5/19/2026 - 10:00 AM

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

Recap:

CITY OF MONTEREY

• Most items on the Monterey City Council meeting agenda tonight (May 19, 2026) are routine or not directly related to the business community.
• Your Chamber will be watching a proposal from a city councilmember (Item 22) to discuss City of Monterey involvement in a possible "air quality study to be conducted by the appropriate local agency due to the community’s proximity to the Monterey Regional Airport."

MONTEREY REGIONAL AIRPORT

• The new direct United Airlines flight between Monterey and Chicago O'Hare International Airport begins on Saturday (May 23).
• Based on the popularity of this new flight, United has already extended the flight service from August 15 to September 19, and it will consider extending the flight even later in the year if continuing ticket sales justify it. 
• Construction continues on the airport replacement terminal, airport parking, and a roundabout at the intersection of Olmsted Road, Garden Road, and airport parking.

AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION

• Please contact your Chamber if you're interested in applying for an appointment to vacant positions on the County of Monterey Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC).
• This obscure county committee has recently become a leverage point for controversies over airport operations and housing and commercial construction projects. We need thoughtful people on this commission who can make wise decisions and consider the benefits of economic development for our region.

UTILITIES

• The new local representative for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is meeting with interested parties to discuss priorities for undergrounding utilities; that is, moving overhead electric, telephone, and cable lines to below-ground trenches.
• While "undergrounding" dramatically reduces wildfire risks, prevents storm outages, and improves local aesthetics, the process is expensive (for a variety of reasons).

HEALTHCARE

• Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula is honored to have received the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Excellence Award for 2026.
• This award recognizes Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in the top 10 percent of all hospitals in the nation for patient experience – a recognition that they have received for the past five years on a row. Read the press release.

Next teleconference will be held Tuesday, 6/2/2026 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.

Experience the Ultimate Monterey Bay Seafood Dinner — Where Sustainable Fishing Meets Community Nourishment

Join Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula on Friday, June 19th from 4:30PM - 7:30PM for the 2026 MOWMP Get Hooked! Dinner, an exclusive multi-course fundraising event celebrating local, sustainably harvested seafood and the hardworking fishermen who bring it to shore. This unforgettable evening supports the MOWMP programs and services, with partial proceeds benefiting the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust (MBFT) Community Seafood Program.

Service of the MST Trolley Resumes This Weekend!

Service of the MST Trolley resumes Saturday, May 23, 2026 through Monday, September 7, 2026 (Labor Day), 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily. The route serves Downtown Monterey, Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Look for the green MST Trolley signs to board along the route. The Trolley Shuttle Program is funded by the City of Monterey, with contributions from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Thank You to our MPCC Leadership Circle!

Visionary Members

Cornerstone Members

Foundational Members