|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
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 in person at 504 Avenue Alhambra, Ste. 200 El Granada or remotely with remote comment and questions by email.
Harbor District Agendas and Remote Meeting Links
2026 Board of Harbor Commissioners Contact Information:
To email the entire Harbor Commission, click here.
George Domurat ~ District 2, Position: President, Term: 2022-2026 Email: gdomurat@smharbor.com
Virginia Chang Kiraly ~ District 5, Position: Vice Chair, Term: 2024-2028 Email: vchang-kiraly@smharbor.com
William Zemke ~ District 1, Position: Secretary. Term: 2024-2028 mail: wzemke@smharbor.com
Kathryn Slater-Carter ~ District 3, Position: Secretary, Term: 2022-2026 Email: kslater-carter@smharbor.com
Tom Mattusch ~ District 4, Position: Treasurer, Term: 2024-2028 Email: tmattusch@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.
Author: mdrag
x
