Pacifica Tribune: Sharp Park Sea Wall OK'd Coastal Commission: Managed Retreat is Not Feasible

The headline in the 11-22-2017 Pacifica Tribune last week tells the story: "Sharp Park sea wall OK'd". I'd link to the story itself, but either they have not posted it on-line or I can't figure out how to find it. The article is a good summary of the recent California Coastal Commission decision granting a permit to the City of San Francisco to maintain and improve the Sharp Park sea wall. Some excerpts:

"The California Coastal Commission, recognizing the importance of the Sharp Park Sea Wall in protecting both Pacifica's historic golf course and the adjacent neighborhoods, has approved a permit to preserve and maintain the structure, including it's rip-rap armoring... 

Commission Chair Dayna Bochco... asked Commission staff what would be the likelihood of the surrounding neighborhoods being flooded without the protection of the sea wall. District Director Dan Carl said, "It's a 100 percent certainty if the berm wasn't there... you would open up a whole new can of worms with respect to Highway One and the residential neighborhoods surrounding the golf course"...  

The sea wall created a fresh-water habitat in the Laguna Salada and surrounding wetlands which are now home to two species protected under the EPA."

For anyone with a lick of common sense, this seemed an obvious outcome. You need only to look at what the Sharp Park sea wall protects:

The choice is simple - either maintain the sea wall, or play Russian roulette every winter waiting for an El Nino bullet to:

• Flood Pacifica neighborhoods
• Flood Highway One
• Salt poison the managed freshwater habitat of  Laguna Salada - home to the endangered California Red Legged Frog and San Francisco Garter Snake
• Flood the affordable recreational resource and important historic public golf course - Alister MacKenzie's Sharp Park masterpiece. 

The Coastal Commission decision was made, but San Francisco Rec & Park repair and reinforcing work of the sea wall is yet to begin. The consequences of a breach would be devastating to the community, endangered species, and Pacifica civic fiscal fortunes. To borrow a phrase: Winter is Coming.

We got lucky last year. The Pacific storm bullets are loaded in the chamber and the cylinder is spinning. Any Pacificans in favor of sea wall work starting before old man winter pulls the trigger might want to attend the Monday November 27 Pacifica City Council meeting and comment on Item 11:

"11.   Resolution supporting the City and County of San Francisco for Sharp Park Golf Course facility berm and maintenance repair and improvements, and incorporating flood mitigation, report, resolution."

It should be an easy decision - right?  Well, it should've been an easy decision for the Coastal Commission, yet 3 of the 12 Commissioners argued against granting the permit. The Pacifica City Council should send a strong, clear message to San Francisco stressing the importance and urgency of maintaining the berm now.

This is not a hypothetical concern. We know what will happen if  the sea wall is breached. We know because it happened before. The smaller un-reinforced berm that preceded the existing structure was over-topped by the 1982-83 El Nino storms. We know the population of endangered California Red-Legged frogs living in the managed fresh water Laguna Salada habitat was devastated by the berm failure. In a "My Turn" letter published in the same Pacifica Tribune edition cited earlier, Pacifica resident Robine Runneals explains exactly what happened to neighborhoods:

How Petaluma is cracking down on Air BNB and collecting revenue

They got an enforcer/contractor, "Host Compliance" who has made a booming business out of helping cities make money off AirBNB and VRBOs....Could "Host Compliance" help Pacifica?

http://www.petaluma360.com/news/7671624-181/contractor-to-enforce-petaluma-short-term

Submitted by Victor Spano

California should be able to reduce public employees’ pension benefits, Jerry Brown argues

Gov. Jerry Brown got most of what he wanted when he carried a proposal to shore up the state’s underfunded public employee pension plans by trimming benefits for new workers.

Five years later, he’s in court making an expansive case that government agencies should be able to adjust pension benefits for current workers, too.

A new brief his office filed in a union-backed challenge to Brown’s 2012 pension reform law argues that faith in government hinges in part on responsible management of retirement plans for public workers.

“At stake was the public’s trust in the government’s prudent use of limited taxpayer funds,” the brief reads, referring to the period when he advocated for pension changes during the recession.

While the brief targets a specific provision of the pension overhaul he championed, its arguments suggest he favors broader pension changes that affect current employees.

“It was as good as anything the lawyers we use could have written,” said Dan Pellissier, president of an advocacy group that that wants to reduce California pension obligations for public employees and retirees.

