Santa Cruz Wharf Awarded $6.9 Million from the Coastal Conservancy Climate Ready Program | |
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On February 27, 2024, the City Council accepted an award of $6,893,700 from the California Coastal Conservancy for resilience improvements to the Wharf. Leveraged with the City’s match, these funds support the greatest investment in the Wharf in at least 30 years and will help us adapt to climate change.
Grant funds will also advance several projects envisioned in the Wharf Master Plan from concept to “shovel ready.” Improvements will be made to the East Parking Lot and entrance approach.
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The Wharf will also be widened near the lifeguard station for relocation of the Entrance Gates.
Other projects to be covered by this funding include the design and permitting of public access improvements, new accessible boat landings, and placemaking at the end of the Wharf. Public outreach is expected during the design development phase of these projects and for the Wharf Interpretive Plan. The plan will help enrich educational and cultural opportunities at the Wharf.
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🚨 Travel Alert!
HWY 1, 24-Hour Closure!
As part of the HWY 1 Bridge Demolition Project, a 24-hour full closure of HWY 1 has been scheduled. The closure will commence on Saturday, March 23rd, starting at 7:00 PM and continue until Sunday, March 24th, at 7:00 PM.
Please plan alternate routes and adjust your travel schedule to avoid any inconvenience!
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Are You Prepared For Emergencies?
Our partners at Ecology Action are hosting a FREE webinar on Wednesday to help you prepare your home for extreme weather events and disasters. Attendees will learn how to work with neighbors to create a more resilient and connected community. With climate change and more extreme weather events, it's more important than ever to be prepared.
Guest speakers from the American Red Cross and the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council will provide information and resources on preparing your home for extreme weather events and discuss preparedness tips specific to home fires and wildfires.
Sign up for CruzAware to receive important emergency notifications from the City and County.
Event: Free Webinar on Emergency Preparation
Date: March 20, 2024
Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom
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Sister Cities Send-Off
Thank you to Mayor Keeley and the City Council for the official send-off at last week’s meeting for the Sister Cities youth delegation to Shingu, Japan!
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Community Meeting on Outdoor Seating on Private Property
On Wednesday, March 13, the City Council Subcommittee on Outdoor Dining hosted a community meeting for businesses and neighborhood stakeholders. Attendees learned more about and provided feedback on the proposed changes to the permitting process to approve permanent outdoor seating areas on private property.
This was the second community meeting on this subject, and it was an opportunity for business owners and community members to receive an update on the revised permitting proposal. Following feedback at the first community meeting, the subcommittee and staff revised the proposed permitting process to further streamline it, reduce costs, and lessen the time required for transitioning to permanent approval.
The existing process requires three City permits in addition to a potential hearing approval process. The aim of this revised process is to remove the use permit and design permit requirements and allow businesses to obtain a single building permit for approval of their outdoor seating area. Draft versions of the proposed development and operating standards as well as a guidebook for businesses can be found on our website: cityofsantacruz.com/privatepropertyoutdoordining. If you would like to watch the community meeting presentation, you can do so here.
Business owners and the community at large are invited to give feedback on the draft proposed policies before they go before the Planning Commission and City Council. If you would like to have your feedback or questions considered prior to public hearings, please submit them by the end of day on Wednesday, March 20th, to [email protected].
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It's Our Job to Protect Watersheds! | |
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Protecting Santa Cruz's drinking water is a collective responsibility, and it begins with protecting our local watersheds. Santa Cruz relies entirely on local water sources for its drinking water supply, primarily from rivers, streams, and groundwater. Preserving our watersheds is crucial for maintaining the safety and quality of our water before it undergoes treatment and is sent to your tap.
To instill a sense of stewardship among our youth, our Water Department provides free, science-based programs for Santa Cruz, Live Oak, Bonny Doon, and San Lorenzo Valley students. Recently, fifth-grade students from Westlake School participated in a day-long educational excursion to explore their drinking water source watersheds.
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Led by Water Department staff, the students visited Henry Cowell State Park and Loch Lomond Recreation Area to learn about local ecosystems and how they can protect our valuable water resources.
While the field trip schedule is fully booked for 2024, the public is welcome to visit Loch Lomond to enjoy an exciting suite of outdoor activities. Stay tuned for a “Loch Walk” schedule, where our staff and local experts provide interpretive talks, demonstrations, and hands-on activities related to water quality, wildlife preservation, and watershed stewardship.
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Provide Your Feedback On New Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Rules
Gas-powered leaf blowers emit pollution that contributes to climate change and negatively impacts public health. As part of our Climate Action Plan 2030, the City of Santa Cruz is considering an ordinance to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in the city, with limited exceptions.
Your feedback is crucial in shaping the proposed rules and helping us draft an equitable ordinance. Share your thoughts through our online survey: https://tinyurl.com/leafblowersurvey. The survey is open until Sunday, March 24.
The proposed ordinance will also be discussed at the next Health in All Policies City Council Committee meeting on April 2, 2024. That meeting will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall (809 Center Street) from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Members of the public may attend this meeting and provide feedback on the proposed ordinance during the public comment period.
For more details, you can check out the draft ordinance, FAQs, and additional information on our website: https://tinyurl.com/santacruzleafblowerrules.
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Join Us for the Ninth Annual State of the San Lorenzo River Symposium on April 13 | |
Join State Assemblymember Gail Pellerin and local experts as they discuss the intersection of Federal, State and local environmental protection policies in relation to our fisheries, forests, and water resources.
The Symposium will take place on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 9:00 AM – 12:45 PM. The doors will open at 8:30 AM. The event will be held at Felton Community Hall, 6191 Highway 9 in Felton, CA, 95018. A tour of the Fall Creek Fish Ladder will take place from 1:30 – 2:00 PM The event is free and refreshments will be provided.
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Topics include:
- State of California environmental protection policies
- Cultural history of the San Lorenzo River Watershed
- Anadromous salmonid habitat conservation planning
- San Lorenzo River barriers
- Branciforte Creek flood control channel fish passage
- San Lorenzo River flood ecology
- Western Pond Turtle recovery
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City of Santa Cruz
City Manager's Office
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz CA 95060
santacruzca.gov
831-420-5010
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