At the January 3 meeting, the Half Moon Bay City Council resumed deliberation on a proposal initiated by Council members Patridge and McClung to reduce the size of the planning commission from 7 to 5 members and to make the terms of the commissioners run concurrent with those of the sponsoring Council members. The issue was previously discussed at the December 20 meeting

After a lengthy debate where each Council member weighed in more than once, Patridge made a motion for the draft ordinance under discussion to be formally introduced into the legal record for a vote at the next meeting on January 17. The motion was seconded by McClung and passed on a 3-to-2 vote. Fraser sided with Patridge and McClung while Gorn and Grady voted no.

If passed into law, the ordinance would end the terms of five sitting commissioners (McCarthy, Freer, Falcone, Lansing, and Kellenberger), effective on the date of the ordinance. The terms of the other two sitting commissioners (Poncini and Benjamin) would be adjusted to expire on December 31, 2007, so as to run concurrent with the terms of Council members Fraser and Gorn. Council members Patridge, McClung, and Grady would then presumably each have the opportunity to appoint a planning commissioner whose term expires on December 31, 2009.

One contentious issue was the idea of adopting concurrent terms in place of the existing arrangement that imposes staggered terms relative to those of the City Council. Gorn and Grady asked City Manager Debra Ryan to bring back additional information about the use of staggered versus concurrent terms in other local cities, as well as the reasoning behind the chosen setup.

The original ordinance that established the Half Moon Bay Planning Commission on September 16, 1959 called for a 5-member commission with a staggered-term arrangement for the members . At the time, there were four separate term expiration dates for 5 commissioners. The current staggered-term arrangement uses only two separate expiration dates for 7 commissioners. But those expiration dates are chosen specifically to fall during years when there is no scheduled City Council election. The draft ordinance discussed on January 3 would create a 5-member commission with terms that always expire during City Council election years.

The Council discussion touched on a number of intertwined issues. What is the right number of commissioners for planning efficiency or effectiveness? What is the logic behind the expiration of terms? Why does the current ordinance need to be changed if it already allows the replacement of commissioners without cause?

One pointed exchange between Council members Gorn and Patridge highlights the controversy that this proposal has stirred up on the Coastside. Gorn said “I don’t think we are talking about 5 or 7 planning commissioners. I don’t think we are talking about increased efficiency or streamlining the process…If you want to appoint your own people, then that is what you should do. Changing the rules is a red herring.”  Patridge responded “For you to sit there and tell me that I have not been upfront really makes me angry, because I have been upfront.”

As part of Coastsider’s continuing effort to provide coverage of this story available nowhere else, click "read more" to see actual excerpts from the January 3, City Council debate, as well as statements from members of the public speaking before the Council.

Over the pass several weeks, there has been a rash of burglaries in the “commercial area” of Princeton, specifically around Princeton Ave and West Point Ave.  The targets have been stored boats and commercial storage lockers.  In response to the burglaries, the Sheriff’s Office has stepped up patrols in the area.  We encourage the coastal community to report any suspicious activity or individuals you may see in the targeted area.  You can call the Sheriff’s Office at 650.363.4911 or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can leave information on our tip line at 1-800-547-2700. 

On 1/2/2006 about 6:00pm, the Sheriff’s Office went to a home in the 500 block of Coronado in El Granada.  We had received information that fugitive, Christopher Diamond Campbell was seen at a home on Coronado.  The homeowner was cooperative and allowed the deputies to search his home.  Campbell was not found.  Again, the Sheriff’s Office is asking the coastal communities help in locating and apprehending Campbell.  If you have any information on Campbell’s whereabouts or a car he might be driving, you are encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 650.363.4911 or you can call our Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-547-2700. 

This week three boats were burglarized in Princeton, a guy wanted for attempted murder is arrested in a stolen, a home was burglarized in El Granada, a youth was arrested for stolen license plates, a 1991 Chevy Lumina was stolen, a rock was thrown through the window of a car in SkyLonda, a man in Kings Mountain was arrested for spousal abuse and false imprisonment, a man walked into the Sheriff’s Substation to use the toilet and was arrested on a warrant, and a woman was arrested for DUI in Montara.

Click "read more" to see the details.

There will be a public workshop Wednesday evening to review and take comments on a plan to build houses on the bluff between the airport and the satellite station in Princeton. This area is north of the parking lot for Mavericks.  It’s just south of the bluff area that was bought last year by the Peninsula Open Space Trust and it a popular spot for hikers. In this Google map you can see the informal trails created by hikers.

