City Council - Regular Meeting

We're going to go ahead and call the meeting to order. Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to our afternoon session only of today's council meeting. It's October 20, 2026. And we're going to go ahead and start with the Pledge of Allegiance. And I'm going to pass it to Council Member Garcia to kick us off.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right, and with that, I will pass it to staff to do roll call and to share announcements with the public, please.

Thanks, Clementine. And with that, we're going to go ahead and go to general public comments. This is an opportunity for folks to speak to things that are not on today's agenda. So non-agendized items. If it's on today's agenda, you can speak on public comment when that item comes up. So for now, we're going to ask for non-agendized item public comment. How this process works is we're going to identify those folks that want to speak at the beginning of the public comment period. Once those folks are identified, we will close it off, and only those folks will be able to speak. So everybody has

Sorry, sir, that's your time. That's your time. I apologize. I can't let you go on because if I do it for you, I have to do it for everybody else. So I have to keep you to the two minutes. But if you would like, you can submit those comments to the council and make sure to take a look at them. Nope. I apologize. I can't let you do that. I apologize. Thank you so much for your public comment, though. All right. We'll take the next speaker, please.

And just for your awareness and everybody in the public during the public comment period of the meeting. No, no, no. I just wanted to respond to you just so that you knew and everybody else in the public knew. Unfortunately, we can't engage in a discussion in regards to public comment unless it's an agendized item. And because that's not agendized, we can't answer that right now. But I just encourage you to reach out to staff and they'll make sure that they can get your response to your question. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Yeah, so that's on the agenda item tonight. So because that's an agendized item, this is not the time to speak to it. You can speak to it when that item comes up on the agenda.

All right, with that, we'll go to our callers on Zoom.

Okay, that is the end of our public comment. Thank you for all those that participated in the public comment portion of our council meeting. And again, we're not engaging on the different items that came up during public comment because it has to be agendized for the council to take on that conversation. So with that, we're going to move right into our consent agenda. Council, is there any request to pull items from consent? Yes, sir.

Yeah, just item nine for an interest for the public to see what that one is about.

Anything else? Staff, was there a request to pull anything from your knowledge? All right. So we're going to go ahead and open up for public comment on the consent agenda items only. You can either speak to something on consent, and if you're just speaking on it, then we will assume that you don't want to pull it. If you do want to pull it, specifically tell us that you want the item pulled, and then just hold your comments until we discuss that item when we discuss it separately. So I'll check with folks on Zoom first. If you want to navigate, you're ready to raise hand function. Anybody in t

And then just for folks' awareness, this is an NCIP project, so we give gratitude to the NCIP for considering this project and bringing it forward. All right, and with that, we'll take our public commenter on Zoom.

Ms. Beattie, before you continue, I apologize real quick. Let me just check in. Are you wanting to pull either seven and or eight?

All right. And that's the end of our consent. We'll go ahead and, I'm sorry, a public comment. We'll go and bring it back to the council. Is there a motion to approve consent? So moved. Second. Second. Minus nine. Minus nine. Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. And with that, we'll move to item nine, which is a resolution. Set a December 1, 2026 public hearing to consider vacating a portion of the right-of-way on Olmstead Road at Garden Road. With that, I'll pass it to staff for a brief presentation.

Could I ask that staff put Figure A up from the staff report so we can see the map? The public will be able to see the map we're talking about. I knew you'd come prepared. Thank you.

All right, thank you for the presentation. But do you, Council Member Smith?

Yeah, thank you very much, Cody. I wanted to call the attention to this for the public. I got a few emails this week, a few phone calls where they needed more information. So I'll just say that this is the map in the property in question, about 17,000 square feet, I think it is. And that's on the airport side. So that's past Garden Road. So for all these years, People that have gone to the airport have actually been crossing through and driving. They think that they've arrived once they see the airport, but actually they've been transporting themselves past the City of Monterey property. So if

All right, seeing none, I'll cut it off from the chamber. I'll do a countdown for folks on Zoom to five, four, three, two, one. We have one on Zoom. We'll go ahead and take that caller.

All right, we'll go ahead and close public comment and we'll pass it to staff if there's any thoughts in regards to the question.

