Dear District 5 Residents,

The Board of Supervisors continued our budget hearings this week. County departments presented funding proposals for many programs ranging from health care to road infrastructure. I remain committed to prioritizing essential services while navigating this difficult financial landscape. See my budget update below for more information and check out my last newsletter to learn more, including how to give input.  

Below you will also find information about upcoming events and other announcements relevant to our district. I especially want to call your attention to two events that address critical issues in our community – fire preparedness and prevention, water conservation and quality, and climate change, among others.  

Next Tuesday, June 10, the County will hold a meeting in Ben Lomond to obtain input from the community on the Measure Q Vision Plan. Approved by voters in 2024, Measure Q provides funding for local projects for land management, which is critical to coexisting in our rural environment. Having your input to shape the vision of the project and inform the local priority areas will be vital to supporting the needs of our community.

As illustrated by the Hermon Fire today, there’s no such thing as being too prepared when it comes to emergency planning. To that end, on Saturday June 21, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and Office of Response, Recovery, and Resilience, will host a town hall at the Zayante Fire House for residents of the Zayante and Lompico. The event will focus on fire preparedness and evacuation routes in case of an emergency. If you live in these communities, I urge you to join us and learn more about how to stay safe during a fire.

Also, thank you to those community members who came to see me during Open Office Hours in Boulder Creek last week. I appreciate your input and the time you took out of your day to speak with me. The next In-District Office Hours will take place in Felton and Scotts Valley this month. For more details and to reserve an appointment, please, visit my website.

Monica Martinez

Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5

This week, the Board of Supervisors continued our annual budget hearings, reviewing funding proposals and challenges across many of our most critical departments. We heard presentations from:

• Health Services Agency (HSA)
• Human Services Department (HSD)
• Probation Department
• Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office
• Department of Parks, Open Space, and Cultural Services 
• Department of Community Development and Infrastructure 
• Capital Projects Division
• Water, Wildfire, and Wildlife Protection Act (Measure Q)

Across all these areas, we are facing difficult decisions due to limited resources, rising costs, and uncertainty in the federal and state budgets. This year, I’ve been especially focused on prioritizing essential services, protecting those most vulnerable, and ensuring that the choices we make today support long-term resiliency and responsible governance.

One particularly difficult issue is the potential loss of mental health treatment beds, which play a vital role in our behavioral health system. Many of these beds are operated by Encompass Community Services, where I previously served as CEO. To maintain public trust and avoid any perception of a conflict of interest, I will be abstaining from any votes or direction related specifically to Encompass contracts during this year’s budget process. Transparency and accountability matter deeply to me, and I believe this is the most ethical course of action to protect the integrity of the public process.

Our final day of budget hearings is scheduled for Monday, June 10. That’s when the Board decides how to handle the tough challenges we’ve discussed and adopt a preliminary budget. I remain committed to asking the hard questions, advocating for the needs of our community, and doing the work necessary to ensure a strong foundation for the future.

Thank you for continuing to engage and share your thoughts. I’ll keep you updated as we move forward

On Tuesday, June 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Santa Cruz County Parks will host a meeting at Highlands House in Ben Lomond to collect feedback from residents of the San Lorenzo Valley on the Measure Q Vision Plan. This initiative will fund a range of local projects to address critical environmental and community needs, including water conservation and quality, wildfire risk reduction, and the enhancement of parks, trails, and open spaces.

The meeting will be an open house format so feel free to drop in at any time and share your input on priorities for your local community. The meeting will include interactive stations, maps, and bilingual materials.

If you are unable to attend, you can provide your input by completing an online survey in English or Spanish, which is available until July 3, or attending a virtual meeting on Thursday, June 26 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm (agenda will be posted here).

Survey responses and feedback collected during the meetings will directly inform the Vision Plan, which will identify priority geographies, activities, and equity goals for Measure Q-funded projects.

Meeting Details:

Date:  Tuesday, June 10
Time:  5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Place: Highlands House (8500 CA-9, Ben Lomond)

Weigh In on Ocean Street Beautification

Join the City of Santa Cruz Economic Development & Housing staff on Tuesday, June 10 to discuss conceptual ideas for the upcoming Ocean Street Beautification.

This gateway into Santa Cruz, coming from Highway 17, is looking to solicit community feedback on future improvements to adjoining landscape areas for the sake of safety and aesthetics. The plan is expected to include elements of landscape improvement, public art installations, welcoming gateway signage, and improvements for lighting and overall pedestrian safety.

The project groundbreaking is expected in 2026, but your input will help inform City Council and the Arts Commission.

Meeting Details:

Date:  Tuesday, June 10
Time:  5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Place: Grant Street Park (150 Grant Street, Santa Cruz)

For more information about this project, please see the City’s project page. For questions, email Evelyn Long (elong@santacruzca.gov) or Dave McCormic (dmccormic@santacruzca.gov).

Although completion is a long way off, to expedite the work being done on the Newell Creek Pipeline on Graham Hill Road, construction will take place between the hours of 8:30am and 4pm weekdays during the San Lorenzo Valley School District summer break (June 9 through August 6). Road signs will be updated at least one week in advance to reflect any changes to the work schedule. 

Crews are currently nearing the Ponderosa Lodge driveway and are scheduled to cross it next week. From there, pipeline installation will proceed south along Graham Hill Road for approximately 3 miles. For more information on the pipeline project, including a map of impacted roads, see the City of Santa Cruz website.

Community Foundation Announces $2M Grants to Local Non-Profits

Help Maintain Our Trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains

To reduce wait time, we are now utilizing a reservation system. Click here to reserve a 15 minute time-slot in advance. Drop-in visitors are still welcome, and will be seen in order of arrival as time allows between or after reservations.

• June 16, 3:30 to 5 pm (Scotts Valley Library Community Room, 251 Kings Village Road)
• June 30, 5:00 to 6:30 pm (Felton Office, 6062 Graham Hill Road)  

The purpose of In-District Office Hours is to provide a convenient way for me to hear from you. However, if you have a problem that will require more than 15 minutes to discuss, or you cannot come during the times listed above, my office is happy to work with you to schedule another time meet. Contact my staff at fifth.district@santacruzcountyca.gov or by calling 831-454-2200.