Supervisor Manu Koenig

District 1, Santa Cruz County

Volunteers Needed for Floral Park Pollinator Hedgerow Project, February 8th, 9am - 12pm

Left: Image of a pollinator garden in San Francisco (courtesy of the Xerces Society); Right: proposed location for a pollinator hedgerow at Floral Park.

Our District 1 Environmental Commissioner, Katherine Lee, has been looking for ways to increase the resilience of Santa Cruz County's native habitats. Globally, there has been an alarming decrease in pollinator insects and birds due to human impacts. Santa Cruz County is no exception. The proposed pollinator hedgerow at Floral Park will provide a landing pad/ nesting site for birds, nectar for pollinators and serve as a windbreak to stop dust from the street. If successful, the approach could be expanded to other parks throughout District 1 and the County. The proposed location along the fence is pending final approval by the Parks Department. An alternative location along the back fence of the park, adjacent to the benches, is being considered as well.

On Saturday, February 8th between 9am and 12pm, we will begin preparing the ground and plant as weather and supplies permit. If you'd like to join us, please email: volunteer@scparks.com

East Cliff Parkway Survey

Photo: existing conditions along East Cliff Parkway

My office frequently hears concerns about the conditions along East Cliff Parkway ranging from speeding to bike and pedestrian conflicts. Funds have been set aside in the 2024-2025 budget to address some of these issues, and we would appreciate your input on how to proceed. Options range from simply updating the paint, which has worn off in many places, to reconfiguring bike and pedestrian zones. Your feedback is welcome:

Santa Cruz County Ranked Third Nationwide in Firewise Communities

Photo: people clear vegetation along a Santa Cruz County roadway.

Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the Southern California fires. Many people have reached out asking what we're doing to prevent another such catastrophic fire in Santa Cruz County. Our County Office of Response, Recovery, and Resilience is close to finalizing an update of its evacuation planning. For your part, please sign up for CruzAware if you haven't already. CruzAware is one of the ways that evacuation notices will be distributed. Sign up here.

Countywide efforts such as those to underground powerlines along Soquel San Jose Rd and create a shaded fuel-break are ongoing. In addition, the most important actions you can take are at your own home, ensuring that you have defensible space and a GoBag packed.

Joining a Firewise community is one of the most important steps that you can take, as many of you already have. In fact, the most recent numbers from the FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County are amazing. In 2024, Santa Cruz County ranked #3 nationwide for the number of Firewise communities. The 1st District is leading the way in establishing new Firewise neighborhoods.

A Firewise community is a neighborhood that has worked together to reduce wildfire risk by forming a leadership group, creating a risk-reduction plan, and organizing work parties.

There are now 81 Firewise communities in Santa Cruz County, a 47% increase from 55 at the end of 2023. Collectively they are yielding impressive results:

• 6,549 homes protected
• $18.4M invested in risk reduction
• 183,000 volunteer hours
• 82,000 cubic yards of vegetation removed

Want to explore Firewise communities in Santa Cruz County? Check out this Interactive Firewise Map.

To Learn More contact:

info@FireSafeSantaCruzCounty.org and Lynn Sestak, Lynn.sestak@FireSafeSantaCruzCounty.org.

RTC Awarded $19.5 Million in Federal Grant Funding for Coastal Rail Trail Projects

Image: rendering of Segment 10 of the Rail Trail along Cliff Dr.

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), in coordination with the City of Santa Cruz and the County of Santa Cruz, was awarded $19.5 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Coastal Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9, 10 & 11, and 12 projects.

The grant award will fund construction of 8 miles of the Coastal Rail Trail in Santa Cruz County between Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz and Rio del Mar Boulevard in Aptos. The $19.5 million in federal funds will be combined with state and 2016 Measure D funds to fund the new dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facility that serves some of the most densely populated areas in Santa Cruz County. The 32-mile Coastal Rail Trail is the “spine” of the regional Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network (MBSST), a planned 50-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail network along the Santa Cruz County coast, from the San Mateo County line in the north to the Monterey County line in the south.