Read more...

Submitted by Mark Stechbart

City Council meeting Monday, November 27, 2017

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor. Or view on local television or live feed Pacific Coast TV. If you missed meetings, view on PCT26 YouTube!  The city council meeting begins at 7 p.m., or shortly there following. City Council updates and archives are available on the City Council website.      Channel 26 television schedule, see Monday, 11/27/17. 

Interactive City Council agenda, 11/27/17.      City Council agenda, 11/27/17, pdf pages 194.

Open session, 7:00 p.m.  Call to order, roll call, salute to flag.  Closed Session: none; report none.  

Ah, no worries now until the next Holiday.
Otherwise what???  Happy Thanksgiving!

Special presentations:  1) Proclamation:  Veteran of the Year.  2) Special needs registry: Police Chief Steidle. 

Consent Calendar   
1.      Approval of financial disbursements (checks), FY 2017-18, report.  a) 10/1/17-10/31/17.
2.     Approval of Minutes, report.  a) 10/23/17.
3.     Amend the City wastewater maintenance ordinance, (adopting the discharge elimination program), second reading: a  CA Regional Water Quality Control Board 5/12/11 requirement, report. a) ordinance change.
4.    Adopt resolution requesting the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) allocate $55,000 matched Transportation Development Act (TDA) funding, FY 2017-18, for our City pedestrian/bicycle project, report/resolution. 
5.    Approval of Cotton Shires & Associates 400 Esplanade bluff infrastructure preservation project amendment, $54, 000, report.  a) agreement, b) site map.
6.    Approval of TESCO Controls, Inc.agreement: Sharp Park and Linda Mar Lift station PLC and communication system upgrade, $162,744, report.  a) agreement.
7.    Salary schedule (for part-time workers) update, 1/1/18, resolution: a) draft schedule. b) draft schedule, showing changes.
Oral communications. Public; Council, Staff. 

Public hearings
8.    Amend the City Municipal code to regulate zoning limiting the number of alternative financial service (AFS) businesses, and establish use permit requirements for operation of an AFS Business, (exempt from CEQA), from the City Planning Commission: introduce, waive the first reading, report.
a)  proposed ordinance.  b) PC report, 11/6/17.  c) PC resolution. d) draft PC Minutes 11/6/17. e) written public comments. 
9.   Approve use permit and site development permit amendments for the equalization basin and associated structures, 540 Crespi Drive, report/resolution.  a) Mitigated Negative Declaration (time of day limits), b) use permit (soil hauling).
Consideration
10.   Letter regarding investigations of the President of the United States, report.  a) City Council Minutes, 10/23/17.  Letter to Congresswoman Speier: b) Draft letter version 1. c) Draft letter version 2.
11.   Resolution supporting the City and County of San Francisco for Sharp Park Golf Course facility berm and maintenance repair and improvements, and incorporating flood mitigation, report, resolution.  a) Letter to the Coastal Commission, 11/7/17.
12.   Consider increasing membership of the Emergency Preparedness and Safety Commission, and amend the City Ordinance to do that, report/draft ordinance.
13.   View of quarterly Investment Report, 9/30/17, report. a) COP reconciliation report, 9/30/17.
Adjourn. 
Note graphic from Daily Do Good, 11/17/15, "Put the giving into Thanksgiving... 5. Adopt a Turkey!"

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Planning Commission meeting Monday, November 20, 2017

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local television or live feed Pacificcoast.TV, (formerly pct26.com).  If you miss civic meetings, view on PCT 26 You Tube!  The planning commission meeting begins at 7 p.m., or shortly there following.  Planning Commission updates, archives are available on the City website: City Council Agendas, and City Planning Commission.  Channel 26 television schedule, see Monday, 11/20/17.  

 

Interactive Planning Commission Agenda, 11/20/17.   Planning Commission Agenda, 11/20/17, pdf pages 266.

Open Session, 7:00 p.m.  Administrative:  Approval of Minutes, none.  Designation of liaison to City Council, Dan Stegink:  Alternative Financial Institution Ordinance.  Consent items, none.

Communications:  Public oral.

Item 1.  439 Harvey Way

New Public Hearings 

1.  UP-84-17, PE-175-17: 439 Harvey Way (APN 022-031-190), Rockaway Beach area.  Conversion of an existing non-conforming single-family residence to a conforming commercial veterinary clinic ground floor, with an apartment unit second floor, report.  a)  Land Use and Zoning.  b)  Draft Resolution.  c) Project plans  d) Residential dwelling revision.

