“Enid never had any problem telling people off if that’s what was needed to get it done. She told the city off; she told mayors off; she told me off. She’d throw anyone necessary under the bus to get the job done.”
Brian Congleton, Carmel-by-the-Sea Architect & Friend
"It’s the distillation of will. When she believes strongly in something, she’s like the point of the chisel.”
James Bryant, Alliance of Monterey Area Presservationists (AMAP) Board of Directors Member, Past AMAP President & Friend
“She had magnetism, a way of making you want to be on the in with her. She had a sort of wry sense of humor; an intellectual sense of humor. She generated enthusiasm.”
Barbara Thompson, Friend & Sister-In-Law
• Enid Thompson Sales, died September 17, 2008 at 87 years old.
• Worked with the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, saved many Victorian homes in the mid-1960s, preserving more than 350 homes.
• Activities ranged from co-founding Allied Potters, a pottery studio; operating a small film studio in San Francisco; promoting the career of dancer Iris Mabry; and growing Pinot Noir and Zinfandel grapes in Healdsburg.
• “Biggest claim to fame,” the first woman in California to get a general contractor’s license; designed and built homes, additions and remodels.
• Married noted jazz critic Grover Sales, later divorced; survived by a daughter, Rachel Lopez.
• Grew up in a Utah mining family, granddaughter of Salt Lake’s first non-Mormon mayor, and Berkeley, CA.
• Twenty year ago, settled in Carmel; founded the Monterey Peninsula’s preservation movement; awarded the California Preservation Foundation’s Preservationist of the Year; organized the Carmel Preservation Foundation; saved the First Murphy House, Door House and was responsible for placing the Sunset Center on the National Register of Historic places
• Last major success, helping to restore the Marsh Building in Monterey, a landmark Asian antiquities showroom which reopened in 2008 as Orientations at the Marsh.
(Sources: Enid Sales Affected Lives, Not Just Buildings, DAVE WEINSTEIN, AMAP MEMBER, Preservation NOW!, Alliance of Monterey Area Preservationists, Winter/Spring 2008-09 and Enid Sales affected lives, not just buildings, Dave Weinstein, Special to The Chronicle, Wednesday, November 12, 2008)
ADDENDUM:
Civic leader Sales dies
Had dogged determination to preserve history
By KEVIN HOWE
Herald Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 09/19/2008 01:37:25 AM
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Carmel Art Association Presents “WALL OF OPPORTUNITY,” ALL MEMBER SHOW
WHO: Carmel Art Association Artist Members
WHAT: “Wall of Opportunity” (Segal Room, north wall); Original Fine Art, including watercolors, oils, acrylics, graphics and mixed media paintings at marked down prices.
WHEN: Saturday, January 3, 2009 – Wednesday, February 4, 2009
10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Daily, Open to the Public at No Charge
WHERE: Carmel Art Association
W/s Dolores St. between 5th Av. & 6th Av.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.
WHAT: “Wall of Opportunity” (Segal Room, north wall); Original Fine Art, including watercolors, oils, acrylics, graphics and mixed media paintings at marked down prices.
WHEN: Saturday, January 3, 2009 – Wednesday, February 4, 2009
10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Daily, Open to the Public at No Charge
WHERE: Carmel Art Association
W/s Dolores St. between 5th Av. & 6th Av.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Nine New Year’s Resolutions for 2009
In 2009, our city government will strive to accomplish these important tasks for the benefit of all Carmelites, as follows:
• Contract with the City of Monterey for Fire Protection Services;
• Finalize Design Plans for the renovation of the Forest Theatre based on a true consensus of Carmelites, User Groups and the City and commence construction in October 2009 for a tentative completion date of May 2010.
• Increase funding for the Department of Public Works and the Forest, Parks and Beach Department in the Fiscal Year 2009/10 Budget;
• Hire a Community Planning and Building Director and a Public Works Director;
• Fund for ADA measures and improvements to the Scout House in the Fiscal Year 2009/10 Budget so that Carmel’s “Community Center” can reopen to user groups.
• Enforce the Municipal Code in a fair, equitable and uniform manner.
