City, School District Collaborations Abound

As the City continues to explore unique ways to meet community needs and interests, we have begun to establish a track record of successful collaborations with local organizations and agencies. One of our partners in these collaborations is the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.
Following are some of the highlights of our many recent partnerships:
Community of Caring Monterey Peninsula – The City and MPUSD are two of many partners that helped start Community of Caring Monterey Peninsula. Since July 1997, the nonprofit has trained more than 500 community members and become involved with a variety of events, programs and activities.
Institutional Network and Access Monterey Peninsula – We are working with TCI on a fiber-optic network linking City and School buildings, which will improve services and save money. We are also working with others to help start Access Monterey Peninsula, a new nonprofit that will help create and stimulate community programming on local cable.
School Area Improvements – The City’s Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) has underwritten landscaping and play area improvements at Bay View Elementary School. In exchange, the areas are available as a neighborhood park after school hours. Similar improvements, funded by NIP, are scheduled to go in at Monte Vista Elementary School as well.
D.A.R.E. – The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program has proven to be successful in helping prevent substance abuse by young people. The City and MPUSD recently introduced D.A.R.E. in our schools.

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Countywide Survey Rates Quality of Life of All Residents

Another tool the City uses to gather community input is the TELLUS/DIGANOS Survey, which offers an opportunity for those who live and work in Monterey County to rate the quality of life in the County.
The 1999 TELLUS/DIGANOS Survey focuses on five key County issues: health, public safety, education, environment/economics and social environment. Hundreds of people and many organizations, including the City, helped develop survey questions that will provide answers that are important for the future. Telephone and face-to-face interviews will occur over the next month.
While the City gathers local survey data, this countywide analysis will provide a regional perspective on the issues and concerns that face our entire community and help in our planning efforts. This is the second TELLUS/DIGANOS Survey conducted in the County. To learn more about this project, please call 831.647.7656.

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Volunteering is Just Plain Fun

Who: Gordon Paul Smith and Ramona C. Smith, founders/maintainers of The Sensory Garden* at Custom House Plaza, which celebrated its 5th anniversary in February. Last year alone the Smiths recorded 758 volunteer hours and over 3,000 miles for nursery and gardening work.
Background: In the early 1980s, the dirt road behind the Pacific House – Olivier Street – with its unsightly dumpsters inspired the Smiths to action.
After receiving the blessings of both the City and the State parks department, the Smiths pursued the dream of a sensory garden. With Ramona Smith as chair, they began a campaign to raise $300,000 and build a garden. “This garden was developed by the private community on public property for the benefit and enjoyment of all residents and visitors,”
Gordon Smith says.
Why Volunteer? “We enjoy this garden and we’re proud of it. It’s a great community resource enjoyed by many,” Ramona Smith says. “As long as it continues to be fun for us, we will keep doing it!”
*Planted to enhance the senses of sight, smell, touch and hearing, The Sensory Garden was constructed to be accessible to all ages, including those with visual impairments or other disabilities. Donations to assist with garden upkeep can be made through the Monterey History and Art Association. To volunteer at the garden or to find out more about volunteering call the City at 646.3719.

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Budget Approval Process Underway - Community members asked to help shape City priorities

It’s budget time at the City and you play an important part. Monterey community members are encouraged to attend meetings, study sessions, public hearings and other community forums designed specifically to hear from you.
“We need to hear community members’ interests and issues,” says City Manager Fred Meurer.
“Each year we ask everyone to help shape the priorities for the coming fiscal year to guide our budget and work program.”
Last year, citizens participated in a public forum held to gather suggestions and comments regarding City priorities. This year’s Community Connections public forum is scheduled for Weds., March 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Monterey Conference Center.
Other public meetings and hearings are planned during the budget development process. Attend and let us know what you think, or call, fax or e-mail your suggestions and ideas.
Call 646.3940 for more budget information or find material on-line at www.monterey.org/budget

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Preparations for Y2K on Track

Y2K, the Millennium Bug. What is it and what will happen when the year 2000 rolls around?
As you probably have heard, the Y2K problem refers to the potential inability of older computer programs and systems to correctly calculate date functions for the year 2000 and beyond. Be it a TV, a personal computer or traffic signal; the system may “think” that the date is the year 1900 and calculate information incorrectly.
The City has been working for almost two years to ensure all of our systems are ready to ring in the new century. From the Library circulation catalog to the traffic signals, all systems are being analyzed.
“We have been working as a team to identify all City systems that need to be tested and/or replaced,” says Information Services Manager John Pfeiffer.
Throughout the City, checks are being made to ensure that elevators, irrigation control systems, wastewater pump stations, refueling stations as well as fire, burglary and flood alarms are able to function in the year 2000.
For example, some of our older traffic control systems are being replaced this fall to avoid any problems. In addition, the majority of our computer software programs have been upgraded and by August all modifications will be complete.
We also are keeping abreast of Y2K efforts at other local agencies. Pacific Bell, California-American Water Company and PG&E each plan to have identified and corrected expected problems well before Dec. 31, 1999, officials say.
Ensuring that all City operated systems will function properly at the turn of the century is an ongoing process and we will continue to search for, identify and correct any potential problems.

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Rev 02/19/08 L. Huelga http://www.monterey.org/focus/spring99/news.html