1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Summary
The City of Santa Cruz Water Department (SCWD) is soliciting bids for liquid aluminum sulfate (alum) to use for water treatment. SCWD typically places orders every 1-2 weeks in lots between 4,000 - 5,000 gallons and orders approximately 300 tons, dry basis, aluminum sulfate in solution annually. Delivery will be made to the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant at 715 Graham Hill Rd in Santa Cruz CA.
Delivered pricing for the following product must be provided in price per dry ton:
• Liquid aluminum sulfate (alum), for drinking water treatment.
See Section 3, Specifications, for product specifications and delivery requirements.
1.2. Contact Information
See Section 2, General Information for Bidder, for information regarding submitting questions. All questions must be submitted through the e-procurement portal and will be answered no later than 5 days prior to bid opening.
Evanda Wilkinson
Management Analyst
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (831) 420-5456
Department:
Water
Department Head:
Heidi Luckenbach
Water Director
1.3. Timeline
The City will make every effort to adhere to the following tentative schedule. All dates set forth in this IFB are subject to change at the City’s sole discretion. Any change will be set forth in an addendum. All references in this IFB to “time” are Pacific Standard Time.
Release Project Date June 1, 2026
IFB Questions and Clarification Due Date June 11, 2026, 10:00am Response to bidder(s) IFB Questions and
Clarification & Issue Addenda
June 11, 2026, 4:00pm
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Title: Liquid Aluminum Sulfate
Bid Submittal Due Date & Public Bid
Opening
June 17, 2026, 2:00pm
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/279669397454
688?p=O2Azro8Ghuf9kpalFj
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2. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR BIDDERS
2.1. Summary Scope of Work
The City invites qualified firms to respond to this Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the project (“Project”) titled below:
Liquid Aluminum Sulfate
IFB No. IFB No. WT-0310
The City anticipates awarding a contract to a vendor for a year term with the option of two-one (1) year term extensions if City so elects. The Bidder will provide the services outlined in Section 3, Specifications.
The successful Bidder shall furnish all tools, equipment, materials, tax, apparatus, facilities, labor, transportation, supervision, and management, not specifically provided by the City, to complete the work described in this IFB.
2.2. Estimated Quantity
The quantities indicated in this solicitation are approximate and based on past experience and expected future need. Quantities may be increased or decreased depending on actual need during the contract term; however, no price adjustments will be allowed as a result of a reduction in the quantity purchased.
2.3. Contact
If you have any questions concerning this solicitation, please ask questions utilizing City’s e-Procurement Question & Answer feature. his RFP document may be downloaded from the City’s e-Procurement Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/santacruzca/projects/268121. For technical assistance, contact OpenGov using the real-time chat feature on the Portal (located in the lower righthand corner of the screen), or via email at [email protected] for support. All questions must be received by 10:00 am on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
2.4. Pre-Bid Meeting & Site Visit
A pre-bid meeting and/or a site visit will not be held for this IFB.
2.5. Bid Submittal Due Date and Public Bid Opening
All bids will be submitted via the City’s e-Procurement Portal at: https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/santacruzca/projects/268121 before due date. Each bid received before 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 will be publicly opened during a Zoom Meeting as stated in Timeline in INTRODUCTION section. Bids received after the deadline will be deemed nonresponsive. If one or more members of the public are present, the name of each bidder and the total amount of each bid will be read aloud at the Bid Opening meeting. Those wishing to attend the meeting should log into Zoom to ensure that they can access the meeting ahead of time. Bidders take full responsibility for City’s receipt of its Bid. The City will not be liable for any expenses incurred by Bidders in responding to this solicitation.
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2.6. Basis of Award
Award shall be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder whose bid is most economical for the purpose intended according to criteria designated in this solicitation.
The items listed in Table 1 Basis of Award of the Bid Form are the most common items ordered and serviced. Table 1 will be the Basis of Award.
2.7. Definitions
In this IFB document:
A. “Bidder” means contractor, firm, supplier, vendor, or consultant submitting a bid to this IFB.
B. “Bid” means the complete submittal of bidder to the City in response to this IFB, including any written documentation submitted with the submittal.
C. “Subcontractor” means those performing any portion of the services as subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, and other business entities and individuals that is not the bidder.
D. “Key Staff”, if required, means the employees of the Contractor or subcontractor(s) that will provide project leadership or expertise in lead technical services and are considered essential to the success of the word.
E. “Contract” also means Purchase Order or Agreement.
2.8. Estimated Dollar Value
The City of Santa Cruz spends an estimated $130,000 in every twelve-month period on Liquid Alum. The City may spend more or less than this amount during the twelve-month contract period.
2.9. Estimated Quantity
The quantities indicated in this solicitation are approximate annual quantities based on past experience and expected future need. Quantities may be increased or decreased depending on actual need during the contract term; however, no price adjustments will be allowed as a result of a reduction in the quantity purchased.
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3. SPECIFICATIONS
3.1. Project Specifications
All liquid alum, Chemical Abstract Service Number 10043-01-3 (aluminum sulfate), furnished to the City will be tested and certified as meeting the specifications of the American National Standard Institute/National Sanitation Foundation Standard 60 (ANSI/NSF 60) (Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals - Health Effects), and equal in quality to the standards prescribed by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Specifications Number B403-16.
Vendor will furnish an affidavit that liquid alum furnished under this specification complies with the requirements of ANSI/NSF 60 and AWWA B403-16. If it is demonstrated during the course of the contract that the liquid alum does not meet these requirements, shows evidence of crystallization, or contamination or if foreign bodies are found to be present in the material at time of delivery, the material will be removed from City premises at the vendor's expense and the contract may be terminated.
Vendor must notify City immediately if, at any time during the contract period, product sold to the City fails to comply with ANSI/NSF 60 certification requirements. Failure to comply with these certification requirements may result in termination of contract.
3.2. Estimated Annual Quantity
An estimated 300 tons, dry basis, aluminum sulfate in solution will be required during the twelve-month contract. Vendor will provide liquid alum in amounts greater or less than estimated quantity at price quoted herein. Delivery to the City pursuant to these specifications will be in lots of not less than 4,000 gallons nor more than 5,000 gallons. Each delivery will be accompanied by a certified weight ticket, a bill of lading, Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and a quality certification of analysis.
3.3. Delivery, Inspection, and Acceptance of Goods
Liquid Alum will be delivered to the City's Water Treatment Plant at 715 Graham Hill Road, Santa Cruz, California. The Liquid Alum will be delivered F.O.B. Destination, freight prepaid and added to the invoice.
Vendor acknowledges that time is of the essence in the performance of this contract. Vendor shall respond and agree to a delivery date no later than three (3) days from the original requests. If the goods are not delivered by the date mutually agreed upon in writing, the City reserves the right to cancel the order. If the City cancels the order because of late delivery, the Vendor will not be allowed to charge the City for any costs associated with the order and may be charged any increase in cost the City will pay for the replacement order.
The delivery truck will be capable of delivering the liquid alum with a thirty foot minimum discharge lift.
Deliveries must be made Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM
Supplier will provide at the time of delivery, a dated receipt, signed by the driver, identifying product and quantity. Delivery (shipping) tickets must be signed by the on-site City personnel at the time of
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delivery and a copy of the delivery ticket presented to him/her. No delivery can be made when a City representative is not on site.
Prior to off-loading, the City will inspect the product to verify compliance with specifications. Any deliveries not meeting chemical quality, regulatory, safety, or delivery requirements will be returned at no cost to the City and must be re-shipped and/or re-delivered by the supplier within 48 hours of the original unacceptable delivery. Acceptance of the goods will be made when the City determines the goods received are in compliance with specifications and are free from defects.
All costs incidental to delivery and off-loading of chemicals must be included in the bid price. Charges not included in the contract resulting from this solicitation will not be paid.
3.4. Order Contact
Each bid should indicate the name, address, telephone number and email address for purpose of placing orders by the City. As well as a 24 hour emergency contact number if available.
Placing orders via email is preferred by City Staff.
3.5. Quality Assurance Analysis
All bids submitted must include material specifications (components with analysis) with typical properties. A quality assurance analysis will be run by City Staff to check the quality of the liquid alum on each delivery. Any product not meeting State and Federal standards, or the specifications outlined in this bid request, will be returned at no cost to the City. A certificate of analysis will be provided for each load of liquid alum product.
3.6. Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
The Vendor will furnish SDS forms for every product delivered.
3.7. Safety Requirements
Delivery of liquid alum will be consistent with these specifications and will comply with all State, Federal and Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) safety regulations.
Drivers of all deliveries will be thoroughly trained and familiar with the related hazards, safety measures, and spill clean-up procedures required for liquid alum. Spills and/or leaks at time of delivery, regardless of the size will be properly and immediately cleaned up by the driver or other personnel of the supplier in accordance with State, Federal and OSHA regulations. Drivers are responsible for spill cleanup caused by overfilling a storage tank.
All drivers must have any necessary personnel safety clothing and/or equipment required for off-loading the liquid alum. City personnel and/or equipment at the delivery locations will not assist in the offloading of chemicals. Any cranes, forklifts, boom trucks or other equipment as well as any additional manpower needed for off-loading are the supplier’s responsibility. City Staff will unlock the liquid alum supply line, ensure there is adequate space in the storage tanks to receive the full delivery, and collect samples.
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3.8. Training
The successful Vendor shall provide safety training to City staff on the safe handling and use of liquid alum and emergency procedures in the event of a leak or spill. The training will be performed at least once during the contract period if requested by the City. This training be offered at no charge to the City.
3.9. Vendor’s Employee Conduct
Vendor will agree to remove any employee whose conduct is improper, inappropriate, or offensive as determined by the City. A removed employee(s) is not to work on City premises without the written consent of the City. The Vendor will remove any employee from working in, or delivering to, City facilities who is convicted of a felony during his/her employment.
3.10. Emergency Response
Vendor will provide the name and contact information of a representative who will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the event of an emergency. During the emergency, Vendor will provide the City of Santa Cruz with all available supplies, materials, equipment and/or services on a priority basis.
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4. INSTRUCTIONS FOR BIDDERS
4.1. Questions and Requests for Clarification and Addenda Questions or concerns regarding any aspect of this IFB shall be sent via City’s e-Procurement Portal’s Question & Answer feature and received by the date identified in Timeline in INTRODUCTION Section.
Any questions or objections not submitted within the time and manner stated above or to anyone other than the above-stated contact will be deemed waived. The City is not bound by the oral representation of any City employee or official. Answers to questions received will be sent out via an addendum.
The City may determine it is necessary to revise any part of this IFB. Revisions will be made by written addenda and it is the Bidder's sole responsibility to comply with any addenda to this IFB and acknoeledge addenda via City's e-Procurement Portal. Addenda will be posted on the City’s eProcurement Portal, https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/santacruzca/projects/268121, under Bidding Information.
4.2. Bid Submittal
Sealed bids are due no later than the Date and time specified in Timeline in INTRODUCTION Section. All bids will be submitted via City's e-Procurement Portal before the due date.
Prior to any bid being accepted, the bidder must demonstrate compliance with all bid specifications for such product. The burden of proof of compliance with this specification is the responsibility of the bidder. No exceptions to or deviations from this specification shall be considered unless each exception or deviation is specifically stated as an exception and accompanied by a detailed description of the exception and/or deviation. If no exception or deviation is shown, the bidder shall be required to furnish the equipment exactly as specified herein.
Failure to comply with all requirements, instructions, and conditions of the invitation for bids and this specification may result in rejection of bid.
4.3. Non-Response to IFB
If the Bidder does not wish to submit a bid, submit a "No Bid" response via City's e-Procurement Portal by the bid due date. Failure to respond to this Invitation for Bids may result in removal of the Bidder from the bid list for the solicited item.
4.4. Responsive Bids
Bids are considered responsive when they:
A. Comply with all requirements, instructions, and conditions of this solicitation.
B. Comply with the bid specifications and do not have unacceptable exceptions.
C. Include pricing for all items listed.
D. Include all required submittals.
E. Acknowledge all bid addenda.
F. Have signatures on the Bid Sheet.
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G. Are received by the bid due date and time.
Non-responsive bids may not be considered and may be rejected.
4.5. Reservation of Rights
The City may exercise at its sole discretion the following rights. By responding to this IFB, Bidders acknowledge and consent to the following rights.
The City reserves the right to:
• Postpone, cancel, or issue a subsequent IFB.
• Reject any or all bids.
• Reject any bid that is conditional in any way or that contains erasures, items not called for, items not in conformity with applicable law, changes, additions, alternate bids, or any responsive or submitted by a Bidder that is not responsible.
• Issue addenda to amend, modify, add or delete requirements of this IFB. • Remedy technical errors in the IFB process.
• Disqualify Bidders who are deemed non-responsive to the requirements of this IFB. • Waive informality or immaterial irregularities or minor defects in a bid offer, accept and/or reject all or part of a bid offer.
• Use judgment whether to respond to questions after the IFB question submittal due date. • Not award a Purchase Order/Contract.
• Award a Purchase Order/Contract to a single Bidder for the entire procurement or to multiple Bidders by line item, in groups, or phases according to Section PRELIMINARY SCOPE OF WORK. • If only one bid is received in response to this bid invitation, require the sole Bidder to submit cost or pricing data to assist in determining if the price is reasonable.
4.6. Bid Sheet Pricing (Bid Form)
The Price Schedule can be found in Section 6, BID FORM.
The Bidder shall use Bid Form for the submittal of their Bid Pricing. The Bid price submitted on the Bid Form shall include the costs for services, systems, or goods listed in Bid Documents. Bid prices shall remain firm and not subject to escalation throughout each contract term. Bidders must be sure to consider any cost fluctuations anticipated when preparing their bid. All costs incidental to the provisions of liquid alum must appear on the Bid Sheet, including delivery costs and transfer of chemical to the City’s storage facilities. Any costs invoiced that were not included on the Bid Sheet will not be paid; therefore, Vendors must ensure that all costs are included even though the Bid Sheet may not specifically list them, such as pallet charges, cleaning or repair charges, etc.
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All information provided in the IFB documents is based on past experience and expected future need.
Actual orders may vary during the contract term. The City reserves the right to obtain competitive quotes for contract items. If the Bidder is not consistently the low bidder for these items, the City may terminate this agreement.
4.7. References
The bidder shall submit with bid a list of a minimum of three (3) client references that have procured Liquid Aluminum Sulfate service from the bidder, for a minimum of 1 year in the last five (5) years which demonstrate relevant experience with the Project. The bidder shall provide company or agency name, contact name, and phone number for each reference. It is the responsibility of the bidder to ensure the client reference contact person is available and willing to provide a reference within the timeframe stated in this section.
4.8. Optional Piggyback Provision
Bidders are requested to indicate on the Bid Sheet if they shall extend the pricing, terms and conditions of this bid to other government agencies, if the bidder is the successful bidder. If the successful bidder agrees to this provision, participating agencies may enter into a contract with the successful bidder for the purchase of the same commodities based on the terms, conditions, and prices, offered by the successful bidder to the City of Santa Cruz for this bid. Minor changes in terms and conditions may be negotiated by participating agencies and the successful bidder.
4.9. Collusive or Sham Bids
No person, supplier, or corporation shall make or file or be interested in more than one bid for the same work, except so far as alternate bid may be called for. Nor shall any person, supplier, or corporation submit a collusive or sham bid, per se, directly or indirectly, to induce any other supplier to submit such a bid, or to refrain from responding, or seek in any way to fix the price, or any portion of the proposed price, in order to secure an advantage against the owner or any person interested in a proposed contract. However, a person, supplier, or corporation submitting a sub-bid to a bidder or quoting prices on materials for a bidder, is not hereby disqualified from submitting sub-bids or quoting prices to other bidders.
The Bidder shall acknowledge that it has not directly or indirectly been collusive with any other bidder in the preparation and submission of the bid by submitting the Non-Collusion Declaration. If at any time it shall be found that the bidder to whom a contract has been awarded has, in presenting the bid, colluded with any other party or parties, said bidder shall be liable to the City for all loss or damage which the City has or may suffer as the result of the collusive activity, including, but not limited to, the cost of advertising and awarding a new contract.
4.10. Public Record
Bids received will become the property of the City. All bids and any subsequent contracts will be subject to public disclosure per the “California Public Records Act,” California Government Code, sections 6250 - 6270, once the City has awarded the contract resulting from this solicitation.
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If a Bidder’s proprietary information is contained in documents or information submitted to City, and Bidder claims that such information falls within one or more CPRA exemptions, Bidder must clearly mark such information “Confidential and Proprietary,” and identify the specific lines containing the information. In the event of a public request for such information, City will make best efforts to provide notice to Bidder prior to such disclosure. If a Bidder contends that any documents are exempt from the CPRA and wishes to prevent disclosure, it is required to obtain a protective order, injunctive relief, or other appropriate remedy from a court of law in Santa Cruz County before the City is required to respond to the CPRA request. If Bidder fails to obtain such remedy within the time the City is required to respond to the CPRA request, City may disclose the requested information without any liability to Bidder. Bidder further agrees that it shall defend, indemnify and hold City harmless against any claim, action or litigation (including but not limited to all judgments, costs, and attorney’s fees) that may result from denial by City of a CPRA request for information arising from any representation, or any action (or inaction), by the Bidder.
4.11. Award Protests
The City desires to foster cooperative relationships with Proposers and to reach a fair agreement in a timely manner.
The City encourages Proposers to resolve issues regarding the RFP requirements or the procurement process through written correspondence and discussions at least 5 business days prior to the proposal due date. This will allow the City time to research the validity of any stated issues and either issue an addendum to the RFP, cancel the RFP, or determine the protest to be unfounded and proceed with the solicitation. In the event, the protest of specifications is denied, and the protester wishes to continue in the protest process, the protesting Proposers must still submit a proposal in accordance with the proposal submittal procedures provided in this solicitation. Questions or concerns prior to the intent to award notice will be directed to:
Evanda Wilkinson, Management Analyst, [email protected] Any Proposer who unsuccessfully bids on a City contract or any trade association representing workers who would have potentially been employed by such contract may formally protest a contract award.
Protest letters regarding a formal contract award will be directed to:
City of Santa Cruz
City Clerk Administrator
809 Center Street, Room 9
Santa Cruz, California 95060
Protests will be filed with the City Clerk’s office no later than 5 business days after the written Notice of Intent to Award is sent by the City. Protest letters will include:
• The name, address, and telephone number of the protester; • The Project title, RFP Number, and RFP due date;
• Name of City employee and Department designated as the contact in the original RFP; • A detailed statement of the legal and/or factual grounds for the protest; and
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• The form of relief requested.
