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 December 11, 2023
December 11, 2023 (MONDAY)
www.cityofpacifica.org
Mayor Tygarjas Bigstyck called the meeting to order on December 11, 2023 at 7:11 PM 7:00 PM OPEN SESSION
Call to Order
Mayor Bigstyck called the meeting to order at 7:11 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; Bob Palacio, PB&R Director; Bill Amable, Dep. Fire Chief; Louis Sun, PW Dep. Director-Wastewater Div.; Roland Yip, PW Dep. Director-Field Services/Engineering; Tara Schiff, Economic Dev. Manager; Sarah Coffey, City Clerk; Emily La, Dep. City Clerk.
Reading of Land Acknowledgment
Mayor Bigstyck read the Land Use Acknowledgment.
Salute to the Flag led by Mayor Bigstyck
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Proclamation - Susan Thaxton
Mayor Bigstyck read the proclamation recognizing Susan Thaxton’s retirement.
City Council Regular Meeting 2 December 11, 2023
Councilmember Bier referred to her 39 years of service to Pacifica and thanked her for everything she has done.
Councilmember Boles stated that she toured the Wastewater Treatment Plant a couple of years ago and walked into her lab, and she found it amazing all she learned from that to be sure Pacifica stays healthy. She thanked Ms. Thaxton for her years of service and wished her well in her retirement.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus stated she is amazed at Ms. Thaxton's 39 years and thanked her for everything.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated she was thrilled when she first toured the Wastewater Treatment Plant. She stated that they appreciated Ms. Thaxton's help in guiding our process, keeping us in compliance, and her work was critically important. She thanked her for her years of service.
Mayor Bigstyck thanked Ms. Thaxton for making sure our environment is safe. He knows that, in addition to taking care of all of us in our environment, she is also intrinsically a good human being and it is his honor to offer this proclamation as well as thank her for all the work she has done in Pacifica.
PW Dep. Director Sun stated that PW Director Petersen and he would like to present a special token of thanks from Pacifica to Susan Thaxton for 39 years of service. He reiterated that she has had so many accomplishments in her 39 years and he pointed out that the laboratory is the most important part of their operation. They are thankful for her and are blessed to have had her serving and helping us throughout all those years.
PW Director Petersen stated that she has been amazing for operations as Lab Manager which is such an important and very critical role for them to be able to operate. She stated that she has done an amazing job for 39 years and congratulated her.
Ms. Thaxton thanked them for this honor. She stated that it has been a pleasure working for all these years in the longest temporary job in history. She stated that she had a lot of teamwork and they were able to produce much better quality of water for public health and environment.
She thanked them for the award.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Bigstyck asked if any Councilmember wanted to pull any items off consent, and seeing no one, opened public comments. He then closed public comments and asked Council for discussion, questions, or a motion.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Vaterlaus, Mayor pro Tem
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Boles
1. Approval of Disbursements for 11/01/23 through 11/30/23.
PROPOSED ACTION: Receive and file the Monthly Check Register Report for the month of November 2023
City Council Regular Meeting 3 December 11, 2023
2. Approval of Minutes
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve the minutes for the following: (1) November 13, 2023 Special and Regular Meeting of the City Council and (2) November 27, 2023 Regular Meeting of the City Council.
3. Continuation of Proclamation of Local Emergency of the Pacifica Coastline from Westline Drive to the End of Beach Boulevard.
PROPOSED ACTION: Accept report and make a determination that conditions of local emergency continue to exist within the Pacifica Coastline from Westline Drive to the end of Beach Boulevard.
4. Continuation of Proclamation of Local Emergency at the Anza Pump Station.
PROPOSED ACTION: Accept Report and Make a Determination that Conditions of Local Emergency Continue to Exist at the Anza Pump Station at the Pacifica State Beach.
