City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 28, 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 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. Additional Materials
A. Item 6A – Two emails received after publication of the agenda packet.
B. Item 7A – Seven emails received after publication of the agenda packet.
C. Item 7B – Three emails received after publication of the agenda packet.
4. Oral Communications by Members of the Public
• Keith Cahalen
• Rick Lorraine
• Tiffany
• Megan Reid, PG&E
• Donna Hooper Danza
• Kris Moran
• Paula Bradley
The City Council discussed Item 7A, as it was a time certain public hearing beginning at 6:15 PM. Following Item 7A, the Council took a recess at 7:41 PM and reconvened at 7:45 PM before returning to Item 5.
5. Staff / City Council Comments
• Community and Recreation Services Director Bryant advised the Council that the City has been approached about a public art donation in recognition of the Women on Waves. • Council Member Clarke thanked Public Works staff for keeping the lagoon intact despite rainy weather and for cleaning up graffiti at the Park at Rispin Mansion. • Council Member Westman inquired if the City will be issuing a Request for Proposals for the lifeguard organizational assessment. The City Manager responded that the City has already selected a consultant to conduct the assessment. Council Member Westman also requested that an item return to the Council about the onboarding process for new Council Members. • Vice Mayor Jensen shared concerns about the transition of the new City website and availability of search results for members of the public; inquired about the seasonal shuttle service; and thanked City staff for working with donors on the Women on Waves statue.
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• Mayor Morgan thanked the Police Department for including her with the annual Torch Run and thanked staff for the meeting with Kings Plaza business owners. • City Manager Goldstein confirmed that staff is working with public speakers about the plaque honoring Harry Hooper.
6. Consent Items
A. City Council Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Approve minutes from the regular meeting on May 14, 2026, and the special meeting on May 21, 2026.
B. City Check Registers
Recommended Action: Approve check registers dated March 27, 2026, April 10, 2026, April 28, 2026, and May 8, 2026.
C. License and Right of Entry Agreement for Monterey Avenue Park Pathway Improvements Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute the License and Right of Entry Agreement between the City of Capitola and the Soquel Union Elementary School District for pathway improvements connecting Monterey Avenue Park and New Brighton Middle School.
D. Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization Anniversary Date Recommended Action: Rescind Resolution No. 4362 establishing an anniversary date of July 1, pursuant to Capitola Municipal Code Chapter 2.18 Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization, and adopt a resolution which specifies an anniversary date for rent increases at Cabrillo Mobile Home Estates to occur on October 1 of each year, and provides that other parks remain subject to the anniversary date of July 1. (Resolution No. 4487) E. GreenWaste Annual Rate Adjustment
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution approving the contractual rate increase for collection and disposal of residential and commercial garbage, recycling, organics, food waste, yard waste, and construction and demolition debris, effective July 1, 2026, according to the Service Rate Schedule formula of the Franchise Agreement with GreenWaste Recovery, Inc. (Resolution No. 4488)
F. Monterey Bay Area Regional Climate Project Working Group Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to join the Monterey Bay Area Regional Climate Project Working Group (RCPWG).
Council Member Jensen inquired about Item 6C, City Manager Goldstein provided clarification about resident concerns about privacy.
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar: Council Member Orbach Second: Council Member Westman
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, and Mayor Morgan
7. General Government / Public Hearings
A. Transition to Districts – First Public Hearing
Recommended Action: 1) Adopt a resolution updating the timeline for the City’s transition to bydistrict elections pursuant to California Elections Code Section 10010 and rescinding Resolution No. 4482; 2) Conduct a duly noticed time-certain public hearing at 6:15 PM and receive public input regarding the composition of the potential Council election districts; 3) provide direction on Council’s preference for five Council districts with a rotating Mayor, or for four Council districts Docusign Envelope ID: 67BAB145-53E0-80A8-833A-F2CB7C9A7B19 City Council Meeting Minutes – May 28, 2026
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with a Citywide-elected Mayor; and 4) if a Citywide-elected Mayor is preferred, provide guidance on whether the Mayoral term should be two years or four years.
City Clerk Gautho and Doug Johnson, the City’s demographer, provided the staff report.
Public Comment:
• Heidy Kellison
• Mark Warshaw
• Linda Smith
• Kevin Maguire
• TJ Welch
The City Council discussed opportunities for members of the public to participate and provide input on the districting process.
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 4489, with the addition of a community outreach event held from 4:30 to 5:30 on June 11th: Council Member Westman Second: Council Member Orbach
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, and Mayor Morgan
B. 41st Avenue, Clares Street, and Capitola Road Corridor Plan Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution adopting the 41st Avenue, Clares Street, and Capitola Road Corridor Plan and direct staff to publish a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an AB 1600 Nexus Study to establish a corridor impact fee.
Community and Economic Development Director Herlihy provided the staff report.
Public Comment:
• Linda Smith
• Paula Bradley
• Cami Corvin
The City Council discussed the proposed plan, its impact on associated businesses, and provided feedback to staff. Council reiterated the importance of contacting all businesses involved, not just property owners.
Motion to direct staff to conduct additional outreach to businesses and publish an RFP for an AB 1600 Nexus Study, then return to City Council with updates: Council Member Orbach
Second: Vice Mayor Jensen
Amendment proposed to request that staff return with additional information about impact fees: Council Member Westman
Amendment accepted, with additional request for information on outreach efforts and proposed changes to the plan: Council Member Orbach
Amendments Accepted: Vice Mayor Jensen
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, and Mayor Morgan
C. Underground Utility District No. 6 and Rule 20A Program Update Recommended Action: Receive information regarding Underground Utility District No. 6 and the Rule 20A utility undergrounding program, including district history, implementation considerations, and utility coordination issues, and provide direction as desired.
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Public Works Director Kahn provided the staff report.
Public Comment: None
The City Council discussed applying Rule 20A credits to a project on Capitola Avenue, or pursue advancing projects in District 6A-1.
The Council originally directed staff to advance District 6A-1 using Rule 20A credits, begin easement coordination, and return to Council with further information once obtained from coordination with PG&E; then reopened discussions to discuss the possibility to include work on Capitola Avenue.
The City Council took a recess at 9:37 PM and reconvened at 9:38 PM.
The Mayor recommended that the Council continue the item to a future meeting to allow staff to clarify items discussed. Vice Mayor Jensen requested Council refrain from morbid comments.
D. FY 2026-27 SB 1 Project List and Measure D Five-Year Plan Update Recommended Action: (1) Conduct a public hearing and adopt the FY 2026-27 Measure D FiveYear Program of Projects; and (2) Adopt the resolution approving the FY 2026-27 SB 1 Project List for the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA).
Public Works Director Kahn provided the staff report.
Public Comment: None
Motion to adopt Resolution No. 4490 and No. 4491: Council Member Westman Second: Vice Mayor Jensen
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, and Mayor Morgan
E. MOU with the Capitola Police Officers Association
Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to sign a side letter agreement with the Capitola Police Officers Association with a term of June 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Chloe Woodmansee, Assistant to the City Manager, provided the staff report.
Public Comment: None
Motion to authorize the City Manager to sign a side letter agreement with the Capitola Police Officers Association with a term of June 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027: Council Member Clarke
Second: Council Member Westman
Voting Yea: Council Members Clarke, Orbach, Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, and Mayor Morgan
8. Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 9:48 PM. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on June 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
________________________
Margaux Morgan, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________
Julia Gautho, City Clerk
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