Monterey County Historic Resources Review Board heard three major items: approval with conditions for the Red Barn siding replacement in Aromas, a continuance on a Mills Act contract request for the Butterfly House to January 7, 2027, and a recommendation that the Spreckels Memorial District remodel proceed to the zoning administrator; public commenters raised concerns about permits, noise and access.
Discussion Points
•Approval of minutes
•Benefits of ADA upgrades and seismic reinforcement
•Easement and fire/evacuation access for proposed trash doors and storage access
•Noise impacts of pickleball adjacent to residences
•Pickleball noise and trash-door easement issues at Spreckels
•Red Barn options A vs B for siding panels
•Staff commitment to expedite permit processing after HRRB resolution is completed
•Value cap and work-plan adequacy for Butterfly House
•Whether a site visit and revised plan could justify a value-cap exception
•Whether HRRB recommendation can immediately trigger building-permit sign-off for urgent repairs
•Whether the applicant’s 10-year work plan allocates a disproportionate share of work to interior items vs exterior preservation
•Whether the county's $3M fair-market value cap should block otherwise significant properties from Mills Act contracts
•Whether to allow continuous full-height panels as an alternate (board struck the allowance)
•Whether to replace the bottom ~10-foot panel course entirely due to pinhole damage and public-facing durability concerns
Decisions
•Continue application to January 7, 2027
•Motions approved as listed above
•Recommendation to Chief of Planning to approve with conditions (approved)
•Recommend design approval to zoning administrator; schedule for Dec. 10 hearing
Directions
•Applicant to clarify easement access and fire-code compliance for proposed trash doors
•Applicant to revise 10-year work plan with emphasis on exterior preservation and report back Jan. 7, 2027
•Applicant to submit revised Butterfly House 10-year plan ahead of Jan. 7 continuation
•Applicant to use ten-foot course matching panels as required
•Finalize Red Barn resolution; applicant to use specified panels
•Staff to expedite permit processing after HRRB approval and resolution signature
•Staff to finalize and circulate the signed resolution and supporting addendum
•Staff to forward all Spreckels public comments to the zoning administrator
•Staff to include all public comments in zoning-administrator packet
•Staff to include public correspondence and any new documentation in the HRRB packet
Monterey County held an online news briefing on November 4 covering Thanksgiving food-safety guidance from an environmental health specialist and a preview of Veterans Day events, benefits and county programs from the county Military & Veterans Affairs office.
Discussion Points
•County office provides accredited claims assistance; office covers Monterey and San Benito counties; staff will prepare, submit and track benefits claims.
•Enhanced hiring preferences for veterans and military spouses; broader military-leave benefits; SkillBridge internship designation pursuit.
•Fiscal-year metrics demonstrating outreach and benefits results.
•Forgetting to wash hands is a common mistake; practical cooling and transport guidance provided.
•Holiday meals increase opportunities for bacteria such as Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens to spread; high-risk groups identified; four-step guidance provided (clean, separate, cook, chill).
•Schedule of multiple Veterans Day events around Monterey County between Nov. 9–13.
Directions
•County to continue program expansion and pursue SkillBridge designation.
•Use probe thermometer for turkey; transfer hot food to shallow containers before refrigeration; avoid rinsing raw turkey to prevent cross-contamination.
•Veterans advised to call the county office as first step.
County news briefing with Monterey County hosts on Nov. 4 covering holiday food-safety guidance from a county environmental health specialist and Veterans Day events, services, and local programs from the county Military & Veterans Affairs office.
Discussion Points
•Advice: call the county office as first step for benefits help.
•Cold-water thawing: ~30 minutes per pound and must be cooked immediately.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors met Nov. 3, 2026, heard presentations on CARE (Care Court) implementation, extended an interim moratorium on privately operated detention facilities, and adopted the countys 6th-cycle housing element after hours of public comment and debate. The board also handled land-use appeals, appointed the ag commissioner, and continued a sheriff staffing request.
Discussion Points
•Commissioner said state and county rules require posting for materials with 24-hour reentry or longer and that many materials with shorter reentry times are not subject to the same posting requirements.
•Conditioned approval requires drainage improvements before occupancy and a landscaping plan that can provide privacy screening.
•Expert testimony cited evacuation modeling and the site's history as a firefighting staging area.
•Justification for Site 52 being in the inventory as AFFH (Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing) and as a general-plan priority growth site.
•No public comment; board sought to ensure quorum and timing for supermajority vote.
•Operational challenges: placements for certain registrant categories; staffing and cross-training.
•PEIR findings of significant, unavoidable impacts and added mitigations for wildfire/evacuation and transportation.
