PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and MOMENT OF SILENCE
ROLL CALL
CITY STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mali LaGoe, City Manager
Kirsten Powell, City Attorney
Stephanie Hill, Administrative Services Director
Jayson Rutherford, Interim Police Chief
Rodolfo Onchi, Public Works Director
Taylor Bateman, Community Development
Director
Cathie Simonovich, City Clerk
ELECTED OFFICIALS
PRESENT:
Donna Lind, Mayor
Steve Clark, Vice Mayor
Krista Jett, Council Member
Derek Timm, Council Member
Greg Wimp, Council Member
SPECIAL SET MATTER
MINUTES
Meeting of the
Scotts Valley City Council
Date: January 21, 2026
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 01-16-2026 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.
CALL TO ORDER 6:00 PM
The City Council meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM.
Mayor Lind remembered the City of Scotts Valley's first female Mayor who passed away recently.
1. Mayor's Proclamation recognizing January 2026 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month
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Date: January 21, 2026
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Lind presented the proclamation that recognized January 2026 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Loreal Weitzel, Executive Director and Founder of the Arukah Project, accepted the proclamation, and Natasha Herzig, Deputy Director of the Arukah Project, also spoke.
Public comment was received from Becky Steinbruner. Ms. Steinbruner also submitted the Santa Cruz County's Civil Grand Jury Report on Human Trafficking dated June 30, 2025.
2. "Holiday Shop Local Win Local" drawing
The winners of the 2026 Holiday Shop Local Win Local drawing were selected. 1st place - Shannon Youmans
2nd place - Suzy Hunt
3rd place - Erica Thomas
CM Jett attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for Santa Cruz Eyebrows.
CM Wimp attended a Successor Agency Oversight Board meeting.
CM Wimp has met with the Police Department, Community Development Department, Public Works/Recreation Department, and Administrative Services Department, as part of his orientation as a new Councilmember.
CM Wimp attended the swearing-in ceremony for Lieutenant Meredith Roberts and Sergeant Forest Brown.
VM Clark attended a Senior Council Advisory Committee meeting where they focused on the Master Plan for Aging work groups. He will be requesting a future Council agenda item for the Senior Council to present at the May 6 Council meeting and will request a proclamation recognizing Older Americans Month. They also reviewed how Senate Bill 1249 will affect our County.
VM Clark, as a representative of the City's Economic Development Subcommittee, attended meetings with the County Chamber of Commerce regarding coordination of efforts for the Superbowl and for the FIFA World Cup. For more information, visit the Visit Santa Cruz County "Kick off Santa Cruz" webpage at https://www.santacruz.org/kick-off-santa-cruz/.
VM Clark attended the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Economic Development meeting where they discussed local business engagement in the Superbowl and FIFA activities. He reminded the community to submit nominations for the community awards by completing the form on their website at https://scottsvalleychamber.com/.
VM Clark attended a Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) meeting where they Docusign Envelope ID: 2DB12830-828F-4DC8-87FA-AEF45CC3ABD1 City Council Meeting Minutes
Date: January 21, 2026
CITY MANAGER REPORT
voted to terminate the agreement with Progressive Rail, the carrier for the Santa Cruz branch rail line. He also served on a committee to evaluate the law firm proposals to provide legal services for the RTC.
Mayor Lind attended a Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) board meeting where they reviewed the noise complaints regarding the hydrogen fueling station and discussed ways to mitigate the noise. They also discussed the budget, funding, and financial planning for the future.
Mayor Lind and City Manager LaGoe met with Supervisor Monica Martinez to collaborate on mutual issues.
Mayor Lind, as a Chamber Ambassador, is on the planning committee for the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce's annual awards gala which will be held on May 8.
City Manager LaGoe thanked the Council and staff for attending the Swearing-in Ceremony for Lieutenant Roberts and Sergeant Brown.
The Skypark Playground is complete and will be open for use next week. The ribboncutting ceremony will be held on January 31 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Former Congressional representative Anna Eshoo has been invited to attend the event as she is responsible for securing the $750K funding for the new playground.
The Winter/Spring Recreation Guide is live on the City’s website and hard copies are available at City offices.
Maintenance staff have been putting extra work into our parks in preparation for the 2026 youth sports season which starts next month. We’re looking forward to another great year of youth sports.
Staff Recognition:
• Officer Graff and Dispatcher Jacobsen received Chief Commendations for an Exemplary Life Saving event. Due to their quick, coordinated response, Officer Graff arrived at a call in less than 45 seconds from when the 911 call came in.
He used an AED and provided emergency medical care until SV Fire arrived to take over medical care. The individual survived and the medical staff who treated him credited officer Graff’s action as the reason he lived. • Our Recreation staff responded to a medical incident at the Senior Center last week when a senior lost consciousness at the Senior Center. Our newest employee, Claire McKinney, called 911 and helped manage the situation until first responders arrived. That individual has also recovered from her illness.
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PUBLIC COMMENT TIME
Glenwood Drive Slide roadway repairs should be completed in 2-3 weeks. There will also be a meeting with CalOES tomorrow regarding our request for financial assistance related to these emergency repairs.
