CITY OF PACIFICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Council Chambers
2212 Beach Blvd
Pacifica, CA 94044
Mayor Sue Vaterlaus
Mayor pro Tem Sue Beckmeyer
Councilmember Mary Bier
Councilmember Tygarjas Bigstyck
Councilmember Christine Boles
City Council Regular Meeting 1 December 09, 2024
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
December 09, 2024 (MONDAY)
www.cityofpacifica.org
Mayor Sue Vaterlaus called the meeting to order on December 9, 2024 at 6:07 PM 6:00 PM OPEN SESSION
Call to Order
Mayor Vaterlaus called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m.
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Sue Vaterlaus Mayor Present
Sue Beckmeyer Mayor pro Tem Present
Mary Bier Councilmember Present
Tygarjas Bigstyck Councilmember Present
Christine Boles Councilmember Present
City Clerk Coffey took a verbal roll call.
Staff Present: Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager; Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney; Denise Bazzano, Asst. City Attorney; Yulia Carter, Asst. City Manager; Maria Sarasua, Police Chief; Scott Leslie, PB&R Director; Ron Myers, Fire Chief; Kavitha Kumar, Interim Community Development Director; John Mullins, Interim PW Director; Louis Sun, PW Dep. DirectorWastewater Div.; Roland Yip, PW Dep. Director-Field Services/Engineering; Bill Glasgo, Police Captain; Chris Clements, Police Captain; Vicente Romero, Police Corporal, Bill Amable, Dep.
Fire Chief; Sarah Coffey, City Clerk; Emily La, Dep. City Clerk.
Reading of Land Acknowledgment
Mayor Vaterlaus read the Land Acknowledgment.
Salute to the Flag led by Mayor Vaterlaus
City Council Regular Meeting 2 December 09, 2024
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Vaterlaus asked if anyone wanted to pull any item from the consent agenda.
City Manager Woodhouse made a brief correction to the Consent Calendar. He stated that with Item No. 5, Pacifica Spindrift Players’ Third Amendment to Lease Agreement, there has been a minor revision to the contract amendment. The current version includes Exhibits A, B, and C at the end of the contract, but only Exhibit B should remain part of the amendment; Exhibits A and C will be removed and Exhibit B pertains to the temporary use area established during COVID19 in the second amendment to the contract and this third amendment formally terminates that temporary use.
There were no public comments.
Councilmember Boles stated she has a few corrections to the minutes of September 23, 2024 meeting on the Rockaway Quarry reclamation hearing. On packet page 36, it should say, Mr.
Gurnsey stated that they have approved reclamation plans in the coastal zone,” not that they have “improved” reclamation plans in the coastal zone. She stated that on page 38, which starts “Councilmember Bier thought she read in the EIR…” and she said it should state Councilmember Boles, not Councilmember Bier. She stated, on page 46, there are two minor things: “Councilmember Bigstyck added traffic plan under the circulation period” should be “under the Circulation Element” and the sentence after that “our Municipal Code” says 902-5 when it should be 9-205. She stated that the last one, on page 47, after the statement from Mr.
Stinson about the traffic analysis, there are two places where it says “BMT” and that should be “VMT”. She stated that one thing she mentioned that did not get put in the minutes that she wanted to add was about the traffic analysis being accurate; she would like to add, “She said she was not sure she agrees with that, but she does not think we are getting into the EIR tonight,” and she wanted to clarify that she had an objection to the traffic analysis. She stated that it is right after the paragraph about Mr. Stinson and the next sentence said “Councilmember Boles would like to hear about that 2013 letter” so it should be just before that sentence. She stated the last page says what the vote was and it says “deny the appeal,” but there were two appeals so that should be plural.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer stated that, since their minutes are not action minutes but summary minutes, and in third person, she asked if it would be possible if we could say Councilmember Boles stated she did not agree with this instead of direct quote in first person.
Councilmember Boles stated that it does not need to be verbatim but she wanted to get it in the record that there was something she objected to in the EIR.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer moved to approve the consent calendar with amendments as stated; seconded by Councilmember Bier.
CONSENT CALENDAR (ITEMS #2 AND #3 AS AMENDED)
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor pro Tem
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Bigstyck, Boles
1. Approval of Disbursements for 11/01/24 through 11/30/24.
City Council Regular Meeting 3 December 09, 2024
PROPOSED ACTION: Receive and file the Monthly Check Register Report for the month of November 2024.
