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REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, July 7,2026
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Byme called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.
Roll call: Councilmembers Jefi Baron, Hans Buder, Alissandra Dramov, and Mayor Dale Byrne were present in the Chambers. Mayor Pro Tem Delves attended the meeting remotely via Zoom teleconference under Gov. Code 54954.3(B).
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Byme led the pledge of allegiance.
EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS
Volunteer/Non-Profit Spotlight - Point Lobos Foundation - Don Blohowiak, Vice President of the Foundation, prcsented on the non-profit's history and initiatives to protect, preserve, and educate about Point Lobos State Park, River State Beach, Carmel Meadows, and Monastery Beach.
Presentation on the Role of the City Clerk - City Clerk Nova Romero gave a presentation on the role of the City Clerk. Mayor Byme presented a Shining Star Award to recognize the City Clerk.
PUBLIC APPEARANCES
Karen Ferlito
Wlliam Kargas
Fred Kern
Maria Ruess
Lance Anderson
Leah Beets
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Acting City Administrator - Thanked Anna Ginette for her hard work as Community Planning and Building Director upon her departure, and introduced Brad Evanson as Interim Director. He announced that the City Council discussed in closed session renewing and extending the Sunset Center's lease and partnership with the City.
City Attorney Announcements - no announcements from Closed Session.
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Councilmember Dramov thanked Public Works for moving the sand on the beach to prepare for the upcoming storm season.
Mayor Byme thanked Monterey County Pops for their wonderful concert on the 4th of July, and encouraged the public to support this worthy non-profit. He thanked the public fortheir well wishes for his wife Margaret who broke her arm, she's lecovering well.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item I - Resolution 2026'053 adopting an Addendum to the adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration and associated Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the 6th cycle 2023- 2031 Housing Element Amendment; and, Resolution 2026{,il amending the General Plan by adopting the 6th cycle 2023-2031 Housing ElementAmendment in compliance with State Housing Element Law.
Principal Planner Mamie Waffle presented the item, summarizing the amendment timeline and five core strategies, which included hotel-to-residential, downtown mixed-income, downtown liveArork, ADUs, and religious facilities programs. She also reviewed the proposed housing sites inventory, requested direction from the Council, and addressed questions from Councilmembers.
Public Comment:
Nancy Twomey
Fred Kern
Tim Twomey
Maria Ruess
Donna Jett
Karen Ferlito
Carolyn Bardsley
KristiReimers
Victoria Beach
Peter Prows
Stacy S.
Acting City Administrator Brandon Swanson addressed some of the con@ms raised during public comment.
RECESS
Counciltook a re@ss at 6:50 p.m. and retumed at 7:00 p.m.
Councilmember Buder clarified public misconceptions regarding the AHA group's programs, noted strong community backing, and supported the amendment's adoption. Councilmember Dramov and Mayor Pro Tem Delves agreed and voiced support for adopting the amendment.
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Councilmember Baron dissented, arguing the amendment is unfit for Carme!, and noted that the amendment concentrates nearly all new units downtown. He remained skeptical of the programs' feasibility, calling them unrealistic and unlikely to yield morc housing.
Mayor Byrne echoed Councilmember Baron's comments, and clarified that he is not critiquing the AHA's exceptional effort, but stated his preference not to amend the existing certified housing element. He said he supports exploring housing developments on municipal properties that include parking, or at least releasing an RFP for these sites to see what the possibilities arc.
Motion by Councilmember Buder to Adopt Resolution 2026-053 adopting an Addendum to the adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration and associated Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the 6th cycle 2023-2031 Housing Element Amendment, and seconded by Councilmember Dramov and approved 3-2{-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Buder, Detves, and DramovNOES: Councilmember Baron, Mayor Byrne
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilmember Baron asked the three members supporting the amendment to collaborate on revisions to reach a compromise that satisfies both sides. Councilmember Buder acknowledged this idea, but said because the amendment had been in development for an extended period, the window for making modifications had already passed.
Motlon by Councilmember Buder to Adopt Resolution 2026-054 amending the General Plan by adopting the 6th cycle 2023-2031 Housing Element Amendment in compliance with State Housing Element Law, seconded by Councilmember Dramov and approved 3- 2-0-0 by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Councilmembers Buder, Delves, and DramovNOES: Councilmember Baron, Mayor Byrne
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECESS
Counciltook a recess at 8:02 pm and returned at 8:29 pm. Afterthe recess the Councilmoved to item #3, followed by items #5, #6, and then #2 and #4.
