Rich soil, wet winters, and mild summers in the Pajaro Valley have made Watsonville a center for farming and food processing, but construction and manufacturing companies have also found fertile ground there. And natural wetlands make the area worth of its Spanish name, serving as habitat for more than 200 species of birds.

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City Council

The Watsonville City Council is composed of seven members who are elected by the voters in their respective districts. Every December, the members vote on who will serve as mayor.

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Planning Commission

The Planning Commission consists of seven members who are appointed by the City Council. The commission holds public meetings monthly in the city council chambers.

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The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

10/27/2023
Image for display with article titled Watsonville, Capitola Council Meetings Assailed by ‘Zoom Bombs’

The Watsonville City Council will stop allowing virtual comments during its public meetings for the rest of the year after it received two anonymous calls filled with racist language and expletives during the Oct. 24 meeting.

Good Times logo From Good Times...

10/25/2023
Image for display with article titled Watsonville to Loosen Cannabis Rules

The city looks toward the first update to its retail cannabis rules in four years, after complaints that the ordinances are stricter than those imposed by the state.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

10/19/2023
Image for display with article titled Watsonville to Consider Changes to Retail Cannabis Ordinance

The City Council considered 16 tweaks to the ordinance; proposed changes include allowing a new establishment and opening more of the city to new businesses.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

10/12/2023
Image for display with article titled Council Approves Plan to Transform Downtown Watsonville

Watsonville officials envision downtown as a vibrant place where commerce, mixed-use housing and a transit system intermingle and trees line a two-lane Main Street.

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

10/06/2023
Image for display with article titled Watsonville Housing Project Due in 2024

Plus: Santa Cruz could require options to tip delivery drivers.

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