Fading into the Fog
Whales at Montara Beach
Montara Mike (Mike Watson) stopped by Montara Beach today and watched these whales playing in the surf. He was kind enough to share the photos ...Read more |
Montara Mike: Imaginary Shadows
Imaginary Shadows: A collection of still photos and time lapse video shot on the Coast put to an original music score composed by Mike Watson.
Click ...Read more |
Coastside Consolidation?
You can download the slides used in this presentation here.
Here's a quiz I doubt you'll pass. You may have heard the acronym "LAFCo" in recent ...Read more |
Orion from Yosemite Valley
My apologies for the recent slowness in new material on Montara Fog. For the past week I've been in Yosemite and very much unplugged. Normally ...Read more |
MWSD Board Meeting, April 3, 2008
Click here for the agenda.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA
District Board of Directors
8888 Cabrillo Highway
Montara, California 94037
April 3, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
(Closed Session begins at 5:30 ...Read more |
What's In a Name?
Is it to be Half Moon Bay Harbor now? The coastside has demonstrated again and again its confusion over its identity. This photo sort of ...Read more |
An Evening at Cafe Gibraltar
Ask anyone who lives here “What is the best restaurant on the coast?” and you’ll more often than not receive the answer “Cafe Gibraltar.”
This ...Read more |
MCC, March 26, 2008
Click here for the agenda
This was a low-key, short meeting. Several members were absent due to a scheduling conflict with a memorial ceremony for ...Read more |
Montara Mike: From Above
Montara Fog welcomes Montara Mike, a gifted local video-maker and photographer whose work will be featured here in the months to come. Click on the ...Read more |
MWSD Board Meeting, March 20, 2008
Click here to download the board packet.
AGENDA
District Board of Directors
8888 Cabrillo Highway
Montara, California 94037
March 20, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT
ORAL COMMENTS (Items ...Read more |
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Written by Darin Boville
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
Mark Massara, from San Francisco, is a quirky hero of many environmentalists, known for his legal battles against developers. Much of his charm comes from his odd mix of surfer-dude meets lawyer--the basic ingedients of a modern folk hero.
The New York Times published a video profile of Mark today and even includes a few seconds shot at Wavecrest--if you watch the background closely you'll see.
Click on the picture to watch the video at the New York Time's site--registration (free and highly worthwhile) may be required. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 May 2008 )
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Written by Neil Merrilees
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Friday, 09 May 2008 |
This is a slideshow that will probably only interest
car nuts.
I bought this 1960 Porsche Roadster in 1983,
and drove it for a couple of years, until floor was so
rusty that you could see the yellow line go by your
feet while you were passing. I started looking into
repairing it, and the more I found out, the harder it
seemed to fix. I took it apart, and agonized about
repairing it for 20 years.
A couple of years ago, I had a break from work, so I
decided to take it on.
The car is a unibody (it has no frame) so the body had to be braced while the sheet
metal was being replaced. The first thing that was
necessary was to build a "rotisserie" that allows the
body to be flipped on all sides and angles in order to
work without climbing underneath, and a bracing system
that you can see in some of the pictures.
As you can see from some of the shots, I had help from
the family.
Now I am busy again, and it sits, ready for paint,
until I have another break from work.
Video by Neil Merrilees
Montara Fog welcomes and encourages user submissions from viewers to share life on the coast. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 May 2008 )
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Written by Darin Boville
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Tuesday, 06 May 2008 |
This might be your only chance to see the three candidates for the seat of Gene Mullin who is vacating the 19th District seat in the California State Assembly.
(Yes, the same Gene Mullin who is heading up the charge for AB 1991--Gene is leaving due to term limits, not to voter perplexity over his choice of swan song.)
Candidates Jerry Hill, Richard Holober, and Gina Papan go over their well worn answers to many of the expected questions, give us their positions on AB 1991 (we can’t escape it), and in general do a good job at communicating political passion even though this must be their umteenth debate.
The candidate forum was sponsored by the hard work of our local Coastside Democrats Club and was moderated by the League of Women Voters.
Not sure where the boundries to the 19th District are? Neither was I. Here is a good map.
Video by Darin Boville |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 May 2008 )
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Written by Darin Boville
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Monday, 05 May 2008 |
Click here for the agenda.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA
District Board of Directors
8888 Cabrillo Highway
Montara, California 94037
May 1, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
(Closed Session begins at 5:30 p.m.)
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT
ORAL COMMENTS (Items other than those on the agenda)
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Review and Possible Action Concerning Renewal of Sprint Cellular Lease.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes for Meeting of April 3 and 17, 2008.
2. Approve Financial Statements for April 2008.
3. Approve Warrants for May 1, 2008.
4. Flow Report for March 2008.
5. Monthly Review of Current Investment Portfolio.
6. Sewer Connection Permits Applications Received.
7. Monthly Water Production Report.
8. Rain Report
OLD BUSINESS
1. Review and Possible Action Concerning Additional Requirements for
Sewer Connections and Future Water Service.