5. Frontierland Park ADA Improvement Project Award
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt the Resolution to
1. Approve the Construction Contract with DRYCO Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $99,994.00;
2. Authorize a budget authority in the amount of $133,437.10, which includes contingencies in an amount not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Construction Contract amounts;
3. Authorize staff to execute future change orders not to exceed the contingency amount;
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute all documents related to the Frontierland Park ADA Improvement Project.
6. Resolution - Approve Purchase Agreement with C&D Power Inc for Purchase and Rental of Generator for Sharp Park Pump Station
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a Resolution that:
A. Authorizes the City Manager to award and execute a Purchase Agreement for a new generator, including a 12-month generator rental, with C&D Power Inc.; and B. Appropriate $300,000 from Wastewater Fund 34 Sewer CIP fund balance to Sharp Park Pump Station R&R Project; and
C. Approves a total project budget of $335,789.63, including a 10% contingency of $30,500; and
D. Authorizes the City Manager to execute all documents related to the purchase and rental agreement.
7. Resolution - Approve Master Service Agreement with Centrisys CNP for Providing Centrifuge Services for the Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a Resolution that:
A. Authorizes the City Manager to award and execute a Master Services Agreement with Centrisys CNP for a sole source purchase for providing centrifuge services in connection with the Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant biosolids handling process; and B. Approves a total project budget of $175,000; and
C. Authorizes staff to execute future task orders not to exceed the project budget amount.
City Council Regular Meeting 4 December 11, 2023
8. Resolution Approving the Professional Services Agreement between the City of Pacifica and Townsend Public Affiars to Provide Grant Writing and Grant Administration Services to the Various Departments in the City of Pacifica
PROPOSED ACTION: Approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a consulting services agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for grant writing and grant administration services at the not-to-exceed cost of $60,000.
9. Adoption of an Ordinance initiated by the City of Pacifica, to (a) add a new Article 53, “Emergency Shelters” to the City of Pacifica Zoning Regulations (Chapter 4 of Title 9 of the Pacifica Municipal Code [“PMC”]) to create zoning provisions for approval, construction, and operation of an emergency shelter consistent with the requirements of Senate Bill 2 (SB 2); (b) amend Article 11 “C-2 Community Commercial District” to make an emergency shelter with 20 or fewer occupants a permitted use and an emergency shelter with 21-30 occupants a conditional use; (c) amend Article 14, “O Professional Office District” and Article 15, “C-R Commercial Recreation District” to exclude emergency shelters; (d) update sections of the City of Pacifica’s Zoning Regulations to include updated definitions and terms for “Community Care Facility” and “Family Daycare Home” to be consistent with the requirements and definitions of State law; and (e) make other minor conforming revisions (File No. 2023-013, Text Amendment TA124-23). Recommended CEQA status: Exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15269 (Emergency Projects) and Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule Exemption). The Planning Commission recommended approval of the Text Amendment by a Vote of 5-0 (with two absences) on November 6, 2023.
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to waive the second reading and adopt by title only “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Pacifica to enact a new Article 53 “Emergency Shelters,” to amend Article 11 “C-2 Community Commercial District,” to amend Article 14 “O Professional Office District”, to amend Article 15 “C-R Commercial Recreation District”, and to make various other minor conforming amendments of Chapter 4 Zoning, of Title 9 of the Pacifica Municipal Code (PMC), and finding the Ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (File No. 2023- 013; Text Amendment TA-124-23).”
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA
Delia McGrath, Pacifica, stated she wanted to speak about the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, and then expressed her concerns on the problems in Gaza and stated the Pacifica Peace People will be holding a peace vigil on the Winter Solstice and invited everyone to join them on December 21 at Rockaway Beach.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus attended the Council of Cities in San Bruno, the Elf Market, the Historical Society’s party at the castle, the tree lighting in Rockaway, the LCLUP study session, the Sanchez Art Winter Fair, the Channel 26 auction, and the Menorah lighting.
Councilmember Beckmeyer attended a number of the same events, i.e., the building lighting, the Elf Market, the tree lighting, the Historical Society holiday, and the Menorah lighting. She learned from CalCities that she was appointed as the Chair for the Coastal Cities Group for the coming year.
