CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE.SEA
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Byme called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.
Roll call: Councilmembers Jeff Baron, Hans Buder, Alissandra Dramov, Mayor Pro Tem Delves, and Mayor Dale Byrne were present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
City Administrator Rerig led the pledge of allegiance
EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS
A. Carmel High School Report Out - Juliette Norman, CHS Associate Student Body President, updated on events and happenings at the high school, such as Sober Grad Night, and thanked the City Council for the generous donation to support the event.
B. Pride Month Proclamation - Councilmember Baron read the Pride Month Proclamation C. Non-Profit Spotlight - Monterey Fire Fighters Community Foundation - Matt Murphy, Executive Community Outreach Director for MFCF, gave a presentation on the organization's mission and goals, which include fundraising and community events, to help people get to know their local firefighters, and improve public education on fire prevention and safety.
D. Receive an information report on the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Vacancies Pursuant to Government Code Section 3502.3 (AB 2561) - Senior HR Analyst Marisa Bermudez gave a presentation on Assembly Bill 2561, which requires all public employers to disclose the status of vacancies, recruitment, and retention efforts before budget adoption. She presented on the number of fulFtime budgeted positions, vacancy information by bargaining units, recruitment and retention efforts.
PUBLIC APPEARANCES
John Jarmillo
Nancy Twomey
lan Martin
Ryan Heron
Sullivan Carey-Lang
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - June 3, 2025
Marnie Waffle
Ken White
Donna Jett
Karen Ferlito
Ken Spilfogel
Steven
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. City Administrator Announcements - Thanked Commander Trayer, Police Chief Tomasi, the VIPS, and CERT for the great pancake breakfast hosted by the Police Department. He thanked Bob Gotch for his 10 years of service on CERT. He said the CA\ /D lease discussion will be added to an upcoming open session meeting.
B. City Attomey Announcements - no reports
C. Councilmember Announcements -
Councilmember Baron praised Public Works and Environmental staff for well-received workshops on Sea Level Rise and TAMC Vision Zero, and a presentation on the City's Climate Adaptation Plan at NASA ECHO Summer School.
Councilmember Buder thanked the Police Department, CERT, VIPS, and especially Commander Trayer, for the Pancakes with Police Breakfast. He also congratulated VIP Bob Gotch on 10 years of service and advocated for Saturday Library hours.
Councilmember Dramov reported there is a strip of land that is for sale south of the Frank Lloyd Wright House on Scenic and asked the City Attorney if the City could consider purchasing it.
City Attorney Pierik said this would be appropriate to add to a future closed session for discussion if the Council wishes.
Mayor Pro Tem Delves and Mayor Byme also thanked the Police Department for the Pancakes with Police event, and thanked CERT member Bob Gotch for his service to the community.
Mayor Byrne thanked everyone for their input at the meeting last night during the discussion on parking solutions. He announced that the Public Works Department is partnering with Carmel Cares to repair and replace the fencing around Devendorf Park. He said the Monterey County Mayor's Meeting is being held on Friday in Carmel-bythe-Sea at Grasing's.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item I - Resolution 2025-053 Adopting the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Appropriations Limit City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - June 3, 2025
Finance Manager Jayme Fields presented the purpose and background of the adoption of an annual appropriations limit.
Public comment: None
Motion by Councilmember Baron to adopt Resolution 2025-053 Adopting the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Appropriations Limit, seconded by Councilmember Buder, and approved 5-0-0- 0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmember Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item 2 - Resolution 2025-052 Adopting the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Operating and Capital Budget
Finance Manager Fields presented the updates to the proposed FY 25-26 Operating and Capital Budget based on feedback and direction received from the Council at the May 21st budget workshop. She also noted that additional budget questions have been answered, and if approved tonight the proposed budget will go into effect July 1st. She answered questions from Council.
City Administrator Rerig recommended that the Council give direction on whether to move some of the CIP projects to the end of the fiscal year or move certain projects to next fiscal year.
Public Comment
Maria Ruess
Karen Fedito
Melanie Billig
Council commended staff on the budget, recognizing its accuracy and highlighting the need for improved project management, increased revenue, and reduced costs. Mayor Pro Tem Delves favored cutting six non-urgent CIP projects, while Councilmembers Buder and Baron stressed the importance of road paving and finalizing the design guidelines. Mayor Byrne said he agrees with keeping all of the CIP projects on the list and noted some of the most urgent projects to keep an eye on. City Administrator Rerig said that staff are looking forward to coming back with quarterly financial updates and forecasts to keep the Council and public updated on the progress for CIP pOects.
