Deadline City Hall

City Council News:

   On September 17,2025 Mayor Nick Smith opened the meeting of the Pacific Grove City Council. Councilmembers Amelio and Walkingstick were absent . The Council took the following actions:

Agenda item: 11:

Public Works director Daniel Gho gave a report to the Council about the need to add $137,961. to the existing funding agreement with TAMC (Transportation Agency of Monterey County) to allow for the completion of Phase 1 of the proposed roundabout project on the five- legged intersection of Congress, Cedar and Sunset near the high school. Gho told the Council he would come back with the amended agreement for its consideration. See Q and A with Daniel Gho regarding the project .

Agenda item 13A:

Councilmember Cynthia Garfield recommended to the Council that in connection with the planned combination of the City's Historic Resources Committee with the Architectural Review Board, that changes should be made in relation to appointment of members of the combined board.

She also suggested a change in the Municipal Code which contained language to the effect that homeowners had no say in whether their property was designated historic or not. Garfield recommended that certain Municipal Code language be omitted so that homeowners might be consulted about designation on the list. She also suggested that the historic resources Committee which previously had appointment power over all its members will still retain the right to appoint one member to the combined board.

The Council agreed and staff was instructed to bring make the recommended changes and bring the issue back to the Council.

On October 1, 2025 Mayor Nick Smith opened the meeting of the Pacific Grove City Council. All members  were present . It was a light agenda. The Council took the following actions:

Agenda item :11 A

The Council reviewed and approved unanimously an ordinance which brought Pacific Groves ordinances in compliance with California building standards.

Agenda item 13 :

 The Council reviewed the Hops and Fog  application for a bulb- out expansion  and encroachment on City property on Lighthouse Ave. to allow for sidewalk dining. No compensation was given for this use. But found that it was in conformity with the Council’s sidewalk dining program. As to compensation issue, Mayor Smith indicated that encroachment permits are reviewed on a case by case basis. The Council  voted unanimously to support this encroachment recommendation.

Agenda item 13C: 

     This was a proposal offered by Councilmember Lori McDonnel that the Council direct staff to return an ordinance regulating operation of unmanned aircraft, (drones) as it effects wildlife inlcuding nesting birds, harbor seals, and the like.

      The current drone ordinance requires a permit to fly a drone in the City; it does not contain language prohibiting the disturbance of wildlife. This had been a suggested addition to the ordinance in the past but it never got done.

The Council voted unanimously to direct staff to prepare  an ordinance to achieve this end. Most cities in the area have this type of ordinances and many include outright prohibition of private drone use in their jurisdictions. .