Category Archives: Monterey Herald

Assemblyman Visits Pacific Grove

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Number one party of fees, bureaucracies and regulations hears cries from downtown businesses about fees, bureaucracies and regulations.

Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley, made a short visit to Pacific Grove on Wednesday to hear the concerns of local business owners at a town hall style meeting. The purpose, said Stone, was to improve the communication lines between the Legislature and local entrepreneurs and business owners.

“One of the biggest concerns that they raised is that they feel that small-business owners have very little voice in Sacramento,” said Stone, noting the majority of complaints he heard centered on fees, bureaucracies and regulations. “They explained some of the issues that they’re facing that make it more difficult for their business and ways they think I can communicate that better in Sacramento.”

Assemblyman Visits Pacific Grove

Trenching Begins For Wastewater Delivery To P.G.

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Toilet to Tap

Raise a glass. And hope they don’t dig up your phone line.

Streets will be torn up — some more than once — through the heart of three Peninsula communities. The pipeline will run from Seaside’s Hilby Pumping Station over a new Monterey-Salinas Highway bridge through downtown Monterey and the Presidio of Monterey to an existing pump station and pipeline on Sinex Avenue in Pacific Grove.

Approved on Sept. 15 by the state Public Utilities Commission along with a water purchase agreement for the $85 million Pure Water Monterey groundwater replenishment project, the new infrastructure is expected to be complete and operational by the end of next year, in advance of the availability of recycled water in early 2018. It will be used to transport the new 3,500-acre-foot annual recycled water supply, along with aquifer storage and recovery water.

Trenching Begins For Wastewater Delivery To P.G.

No P Posse Proselytizes People

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Coalition against citywide admissions tax. But that Half Fast Marathon. That thing blocks the streets.

Besides the aquarium, the coalition includes the Big Sur International Marathon and the Friends of the Pacific Grove Public Library, among other area nonprofits.

Proponents of the tax say that a 5 percent fee attached to aquarium admissions, for example, is only fair because of the city’s need to pay for the repair and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure, including city roads, sidewalks, paths and the Monterey Bay Recreation Trail.

No P Posse Proselytizes People

Wharf Lease Program Draws 200 Protesters

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Wharfs 1960s

Is Haffa comparing a residence where the landlord maintains everything to wharf pilings? If the toilet at the Grotto backs up does Haffa call and pay for the plumber?

major issue is that last year the council voted to shorten lease agreements to 10 years. City Manager Mike McCarthy has repeatedly said, however, that they are not strict policies, but guidelines and that the council will negotiate. The city has offered lease terms that exceed that time period if tenants commit to make improvements to the premises on which their business resides. Also at issue is the cost of leases and whether they are fair market value.

“Leaseholder(s) pay $405 or $680 per month rent for waterfront properties,” Councilman Alan Haffa said Tuesday. “How much does a one-bedroom cost per month?”

Wharf Lease Program Draws 200 Protesters

Cops Want Higher Salaries AND Health Care

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Can’t they remember that they chose $$ rather than health insurance originally?

PG Hpol Police

“They’ve been operating under our old contract that’s now expired,” said Kampe, noting that the decision to cut medical benefits goes back to 2006 when during labor negotiations with the department, employees were given the choice whether to give up health care benefits in exchange for a higher salary. They opted for the higher salary.

“Part of the reasoning was because many on the force had spouses who were providing health care coverage,” explained Kampe. “For most of the police force, it was better deal to get a higher salary.”

But Kampe also noted the move has been controversial.

“Now, they’ve been provided with higher salaries but some are saying they really need health care,” said Kampe, who noted that city administrators are now working to make some accommodations for health care coverage at slightly lower than market cost.

Cops Want Higher Salaries AND Health Care

Protest March Over Wharf Leases

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The real soul of Monterey history. Don’t lose it.

wharf night

The protest and review of policies comes on the heels of the eviction of longtime business Balesteri’s Wharf Front gift shop earlier this month. That was after the store, the Paluca Trattoria Italian restaurant and The Coffee House, all located on the wharf and part of property leased by Sam Balesteri, were sent lease termination letters notifying them that their current leases were up at the end of August. Despite that, both the gift shop and coffee shop have remained open pending a lawsuit between Balesteri and the city. Balesteri wants compensation for the many improvements he has made to his building.

In June, Chris Shake, owner of Old Fisherman’s Grotto restaurant, complained about the negotiation process with the city, which led him to request a demolition permit to tear down his building when its lease expires in summer 2021.

Both Shake and Sam Balesteri’s son, Ben, said that they plan to join the march on Tuesday. In fact, Shake is closing his restaurant from 3 to 6 p.m. that day.

“My employees and families — they want to support it and be a part of it,” said Shake, who applauded Barrett for, as he put it, “having the common sense to bring this back for consideration.”

Protest March Over Wharf Leases

Bruiser The Pig Sent Home From The Farm

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Homeless Pig

Bruiser was originally supposed to acclimate to his temporary new surroundings, which includes horses, a baby pony and the other pet pig on Thursday, but the transfer was delayed a day because his new caretaker had to contend with some of those animals being colicky.

“I felt bad — she already had her hands full with another brood of animals,” said Hanes, “so we kept him another night.” The delay, however, cost the Haneses $500.

That’s because the daily fee the Haneses had been ordered to pay since Aug. 22 when they were ruled against in a third-party hearing before the city rose this week from $50 to $500 a day.

Bruiser The Pig Sent Home From The Farm

Library. Or Is It Another Art Gallery?

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Renovations for non-book things.

Liberry

While current patrons still use some of the same tables and chairs that were there since 1908, somewhere along the way the original Douglas fir floor was covered with carpet while the building’s interior stained wood and arches were covered with paint. The original chandeliers somehow disappeared.

Now, as part of the renovation, Steele and her bevy of volunteers are also overseeing the creation of three replica chandeliers that are modeled after the originals that once hung. That’s while they prepare for an upcoming art exhibition and juried art show that will take place in the library’s gallery in early October.

Library. Or Is It Another Art Gallery?

Monterey’s Lighthouse Specific Plan

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Outzenville buildings, open space and “art”. No, work on the traffic.

Lighthouse Ave Traffic

“Besides the traffic and parking, the biggest talking point was to look at building heights in that area,” said McCarthy, noting that in the future, three-story buildings would only be allowed under special conditions, could be no higher than 35 feet and would be required to be set back 12 feet from the second story to provide a two-story appearance. The project must also include public open space and pre-approved public art elements.

Monterey’s Lighthouse Specific Plan

Pork Payments Piling Up

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Ray Magsalay cites odor but I think it’s just intolerance.

Bruiser, the pot-bellied pig that was booted out of his Pacific Grove home, has yet to actually leave. That’s despite his owners Lisa and Mark Hanes being ordered to relinquish their beloved pet.

Instead, the Hanes continue to hope things change as fees to keep Bruiser while they wait for an appeal continue to escalate. Since August 22, the Hanes have had to pay a fine of $50 a day. On Tuesday that fee escalates to $500 a day.

Pork Payments Piling Up