Monterey City Council Meeting: Proclamations, Recognitions, Dutra Street Apology, and Boards Appointments Policy - June 17, 2025

The Monterey City Council held a regular meeting on June 17, 2025, starting in the afternoon and continuing into the evening. The meeting included a series of proclamations and recognitions for military personnel and city employees, a historic apology to Dutra Street indigenous residents, approval of an expanded fire and ambulance services agreement with Carmel-by-the-Sea, and a major discussion on the process for appointing members to boards and commissions. The Council also approved a one-year extension for the Ocean View Plaza development project and continued discussion on changes to the rental assistance program to a later meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Items 3 (Proclamation recognizing MST General Manager Carl Sederholm) and 13 (Fire and ambulance services agreement with Carmel-by-the-Sea) were pulled from consent for separate discussion.
• The remainder of the consent calendar was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 1: DLI Awards: Two public speakers attempted to speak on topics unrelated to the awards (toxins at Fort Ord and U.S. foreign policy) and were cut off by the Mayor for being off-topic.
• Item 2: Employee Anniversaries: One speaker (Esther Colleen) congratulated the employees.
• General Public Comments:
  • John Jim Burns (street vendor) proposed changes to sidewalk vending regulations, including moving planters, improving trash service, marking bike paths, and issuing a vendor map. He argued that vendors are currently doing the city's work.
  • A speaker (name unclear) expressed strong support for the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, highlighting its origins in protecting immigrant communities from ICE raids.
  • Olivia Zeller (Parks and Rec employee) raised concerns about bike path safety and conflicts with bikers at El Estero Park.
  • Ross Pounds (Monterey Firefighters Community Foundation) announced a defensible space grant program for residents needing help clearing vegetation for wildfire preparedness.
  • Staff Sergeant Jesse Morgan (DLI) spoke against alleged predatory practices by USA Towing, citing high fees and lack of oversight under CHP contract.
  • Callers criticized the Mayor for cutting off speakers on the DLI awards, urged action on global warming, and complained about Mayor's address of public comments.
• Item 3: Carl Sederholm Recognition: One speaker (Staff Sergeant Jesse Morgan) thanked Mr. Sederholm for MST service. Two callers (Brian Rosen and Rita Moffat) strongly opposed the recognition, criticizing Mr. Sederholm’s management, the SURF! project, and alleging conflicts of interest.
• Item 13: Carmel Fire/Ambulance: First speaker raised concerns about women's safety and self-defense classes; Ross Pounds (Monterey Firefighters Association) enthusiastically supported the merger.
• Item 15: Dutra Street Apology: Multiple speakers (Rudy Rosales, Karen Brown, Ann Jacobson, Philip Laverty, Nina Beattie, Tom) expressed gratitude for the apology and called for further actions such as land acknowledgments, public art, and a more accurate historical narrative.
• Item 18: Boards/Commissions Process: Over 20 speakers from the public addressed the Council, with the vast majority urging more transparency in the appointment process (supporting options B, C, or D) and many opposing the combination of the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission with the Historic Preservation Commission. Some speakers defended the current mayor's process and criticized perceived bullying from neighborhood association leaders.
• Item 16: Ocean View Plaza Extension: Bob Evans urged denial of the extension, calling the project an eyesore and citing climate change concerns. Bob (current applicant) defended the project, detailing improvements and arguing that denial would delay development for decades.

Discussion Items

• Proclamations & Recognitions: The Council read and presented proclamations to four service members (Seaman Elise Rising, Lance Corporal Ashton Elzy, Sergeant Samuel Garcia, Sergeant Jocelyn Mata) for their achievements at DLI, and recognized five city employees with 20-year milestones (Baltazar Garcia, Jose Bonilla, Michael Nemi, Jeffrey Welch, and one absent).
• Item 3: Carl Sederholm Proclamation: The Council honored Carl Sederholm for 25 years of service as General Manager/CEO of Monterey-Salinas Transit, citing achievements such as securing over $200 million in grants, launching SURF! bus rapid transit, and serving over 100 million passengers. Councilmember Smith personally thanked him.
• Item 13: Carmel Fire/Ambulance Contract: Fire Chief Miller presented the proposed agreement to take over ambulance services for Carmel-by-the-Sea, adding it to the existing fire services contract. The agreement would add 6 new positions, increase total contract value from $3.43M to $5.55M, and includes a 16% administrative fee. All direct and indirect costs are covered by Carmel. Chief Miller noted that the city’s fire contracts generate about $2M annually in unencumbered funds for the general fund.
• Item 15: Dutra Street Apology: City Manager Hans Usher presented an updated resolution apologizing to the Dutra Street indigenous residents for their forced displacement in the 1950s via eminent domain, acknowledging racist comments and historic injustices. The Council approved the proclamation after public testimony.
• Item 18: Boards & Commissions Appointments Process & Potential Consolidation:
  • Appointments Process: The Council debated options for making nominations. After extensive discussion, a motion carried to establish a standing committee of the Mayor and Vice Mayor to conduct interviews. The committee's meetings would be publicly noticed and subject to the Brown Act. The full Council retains authority to appoint. Council also requested staff to draft a formal policy outlining procedures (scheduling, question format, etc.).
  • Combination of Boards: The Council voted to start the process of combining the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) with the Planning Commission, citing efficiencies and state-driven shifts to objective standards. The combination of the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) with the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission (MCAC) was set aside for now, with Council requesting more information on feasibility and legal constraints (such as CLG status for HPC).
• Item 16: Ocean View Plaza Extension: Staff recommended and the Council approved a one-year extension of the vesting tentative map for the mixed-use project on Canary Row. The applicant argued that the extension was needed due to ongoing litigation with the Coastal Commission and that the project would bring housing and community benefits. An opponent argued the project should be reconsidered given changed conditions and climate risks.

Key Outcomes

• Dutra Street Apology Proclamation: Adopted unanimously (5-0). The Council apologized to the Dutra Street indigenous residents and their descendants, acknowledging the forced displacement and historical injustices. Several Council members committed to further steps, including a broader land acknowledgment process.
• Fire/Ambulance Contract for Carmel-by-the-Sea: Approved unanimously (5-0). The City Manager was authorized to enter into the new agreement, effective upon execution.
• Boards & Commissions Appointment Process: A motion establishing a standing committee of the Mayor and Vice Mayor to conduct public interviews and make nominations to the full Council for appointment was passed unanimously (5-0). Staff will draft a codified policy.
• Combination of ARC and Planning Commission: Approved unanimously. Staff will begin work on amending the zoning code and related regulations to consolidate the two bodies, with the Planning Commission absorbing ARC functions.
• Combination of HPC and MCAC: Motion to proceed failed; Council requested additional analysis from staff on legal requirements (CLG status) and potential impacts before reconsideration.
• Ocean View Plaza Extension (Item 16): Approved unanimously (5-0). The vesting tentative map is extended by one year to June 17, 2026.
• Item 19 (Rental Assistance Program): Continued to the August 5, 2025 council meeting by unanimous vote.