Santa Cruz began its municipal life as a town in 1866, and then received its first city charter in 1876. In 1907, the citizens voted for a new charter with the mayor as chief executive and a seven-member city council. In 1948, Santa Cruz established a council-manager form of government, with a mayor and six councilmembers setting policy for the city and a city manager serving as the chief administrator. In 2022, the city went through another major shift, changing to by-district representation and a direct mayoral election.

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City Council

The Santa Cruz City Council is switching from at-large to district-based council elections.
Given that past councils have been dominated by westsiders, it will be interesting to see what changes occur once city residents are represented according to geographically set districts.

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Planning Commission

The Santa Cruz Planning Commission meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Details on how the public can watch, listen and comment online are available on the commission’s web page.

Recent Announcements

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City Opening Special Public Event Grant Applications

City Opening Special Public Event Grant Applications Santa Cruz, CA March 6, 2024 - The City of Santa Cruz is pleased to announce the opening of the Special Public Events Grant Application in coordination with the Health in All...
03/05/2024

Santa Cruz Transportation and Public Works Commission Hosts ‘Project Open House’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2024 Contact: Amanda Rodriguez, Community Relations Specialist, arodriguez@santacruzca.gov SANTA CRUZ, Calif. The City of Santa Cruz Public Works Department and the Transportation and Public Works Commission will...
03/04/2024

Over $760,000 in Grant Funding for Community Organizations Helping Santa Cruz Youth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 16, 2024 Contact: Amanda Rodriguez, Community Relations Specialist, arodriguez@santacruzca.gov Santa Cruz, California - The City of Santa Cruz Children's Fund Oversight Committee is thrilled to offer grant funding to...
02/16/2024

Related News

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California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

07/21/2024
Officials in The City and County of Santa Cruz and the City of Watsonville are exploring tax and other policy changes in how the cannabis industry is governed locally.

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07/16/2024
Image for display with article titled Grand Jury Raises Questions About Who Gets Affordable Homes

A report raises questions about whether the City of Santa Cruz is properly tracking who lives in “inclusionary units”—those set aside as affordable housing—within the city to make sure preference is given to Santa Cruz residents.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

07/04/2024
Mayor Fred Keeley says City of Santa Cruz will stay the course of the current strategy, for now.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

06/28/2024
Santa Cruz officials are reviewing homelessness policies in the wake of the US Supreme Court ruling in the Grants Pass v Johnson case.

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06/26/2024
Image for display with article titled New City Looms in South of Laurel Area Plan

A bustling neighborhood and a new 3,200-seat arena for the Santa Cruz Warriors are part of a plan to transform Downtown Santa Cruz in the coming years.

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