City Council Tackles Downtown Street Performance Regulation, Approves Short-Term Rental Ordinance Amendment, and Advances Affordable Housing Project

Downtown Street Performance Regulation

The City Council meeting began with a work session focused on the regulation of street performances and solicitation in downtown Seaside. The City Manager provided an overview of the issue, noting that the Council had begun discussing it in early summer 2024 due to complaints about street performers and solicitors, including those selling timeshares. The discussion centered around the balance between free speech rights and the city's ability to regulate the time, place, and manner of such activities. The City Manager explained that while the government cannot regulate speech content, it can impose content-neutral restrictions that address significant government interests.

The Council reviewed a proposed map that would prohibit street performances and solicitation within the downtown maintenance district and along the Seaside Promenade, while allowing them in Quatat Park. Feedback from downtown businesses was mixed, with some viewing street performances as positive or neutral and others seeing them as negative. The Council also considered the distinction between street performers asking for donations and individuals selling goods or services, with a strong response in favor of differentiating between the two.

Public comments reflected a range of opinions. Some attendees expressed concerns about aggressive solicitation, while others supported the idea of allowing performances only in designated areas like Quatat Park. The City Manager recommended either no regulations or limited regulations, suggesting a narrow prohibition between Avenue A and First Avenue on the Promenade and Broadway. Council members discussed the challenges of defining and enforcing aggressive behavior and the need for clear rules to address pedestrian safety and accessibility.