8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 11-17, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com After years of toying with the idea of reducing or eliminating its tourism marketing expenses, the Carmel City Council is no longer playing. On June 2, the Council passed a $42 million 2026-2027 budget without the originally estimated $473,000 in marketing, asking for a discussion in July, when a final decision will be made on how much to put back into the budget, if anything. Councilmembers described receiving a barrage of comments from Carmelites weary of visitors populating the village on a weekly basis. “People are angry about it,” Councilmember Hans Buder said. “They’re over it.” The city has annually contributed money to three organizations that market Carmel to visitors: See Monterey, Monterey County’s tourism and convention bureau; Visit Carmel; and the Carmel Chamber of Commerce. The Visit Carmel Board of Directors—which is made up of and financed by hotel owners—had earlier reduced its ask for the coming fiscal year from $120,000 to $90,000. As the Council sought to resolve an expected budget shortfall of more than $2 million the directors voted to take their request to zero. See Monterey is asking for $293,000, based on an agreed-upon 3 percent of the estimated transient occupancy tax revenue, with the money earmarked for marketing to visitors who will more likely stay in hotels and spend more money, versus daytrippers who spend less. Councilmember Bob Delves said he’d like the city to cut its See Monterey contribution in half, eventually taking it to zero within three years, but Buder worried cuts would directly impact revenue to the city. Councilmember Jeff Baron said a compromise was in order, while Mayor Dale Byrne was the only member who wanted to retain the full requested amount in 2026-2027. The vote was 5-0 to pass the budget without the See Monterey contribution, to be further discussed on July 7 for possible later inclusion. The $60,000 request from the Chamber remained intact. Over the last year and a half, city staff have been finding places to cut expenses by about 15 percent. Meanwhile the Council is committed to catching up on deferred capital improvement projects estimated at $100 million total, with a goal of spending $10 million a year. The new budget includes $8.5 million for capital improvements, including $2.7 million transferred from a fund budget. Salinas City Council is set to consider an affordable 88-unit multifamily housing building with a daycare center at 200 Casentini St. Milestone Housing Group, acting on behalf of the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey, is seeking approval to develop a 4.59-acre site at the Casentini Street location that would include 87 affordable multifamily apartments and one manager’s unit spread across five three-story residential buildings. Plans also call for a 2,400-square-foot leasing and amenity building and a 4,335-square-foot daycare facility, creating a total of seven buildings. “There’s roughly going to be space for 40 children at the daycare center,” Aaron Barger of Milestone Housing Group said during a Salinas Planning Commission meeting on May 20. The residential units will include 24 one-bedroom units, 24 two-bedroom units and 40 three-bedroom units with 152 parking spaces, plus onsite amenities including a community room, a fitness area, a computer room, a basketball court and a tot lot for children up to 9 years old. The project offers units for households earning at or below 60 percent of the average median income and with an overall average affordability level of approximately 49 percent of the average medium income. The planning commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the project. “I always wondered what we were going to do with that open land there and it’s nice to see they are building a daycare canter,” Commissioner Mars Racomora Jr. said. “We’ve got to start building in the city of Salinas, because we do have problems here for housing.” City officials determined the project is exempt from further environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, citing provisions for infill development, phased projects and construction of small structures. The City Council is scheduled to consider the proposal on Tuesday, June 16 at 4pm. No Go The Carmel Council punts on marketing to allay residents fed up with tourism. By Pam Marino NEWS ON TAP Marina Planning Commission meets to review development proposals. 6pm Thursday, June 11. Marina City Council Chambers, 211 Hillcrest Ave., Marina. Free. (831) 884-1278, cityofmarina.org. ALL IN ONE The Monterey County One Stop Community Center hosts an open house and resource fair. The family-friendly event includes more than 50 exhibitors, community resources, food, raffle prizes and more. 1-3pm Friday, June 12. One Stop Community Center, 730 La Guardia St., Salinas. Free. (831) 755-4448, countyofmonterey.gov. SPLASH OF COLOR Help paint a new mural at Ensen Community Park. Hijos del Sol Arts Productions invites the public to pitch in with a brush. 10am-1pm Saturday, June 13. Ensen Community Park, 99 La Posada Drive, Salinas. Free. (831) 200-3915, hijosdelsol.org. BUDGET BLUES Monterey City Council meets to discuss approving the city’s budget for the next year, among other business. Public comment is accepted. 4pm Tuesday, June 16. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 6463799, monterey.gov. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Democratic Women of Monterey County hosts a discussion on immigrants’ rights. Yuri Anderson, chief of staff to Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew, and Adriana Melgoza, executive director of the Watsonville Law Center, will provide an update at this lunchtime event. Noon-1:30pm Wednesday, June 17. Hilton Garden Inn, 1000 Aquajito Road, Monterey. $20-$55. Register at dw-mc. org. LOCAL UPDATE Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church hosts a town hall meeting for the Moss Landing community. Residents are encouraged to ask Church questions, along with guests from the County of Monterey and other local agencies. 5:30-7pm Wednesday, June 17. Moss Landing Marine Labs, 8272 Moss Landing Road. Free. (831) 755-5022, glennchurch.com. SHAPE THE FUTURE City of Soledad is accepting applications for the Soledad Youth Council. Teens ages 13 to 18 are invited to apply for the program that teaches civic engagement skills. Applications accepted through June 19. Apply at bit.ly/ SoledadYouthCouncil2026. (831) 2235000, cityofsoledad.com. Fill In Proposed 88-unit affordable housing complex and daycare headed to Salinas City Council. By Royvi Hernandez Residents contacted the Carmel City Council in record numbers urging the Council to defund tourism marketing efforts, citing a growing number of tourists year round. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “They’re over it.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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