CITY OF PACIFICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Council Chambers
2212 Beach Blvd
Pacifica, CA 94044
Mayor Tygarjas Bigstyck
Mayor pro Tem Sue Vaterlaus
Councilmember Sue Beckmeyer
Councilmember Mary Bier
Councilmember Christine Boles
City Council Regular Meeting 1 May 22, 2023
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
May 22, 2023 (MONDAY)
www.cityofpacifica.org
Mayor Tygarjas Bigstyck called the meeting to order on May 22, 2023 at 5:30 PM 5:30 PM - CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Bigstyck called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m., stating that all councilmembers were present, and announced that the Council would meet in Closed Session. 00a. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS - Government Code section 54957.6 - Agency designated representatives: Mark Wilson of Burke, Williams, and Sorenson; Employee organizations: Fire Battalion Chiefs, IAFF Local 2400; Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 240; Management Unit, Teamsters Local 350 ; Miscellaneous Employee, Teamster Local 856; Pacifica Police Officers Association; Police Mgmnt (PPMA) & Police Supervisors (PPSA); Wastewater Treatment Plant Teamsters Local 856
7:00 PM OPEN SESSION
Call to Order
Mayor Bigstyck reconvened the meeting 7:00 p.m.
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Tygarjas Bigstyck Mayor Present
Sue Vaterlaus Mayor pro Tem Present
Sue Beckmeyer Councilmember Present
Mary Bier Councilmember Present
Christine Boles 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; Maria Sarasua, Police Chief; Roland Yip, PW Dep. Director (Field Services/Engineering); Louis Sun, City Council Regular Meeting 2 May 22, 2023
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Manager; Bob Palacio, PB&R Director; Alyssa Barranti, Management Analyst; Elizabeth Brooks, Management Analyst; Jason Bustria, IT Analyst; Ken Fong, IT Analyst; Sarah Coffey, City Clerk; Emily La, Dep. City Clerk.
Reading of Land Acknowledgment
Mayor Bigstyck read the Land Acknowledgment.
Salute to the Flag led by Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus
Closed Session Report
City Attorney Kenyon stated there was no reportable action.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Proclamation - Public Works Week
Mayor Bigstyck read a proclamation honoring National Public Works Week.
PW Director Petersen stated that she was joined by Wastewater Plant Manager Louis Sun and Dep. Director of PW Engineering Roland Yip. She thanked all PW employees who work day and night to keep us safe.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus stated that we wouldn’t be a city without Public Works. She gave a special thanks for all the work they did when we went through the storms as it took them so much time, energy, and effort.
Councilmember Bier added her thanks. She didn’t make the open house but loved to see all the students show up to learn about Public Works.
Councilmember Beckmeyer thanked them for all they do for us to keep us safe and respond in emergencies, taking care of business day in and day out.
Councilmember Boles added that, beyond the day maintenance, they keep track of our different structures aging and there is a lot of work to keep things running and plan ahead for the future.
She appreciated their technical help and the long hours that they put in.
Mayor Bigstyck stated there is not enough he can say about Public Works, and he feels it is a treat to have the opportunity to highlight the amazing work Public Works does.
B. Proclamation - Pride Month - June 2023
Mayor Bigstyck read a proclamation honoring Pride Month.
Councilmember Bier stated that they were excited about our second annual Pride Parade and that it was an honor to work with Coast Pride.
Mayor Bigstyck expressed how important he believed Pride Month to be, allowing citizens to come and express the ability to be themselves.
City Council Regular Meeting 3 May 22, 2023
C. Proclamation - Chris Porter Gabrielli
Mayor Bigstyck read a proclamation honoring Chris Porter Gabrielli for retiring from Recology of the Coast. Mayor Bigstyck stated that State Senator Josh Becker also sent a certificate of appreciation.
Chris Porter Gabrielli thanked Council and also thanked City Manager Woodhouse and PW Director Petersen who worked hard with her to make all the programs successful. She stated it was a joint effort on everything and Recology taking over the street cans and the abandoned waste has helped the city. She thanked Council for working with her: if she had a problem, they were there to assist her as she hoped she did with them. She wanted to reach out to two people who have been very helpful to her within the city structures for these 40 years, i.e., Steve Rhodes who worked hard when they first started with Recology to implement all the new programs and Lorenzo Hines with whom she worked a lot over the years. She thanked her bosses who were present. She felt very honored.
Councilmember Beckmeyer thanked her so much for helping her as, when she joined the Council, she was one of the very first people to reach out to her and help her get acclimated.
She thought it was a benefit as she worked with so many councilmembers over the years. Her hat is off to her as a woman in her field as she is in a very small class and she is proud of her.
She thanked her for all she has done for us.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus didn’t know how to tell her how special she is. She told a story when she called one day because someone had dumped mattresses. She was on the phone with her and, in her rear view mirror, she saw Recology picking up the mattresses. She stated that everything she has done for the city has made it so much better. She stated Ms. Porter Gabrielli is a special person.
Councilmember Bier stated Ms. Porter Gabrielli also taught her and made it so easy for Councilmembers to come and talk to her. She thanked her for so many things, such as all the work during the pandemic as she didn’t know anybody who worked harder than Recology during the pandemic and never missed a day. She expanded the services and she kept our city healthy because of Recology. She thanked her for that and how generous she is to all the different groups in our community.
