Spooky Halloween Specials Announced!
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Parks and Recreation and the Wharf tenants have conjured up some devilishly delightful specials to make this spooky season truly unforgettable. Mark your calendars and prepare to be enchanted by a bewitching lineup of events and offerings during 13 Days of Halloween on the Wharf!
It is time to get batty and enjoy some ghoul-icious treats. Wharf businesses' specials and sales begin on Thursday, October 19, 2023 and will be offered through Tuesday, October 31, 2023. Mark your calendars and come down to the Wharf for the Thrill the World Flash Mob on October 28, 2023 and Trick-or-Treating on October 31, 2023! The Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt and giant photo frame will be onsite all 13 days. Have a fang-tastic Halloween season!
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Heidi Luckenbach Named City Water Director
Following an extensive national recruitment, Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker announced this week that Heidi Luckenbach will be the City's new Water Director. Heidi will begin in this role in February 2024.
Heidi brings a wealth of experience, having dedicated 24 years of her career to the City of Santa Cruz. As the Deputy Director/Engineering Manager, she successfully oversaw the planning and execution of the capital investment program of $600 million to improve the resiliency of the City's water infrastructure. Her outstanding track record includes managing notable projects such as the $104 million Newell Creek Dam Inlet/Outlet, $200 million in water treatment plant improvements, and $60 million in source water pipeline construction. Heidi developed a "State of the Water System" assessment in 2015, serving as the foundation for long-range financial and capital improvement planning. This assessment led to substantial investments and reinvestments in water system infrastructure, addressing aging infrastructure concerns, enhancing resilience to climate change, and rectifying the City's supply reliability issues. Heidi's leadership in implementing technical and feasibility planning for water supply augmentation played a crucial role in the City Council's approval of the "Securing Our Water Future Policy" in November 2022, based on the 2015 recommendations of the Council-appointed Water Supply Advisory Committee.
Heidi is a registered Civil Engineer in California and holds a Master's degree in civil engineering from University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from California State University Northridge. Her dedication to her profession extends beyond her work with the City of Santa Cruz. She has also been an integral part of leadership teams of various professional organizations, including the American Membrane Technology Association, WateReuse Central Coast, and the California Nevada Section of American Water Works Association.
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Development Proposed at 136 River Street
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The Planning Department received an application to redevelop the property at 136 River Street with a six-story, 100% affordable residential development. The development would consist of 51 units—50 rental units and one onsite manager’s unit—in the Community Commercial (C-C) Zoning District.
The proposal includes creating one 1,000-square-foot ground-floor commercial/retail tenant space at the corner of River Street and Lindberg Street. The site currently contains a vacant commercial building (most recently occupied by the sporting goods store Outdoor World) and surface-level parking. The applicant has provided a base density study indicating that the 1.5-floor area ratio maximum of the C-C Zoning District will allow for constructing a 13-unit project on the site. Therefore, the application proposes 13 base-density units and 38 density bonus units. The proposed project utilizes provisions of the Density Bonus State Law that allow for 100% affordable developments to be built taller and denser by 1) eliminating density restrictions and allowing a by-right three-story height increase for 100% affordable projects within one-half mile of a transit stop, and 2) allowing up to four incentives/concessions from development standards for a 100% affordable density bonus project.
In addition to the manager’s unit, the project will provide 12 low-income units (four one-bedroom, four two-bedroom, and four three-bedroom) and 38 very low-income units (twenty one-bedroom, nine two-bedroom, and nine three-bedroom). As part of the Density Bonus Request, the applicant is seeking to utilize three concessions:
- Reduction in setback from the face of the curb to the ground floor along certain parts of the building frontage.
- Reduction in required building modulation (recess dimensions) along Lindberg Street frontage.
- Reduction in private open space per unit.
The project requests waivers to deviate from height and floor area ratio standards to construct at the density allowed under Density Bonus State Law.
The project will require approval of a Lot Line Adjustment to combine two underlying lots, a Design Permit, a Non-Residential Demolition Authorization Permit, and a Density Bonus Request. Pursuant to the Community Outreach Policy for Planning Projects, a community meeting will be held in the next few months, with final approvals requiring a hearing before the Planning Commission. The appropriate environmental review document pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act will be determined during the initial City review. Brittany Whitehill will be the planner working on the application.