2.   GPA-93, RZ-195-16, SUB-234-16: vacant lot, 500 feet west of the intersection of San Pedro Terrace Road and Peralta Road (APN-023-075-050), Linda Mar area northwest of Linda Mar Rehabilitation facility. Subdivide 2.42-acre lot into 6 lots for future single family residential development.  General Plan reclassification: land use from high density residential to low density residential; and, zoning from C-3 (service commercial) to R-1 single family residential, report.  a) Draft Resolution/Ordinance/Conditions of Approval.  b) Land Use and Zoning. c) Tentative Subdivision Map.  d)  Study Session report, 7/16/07.  e) Study Session report 5/5/08.  f) Arborist report.  g) Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), initial study.  h) Compliance monitoring report - San Pedro Creek, 2007.  i) Pacifica - IS/MND Response to Comments. 

Communications:  Planning Commission, Staff, Adjourn. 
------------------------------  

Notes.  Item 1: 439 Harvey Way location see Google map; site photograph above from Zillow.  Item 2: vacant lot, APN 023-075-050, San Pedro Terrace Road, see Loopnet listing, includes Google map. 

Reference, development/planning acronyms.  APN, Assessor's parcel number.  CDP, Coastal Development permit. CZ, (Coastal Zone Combining) zoning districts. DP, development. GPA, General Plan Amendment.  LDR, low density residential.  PE, Parking Exception. PSD, Site Development permit. PV, Variance. S, Sign permit. SP, Specific Plan. RIA, Rent Increase Application.  SUB Subdivision. TA, text amendment (ordinance). UP, Use permit.  Zoning. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  CA CEQA Guidelines, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions: Class 1 categorical exemption, section 15301. Freestanding single-family residences set-back and parking, C-1, neighborhood commercial. C-3, Service Commercial.  R1, single-family residential, Reference.com. S, City of Pacifica Sign ordinance.  CA code, accessory (second residential) dwelling units, 65852.2.  Zoning/Planning Handouts, City of Pacifica.  RZ, rezoning. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Call for applicants to new "Managed Retreat" Board. Only NIMBYS need apply.

The City of Pacifica is seeking applicants to participate in the Sea Level Rise Community Work Group (CWG). The CWG will be a cornerstone of the stakeholder engagement program for Pacifica’s sea level rise assessment and planning. Please see the link to the description and application below for more information. All interested stakeholders are encouraged to apply. Applications must be received by December 13, 2017 and can be submitted via email at o’connorb@ci.pacifica.ca.us or mailed to Bonny O’Connor, Assistant Planner, at 170 Santa Maria Ave. Pacifica, CA 94044.

http://www.cityofpacifica.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=13570

Posted by Steve Sinai

Home for All Exchange

We are strongest when we recognize that what affects one of us affects us all. So let's join Home for All staff to talk about solutions for creating more affordable homes for residents, reducing traffic, and making San Mateo County a place everyone can call home. Home for All is a community collaborative that promotes innovative housing and transportation solutions to produce a diversity of housing in San Mateo County.

https://smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/599612edf3ffa72e0014def7

Posted by Steve Sinai

Pacifica's 60th Anniversary (or is it Birthday?)

In the aftermath of November 7th, we are almost missing out the important milestone that Pacifica is celebrating this year, that of the 60th Anniversary of Incorporation, coming this weekend.  Pacifica was incorporated as a city on November 22, 1957.

Pacifica's Parks, Beaches and Recreation Department, Historical Society and Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a number of interesting events for those who currently, or formerly live or lived in Pacifica, to celebrate and educate about Pacifica's history.

Notably, an "Open House" family-style event will be held at the Community Center during

the day on Saturday, the 18th.  There will be a number of community organizations, city agencies, activities, for those of all ages, many presenting historic exhibits.  Mazzetti's will produce a great cake for those attending, on a first come, first serve basis.

During the evening, at Nick's, and the following day, the Historical Society and Chamber of Commerce will be having a festive 60th Anniversary Dinner and then a Luncheon on the 19th.  All Council members will be on hand, as well as other local luminaries and a number of proclamations will be presented.   There will be dramatic presentations and costumed characters from the epochs of Pacifica history, from the discovery of the Bay by Portola, through the 1960s.  