2. Review and Possible Action Concerning Approval of the FY 2007 Annual Audit.
3. Review and Possible Action Concerning Using Various Utility Cost
Allocations in Developing Water and Sewer Rates and Charges.
4. Review and Possible Action Concerning Support of June Ballot
Proposition 99 on Eminent Domain.
5. Review and Possible Action Concerning LAFCO Municipal Service Review
for the City of Half Moon Bay and Urban Unincorporated Midcoast.
6. Review and Possible Action Concerning Status of Phase 1 of the
Public Works Plan.
7. Review and Possible Action Concerning Status of the Local Coastal
Program (LCP) Update.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Review and Possible Action Concerning Approval of Task Order No. 1B
to the Agreement for Professional Engineering Services (Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc.)
2. Review and Possible Action for Letters of Interest for California
Special Districts Association (CSDA) Board Vacancy in Region 3.
3. Review and Possible Action Concerning Adoption of the San Francisco
Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.
REPORTS
1. Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside Meetings (Harvey)
2. MidCoast Community Council Meeting (Slater-Carter)
3. ACWA Board of Directors Report (Ptacek)
4. CSDA Report (Slater-Carter)
5. Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (Ptacek)
6. Attorney’s Report (Schricker)
7. Directors’ Reports
8. General Manager’s Report (Heldmaier)
FUTURE AGENDAS
CLOSED SESSION
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL--EXISTING LITIGATION
(Government Code §54956.9(a))
Names of cases:
(i) Montara Water and Sanitary District v. Dow Chemical Company, et al.,
San Bernardino Cnty. Super. Crt. Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding No. 4435
(ii) Montara Water and Sanitary District v. County of San Mateo, Clara Cnty. Super. Crt. No. 1-07-CV-088793
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION
Initiation of Litigation Gov’t. Code §54956.9(c)
Number of cases: 2
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT (Gov. C. §54957)
Title: Assistant General Manager
ADJOURNMENT
Next Resolution: No. 1418; Next Ordinance: No. 155.
The District has a curfew of 11:00 p.m. for all meetings. The meeting may be extended for one hour by vote of the Board.
PARTICIPATION BY TELECONFERENCE
The following Director will participate by teleconference in all or a portion of the
meeting of the Board, including Closed Session, from the following locations:
Director Bob Ptacek - 3426 S 58th Court, Cicero, Ill 60608.
Video by Scott Boyd and the Board of MWSD. It is not copyrighted.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 May 2008 )
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Written by Darin Boville
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Thursday, 01 May 2008 |
The full agenda can be found by clicking here.
The Board of Directors of the Coastside Fire Protection District met at their regular monthly meeting this past Tuesday--Montara Fog videotaped the meeting on behalf on the Board.
This video will eventually find its way onto the soon-to-be re-designed CFPD website.
Since this is the first video from CFPD a word is in order about copyright. CFPD holds the copyright to this video but desires that it be widely disseminated. Therefore, they are granting permission for its use (including use by the news media) as long as proper attribution is given. Attribution can take the form of, for example, the text "Video courtesy of CFPD" located next to the video or at a visible place within an article. That's it. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Montara Fog.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 04 May 2008 )
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Written by Darin Boville
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Wednesday, 30 April 2008 |
Today was a big step for the Beachwood Settlement. As you will recall, the Settlement was hammered out between Palo Alto developer Charles “Chop” Keenan and the Half Moon Bay City Council in several behind-closed-door sessions. The details of these negotiations still remain secret and somewhat perplexing.
But out of those closed doors popped the Settlement, which offers to give Chop all he wished for and more (i.e. permission to build not eighty some houses but 129 houses on Beachwood and an adjoining lot) provided the City would spearhead a drive to pass AB 1991. If passed into law AB 1991 would exempt Beachwood and the adjoining parcel from any further environmental review (nor review for other issues such as affordable housing).
If the City succeeds in getting the bill passed and in defending it against the lawsuits that will follow then Chop will drop the $41 million lawsuit against the City (provided, of course, that the lobbying bills and legal bills haven't pushed the City’s head under water for the final time). If the City fails in its efforts with AB 1991 then Half Moon Bay will be obligated to pay Chop $18 million. He takes cash or can set up a convenient payment plan at low, low rates.
Today was a sort of coming of age party for AB 1991--its first hearing in Sacramento in, of all places, the Local Government Committee. It passed 4-2 in that friendly environment, although with reservations expressed by the Chair.
Only a few people were able to find a seat in the convoy put together by the Half Moon Bay City Council so you may have missed the show.
