Agenda packet — Santa Cruz City Council, March 20, 2023 (part 3 of 3)

Follow the will of the voters!
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Leroy Elkin
31 Eastridge Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐1803 [email protected]

1.547
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Judy Cassada <expresso76 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 8:49 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9! Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Judy Cassada, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I hope this finds you well! I'm writing in strong support of moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. Close to 17th, we use this trail! I biked to work for 35+ years despite the inherent ‐ but PREVENTABLE ‐ dangers.

Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. It will give residents of Live Oak a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

Your time and consideration is greatly appreciated. Best wishes.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Judy Cassada
2239 Brommer St Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐3548 [email protected]

1.548
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Ron Burke <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 8:52 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Ron Burke, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail *next to the tracks* as soon as possible. My family looks forward to the availability of the trail with the promise of an electrically driven tram on the rail line.

With vastly increased RHNA counts for housing stipulated by the state housing element updates to the city’s general plan, any prospect of removing the rail would be foolish to the sustainable health of our county. High‐ density development requires high‐density modes of transportation.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Ron Burke
1525 47th Ave Capitola, CA 95010‐3802
[email protected]

1.549
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Tony Martin <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 8:52 AM
To: City Council
Subject: In SUPPORT of building the trail from Boardwalk to 17th Ave NOW!! I saw that again the building of the proposed and approved trail is again being fought.

I am so sick of this argument. Just BUILD THE TRAIL NOW THAT IS APPROVED PLEASE!! Thank you
Tony Martin
186 Clearwater Ct
Santa Cruz 95062

1.550
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Carmelita Austin Schreher <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 8:56 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Remove the rail and just have the trail
Enough of this wasted money! Buying right‐of ways, removal of trees, etc.

The rail trail as planned is too expensive and it will never happen from Davenport to Watsonville without astronomical cost in my lifetime!
I urge the city council to remove the rail and just plan for a sensible walking, biking, running trail.

C. Austin
Sent from my iPad

1.551
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Audra Homicz <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 9:06 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Audra Homicz, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail and rail!
Don’t back down to a small minded minority mindset. As a disabled person having the train option is imperative! Not everyone can ride a bike, even an electric one. Trail only is elitism and selfish. This should not even be back in the conversation… there was a vote and greenway lost. They don’t believe in democracy and the will of the masses… they are selfish elites with deep pockets that are insanely against rail and deride it as a Choo Choo train with zero imagination and ability to see the reality of rail being valid transportation.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Audra Homicz
512 Middlefield Dr Aptos, CA 95003‐3518 [email protected]

1.552
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Don Lauritson <donlauritson49 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 9:12 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Continue Progress - Approve Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Don Lauritson, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Please continue the rail trail progress we have made so far. Implementation is always hard and involves tradeoffs. This project will transform mobility in our community. Most people do not want to risk their lives and their children’s lives by riding bikes on our busy streets. The protected bike/pedestrian portion of the rail trail will provide a transportation option which the public wants and will use. The Arana Gulch bike/pedesrian trail is a proven example of this. Retention of the rail line will allow that option in the future to draw people out of their cars.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Don Lauritson
131 Abby Ct Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐1425
[email protected]

1.553
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Ronnie Trubek <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 9:32 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Ronnie Trubek, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail!
Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. It will give residents of Live Oak a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Ronnie Trubek
250 Estates Dr Ben Lomond, CA 95005‐9444 [email protected]

1.554
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Susie Stelle <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 9:40 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Susie Stelle, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Susie Stelle
4755 Topaz St Capitola, CA 95010‐3139
[email protected]

1.555
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of John and Rachel Williams <rachelam619 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 9:45 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is John and Rachel Williams, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Dear Mayor Keeley and the Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Rachel Williams, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

As a resident of Aptos (and rail just a 1/2 block from home) I continually see the benefits of the Rail & Trail which will address traffic, economic disparity, with added convenience. We support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail! Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. It will give residents of Live Oak a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Rachel Williams and Family
Aptos CA (Seacliff)
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,

1.556
2 John and Rachel Williams
224 Poplar St Aptos, CA 95003‐3555
[email protected]

1.557
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Mary Flodin <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:13 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Mary Flodin, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I believe that we, the people, already voted to keep the rail and move forward with building the rail trail. I find it deeply offensive and troubling that the a heavily financed special interest group is still trying to conflate and obstruct this important public project.

Keep the rail. Build the trail now. Please.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Mary Flodin
140 Heath St Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐5841
[email protected]

1.558
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Scott Miller <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:15 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Scott Miller, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Scott Miller
645 Hadley Ave San Jose, CA 95126‐1921
[email protected]

1.559
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Marc Destout <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:14 AM
To: City Council
Subject: I thought this was already decided. Continue with the project. Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9. I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail!
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Marc Destout, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Marc Destout
1040 N Branciforte Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐1012 [email protected]

1.560
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Gary Greene <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:28 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Gary Greene, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Dear Mayor Keeley and the Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Gary Greene, and I support the rail trail project. During your meeting on Monday March 20th I would appreciate it if you would support moving ahead on the Rail Trail segments keeping in mind that future transportation options need to include rail transport.

I am in support of moving ahead on building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as feasible. I also feel that the rails should be left in place and that future use of these rails continue to be considered. It seems to me that the present effort to remove the rails is going against the wishes of the voters for the benefit of those that do not want any form of rail transport in the future. To me, this is short term thinking as many of us older people would use such a rail service to travel between Santa Cruz and Watsonville and farther.

Please keep in mind during your decision making process those of us (~73% of the voters) that voted for both rail and trail prefer to have the rails stay and that consideration for a future form of rail transport move ahead as planned. Thank you for support the Rail Trail and you sincere efforts to improve upon active transportation for Santa Cruz County.

Respectfully yours,
H. Gary Greene
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Gary Greene
795 Rider Ridge Rd Santa Cruz, CA 95065‐9606 [email protected]

1.561
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Kristin Bradham <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:55 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Kristin Bradham, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there are still efforts to stop the rail trail, but I really am. The public clearly wants the rail trail and the efforts of a few privileged people who don't like the trail or public transportation keep holding things up. Please don't listen to this nonsense, we want the rail and the trail. Their "alternative" plans while pretending to be in the public interest are just thinly veiled attempts to hold up construction.

Please let construction proceed on the trail!
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Kristin Bradham
22 Mary Case Ln Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐4800 [email protected]

1.562
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Andrew Hall <freestyle89 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:59 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Andrew Hall, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Andrew Hall
115 Lighthouse Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐6155 [email protected]

1.563
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Sally Andrews <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 11:13 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Sally Andrews, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Sally Andrews
302 Otis St Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐3554
[email protected]

1.564
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Joe Williams <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 11:28 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Joe Williams, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Joe Williams
3605 Garden St Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐3222 [email protected]

1.565
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Tarita Noronha <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 11:34 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Tarita Noronha, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail!
WE VOTED FOR IT. These days need to stop and the will of the people need to start.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Tarita Noronha
1555 Lincoln Ave Capitola, CA 95010‐3852 [email protected]

1.566
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Melody Sharp <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 11:34 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Melody Sharp, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Melody Sharp
3395 N Polo Dr Aptos, CA 95003‐4129
[email protected]

1.567
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Melody Sharp <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 11:36 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Please don’t stop progress
We approved this 25 years ago. We voted 70% to continue awhile back. Please don’t let greenway waste any more time
Melody Sharp
831‐685‐8318
Melodysharp.com

1.568
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of William Prouty <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 12:02 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is William Prouty, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
William Prouty
1006 Sumner St Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐2542 [email protected]

1.569
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Brad Burkhart <bradburkhart13 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 12:07 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Brad Burkhart, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Brad Burkhart
207 Pennsylvania Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐2429 [email protected]

1.570
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Felix Vayssieres <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 1:07 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Felix Vayssieres, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Felix Vayssieres
1957 Encina Dr Apt B Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐1994 [email protected]

1.571
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of eric richter <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 1:14 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is eric richter, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I strongly support moving forward with building the Rail Trail as designed and planned, next to the tracks, as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail!
Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. It will give residents of Live Oak a much safer bike route across the City of Santa Cruz and a much more efficient, safer connection to other local communities.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
eric richter
4622 Fairway Dr Soquel, CA 95073‐3037
[email protected]

1.572
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Jane Bruce-Munro <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 1:45 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Jane Bruce‐Munro, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I strongly support going forward to build the Rail Trail next to the tracks ASAP.

I live in Live Oak, and I and plenty of my neighbors would happily use the trail to get to downtown Santa Cruz.

A huge majority voted for the Rail and Trail when they rejected Measure D in June 2022.

Connecting Santa Cruz to Live Oak creates safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. * It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters: 73% voted for both Rail and Trail. * Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail is available to today and for future generations. * Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can have electric passenger rail for the whole county.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Jane Bruce‐Munro
2627 Mattison Ln Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐1942 [email protected]

1.573
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of James Duffy <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 1:56 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Support for the rail trail project as designed:

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is James Duffy, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

My name is Jim Duffy and I have lived in Live Oak since 1975. I support the rail trail project as designed. The Simpkins Swim Center is a valuable resource for our community. The project will provide our County citizens a safe and efficient manner to access the Swim Center. Moreover, the project will ensure that we move forward with electric passenger rail to further serve our entire community. On Monday March 20, 2023, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 and 9. Thank‐you.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
James Duffy
916 Paget Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐4164 [email protected]

1.574
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of F.John LaBarba <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 1:59 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is F. John LaBarba, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Before I use The stock response from the Rail Trail enthusiasts, I'd like to reiterate something to you all.

The Greenway folks were instrumental in having the public vote being taken during a primary voting sesson, and not the major voting sesson held in November. This was done intentionally, because the voter turn out is historically lower then. This, they figured, would give them a greater edge to push their agenda. That strategy did not work, and the county voters made their voice clear by close to 70% in favor of the Rail Trail. That alone should be reason enough to push foreword with segments 8 & 9. Please lets get this project done and end the perpetual complaining by the opposition.

My wife and I have lived in Santa Cruz for 50 years, and I have run a business here for 44 years. Getting rid of the rail option is nothing more than an asinine conception.

There are a lot of folks who bought property adjectent to the rail line, and in some cases, paid less for their property because of this. Now with the conception on perpetual rail traffic, they have become some of the most vocal NIMBY's with the Greenway crowd.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

1.575
2 Sincerely,
F. John LaBarba
741 Redwood Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐1274 [email protected]

1.576
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Brandon Kett <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 2:23 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail trail segments 8 & 9
Dear Mayor Keeley and Santa Cruz City Council,

I have been a Watsonville resident for 64 of my 70 years, and I am grateful that the City of Santa Cruz's planning department is in support of the RTC's plan to build segments 8 & 9 of the rail trail.

I ask that you vote to approve this next step in connecting Watsonville to Santa Cruz with both rail and trail. The voters of our county rejected the measure D proposal to create a trail only. That measure was short sighted and did not consider the folks in the Pajaro Valley who work in Santa Cruz and are stuck in gridlock traffic‐‐a rail system can work.

Please support the RTC plan. Thank you.

