City Council - Regular Meeting

It is now 6.02 p.m., and I wanted to call the meeting to order. City Clerk Coffey, could we get a roll call, please?

Mayor Bowles? Here. Thank you. So for anyone new in the meeting tonight, I want to remind you that if you're parked in the lot out here, you need to have a parking pass on your car, and those can be found downstairs. And for anyone who's new to public commenting at the meeting, there are yellow cards in the back. So there's an opportunity to comment on each item on the agenda, plus an opportunity to comment on anything not on the agenda. So you'll just need to write the topic there. And I'm going to start by reading just a statement about commenting at meetings. And this is partly because of o

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. And I see the city attorney making her way back just in time. Do we have a closed session report? No reportable action? Okay, thank you so much. And then just before we start with our special presentations, I'd like to suggest we make one change to the agenda, and that's to move staff communications to right after the special presentations before the consent agenda. Do I need a vote on that, Sarah?

Thank you. We get to start our meeting today with two beautiful proclamations. The first one is in honor of an artist and distinguished resident in our community, Roland Peterson, in honor of his 100th birthday. If you're willing, Roland, if you feel comfortable, you can sit where you are or if you'd like to go to the podium and you can bring your wife and your granddaughter with you. Or you can stay right there. We'll read it and then we'll let you come up. Sarah's bringing him a microphone. Oh, awesome. Thank you so much, Sarah.

Okay. So this is a proclamation of the City of Pacifica in recognition of Roland Peterson's 100th birthday. Whereas Roland Peterson, United States Navy veteran, acclaimed painter associated with the Bay Area figurative movement, UC Davis Professor Emeritus, cultural philanthropist, and longtime Pacifica resident celebrated 100 years of life and artistic contribution on March 31st, 2026. And whereas Roland Peterson was born in Denmark in 1926 and emigrated to the United States as a young adult serving in the U.S. Navy during the Battle of Iwo Jima, he then studied at UC Berkeley, the San Franci

Would you like to say a few words to us and the audience and everyone tuning in remotely today, Mr. Peterson?

Well, I'll take comments from the council and then the public, and then we can come up and take a picture with you and your family, if you're willing, and present you with the proclamation.

So, council members? Hi. Hi, I'm Mary. Sir, it's very nice to meet you. I'm really happy that you're here, and happy birthday. What a beautiful way to start your day by painting. You know, I think I should probably do that every morning now. Because I know what it does for my soul, and I see what it has done for yours. So thank you for your contributions, this beautiful art, and for being with us. And I feel emotional, but I'm really happy to meet you. Thank you so much for being here, and happy birthday.

Hi, my name is Greg Wright. And I was fortunate enough to go down to your opening, and I remember walking in and being mesmerized by one of your pieces and the feeling that it gave me. It just uplifted my whole spirit. And from piece to piece to piece, by the end I left there, I was almost like high. And I just wanted to say that what... What you put on paper has a huge effect on everyone out there, and I want to thank you very much for that. Thank you for being part of Pacifica, and I look forward to many more editions. Thank you.

Happy birthday, Roland. My name is Mayra Espinosa. I love your painting. They're beautiful. And actually, my grandfather lived until 105. But he wasn't painting like you are. So happy birthday.

And I just want to start by thanking Burlingame Council Member Donna Colson for bringing your wonderful art to our attention, to Sue Beckmeyer for coordinating with Donna and bringing forth this proclamation. these beautiful art pieces of yours that we're seeing before us today. I understand you were in a motorcade too with our police escorting you here. So you'll have to tell us a little bit about that because that's pretty special. And I'm sure because of your honorable service to our country and the Navy as well. These pictures are moving pretty quickly, but I want to make sure everybody sa

And did you like your police escort? I want to get it all out of you.

Thank you. Thank you, police, Pacifica police. Okay, I have two cards. And, again, if anybody else would like to make a comment tonight, there are yellow cards in the back of the room. So we'll start with Erin Macias, who I understand is your neighbor, and then Sue Bauerloss. All right.

Thank you, Sue. So that's the last card I have, and there are no comments online. Okay, well, we'll come up and take a picture if you're willing to Stand up for just a couple minutes with us.

