[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6641929,"mediaKeyId","3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f","parentId",3442120,"title","Pacific Grove council approves district budgets, master fee schedule and 2025–26 work plan","audioSeconds",416,"startMs",3600000,"endMs",4016000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f&start=3600&end=4016","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641929/Pacific-Grove-City/Monterey-County/California/Pacific-Grove-council-approves-district-budgets-master-fee-schedule-and-202526-work-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641929-62cce2423abd9eab136dad837675199c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172034&Signature=h7D1eabcU--q6DPxA75GZoaygAilJu6Nx93nprI1VPurmQLzfPmDLhjBDu4JZBBRB313qmENVZk~rfrJGLEaev2sdrx3iexw3GLddXODqnkWjgoERMZtJZjhZH~pkK0MpqakiWvT6Nvn2NbBEqLNyfmwvnUa0hMdEr7lr-Gl6bxciSKIitG-rfIU73a-ShX7G15vKGWJtjETtBH-7f5Cc4Zpt0EOI9-zHiVVaK--15K8sByn54vL3NAD1QvIaeFeqzgT4kmUwnlr3aiqKBm6HJINp-jwylKRQOH3z0G8suDt-DK22gxhxm5hLu23OAvtfMPvtCXxnqPgV0YuGO2yGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-22T08:31:59.107Z","article","At its May 21 meeting the Pacific Grove City Council approved a set of routine but city-operational items: the Hospitality Improvement District (HID) and Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) annual reports and assessments, the master fee schedule for fiscal year 2025–26 and the council’s consolidated goals and work plan matrix.

Hospitality Improvement District (HID): Finance staff reported no majority protest and recommended council approve the Chamber of Commerce’s annual report, levy the assessment, adopt the HID program for FY25–26 with a $239,000 expense budget and authorize the city manager to execute an agreement with the Chamber to administer the HID. Council approved the resolution by voice vote; the item passed unanimously.

Downtown Business Improvement District (BID): Staff reported no majority written protest and recommended adoption of the BID annual report, levying the assessment, approving a $31,000 expense budget, appointing the BID advisory board and authorizing the city manager to execute the administering agreement with the Chamber. Staff noted compliance with the posted resolution. Council approved the BID by voice vote; the motion passed unanimously.

Master Fee Schedule FY25–26: Staff recommended adjusting fees by 2.4% (Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose area was cited as the basis). Staff highlighted exemptions for state and agency fees, alignment of fire-department fees with the City of Monterey and redlined changes in the packet. Public commenters raised specific concerns: the memorial-bench maintenance fee and tree-permitting fees were questioned as high and the garage-sale permit fee ($15) drew suggestions for elimination. Council discussed possible follow-up work on particular fees—bench maintenance and tree work—and direction to staff to explore fee details and possible changes. Council approved the master fee schedule by voice vote; the measure passed unanimously.

Council goals and work plan: Council received and approved the consolidated goals and work-plan matrix (the staff consolidated work plan and supporting tasks). A public commenter urged specificity for wildlife-protection tasks and alignment with prior Coastal Wildlife Protection Advisory Committee recommendations; council members and staff clarified the matrix is intentionally a high-level document to guide staff priorities and that staff would work with BNRC and applicable committees on details. The council voted to receive the matrix unanimously.

Votes at a glance:
- HID annual assessment and program (FY25–26): approved (voice vote, unanimous)
- BID annual assessment and program (FY25–26): approved (voice vote, unanimous)
- Master fee schedule for FY25–26 (2.4% CPI increase; selected fee items noted): approved (voice vote, unanimous)
- Council consolidated goals and work-plan matrix: received/approved (roll-call 7-0)

