The Encinitas Commission for the Arts on Dec. 1 outlined next steps to grow Pacific View Arts Center, asking city staff to return with technical details the commission said it needs to shape a strategic recommendation to City Council.

Chair Fox summarized a recent joint meeting with councilmembers and the public, saying the council is broadly supportive but wants a clearer plan. "There were 12 public speakers," Chair Fox said, and councilmembers emphasized a mix of priorities: financial feasibility, campus activation, naming‑rights options and big‑picture vision. Chair Fox asked the commission’s ad hoc group to prepare recommendations to be considered during the council’s February–March strategic planning window.

Public commenter Rosemary Kimball urged the commission to convert ideas into implementable steps and to hire a dedicated cultural director for Pacific View. "We need an experienced cultural director that is hired to be the director of Pacific View Arts Center and not someone that is adding on Pacific View to what they already do," Kimball said, calling for improvements including additional bathrooms, storage, parking‑lot upgrades, outdoor seating and simpler class sign‑up.

Development Services Director Scott Drapkin was asked to bring information on capacity and permitting, including what constitutes a temporary outdoor event and how much of the paved campus could be used while accounting for the adjacent fire station. The commission also asked the city’s new communications manager, Alex Saint, to present options for branding, a distinct web presence or social handle, and wayfinding from Highway 101.

Commissioners discussed a range of possible uses—outdoor amphitheaters, ticketed galas, farmers markets and art markets—and asked staff to show examples, costs and technical requirements at the January meeting. Staff said educational rentals are allowed under current zoning but would provide a deeper analysis of outdoor capacity and permitting requirements.

The commission also discussed revenue options and partnerships, including a proposed "Friends of Pacific View" fundraising entity and possible partnerships with medical or therapeutic programs that use art as part of care. Staff and commissioners emphasized that recommendations should be grounded in specific, implementable steps—costs, staging, electricity needs and likely months of operation—so council can evaluate options as part of its strategic planning.

Next steps: Development Services and the communications manager will be invited to the commission’s January meeting to answer questions and provide the technical detail requested; the ad hoc will continue gathering ideas for a formal recommendation to council.