The shades of the pushbutting things really don't video.

The storm came back.

Audio tests, can you guys hear me?

Audio tests.

We can hear you very well.

Thanks, Audi.

All right.

Is that the time?

There's a big echo though.

Maybe it was not.

Yeah, it might be my phone.

And you started off with this.

Yeah, I can get the residency.

Yeah, yeah.

It never came back.

I'm not going to go to the UN everybody.

No, they maybe I'm not going to be able to say that.

So then we have to make the left turns on the number of the A.

And we've got another round about.

Okay.

We have to be able to stop.

We want to speak around about when you have to be able to make that we've had them there.

Okay.

Oh, okay.

That's great, right?

It was a good one.

Folks, I think we're um I think we're good.

We just there's no presentations and we don't have a screen.

But Zoom's working, they can call in.

And we can hear so I think we're ready to go.

Come there and give us a lot for all your support.

Okay.

We ready?

Okay, we'll call the meeting to uh order.

We are back in session.

And I think that we've uh thank goodness our IT folks and city staff has got this got this figured out.

So we should be able to hear callers, and they'll be able to hear us as well.

Uh so let's uh let's first go to our first presentation.

Um item number one is recognize June 2026 as Pride Month, and I'll turn this over to our city manager.

Thank you, Mayor, and I'll turn it over to our assistant city manager who will be providing this presentation.

Yes, uh good afternoon, council, mayor, members of the community.

Uh we are uh very proud to uh recognize June 2026 as LGBTQ plus Pride Month, and I'll read the proclamation on behalf of our city team.

Uh whereas the Monterey City Council recognizes and proclaims the month of June as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirited in the counts countless affirmative ways in which people choose to self-identify as Pride Month throughout the city of Monterey.

And whereas the City of Monterey joins our neighboring cities in observing Pride Month by raising a pride flag to honor the history of the LGBTQ plus liberation movement and to support the rights of all citizens to ex experience equality and freedom from discrimination.

The intersex inclusive progressive pride flag is recognized as a symbol of pride, inclusion, and support for social movements that advocate for the LGBTQ people in society.

And whereas the city of Monterey has a long and proud history of inclusion and civil rights and is committed to supporting visibility, dignity, and equality for LGBTQ plus people in our community.

And whereas the Supreme Court decision guaranteeing marriage equality in all 50 states was a historic victory for the LGBTQ community.

Our country still has far to go with respect to the equitable treatment of the LGBTQ plus community.

While society at large increasingly supports equality, it is essential to acknowledge that the need for education and awareness remains vital to end discrimination and prejudice.

The LGBTQ plus community and allies come together in various celebrations of pride.

Now, therefore be it proclaimed that Mayor Williamson of the City of Monterey on behalf of the city council and citizens here by proclaim the month of June 2026 as Pride Month in support of the LGBTQ plus community.

That is a proclamation, and we uh are always grateful for our many community partners uh who uh are here to celebrate and uh sell and uh recognize uh Pride Month uh had the uh Pride uh flag raising ceremony and uh I know uh folks are proud to have the pride flag uh flown here at City Hall uh during this month.

Uh that is the staff presentation.

Mr.

Vice Mayor.

Thank you very much.

And I know there's some public members that uh would like to uh speak on the presentation, so at this time we're gonna open up to the public and uh if we could see a show of hands for those that wish to make any comments for item number one, the presentation, and then as so once we recognize those in public, then we'll turn to the zoom and uh query to see if we have some callers on Zoom.

So if I could see a show of hands if you are choosing to make a comment on item number one on tonight's agenda.

Okay, I'm seeing no hands, so we'll move to Zoom with a countdown of uh three, two, one, and uh if you could give us a count.

Okay, so we have no public speakers on item number one.

Uh so we will then uh close item number one and move.

I love the sirens.

Uh we'll move from one to general public comments.

Uh this is comments on any item not on the agenda tonight.

So if you have a comment, now would be the time to acknowledge and uh start forming a line for public comments that are not on any agenda item that's listed tonight.

So the public make comments uh of their choosing on any item not on the agenda.

Uh show of hands, or if you could start forming a line.

If you could give me your hands, I see two.

Any others for public comments on anything not on the agenda.

I see two in the chambers.

Uh stand by there, and we'll go to the Zoom and ask Zoom callers uh for uh countdown so they have enough notice.

We have a little leak lag time here, so uh three, two, one, any zoom callers.

Okay.

We have three on Zoom and two in the chambers.

Uh so you each have three minutes, so we'll start with the chambers.

Come right on up.

You have three minutes to comment.

Good evening.

Uh, my name is Abdallah Menis here.

Uh I own and operate Manaseri Crape and uh recently acquired Nacho Business in downtown Monterey.

And um I've seen that uh you guys proposed uh to remove security from downtown, which is vital for our day-to-day operations.

Uh my my brother came in about three months ago and asked for more security.

Uh so it was a little surprising to see that uh we that's supposed to remove security uh because we deal with it on a day-to-day basis.

Um me and my family invested uh a lot of money.

We doubled down on Alvarado.

We think it's a great place to be in.

However, now we think that security is vital because we deal with transients every day.

We call the police, which they're great force to to the community, but uh we'd rather focus on growing the business rather than dealing with security every day.

So I think uh to maintain our, because we have a growing business uh year over year, and to maintain such growth, we require the city to at least keep the community safe, keep downtown safe, because most of our customers are families, and uh even my family with kids sometimes they avoid coming to my businesses due to the fact that there's pots next to our patio, for instance.

People they're smelling pots.

They're smelling a lot of things and seeing a lot of um unnecessary things.

That said, I think it's uh it's vital to keep the businesses up and going.

There's a lot since COVID, we've seen a lot of businesses not being prominent, not settling um in downtown because they couldn't afford it.

We're lucky that we have uh sustainable business, and we are actually considering opening another location in Alvarado.

So we love the community, we love the city of Monterey, but we also want a safe space to uh for investment.

I think we live in the best geography in the world, and we have we have the requirement to keep it safe, keep it clean, and keep it uh and you know attractive to tourists.

As you know, we rely on tourism a lot, so we require that.

I think so that's why I'm here.

I lift my businesses to talk about it.

I now would rather focus on growing my businesses rather than uh asking for the minimum, which is security.

And uh we appreciate everyone here.

We love being part of Monterey, and thank you.

Thank you very much.

Next up.

Good evening, Council.

How are you guys doing?

Good.

Uh, my name's Tom Barrera.

I represent Easy Drains Plumbing.

We do uh underground service uh utility installations on in Monterey.

Um I come to you tonight to talk about uh permit fees.

Um here are the regular permit fees that I've been in in standing for the last year or so, and then this is the upgrading fees to what we're gonna be going into effect July 1st uh this year.

Um, usually I obtain a building permit fee, which is 156 dollars, an encroachment fee, which is currently 491 ends up being about 680 or so.

Uh bulk fees to do this job.

The new fe the new fees you guys are implementing on July 1st are now gonna be 1,613 for the encroachment fee.

A one thousand, no five hundred percent increase in a in in one permit.

Um, the other one is gonna be traffic control, which is currently 147.

You guys are increasing that to 404.

Um the other one is uh sewer lateral fee, which is 133.

That's going to 241, not too bad.

But overall, two permits that are costing me currently under 700, are gonna go to 2600.

I mean, this is not a small jump, this is a huge jump.

Um, over and over.

I do I watch city council meetings, I try to stay um, I try to stay up with what's going on over and over.

I hear about affordability.

And this is a 500% increase.

I don't know.

I know we have an outside company that came in and did a third party uh oversee of see what we could do with permits to go up, and I don't see what's changed on the city's side.

Um what cost has gone up?

Has everybody got a 500% increase?

I don't think so.

Where do we how do we justify this this huge astronomical increase that in turn is gonna go off to the homeowners?

I mean, it's crazy.

It's something I think you guys should look at, and um I mean I I do agree that uh a price increase with the times.

I do agree that has to happen, but this is price gouging.

This is the highest increase I have in any any city that I work with.

Um I do work I love working for City of Monterey worth City of Monterey.

They're easy to get permits, they're great, but uh this is astronomical, and this needs to be re-looked at.

Uh, thank you for your guys' time.

Hey, Tommy.

Now we'll uh turn to our Zoom callers uh come time.

Yes, our first speaker is the telephone caller, and you can unmute and go ahead.

Good evening.

