Approved at the September 22, 2026 City Council Meeting City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 8, 2026
Closed Session
2:00 PM
Mayor Keeley opened the City Council Closed Session at 2:04 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 C. Bronson, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush.
Statements of Disqualification – Councilmember Brunner announced she will recuse herself from item 1 in an abundance of caution as it relates to her employment.
Public Comment on Closed Session Items
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period at 2:04 p.m. There were no speakers. Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period at 2:04 p.m., at which time the meeting was closed to the public and Council adjourned to the Courtyard Conference Room.
September 8, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8347
Closed Session
1. Real Property Negotiations (Government Code §54956.8) Property: 1020 Cedar Street
APN: 005-042-36 (portion of)
Owner: City of Santa Cruz
City Negotiator: Bonnie Lipscomb
Negotiating Parties: City of Santa Cruz and Joseph S. Ferrara dba Atlantis Fantasyworld
Under Negotiation: Price, terms of payment, or both
Councilmember Brunner recused herself from the discussion. Council received a status report from the City Negotiator, and no reportable action was taken.
September 8, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8348
City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 8, 2026
2:15 PM
Call to Order – Mayor Keeley called the meeting to order at 2:24 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Roll Call
Present: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson; Mayor Keeley.
Absent: None.
Staff: City Manager M. Huffaker, Assistant City Manager M. Templeton, City Attorney C. Bronson, Deputy City Manager/Director of Economic Development B. Lipscomb, Director of Community Development L.
Butler (via Zoom), Director of Finance E. Cabell (via Zoom), Chief of Fire R. Oatey (via Zoom), Chief People Officer S. De Leon, Director of Parks and Recreation T. Elliot, Director of Water H. Luckenbach, Principal Transportation Planner C. Gallogly, Assistant Finance Director – Water Department N. Kurns, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J. Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush.
At this time Council heard the City Attorney Report on Closed Session.
Oral Communications
At 2:25 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.
James Ewing-Whitman spoke regarding a transmission he had replaced in 2001, the weight of $20- and $100-dollar bills, nanotechnology, and various metric weights.
Bradley Snyder spoke regarding the developments happening in downtown Santa Cruz, low-income housing, and suggested building housing closer to the leaders of technology in Silicon Valley.
At 2:32 p.m. Mayor Keeley closed Oral Communications.
September 8, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8349
Presentations
2. Mayoral Proclamation Declaring September 2026 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Councilmember Trigueiro read from and presented a proclamation declaring September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Guille Silva with Jacob’s Heart spoke.
3. Community Gardens Update
Youth Fellow K. Gorman provided Council with an update on Community Gardens.
At this time Council heard Presiding Officer’s Announcements.
4. National Emergency Preparedness Month
This item was continued to a future meeting and was not discussed.
Presiding Officer's Announcements – Mayor Keeley spoke regarding Labor Day, thanking the City’s laborers, and the impact of the events that took place on September 11, 2001 and called for a moment of silence.
Statements of Disqualification – Councilmember Brunner announced she will recuse herself from item 9 in an abundance of caution as it relates to her employment.
Additions and Deletions – City Clerk Administrator B. Bush announced item 4 will be continued to a future meeting and will not be discussed.
City Attorney Report on Closed Session – See page 8347 for the report.
At this time Council heard Oral Communications.
Council Meeting Calendar
5. The City Council reviewed and did not revise the meeting calendar attached to the agenda.
September 8, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8350
Consent Agenda
Councilmember O’Hara made a comment on item 12.
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson made a comment on items 8 and 12.
City Clerk Administrator B. Bush responded to Council questions regarding item 8.
Councilmember Brunner made a comment on items 12 and 14.
Mayor Keeley pulled item 7 for further discussion.
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke:
Kay Archer-Bowden made a comment on item 12.
James Ewing-Whitman made a comment on item 6.
Unidentified person made a comment on item 11.
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember Brunner moved, seconded by Vice Mayor KalantariJohnson, to approve the remaining Consent Agenda.
ACTION: The motion carried unanimously with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner (with the exception of item 9), Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson; Mayor Keeley.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: Councilmember Brunner (item 9).
6. Minutes of the August 25, 2026 City Council Meeting (CC) LOCATION: None
Motion carried to approve as submitted.
September 8, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8351
Consent Agenda (continued)
7. Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury Response (CM)
LOCATION: Citywide
Mayor Keeley spoke.
Principal Transportation Planner C. Gallogly responded to Council questions.
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. There were no speakers.
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember O’Hara moved, seconded by Councilmember Brunner, to:
Authorize the Mayor to submit responses to the Santa Cruz Civil Grand Jury on behalf of the Santa Cruz City Council for the Walking in the County of Santa Cruz Grand Jury Report; and
Direct staff to return within six months with a “Sidewalk Upon Sale” ordinance for Council consideration.