•Program caseload and sources of petitions (88 total; 62 YTD 2026).
•Project complies with setbacks, height and water allocation policy; appellants raised privacy and drainage concerns.
•Public concern about pesticide posting and frequency of spray-day notifications near schools.
•Staff explained SB 1367 and the county's authority under Government Code 65858 to extend an interim ordinance.
•Staff said mitigation measures were updated in the PEIR to require site-specific evacuation planning and that site-level CEQA could still be required.
•Timing and consequences of being late on housing element (fines, lost grant funding, state intervention).
Decisions
•Adopt housing element package and certify final PEIR; accept staff authority to make minor clarifying edits to appendices.
•Appeals denied; permit approved with conditions.
•Approve reappointment; request public briefing.
•Board approved extension of interim ordinance (22 months, 15 days).
•Site 52 retained in adopted inventory; not an automatic entitlement for development.
Directions
•Commissioner to return with a board briefing on pesticide use, posting rules and enforcement practices.
•Continue reporting caseload and financial status; refine referral workflows and outreach to clinical partners.
•Planning to ensure drainage plans and landscaping are reviewed and installed as conditions of approval.
•Proceed with transmission of housing element; require site-specific evaluations for any development proposal on high-fire-risk sites.
•Staff to prepare zoning code amendments and a timeline for board consideration.
•Transmit adopted housing element to HCD and Coastal Commission as required; staff to implement rezoning and by-right permitting frameworks and continue community engagement on area-specific design standards.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors met Nov. 3, 2026. The board approved an extension of a moratorium on new detention facilities, received a detailed update on local CARE Act (care court) implementation, adopted the county's 6th-cycle housing element and associated rezonings (after extensive public comment and debate over Site 52/Tarpy Flats), denied a Carmel-area zoning appeal, reappointed the Agricultural Commissioner, and deferred a jail staffing reclassification for further review.
Discussion Points
•Agricultural Commissioner reappointment approved with request for more public outreach on pesticides.
•Board agreed staff should transmit housing element to state and Coastal Commission promptly.
•Board asked for additional cross-system metrics tying CARE activity to ED holds, conservatorships, and mental-health unit utilization.
•Board included Site 52 in the adopted element but noted mid-cycle substitution or HCD petition options.
•Commissioner Hidalgo stated California has strong pesticide regulation and committed to outreach and an informational briefing to the board and public.
•Multiple residents presented evacuation studies and traffic concerns related to Highway 68; wildfire experts warned of staging and fire-bridle concerns.
•Public commenters raised wildfire, traffic and environmental concerns centered on Site 52 (Tarpy Flats) and contamination concerns for Fort Ord adjacent sites.
•Public concern about pesticide notifications near schools and alleged high-frequency spray days.
•Sheriff staffing request deferred to allow additional budget review.
•Staff explained PEIR findings and added mitigation measures including a site-specific evacuation-plan requirement.
•Staff explained reimbursement status (approx. $221,000 received, $313,000 pending) and that reimbursements cover roughly 54% of FY25\u000626 costs.
•Staff explained statutory compliance, programmatic PEIR scope, and need for rezoning 56 opportunity sites and by-right processes.
•Staff reviewed SB 27 changes expanding eligibility and referral pathways and presented local CARE Act data (88 petitions through Oct. 15, 2026; 62 in 2026 year-to-date).
•Staff updated mitigation measures including a site-specific evacuation plan requirement and consultation with DEM and first responders.
Decisions
•Adoption of housing element and PEIR; moratorium extension on detention facilities; Carmel Highlands permit approved; Ag Commissioner reappointed; sheriff reclassification continued.
•Board adopted housing element update, certified PEIR, adopted implementing ordinances and resolutions; vote was unanimous with one absence.
•Commissioner reappointed; briefing requested.
•Presentation received; no formal board action requested.
•Site 52 remained in the adopted housing element; board did not remove the site in the Nov. 3 action.
Directions
•Authorize staff to transmit adopted documents to state HCD and Coastal Commission; allow staff to make minor appendix edits prior to transmission.
•Budget office to prepare financial analysis for the November 17 meeting; HCD to transmit housing element materials; staff to prepare site-specific guidance for wildfire mitigation where necessary.
•Commissioner to schedule a county-level briefing explaining pesticide categories, posting rules, and enforcement protocols; staff to coordinate outreach to concerned community groups.
•Monitor site-specific project proposals and require additional CEQA work if a project deviates from programmatic assumptions; staff to continue consultation with DEM and first responders.
•Staff to provide follow-up materials on funding sources, capacity planning, and cross-system metrics as requested by supervisors.