This is Nina Beattie.

Local landline telephone services under immediate threat of discontinuance by ATT, which also wants to end lifeline service and carrier blast resort obligations.

Please take action of the city to stop this.

Copper line land lanes are essential infrastructure built to not five nine threat reliability, 99.999%.

The system is built to work even in extended power outages and in most disasters.

The lines are powered, including making your phone ring, so you can reach 911 and your doctor, receive evacuation notices, stay connected to elderly and ill-loved ones, and others can connect to you.

You don't need batteries.

The stellar service provides pinpoint location accuracy to emergency responders when seconds count.

There's a fire when someone is choking, has a heart attack.

The voice quality is superior, the system is secure and it doesn't drop calls.

The lines also support DSL internet.

ATT's carrier of last resort status or Kohler requires ATT to provide basic phone service to everyone who requests it without discrimination.

The alternatives, voice over internet protocol, and wireless are notoriously unreliable and unavailable in many areas, and they require batteries.

When the battery dies, there's no connection, no phone service.

Disasters routinely knock them out.

Thousands of people testify to the CPC about how landlines saved their lives during Northern California fires around their homes after PGE turned off the area's electricity.

ATT has launched multiple simultaneous efforts to deregulate themselves at the FCC, the CPU C, the California legislature, and in the courts to get out of Kohler, lifeline obligations and landlines.

After a favorable FCC ruling recently, ATT filed multiple petitions May 20th to the FCC to eliminate landlines and lifeline in areas of California, including the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas.

These petitions will be automatically granted by the FCC if there's no opposition.

Comments are due June 22nd.

Monterey Bay Matters.org has instructions and an overview of the situation.

ATT is also suing the state of California and the CPC to stop its regulations.

In addition, the State Bill ACA9 would amend the state constitution and remove telecom companies' designation as a public utility and remove CPUC oversight for telecom companies and limit oversight for all public utilities.

Those Senate hearings are this month.

And there's more.

The details are on the website, Monterey Bay Matters.org.

This is an urgent public safety matter, literally life and death for many people, particularly those in rural and fire prone areas and the vulnerable.

Please take action to protect this vital infrastructure and advocate for reforms to make it affordable for all.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Sabrina.

Good afternoon, Council and members of our community.

I am Sabrina Hilton, the executive director of the Old Monterey Business Association, in which I manage the downtown Monterey Business District.

I'm also here like Abdallah to speak about a downtown item that is in jeopardy of being cut in the 2026 and 2027 budget.

The downtown security ambassador.

I recognize the complexities and considerations of the proposed budget cuts and understand that this is incredibly challenging.

I'm here to advocate for the funding of the downtown security ambassador in the budget and why while it is an $80,000 a year line item, the ultimate cost to the police department in downtown will be more in time and resources if it is cut.

The downtown security ambassador provides coverage to Alvarado Street seven days a week, eight hours a day, providing safety and security for business owners, residents, patrons, and tourists.

This is especially important during the farmers market hours, too, when we have thousands of people on Avarado Street, and it provides a sense of security for the public, but also the vendors.

Many vendors are working by themselves, and there's been issues in the past with cash boxes being stolen and vendors having to leave their inventory to park and pick up their cars.

Our security ambassador can be close to watch to ensure that there isn't theft, and also to provide a safe environment for our weekly farmers market.

Um they're also a buffer before the Monterey PD is called into security and safety situations, which is much more expensive to the city.

The security ambassador works with the transient population daily, enforcing set lie ordinances, working with people who can be violent and mentally ill and often risk their own safety when they don't have the same protections as police officers.

They also build rapport with the transient population, which is important because when it is time to enforce laws, there's familiarity and a relationship that's established.

If and when the police officer is called in, these situations can be automatically escalated with an unknown officer enforcing policies and laws compared to a security ambassador who is known and has established more trust.

Eliminating downtown security will drain the PD's resources and other ways, such as the department's time and manpower, having to send officers downtown in response to the homeless, and it also can increase the homeless population.

I certainly don't see that the elimination of security will make things better.

I think that it increase and it could impact the community's perceived level of safety and security, and we want people to be able to shop and dine and go downtown for recreation.

We want to increase economic vitality, and we also want to understand that the call volume will increase and is this how the PD wants to handle their time and resources.

Thank you.

And our last speaker is Esther.

Good afternoon, everybody.

Speaking as the president of the Del Monte Grove Laguna Grande neighborhood president, we are again requesting that, as we have been for well over a decade, that the border between our city and seaside be addressed and made more uh stable and delineates the two cities better than what it is along the Laguna Grande Park.

This is a problem that we've been addressing in multiple um ways that are safety hazards as well as financially.

We are currently maintaining property that is technically seasides, and we have invested NCIP money in it, and basically Seaside is getting a big gift from us, and they are not willing to give us much in return.

So we really have been addressing this more from a safety standpoint, but now we're talking talking about from a financial standpoint as well.

So I am requesting along with a number of my other neighbors for a long time that the border be addressed.

The previous administration and city management is well aware that we have been asking for this, and yet it has never been agendized.

So I'm asking formally that that happened and uh that we be notified when we can expect it to happen.

Thank you.

And that's uh the last call.

Okay, uh, thank you.

And as um per our uh procedures, we don't make comments on uh the public comments uh tonight, but I will always advertise that each of the city council members and the mayor has an email available for you to communicate with us uh or drop off a uh suggestion or reach out to uh city staff for any additional comments on the items tonight.

Uh so with that, we're gonna move to the uh consent agenda.

Uh I've been advised that we have a request to pull and hear items seven, eight, and nine.

So at this time, uh any member of the council wishing to poll an item.

Okay, and Dr.

Barber, anything?

Okay.

Uh with that.

Uh we are gonna pull seven, eight, and nine, and uh let's go ahead and jump to what is not pulled, and that is item uh that we still have remaining on the consent.

So I've got this right two, three, four, five, six, ten, eleven, and twelve.

Looking for a motion for pass of the consent.

So move.

With the exception of seven, eight, and nine.

Second.

Okay, thank you.

Um, with the second, we'll move to uh Clementine if you could call for the vote.

Councilmember Garcia.

Yes.

Councilmember Rush?

Yes.

Councilmember Barber?

Yes.

And Vice Mayor Smith.

Yes.

Okay, uh, Mr.

City Manager, we have items seven, eight, and nine.

Uh if you want to go to seven, right, and and I'll bring up our finance director uh Rafila King, who will provide a brief presentation and answering questions the council to publicly have.

Good afternoon, Vice Mayor and Council members.

So um item number seven is um our annual GAN limit appropriation.

Each year we are required by law to um calculate the appropriation limit, is based on a factor.

So in 1979, there was a proposition for that, which is also known as the GAN initiative, which um provides as a law that provides a ceiling on the tax revenues per year that can be spent on government activities.

So this year um we have calculated those numbers we receive information from the state of California's um Department of Finance for our factors and the appropriation limit for Monterey is 183 million for this fiscal year based on a hundred million worth of tax income.

And if you have any questions, that's my brief and dirty report, unless you have any questions.

Council questions.

No?

Okay.

I guess stand by.

We're gonna go to the public and see if the public has any uh questions or comments.

Uh so at this time let's open it up to the public for comments on item number seven, the appropriation limit GAN initiative.

Uh, and then we'll also call out to the Zoom callers.

So any member of the public wishing to make a comment on item number seven.

Seeing none, we'll go to Zoom callers item number seven.

Uh, if you could indicate and do your uh buttons on a countdown of three two one.

Any members of the public on Zoom?

Okay, moving right along.

I think what if it's legal, Chrissy, can we bundle seven eight and nine with one vote?

Or would it be appropriate to have a vote individually?

Uh okay.

So at this time we'll uh call for motion on item number seven.

Um move.

Okay.

Uh motion and second.

Clementine the vote, please.

Councilmember Garcia?

Yes.

Councilmember Rash?

Yes, Councilmember Barber.

Yes.

Advice Mayor Smith.

Yes.

Okay, next up is uh item number eight on the consent which was pulled in item eight is approve the city of Monterey's investment policy.

And I'm gonna guess uh it's gonna be that's correct.

We'll bring up our finance director again.

Welcome back.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good to be here.

Um so our investment policy, every year we come back and we update our annual um our investment policy annually.