Sincerely, Brandon Kett
339 Cutter Lane
Watsonville, CA 95076
831‐818‐2139

1.577
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Alexander Mahshi <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 2:24 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Alexander Mahshi, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Additionally, and as previously mentioned, the voters have already made their voices heard loud and clear on their position in terms of having both rail AND trail. Please do not entertain the Greenway obstructionists plans to usurp this project and ignore the voters will. As we know Greenway wants everything their way only instead of sticking with the compromise which voters approve that will be a win for everyone. This is also a personal attack against Roaring Camp as well which is unacceptable . Again, the voters in Santa Cruz have spoken, so this should be a non‐issue to move forward with the current approved plan.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Alexander Mahshi
3651 West Way Sacramento, CA 95821‐2703 [email protected]

1.578
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of GERY PATTON <gpatton985 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 2:38 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is GERY PATTON, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I have lived in our area sense 2009 due to a job transfer and like is here so well I remained after I retired.

Please allow the Rail Train project to be completed. It will be a positive addition to our community and a safe place to enjoy. It will also provide additional activity to the Roaring Camp Railroad if the participants don't want to ride the train.

Thank you
Gery Patton
[email protected]
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
GERY PATTON
211 Hope St Unit 1363 Mountain View, CA 94042‐8811
[email protected]

1.579
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Neil Waldhauer <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 2:38 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thanks for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 and 9 Dear Mayor Keeley and the Santa Cruz City Council,
I want to see the Rail and Trail move forward quickly. Please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 and 9.

I will be using it as soon as it is open.
best regards,
Neil Waldhauer
130 Serra Ct.

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.580
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Patricia Beardsley <summercrone21 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 2:46 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Segments #8 and #9 of Rail & Trail Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Patricia Beardsley, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and our community will use this trail!
Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz where I live to Live Oak, where my family lives giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. It will give my family and their neighbors in Live Oak a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz. * It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters, 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

This is very important to me personally and also important to all of us who voted for this improvement to our ability to navigate this area safely.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Patricia Beardsley
110 Lindberg St Apt 306 Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐7616 [email protected]

1.581
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of David Moody <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 2:53 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is David Moody, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
David Moody
659 Nobel Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐3119
[email protected]

1.582
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Eric Ressler <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 3:17 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Eric Ressler, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Eric Ressler
1014 Sumner St Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐2542 [email protected]

1.583
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of John Detlefs <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 3:21 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is John Detlefs, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
John Detlefs
225 Goss Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95065‐1230
[email protected]

1.584
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: THOMAS MOTTER <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 3:30 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail/Trail
The voters of Santa Cruz County have spoken. The Proposition to tear out the tracks and build only a trail was voted down by a Three-to-One Margin. We either have a Democracy or we don't. Why bother with a vote if the Oligarchs are going to be given the final word at the end of the day anyway? Build the Rail AND Trail NOW! The obstructionists, and their deep pocket friends, have had their way long enough!
Tom Motter
300 Escalona Drive
Capitola, CA

1.585
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Thomas Langan <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 3:42 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Thomas Langan, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Please, move forward with the rail trail project. We've held numerous votes, meetings, commissions, etc.

Stop letting those who oppose the rail stonewall this project. They lost the vote, again. It should have been completed years ago.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Thomas Langan
3040 Roland Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐4328 [email protected]

1.586
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Ryan Meckel <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 3:43 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Ryan Meckel, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Ryan Meckel
180 Dakota Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐6606 [email protected]

1.587
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Paweena Langan <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 3:43 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Paweena Langan, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Please, move forward with the rail trail project. We've held numerous votes, meetings, commissions, etc.

Stop letting those who oppose the rail stonewall this project. They lost the vote, again. It should have been completed years ago.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Paweena Langan
3040 Roland Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐4328 [email protected]

1.588
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Terry Ryan <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 4:08 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Terry Ryan, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Terry Ryan
781 Eddy Ln Eddy Lane Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐2810 [email protected]

1.589
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Paul Wilcox-Baker <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 4:35 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Paul Wilcox‐Baker, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

It is vital to retain the rail line through Santa Cruz. This should be a valuable transportion option. As a regular visitor to Santa Cruz, I would greatly prefer train travel from San Francisco or Oakland to the somewhat scary highway 17 bus ride. Rail transportation uses one third of the energy of road transportation and can easily be electrified for zero emissions. Make sure we keep our rail options open.

Thanks, Paul.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Paul Wilcox‐Baker
140 A Langton St San Francisco, CA 94103‐4544 [email protected]

1.590
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Richard Mick <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 5:32 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8&9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Richard Mick, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Please don't allow further obstacles to disrupt the construction of the RaiI Trail. I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail! Thank you,
Richard J. Mick
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Richard Mick
119 Wilkes Cir CA95060 Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐5931 [email protected]

1.591
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Antonia teresa AmoreBroccoli <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 5:51 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Antonia teresa AmoreBroccoli, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Antonia teresa AmoreBroccoli
2655 Brommer St Spc 45 Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐3501 [email protected]

1.592
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Juan Speckert <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 7:05 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Juan Speckert, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Juan Speckert
1009 Lewis Cir Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐4350 [email protected]

1.593
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Debbie Bulger <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 7:24 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Let's build Segments 8 & 9
Dear Councilmembers,
I am looking forward to walking and biking on Sections 8 and 9 of the rail trail and hope these sections can be completed ASAP.

Currently I take a much longer route when traveling to Simpkins. The rail trail will be safer and faster.

Thanks for moving quickly on this important active transportation project.

Debbie Bulger

1.594
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Eve Roberson <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 7:42 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Eve Roberson, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Eve Roberson
609 Frederick St Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐2232 [email protected]

1.595
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Andrea Hesse <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 7:48 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Andrea Hesse, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Andrea Hesse
102 Mesa Ln Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐5212
[email protected]

1.596
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Russell Weisz <russweisz1 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 7:56 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Russell Weisz, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I strongly support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail!
Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. It will give residents of Live Oak a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Russell Weisz
319 Laguna St Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐6109 [email protected]

1.597
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: E. Hansen <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 8:00 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Environment Consciousness is Dulled and Diluted when Spuriously Used Council Members,
Please continue to move forward with building the Rail Trail next to the existing Rail Line as supported by the State of California grant funding and purchase for the County with state tax dollars.

Segments 8 & 9 will provide a bicycle and walking alternative to sidewalks and bike lanes that traverse parallel routes. Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county, which was the social contract made with the constituents of California and South County residents in garnering support towards the purchase of the rail line.

There will always be special interest groups who focus on their singular life quality issues of privacy afforded by a thicket of trees or exclusion of others from a public property dedicated to multi modal uses.

Claims of environmental damage, loss of heritage trees or protection of endangered species is a spurious argument that does disservice to those issues when they are truly at threat. When used at every opportunity to obstruct, delay and prevent that which a minority dislikes, our combined environmental consciousness is dulled and diluted.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Erik Hansen
Santa Cruz County Resident

1.598
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Thomas Liao <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 8:21 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Greenway Obstruction of Rail And Trail Project Hello,
I have become aware that Greenway and Trail Now is once again trying to obstruct progress on our rail line. I strongly urge you to continue construction as planned (or even better accelerate construction!). If possible, it would be good to implement some way to stop Greenway from continuously adding these frivolous delays into the Rail and Trail Project.

These constant obstructions of public will are wasting taxpayer money and enabling corporate interests to dictate what the community gets.

Thank you for your time!
Best regards,
Thomas Liao

1.599
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of bob scowcroft <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 9:04 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is bob scowcroft, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Dear Mayor Keeley,
My Name is Bob Scowcroft and I wish to support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail! While this message has components of the language recommended by the Friends of the Rail Trial. I couldn't express my support any better than using their words. Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. It will give residents of Live Oak a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz. * It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

This is one of those long term initiatives that I've watched unfold for most of the entire 35 years I've lived here. Now is the time to act not obstruct.

Green means go!!
Good Luck,
Bob Scowcroft
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
bob scowcroft
142 Hammond Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐1153 [email protected]

1.600
2 1.601
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of J M <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 9:22 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is J M, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Do not let GW's special interests derail our rail trail efforts.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
J M
308 River St Unit E34 Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐2758 [email protected]

1.602
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Kathleen Smith <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:04 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Kathleen Smith, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Smith
215 Danube Dr Aptos, CA 95003‐2808
[email protected]

1.603
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Catherine Hoeft <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:11 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Catherine Hoeft, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Catherine Hoeft
125 Old Mill Ave Felton, CA 95018‐8919
[email protected]

1.604
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of John Coha <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 11:36 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Asking for your approval of Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is John Coha, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. As a dedicated cyclist in Santa Cruz for 50 years, l will use this trail! Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak. It will give residents of Live Oak a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian / bicycle connection that will make bicycling, running and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters, 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us, our children, and grandchildren.
* Leaving the tracks next to the trail will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county, for those people who need to go longer distances or can't walk or ride bicycles * Please don't be fooled by the opponents who want to remove the tracks. I see no benefits to the public by removing the tracks. Their argument that there will be a fence that will divide the community is totally bogus, as there are already fences all along that route that define the edges of private property adjacent to the Rail Trail right‐of‐way.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
John Coha
209 Mountain Way Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐3018 [email protected]

1.605
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Duane Dietz <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 11:48 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Duane Dietz, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Duane Dietz
430 Plateau Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐6353 [email protected]

1.606
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Raymond Rauch <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 1:00 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Raymond Rauch, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Raymond Rauch
550 W Plumb Ln Ste B136 Reno, NV 89509‐3468 [email protected]

1.607
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Steven Schieffer <rmbl2010 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 7:23 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Steven Schieffer, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Sincerely,
Steven Schieffer
444 Whispering Pines Dr Spc 136 Scotts Valley, CA 95066‐4759 [email protected]

1.608
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Mike Landers <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 7:53 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Mike Landers, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Mike Landers
345 14th Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐4819
[email protected]

1.609
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Linda Rosewood <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 8:28 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail Trail and the Trees
Dear Council members,
I read in the Local that some of my neighbors are concerned about the trees that will be removed for the Trail from Beach to 17th.

Let's think in the long term: the Trail will exist forever. The trees will grow back in 20 years, at most. The Trail means we don't have to be sitting in cars burning gas.

Let's understand of these "climate" concerns as what they really are:
desperate attempts to interfere with what a majority of Santa Cruzans want: a county‐wide Rail and Trail.

Linda Rosewood

1.610
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: pat mcveigh <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 8:30 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail trail segments 8 and nine
It is difficult to understand how the interim plan is still in consideration the ultimate plan has been followed in past segments, and there is no reason to deviate from that at this point. Please consider approving the rail trail, segment even with removal of trees, many of which are not heritage trees. The rail trail needs to be completed once, and for all without further contention. It has been viewed. It has been reviewed. It has been brought to the public now let’s get on with it.

Thank you
Patricia Mc Veigh
95065
Have a good day
Have a good day

1.611
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Phillip Taylor <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 8:38 AM
To: City Council
Cc: Phillip Taylor
Subject: Rail Trail Segment 9
Dear Councilmembers
I want to voice my strong support for preserving the most trees along the current rail line of segment 9, implementing the “Interim Plan” for the trail, while preserving the possibility of an eventual rail line on this city and county asset.

Thanks,
Phillip Taylor

1.612
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Gloria H Wells <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 8:40 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Gloria H Wells, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible.

