FRIDAY LETTER
Congratulations to all the graduates of the Class of 2021. You survived a pandemic, shelter-at-home, and virtual learning, the rest should be easy!. We wish you luck in whatever the future brings you.
Congratulations to all the parents who got their graduate to this point, it was a tough year but you made it to the end.
Monterey Symphony (6.4.21)
They couldn't have live audiences so they brought music to the people through their live streaming Balcony Sessions. Today wraps up Balcony Session Season with a program featuring Eugenia Wie & Adelle-Akiko Kearns - Violin & Assistant Principal Cello. This final concert can be viewed on the Monterey Symphony website. A big thanks to the Monterey Symphony for thinking out of the box and bringing us beautiful music during the pandemic. We can't wait to be present in the same room as all the great musicians.
Monterey County Survey
Monterey County is updating its plan to reduce the risk from natural hazards, such as flooding, earthquakes, and wildland fires. Please take their surveys and share your feedback.
2021 Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update
Police Department News
Congratulations
This week Sergeant Watkins received his POST Supervisor Certificate. This is awarded by POST after two years of supervisory duties at the Sergeant level. Congratulations on this achievement.
In addition, several internal promotions will be made within the next two months:
- Corporal Michael Bruno will be promoted to Sergeant
- Officer Rachelle Lightfoot will be promoted to Corporal
- Officer Jacob Clifford will be promoted to Corporal
Recruitment Update:
We have a number of applicants for Firefighter/Paramedic, PSO and Police Officer. Applicants are at different phases of the recruitment process and the City is hopeful to have these critical positions filled by end of June/beginning of July.
Women Leaders in Law Enforcement:
Both Officer Rachelle Lightfoot and Officer Elissa Higgins are slated to attend the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Conference on September 28-30. This is a great conference that provides leadership training for women in law enforcement. Officer Lightfoot has attended in the past and helped coordinate the last WLLE conference when it was held in Monterey.
Busy Weekends:
Weekends are getting busy in the village. The Police Department has hired Security Guards to help with the beach over the weekend and every weekend until October. The goal is to have the Security Guards walk the pathway stopping people before they build a fire on the sand.
This Week in Public Works
Seawalls Revealed!
Have you noticed the beautiful stone seawalls along the southern end of Carmel Beach? Over the past few weeks, Carmel Cares volunteers removed a very significant quantity of ice plant that had grown over the face of the stone walls for years. Carmel Cares worked closely with a Public Works crew to remove all the ice plant and debris off the beach, one load at a time. This project removed a tremendous amount of weight off the sea walls, and created a beautiful backdrop on the beach.
ADA Drinking Fountain at the Harrison Memorial Library
The last component of the current fiscal year’s $16,000 ADA Upgrades Project was the purchase and installation of this ADA-compliant drinking fountain at the Harrison Memorial Library. This fountain matches the new fountain recently installed in Piccadilly Park. This marks the end of the third consecutive year for ADA upgrades, and the fourth year upgrades are planned to begin in July.
Beware of Falling Limbs
As the statewide drought further worsens the condition of old and diseased trees, we are finding an increasing number of tree limbs falling onto roads and shoulders/parking spaces. While we cannot prevent Mother Nature from doing what she will, we are asking drivers and pedestrians to be aware of the potential hazards, and if you do see a fallen limb or tree, please contact Public Works/Forestry at (831) 620-2070. Thank you!
Car Washing
As we enter the dry season and dust accumulates on our cars, please remember that vehicle washing runoff is not allowed in any City street, gutter, and storm drain. Outdoor hosing or power washing wastewater should not contain soaps or chemicals, and must be captured and contained on permeable ground or collected and poured into an indoor drain to the sanitary sewer.
For your car, going to a car wash is the best option if you don't want to let the dust accumulate! And since car washes typically use recycled water, water consumption is reduced – a necessity in this time of drought.
Volleyball
As we move past the Covid-19 pandemic, it is nice to see the Village carefully returning to normal.
Over the holiday weekend, a good number of volleyball enthusiasts used the volleyball courts located in the North Dunes.
Beach Fires
Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, there were multiple illegal beach fires in the sand, leaving behind a mess to be cleaned up. Also, all five (5) of the City-supplied fire pit devices continue to be used improperly and are often found the next morning full of sand. Please remember to burn only clean wood (no driftwood) and extinguish the fires using only water.
Water Filtration System at the Public Works Yard
One of six, urgent, safety-related capital improvement projects for Fiscal Year 2020/21, approved by the City Council in April, is the replacement of the obsolete filtration system at the Public Works Yard (shown in the photo) with a new, pre-engineered unit.
With a cost of $17,000, the vendor, Always Under Pressure, and staff began removal of the old system yesterday, and installation of the new, simpler system. The new system should be operational by early next week. The treatment system is required to ensure compliance of Yard operations with the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System stormwater permit with the State.
It Takes a Village to Put Out a Fire - Corrections
Last week, we noted that the Sunset Center's Emergency Fire Pump Replacement Project was coming to an end, just three months since the prior pump burned out, essentially closing down Sunset Center.
More importantly, we forgot to identify the key project stakeholder who was our technical consultant and guiding light, in addition to volunteering his valuable time. That stakeholder is Brent Sepulvado, President of California Fire Protection, Inc., located right here in Carmel. Thanks so much for your help, sir.
Upcoming Meetings
Community Activities Commission Regular Meeting - Tuesday, June 8 - Canceled
City Council Special Meeting - Tuesday, June 8 @ 4:30 pm
Forest & Beach Commission Regular Meeting - Thursday, June 10 @ 3:30 pm
In closing, Wednesday we wished Corporal Ken Shen farewell as he signed off for the last time as a Police Officer. I hope you all get a chance to read the article in The Pine Cone about Ken. Ken spent 15 years here and a total of 28 years as a Police Officer. Ken taught us all about compassion and love of people and exemplified Community Policing. At Ken's request we will hold a small department celebration later this month to official recognize his work here in the City. I'm sharing a special song he wanted to sing to us and the community before leaving.
Take Good Care,
CR
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