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CRA News November 2000
Selected articles from the newsletter of the Carmel Residents Association
Over 30 spirited members of the CRA Beach Cleanup "precision marching
team" appeared in the city's Oct. 28 birthday parade.
| Thursday, November 30 -- CRA Meeting | |
| 4:30 p.m. -- Mayor Sue McCloud
& City Administrator Rich Guillen Vista Lobos Meeting Room, Torres between 3rd & 4th Following the meeting, delicious hot and cold hors d'oeuvres |
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Meet Mayor McCloud and City
Administrator Guillen
Mayor Sue McCloud, a native of Carmel
and a CRA member, brings to her current position an interesting and varied
background. A Stanford graduate with a degree in political science, she
has attended the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Switzerland
and the National War College. During the late 50's and early 60's, Sue acted as a special assistant and interpreter to Richard C. Zellerbach, then chairman of the board of the Crown Zellerbach Corporation and head of numerous family trusts.
In 1963, Sue began her 31-year professional career with the Central Intelligence Agency, serving in France, England, Japan, Switzerland and Sweden. At her retirement, she was a member of the Senior Executive Service and has received three major awards for her long and distinguished career. In addition to a background in international activities and public service, our mayor has other diverse interests such as collecting both 20th century American prints and unique Japanese woodblock prints. Many know of her deep appreciation for music, but few realize that she plays the clarinet!
Now in her seventh month in office, the mayor will share with us her goals and objectives, an assessment of the state of the city and much more.
Interim City Administrator Rich Guillen, in his short time in Carmel, has shown himself to be friendly, open and approachable. A native of southern California, he is a state-licensed engineer and graduate of Cal. Poly, Pomona, with a Master's in Public Administration from Golden Gate University. Rich has also had a longtime interest in legal matters and attended Monterey College of Law for two years until other professional work and family required more of his attention. He plans to finish that final year, but right now is enjoying his work in public administration.
A member of Rotary, the Monterey Bonsai Club and Monterey Fly Casters, Rich believes in being involved. He and his wife, Sally, love to ski, golf and play tennis. With more time, they are now enjoying traveling.
This meeting should be full of interesting ideas and information. Be sure to come and ask all of those burning questions that you have stored up. Let's have a good turnout to welcome our speakers. Plan to enjoy the social hour after the formal program.
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A week earlier, during a special City Council meeting, a clearly frustrated Allan Paterson directed very strong comments to the mayor, saying, in part, "Recently you have manipulated the Planning Commission down from 7 to 5 ... I do not appreciate that. Design Traditions is a visionary landmark piece of planning legislation ... Do not micromanage it at this time ... before it has a chance to start working. The Steering Committee and the Planning Commission have made their recommendations. Please respect them! How can we continue to have confidence in your leadership if you behave in this autocratic way?" Leading off the special hearing, Mr. Rose said that Mr. Paterson's words and tone were inappropriate and rude. Eight members of the audience pleaded with the council to find some way to keep this experienced public servant, asking for compassion and understanding, defending his right to freedom of speech. Several speakers pointed out the chilling message this would send to all volunteers and commissioners. Frank Wasko, although next in line for the commission if Paterson were removed, asked that the council "... be bigger than events. We have a road to travel and need all the leadership we can muster. We don't need vindication. Don't need 'gotcha.' " Alternatives to firing such as a letter of reprimand were suggested. Mayor McCloud said that during the week she had tried several times to meet with Mr. Paterson, had only succeeded on the day of the hearing and had no indication that he would be a "team player." Paula Hazdovac emphasized that Paterson said he was speaking for the Planning Commission when his comments had not actually been voted upon. Barbara Livingston suggested that when a normally calm person is so agitated, it should signal to council the level of frustration and betrayal felt by those who have worked on the Design Traditions project. Although unhappy with Paterson's comments, Dick Ely thought that the council had already made its point by calling the hearing and wondered what effect council action would have on members of the public and their willingness to serve the community. In the end the majority prevailed and the city has lost one of its most experienced volunteers. The Problems -- 1) The building industry in charge: According to the ordinance, "All members [of the Design Review Board], if possible, should share varied backgrounds and experience in architecture, historical architecture, design art, landscaping or construction/building industry or any combination thereof." This could not only cause conflicts-of-interest, but there has always been a problem of architects not wanting to be critical of colleagues. The Planning Commission includes "at least one member who is a licensed architect, building designer or is associated with the building trades or construction." The others are interested Carmel residents. So, ironically, under the DRB, approval for the majority of new houses and remodels in Carmel will be made by a group composed of people associated with the construction industry, exactly those who have been lobbying the council to weaken the Design Traditions Ordinance--to make its core provisions voluntary rather than mandatory. 2) Another commission after downsizing the others: The establishment of yet another board flies in the face of the action this council took to downsize all commissions from 7 to 5 members "to help the staff, which is overworked." Won't this new group cause more work for the planning staff, which is severely overburdened? 3) Premature action: It might have been more appropriate to decide upon the format of the DRB when the council discusses the entire ordinance. Hopefully, consultant Noré Winter will return to Carmel, as budgeted, when the council discusses the ordinance. Some have suggested that he should not come until design guidelines are discussed. Unfortunately, that would be after the proposed ordinance is voted upon by the council. As we have suggested before, Mr. Winter should be present to explain the rationale of the entire project to the City Council and public. Council members Ely, Livingston and Rose have agreed with this position. |
President's Message by Melanie Billig
Why is preservation the right thing?