Department of Emergency Management: El Niño Presentation
Monterey County supervisors received presentations on a strong El Niño outlook and county winter-storm preparedness, including reservoir capacity, new monitoring tools, sand stockpiles, equipment purchases supported by state grants, and a schedule of community town halls.
Discussion Points
•County obtained funds and procured equipment to increase response capacity.
•Debris removal totals and remaining Chualar Wastewater Plant electrical repairs.
•DEM has expanded exercises, training and EOC readiness since 2023.
•El Niño defined and current sea-surface anomalies noted.
•Expanded use of contractors and early culvert/ditch cleaning.
•Historical examples show variability in local impacts.
•New flood-mapping and FIRO tools will support decisions.
•Reservoir storage and operational capacity reported.
•Supervisors requested an additional District 1 meeting.
•Town halls scheduled with dates and tentative venues.
Directions
•Outreach including town halls and briefings scheduled; staff to return with program items as assessments complete.
•Replace damaged stations, procure portable monitoring and increase redundancy.
•Residents urged to sign up for redundant alerts and check weather.gov.
•Staff to continue preparing culverts, stockpiles and public updates.
•Staff to work with city partners and to post dates/locations online.
Monterey County Zoning Administrator Mike Novo approved a coastal development permit (PLN260118) for a commercial vacation rental at 4163 Sunset Lane in Pebble Beach, after staff found the application met county regulations and the applicant confirmed compliance steps; Pebble Beach Company reiterated its objection over private-road access and neighbors raised concerns about clustering of short-term rentals.
Discussion Points
•Applicant argued CC&Rs allow hosting and characterized private‑road access as a civil matter.
•Applicant described management practices and disputed some objections as civil matters; Pebble Beach Company opposed the permit due to private-road access concerns.
•Novo described the required findings and the tension between clustering benefits and neighborhood impacts.
•Novo said he would weigh each application individually and follow staff recommendation in this case.
•Pebble Beach Company emphasized opposition and refusal to issue private-road access within the 60-day window.
•Staff described project details, regulatory background and recommended approval with conditions.
•Staff noted no interim concentration/density rule is in effect; Planning Commission recommended staff provide guidance to the Board.
•Staff required resolution of private-road access as a condition before operation.
•Zoning Administrator expressed concern about clustering and concentration but noted staff found the application met regulations.
Decisions
•Approve PLN260118 with errata and conditions; require compliance within 60 days or cessation of operations.
•No immediate policy change; decision-making discretion remains with the zoning administrator for individual applications.
•Permit approved conditionally; private-road access must be resolved prior to operation.
Directions
•Planning staff to report implementation status to the Board in late December and consider guidance on concentration/density as recommended by the Planning Commission.
•Staff to continue reporting implementation status to Planning Commission and Board as planned.
•Staff to ensure condition requiring private-road access resolution (where applicable) is clear in the permit and to verify compliance before operation.
•Staff to ensure conditions and errata are incorporated into the permit and to verify compliance and business-license issuance before operation.
Monterey County hosted a news briefing on Wednesday covering the opening of a new Public Defender office in Greenfield, Halloween safety guidance from the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, and pet-safety tips from a local shelter coordinator.
Discussion Points
•Advice on candy inspection, chaperoning, visibility and rideshare use.
•Keep pets away from candy and glow sticks; update microchip information; use Petco Love Lost for registration.
•Need to reduce travel barriers for South County clients; expand outreach and community partnerships.
•Shelter operations and requirements for reclaiming animals.
Monterey County Budget Committee reviewed salary and benefits projections, heard a sheriff's office financial update and Natividad Hospital reports, discussed the inmate welfare fund and a request to reclassify a jail position, approved grant awards for the SHARE Center, and recommended several items to the full board.
Discussion Points
•$3.2M+ award to fund 12 cabins and 30 recuperative care beds; projected billable revenue > $2M/year.
•$75,000 augmentation to Operation Stone Garden grant.
•Audit scope likely does not specifically include the fund.
•Committee approved a $103,000 augmentation from permanent local housing allocation.
•County-wide salaries and benefits projections show a $65M underrun against the adopted $1.1B budget using straight-line projection.
•Detailed presentation deferred to allow reconciliation with the sheriff's finance team.
•Estimated remainder-of-year cost ~ $30,000; supervisors asked for annualized difference.
•Expense drivers include salaries, benefits, and physician costs; other operating revenue and incentive payments helped offset variances.
•Fund revenue sources and statutory restrictions under Penal Code section 4025.
•Natividad Medical Center shows large temporary/OT variances likely due to budgeting practices rather than total budget overruns.
