8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 24-30, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com news Rising tides and crashing waves last winter battered the timber staircases that carry people down steep bluffs to the white sands of Carmel Beach. Two sets of stairs were badly damaged— between 9th and 10th avenues and 10th and 13th avenues—and remain boarded up nine months later, much to the frustration of some residents who question why it’s taking so long for the city to fix them. “We’ve definitely been working on it but it’s not as simple as putting a few more screws in it,” Assistant City Manager Brandon Swanson says. The city is facing a dilemma in part due to the challenge of sea level rise and increased storm activity, he says. It’s in the middle of a lengthy coastal engineering study expected to make recommendations on protecting Carmel’s coastline with possible seawalls and revetments. They may also include adapting the staircases—the existing 11 sets of stairs built decades ago were never designed to withstand today’s storms, Swanson says. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t have failed.” The stringers of the shuttered stairs—the long pieces of wood that run down the sides of the stairs holding the treads together—are cracked. Swanson is awaiting bids from contractors who recently investigated the damage. The question becomes: Does the city spend money now on what may be costly repairs, or wait until the study is finished and see what the recommendations may bring? The study could take over a year to complete. If the repair cost is low, it may be worth repairing them immediately. If the cost is in the hundreds of thousands, the Carmel City Council may opt to wait. The numbers, Swanson says, will drive which path the city takes. Stair Master Two sets of Carmel beach stairs battered by winter storms remain closed nine months later. By Pam Marino On June 20, the County Board of Supervisors approved a $2 billion budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Just three months later, looking ahead to a projected $20 million deficit for 2025-26, the supervisors voted on Oct. 15 to implement a hiring freeze. The pause applies only to the vacant positions—both new and existing—within the 3,594.7 authorized roles funded by the general fund across 22 departments. Budget figures, dependent on the economy via sales and property taxes, have been strained; compounded by the expiration of one-time federal funds given to the county to sustain critical jobs during the pandemic. Wage studies also led to increases in employee salaries and benefits to ensure jobs remained competitive. In late August, the County and SEIU 521 announced a 12-percent pay increase over three years, the largest increase for county employees in 20 years. These increases are not set to take effect until the next fiscal year. “In some instances, we’ve been able to spend more than what we had,” says Assistant County Administrative Officer Ezequiel Vega Rios. “Now we have to adjust to that new reality of not having as much revenue. Although the local revenue has increased from what we were receiving three years ago, it hasn’t increased significantly or at the same pace that expenditures have grown.” The implications of a hiring freeze can vary across departments, particularly those where a majority of the costs go to personnel. In the Sheriff’s Office, the hiring process can be lengthy—not only must candidates meet many credentials, but it can also take up to six months before a trained individual is on the job. The District Attorney’s Office is actively recruiting. “We have 40 active prosecutors right now and we’re down 20 percent. I have the minimal amount of prosecutors to cover my court obligations. That’s huge,” says Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni. “I have two retired annuitants. They’re not permanent county employees, so once their hours are completed, they can’t work anymore. If there’s a hiring freeze, I can’t replace them either.” Oftentimes, departments collaborate to provide services, especially in emergencies. The Department of Emergency Services is a key example where their ability to respond is influenced by other departments, like public health and social services. “Every element of our office touches at least one other office. So when we talk about budget impacts, they might not always be direct to our department, but that means there’s one less body to build a very necessary seat in our overall response to a disaster,” says Department of Emergency Management Director Kelsey Scanlon. On Nov. 12 the County Board of Supervisors plans to issue guidelines for assessing which positions are deemed critical. Doing so, according to the County Administrative Office, will help prevent layoffs in the future. Instead of determining which roles are critical and which to cut, Pacioni argues that there should be an exemption for specified core services. “I definitely think that I have an argument to fill these attorney positions,” she says, “but also that the positions aren’t permanently cut, which is what they’re talking about doing.” DA Jeannine Pacioni is recruiting for 12 attorney vacancies in her office. “This is sort of like taking a sledgehammer instead of a surgical, strategic approach,” she said. Reality Check Three months into the fiscal year, County of Monterey implements a hiring freeze. By Katie Rodriguez Two sets of stairs at Carmel Beach remain boarded up with plywood after storms last winter cracked the lumber holding the stairs together. The city is investigating the cost of repairs. “If there’s a hiring freeze, I can’t replace them.” Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
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