REVISED 8/27/2026 AT 4:30 PM
City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday, August 27, 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
Council Members Joe Clarke, Melinda Orbach, Susan Westman, Vice Mayor Gerry Jensen, and Mayor Margaux Morgan
2. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda
3. 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 6C - Correspondence Received
B. Item 6D - Correspondence Received
C. Item 7C – Correspondence Received
D. Item 7D - Correspondence Received
E. Item 7E - Correspondence Received
4. 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.
5. Staff / City Council Comments
Comments are limited to three minutes.
6. 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 City Council Meeting Agenda – August 27, 2026
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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 July 23, 2026.
B. City Check Registers
Recommended Action: Approve check registers dated June 19, 2026, July 3, 2026, July 17, 2026, and July 31, 2026.
C. Contract Amendment for Planning and Building Services Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute 1) Amendment 2 to the Professional Services Agreements with CSG Consultants, Inc. for Planning Consultant Services to increase contract funding by $50,000; and 2) Amendment 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with CSG Consultants, Inc. for Building Consultant Services to increase contract funding by $95,000.
D. Ben Noble Planning Contract
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a sole source Professional Services Agreement, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney’s Office, with Ben Noble Planning in an amount not to exceed $80,000 for a two-year term to provide General Plan implementation services for Zoning Code updates.
E. OPC SB 1 Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant
Recommended Action: Authorize staff to submit an application to the Ocean Protection Council’s SB 1 Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program.
F. ECYP Fund Allocation
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution authorizing an allocation of $40,000 from the Early Childhood and Youth Programming (ECYP) Fund for youth program scholarships for Fiscal Year 2026-27 and approving the corresponding budget amendment to appropriate the funds for this purpose.
7. 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. Fifth Public Hearing to Receive Community Input and Adopt an Ordinance Transitioning to District-Based Elections
Recommended Action: 1) Conduct a time-certain duly noticed public hearing at 6:15 PM to receive community input; and 2) Adopt an ordinance of the City of Capitola amending Chapter
2.04 of Title 2 of the Capitola Municipal Code to provide for the election of City Council Members by four districts with an elected mayor; establish district boundaries and election order for each district; and make other amendments.
B. Agreement with the RTC for the Capitola Trestle Assessment Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a Cooperative Agreement with the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) for the Capitola Trestle Assessment.
C. Stockton Avenue Bridge Existing Conditions Assessment and Project Development Services Agreement
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Recommended Action: Authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with CSW/ST2 for the assessment of Stockton Avenue Bridge’s existing conditions and project development services in an amount not to exceed $474,912.
D. 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. (Continued from May 28, 2026, City Council Meeting)
E. Bay Avenue Corridor Safety Improvements
Recommended Action: Direct staff to proceed with the proposed safety improvements at Bay Avenue/Hill Street and Bay Avenue/Center Street.
F. Discussion Regarding Residency Requirements for Elective Office Recommended Action: Discuss residency requirements for elective office and provide direction to staff.
8. Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on September 10, 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.
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 City Council Meeting Agenda – August 27, 2026
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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.