By Jamie Goldstein, City of Capitola City Manager
This column is intended to provide the community with an ongoing series of updates about City of Capitola projects and activities of interest. If you have any suggestions for future topics, or feedback, please let me know at [email protected] or by phone at 475-7300.
Infrastructure Projects
The City continues to focus on the completion of public infrastructure projects this summer. Over the last month, the City completed the repaving of Rosedale Avenue and Alma and Carl Lanes. That comes on the heels of completing the 38th Avenue paving projects, the Stockton intersection/sidewalk project (see photo), and the soft openings of the skate and dog parks at the City’s property on McGregor Drive.
Later this summer look for paving work to begin on Monterey Avenue near New Brighton Middle School, Kennedy Drive, and Park Avenue. We also plan to install a new surface for the tennis courts at Jade Street Park (with help from a donation from the Monte Foundation) and replace sidewalks on lower Capitola Avenue.
Lastly the City is currently advertising for bids to build the long-awaited Rispin Park landscape improvements project. If that bid process proceeds as planned, you can expect to see the new park opened by the end of the calendar year.
Potential Extension of Sales Tax Measure
In 2004 Capitola voters approved a five-year quarter-cent sales tax measures to support the City and its Police Department. City voters approved an extension of that measure in 2008 through 2017.
In an effort to understand if residents were interested in continuing the quarter-cent sales tax beyond next year, the City polled voters to gauge support and learn how residents suggest the City should use the revenue from a sales tax extension. Overall, 81 percent of voters indicated they were definitely or probably willing to support an extension of the tax for another 10 years. The poll also indicated that the residents’ highest priorities for the funding is:
- Maintaining the Police Department at full staffing,
- Protecting the City’s beaches and wharf from the effects of rising sea levels and future storms,
- Maintaining parks, and
- Improving and constructing sidewalks and bike lanes throughout the City to improve safety.
At the City Council meeting on June 16 the Council received the results of the polling and directed City staff to prepare the necessary paperwork to consider putting a 10-year Measure D extension on this November’s ballot. If passed by voters, the extension would continue to generate roughly $1 million a year for the City.
Capitola Mall
In April of this year the Capitola Mall was purchased by Merlone Geier Partners, a private real estate investment company focused on the acquisition, development and redevelopment of retail and retail-driven mixed-use properties on the West Coast. Merlone Geier Partner’s business model is to acquire opportunities where they believe they can add value through repositioning or redeveloping aging shopping centers and malls. Their 21-acre acquisition includes the Mall itself and the Kohls property. The acquisition did not include the Macy’s, Sears, Target or the Ross Center.
Redevelopment of regional malls can be a challenging process due to multiple owners and the strict agreements which limit what each owner can do without approval from the other stakeholders. The Capitola Mall, which was originally built in the 1970s and late ‘80s is no exception.
I am in close contact with representatives from Merlone Geier, who tell me they are reviewing all potential options for the Mall property. No timetable has been set for reviewing their vision; however we are looking forward to discussing the options with Merlone Geier in the near future.
Community Events
Our Twilight Summer Concert Series continues, with free concerts every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the bandstand.
On Saturday, July 9 join the City in celebrating the Capitola Historical Museum’s 50th birthday party. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. at the Museum, next door to City Hall on Capitola Ave. Come for the celebration, stay for the hot dogs and cake!