Councilmember Boles appreciated her introducing them to the new General Manager, knowing that we are in good hands as we wouldn’t survive as a city for very long without their amazing services week to week. She is grateful for their team. She appreciated how much she has been on social media and answering people’s questions and trying to educate people about the services that they do that are good for the city and the environment.
Mayor Bigstyck stated the quality of service and legacy that is being left is a lesson to those who come after her. When he was on the board of PRC, he recalled asking if Recology can help those most in need in our community and she would open the check book and ask how much they need. He thanked her a thousand times over. He then opened up public comments.
Mike O’Neill, Pacifica, stated he is representing Supervisor Ray Mueller and then read the resolution from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. He stated that he used to call her to ask her for something and they would be on the phone for a half hour, talking about everything Pacifica. He was most proud of her and Recology as they are a union shop and they City Council Regular Meeting 4 May 22, 2023
provide living wages for their employees. He then shared information regarding his positive interactions with Recology. He thanked her.
Peter Loeb, Pacifica, stated he has known her for most of her 40 years, and all he wanted to say was that they have not been picking up his gray waste can regularly and he asked her if she could do something about that.
Carl Mini, Vice President of Recology for the south region, stated that in a career, you will have a couple of really special relationships and, for him, Chris Porter is one of those special relationships. He stated that she was a role model for all Recology’s General Managers as she finds a way to effectively engage and improve her community. He commended her and thanked her for everything.
Marj Davis, Pacifica, stated she had the pleasure getting to know her by being on the PRC board and looks forward for continuing that. She added that she has a delightful spirit, heart of gold and been abundantly generous to our community in so many ways. She thanked her for all her work, and she deserves her retirement.
Lorenzo Hines, Jr., Galt, congratulated Chris Porter on her retirement, adding that it was a pleasure working with her when he was in Pacifica, and he was proud of that. He still misses her even though he has been gone almost three years. He appreciated all the lessons learned and still thinks of her.
D. Proclamation - Carolyn Jaramillo
Councilmember Bier read the proclamation honoring Carolyn Jaramillo.
Carolyn Jaramillo thanked Council for the kind words. She stated that it was a joy to live in Pacifica and work with so many wonderful people. She appreciated their hard work. She stated that, regarding all the good actions she was a part of, she was part of a team, such as Pacifica Social Justice and Pacifica Peace People, and she thanked the recognition for her and the groups for all they did.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus recalled when they were trying ask if residents would allow a motorhome to be parked in their driveway, and all the people she called said no except for Carolyn Jaramillo. She thought it was so special and appreciated that she said yes.
Councilmember Boles had the pleasure of getting to know her the last few years, especially when she was running for Council; she was a key member of her campaign team and was mentoring and inspiring her and showing her a path to make a difference in the city. She understood that all she does comes from her life of faith and she will use whatever is available to bring about justice, mercy, and care for the least of these. She stated that they will miss her greatly as she goes to her homeland in Kentucky. Her legacy will live on here and she and others will continue her good work.
Councilmember Beckmeyer acknowledged how much she has brought to Council, and the respect she has earned in the community is obvious from those who turned out for her at this meeting to show their love and appreciation of her. The Council is grateful for all she has done.
City Council Regular Meeting 5 May 22, 2023
Mayor Bigstyck is grateful to recognize the impact she has had on this community. He thanked her for inspiring a good conversation and anyone who wishes to try doing the difficult task of good work.
Mayor Bigstyck re-opened public comments.
Suzanne Moore, Pacifica, mentioned several human qualities, i.e., communication skills, empathetic teacher, social justice advocate, midwest pragmatism and southern social grace and top it with a unique sense of humor and they may be describing Carolyn Jaramillo. She stated every community needs someone to remind them is what is truly important and start them down the path to get there. She stated that Pacifica is losing a shooting star and she and others will miss her. She wishes her well on returning to her home.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Boles requested that they pull Item #6.
Mayor Bigstyck opened public comments.
Clifford Lawrence, Pacifica, referred to Item #5, and asked why wetland is not included in that work. He stated that in Item #5, the environmental studies contract does not specifically mention that they should study wetlands and that is his concern.
Rick Nahass, Pacifica, referred to Item #5 regarding transportation, and gave his thoughts on public transit regarding several issues and asked if there was data to help with the EIR.
Mayor Bigstyck closed public comments. He asked if staff can answer the question of why wetlands are not specifically mentioned in Item #5.
Planning Director Murdock thought the commenter is referring to is the statement by the consultant proposal that they do not propose to prepare a wetlands delineation for each proposed site in the housing element inventory as it is a site specific evaluation and only good for a limited period of time and not part of programmatic EIRs. He stated that if evaluation of those resources were appropriate, they would occur as part of the project level EIR if and when a particular site is proposed, but not common to do that type of delineation at this time.
Mayor Bigstyck thought he understood that it is a programmatic EIR and a higher level study.
Planning Director Murdock agreed that is the correct way to think of it.
Mayor Bigstyck referred to Mr. Nahass’ referral to transportation, and he asked what the appropriate level of transportation in the programmatic document.