My family and I will use this trail ‐ my son often runs/bikes in this area, and he will use it often.

Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

Let's keep moving forward, on what the voters unanimously approved! Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Gloria H Wells
2905 Old San Jose Rd Soquel, CA 95073‐9724 [email protected]

1.613
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Karin Grobe <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 8:44 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail trail—Interim plan
I favor the interim plan. The ultimate plan calls for too many tree removals and habitat destruction.

Karin Grobe
Sent from my iPad

1.614
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Linda Wiles <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 8:51 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Linda Wiles, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Dear Mayor Keeley and the Santa Cruz City Council,
My name Linda Wiles, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

I ride my bike to and from work on a regular basis. Let's keep this rail trail moving forward NOW! I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail!
Thank you for for your support in improving alternative transportation in Santa Cruz County! Sincerely,
Linda Wiles
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Linda Wiles
518 Ocean St Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐6627
[email protected]

1.615
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Judith Rohrbaugh <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:07 AM
To: City Council
Subject: countywide vote said RAIL!
How does the City react to Greenway trying to sabotage the overwhelming County yes vote for rail? How would the county honor it's promise if the rail is interrupted going through the City of Santa Cruz? This makes no sense and is a snub or worse, illegal, against all who voted yes for rail. Please move forward with the approved plan and honor the citizens' vote.

Judith A. Rohrbaugh

1.616
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Ann Hubble <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:13 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Support for Approved Rail Trail Plan
No more delays, the voters spoke up in November. I look forward to riding the trail! Please approve the rail trail plan and let's get started! Many thanks,
Ann Hubble
118 Melrose Avenue
Santa Cruz

1.617
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Jonathan Benko <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:13 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Jonathan Benko, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail to access Live Oak Beaches, and the farmers market. I have to assume this is our best shot to get this trail right… let’s get it right the first time.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Benko
114 Plum St Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐3412
[email protected]

1.618
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Judith Rohrbaugh <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:17 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9. Honor the citizens who voted 73% yes for Rail plus Trail Countywide.

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Judith Rohrbaugh, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Judith Rohrbaugh
1860 Via Pacifica Apt 1210 Aptos, CA 95003‐5874 [email protected]

1.619
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Jean Brocklebank <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:24 AM
To: City Council
Cc: Bonnie Bush
Subject: Special Meeting of 3/20/23 - public comment
Dear City Council Members ~
Since Segment 8 does not involve the felling of trees and watercourse crossings that are the hallmarks of the extensive and unmitigable significant environmental damage planned for Segment 9, please separate Segment 8 from Segment 9, to create two separate motions. Doing so will allow Segment 8 of the Rail Trail to move forward to construction. In other words, we suggest the following:
• Approve the Design Permit, Slope Modification/Variance and Watercourse Variance for Segment 8 only. • Do not approve the Design Permit, Slope Modification/Variance and Watercourse Variance for Segment 9. • Regarding Segment 9, approve the Optional First Phase only of the Proposed Project, as shown in Table 3.3‐8 of the FEIR, excluding Phase 2 and 3, which may be included in a separate EIR for a future electric passenger rail project.

Our reasons for this division are based on the fact that every environmental impact pertains only to Segment 9, none for Segment 8. Read its Statement of Overriding Considerations on page 65 of the 66 page Statement of Overriding Considerations found in the FEIR, where the City admits:

1. The Project would have an adverse effect on scenic resources and vistas through the removal of mature trees. Impact to Scenic Resources and Vistas (Impact AES‐‐1).

2. The Project would be inconsistent with policies that pertain to tree and vegetation removal. Impact to Policies Pertaining to Tree and Vegetation Removal (Impact AES‐2).

3. The Project could adversely affect monarch butterfly and autumnal and/or wintering roost sites. Impact to Monarch Butterflies (Impact BIO‐‐2).

4. The Project would interfere with wildlife movement. Impact to Wildlife Movement (Impact BIO‐‐11).

5. Cumulative development may result in significant cumulative aesthetic impacts. The Project’s contribution would not be cumulatively considerable except for cumulative impacts to scenic quality due to the removal of mature trees. Cumulative Aesthetics Impact (Impact AES‐‐C).

6. Cumulative development would result in significant cumulative biological resources impacts. The Project’s contribution would be cumulatively considerable. Cumulative Biological Resources Impact (Impact BIO‐‐C).

Every one of those 6 major environmental impacts listed above pertain only to Segment 9.

According to Table 3.3‐8 of the FEIR, the Optional 1st Phase Interim Trail saves a minimum of 257 trees, of which 56 are Heritage or Significant trees, and 32 are native Heritage or Significant trees. The reason we say "minimum" is that by reducing the Interim 16' trail width down the corridor to the 12' width of the Proposed Project Ultimate Trail, many more trees could be saved.

1.620
2 Additionally, the RTC has finally commenced an official feasibility study of electric passenger rail in the corridor that will be available next year. In addition to the trains themselves, the study will assess the placement and impacts of building sidings, stations and parking. Shouldn't we wait until the study is complete, and reviewed, so we know whether such a passenger rail system is feasible for this corridor? More importantly, concerning the Optional First Phase Interim Trail and Alternative 2 (Interim Trail), the EIR assumes that it would be 20 ‐ 25 years before passenger rail is a reality. Yet, the impacts of removing the Interim Trail and building the Ultimate Trail are treated as a given, even though a train system is not yet designed or engineered! The EIR is all about impacts of building a trail, not of providing passenger rail service with all its required infrastructure of sidings, stations and parking, etc.

Furthermore, continuing on page 65 of the Statement of Overriding Considerations, the City states:
"... the City hereby finds that the following legal, economic, social and environmental benefits of the Project outweigh its unavoidable adverse impacts and render them acceptable ..." The City then lists these benefits, as though they apply only to the proposed project (Ultimate Trail) and not also to the Optional First Phase Interim Trail and Alternative 2:
a. The implementation of the Proposed Project would provide a continuous public trail with continuity in design along the Santa Cruz Branch Line railroad corridor and provide a connection to various spur trails in Santa Cruz County, consistent with the approved Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail (MBSST) Master Plan and City and County goals and policies to provide additional recreational opportunities including the rail trail. b. The Proposed Project would increase active transportation facilities and recreation facilities and improve accessibility and connectivity within the and the greater Santa Cruz region. c. The Proposed Project would develop the trail so future rail transportation along the corridor is not precluded, consistent with the MBSST Master Plan;
d. Implementation of the Proposed Project would maximize ocean views and scenic coastal vistas along a coastal alignment for experiencing and interpreting the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, consistent with goals and policies of the California Coastal Commission and State Parks and Recreation Department. The Project would follow the coastal alignment of the rail corridor and provide educational and interpretive signage about the marine sanctuary and natural resources, including special‐status plant and wildlife species such as the Santa Cruz tarplant, monarch butterfly, and San Francisco dusky footed woodrat.
e. The Proposed Project would maximize safety and serenity for experiencing and interpreting the sanctuary and landscapes by providing a trail separate from roadway vehicle traffic. f. The Proposed Project would utilize lands owned by various government entities to develop the trail, in order to minimize taking private property, and Segment 9 is almost entirely within the RTC right‐of‐way.

Now let us consider one final fact. On page 9 of the Overriding Considerations, the statement is made that "the Proposed Project would be consistent with applicable greenhouse gas reduction plans" with no mitigation required:
 "Findings and Rationale – The project would result in a net decrease in GHG emissions by implementing alternative transportation infrastructure to decrease regional VMT. The Project would contribute to an ongoing net decrease in GHG emissions and would be an investment in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the City and County by implementing two segments (Segments 8 and 9) necessary for the completion of the MBSST Network."

1.621
3 Please note that the Optional First Phase Interim Trail and Alternative 2 would do all of the above and do it without deforesting the corridor (saving a minimum of 257 trees, of which 56 are Heritage or Significant trees, and 32 are native Heritage or Significant trees), without removing wildlife habitat in the vegetative understory, without interfering with wildlife movement, without building retaining walls and bridges over stream crossings and without destruction of Monarch butterfly overwintering opportunities. In addition, they would preserve nesting, resting and roosting use by multiple avian species, including the newly emerging Bald eagle inventory.

Rather than building an environmentally inferior trail (the Proposed Project) before we know whether the dream of passenger rail in the corridor is even possible, let us err on the side of caution, protect the environment and build the Optional First Phase Interim Trail in Segment 9.

In summary, we ask you to do the following:
• Approve the Design Permit, Slope Modification/Variance and Watercourse Variance for Segment 8 only. • Do not approve the Design Permit, Slope Modification/Variance and Watercourse Variance for Segment 9. • Regarding Segment 9, approve the Optional First Phase only of the Proposed Project, as shown in Table 3.3‐8 of the FEIR, excluding Phase 2 and 3, which may be included in a separate EIR for a future electric passenger rail project if a rail project proves to be feasible.

Sincerely,
Jean Brocklebank and Michael Lewis
On behalf of Save Santa Cruz Trees

1.622
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of George Milder <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:40 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is George Milder, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
George Milder
552 Bean Creek Rd Spc 57 Scotts Valley, CA 95066‐3331 [email protected]

1.623
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:41 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail trail
Please approve the “ultimate” version of the rail trail, not the interim. This would result in a faster completion and ultimately a much cheaper and better project.

Thank you.

Sent from my iPhone

1.624
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Terry McClintock <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:51 AM
To: City Council
Cc: Fred Keeley; Sonja Brunner; Scott Newsome
Subject: Support for the Ultimate Rail Trail Plan
Dear Council Members,
First let me thank you all for doing what must be a tedious and thankless job.

I've just read in a local news outlet (Santa Cruz Local) that the council will reconsider the Planning Commission's approval of what they termed the "ultimate" plan for the Beach St to 17th section of the rail trail. I'd like to offset what the article described as 13 emails against the ultimate plan by sending this in support of the ultimate plan.

I truly believe that choosing anything like the interim plan, where tracks are removed with the unrealistic idea of them ever being replaced, is nothing less than taking a step backward. Haven't we already argued that plan, and wasn't it eventually defeated in a vote? If trees are the issue (as stated in the article), the number of trees removed in the interim plus ultimate plans exceeds the number affected when doing just the ultimate plan.

Again, I think we've spent enough time and money arguing against the Rail Trail plan as it was approved by vote. It's time to move ahead with it.

Sincerely,
Terry McClintock
122 Maple St

1.625
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Casey KirkHart <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:52 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Please support Segment 9 Interim Trail
Dear Council,
I have spoken to thousands of community members and many of my own patients about the immediate need for safe, free, accessible means of active transit in Santa Cruz. People want to get out, move around, and enjoy their natural surroundings RIGHT NOW.

As leaders we need to make tough decisions but this one is a slam dunk. Your vote for the INTERIM TRAIL Segment 9 will give us the wide, green, easily‐built rail‐trail that the people want and that we can afford. And, it keeps open the opportunity for rail in the future.

Pure and simple, common sense wins the day with this one.

Thank you!
‐‐
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Casey KirkHart, D.O.
email: [email protected]
cell: 516.984.4102
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.626
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Douglas Murray <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:54 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Segment 8 & 9 of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line Dear council members,
I advocate the ‘ultimate’ option for the building of the rail trail.

