Council asks staff to explore alternatives after residents raise emergency-access concerns over Monterey easement amendment

The council continued action on an easement amendment affecting parking adjacent to the public beach-trail access at 31131 Monterey Street and directed staff to work with the property owner and return with alternatives that preserve emergency and public access.

Matt Schneider, director of community development, explained the easement originated under county jurisdiction and that the proposed amendment would remove a parking restriction adjacent to the property’s garage. The city’s fire representative said the narrow dead-end stretch would not accommodate an engine and that an ambulance could still operate in a 17-foot width; Sergeant Tom Spratt (police) said the building has garages but the current owner’s vehicles do not fit and enforcement of the existing fire-lane posting has been ongoing.

Greg O’Loughlin and other neighbors testified that the spur has served as an emergency egress for the neighborhood and that converting part of the right of way to private parking would undermine that function. Councilmembers discussed options including limiting the change to a single parking space, instituting red-flag-day no-parking rules, or otherwise preserving full width for evacuation purposes.

Council moved to continue the item and directed staff to investigate alternatives that preserve fire access, resident evacuation and public access; the motion passed. Staff will return with recommended revisions or alternatives after further study and outreach to the property owner and emergency services.