As of Dec. 8, I am no longer mayor of Capitola nor even a member of the City Council. The new City Council members were seated that evening and a new mayor appointed.
The new mayor is Margaux Keiser and the new vice-mayor is Kristen Brown. I, along with council member Jacques Bertrand, stepped down from our positions and reentered the ranks of citizens of the realm.
The council members elect in order of vote totals are Yvette Brooks, Alexander Pedersen and Joe Clarke. That night, they took their oaths of office to defend the Constitutions of the United States and the State of California against all enemies foreign and domestic and they were seated.
A new era begins with old traditions.
I will miss being a part of the City Council. Looking back over 12 years of being a council member and three times as mayor, I am proud of the accomplishments by the city. Particular among them are the new Capitola Library, MacGregor Multiuse Park, Rispin Mansion Park, a new zoning code, parklets in the Village, a new parking lot, and a revitalized Parks and Recreations programs just to name a few.
In the coming months, the Capitola Wharf will be rebuilt, the Rispin Mansion landscaping completed and the Clares Street improvements will be finished.
There are still many challenges for the new City Council to tackle. The Capitola Mall redevelopment project has stalled with an uncertain future. Providing for the required amount of new housing units and increasing the stock of affordable units will be a monumental task. The possibility of a new hotel project in the village on the old theater property will raise issues of traffic, parking and density in the village.
In addition, the plans for a commuter train on the rail/trail corridor will effectively cut Capitola in two and present challenges of noise and traffic in the neighborhoods. I am confident that the new Capitola City Council and with the support of our very capable staff will be able to tackle the challenges ahead.
As I exit local politics, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the community. As the end of 2022 rushes in on us, I am grateful for the coming holidays; the opportunity to contemplate the past year and reflect on the hopes for 2023.
Hope that you have a peaceful holiday season and that you take this time to be kind to yourself and to others. Farewell and maybe I’ll see you around town.
Sam Storey just concluded his term as mayor of Capitola.