The City Council will hear the protest prior to award of the contract. The protesting party may protest the City’s or successful Proposer’s failure to comply with the requirements of the Purchasing Ordinance or the solicitation documents. The protest must clearly set forth the basis for the protest; grounds not set forth in the written protest will not be considered by the City Council at the protest hearing. The City Council will sustain a protest if the protesting party demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that, as specified above, the City would act improperly in awarding the contract. The decision of the City Council is final.
4.12. Contract Implementation
Upon award notification and prior to final contract approval, the successful proposer will be required to submit:
• Proof of insurance as specified in this solicitation document. • Documentation of all credentials necessary to legally perform the services specified; • A completed W9 form and, if applicable, non-resident withholding exemption form, if not already on file with the City; and
• Proof of a current City of Santa Cruz business tax certificate if the Contractor is located in, or performs services within, the city limits for more than 6 days annually.
The finalized contract will be in the form included as Appendix A: Sample Agreement and include the IFB documents, the Bidder’s Bid Form, and Appendix B: City of Santa Cruz Terms and Conditions of Purchase.
4.13. Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Living The City of Santa Cruz has long been an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable living.
This includes, but is not limited to, the Green Business Program, the Living Wage Ordinance, the Clean Ocean Business Program, the Green Building Program and Climate Action Plan 2030 goals which define greenhouse gas reduction objectives to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035 (compared to 1990 levels). In your Bid Submittal, please provide information about your company regarding any existing environmental conservation goals or guidelines, environmental or greenhouse gas emissions disclosures, Green Business certifications, existing alternative fuel service vehicles, superior employee benefit policies, or other applicable policies.
4.14. Financial Responsibility
The City accepts no financial responsibility for any costs incurred by a bidder in responding to this IFB and bidders acknowledge and agree that their Bids will become the property of the City and may be used by the City in any way deemed appropriate.
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5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
5.1. Insurance Requirements
See Appendix B: City of Santa Cruz Terms & Conditions of Purchase dated March 2022 for the insurance requirements. The successful Bidder will provide Certificate of Insurance(s) for Commercial General Liability, Auto Liability, and Workers’ Compensation as stated in Appendix B. The City reserves the right to adjust the insurance terms provided based on the type and scope of project proposed by the Bidder.
5.2. Prevailing Wages and Labor Compliance
Prevailing Wages do not apply to this contract.
5.3. Living Wage
Proposers agree to comply with the requirements of the Living Wage Ordinance as provided in Santa Cruz Municipal Code Chapter 5.10.
5.4. Agreement (Appendix A)
The successful Proposer will be required to enter into an Agreement in the form of the Agreement attached hereto as Appendix A. The City reserves the right to adjust the terms, including insurance terms provided, based on the type and scope of the project proposed by the Proposer. If a Proposer is unable to accept City’s proposed Agreement terms substantially in the form presented, the Proposer shall include a revised copy of the Agreement with its Proposal. The revised copy must clearly mark any section to which it objects, set forth the Proposer’s proposed alternative terms, and explain the basis for each proposed change. The City reserves all rights to reject any revisions to the Agreement.
If a satisfactory contract cannot be negotiated in a reasonable time, the City in its sole discretion may terminate negotiations.
5.5. Contract Period & Renewal
The term of the contract will commence upon notification of award and continue for a period of 1 year plus any renewals agreed to by the parties and made in writing.
At the option of the City, this contract may be renewed after the initial contract period for up to two 1- year periods under the same contractual terms and conditions and at the same price or price basis. After the initial contract term, the Contractor may request, and the City may approve an increase in unit prices. Increases must be made no less than ninety days before the date in which the City may exercise the option to renew and must include justification to the increase, and a description of the basis for the increase. Increases may not exceed increases in the San Francisco-Oakland Consumer Price Index for all urban wage earners as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or 5%, whichever is less. In all cases, the City may cancel the contract if a requested price increase is not acceptable.
5.6. Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination City’s policies promote a working environment free from abusive conduct, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; and require equal opportunity in employment for all regardless of race, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin (including language use restrictions), ancestry, religion, disability (mental and physical), medical condition, sex, gender (including
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gender identity and gender expression), physical characteristics, marital status, age, sexual orientation, genetic information (including family health history and genetic test results), organizational affiliation, and military or and veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by local, State or Federal law. City requires Consultant to be in compliance with all applicable Federal and State and local equal employment opportunity acts, laws, and regulations and Consultant is responsible for ensuring that effective policies and procedures concerning the prevention of abusive conduct, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation exist in Consultant’s business organization. The City’s current Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination policies to which this Section applies may be viewed at http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/SantaCruz/?SantaCruz09/SantaCruz0983.html and http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showdocument?id=59192. Copies are available upon request from the City’s Purchasing Division.
5.7. Indemnification
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Proposer agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the City, its officials, officers, employees, agents, and volunteers (collectively, “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all liability, claim, action, loss, injury, damage, judgment, or expense, including attorneys’ fees and costs (“Losses”) caused by or resulting from the negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of Proposer, Proposer’s officers, employees, agents, or subcontractors in any way related to this RFP, including but not limited to Proposer’s Proposal. Proposer’s duty to indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitees shall not apply to the extent such Losses are caused by the sole or active negligence or willful misconduct of Indemnitees, as determined by an adjudicatory body or court of competent jurisdiction, if applicable. The obligation to defend shall arise regardless of any claim or assertion that Indemnitees caused or contributed to the Losses.
In the event this Agreement involves the performance of design professional services by Proposer, Proposer’s officers, employees, agents, or subcontractors, Proposer’s costs to defend Indemnitees shall not exceed the Proposer’s proportionate percentage of fault per Civil Code §2782.8. This section shall survive the termination or expiration of the Agreement.
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6. BID FORM
LIQUID ALUMINUM SULFATE AL2O3%
Include delivery to 715 Graham Hill Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 in the price.
Line Item Description Quantity Source of
Material
Manufacturer
of Material
Unit of
Measure
Price (per
dry ton)
Total
1 Liquid Aluminum Sulfate (not less than
7.8)
300 Dry ton
TOTAL
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7. BID SUBMITTALS
7.1. Bid Form*
By confirming, the proposer is affirming to the following:
The undersigned, upon acceptance, agrees to furnish the following in accordance with the specifications and terms and conditions per City of Santa Cruz “Invitation for Bids for Liquid Aluminum Sulfate” at the prices indicated herein.
The bidder, under penalty of perjury, declares not to be a party with any other business to an agreement to propose a fixed or uniform price in connection with this bid.
The bidder declares under penalty of perjury that she/he is authorized to sign this document and bind the business or organization to the terms of this bid.
The bidder recognizes the right of the City of Santa Cruz to reject any or all bids received and to waive any informality or minor defects in bids received.
The bidder declares under penalty of perjury that the information contained in this Bid and all accompanying documents are true and correct.
☐ Please confirm
*Response required
7.2. Non-Collusion Declaration*
By confirming, the proposer, the party making the foregoing proposal declares that the proposal is not made in the interest of, or on behalf of, any undisclosed person, partnership, company, association, organization, or corporation; that the proposal is genuine and not collusive or sham; that the Consultant has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other Consultant or Sub-Consultant to put in a false or sham proposal; and has not directly or indirectly colluded, conspired, connived, or agreed with any Consultant, Sub-Consultant or anyone else to put in a sham proposal, or that anyone shall refrain from proposing; that the Consultant has not in any manner directly or indirectly, sought by agreement, communication, or conference with anyone to fix the proposal price of the Consultant or any other Consultant or Sub-Consultant, or to fix any overhead, profit, or cost element of the proposal price, or of that of any other Consultant or Sub-Consultant, or to secure any advantage against the public body awarding the contract of anyone interested in the proposed contract; that all statements contained in the proposal are true; and, further, that the Consultant has not, directly or indirectly, submitted his or her proposal price or any breakdown thereof, or the contents thereof, or divulged information or data relative thereto, or paid, and will not pay, any fee to any corporation, partnership, company association, organization, proposal depository, or to any member or agent thereof to effectuate a collusive or sham proposal.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
☐ Please confirm
*Response required
22.29 #IFB No. WT-0310
Title: Liquid Aluminum Sulfate
7.3. Compliance
Failure to comply with the City’s Terms and Conditions and Insurance Requirements may disqualify your bid.
7.3.1. By confirming, the bidder's company accept the City's Standard Terms and Conditions.*
☐ Please confirm
*Response required
7.3.2. By confirming, the bidder's company accept the City's Insurance Requirements.*
☐ Please confirm
*Response required
7.4. General Information
7.4.1. Year Business Established*
*Response required
7.4.2. Number of Employees*
*Response required
7.4.3. Annual Sales*
*Response required
7.4.4. Federal Tax ID*
*Response required
7.4.5. References*
List a minimum of three references that have purchased similar items from your business. Provide company or agency name, contact name, phone number, and email address for each reference. *Response required
7.4.6. Delivery
The City can expect that regular deliveries to occur:
Select all that apply
☐ Morning 8am-12pm
☐ Early Afternoon 12pm-3pm
☐ Late Afternoon 3pm-5pm
7.4.7. Emergency Contact Information*
Please include the following information for the Emergency Contact • Emergency Contact
• Email
• Cell Phone
22.30 #IFB No. WT-0310
Title: Liquid Aluminum Sulfate
• Night Phone
*Response required
7.4.8. List all subcontractors to be used. If you will subcontract portions of the work, list all subcontractors below. Include business name, address and phone number.*
*Response required
7.4.9. Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Living The City of Santa Cruz has long been an advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable living.
This includes, but is not limited to, the Green Business Program, the Living Wage Ordinance, the Clean Ocean Business Program, and General Plan goals which define greenhouse gas reduction objectives.
