A complaint to the California Fair Political Practices Commission against Pacific Grove Councilmember Tina Rau has been closed without further action, according to a letter sent to Rau on July 29.
Rau was one of the P.G. councilmembers in a 4-2 vote in March 2025 who supported advancing a possible ordinance to raise decibel levels downtown from 70 to 80.
Within two weeks a complaint was filed suggesting Rau had a conflict of interest because she owns 215 Forest Ave., home to the record store and entertainment venue Pop & Hiss. (Rau asked the city attorney ahead of the vote if she needed to recuse herself from the vote. He said she did not.)
More complaints were subsequently filed arguing additional points, but ultimately the specific complaint investigated by the FPPC was that Rau failed to timely file her Statement of Economic Interests with the FPPC.
Rau says she explained to FPPC officials it was an oversight on her part. She was required to complete the department’s Political Reform Education Program, which the letter states she did so successfully.
“For these reasons, we are closing this matter without further action,” the letter from Johnathan Rivera, FPPC counsel for the Enforcement Division reads.
“We knew the law was on our side and we would prevail,” Rau says.
Work on the proposed ordinance by city staff has been on hold since the complaints were filed.
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