Agenda Highlights on Tomorrow's Board of Supervisors Meeting
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Image: rendering and sitemap for 25-unit townhome development proposed along Mattison Lane.
25 townhomes are being proposed for Mattison Lane, near Far West Nursery, along Rodeo Creek. The units are three and four-bedrooms, providing needed missing middle housing for families.
The subject property is a 5.29-acre and was eligible to construct a total of 37 units on the project site but is instead opting for 25 units, four of which would be affordable. The project is only required to provide 41 parking spaces but would instead provide a total of 94 parking spaces. A bicycle repair station would be installed in a new park proposed within a common area of the project site to encourage bicycling by residents. The bicycle repair station would provide repair tools and space to use them, which would support the use of bicycles for transportation in and out of the project site.
The project also includes a voluntary dedication of the northernmost area for a pedestrian and bike easement. County Parks can use this space to build a walking and biking bridge to Coffee Ln Park on the other side of Rodeo Gulch. This would enhance access to the Clares St and 41st Ave shopping area for the entire neighborhood.
This application was presented to the Planning Commission at a public hearing held on December 11, 2024. At that hearing, following consideration of the information presented and public testimony, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend the Board of Supervisors approve the application.
The development of a juvenile camp program in Santa Cruz County is a strategic initiative aimed at improving the outcomes for justice-involved youth while maximizing local resources and maintaining community ties. The Probation Department is returning to present information on community outreach efforts and community feedback as directed by the Board.
This report provides an updated General Fund forecast, reflecting the County’s evolving financial outlook. It serves as a bridge to the Proposed FY 2025-26 Budget, scheduled for presentation on April 29, 2025, followed by budget hearings in June 2025. Emerging fiscal challenges include underperformance in sales tax and federal reimbursement revenues, federal funding uncertainties, and anticipated reductions in County community health services. Staff recommends that the Board consider the FY 2025-26 Measure K spending plan, approve necessary budget adjustments, and schedule public hearings for FY 2025-26 budget deliberations.
In December 2024 and January 2025, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolutions 279-2024 and 4-2025, reaffirming Santa Cruz County’s commitment to protecting and supporting immigrant communities as a sanctuary county and reaffirming Santa Cruz County’s commitment to protecting, serving, and supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and people with other gender and sexual identities (LGBTQ+) in their pursuit of health, happiness, and private exercise of bodily autonomy. As an immediate step to further these commitments, staff recommends transferring $200,000 from General Fund Contingency, with $100,000 dedicated to undocumented immigrant legal services and $100,000 dedicated to LGBTQ+ community support services.
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Federal Watch: Medicaid Spending |
Image: Map showing that 31% of Santa Cruz County's population receives healthcare through Medicaid/Medi-Cal. Source UC Berkeley Labor Center.
With all of the big policy changes coming from the Trump Administration and the Republican Congress, it's hard to know exactly where to look. Perhaps the issue that has county leaders most concerned are the proposed cuts to Medicaid, known in California as Medi-Cal, that the House of Representatives is currently considering. County Administrative Officer, Carlos Palacios, explained more in this recent Lookout interview.
Currently 83,097 Santa Cruz County residents are on Medi-Cal, 31% of the County's population. The House is considering eligibility requirements that could kick as many as half of these people off of the program. On a statewide basis, 38% of all Californians are on Medi-Cal as shown on this map from the UC Berkeley Labor Center.
While elements like work requirements might sound good to some people, it raises the question of how hospitals, who are required to treat anyone who comes into their emergency rooms, deal with the costs of unreimbursed care?
The National Association of Counties, along with other local government groups, sent a letter to Congress last week expressing their significant concern over the proposed changes to Medicaid and explaining that "these reductions would jeopardize access to affordable healthcare and long-term services and place an unsustainable financial burden on states and counties, which often serve as payers of last resort."
We hope Congress will work together as intergovernmental partners to enhance the Medicaid program and ensure that states and counties can effectively serve their residents.
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Tests Indicate Santa Cruz County Produce Safe After Moss Landing Battery Fire
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Image: the Moss Landing smokestacks rise above agricultural fields in the foreground. Credit Tarmo Hannula / The Pajaronian.