•Operational need for sworn authority in specific jail duties (contraband, searches, transports).
•Quarterly and annual census and financial performance (Q4 positive margin $577,000; FY net loss $4.2M).
•SB 54 restricts immigration enforcement under the grant.
•Site infrastructure (sewage, water) coordination with Eden housing project required.
•Staff projected a $4M overage for sheriff operations against the general fund contribution.
•Staff will present more detailed department-level explanations next month.
•Telephone commission revenues have declined after FCC changes; other counties have seen funds run deficits.
•Timing outside budget cycle raised concerns.
Decisions
•Committee recommended acceptance to full board and approved $103,000 operating augmentation.
•Committee recommended the grant augmentation by consensus.
•No committee recommendation; refer to full board.
Directions
•Continue annual reporting and program reviews; consider revenue and program adjustments in next budget cycle.
•Coordinate civil engineering and sewer solution with Eden project team.
•Forward award acceptance to full board with infrastructure plan and revenue assumptions.
•Forward grant augmentation to board for formal authorization.
•Offer optional one-on-one pre-briefings for supervisors on complex items.
•Place item on full board agenda with full-year cost comparisons and clarifying language on reclassification vs reallocation.
•Risk and hospital staff to provide context on insurance and utilities cost drivers and continued monitoring of accounts receivable and collections.
•Staff to produce reconciled slide deck and present next month.
•Staff to provide more detailed variance explanations at next budget meeting.
Monterey County news briefing (Oct. 28, 2026) covered the opening of a new public defender office in Greenfield, Halloween public-safety guidance from the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, and pet-safety tips from a local shelter coordinator.
Discussion Points
•Bring proof of ownership when reclaiming an animal from the shelter.
•Deputies to carry replica Halloween patches to build community ties.
•Explanation of 'GHOST' safety acronym.
•Keep candy and glow sticks away from pets; secure pets in quiet rooms; ensure microchip/contact info is current.
•Name inconsistency between host introduction and guest self‑identification for the Sheriff's Office segment.
•New Greenfield office opened to reduce travel barriers and improve access to services for South County residents.
•Office will provide walk-in hours, interpreters, appointment meetings and a weekly attorney presence.
•Possible transcription error in shelter name; flagged for verification.
•Programs include clean‑slate intakes, immigration assistance and holistic defense services.
•Safety tips for children, teens and drivers for Halloween night.
•Use Petco Love Lost registration and the shelter stray report for reunification.
Directions
•County staff to publish address, hours and scheduling details on social media and follow up with community feedback.
•Verify and confirm the shelter/organization name and spelling.
•Verify Greenfield office address and weekly attorney hours before publication.
The Monterey County Planning Commission met Oct. 28, 2026, to review implementation of the county's vacation-rental regulations, hear more than a dozen public comments (many asking for grandfathering or a moratorium), and decide two land-use matters: a lot-line adjustment and replacement house in Pebble Beach (approved) and a fee-waiver request tied to an after-the-fact permit (partially granted by commission vote).
Discussion Points
•4% cap applies to whole planning area, which can create apparent concentrations where large parts of planning area are not eligible for permitting.
•Applicant counsel argued owner is an elderly teacher on fixed income and cannot afford remaining planning fees, and that the stipulated agreement does not preclude future waiver requests.
•Applicant offered voluntary deed restriction and to record a parcel map to formalize a smaller building envelope for Parcel B.
•Archaeological and ESHA reports found materials and Cypress remnants; staff recommended mitigation and monitoring.
•Court ruling in June favored county on some issues but required code amendments and capped fines consistent with state law.
•Items approved included lot-line adjustment with habitat/archaeology conditions and a discretionary waiver for the Forsberg permit.
•Many asked for grandfathering, clearer definitions of "diligently pursuing," or a moratorium while the Board considers changes.
•Operators argued processing delays, high fees and inconsistent staff communications are unfair to applicants who applied during the grace period.
•Staff opened 280 enforcement cases; 153 remain open; 106 have received notices of violation.
•Staff recommended denial because applicant exceeded the director\u0002s income threshold for an administrative waiver; staff reduced the double fee to a single after-the-fact fee.
•Zoning administrator can consider concentration in discretionary coastal/use-permit findings related to public health, safety and neighborhood character, but staff said more parameters are needed.
Decisions
•Commission approved the combined development permit with staff conditions and the applicant\u0002s deed restriction commitments.
•Commission voted to grant the fee waiver by voice vote; Clerk recorded Commissioner Roberts as the only no.
•No immediate cap change; commission requested staff follow up with specific interpretive language and options.
