Special Council Meeting on Measure S Renewal and Polling Results - June 24, 2026
Special Council Meeting on Measure S Renewal and Polling Results - June 24, 2026
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.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rick Hoyer (Chair, Measure P/S Oversight Committee): Expressed strong support for renewal, emphasizing that the pavement condition index (PCI) has risen from 54 to 79 but many streets still need work, and that neglecting maintenance would lead to higher costs.
- Tom Raleigh (Vice President, Monterey Peninsula Taxpayers Association): Noted the anti-tax mood due to the economy and high cost of living, and urged the city to consider a fund to help property owners struggling with sidewalk repair costs.
- Lori Mazooka (Resident): Criticized the city's sidewalk policy shift after Measure S was approved, stating that homeowners are now burdened with costly repairs and permits, eroding voter confidence. She urged the city to restore trust before asking for another decade of funding.
- Esther (Resident): Suggested considering a parking tax and a sales tax increase (like Measure D) together for November, postponing Measure S to 2028, arguing that taxes paid by visitors might be more palatable and that the city did not market Measure D enough.
- Tom (Resident): Supported Lori's comments on sidewalks, questioned whether the sunset is realistic or just marketing, and noted that voters are also considering a stormwater fee.
Discussion Items
- Presentation by Staff and Pollster: City Manager Dante Hall and Assistant City Manager Nat presented the fiscal context, the history of Measure P/S (adopted 2015, renewed 2018, generating $88.8 million for streets, sidewalks, ADA, and storm drains). Lucia Delpupo from FM3 presented the phase two poll results: 73% support for Measure S renewal (75% with an eight-year sunset), with strong intensity among supporters. The parking tax tested at 52% support (close to the 50% threshold), and a vacancy tax had majority support (61-62%) but was not tested with specific ballot language. Staff recommended focusing on Measure S renewal only, as adding other measures could dilute the "no tax increase" message and risk passage.
- Council Questions and Deliberation: Councilmembers asked about response rates, property tax revenue sources, and the sidewalk repair policy. Councilmember Rash proposed a "sidewalk uplift goodwill tour" to repair uplifted sidewalks at city expense to rebuild trust. Councilmember Smith noted the need for clear communication and reasonable fees. Councilmember Barber highlighted the importance of concrete streets. Mayor Williamson expressed skepticism that the city could afford to let Measure S expire after eight years and advocated for a longer-term solution, but ultimately supported the eight-year sunset. Councilmember Garcia suggested exploring a vacancy tax for future consideration but acknowledged timing challenges.
- Sidewalk Policy Discussion: City Engineer Andrew explained that the sidewalk maintenance responsibility has always been with adjacent property owners per state law and city code, and that the city has not substantially changed the program. The council discussed potential assistance programs like expanding the Mr. Fix It program.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous Vote (5-0): The council approved a motion to accept staff's recommendation to proceed with the renewal of Measure S for the November 2026 ballot, with an eight-year sunset and no changes to the existing language. The motion passed by roll call: Councilmember Rash (yes), Barber (yes), Garcia (yes), Smith (yes), Mayor Williamson (yes).
- No Other Tax Measures Added: The council decided not to place a parking tax or vacancy tax on the November 2026 ballot, though they expressed interest in future exploration of a vacancy tax and sidewalk assistance programs.
- Next Steps: Staff will prepare the ballot measure for adoption by the council by July 21, 2026, with a final filing deadline of August 7, 2026. The council committed to educating the public about the renewal.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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