Planning Director Murdock stated any of his particular concerns can be expressed in the scoping meeting that will precede preparation of the EIR and those comments will be considered by staff and consultants as they relate to the required analysis under the CEQA guidelines and they will invite him to participate in that process.
City Council Regular Meeting 6 May 22, 2023
Councilmember Boles stated that was one of her questions. She thought it was typically the case that there is a public meeting so people with specific concerns can be sure they have an opportunity to speak to that concern.
Planning Director Murdock stated that it is common practice to have a publicly available or open scoping meeting for major environmental documents of this sort and he imagined that would be part of the process.
Councilmember Boles had a small correction to the minutes related to a website for reporting airport noise, indicating that the website should be “stop.jetnoise.net”. Additionally, she stated that there is a discussion in a letter about the EIR and whether it is the 2030 versus the 2040 timeline, and she got a response that we aren’t quite ready to direct staff one way or another, but she wasn’t sure if they will be seeking Council direction on that later on or is it a staff decision. She asked if they can explain the nuances between the two options.
Planning Director Murdock stated, in short, he wasn’t ready to have that conversation at this time, as it is a rather complicated question and needs to take place if Council approves the contract. He stated it is not a simple question to answer and needs more in-depth discussion and consideration with the benefit of our consultant’s expert input before he can offer an opinion on that. He stated that it is likely to be a staff level decision in preparation of the EIR but, if not able to make that, there could be an opportunity for Council at some point.
Councilmember Boles hoped they keep Council informed. She stated that they went through this once before looking at 990 units and now they will have another 1,500 but she hoped they don’t have to do that at every step along the way as, with the 2040 timeline in the General Plan, they would obviously be looking at another Housing Element update between there as well.
Planning Director Murdock stated that they do their best to make these forward looking documents, but they have some very particular legal requirements within the Housing Element process that differ somewhat from the process she is describing that was part of the General Plan update. He stated that they will make the best technical and legal decision and, after that, more thorough consideration following execution of the contract.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus moved to approve Items #1-5 with the correction to the Minutes in Item #1 made by Councilmember Boles; seconded by Councilmember Beckmeyer.
CONSENT ITEMS #1-5
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Vaterlaus, Mayor pro Tem
SECONDER: Sue Beckmeyer, Councilmember
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Boles
1. Approval of Minutes
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve the minutes of the City Council Regular Meeting held on May 8, 2023.
2. Cancellation of July 24, 2023 City Council Meeting
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve cancellation of the July 24, 2023 regular City Council meeting.
City Council Regular Meeting 7 May 22, 2023
3. Agreement to terms with the Pacifica School District for rental space for Child Care services in the amount of $166,336 for the 2023-2024 school year.
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to sign the 2023-2024 agreement with the Pacifica School District for rental space for Child Care services in the amount of $166,336, an amount which which will be included in the 2023- 2024 Proposed Budget.
4. Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pacifica Approving the Agreement Between the City of South San Francisco and the City of Pacifica for Police Communications Services
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a resolution approving the Agreement Between the City of South San Francisco and the City of Pacifica for Police Communication Services.
5. Consultant Services Agreement for Environmental Review Services Between the City of Pacifica and Consulting Firm Dyett & Bhatia Urban and Regional Planners PROPOSED ACTION: Move to adopt the attached resolution to approve the Agreement for Consultant Services between the City of Pacifica and Dyett & Bhatia Urban and Regional Planners with a total not to exceed amount of $218,203, and to authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement.
6. Declaration of Surplus Property Regarding a Portion of City-owned Property Located at 540 Crespi Drive (APN 022-162-420). Recommended California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Status: Categorical Exemption, CEQA Guidelines Section 15312.
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt the attached resolution to declare a portion of the Cityowned property located at 540 Crespi Drive (APN 022-162-420) as surplus land and directing the City Manager to follow the procedures set forth in the Surplus Land Act, California Government Code Section 54220 et seq.
Item #6 Discussion:
City Manager Woodhouse opened the staff report and Planning Director Murdock completed the staff report.
Councilmember Boles thought it was important to Item #6 because the Surplus Land Act just came into effect in January and this was something new for Council and the community. She wanted to be sure the public knows staff has done this analysis. She met with the City Manager and Planning Director Murdock last week because the staff report says it is difficult to use that land as part of the Community Center because there is grade difference. She stated that they have seen other projects proposed for that land that filled six feet and puts it above the flood zone and from the community center driveway you could access this parcel and build a building about 40 feet by 130 feet. She thought it was a buildable piece of land and she wanted to be sure they have done the analysis that there is not something that the city might want to do with that land in the future before they offer it to others. She was trying to help educate the public.
Mayor Bigstyck opened public comments.
Suzanne Moore, Pacifica, stated she supported that the property be designated as surplus land, sharing her thoughts on the subject.
City Council Regular Meeting 8 May 22, 2023
Chris Redfield, Pacifica, stated he supported declaring this land as surplus land, sharing his thoughts on the subject.
Clif Lawrence, Pacifica, stated he was pleased to see this on the agenda, sharing his thoughts on this subject.
Mayor Bigstyck closed public comments.
Councilmember Beckmeyer moved approval of Consent Item #6; seconded by Councilmember Bier.
