Welcome to the Carmel Residents Association Website

Since 1987, the Carmel Residents Association has been the premier community civic non-profit organization for full and part-time residents and owners or renters in Carmel-by-the-Sea and everyone who cares for and wants to stay connected to everything in our "Village in the Forest by the Sea". You can now also join, renew and make donations to the CRA, register and pay for CRA-sponsored events and much more, all online. Click here for a more detailed overview. 

It's Q1 2023 annual renewal season at CRA.   Why should you join or renew?  Here's why.

 CRA's - The Voice, News You Can Use, Events and More

Upcoming & Ongoing "Hot Topics"  We've compiled important history and background information on these pages.  Each of these have been updated as these initiatives continue to receive Council or Board/Commission updates via City Teams.  Please check them out and provide your suggestions and comments.

The Voice - Mar-Apr 2023 HERE  

Articles include:  Cover-A Village in a Forest By The Sea, How Much Do We Care, The Waves of Life in Carmel-by-the-Sea, A Fable-One Upon a Time..., Carmel How Do We Love Thee - CRA Board Members Count the Ways, Hot Topics, CRA About Town, Citizen of the Year March 26th, Next Gen Carmel Leaders March 16th, Next No Host April 5th at La Balena and more...   

News You Can Use - Mar 16 Issue HERE 

Articles include:  Donna Jett our Citizen of the Year - Join Us Sunday 3/26 at 2PM, new issue of the Voice, Beach Clean Up Tomorrow, Important Upcoming Civic Meetings, Our Storm, Reading and more...

Civic Meeting Important Dates & Updates...and the fun continues: 
- Thursday January 26th Community Workshop held on South San Carlos Medians & Shared Bike Lanes - Slides HERE (attendees gave thumbs down on medians)
- Tuesday January 31st Strategic Priorities Workshop held at Carpenter Hall - You Tube HERE and Meeting packet HERE (lots of good residents participation)
- Tuesday February 28th Carmel City SPECIAL Housing Element Workshop in Council Chambers - Visit our Housing topic page for new updates including Slides HERE
- Being Rescheduled -  Mock City Council Session. CRA Board Members Ken White & Graeme Robertson again coordinate with City Council, City Staff and Carmel High School (CHS) Leadership to create this Student Government Day.   12 CHS Students engage in a serious relevant (and possibly humorous) topics for annual budget approval. HERE
- Wednesday March 29th 4 PM - SPECIAL Planning Commission Meeting in City Hall - for public comments on new draft Telecom/Wireless Ordinances 

All of the agenda's and other details can be found on the City Meetings page closer to these dates. 

And check out our Updated "Carmel Eats & Drinks" Listing HERE. ...as of 10/18/2022
Updated January 2023 Members Village Incentive Program (VIP) Offers & Listing HERE

Archives of all of these email and printed publications can be found HERE.   
Plus Our CRA Facebook page will also contain the most recent news, events, photos and open engagement with fellow locals - please join this page.

For Your Upcoming CRA Calendar:   

• Sunday Mar 26, Citizen of the Year Celebration -  CRA's biannual award & recognition program is coming up. View the 2021 year program page HERE, for  prior years honorees. Once again we will host this program at Carmel Woman's Club, with doors open at 1:30 and program begins at 2:00PM.  We recognize prior recipients, present this years awardee, and conclude with celebrating with our recipients while enjoying hearty hors d'oeuvres, cake, and beverages. This is open to the public. 
  

  And now, with a drum roll please....our awardee is Donna Jett with 25 years of service in Carmel-by-the-Sea and beyond.   Fred Bologna, President of CRA says “Donna is an extraordinary example of a sustained committed volunteer for our Village. With over 25 years on nonprofit boards and event leadership, her contributions are almost too many to mention. Her passion for the arts and those less fortunate have been applied to her efforts to organizations including Joining Hands, Pacific Repertory Theater, and Carmel Woman’s Club. She also directly applies her skills and energy to our City through her service on the Community Activities Commission for almost 20 years. Donna truly makes an impression and a difference. We are pleased to add her to our honor roll of Citizens of the Year.” 

• NEXT is April 5th 2023 from 4:30 to 6:00 CRA's Members Only No Host Gathering at La Balena (Junipero between 5th & 6th)

• May 18th 5:30 - 7:30 PM will be our CRA Members, Only Annual Meeting - where we will host an expanded live and in person Q&A Session with Chip & Dave (our Village Mayor Dave Potter and Administrator Chip Rerig).  Watch this space for details.  

CRA's & Carmel's Past Events

Thursday, Feb 2 CRA's No Host Gathering at Seventh & Dolores. Once again a great gathering!  All of our recent No-Hosts & pictures are shown HERE.

     

Our Annual CRA Membership Holiday Gala & Dinner at  - Friday Dec 9 at La Playa once again! Details HERE.   Great times, with Board Member Kilts, Two winners of $1000 of wine, and a toast for Graham & Moira's upcoming nuptials!