Under direction of the Board of Supervisors, County staff initiated comprehensive environmental testing through the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner and Santa Cruz County Environmental Health. Testing focused on soil, plant material, surface water, and sediment in South County, which was most likely to be impacted by the fire.
Results indicate that metal levels detected in Santa Cruz County are significantly lower than samples collected in Monterey County closer to the Moss Landing site and do not suggest elevated public health risks or food safety concerns. Testing of South County lakes, for example, showed cobalt levels were several orders of magnitude lower than samples collected in the vicinity of Elkhorn Slough.
Many metals tested, including cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium, occur naturally and may not be linked to the fire, and their presence should not be presumed to represent a public health concern. Manganese, for example, is added to fertilizer to support healthy plants, and other metals are considered essential micronutrients when present at safe levels.
Samples taken from agricultural soils were taken at the surface and subsurface levels for comparison. No elevated levels of metals were found in surface samples, consistent with the recent Department of Toxic Substances Control finding that “there are not elevated metals associated with the fire in soil” near Moss Landing.
Initial plant material testing identified two outliers with elevated cobalt and nickel levels. However, follow-up testing showed a significant decline in these levels, possibly due to plant water uptake in the field. Absent background data, it is difficult to attribute the presence of metals to the Moss Landing fire.
Surface water and sediment samples were collected from multiple locations, including Drew Lake, Kelly Lake, Pinto Lake and Watsonville Slough, with additional samples collected at Antonelli Pond, Loch Lomond Reservoir and Forest Lake as spatial controls due to the lack of background data. Metals detected were below U.S. Environmental Protections Agency screening thresholds, with the exception of elevated manganese levels at Drew Lake, Watsonville Slough and Antonelli Pond. However, levels were not consistent with deposits from a battery fire and are likely due to natural or other man made sources, such as fertilizer usage.
Santa Cruz County continues to collaborate with Monterey County and state agencies to monitor environmental conditions.
Survey Available Residents concerned about health effects related to the Moss Landing fire are encouraged to complete a regional survey available at: Disconnection Process The disconnection process for the remaining lithium-ion batteries at the 300-MW Phase I Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility began last Saturday, February 22.
Since the initial fire, Vistra has been working in consultation with U.S. EPA on developing procedures to isolate the batteries safely and efficiently since the damaged batteries pose a potential fire and health risk. The Monterey North County Fire Protection District will also review these plans.
The first phase of the delinking process includes approximately one third of the remaining individual battery modules and is estimated to be complete in two weeks. The remaining batteries are in areas of the building that are not currently safe to enter, therefore, once the demolition of the damaged building near the remaining batteries is complete, the rest of the batteries will be delinked.
Future Planning The Santa Cruz County Planning Department has updated its page for the proposed 90 Minto Road battery storage facility outside of Watsonville. You can see it here. This application has not yet been deemed complete and will still need to undergo environmental review and multiple public hearings. At the same time the Board of Supervisors will be updating the County's laws related to energy storage to ensure greater local control. The next anticipated date for the Board to review this issue is April 29th.
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City of Santa Cruz Begins Murray St. / Harbor Bridge Seismic Retrofit & Barrier Replacement
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Image: Eastbound traffic coming across Murray St Bridge (a.k.a. Harbor Bridge). Credit Shmuel Thaler/ Santa Cruz Sentinel.
The City of Santa Cruz has begun work on the Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Replacement Project. This essential infrastructure project is scheduled to be completed by January 2028 and aims to enhance public safety, improve seismic resilience, and upgrade traffic barriers on the bridge.
In addition to making the bridge more resilient to earthquakes, the project will result in a bridge deck with 6-foot-wide bike lanes and a 7.5-foot-wide sidewalk along the south (ocean) side to support a two-way pedestrian path of travel. The current elevated curbs along the bike lanes will be replaced with standard 6-inch-high curbs to improve the bicycle user experience. In addition, the current solid concrete vehicular barrier will be replaced with see-through barrier rails, allowing for better harbor and ocean views.
Traffic Impacts and Detours Beginning in early March, Murray Street will be reduced to one-way eastbound traffic for vehicles and bicycles. Detours will be clearly marked for all westbound traffic. Please expect delays and plan alternative routes. Two-way pedestrian traffic will be maintained, and temporary paths will be installed to accommodate foot and bike traffic. Periodic full lane closures will take place during various stage of the project, with advance notice provided through construction signage and official City communication channels.
