City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
February 22, 2022
12:00 PM
Mayor Brunner opened the City Council Closed Session at 12:00 p.m. in a public meeting via Zoom, for the purpose of announcing the agenda, and receiving public testimony.
Roll Call
Present: Councilmembers Kalantari-Johnson (via Zoom), Golder (via Zoom), Cummings (arrived at 12:45 p.m. via Zoom), Brown (via Zoom), Meyers (via Zoom); Vice Mayor Watkins (via Zoom); Mayor Brunner (via Zoom).
Absent: None.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker (via Zoom), Assistant City Manager L. Schmidt (via Zoom), City Attorney T. Condotti (via Zoom), Director of Economic Development B. Lipscomb (via Zoom), Risk Manager R. Brandon (via Zoom), Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush (via Zoom).
Public Comment
Mayor Brunner opened the public comment period at 12:03 p.m. There were no speakers. Mayor Brunner closed the public comment period at 12:04 p.m.
Closed Session
1. Conference With Legal Counsel – Liability Claims (Government Code §54956.95) Claimant: Andrew John Hansen
Claim against the City of Santa Cruz
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Closed Session (continued)
2. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(1))
Don’t Morph the Wharf! v. City of Santa Cruz et al.
(Santa Cruz County Superior Court Case No. 20CV02731)
3. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(2))
Significant exposure to litigation (1 potential case to be discussed) At this time, the meeting was closed to the public. (See page 5973 for a report on Closed Session.)
February 22, 2022 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 5972
City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
February 22, 2022
2:30 PM
Call to Order – Mayor Brunner called the meeting to order at 2:31 p.m. via Zoom.
Roll Call
Present: Councilmembers Kalantari-Johnson (via Zoom), Golder (via Zoom), Cummings (via Zoom), Brown (via Zoom), Meyers (via Zoom); Vice Mayor Watkins (via Zoom); Mayor Brunner (via Zoom).
Absent: None.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker (via Zoom), Assistant City Manager L. Schmidt (via Zoom), City Attorney T. Condotti (via Zoom), Director of Public Works M. Dettle (via Zoom), Interim Chief of Police B. Escalante (via Zoom), Deputy City Manager and Director of Planning, Community Development and Homelessness Response L. Butler (via Zoom), Interim Director of Finance B. Magee (via Zoom), Director of Economic Development B. Lipscomb (via Zoom), Information Technology Director K. Morgan (via Zoom), Interim Fire Chief R. Oatey (via Zoom), Principal Management Analyst C. Hemard (via Zoom), Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush (via Zoom).
Presentations
4. Parking for Hope Check Presentation
Mayor Brunner spoke regarding the City presenting a check on behalf of the City and the Downtown Association’s Parking for Hope Program.
5. Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship Volunteers
Emma Ussat, Trails Program Manager with Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, gave a presentation.
Presiding Officer's Announcements
February 22, 2022 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 5973
Statements of Disqualification – None.
Additions and Deletions – None.
City Attorney Report on Closed Session
Conference With Legal Counsel – Liability Claims (Government Code §54956.95) Claimant: Andrew John Hansen
Claim against the City of Santa Cruz
Council received a status report and by unanimous vote agreed to a settlement in the amount of $58,530.42.
Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(1))
Don’t Morph the Wharf! v. City of Santa Cruz et al.
(Santa Cruz County Superior Court Case No. 20CV02731)
Council received a status report, and took no reportable action.
Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(2))
Significant exposure to litigation (1 potential case to be discussed) Council received a status report, and took no reportable action.
Council Meeting Calendar
6. The City Council reviewed and did not revise the meeting calendar attached to the agenda.
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Council Memberships in City Groups and Outside Agencies
7. The Presiding Officer provided Councilmembers with the opportunity to update Council on any external committee meetings that occurred since the last Council meeting
Councilmember Meyers: Central Coast Community Energy Policy Board.
Councilmember Brown: Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, Monterey Bay Air Resources District Board.
