Westminster council directs staff to study Blakey Park buildings and feasibility of expanded uses after contentious debate

Council members and staff spent extensive time on Sept. 10 reviewing an existing-conditions site map for Blakey Park (8612 Westminster Boulevard), prepared by MIG. The map identifies historic structures (Midway City Women's Club, blacksmith building, farm barn), a ~102-stall parking area, and a Southern California Edison easement.

Consultant Oscar Johnson and staff explained the scope: site mapping, record of easements, and counts of parking and structures. Staffs' attachments reported a title report ($3,131.50) and consultant data-collection and mapping charges (MIG: $5,905). Public works staff said the city has been paying utilities and landscaping costs for the park—about $6,883 last year—and that the historical society manages museum open-house programming one Sunday a month.

Council members debated whether to approve the site map as "receive and file" only, or to direct staff to move further and perform a feasibility assessment that would examine building lifespans, accessibility, parking condition and whether the parcel could accommodate additional structures. Supporters of a narrower approach argued feasibility for new construction would be a separate, costed agenda item; supporters of the broader approach said a higher-level feasibility check would be useful and would not itself obligate the city to build.

After competing substitute motions, the council approved a motion to receive the update and direct staff to bring back an item assessing the lifespan of current buildings and the possibility of expansion or building on the site (motion carried 3-2). Staff said an initial scoping and staff-level assessment would incur staff hours but could be brought back without immediate consultant expense; more detailed feasibility work would require scoping and additional funding.