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

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.