Gulls Like Ben Harvey But He Does Not Like Them

Harvey sees the one time the trash is covered. Here are three other time I passed by the mentioned location. He’s also bothered by the squawks and cries of the gulls, but not the smell of the open garbage next to his part time residence?

Dumpster Fandango 090517 Dumpster Fandango 090522 Dumpster Fandango 09

 

City Manager Ben Harvey, clad in a baby blue sweater over a white button-up shirt, strolls down 16th Street with a cup of coffee in hand. It’s early afternoon, and while there are still no gulls around, Harvey stops between Fandango Restaurant and Grove Market, and turns to face a dumpster area.

“This is what I am talking about,” Harvey says, visibly annoyed, yet composed.

Harvey takes a few steps toward a nearly empty parking lot in front of the restaurant, and points to a big, black dumpster with its lid shut. The container stands next to a small trash can filled with a tied-up garbage bag.

In addition to using predatory birds to scare off gulls, part of the program would also include stepping up enforcement of dumpster lid closures.

Gulls Like Ben Harvey But He Does Not Like Them

City Proposing A 140% Tax Hike

Increasing business tax as other sources for more money fail.

The proposed increase would take the current rate from $0.001 per dollar of gross receipts to $0.0024.

If passed, the initiative would also remove the current cap.

Right now, if a business makes more than $3 million in gross receipts, they only pay $3,000 in business license tax because that is the current cap.

City Manager Ben Harvey said there are about 20 businesses in Pacific Grove affected by the cap.

The city has been exploring ways to increase revenue for months and this is one of the ideas the council thinks could work.

City Proposing A 140% Tax Hike

Taxing The Aquarium Admissions Back In The News

I think they do this to every new City Manager to introduce them to the town since they are never a current or previous resident.

Consideration of the tax comes after last week’s council meeting when City Manager Ben Harvey presented revenue-generating ideas for the city. That’s when councilman Dan Miller made a motion to consider putting an admissions tax on a future ballot, a move that could potentially drive up the cost of ticket prices at the aquarium, but also raise $700,000 for the city of Pacific Grove.

“The wear-and-tear done on our roads and infrastructure is by people who are coming here for admissions for one area event or another,” said Miller. “You have to just start saying, ‘They pay other taxes like a gas tax, sales tax except not admission to an event.’ Why is that special? It shouldn’t be.”

Taxing The Aquarium Admissions Back In The News

Business Tax Hike In The Works

OK if they offer incentives that can reduce the tax, like being open 7 days a week and at least 10 hours per day. Tax property owners for empty storefronts.

The current cap for a business license is $3,000 while the minimum cost is $15. City Manager Ben Harvey said that both figures should be a lot higher.

“Both need to be reviewed and raised,” said Harvey. “We will bring back different scenarios to the council and what each one would potentially yield to the city.”

Business Tax Hike In The Works

New City Manager Hired

City Hall Help Wanted

Expert bureaucrat, does not yet know what “makes Pacific Grove unique and special”

Prior to coming the Monterey Peninsula, he was the city manager for the city of Avalon on Catalina Island from September 2013 to November 2015. Before that, Harvey worked as a regional manager for local public affairs for Southern California Edison for seven years.

“I’m working to understand everything that makes Pacific Grove unique and special and trying to keep it that way,” Harvey told The Herald.

New City Manager Hired

Interim City Manager Appointed

From out of town, been fired from last city manager job. What could go wrong?

After a two-hour interview in closed session followed by an open selection process at a special meeting Saturday, the City Council named former Avalon City Manager Ben Harvey to the Pacific Grove post.

Harvey, 45, was dismissed from his position with the Santa Catalina Island city. When asked about the dismissal, Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Kampe said he had no qualms about Harvey’s new appointment.

Harvey, who had served as Avalon’s city manager since September 2013, was dismissed in November on a 3-2 vote of the City Council after a performance evaluation that was closed to the public. Harvey said he was not fired for cause and that the council decided to exercise its option to pick a different leader.

Interim City Manager Appointed