Merchants and residents press council over Boardwalk replacement timeline; contractor says schedule adjusted

Coupeville — Several residents and Front Street merchants addressed the council April 22 to urge clearer public notice and to express concern about the proposed May–August window for the Boardwalk replacement project.

A public commenter who identified herself as a Front Street merchant said the summer months proposed for the project — May, June, July and August — were "just really a tough pill to swallow for those particular months," reflecting merchant anxiety about lost summer sales. She said a group of merchants asked for an additional public meeting on project timing but the mayor declined that request; the commenter said the timing information in the two‑page project letter and timeline distributed by staff was nonetheless helpful.

Public Works staff member Joe (on the virtual line) said the contractor negotiated a change so the sidewalk work would start first and the boardwalk work would occur mid‑summer; he said that adjustment was one reason the final timetable was not released earlier. He also announced a planned house move on May 7 that will require rolling road closures along Front Street (Front to Kenny, then up to Fifth Street) and said the contractor expects to complete cleanup before the Water Festival. "The contractor ensures me that it will be cleaned up before the water festival," he said.

Mayor Jackie and staff said they distributed the two‑page project letter, timeline and map to businesses and organizations and would continue direct outreach to merchants still missing notification. Councilmembers asked for clearer advance notices to affected businesses and for staff to continue coordination with the contractor and the Chamber to minimize summer impacts.

Ending

Council asked staff to continue merchant outreach, to post the timeline and maps publicly, and to coordinate rolling-closure notifications for the May 7 house move and subsequent construction periods.