Pacifica council narrows FY budget, directs seed funding for shoreline, events and housing implementation

The Pacifica City Council on Monday reviewed its draft fiscal year budget and gave staff direction to package a final recommended budget for adoption June 23 while providing seed funding for several priorities, including a $150,000 placeholder for shoreline adaptation planning, a one‑year library outreach allocation, $40,000 for OneShoreline and $25,000 for Fog Fest.

Council members and staff framed the meeting as a revenue‑and‑priorities discussion in a year the city is facing structural shortfalls and major state housing mandates. City Manager Kevin Woodhouse said the work ties into a broader revenue strategy that includes studies of tax‑increment financing, sales‑tax generation and surplus‑land opportunities.

The seed funding decisions were framed as limited, start‑up or one‑time allocations rather than long‑term ongoing commitments. “This is our seed money to get started on that, to hire a public engagement consultant, start framing out the milestones,” Community Development Director Samantha Updegrave said about the Shoreline Adaptation Program, which staff reduced from an earlier, larger request to $150,000 in the draft budget. Updegrave said the amount will be used to design public engagement and preliminary technical work that will support grant applications.

Why it matters: Pacifica faces both near‑term budget pressure and state enforcement risk tied to its housing element. Council members repeatedly linked revenue generation, economic development and housing policy, and asked staff for a summer study session on revenue options and follow‑up reporting on implementation of the Economic Opportunity Study.

Most important decisions and directions

- Shoreline adaptation: Council agreed to include…