Midcoast Council Advances Healthcare, Parking, and Fire Safety as Coast Grapples With Infrastructure Gaps

The Midcoast Community Council packed its Sept. 23 meeting with action on two long-simmering issues — healthcare access and oversized vehicle parking — while hearing that a $1.5 million budget overrun has stalled a major wildfire fuel reduction project on Highway 92. Underlying it all: a pattern of jurisdictional confusion and inter-agency friction that leaves coastal residents struggling to get answers on flooding, sewer failures, and basic primary care.

• Council unanimously backs letter pushing county clinic to accept private insurance and Medicare, citing zero local primary care for insured residents
• Oversized vehicle parking restrictions approved for Capistrano Road; council urges countywide Midcoast policy with evacuation safety language
• Highway 92 fuel reduction project paused after bids come in $1.5 million over budget; three other wildfire projects move forward
• Montara Water and Sanitary District declines to appear on Seal Cove infrastructure failures; LAFCO reprioritizes agency consolidation review
• County planner coaches council on how to make development review comments that carry enforcement weight

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No Doctor, No Lab, No X-Ray: Council Pushes to Open County Clinic Doors

Why it matters: The San Mateo coast has virtually no local primary care, lab, X-ray, or urgent care accessible to residents who carry private insurance or Medicare. The only clinic — near the Ted Adcock Center — serves exclusively uninsured, homeless, farmworker, and Medi-Cal patients.

Where things stand: The council voted 5-0 to send a letter, drafted by the age-friendly healthcare coalition, urging the county to expand the clinic's eligibility to include privately insured patients. Secretary Claire Toutant laid out the stakes plainly: "We have very minimal primary care on the coast. We have no lab, no X-ray, no urgent care, except what exists in the county clinic, which is not accessible to most people who live on the coast."

Councilmember Connie Santilli noted that Supervisor Ray Mueller supports the effort and that Santa Clara County clinics already accept private insurance — a model the letter points to. "Ray Mueller has shared with us that he thinks it's, you know, he's been asking the county health as well to consider it because they do accept private insurance in Santa Clara County," she said.

Public commenter Sid suggested addressing the letter to the full Board of Supervisors, not just health officials, and reported that Jackie Speier has expressed frustration with the slow pace of efforts to reopen Seton Coastside hospital.

Decisions: Approved unanimously, 5-0 (For: Scott Bollinger, Claire Toutant, Connie Santilli, Gus Mattammal, David; Against: none).

What's next: The letter will be sent to the county. Supervisor Mueller's planned county satellite office on the coast could create another avenue for expanding services.

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Capistrano Road Parking Ban Advances With Evacuation Safety Amendment

Why it matters: Oversized vehicles — boats, RVs, trailers — parked on narrow 20-foot-wide streets block driveways and impede emergency evacuation routes in El Granada, a community with limited escape corridors in a wildfire or disaster.

Where things stand: The council unanimously approved a letter supporting a proposed county ordinance restricting oversized vehicle parking on Capistrano Road between Highway 1 and the harbor area. The letter also asks the county to develop a broader parking policy for the entire Midcoast.

Vice Chair Scott Bollinger reminded the council of the scope of the problem: "About a year ago, I gave a presentation with pictures showing all the oversized vehicles parking that I gave a random selection. I didn't look at every oversized vehicle."

Councilmember Connie Santilli noted that the letter includes a survey of oversized vehicle ordinances across the county and flagged Pacifica's as the most restrictive — and court-tested. "Pacifica was the most restrictive, and they did go through some litigation. It was upheld within the courts," she said.

The other side: Public commenter Greg pushed the council to strengthen the letter, successfully requesting that "evacuation" be added to the list of safety concerns. "I would just like to see the word evacuation put into that paragraph that deals with some of the problems, because there's a significant health and safety issue there," he said.

Decisions: The motion was amended to include evacuation language and approved 5-0 (For: Bollinger, Santilli, Mattammal, David, Tony; Against: none).

What's next: The amended letter goes to the county. If adopted, the Capistrano Road ordinance could set a precedent for broader Midcoast restrictions.

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$1.5 Million Budget Overrun Stalls Highway 92 Fire Project; Three Others Advance

The basics: San Mateo County's Resource Conservation District has four active wildfire resilience projects along the coast, managed by Timothy, the county's newly designated Wildfire Coordinator.

Where things stand: The biggest setback is the Highway 92 fuel reduction project, where bids came in $1.5 million over budget, forcing a pause. "We got our bids back for that project, and unfortunately they came in $1.5 million over budget. So that's a considerable amount of money. So we are pausing that project until next year," Timothy reported. The RCD is working with Cal Fire, SFPUC, and Caltrans to find additional funding.

Three other projects are moving ahead:

• Pedro Point Headlands (Highway 1 north of the tunnels): Hazard tree removal begins Oct. 6. The Coastal Trail from Devil's Slide will close Oct. 6–16. Caltrans lane-closure work is delayed to spring.
• Montera Prairie Renewal (GGNRA land near Coral Reef): Monterey pine and invasive shrub removal begins Sept. 29, including a 50-foot fuel break behind Coral Reef, to restore grassland and reduce wildland-urban interface risk near the elementary school.
• Kings Mountain (Highway 35 between Highways 92 and 84): Fuel reduction underway with traffic control 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 30.