AGENDA ITEM #6
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Beckmeyer, Councilmember
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Boles
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA
Suzanne Moore, Pacifica, stated she wanted to share her concern regarding continued harassment and vandalism of participants in our safe parking program, and bring to the attention of Council and greater community and shared her suggestions on solutions.
Derek Santa Rosa, Pacifica, stated he was representing Terra Nova, but more specifically the Global Zero Club, an organization of students trying to push local, state and United States leaders to push away from nuclear weapons. He had flyers to share and then shared thoughts on this serious issue.
August Wilson-Thornton, Pacifica, stated that he was part of the Global Zero Terra Nova chapter and a voting citizen who just graduated from high school. He then shared his thoughts and recommendations on their appeal.
Fletcher Edwards, Pacifica, stated he was with the Terra Nova chapter of Global Zero and will soon will be a high school graduate. He then shared his thoughts and recommendations on this appeal.
Delia McGrath, Pacifica, stated that she is thrilled that the Terra Nova students have come before Council as the Pacifica Peace People have been in existence for 20 years and they need the younger generation to speak for peace. She shared her thoughts and suggestions on this issue.
David Halliburton, Pacifica, stated he was present to bring up the problems they are having in Fairway Park because of the GGNRA, and shared his concerns and suggestions on this issue.
Laurie Gaggero, Pacifica, stated she is also present to address the issues at Fairway Park with the GGNRA, and shared her concerns and suggestions on this issue.
Erick Willemse, Pacifica, stated he is a teacher at Terra Nova and the advisor for their chapter of Global Zero, a national non-profit, and he shared his thoughts and suggestions on the issue of the elimination of the threat of nuclear weapons and the International Campaign to Abolish City Council Regular Meeting 9 May 22, 2023
Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) cities appeal campaign to call on nuclear-armed governments to adopt a treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.
Carolyn Jaramillo, Pacifica, stated she is speaking in support of the students from Terra Nova and their support of the international campaign on the elimination of nuclear weapons. She shared her thoughts on this issue and a quote from President Eisenhower.
Clif Lawrence, Pacifica, stated that he hoped Council will support the students’ petition. He asked whether Council only does what is required, and then shared his concerns on that issue.
Petra Kretschmer, Pacifica, expressed her concerns on the issues at Fairway Park as well as suggestion for resolutions.
Kelly Sanchez, Pacifica, stated that she also lives in Fairway Park and shared her concerns and suggestions on the issue.
Mark Hubbell, Pacifica, referred to trucks dumping dirt into the quarry area every day, and shared his concerns regarding that issue as well as Fairway Park’s issue.
Mayor Bigstyck closed public comments.
Mayor Bigstyck asked if Police Chief Sarasua had any thoughts on the issue as she heard the community’s concerns regarding Fairway Park as he thought it was a public safety issue.
City Manager Woodhouse added that a few years ago OSPAC engaged this issue with council liaisons with GGNRA, Caltrans and other stakeholders. He stated that they had a recent update meeting with Caltrans staff where some of the traffic concerns in this area were raised regarding Highway 1. He stated that, with the recurrence of traffic there, they are in the process of reaching out to GGNRA to re-engage with them and see what the status is on working on previous concepts related to building parking in that area and other potential alternatives. He heard from Police Chief Sarasua that the police department was very busy the past couple of weekends issuing quite a few citations. They are trying to do what they can do and part of this impact was exacerbated by the wild flower bloom in spring time. It is an ongoing issue and concern and they are trying to think creatively about what could be done and what GGNRA can help do.
Mayor Bigstyck stated that he will be mentioning shortly about the OSPAC where there was a GGNRA representative talking about it specifically some signage regarding the underpass. He stated that the comments made at that meeting were drowned out by the community members who spoke tonight. He appreciated that it will be a group effort to find a solution.
Police Chief Sarasua stated that they were there last week as there was an acute influx of tourists that came to see the bloom after it was advertised on media outlets. They issued approximately 28 citations. She echoed the City Manager’s comments about it being a collaborative approach with additional parking. She thought that was a more sustainable longterm solution than going out and issuing citations every single weekend.
City Manager Woodhouse and Mayor Bigstyck discussed Council's approval of signing onto the petition referenced by the Global Zero Terra Nova chapter. City Manager Woodhouse stated that there are often calls for Mayors to sign on to different initiatives and it is the Mayor’s perogative to do so, and in this case if there is a head-nod of Councilmembers to City Council Regular Meeting 10 May 22, 2023
support the Mayor signing onto ICAN then the message is clear that he can do that with the City’s support without having to agendize it for a future meeting.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Bier thanked Fairway residents for coming out. She was in on those meetings and when they came out to OSPAC, OSPAC presented a letter to Council, they got together with GGNRA and Caltrans. There were a lot of things discussed at that meeting, and she wanted to let them know that they have been working on it but things take an incredibly long time in government. Councilmember Bier attended the Peninsula Division Executive Committee and they talked about the events coming up and looking at September to do an event on mental health. She attended the Economic Development Committee meeting where they are looking at their work plan and introducing a new committee member. For Pride planning, they are meeting once a week and they had de-escalation training and a safety meeting with the Police Department. She thanked Capt. Clements and PW staff for trying to think creatively on how they can have a parade. She thanked Mgmt. Analyst Barranti for all her help. She attended Housing Our People Effectively (HOPE) meeting and they got an update on the navigation center. She attended the swearing in for our new Police Chief. She attended Oceana Seniors Awards Night and they had an Age-Friendly Coalition meeting and will be talking about a panel on housing. They all attended the committee and commission interviews. She attended the Mental Health Service Act meeting where they heard about the governor’s proposal to redirect Mental Health Service Act (MHSA) funding. It was an honor for her to attend Congresswoman Eshoo’s Youth Advisory Board policy presentation. They went to the Farm Workers’ Summit which was really important to be there and hear about what our colleagues are doing in Half Moon Bay and how we can stand in solidarity with them.
