The City Council Policy Manual includes policies adopted by the City Council pertaining to how the City conducts its business. The Policy Manual includes the following sections.

Councilmember Handbook - Rules and Procedures

Code of Ethics and Conduct Policy

SECTION 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

1.1 Council Procedure on Appeals

1.2 Preparation of Certified Record of Administrative or Legislative Actions

1.3 Risk Management Policy 

SECTION 2 - SKYPARK PROPERTY

2.1 Interim Use of Skypark Property 

SECTION 5 - CITY ADVISORY BODIES

5.1 Terms of Office, Appointment, Simultaneous Service:
I. Boards, Commissions, Committees;
II. Task Forces — Term

5.1A Policy Withdrawn - Term of Office, Community Center Committee Young Adult Appointment

5.2 City Advisory Bodies — Appointment of City Employees

5.3 Application Procedures — Boards, Commissions, Committees and Task Forces

5.4 Attendance Policy and Leaves of Absence for City Advisory Bodies

5.5 Boards, Commissions and Committees — Selection to Fill Unexpired Terms

5.6 Disabled Access to Meetings/Meeting Locations — City Advisory Bodies

5.7 City Advisory Bodies - Use of City Stationery and Business Cards

5.8 Agenda Subscription Service — Meetings of City Advisory Bodies and Council Committees

5.9 Communication of Council Action to Advisory Bodies

5.10 City Advisory Body Appeals

5.11 Open Meeting Regulations (Brown Act) — City Advisory Bodies

5.12 Advisory Body Standing Subcommittees

5.13 Advisory Body Members’ Travel, Meeting and Conference Expenses

5.14 Minute Preparation for Advisory Body and City Council Committee Meetings

5.15 Responsibility and Authority of Chair to Prepare Advisory Body Agenda

5.16 Council Representation at Commission For The Prevention of Violence Against Women Annual Public Hearing

5.17 Advisory Body Members' Ethics Training Requirement

5.18 Conflicts of Interest - Compliance with Statutes, Regulations and Related Court, Attorney General, and FPPC Opinions

5.19 Stipend for Advisory Body Members

SECTION 6 - CITY COUNCIL

6.1 City Council Expenses; Travel Contingency Fund for City Councilmembers; and Books, Periodicals and Equipment Purchased by City Councilmembers

6.2 Special Meetings of the City Council

6.3 City Council Outgoing Correspondence

6.4 City Council — Staff Reports Pertaining to Policy Matters

6.5 City Council Agenda — Order of Business

6.6 City Council Meetings — Oral Communications

6.7 Lengthy Reports Distributed to City Council

6.8 Information Items for City Council (FYIs) — Procedure for Distribution (Items Not Requiring Council Action)

6.9 Requests of Staff Made by The Mayor and/or Councilmembers

6.10 Seating of New Councilmembers and Mayor: Election of Vice Mayor — Setting Times

6.11 City Mementos — Guidelines for Presentation

6.12 Closed Sessions

6.13 Open Meeting Regulations (Brown Act) — City Council Meetings

6.14 Issuance of Mayor’s Proclamations

6.15 Policy Deleted - Pre-Printed Material For Council Items

6.16 Policy Deleted - City Council Agenda Legislative History Addendum

6.17 Equal Access to Services

6.18 City Council Review of Special Event Permits 

6.19 Procedural Rules for Motions and Debate

6.20 Meal Reimbursement for City Council Members

6.21 City Council District Engagement Policy


SECTION 7 - CITY FACILITIES, USE OF

7.1 Use of City Facilities — Parks and Recreation Department Jurisdiction

7.2 City Council Chambers — Use of Facility

7.3 Designation of Memorials on City Property


SECTION 10 - ELECTIONS

10.1 Election Procedures: Candidate's Statement of Qualifications 

SECTION 11 - ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

11.1 Opposition to Off-Shore Oil Drilling

11.2 UCSC's Growth — Relationship to City

11.3 Timber Harvests in Watershed Area and Preservation of Old Growth Trees

11.4 Declaring the City of Santa Cruz A Nuclear Free Zone

11.5 Energy Efficiency in City-Managed Facilities 

SECTION 12 - FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING

12.1 Authorization to Draw Money from City Treasury and Sign Checks

12.2 City Grant Recipients — City Accessibility to Records

12.3 Budgetary Policy

12.4 City-sponsored Activities — Financial Impact

12.5 Transient Occupancy Tax

12.6 Appropriation Control

12.7 City of Santa Cruz Statement of Investment and Portfolio Policy

12.8 Public Trust Fund

12.9 Waiver and Payment of Fees for Special Events

12.10 Donations and Contributions

12.11 Gifts to an Agency Reporting 

12.12 Arana Gulch Public Trust Fund Account

12.13 City-Wide Stabilization Arrangement (Two-Month General Fund Reserve) and Unfunded Obligation Stabilization Arrangement