•No immediate policy change; Commission signaled interest in exploring grandfathering as one option.
•No ordinance changes were adopted; Commission directed staff to report to the Board and return with recommendations.
•PLN 250047 approved; PLN 240366 continued; PLN 240181 fee-waiver granted by Commission vote (one recorded no).
Directions
•Applicant will record parcel map and conservation easement/deed restriction to limit future buildout of Parcel B.
•Staff to consider formal interpretations and proposed ordinance changes for commission review.
•Staff to finalize resolution language and record instruments for approved projects; bring vacation rental implementation options to the Board.
•Staff to prepare clearer guidance/interpretation for decision makers on how to consider concentration and to explore objective metrics or regulatory amendments.
•Staff to prepare final resolution reflecting the Commission's direction and edits, and to record waiver decision in project file.
•Staff to report back to Board with options and engage legal counsel on Coastal Commission consistency where needed.
•Staff to report precise counts (how many applied during the grace period and are currently operating) and legal options for grandfathering to the Board of Supervisors.
•Staff to take Commission input to Board of Supervisors and California Coastal Commission.
•Staff will add findings related to Point Lobos viewshed and Pescadero watershed and update grading numbers per applicant's request.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors met on Oct. 27, 2026. The board recessed into closed session, returned for a full public agenda that included adoption of a county records retention policy, presentations from the civil rights office and CalPERS/Covered California on health-insurance market pressures, a contentious rooster-keeping ordinance that the board adopted, and several public comments on housing, ICE activity, and local health-care costs.
Discussion Points
•Agricultural Advisory Committee review concluded parcels no longer met Williamson Act requirements (noncommercial ag or parcel separation).
•CalPERS: high pharmaceutical spend and primary-care shortages; possible regional remapping raising premiums ~9% in a future year.
•Chief Davis and the Sheriff explained this specific pay math and recruitment/relocation context.
•Covered California: expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and immigrant eligibility changes reducing enrollment and affordability.
•FY caseload numbers and rising disability-related intake; trainings and Title VI compliance reviews planned.
•Large permitted rooster operations created noise and nuisance complaints in residential areas; enforcement resources are limited at Animal Control.
•Overview of legal foundations and the office’s tiers for prevention, engagement and investigation.
•Policy required modernization for born-digital and scanned records; a countywide schedule plus department-specific schedules was proposed.
•Proposal moves regulation into zoning code with size-based caps and discretionary permits in some rural zones.
•Public commenters: county employees and Natividad staff described rising premiums and recruitment impacts.
•Staff prepared an errata to correct a contract reference and legal description.
•Staff will coordinate trainings and updates to department schedules.
•Supervisor requested that staff reports show the PPP&R criteria used to justify higher-step placement (manifest injustice, recruitment difficulty, loss of post bonuses).
Decisions
•Appointments approved; board requested more consistent documentation and follow-up audit by HR.
•Approved staff recommendation to proceed with nonrenewals.
•Consensus to expand the ad hoc review and pursue staff work on the listed directions.
•Ordinance adopted; staff to implement compliance procedures.
•Policy adopted; training and implementation timeline assigned to Public Works/IT and CAO.
•Receive and file report.
Directions
•Adopt the updated policy and proceed with training and department outreach.
•Adopt zoning amendments; provide one-year compliance timeline for currently permitted operations; HCD to manage enforcement and coordination with Animal Control.
•Approve nonrenewals and file corrected notices; HCD to update records.
•Direct CAO and County Counsel to study permissible structures for regional discussions and partnerships.
•Expand ad hoc HR1 impact review to include regional structure, primary-care contracting, and exploration of low-cost HMOs.
•HR to conduct an audit of prior higher-step placements for consistency.
•No action required; board encouraged training and follow-up compliance work.
•Require HR and departments to include explicit documentation in staff reports when requesting higher-step placements for elected officials or department heads.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors met Oct. 27, 2026. The board approved updates to rooster-keeping rules and a countywide records-retention policy, received reports from the county civil rights office and CalPERS/Covered California on health-insurance pressures, and agreed to expand an ad-hoc review of HR1 impacts to consider options for lowering local insurance costs.
