Councilmembers also asked staff to explore limited overnight shelter during extreme weather events, at an estimated annual cost of $171,700.
The city has been searching in earnest for a new location for a downtown fire station since February 2025, when a city-commissioned consultant report on fire services found that Fire Station No. 1 is “woefully out of date."
STR owners argued fees would mostly benefit hotels; protests reached just 4.58% of the threshold needed to block the district's formation.
Sustainability Commission members will review a five-year-old document ahead of a 2027 update, with officials signaling some goals may need to be revised.
Commissioners took issue with a prominent glass display case meant to signal the building's use, calling it a "low-effort solution" that disrupts the structure's symmetry.
The money raised would go toward a massive renovation planned for the convention center, but some vacation rental owners say they don't see the benefit.
The 70-year-old synagogue on Alejo Road was founded by concentration camp survivors; its layered architecture spans Modernist, Mid-Century, and Brutalist design phases.
A 92,400-square-foot, two-story building with outdoor RV parking won approval Tuesday, while a consulting team examines possible caps and location rules for future projects.
The agreement, which heads to city council for final approval May 27, outlines a fundraising partnership built around water, shade, and park activation.
Supporters have revised their plan to make a directly elected mayor a non-voting council member, but legal and procedural uncertainties persist.
Revised plans reviewed Monday evening shift the building's style from Mediterranean to contemporary, addressing concerns about compatibility with the area's midcentury modern architecture.
Around a dozen residents spoke against the direct mayor system during the public comments section of Wednesday’s city council meeting. The council later debated the issue.
