[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6285680,"mediaKeyId","2568416-00095370bcb197c5cf266f788a6f3dd0","parentId",2568416,"title","Residents press Half Moon Bay to remove creek debris and address encampments after storm damage","audioSeconds",6679,"startMs",4591000,"endMs",11270000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2568416-00095370bcb197c5cf266f788a6f3dd0&start=4591&end=11270","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2568416-00095370bcb197c5cf266f788a6f3dd0/thumbnail_4591000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6285680/California/Residents-press-Half-Moon-Bay-to-remove-creek-debris-and-address-encampments-after-storm-damage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285680-d6e845419aa26abf121b4bed148335ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770545199&Signature=Hy7w11e5STh647hJgtpIgSUTjdwL~bnjO1On-GstbZAgCfn-RVgeFXt0M-tkYwzjq3OlJSO~n7esPeIXk3XBoPTB2~xa4ueQVoMSODE9fweQM8GbHlNI7bOe8mCvVeRCcwyX5I8ivMjTqNlrPpHPBONi-rJuta5hBsnrm2xr2PzP71MjyT2Yy4GfNEdM14cN0Kl5tD7-g1gBIqEQrcCwgo9kk2VmHmE0KukEHUJUvQ5X0HqpjcIdHR22yCtRr~V6bjvZzuRo9JHdIe8z8ACw31EP1RQkMeSbw6uEhUvmxW27Nu-qLSNpehBrQRUl8jEigKLUGOTuL~Rz5XpkU344HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Half Moon Bay CA","date","2025-03-12T05:15:30Z","article","Several residents used the council priority session to press for immediate action after storm‑season damage and continuing hazards along creeks and bluff edges.

Leslie Anne DeMan, who identified her residence in the Frenchman's Creek area, told the council that tree limbs and trunks left after clearing work on private property have been deposited in a creek channel and are now blocking flow. “Those limbs and tree trunks that they put into the creek have been left there and are falling into the flow of the creek,” DeMan said, and she asked the city to pursue funding to remove debris and hazardous trees before an emergency occurs.

Why it matters: piling debris in channels can increase flood risk during heavy rains; large eucalyptus trees next to neighborhoods present known wildfire and windfall hazards. Residents also reported collapsed trees and fence damage in past storms.

Council discussion and public comments broadened the topic to homelessness and unauthorized encampments in riparian corridors. Several speakers and council members said they do not want continued camping in creek and habitat areas. Council members and staff discussed options that range from increased cleanup and enforcement in riparian zones to exploring “sanctioned” alternatives or temporary sites for people who refuse shelter, together with outreach and service referrals. Staff and the council emphasized coordination with county social‑service providers and the sheriff’s office for enforcement and outreach operations.

A staff member noted waterways have “beneficial uses” designated by the State Water Resources Control Board, and that permitting and water‑quality rules limit what can be removed from riparian channels without environmental review and permits. Bozorginia and other staff said the city can respond quickly to urgent debris that blocks flow, but broad tree removal or creek excavation requires environmental review and may need outside funding.

