The year is already in full swing down at the County Building!
After the Moss Landing Fire, everyone wants to know what is going on with battery storage in Santa Cruz County. A rumor was circulating that the Board would be voting on a new battery storage facility near Watsonville tomorrow. That's NOT true. We will be asking a lot of questions though. More details below.
Applications are now open for the Measure Q Citizens Oversight and Advisory Board. This measure will provide $7.5 million for open space management starting later this year. We're looking for people with experience to make sure the right projects are implemented.
The Board of Supervisors will also consider moving forward with allowing Cannabis Lounges in the County at tomorrow's meeting.
I was happy to work with the Sheriff's Office to launch the CARE Alert program last week. This program allows family of friends of people with conditions such as dementia, autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder to provide information to law enforcement that will help to de-escalate situations.
If you haven't already, there's still time to complete the East Cliff Survey - it closes this Friday at 5:00pm.
Finally, we've rescheduled the Floral Park Pollinator Garden planting to March 8th, 9am to Noon. Given the dry winter we're seeing so far, the extra time will ensure Parks has the irrigation up and running for the newly installed plants. If you can join us, please email: volunteer@scparks.com
Best,
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Supervisor Manu Koenig District 1, Santa Cruz County
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Agenda Highlights on Tomorrow's Board of Supervisors Meeting
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Image: The ruin of Moss 300 after the battery fire. Image from the County of Monterey Incident Overview. The Board of Supervisors will receive a summary report on the lithium-ion battery fire at Moss Landing, including a review of response activities by Monterey County, Vistra Energy, and actions taken by Santa Cruz County. This is an opportunity to ask questions and plan next steps.
The Board will NOT be voting on a new battery plant in Santa Cruz County tomorrow. While it is true that there is a pending application for a battery storage plant outside of Watsonville, this application is still many months away from actually being considered. In fact, it cannot be considered as of now because the application would require the conversion of farmland and the County's General Plan prevents that.
The number of locations available for battery storage are limited by the proximity of high-capacity transmission lines. They need to be cited near transformers. There are only three transformers located in the unincorporated county. That's why last October the Board of Supervisors asked planning staff to determine what changes to zoning code and the General Plan would be needed to even consider sites like Minto Rd, outside of Watsonville, for energy storage. We also requested that necessary environmental review be done. Those changes were scheduled to go to the Planning Commission and come back to the Board for review in April. After that, the project specific application would have to be considered with many more months of review.
One action the Board could take tomorrow is to suspend any changes to the General Plan until we have more information. Another is to support Assemblywoman Dawn Addis' bill, AB 303 that would create a siting requirement of 3,200 feet between battery storage and homes, schools, medical facilities, etc.
Clearly there are many questions that still need to be answered about the Moss Landing fire - primarily how we are testing for heavy metals and other contaminants that may have settled from the smoke into the surrounding area. I'm committed to getting those answers for our community and will vote against any rash and uninformed actions in the meantime.
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Image: People march in the annual Pride Parade on Pacific Ave. Photo courtesy of Santa Cruz Sentinel.
This resolution has been brought forward by Supervisor Monica Martinez. The executive summary explains:
"The stated intention of the current presidential administration and congressional majority is to condition the provision of federal funding on cooperation with policies that are likely to conflict with the County’s Strategic Plan and previous commitments to protect the rights of, and support, LGBTQ+ individuals and women in their pursuit of healthy, happy lives (collectively 'Stated Values'). Consequentially, the state of California may also implement such policies. If these Conflicting Policies arise, the County Administrative Office shall present recommended responsive actions to the Board of Supervisors as soon thereafter as possible, so that the Board can swiftly evaluate available resources and direct the County on how to proceed in keeping with its Stated Values."