Construction Impacts Construction work will take place Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m., with occasional weekend work as needed. Activities such as pile driving, excavation, and heavy equipment operation will generate noise. Contractors will implement dust control measures, including water spraying and covered stockpiles, to reduce airborne particles.
Public Safety and Emergency Services The work zone will be fenced and secured throughout the project. Do not enter construction areas for safety reasons. The city is working with local agencies to ensure that transportation services, road maintenance, and emergency response planning align with project timelines and anticipated traffic disruptions.
Environmental Controls Wildlife protections are in place and project environmental measures include, but are not limited to bat roosting surveys, nesting bird surveys, and fish habitat monitoring to minimize ecological impact.
Stay Informed The City of Santa Cruz will provide regular updates about the Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit and Barrier Replacement Project. Visit the project website at cityofsantacruz.com/msb to stay informed and sign up to receive email updates. Follow the City of Santa Cruz Public Works on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected to project news.
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Short-Term Rental Community Meeting, Next Tuesday March 4th, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
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Last September, at my insistence, the Board of Supervisors agreed to evaluate updates to county short term rental laws. A subcommittee of myself and Supervisor Cummings was formed to make recommendations to the full Board with a focus on: - Holding hosting platforms, like Airbnb and VRBO, accountable for un-permitted listings; and
- Limiting the number of short-term rentals countywide to prevent further erosion of long-term housing stock.
The subcommittee plans on bringing these and other recommendations to the full Board in March. Other elements being considered include a universal reporting hotline, density limits, and relocation assistance for tenants displaced by new vacation rentals. This meeting will be an opportunity to learn about the policy options being considered and provide input.
What: Short-Term Rental Community Meeting When: Next Tuesday March 4th, 6:00pm - 7:00pm Where: Sheriff's Office Community Room (5200 Soquel Ave. First Floor)
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Image: Cigarette butt leaching toxic waste.
Mark your calendars! 📅 Wednesday, March 5 | 7 PM at Del Mar Theatre 🎬
Did you know cigarette butts are the #1 most littered item and a major threat to our ocean? That’s why Santa Cruz County recently took action with a new Cigarette Butt Ban—but for it to take effect, other cities across the county must adopt their own bans.
Now’s your chance to dive deeper into the issue at a special screening of The Cigarette Surfboard, presented by Save Our Shores. This eye-opening documentary follows surfer Taylor Lane, who built a functional surfboard out of 10,000 cigarette butts collected from California beaches. His journey exposes the toxic legacy of cigarette waste and the fight to hold Big Tobacco accountable.
🚨 Want to make a difference? Attend the screening, learn more about the issue, and take action by urging Capitola and Scotts Valley City Councilmembers to adopt a cigarette filter ban. Your voice can help make this policy a reality across Santa Cruz County!
🔗 Use this link to get your tickets & be a part of the movement!
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Volunteer and make a difference in the San Lorenzo River ecosystem! 🌿
Participate in this year's River Health Day and make a difference in the San Lorenzo River Ecosystem! Plant and maintain native seedlings along the banks of the San Lorenzo River to increase biodiversity and revitalize the river ecosystem.
🔗 Use this link to RSVP and receive up-to-date meeting location information.
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Photo: Zero-Emission equipment flyer.
Attention Santa Cruz County residents! MBARD is offering rebates to help you switch to clean, quiet, zero-emission electric landscaping equipment! ⚡ With over $34,000 available in residential funding, now is the time to ditch gas-powered tools and make the switch! 🔋
⏳ ACT FAST - With the County moving closer to adopting a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, now is the time to take advantage of available rebates. Once a ban is in place, residential leaf blower replacement rebates will no longer be made available. Bans have already been enacted in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, and Pacific Grove, therefore, more funding is available for Santa Cruz County residents—but only while it lasts!
🔗 Use this link to learn more & apply today!
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Photo: Board of Supervisors meeting in Board Chambers.
Tues, Feb 25 - 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.
Tues, Mar 4 - Short Term Rental Community Meeting. Join Supervisor Cummings and I as we discuss the Short-Term Rental Subcommittee's proposed changes to the County's Vacation Rental laws. The meeting will be held at the Sheriff's Office Community Room (5200 Soquel Ave. First Floor) and will begin at 6:00 PM.
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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