CITY CHARTER ARTICLE 8 QUALIFICATIONS STATEMENT

Councilmember Luke Coletti

City Council Work (2020-2024)

Government Reform:

• Member of the City Manager Recruitment Subcommittee to select a new City Manager. [link]
• Introduced a city ordinance to codify the Council’s Inquiry Authority as provided in Article 21 of the City Charter. This important ordinance clarifies the Council-Manager relationship and codifies Council's free speech rights. [link] [video]
• Introduced a city ordinance to codify the Mayor's Signature Authority for contracts and other legal instruments as provided in Article 11 of the City Charter. This important ordinance ensures oversight of contract execution. [link] [video]
• Introduced a city ordinance to codify the Mayor Pro Tempore's role and appointment. [link] [video]
• Introduced a ballot measure (Measure Z) to reduce city council size by transitioning from six councilmembers and a mayor to four councilmembers and a mayor. [link] [video]
• Member of the City Attorney Recruitment Subcommittee to select a new City Attorney.

The Environment:

• Introduced a city ordinance that restricts roadwork during the harbor seal pupping season. [link] [video]
• Introduced the Baseline Biological Assessment of George Washington Park as part of Council's goal to implement a revised Master Plan. [link] [video]
• Initiated better protection of our Monterey Pine Forest with a formal presentation from Nicole "Nikki" Nedeff [link] [video]; and a budget recommendation to hire a full-time City Forester. [link] [video]
• Member of the Coastal Wildlife Protection Subcommittee that brought forward three specific recommendations approved by the city council. [link] [video]
• Member of the City's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Committee [link]
• Council Liasson to the City’s Beatification and Natural Resources Commission (BNRC). [link]

Land Use:

• Introduced a  ballot measure (Measure Q) to strengthen the City’s longstanding prohibition of timeshares. [link] [video]
• Introduced a city ordinance to increase short-term vacation rental penalties. [link] [video]
• Introduced a council goal to explore and assess the grandfathering of existing non-conforming "granny units" as part of Council's affordable housing priority. [link]
• Member of the City Council Parklet Subcommittee that brought forward permanent outside dining and safety improvements, including an extended sidewalk project at the southwest corner of Lighthouse and Fountain. [link] [video]
• Voted for the four-way stop option, instead of a roundabout, at the intersection of Congress and Sunset. I believe a four-way stop is the preferred option as regards pedestrian safety. [link] [video]
• Lone NO vote on the initial design of the ATC Hotel Project. The California Coastal Commission agreed and appealed the Council’s majority vote seventeen days later. [link] [article] [video]
• Led an inquiry into the staff-proposed Homekey project with developer Shangri-La Industries. [link] The State of California later sued Shangri-La Industries for fraud totaling $114 Million. [link]
• Council Liaison to the City’s Planning Commission. [link]

Transparency:

• Introduced a city council policy allowing public comment from remote (Zoom) participants at meetings of legislative bodies. [link] [video]
• Introduced a city council policy limiting use of electronic communication devices (cell phone / texting) during city council meetings. [link] [video]
• Introduced a city council policy allowing council access to email correspondence sent to our boards, committees, and commissions. [link] [video]
• Introduced a contract amendment with AMP Media allowing more broadcasts of city council meetings on local cable as well as live streaming on YouTube and Facebook. [link] [video]

Finance:

• Introduced a monthly reporting of all city-issued checks (check register). [link] [video]
• Initiated a financial analysis of Golf Course and Local Water Project. [link] [video]
• Initiated an actuarial analysis of CalPERS Miscellaneous and Safety Plans. [link] [video]
• Opposed city council salary increases. [link] [video]

Miscellaneous:

• One of the four councilmembers to vote YES on allowing the 2022 Pet Parade. [lnk] [video]
• Brought forward report to reestablish a trolley service into downtown. [link] [video]
• Proud supporter of the Pacific Grove Youth Ambassador program.
• Pragmatic problem solver.

Previous Work:

I helped author Measure M (2018), a citizens’ initiative to limit short-term vacation rentals within Pacific Grove. I also managed the successful campaign. See www.pgneighbors.com for further details.

 

Professional Career:

I spent 29 years with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) designing, building, and deploying chemical sensors. I am the co-inventor of the ISUS nitrate sensor, which was commercially licensed in 2002. Several hundred ISUS sensors have been deployed throughout the world. Research publications that I contributed to can be found on my Research Gate page.  I am happily retired and currently spend most of my time working on City Council issues.