Approved at the October 28, 2025 City Council Meeting
City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 30, 2025
12:00 PM
Mayor Keeley opened the City Council Closed Session at 12:00 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 Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson; Mayor Keeley.
Absent: None.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker, City Attorney T. Condotti, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush.
Statements of Disqualification – Councilmember Brunner announced she will be recusing herself from item 3 in an abundance of caution as it relates to her employment.
Public Comment
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period at 12:00 p.m. There were no speakers. Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period at 12:00 p.m., at which time the meeting was closed to the public and Council adjourned to the Courtyard Conference Room.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8054
Closed Session
1. Conference with Legal Counsel – Liability Claims (Government Code §54956.95) 1) Claimant: Alane Williamson
2) Claimant: David W. Turner
3) Claimant: Habibeh Deyhim
4) Claimant: Sabrina Shewfelt
Claims against the City of Santa Cruz
Council received a status report, took up under agenda item 18, and no reportable action was taken.
2. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(4))
Initiation of litigation (two potential cases to be discussed).
By unanimous vote Council authorized and directed the City Attorney’s Office to intervene on behalf of the City. The names of the defendants, the parties, and the particulars will be available upon request to members of the public once that intervention has occurred.
3. Real Property Negotiations (Government Code §54956.8) Property: 1520 K1 Pacific
APN: N/A (Public Right of Way)
Owner: City of Santa Cruz
City Negotiator: Bonnie Lipscomb
Negotiating Parties: City of Santa Cruz and Paul Cocking (dba Gabrielita Tamaleria)
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 this item as it pertains to her employment.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8055
Closed Session (continued)
4. Conference with Labor Negotiators (Government Code §54957.6) SEIU Temporary Employees
SEIU Service Employees
Mid Managers, OE3
Supervisors, OE3
Fire Management
Fire, IAFF
Police Management
Police Officers Association
Executives
City Negotiator - Sara De Leon
Council received a status report from the City Negotiator, gave direction, and no reportable action was taken.
5. Public Employment (Government Code §54957)
City Attorney
Council received a status report, and no reportable action was taken.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8056
City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 30, 2025
1:45 PM
Call to Order – Mayor Keeley called the meeting to order at 1:47 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Roll Call
Present: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson; Mayor Keeley (left at 1:59 p.m.).
Absent: None.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker, Assistant City Manager M. Templeton, City Attorney T. Condotti, Chief of Fire R. Oatey, Director of Water H.
Luckenbach, Director of Information Technology K. Morgan, Director of Finance E. Cabell (via Zoom), Division Chief of Prevention/Fire Marshal T. Shields, Economic Development Manager R. Unitt, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush.
Oral Communications - The Mayor provided a brief announcement about Oral Communications.
At 1:48 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.
Michael Spadafore spoke regarding construction on the Murray Street Bridge.
Bradley Snyder spoke regarding the ongoing development happening in Downtown Santa Cruz.
Gillian Greensite spoke regarding the annual report of the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women.
Unidentified person spoke regarding the San Lorenzo Park redesign.
At 1:56 p.m. Mayor Keeley closed Oral Communications.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8057
Presentations
6. Mayoral Proclamation Declaring October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Councilmember Trigueiro read from a proclamation declaring October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women Chair Karen Madura and Commissioner Courtney Barrett spoke.
7. Mayoral Proclamation Declaring September 29th—October 5th as Week Without Driving Week
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson read from a proclamation declaring September 9 th—October 5th as Week Without Driving Week.
8. Fire Prevention Week: October 5—October 11, 2025
Division Chief of Prevention/Fire Marshal T. Shields gave a presentation on fire prevention and responded to Council questions.
Presiding Officer's Announcements – None.
Statements of Disqualification – None.
Additions and Deletions – None.
City Attorney Report on Closed Session – See pages 8054—8055 for the report.
Council Meeting Calendar
9. The City Council reviewed and did not revise the meeting calendar attached to the agenda.
City Clerk Administrator B. Bush provided a reminder that the meeting on October 14th was previously cancelled.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8058
Consent Agenda
Councilmember Brunner made a comment on item 13.
Councilmember Golder pulled item 15 for further discussion.
Councilmember O’Hara pulled item 16 for further discussion.
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson opened the public comment period. The following people spoke:
Keikilani McKay spoke regarding item 17.
Unidentified person spoke regarding item 17.
Gerald O’Brien spoke regarding item 17.
Steve Storrs spoke regarding item 17.
