Features
Historic Preservation
Efforts
| Public Service Center Moves on to Design Phase
Become a Police Officer |
Support Your Community Fourth of July Celebration
Library Cards Now Free to Regional Community |
City Leading the Way in Stormwater Issues
 Historic Preservation Efforts Net
National Recognition, Grant
Concerted historic preservation campaigns at
the City continue to attract national recognition, accolades as well as
grant funding.
The City was recently awarded a $100,000 Preserve America grant to
develop a coordinated, interactive way-finding and signage program to
promote historic and cultural resources; document and interpret public and
private heritage assets; and enhance the visitor experience. Signs,
pamphlets and Web-based tours will be part of the overall package. The City
was designated as one of the country’s Preserve America communities by First
Lady Laura Bush in January 2005, making us eligible for grant funds.
“Monterey rivals any city in the United States for heritage,
culture, natural history and scenic beauty,” said Richard Moe, president of
the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Also, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Monterey
to its 2006 list of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual
slate of unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States. The
City was selected from a list of more than 90 destinations spanning 39
states. Nominations were submitted by individuals, preservation
organizations and local
communities.
For more info on historic preservation in the City, visit
www.monterey.org/commdevelop
and click on “History/Preservation.”
Public Service Center Moves On to Design Phase
 The proposed one-stop Public Service Center,
planned to consolidate City services, provide better customer access and
create adequate office space, has moved on to the design phase after getting
the go ahead from the City Council. The Council considered and voted to
certify the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) at its meeting in early July
and directed staff to work with project consultants to develop architectural
drawings.
The current design calls for three buildings totaling approximately
35,000 square feet, with 26,000 square feet above ground and a
9,000-square-foot basement. The size of the north building was significantly
reduced from original proposals in order to incorporate a landscaped plaza
as a buffer between the existing historic building and better fit the Civic
Center environment.
Unveiled in January 2006, this new proposal was reviewed and
recommended to the Council by all of the City committees and commissions. It
incorporates much community input and many suggestions that have been
collected throughout the public review process. The City Council took public
comments on the project most recently at meetings in May and July.
For project background details and ongoing updates, visit
www.monterey.org/civiccenter
Help
Keep Monterey Safe: Become a Police Officer
 Protect and serve your community by becoming
part of the City’s public safety team. The Monterey Police Department is
looking for qualified applicants who are interested in a law enforcement
career. Along with the traditional techniques and opportunities, a recently
established community policing program affords officers a new way to work
closely with the
citizens of Monterey.
Learn more by visiting
www.monterey.org/mpd Fill out an interest card and keep up to date with
our application process.
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Support
Your Community Fourth of July Celebration
with Time, Resources
 Support Monterey’s family-oriented
Independence Day celebration and preserve the Fourth of July community
tradition. If you enjoyed the festivities, do your part by contributing
funds or time to support the parade, lawn party, fireworks, cleanup and
fundraising efforts. More than 75,000 people from throughout the area come
to this community event. Although the City is committed to continuing the
19-year-old tradition, it does cost some $250,000 to make it possible.
To help move ahead, the City has organized a Fourth of July
fundraising committee to support our efforts and secure financial support
from the community. Contributions from individuals and businesses are tax
deductible.
To support the Fourth of July event campaign, make your checks
payable to the City of Monterey - Fourth of July Celebration or make a
donation via credit card. A self-addressed envelope is included in this
edition of City Focus for your convenience.
Mail contributions to: Director Kay Russo, Recreation and
Community Services Department, City Hall, Monterey, CA 93940.
For more info, call 646.3866
(russo@ci.monterey.ca.us); or
to volunteer, call 646.3719
(www.monterey.org).
Library
Cards Now Free to Regional Community
The Monterey Public Library has closed the book
– the pocketbook that is – by doing
away with library card fees for residents of surrounding counties. Residents
of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties can get library cards free
of charge as of July 1. The new policy
could eventually extend to all California residents.
The action by the Monterey Public Library Board of Trustees not
only enhances the Library’s
outreach efforts, it also secures access to State monies, estimated to total
some $102,000 – more than twice the $40,000 once collected through
non-resident card fees. The change also opens the door to new partnerships
and support from residents of neighboring communities who own businesses or
property, work or attend schools in Monterey but were ineligible for free
library cards.
Non-resident library card fees were instituted more than 10 years
ago after a contract with Monterey County to compensate the City for serving
non-residents was terminated.
If you have questions, comments or concerns, call Library
Director Kim Bui-Burton at
646.5601 or email
buiburto@ci.monterey.ca.us
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City
Leading Way in Storm Water Issues
The City is breaking new ground in our
efforts to protect water quality and keep pollution out of the Bay by
developing a strong Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP). Working in
conjunction with six neighboring communities over the last three years, we
have developed a plan that will serve as the stormwater regulatory road map
for the next five years. The City has appeared before the Central Coast
Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB) twice seeking approval of the
SWMP and a permit to move ahead. The approval process is not an exact
science, but we are leading the way for coastal communities of our size. We
have been working closely with environmental advocacy organizations such as
the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Friends of the Sea Otter to
revise our SWMP as needed. Next time we appear before the CCRWQCB, we are
confident our plan will be approved.
For more info on this process, call the City’s Public Works
Department at 646.3920 or visit
www.monterey.org/publicworks
See related News Article
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