Please. Can I ask it in December 1st, maybe we can include the answer to the caller about the property that is not this as far as I can remember. It was another close by. It sounds like it's a different item. Yes, it's a different item. Maybe you could answer that question somehow.

It was the memorandum of understanding. Yes. where we would vacate control over that front parcel.

Yeah, but that is a different property than we're talking about. I think we would have to have that as a separate agenda item.

Oh, thank you. That's adequate. Perfect. Sounds good. All right. Well, we'll bring it back to the council for motion and deliberation. I'll make a motion that we approve item number nine.

So moved and seconded. Any other discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. And with that, we'll move to our public appearance. Item number 12 is to amend resolution 26-092 to include the North Fremont Street Sidewalk Gap Project accept grant funds for transportation agency for Monterey County, authorize an increase of FY27 grant revenue and appropriation of regional surface transportation funds in the amount of $2,862,000 in transfer funds to the North Fremont Street Sidewalk Gap Project. And with that, I'll pass it to Dante for staff introduction.

Thank you for the presentation, sir. Open up for questions, please.

Thank you for the presentation. This is very exciting. It has been years and years of work, years and years of NCIP work. I feel like I know all these projects intimately. Did you mention that the bridge part Is 4 million, so there's going to be 5 million left over?

Okay. All right. And talk me through, I understand the four tag and the tunnel is going to go under the 218 and then it's going to come out work park. and go along the yellow line there. And it seems to me it comes out at the major intersection at 218 in North Fremont. Are bikes expected to just cross that street in a traditional manner? They wait for the lights and they just cross?

Oh, to the undercrossing at the Frog Pond. So I'm digging down a little deeper on the other end. So you're coming out Safeway. Let's reverse it. You're coming out to Safeway, and you want to get over to the new bridge, and you have to cross North Fremont. at 218. So you're just waiting for the light and you're just bicycling or pedestrians walking in the traditional manner. Yep. Okay. All right. Maybe someday we'll have a, you know, a fancy over ramp like other cities have to get all their pedestrians and bicyclists over.

Efficiently, maybe. Maybe. I can dream. All right. All right. That was my main question. Thank you very much.

Any other questions? No. OK. Thank you, sir. We'll go ahead and open it up for public comment. So for folks on Zoom, you can use the raise hand function. And in the meantime, I'll check in the chamber. If anybody in the chamber wishes to speak on this item, just ask that you stand up to the left of the podium. And for whatever it's worth, I'll just share this item is more specific to the acceptance of the grant funding. So there'll be more time to talk about the design and the overall project moving forward at a later date. So just if it helps kind of bring focus to the conversation. And I'm g

Your comments can be anything related to the project. I was just identifying the items specifically in front of us. So please feel free to say anything you want to share.

Sorry, with that, we'll go to our callers on Zoom.

Okay. All right. With that, we'll go ahead and close public comment, bring it back to the council. I think there's a few questions that if staff may jump up and help answer. There was a question on who's going to maintain the bridge. I'm assuming that that's the city, so that might be an easy answer.

I'm assuming that might be helpful to have clear understanding on when this comes back, just so as we're approving whatever it is, there's clarity in regards to the maintenance piece.

And then Mr. Reeves presented an idea, and I will share that my assumption is that because TAMC is providing us this grant funding that was approved for this specific project, that we wouldn't be able to change the project scope beyond the bridge that's currently being proposed. But if staff could just clarify that, please. And if we were to move the design to something like he was proposing, like the covert, what that would look like, and has that been looked at? There's a couple of questions, I think, embedded in that.

Okay, for whatever it's worth, Mr. Reeves, I would encourage you to maybe connect with staff on the side, because I see that you're maybe not fully agreeing with what's being stated, but for the obvious reasons, I can't go back to you without opening back up for public comment. And then there was a question around the section, and you just alluded to it going all the way to Casanova, but the question came up around that section between where the PG&E substation is.