Discussion Points
•CalPERS: Monterey has primary-care shortages, high ED use and high hospital prices; region remapping may raise premiums about 9.1%
•Covered California: expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and HR1-related changes have already reduced enrollment and increased costs for middle-income consumers
•Large permitted rooster operations in residential neighborhoods create noise and sanitation complaints; existing animal-control permitting resulted in inconsistent enforcement
•Planning Commission unanimously recommended moving the numeric limits into zoning to simplify enforcement
•Policy rewrite modernizes retention guidance to include digital records, digitized originals, and trusted-system requirements
•Sheriff's office described pay-bonus losses and relocation/recruitment considerations
•Staff will offer trainings and encourage departments to adopt departmental retention schedules when needed
•Supervisor asked for explicit documentation in staff reports when PPP&R higher-step placements are recommended; HR staff explained PPP&R criteria but noted "manifest injustice" is not defined
•The office reported increased intake (86 matters in FY24–25; 97 matters in FY25–26) and emphasized data-driven training, prevention and early resolution methods.
Decisions
•Both appointments were approved by the board
•Ordinance adopted by unanimous vote
Directions
•Board asked staff and the HR1 ad-hoc to expand scope to study regional health-market impacts and potential policy or partnership steps to attract lower-cost HMOs and increase primary-care capacity
•Existing permitted operations given one year to reduce rooster counts or apply for discretionary permits where allowed; staff to coordinate enforcement between HCD and Animal Control
•Staff to implement trainings and assist departments in applying the countywide schedule
•Staff to include explicit PPP&R justification in future reports; Sheriff asked to cooperate with an audit of past reports; board signaled it may revisit policy language
•Staff to return with department-head demographic breakdowns and other requested follow-ups
Monterey County District 5 "Know Before the Storm" webinar briefed residents on El Niño forecasts, local infrastructure readiness, evacuation decision-making, sandbag and shelter resources, and announced upcoming watershed meetings; agencies urged immediate preparedness actions.
Discussion Points
•County procured Tiger Dams for temporary flood protection and will prioritize communities with recurring flooding.
•El Niño advisory increases seasonal precipitation odds; individual storms control local impacts.
•Evacuation warnings/orders are collaboratively decided among agencies.
•Flood inundation mapper and portable storm monitoring sites will improve response in burn‑scar and watershed areas.
•FRAE project is permitted and shovel ready but lacks FEMA funding; not available before winter.
•Full‑day closure (the 29th) planned for slope protection work.
•Household plans should include 72‑hour supplies and arrangements for pets and dependents.
•Register for Alert Monterey County and verify notification preferences.
•Reservoirs (San Antonio, Nacimiento) have spare capacity entering storm season.
•Risks include landslides, debris flows in burn scars, king‑tide coastal flooding and storm surge.
County of Monterey hosted a 90-minute winter-storm preparedness briefing with 16 agency partners to lay out evacuation zones, sandbag locations, reservoir capacity, levee work on the Pajaro River, power-outage planning, road/culvert readiness and guidance for growers and visitors ahead of anticipated El Niño storms.
Discussion Points
•Culvert inventory and repairs, geolocation of inlets, rental pump prepositioning and burn‑scar focus areas.
•Difference between evacuation warning and evacuation order.
•Distribution of winter preparedness letters and guidance on erosion control practices; RCD stream maintenance permits and emergency permitting process.
•Flood/swift‑water rescue training, sandbag distribution, specialized high‑water rescue vehicles and mobile power units.
•Grid‑strengthening (pole replacement), weather station monitoring, outage modeling and customer opt‑in for notifications.
•Issuing contracts for seepage blankets/berms, vegetation thinning, culvert replacement and pump generator purchases.
•Panel outlined preparedness steps for residents, sandbag and app resources, reservoir and levee mitigation projects.
•Reservoirs (San Antonio, Nacimiento) have capacity to attenuate flows; new flood‑inundation mapper and forecasting models developed since 2023.
•Seasonal outlook favors wetter conditions; local forecasts needed for tactical timing.
•Sheriff coordinates with other agencies to time evacuations and closures.
•Travel alert page maintained year‑round; hospitality partners coordinate on rates and messaging to visitors and residents.
Directions
•Agency to provide monitoring data to partners and implement replacement weather stations funded under a proclamation of emergency.
•Coordination with county public works and other partners to prioritize problem spots.
•Customers should update contact info and enroll in outage/medical baseline programs.
•Encourage growers to inspect drainage systems, clear debris and seek RCD/NRCS assistance.
•Fire districts will up‑staff as needed and share sandbag locations via county resources.
•Prioritize work areas based on funding and time; request state assistance under disaster assistance authorities.
•Public Works and agencies will update online resources and maps; agencies are pre‑positioning equipment and personnel as needed.
•Sea Monterey will support county operations and JIC when requested and update travel‑alert content during events.
District 5 w/ Supervisor Daniels El Niño Townhall Webinar
A Monterey County District 5 preparedness webinar led by Supervisor Daniels focused on El Niño risks, local forecasts, evacuation planning, infrastructure readiness and resources such as sandbags, flood mapping, and shelters; multiple county and state agencies answered resident questions.
