Soquel Homekey Project Takes Shape

By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District

Project Homekey grant funds have been applied for to fund a Permanent Supportive Housing project at 2838 Park Ave. in Soquel.

The proposed project would be for people recovering from homelessness and would not be a nightly shelter with different people cycling through. It would be long-term housing, and the people living there would be full-time, long-term residents.

The proposed project would provide 36 units: 17 units for veterans, 14 units for transition age youth (young people exiting the foster care system), and 4 two-bedroom units for families with children.

There would also be one unit for a full-time on-site manager. On-site supportive services would be provided through Abode, and would be only for the residents.

New-construction Homekey projects are required to be built within 1 year of receiving funding, so the developer plans to use modular construction to meet the deadline. If this project moves forward this will be the first use of modular construction in our County.

The Homekey application was submitted at the end of January and the State will make their determination within 45 days. The process is very competitive and receiving the funds is by no means a sure thing.

We’re scheduled to receive an update at our March 22 Board of Supervisors meeting.

If the project receives the Homekey funding, I will work with the project developer to host a community meeting as quickly as possible, likely in early April.

I will work with residents to understand concerns and create a plan to address them early and often.

ALERTWildfire Camera Update

Santa Cruz County utilizes the ALERT-Wildfire camera system for early detection of wildfires, and last fall our office introduced an item to improve this system by installing several new fire camera sites. This February, the Board of Supervisors received an update from the Office of Response, Recovery, and Resiliency on the progress.

As part of the County’s settlement agreement with PG&E regarding their wood debris activities after the CZU Fire, two new ALERTwildfire cameras are being installed: at the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz and at the Watsonville Airport. Both sites are expected to be operational in time for the start of the 2022 fire season.

Another location that has been identified and funded through a generous donation will be located at the Silver Mountain Winery off Summit Road.

The new camera at this site will provide sweeping visibility and greatly expand early detection capabilities for the Summit area and Soquel Valley. This site will likely be operational by the start of the 2022 fire season as well.

OR3 staff is talking with CalFire and County Fire staff, PG&E staff and the AlertWildfire team to identify other key priority locations for new cameras, and will be looking at these areas in particular: the north coast region, either the Swanton area or Bonny Doon, and Upper Highway 236.

To learn more, visit www.alertwildfire.org/region/centralcoast/.

Soquel-San Jose Improvements

Big improvements are coming for Soquel-San Jose road, an important arterial corridor many 1st District residents depend on. Last December the Regional Transportation Commission announced $1,455,000 for the project, to be funded by State gas tax revenues.

The project will include multi-modal improvements for bikers and pedestrians, including improved bike lanes and pedestrian crossings, as well as critical pavement resurfacing along the bottom 3.15 miles of Soquel-San Jose Road, from Soquel Drive to Laurel Glen Road.

The exact start date for this project has not yet been determined, and will be dependent on when the State makes the funds available.

Community Meetings

In 2022 we are hosting monthly in-person hybrid meetings at rotating locations throughout the First District on the second Thursday of every month. Upcoming meetings include:

Soquel Town Hall
Thursday, April 14: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Hybrid Meeting: In-person at Porter Memorial Library, 3050 Porter St., Soquel, or virtual https://zoom.us/j/96708318897

Prospect Heights Neighborhood Town Hall
Thursday, May 12: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Hybrid Meeting: In-person at DeLaveaga Elementary School, 1145 Morrissey Boulevard, Santa Cruz, or virtual https://zoom.us/j/96708318897

Want to speak to us sooner? We invite you to give us a call at (831) 454-2200 or email us at first.district@santacruzcounty.us.

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Supervisor Koenig hosts monthly office hours at the Sheriff Center in Live Oak on the first Wednesday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. The Sheriff Center is located at 5200 Soquel Ave. in Live Oak, and the 1st District office is on the first floor, directly to the left after entering the main entrance.