COMMENTARY City Council Mindset Must Change From Tourist-Centric to Resident-Centric, Team-Centric to Constituent-Centric, For Better Public Service (Part II)

Establishing Ordinance

THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA is hereby determined to be primarily, essentially and predominantly 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. (Ord. 2004-02 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2004-01 § 1, 2004).Adopted by Ordinance No. 96 passed on this 5th day of June 1929.

Source: Carmel-by-the-Sea Municipal Code, Chapter 17.02 TITLE, COMPONENTS AND PURPOSES, 17.02.010 Preamble

In sync with the City’s Establishing Ordinance, on 7 September 2014, astute observer and Carmelite Bill Souveroff submitted the following to the City for the record:

The Changing Character of the City of Carmel

A Vital Issue for the Residents

There is another very related and critical issue behind the current disconnect by some with City Hall, that of a new perceived direction of the City. The commercial and business interests seem to now be the City's primary interest, increasingly impinging on the residential areas and the best interests of Carmel's citizens.

Carmel has always been primarily a City of residents and citizens. Business is important, but secondary. But there clearly appears to have been a recent major change in that charter by the City Council and Staff, contrary to the heart of the City's General Plan.

All we now hear are things like "heads-on-beds", the HID, increased travel marketing, more visitor parking spaces, more tourists, more events, special consultants to help fill up every day and night, more wine stores and bars, a new party venue, and more revenues from visitor taxes. All of this is turning Carmel into a bustling tourist town, with the residents becoming a seeming after-thought.

The residents now see previously quiet residential streets filling up with cars from tourists and business employees, more and more traffic, resident's visitors not being able to park at or even near their homes, difficulty getting into a restaurant, not wanting to go downtown with the hassle of all the crowds, ever increasing litter, and increasingly loud noise from commercial events.

Incongruously, what the residents now perceive at their homes and neighborhoods is a growing and highly structured and organized city government with an emphasis on homeowner rules, compliance officers and strict code compliance, and a fear by some to speaking out. In general there is a growing perception of a pervasive movement away from the previous tranquility and peace of the residents and homeowners of the town.

The planned improvements such as the improved roads and beach are welcomed by everyone. But if they are then filled up with additional people, traffic, and events, it will take away much of the intent of the improvements.  

Carmel is not the City of Santa Barbara or even the City of Laguna Beach. (The latter was incredibly noted by Staff as a comparable "benchmark city" .... .it has nine square miles and 23,000 people.) That is important. Carmel is a village with only one square mile and under 4,000 people.

The great majority of Carmel is by far found in its distinctive homes and beautiful scenic space, and by the people who live there. That is what makes it special and an attraction, not commerce, business, and intensified tourist growth.

This is a change that should be recognized and dealt with, as perceptions count, especially when the reality confirms it. Now is the time to reflect on the consequences and reconsider the direction. Business certainly has its place in Carmel, but there has to be some limit as to what this small town can absorb.

The Changing Character of the City of Carmel

The Changing Character of the City of Carmel

A Vital Issue for the Residents

Now turning to the team-centric mindset of the city counicl, the following correspondence between Steve Dallas, City Council Member, and Jason Stilwell, then-City Administrator:

From: steve dallas

Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2014 8:00 PM

To: Jason Stilwell

Subject: thank you

Thanks for your support and help in my first meeting. I love being on the team and can not wait to continue working together as a team to keep Carmel great

thank you

steve dallas

From: Jason Stilwell

Sent: Friday, May 09, 2014 1:26 PM

To: steve dallas

Subject: RE:thank you

Thanks Steve. We're off and running!

In conclusion, a plausible theory for “what went wrong” in the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea during the last three years is that the mayor and city council members served the interests of the “team,” i.e., mayor, city council members, city administrator, supporters, and failed to serve the interests of all their constituents.  Mayor Jason Burnett and City Council Members Victoria Beach, Ken Talmage, Carrie Theis, and Steve Dallas, in his vote to approve the severance agreement between the City and Jason Stilwell, “failed the tests of true inquiry, proof, duty, and, most of all, a human perspective of the chaos unfolding all around them,” as Carmelite Gene McFarland wrote in his 5 December 2014 letter to the editor, The Carmel Pine Cone (‘Don’t accept the mea culpas,’ Gene McFarland, Carmel, Letters to the Editor, The Carmel Pine Cone, December 5, 2014, 31A).  Carmelites deserve better! Carmelites deserve a mayor and city council members who have the character, ethics and judgment to lead for the good of all of their constituents and the ability to place the interests of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea ahead of their own personal ambitions and agendas.

Written & Published by L. A. Paterson