Okay, I'm gonna kick us off here, and I just will say that I agree, I echo the fair majority of the comments today that this is an exciting opportunity, a long time coming, and I think it's gonna be a net positive for our community. In regards to how we got here, and this is giving a little bit of pushback to Mr. Nelson's comments earlier, Mr. Vega's comments earlier, this has been a public transparent process through and through. We developed the North Fremont specific plan with community engagement and the bike path that is currently been constructed down the center of North Fremont has been

Just briefly, it will be great for the bicyclists and the pedestrians to come from the Frog Pond, from Fort Ord, under the tunnel, along Canyon Del Rey, crossing at North Fremont and Canyon del Rey, having the new bridge, having a connector all the way to Casanova, having it to Casa Verde, and then to enter into Laguna Grande Park, and then some people to the rec trail, it's going to be great for that use, and for that it's well worth it, and I'm looking forward to it.

Yeah. Please. Yeah, I serve on TAMC with representing the city council and I just want to say that this was unanimously voted for by the TAMC board. It's a significant amount of money because it significantly answers several safety issues that were identified on the North Fremont side and the gap to be able to complete this project. So $2.8 million is a lot of money to get from another agency, a transportation agency, and that is a perfectly funded project because it addresses from all safety standards an improvement for pedestrians, bicyclists, and accessibility. So there's a lot here, but to

Sweet. You know what? Because you are a council representative for District 4, I'm going to go ahead and withdraw my motion and allow you to make the motion if you'd so like to do so.

We'll go ahead and call the question. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Yeah. That's clappable worthy. Thank you. All right, I'm gonna pause here for a second, and I apologize, I meant to do this at the beginning of the council meeting. We're gonna close our council meeting tonight in memory of Carl Anderson, and I'm gonna read his bio here in a second, but I understand that we have Carl's wife here, Mary Kay Anderson, and Fred Cohen to be here in support of the initiative. So thank you both for being here today. Let me go ahead and read his bio. Carl headed the

Absolutely. You know, it's moments like these that I think it's so important that we celebrate our city staff past and present. They do so much work and the pressure is immense as I'm sure many folks heard today just in our public comment period alone. I mean, there's so many varying issues in the city and trying to create that satisfaction for folks with varying issues is truly important. And clearly Carl left his mark on the city of Monterey. So it's an honor to be able to serve on the council and being able to celebrate his life and memory as it relates to the city and give gratitude and lo

Let's pass it to Dr. Barber. And I'll go ahead and let you make comments too at this point if you have something you want to add as it relates to the presentation of the item. But just ask others if we can just keep it to questions right now.

Okay, so I did want to make sure that, first of all, thank you for the presentation of that. I did want to make sure that everyone understood that the resident lived experience seat would be a lottery. And we can go into the details of what that lottery looks like if you need to go into that. But just so everybody knows, that's actually a lottery, and it wouldn't be named. The names would be redacted with numbers instead. It would be correlated with the staff.

Any other questions at this point, please?

Yeah. My question is, who is actually the point person for managing all of this, the selection, the organization, when people meet, you know, the organization? Who actually is going to be doing that?

Yes, the chair piece was one of them. Thank you, city manager, for that. Is there an assigned budget that would be allocated to this for any internal costs that would be encountered by the city manager's office?

Okay, that's the only question I have right now.

Okay. do have one question it's um not specifically related to the item but i think it's kind of connected as it relates to just the overall structure of getting things on the agenda and maybe this is a question for later but um i did support council member rash's request to agendize the not the no smoking in multi-family residential and so It has been sitting for a while. And last I talked to staff, it looked like we were moving that forward. So I just kind of wanted to do a check in to see kind of where we were at with that.

Beautiful. Thank you for that update. All right. And with that, we'll go ahead and open it up for public comment. So for folks on Zoom, you can use the raise hand function while you're navigating your way there. I'll check in the chamber. Anybody in the chamber wish to speak on this item, just ask that you stand up to the left of the podium. Or if you choose to remain seated, I just ask that you raise your hand. So I see three folks standing up. I don't see any other takers. So I'm just gonna go ahead and cut it off to the three and I'll do a countdown for folks on Zoom. Five, four, three, two

Okay, with that, we'll go to our callers on Zoom.

Okay, with that, we'll go ahead and close public comment. Thank you for all those that contributed. We'll go ahead and bring it back to the council for motion and deliberation. Please.

