Santa Cruz Local newsletter briefs for the week of July 22:

1. Capitola council to discuss dog rules, community center, new police chief
2. Your thoughts on fixing county roads

CAPITOLA CITY COUNCIL

New off-leash dog area proposed

Ozzi Dog Park is the only Capitola city park that allows dogs off leash. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local)

6 p.m. Thursday, July 25 / Online and at 420 Capitola Ave., Capitola

The Capitola City Council plans to discuss dog regulations at city parks and beaches at its July 25 meeting, and city staff have proposed to test part of upper Noble Gulch Park as an off-leash dog area.

• City law does not allow dogs at Capitola Beach, but it allows leashed dogs at most parks. Ozzi Dog Park is the only city park that allows canines off leash. 
• There have been some complaints about off-leash dogs at Capitola Beach, as well as concerns about dogs at Monterey and Jade Street parks where there are sports and youth activities, according to a city staff report.

Dog laws vary at Capitola parks. (City of Capitola)

Jade Street community center upgrade 

A renovation of the Capitola Community Center at Jade Street Park is expected to cost about $6.2 million, start construction in November and finish by October 2025, according to a city staff report. 

The Capitola City Council on July 25 is also expected to discuss the renovation and consider whether city staff should solicit construction bids. Plans include a kitchen remodel, a new roof, an additional bathroom, electric vehicle charging stations and accessibility improvements. Improvements to patios outside the center exceeded the project’s budget and could be completed if more money becomes available, city staff wrote.

• The project cost without the patios is estimated at $6.2 million. The city’s budget will cover $1.8 million. 
• The project received $1 million from the state budget and is set to receive another $3.2 million in state funds. To receive those funds the city must begin construction this fall.

Capitola police chief to retire

Andy Dally, Capitola’s police chief since 2021, is expected to retire by the end of the year, according to a city staff report. 

The Capitola City Council on July 25 is expected to approve a plan to try to recruit his replacement by November. Capitola City Manager Jaimie Goldstein is slated to select the next police chief, and the process is anticipated to include candidate interviews with community members, department heads and city council members.

—Nik Altenberg

To participate: Public comment will be accepted in person at the meeting but not on Zoom. To comment ahead of the meeting, email [email protected]. The meeting can be viewed on Spectrum Cable Television channel 8 or on YouTube, Zoom or by calling 669-900-6833, meeting ID 833 2817 3113.

YOUR THOUGHTS

Your thoughts on fixing county roads

A sinkhole on Schulties Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains prompted its closure in 2023. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local file)

At Santa Cruz Local, we love Santa Cruz County and strive to understand it in all of its complexity. We value your opinion and seek your input to help guide our reporting. 

Prompted by readers’ questions, one of our most-read stories this month was an explainer on why county roads are so bad and how repairs are funded and prioritized. Some takeaways included:

• Much of the money that would have been spent on routine road maintenance in the past four years has instead funded road repairs from storms, floods, fires and other disasters.
• The worst county roads are the most expensive to fix and are deprioritized for repairs. Without more money, county staff said they might never be fixed.
• Decades of inadequate maintenance have left many county roads in “deplorable shape,” according to a civil grand jury report.
• County leaders may ask voters to hike a county service area tax to fund more repairs.

Today we ask: What should be done to increase county road repairs? Would you support more taxes for county road repairs? Why or why not? 

Share your thoughts

—Jay Leedy

Questions or comments? Email [email protected]. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.