REVISED 9/10/2026 AT 4:10 PM
City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday, September 10, 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 – 4:45 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. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Govt. Code § 54957(b)) City Council's Performance Evaluation of the City Manager 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. Presentations
Presentations are limited to eight minutes.
A. Proclamation Recognizing September 2026 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Presented to Jordan Thorpe, President of the Jacob's Heart Board B. Proclamation Honoring Santa Cruz Regional 911 Dispatchers C. Presentation of the Red Cross Life Saving Award to Sergeant Scott Newton
4. Report on Closed Session
5. 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 6 - Correspondence Received
B. Item 8A - Correspondence Received & Staff Memorandum with Updated Attachment City Council Meeting Agenda – September 10, 2026
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C. Item 8B - Correspondence Received & Staff Memorandum with Updated Attachment D. Item 8E - Correspondence Received
E. Item 9B - Correspondence Received
F. Item 9C - Staff Memorandum with Updated Information & Correspondence Received G. Item 9D - Correspondence Received
H. Item 9E - Correspondence Received
6. 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.
7. Staff / City Council Comments
Comments are limited to three minutes.
8. 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 August 25, 2026, the regular meeting on August 27, 2026, the special meeting on September 2, 2026, and the special meeting on September 3, 2026.
B. Elections Code Section 21130(f) Report
Recommended Action: Direct City staff and the City’s retained demographer, National Demographics Corporation, to issue and post the Elections Code Section 21130(f) report.
C. Alcohol Policing Partnership Grant
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution accepting a Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Alcohol Policing Partnership Grant in the amount of $57,881 and amending the FY 2026- 27 General Fund operating budget to increase revenues and expenditures by $57,881.
D. Update on Additional Improvements at the Park at Rispin Mansion Recommended Action: Receive an update on progress towards additional improvements at the Park at Rispin Mansion and ongoing efforts to raise funds through an engraved brick program.
E. Chapter 8.40: Capitola Municipal Code
Recommended Action: Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 8.40 of the Capitola Municipal Code to remove the expiration language in Section 8.40.150(G).
9. 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 – September 10, 2026
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item: 1) Staff explanation; 2) Council questions; 3) Public comment; 4) Council deliberation; 5) Decision.
A. Capitola Wharf Status Update
Recommended Action: Receive an update regarding the Request for Proposals for a restaurant and commercial marketplace project on the Capitola Wharf and provide direction to staff regarding the next steps for future uses on the Wharf.
B. Stockton Avenue Bridge and Soquel Creek Implementation Update Recommended Action: 1) Receive an update regarding implementation of the City Council’s August 27, 2026, direction, including the bridge preservation and project-development solicitation, continued community outreach, and the annual Soquel Creek inspection and coordination; and 2) provide direction regarding whether staff should continue developing the Caltrans-recommended polyester concrete overlay and return with a revised funding request, or pursue a methacrylate deck treatment as a lower-cost interim maintenance measure.
C. Underground Utility District No. 6 and Rule 20A Program Update Recommended Action: Receive updated information regarding a potential shortened Rule 20A undergrounding project along Monterey Avenue and provide direction as desired. (Continued from the August 27, 2026, City Council meeting)
D. Citywide Municipal Code Amendments
Recommended Action: 1) Introduce for first reading, by title only, waiving further reading, an ordinance amending Capitola Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning) to repeal and replace Chapter
17.88: Incentives for Community Benefits, relocate existing village hotel incentives to Chapter
17.90: Incentives for a Village Hotel with Community Benefits, amend Chapter 17.74: Accessory Dwelling Units, Repeal Chapter 9.08: Tattoo Establishments, make related amendments for Body Art Studios to Chapter 17.20: Mixed Use, Chapter 17.24: Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts, Chapter 17.96: Supplemental Regulations, and Chapter 17.160 Glossary, and finding that adoption of the ordinance is exempt from CEQA; 2) adopt a resolution authorizing submittal of the proposed changes to the California Coastal Commission for the certification of an amendment to the Local Coastal Program; and 3) approve an administrative policy for the selection of body art service providers.
E. Fiscal Year 2025-26 Revenue and Expenditure Update
Recommended Action: Receive the Fiscal Year 2025-26 revenue and expenditure update and provide direction regarding the use of the $1 million insurance settlement received for repairs associated with the 2023 Wharf storm damage.
10. Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on September 24, 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
City Council Meeting Agenda – September 10, 2026
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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 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.