CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

REPORT ON SURF CITY NIGHTS

Council members voted to accept a city report on the success of the weekly Surf City Nights street fair and farmers’ market, as well as four weekend street closures like the Surf City Art Walk.

WHAT IT MEANS

Asst. Project Manager Nova Punongbayan told council members the trial closures of Main Street had been a success, with as many as 10,000 estimated visitors at some weeks of Surf City Nights. She also called it a success for local businesses.

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PET LICENSING ORDINANCE MISTAKE CAUGHT

Council members said they were surprised to find something they hadn’t asked for in an ordinance before them that would reaffirm the county animal control agency’s control over pet licensing fees. When City Atty. Jennifer McGrath told them last-minute changes were needed to ensure cats were required to have pet licensing, council members said they hadn’t asked for a law to make cat licenses mandatory. They promptly voted 6-1 to strip out all references to that requirement, with Councilman Keith Bohr in opposition.

WHAT IT MEANS

Though several council members had said prior to the meeting that they hoped it was the final time they had to vote on the small remnant of Bohr’s original mandatory spay and neuter proposal for dogs and cats, the changes in the ordinance mean they have to vote one more time. After that, the ordinance would give authority to set licensing fees to the county agency, which it already does as part of a contract with the city.

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GOLF COURSE

Council members voted 7-0 to approve a contract with a new company to run Meadowlark Golf Course.

WHAT IT MEANS

The American Golf Corporation, which previously held the lease, will sublease the course to real estate investors CNL Income Partners, one of the largest real estate trusts in the country. Then operator Evergreen Alliance Golf Limited will run the course on a day-to-day basis. The whole transaction is part of a 42-golf-course transfer between American Golf and CNL.