Motion by Councilmember Baron to adopt Resolution 2025-052 Adopting the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Operating and Gapital Budget as presented, seconded by Councilmember Buder, and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmember Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and ]l,layor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - June 3, 2025
ABSTAIN: None
RECESS
Council took a recess at 6:45 pm and resumed the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Item 3 - First reading and introduction of Ordinance No. 2025-002 amending Carmel Municipal Code Section 15.08.0'10 and Section 15.10.020 to adopt the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for the City as identified by the California State Fire Marshall in Accordance with Govemment Code Section 51 '178
Community Planning and Building Director Anna Ginette presented the item, summarizing that per Govemment Code section 51'179 the City is required to adopt the State Fire Marshal's Updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map within 120 days. She added that regulations will apply following ordinance adoption, including vegetation management for both new and existing landscaping, as well as the hardening of new building structures against fire.
Public comment
Karen Ferlito
Nancy Twomey
City Administrator Rerig said that at the last Council meeting a FiIe Hazatd Safety Task Force, consisting of Mayor Byrne, Councilmember Buder, Fire Chief Miller, Police Chief Miller, Community Planning and Building Director Ginette, Public Works Director Wysocki, Forest and Beach Commission Chair, Planning Commission Chair, and himself are working on gathering information on fire safety and prevention in the village, and will also hold public outreach and education meetings.
Councilmember Baron requested that the Task Force ad hoc committee publicly notice their meetings as special meetings of the City Council, allowing all councilmembers to attend.
Councilmember Dramov expressed concern about the State potentially forcing the city to adopt this ordinance quickly and its impact on the village's character. She supports the Task Force in addressing these concems, seeking a balance between fire safety and preserving village character, and researching grant opportunities to assist homeowners with home hardening. Mayor Pro Tem Delves supports the efiorts of the Task Force,
Mayor Byrne requested that the City Attorney read the Ordinance title. City Attorney Pierik read the Ordinance title.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Delves to waive the full reading and introduce Ordinance No. 2025-002, seconded by councilmember Buder, and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Gouncilmember Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and llrayor Byrne NOES: Non6
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - June 3, 2025
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item 4 - First reading and introduction of Ordinance No. 2025-003 Adding Section 2.52.686 - (Paid Parental Leave) to the Carmel-by{he-Sea Municipal Code Assistant City Administrator Brandon Swanson presented the item summarizing the proposed ordinance which would add Section 2.52.686 to the Municipal Code to provide 6 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. He answered questions from Council and emphasized that the benefit would be available to employees who have been with the City at least 1 year.
Public comment
Donna Jett
Maria Ruess
Council supported the Ordinance but suggested removing the part in Section G that gives the City Administrator authority to revoke the policy. Council consensus direction was to change the length of the Paid Parental Leave to 8 weeks and specify that it would be supplemental and in addition to any other available leave such as SDl.
Council gave direction to return in July with another first reading incorporating the changes they agreed upon.
The Council supported the Ordinance but directed that Section G be amended to remove the City Administrator's authority to revoke the policy. Council gave consensus direction to amend the Ordinance to extend Paid Parental Leave to eight weeks, explicitly stating it would supplement other available leave pay, such as State Disability lnsurance, if applicable. Council requested a revised first reading incorporating these changes be presented in July.
ORDERS OF BUSINESS
Item 5 - Resolution 202fi54 approving a 4.'19% rate increase to charges by the City's franchised hauler, Greenwaste Recovery, for the collection of solid waste, recycling and organics, effeclive July 1,2025, and approving Amendment No. 4 to the Memorandum of Understanding between ReGen Monterey and Member Agencies for Fiscal Year 2025/26 Environmental Programs Manager Mary Bilse gave a presentation on Senate Bill 1383, which allows for the City's franchise waste hauler to increase their rates, and the 2025 collection rate increase ol 4.'l9o/o lot FY 25-26.
Public comment: None
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - June 3, 2025
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Delves to adopt Resolution 2O25-O54 approving a 4.19o/o rate increase to Greenwaste Recovery and approving Amendment No. 4 to the MOU between ReGen Monterey for FY 25-26, seconded by
and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmember Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Buder and Mayor Byrne supported Councilmember Dramov's request to add a closed session item to a future meeting agenda to discuss the purchase of public land near the Frank Lloyd Wright House.
Councilmember Buder requested that the ADU Ordinance and Objective Design Guidelines be brought to the Planning Commission and then to the Council for approval in an expedited manner.
Mayor Byrne concurred with this request.
cLosED sEsstoN
A. CONFERENCE WTH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE sEcTtoN 54957.6
Agency Designated Representatives: City Administrator Chip Rerig Assistant City Administrator Brandon Swanson City Attorney Brian Pierik Senior HR Analyst Marisa Bermudez Police Chief Paul Tomasi Police Commander Todd Trayer
Employee Organization: Police Officers Association (POA) Public comment - none
ADJOURNMENT
Council moved to Closed Session at 8:35 p.m
APPROVED ATTEST
Dale Byrne, Mayor Nova R M