Dear Friends,
Transportation is the theme of the day.
The Board of Supervisors will review the 2025 repaving project for county-maintained roads tomorrow. As always, it's a stark reminder that we need to increase the budget for road maintenance. Maps and list of roads available here.
The latest plans for the Rail Trail are being discussed at the Capitola City Council on Thursday. A diversion onto Park Ave has been proposed as a cost saving measure. See more below.
A grand opening for the Chanticleer Whale Bridge has been scheduled for Wednesday May 14th at 5:30pm. Please save the date!
Stay safe during this week's rainy weather.
Best, |
Manu Koenig 1st District Supervisor, Santa Cruz County
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Agenda Highlights on Tomorrow's Board of Supervisors Meeting
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Image: a road being repaved. This item will finalize the list of county streets for repaving in 2025 and put the combined project out to bid.
The total project provides for the resurfacing of 11.63 miles of county-maintained roads. The total project cost is estimated to be $6,456,000. The project is funded by primarily by $5,081,000 in Measure D local sales tax funds. Other sources include $1,035,000 in Regional Surface Transportation Program Exchange (RSTPX) grant funds (gas tax money), $70,000 from the Parks Department (Measure K funds), and $270,000 from the Santa Cruz County Sanitation District (related to resurfacing projects needed to repair sewer lines).
In District 1 the proposed project includes three general areas: Soquel Ave, S. Main St, E. Walnut St, Park Av - These roads were impacted by the Pure Water Soquel Project. The Soquel Creek Water District resurfaced the half of the street that was dug up for the installation of new water pipe. This project will resurface and re-stripe the other half of the streets so that they are in uniform condition going forward. Paul Minnie, Rodriguez, Jose Ave - this central neighborhood includes access to Green Acres School and has a pavement condition index in the mid-40s (out of 100). Moran Beach Parking Lot - The parking lot at this beloved beach has been thrashed by recent winter storms and has truck swallowing potholes. It's time for a reset.
Other resurfacing projects happening around the County include the Seacliff Area in District 2, Swanton Rd in District 3, and Murphy's Crossing in District 4. Measure D funds for District 5 were used for to restore access on Mountain Charlie Rd. You can view the full list and review maps here.
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Image: a graph of housing units constructed in the unincorporated area over the last four and a half decades (source County Strategic Initiatives) The County's last strategic plan ran from 2018-2024. We are now in the process of updating the plan for the next 6 years. One of the primary ways that the success of the plan is determined is through the Community Impact Measures. A general update on these measures from august 2024 is available here.
As a way to focus the County's work, staff is proposing a reduction in the number of impact measures from 25 to 8 - one per strategic plan focus area. They are proposing the following indicators (Strategic Plan area is in parentheses): Adults who have had a routine checkup (Health and Wellness) Successful return to community from corrections (Safety and Justice) Housing units added (Attainable Housing and Shelter) Pavement Condition Index (Reliable Transportation) Families living below 200% poverty level (Dynamic economy) Strong Start score (Thriving Families) Greenhouse gas emissions (Sustainable Environment) Population by age (County Demographics)
Do you have thoughts on indicators that should be removed or added? Reply to this email and let me know.
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Image: a County Fire truck at Fall Creek Station Last year the Board of Supervisors ended the Fire Department Advisory Commission based on the Commission's own recommendation. The main reason behind the Commission's recommendation was that County Fire is heavily reliant on its contract with CalFire to provide services, but the Commission could not discuss the contract substantively in a public setting. The Department Advisory Group being proposed would not be subject to the Brown act but would instead create an alternate set of procedures for public participation.
In addition to the CalFire Contract, another significant item on this Advisory Group's workplan will be the potential transition of County Fire to an Independent Fire District with its own directly elected Board of Directors.
To view the full Board of Supervisors agenda for 2/11/2025 click here: https://santacruzcountyca.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=278
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Image: Staff recommended Option A for the City of Capitola Rail Trail alignment along Park Ave.
Capitola's section of the Rail Trail may be getting pushed out of the rail corridor and onto surface streets once again. The Capitola City Council will vote Thursday (see item 9C here) on a design amendment to construct the Rail Trail along Park Ave as a cost saving measure.
The current design along the coastal side of the tracks would require the construction of a massive 1,500 ft retaining wall up to 16 ft high, a 240 ft long bridge over Escalona Gulch, and the removal of 141 trees.