Councilmember Beckmeyer had an opportunity to speak with students at Hillsdale School in Daly City about the job of serving as a city councilmember. It was her honor to attend Rich Russitano’s dinner honoring him at the Moose Lodge. She thanked Louis Langi of PW for assisting Capt. Clements with planning for Pride and figuring out how to make that happen. She attended the Resource Management and Climate Protection Committee meeting by Zoom. She traveled to the Smart Coast California Summit in Newport Beach; the title of the event was “One California, One Coast,” and she was pleased that the Executive Director of the Coastal Commission was there. She was on the opening panel with her colleague, Eric Friedman, chair of the Coastal Cities group and on a panel with Ella McDougall from the Ocean Protection Council Climate Change program. She thought it was great to hear their programs available and they have an intern program that she wants to explore to help us with some additional staff.
She stated that the farmworker policy symposium was so eye-opening, and she was pleased to see a representative from Anna Eshoo’s office and state representatives Josh Becker, Marc Berman, Diane Papan, and Ray Mueller, and they heard some of what the needs are in our immediate neighbors to the south in terms of housing and supportive services.
Councilmember Boles gave a presentation to the Oceana High School Sustainability Club about electrification and green building and our Climate Action Plan. She attended several meetings with the Pacifica Climate Committee and a great event at the Pedro Point Firehouse. She stated that Planning Director Murdock gave a lovely presentation about the city’s work and letting them know about the Climate Action Plan that they will be discussing at this meeting and encouraging people to apply. She got to tour PCT and they kindly offered to film the event that night. As a follow-up, she and her husband built the first all-electric net zero energy house and they will be offering tours again. She thanked PCT for giving her a tour and showing her what City Council Regular Meeting 11 May 22, 2023
they do and how they do it and what an amazing service they provide to our community, not just in the public meetings but with education and opportunity for podcasts. She got her Park & Rec onboarding and thanked PB&R Director Bob Palacio and the amazing staff for all they do. She stated that there were incredible things Park & Rec provide for our community. She saw PB&R Director Palacio the next night presenting to the Emergency Preparedness Committee about the life buoys and beach safety and they will be picking up as part of education at Fog Fest. She stated that May has been Affordable Housing Month and she attended a breakfast with the Housing Leadership Council and all the major housing developers were there. Josh Becker was there also talking about some of his new legislation and projects he is working on; one of which is there is a lot of land owned by public agencies that sit vacant for a long time, and he is looking at a program to bring in prefab housing units on a temporary basis, and it is something put in and moved later on but to provide on a quick schedule housing for the most vulnerable.
She stated that she went to the ribbon cutting for a new housing project in East Palo Alto. She is meeting with Habitat for Humanity this week as they had an exciting project on a half-acre parcel in downtown Redwood City that most housing developers wouldn’t even touch because it was too small. She is learning a lot and hoping to build relationships and bring some of this to Pacifica.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus attended the Fairmont Subdivision Homeowners Association meeting, stating they are mostly concerned about the turn onto the highway from Hickey, which they have been discussing with Caltrans for many years. She stated that they all attended the swearing in for the new police chief. She stated that with the CCAG, she does two meetings with them, one legislative going over all the current bills, and the other is a regular meeting. She is on the County Recovery Council, which used to be the COVID-19 Recovery Council, and will continue meeting as there are so many important topics in the county. They all attended interviews for commissions and committees. She attended Public Works Day which was fun. She attended the Fog Fest Board and they are getting ready with plans in progress for everything. She attended the electrification meeting at the firehouse and all the other things the Mayor did on Saturday, Sports Breakfast, Pacifica Democrats, Terra Nova car show and fire prevention information at the community center. She stated that, when in Sacramento, she talked to Marc Berman and suggested that they look at the navigation center as a plan for farm worker housing because it can be done very rapidly in self-contained units.
