City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
February 27, 2024
2:00 PM
Mayor Keeley opened the City Council Closed Session at 2:02 p.m. in a public meeting via Zoom and in Council Chambers, for the purpose of announcing the agenda, and receiving public testimony.
Roll Call
Present: Councilmembers Newsome, Brown, Watkins, Brunner, KalantariJohnson; Vice Mayor Golder; Mayor Keeley.
Absent: None.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker, Assistant City Manager L. Schmidt, City Attorney T. Condotti, Chief of Police B. Escalante, Director of Economic Development and Housing B. Lipscomb, Director of Information Technology K. Morgan (via Zoom), Records Coordinator B. Inclan, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood.
At this time Mayor Keeley called for a moment of silence in honor of Loran "Butch" Baker and Elizabeth Butler.
Public Comment
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period at 2:04 p.m. There were no speakers. Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period at 2:06 p.m., at which time the meeting was closed to the public and Council adjourned to the Courtyard Conference Room.
Statements of Disqualification – Councilmember Brunner announced she will be recusing herself from items 1.2 and 1.4, as it relates to her employment.
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Closed Session
1. Real Property Negotiations (Government Code §54956.8) 1) Property: 1010 River Street (Colligan Theater)
APN: 008-661-13
Owner: Jewel Theater Company
City Negotiator: Bonnie Lipscomb
Negotiating Parties: City of Santa Cruz and Julie James Under Negotiation: Price, terms of payment, or both
2) Property: 1520 K1 Pacific Ave (Kiosk)
APN: N/A – Right of Way
Owner: Tsegarede Embaye (dba NahNa Eritrean Foods)
City Negotiator: Bonnie Lipscomb
Negotiating Parties: City of Santa Cruz and Tsegarede Embaye Under Negotiation: Price, terms of payment, or both
3) Property: 49-B Municipal Wharf
APN: 007-371-01
Owner: Olita’s Cantina & Grill, LLC
City Negotiator: Bonnie Lipscomb
Negotiating Parties: City of Santa Cruz and Steve Elb
Under Negotiation: Price, terms of payment, or both
4) Property: 121 Soquel Avenue
APN: 005-081-51 (Portion)
Owner: Oswald, LLC dba Oswald
City Negotiator: Bonnie Lipscomb
Negotiating Parties: City of Santa Cruz and Damani Thomas Under Negotiation: Price, terms of payment, or both
5) Property: 401 Upper Park Road
APN: 009-471-02 (Portion)
Owner: Dela Upper Park, Inc.
City Negotiator: Bonnie Lipscomb
Negotiating Parties: City of Santa Cruz and Tim and Jamie Loustalot Under Negotiation: Price, terms of payment, or both
Council received a status report from the City Negotiator, and no reportable action was taken.
Councilmember Brunner recused herself from items 1.2 and 1.4.
February 27, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6745
City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
February 27, 2024
2:20 PM
Call to Order – Mayor Keeley called the meeting to order at 2:20 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Roll Call
Present: Councilmembers Newsome, Brown, Watkins, Brunner, KalantariJohnson; Vice Mayor Golder; Mayor Keeley.
Absent: None.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker, Assistant City Manager L. Schmidt (via Zoom), City Attorney T. Condotti, Director of Economic Development and Housing B. Lipscomb, Director of Public Works N. Nguyen, Director of Planning and Community Development L. Butler (via Zoom), Chief of Fire R. Oatey (via Zoom), Chief People Officer S. De Leon (via Zoom), Deputy City Manager L. Murphy (via Zoom), Asset Manager D. McCormic, Superintendent of Parks T. Beck, Economic Development Manager R.
Unitt, Records Coordinator B. Inclan, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J.
Wood.
Oral Communications Announcement - The Mayor provided a brief announcement about Oral Communications.
Oral Communications
At 2:22 p.m. Mayor Keeley 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 Santa Cruz being a sanctuary city, Measure L on the ballot, and Covid vaccines.
James Ewing spoke regarding legislation that was passed in New York and read a quote.
Penny Stinson spoke regarding issues with reserving the Friendship Garden at Harvey West Park due to homeless encampments.
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Council took a break at 2:29 and returned at 2:34 p.m.
Oral Communications (continued)
Bradley Snyder spoke regarding a large plastic sheet located on the hill along N.
Pacific Avenue.
Caitlin spoke regarding a public safety training center proposed to be built at UC Santa Cruz.
Unidentified person spoke regarding the first amendment and the need for politicians to have thick skin, and the lack of shelters for homeless people.
Unidentified person spoke regarding homelessness and stated the City has stolen survival gear from homeless people.
At 2:42 p.m. Mayor Keeley closed Oral Communications.
Presentations
2. Mayoral Proclamation Declaring February as Black History Month Councilmembers Watkins and Brunner read from and presented a proclamation to Elaine Johnson, President of Santa Cruz County’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), declaring February as Black History Month.
3. Zero Emission Rail and Trail Project
Grace Blakeslee, Regional Transportation Commission Senior Transportation Planner, gave a presentation.
Councilmembers Brown, Brunner, and Kalantari-Johnson spoke.
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke:
James Ewing
Unidentified person
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
Presiding Officer's Announcements
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Statements of Disqualification – Councilmember Brown announced she would be recusing herself from item #8 as it is in close proximity to her residence.
Councilmember Brunner announced she would be recusing herself from item #7 as it relates to her employment.
Additions and Deletions – None.
City Attorney Report on Closed Session – See page 6744 for the report.
Council Meeting Calendar
4. The City Council reviewed and did not revise the meeting calendar attached to the agenda.
Consent Agenda
Councilmember Newsome made a comment on items 7 and 8.
Councilmember Brown pulled item 9 for further discussion.
