MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF MONTEREY
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
4:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBER
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Councilmembers
Present: Barber, Haffa, Smith, Williamson
Absent: Garcia
City Staff
Present:
City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Community Development Director, Police Chief, Parks and Recreation Director, Finance Director, Fire Chief, Public Works Director, City Clerk, Parks Supervisor, Deputy Public Works Director/City Engineer, Parks Operations Manager, Engineering Assistant, Senior Accountant ***Afternoon Session Agenda ***
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Williamson called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. City Clerk Klein called the roll and explained to the public how to participate in the meeting remotely.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Barber led the Pledge.
PRESENTATIONS
City Clerk Klein announced the procedures for making public comment as described in full on the Council agenda.
1. Presentation on Blue Zones Project (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20 Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5 Section 15061)
Action: Received presentation
Tanja Roos, of Blue Zones Project Monterey County, gave the staff presentation and answered Councilmembers' questions.
Public comment was received from Nina Beety, who discussed safety concerns about military pollution at Fort Ord and wifi exposure.
2. Receive a Presentation Regarding a Crosswalk Policy (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received presentation
Deputy Public Works Director Easterling gave the staff presentation and answered Councilmembers' questions together with Public Works Director Renny.
Public comment was received from Tanja Roos, of Blue Zones Project Monterey County, who spoke in support of a crosswalk policy and "Vision Zero"; Nina Beety, who expressed safety City Council Minutes October 3, 2023
2 concerns with crossing at the post office; and Lorna Moffat, who requested a system of pedestrian-led red light buttons at intersections.
During public comments, Mayor Williamson left the Chamber at 4:45 p.m. and returned at 4:47 p.m.
The Council discussed the matter. It was expressed that pedestrian and bicycle safety was a very high priority. Support was expressed for the City doing crosswalks as safely and smartly as possible, and increasing public education about intersection safety.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (MATTERS NOT ON AGENDA)
Public comment on non-agendized matters was received from: Chandler Roland, Steve Lightfoot, Dustyn Wilson, Nina Beety, Lorna Moffat, and Phillip Bezouska.
CONSENT ITEMS
Nina Beety and Lorna Moffat requested to pull Item 5 from Consent.
On a motion by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Barber, and carried by the following vote, the City Council approved the CONSENT ITEMS except Item 5:
AYES: 4 COUNCILMEMBERS: Barber, Haffa, Smith, Williamson NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
ABSENT: 1 COUNCILMEMBERS: Garcia
ABSTAIN: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
RECUSED: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
Approval of Minutes
3. September 19, 2023 Regular Meeting (Not a Project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 19, Section 15061)
Action: Approved (4-0-1, Councilmember Garcia absent)
Award of Construction Contracts
4. Award a Construction Contract in the Amount of $4,782,430 to McKim Corporation for the Citywide Road Surface Repair Project, Phase 5 (Exempt from CEQA Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1) ***Measure S ***
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 23-113 C.S. (4-0-1, Councilmember Garcia absent) Resolutions
5. Authorize Application for and Acceptance of Grant Funds from the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for Implementation of the Greenbelt Fuel Reduction Action Plan, Authorize an Increase in FY24 and FY25 Annual Revenues by $400,000, Appropriate Grant Funds, Appropriate Annual Matching Funds of $75,000, and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Grant Agreement with CAL FIRE (Approved Supplemental Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration)
Action: Pulled from Consent; Adopted Resolution No. 23-114 C.S. (4-0-1, Councilmember Garcia absent)
City Manager Uslar gave a brief verbal report and answered Councilmembers' questions.
City Council Minutes October 3, 2023
3 Public comment was received from Esther Malkin, who requested greenbelt fuel reduction at Laguna Grande Regional Park, and from Lorna Moffat and Nina Beety, who expressed concerns with tree removal.
On question from Council, City Manager Uslar clarified that Laguna Grande Regional Park did not qualify as a greenbelt according to official designations, but received regular budgeted maintenance following nesting season. He clarified that fuel reduction meant the removal of underbrush, not trees.