Mayor Bigstyck welcomed Jack Burgett from North Coast County Water District, and his thoughts were with Ukraine. He stated that the swearing in of our new Police Chief was fabulous. He attended the honoring of Gentry Smith at Filoli through the Office of Protocol. He attended a PRC board meeting as a liaison, and he attended the Rich Russitano honoring at the Moose Lodge. There was a library JPA board meeting, and they talked about the budget and various programs. He attended a LAFCO meeting and they heard about the Broadmoor Police Protection District and the next item was the dissolution of special districts. He attended the OSPAC meeting and, as mentioned earlier, along with the brief update on the Fairmont neighborhood from GGNRA, there was an interesting educational bit about the Mission Blue Butterfly. He attended the electrification meeting at the Pedro Point Firehouse. He briefly stopped in at the Sports Breakfast to bring the certificates and congratulate the honorees and had to leave quickly to get to the Democrats meeting to do the State of the City talk with our City Manager. He briefly stopped at the Terra Nova car show before going to the Farm Workers Summit in Half Moon Bay and it was great to see all our electeds there, including Half Moon Bay’s Mayor Penrose, as well as representatives from nonprofits. He stated Ray Mueller is a champion for the farm worker community there. He watched the One Shoreline meeting and they were talking about planning guidance policy for the bayside such as the equivalent of the guidance principles that the Coastal Commission has put forth for the coastside.
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Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that the San Mateo County Fair begins June 3, running through June 11, except closed on the 5th and 6th. She stated that it is a fantastic opportunity as our local students are engaged with 4H projects and it is a fun time and a great reflection of our county. She encouraged everyone to go.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Woodhouse stated that they heard about Public Works Appreciation Week this week and last week the celebratory events were held and this week will be busy as they will be spending quite a bit of time touring the city to storm damage sites with a team from FEMA as we put in for reimbursement for many of those sites. He stated that last week was also National Police Recognition or Appreciation Week. He stated this day was an exciting morning as they welcomed a cohort of summer interns to the city and they have seven interns hired to work in a variety of departments and five of them started today. He stated it was great to meet them, and are all in college or recent graduates and are a skilled group to learn about city government in the different departments. He stated that on the previous Thursday the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved the city’s Surf Camp diversity equity inclusion policy and program which is an exciting milestone. He stated that he had the privilege of helping co-teach a class for the San Mateo County Leadership Academy for employees in the county and cities and was about public policy making and city staff’s role in that process.
Mayor Bigstyck stated what he keeps hearing on the surf camps from the Coastal Commission is that they wish to use it as a model for how other cities up and down the coast will be dealing with their surf camp issues. He thought it was wonderful that the work our community put in gets to translate past our own borders.
Councilmember Bier referred to the interns, and as someone who oversees interns, she knows how much time and effort it takes to supervise them, create work plans for them, make sure they stay on task and have a good experience. She appreciated staff for doing that.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE.
CONSIDERATION
7. Consideration of Resolution Creating the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Task Force
PROPOSED ACTION: Consider and Adopt the attached Resolution of the City Council Creating the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Task Force.
Mgmt. Analyst Barranti and Mgmt. Analyst Brooks presented the staff report.
Councilmember Boles asked them to explain the roles of the task force versus the consultant, and if the greenhouse gas inventory would be done by someone else. She asked if the task force defines when they need help or are there steps that identified the specific works that a separate technical consultant would do.
Mgmt. Analyst Brooks stated that there may be moments where both apply but, generally speaking, those technical actions can be taken through RICAPS through their agreement with Recon Consultants who offer those services to our partner agencies for low to no cost.
City Council Regular Meeting 13 May 22, 2023
Councilmember Boles stated they mentioned the three focused areas, and the task force has the discretion to add other things. She asked who makes the final decision on what will be tackled as they are looking for short-term impacts.
Mgmt. Analyst Brooks stated that Council does.
Councilmember Boles concluded that they will be presenting things to Council along the way.
Mgmt. Analyst Brooks explained that the task force will make updates to Council and seek direction.
City Manager Woodhouse added that the three areas statewide are identified as high progress areas where they can achieve a lot of credit, reductions, or actions related to those. They were important to focus on, but the task force can delve into other actions as well.
Councilmember Bier stated that was her question also as they had a robust discussion on that.
Mayor Bigstyck opened public comments.
Nancy Tierney, Pacifica, stated she was a member of the Pacifica Climate Committee and the Sierra Club Loma Prieta chapter of Pacifica Hillside and Coastal Protection Committee, and she supported the resolution to create a climate action and adaptation task force and shared her thoughts and suggestions on this issue.
Margo Meiman, Pacifica, thanked them for pursuing this and she was in favor of a citizen task force, and she then shared her thoughts, concerns, and suggestions on this issue.
Kimberly Williams, Pacifica, supported what Nancy Tierney proposed, and hoped Council would as well.
Mayor Bigstyck closed public comments. He stated that he supported the implementing naturebased adaptation solution nomenclature and followed up on Ms. Meiman’s question. His understanding of the staff report was that it was very flexible in terms of duration but asked staff to talk about the kind of training involved for those who join the task force.
City Manager Woodhouse referred to the duration, stating that the recommendation before them was a task force with a focused purpose as currently outlined in the resolution and at time of adoption of the Climate Action Plan. He stated that, if Council wanted to make changes or form a new committee for a new purpose, that would be an action that would be undertaken and analyzed at that point in time. He thought the beginning and end of this iteration of the task force was focused on the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
Mayor Bigstyck thought, if one of the recommendations of the task force were to be ongoing, we could take up that conversation and inform the appropriate body accordingly.
City Manager Woodhouse agreed, adding that as they have talked, in terms of an ongoing commission related to sustainability, etc., that was a different body of analysis and consideration Council would need to undertake at that time. He then referred to training and stated it would be like any other committee/commission that would have Brown Act training highly recommended for them to participate in, as well as other training.
