Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Cruz County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
30 issues with high priority
County use of artificial intelligence
The county is moving from scattered employee AI use to a governed enterprise program: one platform (Claude or ChatGPT), training for 85% of knowledge workers by year-end, a public-facing chatbot, and an internal AI advisory subcommittee. Supervisors pressed staff to form that subcommittee sooner and to guarantee AI won't replace workers.
Pre-winter flood risk reduction executive order request
A potentially record-strong El Niño is forecast; the county detailed road, levee, alert-system, and resiliency-center preparations, and will bring back a resiliency center activation policy before year's end.
Severe weather shelter activation criteria
Supervisors De Serpa and Cummings will lead an ad hoc subcommittee reviewing the county's severe weather shelter activation policies after numerous resident complaints.
General Assistance program overhaul
The county's $809 monthly cash grant — the highest in California — costs have tripled in seven years. The Board approved a three-month limit for non-disabled adults, a $50 benefit cut, and a bigger push to move people onto federal SSI, starting July 2027.
Streamline Santa Cruz County permitting
Permit review times are improving — median review down from 80 to 66 days — but only 80% of reviews land on time and customer dissatisfaction centers on regulatory complexity. Reporting now shifts to twice a year, with new data breakdowns demanded by Supervisor Koenig.
Sexually violent predator placement opposition
The Board is formally opposing the state's proposed placement of convicted sexually violent predator Michael Cheek near Soquel-San Jose Road — the fifth such placement attempt in the county. Koenig urged legislators to change state law on placements.
Economic development and enhanced infrastructure financing districts
The county will give up 25% of its future property tax growth in a 236-acre Scotts Valley district (up to $50 million over 30 years) to fund town center infrastructure, fire facilities, water/sewer upgrades and affordable housing. County analysis projects an $18.4 million net benefit.
CORE Investments community funding
The Board set priorities for future CORE safety net grants and told staff to consult the subcommittee if CORE cuts are needed to close next year's projected budget deficit.
Parks Budget Cuts and Pay-to-Park Pilot
The parks department patched a $590,000 hole by killing the pay-to-park pilot and scraping together one-time money from supervisors' Measure K funds and other departments — but that means the same fight likely returns next budget year, with the Arts Council and MAH taking 15% cuts.
Measure Q environmental and parks funding
Voter-approved Measure Q dollars — about $8.9 million next year — fund water protection, wildfire risk reduction, parks, and habitat preservation, split between county grants, cities, unincorporated areas, and land partners.
Behavioral health — Hope Forward and the strategic plan
Proposition 1's BHSA eliminates local prevention and innovation funding, redirects 30% toward housing interventions, and shrinks dollars for core services. County staff will have to make hard contract decisions ahead of budget season.
Public Defender funding and the Page & Dudley alternate defense contract
The county must replace its conflict defense contract by July 2027. The Page/Dudley firm argued the new RFP is rigged toward a public defender model; the board told staff to retool the RFP with more weight on effective representation and price and return by December 15.
Small water system oversight returning to the state
The county is ending its Local Primacy Agency, which has regulated about 68 small water systems since 1994. Operators and customers pleaded to keep local regulators, citing the Big Basin emergency and state bureaucracy; staff said doubling fees still wouldn't cover costs and the state's Monterey office is well-staffed and responsive.
Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance update
The Board debated two housing tools: letting ADUs be sold as condos (AB 1033) and a San Diego-style bonus program rewarding deed-restricted affordable ADUs with extra market-rate units. A divided Board chose to wait — monitoring other communities and pending state legislation — rather than commit staff time now. Critics worried about investor-driven projects and $1.3 million price tags on 'starter' units.
CZU Rebuild Directive extension and recovery progress
Fire survivors rebuilding since the 2020 CZU fire got relief: the geologic hazard review waiver now runs through August 2030. Staff reported 177 replacement homes completed, 136 more approved or under construction, and outreach to 173 owners who had gone silent. Residents urged more support — including funding for the Long Term Recovery Group — especially given high rebuild costs and septic hurdles.
