Weekly Surf City Nights extended to year's end

Surf City Nights, a weekly event in which part of Main Street is designated a pedestrian mall, will be extended through year's end, the City Council decided Monday.

Through a 5-1 vote, with one abstention, $90,000 will be allotted for continued city services and advertising for the Tuesday night festivities, which began March 6. The city is also considering expanding the event from two blocks to three, a staff report said.

The event is a compromise between city officials and downtown merchants; the two sides have long bickered over whether Main Street should be closed permanently.