The Buzz 11.26.15

WHO’S IN TOWN?

Hundreds of elected county supervisors across California juggle the competing demands of county-level leadership: basic functions like trash pick-up, policy challenges like how to best regulate cannabis and crack down on human trafficking, and the mechanics of a legally compliant, transparent government. Supervisors from all over the state gather in Monterey this week for the annual California State Association of Counties conference, which covers all of those topics. Speakers include former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, now the director of UC Berkeley’s Energy and Climate Institute.Monterey County’s own Communications Coordinator Maia Carroll facilitates a panel discussion about how to talk to the media.

Mon Nov. 30-Fri Dec. 4. Marriott Hotel, 350 Calle Principal, Monterey. $700/CSAC members; $800/non-members. (916) 327-7500, www.counties.org.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT

Monterey Assistant City Manager Hans Uslar says he has to field his share of questions. His favorites skew toward obscure and include: What’s the shortest street in town? That would be cute little King Street, tucked right next to Colton Hall between Dutra Street and Pierce Street, not even half a football field long.

email whatsupwiththat@mcweekly.com.

OVERHEARD

“Have you met my husband? He’s more loyal than those seeing-eye dogs.”
- A customer speaking to her friend at Trader Joe’s in Monterey.

GOOD WEEK / BAD WEEK

Good: Every week is a good week for those who stroke at Seaside’s Patullo Swim Center (next to Oldemeyer Center) because of the super-friendly staff, minimal crowds, familial regulars, affordable rates, 1-meter springboard and the unique feeling of renewal aquatic exercise provides. But it’s an extra-good week because it’s the last one before extensive updates take place. Swimmers can look forward to resurfaced bottoms on both pools and redone piping beneath. For now they still have use of their home pool before it closes for renovations starting on Dec. 11. (It reopens in February.) The improvements are not to exceed $232,000.

Bad: It’s a bad week for local workers. The city of Monterey hired Stronghold Engineering of Riverside to remodel the Monterey Conference Center. When the city opened the nearly $50-million project to bids, no local contractors participated. It’s the biggest capital project the city has undertaken in recent years. Ron Chesshire, president and CEO of the Monterey/Santa Cruz Counties Building Trades Council, estimates roughly 200 jobs will be created through the duration of the remodel, and only 20 percent of those will likely go to local tradespeople. Stronghold will bring up its own workforce from the Inland Empire area.