Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5

This fall, the Board Chambers at the Santa Cruz County Government Center (701 Ocean Street) will undergo long-planned renovations. While the work is underway, Board of Supervisors meetings will temporarily move to community venues around the county from September through December 2025. You can view the full 2025 Fall Schedule (available in English and Spanish) on the County’s website.

The next meeting will be held on September 30 at the Watsonville City Council Chambers (275 Main Street in Watsonville).

Then, on October 21, the Board will meet right here in District 5 at the Scotts Valley City Council Chambers (1 Civic Center Drive in Scotts Valley). I encourage District 5 residents to attend this meeting — it’s a convenient opportunity to see your local government in action or to share your thoughts during public comment, which begins at 9:00 a.m.

All meetings will continue to begin at 9:00 a.m. and will remain accessible online via Zoom (link and webinar ID available on page 1 of each agenda). Agendas are posted on the public portal. 

The renovation is funded by cable franchise fees, which by law can only be used for public access and broadcasting. When complete, the Board Chambers will include new seating, security features, and upgraded audio/visual systems to enhance both in-person and online participation.

If you are a property owner, keep a look out for an official ballot in the mail from the Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control Division. The ballot is asking you to decide on a proposed benefit to maintain and improve mosquito and vector control services in Santa Cruz County.  

Since 1993, the Division has protected public health by monitoring and controlling mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, and other vectors that spread disease. The current assessment fee has not increased in nearly 30 years and no longer keeps pace with rising costs and emerging threats — including the local detection of invasive mosquitoes capable of carrying diseases like Dengue and Zika.

The proposed increase — about $1 per month for a single-family home — would:

• Support rapid response to service requests related to mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, and other vectors
  
  
• Expand monitoring of native and invasive mosquitoes and the diseases they carry
  
  
• Fund testing of mosquitoes, ticks, and other vectors for diseases
  
  
• Provide inspections and advice to manage rodent infestations
  
  
• Strengthen community education to promote vector safety and disease prevention

Ballots must be received by November 4, 2025. You can return the ballots by mail using the enclosed prepaid envelope or hand deliver your ballot at the public hearing on November 4 at 9:00 a.m. before the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors at the Watsonville City Chambers (275 Main Street, Watsonville).

This is an important opportunity to protect local public health. Please take time to review your ballot and cast your vote. If you have any questions, please contact the Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control Division at (831) 454-2590. For more detailed information, see the Engineer’s Report (August 2025).

A state proposal that could have let AT&T stop providing landline service has been stopped in the California State Assembly. AB 470 sought to let phone companies ask the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to end their Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) duty—the rule requiring them to offer phone service to anyone in their service area.

Ending this obligation raised major concerns for rural communities like ours, which rely on landlines for 911 calls and communication during disasters and outages. On August 29, the bill was held in committee, meaning it didn’t get enough votes to move forward and is now dead for this session.

In August, I launched a free yard waste disposal program on Saturdays for unincorporated areas of District 5. Whether or not you took advantage of the free yard waste disposal days, I would like to hear from you! Would you use free yard waste disposal options? Did you use the program? Why or why not?

Please take this survey so we can evaluate interest and feedback about the program and better serve you moving forward. The survey will be available until 5:00 p.m. on September 22.

The County of Santa Cruz is asking residents to help shape the future by filling out a short survey that will guide the development of the County’s next Strategic Plan. From health and housing to safety, the economy, and the environment, the plan reflects what matters most to County residents. Please take a moment to share what matters most to you and what would make the biggest difference in your life and in your community. By completing a survey, you also have the chance to win a $50 gift card.

The survey is the first of several opportunities over the next year for residents to provide input on priority areas for the County’s 2026 – 2032 Strategic Plan. I will share other opportunities as they become available. It is important that every voice be heard, particularly individuals from historically underrepresented communities. To learn more about opportunities to get involved, visit the County’s website for the 2032 Strategic Plan.

Santa Cruz Public Libraries is seeking community input to shape their 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. During the months of September and October, Santa Cruz Public Libraries will be conducting surveys and focus groups to gather community feedback on its services, programs, and opportunities.

If you would like to help shape the work of the public libraries over the next three years, please complete a short online survey Individuals who complete the survey may enter a drawing for one of ten $50 gift cards.

On Thursday, November 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., I will be hosting a State of the Roads Town Hall in Ben Lomond at Highlands Park Senior & Community Center. The event will include a panel of representatives from the Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works – Transportation, Caltrans, and others.

We will provide an overview of current road improvement projects, future priorities, and tools for reporting and engagement. Stay tuned for more information!

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.

• October 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Boulder Creek Sheriff's Substation, 13210 Central Avenue, Boulder Creek)
• October 27 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Scotts Valley Library Community Room, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley)
• November 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Felton Office, 6062 Graham Hill Road, Suite A & B, Felton)
• December 17 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 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.

Read meeting agendas here as they become available. Upcoming meetings will take place at 9 a.m. until their conclusion on:

• September 30 (Watsonville City Council Chambers, 275 Main Street in Watsonville)
• October 7 (County Government Center Community Room, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz)
• October 21 (Scotts Valley City Council Chambers, 1 Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley) 

See the Fall 2025 Board of Supervisor Meeting Schedule for a full list of meeting dates and locations.

The District 5 Team
Supervisor Monica Martinez
Rae Spencer-Hill, Staff Analyst
J.M. Brown, Staff Analyst
Megan Renfrew, Staff Analyst

Contact us: fifth.district@santacruzcountyca.gov
or (831) 454-2200