Since the Capitola City Council last approved designs in 2022-2023 the cost estimates for the Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10 & 11 have shown significant increases in construction and right-of-way costs, from $78.3 million to $104.4 million. Segments 10 & 11 are 4.5 miles long putting the current cost of building the trail alongside the rail at $23.2 million per mile through mid-county.
Other sections in Capitola that face diversion include From the Capitola Trestle onto Cliff Dr, through the Village, and up Monterey Ave - because a train and a trail cannot both fit on the Capitola Trestle. From 41st Ave to Jade St to 47th Ave - because there is not enough room for both a train and a trail between In Shape Family Fitness and Capitola Beach Villas.
These diversions are necessary as long as the tracks are considered to be actively in use for freight rail.
Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will hear updated cost estimates on passenger rail at its March 20th meeting. The last time a formal cost estimate was done for the rail project was 2015. The current study has identified the need for raised tracks through the Watsonville sloughs (to avoid flooding) and in front of the Boardwalk (to avoid hitting people), as well as the replacement of 26 of the 30 rail bridges between Watsonville and Santa Cruz. These additions will add considerable costs to a future rail project, which will require a new sales tax measure to be approved in 2028 to proceed. |
Save the Date: Whale Bridge Grand OpeningMay 14th, 5:30pm
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Image: Chanticleer bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Highway 1 (photo by Kevin Painchaud)
Join me and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission for the grand opening of the Chanticleer "Whale Bridge" on Wednesday May 14th at 5:30pm. Bring your scooter, bike, walker, or just a pair of sneakers. I promise you'll enjoy the ride/walk!
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Image: No Valentine's Day Date? No Worries. Grey Bears Event info.
Grey Bears is kicking off its first Seniors Night Out of the year with Senior Speed Dating this Thursday, February 13th, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Grey Bears warehouse! It's looking like this year's event will be well attended. Seniors (55+) in attendance will enjoy great conversations and form lasting friendships.
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Photo: Collage of District 1 parks.
The Santa Cruz County Parks Department manages 1,593 acres of parkland, including 38 parks, 24 playgrounds, and 27 coastal access points. Among these there are sure to be some county parks you have never been to. For example, have you ever been to the Miller Property County Park near Boulder Creek, Greyhound Rock on the North Coast, or Richard Vessey County Park in Soquel?
Use the map finder to discover all the great county parks and fun features each one has to offer.
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Get Appointed to a County Advisory Body!
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Construction Alert - Rodeo Pump Station Capacity Upgrade |
Image: map showing the location of the Rodeo Pump Station.
Improvements are coming to the Rodeo Pump Station. The Santa Cruz County Sanitation District will be upgrading capacity with new pumps and an overflow wet well. Construction is expected to begin in February 2025 and be completed by September 2025.
What to Expect:
- Richmond Drive closed for the duration of the project
- Business access will remain open
- Sewer service to properties in these areas may be temporarily interrupted during working hours.
- Possible short-term driveway access & sewer service interruptions -residents in the affected construction areas will receive advanced notice.
Questions? Contact Resident Engineer Cristina Crocker at (831) 818-8657 or Project Manager Ivan Messina at (831) 454-2814. Visit bit.ly/sanitationprojects for updates. |
Photo: Board of Supervisors meeting in Board Chambers.
Tue, Feb 11 - Board of Supervisors Meeting starting at 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held via Zoom and in person at the Board Chambers at 701 Ocean Street, Rm 525.
Tue, Feb 25 - Board of Supervisors Meeting starting at 9:00 AM. The agenda is pending. The meeting will be held via Zoom and in person at the Board Chambers at 701 Ocean Street, Rm 525.
Wed, Mar 5 - Office Hours from 1 PM to 3 PM. Come visit me at the Government Center, 701 Ocean St. 5th Floor, Room. 500. Bring your questions and meet with me one-on-one. As always, first come first served.
Sat, Mar 8 - Floral Park Pollinator Hedgerow Project (NEW DATE), 9am - Noon. The pollinator hedgerow at Floral Park will provide a landing pad/ nesting site for birds, and nectar for pollinators. We need volunteers to help us prepare the ground and plant the garden. If you'd like to join us, please email: volunteer@scparks.com
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