Ending: Council asked staff to follow up on specific fee questions and to evaluate wildlife-protection implementation tasks with BNRC and staff before returning with more detailed proposals as needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","PG City Council Meeting // May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved the Hospitality Improvement District and Downtown Business Improvement District reports and assessments, adopted the master fee schedule for FY25–26, and received the city’s work-plan matrix; routine measures passed unanimously.","taxTitle","Pacific Grove City, Monterey County, California","taxId",71941,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6641933,"Pacific Grove accepts \"Dancing Monarchs\" sculpture gift; staff to recommend installation sites",1092,9151000,10243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f&start=9151&end=10243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f/thumbnail_9151000.jpg","/articles/6641933/Pacific-Grove-City/Monterey-County/California/Pacific-Grove-accepts-Dancing-Monarchs-sculpture-gift-staff-to-recommend-installation-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641933-b4e7e669ea15de6ab115f0ff029243a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172034&Signature=buVoclTqoUhWtQTrvYYbLNOZKkg0WcFxz4zFyjvhHbp0b0oQps~4hI-RycCEN3hdL2uYSdLc6g99o09A~l0xIhpAdIlmGxz7CyUvSrtUGZ-K-2QTCs0VkOYv7E8BvHndOCDeZ-VHK2leFqGNdsD5~6q6wFNj65k-ILFum53CH-IZdXm~GPpoBY2gxJq9-d4ZQfRrypfNIaTq1H8oJ~NHFqS3yF-KCFhk5W2R66x~84QOjzM1xb9tmQICaFBcUJ9Itk-PH13hmglEAEeYPKh~aOoeqldj9Gp62PrUB~fOB1sZ3cKA22xYx8V7sxNFy-m7FvRNenXqFJQM89dBfq9TAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pacific Grove City Council unanimously accepted a donated outdoor sculpture, “Dancing Monarchs,” on May 21 and directed staff to return with candidate installation sites for council approval.

Environmental program staff presented the donation from Pacific Grove residents Jan and John Stewart. The work, by artist Peter Hazel of Reno, is a stainless-steel spiral with fused-glass butterflies, described in the project packet as approximately 12 feet high and 6 by 6 feet in diameter. BNRC (the Beautiful Natural Resources Commission) reviewed the proposal on April 15 and recommended that the council accept the donation.

Public commenters generally praised the gift as appropriate for “Butterfly Town” while one resident asked whether monarch butterflies are actually present at Chase Park and urged caution about a perceived mismatch between the subject and location. Others and BNRC noted the donors were open to site work and the commission offered to help with location scouting. Questions raised at the meeting included how the work would be anchored, who would install the footing, coastal permitting if placed inside the coastal zone, and long-term maintenance responsibility.

Staff and the donors responded that the artist would construct and install the sculpture and that the donors offered to fund installation of a footing; public-works staff and environmental programs will review site engineering needs and coastal permit requirements if a coastal-zone location is proposed. Council emphasized safety and security: commissioners and members of the public noted potential vandalism or climbing risks and requested that staff consider plantings or other design features to discourage climbing and protect the work.

Votes & next steps: A motion to accept the donation carried 7-0. Council then directed staff to return with proposed sites and any permitting or maintenance information needed for a final council decision on placement. BNRC offered to assist with location evaluation if requested.

Ending: Staff will bring a site-selection report to a future council meeting that addresses foundation/anchoring design, coastal-permit requirements if applicable, maintenance responsibilities and potential interpretive signage or pollinator plantings to support monarch habitat.

","Council unanimously accepted a donated stainless-steel-and-fused-glass sculpture titled \"Dancing Monarchs\" and directed staff to return with proposed installation locations after consulting BNRC and public-works considerations.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6641938,"Pacific Grove staff previews two-year general-fund outlook, pension plan steps and proposed financial-policy changes",1433,5173000,6606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f&start=5173&end=6606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f/thumbnail_5173000.jpg","/articles/6641938/Pacific-Grove-City/Monterey-County/California/Pacific-Grove-staff-previews-two-year-general-fund-outlook-pension-plan-steps-and-proposed-financial-policy-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641938-8f19d9102ab874fdd9ba18f148e18556/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172034&Signature=bplkjk~f70hISpQmgoS2saasSxsb~JJPlUYzxIk6FYvxP6NOYaqPGegykXrwaizPVMdPXRGtewuAKxMA2nAagFCMN9AKChZPSAV1LbKjcvp3uDh7geaslvA9rf3-YlxiMjCUpiyjjnYRGQvOGU0VlfGWqgmYSltaSq92BiofS672LeUoNt6ildoHsgStkOOl5byqx-xnfB6V71XZ6IWBieL5~zK8ERS-3xYaUWa3IxTSi7Z4Tiv4xFTczaz-SXisTMy9uI9UejYPjgBdPDSEPTZJbxm4IIcrjd3zP1JSGnGxxF5g922Ru1RtKXDgm5IdTnKPlufsYG~EzrxbLkPfMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff on May 21 presented a two-year preview of the general fund, pension obligations and proposed updates to the city’s investment and financial policies, advising the council to receive the report and provide direction ahead of budget adoption.

Finance Director and staff outlined a conservative forecast: revenues such as transient-occupancy tax and sales tax are flat or modest, while costs — including pension contributions, negotiated cost-of-living adjustments and rising insurance premiums — are increasing. Staff said the city faces an operational shortfall of roughly $1 million for the coming year and roughly $1.9 million when one-time capital items are included; however, the forecast keeps the city above reserve targets for the near term under the proposed plan.