2. Approval of Minutes
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve the minutes for the September 23, 2024 City Council Special and Regular Meeting; October 14, 2024 City Council Special and Regular Meeting; November 12, 2024 City Council Special and Regular Meeting; November 18, 2024 City Council Special Meeting; and the November 25, 2024 City Council Special and Regular Meeting.
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. Annual Part-Time Salary Schedule Update
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to adopt the resolution approving the annual parttime salary schedule update that will be going into effect January 1, 2025.
5. Resolution Approving the Third Amendment to the Lease Agreement between the City of Pacifica and the Pacifica Spindrift Players for the premises located at 1050 Crespi Dr. (also known as the Pacifica Cultural Arts Center and Spindrift Theater) PROPOSED ACTION: Move to adopt the resolution approving the Third Amendment to the Lease Agreement between the City of Pacifica and the Pacifica Spindrift Players for the premises located at 1050 Crespi Dr. (also known as the Spindrift Theater and formerly known as the Pacifica Cultural Arts Center); authorizing the City Manager to execute the Third Amendment to the Lease Agreement.
6. Adoption of Resolution Declaring the Canvass of Returns and Results of the General Municipal Election of November 5, 2024
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to adopt the resolution declaring the canvass of returns and results of the general municipal election held on November 5, 2024.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA
Suzanne Moore, Pacifica, referred to the issues we face in 2025, such as homelessness, climate change, and harassment of vulnerable populations, and shared her thoughts on how the City can address all those issues.
Anita Rees, Pacifica, shared happenings at the Pacifica Resource Center, including their schedule and accomplishments for Thanksgiving, and reported on their Christmas program and other regular programs.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Councilmember Bigstyck loved attending the tree lighting in the Civic Center. He stated that we had a tsunami warning and much consternation afterwards in terms of which organizations were talking to whom and how things were coordinated as people expected sirens going off but they did not. He mentioned some of the processes and thought there will be a thorough review of that after the fact. He stated that our County Supervisor has been coordinating with City staff to City Council Regular Meeting 4 December 09, 2024
reserve a space in the City and on December 13 there will be a meeting held by Supervisor Mueller’s office to go over what happened and they can hear directly from the public what their experience was and coordinate a better response should we have such an event in the future.
He thanked the PCT’s telethon and thanked them for making sure our democracy is constantly broadcast and every second of Council meetings are available because of them. He referred to the epilogue of his Council story and Mayor Vaterlaus’. He stated that they will be the representatives for CCAG for one more meeting and CCAG wrote into their by-laws at their last meeting as they will be able to be the representative. He will be attending the California League of Cities Clerks group to participate in a session about how to deal when neo-Nazis call in. He stated that our Asst. City Attorney Bazzano who was present at our happening will be there to give her experience as well as legal information, as well as Walnut Creek Councilmember Kevin Wilk and the City Manager of Ventura Bill Ayub.
Councilmember Bier stated he is the perfect person to sit on that panel because he handled it so well. She thanked him for doing that. She had fun again at the Rockaway Tree Lighting and was able to be in the parade in Half Moon Bay. She thanked PRC as everybody is working hard now taking care of our families.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer stated she sat down with incoming Councilmember Mayra Espinosa and led into having her join her at the HIP Housing calendar reveal. We have a student from Ocean Shore School who has the November month and we will be having her and her family in January at the Council meeting. She stated that she made a fast run around Polar-palooza and the next day was exciting with so many events happening, such as the Historical Society event.
It was a day of a celebration with our community and was so much fun which she loved.
Councilmember Boles stated the weekend was packed with so many wonderful community groups. She had a meeting with the Airport Roundtable and they are still discussing the impacts of the new quadcopter vehicles. The FAA has said that there will not be new noise policies for those as they will go under the umbrella of the regular planes which is concerning as they are going to fly much lower. She is learning that we will not have much control over where they fly but cities have control over where they can take off and land. She stated that all the cities and counties should be working together as we are all going to need these new ordinances in our codes quickly. She announced that, on January 15, there is a great group of people in town including former Planning Commissioner George Domurat, Bob Battalio, Tom Kendall, and other Army Corps people who have been working on a concept for an offshore reefs in Sharp Park beyond the pier giving a presentation at the Pedro Point Fire House; this is to help with the impacts of the greater waves and storms and try to keep the sand in place on the beaches to help our resilience in addition to the work we are doing on the sea wall. She asked City Manager Woodhouse if he could give them an update on the Housing Element as she knows the Environmental Impact Report for that was supposed to be issued last month and might be happening over the holidays.