• Reissue a Tree Removal Permit with the original conditions approved by a majority vote of the City Council to Carmelite Susan Page so that she can finally remove her Black Acacia Tree due to private safety concerns.
• Function with City Council Members whose sole allegiance is to Carmelites;
• Comprehend that the council, commissions and boards exist to aid in the conduct of the “people’s business.” Moreover, we, the people, in delegating authority, do not give our public servants the right to decide what is good for us to know and what is not good for us to know. Therefore, all relevant information must be communicated to us fully and in a timely manner.
• Contract with the City of Monterey for Fire Protection Services;
• Finalize Design Plans for the renovation of the Forest Theatre based on a true consensus of Carmelites, User Groups and the City and commence construction in October 2009 for a tentative completion date of May 2010.
• Increase funding for the Department of Public Works and the Forest, Parks and Beach Department in the Fiscal Year 2009/10 Budget;
• Hire a Community Planning and Building Director and a Public Works Director;
• Fund for ADA measures and improvements to the Scout House in the Fiscal Year 2009/10 Budget so that Carmel’s “Community Center” can reopen to user groups.
• Enforce the Municipal Code in a fair, equitable and uniform manner.
• Reissue a Tree Removal Permit with the original conditions approved by a majority vote of the City Council to Carmelite Susan Page so that she can finally remove her Black Acacia Tree due to private safety concerns.
• Function with City Council Members whose sole allegiance is to Carmelites;
• Comprehend that the council, commissions and boards exist to aid in the conduct of the “people’s business.” Moreover, we, the people, in delegating authority, do not give our public servants the right to decide what is good for us to know and what is not good for us to know. Therefore, all relevant information must be communicated to us fully and in a timely manner.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
2008: End of Year Assessment
ABSTRACT: As a year end assessment, five themes are presented with examples for the purpose of illustrating the five themes, as follows:
o Mayoral Abuses of Power
o Four City Council Members who Act As Cabinet Members, as Opposed to Independently Elected Representatives
o Ineffectual City Administrator
o Misallocated Taxpayer Dollars
o Hypocritical and Inconsistent Enforcement
A COMMMENT is made with regard to Carmelites.
FIVE THEMES FOR 2008:
o Mayoral Abuses of Power
• Case of Carmelite Susan Page
Carmelite Susan Page, Mayor Sue McCloud’s neighbor, petitioned the City for removal of her Black Acacia tree due to private safety concerns. Throughout the process, as mayor, Sue McCloud interfered with the process, instigated and/or oversaw the removal of Susan Page’s application to the Forest and Beach Commission several times over months, attempted to prejudice her appeal of the Forest and Beach Commission’s unanimous decision to approve the removal of the Black Acacia tree by highlighting sections on documents which were later copied for City Council Members as part of the City Council Agenda Packet, voided a permit with conditions agreed to by Susan Page and voted by the City Council at the City Council meeting upholding the decision of the Forest and Beach Commission and substituted other language for the conditions voted upon by the City Council.
• Carmel Fire Department Consolidation with the Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments
Mayor Sue McCloud continues to “over control” governmental processes as per 2005 Civil Grand Jury Report Finding; Sue McCloud instigated and/or oversaw the city’s withdrawal from consolidation negotiations in January 2008 for no articulated purpose at the time and disallowed the placement of the consolidation issue on City Council agendas for public hearings for an entire year in order to educate the public and receive input from Carmelites. Only lately has the Public Safety Director finally communicated to Carmelites the options for the future management of the Carmel Fire Department. To wit, it appears the City of Monterey City Manager and Fire Chief are better representing the public safety interests of Carmelites than Mayor Sue McCloud.
• Installation of Speed Hump without Notification of Dolores Street Residents and Public Hearing
Only after Dolores Street residents hired an attorney who threatened the City with a lawsuit alleging misappropriation of funds due to the expenditure of taxpayer dollars for materials and labor without a public hearing and vote of the City Council did the “City” remove the speed hump in March 2008.
o Four City Council Members who Act As Cabinet Members, as Opposed to Independently Elected Representatives
• In 2008, the City Council voted unanimously approximately 89% of the time. Mayor Sue McCloud’s “team” concept has had the intended effect of discouraging honest and open discussion and debate about the issues confronting the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, i.e., Carmel Fire Department consolidation, deposition of the Flanders Mansion property and Scout House, et cetera.
o Ineffectual City Administrator
• Again in 2008, City Administrator Rich Guillen displayed a lack of initiative, i.e., waiting for City Council “policy direction;” allowed public assets to remain inaccessible and closed to the public, i.e., Scout House, Flanders Mansion; formulated a budget without adequate funding for essential departments, i.e., Department of Public Works, Forest, Parks and Beach Department.
