November 20

THE CROWD TO SEE ASSEMBLYWOMAN DAWN ADDIS

On November 7, 10am-noon, 30th Assembly District representative Ms. Dawn Addis held a rare town hall meeting in Aptos at the MidCounty Safety Center.  It should have been held in a much larger venue to allow a group-format, but instead was a one-to-one session that was so crowded, many left.

I attended, and was surprised to see County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios standing outside the door.  It became more and more apparent that this rare personal appearance of Assemblywoman Addis was a political opportunity for many running for various elected positions. Those people seemed to be called first even if arriving later than the common folk, of which there were many. If one were lucky enough to get called in to go speak with Ms. Addis, eight minutes was allotted.

However, for the many commoners like myself who waited nearly two hours to have a moment with Ms. Addis, our time was reduced to five minutes, because she had “another place to go.”

What does one say in an elevator-speech discussion with your newly-elected State Assembly representative?  I suggested that a group meeting in a larger venue would have been interesting to many, especially those who had to leave without getting to speak with her, and that everyone could have benefited by hearing the answers to all types of questions.

That was a mistake.

Ms. Addis used up over half of my allotted five minutes to tell me about her other town halls, and her visits to the area shortly after the storms last winter.  My time was short, so I focused on asking her to help get money for rural fire evacuation route safety improvements and vegetation clearance, having attended the Resource Conservation District’s “Living on Rural Properties” gathering the night before and hearing the need for local funding.

Ms. Addis responded that I should talk with the County Emergency Response Dept.  I was shocked.  Didn’t she know Santa Cruz County no longer has such a Department since CAO Palacios disbanded it in 2020, and replaced it with the vague “Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience (OR3)”?  I mentioned this to her and asked if she had talked with  Mr. David Reid, the OR3 Director, thinking to myself that of course she had, if she visited the flood areas with other local photo-op officials with Governor Newsom and President Biden.

She paused, and replied, “I think I have heard of him.”   Then she went on to say that if I felt the County needs to get more money that would be a larger legislative action.

The five-minute timer went off.

Quickly, as I was rising to my feet, I blurted out that the Sixth Cycle RHNA mandates were unrealistic and a burden causing local jurisdictions to focus on meeting deadlines rather than promoting good planning.  Was she aware of the 2021 Dept. of Finance Audit that determined the data used to create the RHNA mandate was flawed and the results should be examined?

Her assistant showed me to the door as Ms. Addis thanked me for coming and mentioned she would look into it.

The end.

If you live in the 30th Assembly area, try writing Ms. Addis and request she return more often than twice a year for constituent meetings, maybe hold them in the evening, as a larger Town Hall gathering that would be hybrid access format.  Official Website – Assemblymember Dawn Addis Representing the 30th California Assembly District

Somehow, I just don’t have much confidence that she is in touch with her constituents in Santa Cruz County.

WHAT THE COUNTY SUPES DID AT THE HOUSING ELEMENT PUBLIC HEARING

What happened among the Supervisors at the Housing Element public hearing on November 14 is really worth watching on the video.

For once, there was true discussion, compromise and insistence by Supervisor Justin Cummings that he be allowed to offer amendments since Supervisor Zach Friend made some, even though they had been instructed not to do so.

The County Board of Supervisors held the final public hearing for the updated County Draft Housing Element that will truly change the quality of life in the County Unincorporated areas, just to feverishly abide by the State mandate to build, build, and build, regardless of whether or not there is infrastructure to support it.

Of course, it was the last item on the agenda for the long meeting agenda, forcing many who may have attended the 9am Tuesday meeting to give up and leave.  Indeed, the Supervisor Chambers were all but empty when the public hearing was called to order.  Even though there was a scant few people, many being staff, the public was held to two minutes for speaking.

The rub came when Chair Zach Friend posed an amendment to the staff recommendation to rubber stamp their work, scheduled to be shipped off to Sacramento the next day.  Chair Friend insisted that the two parcels totaling 13 acres at 2600 Mar Vista Drive in Aptos, proposed to have 430 new units (that number was higher than the 402 told to the Planning Commission a few days earlier) have 4 acres of open space, rather than 2-4 acres suggested.

At that point, Supervisor Justin Cummings wanted to know why he could not also add something he wanted, namely the recommendation to increase the percentage of inclusionary affordable housing, make rental projects also subject to the requirement, and to not allow replacement housing for demolished affordable units to be counted as new numbers of affordable units for the RHNA mandated goals.

Amazingly, there had been no mention in the Planning Staff presentation to the Board of Planning Commissioner Andy Schiffrin’s insistence that the Commission send a recommendation to the Board for those exact issues.

Staff’s reply was that it would risk delay of the State Dept. of Housing and Community Development (HCD) approval, and thereby risk State funding to the County.

Chair Friend persisted in his ask.  Supervisor Cummings also insisted he be given such favor, mentioning that he was under the impression from staff that there would be no opportunity to make any changes, but it seemed that Chair Friend was not worried by doing so and, it seemed, would be allowed to do so.

The discussion was rich and ultimately, negotiated such that both did get to add amendments, but with a caution that basically stated if it was going to anger the almighty HCD, staff could back down.  Watch for yourself here, by clicking on Item #11 on the agenda to go directly to the time of the Housing Element public hearing

What a disaster this whipped puppy attitude of Staff and the Supervisors will play out for our County. Please contact Supervisor Cummings to thank him for standing up to improve things for affordable housing needs, but ask about the infrastructure that has to support it.  All of the County Planners need to be held accountable for this poor planning that does not include the large parcel where Kaiser Medical Clinic was to go but backed out, or the 38-acre parcel the County owned at 7th & Brommer that was recently declared “excess property” and put up for sale, or the traffic impacts of the more than 35 new units destined for the existing parking lot at the Seascape Golf Course.  And shouldn’t some cumulative impacts of the proposed 600+ Cabrillo College student housing be included when adding 430 units to the 2600 Mar Vista Drive parcel just down Soquel Drive?

Contact your District Supervisor and request a meeting to discuss your thoughts on all this.

Call 831-454-2200

The new e-mail template for them individually is

Firstname.Lastname@santacruzcountyca.gov

Definitely go with your neighbors if you can, and make sure you get allotted more than five minutes.

Do investigate Catalysts for Local Control, a statewide grassroots group that is gathering mighty steam to hold our State and local planners accountable for the unrealistic mandates flogging the jurisdictions into making bad planning policies. Home – Catalysts for Local Control

ABOUT THOSE YOUTH COMMISSIONERS…

The County Board of Supervisors will now be allowed to appoint 14 year olds to serve on Advisory Commissions?  Yes, and pay all Commissioners a $75/meeting stipend to attend.

The Board approved this on November 14, with a consent agenda #16 unanimous nod of a second reading to change the County Code, allowing this idea “in concept”.

While I applaud including youth in our local government, I really wonder how it would work if a 14-year-old served on the Fire Dept. Advisory Commission,  Housing Advisory Commission, the Planning Commission, the Water Commission, or others that often get conscripted by the Staff to stamp approval on matters to make them more palatable for the Board of Supervisor’s rubberstamp of approval?

I was shocked to read this when I finally had time to do so.

Think about that and go talk with your County District Supervisor.  (831)-454-2200 or email him.  Even if two of the five are not running for re-election next year, they still need to be held accountable.

I think appointing Youth Commissioners to sit in on these Advisory Commissions would be a wise thing to do, and have them meet with their District Supervisor regularly, as all other Commissioners are supposed to do.

COUNTY PUBLIC HEARING ON RAIL TRAIL BETWEEN 17TH AVENUE AND STATE PARK WAS LIVELY

Last week, the County Staff held a public hearing for comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the portion of the Rail Trail between 17th Avenue and State Park Drive during the evening in the Board of Supervisors chambers last week.  The room was packed.

The presentation was led by County Park Planner Robert Tidmore and the Harris Associates Consultant who created the Draft EIR.

Although there was a brief Q&A opportunity, it was cut short to allow for the public to enter comment on the Draft EIR.

That portion of the hearing quickly evolved into pro vs. con on rail banking, and very few comments addressed direct issues on the EIR.

However, what shocked me is that a number of mobile homes will have to be removed, affecting many people who have relied on the affordable living space.  One such mobile home owner testified that everything he has worked for to have the unit will be lost.

Try to look at this document and send your written comment to Mr. Tidmore by December 15, 2023.  Coastal Rail Trail

What do you think about not including the Capitola Trestle area in the plan now, but keeping it as an addendum to the trail and rail when funding to repair or replace the Trestle is available?  What do you think about the lighting along the trail for safety at night?  What do you think about having raised viaducts in some areas of the trail?

What do you think about forcing several residential families and seniors to lose their mobile home and affordable community?

Here is some good news:

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved $67.6 million in competitive grant funding through its Active Transportation Program (ATP) for Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10 and 11 yesterday, and the project is now fully funded for construction. The $67.6 million in funding that the County received for Segments 10 and 11 is the largest ATP grant ever awarded. The CTC also approved $35.8 million for construction of Segments 8 and 9 (Pacific Ave to 17th Ave). This nearly $105 million in ATP funding is sufficient to build nearly 7 miles of trail through the heart of Santa Cruz County. A total of 18 miles of the Coastal Rail Trail are now fully funded for construction between Davenport and State Park Drive.

I still don’t understand why County Parks is the lead agency in this EIR for the Rail Trail, and not the RTC, owner of the rail corridor?  I keep asking that question, but no one provides an answer.

RTC WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT AESTHETIC ISSUES IN APTOS

Please write December 5 on your calendar as an opportunity to meet with the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) staff to comment about what you think of the aesthetic design elements on the segment between State Park Drive and Freedom Boulevard.

RTC Seeks Public Input on Aesthetic Design Elements for the Highway 1 Auxiliary Lanes, Bus-on-Shoulder, and Coastal Rail Trail Segment 12 Project

The community open house will provide an opportunity for public input on concepts for aesthetic design elements for the Highway 1 Auxiliary Lanes, Bus-on-Shoulder Facility (State Park Drive to Freedom Boulevard) & Coastal Rail Trail Segment 12 project. The open house is on Dec. 5, 2023, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Rio Sands Hotel, 116 Aptos Beach Drive in Aptos.

When the RTC held the Draft EIR Comment on this project last June, it was very chaotic, so it is too bad they have chosen to repeat the format at the same location.  Write and ask that it be a formal presentation with Q&A, rather than the chaotic open house style last time.

WHY IS THERE SMOKE IN THE AIR?

Here is a good opportunity to learn more about how notices for local Prescribed Burns by CalFire and other agencies can be improved.

December 6, at 6pm Beauregard Winery Bonny Doon FireSafe Council.

DAMIAN’S LADDER HELPS SENIORS IN SAN LORENZO VALLEY AND SCOTTS VALLEY

A new non-profit is off and running in the San Lorenzo Valley to help low and fixed income seniors.

Damians Ladder

Scotts Valley Fire Dept. recently received a $3,100 donation from a fire survivor to establish a similar service there.

SANTA CRUZ CITY HALL HAS INTERESTING TREES AND PLANTS

When I am in the Santa Cruz downtown area, I always enjoy a stroll in the City Hall gardens because the plants and trees are interesting, unusual and well-maintained.  A tree there now in pink blossom only a few weeks ago sported enormous white puffballs the size of basketballs.  This is the Kapok Tree (Ceiba sp.).

Not only is it interesting, this species played a large role in life saving equipment in the early 1900’s for military sailors and the general public onboard sailing vessels and large passenger ships.

Buoyant Materials for Navy Life Preservers in World War II

Four of the 20 life boats on the Titanic were made with kapok and cork.

Lifeboats of the Titanic – Wikipedia

Maybe it is significant that a Kapok Tree grows in front of the City government building, symbolic of the need for “Staying afloat in times of disaster”?  The thorns on the trunk are also impressive. This site was originally the mansion of Frederick A. Hihn, a well-known local millionaire.

“The 1937 Monterey-Colonial Santa Cruz City Hall was the garden estate of the millionaire Frederick Augustus Hihn, who built a magnificent 1871 Italian Villa mansion where the 1965 City Hall Annex is today…The Gardens were world famous, containing rare plants from around the globe. It also boasted the world’s largest rose bush. These lush gardens were often shown in brochures promoting California as a year-round garden spot.