Mayor Vaterlaus stated that we are planning to continue the Rockaway Tree Lighting event next year, even though the Chamber will not be active in a location. She also went to the Labor Lunch and all the other things over the weekend mentioned by Council.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer stated she was not available to go to Small Business Saturday but she was proud to see her community all over Bay Area media. She shared a map that has been put together by the Seaside Business Merchants Association and you can pick it up in the stores on Palmetto. She stated it was fantastic work and exactly what they need because it helps people know better what we have and to make sure the word is getting out.
City Council Regular Meeting 5 December 09, 2024
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Woodhouse stated, in response to Councilmember Boles’ question regarding the Housing Element, we received an additional comment letter last week from HCD and we are actively reviewing that and are close to the release of the draft EIR.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE.
CONSIDERATION - NONE.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS - CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION A. Presentations to Outgoing Councilmember and Mayor
Mayor Vaterlaus read a proclamation in honor of outgoing Councilmember Bigstyck. She then stated that she is going to miss him when they are gone. She appreciated him all these four years and thanked him for calling her and asking her if she was okay.
Councilmember Bier stated that it has been an honor to serve with Councilmember Bigstyck and witness him do what he does best which is listen with the intent to hear. She stated that he is so good with the way he has networked and brought people in and connecting people to their issues and thus connecting resources. She thanked him for making some of the difficult conversations we had so fruitful such as the difficult discussions with NCCWD. She felt he gracefully moved through everything and she feels like they have a sibling type relationship and she appreciates that. She was so happy he has the opportunity to live, love, and create a family and there is nothing more important than that. She thanked him for showing her what it means to be a kind, determined Councilmember.
Councilmember Boles stated that she was new two years ago and he taught her the importance of relationship building and Councilmember Bier described that regionally. She stated he reached out to her and came to her house shortly after she was elected. She stated that there was tension in the beginning and they had the ability to have conversations and get to know each other on a human level and know what their goals and intentions are and what gifts they each bring to the Council. She stated that it is coming together and being able to respect each other even when we disagree. She was talking to incoming Councilmember Greg Wright and having the debate and deliberations are part of Council’s job and sorting through what is best for Pacifica. She stated that sometimes that is hard, but that is important and part of the work. The ability to maintain a positive relationship and respect each other beyond any disagreement about any policy is important to be able to continue this work and improve Pacifica. She stated he has shown her that and he did a great job as mayor and supporting her during her first year.
She appreciated that and hoped to be that example for the new councilmembers. She had dinner with Katrina Rill from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s office at the Pacific Beach Coalition holiday party, who told her that, when he got elected, he wanted to meet with her and she thought he wanted to meet with stated elected officials as she was their staff member; however, he was persistent and he was at an event together and suggested that they go for a walk afterwards. Councilmember Boles stated Katrina Rill appreciated him taking the time to get to know her and getting a sense of who he was which is so important for the work we are doing for the City that is beyond the work Council does on the dais in trying to build those relationships and bring in funds. She stated, in the past year, when we start deliberations, he is ready to go with what he wanted to say and start Council’s conversations. She appreciated that as it is City Council Regular Meeting 6 December 09, 2024
important to get the work rolling. She added that he is a voice for the marginalized and hurting and listen to them which is important in this role. She stated that they will miss him, but she knows he will still be watching and participating because the care he has for the City is not going away. She congratulated him and his family.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer thanked him for being her brother. She stated that family is interesting as they do not always get along and sometimes they play and laugh and have inside stories and jokes. She has that relationship with him and thanks him for his four years of service and he got an amazing amount of work done and that proclamation summarizes it but does not capture everything he has done. She stated that he was here for years before that with years of studying and learning how Council works. She stated he was ready to sit in the chair and serve as he was watching and knew from watching different people what worked and what he wanted to emulate. He brought all that knowledge with him when he came in and even before that he had that knowledge. She was already serving on Council and there were many evenings where she would be intercepted at the door as they were leaving and she was given feedback and it was the building of the foundation of their working relationship. She agrees on the notion that it is not easy when those hard conversations need to happen but they persevere.
