Capitola City Council · Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6:00 PM · Item D · Consent Items
Final vote on ordinance changing city parking rates
In plain English
This is the final step in raising parking meter rates in Capitola. On September 24, 2026, the City Council approved a Coastal Development Permit for parking meter rate increases at the Upper and Lower City Hall Parking Lots, the Village Area, and the Cliff Drive Area, and voted to pass the related ordinance to print on first reading. A yes vote on October 8 would complete the second reading and formally adopt the ordinance amending Municipal Code Section 10.38.010, and would find that adopting it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (the state law requiring environmental review of some government actions). It is on the consent list, meaning it is set to be approved along with other routine items unless a council member or resident pulls it for discussion.
Anyone who parks at the City Hall lots, in the Village, or along the Cliff Drive area would pay the new meter rates, and nearby businesses, visitors and nonprofit groups that use those spaces would feel the change.
Key facts
- Adopts an ordinance amending Capitola Municipal Code Section 10.38.010 on second reading, with a finding that adoption is exempt from CEQA.
- Areas covered by the rate increase: Upper and Lower City Hall Parking Lots, Village Area, and Cliff Drive Area.
- First reading passed on September 24, 2026 by a 4-0 vote (Council Members Orbach and Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen, Mayor Morgan), with Council Member Clarke absent.
- The same September 24 motion also approved a Coastal Development Permit for the parking meter rate increases.
- City Manager Goldstein said impacts on nonprofit organizations can be addressed during an upcoming fee schedule update and are not part of this action.
Reasons to support
- The rate change was already debated and approved unanimously by the members present at the September 24 first reading; the second reading is the standard step to finalize it.
- The accompanying Coastal Development Permit for the meter rate increases in the City Hall lots, Village and Cliff Drive areas has already been approved, so the pieces are in place.
- Concerns raised about nonprofit organizations can be handled separately through the upcoming fee schedule update, according to the City Manager.
Reasons to oppose or change it
- Council Member Westman and Vice Mayor Jensen asked for sensitivity to impacts on nonprofit organizations, and Council Member Orbach supported freezing nonprofit rates — but that relief is not part of this ordinance and is deferred to a later fee schedule item.
- Council Member Orbach questioned the cost of implementing the change, a cost the city would bear alongside the new revenue.
- Mayor Morgan asked for better signage and clearer instructions on where and how to pay, and the Council discussed whether paying by phone is accessible for everyone; adopting the rates now puts the higher charges in place while those issues are still being worked on.
Official wording
Parking Rates Recommended Action: Conduct a second reading and adopt an ordinance of the City of Capitola amending Municipal Code Section 10.38.010 and finding that adoption of the ordinance is exempt from CEQA.
Summary written by claude-opus-5 from the agenda and the Staff report (agenda packet, pages 27-30). It can contain mistakes. The official documents govern.