November 22, 2024

Local Emergency Service Agencies Work Together to Rescue Kite Surfer

Santa Cruz Fire Department partnered on November 12 with multiple local and state agencies to respond to a report of a kite surfer in distress in the area of Davenport Landing in Santa Cruz County.

When first responders arrived, the kite surfer was visible in the water. Marine rescue swimmers from the Santa Cruz Fire Department entered the water and paddled out to the individual. Shortly after, an aircrew from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco arrived operating an MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter. The aircrew deployed a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, hoisted the victim and the three responders into the helicopter, and transported them back to shore without any injuries. CAL FIRE CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit, California State Parks, Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, and American Medical Response staff participated in and managed the emergency response. This endeavor represents another exemplary coordinated effort executed with high professionalism by all involved agencies.

Free Sandbags Available

Stay safe and be prepared for the storm this week! City residents and city businesses can get free sand and sandbags at the following locations.

Empty Sandbags

• Fire Administration Office — 230 Walnut Street
• Parks and Rec Administration — 323 Church Street
• London Nelson Community Center — 301 Center Street



Sand (please bring your sandbag and shovel)

• Harvey West Park — 326 Evergreen Street
• Behind Fire Station 2 —1103 Soquel Avenue

Public Works Project Receives Infrastructure Award

The City of Santa Cruz’s Ocean Street Repaving Project recently received the 2024 Wheelie Award for Infrastructure from Bike Santa Cruz County.

The project was part of a $2.7M Roadway Rehabilitation Project and was completed in August 2024. It included:

• 22 accessible curb ramps.
• Buffered bike lanes along Ocean Street from Felker/Plymouth/Hwy 17 to Water Street.
• Improved connections across Ocean Street with the insertion of painted bike boxes.
• Bus stop consolidation to improve Metro service functionality.

The Ocean Street, Felker, Plymouth intersection is a challenging yet important one for crosstown cyclists at the terminus of Highway 17. It also is an important crosstown linchpin connecting the County social services complex and DeLaVeaga Park to the east with the San Lorenzo River Bike and Pedestrian Bridge, Gateway Center, and downtown to the west. The inclusion of bike boxes and clearly delineated green lanes at this location signal to drivers that cyclists are using the area. 

Congratulations to the Public Works Department!

West Cliff Webinar Update

On Tuesday, November 19, the City hosted an Informational webinar to report out on the community's rankings of proposed projects and other ideas for the 5-year Roadmap for West Cliff.

Based on guidance from the West Cliff Implementation Committee and feedback during the October West Cliff community workshop and survey, staff also presented a significant amount of background and education on the

50-Year Vision for West Cliff, how the 5-Year Roadmap fits into that 50-Year Vision, and an in depth overview of all of the current projects already directed or underway. Approximately 80 participants joined the webinar, and staff hosted a Q&A session at the end of the meeting.

The meeting recording and a Q&A document will be available soon at: www.cityofsantacruz.com/westcliff

Depot Park Parking Lot Renovation

The City of Santa Cruz is excited to announce the completion of the bioswale renovation at the Depot Park parking lot, a joint project in partnership with Public Works and Parks & Recreation. Together, they worked to prepare the site just in time for the rainy season, ensuring the bioswales are fully equipped to manage stormwater effectively.

This project was made possible through the expertise of Ecological Concerns Incorporated, the contractor selected to lead the renovation efforts. Key improvements include:

• New Plantings: Native and drought-tolerant plants were added to improve biofiltration and enhance habitat value.
• Biofiltration Soil Installation: High-performance soil was used to improve water infiltration and pollutant removal.
• New Trees and Mulch: Trees were planted to strengthen soil stability and biodiversity, with mulch applied to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Upgraded Irrigation System: A modern, water-efficient system was installed to support plant establishment.
• Splash Pads: These were added at water entry points to reduce erosion and manage concentrated runoff effectively.

This collaborative project demonstrates the City's shared commitment to sustainability, stormwater management, and environmental stewardship. The improved bioswales will play a vital role in reducing runoff, filtering pollutants, and supporting a healthy watershed while enhancing Depot Park's aesthetic appeal.

Public Feedback Sought on Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is seeking your input on the Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail Project, which is ongoing through December 20th. The RTC is sharing updates on revisions to the rail and trail alignment and options that are in development. These include project funding opportunities, the ridership modeling approach, stations, bridge structures, and noise impacts. Give feedback on the project’s virtual open house at ZEPRT.com or at the December 5th RTC commission meeting.



The Public Works Transportation Division is reviewing concept designs on Beach Street and comments on the rail alignment and station assumptions. The RTC will be modeling two terminal scenarios — Depot Field and Natural Bridges Avenue — to understand the impacts for riders of a station closer to downtown versus service continuing further to the westside. More information is expected in the first quarter of 2025. Contact the Transportation Division for questions or comments on the project.

Review the City's Local Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan by Nov. 29

The City of Santa Cruz recently updated its 2025–2030 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, which helps our community identify potential hazards and risks then develop strategies to reduce them. The plan also incorporates the City's Climate Adaptation Plan to better integrate hazard mitigation with climate adaptation and build climate resilience in our community.

We are seeking public input on the plan from November 8-29. Provide your feedback at the link below.

Explore Retail Leasing Opportunity at 810 Pacific Ave.

The City of Santa Cruz is excited to announce the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the lease of newly developed retail space located at 810 Pacific Avenue in Downtown Santa Cruz. Proposals are due by 5:00 pm on Sunday, December 1, 2024. For further details and resources and to access the RFP, click the link below.

This unique retail opportunity within the new Metro Pacific Station South project offers approximately 3,688 square feet of prime commercial space available for innovative restaurant or retail concepts designed to serve both the local and regional community. For more information, contact Sarah Domondon in Business Development at <sdomondon@cityofsantacruz.com>.

May 2024 Pacific Station North Groundbreaking

2023 event hosted by Nueva Vista and Community Bridges at Beach Flats Park



City of Santa Cruz

City Manager's Office

809 Center Street

Santa Cruz CA 95060

santacruzca.gov

831-420-5010