Photo: Sheriff Jim Hart (left) and Undersheriff Chris Clark (right) in a 2019 photo. Hart has announced his retirement and has recommended Clark to replace him. Santa Cruz County Sheriff, Jim Hart, has submitted his resignation effective December 6th. He was re-elected to a third term in 2022, but the State Legislature increased the term length for Sheriff from 4 years to 6 years shortly thereafter. Knowing that this was longer than he was prepared to serve, he decided that December 2024 would be the right time for a transition.
Sheriff Hart has held a decorated career with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spanning over 35 years. A native of Santa Cruz County, he began his career as a Deputy Sheriff in 1988 and has held every rank in the office, eventually being overwhelmingly elected Sheriff in June 2014. Under his leadership, the office has navigated seven federally declared disasters, the line of duty death of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and the COVID-19 pandemic. Crime rates in the County's unincorporated areas are at a record low, less than half the state average, which Sheriff Hart attributes to his expansion of effective community policing policies. Sheriff Hart led efforts on criminal justice reform including partnering with the Criminal Justice Council of Santa Cruz County to establish a new Inspector General position and becoming the first Sheriff in California to implement the 21st Century Policing program - which, after a comprehensive examination of how Sheriff policing services were delivered in our County, led to improved transparency, trust and community relations.
The Board of Supervisors is charged with appointing a replacement County Sheriff for the remainder of the term. Sheriff Hart has recommended Undersheriff Chris Clark as the most qualified person to fulfill the role and discharge the duties of the County Sheriff. Supervisors Friend and McPherson authored the letter to approve his appointment. They noted that their offices have worked closely with Undersheriff Clark throughout our almost 12-year tenure in office and have found him to be very responsive, thoughtful and forward-thinking. I concur that in my time working with Undersheriff Clark he's always been accessible and has acted quickly and effectively with the information he receives.
Undersheriff Clark has been in local law enforcement for nearly two decades. He played an integral role in the County’s response to the CZU fires and floods. He grew up in a military family, was born overseas and lived in multiple countries and states before settling in Santa Cruz County after college with his wife and family to join the Sheriff’s Office. It’s clear those early experiences with different cultures and ideologies have shaped his approach to policing. Undersheriff Clark currently oversees the Administration Bureau - which includes Professional Standards and Conduct, Media Relations, Personnel and Training, Records, Warrants, Crime Analysis, Civil, Payroll/Fiscal Management, Forensic Services and Computer Technology. His resume is available here.
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Image: Rendering of homes proposed for 1960 Maciel Ave. (Hunt Hale Jones Architects) The proposed project to subdivide the 2.27-acre property at 1960 Maciel Avenue in Live Oak into 21 residential lots requires approval of the tentative map by the Board of Supervisors, following a recommendation by the Planning Commission. On June 26, 2024, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the application. The Commission adopted a resolution recommending approval of the project.
The development proposal for the project is to demolish an existing residential dwelling and related outbuildings, subdivide the property into 21 lots and to construct 21 detached homes ranging from approximately 1,670 square feet to 2,330 square feet in size with associated site improvements. Each home would contain three bedrooms.
In total, the project would provide 92 parking spaces, with 76 spaces provided in the garages and driveways of the homes, and six additional spaces provided on-site for guest parking. Additionally, with the 30-foot-wide dedication proposed along the frontage of the site, 10 new public off-site parking spaces along Maciel Avenue would be made available. The site is located in the SU-D (Special Use - Designated Park Site Combining District) zone district.
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Photo: Mt. Charlie Rd shortly after it slid out in February of this year. The Board will consider a temporary fix for the road to restore access for residents. In February a significant slip out occurred on Mountain Charlie Road at Post Mile 1.63, rendering the roadway inaccessible. The slide was the result of severe winter storms and flooding that affected California from January 31 to February 9, 2024. The President declared these events a Major Disaster (DR 4769).
Following the initial earth movement, the site experienced active landslide conditions for several months, which delayed the geotechnical assessment needed to develop a temporary repair design. With the recent reduction in observed slide activity and the completion of preliminary geotechnical assessments, Community Development and Infrastructure is now positioned to proceed with the temporary repairs. Due to the urgency of the situation and the impending wet weather, the project must be executed under the emergency procurement process.
The primary objective of this project is to reinstate emergency and safety access and address the critical interruption and loss of essential public services. The project scope involves the installation of a temporary roadway to facilitate emergency access, which includes clearing & grubbing, excavation & off-haul (soil and construction debris), subsurface drainage, reinforced temporary fill, surface drainage, road closure gates, and temporary signage.
The total direct cost of the construction contract associated with this board item is approximately $500,000. The total project cost for the temporary work, including design services, monitoring, construction management and overhead, is estimated to be approximately $700,000. Costs will be financed by District 5’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 local county Measure D transportation funds. If the project is approved for disaster assistance, eligible costs will be reimbursed at 75 percent from FEMA and 18.75 percent from California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Public Works staff estimate that the total reimbursement from all agencies would be $602,000.
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Photo: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage month on October 22, 2023, at the County Building in an event hosted by the Latino Affairs Commission and County Park Friends. These items provide a status report on County commission representation and restructuring efforts that are part of the “A Santa Cruz County Like Me” project. Included are ordinances: - To sunset the Fire Department Advisory Commission
- To implement the stipend program for the Civil Service Commission
- To amend SCCC Chapter 2.48 related to the Juvenile Justice Commission and the Delinquency Prevention Commission,
- To extend stipends to department advisory groups
- To change the purpose of the Commission on the Environment to focus on the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP)
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Photo: youth collaborating on a project.
