By Noel Smith
Zach Friend had a conversation with me about his first 100 days in office as the newly installed County Supervisor of the 2nd district.
“I have found that it’s difficult to change the world with limited resources,” said Friend wryly, “Most of our county is not incorporated. This means that county government has to provide law enforcement for half of the residents — roads and bridges and building permits for about 80 percent of our county — and the judicial system, county parks, as well as health & human services for all of the county … and that’s not everything we are responsible for.”
“Also it’s hard to gage success,” Friend continued, “We have to address both the urgent and the important. Those situations that are urgent need to be dealt with ASAP with the resources at hand. This is where our residents really can make a difference by alerting us to issues from pot holes to crime that affect our safety and our quality of life.”
“Important items need long term planning,” Friend pointed out, “This would include such things as repairing and improving a deteriorating infrastructure such as roads, bridges and sewer lines, assisting all affected parties in the economic development of areas such as the Ranch Del Mar Shopping Center and Aptos Village. We are also working to simplify building codes and zoning criteria to help make the county more agricultural, property and business owner friendly. These are the areas in which county government can make a difference that will affect all of us and our local economy.
Friend provided a list of 16 accomplishments for he and his staff during this first one hundred days:
- Held 13 open office hours in Aptos and Corralitos and 6 community meetings in Seacliff, La Selva Beach, Aptos, Watsonville and Pajaro Dunes.
- Written over a dozen columns in local papers and community newsletters and sent another five e-newsletters from our office informing residents of county happenings.
- Voted to bring nearly $700k in traffic and pedestrian improvements to the Aptos Village area
- Improved sidewalk and crosswalk safety along Clubhouse Drive and Rio Del Mar Elementary (Friend said this was in response to a resident taking the time to contact the county)
- Allocated funding for the rebuilding of a bridge damaged by a storm in Corralitos
- Held meetings to continue the undergrounding and median improvements in Seacliff
- Worked with County Planning on the streamlining of some zoning policies while working to improve and strengthen coastal zone language
- Voted to move forward with a library master plan that would significantly improve the Aptos and Capitola branch libraries while making improvements to the La Selva Beach branch
- Worked to bring increased enforcement and speed mitigations to Seascape (Also a response to a resident complaint)
- Began the process of improving agricultural zoning language for berry growers
- Set a public hearing date for the last step in the development of the Nisene-to-Sea trail
- Worked with Safeway on protecting small businesses in the proposed redevelopment project
- Worked with Sanitation District staff to create a timeline for Rio Del Mar Esplanade re-striping
- Addressed dozens of neighborhood road, noise, environmental and infrastructure concerns — all provided by calling/emailing our office
- Supported Treasurer Fred Keeley’s proposal for a property tax deferral for low-income seniors and the disabled.
“We know there is more,” said Friend, “But these are some of the highlights! It’s exciting to see what we can do together and I’m looking forward to working with you on the next 100 days and beyond!”