CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
6/22/2026
1 SUBJECT:
Continuation of Proclamation of Local Emergency at the Pacifica Municipal Pier and the Order of Director of Emergency Services Relating to Temporary Closure of the Pier RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept report and make a determination that conditions of a local emergency continue to exist at the Pacifica Municipal Pier.
STAFF CONTACT:
Sean Charpentier, City Manager
(650) 738-7409
[email protected]
Melissa Tigbao, P.E., Director of Public Works
(650) 501-6016
[email protected]
Roland Yip, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works
(650) 738-3767
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On June 5, 2026, the City Manager, acting in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency pursuant to PMC 4-2.05(a) and executed the "Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency at the Pacifica Municipal Pier ("Proclamation"). On June 8, 2020, the City Council of the City of Pacifica adopted Resolution No. 33-2026 to ratify the Proclamation of local emergency due to Pacifica Munical Pier (Attachment 1). The City’s Proclamation was sent to San Mateo County Offices of Emergency Services and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and allows the City to seek state and federal funds relating to the emergency.
This proclamation of local emergency was based on the following findings.
On Thursday, June 4, 2026, Public Works staff were notified of damages to the Pacifica Municipal Pier. Public Works Engineering and Field Services staff responded to the notification and inspected the Pacifica Municipal Pier and found cracking, separation, and displacement of the concrete walkway and structural elements near the abutment and Chit Chat Café (“Conditions”).
Public Works Field Services staff closed off the Pier and abutment area from public access due to the unstable and unsafe Conditions. The City’s Chief Building Official also issued a “red-tag” for the Chit Chat Café, as the restaurant is unsafe for occupancy. The utilities to Chit Chat Café have been cut and capped off. The preliminary structural engineering assessment from the Pacifica City Council 2
June 22, 2026
City’s consultants revealed there is extensive damage which will likely require major reconstruction of the abutment. On June 9, 2026, the City demolished the Chit Chat Café due to the continued settling of the abutment to prevent the structure from falling into the ocean, resulting in significant environmental cleanup costs. The City began a short-term stabilization by placing rock revetment around the abutment. City is awaiting from the City’s structural engineers a design of a temporary brace around the first deck to stabilize the pier until a permanent solution can be found. The Pier will remain closed until it can be determined that the facility is safe for public use.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impacts associated with the emergency are covered under the Disaster Accounting Fund and no additional budget authority is necessary as sufficient funds have been previously approved in the Disaster Accounting Fund to pay for the demolition and other associated projects. The continuation of the local emergency will facilitate the ability for the City to request resources including financial support and reimbursement from the State Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for costs incurred in preparation and/or response to the emergency
ORIGINATED BY:
Engineering
City Manager
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A: Resolution No. 33-2026 - Ratifying Proclamation of Local Emergency - Pacifica Municipal Pier (PDF)