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Councilmember Boles stated that many of them attended the holiday events. She referred to the meeting on the LCP update. She met with Anita Rees from Pacifica Resource Center about their space needs and with Marj Davis about the county grant information. She met with Pacifica Spindrift Players with Economic Dev. Manager Tara Schiff and Management Analyst Alyssa Barranti about their programs and desire for growth and staying in our community. She met with the SFO Airport Roundtable and there is a separate technical working group that works to find small improvements and they approved some changes that mostly affect the cities near to airport about ground base noise. She stated that they will be talking about expanding the HUSH program. She and the Mayor went to the labor holiday party in Millbrae. She was also invited to the AAUW (American Association of University Women) holiday lunch at the Sharp Park Golf Course. She stated that the PCT auction was fun, and she answered some calls with the Pirates of Manor. She stated that they had a fun day at the San Mateo County Leadership training program and they played a game called SIMSOC: Simulated Society. She stated that the goal was to get everyone to survive and thrive and figuring that out. She stated that the best part was hearing everyone’s experiences and takeaways.
Councilmember Bier thanked Delia McGrath from the Pacifica Peace People for thinking about peace and uplifting the people of Gaza. She attended many different things and would report on some. She encouraged those who had not yet done so to fill out an age-friendly survey.
She stated Pacific Coast Television also has a survey on their website. She stated that she was the elf at the tree lighting, at Pacific Coast Television’s telethon, and in the future at the teacher housing of Jefferson Union High School District. She thanked everyone who came to the LCLUP community meeting. She attended the Coast Pride board meeting and they are starting to plan for the June 2024 Pride event. She went to the HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust) board meeting. She thanked Cindy Abbott of the Sanchez Art Center for the Winter Fair they had in addition to their project for the community with the Pacifica Collaborative which is “Art for a Peaceful and Just Community”. She stated that PRC is still willing to accept gift cards and encouraged people to donate to the PRC as they are taking care of our families.
She gave a shout-out to James Coleman of South San Francisco for being the youngest mayor in San Mateo County.
Mayor Bigstyck wished everyone happy holidays and hoped they experience a happy new year.
He stated that Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza are persistently in his mind. He hoped joy prevails in all these places and many others worldwide. He attended the PCE surplus funds committee meeting, the San Mateo Labor Council lunch, Polarpalooza, the holiday party at Sam’s Castle, the tree lighting at Rockaway, the City of San Mateo reorganization, and the LCLUP meeting.
He planned to attend the reorganization in Millbrae. He attended the Jefferson Union High School District immigrant resources night and he strongly recommended city staff and PRC to table there next year. He attended the PCTV telethon with all councilmembers and did some phone banking with Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus. He also attended Hanukkah at the Community Center held by Chabad of Daly City.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Woodhouse referred to the Leadership Council of San Mateo County which Councilmember Boles is a member of the cohort for this year. He stated that he and Economic Dev. Manager Schiff had the opportunity to tour them around city facilities and look at potential meeting spaces for the Leadership Council to bring the cohort, which is comprised of leaders from all around the county, to Pacifica. He stated that was an opportunity that grew out of a meeting he had with the Mayor and their leadership about the Leadership Council. He stated City Council Regular Meeting 6 December 11, 2023
that his next communications are an end-of-year thank you and gratitude. He referred to the upcoming storm season, and they have members from North County Fire Authority, Pacifica Police Department, and Pacifica Public Works Department. He gave an advance shout-out to all the work that is normally done to prepare for the winter Public Works is doing to build our resiliency to storms, such as maintenance of pump stations and extra generators on hand. He thanked staff from the entire city but particularly Fire, Police, and Public Works who are ready to help us in those situations. He also wanted to give a shout out to the work and time staff spent on every agenda item and detailed Council report that is prepared and is the vehicle for all the information to inform the public and Council for the policy decisions that Council needs to make.
