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5/28/2024 - 10:00 AM
MISSION: We seek to provide timely, informative updates on regional topics relevant to our members.
Recap:
Healthcare
- Montage Health and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca—have agreed to a three-year term, naming Montage Health the Exclusive and Official Healthcare Provider
- Montage will be an associate sponsor of Twilight Cycling family bicycling events. For more information, go to Twilight Cycling at Laguna Seca, Cars & Coffees, and presenting sponsor of the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot that collects donations for the Food Bank for Monterey County
- Aspire Health, a subsidiary of Montage Health was recognized for two of their programs, “Don’t Feed the Diabetes” and “Healthy Together” program (that focus on being active and eating right), which won three gold and one silver Aster Awards in the Healthcare Education category
- The Aster Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in healthcare and honor outstanding work in excellence and innovation. The Prescribe Safe program, was honored with a Safe Schools Award from the Monterey County Office of Education
Hospitality & Tourism
Non-Profits
- Community Human Services is celebrating their 55th birthday this year! They served over 4,000 Monterey County residents in 2023, a record, and operate with a 12M budget
- CHS a nonprofit as well as a Joint Powers Authority serving residents throughout Monterey County. They operate: three homeless shelters in Seaside and Monterey for single women, youth, and families with children, two street outreach teams of counselors who go out to encampments, two family focused mental health centers in Seaside and Salinas as well as partnering with the County of Monterey to do community outreach around mental health to Spanish-speaking communities
- United Way "Stuff the Bus" program underway
- Thank you to Marriott team, as part of their employee week, they filled 500 backpacks, Rotarians stuffed 500 backpacks for early grades at MPUSD as well. Look for ways to support and participate
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
- Monterey Peninsula Unified School District considers bond measure on November ballot tonight (Tuesday, May 28, 2024), the elected Board of Trustees of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) will receive polling results for a proposed bond measure on the November 2024 ballot. Some of the interesting findings presented to the board:
- 58% of MPUSD residents believe Monterey County is going in the right direction, the highest percentage in 15 years of polling. (36% believe it’s going in the wrong direction, and 6% don’t know.)
- 55% of MPUSD residents believe “public schools, generally, in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District” are excellent or good, and 52% of MPUSD residents believe “the quality of education” in the school district is excellent or good. These are the highest percentages in 15 years.
- 35% of MPUSD residents believe “the management of District monies” is excellent or good. While this percentage is the highest in 15 years, it shows continuing community concern about the district's fiscal management.
- Your Chamber’s Government Affairs Director Kevin Dayton has been MPUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee chair for the past five years and reports that the district is managing its construction program properly, with thorough accountability. He suggests that the relatively low percentage of approval for district management of funds may be related to “the high-profile, occasionally inaccurate campaign of some neighborhoods to prevent installation of lights at the Monterey High School football field.”
- The poll found solid voter support for passage of a bond measure, even after questioners for the poll tried to undermine support with negative accusations related to the football field lights. (With the defeat of five years of environmental objections and lawsuits to stop the lights, groundbreaking for that athletic field project occurred at Monterey High School on April 27, 2024.)
City of Seaside
- City of Seaside may rezone a parcel on edge of Auto Mall for a hardware store. On Wednesday, May 29, the Seaside Planning Commission will consider a staff recommendation to change the zoning of a 0.61 acre parcel located at the corner of Del Monte Boulevard and La Salle Avenue (1020 Auto Center Parkway) from the Automotive Regional Commercial Zoning District (the Auto Mall) to the adjacent Regional Commercial Zoning District
- This will allow for construction and operation of an Ace Hardware store where there is now a vacant building and parking lot. The Property was previously occupied by Monterey Peninsula Power Sports, which sold motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
- Staff reports that the parcel is located in a place where a zoning change would not result in any uses incompatible with the surrounding area, and adding the parcel to the Regional Commercial Zoning District would be consistent with the City of Seaside’s current and previous General Plan
- Although your Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has not taken a position on this zoning change, generally we support the concept of flexibility in municipal planning that allows vacant, unused properties to be activated for uses that encourage economic growth
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*Existing Zoning Districts & Proposed Change
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City of Salinas
- Salinas Mayor will not run for office again. On Thursday, May 23, 2024, Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig announced that she would not be running for a third term. The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce had endorsed Mayor Craig in her two election campaigns in 2020 and 2022. She had also supported businesses on a city and regional basis as a Salinas City Councilmember elected in 2010 and 2014.