Oil and gas / deep-sea mining ballot measure
The Board reaffirmed opposition to a petition that would ban recreational fishing at Pleasure Point and Santa Cruz-area MPAs, aligning with the Department of Fish and Wildlife's recommendation to reject it.
Affordable Housing Predevelopment Funding
Speakers urged the Board to delay $501,846 in added funding to Housing Matters, saying the nonprofit is ending bathroom, shower and mail access for roughly 1,700 unhoused people. The Board approved the funding anyway but asked for a report on whether Housing Matters is meeting its service goals.
Battery energy storage facility at 90 Minto Road
Roughly 30 residents, most from Watsonville-area neighborhoods, urged the board to ban or restrict lithium battery energy storage facilities, citing the Moss Landing fire, proximity to schools and farmland, and Measure J protections. No battery item was on the agenda; the chair clarified no decision was being made that day.
Health Services Agency budget and clinic sustainability
Supervisors De Serpa, Hernandez, and Cummings urged state help for Watsonville Community Hospital via a support letter for AB 1923's Distressed Hospital Loan Program, noting 650 local jobs and countywide health impacts if it closes.
Parks, arts and culture funding deferred
Funding for parks, the Museum of Art and History, and the Arts Council is up in the air until June 30. Dozens of residents turned out to push the board to protect these cultural institutions.
Probation staffing and service reductions from expiring grants
Probation is losing 3 positions and cutting funding for diversion, reentry and treatment coordination as Prop 47 and Title II grants end — even as Prop 36 increases caseloads. That could mean less support for people coming out of custody.
Housing Element Rezone — Coastal Zone certification
A 4-1 vote directs the chair to ask the state to confirm the county's housing element was substantially compliant by March 15, 2024 — a date neighbors believe could undercut the 841 Capitola Road approval and other builder's remedy projects. Chair Martinez dissented over litigation risk; staff reports back March 24.
Proposed County Strategic Plan 2026-2032
The county is building its six-year strategic plan around six focus areas approved in November 2025. Supervisors spent the day identifying priorities and principles that will guide budget and policy decisions through 2032 — including how to cope with looming fiscal cliffs.
Veterans Service Office placement and performance
After a year of friction between the Veterans Services Office and county oversight, the Board blessed an MOU that formalizes roles and keeps quarterly reviews, with updates due in February and May 2027. Veterans, some still pushing for full autonomy under the CEO, called it progress but not the finish line.
Responsible Construction and Wage-Theft Ordinance
Union workers packed the chamber saying wage theft — nearly $2.2 million in stolen wages on local public works, by one labor compliance agent's account — is forcing them to commute over the hill for a living wage. The Board voted 4-1 to have staff draft a ordinance requiring contractors on county-permitted projects to disclose wage judgments over $10,000, with a return by October.
Opioid crisis response and settlement funds
The county has received $11.25 million in opioid settlement funds, expanded treatment beds and medication-assisted treatment, and fentanyl deaths fell from 133 in 2023 to 45 in 2025. Supervisors want more outcome-based metrics and flagged kratom as an emerging concern.
Affordable housing requirement for 5940 Soquel Avenue project
The Board debated whether to require 15% or 20% affordable units in the KB Home project. The county's 2014 nexus study suggested 23% was feasible for moderate-income for-sale housing, but staff and the developer argued 20% would kill the project. Neighbors said even the affordable units would sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Resolution condemning ICE and CBP operations
The board adopted a consent-item resolution condemning escalating violence and harmful impacts of ICE and CBP operations, which advocates said matters greatly to the county's immigrant community. Supervisor Cummings said it signals county values and a plan to engage the state attorney general.
841 Capitola Road 57-unit housing project
The board approved a contested five-story, 57-unit apartment building in Live Oak under state builder's remedy law, which limits local discretion. Four units will be affordable; opponents raised parking, access, and health-and-safety concerns.
$16 Million in Disaster Recovery Infrastructure Funding
The board moved forward grant applications for storm recovery and mitigation: flood wall protection for about 100 Watsonville homes, culvert replacements countywide, Davenport water improvements, and emergency shelter upgrades including converting Juvenile Hall into a resiliency center.