The Santa Cruz City Planning Commission voted to approve a coastal permit to continue parking restrictions that support the city’s enhanced street‑sweeping program in the Natural Bridges coastal area and other nearby streets. The motion to adopt staff’s recommendation passed in roll call, with one commissioner dissenting.

Senior planner Tim Mayer told the commission the permit under consideration would formalize and extend the one‑year pilot so the city can continue no‑parking hours that allow sweepers to access curb areas in the coastal zone. Mayer said the extension would cover routes including Delaware Avenue, Natural Bridges Drive, Swanton Boulevard and Mission Street, and that staff recommended approval of the permit subject to the conditions listed in the staff report. He added the project is eligible for a categorical CEQA exemption (Article 19) cited in the staff presentation.

Public Works staff provided operational and enforcement figures from the pilot. Eric Dauchamp, Associate Planner II with Public Works, said the one‑time cost to implement the pilot was about $50,000 for signs and posts and that sweeping itself is funded out of the department’s existing citywide budget. "We collected over 121 tons of trash and debris during the period between March and Oct. 31, 2025," Dauchamp said, and added that the pilot used an initial warning prior to issuing citations. He reported 574 warnings and approximately 573 citations in the March–October period and noted the base citation fee was $48.

Commissioners pressed staff on enforcement details and the use of towing as a tool. One commissioner proposed removing towing from the permit; other commissioners and staff said towing remained part of the enforcement toolbox as a last resort if warnings and citations did not compel vehicle removal. Dauchamp said no towing had occurred during the pilot to date and described towing as an escalation intended to preserve operational access for sweepers.

Several commissioners voiced equity concerns about towing and possible impacts on people living in vehicles. Staff said conditions could be written to require warnings or specified citation thresholds before towing would be used and that the permit framework allows the director of planning and the director of public works limited authority to make minor modifications to signage, hours or placement.

After discussion, an unidentified commissioner moved to adopt the staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call with Commissioner McKelvey voting no and the remaining commissioners voting yes. The commission then received informational updates on upcoming agendas and adjourned.

Votes at a glance: Commissioner Gordon — yes; Kelly — yes; Kennedy — yes; McKelvey — no; Chair — yes.

What happens next: The approved permit will be implemented by city staff under the conditions adopted by the commission; substantial expansions beyond the approved areas would likely require additional coastal permitting and further review.