Approved at the June 10, 2025 City Council Meeting
City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
May 28, 2025
1:00 PM
Call to Order – Mayor Keeley called the study session to order at 1:03 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Roll Call
Present: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner (left at 2:55 p.m.), Newsome, Golder, O’Hara (left at 2:55 p.m.); Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson; Mayor Keeley.
Absent: None.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker, Assistant City Manager M. Templeton, Assistant City Attorney C. Bronson, Director of Finance E. Cabell, Director of Water H. Luckenbach, Director of Public Works N. Nguyen, Chief of Fire R. Oatey, Deputy City Manager/Director of Economic Development and Housing B. Lipscomb, Chief People Officer S. De Leon, Director of Parks and Recreation T. Elliot, Director of Libraries, C. Platt, Director of Information Technology K. Morgan, Chief of Police B.
Escalante, Director of Planning and Community Development L. Butler, Principal Management Analyst M. Kaping, Principal Management Analyst L. Bass, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush.
General Business
1. Study Session for the Enterprise Fund and CIP sections of the FY 2026 Proposed Budget (CM/FN/PW/WT)
LOCATION: Citywide
Director of Finance E. Cabell introduced the item.
Director of Water H. Luckenbach, Director of Public Works N. Nguyen, and Director of Parks and Recreation T. Elliot gave a presentation and responded to Council questions.
May 28, 2025 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES 7946
General Business (continued)
1. Study Session for the Enterprise Fund and CIP sections of the FY 2026 Proposed Budget (CM/FN/PW/WT) LOCATION: Citywide (continued)
Principal Management Analyst M. Kaping and Principal Management Analyst L.
Bass responded to Council questions.
Mayor Keeley requested staff report back to Council before the June 10th budget adoption with:
A schedule for completing the improvements to the Ocean Street Gateway within the upcoming fiscal year; and
A plan to improve the median design at the top six intersections with the most traffic volume in a way that is consistent with the laws surrounding free speech, but is mindful of public safety.
Councilmember O’Hara requested staff to include updates to the Municipal Code to address panhandling as a public health and safety issue at the same time as the environmental updates.
Adjournment – Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson moved, seconded by Councilmember Golder, to adjourn. By consensus City Council adjourned at 3:12 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ss/Julia Wood, Deputy City Clerk Administrator, ATTEST: ss/Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator, APPROVED: ss/Fred Keeley, Mayor.