Good News for Skate Park; Bad News for Sandwich Signs at Council Meeting

The Capitola City Council convened on Tuesday evening in a meeting dedicated to former mayor Bob Begun, who . The council covered an agenda that spanned issues from the proposed skate park to Village parking to the use of sandwich boards.

“I ran against [Begun] for city council in 2006, and every door I went to, he had already been there," Councilman Sam Storey said at the meeting. "He walked slowly, but he never stopped.”

Here are the five most important moments from Tuesday's meeting:

• The council defeated a draft ordinance to allow sandwich signs outside businesses in Capitola Village by a 4-1 vote. They directed city staff to write a more specific proposal describing the number, placement and design of the signs.
  
  “I understand business is hard, but I don't think sandwich signs are going to improve things. Especially, if there is one every ten or fifteen feet,” said  owner Gayle Ortiz. “It just doesn't fit with the image of a seaside village.”

• The council unanimously approved the Public Works Department's plan to bring back designs for a 9,000 sq. ft. skateboarding area in Monterey Park. The council and designers agreed that ruling out building a smaller park will allow room for riders of all skill levels. The project is estimated to cost between $300,000 and $500,000.

• The Regional Transportation Commission recommended that voters pass a half cent sales tax in 2012 to help fund neglected pavement on surface roads as well as Highway 1 improvement projects that are behind schedule and underfunded. The same tax was voted down by Capitola residents in 2002 and 2006.