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-parking advocates warned the coast's only program for unhoused vehicle dwellers will shut down in five weeks without emergency funding.

• Council scales back climate committee's seven-area work plan, striking items that overlap with staff work and softening permitting language ahead of June 8 budget session

• $2.8M budget deficit threatens city staffing — including the CivicSpark fellow who keeps climate newsletter and regional partnerships running

• Six residents rally to save the Safe Parking Program before its June 30 expiration, calling it the coast's only pathway from vehicles to permanent housing

• The Manor neighborhood demands SFO answer for 30% air-traffic spike, with residents reporting constant vibrations and sealed windows

• Library committee asks for study session as Sharp Park Library replacement — discussed since 2004 — drifts further from a funding path

• The Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee (OSPAC) volunteers transform neglected hillside trail into community asset; Beautification Committee unveils 105-foot octopus mural plan

Climate Ambitions Meet Budget Reality

Pacifica's newest advisory body — the Climate Action and Resilience Committee — came to council with a sweeping, seven-area inaugural work plan. Council members spent over two hours going through it line by line, and the message was consistent: we support the goals, but the money isn't there.

The basics: CARC, created to advance Pacifica's Climate Action and Resilience Plan, organized its first work plan around electrification permitting, EV infrastructure, coastal and wildfire resilience, food systems, transportation and mobility, urban forestry, and community engagement. The committee is participating in a countywide water heater permitting pilot through RICAPS and tracking greenhouse gas reduction targets set in the CARP.

Why it matters: The city faces a $2.8M budget deficit that will force hard choices at a June 8 budget session — the same session that will determine whether Pacifica can keep its CivicSpark fellow, the part-time staffer who publishes the CARP newsletter and attends regional sustainability meetings on the city's behalf.

Where things stand: City Manager Sean Charpentier laid out the stakes plainly: "We're facing a $2.8 million deficit and that's approximately before the VLF funding was not included in the Governor's May revised budget." He said the June 8 meeting will involve difficult staffing discussions that directly affect how much climate work the city can support.

CARC Chair Deirdre Martin told council that staff support is the committee's top concern: "Every single subcommittee here had a goal of making sure that the council knew we would love as much full time staff member." CARC Vice Chair Margo Miman walked council through the detailed work plan, covering everything from CalGreen building-code tiers to a Replica transportation data platform and commute.org partnerships.

Council members provided specific, sometimes granular, feedback:

• Mayor Christine Boles asked that "support recommendations to streamline permitting" be softened to "research recommendations," given uncertain scope. She also flagged that a bullet on citywide shoreline planning collaboration duplicated work already assigned to staff.

• Councilmember Sue Beckmeyer agreed, noting: "This last bullet on here, citywide collaboration with state stakeholders to identify and consider nature-based solutions throughout adaptation and shoreline planning processes sounds very much outside the scope of our staff." She raised detailed questions about building-code cycles, CalGreen tiers, and how CARC recommendations would align with the city's ongoing zoning modernization.

• Vice Mayor Greg Wright pushed in the other direction on EV infrastructure: "If it was left up to me, I would love to research how much stuff we can mandate be part of any new building or remodel to get as much infrastructure for EVs in place as possible." He acknowledged load-capacity concerns but said the opportunity cost of inaction is high.

Council also struck an e-bike safety bullet to avoid duplicating Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission work, and softened food-recovery language to "consider best practices." Multiple members emphasized that extended timelines are acceptable given budget realities.

The other side: Public commenters offered practical suggestions. Jessica Sheppard recommended the "Too Good to Go" app for food waste reduction. Remy Tan urged CARC to push SamTrans to restore cut bus service and mentioned driverless shuttle potential. Ken Miles warned that urban forestry goals could conflict with wildfire risk from eucalyptus and acacia trees, and advocated for solar power and PG&E undergrounding. Carl Schwab, a co-author of the CARP, expressed hope that the committee would receive the city cooperation and funding needed to implement it.