A motion was introduced by Councilmember Smith, and seconded by Councilmember Haffa, to adopt Resolution No. 23-114 C.S. to Authorize the Application for and Acceptance of Grant Funds from the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for Implementation of the Greenbelt Fuel Reduction Action Plan, Authorize an Increase in FY24 and FY25 Annual Revenues by $400,000, Appropriate Grant Funds, Appropriate Annual Matching Funds of $75,000, and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Grant Agreement with CAL FIRE.
It was requested by the Council to receive more regular reports from the Laguna Grande Regional Park Joint Powers Agency (JPA).
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: 4 COUNCILMEMBERS: Barber, Haffa, Smith, Williamson NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
ABSENT: 1 COUNCILMEMBERS: Garcia
ABSTAIN: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
RECUSED: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
6. Authorize the City Manager to Accept State of California Office of Traffic Safety Grant for Regional Crash Response and Extrication Improvement Program and Appropriate the Grant Monies to Purchase Extrication Tools (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20 Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5 Section 15061)
Adopted Resolution No. 23-115 C.S. (4-0-1, Councilmember Garcia absent) *** End of Consent Agenda ***
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilmember Smith reminded everyone to report safety concerns timely. He shared that he had attended the League of California Cities ("Cal Cities") conference and reported on the trainings and meetings that he had attended at the conference, saying that with no resolutions under consideration, the annual General Assembly had been canceled for the year.
Councilmember Barber reported details of her sister city visit to Lankaran, Azerbaijan, from which she had just returned. She explained that she had been honored to represent the City of Monterey, and many cases the United States, at a United Nations event. She promised to share photos of the experience and expressed enthusiasm about the ability for the City to collaborate with other jurisdictions, including in other nations, on important shared concerns. She expressed gratitude for the experience and for the kindness of her hosts in Azerbaijan.
Councilmember Haffa reported that he had met with a group of residents in the Skyline area regarding their safety concerns with access to Highway 68. He said that a traffic study with City Council Minutes October 3, 2023
4 TAMC would help to determine whether a traffic light at the location would be feasible. He said that some neighborhood associations may not be doing as much outreach and communication as they should, and not holding annual elections.
Mayor Williamson also reported from the Cal Cities conference, and said he finished his term as president of the LGBTQ caucus. He encouraged everyone to stay aware of lies being spread to promote the Business Roundtable tax measure. He discussed fire hazards and recent fires at the Laguna Grande Regional Park and said that he didn't want residents to worry for their safety. He reported from Monterey One Water ("M1W"), stating that the Injection Well Phase 4 construction contract had recently been awarded, and should be completed on schedule. He said that M1W's negotiating agreement had been approved with California American Water ("Cal Am") for water outfall. He said that Salinas had requested to change the weighted vote structure of the M1W board of directors. He said that a delegation from the City's sister city Nanao, Japan, had visited the prior week, and expressed appreciation for the hard work done by the local committee on that sister city relationship.
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Uslar said that the Laguna Grande Regional Park Plan webpage on the City's "Have Your Say Monterey" engagement portal had been updated, and encouraged interested people to sign up for updates. He invited all to an event at the Waterfront Parking Lot on October 6, 2023.
*** Adjourn to Closed Session (See additional agenda) *** Public comment on the closed session was not received.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION
cs1. Conference with Legal Counsel, Anticipated Litigation, Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(2): 5 Cases - Transient Occupancy Tax Audit Deficiency Finding Disputes with Wave Street Inn, Hotel Pacific, Monterey Marriott, Hotel 1110, and Merritt House Inn (Not a Project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Action: On a unanimous roll call vote (4-0-1, with Councilmember Garcia absent), the Council gave confidential direction to its legal counsel
ADJOURNMENT
The Council adjourned at 5:56 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Clementine Bonner Klein Tyller Williamson
City Clerk Mayor