Councilmember Brunner made a comment on item 8.
Councilmember Kalantari-Johnson spoke regarding item 11.
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke:
James Ewing spoke regarding item 5.
Unidentified person spoke regarding item 7.
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Newsome, to approve the remaining Consent Agenda.
ACTION: The motion carried with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Newsome, Brown (with the exception of item 8), Watkins, Kalantari-Johnson; Vice Mayor Golder; Mayor Keeley.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Councilmember Brunner.
DISQUALIFIED: Councilmember Brown (item 8).
February 27, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6748
Consent Agenda (continued)
5. Minutes of the February 13, 2024 City Council Meeting (CC) Motion carried to approve as submitted.
6. 119-123 Locust Street Purchase and Sale Agreement and Related Actions (ED) Resolution No. NS-30,293 was adopted authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement for real property located at 119-123 Locust Street (APN 005-043-02) and execute any related documents, amendments, modifications, or extensions of a non-substantive or conforming nature, in a form approved by City Attorney, between the City of Santa Cruz and David Posner.
7. 1122 Pacific Avenue – Lease Agreement with Eco Leo LLC, (aka Dyane Villalobos) dba Childish Toy Shop (ED)
Motion carried to authorize and direct the City Manager to execute a Lease Agreement with Eco Leo LLC (aka Dyane Villalobos) dba Childish Toy Shop for the retail space located at 1122 Pacific Avenue, and to execute any documents, amendments, or modifications, of a non-substantive or conforming nature, and to assign and relocate premises, as needed, in a form approved by City Attorney.
8. State Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities Program Funding Application for the 136 River St 100% Affordable Housing Project (ED) Resolution No. NS-30,294 was adopted authorizing the City Manager to jointly apply for, accept, and appropriate any grant funds from the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), if awarded, through the State Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Grant Program (AHSC); and, to authorize the City Manager or his designee to negotiate, execute, enter into, and deliver any necessary contracts, agreements, documents, amendments, in a form to be approved by the City Attorney; and take any other actions necessary to implement the grant-funded project, in an amount(s) not to exceed the grant award.
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Consent Agenda (continued)
9. Coastal Conservancy Resilience Grant Program for the Santa Cruz Wharf Resilience Upgrades and Improvements Project and Related Actions (ED) Asset Manager D. McCormic spoke and responded to Council questions.
Superintendent of Parks T. Beck responded to Council questions.
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke.
James Ewing
Gillian Greensite
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Brown, to adopt Resolution No. NS-30,295 authorizing and directing staff to apply for and accept $6,893,700 in grant funds from the California Coastal Conservancy for the Santa Cruz Wharf Resilience Upgrades and Improvements Project; and, if awarded, authorizing the City Manager or his designee to appropriate funds not to exceed total project cost of $8,527,600, and to execute any agreements, documents, or project modifications necessary for acceptance and implementation of the grant.
ACTION: The motion carried unanimously with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Newsome, Brown, Watkins, Brunner,
Kalantari-Johnson; Vice Mayor Golder; Mayor Keeley.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
10. Professional Services Agreements for On-Call Landscape Architectural Services (PR)
Motion carried to approve and authorize the City Manager to execute Professional Services Agreements with Conger Moss Guillard (CMG), SWA Group (SWA), Royston, Hanamoto, Alley & Abey (RHAA), and Bionic Landscape, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for on-call landscape architectural services for an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 per vendor over a three-year term with an option to extend for an additional three years. The Director of Parks and Recreation is authorized to execute contract amendments within the approved project budget.
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Consent Agenda (continued)
11. Neary Lagoon Security Fencing Project (m409688) – Notice of Completion (PW) Motion carried to accept the work of Abacherli Fence Company (Soquel, CA) as completed per plans and specifications and authorize the filing of the Notice of Completion for the Neary Lagoon Security Fencing Project (m409688).
End Consent Agenda
Public Hearings
12. 2nd Reading and Final Adoption Ordinance No. 2024-06 Amending Uncodified Ordinance No. 2022-16 Extending Temporary Use of Certain Adjacent Public Street and Outdoor Areas for Eligible Businesses (ED)
Development Manager R. Unitt spoke and responded to Council questions.
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke.
Unidentified person
Bradley Snyder
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember Watkins moved, seconded by Councilmember Brunner, to adopt Ordinance No. 2024-06 amending uncodified Ordinance No. 2022-16 extending temporary use of certain adjacent public street and outdoor areas for eligible businesses that extends the temporary period for commercial use on private property from March 31, 2024 to May 31, 2025.
ACTION: The motion carried unanimously with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Newsome, Brown, Watkins, Brunner,
Kalantari-Johnson; Vice Mayor Golder; Mayor Keeley.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
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Public Hearings (continued)
13. Joby Employment Incentive Loan Agreement (ED)
Director of Economic Development and Housing B. Lipscomb gave a presentation and responded to Council questions.
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke.
Unidentified person
George Kivork
Bradley Snyder
Unidentified person
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember Watkins moved, seconded by Councilmember Kalantari-Johnson, authorizing the City Manager to execute an Employment Incentive Loan Agreement and any non-substantive changes, in a form approved by the City Attorney, and other related documents, with Joby Aero, Inc. in an amount up to $500,000.
ACTION: The motion carried with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Newsome, Watkins, Brunner, KalantariJohnson; Vice Mayor Golder; Mayor Keeley.
NOES: Councilmember Brown.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
Adjournment – Vice Mayor Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Watkins, to adjourn. By consensus City Council adjourned at 4:42 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ss/Julia Wood, Deputy City Clerk Administrator, ATTEST: ss/Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator, APPROVED: ss/Fred Keeley, Mayor.
February 27, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6752