City of Capitola
Special City Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 30, 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
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. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov’t. Code §54956.9(d)(2), (e)(3) One Case
Special Meeting of the Capitola City Council – 6 PM
1. Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance - The meeting was called to order at 6:03 PM. In attendance: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, and Mayor Morgan.
2. Additional Materials
A. Item 4A - Seven emails received after publication of the agenda packet.
B. Item 4B – One staff memorandum with Updated Report, Recommendation, and Attachments & Correspondence Received and one email received after publication of the agenda packet.
3. Report on Closed Session - The City Council met and discussed two items on the Closed Session agenda. No reportable action was taken.
4. General Government / Public Hearings
A. Resolution Declaring the City of Capitola’s Intent to Initiate Procedures to Transition From AtLarge Elections to District-Based Elections Pursuant to Elections Code Section 10010; Approving the Tentative Timeline and Other Related Actions.
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution declaring the City’s intent to initiate procedures to transition from at-large elections to district-based elections pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10010, and approving the tentative timeline and other related actions.
City Attorney Marc Tran presented the Staff Report.
Public Comment:
Mick Routh
Speaker
Theresa Green
Jaques Bertrand
Kevin Maguire
Docusign Envelope ID: D64F8185-128C-8D89-8325-29707072A552 Special City Council Meeting Minutes – April 30, 2026
City of Capitola Page 2
Linda Smith
Council discussed the timeline to transition from at-large elections to district-based elections and the possibility of adding a community meeting to the schedule.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 4482 with amendments to the meeting schedule:
Council Member Orbach
Second: Council Member Westman
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, and Mayor Morgan
B. Agreement for Demographer Consultant
Recommended Action: 1) Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with a consultant to be recommended by the Council ad-hoc subcommittee for demographer and mapping consultant services to transition the City to by-district elections, in an amount to be recommended by the Council ad-hoc subcommittee; and 2) adopt a resolution amending the FY 2025-26 budget for expenditures related to the transition to by-district elections.
City Manager Goldstein presented the Staff Report.
Public Comment:
Enrique Dolmo
Speaker
Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with National Demographic Services for demographer and mapping consultant services to transition the City to by-district elections and approve Resolution No. 4483 amending the budget:
Council Member Orbach
Second: Vice Mayor Jensen
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, and Mayor Morgan
5. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:06 PM. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on May 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
_______________________
Margaux Morgan, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Rosie Wyatt, Deputy City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: D64F8185-128C-8D89-8325-29707072A552