The Monterey City Council held a special meeting on June 24, 2026, to receive a presentation on the phase two poll of likely voters and to consider directing staff to proceed with the renewal of Measure S (a 1% special sales tax) for the November 2026 ballot. The city faces an $11.6 million structural deficit, and Measure S provides approximately $14 million annually for critical infrastructure. Staff recommended focusing solely on renewing Measure S with an eight-year sunset, based on polling data showing strong support (73% overall, 75% with an eight-year sunset). The council unanimously approved the recommendation.
How do we give us a hug Pulling people in, and I'll give folks a second on Zoom. Recording in progress. So we're just going to give them about ten, fifteen more seconds here. All right, with that, we'll go ahead and call the meeting to order. Hello, everybody. Welcome to our special council meeting for June twenty fourth, twenty twenty-six. With that, I will pass it to staff for roll call and to share announcements with the public. Oh, I'll do that after. Sorry, I skipped it. I'll come back to that. Okay. Councilmember Garcia. Councilmember Rash. Councilmember Smith. And Mayor Williamson.gov.agendas. 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 include the right to criticize or support city policies or actions. The city encourages your uninhibited and robust feedback on public issues affecting the city. Thank you for participating. Awesome. Thank you. And with that, I'm going to ask Councilmember Smith a few questions. Can you hear me well? I can. Were you able to hear our proceedings on this end up until now? Yes. Do you have a copy of the agenda for the meeting? I do. Was the agenda posted 24 hours prior to this special meeting at your location? Yes, it was. Is your location accessible to the public such that any member of the public could participate from the location that you, if they wished to do so? Yes. My door's open and I'm in room 106 at the hotel I'm staying at. All right, everybody hear that? I'm just kidding. Um is any member of the public there with you currently who would like to participate in the public comment portion of this meeting or otherwise address the any agenda item for this meeting. Nobody here yet. Can everyone clearly hear council member Smith? Yes. All right, I got some positive affirmation. The Brown Act requires that any votes taken during this teleconference portion of this meeting be taken by roll call. Um and with that um council member Smith, you were up next to do the Pledge of Allegiance, but since you're not here, I'll come back. We'll come back to you next week and we'll kick it off to Councilmember Garcia. That sounds fine. Okay, one nation. All right, with that, we have one public appearance item today, which is item one on the agenda to receive presentation on phase two poll of likely voters in direct two poll. We have one public appearance item today. It's item one on the agenda is to receive a presentation on phase two poll of likely voters and direct staff to proceed with the renewal of measure S only for the November 2026 election ballot. Um, and with that, I'll pass it to City Manager Dante Hall. Thank you, Mayor, and members of the city council.