Councilmember Kalantari-Johnson: Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District Board (METRO), Santa Cruz County Youth Action Network.
Councilmember Golder: Public Safety Committee.
Councilmember Cummings: Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), Public Safety Committee.
Vice Mayor Watkins: Council Ad Hoc Budget and Revenue Committee, Charter Amendment Committee, Homelessness 2x2 Committee.
Mayor Brunner: Health in All Policies Committee, Public Safety Committee, Homelessness 2x2 Committee.
At this time, Mayor Brunner heard item 5.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Brunner opened the public comment period. There were no speakers. Mayor Brunner closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Watkins moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown, to approve the Consent Agenda.
ACTION: The motion carried unanimously with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Kalantari-Johnson, Golder, Cummings, Brown, Meyers; Vice Mayor Watkins; Mayor Brunner.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
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Consent Agenda (continued)
8. Minutes of the February 8, 2022 City Council Meeting (CC) Motion carried to approve as submitted.
9. Cybersecurity Event Monitoring and Managed Security Service Provider (IT) Motion carried to authorize the City of Santa Cruz to execute a competitively procured contract with Carahsoft Technology Corp, of Reston, VA for cybersecurity event monitoring and proactive response services from SecureWorks, a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP). The agreement would utilize the terms provided by the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), a top American cooperative purchasing program facilitating public procurement solicitations and agreements. NASPO Master Contract No. R2472, Agreement No. 7-17-70-40-05.
10. Award Contract for On-Call Land Surveying Services (c401511, c401709, c401706) – Authorization to Award (PW)
Motion carried to award a contract to BKF Engineers (San Jose, CA) for On-Call Land Surveying Services in the amount of $70,000.00 and to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney with BKF Engineers for On-Call Land Surveying Services. The Director of Public Works is authorized to execute change orders within the approved project budget.
11. Chestnut Street Storm Drain Replacement and Pavement Rehabilitation (c401505) – Authorization to Advertise and Award (PW)
Motion carried to approve the plans and specifications for the Chestnut Street Storm Drain Replacement and Pavement Rehabilitation (c401505), authorize staff to advertise for bids, and award the contract. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute the contract in a form approved by the City Attorney. The Director of Public Works is authorized to execute change orders within the approved project budget.
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Consent Agenda (continued)
12. Leachate Booster Bypass Upgrade Project (m400019) – Notice of Completion (PW)
Motion carried to accept the work of The Don Chapin Company, Inc. (Salinas, CA) as completed per the plans and specifications and authorize the filing of the Notice of Completion for Leachate Booster Bypass Upgrade Project (m400019).
End Consent Agenda
General Business
13. Board of Building and Fire Appeals Appointment (CC) Mayor Brunner opened the public comment period. There were no speakers.
Mayor Brunner closed the public comment period.
City Clerk Administrator B. Bush responded to Councilmember questions.
Councilmember Brown nominated Scott Rogers.
Councilmember Kalantari-Johnson nominated Monica Ratliff.
Councilmember Meyers nominated Christian Nielsen.
Voting for Christian Nielsen: Councilmember Meyers; Mayor Brunner.
Voting for Monica Ratliff: Councilmembers Kalantari-Johnson, Golder; Vice Mayor Watkins.
Voting for Scott Rogers: Councilmembers Cummings, Brown.
Monica Ratliff was appointed to the Board of Building and Fire Appeals with a term expiration of January 1, 2023.
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General Business (continued)
14. Resolution Ordering on the Ballot for the June 7, 2022 Primary Election a Proposed Charter Amendment Creating Six Districts and an At-Large , Directly Elected Mayor (CN)
Principal Management Analyst C. Hemard gave a presentation and responded to Councilmember questions.
Councilmember Meyers, Vice Mayor Watkins, and Councilmember Golder spoke and responded to Councilmember questions.
City Attorney T. Condotti responded to Councilmember questions.
