City of Pacific Grove Manager's Report - September 23, 2022

City Council

Actions taken by the City Council Regular meeting on September 21, 2022, include:

-Received Mayor’s Proclamation – Hispanic Heritage Month
-Approved minutes of the September 7, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting
-Received Check Register Report for August 2022
-Received the Core Revenue Report for August 2022
-Received League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo Summary
-Received Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments Board of Directors Meeting Minutes of June 15, 2022
-Received Monterey Salinas Transit Board of Director Meeting Minutes of July 11, 2022
-Received Community Survey Report
-Received report of emergency directives/modifications       
-Adopted Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) Revision #3 and authorized staff to certify the document in the California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS)
-Authorized the Mayor to sign an agreement with Harris & Associates, Inc. for the preparation and execution of the 6th Cycle Housing Element Environmental Review in an amount not to exceed $55,000
-Received Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Meeting Minutes: August 15, 2022 Special Meeting and August 15, 2022 Special Study Session
-Requested the City Attorney read the title of the ordinance; and voted to waive further reading of the ordinance; introduced and held first reading of an ordinance to amend the salary classification schedule; modify salary range for Police Officer and Police Sergeant; approved the amendment; and directed that a summary of a proposed ordinance be published as approved by the City Attorney
-Requested the City Attorney read the title of the ordinance; and voted to waive further reading of the ordinance; introduced and held first reading of an ordinance amending the FY22/23 Budget; directed that publication of the ordinance will be satisfied by publication of a summary approved by the City Attorney; and authorized Hi-Tech EVS, Inc. to make repairs to Fire Engine 6414 in an amount not to exceed $75,304.54 plus a 15% contingency
-Directed the City Attorney to return with a draft ordinance to clarify purchasing authorization procedures and resolution for approval of standard contracts
-Received Friends of Perkins Park report and encouraged staff to continue work with the Friends of Perkins Park to enhance existing park conditions utilizing donations received by the Friends
-Held a discussion regarding the 29 homeless residents that live in the City of Pacific Grove and the City’s efforts to address our unhoused residents and provided staff general direction on next steps
-Held a discussion regarding implementing an automatic funding mechanism for Fund 25 in the amount of $10,000 to sustain the TAKE PART Program and provided staff with direction

The agenda reports and supporting documents for all these actions are on the City’s website.  Details of the actions taken will also be available, upon completion and adoption of the meeting minutes, which will also be posted on the website.

The next Regular City Council Meeting is scheduled for October 5, 2022

City Clerk

Political Signs. The City Attorney has determined that the City's existing code in regard to a "political sign" time limit on posting is unenforceable because it is content based.  Therefore, candidates may post signs now without regard to the City's existing code on time limits.  The City Attorney will be reviewing potential amendments to the City sign code for the future.

Write-In Candidates. Write-In Candidates Filing Period opens September 12, 2022 and closes October 25, 2022!  Interested persons who did not file a Declaration of Candidacy and fulfill their nomination requirements to place their name on the ballot may run for office as a Write-In Candidate.  Write-In Candidates may not complete a Candidate Statement of Qualifications for the voter information guide and their names do not appear on the ballot.  There is a $25 filing fee for the nomination paper. Write-In votes will be counted and certified in the Statement of Votes only for qualified write-in candidates who file the required forms with the City Clerk. Please contact the City Clerk or her Deputy at 831-648-3109 for an appointment to obtain a packet!

Community Development Department

Meet your City Planners! Alex Othon, Laurel O’Halloran, and Joe Sidor (left to right)  City Planners are here to assist you.  The Planning Division is responsible for two primary functions:

Advance Planning: includes updating the City’s General Plan, Local Coastal Program, Zoning Code, and other documents that provide direction to the City's growth and future development;

Current Planning: Current planning involves implementation of the City adopted plans and regulations, and includes historic preservation, land use and architectural review processes. All plans for new construction or alterations are reviewed by the Planning Division for compliance and may be referred to the Zoning Administrator, Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Committee, and Planning Commission for review and action.

Focused General Plan Update. The Focused General Plan Update Request for Proposals (RFP) went live on Friday, September 16th.  For any questions, please contact the RFP Coordinator, Alex Othon, at 831-648-3183 or [email protected].

The RFP includes the preparation of a Focused General Plan Update, Zoning Code & Map(s) Update, Objective Design & Development Standards (ODDS), and Conduct Associated Environmental Review & CEQA Document Preparation.  For more information, please click the link below:  https://www.cityofpacificgrove.org/bid_detail_T7_R110.php

California Seltzer. Californaiseltzer@loverspoint celebrated their Ribbon cutting ceremony and Grand opening last weekend with a huge welcoming crowd.  Here’s a little bit of information about the owners from the website: California Seltzer Co @ Lover’s Point – California Seltzer Co.  This site sat empty for over 6 years and the City is so happy to welcome this business here!

Public Works

NEW Docent Diaries Quarterly Newsletter - Now Available! Our volunteer docents have so much to share about the history and current happenings at the Point Pinos Lighthouse!  Check out  "The Docent Diaries of the Point Pinos Lighthouse,"  a quarterly newsletter, where these stories will come to light! The newsletter is available on the City's Point Pinos Lighthouse webpage:  www.cityofpg.org/lighthouse. Read the latest issue, Volume II, Number 4, today!

The Pacific Grove Webelo Scouts Meet with the City Arborist. Our City Arborist, Albert Weisfuss, met with the local Webelo Scouts pack #126 in George Washington Park to help them meet their "Into the Woods" badge requirement. Al helped the 14 scouts identify 2 groups of trees, 4 native trees, and 4 native plants. He also helped explain how plants and trees are important to our ecosystem and how the growth rings of a tree trunk tell it's life story!

Click here for More Information