City Administrator Friday (Thursday Edition) Letter
November 10, 2022
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Focus on the safety and well-being of the community
Art of Good Government - Communication
- Thanks and congratulations to all who ran for Council seats. Looking forward to working with you.
- Reminder tomorrow WWI Arch for Veterans Day bell ringing and ceremony. Mayor Potter speaking.
- Thank the staff for mopping up after the storm.
- Housing ad hoc Committee meeting on Thursday (11.17.22) at 5:30 pm in person and virtual. How do we create the plan?
- Thanks to the PC for last night’s meeting – seven (7) individual development projects.
- Special and unexpected guests crash the vlog!
- Get vaccinated get boosted.
- Take good care.
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All offices, except Public Safety, will be closed on Friday, November 11 for Veteran's Day. Offices will reopen on Monday, November 14. |
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The City of Carmel and American Legion Post 512 invite you to the annual Veteran's Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11 at 11:00 am.
This year Post 512 is accepting donations on behalf of Monterey County Veterans. They are asking for packaged new underwear and socks for unhoused veterans and warm winter clothing for our Veteran families in need. They are accepting both new and gently used clean clothing for both adults and children. Donations can be dropped off at the ceremony on Friday or at the Post at Dolores & 8th (behind the Red Cross on Dolores).
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General Election
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
County of Monterey
Semi-Final Official Results Report
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The above preliminary election results for Mayor and two Council Members have not been certified as of this date. The Monterey County Elections Department will have certified results by December 8, 2022, thirty (30) days after the election.
The next election results update will be posted on the Monterey County Elections website Friday, November 11. If you would like to check out the latest numbers, click on the button below.
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Verizon litigation and wireless telecommunications ordinance
We have mentioned in our previous Letters that the City was successful in its Motion to dismiss the lawsuit that Verizon filed challenging the City Council’s decision to deny the Verizon application to install cell facilities at 9th and Carmelo and that Verizon filed an appeal from that court ruling. We expect the Court will be issuing an Administrative Order in that case which will defer the need for filing of appellate briefs by the parties for six months.
We also want to update you on the status of the City’s work on a draft telecommunication ordinance to update the City’s Municipal Code. Brandon Swanson (Director of Community Development) and Gail Karish (special counsel for the City) have contacted Andrew Campanelli who is an attorney retained by a group of residents to provide input on a draft telecommunications ordinance. In addition, the City intends to seek input from stakeholders and residents in the community who are interested in expressing their views about a draft telecommunications ordinance. We will publish a draft calendar for the ordinance in the near future.
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The Administration department is excited to introduce Jane Hogan, our new accountant!
Jane joined the team on November 1st with a strong accounting background that includes tax accounting and a Masters in Accounting from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Jane has lived and worked in the area for several years, previously working in Monterey for seven years. She enjoys staying busy with her children in Carmel Valley and taking in the views while roller-skating.
Join us in giving her a warm welcome to the Village!
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The City's Traffic Safety Committee ...
- Thought it was still Halloween
- Got excited about the circus being in town
- Celebrated graduating from Clown College
- Decided to liven up the tour of inspection
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This Week in Public Works |
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First Storm of the Season
The first storm of the winter blew across California this week but caused only very minor damage in our Village, including a flooded park, some broken tree limbs, and undesirable beach conditions. According to the unofficial rain gauge at the Public Works Yard, the storm brought a much-welcomed 2.41 inches of rain over three days.
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Speaking of Storms...
Our drainage system is made up of swales, concrete channels, culverts, pipes, and natural channels. Public Works crews inspect and clear the system to ensure that it continues functioning properly during and after storm events. This week, Public Works cleared out sections of drainage channels located in the dead end at Fourth Avenue and Lincoln Street and along Rio Road.
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Landfill Tour
Did you know that Regen Monterey, formerly known as the Monterey Regional Waste Management District, has a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) made up of staff from the jurisdictions that the landfill serves, as well as staff from waste haulers so that we can coordinate regionally to make our waste reduction programs more effective?
Instead of our usual monthly meeting, the TAC got a tour of the landfill, including areas where waste is sorted, diverted for reuse, and where landfill gas is collected and converted to energy. We learned that the Landfill Gas to Energy Facility generates about five megawatts of clean energy (enough to power 2,400 homes), and captures over 9,000 tons of methane per year!
The tour also included meeting Carmen, a 13-year-old Harris’s hawk, who is part of a falconry program to drive seagulls and other birds away from the landfill. (The first photograph shows how many birds can be present at the landfill when hawks are not circling around!) This provides a holistic and environmentally-friendly alternative to using chemicals and other harmful deterrents.
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Lighting Fixture Replacement
Facilities Maintenance replaced aging lighting fixtures at our Devendorf Park and First Murphy Park bathrooms with energy-efficient LED fixtures this week. Not only do the new fixtures use a fraction of the energy that the older fixtures used, they are also brighter and longer-lasting.
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Bar-B-Que Grill Replacement |
Facilities Maintenance also replaced broken bar-g-que grills at Vista Lobos Park. It seems that no two days are ever the same in Facility Maintenance! |
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Library & Community Activities News |
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If you need a reason to begin your holiday or just love to shop shopping then next Saturday, November 19, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm is your day.
Craftapolooza! was such a big hit last year that we brought the line-up back: the City of Carmel's 51st Homecrafters' Marketplace; All Saints' Fine Arts & Crafts Fair, Hot Lunch & more; Church of the Wayfarer Annual Holiday Faire & Lunch; and we even added to the line-up with the Carmel Woman's Club Annual Artisan Event.
Just a reminder that the north lot of Sunset Center (8th between Mission & San Carlos) will close to parking at 12:01 am Saturday morning so that we can start letting our vendors in at 5:30 am.
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Community Planning & Building News |
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Housing Ad Hoc Committee Public Meeting - November 17th, 5:30 pm
You're invited to a Housing Element Update Community Workshop on Thursday, November 17th from 5:30 to 7:00 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall. The workshop agenda will include an introduction to the Housing Ad-Hoc Committee; an overview of the City's upcoming Housing Element Update presented by City staff; and a "listening session" where members of the public will be given an opportunity to address the Ad-Hoc Committee on matters related to Housing in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The workshop will be held hybrid-style with in-person and virtual participation welcome.
Please come join us and "GET INVOLVED".
Zoom info:
Join Zoom Meeting by computer:
Meeting ID: 851 7783 7031
Passcode: 503768
Join Zoom Meeting by phone:
Meeting ID: 851 7783 7031
Passcode: 503768
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Upcoming Meetings:
Climate Committee - Thursday, November 17 - CANCELED
Housing ad hoc Committee - Thursday, November 17 @ 5:30 pm
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Many thanks to staff again this week for keeping the Village safe during and after the rain event, and preparing for tomorrow's Veterans Day event - your efforts are recognized and appreciated.
As we move out of the election season please accept my thanks that everyone (mostly) remained civil and considerate. My expectation is that this will continue as we welcome back Mayor Potter and Council Member Baron, and welcome Council Member-elect Dramov.
Think good thoughts on Sunday morning as I'll be again running the Monterey Bay Half Marathon (gun time is 6:50 am). This will explain my gentle and awkward walking early next week. Take good care. CR.
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