Provide information regarding environmental conservation practices, Green Business certifications, alternative fuel service vehicles, superior employee benefit policies, or other applicable policies.
7.4.10. Optional “Piggyback” Contracting*
Indicate whether your business will extend the pricing, terms and conditions of this bid to other government agencies, if you are the successful bidder. Your business would be required to make this contract available to interested agencies for at least six months following the award of this contract.
Interested government agencies may enter into their own contract with the successful Contractor. They may negotiate minor changes in terms and conditions.
Will your business extend the same prices, terms and conditions to other public agencies? ☐ Yes
☐ No
*Response required
7.5. City of Santa Cruz Business Tax Certificate
Contractor will maintain a current City of Santa Cruz business tax certificate if:
A. Contractor is located in the City of Santa Cruz; or
B. Contractor performs physical work in the City of Santa Cruz for 6 or more days annually; or C. Contractor uses company vehicles to deliver within the City of Santa Cruz for 6 or more days annually.
For additional information and licensing requirements, call the Revenue division at 831/420-5070.
7.5.1. Contractor's Sale and/or service contract (Optional) A copy of any sales and/or service contract that the Contractor will require during the execution of any contract resulting from this solicitation. Any terms that contradict the City’s terms and conditions or contain provisions that are determined not to be in the best interest of the City will disqualify the Contractor.
7.5.2. Does your company have a City of Santa Cruz Business Tax Certificate?* ☐ Yes
22.31 #IFB No. WT-0310
Title: Liquid Aluminum Sulfate
☐ No
*Response required
When equals "Yes"
7.5.3. City of Santa Cruz Business Tax Certificate Number* *Response required
When equals "Yes"
7.5.4. Expiration Date*
*Response required
7.6. LOCAL PREFERENCE CERTIFICATION
Local Businesses and Locally Owned Businesses must submit this certification with each bid or proposal in order to receive the 2% and additional 4% preference applied during the evaluation of any competitive process for goods, supplies, equipment, materials, services, or professional services.
Local Businesses
To qualify for the 2% local business preference, a business must meet the following criteria:
7.6.1. Does the business have an office with at least one employee located in the City of Santa Cruz?*
☐ Yes
☐ No
*Response required
When equals "Yes"
7.6.2. Business Address:*
*Response required
7.6.3. Is the business current in the payment of all taxes, charges, assessments, or fees owed to the City of Santa Cruz? *
☐ Yes
☐ No
*Response required
7.6.4. Does the business hold a valid City of Santa Cruz business license?* ☐ Yes
☐ No
*Response required
When equals "Yes"
7.6.5. DBA/license number:*
*Response required
22.32 #IFB No. WT-0310
Title: Liquid Aluminum Sulfate
7.6.6. Locally Owned Businesses
To qualify for an additional 4% locally owned business preference, a business must meet the above requirements for a local business and at least 50% of the business’ owners must live in the County of Santa Cruz.
To qualify for the locally owned business preference, list all of the business’ owners and their county of residence.
• Owner Name, County
7.6.7. By submitting information for Local Preference, I represent that I qualify as a (check all that apply):*
☐ Local Business
☐ Locally Owned Business
☐ None of the above
*Response required
7.6.8. I understand that by submitting false information or failing to disclose material information in order to qualify for the preference my business will be 1) required to pay the city any difference between the contract amount and what the city’s cost would have been if the contract had been properly awarded, and 2) prohibited from bidding on any city contract or receiving any city contract for a period of three years of the discovery of facts supporting the same.* ☐ Please confirm
*Response required
7.7. EMERGENCY RESOURCE AGREEMENT
In previous disasters, many organizations have responded enthusiastically to the City’s requests for supplies and services needed to protect the health, safety, and property of the Santa Cruz public. The information on this list allows us to quickly locate desperately needed resources. Because many businesses give us their nighttime phone numbers, we are able to obtain crucial supplies and services after normal business hours.
If you are interested in being a part of this list, please take a few minutes to fill out the form below, review the categories, and check any that apply.
We urge you to provide the manager’s or owner’s home address and phone number. Having information on how to contact a firm after hours greatly improves our emergency response. This information is kept confidential and used only in the event of serious life-threatening emergencies.
7.7.1. Please provide manager's or owner's name, home address, email address and phone number
7.7.2. By confirming this agreement, the vendor agrees to charge the City of Santa Cruz a rate that is fair market value. The vendor also agrees to provide the City of Santa Cruz with all available supplies, materials, equipment and/or services on a priority basis.
☐ Please confirm
22.33 #IFB No. WT-0310
Title: Liquid Aluminum Sulfate
7.7.3. Emergency Resource List
Please download the below documents, complete, and upload. • Emergency_Resource_List.pdf
7.8. Certifcation Submittals
Please submit the following with your bid
7.8.1. Vendor’s Aluminum Sulfate NSF 60 certification documentation* Upload NSF 60 certification here.
*Response required
7.8.2. Aluminum Sulfate certificate of analysis*
Upload Aluminum Sulfate certificate of analysis here.
*Response required
7.8.3. Aluminum Sulfate SDS*
Upload Aluminum Sulfate SDS here
*Response required
7.9. Delivery Days
7.9.1. Delivery Days- Delivery will be made _____ days after receipt of order. * *Response required
7.10. Acknowledgement
Please acknowledge the following
7.10.1. Acknowledgment of Addenda and Questions and Answers In order to submit a bid, the vendor acknowledges that they have read all addenda, and questions and answers posted for this solicitation.
☐ Please confirm
22.34 9
EXHIBIT B
CONTRACTOR’S BID PROPOSAL
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22.39 City Council
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: 07/23/2026
AGENDA OF: 08/11/2026
DEPARTMENT: Water
SUBJECT: Old City of Santa Cruz Dam Removal Project Landowner Agreement and Cooperator Agreement (WT)
LOCATION: County
RECOMMENDATION: Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute the following agreements, in a form to be approved by the City Attorney, for the Old City of Santa Cruz Dam Removal Project (Project):
1) Landowner Agreement between Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz and the City of Santa Cruz; and
2) Cooperator Agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, and the City of Santa Cruz.
BACKGROUND: The Old City of Santa Cruz Dam, built in 1876 on Branciforte Creek to serve the few connections in the Happy Valley Area at the time, was acquired by the City of Santa Cruz in 1917 when they acquired the F.A. Hihn Water Company. The structure consists of a concrete diversion dam with a gap where flashboards were historically placed to back up water at the site and includes a rock retaining wall along the left bank of the creek upstream of the dam.
The City stopped using and maintaining the dam in 1956 as the system served a relatively small number of customers in the Happy Valley area, infrastructure maintenance and repair needs were increasingly onerous, and other water sources were coming online at that time.
Branciforte Creek currently supports Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead and historically supported CCC Coho salmon. Branciforte Creek is considered a high priority sub-watershed of the San Lorenzo River that could greatly benefit from the removal of fish passage barriers and enhancement of general stream health. Ultimately, the Project will result in the removal of a temporal fish passage barrier on Branciforte Creek, which will improve passage for salmonids during all life-stages, and promote the movement of large woody debris and natural streambed sediment movement, which can be disrupted by instream barriers/artificial hydrologic constrictions. The project will be monitored annually for three to five years following completion to satisfy project permit requirements.
23.1 DISCUSSION: The Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District (RCD), with state funding from the California Wildlife Conservation Board, plans to remove the dam with the goal of improving fish passage conditions at the site as part of the RCD’s ongoing efforts to remove priority barriers in the Branciforte Creek watershed. Implementation of the project is scheduled to begin in mid to late August 2026 and should be completed by October 15, 2026.
A Landowner Agreement is required to allow the RCD and its contractors to perform work on City property. A Cooperator Agreement is a component of the RCD’s Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program and serves as the onsite project permit.
Removal of the dam aligns with the conservation strategies in the City’s Anadromous Salmonid Habitat Conservation Plan (ASHCP) and will be used as credit towards the ASHCP’s Non Flow Conservation Fund obligation.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) DETERMINATION:
CEQA review for the Old City of Santa Cruz Dam Removal Project was completed by the County of Santa Cruz as lead agency for the Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program (PIR). An initial study/mitigated negative declaration for the PIR was adopted by the County of Santa Cruz in 2005 (State Clearinghouse No. 2004112063).
HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES (HiAP): This project aligns with the public health and sustainability pillars of the City’s HiAP initiative by supporting the Water Department’s work to enhance functioning habitat and preserve sites of high ecological value within City watersheds.
Creating adequate habitat and water quality for cold water fish species, such as steelhead trout and coho salmon, is a key component of the ASHCP conservation strategy, which enables the Water Department to continue to preserve and secure reliable and resilient water supplies.
FISCAL IMPACT:
1. The recommendation in this report impacts the General Fund: No
2. This recommendation requires a budget adjustment: No
3. The recommendation creates an on-going expenditure commitment: No FISCAL IMPACT DESCRIPTION: There is no impact to the General Fund as a result of this action. This project will be fully funded by a grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board.
Prepared By:
Zeke Bean
Associate Planner II
Submitted By:
Heidi Luckenbach
Water Director
Approved By:
Matt Huffaker
City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. LANDOWNER AGREEMENT_DRAFT.PDF
2. COOPERATOR AGREEMENT_DRAFT.PDF
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RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
AGREEMENT
This Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County ("RCD") and City of Santa Cruz (“Landowner”) on _____________, 2026 (individually, a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”).
