City of Capitola
City Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday, October 22, 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 LEGAL COUNSEL – LIABILITY CLAIMS (gov. Code 54956.95) Claim Against the City of Capitola
Claimant: Joseph McLean, Jr. and Terri Robbins
ii. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) (2 matters) 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. E-Bike Safety Update
Recommended Action: Receive and file the informational report regarding three previously accepted grant awards totaling $316,278.32 from the California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, and California Office of Traffic Safety to support public safety enforcement, education, training, and equipment purchases.
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 City Council Meeting Agenda – October 22, 2026
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Wednesday may not have time to reach Councilmembers, nor be read by them prior to consideration of an item.
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 regular meeting on October 8, 2026.
B. City Check Registers
Recommended Action: Approve check registers dated August 14, 2026, August 28, 2026, September 11, 2026, and September 25, 2026.
C. Coastal Development Permit Approval for Consolidation for CPT tests Recommended Action: Authorize staff to submit a consolidated Coastal Development Permit application to the California Coastal Commission for CPT testing under the Trestle.
D. Resolution Supporting Santa Cruz County Measure D
Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution supporting Santa Cruz County Measure D on the November 3, 2026 ballot, concerning onshore facilities supporting offshore oil and gas development and deep-sea mining.
E. Budget Amendment and Purchase of a Portable Pump for Winter Storm Response Recommended Action: Approve a $25,000 budget amendment from the available Equipment Internal Service Fund balance and authorize the purchase of a portable pump for winter storm response.
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 item: 1) Staff explanation; 2) Council questions; 3) Public comment; 4) Council deliberation; 5) Decision.
A. Capitola Village Free Holiday Parking Program
Recommended Action: Consider suspending the City’s free holiday parking program in Capitola Village for the 2026 and 2027 holiday seasons, resulting in an estimated additional $30,000 in annual parking revenue, and provide direction to staff regarding the Capitola City Council Meeting Agenda – October 22, 2026
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Village Business Improvement Association’s (BIA) request for additional funding for Village beautification, maintenance, and visitor enhancements.
B. Stockton Avenue Bridge Maintenance Engineering Services Recommended Action: Option 1: Authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, with Moffatt & Nichol for Stockton Avenue Bridge maintenance engineering services, including bid and construction support, in an amount not to exceed $146,000; and approve a budget amendment appropriating $146,000 from available restricted road funds for these services. Option 2: Select Mark Thomas and authorize the City Manager to finalize an agreement in an amount not to exceed $125,428, with the corresponding budget amendment.
C. Beach Lifeguard Service Organizational Study
Recommended Action: 1) Receive the beach lifeguard service organizational study; and 2) Provide feedback to staff on the study findings, including organizational structure, operational priorities, and next steps for future Council consideration.
D. Recertification of a Blanket Coastal Development Permit for the City of Capitola’s Outdoor Dining in the Public Right-of-Way; Coastal Development Permit extensions for Sidewalk Dining at 123 Monterey Avenue (El Toro Bravo); and extensions of Street Dining Decks at 107 San Jose Ave (Left Coast Sausage Worx) and 115 Sant Jose Ave (Vin Vivant). The outdoor dining is located within the MU-V (Mixed Use Village) zoning district City Council will also consider the lease rental rates for outdoor dining in parking spaces and sidewalk areas. The project is located within the Coastal Zone and is appealable to the California Coastal Commission. Environmental Determination: Categorical Exemption
Recommended Action: Recertify the Blanket Coastal Development Permit for the outdoor dining program; extend the CDPs for active participating businesses for a period of five years; and provide direction to staff regarding revised lease rates considering the recent parking meter increase.
E. Receive Report on Police Department Grant Awards Totaling $316,278.32 for Public Safety Enforcement, Education, and Equipment
Recommended Action: Receive and file the informational report regarding three previously accepted grant awards totaling $316,278.32 from the California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, and California Office of Traffic Safety to support public safety enforcement, education, training, and equipment purchases.
10. Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is on November 12, 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.
City Council Meeting Agenda – October 22, 2026
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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.