Regional Wastewater Agency’s Billing Change Still Under Consideration After a Year

Since November 2022, the Board of Directors of the Monterey One Water (M1W) regional wastewater/recycled water agency has formally discussed a proposed change in how it bills customers. Instead of sending customers/users a bill every two months for wastewater service charges, owners of properties connected to the wastewater system will pay charges through Monterey County property tax billings. This proposal is a change in billing method and not a rate increase (which occurred in 2021). At their meeting last night (October 30, 2023), the individual members of the M1W Board of Directors voted 6-3 (with one absence) to proceed toward implementation of the new billing system.

Your Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee received a presentation from M1W staff about the proposal at its February 27, 2023 meeting. After discussion, the committee decided not to adopt a position for or against it. Committee members recognized the billing change has potential advantages and disadvantages from practical and philosophical perspectives.

Recently Chamber staff has noticed inconsistencies over time in how M1W justifies the change, and we have also noticed that arguments from the public against the change often misunderstand the issue or confuse M1W with the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD). If you have strong, informed reasons why the Chamber to support or oppose this billing change, please contact Monica Lal at (831) 648-5360 or at monica@montereychamber.com.

montereychamber.com

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "California Data Privacy Basics: What Every Business Needs to Know" presented by Privatus Consulting

Wednesday, November 1 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

MPCC Offices or Zoom

FREE

California’s amended Consumer Privacy Act imposes significant new requirements on businesses, including employee privacy notices and annual risk reporting. Even businesses that don’t meet the law’s revenue threshold are subject to other privacy requirements that will likely receive increased scrutiny with the establishment of the new California Privacy Protection Agency. Join us for this friendly and jargon-free session designed to demystify California's privacy requirements and help you ensure your business remains both informed and compliant.

RIBBON CUTTING: Shuman HeartHouse

Saturday, November 4 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

600 E. Franklin Street, Monterey

Please join us for a ribbon cutting ceremony & community open house celebrating Shuman HeartHouse, the first shelter for homeless women and families with children in Monterey.

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RIBBON CUTTING: Art Abilities

Thursday, November 16 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

220 Country Club Gate, Suite 10, Pacific Grove

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Applications NOW OPEN for the Leadership Monterey County 2024 Cohort

Leadership Monterey County (LMC) is now accepting applications for the 2024 class. In this 10 month program, members of the 2024 LMC class will have the opportunity to engage in a transformative experience designed to enhance their leadership skills, broaden their network, and deepen their understanding of the region's diverse community. The program includes a series of sessions and activities that cover critical topics such as local government, education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and more.

The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a sponsor of Leadership Monterey County, with many of our Member businesses participating in the program.

Interested individuals can find the application form and additional information at www.leadershipmc.org.

Apply Now

Wishing You A Fun, Safe & Happy Halloween from MPCC!

Looking for a bit of spooky fun? Check out one of these MPCC Member events tonight:

City of Seaside Halloween Bonanza - Oldemeyer Center, Seaside, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Halloween on the Wharf - Old Fishermans Wharf, Monterey, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Halloween Pup Costume Contest - Alvarado Street Brewery, Monterey, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Pumpkin Pandemonium - Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Monterey to Open First Shelter for Homeless Women and Families with Children

Shuman HeartHouse, a first-of-its-kind shelter for the City of Monterey, is opening with the goal of transitioning women and families with children into permanent housing.

Shuman HeartHouse started as a dream of Mark and Adriana Shuman. Mark Shuman expressed his determination, saying, “It has always been our vision to have a shelter in Monterey where there is so much need but so many constraints due to lack of water and appropriate building sites. For years, I tried to find a building in Monterey. In 2020, I finally came across a perfect property on Franklin Street! I knew it was our job to make this happen."

The realization of Shuman HeartHouse Shelter has been made possible through countless donations from community members, both large and small. The Shumans purchased the property at 600 E. Franklin St. and donated it to be a shelter, and a significant $2.5 million state budget appropriation was made possible by District 17 Senator John Laird. This collective support underscores the community’s commitment to addressing homelessness in Monterey County.

"Everybody has a right to a safe place to sleep and a comfortable place to wake up in the morning," said Shuman.

Before it opens to guests, Community Human Services invites the community to a special preview event. Join us for a ribbon-cutting and open house on November 4th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Shuman HeartHouse, located at 600 E. Franklin St. in Monterey. Take a tour of the new shelter, enjoy refreshments and live music by Palenke Arts and the Shinsho Mugen Daiko taiko drumming group, and create a welcome card for the shelter's new guests.

RSVP Here

MPCC LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

Visionary

Cornerstone

Foundational

Please forward this e-blast to your colleagues, customers, clients, friends, family and fellow community members!

montereychamber.com