CRA News January 2000

Selected articles from the newsletter of the Carmel Residents Association

CRA Christmas Gala

The 2016 Committee --
Carmel's Role in a Changing World

Thursday, January 27 -- CRA Meeting
	4 p.m. -- Light Refreshments 4:30 p.m. -- Neal Kruse Vista Lobos Meeting Room, Torres between 3rd & 4th Following the meeting, delicious hot and cold hors d'oeuvres

We are fortunate that Neal Kruse, chairman of the 2016 Committee, has agreed to be our speaker on Jan. 27. Formed in 1991, the Committee looked forward to year 2016 in order to determine the direction our village was heading, to forge a vision for how we wanted it to look in 25 years and to plan how to make it happen.

Neal will discuss the committee's concern for the future and what he and others learned about Carmel and its struggle for identity in a changing world. He will share the committee's concern for coming "trends" and the threat they pose to a village bound and determined to remain free of some of the corroding influences of modern life. He also will give his own reflections as to whether the 1993 report was heeded.

Neal Kruse was born in Carmel-by-the-Sea and, except for college and a year in San Francisco, has resided on the Monterey Peninsula. After receiving a BA degree in psychology, he became a carpenter and a building contractor, starting a firm with offices on Cannery Row. He is author of The Homecoming Seminars, presented throughout the State of California, illustrating the impact of architecture on all aspects of life. In addition, he was a columnist on the arts and architecture for the Sun, a Carmel weekly newspaper, and recently facilitated meetings for the Monterey Area Preparedness Group and the Central Coast Co-housing group.

Because everyone loved it so much last time, we are repeating the "heavy" hors d'oeuvres after the meeting. Laurel Whorf will be organizing the food service.

It's Citizen of the Year nomination time

For the twelfth year, the Carmel Residents Association invites members and the public to submit nominations for the Citizen of the Year Award. According to Selection Committee chairman Roger Fremier, "Names and supporting information should be sent to Citizen of the Year Selection Committee, P.O. Box 13, Carmel, CA 93921, no later than Feb. 4." The following guidelines might be helpful:

The candidate has through his or her service enhanced the lives of citizens of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The candidate has through his or her service to the community fostered the ideals of Ordinance 96, which states, in part, that Carmel should remain "... primarily, essentially and predominantly a residential city..."
The candidate is a resident of Carmel-by-the-Sea or its immediate sphere of influence.
Any person or organization may nominate a candidate.
Candidates do not have to be members of the CRA.
List all related background and activities you can find on your nominee.

You are cordially invited to attend the
Twelfth Annual
Carmel Citizen of the Year Celebration
Sunday, Feb. 13, 3 p.m.
Scout House (Mission and 8th)
Delicious hors d'oeuvres - No charge

Come to the Citizen of the Year Celebration!

This year's Citizen of the Year Arrangements Committee, under the able direction of Kay Kuffner, is planning a wonderful event to be held on Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Scout House, Mission and 8th, at 3 p.m. Once again that great suspense builder Howard Skidmore will serve as master of ceremonies.

Mark your calendar now so you can be on hand to congratulate this year's winner and to enjoy the spread of delicious hors d'oeuvres.

President's Message

The Carmel Residents Association has had a productive period since May 1999. There have been challenges for our organization which we met courageously with the generous support of our board and members.

We are very pleased with our web site response and the new memberships it has encouraged. The Carmel Residents Association endeavored to be more effective in promoting, protecting and preserving our traditional village life by educating the residential community relative to local issues. We didn't win 'em all, but we had some successes. An ordinance regulating the proliferation of souvenir shops and the elimination of T-shirts and souvenir merchandise in the windows and doorways of retail shops was a major success. Hopefully the Design Traditions Project Committee will propose new guidelines to the City Council, which will provide us with the strength we need to keep our forested village character.

I've enjoyed representing our Carmel Residents Association membership as your president. I hope that each of you will be inspired in the new year to set aside time to attend public meetings of the City Council and the Planning Commission. It is impossible to get the feel for what goes on in our local government by reading only the media accounts. Attend the meetings and see and hear for yourselves how you are being represented at the local level. Speak out on the issues and write letters to the editor. Remember -- Carmel-by-the-Sea is a residential community. The stronger our voices, the stronger the message to our elected officials.