After the city purchased the mansion from the Hihn heirs in 1920, the gardens became a public park, named “Hihn Park” in honor of its creator. Though the name Civic Gardens seems to have been the popular name, Ross Eric Gibson writes “these gardens covered the entire block from Chestnut Street to Cedar Street (before Center Street was cut through it).”

In the 1930’s, the gardens and the unique history of the area determined the architect chosen and the style of the City Hall replacement. The replacement was built in front of the old Hihn Mansion. Deemed to no longer “fit in” Hihn Mansion was sold to a wrecker for $1. The community learned the gardens would be removed. The plants in the botanical gardens were salvaged by the SC community and donated to the 1939 San Francisco World’s Fair Treasure Island Site. Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens was the recipient of the plants after the Fair.

The current gardens at the City Hall are a change from the famous gardens at the F.A. Hihn Home on-site previously, yet the spirit of place remains.”

City Hall Gardens | City of Santa Cruz

Take time to explore this lovely public garden, complete with an inner courtyard fountain, whenever you have time.

Pink hibiscus-like flowers adorn the Kapok Tree now.

A few months ago, basketball-sized fluffs of kapok fiber adorned the same tree as the seed pods opened.

WRITE ONE LETTER.  MAKE ONE CALL. TAKE A WALK AROUND THE CITY HALL PARK OR YOUR FAVORITE GARDEN TO CALM YOUR SOUL IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES.

JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Becky

November 13

SPEAK UP NOW ABOUT YET ANOTHER ROUND OF STEEP SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT RATE HIKES 

If you or someone you know have to buy water from Soquel Creek Water District, please take action now to let the Board know you want to see what the District is doing to cut out-of-control spending habits and expensive consultants doing work that should be done in-house.

This Sunday, November 19, ratepayers will gather at 1pm at the Capitola Library Ow Community Meeting Room to organize resistance to the impending 10%-12.5% compounded annual rate increase for the next four years that the District Board has indicated it will approve at their Special Meeting the next evening, Monday, November 20.  That’s when the Board will hear the Raftelis Consultant explain the justification for yet another series of steep rate increases but likely will not examine what costs the District could reduce in order to be more fiscally-accountable to the rate payers.

Ratepayers are footing the $161,410 bill for this Raftelis Consultant study.

It might be helpful to look back on what the last five years in 9% annual rate increases did. Here is the Prop 218 mailer people received, showing the increases and tier adjustments

The Board began actions on the current rate increase with Item 7.5 on January 17, 2023 (page 178-183)

Some District customers have wondered how much the Raftelis Consultant is charging for the Rate Study and 10-year Financial Plan. The Board approved the Raftelis contract on May 2, 2023, with a price tag of $161,410,  then Staff recommended Raftelis, even though a second consultant, Bartle Wells, submitted a lower bid of $95,150 and has worked well with the District before.

(See item 7.5, pages 100-287)

Here is the link for what Raftelis is supposed to do, which includes a four-year annual rate increase scenario

Here is the link to what Raftelis was supposed to accomplish in 2018 with a multi-year finance plan and rate study:

Isn’t it interesting that the District cancelled the October 23 Finance Standing Committee meeting and has not rescheduled it?

CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION AT APTOS WWI MONUMENT 

On Veteran’s Day, local leaders of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Scouts, and Cabrillo Host Lions Club were joined by Second District County Supervisor Zach Friend and Second District Historic Resources Commissioner Kevin Newhouse to commemorate the installation of the WWI Monument 100 years ago.

The Monument was originally located further west on what is now Soquel Drive, but was known as the main Santa Cruz -Watsonville Road at the time, to recognize the 60 Santa Cruz County residents who perished in The War.  When the modern Highway One was built in the 1950’s, the Monument was partially buried and destined to be covered in brush and forgotten.

However, in 2002, a young Scott Evans decided that should not be allowed to happen, and made it his Eagle Scout project to work with local residents and businesses, which included Granite Construction Co., to move the Monument to its present-day location to be more visible and ensure that the significance of the Christmas, 1923 Daughters of the American Revolution action was not forgotten.

Scott received many awards for his initiative and citizenship before going off to college.  Another young fellow by the name of Matt Marani noticed in about 2010 that the Monument was pretty overgrown, and took it upon himself to work with his family and friends to clean the area and keep the Monument visible.

Matt went off to college in 2016, and this time, it was the Cabrillo Host Lions Club leadership that noticed the Monument was getting overgrown.  Since 2018, the Club members  have maintained the site, thanks to Lion Aumao Toalepaialii instituting the last Saturday morning of every month a workday at the site.

Many hands make important work possible and preserves the original purpose of the Monument and all those who perished in the “War to End All Wars”.

DAR Chapter President Ann Lauten Fay, DAR Past President Priscilla Partridge and Past District Governor Cabrillo Host Lion Barbara Chamberlain discuss the transition of care for the Monument over the 100 years it has existed.

Rob Marani (an Eagle Scout) and Lion Charlie Ukestad (former member of Scout Troop 599) raise the flag and new flag pole donated by Matt Marani.

Second District Historic Resources Commissioner Kevin Newhouse discussed the historic significance of the location, and the former Santa Cruz – Watsonville Road at Rob Roy Junction.

Second District County Supervisor Zach Friend welcomed those who were gathered, and remarked upon the significance of the DAR to install the Monument 100 years ago,  honoring those who perished in The War.  (Behind him on the Monument is a WWI militiaman’s service cap, brought for the occasion by Lion Tui Aiono.)

It was a somber closing with “Taps”.

Thank a Veteran and light a candle for peace in the world.

MAKE ONE CALL.  WRITE ONE LETTER.  ATTEND A WEBINAR OR PUBLIC MEETING AND ASK QUESTIONS.

TAKE A WALK IN NATURE AND CALM YOUR SOUL.

MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE BY JUST DOING SOMETHING.

Cheers,   Becky

COUNTY SUPERVISORS WILL RUBBERSTAMP HOUSING ELEMENT IN PUBLIC HEARING NOVEMBER 14

How can the public hope for any meaningful input on the County’s Housing Element that will drastically change density, building height and size with rezoning 74 parcels when the document is scheduled to be sent to the State for blessing the very next day?  That was one of my questions to the County Housing Advisory Commission and Planners last Wednesday.

Never the less, this is now our only chance to weigh in on what we feel is important…such as necessary environmental review to address traffic, water, removal of large heritage trees and existing housing to make way for what could be very dense, tall structures in Aptos, Seascape, Live Oak and Green Valley Road in Watsonville.

Planning Agenda

Housing Advisory Commission…who WERE all those people?!

EXCELLENT WILDFIRE INSURANCE VIRTUAL TOWNHALL MEETING

Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin held an excellent Virtual Town Hall meeting last week that featured a panel of four speakers that brought valuable information to the public.  State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant talked about a new pilot program through State Office of Emergency Services (OES) to help seniors and disabled residents get assistance to do work reducing fire risk.  The Governor approved $100 million for wildfire protection grants.  Ms. Amy Boch gave a great presentation about the United Insurance Policy Holders Advocacy and described what help is available.   The two other presenters from the insurance industry and the State insurance Commission provided excellent information explaining the cause of the cancellation problems that have plagued property owners throughout the State.

Take a look at this, and thank Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin and her staff for putting it together

MORE INSURANCE COMPANIES LEAVING CALIFORNIA

Four more home insurance brands leave California

WE SHOULD EXAMINE FIRE RECOVERY IN BUTTE COUNTY AND APPLY GOOD PRACTICES HERE

Recently, a good article in the Mercury News reported the rebuilding process in Paradise is coming along quite well, with many upgrades to reduce fire risk in the future.  I was struck by the Butte County offering a choice of nine free pre-approved house plans.

‘We have come so far’: Five years after California’s historic Camp Fire killed 85, Paradise moves ahead with a goal to build a fireproof town [Mercury News article]

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN BIG BASIN?

Take a virtual look at Big Basin State Park recovery since the 2020 CZU Fire.  This should be interesting. Click for lots of photos: The Santa Cruz Mountains Bioregional Council (SCMBC)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PROPOSED RAIL AND TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN 17TH AVENUE & STATE PARK DRIVE?

Make sure you weigh in with your thoughts about the rail trail corridor improvements schedule for areas between 17th Avenue and State Park Drive (Segments 10 & 11) on November 16, 5pm-7:30pm.  You’ll get two minutes.

The County is scheduled to receive comments on the Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10 & 11 Draft EIR at a public meeting on Thursday, November 16, 2023, 5:00pm – 7:30pm. The meeting will be held in-person at the County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 701 Ocean Street, Room 525, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Remote participation is also available via Zoom.

Please note that to reduce the risk of ‘Zoom Bombing’, attendees will be required to register for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link and information about joining the meeting. Registration takes approximately 1 minute, and you may register at any time up until the end of the meeting. Register here

This is a whopping 1474-page document, but I encourage you to read what you can and submit comment to:

Rob Tidmore, Park Planner IV
Email: RailTrail@santacruzcountyca.gov
Phone: 831-454-7947

Here is a link to the Draft EIR document

I have found the comparison of the environmental impacts of the Ultimate Trail (rail and trail) and the Interim Trail (trail only) on page 377 interesting.  The mitigations for both are on pages 752-758.  Take a look at the Appendix D Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Plan (MMRP) on pages 1223-1248.

The interesting thing about the Draft EIR is that it eliminates the 0.5 mile that includes the Capitola Trestle.

Attend the November 16 public meeting, and do your best to read and comment on the areas of the EIR that interest you most.

WILL APTOS VILLAGE PARK BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM SWENSON’S DESTRUCTION?

The work to install a large drain pipe from the parking lots of Phase 2 Aptos Village Project to dump the dirty water into Aptos Creek continues.    Anyone who has ever attended a concert on the lawn there or watched their kids and dogs run about will wonder if this grand space will recover?

The view from the Park driveway, looking toward Aptos Creek.

The drain pipe will empty into a pit of rocks on the banks of the Aptos Creek, potentially undermining the rootball of a heritage Walnut tree and cluster of Redwood trees.

Write County Parks Director Jeff Gaffney with your thoughts. jeff.gaffney@santacruzcountyca.gov and maybe a letter to the editor.

GOVERNOR REVERSES BANNED STATES TRAVEL, AFFECTING SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIR INTERIM CEO

Governor Newsom is doing some interesting campaigning, isn’t he?  Not only did he travel to Israel and China, he recently quietly removed his Executive Order that declared a number of states to be “banned travel states” for California State employees.

Oddly, in July and August this year, he added more states to the list of many that were deemed unacceptable for California State employees to travel to for business and get reimbursed by the California taxpayers.  This was all based on what he considered regressive politics related to LGBTQ issues.

On September 12, he removed that ban with his approval of SB 447.  Instead, the California taxpayers will pay for advertising campaigns in those 25 states to encourage their governments to change their thoughts and policies.  Hmmm… Shouldn’t we just spend our money fixing roads and problems in California?

How does this affect the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds? Well, Interim CEO Ken Alstott who managed the Fairgrounds (a state-owned facility) from April to May, and has remained on the payroll until just recently, lives in Tennessee, one of those Alstott banned states.  He commuted from that state to come work in Watsonville.  Now that the Governor has reversed the travel ban, Ken Alstott will be able to be reimbursed over $12,000 for his travel expenses (on top of his $17,000 salary) to help manage the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

Isn’t that amazing?  Fair Board members were not concerned about this expense.

Luckily, the new CEO Zeke Fraser lives in Santa Cruz County.

BROKEN PARKING PERMIT DISPENSER AT COUNTY BUILDING DOES NOT PREVENT TICKETING IF YOU STAY TOO LONG

Does it make sense to you that the County employs a parking lot attendant part-time to issue tickets to vehicles that overstay their one or two hour limit, yet provide no way at all for people to purchase permits to stay longer?

Strange but true.  The County pays a very nice fellow named “Moon” to walk around the parking lot at the County Government Building on 701 Ocean Street to issue tickets.  He is not there every day, but is usually there on Tuesdays when the Board of Supervisors are meeting and unsuspecting members of the public may stay for an extensive meeting agenda…and get ticketed if they do not dash out of the meeting and move their vehicles.

Moon keeps assuring me that he is going to get the machines fixed pretty soon, but so far, that has not happened.

The County’s General Services Dept. oversees this matter, and although staff assured me that “they are working on it”, members of the public cannot purchase extra time for parking at their office in the meantime.  