I'll just wait a second for two council members to come back. Okay, we have one more special presentation for tonight if I could get everyone's attention again, and oh look I see a big one beautiful crowd coming to the podium So this is a proclamation for the City of Pacifica and recognition of Parks and Recreation Month Thank you for being here Scott with your beautiful staff and

Yeah. You have a way of making everybody smile, Anthony. You just can't help yourself. I love it. Okay, well, I'm going to start by reading the proclamation, and then I'll invite you to speak, Scott, and introduce your staff. Okay, if I could please have quiet in the room. Thank you. Okay, whereas parks, beaches, and recreation services are an essential part of the City of Pacifica, supporting the health, well-being, and quality of life for residents and visitors alike. And whereas the National Recreation and Park Association, NRPA, has designated July 2026 as Park and Recreation Month with th

Thank you, Scott. Do you want to take a moment to introduce your team that made it out here today, or just quickly?

Okay, that sounds good. That's very smart. Brilliant.

Sabrina Crenn, Administrative Assistant.

Susanna Crook, Administrative Assistant. Mindy Thien, Recreation Supervisor.

YEAH. AND, OF COURSE, THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROBABLY WORKING OR HOME AFTER A LONG, HARD DAY OF LEADING CAMPS AND DOING OTHER WORK FOR THE CITY HERE TODAY. thank you all so much for being here with us as we celebrate this month.

I just want to say something. Well, out of everything we do for the city, I think Your job is the most fun. And I'm so happy for what you guys do. When we talk about engaging the community, that's what you guys do. Because this is the only time that we know the city is here when we do those city events. especially we have done so far two for the Fairmont Park and Everybody was there having a good time.

Hi, everyone. Thank you so much for all the work that you do. I've been so fortunate over the past seven and a half years to really get to know a lot of you personally and then to really understand the breadth of the work that happens in Park and Rec. I think that started when I was on the Park and Rec Commission and you really get to know how much work your department does. So thank you, all of you, for so many things. And also for supporting our young people with the Youth Advisory Board. It's really important. And with lights, right, they get a chance to understand, you know, work ethic and

It's hard to follow all those great statements. There is so much that you do. My first interaction with your staff was with Anthony, of all people, many, many years ago, trying to arrange fields for a soccer tournament. And just the way that he worked with us is representative of the way all your staff seems to work with our community. whether it's trying to get your swerve on, get a little glide in your stride, or literally having a slide to slide on. You guys have just been amazing. From those preschool-aged people to our seniors, you cover the gambit. And I just want to tell you, your leade

Yeah. And while your job looks really fun on the outside, because we see the product of what you're doing, we know how much hard work that goes behind. We just recently learned how good you are with spreadsheets and finances, Scott, which none of this would happen without. So it really takes a whole team with various skills to pull this off and make it look easy and all look fun. So I really, really want to thank you. And it was very obvious in our recent council meetings, you know, as we're talking about some hard budget cuts and perhaps closing the pool and perhaps not having lights for pick

So I don't have any cards on this item. If anyone would like to speak to PB&R and all the wonderful work they do, you can come up to the microphone and fill out a card afterwards. And we don't have anyone online. I don't see anyone coming up maybe. Okay, we'll close public comment. So we'll move on to staff communications.

So I'm going to ask everyone, we have a rule that we kind of let it go with the proclamations, but we're trying not to have people clap. If you agree with something that's being said by staff or by each other, we'll ask you to raise your hands and do the silent way for affirmation, and we can see you better that way too. So thank you.

Thank you so much. That's super helpful. And I'll just say, I know we have a lot of public comments on this issue, and because this item is not on the agenda, we're not really allowed to discuss it today, but we're happy to take your comments and appreciate the update. Did you have one more?

SO IF YOU SEARCH PACIFICA FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL FIND THAT DOCUMENT ONLINE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE MORE ITEM BEFORE WE GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THAT IS OUR CONSENT CALENDAR. There are 13 items on that. Would any council members like to pull anything off consent?

Yeah, thank you. Okay, seeing no one wanting to pull, again, I don't have any cards. If anybody wants to comment on the 13 items on consent, you can come up now, fill out a card later. Are there any online? Seeing none, I'll close that. If there are no other questions, comments, I'll entertain a motion. I move to approve the consent calendar.

