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Santa Cruz council approves consent items, moves forward on financing and governance; mayor recuses on one item

Santa Cruz City Council · December 15, 2025

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Summary

The council approved consent calendars (items 8—27 and 28—34), adopted the no-parking street-sweeping program, denied a tree-appeal to allow removal at 401 Ingalls, and elected the vice mayor for 2026; Mayor Keeley recused herself on item 34 due to proximity to the project.

At its Nov. 30 meeting the Santa Cruz City Council approved two consent calendars and took several formal actions summarized below.

- Consent calendar (items 8—27): Council approved the grouped consent items on a single motion with small modifications (including a clause adding the third-district county supervisor or designee to a day-services working group and additional annual-review language for legal services). The motion passed on roll call with recorded 'Aye' votes.

- Consent public hearings (items 28—34): The council approved items 28—34 on a single motion; Mayor Keeley was disqualified on item 34 because she lives next door to that proposed project, and the vice mayor presided for the consent public hearing segment.

- Item 35 (No-parking street-sweeping program): Council adopted the staff recommendation to expand no-parking street-sweeping measures after a pilot showed trash reductions and staff reported Coastal Commission staff support related to coastal trash-control compliance.

- Item 36 (Tree appeal at 401 Ingalls): Council denied an appeal and upheld the Parks & Recreation Commission decision to issue Heritage Tree Removal Permit TR2500087 to remove two coast redwoods on the property, citing staff findings of likely utility damage and engineer/plumbing evidence.

- Election of the 2026 vice mayor: The council re-elected the incumbent vice mayor by voice vote for continuity.

Why it matters: The consent approvals and formal votes finalize a range of administrative and project-level decisions, while the tree appeal decision and the vice-mayor election set near-term policy and governance outcomes.

What's next: Staff will proceed with implementing adopted programs and processing required follow-up for permits and contracts; the Flock camera issue will return to the January agenda for further consideration.