Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you are enjoying spring break, or at least splashing in some muddy puddles. Our Board of Supervisors agenda for next Tuesday is light but includes some interesting tidbits about how stop signs get installed, new infrastructure funding models and hopes and dreams for the North Coast.
Best, |
Manu Koenig 1st District Supervisor, Santa Cruz County
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Image: 6th Ave at East Cliff. Credit Google Maps
Admittedly, a new stop sign is probably not the world-changing policy you were hoping to hear about from the Board of Supervisors. However, it is a neighborhood-changing policy. Requests for traffic safety improvements are among the most frequent issues my office receives, so it’s worth explaining how this came about.
Residents of 6th Avenue were concerned about cut-through traffic and speeding drivers using their street to avoid backups on 7th Avenue. They contacted my office, and Public Works promptly met with them on-site to investigate the issue. New stop signs must meet one of six state-defined “warrants,” or criteria. In this case, the warrant for restricted sight distance was met.
In addition to the stop sign, two road bumps will be installed on 6th Avenue (see Item 40). Road bumps and larger speed tables can be installed when more than 50 percent of affected residents sign a petition to Public Works and agree to pay 50 percent of the installation costs (approximately $8,000 per road bump).
Because the County receives so many requests for road bumps and speed tables, the fund that pays for the other 50 percent can quickly be exhausted, sometimes delaying installation by a year or two. In this case, residents offered to pay 100 percent of the cost of both the road bumps and the stop sign, which accelerated the installation timeline.
Public Works is also planning to incorporate bolt-down rubber speed bumps into the County’s design standards this year to help reduce costs, make the fund go further and speed installation. I will continue advocating for increased County funding for traffic safety improvements so that we can meet demand.
If you are interested in pursuing speed control devices on your street, you can learn more about the process here and contact my office at first.district@santacruzcountyca.gov.
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Image: Scotts Valley’s Town Center Specific Plan from 2008 shows plans for housing in yellow and housing and commercial space in orange. Credit City of Scotts Valley via Santa Cruz Local
How do counties and cities build the infrastructure needed for new housing when budgets are already stretched thin? Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFDs) are a tool that more communities are turning to.
This mechanism allows public agencies to dedicate a portion of future property tax growth to fund infrastructure projects today. In other words, a city or county can predict that new zoning will lead to additional development and higher property tax revenues. They can then borrow against that expected growth to build streets, sewers, and other infrastructure needed to support new housing.
Importantly, an EIFD does not create new taxes. Instead, it dedicates a portion of future revenue growth to specific infrastructure investments.
The primary purpose of Scotts Valley’s EIFD is to support construction of the Scotts Valley Town Center. Scotts Valley receives only about 6 percent of the property taxes generated within city limits, so it needs the County to dedicate a portion of its 13.4 percent share of property taxes to adequately fund the project. In return, the County would hold at least one seat on the governing board of the financing district.
The EIFD is still expected to have a net positive fiscal impact for the County because it would enable housing that might otherwise not be built, increasing long-term property tax revenue beyond the cost of the infrastructure investment.
The City of Santa Cruz recently created a similar Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District for its South of Laurel Downtown Expansion Plan.
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Image: a rail cart crossing over the Antonelli Trestle. Credit: Archie Moreno & The Little Fox Railcart
The Cotoni‑Coast Dairies National Monument has been growing in popularity, and the Santa Cruz North Coast Rail Trail is already attracting hundreds of visitors even while it remains under construction.
This item explores ways to build on the North Coast’s momentum by pursuing federal funding to close gaps in the regional bike network and investigate the potential for North Coast rail service. It would authorize County staff to work with partners such as the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, Roaring Camp Railroads, the California Coastal Commission, California State Parks, and Caltrans to coordinate planning and grant applications.