This year um it what we did, but there's only um a minor change that the state um made that was effective January 1 of this year of 2026, so that's been updated and included into the policy, which is um increasing the term limit for the commercial paper commercial paper from 270 days to 397 days.

Um and then the other thing is um that bill also extended that the sunset period for 40 percent um allocation of commercial paper until January 1 of 31.

So those are basically the only changes that's to this re um the policy, and so every year when there's changes, we come back to uh council so you can approve and update the policy.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Any council questions on item eight?

Uh I just have one uh Rafaela, and it's connected the banking partner that we have, and when does that expire where we would be going out to an RFP?

For our for the banking or for our investment.

Well, it's it's really the banking, not the investment, but the the banking partner we have.

No, we just actually um I think was last year, September of last year.

We just did um an update, came to council for extension of five years.

So we'll come back in four years.

Okay for North.

And and member of the public was wanting to know what the bank was.

Wells Fargo.

Okay.

Wells Fargo, and it's got another four years.

Yes, okay.

Thank you very much.

Uh so let's go out to the public and ask if the public has any questions on item number eight that was just presented.

Uh members of the public uh that are in the chambers.

Indicate please with your hand.

Okay.

I'm not seeing any takers.

We'll go to Zoom with a countdown of three, two, one zoom callers.

No answer.

Okay, must be a good basketball night or something.

Okay, let's go uh to the vote then from the members of the council.

We need a motion for item number eight.

Move to approve number eight.

Second.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Alright, um, let's see.

Vice Mayor Smith?

Yes.

Councilmember Barber?

Yes.

Councilmember Garcia?

Yes.

Councilmember Rash?

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you, Council.

And next up, also poll is item number nine, authorized an application to the California Ocean Protection Council for uh Senate Bill sea level rise.

Evening.

Good evening, Council.

Uh, yes, the item before you is to authorize staff to submit an application uh to the California Ocean Protection Council for a Senate Bill 1 sea level rise adaptation grant, and if awarded, uh appropriate those funds.

Um as a little background, uh separate legislation known as SB 272 was uh signed into law in 2023, and that law requires that all local governments uh prepare uh address sea level rise planning and adaptation through a local coastal program prior to January 1st, 2034.

Uh so I'll note city staff has already embarked on this initiative with the preparation of the sea level rise vulnerability analysis uh that's currently in progress, and that was actually funded through a grant administered by the uh California Coastal Commission.

Uh this funding that would is uh is being requested to be authorized to be applied for under this new grant would go towards the second phase of that project, which deals specifically with adaptation uh planning uh initiatives.

Uh staff did see the public comment that was submitted in regards to this uh item.

Uh it does seem that there's some confusion pertaining to the geographical boundaries uh described in the associated background report with this project and uh the boundaries that exist in the current LCP.

Uh it should be noted that this isn't an error, but is rather two separate plans with two uh separate boundaries and sub-areas.

Um in conclusion, staff's requesting that the city council authorize an application uh to apply to the California Ocean Protection Council for an SB1 sea level rise uh grant.

I'm happy to answer any questions.

Okay.

Council questions.

Dr.

So I think you answered it, Levi.

Um so you incorporate you you look at the comments from Ms.

Gorman and you incorporate the ones that she's right about, and the draft gets redone.

So what Ms.

Gorman commented on was actually a background report that was being prepared uh as informative uh materials for the vulnerability analysis that's being prepared right now that will eventually come before this council.

There's not actually any errors or inaccuracies in that.

Uh well I'll one correction to that, she did call out that there was some disclaimer information that was on the draft background report uh that the consultant did confirm that was left in by mistake.

So you are correct in that res respect that that will be removed.

But any of the comments regarding the actual sub areas or boundaries or where sites lie.

Uh I think there's just confusion with what's included in that report and the sub areas that are identified in the city's LCP.

Great.

And and do you get back to her about that or is this kind of that this is this is that process?

Okay, I'm sure I'm sure she's listening.

She's a great citizen.

But I I I I thank you for having a collaborative spirit when someone goes to the to the effort of writing a beautiful letter like she did and and helping her where she's misunderstanding and then acknowledging where she's right and incorporating that that that'll really help the whole city it to have that kind of involvement from residents.

So I appreciate you handling that.

Of course, other council members.

Comments?

Yes, go ahead.

So our application is due by June 26th to the to OPC.

And then expected to hear back.

Um I'm not sure exactly what the review time frame for their further when they uh how they've reviewed the applications for funding.

Um, but it's typically within the within a couple months that we receive word of whether or not we've been uh awarded any funds.

Okay, awesome.

Thank you.

So uh a question, do we get a sense that the work that needs to be done?

If we get the grant?

That grant would pay for the work we have looking ahead.

So, so what we're in the process of working on now is fully funded and uh in a planning and addressing the vulnerabilities, and that uh that report uh will come before this council for adoption.

What that does is it identifies where there are sea level rise vulnerabilities throughout the coastal zone in the city, and then what the second phase does is take a look at what the city would do from a planning adaptation response to those vulnerabilities.

It will fund a certain level of project-specific plans, but won't necessarily go as far as to funding specific projects or actual physical construction, but that plan and those uh designs that are will be um drafted in that process will give us a great competitive edge to apply for grants for project specific funds.

Okay, great.

Thank you, I sure appreciate your your work.

Okay.

Uh, looking for a motion to approve item number nine.

Oh, to approve.

Do we think we need a public comment?

Yes, you're right, and I'm sorry.

That's one that I missed doing.

Uh so let's go to the public for any comments for item number nine.

Any members of the chamber looking for comments on number nine?

C-level rise grant application.

Show of hands, don't see anything.

On Zoom, three two one callers at home.

We're striking out tonight.

Okay.

With that, Clementine, roll call, please.

Oh, I'm sorry.

May I make a motion?

Yes, a motion, please.

Uh so moved.

Second, the number nine to be in a second.

Councilmember Rash?

Yes.

Councilmember Garcia?

Yes.

Councilmember Barber?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Smith.

Yes.

Thank you, Council.

And uh thank you, UI and Raphiella.

Uh so next we're gonna move to public hearing item number 13.

Um, so this is an open uh public hearing to receive protests related to the collection of sewer service charges on the property tax rule for fiscal year 26-27.

Uh so we have some procedures.

Clementine, you want to explain how we're going to handle this?

Yes.

First, um, believe we'd hear a presentation from our environmental regulations analyst, Carl Fright, sir.

And then we can take public comment, and then um the council could direct us to then do after the public hearing cart has closed, we could we would um conduct the protest count.

Okay, and let you know whether a majority protest has been received.

Okay, so at this time we have a presentation.

Uh city manager, uh presentation on 13, please.

Yes, and we'll we'll call up our environmental regulations analysts call Critzer to provide the presentation.

Good evening, Vice Mayor, Council members.

Evening.

Uh tonight uh item is to open a public hearing related to the collection of sewer services on the property tax role for the fiscal year 2026-2027.

Uh approve the annual rate report for sewer charges of for 2026-2027, and adopt a resolution authorizing the collection of a fiscal year 2026-2027 sewer charges on the tax rule if the majority protest does not exist.

Uh a notice of public hearing was published in the Monterey Herald on May 19th, and a second notice of public hearing was published on May 26th.

The purpose of this hearing is to receive and tabulate written protests from affected property owners.

One protest may be submitted per parcel by the property owner of record.

All protests must be received prior to the closing of the public hearing to be counted.

We are requesting that council open the public hearing, receive any public comment, and then close the hearing at which point staff will tabulate all timely written protests.

Majority protest exists if protests are received by more than 50% of the affected parcels.

If a majority protest exists, the city is prohibited from collecting the sewer service charges on the property tax role for fiscal year 2026-2027.

If a majority protest does not exist, staff is requesting that council adopt the proposed resolution.

This action would confirm that a majority protest does not exist, and the sewer update will take effect in 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Okay, thank you.

Um I think we may have some questions.

So council, any questions of staff?

No, okay.

I just have a couple.

So this action tonight, we're doing the it's a hearing.

And as we go forward, is this something that happens every year, or will this assessment on property tax have a period of longer than one year?

Uh this is part of the original council resolution uh 2409 6 that was already adopted in the year 2024.

And it included uh five years worth of increases.

Okay.

Uh so we are in year three.

Okay.

Uh for those increases.

Okay, great.

So this is just an update to that resolution.

Okay, thank you very much.

You're welcome.

All right.

Uh if there's no questions, we'll turn to the public.