If so, never fear. Below is the video of the hearing divided for your ease of viewing into three parts: For AB 1991, Against it, and the discussion that followed.
For Passage of AB 1991
Against Passage of AB 1991
Discussion of AB 1991 and Vote
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 April 2008 )
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Written by Kenny Howell
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Tuesday, 29 April 2008 |
Tim Sullivan is a happy man. He finally found his dream job after searching the planet a lifetime. Now he holds the keys to a forbidden paradise above Montara.
Many coastsiders know Tim from his days as a ranger at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Four years ago he landed a cherished position at the Peninsula Watershed as a Watershed Keeper.
I asked Tim if this job was a "keeper"; he replied that it was definitely a "good catch"!
What does a Watershed Keeper do? To find out, we followed Tim for a day in his life - to get a rare and privileged glimpse of a 24,000 acre tract of spectacular open space where man is a visitor, but does not remain.
Special thanks to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for their permission, enthusiasm, and nearly unfettered access to produce this video profile on one of their employees. The Watershed is notoriously guarded about access, and guided tours have only recently become available to the public. Criticism over lack of recreational access has been much alleviated with the tour program, yet millions of Bay Area residents never have, and never will, see some of the terrain and vistas that Tim shared with us that day.
This is the first part of a multi-part episode.
-Kenny Howell
Video by Darin Boville |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 April 2008 )
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Written by Darin Boville
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Sunday, 27 April 2008 |
The Midcoast Community Council has recently been under fire by citizens, the press, and the Board of Supervisors alike for not being responsive to the community and for generally being irrelevant.
The MCC is trying to change however--but watching it makes one think of those Saber-toothed tigers struggling in some prehistoric tar pit. Will they make it out and continue to be part of the ecosystem or will they succumb and become a fossil-memory, a reminder of a time that was?
There are new ideas at MCC. The idea of themed meetings has proven valuable (the presentation by Parks Director David Holland, just below this article, was one such meeting). And MCC continues to improve and redesign its internal workings--in this very meeting it votes to form a Viability Committee, charged with finding ways to make the MCC more relevant.
These are all significant signs of progress. But people are impatient. This new MCC took office in December of 2007 and it has now been almost six months of talking about committees and bylaws and what the process might be to set the next meeting's agenda. Government can be slow but does it need to be this slow?
Joel Farbstein, one of the few remaining citizens who attend MCC meetings, was there this past Wednesday and he expressed the frustration with MCC felt by many in the community. It is too slow, too unfocused, too easily distracted.
This first video is Joel's part. The second video is the entire meeting.
Videos by Darin Boville |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 May 2008 )
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Written by Darin Boville
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
Update: The Midcoast Community Council will be discussing walking and biking paths at its May 28th meeting (Seton Hospital meeting room, Moss Beach, 7:30). Details to follow. The MCC is developing ideas to present to the County and community input is greatly encouraged and appreciated.
This past Wednesday the Half Moon Bay Review published a map of the Coastal Trail (which exists in finished form locally only in Half Moon Bay) and its potential extensions, bringing it up from the County boundary all the way into Montara and over Devil’s Slide.
This excellent map was created by the Review’s Bill Murray and I found it so valuable that I thought it might be interesting to share with readers here, too.
Click on the map to download a pdf of Bill Murray's Coastal Trail map (from the Half Moon Bay Review) and an accompanying article by David Smydra. (You can view just David's article by clicking here.)
Note that when you open the pdf the text might be too small to read. Not to worry--the graphic is a high resolution one and you can easily zoom in to see the text more clearly. It would make a great poster.
Inset into Bill’s map is a portion of a map from the California Coastal Commission. I had not seen this map before but it is worth a look if you want to see our portion of the Coastal Trail in the context of the entire California coastline.
Click on the map to download a pdf from the California Coastal Commission detailing the entire Coastal Trail.
If you’ve read David’s article and want to “go right to the source” you should look at the following video. The Midcoast Community Council, at the urging of member Neil Merillees, invited new County Parks Director David Holland to give a presentation on the Trail--it's a valuable, enjoyable presentation and well worth watching. David has a refreshing no b.s. style and a passion for what he does. (Not to mention the half million dollars he has at the ready.)
Click on the photograph to go to the video of David’s presentation.
Finally, Neil Merillees, before the meeting with David Holland, made a video for Montara Fog in an effort to encourage people to attend the MCC meeting. The meeting is over, of course, but in the video Neil travels to a few key junctures along the unfinished Coastal Trail and gives us a "sense of place" that works well combined with the above maps.
Click on the photograph to go to Neil’s video.
Full Disclosure Notice: I just bought bikes for my family so I have my own self-interest partly at heart in writing this article. Maybe it is just me but it seems like it would be nice to be able to bike up and down the Coast with my kids without braving the high-speed traffic of Highway One. |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 27 April 2008 )
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