Pacific Grove City Council Regular Meeting

The Pacific Grove City Council convened for its regular meeting on July 16, 2025. The meeting covered routine approvals, public comments on various community issues, and deliberation on several agenda items including engineering services, a land acknowledgement directive, budget adjustments, the city manager's contract, cannabis fees, a school liaison subcommittee, and the police department's annual report. Multiple items were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved, with Item 11A (AB 2561) continued to the next meeting.
• A certificate of recognition was presented to the "Walk Every Street PG" group.
• The consent calendar was approved unanimously, except for Items 9B and 9E which were pulled for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Peggy Gibbs (Pacific Grove Cares) expressed appreciation for city support and announced progress on landscaping projects at Chase Park West and Caledonia Park, with a ribbon cutting scheduled.
• Susan Goldbeth announced the relaunch of the PG Beacon online newspaper to report on city council actions and invited community contributions.
• Carol Markworth questioned the relevance and activities of the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) task force, suggesting its cultural calendar did not represent majority community values.
• A speaker (name not specified) expressed concern about the city's $55 million debt and opposition to the DEI task force, advocating for the city to be run like a business.
• Mike Gibbs (Pacific Grove Cares) provided an update on the landscaping project, noting positive community reactions and ongoing fundraising needs.
• Jane Haynes expressed opposition to the housing element's draft EIR, arguing that converting downtown parking lots to housing would cripple local businesses by eliminating accessible parking.
• Ken thanked the Beautification and Natural Resources Commission (BNRC) and Public Works for support during harbor seal pup season.
• An online caller pledged not to comply with administrative directives targeting community members based on identity and thanked the city for supporting the DEI task force.
• Beth Walker (Monterey Peninsula Pride) thanked council members for participating in the Pride parade and expressed support for the DEI committee, stating it was needed to protect children.

Discussion Items

• Item 9B: Engineering Services Contract with Neal Engineering
  • Public Works Director Dan Goh presented the item for routine engineering services on capital improvement projects.
  • Andy Kubica argued against outsourcing, citing increased public works staff and suggesting the work should be handled internally.
  • Another speaker echoed Kubica's concerns, questioning the necessity of the $601,000 contract.
  • Mr. Goh clarified that the firm provides specialized surveying and plan preparation services not available within the current public works staff, and that the costs were allocated from various funds, not just the general fund.
  • Council discussed the need for the services given current staff capacity and training limitations, and the ongoing search for a civil engineer position.
• Item 9E: Land Acknowledgement Directive to DEI Task Force
  • Councilmember Paduri explained the item directed the DEI task force to develop language for a land and ancestral peoples acknowledgement for future council consideration.
  • Carol Markworth expressed opposition, comparing land acknowledgements to prayers and stating they imply blame and shame.
  • Another speaker expressed opposition, arguing that such acknowledgements and pronoun declarations were unnecessary in a united community.
  • Lisa Ciani expressed support for the land acknowledgement as a statement of truth and appreciation for the DEI task force's work.
  • Sharon Miller expressed support, stating it was a normalized and kind practice to recognize indigenous peoples.
  • Councilmember Walking Stick provided perspective on the importance of acknowledgment for intercultural healing and respecting local tribes.
  • Councilmember Garfield emphasized the need for the DEI task force to conduct robust outreach and education, clarifying they would not set policy but provide a sample statement.
• Item 11B: Budget Amendment for Monterey Sidewalk Reimbursement
  • Finance Director Eric Marsh presented an ordinance to amend the budget to pay a $113,000 bill from the City of Monterey for sidewalk work completed in 2011, which had been overlooked due to staff turnover.
  • Andy Kubica questioned how the bill was missed and whether other liabilities might exist.
  • Staff confirmed thorough research showed no prior payment, and Monterey was waiving interest.
• Item 11C: Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement
  • City Attorney presented a first amendment to increase City Manager Matthew Mogensen's salary, deferred compensation, and paid time off.
  • Council expressed unanimous support and praise for Mr. Mogensen's performance, communication, and staff leadership during his first year.
  • An amendment to remove a sentence requiring written council approval for flexible work hours was added.
• Item 11D: Adoption of Cannabis Regulatory Fees
  • City Manager Matthew Mogensen presented a resolution to adopt 100% cost-recovery fees for the commercial cannabis regulatory program.
  • Council discussed the fee structure, which covers application processing, inspections, audits, and background checks.
• Item 12A: City-School District Subcommittee Restructuring
  • City Manager proposed a more informal structure for collaboration with the Pacific Grove Unified School District, moving from formal joint meetings to quarterly staff meetings and occasional informal committee meetings with the mayor and board chair.
  • Council supported the change to improve efficiency and collaboration.
• Item 14A: Police Department 2024 Annual Report
  • Police Chief Jay presented an interactive annual report highlighting call statistics, crime data, organizational changes, training, and the department's strategic plan.
  • Councilmember Rao inquired about the discontinuation of the School Resource Officer (SRO) contract. The Chief explained the school board's decision was based on multiple factors, including ideological differences, and that the SRO had resigned, creating a vacancy. The department will prioritize calls for service to schools based on staffing and call priority.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 9B (Engineering Services): Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 9E (Land Acknowledgement Directive): Approved unanimously (7-0). Council directed the DEI task force to develop language for future consideration.
• Item 11B (Budget Amendment): Approved unanimously (7-0). Ordinance introduced.
• Item 11C (City Manager Contract Amendment): Approved unanimously (7-0). Resolution adopted and ordinance introduced.
• Item 11D (Cannabis Fees): Approved unanimously (7-0). Resolution adopted.
• Item 12A (Subcommittee Restructuring): Approved unanimously (7-0). Council delegated the mayor and mayor pro tem to attend existing meetings for 2025 and approved the new informal structure for 2026.
• The meeting adjourned following the police department report.