City Manager M. Huffaker responded to Councilmember questions.
Mayor Brunner opened the public comment period. The following people spoke.
SPEAKING VIA TELECONFERENCE:
Unidentified person
Eric Roberts
Glen Schaller
Casey Byer
Unidentified person
Unidentified person
Stephen Bosworth
Mayor Brunner closed the public comment period.
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General Business (continued)
14. Resolution Ordering on the Ballot for the June 7, 2022 Primary Election a Proposed Charter Amendment Creating Six Districts and an At-Large , Directly Elected Mayor (CN) (continued)
MOTION: Councilmember Meyers moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Watkins, to adopt Resolution No. NS-29,932 placing on the ballot for the June 7, 2022 Primary Election a proposed Charter Amendment creating six districts and an at-large, directly elected Mayor, with the following changes to Section 601 (d):
No member of the Council shall be eligible for re-election, or for election to a different Council district, for two years (i.e. one general election cycle) after the expiration of the second consecutive full term of the office for which such person was elected. However, this prohibition shall not bar (1) a Councilmember elected by-district from running for Mayor immediately after two terms as a Councilmember, or (2) the Mayor from running as a by-district Councilmember immediately after two terms as Mayor. or (3) a Councilmember from running for a different council seat, in the event that the Councilmember moves to a different part of the City, immediately after two terms in one council seat. With that said, in no event may any person serve on the Council (as either a Councilmember or the Mayor) for more than sixteen (16) consecutive years.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Councilmember Cummings moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown, to return with a process and timeline for community engagement to explore Charter Amendments related to topics, including but not limited to, directly elected Mayor, district composition, Mayor and Councilmember compensation, strong Mayor v. strong City Manager form of government, Mayor term length, and ranked choice voting among others.
ACTION: The substitute motion was not accepted, with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Cummings, Brown.
NOES: Councilmembers Kalantari-Johnson, Golder, Meyers; Vice Mayor Watkins; Mayor Brunner.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
Councilmember Meyers stated for the record that many things in the substitute motion are things that can continue to be discussed.
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General Business (continued)
14. Resolution Ordering on the Ballot for the June 7, 2022 Primary Election a Proposed Charter Amendment Creating Six Districts and an At-Large , Directly Elected Mayor (CN) (continued)
ACTION: The original motion carried with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Kalantari-Johnson, Golder, Meyers; Vice Mayor Watkins; Mayor Brunner.
NOES: Councilmembers Cummings, Brown.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
Councilmember Cummings stated for the record that part of the direction he supported back in November included a friendly amendment to return with a process and a timeline for community engagement. While he doesn’t have a strong leaning towards a directly elected Mayor or rotating Mayor, he feels community engagement is important and doesn’t feel there has been very good community input.
Councilmember Brown stated for the record this is about process for her.
Councilmember Meyers stated for the record that she is not running for Mayor of the City of Santa Cruz in 2022, so there is no intent behind this except the recognition that having multiple election periods and cycles where Council is going back and asking the voters for different things will cause a lot of confusion and will disincentivize people from running for City Council.
Presentation
15. Results from National Community Survey
Communications Manager E. Smith introduced the item. Jade Arocha, Director of Survey Research with Polco, gave a presentation and responded to Councilmember questions.
Oral Communications Announcement - The Mayor provided a brief announcement about Oral Communications.
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Oral Communications
At 6:33 p.m. Mayor Brunner opened Oral Communications for members of the public who wished to speak regarding items not listed on the City Council agenda.
Unidentified person spoke regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and wearing masks.
Elise Casby spoke regarding invalid totalitarianism and wants the public to know about it.
Unidentified person spoke regarding a youth Mayor and youth Council.
At 6:43 p.m. Mayor Brunner closed Oral Communications.
Adjournment - The City Council adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ss/Julia Wood, Deputy City Clerk Administrator, ATTEST: ss/Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator, APPROVED: ss/Sonja Brunner, Mayor.