Do@sign Envelope lD: 86802C8&,7AF9-8433{3A1-301CECESB3oF CARMEL-BY.THE-SEA
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REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, August 4,2026
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Byme called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.
Roll cal!: Councilmembers Jeff Baron, Hans Buder, Alissandra Dramov, Mayor Pro Tem Delves, and Mayor Dale Byrne were present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANGE
Councilmember Baron led the pledge of allegiance
PUBLIC APPEARANCES
Beth Bowman
Richard Kreitman
No name
Maria Ruess
Cindy Lloyd
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Acting City Adminis{rator Brandon Swanson - no announcements.
City Attomey Brian Pierik - no announcements from closed session.
Councilmember Dramov announced that the Tor House has been featured on the cover of Preservation Magazine, and the article on the Tor House is available to read online.
Mayor Byme thanked everyone who has been involved in the Ulrika Plaza projec't, it's nice to see it's no longer a'pit".
CLOSED SESSION
Council gave @nsensus direction to move closed session item #6 up on the agenda before public hearings, and to resume the open session no later than 5:32 p.m.
Item 6 - CONFERENCE WTH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6 Agency designated reprcsentative: City Attomey Unrepresented employee:
City Adminis{rator
Docusign Envelope lD: 86802C88-7AF9{A33{3A1-301 CECE5B3oF City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - August 4,2026
City Attorney Pierik read the closed session title.
Public comment on closed session: None
RECESS
Council left the dais at 5:02 p.m. for Closed Session and returned to the Counci! Chambers to resume the regular meeting at 5:52 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item 1 - 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 - Continued from July 7,2026
Finance Manager Jayme Fields presented the item, giving a summary of the proposed revised fee schedule for Council consideration, which include guidelines for waiver of fees, increased Parking Citation Fees, simplified descriptions, including legal costs, and the addition of an Unusual Services fee.
Public comment:
Tamara Michie
Maria Ruess
Shirley Moon
Cindy Lloyd
Council discussed proposed amendments to the fee schedule, focusing first on parking citation fees. Mayor Pro Tem Delves and Mayor Byme supported Chief Trayer's suggestion to keep the parking citation fee at $48 for the first three offenses before escalating the cost for the fourth and fifth offenses. Councilmember Baron supported setting the ticket price at $48 to align with neighboring cities but was less supportive of the escalated fee structure. Councilmembers Buder and Dramov supported both the $48 fee and the escalation.
Councildiscussed the proposed Fee Waiver Policy. Councilmember Baron expressed opposition to granting the City Administrator general authority to waive fees up to $59,999, suggesting a more reasonable limit, such as up to $500 or $2,000, along with a defined Iist of eligible fees.
Council agreed the fee waiver policy needs discussion and direction before implementing.
Council reached a consensus and gave the following direction to staff:
o Accept stiaff-recommended parking citation fees: $48 for the first violation, $60 for the second, and $80 for the third.
o Defer fee waiver policy implementation for future in-depth discussion. o Accept revisions to legal costs and simplified descriptions.
Docusign Envelope lD: 86802C8B7AF9SA33{3A1-301CECESB3OF City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - August 4,2026
o Accept the unusual services fee as presented.
o Develop tiered fees for landscape plan checks and temporary encroachment permits for sidewalk pressure washing.
RECESS
Council took a re@ss at 6:51 pm. and returned at7:22 pm.
Item 2 - Discussion and Direction on Financial Stewardship Workgroup ad hoc - Continued from July 7,2026
Finance ManagerJayme Fields summarized the Financia! Stewardship Workgroup's purpose and accomplishments, including development of a new reserve policy, revised budgeting procedures, revenue analyses, enhanced budget reporting, and deferred maintenance planning. She also outlined options for continuing the workgroup, either by forming a formal Finance Committee, or addressing financial matters direclly through the full Council.
Public Comment:
Nancy Twomey
Kelly Brezoczky
Councildiscussed whetherto continue the FinancialStewardship Ad Hoc Committee orestablish a standing committee. Councilmember Baron supported concluding the ad hoc committee's work, Mayor Pro Tem Delves suggested using it only during budget season, and the remaining Councilmembers supported forming a standing committee.
By consensus, Gouncil directed staff to retum with a resolution establishing a Financial Stewardship Standing Committee and defining its scope and meeting frequency. Council also directed the ad hoc committee to hold a final meeting to recommend provisions for the resolution and potentialappointments. Councilmember Baron requested that standing committee meetings include formal agendas, record ings, and m inutes.