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Planning Celebrates Code Enforcement Appreciation Week
The second week of October is recognized by the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers as Code Enforcement Appreciation Week. Thank you to our Code Compliance Team for your work to our City to help make it a better, safer, and healthier place.
From L to R: Jacob Rodriguez, Kimberley Dorey, Lee Butler, Jenna Wilson. Not pictured: Laura Landry and Oscar Soto.
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Water Quality Lab Update:
IC Instrument
This week in the Water Quality Lab, our team has been hard at work addressing a repair to our Ion Chromatography (IC) instrument. The IC system analyzes raw source and treated drinking water samples for primary and secondary drinking water standards, including chloride, fluoride, nitrate, and sulfate. We encountered a challenge in resolving the issue with the equipment using the resources at hand. However, replacement parts are already on their way! Once they arrive, the team will restore the IC instrument to its optimal functionality.
In the photo, you can see Water Quality Chemist Amy Roget as she troubleshoots the instrument.
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Beach Flats Community
Holds Fall Clean-Up
The Code Compliance Division has four Community Clean-Ups each year, two in Lower Ocean and two in Beach Flats. Code Enforcement staff organizes and coordinates the events with other City departments, including Public Works and Parks, as well as organizations, such as Community Bridges and Grey Bears, and residents of Beach Flats and Lower Ocean areas.
The community members look forward to these events, as the City assists with disposing of unwanted items. These events also serve as a form of community outreach, as City staff are present to answer general questions about City services or can direct them to the appropriate department.
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, the Beach Flats Community Fall Clean-Up was held for neighborhood beautification. There were containers for trash and recycling items and an area to learn about recycling. Additionally, there was a space for "gently used" items, such as tables, chairs, rugs, electronics, and books, that ultimately became special finds for residents. Approximately 25 households participated in the event.
The next Neighborhood Community Clean-Up will be held in the Lower Ocean neighborhood on October 28, 2023. The event will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., or when bins are full, at the intersection of Barson and Jessie Streets.
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Pavement Demolition and Repaving Underway October 15–31, 2023
Graniterock will begin several demolition and repaving projects beginning on October 15, 2023. The City asks that community members be aware of and adapt to temporary traffic controls in place while the work is completed.
Starting at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 15, 2023 and continuing each night through October 19, 2023, Graniterock will rehabilitate the pavement on Dimeo Lane that leads into the City's Resource Recovery Facility. This work will take place from 8:00 p.m.–4:00 a.m. Access to the facility during normal business hours will not be affected.
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Starting the week of October 16, 2023, as part of the Ocean Street Pavement Rehabilitation Project, Graniterock is demolishing and repaving the intersection of Bixby Street and San Lorenzo Boulevard. This work will require closure of Bixby Street to through traffic—access will be maintained to Bixby Street via Barson Street.
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Starting at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, 2023, Graniterock will perform night work to rehabilitate the pavement on Ocean Street between Plymouth and Water Streets. This work will take place between 8:00 p.m.– 4:00 a.m. through Thursday, October 26, 2023, finishing on October 31, 2023. Expect temporary traffic controls in the area and use alternate routes if possible. Please be aware of and comply with pedestrian and vehicle detours that will be in place while this work is completed.
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Levee Improvements Promote Flood Control
A contractor was hired to perform channel ripping and gravity outfall debris removal. This work is conducted on the east and west levee between Highway 1 and the Water Street Bridge and is intended to help scour the levee channel to promote flood capacity.
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City Boom Truck Used to Install Road Safety Signs
The Street Maintenance Sign Crew used the City’s boom truck to install two new signs to alert drivers to a driveway at East Cliff, close to Hiawatha Avenue.
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Roof Repairs Take Place at Community Center
Facility Maintenance staff coordinated the roof repair and gutter replacement project at the London Nelson Community Center.
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Wild Weather Phenomena Explained
"Weather whiplash," "atmospheric rivers," "severe drought"—living in California, this is probably not the first time you have seen these phrases. But why are these wild weather swings happening, and what do they mean for us? Check out this video to learn more!
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City of Santa Cruz
City Manager's Office
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz CA 95060
santacruzca.gov
831-420-5030
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