Next steps: staff will evaluate immediate debris removal needs for Frenchman's Creek and other urgent locations, check permitting and funding options, and will meet with county partners and service providers to explore alternatives for encampment resolution and prevention.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HMBCC 3/11/25 - Half Moon Bay City Council Meeting - March 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Neighbors at Frenchman's Creek and other coastside residents urged the council to clear tree debris and address eucalyptus and encampment hazards that pose flood and fire risks; council and staff discussed sanctioned sites, enforcement and environmental limits on riparian clearance.","taxTitle","Half Moon Bay, Half Moon Bay City, San Mateo County, California","taxId",59290,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6285685,"Half Moon Bay council debates core services, transparency and budget cuts amid structural deficit",6729,2994000,9723000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2568416-00095370bcb197c5cf266f788a6f3dd0&start=2994&end=9723","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2568416-00095370bcb197c5cf266f788a6f3dd0/thumbnail_2994000.jpg","/articles/6285685/California/Half-Moon-Bay-council-debates-core-services-transparency-and-budget-cuts-amid-structural-deficit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285685-940ee08e575f34da5c6fe82efc8b362a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770545199&Signature=Miaf~P02Y3MsXp~XF8XofixY5pVKW23aOQ5AIruU0i5f~NDa0opZmc6Tkl9qxQag7JFTsESs6z2Ysng8ti7zbOjnFgXitoGS3NdeYZPHxA9gIThR~GEdCK5V9m1cZZ9GgR7LRfu9gb0AEdrIIpxVaCp~8NgRz5UjHh4YWUXOZxL7Xy-vg~1Q63U6B5KXtX4un37tRsDGJ~2Seqo9Rh-TbEaMj8J2lGJKZhOK2kfz3ASjGT-UynBXYdPIPPM44f4uT3SiuG7oQJi5KO7~ln-5HYGaB7acr2pJ~-I1RW6kDrMFuOP6kvzjSSIKCAjwxQYi6kbxI5You~k1wO3IHe4vWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Matthew opened a council discussion on core municipal services and fiscal priorities, saying the city faces “an identified structural deficit” and that staff have left vacancies open while reassessing which services are essential.

Matthew said inflation, staffing costs and flat or declining revenues from tourism and sales tax have widened the gap between revenue and the cost of services. He described core services cities commonly provide — public safety, roads and sidewalks, parks and recreation, water and sewer, planning and permitting — and noted that Half Moon Bay contracts for some services and partners with special districts for fire and water.

Why it matters: council decisions on which services to prioritize will shape the coming budget, determine which projects proceed and influence whether the city must use reserve funds or seek new revenues.

Public comment at the priority session pressed two related themes. Hal Bogner, a resident who organized a voter effort last year, urged greater transparency and a review of projects that overran budgets, citing Carter Park and the multi‑phase Poplar Street work. He said citizens collected signatures to put major land‑use questions to voters and asked council to cooperate with a local “Half Moon Bay Transparency Project.”

Resident Steve Hyman told council he opposed a November sales‑tax increase and warned continued reserve draws could exhaust emergency funds; he urged a “meat cleaver” approach to cut spending. Mayor Brownstone later told the meeting that council reduced the projected deficit from $4,000,000 to about $3,000,000 over the past year and that departments implemented cuts and held positions open.

Council members and staff discussed options that include: establishing clearer project‑management and cost‑estimation practices for grants and capital work; creating a citizen budget oversight group; prioritizing core, safety‑critical services; and pursuing targeted grant hunting while reducing scope for lower‑priority programs. Several council members said they favored protecting public safety and essential infrastructure while limiting mission creep into services more appropriately provided by other agencies.

Council member Penrose emphasized affordable housing as a top priority for public health and safety, and other members pressed for localized stormwater repairs, trail completion (the Eastside Parallel Trail) and measures to help downtown businesses. Staff said they will synthesize today’s direction into a draft work plan to return to council for further refinement during the budget process.","City Manager Matthew told the council the city faces a structural deficit and has held vacancies while staff and council weigh which 'core' municipal services to preserve; public commenters urged financial transparency and review of projects with cost overruns.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6285689,"Half Moon Bay reviews $88 million five‑year capital program; many projects remain unfunded",1485,510000,1995000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2568416-00095370bcb197c5cf266f788a6f3dd0&start=510&end=1995","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2568416-00095370bcb197c5cf266f788a6f3dd0/thumbnail_510000.jpg","/articles/6285689/California/Half-Moon-Bay-reviews-88-million-fiveyear-capital-program-many-projects-remain-unfunded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285689-b765860a204c9416c34e098a4c01ffb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770545199&Signature=OsbUVUgrYbVjuCt8h4LRorDboasB5GxcQwmACEKk2~oMVDBf25N3HTAtmNIr~48y4NEXLP86bc6SEkBw5YtzUce~q7nVopbFfwm4ZD98Saf~52nixie0V-~O0Da8ZymCzQRZHKUtJkByAvP6CBJpCQLcGz6mfnJl4JkZTbRjNc80b0E8GTH2Y1ftImzjQCzkBXUKitAt0Jc34JoJcUTLkgMfpNHWTrAakVZzmMb9XDuTIdeN9vM~7BxlY8jdFC9dmlvmuTeIuiXqjHbM0vxOtzDV8J-i0Ir6x0lVyA6BJbYjvbKL5DW7ZaIXVneCPhyOdWsXSDv99Zpelft0ev4zmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mas Bozorginia, Half Moon Bay’s public works director, reviewed the city’s five‑year Capital Improvement Program on Feb. 1, telling the City Council the plan lists about 55 programs and projects totaling roughly $88,000,000 over five years and that much of that total is unfunded.

