CITY OF PACIFICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Council Chambers
2212 Beach Blvd
Pacifica, CA 94044
Mayor Mary Bier
Mayor Pro Tem Tygarjas Bigstyck
Councilmember Mike O'Neill
Councilmember Sue Vaterlaus
Councilmember Sue Beckmeyer
City Council Regular Meeting 1 November 28, 2022
SPECIAL and REGULAR MEETING
November 28, 2022 (MONDAY)
www.cityofpacifica.org
Mayor Mary Bier called the meeting to order on November 28, 2022 at 6:39 PM 6:30 PM OPEN SESSION
Call to Order
Mayor Bier called the meeting to order at 6:39 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; Lisa Petersen, PW Director; Yulia Carter, Asst. City Manager; Christian Murdock, Planning Director; Kirk Stratton, Interim Police Chief; Ryan Marquez, Project Manager; Maria Aguilar, Dep. Director PW-Wastewater; Chris Martin, Motor Pool Supervisor; Louis Langi, Streets Superintendent; Paul Lavorini, PW Superintendent; Sean Kavanaugh, Dep. Fire Chief; Craig Wittner, Asst. Fire Marshal, North County Fire Authority; Greg McFann, Contract Building Official, CSG Consultants; Michael Perez, PB&R Director; Tommy Yu, IT Manager; Sarah Coffey, City Clerk; Emily La, Dep. City Clerk.
Reading of Land Acknowledgment
Mayor Bier read the Land Acknowledgment.
Salute to the Flag led by Mayor Bier
City Council Regular Meeting 2 November 28, 2022
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Proclamation - San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley Mayor Bier invited retiring San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley to speak.
Mr. Horsley expressed his pleasure in being involved in Pacifica since he was a child and being responsible to his constituents in the County. He admired all his fellow elected officials, stating that they are blessed with the good job Pacificans have done in preserving the uniqueness of Pacifica.
Mayor Bier then read the proclamation honoring his tenure of 12 years as a San Mateo County Supervisor. She then had them take a picture.
Councilmember O’Neill thanked him, stating that, in addition to the items the mayor mentioned, Mr. Horsley helped the city get the Ohlone interpretive center and worked at getting the library in Pacifica. He stated that he served with him on LAFCO and Mr. Horsley informed him on a lot of trivia about San Mateo County that he did not know about. He asked him if he worked at the substation in El Granada or Moss Beach.
Mr. Horsley stated that he did and helped establish that.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that he thought he did, and he wished him the best in his retirement. He hoped they keep in touch in the future.
Councilmember Beckmeyer thanked him for helping her understand how things worked and mentioned that she made a few mistakes and he was kind enough to guide her back and she was grateful for that. She stated that his leadership with the library has been amazing and thanked him for the support with all the County libraries for such a long time. His leadership has helped inspire the communities to take necessary steps for funding to have world class libraries in every city in San Mateo County.
Councilmember Vaterlaus thanked him for everything he has done for the county and the city.
She served with him on OneShoreline and went to every Home for All meeting and he was active with that as well as the library. She enjoyed talking to him as he was upfront and honest about everything. She appreciated him and thanked him for serving.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that his service to the community was extraordinary. He referred to his interaction with him when he first met him and when he would bring up issues to Mr. Horsley, Mr. Horsley would turn the question back to him and ask him what he should do about it. He felt that was inspiring and empowering statement to someone who was trying to figure out what local governance meant. He stated that Mr. Horsley was instrumental in implementing training so police were trained in dealing with mental health everywhere in San Mateo County; saving lives was on his list because of the service he has invested in for many years. He thanked Mr. Horsley for inspiring him and saving lives and all his services to our community.
Mr. Horsley added that he got the County to institute Laura’s Law, a court mandated treatment for people who are resistive to treatment. He stated that it didn’t go as far as he would have liked, but they instituted that after a tragic case in Pacifica.
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Councilmember O’Neill stated that he got a phone call that PCT did close escrow and that happened with the assistance of the County, Pacifica, and Half Moon Bay in a joint partnership.
Mr. Horsley asked if it was $100,000.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that the county put in $100,000 and Half Moon Bay and Pacifica each put in $50,000.
Councilmember O’Neill stated he would like to acknowledge Chris Hunter and thank him for his efforts in working with Don Horsley. Mr. Horsley agreed.
Mayor Bier thanked Mr. Horsley again for funding the prevention partnerships across the county, as that has been very special to her, basically her passion work for a long time; to have the funding from the County serve so many parts of the county brings prevention and early intervention work together and makes them connected across our cities. She also thanked him for the work with ending homelessness in our county and let him know that the system is working.
Councilmember Beckmeyer added his leadership with LGBTQIA and all of the services on the coastside, as pulling that together and having that site in Half Moon Bay, has helped all of us on the coastside as well as the Pride activities in Pacifica.
Mr. Horsley commented on the overlapping issues of mental health and gun violence. He applauded all that the city does for mental health and making people in this community feel involved and part and parcel of the community. He is grateful for the service he enjoyed over the past 12 years. He loved working with all of them.
Mayor Bier then opened public comment, and seeing no one, closed public comment.
There was a short break for refreshments.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Bier asked if there were any public comments, and seeing none, closed public comments.
Councilmember Vaterlaus accepted the consent calendar as stated.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated, before she seconded, she had a tiny edit for the minutes.
She referred to packet page 16, under where it says Mayor Bier closed public comments, in the third line, she thought the word “speaking” is meant to be the word “seeking”. On packet page 22 where Mayor Bier “thanked that family”, she thought she meant it to read “thanked Pacifica’s Environmental Family”.
Mayor Bier agreed.
Councilmember Bier seconded the motion.
Councilmember Vaterlaus asked if the motion includes the edits.
Mayor Bier agreed that the motion included the edits.
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City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Vaterlaus, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sue Beckmeyer, Councilmember
AYES: Bier, Bigstyck, O'Neill, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer
1. Approval of Disbursements for Dated 10/01/22 through 10/15/22.
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve attached lists of disbursements for 10/01/22 through 10/15/22.
2. Approval of Minutes
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve the minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting held on November 14, 2022, Special Meeting held on November 17, 2022, Special Meeting held on November 19, 2022 and Special Meeting held on November 22, 2022.
3. Cancellation of December 27, 2022 City Council Meeting PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve cancellation of the December 27, 2022 regular City Council meeting.