For well over a year, there was no parking lot attendant.  The job was cut to save money.  However, Moon appeared with a ticket book last spring, and purportedly issued an entire book-worth of tickets to violators his first day on the job…including to County workers who chose not to pay for parking in the employee lot.  Ooops.

It was a bit of rub because many of the tickets were waived, yet the cost of the ticket booklet itself was hundreds of dollars.

Here is the notice posted on both parking permit dispensers at the 701 Ocean Street County Government lot.   They have been out of service for months, but the parking attendant continues to issue tickets for vehicles staying too long.

Is it in the best interest of the public to pay an employee to issue tickets to the public who are at the Government Building to do business or attend public meetings, and offer NO REMEDY to receiving a $30 parking violation, other than to leave a meeting every hour or two to move a vehicle?

Write to General Services Director Michael Beaton  michael.beaton@santacruzcountyca.gov  and ask that either the machines get fixed or Moon take a vacation until they are fixed.

THANK A VETERAN

This Saturday, November 11, marks observance of Armistice Day, aka Veterans Day.  It is not a celebration of war, but rather an opportunity to thank and honor those and their families who have fought for freedom, often with great sacrifice.  Veterans Day 2023: Founding, Fact & Meaning

The WWI Monument at the intersection of Freedom Blvd. and Soquel Drive in Aptos is 100 years old, first installed by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) on Christmas, 1923 to honor the 60 residents of Santa Cruz County who perished in that war.  The Monument was originally placed alongside the Santa Cruz-Watsonville Road (now Soquel Drive), and was nearly buried by the construction of the new Highway One in the 1960’s.

In 2002, a young Scott Evans, member of Boy Scout Troop 599 of Watsonville, worried the Monument would be lost and the significance forgotten, so made it his Eagle Scout Project to relocate it to the present site.  Many local businesses, including Granite Construction Co., helped with the effort.  Scott won many accolades from DAR and local civic groups for his good work.

Now, the Cabrillo Host Lions Club partners with DAR to maintain the garden at the Monument, having won a recent environmental grant from California Lions Club.

The Veterans, DAR, Scouts and Lions will gather on Veterans Day, at 2pm, to commemorate the centennial of the DAR placing the Monument, and to honor those 60 soldiers who perished, and recognize all Veterans and their families.  Please join ceremony if you like.  Parking will be available at the CHP Office across from the Monument.

WRITE ONE LETTER.  MAKE ONE CALL.  ATTEND THE DRAFT COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT PUBLIC HEARING AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NOVEMBER 14 MEETING.

LIGHT A CANDLE FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD.

JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK, AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

Cheers,  Becky

October 30

COUNTING MANDATE

Remarkably, first-year Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin had 10 of her bills signed into law by the Governor.

AB 969 makes it illegal to hand count ballots, and interestingly, “This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.”

Should the State control how County Election Clerks and local governance decide to run their elections, restricting what they can do rather than enabling a variety of good options?

The law now reads:

15270.1.

(a) An elections official shall not conduct a manual vote count pursuant to this article or Article 6 (commencing with Section 15290) in any election unless that manual count is conducted pursuant to a plan approved by the Secretary of State. A manual count plan shall be consistent with the regulations adopted by the Secretary of State regarding manual vote counts. The Secretary of State shall prepare a template of a manual count plan that an elections official may use to assist in meeting this requirement.

SEC. 2.

Section 15270.2 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

15270.2.

The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations regarding manual vote counts.

SEC. 6.

 This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:

In order to ensure that county elections officials know what voting system they will be using, particularly with the upcoming 2024 March Presidential Primary, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately.

AB-969 Elections: voting systems.

Write Assemblywoman Pellerin with your thoughts.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MUZZLED APTOS LAND OWNER AND HIS CONCERNS

Last Wednesday, during a public hearing, the County Planning Commission discussed the possible parcels to be re-zoned for dense infill development in order to satisfy the State Housing and Community Development (HCD) zeal to force all municipalities to show evidence in updated Housing Element planning documents that massive numbers of housing units will be built or face losing all discretionary control of local land use decisions.

The HCD had just returned a few pages of comments on the County’s draft Housing Element update.  The bulk of the staff report focused on a 13-acre parcel in Aptos near State Park Drive and Highway One, formerly a small golf course, and until recently, featured three large metal towers that served as radio antennae. The County now plans to fit 403 housing units there, and also preserve about 2 acres of open space.  Commissioners wondered what the property owner intended to do?  I found it odd that County Planners said they had no contact with the property owner, and that there were no applications for permits related to the parcel.

During public testimony, many people from the nearby Seacliff Mobile Home Park on Mar Vista Drive testified that no one from the County had contacted them about this large project (403 units) going in on the narrow Mar Vista Drive that is already congested with overflow parking, and has no sidewalks.

A man who said he was the real estate agent for the parcel declared that the property had been for sale for a while, there were no offers, due in part to the County’s unknown actions in rezoning and some past problems.

The final speaker was the property owner himself.  He described how he and his brother bought the land long ago because it was all zoned multi-family housing.  However, in the 1990’s the County suddenly zoned it to be Open Space, with no notice to him and his brother.  He described that he had met with then-Supervisor Ellen Pirie and protested what he considered an illegal taking.  Purportedly, Ms. Pirie’s reply was: “Well, sue us.”

Now that the County is again talking about rezoning his property, he asked the Planning Commission to restore the multi-family zoning to the full parcel.

At that point, Planning Commissioner Chair Renee Shepherd cut off the man’s microphone and told him that his two minutes were up.  “What?!” the man replied.  “Your two minutes are up.  That’s all the time anyone gets here.” replied Chair Shepherd.  “Well.  That’s really too bad.” the owner said, shaking his head and walking away. No other Commissioners or Planning Staff asked for the owner to be able to return to the podium in order to answer questions that came up about the parcel later.

Isn’t that amazing?

You can listen to the recording of that meeting by clicking October 25 agenda and the recording button.

The documents are all there for you to read, too.  I hope you will do so, even though the main document is 866 pages, because the County’s actions will forever change the landscape and quality of life in Santa Cruz County as we know it.  The Planning staff is now hoping to add 6,000 units in the next eight years, even though the State mandate requirement is 4,634…”It is a conservative buffer” staff assured Commissioners.

You can read the comments that HCD sent in response to the County’s Draft Housing Element update here, in the third piece of Correspondence.

Commissioner Violante asked why there was no strikeout and underline editing shown in the document to indicate what changes staff had already made in response to the HCD comments.  Staff replied that the Excel document platform does not support doing that.  She also asked what parcels had been removed from the list of potential re-zone lots, as staff had stated in their presentations because it was not clear in the document?  Staff assured her they will provide a highlighted version to the Commissioners…but what about the public???

She also asked about including a range of densities for various parcels, rather than a hard number, based on various unknown factors influencing how densely some lots could be developed.  Staff replied that they cannot change projections now because “HCD will not look upon it favorably.”

Commissioner Andy Schiffrin asked about impacts of density bonuses available to developers that would increase density even more.  He asked that the percentage of affordable units be increased from 15% to 20% because the actual percentage of very low income housing units ultimately gets diluted when developers are able to get such concessions.  He pointed out that the City of Santa Cruz has a 20% affordability requirement.  He stressed that the County should approve fees, not developers.

Planning Dept. Staff Stephanie Hansen stated that the Board of Supervisors “was happy with 15% affordable requirement, and instead voted to accept the Plan as recommended, but to do a Nexis study” to determine if it is necessary to increase the percentage in the future.  She made NO mention of the split vote of the Board on that issue, and that Supervisor Manu Koenig felt changing the percentage would not be wise because it could delay HCD approval.  Supervisors Justin Cummings and Felipe Hernandez did not vote in favor of approving the recommendation, and had wanted to increase the percentage of affordable units to 20%.

Planner Stephanie Hansen did not mention this at all, but Commissioner Schiffrin added “Well, I thought it was a 3-2 vote.”

Commissioner Schiffrin persisted: “Well, we are an advisory body to the Board, so we can make a recommendation that they increase the affordable housing percentage to 20%.  We make independent recommendations.  The Board can accept or reject them.”

The next opportunity for you and others to hear more about the County’s Housing Element update and impending actions will be the Board of Supervisors meeting November 14.  Attend if you can, and share the information with others.

Watch here for the agenda by the Friday before that meeting

IS CLOSING A RUNWAY AT THE WATSONVILLE AIRPORT A WISE THING TO DO?

The Watsonville City Council is debating whether or not to close down the alternate cross runway at the Watsonville Airport to allow for more housing to be built closer to the airport.  Given the strong safety need for pilots to use that cross runway for safe take-off and landing under certain weather conditions, and the fact that our County has historically relied on the Airport for emergency supplies in disasters, is the Watsonville City Council really thinking about the long-term public safety of the population at large, or their own fervor to satisfy the State building mandates?

A pilot friend of mine explained that had the family who crashed into the medical offices near the hospital in 2011 would have used the cross runway instead, that accident would likely not have happened.  What would pilots in the future have as an alternate for take-off and landing in the future if the Watsonville City Council erases that cross runway?

Please write the Watsonville City Council with your thoughts about any action to remove potential emergency uses of the Airport. Their next meeting is November 14 at 4:30pm in the Council Chambers on top of the parking garage at 275 Main Street. Check in with the Watsonville Airport Advisory Commission and urge them to make a strong recommendation to the Council to keep both important runways

SWENSON’S CONTRACTOR RIPS UP APTOS VILLAGE PARK LAWN AND TRENCHES TO APTOS CREEK FOR PARKING LOT RUNOFF DRAINAGE

Well, even though the County has declared it is now into the rain season (post October 15) and all earth disturbance must have a winter grading permit and install erosion control measures, none of that is happening at the Aptos Village Park lawn and Aptos Creek riparian corridor.  Please scroll to the end of this Blog and take a look at some photos from last week that include deep trenching vulnerable to wildlife, the public and their dogs.

I wrote to County Parks Director Jeff Gaffney, County Supervisor Zach Friend, and County Public Works Director Matt Machado to ask if there is a winter grading permit in place, whether Native American observers are on site (I saw none, but did speak with a “soils guy” from Archaeologic Resource Management (ARM) known as the “developer’s archaeologist”), and why there was no erosion control in the massive soil disturbance near Aptos Creek?

Not one of them answered. The quality of the lawn has been destroyed, along with the irrigation system.  Will Swenson repair all that damage to this popular County-owned park?

Has Fish and Wildlife approved dumping parking lot stormwater from the Phase 2 Aptos Village Project into Aptos Creek, known for having clean water for steelhead trout and maybe even Coho salmon?

Write Serena Stumpf serena.stumpf@wildlife.ca.gov with Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, and her Supervisor Wesley Stokeswesley.stokes@wildlife.ca.gov and ask.

Maybe you will have better luck with these local public servants than I did:

Jeff Gaffney jeff.gaffney@santacruzcountyca.gov
Matt Machado matt.machado@santacruzcountyca.gov
Zach Friend zach.friend@santacruzcountyca.gov
 (831-454-2200)

MAKE ONE CALL. WRITE ONE LETTER.  JUST DO SOMETHING AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK.

Cheers,

Becky

October 23

COUNTY SUPERVISORS WANT RURAL PEOPLE TO RELOCATE RATHER THAN REBUILD

Why was this incredibly important issue hidden on the CONSENT AGENDA at last Tuesday’s Board of Supervisor meeting?

Only 38 of the 911 homes destroyed by the 2020 CZU Fire have been rebuilt.  Rather than improving the process to help those who lost their homes get back on their land, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors want to sweep those people out of the mountains, and into the dense urban area with a new deal that would allow a developer to get even more concessions for high-density subdivisions if they participate.  Affordable?  Not likely.   Isn’t this really playing on the desperation of those who have now run out of money and emotional fortitude, and have still not made permit progress with the County Planning Dept. and 4Leaf Consultants who are to streamline permitting and help these victims?

Take a look at Consent Agenda Item #26

Thank goodness for the Sentinel article that brought it to light for those who could not be at the 9am Tuesday meeting of the Board

The staff report has this to say about the sorry state of affairs for rebuilding those 911 homes that burned:

“That leaves roughly 45% of CZU fire victims who still own their property and who have not initiated any action to rebuild whatsoever.”

