Seaside council approves consent items, prioritizes water allocations and OKs Capra Park lease; holds some commission code changes for later review

Seaside, Calif. — The Seaside City Council unanimously approved a multi‑item consent agenda and several subsequent measures at its March 6 regular meeting, including a resolution prioritizing a pool of water for local allocation requests and a five‑year lease allowing Friends of Seaside Parks Association (FOSPA) to operate pollinator and community garden space in Capra Park.

Council also completed a second reading of proposed amendments to Title 2 of the Seaside Municipal Code (municipal governance chapters) but voted to hold back changes to the boards‑and‑commissions chapter for further review and directed staff to return with a tightened code‑of‑conduct proposal.

Why it matters: The consent vote cleared a number of routine items (grants, sponsorships and construction contracts) and set city policy in several operational areas. The water allocation resolution and Capra Park lease carry immediate implementation steps: staff noted there is an unallocated reserve of nearly four acre‑feet that can be assigned to properties on a wait list, and the FOSPA lease will allow nonprofit-led garden and education projects on defined park parcels while preserving public access.

Most important votes and outcomes

- Consent agenda: Council approved the consent agenda by unanimous vote.

- Water allocation (Item H): Council adopted a resolution prioritizing Seaside’s water allocation within the California American Water Company service area and confirmed the unallocated reserve (about 4 acre‑feet) is sufficient to address the current wait list under normal usage assumptions. Staff’s estimate: roughly 3 to 3.5 acre‑feet would accommodate all interested properties on the list at the higher end; one bathroom addition converts to roughly 26 units per acre‑foot and new single‑unit builds about 12 per acre‑foot. Council voted unanimously to adopt the staff recommendation.

- Title 2 municipal code amendments (Item 9a, second reading): Council adopted changes to chapters governing City Council, City Manager and City Attorney to improve procedural clarity and administrative processes. The council voted to postpone modifications to the boards‑and‑commissions chapter (chapter 2.14) for additional review and requested staff return with a tightened code‑of‑conduct provision that could support removal or leave requirements where appropriate. The ordinance change was found exempt under CEQA Guideline 15061(b)(3) and passed on roll call, unanimous.

- Capra Park lease with Friends of Seaside Parks Association (Item 10a): Council approved a five‑year lease with FOSPA for specified parcels of Capra Park (initial term $1 per year) to develop and operate pollinator and community vegetable garden areas with school tours and public access. The lease contains a 90‑day termination clause, requires city approval for permanent improvements and allows FOSPA to pursue grants (for example, USDA grants) tied to the leased areas. Council approved the lease unanimously.

- Monterey Bay Football Club partnership discussion (Item 10b): Council discussed several low‑cost partnership options — raising the club flag at Oldemire Center, temporarily coloring the Seaside sign and promoting games on Seaside channels — and directed staff to pursue low‑cost ways to support and publicize the team without committing to a stadium sponsorship payment at this time. The motion to direct staff passed unanimously.

What council asked staff to do next

- Return with specific language tightening the municipal code’s code‑of‑conduct enforcement mechanisms (to include clearer grounds and procedures for leave or removal of commissioners if violations occur) and bring back the boards/commissions chapter revisions after additional review that incorporates commission input.

- If the FOSPA USDA grant application succeeds, any permanent improvements to Capra Park must still receive prior city written approval and will be managed under the lease terms.

- Continue exploring low‑cost community partnership steps with Monterey Bay FC (flag raising, light/color changes where feasible and outreach), and include possible budget consideration during the upcoming budget cycle if the council wishes to revisit a commercial sponsorship.

Votes at a glance (tallies)

- Consent agenda: unanimous (ayes 5, no 0, abstain 0). - Item H (water allocation resolution): unanimous (ayes 5, no 0, abstain 0). - Item 9a (Title 2 ordinance second reading; adopt except hold chapter 2.14): unanimous (ayes 5, no 0, abstain 0). - Item 10a (Capra Park lease): unanimous (ayes 5, no 0, abstain 0). - Item 10b (direction on Monterey Bay FC partnership, staff to pursue low‑cost activities): unanimous (ayes 5, no 0, abstain 0).

Context and next steps: Councilmembers framed the Capra Park lease as a way to leverage volunteer and nonprofit capacity to improve underused park parcels and to qualify for outside grant funding that requires a formal property control agreement. Staff emphasized that the city's public access and approval authority remain unchanged. Council emphasized the need to preserve earmarked water for small property requests (e.g., additions and accessory bathrooms) and asked staff to return with any implementation steps needed to move reserve water into the prioritized allocation if council chooses to do so.