Jim Cargill spoke regarding item 17.
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember Brunner moved, seconded by Councilmember O’Hara, to approve the remaining Consent Agenda.
ACTION: The motion carried with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mayor Keeley.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8059
Consent Agenda (continued)
10. Resolution Extending the Emergency Declarations in Connection with the 2022/2023 Winter Storms and 2023/2024 Winter Storms (CA) LOCATION: Citywide
Resolution No. NS-30,552 was adopted extending by sixty days the Local Emergency Declarations in connection with the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 Winter Storms.
11. Resolution Extending the Emergency Declaration in Connection with the December 2024 Municipal Wharf Emergency (CA/CM)
LOCATION: District 4
Resolution No. NS-30,553 was adopted extending by sixty days the Local Emergency Declaration in connection with the December 2024 Municipal Wharf emergency.
12. Minutes of the September 9, 2025 City Council Meeting (CC) LOCATION: None
Motion carried to approve as submitted.
13. Arts Commission Appointment (CC)
LOCATION: Citywide
Motion carried to approve Councilmember Brunner’s nomination of Mercedes Lewis to serve on the Arts Commission, with a term ending January 31, 2029.
14. Historic Preservation Commission Appointment (CC)
LOCATION: Citywide
Motion carried to approve Mayor Keeley's nomination of Stephanie McCormick to serve on the Historic Preservation Commission, with a term ending January 31, 2027.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8060
Consent Agenda (continued)
15. Support Efforts to Strengthen Opposition to Offshore Oil Drilling (CN) LOCATION: Citywide
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson opened the public comment period. The following person spoke.
Unidentified person
Unidentified person
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Trigueiro, to:
Support Santa Cruz County’s commitments to oppose the federal offshore oil drilling proposal by agreeing to join the local coordination effort; and Direct staff to 1) return to City Council within a month with a cooperative agreement or equivalent that defines the scope of work, terms and City involvement, and an agreement with Save Our Shores, and 2) identify a funding source for the County-requested Phase 1 contribution of $29,000 and the County-requested Phase 2 contribution of $25,000.
ACTION: The motion carried with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mayor Keeley.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8061
Consent Agenda (continued)
16. Resolution Authorizing the City Manager, or Designee, to Grant Waivers to Tenants of City Lease Agreements (EDH)
LOCATION: Citywide
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson opened the public comment period. There were no speakers. Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember O’Hara moved, seconded by Councilmember Trigueiro, to adopt Resolution No. NS-30,554 authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to grant waivers in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per fiscal year per Tenant of City lease agreements, with an annual cap of $20,000.
ACTION: The motion carried with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mayor Keeley.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
17. Resolution Granting Consent to the County of Santa Cruz to Form the Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Improvement District (SCMWID) (EDH) LOCATION: Citywide
Resolution No. NS-30,555 was adopted granting consent to the County of Santa Cruz to form the SCMWID in the City of Santa Cruz.
18. Liability Claims Filed Against the City of Santa Cruz (FN) Motion carried to reject the liability claims of 1) Alane Williamson, 2) David W.
Turner, 3) Habibeh Deyhim, and deny application for leave to present late claim 4) Sabrina Shewfelt, based on staff recommendation.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8062
Consent Agenda (continued)
19. Resolution Amending the City of Santa Cruz Compensation Plan for the Public Works Department (HR)
LOCATION: Citywide
Resolution No. NS-30,556 was adopted amending the Public Works Department’s Compensation Plan by correcting compensation range for Wastewater Facilities Lead Electrical/Instrumentation Technician classification.
20. Application and Project Management Support for Information Technology Systems (IT)
LOCATION: None
Motion carried to:
Approve a professional services agreement and scope of work with VantagePoint Business Solutions, LLC for application and project management support of critical information technology systems. Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract in a form approved by the City Attorney. The Information Technology Director is hereby authorized to execute change orders within the approved project budget; and Authorize the Information Technology Director to renew the contract for an additional two years under identical contractual terms and conditions at the end of the first contract term.
21. Contract Renewal with Hope Services, Inc. for the Resource Recovery Facility (PW)
LOCATION: District 6
Motion carried to authorize and direct the City Manager to renew an agreement with Hope Services, Inc. (Santa Cruz, CA) for recycling and litter control services at the City’s Resource Recovery Facility on Dimeo Lane.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8063
Consent Agenda (continued)
22. Transfer within the Water Department’s Capital Investment Program for Fiscal Year 2025 Water Program Administration Expenses – Budget Adjustment (WT) LOCATION: None
Resolution No. NS-30,557 was adopted to amend the Fiscal Year 2025 budget by transferring funds in the amount of $2,647,751 from the Water Department’s Capital Investment Program (CIP) project c701901, Water Program Administration, to various other Water Department CIP projects for the purpose of allocating actual program administration expenses to active Water Program CIP projects.
23. Resolution of Private Landowner Encroachment on Zayante Watershed Lands (WT)
LOCATION: County
Resolution No. NS-30,558 was adopted to approve property transfer from Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 093-011-59 to the City Water Department APN 093-011-29 and property transfer from City Water Department APN 093-011-29 to APN 093-011-59 to compensate for private landowner encroachment on City Water Department property.
24. Lockhart-Zayante Vegetation Treatment Project – Zayante Watershed Lands Landowner Agreement (WT)
LOCATION: County
Motion carried to ratify the Landowner Agreement with the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, executed by the City Manager, for the Lockhart-Zayante Vegetation Treatment Project.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8064
Consent Agenda (continued)
25. Union/Locust Building Roof Replacement – Approval of Purchase Order, Exemption from Local Employment Requirements and CEQA, and Budget Adjustment (WT/LB)
LOCATION: District 4
Motion carried to:
Approve the issuance of a purchase order in the amount of $289,547 under the existing agreement with Waterproofing Technologies Inc. (Beachwood, OH) for roof restoration of the Union/Locust Building and authorize the Water Director and Library Director or their designee to approve change orders within the project budget;
Approve exemption from local employment requirements in Santa Cruz Municipal Code 3.10, Local Hiring – Public Works Contractors; Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,559 amending the Fiscal Year 2026 budget in the amount of $116,000 to appropriate $116,000 from Water Enterprise Fund 711 for Capital Investment Program (CIP) project c701907, Facility and Infrastructure Improvements; and
Approve the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination contained in this Agenda Report. The Council’s action is exempt from CEQA review under the Class 1 categorical exemption of the California Code of Regulations Section 15301 for repair/rehabilitation of existing facilities.
End Consent Agenda
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8065
General Business
26. Accept Modifications of San Lorenzo River Water Rights, Dedicate Instream Flows for North Coast Water Sources, Approve the Anadromous Salmonid Habitat Conservation Plan Project, and Authorize the City Manager to Sign Related State and Federal Endangered Species Act Permits (WT) LOCATION: Citywide and County
Director of Water H. Luckenbach gave a presentation.
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson opened the public comment period. The following people spoke.
Garrett
Erin McCarthy
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember Trigueiro moved, seconded by Councilmember O’Hara, to adopt Resolution No. NS-30,560 to:
Accept modifications of the City’s San Lorenzo River water rights, as described in the Santa Cruz Water Rights Project and in the State Water Resources Control Board order # WR 2025-0009 EXEC issued June 6, 2025; Dedicate instream flows for North Coast water sources for the protection of special status aquatic species;
Approve the Anadromous Salmonid Habitat Conservation Plan project; and Authorize the City Manager to sign the related federal Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(b) incidental take permit and the pending California Fish and Game Code Section 2081(b) incidental take permit.
ACTION: The motion carried with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mayor Keeley.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8066
General Business (continued)
27. Ordinance Amending Uncodified Ordinance No. 2020-27 Extending Temporary Use of Certain Adjacent Public Streets and Outdoor Areas for Eligible Businesses for Commercial Use on Private Property from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2029 (EDH)
LOCATION: Citywide
Economic Development Manager R. Unitt spoke.
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson opened the public comment period. The following person spoke.
Karen Madura
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Brunner, to introduce for publication Ordinance No. 2025-20 amending uncodified Ordinance No. 2020-27 extending temporary use of certain adjacent public streets and outdoor areas for eligible businesses for commercial use on private property from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2029.
ACTION: The motion carried with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Mayor Keeley.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
September 30, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8067
General Business (continued)
28. City Wildfire Resiliency Plan (FD)
LOCATION: Citywide
Division Chief of Prevention/Fire Marshal T. Shields introduced the item.
Steve Auten, Owner of ARC Forestry, gave a presentation and responded to Council questions.
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson opened the public comment period. The following person spoke.
Gillian Greensite
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson closed the public comment period.
Adjournment - City Council adjourned at 3:21 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ss/Julia Wood, Deputy City Clerk Administrator, ATTEST: ss/Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator, APPROVED: ss/Fred Keeley, Mayor.