Accomplishments

By Dave Potter

Dave has been a champion for District 5 and for all of Monterey County. Here is a list of highlights of some of his many accomplishments.

• Partnered with the Big Sur Land Trust on important projects such as; Carmel River Parkway, Southbank River Trail, and the acquisition of Marks Ranch which added over 600 acres of open space to Toro Park, with an additional 113 acres to be added soon.
• Supported a new contract for garbage services that enhanced recycling opportunities throughout the County and required wheeled bins to help residents get the material to the curb.
• Created the Litter Abatement Task Force to address the conditions of our public roadways and ensure collaborative efforts among the County and cities to make sure our roads are clean and litter free.
• Led the effort to ban polystyrene throughout the County and is pushing for a County ban on plastic bags as well + all efforts that are aimed at ensuring the health of our oceans and rivers.
• Committed to improving the delivery of water and developing a suite of solutions that are viable, affordable and sustainable, including aquifer storage recovery, groundwater recharge and desalination. Dave is proud to represent the #1 Conservation District in California.
• In his 12 years of service on the California Coastal Commission - the longest serving government appointee to the Commission - Dave led statewide efforts to protect our most precious natural resource from unwise and excessive development.

• Supported improvements along Highway 68, like the intersection enhancements at Ryan Ranch, a stoplight at Las Palmas, and the Los Laureles Grade and San Benancio projects, helping alleviate traffic congestion.
• Actively fought to ensure the immediate reopening of Highway One during highway closures, and worked with the community to ensure their needs are met during the closures - everything from delivery of basic supplies to garbage pick up to medication.
• Worked to give the Carmel Valley Road Committee permanent status, by incorporating it into the General Plan. This requires that the Public Works department consult with the Carmel Valley community on how to spend developer fees that are used to make improvements to Carmel Valley Road. This effort began as the Carmel Valley Road Blue Ribbon Committee years ago, which was able to repair and improve miles of pavement for the first time in decades.
• Worked collaboratively with the community and various agencies, to build the climbing lane from Carmel Valley Road to Ocean Avenue that took the place of the proposed Hatton Canyon Freeway, and resulted in an immediate reduction of traffic. The second phase of this project is now in final design, and will improve circulation between Rio Road and Carmel Valley Road.
• Under Dave's leadership, key bridges along the Carmel River have been replaced such as those at Rancho San Carlos and Schulte Road.
• Working to develop a proof of access ordinance to require applicants to have secured rights to use a private road prior to an application being deemed complete and Dave continues to review projects based on whether there is adequate public infrastructure in place before the project is built.
• As a member of the Transportation Agency of Monterey County, Rail Policy Committee, Dave led efforts to bring train service to Monterey County. Dave's efforts resulted in funding to bring new rail service to Coast communities.
• Working to make Scenic Road in Carmel a one way street, improving pedestrian safety.
• Co-Chair of the Measure Z initiative to improve roads throughout Monterey County.

• Chaired the Natividad Medical Center Board of Trustees during which hospital operations went from a $34 million deficit to a current $72 million in cash reserves. He was also a strong supporter of Measure Q which supported NMC.
• During the booming economic times, Dave advocated for and continues to fund a County strategic reserve, which has lessened the impact of the economic downturn. The County continues to fund our ongoing pension costs, $2.5 million last year, $2.3 million for this year, General Liability reserves are fully funded, Worker's Comp Liability fund is being funded and will reach full funding in 2018.
• Despite a 20% reduction in available revenue to the County, the County budget continues to be balanced, programs have been streamlined and key county services remain + all without massive employee layoffs.
• The County's credit rating remains strong and the County is rated as a low investment risk, ratings which are based on our strong financial policies that were put in place during the strong financial stewardship from the Board of Supervisors in the last decade.
• Voted to create an Economic Opportunity Commission and establish a new Director to promote and attract new businesses to Monterey County. During every single County budget process, he has fought to retain dollars for economic development.
• Serves on the Monterey County Visitors and Convention Bureau to promote the County as a world-class destination for eco-friendly travel, sustaining thousands of jobs throughout the County that are related to tourism.
• He is the only County Supervisor to ever serve on the Monterey County Workforce Investment Board to bring in federal and state funding to support efforts to create and retain jobs, and to help residents apply for and gain the necessary skills to find employment in Monterey County.
• Worked with County staff on crafting new agreements for our recreational areas, such as the new firm for lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento and maintaining the racing school and contracts at Laguna Seca Raceway, helping keep jobs and boost the economy.
• Advocated for the economic recovery that we were entitled to and for the replacement of the jobs that were lost when Fort Ord closed, as Chairman of the Fort Ord Re-Use Authority.