DOC-2023-842 Direct staff in the Community Development and Infrastructure Department and staff in the Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience to collaborate on additional outreach to disaster victims in Santa Cruz County to understand the obstacle

Rather than lead an investigation as to why this is so, Supervisors Koenig and McPherson want to launch a survey to see if the CZU Fire victims would like to move into the dense urban area and sell their rural property.

The transfer process would allow the sending site owner to sell their development rights to a developer or landowner with a property in the receiving area. In addition to specifications that incentivize including a residence for the disaster victim, the developer would then be permitted to increase the density or intensity of a receiving site development beyond what is typically allowed. A conservation easement would be put on the sending site to prevent future building at the disaster-prone area.

Koenig told the Sentinel that transfer of development rights have been used across the country, but this potential county program would mark it’s first-ever use in the context of helping disaster victims rebuild in safer areas.

“This program is not meant to force people out of their homes and it’s not meant to prevent people from rebuilding their homes wherever they want,” said Koenig. “It’s meant to create an alternative option in a way for people to either rebuild somewhere else or capture the value of their home even if it has been destroyed.”

What is the real reason behind this ludicrous plan that ignores the fact that some people need to live in quiet areas and are willing to take some responsibility for risks inherent?  Take a look at the Sempervirens GREAT PARK PLAN that very closely mirrors the boundaries of the 2020 CZU Fire:

Great Park Campaign Final Report Spring 2016

Great Park Campaign Report Spring 2014

This was proposed in 2016, with the big question mark about how to gain ownership of the private property within…like the McCrary family.  Well, guess what…their homes burned in 2020, and the County is letting precious few rebuild.  And now, here comes Supervisor Manu Koenig and Bruce McPherson dashing forth with a plan that would maybe be the only way available for those displaced by the ravages of the CZU Fire and getting nowhere with the County to rebuild, other than being financially drained.

Isn’t this amazing?

AMBAG ADJUSTS GROWTH FORECAST FOR OUR AREA

The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) is a powerful appointed staffed agency that meets with representatives from Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties.  It is the local arm of the State’s stick that is mandating all jurisdictions to triple the number of new developments or run the risk of losing any semblance of local land use discretionary control.

 The AMBAG 2026 Regional Growth Forecast meeting last Monday with jurisdictional planners and managers was interesting.

The population in our area is projected to decrease, and be composed mainly of aging residents and college students.  Take a look at the slides attached at the end of this blog.  I think Slide 11 is especially interesting because it shows the numbers for 2026 are much lower than the 2022 Forecast that influenced the Regional Housing Number Allocation (RHNA) mandate driving the feverish updates on all jurisdictions to re-zone and plan for three  to ten times more building by 2030.

The first draft projections included constant population at the University of California, Santa Cruz and at California State University, Monterey Bay, which is unlikely given expansion plans at both universities of 10,000 – 15,000 students. Once university plans are included, the region will continue to grow slowly through 2050.

Agency members participating in the meeting wanted to have data to support the AMBAG claim that population could increase due to climate change bringing people here to the cooler coastal area, but it turned out there is none.  The data (one study by a former staffer) examined the trend to move away from wildfire-prone areas, leading to the idea related to climate change.

A person from Salinas wanted to know why the Growth Forecast has hard numbers, and could not be presented in a high and low range that would take into consideration uncertain factors.   The answer was that the computer model would not handle that level of information, so the EIR would be challenging, and it doesn’t matter because AMBAG re-evaluates the growth forecasts every four years anyway.

A person from Watsonville questioned the connection between an increase in agricultural jobs but a forecasted drop in population…that does not match with the City’s plan to focus more on providing affordable housing for farmworkers.  No comment from AMBAG staff.

The representative from the City of Santa Cruz pointed out that the development planning in the City is much higher than the 2026 AMBAG growth forecast of 2.4% but don’t ever see it going higher than 5%.  That was discussed awhile, but many wondered about the discrepancy between the AMBAG forecast and the State Dept. of Finance forecast that states population will be stagnant through 2060.

AMBAG staff seemed uncomfortable in explaining that a very recent “robust” discussion with the State Finance people has led them to believe that the next population forecast by the Dept. of Finance “will probably be a little higher.”  Hmmm….

The person from San Juan Bautista wanted to know how demand on infrastructure associated with the Growth Forecast is reflected in the analysis.  What about water and the expected increase in ag? The AMBAG staff talked a lot but gave a very illusive answer about  “we just have to show trends’.

Here is further summary from the staff report:

“Job projections are also lower than in the 2022 Regional Growth Forecast (RGF), reflecting updated data from the
California Employment Development Department. Data through 2022 show that the
region’s jobs have rebounded from the 2020 recession, but have not grown to levels
predicted in the 2022 RGF.

Population projections are substantially lower than the 2022 Regional Growth Forecast
(2022 RGF), reflecting updated information from the 2020 Census and new estimates from
the California Department of Finance (DOF) that show population loss in the region in recent
years, steadily falling fertility rates, stagnant mortality rates, and an aging population”

Agenda Packet 10-23-23

I was not able to get the meeting’s Zoom connection to work so joined by telephone.  I heard comments and questions from staff representing Santa Cruz City, Watsonville, Salinas, San Juan Bautista and I think, Marina, but none from Capitola, Scotts Valley or the County of Santa Cruz.

The AMBAG amended 2026 Regional Growth Forecast will return to the Board, the elected representatives, in November, and in-person public meetings are scheduled for January or February.

MOSQUITO VECTOR COMMISSIONER HIRES ASSESSMENT CONSULTANT TO SUCK YOUR WALLET DRY

Because an exotic mosquito was found in Watsonville last year, the Ag Commissioner wants to raise taxes to gear up for what may or may not be a problem.  However, never miss an opportunity to raise new taxes when people could be easily persuaded to vote for it in fear.

Take a look at the County Board of Supervisor CONSENT agenda Item #49 that approved $245,766 to hire SCI Consulting to develop a Benefit Assessment ballot measure in the near future.  This is the same consultant that developed expensive documents and weighted ballot measures for Santa Cruz County Fire in 2020 and Branciforte Fire District in 2023.  We are a lucrative County for this consultant, because their weighted ballot Special Benefit Assessments are much easier to get a 51% approval vote for than a regular 2/3 voter approval for a special tax.  Such would be the case for CSA 53 Mosquito and Vector Control revenue increases. [Agenda Item
DOC-2023-865]

“Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control (MVC) is a special district and is currently funded by County Service Area (CSA) 53, CSA 53 South and CSA 53 North. The Division provides vector-borne disease monitoring, mosquito control, and other important public health services to all Santa Cruz County residents.”

Which is worse… blood-thirsty mosquitos or hungry consultants that glad-hand our local elected officials?

“The first step in this process is to administer a survey with the goal of testing public interest and potential rates. Survey results are expected by March 2024 and will provide direction on either moving forward or postponing the assessment measure.”

I wonder who will receive notice of the survey?????

NEW APTOS LIBRARY WON’T BE OPEN FOR AWHILE

Many who have been watching the Aptos Library new construction project thought it would be open by now.  However, according to library staff, the doors won’t open until December at the earliest.

The delay is rumored to be caused by PG&E scheduling issues, similar to what happened at the Capitola Library. Once up and running, the facility will be able to run 100% on power from the rooftop solar panels.

Library staff also mentioned the opening of the new Live Oak “Library” Annex (no books, no librarian but paid for with Measure S library tax funds) adjacent to the Simpkins Swim Center will also be delayed for reasons similar to the Aptos Library delay.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON RAIL TRAIL BETWEEN 17TH AVENUE AND STATE PARK DRIVE

Now is your chance to review the Draft EIR for the area segments to build a rail and trail on the corridor between 17th Avenue in Live Oak and State Park Drive in Aptos: Public Review Period on Coastal Rail Trail Segment 10 & 11 Project Draft Environmental Impact Report Now Open

There will be a Public Meeting on Thursday, November 16, 5pm-7:30pm with details to follow: IU Webmaster redirect

Public Comment closes December 16, 2023.

This 4.5 mile project evaluation claims to detail both the Ultimate Trail Plan (rail and trail built) and the Interim Plan (rail removed and trail-only built) with equal detail.  However, the study excludes the areas involving the Capitola trestle: “excluding a 0.5-mile section following surface streets through the incorporated City of Capitola from Opal Street/Cliff Drive Plaza to Monterey Avenue/Park Avenue”

Take some time to browse through this document and voice your thoughts.  Strangely, they are to be directed to Mr. Robert Tidmore at the Santa Cruz County Parks Dept.   The address provided on the website for comment is broken but here is what was sent to interested parties:

Rob Tidmore, Park Planner IV

Email:   RailTrail@santacruzcountyca.gov

Phone: 831-454-7947

I have already written Mr. Tidmore to ask that the Draft EIR be available at the Capitola, Live Oak and Downtown Libraries.  Currently, they are only available in the County Bldg. and Parks Office that are not open on weekends to allow public review.

For some reason, the County of Santa Cruz Parks Dept., not the RTC, seems to be the lead agency on this project, and will hold a public hearing on November 16.

The County Board of Supervisors approved accepting the unanticipated $45,000 payment from the RTC for this EIR work done by Remy Moose Manley LLP, a legal firm in Sacramento

This interesting item was Consent Item #52 on the October 17, 2023 County Board of Supervisors agenda

Remy Moose Manley LLP appears to be a large legal environmental firm.  I wonder why they got the job, rather than Dudek, another giant that opened up shop in downtown Santa Cruz as the current building boom was getting started

SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT BOARD DISCUSSES ANOTHER SERIES OF BIG RATE INCREASES

Last week, the Finance Director, Leslie Strohm, interrupted the Raftelis Consultant to inform the Board that part of the reason the rate increase is necessary is due to the $11 Million revenue shortfall because customers have done such a good job in conserving.  Wow. Also, the nearly $120 million in cost overruns for PureWater Soquel plays a big role, but that was not really discussed.

“Well, I’m not in favor of the 25% increase the first year,” said Director Tom LaHue, tuning in from Anacortes, Washington.  Except for Director Bruce Jaffe’s questions about inflation, tuning in from his home, there was little discussion about anything of substance.

Four ratepayers were there in the audience, and one stood up and voiced opposition to yet another rate increase. “There are customers on fixed incomes who are struggling now to pay their water bill, and conserving all they can.  You don’t seem to care.”

The Board did not respond but directed staff to guide the Raftelis consultant in making a presentation to them November 21, when they will decide just how steeply the impending rates will climb.

Never mind that at the last rate increase public hearing (February 19, 2019), Director Bruce Daniels said “so as early as June, we could start reducing these rate increases we’re talking about, if we get the grant for PureWater Soquel Project”.  (see minute 2:12 – 2:13:40)  Hesitantly, Project Director Melanie Mow-Schumacher agreed.

Soquel Creek Water District 02/19/19

The District got that state grant, and others, but never reduced any rates.  And here they are, coming back for higher rates to pay the debt on PureWater Soquel large cost overruns and hefty monthly staff bonuses to mid-management associated with the Project work ($3600/month until the Project comes online).  Back in 2019, Finance Director Leslie Strohm assured the full cost of the PureWater Soquel Project had been built into the rate increases (see minute 15:40)

Now, in keeping with the District’s policy since 2020, no capital projects will be undertaken, such as the $2.5 million Quail Run Tank serving Aptos Village for which the District borrowed the full amount to build several years ago but has not done anything to actually build it.

Their game plan is to have a rate increase public hearing a few hours before Christmas Day (when lots of people are really too busy to notice) and send out ballots right away.  The problem for ratepayers is that the ballot will require a 51% protest to shoot the rate increases down…that’s pretty difficult, given there are nearly 15,000 customers.

Anyone in Soquel Creek Water District had better start speaking up now.  Write a letter to the editor of local papers and to the Board:

BOD@soquelcreekwater.org   The Board and staff all seem to be very out of touch with those they represent and work for.

Ratepayers have organized a meeting Sunday, October 29 at the Capitola Library conference room (near the newspaper reading area) for 4pm to strategize.  Please share this information.

SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT SERVES BRIGHT BLUE KOMBUCHA MADE FROM TREATED SEWAGE WATER

The District chose to hold their Water Harvest Festival on October 14 in Chanticleer Park, a location not even in their service area?  Hmmm… well, never mind, because the PureWater Soquel Project treatment plant isn’t in their service area either.

I wondered why none of the District staff even gave a mention at last Tuesday’s Board meeting about how the event went.