Project benefits include improved safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, expanded access to coastal resources, increased connectivity to employment, recreation, and housing opportunities, and reductions in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) that will decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“Today, we take an important step forward with this $19.5 million federal RAISE grant award to advance 8 miles of the Coastal Rail Trail,” said Eduardo Montesino, Chair of the RTC. “This funding will improve access to sustainable transportation and the coast, supporting economic growth and a better quality of life for both residents and visitors. We appreciate the support from our federal partners in making this project possible.”

The Coastal Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 project is being delivered by the City of Santa Cruz, the Segments 10 & 11 project is being delivered by the County of Santa Cruz and the Segment 12 project is being delivered by the RTC in combination with the Highway 1 improvements between State Park Drive and Freedom Boulevard. All five segments are currently in the final design and right-of-way phase with construction anticipated to begin in 2027.  

The RAISE program provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact. The program has awarded more than $15 billion over sixteen rounds to local governments, Tribes, transit and port authorities, states, and other entities for capital and planning projects that will improve safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, partnership and collaboration, and innovation. 

2024 Policy Accomplishments 

Photo: Supervisor Koenig at a Board of Supervisors meeting.

Here's a chronological list of the specific agenda items I authored and co-authored last year:

Feb 13th - State Upheld Requirement for AT&T (Carrier of Last Resort). Co-authored with Supervisor Friend. AT&T sought the CA Public Utilities Commission's approval to give up its last resort designation, which the telecommunications giant has had for almost 30 years, means AT&T must provide basic telephone service, often coming in the form of copper landlines, to any customer requesting the service within designated areas. In June 2024, the CPUC formally rejected an application from AT&T to withdraw itself as a carrier of last resort in the state. 

Feb 27th - Resolution in support of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).  This resolution requests the Women's Commission provide their input on actionable steps the County can take to identify and address gender inequality issues that may persist throughout the County. The commission will return to the board in 2025 with their findings.

Mar 26th - Regulating the use of Motorized Bicycles, Scooters and E-Bikes. Co-authored with Supervisor Friend. By modernizing County Code to further regulate the use of Motorized Bicycles, Motorized Scooters, Electric Bicycles, and similar vehicles this new law aims to promote the safe and orderly use of these alternative modes of transportation while promoting the protection of pedestrians and cyclists alike.

Aug 13th - Expansion of the Composting Toilet Pilot program. Co-authored with Supervisor Hernandez. There is great interest in composting toilets as an alternative, but they’re not currently legal as a primary sanitation systems. The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to expand the eligibility for the composting toilet pilot program, opening participation to a wider range of residents. Eligibility now extends to any County resident with a functioning septic system, those with an active single-family home building permit, and all 154 CZU fire-impacted households currently rebuilding their homes. All interested in participating in the composting toilet program should contact Alisa Keesey, GiveLove's Program Director via e-mail info@santacruzcbspilot.org.

Sept 24th - Vacation Rental Ordinance (Establishing Ad-hoc Subcommittee). Co-authored with Supervisor Cummings. We are evaluating changes to the County's Vacation Rental ordinance. We are interested in exploring ways to cut-off Illegal listings and to support homeownership. The Subcommittee will return to the board with its recommendations Spring 2025. 

Oct 8th - Ordinance to Prohibit the Sale of Filtered Cigarettes (Ban the Butt Ord). Co-authored with Supervisor Cummings. Cigarette butts remain the most prevalent form of plastic pollution in our environment. This new law will prohibit the sale of filtered cigarettes.

Dec 17th - Approve Project Labor Agreement with the Monterey Building Trades Council (PLA Pilot). Co-authored with Supervisor Hernandez. The Pilot Program aims to evaluate the benefits and challenges of PLAs in fostering equitable construction practices while aligning with County policy objectives. Staff will collect performance data, including project completion outcomes, cost implications, and labor force utilization, to inform potential expansion of PLA policies.

In 2025, I'm looking forward on working on policies that will help create more missing-middle, for-sale housing opportunities. I'm also exploring a permit parking program for Live Oak to prevent our public streets from being used for car storage and mitigate the impacts of multi-family housing with lower parking ratios.

If you have a suggestion for a new policy or program, please flesh it out using this worksheet: