December 11, 2023

Climate Resilient Santa Cruz: Preparing Our Future Water Supply

We can all agree that weather whiplash is real in Santa Cruz. All in the past decade, we have faced severe wildfires, drought, and record-breaking rainfall. The Santa Cruz Water Department is working on vital projects to enhance our climate resilience and meet our future water needs.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant Facility Improvement Project is now open for your review. We will accept comments now through February 5, 2024.

Project Goals

• Deliver a climate resilient water treatment plant that ensures reliable, safe drinking water is available 24/7/365.

• Upgrade aging infrastructure to meet current and anticipated seismic standards and protect the plant against wildfire.

• Include new water treatment facilities that will operate with state-of-the-art technology, increased efficiency, and greater performance to meet future water quality conditions to be impacted by climate change.

• Ensure that the City of Santa Cruz is prepared to meet future regulations related to water treatment.

Your input matters!

The public review and comment period for the Draft EIR allows you to contribute to the decision-making process. Your insights will help us address community concerns and ensure that the project aligns with the shared values of our customers and neighbors.

Upcoming Water Supply Public Meetings

• Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Police Department Community Room at 155 Center Street.

• Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 3:30pm on Zoom.

Improvements at Community Parks

Turf areas at several parks were aerified, fertilized, and seeded to give us healthy meadows and playing fields in the spring.

Community Parks staff installed a new planter at the Lawn Bowling facility.

New pool covers were installed on Harvey West's instructional and lap pools.

Firefighters Host Annual Toy Drive 

Santa Cruz City Firefighters #L1716 is hosting its annual Toy Drive—the last day to donate is Wednesday, December 20, 2023. All donated toys must be new AND unwrapped.

Through this event, firefighters collect and distribute toys to local organizations that provide support to families and children in our community who are in need this holiday season.

Toy collection barrels are located at the following locations:

• Santa Cruz Police Department Administration Lobby – 155 Center Street.
• Santa Cruz Fire Department Administration Lobby – 230 Walnut Avenue.
• Fire Station #1 – 711 Center Street.
• Fire Station #2 – 1103 Soquel Avenue.
• Fire Station #3 – 335 Younglove Avenue.
• Lifeguard Headquarters – 21 Municipal Wharf.

Parks and Recreation's Winter-Spring Activity Guide Now Online!

Parks and Recreation is excited to announce that the 2024 Winter-Spring Activity Guide is now online in English and Spanish! Want to learn a new skill? Change up your fitness routine? Add art to your life? We have got a class for you! Registration opens January 8, 2024.

Apply for a Friends of Parks and Recreation scholarship for City of Santa Cruz residents! Applications can be found online and are due

January 2, 2024 by 5:00 p.m.



Create your Parks and Recreation account, apply for a scholarship, and view the Winter-Spring Activity Guide online today or call 420-5270 for more information.

City of SC goes to 2073!

West Cliff 50-Year

Vision Workshop

The Citywide West Cliff team hosted a fun-filled and successful West Cliff 50-Year Vision Workshop on December 5, 2024 at London Nelson.

Community attendees were invited to join us in time travel as they imagined the four different scenarios below for West Cliff in 2073. 

This feedback is critical as we begin to fix the damage caused by storms and prepare for the future. You, too, can participate in this exercise now by clicking the link found online before December 21, 2023. 

1)  Hold the Line: Keep the coastline where it was in 2023. Two-way vehicle traffic is preserved, but the beaches and bluffs look different and are less accessible to the public due to engineering and erosion. 

2)  Natural Feature Restoration: Restore the coastline to what existed prior to development. New, engineered points and reefs are built and traffic is still two-way. 

3)  Park Only: Remove all armoring and return West Cliff to its natural state. Walking and biking is possible, but traffic is closed to residents and emergency vehicles only. 

4)  Hybrid: Expand space for walking and biking. Traffic is now one-way and westbound.

You can still get involved!  

1. Community Conversation Follow-Up: Questionnaire on West Cliff's 50-year Vision: 

Following the December 5th Community Conversation, we are excited to share the four different scenarios from that meeting for the future of West Cliff. These scenarios have been developed based on the feedback received from the community over the past year. 

We invite you to participate in a questionnaire CLICK HERE. The questionnaire includes videos that provide summary insights into each scenario, allowing you to put on your 2073 50-Year Visioning glasses to make informed decisions about the future of West Cliff.  

When the Bomb Cyclone Storms hit in January 2023, we came together to understand the future of West Cliff better, and it has been clear that we all agree that Santa Cruz wants West Cliff to continue to be a treasured community space. The 50-year Vision looks to outline this work, and we are excited to keep this conversation going. We appreciate you joining us to ensure that West Cliff remains resilient and accessible for all! Please complete the questionnaire by December 21st!  

2. City of Santa Cruz Public Opinion Poll with EMC Research: 

The City of Santa Cruz has partnered with EMC Research to conduct a comprehensive public opinion poll on West Cliff. Residents randomly selected to participate will receive a postcard in the mail containing a survey link, allowing you to provide valuable feedback on the future of West Cliff. Your input is instrumental in ensuring that the vision for West Cliff aligns with our community's diverse perspectives and needs. 

This survey is designed to be statistically significant, aiming for a minimum of 350 resident responses. Your participation will contribute to a robust understanding of the community's preferences and priorities.  

 

City Manager's Office Co-Hosts a Training on Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Hazards

On December 5, 2023, the City’s Climate Action Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) co-hosted a staff training on Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Hazards. At this in-person half-day training, more than two dozen City staff across multiple departments interacted with NOAA trainers and local experts. They learned the mechanics of assessing, designing, and maintaining coastal nature-based solutions for risk reduction and ecosystem enhancement, working on real world, Santa Cruz-focused applications. This training was a great primer for the City’s Nature-Based Solutions, Living Shorelines, and Sand Management feasibility study project funded by the California Coastal Conservancy kicking off in early 2024!

Public Works' Resource Recovery Team Joins Celebrations of Local Green Businesses

It has been a big week for the City's Green Business Program. Businesses within our City and surrounding areas that completed the certification process in 2023 were recognized at the County Board of Supervisors meeting. This event was followed by the Green Business Mixer at Gazelle Bicycles on the Westside. Gazelle Bicycles, the sponsor and host of the mixer, is one of the newest City of Santa Cruz certified Green Businesses.

Traffic Calming Call for Projects Open!

We are pleased to announce that the Call for Projects 2023 for our new Traffic Calming Pilot Program is open.

The Call for Projects is part of our new City process to evaluate and implement citywide neighborhood traffic calming strategies. City residents may submit their street for traffic calming consideration now through January 15, 2024 using the form found online. Read all the details in our news release.



City of Santa Cruz

City Manager's Office

809 Center Street

Santa Cruz CA 95060

santacruzca.gov

831-420-5030