Public Meetings - Sand City, California

Note: The raw transcript lists the meeting date as February 17, 2026, but the provided metadata states the meeting occurred on February 18, 2026. This summary uses the date from the metadata as instructed. The Sand City City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2026. Key actions included the formal appointment and swearing‑in of Kim Scudder to fill a vacant council seat, acceptance of the independent auditors’ report for fiscal year 2024–2025, approval of several committee appointments, and a discussion of a proposed mobile café vocational training site at the city’s art park. Consent Calendar - Resolution recognizing and honoring the service of Robin McRae (Community Human Services CEO). - Resolution approving the Sand City Joint Powers Refinance Financing Authority, confirming its officers. - Acceptance of the city successor agency financial report for January 2026. All three items were approved unanimously without discussion. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public offered comments during either the non‑agenda public comment period or the public comment periods for individual agenda items. Discussion Items - Appointment of a City Council Vacancy (Item 3): Staff reported that at a prior meeting the council had voted to appoint Kim Scudder to serve out the remaining term of former Council Member Sofa, which expires December 31, 2026. The council formally approved Resolution appointing Ms. Scudder via roll call (Mayor Carmo, Vice Mayor Blackwelder, Councilmember Adams, Councilmember Diaz – all yes). Ms. Scudder was then sworn in by the city clerk. - Announcements by Mayor, City Manager & City Attorney: - Mayor Carmo reported on MST (Monterey‑Salinas Transit) activities, including the purchase of 13 battery‑electric buses; noted good air quality based on MBARD monitoring; mentioned the upcoming Community Human Services meeting and naming of a new CEO; highlighted the Veterans Center in Marina, which serves 172 veterans daily; and noted several upcoming local events. - City Manager Nick (last name not stated) announced that the 1.9 million dollar state grant for the Sand City multi‑use trail (bike trail) project has been released. Funds will enable the city to issue an RFP to advance design plans from 30% to 100%. He also updated on the West End Naja project, noting that a new committee member would be appointed to replace former Council Member Basopa. - City Attorney Anthony Amara (via a separate presentation under Item 11B) provided an update on new 2026 state laws, focusing on housing: - AB 507 (Office to Housing Conversion Act): Effective July 1, 2026 – simplifies conversion of commercial buildings to housing by allowing by‑right, ministerial approvals for adaptive reuse projects; requires a minimum number of affordable units; limits parking and impact fees. - AB 712 (Housing Reform Enforcement): Effective January 1, 2026 – increases penalties for cities violating state housing reform laws to up to $10,000 per unit ($50,000 for projects with four or fewer units) plus attorneys’ fees, with a 60‑day cure notice. - SB 346 (Transient Occupancy Taxes): Effective January 1, 2026 – allows cities to require short‑term rental facilitators (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO) to disclose detailed property information quarterly and display local license numbers. - SB 456 (Murals): Effective January 1, 2026 – exempts muralists from state contractor licensing requirements, reducing barriers for public and private murals while still requiring compliance with local laws. - Audited Financial Statements (Item 11A): Rich Gonzales of CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) presented the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Highlights: - The city received an unmodified (clean) opinion with no material misstatements or findings. - Net position increased from $35 million to $39 million. - Revenues exceeded expenses by roughly $3.3 million; public safety was the largest functional expenditure at $4.3 million. - Prior year findings (regarding unavailable revenue reporting and the successor agency bank account) were both implemented. - A new accounting standard (GASB 103) will take effect next year, requiring a variance column for original vs. final budget in MD&A. The council unanimously approved the resolution accepting the report. - Design Review Committee Appointments (Item 11C): The council approved reappointments of Chris Barlow and Paul Davis (terms ending January 31, 2028) and new appointments of Ralph Goldbeck (architect) and Tyler Pratt (general contractor) (terms ending January 31, 2027). All candidates were introduced. The resolution