Council Meeting Minutes - May 6, 2026
Video Recording
Location: LHPUSD Boardroom and ZOOM
Council Members in Attendance: Dr. Kassi Talbot Cullen Rose, Dr. Patrick Horn
Absent: Ryan Augustine, Nic Erridge
Quorum Achieved: Yes
Virtual Attendance: 3
People in Attendance: 9
Interpretation Services (Spanish/English): None
6:00 PM Call to Order and Opening Business:
Council chair Talbot called the meeting to order
Pledge of allegiance administered
Quick recap:
The Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council held a special meeting focused on nonprofit and community organization updates, inviting over two dozen local organizations to share their work and needs. Twelve organizations participated, including Puente, KPDO radio station, Pescadero Community Foundation, Faith in Action, Pebble Beach Parlor Legacy, and Ariba South Coast, each presenting their missions, current projects, and challenges. Key discussion points centered around communication challenges within the community, the need for better coordination between organizations, and strategies for improving relationships with county representatives. The council explored ways PMAC could support local organizations, including advocating for county budget allocations, providing letters of support for grants, and helping facilitate collaboration between groups. The conversation ended with discussions about creating a "State of Pescadero" event to showcase community achievements and needs and establishing better communication channels between local nonprofits through a new Google group.
Next steps:
Catherine Peary
Follow up with Rita Mancera (Puente) and Lee (school staff) regarding interest in and support for a youth music recording/editing program, including potential stipend coverage for participating students.
Irma Rodriguez-Minton
Share information about the upcoming trail building workshop (May 16th and 17th) and cookout series (starting May 29th) with interested parties, and continue outreach for volunteers, especially from Butano, San Gregorio, and south of town.
Continue to organize and promote monthly Sustainable Pescadero meetings as a forum for collaboration, resource sharing, and project coordination among local organizations.
Janet Clark
Set up a Google group/email listserv for local nonprofits and community groups to facilitate communication, coordination, and resource sharing; coordinate with PMAC to ensure broad participation.
Janet Clark/PMAC
Distribute information about the new nonprofit Google group to invite organizations and manage/moderate the group, with option to share moderation duties.
Officer Raymond Juarez
Visit and assess the sign (northbound Hwy 1 just south of Hwy 84) and the bridge near Dearborn Park Road (approx. 5751 Pescadero Creek Rd) for hazards; provide photos/coordinates to CHP/Caltrans as needed.
Pass community concerns about new CHP English proficiency testing for truck drivers up the chain of command and report back as appropriate.
Collaboration
PMAC/Janet Clark: Add Charlea Binford (Boosters) and other relevant contacts to the emerging nonprofit/business communication lists for broader community coordination.
PMAC/Community Representatives: Begin planning for a "State of Pescadero" annual update event, including coordination among organizations, businesses, and schools, and outreach to elected officials for participation.
PMAC/Community Members: Develop and maintain relationships with county staff liaisons (e.g., Supervisor's office assistant), including proactive outreach and regular communication to ensure Pescadero's needs and projects are represented in county processes and budgets.
Pescadero Education Foundation: Share information about Coastside Gives campaign and Power Hour (3-4pm tomorrow) with the community to encourage donations and support.
PMAC/Janet Clark: Consider creating a dedicated contact list/spreadsheet for local businesses (in addition to nonprofits) to facilitate future communication and collaboration.
Summary
Nonprofit Organization Updates Meeting
The council held a special meeting to hear updates from nonprofit and community organizations. Patrick Horn opened the floor for organizations to share their work, priorities, and needs. Janet Clark from the Pescadero Community Foundation and Joanne Rokowski from the Coastside chapter of Faith in Action were among those present. The meeting included a moment of silence for Noah McCellon, a community member who was recently killed. Public comments were made, including a discussion about Highway 1 repairs in the area. The council planned to have a roundtable discussion after the organization updates to discuss potential areas of focus and collaboration.
Community Support and Challenges
Janet Clark, Executive Director of Lomar Outpost and President of Pescadero Community Foundation, introduced both organizations' community support efforts, including running a store and café, community dinners, and resiliency hubs. She identified communication as a significant challenge in the community, noting difficulties in reaching everyone despite using multiple methods. Joanne, who moderates the Coastside chapter of Faith in Action Bay Area, outlined the organization's work on housing, immigrant protection, and food security across the Coastside, including support for farmworker housing and an RV safe parking program in Pacifica.