City Council Regular Meeting 14 May 22, 2023
Mayor Bigstyck stated that, having been on a task force in the past, he can speak from personal experience that the city gives you the tools to enable you to work they are assigned to do.
Councilmember Boles also supported looking at nature-based adaptation strategies and she thought 9-11 was a good number of people. She stated that one thing not mentioned is the possibility of a Council liaison. She understood City Manager Woodhouse’s concern about a Councilmember being in a position to direct the work of the group and she wanted to make sure, if there was one of them serving in that way, that is not the rule but they are there to communicate back and forth. She stated that, if they wanted to have a liaison, she would be delighted to serve in that role. She wasn’t sure what their typical policy is on task forces and whether there is a liaison or not.
City Manager Woodhouse stated that the liaison role is something Council should discuss regarding the pros and cons of that. He stated that this is a working task force and the presence of a Councilmember does change the dynamic of a community working task force. He was sure, if there were a liaison, a lot of Councilmembers might be interested in that role. If the Council ends up deciding that there should be a liaison, he would ask that they clarify the purpose and role of the liaison would be.
Mayor Bigstyck stated, serving as a liaison on various committees and commissions, it occurs that often there is a lot of work that those committees/commissions do but do not come back to Council as they serve roles other than being advisory in nature and scope. He appreciates that this would be a task force that is specifically advisory in nature and scope and having the presence of a Councilmember might take away from them being focused on what they would ultimately wish to present to the entire Council and the balance might be tipped a little bit.
Councilmember Bier supported the nature-based strategies. She knows they talked about that a lot but she wanted to reiterate to the community that it is really important to Council and definitely her, and she thanked Ms. Tierney for suggesting the language and appreciated it.
Regarding a liaison, she thought it was tricky for a task force to have a liaison as it is community-led and the community can bring what they created to Council. She thought honoring that process is allowing them to do their thing and then bring it to Council.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus wondered, if they had a Councilmember attending, if they could rotate it through the Councilmembers and didn’t have one person always putting in their opinions.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that would not be allowed as it could be a Brown Act violation.
Mayor Bigstyck stated that they have a small consensus around the nature-based adaptation solution nomenclature.
Councilmember Beckmeyer wanted to get some clarity on what they are talking about, i.e. trees.
Councilmember Bier didn’t think it was only about trees, but includes trees, adding that there are a lot of other nature-based strategies than just trees.
Councilmember Boles thought it was up to the task force to determine the strategies, such as looking at Linda Mar Beach and the sand dunes that were built up to prevent flooding.
Councilmember Beckmeyer wanted to be clear, as she is looking at the items and she has City Council Regular Meeting 15 May 22, 2023
some concern about the areas where it says should prioritize targets and actions that are not currently addressed in other city plans and projects. She wondered about the overlapping potential nature of this work with work we are doing in the Beach Boulevard area. She asked if the vision that this would be somehow informing that work.
Councilmember Boles didn’t think anything is defined as that is up to the task force to see if they might have some opinions. She thought these are very complicated subjects, and to factor in those kinds of things in an implementation plan that is short term in a project that’s only 1 ½ or two years, she isn’t sure how much is going to be able to get in there. She thought having that is something that we aspire to see if there are some things we can do is a good thing. She didn’t think it takes away from the other projects.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated she just wants clarify about that. She stated that often nature-based adaptation strategies are used in specific regard to addressing coastal issues and that seems like what they are talking about when they mentioned the beach, dunes, etc.
Councilmember Boles stated that there is a grant being applied to look at those things a little bit more, perhaps in Rockaway.
Councilmember Beckmeyer added drainage and some of those possibilities.
Councilmember Boles added water management.
Mayor Bigstyck liked that they highlighted that the document should prioritize targets and actions that are not currently addressed in other city plans and projects.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus also liked the fact that it indicates that it must be a broad cross section of the community on this task force, not just experts in the fields, as she feels that is really important.
Mayor Bigstyck asked if they are comfortable with nature-based adaptation. He thought it has something to do with exploring all options and certainly those that are nature-based. He thought, if supported by this notion in the document, it is looking at things we aren’t currently looking at specifically.
Councilmember Bier added considering greenhouse gas emissions.
Councilmember Beckmeyer agreed. She thought it seemed like GHG is the primary focus of this and she realized that they don’t want it to be strictly limited to that as they had public comment on that from a couple of people and she doesn’t want them to lose sight of that.
Councilmember Bier stated nature-based solutions, like trees, is how you get there.
City Manager Woodhouse wanted to make sure that staff is having clear direction as they finalize this and the process moves forward. He stated that the focus in the purpose statement is actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and there are trees with a nature-based solution related to that goal. He asked that they clarify and make the intent that in adding the wording of nature-based solutions that help to achieve the greenhouse gas reduction goals or is it within that context as there are other nature-based solutions that may not relate to reduction of GHG.
Mayor Bigstyck stated it was his understanding that they are looking at nature-based solutions City Council Regular Meeting 16 May 22, 2023
that address greenhouse gas emissions.
Councilmember Boles stated yes and no, as it is a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, which could be much broader.
