REVISED 12/11/2025 AT 1:20 PM
City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday, December 11, 2025 – 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers
420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010
Mayor: Joe Clarke
Vice Mayor: Margaux Morgan
Council Members: Gerry Jensen, Melinda Orbach, Susan Westman Closed Session – 4:45 PM
Closed Sessions are not open to the public and held only on specific topics allowed by State Law (noticed below). An announcement regarding the items to be discussed in Closed Session will be made in the City Hall Council Chambers prior to the Closed Session. Members of the public may, at this time, address the City Council on closed session items only. There will be a report of any final decisions in City Council Chambers during the Open Session Meeting.
i. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov’t. Code §54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1).
One Case
ii. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Govt. Code § 54957(b)) City Council's Performance Evaluation of the City Manager Regular Meeting of the Capitola City Council – 6 PM
1. Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance
Council Members Gerry Jensen, Melinda Orbach, Susan Westman, Vice Mayor Margaux Morgan, and Mayor Joe Clarke
2. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda
3. Presentations
Presentations are limited to eight minutes.
4. Report on Closed Session
5. Additional Materials
Additional information related to an agenda item on this agenda and submitted to the City after distribution of the agenda packet pursuant to Government Code §54957.5. All correspondence received prior to 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding a Council Meeting will be distributed to Councilmembers to review prior to the meeting. Information submitted after 5 p.m. on that Wednesday may not have time to reach Councilmembers, nor be read by them prior to consideration of an item.
A. Item 9B - Correspondence Received
B. Item 9D - Correspondence Received
6. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
City Council Meeting Agenda – December 11, 2025
City of Capitola Page 2
Oral Communications allows time for members of the Public to address the City Council on any “Consent Item” on tonight’s agenda, or on any topic within the jurisdiction of the City that is not on the “General Government/Public Hearings” section of the Agenda. Members of the public may speak for up to three minutes, unless otherwise specified by the Mayor. Individuals may not speak more than once during Oral Communications. All speakers must address the entire legislative body and will not be permitted to engage in dialogue. A maximum of 30 minutes is set aside for Oral Communications.
7. Staff / City Council Comments
Comments are limited to three minutes.
8. Consent Items
All items listed as “Consent Items” will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. There will be no separate discussion on these items prior to the time the Council votes on the action unless members of the City Council request specific items to be discussed for separate review. Items pulled for separate discussion will be considered following General Government. Note that all Ordinances which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
A. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve minutes from the regular meeting on November 13, 2025, and the special meeting on November 20, 2025.
B. City Check Registers
Recommended Action: Approve check registers dated September 26, 2025, October 10, 2025, October 24, 2025, and November 14, 2025.
C. Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance Recommended Action: Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 8.04 “Solid Waste Management” of the Capitola Municipal Code, establishing a Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance consistent with Senate Bill 1383 regulations
D. Acceptance of Carbon Reduction Program Grant Funding Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending the FY 2025-26 Budget to accept $160,452 in Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) grant funding and appropriate the funds to the Capitola Community Center Renovation Project for the purchase of electric vehicle charging equipment.
E. Interest Rate for Tenant’s Security Deposits
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution setting the interest rate for tenants’ security deposits for 2026 at zero percent (0%).
F. 2025 Pavement Maintenance Project Completion
Recommended Action: 1) Accept as complete the 2025 Pavement Maintenance Project constructed by Graham Contractors at a final cost of $684,921; 2) authorize the City Clerk to file and record a Notice of Completion; and 3) authorize the release of the contract retention of $34,246 as prescribed in the construction agreement.
G. Planner Consulting Services Contract Amendment
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute Amendment 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with CSG Consultants in an amount not to exceed $60,000 for Planning contract services.
H. Jade Street Site Improvements – Quarterly Progress Update City Council Meeting Agenda – December 11, 2025
City of Capitola Page 3
Recommended Action: Receive a quarterly progress report on the full set of Jade Street projects, including the Community Center renovation, patio improvements, Treasure Cove Playground, and the Jade Street Park restroom renovation.
I. 41st Avenue Corridor Plan – Consultant Contract Amendment Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending the FY 2025-26 Budget to allocate $58,000 from the General Plan Update and Maintenance Special Revenue Fund; and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with SWA Group to expand the 41st Avenue Corridor Plan to include portions of Clares Street and Capitola Road in an amount not to exceed $58,000, subject to City Attorney review and approval.
J. Police Multi-Service Officer Job Description
Recommended Action: Approve changing the Community Service Officer job title to MultiService Officer and approve the updated job description.
K. Tobacco Grant FY 2025-26
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending the FY 2025-26 General Fund operating budget to accept a Department of Justice Tobacco Grant in the amount of $55,378.
