County of Santa Cruz
Board of Supervisors
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 9:00 AM
How to take part
Show up: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM, Board Chambers, 701 Ocean Street, Room 525, Santa Cruz. California's open-meetings law (the Brown Act) gives you the right to speak on agenda items. Remote-participation links, when offered, are on the agenda.
Write in: BoardOfSupervisors@santacruzcountyca.gov (from County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors agenda, 2026-09-15 ("Submitting Related Correspondence"))
Deadline: Written comments must be received before 5:00 p.m. the day before the meeting to be included with agenda materials. Comments received after that, until the end of the meeting, go into the minutes record.
Include the agenda item number. You can also comment on individual items with the "Add Comment" tool on the Board's meeting portal.
What's being decided
- Major· Transportation & traffic, Government & transparencyBoard to act on certified METRO initiative petition: adopt it or send it to voters
Staff would report on whether the METRO initiative petition has enough valid signatures. If certified, the Board must choose one of the options allowed under Elections Code Section 9118.
- Major· Planning & development, HousingHearing on Planned Unit Development standards for three parcels (Application 251276)
The Board would consider approving in concept an ordinance setting development standards through a Planned Unit Development for parcels 025-032-33, 025-032-34 and 025-032-35, and adopting a Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act.
- Major· Planning & development, Government & transparency, Environment & climatePossible ballot measure to regulate AI data centers in the county
The Third District supervisor asks staff to help draft a ballot measure and ordinance regulating development of artificial intelligence data centers and high-intensity computing facilities.
- Major· Government & transparency, Public safety, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agendaApprove labor deal with Law Enforcement and Sheriff's Supervisory units
The Board would approve the tentative agreement reached with the Law Enforcement Unit and the Sheriff's Supervisory Unit.
- Major· Homelessness, Health & social services, Housing· Consent agenda$1,709,459 to Housing Matters for shelter and rehousing at Bridge House
The Board would approve a $1,709,459 agreement with Housing Matters to run low-barrier, service-enriched shelter and rehousing services at Bridge House for unsheltered adults with serious behavioral health conditions.
- Major· Homelessness, Health & social services, Housing· Consent agenda$906,967 to Housing Matters for shelter services at Live Oak Landing
The Board would approve a $906,967 agreement with Housing Matters for low-barrier, service-enriched shelter and rehousing services at Live Oak Landing for unsheltered adults with serious behavioral health conditions.
- Major· Transportation & traffic, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda$6.23 million contract to rebuild the San Lorenzo Way Bridge
The Board would ratify a contract with Gordon N. Ball, Inc. for $6,230,858.50 to replace the San Lorenzo Way Bridge under Federal Project No. BRLO-5936(086).
- Notable· Water & utilities, Government & transparency, Health & social servicesCounty may hand small water system oversight back to the state
The Board would decide whether to end the county Environmental Health program that oversees qualifying small water systems and return that authority to the State Water Resources Control Board.
- Notable· Public safety, Government & transparency, Taxes, fees & budgetStudy session on how lawyers are provided when the Public Defender has a conflict
The Board would hear a study session and give input on a proposed process for providing conflict criminal defense representation starting July 1, 2027.
- Notable· Government & transparency· Consent agendaAppoint unopposed special district candidates without an election
The Board would adopt resolutions appointing special district candidates who drew no opponent, in lieu of holding an election, and note Board appointments to be made before the November 3, 2026 General Election.
- Notable· Government & transparency· Consent agendaApprove County responses to four Grand Jury reports
The Board would approve the County's official responses to the findings and recommendations in four 2025-26 Civil Grand Jury reports.
- Notable· Housing, Government & transparency· Consent agendaEnd month-to-month tenancies at two County houses on Prather Lane
The Board would authorize ending month-to-month residential tenancies and taking back possession of two County-owned properties on Prather Lane for future County use.
- Notable· Environment & climate, Public safety· Consent agendaApply for up to $10 million for Fairgrounds Community Resilience Center
The Board would adopt a resolution letting the County apply for and accept a state Strategic Growth Council Community Resilience Centers implementation grant of up to $10,000,000 for the Fairgrounds Community Resilience Center project.
- Notable· Public safety, Schools & youth, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agendaPay Sonoma County $403 a day, up to $450,000, to house local youth
The Board would amend its agreement with the County of Sonoma, raising the daily rate to $403 and the annual cap to $450,000, for youth ordered by a court into a Secure Youth Treatment Facility.
- Notable· Environment & climate, Planning & development, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agendaSea level rise study contract grows to $710,000 and runs to 2027
The Board would accept $17,000 in unanticipated revenue and amend the County's contract with Integral Consulting Inc. for a sea level rise vulnerability assessment, raising it to $710,000 and extending it to December 31, 2027.
- Notable· Housing, Government & transparency· Consent agendaFund a full-time Housing Program Manager position
The Board would approve funding for one full-time equivalent Housing Program Manager position in the Planning division.
- Notable· Transportation & traffic, Parks, arts & recreation· Consent agendaApprove road closures for the 2026 Santa Cruz Marathon
The Board would approve the road closures needed for the 2026 Santa Cruz Marathon event.
- Notable· Parks, arts & recreation, Environment & climate· Consent agendaUp to $350,000 for tree work in Moran Lake monarch butterfly habitat
The Board would let the Parks director sign an agreement with Lewis Tree Service for up to $350,000 for specialized tree management in the Moran Lake Monarch Butterfly Habitat Management Area.