To pursue this course there will be unfortunate losses of trees. But if we are to preserve and ultimately make use of the bike and train systems in future years we will have to make that unpopular decision.

Bikes and trains are carbon offsetting means of transport, which will contribute to the environmental health of the region. New trees can be planted elsewhere. We need to think long term. Long term this will be the best move for our health and our economy.

Please support moving forward with this project.

Thanks!
Douglas Murray
340 Myrtle Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1.627
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of June Coha <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 10:08 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 and taking us into the future.

Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is June Coha, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

My name is June Coha and I have been a resident of Santa Cruz since 1968. I have lived with its changes, for better and for worse.

The people have already voted in support of the Rail and trail repeatedly. Anyone who has lived here long enough knows that the rail with the trail is the only possible option for a system that will support and sustain the future of transportation in Santa Cruz County, and beyond.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail, as well as future generations.

Please do not let this very small , but very vocal , and extremely well funded MINORITY OF VOTERS overturn the positive will of the MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.. The majority has repeatedly shown support for the RAIL with trail option. I hope you will all continue to support this option and help take us into the successful future of Santa Cruz.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
June Coha
209 Mountain Way Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐3018 [email protected]

1.628
2 1.629
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Tina Andreatta <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 10:18 AM
To: City Council
Subject: My family and I thank you for supporting Rail Trail Segments 8 and 9 Dear Mayor Fred Keeley and the Santa Cruz City Council, I support the rail trail project that has been rigorously designed by professionals and approved by Santa Cruz City Council, and is supported by the majority of our community.

This coming Monday 20, 2023, please continue supporting and moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9 without any further delay.

My friends, neighbors, family and I will use this trail and enthusiastically support moving forward with construction of the Rail Trail located next to the tracks as soon as possible.

Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe walking, running and biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School.

The trail will provide residents, parents and children of Live Oak a safe pedestrian route to the City of Santa Cruz. * It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the reality of local residents voting by a wide margin of 73% stating their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure we will continue moving forward with electric passenger rail to serving Santa Cruz County and beyond.

Thank you very much for your support and continued work improving active transportation in Santa Cruz County and beyond.

Sincerely,
Tina Andreatta
Aptos, CA 95003
Santa Cruz County

1.630
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Robin Belkin <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 10:20 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 and A Supermajority “NO” to Greenway & Trail Now Means, “No!”
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Robin Belkin, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Dear Mayor Keeley and Santa Cruz City Council,
A Supermajority “NO” to Greenway & Trail Now Means, “No!” • On the matter of Greenway’s perpetual badgering of our entire community to destroy our precious railroad resource, immediately following their supermajority loss in the recent Measure D vote, this is a frivolous and obnoxious waste of our time, and an extreme abuse of the public process, constituting harassment at this point.

If this were a court of law, the case would be thrown out. We cannot keep re‐litigating the same case. Enough is enough!
• If Santa Cruz genuinely wants to meet GHG emission reduction mandates, we must take strong action to advance public transportation here. Period.
‐ Removal of our best option to provide both essential inter‐ and intra‐City clean, public transportation on this indispensable, under‐utilized, rail transportation corridor is patently irresponsible. ‐ If ever we genuinely intend to both provide suitable public transportation alternatives to adequately diminish the real need for cars, while providing much‐needed relief to growing debilitating congestion on our existing, finite transportation corridors, the Supermajority of Santa Cruz voters has spoken that we must preserve and facilitate train service and a trail on our only unused, transportation corridor godsend. ‐ Currently, the City has foolishly put the cart before the horse—approving massive residential construction projects with inadequate parking and likewise irrational approval of the Laurel St. Vision Zero Striping Plan to remove existing street parking, both without providing proper alternatives for vast numbers of affected residents to travel w/o vehicles.

‐ For example, 19,000 (and steadily increasing) students come to UCSC every year. How are they EVER supposed to move here and travel back home on school breaks, etc., without cars? How are their families EVER supposed to visit them without cars? How are they and all other residents, tourists, and other visitors EVER supposed to travel around town and out‐of‐town after dark, in inclement weather, carrying packages, if

1.631
2 disabled, if commuting, if needing to travel efficiently where bus service currently is inadequate, etc., without Rail and Trail?
• How are you going to prevent the inadequate parking policies you're implementing from being a public nuisance if you don't quickly facilitate the most effectual public transportation alternatives available immediately and forever, so the inadequacies you've initiated don't undermine your currently short‐sighted plans?
I support the rail trail project as designed.
• This Monday, 3‐20‐23, and always, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9 and further, expeditious completion of our entire Rail & Trail. I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail! • Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, provide safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle, Cypress High, and Del Mar Elementary Schools. It will give residents of Live Oak and others a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.
‐ Robin Belkin
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Robin Belkin
203 Little Creek Rd Soquel, CA 95073‐9401 [email protected]

1.632
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Michael Lewis <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 10:23 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 3/20/23 Agenda item
Dear City Council Members:

Since the September 2022 publication of the Coastal Rail Trail Segments 8 and 9 Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), there has been considerable confusion among the public and City and County officials regarding the Project Alternatives and their analysis.

There are several sources for this confusion in the analysis of the Proposed Project and the Alternatives:
1) The identification of and reference to both Alternative 2 and the Optional First Phase as an "Interim Trail". 2) The Optional First Phase: Interim Trail is included in the list of Project Alternatives, though it is not identified as an Alternative, and is analyzed as if it were an Alternative to the Proposed Project. 3) Both Alternative 2 and the Optional First Phase: Interim Trail include demolition of an Interim Trail and construction of the Ultimate Trail necessary for construction of a potential future commuter or revived freight rail project. This in effect creates three configurations of the Proposed Project, with only Alternative 1 Trail Only and the No Project Alternative remaining as actual Alternatives to the Proposed Project. 4) Crafting the Alternatives to include the Proposed Project, and, in Alternative 1, increasing the width of the trail to 26 feet, unnecessarily increases the environmental impacts of the Alternatives relative to the Proposed Project, and biases the Alternatives analysis in favor of the Proposed Project.

To correct for this bias, Alternative 2 Interim Trail and the Optional First Phase Interim Trail should be compared to the Proposed Project on the basis of Phase 1 only, that is, to build the trail on the center line of the corridor, either on top of the tracks or replacing the tracks, and for a valid comparison, no more that 12 feet wide, as in the Proposed Project. This comparison would clearly demonstrate that Alternative 2 Interim Trail, Phase 1 would have the least environmental impact and would be the environmentally preferred project.

To resolve the confusion and bias in the Alternatives analysis, I recommend that you separate Segment 8 approval and permits from those for Segment 9, and that you approve and issue permits for Alternative 2 Interim Trail Phase 1 only as the Preferred Project.

Michael Lewis, PhD
Live Oak

1.633
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: sage <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 10:33 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail trail
Hello, I just want to voice my opinion as a local person that we need the rail and the trail! please do not compromise with the interim project that I believe will actually create too many barriers to getting rail going, even eventually. I know this is an appeal brought by one of the council members but it's very frustrating. We have voted on this at least twice that I'm aware of and people have expressed themselves really clearly, people want the rail. There's a very vocal group that doesn't want the rail but I believe they are not the majority and I think we have shown that over and over again.

Thanks
Sage Smiley

1.634
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Bob Correa <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 11:28 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thanks for approving the next part of the Rail Trail project.

Dear Mayor Keely and City Council members,
Both myself and my husband, Denny Carroll support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. We would utilize this resource starting day one.

Since we don’t drive, having straight line access to so much of what our community offers would make such a difference in our quality of life. Besides, it reflects the will of Santa Cruz County voters who overwhelming supported the multi use option.

With the trail alongside the rail line as intended, we are offered options for the future as we have been hoping for.

Thank you.

Bob Correa
Denny Carroll
122 Mott Ave.

Santa Cruz, CA 95062

1.635
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Sharon Hull <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 11:39 AM
To: City Council
Subject: 3/20/23 Segment 8 & 9 Agenda item.

Dear City Council Members:

Since Segment 8 does not involve the felling of trees and watercourse crossings that are the hallmarks of the extensive and unmitigable significant environmental damage planned for Segment 9, please separate Segment 8 from Segment 9, to create two separate motions. Doing so will allow Segment 8 of the Rail Trail to move forward to construction.

I am a staunch supporter of passenger rail. However, rather than building an environmentally inferior trail (the Proposed Project) before we know whether the dream of passenger rail in the corridor is even possible, let us err on the side of caution, protect the environment and build the Optional First Phase Interim Trail in Segment 9.

Therefore, I ask you to do the following:
 Approve the Design Permit, Slope Modification/Variance and Watercourse Variance for Segment 8 only.
 Do not approve the Design Permit, Slope Modification/Variance and Watercourse Variance for Segment 9.
 Regarding Segment 9, approve the Optional First Phase only of the Proposed Project, as shown in Table 3.3‐8 of the FEIR, excluding Phase 2 and 3, which may be included in a separate EIR for a future electric passenger rail system project, if a rail project proves to be feasible.

Sincerely,
Sharon Hull
(800 Brommer St, #75, Santa Cruz CA 95062)

1.636
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Ronald Wilson <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 12:05 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Ronald Wilson, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

We already voted on this.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Ronald Wilson
116 Brookside Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐2212 [email protected]

1.637
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Brooke Elliott <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 12:08 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail Trail Segments 8/9
Attachments: Live Oak Santa Cruz County 1906.jpg
I support the rail with trail ultimate option for segments 8 and 9, and all the segments. I believe the people already voted on this. We voted yes on Measure D in 2016 to provide funding for the rail trail. And we overwhelmingly rejected the more recent Measure D in 2022 which sought to change the county plan and allow for a trail only option. This was defeated nearly 3 to 1. Santa Cruz citizens have been working on the rail/trail for over twenty years (the RTC first feasibility studies for passenger service go back to 1980 and 1983.) Yet, somehow democracy is failing when a few people have the power to continually undermine what the majority wants, causing delays, increasing costs, and wasting money on trying to defend what we already voted for. I attached a 1906 photo of the area. The train bridge is on the left, going over Wood's Lagoon #43 (yacht harbor today) and the Live Oak area, segment 9. Not a lot of trees in the original landscape, especially lacking the current invasion of non native eucalyptus. It looks a lot like coastal prairie. With the removal of trees to make room for the trail, this would be an opportunity to replant native species.

Brooke Elliott
Santa Cruz City resident

1.638

1.639
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Woutje Swets <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 12:15 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Fwd: Interim Trail
Dear Mayor and members of the City Council:

I sent the below email on Friday but have not received acknowledgement from the City Clerk or Mayor Keeley, so I want to make sure that you have received my email to you. Please confirm.

It looks like no letters regarding this subject were written to you since Wednesday? If letters were indeed written since then, please be sure to post them in the Meeting Correspondence Folder.

Thank you,
Woutje Swets
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
From: Woutje Swets <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 3:45 PM
Subject: Interim Trail
To: <[email protected]>, Bonnie Bush <[email protected]> Dear Mayor and members of the City Council:

Please approve the Design Permit, Slope
Modification/Variance and Watercourse Variance
for Segment 8 only.
 Do not approve the Design Permit, Slope
Modification/Variance and Watercourse Variance for Segment

9.  Regarding Segment 9, approve the Optional First Phase only of the Proposed Project, as shown in Table 3.3-8 of the FEIR, excluding Phase 2 and 3, which may be included in a separate EIR for a future electric passenger rail system project, if a rail project proves to be feasible.

