Carmel-by-the-Sea commission revives Community Activities work, plans survey and readies car-week traffic controls

The Community Activities Commission of Carmel-by-the-Sea met to relaunch its work, agree a short public survey and plan logistics for Car Week, including street closures, parking restrictions and a potential shuttle to ease traffic.

The commission chair opened the discussion by proposing that the commission align most closely with the city council’s strategic categories of “preserving village character” and “stewarding the natural environment,” and asked members to prioritize a short community survey and a tightened mission statement before refining long-range goals. Chair Ashley said she would “mash up this survey, these 2 together, make some of these multiple choice, kinda massage the questions based on feedback today, and then send it out to all of you by the end of the week.”

Commissioners emphasized that the commission’s work focuses on resident-facing events while remaining mindful that visitors often encounter and participate in those events. Members debated keeping the commission’s mission concise and memorable; draft options discussed during the meeting highlighted terms such as “belonging,” “connection,” “celebrate” and “safety.” One commissioner urged that the mission be clear enough to “print on a T-shirt,” underscoring the group’s desire for brevity.

On outreach, commissioners agreed to combine a short, practical questionnaire — frequency of attendance, preferred formats, demographics and communications preferences — with a second, broader “existential” survey that asks whether the community wants the commission to emphasize tradition, innovation or neighborhood connection. Commissioners also asked staff to include the commission’s draft mission text in the public survey so respondents can react to proposed language.

Members asked staff to assemble basic demographic data before wide distribution, including voter-registration counts and ZIP-code distribution, to avoid mis-targeting the survey. Commissioners discussed the commission’s geographic “circle of influence,” noting that Carmel-by-the-Sea residents, second-home owners and neighbors living just outside the 93921 ZIP code all participate in and shape events. The commission directed staff to try to capture respondent household type (full-time resident, part-time/second homeowner, business owner) and presence of children in household on the survey.

The meeting also included an update on Car Week operations. Staff described changes to event footprints and traffic plans: the Concourse for a Cause footprint will expand down Lincoln Street; Aston’s on the Avenue will form a T-shaped activation that reaches Dolores Street; a small Rivian activation will be held on Mission Street between Sixth Avenue and Ocean Avenue with a temporary ice-cream activation; and several short blocks of Monte Verde Street will be closed during the day near the Pine Inn and City Hall driveway to prevent dangerous pedestrian behavior and reduce jams. Staff said the police department and public works will implement temporary no-parking markings (north side of Seventh Avenue and south side of Sixth Avenue during event days) and other traffic-calming measures.

Staff said a shuttle between town and Larson Field is being worked on as a pilot for the three main event days (Tuesday through Thursday) and will be advertised if finalized. Commissioners asked staff to confirm exact closure and setup times with the police department; staff said closures typically begin in the 5–6 a.m. range but will provide a firm schedule following a pre-operation meeting.

The commission set follow-up steps: staff will combine and edit the two draft surveys, circulate proposed mission-statement options in advance of the next meeting and aim to release the public survey in August. The commission scheduled a continuation meeting for next Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and said it will return with refined survey text, mission alternatives and an officer-appointment item. A member of the public who addressed the commission said she supported the survey approach and offered to receive follow-up materials by email.

No formal votes or ordinance actions were recorded during the meeting; the commissioners treated the items as planning and direction to staff.