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.

• 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.