L. Temporary/Hourly Employee Pay Schedule
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending the temporary/hourly employee pay schedule.
M. Watsonville Community Hospital Grant Funding Support Recommended Action: Authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the state legislature supporting Watsonville Community Hospital’s prioritization for Rural Health Transformation Program funding and designation as a regional hub hospital.
N. First Amendment to Municipal Wharf Lease Agreement
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the Municipal Wharf Lease Agreement with TTD, LLC. in substantially similar form, as approved by the City Attorney, as the attached agreement.
9. General Government / Public Hearings
All items listed in “General Government / Public Hearings” are intended to provide an opportunity for public discussion of each item listed. The following procedure pertains to each General Government item: 1) Staff explanation; 2) Council questions; 3) Public comment; 4) Council deliberation; 5) Decision.
A. Regional Interoperable Next Generation Radio System
Recommended Action: Approve the City of Capitola’s participation in the Regional Interoperable Next Generation (RING) Radio System by (1) authorizing the City Manager to execute the Master Service and Governance Agreement with the County of Santa Cruz and partner agencies and (2) designating the City Manager to serve as the City’s voting member on the RING Executive Committee.
B. Phase 1 Conceptual Design – Grand Avenue Pathway
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with SSA Landscape Architects, Inc. for Phase 1 Conceptual Design of the Grand Avenue Pathway in an amount not to exceed $13,000, with funding from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Fund. (Continued from November 13, 2025, City Council meeting) C. Capitola Municipal Code Sections 2.04.140 and 2.04.210 City Council Meeting Agenda – December 11, 2025
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Recommended Action: Introduce for first reading, by title only, waiving further reading, an ordinance amending Capitola Municipal Code Sections 2.04.140 and 2.04.210 to update the process by which City Council Members request agenda items and their rules of debate.
D. City Council Reorganization for 2026
Recommended Action: Nominate and appoint a new Mayor and Vice-Mayor.
10. Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on January 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM. _____________________________________________________
How to View the Meeting
Meetings are open to the public for in-person attendance at the Capitola City Council Chambers located at 420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, California, 95010.
Other ways to Watch:
Spectrum Cable Television channel 8
City of Capitola, California YouTube Channel
To Join Zoom Application or Call in to Zoom:
Meeting
link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83328173113?pwd=aVRwcWN3RU03Zzc2dkNpQzRWVXAydz09 Or dial one of these phone numbers: 1 (669) 900 6833, 1 (408) 638 0968, 1 (346) 248 7799 Meeting ID: 833 2817 3113
Meeting Passcode: 678550
How to Provide Comments to the City Council
Members of the public may provide public comments to the City Council in-person during the meeting.
If you are unable to attend in-person, please email your comments to [email protected] and they will be included as a part of the record for the meeting. Please be aware that the City Council will not accept comments via Zoom.
Notice regarding City Council: The City Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola.
Agenda and Agenda Packet Materials: The City Council Agenda and the complete Agenda Packet are available for review on the City’s website and at Capitola City Hall prior to the meeting. Need more information? Contact the City Clerk’s office at 831-475-7300.
Agenda Materials Distributed after Distribution of the Agenda Packet: Pursuant to Government Code §54957.5, materials related to an agenda item submitted after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at the Reception Office at City Hall, 420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, California, during normal business hours.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Disability-related aids or services are available to enable persons with a disability to participate in this meeting consistent with the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Assisted listening devices are available for individuals with hearing impairments at the meeting in the City Council Chambers. Should you require special accommodations to participate in the meeting due to a disability, please contact the City Clerk’s office at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting at 831-475-7300. In an effort to accommodate individuals with environmental sensitivities, attendees are requested to refrain from wearing perfumes and other scented products.
City Council Meeting Agenda – December 11, 2025
City of Capitola Page 5
Si desea asistir a esta reunión pública y necesita ayuda - como un intérprete de lenguaje de señas americano, español u otro equipo especial - favor de llamar al Departamento de la Secretaría de la Ciudad al 831-475-7300 al menos tres días antes para que podamos coordinar dicha asistencia especial o envié un correo electrónico a [email protected].
Televised Meetings: City Council meetings are cablecast “Live” on Charter Communications Cable TV Channel 8 and are recorded to be rebroadcasted at 8:00 a.m. on the Wednesday following the meetings and at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday following the first rebroadcast on Community Television of Santa Cruz County (Charter Channel 71 and Comcast Channel 25). Meetings are streamed “Live” on the City’s website by clicking on the Home Page link “Meeting Agendas/Videos.” Archived meetings can be viewed from the website at any time.