Half Moon Bay’s Poplar Beach Gate Closure Now Sunset to Sunrise with Additional Sheriff Presence

PRESS RELEASE. From the City of Half Moon Bay on August 31st, 2023.

Last June, the City resumed its previous practice of locking the gates at the Poplar Beach Parking lot at sunset, in response to an increase in after-hours activities at the beach and in the lot, which are not only disruptive to nearby neighborhoods, but often represent public health concerns which include alcohol use/abuse and potential impaired driving. Following several recent incidents related to the locking of the gate, and in preparation for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, the City and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office are making a few adjustments to the gate locking procedures, which we’d like to make the community aware of.

Beginning Friday, September 1, 2023, the Sheriff will lock only the entrance side of the gate to Poplar Beach parking lot at sundown, leaving the exit open, and will notify individuals parked in the lot of their need to leave within thirty minutes. The sheriff will return following that period and immediately ticket any remaining vehicles and provide another round of notifications. This process will continue until the lot is cleared, at which time, the exit gate will also be locked to prevent further access until sunrise. Sheriff’s deputies may cite (or in certain circumstances potentially tow), vehicles that remain in the parking lot in violation of City regulations.

Additional signage has been installed to ensure beachgoers clearly understand the operating hours of the parking lot. There will be additional Sheriff’s Office presence at Poplar Beach throughout the holiday weekend to help manage the expected crowds and implement the new parking lot closure procedures.

Per the City’s Municipal Code, access to the parking lot will be limited to the period from sunrise to sunset. Poplar Beach itself will remain accessible to the public via the Coastal Trail and Poplar Parallel Trail in accordance with the California Coastal Act. In addition to gate control, the Sheriff’s Office will continue to monitor after-hours activities. We ask for residents to partner with us in the interest of public safety by continuing to alert Sheriff’s deputies of any observed illicit activities. To report activity or an incident, please call 911 for emergencies, or (650) 363-4911 for non-emergency situations.

Cierres de puertas de estacionamiento de Poplar Beach – ACTUALIZACIÓN

En junio pasado, la Ciudad reanudó su práctica anterior de cerrar las puertas en el estacionamiento de Poplar Beach al atardecer, en respuesta a un aumento en las actividades fuera de horario en la playa y en el lote, que no solo son perjudiciales para los vecindarios cercanos, sino que a menudo representan problemas de salud pública que incluyen el uso / abuso de alcohol y la posible conducción bajo los efectos del alcohol. Después de varios incidentes recientes relacionados con el cierre de la puerta, y en preparación para el próximo fin de semana del Día del Trabajo, la Ciudad y la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de San Mateo están haciendo algunos ajustes a los procedimientos de bloqueo de la puerta, de los cuales nos gustaría informar a la comunidad.

A partir del viernes 1 de septiembre de 2023, el Sheriff cerrará solo el lado de entrada de la puerta al estacionamiento de Poplar Beach al atardecer, dejando la salida abierta, y notificará a las personas estacionadas en el estacionamiento de su necesidad de irse dentro de los treinta minutos. El alguacil regresará después de ese período e inmediatamente multará a los vehículos restantes y proporcionará otra ronda de notificaciones. Este proceso continuará hasta que se despeje el lote, momento en el cual la puerta de salida también se bloqueará para evitar un mayor acceso hasta el amanecer. Los agentes del alguacil pueden citar (o en ciertas circunstancias potencialmente remolcar), vehículos que permanecen en el estacionamiento en violación de las regulaciones de la Ciudad.

Se ha instalado señalización adicional para garantizar que los bañistas entiendan claramente las horas de funcionamiento del estacionamiento. Habrá presencia adicional de la Oficina del Sheriff en Poplar Beach durante todo el fin de semana festivo para ayudar a manejar las multitudes esperadas e implementar los nuevos procedimientos de cierre de estacionamiento.

Según el Código Municipal de la Ciudad, el acceso al estacionamiento se limitará al período comprendido entre el amanecer y el atardecer. Poplar Beach seguirá siendo accesible al público a través del Sendero Costero y el Sendero Paralelo de Álamo de acuerdo con la Ley Costera de California. Además del control de la puerta, la Oficina del Sheriff continuará monitoreando las actividades fuera del horario laboral. Pedimos a los residentes que se asocien con nosotros en interés de la seguridad pública al continuar alertando a los agentes del Sheriff de cualquier actividad ilícita observada. Para reportar actividad o un incidente, llame al 911 para emergencias o al (650) 363-4911 para situaciones que no sean de emergencia.

 

City Council of Half Moon Bay meets ~ 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00pm

 

The City Council of Half Moon Bay is the City’s governing body, and consists of five elected members. The Council sets priorities and policies, makes final decisions on all major City matters, adopts ordinances and resolutions, appoints the City Manager and City Attorney, and approves the annual budget.

City Council members are elected at-large to four-year, overlapping terms. There are no term limits in Half Moon Bay. The City Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and one to serve as Vice Mayor, on an annual basis.

The Half Moon Bay City Council typically meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month starting at 7 pm at the Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue.

HMB City Council Agendas and Zoom Links

HMB City Calendar

Watch streaming, or the Pacifica Coast TV video, that we will post. Stay tuned!

The meeting will be held at the Adcock Community Center for any members of the public who wish to speak in person, though we do encourage all members to participate remotely.

The meeting will be:

• streamed live on Comcast Channel 27 and Pacific Coast TV website
• the City’s website online (via Granicus)
• and on Facebook Live
  • one in English (City of Half Moon Bay FB Page)
  • one in Spanish (City of Half Moon Bay Recreation FB Page)
• Recorded by Pacific Coast TV (PCTV)

Members or the public are welcome to submit comments (in accordance with the three-minute per speaker limit) via email

to [email protected] prior to or during the meeting, via Facebook live during the meeting, and via two phone lines during the meeting – (650) 477-4963 (English) and (650) 445-3090 (Spanish).

The City Clerk will read all comments into the record.

Half Moon Bay City Council member’s Contact

1. Deborah Penrose

   Mayor
   [email protected]
   Phone: 650-726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)

2. Joaquin Jimenez

   Vice Mayor
   [email protected]
   Phone: 650-726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)

3. Debbie Ruddock

   Councilmember
   [email protected]
   Phone: 650-726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)

4. Robert Brownstone

   Councilmember
   [email protected]
   Phone: 650-726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)

5. Harvey Rarback

   Councilmember
   [email protected]
   Phone: 650-726-8250 (leave message with Clerk’s office)

Author: Coastside Buzz

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