He stated that the preparation and trajectory for each of those Council reports can be very long and that it is an incredible workload that facilitates local democracy; we tend to not think about the 250 to 300 reports that are written every year to inform the decision making at our local level. Thus, he stated his shout-out is to all staff in every department that has touched and worked on those City Council reports, not to mention our incredible City Clerk’s Office for facilitating those reports to get posted in a timely fashion and meet all the noticing requirements and be available. He stated it is a great joy to participate in that process and deliver those reports. He stated that they are constantly working on improving the reports. He then referred to the Council who review all the reports and make decisions.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE
CONSIDERATION - NONE
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS - CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION a. Outgoing Mayor's Remarks
Mayor Bigstyck welcomed County Supervisor Ray Mueller, Field Representative Katrina Rill from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s office, Field Representative Anthony Yoshida from State Senator Josh Becker’s office, and Field Representative Elise Lester from State Assemblymember Marc Berman’s office. He thanked them for being present, in addition to Executive Director Anita Rees from Pacifica Resource Center and Director of Government Affairs Mark Hershman from Peninsula Clean Energy. He stated that he is grateful they decided to let him serve in this position for the briefest of moments and was grateful for them entrusting him with this responsibility and he hoped he served them well in any measure. He stated that the only official duty as Mayor that particularly distinguishes him from his colleagues is the capacity to chair the meetings. As he was given the task, he has done his best to discharge that duty with the intent of harmonizing differing views and heightening the civility of discourse.
The other but no less distinguishing characteristic that he realized was the fact of the title itself, he spent most of the year making as many calls and attending as many events as he was possibly able to and to leverage his title into relationships that might serve our community once his title has been passed on per tradition. He stated that, over the course of this year, they have discussed homelessness, substance abuse, coastal erosion, Coastal Commission, surf camps, life buoys, short-term rentals, Manor Overcrossing, sea level rise, economic development, interagency land swaps, affordable housing, work force housing, market rate housing, the Roy Davies Trust Fund, paying for storm drainage to alleviate floodings, wetlands, wildlife, urban interfaces and the fire danger they bring, disaster preparedness, tsunamis, earthquakes, policing, trail management, committee and commission charters, augmenting clean energy, respecting native people, child care, elder care, quarry, trees, Housing Elements, libraries, sea walls, potholes and basic city services, and if not in chamber, certainly outside of them in community meetings, cafes, social media, and check stands. He stated that they also spoke City Council Regular Meeting 7 December 11, 2023
about neo-Nazism, as well as the proper way to address broken minds from outside of our community. He stated that, when he favored having the opportunity to contribute his voice to this table, it was based upon the premise that difficult decisions would be better served by civil discourse. He stated that, given the chance to govern, the solution of civil discourse seemed to come into focus as something having to do with kindness despite rudeness, compassion despite abrasion, and love despite liability. He thought these were the tenants that could more closely lean us in the direction of community, all within the context that the community entrusted in Council the opportunity to process through complex policy decisions in which our community must remain distinctly polarized because the Council cannot see the fullness and breadth of the ramifications present in their decision making and attempt to honor the robust nuances of a full spectrum appropriately. He stated that, in his time as mayor, he couldn’t be happier in his heart to be at the helm than he was on at the LCLUP meeting. He described a room filled with a full spectrum of concern over a deep, meaningful, in some ways terrifying, and in all ways contentious issue, which has resulted in literal screaming many times before, i.e., the Local Coastal Land Use Plan. They discussed it peacefully as a community. He suggests that, in moving forward, for the civility of that community meeting, discussion will be richer and more likely to yield productive outcomes for every member of the community for having engaged in an exercise of civility, for even a brief moment in the process that in other times devolved too quickly when they forgot they were best when they raise each other up despite our divergent world views. He stated that he has long suspected that our community can engage in conversation in ways they hear each other and can better tell Council their truths in ways they can hear them and make better decisions. He steps down with the wish that, as they move forward, they explore such approaches with all our hearts, as then product then yields better results no matter how much they disagree with Council or each other. He stated that, as he turns over the gavel, he leaves them with this thought, i.e., convictions of right and wrong can never build a better community, only love can do that.