The City has created a website about the 60th anniversary celebrations, and links to tickets for the Dinner and Luncheon:

http://www.cityofpacifica.org/ about/60th_anniversary.asp

I attended a very nice event on November 12, at the Little Brown Church, Pacifica Historical

Society, which was a seminar on the 60th Anniversary.   There were a number of great speakers, such as Fred the Barber who cut hair in Manor for 50 years, and others who were around when the city was founded.  About 30-40 attended.  

During the 1940s and 1950s, the Coast Guard had the barracks in Sharp Park.  One of our residents recalled that the local PTA invited the soldiers to their homes for Thanksgiving.  Pre-Pacifica: It was that kind of place.   

An episode of the cable show, "Footprints of Pacifica", made long ago was shown.  During the 1950s, TV was just in it's infancy, and many people got their news at the movie theaters and Fox Movietone news.  Pacifica's incorporation was featured in one of these newsreels, shown either locally or nationally.  The first line was something like, "through unity, there is strength....the several coastal villages south of San Francisco banded together to form California's newest City".  The footage included San Francisco Mayor George Christopher, who came down to swear in the City's first council.  

The speakers recalled that the area was divided over the 1957 incorporation. There had been an attempt or two that had failed, and a council was selected on one of these failed attempts, so during the interim, there was a council, but no city.  The small business community of the time spearheaded the effort (in fact the Pacifica Chamber formed before the City incorporated).  Pedro Point did not want to be a part, they were happy with their fire department, but somehow got included in the vote.  The argument against incorporation centered around the lack of industry and necessity for taxes to support the City.  Arguments for incorporation included preventing the reach of San Bruno, which wanted to annex the area and operate a landfill in town, as well as the remoteness of Redwood City County Government.  Nonetheless, the inhabitants of the area voted and the City of Pacifica was formed.  Karl Baldwin was the first City Manager.  He was excited about the prospect of a clean slate for his career, forming the new city operations and departments.  He oversaw new retail establishments and new development from Fairmont to Linda Mar coming to town.  The most charming stories of the afternoon to me where about Oddstad, the developer of much of Linda Mar.  The peninsula was building more housing than Pacific Telephone could keep up with.  There was a point that the entire area around Rosita Road had it's move in day or days but had no telephone service installed.  Oddstad somehow got a pay phone put at Rosita and Rio Vista.  The freindly neighbor of the pay phone would take messages when ever incoming calls came.  Oddstad also lent 8 new homes for schoolrooms while the school was being built.  The temporary schools were featured in some magazines of the time.  Speaking of schools, Pacifica once had 15, for over 10,000 kids.  Now we are down to 5 schools for 3,000 kids.  Several of the old timers said they bought their homes for $9,000 or so.

I'm only old enough to remember the Pacifica of the late 1970s, when I lived in Westborough to the east, and could see the lighted installation on Sweeney Ridge from my window at night.  Riding bikes with my elementary school classmates down Hickey to the beach....I remember bringing my first car to Ed Cordero,  I bought my Rolling Stones tickets off a Chronicle classified from a scalper who I met at the Red Room.  Saw Jason and the Argonaut's at the Seavue....I remember passing the crazy motel where the police station is now, the old signal at Reina Del Mar.....the great canopy of trees that once covered Reina Del Mar when I lived there in the 80s.....Fairmont Shopping Center as an enclosed mall, with  boss German deli guy in the middle of that mall, and the Golden Coach Restaurant ......but most of all Pacifica was most often a very foggy place!  What are your favorite memories or episodes of Pacifica's past Fix Pacifica readers?   

Let's wish Pacifica a Happy 60th Anniversary!  

Submitted by Victor Spano

Final November 7, 2017 Pacifica Election Results

Measure C : (Rent Control)

    Yes: 37.97%

    No : 62.03%

Measure G : (Weed Tax)

    Yes: 78.57%

    No : 21.43%

Posted by Steve Sinai

Track Measure C (Rent Control) and Measure G (Weed Tax) Election Results

Election Results Here...


Posted by Steve Sinai

A world without Costa-Hawkins

Jonathan Madison, a thoughtful writer and a native of Pacifica, has written a sensible article for the SMDJ.  He explains that the problem is lack of housing, not the price of rents. Here is his perspective on why Costa-Hawkins is needed.

