Carmel-by-the-Sea officials review Car Week operations, announce library director resignation and beach marine-mammal rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea city officials reviewed Car Week operations and outreach, announced the resignation of Community Activities and Library Director Ashley Wright, reiterated limits on burying dead marine mammals on local beaches, and publicized several upcoming community meetings and events.

City officials said they will post a Car Week survey on the city website and will share results with the Community Activities Commission before returning findings to the City Council. A staff reporting process compiled after this year’s events will inform a post-mortem and planning for next year; organizers said they will also meet with Peninsula managers and police chiefs to coordinate responses for future Car Weeks.

The review follows the city’s temporary parking and shuttle program at Larson Field. City staff credited the shuttle and the Larson Field parking plan with improving access and reducing congestion during the event. Intern Jack Norman, who worked on parking operations at Larson Field this summer, said the experience was “a dream come true.” He added, “I feel extremely fortunate to, you know, have had this experience with the city.”

Ashley Wright, the city’s community activities and library director and a former interim city clerk, submitted her resignation; city officials said Wright’s last day will be Sept. 5 and that an interim solution and full recruitment will follow. Officials praised Wright’s long service to staff, patrons and the community.

City staff also alerted residents that the municipality is not permitted to bury dead marine mammals (or, in many cases, fish) on local beaches without approval from the National Marine Sanctuary through one of the regional marine laboratories. A city official explained the distinction between human and nonhuman post-mortem examinations and said the city is coordinating with sanctuary authorities; staff noted a newly arrived skid-steer loader will be used for handling carcasses once approval is granted.

Officials announced several upcoming public meetings and community events: a street-address group community meeting at Sunset Center next Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; a Harrison Memorial Library Centennial Restoration Project community workshop in Carpenter Hall from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and a Rotary screening of the film Paddle Out at the Golden Bell Theater with a 5 p.m. cocktail hour and a 6 p.m. start (admission reported as $20). City staff said those events are intended to gather community input for planning and restoration work.

The meeting included several expressions of thanks to staff and volunteers who supported Car Week operations; city officials said a written recap will include recommendations and lessons learned. No formal votes or ordinance actions were recorded in the transcript of the remarks summarized here.