RECITALS
A. Landowner owns the Property located near 3875 Branciforte Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065, APN 101-05-105 more particularly described in Exhibit A (the “Property”).
B. The RCD's mission is to help people protect, conserve and restore natural resources through information, education and technical assistance programs.
C. The RCD has received or will receive grant funding from the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) a Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) Grant (the “Funding Agency”).
D. The RCD and Landowner mutually desire to pursue the Project described on Exhibit C which entails removal of an existing dam on Branciforte Creek in Santa Cruz, California. The dam presents a fish passage barrier to migrating steelhead and coho salmon and the project seeks to improve passage conditions while maintaining beneficial habitat features at the site.
D. Landowner has agreed to grant the right of access to the RCD over and through the area depicted in Exhibit B, and the easement as referenced in the Cooperative Agreement, as the access area to the RCD, its designated employees, agents, or anyone authorized to perform tasks on their behalf (“RCD Parties”) for the purposes set forth in this Agreement.
F. The Project is subject to the Grant Conditions attached hereto as Exhibit D.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, terms and conditions hereinafter contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Recitals; Exhibits. The Recitals set forth at the beginning of this Agreement are deemed incorporated herein, and the parties hereto represent they are true, complete and correct. This Agreement shall be read in conjunction with the following exhibits which are incorporated herein by this reference:
Exhibit A Legal Description of the Property
Exhibit B Access Area
Exhibit C Project Description
Exhibit D Grant Conditions
Exhibit E RCD Insurance
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2. Authorization to Pursue Project. Landowner hereby authorizes the RCD Parties, at the sole cost and expense of the RCD, to:
• Enter the Access Area for purposes related to this Agreement; • Retain consultants to prepare plans and specifications for the Project; • Apply for permits;
• Investigate and report to applicable regulatory or Funding Agencies information relating to the Project, including GPS coordinates; Project maps; Project designs; photo documentation (before, during and after); permits, monitoring and test results; • If permits are issued and funding secured by the RCD, retain contractors or qualified persons to implement and construct the Project.
• Monitor the project for three (3) to five (5) years
• Use, publish, or display any results of the work or conservation effort entailed in the Project.
• Conduct before, during and after tours of the Project, subject to approval of the Landowner as to date and time.
2. Grant of Access. Landowner hereby grants to the RCD Parties the right of access during the Term, as defined below, for the purpose of entering the portion of the Property depicted on Exhibit B (“Access Area”) for the following purposes: project planning, implementation, funder site visit, and post-construction monitoring.
The “Access Term” commences on the date this agreement is executed and shall continue for no longer than 10 years but may terminate after the Useful Life of the Project following project implementation completion as required by the Funding Agencies, permitting agencies or defined in the Grant Conditions relating to the Project. Following project implementation, RCD and partners will contact Landowner to coordinate entry.
The Access Term may be extended by mutual agreement of the Parties.
3. Permits. Compliance with all Laws. RCD shall secure all required permits to pursue the Project and shall not undertake any part of the Project that requires permits without first obtaining the required permits. RCD represents and warrants that it shall comply with all other local, state, and federal laws and regulations in the performance of the Project.
4. Right To Terminate.
(a) Upon completion of project specifications, the RCD shall provide Landowner with a copy of the proposed plans and specifications for the work, and Landowner shall have fifteen (15) days to approve said plans and specifications. If Landowner does not object to the plans and specifications within said fifteen (15) days, Landowner shall be deemed to have approved said plans and specifications. If Landowner does object, Landowner and the RCD agree to meet and confer to explore if the basis for the objection can be removed or eliminated. If, after meeting and conferring, Landowner still objects, the Landowner can terminate this Agreement. After approval of the plans and specifications, Landowner agrees that it authorizes the RCD to proceed
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with the Project, including implementation, monitoring and closeout, subject to the RCD’s right of termination paragraph (b) below. If the specifications change substantively, the Landowner must be promptly notified and given the opportunity to object to the new specifications. (b) The RCD may in its sole discretion, terminate this Agreement if permits are not issued; if funding is inadequate; if bids received exceed available funding; if desired outcomes cannot be reasonably achieved; if Grant Conditions or permit requirements cannot reasonably be satisfied; or for other good cause. If, however, the RCD awards a construction contract for the implementation of the Work, the RCD agrees to complete the construction work subject to available funding or restore the Project site to its original condition.
5. Construction work.
RCD represents and warrants that for any work exceeding $25,000, RCD shall secure payment and performance bonds for the work. Additionally, RCD represents and warrants that to the extent work performed on landowner property is considered a “public work” (construction, alteration, demolition, or repair work) pursuant and subject to Labor Code section 1720 et seq., RCD shall make sure that each Contractor shall conform to any and all prevailing wage requirements applicable to such work/and or services under this Agreement and any contract for such will include requirements to pay prevailing wages. RCD shall make sure that the project complies with all public work requirements. RCD agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Landowner and its officials, officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, costs, expenses, attorney’s fees, damages, expenses, fines, financial consequences, interest, and penalties, of any kind or nature, arising from or relating to any failure (or alleged failure) of the Contractor and any sub to pay prevailing wages or to otherwise comply with the requirements of prevailing wage law relating to a public work.
6. Insurance.
The RCD shall maintain general liability insurance covering bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage, with limits of no less than One million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence. See Exhibit E.
The RCD’s contractor carries general liability insurance with limits of no less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and two million dollars ($2,000,000) in aggregate and workers’ compensation insurance as required by law. The RCD’s contractor carries an umbrella liability policy of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) per occurrence and ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in aggregate. As to the contractor’s general liability policy, the RCD has required that the contractor name the Landowner and their respective officials, officers, and employees as additional insureds on its policy of insurance.
7. Defense and Indemnification.
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RCD agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Landowner, its officials, officers, and employees (collectively, “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all liability, claim, action, loss, injury, damage, judgment, or expense, including attorneys’ fees and costs (“Losses”) to the extent caused by or resulting from the negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of RCD, its officers, employees, agents, contractors, or subcontractors in any way related to this Agreement. RCD’s duty to indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitees shall not apply to the extent such Losses are caused by the sole or active negligence or willful misconduct of Indemnitees. RCD’s obligation to defend shall arise regardless of any claim or assertion that Indemnitees caused or contributed to the Losses. This section shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
8. No Lien. RCD shall not permit or suffer any mechanic’s or materialman’s lien of any kind or nature to be enforced against Landowner property for any work done or materials furnished thereon related to this Agreement.
9. Cooperation. Each Party agrees to cooperate fully with the other Party and to execute and deliver such further documents, certificates, agreements and instruments and to take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the other Party to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
10. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and all exhibits referred to in this Agreement constitute the final, complete, and exclusive statement of the terms of the Agreement between the parties relating to the Project and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings or agreements of the parties. Neither party has been induced to enter into this Agreement by, and neither party is relying on, any representation or warranty outside those expressly set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended by an Agreement in writing signed by both the Landowner and the RCD.
11. Dispute Resolution.
(a) Mediation. The RCD and Landowner agree to mediate any dispute or claim arising between them out of this Agreement before resorting to arbitration. The mediation fees shall be divided equally between the parties.
(b) Arbitration. Any dispute or claim in law or equity arising out of this Agreement which is not settled through mediation shall be decided by neutral binding arbitration in accordance with Part III, Title 9, of the California Code of Civil Procedure (commencing with Section 1280), and not by court action except as provided by California law for judicial review of arbitration proceedings.
Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The parties shall have the right to discovery in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure Section 1283.05. Whenever possible, the arbitrator shall be a retired Superior or Appellate Court Judge or Justice, or someone of equivalent knowledge and experience and the arbitration proceeding shall take place in Santa Cruz County. The filing of a judicial action to enable the recording of a notice of pending action, for order of attachment, receivership, injunction, or other provisional remedy, shall not constitute a waiver of the right to arbitrate under this provision.
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12. Nondiscrimination. During the performance of this Grant Agreement, neither party shall unlawfully discriminate against, harass, or allow harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of sex (gender), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, creed, national origin (including language use restriction), pregnancy, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), age (over 40), marital status, and denial of medical and family care leave or pregnancy disability leave.
Both parties shall ensure that the evaluation and treatment of their employees and applicants for employment are free from such discrimination and harassment. Both parties shall comply with the applicable provisions of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Gov. Code §12990.) and the applicable regulations promulgated there under (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 11000 et seq.).
The applicable regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission implementing the California Fair Employment and Housing Act are incorporated into this Agreement by reference.
13. General Provisions.
(a) Reasonableness and Good Faith. Whenever this Agreement requires any party to give its consent or approval to any action on the part of the other, such consent or approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(b) Information. The parties agree to provide all information necessary for the compliance with this Agreement.
(c) Adverse Circumstances. The parties shall promptly inform each other of any circumstances that interfere or threaten to interfere with the successful implementation of this Agreement.
(d) Partial Invalidity. If a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction holds any Agreement clause to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part for any reason, the validity and enforceability of the remaining clauses, or portions of them, shall not be affected.
(e) Time is of the Essence. Time is of the essence of this Agreement and each of its provisions.
(f) Open Records. All books and records of either party relating to the project shall be open to inspection and audit upon reasonable notice for any purpose related to this Agreement.
Both parties are public agencies and subject to the requirements of the Public Records Act. (g) Further Documents. At any time and from time to time during the term of this Agreement as well as following completion of the Project, each party shall execute and deliver (and acknowledge before a notary public where necessary) such documents as the other party may reasonably request or as are necessary to carry out and give effect to the purposes and intent of this Agreement.