Maybe the bright blue kombucha they served, made from treated sewage water the likes of what the PureWater Soquel Project is scheduled to inject into the pristine groundwater, then pump out to sell to customers, did not go over so well with informed members of the public?  Maybe not many people were interested in drinking something that resembles Tidy-Bowl blue toilet water…..

We are excited to unveil and host a Pure Water Kombucha tasting. Collaborating with Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Santa Cruz-based Living Swell Kombucha company, a special kombucha is being crafted exclusively for Soquel Creek Water District that utilizes OCWD’s purified water. OCWD currently operates the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) which is the world’s largest water purification system for indirect potable reuse and produces 130 million gallons of water per day. At the Water Harvest Festival, we will be proudly serving ~300 tastings of vibrant blue-hued kombucha, made with purified water!

MAKE ONE CALL.  WRITE ONE LETTER. TAKE A WALK IN THE WOODS AND THINK GOOD THOUGHTS FOR THE WORLD AND ALL LIVING THINGS AROUND YOU..

MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK BY JUST DOING SOMETHING.

Cheers,

Becky

October 16

APTOS VILLAGE PROJECT ROAD HAZARD TO NISENE MARKS STATE PARK VISITORS

The County Public Works Dept. still has done nothing about the public safety hazard caused by the Aptos Village Project’s construction fence encroaching into Aptos Creek Road and creating a real blind corner that should not be allowed.

And what will Swenson do with all this drain pipe, stored on a big gash made in the hillside that is supposed to be a new County Park?  Likely it will be used to take all the parking lot and roof drainage through the Aptos Village County Park and let the polluted stuff drain into the clean waters of Aptos Creek.  Do you think that California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife knows about this potential pollution of the southern-most coho salmon habitat?

Contact Ms. Serena Stumpf, biologist for CDFW, tasked with watching over our creeks:

Serena Stumpf serena.stumpf@wildlife.ca.gov

Her supervisor is Wesley Stokes wesley.stokes@wildlife.ca.gov, so copy him on your letter.

Ask County Parks Director Jeff Gaffney how this drain pipe will cross the County Park property:

Jeff Gaffney jeff.gaffney@santacruzcountyca.gov

A GLIMPSE OF JUST HOW HIGH SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT RATE INCREASES WILL BE

The big debt for the massively-expensive and over-budget Project of Soquel Creek Water District to inject treated sewage water into the MidCounty aquifer’s drinking water supply is coming due, and ratepayers will soon be screaming about yet another series of big rate increases.

Last Tuesday, the Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors heard their Raftelis Consulting staff explain just how far in debt the District is, thanks to the massively-expensive PureWater Soquel Project, and just how steep the upcoming rate increases will have to be in order to pay the bills..

Here is the link to that October 17 Soquel Creek Water District Board agenda packet

Item 7.2 Rate Study on page 110 is of interest

The last rate increases were all based on an anticipated PureWater Soquel Project cost of $60 million.  The Project cost is now approaching $200 million. What’s more, the last round of rate increases, which were cumulative and added up to a 54% rate hike and also formulated by Raftelis Consultants with the goal of financing the Project, were calculated on an assumption that customers would use a lot more water than they actually did.  So, although the PureWater Soquel Project costs have skyrocketed, the revenues have been significantly less than anticipated, because people have cut way back on water use.  Hmmmm…

• Grants (all for PureWater Soquel Project)

* The state and federal grant programs have contributed over $100 million dollars to the District through the State Water Resource Control Board’s Prop 1 Program, Department of Water Resource’s Sustainable Groundwater Program, and the Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI Program.

• Debt Profile (This is debt encumbered with the PureWater Soquel Project)

* The District has three existing lines of debt. The 2020 Revenue Refunding Bonds are currently being repaid, the Seawater Intrusion Control Fund repayments begin in FY 2026, and WIFIA repayments start in FY 2030. The final payment for the CoBank Revolving Line of Credit will be in FY 2025.

SEE PAGES 110 AND 111 FOR PROPOSED RATE INCREASE SCENARIOS TO COVER THIS DEBT:

 Scenario 1

10% annual gross revenue adjustments are projected for the next ten years from fiscal year (FY) 2024 through FY 2033. Total fund balance reserves are drawn down to a relatively low level (Operating cash only) in FY 2026 and FY 2027 before rebuilding to the target reserve level by 2033. While these more modest, level rate adjustments do avoid rate spikes for customers, this example results in a high degree of financial risk for the District, relative to the other examples

Scenario 2

 25% gross rate revenue adjustment in FY 2024 (current year) followed by annual adjustments of 7.5% from FY 2025 through FY 2033.

This example provides the least financial risk for the District (relative to the other examples) as financial policy targets are achieved in nearly every year of the financial planning period. However, a significant initial rate revenue increase is required to achieve this degree of financial stability

or

Scenario 3

 12.5% annual gross revenue adjustments are projected from FY 2024 through FY 2028, followed by 5.5% adjustments from FY 2029 through FY 2033. This scenario moderates financial risk for the District by achieving, or nearly achieving, financial policy target levels throughout the financial planning period. 

Scenario 4

If customers use 300 AcreFeet/year more water than the Scenarios above use as a basis:

In this what-if scenario, 8.5% annual gross revenue adjustments are projected from FY 2024 through FY 2033.

At the time of this writing, it is unknown what action the Board directed Raftelis Consultants to take. 

CUSTOMERS NEED TO SPEAK UP NOW.   ONCE THE BOARD HAS DECIDED WHICH SCENARIO THEY WANT THE RATE CONSULTANT TO PRESENT LATER NEXT MONTH FOR THEM TO RUBBER STAMP, IT IS A DONE DEAL AND WILL DEPEND ON A PROP 218 PROTEST BALLOT VOTE THAT WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE.

But don’t worry…the Board approved a hefty pay increase all around for Mid-Management. Page 37 of the packet includes Consent Agenda Item 4.5 contract for mid-management:

7.1 Wages 

1. Effective the first pay period in January 2024, a 5% increase to the salary schedule. 
2. Effective the first pay period in January in the years 2022 and 2023 2025 and 2026 wages shall be increased by the amount of the “San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose All Urban Consumers” Consumer Price Index from October to October, with a minimum of 0.5% and maximum of 4.5%. 

Page 55 shows that mid-management will also get double the monthly stipend for certification ($100).

There is a reason why Soquel Creek Water District is known as “TH GOLD PLATED WATER COMPANY”.

WILL SELLING AN ADU SEPARATELY AFFECT WATER SERVICE REQUIREMENTS?

At the last Soquel Creek Water District Board meeting, a ratepayer let the Board know that he was trying to convert his garage into an ADU (“Granny Unit”) but had been shocked that the District insisted that the unit have a separate water service and meter.  “$33,000 for a water hookup to my garage seems a bit excessive” he said.

He pointed out that the District’s policy on this is old, dating back to 2002.    Staff put the matter on the October 17 Board agenda for review as Item 7.3 (see page 112)

The current separate metering policy applies to the following development types:
• Commercial units
• Single Family homes
• Multi-family dwelling units
• New construction ADUs (up to 1200 sq. ft)
• Tiny homes and tiny homes on wheels (less than 400 sq. ft)
Several laws that have taken effect in the last five years have prohibited water agencies like the District
from requiring separate metering for particular development types. Senate Bill (SB) 229 (Wieckowski)
excludes conversion ADUs, which are ADUs that are contained within the existing square footage of a legal
structure, from separate metering mandates. SB 7 (Wolk) prohibits water agencies from requiring

individual metering for multi-family projects defined as low-income housing.

Thus, the current separate metering policy does not apply to the following development types:

• Conversion ADUs, including junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs)
  • Multi-family units designated as low-income (residential building financed with housing tax credits,
  revenue bonds, general obligation bond, or local/state/federal loans or grants, in which at least
  some of the rents are prescribed by deed restrictions or regulatory agreement, and in which at least
  90% of the dwelling units are designated for lower-income occupants

However, while it may have seemed logical that the Board might direct staff to remove the District’s requirement for separate water service and metering for an ADU, Governor Newsom’s action to sign into law the ability to sell an ADU separately from a main residence muddies the water, so to speak.

AB1033, introduced by Assembly Member Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, allows cities to decide whether property owners can sell ADUs as condos, separate from homes. The bill repeals an existing law that prohibits separate sales of ADUs and will allow homeowners to get loans to build them, as opposed to repaying loans through rental income. 

Ting also introduced AB976, which bans local ordinances that require property owners to live in their ADUs — removing barriers that would have otherwise prevented ADUs from being used as rental properties.

ADUs could be sold separately from homes under new California law [SF Chronicle article]

With 20% of California’s housing construction coming from ADU’s, this all merits consideration.

JUST TOO MUCH PRESSURE

Of interest on the Soquel Creek Water District Board agenda of October 17 is this Consent Item 4.6 to DENY a claim for damages due to a faulty pressure regulator (see page 95)

“On June 29, 2022, it became known to Palm Terrace’s Board of Directors that a Soquel Creek Water pressure regulator on or near Soquel Drive had been faulty and was the cause for substantial damage to Palm Terrace’s underground water lines. The water pressure reached close to 100 psi and caused several underground water lines to burst. Palm Terrace spent over $35k on plumber’s fees to stop the water leaks caused by the burst pipes and to repair the damaged pipes”

This is a familiar scenario for many of the District’s rate payers, especially in Seascape.  The Board always takes the action to deny the claim.

WHERE WILL THIS DENSE IN-FILL HOUSING BE LOCATED?

Mark your calendar now for the October 25 County Planning Commission 9am hybrid format meeting because it likely will be your last chance to weigh in with your solutions for where the County should re-zone for ultra-high-density housing developments.  Whatever the Commission decides about the Housing Element update will then go to the County Board of Supervisors for what is sure to be a rubberstamp of approval.

Read the documents presented on September 27, which the Commission will continue reviewing October 25: Planning Agenda

They will also review the 2024 County Growth Goal, which they did not have time to review at all on September 27.

The Housing Element is one of the most drastic changes to our neighborhoods as we know them.  Take a moment and read through the Plan.  You need to make your voice heard.

We should all be asking our elected officials:

WHY IS NO ONE CHALLENGING THE CRAZY STATE MANDATES WHEN THE STATE FINANCE DEPT. AUDIT PROVES ALL THE NUMBERS ARE UNSUPPORTED?

The elected officials are not asking, but many people are: Home – Catalysts for Local Control

California will have a relatively stable population over the next 40 years, and last week the state acknowledged it.  

The population will not grow by 7 million by the end of the RHNA cycle (2031). As suspected, the state has been working off of erroneous population projections and other data to create the overblown RHNA, and despite a 2022 audit that clearly said so, the HCD has so far refused to adjust housing mandates.

The AUDIT page links to many official state audit documents from last year describing “faulty methodology.” Independent researcher Gaetan Lion has been sharing his analysis with the state since January 2023, which confirms the new numbers. 

This should, in a reasonable world, force the recalculation the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The figures are out of whack, and so are the proportions of housing they demand: 40% above moderate, 20% moderate, 40% combination of low and extra low. We are not short of above moderate (market rate) units, but we are short of everything else — because they are not as profitable. Current state housing policy encourages creation of NINE market rate units to every ONE “affordable” unit. 

Independent researcher Gaetan Lion sums up the changes here

Join the weekly Catalysts for Local Control online webinars every Monday, 5pm-6pm, and learn what you can do to meet with your elected decision-makers to bring this information they either are not aware of or simply don’t want to examine, and have to take action to insist the State Housing & Community Development (HCD) recalculate the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) mandate numbers.

WRITE ONE LETTER.  MAKE ONE CALL.  ATTEND THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF YOUR CHOICE AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. 

LIGHT A CANDLE FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD.

MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK BY JUST DOING SOMETHING.

Cheers,

Becky

LAFCO APPROVES SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT SERVICE TO RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL
Last Wednesday, the Santa Cruz County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) gave the green light for Renaissance High School on San Andreas Road to purchase water from Soquel Creek Water District under an Extra-Territorial Agreement. That means the Pajaro Valley Unified School District and the Water District can move forward quickly to install necessary pipes and equipment to supply the students and staff water that is not so high in Chromium 6, a carcinogen, and not have to formally annex the parcel to the District’s service boundaries. The process is much faster, and less expensive.

My question to the Commission was why the Agreement does not also include the adjacent KOA Campground, also on a private well and likely having issues with Chromium 6 levels. It is the nature of the groundwater in that area of the Aromas Red Sands Aquifer, and LAFCO’ s report last year had recommended Soquel Creek Water District provide service to Renaissance High School and the KOA Campground.

No one on the Commission addressed my question.

It was interesting that LAFCO approved one other such Extra-Territorial Agreement in the Scotts Valley area for sewer connection to a parcel in the Manana Woods area subdivision.

Previously, LAFCO has approved such agreements for expediency and the areas later were annexed.

BRANCIFORTE FIRE DISTRICT WILL DISSOLVE
Last Wednesday, the Santa Cruz County LAFCO also finalized the dissolution of the Branciforte Fire District, moving the annexation of that area with Scotts Valley Fire District. This means the residents of Happy Valley area will hand over all assets (their fire station, fire engines, equipment, land) as well as property tax assessments, the Measure T special tax they approved in 2016 to fund equipment for their fire station, and also a $500,000 gift by the Barnes Family Trust. It remains to be seen what level of control or reprentation the residents within the Branciforte Fire District boundaries will have once the merger (aka “reorganization”) is finalized.

Right now, CalPERS is reviewing the cost analysis. Despite assurances to the Commissioners from LAFCO’s Director, no request had been made by Scotts Valley Fire to obtain the analysis that is critical to the Branciforte Fire staff being hired on to Scotts Valley Fire responders.

For the second time, I have notified the Commissioners that critical documents, such as Resolutions, have erroneous dates and inaccurate information.

The LAFCO Director has made a habit of not including my correspondence on this matter available to the Commissioners or onn the website until the very morning of their meetings. This in fact happened at the October 4 meeting, when Commissioners only learned about the fact that the September 27, 2023 Protest Hearing for the Brancifortte Fire Reorganization was changed at the very last moment to be virtual only, and the LAFCO office at 701 Ocean Street location stated in mailed notices to residents was closed and not accessible. I know this…because I was locked out.

None of that seems to bother the Commissioners. With few exceptions by Commissioner Roger Anderson, the group is a Rubber Stamp, No Questions Asked Club.

Why does this matter? Keep your eye on many upcoming consolidations in the County regarding hospital, fire and water services.
Ask questions and verify the information.

SANTA CRUZ CITY WATER PROJECTS WILL ENCOURAGE REGIONAL WATER SHARING
Last week’s Santa Cruz City Water Commission meeting was really encouraging. Staff provided excellent presentations about the various cpital improvement projects the City is undertaking that will really support sharing water with neighboring water agencies when it is plentiful, and storing it in the groundwater reservoirs for use when needed. Along with conservation incentives, this is exactly what the Water Supply Advisory Committee (WSAC) and civic-minded folks such as Rick Longinotti, Scott McGilvray, Jerry Paul and many others have asked for since 2013 when the desalination project fell by the wayside due to high energy demand inherent.

It is encouraging to see this all in action now with the amazing projects the City of Santa Cruz is doing.

View the presentations here: View Meeting – OnBase Agenda Online

View Meeting – OnBase Agenda Online
The Santa Cruz Mid-County Regional Water Optimization Study, which will provide information about how water can be regionally-managed, is fully grant funded through a $7.6 milion gift to the MidCounty Groundwater Agency from the California DWR Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program.

The results are due to be public any day now, having been earlier promised for the City’s Water Commission meeting last week, but was not on the agenda. However, a recent comment by Soquel creek Water District Boardmember Bruce Jaffe last month makes it clear that the results will be of great interest: “PureWater Soquel will benefit things in other ways…” Hmmm…

What remains to be seen is whether other players, such as Soquel Creek Water District, will come onboard with the regional use of rainwater, or cling steadfastly to the expensive highly-energy demanding PureWater Soquel Project treated sewage water?

Sadly, last winter, when rainwater was so plentiful, Soquel Creek Water District did not even ask to purchase potable surface water from the City of Santa Cruz via the existing intertie, even though they could have, under the terms of the Agreement in place. When quizzed why not, District staff reported they “just did not have the resources to manage” the water transfer project. Hmmm…

SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT BOARD APPROVES NEW ASSOCIATE MANAGER JOB AND A NICE PAY RAISE FOR ALL

The Board of Directors approved pay raises all around for everyone last week, and agreed with the General Manager Ron Duncan that, in addition to his Assistant Manager, Melanie Mow-Schmacher, he needs an Associate Manager to help out with “all things PureWater Soquel” treated sewage water injection into the aquifer. The Board also approved a 4.5% top-of-the-rate salary raise for Mr. Duncan, too! See items 7.2-7.5, beginning on page 33

It seems the District has unlimited funds, even in the face of the looming huge debt and skyrocketing operational costs when PureWater Soquel Project comes online next year. But wait! Another round of rate increases is scheduled to come to the Board next month on the November 21 agenda, right before Thanksgiving when many people likely won’t be paying close attention.

Stay tuned…

COUNTY COMMISSIONS IN FOR A BIG CHANGE?
Last week, staff from County Environmental Health let the County Water Advisory Commission know that big changes are in store for the County’s Commissions. The Board of Supervisors are due to review the County Administrative Officer’s plan to drastically change the Commissions on November 14. Two that are staffed by Environmental Health Dept. staff will be axed.

Will this be an improvement for the people, or a move by the CAO to further exclude us? Stay tuned.

APTOS VILLAGE PROJECT RUMBLES ALONG…WHAT ABOUT THE PARK?
Aptos Village Phase 2 under way [Santa Cruz Sentinel] County District Supervisor Zach Friend gave a glowing report of the work happening to build solid three-story buildings on both sides of Aptos Village Way in the Aptos Village. What he did not say is that the area is already so congested, traffic snarls are a common occurrence,Swenson reduced the number of affordable Measure J units from 12 to 10, and the parking promised is virtually nil.

Supervisor Friend is well aware of all this, as his office sits in the high-rent zone of the Project…the County financially bailed Swenson out with a 15-year lease for the MidCounty Safety Center, which is rarely open and whose meeting room can only accommodate 10 people…not exactly a Townhall Meeting venue for Zach.

And what about the County Park land? Ridiculous! Take a look in the photo below at the steep hillside above Swenson’s Phase 2 mess. County Parks staff are on record as admitting they have NO IDEA how this land could be used for a park, let alone the “active recreation” use it was supposed to provide the Community at the insistence of the Planning Commission in response to the world-famous Post Office Bike Jumps being bulldozed. Not to worry…the County gifted Swenson FREE drainage easement from teh Phase 2 parking lot and roof stormwater into the Aptos Village Park, and WAIVED PARK DEVELOPMENT FEES ($1000/bedroom for the 69 units anticipated).

Take a look at the”new county park land” behind these workers…the hillside behind the huge retaining wall. Do any of these workers look like they may be monitoring the excavation in this known Native American archaeological site? That is one of the project’s Conditions of Permit Approval. Hmmm….
Write Matt Machado and ask why Swenson is not including Native American observers for all earth disturbance, as they are required to do.

Last week, Swenson closed Aptos Village Way, the main access for the area through the Village, aside from Soquel Drive. Not only did it cause more traffic congestion within the area, it removed alot of the parking that Swenson has promised the people, including for Nisene Marks State Park.

Write Supervisor Zach Friend with your thoughts Zach Friend <zach.friend@santacruzcountyca.gov>. Maybe he will respond.

SIGN UP WITH COUNTY’S NEW “CRUZAWARE” NOTIFICATION PLATFORM
October 17, 1989 is a memorable day for those who were here and in the Bay Area, and experience the Loma Prieta Earthquake. On that note, and with respect to all other natural disasters that are possible, sign up with the County’s new CruzAware emergency notification platform to receive information in many modes:

After the floods last winter, many residents say they did not receive notice of impending floodwater risk and evacuation warnings. The old notification system, CodeRed, did not allow for digital text messaging on social media. Hopefully, the new CruzAware system will.

Wouldn’t it be a good idea to test the system’s effectiveness before it is actually needed? The Office of REsponse, Recovery and Resilience (OR3) is responsible for this operational alert system. Any FireWise Communities can arrange such a test. Mine did last Sunday and we discovered quite a few glitches that hopefully will be resolved soon.

However, I have to wonder if having a Countywide test , similar to what occurred on a national level October 4, might be a better solution? Contact David Reid, Director of OR3, and request this if you think it is important. David Reid <david.reid@santacruzcountyca.gov> Note the new e-mail template.

CHINESE PIONEERS
I really enjoyed the conversational interview last Saturday with George Ow and Sandy Lydon, sponsored by the Santa cruz Public Library and held at Project 418 on River Street in Santa Cruz. If you have not read “Chinese Gold”, you need to do so. The book has been reprinted in English and Chinese.

Go see the great exhibit “CHINESE PIONEERS: Power and Politics in Exclusion Era Photographs” that is happening now through November 12 at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum (6299 Gushee Street, Felton).

COMMUNITY MATTERS GUESTS THIS FRIDAY
This Friday (2pm-4pm) log onto Santa Cruz Voice.com online radio and listen to Ms. Veronica Elsea giving us all a better perspective on how to regard blind and sight-impaired people using white canes (National White Cane Safety Awareness Day is October 15). The second hour, Mr. Brian Peoples, Director of TRAIL NOW, will help us all understand what could be done on the railroad corridor.
santacruzvoice.com

Join the conversations!

MAKE ONE CALL. WRITE ONE LETTER. LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY AND DO WHAT YOU CAN TO PRESERVE IMPORTANT CULTURAL RESOURCES. JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK…YOU WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN, AND WHAT CAN WE DO?

Affordable housing…what can we really do that will fix this problem in Santa Cruz?  Is that even possible? Please join the great discussions hosted by the Our Downtown, Our Future folks on Saturday, October 14 at the London Nelson Center to hear and participate in thoughtful discussions with three panels of local public leaders, with a range of opinions and perspectives. ourdowntownourfuture.org

Please sign up to inform the organizers about numbers so there is plenty of food for the lunch provided.

YOUR LAST CHANCE TO COMMENT ON INJECTION OF TREATED SEWAGE WATER INTO OUR AREA’S AQUIFER

Are you comfortable having Soquel Creek Water District inject treated sewage water that could contain nitrate and unregulated contaminants into the pristine groundwater the Midcounty area residents depend upon for clean drinking water?

You need to send written comment to the Central Coast Water Quality Board by October 11. This Permit Application is likely the final opportunity for public comment on the Project’s impacts to the groundwater quality and potential marine impacts.

I have reserved the meeting room at the Capitola Library (2005 Wharf Road) for Saturday, October 7, 3:30pm for a public study session and discussion.  I hope that any who are interested in this Project and potential impacts on the groundwater quality and marine habitat near the pipeline outfall will attend and submit informed comment to the Regional Water Quality Control Board by October 11.

The District has applied to the Regional Water Quality Control Board for a permit to inject treated wastewater into the MidCounty Groundwater Basin. Here is a link to the Permit application document for the Proposed Order No. R3-2023-0033

I have not been able to get a clear answer from the Water Board whether or not a legally-required Final Anti-Degradation Analysis has been approved to verify this injected water will not adversely affect the high-quality groundwater.  (Santa Cruz City’s injection of potable water into the aquifer in a pilot program caused arsenic spikes in water retrieved.)

However, according to recent correspondence from Mr. Harvey Packard at the Water Board, it won’t matter if this Permit to Inject Recycled Water is approved by the Board on December 14-15.  The Board staff seems willing to accept Soquel Creek Water District’s interpretation of draft analysis and sign off on any further study:

“If the board adopts the injection permit, there will be no further need for anti-deg analysis, and we will consider the district’s report final.”

What bothers me is that the District’s vague analysis would allow 3.5 mg/L of nitrate in the “product water” to be injected into the groundwater, and there would only have to be a “Best Practices Plan’ in place for how this could affect the MidCounty Groundwater Basin. There is no link provided at all to any actual Final Anti-Degradation Analysis report to verify any of the vague statements made in the Proposed Permit R3-2023-0033 (see page F-19 / page 137 of the document)

Public Comment on this application is due October 11.

Although the Proposed Permit Fact Sheet (page F16-19) gives a summary of Soquel Creek Water District’s findings regarding ANTI-DEGRADATION ANALYSIS, there is no link to the actual study to verify any of the vague claims that the Water Board seems willing to accept.  There is no evidence that the Water Board has reviewed and approved any such detailed Analysis that will ensure the protection of the high-quality waters of the aquifer.

