Locunity/Pacifica, CA·City Council
The City of Pacifica is a general law city governed by a five-member city council. Beginning with the general municipal election in November 2020, the City of Pacifica transitioned from at-large to district-based elections. With district-based elections, each of five councilmembers is elected by voters within that candidate's district. Councilmembers are elected by district to serve all of Pacifica. The City Council selected the sequencing of elections for the districts such that District 2, 3, and 5 held elections for City Council seats in November 2022. District 1 and District 4 City Council seats will be up for election in November 2024. For more information about City of Pacifica's district-based elections, visit the District Based City Council Elections webpage. For more information on the Redistricting Process based on 2020 Census data and to view the current district map, visit the Redistricting webpage. The Pacifica City Council meets at 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month at the City Council Chambers located at 2212 Beach Boulevard on the second floor (map to location provided by Google maps). Please refer to the meeting agenda(s) for additional details regarding meeting time, location and access. A City Council Meeting brochure has been written to introduce you to the City Council Meetings and to inform you how the meetings are conducted.
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Recent updates from Governing Board
Mayor Boles announced Peninsula Clean Energy's rebrand to Westlight Energy and new grants of up to $50,000 per business for replacing gas appliances with electric alternatives.
Why it matters: The grants and $2M consulting fund for reach codes represent new resources for Pacifica businesses and residents amid ongoing budget constraints.
Councilmember Beckmeyer reported the library advisory committee is refocusing its mission and working toward a special joint study session with council, likely in October.
Why it matters: The last library bond vote was in 2016, and many current council members and residents were not involved; a special session would reintroduce the history and conceptual designs.
The oversight committee reported Measure Y has generated $7.27M since April 2023, representing 8% of general fund revenue and funding road repairs, safety equipment, and staff positions.
Why it matters: Without Measure Y, the city faced a potential $2.1M in cuts; the tax expires in 2031 and the committee emphasized it has no authority over how funds are spent.
Multiple speakers from Faith in Action Bay Area and Coastside Faith in Action urged council to continue and expand the successful Safe Parking program expiring September 2026.
Why it matters: The program has rehoused 38% of participants and mitigated environmental concerns; losing it could push more vehicles to unmanaged street parking along the coast.
A resident called on council to cancel Pacifica's Flock Safety contract when it comes up for renewal in September, citing Fourth Amendment and privacy concerns.
Why it matters: The Flock contract renewal is scheduled for September 2026, giving the council a concrete decision point on municipal surveillance technology.
After months of delay, staff announced plans to submit both an emergency permit and a formal CDP amendment to the Coastal Commission for overnight closure of the Lindemar beach parking lots.
Why it matters: Pacifica now has the highest unhoused population in San Mateo County, and the Lindemar lots have become a de facto encampment, generating environmental, safety, and beach-access complaints from residents and surfers.
The city completed emergency boulder placement around the pier abutment and deployed drones and radar to assess structural damage while awaiting state emergency assistance.
Why it matters: The pier closure eliminated public restrooms and Chit Chat café; temporary restroom replacements won't arrive until September.
Director Scott Leslie and staff presented the scope of Parks, Beaches & Recreation services, including 23,000 Meals on Wheels deliveries and 417 childcare families served.
Why it matters: Recent budget discussions about closing the city pool and cutting pickleball lighting show how vulnerable these programs are to fiscal pressure.
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Beach Lot Crisis Dominates as 22 Speakers Demand Action on Vehicle Dwellers Pacifica's council chamber became a pressure valve Monday night as more than 20 residents, faith leaders, and advocates lined up to confront th...
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Pacifica's Pier Faces $64M Repair Bill as Council Races to Stabilize Before Winter The Pacifica City Council unanimously renewed its emergency declaration for the battered municipal pier June 22, learning that the damag...
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Pacifica Adopts Lean $55.4M Budget, Warns Deeper Cuts Loom by January The Pacifica City Council adopted a balanced but structurally fragile fiscal year 2026-27 budget Monday night, approving $55.4 million in general fun...
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Council Ratifies Pier Emergency, Then Spends Five Hours Fighting to Save What Makes Pacifica Home Pacifica's City Council declared a local emergency for its crumbling Municipal Pier on Monday night, then turned to a bud...
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Council Tempers Climate Ambitions as $2.8M Deficit Looms Pacifica's City Council spent more than two hours dissecting its new climate committee's inaugural work plan, softening timelines and policy language while safe-p...
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Pacifica Fights $2.3M Budget Gap as Businesses Rally Against Worst-in-Nation Ranking The Pacifica City Council's May 11 meeting laid bare the financial squeeze facing this coastal city — a $2.3 million structural defici...
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Council Greenlights Contested Hillside Home 4-1 as $3.4M Deficit Looms Pacifica's council spent the bulk of its April 13 meeting navigating the collision between state housing law and neighborhood opposition on a steep...
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Pacifica Hires New City Manager as Tree Program, Commission Shakeup Advance The Pacifica City Council moved to end months of executive uncertainty Monday night, voting 4-1 to hire **Sean Charpentier** — a 20-year public...
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Mid-Year Budget Splits Council 3-2 as Pacifica Navigates Leadership Transition Pacifica's City Council said goodbye to its longest-serving city manager, installed his deputy as the interim replacement, and then split ov...
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Council Punts on Cape Breton Rezoning, Bayview Hillside in Marathon Session Pacifica's City Council spent nearly six hours Monday wrestling with two land use disputes that tested the limits of the city's hillside protec...
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Hillside Home Battle Stretches Past 11 PM as Pacifica Tackles STR Fury, Sanctuary Stance A contentious hillside development appeal consumed nearly four hours of a marathon Pacifica City Council session Feb. 9, revealing...
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Council Launches Coastal Resilience Planning, Honors Late Mayor Nihart Pacifica's City Council used its Jan. 26 meeting to honor a beloved civic leader, welcome new staff, and take early steps toward a high-stakes coast...
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