10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY march 9-15, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Since the dawn of social media, Big Sur, if it wasn’t already, has become a bucket-list destination for tourists the world over. And among the destinations within Big Sur, there is none more iconic than the Bixby Creek Bridge. If you don’t have a picture of yourself next to Bixby Bridge, were you really even there? With that popularity has come a perpetual cluster around the bridge’s northern end, where cars park chaotically, often double parking and sometimes even parking on the highway so drivers and passengers can get out of their car and get a photo. For years it has been maddening to locals, and just how to prevent the backup has remained a vexing question. Caltrans launched a pilot project at the Bixby turnout, and on Feb. 22 installed 25 “delineators”—which are soft posts, and which can be driven over—at the turnout. They mean, per state highway code, those who stop must park parallel. Bixby is the first location along the coast where this approach has been attempted, and Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski writes by email that Caltrans crews—aside from monitoring the state of delineators themselves (10 have been replaced as of March 6)— will be assessing its overall effectiveness in improving traffic flow. As of now, it’s the only plan Caltrans has got, as Drabinski writes, “The space is limited which makes it challenging to find a permanent solution.” Though he adds that observations by Caltrans crews “indicated the partial success of the installation almost immediately,” and that vehicles were “largely adhering to the parameters of the delineators.” Butch Kronlund, executive director of the Community Association of Big Sur, isn’t sure if it will help solve the problem, but says, “I’m a fan of doing something.” He adds, “[Caltrans is] recognizing there’s a problem and taking some kind of step to address it. Is it the right answer? I don’t know, but it is some kind of answer.” County Planning Commissioner Martha Diehl, who lives near the Bixby turnout, is likewise happy Caltrans is taking “substantive” action. “I applaud their experiment,” she says, adding that she hopes going forward there is a more holistic, collaborative approach that involves county public works, which manages the Coast Road entrance just across the street that regularly fills up with cars parked illegally. “I don’t think it’s a long-term solution, but for the interim, it’s fabulous,” Diehl says. Back in 2017, Andrew Sandoval started raising concerns about issues at Oasis Public Charter School in Salinas. At the time, with four children enrolled there, he was a concerned parent; he went on to become a board member of Santa Rita Union School District, then in 2022, a member of Salinas City Council. Along Sandoval’s journey, his curiosity about Oasis’ dysfunction grew well beyond the classroom to governance, and eventually expanded into a lawsuit over public records against Hartnell Community College District. Augustine Nevarez was a board member at Oasis who also works as director of student affairs at Hartnell; he and Sandoval communicated about Oasis via email. Sandoval’s concerns grew. In 2019, he filed a complaint with Hartnell alleging misconduct by Nevarez. In 2020, he received a letter from Hartnell stating, “The District has conducted an appropriate investigation, and any potential personnel issues have been addressed…the information you have brought forth is important and informative.” But when Sandoval sought records from Hartnell related to his complaint, plus Nevarez’s emails related to Oasis business (using his Hartnell email account), the college demurred—even after finding 842 relevant emails. In 2021, Sandoval sued in Monterey County Superior Court. He won; the college appealed. In a Feb. 28 decision, the Court of Appeal upheld Sandoval’s victory. “Nevarez’s Oasis emails—the contents of which [Hartnell] concedes ‘pertain solely to Oasis business’—relate to the public’s business,” the court found. Just because they relate to a different agency, they are still public records. Hartnell board president Aurelio Salazar Jr. said in a statement: “[Hartnell] understands its responsibility to balance public transparency and personal privacy as outlined in state law…While the court’s opinion presents new challenges, we respect the process.” A local judge is scheduled to rule on March 24 to set a deadline for Hartnell to disclose the records. Selfie Stop After years of complaints, Caltrans is finally addressing congestion at Bixby Bridge. By David Schmalz news History Tour Take a journey into Monterey’s past, with a tour of Pacific Biological Laboratories. The building played a pivotal role in the life and work of marine biologist Ed Ricketts. 9am-4:30pm Saturday, March 11. Pacific Biological Laboratories, 800 Cannery Row, Monterey. Free; registration required. 646-5648, montereypl. libcal.com/event/9993643. Purifying Parks Volunteer to help keep local parks clean. Sustainable Pacific Grove is hosting a trash pickup at Lovers Point. Meet near the Stillwell Children’s Pool. Trash grabbers, buckets and gloves are provided, but supplies are limited. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own supplies if they have them. 9am-11am Saturday, March 11. Lovers Point, 631 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove. Free. 648-5722, acolony@cityofpacificgrove.org, bit.ly/PGParkCleanup. Phone Home The Carmel Planning Commission is asking for public input on the first draft of the city’s revised wireless ordinance package. The commission is hosting a special meeting to hear residents’ feedback. A short reader’s guide has been created for convenience, and the public is encouraged to read it as a starting point. 4pm Wednesday, March 15. Carmel City Hall, Monte Verde Street, between Ocean and 7th, Carmel. Free. 6202000, planning@ci.carmel.ca.us, bit.ly/ CarmelWirelessOrdinanceFirstDraft. LEADERSHIP ROLE King City is accepting applications to fill a vacant seat on City Council. To apply, you must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of District 1 (north of King Street from Mildred Avenue to the west and Beech Street to the east) and a registered voter. The council will hold a special meeting to select a candidate on March 22. March 14 deadline to apply. King City City Hall, 212 S. Vanderhurst Ave., King City. Free. 386-5971, bit.ly/ KingCityCouncilApplication. Storm Relief The deadline to apply for storm relief assistance loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration is approaching. Homeowners and renters may be eligible for up to $200,000 at interest rates as low as 2.13 percent; businesses and nonprofits may seek up to $2 million at rates as low as 2.4 percent. March 16 deadline to apply. (800) 6592955, disastercustomerservice@sba. gov, disasterassistance.gov. Open, Shut Hartnell, seeking to withhold public records about an administrator, loses a lawsuit on appeal. By Sara Rubin Some of the delineators, creating parallel-parking only at a turnout just north of Bixby Creek Bridge on Highway 1, are down on the ground on Thursday, March 2. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “I’m a fan of doing something.” Daniel Dreifuss
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