She stated that working with him on coastal issues has been a dream and so great to have his partnership. She will miss him.
Mayor Vaterlaus stated she and Councilmember Bigstyck were talking about their relationship previously and how much they cared about each other and how the teasing or more is because they do care about each other. She watched him sitting in the audience for many years, and being there from the minute the meeting started until the minute it ended and he was the only one left in the room so many times. She always appreciated him and wanted him on Planning Commission because that was his start to come to Council and it was important. She thanked him for everything.
Mayor Vaterlaus invited government officials to come up with their presentations.
Ray Mueller, San Mateo County Supervisor, stated that they say goodbye to two COVID-19 Councilmembers. Regarding Councilmember Bigstyck, he came into office in the middle of COVID-19 at a difficult time, but he signed up for this community and helped them during that time. He wanted to serve at that time which speaks to the character of who he is. County Supervisor Ray Mueller works with a lot of councilmembers throughout the County and sees that he did amazing at both the regional and city levels. He always did his homework and elevated the conversation and made sure that the decisions made were good for the region as well as Pacifica which speaks to his sincerity in every decision. Some people would say he is leaving early, but the sincerity and presence to know what is important to him and his family is also very uncommon in Councilmembers and speaks so much to who he is. They will miss him at all government levels. He then stated that Mayor Vaterlaus was so amazing, going back to the school board. He stated that it was unbelievable what she went through physically this year and she kept serving, while completely selfless, even working on things like the Local Coastal Plan and everyone respected each other as they went through it. He stated she is a powerlifter, and what she did this year puts all of that to shame. They will miss her so much. He thanked both of them on behalf of the County.
Councilmember Bigstyck stated he wanted to take the opportunity to express that the brotherhood he has felt with County Supervisor Mueller has been one of the most unexpected elements of his journey as a Councilmember. He stated his respect of County Supervisor Mueller’s integrity that encompasses the entirety of his being is a rare element and does not City Council Regular Meeting 7 December 09, 2024
bend or waiver and is what enables him to shoulder the burdens along his path.
Mayor Vaterlaus agreed and added that she feels she has known him forever. She appreciated what he has done.
Anthony Yoshida from State Senator Josh Becker’s office stated he will be presenting a resolution to Councilmember Bigstyck on behalf of Senator Becker and Assemblymember Berman and is joined by Elise Lester from Assemblyman Berman’s Office to present the resolution on behalf of the entire California State Legislature. He stated that Councilmember Bigstyck played an important part in making them such a welcoming Council.
Mayor Vaterlaus stated that Council will present the gifts to Councilmember Bigstyck. The first is a photo of Linda Mar Beach from local photographer Daniele Derenzi. The second gift was shirts, bags, and other items from Cotton Crustacean. There was also a picture of him on top of Sweeney Ridge.
Mayor Vaterlaus stated that outgoing Councilmembers will do their speeches later.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer referred to public comments and asked if it is for everyone all at once.
Mayor Vaterlaus stated it is and she stated that we will do it later.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer then began the presentation to the outgoing mayor and read a proclamation for Mayor Vaterlaus. She then referred to when they first met working with the Library Foundation in 2011 and she got to know her and their relationship has been solid since then. She shared that, in the last year, there has been continuous growth, and it was inspiring to work with her and she will miss serving with her.
Councilmember Boles stated she moved here in 2019 and it was interesting learning about the community and realized that the City is not that divided on the political spectrum. She got involved in the environmental issues; coming into Council, she did not know what to expect and Mayor Vaterlaus has been the biggest surprise to her on Council. She stated that she and Mayor Vaterlaus rode back and forth together and their meetings would go late and they would sit in the driveway at least another hour and got to be friends in that time. She stated that her relationship and ability to do the work needs to be based on understanding and respect.
Councilmember Boles was amazed to hear all the things Mayor Vaterlaus has done in her career and what she has done as Mayor and what it might mean for herself later as they still have a lot of work to do and they are looking out for each other. She knows Mayor Vaterlaus will not stop being involved and caring about the City but she hoped she takes time for herself.