Item 3 - Resolution 2026460 Authorizing the City Administrator to Execute a Construction Contract with Silcon Constructors for the Beach Access 12th and 10th Avenues Stairs Repair Project (Carmel Beach Coastal Protection and Access lmprovement) BID #25-26-007, for a totial not-to-exceed amount of $364,417.13 including base bid ($223,149.70), Add Altemate ($80,531 .24), and Contingency ($60,736.19)
Acting Public Works Director Shari Carlet provided a summary of the item and responded to questions from the Council. Councilmember Baron inquired if staff could negotiate a lower amount for the add altemate. City Attomey Pierik clarified that the add alternate submitted in the bid cannot be negotiated, but there may be other options such as rebidding that part of the project only.
Docusign Envelope lD: 86802CBB7AF9-8433{3A1 -301 CECE5B3oF City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - August 4,2026
Public comment:
None
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Delves to adopt Resolution 2026-060 authorizing a Gonstruction Contract with Silcon Constructorc for the Beach Access 12th and 10th Avenues Stairs Repair Proiect (Carmel Beach Coastal Protection and Access lmprovement, for a tota! nottocxceed amount of $364,417.13 including base bid ($223,149.70), Add Alternate ($80,531.24), and Contingency ($60,736.19), seconded by Councilmember Dramov, and approved 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
Council gave consensus agreement to move to item #5, then #4. ltem 5- Provide Direction Regarding a PotentialUrgency OrdinanceAddressing Home Hardening and Wildfire Safety Regulations Citywide
Acting City Administrator Brandon Swanson presented proposed citywide home-hardening and wildfire-safety regulations from the Wildfire Prevention committee, including allowing gravelwithin five feet of structures without counting towad site coverage, applying combustible-materia! storage rules citywide, and requiring ember-resistant vents and fire-resistant windows during replaements or alterations. Mr. Swanson noted that the Council could direct staff to draft an Urgency Ordinance to implement these 4 regulations while the design traditions update is undenray.
Public Comment:
Nancy Twomey
Kelly Brezoczky
Mayor Pro Tem Delves, Councilmembers Buder and Dramov, supported moving fonrard with the Urgency Ordinance. Councilmember Baron questioned the choice of an Urgency Ordinance over a typical codified Ordinance. City Attomey Pierik clarified that the Council could adopt an urgency ordinance at the next meeting while directing staff to develop a thorough regular Ordinance to be codified. Councilmember Buder suggested adding an automatic sunset date to the Urgency Ordinance upon the adoption of the updated Design Traditions Guidelines, which Councilmember Baron supported.
Docusign Envelope lD: 86802C88-7AF9{A33{3A1-301CECE5B3oF City Council Regular Meeting Minutes -August 4,2026
Motion by Councilmember Buder directing staff to return next month the draft urgency ordinance as proposed in the staff report, including a sunset clause, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Delves, and approved 5-0{-0, by the following roll callvote:
AYES: Councilmembers Baron, Buder, Delves, Dramov, and Mayor Byrne NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Item 4 - Discussion and policy direction regarding: the permitting of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and draft amendments to Title 17 relating to ADUs.
Senior Planner Evan Kort presented the ADU Ordinance discussion, covering the State ADU mandates and how the Local Coastal Plan (LCP) applies. He requested Council direc'tion on an updated ADU Ordinance, or to direct staff to identiff specific policy topics to research further before retuming to Council for formal direction at a later date.
Public comment:
Ray Strimatis
Nancy Twomey
Maria Ruess
Council voiced support to move forward with drafting the ADU Ordinance. Mayor Pro Tem Delves emphasized the use of the LCP to preserve the city's character and harmonizing the ADU policy with state laws. Mayor Byme asked about rooftop decks on ADU's. Mr. Kort noted they could be prohibited through design traditions standards or addrcssed in the ADU Ordinance through volume metrics.
Motion by Councilmember Baron to instruct staff to adhere to the strict interprctation of CMC 17.08.050.G when reviewing al! new applications for ADU's which are not already in process, and directing staff to continue drafting an ADU Ordinance that hamonizes with state !aws,.while utilizing the full extent of coastal resource protections associated with the City's Local Coastal Program, 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
Do@sign Envelope lD: 86802C8&7AF9-8A33-83A1-301CECESB3OF City Council Regular Meeting Minutes -August 4,2026
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Buder requested a future agenda item to discuss the collection of Transient Occupancy Tax (l-OT) from online booking platforms such as Expedia and Priceline, noting that a specialelection may be required to amend the City Code to collect TOT from online bookings.
Mayor Byme agreed to add the item to a future agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
Counciladjoumed the meeting at 9:44 p.m.
APPROVED:
by:
0^t"
Dale Byme, Mayor