City of Santa Cruz

City Council

Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 2:00 PM

Official agendaFull agenda packetMeeting page

How to take part

Show up: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM, Council Chambers, 809 Center Street, Santa Cruz. California's open-meetings law (the Brown Act) gives you the right to speak on agenda items. Remote-participation links, when offered, are on the agenda.

Write in: citycouncil@santacruzca.gov (from City of Santa Cruz City Council page (santacruzca.gov/Government/City-Council), checked 2026-09-22)

Deadline: Recent City Council agendas set the deadline for correspondence to be included in the agenda packet at 5:00 p.m. the day before the meeting.

Email sent to the Council is public record.

What's being decided

  • Major· Water & utilities, Taxes, fees & budget
    Water rate increases proposed for 2027 through 2031, hearing set for Nov. 17

    The Council would adopt the 2026 Water Department Long-Range Financial Plan, accept a schedule of water rate increases and drought cost recovery fees for calendar years 2027 through 2031 based on the August 18, 2026 rate study, and authorize mailing Proposition 218 notices to customers that start a protest period, with a public hearing set for Tuesday, November 17, 2026 after 10:00 a.m.

  • Notable· Transportation & traffic, Government & transparency, Public safety· Consent agenda
    Council to send reply to grand jury report on walking in Santa Cruz County

    The Council would authorize the Mayor to submit the City's official responses to the Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury report titled "Walking in the County of Santa Cruz."

  • Notable· Health & social services, Government & transparency, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
    Rules for soda tax oversight committee, allowing up to 3 non-residents

    The Council would approve bylaws for the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Oversight Committee and adopt a resolution waiving the city-residency requirement for advisory bodies so up to three non-residents with experience in youth programs or early childhood development could serve.

  • Notable· Water & utilities, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
    $333,286 emergency sinkhole repair at wastewater treatment plant

    The Council would ratify an emergency purchase order with Anderson Pacific Engineering of Santa Clara for $333,286 to repair a sinkhole at the Wastewater Treatment Facility, and amend the Fiscal Year 2027 budget to appropriate that amount.

  • Minor· Jobs & local economy, Planning & development· Consent agenda
    Amended lease for city-owned commercial space at 915 Cedar Street

    The Council would approve a third amendment to the lease of the City-owned commercial space at 915 Cedar Street with Laughing Phoenix, Inc. dba the Great Rabbit, Atlas Services Corporation dba Atlas Geotechnical and Clever Collective, and allow a Memorandum of Lease to be recorded with the County Recorder.

  • Minor· Government & transparency, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
    Allow legal services payments over $100,000 to Burke, Williams & Sorensen

    The City Manager would be authorized to sign agreements and approve payments above $100,000 for legal services from the law firm Burke, Williams, & Sorensen, LLP during Fiscal Year 2027.

  • Minor· Government & transparency, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
    Allow over $100,000 for outside workplace complaint investigations

    The City Manager would be authorized to approve more than $100,000 in total payments to Oppenheimer Investigations Group, LLP for outside investigations of workplace harassment, discrimination and respectful workplace complaints in Fiscal Year 2027.

  • Minor· Parks, arts & recreation· Consent agenda
    Memorial plaque in Pogonip honoring Celia and Peter Scott

    The Council would approve installing a memorial plaque in Pogonip in honor of Celia and Peter Scott.

  • Minor· Water & utilities, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
    Buy a $276,712.98 valve maintenance truck for the Water Department

    The Council would approve purchasing a Ford F-550 Wachs Valve Truck from Rush Truck Center in New Braunfels, Texas for $276,712.98 through an existing Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract.

Everything else on the agenda