Sometimes in the heat
of politics, personalities and the repetitious negativity of the local
media, we need to step back, clear our heads and take a time-out to
return to the fundamental question of what is so important about preservation
and why it is the right thing for a town like Carmel-by-the-Sea. As
one who has studied history and taught it, preservation of culture and
the environment has always been a given--something about which I care
deeply. Older neighborhoods, historic buildings and gardens, as well
as the natural environment, are all interconnected, part of our collective
past. They give us identity and roots and add immensely to the quality
of our lives as well as the lives of those who will follow us. Hopefully,
our culture will not leave as its only legacy the ruins of miles of
strip malls, shopping centers and big box stores; plastic relics and
artifacts; "cookie cutter" subdivisions and modern urban architecture.
Like so often with the environmental or conservation movement, preservation
is cast in the "progressive vs. anti-progressive" debate. Carmel is
very familiar with this debate, whether today or 70 years ago. I think
back to Perry Newberry and Herbert Herron, whose positions and opponents
seem so familiar and typify the difference of opinion in our village
and the country as a whole today. These differences are between the
powerful forces of money and change, those who want "progress," and
those who are preservationists and conservationists, who don't want
to sell out our quality of life and community character for the almighty
dollar.
It has become painfully clear to most that Carmel as we know it is seriously
threatened, and is going down the perilous slippery slide toward homogenization
that has been observed and lamented elsewhere. To stop the slide from
destroying us, we must recognize that what has been happening to our
community is the result of one decision of the Planning Commission
at a time or one City Council vote at a time. When the votes
were cast, they didn't seem critical, but over time their long-term,
cumulative consequences have added up. The face of a block changes,
then a neighborhood, then finally, the village. I remember many of these
votes of the Planning Commission and City Council. The applicant, regardless
of the issue, may walk away satisfied, but the community is often the
loser.
We Carmelites can stop the current trends now before the last enduring
aspects of Carmel vanish forever. The "winners" in this battle, and
make no mistake that this is a battle, can be those who see only
personal gain or they can be those who love our way of life and community
and who are proud to call themselves preservationists and conservationists.
Here is what we can do. --
First: We must insist that the City Council support the Planning Commission
and the Design Traditions Project Steering Committee and allow the Design
Traditions Project to move forward as recommended by those bodies. Give
this citizen-backed recommendation a 12 to 18-month window to operate,
then review it. Bring the consultant back as budgeted to answer council
and community questions prior to adoption of the Design Traditions Ordinance
by the City Council.
Second: Residents need to be carefully watchful of the new commercial
Design Guidelines for downtown. The draft is potentially very destructive
because it allows for greater lot coverage, loss of landscaping and
open space and permits greater building heights. In the current real
estate boom, this will only encourage demolitions downtown just as we
have seen in our neighborhoods. Think of the rents that will be charged!
Only chain stores will be able to afford them, not our quality boutiques
or resident-serving businesses.
Third: The many new homes being built offer an opportunity to underground
utilities and to plant trees. I ask all of you to push harder for undergrounding
and tree planting as required by ordinance for remodels and new construction
on private property. With such a high rate of construction taking place
in our village, there will never be a better time or opportunity for
us to achieve these goals.
Fourth: Carmelites must support a strong pro-preservation/conservation
plan and ordinance that truly promotes the protection of our village.