All right. Well, thank you all for being here tonight. I currently have 19 cards in my hand. Sometimes when we have a long agenda, we might cut those comments short, but we have a pretty short agenda tonight, so I'm inclined to give everyone their three minutes, unless I see any objection. I don't see any. Okay. So we'll start with Elizna Van Zyl, followed by Todd Ewell, and then Cindy Abbott. And I'm just going to ask people, because we have so many of this, it'll take us at least an hour to get through. When I'm calling your name, if you can start to line up so we don't lose time in between.

No clapping, please, or I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Okay. Thank you. Todd and Cindy and then Deirdre Martin.

Thank you so much. Cindy Deirdre and then Nancy Tierney.

Thank you, Cindy. Deirdre, Nancy, and then Stephanie Phillips.

Thank you, Terita. Nancy, Stephanie, and then Greg Gahagan. I'm sorry if I'm mispronouncing it.

Thank you, Nancy. Stephanie, Greg, and then Lorena .

Thank you, Stephanie. No, that was a... Please no clapping. I'm sorry. I'm going to really have to enforce this.

Yeah. And before you say anything, we really can see you better. Like when you hold up your hands, I can see each and every one of you. So it might seem weird, but it works. Okay.

Thank you, Lorena. April Schmider, followed by Janine Dubois, and then Asi Gyasi. Mm-hmm.

So I see I have First, sorry, Ellen, you're next. And then Marsha Murphy.

Thank you, Essie. So Ellen, Marsha, and then Sue Holland.

Thank you, Marcia. Sue, Joanne, and then James Howard.

Joanne, James, and then Kimberly Finale.

Thank you, Joanne. James, Kimberly, and then Aaron Macias.

Thank you, James. Kimberly, Erin, and then Gloria Stofan.

Thank you, Kimberly. Please. No clapping. Sorry. Erin, followed by Gloria, and then Antoinette Cressy.

Thank you, Gloria. Anita Reese, and then I have one more card by Monique. I'm sorry, Antoinette first. Thank you. Sorry about that.

Thank you, Antoinette. Anita Reese? Monique? and then Peggy O'Grady.

Thank you, Anita. So Monique and then Peggy.

Thank you, Peggy. And my last card is Monique. Sorry, you got out of order there a little bit.

We'll move now to the phone. How many raised hands?

Thank you, Jean. There are no other raised hands. With that, I'll close public comment and just thank everyone again for taking the time to come here tonight so that we could hear your concerns and ideas as we move forward on these issues. I'm going to suggest that we take a break for about 10 minutes. So we'll come back at 8.02. We can probably start without a city attorney. He needed some water because he was talking a lot to all of our community. That was a good break. So I'll reconvene us at 8.13 p.m. And we have two more items. So the next one on the agenda for consideration is the annual

We love you, Marge. Thank you. Likewise. Are there any questions from council before public comment? Okay. I don't have any cards. If anybody wants to speak to this, come up to the microphone and fill out a card afterwards. Do we have anybody online?

I don't see anybody getting up, so I will close public comment. And you're not, we're just acknowledging receipt of the report, right? We're not looking for action from us today. That's correct. It's accepting the report. Thank you for your service. Thank you, and you're welcome. I really enjoy it. You guys know that. Thank you for staying up with us, and thank you for the oversight. It is important when we pass these revenue measures to know that the city is not just in a black box, but there are citizens that are looking over to make sure we're doing it right. So I really appreciate your ser

Okay. I think that's it. Thank you both. Thank you so much. All right. And then our last item is consideration of canceling of our regularly scheduled council meetings on July 27th. and August 10th. So I'll leave that for City Manager Sharpe and Thiel.

Okay. Are there any questions from council right now? I SEE VERY HAPPY FACES ON THE DIALS AS WELL AS WITH STAFF IN THE ROOM. OKAY. AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS. DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? IS THERE ANYONE ONLINE?