My deepest thanks to the wonderful members of the CRA board and to all the committee chairpersons who supported me throughout my term. As you will recall, this was a co-president year. Fellow board member Melanie Billig, with her strong leadership skills, will be carrying the torch as president for the remainder of the term. I know you will all extend to Melanie the kindnesses you have bestowed upon me.

Sincerely,
Shirley Humann

EDITORIAL
Our hopes for Carmel-by-the-Sea in the year 2000

Despite warnings of impending Y2K doom and terrorist attacks, Year 2000 arrived Y2K peacefully throughout the world in a blaze of fireworks.

We hope that the New Year will also bring peace to our village. Lately there has been a definite heating of tempers, both in letters to the editor and in City Council meetings. Probably due to the impending April 11 election, it does not have to be this way. There is no reason why we cannot disagree with civility. There is no reason why City Council members cannot listen to the public or each other with respect, even if they disagree. There is no reason why votes cannot be based solely on issues, not on personalities.

We hope that elected and appointed city officials will not only talk about preserving Carmel as a residential community, but make sure that this philosophy is reflected in their votes.

We hope the City Council will find a way to preserve our parklands and city assets rather than selling them off for short-term gain.

We hope that if new revenue sources are found, they will be used for deferred maintenance of existing assets, not for new parking structures or additional visitor marketing.

We hope the City will make a serious commitment to our ailing urban forest.

We hope that the Design Traditions project will help us to preserve the look of our neighborhoods, which are becoming increasingly mansionized.

We hope residents of Carmel-by-the-Sea will become more interested and involved in their city government through attending City Council and Planning Commission meetings and through volunteering to serve on city commissions and committees. Ask at the front desk at City Hall for the commission application form.

And, finally, we hope that residents will make an extra effort to patronize local Carmel businesses and restaurants so that they will be able to continue providing quality services needed by all.

Are you registered to vote in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

If you have recently moved, you must re-register by March 13 to be able to vote in the April 11 City Council election.

Voter registration forms may be obtained from Carmel-by-the-Sea City Hall, Monte Verde between Ocean and 7th, or you may order one from the Election Department at 647-7621.

Monthly Beach Cleanup
Saturday, Jan. 22 (Weather permitting)
10 a.m. - noon

* Volunteers meet at foot of Ocean Avenue
* Please bring gloves
* Coffee and pastries served

Changes in CRA Board

As Shirley Humann mentioned in her message, Melanie Billig will be taking over the presidency of CRA this month. We will look forward to her able leadership.

Everyone who has worked with her agrees that Shirley has been an efficient, dedicated, wonderful president. We are fortunate that she will remain on the board and continue to work to make CRA an effective organization. Among other tasks, Shirley has agreed to serve as vice president for local issues.

It is with great regret that the board has accepted the resignation of Frankie Laney. As co-chairperson of the CRA Issues Committee, Frankie has played an extremely important role in helping to inform and educate the board and to help formulate positions on issues which are based upon CRA values. Her serenity, good humor, intelligence and generosity of spirit will be missed. For once, Frankie is going to carve out a little more time for herself, to paint in her newly-completed studio.

Library flame is rekindled with CRA help

A fire lighting and festive reception thanking those who donated to the fireplace fund was held at Harrison Memorial Library in December. President Shirley Humann, representing the CRA, was thanked for the group's $1,200 donation to this effort. The original idea of adding a gas line and gas logs to the large library fireplace was CRA member Chris Cromwell's. Years ago the wood-burning fireplace was always cozily burning for patrons, but in recent years staff has not had the time to lay a fire each day. So, thanks to a dedicated group of library lovers, the main room is once again being warmed daily by a cozy fire.

CRA remembers Charles Schulz' contribution

Commemorating his retirement, the CRA has written Charles Schulz thanking him again for his generosity in being the featured speaker at CRA's 1994 fund-raiser for the Carmel Public Library Foundation. The event earned $29,000 for the library.

For this contribution, the library acknowledged both Charles Schulz and the Carmel Residents Association with Maybeck Plaque inscriptions on the wall in Harrison Memorial Library, across from the reception desk.

Carmel Residents Association
P.O. Box 13
Carmel, CA 93921
Phone: 831-626-1610