CITY OF MONTEREY

• At their August 18 meeting, the Monterey City Council approved changes to the Del Monte Center SC [Shopping Center] Plan, which was first established in 1963. Federal Realty Investment Trust (owner of Santana Row in San José) bought the Del Monte Center in 2025 and wants to update landscaping, outdoor amenities, lighting, and trees. See the plan at Item 10 of the August 18, 2026 Monterey City Council meeting agenda. 
• Also on August 18, the city council approved a contract for Monterey Sports Center café concessions with RS Management Group, Inc., DBA [doing business as] RS Promotion. Before COVID-19 public health orders, the city ran the café at a financial loss. After the Sports Center reopened for normal operations, the city contracted out café services in 2025, but the arrangement did not work out. RS Promotions ownership is affiliated with Bruno’s Deli in Carmel and will offer sandwiches, wraps, and salads. See the contract as Item 6 of the August 18, 2026 Monterey City Council meeting agenda.
• At their September 1 meeting, the Monterey City Council will discuss a pilot project for sidewalk repairs using revenue collected through the Measure S sales tax.
• The City of Monterey is planning for winter storm activity and likely power outages from falling trees and branches. On September 30 at the Monterey Conference Center, the city will host a panel discussion on winter storm preparation. The panel will include city and county officials, a Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) representative, and a special featured speaker from the National Weather Service who will talk about the predicted El Niño conditions for the upcoming rainy season. Attendees will receive information on whom to call to report storm damage.
• The City of Monterey will begin hosting workshops with key organizations on September 29 to discuss ways to balance the city budget under its "Roadmap to Resilience." In the meantime, the city will host its first "Budget Brews Drop-In Session" on September 4 at 9:00 am at Monterey Donuts to allow the general public to provide input on how to balance the city budget. See the list of Budget Brews at the bottom of this website: City of Monterey Roadmap to Resilience.
• Also, the City of Monterey will begin convening Economic Development Strategy planning meetings, starting on September 2 at 3:00 p.m. with an Economic Development Strategy Meeting hosted by the Old Monterey Business Association (OMBA). Your Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce will also host a meeting.

COUNTY OF MONTEREY

• The Monterey County Board of Supervisors Economic Development Committee will meet on August 31. A meeting agenda has not yet been posted.
• At their September 1 meeting, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will consider approval of revisions to its Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) policy. EIFDs are government mechanisms to fund infrastructure improvements that encourage private development. In 2014, Governor Jerry Brown enacted a law authorizing this concept as a replacement for the state's Redevelopment Agencies, which were dissolved in 2012. Several cities (notably, the City of Salinas) have approached the county regarding the establishment of an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD). The Board of Supervisors has approved one EIFD for the City of Gonzales. For more information, see the meeting agenda item: Approve Revisions to County Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) Policy.

UTILITIES 

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and other investor-owned utilities are supporting a proposal that would provide additional money for the existing California Wildfire Fund, which was established in 2019 for utility companies to recover certain costs and expenses arising from post-July 2019 wildfires when one of the state's three large investor-owned utilities are found to be responsible for ignition.

MONTEREY REGIONAL AIRPORT

• Full permanent long-term parking opened last weekend. The permanent entrance and exit from this lot will be located at the roundabout now under construction at the intersection of Olmsted Road and Garden Road.
• Contact Monica Lal at 831.648.5359 or at monica@montereychamber.com if you would be interested in a tour of construction projects at the airport, including the new terminal, on Saturday, August 29.

HEALTH CARE

• More than 600 people attended the Montage Health annual Cancer Survivors Day on Saturday, August 22 at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside.
• Montage reports that it has hired thirteen new doctors and nurse practitioners so far in 2026 and anticipates hiring ten more by the end of the year.
• Montage reports that its on-site flu shot clinics for employers have started through its Employer Solutions program.

REAL ESTATE

• The median sale price of homes in the City of Monterey continues to climb. It looks like the initiation of a couple of Pebble Beach home sales exceeding $20 million occurred in conjunction with Car Week.

CHAMBER BUSINESS

• Register for the Chamber's 24th Annual Leadership Luncheon, to be held on Friday, September 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 PM p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Seaside. This event gives community leaders, local business owners and engaged citizens an opportunity to gain further insight into the current business climate on the Monterey Bay Region from an impressive panel of federal, state and local elected officials. To register, go to this link: Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2026 Leadership Luncheon.

Cast your votes now in the Best Of Monterey County for your fellow Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce members and your favorite local businesses! Voting closes Friday, August 28.

Thank You to our MPCC Leadership Circle!

Visionary Members

Cornerstone Members

Foundational Members