• The City Administrator has failed to fully inform Carmelites at City Council meetings under Announcements from City Administrator, i.e., failure to timely inform Carmelites prior to withdrawing from fire department consolidation negotiations, failure to inform Carmelites about the City’s intentions with regard to the selling or leasing of the Flanders Mansion property, et cetera.
• The City Administrator has failed to hire a Community Planning and Building Director and a Public Works Director, after many years without Directors for these two essential departments.
• The City Administrator has overseen the understaffing and underfunding of essential departments to the extent that these departments are not functioning as effective departments, i.e., Department of Public Works, particularly with regard to the habitual underfunding of streets maintenance and improvements as per the recommendations of Nichols Consulting Engineers; Forest, Parks and Beach Department, particularly with regard to the lack of maintenance in Mission Trail Nature Preserve, the City’s largest park and the lack of a coherent reforestation program citywide. Furthermore, the understaffing and underfunding of departments has resulted in an overreliance on consultants and a failure to hire full time city employees with a long-term allegiance to the city.
o Misallocated Taxpayer Dollars
Underfunded Departments
• Forest, Parks & Beach Department:
For Fiscal Year 2008/09, $ 499,778 budgeted for the Forest, Parks and Beach Department relative to a total Fiscal Year 2008/09 Budget of $ 14,294,494 (or less than 3% of the total budget). The underfunding and understaffing of Forest, Parks and Beach Department has resulted in the City not implementing significant provisions of the Local Coastal Program and not maintaining all city parks to the same standard of maintenance.
• Department of Public Works
For Fiscal Year 2008/09, $ 1,333,668 budgeted for the Department of Public Works relative to a total Fiscal Year 2008/09 Budget of $ 14,294,494 (or less than 9% of the total budget). The underfunding of Public Works has resulted in the City not meeting the minimum recommendations of consultant Nichols Consulting Engineers for annual street maintenance, et cetera.
• Community Planning and Building Department
The understaffing of the Community Planning and Building Department with competent planners has resulted in the City having to expend taxpayer dollars for consultants to accomplish the General Plan Update, General Plan Housing Element, et cetera, which could be better accomplished by full-time city employees.
Overfunding of SCC & Marketing and Economic Revitalization
• For Fiscal Year 2007-08, the City’s subsidy to Sunset Cultural Center, Inc., to manage the city-owned Sunset Center, was $750,000. For Fiscal Year 2008/09, the subsidy is $713,000 and projected to be $680,000 for Fiscal Year 2009-10, according to the City’s Triennial Budget. Compared to other entertainment venues in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. receives a disproportionate amount of city revenues.
• For Fiscal Year 2008/09 $ 339,030 budgeted for Marketing and Economic Revitalization without tangible evidence the intended purpose of promoting “travel and tourism related businesses” is being realized.
o Hypocritical and Inconsistent Enforcement
• Numerous Lights in the Ocean Av. Medians vs. One Light in the Public Right-of-Way in front of a Residence
Case in Point: A Carmel homeowner was made to remove one light which was in the public right-of-way directly in front of his residential lot per Municipal Code, as follows:
15.36.070 Lighting Requirements B. Residential Buildings/Zones.
3. No exterior lighting is permitted upon City property and may not be directed toward City property.
However, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea installed numerous lights of the same type as the homeowner in the Ocean Avenue medians without a public hearing and in violation of the Municipal Code, as follows:
15.36.070 Lighting Requirements.
A. Commercial Buildings/Zones.
1. All light fixtures shall not be directed toward the public right-of-way.
• City filed a lawsuit against a citizen for allegedly illegally pruning Coast Live Oaks in the public right-of-way vs. City inaction with regard to the tree topping of a Cypress in the public right-of-way in front of a residence by an unlicensed tree pruner and without a permit.
