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CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 6:00 P.M.
Council Chamber – City Hall – 300 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA The Council will not begin consideration of any item on this agenda later than 10:00 p.m. unless such consideration is approved. Any items on this agenda not considered this evening will be continued to a future meeting.
Copies of the agenda packet are available for review at the Pacific Grove Library, in the Finance Department, and electronically at www.cityofpacificgrove.org/agendas
. The most effective method of communication with the City Council is by sending an email to [email protected]
. In order to allow the City Council adequate time to review communication related to an agenda item, it is recommended that the communication be sent no later than 9:00 AM on the day prior to the City Council meeting. Public comments received through this email address by noon on the day of the meeting will be posted with the corresponding agenda item.
Under the Brown Act, public comment for matters on the agenda must relate to that agenda item and public comments for matters not on the agenda must relate to the subject matter jurisdiction of this legislative body. This is a warning that if a member of the public attending this meeting remotely or in-person violates the Brown Act by failing to comply with these requirements of the Brown Act, then the Mayor or Chair may request that speaker be muted. If a member of the public attending this meeting in-person engages in disruptive behavior that disturbs the orderly conduct of the meeting, they may be removed from the meeting after a warning, pursuant to Council Policy 000-17.
PACIFIC GROVE COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE CONDUCTED IN PERSON AT CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER AND VIRTUALLY.
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AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Smith
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
2. PRESENTATIONS
A.
Mayor's Proclamation: Jacob's Heart
Reference:
Nick Smith, Mayor
Recommended Action:
Present proclamation.
CEQA:
Does not constitute a Project per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 B.
Mayor's Proclamation: Hispanic Heritage Month
Reference:
Nick Smith, Mayor
Recommended Action:
Present proclamation.
CEQA:
Does not constitute a Project per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 C.
Mayor's Proclamation: National Voter Registration Day
Reference:
Nick Smith, Mayor
Recommended Action:
Present proclamation.
CEQA:
Does not constitute a Project per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378
3. COUNCIL AND STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS (City-Related Items Only) A.
Report on Closed Session by City Attorney
B.
Other
4. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
General Public Comment must deal with matters subject to the jurisdiction of the City and the Council that are not on the Regular Agenda. This is the appropriate place to comment as to items on the Consent Agenda, only if you do not wish to have the item pulled for individual consideration by the Council. Comments from the public will be limited to three minutes and will not receive Council action. Comments regarding items on the Regular Agenda shall be heard prior to Council’s consideration of such items at the time such items are called. Whenever possible, written correspondence should be submitted to the Council in advance of the meeting, to provide adequate time for its consideration.
A.
Written General Public Comment
1. Written General Public Comment
Reference:
Staphany Arriola, Management Analyst
Recommended Action:
CEQA:
CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda deals with routine and non-controversial matters, and may include action on resolutions, ordinances, or other public hearings for which testimony is not anticipated. The vote on the Consent Agenda shall apply to each item that has not been removed. Any member of Council, staff, or the public may remove an item from the Consent Agenda for individual consideration. When items are pulled for discussion, they will be automatically placed at the end of their respective section within the Regular Agenda. One motion shall be made to adopt all non-removed items on the Consent Agenda.
5. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Items pulled from this section will be placed under 12. Unfinished and Ongoing Business A.
Minutes of the August 20, 2025 City Council Special and Regular Meetings Reference:
Sandra Kandell, City Clerk
Recommended Action:
Approve the minutes.
CEQA:
Does not constitute a Project per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378
6. RESOLUTIONS
Items pulled from this section will be placed under 12. Unfinished and Ongoing Business or 13. New Business
7. ORDINANCES
Items pulled from this section will be placed under 11. Public Hearings
8. REPORTS – INFORMATION ONLY
Items pulled from this section will be placed under 12. Unfinished and Ongoing Business or 13. New Business
9. REPORTS – REQUIRING ACTION
Items pulled from this section will be placed under 12. Unfinished and Ongoing Business or 13. New Business
10. MEETING MINUTES OF COMMISSIONS, BOARDS, AND COMMITTEES Items pulled from this section will be placed under 13. New Business A.
Architectural Review Board Minutes: April 8, 2025, May 13, 2025, June 10, 2025, July 8, 2025 Reference:
Anna Bornstein, Associate Planner
Recommended Action:
Receive the minutes.
