City of Capitola
Special City Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 16, 2025 – 5:30 PM
City Council Chambers
420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010
Mayor: Vacant
Vice Mayor: Joe Clarke
Council Members: Gerry Jensen, Melinda Orbach, Alexander Pedersen Special Meeting of the Capitola City Council – 5:30 PM
1. Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance - The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM. In attendance: Council Members Jensen, Orbach, Pedersen, and Vice Mayor Clarke.
2. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda – The City Manager requested that Items 7 and 8 be removed from the agenda due to City Attorney Zutler’s absence.
3. Additional Materials
A. Item 6A – Two emails received after publication of the agenda packet.
B. Item 6B - One email received after publication of the agenda packet.
C. Item 6C - One email received after publication of the agenda packet.
D. Item 6D - Two emails received after publication of the agenda packet, one application withdrawn.
4. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
Goran Klepic
Christina McCann
Ed Bottorff
Mike Morrissey
5. Staff / City Council Comments
City Manager Goldstein advised the City Council that a bid opening was conducted for the Community Center Renovation Project, a construction contract will be awarded at an upcoming City Council meeting.
City Council Member Orbach shared that she attended a local League of California Cities event; she requested that a future Council agenda item be considered to implement term limits to the City’s advisory bodies.
Vice Mayor Clarke requested a future Council presentation or table-top exercise for how to deal with a disaster event.
6. General Government / Public Hearings
A. Appointment to Vacant City Council Seat
Recommended Action: Receive a report regarding the interview process to fill the City Council vacancy and consider rescheduling the interviews to January 27, 2025.
City Clerk Gautho presented the staff report.
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Public Comment:
Leslie Nielsen
Ed Bottorff
Mike Morrissey
The City Council thanked the public for sharing feedback regarding this item. The Council discussed the possibility of accepting applications from the community to fill the vacancy and the implementation of a policy for future City Council vacancy appointments.
Motion to direct staff to create an application for the City Council vacancy (to include basic information, a resume, and four questions) with a deadline of January 23 rd at 5:00
PM to come back to the City Council on January 30
th
for the City Council to review and
make an appointment: Council Member Jensen
Second: Vice Mayor Clarke
Voting Yea: Council Members Jensen, Orbach, Pedersen, Vice Mayor Clarke B. City Council Reorganization for 2025
Recommended Action: Nominate and appoint a new Mayor and Vice-Mayor.
Public Comment: None
The City Council decided by general consensus to continue this item to the January 30, 2025, regular City Council meeting.
C. City Council Representation on Regional Boards & City Advisory Bodies Recommended Action: Review nominations for City Council representatives on regional boards for the City Selection Committee meeting on January 27, 2025; review appointments of City Council representatives on regional boards and committees and City advisory bodies.
City Manager Goldstein and City Clerk Gautho presented the staff report.
Public Comment: None
Motion to make the following nominations for the City Selection Committee on January 27, 2025: Vice Mayor Clarke
Second: Council Member Jensen
Voting Yea: Council Members Jensen, Orbach, Pedersen, Vice Mayor Clarke o LAFCO: Vice Mayor Clarke
o MBARD: Council Member Jensen
o 3CE Policy Board: Council Member Jensen
D. City Council Appointments to City Advisory Bodies
Recommended Action: Appoint members of the public to the City of Capitola’s Art and Cultural Commission, Commission on the Environment, Finance Advisory Committee, and Historical Museum Board; appoint a member of the public as an alternate to the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Bicycle Advisory Committee.
City Clerk Gautho presented the staff report.
Public Comment: None
The City Council discussed moving all other advisory body appointments to January 30 th
.
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Motion to appoint the following members of the public to the Art and Cultural Commission: Council Member Pedersen
Second: Council Member Orbach
Voting Yea: Council Members Jensen, Orbach, Pedersen, Vice Mayor Clarke (Regular/At Large) Jill Payonzeck Lengre
(Regular/At Large) Esther Sylvan
(Regular/At Large) Laurie Hill
(Regular/At Large) Mary Beth Cahalen
(Artist) Roy Holmberg
(Art Professional) Roy Johnson
7. Closed Session – Removed from the agenda
i. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Govt. Code § 54956.9(d)(2) One Case
8. Report on Closed Session – Removed from the agenda.
9. Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 6:33 PM. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on January 30, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
ATTEST: Joe Clarke, Mayor
Julia Gautho, City Clerk
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