Um, and receive comments on the item.

Uh you might stand by because we might come back to you for uh input.

So uh those in the chamber wishing to make comments on uh the hearing for item number 13.

I see one standing.

Any additional comments for item number thirteen now?

Okay, Rick.

Stand by.

Let's go to Zoom.

Any Zoom callers.

Uh now is the time to call three two one and we'll cut it off.

And I'm seeing no callers from Zoom.

Uh we'll turn to Mr.

Hoyer in the chambers.

Good evening.

Evening, Mr.

Mayor, members of the council and require.

Uh using the Herald for notification is a joke.

It has very few subscribers, and a lot of their subscribers don't even live in the city of Monterey.

So, only reason I even know about this is I read the city council agenda.

So, you probably would have a whole lot more people protesting if they actually found out about it.

And the reason I say that is Monterey One Water made a vote to change to putting it on the property tax roll, and they had such a uh outroar come back, they changed tact and went back to billing.

Uh, it is not easier for the public to be on the property tax roll.

It is much less uh objective and obvious what it is.

All you have is a little line on there, and most people don't even know what it is they're paying for.

Uh direct billing is much cleaner, and also if you're a person who owns multiple properties and is billing through common area expenses, whole lot easier to include a copy of that in what you have to bill for common area, not your entire property tax bill copy.

So, do it by mailing an invoice for this service.

Don't cop out and think it's somehow benefiting us by putting it on the property tax bill.

It's not and find a better way for notifying the public so they actually get notified about it.

Uh yes, it's legally okay to do it as an advertisement in the Herald.

That doesn't make it right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, turn it back to the council.

Um, okay.

I'm not seeing any comments from council.

Uh so Clementine, I think next we'll turn it to you.

Yes, and I will quickly check our secure box.

I'll be right back in case we last minute ballot for okay.

Um city manager, should we take just uh three minute three-minute break here until we get we'll stay live?

Okay, okay.

I feel like we should have a drum roll or something.

Mr.

Vice Mayor, we do not have a majority protest.

There are four protests.

Four protests received by the city clerk.

Correct.

Okay, thank you.

Uh so that that means that we're significantly short on uh a protest vote.

Um our next action would be to uh look for a a motion from the city council.

So moved okay, and I'll second that.

Okay.

Uh let's go to call for a vote.

Um, so let's give it uh let's give it a pause here and give him an opportunity to return since he heard the presentation.

So just so the members of the public know that we're looking at an empty screen, and you don't have a screen.

So it's kind of like a pregnant pause in awkward because normally we have lots of junk that we get to look at.

Tonight we get to look at your beautiful faces.

Uh Gina, we have a motion and a second, and there were four protests filed, and we are significantly below the threshold.

So we have uh ready for the vote.

Okay.

Councilmember Garcia.

Yes, Councilmember Smith.

Uh Vice Mayor Smith.

Yes.

Councilmember Barber.

Yes.

And Councilmember Rash.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you, Council, and thank you, Clementine for that.

Uh so our next item is item number 14, and that's level levy the assessments to fund the Canary Row, New Monterey, and North Fremont Business Improvement Districts.

I've been advised that there's a request that we uh postpone this until or continue until June 16th, 2026.

Uh with that in order.

There may be some members of the public that are here tonight to ask questions about item number 14.

So at this time we'll open it up to the members of the public.

Uh we can take your comments.

And so this is on item number 14 uh levy the assessments to fund the Canary Row, New Monterey, and North Fremont business improvement districts.

Any members of the public wishing to speak?

Now's the time.

Raise your hands so we can do a count.

Okay, not seeing anybody in the chambers.

We'll turn to Zoom with a countdown of I'm gonna start with five to give them a chance.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Okay, no uh comments.

We'll move and I'm looking for a uh motion in a second.

So moved.

Uh I'll second that.

Okay, so this is gonna be item 14 and continue to June 16th, 2016.

Uh public appearance item, item 15, uh receiving.

Did you want to do a vote?

I'm sorry, for continuation.

Uh yes, okay.

So I'm sorry, we'll do a continuation.

I'll make a motion that we continue item 14.

Looking for a second.

I already moved in second, like we just made the call.

So, oh, I'm sorry.

I missed there just wasn't a vote, so we can just do that quickly.

Uh call for the vote on the motion in the second.

Go ahead.

Uh let's see.

Councilmember Barber.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Smith.

Yes.

Councilmember Garcia.

Yes.

And um Councilmember Rush.

Yes.

Okay, thank you very much.

That's why she's here.

Keep us honest.

Uh public appearance item 15.

Uh receive an update on the Casanova Oak Noel Neighborhood Association.

City Manager.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I'll turn it over to our assistant city manager who's been doing some focused work in this.

Thank you, City Manager Hall, and uh good afternoon again.

Council.

Uh this item follows Councilmember Garcia's request on May 19th to agendize a formal update regarding the Casanova Oak Knolls uh neighborhood association's uh air quality requests, and uh as uh as you know, on April 2nd, the neighborhood association requested an air quality assessment and uh formal air quality assessment requested uh by uh means of a letter to the Monterey County Environmental Health Bureau, also known as EHB, as well as the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, known as MBARD, uh, due to concerns uh about the environmental and health uh issues in the neighborhood.

And since this was brought to staff's attention and to the attention of Councilmember Garcia, we've uh followed up with uh staff and we're tracking this at the staff level with uh EHB with MBARD, also with the airport district staff, and I'm here to provide all of you with an update.

Uh following the initial outreach to neighborhood leadership.

Uh there was last week on May 28th for uh an hour and a half a physical observation and uh this the observation process is uh the means by which the environmental health bureau at the county uh reviews and meets with local residents to better understand the challenges and the concerns, and then they also do uh observation review.

They don't do formal testing, but it's uh to field observation, if you will.

Their staff at the environmental health bureau, they confirmed uh physical evidence of the dark black soot accumulation on residential stone walls.

Uh staff did observe multiple aircraft takeoffs and landings, and uh they did not notice any at the time of the observation any major odors detected, although they did uh notice localized exhaust that was detectable when actively scanning the air.

They did rule out other nuisances and any other sources of uh of pollutants at in the immediate neighborhood.

Sometimes when they do these observations, they notice open burning or waste burning, unpermitted residential fire pits, uncontrolled local dust, and none of that was observed as part of that uh that review.

Um they did uh see that there was some consistency with uh mobile aviation operations at uh at the airport.

Uh the um what we've we've learned about uh is that the environmental health bureau, you know, their focus is on local environmental enforcement health hazards and also agency referrals, so referrals to further studies being done by other agencies, either agencies at the state level or agencies at the federal level.

They've uh shared with us that, and I think they've communicated this to the neighborhoods, neighborhood and residents, that they don't have the capacity as an agency to conduct an independent air study, but they are going to finalize the field report and share that information with staff and share information with residents, and also uh one route that they're considering is to refer this case and recommend a study to another outside agency, whether that's a state agency or a federal agency to investigate.

As staff, we've also reached out to the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, and they have shared their focus and their regulatory ability is to investigate stationary sources of pollution, so factories, industrial facilities, commercial equipment, uh generators as an example.

They don't have the legal authority to regulate mobile transportation sources such as private or commercial aircraft or vehicles, but they are happy to uh provide us with assistance and guide the neighborhood through the process.

Last but not least, the airport district staff, we've uh connected with them.

They're they're happy to provide a formal response, but their initial feedback is that under the federal law, Clean Air Act, as well as the Airport Noise and Capacity Act, local and state entities are strictly prohibited from creating independent aircraft emission standards or restricting flight operations.

So that's the feedback from the air uh the airport uh district.

Um they all they've also requested that future studies distinguish between the sources of uh air pollutants if there is a study being done by the federal government that distinguishes between aviation sources and non-aviation sources.

And so, next steps and and timeline, we are uh awaiting the formal report from the county's environmental health bureau, and uh we've requested that that be shared with the city and the public.

We've also requested to be copied and be kept in the loop of any correspondence with the neighborhood association on this matter.

And uh we understand that there will be within the next two weeks a joint response from the county environmental health bureau as well as the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, MBARD.

At that time, they'll document the field findings, they'll also uh have uh recommendations on next steps for the city for for the neighborhood association.

And uh we will continue to monitor and and go from there.

Uh one of the uh options if council would like us to is we can also formally request a written response from the airport uh district uh in relation to uh this specific uh neighborhood uh referral and neighborhood concern.