Councilmember Bier stated almost 20 years ago her nephew died in a car accident and she met Mayor Vaterlaus three months after that in the Partnership for Safe and Healthy Pacifica. It was always so much fun for her to be around, and she was a strong presence. She thought about important moments between them, and she thought one was during Measure C where they had different views on what could and could not work in Pacifica; she listened to Mayor Vaterlaus who told her what we believe in what was true to us and that was enough and what we are supposed to be doing in the community. She stated Mayor Vaterlaus was strong and loving and, in the past year, they found out that they are kindred spirits. She was honored to serve with her, and they are lucky because they got to know her. She knows Mayor Vaterlaus loves her kids and how proud she is of her children. She will miss serving with her and thanked her City Council Regular Meeting 8 December 09, 2024
for teaching her that it is okay to bring what she has to the table.
Councilmember Bigstyck stated the Mayor’s service has been spectacular whether people know it or not. He thought, if she could be present for every event in representing our community, she would do so. He was happy that she will be given an opportunity to reconnect with herself, and he is grateful that she gets time to heal and discover parts of herself of which she may have been unaware. He does not think anyone realizes how loved she is countywide and her nature is she would wish to serve on every board if she could and have served with many and is deeply loved regionally which has been an asset to Pacifica. He shared that he prefers to get to know somebody by walking with them for several miles and he did that with her and then understood the complexity of her character rather than what is projected to the public.
Elise Lester from Assemblymember Marc Berman’s office stated she is representing Assemblymember Berman to recognize Mayor Vaterlaus for her remarkable years of service to Pacifica. She stated that public service is a unique calling and requires hard vision and unwavering commitment to the community she represents and often comes with sacrifices, long nights, and tough decisions but also a path where leaders create tangible lasting changes and what she has done for Pacifica. She stated her dedication has left an invaluable mark on the community as she engaged deeply with the residents in a way that makes Pacifica special, which is known for natural beauty as well as local government where everyone can feel heard.
Her leadership has embodied that spirit and she has ensured that the City’s policies and projects reflect the heart of the people and it is her honor to present the resolution on behalf of the California State Legislature along with her colleague, Anthony Yoshida, and it is not just an acknowledgement of her service but symbolized the respect and gratitude from her colleagues and constituents she served. She also recognized that the Council are all connectors and active in platforming the issues of importance to Pacifica and she thinks it represents a large part of the soul of the district as well as for Senate District 13. She thanked them all for their dedication and they wished Mayor Vaterlaus the very best in the next chapter of her life.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer presented Mayor Vaterlaus a mounted gavel from the City. The second gift was a photo of the pier by local photographer Daniele Derenzi.
Councilmember Bier presented her with a collage they created of all the Councilmembers as well as a shirt from Cotton Crustacean.
Councilmember Boles presented her with a gift certificate from the Art Space on Palmetto and hopes that Mayor Vaterlaus will find a class she wants to take and invite Councilmembers to take it with her.
B. Outgoing Councilmember's Remarks
Councilmember Bigstyck was grateful to lend his voice to the path of Pacifica, grateful for a path in love, and grateful to transition between forming community and the place where he resides into a more proper home. His interest in joining Council had more to do with continuing the heartfelt work put into motions by past Councils to the point of fruition. He stated that, over the four years on Council, it has been his honor to see accomplishments of an updated General Plan, Sharp Park Specific Plan, a submitted version of the Local Coastal Land Use Plan fully supported by the Coastal Commission staff, approval of the Oddstad Workforce Housing, creation of a modern Tree Ordinance, installation of the Sanchez Library Outpost, successful negotiation of memoranda of understanding, an updated and safe Civic Center, and the passing of two tax measures. He has supported our Vision 2025 planning to hopefully deepen our City Council Regular Meeting 9 December 09, 2024
economic development journey and the Beach Boulevard Resiliency Infrastructure Project to protect the most vulnerable parts of our community to the point of seeking the Army Corps of Engineers assistance in a living shoreline to expand the life span of our community and City.
He has also participated in the City bolstering storm drainage infrastructure, progress with street improvements, working with County Supervisor Mueller for funding of Ohlone Trail signage, and creating relationships with government officials from City, State and Federal levels to have civility and compromise as the best interest for us to accomplish many projects. He loved all Councilmembers, as well as staff previously working for Pacifica and staff who currently are, and acknowledged what they did and continue to do in all our departments for the City’s future.
