Have you heard something related to the City around town, on social media, or in the newspaper, and want to know if it's true? The City of Pacifica's "For the Record" Page is dedicated to providing residents the facts about varying issues and concerns of broad interest within the Pacifica community.
When misinformation about important City projects or programs is widely disseminated in the community, the City will respond with available information and post it here under "Current Buzz." To see past posts, please check out "The Last Word" below.
Current Buzz
City Proposed Sewer Rate Increases – April 29, 2022
The following Frequently Asked Questions document provides information in response to recent questions from the public regarding the City’s proposed sewer rate increases and corrects misinformation that has been published on some social media sites, the Pacifica Tribune Opinion section, and the Coastside Buzz Opinion section.
Click here for the full FAQ.
Lower Linda Mar Roadway Flooding Issues – December 23, 2021
Recently, the lower Linda Mar area experienced two documented roadway flooding issues including an area where water levels came up over the curb to just past the back of sidewalk at Anza and Arguello. The highest water level documented during the storms was at 2 feet in height in the roadway gutter. This area and some other locations of lower Linda Mar are part of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Special Flood Zone and have experienced past flooding issues. Many homes in this area employ sump pumps that pump high groundwater to the street from under their homes and this area requires homeowners to carry special flood insurance. The City continually works to minimize flooding in this area including employing storm water pumps at the Linda Mar and Anza pump stations and keeping storm drain inlets and pipes clear of debris. Although the Linda Mar pump station is fully automated, fire damage to the Anza pump station in March of 2020 required replacement of the equipment with a temporary system that is manually operated. Staff has been working closely with the California Coastal Commission on permitting that would allow for a permanent automated system to be installed and has recently issued a request to the Commission to be allowed to move forward on an emergency basis.
The most recent roadway flooding occurred late on December 23, 2021. At this time, both the Anza and Linda Mar pump stations were operating and managing storm water appropriately. The roadway flooding occurred following an intense rain downpour. The City’s pipe sensor showed that during the downpour the pipe had additional capacity, however, the intensity of the downpour caused roadway water to back up at the inlet due to large water flows down the street.
The City is in the process of a Storm Drain Master Plan update and is continuing to document this roadway flooding issue, as well as others, for the storm drain consultant to assess with the study. The study is anticipated to be complete by summer of 2022.
Information regarding the City’s Storm Drain Master Plan can be viewed at:
https://www.cityofpacifica.org/depts/pw/engr/storm_drainage_master_plan/default.asp
The webpage provides an e-mail for residents to provide information regarding flooding issues. This is stormdrainplan@pacifica.gov. Additionally, the City’s project manager, Lawrence Henriquez, for the Master Plan can be contacted at lhenriquez@pacifica.gov.
The City’s crews work diligently and around the clock to address drainage and flooding issues during rain events. Recently, members of the public interfered with one of our first responders addressing storm water issues. Please do not interfere or distract employees during a storm response as this may slow down their ability to respond to the emergency.
Sincerely,
Lisa Petersen
Public Works Director
Court Order Regarding Oversized Vehicle Parking Lists and Map
Please click the link below for a Factsheet, updated July 23, 2021:
Oversized Vehicle Ordinance Factsheet, updated July 23, 2021
July 21, 2021
The City of Pacifica has installed OSV (Oversized Vehicle) parking restriction signs throughout the City based on an engineering safety review, which determined where OSVs could park in the City without impacting the safety of roadway users. These signs are located at roadway entrances into the City, entrances to specific neighborhoods and along stretches of specific City roadway. Many streets where OSVs cannot park without impacting driver safety have sign restrictions in place; however, not every prohibited street has signage.
The list of where OSVs cannot park is viewable here: Streets prohibited for OSV parking. In addition, pursuant to a court order, the City is required to make a map and a list of where OSVs can legally park available to the public in a specified manner. The list of streets available for OSV parking is viewable here: Streets allowable for OSV parking. The map showing the streets where OSVs can park is viewable here: Map of streets allowable for OSV parking. The City has also made the lists and a link to the map to be made available upon request at the Pacifica-Sharp Park Library, the Pacifica-Sanchez Library, and at City Hall. Please contact those Libraries and the City for any access limitations put in place due to COVID-19.
There are other ordinances, laws, or codes governing parking, such as restrictions on OSVs parking within one hundred (100) feet of an uncontrolled intersection on a public street [Pacifica Muni. Code Sec. 4-7.1205(a)(2)], 72 hour parking restrictions [Pacifica Muni. Code Sec. 5-2.01 et seq.], blocking driveways [Cal. Vehicle Code Sec. 22500(e)], parking in front of fire hydrants [Cal. Vehicle Code Sec. 22514], bus zones [Pacifica Muni. Code Sec. 4-7.1306], loading zones [Pacifica Muni. Code Sec. 4-7.1302], etc. that also may apply to parking on the City streets that are not specifically identified on the lists or map. There may also be sections within the allowable street segments that the Traffic Engineer has determined are unsafe for OSV parking and has posted no parking signs. Further, these lists and the map may be updated as changes are made to the City’s roadways by resolution of the City Council or pursuant to a finding of the Traffic Engineer identified by signage that may make the area either safe or unsafe for OSVs to park on. [Pacifica Muni. Code Sec. 4-7.1204(b); Sec. 4-7.1205(a)]
The below bullet points offer more information regarding OSV parking in the City:
- Due to traffic safety concerns, the City of Pacifica passed ordinance updates to section 4-7.1204 & 4-7.1205 of the City’s Municipal Code.
- Effectively, outside of loading and unloading for less than 8 hours pursuant to 4-7.1205b, over sized vehicles as defined by the above code sections (22' Long or 7' wide or 8' high) are not allowed to park on a number of roads within the City’s limits.
Should you have any questions regarding parking your oversized vehicle you may call the Pacifica Police Department at 650-738-7314.
Here are Frequently Asked Questions regarding OSVs.
The Last Word
Here are the real facts, for the record, to some of the more common city business related questions you may have heard around town.
Check our archives here.