4. Resolution for Coastal Conservancy Funding for Esplanade Infrastructure Preservation Projects
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt Resolution approving the application of specified State of California grant funds in the amount of $440,000 for the Esplanade Infrastructure Preservation Projects.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Danielle Lacampagne, San Mateo County, (by phone) stated she is with Citizens for San Mateo County Gun Buy Back, which is a group that raised funds for the buy backs. She stated that there will be an anonymous gun buy back in San Mateo County, December 3, in San Carlos at 1000 Skyway Road. She explained the process for getting $100 various types of guns and $50 for non-functioning guns. She mentioned details of the process.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Vaterlaus met with Councilmember-Elect Boles and did a tour of her house to see her zero energy, where she learned a lot. She attended the Council of Cities where they talked about what is happening in Belmont and their new facilities. She attended the Democrats’ event and the event for Jackie Speier hosted at the Pacifica Council Chambers.
She watched the PCT awards on TV and she understood that Small Business Saturday was a huge success.
Councilmember O’Neill attended some of the same meetings Councilmember Vaterlaus attended. He went to Palmetto for Small Business Saturday and saw a lot of people he knew.
He attended the LAFCo meeting and the San Mateo County Visitors Bureau mixer in Burlingame which was a big success. He attended the Commute.org board meeting. He attended the Jackie Speier event on November 19. He had a call on the future of the Library City Council Regular Meeting 5 November 28, 2022
Foundation. He came across an article regarding issues they are facing in Pacifica and explained that San Mateo has come up with a catalytic converter theft prevention program called Cat Guard.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated on November 15 she attended an economic opportunity study at the Community Center. She stated that there was a survey on the city’s website and complete it to give feedback on the economic opportunity study work done by Kosmont Industries. What she appreciated was the idea of breaking Pacifica up into several different business districts and looking at and maximizing what is unique and what is an opportunity in each of those districts. She stated that she and the mayor had a huge opportunity on November 17 to serve lunch at the Senior Center on Crespi. They had a good time, and the chef and senior services department were amazing. She stated that it was an inspiring event, and she was looking forward to the next opportunity. She attended a meeting of the Coastal Cities Group, and they were planning a meeting in Santa Barbara in January with the purpose of working with stakeholder groups on issues related to implementing the Coastal Act and taking it to the next step, cities working on the LCPs and the challenges they are facing, and groups like Surf Rider and Smart Coast have been invited to attend, etc. She attended the Democrats’ and our thank you to outgoing Congresswoman Jackie Speier.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck began by remembering Ukraine and it looks like they will be going through a very long winter shortly and his prayers are with them. He attended an Emergency Preparedness meeting with a great presentation on Zone Haven which is a relatively young tool to identify in a worst case scenario how to properly evacuate and how police and fire will be able to interact with the citizenry and help them figure out proper evacuation and let you know what is going on in your zone. He attended the North Coast County Water District meeting after the Emergency Preparedness meeting. He learned a lot about North Coast County water that he didn’t know before, and it was instructive for him to know how much he didn’t know. He mentioned some of the topics, such as the update on their district headquarters, etc. On learning about all of those topics, he thought it would be great to assign a Council liaison to North Coast County Water District to find out what is going on and report back to Council monthly. He attended Belmont Council of Cities and heard about their development projects.
He thought it was heartwarming to hear the electeds who will be departing their Council speak.
He thought it was like 100 years of collected stories and it was a lovely moment they all shared.
He attended the Democrats’ meeting with Jackie Speier before the special meeting here. He stated that early this afternoon, this was a Peninsula Clean Energy meeting with some of the board members and state Senator Josh Becker. He stated that there were good conversations around incentivizing electrification, such as doing credits for appliance installation. They discussed the regional Brown Act concern that, for regional bodies, it may be nice to retain the ability to use Zoom. They had a discussion around grid reliability, encouraging battery purchases to offset night time consumption and night time rates as it is more expensive at night and the pros and cons of micro grids. He thanked City Manager Woodhouse for successfully helping them navigate Measure Y as they went from a position where they weren’t sure whether they might have to lay off employees to being able to maintain our city services; among all staff that put in efforts, he wanted to recognize City Manager Woodhouse’s leadership.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that, given our agenda on Reach codes, he attended the congestion management meeting earlier today, and they successfully applied for a grant and they were able to replace the stop lights and reconfigure the stop lights on Ralston Road, which in Belmont is a very busy street. After they configured the lights and replaced them, they were saving 252,000 tons of greenhouse gases by what they were able to do with the street lights.
City Council Regular Meeting 6 November 28, 2022
Mayor Bier apologized to OSPAC for missing the meeting this month and she will be checking in with the chair to catch up. She attended the joint articulation meeting with the Pacifica School District, Jefferson Union High School District, the City and the water district. She also attended the economic opportunities meeting, and while it was a smaller crowd, the conversations around the table were rich and she appreciated hearing the conversations and appreciated staff for facilitating those conversations which she thought were important. She thought it was awesome serving the seniors Thanksgiving meals. She attended the Pacifica Pride planning meeting and the planning group is looking good, and she will keep the community updated as they move forward with that planning. She said goodbye to Jackie Speier, which was emotional and wonderful. In the evening, she checked PCT honors which was great and she thanked PCTV for everything they do. She stated that the Small Business Sharp Park event was great. She then read a letter of commendation to Chuck Pomicpic, who retired from Pacifica Fire Fighters.
She stated that they appreciated him.
Councilmember Beckmeyer thought it was a well-deserved retirement.
Councilmember Vaterlaus stated it was an amazing acknowledgment. She thanked him for his service.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that Pacifica is lucky we have fire fighters but we also have to share them under mutual aid and he is Mr. Pomicpic’s neighbor. He stated that, in the 1989 quake, he was called out to go to San Francisco and was fighting the fires in the Marina District.
He stated that it shows the quality of a person to leave their wife and young kids to fight a fire in another city.
Councilmember Beckmeyer added that she was grateful to him for everything he has done for Pacifica’s department all the way up through the ranks over the years. She thought the legacy leaves Pacifica much safer and she wishes him well in retirement.
Councilmember Vaterlaus reminded everyone that they have the Rockaway tree lighting on Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 and Santa will be arriving in a fire truck and there are a lot of activities for everyone to do. She was talking to Chris at the garbage company and the garbage that people are leaving out is excessive and she reminded the citizens that everyone has to pay for that: when people leave trash out and it gets picked up, it is going to cause rate increases and it is dramatically more than it has been in the past. She asked that they do it the right way.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that, referring to trash, they were talking about freezers full of meat left on streets, refrigerators being dumped; this is going to cost every ratepayer in Pacifica.
She stated that, if you see something, say something; this has to be curtailed and the only way to do it is to catch people and the only way to figure it out is if you see someone, describe the truck and she asked that the community rally together on this.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that there is a lot of hauling companies and you hire them to haul stuff out of your yard. He stated that some unscrupulous ones just dump it on the street, but in other cities, they dump it on the street. He stated that they are making money while it is costing the taxpayers’ money. He referred to the tree lighting ceremony and the city is sponsoring a holiday parade on Sunday, December 4, at 3:00 pm on Palmetto.
