murdock brings back on whatever next date certain.
Mayor Bier stated they have to vote on the motion first.
City Attorney Kenyon agreed.
City Clerk Coffey took a roll call vote.
Vote: 5-0 (extend meeting to 11:45 p.m.)
City Council Regular Meeting 20 July 11, 2022
Mayor asked Councilmember O’Neill what he was saying about the pin.
Councilmember O’Neill was suggesting that he goes through as much as he can today and anything they need to pin back such as this one, they handle it the next day and that give staff time to do the verbiage that they want to do.
Acting Planning Director Murdock agreed that they have a pin in this one for now. He then continued the staff report.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked if he was taking out the bullet points on that, and is it going to be a sentence or bullet points.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that it was proposed to still have bullet points. He then continued the staff report.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that he had two additional comments he wanted to make at some point and he asked if he should make them while they are going through any given chapter or after he goes through the edits.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that, if it is okay, it would be his preference to make them after they go through the already identified edits and they can circle around to discussion and he can go back to the slides if that will be helpful.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that there was a little typo or formatting challenge in the second line where it says northern.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that, in the staff report, they had a footnote mentioning that these are pulled from the final stylized version and a lot are carried over and they will be cleaned up in the final formatting of the document. He then continued the staff report.
Councilmember O’Neill referred to Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck and Dep. Fire Chief Kavanaugh went to the seminar and he asked if this was the right verbiage he mentioned to achieve what they want to do at all the different levels.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that Dep. Fire Chief Kavanaugh would know better, but he thought everything he has seen, hazard is the right nomenclature that they are looking for in this document.
Dep. Fire Chief Kavanaugh agreed, stating it is the fire severity zone hazards.
Mayor Bier thought it was important to the community to bring the map in the EIR into this document as well, and she asked his thoughts around that. She thought it was simple but maybe it’s not as simple as she thinks to bring the map into the General Plan.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that it was possible. He stated that staff has not recommended that due to the high potential, in staff’s assessment, for confusion in relation to that map. He stated that when someone is looking to the map to understand where the high fire hazard severity zones are located and they understand all the triggers that might come from state law, one might conclude it is the one that shows more areas and it is not actually the case.
He stated that they think it would be confusing and, given the level of fire threat shown in that City Council Regular Meeting 21 July 11, 2022
map and the relatively general statewide scale of that map, they think the potential exists for people to inappropriately use it at a parcel level and it is not how that map is intended to be used. He thought there were a couple of reasons and ways they think that information could be misunderstood and misused in a way that could be potentially unhelpful but, if that is their recommendation, he will be happy to discuss it further.
Councilmember O’Neill sides with staff.
Councilmember Beckmeyer agrees, and she had another issue on this but she didn’t want to get off this point and when they are done canvassing, she has one other thought about the wording.
Mayor Bier stated that it makes one more pitch. She asked if it were possible to have a more detailed explanation and include the other map.
Acting Planning Director Murdock thought one potential option is to make a brief reference somewhere in the discussion of the prior risk in town and mention the map and include a link to the map but not have the visual there that could be so readily misunderstood the use without really bringing the community along in a discussion of fire maps so it is understood clearly what the distinctions are between information. He thought there might be a way to get the information available and minimize the potential for misuse.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that she is concerned about confusion and making sure that the document is internally consistent thus has concerns with attaching the map.
Mayor Bier asked about the link.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that she is comfortable with the suggestion Acting Planning Director Murdock is making.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck thought that is the problem, it seems simple and it’s not simple, and along with the link, did he think it might be appropriate to add a blurb about the difference between hazards maps and threat maps and why the threat map is not included and the hazard map is. He asked if that was too much information for that.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that it is not normal to have that kind of narrative or explanation about why you are not including something in the General Plan. She stated that this is a general document and is not the overarching plan for the city, but it is titled General Plan for a reason. When you start getting into a lot of specifics and trying to explain why you are not including certain portions in your General Plan, it creates more confusion by the very nature of it as you then need to have more explanations to explain the explanations and, while she is not saying it will snowball in this case, but it can snowball. She agreed with Acting Planning Director Murdock’s suggested implementation but to try to explain why we’re only attaching the link as opposed to the map, you can see how it can build on itself.
