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Community supporters urge board to keep designer involved as board narrows options
Summary
Public speakers, including skateboarders and local supporters, urged the board to find a way for designer Aaron Spahn to stay involved in the Cambria skate park; board and counsel discussed allowing Spahn to consult while excluding him from bidding to avoid conflicts under state law.
Multiple community members told the board they value Aaron Spahn nd his design expertise and asked the board to avoid actions that would derail the project or damage his reputation.
Sherry Tatham, whose son chairs the skate park committee, said the community has ‘‘a tremendous amount of support’’ and urged flexibility so Spahn could be part of the project. Michael Calder (representing Cambria in public comment) suggested a narrow rewrite addressing six specific issues and urged rapid legal review to avoid delay.
Aaron Spahn addressed the board and denied any intent to create a sole‑source specification. He said Spahn Ranch did not prepare the RFP language and that ‘‘any contractor could submit an alternate option’’; he argued that excluding his firm could remove a sizable share of the limited pool of qualified specialty builders. Board members responded that the district might contract with Spahn as an adviser or consultant outside the bid process, but counsel warned that allowing him to act as a subcontractor in the bidding phase would likely create conflict‑of‑interest exposure under Government Code §1090.
The board added a recognition of Spahn Ranch s a trusted partner in the resolution and directed staff to explore a consultant role outside the bid documents while preserving a defensible, competitive procurement.