Mayor Bigstyck thought, for the scope of this work, it seems like this is fairly centered around greenhouse gas emissions and, as they are contemplating all possible solutions, he was happy adding in nomenclature about nature-based solutions, but hopes that it gives the task force a scope that they can clearly work on.
Mgmt. Analyst Brooks stated that, in the context of adaptation for a Climate Action Plan, adaptation can be offsetting carbon emissions; if Council wanted to, they could add another word other than reduce greenhouse gas emissions, maybe reduce and offset, and that would include some of these nature-based solutions as ideas but also keep it narrowly focused to how it relates to greenhouse gas emissions and not some other adaptation things that would be handled in other city projects and much broader than the Climate Action Plan.
Councilmember Boles liked adding reduce and offset.
City Attorney Kenyon suggested that the Council look at Exhibit A to the Resolution to determine if there is anything that needs to be amended in the Exhibit, which in her interpretation is fairly broad and can incorporate everything the Council is suggesting. She stated that the ultimate goal is to produce the CAAP, which is very broad. She is hearing that the Council is giving direction now to the task force, should it be created, but the direction does not conflict with the purpose and goal that is set forth in Exhibit A. If you would like more clarification in Exhibit A, then focus on Exhibit A and what you would like to include or delete.
She stated that if you are just clarifying what you believe is already included in Exhibit A, then you can note that in the record and it will be in the Minutes, which can be given to the task force for direction. All of your direction to the task force does not need to be in Exhibit A.
Councilmembers discussed Exhibit A content further and agreed to keep it broad as proposed.
Councilmember Boles moved to adopt the attached Resolution of the City Council Creating the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Task Force; seconded by Councilmember Bier.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Christine Boles, Councilmember
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Boles
8. Resolution of Intention to Continue the Business Improvement District Program and Levy the Annual Assessments for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt the resolution entitled "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pacifica Confirming the Annual Report of the Advisory Board of the Pacifica Hotels and Business Improvement District (BID) and Declaring the City Council's Intention to Continue the BID Program and Levy the Annual Assessments for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 at the Same Rate as Levied in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Without Change" and set the date of June 12, 2023, for the Public Hearing on the annual levy of assessments on hotels within the BID.
Asst. City Manager Carter presented the staff report.
City Council Regular Meeting 17 May 22, 2023
There were no public comments.
Councilmember Beckmeyer moved to adopt the resolution as specified in the staff report; seconded by Councilmember Bier.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Beckmeyer, Councilmember
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier
9. Appointments to the Beautification Advisory Committee; Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission; Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee; and Measure Y Citizens’ Oversight Committee
PROPOSED ACTION:
1) Move to appoint an applicant to the Beautification Advisory Committee for 1 partial term to expire March 2026;
2) Move to appoint applicant(s) to the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission for 2 full four-year terms to expire May 2027;
3) Move to appoint applicant(s) to the Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee for 2 full four-year terms to expire May 2027;
4) Move to appoint applicant(s) to the Measure Y Citizens’ Oversight Committee for 2 twoyear terms to expire May 2025 and up to 3 four-year terms to expire May 2027.
City Clerk Coffey presented the staff report.
There were no public comments.
Councilmember Beckmeyer moved to appoint Sue Markovic-Garza to the Beautification Advisory Committee for 1 partial term to expire March 2026; seconded by Councilmember Boles.
APPOINTMENT(S) TO THE BEAUTIFICATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Sue Markovic-Garza (partial term to expire March 2026)
RESULT: ADOPTED [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Sue Beckmeyer, Councilmember
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer
ABSTAIN: Bier
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus moved to appoint Gail Shoemaker and Mark Torres to the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission each for full four-year terms to expire May 2027; seconded by Councilmember Bier.
City Council Regular Meeting 18 May 22, 2023
APPOINTMENT(S) TO THE PARKS, BEACHES AND RECREATION COMMISSION Gail Shoemaker and Mark Torres (full terms to expire May 2027) RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Vaterlaus, Mayor pro Tem
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier
Councilmember Bier moved to appoint Ellen Natesan and Aaron Read to the Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee each for full four-year terms to expire May 2027; seconded by Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus.
APPOINTMENT(S) TO THE OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE Ellen Natesan and Aaron Read (full terms to expire May 2027) RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sue Vaterlaus, Mayor pro Tem
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier
Mayor Bigstyck moved to appoint Marjory Davis and Joe Hurley to the Measure Y Citizens’ Oversight Committee for four-year terms to expire May 2027 and David Griesbach and Nicholas Humann to two-year terms to expire May 2025; seconded by Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus.
APPOINTMENT(S) TO THE MEASURE Y CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Marjory Davis (four-year term to expire May 2027), Joe Hurley (four-year term to expire May 2027), David Griesbach (two-year term to expire May 2025) and Nicholas Humann (two-year term to expire May 2025)
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Mayor
SECONDER: Sue Vaterlaus, Mayor pro Tem
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier
ADJOURN
Mayor Bigstyck adjourned the meeting at 10:27 p.m.
Transcribed by Barbara Medina, Public Meeting Stenographer.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk
APPROVED AS AMENDED: 5 - 0; 6/12/2023
__________________________
Tygarjas Bigstyck, Mayor