Calistoga council votes to remove three Lincoln Avenue parklets, cites Caltrans limits and disrepair

The Calistoga City Council voted on March 19, 2024 to remove three parklets on Lincoln Avenue after hearing staff reports and public comments that described the fixtures as deteriorated, unsightly and potentially in violation of Caltrans rules.

City staffer Cynthia Battenberg told the council that negotiations with Caltrans had explored a path for commercial uses in the state right-of-way but Caltrans had been slow to finalize its position and expected to provide feedback in May 2024. Battenberg said Caltrans directed the city to "aggressively cite violators" when commercial activity continued and that code enforcement had issued an administrative citation to a business (transcript reference: Brico) for serving alcohol in a public place in violation of Calistoga Municipal Code Section 9.08.

Members of the public urged removal. Virginia Thomas, representing Pound Management and citing her client at 1364 Lincoln Avenue, said the parklets "are unusable" with "chairs... broken" and asked the council to restore on-street parking. Other residents and business owners described mold and peeling veneers on tables and said the parklets were harming downtown aesthetics and parking access.

Council members expressed frustration that Caltrans' rules limit what improvements the city and businesses can make to the parklets and that two of the three parklets are in "appalling condition." Staff told the council there were budgeted funds sufficient to pay an $18,000 lease for one parklet for a year and that a $6,000 annual lease would apply for a single parklet; staff also said $18,000 would likely cover removing the other two parklets but that additional funds would be needed for outside consultants and legal work to prepare leases and maintenance agreements.

Councilmember Gift moved to remove all three Lincoln Avenue parklets; the motion passed on roll call: Council member Eisenberg — no; Council member Cooper — aye; Council member Gift — aye; Vice Mayor Lopez Ortega — aye; Mayor Williams — aye. City staff will coordinate removal and storage or disposal of parklet materials, and staff will continue discussions with Caltrans about any policy changes that would allow commercial uses in the right-of-way in the future.

The council did not adopt a plan to immediately reinstall parklets; members said any future parklet program would require a new beautification plan, maintenance agreements, and clear consequences for failure to maintain public space.