Dear District 5 Resident, Spring has arrived early in the mountains! As we face record-breaking temperatures this week, it’s a good reminder that wildfire season is upon us.
Now is the time to start thinking about wildfire preparedness and home hardening—as I’m sure many of you already are. By acting early and working together, we can reduce our wildfire risk and strengthen our community’s resiliency.
I know it can be costly to create defensible space and clear away vegetation, so I hope you will participate in my free Green Waste Disposal Program, which kicks off at the end of the month. At no cost, you can dispose of yard trimmings and other green waste at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station. The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County is also offering a No-Cost Chipping Program. Learn more about these resources and more below.
In community, |
Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5 |
Green Waste Disposal Program Begins March 28 |
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My Green Waste Disposal Program is back! District 5 residents in the unincorporated areas are invited to dispose of yard trimmings and other green waste at no cost at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station. This is a great opportunity to reduce your wildfire risk, harden your home, and help protect your community. The program, which starts on March 28, runs on the last Saturday of each month from March to June from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more details on load limits, green waste size and materials restrictions, and more, check our website. This program is offered in collaboration with Santa Cruz County Community Development and Infrastructure and is funded with Measure K tax revenue. |
Firewise Kickoff & Home Hardening Education in District 5 |
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Supervisor Martinez speaks at the SLV Firewise Kickoff Meeting on February 28 at the Felton Community Hall. |
On February 28, I spoke at the San Lorenzo Valley (SLV) Firewise Kickoff where community members gathered to learn about the benefits of Firewise and the important role it plays in reducing our wildfire risk. In case you don’t know, Firewise is about collaboration—neighbors working together to reduce fire risk and protect their homes and community.
By creating defensible space, clearing vegetation, and implementing other home hardening efforts, neighborhoods are less likely to lose homes during a wildfire. Firewise communities also get access to wildfire safety training, planning tools, and guidance from fire professionals and forestry experts. In some cases, a recognized Firewise community may be eligible for certain insurance programs or incentives.
Since the CZU fire, Santa Cruz County has reached over 100 Firewise communities (over 7,500 homes), ranking third in the nation for the number of Firewise USA Recognized communities. If you would like to learn more about how your neighborhood can become a Firewise community, reach out info@slvfire.org or check out the SLV Firewise website.
Last weekend, I also joined CAL FIRE to speak at a neighborhood meeting for the Ocean Street Extension, which is a rural community near Graham Hill Road that includes several hundred residents. CAL FIRE discussed fire-preparedness and how to create defensible space. I hope to see more neighborhoods around District 5 coming together to discuss these important issues. Let’s continue to strengthen our resilience and create a community that is prepared and ready to face wildfire challenges. |
No-Cost Chipping: Registration Opens April 1 |
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Another free resource for helping to create and maintain defensible space is the No-Cost Chipping Program offered by the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County. Registration begins on April 1 and runs through April 30. This program helps homeowners who have cleared vegetation around their homes by providing curbside chipping of brush and small trees—making it easier to keep your property fire-safe.
Tonight (March 19) at 6:00 p.m., residents are invited to join an online presentation to learn about eligibility, the registration process, how to prepare piles for chipping, and others tips to create defensible space. For more information and to check the online map to see if you qualify for chipping, see rcdsantacruz.org/chipping. |
Remove Invasive Species Near You! Reduce Fire Risk and Restore Our Habitat |
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Image: French Broom growing in Boulder Creek. |
Did you know that removing invasive species like English Ivy and French Broom plays an important role in building fire-resilient communities? It also helps to restore our natural ecosystems, which support wildlife and biodiversity.
We are lucky to have so many great local resources about identifying invasive species, techniques for removal, and recommendations for how to restore habitats with native plants. Check out the Valley Women’s Club San Lorenzo Valley Native Habitat Restoration Program and the Resource Conservation District’s invasive plants resources for factsheets and videos on removing French Broom and other invasive weeds.
Interested in volunteering with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District to remove French Broom at the District’s Olympia Watershed property? Join a team of volunteers on Saturday, April 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For more information and to sign up, click here. |
To reduce wait time, we utilize 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. - April 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Highlands Park Senior & Community Center, 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond)
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 requires 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 to meet. Contact my staff at fifth.district@santacruzcountyca.gov or call 831-454-2200. |
Read meeting agendas here as they become available. Upcoming meetings will take place at 9 a.m. until their conclusion on: - March 24, 2026 (County Government Center, Community Room, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz)
- April 14, 2026 (County Government Center, Community Room, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz)
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