Council Chamber,
580 Pacific St. and
Orca Conference Room,
735 Pacific St.
Monterey, California
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Council Special Meeting and
Closed Session
AMENDED AGENDA
Saturday, January 10, 2026
7:30 AM
Mayor
Tyller Williamson
Councilmembers
Kim Barber, District 1
Ed Smith, District 2
Jean Rasch, District 3
Gino Garcia, District 4
Interim City Manager
Lew Bauman
City Attorney
M. Christine Davi
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING:
• In-Person: At the meeting location listed above.
• Remotely via ZoomGov webinar:
o On a computer or smartphone: : https://monterey-org.zoomgov.com/j/1616037682 Zoom software must be up-to-date. For help, please use our Zoom Meeting Instructions. o By telephone dial 833-568-8864 (Toll Free), 669-254-5252 (CA) or 646-828-7666 (NY). If one number doesn’t work, please try another. Enter Webinar ID: 161 603 7682 # If asked for participant ID, press #. To raise your hand (or lower it), dial *9. Once called upon, dial *6 to unmute.
• This meeting will also stream live for viewing only on youtube.com/cityofmonterey (~10 second delay) and on Comcast Channel 25 (up to 90 second delay). • Written comment: Emailed comments to [email protected] sent no later than ½ hour before the start of the meeting (sooner preferred) are not read aloud but are made available to the Council and public at monterey.gov/submitted-comments.
PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES AND TIME LIMITS:
The total amount of time allocated for public comment on a particular issue and for each individual speaker is generally as follows:
1. Up to three minutes per speaker.
2. For regular City Council meetings, there are two 15-minute public comment periods, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Speakers may only comment during one session.
3. The total time allocated for public comment:
a. 30 minutes per item – Public Appearance and Public Hearing items b. 15 minutes per item – All other items (including, but not limited to, Consent, Closed Session, Presentations, and Requests to Agendize)
At the time an item is considered, the Mayor will ask those attending the meeting in person to line up at the podium or raise their hands, and for remote participants to use *9 on the telephone or the “raise hand” function in Zoom, if they wish to address the City Council. The maximum amount of time for each person to speak and the total amount of time allotted for each item will be determined based on the number of people indicating an interest in speaking and the amount of business to be conducted on the agenda. In exceptional circumstances and when necessary to ensure a full opportunity for public input, the Mayor may, with the legislative body’s consent, adjust the amount of time allowed for public input and/or the time allotted for each speaker.
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE: Pursuant to the Levine Act (Govt. Code §84308), any party to a permit, license, contract, or other entitlement before the Council is required to disclose on the record any contribution, including aggregated contributions, of more than $500 made by the party or the party's agents within the preceding 12 months to any City official. Participants and agents are requested to make this disclosure as well. The disclosure must include the name of the party, participant, or agent, and any other person making the contribution; the name of the recipient, the amount of the contribution, and the date the contribution was made. 1/10/2026 7:30:00 AM
2 MORNING SESSION: 7:30 a.m.
Call to Order
Consent Agenda
All matters listed under Consent Agenda are routine and will be adopted by one motion unless a member of the City Council or the public requests discussion or a separate vote.
Consent: Resolutions
A resolution is an expression of opinion or evidence of a decision made by the City Council and often relates to administrative business of the City. Resolutions generally become effective immediately upon adoption.
1. Adopt a Resolution Ratifying the Acting City Manager’s Proclamation of a Local Emergency Related to the December 2025 Storms (Order 25-001) (Exempt from CEQA Per Article 18, Section 15269.c)
End of Consent Agenda
Adjourn to Closed Session
The City Council will take public comments on closed session items in the Council Chamber before convening to closed session in the Orca Conference Room.
2. Public Employment Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1), Unrepresented Employees: Prospective City Manager Candidate Interviews (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
3. Public Employee Appointment Pursuant to Government Code section 54957(b)(1) - City Manager (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
4. Conference with Labor Negotiator Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 Unrepresented Employee: Prospective City Manager
Agency Negotiator: Valerie Phillips (Bob Murray & Associates) (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Announcements from Closed Session
Adjournment
Writings distributed for discussion or consideration on these matters within 72 hours prior to the meeting, pursuant to Government Code § 54957.5, are available at: monterey.gov/submitted-comments and in the City Manager’s Office at 580 Pacific St., Room 1, Monterey, CA 93940 during regular business hours. All comments and materials provided to the Council become part of the public record. Members of the public who comment in any fashion on an agenda item may be subject to the Levine Act which requires disclosure of campaign contributions of more than $500 to an officer of the City within the preceding 12 months.
INTERPRETATION: The Monterey City Council invites and encourages public participation at its meetings.
Requests for language interpretation may be made by contacting the City Clerk at [email protected] or 831-646-3935. The City Clerk will make every effort to accommodate requests for interpreter assistance.