On Monday, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission announced the opening of a new paved parking lot at Panther Beach, marking the first completed milestone of the North Coast Rail Trail project. Full completion of the North Coast Trail to Davenport, California is planned for fall of this year. |
Consent Agenda items are voted on with one motion at the beginning of the meeting. Supervisors may still comment on, ask questions about, or propose alternative actions for Consent Agenda items, and any item may be pulled to the Regular Agenda at the request of a Supervisor to allow full public comment and greater discussion.
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This item provides an update on the County’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which is helping stabilize streambanks and protect homes damaged by the 2022 and 2023 atmospheric river storms. I am pleased that 11 of the 12 projects, including three in the First District, are already substantially complete, representing meaningful progress in protecting residents, neighborhoods, and local waterways from future storm impacts. This work reflects our continued commitment to recovery, resilience, and supporting families affected by severe weather events.
This item approves agreements that ensure the continued delivery of critical mental health care, substance use treatment, residential services, and supportive housing for Santa Cruz County residents. These partnerships with trusted community organizations help maintain uninterrupted care as the County adapts to significant state Medi-Cal reforms, all within the existing approved budget and without requiring additional County General Fund dollars. This action helps ensure that individuals and families across our community continue to have access to essential behavioral health treatment, recovery services, and housing support.
We will consider joining an additional national opioid settlement that would bring approximately $71,000 in new funding to Santa Cruz County for substance use treatment, prevention, and recovery services. This item builds on the recent opioid settlement funds presentation to the Board, where we reviewed how prior settlement dollars are already being used to support local remediation, prevention, and enforcement efforts. By participating in this settlement, we are continuing our work to secure outside resources that strengthen public health and support families affected by addiction.
This is a report back on the item from the March 10 meeting that Supervisor Cummings and I brought forward to request clarification from the State Department of Housing and Community Development regarding the certification date of Santa Cruz County’s Housing Element. This report highlights potential impacts, including how a revised certification date could affect pending Builder’s Remedy projects. Supervisor Cummings and I brought this item forward because it is important that we fully understand the legal, housing, and funding implications as we continue working to support attainable housing and protect the County’s long-term interests.
We will be taking action to move forward with a major evacuation route hazard mitigation project that will reduce wildfire fuel along key county roads and improve safety during emergency evacuations. This FEMA-funded project, which grew out of recovery efforts following the CZU Fire, will improve vegetation management along major evacuation corridors, including important First District routes such as Highland Way and Soquel-San Jose Road. This action directly supports wildfire preparedness, safer evacuation access, and greater resilience for our mountain communities.
This item approves the installation of two road bumps on 6th Avenue in Live Oak between Carmel Street and East Cliff Drive in response to a neighborhood petition supported by 72 percent of affected residents. This traffic calming measure is intended to improve safety for residents, pedestrians, and families in this busy coastal neighborhood, with all construction costs being fully covered by the residents who requested the project. I appreciate the strong community engagement on this item and the effort to make this section of Live Oak safer for everyone who lives, walks, and drives there.
You may view the entire agenda for the April 14, 2026, Board of Supervisors meeting here.
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Image: The Santa Cruz County Building
Monday, April 13 - Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting, 5:00 PM. The meeting will be held in person at the Simpkins Family Swim Center Meeting Rooms, located at 979 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. The agenda can be viewed here.
Tuesday, April 14 - Board of Supervisors Meeting, 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held via Zoom and in person at the County Government Center Community Room, located in the basement at 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Friday, April 24 - Santa Cruz METRO Meeting, 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held on Zoom and in person at the METRO Administrative Office located at 110 Vernon Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. The agenda and Zoom link will be posted here.
Tuesday, April 28 - Board of Supervisors Meeting, 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held via Zoom and in person at the County Government Center Community Room, located either in the basement at 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 OR in our new Board Chambers on the 5th Floor – stay tuned for updates!
The County Board Chambers are currently undergoing renovation through March 2026. Board meetings will be held at various locations throughout the County of Santa Cruz during this time. The early 2026 meeting schedule with updated locations can be found here.
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