The Harbor Commission voted unanimously on April 2 to purchase the building at 504 Avenue Alhambra in El Granada where they will relocate their administrative offices from rented quarters in South San Francisco which they have occupied for almost 10 years.

The 2004 decision to move out of cramped quarters at Pillar Point Harbor was a contentious one, with former Commissioners Campbell and Lundie opposed.  The move to rented quarters was meant to be temporary, up to five years, during which time staff would find permanent office space back on the coast for which rent payments would not be required.  Office rent at Oyster Point Marina Plaza costs the Harbor District $90,000 per year.

Over the years, simple administrative office needs evolved into plans for construction of a much larger multi-use building on the waterfront at Pillar Point Harbor, which met with public resistance and had no confirmed tenants.  The District is just now beginning the process of developing a Strategic Business Plan to update their goals. 

The $1.8 million purchase price for the 8,050-square-foot, three-story building at 504 Avenue Alhambra will be paid in cash. The District has reserves set aside for this purpose from the sale of parcels deeded to it in the 1950’s along Obispo Road in El Granada: the firehouse, Burnham Strip, and the empty lot next to the Post Office.  The third floor of the building is currently leased by Granada Sanitary District for $3,000/month, and it is expected that they will stay. 

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is holding a volunteer trail day Saturday. Volunteers will construct a new fence and install trail drains.

Meet behind Seton Coastside Hospital, 600 Marine Blvd, Moss Beach, Saturday, April 5. The project will run from 10am to 1pm. Volunteers are asked to walk or carpool as there is limited parking behind the hospital.

Bring a Volunteer Agreement Form [PDF]. If you are under the age of 18, make sure the parent/guardian approval section is signed. Bring a personal water bottle. There will be water stations for refills. Wear clothes that can get dirty. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. Bring layers for changing weather and rain gear if necessary. Bring a hat and wear sunscreen. If you have a favorite pair of work gloves, feel free to bring them.

The program leader will provide all the necessary tools, supplies, gloves, and training. Project leaders are trained to deal with emergency situations and will have a first aid kit on site.

For questions, please contact Jaimie Baxter at [email protected] or (415) 561-3068.

02783
04/02 2151
Alsace Lorraine @ Correas HMB
11377(A)HS- Possession controlled substance 647(F)PC- Public intoxication
Deputies performed welfare check on a female reported to be crying while walking with a male subject. The under-age female appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and was in possession of alcoholic beverages. The subject admitted to carrying a small knife in her backpack, and was found in possession of a white powdery substance suspected to be MDMA. She was arrested and transported to SM County Jail.
Female Age 18 Of HMB

02782
04/02-04/03 2208-0003
400 block of Oak HMB
3455(A)PC- PRCS Revocation
Deputy made contact with vehicle occupied by five subjects late at night, and found one of them to be on parole with gang association conditions. A search of the vehicle revealed a blue bandana, two baggies of marijuana, two marijuana pipes and a grinder. None of the subjects claimed ownership of the items. The parolee was found to be in violation of his parole, and was arrested and transported to SM County Jail
Male Age 29 Transient

02781
04/02 2100
0-100 block of Amesport Landing
Misdemeanor warrant
Deputies made contact with subject wanted on a misdemeanor warrant out of San Mateo County. The subject was arrested and transported to SM County Jail.
Female Age 42 Of HMB

02779
04/02 2017
700 block of Sonora El Granada
Misdemeanor warrant
Deputies made contact with subject wanted on three misdemeanor warrants out of San Mateo County, San Bruno, and Sonoma County. He was arrested and transported to SM County Jail.
Male Age 36 Of El Granada

Coastside Land Trust invites you to a native plant landscaping workshop, Saturday, April 12, 1 to 2:30pm. Tickets are limited to 20 participants, and must be purchased in advance [link].

Local native plant expert Peigi Duvall will lead a workshop on how to incorporate local natives in your landscaping. Emphasis will be on drought-tolerant species and transitioning to native plant landscaping. View our demonstration garden and purchase native plants to start in your yard now.

