Capitola council directs staff to enforce Measure L, tells RTC Park Avenue detour cannot proceed

CAPITOLA, Calif. — The Capitola City Council voted unanimously April 17 to direct city staff to enforce Chapter 8.72 of the municipal code (known as Measure L) and to notify county and regional partners that a proposed Park Avenue realignment for the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail is inconsistent with that code and cannot proceed.

The action followed a staff presentation led by City Attorney Sam/ Samantha Zellers and City Manager Goldstein, lengthy public comment from residents and trail advocates, and council deliberations. At the council meeting Zellers emphasized the limited scope of a prior court review, saying, “The court did not rule on the merits of Measure L.” Goldstein told the council, “I do believe that the council should enforce Measure L.”

Why it matters: Measure L is codified as Chapter 8.72 in Capitola’s municipal code and directs that the Monterey Bay Scenic Trail be kept within the Santa Cruz Branch rail corridor “while protecting the Capitola trestle.” The council’s decision removes the Park Avenue diversion — an alignment pushed by county staff and the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) as a way to complete trail segments while the trestle and corridor remain in flux — from further city-level approvals. The decision affects a state Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant timetable and the county’s design approach for segments 10–11 of the trail.

Key facts and actions

- City staff presented four possible legal interpretations of Measure L, ranging from a very broad restriction that would bar any use of city property for a detour to a narrower interpretation that would allow separated multiuse paths that are distinct from city streets or sidewalks. The council debated those options before voting.

- Motion and…