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Commissioners press for concrete implementation steps as downtown plan is circulated for review
Summary
Commissioners reviewed the draft downtown specific plan and urged staff to pair the document with active implementation tools—fast‑track permitting, targeted recruitment, marketing and clearer measures of progress—to overcome safety and perception barriers that have limited downtown investment.
Staff told commissioners the downtown specific plan had been circulated to commissioners for review and that public outreach and a consultant committee had informed the draft. Commissioners used the session to press staff on concrete, short‑term tools to translate the plan into investment.
Vice Chair Quayle, Commissioner Lopez and others emphasized that homelessness, safety and building vacancy have discouraged private investment. "When there's vibrancy in the downtown, there's no room for vagrancy to exist," a city official said, and commissioners urged a combination of safety investments and incentives to attract businesses.
Commissioners asked whether the plan includes fast‑track permitting or an ombudsman to help prospective owners and developers. Staff said an ombudsman position exists in anticipation of a one‑stop permitting center and noted that the economic development department will lead recruitment, but acknowledged the city is still finalizing staffing and roles. Commissioners recommended the city solicit direct input from downtown business owners and consider peer lessons from neighboring cities.
The commission also discussed longer‑term civic investments, including whether to centralize city services in a single downtown city hall (options discussed included renovating the Black Tower or Harris Building) and asked staff to provide a staff report summarizing major land‑use changes in the general plan and downtown plan elements ahead of formal action.
No formal vote took place. Staff said the EIR and general plan elements will dictate the timing of formal adoption steps and that the commission would be given targeted briefings on major changes to the land‑use element in future meetings.
