Half Moon Bay Council Enters Closed Session on Two Lawsuits and Labor Talks

The Half Moon Bay City Council held a brief special session April 9 to publicly identify three closed session items before moving behind closed doors. With Mayor Debbie Ruddock absent and Councilmember Patric Bo Jonsson expected late, the council convened with a bare quorum of three members to address a pair of litigation matters and ongoing labor negotiations.

• City faces anticipated lawsuit with "significant exposure" plus active Ellingson suit in San Mateo Superior Court

• Labor negotiations underway with IUOE Local 39 and multiple employee groups

• Mayor absent, leaving three-member quorum to open the special session

Litigation and Labor Talks Behind Closed Doors

Vice Mayor Deborah Penrose chaired the special meeting and read the closed session agenda into the record, disclosing two legal matters and one labor item.

Why it matters: The city is simultaneously managing an anticipated lawsuit, an active court case, and contract negotiations with its workforce — a combination that could carry significant financial implications for Half Moon Bay's budget and operations.

Where things stand: The first item involves anticipated litigation under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) and (e)(5), with one potential case carrying what the agenda described as significant exposure. The second involves existing litigation — Ellingson v. City of Half Moon Bay, filed in San Mateo Superior Court as Case No. 25-CIV-04838. The third item covers labor negotiations with IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 and multiple employee groups, with the city represented by Christopher Ko Boucher, Esq., Alex Avakiantz, Esq., HMB City Manager Matthew Chidester, and HMB Senior Accountant Kenneth Stiles.

Councilmember Paul Nagengast flagged that the Ellingson lawsuit had been added to the agenda after an earlier version was distributed.

No members of the public commented on any of the closed session items. The council then entered closed session.

Vice Mayor Penrose convened the special meeting. Councilmember Nagengast and Councilmember Robert Brownstone answered present, establishing a three-member quorum. Mayor Ruddock was absent; Councilmember Jonsson was expected to arrive later.

What's next: Because closed session deliberations are confidential, any reportable actions — settlements, direction to legal counsel, or labor agreements — would be disclosed at a subsequent public meeting.