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A glimpse into the next 20 years of planned development at UC Santa Cruz drew some passionate opinions and ideas during two meetings this month, as residents, alumni, graduate students and others critiqued a draft environmental report on the university’s 2021 Long Range Development Plan.
Because of a rise in applications and other factors, the plan would increase the 18,500 undergraduate and graduate students to up to 28,000 students by 2040. Faculty and staff is proposed to rise from about 2,800 full-time equivalent positions to 5,000.
UCSC leaders have pledged to house about 8,500 of those new students, but some elected leaders want legal guarantees that all new students, faculty and staff will be housed by the university.
Water demand could change, but campus water use has remained flat despite campus growth in recent years, a city water official said.
👉 To participate:Send comments to UCSC planners by email.
Scotts Valley Water District board meeting
6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 Online
Possible merger with San Lorenzo Valley Water District
At its regular meeting, the Scotts Valley Water District board is expected to discuss a possible merger with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District.
Piret Harmon, Scotts Valley Water District general manager, said the frequent collaboration between the districts prompted her to consider a merger to increase efficiency. Some ratepayers have signed a petition against the merger.
After some concern from San Lorenzo Valley Water District ratepayers about a potential merger with Scotts Valley Water District, the San Lorenzo board delayed a decision Feb. 4 on whether to pursue it.
Santa Cruz City Council
12:15 p.m. Tuesday Feb. 9 Online
Update on the city’s financial status
As part of a mid-year budget review, the city council is expected to discuss the following proposed budget changes:
A roughly $3.9 million reduction in overall revenue, including a $2 million drop in the city’s General Fund revenue.
A $5.1 million increase in overall spending, which includes $2.1 million increase to General Fund spending. The largest new expense is a $1.4 million overtime spending request by the city’s fire department, related to statewide emergency response, vacant positions and sick time related to potential COVID exposures, according to the staff report.
The city’s General Fund is part of the city’s budget that’s funded by taxes, such as sales, property and hotel taxes. The General Fund pays for departments like police, fire, parks and recreation and public works. The General Fund is different from enterprise funds, like water, wastewater and refuse, which are self-sustaining through fees.
Though some city projects and fees raised more money than expected — such as golf course fees — overall revenue was down, largely due to a drop in water use and sales. Expected revenue from water sales is down by nearly $4 million, likely due to COVID restrictions, according to the staff report.
Three apartments proposed on Pennsylvania Avenue
The Santa Cruz council will consider a proposal for a three-story, three-unit apartment complex on a lot with a single-family home at 418 Pennsylvania Ave.
The lot is zoned for multiple residence-low density, though many neighbors live in single-family homes.
The city’s Planning Commission approved the project in December in a 4-3 vote. The commission’s approval has been appealed by a next-door neighbor and two others who live nearby. The proposal’s “box-shaped structure is out-of-scale and not compatible with the neighborhood,” they wrote in their appeal, and listed other issues.
On Tuesday, the Watsonville City Council is scheduled to decide the fate of a controversial bust of George Washington in City Plaza. (Kara Meyberg Guzman -- Santa Cruz Local)
Watsonville City Council
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9 Online or by phone
In July 2020, the community group Revolunas started an online petition that called for the removal of the bust because Washington was a slave owner. Other petitions were launched that called for the bust to remain.
City staff led a town hall meeting and a survey to hear residents’ concerns. The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the issue twice and voted 4-2 to recommend that the city council vote to:
Move the George Washington bust
Add a bilingual plaque that has a broader perspective on George Washington.
City staff have recommended a similar plaque but recommended against moving it.
Mid-year budget update
Proposed changes to the city’s budget are on the agenda.
Revenue continues to exceed expectations despite the pandemic, according to a staff report. Property and utility tax revenue have remained steady. Hotel tax revenue is down 25% compared to pre-pandemic figures, as expected. Sales tax income is up 15% in the last quarter — a surprise, staff wrote, largely due to boosts in car and online sales.
The city council last year approved $4.4 million in cuts to balance the budget. City staff have proposed to restore some of that money, including:
$216,000 for fire department overtime pay
$89,000 for police overtime pay and salaries
$150,000 for two positions and consultant fees in the community development department
$131,000 for parks and community services staff, sustainable funding studies and parks maintenance
$76,800 for a redistricting study that is more expensive than expected
$100,000 for COVID-related costs and $56,700 for CZU Lightning Fire costs
Santa Cruz County leaders will host workshops Monday and Thursday to acquaint residents displaced by the CZU Lightning Complex Fire with the county’s new Recovery Permit Center.
County staff will provide information about permits and rebuilding and answer questions. The workshops are geared toward residents on the North Coast.
5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday online or by phone at 916-318-9542 with Phone Conference ID: 940 082 587#
5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday online or by phone at 916-318-9542 with Phone Conference ID: 998 019 383#
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