City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 25, 2024 – 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers
420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010
Mayor: Kristen Brown
Vice Mayor: Yvette Brooks
Council Members: Joe Clarke, Margaux Morgan, Alexander Pedersen Closed Session – 5 PM
i. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Gov. Code §54957.6) Agency Designated Representatives: Mayor Kristen Brown
Unrepresented Employee: City Attorney
ii. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Gov. Code § 54957.6) Negotiator: Chloe Woodmansee, Assistant to the City Manager Employee Organizations: Police Captains
Regular Meeting of the Capitola City Council – 6 PM
1. Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance – The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM. In attendance: Council Members Clarke, Morgan, Pedersen, Vice Mayor Brooks, and Mayor Brown.
2. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda – None
3. Presentations
A. Report from United Way on the use of City of Capitola Community Grant Funding
4. Report on Closed Session – The City Council met and discussed two items on the Closed Session Agenda. No reportable action was taken.
5. Additional Materials
A. Item 9C – 17 emails received after publication of the agenda packet.
B. Item 9E – 5 emails received after publication of the agenda packet.
6. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
Marilyn Garrett
Goran Klepic
Melinda Orbach
Keith Cahalen
Mike Termini
7. Staff / City Council Comments
City Manager Goldstein advised the public about the July 31st Twilight Concert where the 75th Anniversary of the City’s Incorporation will be celebrated. Council Member Clarke advised the public about the National Night Out Event on August 6 th
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Council Member Morgan advised the public that the annual Wharf to Wharf Race will be occurring July 28th and that there will be traffic impacts. Vice Mayor Brooks thanked Chief Dally for a staff memorandum on registered golf carts and requested that staff bring back a workplan to the City Council for implementation.
8. Consent Items
A. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Approved minutes from the regular meeting on June 27, 2024.
B. City Check Registers
Recommended Action: Approved check registers dated June 21, 2024, June 28, 2024, and July 12, 2024.
C. Opioid Settlement Funding
Recommended Action: Authorized the City to participate in the National Opioid Settlement with The Kroger Company (“Kroger”) and released all claims against Kroger in exchange for a portion of the settlement funds that will flow to the City through the State of California; authorized the City Manager and City Attorney to sign all relevant documents related to joining the settlement and executing the release of claims; and authorized the allocation of funding to the County of Santa Cruz pursuant to the City’s previously adopted Memorandum of Understanding.
D. Community Center Renovation Project
Recommended Action: Approved the plans, specifications, and construction estimate for the Capitola Community Center Renovation Project; and authorized the Public Works Department to advertise for construction bids.
E. Memorandum of Understanding with Police Captains Employee Group Recommended Action: 1) Authorized the City Manager to execute a successor agreement to the existing Memorandum of Understanding with negotiated changes for the Police Captain employee group; and 2) adopted Resolution No. 4388 approving the updated salary schedule, effective July 21, 2024.
F. Real Property Exchange Between the City and Soquel Union Elementary School District Recommended Action: Adopted Resolution No. 4389 approving an Agreement for Exchange of Real Property (“Exchange Agreement”) by and between the City of Capitola and the Soquel Union Elementary School District, governing the transfer of a portion of Monterey Avenue Park, comprising approximately 3,736 square feet, in exchange for a portion of New Brighton Middle School, comprising approximately 3,886; and approved the Exchange Agreement as categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guideline §15312.
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar: Council Member Morgan Second: Council Member Clarke
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Morgan, Pedersen, Vice Mayor Brooks, Mayor Brown
9. General Government / Public Hearings
A. Youth Liaison Program
Recommended Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with United Way Santa Cruz County for the City of Capitola’s participation in the Santa Cruz County Youth Liaison Program; and nominated two Council Members to serve as mentors to selected Youth Liaison participants.
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Chloe Woodmansee, Assistant to the City Manager, presented the staff report.
Public Comment: None
Motion to authorize the MOU and appoint Vice Mayor Brooks and Council Member Clarke as mentors: Council Member Pedersen
Second: Council Member Morgan
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Morgan, Pedersen, Vice Mayor Brooks, Mayor Brown
B. Police Chief Recruitment Process
Recommended Action: Approved the Police Chief internal recruitment process and designated up to two City Council Members to serve on the interview panel.
City Manager Goldstein presented the staff report.
Public Comment: None
The City Council requested participation in both interview panels, requested to provide input on the selection of community members for the panels, and requested diversity on the panels.