C. Outgoing Mayor's Remarks
Mayor Vaterlaus felt being Mayor was special to her, but it was more about the community than her. She cares about the community and thanked everyone for everything they do. She thanked each and every Councilmember specifically for caring and respecting each other even when not always in agreement, as well as thanking each staff specifically for their contribution to helping all of us and the City. She shared her feelings about her time on Council and looked forward to the future Council doing all the hard work. She thanked everyone for being present.
She then stated the outgoing councilmembers will leave the dais and invited the new Councilmembers to come forward.
D. Public Comment - City Council Reorganization
Suzanne Moore, Pacifica, stated that she had the privilege of supporting Mayra Espinosa and Mark Hubbell and shared her positive thoughts on Mayra Espinosa’s future as a councilmember.
Caitlin Quinn, Pacifica, thanked Mayor Vaterlaus and Councilmember Bigstyck for their service on Council and shared her thoughts on getting to know both of them and appreciating their work.
Chris Redfield, Pacifica, thanked Mayor Vaterlaus for her many years of service in numerous groups in Pacifica and mentioned her strength for the past year through her problems where she continued to be involved. He also thanked Councilmember Bigstyck for his success in cultivating relationships that were important for Pacifica with impressive contributions to the City, and he understands that family takes precedence over commitment to Council.
E. Oath of Office to Newly Elected Councilmembers
City Clerk Coffey invited Councilmember-Elect Mayra Espinosa up and District 1 Resident Betty Duran who administered the oath of office to Mayra Espinosa.
City Clerk Coffey presented Councilmember Espinosa with the certification of election presented to her from the County’s election office.
Councilmember Espinosa then took her seat on the dais.
City Clerk Coffey invited Councilmember-Elect Greg Wright and former Councilmember Tygarjas Bigstyck who administered the oath of office to Greg Wright.
City Clerk Coffey presented Councilmember Wright with the certificate of election presented to City Council Regular Meeting 10 December 09, 2024
him from the County’s election office.
Councilmember Wright then took his seat on the dais.
F. Comments from Elected Councilmembers
Councilmember Espinosa thanked God for guiding her on this path as a public servant, stating she is honored and humbled, and thanked everyone who voted for her and worked on her campaign. She also thanked her family for being her biggest cheerleaders and her friends for supporting her in this journey. She stated that she is a team player and loves learning new things, helping people achieve results, and improving community engagement. She stated she will serve everyone to the best of her ability. She thanked Mark Hubbell for running as well as volunteers for her campaign.
Councilmember Wright thanked former Councilmember Bigstyck for all his support and guidance in this process. He also thanked former Mayor Vaterlaus who is the person he has known the longest in this community and gave him the inspiration to do this. He stated that the remaining Councilmembers have set a great example and he hopes he can live up to that expectation and the trust of Pacificans. He thanked Mark Hubbell for joining him in running a positive campaign and he would like to continue a relationship and build their friendship. He also looks forward to working unified with staff and councilmembers, as well as gaining from their wisdom, insight, and experience to help taking care of Pacificans after the trust they placed in him to move Pacifica forward into the future.
G. Selection of New Mayor
Councilmember Bier moved to appoint Sue Beckmeyer as Mayor; seconded by Councilmember Boles.
City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
SECONDER: Christine Boles, Councilmember
AYES: Beckmeyer, Bier, Boles, Espinosa, Wright
H. Selection of New Mayor pro Tem
Mayor Beckmeyer moved to nominate Mary Bier as Mayor pro Tem; seconded by Councilmember Wright.
Councilmember Boles noted for the new councilmembers that, if they want to discuss something, they can do that before the vote.
Mayor Beckmeyer asked if Councilmember Espinosa has comments she wants to make about the motion before the vote.
Councilmember Espinosa asked if Council has to make that decision now.
Mayor Beckmeyer stated that, when there is a motion and a second, Council can vote.
City Council Regular Meeting 11 December 09, 2024
Councilmember Espinosa asked if she would be able to move to nominate Councilmember Boles as Mayor pro Tem.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that, at this point, there has been a motion and a second and that motion has to be voted upon, but if she would like to make any comment about that particular motion, she may do that at this time. If her comment is that she would prefer to have a different Mayor pro Tem, she can make those comments now and, after that, a vote will be taken. Thus, now is the time to make whatever comments she would like to make about who she thinks should be appointed as Mayor pro Tem.