OKAY. VERY EMPHATIC NO. NO CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT. I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION. SO IT IS A LONG TIME. I THINK WE'VE IN MY MEMORY WE'VE ONLY CANCELLED one meeting, and I know we've talked about the schedule, and I'm okay with what's coming up to be scheduled, but Vice Mayor Wright and I know. And there is discussion of potentially scheduling a special meeting in between those dates, but we'll know later. We don't know right now. Just in light of the public comment tonight, and the work that the city's going to be doing on some of the issues. Like if we have a special meeting, will there be an oppor

OK. I have just one quick question. I assume that staff has planned their vacations And when we do have these special meetings, are we taking away time that they've planned to be away with their family? Has there been consideration given to that? And how many staff are affected besides yourself and our city attorney and our two city clerks here?

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH EMERGENCIES. I GET IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO STAFF'S WILLINGNESS TO YET AGAIN GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR OUR CITY. That's a big deal. I mean, Parks and Rec staff was there on the 4th of July. They weren't there with their families celebrating like everybody else. Here again, staff is going the extra mile, and it's appreciated.

I appreciate that. And besides vacations, I remember City Manager Woodhouse also saying it's a chance for staff to catch up, to not have to come and present, but to actually just do the work that they need to do for the items that will be coming up in the fall for us.

OK. If there's no other discussion, would someone like to make a motion? I move we take a break.

I'm sorry. I don't have the agenda in front of me. I move we skip the last meeting in July and the first meeting in August. Cancellation of July 27th, 2026. Thank you.

I'm through the mayor. Yes. I have someone I would like to close the meeting in honor of, unless you had someone.

No, I think I want to make sure we do council communications. Oh, yeah. Okay. But then absolutely. Thank you. I'll bring it back to you. And Martinez, just so everyone knows. And Martinez? Mm-hmm. All right. Yeah, we haven't done council communications in a while, and it's 8.30, so we have time. Who would like to have some things to share?

Mm-hmm. I'll go first. Okay. It's been very quiet because most of the meetings, at least that I've been involved with in the last couple of weeks, have been canceled because of summer break. So I really don't have a report out. Okay. First time ever.

I will join you in that same sentiment, and I think this is going to be my first time ever getting out of a council meeting while the sun is still out.

Look there's it is still I'm done So I'm going to talk about The parking Safe parking I called today, there's two organizations that has been helping, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, Redwood City, so I called We Hope. And what they said is, like, they do help, but we have to identify maybe a piece of land, or maybe I told them, how about if we don't have the land? They said that you could bring a lease, and they will partner up with us and help us. And her name is Alicia Garcia, and she told me, call us. We're open. We're here. And we already have help other cities, so we could help you. And I hope,

I would suggest, just because of potential Brown Act issues, that you send it to Sean, and then he can decide how to best disseminate it. Thank you, Myra. Well, I have a few things. I'm not promising about the sun, sorry. We had a good Peninsula Clean Energy up. Now Westlight Energy as of July 1st. I still have to keep correcting myself on that. The new website is up and everyone should be seeing Westlight Energy on their PG&E bills as they're the PROVIDER OF ELECTRICITY FOR 98% OF PACIFICANS. AND A COUPLE OF NEW EXCITING THINGS FROM THEM. ONE, THERE'S A NEW PROGRAM FOR THEY'VE GIVEN GRANTS FO

It is not yet planned, but you can look at the Westlight Energy website. Anybody can call them now. There's a hotline, someone on the phone. You say you're looking to electrify or want to change your stove or your heater or water heater, and someone will walk you through that and show you where the resources are. But anyway, I'm really excited because this is a part of the community that hasn't been served as well. A lot of our lower-income homeowners are up in the Fairmont area. I've had a bunch of meetings about unhoused issues in our temporary safe parking program with Justin Mates from the

Thank you. Yeah, so I wanted to adjourn the meeting in honor of Ann Martinez. Ann Martinez is Dave Martinez's mother. and a very good friend of my mother's. There's a beautiful testament to her life that Dave wrote, and I can share it with all of you. I'll just read a tiny bit of it, if you don't mind. Of course. Annie Martinez lived a beautiful and full life, passing away peacefully at the age of 96 on June 20th in the Pacifica home that she had cherished for the past 67 years. In 1948, she met the love of her life, Jess Martinez. And Jess owned the barbershop in Adobe Plaza, which was next t

Thank you so much for sharing that, Mary. Okay. With that, we'll adjourn our meeting in the honor of Ann Martinez. And look at the sky. And it's 844 and it's not dark.