(h) Modification and Waiver. This Agreement is not subject to modification except in writing signed by the Parties and any attempted modification not in compliance with this
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requirement shall be void. Waiver by any party of any portion of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of the same or any other portion hereof.
(i) Counterpart; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be signed in Counterpart.
Each party agrees that this Agreement and any other documents to be delivered in connection herewith may be electronically signed, and that any electronic signatures appearing on this Agreement or such other documents are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability, and admissibility.
(j) No Agency or Partnership. This Agreement shall not be construed as making either party an agent, partner or joint venture of the other party. (k) Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be deemed to be made under, and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. (l) Warranty of Authority. The signatories to this Agreement warrant and represent that each is authorized to execute this Agreement and that their respective signatures serve to legally obligate their respective representatives, agents, successors and assigns to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.
(m) Notices. All notices, demands or requests from one Party to another may be personally delivered, sent by facsimile, sent by recognized overnight delivery service, sent by mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or by electronic mail, to the persons at the addresses set forth below. Notice shall be deemed given five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail. All notices must be given concurrently via email.
Parties may from time to time specify an alternate address in writing and it shall be effective at the time of personal delivery, facsimile transmission, mailing or electronic mailing.
CITY
Chris Berry
c/o City of Santa Cruz, Water Department
212 Locust St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
[email protected]
RCD of Santa Cruz County
2425 Porter Street, Suite 19
Soquel, CA 95073
[email protected]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.
[Signatures on following page.]
23.8 7
RCD LANDOWNER
RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Date Date
Lisa Lurie, Executive Director Signature
2425 Porter Street, Suite 19
Street Address
Soquel, CA 95073
City, State, Zip
Email: [email protected]
E-mail Address
Approved as to form:
Office of the City Attorney
___________________
Ashley Wheelock
23.9 8
Exhibit A – Description of Property
APN NUMBER AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION
APN: 101-05-105
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Exhibit B – Access Area
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Exhibit C - Project Description
Branciforte Creek has long been identified by the Integrated Watershed Restoration Program Technical Advisory Committee as a high priority subwatershed of the San Lorenzo River that could greatly benefit from the removal of fish passage barriers and enhancement of general stream health. Ultimately, the Project will result in the removal of one temporal fish passage barrier, which will:
a) Improve passage in Branciforte Creek for salmonids during all life stages; b) Promote the movement of large woody debris (LWD) and natural bedload, which can be disrupted by instream barriers/artificial hydrologic constrictions; and c) Reduce the known potential for natural LWD recruitment to be disrupted through cutting of wood accumulated on artificial instream constrictions.
In addition, the project will be monitored annually by the RCD for three (3) to five (5) years following project completion to satisfy project permit requirements.
The landowner is responsible for operating and maintaining the project for 10 years, or for the useful life of the practice as defined by the NRCS Practice Standard(s):
• RCS Practice Specification Critical Area Planting (342) (useful life 10 years) • NRCS Practice Specification Stream Habitat Improvement (395) (useful life 5 years) • NRCS Practice Specification Aquatic Organism Passage (396) (useful life 5 years) • NRCS Practice Specification Forest Trails and Landings (655) (useful life 5 years) • NRCS Practice Specification Control of Water (909).
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Exhibit D - Grant Conditions
INSPECTION. The RCD and the landowner shall permit the Wildlife Conservation Board, its agents or employees, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to visit the project site at agreedupon intervals, but not less than once every three years, during the term of this agreement to determine whether the site is being restored and maintained in a manner consistent with the grant agreement.
LANDOWNER'S USE OF THE PROPERTY. Except as provided in this paragraph, the landowner reserves the right to use the property in any manner, provided that its use does not unreasonably interfere with the RCD’s rights under this agreement. During the term of this agreement, the landowner shall use the property and habitat improvements in a manner consistent with the purposes of the grant agreement; this includes, but is not limited to, refraining from harming, damaging, removing, altering, or interfering with the restored sites.
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Exhibit E - RCD Insurance
23.28 Cooperator Agreement #BrC4
COOPERATOR AGREEMENT
TERMS OF ASSISTANCE AND NOTIFICATION REGARDING
THE PROCEDURES FOR CONFORMANCE WITH MULTIPLE PERMITS
between the
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE and the
RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
and the Cooperator(s) identified below:
This Cooperator Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into on this ____ day of ___________, 2026 by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County (RCDSCC), and the following “Cooperator(s)” identified below.
Landowners:
Name: City of Santa Cruz
Name: Ann Caudle
Contractor for: [___] Landowner(s) [_X_]RCDSCC (Check where applicable) Name: Seamair Construction, Inc.
_________________________________________________________________________ Operator for: [___] Landowner(s) [___] RCDSCC (Check where applicable) Name: N/A
Landowner(s), Contractor and Operator are individually referred to as a “Cooperator” and collectively referred to as the “Cooperators” herein.
The NRCS, RCDSCC, Landowner(s), Contractor and Operator are individually referred to as a “Party” and collectively referred to as the “Parties” herein.
RECITALS
A. The NRCS, the RCDSCC, with the support of local, State and federal agencies with permitting jurisdiction, developed the Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program (“PIR Program”) for qualified environmentally beneficial projects on lands in Santa Cruz County.
B. The regulatory agencies that have approved the “one stop” permit shopping under the PIR Program include: the County of Santa Cruz, California Coastal Commission, Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (collectively, “Permitting Agencies”).
23.29 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
C. In addition to streamlining the permit process, assistance is available from the NRCS and the RCDSCC for project design, technical assistance, and information on applicable cost-sharing programs. The PIR Program allows a property owner to work closely with the NRCS and the RCDSCC on permitting, rather than having to obtain separate permits from multiple agencies.
D. The City of Santa Cruz landowner owns and/or has easement access to the land described on Exhibit “A1” (APN#: 101-05-105) and has easement access to the dam site (which extends approximately 30 feet onto APN#101-11-101) as additionally described on Exhibit “A1”.
Private landowner owns the land described on Exhibit “A2” (APN # 101-05-104).
E. Landowner(s) has requested assistance from the NRCS and the RCDSCC for the Project described on Exhibit “B” (“Project”). The NRCS and the RCDSCC have determined that the Project is appropriate for the PIR Program.
F. The RCDSCC and the NRCS have:
(i) [_X_] Assisted in the design of the Project; the preparation of specifications for the Project, and the development of operation and maintenance requirements for the Project. (ii) [_X_] Developed a conservation plan designed to enhance natural resources and comply with Program permits.
(iii) [_X_] Assisted with environmental review and approval under the California Environmental Quality Act.
(iv) [_X_] Provided the Cooperators with information and support relating to construction oversight and monitoring for permit compliance to avoid or minimize adverse impacts of projects to natural resources and water quality. (v) [_X_] Identified monitoring and reporting requirements. (vi) [_X_] Assisted in obtaining the following permits for the Project:
Master Permit issued by the County of Santa Cruz - complies with the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, the Santa Cruz County Local Coastal Program (in conjunction with the California Coastal Commission), the California Environmental Quality Act, and the following County ordinances:
County Code Sections:
9.70 – Encroachment Permit Regulations
12.10 – Building Regulations
13.10 – Zoning Ordinance
13.20 – Coastal Zone Regulations
16.10 – Geologic Hazards Ordinance
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Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
16.20 – Grading Regulations
16.22 – Erosion Control Ordinance
16.24 – Water Quality Control Ordinance
16.30 – Riparian Corridor and Wetlands Protection Ordinance
16.32 – Sensitive Habitat Protection Ordinance
16.34 – Significant Trees Protection Ordinance
16.40 – Native American Cultural Sites Ordinance
16.44 – Paleontological Resource Protection Ordinance
Regional General Permit with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco, CA - complies with Section 404 and Section 10 of the Clean Water Act. Water Quality Certification issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region III, San Luis Obispo, CA - complies with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Biological opinions and incidental take statements, issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura, CA and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service, Santa Rosa, CA - complies with the Federal Endangered Species Act.
The following additional permit(s) are required for the Project:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement [_X_] RCDSCC or [___] Landowner(s) (check appropriate box) shall be responsible for obtaining said additional permit(s) prior to commencement of the work on the Project. [_X_] RCDSCC or [___] Landowner(s) (check appropriate box) shall be responsible for paying for said additional permit(s) prior to commencement of the work on the Project.
G. THIS AGREEMENT SERVES AS THE ONSITE PROJECT PERMIT FOR ALL OF THE AGENCIES IN THE BOXES CHECKED ABOVE.
H. The permit conditions, conservation plan, plans and specifications, maintenance specifications and monitoring requirements (collectively, the “Project Documents”) are attached hereto as Exhibit “B”, and the requirements contained in the Project Documents are referred to as “Project Requirements”.
I. Landowner(s) and the RCDSCC and/or NRCS have entered into the following Agreements relating to the Project, the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by this reference:
Access Agreement (City property and easement) dated __________________ Temporary Access Agreement (private parcel) ________________ dated ________________
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Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
J. [_X_] RCDSCC or [___] Landowner(s) (check appropriate box) have contracted with the Contractor and/or Operator to implement the Project.
K. RCDSCC and Landowner(s) have certain responsibilities in connection with the Project as set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto (Statement of Work).
NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Cooperators agree as follows:
1. Recitals. The above recitals are hereby incorporated into this Amendment as if fully set forth herein.
2. Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the date set forth above, and shall terminate upon completion of the Project and compliance with all of the terms and conditions of the Project Requirements (defined below), unless earlier terminated as provided herein.
