Capitola council votes to begin transition from at-large to district elections, schedules public hearings

The Capitola City Council unanimously voted to initiate a move from at-large elections to district-based elections and approved a schedule of five public hearings to gather community input.

Council members said the change is intended to improve representation and that staff will return with informational materials at the May 14 meeting explaining options such as four districts plus a mayor or five districts. Council members stressed the need for robust public outreach and made clear any adopted change would not take effect until the 2028 election cycle.

The resolution, moved and seconded during the meeting, was read into the record with dates for the five hearings and then approved in a roll-call vote. Council member Clark, Council member Orbach, Council member Westman, Vice Mayor Jensen and Mayor Morgan all voted in favor. The motion references Election Code section 10100 as the statutory basis for initiating the transition.

Council members also sought additional operational details from staff, including how newly elected district seats would be phased (which districts would serve shorter initial terms) and clear timelines for implementation. Staff was directed to prepare an FAQ and a mechanism on the city's website for residents to submit and track questions ahead of the public hearings.

Public commenters urged caution and community involvement. One speaker asked the council to avoid a rushed 90-day schedule that might exclude families during summer months. A separate commenter recommended sensitivity to neighborhood lines, warning that small boundary shifts can generate strong local pushback.

Next steps: staff will post informational materials and an FAQ on the city website before the May 14 informational meeting; the council will hold the scheduled public hearings as it moves forward with map-drawing and final decisions.