The Half Moon Bay City Council will hold a special budget workshop meeting at 7:30pm tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Adcock Center. Aside from oral communications, the only item on the agenda is "Staff Presentation of Proposed Parks & Trails Facilities Projects".

Members of the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission were notified by email at 11am today. Notice of the meeting was posted late this afternoon on the city’s website.

Tuesday, the Half Moon Bay City Council took up a couple of hot issues: the recent anonymous/pseudonymous appeals and the discharge of firearms within the city limits.

The city council changed the law so that appeals must be made in the appellant's real name and that only city residents or property owners can make appeals. This item was not on the council's published agenda, because it was enacted as so-called a "urgency ordinance". The justification was what city attorney Adam Lindgren called "preservation of public peace, health, or safety" -- which was threatened by the increased workload in City Hall. During the public comment, developer Keet Nerhan's attorney said he wanted to to make sure that false identities could not be used, so that he can investigate and challenge appellants' motives, which some people might think is a pretty good reason for allowing anonymous complaints. City attorney Lindgren recommended that, after enacting the urgency ordinance, the city council enact a regular ordinance with full notice, public discussion, and multiple readings.

Don't miss the discussion of the dog-shooting in Half Moon Bay. The first speaker, Jim Larimer, after his initial confusion about the issue before the city council, says that the city council should not pass any laws regarding unlawful discharge of firearms out of deference to people's deeply held beliefs about property rights and the second amendment. Also take a look at the documents provided by the city attorney, which says that it's legal to discharge a firearm in the city of Half Moon Bay to protect your property.

• Proclamations and presentations | Quicktime | Flash |
• Oral communications | Quicktime | Flash |
• City Council reports | Quicktime | Flash |
• Staff reports | Quicktime | Flash |
• Consent calendar | Quicktime | Flash |
• Administrative CDP's | Quicktime | Flash | Docs
• Appeal of planning commission approval at 684 Terrace Ave | Quicktime | Flash | Docs
• CDP for borings at 311 Church St | Quicktime | Flash | Docs
• Final EIR for Carnoustie development (Ocean Colony) | Quicktime | Flash | Docs
• Information on Discharge of Firearms Within City Limits | Quicktime | Flash | Docs
• Urgency Ordinance: Forbidding anonymous appeals | Quicktime | Flash |

An anonymous tipster is causing havoc in Half Moon Bay City Hall, reports the County Times.

In April, the city began receiving a flurry of building appeals from two people operating under the assumed names Robert LeBaron, Nancy LeBaron and David Meir (sometimes spelled Meier). A series of accompanying letters, faxed from untraceable sources, shows the appellants claim to be a couple living in Half Moon Bay under a different name. The appeals were sent from two different Half Moon Bay post of- fice boxes with no accompanying phone number. Fees forthe appeals were sent as anonymous money orders from stores like Safeway.

The letters — which have grown increasingly belligerent over time — also demonstrate an uncanny ability to listen in to conversations at City Hall.

"My friends at Half Moon Bay tell me you had your review today. Hope it went well," wrote "David Meier" in a comment addressed to City Manager Marcia Raines in a letter dated May 8. Raines had indeed just received an employee review the previous afternoon.
...
Even without an address or a valid name to go by, the anonymous senders succeeded in appealing one case all the way to the City Council — a zoning issue for a single-family home the Council was scheduled to hear last night.

And they brought a legitimate problem with a sign at the new Popeye’s Chicken to the attention of the planning commission. Meanwhile, City Hall is tightening security. 

Coastsider has also received information from the anonymous tipster.

This week's meeting was a little mixed up. A couple of agenda items were moved to the front, several consent calendar items were moved to the regular agenda, and one scheduled item was continued to the next meeting. Item #9 (New house at 684 Terrace Ave, Gale) was continued to next meeting on May 15.

• Meeting opening, announcements, and Coastside Community Schools Partnership (Item #11 on agenda was moved to front after proclamations). | Quicktime | Flash |
• Oral Communications | Quicktime | Flash |
• Council Reports, and Staff Reports. Council announces hiring of Dan O'Keefe as Chief of Police. | Quicktime | Flash |
• Consent Calendar and Human Services Funding (Item #4 Administrative CDP's, #5 Consulting Agreement, #7 Ailanto Agreement were taken off consent calendar and discussed individually). | Quicktime | Flash | Docs |
• Administrative CDP's | Quicktime | Flash | Docs |
• Consulting Agreement for Biological Assessment, Traffic Analysis, Noise and Air Quality Analysis | Quicktime | Flash |
• Ailanto settlement agreement discussion | Quicktime | Flash |
• Report from Closed session on labor negotiations and Yamagiwa (Beechwood) lawsuit | Quicktime | Flash |

State Senator Leland Yee will be on the Coastside to discuss local and state issues next Saturday, May 12, at 2pm.  The town hall meeting will be at the Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue in
Half Moon Bay.

