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CRA News April 2003

Selected articles from the newsletter of the Carmel Residents Association

Assembly Member John Laird
Dick and Betty Dalsemer were having a wonderful time at the festive evening at Little Napoli. Dick is a member of the CRA board and has been busy planning the May field trip to Glen Deven Ranch.

CRA Meeting -- A chance to meet
the Herald's new leaders

Thursday, April 24 -- CRA Meeting
         4:45 p.m. -- Jayne Speizer, President and Publisher, Monterey County Herald, and Carolina Garcia, Executive Editor
Vista Lobos Meeting Room, Torres between 3rd & 4th
Following the meeting, delicious hot and cold hors d'oeuvres

CRA's April 24 meeting will feature the new leadership team at the Monterey County Herald, Jayne Speizer and Carolina Garcia, who will share with us their vision for the newspaper.

Jayne Speizer took over as president and publisher of the Herald last February, leaving her post as president and publisher of The Herald in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Her newspaper career started with Knight Ridder in 1975, with a variety of advertising roles at The Broward Times. She worked at McClatchy's Fresno Bee as telemarketing sales manager, sales development manager and assistant retail advertising manager and then served as publisher of McClatchy's Neighbors newspapers in Fresno. After a year as administrative director of the Fresno Bee, she moved to Rock Hill as president and publisher. Jayne Speizer has been named Woman of the Year by the Rock Hill Business and Professional Women's organization and the Fresno Business and Professional Women's organization. She lives in Pacific Grove with her husband, Irwin.

Carolina Garcia, one of the nation's most successful Latina journalists, is the Herald's new executive editor. For the past five years she has been managing editor of the San Antonio Express-News, where she pressed for more investigative reporting. Garcia was a grant writer for the Latin American Union for Civil Rights before joining the Milwaukee Journal as a columnist writing on Latino issues. She rose through the ranks to become assist- ant state editor and Sunday editor and, when the two Milwaukee papers merged to become the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 1995, she was named assistant managing editor, a position she held until moving to San Antonio. As chairwoman of the American Society of Newspaper Editors' diversity committee, Garcia led national efforts to encourage the hiring and promotion of minorities in the nation's newsrooms.
EDITORIAL

11th hour proposal for Sunset causes concern

The entire community is looking forward with anticipation to the opening of Sunset Center on July 19. It will indeed be the crown jewel of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The fund-raising effort has been successful. The project is on schedule and passers-by can now see the lovely new entrance and promenade which grace the front of the building.

So, why is there any concern?

One of the alternatives suggested in the Business and Operating Plan for Sunset Center, completed in December, 2000, was turning the Center into an "enterprise unit," i.e. forming an independent, non-profit corporation to run the facility rather than having it continue as a city department. The Plan pointed out that "The two-year hiatus in theater operations provides the opportunity to complete this process."

Instead of deciding immediately how the new facility should be governed, the city kept this Business Plan under wraps, hidden from public view, for another year, despite pleas from Cultural Commissioners and others to see it. One theory for this secrecy is that city officials were afraid that this "enterprise unit" alternative would prove controversial.

When the plan was finally presented to the public in March, 2002, the consultant expressed concern that no action had been taken, saying a committee should be formed immediately to "provide a balanced forum for deliberation" and commented on "the limited amount of time now available to analyze this issue and to implement any desired changes."

After the plan's release, the Cultural Commission, an entirely new group handpicked by the mayor and current council, formed a subcommittee to study how the new facility should be run. They concluded that Sunset Center should remain a city department. The report was mysteriously "pulled" from their agenda, never to be discussed again.

Fast forward another year. At the April 1 council meeting, a select committee, appointed by Mayor Sue McCloud, presented a three-page report recommending the enterprise unit model and the City Administrator suggested that the council "direct staff to move forward on the creation of a non-profit corporation for the management of the Sunset Center." Resident Jim Wright referred to a city staff report and the committee report as "a model of brevity." He pointed out that the proposal had attached to it only a single page from the Business Plan, listing alternative management options. Failed to be attached, he said, were subsequent pages which outlined a "number of disadvantages that the proposed organization presents."

Most audience members who commented objected to the process. Among their concerns: the lateness of the proposal relative to the July opening, the complete lack of public discussion or input (the committee reports only to the mayor, so open meetings are not required), the lack of financial detail, who would appoint the board, how much the city would contribute, what the future of the Cultural Commission would be, the status of present and future employees and the future of the paid parking facility. Wright reminded the council that the business plan strongly recommends that the city retain "full management control over the Forest Theater, Scout House and Vista Lobos." He concluded by saying, "I believe you should certainly require a proposed budget, business plan, by-laws, a draft contract or lease and a financial analysis comparing the present operation with the proposed management plan before you commit to this approach."