Requests should be made as soon as possible in advance of any meeting of the City Council. The City is committed to addressing language interpretation requests swiftly in order to maximize public participation. 1/10/2026 7:30:00 AM
3 ACCESSIBILITY: The City of Monterey is committed to including people with disabilities in all of its services, programs and activities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, including to coordinate the use of a hearing device, please contact [email protected] or (831) 646-3935. Notification 30+ hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting [28 CFR 35.102-
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CITY OF MONTEREY 24-HOUR SUGGESTION HOTLINES: (831) 646-3799 or [email protected] Upcoming city meetings are listed at monterey.gov/agendas For more information, call (831) 646-3935 Council
Agenda Report
FROM: Nat Rojanasathira, Assistant City Manager
Prepared By: Mark Ackermann, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Ratifying the Acting City Manager’s Proclamation of a Local Emergency Related to the December 2025 Storms (Order 25-001) (Exempt from CEQA Per Article 18, Section 15269.c)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt a Resolution ratifying the Acting City Manager’s Proclamation of a Local Emergency related to the December 2025 storms.
VALUE DRIVERS:
In collaboration with our community partners, work to improve the quality of life of all of our community members by fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion; championing equitable access to affordable housing; and maintaining a safe environment.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
Monterey City Code section 11-14(b) requires the City Council to ratify the City Manager’s proclamation of a local emergency within seven days, and every 14 days thereafter until conditions warrant termination of the emergency status. When the emergency conditions cease to exist, the City Council shall terminate the local emergency. By its own terms, the City Manager’s emergency declaration automatically terminated on January 4, 2026.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT (LEVINE ACT) APPLIES: No FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The City Council’s ratification of the City Manager’s Proclamation of a Local Emergency may allow the City to recover some of its storm-related expenses if State and Federal resources should become available.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
The City of Monterey Planning Office determined the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (Article 18, Section 15269.c) because the City is adopting a Resolution declaring a local emergency related to inclement weather. Specific actions are needed to prevent or mitigate the conditions cause by the storm. The actions proposed are immediate actions and are necessary to protect the health and safety of the City’s citizens.
Date: 1/10/2026
Item No.: 1.
Council Special Meeting, 1/10/2026, Item No. 1., Item Page 1, Packet Page 4 №10/24
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
The Council could choose not to ratify the attached proclamation declaring a local emergency; however this would likely preclude the City from receiving any potential financial assistance from state and/or federal authorities related to this weather event.
DISCUSSION:
Overview
Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency on December 24, 2025 in six counties, not including Monterey County, due to high intensity rainfall impacting much of the state. City staff has been working with our State elected officials to advocate for adding the Monterey to the Governor’s declaration.
On December 23, 2025, the Acting City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services of the City of Monterey, activated the Emergency Operations Center (“EOC”) in anticipation of an atmospheric river weather event that posed a significant threat to life and property in the City and neighboring communities. On December 24, 2025, the Acting City Manager declared a local emergency and requested aid from the County of Monterey.
Throughout the event and over the past three weeks, City staff have been in constant contact with representatives from the California Department of Parks and Recreation (California State Parks) and the County of Monterey’s Department of Emergency Management to monitor and provide updates on the situation and to request emergency evaluation by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and other state representatives to implement immediate repairs to ensure public safety and prevent further damage to public property.
In addition, the City Manager’s Office has coordinated with the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), Senator John Laird, and Assemblymember Dawn Addis.
Damages
The atmospheric river event resulted in damage to the causeway to Monterey Municipal Wharf No. 1, including continuing significant erosion and approximately six feet of undercutting of the area along the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail, impacting State of California property and access to the Monterey State Historic Park, as well as the Old Custom House (California Historical Landmark No. 1) and Wharf 1.
On December 24, 2025, a timber pile underneath a finger pier on Municipal Wharf No. 1 collapsed due to the storm and is in urgent need of repair. The area of the decking that was supported by that pile remains in place but now bridges a longer span and has reduced weight capacity. The deck area above the damaged pile is cordoned off for pedestrian safety in an abundance of caution.
On December 29, 2025, it was also discovered that a part of decking on Municipal Wharf No. 1 collapsed onto the fire suppression system piping underneath. Temporary repairs to the area have been made to ensure safety.
Additional storms beginning on December 31, 2025 brought more rain, high winds, and a high tide event due to the full moon, known as a “King Tide” event, which increased tides by and Council Special Meeting, 1/10/2026, Item No. 1., Item Page 2, Packet Page 5 №10/24
estimated 6.6 feet, 6.8 feet, and 7 feet. This continued to impact the City of Monterey, resulting in downed trees, localized flooding, additional power outages, and impacts to the community.
The State of California has cordoned off a large section of the causeway which is located on state property and the City has cordoned off portions adjacent to the causeway on City property and sections of Wharf 1 to ensure public safety.
The total cost of the damage to public property in the City of Monterey are so far estimated to be over $1.2 million.
NR/ma
Attachments: 1. Draft Resolution
2. Proclamation
Writings distributed for discussion or consideration on this matter within 72 hours prior to the meeting, pursuant to Government Code § 54957.5, will be made available at the following link:
https://monterey.org/Submitted-Comments
Council Special Meeting, 1/10/2026, Item No. 1., Item Page 3, Packet Page 6 RESOLUTION NO. __- ___ C.S.
