2026 April General Meeting Minutes

  

Pacific Beach Coalition
Clean It Out, for Steelhead Trout

April General Meeting

April 7, 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.

2026 March General Meeting Minutes

Meeting opened at 6:05pm

Introductions, Welcome New Friends!

We had a hybrid group of attendees. Jim shared stories of recent airport travel experiences, referenced recent conversations about AI and how the impact is noticeable in student/academic settings.

Mayor of Pacifica, Christine Boles

While Mayor Boles was unavailable, we did provide her updates:

  • The Pacifica Land Trust is presenting on May 2 about Nature Based Solutions. I think this would be of interest to a lot of the PBC community as to ways to build climate resilience while protecting our beaches and habitat! https://www.pacifica-land-trust.org/events/
  • I also wanted to let you know that the planters that were added to the blufftop (and your staging area) on Esplanade were required by the CCC of OceanAire as a mitigation for some of the work they have been doing. I have asked for a meeting with their enforcement division as I’m quite upset that they did this without understanding how this space was used by the community and by the PBC as a cleanup staging area. 
  • The RCD is applying for a $5 million grant for the Adobe Bridge improvements to help with flooding and steelhead passage. The project is designed and ready to be submitted for permit. It requires a $500,000 match from the city that we will need to find money for.

Program Coordinator, Greg Finkelstein

We are welcoming new Site Captains. Join the fun and make a commitment to making a difference.

  • Cleanups; site captain coordination is in process for EcoFest, please reach out for specific needs and questions. We are reviewing inventory for Ace Hardware tools and supplies donation request. Naturalist meeting raised awareness of policy governance update for safety, first aid, etc.
  • Habitat Restoration; promoted Pacifica Gardens native plant sale, we support our friends and neighbors while appreciating their ongoing collaboration.
  • Education; steelhead trout teacher’s toolkit is out, assemblies scheduled, Patrick is exploring potential expansion of programming, please reach out if you’re interested in collaborating.
  • Givebacks; we’re getting many more requests, 5 between January and March, 7 scheduled for April so far, 9 more later in the year with more inquiries being processed. Good! Tell your bosses, too.

Earth Day EcoFest 2026

Saturday, April 18!

Earth Day EcoFest 2026

Naturalists’ Report; Julie

  • We had a very successful naturalist meeting on April 1 to introduce the steelhead trout and discuss best practices. Thank you, Chloe, for putting together outstanding information on the steelhead.

    A few things came up: 
    • All locations need a first aid kit and sharps container. Please talk to Greg.
    • What to do with vapes? TBD. Hazardous waste.
    • Establishing a policy for when rain cancels a clean up and how to communicate that to volunteers who have signed up. Greg & Comms team are on it!
  • Naturalist coverage for EcoFest is assigned
    • More Naturalists welcome! See Patrick
  • The California Dept. of Public Health (CDPH) is advising the public not to eat sport-harvested mussels, clams, scallops, or oysters, gathered from Marin and San Mateo Counties due to dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins detected in mussels from these waters. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/SN26-006.aspx

Executive Director’s Report

Patrick is busy busy busy. Contact him if you would like to help.

  • Blackrock Gives proposal is in-progress.
    • Send us more opportunities, and support our mission-driven grants development strategy!
  • Upcoming opportunities:
    • 4/14, 21, 28 Skyline College Sustainability Film Fest; any volunteers?
    • 4/17 Ortega Elementary School; Deirdre, Kai, Pauline
    • 4/22 Skyline College Earth Day Fair; Patrick, Shari
    • 4/25 Youthpoint Health; 8th Annual Youth Summit 11AM – 3PM
    • 5/7 Coastside Gives; Patrick on the radio, you too?
    • 6/6 CoastPride; any volunteers?!

Communications Team

  • Chloe:
  • Margo
    • Sorry about the email typo about today’s meeting date, vetting that draft review process
    • Website updates are in progress
    • “What’s in a name, EcoFest?”
      • Pre-COVID that was the event name; it’s a single name for two-part events, the Take Action portion of the day from 9-11 then Celebration from 10:30-1:30
      • Generally, we’ve operated last few years with “Day of Action and X-fest” whether it was Whales or Pelicans. Troutfest sounded like a fishing tournament, we went evergreen.
      • For general marketing and communications needs, Earth Day EcoFest 2026 is the name.

Board and Financial Report

  • Financial Reports from Quickbooks were shared; our SCIF Payroll Report was higher than expected
  • Recruiting more board members and a Treasurer – if you’re interested, contact Jim Fithian
    • Meetings are held on every 4th Tuesday of the month

Pelican Squad; Gail

  • We’ve got teens in the plans for EcoFest, get excited for tattoos and selfies with Stella
  • Next training: May 16

Coming Up

Roundtable: Let’s hear it from you!!!

  • Honey: so happy to join us! Thanks for your sunshine, Honey
    • Suggested donation stickers with QR Code
    • “Can we add to our schools distribution list?” Yes please.
    • The Caboose is a great spot for flyers and brochures. Patrick hit it, just before the rains came.
    • Trout from a pine cone: pine cones are biodegradable option for a fun craft activity
  • Margo:
    • Rockaway cleanup seeing lots of Taco Bell “souvenir cups” and we’d like everyone to photograph and report these items specifically.

Meeting adjourned just before 7:30pm

We enjoyed a lovely sunset. Thanks all.