To strengthen fiscal sustainability, finance staff proposed changing reserve policy and budgeting conventions: lowering the single operating-reserve target from 35% to 25% of operating expenditures while establishing two separate reserve funds — a capital reserve and a pension reserve — each with a proposed minimum balance (staff proposed $500,000 minimums). Staff also proposed increasing the budget contingency from 1% to 2% and raising the capital threshold (the dollar amount that triggers capital treatment) to $50,000. For the sewer fund, staff suggested reserves sufficient to fund two years’ capital needs.

On pensions, staff reviewed three components of the city’s pension burden: the net pension liability reported in the annual audit, outstanding pension obligation bonds (with the last payment due in fiscal 2028–29) and ongoing normal costs for active employees. Staff described options to reduce long-term costs, including (1) continuing to require employees to pay their full employee contribution and part of employer normal cost (a policy already in effect), (2) moving to a trust structure (e.g., CalPERS or PARS trust) to invest funds set aside for pensions and (3) redirecting amounts that become available when pension-obligation-bond payments end toward a pension trust.

Investment-policy changes proposed included authorizing added pooled investments (e.g., CalTrust, CAMP, and CLASS) to improve liquidity and yield while maintaining safety; clarifying interest allocation across funds; and making investment-policy review conditional (only when policy changes are proposed) instead of automatic every two years.

Council discussion touched on using reserves strategically for capital needs and potential pension strategies (including shorter amortizations that increase payments now but reduce long-term interest costs). Several council members praised the transparency of the two-year preview. Council unanimously received the budget and policy report and asked staff to return with budget materials and proposed policy language concurrent with the upcoming budget hearings.

Ending: Staff will bring a detailed all-funds budget and proposed reserve and investment policy language to council during the formal budget process in June. Staff also said they will assess options for pooled investments and trusts and return with recommended implementation steps.

","Finance staff presented a two-year general fund forecast showing projected shortfalls, proposed new reserve categories and investment-policy updates including adding pooled investment options; council received the report and provided direction.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6641941,"Pacific Grove council adopts coastal-hazards updates after Coastal Commission certification",405,2958000,3363000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f&start=2958&end=3363","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f/thumbnail_2958000.jpg","/articles/6641941/Pacific-Grove-City/Monterey-County/California/Pacific-Grove-council-adopts-coastal-hazards-updates-after-Coastal-Commission-certification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641941-3154bd281bdc6d7a5111a048ce2c45fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172034&Signature=TFRcYIl1YLMRfzOkgLU2I5jRFdk7j5KEV824CnBLBZ-MT6cFsUzf4HYl-A~9PESV8QecCZZtcG1BCNVPkTwYvLp4BAWSbV2Z6swKMDl4EMh33~uWg2rUc2MIajb0QpRvRCukHuKU~q1QETdcOPernMEHeUVUotGBGwRp0GVHAUo5VkGcTBpraZ-X0zGcni4BDJvXxCtKAbBHpzoif2~XsYJA6r6dIhKmQXhNc9AW9813LSRthjB2kiyQMA49zHBUlG2I40Fqv094J5BItaJPiApVkjXCeIDA-pxN~7jz6O0ttpTN5uMYe4-6Gh2Sd7yHlqD9Ds0R3PV76RX1hNBwaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pacific Grove City Council on May 21 approved technical amendments to the city’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) to incorporate updated coastal-hazard analysis and mapping, following certification by the California Coastal Commission.

City staff told the council the LCP amendments implement updated technical analysis and tools to determine coastal-hazard vulnerability. The effort began in 2022 with council direction and Coastal Commission grant funding; the Planning Commission initiated the amendments in October 2024 and the Coastal Commission certified the amendments on April 11, 2025.

At the meeting staff recommended the council acknowledge receipt of the Coastal Commission certification, find the amendments statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), read the title of the proposed ordinance, introduce and hold the first reading of the ordinance and direct publication of a summary. Council moved through the remaining actions together: a motion to approve findings and a motion to approve the resolution and ordinance passed unanimously 7-0.

Council members asked staff clarifying questions about how the updated GIS hazard layers would be made available to the public. Staff said the city’s community-development website will host an interactive parcel-level map after the GIS shape layers are added, likely a couple of weeks after council approval.

Votes and procedure: The council took a sequence of steps consistent with LCP adoption practice — acknowledging Coastal Commission certification, making CEQA determinations, reading titles and introducing ordinance language — then approved the resolution and ordinance readings by unanimous vote (7-0).