ORDERS OF BUSINESS
Item 3 - Discuss Primary Arguments ln Favor of Ballot Measures for Transient Occupancy Tax and Transactions and Use Tax (Sales) and Approve by Motion the Proposed Primary Arguments or Provide Other Direction
City Attorney Pierik gave a presentation of the two draft ballot measure arguments and asked for Council direction.
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Public Comment:
Nancy Twomey
Lance Wills
Stary S.
Maria Ruess
Councilmember Dramov suggested changing "exempt" to "tax€xempt" in the TUT ballot argument for clarity. City Attomey Pierik noted that if the County counts "tax-exempt" as two words, the City could revert to "exempt" without further Council approval. He also advised replacing placeholder letters'X" and 'Y" with underscores, sin@ the County will assign measure letters after August 7th.
Motion by Councilmember Baron to adopt the TOT Ballot Measure language as proposed seconded by Councilmember Dramov, and approved 5{-0-0 by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Councilmemberc Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Motion by by Councilmember Baron to adoptthe TUT (sales tax) Ballot Measure language as proposed, with the amendment to change the word "exempt" to "tax€xempt", seconded by Councilmember Dramov, and approved 5{-0-0 by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Councilmemberc Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item 5 - City Attorney update regarding executive recruitment firm selection process for a City Administrator and provide direction to staff
Acting Assistant City Administrator Marisa Bermudez summarized the item and asked for Counci! direction.
Public comment:
Maria Ruess
Kelly Brezoczky
Council discussed possible options for the executive recruitment firm selection process. Council reached a @nsensus to have staff nanow the proposals received to the top three firms, and invite the.top three firms for 2O-minute Zoom interviews during a public meeting in August.
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Motion by Councilmember Baron directing staff to review the submitted proposals and select the top three firms, and invite these thrce firms to participate in Zoom interviews with the Gouncil, up to 20 minutes each, during a future open Council Meeting, at a date to be detetmined, seconded by Mayor Byrne, and approved 5-0{-0 by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Gouncilmemberc Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item 6 - Update and Request for Direction Regading Architectura! Services for the New Police and Public Works Facilities Project
Administrative Analyst Tom Ford provided an overview of the request for proposals (RFP) prc,cess to date, highlighting completed and upcoming milestones. He requested Council guidance on several key areas, including how to conduct interviews with the top four firms, the execution of a "Carmel @ntext" rendering exercise, and the project timeline. He also sought direction on whether to engage an municipal funding expert to present various financing mechanisms for the project to Council at a future meeting.
Public comment:
AndiCarr
Nancy Twomey
Maria Ruess
Council discussed the process for selecting an architecturalfirm forthe Police DepartmenUPublic Works Building project.
By majority consensus, Council directed the ad hoc committee to:
1. lnterview the four highest-ranked firms and return to the full Council with a recommendation of one firm.
2. Proceed without a public "Carmel context" rendering exercise.
3. Continue with the established project timeline.
4. Schedule a municipal funding expert to present to the Council in early 2027.
PUBLIC HEARING
Item 2 - Consideration of Adoption of Fee Schedule Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Fee Schedule, including updating fees citywide, Community Planning and Building, Public Safety, and Public Works; and Discussion and Direction regarding a Fee Waiver Policy Public comment:
None
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Due to the late hour, Councildiscussed continuing this item to a future date.
Motion by Gouncilmember Baron to continue this item to a date ceftain of August 4,2026, at 4:30 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Buder, and approved 5{-0-0 by the following ro!!callvote:
AYES: Councilmemberc Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ffi
Item 4 - Discussion and Direction on FinancialStewardship Workgroup ad hoc Due to the late hour, Councildiscussed continuing this item to a future date.
Motion by Councilmember Baron to continue this item to a date certain of August 4,2026, at 4:30 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Buder, and approved 5-0-0-0 by the following rollcallvote:
AYES: Councilmemberc Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTATN: None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None
ADJOURNMENT
Counciladjoumed the meeting at 10:15 p.m.
APPROVED: ATTEST: \:, 1 t i
by:
0a,
Dale Byme, Mayor