A Laguna Grande Regional Joint Powers Agency (JPA) Special Meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. The JPA is made up of Board Members: City of Seaside Mayor Pro Tem Dave Pacheco, Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Board Member Kevin Raskoff, and City of Monterey Mayor Clyde Roberson.

On the April 21st agenda is a proposal to hire consultant, Bellinger Foster Steinmetz, to create a trail maintenance strategy and conduct an environmental review. The Request for Proposal describes the scope of work to include a comprehensive trail maintenance plan that incorporates public and stakeholder input. The strategy aims to: 1) improve the existing park conditions and (Americans with Disabilities Act) ADA accessibility; 2) establish regular maintenance of shrubs and trees; 3) curtail invasive plant species; 4) assess habitat restoration opportunities; and 5) amplify trail access through upkeep, signage, and identifying major access points, all in order to encourage public safety and additional passive as well as active uses of the Park through a planned maintenance program.  NEWS RELEASE IN PDF

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Monterey created and implemented the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) with the objective of mitigating potential homelessness and displacement of Monterey residents and workers who are experiencing a decrease in household income, and thus, unable to pay their rent.

The purpose of this amendment is to update the guidelines for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in order to ensure that the program is operated in compliance with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CARES Act regulations. The amendments to the guidelines are as follows:

• Clirify that the City can provide a maximum of six (6) consecutive months of rental assistance.
• Include the requirement that if a household receives more than 3 months of assistance, they must undergo a visual lead-based paint assessment as per the Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR) requirements. If a determination is made that there may be lead-based paint or asbestos present, testing and remediation will be required.
• Allow for late fees and other such costs to be covered by the program in addition to rent.
• Update the income limits annually upon HUD’s release.

Any questions about the Substantial Amendment should be directed to Grant Leonard at (831) 646-3995 or email: housing@monterey.org

Draft Substantial Amendment

It’s been nearly a year (April 29, 2020) since the closing of City parks due to the State’s Stay at Home Order caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. While neighborhood parks reopened March 5, 2021, a new emergency order signed Friday, April 9, 2021, expands the reopening of all City of Monterey playgrounds including Dennis the Menace Playground, picnic tables and barbeque areas, and the public basketball courts. Beginning Tuesday, April 20, 2021, Dennis the Menace Playground at El Estero Park Complex will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to sunset, and 1:00 p.m. to sunset on Mondays. All other playgrounds are open to the public during the opening hours posted pursuant to City Code section 23-5.  NEWS RELEASE IN PDF | EMERGENCY ORDER

HEAL Report 2020 - on the web, monterey.org/heal
Available in PDF and mobile versions

Reducing Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in California - an Overview of Senate Bill (SB) 1383's Organic Waste Reduction Requirements
Available in PDF

The Monterey Police Department (MPD) has observed an increase in catalytic converter thefts from vehicles. MPD has investigated twenty-nine reports of catalytic converter thefts from July 1, 2020 to present. These thefts typically occur in residential neighborhoods at night time. Toyota and Honda vehicles are frequently targeted. NEWS RELEASE IN PDF

On March 28, 2021 at approximately 7:34 P.M., Monterey Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Figueroa and Fisherman’s Wharf 2 on a report of a male driving a backhoe style tractor in the area while yelling and acting strange.  Responding officers located the tractor being driven on Del Monte at Figueroa and initiated a vehicle stop.   Officers noted the driver of the tractor, 56 years--old Joseph Bollom of Monterey, did not appear to be a construction worker.  Bollom did not initially comply with the orders of the officers to get down from the tractor.  NEWS RELEASE IN PDF

Registration is now open for Fire Safe Council for Monterey County's Free Community Wildfire Webinar Series, intended to give you information on how to prepare for wildfires, to help protect lives, property, and resources:

• Living With Wildfire by Hardening Your Home on Thursday, April 1, 5:30-6:30 p.m. REGISTER
• Creating Effective Defensible Space on Wednesday, April 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m. REGISTER
• PG&E and Wildfire Safety on Thursday, April 29, 5:30-6:30 p.m. REGISTER
• Moving Towards a Fire-resilient Landscape, Thursday, May 6, 5:30-6:30 pm REGISTER 
• Emergency Planning and Preparing for Evacuations, Thursday, May 13, 5:30-6:30 pm  REGISTER

The webinars are hosted by the Carmel Valley Wildfire Mitigation Project with Thriving Earth Exchange, and the information provided will apply in essentially any area subject to wildfires. MORE DETAILS ON ALL WEBINARS