passed unanimously. - Arts Committee Appointments (Item 11D, labeled as 11B in transcript): The council confirmed appointments to the Sand City Arts Committee, including the reappointment of Holly. The resolution passed unanimously. - Ratification of Appointments to Various Boards (Item 11E): The council ratified the mayor’s proposed list of city representatives to local and regional agencies for 2026. The resolution passed unanimously. - Abilities Cafe – Discussion (Item 11F): City Manager Nick introduced the concept: leasing a portion of the art park for a temporary mobile coffee trailer operated by Abilities Café, a nonprofit providing vocational training for young adults with special needs. Operator Lorraine Gonzalez explained the program; the trailer would operate Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The council expressed strong support for the use, noting it would activate the park during weekdays and complement existing services (e.g., Hope Services). Council directed staff to return with a formal Conditional Use Permit, lease agreement, and resolution. - Item 11G (Use Permit Amendment) – Continued: The item (1725 Conference Costa Street parking reduction due to stormwater project) was continued to the March 3, 2026 meeting. Key Outcomes - New Council Member: Kim Scudder was appointed and sworn in to the vacant seat through December 31, 2026 (unanimous vote). - Audit Acceptance: Resolution accepting the independent auditors’ report for FY 2024–2025 approved (5‑0). - Committee Appointments: - Design Review Committee: reappointments (Barlow, Davis) and new appointments (Goldbeck, Pratt) approved. - Arts Committee: appointments confirmed. - Appointments to multiple regional boards ratified. - Abilities Cafe: Council directed staff to prepare a formal lease and conditional use permit for the mobile café at the art park, with a temporary term aligned with pending redevelopment plans. - Closed Session: The council (with conflicts noted for Mayor Carmo, Councilmember Scudder, and Councilmember Adams) conducted a closed session via a lottery to determine the remaining member (Councilmember Scudder) to participate in real property negotiations regarding APN 011‑125‑04. No reportable action was taken in open session.

This regular meeting of the Sand City Joint City Council and Successor Agency included a consent calendar item opposing offshore drilling, a presentation on local shelter funding shortfalls, and the appointment of a new council member to fill a vacancy. The meeting was held virtually and in person, in compliance with AB 248. Consent Calendar - Item 5A (Resolution Opposing Offshore Oil Drilling and Deep Sea Mining): Approved unanimously. Council members expressed strong support for protecting the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and opposing any destructive extraction activities. The resolution also directs further policy evaluation. Public Comments & Testimony - Brian Clark: (On consent calendar) Commented that the mural consultant contract should include broken-out line items and allocate more funds directly to artists. (On appointment) Expressed support for candidate Luke, noting his long-term involvement and measurable contributions over five years. - Richard Dole (Ocean View resident): Spoke in support of candidate Justin Rumps, citing his humility and service orientation. - Jessica Kilpatrick: Spoke in support of her husband, candidate Luke, describing him as a dedicated father, husband, and passionate community member. Presentation: Shelter Funding Update - Robin McCray (CEO, Community Human Services) and Stacy (Program Director): Presented on two shelters for women and families – Casa de Noche Buena (35 beds) and Schumann Heart House. Highlighted that three-year average exits to permanent housing are 50% (Casa) and 57% (Schumann), nearly double the statewide benchmark of 23%. Each program has an annual operating cost of $1.0–$1.2 million. Projected deficits grow from about $267,000 in FY 26-27 to over $757,000 by FY 29-30 due to expiration of temporary state and local funding (e.g., HAP, City of Monterey PLHA). Without intervention, the shelters face service reductions, elimination of case management, or full closure. They requested city partnership in identifying bridge funding, replacement funding, and creative solutions. The city manager acknowledged the request and will explore opportunities. Discussion Items - Item 9A: Appointment to Fill Council Vacancy - The council declared a vacancy effective December 31, 2025, and received three statements of interest by the January 14 deadline. Candidates presented for up to 10 minutes each, followed by council questions, public comment, and