Category Archives: Pacific Grove

Marine Mammals, Birds Affected by Algae Bloom

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Large blooms of algae in Monterey Bay are releasing a toxin that has apparently been poisoning large numbers of marine mammals and birds.

Blooms of the algae produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid, said Tim Stephens of the University of California-Santa Cruz, whose scientists report that the blooms which first appeared in Southern California earlier this spring are now occurring along the Central Coast.

Researchers have detected high levels of the toxin in the bay, he said, and large numbers of dead seabirds, as well as sea lions with symptoms of domoic acid poisoning, have been turning up on Monterey Bay beaches.

“The impact on marine life depends on how much of the toxin gets into the food web,” said Raphael Kudela, associate professor of ocean sciences at UC-Santa Cruz. “But in terms of toxin production and the size of the bloom, this event is similar to the large blooms we saw in Monterey Bay in 2000 and 2002.”

Serious – nature does things that appear cruel.
Silly – maybe Round-Up herbicide in the ocean would kill the algae.

Marine Mammals, Birds Affected by Algae Bloom

Willoughby Whines Over Property Use

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First the tidepools, now the streets where we live

From the Council Agenda

B. Consider Claim for Damages No. L2007-05 ~ J. W. Willoughby

Council will consider a claim from an injured party and determine whether to approve the claim or deny and refer the matter back to staff. If the claim is denied as recommended, the claimant will have six (6) months to file legal action.

Reference: Executive Assistant Kirchhofer
Recommended Action: Deny and Refer the Claim to Staff

Willoughbys View

The yard. Looks like a happy PG family lives here. Nothing like the life endangering, environment threatening situation Willoughby cries about.Willoughbys View 2

Willoughby goes on to whine about a vacant lot that has a boat on a trailer parked there, and the home next door that may not be in “open house” condition, lowering the property values
.Willoughby
Would having fringe kooks in the neighborhood that may sue you for anything you do that does not agree with him also lower your property values?

Willoughby Whines Over Property Use

P.G. Chamber Of Commerce, What’s Your Job?

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By 7:30 a.m., however, Moe Ammar, president of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, was already fielding phone calls from Measure A supporters wondering why news reports said the rally would take place at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.

Pacific Grove forbids political events in city facilities, let alone campaign signs on city property. City Manager Jim Colangelo said group events at the museum are supposed to benefit the facility.

Ammar, a 20-year resident of Pacific Grove, knows well the local rules. He said a news release announcing Thursday’s event apparently was misinterpreted. The rally was planned for the sidewalk in front of the museum — a public location perfectly acceptable for the event.

Measure A or no measure A, PG is not going to be growing much, given the degree of build out. But really, this should not be the PG Chamber’s focus.

Anyway, that unaccredited announcement was in the same paper reporting this story. It looks very much like the protest was going to be at the Mvsevm.

Campaigning At The Mvsevm

P.G. Chamber Of Commerce, What’s Your Job?

Art Galleries Go Dry

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Wino Drunk Joseph Minton

A ban on serving wine during a regular showcase of Pacific Grove art galleries has uncorked spirited protests in the once-dry town.

Back at his art gallery, Robert Lewis said the wine caper is just a symptom of a greater problem: The city doesn’t have a clear vision for itself.

Hah! Chug some wine and wander in the fog – no one has a clear vision.

Art Galleries Go Dry

Lillian King’s Niece Back In Jail

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Cynthia Hurley was arrested last week after making threats against her great aunt, Lillian King, King’s attorney, Robert Rosenthal, and Nader Agha, co-conservator of King’s estate, said Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Lisa Poll.
One [threat] was verbalized to [Hurley’s] counselor and involved all three of those individuals, Poll said. And the second incident just involved Nader Agha on April 23. Poll said details of the threats aren’t public now but could be revealed at a May 10 court hearing in Salinas. Hurley was in a courtroom Tuesday for appointment of a public defender and remains in custody at Monterey County Jail.

