County of Santa Cruz

This strategic plan serves as a roadmap for Santa Cruz County, guiding shared priorities, resource allocation, and decision-making over time. It outlines key focus areas including Housing & Infrastructure, Health, Wellbeing & Connection, Safety & Justice, Environment, Climate & Resilience, and Economy & Job Growth. The plan aims to improve community well-being by addressing critical issues and fostering collaboration among departments, partners, and residents.

The Santa Cruz County Supervisors held a Fire Recovery Town Hall to address the CZU Lightning Complex fire. The discussion included updates from state and federal agencies, including Cal OES and FEMA, regarding recovery efforts and available assistance programs. Topics covered were debris removal, the approval of phase two debris removal, individual household program approvals, and rental assistance. The threat of debris flows as winter rains begin was addressed, including the risks and the importance of evacuation.

The meeting of the Santa Cruz County Redistricting Advisory Committee included discussions regarding the process of redistricting. Topics covered included the nomination for chair and vice chair, an update from the clerk of the board on the status of COVID-19 remote meetings, a presentation on the redistricting process from 2011, an update on the work plan for public engagement, and a proposal for a public workshop calendar. The committee also addressed the rules for teleconferencing and the lead time necessary for transparency when commissioners participate remotely.

The Measure Q Vision Plan serves as Santa Cruz County's five-year roadmap for strategic investments in climate resilience, natural resource protection, and equitable public access. Funded by a voter-approved initiative, the plan outlines priorities across six thematic areas: Water Resource Management, Wildfire Risk Reduction and Forest Health, Wildlife and Habitat Protection, Parks, Recreation, Public Access, and Equity, Agricultural and Working Lands Protection, and Coastal Protection and Adaptation. It aims to guide grant funding to achieve strategic, transparent, and accountable outcomes, emphasizing early action and visible results in water, wildfire, and equitable parks and open space access, ultimately building long-term resilience for the county's people and landscapes.

The discussion includes a sizeable reduction in transportation funding for County Roads, with an anticipated loss of gas tax revenue next year. The impact of saturated soil conditions on county roads is highlighted, necessitating drainage improvements. Road maintenance is becoming increasingly challenging due to budget cuts and subsidizing other factors, making it difficult to maintain roads adequately.