CITY OF CARMEL.BY-THE.SEA
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Monday, February 2,2026
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Byrne called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers at 3:00 p.m.
Roll call: Councilmembers Jeff Baron, Hans Buder, Alissandra Dramov, Mayor Pro Tem Delves, and Mayor Dale Byrne were present.
CONSENT AGENDA
Councilmember Baron requested to pull ltem #5, and Acting CityAdministrator Brandon Swanson requested to pull ltem #3 for clarification.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Delves to approve consent agenda items #1, 2,4, 6, and 7, seconded by Councilmember Dramov and passed 5-0-0-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmemberc Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item 1 - January 12,2026, Special Meeting Minutes, and January 13,2026, Regular Meeting Minutes - Approved 5-&&0
Item 2 - December 2025 Check Register Summary - Approved 5-O-O-0 Item 4 - Resolution 2026-009 authorizing a free use day of the Sunset Center for a Garden Club of America Lecture and Book Signing event in the Sunset Center Lobby on March 12,2026 - Approved SO-O-0
ltem 6 - Resolution2026-011 authorizing the consumption of alcohol at the Farmers' Market Third Thursday events in2O26 - Approved *O-$0
Item 7 - Resolution 2026-012, authorizing the serving of alcoho! on public property, and the erection of tents on public property for the Carmel Art Festival, May 15-17,2026 - Approved & o-Go
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
Item 3 - December 2025 Monthly Reports
City CouncilSpecial Meeting Minutes - February 2,2026
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Acting Assistant City Administrator reported that the City is finalizing an agreement with AMR for reimbursement when the City's ambulance service responds to calls in AMR's area, which will be retroactive to February 1st. He noted this because the monthly report showed 56 times when Carmel ambulance responded to AMR's area.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Delves to approve consent agenda item #3, Accepting the December Monthly Reports, seconded by Councilmember Buder, and passed 5-0-0-0 by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Councilmemberc Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item 5 - Resolution 2026-010, authorizing the serving of alcohol on public property for Carmel Culinary Week, June 5-13, 2026
Councilmember Baron expressed concern that the requested number of days for City-authorized alcohol in the park and closing the streets is increasing. He requested a future agenda item to discuss limiting the number of weekly events where alcohol is permitted, and Councilmembers Buder and Dramov agreed.
Public comment: None
Motion by Councilmember Baron to approve consent agenda item #5, approving Resolution 2026-010 authorizing the serving of alcohol on public propefi for Carmel Culinary Week, June 5-13, 2026, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Delves and passed 5-0-0-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and lUlayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ORDERS OF BUSINESS
Item 8 - Resolution 2026-013 Adopting a Policy on the Distribution of Tickets and Passes - not adopted; will be brought back at a future meeting with revisions.
City Clerk Romero gave a presentation on the proposed policy on the distribution of tickets or passes, and answered questions from Council.
Public Comment: None
Ci$ CouncilSpecial Meeting Minutes - February 2,2026
Councilmembers Baron and Dramov expressed concern that using FPPC Form 802 for Council could be less transparent than reporting tickets as gifts on an individual's Form 700, could create the appearanc,e of a workaround or favoritism. Councilmember Baron suggested that if the City adopts a policy, it should be limited to employees, and Councilmembers should continue to report any tickets received on their annual Form 700.
Councilmember Buder asked whether tickets could be provided to a group (e.9., "the Council") without designating specific individuals. City Attorney Pierik said he could research if this is permitted. Mayor Pro Tem Delves said he generally prefers elected officials not accept free items.
Mayor Byrne noted a policy could help enable City employees to attend community events to represent the City.
Counci! directed staff to return with a revised policy that applies only to City employees and excludes City Councilmembers. Resolution 2026-013 was not adopted and the item will be brought back at a future meeting with revisions.
Item 9 - Update on AB413 (Daylighting Law), and Discussion Regarding Downtown Speed Limits and Request for Direction to the City Administrator on Whether to Retain a Traffic Engineer to Conduct a Traffic Study
Police Chief Trayer gave a presentation on the item and answered questions from Council.
Council asked about signage, and Chief Trayer confirmed that any reduced speed limits would require posted signs and could also be marked on the roadway, since residential areas are otherwise presumed to be 25 MPH.
Public comment:
Fred Kern
Karen Ferlito
Shirley Moon
Councilmember Dramov said that doing a traffic study now is premature and that rolling back the changes made for the safety of pedestrians would be harmful to the community. Mayor Pro Tem Delves raised conc€rns about intersections lacking red curb markings, and supported Iowering Ocean Avenue to 15 MPH, with a study considered after the law has been in effect for a year.
Councilmember Budergenerally agreed, supporting 15 MPH downtown and 20 MPH in residential areas, while noting the loss of short-term ("green') parking spaces and the effect on locals. Mayor Byrne emphasized the business impacts from losing shortterm spaces and said the City needs professionaltraffic input, but later acknowledged there wasn't Council appetite to proceed with a full study right now. Councilmember Baron supported lower speed limits and suggested a limited consultation with a traffic engineer as a lower-cost first step.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes - February 2,2026
Council gave consensus direction to staff not to move forward with a traffic engineering study at this time, and instead directed staff to continue collecting data and bring related questions to the Traffic Safety Committee, and emphasized the need for increased parking enforcement as soon as possible.
ADJOURNMENT
Council adjourned the meeting at 4:49 p.m.
APPROVED:
Dale Byrne, Mayor