The County of Santa Cruz is seeking teens and young adults ages 14 to 24 who have a passion for making a difference in their community to serve on the County’s first-ever Youth Advisory Task Force.
As part of the “A Santa Cruz County Like Me” project related to achieving diverse and inclusive advisory bodies, the Task Force will be comprised of 15 teens and young adults selected from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and perspectives. Participants will hold monthly facilitated meetings throughout the Santa Cruz County to learn about County boards, commissions, committees, and department advisory groups; identify the needs and concerns of teens and young adults; explore models of youth engagement in other jurisdictions; and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches and proposals.
Participants must live or work in Santa Cruz County and will have the option to receive a $75 stipend per meeting or earn community service hours. They must be able to attend monthly meetings in various locations throughout Santa Cruz County. Bus passes will be provided to help with transportation to and from meetings.
Applications to join the Youth Advisory Task Force are now open, with a submission deadline of September 20, 2024. The Task Force will meet for the first time in October 2024 and work together to make findings and recommendations. The County Administrative Office will then return to the Board of Supervisors with any recommendations based on the work of the Task Force.
All interested applicants can apply here.
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Image: map showing the zoning of Santa Cruz County
Seventy-five parcels within the Urban Service Line have been identified for rezoning in order accommodate all of the units in the 2023 Housing Element. The majority of these parcels are in the Live Oak and Soquel areas. They are marked in yellow on the maps found here. The Santa Cruz County Planning Commission is hosting a Study Session for the County's Rezoning Program. This is an opportunity to review proposed changes needed to meet the County’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation, particularly for lower-income units. The study session will take place: Wednesday, August 28 at 9:30 a.m. Board of Supervisors Chamber, County Government Center, 701 Ocean Street, Room 525, Santa Cruz. The proposed rezoning does not mean development is immediate. A development application may occur in the future if the property owner is interested. You can review the meeting agenda using this link: https://bit.ly/3yK0EMD
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Photo: Bees getting nectar from a flower.
Bees are a wonderful and precious part of our ecosystem. They are exceptional pollinators whose efforts contribute to a third of the global food production.
However, it's easy to feel overwhelmed if you notice a swarm of bees collecting in your yard. The Santa Cruz Beekeepers Guild can help you safely remove and relocate the hive.
You can learn more about beekeeping, ask questions, and get advice by contacting the Guild or attending one of their meetings.
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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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FULL OVERNIGHT CLOSURES OF HWY. 1 BETWEEN 41ST AVE. AND SOQUEL DR. SET TO START SUNDAY AUGUST 25 FOR FOUR NIGHTS
Full Overnight Closure of Northbound Hwy. 1 For Sunday August 25 and Monday August 26, travelers will encounter a full closure of northbound Hwy. 1 between 41st Ave and Soquel Dr. This full closure will be in effect between 10 pm and 5:30 am. One northbound lane will be closed 1 hour prior to and one-half hour after the full closure. One lane of southbound Hwy 1 will also be closed from 9 pm to 6 am. A detour is available. Travelers on southbound Hwy. 1 will be directed off at Soquel Dr. and continue south on Soquel Ave. before rejoining Hwy. 1 at the southbound 41st Ave. onramp. Message and directional signs will be in place to direct travelers. Travelers can expect delays of up to 10 minutes. Full Overnight Closure of Southbound Hwy. 1 For Tuesday August 27 and Wednesday August 28, travelers will encounter a full closure of southbound Hwy. 1 between Soquel Dr. and 41st Ave. This full closure will be in effect between 10 pm and 5:30 am. One southbound lane will be closed 1 hour prior to and one-half hour after the full closure. One lane of northbound Hwy 1 will also be closed from 9 pm to 5 am. A detour is available. Travelers on northbound Hwy. 1 will be directed off at 41st Ave. and continue north on Soquel Dr. before rejoining Hwy. 1 at the northbound Soquel Dr. onramp. Message and directional signs will be in place to direct travelers. Travelers can expect delays of up to 10 minutes. These full overnight closures of Hwy. 1 are necessary for crews to switch the temporary railing to protect the median of the roadway behind crews will be working during the next phase of construction. Overnight Closures Continue on Soquel Ave. For Monday August 26, travelers will encounter a full closure in both directions of Soquel Ave. between 17th Ave. and Chanticleer Ave. This full closure will be in effect between 10 pm and 5 am. A detour is available. Travelers on Soquel Ave. will be directed to 17th Ave., Rodriguez St., and Chanticleer Ave, before returning to Soquel Ave. Message and directional signs will be in place to direct travelers.
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Photo: Board of Supervisors meeting in Board Chambers.
Tuesday, August 27th - 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.
Wednesday, August 28th - Planning Commission Study Session for the County of Santa Cruz Rezoning Program at 9:30 AM. The meeting will be held in person at the Board Chambers at 701 Ocean Street, Rm 525. The agenda can be found here.
Wednesday, September 4th - Office Hours from 1 PM to 3 PM. Come visit me at the 1st District Office in Live Oak at the Sheriff's Center, 5200 Soquel Ave, ground floor. Bring your questions and we will meet one-on-one. First come, first served.
Tuesday, September 10th - 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.
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