7/23/2024 - 10:00 AM

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

Recap:

Agriculture

As reported last week in the “Prosperity Update” section of Chamber Connection, the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office released the 2023 Annual Crop and Livestock Report for the County of Monterey last week (Tuesday, July 16, 2024)
The county’s production gross value in 2023 of $4,353,416,000 decreased 6.1% from 2022 crop values. The decline was a result of floods in January and March of 2023 and a cooler-than-usual spring
The 2023 report shows strawberries as the county’s top crop, with a gross production value of $903,791,000 (a 5.7% decrease from 2022)
See the Monterey County Farm Bureau’s summary of the Crop Report at 2023 Monterey County Crop Report and the complete report (and earlier reports) at Crop & Livestock Reports - Economic Contributions
People have asked the Chamber why cannabis is not listed in the “Top Crops” rankings in the 2023 Annual Crop and Livestock Report, as the production value of $362,610,000 would place it 5th on the list
California law identifies cannabis as an agricultural product rather than a crop, so it is not included on the crop list. However, a state law enacted in 2019 (with the support of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors) authorizes a county agricultural commissioner to report on cannabis in a separate report, and therefore "Cannabis Production” is a supplemental section at the end of the Monterey County Annual Crop and Livestock Report

Education

On a larger institutional scale, the Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) elected board of trustees will vote tomorrow (Wednesday, July 24, 2024) on moving forward with development and implementation of a microgrid system (self-sufficient solar power generation and battery storage) for buildings on the Monterey and Marina campuses
MPC is the latest of several local governments in Monterey County adopting microgrid programs. The list also includes Monterey One Water (M1W) with ReGen Monterey, Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST), and the Marina Coast Water District (MCWD)
See the agenda item here: Approve the Proposal for the Acquisition of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the Monterey Peninsula Community College District on the Monterey and Marina Campuses
At their meeting tonight (Tuesday, July 23, 2024), the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) elected board of trustees will vote on putting a measure on the November ballot that would authorize the district to borrow $340 million via bond sales to fund school construction improvements. The bond measure includes authorization to spend some of the bond proceeds on workforce housing for district employees
See the agenda item here: Establishing an Election for a $340 Million Proposition 39 School Bond Measure for the November 5, 2024 Statewide General Election
Also at their meeting tonight (Tuesday, July 23, 2024), the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) Board of Trustees will vote on authorizing California American Water Company (Cal Am) to use Seaside Middle School property for the drilling and operation of two new Aquifer Storage and Recovery wells
This will alleviate some of the challenges that Cal Am and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD) have experienced in injecting and extracting water from the Seaside Groundwater Basin to serve Cal Am customers. Cal Am will pay the school district $3 million for use of this land
See the agenda items here: PUBLIC HEARING: Proposed Conveyance of Public Utility Easement to California-American Water Company and Discuss and Adopt Resolution #24/25-01 Regarding Conveying Public Utility Easement to California-American Water Company

Utilities

Central Coast Community Energy (3CE - our five-county regional community choice aggregation public power agency) launched its Residential Battery Rebate Program on Thursday, July 18
3CE notes that this program "helps solar and non-solar customers manage their energy consumption and save money by storing the power they generate during the day to cover electricity use after the sun goes down and the prices go up (“load shifting”)
Adding battery backup can protect your home from outages and helps strengthen the electric grid. A battery will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions”
For more information, go to this website: Residential Battery Rebate Program

MPCC

Save the Date — Upcoming Chamber Events:
July 30 - Quarterly Business Insights Breakfast with Dr. Steve Packer, CEO of Montage Health, speaking on “Monterey Peninsula Healthcare Update — What Does the Future Hold?”
September 5 - 22nd Annual Leadership Luncheon
October 10 - Monterey Bay Business Expo

Next teleconference will be held Tuesday 8/6/2024 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.

MIXER: Land Rover Monterey

Thursday, July 25 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

1171 Del Monte Boulevard, Seaside

Quarterly Business Insights Breakfast: "Monterey Peninsula Healthcare Update — What Does the Future Hold?" with Dr. Steve Packer, CEO of Montage Health

Tuesday, July 30 | 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Ferrante's Bay View Room, Monterey Marriott

Get Tickets >>

Annual Leadership Luncheon presented by Aera Energy

Thursday, September 5 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey

Get Tickets >>

We appreciate the many ways our members contributed to the success of our Annual BEA awards. We source our base table linens from an outside company, and while gathering Design-A-Table items at the end of the evening, some of you may have inadvertently collected the full-length tablecloths, which MPCC rented. If so, can you kindly check if you have one or two and contact monica@montereychamber.com? We can arrange pickup.