1/23/2024 - 10:00 AM

MISSION: We seek to provide timely, informative updates on regional topics relevant to our members.

Recap:

City of Monterey

The Monterey City Council will hold a “study session” on Wednesday, January 24 to get an update on the 2024 City Staff Work Program. Staff will highlight accomplishments, which include production and submission of the city's Draft Housing Element of the General Plan for the 6th Cycle (2023-2031) that received positive reception from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Your Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce supported the Draft Housing Element. Once the State of California gives final approval for the Housing Element, the city will need to revise 50-60 different related local plans that include traffic, transportation, and city preparation for sea level rise.
To get updates on the Housing Element, enter your email address at Monterey 2031 - General Plan Update: STAY INFORMED - Subscribe for project updates.
The City of Monterey has also succeeded in obtaining federal and state grants, implementing the new cannabis regulations, and enacting rental registry (enroll in rental registry at the city’s Rental Inventory Portal). The deadline for submission to the City of Monterey of Storefront and Non-Storefront Retail Cannabis Business Permit applications is 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 29, 2024. At its February 6, 2024 meeting, the Monterey City Council will discuss the applications.
To get updates on cannabis permits, enter your email address at Commercial Cannabis: STAY INFORMED - Subscribe for project updates.
An exclusive negotiating agreement remains active between the City of Monterey and MidPen Housing for the Madison Street Affordable Housing Project adjacent to City Hall, although the emergence of a substantial state budget deficit estimated between $38 billion and $68 billion may jeopardize some of the state funding that was expected to help pay for that project.
Upcoming projects for the City of Monterey include updating its Local Coastal Program (LCP), for which the city received a $250,000 grant from the California Coastal Commission and Ocean Protection Council. This revision will attempt to address permanent outdoor seating at Old Fisherman’s Wharf - an issue that has generated some controversy.

Hospitality & Tourism

See Monterey (formerly MCCVB) reports the Average Daily Rate (ADR) for the period ending December 31, 2023 was about the same as the same period for 2022 and 2021 (ADR, Average Daily Rate, is the average rental income per paid occupied room in a given time period.)
It was noted that the City of Monterey First Night event generated additional hotel room occupancy.
See Monterey is working on expanding a "Flash Your Badge for Discounts” incentive program for conference attendees to patronize City of Monterey businesses. It is finalizing a spring marketing campaign that builds on an existing See Monterey campaign that seems to be effective, according to a new marketing impact report.

Real Estate

Home prices continue to be high, with a reported average home selling price in the City of Monterey of $1,249,000 and an average time on the market of 21 days.

Healthcare

Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP ) (the hospital of Montage Health) has been overcapacity for the past couple of weeks, in part because of flu cases and other respiratory conditions requiring hospitalization.
CHOMP reports completed renovation and expansion of its Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
Montage Health continues pursuit of a plan to minimize the number of medical procedures that require residents to travel out of the area.

MPCC

Thank you to all who attended today's 2024 Annual Membership Luncheon and for celebrating the start of another great year with the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce! We'd like to extend a special thank you to our Sponsors and to our Keynote Speaker Secretary Leon Panetta.