Dep. Fire Chief Kavanaugh didn’t know how the language is going to come out, but the 2008 map is stated as the recommended map and he almost wondered if they should change adopted to recommended, and update the figure as the new statewide recommended fire hazard and severity zone maps become available.
Acting Planning Director Murdock asked him if it was the case that a local agency is supposed City Council Regular Meeting 22 July 11, 2022
to actually adopt the maps as recommended or suggest modification and he thought it could be open ended on what updated map is supposed to be included and ultimately it should be the map adopted by the city.
Dep. Fire Chief Kavanaugh stated that is true, and once the LRA maps come out, they have 120 days to adopt or do their recommendations and either make changes or say they are good with the state’s recommended map. He stated that he wants to make sure that, if this is the wording, they are clear so that when people are reading it and the public is reading it, there is not any confusion and that is where they are trying to do.
City Attorney Kenyon asked if he was saying that it will be adopted and this language is accurate, because it sounded like he said that there will be a recommendation but that, within a certain period of time, the city will have to either adopt that recommended map or another map, and there will be an adopted fire hazard severity zone map at some point by the city. She asked if that is correct.
Dep. Fire Chief Kavanaugh stated that it is correct, and he was stating that recommended, and he is going back to 2008 and if they go onto the maps of 2008, but it states on the site, the recommended map, which is the final map in December 2008. He stated that wording may be changed as it has been 14 years and there may be a different word than recommended. He was just going by what was in 2008.
City Manager Woodhouse offered a clarification to say update this figure as new, recommended fire hazards severity zone maps are adopted by the city.
Dep. Fire Chief Kavanaugh thought that would also work.
Mayor Bier stated she dropped off and is not clear on what she missed and asked if they talked about the link.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that, at this point, her understanding from staff is that the recommendation would be to change that language to update this figure as recommended fire hazards severity zone maps are adopted by the city.
Dep. Fire Chief Kavanaugh thought that was good wording.
Councilmember O’Neill also thought it was pretty good.
Councilmember Vaterlaus asked if they are going to attach a link to the other maps.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated he had suggested to Council was that, in the narrative leading into the discussion about wildfire hazards in Pacifica they could briefly mention that there is an additional fire threat map that can help to inform the level of wildfire risk in Pacifica and provide a link to that.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that the way it reads it is like instructions to someone and she thought they were trying to do is inform the community or reader of the General Plan, and she asked if it should say this figure will be updated as ... everything he said, i.e., as a declarative statement as opposed to a directed. She was interested in Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck’s opinion on that.
City Council Regular Meeting 23 July 11, 2022
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that since it is being added to a figure, he would concur.
Councilmember Beckmeyer suggested that they say this figure will be updated.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that, to eliminate passive voice, they could say the city will update this figure as new ...
Councilmember Beckmeyer agreed, adding that they don’t like passive voice.
Acting Planning Director Murdock continued the staff report.
Planning Commission Vice Chair Hauser reminded them that the Planning Commission had also talked about updating the Sharp Park Golf Course everywhere to say Golf Course Clubhouse put the word “historic” in front of it, including on Figure 6-1 but that was kind of an everywhere universal change and it was discussed on the 25th. She stated that the change to MUN on Figure 4-7 and the discussion about Figure 8-3b. She stated that all of those were discussed and she didn’t see them in this list and she wanted to be sure that nothing got forgotten.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that it wasn’t staff’s intention to exclude those changes that received Council concurrence before but to highlight these particular text edits today.
Mayor Bier thought there was a pin somewhere.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked if they can go back to that Chapter 5 item.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that PW Director Petersen did draft some suggested language for that.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that so did Councilmember Beckmeyer. She stated she can go first.
City Manager Woodhouse asked if Acting Planning Director Murdock or PW Director Petersen had that or did they want him to read it.
PW Director Petersen stated that she can read that, and she asked if Acting Planning Director Murdock wanted to put it back on the screen so everyone can see what it said before.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that he can bring up that policy or they can show the text if it is a text from her email.
PW Director Petersen stated that it is.
Councilmember O’Neill asked if Councilmember Beckmeyer wanted to send her version to Acting Planning Director Murdock by email.
