REVISED 4/23/2026 AT 4:45 PM
City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday, April 23, 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 – 5:15 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 REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR (Govt. Code § 54956.8) Property: Capitola Wharf Buildings, 1400 Wharf Road (APN: 034-072-01) City Negotiator: Jamie Goldstein, City Manager
Negotiating Parties: JFS Incorporated (dba Capitola Boat and Bait) Under Negotiation: Terms of lease
ii. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—LIABILITY CLAIMS (Gov. Code § 54956.95) Claim Against the City of Capitola
Claimant: Julissa Guzman
iii. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov’t. Code §54956.9(d)(2), (e)(3) 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 5 - Correspondence Received
City Council Meeting Agenda – April 23, 2026
City of Capitola Page 2
B. Item 7B - Correspondence Received
C. Item 7C - Correspondence Received & Staff Memorandum D. Item 7D - Correspondence Received
E. Item 8A - Correspondence Received
F. Item 8B - Correspondence Received
G. Item 8C - Correspondence Received
5. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
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 special meeting on April 7, 2026, and the regular meeting on April 9, 2026.
B. Esplanade Park Coastal Access Enhancement and Adaptation Plan Recommended Action: 1) Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a grant agreement with the State Coastal Conservancy for the Esplanade Park Coastal Access Enhancement and Adaptation Plan; and 2) Authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with Integral Consulting Inc. in the amount of $275,000, in a form substantially similar to the attached agreement, subject to approval by the City Attorney.
C. Homeland Security Grant Program
Recommended Action: 1) Accept a Homeland Security Grant as a subrecipient through the County of Santa Cruz in an amount up to $50,000; and 2) adopt a resolution amending the FY 2025–26 General Fund operating budget to increase revenues and expenditures by up to $50,000.
D. Park at Rispin Mansion Fundraising Partnership
Recommended Action: 1) Authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Capitola Cares for a fundraising campaign for additional elements at the Park at Rispin Mansion; and 2) approve an administrative policy regarding Donor Recognition at the Park at Rispin Mansion
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 City Council Meeting Agenda – April 23, 2026
City of Capitola Page 3
item: 1) Staff explanation; 2) Council questions; 3) Public comment; 4) Council deliberation; 5) Decision.
A. Wharf Master Plan
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on the conceptual design for a Wharf Master Plan; adopt a resolution adopting the Wharf Master Plan; and direct staff to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a qualified private entity to construct and operate the marketplace through a lease agreement with the City.
B. 41st Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation and Multimodal Improvements Project - Entryway Enhancement
Recommended Action: Authorize staff to modify the project scope of the 41st Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation and Multimodal Improvements Project to include curb, sidewalk, and hardscape improvements at the corner of 41st Avenue and Gross Road Extension to accommodate a future gateway monument.
C. California Voting Rights Act Challenge and Demand for City to Transition to District-Based Elections
Recommended Action: Consider a letter received on March 19, 2026, challenging the City’s atlarge election system and demanding the City transition to district-based elections; and provide direction to staff regarding next steps.
D. Citywide Website Update Project
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation of the City’s new website.
9. Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on May 14, 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
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.
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 – April 23, 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.