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Image: Hikers observe wildlife at the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County’s Byrne-Milliron Forest in Corralitos. Photo courtesy of Paul Zaresky via the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
In November 2024, Santa Cruz County voters approved Measure Q, an $87 per year parcel tax, with 60.16% in favor. The measure will generate approximately $7.5 million per year to enhance climate resilience by investing in wildfire reduction, water supply, flood risk reduction, and natural resource conservation. Those funds will be divided as follows: - $2.6M for Grants Program
- $1.4M to Cities
- Capitola - $200K
- Santa Cruz - $530K
- Scotts Valley - $200K
- Watsonville - $200K
- $1.4M to the County
- $1.4M to the Resource Conservation District and to a Land Stewardship Implementation Partner
Funds will be available to the cities and the County to begin working on projects during the second half of 2025. The Grants Program will begin taking applications around September and making awards in February 2026.
A Citizen Oversight Advisory Board is required to review the measures Vision Plan, select the Land Stewardship Implementation Partner, receive public input regarding allocations, and review use of all funds. The Citizen Board will be composed of nine members, five appointed by the Board of Supervisors and four appointed by the city councils. Advisory Board members shall not hold any elected office and shall have demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following: - Water quality, water supply, or flood protection management
- Wildfire or forest management
- Wildlife, parks, or natural resources stewardship
- Working lands or agricultural expertise
- Environmental justice, park equity, or public health
- Knowledge and expertise in evaluating financial transactions or program cost-effectiveness
Appointments for the Citizen Oversight Advisory Board will be made at the March 11th meeting of the Board of Supervisors. If you are interested, please apply today!
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Image: This Nov. 13, 2019 photo shows patrons smoking marijuana at Lowell's Original Cannabis Cafe, a legal marijuana establishment, in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File via Court House News. The Board of Supervisors is considering options to allow dispensaries to set up consumption lounges where people can consume cannabis on-site, similar to San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of the arguments for this policy change are: - There is currently no legal place for a tourist to consume cannabis in Santa Cruz County.
- Lounges will allow for more educational opportunities about different ways to use the plant.
- Legal retailers will be better equipped to compete with the Black Market if they can offer a differentiated experience.
This hearing will be an opportunity to determine if the Board wants to move forward, and if so, how.
Some of the options to consider are whether only existing cannabis retail sites should be allowed to have lounges or if other sites would be eligible as well. Another consideration is if lounges should be able to sell products like coffee, snacks, or shirts that are NOT subject to the additional 7% cannabis retail tax. This would provide them a level playing field with other businesses to pursue non-cannabis sales. Alternatively, the Board could create a new tax rate specifically for on-site consumption/lounges that is different than other cannabis retail sales.
There will be additional public hearings on this topic before anything is finalized. Any policies that the Board votes to move forward with will still need to be codified and returned to the Board for approval.
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Image: A rendering of the proposed changes to the Board of Supervisors Chambers.
The Santa Cruz County Board Chambers, built in the late 1960s, have seen minimal updates over the years, with only occasional technological improvements and minor topical changes like new paint and carpet. The current dais, audience seating, and adjacent conference rooms have remained unchanged for a number of years.
The County collects Digital Infrastructure Video Competitor Act (DIVCA)/Public Education and Government (PEG) fees from cable broadcasting services. These fees can only be used for capital improvements and equipment upgrades supporting public meeting broadcasts. These funds cannot be allocated for general operating costs or non-broadcasting-related capital expenses. The proposed actions aim to enhance the public’s experience of Board of Supervisors meetings, both in person and via broadcast.
Upgrading the Board Chambers, enhancing adjacent conference rooms, and expanding broadcasting capabilities in community rooms will improve both attendee and viewer experiences while increasing transparency and the quality of government meetings. The proposed option would allow the exterior windows to remain uncovered so that natural light could come in.
If approved, this remodel would happen over summer with an approximate completion time of early August.
To view the full Board of Supervisors agenda for tomorrow, January 28th, click here: https://santacruzcountyca.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=270
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Photo: Supervisor Manu Koenig speaks at a press event last Thursday at the launch of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Care Alert program. The voluntary program provides local law enforcement with information that can help them deescalate interactions with individuals in a mental health crisis. Photo courtesy of PK Hattis – Santa Cruz Sentinel.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out the CAREAlert system, a transformative program designed to enhance safety and communication between law enforcement and individuals with mental or behavioral health needs.