Ending: Staff said the GIS layers incorporating the updated coastal-hazard data will be added to the city’s online parcel viewer shortly after the ordinance process is completed, allowing residents to check parcel-specific hazard information online.

","Council acknowledged Coastal Commission certification and approved adopting LCP amendments updating coastal-hazard mapping, finding the amendments statutorily exempt from CEQA and voting unanimously.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6641947,"Pacific Grove council approves pay increases for members after heated debate, removes medical benefit language",888,1718000,2606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f&start=1718&end=2606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442120-e226b33a92ca6ecd19e24960a6aea78f/thumbnail_1718000.jpg","/articles/6641947/Pacific-Grove-City/Monterey-County/California/Pacific-Grove-council-approves-pay-increases-for-members-after-heated-debate-removes-medical-benefit-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641947-f3a286be3dacefc2d1305d2da36b1154/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172034&Signature=JrPVb7kzQcLmGGxwp6J3v4xRDcmKZKP7eVyNPhJ6iSLGA9GxYgXF3ORqBelrYSA-xxoHJ7gloOvVw45~2GNRjmmFBeONxcR1uw3EOg~N80MM5S0FdZjebA1UMqW-26KUNBJhE92I3k8cOorlUAhd6CjvXxyp9SQhiQxSi3GzU4lC1jqXJrTPGwX5TEu1pn5y7nywfnMH7kMEsOcdUq7Vo9TYCr4yP8-DeG6kgraFi8S0SaSZuCZEUnfu2SlVyBFPzHZjx8HJAK9nxP9Mzb28fiAk8JYLO1Vl3h6BwawMuYsckercc9flOiBGiI5AxbT7uhjzGC1UMEHfqzqTNd83uQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pacific Grove City Council on May 21 adopted an ordinance increasing city council compensation on second reading, after council members debated timing, public input and whether medical benefits should be included.

The measure passed on a roll-call vote, 5 to 2, with Mayor Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Amelio, Councilmembers Garfield, Rowe and one other voting yes and Councilmembers WalkingStick and McDonald voting no. Council adopted a motion to hold second reading and adopt the ordinance with the medical-benefits recitals struck from the ordinance text.

The change drew multiple rounds of public comment. Several callers urged the council to place pay changes before voters or to delay them until after the next election; others said modest increases would reduce barriers to service and help attract qualified candidates. A caller said the council’s “self-given pay hike” should be put to voters, while other speakers stressed the need to compensate members for time and sacrifice.

Council discussion reflected those divisions. Mayor Smith said she supported immediate effectiveness of the ordinance “except for there are 3 paragraphs in the recitals” referencing medical benefits and asked the city attorney to strike that language; she moved to hold the second reading and adopt with the medical-benefits recitals removed. Councilmember McDonald said she has received letters on both sides of the issue and favored moving the increase forward but would not support making it effective immediately for the current council members; she said she would prefer it take effect for the next council. Councilmember Garfield urged consideration of when increases take effect to avoid inequities between incumbents and newly elected members and said he supported the ordinance as written to take effect 30 days after the second reading.

Several council members emphasized that accepting the raise is voluntary and that members may decline compensation. One council member said they would decline the raise and become “the first” to opt out. The mayor and others said striking the medical-benefits language from the ordinance made clear no medical benefits were being adopted with the salary change.

Votes and procedure: Councilmember Rowe moved adoption of the ordinance with the medical-benefits recitals struck; the motion was seconded and carried. A roll-call was taken; the clerk recorded the final tally as 5 in favor, 2 opposed. The council also noted an opt-out provision allowing members to decline compensation.

Ending: The ordinance takes effect per the terms adopted by the council at the meeting (30 days after second reading as stated in debate). The city attorney and city clerk will update the ordinance text to remove the surplus medical-benefit recitals and publish the final ordinance as adopted.

","After public criticism and split council comments, Pacific Grove City Council adopted an ordinance raising council compensation on second reading, striking language referencing medical benefits. Motion passed 5-2 by roll call.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pacific Grove council approves district budgets, master fee schedule and 2025–26 work plan

Pacific Grove accepts "Dancing Monarchs" sculpture gift; staff to recommend installation sites

Pacific Grove staff previews two-year general-fund outlook, pension plan steps and proposed financial-policy changes

Pacific Grove council adopts coastal-hazards updates after Coastal Commission certification

Pacific Grove council approves pay increases for members after heated debate, removes medical benefit language