Monterey City Council Meeting Summary – March 17, 2026
Monterey City Council Meeting – March 17, 2026
The Monterey City Council met on the afternoon of March 17, 2026, to address a wide range of items including proclamations, energy updates, emergency response reports, committee appointments, facility repairs, rental inventory data, housing element progress, and a denied license agreement. The meeting lasted over five hours and included public comment on numerous topics.
Proclamations
- Women's History Month (March 2026): Councilmember Rash read a proclamation declaring March 2026 as Women's History Month, recognizing women's contributions and featuring a presentation by City Clerk Clementine Bonner-Klein on trailblazing women in Monterey.
- American Red Cross Month (March 2026): Councilmember Smith read the proclamation. Red Cross representatives and the Fire Chief highlighted the organization's critical role, including response to the recent Casanova fire. The Chief reported that 49 households were assisted and 682 smoke alarms installed in Monterey County last year.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment: Community members spoke on street conditions (Pearl Street uplift), support for the rental registry program, a request to ban armored vehicles from the July 4th parade, and updates on local events and church activities.
- Consent Calendar: No public comments or items pulled. Agenda approved unanimously.
- Central Coast Community Energy (3CE): Public speaker Bob expressed caution about battery production risks and advocated for nuclear alternatives.
- Appointments: Two speakers addressed the Bike & Pedestrian committee appointments, supporting the interview process and urging neutrality.
- Vásquez Adobe & Gordon House Repairs: Public supported immediate action to preserve historic buildings.
- Rental Inventory Program: Testimony highlighted the program's value for data-driven policy, questioned cost effectiveness, and asked about enforcement and hero stories.
- 2025 General Plan Update: Multiple speakers urged the council to immediately allocate available water for housing, citing the need to avoid delays under the Cease and Desist Order (CDO).
- Pecos League License: Callers supported staff's recommendation to deny, citing insufficient cost recovery and operational issues.
Discussion Items
- 3CE Annual Update: Sophia Schwartzky (3CE Community Relations Manager) presented progress on renewable energy, battery storage (e.g., no flex alert needed on July 4, 2024), rate reductions, and the PCIA fee. Council thanked staff and discussed advocacy for bill AB1761.
- Casanova Fire Report: Fire Chief detailed the March 17 fire at 800 Casanova (86-unit building). First responders arrived in under five minutes; 8+ people rescued from balconies; mutual aid from as far as Hollister. Council praised all city departments, CERT, Red Cross, and community partners.
- Committee Appointments: Subcommittee (Mayor Williamson and Vice Mayor Smith) recommended most candidates unanimously, but disagreed on the TAMC Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee seat. After debate, the council voted 3-2 to appoint Susie Bryan as the representative and Catherine Edgerton as alternate.
- Continental Shelf MOU: Council authorized entering a MOU with Santa Cruz County to coordinate opposition to offshore oil drilling. Mayor Williamson appointed as primary representative, Dr. Rash as alternate. $1,000 allocated from planning budget.
- Vásquez Adobe & Gordon House Repairs: General Services Manager presented severe structural issues (roof leaks, failed foundations, termite damage). Council approved $1,093,000 transfer from facility reserve to capital projects fund for repairs, despite depleting the reserve to ~$7,000.
- Rental Inventory Program Annual Report: Staff reported 6,205 registered rental units (83% compliance), LLCs charge ~10% higher rents, and the program helps cross‑verify rental assistance. Council discussed sunset (Jan 1, 2029), enforcement, and potential policy implications.
- 2025 General Plan Annual Report: Progress on the Housing Element (77% of programs in progress/completed/continuous), water allocation barriers, and certified Housing Element. Council received the report without action, with discussion on staffing capacity and CDO impact.
- Denial of Pecos League License: Parks & Rec staff recommended denial due to ongoing operational issues and lack of cost neutrality after seven years. Council voted unanimously to deny the license for the Monterey Amberjacks at Sollecito Park.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved by unanimous vote.