*****************

• By Jonathan Madison
• • 
    

Fasten your seat belts, ladies and gentlemen. The rent control fight of our time is upon us. Only this time, the fight will have lasting effects on residents statewide.

After several unsuccessful attempts by the state Legislature to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act — the landmark legislation protecting the rights of property owners against extreme forms of rent control — an alliance of advocacy groups filed a statewide ballot initiative Oct. 23 to repeal the legislation.

Before the law’s inception in 1995, five major cities — including San Francisco, Berkeley and West Hollywood — placed limits on rent increases regardless of whether rental units were vacant. Today, Costa-Hawkins remains the one law standing in the gap for property owners to charge market rent for their units. Under the Act, apartments and single-family homes built after 1995 are exempt from local rent control laws. Without Costa-Hawkins, property owners would be left to the mercy of unrestrained rent limitations imposed by municipalities.

Beyond that, Costa-Hawkins spurs an economic engine for our state in that it exempts new construction of single-family homes from rent control. This incentivizes construction companies to build housing units throughout our state, enabling us to keep up with population growth’s skyrocketing demand for housing.

Read more...

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Planning Commission meeting Monday, November 6, 2017

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local television or live feed Pacificcoast.TV, (formerly pct26.com).  If you miss civic meetings, view on PCT 26 You Tube!  The planning commission meeting begins at 7 p.m., or shortly there following.  Planning Commission updates, archives are available on the City website: City Council Agendas, and City Planning Commission.  Channel 26 television schedule, see Monday, 11/6/17.   

Interactive Planning Commission, 11/06/17.   Planning Commission meeting, 11/16/17, pdf pages 974.

Open Session, 7:00 p.m.  Administrative:  Order of the meeting agenda.  Approval of draft Minutes, a) 10/2/17. b) 10/16/17.  Designation of liaison to City Council meeting, 11/27/17:  Alternative Financial Institution ordinance, Item 2 below.  Consent items, none. Study Session, none.  Closed Session report, none.
Communications: Public oral.

New Public Hearings 

Item 3.  24-unit condo project neighborhood.
NIMBIES love this new housing development.  NO!

1.   CDP-381-17.  Construct a 3,074 sq. ft. single-family residence on an 8,000 sq ft. vacant lot, San Pedro Avenue (south side) and Grand Avenue (APN 023-073-200), report.  a)  Draft resolution. b) Land use/zoning map. c) Project plans.

2.   TA-110-17 (initiated by the Planning Commission). Amend the City municipal code to establish Alternative Financial Services (AFS) payday lender check cashing and loan business regulations: classified at nonconforming uses,  subject to the City commercially-zoned property ordinance, report. a)  Resolution.  b) Poposed Ordinance. c) Public comment letter from Thomas L. Leonard, Executive Director, CA Financial Service Providers Association (CFSP).   

3. DP-75-14, RZ-192-14, SP-149-14, TDR-03-14, SUB-224-14. Removal of heritage tree, and request for payment fee in lieu of construction of a 24-unit below market housing residential condominium project (downsized from 34-units, on 1.23 acres of 11.2 total acres), 801 Fassler Avenue (APN 022-083-020 and 022-083-030), report.  a) Draft resolution and exhibits.  b) Land Use/Zoning map. c) Project plans.  d)  Supplemental environmental impact report. e) Public NIMBY comment letters (2). 

Communications:  Planning Commission, Staff, Adjourn. 
------------------------------  

Reference, development/planning acronyms.  APN, Assessor's parcel number.  CDP, Coastal Development permit. CZ, (Coastal Zone Combining) zoning districts. DP, development. LDR, low density residential.  PE, Parking Exception. PSD, Site Development permit. PV, Variance. S, Sign permit. SP, Specific Plan. RIA, Rent Increase Application.  SUB Subdivision. TA, text amendment (ordinance). UP, Use permit.  Zoning. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).   CA CEQA Guidelines, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions: Class 1 categorical exemption, section 15301. Freestanding single-family residences set-back and parking, C-1, neighborhood commercial, R1, single-family residential, Reference.com. S, City of Pacifica Sign ordinance.  CA code, accessory (second residential) dwelling units, 65852.2.  Zoning/Planning Handouts, City of Pacifica.  RZ, rezoning.      Note photograph of the neighborhood, 905 Fassler Avenue from Zillow. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh