Santa Cruz County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Cruz County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Zone 5 Flood Control Budget and Stormwater Funding Gap
The flood district's new budget was approved, but staff warned of an estimated $4 million annual shortfall for aging stormwater infrastructure and coming permit requirements; outreach on a new revenue source is beginning.
Boulder Creek Sewer Charges (CSA 7 Zones 1 and 2)
Zone 1 homeowners will pay $3,212.96 next year for sewer service, approved unanimously. Zone 2's proposed $5,345.62 charge died when 9 of 12 parcel owners filed protests — a rare successful protest under the assessment-ballot process.
Broadband connectivity gaps
A county survey found 96% of residents have internet but 75% experienced outages during emergencies; satellite projects may fill rural gaps, and supervisors want better CPUC mapping and possibly a local connectivity commission.