Mayor Bier stated that there are also festivities at the Community Center on Friday evening where there will be light the building, the elf market will begin, thus a lot of things going on during the weekend.
City Council Regular Meeting 7 November 28, 2022
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that it was complimentary with the activities on Sunday.
There is the Holly Jollypalooza at Eureka Square Center that will be supporting lots of small businesses.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Woodhouse stated that they are continuing their work on improving the audio system in the Council Chambers and have received a bid for new microphones, as well as other audio equipment to improve the sound. They don’t know the timeline is because of the tendency for electronic gear to be backordered. He reiterated a couple of things mentioned.
One is the caller in oral communications who had mentioned the San Mateo County anonymous gun buy back on December 3, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in San Carlos; there is a flyer in person and they will be pushing the information out in their weekly electronic in their weekly electronic newsletter. He referred to a couple of economic developments, i.e., the Small Business Saturday was a huge success. NBC Bay Area did a story on it and if you read the printed version of the story, it highlights Pacifica and the number of businesses that participated and the crowd. He referred to economic development efforts for small businesses, which our Economic Development program committee are very focused on, stating there is an upcoming business resource and networking night which will be presented by the Economic Development Committee on November 30 at Table Wine beginning at 7:00 p.m. He stated that it was a pleasure for him to help serve Thanksgiving lunch to the seniors as it was a packed house with over 90 participants enjoying that lunch. He thanked the Community Center staff and the chef for pulling that off. He called Interim Chief Stratton to say some words about the police department of the quarter, adding that Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck had requested more information, and he is here to make comments about Officer Tran.
Interim Police Chief Stratton recognized Officer Tran for employee of the quarter, July through September 2022. He read the recognition.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
5. Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of an Ordinance to Adopt the 2022 Edition of the California Building Standards Code and Fire Code with Local Amendments, including amendments to require building electrification (Reach Codes), underground utility installation, and expanded geotechnical hazard evaluation.
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to adopt “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Pacifica Repealing and replacing Chapters 1 (Building Code), 2 (Mechanical Code), 3 (Plumbing Code), 4 (Electrical Code), 5 (International Property Maintenance Code), 6 (Energy Code), 7 (Green Building Code), 7.5 (Residential Code), 8 (Historical Buildings Code, 8.5 (Existing Buildings Code), and 9 (Reference Standards Code) of Title 8 of the Pacifica Municipal Code, to adopt by reference the 2022 California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Parts 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12) and the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code and making certain amendments thereto; Repealing and replacing Article 1 (Fire Code) of Chapter 3 (Fire Protection) of Title 4 of the Pacifica Municipal Code to adopt the 2022 California Fire Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9) and making certain amendments thereto; and Finding adoption of the Ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).”
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Planning Director Murdock presented the staff report.
Mayor Bier opened public comments.
Margo Meiman, Pacifica, stated she wanted to explain why building electrification is important, giving data on various cities in the U.S., and specifically Pacifica, on this issue, and highlighted Peninsula Clean Energy’s website as an important resource of information.
Nancy Tierney, Pacifica, (by phone) stated she supported the motion to adopt the ordinance on the 2022 addition of the Reach codes, and shared her information and thoughts on this issue.
Mayor Bier closed public comments.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated he would like to make the motion on this one. Before that, he referred to the caller talking about the net energy metering NEM 3.0; he mentioned talking to Senator Josh Becker and amongst the issues discussed, they talked about the NEM 3.0, and he let her know that they are in discussion with our state representative and if PCE reaches out to various city councils to send a letter, he will be happy to bring that to Council. He was also looking forward to goal setting in March to discuss where they might check in with existing codes, and he was watching the City of San Mateo on that.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck moved to adopt “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Pacifica Repealing and replacing Chapters 1 (Building Code), 2 (Mechanical Code), 3 (Plumbing Code), 4 (Electrical Code), 5 (International Property Maintenance Code), 6 (Energy Code), 7 (Green Building Code), 7.5 (Residential Code), 8 (Historical Buildings Code), 8.5 (Existing Buildings Code), and 9 (Reference Standards Code) of Title 8 of the Pacifica Municipal Code, to adopt by reference the 2022 California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Parts 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12) and the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code and making certain amendments thereto; Repealing and replacing article 1 (Fire Code) of Chapter 3 (Fire Protection) of Title 4 of the Pacifica Municipal Code to adopt the 2022 California Fire Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9) and making certain amendments thereto; and Finding adoption of the Ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)”; seconded by Councilmember Beckmeyer.
City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Sue Beckmeyer, Councilmember
AYES: Bier, Bigstyck, O'Neill, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer
CONSIDERATION
6. Update on Highway1/Manor Drive Overcrossing Improvement Project PROPOSED ACTION: Accept Update Report on Highway 1/Manor Drive Overcrossing Improvement Project
PW Director Petersen began the staff report and introduced Lynn McIntyre, Project Manager, AECOM, to continue the staff report.
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Project Manager McIntyre completed the staff report.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck understood that, to continue receiving the money and move forward on the overcrossing project, they have to study the Milagra on ramp. He asked if he was on track so far.
PW Director Petersen responded affirmatively, adding that the first phase of the feasibility study did look at the Milagra on ramp; part of the reason it needed to be looked at was that it was noted that putting that on ramp did reduce congestion at the Manor intersection based on the traffic studies. As discussed, it will ultimately be the Council’s decision what, if any, project they want to move forward.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck wanted to make sure it as clear as he can make it that, unless they are studying both, they aren’t going to have the money going forward to get to the one if that is the option they ultimately choose.
PW Director Petersen responded affirmatively.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck understood from the various dates presented in the report it is essentially, that if and when they are going to make the determination of whether or not they are going to do both or just one, the timeline suggests it is August 2024 when they will be coming to that conclusion one way or the other. He asked if he was reading it correctly.
PW Director Petersen stated he was correct, adding that, at that time, they will have all the information so that would be the time that kind of decision will get made.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck referenced feedback and emails he received but would not ask now.
He wanted to be clear that his understanding is, and which seems to be confirmed that, unless they are studying both, they don’t have money to go forward even if they decide only to do one and that the time in which they are going to be making that decision looks like August 2024; for those having an interest in breaking this apart and breaking a piece off, even if they were to go that direction, they won’t be making that determination until August 2024.
Councilmember Vaterlaus referred to the parking and asked, because they are taking away the diagonal parking and moving it to parallel parking, what is the loss of parking.
