Applications are now being sought for the Pacifica Police Chief’s Advisory Panel. The purpose of assembling a Chief’s Advisory Panel is to create a diverse group of community members to meet monthly with the Police Chief and engage in productive conversation about policing and issues in the community. If you or someone you know might be interested in this type of opportunity, the deadline to apply is May 23, 2022.

Peninsula Restaurant Week is upcoming May 13 - May 21. Restaurants in Pacifica should consider registering for Peninsula Restaurant Week to gain exposure through multiple platforms, including the San Mateo Daily Journal. Please encourage your favorite Pacifica restaurants to register!

As a reminder, a free Mental Health First Aid Training is scheduled for Saturday, May 14, at the Community Center. In one full day, learn best practices to help someone in distress and identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges.  Registration is required and space is limited, so register soon here. This training is the result of a countywide effort in which Mayor Bier has been representing the City, and for which the County has provided funding.

Register for a free, publicly available Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training that will be taking place on May 14 at the Pacifica Community Center. The signup link for the MHFA training is here.

The proposed fee recommendation is for a 3.5%/year sewer rate increase over the next 5-year period. Significant improvements to the sewer system are proposed as part of the increase. A new Frequently Asked Questions document was posted on the City’s For the Record webpage to provide information in response to recent questions from the public regarding the City’s proposed rate increase and corrects misinformation that has been published on some social media sites, the Pacifica Tribune Opinion section and the Coastside Buzz Opinion section.

The FAQ is viewable on the For the Record page here. Other information and studies related to the proposed wastewater rates and proposed one-time capacity fees (related to new developments) can be viewed online here.

The public is invited to join us at the Public Works Corporation Yard for an open house event at 155 Milagra Drive. Public Works staff will be showcasing equipment and giving tours of the yard. Field Services, Wastewater, and Engineering will have booths set up for attendees to learn more about the work they do for Pacifica. Hope to see you there!

Looking for a summer job? Part-time work? New career path? Extra spending money? Join us! Current job opportunities include food service, kitchen staff, fitness trainers, managerial, customer service, and sales. Meet employers directly and interview on the spot! Hiring experts will be on-site to provide real-time resume input and interviewing tips.

Register here: https://bit.ly/JobFairCOP

Questions? Email: EDC@pacifica.gov

The North County Fire Authority has a few safety tips on how to protect your pets in the event of a fire. See the infographic, below.

Pacifica Senior Services is offering two upcoming day trips to the Jim Henson Exhibition on May 19 and to the Charles Schulz Museum on June 14. Click on the flyers below for more information or contact Senior Services at 650-738-7384.

Effective, transparent policing in any community involves continual, robust communication between community members and their Police Department. Seeking to increase the communication between the Pacifica Police Department and the incredible, engaged community we serve, the Pacifica City Council has authorized the formation of the Police Chief’s Advisory Panel.

The Panel will consist of no more than ten community members that represent a diverse cross section of the community. Panelists will meet as a group once per month with the Chief of Police to discuss policing and issues in the community. The Panel will serve as a conduit for a back and forth flow of communication with the Chief of Police and the community.

Click here for an informational packet containing a panelist application.

Pre-pandemic, Bike to Work Day (BTWD) was a celebration of bicycles as a fun and healthy way to get to work, as well as an opportunity for those who don’t usually bike commute to try it out! It’s also a time to advocate for improved bicycle infrastructure and safety.

The Bike to Work Day celebration will take place on Friday, May 20^th 6:30am-9:00am at the corner of Reina Del Mar and Highway 1. Come out to receive your 2022 commemorative bag! Everyone on two wheels is welcome!

More information on other engagement opportunities during bike month can be found here.

Are you or someone you know over the age of 60 and renting an apartment or other type of living space in Pacifica and worrying about future rent increases?  Curious to know how the application system works for government subsidized apartments?  Want to know about the Shared Housing Program managed by HIP Housing? If so, you are invited to a forum on “Strategies for Finding Affordable or Subsidized Senior Housing”. It will take place at the Pacifica Community Center on Thursday, May 12^th at 3:00pm to 4:30pm.

