MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
CITY OF MONTEREY
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
4:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 580 PACIFIC ST.
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Councilmembers
Present: Barber, Garcia, Rasch, Smith, Williamson
Absent: None
City Staff
Present:
Interim City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Finance Director, Community Development Director, Police Chief, Public Works Director, Parks and Recreation Director, City Clerk, Assistant Fire Chief, General Services Superintendent, Recreation Manager, Park Operations Manager, Management Analyst (City Manager's Office), Engineering Projects Manager, Environmental Regulations Analyst, Facility Worker (Monterey Sports Center)
AFTERNOON SESSION
Call to Order
Mayor Williamson called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. City Clerk Klein called the roll with the Council present as indicated above.
Adjourn to Closed Session
Public comment on the closed session was solicited but not received. The Council adjourned to closed session at 4:08 p.m.
Closed Session
1. Conference with Legal Counsel, Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) (One Case) (Not a Project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: No reportable action taken
The Council recessed at 4:50 p.m. and reconvened at 4:53 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Councilmember Rasch led the Pledge.
Announcements from Closed Session
Assistant City Manager Rojanasathira reported out from the closed session as indicated in the action recorded for closed session item 1, above.
Consent Agenda
Public comment on the Consent Items was solicited but not received.
City Council Minutes January 28, 2026
2 On a motion by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Rasch, and carried by the following vote, the City Council approved the Consent Agenda except Item 2:
AYES: 5 COUNCILMEMBERS: Barber, Garcia, Rasch, Smith, Williamson NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
Consent: Resolutions
2. Accept Grant Funds from the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Authorize Grant Agreement for Implementation of Monterey’s Citywide Fuel Reduction Project, Authorize an Increase in FY27 and FY28 Annual Revenues by $475,000, Appropriate Grant Funds, and Appropriate l Matching Funds of $100,000 (Approved Supplemental Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration) Action: Pulled from Consent; Adopted Resolution No. 26-009 C.S.
Park Operations Manager Norton gave the staff presentation and answered Councilmembers' questions.
Public comment was received from: Adam Pinterits of the Monterey County Association of Realtors, who spoke in support of accepting the grant funds, and asked to prioritize residential neighborhoods particularly at risk and to document that the risk has been reduced; Nina Beety, who spoke against the proposal, citing the need to preserve vegetation and habitat; and Esther Malkin, who urged the City to include Laguna Grande Park in its fire mitigation efforts.
On question from the Council, Park Operations Manager Norton explained that the Parks division endeavors to keep a ground fire from turning into a crown fire, by reducing "ladder fuels," and that they follow all recommendations of Cal Fire and Monterey Fire Department. He said that Monterey had done a lot of work on its side of Laguna Grande Park, and that City of Seaside had money set aside for their work and was trying to get started on their side. Fire Chief Moore explained that California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ("Cal Fire") has expertise in the field and provided details about the City's fire prevention efforts, including the use of vegetation management, defensible space inspection, and early recognition cameras. He explained that Cal Fire severity zones are prioritized in order of severity and provided details about vegetation management around the hospital and care facilities based on severity of the zones.
On a motion by Councilmember Rasch, seconded by Councilmember Barber, and carried by the following vote, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-009 C.S.:
AYES: 5 COUNCILMEMBERS: Barber, Garcia, Rasch, Smith, Williamson NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
3. Adopt New Resolution of Intention to Modify the Monterey County Tourism Improvement District (MCTID) Management District Plan to Add the City of Sand City to the District (Not a Project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 26-010 C.S.
End of Consent Agenda
Afternoon Session Items
City Council Minutes January 28, 2026
3 Public Appearance
4. Receive a Presentation on the Draft Stormwater Utility Fee Study Results and Authorize Staff to Initiate the Process for Fee Adoption (Not a Project Under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Directed staff to initiate a Proposition 218 process for the proposed adoption of a stormwater utility fee
City Engineer/Deputy Public Works Director Easterling gave the staff presentation together with Chris Coulter of SCI Consultants, and answered Councilmembers' questions.
Public comment was received from: Lori Mazzuca and Tom Reeves, who both asked questions.
On question from the Council, relating to questions received from the public: Community Development Director Cole said that there was no direct relationship between the operations and maintenance of storm drain pipes and the Local Coastal Plan ("LCP"), but that permitting would revert to the City once it had a certified LCP; City Engineer/Deputy Public Works Director Easterling provided the previous fee amount and said that if the new proposed fee were not approved, the City would still follow regulatory requirements and the work would have to be financed out of the general fund; and City Attorney Davi said that going through the Proposition 218 process was required by law as part of adjusting the rates.
On a motion by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Garcia, and carried by the following vote, the City Council directed staff to initiate the process for stormwater fee adoption:
AYES: 5 COUNCILMEMBERS: Barber, Garcia, Rasch, Smith, Williamson NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
5. Update on the Budget Deficit, Deficit Strategies, Chilled (Authorized but Unfunded) Positions, and Provide Direction on Whether to Place Ballot Measures on the June 2026 Election Ballot (Not a Project Under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Action: Directed staff to prepare materials for placing measures for a 0.375% sales tax with a nine-year sunset, and a parking tax of 8%, on the June 2026 ballot Interim City Manager Bauman, Finance Director King, and Assistant City Manager Rojanasathira gave the staff presentation and answered Councilmembers' questions. During the presentation, Councilmember Barber left the Chamber from 6:05 p.m. to 6:07 p.m.
Public comment on the matter was solicited and not received.
The Council discussed the matter. It was discussed whether a parking tax measure would be successful, whether it should be placed on the ballot, and if so, what percentage parking tax should be proposed. It was stated that there are concerns about moving forward with an admissions tax for the June election, but that the City could continue to consider it for possible placement on the November ballot.
On a motion by Mayor Williamson, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and carried by the following vote, the City Council directed staff to prepare materials for placing measures for a
0.375% sales tax with a nine-year sunset, and a parking tax of 8%, on the June 2026 ballot:
AYES: 5 COUNCILMEMBERS: Barber, Garcia, Rasch, Smith, Williamson NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: (None)
City Council Minutes January 28, 2026
4 Adjournment
The Council adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Clementine Bonner Klein Tyller Williamson
City Clerk Mayor