City of Scotts Valley has decided to establish what it terms “geometric constraints” outside of City Hall by establishing a no-parking zone.
That’s because the route to the police station, municipal offices and Council Chambers is just 36 feet wide at the most and 26 feet at the tightest.
“With parking currently permitted on both sides, the available travel way is significantly reduced, creating pinch points, limiting sight distance, and requiring opposing vehicles to navigate single-lane conditions,” staff said in a report to Council on April 15. “These geometric constraints make the segment unsuitable for on-street parking and support consideration of a no-parking designation to improve safety and circulation.”
Scotts Valley wants to be able to prohibit parking at places like loading zones, bus stops and along medians. And, the City wants its Public Works director to have the authority to designate places where vehicles cannot halt.
Staff recommended an ordinance to designate “no stopping” and “no parking” areas.
Vice Mayor Steve Clark made the motion, with Councilmember Derek Timm seconding it at the meeting. It passed unanimously. (The no-parking issue near City Hall was handled by a separate consent motion.)
City Council also agreed to send a letter to Nick Shultz, the chair of the Public Safety Committee in the State Assembly, to put its weight behind a bill by local Assemblymember Gail Pellerin. Per Scotts Valley, AB 1902 is important because it would provide “clarity” to some juvenile detention hearings.
“In 2015, Santa Cruz County was turned upside down when the body of 8-year-old Maddy Middleton was discovered. More shocking is that the person who committed such a horrific crime was three months shy of his 16th birthday,” reads the letter signed by Mayor Donna Lind. “As Scotts Valley is a neighboring community to Santa Cruz, Maddy’s case touched the heart of everyone in our community. Our hearts go out to her parents, family, friends and neighbors.
“The defendant was sent to a secured youth treatment facility in 2021 and became a ward in Sonoma County. In 2024, nearing the age of 25, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney (DA) filed a petition to have an extension detention hearing because the DA felt the ward was still dangerous and continued to pose a threat to society.”
Lind calls the “short intervals” (every two years) between detention hearings “most troubling,” in the letter.
“Santa Cruz County was the first county in the state to proceed with the extension detention hearing as enacted in 2021 and outlined in Welfare Institutions Code §876. There were many procedural questions that were raised during the course of the hearing that need to be clarified,” she wrote.
Earlier in the meeting, Councilmember Krista Jett made a motion to participate in the United Way’s Youth Liaison Program, and to authorize the allocation of $1,300 in the 2026-27 budget to support two student participants.
Councilmember Derek Timm seconded this.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for students in our community,” he said.
Everyone on the dias was supportive.
“Motion carries unanimously,” Mayor Lind commented. “Of course.”
In other business, the Council approved the flying of a Pride Flag, unanimously on consent.
“At the April 1, 2026, City Council meeting, Councilmember Timm requested staff to place the consideration of flying the Pride flag during the month of June 2026, commonly known as Pride Month, on an upcoming City Council agenda,” staff said in its report. “The Pride flag is consistent with Council’s Strategic Goal #3 ‘Support a thriving city through economic development, diverse and affordable housing, recreation programs, (protecting and) promoting the City’s brand and supporting community building events.’”
Also at the April 15 meeting, an amendment to the Business License Tax ordinance was amended to make things easier for temporary event organizers.
“It gives us the ability to create an administrative fee,” staff said, adding it will also improve oversight capabilities.
It establishes an “Economic Development Event” category, meant to support City-organized happenings and promote tourism and vitality-boosting activities.
“There will be specific exemption criteria,” staff said. “It’s for vendors that operate only within the event, not conducting other regular business throughout the city.”
Gatherings can last no more than two consecutive days, with each treated as a separate event. The cost will be $25 if the event producer organizes it, or $50 if the City has to take on that responsibility.
That change will arrive as part of the master fee update in the coming weeks.
At the April 1 Council meeting, former mayor Jack Dilles was appointed as a public member of the Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District Public Financing Authority.
