Minutes — Santa Cruz City Council, September 22, 2026

Approved at the October 13, 2026 City Council Meeting
City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060

MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 22, 2026
Closed Session
1:00 PM
Mayor Keeley opened the City Council Closed Session at 1:02 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 Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder (arrived at 1:05 p.m.), 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 – None.

Public Comment on Closed Session Items
Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period at 1:03 p.m. The following person spoke:

Matthew Staker made a comment on item 1.3.

Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period at 1:06 p.m., at which time the meeting was closed to the public and Council adjourned to the Courtyard Conference Room.

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Closed Session

1. Conference With Legal Counsel – Liability Claims (Government Code §54956.95) 1) Claimant: Larrel Wayne Thompson
2) Claimant: Doug Miller
3) Claimant: Matthew A Staker
4) Claimant: Neda Amjadi
5) Claimant: Neda Amjadi
Claims against the City of Santa Cruz
Council received a status report, took up under agenda item 8, and no reportable action was taken.

2. Conference With Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation (Government Code §54956.9(d)(2))
Significant exposure to litigation (one potential case to be discussed) Council received a status report and took no reportable action.

September 22, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8358
City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz, California 95060

MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
September 22, 2026
2:00 PM
Call to Order – Mayor Keeley called the meeting to order at 2:04 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, Director of Community Development L. Butler, Director of Finance E. Cabell (via Zoom), Chief of Fire R. Oatey, Chief People Officer S. De Leon, Director of Parks and Recreation T. Elliot (via Zoom), Director of Public Works N. Nguyen, Fire Division Chief T.

Shields, Principal Management Analyst/OES Manager M. Albert, Sustainability and Resiliency Officer T. Wise-West, Principal Transportation Planner C. Gallogly, Deputy City Clerk Administrator J.

Wood, City Clerk Administrator B. Bush.

At this time, Council heard item 3.

Oral Communications
At 2:11 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.

Bruce Van Allen spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

Jennie Evans spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

Gabrielle Wilder spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

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Oral Communications (continued)
Rachel Kaplan spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

Unidentified person spoke regarding the Water Department’s Long-Range Financial Plan.

Selesa Webster spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

James Ewing-Whitman spoke regarding the battery plant in Moss Landing, CA catching fire.

Bradley Snyder spoke regarding over development and stated the long-term financial health of people who live near institutions such as UCSC and UCSB suffer.

Theresa Mogavero spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

Unidentified person spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

Linda Kimball spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

Unidentified person spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

Robert Thorton spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

Lee Brokaw spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

Karen McGovern spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.
[Unintelligible name] spoke in opposition to the proposed development at Seabright Plaza.

At 2:55 p.m. Mayor Keeley closed Oral Communications.

September 22, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8360
At this time, Council heard item 4 and proceeded through the remaining agenda in order.

Presentations

3. Mayoral Proclamation Declaring October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson read from and presented a proclamation declaring October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women Chair Karen Madura and Commissioner Danielle Long spoke.

At this time, Council heard Oral Communications.

4. Fire Prevention Week and National Emergency Preparedness Month Fire Division Chief T. Shields gave a presentation on Fire Prevention Week.

Principal Management Analyst/OES Manager M. Albert gave a presentation on National Emergency Preparedness Month and responded to Council questions.

Chief of Fire R. Oatey responded to Council questions.

Presiding Officer's Announcements – Mayor Keeley extended a “thank you” to Senator John Laird on behalf of the City Council for his work in the acquisition of two acres of Caltrans-owned land near the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 9 for the development of affordable housing.

Statements of Disqualification – None.

Additions and Deletions – City Attorney C. Bronson informed Council an attachment for item 10 had been uploaded late, however all Brown Act requirements had been met.

City Attorney Report on Closed Session – See page 8357 for the report.

Council Meeting Calendar

5. The City Council reviewed and did not revise the meeting calendar attached to the agenda.

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Consent Agenda
Sustainability and Resiliency Officer T. Wise-West responded to Council questions on item 7.

Councilmember Brunner made a comment on item 7.

Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke:

Unidentified person made a comment on item 8.

Bradley Snyder made a comment on item 7.

Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.

MOTION: Councilmember Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Brunner, to approve the Consent Agenda.

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.

6. Minutes of the September 8, 2026 City Council Meeting (CC) LOCATION: None
Motion carried to approve as submitted.

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Consent Agenda (continued)

7. Approval of an Option Agreement for EV Charging Services Site License to Support Direct Current Fast Charging Infrastructure (CM) LOCATION: District 2
Motion carried to:
 Authorize the City Manager to execute an Option Agreement for EV Charging Services Site License for space at the parking lot located at 1111 Soquel Avenue for the purpose of installing and operating Direct Current Fast Charging infrastructure; and
 Adopt a CEQA finding of categorical exemption pursuant to: 14 CCR 15301 (Existing Facilities); 14 CCR 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land); and 14 CCR 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption).

