This Week in Local Government

What Santa Cruz County's county, city, school and regional boards are about to decide in the next ten days, sorted by how much it matters. Use the buttons to see just the governments and topics you follow.

• MajorWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Housing, Taxes, fees & budget
  City to set 2026 income, rent and sales price limits for affordable housing

  Watsonville sets caps on who can qualify for its deed-restricted affordable homes and apartments, how much rent can be charged, and how much those homes can sell for. This item would adopt an updated 2026 schedule of those income, rent, and sales price limits, using the state income figures released June 29, 2026, and would set the mortgage interest rate used in the sales price formula at 7.00 percent (down from the 7.5 percent adopted in June 2024). A yes vote adopts the joint resolution of the City Council and the Council acting as the Successor Housing Agency, and the new limits take effect immediately and stay in place until the Council replaces them.

• NotableWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Government & transparency, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
  $96,000 more for federal lobbying firm CapitalEdge Advocacy through 2028

  The City Council would extend its contract with CapitalEdge Advocacy, Inc., the firm that represents Watsonville's interests in Washington, D.C., for two more years. A yes vote adds $96,000 to the contract, raising the total cap from $96,000 to $192,000, and pushes the end date from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2028. The firm tracks federal developments and funding opportunities for the City and advises staff on federal programs, policies and resources.

• NotableWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Public safety· Consent agenda
  $174,815 contract with 4LEAF, Inc. for fire prevention support services

  The City Council would hire the firm 4LEAF, Inc. to help the Watsonville Fire Department catch up on and run its fire prevention program, for no more than $174,815. 4LEAF would supply a Fire Inspector, a Fire Protection Engineer, and a Project Manager to do required fire and life safety inspections and reinspections, organize records, build an inspection schedule, and set up tracking and billing of inspection fees. The firm would also help the department design the staffing, processes and technology to run the program itself after the contract ends. A yes vote approves the contract and lets the City Manager sign it.

• NotableWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Parks, arts & recreation, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
  $470,349 five-year software deal for the Watsonville library catalog system

  The Watsonville Public Library wants to keep using Sierra, the software system it uses to catalog materials, check items in and out, manage patron accounts, and run its online catalog. The Council is asked to name Innovative Interfaces Incorporated (a Clarivate company) as a sole source vendor — meaning the work goes to this one company without competitive bidding — and to approve a five-year license, hosting, and software support agreement for no more than $470,349.09. A yes vote authorizes the City Manager to sign the contract, covering February 2027 through February 2032, paid from account 620-7322.

• NotableWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Public safety, Health & social services· Consent agenda
  Emergency medical services contract with Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District

  The Watsonville Fire Department has been responding to calls in part of the Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District since 1996, most recently under a contract signed in 2019. Pajaro Valley Fire asked to change what Watsonville provides, and the two sides negotiated a new Emergency Medical Services Contract that replaces the old arrangement. A yes vote approves that contract, which pays the City $800 for each qualifying call and runs from September 22, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and authorizes the City Manager to sign it.

• NotableWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Parks, arts & recreation, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
  City would accept $275,000 Measure Q grant to revitalize the City Plaza

  The City Council would formally accept a $275,000 grant from Santa Cruz County's Office of Response, Recovery, and Resilience for the Watsonville City Plaza Revitalization Project, which is described as restoring and modernizing the historic downtown plaza. A yes vote puts the money into the City's Special Grants Fund [0260] and lets the City Manager negotiate and sign the grant agreements and any amendments needed to carry it out. The Council would also find that the environmental review already done for the plaza project is sufficient, since accepting the money does not change the project.

• NotableCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Taxes, fees & budget, Schools & youth
  Board reviews 2025-26 year-end unaudited financial statement

  County Office of Education staff will present the 2025-2026 Unaudited Actuals Financial Statement, which is the year-end accounting of what the agency actually took in and spent, filed with the California Department of Education. Deputy Superintendent of Business Services Stephanie Gomez and Director of Fiscal Services Melissa Lopez will walk the County Board of Education through the numbers. The item is listed as information, and the recommendation is simply to receive the presentation rather than approve anything.

• NotableSanta Cruz Planning CommissionThu, Oct 15, 7:00 PM· Planning & development· Consent agenda
  Permit sought to raise cell tower height at 2000 Soquel Avenue

  A wireless company's representative wants to add six new antennas to the top of an existing cell phone monopole at 2000 Soquel Avenue, a lot that also holds a furniture store and a 26-space parking lot. The additions would raise the pole from about 37 feet to 50 feet 2 inches, taller than the 40-foot limit for the Community Commercial zone, and would add a 6-foot by 10-foot concrete pad, two equipment cabinets, cables, and a new 10-foot by 15-foot lease area, removing one parking space. A yes vote would grant the three permits needed (Special Use, Design, and Slope Development) with the conditions in Exhibit A, and accept the finding that the work is exempt from further environmental review.

• MinorWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Transportation & traffic, Parks, arts & recreation· Consent agenda
  More money and time for Pennsylvania Drive trail repair engineering contract

  The Council would add up to $27,653 to the contract with Cal Engineering & Geology, Inc. for the Pennsylvania Drive trail repair project from Clifford Avenue to Winding Way, raising the total to $198,646.25 and extending the completion date from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The work is paid for by the Measure D Fund.

• MinorWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Government & transparency, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
  $157,350 more for Harris & Associates on Municipal Services Center upgrades

  The council would add work and $157,350 to the contract with Harris & Associates, Inc. for design-build, project management and environmental documents for improvements at the Municipal Services Center, raising the total to $485,151 and extending the term from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027.

• MinorWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Housing· Consent agenda
  $10,495.71 change order for home rehabilitation at 62 Lawrence Avenue

  The council would approve a $10,495.71 change order with Animas Construction for the housing rehabilitation project at 62 Lawrence Avenue, raising the contract from $100,850.00 to no more than $111,345.71, paid from the city's Housing Rehab Fund.

• MinorWatsonville City CouncilTue, Oct 13, 4:30 PM· Water & utilities, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda
  $207,765 three-year software renewal for city water and sewer operations

  The council would renew a software-as-a-service agreement with InSource Software Solutions, Inc. for the AVEVA FLEX subscription and support used in city utility operations, for up to $207,765.00, paid from the Wastewater and Water Enterprise Funds.

• MinorCapitola Art and Cultural CommissionTue, Oct 13, 6:30 PM· Parks, arts & recreation
  Commission to pick artist for Rispin Reflecting Pool public art project

  The commission would hear a recommendation from its ad hoc committee and recommend an artist to the City Council for a services agreement to create public art at the Rispin Reflecting Pool.

• MinorCapitola Art and Cultural CommissionTue, Oct 13, 6:30 PM· Parks, arts & recreation
  Commission to pick artist for Bandstand weathervane public art project

  The commission would hear a recommendation from its ad hoc committee and recommend an artist to the City Council for a services agreement for the Bandstand Weathervane public art project.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Taxes, fees & budget, Schools & youth· Consent agenda
  County education board asked to approve June 2026 budget revisions

  The board would approve revisions to the 2025-26 County Office of Education budget as of June 2026, on the consent agenda.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Taxes, fees & budget, Schools & youth· Consent agenda
  County education board asked to approve September 2026 budget revisions

  The board would approve revisions to the 2026-27 County Office of Education budget as of September 2026, on the consent agenda.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Schools & youth, Government & transparency· Consent agenda
  Board asked to declare equipment surplus and dispose of it

  The board would declare listed County Office of Education equipment surplus and approve its disposal.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Schools & youth, Health & social services
  Presentation on early childhood services, including pre-kindergarten sign-ups

  Early Childhood Department staff will brief the board on the Child Development Resource Center, help with Universal Pre-Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten registration, and other services for children, families and early childhood educators.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Schools & youth, Government & transparency
  Murry Schekman named as nominee for Personnel Commission seat

  The board will be told of, and publicly announce, the intended joint appointee Murry Schekman to fill a Personnel Commission vacancy that begins December 1, 2026.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Taxes, fees & budget, Schools & youth
  Resolution #26-47 would set the annual Gann spending limit

  The board would adopt its yearly appropriations limit under the Gann Amendment (Proposition 4, 1979), which caps growth in spending by school agencies and local governments.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Schools & youth, Public safety
  Resolution #26-48 would recognize United Against Hate Week October 18-24, 2026

  The resolution rejects hatred, racism, prejudice, violence and bullying in schools and encourages county schools to mark United Against Hate Week from October 18 through October 24, 2026.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Homelessness, Schools & youth
  Resolution #26-49 would mark November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

  The board would adopt a resolution recognizing November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month to raise awareness of youth homelessness and the role of schools in preventing it.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Schools & youth
  Resolution #26-50 would recognize National Native American Heritage Month

  The board would adopt a resolution recognizing November 1 through November 30 as National Native American Heritage Month and the contributions of Native Americans to U.S. history.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Schools & youth, Health & social services
  Resolution #26-51 would recognize School Psychology Week, November 9-13, 2026

  The resolution honors school psychologists' work on student achievement, social-emotional development and mental health, and encourages schools and partners countywide to recognize them.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Schools & youth
  Resolution #26-52 would recognize Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on November 14, 2026

  The resolution honors Ruby Bridges' role in advancing educational equity and credits the Countywide Black Student Union and community partners for local events and student activities.

• MinorCounty Board of Ed County Board of EducationThu, Oct 15, 5:30 PM· Schools & youth
  Resolution #26-53 would recognize October 19-23 as Digital Citizenship Week

  The resolution supports teaching students about internet safety, privacy and security, cyberbullying, digital footprints and information literacy, and notes the County Office of Education offers related training for educators.