2026 January General Meeting Minutes

  

Pacific Beach Coalition
“Trash in the Bin, not in the Pelican!”

1st General Meeting!

January 13, 2026
6 – 7:45 pm @ Sharp Park Public Library in Pacifica, CA

Mission Statement 
The Pacific Beach Coalition is dedicated to preserving the ocean, coastal habitat and wildlife, and ending litter through advocacy, education, community-building and citizen action.

Introductions, Welcome New Friends!
Meeting opened at 6:02pm.

Present: ​​Nicole, Myrna, Gail, Jim, Patrick, Mandy, Chris, Tim, Pete, Greg, Christine, Sarah P, Mark, Margo, Jana, Sasha, Paula, Adeline, Cecily, Barbara, Sarah C., Shari

Christine Boles, Mayor

  • Led first council meeting 1/12. Signed letter opposing Trump’s push for drilling on the CA coast.
  • Pacifica Pier Seawall
    • City of Pacifica have spent over $7 million on repairs and had 3 major voids this winter.
    • See Fact Sheet, Design Plan: Beach Boulevard Infrastructure Resiliency Project
    • Plans are to have environmental design, review, construction, etc. at last 6 years before anything is built. Estimates are that the North wall only has 5 years left. The project will cost approximately $85 million in total. (who pays? sewer rate increase?) Applied for state grants, however the Coastal Conservancy may not be prioritizing these “grey infrastructure” grants (looking for “green infrastructure” and nature based-solutions). SRAs, special resiliency areas, are to be explored and defined as potential local community opportunities / ramifications.
  • Study session coming up on 1/26/26 at 7pm to discuss SRAs, future planning, creative ideas.
    • Member Call for ACTION: Need more people from PBC to be present and share their opinions. Agenda will be available with more precise timing on 1/21/26.

New Director Patrick James Cavanaugh: Opening Words…

  • PBC 2026, not 2.0, we’ve got two BIG shoes to fill, thankful to everyone for being involved in the happy spirit of collaboration and learning. Lynn is still around, name on the coastal trail switchbacks at Rockaway Beach. Looking forward to seeing all our longtime and new members both come out to help celebrate legacy and community with us at Lynn’s Retirement Party.
  • In process: Data governance policy and ops plans to review our consent forms and other paperwork
  • Overarching goals:
    • Our 2026 honoree Steelhead Trout in San Pedro Creek platforms watershed consciousness
      • Question (Julie): does PBC do water testing?
      • City has a responsibility.
      • Response (Mark): our members support Linda Mar Water Quality Coalition with water monitoring / testing of our creeks.
    • Looking to restore grants, development, and fundraising as revenue generating activities
    • Goal to triple our Group/Corporate Give Backs in 2026
  • Current financial position is strong as a nonprofit organization; last two years were operated at a loss, recovered from with two independent, non-recurring donations. Budget in review.

Site Captain Reports, Information

  • Site Captain Packets – what is involved in being a Site Captain – Patrick & Greg working on this
  • 5 events so far this year
    • Myrna (Thornton): 14 volunteers (new record!); 35 native plants; received donations for habitat restoration supplies. Site is looking great!
    • Sara S (Rockaway): Over 20 volunteers in wet weather. 
  • PBC Weather Safety Protocol
    • Greg: He will reach out one week in advance about the weather conditions of your event. Unless we are in the midst of a very bad storm, we will not cancel cleanups or restorations in advance – in which case Greg will email volunteers. We have at least one site captain on site in case people show up looking to participate.
    • Jim: Typically sends an email to registered volunteers the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday prior to the event.
    • Greg: Most site captains don’t send email with that frequency prior to events, he will coordinate with site captains.
    • WE ARE RECRUITING. Two people interested to be site captains for Mussel Rock.