CEQA:
Does not constitute a Project per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378
REGULAR AGENDA
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS
For public hearings involving a quasi-judicial determination by the Council, the proponent of an item may be given 10 minutes to speak and others in support of the proponent’s position may be given three minutes each. A designated spokesperson for opposition to the item may be given 10 minutes to speak and all others in opposition may be given three minutes each. Very brief rebuttal and surrebuttal may be allowed in the sole discretion of the Council. In public hearings not involving a quasi-judicial determination by the Council, all persons may be given three minutes to speak on the matter.
A.
Central, Grand & Fountain Avenue Street Improvements Project Reference:
Daniel Gho, Public Works Director/Deputy City Manager
Recommended Action:
Request the City Attorney to read the title of the Proposed Ordinance Motion to waive further reading of the ordinance.
Introduce and hold the first reading of the Proposed Ordinance Amending the Operating and Capital Projects Budget for FY25/26 Direct a summary of a proposed Ordinance to be published as approved by the City Attorney.
Accept payment by Kimpton Hotel Developers in an amount of $86,976.12, per condition #11 of the Architectural and Use Permit to be harnessed for the street improvements Authorize Agreement with Monterey Peninsula Engineering (MPE) for the Central, Grand and Fountain Avenue Street Improvement Project for an amount not to exceed $657,634 plus a 10% contingency.
CEQA:
Categorical Exemption, CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Class I, Existing Facilities B.
Resolution amending Resolution No. 25-020 for dates of circulation of Referendum Petition and First Reading of Ordinance Repealing Ordinance No. 25-007 Increasing the Compensation of the Mayor and City Councilmembers Reference:
Brian Pierik, City Attorney
Recommended Action:
Motion to adopt Resolution Amending Resolution No. 25-020 Accepting the Certification of Sufficiency of the Referendum Against Ordinance No. 25-007 Increasing the Compensation of the Mayor and City Councilmembers; Request the City Attorney to read the title of the Ordinance Repealing Ordinance No. 25-007 Increasing the Compensation of the Mayor and City Councilmembers:
Motion to waive further reading of the Ordinance;
Introduce and hold the first reading of an Ordinance Repealing Ordinance No. 25-007 Increasing the Compensation of the Mayor and City Councilmembers.
Direct that publication of the Ordinance will be satisfied by publication of a summary approved by the City Attorney.
CEQA:
Does not constitute a Project per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378
12. UNFINISHED AND ONGOING BUSINESS
A.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework and Policy
This item was continued from the Council's August 20, 2025 Regular Meeting Agenda.
Reference:
Chaps Poduri, Councilmember
Recommended Action:
Motion to direct the City Manager to initiate the development of a comprehensive City-wide Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework and Policy, for Council review and adoption.
CEQA:
Does not constitute a Project per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 B.
"Dancing Monarchs" Art Donation Location Selection
Reference:
George Fuerst, Environmental Program Manager
Recommended Action:
Provide direction regarding the site selection for the sculpture.
Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
CEQA:
Categorical Exemption, CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land
13. NEW BUSINESS
A.
League of California Cities (LoCC) Annual Conference Voting Delegate and Alternate(s) Reference:
Staphany Arriola, Management Analyst (Confidential)
Recommended Action:
Discuss, designate, and adopt by resolution a voting delegate and up to two alternates to represent the City on policy matters at the League of California Cities (LoCC) Annual Conference on October 8-10 in Long Beach, California.
Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
CEQA:
Does not constitute a Project per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378
14. FULL PRESENTATIONS
A.
3CE Presentation by Community Relations Manager Sophia Schwirzke Reference:
Sophia Schwirzke, Community Relations Manager
Recommended Action:
Receive the presentation.
CEQA:
Does not constitute a Project per California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378
15. CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
NOTICE OF ADA COMPLIANCE: Pursuant to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Codified At 42 United States Code Section 12101 and 28 Code of Federal Regulations Part 35), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the City of Pacific Grove does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, age or sexual orientation in the provision of any services, programs, or activities. The City of Pacific Grove does not discriminate against persons with disabilities. City Hall is an accessible facility. A limited number of assisted listening devices will be available at this meeting. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting or provide the requested agenda format.