Councilmember Espinosa stated that she believes both of them are wonderful ladies, but she wanted to nominate Councilmember Boles.
City Attorney Kenyon stated that she cannot make the nomination now because Council has to vote on this motion and see the result of this vote. She stated that she can vote no on the motion if she would prefer to do that.
Mayor Beckmeyer asked if there were any more comments.
Councilmember Boles stated that she is not opposed to Councilmember Bier taking this role as she has done a wonderful job as mayor previously. She stated that Council talked about this last time about not having a good protocol, and she does not know if that bears discussing now.
In previous years, before we went to district elections, it was based on the total number of votes and the conversation Council had at the last reorganization is that no longer really applies because the different districts vote differently and there are different numbers of people per district and Councilmember Bier ran unopposed. She is not opposed to Councilmember Bier taking that position. She knows that rotating over four years with the five of them means that she will not have an opportunity to serve as Mayor in her term. However, if that is something Councilmember Bier desires to do again, she is not opposed to allowing the opportunity and she does not want that to be between them, adding it is very difficult.
Councilmember Bier stated that it is difficult and it has been on her mind all day. For her, it is an honor and a privilege to serve her community and she feels like she has learned so much and she has an opportunity to serve again. She needed to let Councilmember Boles know how much she respects her. She stated having the honor to serve again is something she wants to do and she thanks them for the opportunity.
Mayor Beckmeyer thought that we do not have a clear protocol and this is the process we have, and, as she sees it, Councilmember Boles will be ready in the future. She looks forward to that opportunity for her and she suspects strongly she will be seated on this dais because they share the feeling there is still so much to be done for the community. That is why she made the motion.
Councilmember Wright stated that his second was based primarily on seniority and experience, and it has been his experience that people with the most experience are usually in the best position to serve and has seen the widest variety of different challenges and had the most opportunity. He was not aware, when he made his second that Councilmember Boles would not have an opportunity this time around, and it is his hope that she runs again and then would be the logical successor following, based on the same guiding principle. He stated that part of the way he operates is based on a set of principles and those hold true regardless of the City Council Regular Meeting 12 December 09, 2024
personalities in place.
Councilmember Espinosa believed that all of them should have the opportunity to be Mayor.
She stated that, if Councilmember Bier wants to be a Mayor, she has no problem either. She stated that everyone wants to be a good team player and get along, even if they do not agree on everything.
Councilmember Bier stated that it is an honor and privilege to serve. She cares so much about Councilmember Boles and knows how qualified she is, but she wants to accept the honor.
Mayor Beckmeyer stated, if no more discussion, she asked City Clerk Coffey to call the vote.
City Clerk Coffey took a vote by verbal roll call.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor
SECONDER: Greg Wright, Councilmember
AYES: Beckmeyer, Bier, Boles, Espinosa, Wright
I. Incoming Mayor's Remarks
Mayor Beckmeyer thanked everyone for being here at this meeting. She stated that this is Pacifica and we are different. She stated that we have many leaders in our community and not everyone chooses to serve the community and contribute those leadership skills and leadership strength in gifts in the form of elected office. She believes that, when you make the decision to run for office, you are called. She stated that she was called, as she did not plan to run for office. She learned about how city government works and what else needs to happen in Pacifica. She learned so much with people telling you what things mean and how to do it and giving advice, trainings, seminars, etc. and she was honored that former Councilmember Mike O’Neill was her mentor, as he served for more than 24 years in elected office. She stated that it helped her to step into the role of Councilmember by having that support from the community and she has drawn on that since on Council when it has been hard to show up and do her work.
She mentioned her theme song when going back and forth with councilmembers was Bonnie Raitt’s “I Will Not Be Broken”. She mentioned that the pressure will never let up, as Council has to make decisions for the community for the future, and she has learned how to do that job.
She stated that Councilmembers Bier and Boles know how to do that and they will all work together in their job to lead Pacifica.
City Council Regular Meeting 13 December 09, 2024
ADJOURN
Mayor Beckmeyer then adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m., in honor and memory of Helen Schembri.
Transcribed by Barbara Medina, Public Meeting Stenographer.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk
APPROVED AS AMENDED: 5 - 0; 1/13/2025
__________________________
Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor