This year was a difficult one for us at Times Publishing Group, Inc. as we lost our beloved editor Jondi Gumz.
Jondi was a wonderful person and an excellent journalist who served the Santa Cruz County community for decades. We will always miss her and keep her in our hearts.
For Santa Cruz County, 2025 saw some progress on some fronts and some disappointments on others.
Take a look back on 2025 with this month-by-month review.
JANUARY
Collaborative Pipeline Project Announced
The City of Santa Cruz Water Department and Scotts Valley Water District announced they will soon break ground on a collaborative $6.5 million pipeline project to connect the two water agencies.
Funded by a state Department of Water Resources Grant, this project is part of Climate Resilient Santa Cruz, an ongoing initiative of the City of Santa Cruz aiming to respond to future impacts from climate change.
Falcons Flying High
With six games remaining, the Scotts Valley High girls basketball team is undefeated in league with an 8-game win streak.
The Falcons’ offense can count on senior Claire Skinner, sophomore Hanna Shehorn or juniors Brooklyn Williams and Samantha Rebbert to lead in scoring.
FEBRUARY
SV High Girls Win SCCAL Title
The Scotts Valley High School girls basketball team wrapped up their undefeated season in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League to earn the league championship and then captured the league tournament title with a 52-51 win over Santa Cruz.
Amazingly, there are just eight players on the Falcons roster — but what players they are.
Brooklyn Williams, a junior, shoots 3s. So does Hanna Shehorn, a sophomore.
Samantha “Sammy” Rebbert, a junior, scores and steals the ball like nobody’s business. Count on seniors Claire Skinner and Abi Shi for rebounds.
Lily Watson, Amaya Guerra, Isabella Williams, fill in wherever they are needed.
Their motto: Together.
MARCH
Women Build in Boulder Creek
On March 26-27, Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay, in partnership with the Long Term Recovery Group of Santa Cruz County, hosted a Women Build event in Boulder Creek to rebuild homes lost in the 2020 CZU fire.
Habitat provided volunteers and professional construction staffing to support their efforts as part of an ongoing partnership.
Volunteers came from berry seller Driscoll’s, which has been a supporter of Women Build for the past three years.
Other Women Build sponsors include Bay Federal Credit Union and West Coast Community Bank (formerly Santa Cruz County Bank).
Neighbors Continue to Fight The Haven
Neighbors who oppose a 157-home development on 40 acres between Hidden Glen and Rolling Woods neighborhoods on Graham Hill Road, a “builder’s remedy” project that bypasses county regulations on size and density, are rallying to bring their concerns to Fifth District Supervisor Monica Martinez, who has open office hours on Monday, April 14, from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Scotts Valley Library community room.
They sent out an email blast: “Let Supervisor Martinez know that we are serious about stopping The Haven Development Project on Graham Hill Road. Please ask everyone you know to show up.”
Cruz Ball is Starting to Roll
Cruz Ball, an emerging local nonprofit led by Scotts Valley Middle School basketball coach Jefferson Dela Cruz, just hosted its fifth local tournament, Pot of Gold.
“We are making waves in the local community by bringing together competitive basketball teams and presenting opportunities in Santa Cruz.” said Jefferson Dela Cruz.
Cruz Ball’s mission is to unite ballers and create a community for all to thrive.
APRIL
Residents Question Haven Housing
On April 14, residents of Hidden Glen, Rolling Woods, Pasatiempo and Woods Cove filled the Scotts Valley Library Community Room, where Fifth District Supervisor Monica Martinez was holding office hours to voice concerns about Mike Formico’s builder’s remedy proposal for The Haven, building 157 homes and a community center on 40 acres of pasture (four parcels) and removing 602 trees on Graham Hill Road across from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
Those concerns include traffic overwhelming the two-lane Graham Hill Road, which has no sidewalk or bike lanes, the loss of a wildlife corridor for mountain lions and deer, loss of rare Zayante sandhills habitat, home to the endangered Mount Hermon June beetle, the lack of water or sewer connections for all the parcels.
Neighbors say they have heard trees being cut down without permits at night. They say they have reported the situation to the county, prompting a county red tag.
MAY
Scotts Valley High School Valedictorian, Salutatorians Announced
The Scotts Valley Times is pleased to recognize Scotts Valley High School valedictorian Brent Kong and salutatorians Ian Jory and Sofia Niklaus for their hard work that put them at the top of their class in 2025.
Valedictorian
Brent Kong
Parents: Julius Kong, Nancy Leung
“I plan on attending the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) as an applied and computational mathematics major. I will also be swimming for Caltech.”
Salutatorians
Ian Jory
Parents: Wendy Jory and Tom Jory
“I’ll be going to UC San Diego in the fall. I’m committed for Electrical Engineering at the moment. Will it change? Possibly, since there’s a lot of adjacent majors I’m interested in. I’m fairly certain I’ll stick with Electrical, though. Electricity is like magic, and that would make me a wizard, which is awesome.”
Sofia Niklaus
Parents: Colleen Niklaus and Andrew Niklaus
“I am going to Colorado College and will play lacrosse while I’m there. I want to be a veterinarian, so I plan on a pre-vet major, which essentially is just biology and chemistry.”
Skinner Among SCCAL Athletes of the Year
Claire Skinner of Scotts Valley High School tied with Izzy Graff of Aptos High for this year’s honor of SCCAL Athlete of the Year. The male athlete is Eli Fitchen-Young from Santa Cruz High School. In the 48 years of this award, there have been only three previous ties (1994, 2019, and 2024). This is the second time there has been a girls tie.
A 3-sport athlete, Skinner was the SCCAL co-MVP in Flag Football, a 1st-team All-SCCAL selection in basketball, and a 1st-team All-PCAL selection in lacrosse.
Her Flag Football and Basketball teams were SCCAL team champs, and the Scotts Valley lacrosse team was the only Santa Cruz County team to make the CCS playoffs.
She will attend Azusa Pacific University next year.
JUNE
Jondi Gumz Bids Farewell
For the past five years, it has been the delight of my life to be editor of Aptos Times, Capitola-Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times, curating a collection of news and information your community cares about, building up the Coastal Health & Wellness magazine and working for a rare local owner, Patrice Edwards.
However, I feel I must step back to focus on my own health. I’ve been living with breast cancer since 2018, disappointed that two nodules returned despite the lumpectomy that year. In March, the respiratory virus RSV knocked me for a loop, left me with coughing fits for which I’ve tried every remedy, in vain.
At this point, I’m looking for joy and those grandkids are just what I need. So, if you don’t see my name, this is the explanation.
Au revoir, until we meet again.
Supervisors Approve Cell Tower in Bonny Doon
Santa Cruz County Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve a 151-foot cellphone tower proposed by AT&T in Bonny Doon. It will be the tallest cell tower allowed in a Santa Cruz County neighborhood.
The original proposal was to construct a 151-foot-tall tower camouflaged as a monopine tree at 186 Summit Drive, that includes nine panel antennas. After the community objected, the tower was passed without the camouflage, due to concerns about plastic.
The tower is extremely controversial and was first considered in 2023. In February, the Planning Commission denied the project, based on the idea that there was no coverage gap, and that an existing cell tower on Patrick Road could be improved.
Santa Cruz Public Libraries Thanks McPherson
One June 5, Santa Cruz Public Libraries thanked former Fifth District County Supervisor Bruce McPherson at the Boulder Creek Library during the Last Day of School Party, sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries Boulder Creek Chapter.
This celebration was as an opportunity to unveil and make use of the recently installed library outdoor amphitheater sunshade.
Capitola Honors Former Times Publishing Editor Jondi Gumz
On Tuesday, June 17, former Times Publishing Group, Inc. editor Jondi Gumz was honored by the City of Capitola for the high-quality reporting she has provided Santa Cruz County for more than a quarter century.
$7 Million Forest Health Grant Secured
The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County has secured a $7 million Forest Health Grant from CAL FIRE for projects designed to improve the health of forests on both public and private lands in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The work will take place on 830 acres of high-priority landscapes that will form a “ring” around populated areas in Santa Cruz County, covering a broad geographic area, from the northern coastal regions of the county, through the City of Santa Cruz, across the San Lorenzo Valley’s rare Sandhills habitat, and up into the higher elevations of the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground Reopening Delayed
Tariffs have raised the cost of building materials and that has delayed the reopening of the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground until April 1, 2026 and it’s affecting businesses surrounding the park.
The park had been scheduled to reopen Aug. 1 after renovations had been made, but supply chain disruptions have pushed back the completion of essential infrastructure upgrades, including accessibility features.
Santa Cruz County CEO Carlos Palacios Announces Retirement Plans
Santa Cruz County’s Executive Officer Carlos Palacios announced June 19 that he will be retiring in December.
The County Board of Supervisors announced the decision by Palacios, who has served for nearly 10 years as the county’s top executive and more than three decades in local government leadership. Palacios was the first first Latino CEO in county history.
Palacios was appointed in 2017 after 20 years as city manager of Watsonville, where he began his career in local government in 1992, was promoted to city manager in 1996 and led the city through some challenging times, growth and controversy.
Grand Jury Urges Changes to Building Permit Process
The Santa Cruz County Grand Jury is urging the Board of Supervisors to modify the rules for building permits, consider reducing fees, streamline the process, and hire an ombudsman to help the public navigate the system.
The building permit process in Santa Cruz County has long been a source of frustration for residents and was previously examined by county grand juries in 2002–03 and 2012–13. Building permits were also reviewed in the 2023–24 CZU fire rebuild report.
A building project may involve a few regulations or many—such as soils reports, fire road access, water diversion, or environmental habitat considerations. The Grand Jury interviewed architects, civil engineers and contractors who have worked extensively in Santa Cruz County and elsewhere. It also spoke with homeowner applicants and county staff involved in permitting. The focus was on the “complexity, costs and extended time frames associated with the permitting process,” according to the report.
Scotts Valley In State 1 Water Supply Condition
The Scotts Valley Water District announced June 24 that Scotts Valley has entered a Stage 1 Water Supply Condition, following an annual assessment of rainfall, groundwater conditions and overall water supply.
Although recent wet years helped replenish local groundwater supplies, rainfall for the most recent “water year” totaled 24.6 inches, just 60% of the District’s historical average. This falls below the 80% threshold that triggers a Stage 1 response under the District’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
The Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin, which supplies water to the District, is currently stable. Groundwater pumping remains below long-term stress levels, thanks in part to water use efficiency efforts and reduced water use by residents and businesses. However, climate uncertainty and long-term water demand require ongoing vigilance.