PW Director Petersen stated that the design team is still exploring options to maintain parking in the Manor Drive area. One option being considered is to change the parking in front of Mazzetti’s to parallel parking to accommodate striped Class 2 bike lane along Manor Drive east of Oceana. They also have been looking at changes to parking in front of Walgreens to parallel parking to accommodate combined right and through lane and a shoulder by play along Manor Drive west of Palmetto. That said, the team is also looking at maintaining the diagonal parking, knowing that it takes longer for people to pull in and out of parallel spaces. She stated that maintaining diagonal parking is not off the table and she believes she is asking about a net loss of parking and she didn’t think they have that number now because the design is still being refined.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated, if she is not mistaken, they are in the coastal zone when they are talking about the side of Manor where Walgreens is. When they are talking about Mazzetti’s side, they are not in the coastal zone. On the coastal zone side, they don’t get to have a net loss of parking. If they are going to lose parking, they need to find some somewhere City Council Regular Meeting 10 November 28, 2022
else so there is no net loss. Ideally, there is a gain, but they are trying to put bike lanes, etc. in there and she was glad to hear that the diagonal parking is still on the table.
Councilmember O’Neill asked, that at the end of the smoke shop, beauty salon, and O’Reilley’s auto body part, whether there is an empty lot there. He asked, if you eliminate the diagonal parking on Manor, whether it would be possible to use some of the money to purchase that lot for city parking lots to make up for the loss of parking.
PW Director Petersen thought that was a great idea and something they are looking at and thinking about as to, if they lose parking, how will they try to regain that parking. She stated that this just a study phase and they are thinking of all the options available and, if there is a way for the city to purchase property, possibly for a project, or possibly some widening of the roadway to allow for additional parking as those are things they would be looking at so they can minimize any kind of loss.
Councilmember O’Neill concluded that it was a possibility. He asked, when they do the traffic study, if they could look at the impact of a northbound on ramp and how much less traffic would be going by Ocean Shore School.
Ms. McIntyre understood and she didn’t have the detailed notes about the traffic study coming up, but that would definitely be considered with both of the alternatives what the traffic levels would look like in that area.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked them to show the timeline on the PowerPoint again and reiterated that the traffic engineering study takes place in February 2023.
Project Manager McIntyre stated that there are two sets of traffic studies, one done during the project initiation document phase, and that is a preliminary detailed traffic study that is largely based on existing data and this is the stage of the project when the traffic engineering team works with CalTrans and the city to determine basic things about the parameters of the performance that they are looking for with this project in terms of congestion relief and the exact parameters of the more detailed study that will take place in the next phase. She stated that, in the next phase of the project approval and environmental document phase, there is a very detailed traffic analysis called the traffic operations analysis report and it basically includes collection of new data such as traffic counts and sometimes other data collection for regional traffic movement and modeling of future traffic operations using county model, etc. She stated that will be a much more detailed traffic report but that will be in the next phase and she would expect it to be done by about this time next year.
Councilmember Beckmeyer concluded in the fall of 2023 is when that more detailed one would be taken.
Project manager McIntyre stated that they would expect it in that timeframe.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated on the one happening in February, and they don’t know when the exact date it will be done, but the week of February 20, the elementary schools in Pacifica are closed, and she recommended that it not take place February 20 through February 24 as you will not get an accurate picture of traffic, even if there was a higher level study at this point in time. She emphasized the detail that they aren’t doing it in the summer, getting ready for this time a year from now with the super detailed one as they don’t have summer school at that site, in addition to the fact that Skyline College and none of the high schools are in session, City Council Regular Meeting 11 November 28, 2022
so traffic impacts are definitely lessened in Pacifica during the summer months. She stated that Councilmember O’Neill has taught her over the years that it matters when you do the study.
Project Manager McIntyre thanked her for that information. She stated that, in February, this preliminary traffic study will have been completed already and they wouldn’t be collecting data at that time. She stated that the traffic engineering firm, Fehr and Peers, is very experienced with when to collect new traffic data and understand not to do it when schools aren’t in session.
Councilmember O’Neill thought Council would like to look at every month when PG&E puts in a fund for undergrounding utilities and, if we are taking and digging up all the streets, bridges, etc., and that is one of the main entry ways into Pacifica, and see about undergrounding utilities in that intersection at that corner, especially the number of truck that lose their brakes coming down Manor. He thought that could be part of the report, as he didn’t know how much money is going to be in that fund as it takes years.
PW Director Petersen stated that was a great a suggestion and they will take a look at it. She believes that the city borrowed an advance on that fund and she didn’t recall there being a lot of money in that fund, but she will take a look at that as it is a great idea and it would be beneficial.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that he can add a little bit of detail as they were talking about this: They are at a deficit in that PG&E funding as he believes that it is in the $75,000 range and they have been paying it off for many years and, by the time construction were to occur on this, they would have some of that allocation building up.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated she has one last question. She asked if, in the more detailed study phase, the consultant would be taking into consideration and working with our Planning Department on whatever we end up adopting as our RHNA allocation and the sites they are looking where additional housing might be built in Pacifica, if those items might be factored into projections for traffic.
Project Manager McIntyre stated that she will ask the traffic consultant about that as she thought they typically try to be very mindful of local development projects, especially with regard to the project area and she knows they take into account housing and employment increases as accounted for in Planned Bay Area 2050 or whatever the most current Planned Bay Area is and she has seen in the traffic operations analysis report detailed lists of not only transportation projects in the area but also development projects that would affect traffic circulation in the project area.
Councilmember O’Neill stated it brings up a thought. If they are looking for future planning for traffic, how does the traffic planner allocate the fact that an ADU can basically go in every one of those backyards.
Project Manager McIntyre stated that she would have to forward that question to the traffic consultant as she didn’t know.
Councilmember O’Neill understood that the landscape has changed and he was curious.
Mayor Bier asked them to bring up the slide that shows the project area. She stated that there have been people in the community talking about roundabouts and focusing on Oceana and Paloma and she wanted to be clear that the section is outside of this project area. She asked if she was correct.
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Project Manager McIntyre stated she was correct.
PW Director Petersen added what was noted in the report that, during the first phase feasibility study, that area was looked at and it was determined that, putting any type of on ramp down in that area made no impact to the congestion at Manor and that was why it was taken off the table, i.e., it wasn’t doing anything to help the congestion at Manor and that was the goal of this project, to stop and minimize congestion in that area.
Mayor Bier opened public comments.
Chris Redfield, Pacifica, thanked PW Director Petersen for the good presentation. He then referred to the planning study and shared his positive thoughts on this issue.
Christine Boles, Pacifica (by phone) thanked them for the presentation. She had some questions and concerns regarding parking and housing elements and possible other options to consider. She looked forward to working with them for the next steps.
