Grover Beach Beachfront Lodge & Conference Center

Posted by Mike Balster 
 

Beachfront Lodge : Brenda Cavanaugh introduced Bob Perrault, City Manager of Grover Beach, who gave us some insight on how the Beachfront Lodge and other pressing city issues fit into the Grover Beach Community Vision.

Bob explained that the Beachfront Lodge will be located at the end of Grand Avenue near Finns Restaurant. A joint-powers-agreement was recently signed marking a significant hurdle to making the lodge a reality. The Request For Proposal (RFP) has been released and is due to be completed by December 10, 2007. The next hurdle is to identify a concessionaire, scheduled to be selected early next year. The RFP is on the city's website and contains the detailed requirements. The plan is to break ground mid-year 2008. Both Bob and John Shoals have spent months shepherding this project. A city council task force will be identified in the next couple of months.

 

City industrial areas : The master sewer plan and developing a marketing plan for the city's industrial areas are scheduled for the next budget year.

Streets : The recently approved ½ sales tax is dedicated to street improvements. A streets workshop is being held October 10 to help put together a plan for the needed improvements.

Major Capital Improvement Projects : water system improvements, storm drain improvements, underground utilities project. The Coastal Commission is currently addressing the replacement of the bridge on West Grand Ave. near the beach. The plan is to widen the bridge to four lanes and make it fit with the hotel plans. The contract is scheduled to be awarded in October and work will commence in mid 2008.

Land Use : a sound land use plan update is being developed to address the Grand Ave. corridor and mixed use development.

Affordable Housing : a certification of the plan by the State is in process and should be complete by the end of 2007. The parcel, at the corner of 5th and Long Branch, has been purchased for developing the project.

Sales Tax : a sales tax oversight committee is being sought to oversee and provide input into the use of sales tax funds for the city.

Budget : a balanced budget was achieved without using reserves, a great step toward fiscal stability. Bob put the GroverBeach city budget, $7.5M, into perspective; the budget of PismoBeach is 15M, and Arroyo Grande is 19M. GroverBeach has a lot to do and substantially less tax base to draw upon to fund the needs.

Bob closed by reminding us that if we stay focused on the objectives the community will be successful.