Council Meeting Minutes - April 7, 2026

Video Recording

Agenda

Location: LHPUSD Boardroom and ZOOM

Council Members in Attendance: Ryan Augustine, Nicholas Erridge, Cullen Rose, Dr. Patrick Horn

Absent: Dr. Kassi Talbot

Quorum Achieved: Yes

Virtual Attendance: 5

People in Attendance: 6

Interpretation Services (Spanish/English): Present  

6:00 PM Call to Order and Opening Business: 

Council chair Augustine called the meeting to order

Pledge of allegiance administered

Roll Call: Introduction of Council members

Minutes and agenda approved unanimously via quorum

Quick meeting recap:

The Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council (PMAC) held its regular meeting to discuss various community updates and agenda items. The meeting began with roll call, noting the absence of Kassandra Talbot, and included public comments from Abby Wolf representing the Coastside Chamber of Commerce, who reported 1,400 visitors in 8 weeks at their new location. Key updates were shared on the Housing Element Task Force's progress, with Nicholas Calderon sharing via councilor Horn that the sites analysis was 99% complete and expected to be presented to the community in May. Ana Vasudev from SamTrans presented on the Connect Bay Area Global Investment Plan, which could provide $50 million annually for 14 years if approved by voters in November, and sought community input on prioritizing local transportation improvements. The council also discussed upcoming bicycle events, including the Sequoia ride on June 7th and Alto Vello Racing Club event on July 11th, and approved a change in their meeting location to the current venue. Administrative updates included plans for a nonprofit leadership meeting on May 6th and information about a college cost workshop at the high school.

Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council Meeting:

The Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council meeting began with a roll call and public comment, where Abby Wolf from the Coastside Chamber of Commerce reported that their facility had 1,400 visitors in 8 weeks, with two-thirds being out-of-town visitors. The consent agenda was approved, and a presentation from SamTrans on transportation was expected but not yet delivered due to potential traffic issues. The San Mateo County Fire Department provided updates on Rescue 59, a new technical rescue vehicle, and discussed plans for a new Station 59, though there were concerns about geological surveys affecting the high school nearby.

Community Safety and Traffic Concerns:

Officer Frankie Pineda, the new State Community Outreach Public Engagement Officer at CHP, introduced himself and discussed public safety concerns in the area. The council highlighted issues with speeding and reckless driving, particularly on weekends when visitor numbers increase significantly. Officer Pineda acknowledged the challenges and committed to working on increasing weekend presence, though he noted limited officer availability across the large patrol area. The discussion also covered specific safety concerns including dangerous intersections on Highway 1 and a known "ice bridge" near Dearborn Park Road that causes regular accidents.

Housing Element Task Force Update:

PMAC provided an update on the Housing Element Task Force, reporting on their first meeting on March 17th where they heard from Jeremy Levine from the Housing Leadership Council and held a community roundtable. Nicholas Calderon, Deputy County Executive, shared via councilor Horn that the sites analysis is 99% complete and expected to be presented to the community next month, with rezoning requirements for compliance certification scheduled for completion on April 21st. PMAC also mentioned plans to appoint Jared and Rita Mancera to the task force at the next meeting, and noted that Nicholas Calderon expressed appreciation for the task force's efforts in pushing for progress at the county level.

Connect Bay Area Investment Plan:

The PMAC meeting focused on a presentation by Ana Vasudev from SamTrans regarding the Connect Bay Area Global Investment Plan, a potential revenue measure for the November ballot. The plan would provide approximately $50 million annually for 14 years to SamTrans if approved, with funds allocated towards improving transit routes, enhancing bus service efficiency, and expanding access to transit for underserved communities. The SamTrans board aims to adopt a local investment plan by June 2026, and public feedback is being collected through a survey that closes on April 30th, with emphasis on reaching coastal communities.

Pescadero Transit Access Planning:

The meeting focused on transit access in Pescadero, with participants discussing the need for expanded public transportation services. Horn and others highlighted that Pescadero is an underserved community currently without reliable public transit and emphasized the importance of including Pescadero in the transportation investment plan. The group discussed potential solutions including rideshare programs, on-demand shuttle services, and expanded hours, with specific suggestions for connecting downtown Pescadero with La Honda and coordinating tourist transportation to local parks. Irma Mitton from Arriba South Coast was mentioned as a resource with relevant survey data, though she was unable to attend due to illness.