Mayor Bier closed public comments.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that funding was originally part of a measure voted on by San Mateo County citizens in either 1988 or 1998 and in the original documents of the ballot measure and he didn’t think there was a lot of leeway for the city. He thought the only other project Pacifica would get was the widening of the highway. He stated that Council majority at that point voted no for the highway widening and gave up a lot of the benefits available now, such as a bike lane, sidewalk, breakdown lane, emergency lane with a centered median instead of concrete I-beams that while you are idling on Highway 1 you would be able to see public art.
He stated that once this money is voted down, etc., it is gone and he thought the money meant for widening of Highway 1 was probably a graded overcrossing in San Carlos or San Mateo, as they just finished an under crossing for 25th Avenue in San Mateo. He wanted to caution future Councilmembers after he is gone that it has taken 35 or 40 years to get this money; they are not making a decision that will be fixed or changed in six months but deciding what the traffic and estimating the usage of traffic in that neighborhood for the next 30-40 years and, given the density the state is forcing upon cities, the density could almost double because of an ADU in every unit, empty lots being developed, etc. He urged caution for the final decision on this project.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck thanked him for reminding them about why he will be sorely missed.
He had a question regarding a handful of emails they got and he wanted the city to have the opportunity to respond to the suggestion that a roundabout at Paloma and Oceana could be beneficial. He stated that a different commenter stated that it won’t affect the traffic at the Manor overcrossing which is why they aren’t considering it. He asked if they can elaborate on that or give them more reasons why that is likely not going to be a solution in this instance or can they study it in conjunction with the other two things.
PW Director Petersen stated that the first phase did study that. In addition to the key element which she mentioned previously is that it makes no impact at the congestion at Manor which is what the entire project is about; the other element related to that is needing to get the right-ofway to put that in. She stated that it is going to be a very difficult project, but that isn’t what excludes it, but that it doesn’t provide any relief of congestion at Manor and basically, to think of it in a different way, it is an extraneous project and doesn’t do anything to benefit the project.
City Council Regular Meeting 13 November 28, 2022
Ultimately, if Council were to try to move forward with that and went to CalTrans and told them they want to build the Manor Drive overcrossing and the roundabout at Paloma, and they would ask what that is doing for the Manor Drive overcrossing and they can show the traffic studies that it doesn’t help the congestion and they will say that the city can fund it themself as they won’t help. She concluded that there is no way they would get funding for it, even if the city decided, for some reason, that it was something they would like to have. Ultimately CalTrans is looking for is the facts and data, and that data needs to show whatever improvement they are funding is going to improve the congestion for the Manor overcrossing which is the project they have identified that they need and is important to the city.
Mayor Bier thanked them for the report.
RESULT: NO VOTE REQUIRED
7. Approval of Amendment to Agreement with GHD, Inc for the Beach Boulevard Infrastructure Resiliency Project
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing a Third Amendment to Task Order 1 (Attachment 1) between the City of Pacifica and GHD, Inc. for planning, engineering, and environmental services for the Beach Boulevard Infrastructure Resiliency Project in the amount of $856,448.34; and authorize the City Manager to execute said amendment.
PW Director Petersen introduced the staff report then turned over to Project Manager Ryan Marquez.
Project Manager Marquez presented the staff report.
Councilmember Vaterlaus asked what type of popups they are talking about, such as Farmer’s Market, etc.
Project Manager Marquez stated that it would be similar, go to the people instead of having the people come to us. They have done a Farmer’s Market in the past for other projects, such as Fog Fest, Dog Surfing, and we want to find those places that bring in a crowd of people from the region as well as Pacifica.
Councilmember Beckmeyer wanted to verify her understanding on packet page 128 that the items listed under the community and stakeholder development is part of phase 2a and it is part of the funding request he is asking for at this meeting.
Project Manager Marquez responded affirmatively.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked if, approving this recommendation is to work with GHD and, as such, how much influence he has over who does the community outreach. She thought it went very well last time.
Project Manager Marquez wasn’t sure he was following her question.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that there was a subcontractor that conducted the public meetings with her and the mayor when they were on the subcommittee.
Project Manager Marquez confirmed Kearns and West and the entire team they had in phase 1 City Council Regular Meeting 14 November 28, 2022
is coming back and they will be involved.
Mayor Bier opened public comments and, seeing no one, closed public comments.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that, when looking at the report, he was confirming the time of the year they do the process and he found it impressive reading through the report regarding the scope of the work going into making sure this project, which may possibly be the most important infrastructure project for Pacifica over the next several decades and he was impressed with the work that will be going into the project and he thanked the team. He referred to Councilmember Beckmeyer’s concerns on the way some of the meetings went the last time or asked if he was misreading.
Councilmember Beckmeyer confirmed he was misreading as she thought it went very well, considering we were forced by the Governor’s order to do everything online. They didn’t get the popups, table tops, etc. but despite that, there was an interactivity added to the process that she thought it was excellent as well as high quality of restating of public comments at the end of each of the meetings that she thought that was skillful. That was her concern, that as much as we are contacting GHD, and as she learned from the City Manager, we don’t get to pick the subcontractor generally.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck was glad he misheard her and glad the original team is getting back together.
Councilmember Beckmeyer also asked, at a future time, if they will need information from Council about the preference or not for forming a Council subcommittee for this phase.
Project Manager Marquez stated that, as planned out now, if this is approved, they will probably kick off in the first couple of months of the new year, in parallel with a lot of the design, they will come up with a communication plan and bring it back to Council. At that time, the communication plan would or would not recommend to continue that.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked if he can redefine for her PSE, Plan, Specifications and...
Project Manager Marquez states it was Estimate.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated, if she understands it, the estimate for the entirety of this phase is around $6 million.
Project Manager Marquez stated that, for the full phase 2, that is correct.
Councilmember Beckmeyer thought they had some of that set aside already and some budgeted already. She stated that, if she correctly interpreting packet page 129, the dollar amount they are looking for is $4,651,830. She asked what the unfunded amount is.
Project Manager Marquez thought it would be about $4.5 million.
Mayor Bier stated that, touching on the ad hoc committee, she was glad to see that and hearing some of the statement regarding reaching out to people in the area, etc., and she thought it might be good to have an ad hoc committee for public outreach. She appreciated her bringing that up.
City Council Regular Meeting 15 November 28, 2022
Councilmember Beckmeyer had one last question. She noted, in the proposal attached, the timeline referenced to the state land commission and she didn’t see them listed in the concluding paragraph.
Project Manager Marquez referred to what she may be thinking, and he stated that there will be some analysis done where they are putting buoys out and the radars out on the pier, and that will need state land commission approval. At this time, they don’t believe they need to reach out to state lands for a lease at this point but they will need to do it in the final permitting.
Councilmember Beckmeyer understood, and then requested Council consider looking at the recommended action (which she read). She then asked if it was appropriate to make it crystal clear by adding “and community outreach” or “community engagement”. She realized that it is included into all of the pages attached, but she asked if it would be incorrect to include that in this sentence. She was also asking Council for their thoughts.