Case in Point: A Carmel homeowner hired a “tree pruner” unlicensed in the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea to top a Cypress tree which is located in the public right-of-way in front of the homeowner’s residence, without a City permit per Municipal Code Section 12.28.060 Permit for Cutting Trees and Shrubs on Public Property. No action was taken against the homeowner.
In contrast, the City filed a lawsuit against a homeowner for hiring a tree service to prune trees in the public right-of-way across the street from the homeowner’s residence. The lawsuit was eventually settled for over $30,000.00.
COMMENT:
• An informed citizenry guided by high ethical and performance standards would not tolerate mayoral abuses of power, four City Council Members acting as Cabinet Members, an ineffectual city administrator, misallocated taxpayer dollars or hypocritical and inconsistent enforcement. That Carmelites have tolerated and at times rationalized and/or accommodated to such unethical and poor performance standards is an indictment of us!
o Mayoral Abuses of Power
o Four City Council Members who Act As Cabinet Members, as Opposed to Independently Elected Representatives
o Ineffectual City Administrator
o Misallocated Taxpayer Dollars
o Hypocritical and Inconsistent Enforcement
A COMMMENT is made with regard to Carmelites.
FIVE THEMES FOR 2008:
o Mayoral Abuses of Power
• Case of Carmelite Susan Page
Carmelite Susan Page, Mayor Sue McCloud’s neighbor, petitioned the City for removal of her Black Acacia tree due to private safety concerns. Throughout the process, as mayor, Sue McCloud interfered with the process, instigated and/or oversaw the removal of Susan Page’s application to the Forest and Beach Commission several times over months, attempted to prejudice her appeal of the Forest and Beach Commission’s unanimous decision to approve the removal of the Black Acacia tree by highlighting sections on documents which were later copied for City Council Members as part of the City Council Agenda Packet, voided a permit with conditions agreed to by Susan Page and voted by the City Council at the City Council meeting upholding the decision of the Forest and Beach Commission and substituted other language for the conditions voted upon by the City Council.
• Carmel Fire Department Consolidation with the Monterey and Pacific Grove Fire Departments
Mayor Sue McCloud continues to “over control” governmental processes as per 2005 Civil Grand Jury Report Finding; Sue McCloud instigated and/or oversaw the city’s withdrawal from consolidation negotiations in January 2008 for no articulated purpose at the time and disallowed the placement of the consolidation issue on City Council agendas for public hearings for an entire year in order to educate the public and receive input from Carmelites. Only lately has the Public Safety Director finally communicated to Carmelites the options for the future management of the Carmel Fire Department. To wit, it appears the City of Monterey City Manager and Fire Chief are better representing the public safety interests of Carmelites than Mayor Sue McCloud.
• Installation of Speed Hump without Notification of Dolores Street Residents and Public Hearing
Only after Dolores Street residents hired an attorney who threatened the City with a lawsuit alleging misappropriation of funds due to the expenditure of taxpayer dollars for materials and labor without a public hearing and vote of the City Council did the “City” remove the speed hump in March 2008.
o Four City Council Members who Act As Cabinet Members, as Opposed to Independently Elected Representatives
• In 2008, the City Council voted unanimously approximately 89% of the time. Mayor Sue McCloud’s “team” concept has had the intended effect of discouraging honest and open discussion and debate about the issues confronting the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, i.e., Carmel Fire Department consolidation, deposition of the Flanders Mansion property and Scout House, et cetera.
o Ineffectual City Administrator
• Again in 2008, City Administrator Rich Guillen displayed a lack of initiative, i.e., waiting for City Council “policy direction;” allowed public assets to remain inaccessible and closed to the public, i.e., Scout House, Flanders Mansion; formulated a budget without adequate funding for essential departments, i.e., Department of Public Works, Forest, Parks and Beach Department.
• The City Administrator has failed to fully inform Carmelites at City Council meetings under Announcements from City Administrator, i.e., failure to timely inform Carmelites prior to withdrawing from fire department consolidation negotiations, failure to inform Carmelites about the City’s intentions with regard to the selling or leasing of the Flanders Mansion property, et cetera.
