Welcome to June everyone, the season of graduations, longer days and celebrations. I hope this newsletter finds you all well.
Happy Pride Month to all who celebrate. I was pleased to attend Illuminight 2026 at the County Government Center on June 1, where the building's exterior lights were illuminated in rainbow colors to mark the beginning of Pride Month. The rainbow lighting will remain in place throughout June in recognition and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.
I would love to see you at our next office hours slated for June 22nd at the Aptos Library (7695 Soquel Drive) from 5 to 6:30 pm. Please let us know if you can make it: RSVP here.
As I write this it is election day and as we anticipate the final returns, I commend everyone running for office for their courage and stamina. Whether complaints or compliments, we always appreciate hearing from you, so feel free to drop us an email or call.
Warmly, |
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Kimberly De Serpa
Second District Supervisor
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The former Par 3 property behind the Seacliff Inn in Aptos is slated for housing development and is in pre-application stage. This is the second developer that has been interested in this property. County staff is giving preliminary feedback before a formal permit will be filed. If you want more background on that stage of the process, you can find it on the County’s Pre-Application Services webpage here: Pre-Application Services webpage.
This site was included in the County’s Housing Element process as part of the state-required rezoning under California housing law. This happened through a public process in 2023 and 2024. The rezoning was required to ensure the County has enough capacity to accommodate the state's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the 2023-2031 planning period. The County's allocation is 4,634 housing units in the unincorporated area. We have completed about 279 units to date and are behind in our efforts.
What's currently being proposed at Par 3, tentatively named Village on the Green, will be two apartment buildings on the portion of the property closest to Highway 1. The early concept calls for approximately 225 affordable and workforce housing units with underground parking. The remainder of the property is proposed to have market rate townhomes and a 4-acre open space park to enjoy.
There’s more information about that on the County’s Housing Element webpage here: Housing Element.
In the meantime, you can also follow larger development proposals on the County’s Major Project Applications webpage here: Major Projects. |
Like many counties across California, Santa Cruz County is under real budget pressure right now. Costs keep rising, and state and federal funding cuts and shifts are making an already tight picture even tighter. We balanced this year’s budget, but it took one-time carryover money to do it, and our reserves are still below target. So, while this isn’t a crisis, it does mean we need to be especially careful as we head into next year’s budget hearings.
That pressure shows up in everyday issues people care about. Roads are a good example. Public Works staff recently reported it would take about $24 million a year just to maintain current pavement conditions, but actual annual resurfacing spending has averaged only about $5.1 million. Part of the reason that gap persists is that road funding has to compete with other major County obligations, including health and human services, public safety, and other core services people rely on every day. That doesn’t make the frustration any less real, but it does help explain why road work can feel so slow.
Another big issue ahead is Proposition 1, the statewide measure voters approved in 2024 that changes how some county behavioral health dollars can be used. Beginning in 2026-27, that shift is expected to move about $8 million, or roughly 30% of Santa Cruz County’s current behavioral health funding away from treatment and community services and toward housing and capital uses.
That’s the reality as we enter this budget season: real needs, limited dollars, and tough decisions about what can move forward now and what may have to wait.
June budget hearings: what you need to know
The proposed FY 2026–27 budget totals $1.29 billion, including an $844.1 million General Fund. It closes a projected $23 million gap using roughly $43 million in one-time funds, while eliminating 58 vacant positions and continuing a hiring freeze. There are no proposed layoffs, but this is still a very tight budget, and it leaves less room for surprises. I’ll be digging into the details, especially where budget choices affect core services for District 2 residents -- roads, public safety, health and behavioral health, parks, and basic constituent services.
Here is the link to the County's Budget webpage for more details: 2026-2027 Budget |
There’s a lot happening on the transportation front right now, and I know many of you are feeling it every day. Commutes have been tough, and the construction, detours, and traffic backups are understandably frustrating.
The current work on Highway 1 between Bay Avenue/Porter Street and State Park Drive is still underway and expected to wrap up in spring of 2027. That phase includes new auxiliary lanes, the new Capitola Avenue overcrossing that reopened February 1, and a new bike and pedestrian overcrossing at Mar Vista Drive. The Mar Vista overpass project should wrap up by years-end and be open to the public.
There is also another segment planned just to the south, between State Park Drive and Freedom Boulevard. That project would add auxiliary lanes and improvements, replace the two railroad bridges with pedestrian and bicycle bridges, widen the Aptos Creek bridge, build Segment 12 of the Coastal Rail Trail, and include some retaining walls and soundwalls. According to the Regional Transportation Commission, construction on that section could begin as early as 2026.