Please note that on page 25, there is information about the permit conditions not filed under EPA Clean Water Act, and time-sensitive appeal:

11.3. These requirements have not been reviewed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and are not issued pursuant to Clean Water Act section 402. 

11.4. Any person aggrieved by this action of the Central Coast Water Board may petition the State Water Board to review the action in accordance with California Water Code section 13320 and CCR title 23, section 2050. The State Water Board must receive the petition by 5:00 p.m., 30 days after the date of this Permit, except if this date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or State holiday, then the petition must be received by the State Water Board by 5:00 p.m. on the next business day. Copies of the law and regulations applicable to filing petitions may be found on the internet or will be provided upon request. The provisions of this Permit are severable, and if any provision of this Permit, or the application of any provision of this Permit to any circumstance, is held invalid, the application of such provision to other circumstances, and the remainder of this Permit must not be affected.

Also, please note the conditions causing the Board to Reopen the Permit on page 26:

12.1. The Central Coast Water Board may reopen this Permit to include the most scientifically relevant and appropriate limitations for this discharge, including a revised Basin Plan limit based on monitoring results, anti-degradation studies, or other Central Coast Water Board or State Water Board policy.

The City of Santa Cruz is also applying for a separate permit to discharge the concentrated treatment brine from the PureWater Soquel Project into the Pacific Ocean via the City’s sewage treatment outfall pipe, also open to Public Comment, and due October 12.  Here is the link to that PROPOSED ORDER NO. R3-2023-0001 and NPDES NO. CA0048194

The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board will consider both applications at their December 14-15, 2023 meeting.

Here is the link to the Water Board website for full information on both applications and comment procedure: Tentative Orders, Permits, Complaints and Resolutions | Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

Please attend the Saturday, October 7 3:30pm study session at the Capitola Library if you have questions, but above all, submit your comments to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board by October 11 for the injection well permit, and October 12 for the ocean outfall brine effluent.

WHAT IS THIS?  STRANGE WATER CONNECTION IN THE APTOS VILLAGE PROJECT

Last weekend, I happened to travel through the Aptos Village Project Phase 2 construction zone, which is happening on both sides of Aptos Village Way. A strange water connection near the road caught my attention.  See the photo below:

Is this “service connection” legitimate?  Who, if anyone, is paying for the water?  Is this connection being assessed a hefty monthly service connection fee, like all the other ratepayers have to pay?  What about vandalism, and potential leaks and geysers (that happened in the Phase 1 construction) and contamination….

This is what happened last weekend in the Aptos Village Project mess.  Since Swenson removed all parking along Aptos Village Way between Parade Street and Aptos Creek Road, and the County Public Works staff is fine with allowing the contractor to fill up Aptos Creek Road with construction vehicles and mobile office space, things are not so rosey in the Aptos Village Project area.  This vandalism happened just a few yards away from that strange water service connection pictured above.

Write Soquel Creek Water District and ask about this strange water service connection: Board of Directors bod@soquelcreekwater.org.

Write Matt Machado at Public Works about the significant and adverse impacts on local traffic caused by Swenson’s construction and encroachment into Aptos Creek Road.  It is quite a hazard, and Swenson linked arms with then-County Supervisor Ellen Pirie to assure the public would have plenty of free parking, even for Nisene Marks State Park visitors (their limited parking fills up quickly).

Matt Machado (matt.machado@santacruzcountyca.gov)

Why is Swenson allowed to encroach into Aptos Creek Road with fencing, creating this real safety hazard?  Can you see the bicyclist that was quickly exiting Nisene Marks State Park on the right of this intersection at Aptos Village Way?   How do you think this encroachment would affect a fire evacuation out of the Park?  Yikes!

Please contact State Parks Chris Spohrer (chris.spohrer@parks.ca.gov),  Central Fire District Fire Marshal Mike DeMars (miked@centralfpd.com) and Sheriff Sgt. Zach West (zach.west@santacruzcounty.us)  (831) 454-7760  and ask that the construction fencing be  relocated out of the public roadway, and re-establish 200′ line of sight visibility at the Aptos Creek Road and Aptos Village Way intersection for public safety and fire evacuation needs.

DECLINING POPULATION TRENDS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AND CALIFORNIA AS A WHOLE

Last Wednesday, the County Planning Commission met to discuss not only the County Housing Element draft update and RHNA mandates, but also the County’s Annual Growth Goal.  The Commission ran out of time to discuss the latter, which will come back next month.

The Planning Dept. staff report included a very interesting analysis of the 430-unit subdivision planned for the Par 3 Golf Course next to Highway One, near State Park Drive.  That analysis had not been included in last week’s Housing Element presentation to the County’s Housing Advisory Commission.  Likely, it was quickly drafted to address a legal threat by The Aptos Council, sent to the Board of Supervisors in early September, pointing out many major CEQA violations.

Planning staff assured the Commissioners there will be an environmental Addendum made available soon, hopefully by the Planning Commission’s  October 25 Public Hearing on the Draft Housing Element Update.

The Commissioners also wanted to know why the Planning Dept. factored in an additional 10% buffer in the number of parcels to be rezoned for high-density development, four -six stories tall. The total unit goal jumped from 4,634 to 5,098 units to be built within the next eight years, with many parcels having to undergo re-zoning.

“We need to have HCD believe us.” said the planner.

“Can the Cabrillo College 640-bed project be included in the RHNA number response?” Commissioner Andy Shiffrin wanted to know?

“NO” said Planning Director Stephanie Hansen, because student housing is considered “temporary housing” and cannot be counted.  Commissioner Renee Shepherd pointed out that the UCSC and Cabrillo students occupy a lot of permanent housing, and certainly have an impact.

During public comment, Central Fire Protection District Chief Jason Nee spoke about how the District has been planning to purchase the parcel at 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive for a new fire station, replacing the flood-prone station in Soquel Village.  However, now that the County has identified the parcel as a re-zone location for very dense and tall housing, the owner raised the sales price such that the Fire District may not be able to afford to buy it.

Does any of this make sense?

Take a look: Population Trends

According to the Census and the State Department of Finance (DOF) population estimates, the unincorporated area had a growth rate of -1.3% in 2022 and is estimated to have an approximate -1.0% decrease by the end of 2023. In 2021 the unincorporated growth rate decreased by an estimated -3.4%. However, US Census data from 2020 indicates that population in the unincorporated area had steadily increased over the last decade. By comparison, the county as a whole decreased by -0.2% in 2021 and -1.1% in 2022. The state population also decreased by -0.5% in 2021 and -0.4% in 2022. These rates reflect the recent decline in state population estimates since the COVID-19 pandemic began and mark a major shift in the state’s historical trend of continued population growth.

Take a look at page 20, where Table 2 shows AMBAG’s approved population projections show a 1% increase in the County’s population between 2015 and 2045

So, why would AMBAG mandate a 300% increase in housing units in the 6th Cycle of RHNA?  Hmmm…

Some feel that the State Housing & Community Development Dept. (HCD), the agency tasked with forming these RHNA mandates and whipping municipalities into breakneck process to meet their approval deadlines, has been captured by special interests.  Learn more about this and start asking questions of local legislators.

DESAL WATER COSTING LESS AND LESS TO PRODUCE? 

Ten years ago, the local Desal Alternatives successful citizen initiative petition called for the ability of Santa Cruz City voters to decide whether or not to move forward on a desalination plant (in partnership with Soquel Creek Water District).  The group rightfully raised the red flag on  the exorbitant energy demand the process would require to produce potable water for the area, and demanded alternatives be examined.  The City Council immediately backed away from the Project, leaving Soquel Creek Water District to move in a feverish pace to adopt the PureWater Soquel Project (modified many times without EIR) that will instead use massive amounts of energy in an attempt to clean up sewage water and inject it into the pristine groundwater.

Now, new technology has drastically lowered the energy required for desalination.

“Bill Maher recently interviewed Elon Musk. When Maher claimed that we are running out of water, Elon replied that “Earth is 70 percent water.” Maher shot back that “you can’t drink that.”  Musk calmly replied that desalination is “absurdly cheap.”

Can desalination save a drying world?

Think about this.  Should the Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors been so quick to jump on the best-available grant funding for what is known as Indirect Potable Re-Use of this sewage water when energy technology for desalination was making big strides in efficiency, and the State of California was quickly moving to allow Direct Potable Re-Use of the recycled water instead of injection into the aquifer?  The State Waterboard is due to approve Direct Potable Re-Use by the end of this year.  That means Soquel Creek Water District customers could be drinking the stuff directly….soon.

I would welcome your thoughts.

CHINESE GOLD BROUGHT TO LIFE WITH AUTHOR SANDY LYDON AND GEORGE OW INTERVIEW

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the history of the Chinese in shaping Santa Cruz County, sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Public Library, this Saturday, October 7 at 10am-12:30pm. It’ll be at The 418 Project, 155 River St S, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060

“Experience the history of Chinese Americans in Santa Cruz with Author Sandy Lydon in conversation with George Ow. Lydon’s groundbreaking local history, “Chinese Gold” will be transformed into a multimedia book discussion by artist and educator Rui Li. Li presents additional interviews with Lydon and Ow in addition to a treasure-trove of images of old Chinatown. Copies of the book will be available for purchase in both English and Chinese.”

Write one letter.  Make one call.  Expect elected officials to answer your questions and make sure they do.  Make a big difference this week by just doing something.

Cheers,

Becky

COMMENT PERIOD OPEN FOR SANTA CRUZ WASTEWATER AND SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT PERMIT TO DUMP INTO THE OCEAN

If you are concerned about the pollutant levels the City’s sewage treatment plant dumps into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Pacific Ocean, including the future concentrated contaminants and carcinogenic disinfection by-products of the PureWater Soquel Project treatment plant scheduled to start up next year, you have until October 11 to register your concerns with the Central Coast Water Quality Control Board, the permitting agency.

Staff of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board will present Draft Order No. R3-2023-0001 (Draft Order) for adoption at the Board’s December 14-15, 2023 meeting that will include all public comment received before October 12, 2023.

“The Draft Order includes requirements for the discharge of waste from the City of Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility (Facility) to the Pacific Ocean. The Draft Order also establishes requirements for production of disinfected tertiary recycled water. The Draft Order is intended to serve as a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and will supersede existing Order No. R3-2017-0030, which remains effective until the Central Coast Water Board adopts a new order and the new order goes into effect. The Draft Order includes a Monitoring and Reporting Program and Fact Sheet as Attachments E and F.”

Take a moment to look through the Draft Order and associated attachments and send your comments

Here is the link to the Notice regarding the Soquel Creek Water District Permit Staff Report for their part of the wastewater effluent

Written comments are to be sent to the Waste Discharge Requirements Unit by email (must be no more than 15 megabytes)

RB3-WDR@Waterboards.ca.gov or by mail to:

Waste Discharge Requirements Unit Central Coast Water Board
895 Aerovista Place, Suite 101
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Please also indicate in the subject line “Comment Letter – Pure Water Soquel”

Contacts for further information:

James Bishop, (805) 542-4628, james.bishop@waterboards.ca.gov
Rachel Hohn, (805) 542-4789, rachel.hohn@waterboards.ca.gov
Jennifer Epp, (805) 594-6181, jennifer.epp@waterboards.ca.gov

No studies were ever conducted to evaluate the impact on the marine habitat that the PureWater Soquel Project’s concentrated brine effluent with carcinogenic disinfection by-products and temperature fluctuations. 

SOQUEL CREEK ANNEXATION OF RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL WATER SERVICE
The private well at Renaissance High on San Andreas Road is polluted with high levels of hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District has attempted to treat the problem by installing reverse osmosis units at the well, but there is so much sand that gets pumped, likely the very fine pores of the membrane filtration clog easily and require a lot of maintenance.

Soquel Creek Water District did not want to annex the School into their service area, and also refused to annex a large parcel nearby whose owner requested service in order to subdivide and develop.  No one is even mentioning the KOA Campground adjacent to the School, whose well also very likely has trouble with hexavalent chromium levels.

I am very glad the Renaissance High School is being added for water service, and hope that the KOA Campground will also soon be added.

