Monterey City Council Meeting: March 4, 2025
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Monterey City Council Meeting: March 4, 2025
The Monterey City Council met on March 4, 2025, beginning at 3:57 PM PST in an afternoon session and reconvening for an evening session after closed session. All five council members were present. The agenda included proclamations for American Red Cross Month and Women's History Month, a public hearing on zoning changes for bicycle rentals, a first reading of a camping ordinance, and discussion and approval of council priorities.
Consent Calendar
- The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, which included item 5 on Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funding. Councilmembers discussed the declining funding levels and the potential for regional collaboration on a housing trust fund, but staff noted that current population thresholds prevent this.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment (Afternoon):
- Steve (no affiliation stated) complained about personal grievances and announced his impending move to Utah.
- Janine Chikarate (Portola Hotel & Spa, incoming C Monterey chair) thanked the city for its investment in destination marketing, reporting $38.9 million in economic impact to Monterey alone and $24 million to the conference center. She noted 45,000 room nights booked last year.
- Martha Krapchik (neighbor) and Tony Tolner (resident) voiced serious concerns about traffic congestion and pedestrian safety near Monterey High School due to construction closing access points. They presented photos of blocked crosswalks, dangerous driver behavior, and a collision between two school buses. They requested the city provide traffic control and reopen additional routes.
- Jeff Whitmore (Larkin Street resident) described parking difficulties due to student vehicles and requested one-hour parking restrictions.
- Sherry Flamerfeld (Western Flyer Foundation, Executive Director) invited the public to a send-off event for the Western Flyer boat on March 16 at Old Fisherman's Wharf, noting the 85th anniversary of Steinbeck's voyage.
- Nina Beattie (resident) argued for banning lithium-ion battery storage and smart meters in high fire hazard zones, claimed aerosol geoengineering is increasing fire risk, and questioned the safety of smart meters. She requested engineering documentation from the city.
- Erica Delamar (resident) called for better management of Laguna Grande Regional Park, citing invasive species, fuel buildup, erosion, and illegal camping that create fire and safety hazards.
- Public Comment on Item 8 (Bicycle Rentals):
- Bob Paulis (Canary Row property owner) supported expanding bike rentals but asked about display regulations.
- Kyle Wareham (Adventures by the Sea owner) noted there are already five rental companies on Canary Row and suggested focusing on visitor areas. He expressed concern about bike path congestion.
- Barry Riddock (Escape Room 831 owner) supported the idea but warned about safety on the bike path, urging the council to develop an enforcement plan.
- Jeff Davy (representing property at 550 Wave Street) supported the ordinance, noting the building has been vacant and a tenant is interested in a bike rental business.
- Joaquin Sullivan (Big Sur Adventures owner) supported, recommending speed limits (e.g., 12 mph) as used in Pacific Grove.
- Adam (Zoom caller) supported, saying it was surprising the use was not already allowed.
- Bob Luthe (Planning Commission Chair) recommended addressing safety concerns on the recreational trail as a separate issue.
- Public Comment on Item 11 (Camping Ordinance):
- A female speaker (name not recorded) displayed photos of drug use and illegal activities near parks and businesses, requested stronger enforcement and language to protect children and workers.
- Mitchell (Zoom caller, business owner) requested no camping in business districts, stating that customers and staff feel unsafe, and called for regular police patrols.
- Esther (resident) asked to include Laguna Grande Park in the high fire zone maps, noting past encampment fires. She argued that police cannot be everywhere and called for safe parking alternatives for those living in vehicles.
- Tom (resident) expressed confusion about the Desert Rain case, asked for clarity on enforcement against sleeping in cars, and urged the city to prohibit overnight camping citywide except in designated safe parking areas.
- Lorna Moffitt (resident) demanded that the city provide alternatives (e.g., open city lots at night with portable toilets) before banning camping, citing the Supreme Court's emphasis on due process and humane treatment. She criticized service providers for not helping a homeless veteran.
- Brian Rosen (resident) argued that criminalizing homelessness is cruel, noted many homeless are veterans, and called for helping rather than punishing.
