City Council

City Council Meeting January 18, 2023 – Report on Closed Session:
Report on Closed Session by City Attorney
Conference with Legal Counsel - Initiation of Litigation; Government Code §54956.9(d)(4)) Number of Cases: One
 
City Attorney Brian Pierik had no reportable action to report. 
 
Conference with Legal Counsel - Pending Litigation (Government Code Section 54956.9)
Michael Gonzalez v. City of Pacific Grove, California; Police Chief Cathy Madalone; City Manager Ben Harvey; Does 1-10
US District Court, Northern District Action No. 5:22-cv-1079 SVK
 
City Attorney Brian Pierik had no reportable action to report.

Actions taken by the City Council Regular meeting on January 18, 2023, include:

• Ratified Resolution No. 21-029 Emergency Teleconferencing authorizing remote teleconference meetings of all City legislative bodies for the following 30 days in accord with the Ralph M. Brown Act.
• Received Employee Service Awards: Public Works: Michael Aliotti (35), Nancy McDowell (20), and Garrett McCown (5); Administrative Services Department: Jennifer Pope (10); Police Department: Wiley Griffin (5), Maxfield Murray (5); Recreation Department: Zoe Wilson (5)
• Received Pacific Grove and CourseCo Update
• Approved Minutes of the December 21, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting
• Received Monterey Salinas Transit Meeting Minutes: November 14, 2022
• Received Council Goals Meeting January 25, 2023 report
• Received Check Register Report - December 2022
• Received Core Revenue Report - December 2022
• Received report of emergency directives/modifications
• Authorized the Mayor to sign an Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with Jackson Lewis P.C.
• Approved Amendment to City Council Policy 000-18 on Recording of City Council Meetings
• Approved appointments to City Boards, Committees, Commissions, and Task Force, as amended, withdrawing Henry Leinen from the Administrative Enforcement Hearing Officer Panel and appointing Kim Bui to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force
• Received Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force Meeting Minutes: December 12, 2022
• Received Library Board Meeting Minutes: September 19, 2022 and November 14, 2022
• Approved the following late addition special events for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Special Events Calendar: Meals on Wheels Community Fest on April 16, 2023, the Quilters Show May 5-7, 2023 and the Walk of Remembrance on May 13, 2023; and approved the late addition special events as City Sponsored and waive fees for City staff support and equipment/facility usage
• Received the Annual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which includes Auditor's Opinion on the City's financial statements, from the City's independent auditor, Chavan & Associates, LLP; received the Transportation Safety and Investment Plan Account Fund (TAMC Measure X) Report, which includes the Auditor's Report by the City's independent auditor, Chavan & Associates, LLP; and received a status on improvements based on the auditor's recommendations that are being implemented
• Created a water conservation ad-hoc subcommittee for nine (9) months comprised of Councilmembers Beck, Coletti, and McDonnell to perform audits on billing, site location, and ways to conserve water
• Council voted to direct the City Attorney to prepare a resolution amending Council Policy 000-9 (Council Guidelines) to implement the proposed policy as amended

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 February 1, 2023.

Help us shape the future of Pacific Grove. At its January 25 meeting, the city council will be planning its goals for the new year. Residents and businesses are encouraged to provide input. Although some of what we do is required by state mandates, we also want initiatives that keep Pacific Grove a thriving “live-work-play” community. Help us make the best of our small town feel and unique coastal location.
 
Attend the city council meeting on January 25 or submit your input via email to [email protected]

City Manager

City Manager Off-Site Office Hours. On Wednesday, January 11th, off-site office hours for the City Manager were convened at The Bagel Kitchen, located at 1132 Forest Ave. For roughly 2 hours, the public presented concerns, interests and issues directly to the City Manager. A group of approximately 20 attended the session, covering topics including public parking, infrastructure and public facilities, among other topics. A take-away for the City Manager was to convene these off-site office hours with greater frequency than in the past  (previously these meetings have taken place on a roughly quarterly basis). Accordingly, please look for an announcement in the near term for the next off-site office hours session. Thank you to those residents who attended the session; the City Manager is looking into the concerns you expressed!

Employee Service Awards. At the January 18, 2023 City Council meeting, the City Manager recognized the following members of the City Team on their service anniversaries:

• Public Works: Michael Aliotti (35 years), Nancy McDowell (20 years), and Garrett McCown (5 years)
• Administrative Services Department: Jennifer Pope (10 years)
• Police Department: Wiley Griffin (5 years)

Our thanks to your continued service and dedication to the community! The City is fortunate to have you as a member of Team PG!

City Clerk

Ethics Training. Our City Attorney and team will be hosting two virtual AB 1234 Ethics Trainings. California law AB 1234, requires local officials to biennially receive training on public service ethics laws and principles. The purpose of this training is to alert local officials to the extensive array of laws that apply to public service, as well as the unique ethical obligations public servants have. 

The workshops are scheduled for Thursday, February 16, 2023, 9:30 am -11:30 am and Friday, February 24, 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am.  If you are interested in attending, please RSVP with Sandra Kandell, [email protected]. 

If you cannot attend, please be advised that the FPPC AB1234 training course is available online by visiting http://localethics.fppc.ca.gov/login.aspx, the training must meet the 2-hour minimum requirement.

Public Information Office

MST Workshop. The MST Team (including MST Director, Pacific Grove City Council Member Joe Amelio) was at the Paci?c Grove City Council Chamber on January 19, 2023, to provide the opportunity for the community to learn about mobility options under MST’s ?xed route services, MST RIDES Paratransit, Taxi Vouchers, and Vanpool.  In addition, to introduce the community to MST services: Travel Training, MST Volunteer Navigator Program, and RealTime customer information on system.

Any individual with MST access and/or mobility concerns/questions are encouraged to contact Lesleyvan Dalen, MST Mobility Specialist, at 831-264-5886 or [email protected]

Community Development Department

Interns. On Tuesday, January 10^th CDD said goodbye to our amazing interns from Germany. In their short time here, Julian and Noah worked with City staff to complete several important tasks. They updated the City ADU ordinance, they revised the ADU guidance (and helped create new handouts for residents), and they assisted in preparing the Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR). Our department is so grateful for the opportunity to work with Julian and Noah. We hope they are enjoying their last few stops before their journey home. We already miss them!

Click Here to view the City of Pacific Grove Manager's Report - January 20, 2023.