CITY OF CARMEL.BY-THE.SEA
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
l//,ay 4,2026
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Byrne called the meeting to order in the Chambers at 3:06 p.m.
Roll call: Councilmembers Jeff Baron, Hans Buder, Robert Delves, Alissandra Dramov, and Mayor Dale Byrne were present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Byrne led the pledge of allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
ltem #1 was pulled by Ccouncilmember Baron, ltem #2 was pulled by Mayor Byrne.
Public Comments: None
Motion by illayor Pro Tem Delves to approve consent agenda items #3 and #4, seconded by Councilmember Buder, and approved 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 3 - March 2026 Check Register Summary - Approved 5-O-O-G0 Item 4 - Receive the Carmel Police Department's 2025 Military Equipment Annual Report per AB 481 and approve future purchase of new/replacement equipment - Approved &O0-O-0
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT AGENDA
Item { - April 6,2026, Special Meeting Minutes, and April 7,2026, Regular Meeting Minutes Councilmember Baron said that the April 7th minutes (page 6) omitted Mayor Pro Tem Delves and Councilmember Dramov as "yes" voters from item #2. He requested this correction and that adoption be continued to June. Council reached consensus to continue the item.
Item 2 - March 2026 Monthly Reports
City Council Special Meeting Minutes - May 4,2026
Page2 of 7
Mayor Byrne praised public safety for their response times Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Delves to approve consent agenda items #2, seconded by Gouncilmember Baron, and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Councilmembes Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ORDERS OF BUSINESS
Item 5 - Resolution 2026-024 authorizing the City Administrator to execute a contract with GA Technical Services, lnc. in the amount of $295,829 tar the Vista Lobos Electrical Panel Upgrade and EV Charging Stations Project for a total not-to-exceed amount of $350,000.
EnvironmentalAnalyst Val Gaino gave a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment: None
Motion by Councilmember Baron to adopt Resolution 2026-024 authorizing a contractwith GA Technical Services, !nc. in the amount of $295,829 for the Vista Lobos Electrical Panel Upgrade and EV Charging Stations Proiect for a total not-to-exceed amount of $350,000, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Delves, and approved 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 6 - Resolution 2026-025 authorizing the City Administrator to award a janitorial services agreement with Bright Building Maintenance, with an initial term of five years beginning in Fiscal Year 2026-27,with a base fee of $327,000, plus a $6,000 Supplementa! Services budget.
Project Manager Tom Ford gave a presentation and answered questions from the Council.
Public comment: None
Motion by Councilmember Baron to adopt Resolution 2026-025 awarding a janitorial services agreement with Bright Building Maintenance, with an initial term of five years beginning in Fiscal Year 2026-27, with a base fee of $327,000, plus a $6,000 supplemental City Council Special Meeting Minutes - May 4,2026
seryices budget seconded by Councilmember Dramov, and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Gouncilmembers Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item 7 - Receive an update on the Design Traditions 1.5 project, and review the proposed Plan, defined Scope of Work, and Proposed Timeline to finalize the Residential Design Guidelines 1.5 - Continued from AprilT, 2026
Project Manager Tom Ford gave a presentation on the item and answered questions from Council.
Public comment:
Victoria Beach
Mayor Pro Tem Delves reported that progress had been made to improve the document's format and usability, but noted that additional review of the content is still needed. He said the next steps are to create a track changes version showing revisions from the prior draft, allowing sufficient time for Planning Commission and Council review, and ensuring staff has the opportunity to provide input. Councilmember Dramov raised concerns that the proposed timeline may be too rigid and doesn't allow much room for flexibility.
Councilmember Baron expressed interest in making the final document more polished, professional, and user-friendly, including the possibility of using an editor. He also noted the importance of managing the schedule around Planning Commission meetings, and suggested evaluating whether certain exterior changes should require a higher level of design review and hiring a professional editor to make the final document more polished and professional. Mayor Byrne noted the broader need to invest in better document management for the City's policies and guiding documents.
Council gave consensus direction to proceed with the proposed plan, scope of work, and timeline to finalize the Residential Design Guidelines 1.5.
Item 8 - Consideration of FY 2026-2027 City Council Discretionary Grant Funding and Direction on Distribution of Grant Awards
City Clerk Nova Romero provided a summary of the 18 applications received, noting that after evaluation, staff recommends granting each applicant an equal award of $1 ,000, totaling $18,000.
She suggested an overal! budget allocation of $20,000 to maintain a $2,000 reserve for potentia! future grant funding needs.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes - May 4,2026
Public comment:
Maya Lynn
Lily Senvick
Michelle
BillSchrier
Leah Beats
Mayor Pro Tem Delves said he would support $1,000 per application, but award $3,000 to Carmel Mock Trial. Councilmember Buder agreed with this suggestion.
Mayor Byrne and Councilmembers Dramov and Baron supported bringing the policy and program back for discussion at a future meeting. Councilmember Buder said the application process should be less cumbersome, given the amount generally awarded.
Motion by ltllayor Pro Tem Delves to approve a total of $25,000 allocation for discretionary grants, and award each applicant $1,000, except Carmel High Mock Trial which will be awarded $3,000, and the remaining $5,000 would be reserved for future unforeseen requests, seconded by Councilmember Buder, and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Councilmembers Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECESS
Council took a recess at 4:50 pm and returned at 5:00 pm Item 9 - Discuss draft Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Carmel-By-ByThe-Sea Ordering The Submission To The Qualified Electors Of The City Of Carmel-By-The-Sea At The November 3, 2026, Genera! Municipal Election A Measure To lncrease The Transactions And Use Tax Rate By 0.375o/oTo Make The TotalTax Rate 1.875o/o and Extending the Duration of the Transactions and Use Tax so that it remains in effect until ended by Voters; and provide direction City Attorney Pierik presented the draft resolution regarding a potential November 3,2026 ballot measure to increase the City's Transactions and Use Tax rate by 0.375o/o, for a total rate of
1.875o/o, and to extend the duration of the tax until ended by voters.
