Council Approves $770K Coastal Zoning Overhaul, Defers EV Purchase Over Budget Fears

Half Moon Bay's City Council unanimously green-lit a sweeping rewrite of the city's coastal zoning code, accepted a tourism report showing rising hotel occupancy, and gave National Night Out its biggest policy endorsement in a decade — but pumped the brakes on a $41,697 electric vehicle purchase, signaling that even pre-budgeted spending faces scrutiny during a deficit year. Vice Mayor Deborah Penrose presided with Mayor Debbie Ruddock absent.

• $769,946 contract awarded to overhaul the city's Local Coastal Program zoning code, funded mostly by a $500K Coastal Commission grant, with a December 2027 deadline

• Hotel tourism marketing report shows coastside occupancy up 4% and international influencers flocking to the new California Welcome Center; public hearing set for April 21 on continuing the $2/room/night assessment

• $41,697 Hyundai Ioniq 5 purchase deferred to next fiscal year as Council cites deficit, pending contract negotiations, and personnel study

• National Night Out block parties get green light — including Moonridge — with $150 gift cards, no spending caps, and a new neighborhood contest

• Downtown gallery owner flags representation gap after the Downtown Association ends monthly merchant meetings, leaving non-Heritage District businesses without a forum

• City pursues $950K in trail and bike-ped grants, including a $750K coastal trail overlay and a $200K bike-ped master plan update