South Coast Transit and Events:

PMAC discussed transit challenges in the South Coast area, noting that weekend and holiday ridership significantly exceeds weekday usage, with many businesses closing Mondays and Tuesdays. PMAC emphasized that survey data might underrepresent actual ridership, particularly from Bayside residents who use transit on weekends and holidays. The discussion then moved to upcoming bicycle events, including the Sequoia ride on June 7th and the Alto Vello Racing Club event on July 11th, both of which will use local roads and make donations to local charities. PMAC also addressed concerns about the Iron Man event's highway signage, clarifying that Caltrans controls these signs and agreeing to reach out to the event organizers for better coordination.

PMAC Meeting Location Change Approval:

The PMAC council approved a change of meeting location from the community church to their current venue, with the updated bylaws to be made effective immediately. The next meeting will be held at the current location on Tuesday, May 12th. The council also discussed plans for a nonprofit and community-based organizations meeting on Wednesday May 6th from 6-8pm, which will follow a format like the previous merchant meeting and promote Coastside Gives Day on May 7th. Additionally, PMAC representatives attended a farm worker convention in Half Moon Bay where they distributed informational flyers in English and Spanish about PMAC's activities and upcoming elections.

College Workshop and Training Updates:

PMAC announced an upcoming college cost workshop scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday from 5-7 PM at the high school, targeting all high school students but particularly seniors and juniors planning for college. The meeting also covered ongoing phone system issues with AT&T affecting the district, and PMAC announced two upcoming health and safety training opportunities: Red Cross Shelter Operations Training in Half Moon Bay on April 11th from 9-12, and a Basic Life Support CPR class at Pescadero Elementary School on April 18th from 9-2, which offers free training to encourage community participation.

Community Projects and Updates:

The PMAC covered updates on several key topics. Springfest was announced for April 19th at the Pescadero Community Space, featuring music, games, food vendors, and community information booths. The community space project reached 65% completion in design development, with key challenges including utility coordination with PG&E, permitting with the Coastal Commission, and environmental review, all needing to be completed by December 2027. The Nature Center at Memorial Park grand opening was highlighted, featuring an impressive 3D model of the watershed. Regarding transportation, concerns were raised about rising gas prices and their potential impact on tourism, with a follow-up needed on historical trends. Finally, the discussion touched on the need for a subcommittee to address the CSA 11 water infrastructure, as there appears to be a gap between community and county representation on this critical water artery.

Water Task Force Formation Discussion:

The council discussed the county's desire to create a community committee to address issues related to CSA 11. The county wants to form a committee with representatives from the community, county, and potentially schools, and one PMAC member. The group also discussed strategies for promoting upcoming PMAC elections, including potential events at Springfest and the Pescadero Art Festival, though they decided to develop a more detailed marketing plan at their next meeting.

PMAC Community Engagement Planning:

PMAC discussed plans for community engagement regarding upcoming PMAC elections, suggesting either a Zoom meeting or informational postings on Nextdoor and the website. They noted the importance of community outreach to encourage more candidates to run, particularly to avoid potential vacant seats due to unopposed re-elections. PMAC also addressed concerns about meeting formats to ensure compliance with rules regarding council business discussions.

Next steps:

• PMAC Chair/Staff: Add approximately half dozen CAL FIRE email addresses to the agenda email distribution list as requested.

• Ana Vasudev (SamTrans): Follow up with Irma Mitton (Arriba South Coast) to collaborate on sharing South Coast transit needs data and to help get the word out about the Connect Bay Area survey.

• PMAC Chair/Staff: Reach out to organizers of the Iron Man bicycle event to ensure they are on the notification list for future events.

• PMAC Chair/Staff: Officially submit proposal for a CSA 11 (water district) subcommittee for the next PMAC meeting agenda, including suggested structure and focus.

• PMAC Members: Begin outreach and promotion for upcoming PMAC elections, including preparing and distributing informational flyers and considering tabling at Springfest and/or Pescadero Art Festival.

• PMAC Chair/Staff: Prepare and propose a marketing/outreach plan for PMAC elections as an agenda item for the next meeting.

• PMAC Chair/Staff: Post information about the American Red Cross Shelter Operations Training and Basic Life Support CPR class on Nextdoor and other community channels.

• PMAC Chair/Staff: Invite new DPW Director (Tory Newman) to a future PMAC meeting for introduction.

• PMAC Chair/Staff: Send agenda information for the May 6th Non-profit and Community-Based Organizations meeting to relevant parties for promotion and scheduling.

Adjournment:

Meeting adjourned approved unanimously via quorum at 7:57pm