1.640
2  Instruct city planners to revisit the environmentally superior Optional First Phase Interim Trail for Segment 9 down the center of the corridor. Next, resubmit this proposal to the Planning Commission for certification and hold another Public Hearing on a revised project for Segment 9.

Thank you,
Woutje Swets
831‐278‐2447

1.641
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Lena Stahlschmidt <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 12:16 PM
To: Sonja Brunner; City Council; Martine Watkins; Scott Newsome; Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson; Sandy Brown; Renee Golder; [email protected]; Fred Keeley; City Plan Subject: Coastal Rail Trail- Citizen request to not issue a permit for segment 9 Dear Mayor Keeley and City Council,
I request that you approve Segment 8 of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Coastal Rail Trail and issue a permit for construction. However, I urge you not to issue a permit for Segment 9 until after the RTC study on the feasibility of an electric train is complete.

Instead, I recommend implementing the Optional Alternative Interim Trail study, which would require cutting down only 124 trees and much less vegetation, and can be completed in nearly the same timeframe as the Ultimate Trail with far less environmental disturbance.

Building an Interim Trail will preserve the use of the corridor for wildlife movement and benefit human beings who use it in a fairly natural environment. Furthermore, the study on the feasibility of an electric train will be completed next year, and building the Ultimate Trail now would be putting the cart before the horse.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best,
Lena Stahlschmidt

1.642
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Dan Nowacki <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 12:39 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Support “ultimate” rail trail plan
Hello,
I am a Santa Cruz resident and support the “ultimate” design of the rail trail project.

I urge you to support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8& 9 on Monday March 20.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. I will use this trail just as I use the existing trail segment on the westside.

Please support the “ultimate” plan.

Thank you.

Daniel Nowacki

1.643
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Ami Chen Mills-Naim <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 12:51 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail and Trail Please!!
Dear City Council Members and Fred Keeley:

We all voted for a rail and trail. It is a shame so many trees will need to come down for either of the options before us on the rail line, but, unlike with the downtown mixed‐use library project, the project proposed would help us draw down CO2 overall and in a meaningful way.

The US is so far behind on mass transit, it is absurd.

Please vote for both RAIL and TRAIL.

Yours Truly,
Ami
Ami Chen Mills
Executive Director, Sustainable Systems Research Foundation & Author, Trainer, Coach
(650) 424‐8984
Ami's practice, writings, radio shows, YouTube Channel, books, & events calendar: www.AmiChen.com

1.644
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: David Date <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 1:00 PM
To: City Council
Subject: (FORB) In support of a Rail Bikes!
Attachments: PXL_20230319_193230008.jpg
I am writing in opposition to a preordained process that forces a decision between two unfeasible projects.

There are not only 2 options here today. And that's because my organization Friends of the Rail Bikes, (FORB) The Mono Rail E‐bike!
FORB rail bikes are economical forms of transit that utilize the existing rails as their platform.

They utilize low center of gravity technology to stabilize riders on a single rail allowing bidirectional travel, something that could never be achieved with a train.

The rear wheels allow for travel off of the rails getting riders that last mile to their destination.

Oh, and did I mention they are environmentally friendly? Rail bikes meet the transportation needs of Santa Cruz residents while appeasing the demands of Rail Preservationists who would prefer to see nothing done with the rail corridor in our lifetime.

For $10 million dollars, or only half of the cost of a mile of trail, I will manufacture 1000 FORB Mono Rail E‐bikes that will deliver near term, safe, and effective transportation alternatives to Santa Cruz, today! Everyone in attendance today now understands that a false choice between two financially unrealistic projects means that we actually get neither.

Rail bikes are the clear path forward and we demand to have a seat at the table! Thank you,
David Date
CEO of Santa Cruz Friends of the Rail Bikes. (FORB)

1.645

1.646
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Rosemary Sarka <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 1:12 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Trail alongside Raiil
Thank you, Santa Cruz City Council, for moving forward with plans for trail alongside rail in the City of Santa Cruz.

I don't live in Santa Cruz, but I will use this trail and it will bring me to Santa Cruz more frequently.

I eagerly look forward to coming in by train.

Rosemary Sarka
Aptos
831‐688‐6281

1.647
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Kevin Lockwood <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 1:44 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Kevin Lockwood, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Please support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. I am a frequent biking from the west side to the pleasure point and riding down Brommer with cars blasting past you well over the speed limit is dangerous and a huge deterrent to biking that commute.

Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving me and my family safe biking access to the bouldering gym, pottery studio, and restaurants.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Kevin Lockwood
117 Plateau Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐6452 [email protected]

1.648
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Guillermo Diaz <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 1:55 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You! Delighted for approval of Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Guillermo Diaz, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail often! Santa Cruz county is a beautiful place for outdoor recreation and has excellent weather for bicycle commuting (despite all the recent rain...). Commuting by bike helps alleviate traffic while also providing physical exercise and helping reduce mental stress. Please do not delay in adding more bike paths and bike lanes, particularly Rail Trail segments ‐ we really need them as soon as possible! Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. These segments will give create an efficient, enjoyable, and safe bike transportation option between Live Oak and the City of Santa Cruz.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Guillermo Diaz
Lower Westside Homeowner Santa Cruz, CA 95060 [email protected]

1.649
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of christine morgan <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 2:11 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is christine morgan, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
christine morgan
1860 Via Pacifica Apt 6103 Aptos, CA 95003‐5879 [email protected]

1.650
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Board Chair Friends of the Rail Trail <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 2:42 PM
To: City Council
Subject: FORT Support Staff Recommendation on Item 1 . Segments 8 and 9 of the Rail and Trail Mayor Keeley and Concilmembers,
FORT strongly supports staff's recommendations regarding the Final EIR certification and other necessary findings for moving Segments 8 and 9 of the Rail Trail forward.

We have attached a letter on behalf of the FORT Board in support of moving forward.

Thanks for all you do in support of the Rail and Trail, Matt Farrell
Board Chair
Santa Cruz County Friends of the Rail and Trail (FORT) March 20 2023 City Council Letter Supporting Segments 8 and 9

1.651
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 2:50 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Rail Trail Segments 8&9
Please consider Alternative Interim Trail #2 as the preferred option for the segment 9 bike and pedestrian trail at this time.
1) This trail option is the least ecologically damaging of all the choices 2) The RTC passenger rail feasibility study will not be completed for a year or more 3) It is uncertain that the RTC study will find passenger rail service to be feasible 4) Even if passenger rail service is found doable, it will likely not be built for another 25‐30 years. 5) Alternative interim trail 2 is to be considered an interim 1st phase of an ultimate rail and trail installation. 6) Rushing construction of the Ultimate Trail next to the existing rails precludes options not even yet considered since we don’t have the completed
RTC feasibility study
Please consider the Alternative Interim Trail #2 as the most ecologically sound and most responsible choice.

Thank you,
Michael Brownlee

1.652
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Ron Munger <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 3:05 PM
To: City Council
Cc: Julie Mott
Subject: Segment 9: Please keep the rail and build a path next to it Dear City Council members‐ We’re writing in strong support of sticking to the approved plan and building Segment 9 of the Rail/Trail with rail alongside the trail. We voted last year to support keeping the rail line and building a trail alongside. We love and often use the portion of the rail trail which has been completed here on the Westside, and we look forward to using Segment 9 to bicycle to Simpkins Swim Center. One day, if we keep the rail line, we’ll even be able to get there by rail! We continue to support finishing the entire rail/trail in this way from Davenport to south County, and, frankly, resent that this is being re‐examined and reconsidered by the City Council. Please acknowledge and honor the strong desire of the majority of our citizens to complete the rail/trail—rail alongside trail—as soon as possible and without further delays.

Sincerely,
Ronald Munger
Julie Mott
Katharine Munger
Caroline Munger

1.653
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Lisa Benson <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 3:18 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Lisa Benson, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. I also support establishing a commuter train on the rail.

Both the rail and trail are needed to allow for multiple forms of transportation within the county that will allow us to move away from using cars as our primary mode of transportation within the city and the county.

The next step in the process of building out trail segments 8 & 9 will help keep forward momentum on both the trail and rail portions of the project. Providing the rapid creation of a new segment of the trail will allow for people to bike and walk to key areas of our community such as: connecting Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. It will give residents of Live Oak a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz.

It is imperative that we as a community continue to move forward with this work to create a flexible, evolving grid work of transportation options for everyone living in the and county of Santa Cruz.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Lisa Benson
343 Soquel Ave # 334 Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐2305 [email protected]

1.654
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Val Cole <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 3:24 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Val Cole, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Dear City Council members and esteemed Mayor,
I support moving forward swiftly with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail!
The public has cleary spoken in support of rail + trail, by a 3:1 margin ‐‐ the most lopsided election in recent history. And, the vote was consistent across North, Mid, and South County! The city and the RTC have done an excellent job securing state and public funding to match local efforts to fund these exciting new extensions to the rail trail. Please do not be deterred by the tone‐deaf, out of touch requests coming from the Greenway isolationists. Their views do not in any way jive with those of your constituents.

And, thank you work working tirelessly on behalf of our beloved yet complex City of Sant Cruz.

Val Cole
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Val Cole
744 Escalona Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐3437 [email protected]

1.655
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Storey LaMontagne <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 3:37 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Please approve building the rail trail now
To all City Council members,
Let's build the trail now and especially sections 8 and 9 so we have a great way to cycle through town. The voters made the decision in June to approve this project so please do not let Greenway and Trail Now block any more efforts to move this forward.

Thank you,
Storey La Montagne
Melrose Avenue, Santa Cruz

1.656
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: JOE or SARA MIKLES <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 3:59 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Section 9 rail trail Public relations
Dear Mayor and city council,
I know my letter is late and won't be read before the Monday night meeting, but wanted to point out that saving the trees along section 9 of the rail trail could be very beneficial to the city. After the debacle of the trees in Lot 4, the city could use some good publicity regarding trees and the environment. Imagine the mayor saying that we saved the trees along the trail for the birds and other wildlife. Don't underestimate the money behind bird watchers. Remember what happened in Watsonville with their small Wetland bird watching weekend. It didn't stay small for long! That corridor could be a destination.

Something to think about. Who doesn't like increased revenue.

Sara Mikles
Sent from my iPad

1.657
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Kathleen Crocetti <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:05 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Kathleen Crocetti, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

As a member of the service industry (school teacher) I was unable to buy a home in Santa Cruz where I teach. I commute home to Watsonville on my bike because it takes me the same amount of time to ride my bike as it does to sit in my car in the highway traffic.