- Kim (resident) sought a balance between safety and compassion, suggested reducing the 30-day warning period to 7 days, and supported police discretion while providing transitional services.
- General Public Comment (Evening):
- Esther thanked the city for the wildfire town hall and criticized PG&E for power outages.
- Brian Rosen urged the council to pass a resolution opposing President Trump and Elon Musk's actions, calling them illegal and dangerous.
- Laura (telephone caller) echoed Brian, calling for a citizen's arrest of Elon Musk for illegally cutting congressionally funded programs.
Discussion Items
- Item 8: Bicycle Equipment Rental as Permitted Use (C2 and CR Zones): Staff presented the proposed amendment to allow bicycle and equipment rental (including Class 1 and 2 e-bikes) in Community Commercial (C2) and Cannery Row (CR) zoning districts, expanding upon the 2022 ordinance that limited such use to the Lighthouse Plan, Downtown Specific Plan, and Open Space zones. The Planning Commission recommended approval on February 11, 2025. Council discussion focused on whether to include C1 (Neighborhood Commercial) zones; staff noted that would require a new Planning Commission referral. Safety on the recreational trail was raised as a separate concern. The council adopted the ordinance as recommended, while expressing interest in a future study of trail safety.
- Item 11: First Reading of Camping Ordinance: The Assistant City Attorney explained the legal backdrop (Martin v. Boise, Desert Rain, Johnson v. Grant Pass) necessitating updates to the city's camping regulations. The proposed ordinance:
- Moves camping prohibitions from Chapter 23 (recreation areas) to Chapter 32 (public property).
- Repeals Section 20-85 (prohibition on sleeping in vehicles) due to constitutional vagueness concerns from Desert Rain.
- Prohibits camping on all public property within 1,000 feet of schools (amended from 'two blocks' after public comment), in cemeteries, in high/very high fire hazard zones (based on the General Plan map), and in recreation areas (except Veterans Park).
- Includes a 30-day warning requirement before citation, with escalating fines (infraction then misdemeanor).
- Staff noted the city's multidisciplinary outreach team (MDOT) continues engagement and service referrals. Public testimony was deeply divided: some residents demanded strict enforcement citing safety and drug activity, while others called for humane alternatives and warned against criminalizing homelessness. Council discussion recognized the need for balance, with several members noting the complexity of enforcement and the importance of providing services. The first reading was approved unanimously, with a request that staff prepare a map showing affected areas for the second reading. The item will return for a second reading.
- Item 12: Approval of City Council Priorities: The Assistant City Manager presented insights from the January 29, 2025 council workshop. Key outcomes:
- Achievements praised included Measure S projects, police technology (ALPR), the MDOT team, and the Wildfire Community Protection Plan.
- Opportunities identified included community discussion on Measure S renewal, disaster preparedness, affordable housing and water, economic development, and pedestrianizing Alvarado Street.
- Challenges included staffing capacity and funding limitations due to high cost of living and recruiting difficulties.
- Importance/urgency scoring and forced ranking yielded top priorities: (1) Community Engagement & Transparency, (2) Public Safety, (3) Fiscal Stewardship / Stable Revenue, (4) Housing & Homelessness Services, (5) Economic Development, (6) Infrastructure Maintenance, (7) High-Quality Workforce, and (8) Affordable Housing & Water.
- Staff proposed a Citizens Academy and a National Citizen Survey as new engagement initiatives, and noted upcoming discussions on the Central Public Safety Facility (April 1), Measure S renewal (expires 2027), and an Economic Development framework (March 26 study session).
- The council unanimously adopted the priorities. Councilmembers requested that staff provide a timeline calendar to guide work over the year and expressed interest in reopening Casanova Park Center.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimously approved Consent Calendar (including PLHA funding items).
- Unanimously adopted Ordinance amending zoning to allow bicycle rentals in C2 and CR districts (Item 8).
- Unanimously approved First Reading of the Camping Ordinance (Item 11) with an amendment changing school buffer to 1,000 feet. The ordinance will return for a second reading.