What's next: CARC will revise the work plan based on council's feedback. The June 8 budget session will determine staffing levels — including whether the CivicSpark fellow position survives — and effectively set the ceiling for how much climate work gets done in the coming year.

Residents Plead to Save Safe Parking Before June 30 Deadline

An organized wave of six public commenters urged council to find funding for Pacifica's Safe Parking Program, which provides overnight parking, case management, and wraparound services to unhoused residents living in vehicles. The program expires June 30.

Why it matters: Speakers described the program as the only one of its kind on the San Mateo County coast and cited superior outcomes in moving participants to permanent housing compared to similar programs elsewhere.

Where things stand: Gloria Stofan told council the program has identified families with young children living in large vehicles and that the Pacifica Resource Center provides wraparound services. Suzanne Moore provided detailed analysis of homelessness causes — poverty and housing costs — and cited the program's success rate in transitioning people into permanent housing.

Ellen Hage of Faith in Action Bay Area invoked a Marine Corps principle: no one left behind. She also noted that Rosie, an AI chatbot, had erroneously told residents the program would continue through 2030 — underscoring confusion about its status.

Linda Peebles, a nearly 60-year Pacifica resident, argued the program aligns with both the city's strategic plan and the county's Continuum of Care framework. Delia McGrath of Pacifica Peace People linked the funding gap to federal military spending priorities.

What's next: Council took no formal action. With the June 30 deadline five weeks away, the upcoming June 8 budget session is the most likely vehicle for a funding decision.

The Manor Residents Demand Answers on SFO Noise Spike

Three residents brought detailed complaints about a dramatic increase in air traffic over the Manor neighborhood, which they attribute to SFO runway repairs.

Why it matters: SFO has projected a 30% traffic increase until October, but residents say the impact feels far worse — and they want assurance the change is truly temporary, not a preview of permanent routing.

Charlie Getches reported a steady stream of large airliners flying low over The Manor and asked the city to send a formal letter to SFO requesting baseline flight data and a commitment that the increase ends on schedule. Elisa Fassler described planes flying so low that her bedroom vibrates, saying residents keep their windows shut and avoid going outside. Valerie Lapin supported the effort and expressed concern the use of larger aircraft may signal permanent changes.

What's next: No formal council action was taken, but the request for an official city letter to SFO is on the table.

Library Project Drifts as Committee Seeks Study Session

The Library Advisory Committee delivered one of the most pointed annual presentations of the evening, asking council for a joint study session to clarify the funding strategy for the long-discussed Sharp Park Library replacement.

Why it matters: The library project has been discussed since at least 2004. After council announced it would not pursue a bond measure for November 2026, the next opportunity is November 2028 — and the committee says the project risks stalling without clear council direction.

Where things stand: Library Advisory Committee Chair Jennifer Lavin reported the committee has refocused on strategic community messaging, using the book "Before the Ballot" as a guide. Key concerns include the library project being moved from the infrastructure goal to the communications goal in the city's strategic plan, uncertainty about the role of a city advisory committee versus a future campaign committee, and the status of funds held by the San Mateo County Library Foundation.

Councilmember Sue Beckmeyer provided the most extensive response, offering historical context and endorsing the study session idea: "There are a few of us that have that history in our minds and some of us that don't, and many in the community who either don't remember it or never knew it. So it seems a very opportune time to resurface that through the vehicle of a study session."

What's next: The committee is requesting a joint study session with council. No date was set.

OSPAC Turns Liability Into a Gem

Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee Chair Aaron Reif delivered the evening's most passionate annual report, describing how volunteer labor transformed a deteriorated hillside trail into a maintained community asset with proper drainage, trash cans, and dog waste stations — plus pampas grass removal on a steep slope.

"We transformed this trail that was a liability into, like, a gem. And the sun sets up there and our secret bench. Oh, my gosh," Reif said.

The committee also installed a new $10,000 Measure K-funded trailhead kiosk on the Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail featuring wayfinding signs, and named Russ Hartman as its annual preservation award winner.