Pescadero Community Organizations Update
PMAC discussed KPDO, Pescadero Public Radio Service, which operates two stations and provides emergency alerts and community programming. Denise Sampson presented her non-profit, Pebble Beach Parlor Legacy, which focuses on preserving local history and artifacts, particularly through the restoration of the Native Sons Hall. The organization seeks funding, additional members, and a new name to better reflect its mission. Rita Mancera, Executive Director of Puente, briefly mentioned the organization's history and humble beginnings in the Pescadero Community Church.
Puente's Mission and Programs Overview
PMAC provided an overview of Puente's mission to foster wellness and prosperity through six key programs: community health, community development, education, mental health and wellness, community engagement and public policy, and housing solutions. They discussed their current focus areas, including financial assistance, scholarships, and services for specific populations such as children, first-generation college students, low-income families, farm workers, and seniors. PMAC highlighted challenges in funding and resource allocation, particularly in expensive programs like early childhood education and senior services, and expressed a need for collaboration with other organizations, including the Housing Task Force. They also mentioned upcoming community events and raised a question about the potential impact of SNAP funding cuts on food distribution needs in the community.
Food Distribution and Dental Services
PMAC discussed the challenges of food distribution in the county, noting that 1 in 6 people depend on SNAP funding, which is facing cuts and additional restrictions. They explained their organization's efforts to complement food distribution through Second Harvest and their decision to end gift card programs to increase food distribution. Spandan Chakrabarti, Director of Development for Sonrisa’s Dental Health, provided an update on their dental RV project, which raised $830,000 in non-government funding. The RV is expected to be delivered in early fall, with plans to start providing services to farm workers and potentially expand to other low-income individuals by late fall.
Pescadero Education Foundation Budget Overview
PMAC from the Pescadero Education Foundation (PEF) provided an overview of the organization's mission to support enrichment opportunities for students across Pescadero's three schools. PEF has been increasing its budget allocation to the district, reaching approximately $85,000 this year, which funds various initiatives including field trips, art curriculum, and class pets. PEF noted concerns about meeting their current fundraising goal through the Coastside Gives campaign and requested community support, particularly during the power hour tomorrow from 3-4 PM.
Community Safety and Funding Updates
Alex Reep from Mid-Peninsula Open Space introduced himself to the community and mentioned potential funding opportunities through their grants and partnerships programs. Officer Raymond Lars from CHP Redwood City discussed concerns about a large tree near SR1 in Bean Hollow, which Caltrans had already removed, and requested clarification on a potentially hazardous sign on SR1 south of Woodside Road 84 and an icy bridge near Dearborn Park Road. The group also discussed CHP's new English proficiency testing for drivers, which raised concerns among community members about its impact on farmers and workers.
Pescadero Community Resilience Initiatives
PMAC provided an overview of Arriba's mission and current projects, focusing on climate resilience, infrastructure, and community equity in Pescadero. Key initiatives include energy affordability efforts, public space improvements, disaster preparedness planning, and community building activities like monthly meetings and upcoming cookouts. The group discussed challenges around volunteer recruitment and funding, with PMAC noting the need for more community involvement across South Coast areas. A discussion emerged about supporting youth music recording projects at the local radio station, with suggestions to bring the program to campus to increase student participation. The conversation ended with recognition of overlapping community needs and a proposal for a future meeting focused on identifying specific collaboration opportunities between different community groups.
Nonprofit Communication Group Setup
The group discussed creating a Google group for local nonprofits to share information about events, funding opportunities, and volunteer needs. Janet volunteered to set up the group and coordinate with the PMAC to ensure community involvement. The discussion also covered the importance of using multiple communication channels to reach different age groups and the value of the Lomar Outpost community calendar. Dr. Patrick Horn highlighted PMAC's role in shaping county priorities and advocating for budget allocations for Pescadero, suggesting that the council focus on obtaining specific budget information for the community and supporting local talent in land use.
State of Pescadero Event Planning
The group discussed organizing a "State of Pescadero" event to highlight community accomplishments and priorities, with PMAC expressing strong support for the initiative. The discussion focused on the need to establish better relationships with county representatives, particularly highlighting an opportunity for better communication and coordination with the liaison from Ray Mueller's office. The group agreed to collaborate on planning the State of Pescadero event, which would serve as both a celebration and a platform to present community priorities to county officials, with the hope that demonstrating cost savings and community engagement could help secure funding and better collaboration with the county.
(image of “round table” discussion output)
