Docusign Envelope ID: 4660857E-D8DE-45B1-A1DB-9AD81CE69019 City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 24, 2025 – 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers
420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010
Mayor: Joe Clarke
Vice Mayor: Alexander Pedersen
Council Members: Gerry Jensen, Margaux Morgan, Melinda Orbach 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, Vice Mayor Pedersen, and Mayor Clarke.
2. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda – None
3. Presentations
A. Sally Weiss, Cabrillo College Stroke and Disability Learning Center, provided a presentation to the City Council on the use of Capitola Community Grant Funding.
4. Additional Materials
A. Item 7D – Staff distributed a corrected exhibit to the resolution included in the agenda packet.
B. Item 8C – Four emails received after publication of the agenda.
5. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
Toni Campbell
Goran Klepic
TJ Welch
Mark Drummond
6. Staff / City Council Comments
Chloe Woodmansee, Assistant to the City Manager, provided an update about the Capitola Historical Museum’s exhibit and open hours.
Council Member Jensen congratulated Captain Zamora on his promotion to Police Captain; provided the public with updates from his attendance at a recent MBARD meeting; and shared that members in the community have created a community group to plan for Capitola’s future.
Council Member Orbach provided the public with updates from her attendance at recent METRO and Children’s Network meetings.
Council Member Morgan congratulated the Library on the installation of new solar panels; reflected on recent City Council meetings and thanked the public for their involvement; and thanked staff for their work.
Vice Mayor Pedersen responded to TJ Welch’s public comments.
Mayor Clarke requested an agenda item to discuss the citizen subcommittee. The City Manager and City Attorney provided clarification on the applicability of the Brown Act on the group. The City Council briefly discussed the formation and the objective of the committee, and requested it come back for further discussion at a future meeting.
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City Council Meeting Minutes – April 24, 2025
7. Consent Items
A. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve minutes from the regular meeting on April 10, 2025, and the special meeting on April 17, 2025. (Item was pulled from Consent by the City Council – not approved)
B. Liability Claims
Recommended Action: Deny liability claims from the following claimants: Kevin Smith, Jianyu (Catherine) Duan, EFC, Cynthia Rae Diola, Jeffrey S. Hines, The Estate of Helen Maureen Hines, and The Helen Maureen Hines Revocable Trust.
C. Designation of Loading Zone on 47
th Avenue
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution establishing a temporary loading zone on 47 th Avenue
adjacent to Jade Street Park. (Resolution No. 4425)
D. Bay Avenue Corridor Public Outreach and Concept Refinement Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $75,642 for public outreach and conceptual design refinement for the Bay Avenue Corridor Project; and adopt a resolution approving an amendment to the FY 2024-25 Budget. (Resolution No. 4426) Motion to pull Consent Item 7A: Council Member Orbach
Second: Council Member Morgan
Voting Yea: Council Members Jensen, Morgan, Orbach, Vice Mayor Pedersen, Mayor Clarke
Council Member Jensen recused himself from Item 7D due to the proximity of the project to his residential address.
Motion to approve Consent Items 7B-7C: Council Member Morgan Second: Council Member Orbach
Voting Yea: Council Members Jensen, Morgan, Orbach, Vice Mayor Pedersen, Mayor Clarke
Motion to approve Consent Item 7D: Council Member Orbach Second: Council Member Morgan
Voting Yea: Council Members Morgan, Orbach, Vice Mayor Pedersen, Mayor Clarke Abstain: Council Member Jensen
8. General Government / Public Hearings
A. Appointments to City Advisory Bodies
Recommended Action: Appoint members of the public to the City’s Art and Cultural Commission and Commission on the Environment.
City Clerk Gautho provided a staff report.
Public Comments:
Mary Beth Cahalen
Lunamar Harter
Scott Rohlf
Motion to appoint Enrique Dolmo to the Art and Cultural Commission for a term expiring December 2026: Council Member Morgan
Second: Council Member Orbach
Docusign Envelope ID: 4660857E-D8DE-45B1-A1DB-9AD81CE69019 City of Capitola Page 3
City Council Meeting Minutes – April 24, 2025
Voting Yea: Council Members Jensen, Morgan, Orbach, Vice Mayor Pedersen, Mayor Clarke
Council Member Orbach appointed Scott Rohlf to the Commission on the Environment for a term expiring December 2026, in accordance with the COE Bylaws.
B. Santa Cruz County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) Recommended Action: Receive an informational presentation on the City of Capitola’s participation in the 2025 Santa Cruz County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP).
Public Works Director Kahn provided a staff report.
Public Comments:
Clare Peabody
The City Council thanked staff and the jurisdictional group for their efforts.
C. 41st Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation and Multimodal Improvements Recommended Action: Receive report and provide input on the 41st Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation and Multimodal Improvements Project.
Public Works Director Kahn and Chris Brecheisen, Kimley Horn and Associates, provided a staff report.
Public Comments: None
The City Council expressed excitement about the project and requested plastic curbing and bollards to help identify bike lanes in the area.
9. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on May 8, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
ATTEST: Joe Clarke, Mayor
Julia Gautho, City Clerk