DUNES DAY… In January we detailed the city of Marina’s plan to pump an additional $70 million in redevelopment funds into The Dunes on Monterey Bay. The Fort Ord Reuse Authority however, wasn’t eager to pony up extra money, which sent Dunes developer Marina Community Partners back to the drawing board. In a deal announced July 22, the city agreed to contribute nearly $106 million in property tax increments through 2030– $78.3 million more than in the original disposition and development agreement. In return, the developer will proceed. The City Council is expected to approve the deal Aug. 5. [ZS]

P.G. LIBRARY’S HALF-LIFE… Despite the passage of a city sales tax hike in June, the city of Pacific Grove’s efforts to balance its budget made P.G. Public Library users sweat. The city planned to reduce the library’s hours by 50 percent, to 20 hours per week, beginning July 1. But a last-minute gift of $100,000 from the family of library lover Jeanie Clausen reduced the cutbacks to 25 percent, keeping the library open five days a week. (It will be closed Sundays and Mondays.) The gift also spared two staff positions. [KA]

CONDOS BY THE HIGHWAY… Villas de Carmelo developer Bob Leidig’s proposed condo project off Highway 1 and Valley Way is beginning its long trudge through the county planning process. Leidig initially tried to get the property annexed into the city. Now he is pursuing the project through the county. On July 23, county planners held a public meeting to solicit comments on the scope of the environmental impact report. Once the draft EIR is prepared, it will be released for public review. [KA]

GREEN GOVERNMENT… Salinas City Hall, along with the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments headquarters, will offset carbon emissions under PG&E’s ClimateSmart program. Collectively, Salinas and AMBAG will offset more than 1.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually or more than 184 pounds a day. The government agencies will fund projects designed to remove greenhouse gases associated with global warming. [ZS]

P.G. COUNCIL RACE HEATS UP… We recently reported that Susan Goldbeck, Bill Kampe and Carmelita Garcia plan to vie for three open City Council seats in November. Now we add radio show host and eco-crusader Deborah Lindsay to the list of council hopefuls. Mayor Dan Cort says he will seek another term. [KA]