Commission OKs replacement of plaza benches with single-piece wood seats and paint finish

The commission approved replacing deteriorated plaza benches and picnic tables with a single‑piece wood seat configuration (one board per bench seat) and a painted finish rather than stain, with the work to be funded from remaining Prop 68 project funds.

Staff reported the overall plaza improvement project had a budget of $231,269 and an approximate remaining balance of $18,000 after recent purchases (big-belly trash cans and bike racks). The benches and picnic tables were determined by staff to be eligible under the grant scope; the replacement will be a like-for-like approach using larger stock timber for durability, painted in the same finish currently used, and installed to minimize disruption to plaza functioning.

Commissioners discussed alternatives such as composite (Trex) benches or higher-end clear‑stain redwood but chose replacement in kind now and suggested larger plaza master-plan-level design choices be considered in a future larger plaza plan. The motion to accept one-piece wood seats and paint passed unanimously.

Staff will proceed with procurement and installation; operations staff indicated they will prioritize minimizing the length of time any seating is unavailable.