Housing, Disaster Funding, and a New Playground

August 12th, 2024

Agenda Highlights

A photo of town homes being built in Scotts Valley in 2021. Credit: Tony Nuñez, GoodTimes SC

Item 10. Hold public hearing ... to add New Regulations for the Ministerial Combining District ...

State laws have significantly changed the way housing is being permitted. This agenda item is a prime example of that with the creation of a special Ministerial Combining District. “Ministerial” projects do not require public hearings, will not be reviewed by the Planning Commission or the Board of Supervisors and will not be subject to CEQA. As a result, ministerial projects can be permitted and approved much faster, sometimes years faster. The downside is a loss of local control.

This Ministerial Combining District will apply primarily to affordable housing projects. By reducing costs for these projects, it will increase chances that planned affordable housing is actually built. Any project that includes at least 20% deed restricted units for lower-income households will be eligible for ministerial review. In addition, properties that the County identified for lower-income housing in our current (2023) housing element will be included, as well as those planned for housing in the 2015 Housing Element that were never developed. See a map of the proposed Ministerial Combining District here.

Photo: FEMA announcement.

Item 35. Direct the Chair to send a letter to our federal delegation on behalf of the County recommending the United State Congress take immediate action to address the Federal Emergency Management Agency implementation of Immediate Needs Funding and to restore the Disaster Relief Fund

With natural disasters proliferating, FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund is, in their own words, "approaching exhaustion." Last week FEMA announced that it would only be funding life-saving disaster response, not permanent repair work, until further notice.

For Santa Cruz County, this means that FEMA will not give money to any repair projects for the 2017, 2020, 2022, 2023 or 2024 federal disaster events until Congress gives the Disaster Relief Fund more money.

Seven projects that the County was mobilizing to complete this year are now on pause: Stetson Rd, two on Redwood Dr, Bean Creek, Schulties Rd, Mt Charlie Rd (this is a 2023 slip out, not the large one from earlier this year), and Lockhart Gulch.

Projects on designated federal highways, like Redwood Lodge, Valencia Rd and North Rodeo Gulch are in better shape. These are unaffected as they are funded through a different account - the Federal Highway Administration.

This FEMA announcement also means that the County can expect longer wait times to get paid back for the repairs that have already been completed, like the Main St bridge repair in Soquel. The 100+ sites already repaired have cost tens of millions of dollars. The longer it takes for FEMA to pay the County back, the more interest we'll have to pay with local tax dollars.

This agenda item will send a formal request from the County to Congress, requesting that they fully fund FEMA so that we can get repaid and permanent repairs can continue.

To read and comment on the full agenda click here: https://santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=2067

Groundbreaking for New Playground at Floral Park

Photo from left to right: Derek Draper and sons, Mariah Roberts (County Park Friends), Rebecca Hurley (Deputy Parks Director, Santa Cruz County), Supervisor Manu Koenig and daughter Charlotte, Richard Novak and Tricia Proctor (Novak Foundation).

Earlier today we held a groundbreaking for the new play structure at Floral Park off of 38th Ave. Local non-profit County Park Friends raised $275,000 for the project after Pleasure Point neighbor Derek Draper (pictured) initiated the campaign and contacted Parks staff. Derek, who lives in the neighborhood with his wife and three boys believed that "they could do better" when it came to their local playground. Many community members contributed to make this project possible including Richard Novak (pictured), and the late Rowland Rebele and his wife Pat. A full donor list is available here. A huge THANK YOU to you all!

I directed that the County contribute an additional $100,000 to the project, with revenues primarily coming from Transient Occupancy Taxes generated by hotels and AirBnBs. Short term rentals have a real impact on neighborhoods. That's why it's essential that the money they generate come back to affected communities to build tangible improvements.

This project is expected to be completed before the end of the calendar year.

9th Annual Parks & Rex Dog Pool Party, August 17th

Photo: Parks and Rex

Make a splash for two great causes at the 9th Annual Parks & Rex Dog Pool Party!

Cohosted by Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz County Animal Services, this annual event raises funds for free veterinary care for underserved pet owners and support for youth recreation programs.

Dogs can swim in the warm water pool and take part in a doggie art project. Kids can test their strength on an inflatable pool obstacle course, try stand-up paddleboards, play games, and have more poolside fun.

Tickets for children are $5 presale or $10 on the day of the event. Adults cost $15 presale or $20 day of the event.

Raffle tickets are $25. Winners need not be present to win. Prizes include a trip to Disneyland and San Francisco Giants tickets.

When: Saturday, August 17th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Simpkins Family Swim Center, 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz

Get Tickets!

Mid-Project Update: Soquel Drive Upgrades

Photo of road work.

The Soquel Drive Buffered Bike Lane & Congestion Mitigation Project is making excellent progress toward its Spring 2025 completion. When it's done, we'll enjoy enhanced safety for cyclists and pedestrians thanks to buffered and protected green bike lanes and more visible cross walks. Traffic congestion should also improve considerably with the installation of adaptive smart lights along Soquel Drive. The lights will be better synchronized and also be able to talk to the buses, ensuring faster transit service.

Since the project began, crews have made significant progress, including:

• Completing 65 out of 95 ADA ramps

• Nearing 75% completion of sidewalk construction

• Finishing two of the eight retaining walls

• Installing approximately 3 miles of fiber optic conduit for the Adaptive Traffic Signals

Upcoming activities are scheduled across multiple locations on Soquel Drive between La Fonda Avenue to State Park Drive including the installation of ADA ramps, sidewalks with retaining walls, landscape restoration, fiber optic infrastructure for the adaptive traffic signals, rectangular rapid flashing beacons crosswalks, and more.

The Soquel Drive Buffered Bike Lane & Congestion Mitigation Project aims to

To view the full project schedule, please go here.

Upcoming Meetings

Photo: Board of Supervisors meeting in Board Chambers.

Tuesday, August 13th - Board of Supervisors Meeting starting at 9:00 AM. The agenda is here. The meeting will be held via Zoom and in person at the Board Chambers at 701 Ocean Street, Rm 525.

Tuesday, August 27th - 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.