- Tourism District Modification: Resolution approved unanimously.
- Committee Appointments: Mayor's subcommittee recommendations approved (with the exception of Bike/Ped committee) by vote 3-2 (Smith, Barber, Rash for Catherine; Williams, Garcia for Susie). Final action: Susie Bryan (rep) and Catherine Edgerton (alternate)
- Continental Shelf MOU: Authorized; Mayor appointed rep, Dr. Rash alternate; $1,000 contribution.
- Building Repairs: $1,093,000 transferred from facility reserve to capital projects for Vásquez Adobe and Gordon House repairs. Motion passed unanimously.
- Pecos League License: Denied unanimously.
- Proclamations: Both adopted with public recognition.
- Council Comments: Mayor shared a police ride-along story, thanking MPD for professionalism.
Closed Session
- Real property negotiation (601 Wave Street) and anticipated litigation regarding affordable housing unit (300 Glenwood Circle). No public comment submitted.
Meeting Transcript
Progress. And welcome to our afternoon session, afternoon session only for today's council meeting, March seventeenth, twenty twenty-six. Go ahead and call the meeting to order, and I'm going to ask Clementine to do roll call and share announcements with the public. Councilmember Barber. Councilmember Garcia. Councilmember Rash here. Councilmember Smith.gov agendas. In person attendees, please keep your electronic devices muted to prevent audio interference. Consistent with the First Amendment and the Brown Act, individuals have the right to speak at public meetings, which includes the right to criticize or support city policies or actions. And um do you should I pass it first or should we read the proclamation first? However, you like to do it. What do you think flows better? Proclamation. Okay. All right. So I passed the proclamation over to Councilmember Rash to uh read off the proclamation for us today. Okay. This is the proclamation declaring March 2026. Oh, I got the American Red Cross. Oh, sorry. Do that. I didn't read. Declaring March 2026 Women's History Month, whereas Women's History Month celebrates women's societal contributions, which are innumerable and crucial. And whereas the theme of women's history month 2026, declared by the National Women's History Alliance, is leading the change, women shaping a sustainable future. Because whether developing green technologies, advancing economic justice, strengthening education systems, or building civic power, women are designing blueprints for sustainable transformation. This theme affirms that shaping a sustainable future means fostering systems that support both people and the planet. And whereas the city of Monterey recognizes and celebrates the achievements of generations of women who have been an integral part of the fabric of Monterey region for thousands of years, dating back to the native Rumson, Esselin, and Salin and peoples to the Sicilian women who made up a third of Cantery Roe workers in the 1930s and 40s. And to the present day, when many local businesses, nonprofits, city staff, and political leaders are women. And whereas labor and civil rights leader Dolores Wertham once said, we do need women in civic life. We do need women to run for office, to be in political office. We need a feminist to be at the table when decisions are being made so that the right decisions will be made. And whereas as a community, we celebrate women's history month and recognize the incredible achievements of a women throughout Monterey, the state of California, and all across the United States. And now therefore be it proclaimed that I, Tyler Williamson, mayor of the city of Monterey, on behalf of the city council and citizens hereby proclaim the month of March 2026 as women's history month. Thank you, Jean. All righty. And then I think I'll pass it to Lou for a uh staff introductions. Thank you, Mayor. Council members, good evening. Um this afternoon, we're gonna have a very uh interesting and informative presentation from our very own clerk, Miss Bonner Klein. Yes, I just have a few slides. Some of them you saw last year update. So as council member Rash mentioned, there is a theme that's here for pregnancy and sustainable future. So the first woman city department head of the city and the first city librarian was at part back again in 1907. We had a woman fish manager in the 1940s. She was an interim city manager for a year, and prior to that, she was a fifth city manager for vetting year. And I liked the newspaper article of called a manager. We had a our first woman city council member was uh Marge Eliason in 1955. Mini Coyle was our mayor in 1965, and prior to that, I think the council member. And now we have council member barber and council member Rash on our dias. And we also have many cities.
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