Manu Koenig

Road pavement funding gap

Speakers cited a $30 million projected budget gap and years of deferred maintenance; the adopted budget includes $2 million in Measure K funds for road maintenance.

Homelessness services face funding cliff

About $2.9 million in combined contracts for shelter and rehousing services.

Empire Grade and countywide road safety improvements

The third unfunded slide repair needs local money; Koenig noted roads overall need $40-50 million a year just to maintain condition.

Human Services staffing cuts and federal H.R. 1 impacts

Projected $30 million gap next fiscal year, growing past $70 million by 2031-32; reserves drop to 12% of appropriations, below the 15% target.

Pre-winter flood risk reduction executive order request

None directly; streamlined work could reduce future disaster response costs.

Measure Q environmental and parks funding

$8.89 million in dedicated Measure Q revenue, a slight 0.5% decrease from last year.

Half-cent sales tax measure for November 2026 ballot

Would add a half-cent sales tax beginning April 1, 2027 if voters approve.

Moran Lake monarch habitat and neighborhood tree safety

Tree work depends on funding, including possible Measure Q allocation at the August 25 meeting; parks received $300,000 from the risk fund last summer.

Public Defender funding and the Page & Dudley alternate defense contract

The public defender budget has grown from $14 million to $21 million since 2021-22, and the board flagged a $1.6 million gap in that department.

Board of Supervisors' compensation

Any salary change would affect the county budget modestly; the actual recommendation comes August 25.

Streamline Santa Cruz County permitting

Pending flood-related litigation against Monterey County, Santa Cruz County, and the State

Any settlement or judgment could carry public cost, but no figures were disclosed.

2027 population growth goal

County use of artificial intelligence

No specific costs were stated in the minutes.

North County Government Center security enhancements

$88,475 in unanticipated revenue for security improvements.

Microenterprise home kitchen operations made permanent

Permit fees support county health inspections; no net county cost was stated.

Economic development and enhanced infrastructure financing districts

Funded in part by SBA, the State, the County, the City of Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College.

General Assistance program overhaul

Staff said the changes avoid a roughly $500,000 general fund increase that would otherwise be needed next budget year.

Sexually violent predator placement opposition

Severe weather shelter activation criteria

Estimated average added cost of about $34,000 per site per year, up to $108,000 in a high-activation year.

H.R. 1 federal impacts report on healthcare (Medi-Cal)

Severe Weather Shelter Response Ad Hoc Subcommittee recommendations

Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations ordinance

2027 Growth Goal Report

Artificial Intelligence Workplan 2026 presentation

North County Government Center security enhancements ($88,475)

El Niño winter preparedness presentation

Consent agenda (Items 14-46)

ACTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 14-46)

Approval of Minutes Minutes of October 6, 2026 (Clerk of the Board)

Accept claims as approved by the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector (Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector)

Adopt an "Ordinance Adding Chapter 8.51 to the Santa Cruz County Code to Adopt the Principles of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women" (Approved in concept September 29, 2026) (Clerk of the Board)

Approve appointment of Stephanie Gomez as voting member representing the County Superintendent of Schools to the Treasury Oversight Commission for a term to expire on October 20, 2030 (Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector)

Adopt resolution cancelling revenue in the amount of $34,000, correcting a duplicate budget adjustment for the offshore oil-drilling coalition, and take related actions (County Executive Office)

Authorize the County Executive Officer to sign a 90-day extension of the limited commercial guaranty with West Coast County Bank for the Pajaro Valley Health Care District’s revolving line of credit, authorize the Health Services Agency to…

Approve updates to the County Purchasing Policy Manual to reflect current laws, procurement procedures, and delegated purchasing authority (General Services Department)

Accept and file status report on emergency work at the South County Government Center pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 1102, and take related actions – 4/5 vote required (General Services Department)

Accept and file status report on staff’s efforts to develop a Responsible Construction and Wage Theft Ordinance, and take related actions (General Services Department)

Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 279-75 to create a new classification series of Assessor-Recorder Technician I and II, adopt revised salary schedule reflecting the new classifications, and take related actions (Human Resources)

Approve appointment of Lorena Gonzalez to the Childhood Advisory Council, as a representative of child care providers (category 2), for a term to expire April 1, 2027 (Board of Supervisors - Second District)

Consider two-year progress report on Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations pilot program, approve in concept an “Ordinance Amending Chapter 7.150 of the Santa Cruz County Code to Permit Microenterpr

Consider presentation on implementation of the County’s Artificial Intelligence Workplan 2026, and take related actions (Information Services Department)

Consider report on the impacts of H.R. 1, federal budget reconciliation bill, and associated federal and State policy implementation, with a focus on healthcare due to Medi-Cal changes, and take relat

Consider report and recommendations of the Severe Weather Shelter Response Ad Hoc Subcommittee, and take related actions (Board of Supervisors - Third District)

Hold public hearing to consider the 2027 Growth Goal Report, find that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, and take related actions (Community Development and Infrastr

Adopt resolution accepting unanticipated revenue in the amount of $88,475 for security enhancements at the North County Government Center (General Services Department)

Consider presentation on Operational Area El Niño winter preparedness activities, and take related actions (Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience - O3)

ACTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 14-46)

ACTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 12-26)

Action on the Consent Agenda (Items 12-26, except 16)

Homelessness Study Session and Housing Subsidy Pool Actions (Item 7)

General Assistance Program Reform (Item 8)

Opposed keeping the highest cash grant in the state given county finances.

