The City of Santa Cruz on Sept. 30 voted unanimously to join a local coordination effort to oppose proposed federal offshore oil leasing and related federal actions. The motion also directs staff to return within a month with a cooperative agreement defining the city's role and identify funding sources for county-requested contributions.

Council member Golder moved the item and Council member Tragero seconded. The motion asked staff to "return to city council within a month with a cooperative agreement or the equivalent that defines the scope of work, terms and city involvement and an agreement with Save Our Shores and identify a funding source for the county requested phase 1 contribution of $29,000 and the county requested phase 2 contribution of $25,000." The council voted aye on the motion.

Public comment on the pulled item stressed urgency because federal actions and potential geographic targeting for offshore leasing may come quickly, and also raised seabed mining as a related concern. One online commenter questioned whether the city already pays lobbyists in Sacramento and Washington and urged caution about ongoing financial commitments.

Nut graf: The council chose to participate in a coordinated local response to federal offshore oil proposals and to negotiate a concrete cooperative agreement defining scope and funding. The motion does not itself appropriate funds; it instructs staff to identify funding sources and return with a written agreement within a month.

City Attorney advice during debate noted adding seabed mining to the motion would require additional public-notice steps because it was not listed on the agenda; the maker declined to add seabed mining in the same motion. Several public commenters and a local environmental advocate urged the council to act quickly, noting recent federal and executive actions affecting offshore and seabed mining policy.

Ending: Staff will draft the cooperative agreement and report back within a month, including identification of funding sources for the two county-requested contributions the motion referenced.