8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com There are only so many ways to respond to rising seas: accommodate, protect, retreat or do nothing. These options fall on a scale, ranging from simply buying more time to longer-term solutions. They can include infrastructure changes, like elevating structures or building floating homes; or they can focus on redirecting or dissipating water, like constructing sea walls, levees or restoring wetlands. The most aggressive approach is managed retreat: moving structures and people away from the coast to give the sea space to rise, allowing the environment to adapt and restore itself. On Wednesday, Jan. 22, Marina City Council voted to take a significant step toward enacting a more progressive option to coastal management planning to address rising seas in approving a draft of coastal hazards policies for the Local Coastal Land Use and Implementation Plan. These documents, which will go to the California Coastal Commission for certification this spring, detail a plan to respond to sea level rise using managed retreat as well as soft armoring methods that include nature-based approaches to addressing erosion. “This is not an evacuation. I’m not saying everybody move right now,” said David Revell, a coastal geomorphologist who advises cities on sea level rise. “But we’re going to monitor and observe where erosion is happening and when certain things need to be relocated before they end up as a big mess on the beach.” Most of Marina’s coastline remains in its natural state and has been protected against “armoring,” or building structures like sea walls or bulkheads. While these methods can stabilize shorelines, they can create other problems by disrupting the natural movement of sediment. Four main stakeholders are involved in this plan. There are three public entities—California State Parks, Marina Coast Water District and Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District— and one private, the Sanctuary Beach Resort. Within 5 feet of sea level rise, 32 structures and 22 parcels were identified that may be exposed to coastal erosion. Cemex, a sand mining operation which has contributed to coastal erosion, began phasing out in 2020. “Marina has a longstanding commitment to responsible stewardship,” says Councilmember Brian McCarthy. “The [plan] will safeguard against irresponsible development within the Marina coastal boundary, helping ensure that our region remains protected from unsustainable practices.” Since 2022, the County of Monterey has received nearly $3 million in funds stemming from several opioid settlement lawsuits, with a total of $13 million expected over the next 20 years. After a slow start in distributing funds to agencies and nonprofits to fight opioid use and addiction in the community, county officials are finally designating cash to several programs, totaling over $1.56 million. The highest award thus far is to nonprofit Central Coast Overdose Prevention for $627,609, to create a pilot mobile outreach program called the Substance Use Response Team. It’s designed to send doctors, peer counselors and others into encampments aimed at preventing overdoses and providing recovery support. The program is being led by CCODP’s president, Dr. Reb Close, who’s been on the forefront of the fight against opioids through her work as an emergency room physician at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Montage’s Prescribe Safe program and street medicine programs. For several years Close and partners in treatment and law enforcement had been interested in creating the mobile outreach team, modeled after a successful Ohio program. The County agreed to pay for the pilot through July with a focus on South County cities. CCODP purchased a truck and supplies, and compensates doctors who spend one day a week in the field. They launched in Soledad a few months ago, adding King City in December and Greenfield in mid-January. Close says she and the peer counselors have already established a connection with people living by the Salinas River in Soledad, bringing them socks, snacks and other items, many donated. They offer supplies to those they know recently overdosed and guide them, if they ask, to medical treatment through Clinica de Salud’s mobile clinic. Close is hopeful the program will prove itself and be extended beyond July. “We’re figuring out how best to serve each community while learning from other communities,” she says. Sea Space Marina City Council approves a draft Local Coastal Plan addressing sea level rise. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS MONEY MATTERS Small business owners and entrepreneurs are invited to a workshop on financing programs and how to create business plans. The workshop is presented by the Central Coast Small Business Development Center, California Coastal Rural Development Corporation and the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce. Noon-1pm Thursday, Jan. 30. Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, 119 East Alisal St., Salinas. Free. linktr.ee/ CentralCoastSBDC. TALKING CIVIL RIGHTS The NAACP Monterey County Branch hosts the Ministers/Stephen E. Ross Awards Breakfast. This year’s theme is: “The Church’s Role in Today’s Civil Rights Movement: Keeping the Dream Alive,” featuring guest speaker Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown of the Third Baptist Church in San Francisco. 8:30am Saturday, Feb. 1. Embassy Suites Hotel by Hilton, 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside. $65. Register at montereynaacp.org/2025-ministers-breakfast. EVENT BOOST The City of Monterey is accepting applications for its Special Event Support Program. Grants are awarded to not-for-profit events that are free to the public, and focus on, for example, educational opportunities and cultural experiences. Applications accepted Feb. 1-27. monterey.gov/events/grant-program. PUBLIC PROCESS Monterey City Council meets and accepts public comment. Tell your elected officials what they are doing well and what you think they can do better. 4pm Tuesday, Feb. 4. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3799, monterey.gov. DRAWING THE LINES Pacific Grove City Council meets to go over draft maps outlining the future council district boundaries. Public comment is accepted. 6:15pm Wednesday, Feb. 5. Pacific Grove City Hall, 300 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 648-3181, cityofpacificgrove.org. OPEN SEAT Carmel Area Wastewater District is recruiting to fill an open seat on its Board of Directors. The person appointed to fill the position will take the office on Feb. 26, and will be up for election in November 2026 if they wish to continue serving on the board. Applications are due at 3pm Feb. 14. All candidates will be invited to make a statement during the board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 9am. cawd.org. Teaming Up Pilot program to guide people into drug treatment gets underway with opioid settlement funds. By Pam Marino Marina has about three miles of coastline and has experienced some of the highest rates of erosion in the state, thanks largely to the Cemex sand mine that is no longer mining. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “It will safeguard against irresponsible development.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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