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Community members urge City Council to restore summer dates for 'Salsa by the Sea' on the Wharf
Summary
Dozens of residents and visitors told the council that the long‑running community dance 'Salsa by the Sea' should be allowed back on Wharf summer dates; staff and council said the issue will be pursued in coordination with Parks and the City Manager's office and considered at a future public agenda or budget hearing.
A string of public commenters at Wednesday's City Council meeting urged the city to restore summer dates and wharf access for Salsa by the Sea, a decades‑running public social dance that residents and visitors said brings tourists, builds community and creates cultural connections.
Speakers who identified themselves included Maria Reyes, who said she moved to Santa Cruz for the coast and stayed for the dance community, and Katrina Tattenham, a District 1 resident and small business owner who said organizers had met with councilmembers and parks staff but had not received promised follow‑up on ideal wharf locations.
"These events do more than just support dance. They are a tourism and community‑building powerhouse," Maria Reyes told the council during oral communications.
Multiple speakers described the event as intergenerational and a driver of local spending at wharf businesses; others asked the council to re‑examine permit dates and said grassroots events should have reasonable access to public space. Several speakers said the event previously used the Ideal Bar & Grill deck and more recently the wharf, and asked the city to restore sunset weekend dates.
Mayor Keeley thanked the speakers and said that three councilmembers and staff were working with Parks and the City Manager's office; he also noted the council could not take action on items not listed on the agenda and that the matter would be considered publicly on a future council agenda or during budget hearings.
What comes next: staff said council members and Parks staff are discussing the request and that the topic is likely to return to a public agenda or to the upcoming budget hearings for formal consideration.