b. Presentations to Outgoing Mayor
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus stated that she is presenting the Mayor with a few tokens of their appreciation. The first is a photograph that is by Daniele Derenzi, a local photographer. The second gift is from the city which is a mounted gavel. Council also provided a small gift of a Cinemark gift card. The next gift is a succulent with a card. Council provided another gift of San Francisco family-friendly attractions for the Mayor and his family.
Mayor Bigstyck thanked them all so much.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus stated it was time for Council comments.
Councilmember Bier stated the first time she experienced time with him was on the Rent Advisory Task Force and she felt they have learned so much together along the way and she thanked him for that. She stated that there are so many things she appreciates about his leadership. One is that the community needs to understand that he went out and made lasting and important relationships with a lot of our regional leaders and he was able to bring people into our city who probably didn’t even know about the issues happening in Pacifica. He did a good job and his relationship building was key to the success of his leadership. She appreciated that and hopes the community does as well. She stated that it is a grace in which he responds and how he hears people. He gets every single question answered, and she thought that was a gift. She was grateful to him.
Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus stated that she has learned an amazing amount from him as she is a City Council Regular Meeting 8 December 11, 2023
very reactive person and he was very calm. His leadership helped the rest of them become better people. She stated that his relationship building has helped our city so much to go forward to let others know what Pacifica is about and understand what we are doing here and what we want to accomplish here.
Councilmember Beckmeyer stated that his focus is so inspiring, whether it is a large issue like the sea wall or the Sharp Park Specific Plan or a very complicated issue. His focus is just as keen as when he is responding and focusing on an individual who has reached out to him, and she is very grateful to him for that. She stated that he is responsive to her, all Councilmembers and to the community, and he is thoughtful in the way he speaks, the way he expresses in open and closed meetings, and he just brings that presence to the moment. She stated that he has a very deliberate but thoughtful and loving kind of leadership and she was so grateful to him.
Councilmember Boles stated she has been involved in Council meetings for a couple of years and, when she was elected, one of the first things she did was to invite him over to her house.
She stated it is so difficult to have a relationship across the room when you can only talk for three minutes. She thought that was why the LCLUP meeting was so important to be face-toface. She stated that they had a good chat that day and started knowing each other. She appreciated his time. She stated the next thing he did was invite her to his home for a practice session in meditation which she thought was beautiful. She stated that she never thought about this before, being on the other end, such as how you lead a meeting. He looks and makes eye contact with them, and he is always checking in with them, not just waiting for them to push a button and have a light on, but a personal connection there. She stated, when she first started, City Attorney Kenyon told them that, when a new person comes on Council, it is a whole new Council; the dynamics can be different and that takes a while. She thinks they have done a beautiful job together. She knows they might not always agree, but that is where discourse and being able to bring new ideas and perspectives and being able to talk them through to choose what steps for the city, and she felt he has done that very well. She stated that he is also respectful to the public. They call in and speak here, and he looks them in the eye and tries to get their questions answered. She appreciates his philosophizing. She thought what was really special in their relationship is when they did get Zoom bombed, she and the Mayor partnered on that and met several times; it was about trying to find a solution where they were not letting awful people keep our public from being able to comment remotely and participate. They got a lot closer, sharing personal stories and understanding why it was so upsetting. She felt it takes time to get to that deeper relationship and she appreciates him taking the time for that as well.
She thanked him for not just running the meetings but also setting the agendas and being the spokesperson at every single city event.
Mayor Bigstyck stated, when it comes to energy management, he is a big believer in, especially when one is beginning a learning process, breathing one’s way into that learning process. He thanked her for acknowledging his thought and process.
Mayor Bigstyck then called for comments, recognizing attending dignitaries first, starting with San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller.