• Opening, announcements, proclamations | Quicktime | Flash  |
• Oral communications | Quicktime | Flash  |
• Council reports | Quicktime | Flash  |
• Staff reports and consent calendar | Quicktime | Flash  |
• Repeal of administrative CDP | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• SAM capital budget | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• No parking zone between Casa del Mar frontage road and Hwy 1 | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Support of dedicated motor vehicle fee | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Admin CDP and surplus equipment disposal (taken from consent agenda) | Quicktime | Flash |

NOTE: This is from last Tuesday’s meeting, on April 3, of the city council. I was on vacation last week, so our process was slowed down a little

In a highly-charged meeting, the Half Moon Bay City Council approved a measure to decouple the proposed widening of Highway 1 and a traffic at Terrace Avenue from the proposed development of Pacific Ridge. The city will accept a letter of credit from developer Ailanto Properties that could be used for the light or any other purpose, rather than requiring Ailanto to pay specifically for the light.

Terrace Avenue residents may learn why it’s important to be careful what you wish for.

Terrace Avenue neighbors have long opposed the traffic light, which Ailanto was to fund. Now that the light is no longer required for Pacific Ridge to proceed, Terrace Avenue residents find themselves facing 63 more families using their street for access to Highway 1 without the mitigation of a light.

Meanwhile, proponents of building a bypass around the intersection of Highways 1 and 92 have re-emerged to say that reviving their moribund project is the solution for Pacific Ridge access. However, if Pacific Ridge is built as it is currently configured, the bypass may become impossible. This would leave Terrace Avenue residents with no light and no bypass.

It was a long discussion with plenty of emotional testimony from the floor as well as the dais.  We’ve divided it into two parts.

• Proclamations and presentations | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Oral communications | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Staff reports | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Consent agenda | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Drake appeal of construction without permit | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Repeal of elimination (i.e. restoration) of administrative CDP | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Discussion of putting Terrace Ave stoplight on hold (Part 1) | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Discussion of putting Terrace Ave stoplight on hold (Part 2) | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Letter Opposing SB303 Local Government: Housing | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Interagency appointments | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |

Presidential candidate Congressman Dennis Kucinich, will be speaking at an event in Pacifica this Saturday, March 31. The event will start at 1:30 pm and run until 4:30. Kucinich is scheduled to speak starting at 3:30 at Sanchez Concert Hall, 1220 Linda Mar Blvd. in Pacifica. A donation of $10 will be requested at the door.

The Coastside Democrats are among several groups sponsoring this event.

A movie, The Ground Truth, a documentary film of U.S. soldiers’ stories on the ground in Iraq will be shown starting at 2:00 pm and there will be additional entertainment, refreshments and good cheer.

Bring a friend and hear the most anti-war presidential candidate speak out on Iraq/Iran, domestic policies, global warming, and his Department of Peace Campaign.

Please call me at 650-712-0498 if you want to car pool.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Half Moon Bay City Council voted to withdraw the crucial definitions chapter of its Local Coastal Program update from review by the Coastal Commission. 

The Council also discussed regulating chain stores and decided to take the matter up again during their strategic planning process in July. The documents from this agenda item (linked below) includes a summary from City Attorney Adam Lindgren of what other communities have done to regulate chain stores.

The pledge of allegiance was conducted by a color guard of Eagle Scouts from Half Moon Bay’s Troop 263.

• Opening, including Troop 263 Eagle Scout color guard | Quicktime | Flash  |
• Oral communications   | Quicktime | Flash  |
• Council reports, staff reports, and consent calendar | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Council withdraws definitions chapter of LCP Update from Coastal Commission | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Council will take up chain store ordinance during July strategic planning session   | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |
• Council authorizes memorandum of understanding for Pilarcitos Creek restoration | Quicktime | Flash  | Docs |

The Midcoast Community Council (MCC) is looking for a volunteer to be appointed to a new committee that will investigate flooding and stormwater management on the MidCoast.  This committee is sponsored by San Mateo County, and will include the County Planning Director, the County Director of Public Works, the chairperson of the MCC, a member of the general public, and a representative of the builder/contractor community who resides on the Coast.  Meetings will be held on-demand, perhaps 1-2 per month, most likely in Redwood City during normal business hours. Details to be arranged by the committee.  The MCC is responsible for appointing the representative from the general public. The citizen member should be familiar with flooding problems in the MidCoast.

To apply, please download the standard County Application, or contact Kathryn Slater-Carter by e-mail ([email protected]) or phone (728-5449) to have one mailed to you.

Applications must be received by April 10.  The MCC will select the recommended committee member at their next regularly scheduled meeting on April 11, 2007. Please do not submit the application on-line.  Instead, please mail to:

Midcoast Community Council
PO Box 64
Moss Beach, CA 94038