City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 09, 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 PM
i. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Initiation of litigation pursuant to Gov’t Code § 54956.9(d)(4) One Case
ii. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
Potential Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9, subdivision (D)(4) One Case
iii. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
(Gov’t Code § 54956.8)
Property: A portion of the City's Right of Way on El Camino Medio adjacent to the intersection with Monterey Avenue, Capitola, CA
City Negotiator: Jamie Goldstein, City Manager
Negotiating Parties: AMG Gourmet Foods, LLC (dba Mijo's Taqueria) Under Negotiation: Lease of City 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 Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, and Mayor Morgan.
2. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda – None
3. Presentations
A. The Mayor presented a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month to Community Services and Recreation Director Bryant, on behalf of Jim Brown from the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County.
B. The Mayor presented a proclamation honoring the 50th Anniversary of Community Bridges' Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County to Dana Wagner, Community Bridges Program Director.
4. Report on Closed Session – The City Council met and discussed three items on the Closed Session agenda. Items i and iii had no reportable action, the City Council voted unanimously to initiate litigation for Item ii.
5. Additional Materials
A. Item 3A – One email received after publication of the agenda packet.
B. Item 6 – One email received after publication of the agenda packet.
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C. Item 9A – Six emails received after publication of the agenda packet and one staff memorandum distributed.
D. Item 9B – Two emails received after publication of the agenda packet.
6. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
Petra Fox
Ed Bottorff
7. Staff / City Council Comments
City Manager Goldstein provided remarks on the passing of Public Works employee Frank DeFalco.
Police Captain Zamora provided updates on upcoming road closures due to RTC projects. Council Member Clarke reminded the public to complete the 41st Avenue Corridor Plan Survey.
Council Member Orbach provided updates from a recently attended METRO Board meeting. Council Member Westman requested that staff look into installing shade structures for the benches in front of City Hall and water bowls for dogs; and requested that staff look into purchasing a new microphone system for the City Council Chambers. Vice Mayor Jensen provided updates from a recently attended RTC meeting. Mayor Morgan requested a moment of silence and recognition for Frank DeFalco.
8. Consent Items
A. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve minutes from the special meeting on March 20, 2026, and the regular meeting on March 26, 2026.
B. City Check Registers
Recommended Action: Approve check registers dated March 6, 2026, and March 13, 2026.
C. Use Agreements for Capitola City Hall Council Community Room Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a no-cost agreement with the Capitola Beach Festival for use of the City Hall Community Room for the next three years.
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar: Council Member Orbach Second: Council Member Clarke
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, Mayor Morgan
9. General Government / Public Hearings
A. Stockton Avenue Bridge – Structural Evaluation Findings Recommended Action: Receive the structural evaluation of the Stockton Avenue Bridge and provide direction on next steps.
Public Works Director Kahn presented the staff report.
Public Comments:
Mick Routh
TJ Welch
Leslie Nielsen
Kevin Maguire
Anthony Guajardo, CVWBIA
Tory Del Favero
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Speaker
Speaker
Dave Fox
Cory Silva
Council discussed how to best utilize the available grant funding to investigate possible outcomes for the Stockton Bridge; how to coordinate future plans with the Capitola Trestle; the importance of respecting the historical aspects of the bridge; and the importance of traffic mitigation during a repair or replacement project.
Motion to direct staff to return as soon as possible with a proposed contract to evaluate options for future work on the Stockton Avenue Bridge to include the following: 1) The contract shall provide the City Council with preliminary plans and analysis for multiple bridge replacement options. These options shall include variations in bridge style, width, and constructability, along with associated cost estimates, potential grant opportunities, anticipated construction timelines, environmental constraints, permitting requirements, and historical analysis. 2) The contract shall also include evaluation of bridge retrofit and/or bridge deck replacement alternatives. These alternatives shall include the same level of information provided for the replacement options, as well as estimates of the expected service life for each alternative. 3) The contract shall allow the City Council to review the alternatives and either select a preferred option and authorize preparation of final engineered plans, or discontinue further work under the contract. 4) At the time these bridge alternatives are presented, staff shall also provide the City Council with a realistic plan for evaluating the Capitola Trestle for potential use as a pedestrian and bicycle route during bridge construction, in order to help mitigate impacts to Capitola Village during the construction period. 5) Verify this approach will satisfy the requirements of the grant received for bridge work. 6) Provide City Council and the public with a long-term plan for project development and implementation. 7) Include a traffic flow chart: Council Member Westman
Second: Vice Mayor Jensen
Alternative Motion to move forward with the 35% engineering and design plan as outlined by the project consultant: Council Member Orbach
Alternate motion dies for lack of second.
Council Member Westman called the question on her original motion.
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, Mayor Morgan Voting Nay: Council Member Orbach
The City Council took a recess at 7:44 PM and reconvened at 7:50 PM.
B. Grand Avenue Pathway – Conceptual Design and Cost Estimate Recommended Action: Receive the conceptual design and cost estimate for the Grand Avenue Pathway and provide direction on next steps.
Public Works Director Kahn presented the staff report.
Public Comments:
Carin Hanna
TJ Welch
The Council recognized the Depot Hill community group that has been working with staff on this item.
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Motion to request that staff investigate funding options and that the community come together to fund the project: Council Member Clarke
Motion amended to request that the project be evaluated during the FY 2026-27 CIP Budget process: Vice Mayor Jensen
Amendment Accepted: Council Member Clarke
Motion died for lack of second.
Motion to direct staff to include improvements to the streets that dead-end to the bluffs in the FY 2026-27 CIP Budget development to assess feasibility of adding parking spaces, benches, and moving memorial plaques to terminus streets on the Grand Avenue pathway, with a clarification that private funds may be raised to repair the pathway:
Council Member Westman
Second: Council Member Orbach
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, Mayor Morgan
10. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:14 PM. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on April 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
________________________
Margaux Morgan, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________
Julia Gautho, City Clerk
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