Acting Planning Director Murdock is not able to share his entire screen and he will just share the Word window and the language from PW Director Petersen.
Mayor Bier stated that it is tiny, so she suggested he read it.
City Council Regular Meeting 24 July 11, 2022
Acting Planning Director Murdock asked PW Director Petersen if she wanted to go through her proposed edit.
PW Director Petersen stated that the edited is in the first paragraph and changing the one recommended edit to this new edit that is highlighted. She stated that the sentence is the same - the Manor Drive overcrossing is planned to be widened and coordinated signal control recommended to be added at the intersection of Manor Drive with Oceana Blvd. And Palmetto Avenue. The revised edit would then say - the project will also potentially include an on ramp, roundabout or other alternatives that achieve similar congestion relief objectives.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that her only suggestion was to change “potentially include” to “may”, specifically “will also potentially” to the word “may”.
Mayor Bier asked for councilmembers’ thoughts on that.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated he was fine with that.
Councilmember O’Neill was impressed that Councilmember Beckmeyer at 11:45 she came up with a may.
Councilmember Vaterlaus was fine.
Mayor Bier stated she had one thing she wanted to talk about but she asked Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck if he had a couple of things he wanted to say.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that he had a couple of minor things. He stated that it seemed that they were close to vote not having to continue this to a date certain. He didn’t want to derail that as these are very minor things and, if they would derail it, he will retract them. On packet page 700, there is Figure 7-1, hydrology, and it was brought to his attention that Brooks Creek is labeled in the wrong place and should be labeled somewhere in the Pedro Valley Park vicinity.
He asked if that was simple.
Acting Planning Director Murdock agreed it was a simple edit. He thought Brooks Creek was currently labeled in the area he mentioned and it was just a simple shifting of that sliding over and it doesn’t look like he can annotate, but basically just down into the right is the correct placement for the Brooks Creek label based on some other official topographical maps from the USGS. He pointed out that there is an area that actually may also be known as Sanchez Creek or Sanchez Fork and they could work to revise those labels to make sure that at least Brooks Creek is replaced in the correct location and potentially adding Sanchez Creek or Sanchez Fork as appropriate to that extent.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck thanked him, and his next comment is that the appropriate place would be element No. 6, open space and community facilities, and he was having a conversation with a customer who pointed out that he didn’t know that fishing, archery range or beach bathing is really included in there. He tried to find it, but he couldn’t. He stated that the sport recreational draws by included in a narrative somewhere or is that too complex.
Acting Planning Director Murdock thought that was a relatively straightforward edit to include further description of those kinds of recreational activities and they can make that change.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that, if his customer is listening, he found lots of records as to City Council Regular Meeting 25 July 11, 2022
hiking and he wasn’t concerned about that.
Mayor Bier asked Councilmember Beckmeyer if she had something else.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated she didn’t, asking if her hand was up.
Mayor Bier stated that one thing a community member brought up the evacuation maps or evacuation plans, and she knows Acting Planning Director Murdock mentioned that they have an evacuation plan and she asked how they can make that very clear in the General Plan.
Acting Planning Director Murdock thought they make reference to it, and he needs a minute to look for that reference. He thought they could try to amplify that if needed to make it clear that we do have one and not for lack of an evacuation plan and there is additional analysis of those evacuation maps that will be forthcoming in compliance with AB 747 and it will give more information about their capacity and potential issues with evacuation routes in a different hazard scenario.
Mayor Bier stated that, if our community is looking at it, they will know where to go to find the evacuation plan.
Acting Planning Director Murdock thought that was a stickier issue. He stated that the Police Department intentionally does not publish that plan. It is a public record that is available if people want to review it in person but they try to maintain some level of security related to that because of the potential for misuse by bad actors of key evacuation routes and the city’s process for managing that. He thought Acting Police Chief Glasgo might be able to speak more to that point.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck was curious if there is active reference to Zone Haven as they just mentioned Zone Haven and they are on the same page.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that they can certainly add a reference to that retool.
Acting Police Chief Glasgo stated that it has generally been the thought behind not making those plans public for the very reason which Acting Planning Director Murdock just mentioned is why they don’t put that out there as there is a possibility for bad actors to take advantage of our strategic responses to any type of evacuation and things of that nature.
