Features
Focus on Trees - Deciding Where to
Plant
| Ravenous | Community Upgrades
Nominate an NIP Project
| Skate Boarding
| Join a Board
Monterey Bay Sanctuary Continues
Review of Rules
The basic rules and plan that govern activities in Monterey Bay such as fishing, boating and harvesting are still under public review.
Community members have the opportunity to provide comments and suggestions as the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary revises its management plan and proposes new regulations for
the Sanctuary. View the draft plan on the Web at sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov
.
The City has provided comments to Sanctuary staff during the review process and supports the conservation, education, research and water quality protection efforts proposed in the program.
“How the Sanctuary program balances use with conservation is very important to our residents and businesses,” said Monterey Harbormaster Steve Scheiblauer. “The community needs to be informed about the process and stay involved.” The City is also encouraging the Sanctuary to work cooperatively with neighboring communities and
interested industries to find compromises, as opposed to establishing additional regulations.
Some of the items currently under consideration include:
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Focus on resource protection.
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Protect biodiversity by adopting more fully-protected areas, marine reserves, throughout Sanctuary.
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Place more education articles in media.
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Pursue fishing regulations only in Federal waters.
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Develop a plan to address the potential for additional invasive, exotic species.
Additional opportunities for public comment will be offered this fall. Look for updates in the local media and on
this Web site at www.monterey.org/harbor or call the Monterey Harbor & Marina at
646-3950.
Focus on Trees -
Deciding
Where to Plant
Planting trees throughout the local community continues to be a goal for both the City and residents. However, community members should find out where their property line is before planting because individuals are required
to secure a permit before planting trees on City property or public rights of way. A right of way is land designated for underground and overhead utilities such as sewer mains, water and power lines; or for streets, curbs and sidewalks.
Trees in these areas can damage pipes and property and cause power outages. Planting trees on private property is not regulated. Residents are encouraged to plant and maintain their own trees for the benefit
of the community’s urban forest.
Before planting near a street or utility check with the City. Call the Parks Division office at
831.646.3860 or send an email.
Ravenous
Readers
Have you read a good book lately? Hungry for more? Bring your brown bag lunch to the Monterey Public Library on the first Monday of each month at noon for lively conversation, book recommendations and previews of soon-to-be published books. Other readers are hungry to know
what good book you’ve read lately!
For more info, call or email Readers’ Services at
831.646.3477.
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Community
Upgrades Made Possible by Tourist Dollars
More than $2 million is being spent on neighborhood projects. Street and safety upgrades, sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements and neighborhood traffic studies – all this and more are being funded this year through NIP monies.
Established in 1985, the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) sends tourist-generated dollars directly into the City’s
residential neighborhoods. Under a Charter Amendment, at least 16% of the money collected through hotel taxes (Transient Occupancy Tax) must be spent on neighborhood
and community improvements.
Click
here for more info on NIP and a complete list of the projects scheduled for this year visit
or call 831.646.3997.
Nominate
an NIP Project
Send in your project ideas for the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) and help your community!
What is a project?
A Neighborhood Improvement Project is any upgrade (not on private property) to public streets, storm drains, sewers, sidewalks, walkways, lighting, traffic control devices, landscaping and beautification,
parks, recreational facilities or other public buildings.
You can nominate a project by sending in the following info:
name, address, telephone, project location, description of improvement and description of need/expected benefits. The deadline to submit projects is the second Friday each February. However, you can send in your ideas anytime.
Send nominations to the City of Monterey, Public Works Dept., City Hall, Monterey, CA 93940 or email
clement@ci.monterey.ca.us.
For more info, call the City’s Construction Management
Division at 831.646.3997.
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Skate Boarding in the City
Tips & Tricks for a Fun Skate
Getting it together
Looking for a favorite skateboarding magazine/video? Or maybe you just want to build a ramp in your backyard.
Well, the Monterey Public Library is your local skateboarding resource. And it’s all free for Monterey residents.
Read the magazine Slap or find videos featuring skaters and surfers. Check out these titles: Extreme Skateboarding Moves, Concrete Wave; a History of Skateboarding, Thrasher; Insane Terrain; and On the Halfpipe with Tony Hawk. Learn how to build your own skateboarding ramp or find the location of skateboard parks and events worldwide. It’s all at your fingertips.
For more details, call or email the Youth Services Desk at
831.646.3934.
Grab your gear, head to skate park
Skateboarders and in-line skaters should try the
Monterey Skate Park located in the El Estero Park Complex behind Sollecito Park.
The park is open daily 9 a.m. until dusk and is designed for skaters of all ages; however, skaters under eight years old must be supervised by an adult. All skaters must wear safety gear, including a helmet, knee and elbow pads and wrist/hand guards (City Ordinance No. 3268).
For more info, call 831.646.3866 or visit www.monterey.org/rec
.
Rules of the skateboard road
Legally, skateboarders are “pedestrians” and must follow the same rules as those who walk. Skateboarders must stay on the sidewalk, cross
the road at crosswalks or intersections and yield to cars. As of Jan. 1, 2003, skateborders also must wear helmets when riding on public property, per State law. Skateboarding is permitted on the Monterey Coastal/Recreation Trail from the back side of
the Maritime Museum (near the tunnel entrance) to the city of Seaside.
Know where not to skateboard
Skateboarding is restricted in certain areas of the City including the Coastal/Recreation Trail from Pacific Grove to the Custom House Plaza;
the surrounding State Parks property and downtown Monterey. Signs are posted in these areas. Skateboarding or trespassing on private property or in public or private parking lots is also illegal.
Many property owners have authorized the police to take action if a violation is discovered. Fines for violations range from $50 to $100 and can be increased for repeat offenders. Reckless operation of skateboards, or any wheeled vehicle, is not permitted.
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Join
a Board, Commission
Get involved with local government
Volunteer at your City, serve on a Board or Commission. Board, commission and committee members play an important role. They
participate in the decision-making process and act as advisers to the City Council.
Positions available…
Two-year terms: Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Architectural Review Committee, Historic Preservation Commission and Colton Hall Museum/ Cultural Arts Commission.
Four-year terms: Library Board of Trustees.
One-year term: Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Committee.
How to apply…
The City Clerk accepts applications on an ongoing basis, and we are currently recruiting for terms that expire in December.
Call the City Clerk’s Office at 646-3935 for more info or go to www.monterey.org/cityclerk.
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