deliberation. - Candidate Justin Rumps: Retired Marine, federal civil servant since 2009, resident since 2018. Emphasized service, listening, and teamwork. Has taken a new job with more flexibility. Council questioned him about adaptability to small city governance and time commitment for daytime committee meetings; he stated he could attend with advance notice. - Candidate Kim Scudder: Resident since 2015; gave a comprehensive overview of city projects (Marriott hotel, West End art park, coastal boardwalk trail, TAMC multi-use trail, stormwater improvements, Surf busway). Active in CERT, end-of-life care, and other volunteer work. Expressed availability and desire to serve gently and listen. Received three letters of support from community members. - Candidate Luke: Business owner (short-term rental, book sales), artist, and novelist who sets his novels in Sand City. Has attended council meetings and regional committees (TAMC, MST) for five years; lost a prior council race by three votes. Emphasized willingness to work as a team, recuse when conflicts arise, and bring technology skills. - After public comment, council selected their top two candidates: Justin Rumps and Kim Scudder. Following further deliberation, council voted unanimously (5-0) to appoint Kim Scudder to fill the vacant seat through the remainder of Councilmember Sofer’s term (ending December 2026). Mayor Carbone encouraged all candidates to run in the November election. Key Outcomes - Consent Calendar Item 5A approved unanimously. - Kim Scudder appointed to City Council by a 5-0 vote. She will be sworn in at the next meeting; staff will begin onboarding. - Shelter funding request: The city will follow up with Community Human Services through its JPA and explore potential funding sources. - Next meeting: Scheduled for February 17; budget and personnel committee recommendations will be brought forward.

The Sand City Council held its regular meeting on January 21, 2026, addressing a range of items including consent calendar approvals, a new city website presentation, vehicle purchases, an electric street sweeper grant, surplus land designation for the Art Park project, and selection of a consultant for the General Plan update. Mayor Carbone presided, with all council members present except during a conflict-of-interest recusal. Announcements & Reports - Mayor Carbone reported on a KSBW interview, the grand opening of a hotel on January 22, attendance at an NLC conference, and a December 2025 MMIP conference in Monterey featuring Chief Honda. - City Manager Vivica reported that three residents have applied for a council vacancy to be filled on February 3 (with public interviews); restitution was received for a damaged streetlight via police detective work; MST work on Plan California was completed; and staff (Chief Honda and Audrey Cray) assisted a homeless couple. - City Attorney noted a new laws update presentation scheduled for the second February meeting. Public Comments & Testimony (Non-Agenda Items) - Brian Clark asked that the council vacancy interviews be public and supported candidate Luke Kilpatrick. - Todd Sheller (Vice President, Lyles Diversified) provided updates on the West End project, noting the R1 and R2 parcels are on the market, discussed seaside sanitation district fees, and expressed concerns about the rooftop restaurant requirement for the condo project. - Luke Kilpatrick alerted the council to a January 28 CPUC public meeting regarding a proposed 30% water rate increase over three years by Cal-Am/California Water, stating public sentiment is against the increase. Consent Calendar - Approved items included: city council minutes for October 21, 2025; a resolution authorizing an agreement with Talking Walls for mural curator services; a resolution amending a professional services agreement with EMC Planning Group for additional grant funding; and acceptance of the December 2025 financial report. - Public comment: Brian Clark raised concerns about the Talking Walls contract, requesting council review of any additional artists commissioned and arguing the fee should be reduced given the streamlined scope. He also recommended local artist Jose Ortiz. - Motion to approve carried unanimously. Discussion Items City Website Presentation (Chris Arden, EMC Planning Group) - Chris Arden presented a redesigned city website built on WordPress, featuring an economic development page (funded by a grant), an arts community section, interactive GIS maps for developers, department pages, forms, and community resources. - Public comment: Brian Clark praised the WordPress platform and suggested adding comment sections for agenda items. Michael Groves (EMC) emphasized the website is designed for city staff to maintain independently. Tom Jacobson (EKN, hotel developer) expressed excitement about collaborating on event promotion. - No formal action was needed; the presentation was informational. 