Half Moon Bay City Council Hears Draft Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy; Next Day City Website Shut Down After Worldwide PHP Programming Language Attack
VIDEO. The Half Moon Bay City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held both in person and online, and people could comment remotely. See the Half Moon Bay City Council meeting page, the meeting agenda and AI policy, and the staff report for Item #11C. The item asked the Council to review a report on the City's draft artificial intelligence (AI) policy, the work of its internal AI Subcommittee, and the AI system running on City computers. Council members were asked to give staff feedback and guidance on the draft policy and the City's use of AI.
On Wednesday, October 21, the day after the City Council meeting, I received the message below because I had signed up to receive City alerts. The City website is working again, but the link to the email notification webpage has been turned off. (Read more.)
This was part of a worldwide attack involving the PHP programming language. If the City was using PHP version 8.3 or a newer version, it was not affected, according to the article.
Coastside Buzz stayed online without interruption because its PHP software is updated regularly.
More about the Half Moon Bay City Council on Coastside Buzz
Half Moon Bay City Council ~ Meetings ~ First and third Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
The Half Moon Bay City Council is the City's main governing group. It has five elected members. The Council sets the City's priorities and policies, makes final decisions on major City matters, passes laws and resolutions, appoints the City Manager and City Attorney, and approves the yearly budget.
The Half Moon Bay City Council usually meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue.
Half Moon Bay City Council Agendas and Zoom Links
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Special meetings: Agendas are posted 24 hours before the meeting.
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Contact the City Council
Phone: (650) 726-8250. Leave a message with the City Clerk's office.
Mayor Robert Brownstone, District 1; term ends in 2026
[email protected]
Vice Mayor Debbie Ruddock, District 4; term ends in 2026
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Councilmember Deborah Penrose, District 5; term ends in 2026
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Councilmember Patric Bo Jonsson, District 2; term ends in 2028
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Councilmember Paul Nagengast, District 3; term ends in 2028
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The City of Half Moon Bay holds elections by district for its five City Council seats. Each council member is elected for a four-year term. There are no term limits in Half Moon Bay. Each year, the Council chooses one of its members to be Mayor and another to be Vice Mayor.
- November 2024 election – Districts 2 and 3 will elect representatives for four-year terms.
- November 2026 election – Districts 1, 4, and 5 will elect representatives for four-year terms.
Click here to find your district. Enter your address in the interactive map to see which district you live in.
Map 503b, adopted March 15, 2022
