www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 25-JULY 1, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 19 If you build it, they will come, the saying goes, and that is proving true in Marina’s new neighborhoods on the former Fort Ord. Years in the making, The Dunes is a mixed-use neighborhood developed by Shea Homes with commercial and residential spaces. Even when I toured one of the 84 residential units known as “Rooftops” in 2024, I struggled to see what the developer saw— in my eyes, it was still a giant asphalt lot with structures on it. (That was before a Trader Joe’s opened to much fanfare.) Karl Waller saw the vision for this live/work/play combination years before I could visualize it. He grew up in Marina then pursued a career in supply chain management, eventually settling in Dallas. He’d return to visit his parents, and was surprised to see that even as Marina changed from the former military town it had been in his childhood, it was hard to find a place to grab dinner or a drink. Seeing the emerging Dunes development concept, Waller decided to do something to change that. He purchased a parcel and opened a Brass Tap franchise in May of 2024, before the residential units were even up for sale. “I knew I wanted to be in Marina, reversing the trend—all my life, we took our money from Marina and spent it in a neighboring city,” Waller says. Even when he was flanked by construction, he immediately found there was an audience for a bar—for sports on the many televisions, for karaoke, for trivia, for live music on the patio, for DJ Khosmo Beatz who brought dancers on Friday nights. “I didn’t anticipate how many families would come,” Waller says. “The concept is a bar.” (His busiest days ever have been during World Cup games.) If you build it, they will come. And they will also complain. Waller received his first warning about noise in July last year. He moved the DJ and karaoke from the patio to indoors. He thought the problem was solved. Then in August, he received a notice of violation from the City of Marina’s code enforcement officer, noting all music must end by 10pm, something Waller says was already happening. Then another notice of violation followed in September pertaining to karaoke night, although Waller says it ended at 10pm. (Code enforcement also checked in with The General, the bar behind Dametra just across the road, and which typically hosts a DJ on Friday nights. “We want to keep the nightlife going,” says Dmitri Reehani, manager of The General. “Hopefully this will bring more people to the area, and that’s what we need.”) Months passed, then a third notice followed at Brass Tap on April 30, urging Waller to stay within the limits set forth in Marina municipal code. The code is vague, with no volume limit listed—excessive noise is defined as “a noise disturbance which, because of its volume level, duration or character, annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of Marina residents.” He canceled music events. City Councilmember Liesbeth Visscher, who represents District 4, says she will push for objective standards. “That would be a good start,” she tells Waller over a chicken sandwich at Brass Tap. Indeed it would—Waller says he’s committed to collaborating and being a good neighbor. And neighbors are interested in a vibrant community with nightlife. Jason Digiacomo and his fiancée bought a place in The Rooftops last year and got to hanging out at the Brass Tap two or three times a week where they could sit outside with their German shepherd, Aspen, and play trivia. The emerging late-night energy and live music drew them to the neighborhood. “We bought because of that, honestly,” Digiacomo says. “I am shocked that one person can ruin it for everyone.” (As if buyers didn’t know, mandatory disclosures include this mention about neighboring uses: “Facilities include restaurants, bars and taverns which may cause late-night noise and other disturbances.”) Visscher notes that mixed use—residences above businesses side by side—is finally coming into being. “I understand people need to be able to sleep, but they live in a town center, so they can expect sound. I want it to be vibrant,” she says. Looking around at newly opened El Charrito and Lalla Grill, and the older General and Cinemark theater, Visccher says: “This is what we wanted.” Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Make Some Noise Marina’s mixed-use dream is coming to fruition, with some haters. By Sara Rubin DOUBLE STANDARD…Squid thinks you can tell a lot about a creature—cephalopod, human or otherwise— by what they prioritize. Squid, for example, prioritizes accurate reporting, Squid’s health and time with friends and Squid’s trusted canine companion, Roscoe P. Coltrane. Some members of the Monterey City Council, specifically Ed Smith and Jean Rasch, have shown they have interesting priorities. Both were unwilling to support Councilmember Kim Barber’s request to agendize a discussion about the formation of a temporary cost-of-living reduction and coordination task force, which would study affordability challenges for Monterey residents and try to form practical solutions. Smith and Rasch said they felt that discussing the formation of an affordability task force at a future meeting would be a waste of staff’s time and effort. Yet both of them supported agendizing the painting of a crosswalk downtown in red, white and blue a few weeks ago, an action that was called “not practical” by the city manager and ultimately took up staff time for little to no tangible benefit that Squid can see. Mayor Tyller Williamson ultimately voted to allow Barber’s request, so it will come up for a more substantive discussion. Squid thinks that with the high cost of shrimp-flavored popcorn (and everything else) these days, trying to find practical ways to help struggling city residents get by is a valuable use of city resources. BARK, BITE…Squid enjoys oozing around Monterey County Superior Court, even if the courtroom has an unceremonious way of feeling like the DMV—half of what they say is in Latin, or might as well be. But sometimes, a judge will deliver a stirring speech and Squid’s ears perked up on Thursday, June 18 when Judge Ian Rivamonte started talking. Rivamonte was pleased to hear that the County of Monterey and the Life Foundation have reached a settlement, which means the County will acquire a Salinas building it has long rented from the nonprofit, which is out of money. The foundation’s finances have been managed by a court-appointed receiver since last year. Despite that, Life Foundation CEO Barnett Davis II kept moving money around, prompting the judge to find him in contempt of court. Davis’ attorney advocated for Rivamonte to vacate that finding so even if Davis walks away broke, he could at least keep his dignity. Rivamonte agreed, begrudgingly, vacating the contempt findings “out of sheer mercy.” He wanted to issue a warning to other prospective litigants. “My orders have teeth and I will bite if prompted,” Rivamonte said. “I have anguished over this motion, spent sleepless nights thinking about what is right… The cleanest way out of this mess is to acquiesce.” Maybe by teeth, he meant dentures. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “I am shocked one person can ruin it for everyone.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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