Acting city administrator previews council agenda: land‑use appeals, budget vote and possible tax measures

The city’s acting city administrator, Brandon, told staff and attendees Friday that next week’s Carmel-by-the-Sea council meeting will include two land‑use appeals, consideration of the proposed fiscal‑year budget and a decision on whether to place proposed transient‑occupancy and sales tax measures on the ballot.

Brandon said one appeal is being forwarded from the Historic Resources Board and the other from the Planning Commission, and that council members have the option to adopt ordinances or resolutions to place the tax measures on the ballot or to defer that decision for another month. He noted the council has an absolute deadline in July to finalize ballot language if it chooses to proceed.

City staff have worked on the draft budget for months, Brandon added, and the proposal has drawn “a lot of great public participation.” The administrator encouraged residents to attend the council meeting next week to hear the discussion and public testimony on both land‑use items and the budget.

Marissa, the acting assistant city administrator, told the group that a street‑address program will come to the council next week for final approval. The program has been implemented operationally but awaits county notification before the city will “switch it on.” Marissa noted the city published display guidelines for house numbers — addressing size, visibility and contrast — and directed residents to the city website for details.

The council’s actions at next week’s meeting will determine whether the proposed ballot measures proceed to voters and whether the draft budget is adopted; residents who want to weigh in were urged to attend or follow the council’s public materials.