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Visit our Web site (http://www.monterey.org/) to get info and updates about meetings, programs, City departments and services.
Our site is currently being expanded and reformatted, and additional material is being posted all the time.
If you have suggestions for the City site, please e-mail webmaster@ci.monterey.ca.us or call 646-5692.

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In the News

Affordable Housing Grows in Monterey
Affordable housing received a boost as the City celebrated the completion of 29 brand-new, low- and moderate-income rental apartments last fall.
Located at Osio Plaza on Calle Principal, the apartments are one part of a larger complex that includes retail shops and a six-screen theater – featuring art, foreign and speciality films – which opened in December.
Construction of the affordable rental apartments was funded in part by City redevelopment housing funds.
For more info on the low- and moderate-income apartment rentals, call property manager A.G. Davi Real Estate at 373-2607.
cutline - Twenty-nine brand-new, affordable rental units were built on Calle Principal.

Childcare Opportunities in Area to Expand
Realizing a City priority, a new childcare facility is scheduled to open early this spring at the former Child Develop-ment Center on the Presidio of Monterey.
A collaborative effort of the City, U.S. Army and community members and organizations has produced additional childcare space for 144 children – from infants to preschoolers.
At least 30 percent of the spaces will be reserved for children who are underprivileged or live at the poverty level as defined by State standards. Up to 40 slots will be earmarked for military families.
The City has secured Aramark Educational Resources, a company that runs more than 15 centers nationwide, to manage the operations at the Center.
Registration is scheduled to begin this month or early February. For more information call Aramark Work/Life Partnerships at 444-0235.

Additional Funding to Help Widen Window-on-the-Bay
Window-on-the-Bay along Del Monte Avenue can continue to grow thanks to additional monies that have been awarded to the City. We were recently awarded more than $4 million to expand Monterey Bay Waterfront Park as well as provide for safety and traffic improvements on Del Monte Avenue.
The funding includes:

• $1 million from State Senate Bill 767 authored by Sen. Bruce McPherson
• $1 million from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation
• $1.2 million in grants from the Transportation Agency of Monterey County (TAMC)
• $1 million in grants from the State Coastal Conservancy Community members have said it is important to create more open space and parks in the City in general and, in specific, to expand Window-on-the-Bay. As a result, the City continues to look for additional revenues to provide for more open space and in turn, more recreational opportunities.

Donations to City Are Tax Deductible
Donations to the City are tax deductible and your dollars stay in your community. Donations of cash or property to the City are qualified charitable gifts according to the IRS. That means the value of your donation can be deducted from your annual income taxes. Such contributions or gifts to the City must be used exclusively for “public purposes” and may be used to benefit a wide variety of programs.
Checks payable to the City of Monterey should be mailed to: Finance Department, City Hall, Monterey, CA 93940. Also, please indicate the project or activity you would like your gift applied to.
For more info, call the City’s Finance Department at 646-3940.
cutline - Tax-deductible donations can be earmarked for specific City projects such as Monterey Bay Waterfront Park – Window-on-the-Bay.

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Neighborhoods Train for Emergencies

NERT volunteers prepare to help those in need
A disaster drill was held last fall by the Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams (NERT) to test their ability to respond during an emergency.
The drill “simulated” a major earthquake, and NERT volunteer members had to respond to various scenarios without the aid of the City.
Held in the Casanova Oak Knoll neighborhood, some scenarios included people trapped inside of cars with hot electrical wires lying on top; small fires; and people trapped in rubble. Team members performed first aid and light rescue and provided triage (priority ranking of the injured).
Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams receive training through the Monterey Fire Department. For more info, call the NERT Hot Line at 646-3416 or Division Chief Mike Ventimiglia at 646-3905.
cutline - More than 250 community volunteers have completed the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team training.

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Volunteering

Young People Volunteer Everyday
Here’s how some young volunteers help out at the City ...
Eagle Scout Richard Axelrod recruited, coordinated and supervised a work party of
21 volunteers to label City storm drains
“No Dumping – Flows to Bay.” In one day, Richard’s group stenciled 301 storm drains, one third of the City’s drains!
Visiting from Russia, Natalia Riagouzova and Oksana Bogacheva are studying at Monterey Institute of International Studies. As volunteers, they are doing it all. From distributing posters and selling Sesquicentennial merchandise, to helping on parade routes, coordinating volunteers for Make a Difference Day and decorating Colton Hall for the holidays, they both volunteer more than 8 hours each week.
Monterey High student Alex Brodd has volunteered for the City since 1997. Alex has completed a variety of short-term assignments including assisting with the 4th of July parade, Library book sales, the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail use study and traffic pattern studies.

Why volunteer?
Alex Brodd sums it up: “It’s really a lot of fun. It’s a chance to meet new people with similar interests and to meet people who have different interests who you can learn from.”
What’s up for volunteers ...

• Homework Pals – Training begins Jan. 15 for volunteers interested in making a difference in a child’s life. Work individually with students K-5th grade on homework assignments during an afterschool program. Two hours a week is all it takes.
• Interested in computers? Two City departments need help digitally scanning plans and drawings. Some familiarity with Windows is requested.
• Newsletter layout, desktop publishing.
  Get the word out. Help create a community newsletter on a bi-monthly basis.
• Conference Center Concierge – Answer questions, give directions and promote the history, activities and services of the City.

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Rev. 02/19/08 L. Huelga  http://www.monterey.org/focus/winter2000/citybriefs.html