SM County Supervisor Mueller stated that Mayor Bigstyck is known in the county for being so uniquely honest, sincere, dedicated, and thoughtful. What his colleagues said about his ability to forge relationships is so true, i.e., the work he does in Pacifica, bringing people to the city to understand the issues impacted in the city, as well as the work he does throughout the county and being so thoughtful, dedicated to details, and patient in those regional meetings, and being an example to other public officials in his thoughtful approach to that work and creating space City Council Regular Meeting 9 December 11, 2023
for others to share what they’re thinking. He is present on behalf of the Board of Supervisors with a certificate of appreciation to thank him for his work and congratulate him on a job well done in 2023. SM County Supervisor Mueller also addressed Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus. He stated that she showed how her inner strength surpasses all the weightlifting records she holds.
She becomes a role model in no way he thought she anticipated. He is in awe to what she can achieve when dedicated and focused on the service of others and she inspires him. He congratulated her.
Katrina Rill from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s office stated that it was wonderful to be present on behalf of Congresswoman Eshoo and thank the Mayor on her behalf for his great service as Mayor of Pacifica for the last year. She stated that Congresswoman Eshoo is representing Pacifica for the first time in her more than 30 years in Congress and she has loved the last year in collaboration with all of them including the Mayor and is thrilled to keep working with them for the next year and they can hopefully achieve some great things. She thanked the Mayor on Congresswoman Eshoo’s behalf, and she was bringing him a Congressional certificate of recognition for his service. She is looking forward to working with all of them next year.
Anthony Yoshida from State Senator Josh Becker’s office stated that he has known Mayor Bigstyck for his entire life, growing up in Pacifica and constantly seeing him around town. He stated that, on behalf of Senator Becker, it was nice to have a Mayor who fights so strongly for this town and goes out of his way to visit their office in Menlo Park to make sure Pacifica’s concerns are heard. It was nice to see Pacifica being represented so forcefully throughout the county and state, and they appreciate what he does for Pacifica. He wishes him best luck in the next year as a councilmember.
Elise Lester from Assemblymember Marc Berman’s office stated that she started as a field representative from Assemblymember Berman in April and Mayor Bigstyck was the first elected official she met with in her second week on the job. She stated that, immediately upon meeting him, her nerves were calm. She was immediately at ease and he explained things in a way that she immediately felt accepted and made her less nervous to ask questions of electeds. As Pacifica is a new part of Assemblymember Berman’s district, she reiterated what the other councilmembers said about him, bringing people unfamiliar with Pacifica into his ranks and making them feel welcome and heard. She stated on behalf of Assemblymember Berman, she congratulated him and they will miss him as Mayor and she wished Mayor pro Tem Vaterlaus the best of luck as well.
Mayor Bigstyck opened the public comments.
Martin Anaya of PCTV thanked all of them, and specifically thanked the Mayor as he thought Supervisor Mueller said it best when he said he gives people a space to be and express, whether it is the heavy issues they face with climate change, economic development, and all the issues in town. He thanked the Mayor.
Chris Redfield, Pacifica, thanked the Mayor for his excellent tenure as Mayor, and he stated it has been reiterated numerous times that he has a unique way and ability to reach out to our community and to everyone. He stated that Pacifica has unique challenges and will always work hard to rise to the occasion. He stated that the Mayor has shown he was prepared to do the work, built important relationships with local and state representatives, boards and commissions to aid in Pacifica’s future.
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Mayor Bigstyck closed the public comments. He stated that he was rendered mostly speechless by what everyone has been saying and by the gifts, adding that he was here because he thought his voice may be helpful in some way which is the continuous hope. He stated that his voice would be worthless if not for his colleagues surrounding him, staff who puts their heart into the work for the community every day, and a community. He stated that he has a beautiful partner in the front row, Shari, for his renewed strength in a year that was a marathon. He couldn’t imagine running before he took on the title and doesn’t know if he could have had the strength if she had not been by his side through the entirety of the experience.
