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CRA staff outlines events schedule, parking-lot work, grants, public art and P3 procurement status
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Summary
Staff provided a series of operational updates: a calendar of upcoming events, start of Parking Lot Phase 2, facade and safety grant program details, public-art projects, possible elevated downtown code enforcement, and clarification on the public-private (P3) parking procurement process including the 35-foot height limit.
CRA staff presented several operational updates and project-status notes at the Oct. 27 meeting.
Taylor reviewed upcoming meetings and events: the next CRA regular meeting is Nov. 19; December’s meeting is Dec. 22; in January the agency will hold a workshop Jan. 14 and a regular meeting Jan. 26. Staff listed near-term events in the downtown and Latham Plaza, including a classic car cruise, trunk-or-treat, an arts market, the Thompson Brothers Surf Classic, volleyball tournaments and the Supergirl Pro surf competition.
On parking and construction, staff said Parking Lot Phase 2 — described as remilling, new asphalt and striping plus planter and lighting improvements along First Street — will begin after air-show weekend, with the lot closed for major work in November and substantial completion expected by the holidays. Staff said the lot will be open and functional by the time the Latham Plaza holiday programming starts, though minor finishing work may still be underway.
Staff noted the facade and safety grant programs are live on the CRA website. The meeting transcript states the grant "new maximum is '50'" as read in the presentation; staff did not specify units in the recorded discussion. Staff also said grant reviews will move to a quarterly cadence, with the first quarterly report expected at the January board meeting.
Public-art updates included two murals nearing completion and a public sea-life sculpture. Taylor said the sea-life sculpture contract with Havoc is "in hand" with the vendor (not yet returned signed) and that the sculpture will be sited near the boardwalk/lifeguard station; staff plans a future call for a second sea-life installation and anticipates issuing that call in the spring.
On code enforcement, staff described exploring an "elevated" downtown code-enforcement approach that could use citations and faster enforcement timelines; staff cautioned any change would require council action and could generate controversy. Board members asked staff to ensure changes are not perceived as targeting small businesses or residents.
Staff clarified the P3 parking project is still in procurement planning: a 35-foot height limit applies at the site, no conceptual design has been selected, and procurement will use an RFP with a roughly 60-day submission window. Taylor explained that a seven-member staff review panel will score proposals on design and criteria; detailed financial analysis will be performed by outside professionals during subsequent negotiation phases, and all proposal openings and evaluations will occur in public meetings.