ACTION: The motion carried unanimously with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson; Mayor Keeley.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
8. Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Oversight Committee Bylaws (CM) LOCATION: Citywide
Motion carried to:
Approve the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Oversight Committee (SSBTOC) bylaws; and
Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,696 exempting the SSBTOC from the City’s policy (Council Policy 5.1) that requires city residency for advisory body members, and allowing up to three non-City-residents who have experience in youth programs or early childhood development to serve on the SSBTOC.
September 8, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8352
Consent Agenda (continued)
9. Third Amendment to the Lease Agreement with Laughing Phoenix, Inc. dba the Great Rabbit, Atlas Services Corporation dba Atlas Geotechnical and Clever Collective for City-Owned Space at 915 Cedar Street (ED) LOCATION: District 4
Motion carried to:
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a Third Amendment to the Lease Agreement with Laughing Phoenix, Inc. dba the Great Rabbit, Atlas Services Corporation dba Atlas Geotechnical and Clever Collective, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for the commercial space at 915 Cedar Street;
Authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Lease, in a form approved by the City Attorney, to be recorded in the Santa Cruz County Recorder’s Office; and
Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to the following CEQA guidelines: 14 CCR 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 14 CCR 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption).
10. Authorization to Exceed $100,000 for Legal Services with Burke, Williams, & Sorensen, LLP (HR)
LOCATION: Citywide
Motion carried authorizing the City Manager, or their designee, to execute agreements and approve payments exceeding $100,000 for legal services for Fiscal Year 2027.
11. Authorization to Exceed $100,000 for Investigation Services with Oppenheimer Investigations Group, LLP, Related to Respectful Workplace, Harassment, and Discrimination Complaints (HR)
Location: Citywide
Motion carried authorizing the City Manager, or their designee, to execute agreements and approve payments exceeding $100,000 in the aggregate for third-party investigation services related to workplace harassment, discrimination, and respectful workplace complaints for Fiscal Year 2027.
September 8, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8353
Consent Agenda (continued)
12. Memorial Request Honoring Celia and Peter Scott (PR) LOCATION: District 5
Motion carried to approve the installation of a memorial plaque in Pogonip in honor of Celia and Peter Scott.
13. Wastewater Treatment Facility Sinkhole Emergency Repair (m409659) – Budget Adjustment (PW)
LOCATION: District 3
Motion carried to:
Ratify an emergency purchase order with Anderson Pacific Engineering (Santa Clara, CA) for repair of a sinkhole at the Wastewater Treatment Facility in the amount of $333,286;
Find the project categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines 14 CCR Section 15269(b) (Emergency Projects); and
Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,697 amending the FY 2027 budget and appropriating funds in the amount of $333,286 to fully fund the repairs.
14. Purchase of a Wachs Valve Truck (WT)
LOCATION: Citywide
Motion carried to purchase a Ford F-550 Wachs Valve Truck from Rush Truck Center (New Braunfels, TX) in the amount of $276,712.98 under the existing cooperative contract with Sourcewell.
End Consent Agenda
September 8, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8354
General Business
15. 2026 Water Department Long-Range Financial Plan, 2026 Water Rate Study, and Proposed Water Rate Schedule for Calendar Year 2027 – Calendar Year 2031 (CY 2027 – CY 2031) (WT)
LOCATION: Citywide
Director of Water H. Luckenbach, Assistant Finance Director – Water Department N. Kurns, and Erik Helgeson, Principal/Partner with Bartle Wells Associates, gave a presentation and responded to Council questions.
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke.
James Ewing-Whitman
Dan Kriege
Unidentified person
Sierra Ryan
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.
MOTION: Councilmember O’Hara moved, seconded by Councilmember Brunner, to:
Adopt the 2026 Water Department Long-Range Financial Plan; Receive the 2026 Water Rate Study dated August 18, 2026; Accept the proposed schedule of water rate increases for CY 2027 – CY 2031 and the proposed CY 2027 – CY 2031 Drought Cost Recovery Fee schedule as set forth in the Rate Study, and direct staff to post the Rate Study as the basis for the proposed rates in connection with the Proposition 218 notice process, for the purposes of proceeding with the required public notice and protest period under Proposition 218; and
Authorize the Water Department to mail the Proposition 218-compliant public notice initiating the protest period and set the required public hearing for Tuesday November 17, 2026, after the hour of 10:00 a.m.
ACTION: The motion carried unanimously with the following vote.
AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson; Mayor Keeley.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
September 8, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8355
Adjournment – Councilmember Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Trigueiro, to adjourn. By consensus City Council adjourned at 4:54 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ss/Julia Wood, Deputy City Clerk Administrator, ATTEST: ss/Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator, APPROVED: ss/Fred Keeley, Mayor.