He also thanked Florence, sitting next to her, who challenges him on a daily basis to figure out how to be a better human being and help her to learn to be the same. He stated that it is beautiful to see the room filled with human beings putting their hand and heart in every element of their being to create the community they call home. He stated that it is his honor to be able to serve in any fashion that might be helpful and he thanked everyone for giving him the opportunity to make it happen. He stated that, rather than asking for a councilmember to move for a new mayor, he will take the liberty to make the motion. c. Selection of New Mayor
Mayor Bigstyck moved to appoint Sue Vaterlaus as Mayor; seconded by Councilmember Bier.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Mayor
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Boles
d. Selection of New Mayor pro Tem
Mayor Vaterlaus asked Council to make a nomination for a new Mayor pro Tem.
Councilmember Bigstyck stated that the way they generally do this is by the numbers and the conclusion he arrived at is that our next Mayor pro Tem would be Councilmember Bier.
Councilmember Bier asked if they can discuss that. She thanked him for that and for the community for the numbers. She stated that is how they do this and they ran in districts in the past election which is different. She would like to counter that offer as she believes that it is time for Councilmember Beckmeyer to be Mayor pro Tem, and there are many reasons for that thought. She stated that Councilmember Beckmeyer is in the position now regionally to lead and she loved it when Councilmember Beckmeyer was mayor.
Councilmember Boles stated she would also support Councilmember Beckmeyer as Mayor pro Tem. She stated that she never knew what the procedure was before and she would like to talk about that a little bit. She thought it was appropriate in terms of the vote when Council was voted on through the whole city where everyone was competing for the same votes. She thought they might want to rethink that policy as they move forward because different districts vote differently.
Mayor Vaterlaus agreed that how many people running in the district gets fairly complicated when you do it by district.
Councilmember Bigstyck stated that makes sense.
Councilmember Bier moved to appoint Councilmember Beckmeyer as Mayor pro Tem; seconded by Mayor Vaterlaus.
City Council Regular Meeting 11 December 11, 2023
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sue Vaterlaus, Mayor
AYES: Bigstyck, Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Boles
e. Incoming Mayor's Remarks
Mayor Vaterlaus thanked them all for being here for such a great day. She has been in this chair before, but she is going to be different as she is a much more caring and compassionate person now. She thanked the current Council for the confidence for her to be the Mayor in 2024. She was trying to think of a word to describe each one of the Councilmembers and there were so many but she finally came up with a word for everything: Love. She stated they are here because they love Pacifica and they love each other and that is how they get things done here. They love staff, all the people who work for Pacifica. She thought it was amazing and everyone cares which is why they do it and continue to go on. She stated Council are the best, and we have the best staff as they have to deal with so many things. She would like to see a lot of the big things come to fruition when she is here, as it is her last year. She ran again to see these things be complete, i.e., Housing Element, Local Coastal Plan, moving staff back to City Hall, Beach Boulevard Resiliency Infrastructure Project, and so many big projects which they do on a daily basis. She also thanked her family and the families of all Councilmembers as it is an endless job they do constantly, and it was important to have family support or they wouldn’t be there. She stated that, like Councilmember Bigstyck, she would like them to continue to work together like they have and have the community to work with them as it makes it so much smoother. She stated they do not always have to agree. If more people from the public could get involved, she thought it would be great. She asked them not to wait until the end when really concerned about something but be involved. She thanked the community, Council, staff, and everyone for the support she has received during her journey back to good health. She stated it was important to her regarding how much support she has had, and she is going to be fine, thanks to everyone. She encouraged everyone to do mammograms and self-exams. She thanked them for being there.
ADJOURN
Mayor Vaterlaus adjourned the meeting at 8:49 p.m.
Transcribed by Barbara Medina, Public Meeting Stenographer.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk
APPROVED AS AMENDED: 5 - 0; 01/08/2024
__________________________
Sue Vaterlaus, Mayor