11/12/2024 - 10:00 AM

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

Recap:

CITY OF MONTEREY

Delay to swearing in of new Council Members — Monterey City Council members will not be sworn into office at the December 3, 2024, meeting, as originally planned
Although the Monterey County Elections Office is likely to complete counting of ballots before December 3 and be ready for official certification of election results, a new state law requires count officials to complete final official results on December 5, 2024
The frequent power outages in the City of Monterey, including the most recent outage on Election Night, which started when voting was still happening has irked the City of Monterey officials as well as the reported difficulty in getting reasons from PG&E why these outages are happening
The city is working on getting PG&E reimbursements to businesses for the outages in September and October and getting reimbursements for power surge damage to City of Monterey systems
Also, Assemblywoman Dawn Addis is aware of these outages and will be seeking accountability at the state legislature in 2025

CITY OF MARINA

Grand Opening of Trader Joe’s at the The Dunes Promenade is tomorrow (Wednesday, November 13 at 9:00 am)
Tenant improvement is underway for restaurants and other businesses at the The Dunes Promenade
Marina Housing Updates — Lots Happening!
Townhouses at the “Rooftops at the Dunes” near The Dunes Promenade are mostly completed and available
New single-family homes at various neighborhoods in The Dunes are under construction or available. Apartments, including units reserved for households below median income, are available in neighborhoods such as Terracina at The Dunes
Lightfighter Village is nearly completed at 229-243 Hayes Circle.A partnership of EAH Housing and the Veterans Transition Center (VTC) of Monterey, this complex will be 71 units of permanent housing for veterans who are at risk of homelessness
Interim, Inc. has received City of Marina approval and water allocations for a 24 unit project at 605 Bayonet Circle that will provide permanent supportive housing to homeless persons and persons at risk of homelessness
With the apparently passage of Measure A, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District will be considering options for workforce housing construction in the City of Marina
The City of Marina is seeking grants for hazardous material remediation at Cypress Knolls that would allow development of up to 2,000 “Missing Middle” housing units. Estimated cost to remove the deteriorating barracks is $20 million
Grading and site preparation has begun in the area known as Marina Station. This development will include 1,360 homes as well as commercial, office, and industrial space
Fort Ord blighted building removal continues, with a new demolition contract awarded by the Marina City Council on October 1, 2024
Just outside of city limits, the last phase of the East Garrison development is revised and approved by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. The 66-unit Alfred Diaz-Infante affordable housing complex built by CHISPA Housing (Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, Inc.) opened there in July 2024
The Marina Coast Water District continues preparation for various projects to increase its water supply
Just outside of city limits, a plan remains in place to convert the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) MBEST property into a tech hub focused on advanced air mobility and hydrogen production. UCSC is working with the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) and Monterey Bay Drone, Automation, and Robotics Technology (DART) Initiative on this plan

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY

Month of September occupancy countywide: 73%, YTD occupancy countywide: 68.6%
In progress "How to Highway 1" - a way to promote the Highway 1 experience and Big Sur that will allow Monterey County to be more resilient during road closures — this will include visitor education on parking restrictions and responsible travel
In progress: "Monterey Road Trip"- to help showcase the close proximity of different places throughout Monterey County
See Monterey is ramping up local influencer program — Monterey Mondays — encouraging people to stay one more night
“Winter Getaway” campaign to push for visitation specifically during the months of January and February
See Monterey continues to host media and a UK Travel Trade FAM

MPCC

Monterey Bay Defense Alliance Breakfast reminds business and community leaders about value of bases
Your Chamber of Commerce was host for a Monterey Bay Defense Alliance (MBDA) breakfast on Friday, November 1 at the Monterey Conference Center. Attendees received an update on the capabilities of the local military bases from Fred Meurer, MBDA chair who is also former Monterey City Manager, Past President of the Association of Defense Communities, and current member of the Governor’s Military Council
Mike Clancy, former Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) Technical and Scientific Director and City of Monterey Military Affairs Coordinator, made a presentation about Project Azorian. This was a top-secret CIA project that allowed the United States in 1974 to recover a portion of a Soviet submarine that sunk deep in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in 1968. There are numerous Monterey County connections to this project, including the involvement of the Naval Facility Point Sur in determining the location where the submarine sank
MPCC Holiday Mixer at Portola Plaza on Thursday, December 5 — Register Now!

Next teleconference will be held Tuesday 11/26/2024 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.

montereychamber.com

RIBBON CUTTING: Transformative Justice of Monterey County

Thursday, November 14 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

439 Tyler Street, Monterey

RIBBON CUTTING & MINI VISION EXPO: Insight Eyewear

Thursday, November 21 | 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

490 Lighthouse Avenue, Monterey

Mini Vision Expo begins at 2:30 PM, Ribbon Cutting at 4:30 PM

HOLIDAY MIXER: Portola Hotel & Spa

Thursday, December 5 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

2 Portola Plaza, Monterey

Please join us for the MPCC Holiday Mixer at the Portola Hotel & Spa! Get into the Holiday spirit with music, festive decorations, and great company. Enjoy music, treats, special raffle prizes and more!