• The City Administrator has failed to hire a Community Planning and Building Director and a Public Works Director, after many years without Directors for these two essential departments.
• The City Administrator has overseen the understaffing and underfunding of essential departments to the extent that these departments are not functioning as effective departments, i.e., Department of Public Works, particularly with regard to the habitual underfunding of streets maintenance and improvements as per the recommendations of Nichols Consulting Engineers; Forest, Parks and Beach Department, particularly with regard to the lack of maintenance in Mission Trail Nature Preserve, the City’s largest park and the lack of a coherent reforestation program citywide. Furthermore, the understaffing and underfunding of departments has resulted in an overreliance on consultants and a failure to hire full time city employees with a long-term allegiance to the city.
o Misallocated Taxpayer Dollars
Underfunded Departments
• Forest, Parks & Beach Department:
For Fiscal Year 2008/09, $ 499,778 budgeted for the Forest, Parks and Beach Department relative to a total Fiscal Year 2008/09 Budget of $ 14,294,494 (or less than 3% of the total budget). The underfunding and understaffing of Forest, Parks and Beach Department has resulted in the City not implementing significant provisions of the Local Coastal Program and not maintaining all city parks to the same standard of maintenance.
• Department of Public Works
For Fiscal Year 2008/09, $ 1,333,668 budgeted for the Department of Public Works relative to a total Fiscal Year 2008/09 Budget of $ 14,294,494 (or less than 9% of the total budget). The underfunding of Public Works has resulted in the City not meeting the minimum recommendations of consultant Nichols Consulting Engineers for annual street maintenance, et cetera.
• Community Planning and Building Department
The understaffing of the Community Planning and Building Department with competent planners has resulted in the City having to expend taxpayer dollars for consultants to accomplish the General Plan Update, General Plan Housing Element, et cetera, which could be better accomplished by full-time city employees.
Overfunding of SCC & Marketing and Economic Revitalization
• For Fiscal Year 2007-08, the City’s subsidy to Sunset Cultural Center, Inc., to manage the city-owned Sunset Center, was $750,000. For Fiscal Year 2008/09, the subsidy is $713,000 and projected to be $680,000 for Fiscal Year 2009-10, according to the City’s Triennial Budget. Compared to other entertainment venues in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. receives a disproportionate amount of city revenues.
• For Fiscal Year 2008/09 $ 339,030 budgeted for Marketing and Economic Revitalization without tangible evidence the intended purpose of promoting “travel and tourism related businesses” is being realized.
o Hypocritical and Inconsistent Enforcement
• Numerous Lights in the Ocean Av. Medians vs. One Light in the Public Right-of-Way in front of a Residence
Case in Point: A Carmel homeowner was made to remove one light which was in the public right-of-way directly in front of his residential lot per Municipal Code, as follows:
15.36.070 Lighting Requirements B. Residential Buildings/Zones.
3. No exterior lighting is permitted upon City property and may not be directed toward City property.
However, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea installed numerous lights of the same type as the homeowner in the Ocean Avenue medians without a public hearing and in violation of the Municipal Code, as follows:
15.36.070 Lighting Requirements.
A. Commercial Buildings/Zones.
1. All light fixtures shall not be directed toward the public right-of-way.
• City filed a lawsuit against a citizen for allegedly illegally pruning Coast Live Oaks in the public right-of-way vs. City inaction with regard to the tree topping of a Cypress in the public right-of-way in front of a residence by an unlicensed tree pruner and without a permit.
Case in Point: A Carmel homeowner hired a “tree pruner” unlicensed in the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea to top a Cypress tree which is located in the public right-of-way in front of the homeowner’s residence, without a City permit per Municipal Code Section 12.28.060 Permit for Cutting Trees and Shrubs on Public Property. No action was taken against the homeowner.
In contrast, the City filed a lawsuit against a homeowner for hiring a tree service to prune trees in the public right-of-way across the street from the homeowner’s residence. The lawsuit was eventually settled for over $30,000.00.