CRA No Host Gathering -  Thursday November 3rd 4:30 PM at Edwin's - corner of San Carlos & 6th. Pictures and details of all of our No-Hosts are available HERE.

 

May 19 - CRA's Annual Meeting   We gather yearly to update on CRA Board, Leadership, Programs and most importantly to hear YOUR in-person feedback.  Fred also announced our amazing new CRA Board Members - Janice & Mike, plus presented Elpidia & Carlos Herrera of 5th Avenue Deli with a Business of Recognition Award.  This Members Only meeting was held at the Carmel Youth Center, with Food & Wine and time to catch up with fellow members too.  More details and pictures are available HERE.   

April 21 - CRA Board Members Ken White and Graeme Robertson coordinated with City Council, City Staff and Carmel High School (CHS) Leadership to create this Student Government Day, HERE.   12 CHS Students engaged in a Mock City Council Session with serious relevant and humorous topics for budget approval.  And thanks to all who contributed to this great next generation engagement!   Hopefully this is an annual event. For sure this is a do not miss YouTube viewing HERE.    

March 24 - CRA Hosted - Future of Architecture in Carmel with Brandon Swanson - Brandon, our Carmel Director of Planning and Building provided updates on the new state regulations and regional requirements for additional housing in our Village.  YouTube recording of this great session is HERE.  PDF of Brandon's slide presentation is HERE.   And the full program details are available click here. 

And In 2021.....

CRA Holiday Gala - Friday December 3rd.   CRA hosted members and their guests for a great holiday dinner party and festivities at La Playa Hotel.  

More Carmel-by-the-Sea Events  CRA, City Staff, citizens and other great community organizations participated for the enjoyment of ALL.  Visit these pages for pictures and more....

November 9th - CRA Hosted and were honored to hear the latest from our one-of-a-kind local artist  "Will Bullas - UNSUPERVISED" - chalk full of great art, new insights and laughs!   Click here for program details.  The YouTube is available HERE for those who missed it. 

October 10th,  CRA's Hosted our Citizen of the Year. This was our bi-annual tradition that honors a person whom has, through their service, enhanced the lives of citizens of Carmel-by-the-Sea. This is our 26th year, this time honoring Dale Byrne. For event details, pictures and background visit this page. 

September 23rd, CRA Hosted - Planning for the Future:  How should Carmel Adapt to a Changing Climate.  City Council members Jeff Baron and Carrie Theis delivered this update. Details on this program are available here.  The YouTube Recording of this great session is HERE.  

September 11th, CRA's Feast In the Forest. This semi-annual CRA gathering at Indian Village in Pebble Beach.  To learn the details and pictures of our gathering can be found HERE.   

June 27th, An Outstanding CRA Beach Gathering!  A photo montage of our mix & mingle can be found HERE. 

March 25th, CRA hosted "My Grandfather, Sam Morse, with Charles Osborne".  The YouTube link is HERE.   For more details on this program visit this link. 

January 28th, CRA hosted "History of Live Theater in Carmel, with Stephen Moore".   View the YouTube link is HERE.  For more details on this program visit this link.

All of the CRA Videos are posted on the CRA YouTube Channel HERE.

CRA Beach Clean Up Season - every 3rd Saturday at 9AM - See You In March

This year marks our 30th Anniversary of this great community volunteer event.  We are starting a month early this year, beginning in March through October. 
Join us from 9 AM to Noon, every 3rd Saturday, at the bottom of Ocean Avenue.  We'll provide the buckets and scoopers; you bring your gloves and sunscreen.  Visit this page for more information

Farmers Market Serving Carmel Area - Weekly

Thursdays - from 10 AM to 2 PM  In Carmel by the Sea - just behind Devendorf Park on Sixth Avenue between Junipero and Mission Streets on 6th.

PLUS - CRA leadership hosts the Community Table there at the corner of 6th and Junipero - EVERY LAST THURSDAY of EACH MONTH!  (taking off Nov & Dec) Please stop by to pick up your reusable, free "Loving Carmel-by-the-Sea" shopping bag. 

Enjoy local certified organic fresh farm produce, plants, fresh cut flowers, baked good and various specialty items...and some entertainment too.

Please Support our VIP Business Members

Take a look at the list of the local businesses with offers for our membership that are participating in the CRA's Village Incentive Program here.  All current CRA members receive a yearly new VIP card with their renewal or when they join. For more information on this program and membership benefit visit this page.

Carmel Chamber of Commerce Catalyst Newsletter 

Sign Up for the Chamber's Catalyst online newsletters here.  It provides great information on and to our valued local Businesses.

Sign up for the Weekly Carmel Friday Letter

Our Village City Administrator and Staff produce a weekly update with a highlight video and other key info on the current week and week to come.  Be sure to signup for this important information here and check out past issues there too.