Roy Earnest, Pacifica’s Age Friendly Community Coalition (PAFCC) Chairperson Roy Earnest and Anita Rees, Pacifica Resource Center’s Executive Director (and PAFCC member) will be the presenters for this forum on “Strategies for Finding Affordable or Subsidized Senior Housing”. While they cannot offer immediate housing, the information they present will “de-mystify” the application process for affordable senior housing and offer practical tips on how to access the application system for subsidized apartments where tenants, in most cases, pay no more than 30% of their monthly income. Referrals to community resources will be provided so that housing seekers can have support and access to consultation and encouragement as they proceed with their search for more affordable housing. They’ll also provide plenty of time for questions and discussion about the ideas and strategies presented. 

If you have questions, you can send an email to AgeFriendlyPacifica@gmail.com or call the senior center at 650-738-7384.

2022 is Our Year of Ending Homelessness Together in San Mateo County. Ending homelessness is the highest priority for the County of San Mateo and the Board of Supervisors, but we can’t do this alone.

Please join Supervisor Don Horsley at upcoming virtual events:

And if you missed it, watch a video invitation from County Executive Mike Callagy here. Visit smcendinghomelessness.org for more information and to view the recording from the April 22 Event.

The City of Pacifica’s anticipated Tree Ordinance Community Outreach and Benchmarking Study is ready for public review here. The study is a report that summarizes the City's extensive efforts to receive public input to assist in the update of the City’s current Heritage Tree Ordinance. The City hired Davey Resource Group (DRG) to conduct several meetings to facilitate discussions, obtain community comments and input, and provide information on best industry standards.

DRG performed a benchmarking study analyzing eight other regional cities’ Heritage Tree Ordinances. In addition, the City and DRG held a joint Planning Commission/Parks, Beaches, & Recreation Commission/Beautification Advisory Committee meeting, a virtual community meeting, Pop-up events at the Farmer’s Market, presented to the Rotary Climate Action Team and conducted on-line polling with the community to receive input.   This input helped guide DRG with the preparation of the report and recommendations on updating the current ordinance.

As the City in now releasing the report, interested parties will have a month to review and provide any additional comments. City staff will present the report to the City Council on May 23, 2022 at a Study Session to receive Council input related to revisions and updates to the current Heritage Tree Ordinance. Based on Council input, City staff will then introduce the updated Heritage Tree Ordinance for the City Council’s consideration, tentatively anticipated for June 27, 2022.

The City is encouraging the public to e-mail any comments related to the report to engineering@ci.pacifica.ca.us and to attend the above meetings to provide any additional public input. Thank you for your participation in this important process!

After two long years, the City of Pacifica is reintroducing summer programming at the Jean E. Brink Pool. Wet and Wild Camp is a weeklong aquatic recreation camp for your child to polish off their swimming skills, learn about water safety, beach safety, play water sports, field games, introduction to surfing in the pool, explore the Pacifica pier, hike the coast, and make new friends! Don’t let your child miss out on this great opportunity. Register here.

Restaurants in Pacifica should consider registering for Peninsula Restaurant Week & gain exposure through multiple platforms including the San Mateo Daily Journal! Click here for more information.

Please click here to view the County's COVID-19 webpage for more information and read the latest San Mateo County Health Chief Update regarding COVID-19.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 8 AM to 8 PM, there will be a COVID-19 testing site located at 1900 Francisco Boulevard (on the City parking lot, south of the Little Brown Church). To find other testing sites in San Mateo County, visit www.smcgov.org/covid-19-testing.

Visit CalOpps to learn about the different recruitment opportunities. Apply for a position on our City Team, today!

Please note: This newsletter is sent weekly on Friday and content is current at that time. Those who have not opened the email by Monday receive a reminder email, and some content may no longer be current.

Recent City of Pacifica and Pacifica Police Department press releases are available on the City of Pacifica website under City Government - Press Releases & Media Bulletins.