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VIDEO. From the San Mateo County Harbor District Commissioner’s regular meeting on Wednesday, August 19th, 2026 meeting, at 10:00am, as a hybrid meeting with remote comments. Meetings are held in person at the SMCHD Administration Building, 504 Avenue Alhambra, Ste. 200, El Granada. Agenda. Operations Report.
Don Horsely Park at Tunitas Creek Coordinated Response Training
Commissioner Tom Mattusch was in attendance.
In Early July, San Mateo County Parks Superintendent, Scott Lomardi, reached out to the District, as the San Mateo County Parks Staff were concerned for public safety with the opening of Don Horsley Beach Park (Ribbon cutting 13th August, 2026, after 6 years of work) and were not familiar with what water rescue capabilities and response on the Coastside were in place. Pillar Point Harbor Patrol (PPHP) has worked with SMC Parks Staff for Years at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and the Pillar Point Bluffs. Following a letter of request from SMC Parks, PPHP Team members shared contacts and participated in a briefing with the SMC Parks teams on current allied agencies response to a water rescue.
SMC Parks then organized a Teams Meeting. Considering the District’s MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Coastside Fire Protection District, the Harbor District and CFPD
were able to collaborate and share current Search and Rescue (SAR) Capabilities and Response both land-side and water-side. It was made clear to SMC Parks that a PPHP response was based on staffing and availability. SMCSO (San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office), California State Park Lifeguards and La Honda Fire were in attendance.
An Area Familiarization Training Day was planned for 28th July, 2026.
The 28th was also the day before State Parks opened access to the new San Gregorio Ranch Beach and Parking lot. Pillar Point Harbor Patrol Teamed up with California State Parks Lifeguards for the training which included an Area FAM of the pocket beaches and caves from Miramontes Point to San Gregorio. These areas are primarily only accessible from the waterside, and we have had a number of tragic SAR cases on this section of the Coast.
The evolution at Tunitas Creek highlighted a landside response with the SMC Parks Rescue Max Line Device, CFPD and SMC Parks Beach Vehicle response with a Waterside response of Patrol Boat, Rescue Watercraft and Lifeguards. The training highlighted the challenges and the response and response times.
SMC Parks teams were grateful for the SMCHD support of the training and it will assist their educational and prevention plans as the Beach Park is opened around August 14th.
More on the San Mateo County Harbor District on Coastside Buzz
San Mateo County Harbor District Board Meetings ~ 3rd Wednesday @ 10:00am
Watch remotely. Comments and questions by email.
Please note that email correspondence sent to or from members of the Harbor Commission via the District’s website are considered public records and may be subject to disclosure and additional distribution pursuant to the Public Records Act and the Brown Act.
Harbor District Agendas and Remote Meeting Links
Harbor District Pacifica Coast TV Videos
2026 Board of Harbor Commissioners Contact Information:
Please note that email correspondence sent to or from Members of the Harbor Commission via the District’s website are considered public records and may be subject to disclosure and additional distribution pursuant to the Public Records Act and the Brown Act.
To email the entire Harbor Commission, click here.
Kathryn Slater-Carter ~ District 3
Position: Chair
Term: 2023-2027
Email: kslater-carter@smharbor.com
George Domurat ~ District 2
Position: Vice Chair
Term: 2023-2027
Email: gdomurat@smharbor.com
William Zemke ~ District 1
Position: Secretary
Term: 2021 -2025
mail: wzemke@smharbor.com
Tom Mattusch ~ District 4
Position: Treasurer
Term: 2021-2025
Email: tmattusch@smharbor.com
Virginia Chang Kiraly ~ District 5
Position: Commissioner
Term: 2021-2025
Email: vchang-kiraly@smharbor.com
District Office: 504 Avenue Alhambra, Ste. 200, El Granada, CA 94018
Mailing Address: PO Box 1449, El Granada, CA 94018
Phone: (650) 583-4400 Fax: (650) 583-4614
Pillar Point without the harbor.
Shoaling will be dredged soon.
Author: mdrag
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