Councilmembers and staff agreed to pursue a package of short-term, affordable Main Street improvements while also taking a broader view of economic recovery and parking policy for Old Town.

Public works staff presented Studio 111 vision excerpts and proposed low-cost actions such as replacing existing street bulbs with brighter, wider fixtures, repainting parking stalls, repairing decorative pavement at intersections, localized intersection lighting and photo-frame activations to encourage social-media exposure. The departmental presentation also identified maintenance shortfalls: earlier contract pressure washing cost approximately $180,000 a year and current in-house maintenance is understaffed and underpaid for market conditions; staff said a grocery list of costs would be returned to council for priorities and budget adjustments.

Staff proposed assigning the Business First working group to review the Main Street Specific Plan (1996), evaluate rules affecting franchise businesses and live-entertainment/stage allowances, and consider the in-lieu parking program (noting Coastal Commission review would be required for coastal-zone parking changes). Council asked staff to return with cost estimates for quick O&M items (lighting, restriping and pressure washing) and to present paid-parking options in early 2026 so the public and merchants can be engaged before any adoption.

Jennifer Robles and other staff outlined a “Business First” concierge program pairing businesses with staff support on site selection, permitting and potential incentives; councilmembers Wong and Kalmick were named council leads to work with staff on committee composition, which staff will present in early 2026.

Council did not adopt changes to the Main Street specific plan, approve paid parking, nor commit seed money beyond existing budget authority; instead members endorsed a two-track approach: deliverable quick wins to be pursued through operations and a parallel Business First group to address regulatory barriers and vacancies.