In response to a comment that the two-year delay has put the city in a "panic situation," Mayor McCloud said that this plan would not be implemented until after the opening of the Center. This begs the question of how effectively the current staff could gear up an operation while wondering if their efforts might soon be superceded.

When the community will get to weigh in on this is unknown. A finance committee, which also reports only to the mayor, has not yet made its report. Cultural Commissioner Carol Hilburn suggested a public meeting with the Cultural Commission and the mayor's two committees. But, Councilwoman Paula Hazdovac said she preferred for the mayor's committees to work privately, saying too many people would make the process unwieldy. With the exception of Barbara Livingston, the council agreed.

Members of the mayor's committees do not fall under the Brown Act, which requires that governmental bodies deliberate and make decisions in public. Our intent is not to disparage these individuals, who have impressive credentials and are working diligently. The fear is that by the time their private deliberations are finished, an important decision will essentially have been made with only token, if any, public participation.

COUNCIL WATCH

Property owners face clean water fee

Residents and property owners may soon be helping pay for increased efforts to clean run-off water before it gets into the bay. A Storm Water Drainage Utility Fee was approved in concept by the City Council on April 1. Cost to residents would be $121.56 per year, more for larger lots and commercial properties. Council has the option to change the amount, and also to consider letting homeowners for whom this would be a hardship to defer the fee until the sale of the property.

Public Works Director Jim Cullem explained that the $500,000 per year generated by this assessment is needed to carry out provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act. Those provisions require the reduction of pollutants before they get into the water system. Therefore the plan provides an increase in street sweeping and trash pickup, as well as the rehabilitation and cleaning of storm drain lines.

The fee money would replace the $203,300 now in the budget to meet clean water requirements and provide $300,000 for additional efforts. To increase public understanding of the fee and its uses, the city would hold town meetings and send out a newsletter.

On August 5, a formal public "protest" hearing will be held. If over half of Carmel's 3127 property owners were to attend and disagree with the assessment [highly unlikely], the effort would end. Otherwise, all property owners -- not just residents -- will vote by mail and the measure must win by a majority.

In response to audience members who said they were willing to pay the increased costs but not existing expenditures, Jim Cullem explained that the Federal government does not say "Thou shalt ...." Instead, the city must submit a plan to the State Water Resources Quality Control Board showing exactly how it will stop pollutants from entering Carmel Bay. Once this plan is in place, the city could be sued if, in a year of budgetary problems, it had to cut back on the program. It is hoped that through this fee, the money would always be available to carry out the mandate.

President's Message
Where am I?

by Larry Rodocker

Whether you know it or not, you are a part of Carmel, both in the physical and in the spiritual sense. This happened when you decided to make Carmel your home, become a resident and partake of its offerings, such as the cultural and civic activities, the climate, the natural beauty and the Carmel character. A relationship was formed between you and Carmel. Do you feel the relationship, the bonding? Perhaps you feel something is missing. Carmel automatically gave you what it has. Have you given something in return?

But what can I give? I've worked hard to get where I am. I just want to enjoy life, the fruits of my labor and not be bothered. I don't want to get involved with civic and organizational matters, to volunteer, to see problems and be part of the solution. I just want to live, to rest easy, to sit on the sidelines and to flow -- seeing and hearing what other people do. However, "No man is an island, entire of itself; a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." *

Where am I?

* John Donne, Devotions. XVII - 1624

Dr. Seuss says to do the right thing.
Maybe he read John Donne too!

Your editor, in the process of accumulating a library of books for grandchildren, recently came across a Dr. Seuss book, The Lorax. Originally written in 1971, it sends a loud message that our environment is fragile and worthy of protecting and evokes thoughts of disappearing African rain forests, clear cutting in the Pacific Northwest and the diminishing size of our own urban forest in Carmel.

The story, relayed to a curious boy by a "Once-ler," tells of the Once-ler family's destruction of a "Truffula" forest in order to make more and more "Thneeds," a very important product. In doing so, the Once-ler is constantly reminded by the story's conscience, the Lorax, that his family is driving out all living things which depended upon the Truffula forest.

