Santa Cruz County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Cruz County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Homelessness services face funding cliff
The board approved $1.7M for Bridge House and $907K for Live Oak Landing shelter services through Housing Matters, plus $270K for two lived-expertise action boards — adding 52 beds countywide.
County use of artificial intelligence
The county is rolling out AI tools across departments and told the Board how it's going. Another update comes in January 2027.
Microenterprise home kitchen operations made permanent
The home-based food business pilot looks set to become permanent; speakers in Spanish and English described how the program helps families earn income, and a second reading is set for November 10.
Human Services staffing cuts and federal H.R. 1 impacts
The county's costs are growing 6.1% a year against 5% revenue growth, creating a gap projected to hit $70 million by 2031-32. The current budget drew $30.5 million from reserves, and federal HR 1 changes could strip Medi-Cal/CalFresh from tens of thousands of residents.
Severe weather shelter activation criteria
The Board added a 'cold-and-wet' trigger — 40°F or colder with 80% rain probability two nights running — to open winter shelters sooner than the old 38°F dry-cold rule. Speakers described hypothermia deaths and urged even broader criteria.
Empire Grade and countywide road safety improvements
Roughly a dozen residents described three washouts leaving North Rodeo Gulch one-lane for years, warning it is an indefensible evacuation route in a wildfire. Koenig said two slides are funded for 2027 repair; the third remains unfunded.
North County Government Center security enhancements
The Board accepted $88,475 in unanticipated revenue for security upgrades after Supervisor Cummings questioned whether the spending was county-wide in approach.
Road pavement funding gap
A dozen-plus residents described washed-out, single-lane roads, a failed culvert, stranded driveways and fire-evacuation dangers, asking the county to fund road repair before winter storms. The Board could not respond because no road item was on the agenda, but speakers promised to keep pressing.
2027 Population Growth Goal
The Board set the 2027 growth rate at 0.6 percent under the voter-approved Measure J growth management system, keeping affordable housing exempt from permit limits.
Pre-winter flood risk reduction executive order request
A potentially record-strong El Niño is forecast; the county detailed road, levee, alert-system, and resiliency-center preparations, and will bring back a resiliency center activation policy before year's end.
General Assistance program overhaul
The county's $809 monthly cash grant — the highest in California — costs have tripled in seven years. The Board approved a three-month limit for non-disabled adults, a $50 benefit cut, and a bigger push to move people onto federal SSI, starting July 2027.
Streamline Santa Cruz County permitting
The county's permitting overhaul is mostly complete: on-time reviews are up to 73%, complete first submittals are rising, and a new inspection-scheduling app launched. A code update, including a disaster recovery ordinance, is underway with a contract already approved.
Pending flood-related litigation against Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, and the State
The Zone 7 board privately discussed ten active lawsuits spanning Monterey and Santa Cruz County courts, several naming the counties and the State of California. The topics likely relate to flood events and damages, but details remain confidential.
Sexually violent predator placement opposition
The Board is formally opposing the state's proposed placement of convicted sexually violent predator Michael Cheek near Soquel-San Jose Road — the fifth such placement attempt in the county. Koenig urged legislators to change state law on placements.
CEDAW gender equity ordinance
The Board approved in concept an ordinance making gender equity an ongoing county policy framework, with reporting every three years and no new programs or spending required. Final adoption is set for October 20.
Adoption of the 2026-27 county budget
The Sheriff's budget grew about $9 million to $124.9 million, driven by labor contracts, a $1.25 million jail medical increase, and shifted insurance costs — and it consumes the largest share of the general fund. Public speakers urged shifting some of it to the underfunded Public Defender's Office.
Measure Q environmental and parks funding
Voter-approved Measure Q dollars — about $8.9 million next year — fund water protection, wildfire risk reduction, parks, and habitat preservation, split between county grants, cities, unincorporated areas, and land partners.
