By Jondi Gumz
The Capitola City Council vote was unanimous for Kristen Brown to serve as mayor for 2024.
The vote was also unanimous for Yvette Brooks to serve as vice mayor.
Margaux Keiser, the departing mayor, held the leadership role during one of Capitola’s most difficult years, with a January storm of rain and ocean waves that chopped the city’s historic wharf in half and shuttered restaurants all along the scenic Esplanade.
Margaux Keiser hands the gavel to the newly chosen mayor, Kristin Brown, at end of the city council meeting on Dec. 14.
City staff presented her with a beautifully wrapped farewell gift.
“That’s so cool, thank you,” she said.
“It was, like, a tough year,” she said. “I learned so much.”
She said she had a better understanding of how things work and what this city is made of, referring to people who came to the meeting with a progress report on raising $250,000 for the rebuilt Wharf amenities, which actually brought in $342,000.
“I’m excited to see what will happen next year,” she said. “Hopefully nothing too gnarly.”
Keiser won kudos from her colleagues.
“I learned a lot,” said Councilmember Joe Clarke.
Brown, who was vice mayor this year, complimented Keiser for bringing “a sense of joy and liveliness” to her role.
Despite the circumstances “you led us through it with grace and skill and grit,” Brown said as Keiser briefly shed a tear.
Brooks, a champion of the Treasure Cove project to revamp the playground at Jade Street Park at make it accessible to all children, said, “I am so grateful for your interest, your time and commitment.”
She said Keiser had created a “safe place where we can all be heard and get things done.”
Earlier in the meeting, the council voted 5-0 to hire consultants BerryDunn for up to $50,000 to develop a five-year City of Capitola strategic plan.
BerryDunn is based in Portland, Maine, with an office in Phoenix.
Council members Brooks and Alex Pedersen who interviewed three consultant teams, recommends BerryDunn, based on the firm’s experience, dedication to community outreach, and overall approach.
The firm plan to conduct interviews and focus groups, and create an interactive engagement website via Social Pinpoint, recently used by Menifee and Redlands.
Seth Hedstrom is the project principal and Michelle Kennedy, lead facilitator for the City of Santa Monica’s homelessness strategic plan, is the project manager.
Staff expects that strategic plan work will begin early in 2024 and take at least six months from launch to plan adoption. The first step is kick-off meeting between city and BerryDunn staff.