"I meant no harm," says the Once-ler. "I most truly did not. But I had to grow bigger. So bigger I got. I biggered my factory. I biggered my roads. I biggered my wagons. I biggered the loads ... And I biggered my money, which everyone needs." The conscience responds: "I'm the Lorax who speaks for the trees which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please. But I'm also in charge of the Brown Bar-ba-loots who played in the shade in their Bar-ba-loot suits and happily lived, eating Truffula Fruits. NOW ... thanks to your hacking my trees to the ground, there's not enough Truffula Fruit to go 'round. And my poor Bar-ba-loots are all getting the crummies because they have gas, and no food, in their tummies!"

Suddenly, "we heard a loud whack! And outside in the fields came a sickening smack of an axe on a tree. Then we heard the tree fall. The very last Truffula Tree of them all! "

So the Lorax sends the Bar-ba-loots and all other wildlife away and, picking himself up by the seat of his pants, "took leave of this place, through a hole in the smog," leaving only "a small pile of rocks with the one word ... 'UNLESS.' "

Finally, the Once-ler tells the lad, "UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." He gives the little boy the last of the Truffula Seeds, saying "Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back."

Fran Vardamis has a new book!

CRA member and well-known author Fran Vardamis has written a new mystery, Ancestral Voices. Readers will be glad to again encounter Yannis Lavonis, the colorful Athens, Greece, police captain who was featured in her mystery Russian Doll published in 2000. The paperback book is available for $9.99 at local book stores.

The State's massive budgetary woes

The state's $26 billion shortfall took its toll on the CRA when Assemblyman John Laird, our scheduled March speaker, could not get away from Sacramento. Fortunately, Gary Shallcross, Laird's District Director for Monterey and Santa Clara Counties, came to the rescue and presented an interesting overview of the budget crisis and other state issues which impact us locally.

Shallcross is a graduate of Monterey College of Law and previously served as an aide to Fred Keeley, John Laird's predecessor. Shallcross was appointed in 1999 by Governor Gray Davis to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he has just served two years as chair.

Shallcross said that a great deal of his work involves helping constituents with problems. "If you are getting the runaround from any state agency, such as the Franchise Tax Board or Department of Motor Vehicles, please call us at 384-1980 and we will do our best to help you."

Laird has been trying to reduce the governor's $120 million cut from basic-aid school districts like Carmel Unified. The school district has organized the largest letter-writing campaign Shallcross has ever seen -- 700 to 800 letters. "It does bring issues to the top," he said. The most effective way to communicate with public officials, Shallcross said, is by letter, then telephone calls and, finally, email.

Other Shallcross points -- The unavoidable budget cuts, only $3.5 billion so far, are hitting schools from kindergarten to universities, delaying prison construction and reducing clean air and water programs. The Vehicle License Fee will likely be raised on July 1 because there is an automatic trigger that was put in several years ago. Other tax increases are very difficult because they require a 66% voter approval. While the Federal government can run up a deficit, the state must balance its budget yearly -- a fairly overwhelming task!

Asked what Laird thought about "turning over the Water District to the state or to the Monterey County mayors, who tend to be pro growth," Shallcross said that the Assemblyman feels the Peninsula needs a legal water supply and that this controversy is an "unfortunate distraction." He explained: "The voters said what they didn't want, but didn't say what they do want."


Carmel Beach is the best!

Carmel Beach was named the "Best Beach in Monterey County" in a poll of Coast Weekly readers and a certificate was presented to the City Council on April 1.

Although it wasn't mentioned at the meeting, we like to think that the CRA Beach Cleanup plays an important role in making Carmel Beach so special.

Beach Cleanup

Saturday, April 26
10 a.m. - noon

* Volunteers meet at foot of Ocean Avenue
* Please bring gloves
* Coffee and pastries served courtesy of Caffe Cardinale and Carmel Bakery
* Bottled water courtesy of Cal-Am Water

Smaller BID gains City Council favor

A public hearing for the proposed Business Improvement District (BID) will be held April 29 at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers. Reduced considerably from the original proposal, this assessment would raise $250,000, the bulk of which would be spent on visitor advertising and promotion. There are around 670 businesses in Carmel and so far 200 have demonstrated support. However, the vote is weighted by the size of a business' earnings, so it is expected to survive any protest since the larger businesses, hotels and motels are strongly behind it.