The inspiration for CAREAlert came from a concerned mother who shared her personal story with me about her son’s interaction with law enforcement that ultimately led to his incarceration. After hearing about similar innovative programs in the East Coast, I knew we could bring this life-changing initiative to Santa Cruz County.
How it Works: Families and friends can provide details about their loved ones, such as a photo, physical description, triggers to avoid, and effective de-escalation techniques. This program is designed to support those with conditions such as dementia, autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Empowering Law Enforcement: The program is now being utilized by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Watsonville Police Department, Santa Cruz Police Department, Scotts Valley Police Department, and Capitola Police Department, with support from the Santa Cruz Regional 911 dispatch center.
Sheriff Chris Clark shared, “Over the past decade, we have made significant progress in developing proactive strategies to support individuals with special needs or those in crisis. Initiatives such as integrating mental health liaisons in patrol, ICAT training in our patrol and corrections bureaus, and our Focused Intervention Team have all been key to this effort. Now, we are introducing another valuable resource to enhance our ability to best serve our community." This program shows our Sheriff's Office is attentive to the people it serves, embraces new ideas, and is committed to continuous improvement.
To register yourself or a loved one visit carealert.santacruzcountyca.gov or click here:
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Anyone with questions about this program may submit inquiries to the following email address: carealert@santacruzcountyca.gov
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Image: details about the Resource Fair on February 2nd.
A team of aligned organizations including the Santa Cruz County Long Term Recovery Group, UC Santa Cruz's Center for Critical Urban and Environmental Studies, and more are hosting this resource fair on Sunday February 2nd in Aptos. Learn how to protect your home and community. Don't miss the FireSafe Council booth for expert advice and resources! Bring your questions and get the tools you need to stay safe and prepared.
Where: Aptos Creek Park When: Sunday, February 2, 12 PM - 3 PM Topics include:
✅ Disaster preparedness
✅ Defensible space and home hardening
✅ Flood and fire recovery
✅ Hazard mitigation
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Image: Spay and neuter clinicians on the job.
Planned Pethood/Animal Balance Spay & Neuter Clinic
🐾🐱 Services: - Spay/Neuter for Cats: $150 (or $75 for those on CalFresh/Medical)
- Spay/Neuter for Dogs: $300 (or $150 for those on CalFresh/Medical)
📋 Eligibility: - Healthy pets, 8 weeks–8 years old, 2–80 lbs.
- Excludes pets with health issues or short-nose breeds (e.g., pugs, Persian cats)
- Space is limited—secure your spot today!
📅 Where & When: - Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (2260 7th Ave, Santa Cruz)
- Friday, February 14th - Sunday, February 16th
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Calling All Artists – Juvenile Hall Public Art Project
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Photo: Santa Cruz County's Juvenile Hall
Santa Cruz County is seeking an artist to design a site-specific public artwork for the newly renovated Juvenile Hall Facility located at 3650 Graham Hill Road.
Artists are invited to propose creative works for both interior and exterior spaces. Exterior concepts may include freestanding pieces in landscaped areas near the facility’s entrance or teaching garden. Interior proposals might focus on murals, sculptures, or installations for key areas such as the kitchen/dining area, day-use rooms, or gym.
The project budget is $135,000, and proposals are due by February 21, 2025. Detailed information about the Request for Proposals (RFP) process, including plans, elevations, and a sample contract, is available on the County Parks website: Call to Artists.
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Last Call: East Cliff Survey Closing Soon
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Photo: existing conditions along East Cliff Parkway
We've received nearly 700 responses about the options for improving East Cliff Parkway. Options range from simply updating the paint, which has worn off in many places, to reconfiguring bike and pedestrian zones. The survey will close this Friday, January 31st at 5:00pm. If you haven't provided your input yet, we want to hear from you!
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Photo: Board of Supervisors meeting in Board Chambers.
Tue, Jan 28 - 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.
Wed, Feb 5 - Office Hours from 1 PM to 3 PM. Come visit me at the 1st District Office in the Sheriff's Center, 5200 Soquel Ave. Bring your questions and we will meet one-on-one. First come, first served.
Tue, Feb 11 - 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.
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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