Dear District 5 Residents,
This weekend marks five years since the CZU Lightning Complex Fire forever changed our community. We pause to honor the memory of the life lost, to acknowledge the hundreds of homes destroyed, and to recognize the resilience it has taken to rebuild and recover. For many, this anniversary is a deeply personal reminder of loss — and of the strength we have found in one another. Five years later, our community continues to recover and grow stronger. Many residents learned first-hand, and under difficult circumstances, the importance of home hardening and have taken action to make their homes and neighborhoods safer. Nearly 400 residents joined in the August free yard waste disposal program, an effort my office launched to help reduce wildfire fuel at no cost. We have also seen extraordinary growth in Firewise communities — from just five in August 2020 to 101 today — making Santa Cruz County third in the nation for the highest number of Firewise communities in a single county. This remarkable progress is due to neighbors and volunteers working together to reduce risk and prepare for the future. Since the CZU fire, the County has taken important steps to strengthen our emergency response and preparedness. The creation of the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience (OR3) has provided a dedicated team to help our community prepare for disasters, respond during emergencies, and assist with recovery. CruzAware now delivers accurate, real-time alerts during disasters, and the S.A.F.E.R. app offers one place to check evacuation information, shelter locations, and other critical updates. The County has expanded the availability of disaster service workers and improved coordination during emergencies — but there is still more to do. As your Supervisor, one of my top priorities is wildfire preparedness and ensuring that you have the tools and resources to protect your family, home, and neighborhood. Over the past six months, my focus has included: - Evacuation and Emergency Communications: Hosting town halls in partnership with local and state agencies for residents in hard-to-evacuate areas so they know when and how to evacuate and stay informed during an emergency.
- Hazard Mitigation: Securing funds to launch a free yard waste disposal program every Saturday in August at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station to help residents reduce wildfire fuels around their homes.
- CZU Rebuilding Process: Advocating for improvements to planning and permitting for CZU rebuilds and working one-on-one with residents to help them overcome roadblocks and complete their rebuilds.
While we continue to assist the remaining residents in rebuilding, we must also do everything we can to prevent the damage and trauma of another catastrophic wildfire. We are reminded time and again that you can never be too prepared. I encourage all residents to prepare now — sign up for CruzAware, know your evacuation zone, and take steps to reduce wildfire fuels around your home. If you have questions, my office is here to help connect you with resources and guidance. Above all, we honor the memory of all that was lost and the perseverance of those who continue to rebuild and protect what we love most about our community. In community, |
The Felton Public Library on August 16 will host an all-ages event to remember the 5th anniversary of the CZU Fire and honor our community and its resilience through art, story, music, and more. See the event page for more information. Event Details: Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025 Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Place: Felton Public Library (6121 Gushee Street, Felton)
|
In case you missed the June town hall, I am hosting a second town hall on August 23, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for Zayante and Lompico residents on emergency communications and evacuations. The town hall will include a panel of experts from local and state agencies including the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience, Zayante Fire Protection District, and CAL FIRE. This event is intended for those who were unable to attend the town hall held on June 21, 2025. The program and materials will be the same. The town hall is focused on Zayante and Lompico because these canyons have been identified as particularly challenging areas to evacuate. If you are a resident of these areas, I highly encourage you to attend so you are informed and ready to evacuate if needed. For more details and to share with others, download the event flyer. Plan on attending? You can attend without registering, but doing so helps us with planning. Click here to register. Event Details: Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025 Time: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Place: Zayante Fire House (7700 East Zayante Road, Felton)
|
Join me and the County of Santa Cruz Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services, on Wednesday, August 20 at 10:00 a.m. for a public opening ceremony for the Miller Property County Park in Boulder Creek. This beautiful space is now more accessible for our community to enjoy. District Five funds made this work possible, and I’m excited to see it become part of more people’s lives. Miller Property County Park, which spans over 400-acres, now features a recently updated formalized parking area, a new entry gate with updated signage, additional picnic tables, and new trash cans throughout. Future plans include the formalization of a rail system and a new loop trail. Miller Property plays an important role in protecting the region’s natural habitat and open space and part of the Kings Creek watershed. Event Details: Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Time: 10:00 a.m. Place: 16798 Kings Creek Road, Boulder Creek
|
Have a question for the Sheriff? The Sheriff’s Office invites community members to discuss current issues and trends in San Lorenzo Valley at upcoming town halls in Boulder Creek and Felton. See below for more details. Event Details: Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Place: Boulder Creek Fire Station (13230 Central Ave, Boulder Creek)
Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Place: Felton Public Library (6121 Gushee Street, Felton)
|
Ever wished your dog could enjoy the pool too? Now you can do it for a cause! On August 16, Santa Cruz County Parks is hosting the 10th annual Parks & Rex Doggie Pool Party. Tickets are available here, choose a dog swim session that works for you. This event will include great food, music, and fun in the pool for adults, children, and your dog too. Close out the summer by the pool with your furry friend while helping raise money for the Santa Cruz County Animal Services and local youth programs.
Event Details: Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025 Time: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Place: Simpkins Family Swim Center (979 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz)
|
We are now midway through my free yard waste disposal program and it’s off to a great start. Over 400 residents have used the service since the start of the program on August 6, resulting in a 140% increase compared to the yard waste delivered on the same weekends last year. I am encouraged to see such high turnout and the community’s interest in home hardening efforts, and hope people continue to utilize this service for the rest of the month. If you haven’t had a chance to participate, you still have three more Saturdays to take advantage of this opportunity to help reduce wildfire fuels at your home. Every Saturday through the rest of August, residents of the San Lorenzo Valley and unincorporated areas of Scotts Valley are eligible to dispose of yard waste at no cost at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station. You don’t need an appointment! If you are hauling your own yard waste, just be prepared to show proof of residency (such as driver’s license or utility bill) when you arrive at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station. If someone else will be delivering your yard waste, you'll need to provide a signed affidavit confirming they are hauling on your behalf. Transfer Station staff will collect and verify affidavits at the gate. A separate affidavit is required for each load. An affidavit is available for download here or you can request a printed version from my office. Each load is limited to two tons of materials from residential property. Tree waste – including rounds of wood – will be accepted but standard yard waste size and material restrictions apply (see FAQs). This program is offered in collaboration with Santa Cruz County Community Development & Infrastructure. If you have any questions, please reach out to my office at fifth.district@santacruzcountyca.gov. For more details on program requirements, please visit the program webpage and check out the FAQs.
|
I want to make sure residents are aware that PG&E is currently conducting targeted tree inspections in Santa Cruz County, including District Five, with the goal of helping to reduce wildfire risk and other outages caused by vegetation. In some cases, you may see PG&E’s contracted tree inspectors (certified arborists) in your neighborhood or on your property inspecting trees. If tree work is required, PG&E will notify property owners. If you have questions about PG&E’s tree inspection program, you can visit pge.com/trees, email PG&E at treesafety@pge.com or call 1-800-564-5080.
|
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. - August 25, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Scotts Valley Library Community Room, 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley)
- September 16, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (Felton Office, 6062 Graham Hill Road, Suite A & B, Felton)
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:
August 19
September 9 |
|
![[officialname]'s Newsletter Header Image](https://santacruzcounty-05-county-ca.web.fireside21.app/UploadedPhotos/TemplateImages/newsletter.png)
![[officialname]'s Signature](https://santacruzcounty-05-county-ca.web.fireside21.app/UploadedPhotos/TemplateImages/signature.png)
