Wrapping up 2015

By Bruce McPherson, County Supervisor 5th District

As we head to a close of 2015, I want you to know that it has been a tremendous honor to serve on the Board of Supervisors over the last three years. I know that we’ve accomplished many significant things together – from securing a site for a new Felton Library, adding more Sheriff’s deputies on our streets, and making our streets and Highway 9 safer.

I invite you to continue to work with me in the coming year. We live in one of the most beautiful, diverse and remarkable environments in the world and our remarkable community reflects that beauty and diversity. I know that by working together we can overcome any challenges.

Here are a few of the issues that I’ve worked on this past year and some that will continue to be addressed in 2016.

Felton Library Site

After pending for more than a decade, a land deal for the planned new Felton Library on Gushee Street was concluded in June between the County Board of Supervisors and the Verutti family.

In addition to the new modern library building site, the deal includes property along Bull Creek, which offers the possibility of an outdoor exploration area for children, native plant demonstration gardens and riparian walkway.

Meanwhile, the Library Joint Powers Board is considering a ballot measure for an approximate $50 parcel tax that would raise funds for the Felton Library and the other branches of the City-County system.

Electrical Rate Redesignation Is Sought

I am working with the Valley Women’s Club on a critical request to the California Public Utilities Commission to change the PG&E baseline designation for the San Lorenzo Valley.

The goal is to reduce the cost of electricity and reduce air pollution from woodstove smoke. Currently, due to the high cost of electricity, many San Lorenzo Valley residents use wood-burning stoves as their primary heat source, resulting in smoke particulate pollution.

The requested change in the electrical baseline designation would align San Lorenzo Valley with areas with similar average temperatures. It would also correct the inappropriate designation made years ago which effectively locked our costs to almost double the surrounding areas, in spite of our extremes of severe cold in the winter and heat in the summer.

Water District Merger Moves Forward

After failing to pass by one vote, the Lompico and San Lorenzo Valley Water Districts have agreed to try again to merge. We will know early in 2016 whether the formation of a $2.75 million assessment district is successful.

I want to credit the two water districts for sticking with this to solve a critical issue and express my appreciation for their committed efforts to resolve Lompico’s water problems.

Cannabis Cultivation Choices Committee

A 13-member Cannabis Cultivation Choices Committee was appointed by the Board of Supervisors, with the goal of recommending a new marijuana cultivation law for the Board of Supervisors to consider.

Known as C4, the committee has developed recommendations for protecting local control of cannabis cultivation and for licensing of micro cultivation sites. The committee has also asked for additional time to continue work on the policies.

San Lorenzo Valley Traffic Update

On the plus side, downtown Boulder Creek had new streetlights installed this year. On the minus side, traffic on Graham Hill, Mount Hermon, and Highway 9 was terrible last summer. Caltrans, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, and PG&E were completing infrastructure projects at the same time, projects that — as beneficial as they are for the community — caused daily frustration for drivers. I am working to avoid any more “perfect storms” of traffic projects in the future.

Work has started to develop a master plan for the Highway 9 corridor through San Lorenzo Valley. If approved for funding next spring, the plan will evaluate pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and automobile needs between Felton and Boulder Creek and will make San Lorenzo Valley infrastructure projects more competitive for funding.

Community Energy Choices Ahead

The Monterey Bay Community Power project that includes all 21 Counties and Cities in the region will reach a significant milestone by year’s end. A feasibility study will be completed which will allow us to consider assuming responsibility for providing electrical power to customers in partnership with PG&E. The County Board of Supervisors should be considering results of the study by early spring. For more information, please visit the project website – montererybaycca.org – or call my office which is leading the regional effort.

Working to Quiet The Sky

The FAA has responded to the noise impact complaints of the new NextGen flight paths with a work plan intended to demonstrate how seriously they are taking our local cry for relief. The FAA has agreed to investigate mitigations suggested by the local advocacy group, Save Our Skies, but has also made it clear that any adjustments would need to be tested before implementation, which takes a minimum of six months. In the near term, the FAA will investigate violations regarding flight altitudes, noise associated with jet breaking, and other so-called Class B airspace regulations that could be addressed in a much shorter timeframe.

However, many of us feel that the plan simply does not go far enough in addressing the impacts. Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona have introduced federal legislation that establishes an FAA process to mitigate noise impacts from recent flight path changes and would allow local airports and communities to be involved in future flight path decisions. The Senate is slated to vote on this legislation shortly.

Making Chronic Offenders Accountable

Congratulations to the Bob Lee Community Partnership for Accountability, Connection and Treatment, (PACT) a collaboration of the County and City of Santa Cruz, for receiving the California State Association of Counties 2015 “Challenge Award.” In the first year of the program, arrests and citations rates for PACT-intervened clients decreased by 70%, and ambulance rides to the hospital emergency room dropped by 80%. In 2016, the PACT program will be expanded to other hot spots, possibly Felton and Grants Park, where chronic offenders impact public safety and social services.

I look forward to 2016 and to your continuing support. I am honored to work on your behalf.