I am looking forward to the day when I can ride the train! I know I'll be retired before that happens, but there are so many people living in South County who have to get to Santa Cruz to work every day. The train is going to make a world of difference to us.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Crocetti
240 Maple Ave Watsonville, CA 95076‐4815 [email protected]

1.658
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Natasha Perry <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:15 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Natasha Perry, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

We have already benefitted so much personally and as a community from the segments that have been built.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Natasha Perry
609 National St Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐6040 [email protected]

1.659
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Brian Peoples <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:22 PM
To: Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson
Cc: Manu Koenig; Guy Preston; Zach Friend; Bruce McPherson; Gine Johnson; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Shannon Munz; Rachel Moriconi; Yesenia Parra; Grace Blakeslee; Moroney, Ryan@Coastal; Sandy Brown; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; City Council; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Interim Trail for Segment 9
Hi Shebreh,
We are recommending that the City of Santa Cruz approve the design permit for the Interim Trail for Segment

9. The Interim Trail preserves the corridor for future transit while opening the corridor for active transportation in a timely, cost‐effective and environmentally friendly manner.

As I’m sure you know, prior to moving forward with the trail project, the City of Santa Cruz will be required to obtain a Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission. The last three coastal plans submitted have either been rejected by the California Coastal Commission or had major restrictions cited by the California Coastal Commission for the proposed project. For example, the North Coast Rail Trail is only permitted to be constructed by building temporary retaining walls, making the construction and management of the trail very expensive. The North Coast Rail Trail has been delayed for years due to the trail’s complexity (built next to the railroad tracks).

Similar to the delays we see with the North Coast Rail Trail, the Ultimate Trail for Segments 9 – 12 will be delayed for years due to California Coastal Commission restrictions, private property easement restrictions, and excessive costs for the project.

The most practical approach is to either approve the Interim Trail for Segment 9, or only approve Segment 8, while waiting for the RTC vote, which is expected to occur in May 2023.

Our community needs to open the Coastal Trail for active transportation as soon as possible. The fastest way to get it built is the Interim Trail.

Best regards,
Brian Peoples
Trail Now

1.660
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Saladin Sale <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:26 PM
To: City Council
Cc: Saladin Sale
Subject: Support Rail Trail Segments 8 & 9
Dear Mayor Keeley and the Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Saladin Sale. I’m a city of Santa Cruz resident and I strongly support the Rail Trail project as designed. On Monday March 20th, please approve the resolution to move forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9 as soon as possible.

Completion of these Rail Trail segments will be nothing less than historic for the entire county. Extending the Trail alongside the tracks all the way to 17th Avenue will be a gamechanger – creating an entirely new bicycle and pedestrian-friendly route all the way from Live Oak to the Westside of Santa Cruz.

Every segment of the Rail Trail we complete adds to the growing proof of the feasibility of the entire Santa Cruz to Watsonville Rail & Trail project and proves the few remaining naysayers wrong. Seeing is believing. Every day, we now see the behavioral changes in our city arising from the construction of segment 7. Trail users ourselves, my family sees commuters, students, families and visitors increasingly shifting to bicycling and walking as this safe and pleasant paved trail is accessed by more and more people. The growth in usage when the trail reaches Live Oak will be an undeniable demonstration and incentive for accelerated completion of the Rail Trail and electric rail transit through the rest of the county.

Project critics continue to predict there will never be sufficient funds available to build the Rail and Trail multi-modal transit system despite the more than one hundred million dollars of outside grant funding already obtained from outside agencies who are experts in evaluating the feasibility of proposed transit projects. The simple fact is that major infrastructure improvements are almost always primarily funded by outside money. The suggestion that the only way we will ever have a great transit system is if we find a pot of excess money lying around, is simply childish.

It is true that some trees will need to be removed to build the next trail segment. The path to be constructed is within an industrial corridor that was cleared of native trees over 130 years ago. Many of the trees scheduled to be removed for this segment of the trail are non-native eucalyptus, which are problematic fire hazards. All trees removed are certain to be replaced with new trees of native species providing a balance of wildlife habitat and fire safety.

1.661
2 Retaining walls, when needed, are simply a part of sound construction and hardly an argument against proceeding. The benefits derived from building the next trail segment and preserving the rail line for transit and freight are monumental and easily justify whatever retaining walls are necessary to assure project longevity.

In closing, moving forward with segments 8 & 9 is a wise investment in the future of our town. While those of us living here today already enjoy the first segments of the Rail Trail, your actions to move ahead with these next sections will be of even greater benefit to the future residents of Santa Cruz, including our children and grandchildren. Though they do not yet have a voice to advocate for themselves, they will look back with thanks to you, the Mayor and City Council of 2023, as they enjoy the quality of life arising from a countywide integrated and carbon neutral multi-modal transit system built on the courage and foresight of responsible elected officials such as yourselves.

Thank you so much for supporting Rail & Trail and your commitment to improving active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Saladin Sale
413 Western Drive, #10
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
[email protected]

1.662
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Steve Cogliati <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:31 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Keep rail trail on schedule
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Steve Cogliati, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Steve Cogliati
123 Cress Rd Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐1001
[email protected]

1.663
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Anthony Silveira <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:36 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Opposition to Greenway and Trail Now-LET'S LEAVE THE TRAIN TRACKS! Hello all Council Members,
We, the citizens & community of Santa Cruz all voted unanimously to keep the existing rails & build the trail! Please respect the choice of your voters & continue with the original plan and move forward and do not stop and remove the rail line before building anymore trail.

By leaving it to the proposed and approved projects, this will benefit our whole community without wasting more time, money & expense!
Thank you,
A Silveira

1.664
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of J T Verbeck <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:36 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is J T Verbeck, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Dear Mayor Keeley, and the Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is J T (Judithann) Verbeck, and I support the RailTrail Project as designed.

On Monday March 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9. I support implementation of the Rail Trail Segments 8&9 next to the tracks without further delays. My family (Live Oak) and I (Aptos) will use .
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

I appreciate everyone needs a voice. Those not in favor of the Rail Trail have voiced their opinions. The voters decided. Now let’s get the job done without further delay.

Thank you for your work focused on improving all modes of “people moving” in Santa Cruz County, including the Rail Trail.

J T Verbeck
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
J T Verbeck
1860 Via Pacifica Apt 6105 Aptos, CA 95003‐5879 [email protected]

1.665
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Phil and Susie Kaplan <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:44 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Phil and Susie Kaplan, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Phil and Susie Kaplan
726 Trevethan Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95065‐1347 [email protected]

1.666
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Jeb Bishop <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:47 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Jeb Bishop, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Jeb Bishop
319 Brook Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐3708 [email protected]

1.667
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Alexandra White <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:47 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Alexandra White, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

There is no need to constantly revisit the decision to move forward with both rail and trail on the railroad right of way. Greenway does not have public support, as evidenced by the resounding failure of their most recent ballot measure.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Alexandra White
319 Brook Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐3708 [email protected]

1.668
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Natalie Goff <burroalley9 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 4:51 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Natalie Goff, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

March 19, 2023
Dear Mayor Keeley and Santa Cruz City Council members,
I absolutely support that, on March 20, 2023, you adopt and sign the Resolution that will allow Santa Cruz to move forward in constructing Segments 8 and 9 of our Coastal Rail Trail Project. I support the rail project as designed.

My “No on D” vote in June 2022 was one of the 56,390 votes that crushed Greenway's bid to demolish our train tracks. The decisive NO vote (73% of us!) was a recent, resounding message in which voters rejected Greenway's "update" to the General Plan that included wording that made it difficult for future county leaders to even discuss public train transportation.

Voters in Santa Cruz have spoken. We want to finish building the trail alongside the tracks. We want to continue making progress toward public passenger rail transit. We want the choice of transportation along the railway that includes transport via bikes, walking, AND the choice to ride a train to and from Watsonville and points in between.

Please, do not allow our progress to be watered down or obstructed. Let’s do it! I want to ride my bike on the finished trail! I want to ride on our rails!
In closing, I must mention how deeply impressed I am by the care and thoroughness reflected in the Mitigation responses in the final EIR.

Thank you,
Natalie Goff
2120 N. Pacific Avenue Space 9
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831‐295‐2723
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

1.669
2 Sincerely,
Natalie Goff
2120 N Pacific Ave Spc 9 Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐2735 [email protected]

1.670
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Steve Lustgarden <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 5:11 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Steve Lustgarden, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Steve Lustgarden
28 Hanover Ct Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐2651 [email protected]

1.671
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Steve Lustgarden <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 5:13 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Please keep building the rail trail, segments 8 and 9 Please say no to obstruction and yes to construction!!
Let's build the trail and save the rail.

Thank you,
Steve Lustgarden
Susan Kauffman
Santa Cruz, CA

1.672
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Dusten Dennis <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 6:32 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Approve Segments 8 and 9
Dear City Council,
Please approve Segments 8 and 9 of the Rail Trail plan immediately. It is dismaying to see that the Planning Commission approved it unanimously and then it is up for re‐consideration again. These types of delays threaten the availability of this amazing resource to our community and youth especially. My kids are grown and moved away but please don't delay this so much that the following generations will not be able to use it.

Sincerely,
Dusten Dennis
920 Cayuga St.

1.673
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Mariela Lopez-Garcia <Mlopezga51 @everyactioncustom.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 6:38 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Mariela Lopez‐Garcia, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Mariela Lopez‐Garcia
225 Fairmount Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐1117 [email protected]

1.674
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Rich Everett <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 8:33 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Rich Everett, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible. My family and I will use this trail!
We fully support our supervisor, Manu but also believe the vote was taken and it’s just flat our time to move forward now and get something built now!
Segments 8 & 9 will connect Santa Cruz to Live Oak, giving us safe biking access to Simpkins Swim Center, Shoreline Middle School, Cypress High School, and Del Mar Elementary School. It will give residents of Live Oak a safe bike route to the City of Santa Cruz.
* It will provide a critical pedestrian/bicycle connection that will make bicycling and walking safer. * It will reflect the will of Santa Cruz County voters , 73% of whom voiced their preference for both a rail and a trail.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that the trail will be available to us today and our children and grandchildren in the future.
* Building the trail next to the tracks will ensure that we can keep moving forward with electric passenger rail to serve the whole county.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Rich Everett
PO Box 308 Soquel, CA 95073‐0308
[email protected]

1.675
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Jennifer L Pitino <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 9:37 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Jennifer L Pitino, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Jennifer L Pitino
1770 17th Ave Spc 16 Santa Cruz, CA 95062‐1851 [email protected]

1.676
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Jill Dion <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 10:18 PM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Jill Dion, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I support moving forward with building the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible.

Santa Cruz county voters have spoken in support of both a rail and trail, so let's move forward with segments 8 & 9.

Sincerely,
Jill Dion
Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Jill Dion
1525 Laurent St Santa Cruz, CA 95060‐2038 [email protected]

1.677
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Julie Schaul <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2023 11:26 PM
To: Tristia Bauman; Robert Norse; Patricia Colby; Lili Graham; Wes White; Graham Pruss; Alicia Kuhl; Keith McHenry; City Council
Subject: Support the interim segment 9 trail
Dear Santa Cruz city council,
Please support the interim segment 9 trail. Let's get this rail trail moving. Let's promote DEI diversity equity and inclusivity. It's time for change.

1.678
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Brian Peoples <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 5:39 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Ultimate Trail is NOT ALLOWABLE
City Council,
We are recommending that the City of Santa Cruz approve the design permit for the Interim Trail for Segment

9. The Interim Trail preserves the corridor for future transit while opening the corridor for active transportation in a timely, cost‐effective and environmentally friendly manner.

