Council Study Session
Regular MeetingMonterey, CA · October 29, 2014
Minutes
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
CITY OF MONTEREY
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Councilmembers
Present: Councilmembers Downey, Haffa, Selfridge, Sollecito, Della Sala
Absent: None
City Staff City Manager, City Attorney, Director of Information Resources/City Clerk,
Present: Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Plans and Public Works,
Community Services Director, Finance Director, Police Chief, Chief of
Planning, Engineering, and Environmental Compliance, Principal Planners,
Communications and Outreach Manager
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Della Sala called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Della Sala opened the floor for public comments on items not on the agenda. Sam
Rashkin submitted a letter to the City Council, saying that there is a cultural issue within the
City where some appointed officials are inserting their personal bias into the process. He said
we need to establish common ground and move forward. On question from Councilmember
Downey, Mr. Rashkin said that he has an expired real estate license. Having no further
requests to speak, Mayor Della Sala closed public comments.
STUDY SESSION
1. Receive Report from Economic Development Specialist on the Overall Community Benefits of
Nurturing a Healthy Business District and What Incentives Cities Can Offer to Stimulate
Economic Growth (Plans & Public Works - 208-03)
Action: Received and discussed report
Deputy City Manager Pick introduced the item, and introduced Ron Golem of BAE Urban
Economics, who presented the report on the overall community benefits of nurturing a healthy
business district.
Councilmember Haffa arrived at 4:25 p.m.
Mr. Golem summarized saying that there are a range of potential benefits from revitalizing the
City's commercial districts, and a variety of opportunities to enhance districts should be
pursued. He answered Councilmembers' questions.
Mayor Della Sala opened public comments on the item. Luis Osorio said that the presentation
was great. He said that the City is at a crossroads, and the Downtown Plan has a great element
in its public spaces. He suggested giving direction to staff and the Planning Commission to
improve the public spaces. Having no further requests to speak, Mayor Della Sala closed public
comments on the item.
City Council Minutes Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Councilmember Downey addressed her comments to the Planning Commission and Planning
staff, saying that the work that has been done is visionary and expressing her appreciation for
it. She said that what is happening now are the tangible results of that vision.
Councilmember Haffa said that the Transit Plaza and Stanton Center present a challenge that
he would like to focus on. He asked if Council could politically work with CalAm and others to
change the water transfer rules. He said he would also like to focus on Monterey's past as the
first Capital and as a Spanish City. He asked that the staff focus on giving the Conference
Center a unique look.
Mayor Della Sala said that staff and he met with the Conference Center architects and
emphasized the great expectations held by the City.
Councilmember Selfridge said that she is hoping that the Planning Commission will use the
historic district in a way that we can promote it. Mayor Della Sala suggested that public art
might be an avenue for that.
ADJOURNMENT
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Della Sala adjourned the
meeting at 4:57 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Bonnie Gawf Chuck Della Sala
Director of Information Resources / City Clerk Mayor
2
Agenda
City Council
City Council Agenda Chuck Della Sala, Mayor
Council Study Session Libby Downey, Councilmember
Alan Haffa, Councilmember
Monterey City Council Nancy Selfridge, Councilmember
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 Frank Sollecito, Councilmember
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. City Manager
Council Chamber
Michael McCarthy
Few Memorial Hall of Records
Monterey, California
CALL TO ORDER
PUBLIC COMMENTS
PUBLIC COMMENTS allows you, the public, to speak for a maximum of three minutes on any
subject which is within the jurisdiction of the Monterey City Council and which is not on the
agenda. Any person or group desiring to bring an item to the attention of the City Council may do
so by addressing the Council during Public Comments or by addressing a letter of explanation to:
City Clerk, City Hall, Monterey, CA 93940. The appropriate staff person will contact the sender
concerning the details. NOTE: Public Comments are taken during the afternoon session and
continued at the evening session. Individuals may choose to speak once for up to three minutes at
either session, but not both.
STUDY SESSION
STUDY SESSION items are used to provide information to the City Council and answer their
questions to clarify issues. Study Sessions provide a setting for informal discussions between
staff, consultants, board, commission, committee members and the City Council regarding specific
programs, projects or policies. Council does not take formal action on the items.
1. Receive Report from Economic Development Specialist on the Overall Community
Benefits of Nurturing a Healthy Business District and What Incentives Cities Can Offer to
Stimulate Economic Growth (Plans & Public Works - 208-03)
ADJOURNMENT
Members of the public have the right to address the City Council on any item on the Agenda, before or
during its consideration [G.C. §54954.3(a)]. The Mayor will formally open the floor for public comment on
items such as "Public Appearance" and "Public Hearings." If you wish to speak to items in any other
categories, for example "Consent Agenda," please advise the City Clerk or the Mayor prior to the
Council's action on that item, and you will be recognized. Notification as much in advance as possible is
appreciated.
The City Council meeting packet may be reviewed by the public in the Library or the City Clerk's Office.
Any writings or documents pertaining to an open session item provided to a majority of the City Council
less than 72 hours prior to the meeting, shall be made available for public inspection at the front counter
at the City Clerk's Office, Room 6 at City Hall, Madison & Pacific Streets, Monterey, California 93940
during normal business hours.
Information distributed to the Council at the Council meeting becomes part of the public record. A copy of
written material, pictures, etc. should be provided for this purpose.
City Council Meetings are cable cast live and videotaped for replay on Monterey's Government Access
Channel 25 by Access Monterey Peninsula (AMP).
CITY OF MONTEREY'S 24-HOUR SUGGESTION HOTLINES:
Voicemail: (831) 646-3799
Fax: (831) 646-3793
Email: suggest@monterey.org
WebPage: http://www.monterey.org
The City of Monterey is committed to including the disabled 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, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (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 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II]. Later requests will
be accommodated to the extent feasible. For communication-related assistance, dial 711 to use
the California Relay Service (CRS) to speak to City offices. CRS offers free text-to-speech, speech-
to-speech, and Spanish-language services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you require a hearing
amplification device to attend a meeting, dial 711 to use CRS to talk to the City Clerk's Office at
(831) 646-3935 to coordinate use of a device.
2
Get email alerts for Monterey
A daily email when new agendas and minutes are posted.