Project Manager Marquez stated that he didn’t have any issue with that.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked if Director Petersen doesn’t either, as well as City Attorney.
If not, she was ready to make a motion.
Mayor Bier asked if they can clarify one more time where the money is coming from that they are discussing at this meeting to be sure it is crystal clear to the community.
Project Manager Marquez stated that, in June 2022, the budget, as well as capital improvement, was approved by Council and there was $1 million allocated from Fund 38, disaster accounting fund, for this project, and there are remaining funds from the state grant in Assembly Bill 74.
Councilmember Beckmeyer moved to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing a Third Amendment to Task Order 1 (Attachment 1) between the City of Pacifica and GHD, Inc., for planning, engineering, environmental services and community outreach for the Beach Boulevard Infrastructure Resiliency Project in the amount of $856,448.34; and authorize the City Manager to execute said amendment; seconded by Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck.
City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Beckmeyer, Councilmember
SECONDER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Bier, Bigstyck, O'Neill, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer
8. Purchase of City Vehicles from Vehicle Replacement Fund 72 PROPOSED ACTION:
Approve the Following Actions Related to City Vehicle Purchases:
1) Approve Purchase of City Vehicles from Vehicle Replacement Fund 72 for $1,922,000, including a 3% cost escalation factor for a total of $1,979,660. 2) Adopt the Resolution to Approve FY 22-23 budget amendment to:
• Appropriate $1,979,660 from the Vehicle Replacement Fund 72 for purchase of City vehicles.
• Transfer $500,000 from Wastewater Fund 18 to the Vehicle Replacement Fund 72 for purchases related to Wastewater Operations.
City Council Regular Meeting 16 November 28, 2022
PW Director Petersen stated she was joined by Streets Superintendent Louis Langi, Fields Services Manager Paul Lavorini, Motor Pool Manager Chris Martin and Interim Police Chief Kirk Stratton, and then presented the staff report.
Councilmember O’Neill asked how long ago they replaced the Vac Con.
PW Director Petersen stated that the Vac Con is ten years old.
Councilmember O’Neill asked about another piece of equipment they purchased within 4-5 years.
PW Director Petersen clarified and stated the Vac Con was definitely ten years old and it is seeing its age.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated a couple of months ago, PCE was talking about offering fleet upgrade services to organizations interested in upgrading to electric. He asked the City Manager to look into it and it appears from the staff report that they did look into it, and he asked if they can take a moment to elaborate on the resources they found from PCE that were available. He wanted to express his gratitude that he looked into it and, for these gas powered vehicle, they are a year out coming into us and he understands with the supply chain being what it is, it would take longer for the electric vehicles. He stated that, in following the media, the Ford F150 is now available in electric form and he was sure there is a huge backlog on people trying to get those and that translates into what will be a long process in updating city vehicles, especially the specialized vehicles that will take longer to have the electric equivalence. He asked if they could tell them what they found out with the PCE resources.
PW Director Petersen stated, that regarding PCE resources, there are resources to look into converting and what they are looking at and offering is what she was talking about, i.e., the EV infrastructure and how you get that in place to support an EV fleet once all the testing has been done. She stated that before that can happen, they have to start planning for the EV infrastructure they are going to have and how are they going to support these first responder vehicles during electrical outages. She thought one thing that was very compelling is that they are offering up to $25,000 for a project to help you start looking at that and start figuring out how you are going to do this and move it forward. This is something that, if they were to do it, they would bring in an expert to help them and show them how to get from one point to a big goal that everyone will want to be there. They want to start thinking about it and they want to help moving them in that direction.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that he hopes they can take advantage of their help but they might have to start incorporating electric vehicle chargers as a part of the vehicle replacement plan at some point. He was struck by what she alluded to in the presentation that Public Works looks for smaller equipment available and is battery powered, such as blowers, and the equipment’s capability must be with the department’s operation needs, etc. He was reminded of our new assemblymember Marc Berman who was one of the co-authors of AB 1346 about what he is calling SOREs or small off-road engines. He asked if she could elaborate on that as he understands that, by 2024, the SOREs need to be all electric going forward. He stated, along with having to invest in charging stations for EVs, sooner than later, investment in batteries also has to be a consideration. If the grid goes down, such as mentioned during discussion of Reach codes, it is another instance where the city’s going to presumably start looking at battery backup and battery power investment in order to continue running the items that need to be electric.
City Council Regular Meeting 17 November 28, 2022
PW Director Petersen thanking him for bringing up that point earlier so they can do more research into it. She stated that the bill was signed by the Governor about a year ago and implementation of that bill started in July 2022: what they want to happen in California is that all small motors, including lawn mowers and moving forward are going to be not gas anymore starting in 2024. They are saying that, at that point, they expect the manufacturing to be in place and everything starting be produced that way. She stated that they have set a goal and are pushing us towards it, similar to SB1383 with organics. She stated that there was definitely some relaxation, especially with the organic procurement rules, because sometimes they also have to see what the reality is and are the manufacturers going to get there by 2024. Right now, that is what the bill says and they have been looking at these smaller pieces of equipment and are already purchasing those as battery power. They will continue to do that and with the bill out there, everybody is going to be there, whether it happens in 2024 or two years after as all of California will eventually be there and we need to support those pieces of equipment.
Mayor Bier opened up public comments.
Margo Meiman, Pacifica, stated that, in acknowledging everything Director Petersen just presented, she wondered if this was a missed opportunity for electric vehicles as well as help to meet the city’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. She expressed her thoughts and questions on the issue.
Rick Nahass, Pacifica, (by phone) thought the presentation seemed to discourage the purchase of electrical vehicles, and he shared his thoughts and questions on the issue.
Mayor Bier closed public comments.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck looked through the list of vehicles of Public Works vehicles that were specialized and Police Department vehicles that were emergency response vehicles and asked, if not this round, have they identified any vehicles that are appropriate to be electrified by their nature.
PW Director Petersen appreciated his question as well as the public’s questions. She stated that they have been purchasing hybrids, and the answer to Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck’s question is yes. She stated that they should be purchasing vehicles every year; there will be a lot of opportunities for the city and vehicles that are sedans to be looking to going from a hybrid to a fully electric vehicle, and that opportunity could be as early as next year. She stated that there are opportunities and they continue to evaluate it as their goal is to push in that direction and it could be a next step for those hybrid vehicles they have been purchasing.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck mentioned that the PCE program was designed to help somewhere between 6 and 7 organizations with the first round of funding. He asked if they found any element of it that they can take advantage of at this time. He did understand that they will have further opportunities when we have rounds of funding our vehicles that will lend themselves to more fully electric vehicles.
