CITY STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mali LaGoe, City Manager (virtual)
Kirsten Powell, City Attorney
Rodolfo Onchi, Public Works Director
Scott Garner, Police Captain
Taylor Bateman, Community Development
Director
Sarah Wikle, Senior Planner
Cathie Simonovich, City Clerk
ELECTED OFFICIALS
PRESENT:
Derek Timm, Mayor
Allan Timms, Vice Mayor
Steve Clark, Council Member
Krista Jett, Council Member
Donna Lind, Council Member
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CALL TO ORDER 6:00 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and MOMENT OF SILENCE
ROLL CALL
MINUTES
Meeting of the
Scotts Valley City Council
Date: March 19, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
CONTACT
INFORMATION
MEETING LOCATION POSTING
City of Scotts Valley City Council Chambers The agenda was posted 1 Civic Center Drive 1 Civic Center Drive on 3-14-2025 at City Scotts Valley, CA Scotts Valley, CA 95066 Hall, SV Senior Center, 95066 OR SV Public Works Building,
(831) 440-5600 Zoom Video Conference and on the Internet https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83295730901 at www.scottsvalley.gov.
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM.
CM Lind attended a Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) finance meeting and reported that sales tax is down 1% and projected to be down 4% next quarter.
CM Lind attended the Transit Employee Appreciation event.
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CM Lind attended the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce gala planning for the "Passport Around the World" event, which will be on May 9, 2025. They are looking for volunteers and sponsors for this event.
CM Lind participated in the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce awards committee meeting.
CM Lind announced that there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Earthwise Pets on March 20.
CM Lind noted that she attended the Hitchcock Festival, which was very well attended over the three-day event.
VM Timms attended the Santa Cruz Integrated Waste Management Local Task Force meeting.
CM Jett attended the Youth Action Network (YAN) meeting where they are finalizing the details of the Leaders Unite event, which is on Saturday, March 29 from 11 AM to 3 PM. Interested individuals, 14-18 years old, can register on the YAN website.
CM Jett attended the Town Center Subcommittee meeting. CM Jett, along with City Manager LaGoe will attend the ICSC conference next week in Monterey for the purpose of getting retailers interested in the Town Center project.
CM Clark attended a Seniors Council meeting, and they completed the recommendation for a service provider grant for congregate dining, home delivery meals, and family caregivers. This recommendation was sent to the Seniors Council Board.
CM Clark reported that the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) released the initial costs to repair all bridges in the county, and the cost for the railroad bridges is $900 million. This item is on the agenda for tomorrow's RTC meeting. CM Clark will appoint Bill Arnold, a Scotts Valley resident, to the RTC's Bicycle Commission.
CM Clark attended the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Economic Development meeting.
CM Clark congratulated CM Lind for being named the Chamber's Ambassador of the Year.
Mayor Timm attended the Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) Policy Board meeting where they discussed battery safety, and they also adopted an adjustment to the electricity generation rates.
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CITY MANAGER REPORT
Mayor Timm attended the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) meeting where they reviewed the overall budget, and he reported that they are not expecting any significant impacts resulting from the federal government cuts. They also reviewed the Metropolitan Transportation Strategy, which includes all transportation projects for the tri-county region, including Scotts Valley.
Mayor Timm attended the Town Center Subcommittee meeting and reported that they are looking extensively at the timelines to ensure that they stay on track.
Mayor Timm attended a Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC) meeting, and he thanked CM Jett and CM Lind for attending the release of the new Visitor's Guide.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Graduation: City Manager LaGoe thanked the Council Members who attended the DARE graduations this week.
Junior Police Academy: The Police Department is now accepting applications to the Junior Police Academy which will have 2 sessions this summer, July 7-11 and July 28- August 1. More information is available on the Police Department website.
Police Department Staffing: The Police Dispatch center is fully staffed, plus one.
The lead time for training for both dispatchers and police officers is very long, so it is extremely helpful to have these positions overfilled by one position to stay on top of being fully staffed. This was accomplished in Dispatch with the recent swearing in of new Dispatcher Chris Breeden, and on the Consent Agenda is a request to overfill the police officer position by 1 FTE.
Skate Park Fence: The fence at the skate park is being replaced this week.
Lodato Park Trail Work: Trail improvement work is being completed at Lodato Park.
Siltanen/Glenwood East Fence: The new fence and retaining wall between Siltanen Park and the Glenwood East Preserve is almost complete.
Park Maintenance: Mulch has been added to the ground around the play structures at both Siltanen Park and Hocus Pocus Park.