The only way in which this measure would be budget relieving is if the $100,000 given to the Carmel Business Association (CBA) annually for advertising were discontinued. Because only about half of Carmel businesses belong to the CBA and many of the members are outside of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the BID Committee did not think it appropriate for the CBA to run the program. $60,000 would be allocated for a paid BID director. Consultant Jane Amick, CBA President Larry Hoover and others urged the council to approve the BID, saying that the city needed the additional marketing. Resident Larry Rodocker said he thought the BID would be a good thing if it relieved the city of the $100,000 payment to the CBA.

Several members of the business community objected to the proposal, including young Avi Laub, representing his father, Paul, who said that the measure amounted to "taxation without representation." He also disagreed with the $10,000 for "beautification," which includes pumpkins and poinsettias for the median of Ocean Ave. Mike Brown, owner of Perspectacles, said he didn't think most business owners understood the BID. La Bohème Restaurant owner Kati Lewis felt that the one dollar/one vote rather than one person/one vote was unfair and she was also concerned about the creation of a redundant structure in addition to the CBA. The motion of intent to adopt the BID passed 4-1, with Barbara Livingston dissenting.

Preparing for disaster
by Carmel Fire Department Captain Mitch Kastros

It seems that the height of public disaster awareness always occurs right after a disaster strikes. This was evident after the Pebble Beach fire and Loma Prieta earthquake in the 1980's, and the local floods in the 1990's. On a global scale, the September 11, 2001, attacks certainly raised our level of awareness. Unfortunately, after a relatively short period of time, we returned to complacency.

A disaster is defined as "a sudden or great misfortune or failure, which happens either through lack of foresight or through some hostile external agency." In simpler firefighter terms, it means an overwhelming situation that is larger than available resources can handle.

When we are in a major disaster situation, it is reasonable to expect that utility and emergency services may not be restored or available for a minimum of 72 hours. So, it is wise to be prepared. A common disaster occurring in Carmel is a prolonged power outage. A tree falling and breaking one primary power line during a major storm can disrupt power supplies for a neighborhood or a large section of town. During these times, the utility company is overwhelmed with calls and it could very well be three days or more before power is restored. How many of us are prepared to deal with extended losses of power, natural gas and water service? A major disaster could affect all utility services. In February, we discussed "pre-planning" our homes for fire, health and life safety. The same needs to be done to prepare for at least 72 hours of self-reliance, without the basic necessities and services that we tend to take for granted.

Disaster awareness also involves knowing what not to do. In 1989, tens of thousands of people unnecessarily turned off their natural gas mains after the Loma Prieta earthquake. It took weeks for PG&E to restore gas service to over 45,000 customers in addition to other demanding tasks.

The Carmel Fire Department is in the process of working with other fire agencies to develop a regional citizen program specific to the disaster potentials of the Monterey Peninsula. It is intended to teach skills to help individuals and their families become self sufficient in times of disaster. We will keep you informed about dates in the months to come. In the meantime, if you have specific questions, for example, when to turn off the gas, please call 620-2030 and ask for "B" Shift.

Disasters that have already or could occur on the Peninsula include earthquakes, wildland fires, floods, fallen trees and power lines, wind-related emergencies, hazardous materials, terrorism and tidal waves. Following is a recommended list of supplies needed for 72 hours without services:

  • Water - 1 gallon per person per day
  • Food - canned and non-perishable
  • Disposable plates, glasses and utensils and napkins
  • Can opener
  • Heavy-duty aluminum foil, plastic wrap, zip-lock bags
  • Bleach - 1 gallon to purify domestic water supply, and other uses
  • Sanitation and hygiene supplies
  • Battery-powered lanterns, flashlights, portable radio and extra batteries
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First Aid kit (Fire Department can help you assemble)
  • Prescription medicine and eyeglasses
  • Heavy clothes, boots and shoes
  • Small hand tools, gas-main shutoff wrench, shovel, rope, duct tape
  • Portable propane, or camp stove (Store fuel safely outside)
  • Matches or lighting device
  • Large heavy-duty trash bags for lining toilets (Add bleach after using to control odors), trash storage, etc.
  • Pet food and supplies
  • Cash

OLD CARMEL
by Connie Wright

Josephine Culbertson and Ida M. Johnson

Josephine Culbertson was born in Shanghai, China, in 1852, the daughter of a U.S. Marine General turned missionary. When he died of cholera, Mrs. Culbertson brought Josephine and her sister to Brooklyn in 1862, where she maintained a home for young ladies. Josephine attended the Parker School where one of her classmates was Ida M. Johnson, who also lived at Mrs. Culbertson's home. Also born in 1852, Ida was the daughter of a Quaker preacher of Nyack, New York. Both Josephine and Ida decided on artistic careers. Josephine studied in New York with Merritt Chase, the renowned oil painter and teacher. Ida was prominent in church work in Brooklyn and organized and maintained a boys' club. She painted watercolors of flowers with great botanical accuracy and also was a china painter of national reputation. Josephine painted landscapes and seascapes. The two collaborated in a show in New York, where Ida painted a single bloom and Josephine painted a landscape of the same flower in its natural surroundings. They maintained a studio and a salon in Brooklyn.

