FRIDAY LETTER
4th Annual Pumpkin Roll
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the 4th Annual Pumpkin Roll last Saturday. A big THANK YOU to our generous donors, we couldn't have a pumpkin roll without a whole lotta pumpkins; Rusty Croft for sharing his pumpkin carving skills with us and Carmel Rotary for helping the kids decorate pumpkins in the park. City staff did a great job getting the course up and decorating the area.
Our first pumpkin rollers of the day!
Rusty Croft and one of his three pumpkins.
Ashlee & Margi and their new friend Murray!
Who knew a whale could roll a pumpkin!
Ballot Drop-off Location
Wondering where to drop off your vote by mail ballot for the November 6, 2018 election? City Hall has a drop-off box in the front lobby. The last day to register for the November election is this Monday, October 22, 2018.
Carmel Public Library Foundation Event
Community Night at the Library: WRIGHT on EXHIBIT: FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S ARCHITECTURAL EXHIBITIONS
Speaker: Author & Historian, Kathryn Wright
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 24th at 7PM
Location: Carpenter Hall, 9th Ave. & Mission St. - Sunset Center, Carmel
Cost: FREE and open to the public
Other: Seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Public Works News:
What Infrastructure-Related Activity does this Photo Show?
A) An innovative way to plant 48-inch box trees quickly
B) Removing an old air conditioning chiller from the Police Station roof
C) Pulling a broken asbestos pipe out of the City Hall crawlspace
D) Pouring a concrete base for a drainage manhole 20 feet deep
E) Torture device for the Public Works Director who only gave the City’s overall infrastructure a C+ for 2018
(Answer is D)
CalRecycle Audit
Last Friday and today, Budget and Contracts Director Sharon Friedrichsen, and Environmental Compliance Manager Agnes Martelet, participated in the annual audit by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), along with our waste hauler, GreenWaste, and the Monterey Regional Waste Management District.
The first part of the audit focused on City compliance with CalRecycle regulations for municipalities including AB 341, which requires mandatory commercial recycling service, and AB 1826 which requires phased-in, mandatory commercial organics recycling. The second day of the audit was a field visit to City facilities and several regulated businesses to discuss successes, challenges, opportunities, and constraints.
The City is happy to report that we have been meeting these regulatory goals, and we are in good standing with CalRecycle in part due to increasing recycling rates in all sectors of the City!
North Dunes Tree Removal
This week, John Ley's Tree Service cut down 21 trees in the North Dunes Habitat Restoration Area as approved by the City Council earlier this year. These trees were identified by Joey Canepa, the City's contract biologist, as having a strong negative influence on the existing dune habitat and were an impediment to future restoration in the vicinity of these trees. Next week, the contractor will fully remove the trees and debris. Over this winter, Ms. Canepa will be planting new dune plants, including the endangered Tidestrom's lupine, in these areas previously occupied by these invasive trees.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Evaluation and Transition Plan
Public Works is happy to announce the completion of another Capital Improvement Project, the ADA Evaluation and Transition Plan. The ADA Plan, which will be presented to the City Council for adoption at their November 6 meeting, identified a total of nearly one thousand items in 20 City-owned buildings that do not meet current ADA standards.
The U.S. Department of Justice does not require municipalities to promptly make all corrections, many of which would require extensive reconstruction or cause an undue financial burden, but rather expects cities to have a comprehensive ADA Plan and make good faith efforts to continuously make corrections as funding permits. The Plan is now available for review on the City’s website at https://ci.carmel.ca.us/public-works
Another capital project that was included in this fiscal year’s Capital Improvement Plan was to make initial, high-priority ADA corrections, for up to $20,000. Thanks to the ADA Plan, there are objective criteria for prioritization and implementation strategies, such as making corrections in heavy public use areas first. These initial corrections will include some in City Hall and in the Piccadily Park Restroom, and will be underway soon.
Deep Cleaning Restrooms
Detailed cleaning was completed this week at all public restroom facilities. The work included machine power scrubbing of floors, walls, and other hard surfaces.
FY 2017/2018 Pavement Rehabilitation Program – Ocean Avenue
Along with Ocean Avenue having received fresh new thermoplastic lane lines, parking tees, stop bars, and crosswalks this week, we have now moved into the final stage of construction known as the “punch list” phase.
Throughout any construction project, the goal is to have a zero corrections, or as few as possible, at the end of the project. This goal is accomplished by quality assurance, open communications, and inspecting the work as it is being built. During the punch list job walk this week, the contractor, MPE, agreed to correct two curb ramps, one located in front of Tiffany’s and the other at the northwest corner of Monte Verde Street. The contractor will also be doing minor additional paving to correct two areas of standing water. Work is expected to be 100% complete by October 26th.
Happening at Sunset Center and Forest Theater:
Sunset Center’s Locals Lunch Concert Series presents electro pop duo Lillie Lemon today on the outdoor Terrace Stage from 12:30-1:15pm. Bring your lunch and start your weekend off right by enjoying the best in local music. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! Stay tuned next Spring for the next Locals Lunch Concert Series lineup!
Monterey Symphony kicks off their 73rd Season next week with Sound Waves, Concert 1 on Saturday & Sunday, October 20th & October 21st and a Youth Concert on Monday, October 22nd. Visit www.montereysymphony.org for more information.
Next Wednesday, October 24th at 7PM in Carpenter Hall, the Carmel Public Library Foundation presents Henry Meade Williams Local History Lecture Series- sponsored by Frank & Eva Buck Foundation and Robert & Lacy Buck. Visit www.carmelpubliclibraryfoundation.org for more information.
Sunset Presents a Free Night of Fun & Film with a special screening of Hocus Pocus at the Forest Theater on Saturday, October 27th at 6:30PM. Events and activities are free, family-friendly and open to the public- the theater will open at 5:30PM. Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase. The event is first come first served no tickets or reservations needed.
Coming up on Thursday, November 1st, Sunset Presents The Soldiers’ Chorus of The United States Army Field Band. This is a free community event that requires tickets- please visit. www.sunsetcenter.org for more information.
Coming up on Friday, November 2nd, Sunset Presents Pilobolus: Come to your Senses. This is a multisensory experience, featuring live performances of onstage Pilobolus works alongside transmedia digital creations. Visit. www.sunsetcenter.org for more information.
The Forest Theater Guild in association with The deFaria Company presents Carmel Pops! 2018 on October 20th & 21st. Tickets are available at www.sunsetcenter.org.
Mark Your Calendar
The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea invites you to come celebrate the City's 102nd birthday with the Annual Birthday Party and Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 27, 2018.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful weekend enjoying the great weather. Also, if I win the Mega Millions jackpot at $1B, I will not be in the office on Monday. Enjoy! --Maxine
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