Jan. 20: Pay Raises and Dog Park Rules on Council’s Agenda
The City Council will meet Wednesday, Jan. 22 to discuss giving themselves a pay raise, the rules for the dog park and several other issues. Meanwhile, there are a few new homes in the local housing market and a few others that have left it.
Raises for Mayor and City Council
A big raise in pay is on the agenda this week for the Marina City Council. Currently, the mayor is paid $250 per month and council members $200 per month, but the city plans to increase the pay to $2,250 per month for the mayor and $2,000 per month for council members.
Currently, the mayor of Sand City is the highest paid on the peninsula at $1,450 per month, and its council members are paid $950. Monterey’s mayor is paid $1,417 per month and council members $965; Pacific Grove’s mayor is paid $700 per month and its council members $420. Seaside’s mayor and council members are paid $395 per month and Del Rey Oaks pay its mayor $225 monthly and council members just $100. However, the mayors and council members in Monterey, Sand City and Seaside all get health insurance benefits. Marina’s do not.
The discussion on the pay raise will occur near the very end of the meeting. It is listed under Other Action Items on the agenda, right before the council will appoint Doug McCoun as interim Fire Chief.
City Council Considers Dog Park Rules
How many dogs can you take to the dog park? Will puppies be allowed? How big can a dog be before it has to be in the “large dog” park? City leaders will address these questions and more during a public hearing on dog park regulations at the Jan. 22 City Council meeting.
Marina opened its first dog park at “Hilltop Park” on Dec. 6, and plans to open additional dog parks in the future, according to the meeting’s agenda. They hold significant benefits for dogs and dog owners, but can create problems if rules are not established and followed.
The council will hear a list of proposed rules and regulations, with the members of the public having the opportunity to voice their opinion. The rules proposed by the Recreation and Cultural Services Commission would place dogs over 30 pounds into the “large dog” park and under 30 pounds into the “small dog” park. No female dogs in heat would be allowed in the park and no puppies under 4 months in age. Children under 13 would have to be with an adult. No more than two dogs could be brought by one person to the park at a time; they can’t be left unattended; owners must pick up after their dogs; no vicious dogs allowed; dogs must be licensed, vaccinated and wearing tags and more.
Consent agenda
The consent agenda has some large and small expenditures on it this week. The council is expected to award a contract of a little more than $4.5 million to Monterey Peninsula Engineering to make improvements to the Glorya Jean Tate Park, allocate $80,000 for a study on how turning parts of Reservation Road into a two-lane road would impact traffic downtown, authorize spending $40,000 for the Los Arboles Court resurfacing project, and another $67,500 for certified public accounting services required by law.
The bid by MPE, a Marina company, to make the improvements to Glorya Jean Tate Park was more than $500,000 less than any of the competing bidders. Don Chapin Co. of Salinas had the highest bid at $5.87 million.
In closed session, the council will hold a conference with legal counsel to discuss litigation between the city and the Museum of Handcar Technology.
Three Homes Enter
Three homes have entered the market this week in the Marina and East Garrison. The least expensive is 3120 Bayer Street listed at $799,500. This is a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with around 1,500 SF on a nice 7,426 SF lot. It has a two-car garage and fireplace. Next, listed for $849,000, is 3004 Max Circle. This is another 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with 1,500 SF. It sits on a 6,940 SF lot. The third home is 139 Seal Ct. This is 4-bedroom, 3-bath home with 1,650 SF on a 5,310 SF lot. It has a two-car garage and is listed for $950,000.
One home, 14858 Kit Carson Drive, has sold this year so far. The 1,480 SF home with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths on .062 acres sold for $810,000 after being on the market for just a week. Two other homes are pending. 3010 Vera Lane, a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home has sold for $900,000; and 3137 Seacrest Ave. #1 has sold for $650,000.
If you would like to sell your home or need help finding a home, contact me today at (831) 869-2484.
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This report was produced by Jon Chown, Renee Mello & Assoc. 44 Brennan St. Watsonville CA 95076 DRE#02040730.