MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
CITY OF MONTEREY
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
4:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBER
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Councilmembers
Present: Garcia, Haffa, Smith, Williamson
Absent: Barber
City Staff
Present:
City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Community Development Director, Police Chief, Parks and Recreation Director, Finance Director, Fire Chief, Human Resources Director, Library & Museums Director, City Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Williamson called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. City Clerk Klein called the roll and explained to the public how to participate in the meeting remotely.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Haffa led the Pledge.
PUBLIC HEARING
City Clerk Klein announced the procedures for making public comment as described in full on the Council agenda.
1. Adopt the Program Year 2022 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for Housing and Community Development Programs and Authorize Submission to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (Not a Project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and General Rule Article 5 Section 15061)-- Tabled at the meeting of September 19, 2023
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 23-112 C.S. (4-0-1, Councilmember Barber absent) Community Development Director Cole gave the staff presentation and answered Councilmembers' questions together with Damien Delany, consultant with Michael Baker International.
Public comment was received from: Tom Rowley, of Fisherman's Flats Homeowners and Residents Association, who said that the City had missed opportunities to amend the Highway 68 Area Plan regarding potential annexation of Tarpey Flats; Amber Carrell, who expressed frustration regarding a lack of assistance for unhoused people who did not have children or suffer from mental health or substance issues; Esther Malkin, who shared that there was an opportunity to build needed housing near Casanova Street; and Lorna Moffat, who asked the City to stop focusing on building and said that existing units such as hotels should be used to provide housing.
City Council Minutes September 27, 2023
2 City Manager Uslar addressed questions raised by the public, explaining that if annexed, the Tarpey Flats area, currently part of Monterey County, would add additional required housing unit requirements (Regional Housing Needs Allocation, or "RHNA" numbers) to the City of Monterey's allocation.
The Council said that many steps were required to satisfy the State and that processes were in place for annexation if desired, and that the City was sending a signal that indicated that property owners would be very welcome to add units if they had the interest and the water available to develop additional housing. It was stated that adopting the program year Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report ("CAPER") was a requirement and must be completed.
The Council acknowledged the many financial difficulties that lead to housing issues. The cost of housing, and entry costs such as first- and last-month rent and security deposits, were cited as true financial obstacles that create homelessness. The desire was expressed to find ways to assist people with housing difficulties, and potentially to use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to help housing and homelessness projects reach completion. The Josephine Kernes Memorial Pool was referenced as an example of the supportive allocation of CDBG funds in Monterey.
On a motion by Councilmember Haffa, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and carried by the following vote, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 23-112 C.S. Adopting the Program Year 2022 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for Housing and Community Development Programs and Authorize Submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
AYES: 4 COUNCILMEMBERS: Garcia, Haffa, Smith, Williamson NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
ABSENT: 1 COUNCILMEMBERS: Barber
ABSTAIN: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
RECUSED: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
A motion was introduced by Mayor Williamson, and seconded by Councilmember Garcia, to table Public Appearance items 2 through 4.
Public comment on the Public Appearance items was received from Tom Rowley, who asked the City to add a work plan item to update the Highway 68 Area Plan.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4 COUNCILMEMBERS: Garcia, Haffa, Smith, Williamson NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
ABSENT: 1 COUNCILMEMBERS: Barber
ABSTAIN: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
RECUSED: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
2. Adopt a City Council Policy on Governance (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Action: Tabled (4-0-1, Councilmember Barber absent)
City Council Minutes September 27, 2023
3 3. Receive Update on the 2023 City Staff Work Program (Not a Project Under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Tabled (4-0-1, Councilmember Barber absent)
4. Provide Feedback and Direction on the 2024 City Council Workshop (Not a Project Under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Tabled (4-0-1, Councilmember Barber absent)
ADJOURNMENT
The Council adjourned at 5:06 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Clementine Bonner Klein Tyller Williamson
City Clerk Mayor