Consider progress report on “Streamline Santa Cruz County” project, and take related actions (County Executive Office)

Consider presentation on the General Assistance program, including program trends, fiscal sustainability, and proposed policy updates, and take related actions (Human Services Department)

Conduct study session to review updates on addressing homelessness in the County of Santa Cruz, and take related actions (Human Services Department)

Authorize the General Services Department to release the revised Request for Proposal for First Tier Conflict Indigent Defense Services, and take related actions (County Executive Office)

Streamline Santa Cruz County Progress Report (Item 9)

Conflict Indigent Defense Services RFP (Item 10.1)

Adopted resolution 198-2026 approving the Infrastructure Financing Plan for the Scotts Valley Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) and the allocation of County property tax increment with

1. Accepted and filed a supplemental report on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Adopted Budget, including updates to the Errata and Litter Abatement Program, and the General Fund outlook; 2. Adopted the a

approve the staff recommended actions as included in the staff report.

1. Approved in concept an “Ordinance Adding Chapter 8.51 to the Santa Cruz County Code to Adopt the Principles of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women”; 2. Sc

Action on the Consent Agenda (Items 14-50)

Item 18 — Adoption of FY 2026-27 Budget Resolutions

Budget overspends the general fund by $30 million and does not invest property taxes in roads.

Item 7 — Scotts Valley Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (Resolution 198-2026)

Item 8 — Supplemental Report on FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget

Item 9 — CORE Subcommittee Final Report

Item 10 — CEDAW Ordinance Approved in Concept

Item 12.1 — BKF Engineers Contract for Streamline Code Amendments (pulled from consent)

ACTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 13-50)

1. Held a public hearing to consider Application No. 251276, including a Tentative Subdivision Map (Tract 1625), Site Development Permit, Planned Unit Development, and adoption of a Negative Declarati

to approve the staff recommended actions directing staff to incorporate any additional feedback from the board today in retooling the RFP process, and directing staff to bringing the retooled RFP back

Directed staff to notify the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water of the County’s intention to return Primacy of small water system regulatory oversight to the State.

Accepted a report on the certification of the METRO Initiative Petition; and 2. Directed staff to return to the Board within 30 days with the necessary resolution and related documents to call the ele

Return small water system primacy to the State Water Resources Control Board

Believes county faces mounting unfunded state mandates and should let the state handle them; state's Monterey office is responsive.

Accept METRO Initiative Petition sufficiency and call the election

Was a proponent of the initiative.

AI data center ballot measure

Sees data centers as a low threat given high local land, labor, and infrastructure costs, and prefers waiting for state/federal policy to evolve.

Authorize the Board Chair to sign a letter requesting an Executive Order to protect central coast communities before the 2026-27 winter storm season

Consider project selection for the County Measure Q funding allocation in the amount of $934,000 for Fiscal Year 2026-27, and take related actions

Consider staff recommendation relating to Board of Supervisors’ compensation, and take related actions

Hold a Tax and Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act Hearing for Santa Cruz Montessori School in connection with the proposed issuance of bonds by the California Municipal Public Financing Authority in an

Consider report on Streamline Santa Cruz Workplan Item 10, Initial Plan Thoroughness, including improvements to the Building Permit Dashboard, and Workplan Item 14, CZU Rebuild Process Improvements, a

Consider report on Housing Advisory Commission review and recommendations regarding two Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) programs, and take related actions

Consider development of a Business Registration Program for the unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County, and take related actions

CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 15-57)

Streamline Santa Cruz report; CZU Rebuild Directive extension

ADU condominium conversion and affordable ADU bonus programs

Felt the motion neither says yes nor no and state law on condoization is settled; wanted to keep moving forward.

Board of Supervisors' compensation

Believed the current linkage to judicial salaries is the cleanest approach and did not see the need to revisit in January.

Authorized the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector to proceed with necessary actions to secure the 2026-27 Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes; and Adopted Resolution 165-2026 providing for the

Held a public hearing on the proposed Moran Lake Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Plan; Upon conclusion of the public hearing, approved a Notice of Exemption under the California Environmental Qua