My Positions on Current High-Profile Half Moon Bay Issues

By Deborah Ruddock

Sidewalk Liability

Are you ready for your lawsuit? In 2011, the City Council voted to make Half Moon Bay residents and business owners financially liable for injuries occurring on public sidewalks. A Casa Del Mar woman was left holding the bag five months after buying her home when an elderly woman fell on the sidewalk out front. The woman's insurance company sought damages of $350,000 from the homeowner, citing a broken arm and facial lacerations. The case eventually settled for $100,000, and the homeowner's annual insurance premiums spiked almost $1000. Before another property owner is callously and unfairly burdened, the City Council must take back liability for sidewalks. Sidewalks are a public good, properly maintaining them is a basic government responsibility, and the City has legal and insurance resources and infrastructure expertise not available to homeowners.

Measure O: Extension of Sales Tax Increase

Passage of Measure O would extend the highest sales tax rate in Northern California for three years. The Council justified the original rate increase citing a financial emergency. While the city still has some bonds to pay off, the financial picture appears much rosier. I believe the city has not made a strong case to continue it. I think we would better serve our local businesses and keep more of our shopping dollars local by easing sales taxes or directing the revenue generated to projects that help our businesses thrive and that attract new businesses.

Main Street Bridge

The city council turned a deaf ear to residents and Main Street businesses on the Main Street Bridge issue and let its decision-making be driven by the availability of federal grants rather than the facts of the bridge's condition. We need to implement the will of the voters who supported successful Measure F. We need an impartial analysis of the bridge's condition and its useful life expectancy. The City should not spend any more of our dollars toward replacing the bridge unless an independent investigation proves beyond a doubt that it's unfeasible to fix it.

Pilarcitos Creek + Coastal Trail Bridge

The City was responsible for the design and construction of this bridge 20 years ago. While the City transferred ownership and maintenance responsibility for the bridge to State Parks, the fact remains that the poorly designed bridge, located within City limits, provides a critical linkage in a trail that provides an important commute and recreational corridor for City and Coastside residents and visitors. As a responsible if not lead agency the City should have monitored the bridge's condition on an ongoing basis and interacted with State Park staff on issues as they come up rather than letting a crisis develop. Message: Do not let turf issues get in the way of solving problems. It was reasonable for the City to offer $100,000 for up-front planning costs as a match for the State funds that will be needed for bridge repair or replacement. Most State as well as federal grant programs require grantees to have "skin in the game" by providing a 25-50% local cost share for capital projects.

More to come......