9A – Purchase of Three City Vehicles - Mark Parker recommended replacing four aging vehicles (two 20+ years old, two 12+ years old) with three: a 2025 RAM 4x2 hybrid (plug-in, 90-mile EV range), a 2026 Chevy Silverado, and a 2026 Toyota Tacoma (corrected from a 2016 typo). Total cost: $144,094.56, funded via LCIP. - Public comment: Luke Kilpatrick questioned the lack of full electric vehicles and suggested installing a Level 2 charger. Brian Clark advocated for a policy mandating electric vehicles across the board. - Motion to approve (with corrected year) passed. 9B – Electric Street Sweeper Purchase - Staff recommended accepting a $200,000 grant from the Monterey Bay Air Resources District and authorizing $501,809.70 (including a $50,000 rebate from 3CE) for a Ravo 5i-series electric compact sweeper. Mark Parker noted the sweeper is quiet, has an onboard charger, and has been successfully tested in Carmel. - Public comment: Speakers supported the purchase, citing lower maintenance and noise reduction. - Motion to approve carried. 9C – Surplus Land Designation for Art Park Parcels - Nick presented a resolution declaring three city-owned parcels (totaling less than 0.5 acres, non-contiguous to open space or affordable housing land) as exempt surplus land under Gov. Code §54221(f)(1)(D). This step is necessary before entering a long-term lease for mixed-use development (including 16 affordable units). - Councilmembers Black-Wilner and Diaz recused themselves; Diaz was selected by lot to abstain. - Public comment: Brian Clark urged flexibility in development, criticizing prior concepts with insufficient parking and unrealistic unit counts. Another speaker voiced strong support for the housing and arts components. - Motion to approve passed. 9D – Professional Services Agreement for General Plan Update - Nick presented the selection process: four proposals were received; staff recommended EMC Planning Group based on technical expertise, local presence, and highest ratings from all interviewers. Cost: not to exceed $772,239, funded through the five-year CIP with $250,000 in the current budget. - Public comment: Brian Clark expressed concern about the city repeatedly contracting EMC, urging diversification of consultants. - Motion to approve passed. Key Outcomes - Consent calendar approved. - Three vehicles purchased ($144,094.56). - Electric street sweeper purchased with grant and city funds ($501,809.70). - Three art park parcels declared surplus/exempt. - General Plan update contract awarded to EMC Planning Group (up to $772,239). - Next regular meeting scheduled for February 3, 2026, featuring council vacancy interviews.

The City Council of Sand City held a special joint meeting with the Successor Agency on December 16, 2025, adjourning to closed session and reconvening at 5:43 PM. The meeting was held virtually and in person, with all members present. The council approved a consent calendar, adopted building code amendments, declared a vacancy on the council, established a process to fill it, approved the Successor Agency’s Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS) for FY 2026–27, and authorized an additional police officer position. Consent Calendar - Approved 13 items (items 5A–5E) including: approval of meeting minutes; a resolution providing $10,000 to the Food Bank of Monterey County (with $2,000 already contributed by council); a resolution authorizing the Successor Agency executive director to execute a professional services agreement with RSG (up to $25,000) for the FY 2027–28 ROPS; and acceptance of financial reports for October and November 2025. Public Comments & Testimony - Brian Clark (resident, 430 RP) thanked the council for the holiday party, thanked Councilmember Libby Sofer for her service, and urged the council to consult the Arts Committee on filling Sofer’s seat and to consider appointing Luke (a prior candidate) as a replacement. - Tom Jacobson (representing Sand City Marriott) reported that the hotel will go live on the Bonvoy app December 24, 2025, with a soft opening January 12, 2026, and a grand opening January 21, 2026. He noted 64 full-time equivalent employees hired, mostly local, and encouraged the council to use the hotel for events. - Richard Dole (resident, Ocean View Avenue) thanked Councilmember Sofer for her service. - Kim Scudder (resident) also thanked Sofer and noted she would miss her. - Rick Kilpatrick (public comment on police staffing) argued that with 25,000–40,000 daily visitors the city is