THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA is hereby determined to be primarily, a residential City wherein business and commerce have in the past, are now, and are proposed to be in the future subordinated to its residential character; and that said determination is made having in mind the history and the development of said city, its growth and the causes thereof; and also its geographical and topographical aspects, together with its near proximity to the cities of Pacific Grove and Monterey and the businesses, industries, trades, callings and professions in existence and permissible therein.
Adopted by Ordinance No. 96 passed on this 5th day of June 1929
On 1 January 2007, The Monterey County Herald published responses from “top civic leaders” regarding their expectations for their respective cities in 2007.
RE: CRYSTAL BALL SHOWS BIG DOINGS FOR COUNTY
Mayors, supervisor optimistic in their predictions
Herald Staff Report
Carmel-by-the-Sea Mayor Sue McCloud’s expectations for the city in 2007:
“We need to update the historical context statement to deal with post-1940s buildings.”
Comment: At the 13 June 2006 Special City Council Meeting, an Order of Council was the “Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the City Administrator to sign a Consultant Services Agreement for an amount not to exceed $21,750 to retain the services of Archives and Architecture to prepare an update of the City’s Historic Context Statement for the 1940 through 1965 period.” The Consultant Services Agreement was dated 13 June 2006. Mayor McCloud pulled this item from the agenda without explanation. The update was to be completed “six months from the date of contract authorization” by Archives and Architecture.
“Working with other Peninsula cities on storm-water runoff and areas of sensitive biological significance.”
Comment: On the Consent Calendar of the 12 September 2006 City Council Meeting was the agenda item “Consideration of a Resolution agreeing to a payment of $125,000 to the Pebble Beach Company for legal costs associated with the Areas of Special Biological Significance Cease and Desist Order and approving a payment schedule.” The payment schedule included another $125,000, for a total of $250,000, will be paid to the Pebble Beach Company in Fiscal Year 2007/08. Apparently, Latham and Watkins, the law firm hired by Pebble Beach, appealed for a waiver on behalf of Carmel-by-the-Sea to avoid complying with the regulations. The waiver was denied. The city then decided to work with other Peninsula cities.
(Reference: http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/issues/Issue.09-28 2006/opinion/Article.squid_fry)
“Redefining historical preservation”
Comment: Historic preservation is delineated in the city’s Local Coastal Program (LCP); no redefining is necessary. However, knowledge of the historic preservation section of the LCP is required by City Council Members for their decisions to have credibility.
“New car show during Concours week, an opera festival is a possibility for the spring, and plans for a Carmel film festival should gain momentum.”
Comment: A Car Show, an Opera Festival and a Film Festival…all for the residents?
“Boosting tourism”
Comment: After 10 months, the City terminated Greg Sellers contract as the city’s Economic Development Coordinator. Now an ad hoc group is in charge of “boosting tourism.”
COMMENTS:
Are Mayor Sue McCloud’s “expectations” for the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea consistent with Carmel-by-the-Sea’s creed, Ordinance No. 96?
What “expectations” directly benefit Carmel-by-the-Sea residents?
Shouldn’t public safety i.e., IN SERVICE Fire Hydrants, trump any and all economic/commercial/business “expectations?”
2 comments:
Why does the City Council spend large sums of money on peripheral issues and studies, many of which never see the light of day or are ignored or duplicate studies that were done within the past few years? Basics such as staffing, street repair, maintaining the urban forest, safety etc., which are vital, go unfunded because city income has so consistently been wasted on non- essentials over the past six plus years. The City Counsel holds itself out as a model of fiscal responsibility when a quick look at the facts shows the exact opposite.
In Carmel-by-the-Sea, there are 2 parallel psychodramas.
One psychodrama involves one person's delusional thinking. DSM-IV defines delusions as "erroneous beliefs that usually involve a misinterpretation of perceptions or expericences." Particularly troubling is that non-bizarre delusions are plausible, held with a high level of conviction and highly resistant to change even when the delusional person is exposed to proof contradicting the belief. Treatment involves cognitive therapy techniques, although all therapy is highly problematic in delusional persons because the mistaken beliefs are organized into a consistent world-view, or in this case, Carmel city view.
The other psychodrama involves the enablers. Enablers or codependents crave security and the narcissist, in this case, the delusional person, craves power. Particularly troubling is that enabler behavior includes avoiding confrontation, external referencing and subordinating needs to the narcissist.
The trick is to puncture the delusional bubble so that everyone has to confront reality as it is, not as a manipulated, subjective, needy, egocentric view. Good Luck!
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