Item 8. Consider approving agreement with Integral Consulting in the amount of $692,608 to prepare a sea level rise vulnerability assessment and Local Coastal Plan Amendment ...

The Board of Supervisors will consider an important next step in our planning for the impacts of sea level rise: the selection of a technical consultant to analyze the economic and geological impacts of changing ocean conditions. This work has been funded by a $780,000 from the California Coastal Commission, of which $693,000 is available for consultant costs and the balance available to cover County staff costs administering the grant and preparing Local Coastal Plan amendment.

Item 23. Adopt resolution requesting that the California Public Utilities Commission deny AT&T's applications for release of Carrier of Last Resort and Eligible Telecommunications Carrier designations, and take related actions, as recommended by Supervisor Koenig and Supervisor Friend

There has been an uproar in response to AT&T's request to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to be relieved its Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) obligations in parts of California. If approved, AT&T would no longer be required to offer landline telephone service in those areas. Basic Service includes nine service elements: Lifeline rates for eligible customers, free access to 9-1-1, Telephone Relay Service, and directory and operator services.

AT&T is also seeking approval to give up its designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC), which is a telephone company that operates in a specific geographic area that receives financial assistance from the federal government-established Universal Service Fund to provide high-quality and affordable telephone service to customers at all income levels.

This change in service would greatly impact rural residents in Santa Cruz County and throughout the state. That's why Supervisor Friend and I are asking the Board of Supervisors to adopt a resolution opposing the application and submit a letter to the CPUC requesting that they deny AT&T's application. 

The CPUC will hold a public forum on March 19, 2024, at 6 PM and welcomes the public's attendance and comments. If you're available, please join the virtual discussion, as public comments help the CPUC reach an informed decision. The Administrative Law Judge assigned to the proceedings is scheduled to issue a Proposed Decision in the case for consideration by the CPUC within a year.

To learn more about AT&T's proposal click here.

The Office of Response, Recovery, and Resilience (OR3) has developed a community survey to gather information on individual damages to private property sustained as a result of the most recent storm events. The Survey will help the County determine its ability to meet our community's individual assistance Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) damage requirements. Click here to take the Survey.

Furthermore, property owners who suffered damage during the recent storms are encouraged to contact the Planning Department to schedule a Storm Damage Assessment. You can call 831-454-3171 or e-mail StormDamage@santacruzcountyca.gov to schedule an assessment. which in most cases will be free of charge.

The next phase of the BCycle bike share system will start rolling out this month with the installation of electric bike docking stations in mid-county. 13 new docking stations will be installed in Live Oak, Twin Lakes, and Pleasure Point this month, while Capitola will see the installation of 20 docking stations in March. Each docking station has between 4 and 6 bike parking spaces. Collectively, these docking stations will introduce a new fleet of 75 electric bikes and over 150 individual bike parking spaces.

BCycle was launched in June 2023 in Downtown Santa Cruz and the UC Santa Cruz Campus. It is designed to provide an accessible, convenient, and sustainable transportation alternative for residents and visitors alike. Unlike the previous JUMP bike program in the City of Santa Cruz, BCycle requires that you check-out a bike from one station and return it to another one. 

The program expansion is expected in March 2024, with bikes available for rent then. This system will support residents and the environment, increasing the number of affordable and eco-friendly alternative modes of transportation available to residents and visitors - making it possible to hop on a bike in Westside Santa Cruz and get all the way to Capitola Village.

The Regional Transportation Commission will also be distributing deeply discounted annual passes for the BCycle network. These will be available in the spring to low income residents via an application at Go Santa Cruz County: https://gosantacruzcounty.org/

Map showing the location of bike-share docking stations.

Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) is continuing work on Reimagine METRO, a project to review its entire network of transit routes and implement significant changes to where and how often the bus comes. An initial wave of changes was implemented in December 2023 and further expansion and realignment of service is planned for September 2024, as part of Reimagine METRO Phase 2.

The draft Reimagine METRO Phase 2 Plan is now available at www.scmtd.com/ReimagineMetro.  Residents are invited to visit the website to review the plan and proposed Phase 2 system map, take a brief online survey to provide feedback on the planned changes, and register for one of three hybrid public meetings.

Hybrid Public Meetings will include a detailed presentation of the proposed changes by the planning team and an opportunity for comment and discussion.  Meetings will be held in person and via Zoom and at the following locations:

Tuesday, February 20th: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - Watsonville Civic Plaza, Community Room A, 275 Main St floor 6, Watsonville 

Wednesday, February 21st: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - London Nelson Community Center, Room 7, 301 Center St, Santa Cruz

Thursday, February 22nd: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Watsonville Civic Plaza, Community Room A, 275 Main St floor 6, Watsonville

All three meetings will be held in English and Spanish.

Caltrans

Monday Feb. 12 And Tuesday Feb. 13 - Full Overnight Closures Highway 1 Near Soquel

For Monday Feb. 12, 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 11:30 pm. One northbound lane will be closed one hour prior to and one-half hour after the full closure.

Travelers will also encounter a full closure of southbound Hwy 1 between Soquel Dr. and 41st Ave. This full closure is planned to be in effect between 11:30 pm and 5:30 am. The north and southbound full closures of Hwy. 1 will not be in effect at the same time.

For Tuesday, Feb. 13, travelers will potentially 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 one hour before and one-half hour after the full closure. One lane of northbound Hwy. 1 will also be closed from 9 pm to 5 am. 

Detours Available for Full Overnight Closures of Hwy. 1

Travelers on northbound Hwy. 1 will be directed off at 41st Ave. and head east to Soquel Dr. Travelers will 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. 

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.

These full overnight closures of Hwy. 1 are necessary for crews to make final adjustments to the working platform from which the new bicycle and pedestrian bridge overcrossing will be constructed. During these overnight closures, crews will make final adjustments to the platform, setting the stage for the next phase of bridge construction.

Full Overnight Closures of Soquel Ave.

For Monday, Feb. 12 (today) and possibly Tuesday, Feb. 13 (tomorrow), travelers will encounter a full closure of Soquel Ave. in both directions between 17th and Chanticleer Ave. This 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.

This full overnight closure of Soquel Ave. is necessary for crews to fine-tune adjustments to the working platform from which the new bicycle and pedestrian bridge overcrossing will be constructed. Over one to two nights, crews will adjust the platform to set the stage for the next phase of bridge construction.

Granite Creek Road Offramp From Southbound Highway 17

To Close Tuesday, Feb. 13, From 9 AM to 1 PM

Travelers southbound on Hwy. Seventeen near Scotts Valley will encounter a closure of the Granite Creek Rd. Offramp on Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Travelers are urged to use the detour at the next southbound exit at Mt. Hermon Rd.

Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers.

Crews will be performing landscaping work, and stencil crews will replace markings on the ramp.

Travelers are urged to use the detour at the next southbound exit at Mt. Hermon Rd.

Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers. Crews will be performing landscaping work, and stencil crews will replace markings on the ramp.