- Salinas City Council elections in 2020 and 2022 - and an appointment to a vacancy on May 21, 2024 - have shifted the Salinas City Council from a 7-0 pro-business complete majority to a city council solidly dominated by new members who focus on equity and justice issues and are skeptical about the role and contributions of businesses to the City of Salinas and Monterey County. This was displayed vividly on February 6, 2024, when the Salinas City Council voted 5-2 to remove Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig from the board of Monterey One Water (M1W), our region’s wastewater processing and recycling government agency. They replaced her with a city councilmember who opposes the Cal Am desalination plant, criticizes agricultural use of water, and doesn’t seem interested in housing solutions that aren’t designated as 100% affordable.
MPCC
- Save the Date — 2024 Upcoming Events
- Thursday, July 18 — Annual Business Excellence Awards at Monterey Conference Center
- Thursday, September 5 — Leadership Luncheon at Portola Hotel & Spa
- Thursday, October 10 — Monterey Bay Business Expo at Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside
Next teleconference will be held Tuesday 6/11/2024 at 10:00 AM.
If you are interested in participating on the teleconference or being added to the list, please contact monica@montereychamber.com.
Your feedback is welcome.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Travel Tips with RoseAnne Ruccello of Travel with RoseAnne
Wednesday, May 29 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Zoom or MPCC Offices
FREE
Discover the secrets to making your travel dreams a reality and embark on a journey filled with adventure and confidence.
Register >>
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RIBBON CUTTING: IV Lounge by Injected Artistry Grand Opening
Thursday, June 13 | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
261 Webster Street, Monterey
Register >>
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RIBBON CUTTING: Everyone's Harvest Seaside Farmers Market 1-Year Anniversary
Thursday, June 20 | 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Laguna Grande Regional Park, Seaside
Register >>
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MIXER: Annual California Rodeo Mixer at Monterey Regional Airport
Thursday, June 27 | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Observation Deck, Monterey Regional Airport, Monterey
Register >>
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Agencies Host Groundbreaking Ceremony Tomorrow in Del Rey Oaks
for the Construction of the First Segment of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway
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The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), Caltrans District 5, the City of Del Rey Oaks, the City of Seaside and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District will host a “groundbreaking” ceremony at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, for the Canyon Del Rey segment of the “Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway (FORTAG)” project. The ceremonial event will be held in the Del Rey Oaks City Hall’s parking lot, located at 650 Canyon Del Rey Boulevard, Del Rey Oaks.
The ceremony will feature guest speakers, project displays, photo, and media interview opportunities. Guests are encouraged to carpool, bike, or walk to the event. Light refreshments will be provided.
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Tourism Matters to Monterey County, and so Does Your Opinion!
- “Resident Sentiment Survey” — See Monterey asking Monterey County residents to take 10 minutes to complete this survey. It can be completed in either English or Spanish. It asks for people’s thoughts on how much tourism is a good thing (or not), how it contributes to the quality of life here (or not) and what See Monterey should be focusing on, among other things. You can find the survey at tinyurl.com/MCsurvey24. The survey is available through Friday, May 31.
- Strategic Roadmap Community Input Forum, Wednesday, June 12 — Join See Monterey for a Community Forum to discuss tourism in Monterey County and have your voice heard on topics related to tourism and visitors in Monterey County. This session will help to guide See Monterey’s destination-wide Strategic Roadmap. This session will be professionally moderated by a third-party, and is meant to gain insight on thoughts and feelings around tourism from residents and members of the Monterey County community. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Register to attend here.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium Announces Free Admission Program for Low-Income Families
Monterey Bay Aquarium joins Museums for All beginning May 27, 2024, providing free admission to anyone enrolled in federal food assistance benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California. Qualifying persons receive complimentary entry for up to four people with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
“We want everyone to experience the joy, wonder, and sustenance a healthy ocean provides,” said Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard. “Joining Museums for All supports our vision of a future where the ocean flourishes and people thrive in a just and equitable world.”
Guidelines for visiting the Aquarium through Museums for All follow:
- Valid SNAP/EBT card and a photo ID with matching name required
- Qualifying beneficiary must be present
- No advance ticket purchase necessary
- Admission is valid during all regular Aquarium operating hours; no restricted dates
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Please forward this e-blast to your colleagues, customers, clients, friends, family and fellow community members!
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