Santa Cruz County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Cruz County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Small Business Development Center support for local entrepreneurs
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.
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.
Homeless shelter expansion (consent)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pajaro Valley Fire District reorganization with CSA 48
Fire district officials warned the new emergency-radio advisory committee excludes fire agencies as voting members and that fire districts can't afford the system; the committee was still established 5-0, with promises to review its makeup.
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.
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.
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.
County code and zoning map overhaul (Sustainability Update)
A sweeping package of zoning and building code cleanups — plus rezoning seven parcels — was approved in concept with several provisions reinstated at the Board's direction. Final adoption is June 30.
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.
North Coast Transportation and FLAP Grant Pursuit
The board authorized a coordinated push for federal FLAP grants for a Davenport-area bike path, excursion train concept, and Highway 1 safety work — but only after a heated debate over staff bandwidth and whether North Coast projects shortchange South County.
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.
Zone 7 Flood Control District Budget and Pajaro Transfers
The Zone 7 board approved a $3.16 million budget that sends 96 percent of assessment revenue (about $2 million) to the Pajaro flood management agency. A caller demanded audits and a nexus study to make sure the money actually prevents a repeat of the 2023 Pajaro flooding.
Sheriff's Military Equipment Use Policy (AB 481) Renewal
The Sheriff's annual report showed zero formal complaints, new barcode tracking of every equipment deployment, and patrol AR-15s added to the inventory. One caller urged the Board to keep scrutinizing the gear, noting less-lethal doesn't mean non-lethal.
County workforce vacancies and recruitment
The county has 251 vacancies — a 9% rate — down from 24% in the physicians unit last year. New tactics include a Spanish-language hiring workshop, an Instagram jobs account, $10,000-$25,000 recruitment incentives for six hard-to-fill classifications, and shorter filing periods as applicant numbers rise.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month and survivor services
Staff and leaders from Monarch Services, CASA, the Commission on Justice and Gender, and the Sheriff's Office marked 25 years of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, citing 460+ survivors served in 2025, and asked the board to keep funding crisis services, shelters, and the new forensic DNA lab.
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.
Youth Commission creation
An 11-member commission of high school students ages 14-18 will advise the Board on youth issues, with one member per district and six at-large seats reflecting diverse communities; final adoption is set for April 14.
Youth facility savings reinvested in diversion services
Probation is reinvesting about $160,000 in secure youth treatment savings into guitar lessons, restorative justice, vocational training, and family engagement — a shift praised by educators and community groups, with calls to add culturally rooted programming from MILPA.
Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10/11 funding
The RRM Design Group contract grew by $3 million to $9.5 million for Rail Trail Segments 10 and 11 — a big cost for a trail project in tight budget times.
Climate Resilience Project Inventory
Supervisors urged proactive planning for sea-level rise, flooding, wildfire, and erosion — including reconsidering downtown Santa Cruz's flood exposure and possibly focusing growth in mid-county on higher ground.
Improving county communication and public trust
A recurring theme was broken information flow between residents, the board, and county staff. Ideas included text-based permit updates, AI-assisted service hotlines, multilingual outreach, and closing the loop on constituent requests.