Council asked questions regarding the proposed ballot Ianguage, including whether the language should more clearly state the estimated additional revenue generated by the proposed increase, rather than the tota! revenue generated by the tax. Council also asked about the removal of the sunset date and requested alternate ballot question wording options, and the next available election date if the measure is not placed on the November 2026 ballot.
Public comment:
Gity Gouncil Special Meeting Minutes - May 4,2026
Nancy Twomey
Councilmembers Baron and Mayor Pro Tem Delves expressed concern about placing two ballot measures on the same ballot, but noted that this tax would affect both residents and visitors to Carmel, as opposed to TOT which generally would only affect visitors. Councilmember Buder said that upon further discussion and analysis, he is more supportive of pursuing this tax measure sooner rather than later. Councilmember Dramov said that voters will be able to evaluate two ballot measures separately on the same ballot. Mayor Byrne said he is more in favor of the sales tax ballot measure than the TOT one. He showed a slide that proposes alternate ballot question language for the sales tax measure that more closely aligns with the proposed TOT ballot measure language by stating what the increase in revenue to the City would be if adopted. Council agreed that if there are two ballot measures, the question language should be stated in a similar way to make it clearer.
Council agreed that the Financial Stewardship Ad Hoc (Mayor Pro Tem Delves and Councilmember Buder) should work with the City Attorney on revising the ballot question language to make it clearer, draft the ballot measure argument, and have this item return at the next meeting in June for further discussion and direction on whether to proceed with a sales tax ballot measure for the November 2026 election.
Motion Councilmember Baron to authorize the City Aftorney to submit the draft Ordinance language regarding a sales tax increase to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration for review, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Delves, and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Councilmembens Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item 10 - Discuss draft Resolution of the City Councilof the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea submitting to the qualified electors of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea a Measure to adopt a new two percent Transient Occupancy Tax, in addition to the existing ten percent Transient Occupancy Tax, and approving the form of the Ordinance to be submitted to the voters; Requesting the Monterey County Elections Department to conduct the Election and requesting consolidation of the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be he.ld on November 3,2026i Directing the City Attorney to prepare an lmpartial Analysis concerning such Measure; Authorizing the drafting of Primary Arguments and Rebuttals concerning such Measure and provide direction City Attorney Brian Pierik presented the draft resolution regarding a potential November 3,2026 ballot measure to adopt an additional 2o/o Transient Occupancy Tax, in addition to the City's existing 10% TOT, and answered questions from Council.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes - May 4,2026
Counci! asked about the proposed ballot measure process, including who may submit rebuttal arguments. City Attorney Pierik stated that he would research this and bring the information back to Council.
Public comment:
AndiCarr
Mark Watson
Councilmember Dramov said she supports the TOT ballot measure and bringing the item back in June for possible approva!, noting the City's ongoing efforts to reduce operating costs and evaluate other revenue options. Councilmember Buder showed a slide that showed Carmel has the lowest TOT when compared to similar and nearby jurisdictions. Councilmember Baron said he slightly prefers pursuing the TOT over sales tax, but could be persuaded that having both on the same election could work. Mayor Pro Tem Delves said he would like more discussion on the funding for Visit Carmel marketing. Mayor Byrne said he does not favor the TOT tax, but agreed this should come back in June for more discussion.
Councilmember Dramov moved to direct the Financial Stewardship Ad Hoc Committee to collaborate with the City Attorney on drafting the 7S-word ballot measure question and the 300-word measure argument for the proposed Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) increase, and to return in June for possible adoption of the Resolution to place the ballot measure on the November 3,2026, ballot. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Buder and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Councilmembers Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilmember Dramov moved to direct the Financial Stewardship Ad Hoc Committee to collaborate with the City Aftorney on drafting the 75-word ballot measure question language and the 300-word measure argument for the proposed Sales Tax (TUT) increase, and to return in June for possible adoption of the Resolution to place the ballot measure on the November 3,2026, ballot. The motion was seconded by Gouncilmember Buder and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Gouncilmembers Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECESS
Council took a recess at 6:37 and returned at 7:06 pm
City Council Special Meeting Minutes - May 4,2026
PageT ol7
Item 11 - Receive the 2nd FiscalYear202S-2026Tri-Annual Budget Report Finance Manager Jayme Fields presented the item and answered questions from Council.
Public comment:
Nancy Twomey
Council expressed its gratitude to Jayme for her triannual budget update and commended her efforts in capitalizing on interest-earning opportunities resulting in additional unexpected revenue.
Councilmember Baron said it would be helpful to see how much of the prior year's unfinished CIP projects have been spent, and how much of the current year's CIP projects have been spent.
Counci! received the report; Ms. Fields noted that a formal resolution to confirm the budget adjustments to FY 25-26 would be brought back at the next meeting.
CLOSED SESSION
Public comment:
Nancy Twomey
A. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957 Title: Acting City Administrator
B. CONFERENCE WTH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6; Agency Designated Representatives: Acting Assistant City Administrator Marisa Bermudez, Police Chief Todd Trayer, and Zachery Lopes, Burke Williams & Sorensen; Employee Organization: General Employees Unit, an Affiliated Unit of LiUNA, and Management Employees Unit, an Affiliated Unit of L|UNA
ADJOURNMENT
Council adjourned to Closed Session at7:32 p.m
APPROVED:
Dale Byrne, Mayor Nova