Santa Cruz Local newsletter briefs for the week of June 10: Santa Cruz rail-trail segment to finish in fall, North Coast next Santa Cruz City Council to discuss leaf blower ban, city budget Ramsay Park upgrades, city budget on tap for Watsonville council Art event at Big Basin Redwoods State Park on June 15 TRANSPORTATION Rail-trail segment to finish in fall Expected to finish in September, Segment 7 of the rail trail connects California Street to Beach Street near the wastewater treatment plant in Santa Cruz. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file) Rail-trail updates Santa Cruz: A pav ..read more

Author Kevin F. Adler, left, and UC Santa Cruz professor Chris Benner discuss how residents can support people who need housing. (Brianna Buda) CAPITOLA >> While Kevin F. Adler was growing up in Livermore, his uncle Mark was homeless in Santa Cruz County.  Mark suffered from schizophrenia, and he lived on and off the streets for about 30 years. Despite his uncle’s circumstances, Adler said he sometimes took collect calls from Mark. Mark always remembered Adler’s birthday, and often sent him a gift in the mail. They saw each other on some holidays and shared meals. “When we droppe ..read more

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig said more of the county budget should be spent on road repairs, but other supervisors did not join him. Koenig speaks during a May 14 supervisors meeting. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo — Santa Cruz Local file) SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz County supervisors on Tuesday approved a budget that was 10.5% smaller than the prior fiscal year and had 16% less money for road maintenance. The $1.2 billion budget includes more than $80 million for road repair and maintenance, and that was not not enough, said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig. Koenig ..read more

Santa Cruz Local newsletter briefs for the week of June 3: Passenger rail choices to be outlined by Regional Transportation Commission Watsonville mayor joins fight against pesticides near schools Ocean Street housing proposal grows to 225 apartments Wildfire summit set for June 6 in Santa Cruz TRANSPORTATION Passenger rail choices to be outlined by Regional Transportation Commission A June 6 Regional Transportation Commission meeting and two open houses in June are expected to explore options for passenger rail cars. (Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission) 10:30 a.m. Thur ..read more

Capitola voters could see a sales tax hike on the November ballot. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file) CAPITOLA >> The Capitola City Council on Thursday adopted a balanced budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, but city staff warned of growing pension costs and long-term budget shortfalls. The approved budget includes $19 million in General Fund spending, down about $1.3 million from the prior year.  “The last couple of years, we’ve had one-time funding going to specific projects. This year, we don’t have that,” said Capitola Finance Director Jim Malberg at a May 16 ..read more

Pacific Station South, in background, is a 69-unit affordable housing complex on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz that is expected to finish construction this summer. Pacific Station North began construction this year and its 128 affordable units are anticipated to open in 2026. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local) Editor’s note: Need help decoding housing jargon? Check out Santa Cruz Local’s new Housing Glossary. SANTA CRUZ >> The results are in: the City of Santa Cruz was the sole local government in Santa Cruz County to meet state targets for affordable housing over the past eight years ..read more

The Santa Cruz City Council listens to a resident during its May 14 meeting. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo — Santa Cruz Local file) Editor’s note: New to the city and county budget process? Check out Santa Cruz Local’s recent guide to local budget hearings. SANTA CRUZ >> As the City of Santa Cruz weans itself from the last of its Covid relief money, a draft city budget presented Tuesday avoids service cuts but leaves gaps in long-term savings and investments. The city council is set to approve a final budget in June. The city’s General Fund budget is about $150.6 million, compared wit ..read more

The Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday approved a five-story housing project at the Food Bin at 1130 Mission St. (Workbench) SANTA CRUZ >> The Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a 48-unit housing project at the Food Bin at 1130 Mission St., and it was left unanswered whether 11 more ADUs would be built from storage units on the site. The council did not approve the 11 accessory dwelling units, but the developer said state law allowed them to be converted. The Santa Cruz city attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.  Wednesday, Workbench ..read more

Santa Cruz Local newsletter briefs for the week of May 20: May 20 meeting on Ocean Street housing proposal in Santa Cruz Food Bin housing proposal returns to Santa Cruz City Council May 28 New county building to open in Watsonville   Affordable Housing Month includes events on water, wildfire HOUSING May 20 meeting on Ocean Street housing proposal in Santa Cruz Nearly 200 homes have been proposed on the 500 block of Ocean Street in Santa Cruz. (Workbench) 6 p.m. Monday, May 20 / Online Santa Cruz city planners plan to hold an online meeting May 20 about a six-story housing prop ..read more

Paul Booth, who lives off Highway 17, said his home insurance was not renewed in 2023. (Michael Warren Mott — Santa Cruz Local file) SANTA CRUZ >> As thousands of Santa Cruz County homeowners are losing home insurance, a state official and insurance professionals this week offered advice for finding, keeping and affording policies. Prompted by catastrophic wildfires and floods made more frequent by climate change, many insurance companies in California have stopped issuing or renewing home insurance policies. Richie Sayavong, outreach analyst with the California Department of Insuranc ..read more