Half-cent sales tax measure for November 2026 ballot
The METRO Initiative — a half-cent sales tax starting April 1, 2027 to maintain and expand bus and paratransit service — gathered 11,377 valid signatures and will go before voters.
Behavioral health — Hope Forward and the strategic plan
The new Hope Forward crisis stabilization facility in Live Oak served 145 youth in its first five months, with 77% discharged home. Behavioral health came up as one of the most urgent unmet needs in the county's strategic plan outreach.
Parks Budget Cuts and Pay-to-Park Pilot
The parks department patched a $590,000 hole by killing the pay-to-park pilot and scraping together one-time money from supervisors' Measure K funds and other departments — but that means the same fight likely returns next budget year, with the Arts Council and MAH taking 15% cuts.
Federal immigration enforcement preparedness (S.H.I.E.L.D.)
Chair Martinez and Supervisor Hernandez formed the SHIELD Subcommittee to set clear countywide procedures for what happens if federal immigration agents come to a county facility, aiming to keep services accessible to everyone.
CORE Investments community funding
The CORE Subcommittee proposed focusing county nonprofit grants on safety-net needs — food, housing and health — with set-asides for direct food providers and Housing for Health. Nonprofit advocates pushed back, and the Board directed a revised recommendation by December.
Economic development and enhanced infrastructure financing districts
The SBDC helped 32 businesses start in the county in 2025 and provides free advising and training; regional consolidation talks appear likely to preserve the local center.
Public Defender funding and the Page & Dudley alternate defense contract
The county must replace its conflict defense contract by July 2027. The Page/Dudley firm argued the new RFP is rigged toward a public defender model; the board told staff to retool the RFP with more weight on effective representation and price and return by December 15.
Fairgrounds Community Resilience Center grant
The county is applying for up to $10 million from the state to upgrade the fairgrounds as a resilience center ahead of an El Niño year — fixing water, Wi-Fi, and other gaps seen during 2023 floods.
AI data centers in unincorporated county
Supervisor Cummings wanted a March 2028 ballot measure requiring voter approval before AI data centers could be built here, citing water, power, and noise impacts elsewhere. A majority said there's no known proposal, the technology is changing fast, and they want to study it first.
Small water system oversight returning to the state
The county is ending its Local Primacy Agency, which has regulated about 68 small water systems since 1994. Operators and customers pleaded to keep local regulators, citing the Big Basin emergency and state bureaucracy; staff said doubling fees still wouldn't cover costs and the state's Monterey office is well-staffed and responsive.
Property Tax Assessment Appeals (21 applications)
Twenty-one appeals covering homes and commercial properties across the county were scheduled for hearing or consent action — these decide whether assessed values, and tax bills, get adjusted.
Assessment Appeals Board Rules of Procedure
The board weighs changes to the rules governing how property tax appeal hearings run in Santa Cruz County, including how three-member panels handle recusals.
CZU Rebuild Directive extension and recovery progress
Fire survivors rebuilding since the 2020 CZU fire got relief: the geologic hazard review waiver now runs through August 2030. Staff reported 177 replacement homes completed, 136 more approved or under construction, and outreach to 173 owners who had gone silent. Residents urged more support — including funding for the Long Term Recovery Group — especially given high rebuild costs and septic hurdles.
Business Registration Program for unincorporated area
The County may soon require businesses in unincorporated areas to register, giving the County a better picture of the business landscape and a potential new fee. The Board told staff to design it with business input before bringing back an ordinance and cost analysis.
Board of Supervisors' compensation
The Board voted 3-2 to have HR return August 25 with a recommendation on unlinking supervisor pay from Superior Court judges' salaries. Supervisors Koenig and De Serpa said the conversation shouldn't happen now.
Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance update
The Board debated two housing tools: letting ADUs be sold as condos (AB 1033) and a San Diego-style bonus program rewarding deed-restricted affordable ADUs with extra market-rate units. A divided Board chose to wait — monitoring other communities and pending state legislation — rather than commit staff time now. Critics worried about investor-driven projects and $1.3 million price tags on 'starter' units.
