Pacific Grove City Council Meeting – February 18, 2026

The Pacific Grove City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 6 PM in Council Chambers. The council approved the consent agenda, advanced a ballot measure to increase council stipends to the June 2026 primary election, and authorized a budget amendment for a housing rehabilitation loan.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 7-0, with no items pulled.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Public Comment (Item 4): A speaker urged council to prioritize citizen interests over staff or party loyalty, criticizing raises and taxes. Another speaker objected to the city's partnership with the Xerces Society to glue microwave transmitters on monarch butterflies, calling it harmful and in violation of city ordinance, and requested immediate halt. A third speaker supported better cigarette butt receptacles over ordinances. A fourth speaker criticized the council for not following the city charter's voting requirement (five votes instead of unanimous) regarding the drone urgency ordinance.
• Item 11A (Council Stipend Increase): Bill Camp (President of City of Pacific Grove) advocated placing the measure on the ballot to expand candidate pool and ensure contested district elections. A resident opposed the June election timing, citing cost and low turnout, and argued that council should not set its own raise. Carol Marcourt expressed willingness to collect referendum signatures again, urging the measure be placed on the November ballot instead. Another resident criticized the 5% annual increase over 27 years as excessive and fiscally irresponsible, noting staff received only 3% COLAs.
• Item 11B (CalHome Loan): No public comment.

Discussion Items

• Item 11A – Resolution for Special Election on Council Stipend Increase: The council discussed placing a measure on the June 2, 2026 primary ballot (not a special election) to increase council and mayor stipends from $420/month to approximately $1,200/month, adjusted for 27 years of inflation. The increase would take effect at the start of the next term. Council members expressed support, citing the need to attract diverse candidates (including younger and employed individuals) especially with upcoming district elections. They noted that the last raise was 27 years ago, and that PERS/PARS costs are paid by council members, so the net city cost would be about $2,200/year total for Medicare and workers' comp. The city attorney confirmed no automatic escalator is allowed under state law. The ordinance includes a five-year lockout on revisiting the stipend. The measure will appear on the June primary ballot.
• Item 11B – Budget Amendment for CalHome Reuse: Staff requested a $199,000 budget amendment from CalHome reserves ($273,986 balance) to fund a housing rehabilitation loan for a qualifying homeowner. The loan is repaid when the property is sold, and the program is self-perpetuating; additional CDBG grant funds are anticipated. Council members praised the program as cost-effective and voted to introduce the ordinance.

Key Outcomes

• Item 11A: Motion to adopt the resolution (recommendations 1-3) to submit the council stipend increase to the voters at the June 2, 2026 primary election passed 7-0. The ordinance includes a five-year restriction on future adjustments.
• Item 11B: Motion to introduce Ordinance No. 25.06 and authorize the budget amendment (recommendations 2 and 4) passed 7-0.
• Council Announcements: Councilmember Garfield announced that Pacific Grove received an A rating from the American Lung Association for its smoking ordinance, up from an F six years ago.