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MONTEREY
RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER’S PROCLAMATION OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY RELATED TO THE DECEMBER 2025 STORMS (ORDER 25-001)
WHEREAS, Government Code section 8630 authorizes the City Council or an official designated by ordinance to proclaim the existence of a local emergency; WHEREAS, the City Manager is designated as the Director of Emergency Services pursuant to City Code section 11-1(a);
WHEREAS, City Code section 11-4(b)(4) empowers the Director of Emergency Services to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City is affected or likely to be affected by conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City caused by such conditions as flood or storm and the City Council is not in session, provided that the emergency is confirmed by the City Council in seven days; WHEREAS, Monterey City Code section 11-4(b)(9) states that the Director of Emergency Services shall have the power during a proclaimed emergency to make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property which are or may be affected by the emergency, including the temporary suspension of local ordinances and regulations, provided that such actions shall be confirmed at the earliest practical time by the City Council;
WHEREAS, an atmospheric river event started in the City on December 23, 2025 and resulted in heavy rainfalls, extremely high winds, downed trees, extensive power outages, coastal erosion and high surf hazards causing damage to public infrastructure and private property within the City of Monterey. The storm caused widespread power outages, property damage, and numerous calls for service;
WHEREAS, on December 23, 2025, the Acting City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services of the City of Monterey, activated the Emergency Operations Center (“EOC”) due to this impactful weather system and in anticipation of continued heavy rain, flooding, strong and damaging winds, power outages, coastal erosion, fallen trees, landslides and rockslides in hilly terrain. Flooding and fallen trees were a threat to life and property in the City and neighboring communities;
WHEREAS, on December 24, 2025, the Acting City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services of the City of Monterey, declared a local emergency and requested aid from the County of Monterey;
WHEREAS, the atmospheric river event resulted in damage to the causeway to Monterey Municipal Wharf No. 1, including continuing significant erosion and approximately six feet of undercutting of the area along the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail. This has impacts on State of California property and access to the Monterey State Historic Park, as well Council Special Meeting, 1/10/2026, Item No. 1., Item Page 4, Packet Page 7 2 as the Old Custom House, California Historical Landmark No. 1 and Wharf 1. During the storm event the Acting City Manager was in constant contact with representatives from the California Department of Parks and Recreation (California State Parks) and the County of Monterey’s Department of Emergency Management to monitor the situation and request emergency evaluation by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and other state representatives to implement immediate repairs;
WHEREAS, the current conditions create a situation that is a danger to public safety and property. This area is visited by thousands of people every day and if the causeway collapses it will create a significant threat to public safety for all of the people traveling along to recreation trail as well as significantly affect the ability to access Wharf I and will have a direct impact on the fiscal viability of the area.
WHEREAS, on December 24, 2025, a timber pile underneath a finger pier on Municipal Wharf No. 1 collapsed due to the winter storm and is in urgent need of repair. The area of the decking that was supported by that pile remains in place but now has to bridge a longer span and has reduced weight capacity;
WHEREAS, on December 29, 2025, it was discovered that a part of decking on Municipal Wharf No. 1 collapsed onto the fire suppression system piping underneath the Wharf deck as a result of the storm and was in urgent need of repair; WHEREAS, on December 31, 2025, additional storms included rain, high winds, and a high tide event due to the full moon, known as a “King Tide” event, increased tides by an estimated 6.6 feet, 6.8 feet, and 7 feet;
WHEREAS, on January 4, 2026, the additional storms and “King Tide” event resulted in localized flooding, additional power outages, and downed trees; WHEREAS, the State of California has cordoned off a large section of the causeway which is located on state property and the City has cordoned off portions adjacent to the causeway on City property and sections of Wharf 1 to ensure public safety; WHEREAS, the City of Monterey Planning Office determined the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (Article 18, Section 15269.c) because the City is adopting a Resolution declaring a local emergency related to inclement weather. Specific actions are needed to prevent or mitigate the conditions caused by the storm. The actions proposed are immediate actions and are necessary to protect the health and safety of the City’s citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MONTEREY, pursuant to City Code section 11-4(b)(4) and Government Code section 8630, that it hereby ratifies, confirms, and is in agreement with, and incorporates herein, the Proclamation made by the Acting City Manager declaring that a local emergency exists in the City of Monterey.
Council Special Meeting, 1/10/2026, Item No. 1., Item Page 5, Packet Page 8 3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MONTEREY, that this Resolution is effective retroactive to December 24, 2025. The emergency automatically terminated by its own terms on January 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MONTEREY this _____ day of _______, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS:
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
Mayor of said City
City Clerk thereof
Council Special Meeting, 1/10/2026, Item No. 1., Item Page 6, Packet Page 9 Exhibit A
Council Special Meeting, 1/10/2026, Item No. 1., Item Page 7, Packet Page 10 Council Special Meeting, 1/10/2026, Item No. 1., Item Page 8, Packet Page 11 Council Special Meeting, 1/10/2026, Item No. 1., Item Page 9, Packet Page 12