understaffed (needs around 18 officers) and urged allocating 20–25% of new hotel revenue to policing. - Warren Rallett (public comment) described the burden of overtime on officers and praised the department’s service, supporting the additional officer. - Kim Scudder (nurse) spoke in favor of adequate police staffing, drawing parallels to understaffed hospitals. Discussion Items - Closed Session (Item 3): The council adjourned to closed session regarding anticipated litigation (six cases). The city attorney reported no reportable action taken. - Public Hearing (Item 8A): Second reading of an ordinance adopting the 2025 building code amendments. John Keel presented, noting no changes from the first reading. The council adopted the ordinance unanimously. - Vacancy Declaration (Item 9A): Councilmember Sofer’s resignation effective December 31, 2025. The city manager recommended a process: accept statements of interest until January 14, 2026, with candidate presentations and selection at the February 3, 2026 council meeting. If no agreement within 45 days, the mayor would appoint. The resolution passed unanimously. - Successor Agency ROPS (Item 9B): Jillian Glickman (RSG) presented the ROPS for FY 2026–27, requesting $2.1 million for enforceable obligations, including $857,000 for bond debt service, $250,000 for administrative costs, and $650,000 for a city loan repayment (which the Department of Finance had previously denied, but included to preserve litigation rights). The council approved the resolution unanimously. - Police Staffing (Item 9C): Chief Dave Honda requested authorization to add one full-time police officer position (lateral hire) to address staffing shortages driven by the new hotel and development. The fiscal impact is up to $198,000 annually (top step). The department will also apply for a COPS grant. The council approved the motion unanimously. Key Outcomes - Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously. - Building Code Amendments: Adopted on second reading, effective in 30 days. - Vacancy and Appointment Process: Resolution passed declaring a vacancy and setting the process; statements of interest due January 14, 2026; selection on February 3, 2026. - Successor Agency ROPS 26-27: Approved unanimously. - Additional Police Officer: Authorized budget amendment for one full-time officer, approved unanimously. - Note on Date: The meeting was called to order on December 16, 2025, but the timestamp provided (2025-12-17 21:44:45+00:00) indicates the summary was generated on December 17, 2025. The meeting content pertains to December 16, 2025.

This meeting of the Sand City City Council began with a closed session at 3:39 PM, followed by the regular meeting at 5:45 PM. The council received presentations, heard public comments, and approved several items, including the annual military equipment report and a contract for the 2026 West End Festival. Consent Calendar - The council approved the consent calendar, which included routine items, via a single motion and vote. Public Comments & Testimony - Kim Scugger expressed appreciation for the Indigenous People's Day celebration and suggested inviting school children to participate and display artwork about a potential bike trail at the Art Park. - Janita Grad, Managing Director of the Portola Hotel and Spa, thanked the mayor for her leadership in organizing a special group event. Presentation: Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) Update - Sophia Schwartzky, Community Relations Manager at 3CE, provided an update on the agency's clean energy progress. Key points included: - 3CE serves 1.2 million people across 30 cities and 5 counties, delivering enough renewable energy to power over 350,000 homes annually, avoiding emissions equivalent to removing 105,000 gas-powered cars for a year. - Contracts are in place to supply 69% of load with renewable energy by October 2028, ahead of state goals. - Battery storage is critical: examples from 2022 (flex alert needed) and 2024 (no flex alert) showed the growth of storage capacity. - 3CE does not have agreements with indoor battery facilities like the Moss Landing facility. - Programs include up to $4,000 for electric vehicles, $300,000 per year for city fleet electrification, and no-cost technical assistance. - Since 2018, nearly 7,000 customers have benefited from 3CE programs, returning over $11 million to communities. - Legislative update: HR1 (the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act") could eliminate tax credits for home energy upgrades after December 31, 2025, and for utility-scale solar/wind projects not started by end of 2026. 