City Council Approves 5-Year Car Show Agreement

My comments at Tuesday's city council meeting are below. The council voted unanimously to lock in the 5-year contract with no changes.

Not LA. Not the Bay. It’s more than just a slogan. It’s what I hear from many residents: they want Pismo Beach to keep its small beach city feel.

So why is the City Council poised to lock in a 5-year contract with the organizers of the huge LA Auto Show, who plan for over 75,000 attendees when 2025 saw 50,000?

Are the city’s fiscal and staffing numbers fixed to past attendance, or do they account for more than 50% growth?

What’s the plan for evacuating visitors and residents if a disaster strikes? Where’s the emergency access analysis? The contract is silent.

Where are all those visitors going to park? The contract is silent. Once again, that means our neighborhoods are going to be free overflow parking despite the inconvenience and safety risk to residents I’ve discussed here before. The contract should require offsite parking with shuttles to downtown. Also, despite a 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan policy, there’s no requirement for a bike valet to encourage alternative transportation.

Where are the protections for local businesses that are forced to close because staff and clients can’t get there, and those that need to pay for security to maintain parking or protect against damage? The contract is silent.

Where are the performance metrics tied to unilateral termination that the council wanted to include? The contract is silent.

Where are the city’s controls over sponsors whose logos will be displayed in promotional materials and throughout the city? The contract is silent.

Clearly this contract is not ready for approval tonight. I’m asking the council to direct staff to bring it back at a future date with changes to address these significant issues.