Tax-exempt bonds for Santa Cruz Montessori School
The Board approved the tax structure needed for Santa Cruz Montessori School to issue up to $6 million in tax-exempt bonds to refinance 2013 debt and renovate its Aptos campus — at zero cost or risk to the County.
County cash flow and fiscal distress
The county is balancing the budget with $40 million in one-time money, including $31 million from reserves, dropping reserves to 10.4% — just above the 10% floor. Supervisors warned this 'kicks the can' and more cuts loom next year.
Pajaro Valley Fire District reorganization with CSA 48
Former fire chief Don Jarvis and others urged the Board to table the Will Serve Letter, saying the $4.4 million annual cost and $1.8 million in new assessments lack independent analysis. Supervisor De Serpa defended the reorganization as necessary for safe staffing; the item passed on consent.
Moran Lake monarch habitat and neighborhood tree safety
The county adopted a plan to manage the Moran Lake eucalyptus grove for monarch butterflies while reducing hazard trees near homes. Neighbors on Placer Street pressed for faster, lower trimming before an El Niño winter; staff said funding discussions come August 25.
Bag reduction ordinance alignment with state law
The county's 2011 bag ordinance is being updated to match SB 1053, which bans single-use film plastic bags at checkout and raises recycled paper content requirements starting in 2028.
Oil and gas / deep-sea mining ballot measure
Supervisor Cummings reported personally testifying against dismantling the California Coastal Management Program and secured Board participation in the federal offshore lease review process.
Affordable Housing Predevelopment Funding
Over some harbor-access objections, the county sold portions of the 7th Avenue property to an affordable housing developer expected to build roughly a hundred units — with the remaining parcel to be auctioned later.
Robertson Street signalization
The county's second most dangerous intersection on Soquel Drive is finally getting a signal, with bids opening July 30 — expected to reduce crashes and help traffic flow through mid-county.
Battery energy storage facility at 90 Minto Road
A large lithium battery storage facility proposed on agricultural land near Watsonville is now before the state Energy Commission after the developer pulled its county application. Supervisors pushed the county's draft safety rules to the state, demanded farmland replacement and community benefits, and must now watch a process they no longer control.
Parks, arts and culture funding deferred
Funding for parks, the Museum of Art and History, and the Arts Council is up in the air until June 30. Dozens of residents turned out to push the board to protect these cultural institutions.
Health Services Agency budget and clinic sustainability
The county's three-year behavioral health funding plan was sent to the state, locking in mental health service priorities and realignment obligations through 2029.
Countywide fee schedule updates for 2026-27
Annual sewer and water charges were confirmed across multiple sanitation districts, including a 4% increase for CSA 12 wastewater customers — these show up on property tax bills.
Sheriff-Coroner operations and DNA lab accreditation
The county's Inspector General audited 30 days of Sheriff's ALPR searches through the regional intelligence center and found all searches were for legitimate law enforcement purposes with no immigration or federal sharing. The Sheriff adopted a written policy and agreed to monthly audits.
Probation staffing and service reductions from expiring grants
Probation is losing 3 positions and cutting funding for diversion, reentry and treatment coordination as Prop 47 and Title II grants end — even as Prop 36 increases caseloads. That could mean less support for people coming out of custody.
CalFresh outreach funding at Second Harvest Food Bank
Multiple speakers urged the Board to restore funding for Second Harvest's CalFresh outreach team, whose positions are uncertain as of July 1. The team enrolls residents in food benefits that bring federal dollars into local grocery stores.
Farmers market fee changes
Farmers markets will now pay one certified market fee and one temporary food facility fee to the market manager, instead of a fee for every booth or site — and the County agreed to work with market associations on a longer-term fee schedule.
Housing Element Rezone — Coastal Zone certification
The county accepted state Coastal Commission tweaks to its coastal rezone maps, completing a key step in the housing element program that rezones parcels for more housing.