Seaside — City staff told the Seaside City Council on Thursday that Seaside’s 2025 Car Week events, capped by Exotics on Broadway, generated substantial overnight stays and restaurant visits but also revealed operational problems — chiefly parking, shuttle capacity and spillover sideshows — that staff and public safety officials want to fix for 2026.

Assistant City Manager Dan Milas summarized the week’s events and data. Seaside hosted seven Car Week events across multiple days; the largest crowd was recorded at Exotics on Broadway, which staff estimated attracted roughly 23,000 visits. Milas said the city’s hotel occupancy averaged about 84.8 percent during the week and reported a marked increase in average daily room rates. An attendee‑tracking analysis showed many visitors moved from the show area to nearby dining establishments: Jack in the Box, Buffalo Wild Wings and others had the highest follow‑up visits within 30 minutes of the event.

Public‑safety overview: The Seaside Police Department staged an on‑site command post during the Exotics on Broadway event. The department reported a small number of arrests tied to sideshow activity occurring off the main event footprint; the largest such incident required mutual‑aid support from other agencies and resulted in two later arrests. The Seaside Fire Department operated an on‑site first‑aid station during the Exotics event and reported four medical calls that did not require hospital transport.

Recommendations and council direction: Staff presented a list of improvement items for 2026, including expanded business outreach, stronger coordination with property owners to deter sideshows (Home Depot and In‑N‑Out were cited), additional off‑site parking, more shuttles and improved restroom access. Milas said staff is also exploring a revised footprint option (including Del Monte Avenue in addition to Broadway) that could ease bottlenecks; public safety indicated it would evaluate that option for traffic flow and emergency‑access implications.

Why it matters: Staff emphasized that the economic upside — increased overnight stays, higher restaurant traffic and visitor spending — is substantial for a small coastal city, but that the city must proactively manage parking, pedestrian flow, and off‑site gatherings to limit neighborhood impacts. Council members repeatedly asked for increased advance outreach to affected businesses and residents, more accessible options for people with disabilities, and better communications about closures and parking ahead of the event.

Public comment and community feedback: Dozens of residents and business owners praised the event’s economic effect and family‑friendly atmosphere; some business owners said they had their busiest day of the year. Several residents urged the council to treat the event as a regional brand for Seaside and to coordinate with regional partners on marketing and enforcement.

Next steps: Staff will continue to plan and will bring options for a modified event footprint and specific operational improvements to the council. The council asked staff to work closely with public safety, event organizers, property owners and Monterey County partners to reduce sideshow risk and traffic impacts while preserving the event’s economic benefits.

Ending: Councilmembers thanked staff and the event organizers for the work and signaled support for a regional approach and stronger communication with residents and businesses ahead of the 2026 Car Week.