Monterey County roundup: Workforce contracts, Natividad leadership, and water policy on the agenda

Monterey County boards and advisory committees met throughout late June and early July to weigh workforce funding, hospital leadership, water resource management, and dozens of land use applications. All meetings listed below were agenda-only at publication time; minutes have not yet been released, so outcomes and vote tallies are not yet confirmed.

Workforce Development Board considers $2M in service contracts

The Monterey County Workforce Development Board was scheduled to approve its 2026-27 budget and extend three service contracts totaling $2,000,000 at meetings on June 24 and June 25. The agenda included extending the Equus Workforce Solutions contract for adult and dislocated worker services at $1,300,000, a separate Equus contract for youth services at $350,000, and a Turning Point of Central California contract for youth services at $350,000. The board was also set to approve three-year appointments for business and state employment representatives and consider a lease for the HRCC Pre-Apprenticeship program at 117 Pajaro St., Salinas.

Board of Supervisors: Natividad leadership, appointments, and litigation

The Board of Supervisors met on three separate days. On June 23, the agenda included nominating Supervisor Church as primary director to the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, appointing one member to the Monterey County Regional Fire District board for a four-year term, and reappointing three members to the Big Sur Byway Organization. A closed session covered six active lawsuits, including Hopkins v. County and Gonzalez v. State.

On June 25, the Board held closed-session performance evaluations for the Civil Rights Officer, County Counsel, and the Natividad Medical Center CEO.

On June 26, the Board was scheduled to authorize the County Administrative Officer to sign an employment agreement for Nancy Buscher as interim CEO of Natividad. A closed session that day included performance evaluations for the Public Defender and County Administrative Officer.

Budget Committee reviews Natividad Q3 finances

The Budget Committee met June 24 to review Natividad Medical Center's third-quarter financial report covering January through March 2026. The agenda included discussion of funding reductions related to H.R.1.

Water resources: grazing lease, seawater intrusion, and strategic planning

The Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency met June 23 to consider adopting a resolution approving a grazing lease for lands around San Antonio and Nacimiento Reservoirs, including directing staff to advertise for bids and authorizing the General Manager to modify lease and bid forms. A closed session addressed litigation in Mario Gonzalez v. State of California (Case No. 23CV004194).

On July 2, the Joint Water Resources/Board of Supervisors Leadership Committee was scheduled to review a Civil Grand Jury report titled "Seawater Intrusion - A Shared Problem in Monterey County," discuss a Deep Aquifers Management Recommendations Memorandum, and receive updates on Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency project portfolios.

Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator weigh development permits

The County Planning Commission met June 24 to discuss an implementation ordinance for the Agricultural and Winery Corridor Plan, a fence and gate replacement at 35986 Highway 1 in Big Sur, and a parcel subdivision into three lots at 1451 Ondulado Road in Pebble Beach.

The Zoning Administrator met June 25 to consider residential projects including a 2,707 sq ft home and 1,126 sq ft ADU at 26307 Isabella Avenue in Carmel, a 604 sq ft ADU at 3038 Alta Ave in Carmel, and a home addition with a 1,100 sq ft ADU at 3152 Spruance Road in Pebble Beach. Three commercial vacation rental permits were also on the agenda for properties in Carmel, King City, and Pebble Beach.

Several advisory committee meetings cancelled

Meetings of the Toro, South Coast, Cachagua, and Del Monte Forest Land Use Advisory Committees, the Water Resources Advisory Committee, and the Water Resources Agency Planning Committee were all cancelled due to no projects scheduled for review.

Coming up

• **July 7 — Board of Supervisors:** Closed session on Romo v. County and Gonzalez v. State litigation; appointments to the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council, and Workforce Development Board.
• **July 8 — Planning Commission:** Public hearing for 22 affordable housing units at the September Ranch project in Carmel Valley; informational workshop on the Agricultural and Winery Corridor Plan.
• **July 9 — Zoning Administrator:** Public hearing on demolishing a 4,252 sq ft home and building a 6,651 sq ft residence plus ADU at 1651 Crespi Lane, Pebble Beach; three commercial vacation rental permit hearings.
• **July 15 — Civil Rights Advisory Commission:** Review of the Civil Rights Office's Equal Opportunity Plan.

Earlier weeks

• week of 2026-06-29 — Workforce board approves $2M in service contracts and budget

Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.