PW Director Petersen thought they would need to have a conversation with them related to it.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated the final question he heard was about 2021 public infrastructure funding which related more to charging stations and getting that infrastructure in place, a process that is not inexpensive.
City Council Regular Meeting 18 November 28, 2022
PW Director Petersen stated that was her understanding but she hasn’t heard much beyond that.
City Manager Woodhouse added that a lot of the funding trickled down from the federal bills, etc., and are manifesting themselves now. California Consulting is the granting firm that we use, and EV charging infrastructure was on that list to look at and see what the grant opportunities are and work their way down to a level we can apply for. It will happen more in the future, but there was no direct, clear source now.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck stated that, as they go forward and start identifying those opportunities, that is another opportunity to deepen our relationship with our good friends in Congress, Kevin Mullin and Anna Eshoo.
Councilmember Vaterlaus thanked the City Manager for looking into the electric vehicle side of it. She described examples of the difficulty of purchasing electric vehicles. She thought that, as we move along and buy vehicles in the future, we can look more into electric when they are produced more than they are now.
Mayor Bier thought they needed some language somehow to assure that, moving forward, they know what it is going to look like for us so that we have a road map of how we are going to eventually move into the all-electric vehicle fleet. They don’t know how long it will take, but they need to start having those conversations now so they have the language in place. If they can have that conversation with PCE, they can fall back on the Stanford study where they had a nice road map for us to put some EV chargers installed across the city. They are doing the Reach codes, but she feels that they have to do everything they can moving forward to assure their direction. They have to have it in writing in a road map so our community can follow along and bring us information and resources that they clearly have that we don’t and along the way we can take advantage of all of the opportunities out there for us to move forward. She understands that all these vehicles are necessary now. She stated that, moving forward, we have to be super clear and have it part of our climate action plan which is really important. She stated that it is not that everyone will want to be electric but they are going to have to be. She stated that they just have to figure out how to get there.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that was where she was going. She asked the City Attorney if it was possible for them to add a whereas to the resolution. She pushed the City Manager on whether they needed to do this now and he assured her that they need to do that. She stated that Director Petersen restated it in terms of increasing costs and they have bid on these already that we will lose and they will go away and we will have to start over and it will definitely cost more.
PW Director Petersen confirmed, adding that they talked about that in the report as there are a number of vehicles, including police vehicles, that they have been able to get them to hold their costs and they have been waiting. They told them they were coming to the meeting tonight and hoped to get the approval. She stated that they are locked in and they want to stay locked in because they feel that prices are going to rise significantly over the next year.
Councilmember Beckmeyer referred to Mayor Bier’s point that they need a road map and what they heard at this meeting anecdotally from Councilmember Vaterlaus and from the presentation about the inability to purchase these vehicles due to supply chain. She wondered if they can’t acknowledge that in a whereas, i.e., “whereas electrical vehicles are not available” and/or “whereas electric vehicles do not exist at the present for the heavy equipment purposes City Council Regular Meeting 19 November 28, 2022
for which they are needed”. She stated that they need to be internally consistent, and they are reminded that the climate action plan is eight years out of date and she knows there is going to be a lot of expectation from the community to heavy up on our goals for that. She stated, if the first thing we do is not state anything about electric vehicles in our resolution, it seems like we aren’t serious, but she thinks they are. She stated that it is not her goal to delay this process for reasons she stated and was confirmed, but it is her goal to figure out a way to get some language in there acknowledging challenges, thus the impossibility of obtaining electric vehicles presently and secondly is there a place in the recommended action to add a third item to it stating Council’s intention and direction to staff to introduce an electric vehicle replacement plan as part of their annual vehicle replacement.
City Attorney Kenyon offered some initial thoughts, i.e., what she is requesting does not need to be in the resolution but just be a verbal direction that would be noted in the minutes to staff to do whatever staff needs to do in terms of analysis and research to assure that electric vehicles are included in our fleet at the earliest opportunity possible. Because this resolution is focused on actual purchase of city vehicles and they are not purchasing electric vehicles, it is hard to include it in this, but what is normally done is that, after Council adopts the resolution as part of the agenda item, they can give additional direction to staff as part of the minutes to do further analysis to assure that electric vehicles are purchased and included in our fleet at the earliest opportunity.
Councilmember Beckmeyer thanked her for that. She stated that this is why she wanted it in the resolution, i.e., the simple reason is that, when items come to them again, very often the previous resolution that relate to that topic are copied or referenced in the packet that they receive but the minutes of this meeting won’t be. She is trying to find a way to honor what the mayor said, and if the mayor is okay with giving direction to staff, then she should stop pushing on this point. She also wondered if Fund 72 was a fund they can use for that or is it only for the capital purchase of the actual asset.
PW Director Petersen stated that it was historically only used for vehicle replacement. She knows that doing EV fleet infrastructure will be a huge cost and they probably want to go in another direction and try to identify funding through other sources that will be more readily available as they continue to move forward into this electric vehicle age.
Mayor Bier thought, if PW Director Petersen can plan to be a huge part of the discussion in our climate action plan update, they want to make sure that Public Works is part of that discussion so they have language in the Climate Action Plan moving forward.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that is one thing he was going to suggest, as they are really talking about a policy approach and direction related to purchasing policy and a climate action plan item could be to develop such a vehicle purchasing policy and when they get to that, it could certainly be discussed. He stated that, if it is Council’s preference, they could add a whereas into this resolution that says “whereas the city has examined available vehicles and looking at electric vehicles for these priority purchases and they will continue to do so in the future”. He thought one of the challenges is that this market is going to change dramatically over the next couple of years and he can’t sit there and predict what the purchasing price preference needs to be for an electric vehicle, Ford F150 versus a gas one, at this point in time.
The real policy decision in the future is going to be that we know we don’t have enough money to buy and replace the vehicles that they need to replace so how much money should be set aside and used to buy more expensive vehicles and less of those. He stated that was an important policy discussion and decision; thus, a future step that could be identified in the City Council Regular Meeting 20 November 28, 2022
Climate Action Plan is to work on that and have that policy conversation with Council. The market and trend is going to push them that way anyway, as they are unfortunately not a city with a big bank account that can be an early adopter to technology when we have very fundamental needs on our vehicles. They can think aspirationally about that and plan for it.
They have not just the vehicles but the EV infrastructure and it all coming together, with the Climate Action Plan as a vehicle to be thinking about that at a high level planning perspective.
Mayor Bier stated that they were planning on doing that anyway.
City Manager Woodhouse agreed, and he didn’t recall if there were already policies in the climate action plan that address vehicles. City Manager Woodhouse wanted to clarify if it is the Council’s preference to leave the resolution as is or add a whereas that says something about we’re cognizant of the need for this transition, they looked at that but it is not part of this purchasing package, etc. They could add general language like that, and they could leave it to him to develop that.