Mayor Boles asked about the process for identifying new trail projects and whether developers are notified about open-space parcels. Community Development Director Samantha Updegrave confirmed letters are sent when development applications are filed on OSPAC-identified sites. City Manager Charpentier agreed to explore formalizing a protocol for trail work prioritization.

Planning Commission: ADU Permits Double, but Big Projects Stay Scarce

Planning Commission Chair Samantha Hauser and Commissioner Chris Redfield reported that ADU permits rose from 20 in 2024 to 42 in 2025 — a significant jump for a city working to meet state-mandated RHNA housing targets. The commission held 15 regular and two special meetings, heard nine development proposals including the Crosby mixed-use project, and finalized the short-term rental ordinance and housing element rezoning.

But the numbers tell a nuanced story: the 22 new residential units approved came from only three projects. Vice Mayor Wright flagged this concentration. Council members praised the commission's work navigating increasing state restrictions on local land-use authority.

Pacifica Proclaims Pride Month, Coast Pride Seeks City Funding

Mayor Boles read a proclamation declaring June 2026 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, announcing that the Pride flag will fly at City Hall, the Community Center, Council Chambers, and Sharp Park Library starting June 1.

Lauren Smith, president of Coast Pride, described the upcoming Pacifica Pride event on June 6 featuring a car parade down Palmetto and a celebration at IBL. She emphasized the importance of the event for queer youth and asked council to fund Pacifica Pride, noting shrinking federal resources.

Vice Mayor Wright reflected on the historic significance of the moment: "In my short lifetime, people never would have sat up here and talked about this stuff and how things have changed."

Councilmember Mayra Espinosa noted the need for continued education within diverse communities. Dana Johnson of the San Mateo County LGBTQIA Commission accepted the proclamation and spoke about the importance of visibility and safety.

Emergency Preparedness: 41 New CERT Graduates, Nonprofit Partnerships Eyed

Emergency Preparedness and Safety Commission Chair Deborah Johnson reported 41 new CERT-certified residents and expanded community outreach to farmers markets, Fog Fest, and the upcoming Pride festival. The commission welcomed two new members and is undergoing a charter review.

Mayor Boles discussed new county efforts to partner nonprofits into disaster communication networks and mentioned Thrive Rise as a potential resource. The commission also plans to expand youth engagement.

Beautification Committee Eyes Octopus Mural, Adopt-a-Tree Pilot

Beautification Advisory Committee Chair Gail Bennett reported on Earth Day upgrades at Grace McCarthy, community center planter partnerships with the Garden Club and Pacifica Resource Center, and a public art mural subcommittee working with the Sanchez Art Center.

The most anticipated project: a 105-foot octopus mural planned for the Sharp Park pump station on Montecito, which has received positive community feedback. The committee is also developing an adopt-a-tree resolution led by new student member Taylor Seabaugh. Council members discussed the potential for mural tours as an economic development tool along Palmetto.

Minor Items

• Consent calendar (Items 1–3) approved unanimously (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0) on a motion by Councilmember Mary Bier, seconded by Councilmember Sue Beckmeyer. No items pulled for discussion.

• Commission appointments approved unanimously: Cindy Abbott and Marissa George appointed to Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission for four-year terms (For: 5, Against: 0); Michael Kahn and Kyle Boswell appointed to OSPAC for four-year terms (For: 5, Against: 0).

• Ed Ochi of Project 1334 reported 48 businesses signed up in two weeks for a grassroots campaign responding to a negative WalletHub business ranking.

• Samantha Hauser encouraged residents to call NorCal Bees to rehome bee swarms rather than exterminate them and suggested Pacifica could brand itself a "pollinator city."

• Valerie Lapin raised concerns about illegal fireworks and their impact on pets, requesting neighborhood cooperation to identify violators.

• Mayor Boles reported that Congressman Licardo is hopeful about a federal housing bill in the coming weeks that could expand affordable housing tax credits.