Half Moon Bay considers enforcement, fencing as homelessness along creek raises concerns

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KGO) — Half Moon Bay officials say a growing homelessness crisis along Pilarcitos Creek has become an environmental threat, prompting the city to consider new enforcement measures while continuing outreach to unhoused residents.

City leaders say most of the community’s unhoused population is living along the creek, where debris and discarded items have accumulated. Vice Mayor Deborah Penrose said the impact is visible throughout the corridor, “which is filled with tents, camps and tarps and junk.”

City officials say abandoned bicycle parts, plastic bags, food containers, old motors and even larger items such as a tricycle and a shopping cart have been found in the creek. Pilarcitos Creek is considered highly vulnerable and is home to endangered species including the garter snake and steelhead trout. The waterway flows directly into the Pacific Ocean, raising concerns about pollution.

“Our Pilarcitos Creek empties into the ocean and the waste that goes into it is bad for the ocean, it’s bad of the planet,” Penrose said.

City Manager Matthew Chidester said the city is trying to balance environmental protection with the needs of people living outdoors. “So we really take a measured approach and our focus is both on the environmental side but also the human side,” Chidester said.

Officials estimate 40 to 60 people are living near the creek. Outreach teams visit regularly to offer services, but some individuals decline help. The city says it currently has enough shelter beds at a local hotel for every unhoused person in Half Moon Bay.

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During a recent visit, one person shouted from a distance for ABC7 Eyewitness News to leave. Officials say some residents along the creek struggle with substance abuse or mental health issues.

One man, Huber Ponce, initially hesitated to speak because he feared the crew was immigration enforcement. Ponce said the city has offered him help and that he previously stayed in a shelter. “Pero me sacaron de ahi. Nos han sacado de ahi, pues,” he said. He said he was told to leave the shelter without explanation and said he does not use drugs or alcohol.

City officials say they plan to take steps to prevent people from returning to sensitive areas of the creek. One option is installing fencing along parts of the waterway.

“Something that we’ve been working on and will move forward with this summer is actually a lot of fencing in the areas along the creek that they don’t prevent people from going into the area, but they make it more difficult and allow us easy enforcement going forward,” Chidester said.

Officials are also considering an ordinance that could pressure unhoused residents to accept services or face citations. San Mateo County adopted a similar policy two years ago.

“We guarantee people these beds when we go to these encampments,” County Executive Officer Mike Callagy said. “If that doesn’t work then we’ll send out our team that will actually ‘notice’ them and they’ll get a notice each day for three days and upon the third day they could be cited. We’ve never had that situation. Most people leave after that first or second notice and we put them in housing or they go elsewhere,” he said.

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Some residents question whether enforcement is the right approach. “You can’t force people into treatment and you can’t force them to get help. They have to ask for it,” said Half Moon Bay resident Miles Swanton.

Others say county assistance has changed their lives. Jose Reyes, who previously lived on the streets, described moving into shelter and housing. “From sleeping in post office doorways to being woken up at one in the morning with the police telling me you can’t sleep here, sleeping in tents to having a room with a shower,” Reyes said. “Now I’m standing on my feet and I might have a home soon. I have my dignity back, I have my self respect back.”

City leaders say they will not act on a new ordinance until hearing from the community. Penrose said she believes the measure is likely to pass but warned it will not solve the underlying problem.

“I don’t think it’s the answer. I don’t think anything is the answer except building more housing, making more affordable housing available for everyone,” Penrose said.

Half Moon Bay is three years overdue on its statemandated housing plan, making it one of California’s worst offenders in meeting required goals. On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a final warning for the city to comply with state housing laws.

In a statement, city officials said they are working toward full compliance. “The City takes the Governor’s comments seriously and is continuing to work toward full compliance with state housing law,” the statement said. The city said its Housing Element meets statutory requirements and that staff are completing required rezonings, which involve additional steps because the city is fully within the Coastal Zone.

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“We’ve drafted the needed rezoning updates and are working with HCD to finalize them,” the statement said. “We’ll continue moving these updates forward to meet state requirements and stay on track to achieve our housing goals.”