A major highlight of the meeting was the approval of the L Plaza project scope, which focuses on developing the western section of the plaza. The project includes finalizing the site plan, civil engineering, landscape architecture, irrigation, and site permitting, along with assistance during the bid process and construction administration. A notable feature of the discussion was the decision to relocate a statue within the plaza closer to the ocean for both safety and aesthetic purposes. This move was deemed essential to prevent damage to the statue during the construction phases.

Further clarification was sought regarding the scope of work, especially concerning the structural engineering components. Members wanted assurance that the necessary structural designs would be included in the contractor’s responsibilities once the bid documents were finalized. Electrical services for future plaza functions were also a point of concern, with emphasis on coordination with Beach Energy for lighting and the need for wireless infrastructure.

The L Plaza scope proposal was put to a vote and passed without dissent. Another topic was the presentation and discussion of a draft redevelopment plan, accompanied by resolution 20226. This resolution serves as an addendum to the existing plan, allowing the agency to maintain its investments without altering the primary document. Visual elements, such as images of murals and a proposed table of contents, were included to make the plan more appealing and easier to understand.

During the discussion, concerns arose about an erroneous figure of $5 million for annual spending on trails, which was clarified to be $500,000.

The draft plan also included maps detailing open spaces and streets, although detailed regulatory measures were not incorporated as existing codes would apply. The need for an annual review of the document starting October 1, 2024, was noted, with benchmarks to be published each December. This review process aims to track redevelopment projects more effectively and identify properties for potential redevelopment, although currently, only a few parcels are prioritized.

The draft plan was pending formal approval, requiring a public hearing before the city council for community input on the proposed changes. In addition to the redevelopment plan, the meeting also covered a proposed safety grant program aimed at enhancing business infrastructure safety. This program, inspired by similar initiatives in other cities like Orlando, would allocate funds between $50,000 and $75,000 to local businesses for installing safety measures such as cameras or metal detection systems.

The grant stipulates that recipients must cooperate with local law enforcement by providing footage if an incident occurs. Concerns were raised about focusing the grant on external safety measures, as many incidents occur inside establishments. The proposed plan emphasizes exterior camera placements.

There was also a discussion about the grant amount for camera installations, initially proposed at $5,000, with suggestions to increase it to $10,000 to cover adequate systems. Questions arose regarding the fate of the equipment should a business close after receiving grant funding. It was suggested that if cameras were permanently affixed to the building, they would transfer with the property. However, uncertainties remained about portable equipment like ID scanners and metal detectors.

Another engaging topic was a public art initiative centered on sea turtles, which garnered strong community interest with over 500 survey responses. The proposed sculpture would feature kelp and turtles, likely crafted from cast bronze or fiberglass, and be placed in a visible and safe public space. Initial thoughts for placement included a location near the lifeguard station at the Beach Boulevard roundabout.

The committee discussed the sculpture’s size, preferring life-sized representations of loggerhead turtles to balance visibility and intimidation. They were open to suggestions for alternative locations to find the most appropriate and safe setting for the installation.