Start of new year keeps everybody occupied
The new year came in with a roar. Storms arrived with massive power and destructive force. Neighbors helped neighbors, government at all levels worked around the clock to protect people and property (public and private). Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden visited the area to assess the damage and offer assistance in recovery.
When the January bomb-cyclone storm hit our community, city staff jumped into action, providing essential services, including distributing 239 tons of sand and 4,800 sandbags to residents. As part of the Emergency Operations Center activation, the city opened an emergency shelter at the Civic Auditorium in coordination with the county. This site served more than 100 people with food, supplies, and overnight shelter, and extensive outreach was done to ensure people knew about their emergency shelter options.
It is very clear, we are living with climate change. Longer droughts and more powerful winter storms are the most obvious impacts. As this condition becomes more evident, the city of Santa Cruz attempts to deal with it in two ways. First, the city is leading by example with programs such as droughtproofing our water supplies and reducing the municipal government's carbon footprint. Second, the city is implementing a welldeveloped and community-supported Climate Action Plan that speaks to nearly all elements of our community.
With a presidential disaster declaration and more than $13 million in current damage estimates, we see the impacts of climate change firsthand. The storm devastated West Cliff Drive, where an estimated 4,000 tons of rip-rap was displaced,
120 feet of pathway destroyed, and extensive roadway erosion occurred. Response and recovery efforts continue, and the Public Works team has placed 200 tons of boulders and fabric to protect the West Cliff Drive roadway just west of Bethany Curve.
The city is implementing its West Cliff Drive Adaptation and Management Plan, which is currently under review by California Coastal Commission. Once
Coastal Commission approves the plan, the city can accelerate its implementation. Community engagement continues to be a critical aspect of this project. City staff will host a virtual meeting at 5:30 p.m. Feb.13, where you can hear updates on storm recovery and the next steps in the Adaptation and Management Plan from city staff and share your comments and questions. For information, visit www.cityofsantacruz.com/ westclifftrafficcontrols.
While the storms were still battering our town, the City Council took significant action to rework the Downtown Expansion plan. As initially envisioned, a new neighborhood south of Laurel Street would include new housing, retail, commercial and recreational development. Some elements, such as the height of some buildings, were met with community concern.
As the City Council's first action in 2023, the proposed building heights were reduced, affordable housing was increased, and approximately 1,600 units of housing overall were set as a goal of the new plans. Given that the state of California has increased its jurisdiction over local planning, this represents a significant change in the original plans for the Downtown Expansion;
working with the State Department of Housing and Community Development will be critical to success.
Voters approved a city charter amendment in June 2022, establishing six City Council districts of about 10,000 people each and a directly elected mayor. This historic change will likely increase the voices of neighborhoods in decisionmaking and make it easier (less expensive) for folks to seek election to the City Council. As this happened, two City Council members, elected by districts and a new, directly-elected mayor, were sworn in, beginning a new era of representation in Santa Cruz.
At the most recent City Council meeting, the council made a significant change to how members of the public are nominated and appointed to city commissions, such as Planning, Parks and Recreation, Transportation and Public Works and Water. The changes are intended to align commission appointments with the terms of the mayor and newly-districted City Council members. The intent is to help City Council members build a team that assists in serving the needs of each of the newly approved City Council districts.
On both the storm and governance front, 2023 will be a year of change, response, and progress on pressing issues.