• Supports flood plain planning on the Carmel River, coordinating County departments to ensure that there is comprehensive planning to protect property along the Carmel River.
• Partnered with the Big Sur Land Trust on important projects like the South Bank River Trail and the Carmel River Parkway projects, and advocated for additional projects along the lower Carmel River and Lagoon, which will provide environmental enhancement and flood protection, one of which just gained a $1 million dollar grant from the State Department of Fish and Game.
• After more than ten years of work, Monterey County passed a General Plan that strikes the necessary balance between preserving our environmental resources and addressing the needs of our growing community.
• Dave was the only Supervisor to publicly support the Alternative General Plan and encourage the right of the community to vote on incorporation.
• Supported Measure G to allow Carmel Valley to govern itself.
• Worked to reduce the size of the Corral de Tierra Shopping Center development.
• Supported community sentiment against projects like Villas de Carmelo, Carmel Cottages and Whispering Oaks, and has continually voted against inappropriate development, including September Ranch, Corral De Tierra shopping center, the Val Verde subdivision and the Mirabito Storage facility. Dave also worked hard to ensure that there is a cap on the number of units in Carmel Valley, similar to a B8 designation to prevent over-development.
• Worked to create the Coast Highway Management Plan that protects the Big Sur area from overdevelopment. District 5 is proud to have 3 Local Coastal Plans and 7 Land Use Advisory Committees.

• Advocated for residents during and after the Basin Complex Fire, helping with the needs of the community during the fire, in the years after the fire and creating fast track county policies to rebuilding damaged homes and water systems.
• Worked to ensure that there is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that was adopted, without litigation, by the Board of Supervisors.
• Supported the creation of a Countywide Fire Warden position.
• Supported and fought for a dedicated ambulance in the Big Sur community and faster response times to other farther reaching communities.
• Actively worked for the immediate reopening of Highway One during highway closures, and works with the community to ensure their needs are met - everything from delivery of basic supplies to garbage pick up.
• Fought for the retention of the Coastal substation at the Sheriff's Department, which serves Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley and Big Sur.
• Supports the collaborative efforts between the Sheriff's Office, District Attorney, Probation Department, Social Services and Health Department to fund efforts to prevent gang violence, provide job training and reduce recidivism. Programs like Rancho Cielo, Silver Star, the Day Reporting Center and Kick Start are just a few examples of the collaborative efforts between Departments that Dave Potter has supported through legislative advocacy efforts, and directing County funds to these programs.

• Voted in support of the 2010 redistricting plan, that was developed by a community driven process and committee, to ensure equal and fair representation of all County residents. The plan was approved by the Department of Justice without change. A far cry from the redistricting process in the 90's that resulted in litigation and a pre-clearance requirement from the Department of Justice.
• Saved the senior and disabled housing at Rippling River and Pacific Meadows and fought for funding to refurbish these properties.
• Facilitates communication with County Departments and applicants on important community projects like the remodel of All Saints Day School and the rebuild of fire damaged Carmel Valley Athletic Club.
• Supports the needs of small businesses, like helping Kiki Wow keep music in Carmel Valley.
• Working with the residents of the Toro community on ways to reduce their sewer fees and to find youth playing fields for their community.
• Collaborated with the City of Pacific Grove, the County of Monterey and non-profit agencies to create the Vista Point affordable senior housing project at Lovers Point.
• Daily interaction with residents to help facilitate their needs through the various county departments.
• Pushed for the work from home program at the County, which allows employees who are sick or have a compromised immune system to keep their jobs and be able to continue to work from home.
• Worked to create the IHSS public authority in Monterey County supporting in home health care workers and the people they care for.
• Created a partnership between Natividad Medical Center and the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital District to provide better accessibility to health care for all residents of Monterey County. He is taking a look at a merger between these two facilities to see what new opportunities could be possible.