REVISED 1/22/2026 AT 4:00 PM
City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday, January 22, 2026 – 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers
420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010
Mayor: Margaux Morgan
Vice Mayor: Gerry Jensen
Council Members: Joe Clarke, Melinda Orbach, Susan Westman Closed Session – 5:30 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—LIABILITY CLAIMS (Gov. Code § 54956.95) Claims Against the City of Capitola
1) Celeste Baylor
ii. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Govt. Code. §54956.9(d)(2).
One Case
Regular Meeting of the Capitola City Council – 6 PM
1. Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance
Council Members Joe Clarke, Melinda Orbach, Susan Westman, Vice Mayor Gerry Jensen, and Mayor Margaux Morgan
2. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda
3. Report on Closed Session
4. 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 7F - Staff Memorandum and Updated Agreement
B. Item 8A - Correspondence Received
C. Item 8B - Correspondence Received
D. Item 8D - Staff Memorandum with Updated Exhibit A
5. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
City Council Meeting Agenda – January 22, 2026
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.
6. Staff / City Council Comments
Comments are limited to three minutes.
7. 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 January 8, 2026.
B. City Check Registers
Recommended Action: Approve check registers dated November 28, 2025, and December 19, 2025.
C. Local Coastal Program Amendments for Cliff Drive Resiliency Recommended Action: Adopt an ordinance amending Capitola Municipal Code Title 17: Zoning, Chapter 17.32 Parks and Open Space, Chapter 17.64 ESHA, Chapter 17.76 Parking and Loading, and Chapter 17.68 Geological Hazard (collectively, the “Zoning Code Amendments”) and authorizing submittal to the California Coastal Commission for Certification.
D. Liability Claim
Recommended Action: Deny liability claim from Celeste Baylor.
E. Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Calendar
Recommended Action: Approve the Budget Calendar for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27.
F. Use Agreement for Capitola City Hall Council Community Room Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with the Capitola Village and Wharf Business Improvement Area for use of the City Hall Community Room for the next three years.
8. 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. Offshore Oil Drilling
Recommended Action: Authorize the Mayor to submit a letter opposing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposed 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program.
City Council Meeting Agenda – January 22, 2026
City of Capitola Page 3
B. Support for Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Direction on Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10–11 and Evaluation of the Capitola Trestle Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution expressing support for the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s December 4, 2025 action advancing an Interim Trail configuration for Coastal Rail Trail Segments 9–11 and directing evaluation of the historic Capitola trestle for interim bicycle and pedestrian use.
C. Introduction to Discover Capitola, the City’s Civic Engagement Program Recommended Action: Receive report.
D. Temporary/Hourly Employee Pay Schedule
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending the temporary/hourly employee pay schedule. (Continued from December 11, 2025, City Council meeting)
9. Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on February 12, 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.
City Council Meeting Agenda – January 22, 2026
City of Capitola Page 4
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.
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.