CITY OF MONTEREY

• On July 21, 2026, the Monterey City Council placed a measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot asking city voters to approve a continuation of an existing sales tax of one percent (1%) for eight more years for improvements and repairs to existing city streets, sidewalks, and storm drains. See Continuation of the Existing Special Transaction and Use Tax for more information about the ballot measure. In 2014, 74% of city voters originally approved this sales tax in 2014 as Measure P, and 82% of voters extended it in 2018 as Measure S. Measure S expires in March 2027, so funding from this source for street infrastructure will come to an end if voters reject it.
• As part of its "Roadmap to Resilience" to eliminate its structural budget deficit, the City of Monterey will hold community meetings from September through December to seek "community partnerships" in eliminating the deficit. This will give residents an opportunity to propose specific, realistic ways for the city to reduce spending and/or increase revenue.
• In pursuit of increasing tax revenue, the City of Monterey will again consider the development and implementation of a formal Economic Development Strategy. Starting in August, city officials will meet with "clusters" representing various industries that generate revenue for the City of Monterey: hospitality/tourism, health care, education, military, marine science, and agricultural technology (ag tech). Following these industry cluster meetings, city officials will also meet with business associations such as your Chamber of Commerce. They will also seek comments from residents/the general public.

TOUGH CHAMBER PERSPECTIVES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF MONTEREY

• At the industry cluster meetings, city officials may delve into perceived negative aspects of commerce as well as positive aspects -- seeking answers to uncomfortable questions such as "why are some residents who are employed here also reliant on government services in order to live here?" Be prepared to respond wisely and accurately to tough questions about the contributions of your business to the community.
• As Car Week approaches, your Chamber is receiving frequent reminders that some residents are highly critical of hospitality and tourism. At the same time, these residents also oppose cuts to city services funded in large part by hospitality and tourism. And, they vote against tax increases as an alternative revenue source to taxes generated by hospitality and tourism. The inevitable result of adopting policies that accommodate all of these opinions is city budget deficits, multi-year structural deficits, and ultimately more dire consequences.
• Your Chamber appreciates people who see the beauty, climate, culture, and community of the Monterey Peninsula and therefore choose it as a place for a second (or third, or fourth) home. Nevertheless, your Chamber of Commerce primarily serves the interests of the local businesses and residents who live and work here permanently. Please consider the needs of local people before you demand policies that deprive them of their livelihoods.

HEALTH CARE

• Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) now hosts a 24/7 thrombectomy stroke intervention program, in a partnership with other health care systems in the San Francisco Bay Area. Montage Health is about to open a pediatric infusion treatment cancer, allowing children to be treated locally rather than having to go to the San Francisco Bay Area for treatment. Montage is beefing up its stroke and cancer treatment programs at the demand of residents who want treatment services to be local.

COUNTY OF MONTEREY

• The County of Monterey Economic Development Department is beginning its planning for the next five-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). See annual reports on the current CEDS (2021-2026) at Monterey County Economic Development.
• The County of Monterey Economic Development Department has been working with cities to apply for federal designation for the next round of selected "Opportunity Zones" - challenging locations where investors can obtain tax incentives for economic development. Your Chamber provided a letter of support for an Opportunity Zone that includes parts of Sand City and Seaside. Sand City, Seaside, and Marina currently have Opportunity Zones, and so does the City of Salinas.

MONTEREY REGIONAL AIRPORT

• On July 23, 2026, the Monterey Peninsula Airport District Board of Directors reviewed and accepted a Monterey Regional Airport Economic Benefit Analysis. (See Item G.1, Monterey Regional Airport Economic Benefit Analysis.) As stated in the analysis, "in 2025, the airport-related activity generated $485.6 million in total economic benefits for the Monterey County economy. This activity supported 2,464 jobs and produced $201.9 million in income for workers and business owners." This is a strong argument against residents who want airport operations to be curtailed. Your Chamber supports the current operations and construction projects of Monterey Regional Airport.

RETAIL

• As Car Week approaches, managers of some local retail centers are disappointed and alarmed about negative regional and national news media coverage of Monterey Peninsula tourism.

ELECTIONS

• The deadline to file paperwork to run for office in Monterey County for the November 2026 election is Friday, August 7 (unless the incumbent does not file, in which case the deadline is Wednesday, August 12). See the calendar for candidates: Monterey County Elections Department - November 3, 2026 General Election Calendar.
• See the list of local elected officials and the candidates who have already filed for local elected offices: Candidate List.

PLANNING FOR CAR WEEK (AUGUST 7 - AUGUST 16)

• More than 35 events are formally recognized as part of Car Week. The County of Monterey has established a "Monterey Car Week 2026" website to provide residents and visitors with real-time traffic information and event schedules: go to Monterey Car Week 2026.
• See Monterey has a website for Car Week and a list of events by location: go to Monterey Car Week & Pebble Beach Concours dʻElegance.

CAR WEEK EXCURSION OUTSIDE OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA: SPECIAL PUBLIC ART DISPLAY IN SALINAS

• Monterey Peninsula residents and visitors looking for something different, away from the Car Week activities, are encouraged to visit the City of Salinas and see the Fantastic Beasts. The Alebrijes y Nahuales: Fantastic Animals from Mexico international touring public art exhibition is in Salinas from July 31 to September 4, 2026. The exhibition features public display at major commercial locations of eight monumental, illuminated 20-foot colorful sculptures created by master artisans from Oaxaca. See official city information for the Salinas exhibition at Alebrijes y Nahulaes Art Exhibit. This website identifies the locations of the Fantastic Beasts: Alebrijes & Nahuales: Fantastic Animals From Mexico. The exhibition and related events are managed by our friends at the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce.

John Narigi Joins Salinas Regional Soccer Complex as President During Major Year of Growth

The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex announced today that John Narigi has joined the organization as President, bringing more than three decades of executive leadership in hospitality, major public venues, economic development, community partnerships, and organizational growth to one of California’s fastest-growing community sports facilities.

Narigi joins the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex during a defining year as construction advances on eight new fields, The Match campaign continues to rally community investment, and the facility prepares for one of the largest tournament and event years in its history. The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex currently serves more than 11,500 community members each week, with weekly use projected to grow to more than 20,000 as the next phase of development is completed.

The eight-field expansion is part of a larger vision to build the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex into the largest facility of its kind between Los Angeles and San Francisco, creating more access for children and families, more quality fields for youth and adult players, more opportunities for girls’ and women’s leagues, and a stronger regional tournament destination that supports local hotels, restaurants, small businesses, and the broader Salinas Valley economy.

Thank You to our MPCC Leadership Circle!

Visionary Members

Cornerstone Members

Foundational Members