Mike Rotkin received a standing ovation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. After serving the city for six terms (a total of 26 years, including five as mayor), he was termed out of office. Over the course of his long career Rotkin, whose description on ballots famously read “socialist-feminist,” morphed from a radical to a pragmatist with liberal social values whose support of economic development projects like Gateway Plaza and La Bahia put him at odds with some local progressives. His replacement is Councilmember Ryan Coonerty, who was invested at the meeting. Standing before the City Council and an audience of family and well-wishers, Coonerty said, “My goal, our goal, this year is to give you certainty that if you give that precious gift, Santa Cruz will be a better, stronger community.”
At the meeting, the city also bade farewell to longtime clerk Lorrie Brewer, who was replaced by Tom Graves as Interim City Clerk. Also present was the city’s new Chief of Police Kevin Vogel, who was also sworn in. The city also thanked outgoing City Councilmember Cynthia Matthews, who was termed out after serving four terms, including three as mayor, and welcomes two new faces, Hilary Bryant and David Terrazas.
With so many new faces in City Hall, the city is bound to face considerable changes over the coming months. Mayor Coonerty hopes that more citizens will be involved in municipal affairs and announced his plans to create the “Mayor’s Academy,” a two-hour course to inform residents about major issues that the city is facing.
But all of that is for next week. This week’s City Council meeting ended with a party for all the participants, including the audience members. It was a chance to thank all the people leaving City Hall and to welcome all the new faces who are getting their bearings. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