Mayor Bier asked if they can add that to the motion.
City Attorney Kenyon responded affirmatively.
City Manager Woodhouse added that after the whereas that says “the city desires to purchase vehicles from the vehicle replacement fund 72 for immediate urgent needs” and “whereas in looking at these purchases the city evaluator evaluated the feasibility of electric vehicle purchases and for this purchase none were found feasible due to the kind of equipment” or something like that.
Mayor Bier added language on completing and continuing evaluations.
City Manager Woodhouse reiterated adding to the whereas statement “and will continue in future vehicle purchases”. They will always look at the hybrid and EV options and make that operational decision and present that to Council as part of the package. He stated that they will note on getting direction from Council that, when they look at the Climate Action Plan, vehicle purchases and EV infrastructure will be an important part of that.
Councilmember Beckmeyer asked if they needed to add a third item about Council direction.
City Attorney Kenyon explained that they did not.
Councilmember Beckmeyer moved approval of the Following Actions Related to City Vehicle Purchases; 1) approve Purchase of City Vehicles from Vehicle Replacement Fund 72 for $1,922,000, including a 3% cost escalation factor for a total of $1,979,660; 2) adopt the Resolution to Approve FY 22-23 budget amendment to appropriate $1,979,660 from the Vehicle Replacement Fund 72 for purchase of City vehicles and transfer $500,000 from Wastewater Fund 18 to the Vehicle Replacement Fund 72 for purchases related to Wastewater Operations; and 3) adopt the resolution as amended to include language as amended by the City Manager regarding electric vehicles; seconded by Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck.
City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
City Council Regular Meeting 21 November 28, 2022
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Beckmeyer, Councilmember
SECONDER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Bier, Bigstyck, O'Neill, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer
9. Consideration and Adoption of Resolution Approving First Amendment to Restated Employment Agreement between the City of Pacifica and Kevin Woodhouse as City Manager.
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to adopt resolution approving the First Amendment to Restated Employment Agreement between the City of Pacifica and Kevin Woodhouse.
City Attorney Kenyon presented the staff report.
Mayor Bier opened public comments.
Robert Hutchinson, Pacifica, stated that he was representing Therese Dyer who was not able to attend as her son was in the hospital, and he shared her concerns about City Manager Woodhouse not being there for the public and hiding information from the public. He mentioned her testimony previously regarding negative actions he directed at her, and he was opposed to the raise.
Mayor Bier closed public comments.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated, being inspired by public comment, she would like to state for the record that she has never seen City Manager Woodhouse display anything but the highest standards of ethical conduct in carrying out his duties as City Manager. She wasn’t there, and the public speaker wasn’t there, so she can’t speak to hearsay on what did or didn’t occur, but she knows him and has worked with him for almost four years and does not believe that what they heard in public comment occurred as stated.
Mayor pro Tem Bigstyck thanked Councilmember Beckmeyer, adding that he would tend to err on the side of her sentiment. While he will not be agreeing largely with the public commenter, what he heard and wanted to say is that he is sorry to hear about Ms. Dyer and what her son is going through and that she has to be with her son at this time under these circumstances and would appreciate sending his regards to her. He stated that City staff are exceptional; Council could not direct anything to happen if staff didn’t make it happen and, in terms of City Manager Woodhouse’s role, he was fully cognizant of that. He stated that some of the things they have accomplished under extraordinary circumstances, from his perspective, in terms of staff resource and funding, it is hard for him to imagine, under other leadership, what they could have accomplished. He referred to the civic center renovation project where staff had been working under health concerns due to mold and lack of a bathroom and opened up walls and seeing the beams that could have fallen on their heads at any moment because of serious deterioration.
He was happy that City Manager Woodhouse was at the helm to facilitate those buildings becoming safe for staff to work, as well as accomplishing a General Plan update after almost a decade and a half. He added Measure Y: They were looking at a fairly dire economic state next year if not for Measure Y; City Manager Woodhouse spearheaded that effort which was successful and, as a result, our city will be fiscally sustainable. He stated that was an extraordinary list of the top 3, plus the ridiculous amount of work and knowledge that he has that goes into everything else. He stated that he was happy to vote for this. Right now, he is looking at a year of accomplishment and professionalism and apparently staff feels very well-led by him.
City Council Regular Meeting 22 November 28, 2022
Councilmember Vaterlaus also thanked him for all the things that have gotten accomplished in the past several years. This year especially, there are such big items, i.e., the housing element, Sharp Park Specific Plan, General Plan, lack of employees that left and trying to hire new employees - they are all big issues and to still be at a range that is 5% under what the other city managers in comparable cities are being paid, they appreciated this amount they are granting him.
Mayor Bier stated that she has been worried about Therese Dyer as she hasn’t been there, and she was happy that he mentioned her and she will make a point of reaching out to her. She then wanted to talk about City Manager Woodhouse. She stated that what she has seen from him in the past four years and what he has taught her is how to lead under pressure, make staff feel valued, supported and empowered, make Council feel valued, supported and empowered and the brilliance behind his vision 2025. She has learned so much from him about the economic viability of our city. She feels he deserves this and more, and she thinks they are lucky to have him; there are many people who understand this and have seen how he has pushed our city forward.
Councilmember O’Neill stated that he has worked between permanent and temporary city managers and four or five school superintendents, and they are the CEO of the corporation called Pacifica. He stated that it is a service industry where 90-95% of all the expenses are personnel costs. In looking at the turnover of city managers and things you hear and read about the past two years, he thinks City Manager Woodhouse has done a very good job and he echoes everything his colleagues have said. He thinks they are fortunate to have City Manager Woodhouse as the city manager, and he has not kicked the can down the road like a lot of previous city managers and City Councils. He grabbed the bull horn of the General Plan, he did the Sharp Park Specific Plan, the rotting city hall. City Manager Woodhouse is open to ideas, as he has brought several ideas that he has looked at that. He has dismissed some but has looked at others and suggested they move forward and that is his job. He stated that he would make a motion.
Mayor Bier agreed.
Councilmember O’Neill moved to adopt resolution approving the First Amendment to Restated Employment Agreement between the City of Pacifica and Kevin Woodhouse; seconded by Councilmember Vaterlaus.
City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Mike O'Neill, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sue Vaterlaus, Councilmember
AYES: Bier, Bigstyck, O'Neill, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer
ADJOURN
Mayor Bier adjourned the meeting at 10:30 p.m.
Transcribed by Barbara Medina, Public Meeting Stenographer.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk
City Council Regular Meeting 23 November 28, 2022
APPROVED: 5 - 0; 12/12/2022
__________________________
Mary Bier, Mayor