How are our coastal communities responding to the urgent realities of climate change?
On October 29, civic leaders, nonprofit partners, and community members gathered in Pacifica for Shifting Shorelines: Adapting to Climate Change on the Coast, a half-day workshop in Leadership Council SMC’s LEAD Local: Engage series. The event offered a front-row view into how rising seas and erosion are reshaping our coast—and how local leaders are meeting these challenges with creativity, collaboration, and courage.
The day began at the Pacifica Civic Center with Mayor Sue Beckmeyer and Vice Mayor Christine Boles, who shared “At the Water’s Edge: Pacifica’s Frontline Lessons in Resilience.” Their stories grounded participants in the complex balancing act of protecting infrastructure, supporting residents, and sustaining the city’s distinctive character.
“Pacifica’s leadership is modeling what adaptive resilience looks like,” said Leadership Council SMC Co-President Margi Power. “They’re facing these challenges head-on and inviting the community into the process.”
Next, Len Materman of OneShoreline and Debbie Ruddock, OneShoreline Board Chair and Vice Mayor of Half Moon Bay, zoomed out to the regional scale with Beyond the Bluff: How Coastal Change Impacts Us All. They revealed how coastal adaptation intersects with housing, transportation, water, and economic stability.
“Climate challenges affect all of us—from the coast to the bay,” added Co-President Kaarin Hardy. “Collaboration is essential.”
After lunch, participants boarded the Cypress Lawn Heritage Foundation trolley for a guided beach tour of Pacifica’s shoreline, seeing adaptation strategies in action—from engineered bluff protections to restored natural landscapes. Along the way, participants connected, reflected, and shared insights about applying these lessons in their own communities.
The afternoon closed with a reflective debrief—an opportunity to connect personal takeaways to broader leadership and policy implications across the county. Participant comments captured the spirit of the day:
- “Amazing job summarizing such a complex topic!”
- “All 3 tour stops were important to show Pacifica’s diverse situations and challenges.”
- “Awesome to connect with others and see issues firsthand.”