So that's that's the latest update and report as of uh my conversation with the environmental health bureau this morning as recently as this morning and over the past few weeks okay uh council comments questions yes ma'am uh well thank you uh for that net so I had just had a um fair back question dealing with the agencies uh that they're supposed to be referring to the region they said up was a federal or state agencies possible um so would they be able to do the air quality piece the air quality um um research on that or because I know that was one that th this other particular present one wasn't able to do so I'm just curious whether the referral would be able to handle that it's possible uh we have not reached out yet uh county environmental health bureau has uh said they would like uh us to uh take a pause and wait for their recommendation on which agency could this could be referred to uh there's one at the federal level that is the agency for toxic substances and disease registry it's ATSDR it's a agency within the CDC the centers for disease control and prevention there's also the California Department of Public Health has a group called EHIB it's the environmental health investigation branch and depending on what the findings are from the county health department uh they'll make a recommendation uh likely to one of the agencies or potentially both and at that point we would follow up and uh find out what the timeline looks like what capacity might look like and uh and uh learn more thank you yes comments Gino thank you uh thank you Nat for the update um I think first a couple of acknowledgments first um residents of Casanova Ognal neighborhood um fine example here of a community driven effort uh to organize to do uh due diligence and and push an item of concern forward um and um and and seek the responses that are are needed so very happy to support this uh in any way that we can um and just uh happy to amplify the uh message around this so thank you for the uh residents who attended the site visit last week and who have been involved uh either in writing the letters or or uh supporting this effort uh altogether and thank you also to uh the various agencies who um have been involved in um in the conversation so far and and I see the um enthusiasm and in the collaboration for anything that's uh upcoming so really appreciate that and look forward to um additional uh conversations around next steps and and all that uh I also want to uh appreciate staff for taking on this item so quickly um as we all know there are lots of things going on in our city so uh but this is uh a very important item also for our residents and and it doesn't just apply to uh Casanova Ognal I think this is an item that's of uh uh uh importance to uh district four and our city in general so I really appreciate staff taking the time and uh following up and and making sure that we're supporting our residents in this way thank you.

Yes ma'am I would uh think that the written report from the airport would be important just for documentation and the record and knowing that we were collaborating with them and trying to communicate with them.

Yeah a question uh in line with that because I heard you make the comment was it the airport that was saying or ask asking the question it was the two different pieces there and I appreciate the clarification and and the uh comment Councilmember Rash.

The uh written report would be the observational report and next steps recommendation so there's a there would be a report from the county uh Bureau of Environmental Uh Health.

Uh, and then that that bureau would uh handle that um inspection findings from their recent uh visit with environmental health.

Uh the follow-up letter if council so chooses, we can follow up with the airport district to hear their formal feedback based as a follow-up on the the letter from the neighborhood.

Okay, that okay wouldn't necessarily be an observation report, just uh on the record.

What does the airport district's response to to this concern?

Right.

I would think that would be an important piece of the record.

Yeah, I agree.

And I and I think that anything that's documented, of course, that comes to staff first, and then you would you would be looking at the findings, and then you would figure out what the next move is.

But I think the it's a it's a good start, and I think there's a lot of questions in the neighborhood, and it's not new.

They've been asking questions for quite a while.

So I think to get to the point where we may have some findings, and we can take it from there, and then at least we would have some operational choices.

That's right.

Okay, good.

Thank you.

Um so city manager, any other additional comments or uh things to take care of on this presentation and report, nothing additional.

Okay, great.

Thank you very much.

Uh thank you, uh Nat for that report.

Uh so next we're gonna go to the agenda agenda item number sixteen.

Um so this uh oh I'm sorry, yes, we should for the presentation of staff.

We want to open it up to the public and give the st the public an opportunity to uh give their comments about item number 15, uh on that's presentation.

Any members of the public wishing to make a comment on item 15?

Uh if you could please stand up, and that's going to be on the Castino Oaknoll air quality examination.

Uh any other members of the public in the chamber uh wishing to make a comment.

I'm seeing movement, I'm seeing two.

Okay, great.

We'll turn to uh Zoom and ask for uh countdown and callers interested on Zoom of five, four, three, two, one, and we have three and on Zoom and two in public.

Uh so we're gonna go with um we're doing well on time.

We're gonna go with three minutes.

Members of the public.

Um I'm not sure how the whole process works because I'm kind of new to the city council meetings, but there was supposed to be a consent ordinance number six, which was to restrict um uh auto storage on garden road, and I find it interesting because it's related to 15.

You have concerns about uh smog, soot, pollution, and yet you guys want to save that area for high density homes.

Makes no sense to me.

So I guess we'll see what the reports come back.

But why are we restricting certain businesses in an area that has a high potential for pollution?

It's far closer than Casanova areas.

I mean it's right adjacent to the departure end of the runway.

Okay, uh and item number six was on consent, uh, and that was uh an invite for folks to make comment on item six.

Okay, so that means that it w I should have made the comments before, yeah.

When item number six was being heard, that was the time for comments.

I've been watching for it.

You guys skipped over it and you went to seven.

You can play back the tape.

I did yeah, we addressed it as a consent.

So it was combined in consent.

And that was an opportunity for okay.

Well, related to 15, this is what so I'm gonna I I'm I believe that we need to hear it, and you wanted to make a comment on six.

So I'm gonna let you make comments on six.

Um, the council did vote for that, and that was a second reading.

Yeah, which will mean it'll go into place 30 days.

So that's correct.

While you guys are doing studies on pollution in Casanova area, which is much further from the runway than Garden Road is, which is right adjacent to the departure end of the normal departure for the runway.

You guys want high density living, but you're gonna restrict auto storage, which is perfect.

They don't complain about the noise, they don't complain about the uh soot, and instead you want to put high-density homes in that area.

Makes no sense.

And second of all, the question is is it just restricted to auto storage or self-storage is okay, but auto storage is not?

Yeah, we just have to receive your comments.

We can't.

Well, I'll put it now that I have some more information, I'll put a long email to you.

But it makes no sense that you guys are gonna stop certain businesses, legal businesses operating in an area you want to reserve for high density uh homes, and you guys are concerned about pollution now further away than where this development would go.

So, that's my comments.

Thank you.

Next comment, please.

Uh hi, I'm Colin Gallagher Monterey.

Um, well, uh I feel like the this the summary way for for me to describe my comments would be that this whole thing, and um, I don't mean any ill towards your your thing here, but is it just a waste of money?

Um you got kind of this long and lengthy process that's going on.

You're trying to engage the public and take their take their comments and responses and do right by them, but at the end of the day, um, you don't have any direct authority to do anything about it, um, except maybe as you said at the end, there's there's a letter or something that you can work work, you know, get a letter from you know the the airport one of the airport related entities or something, and that's basically it, or perhaps you can work with the FA to appeal directly to them to do something.

But there's no real authority, and and it's just kind of like you're spinning on this.

It's a waste of money.

And I'm also remembering back, it was I think it was last year there was a a church or something that uh mon no, not a church, Montessori.

You guys remember this?

You know, you Montessori and then the whole mad scramble back and forth in the the airport district wanting to exert us exhort its authority over land use matters and all this stuff and the madness, and uh at the end of the day you want to be able to continue doing your your land use matters, and um and it just seems that the airport wants to do its airport things and is gonna keep being an airport, and you're gonna keep doing your land use authorities, your your land use authorizations.

So, you know, forgive for whoever is listening into this from the public, but this is all like a waste of money.

So you just got to get on doing what you're gonna do.

Thank you.

Let's turn to our uh first zoom caller, some time.

Yes, Esther, you can go ahead.

Hello again.

Uh, just wanted to state that we've been in conversations and fully support Kona's neighborhood association on this topic.

Um, we are adjacent, and while we might not be having the soot problem, we are affected directly by the airport, as well as Villa del Monte, who has also been meeting um with the neighborhood association people from Kona.

Um, I find it interesting how quickly this made it to the agenda when my previous comment about not getting the border issue agendized in over a decade has been just sitting there and we still don't have any movement on that.

Um I also want to bring up the fact that this area has an underground plume of contaminants that were part of an EP uh a superfund, that Kona President Richard Russello was very active in in finding out what was going on there, and we know that that plume is mobile.