City Manager Woodhouse asked him to correct him if he is incorrect, but one of the misconceptions about using the word “plan” in evacuation plan is what he always has been instructed is that the plan is to do what police and fire with public safety tells you to do in the evacuation because the fire could have cut off a certain thing and you can’t have a fixed plan route. He stated that it is a really important thing, a process, and there are routes where, in some neighborhoods there is only one way out but you don’t want someone to automatically say that is where they should go, and they need to via their zone follow what police and fire are telling them to do. He stated it was important for the community to understand.
Acting Police Chief Glasgo agreed, adding that it is why they always push out to know your zone and he thanked Councilmember Vaterlaus for mentioning that as zone haven is a very good tool for all of our community members to understand the zone in which they reside and Capt. Clements has been extremely transparent in pushing that information out to all Pacificans and our Emergency Disaster Preparedness Safety Commission has also done the same thing City Council Regular Meeting 26 July 11, 2022
about pushing out, knowing your zone, knowing alternate routes and they encourage the community to check that out on their website.
Councilmember Vaterlaus agreed that’s what she wrote to zone haven but also evacuation changes depending on what’s going on, as you can’t drive down Fassler if you have fire hoses crossing Fassler and then things change and you have to go around. If you automatically think it is in one direction, it is not, and you have to follow what is given to us at the time as it definitely changes.
Mayor Bier stated that one thing she heard a lot about at this time was the inclusion of affordable housing and she wanted to make it clear that they will be doing that in the housing element update.
Acting Planning Director Murdock agreed, adding that they discussed on June 25 that this General Plan is a really important baseline for undertaking some very pro-housing policies if that is what City Council wants to do. He stated that we were lacking those kinds of densities and tools in the 1980 General Plan but the increased densities and additional support for infill development will be really helpful launching pads or points for Housing Element discussion and finding where they are going to locate the additional units they have to plan.
Mayor Bier stated that she was giving a time check because they said 11:45.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that was if they needed to continue it but it doesn’t sound like they need to do it.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated he was ready to make a final comment and then a motion unless anyone else has something to offer. He asked the City Attorney, when he makes the motion, should he tack on at the very end with amendments made during tonight’s meeting.
City Attorney Kenyon agreed.
Councilmember Vaterlaus stated that, before he makes the motion, she would like to thank everyone, the public, Council, and most of all the staff that worked diligently on this whole process over and over, and Planning Commission as well. She thanked everyone involved as this was a huge, giant project.
Councilmember O’Neill would like to rephrase and echo what she just said, as he knows it has been a huge amount of work. He was on the Planning Commission in the late 80s when they talked about doing this. He stated that this document is not fixed in time and it can be amended. He stated that, when we passed the US Constitution, immediately afterwards there were 12 amendments submitted for the Constitution, 10 of which were enacted. He stated that, since then, we have done 27 amendments to that. He stated that this can be amended and there are challenges coming down the road and there will be Uber airplanes and someone who wants to do a hydrofoil Linda Mar Beach for the community and things are going to move along and it will have to be adapted and amended. He stated that with updated charts, data, etc., and he thanked staff for leading this initiative and former Director Wehrmeister and the public for all their input.
Councilmember Beckmeyer added her appreciation to the Planning Commission for coming up with the suggestion about the annual update opportunity, annual review as part of the annual report back to Council and the change and timing that staff recommended so we have that City Council Regular Meeting 27 July 11, 2022
automatically built-in prompt and an opportunity for everyone to make those tweaks and amendments if needed.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that, before Council considers a motion, they wanted to confirm for the record, and Ms. Moore can do that, and discussing the additional edits and revisions that Council made after conclusion of staff presentation. They analyzed everything brought into at this meeting and recommended for City Council adoption and he wanted to confirm if any of the edits would trigger additional environmental review.
Consultant Moore stated that Council has recommended several edits and additions to the General Plan, the majority for all of the edits and additions in the narrative or existing policies or minor text edits made to clarify or correct information in the proposed plan. She stated that the changes do not constitute new information or change any findings of significance in the EIR.