COMMENT:
• An informed citizenry guided by high ethical and performance standards would not tolerate mayoral abuses of power, four City Council Members acting as Cabinet Members, an ineffectual city administrator, misallocated taxpayer dollars or hypocritical and inconsistent enforcement. That Carmelites have tolerated and at times rationalized and/or accommodated to such unethical and poor performance standards is an indictment of us!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Monterey County Herald: “Change”
Today, Sunday, December 21, 2008, The Monterey County Herald published The Herald’s View entitled “Editorial: Holiday spirit spurs our list of good wishes.”
Pertinent to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea is, as follows:
“To the Carmel City Council: Change.”
Pertinent to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea is, as follows:
“To the Carmel City Council: Change.”
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Aaron’s "ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL" Christmas Tree, 2008
View of Aaron's 2008 "ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL" Christmas Tree from Serra Trail
View of Aaron’s "ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL" Christmas Tree, 2008Ornaments with Handwritten Names including Arrow, Bella, Bessie, Bixby, Buffy, Buster, Chew-Chew, Chippee, Coy, Fiona, Freddy, Fritz, Furball and Sharpie, Jake, Jonah, Kristin & Aida, Lexie & Sierra, Lottie, Luke, Mela and Kalikima and Tempe, Oliver, Rosie, Rufus, Santana, Shadow, Smokey, Snoopy, Solo, Spike, Summer and Schuber, Tally, Tank, Taos, Tarzan, Twiggy and Twinkie.
Golden Star, “ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL”To celebrate the Christmas season, animal lovers have again decorated Aaron’s tree in Mission Trail Nature Preserve. For 2008, the theme of Aaron's Christmas tree is "ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL."
Aaron’s “Merry Christmas” Tree, now a four year old redwood tree, is along Serra Trail, around the bend in the trail, about 1/4 mile from the entrance to Mission Trail Nature Preserve at Rio Road.
Canine Christmas Tree History:
Ed and Betty Anderson, of Monterey, planted their 2004 living redwood Christmas tree in Mission Trail Nature Preserve in 2005, as a memorial to their son, Aaron, who died on 21 December 2003, at the age of 31. For that first Christmas season in 2005, the tree was transformed into a magical Canine Christmas Tree. Since Aaron was an animal lover and “spent a lot of time in Mission Trail Park,” Aaron's mother said in December 2005 that she was delighted and thankful for the decorated tree at Christmastime. And Aaron “would have really enjoyed it.”
(Source: Canine Christmas tree is memorial redwood for Monterey couple’s son, Mary Brownfield, The Carmel Pine Cone, December 23, 2005)
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR ANIMAL COMPANIONS!
Close-up View of Ornaments 
Close-Up View of Ornaments
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Random Reportings
• Monetary Award to the Carmel Fire Department:
At noon on Thursday, 18 December 2008, the Carmel Fire Department will have an official award presentation announcing an award of $25,302 toward the purchase of firefighting, rescue and medical equipment made available through the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Heritage Reward and Paul Bystrowski of Monterey Insurance Agencies at the Carmel Fire Station at Sixth Avenue and San Carlos Street.
(Source: Grant for Carmel Fire Department, The Monterey County Herald, Saturday, December 13, 2008)
• 2009 Two-Week Carmel Bach Festival:
Carmel Bach Festival Executive Director Camille Kolles announced this past week that the 2009 Bach Festival will be shortened from three weeks to two weeks. The Festival will begin on Friday, July 17, 2008 and close Saturday, August 1, 2008. Kolles stated that recent attendance was approximately 70 percent of capacity and “the change enables us, above all, to maintain our high artistic standards while at the same time reducing costs in order to ensure the festival’s future viability and financial stability.”
(Source: GO! Magazine, The Monterey County Herald, Thursday, December 11, 2008)
• Forest Theatre Renovation Timeline:
At the 2 December 2008 City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously approved conceptual plans and a $131,000 contract with RFM Architects for a schematic design. The conceptual plan incorporated public comments, including “a 6-foot-high grape-steak fence like the existing fence surrounding the property, onsite parking, a turnout and handicap parking accessible from Santa Rita Street, use of the existing concrete foundation to install new benches and elimination of the center aisle in favor of two new side aisles, improvement of the existing concessions stand, elimination of the ticket and phone booths, new bathrooms in a single building, elimination of the underground corridor, and no change to the basic dimensions and height of the stage.”