The most practical approach is to either approve the Interim Trail for Segment 9, or only approve Segment 8, while waiting for the RTC vote, which is expected to occur in May 2023.

Our community needs to open the Coastal Trail for active transportation as soon as possible. The fastest way to get it built is the Interim Trail.

Best regards,
Brian Peoples
Trail Now

1.679
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Ronald Nance <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 7:26 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Thank You for Approving Rail Trail Segments 8 &9 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Ronald Nance, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Ronald Nance
320 Big Tree Ln Watsonville, CA 95076‐8306 [email protected]

1.680
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Grace Pariante <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 8:09 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Segment 9 Rail Trail
City Council,
I wrote the letter below to Nathan Nguyen last October to urge the Rail Trail planners to drop the "ultimate" design and go with the "interim" design of segment 9. I received no response. I sent photos of how beautiful the eucalyptus grove looks at the edge of our neighborhood, explained that in addition to the aesthetic degradation of the ultimate design, the environmental impact would be huge. There would be an increase in noise, pollution, and heat, not to mention the devastation to the wildlife that call the grove home.

What I failed to mention was that if you approved the interim trail design, how much more beautiful the trail would be. Photo below is the rail passage that runs between Hiawatha and Murray. You can see the cars backed up for blocks on Murray (left) and you cannot see our neighborhood hidden by the trees (right). How lovely would it be to walk through the tunnel of trees, hear the wind and the birds?

1.681
3 1.682
4 Letter to Nathan Nguyen:

Thu, Oct 20, 2022 at 10:57 AM
Hello Nathan,
I am writing you today regarding the coastal rail trail plans for segment 9. I applaud the city for such an ambitious plan and recognize the difficulty in implementing it. As always, the devil is in the details.

In reviewing the planning documents for segments 8 & 9, I find one aspect very disturbing. It is the removal of hundreds of trees along the 1.6 mile stretch of segment 9. According to the environmental impact documents 381 trees will be removed. This will result in the following degradations:
 Aesthetic degradation. The beautiful grove of mature eucalyptus trees at the end of my street will be gone. See photos below. The first is the view from my house. The second is along Hiawatha. Instead there will be a view of the paved path and then the very busy Murray Street, which the trees now hide.
 Increased noise from Murray Street. The trees currently provide a noise buffer. During rush hour, Murray is bumper-to-bumper traffic congestion that I would prefer to not see or hear. I can imagine the pavement on the path will only amplify the noise.  Increased pollution in my neighborhood. I know the environment impact report does not predict an increase in pollution because the path is designed to reduce vehicle trips, but that is for Santa Cruz overall, and not for the nearby residents. This report from the EPA says, "Air pollutants from cars, trucks and other motor vehicles are found in higher concentrations near major roads. People who live, work or attend school near major roads appear to have an increased incidence and severity of health problems associated with air pollution exposures related to roadway traffic including higher rates of asthma onset and aggravation, cardiovascular disease, impaired lung development in children, pre-term and low-birthweight infants, childhood leukemia, and premature death." The trees currently filter some of that pollution from reaching my neighborhood.  Increased heat. Yesterday it was 95 degrees in Santa Cruz; 95 in October! These freakish heat events are happening more and more frequently. Remember a few weeks ago it was over 100 degrees. Removing 381 trees, most of them mature trees, would take decades to replace, not to mention the challenges of keeping newly planted trees alive during these repeated droughts. These trees act to cool the air and the dirt beneath them. One of the most important things we can do to stop this warming climate trend is to protect our mature trees.
 Decreased privacy. Without our trees, we will look directly on the very busy Murray street, not to mention all the people who will look into our neighborhood from the trail. If you implement the "ultimate" plan, the path will be at grade with Hiawatha Street, bringing these people right into our neighborhood. At least the railway is sunken around 5 or 6 feet below Hiawatha, which offers some barrier to entry aside from the grove of giant eucalyptus. Please realize that Hiawatha is just a few hundred feet from the Beach Boardwalk. If you lived on that street, would you really want to welcome that crowd into your neighborhood via urban planning design? I think not. And if you put up a cement wall to aide privacy, you will have created more cement and blocked our ocean breeze.

Too hot!

1.683
5  Adverse impact on wildlife. Page 26 of the environment impact statement discusses fragmentation of wildlife habitats. This particular grove of trees provides habitat for heron and egret rookeries. Haven't we lost enough birds?
Keeping the path in the location of the railroad tracks and sparing the removal of most of the trees is a good compromise. We don't know the future of rail. And we don't need to keep every inch of track to appreciate its historical significance.

Thank you for considering my concerns.

Grace Pariante
211 Mountain View Ave.

1.684
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Pauline Seales <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 8:25 AM
To: City Council; Fred Keeley; Sandy Brown; Martine Watkins; Renee Golder; Sonja Brunner; Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson; Scott Newsome
Subject: 4:1 Tree replacement for Rail/Trail
Attachments: Rail_Trail Trees - Sheet1 (1).pdf
To: Mayor Fred Keeley and the Santa Cruz City Council 3/20/23 Regarding Segment 9 of the rail trail

1. On behalf of the Santa Cruz Climate Action Network, I urge you to implement the plans for the “Ultimate Trail” as approved by 70% of county voters. Spending resources on an interim trail would be wasteful and against voter wishes. We need to facilitate and expedite any measures needed to help set up the much needed rail system.

2. I applaud the extensive detailed mitigation measures outlined in pages 84‐129 of the agenda package, including the timing to reduce impact on overwintering Monarch butterflies. – except as follows …….

3. I disagree with the claim that no Greenhouse Gas mitigation is required I ran an extensive tree carbon analysis using the data from EIR table 3.3‐8 and concluded that anything less than a 4:1 replacement tree ratio would mean a huge loss of carbon sequestration. Even that would take at least 5 years to be equivalent to the current trees and would take several more years to achieve net neutrality.

Spreadsheet of i‐Tree analysis is attached. Page 2 explains the assumptions used.

Please approve the plan for the ultimate trail with the addition of 4:1 tree replacement.

We suggest investigating DelaVeaga, Pogonip or Land trust property as possible sites.

Pauline Seales Santa Cruz Climate Action Network

1.685
2 1.686
Estimation of Carbon Equestration Loss by Tree Removal in Trail Segment 9 by Pauline Seeales using https://mytree.itreetools.org/#/location 3/19/23 Detailed explanatory notes on the next page
Species Diameter condition CO2 lbs
inches

PART ONE - POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT TREES
Street tree Pyrus Spp. 4.5 excellent 28 Ten year old Street Tree 180 Walnut Ave
Nursery tree Common crapemyrtle 1 excellent 2.84 now Ave now non-native 638.93 over 20 yrs 3.09
Nursery Tree coast Redwood 1.3 excellent 3.34 now 5 yr estimate Native 638.93 over 20 yrs 15.00

PART TWO - EXISTING TREES REMOVED FOR THE ULTIMATE TRAIL Trail trees Native total number 265 47 Native Sig/Her
Signif/Heritage coastal live oak 18 good 90.27 Ave Total CO2 Signif/Heritage Willow 18 good 219.53 136.42 6,411.58
Signif/Heritage Bigleaf maple 18 good 99.45
218.00 Native Smaller
smaller coastal live oak 10 good 38.83 Ave Total CO2
smaller Willow 10 good 93.56 60.42 13,171.56
smaller Bigleaf maple 10 good 48.87
Non-Native Total 116.00 60 Sig/Heritage
Signif/Heritage Eucalyptus bluegum 18 good 156.34 Ave Total CO2 Signif/Heritage Acacia Bailey 18 good 8.89 82.62 4,956.90

56.00 Non-Nat Smaller
smaller Eucalyptus bluegum 10 good 70.25 Ave Total CO2
smaller Acacia Bailey 10 good 32.86 51.56 2,887.08
TOTAL CO2 27,427.12
Number of new trees needed for immediate carbon neutrality G24/G11 8,876.09 Number needed for carbon equality after 5 years - estimate G24/G13 1,828.47 ( estimating average CO2 absorption at 5 years = 15 lbs) THIS WOULD BE SLIGHTLY OVER a 4:1 RATIO

1.687
Explanation of assumptions used
The website i-Tree calculates individual tree carbon sequestration based on 1 tree diameter at 4.5 feet height - abbreviated as DBH 2 Tree species
3 Tree condition
4 Any shading by buildings
1 Using the DBH numbers in the EIR table 3.3-8 I calcalated a tree in each size category Per the table Significant are >20"DBH, Heritage > 14" DBH For the combined category Sig and Heritage I used DBH = 18" For the smaller trees I used DBH=10"
2 The species are an estimation based on local knowledge but have a relatively small effect I simply averaged the CO2 numbers for the species listed It there are more Eucalyptus and less others this would increase the current sequestration For the potential replacement trees I visited a local nursery and found trees 8-10ft tall 3 Tree condition - assumed excellent for replacements and good for existing trees 4 Assumed no significant shading by buildings
Since the estimation of replacement trees for immediate Carbon Neutrality was very high ~9000 I estimated the replacement carbon sequestration after 5 years Even that indicated a needed mitigation ratio of 4:1
Obviously this is not a professional evaluation -
but I doubt that a more detailed expert analysis would yield signifigantly different results If anyone has a detailed breakout of major trees species and the approx. % of each in each size category I'd love to modify the sheet in use that information Pauline Seales

1.688
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: [email protected] on behalf of Dianne Dryer <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 9:45 AM
To: City Council
Subject: Approve Rail Trail Segments 8 &9, keep the tracks! Dear Mayor and Councilmembers Santa Cruz City Council,
My name is Dianne Dryer, and I support the rail trail project as designed.

On Monday the 20th, please support moving forward with Rail Trail segments 8 & 9.

I urge you to move forward with construction of the Rail Trail next to the tracks as soon as possible.

It is critically important to preserve the rail corridor for future electric passenger rail service! Thank you so much for supporting the Rail Trail and all your work to improve active transportation in Santa Cruz County.

Sincerely,
Dianne Dryer
THURBER Ln Santa Cruz, CA 95065
[email protected]

1.689
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: J Lighthill <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 9:43 AM
To: City Council; Fred Keeley; Renee Golder; Sonja Brunner; Sandy Brown; Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson; Scott Newsome; Martine Watkins
Subject: MBSST trail segment 9
Dear Santa Cruz City Council Members,
In addition to the significant and unavoidable environmental impacts due to tree removal, please consider how/if the Segment 9 Proposed Project (Ultimate Trail) would serve our community.

Will your council approve a trail design that:
-for most of its length, meets the absolute minimum width requirements set by CalTrans? (And in a section near El Dorado, trail width is less than the minimum).