3. Representations and Warranties. Landowner(s) represents and warrants that (a) the work relating to the Project will be constructed entirely on property owned by Landowner(s) or over which the Landowner(s) has an easement; (b) the RCDSCC and NRCS have no obligation to survey Landowner’s land; to determine the size and/or boundary lines of the Property; or to evaluate any water rights connected to the Property; and (c) that he/she has provided NRCS and RCDSCC with information about all existing easements and other restrictions on the Property that could be affected by the proposed Project. If easements or restrictions affect the Property or the Project, describe the easements or restrictions below.
The City of Santa Cruz states that the dam, pump house, and retaining wall were built in 1876 and were intended to serve the few connections in the Happy Valley area. The water infrastructure there was abandoned in the 1950s. It looks to have been part of a package deal from the F.A. Hihn Water Co. in 1917 (Refer to deeds in Exhibit A). The City’s diversion isn’t entirely on City land. Because the property was listed in a Water Department financial asset report, according to the City Attorney’s office, this strongly suggests the property is City-owned land managed by the Water Department, likely serving as watershed protection, a tank site, or a pump station location. Since it appeared on a City Water Commission asset list, the City has easement access to the land.
If the Project encroaches on land of another, or if either Landowner fails to provide easement information to the NRCS and RCDSCC, and a conflict with the terms and conditions of any existing easements/restrictions occurs as a result of Project implementation, the Landowner(s) will be solely responsible to correct the violation consistent with the terms and conditions of the easement/restrictions.
4. Compliance with Project Requirements. The Cooperators and their employees, agents, contractors, subcontractors, representatives, and laborers (“Cooperator Parties”), shall perform and cause to be performed all work relating to the Project in full compliance with the Project Requirements.
5. Access and Information.
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Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
(a) During the term of this Agreement, NRCS and RCDSCC shall have access over those portions of the Property as reasonably necessary to perform inspections, monitoring and any other actions described in the Project.
(b) The Cooperator Parties shall allow the NRCS and RCDSCC to report information about all aspects of the Project, including the status, the progress of the work, compliance with the Project Requirements, the cost of the work and Project results, including photographs, and provide an annual or periodic report to the Permitting Agencies or regulatory agencies.
6. Default. The Cooperators acknowledge that the RCDSCC is not a regulatory agency and has no direct enforcement authority relating to the Cooperators’ failure to comply with the Project Requirements except as otherwise required by law. Enforcement authority rests with the agency issuing the Permits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Cooperator Parties do not perform and comply with the Project Requirements, or violate any term or condition of the Project Requirements (“Default(s)”), the Cooperator shall immediately correct the Default at the sole expense of the responsible Cooperator. Upon the request of the Cooperator, the RCDSCC will provide recommendations and guidance to correct the Default and secure compliance. If, after a Default, the Cooperators fail to correct the Default or secure compliance with the Project Requirements, the RCDSCC may, in its sole discretion, take any action appropriate under the circumstances, including (a) notifying the Cooperators that their activities are inconsistent with the Project Requirements; (b) informing the Cooperators’ that the Project is no longer covered by the Permits; (c) disclaiming any responsibility to monitor or oversee the Project; (d) taking other appropriate action consistent with the Project Documents or requirements of the Permitting Agencies; and/or (e) terminating this Agreement. The Cooperators shall be directly liable to the Permitting Agencies for any and all Defaults, and shall reapply directly to the Permitting Agencies for necessary permits and/or development rights in connection with the Project, in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, at the sole expense of the Cooperators.
7. Indemnity. When the Contractor contracts directly with the RCDSCC, the Contractor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless RCDSCC, NRCS, the Landowner(s), the Operator, the Permitting Agencies, the funding agencies; and their officers, directors, employees, agents and volunteers; from and against any and all Claims caused by, or arising out of, or in any way connected with the Project or a Default by the Contractor, its subcontractors, or their officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers. The Contractor’s obligation to indemnify under this paragraph shall survive termination of this Agreement.
8. Dispute Resolution.
(a) Mediation. The Parties agree to mediate any dispute or claim arising between them out of this Agreement before resorting to arbitration. The mediation fees shall be divided equally between the parties.
(b) Arbitration. Any dispute or claim in law or equity arising out of this Agreement which is not settled through mediation shall be decided by neutral binding arbitration in accordance with Part III, Title 9, of the California Code of Civil Procedure (commencing with Section 1280), and not by court action except as provided by California law for judicial review
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of arbitration proceedings. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Parties shall have the right to discovery in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure Section 1283.05. Whenever possible, the arbitrator shall be a retired Superior or Appellate Court Judge or Justice, or someone of equivalent knowledge and experience and the arbitration proceeding shall take place in Santa Cruz County.
The filing of a judicial action to enable the recording of a notice of pending action, for order of attachment, receivership, injunction, or other provisional remedy, shall not constitute a waiver of the right to arbitrate under this provision.
9. Nondiscrimination. During the performance of this Agreement, the Cooperator Parties shall not unlawfully discriminate, harass, or allow harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of sex (gender), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, creed, national origin (including language use restriction), pregnancy, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer/genetic characteristics), age (over 40), marital status, and denial of medial and family care leave or pregnancy disability leave. The Landowner(s) shall ensure that the evaluation and treatment of their employees and applicants for employment are free from such discrimination and harassment. The Landowner(s) shall comply with the provisions of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Gov. Code § 12990.) and the applicable regulations promulgated there under (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 11000 et seq.). The applicable regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission implementing the California Fair Employment and Housing Act are incorporated into this Agreement by reference.
10. Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective heirs, personal representatives, assigns and successors in interest of Cooperators, who shall notify such parties of the existence of this Agreement and shall also notify NRCS and RCDSCC when the Property is being offered for sale or lease.
11. Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed to the parties at the addresses set forth on the signature pages below, and delivered by first class mail or email.
12. General Provisions.
(a) Reasonableness and Good Faith. Whenever this Agreement requires any party to give its consent or approval to any action on the part of the other, such consent or approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(b) Information. The parties agree to provide all information necessary for the compliance with this Agreement.
(c) Adverse Circumstances. The parties shall promptly inform each other of any circumstances that interfere or threaten to interfere with the successful implementation of this Agreement.
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Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
(d) Partial Invalidity. If a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction holds any Agreement clause to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part for any reason, the validity and enforceability of the remaining clauses, or portions of them, shall not be affected.
(e) Time is of the Essence. Time is of the essence of this Agreement and each of its provisions.
(f) Open Records. All books and records of the Landowner(s) relating to the project shall be open to inspection and audit upon reasonable notice for any purpose related to this Agreement.
(g) Further Documents. At any time and from time to time during the term of this Agreement as well as following completion of the Project, each party shall execute and deliver (and acknowledge before a notary public where necessary) such documents as the other party may reasonably request or as are necessary to carry out and give effect to the purposes and intent of this Agreement.
(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be a fully binding and enforceable contract and Agreement against the party signing such counterpart, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one Agreement. (i) No Agency or Partnership. This Agreement shall not be construed as making either party an agent, partner or joint venture of the other party. (j) Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be deemed to be made under, and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. (k) Cooperation Clause. Each party agrees to cooperate fully and to take all additional actions that may be necessary or appropriate to give full force and effect to the terms and intent of this Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGES ATTACHED]
23.35 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.
RCDSCC AND NRCS:
RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE - NATURAL
RESOURCES CONSERVATION
SERVICE
Date Date
Lisa Lurie, Executive Director Signature
2425 Porter Street, Suite 19
Street Address Street Address
Soquel, CA 95073
City, State Zip City State Zip
___________________________________
E-mail Address E-mail Address
23.36 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
COOPERATORS:
LANDOWNER 1 (City of Santa Cruz) CONTRACTOR
Date Date
Signature Signature
Street Address Street Address
City, State Zip City State Zip
_____________________________________
E-mail address
LANDOWNER 2 (Private Landowner)
Date
Signature
Street Address
City, State Zip
______________________________________
E-mail address
E-mail Address
23.37 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
Exhibit A1 – Description of Property
APN NUMBER AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION
APN: 101-05-105
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23.39 Cooperator Agreement
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23.40 Cooperator Agreement
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23.41 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
23.42 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
23.43 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
23.44 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
23.45 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
23.46 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
23.47 Cooperator Agreement
Santa Cruz Countywide Partners in Restoration Permit Coordination Program
23.48 Cooperator Agreement
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23.49 Cooperator Agreement
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23.50 Cooperator Agreement #BrC4
Dam Site Location
Dam site extends approximately 30 feet onto APN # 101-11-101, as demonstrated below. City of Santa Cruz has confirmed easement access to the dam site.
23.51 Cooperator Agreement #BrC4
Exhibit A2– Description of Property
APN NUMBER AND LEGAL DESCRIPTION
APN: 101-05-104
See access area description below. Figure 1 outlines the property boundaries as per the County Assessor’s Website (https://sccgis.santacruzcountyca.gov/gisweb/). Figure 2 outlines the Access and Staging Plan as described in the 100% Design Planset.
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23.53 Cooperator Agreement
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23.54 Cooperator Agreement
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23.55 Cooperator Agreement
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Exhibit B
Project Description and Project Documents
Branciforte Creek has long been identified by the Integrated Watershed Restoration Program Technical Advisory Committee as a high priority subwatershed of the San Lorenzo River that could greatly benefit from the removal of fish passage barriers and enhancement of general stream health. Ultimately, the Project will result in the removal of one temporal fish passage barrier, which will:
a) Improve passage in Branciforte Creek for salmonids during all life stages; b) Promote the movement of large woody debris (LWD) and natural bedload, which can be disrupted by instream barriers/artificial hydrologic constrictions; and c) Reduce the known potential for natural LWD recruitment to be disrupted through cutting of wood accumulated on artificial instream constrictions.
