City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
March 20, 2023
City Council
6:00 PM
Call to Order – Vice Mayor Golder called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Roll Call
Present: Councilmembers Newsome, Brown, Watkins, Brunner; Vice Mayor Golder; Mayor Keeley (arrived at 6:11 p.m.).
Absent: Councilmember Kalantari-Johnson.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker (via Zoom), City Attorney T. Condotti, Finance Director E. Cabell (via Zoom), Fire Chief R. Oatey (via Zoom), Chief People Officer S. De Leon (via Zoom), Director of Parks and Recreation T. Elliot (via Zoom), Director of Public Works N. Nguyen, Director of Planning and Community Development L. Butler, Senior Planner T.
Maier, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush.
Public Hearing
1. Design Permit, Slope Modification Permit/Slope Variance, and Watercourse Variance to Construct Segments 8 and 9 of the Coastal Rail Trail, a 2.2-Mile Bicycle and Pedestrian System Extending Along the Railroad Corridor (Owned by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission) from the Beach Street/Pacific Avenue Roundabout on the West, to the Eastern Side of 17th Avenue on the East, and Excluding the Recently-Constructed San Lorenzo River Trestle Bridge Improvements (Environmental Review: Environmental Impact Report) (PL)
Senior Planner T. Maier gave a presentation and responded to Councilmember questions.
Kate Elliott, Director of Environmental Planning and Compliance with Harris and Associates, spoke and responded with Councilmember questions.
March 20, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6411
Public Hearing (continued)
1. Segments 8 and 9 of the Coastal Rail Trail, a 2.2-Mile Bicycle and Pedestrian System Extending Along the Railroad Corridor (PL) (continued) Director of Public Works N. Nguyen responded to Councilmember questions.
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke.
Grace Pariaute
Rob Tidmore
David
Saladine Sale
Brian Peoples
Johana Lighthill
Tim Brattan
Unidentified person
JT Rueppel
Isaiah Berke
Unidentified person
Unidentified person
Matt Farrell
Unidentified person
Tina Andreatta
Lani Faulkner
Unidentified person
Kim Salisbury
Dan Kambitsch
Faina Segal
Pat Kittle
David Van Brink
Maura Kelsea
Pauline Seales
Eva Leuthold
Michael Lewis
Michael Browlee
Robin Belkin
Barry Scott
Ryan Sarnataro
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
March 20, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6412
Public Hearing (continued)
1. Segments 8 and 9 of the Coastal Rail Trail, a 2.2-Mile Bicycle and Pedestrian System Extending Along the Railroad Corridor (PL) (continued) MOTION: Councilmember Brown moved, seconded by Councilmember Brunner, to:
Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,121 certifying the Environmental Impact Report (EIR); and
Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,122 adopting Findings of Fact, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), and a Statement of Overriding Conditions; and
Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,123 approving the Design Permit, Slope Modification Permit, Slope Variance, and Watercourse Variance.
ACTION: The motion carried unanimously with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Newsome, Brown, Watkins, Brunner, Vice Mayor Golder; Mayor Keeley.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Councilmember Kalantari-Johnson.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
Adjournment – Vice Mayor Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Newsome, to adjourn the meeting. By consensus, the City Council adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ss/Julia Wood, Deputy City Clerk Administrator, ATTEST: ss/Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator, APPROVED: ss/Fred Keeley, Mayor.