Yes. So I appreciate everybody's conversation and the feedback, and that's what we want. We want the conversation dealing with affordability. And when you're talking about affordability, we're not talking about the big things such as, you know, gas prices and all that. We understand that. But we are talking about things such as fees, and we're talking about processes and efficiencies, duplications. All that costs is money that actually increases what comes on to the residents and businesses of what you pay for the different things that you may have, including housing, but not just housing. It'

Yeah, I want to weigh in. I think that many of the speakers have brought up some very good points about maybe this should be continued until after the election. I think when I look at the list of who will be invited to the table, I see that there are some distinct missing players, and I don't know how to reconcile that because we don't want it so large that it can't really do what it's designed to do. I'm just concerned about the imbalance. I don't know if the Chamber of Commerce would be selected by the Coalition of Monterey Business Associations, but I'm not sure even how that works because

Could I ask, Dante, as you hear the feedback from the public and Council Member Smith just alluding to the position makeup of the task force, do you have any thoughts as it relates to that?

I guess a follow-up to it, I'm hearing there a desire for maybe a shift or a change in the makeup of members of the task force. Are you hearing a clear pathway that might give you some direction as it relates to what that makeup might look like?

As you know, I've had trouble with this right from the start. And I know Council Member Barber's very well-intentioned. The most significant thing that we're dealing with as residents and councils and as electeds Number one is climate change. The second is the wealth gap. Without a doubt, it's a huge problem. The ever-winding wealth gap that we have in this country, and it's getting worse. We know what the answers are, but mainly they're at a federal level. They're changing the tax structure, de-incentivizing investment in... a lot of real estate as a commodity. It's changing social security s

I'm going to let Councilman Garcia go, and then we'll pass it to Dr. Parker.

So, Jane, I appreciate your comment. And it's unfortunate that you would see this as a campaign piece when we're talking about people's affordability and how they're living. I've been dealing with affordability and affordability of housing and over that for not only the last four years and how I've been fighting for affordable housing, workforce housing, and all the other pieces. But even before I got on this diocese, I've been dealing with affordability, even at the CSUMB and other things, doing the community, other boards, where I have to give my time in volunteering. And so for you to even

Okay. Okay. One of the things that I heard and I saw in the staff report and I also heard presented by staff was that the goal of this wasn't to address everything as it relates to the affordability issue. I think what I heard in the presentation was how do we narrow the scope so that it's maximizing the use of staff's time in a way that's not taxing them too much. And so the way that was addressed, and it seems like there was a discussion between the city manager and Dr. Barber who had requested this item be brought forward, was let's narrow the scope to focus on specifically what we have con

Okay, yeah, I think what I hear you saying is because the roadmap to resilience and economic development strategy both have touch points for the public and the business community to engage with the city. So there's already that space for feedback and input, but as it relates to the task force, this space to kind of maybe dive deeper with this specific subset group that's kind of identified, selected, to engage and find those additional areas of opportunity. And again, what I'm hearing staff say is that there does seem to be capacity. I think, to Dr. Barber's point, and I appreciate hearing fro

Any discussion on the motion? Please. I just thought of a question. I think I heard the city manager say that it would not be the kind of meeting that would be noticed. So I'm thinking that that is Brown Act notice as if it was a city council meeting. Correct. But notice would have to go out to the public in some way, which would mean the city becomes responsible for some type of notice, alerts, phone calls, emails, texts, which is again raising the bar to our involvement. I think that as the city council is obviously gonna take this vote and it's gonna pass because I can count, what it means

So real quick, and then I'll pass it to Dante, and then we'll go to Dr. Barber. I do want to make clear that my motion was to include the suggestions that were made by Councilman Garcia. So as a seconder, I think, do you agree? I'm assuming you agree with the inclusion of those. And so if staff needs clarity, we can have you reiterate that.

But I also- Maybe just put a total number on Instead of this number, maybe the city manager can clarify.

So also, I guess I would ask, I want to provide Dante enough flexibility in doing it in the way that he feels works best. But I think I see him sitting here listening to your feedback and input. So as it relates to generational representation, I think that's well taken by staff. Dante, did you have something?

So let me clarify something. When you say a facilitator, are you saying an outside professional facilitator?

I think I had this thought earlier and I didn't make a note of it, but I will throw it out now that an additional piece that might help with that discussion transparency piece and getting that public feedback and input is that maybe mid through the process that the council get an update in regards to the progress and how things are going on, going along, and that maybe provide some opportunity for some broader community feedback and input as the task force continues their work. Does that seem fair, reasonable?