We haven't heard when it has been followed up on my understanding is that the agreement that was made at the time of the end of this plume being actively monitored was that every couple of years there was supposed to be some entity that was supposed to look at it, and it's important for my neighborhood to know because it was coming our way.

We don't know where it is.

We have a property that dug a couple of wells.

We don't know if anybody looked into it then, but it was also toxic, and we want to commend staff for looking into the air pollution, but we also need to know what's going on underground, which affects our water.

So, also would like to see some of the issues that we continue bringing up.

Agendis.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Chelsea.

Okay, can y'all hear me?

I'm calling in from a Sports Center swim class.

We can hear you.

Okay.

Okay, perfect.

So I just wanna first and foremost, uh, my name's Chelsea.

I'm in the Casanova Oaknell neighborhood on our neighborhood association.

And I do want to thank uh Councilmember Garcia, the city staff, and the county staff.

I know that they're not a part of our city council, but for for the efforts in trying to help us figure out what is going on with the neighborhood.

Um, as Esther mentioned, you know, the this area in in Monterey has had a history of, you know, various environmental issues, and this is just one other thing that our neighbors have brought up and voiced as a concern.

Um we didn't actually intend on engaging the city to this level because as another resident made in public comment, um, you know, the authority wasn't necessarily within the city to take action, and so we did write a letter to the county and to MBARD.

Um, but one of the things that we also know with public participation and community-driven efforts is that elevating these matters to the city council, such as Councilmember Gino Garcia did really just helps bring you know people to it to listen to us, because it's sometimes hard uh to get the right and proper channels to listen to neighbors when they're trying to, you know, solve a problem.

Um we appreciate that they're doing a study.

We look forward to seeing the results of that, uh, of kind of the initial evaluation that they did.

The the meeting we had last Thursday was, I think really powerful.

A lot of neighbors showed up uh to show what kind of problems they've been having.

And and truly, with it being a community-driven effort, we we don't know what the next steps are in terms of how to properly fund and manage doing an actual study.

Uh, but we're looking forward to seeing the results of that one day, uh, solely so that we can actually say, hey, this is actually an issue, or maybe this is not an issue.

Um, but we just have that information as we're raising our families in this neighborhood.

Um, I do want to point out that I know a lot of the conversation has been around the airport.

Um Casanova Oakman neighborhood is triangulated also by all of the congestion on North Fremont, which if the city has ever, you know, considered maybe finding a way to get those lights married up with Delay Oaks and Seaside to lessen some of that congestion, that would be great.

Uh but without studies like this, we have no idea where these contaminants are coming from.

We don't know what the impact is in our neighbors, and so we're just really thankful once again.

Um everybody's putting their time and effort to help us elevate our voice.

So thank you guys so much.

And our last speaker is Richard.

Good afternoon, Richard Rosello, president of the Casanova Oaknell Neighborhood Association.

Uh, my letter was just responding to several residents who brought this up at a Kona meeting.

Uh it was so widespread.

We had people from Melway, Ralston, Euclid, Bush, Lerwick, uh, they all notice these issues.

Our interest is only to find out if our air quality is safe.

That is our primary goal.

Um, the carbon dust has been noticed for years.

We've mentioned this many times.

But the jet fuel exhaust, that is very sporadic.

It depends on the wind condition and whether there is a jet idling on the end of the runway.

Uh, these are operational things that can change, but to let you know how strong it is.

I've gone in my backyard, been unable to take a breath.

The kerosene smell is so strong.

My neighbors have come outside trying to figure out what it is.

Uh, but it all depends on the wind.

So uh we had an excellent turnout, and we're very grateful that the city staff is taking organizational position on this, because we do not understand all the different local, county, state, and federal agencies involved.

All we want to know is is the air quality safe.

Is this dust got chemicals in it or not?

Does it originate from North Fremont or freeway, the airport?

We don't know.

We have an open mind.

And we do appreciate your involvement in this.

And I thank Councilman Garcia for putting this on an agenda and for getting this moving so quickly.

I'm one of the last persons knowledgeable about the toxic plume due to the neighborhood from World War II activities at the airport.

And I'm very familiar with it.

We do have a council resolution that the four retaining retaining wells will be sampled because it is moving towards Laguna Grandi Lake.

We know it doesn't affect our health, but it may affect the waters of that lake.

And that was done a few years ago, but we never got a report.

We need to follow up on that.

Thank you for your time.

And thank you for getting involved in this.

Thank you, Clementine.

Uh that closes out our public comments.

Uh, turn back to the council.

Uh, any additional comments, questions?

We're all satisfied.

Okay.

All right, great.

Thank you very much.

Uh this is a received report, no vote necessary.

Uh that's just an update.

Uh now we're gonna move to item 16.

Uh this is actually a council uh item that I proposed.

Um in the packet is a brief um, and we have the governance policy, so any member of the council can uh submit it something that they want for the council to to hear.

So uh I'm gonna go ahead and just make my presentation now under those rules and then uh would love to hear from the council.

So in my uh brief summary, the council has that, and my question was um I wanted to discuss the options to move forward for future council meeting.

Um there's uh some members of the coun uh members of the public that have been asking me uh to participate and have a facilitated conversation to see the city council to act on a patriotic red, white, and blue uh type of a crosswalk in time for July 4th to honor and recognize the United States uh 250th year celebration.

As we all know, the OMBA uh is the sponsor of a uh parade that will be going down Alvarado.

So my request is to bring it back to a regular council meeting uh as early as possible.

My intent is not to uh facilitate removing the crosswalk that's there at Pearl and Alvarado.

I'm looking for it to come back to the council so that they can consider a request for patriotic crosswalk.

Uh I have heard some in the community say that Franklin and Alvarado would be fine, uh, but the first step is to get this back in front of the council as an agendized item.

Uh our current policy does not have uh detail about an application deadline.

Um there's no mechanism of advertising to members of the public or groups that may want to have a crosswalk.

Um we have just the one that was done in May of 2023, and there appears that that policy may have some ambiguities written into it as an example.

One of those is that it says temporary and/or permanent.

So my intent is to bring this back to the council to allow staff to address a comprehensive policy that really gives more clarity, and likewise be able to consider a red, white, and blue crosswalk to be in keeping with city values.

In order to do that, I've submitted this request for it to be agendized for a future council date.

That is my ask.

And at this time I'd ask for procedurally Clementine.

Anything else that's expected on this?

No, you're following the procedure.

Okay, so we'll I'll call for questions from members of the council.

Yes.

So I'm trying to get an understanding about this.

Because it sounds like it's two parts.

Are you trying are you requesting to agenda the red, white, and blue for the flag, right?

And then are you requesting the crosswalk policy be re-addressed or re-evaluated?

Or um uh is that also so is it two different things?

Is the crosswalk policy and the red wine blue?

Talk to me about that, right?

So the city staff has had one year of the policy, and I understand that the intent of the policy when it was instituted in May was that it would be and it's stated in the resolution temporary and/or permanent.

Right.

I'm not I'm not that's the whole question.

My question is, is it both that you're asking?

Yeah, it's it's to look at the policy and clean up the policy.

Okay.

And and also there's a request for red, white, and blue, and it's not necessarily a flag, it would be up to staff to determine what they would accept for our street, and it needs to be reflective of the city values.

Uh so the patriotic question is is that within city values, and should we consider a second location?

Uh and also the policy is missing things like a deadline of when it's put up, um, when someone might apply for it, uh, when it would be replaced or removed, um, and are there locations in the city that they say that that would be not appropriate, and there are other places that they might say would be appropriate.

Uh, and we could even go further and determine we might not know what the correct request is, but we're gonna always have to evaluate whether it's in keeping with the city city values, and that's the avenue to say that it can be there.

So if we go forward, and I'm envisioning a policy that is filled with ambiguity, doesn't have much detail, and I'm not sure how staff would proceed with another request, because that the policy is silent on that.

So, basically, so the crosswalk policy basically brought that to be brought back up so it could be able to uh be looked at, evaluated, and let's and figure out how to share it up.

Yeah, exactly.

Okay, um, and then the red, white, and blue is you're saying it's not a flag, but I'm I'm kind of confused.

No, be red, white, and blue colors.

Okay, and it would be up to the city to approve of what would be put down on the crosswalk.

Okay, because that's that that's the only part that I have a question about is the a flag being on the ground.

No, and that's not the request.

Okay.

I want to understand patriotic, okay, red, white, and blue, request to the city, okay, and then the city would say what would be safe, acceptable, and whether it's in keeping with the city values, and then it would come back to the city council.