I attended an earlier Midcoast Community Council meeting that took place on the site and virtually every hiker that passed thought that this was either public or permanently open space.

The developer plans to subdivide a 22-acre parcel into three lots and provide access by a road 20 feet wide that will use part of the access road to the Air Force radio transmitter site above Pillar Point Marsh. The applicant is Preservation Partners, John Boggs, 2450 South Cabrillo Hwy, Ste 100, HMB.

The public workshop will be Wednesday, Jan 18, 7pm to 9pm in the multi-purpose room of El Granada Elementary School, 400 Santiago St, El Granada. For further information contact Mike Schaller, Project planner at 650-363-1849 or [email protected]

For the last 150 years, we have been blessed with a surplus of oil. First it was from wells in the US, but since our domestic wells peaked out in the early ‘70s and are now in decline, we have been importing more and more from a variety of other nations. Some of those nations are not too friendly, especially to the current administration.

As a nation, we now use 25% of the world’s oil production but produce only 2%. We are also importing much of our natural gas.

But just as the US oil fields reached maximum production 35 years ago, it seems that world wide oil production is about to, or has already peaked. The optimistic experts say oil production will peak within the next two decades but an increasing number think it has already peaked. We won’t know for sure for a little while since nations are unwilling to make their production records public. But it really doesn’t matter.

Click "read more" to see the rest of the article, and to discuss the implications of Peak Oil for the Coastside.

The last week of Pacific storms have brought amazing waves to Montara State Beach.

Darin Boville

Click on the image to get a larger version.

This report is based on the Highway Patrol press release.

John Connell, 48, of Pescadero, was killed and his wife Darcy, 49, suffered major injuries and was life-flighted to Stanford Hospital after a head-on collision.  The accident closed Highway 1 near Meyn Road, near Lobitos Creek, south of Half Moon Bay [Google map].  They were struck head-on by a southbound Chevrolet Trailblazer, whose driver apparently lost control after striking debris on the highway, crossing the double yellow line into oncoming traffic.

The impact caused the Connells’ Nissan Murano to overturn, collide with the guardrail, and roll down the embankment on the east side of the highway, coming to rest on its wheels.

The drive of the Trailblazer, 49-year-old female resident of Half Moon Bay, was transported to Stanford Hospital and later released. The Highway Patrol says that drugs or alcohol do not appear to have been a factor in the collision.

Over the New Year’s Holiday Weekend the La Honda Fire Brigade responded to over a dozen emergency calls. These included vehicle accidents, electric lines down, trees blocking roads and mudslides. The Brigade also opened our Emergency Operations Center Saturday morning. This included staffing our Fire Station and coordinating Emergency Responses in the La Honda area.

As the potential for this last series of storms became known we met with County Fire personnel and reviewed our emergency response plan for the Southcoast. This plan included: emergency communications, how fire resources would be allocated, flood operations in Pescadero and the pre-positioning of Sand Bags in La Honda.

While damage to this area was limited, there are some areas of concern that we want to bring to the attention of the public:

During major storms it is not uncommon for creeks and drainages to breach their banks and flow over roads. Falling into any swift water in this area can easily be fatal. The waters speed, temperature, accessibility, and flow of debris severely hampers rescue efforts and reduces the likelihood of surviving such a fall.

Downed power lines are a danger year around and during storms they are common and can be deceiving. During dark days downed lines can easily blend into the landscape and be difficult to identify. Treat all downed lines as “HIGH VOLTAGE”. Do not attempt to move them no matter what. Dial 911 and report downed lines to PG & E. When you see Fire Dept. yellow marking tape do not cross over it.

The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) announced today that its Saving the Endangered Coast campaign has surpassed its $200 million goal. As of today, the campaign total stands at $200,783,407. The campaign funds will be directly leveraged to protect thousands of acres of open space on the San Mateo Coast from development.

Click "read more" to see the rest of the press release.

The Farallone View School Lit. Club Garage Sale is this Saturday, Jan 7, from 9am to 2pm, with a $2.00 bag sale (anything you can fit into a bag) from 1pm.  It’s a great place to pick up clothes, toys, and books for kids at great prices.

Items can be dropped off at the school’s multi-use room  on Friday between 2:30 and 8:00pm.    All proceeds buy books for student Lit Clubs.