The Schematic Design will take approximately three months, according to a letter from theatre architect Richard F. McCann. And according to City Administrator Rich Guillen, construction would commence by April 2009 and be completed by May 2010 in time for the Forest Theatre’s Centennial.
While City Administrator Rich Guillen stated that “people would have plenty of time to comment on the design as it wends its way through the city approval process,” it appears that the time for public hearings of the Forest and Beach Commission, Planning Commission and City Council were not taken in consideration. To wit, RFM Architects’ Schematic Design for the renovation of the Forest Theatre is expected to be completed in three months or by March 2009. Then, public hearings will ostensibly occur, a competitive bidding process and finally a negotiated contract with the selected company: the entire process could conceivably take months. Ergo, the suggestion made by Executive Director Stephen Moorer of Pacific Repertory Theatre that construction begin “after the curtain drops on the final production in October, which would provide seven months before the start of the spring 2010 season,” is reasonable and prudent, especially in the context of the Forest Theatre not having had major renovations in almost 100 years.
(Source: Architect gets $131,000 for next Forest Theater design phase, MARY BROWNFIELD, The Carmel Pine Cone, December 12, 2008)
At noon on Thursday, 18 December 2008, the Carmel Fire Department will have an official award presentation announcing an award of $25,302 toward the purchase of firefighting, rescue and medical equipment made available through the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Heritage Reward and Paul Bystrowski of Monterey Insurance Agencies at the Carmel Fire Station at Sixth Avenue and San Carlos Street.
(Source: Grant for Carmel Fire Department, The Monterey County Herald, Saturday, December 13, 2008)
• 2009 Two-Week Carmel Bach Festival:
Carmel Bach Festival Executive Director Camille Kolles announced this past week that the 2009 Bach Festival will be shortened from three weeks to two weeks. The Festival will begin on Friday, July 17, 2008 and close Saturday, August 1, 2008. Kolles stated that recent attendance was approximately 70 percent of capacity and “the change enables us, above all, to maintain our high artistic standards while at the same time reducing costs in order to ensure the festival’s future viability and financial stability.”
(Source: GO! Magazine, The Monterey County Herald, Thursday, December 11, 2008)
• Forest Theatre Renovation Timeline:
At the 2 December 2008 City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously approved conceptual plans and a $131,000 contract with RFM Architects for a schematic design. The conceptual plan incorporated public comments, including “a 6-foot-high grape-steak fence like the existing fence surrounding the property, onsite parking, a turnout and handicap parking accessible from Santa Rita Street, use of the existing concrete foundation to install new benches and elimination of the center aisle in favor of two new side aisles, improvement of the existing concessions stand, elimination of the ticket and phone booths, new bathrooms in a single building, elimination of the underground corridor, and no change to the basic dimensions and height of the stage.”
The Schematic Design will take approximately three months, according to a letter from theatre architect Richard F. McCann. And according to City Administrator Rich Guillen, construction would commence by April 2009 and be completed by May 2010 in time for the Forest Theatre’s Centennial.
While City Administrator Rich Guillen stated that “people would have plenty of time to comment on the design as it wends its way through the city approval process,” it appears that the time for public hearings of the Forest and Beach Commission, Planning Commission and City Council were not taken in consideration. To wit, RFM Architects’ Schematic Design for the renovation of the Forest Theatre is expected to be completed in three months or by March 2009. Then, public hearings will ostensibly occur, a competitive bidding process and finally a negotiated contract with the selected company: the entire process could conceivably take months. Ergo, the suggestion made by Executive Director Stephen Moorer of Pacific Repertory Theatre that construction begin “after the curtain drops on the final production in October, which would provide seven months before the start of the spring 2010 season,” is reasonable and prudent, especially in the context of the Forest Theatre not having had major renovations in almost 100 years.
(Source: Architect gets $131,000 for next Forest Theater design phase, MARY BROWNFIELD, The Carmel Pine Cone, December 12, 2008)
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