In 1906 they came to Carmel to paint, became enamored of the place and purchased seven lots, on the S.E. corner of Lincoln and 7th, from Frank Devendorf and in 1915 commissioned M.J. Murphy to build a house for them. The large house included a studio wing for Ida's ceramic work, with a kiln in the garden and a studio in the opposite wing for Josephine's painting. "Grey Gables," as they called it, became the busy meeting place for various groups. They founded the Boys' Club shortly after arriving and taught there as well as at the Carmel Circle and the Dickens Club. Most importantly, on August 8, 1927, nineteen artists met with Josephine chairing the meeting, to found the Carmel Art Association.

Ida served as president of the Carmel Free Library Board in 1911 and 1912 and also as librarian.

Ida died in 1931. She and Josephine had lived together for 59 years. Josephine continued to live in Grey Gables until two years before her death in 1941. On Josephine's death, Grey Gables was divided into three parts, which were moved to the south side of 3rd Avenue between Santa Rita and Guadalupe. They are now three charming small houses.

Josephine's landscapes and seascapes of Carmel may be seen at the Reading Room of the Harrison Memorial Library and at the Monterey Museum of Art. Some 125 of Ida's watercolors of California wildflowers are housed at the Park Branch of the Harrison Memorial Library; a few of them are currently displayed on the walls of the Local History Room.

Thanks to a loyal writer for a great job!

After a long stint of writing the popular CRA Profiles column, Howard Skidmore has decided to take a break and take care of his own writing projects. He will continue in his indispensable position of copy editor of the CRA News. We know that all of our readers join us in thanking Howard for his lively and well-written articles. CRA board member and contributing author to the recent publication Monterey Shorts, Walter Gourlay, has agreed to begin writing profiles of our members in the near future.

A popular springtime event at Tor House

Grab your straw hat and join fellow Carmelites at the Tor House Annual Garden Party on Sunday, May 4, from 2 to 5 p.m., in the Tor House Garden, 26304 Ocean View Avenue on Carmel Point. Admission is $12 per person; $10 for seniors. Reservations are not required.

You will enjoy the lovely garden and flowers, musicians, tea time delights, paintings by Galerie Plein Aire Artists, an out-of-print book sale and a drawing for wonderful prizes. All proceeds will benefit the preservation of the historic home of renowned poet Robinson Jeffers.

For more information, call 642-1813.


Discover Flanders Mansion, Mission Trails Park and the Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden

The Flanders Foundation invites you to join them for one of a series of Saturday walks through this lovely area. Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the entrance to Mission Trails Park across from the Carmel Mission on Rio Road. Wear comfortable shoes and pack a lunch. Shuttle service will be provided for those unable to walk. Cold drinks and an historical/nature talk will be provided by the Foundation during lunch.

Dates are: May 3 and 17; June 7 and 28; July 12 and 26.

For more information, call Melanie Billig, 626-3826 or Brie Tripp, 625-3148.


Volunteers needed for garden tour

The Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club is giving a fundraiser for Carmel's Public Gardens on Sunday, May 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The garden tour begins at Piccadilly Park and covers 7 gardens in the Carmel area. Tickets are $25 pre sale or $30 that day. We need volunteers to facilitate parking and would greatly appreciate your help! Please call Bridget Hildebrand Booth at 625-4321.


A Daughter of the Sur

The Monday, April 28, 7 p.m. Local History Lecture at the Carmel Woman's Club will feature Linda Grant. She will share her experiences as a transplanted urban child living in the wilds of Big Sur during the late 1940s and early 1950s in a cottage at cliff's edge, prior to the introduction of telephones and electricity to the South Coast.


Remember that your City Council is on T.V.

City Council meetings are taped and re-broadcast
Sundays, 8 a.m. - 12 noon on
KMST Channel 26

 

Carmel Residents Association
P.O. Box 13
Carmel, CA 93921
Phone: 831-620-0532
      Little house in Carmel