Okay. Okay. I think that the chair is actually responsible for reporting according to this.

Yes. Fair. Fair. Would that be an agendized item or would that just be like a report out?

So maybe I guess my clarification would be then it be an agendized item so that way it allows for public comments and feedback from the council. All righty. Please. Oh, please.

I just wanted to answer your question, Ed. You're absolutely right. The youth are already in it by the student piece. And the elders are always in it. I'm always about the elderly as well. But that can come through the residents. That's why when Gino said about four, one from each district, an elderly person can be one of those people as well. So it's not leaving out anybody. We want every voice there because you're right, everybody experiences affordability issues. And also as far as the real estate and property management, not that I'm a property manager, but I have real estate background. a

Please. All right. We're going to make this the last one, and then we're going to call the question.

So, Councilmember Garcia, are you, your support had been contingent on some changes that I'm hearing the city doesn't have the resources for. So are you comfortable with the way it's presented?

Okay, okay. I'm hearing is that we're at the city max. Yes. It's considered and done. To be transparent about it, to be honest about it.

Okay. Okay. All right. So I'm going to go ahead and call. Please, please.

So if I don't support the creation of the commission, but I support Council Member Barber being the representative, how do we resolve that?

I'm sorry, I got distracted by the phone. Say it again.

I'm going to oppose the making of this commission. I totally support Councilwoman Barber being on it if it's created. I guess everybody understands that.

So the item in front of us is not for us to decide the establishment of the task force. Staff has the opportunity, ability to do that on their own. The item in front of us is to appoint a council member. So that's the item in front of us.

So I'm going to say it publicly. I oppose the creation of the commission. Totally support Dr. Barber being the representative, being the chair. But I feel I'm going to have to vote against it because to me, that's not clear at all. I don't support the creation of the commission. So mine will be a no. Totally support Councilwoman Barber being the representative.

I'm just going to clarify. Item 13 is to appoint a council member to serve on an ad hoc community cost of living reduction task force. That's what the exact item is. There's no confusion around what it is that we're voting on.

I understand that. I'm telling the public what I'm doing.

Perfect. All right. And with that, we'll go ahead and call the question. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? No. Okay, motion passes 3-1-1. And with that, we'll move to item 14 to receive an update on the roadmap to resilient six concurrent navigation points to strengthen the city of Monterey's financial future. And with that, I'll pass it to Dante for staff presentation.

Mayor, I was actually going to ask if we could flip-flop and hear 15 now, because I think there's many members of the public.

I'm okay with that. Is the council okay with that?

Is anybody opposed to that on the council?

No. I want the public to say, are you okay with it?

Well, I don't think we can really engage with the public on that, unfortunately, so. So it's to hear the item earlier. So let's go ahead and move forward with item 15, which is my request to agendize a discussion regarding a resolution declaring Monterey a welcoming city for transgender and gender diverse people in recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance. It says to hand to Dante, but do I need to, or should I just take it? I mean, it's identified in the title. In short, how this came to be is Monterey Peninsula Pride approached me around the opportunity to mirror what has been happening in

Okay, it's been moved and seconded. I will clarify, thank you, Council Member Garcia and Dr. Barber for the support of the request. I will clarify for folks that this is the request to agendize, so this will come back at a future council meeting and what I've requested was this to come back at our November 3rd council meeting in order for staff to have enough time to coordinate with PRIDE if that is the will of the council. And so, yes, this is just, we're basically just debating whether or not we want to agendize this. Similarly to the item earlier, all public comment is welcome on the item,

I have a question. What does it mean, Tyler, the middle paragraph, the resolution would affirm, okay, and establish a policy governing the use of city resources. So, you know, I'm seeing money. So what is your thought?

What did you mean? From what I understand, there's no city funding that's used towards it. It's really just our policies and how we go about handling it. And, in fact, what I would argue is that a lot of the things we are already doing, so it's just affirming those statements. And it was provided ‑‑ I did provide a draft resolution to staff. I understand why they didn't include it, because our ‑‑ when we request items be agendized, they have to be limited to ‑‑ the 300 words or whatever they are. So that would be included in the agenda report at the next council meeting.