Grand Jury Targets Human Trafficking
Human trafficking goes largely unrecognized and unreported in Santa Cruz County, according to the final report to be released by the 2025 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury.
The report concluded that a lack of training for adults and education programs for youth is the main culprit, along with poor coordination between agencies that could address the problem. To address it, the Grand Jury made 10 recommendations, including forming a countywide trafficking coalition, coordinating with neighboring counties, creating a hotline number to report suspected incidences, and regulating massage parlors better.
The Grand Jury interviewed both victims and frontline workers who help those victims. Human trafficking is a growing problem, the report notes. According to the United Nations, women and girls make up 71 percent of victims worldwide. The World Cup events scheduled for 2026 in Santa Clara County are bound to have a significant impact here in Santa Cruz County. The development of a year-round event center in Santa Cruz will also likely have an impact, according to the Grand Jury.
Undocumented workers can also be victims of human trafficking. Many have little education and complaining about abuse brings attention from law enforcement.
Mental Health, Substance Abuse Programs in Final Report
The final 2024-25 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury’s final report recommends increased county funding to treat behavioral health and substance abuse issues, and more coordination between programs that address these issues — including financially.
According to the Grand Jury, in the past five years, two state-mandated reports have recommended the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency do a better job of identifying and managing patients with behavioral health and substance abuse issues. These patients, termed high-cost beneficiaries, are about 15 percent of the client base in Santa Cruz County and account for 55 percent of claimed services.
High-cost beneficiaries present a complex challenge for Santa Cruz County. In California counties, on average, HCBs account for 4.5 percent of patients and 34 percent of claimed services. Many HCBs have healthcare through Medical, and the county is financially responsible for any costs in excess of Medi-Cal payments for clients with severe behavioral health and/or substance use disorders. As a result, HSA’s 2023-2024 budget required additional funding of $18.6 million from the county’s general fund.
JULY
Artist Opens Home and Studio After Rebuilding From Fire
Five years ago, Alison Parham retired from her job as a teacher at Boulder Creek Elementary and thought she’d spend a lot more time in her barn creating art. Four days after retirement, the CZU Lightning Complex fires raged through the mountains and destroyed her home.
On Sunday, July 27, she opened her home on Empire Grade Road to the public as part of the DoonArt Open Studios Tour. Not only her own art, but that of three other artists were featured at the site.
“It’s nice to be home, and it’s nice to open our doors to everybody,” said Parham, with a big sigh.
Recovery Plan Released for Big Basin Redwoods State Park
California State Parks has released the draft Facilities Management Plan for Big Basin Redwoods State Park, nearly five years after the devastating 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire destroyed most of its infrastructure. Both a summary and the complete study can be viewed at reimaginingbigbasin.org.
A public webinar is scheduled for July 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., to share plan details and invite input on the environmental review process. The updated Facilities Management Plan aims to restore access while also respecting natural ecosystems and cultural heritage.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California’s oldest state park, established in 1902. It holds significant natural and cultural value. Once home to the Quiroste and Cotoni tribes, the land is culturally important to the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.
The recovery strategy reimagines the park’s layout to reduce environmental impact and enhance visitor experiences. It includes reconstruction of campgrounds, day-use areas, transportation infrastructure, and visitor facilities, all designed to protect and highlight the park’s ancient redwood ecosystem.
Compromise Doesn’t Settle Much in Rail Trail Dispute
The fight over a land encroachment by Castle Mobile Estates and Blue & Gold Star Mobile Home parks and the Regional Transportation Commission continues, but in July the two sides agreed to allow the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission to survey the mobile home lots that apparently encroach on the Coastal Rail Project.
The announcement was made in a statement on July 19 from the residents of the mobile home parks. “After extensive conversations among Capitola City Councilman Gerry Jensen, and housing advocate Cami Corvin, resident of Castle Mobile Estates, many of the residents have made the collective decision to allow the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) limited access to the property for surveying purposes,” the statement reads. “Many of our residents, including those who would face serious financial hardship, deserve to have their potential burdens fully understood and documented should the RTC move forward.”
Corvin, who is mentioned in the statement, has been leading the fight against the county. The struggle stems from the fact that quite a few of the mobile home owners’ property lines encroach onto the Regional Transportation Commission’s property where the RTC is building Segments 10 and 11 (from 17th Avenue to State Park Drive) of the Monterey Bay Scenic Trail alongside the railroad tracks.
New Chapter Begins at Brookdale Lodge
BROOKDALE — Sean Woodward felt right at home playing with his band Woodmill during the Brookdale Lodge’s grand reopening celebration on July 27. He’s been playing gigs in the area for about 35 years, many of them at the lodge back when it was a popular hotspot.
“So far, so good,” he said, reviewing the improvements made at the lodge. “Mario is a very positive influence everywhere he goes, so I’m really happy about this.”
Mario Ibarra is the new owner and quite popular with many. He also owns the Casa Nostra Italian restaurant in Ben Lomond and purchased Henflings Tavern in November. Henflings, despite being popular for decades, had closed after the owners divorced. Now, with it thriving again, Ibarra and his business partner Juan Alvarez have taken on the Brookdale Lodge, another iconic business that has struggled lately.
County Unemployment Rate Rises
Labor statistics released in mid-July show a slight rise in unemployment in Santa Cruz County to 6 percent, with less people working in farms, manufacturing, trades and transportation, and even financial activities.
California’s overall unemployment rate is 5.7 percent. The county’s unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in May and 5.5 percent last June. Santa Cruz County’s unemployment rate peaks every year around January, when it exceeds 7 percent due to less jobs in agricultural sectors. Historically, during the months of April through August, it will be at its lowest.
During the summer of 2023, unemployment dipped well below 5 percent. Last summer, unemployment never rose much above 5.5 percent. The rate fell below 5 percent in May, but has already started to climb in June.
Scotts Valley Middle School Repairs Underway
It’s been more than six months since a tornado’s destructive path left Scotts Valley Middle School with nearly $1 million in damage, but repairs are finally underway and expected to be completed by the end of August.
A rare EF-1 tornado struck Scotts Valley on Dec. 14, 2024, at approximately 1:39 p.m., remaining on the ground for about five minutes. The twister carved a roughly 0.3-mile path nearly 30 yards wide along Mount Hermon Road, unleashing up to 90 mph gusts. It overturned at least six vehicles, including a Cal Fire pickup and a commuter van, snapped power poles, 15 traffic signals were knocked out and many businesses suffered damage.
AUGUST
Nineteen Townhomes Given Conditional Approval
The Scotts Valley City Council voted 4-0 at its Aug. 20 meeting to advance plans for a 19-townhome development on Erba Lane, but with some caveats.
The council approved the design of the Ridgewood West Development under the conditions that the developer, City Ventures, increase garage sizes for storage of bikes and trash, allow for city-enforced parking, and allow for soundproofing features for the houses closest to Scotts Valley Road. Council member Allan Timms abstained from the vote.
Darian Dennler, a representative of City Ventures, said he would work with city staff to address their concerns.
Rail-to-Trail Plan Mostly Derided at Meeting
The Regional Transportation Commission seemed mostly unsatisfied with the latest draft concept report on the rail and trail project, with members voting to have the draft come back to them in December, and, they hope, less expensive.
The draft, properly titled “Milestone 4,” includes both a draft project concept report and a financial analysis. The top concern was cost. The project would cost nearly $4.5 billion. And how much would a trip on the train cost, and how much would the public have to pay in taxes to keep the trains running? A lot. A one-way ride would likely be $10, possibly more. How much the train will cost taxpayers can only be guessed. Federal and state funding would be available, but how much is unknown.
According to the study, if residents needed to pay half the project’s cost, a 2.25 percent sales tax would be necessary. If grants could cover as much as 80 percent, a 1.5 percent tax would pay for it. Either way, it would raise the total sales tax to more than 11 percent and as high as 12.5 percent for most of the county. There would also have to be significant use of the train. It would hold about 230 people and would need to be filled more than 13 times a day to meet even the low end of the projected ridership need.
“Do we really think we are going to hit that mark, or are we being optimistic?” asked Commissioner Steve Clark, a Scotts Valley City Council member.
Federal Funding Milestone Brings Scotts Valley Town Center Closer to Reality
The City of Scotts Valley and U.S. Congressman Jimmy Panetta celebrated a major step forward for the city’s long-envisioned Town Center project on Aug. 12, announcing $1 million in federal Community Project Funding secured by Panetta.
A press conference was held at the Town Center property where Mayor Derek Timm and Congressman Panetta addressed a small crowd of city officials, staff, and local media. The funding, they explained, allowed the city to purchase the final parcels of land needed to complete the site acquisition — a hurdle that had stood in the way of progress for years.
“This investment is about more than property,” Panetta said. “It’s about bringing the community together and building a space that will serve generations to come.”
Mayor Timm called the grant a “transformational moment” for Scotts Valley, thanking Panetta for championing the project in Washington. Following remarks, Panetta presented a ceremonial oversized check to city officials.
Historic Treasure Could Be Lost
It will be remembered by many in the community as a lost treasure, nearly reclaimed and momentarily grasped until it slipped away and now might be forever lost. The Redman-Hirahara House’s historic designation is being removed and the home likely razed.
What remains of the home on Lee Road off Highway has been on cribbing for more than a decade, at one point waiting for the next step towards restoration, but eventually, it looked like it was just waiting to fall over. On Aug. 5, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved removing the Redman-Hirahara House from the county’s Historic Resource Inventory.
The decision, according to a press release, considered the house’s significant deterioration, failed restoration attempts, and the changing neighborhood due to nearby commercial development. The next steps will be to coordinate with a professional historian to document the site for archival preservation, funded by the property owner; offer the structure to the public for salvage or relocation; and begin the process of removing the home from state and national historic registries.
“It felt pretty inevitable, but it’s still sad. It’s a shame,” said Stephen Pederson, a former board member of the Redman-Hirahara Foundation, the local group that almost saved the house.
Santa Cruz Homelessness Drops Countywide
The 2025 homeless Point-in-Time count reveals a mixed but hopeful picture for Santa Cruz County, as overall homelessness dropped 20% from last year to the lowest total since the count began.
The total number of people experiencing homelessness fell from 1,850 in 2024 to 1,473 in 2025, according to the Housing for Health Partnership, which coordinates the annual effort.
However, while the countywide numbers show progress, the count also highlights stark disparities among cities.
