By Jondi Gumz
On June 7, an enthusiastic crowd — more than 65 people — came out to give their input on how to enhance Capitola’s historic fishing wharf, which was cut in half by a wicked winter storm six months ago and is slated for repairs by the city this year.
Christine McBroom (left) of the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project Committee.
Mike Sherrod of RRM Design Group explained the city work will focus on the most vulnerable areas, widen the wharf and add two permanent bathrooms replacing seasonal facilities.
Damaged piles supporting the wharf will be replaced by stronger fiberglass.
The goal is to start construction, which could take eight months, this summer.
Two bids were received June 14. The apparent low bidder was Cushman Contracting Corp. of Santa Barbara with a base bid of $7,307,730. Capitola Public Works Project Manager Kailash Mozumder said due diligence is under way with plans to award the contract by July 14.
With this project moving forward, there’s been a lot of talk in the community about what other amenities could be added to make the wharf more attractive to visitors and locals alike. Think: Water stations, lighting, more comfortable benches.
That led to creation of the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project and a survey answered by more than 900 people — an impressive number for the city of 10,000, according to Debbie Rudd of RRM Design Group, who is working on the enhancement project.
Capitola local Gerry Jensen who is leading CWEP said $65,000 has already been raised privately toward the amenities.
Carolyn and Alan Cable
The CWEP committee includes: Carrie Arnone, Vicki Guinn, Carin Hanna, Laurie Hill, Heidy Kellison, Christine McBroom, Scott McConville, Gayle Ortiz, Joe Palandrani and Richard Novak.
Most of them were in the room as Rudd and Morgane Staake of RRM Design Group passed out giant poster-size paper with photos illustrating potential ideas for Capitola.
Traditional or whimsical/colorful?
Coastal or perhaps modern?
At each table in the New Brighton Middle School gym, attendees chatted for 20 minutes, then wrote down their ideas, and placed colored dots on their favorite themes.
They also were asked to pick three words to describe Capitola Wharf.
Traditional was a clear winner, with some votes for whimsical/colorful.
There was consensus: “No Southern California!”
Tucker Graessle, 17, a senior at Soquel High, reported his group came up with “charming coastal village.”
Gayle Ortiz (center) is speaking during the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project meeting.
There was no shortage of ideas: Signs showing the way to the Wharf from the beach, binoculars to view wildlife in the bay, a defibrillator, showers for sandy feet, a fishing station for kids, access for strollers and wheelchairs, information on the wharf’s history, educational displays, rotating art exhibits, rotating food trucks, an aquarium, a slide, bike racks, a bronze sculpture, a snack shack for takeout food, a Christmas market, a sound system, taking advantage of solar energy,
“I’m delighted to be a part of this,” said Laurie Hill, an active volunteer with the Capitola Beach Festival Sept. 23-24. “This is exciting.”
This reporter, who was lucky enough to make a brief visit to Ascona, Switzerland, on Lake Maggiore, last year, suggested spelling out CAPITOLA in the sand, creating a photo opp with memories for any and all visitors.
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Photos Credit: Jondi Gumz