- Unanimously adopted City Council Priorities as presented (Item 12).
- Closed session Item 10 (real property negotiation) was continued to a future meeting.
- Staff was directed to prepare a map for the camping ordinance and a proposed calendar for council priorities.
- The meeting was adjourned with a moment of silence in memory of Gaspar Cardinelli, a community leader who worked on the sister city relationship with Isola delle Femmine, Sicily.
Meeting Transcript
Recording in progress. Welcome to our council meeting for Tuesday, March 4th, 2025. I'll go ahead and call the meeting to order and I'll ask Clementine to do roll call and make announcements to the public, please. Councilmember Barber. Present. Councilmember Garcia. Here. Councilmember Rash here. Councilmember Smith. Here. And Mayor Williamson. Here. And information on participating in this meeting and providing public comment, including remotely by Zoom or telephone, is available on the agenda, which is online at Monterey.gov/slash agendas. Remote commenters, you will be muted until it is your turn to speak, and a timer will be shown on the screen. If you're connected on Zoom, the timer is accurate with no delay. In-person attendees must keep your phones and devices muted to prevent audio interference with our meeting. And thank you for participating in your city government. Thank you, Clementine. And with that, we'll go ahead and start with our presentations. Item number one is to recognize March 2025 as the American Red Cross Month. We have a proclamation here. I'll go ahead and read it aloud. Whereas March is American Red Cross Month, a special time to celebrate the humanitarian spirit of Monterey County and reaffirm their commitment to help ensure no fate no one faces a crisis alone in Monterey County across the United States and around the world. Their dedication touches millions of lives each year as they carry out the organization's 140-year mission of preventing and alleviating suffering. And whereas caring for one another is at the heart of our community and exemplified by the people of Monterey, whose simple acts of kindness through the Red Cross provide help and hope in people's most difficult moments, continuing the life-saving legacy of Clara Barton, who founded the organization more than 140 years ago to prevent and alleviate human suffering. And whereas Central Coast chapter volunteers, 133 in the county, give hope to the most vulnerable in their darkest hours. Last year in Monterey County, volunteers helped 64 households affected by 30 homes, home fires by addressing their urgent needs like food and lodging, as well as providing recovery support. In addition, they installed 655 smoke alarms, collected 1,939 blood donations, provided first aid and CPR training to 1,830 residents, and assisted 153 families of our armed forces. And whereas the Central Coast chapter support volunteerism and generous donations are critical to our community's resilience. We hereby recognize this month of March in honor of all those who fulfill Clara Barton's noble words. You must never think of anything except the need and how it to be and how to be how to meet it. And ask everyone to join in this commitment. Now therefore be resolved that I, Tyler Williamson, mayor of the city of Monterey, on behalf of the city council and citizens hereby proclaim the month of March 2025 as the American Red Cross month. I encourage all Americans to support this organization and its noble humanitarian mission. So why don't we give it up for members of the Red Cross and all the work that they do? And I'll just add a quick note too that um I recall hearing about during the fires in LA that um some of the folks that were involved in Red Cross were activated and helped support um that response as well. So we're tremendously um thankful. And I know that we have a member of Red Cross here today, so I will pass the mic to you, sir, and feel free to share your remarks. Thank you very much. And I'll keep it very, very short. I timed it out. So uh hello, my name is Dan Ripke. Uh I'm a board member for the American Red Cross. I'm honored to accept this proclamation, uh, recognizing March as the American Red Cross uh month. Our mission depends on the dedication of volunteers, donors, and community partners who help us respond to disasters, collect life-saving blood, and support local military families. Every eight minutes, uh, Red Cross volunteers provide relief as disasters continue to grow in both frequency and intensity. At the start of 2025 has been especially challenging. The devastating fires in Los Angeles require the deployment of hundreds of Red Cross responders to provide shelter, food, and care for displaced families and individuals. We've also been actively responding to the flooding in Kentucky and supporting the ongoing recovery efforts in North Carolina following last September's hurricane Helene. These large-scale disasters are in addition to the tens of thousands of home and apartment fires that we respond to nationwide each year.
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