3CE sponsored the Pathways Initiative (signed into law) to create a regional energy market. Discussion Items - Annual Military Equipment and Use Report (AB 481) – Chief David Honda presented the required report. The Sand City Police Department did not deploy any military equipment, but the regional SWAT team (SRU) was deployed on nine occasions in 2024-2025, all resolved without incident. No complaints or violations were received. Annual costs are $5,000 for SRU membership. The department does not anticipate acquiring new equipment. The council approved the report and renewed the authorization. - West End Festival 2026 Contract – The council considered a professional services agreement with Nadia Masannair for the 2026 West End Festival, with a maximum cost of $95,000 (same as prior years). The contract includes event coordination, marketing, talent booking, and infrastructure. Estimated revenues (sponsorships, vendor fees, etc.) offset some costs. Council members raised concerns about music selection, vendor authenticity, and the number of bands. The council approved the contract. Key Outcomes - Approved the consent calendar (unanimous). - Received and approved the annual military equipment report, renewing the authorization (unanimous). - Approved the professional services agreement with Nadia Masannair for the 2026 West End Festival in an amount not to exceed $95,000 (unanimous). - No reportable actions from closed session.

The Sand City Council met on October 1, 2025, to address a consent calendar of routine approvals, followed by two major discussion items: accepting $2 million in grant funding for the West End Stormwater Improvement Project and authorizing a professional services agreement for pavement evaluation for the 2025 street maintenance project. The meeting also included a brief closed session report. Consent Calendar - Item 5a: A resolution supporting state-level action regarding city bills (details unclear from the transcript). - Item 5b: A resolution authorizing a cost-sharing agreement with the region and Monterey County for franchise collection (likely solid waste). The city's share is approximately $78,000 over four years. The item was a correction to previously approved language. Both items were approved unanimously without public comment. Discussion Items - Item 7a – West End Stormwater Improvement Project (Funding Acceptance): City Engineer Carrie presented an update on the project along Ponta Costa and Catalina Streets. The project aims to retrofit several blocks to improve stormwater quality, mitigate flooding, augment groundwater, increase urban green space, and reduce pollutant loads to Monterey Bay, while also implementing complete street improvements. Previously, a funding gap existed. In July 2025, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) announced mid-cycle Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) funding reserves. The city applied and in September 2025 was awarded $2 million, closing the gap. Design issues were noted: bioretention area calculations contained errors, and the city will need to request a grant amendment from the state, which has indicated openness to a rationale. The resolution before council accepted the $2 million and directed the city manager to proceed with public bidding. Staff also noted ongoing value engineering, such as removing permeable pavement from intersections to reduce costs and maintenance. Council commended the city engineer. The resolution passed unanimously. - Item 7b – Professional Services Agreement for Pavement Evaluation: The city recommended a $28,735 agreement with Pavement Engineering Incorporated to perform deflection testing and coring for the 2025 Street Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project. The project covers segments including Playa Avenue (from California Avenue to Metz Road), Holly Street (California Avenue to Ortiz), Ponta Costa (California Avenue north), Elder Avenue, Shasta Avenue, and the City Hall parking lot. Testing will determine the structural capacity of existing pavement, informing the most cost-effective rehabilitation (e.g., grind and overlay vs. full reconstruction). The city will use results to finalize design and bid the project in January/February 2026. The council approved the agreement unanimously. Key Outcomes - Consent Calendar (Items 5a and 5b): Approved unanimously. - Item 7a (Stormwater Grant): Resolution adopted unanimously; city manager authorized to take steps for public bidding. - Item 7b (Pavement Evaluation Contract): Professional services agreement approved unanimously; city manager authorized to execute. - Closed Session: The council met in closed session on one item of business and reported that action was taken (no details disclosed). The meeting was adjourned.