The CIP “provides a long‑term outlook, a snapshot on potential funding needs,” Bozorginia said, and staff will update the list annually. He told council members that the city previously contributed about $3,000,000 a year from the general fund to capital work; last year that contribution was reduced to $1,800,000 while staff pursued outside grants and other funding.

Why it matters: the CIP sets which street, sewer, park and trail projects can move from study to construction. With limited general‑fund support and rising construction costs, council members stressed that staff must prioritize projects that address public safety and stormwater risk, and that require coordination with partner agencies and grantors.

Bozorginia walked the council through programs (annual, rolling funds used for sidewalk, tree and pavement maintenance) and discrete projects now at planning, design or construction stages. Projects highlighted include an overarching urban watershed/stormwater study (staff plan to issue an RFP for a hydraulic consultant), a Kehoe watershed project scoped separately, the Eastside Parallel Trail (multiple segments funded at different phases), the Highway 1 South corridor study (Transportation Authority grant), the Wavecrest water‑main and parking work (donor funding for an initial phase), and the Highway 1 North safety project (final design awaiting Caltrans encroachment permits).

Bozorginia said staffing limits affect schedule: “We have two engineers, one public works supervisor and the director managing contracting and design oversight,” he told council, noting that a small staff sometimes delays project starts. He added that several program accounts were not funded in the current fiscal year as part of the budget balancing, which means staff must seek council approval before using general‑fund dollars for work that in prior years would have drawn from program pots.

Council members asked about several projects and funding constraints. Council member Meg(an) Gast pressed for attention to Highway 1 pedestrian and safety needs, Magnolia Park design work, and targeted watershed repairs in Pullman, Kehoe and Seymour rather than only a citywide study. Bozorginia said the urban watershed plan was intended to inform future priorities citywide but acknowledged grant funders often expect projects to be embedded in an adopted plan.

Staff also reported near‑term project status: Carter Park is nearing final construction with an anticipated opening in May; Poplar Street phase 2 is close to completion; the climate adaptation plan update is nearing completion but staff is evaluating recently updated CAL FIRE hazard maps; and the Wavecrest project is approaching circulation of an environmental document.

The presentation reiterated reliance on outside funding sources – Caltrans, the Transportation Authority of San Mateo County, Peninsula Clean Energy, FEMA reimbursements and private donors – and the city’s reduced general‑fund contribution to the CIP for the current fiscal year.

Next steps: staff will incorporate council feedback into a revised CIP and return to council with a prioritized work plan and funding strategy as the budget process advances.","Public works director Mas Bozorginia told the City Council the draft five‑year Capital Improvement Program lists roughly $88 million in projects, but a large share remains unfunded; council members pressed staff on watershed, trail and downtown projects and staffing limits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press Half Moon Bay to remove creek debris and address encampments after storm damage

Half Moon Bay council debates core services, transparency and budget cuts amid structural deficit

Half Moon Bay reviews $88 million five‑year capital program; many projects remain unfunded