MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
CITY OF MONTEREY
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
4:00 PM
MONTEREY SPORTS CENTER, 301 E FRANKLIN ST.
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Councilmembers
Present: Barber, Garcia, Smith, Williamson
Absent: Haffa
City Staff
Present:
Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Parks and Recreation Director, Public Works Director, City Clerk, Recreation Manager, General Services Superintendent, Sports Center Manager, Aquatics Coordinator, Recreation Supervisor, Engineering Projects Manager, Recreation Coordinator, Recreation Specialist
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Williamson called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. outside the entrance to the Monterey Sports Center (MSC). City Clerk Klein called the roll with the Council present as indicated above.
STUDY SESSION
1. Conduct Council Field Trip to Monterey Sports Center (Not a Project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Conducted field trip
Parks and Recreation Director Larson made a verbal presentation, beginning outside the entrance to the MSC, and continuing as she led the Council and attendees through various locations of the MSC. She answered Councilmembers' questions as they arose. Additional input and answers to questions throughout the tour were provided by Assistant City Manager Rojanasathira, Sports Center Manager Rothschild, Public Works Director Renny, General Services Superintendent Dwight, Recreation Manager Leon, and Aquatics Coordinator Graffagnino. Topics covered included a brief history of the MSC; specific features of the MSC's facility, operations, amenities, uses, programming and initiatives; service priorities of the MSC’s staff; needs, challenges, and plans for facility repair and maintenance; recent and upcoming improvements and renovations; the MSC's role in the community, including providing a "third place" and training future leaders; the difficulty and complexity of the staff work that goes into operating the MSC; funding, including from state grants and Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP); plans and challenges for potentially reopening the snack bar/cafe and/or the Kids Zone childcare program; and the excellent MSC staff and their strengths. During the visit to the Studio 1 room, the Councilmembers joined a Zumba class to do the "Thriller" dance.
Public comment was received from Jean Rasch, who said she had heard young people in the community ask for a childcare program to return to the MSC, and Scott Hanson, who said that as a member of the NCIP Committee he was always on the lookout for MSC projects that would benefit from NCIP funding.
City Council Minutes October 30, 2024
2 The Council briefly discussed the MSC following public comment, praising MSC staff for looking into solutions for the snack bar/cafe and Kids Zone, and for the work that they did to make the facility so special, and appreciation for the tour and for hearing about the amazing things going on at the MSC.
ADJOURNMENT
The Council adjourned at 5:27 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Clementine Bonner Klein Tyller Williamson
City Clerk Mayor