The city of Santa Cruz saw a 31% increase, rising from 659 people counted in 2024 to 862 this year. Nearby Capitola saw a 42% increase, from 50 to 71 individuals.
In contrast, other jurisdictions reported steep declines: the city of Watsonville’s homeless population dropped by half, from 673 to 335, while Scotts Valley’s count plummeted 84%, falling from 44 to just 7.
“These mixed trends highlight the complex nature of homelessness in our region,” said Robert Ratner, director of the Housing for Health Partnership. “While we are encouraged by the countywide reduction and significant progress in places like Watsonville and Scotts Valley, the sharp increases in Santa Cruz and Capitola are deeply concerning and underscore the urgent need for targeted, localized interventions.”
SEPTEMBER
Lawsuit Filed to Save Redman-Hirahara House
Aptos resident and local activist Becky Steinbruner has filed suit against Santa Cruz County, the Board of Supervisors, the city of Watsonville, and Elite Developments in an effort to save the historic Redman-Hirahara House from demolition.
On Aug. 5, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved removing the historic home on Lee Road, located off Highway 1, from the county’s Historic Resource Inventory and began a process to delist it from the National Register of Historic Places, paving the way for eventual demolition.
According to a county press release, the decision considered the house’s significant deterioration, failed restoration attempts, and a changing neighborhood due to nearby commercial development. Next steps include coordinating with a professional historian to document the site for archival preservation, funded by the property owner; offering the structure to the public for salvage or relocation; and beginning the process of removing the home from state and national historic registries.
Steinbruner’s suit, originally filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on Sept. 4, seeks a restraining order to halt all of that. It lists seven causes of action describing how the county failed to conduct a proper archaeological analysis of the property, a structural evaluation of the house, a professional analysis of the cost of restoring it, and an environmental review of the dangers of demolishing it.
For instance, according to the suit, the county failed to include potential impacts of asbestos if the house is demolished in its environmental review.
Local Journalist, Jondi Gumz, Dies
Local journalist and Scotts Valley resident Jolande Gumz died in her sleep at home on Sept. 11 after a long battle with cancer. She was 72.
Jondi was an editor and reporter at the Santa Cruz Sentinel for 27 years and at the Times Publishing Group for the last five years. Her beats included education, business, local government and community news. She served for four years on the Scotts Valley Unified School District Board and was active in the high school Parent Club.
Born Sept. 2, 1953, in Madison, Wis., she was the daughter of Marcus and Norma Gumz. Her first love was always reporting. She enjoyed talking to people and telling their stories. Her work won numerous national, regional and local awards and citations, including a Casey Medal for her series on changes in bilingual education. She endowed a college scholarship at her alma mater, Baraboo High School, for students pursuing writing careers.
She retired from the Sentinel in 2019 and spent a year deciding that retirement was boring. She went back to work for the Times Publishing Group, which covers community news in Aptos, Capitola, Soquel and Scotts Valley.
Leaders Are Upbeat at State of the City Presentation
The message of the Sept. 15 State of the City presentation at The Landing was clear: Scotts Valley’s present has improved, and its future is bright.
The event featured Scotts Valley Mayor Derek Timm and other local leaders, including Police Chief Steve Walpole; Fire Chief Mark Correira of the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District; Dave McNair, general manager of the Scotts Valley Water District; and Roger Snyder, president of the Scotts Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. Each gave an update.
Scotts Valley has 31 miles of public road, 12,224 residents, and more than 1,000 businesses. The city has $30.9 million in revenue and 65 budgeted staff to manage it.
Timm led off with a look at the city’s budget, which has been in the red and was projected to stay deep in the red. The mayor said that outlook has changed.
Timm said cost-saving measures and increases to the business license tax have drastically changed the city’s budget outlook, nearly eliminating projected deficits over the next decade. For instance, a projected $3 million deficit in 2027 is now expected to be a $1.2 million surplus. In 2032, a $2.3 million deficit is now projected to be just $500,000.
“We’ve reduced that annual budget deficit by $1.5 million and now you’re seeing infrastructure projects come online,” he said. That includes playgrounds, roads, and more.
Timm also explained why some projects are moving forward despite public opposition. Housing decisions have been overtaken by the state, as in the case of construction at the former Seagate site.
Community Gathers at County Fair
Claire Hamilton of Boulder Creek was in the Livestock Barn with her two lambs on the opening day of the Santa Cruz County Fair, reflecting on her time with Quail Creek 4-H in San Lorenzo Valley. For nearly her entire life that she can remember, she’s been raising animals.
“I’ve been in 4-H for 11 years, raising sheep for eight years,” she said. “This will be my last year doing it and I hope for it to end on a good note.”
As it turned out, both she and the county fair would have a pretty good week. Hamilton sold her lamb at auction for more than $3,000. The fair reported lower attendance numbers, about 10% off last year, but revenues mostly the same.
Broadway’s ‘Cinderella’ Takes the Stage in Scotts Valley This Fall
A fairy tale with attitude, heart, and unforgettable music will come to life this fall as Scotts Valley Performing Arts (SVPA) presents Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella at The Landing – A Performing Arts Center.
Elyse Coty stars as Ella (Cinderella), a spunky, modern take on the classic character, while Jared Johnson Alexander plays Prince Topher in this updated Broadway adaptation.
Performances begin Sept. 26 and run through Oct. 12.