Countywide Radio Infrastructure Project Governance Meeting: Administrative Services Director Hill attended the Countywide Radio Infrastructure Project Governance meeting. This is an important project which coordinates all agencies to upgrade the law enforcement and first responder radio communication infrastructure across the county. The project has made great progress with identifying a vendor and keeping costs less than projected.
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PUBLIC COMMENT TIME
Countywide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS): This is a 5-year plan that looks at the economic situation across the county. The draft review meeting was held this week for the updated CEDS.
Opioid Settlement Funds Review Meeting: Chief Walpole attended the annual Opioid Settlement Funds review meeting. The County administers Scotts Valley's settlement funds, along with the other jurisdictions, and this meeting serves as a review of how the funds have been used and gives the jurisdictions opportunities to ask questions or express concerns.
Redevelopment Agency Loan: The State Department of Finance has finally approved the $2.4 million Scotts Valley Redevelopment Agency loan, so this money will come back to the City's Wastewater Enterprise Fund. This money is critical for the wastewater plant improvement projects that are planned. City Manager LaGoe thanked Director Hill, City Attorney Powell, and Finance Manager Kendra Reed for their hard work and tenacity in getting this approved.
Autism Certification: Staff have begun training for the City's Autism Certification. All public-facing staff will complete the training in the next couple of months.
Bocce Courts Roof Request: The Council Members have received several letters requesting that money for a roof over the bocce courts be included in the next budget cycle. City Manager LaGoe explained that the City is working toward creating a Skypark Master Plan which will look holistically at the entire park, and public input will be part of this process. The City is looking at budgeting for additional shade around the bocce courts. For example, around the picnic tables or other areas where the players rest when they are not playing.
Funding Request: Last week the City submitted a funding request for congressional earmark funding for the next round of the federal budget. This request went to Representative Jimmy Panetta and was for $2.5 million to supplement the RTC grant funds for the Granite Creek Overcrossing Safety Improvement Project.
Beverly Gardens Affordable Housing Project (4444 Scotts Valley Drive): This project was awarded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Funding in the amount of $7 million. The Scotts Valley City Council submitted a letter of support for this project last fall.
Cynthia Dzendzel, a resident of Scotts Valley, spoke in favor of adding a $50K placeholder to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for a roof over the Bocce Court at Skypark. Ms. Dzendzel also submitted a letter (see attached).
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WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
ALTERATIONS TO CONSENT AGENDA
CONSENT AGENDA
ALTERATIONS TO REGULAR AGENDA
David Alreck, a resident of Scotts Valley, spoke in opposition to the housing project located at 4575 Scotts Valley Drive.
1. Health Services Agency Reports on Expansion of Cannabis Access Mayor Timm asked Police Captain Garner about the Police Department's point of view on the issue of
cannabis lounges, and the Council Members discussed the arguments for and against the proposed County ordinance.
M/S: Clark/Lind
To direct the Mayor to work with staff to submit a letter in opposition to the County's proposed ordinance to permit cannabis lounges in unincorporated Santa Cruz County.
Carried 4/0/0/1 (AYES: Timm, Clark, Jett, Lind; NOES: None; ABSENT: None; ABSTAIN: Timms)
M/S: Lind/Timms
To approve the Consent Agenda with no alterations.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Timm, Timms, Clark, Jett, Lind)
1. Approve City Council minutes of 03-05-2025
2. Approve check register dated 03-01-2025 through 03-14-2025
3. Town Center Land Purchase Supplemental Agreement
4. Approve Second Supplement to Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA) for the Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority to increase the member allocations
5. Approve a resolution to give authority to add one Police Officer Trainee Docusign Envelope ID: DE7BB9ED-A68A-4F18-BEFC-4997F132E66E City Council Meeting Minutes
Date: March 19, 2025
REGULAR AGENDA
M/S: Lind/Clark
To approve the Regular Agenda with no alterations.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Timm, Timms, Clark, Jett, Lind)
1. Consider approval of the Housing Element Annual Progress Report and authorize submittal of the Annual Progress Report to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department
Senior Planner Sarah Wikle presented this item and responded to questions and comments from the Council Members.
Public Comment:
Evan Siroky expressed his disappointment with the City's efforts to build affordable housing.
Vivian Skripek spoke in support of the project located at 4575 Scotts Valley Drive.
Santa Cruz Yes in my Backyard (YIMBY) submitted a letter (see attached).
M/S: Lind/Clark
To accept the 2024 Annual Progress Report and authorize the submittal of the 2024 Annual Progress Report (APR) to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and State Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Timm, Timms, Clark, Jett, Lind)
2. Future Council Agenda Items
None.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.
Attest:
Cathie Simonovich, City Clerk
Approved:
Derek Timm, Mayor
ADJOURNMENT
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