MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
CITY OF MONTEREY
Saturday, December 6, 2025
7:30 AM
STEVENSON ROOM # 2 (UPSTAIRS), MONTEREY CONFERENCE CENTER 1 PORTOLA PLAZA, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Councilmembers
Present: Barber, Garcia, Rasch, Smith, Williamson
Absent: None
City Staff
Present:
City Attorney, Community Development Director, City Clerk, Planning Manager
Call to Order
Mayor Williamson called the meeting to order at 7:32 a.m. City Clerk Klein called the roll with the Council present as indicated above.
Special Meeting
Public Hearing
1. Adopt the Planning Commission Recommendation and Approve 1st Reading of an Ordinance Amending the Monterey City Code to Dissolve the Architectural Review Committee and Transfer its Powers and Duties to the Planning Commission (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Action: Passed the ordinance to a second reading
Planning Manager Hill gave the staff presentation and answered Councilmembers' questions together with input from City Attorney Davi.
Public comment was received from Julie Gorman, who asserted that the proposed ordinance would amend Visitor Accommodation Facilities (VAF) provisions in violation of the City Charter.
On question from the Council, City Attorney Davi agreed with the speaker that changing VAF development standards would require a vote of the people. She explained that the VAF development standards were not changing by way of this ordinance, and that the intent of the charter was being honored with this action. She noted that the Planning Commission's taking up the duties formerly accomplished by the Architectural Review Committee essentially constituted a name change. She explained that the process outlined in Charter Appendix A to Section 8.1, section 38-151(A)(b)(8) would require two hearings before the Planning Commission to allow the public the same opportunity for participation and speech as when such a matter would have been heard before the Architectural Review Committee prior to being heard before the Planning Commission.
On a motion by Councilmember Barber, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and carried by the following vote, the City Council adopted the Planning Commission's recommendation and approved the first reading of the ordinance, passing it to its second reading:
AYES: 5 COUNCILMEMBERS: Barber, Garcia, Rasch, Smith, Williamson NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
City Council Minutes December 6, 2025
2 Adjourn to Closed Session
Closed Session
Public comment on the closed session was solicited but not received. The Council adjourned to closed session at 7:44 a.m.
2. Title: Public Employment Appointment Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1), Unrepresented Employees: Prospective City Manager Candidate Interviews Action: No reportable action taken
Adjournment
The Council adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Clementine Bonner Klein Tyller Williamson
City Clerk Mayor