Join the Half Moon Bay Library staff for a series of events to aid in the planning process for a new Half Moon Bay Library.

Community Vision
April 10, 4 to 6pm – Open House at the Library
April 10, 7 to 9pm – Community Meeting at the Library
April 12, 9am to noon – Visit us at the Information Kiosk by New Leaf Community Market
April 12, 1 to 4pm – Visit us at Brazzle Berry in Strawflower Village

Design Options
May 3,  9am to 1pm – Look for us at the Coastside Farmers Market at Shoreline Station.
May 8, 4 to 6pm – Open House at the Library
May 8, 7 to 9pm – Community Meeting at the Library

NOAA is reviewing potential disturbances to white sharks due to research and tourism in Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary over the next five years.

This follows the previous draft analysis from 2010 that looked at the effects of a research project which placed small satellite transmitters on white sharks. It also evaluates shark dive tourism operations that use artificial seal decoys to attract sharks.

White sharks depend on the rich waters of the sanctuary. As top predators, they play a key role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Each fall, white sharks frequent the waters of the sanctuary. Adult white sharks are seen most frequently in the area between Tomales Point, Año Nuevo Island, and the Farallon Islands, where elephant seals and sea lions are abundant.

The public has an opportunity to review and comment draft proposal that evaluates a range of potential white shark research techniques that might be used in the sanctuary, including the use of tracking devices, decoys, chum and shark cages.

The final programmatic environmental assessment is expected to be completed this summer.

The draft programmatic environmental assessment is available at the sanctuary’s website. Comments can be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking portal, or by mail to Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, 991 Marine Drive, The Presidio, San Francisco, CA 94129.

The Darin Boville Gallery is holding a public open house to celebrate its opening Saturday, April 5, noon to 4pm. There will be beverages and light finger food. The gallery is located in Spanishtown, off Highway 92.

Three of Darin’s photo projects will be on display. First, a series of images based on the work of Ansel Adams, but with lasers. Second, a series of flowers, with an odd glowing quality. Third, on the 50-inch 4k screen, a series of images made from the window of an Amtrak train as it cuts across the middle of California.

The Coastside Democrats have published their endorsements for the June 3 primary election.  At a meeting on Friday, March 28, the organization heard presentations from the candidates, as well as supporters and opponents of ballot measures.

Members at the meeting voted to endorse incumbents Jackie Speier, Rich Gordon, and Don Horsley. They also endorsed the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District bond measure, Cabrillo Unified School District parcel tax, and Granada Sanitary District transition to a community services district.

Neither Half Moon Bay Main Street Bridge measures received enough votes to receive an endorsement.

Disclosures: I’m a member of the Coastside Democrats. I wasn’t at the meeting and have made no endorsements.

CORRECTION: This story was from KTVU Monday. We apologize for the error.

KTVU has a report on heavy flooding in Pacifica [video], including at the intersection of Highway 1 and Linda Mar, just north of the Devil’s Slide. Earlier, police were turning drivers away from the intersection.

Based on information from MROSD

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is advocating for additional regulations on so-called second generation anticoagulation rodenticides due to illness and deaths of bobcats on the peninsula. These poisons have been linked to illness and deaths of foxes, eagles, owls and bobcats as well as dogs and cats throughout California.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has limited the sale of SGARs effective July 1, 2014.

In 2010, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District began to observe bobcats with symptoms of a severe disease called notoedric mange in the 4,150‐acre Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve near Cupertino. Until then, healthy bobcats were commonly seen throughout the preserve, often hunting rodents in meadows.

Studies by the National Park Service in southern California indicate that outbreaks of mange in animal populations is a result of exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides. These poisons weaken animals’ immune systems and make them less able to fight mite infestations. This leads to cracked, wounded skin that is subject to bacterial infections. Affected animals become malnourished, emaciated and unable to hunt or feed themselves, and eventually die.