Less people on council and districts?
Pacific Grove is moving forward with creating a ballot measure to ask voters if they want to go from six to four council members, however voters likely will not see the final result until the 2026 mid-term elections.
The City Council voted 6-0-1 on Wednesday directing city staff to start the process of attaining a demographer to help draft district maps and creating a resolution of intent that they plan to vote on in October. Mayor Pro Tempore Nick Smith was absent.
The city’s decision affects the election system, how people vote. But voters will be tasked with reducing the number of council seats. Council members brought up how important it will be to inform voters in the coming months about what the decision means to keep six council members while moving to a by-district election.
“I will be supporting Measure Z, because trying to cut Pacific Grove into six pieces will be virtually impossible,” councilwoman Debby Beck said. “I think we need at least two people running from each district, and I think that’s possible with four districts. It’s a matter of moving forward at this point.”