So the group is not trying to design it.

That that's something that the city owns, all right.

Thanks for the clarification.

Yes, Gina.

So I I would still like to clarify, uh, and maybe this is a question for staff, uh, because I also do hear two items there.

One requesting the patriotic um design, but I it it feels to me like we wouldn't be able to make a decision on that unless we first revise the policy.

So, how would that look um in terms of bringing it back?

Uh, does it have to be separate items, that kind of thing?

So, yes, through through the mirror, and I'm just uh consulting with staff.

We we're running into kind of a time issue here.

Um, it takes some lead time to actually um do the painting.

Um, if we're not hearing this until the 16th, um I believe we may be able to do the painting, but the policy, um, if we wanted some revisions, um, maybe that could be a separate item that comes later.

The current policy um does allow council to entertain proposals uh from different groups, and so if we could parse out the two, maybe bring to the next council meeting um the entertain entertaining the uh patriotic crosswalk, we can do that and then allow us to come back in in short order with the any type of policy changes the council would like.

Yeah, yeah, and and that makes sense.

Yeah.

Uh anything else, Jim?

Okay, Jean?

No, I see how they're both interrelated, but we could do the design of the crosswalk and approve that, and then keep working on the clarification of the policy, which we struggled with the first time, and we can always improve it.

Um, but I'm fine with both topic topics going forward.

Okay, okay.

Uh if there's no other comments or questions from council, I turn it turn it to the public.

Uh let's open it up to the public.

If you could uh take a position on the wall so we can get a count.

Uh while that's uh assembling in the chamber.

Let's go to Zoom and uh ask Zoom callers to now get ready on a five, three, two, one.

We have two callers on Zoom.

We have four in the chamber.

Uh let's go with uh two minutes.

Uh we have uh closed session after this, so let's go with two minutes for comments and in the chamber, Mr.

Hoyer.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the council, I require I think it's imperative that you bring back to you all this ordinance.

Uh it needs to be buttoned up in a lot of ways.

I mean, I spoke at the very beginning last time around, no issue with what it was or anything else, but the city shouldn't be paying any money towards it.

The sponsors should be doing that, and I found out the city has expended funds to maintain it and ongoing.

So to me, the policy needs to be that you have identified the responsible, you know, responsible party for that crosswalk, how long it's going to be there, and then they are solely responsible for maintaining it.

And there's just a lot more detail that has to be put in to button it down so in the future you don't have issues.

Uh it's not saying take get rid of one, add one or anything else, but this ordinance uh really doesn't do anything or say anything, and you're just you know, it was said in the very beginning, it could be opening a can of worms.

Well, yeah, I think you need to close that can as soon as you can and agendizing it to have those public discussions is the way to do that.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Mayor, members of the city council Luis.

Oh sorry, I was here last year when we considered the crossing, the colorful painting uh the head of Alvarado Street, and at the time I stated that I don't think it's a good idea, um, and I'm not opposing recognizing different groups.

I just think it's uh down bottom silly to use city streets basically as a billboard for different groups.

Um streets are made for people and car circulation.

I don't know where the idea came from.

Uh last year it was said that it was being done in other cities and so we have to do it here, whatever.

Um, if the city is going to keep this policy, uh as Rick just mentioned, it there's a lot of questions that need to be, you know, um clarified uh procedurally.

Who is going to use what crossroads for how long are they gonna pay?

Uh I think you should rent the spaces and generate some revenue and not spend any actual staff time or stuff or city money uh in in this exercise.

Um one of the questions is people are always going to be at the more visible places.

How are you going to choose who goes there?

Is it going to be a lottery?

And I think you know, one of the things funny things that is happening is that this is going to turn into a lady called ping pong real quickly.

And people are gonna find a way to want to be on the streets, you know, with I think the word that I mentioned last year is we're gonna end up with a hush push of the science in the city, and I don't know, aesthetically and I don't know what the usefulness of that is in terms of recognizing different groups of people.

There's many ways that we have come to know to recognize different groups of people.

Come on up.

I'm I didn't come with an agenda, but it seems a little peculiar to me to have something that is in commemoration of the year, 250th year, be something that is would be more or less permanent on the sidewalks.

And uh and of course it will be invisible when there are people parading over it.

Um and usually these kinds of things are in banners and uh over the overhead, uh, it would be a lot more appropriate.

Um I could see there are things in the crosswalks down on Canary Row that are appropriate to Canary Row, but I don't see that uh downtown Alvarado Street uh should be for anything but the 250th anniversary and it's appropriate.

The sidebar, we're gonna have to postpone the sidebar uh because we're getting too many voices.

We want to hear the speaker.

Thank you.

That's it.

Continue, go ahead.

Thank you.

Next up.

Uh hi, Colin Gallagher from Monterey.

Um, I want to comment very briefly on what uh Luis Sorrio, a prior speaker said.

Um, you know, I don't think that we necessarily have to have uh the patriotic crosswalk.

I mean, maybe you don't you don't want to open it up to people having a bunch of different type of crosswalks, but I like the idea of a patriotic crosswalk.

If you do go that direction, I think it it could be a good thing to have, and then you could split it out as a separate item um and then authorize that before you adopt your formal policy.

I I was thinking about the idea of a potential opening up a donation as well.

If you're thinking about the monetary side of things, um, and I was just doing a very bit of minor research before I stepped up here on the city can apparently authorize city council can can authorize restricted donations.

Uh, I guess there would need to be a formal staff report submitted to the city council, and the city would need to officially accept those funds and authorize the specific spending uh before the finance department can allocate it to public works.

But it can be done, and uh in any event, um it seems as though there could be a way for the public to potentially donate through the city's website to that specific kind of thing, a red, white, and blue crosswalk, uh, which could then uh potentially offset the cost of that kind of thing.

Um, and I I think it should be made permanent rather than have it, you know, be temporary and then be scraped away over time, and you'd have it be a permanent feature as a red, white, and blue type of crosswalk.

Um, but again, you know, it's whatever you wish to do, but I would suggest also there be a donation component allocated to that kind of thing as well to stick to help sustain it, and you could even incorporate that into parks projects and things like that to help the public um you know to allow the public to sustain these kinds of things.

All right, five seconds.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Let's turn to our Zoom callers now.

Yes, Lori, you can go ahead.

Good evening all.

Um, yeah, I I didn't really have anything to speak uh that I was going to talk about, and I'm getting an echo just so you know.

I don't maybe it isn't great for zoom callers still with the technology.

Um, just in general, I agree with something that all the speakers said, and this is none of this is political or one way or the other, but just in general, I'm just a person of this sim is the simplicity is the best.

I like the white crosswalks, just have it be standard, that's a standard feature.

And I do think, and I said this before the last time, it kind of opens Pandora's box, and then we're looking at us, we're spending time now.

Uh city time on agendas, and if we do it for the a flag, color red, white, and blue patriotic, pretty soon we'll be doing it.

I think another caller was wanting some Jewish symbols.

I just think it's opening Pandora's box.

So I I like a policy that's just going to keep crosswalks white.

I love the woman's suggestion of you know banners, things that are more temporary, we can still celebrate.

Uh I I agree that if we are going to do these crosswalks, maybe just pick one or two or three spots, and that's it.

And I like the revenue revenue generating idea.

That's that seems very smart.

Uh, that people can rent the space if we're gonna do it, and or maybe time limits, and I think if the policies brought back and time limits like uh for for an instance, it's gonna be pride, it's Pride month now, so it's rainbow colors for this month, and then July is uh the fourth of July, so that's independence day, and then that's maybe that month it's red, white, and blue colors, and then that way it can rotate if we want to do that.

Uh, so that that's that's about it.

Food for thought, okay.

And our next speaker is Chen Yari.

Hi, this is uh Channel about New Monterey.

Um I am in support of uh agendizing this topic.

Um I think it's really important to have some clarity as it relates to the crosswalk policy.

Uh, and that seems like a very important first step.

Um, I am a bit concerned about the time frame uh because it sounds like it needs to kind of all be figured out by a certain period of time in order to get the crosswalk put in.

Um I also wanted to highlight that uh with the NCIP cycle, we actually had a few crosswalk proposals with NCIP.

There's a very clear application process, uh deadline, um, guidelines towards how uh we are assessing projects and in terms of which ones we make recommendations to the city council.