Motion to approve the recruitment process and appoint Council Members Morgan and Pedersen and Council Member Clarke to serve on the two interview panels: Council Member Morgan
Second: Council Member Pedersen
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Morgan, Pedersen, Vice Mayor Brooks, Mayor Brown
C. Dogs at City Parks and Capitola Beach
Recommended Action: Received a presentation on current dog regulations at City Parks and City Beaches and either a) take no further action, or b) identify potential changes to dog regulations and direct staff to return at a noticed future City Council meeting.
Police Chief Dally presented the staff report.
Public Comment:
Carin Hanna
Dave Montgomery
Maura Matera
Marilyn Warner
Joan Landis
Richard Lippi
John Fox
Mike Kelly
Hajen Kamali
Lisa Steiger
Charlotte Morrison
Kevin Bransfield
Kathy McDonald
Susanna Staramondi
Elizabeth Delgrady
Josie Melo
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Speaker
Keith Cahalen
The City Council discussed establishing a pilot program for an off-leash fenced dog park at Noble Gulch Park and requested that the current regulations be amended to allow onleash dogs at Cortez Park. The City Council discussed how to evaluate the successfulness of an off-leash program and encouraged Mr. Montgomery to continue working with staff to address the needs of the community. The City Council directed staff to return at a later meeting to amend the usage of Noble Gulch Park and bring forth a fiscal analysis to implement fencing and additional dog waste bag stations. In addition to this request, the City Council requested that the signage be amended at Cortez Park to allow on-leash dogs.
D. Ballot Argument in Favor and Rebuttal for November 2024 Measure Recommended Action: Adopted Resolution No. 4390 adopting the argument in favor of the City’s Transactions and Use Tax Measure placed on the ballot by Resolution No. 4385, releasing the right to draft the rebuttal argument in favor of the City’s Transactions and Use Tax Measure to identified individuals, and amending Section 6 of Resolution No. 4385 regarding the deadline for submission of arguments for and against the City’s Transactions and Use Tax Measure.
City Clerk Gautho, Vice Mayor Brooks, and Council Member Clarke presented the staff report.
Public Comment:
Gerry Jensen
Melinda Orbach
The City Council thanked the community for participating in support of the City’s ballot measure.
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 4390 and identify Peter Wilk as the individual authorized to submit a rebuttal argument: Council Member Morgan
Second: Council Member Clarke
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Morgan, Pedersen, Vice Mayor Brooks, Mayor Brown
E. Ordinance Amending Capitola Municipal Code Section 2.04.275 Recommended Action: Introduce, by title only, waiving further reading of the text, an ordinance amending Capitola Municipal Code Section 2.04.274 to adjust Council Member compensation to provide an adjusted salary of $950.00 per month for members of the City Council, to be effective upon the start of new terms of office following the November 2024 General Municipal Election; as recommended by the Capitola Finance Advisory Committee.
Finance Director Malberg presented the staff report.
Public Comment:
Gerry Jensen
Carin Hanna
TJ Welch
Matt Arthur
The City Council discussed amending the ordinance to ensure an increase to City Council compensation is contingent on the City’s ballot measure passing.
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Motion to introduce an ordinance with an amendment to ensure compensation is contingent on the ballot measure: Council Member Pedersen Motion died for lack of a second.
Motion to take no action: Council Member Clarke
Second: Council Member Morgan
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Morgan, Vice Mayor Brooks, Voting Nay: Council Member Pedersen, Mayor Brown
F. City Council Appointments to City Advisory Bodies
Recommended Action: Appointed members of the public and a youth ex-officio member to the City of Capitola Historical Museum Board and appointed a youth ex-officio member to the Finance Advisory Committee.
City Clerk Gautho presented the staff report.
Public Comment: None
Motion to make the following appointments: Vice Mayor Brooks Second: Council Member Clarke
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Morgan, Pedersen, Vice Mayor Brooks, Mayor Brown
Historical Museum Board: Brian Legakis (term exp. 6/30/2027) Historical Museum Board: Roger Wyant (term exp. 6/30/2027) Historical Museum Board: Antonia Alldredge (term exp. 6/30/2027) Historical Museum Board: Youth Member: Juliette Thompson (term exp. 6/30/2025) Finance Advisory Committee: Youth Member: James Joyce (term exp. 6/30/2025)
10. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on August 22, 2024 at 6:00 PM.
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ATTEST: Kristen Brown, Mayor
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Julia Gautho, City Clerk
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