Council hears detailed update on downtown revitalization; residents press for transparency on developer talks

Economic Development Director Joel Belding gave an annual, hour‑long update March 4 on the city’s downtown revitalization plan, outlining a suite of public and private projects intended to turn the downtown into a pedestrian‑friendly commercial and cultural center.

The presentation listed nine project areas anchored by a three‑phase Sixth Street transformation that Belding said will convert the corridor into a shaded, pedestrian‑oriented street with new parking and raised medians, with an overall completion target around 2029 and an “iconic” downtown sign scheduled for installation in 2027. Belding also described the North Mall project (the city has acquired 23 of 24 privately owned suites and has completed initial demolitions), a City Park redesign with construction slated for summer, and a hub conversion that will include a food hall and outdoor gathering space. He said Northgate Market is planned as a roughly 25,000‑square‑foot full‑service grocery in the downtown core and that the food‑hall building could house as many as 10 restaurants.

The presentation emphasized that the downtown plan grew from years of public outreach and a strategic plan and that many design and permitting steps are already under way. "This is an annual update for everything that we've been doing," Belding told the council and public, summarizing staff’s timeline and design progress.

Public comment and council questioning focused on process and transparency. Chris McCoy (self‑identified District 3) said he was "encouraged" by the projects but urged caution: he asked the council to check with planning and to "pump the brakes" on developer outreach until designs are complete, and he said the item was posted on the agenda with only 48 hours’ notice rather than the 72 hours he expected under the Brown Act. Rory Connell (self‑identified District 5) called attention to glossy renderings that, he said, create misleading public expectations, and asked why certain elements — including a minimum unit count reported elsewhere as 300 — were not clearly presented to the public.

Belding defended beginning a request for qualifications (RFQ) process now, saying the RFQ is intended to identify qualified development partners and obtain market guidance without transferring site control or finalizing terms. "The plan is to keep this project moving forward in a timely manner," he said, adding that early industry input helps staff avoid designs that would be unbuildable or require repeated rework.

Councilors and staff agreed to improve how presentation materials are posted with the agenda and to be clearer in public materials about which images are conceptual renderings and which elements are adopted policy. Community Services Director Donna Finch also confirmed that, under the park master plan, City Park’s new central lawn and multi‑use turf were prioritized over dedicated soccer fields, which ranked lower among public requests.

The city did not take any formal action on the revitalization plan at the meeting; council members directed staff to continue design, procurement, and outreach work and to return with future updates and specific action items as projects reach decision points.