One of the terms of [Hurley’s] probation is not to harass, threaten or harm the victim or co-conservators in the case, Poll said.

Lillian King’s Niece Back In Jail

Lighthouse Cinema Decision Delayed

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Lighthouse Cinema

The old Lighthouse Cinema closed in September, less than two years after a 13-screen theater opened at Del Monte Center in Monterey. That left the 11,000-square-foot downtown spot empty, though it is currently being used on a temporary basis for Sunday services by a church congregation.

Along with two shops, Enea proposes to retain a two-story office space and create three new apartments.

“Come back soon with more details”. That’s what the Pacific Grove City Council told developer Robert Enea on Wednesday. He is talking to at least four potential retailers but said he couldn’t reveal their identities to the council because of confidentiality agreements.

Several council members said they were uncomfortable giving the project a green light without knowing the type of businesses that would fill the space. Without that information, they couldn’t gauge the project’s potential traffic and noise impacts.

Pft. Look at what’s been brought to PG lately. Carmalodorous bistros and art galleries. I’d let Enea put a bowling alley there if it would bring tax revenue to town.

Lighthouse Cinema Decision Delayed

‘Gypsy scam’ Robbed P.G. Couple Of $8,000

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Communities that vote Democrat are easy marks..

Police said a pair of men ages 45 to 50 and 20 to 25 years old who drive a white or yellow van or sport utility vehicle are committing home repair service scams.

About two weeks ago, police said, the suspects obtained $8,000 in cash from an elderly couple for fraudulent vehicle repairs.

‘Gypsy scam’ Robbed P.G. Couple Of $8,000

City Manager’s Recommended Budget

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Staff will present the recommended FY 2007/08 budget. The City Council will discuss the budget, but will not take any action at this meeting. Public hearings are scheduled, for May 2, 2007 and May 16, 2007, with adoption tentatively scheduled for May 16, 2007.

Increases revenues 1.44 million.

Eliminate the Fire Division Chief position $90,000
De-fund 2.0 authorized Police Officer positions $216,000
De-fund one (of two) full-time staff at the museum for 25% of year $35,000
De-fund the Office Assistant position in the Recreation department $40,000
Eliminate contract plan-check services in the Community
Development Department $10,000
Contract with the City of Carmel for additional fire management services $60,000

Additional parking enforcement $25,000

Ha. A regular subject here about merchants & employees parking all day on Lighthouse and side streets.

Parking Victorian Corner Chevy 130803

Tree evaluation services and permit fee $65,000
Golf fee increases $400,000
Modify golf course clubhouse use permit to allow non-golf events $20,000
Increase rents from City facilities and parks $50,000
Decrease General Fund support for Museum; rely on other sources $60,000

How would you like to be the Park Fee Enforcement person? Stop, the wedding, lets see your papers . .

Implement metered parking in vicinity of Lovers’ Point $270,000
Implement metered parking in vicinity of Central Ave. and Eardley Ave. $99,000

Lovers Point Parking

That would look ugly on the shoreline.

Still fleecing the tourists, but staying away from Lighthouse Avenue. Looks like more of the high tech parking meters on the way.

Why not put some at the golf course parking lot as well?

PG Golf

City Manager’s Recommended Budget

Auditors Find No Fraud, But Trouble None The Less

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A routine audit of Pacific Grove’s books found that the city failed to document transactions and reconcile account balances last year which could affect the city’s ability to borrow money and issue bonds, city officials said.

The city’s finances have been in a tangle as a result of poor bookkeeping and overspending since at least 2000, said city officials and members of the city’s ad hoc budget and finance committee.

In December, Colangelo told the council that an inaccurate record keeping had caused the city to work with inflated numbers for six years in planning the budget. As a result, the city had overspent about $500,000 each year since 2000, including $1.9 million of reserve funds. Now, the city is considering putting tax measures on the ballot to bring in revenue to refill the depleted coffers.

Auditors Find No Fraud, But Trouble None The Less