LAFCO Notice of Public Hearing

Here is one recent Letter to the Editor on the topic

SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT COULD LEARN FROM PLEASANTON CITY COUNCIL…DELAY HIGH RATE JUMPS

It is refreshing to see that some elected officials do listen to their constituents and take responsive actions accordingly.  Soquel Creek Water District customers should read this article and speak out on impending water rate hikes coming your way:

Pleasanton Council Votes to Delay Proposed Water Rate Hikes

WHY HAVE SO FEW CZU FIRE SURVIVORS REBUILT?

Compare with Santa Cruz County … only 36 of 911 have rebuilt after three years.

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) received two responses in the survey of local jurisdictions that identified the number of units lost during declared states of emergency. The City of Santa Rosa indicated that 3,043 housing units were lost on October 8, 2017 and that, as of February 2020 when the survey was conducted, 2,323 units had been completed or were in the construction/permitting process. The County of Sonoma stated the unincorporated county lost 2,200 units in the 2017 Sonoma Complex Fires and 1,235 units had been rebuilt or were under construction as of February 2020.

FINAL REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION (RHNA) PLAN: San Francisco Bay Area, 2023-2031 (page 44)

SONOMA COUNTY IS CREATIVE WITH HOUSING ELEMENT STATE MANDATES…WHY NOT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY?

Santa Cruz County could learn a lot from Sonoma County and how Mr. Tennis Wick is fighting back creatively to protest the unreasonably high building requirement the State’s Housing & Community Development (HCD) is mandating through regional Councils of Government, which in our area is the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG).

Sonoma RHNA appeal

Solano County is also taking an interesting approach by using sub-regions and keeping flexibility to move the number allocations around for future planning.

The Santa Cruz County Planning Commission will likely have met by the time you are reading this, with their Study Session scheduled for September 27, 9:30am

WHAT IS HOME RULE AND HOW COULD IT BE USED TO AFFECT LAND USE HERE?

Listen in this Friday at 2pm on “Community Matters” on Santa Cruz Voice to hear local activist Ms. Lira Filippini explaining Home Rule and how it could be used to keep local discretionary means to shape the quality of life in our County for future generations: Santa Cruz Voice – Listen and Be Heard

ARE THOSE HIGH STATE-MANDATED BUILDING NUMBERS LEGITIMATE?  LISTEN IN NEXT MONDAY EVENING!

Recently, the California State Auditor determined that the State Housing & Community Development (HCD) mandated numbers for counties and cities statewide to meet in updated housing element planning documents is unjustified because statistics and models show California population has in fact declined and will remain stagnant through 2060.

So, why is the HCD whipping municipalities to update planning documents at a feverish and impossible pace to include such big jumps in numbers of units?

Make sure you listen in next Monday, October 2 at 5pm to the Catalysts for Local Control webinar to find out the truth:

catalystsca.org

The Regional Housing Number Allocation (RHNA) mandates are not evidence-based and have no connection with reality, imposing unfunded mandates that have altered the planning process into a production process, and will burden all municipalities with funding infrastructure to support what appears to be favoring special interests.

WRITE ONE LETTER.  MAKE ONE CALL.  LISTEN TO THE CATALYSTS FOR LOCAL CONTROL WEBINAR NEXT MONDAY AT 5PM AND LEARN ABOUT HOW PHONEY THE RHNA NUMBERS REALLY ARE AND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN EFFORTS TO HOLD THE STATE ACCOUNTABLE.

JUST DO ONE THING THIS WEEK AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

Happy Autumn,

Becky

GUT AND AMEND TO THE RESCUE

It never ceases to amaze me what elected representatives can do to help when there is a will and a need.  Known as “gut and amend”, a representative can completely change (“gut”) the entire content of a piece of legislation that has cleared many committee reviews and is close to completion, and the new  “amended” legislation that nowhere near represents what has been reviewed continues to quickly sail on to the Governor’s desk for approval.  Voila!  It is done.

Here is what has happened locally to completely sidestep environmental reviews that would have been needed to repair the Pajaro River levee:

“California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, whose district includes the Pajaro Valley, originally proposed Assembly Bill 876 in February focused on record-keeping related to certain child fatalities. On Aug. 29, with the end of the session less than three weeks away and the Feb. 17 deadline to submit new bills long passed, Rivas completely overhauled AB 876 to focus on expediting the Pajaro River levee repairs.”

A bill to speed up reconstruction of the Pajaro river levee heads to Newsom’s desk

The bill would allow the project to skip the California Environmental Quality Act requirements, a notoriously lengthy and expensive permitting process that can often add years to a project. When I spoke to Mark Strudley, executive director of the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, a couple weeks ago, he said the ability to get a pass on the state’s environmental permitting requirements plays a central role in starting the project in 2024.

FOUR TO SIX STORY BUILDINGS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD…THE FEVERISH PACE TO RUBBERSTAMP A NEW COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT WITH SUPERVISOR KOENIG NIXING INCREASED AFFORDABTILITY REQUIREMENTS.

Last Tuesday, following staff reports on the proposed County Housing Element to ensure compliance with State mandates, Supervisor Justin Cummings wanted to increase the percentage of affordable housing required in new projects to be 25% in larger projects and to address affordability issues related to wage gaps of residents.

However, Supervisor Manu Koenig refused to allow that language to be added as a friendly amendment to his motion to rubberstamp staff recommendations.  Why?

Unfounded fears of scaring away developers with higher affordable housing percentages being required was addressed during public comment by Sandy Brown, who spoke on her own behalf and not as a representative of the Santa Cruz City Council on which she serves.  She said the number of applications for building increased after the City increased inclusionary affordability percentages in 2019 to 20% (from 15%).

“The timeline to get this approved is too quick to allow any slowdown this could add.” Supervisor Koenig said.  Planner Suzanne Ise agreed that it would “not reflect well on the county if we are late” in getting the State Housing & Community Development (HCD) approval.

Supervisors Bruce McPherson and Zach Friend went along with the move to stonewall increased affordable housing requirements.  Supervisor Friend was mostly upset that the 13-acre former Par 3 Golf Course on Mar Vista Drive in his district is targeted for inclusionary affordable housing, that may not include senior housing focus or open space. (Is he thinking about the postage stamp “Village Green” of AstroTurf he supports in the Aptos Village Project?)

It was refreshing that Supervisor Justin Cummings persisted: “I feel strongly about this, so I am going to make a substitute motion that this change be added,”  Again, the three Supervisors voted NO, leaving only Supervisors Cummings and Felipe Hernandez supporting increasing percentages of affordable housing required.

Supervisor Koenig said “We disagree on the cause (of the affordable housing shortage).  It’s due to restrictions on developers.  Adding an increase to required inclusionary percentages burdens developers.”

Having been stomped on, Supervisor Koenig’s motion to accept staff recommendations, with some nod to Supervisor Friend’s concerns, was then approved unanimously.  Hmmm…

You can watch what happened yourself on the County Board of Supervisor meeting recording

Click on item #9 on the agenda to listen to the presentations and discussions. Supervisor Friend’s questioning about the Par 3 golf course property begins about minute 1:50, but things are quite out of synch in terms of speaker and image. Sandy Brown’s presentation is at minute 2:04.

My question about why the County declared the 38 acres at 7th and Brommer as “excess property” to sell rather than retain it for affordable housing projects never got answered (minute 2:12) and no one answered my question about the defunct Kaiser Medical Center project that is zoned for 102 affordable units (minute 2:11)

Supervisor Justin Cummings begins advocating increasing affordable housing requirements at minute 2:17:10 with concerns that Nexis studies the County would require to identify locations of affordable units could take up to five years to complete.

What does all this mean for the quality of life in our County, and for private property rights?

I had attended the County Housing Advisory Commission meeting the week previous, and gathered some interesting information.

“Every parcel we have identified will be developed.”  said County Planner Ms. Ise.  What’s more, the County will require the applicant to build at least 75% of the minimum building requirement the planners have established.

Where are all these locations?

The parking lot at Seascape Golf Course, Par 3 Golf in Aptos, areas across from Rancho del Mar in Aptos, the farmland in Soquel, many places in Pleasure Point considered “under-utilized” and will be re-zoned to dense infill development..

Take a look at these maps, found in Appendix HE-F

Attend the County Planning Commission meeting Wednesday, September 27 at 9:30am review of the proposed Housing Element update and rezoning, and get your thoughts included:

Planning Agenda

Write the Commission c/o Nicholas Brown  Nicholas.Brown@santacruzcountyca.gov

NEW COUNTY E-MAIL TEMPLATE FOR YOUR CORRESPONDENCE

About two weeks ago, Santa Cruz County government e-mail templates changed, supposedly just so our County would be consistent with the templates other counties in the state area using.  I searched for a Press Release about this but found none.  County Public Information Officer Jason Hoppin said there had not been any press release, but it was posted on the County’s website.  He said the federal government is encouraging all government agencies to use the .gov domain name.  Although he wasn’t exactly sure why, he thought it might be more secure, and likely would encourage grant funding opportunities.

WHAT IS HE THINKING?

State Senator John Laird’s proposed SB 544 would restrict the public’s access to powerful State-level representatives when they meet by requiring the meetings to be in-person only half the time.  It would reduce the public’s accessibility because those who make policy at state commissions and boards would not actually have to be there in person to see and even know if they were listening.

California boards want to keep pandemic rules for public meetings. Critics call it bad for democracy.

This harkens back to the County Board of Supervisors meetings during COVID, when for over two years, we did not see the images of Supervisors Zach Friend or Ryan Coonerty on the meeting portal screens, and had no idea if they were even in the room of their remote locations during discussions on critical budget items affecting us all.

This SB 544 just landed on Governor Newsom’s desk.  Contact him and voice your opposition: 

Phone: (916) 445-2841
Email form

STUDYING THE ROCKY SHORELINES WITH LIDAR

ROXSI – Rocky shOrelines eXperiment and SImulation – Wilson Nearshore Research Group

SOQUEL CREEK WATER DISTRICT SEEKING RUBBER-STAMP APPROVALS OF FUTURE RATE INCREASES

Soquel Creek Water District is planning to raise rates yet again, having hand-picked a group to show bobbleheads support of whatever the District staff feeds them, yet provide glowing support for rate jumps again.  This was described in the District’s newsletter,

“Quick Sips”  (because that’s all the water rate payers can afford?)

Raftelis Consultants did this five years ago to craftily raise rates to support the PureWater Soquel Project before the Board had even approved the Project’s Draft EIR.

The District formed a Water Rates Advisory Committee comprised of customers, board members and staff to work with Raftelis Financial Consultants to develop new water rates. The advisory committee has learned how water rates are created and have provided insight into the best ways to inform customers about any upcoming rate changes. Looking ahead, they will focus on a 10-year finance plan and rates necessary to support investment in critical infrastructure, operation of the water system and replenishment of the groundwater basin. A public rates hearing is anticipated for February 2024. Customers will be invited to attend and will receive notifications of any potential rate changes. Stay tuned for more updates.

COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ CLOSES BAYVIEW HOTEL ENTRANCE

The County of Santa Cruz closed the entrance to the historic Bayview Hotel last week with ugly orange plastic barricades.  The County has been the lead in getting the approvals required from the CPUC to get Swenson’s new Parade Street entrance to Soquel Drive.  The CPUC regulates new private railroad crossings and doesn’t like them.  The Commission approved the County’s request for Parade Street if they closed two other such private at=grade rail crossings.  The County arbitrarily chose the entrance to the historic Bayview Hotel, and a crossing in Davenport known as the Warrenella Road crossing.  Swenson was supposed to improve Cement Plant Road to cyclist and pedestrian traffic as a mitigation, but when that became too expensive, the improvements were cancelled, and the County successfully lobbied the CPUC to back off on closing the Warrenella Crossing.

Last week, Swenson removed the bright orange barricades that had been plopped there when Parade Street got opened.  The Bayview Hotel parking lot did get some much-needed paving, and now the former driveway entrance to the Hotel is gone.  How will the surface drainage directed from Soquel Drive onto the railroad track area get drained? It is often a pond in the big winter storms.  Write Public Works Director Matt Machado and ask.  matt.machado@santacruzcounty.us

Here is what the entrance to historic Bayview Hotel looks like now, with an asphalt curb along Soquel Drive’s bike lane.

WRITE ONE LETTER.  MAKE ONE CALL.  JUST DO SOMETHING THIS WEEK, AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

Cheers,

Becky