Along Soquel Drive, the County has also recently moved forward with the State Park Drive to Freedom Boulevard multimodal project as part of the larger Watsonville-to-Santa Cruz corridor effort. That work includes upgraded intersections and signals, new curb ramps and crosswalks, improvements to bike lanes, sidewalk upgrades, and road rehabilitation.
Taken together, these are major corridor investments aimed at improving safety, easing congestion, strengthening transit reliability, and making it safer for people walking and biking. None of that makes the day-to-day disruptions any easier right now, but it does help explain why so much work is happening at the same time and what the long-term goal is for the corridor.
You can find more updates on Highway 1 projects here or visit www.sccrtc.org for general information about all our transportation projects. |
Pajaro Valley Fire and CSA 48 consolidation LAFCO is continuing its review of the proposal to dissolve the Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District and annex the service area into County Service Area 48-Cal Fire. The goal is to restore three-person fire fighter staffing, which was reduced to two-person staffing in 2025 due to funding limitations, while keeping the local station and firefighters in place. LAFCO has also posted a parcel cost breakdown, financial analysis, timeline, and a recording of the May 26 community workshop here. I have been following this closely, have been in communication with fire leadership and community members.
New Leaf battery storage project heads to the state New Leaf Energy has notified the County that it intends to move out of the County permit process and seek approval through the California Energy Commission for its proposed battery energy storage project at 90 Minto Road, east of Watsonville. The County had been working on local safety requirements, including air monitoring, fire runoff containment, emergency response planning, noise limits, financial assurances, and underground utility lines. The state process still includes environmental review and public input, but it does shift the decision-making process away from the County. I’ll be watching this closely, because public safety, local input, and emergency response planning need to stay front and center.
At the federal level, Congressman Jimmy Panetta has introduced the Better Energy Storage and Safety Act, which would direct more federal research and coordination around battery storage safety, including fire prevention, early detection, and testing standards. That doesn’t answer every local concern, but it does show that the safety questions communities are raising are being heard beyond Santa Cruz County.
Measure Q grant recommendations — Board vote expected June 9 The first round of Measure Q community grant recommendations is moving forward. This first cycle drew strong interest, with more than 50 applications requesting about $8.9 million, and roughly $2.7 million available. The grants are intended to support projects related to water quality, wildfire resilience, habitat protection, and access to parks and open space. The Board is expected to take up the final recommendations on June 9, and I’ll be looking at how these dollars come back into communities in a visible and accountable way. More information is here.
Mar Vista turns 60
Congratulations to Mar Vista, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. From its roots as an elementary school to the TK-8 community it is today, Mar Vista has served generations of Aptos families. Thank you to the teachers, staff, students, alumni, and families who have helped make it such an important part of our community.
PVUSD & Watsonville Prep Students NorCal Champions! PV United 2013 Boys team, under the Pajaro Valley Youth Soccer Club, were crowned NorCal State Cup Champions after competing against top teams across Northern California in the Gold Division. Join me in celebrating these middle school athletes for their perseverance, determination, and success on the field.
Third Annual Pitch-In All County Cleanup Results 730 Volunteers 325 Bags of Trash
Approximately 7,247.50 pounds removed from streets, parking lots, walkways, and other public spaces.
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I had the chance to lead a conversation through the Friends of the Aptos Library on loneliness and aging. It’s one of those issues that can stay under the radar, but it matters. Feeling connected, having a sense of purpose, and knowing you’re part of a community all play an important role in people’s health and well-being.
For many older adults, that can get harder over time because of loss, health issues, mobility challenges, transportation barriers, or the digital divide. But loneliness is not an inevitable part of aging, and there are real ways we can support one another.
We talked about the value of simple, meaningful points of connection, senior centers, libraries, parks programs, volunteer opportunities, faith communities, and just checking in on neighbors. Sometimes the answer is a formal resource, and sometimes it’s simply making sure someone knows they’re not alone.
If this is something you or someone close to you is dealing with, a few local resources may be helpful:
Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County (831-427-5070) Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (831-454-7200) Family Service Agency of the Central Coast (831-423-9444) Santa Cruz County Parks programs (831-454-7901)
The key takeaway: Loneliness is common, but it is not inevitable. Compassionate, multi-level strategies that promote joy, meaning, contribution, and real connection can significantly improve well-being as we age.
If you or someone you know is struggling with ongoing depression or despair, support is available. In emergencies, call 988 for the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. |
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