PARADOXICAL CARMEL

• Mayor Jason Burnett stated his intention for the “Carmel Artisan Food Experience:” “My original intention was for this to be good for business — to enhance the vibrancy of business downtown.”  “It sounds like some of the ideas being discussed wouldn’t be good for business, and if they’re not good for business, I’m not interested in doing them.”  Yet, Mayor Burnett, along with City Council Members Beach, Hazdovac, Hillyard and Talmage, approved a November 6, 2012 ballot measure calling for a sales tax increase from 7.25% to 8.25% “to protect/maintain essential City of Carmel-by-the-Sea services by funding police officers and firefighters, ambulance services, maintaining 911 police/fire/ambulance response times, fixing potholes, improving/maintaining city streets, youth programs and parks, increasing code enforcement, expanding crime prevention programs, improving and maintaining the city’s urban forest, and preserving other general city services, with published independent annual financial audits of all expenditures for public review.”

Sources: Outdoor event goal: ‘Enhance downtown’ MARY SCHLEY, The Carmel Pine Cone, July 27, 2012, 1A & 28A

COUNCIL TO ASK VOTERS FOR SALES TAX INCREASE, MARY SCHLEY, The Carmel Pine Cone, June 15, 2012, 6A & 22 A

• While the Mayor and City Council Members cite public safety concerns in the ballot language calling for a sales tax increase, that is,  “City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Vital City Services Measure: Shall the city sales tax be increased from 7.25 percent to 8.25 percent (a 1 percent increase) to protect/maintain essential City of Carmel-by-the-Sea services by funding police officers and firefighters, ambulance services, maintaining 911 police/fire/ambulance response times,… expanding crime prevention programs,…,” in the context of another public safety issue, Mayor Burnett and City Council Member Victoria Beach seem unable to understand and/or appreciate the public safety issues involved in property owners Ann and Steve Kenfield’s appeal of the Forest and Beach Commission’s denial of an application for removal of a 30-inch diameter Monterey pine at a residence on the east side of Torres Street, 2 south of Fifth Avenue, namely a 75’ tall Monterey Pine tree posing “a unique safety risk” and “If that tree goes down, it’s hard to imagine there would not be catastrophic loss of life, most importantly, and of property,” according to Steve Kenfield.

Notes: “The tree is a mature Monterey pine with a trunk diameter of 37.2 inches measured at a point 54 inches above natural grade” and “Although the tree is healthy, it is structurally unstable due to the compromised root system,” according to Maureen Hamb-Certified Arborist WE2280.

Sources: COUNCIL TO ASK VOTERS FOR SALES TAX INCREASE, MARY SCHLEY, The Carmel Pine Cone, June 15, 2012, 6A & 22 A

Council decides to go along with homeowner's removal oflarge pine, MARY SCHLEY, The Carmel Pine Cone, August 10, 2012

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA PACKET

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

• “After the council unanimously voted for the final adoption of the ordinance creating the HID, Mayor Jason Burnett congratulated Carrie Theis, president of the Carmel Innkeepers Association and a key proponent of the district, for the success. “Congratulations, Carrie and the others who have worked so hard on this,” he said. “We have an HID, and now the ball is in your court.” He said he is looking forward to seeing occupancy rates — and therefore hotel tax revenues — rise as a result." Note: “The money will be used to pay for equipment, an office, and a Carmel Chamber of Commerce employee and assistant dedicated to bringing more midweek and conference business to town.” Yet, at the same time, Mayor Burnett does not appear to fully appreciate facts articulated by Matt Crow, Classic Hotels & Resorts CEO (La Playa Carmel owner), as follows: La Playa was a “failed business in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea;” La Playa was “losing money, suffering physical deterioration and coping with “seriously antiquated” reservations systems, marketing efforts, business plans and employee guidelines;” and the “key focus” of the new owner is on making “La Playa Carmel a viable business once again and, in the process, increasing TOT revenues, promoting Carmel-by-the-Sea, and providing the sustainable jobs that only successful businesses can create.”  

Sources: HOSPITALITY DISTRICT RECEIVES FINAL COUNCIL OK, MARY SCHLEY, The Carmel Pine Cone, August 10, 2012, 23A & 24A

Burnett wants union, La Playa meeting, MARY SCHLEY, TheCarmel Pine Cone, August 10, 2012

• Mayor Jason Burnett met with “PUC Commissioner Catherine Sandoval and her aide Stephen St. Clair at the Portola Hotel on June 28, where they talked about California American Water’s proposed project.” And because Mayor Burnett “was just trying to be extra cautious and transparent,” City Attorney Don Freeman filed a CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-­SEA NOTICE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATION on 3 July 2012 with the California Public Utilities Commission.  Yet, Mayor Burnett has been meeting recently with Hatton Fields neighbors about the Flanders Mansion (an ongoing court and legal issue) and he has not been “transparent” about informing his constituents about those meetings.

Source: PARSING WATERS

Peninsula mayors consider staff, budget for new JPA water; Burnett cozies up to PUC, Sara Rubin, Thursday, July 19, 2012