For the Scotts Valley Drive Sinkhole, Public Works is preparing a contract with Anderson Pacific to begin the work to repair the sinkhole and related damage. They are also preparing an encroachment permit to Caltrans for the work. We appreciate everyone’s patience driving through the area – we realize having the right turn lane closed is backing up traffic, and it will be some time before that lane can be safely reopened.
The contractor working at the SV Water District’s Grace Way well site struck a sewer main that requires immediate repair. To facilitate an expedited repair, Public Works approved extended lane closure hours. Please use caution in the area, as there will be personnel and equipment close to the travel lanes.
We’ve begun work on a new Wastewater Rate Study and Wastewater Plant Master Plan. These projects will work in tandem to prepare the plant for the future in both capital projects and operational needs.
School Resource Officer (SRO) King kicked off the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in all the 5th grade classes at Baymonte, Brook Knoll, and Vine Hill this week.
City Manager LaGoe attended the Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) Operations board meeting last week where they approved a contract with the landfill in Monterey to buy power generated by the off-gassing of the landfill – it’s a cool renewable energy project and the first government-to-government partnership 3CE has. It’s small and will hopefully grow over time as both entities learn more about the potential of this power source.
The Citizens Academy application is live and due back by Feb 20. We already have a handful of applications, so please apply soon! The program will run from the end of March through mid-May on Monday evenings. Please see the website for more information.
Finally, please subscribe to the City's Newsletter and follow the City of Scotts Valley on social media.
Becky Steinbruner spoke about the County's RING program, and also battery storage awareness.
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Date: January 21, 2026
ALTERATIONS TO CONSENT AGENDA
CONSENT AGENDA
ALTERATIONS TO REGULAR AGENDA
REGULAR AGENDA
Don Dietrich, a resident of Scotts Valley, expressed his concern about having the Interim Chief of Police serve long-term in that capacity. He feels that we should make a permanent hiring decision soon.
Victor Alejandro inquired if links could be added to the Zoom chat, specifically links to the Hope House fundraiser, the Kick-off Santa Cruz webpage, and the Chamber nominations.
Mayor Lind announced that ticket sales will be open for one more week for the 20th annual Fallen Officers Ball on February 7 at The Grove in Santa Cruz. More information is on the website: https://www.scfof.org/annual-ball.
M/S: Timm/Jett
To approve the Consent Agenda with no alterations.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Lind, Clark, Jett, Timm, Wimp)
1. Approve City Council minutes of 12-17-2025
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2079.1 continuing the proclamation of a local emergency for the Glenwood Drive slide
3. Approve the 2026 Scotts Valley Interjurisdictional Committee, Commission, Board and Council appointments, Standing Committee and Liaison appointments and adopt resolutions establishing project specific subcommittees
4. Adopt Resolution No. 2083 giving authority to add one Police Officer overfill position
M/S: Timm/Clark
To approve the Regular Agenda with no alterations.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Lind, Clark, Jett, Timm, Wimp)
1. FY 2025-26 Budget Review and Proposed Budget Amendment Docusign Envelope ID: 2DB12830-828F-4DC8-87FA-AEF45CC3ABD1 City Council Meeting Minutes
Date: January 21, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
Administrative Services Director Hill presented this item and responded to questions from the Council.
M/S: Timm/Jett
To accept FY 2025-26 Mid-Year Financial Report through December 31, 2025 and direct staff to proceed with the FY 2025/26 Community Grant program including allocating up to $5,000 for Autism Certification.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Lind, Clark, Jett, Timm, Wimp)
M/S: Timm/Clark
To adopt Resolution No. 630.46 Amending the FY 2025-26 Annual Budget.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Lind, Clark, Jett, Timm, Wimp)
2. Future Council Agenda Items
VM Clark requested a presentation from the Senior Council at the May 6 City Council meeting to review the Master Plan for Aging, and he requested that a Mayor's Proclamation be prepared to recognize May 2026 as Older Americans Month. A majority of the Council Members supported this request.
3. Resolution declaring certain parcels as Exempt Surplus Land in the Town Center Core
City Attorney Powell announced that CM Wimp is recusing himself due to the proximity of his business to the Town Center project property.
City Attorney Powell presented this item and responded to questions from the Council and the public.
Sue Draper, a resident of Scotts Valley, asked how much the City paid for the land and where the money came from.
Becky Steinbrunner requested clarification that the low-income housing minimum is 25%, not 25 units (of the 300 units).
M/S: Jett/Timm
To Adopt Resolution No. 2084, declaring certain parcels, as listed in the resolution and collectively known as the Town Center Core, as Exempt Surplus Land pursuant to Government Code Section 54221(f)(1)(H) and authorize the City Manager to issue an RFQ for developers of the Town Center Core in accordance with the terms of the Town Center Specific Plan and the Surplus Lands Act.
Carried 4/0/0/0/1 (AYES: Lind, Clark, Jett, Timm, NOES: None; ABSENT: None; ABSTAIN: None; RECUSE: Wimp)
The meeting adjourned at 7:29 PM.
Docusign Envelope ID: 2DB12830-828F-4DC8-87FA-AEF45CC3ABD1 City Council Meeting Minutes
Date: January 21, 2026
Attest:
Cathie Simonovich, City Clerk
Approved:
Donna Lind, Mayor
Docusign Envelope ID: 2DB12830-828F-4DC8-87FA-AEF45CC3ABD1