8. Liability Claims Filed Against the City of Santa Cruz (FN) Motion carried to reject the liability claims of 1) Larrel Wayne Thompson, 2) Doug Miller, and 3) Matthew A Staker; and to return as late the claims of 4) Neda Amjadi, and 5) Neda Amjadi, based on staff recommendation.

9. Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) Energy and Electrical Resiliency (Project WEER) - Award of Progressive Design for Phase 1 Services (c401405) – Budget Adjustment (PW)
LOCATION: District 3
Motion carried to:
 Authorize the City Manager to execute the Project WEER Progressive Design Build Agreement for Phase 1 Services in a form approved by the City Attorney with Royal Electric (Sacramento, CA) in the amount of $5,015,000, and authorize the Public Works Director to execute future contract amendments within the approved budget; and
 Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,698 amending the FY 2027 budget to appropriate funds to the WWTF-Electrical System Project (c401405) in the amount of $1,500,000 from Fund 721.

End Consent Agenda
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Consent Public Hearings
City Attorney C. Bronson responded to Council questions on item 10.

Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following person spoke:

Unidentified person made a comment on item 10.

Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.

MOTION: Councilmember O’Hara moved, seconded by Councilmember Trigueiro, to approve the Consent Public Hearing Agenda.

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.

10. 2nd Reading and Final Adoption of Ordinance No. 2026-15 CalPERS Contract Amendment (HR)
LOCATION: Citywide
Motion carried to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-15 implementing the CalPERS contract amendment.

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Consent Public Hearings (continued)

11. 2023 Program Year Annual Action Plan Amendment – Budget Adjustment (CD) LOCATION: Districts 1 and 4
Motion carried to:
 Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,699 amending the 2023 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to reduce funding to the “2023 PY Civic Auditorium ADA Improvements” project in an amount up to $100,000 and reallocate the funding to the project “2023 PY Market St. Senior Center Renovations”;
 Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,700 reallocating 2023-2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the “2023 PY Civic Auditorium ADA Improvements” project in an amount up to $100,000 and reallocate the funding to the project “2023 PY Market St. Senior Center Renovations” and appropriating the funds in the FY27 budget; and  Direct staff to submit the Annual Action Plan (AAP) amendment to HUD for approval.

12. Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School – Tax and Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) Public Hearing and Resolution (ED)
LOCATION: District 5
Motion carried to:
 Conduct a public hearing under the requirements of TEFRA and Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); and,  Adopt Resolution No. NS-30,701 providing for the issuance by the California Municipal Public Financing Authority (“CalMuni PFA” or the “Authority”) of revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $12,025,000 (the “Bonds”) for the benefit of Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School.

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General Business

13. Resilient Coast Santa Cruz 2.0 Update (CM)
LOCATION: Districts 2, 3, 4, and 6
Sustainability and Resiliency Officer T. Wise-West gave a presentation and responded to Council questions.

Director of Public Works N. Nguyen responded to Council questions.

Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. There were no speakers.

Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.

MOTION: Councilmember Brunner moved, seconded by Councilmember Newsome, to receive and accept the project update including medium term coastal adaptation strategy development status, community engagement to date, and timeline to project completion.

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.

14. Amendment to Santa Cruz Municipal Code Chapter 10.41 Pertaining to Eligibility for Citywide Permit Parking (PW)
LOCATION: Citywide
Principal Transportation Planner C. Gallogly gave a presentation and responded to Council questions.

Mayor Keeley opened the public comment period. The following people spoke.

Rafa Sonnenfeld
Don Landes
Unidentified person
Bradley Snyder
James Ewing-Whitman
Mayor Keeley closed the public comment period.

September 22, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8366
General Business (continued)

14. Amendment to Santa Cruz Municipal Code Chapter 10.41 Pertaining to Eligibility for Citywide Permit Parking (PW)LOCATION: Citywide (continued) Director of Public Works N. Nguyen, City Attorney C. Bronson, and City Manager M. Huffaker responded to Council questions.

MOTION: Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson moved, seconded by Councilmember Newsome, to:
 Introduce for publication Ordinance No. 2026-16 to amend Santa Cruz Municipal Code (SCMC) Chapter 10.41 – Citywide Permit Parking to restrict preferential permit parking program participation for certain residential development projects that use state law to provide fewer off-street parking spaces than would otherwise be required by the City; and  Adopt a CEQA finding of exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) (the “common sense” exemption) and section 15301(c) (existing facilities categorical exemption).

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Councilmember O’Hara requested to amend the motion to include:
1) Direct staff and the City Attorney’s Office to evaluate the ordinance prior to the final adoption a potential exception preserving residential parking permit eligibility for occupants of deed-restricted affordable housing units, including affordable units within mixed-income developments.