MLK Day of Service, Sat Jan 17 at Linda Mar

  • Event Page. Results Page.
  • Beach cleanup at 9-11am (Jim/Ana out), Restoration at 10am-1pm
  • Historically we’ve had 100+ people at each site on Day of Service
  • Greg will send separate emails about Day of Service
  • Jana: Last year Com team landed on ‘MLK Beach Planting & Cleanup’
  • Sarah P: GGNRA is also doing planting at Mori Point that morning

Naturalists’ Report

  1. California statewide plastic bag ban now in effect. You must now either bring your own reusable bag, or purchase a brown paper bag or reusable bag at the store for 25 cents.
  2. Tidepooling event at Rockaway was postponed due to bad weather. It is now scheduled for January 30th at 2:30pm. Some of our PBC teens from Oceana will be joining us.
  3. Crab season update. Crab season opened January 5th with a 40% reduction in crab pots. We can expect to see an increase in washed up crab pots and fishing gear at our cleanups.

Additional remarks:

  • Mark: If you find a crab pot/cage, there is a plastic attachment with a code. Bring that to Half Moon Bay, typically they will give you money for the crab pot since it belongs to a fisherman.
  • Julie: when there is a lot of wind, she puts all of her naturalist items under plexiglass in her trunk
  • Greg: A lot of people don’t know the recycling rules – when they bring back items, engage with volunteers and tell them about what is recyclable.

Communications Team

  • Giving Tuesday was a success! Thanks all for your support.
  • Why does PBC have two Facebook Pages?
  • In process: PBC 2025 Annual Report & an Impact Flyer with year metrics in English & Spanish 
  • On Sunday 1/4/26 at 6pm, ABC7 News gave a shout out to the Rockaway Beach cleanup volunteers during the windy weather. The news coverage boosted social media engagement with PBC.
  • Coastside Gives 2026 is May 7. Campaign Registration due January 27.

New Director’s Report!

  • Please reach out with any questions/comments: patrick@pacificbeachcoalition.org
  • Visited the country of Colombia over the holidays, including the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, snorkeling a marine preserve area and navigating ethical eco-tourism waste management and nature conservation
  • We have many communications priorities, with more than 20,000 contacts in the email list, will be looking at refreshing the database segments, lists, calendars to keep actives
  • Considering a community garden approach with a seasonal calendar for the habitat restorations, building strategic partnerships with schools, organizations and neighbors in Half Moon Bay, etc.
  • PBC Board of Directors Member Pete DeJarnatt is currently serving as Treasurer, we are recruiting a longterm replacement, please reach out to Patrick if you or someone you know is interested.

Pelican Squad!

  • Gail: contacting all site captains to check their schedules for the new year
    • Current list of teens: 47
    • 2 New Trained: Enzo (Sharp Park) and Janie (Linda Mar)
  • Jim: can we review our merchandise plan?
    • Teens are wanting hoodies! 
    • Baseball caps with PBC logo are also an idea, sewn on logo / artwork patches
  • Mark: Possibility to do a teen site rotation? 
  • Greg: Would like to see site captains visit other sites on rotational learning basis

PBC Celebration / Lynn’s Retirement Party

Friday Jan 23, 5-7:30 at Vallemar School

  • Jim: Lynn wants to reiterate that this is a retirement party, but also a party for PBC.
    • Do we want to do a potluck? Or have PBC buy some food?
    • We collected money in December for the signage, we could use that money for the party
  • Sara S:
    • Could we ask a local restaurant to cater for us? A taco bar or similar?
  • Donations requested to PBC Penny Keating Education Fund.
  • NOTE: An order with La Perla has been made, come prepared with appetites for tasty bites!

Dates to Note

  • Day of Service Jan 17
  • Earth Day Apr 18 – we are getting the team together again
    • “Clean It Out For Steelhead Trout”
    • Meet with Earth Day Committee; Patrick will send an email to schedule 2026 kickoff

Roundtable: Let’s hear it from you!!!

  • Chris: Question status of Wavemedia documentary videographer (Amy).
    • Jim: Still working on scheduling interviews. Vilka has had conflicts.
  • Patrick: who owns email address pickituppacifica@gmail.com
    • Maybe Cindy Abbott, ED at Sanchez Art Center?
  • Greg: Give Backs are a significant revenue generator for PBC. Please ask your friends, schools, companies if they are interested, and reach out with any questions.

Meeting adjourned at 7:44pm.