Discussion Points
•Flood Inundation Mapper and added portable monitoring stations for burn-scar areas.
•FREE project described (notch, overpass) and is permitted but lacks FEMA funding.
•Household preparedness steps and 72‑hour kit recommendations.
•NWS described El Niño mechanics and seasonal probabilities.
•NWS emphasized importance of monitoring individual storms and atmospheric rivers rather than seasonal averages.
•Primary outage causes: wind and saturated soils causing tree/limb failures.
•Public Works inspects culverts, bridges and ditches and maintains sand stockpiles.
•Reinstallation of debris barriers and targeted culvert work.
•Reservoir storage levels and role in flood capture.
•Residents should use Uconnect and county reporting channels to flag problems.
•Restoration priorities: life-and-limb, critical facilities, then residents; PG&E replaced poles and manages vegetation.
•Rock-scaling and slope protection activities on Highway 1.
•Sandbags available at fire stations; residents responsible for filling them.
•Sign up for Alert Monterey County and set notification preferences.
•Tiger Dams procured for winter deployment in some communities; residents should request assistance via the supervisor's office.
•Use readymontereycounty.org for sandbag locations and winter preparedness guidance.
Monterey County Prepares | Special News Briefing 10.21.26
County of Monterey hosted a 90-minute El Niño preparedness briefing with county officials, emergency managers, fire and law enforcement, utilities, Caltrans and local agencies outlining evacuation zones, sandbag locations, reservoir capacity, levee work on the Pajaro River, road/culvert preparations and steps residents should take now.
Discussion Points
•Culvert cleaning and inspection; 20 job-order contracts to supplement crews; sand stockpiles and sandbag locations available now.
•Directions to coordinate monitoring with other agencies.
•Evacuation warning vs. order clarified; early evacuation recommended for those needing extra time.
•Grid-strengthening projects and vegetation management; outage modeling and staffing; customer resources and medical baseline registrations.
•Reservoirs have capacity to attenuate flows; new flood inundation mapper and forecasting tools operational.
•Sea Monterey will pre-draft messaging, update travel-alert pages and coordinate with hospitality partners for emergency response and recovery communications.
•Seasonal forecast favors above-normal rainfall; local forecasts needed for specific actions.
•Sign up or update Alert Monterey County registrations; prepare 72-hour kits; identify evacuation zones.
Directions
•Prioritize green-area seepage blankets if funding/time allow.
•Residents should update PG&E account contacts and opt in to outage notifications.
•Sign up for alerts; rehearse evacuation routes.
•Use models to guide reservoir releases and support evacuation decisions.
•Use readymontereycounty.org for zone lookup and alerts.
•Use Uconnect app and county web pages to find sandbag locations and road statuses.
•Visitors should check the Sea Monterey travel-alert page and county sources for updates.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors met Oct. 20, 2026, and handled ceremonial recognitions, appointments and consent items; created an ad hoc committee to guide an integrated water-planning forum; considered staff presentations on state ballot propositions; and heard an extended briefing on federal/state health policy changes (HR 1) that county health officials said could put tens of thousands of residents at risk of losing coverage and saddle local hospitals and clinics with large revenue losses. The board also heard multiple appeals of commercial vacation‑rental permits in the Del Monte Forest (Pebble Beach) and approved the permits subject to conditions, including proof of private‑road access within a 60‑day window.
Discussion Points
•35,000 members with unsatisfactory immigration status will move to state fee‑for‑service, reducing provider payments.
•Ad hoc composition and reporting back to full board.
•Board read and adopted multiple commemorative resolutions and heard personal testimony tied to remembrance and community resources.
•Calls for improved homelessness services and changes to sweep practices.
•Economic risks from groundwater pumping restrictions; potential job and income losses.
•Hospitals and FQHCs face major reimbursement cuts (FMAP, DISH, state‑directed payments) and rising uncompensated care.
•Need for integrated approach beyond seawater intrusion to include surface/recycled/desalination.
•Neighbors reported clustering, noise, parking and enforcement gaps; Pebble Beach Company argued for denial to protect residential character.
•Projected 44,000 Alliance members could lose Medi‑Cal by end of 2028; 11,000 already disenrolled.
•Requests for independent investigations and disclosure of contracting choices.
•Staff applied condition requiring proof of private road access and set a 60‑day diligence window for applicants in process.
•Whether county may or should enforce private deed restrictions vs. treating private covenant disputes as civil matters for courts.