BESS Developer May Push Ahead Before County OK
The county’s timeline to draft an ordinance regulating Battery Energy Storage System facilities and the developer’s timeline for the proposed BESS site at 90 Minto Road are out of sync. As a result, the county might miss its chance to have a say on the controversial project.
New Leaf Energy is proposing to develop a 200-megawatt battery energy storage project just outside of Watsonville that would connect to the PG&E substation on Minto Road. The land, about 14 acres, is currently an apple orchard that struggles because of the hard clay soil underneath.
The project is controversial, especially since a BESS plant in Moss Landing operated by Vistra Energy caught fire in January. It contained about 100,000 lithium-ion battery modules and the fire burned for parts of three days, with a flare-up a month later. More than 1,200 people had to evacuate as the fire spread heavy metals throughout the area.
Since that fire, AB 205 has passed. Sponsored by Sen. John Laird, the law adds regulations for BESS projects but also allows the California Energy Commission to override local rules with findings of public convenience and necessity. If local regulations are not in place, developers can apply directly to the state.
Burglaries On The Rise, Residents Warned
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents throughout the county, particularly in the Aptos area, about a recent increase in residential burglaries.
According to the sheriff’s office, multiple homes have recently been targeted during the early morning hours while residents were inside asleep.
“Our detectives are actively following up on leads, and our patrol deputies are aggressively patrolling the affected neighborhoods,” says a social media post from the sheriff’s office. “We are asking for the community’s help in staying alert and taking extra precautions to deter criminal activity.”
Youth Mental Health Center to Celebrate Opening
A new resource for youth mental health care is opening in Santa Cruz County, with the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health set to celebrate the grand opening of its Soquel treatment center Sept. 25.
The event, scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. at 4630 Soquel Drive, Suite 10, will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a wine and cheese reception, tours of the facility, and youth speakers sharing their experiences. The center is designed to expand access to evidence-based mental health care for children, teens and young adults.
CCAMH, a nonprofit organization with locations in Soquel and San Luis Obispo, offers therapy both in person and through telehealth. Its services include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, exposure and response prevention, and family-based treatment.
In addition to the treatment center, the nonprofit operates specialized programs, including a parent center with support groups, a teen center that fosters peer-to-peer engagement, and a First Gen center tailored to first-generation youth.
County Wins Appeal on 37-Foot Walk at Rio Del Mar Beach
Public access to Rio Del Mar Beach has prevailed. A decision handed down Sept. 25 by the 6th District Court of Appeals gives Santa Cruz County a right-of-way easement through what’s known as the 37-foot walk.
Originally 37 feet wide, the 786-foot long walkway runs along the seaward side of a block of homes from 202-300 Beach Drive. It has narrowed due to erosion and the creation of a seawall. The county has long maintained that the path is essential for safe access to the beach from the nearby parking lot, but it runs behind the homes and the homeowners use the area as patio space.
The dispute over who owns the land and whether the public has access has been in court for many years. A Santa Cruz County Superior Court decision in February 2024 ruled that the county had no title or interest in the strip. The judgement also stipulated damages of $3.7 million and granted homeowners permission to build temporary fencing to block public access to the walkway. The 6th District Appeals Court reversed that decision, granting the homeowners title to the land, but subject to the county’s right-of-way easement.
Eric Miller, a spokesperson for plaintiffs’ attorneys Nossaman LLP, said the firm is discussing whether to now appeal the decision to the California Supreme Court. County Counsel Jason Heath had no comment. The lead plaintiff, Christopher Weseloh, did not return a call seeking comment.
EPA Oversees Extensive Battery Removal at Moss Landing After 2025 Fire
MOSS LANDING — Workers have begun removing lithium-ion batteries from the Moss Landing 300 building at Vistra Corp.’s power plant, starting an extensive cleanup months after a fire damaged more than half of the facility’s energy storage system.
The fire occurred Jan. 16, 2025, at the 300-megawatt energy storage system, which contained roughly 100,000 lithium-ion batteries. Officials estimate that about 55% of the batteries were damaged in the blaze. Local agencies immediately requested air monitoring, prompting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deploy personnel to the site from Jan. 17-20. The State of California subsequently requested that the EPA oversee the battery removal process.
Under a July agreement between Vistra and the EPA, the company is responsible for removing damaged batteries under federal and state oversight. The initial phase focuses on “intact” batteries, those with no damage or only minor fire damage, which will be de-energized and, where possible, returned to the local electrical grid. Simultaneously, crews are stabilizing and partially demolishing sections of the building to safely access the remaining batteries.
OCTOBER
Scotts Valley Police Chief Walpole Retires
Scotts Valley Police Chief Steve Walpole spent 30 years in law enforcement, including 11 with the Scotts Valley Police Department and eight as its leader. The day he will remember most: Dec. 14, 2024, when a tornado roared through the middle of town.
“The most memorable moment in my entire career had to be responding on my day off to a tornado that had hit our city,” he said recently while reflecting on his career. He retired as police chief on Oct. 30.
It was the first tornado in Scotts Valley’s recorded history, and Walpole said it looked exactly like you’d think a tornado would look as it wound its way down Mount Hermon Road, leaving a trail of destruction.
“You think you’ve seen it all,” he said. “Luckily nobody was critically injured. I think we got lucky with that one. There were no pedestrians on the street because it was hailing and raining hard.”
