Business Roundtable – 9/1/2020 – 10:00am
MISSION: Success in two stages during the Covid-19:
1) Response to the immediate threat
2) Economic recovery when the threat diminishes.
Recap
Response to immediate threat:
1. City of Monterey. Labor Day weekend: Monterey beaches will be CLOSED; Ocean access only (kayaking, swimming, scuba); FEMA team at Monterey Conference Center assisting fire victims.
2. General Conversation: Stephen L. Vagnini, Monterey County Assessor/Clerk/Recorder. California Proposition 15, Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative, is on the ballot in California as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 3, 2020.
a. A “YES” Vote supports this constitutional amendment to require commercial and industrial properties, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed on their market value rather than their purchase price
b. A “No” vote opposes this constitutional amendment, thus continuing to tax commercial and industrial properties based on a property’s purchase price, with annual increases equal to the rate of inflation or 2 percent, whichever is lower.
3. Prop 15 will be determined by a simple majority, not a 2/3 vote; many assessors in California are strongly opposed to Prop 15 due to cost to counties; reassessment to be phased in during 2022 then every 3 years; most affected properties are the ones held by one entity since 1976; larger counties will be hit the hardest due to costs of hiring appraisers and the inevitable appeals; worst possible time to put taxes on businesses during a pandemic and natural disasters. The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce strongly opposes California Proposition 15.
4. Agriculture. Containment of fires in the Salinas valley and Carmel Valley is almost complete; air quality vastly improved; COVID levels are monitored, as most exposure stems from residential and social reasons; grape harvest decisions will be evaluated in several weeks.
5. Community Foundation. Fire Relief fund is now at $460K, affording grants to organizations working directly with displaced families.
6. Hospitality & Tourism. “All in Monterey”, a food drive for Monterey County residents is highlighted; hospitality industry and WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway contributed to evacuee relief; opening of Visitor Center this weekend; beach closure messaging to visitors put out for Labor Day.
7. Retail. Cannery Row activity: weekends busy, weekdays slower; mask ordinance perception well explained by Code Enforcement Officers.
8. State of California. Sacramento report. Governor’s new blueprint using risk base assessment; will take 5 weeks to move to another tier, providing better assurance to businesses to stay open longer during that tier; moratorium on evictions extended through January 30, 2021; AB1316 passed.
9. Health Care. Current report. Since March, 7,980 COVID positive cases in Monterey County; 58 fatalities with 6 at CHOMP; Dr. Taplin still available for consultation to businesses, compliments of Montage Health.
Phone: 831-755-5035
Next teleconference will be held Tuesday 9/8/2020 at 10:00am
