City Council News

By: Susan Goldbeck

On September 3, 2025, 2025, in the absence of Mayor Nick Smith,

Mayor Pro tem- Joe Amelio opened the meeting of the Pacific Grove

City Council which took the following actions:

Agenda item: 11-A The City Council unanimously passed an ordinance giving the

go–ahead to the City’s Public Works Department for the repairs and

reconfiguration of the area of the soon- to- be -open Kimpton Hotel. This project is

known as the Central, Grand and Fountain Avenue Street Improvement project.

The work is designed to facilitate the increase in traffic and particularly

enhances pedestrian safety according to public Works Director Daniel Gho who

gave the presentation to the City Council.

Gho reported that the expected cost of the project is $657,634. plus a 10%

contingency and should be completed in early December. The funds to pay for this

work involve a contribution of $86,976 from the Kimpton Hotel owners as

required by its use permit, and a major grant from the Transportation Agency of

Monterrey County and other existing funding sources. See story to the right.

Agenda item 12-A The City Council voted unanimously to adopt the

recommendation of Councilmember Chaps Paduri, that the City staff be tasked to

create a policy for confronting possible issues created by the use of Artificial

Intelligence. The City Manager was to return with his findings by the early part of

next year.

Councilmember Cynthia Garfield with Jan Stewart, who with her husband John, donated the sculpture to the City.

Agenda item 12-B

The City Council unanimously chose the round concrete seating area below

Chase Park on Lover’s Point for the installation of the sculptor known as the

Dancing Monarchs. See full story and photos in this issue.

Other City News:

Which of the new voting districts in Pacific Grove will have a candidate for

City Council in the November 2026 election?

Districts 1-3-5. City Council terms are staggered and there will be three vacancies

in 2026. The mayor’s race will remain a city-wide race.

What is happening at the Lighthouse Cinema?

Dr. Aymen Adeeb has purchased the theater and plans to rehabilitate it. Much

of the exterior painting has been done changing the color to a dark blue with white

trim. He has done considerable outreach to the public for ideas about its future use.

See next Beacon for a Q and A with Dr. Adeeb. This was scheduled for this issue

but Dr. Adeeb was in a traffic accident which postponed the interview. He is now

recovering.

When will the only fast food burger spot in town be up and open for business?

Carl’s Jr. in Pacific Grove-New Monterey was destroyed down to the building

pad by a recent fire. The building has been torn down to the cement pad. It will be

up and open for business – best guess, fall 2026.