PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and MOMENT OF SILENCE
ROLL CALL
CITY STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mali LaGoe, City Manager
Kirsten Powell, City Attorney (virtual attendance)
Jayson Rutherford, Police Chief
Rodolfo Onchi, Public Works Director
Stephanie Hill, Administrative Services 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
COMMITTEE REPORTS
MINUTES
Meeting of the
Scotts Valley City Council
Date: February 18, 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 2-13-2026 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.
None.
CM Timm noted that the Association of Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) meeting was cancelled.
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CM Timm attended the Town Center Subcommittee meeting where they discussed the Request for Proposals (RFP) for developers. He thanked staff for all their hard work.
CM Jett attended the Town Center Subcommittee meeting and noted that she is excited about the next step and also very proud of the staff for all of their hard work in putting together the RFP.
CM Jett attended the Pathways to Possibilities meeting at Scotts Valley High School where they discussed community outreach and the students' desire to be present in the community. The students wrote letters to the Brookdale residents and drew pictures for them. They also prepared for an upcoming meeting that the students have with Senator Laird.
CM Jett attended the Fallen Officers Ball and enjoyed the fact that everyone was there to support our first responders at this fun event.
CM Wimp went through the orientation process for AMBAG.
CM Wimp attended the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee meeting where the success of the Holiday Shop Local campaign was recognized, and they discussed the Art, Wine, and Beer Festival.
CM Wimp enjoyed the Fallen Officers Ball, and he recognized Mayor Lind for her extensive work organizing the event.
VM Clark attended the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) meeting where he was appointed to the Budget, Administration, and Personnel Committee. At the meeting, they voted to terminate the contract with Progressive Rail, which means that the RTC will now seek to become the common carrier for the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. To accomplish this, they will explore establishing their own separate rail agency.
On February 26, the RTC will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Capitola RoadHighway 1 bridge.
VM Clark, as the representative to the Seniors Council, attended the Master Plan for Aging work group, where they received an update.
VM Clark attended the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Commission meeting and noted that the Foster Grandparent program and the Senior Companion program have both been funded through the federal budget. They discussed potential changes in the funding structure due to new legislation.
Mayor Lind and VM Clark attended the Budget Subcommittee meeting where they reviewed the budget policies and technology updates for developing the budget.
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CITY MANAGER REPORT
Mayor Lind attended the City Selection Committee meeting and was appointed to the position of Chair. At the meeting, they reviewed and approved the recent appointments.
Mayor Lind attended the 50th anniversary celebration of Meals on Wheels, where they also celebrated the ten millionth meal served. Bay Federal Credit Union received the Community Champion award.
Public Works, Maintenance, and Wastewater are coordinating staffing coverage and response plans in advance of recent and upcoming storm systems. Crews have inspected and cleared drainage inlets, monitored known flooding locations, and confirmed on-call coverage to respond quickly to localized issues.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant is actively monitoring flows and wet-weather conditions and has confirmed staffing coverage to maintain compliance and system reliability during peak storm events.
Repair work on the Glenwood Road slide is nearly complete, the road is expected to re-open by the end of the week. Some minor follow-up work will need to occur under dry weather conditions, but the majority of the work is complete.
Repair work on the Scotts Valley Drive sinkhole continues. Permanent power has been restored to the traffic signals by Caltrans.
Three new staff members started in the Police Department this week. Officer Kris Koenig, a lateral officer, was sworn in yesterday and has started his field training program. He is projected to be out on his own in 6–8 weeks. Senior Analyst Wayne Bellville started yesterday and has already begun working on projects. Trainee Jarrett Darden started yesterday and began the police academy today.
City Manager LaGoe attended the Library Joint Powers Association (JPA) and Library Facility Financing Authority (LFFA) meetings where they revised the budget assumptions for the upcoming budget years as well as approved an agreement with the City of Santa Cruz for ongoing administrative support (such as Finance and HR support).
City Manager LaGoe attended the California League of Cities annual City Managers Conference last week. This was a great networking opportunity and forum to discuss challenges that City Managers across California are facing. AI continues to be a common theme. However, the highlight for City Manager LaGoe was the keynote speaker, Simon Sinek, who spoke about his work with Police Departments throughout California teaching the Curve program.
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PUBLIC COMMENT TIME
ALTERATIONS TO CONSENT AGENDA
CONSENT AGENDA
City Manager LaGoe met with a Nor Cal Carpenters Union representative regarding their interest in preferring local labor in public works and development projects.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved their Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) policy, a countywide policy that will guide how the County will participate in any locally formed EIFDs. This is important for Scotts Valley in order to be able to submit a proposal requesting that the County join the City and the Fire District's EIFD.
Administrative Services Director Hill held three training sessions for department staff on submitting their budget proposals directly to our financial system, OpenGov.
The next round of Federal Community Program funding applications are now open and are due in mid-March. The City is evaluating options for potential projects to submit, as well as coordinating countywide for a submission that will support the RING project.
We are on track to release the Town Center Request for Proposals on Friday, February 20. This will be posted to the City's new procurement portal and to the City's website. We will also send it to a list of interested developers collected by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
The deadline for submitting an application for the Citizens Academy is this Friday, February 20. There has been a great response with 24 applications already received.
The deadline for submitting a proposal for the Community Grant Program is this Friday, February 20.
Jayson Rutherford was promoted from Interim Police Chief to the permanent position of Police Chief. Congratulations, Chief Rutherford!
Reminders: follow the City on social media and sign up to receive the City's newsletter.
Sue Draper, a resident of Scotts Valley, inquired about the Town Center grading that has been happening, and the timeline for notifying applicants for the Citizens Academy.
M/S: Timm/Wimp
To approve the Consent Agenda with no alterations.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Lind, Clark, Jett, Timm, Wimp)
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ALTERATIONS TO REGULAR AGENDA
REGULAR AGENDA
1. Approve City Council minutes of 02-04-2026
2. Adoption of a Resolution Approving an Application for Funding and Authorizing Execution of a Grant Agreement under the 2025 State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
3. Approve Salary Schedule Adjustment: Emergency Dispatch Clerk (EDC) Classification Series
4. Guiding Budget Principles for Fiscal Year 2026-2027
5. Approve contract between Scotts Valley Girls Softball League and the City of Scotts Valley for the use of the Siltanen Snack Shack
M/S: Timm/Clark
To approve the Regular Agenda with no alterations.
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Lind, Clark, Jett, Timm, Wimp)
1. 2026 Legislative Platform
City Manager LaGoe presented this item and reviewed the proposed legislative platform. The Council proposed minor wording changes to two of the items. These changes are reflected in the motion.
A community member asked for clarification on the definition of a "local resident." M/S: Timm/Cark
To approve the 2026 Legislative Platform with two edits: 1) the broadband item would be amended to say, "Support legislation for affordable, reliable, broadband access to all local residents...", and 2) the climate resiliency & natural resource protection item would be amended to say, "Oppose legislation that would re-open California Coastal areas of the US Federal waters to offshore oil and gas development."
Carried 5/0 (AYES: Lind, Clark, Jett, Timm, Wimp)
2. Future Council Agenda Items
Mayor Lind requested a future Council item regarding Recreational Vehicles parking on streets. City Manager LaGoe indicated this issue is on the City's watchlist.
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Date: February 18, 2026
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM.
Attest:
Cathie Simonovich, City Clerk
Approved:
Donna Lind, Mayor
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