12.14 General Fund Surplus Policy

12.15 Economic Development Stabilization Arrangement

12.16 Cannabis Business Tax Increment Designated for a Children's Fund

SECTION 14 - GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES

14.1 Provision of Municipal Services — Unincorporated Areas

14.2 Ordinances for Publication

14.3 Grants - Council Review and Approval 

14.4 Neighborhood Notification of Council Agenda Items

14.5 Protection of Individual Rights at Demonstrations

14.6 Jewish Holidays — Meeting and Event Scheduling

14.7 Funding Criteria for Community Development Block Grant Public Services

14.8 Assessment District Financing for Private Development 

14.9 Health in All Policies (HiAP) Implementation

SECTION 16 - HISTORIC PRESERVATION

16.1 Official Anniversary of the Founding of the City of Santa Cruz. 

SECTION 17 - HOUSING

17.1 Designation of Public Housing Agency for the City of Santa Cruz

17.2 Low Income Housing—Requests for Referendums

17.3 Rental Policy for City-Owned Housing

SECTION 20 - LEGISLATION

20.1 Resolutions — Adoption and Use of 

SECTION 24 - PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES

24.1 Naming of City Parks

24.2 Invitations to Marine Vessels to Visit the City of Santa Cruz 

SECTION 25 - PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

25.1 Filling of Temporary Positions

25.2 Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, and Respectful Workplace Conduct Policy

25.3 Mandatory Workshops For City Employees and the City Council Regarding Sexual Harassment and Cultural Diversity

25.4 Council Approval of Agreements with the City's Bargaining Units

25.5 City Manager Evaluation

SECTION 26 - PLANNING, LAND USE AND ZONING

26.1 Subdivisions—City Acquisitions of Easements Along Creeks

26.2 Landscaping Maintenance Bond

26.3 Subdivision and Major Developments Directly Outside City Limits—Review of

26.4 Permit Process—City Projects

26.5 Zoning Appeal Procedure

26.6 Use of General Plan—General Plan/Land Use Designation Inconsistencies

26.7 UCSC Growth and Its Impact on the City of Santa Cruz (Ballot Measure)

26.8 Growth Principles for University of California System

26.9 Approval of Projects in Downtown Area 
26.10 Use of a Development Agreement for Development Applications of Property Identified as Nodes in General Plan 2030 (GP 2030), Located Adjacent to Soquel Avenue, Water, Ocean and Mission Streets Where Existing Zoning Is Not Consistent with General Plan 2030

SECTION 27 - POLICE SERVICES

27.1 Commission's Review of Police Service

27.2 Loud and Unruly Gatherings (Party) Ordinance 

27.3 Bearcat Rescue Vehicle Use

SECTION 28 - PROPERTY RIGHTS-OF-WAY

28.1 Guidelines for Disposal of City Owned Property — Small Parcels

28.2 Trenching in City RIghts-of-Way; Pavement Lifespan Preservation

SECTION 29 - PURCHASING AND CONTRACTS

29.1 Formal and Informal Bid Limits

29.2 Bids — Advantage for Local Vendors

29.3 Public Works Contracts Over The Formal Bid Limit Require Public Notice

29.4 Vehicle Replacement Program

29.5 Retention of Professional Consultant Services — City Manager

29.6 Contract Change Orders — Capital Improvement Projects

29.7 Asbestos in Products — Purchasing Guidelines

29.8 Prerequisite to Making Direct Purchases from State

29.9 Rescinded by Council Policy 29.17 Recycled Paper and Paper Products — Purchasing Guidelines 

29.10 Hiring Musicians for City Events

29.11 Polystyrene Foam Plastic Products — Prohibition on City Purchase and/or Use

29.12 Burma — Restricting Use of City Funds

29.13 Purchase of Energy Efficient Products, Appliances and Equipment

29.14 Fair Trade Certified Coffee -- Purchasing Guidelines 

29.15 Purchase of Bottled Water

29.16 Restricting the Receipt or Acquisition of Certain Surplus Military Equipment 

29.17 Recycled Content Paper Procurement Policy

29.18 Recovered Organic Waste Product Procurement Policy

SECTION 30 - REDEVELOPMENT

30.1 Policy Deleted - Redevelopment Agency Business - Use of Local Banks, Firms, and Companies

30.2 Policy Deleted - Redevelopment Agency Meetings - Setting Time

SECTION 31 - REFUSE SERVICE

31.1 Use of Sanitary Landfill

31.2 Placement of Dumpsters on Public Rights-of-Way 

SECTION 32 - STREETS AND HIGHWAYS

32.1 Banners and Displays Across Public Streets 

SECTION 33 - TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION

Reference List - Large Policy Documents

(Available for inspection in the Public Works Department.)

Bikeway Plan - 1980. 

SECTION 34 - UTILITIES (WATER AND SEWER)

34.1 City Sewer System — Future Users

34.2 Utility Rate Increases — Public Hearings

34.3 Water Service — Future Planning

34.4 Water Department Financial Reserve Policy

34.5 Simplified Process to Consider Minor Additions to the City Water Service Area

34.6 Water Conservation Strategy Regarding Water Demands Associated with the University of California Santa Cruz

34.7 Securing Our Water Future and Water Supply Augmentation Policy Guidance

Reference List - Large Policy Documents

(Available for inspection in the Public Works Department unless otherwise noted.)

Wastewater Treatment Facilities Plan - 1979.

Santa Cruz Master Drainage Plan.

Sewage Master Plan.

Water Supply and Distribution Plan - 1963 (available in Water Department).