Councilmember Connie Santilli asked Timothy to return for a future presentation on how fire hazard zone classifications — particularly the gap between CPUC tier designations and fire severity zones — apply to Midcoast neighborhoods and affect insurance rates.

What's next: Timothy agreed to present on fire hazard classifications at a future meeting. The Highway 92 project remains on hold pending additional funding.

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Sewer District Ducks Public Meeting on Seal Cove Pipe Failures

Why it matters: Residents of Seal Cove in Moss Beach have raised persistent concerns about aging water infrastructure sitting atop a slow-moving landslide — and the agency responsible for the pipes won't show up to talk about it.

Where things stand: The Montara Water and Sanitary District sent a written response to the council but declined to attend in person. Vice Chair Scott Bollinger expressed disappointment on behalf of community members who had hoped for a dialogue.

Public commenter Greg speculated the district is avoiding public forums due to pending litigation. He also delivered significant news: LAFCO has reprioritized its municipal service review schedule, partly in response to pressure from Jackie Speier. "LAFCO completely reprioritized the municipal service review schedule a couple of months ago. Jackie Speier was particularly upset by the comments made by Seal Cove residents," he said. The review could lead to consolidation of coastal utility agencies — raising thorny questions about inherited liabilities and debts.

Public commenter Sid noted that MWSD purchased the Seal Cove water system in 2003 and has never upgraded it, despite a study recommending above-ground pipes to address the landslide. "They bought that water system in 2003, and they have never upgraded anything to new," he said. He also reported the Planning Commission approved another house in Seal Cove that same day.

Secretary Claire Toutant captured the broader frustration: "I think that somehow the suspicion that agencies have toward each other in this area has made it very difficult for the community to understand what's going on with things that are actually very important to them."

What's next: LAFCO's consolidation review is the wildcard. If it moves forward, it could reshape water and sewer governance across the entire Midcoast, with ratepayers potentially absorbing legacy debts and infrastructure liabilities.

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County Planner: Cite the Code, or Your Comments Get Ignored

Why it matters: When the Midcoast Community Council reviews building permit referrals, its feedback can shape — or fail to shape — development outcomes depending on whether comments reference enforceable policy.

Where things stand: Senior Planner Camille Young of the San Mateo County Planning Department presented on the referral process and was blunt about what works. "The most productive feedback should be objective, should cite policy references. A lot of the things the neighborhoods care about are things that are covered by regulation. So if you need help finding that regulation, you can always reach out to us," she said.

Young explained which projects are referred to the MCC — design review permits, grading permits, nonconforming use permits, and major development pre-application workshops — and how the process runs simultaneously to fire, DPW, Caltrans, Coastal Commission, and utility agency reviews. She urged the council to notify planners when items are agendized so county staff can attend and answer questions. "It's more that you all want us there to answer questions so that we can help you make a more informed recommendation," she said.

Stormwater Jurisdiction Confusion

The presentation surfaced deeper frustrations from the public. Public commenter Sid raised concerns about Cypress Point development stormwater plans, noting that engineers proposed routing overflow into storm drains that don't exist on Carlos Street — ultimately flowing into Montera Creek and a protected marine reserve. Public commenter Greg piled on, asking who is actually responsible for making sure flooding problems get addressed: "I'm just encouraging the council, and maybe I'm asking Camille if she knows, who the heck is in charge of making sure that the stuff that's in the MCDC stormwater report gets addressed?" Public commenter Burnett reported that the Parks Commission had declined responsibility for Quarry Park flooding, directing it to One Shoreline — illustrating the jurisdictional buck-passing that frustrates residents.

Young advised residents to contact the appropriate agency based on where flooding occurs, but the exchange underscored how fragmented accountability remains across DPW, Caltrans, County Parks, and One Shoreline.

What's next: Vice Chair Bollinger committed to following up with the county on stormwater responsibility for the specific flood-prone locations residents identified.

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Minor Items

• August 12 meeting minutes approved unanimously, 5-0.
• MCC administrative overhaul: The council discussed seeking county support for its website, email domain, and Mailchimp outreach after a difficult leadership transition. Councilmember David will research how the North Fair Oaks Community Council receives county administrative help; Councilmember Connie Santilli will reach out to the Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council for its model. Public commenter Greg offered to lead another Mailchimp training session.
• MCC vacancy: The council has one open seat and is actively recruiting. The county must formally declare the vacancy before interviews can proceed. Public commenter Michelle offered to assist with social media outreach and tabling at post offices, noting the county posted the vacancy only five days before the deadline during the last cycle.
• Next meeting previews: The sheriff will present, potentially covering Flock cameras debated at the Half Moon Bay City Council. SamTrans will provide a transit update. The San Mateo Infrastructure Interagency Planning group has a follow-up meeting Oct. 1.