So there's kind of a process already built um for people who may be interested in and proposing um projects related to uh different crosswalks.

I I do want to say that I I I guess I may be different in that I think it would be really cool to have a lot of different uh crosswalks of you know, red, white, and blue for the for patriotic and for the red uh the flag and other um other types of crosswalks.

I believe in the NCAP, one was like um supporting Native Americans um or uh commemorating or or uh recognizing Native Americans.

Um so I think there's a lot of potential there, but I I really do think we should spend the time figuring out what the policy is and make sure that there's clarity there uh before jumping into kind of putting new crosswalks in and then having there be a lot of confusion um specifically about you know who gets to decide um which crosswalks uh get approved and and where they go.

Thank you.

Was that the last caller?

Okay, great, thank you.

Uh I'll bring it back to the council for any additional comments.

Okay, uh go ahead.

Yeah, so for me, I think I'm still because it's two different items.

I I think it's important to bring the policy back.

I think that's clear.

Uh for me, at least it's clear, uh, so that we can be able to address it, um, you know, uh however it needs to be addressed, whether to add takeaway, whatever.

I think that part is important.

I just don't understand about the the red, white, and blue.

I want to be able to commemorate our 250th anniversary, that's for sure.

I want to do that, but I'm just trying to figure out what the best way would be.

And then I am concerned about the time constraint that um our city uh manager was talking about and trying to get everything done.

Because what I would want it done during that 4th of July, so that you're commemorating at the same time.

But I'm trying to figure out what else what else could be done in that time frame that we could still commemorate.

So that's that's just what's in my head.

That's just my my little thoughts on that.

Um, but I mean, um I I think the policy needs to come back so that we can be able to look at that and share that up.

Okay.

Other comments.

Um, I'm fine with going forward with both phases of the idea.

One to um clarify the procedure.

We we do need work on that, and and as soon as possible to address celebrating with a crosswalk for the fourth of July.

Okay if we if we can do it, if staff can do it.

Okay, Gino.

So, what I would support is uh bringing back the uh discussion around the policy.

So I think that needs to um happen first.

So I think that's that's the piece that I would be supporting.

Okay.

Uh let me ask the city manager uh question.

Um so my proposal tonight is to bring this back on the 16th.

Um I have no problem if we agendize the policy for a future date.

The urgency matter is the approval of an applicant.

Right.

Um, what do you need to be able to receive an application from someone to do a patriotic red blight and red white and blue working with your public works?

Right, and and so the policy already allows for uh this process for somebody to submit a request to the city council.

So you're following that process, it just needs to be fleshed out more the application process and and those things.

Um there are some additional things that we need to talk about if we're talking about the policy.

My concern is um we don't have enough time to do that analysis and bring it back for the next council meeting.

Um we do barely have enough time um to consider whatever the request is um and um set up the prep time so it can be painted for the 4th of July.

Um just to give you an idea, staff reports for the 16th were due today.

Okay.

So there's no way we can do the analysis of that.

We can, but we can move forward with the one request and then follow by the policy if that's the desire of the council.

Okay, uh if there's no other comment, then I'll make a motion uh that we bifurcate this request and um get it on the uh 16th of June.

If there's anything you need that is, and we will follow up with an approving of a red, white, and blue accepting um, and you probably need to this council needs to assert on the 16th that it they are in agreement with a value statement that aligns with that request of a patriotic red, white, and blue.

Is that what I'm hearing you say that needs to happen on the 16th?

Um so I I need to go back to back to the policy, but yes, it it needs to be the city council's decision or speech uh that occurs at the crosswalk.

So that's what we'll be looking for.

There's also some details, uh I understand that uh there's gonna be a sponsor, so so this will be paid for through contributions, um, and there's uh a design consideration um that we'll have to work really quickly to to get that prepared.

I can follow up with um you and and the group for the details that we need for the information for the staff report.

Um yeah, and that can happen.

So um to just cut to the chase, let me make a motion that we um direct staff to receive the request for consideration of a red, white, and blue patriotic crosswalk at a location to be determined by staff on the Alvarado sector, and that they would receive a donation from private parties that would fully be paying for and its intent is to be temporary.

What's before us is to request the agenda.

So I'm confused while we're getting into the the details of uh receiving the request to do XY and Z.

I thought this is the request to agenda that for June 16th, right?

Yeah, but I'm providing the staff with what uh the group is intending, and and yes, it's to agendize it for the 16th.

Yes.

That's what the motion is to agendize tonight.

I'm just trying to provide staff what the background is.

Okay, the motion is there, and I need a second.

Second.

Okay.

Clementine.

May I clarify?

Is there any part of your motion that includes um the later discussion of the policy?

Yes.

It's just to get it on the agenda for the 16th for consideration of a red, white, and blue patriotic, and we're bifurcating it in a later a policy consideration.

So it's two different things.

No, no, June 16th is only for the request of a patriotic.

And so your motion is just for that particular one.

Just for the policy.

Yes.

That's correct.

Okay.

That's correct.

I'm saying.

Yes.

Because as the city managers indicated, there's insufficient time to work on staff to prepare a policy agenda for council.

So my motion is just for the red, white, and blue request for a sidewalk or a crosswalk to be agendized for the June 16th that would give staff a time to be able to act on before July 4th.

But aren't we going to need a secondary motion today to look into the future for clarifying the procedure?

I mean, wouldn't wouldn't we have Ed do a second motion?

So for the future.

You you could do that, but we hear your direction loud and clear.

If you'd allow staff to um talk and place it on a future agenda, um, we we'd be happy to do that.

Uh so we hear that consensus flag.

Yeah, and we all we haven't always voted on agendizing these things.

You're correct.

Yeah, and and I think we've got our hands full between now and June 16th and shortly after the policy.

We can look at later.

Yeah, okay.

Um, there's no other comments.

Um we'll call for the vote.

Clementine.

Councilmember Barber.

No.

Council member uh rash, yes.

Councilmember Garcia, no.

And Vice Mayor Smith.

Yes.

So that passes with a vote of two based on the policy.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah, no, but I'm not sure the public knows what's going on.

Usually they go by the majority rule.

Under the governance policy, a request that's coming from a council member, two votes, and the approval is for it to go to the agenda for June 16th to be heard with the staff report.

So that's what the action is for tonight.

Okay, great.

Thank you very much.

Uh council.

We're moving right along.

Uh, at this time that finishes our uh order for tonight.

We are gonna go to council comments.

Uh council comments.

Gino.

Yes, thank you.

I just uh wanted to uh express gratitude to staff who uh worked on coordinating um the district four community meeting that happened last week uh exactly a week ago on Tuesday.

Um thank you for your support.

Thank you for getting the word out.

Uh and thank you to community who uh was present.

We had uh a very healthy showing, I would say somewhere in the vicinity of about 50 uh residents.

Uh it was um uh great opportunity to connect uh with uh the various speakers from various agencies.

Airport was there, our planning department was there, and we had some discussion around fairgrounds, and also an opportunity there to connect around other items with uh residents.

So again, just wanted to say thank you to everyone who was present.

Thank you to staff for uh supporting that and and uh bringing the the whole community meeting together and uh really appreciate uh that and uh that's all I have thank you thank you Dr.

Barber Okay I have no comments we'll turn to the city manager no comments this evening okay I go to surprise easy tonight uh so we are going to move to closed session uh before we do that we want to announce what is on our schedule so we can uh give the public an opportunity to make comments uh Chrissy could I ask you to report what we are going to be seeing in closed session with the announcement yes sure Vice Mayor Smith um the first item we'll be hearing a closed session conference with real property negotiators um pertaining to nine wharf two which is a sandbar and grill with the city's agency negotiators Kimberly Cole and Janet Aldretti and they're negotiating with Craig Ling um also Jane Boy Inc.

on the price and terms of payment for a lease extension and new lease agreement and the next item we'll be hearing after that is a conference of legal counsel significant exposure to litigation the facts and circumstances which are known to um the potential plaintiff are as follows there's a contract dispute between the city and the contractor related to agreement one two five seven for goods and services we'll turn to the public for any comments from the public so anybody in the chamber wishing to make uh comments on our closed session items seeing no responses no hands we'll turn to zoom any comments from zoom callers reference to what was just announced for closed session items five four three two one comments okay with that we'll move to closed session uh this meeting is adjourned thank you for coming there is a dog How do we give us a h do we give us a hug