CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
2/9/2026
1 SUBJECT:
Continuation of Proclamation of Local Emergency of the Pacifica Coastline from Westline Drive to the End of Beach Boulevard
RECOMMENDED 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.
STAFF CONTACT:
Roland Yip, Deputy Director of Public Works/City Engineer 650-738-3767
[email protected]
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk
650-738-7307
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On January 22, 2016, the Director of Emergency Services proclaimed the existence of a local emergency along the Pacifica coastline from Westline Drive to the end of Beach Boulevard due to El Nino storm activity. Extreme wave heights for extended periods of time caused top-of-bluff retreat at several locations along the Pacifica coast and damage to City infrastructure. Since this date, the Director of Emergency Services has proclaimed the existence of other local emergencies along this same stretch of coastline. These emergencies are described below:
• The January 22, 2016 storm caused a failure of the Beach Blvd. seawall near Santa Maria Avenue, which has been repaired.
• The January 22, 2016 storm also caused the undermining of an eight-foot diameter storm drain outfall and concrete headwall for the discharge of Milagra Creek into the Pacific Ocean near 700 Palmetto Avenue from the. The project was completed on April 24, 2023.
• During the 2016-2018 storms, the 300 & 400 blocks of Esplanade Avenue experienced episodic bluff erosion. The bluff erosion has progressed to a point where the erosion is now threatening public infrastructure and utilities.
• On December 16, 2020, a failure of the Beach Blvd. seawall near Santa Rosa Avenue and the Pier created a large void (approx. 25’ w x 25’ l ). The repairs were completed by February 22, 2021.
• On December 29, 2020, another void ( approx. 10’ w x 15’ l) around 150-200 feet north of the intersection of Beach Blvd. and Santa Rosa Avenue. The repairs were completed by February 2021.
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• On January 14, 2021, a combination of high tides and large waves damaged a forty-foot section of the Pacifica Municipal Pier’s west facing deck and concrete railing. The railing repair was beyond what had been funded for the project, the City pivoted to do further inspections on the pier before a sizable investment is made in fixing the rails, since it was prudent for the City to understand the full needs of the pier. The 2023 Pier Condition Assessment Report has been finalized and is able to be viewed at www.cityofpacifica.org/pier. A rough order of magnitude of up to $20 million for the repairs is and design and permitting. The structural engineers recommended limiting public access on the pier to approximately half of the main pier deck until repairs to the more severely damaged areas.
• In November of 2023, a failure behind the seawall was discovered at the intersection of Beach Blvd. and Salada Ave. A void (approx. 2’-7’ w x 40’ l) was found behind the seawall and was repaired with concrete and cement slurry. The repairs were completed by the end of December 2023.
• On December 29, 2023, another failure (approx. 300 sf) behind the seawall was discovered at Beach Blvd. and San Jose Ave. and was temporarily plugged. The repairs were completed by January 10, 2024. This also caused damage to the Milagra storm drain outfall and left substantial sand deposits on the Beach Boulevard Prominade and on the southern Beach Boulevard rock revetment.
• In March of 2024, City staff received an Emergency Coastal Development Permit (ECDP) from the California Coastal Commission (CCC) for removal of the substantial sand deposits left on Beach Boulevard Promenade and southern rock revetment as well as for the repair of the damage to the Milagra outfall. Repairing the outfall and removal of the sand on the Beach Boulevard Promenade and removal of the sand from the southern Beach Boulevard Rock Revetment was completed by mid-May of 2024. • In May 2024, a sink hole (approx. 5’ w x 25’ l) was discovered behind the seawall on Beach Blvd. to the north of Santa Maria. The hole was repaired through an emergency contractor.
• In November 2024, a new sink hole (approx. 8’ w x 30’ l) was discovered behind the seawall on Beach Blvd. between Carmel Ave and Santa Maria Ave. The hole was repaired through an emergency contractor by December 16, 2024. • On November 13th, 2025, two sink holes (approx. 3’ w x 16’ l and 8’ w x 10’ l) were discovered behind the seawall on Beach Blvd and between Santa Maria Avenue and San Jose Avenue. Another sink hole (approx. 12’ w x 16’ l) was discovered behind the seawall near Chit Chat Cafe while making repairs to the first 2 sink holes. All sinkholes were repaired through an emergency contractor by December 16, 2025. Revetment 300' south of the Chit Chat Cafe had moved and left the seawall exposed. The restacking of the revetment was performed by an emergency contractor by January 30th, 2026.
The City Council first ratified this proclamation (Attachment A) at its regular meeting of January 25, 2016. Since that date, additional damage has occurred along Beach Boulevard and Esplanade Avenue as noted above.
Pursuant to Government Code section 8630(c), the City Council must review the need for continuing the local emergency at least every 60 days until the City Council terminates the local emergency. Conditions of local emergency still exist since the City Council first acted to declare Pacifica City Council 3
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a local emergency on January 25, 2016, and since that time staff have brought the continuance of Proclamation confirming the existence of local emergency exists within the Pacifica Coastline from Westline Drive to the end of Beach Boulevard every 30 days with January 12, 2026 being the most recent.
The City is using a combination of city staff, contractors, and consultants to manage the discussed emergency work. Staff will bring recommendations to the Council to end the emergency designation for projects on the list once conditions stabilize and the projects are no longer in need of the emergency designation.
The City Manager recommends that the City Council make a determination that conditions of local emergency continue to exist within the Pacifica Coastline from Westline Drive to the end of Beach Boulevard.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
ORIGINATED BY:
Public Works
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Proclamation of Local Emergency Regarding Pacifica Coastline from Westline Drive to End of Beach Blvd. (PDF)