City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 13, 2025 – 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers
420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010
201 ʻŌhua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Mayor: Joe Clarke
Vice Mayor: Alexander Pedersen
Council Members: Gerry Jensen, Margaux Morgan, Melinda Orbach Closed Session – 5 PM
i. CONERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Gov. Code § 54957.6) Negotiator: Jamie Goldstein, City Manager
Employee Organizations: Police Officers Association
ii. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Gov’t Code § 54956.8) Property: Esplanade Park (APN 035-26-209)
City Negotiator: Jamie Goldstein, City Manager
Under Negotiation: Lease of Real Property
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 Jensen, Morgan, Orbach, Persen, and Mayor Clarke. Council Member Orbach attended the meeting remotely.
2. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda – Staff continued Items 9A and 9B to the February 27, 2025, meeting.
3. Presentations
A. Public Works Project Manager Mozumder provided a presentation on the project completion of the Monte Foundation Pump Track.
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 6 – One email received after publication of the agenda packet.
B. Item 9A - Staff Memo continuing the item to February 27th meeting & one email received after publication of the agenda packet.
C. Item 9B - Staff Memo continuing the item to February 27th meeting & one email received after publication of the agenda packet.
D. Item 9C - 220 emails received after publication of the agenda packet.
E. Item 9D - One email received after publication of the agenda packet.
6. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
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Goran Klepic
Clark Cochran
Christine McBroom
7. Staff / City Council Comments
Community Service and Recreation Department Director invited the City Council and members of the public to attend the dedication of the Begonia Public Art installation. Council Member Jensen thanked Public Works Department staff for their storm preparation work; he also shared that he had attended the Capitola Village and Wharf BIA meeting and discussed the fire incident in the Capitola Village.
Mayor Clarke thanked the public for their attendance at an event held in the Sear’s shopping center at the Capitola Mall.
8. Consent Items
A. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve minutes from the regular meeting on January 30, 2025, and the special meeting on February 4, 2025.
B. 2025 City Council Meeting Schedule
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending the regular meeting schedule for 2025. (Resolution No. 4417)
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar: Council Member Morgan Second: Council Member Jensen
Voting Yea: Council Members Jensen, Morgan, Orbach, Vice Mayor Pedersen, Mayor Clarke
9. General Government / Public Hearings
A. Bay Avenue Corridor Study
Recommended Action: Staff recommends the City Council 1) identify Alternative 2 as the preferred long-term improvement alternative for the Bay Avenue corridor; 2) authorize staff to proceed with public engagement and conceptual design refinement; and 3) direct staff to pursue grant funding opportunities for final design and construction. (Continued to February 27, 2025) B. Bay Avenue and Hill Street Traffic Safety Update
Recommended Action: Provide direction on short-term modifications to the Bay Avenue and Hill Street intersection. (Continued to February 27, 2025)
C. Park Avenue Traffic Calming Improvements with Coastal Rail Trail Options Recommended Action: Review options for Coastal Rail Trail improvements in the Park Avenue right-of-way and identify Option A (as described in the staff report) as the preferred alternative for further analysis.
Vice Mayor Pedersen recused himself from this item due to the proximity of the project to his leased residence.
Public Works Department Director Kahn and Public Works Project Manager Mozumder presented the staff report. Rob Tidmore and Grace Blakeslee presented on behalf of Santa Cruz County staff.
The City Council took a three-minute recess at 7:27 PM. The meeting resumed at 7:32 PM.
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Public Comments:
Tory Del
Favero
Jim Weller
Carin Hanna
Roxanne
Debbie Hale
Deb Molina
Elizabeth
Bertrand
James Duzak
Leslie
Nielsen
Lani Faulkner
Michael
Morrissey
Terre Thomas
Brian
Peoples
Keith
Cahalen
Susan
Westman
Sal Ideoseo
Nels
Westman
Connie Welch
TJ Welch
Ted Downing
Kevin
Maguire
Barry Scott
Gia Colosi
Samson
Jacques
Bertrand
The City Council thanked the public for their comments. The Council weighed the benefits of postponing providing direction on this item to receive information from the County on the project budget and requested that staff conduct additional public outreach and host a town hall meeting to better inform the public. The Council requested further analysis from the City Attorney on potential litigation from violations of Measure L.
Motion to postpone a decision on this item and host a Town Hall Meeting where staff from the City and County will provide updates on the use of the Trestle, review long-term impacts of the project, review impacts of potential litigation from Measure L, and an overview of Rail Trail Project impacts in Capitola: Council Member Morgan Second: Council Member Jensen
Voting Yea: Council Members Jensen, Morgan, Mayor Clarke Voting Nay: Council Member Orbach
Abstain: Vice Mayor Pedersen
The Council took a brief recess. The meeting resumed at 9:01 PM.
D. Appointments to City and Regional Advisory Bodies
Recommended Action: Review City Council appointments to regional and multi-jurisdictional advisory bodies; review City Council appointments to City advisory bodies; and review appointments of members of the public to City advisory bodies.
City Clerk Gautho presented the staff report.
Public Comments:
Keith Cahalen
Council Discussion:
Motion to make the appointments below to various regional and City advisory bodies:
Council Member Jensen
Second: Council Member Morgan
Voting Yea: Council Members Jensen, Morgan, Orbach, Vice Mayor Pedersen, Mayor Clarke
AMBAG: Council Member Orbach, Council Member Morgan (Alternate) COE: Mayor Clarke
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FAC: Vice Mayor Pedersen, Council Member Morgan
Arts Council Santa Cruz: Art and Cultural Commissioner Roy Holmberg
10. Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 9:06 PM. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on February 27, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
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ATTEST: Joe Clarke, Mayor
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Julia Gautho, City Clerk
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