The Coronado City Council is still on its summer schedule. There’s only one meeting this month and the agenda is relatively light and routine. There are, however, a few items of interest that they’ll discuss at the August 18th meeting:
Continuing Clayton’s Coffee Shop and Mexican Take-Out to outdoor dining for another four years; authorization of $5.7 million to build a new senior activity center; demolition of a “storybook” Tudor-style cottage at 733 Tolita Avenue, and a request by two council members to reconsider spending $100 thousand to feasibility study for “bike path” along Ocean Blvd.
First up is is a plant spend $5,775 million to build a new senior activity center at 4:30 pm, time certain. The council has already approved the concept in principle and has reviewed designs for the project. Now it’s a matter of funding. The money will come either from the city’s general fund or the Harpst Fund.
A few years back philanthropist Frances Harpst bequeathed $14 million in unrestricted funds to the City of Coronado. It invested the money in municipal and public agency bonds that have since earned some $330 thousand. The gift came at when the State of California ended redevelopment and has allowed Coronado to invest in large-scale projects, such as the new senior center, many communities can only dream of.
The conditional use permit that allowed Clayton’s to set up tables outside it take-out window for past year expired in July. The city council will vote on extending the permit for more four years. This type of extension is routine and the staff recommend approval.
For the most part Clayton’s owners have complied with the permit’s condition. They installed tables and have generally kept the area clean. There have also been some issues with their customers blocking the sidewalk. New conditions have been added to permit extension to resolve these issues. Clayton’s must now “clean any liquid or food spills” and must post a sign that says “Please Do Not Block Sidewalk. One Line Forms at the Curb.” The staff also recommended installing a similar sign on the light pole at the curb.
Unless the city council decides otherwise the house at 733 Tolita Avenue will be demolished. The Historic Resources Commission voted 2-2 to deny the 75 year-old storybook style, thatched roof house an historical designation that would have prevented the new owners from tearing it down. The vote was tied because only four members were allowed to vote on the project. The fifth member Susan Keith, had to recuse herself, because she lives within 500 feet of the property. Under Federal Fair Practices Commission rules public officials and members of boards and commissions may not vote on the project that they might have a financial interest in. Keith has long championed historic preservation in the city. Some believed her vote would have changed the outcome.
Because the decision was based on a tie, not on a majority vote, the appeals focused the process.
Linda Ferguson and Ivy and Mark Bernhardson argued that when a commission has to recuse themselves from a vote, an alternative should be appointed. There is no provision for this in the city code for this. Pat Howard questioned Keith recusal and suggested that people in real estate not be allowed to vote either. Commission David Gillingham, who voted against designating the property historic is a relator. Howard also claimed that the commission applies criteria for historical designation unevenly.
Carrie Downey and Richard Bailey both submitted a request to “reconsider the approval of the appropriation of $100 thousand to study a beach bike path or agendize a city council discussion to reconsider the approval to study a beach bike path.” The money was included in the city Capital Improvement Projects budget and was approved by an unanimous vote.
A report in eCoronado.com about the study unleashed a social media protest and a petition drive that caused at least two council members to revisit issue and suggest more public put. The vote on Tuesday only asks that the council take up the matter. They will not be a full discussion of the merits of the feasibility study until the September 1 meeting.
The public is invited to attend the City Council meeting at 4pm on August 18, 2015 at 1825 Strand Way.
Stay tuned to eCoronado.com for a full recap of this City Council meeting.