Few Issues Found in Draft EIR
The city of Scotts Valley has released the draft environmental impact report for the 2025 Town Center Plan, a project that would transform 58 acres of mostly vacant land near the center of the city into a walkable, mixed-use downtown district.
The 2025 update replaces the city’s 2008 Town Center Specific Plan. Much of the previously planned commercial space is now designated for sorely needed housing, bringing the plan more in line with the 2023 General Plan and California’s housing and climate goals.
It would allow up to 657 housing units, 82,000 square feet of commercial space, and 35,000 square feet of public or civic uses through 2045.
Thousands Attend No Kings Rallies
Organizers estimated that more than 15,000 people attended the Oct. 18 No Kings Rally in Santa Cruz, and another 2,000-plus at the event in Watsonville. Both were part of what was probably the largest nationwide demonstration in American history as more than 2,700 events were held across the country with more than 7 million people attending.
Ross Levoy of Santa Cruz stood on a grassy slope listening to people speak at the beginning of the Santa Cruz rally before protesters would march from San Lorenzo Park to the county building and back. The park was packed with people and Levoy said the crowd was about 20 to 30% larger than the last No Kings event he attended in June.
“Believe it or not, this is my first time I’ve ever protested anything,” said the retiree who has lived in Santa Cruz for 43 years. “You can’t hide your head in the sand anymore.”
Greg Wimp Appointed to Open Council Seat
Greg Wimp has joined the Scotts Valley City Council after being appointed at the opening of the Oct. 1 council meeting.
Wimp has lived in Scotts Valley for 25 years and owns Togo’s sandwich shops in Scotts Valley, Capitola and Watsonville. He is highly involved in the community. He completed the Scotts Valley Citizens Academy and Leadership Santa Cruz County programs and volunteers for numerous local events. He was named the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 2018.
Wimp said he hadn’t considered serving on the city council until community members began approaching him two years ago to ask him to run. At the time, he said, his business responsibilities were too demanding for him to serve effectively. “It is a big commitment,” he said. This time, however, he threw his hat in the ring.
Crop Report Shows Bounce Back From Slow 2023
After a slowdown in 2023, Santa Cruz County’s agriculture bounced back in 2024, with a 13% increase in gross production for a total value of $741,917,000, according to the County Agricultural Commissioner’s annual crop report released Oct. 8.
Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner David Sanford said the good numbers represent a combination of a really good growing season, and a good market price. “The season was kind of shortened in 2023 because of the storms,” he said.
Strawberries, blackberries and raspberries make up 60% of the county’s total gross agricultural production — more than $446 million. The price per ton for berries was up, mostly for blackberries, which saw an 18% increase from $6,622 to $7,840 per ton. Raspberries climbed from $8,600 to $9,560 per ton, and strawberries had an $11 increase to end at an even $2,500 per ton.
Local farmers, however, will tell you that higher prices in the supermarket don’t translate into higher profits on the farm. John Eiskamp has grown berries in the county for decades and said, overall, it’s a difficult business in these times. Labor is hard to find and prices for everything have gone up.
“It’s a tough business as always,” he said. “We’re in a state and a country, with a lot of regulations and competing with countries that don’t, and costs are always going up for us.”
Advanced Air Mobility to Power Local Economy
SEASIDE — Change is coming to America’s transportation system and it’s being innovated in our backyard, according to regional government and business leaders who gathered at CSU Monterey Bay on Oct. 17 for the 2025 Annual State of the Region conference. The event discussed key issues and trends shaping the local economy.
Presented by the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, the conference featured legislative updates from State Assembly and Senate members, panel discussions with local industry leaders, and short expert takes on local trends. One recurring topic was the region’s rise and leadership in what was termed advanced air mobility technology.
“This industry is maturing and it’s here now,” said Sarasina Tuchen, senior scientist at the U.S. Department of Transportation, while leading an industry panel on the subject. Tuchen said AAM consists of at least two new aircraft types, as well as companies creating automation systems for existing aircraft. There is new infrastructure development and more. “It’s a rapidly new sector. It’s not a single technology; it’s a collection of technologies.”
Tuchen explained that the nation’s transportation system hasn’t changed much since President Eisenhower created the national highway system in the 1950s, but major change is coming soon. “This is a thunderbolt to the system,” she said. “This is a generational shift. For the past 60 years we were developing the Jet Age. This is the Jetson Age.”
Driver Dies as Van Plunges Off Wharf
Rob Allen, of Aptos, was warming up with the Pu Pu O Hawai›i Outrigger Club before the group’s weekly practice Sunday morning, Oct. 26, when tragedy occurred. A white minivan plunged off the Santa Cruz Wharf and quickly sank, taking the driver’s life.
At about 9:44 a.m., according to the Santa Cruz Fire Department, a report of a vehicle driving off the wharf came in. Santa Cruz Fire, Central Fire, Scotts Valley Fire, the Santa Cruz Police Department and State Parks personnel all responded to the scene, recovered the driver, William Westerman, a 65-year-old resident of Scotts Valley, but he never regained consciousness and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. More than a dozen divers searched in the murky water for more than an hour looking for any other victims, but found none.
Allen and his canoe crew, led by Emerson Sanderson, were able to save the victim’s dog. Allen said he tried to rescue the driver, but could not. He and his crew were in one canoe with another club canoe just behind. They were warming up in the harbor, stretching and getting ready for practice, when he heard a huge crashing noise. About 150 yards away, a white van was on top of the water. Allen said it had landed on its roof and the windshield appeared to have been “blown out” by the impact.