OK. And with that, we'll go ahead and open it up for public comments. I'm going to limit this also to a minute and a half, because we do have another item to get to. And I know that there are some folks here for that. So with that, I'll go ahead and ask folks that are on Zoom to use the Raise Hand feature. While you're navigating your way there, I will check in the chamber for folks in the chamber, if you wouldn't mind standing up to the left of the podium, or if you choose to remain seated, to go ahead and identify yourself by raising your hand. Is there anybody still seated that wants to spe

All right, with that, we'll go to our public commenters on Zoom.

Hello, can you hear me? We can hear you.

All right, thank you all those for providing public comment. Bring it back to the council. There's already a motion on the table to agendize this. Any discussion on the motion?

Oh, question. Looking at the letter that you authored and started this under your discussion, I know tonight's action is to acknowledge that there's two votes and this will go forward to staff. They will then come back to council. with a proposed policy governing this recognition. I'm very confused about one paragraph that you have. It's the second paragraph, and I don't know how the city will interpret that or take action on this. And just to briefly read to, the resolution would affirm the city's support for access to lawful gender-affirming healthcare and establish a policy governing the us

Sure. Well, the Board, I would like to submit for consideration the Board of Supervisors resolution, which is in 2022. It's beautifully written. And I would be very proud to support this kind of wording. I don't know how open you are to submitting ideas or renderings, but when I read that, it's lovely. And again, as long as there's no confusion about that one paragraph about resources. So.

I think, so for sake of this not being able to be seen by the public, I think I'll provide this to staff for consideration. This resolution is specifically declaring Transgender Day of Visibility, which is in March. But I think we can use this as a base model for Trans Day of Remembrance, which would be held in November. Right. A little bit of a different meaning, so I think the language would reflect that. But maybe what I would offer or suggest is if possible, if staff could share the draft resolution with council prior to, just in case if there's any feedback, that might be helpful to make

And thank you for being articulate. I totally support the Transgender Day of Remembrance. So that's... Beautiful.

Thank you. Thank you for it. I'm going to go ahead and call the question. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? No. Motion passes 4-1. With that, we'll go to council comments.

Oh, I apologize. This is what happens when you change the order of things. You know, it's like, ugh. You know what? Let's take a Monterey 5. Let's just take a break real quick.

Well, I think Dante's going to be fast anyway.

And continue the meeting here. So our last item is going back to 14 to receive an update on the roadmap to resilience, current navigation points to strengthen the city of Monterey's financial future. And with that, I'll pass it to Dante for staff presentation.

Thank you, Dante, for the presentation. I'll be up to council for questions only at this time. Please.

I'd also share that I've been sharing it along the campaign trail. So whether it's the candidate forums or as I'm going canvassing door to door. So hopefully that's helped contribute towards getting more folks to at least be aware, but more ideally show up to share their voice. Other questions? Please, Council Member Smith.

Yeah, so I think through 2026, it's been a lot of work for you and staff and appreciate that. Hopefully it's all been fruitful because you come away with some great ideas plus the setting of priorities, what the community is basically saying is important to them. But as you go forward into 2027, and you are getting some framework around recommendations to the city council for the budget process. What's your thinking about how you can sustain those relationships in the community that you are garnering now where, I mean, obviously maybe it's a different timeline, it's more infrequent, but what's

Yeah, and it also bypasses the levels of filters and mixed messages and a variety of dispelling rumors. I think it comes directly from you. It's got a lot more power and accuracy. Yep.

Good. Any other questions at this time? All right, with that, we'll go ahead and open for public comment. For folks on Zoom, you can use the raise hand function. While you're navigating your way there, I'll check in the chamber. Anybody in the chamber wish to speak on this item? All right, I'm not seeing any takers. We'll go ahead and close it off in the chamber. I'll do a countdown for folks on Zoom to five, four, three, two, one. There's one on Zoom. We'll go ahead and take that caller.

came up were really interesting, and so thank you and your staff. I know the Director of Finance and everybody else who have been working really hard. It does make a difference, and I think you've kind of set up an approach and a perspective and structure for how you're going about, so thank you so much.

