City of Capitola Government News Digest

The Capitola City Council are considering a November ballot item to increase 2016's Measure F sales tax rate from %9 to %9.25.

The Capitola City Council agreed to extend a ban on remote public comment after anonymous racist, misogynistic and antisemitic outbursts at a meeting in 2023.

After the City Council approves a map of docking locations, 50 BCycles served by 100 docking stations will become active in Capitola.

Capitola Mayor Kristen Brown muses about the 75th anniversary of the city’s incorporation as a time to reflect on history while considering the opportunities that lie ahead.

City staff supports accepting a $500,000 grant from the California Natural Resources Agency to support the city's Capitola Wharf Resiliency and Public Access Project.

At its meeting Jan. 11, which also happened to be the 75th anniversary of the city’s incorporation, the Capitola City Council received a comprehensive review of the Dec. 28 winter storm event damage.

In its final meeting of the year, the Capitola City Council took steps toward improved traffic safety, including installation of six LED flashing lights and re-striping at the Bay Avenue and Hill Street intersection.

With the help of polling professionals, Capitola leaders are ready to see how much of an appetite local residents have for a pair of potential revenue measures that could appear on next year’s ballot.

After more than a year of work, six drafts and almost 500 pages of planning details, the Capitola City Council unanimously approved the 6th Cycle Housing Element update at its meeting. Capitola Community Development Director Katie Herlihy said earlier this year the update would be one of the most difficult assignments of her career.

Capitola leaders are expected to cap off a year-long effort to update the city’s housing element before the state-mandated deadline in December.

County Park Friends—working to raise $1 million of the anticipated $1.79 million cost for Capitola’s universally accessible playground at Jade Street Park—has good news to share.

Capitola law enforcement leaders will restart efforts to form a community policing committee after a previous attempt failed to recruit a representative group of local residents.

The Capitola City Council unanimously landed on “Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park” as the name for the new universally accessible playground.

Construction crews are set to begin work next week on a $7.7 million project to rebuild and reopen this seaside town’s wharf, which was wrecked in winter storms.

The housing ordinance was originally adopted in 2004 to require local developers to include affordable housing—specifically for very low, low or moderate income buyers or renters.

Capitola leaders have kickstarted a fundraising campaign for the Jade Street Park Project, which will make the 24-year-old playground accessible to individuals of all abilities.

City Manager Jamie Goldstein reports that expenditures will exceed revenues by about $1 million, but the city expects to end the year with a general fund balance of roughly $1.55 million.

The Capitola City Council unanimously gave its staff the green light to begin accepting bids for Phase 2 of the Capitola Wharf Resiliency and Public Access Improvement Project, which includes restoring the large section of the iconic structure ripped away in early January.

“I want to highlight what an amazing job our city has done in the wake of the storms of 2023,” writes Margaux Keiser.

The city must “identify adequate sites and establish policies and programs” that will accommodate 1,336 units, 712 of which must be low or very low income.

The Capitola City Council recently gave its city manager the go-ahead to execute a five-year professional services agreement with BCycle to establish a minimum of 50 electric bicycles and 100 accompanying docks within its city limits.

The move will allow the city to seek financial assistance from state and federal agencies as it recovers from storm activity that crippled many regions.

As of Dec. 8, I am no longer mayor of Capitola. The new City Council members were seated that evening and a new mayor appointed.

The council's first action was a unanimous vote to make Margaux Keiser the city's mayor and Kristen Brown its vice mayor.

Normal wear and tear in the 15 years since the park was installed has created another opportunity to remake the facility with elements that “appeal to individuals of all abilities, including those with mobility, cognitive, developmental, sight and hearing impairments.”

There are 14 proposed amendments in total to the previously approved zoning code, ranging from drafting error corrections to substantive changes for addressing previously ambiguous sections.

The midterm election is behind us and true to form the race in Capitola is close and too early to call.

The Capitola City Council race has five candidates vying for three seats. Only one—Yvette Brooks, the incumbent and mayor in 2021—has served on the council. Lookout asked each to answer two questions.

With a month to go before the November general election, the Capitola Soquel Chamber of Commerce put on a forum featuring the five candidates vying for a seat on the Capitola City Counci: Alexander Pedersen, Enrique Dolmo Jr., Gerry Jensen, Yvette Brooks and Joe Clarke.

Redevelopment of a Capitola home will move forward after the Capitola City Council approved the design permit and an appeal from the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission was withdrawn after the property owner modified the design with its concerns in mind.