At present, the city has no plan or real program. What protection Carmel
formerly had was tossed out in May. It is now time to let your feelings
be known to the City Council by letter, phone or by attendance at their
meetings. The individual, as well as cumulative, destruction of our
homes and neighborhoods must stop. Carmel must abide by the California
Environmental Quality Act like all other cities and counties. We must
demand this and not be confused by political or media rhetoric designed
to promote special interests at the expense of the village as a whole.
Master
Plans -- an overview of important city studies
Several city facilities and Carmel Beach are in various stages of master planning, begun over the past few years. In our ongoing effort to keep members well informed, we will discuss two of these plans this month, the Scout House and Beach Master Plans. The next issue will cover the Sunset Center Project, the Outdoor Forest Theater and the Fire House. More detailed information can be obtained from City Hall.
Scout House Master
Plan
Completed earlier this year under
the auspices of the Community and Cultural Commission, this plan has
been accepted by the City Council but is not funded. A two-story wood
frame building on the northeast corner of 8th and Mission, the Scout
House was constructed in 1931 for use as a Boy Scout meeting house,
following a visit to Carmel by Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the
Boy Scout movement. It was conveyed to the city in the 1960's with
provision for continued use by local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops.
The upstairs meeting room, with its large stone fireplace and natural
wood, is a cozy, warm place for large groups to meet. However, because
of its location above the street with many steps, it is currently
inaccessible for handicapped people.
According to consultant Brian Congleton, AIA, the cost of upgrading
this charming city facility and bringing it into compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act is $310,112. This includes restoration
of the building inside and out, replacement of aluminum windows with
wooden divided lights, plumbing and wiring upgrades, the addition
of a handicapped-accessible bathroom upstairs and landscaping improvements.
An elevator, similar to one recently put in at the Carmel Art Association,
would be installed at street level on the 8th Avenue side of the building.
Beach Master Plan
The City Council approved
the Beach Master Plan last September and is incorporating it into
the city's Land Use Plan. Put together by the Beach Task Force and
reviewed by the Forest and Beach Commission, this plan has some interesting
provisions and new suggestions:
- Provide, if possible, handicapped-accessible
ramps to water's edge;
- Place more seating along the
Beach Walkway;
- Fund a beach education officer,
with the authority to issue citations, to patrol the beach pathway
and accesses;
- Continue to allow dogs loose
on beach but "if the dog policy, combined with educational efforts
does not promote a safe environment for beach users and dogs,
a leash law for certain times should be considered."
- Explains that fires south of
10th are permitted because winter storms clean the sand; and
- Restroom at Santa Lucia should remain in place until it can be upgraded to a permanent site. A third restroom along the Beach Walkway was in the Task Force's draft plan, but removed from the final version by the City Council.
City Council passes urgency ordinance on mail delivery
The urgency ordinance can be extended by council votes for up to two years. However, City Attorney Don Freeman said that he expects to have a regular ordinance for the council to discuss at its December meeting.
Japanese study group visits Carmel
by Melanie Billig, CRA President
Thanks to Linda Anderson's hard work on keeping up our great website, CRA has spread its mission across the Pacific! Where next?
Monthly Beach Cleanup
Saturday, November 18 *
10 a.m. - noon
* Please bring gloves
* Coffee and pastries served
* Please note that the Nov. cleanup is on the third Saturday because the 4th Saturday falls on Thanksgiving weekend.
Carmel cottages featured in new book
Once you see this beautiful book, you will want to own it. Paul Fridlund, owner of Pilgram's Way Book Store, across from the Carmel Art Association on Dolores between 5th and 6th, has ordered a supply of Cottages by the Sea and offers a 10% discount to residents. According to CRA member Pope Coleman, who buys all of his books from Pilgram's Way, Mr. Fridlund will order almost any book for you and makes a superhuman effort to find out-of-stock publications.
Salvation Army Seeks Holiday Bell-Ringers
"The Salvation Army needs volunteers to ring the bell for two-hour shifts during its annual red kettle campaign. There are over 700 shifts to be filled by volunteers this year.
"Volunteers will begin ringing at twelve Peninsula locations on November 27, the Monday after Thanksgiving. The fund-raising drive ends on Saturday, December 23.
"Last year's campaign raised over $60,000 for Peninsula neighbors in need. Over 400 volunteers participated, nearly ten percent of them CRA members. Volunteers from last year will be called. "Those who didn't participate last year can volunteer by calling coordinators Don or Susie Carr at 625-1897."
Our Favorite Places
Local business gives discounts to residents
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"Carmel is a retreat from the rudeness of the world." Robinson Jeffers |