I wanted to add that I hear from many people that They want administration to go faster. I have shared this with Dante, and I want to answer those people because Dante's explanation makes perfect sense. You know, we in the community have been dealing with a budget deficit for a long time, especially some of us that are still here, a long, long time. So we've seen it coming. We've been worried. and anxious, and we kind of want action. The city manager has had six months, and he made a real good point when I shared with him these reactions, and he reminded me, well, we have a balanced budget for

No, I'm kidding. I much appreciate you, and thank you for taking this challenge. You know, when we think back in the process where we were and, you know, you arrived in Monterey, you didn't know us. We knew a little bit about you, but just from the moment we met you, and I'll speak for myself, but I think we all kind of felt like, yeah, you are a relationship person, but there's much more. There's the strategic thinking as well. You know, and thank you for all the hard work because I know you entered and you have done probably close to 800 or 900 meetings by now. And that takes a lot of time a

So I think it's important to continue reflecting on how we got here, because one of the things that I've continued to hear over the course of this election season is that this council is the reason why we're in a $12 million structural budget deficit. And maybe even more specifically me, like I alone caused it. And it's important to just do some research. You can go back and look at the budget book back from 2014, 2015 fiscal year, and it identifies a structural budget deficit at that time. And if we didn't start addressing it, it was going to get worse. And that's where we're at today. And I

It was actually, it was nine of them, right? Nine. Was there nine? Nine, which one?

It doesn't matter. I mean, the point in the exercise is that it was really quick. It was like less than five minutes. Everybody got their sticker up there and it was like, whoop, these are my priorities. But when it came time to talk about the cuts, You heard people grumbling, oh, this is so hard. I can't do this. It's so difficult. It is difficult. And I think that's kind of why we're here. And again, I think it takes moments like this when the rubber meets the road and really having to do the hard work and figuring it out. So I wanna thank Dante, I wanna thank staff for all the work that's g

So I wanted to kind of come back with the League of City vote. I actually... sent this out online with Instagram about three weeks ago when everything happened. But this was dealing with local controls. And so local controls was really huge because of the fact that it was dealing with opposition to dealing with the city's ability to plan their own communities with land use and zoning uses. And so it actually passed overwhelmingly three weeks ago. So that resolution that was drawn up by the city of Marietta will be going to the board now because it has passed as a resolution as one of the parts

Thank you very much for sharing that, Councilmember Barber. That's really important because a lot of people have been asking me. Bear with me. I'm going to practice giving you an update on AMBAG, which is the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments. And it's really dense, but... I think I had a real learning over the Larkin traffic circle that we need to be talking more about what agencies do, and council people have to push through what's a lot of dense material and somehow get it back. Ed, you're the king of this. You do a great job of giving us reports, but let me just...

Yeah, yeah. I don't even go to sleep, Ed. Somebody does. So the take-home was they're working on the Monterey Bay Electric Vehicle Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Framework. So they got a grant for like $750,000, and they're using it to look at where electric vehicles will be the most appropriately based. And appropriately means equity. and a lot of paying attention to climate change, and it was a real wake-up call that you can't install electric vehicle chargers in areas that are gonna be flooded, in areas that people can't get to, that you have to do a lot of education if you're dealing in

Thank you for those updates. Anybody else?

Uh. Yeah, just a couple things. You know we we have the last couple of months been hearing folks that call in advocating for. Their. Their choice to they want to vote for. I have a dream that one day we would not use this city chambers for that. That opportunity. I engaged a few folks on social media this last week and very carefully always offered my perspective or my observation and always left it with, you have a choice. I just encourage you to vote whatever your choice is. Somehow we've lost the ability to have dialogue even if we disagree with people. We should not be slamming the way som

Thank you for it. Speaking of election season, we are not going to have another council meeting until election day. And if I share this comment at that point, it may already be too late for a lot of folks. So I'm just sharing this to Get the word out. Make sure that you vote. Share it with your neighbors. Share it with your loved ones. It's our opportunity to provide a way of engagement with the political process. It doesn't matter who you support. It's just important that you stay engaged and leverage that opportunity. There are a lot of people in the world that don't have the right and oppor

So that's really it. Thanks for your consideration. Thank you for your public comment. All right, with that, we're gonna go ahead and close public comment on closed session agenda items. And let's close our meeting, our open session meeting tonight in memory of Mr. Carl Anderson. Have a good evening everybody.