- Minor· Government & transparency, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agendaSet a rule for cash transactions when the County runs short of pennies
The Board would adopt a resolution establishing a standard for completing cash transactions when there are not enough pennies to make exact change.
- Minor· Government & transparency· Consent agendaApprove County nominations for state association awards
The Board would approve the County's nominations for the 2026 California State Association of Counties Challenge Awards.
- Minor· Public safety, Government & transparency· Consent agendaStatus report on emergency work at McDermott Fire Station
The Board would accept a status report on emergency repair work at the McDermott Fire Station under Public Contract Code Section 1102; a 4/5 vote is required.
- Minor· Government & transparency· Consent agendaStatus report on emergency work at the South County Government Center
The Board would accept a status report on emergency work at the South County Government Center under Public Contract Code Section 1102; a 4/5 vote is required.
- Minor· Water & utilities, Parks, arts & recreation· Consent agendaCall for bids to replace the waterline at Anna Jean Cummings Park
The Board would approve plans, specifications and the engineer's estimate and authorize seeking bids for the Anna Jean Cummings Waterline Replacement Project.
- Minor· Government & transparency, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agenda$68,800 for infrastructure upgrades at 500 Westridge Drive
The Board would approve $68,800 for infrastructure upgrades at the County facility at 500 Westridge Drive.
- Minor· Health & social services, Taxes, fees & budget, Government & transparency· Consent agenda$20,000 for improvements to the Watsonville Health Clinic data room
The Board would transfer $20,000 from Information Services Department fund balance for environmental improvements to the data room at the Watsonville Health Clinic.
- Minor· Government & transparency, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agendaAppoint Mariana Colibri-Urgo to Measure Q Citizens Oversight board
The Board would appoint Mariana Colibri-Urgo as the Fourth District representative on the Measure Q Citizens Oversight Advisory Board, with a term ending April 1, 2027.
- Minor· Health & social services· Consent agendaNominate Kathybelle Barlow to In-Home Supportive Services commission
The Board would accept the nomination of Kathybelle Barlow as an at-large consumer representative on the In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Commission, with final appointment set for September 29, 2026.
- Minor· Public safety, Health & social services· Consent agendaSeek $254,754 state grant for elder abuse prosecution program
The District Attorney would apply to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services for $254,754 for the 2026-27 Elder Abuse Program.
- Minor· Public safety, Health & social services· Consent agendaSeek $605,564 state grant for victim and witness assistance
The District Attorney would apply to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services for $605,564 for the 2026-27 Victim/Witness Assistance Program.
- Minor· Public safety· Consent agendaSeek $270,060 state grant to prosecute violence against women cases
The District Attorney would apply to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services for $270,060 for the 2026-27 Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution Program.
- Minor· Public safety, Government & transparency· Consent agendaName County staff authorized to seek FEMA and state disaster aid
The Board would adopt a resolution designating Authorized Agents to file applications and sign documents for Federal Emergency Management Agency and California Office of Emergency Services financial assistance.
- Minor· Health & social services, Homelessness· Consent agenda$270,000 to Homebase to support two lived expertise action boards
The Board would approve a $270,000 agreement with Homebase to support two action boards made up of people with lived expertise.
- Minor· Transportation & traffic, Taxes, fees & budget· Consent agendaAdd $29,588.74 to Dokken Engineering contract, total $570,621.77
The Board would amend its agreement with Dokken Engineering, Inc. of Folsom for additional civil engineering and environmental consulting services, raising the not-to-exceed total to $570,621.77.
- Minor· Water & utilities, Environment & climate· Consent agendaContinue emergency diesel tank repair at Ben Lomond Transfer Station
The Board would accept a status update and find that the emergency still exists for the diesel tank repair at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station; a 4/5 vote is required.
Everything else on the agenda
- 1CALL TO ORDER
- 2MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- 3CONSIDERATION OF LATE ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA; ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS TO CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDAS
- 4ANNOUNCEMENT BY BOARD MEMBERS OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT TO REGULAR AGENDA
- 5PUBLIC COMMENT
- 6ACTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 13-50)
- 12SCHEDULE A CLOSED PERSONNEL AND LITIGATION SESSION TO BE HELD AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE BOARD'S CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDA, OR AT ANY OTHER TIME DURING THE COURSE OF THE MEETING ANNOUNCED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD
- 13Approval of Minutes
- 14Accept claims as approved by the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector (Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector)
- 15Accept and file the Treasurer’s Investment Transaction Report for the month of July 2026 (Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector)
- 16Accept and file report for the 4th Quarter Review of the Statement of Assets in the County Treasury (Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector)
- 19Accept and file update on County strategic management initiatives, including progress on the 2025-27 Operational Plan and initial implementation of the County Strategic Plan 2026-2032, and take related actions (County Executive Office)
- 29Defer to on or before October 20, 2026, the implementation update on the County Artificial Intelligence Elevation and Standardization Workplan 2026 (Information Services Department)
- 41Defer to October 6, 2026, the Housing for Health Division Strategic Framework annual study session (Human Services Department)
- 44Defer to on or before November 10, 2026, public hearing on ordinance to prevent the demolition by neglect of historic structures (Community Development and Infrastructure - Planning)
- 48Defer to on or before December 15, 2026, the award of contract for Engineering, Geotechnical, and Environmental Services for December 2022 and March 2023 Storm Damage Projects (Community Development and Infrastructure - Public Works)