Using CalTrans standards, Segment 9 is not a 12 ft trail: it’s an 8 ft path with two required 2 ft. shoulders(1). One guide explains that an 8 ft path should only be used in rare instances where bicycle use is expected to be low and pedestrian use not more than occasional(2).
-scores an F rating using the Department of Transportation Shared Use Path Level of Service (LOS) calculator, before any construction has even begun? (3) This trail width is perceived by users to be unsafe and unwelcoming, and will thereby discourage the most vulnerable users: pedestrians, elderly and children.
-proposes to build a trail within a freight easement that is currently owned by a rail operator? Although no freight currently moves through this section, the rail operator owns an easement 10 ft from the center of the tracks along the entire line, and the proposed project would be built 8 1/2 ft from the center. Please consider the safety of such and clarify, before approval, who may be liable for incidents involving future rail and/or trail users within this overlapping space: the city of SC, the RTC or the rail operator? -includes fencing and rail crossings that are not yet approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)?
Fencing for the proposed project allows ample space for wildlife crossing, but the CPUC (who has jurisdiction over all things rail-related) recommends fencing that prevents trespassing. Has the safety of the trail crossing near El Dorado been reviewed and/or approved by CPUC? The EIR includes a letter from the CPUC recommending consultation.
-may hinder access by emergency responders?
20% of the trail is 10 ft or less, often on viaducts or bridges (the same width as the San Lorenzo Trestle bridge).

Please consider how emergency responders will aid trail users in the event of an emergency.

You are in a tough spot. Your constituents have been told that both rail and trail will fit within the corridor. But only now do we see what kind of trail is possible, if it is to be built alongside the tracks. In addition to significant

1.690
2 environmental impacts, please consider how this trail design relates to safety, equity and liability. Please approve Segment 8 and delay your vote on 9 until the completion of the conceptual rail study, when more informed decisions are possible.

Thanks for your consideration,
Johanna Lighthill
(1) CalTrans Highway Design Manual, Ch 1000 Bicycle Transportation Design, pp. 5&6. https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/design/documents/chp1000-a11y.pdf (2) AASHTO Guide for the development of Bicycle Facilities, 2012, p. 5-3. https://njdotlocalaidrc.com/perch/resources/aashto-gbf-4-2012-bicycle.pdf (3)DOT Shared Path Level of Service (LOS) Calculator

1.691
3 05138
PDF Document ꞏ 1.3 MB

1.692
4 1.693
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Gillian Greensite <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 9:28 AM
To: City Council; Fred Keeley; Renee Golder; Martine Watkins; Sonja Brunner; Sandy Brown; Scott Newsome; Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson
Subject: Comments on Segment 9 of the Rail Trail project Dear Mayor and Council members,

That sound you hear is the audible gasp as residents become aware that this project, if approved by your vote, will mean the removal of close to 400 trees in their neighborhood under the Ultimate Trail alternative. Not only the trees but all underbrush which is habitat for songbirds and an assortment of wildlife. This action will denude a linear forest in the heart of the city. Simply calculating the carbon sequestered and proposing sapling replacements elsewhere is short‐sighted and misses the forest for the trees.

You have a reasonable choice to avoid such a catastrophic, negative environmental impact. That is, to approve the Optional First Phase Interim Trail and Alternative 2. This option saves a minimum of 257 trees while achieving project objectives.

There is good reason to take a more cautious approach.The feasibility of passenger rail is under study with results due next year. A vote for the Ultimate alternative without knowledge of the feasibility of rail is a careless vote with enormous environmental consequences.

Thank you for your careful consideration of voting for the Optional First Phase Only for Segment 9.

Respectfully submitted,
Gillian
Gillian Greensite

1.694
1 Rosemary Balsley
From: Iwalani Faulkner <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 10:01 AM
To: Fred Keeley; Renee Golder; Sandy Brown; Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson; Scott Newsome; Martine Watkins; Bonnie Bush; City Council
Subject: City Council Agenda Item for March 20, 2023 - Please approve Final EIR for Segments Rail-TRAIL Attachments: 2023-03-19_LetterSupportSegment8_9.pdf

Iwalani Faulkner <[email protected]> Mar 13, 2023, 11:09 A to fkeeley, rgolder, Sandy, sbrunner, skalantari‐johnson, snewsome, mwatkins, bbush, citycouncil, bcc: bodieshargel Dear Honorable Mayor Keeley and City Council Members:

Please find attached our letter regarding the agenda item for today's meeting here. ‐‐
Best regards,
Lani Faulkner, Director
Equity Transit - Tránsito de Equidad
www.EquityTransit.org
831-278-1007

1.695
1840 41st Ave, Ste 102, #227
Capitola, CA 95010
831-278-1007
Santa Cruz City Council Members
809 Center Street, Room 10
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
March 13, 2023
RE: Support for City Council to adopt a resolution certifying the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Dear Honorable Mayor Keeley and Santa Cruz City Council Members:

Equity Transit stands with nearly 74% of voters in this community who voted NO on Greenway’s Measure D in June 2022 in favor of preserving the tracks and building the Coastal Rail-Trail next to the tracks. The community has worked hard to implement the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Master Plan as approved in 2013/2014, including Segments 8 and 9 of the Coastal Rail-Trail. Equity Transit supports the Santa Cruz City Staff recommendation that the city approve of the Final Environmental Impact Report for Segment 8 and 9 of the Coastal Rail Trail Project.

We support the construction of the Ultimate Trail beside the Rail, recently funded through the State 2022 Active Transportation Grant. We oppose Alternative 1, which reflects the 26-foot-wide trail proposed by Greenway as seen their website (see Items 1 and 2 below). Alternative 1 is more destructive than the Ultimate Trail, requiring the removal of the tracks and railbanking, not likely to be approved by Federal Authorities. We also oppose Alternative 2, the interim trail over the tracks, requiring removal of as many if not more trees, twice as much labor, and significantly more money spent over the duration of the project leading to the Ultimate Trail, and would not provide us with a trail any faster that building the Ultimate Trail at the onset.

We have an epidemic of traffic violence in this community where every 2-3 days someone is killed or seriously injured in a car crash! This problem worsened as we moved through Covid even as driving decreased on the roads.

While we must also work to calm our surface streets, investing in the Ultimate Trail gives community members the chance to walk and bike to school, work, and to parks on a trail separated from traffic.

There are two requests we would like to include in this letter. First, we urge the city to used raised tables at all perpendicular street crossings similar to what can be seen on Clares Street, South of Capitola Ave. This design provides superior safety for pedestrians and cyclists as cars must naturally slow prior to moving forward through crossings. Second, given the large number of trees that must be removed to develop our amazing world class trail, we hope the city will work with the Sierra Club, Santa Cruz Climate Action Network, and other environmental organizations and parks to ensure appropriate remediation of replacement trees necessary given our climate crisis.

We understand an independent assessment was done and a replacement of 4 or 5 to one is recommended. We also hope that natural shade tree cover can be eventually regrown providing partial shaded along the corridor to reduce the heat that will be generated from the sun on the asphalt.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Lani Faulkner, Director

1.696
1840 41st Ave, Ste 102, #227
Capitola, CA 95010
831-278-1007
Item 1. Greenway website indicates goal of 26 foot wide trail

1.697
1840 41st Ave, Ste 102, #227
Capitola, CA 95010
831-278-1007
Item 2. Greenway’s 26 foot wide trail requires extensive tree removal and far more asphalt

1.698
1 COASTAL RAIL TRAIL
SEGMENTS 8 AND 9
CP22-0118

CITY OF SANTA CRUZ

CITY COUNCIL
March 20, 2023
Team

1.699
3 BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

PROJECT

OVERVIEW
Team
• Monterey Bay Sanctuary
Scenic Trail Network
(MBSST)
• Rail Trail Segments 8, 9 –
part of 32-mile Coastal Rail
Trail

1.700
5 ENTITLEMENTS REQUIRED
Team
• Design Permit
• Slope Modification Permit/Slope Variance
• Watercourse Variance
• Certification of EIR
• Adoption of
• Findings of Fact
• Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
• Statement of Overriding Considerations

APPROVALS

REQUIRED

1.701
6 SEGMENTS 8 AND 9 ALIGNMENT

1.702
8 PROJECT OVERVIEW
Team
• Segment 8: Improvement of existing infrastructure
• Segment 9: New multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trail • Two approaches:

Ultimate Trail Configuration
Optional Interim Trail (3 parts)

1.703
10 SEGMENT 8: BEACH/CLIFF
Team

SEGMENT
8 1.704
11 SEGMENT 9 (ULTIMATE TRAIL

CONFIGURATION)
Team

SEGMENT
9 –

ULTIMATE
TRAIL

CONFIGUR
ATION

1.705
12 Team
SEGMENT 9 (OPTIONAL INTERIM
TRAIL)

SEGMENT
9 -

OPTIONAL

INTERIM
TRAIL

1.706
14 SEGMENT 9 (ULTIMATE TRAIL):

PILKINGTON CREEK
Team

SEGMENT
9 –

ULTIMATE
TRAIL

CONFIGUR
ATION

1.707
16 SEGMENT 9 (ULTIMATE TRAIL):

EL DORADO/SIMPKINS
Team

SEGMENT
9 1.708
20 PUBLIC OUTREACH TO DATE
October 6, 2021 – NOP Scoping Meeting
March 31, 2022 – Public Open House
April 11, 2022 – RTC Bicycle Advisory Committee
April 12, 2022 – RTC Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee April 18, 2022 – City Transportation and Public Works Commission May 10, 2022 – City Council
October 19, 2022 – Draft EIR Public Comment Meeting
January 23, 2023 – Final EIR made available

PROJECT

OVERVIEW
Team

1.709
21 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Team

1.710
24 SIGNIFICANT & UNAVOIDABLE IMPACTS
Aesthetics/Visual Resources
Biological Resources
Cultural Resources
(Optional Interim Trail only)

SUMMARY OF

DRAFT EIR
Team

1.711
30 COMPARING TREE REMOVAL
Proposed Project
Ultimate Trail Configuration With Optional First Phase Interim Trail Trail Width 12 feet 16 feet
Trees Removed 381 trees
City: 117
County: 264
404 trees
Part 1: 124 trees
Part 2: 0 trees
Part 3: 280 trees

1.712
32 Approaches for Proposed Project
Impacts
Biological
Resources
Cultural
Resources
ConstructionRelated Impacts
Trail Next to Rail
(Ultimate Trail Configuration) Less Less Less
Optional First Phase: Trail On the Rail Line
(Interim Trail) More More More

ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR

1.713
35 COMMENTS RECEIVED
• Alternatives Analysis
• Tree Removal
• Historical Resources
• Sorrento Oaks Mobile Home Park
• Legal Adequacy of the EIR
• Rail Operation and Railbanking
• Project Segmenting

1.714
38 PROJECT BENEFITS
• Aesthetics
• Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas
• Land Use
• Public Safety & Services
• Transportation

PROJECT

BENEFITS
Team

1.715
39 CEQA REQUIREMENTS
Team
• Final EIR
• CEQA Findings of Fact
• Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting
Program
• Statement of Overriding Considerations

ACTIONS
UNDER
CEQA

1.716
40 RECOMMENDATION
Team
That the City Council take the following actions:

1. Adopt a resolution certifying the Environmental Impact Report (EIR);

2. Adopt a resolution adopting Findings of Fact, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), and a
Statement of Overriding Conditions; and

3. Adopt a resolution approving the Design Permit, Slope Modification Permit, Slope Variance, and Watercourse
Variance.

1.717
41 THANK YOU
Team
• Staff and consultants available to provide
information and answer questions
• Thank you!

1.718

Santa Cruz City CouncilMarch 20, 2023

Santa Cruz City Council
March 20, 2023