Decisions
•Ad hoc committee formed; plan to be returned to board for approval.
•Board denied appeals and approved the three permits with the private‑road access condition and errata updates.
Directions
•Form ad hoc committee of two supervisors (Daniels, Church) and two Water Resources Agency directors; agency to return forum plan for board approval before implementation.
•Form an ad hoc to gather countywide impact data, coordinate with providers, and return recommendations to the board.
•Permit approvals subject to Condition 6: applicants must provide documentation of right to use private roads for guests/tenants (e.g., recorded license or court order) within 60 days; otherwise operations and advertising must cease.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors met Oct. 20, 2026. The board approved routine business and ceremonial resolutions, formed ad hoc committees for water planning and to study health system impacts from federal HR 1, heard a major presentation showing large projected Medi‑Cal coverage losses and hospital/clinic revenue cuts, and resolved multiple Del Monte Forest short‑term rental appeals.
Discussion Points
•Alliance projects 44,000 Alliance members in Monterey County could lose Medi‑Cal by end of 2028; 11,000 already lost coverage to date.
•Economic analysis cited substantial job and income risks if pump restrictions occur without supply development.
•Hospitals will see reductions in state directed payments over multiple years; FQHC PPS elimination will lower clinic revenue.
•Neighbors and Pebble Beach Company argued deed restrictions and CC&Rs prohibit commercial use; staff said county is not party to private deeds but applied a condition requiring access resolution.
•Residents described clustering of permitted and unpermitted rentals and inadequate enforcement response; staff explained the 60‑day documentation rule and enforcement path.
•Seawater intrusion and groundwater sustainability require integrated solutions across supply types and financing sources.
•State fee‑for‑service transition for undocumented/UIS beneficiaries will lower payments to providers.
Decisions
•Ad hoc committee formed (Daniels and Church; Water Resources Agency chair & vice chair).
•Ad hoc committee formed; staff to return implementation plan and reporting milestones.
•Board denied appeals and approved coastal development permits with private‑road condition; staff to return with program review to address clustering/density.
Directions
•Approved permits subject to private road access documentation within prescribed timelines; staff to continue enforcement and to include clustering/density in upcoming program review.
•Create ad hoc committee to gather countywide impact data, coordinate with local providers, and return recommendations to the Board for action.
•Form ad hoc committee and require agency/ad hoc to return forum development plan for Board approval prior to any implementation.
Monterey County zoning administrator Mike Nobu conducted a hybrid hearing on Oct. 15, 2026. The administrator continued four commercial vacation-rental applications pending guidance from the Board of Supervisors, approved a Pescadero Road demolition/rebuild with tree removals and mitigation, and approved three commercial vacation-rental permits with conditions, including one requiring resolution of a private-road dispute.
Discussion Points
•Administrator asked staff to reconcile the running total of approved commercial vacation rentals in Carmel.
•Agent for the owner said required inspections and management plans are in place.
•Applicant agent concurred with staff's recommended conditions.
•Applicant asked for clarification about condition timing and permit clearance procedure.
•Neighbors raised concerns about parking, noise and neighborhood character during continuance hearings.
•Staff clarified when the 60‑day resolution period starts relative to appeals.
•Staff classified the project as tier 4 due to private‑road access and deed language; Pebble Beach Company objected.
•Staff confirmed compliance with parking, occupancy, and emergency response requirements.
•Staff described site constraints and that six trees must be removed within the development footprint; an arborist recommended replanting 10 Monterey pines and two coast live oaks.
•Staff noted lack of proper permits for an office-identified room and recommended limiting occupancy until conversion permits are obtained.
•Staff requested continuances for four Carmel CVR applications while awaiting appeals guidance from the planning commission and Board of Supervisors.
Decisions
•Approval granted under CEQA categorical exemption with added timing condition and standard mitigation replanting.
•Coastal development permit approved under CEQA exemption with occupancy limited until conversion is permitted.
•Four CVR items were continued to dates uncertain; no final approvals were made on those items.
•Permit approved subject to standard conditions; staff to address tracking discrepancy.
•Permit approved with a condition requiring resolution of the private‑road dispute.
Directions
•Add a tree removal timing condition requiring permits be ready before removal; replanting plan required as mitigation.
•Condition approval on resolving the private‑road dispute before operation or within 60 days of final approval if uncontested.
•Permit approval conditioned on obtaining required conversion permits before operating as a four-bedroom rental.
•Planning staff to renotice continued items and notify interested parties.
•Staff to reconcile CVR tracking numbers and correct the resolution text if needed.
•Staff to track appeals outcomes and advise zoning administrator before resuming hearings.