The evaluation should consider:
 The legal feasibility of an exception comparable to the provisions established in AB 2712 for the City of Los Angeles;
 Whether the exception should apply to extremely low, very low, or lower-income households;
 Whether reasonable limitations on the number or type of permits could address concerns about neighborhood parking availability;  How guest permits, caregiver access, and other essential needs visitors can be accommodated, and
 The implications of such an exception for the ordinance’s legal structure implementation.

Determine whether Council can preserve appropriate access to residential parking for residents of deed-restricted affordable housing while maintaining the City’s ability to manage neighborhood parking demand.

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General Business (continued)

14. Amendment to Santa Cruz Municipal Code Chapter 10.41 Pertaining to Eligibility for Citywide Permit Parking (PW)LOCATION: Citywide (continued) FRIENDLY AMENDMENT (continued):
2) Direct staff and the City Attorney’s Office to return to Council with an evaluation of the following considerations and policy options:

Equity and Housing Accessibility
 Evaluate the potential unintended consequences of residential parking permit restrictions for lower-income residents, affordable housing occupants, transportation-dependent households, and those who rely on caregivers or essential visitors.
 Consider whether the restrictions could create practical barriers to housing accessibility for certain populations and identify potential accommodations.

Effectiveness
 Evaluate whether the proposed restrictions are likely to improve neighborhood parking availability or primarily redistribute parking demand to surrounding unrestricted streets.
 Identify the data necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these restrictions, including parking utilization, permit demand, and available curb capacity.

Location-Specific Parking Management
 Evaluate whether the City could establish objective criteria based on actual curb supply, parking demand, permit utilization, and neighborhood conditions to inform location-specific parking management decisions.
 Include consideration of whether such a framework could preserve Council discretion to establish appropriate parking restrictions based on the circumstances of individual developments or parking districts.

Comprehensive and Equitable Parking Management
 Evaluate opportunities to modernize the residential parking permit program to consider parking demand and access across all housing types, both existing and new.
 This should include consideration of permit allocations per household, availability and utilization of off-street parking, guest and caregiver access, and the cumulative parking impacts of neighborhood development.

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General Business (continued)

14. Amendment to Santa Cruz Municipal Code Chapter 10.41 Pertaining to Eligibility for Citywide Permit Parking (PW)LOCATION: Citywide (continued) FRIENDLY AMENDMENT (continued):

Legal Feasibility
 Request that the City Attorney's Office evaluate the legal implications of these potential approaches, including whether affordable housing exceptions, location-specific determinations, or other modifications could be structured consistently with Vehicle Code Section 22507 and applicable state housing law.

Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson and Councilmember Newsome accepted #1 of the friendly amendment, with the following deletion:

After further discussion, it was determined that #2 of the friendly amendment was not accepted.

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Councilmember Newsome requested to amend the friendly amendment by removing “the ordinance prior to the final adoption” from #1.

Councilmember O’Hara called a point of order to state the friendly amendment had already been accepted.

Councilmember Newsome withdrew his acceptance of the friendly amendment.

Councilmember O’Hara accepted the friendly amendment.

Councilmember Newsome accepted the friendly amendment, as amended.

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General Business (continued)

14. Amendment to Santa Cruz Municipal Code Chapter 10.41 Pertaining to Eligibility for Citywide Permit Parking (PW)LOCATION: Citywide (continued) MOTION TO AMEND: Councilmember O’Hara moved, seconded by Councilmember Brunner, to amend the motion, as amended by the friendly amendments, to add the following:

Direct staff and the City Attorney’s Office to return to Council in 2027 with an evaluation of the following considerations and policy options:

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General Business (continued)

14. Amendment to Santa Cruz Municipal Code Chapter 10.41 Pertaining to Eligibility for Citywide Permit Parking (PW)LOCATION: Citywide (continued) MOTION TO AMEND (continued):

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Councilmember Trigueiro requested to amend the motion to amend by removing language regarding “guest and caregiver access” from the direction. Councilmembers O’Hara and Brunner accepted the friendly amendment.

ACTION: The motion to amend, inclusive of Councilmember Trigueiro’s friendly amendment, failed to be accepted with the following vote.

AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, O’Hara.

NOES: Councilmembers Newsome, Golder; Vice Mayor KalantariJohnson; Mayor Keeley.

ABSENT: None.

DISQUALIFIED: None.

ACTION: The original motion as amended 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 22, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 8371
Adjournment – Councilmember Golder moved, seconded by Councilmember Brunner, to adjourn. By consensus City Council adjourned at 5:48 p.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ss/Julia Wood, Deputy City Clerk Administrator, ATTEST: ss/Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator, APPROVED: ss/Fred Keeley, Mayor.

Santa Cruz City CouncilSeptember 22, 2026

Santa Cruz City Council
September 22, 2026