Councilmember O’Neill thanked Planning Commission Vice Chair Hauser for staying up so late.
Mayor Bier asked Acting Planning Director Murdock to clarify the landslide maps one more time.
Acting Planning Director Murdock asked which aspect of the landslide maps needed clarification.
Mayor Bier stated what they decided to do with them.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that, coming into this meeting, they clarified that they incorporated complete information available from the state and USGS with respect to the fire maps debris flows and previously they only had the southern half of the city and they have corrected that to include the entirety of the city for debris flows and they also worked with California Geological Survey (CGS) staff to correct the data that they initially gave to the city for historic landslides mapped in Pacifica and correct that to depict the mapped landslides in their possession at CGS and they discussed in the appeal hearing to put energy in whatever means the city has to control its processes or encouraging other public agencies and private party individuals to ensure that reports of any major landslides that occur in Pacifica are reported and sent to the state with the intention to get the state to update its maps as comprehensively as possible to provide the broadest benefit of that more comprehensive landslide mapping finished.
Mayor Bier appreciated the explanation. She then wanted to thank our community for continuing to participate. She thought they have carefully addressed all the things they brought to the table and they will be able to continue to address all the things that they continue to bring to the table. She feels that they have done their due diligence and really care about all the things they presented to them and were able to address them at this meeting. She feels good about that and knows they can do amendments moving forward and she encourage them to stay on them to do those amendments as they see fit.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that Acting Planning Director Murdock was going to look at expanding geotechnical analysis to extend up and down slopes during the Building Element update.
Acting Planning Director Murdock stated that is a logical time to consider that as it is squarely related to local topographical and geological circumstances that can justify local amendments to the Building Code and he thought that would be an opportune time to address the point and it is already on schedule to come up later this year as part of the triennial building code update for City Council Regular Meeting 28 July 11, 2022
the 2022 Building Code.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that he saw that Suzanne Moore had her hand up and he was not sure if they reminded the public that they weren’t taking public comment at this meeting as they were continuing the meeting from the 25th where they had already taken public comment, and he wanted to make that clear. He thanked staff and Planning Commission, and Vice Chair Hauser. He asked for some numbers ahead of time and he asked for them late but what he got was a sense that they had, over the last 13 years, four planning directors working on this, five different city managers 13 or 14 different mayors, many City Councilmembers, many Planning Commissioners, many different staff members, community members and it strikes him that 13 years of working on this to get them here at some point when the timeline gets long enough, continuity falls to shambles, and he thought it was amazing that they have worked on this and brought it to fruition through various iterations to get to this point. He stated that they have made it a point that they will have the report on how the General Plan is being implemented in February so they can specifically address it during goal setting in March. He stated that the point is well taken that they would love to have more time to perfect it, but it is a form of perfection that maybe could never exist but, given that it is a living, fluid document that we can amend. He stated that, if that group together do the studies and come back to Council in February when they review it and make those recommendations so they can go into goal setting with the recommendations in mind. He stated that it was not for lack of wanting to hear them but they need a document to stabilize and create the community as we need it to be and that is what they are stepping into, referring to it as the end of the beginning.
Councilmember O’Neill agreed that this is the end of the beginning and the beginning. He stated that Churchill said it best.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that, with that having been said, he moved that they certify the General Plan update and Sharp Park Specific Plan Final Environmental Impact Report, State Clearinghouse No. 2012022046 in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); adopt the Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations in accordance with CEQA; Adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) in accordance with CEQA; approve the General Plan Update, including the amendments incorporated into the May 2022 drafts of those documents identified by the Planning Commission and the City Council and incorporate all maps and testimony into the record by reference, with amendments made during tonight’s meeting; seconded by Councilmember Vaterlaus.
City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Sue Vaterlaus, Councilmember
AYES: Bier, Bigstyck, O'Neill, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer
ADJOURN ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Bier adjourned the Adjourned Special Meeting at 11:58 p.m.
Transcribed by Barbara Medina, Public Meeting Stenographer.
City Council Regular Meeting 29 July 11, 2022
Respectfully Submitted,
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk
APPROVED: 5 - 0; 9/12/2022
__________________________
Mary Bier, Mayor