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Neighborhood commission approves work plan and shifts funds to boost mural allocation to $20,000
Summary
The commission approved its 2026–27 work plan to send to City Council and voted to add $5,000 to the mural line (raising it from $15,000 to $20,000), after a lengthy discussion about a proposed Caltrans underpass mural and whether the project should be prioritized over pathway and park allocations.
Dan Mires, listed in the meeting as assistant city manager, presented the Neighborhood Improvement Commission’s draft 2026–27 work plan and an estimated allocation of roughly $296,443.73 for recommended projects. The preliminary project list included line items such as $8,000 for a picnic bench program, $10,000 for Seaside Stars signage, $20,000 to reseal and stripe a basketball court, $28,500 for Trinity Park entry and bench repairs, $100,000 for park pathway renovation, and an annual mural allocation of $15,000.
Councilmember Alex Miller urged the commission to prioritize a prominent entry mural on state‑owned Caltrans abatement walls at the Highway 1 entry, saying he had pursued state approvals and that a mural would change first impressions for people arriving in Seaside. Commissioners debated scale, site logistics (lift or road closures, surface and size), the feasibility of delivering a 24‑by‑28 slab mural for the $15,000 allocation and whether the project fit the commission’s neighborhood focus. Staff cautioned that the Mescal Neil pergola in the list would require an ADA-accessible walkway that could cost substantially more than the pergola itself.
After discussion a commissioner moved to reallocate $5,000 from other items (including the Mescal Neil pergola and raised-bed line items) to increase the mural allocation from $15,000 to $20,000; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The commission then approved the work plan document for submission to the City Clerk with direction that staff refine and re-balance estimates before the budget goes to City Council and that there is one additional meeting in May to finalize numbers. Staff said the RFP for the mural (if selected by council) would be run by the Recreation/Arts staff and the Art & History Commission, and that the council could add supplemental funding if desired.