RTC Releases Final Report on Rail and Trail Project
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission has released the final Project Concept Report for its Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail project, answering some key questions and leaving others unanswered.
The report, published Oct. 24, follows months of public outreach and feedback from advisory committees, agencies, stakeholders and community members.
There were not many changes in the final report. It estimates that typical ridership will be 4,200 to 5,400 passengers per weekday for the year 2045, with weekend ridership lower. Annual revenues from fares were estimated at $5.1 million to $6.4 million. Additional strategies for generating revenue were also identified, including advertising at stations and on trains, transit-oriented development, electronic fare collection, and more.
Arrest Made in Alleged Road Rage Incident
A 56-year-old resident of the Santa Cruz Mountains was arrested and charged with a number of crimes on Oct. 22 after allegedly trying to run another car off the road in Scotts Valley.
According to social media post by the Scotts Valley Police Department, in the late afternoon, a female driver called 9-1-1, reportedly in a frantic state, and reported that a male driver was trying to run her off the road. She had stopped for a coyote that was in the road and the man apparently thought she had “brake-checked” him. He then got out of his car, approached her side door, and began threatening to kill her.
She drove away in fear for her life, but he pursued her with his vehicle going across a double yellow into opposing traffic to run her off the road. She provided a full description of the man, his vehicle and a partial plate and was advised to pull over for a “speedy response” from the department.
NOVEMBER
San Lorenzo Valley Woman Missing
A massive search is underway for San Lorenzo Valley woman Jeanne Burke, who apparently walked away from her home on Nov. 18 and has been missing ever since.
Authorities are asking all residents in the Smith Grade, Moore Ranch Road and surrounding areas to look around their property, search inside outbuildings, and review any camera footage you might have for clues.
Sgt. Ryan Farotte of the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office said Burke, 73, is considered high risk because she wasn’t wearing adequate clothing to be outside overnight, and she has medical concerns. He could not share what those concerns are due to law restricting the sharing of private health information.
Glenwood Drive in Danger of Falling Away
The Scotts Valley City Council voted for an emergency repair to Upper Glenwood Drive during a special meeting Nov. 19 after the Nov. 12 storm severely damaged a section of the critical roadway, creating a 30-foot-wide, 17-foot-deep slide that undermined it.
Because the council declared an emergency, the public bidding process for the repairs can be skipped and the road fixed as quickly as possible.
On Nov. 12, nearly 3 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period, and the drainage system at Glenwood Drive was overwhelmed with excessive runoff, explained Dat Nguyen, senior civil engineer for the city of Scotts Valley. The failure happened when the grate over the inlet, which was very small, became covered with leaves.
Scotts Valley Joins RING Project
The Scotts Valley City Council voted to join a countywide effort to replace Santa Cruz County’s aging public-safety radio network, collaborating in what was described as the region’s first unified attempt to build a modern, interoperable emergency-communications system.
The council approved the move unanimously, with the contingency that other cities and governmental entities also participate in the Regional Interoperable Next-Generation Radio System, or RING.
DECEMBER
Study Reveals Vistra Fire’s Effects
A new study, likely the first of its kind, found that the fire at the Vistra battery energy storage system plant in Moss Landing spread enough toxic heavy metals to possibly threaten the future environmental health of Elkhorn Slough, with levels of heavy metals found at some places up to 1,000 times higher than before the fire.
The study, conducted by researchers at San José State University’s Moss Landing Marine Labs, showed that the full extent of the pollution would have gone unrecognized without baseline environmental data, rapid testing and new methods of collecting data.
On Jan. 16, a fire destroyed about 75% of the Moss Landing plant, the largest lithium-ion BESS facility in the world. The fire burned for two days and then reignited on Feb. 18. It spread ash and soot all around Moss Landing and north into Santa Cruz County.
Supervisors Prepare for Phase 2 of Corridor Project
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors took an initial step on Phase 2 of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz Corridor Program by approving a request for proposals to hire a project manager for the Soquel Drive portion of the project, between State Park Drive and Freedom Boulevard.
The board also accepted $3.8 million in funding from the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission to cover most up-to-construction costs.
Phase 2 is part of the larger Watsonville–Santa Cruz Multimodal Corridor Program Cycle 4 Project, which aims to reduce congestion, and improve travel times and air quality by providing better public transportation options, and less congested roadways. It’s plans contain three mostly parallel routes: Highway 1, Soquel Drive, and the Coastal Rail Trail. All three will converge in the central business district of Aptos.
The Soquel Drive portion will include 3.2 miles of buffered and protected bike lanes, along with the reconstruction of 4,745 feet of sidewalks. Bus service will be improved along the corridor in a variety of ways, including intersection enhancements and giving buses signal priority.
County Declares Food Emergency Over
Santa Cruz County has ended the local emergency declared last month over food insecurity caused by the federal government shutdown. On Dec. 9, county supervisors approved the cessation, noting that federal nutrition benefits have been fully restored and the acute crisis has passed.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to accept a report on the shutdown’s impacts and formally terminate the emergency, which was declared Nov. 4 after the expiration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allotments left more than 35,000 county residents without roughly $6.5 million in monthly food benefits.