The Project will implement the work as shown and specified in the Project Documents on following pages. In addition, the project will be monitored annually by the RCD for three (3) to five (5) years following project completion to satisfy project permit requirements, as described in Exhibit C.
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Exhibit C. Permit Requirements
1. All personnel who engage in construction activities or their oversight at the project site (superintendent, construction manager, foreman, crew, contractor, biological monitor, etc.) must attend trainings on the conditions of the project permits and how to perform their duties in compliance with those conditions. Every person shall attend an initial training within two working days of their start date at the project site. Trainings shall be conducted by a qualified individual with expertise Biological and in 401 Water Quality Certification conditions and compliance.
2. All work performed within waters of the State shall be completed in a manner that minimizes impacts to beneficial uses and habitat. Measures shall be employed to minimize land disturbances that may adversely impact the water quality of waters of the State.
Disturbance or removal of vegetation shall not exceed the minimum necessary to complete Project implementation.
Water Quality Protection Measures
1. All inactive areas (defined as a five-day period) shall have all necessary soil stabilization practices in place two days after identification of inactivity and/or before a rain event, whichever comes first. All erosion control must meet specifications in County of Santa Cruz Erosion Control Ordinance Chapter 16.22.
2. No construction activities may occur, at any time of year, below top of creek banks or in other waters of the State during rain events or on any day for which the National Weather Service has predicted a 25% or more chance of at least 0.1-inch rain in 24 hours. The Erosion control, sediment control, and other protective measures should be installed no later than the day prior to the Predicted Rain Event, and prior to the start of any rainfall. Construction activities below top of creek banks or in other waters of the State may resume after the rain has ceased, the National Weather Service predicts clear weather for at least 24 hours, and site conditions are dry enough to continue work without discharge of sediment or other pollutants from the project site.
3. Erosion control and sediment detention devices must be incorporated into the project design, should be onsite prior to the start of construction and kept onsite at all times so they are immediately available for installation in anticipation of rain events. and implemented at the time of construction. These devices must be in place prior to October 15 and the onset of rains for the purposes of minimizing fine sediment and sediment/water slurry input to flowing water, and of detaining water to retain sediment on-site. These devices must be placed at all locations where the likelihood of sediment input exists. Sediment collected in these devices must be disposed of away from the collection site and outside riparian areas and flood hazard areas.
4. Erosion and sediment control measures and other construction BMPs shall be implemented and maintained in accordance with
5. Disturbance to existing grades and vegetation shall be limited to the actual site of the individual project and necessary access routes.
6. To the greatest extent possible, excavated native materials shall be re-integrated on site as a part of the project. In rare situations where excavated material is not used in the implementation of the practice, it shall be removed and placed at a location where it cannot reenter waters of the state.
7. Improvement or construction of temporary access roads must be only those improvements/
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construction necessary to create access to a work site with as small a footprint as possible (using a one vehicle wide road if possible).
8. Any material stockpiled that is not actively being used during construction shall be covered and surrounded with a linear sediment barrier.
9. All debris, sediment, rubbish, vegetation, and/or other material removed from the channel banks, channel bottom, and/or sediment basins must be removed to a location where they will not re-enter the waters of the State including wetlands. All petroleum products, chemicals, silt, fine soils, and/or any substance or material deleterious to fish, plant, or bird life may not be allowed to pass into, or be placed where it can pass into the waters of the State.
10. Debris, soil, silt, bark, rubbish, creosote-treated wood, raw cement/concrete or washings thereof, asphalt, paint or other coating material, oil or other petroleum products, or any other substances which could be hazardous to aquatic life, resulting from projected related activities, shall be prevented from contaminating the soil and/or entering the waters of the State. Any of these materials, placed within or where they may enter a stream or lake, by Operator or any party working under contract, or with permission of the Operator, shall be removed immediately.
11. Pets will be excluded from the project site during project activities.
12. The use and/or storage of petroleum-powered equipment must be accomplished in a manner to prevent the potential release of petroleum materials into waters of the state (Fish and Game Code 5650). All workers must be informed of the importance of preventing spills and of the appropriate measures to take should a spill occur.
13. A spill plan and appropriate spill control and clean up materials (e.g., oil absorbent pads) must be onsite in case spills occur.
14. If a spill occurs, (1) no additional work may occur in-channel until mechanical equipment has been inspected and the leak has been prepared, (2) the spill has been contained, and (3) the agencies are contacted to evaluate the impacts of the spill.
15. The following precautionary measures must be adhered to:
a. A contained area must be designated for equipment storage, short-term maintenance, and refueling. It must be located at least 100-feet from all water bodies. If site conditions (ie. property size) make this 100-foot distance infeasible, these activitiesmust occur at the maximum distance possible from aquatic areas andan impermeable containment feature (e.g., a visqueeen covered earthen berm or gravel bag barrier), must be installed to prevent fluids, wash water or other pollutants from escaping the staging site and entering waters of the state or storm drains. b. Vehicles must be inspected daily for fuel, oil and hydraulic fluid leaks and other problems that could result in spills of toxic materials and repaired immediately. c. Leaks, drips and other spill must be cleaned up immediately to avoid soil or groundwater contamination.
d. All questionable motor oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and hydraulic fluid hoses, fittings, and/or seals on construction equipment must be replaced. All mechanical equipment must be inspected on a daily basis to ensure there are no motor oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, and/or coolant leaks. All leaks must be repaired in the equipment staging area or other suitable location (away from watercourses) prior to resumption of construction activity.
e. Major vehicle maintenance and washing must be done in a manner that protects the environment (at a minimum on a paved surface where all wash water, drippings, runoff, etc. is collected and properly disposed, and preferably offsite).
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f. All spent fluids (including motor oil, radiator coolant, and/or other fluids) and used vehicle batteries must be collected, stored, and recycled as hazardous waste off site. g. Dry cleanup methods (i.e. absorbent materials, cat litter, and/or rags) must be used whenever possible. If water is used, the minimal amount required to keep dust levels down is used.
h. Spilled dry materials must be swept up immediately.
i. Washout, trackout, dust control, and any other applicable source control BMPs must be implemented and maintained.
j. Hydraulic fluids in mechanical equipment working within the active stream channel may not contain organophosphate esters.
k. During construction the operator may not dump any trash and/or construction debris into the wetted channel; all trash and/or construction debris must be collected and properly disposed.
16. Upon completion of grading, slope protection of all disturbed sites shall be implemented prior to the winter season through a combination of permanent vegetative treatments including planted vegetation rootwads and large woody debris, mulching, and/or backfilled and vegetated rock. Only native plant species or sterile, non-persistent non-native grass species shall be used for erosion control.
Diversion and Dewatering Requirements
1. Any diversion/dewatering must be implemented in compliance with approved diversion/dewatering plans.
2. All diversion/dewatering systems shall be installed such that natural flow is maintained upstream and downstream of the project area.
3. Any temporary dams or diversions shall be installed such that the diversion does not cause sedimentation, siltation, or erosion upstream or downstream of the project area.
4. All diversion/dewatering systems shall be removed immediately upon completion of diversion/dewatering activities.
5. If pumping is absolutely necessary to dewater the work site, projects will adhere to CDFW’ “Fish Screening Criteria” (2000).
23.60 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-14
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ AMENDING SECTION 1.18.020 OF THE
SANTA CRUZ MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADJUST THE SALARIES FOR THE MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS
WHEREAS, the Santa Cruz City Charter section 603 addresses the salaries of the Mayor and Councilmembers and provides that those salaries “may be increased . . . by an ordinance . . . or by an amendment to an ordinance . . . but the amount of the increase may not exceed an amount equal to five (5%) percent for each calendar year from the operative date of the last adjustment of the salary in effect when the ordinance or amendment is enacted. No salary ordinance shall be enacted or amended by the City Council which provides for automatic future increases in salary.” WHEREAS, Santa Cruz Municipal Code (SCMC) section 1.18.020 currently states:
“Pursuant to Santa Cruz City Charter Section 603, effective as of January 1, 2010, each councilmember shall receive a salary of one thousand seven hundred ten dollars and thirty-five cents per month, and the mayor shall receive a salary of three thousand four hundred twenty dollars and sixty-eight cents per month.”
WHEREAS, the Council passed an ordinance in 2009 to adjust its compensation to the amounts currently listed in the SCMC section 1.18.020. However, the Council later took action outside of a formal ordinance process to delay the Council receiving that compensation adjustment, and the adjustment set forth in the Municipal Code was not fully implemented until June 2017.
WHEREAS, competitive Councilmember and Mayoral salaries are important to the Council because they remove financial barriers to public service, enable a more diverse range of community members to govern, and ensure that the City has prioritized strategic planning and policymaking.
WHEREAS, the Council now wishes to revise SCMC section 1.18.020 to provide for more competitive salaries, consistent with the requirements of the City Charter.
BE IT ORDAINED by the City of Santa Cruz as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds that the above recitals are true and correct, and they are incorporated herein by reference as findings.
SECTION 2. Section 1.18.020 of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code is amended as follows:
“1.18.020 ESTABLISHMENT OF SALARIES FOR MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS.
Pursuant to Santa Cruz City Charter Section 603, effective as of the pay period ending September 11, 2026, each councilmember shall receive a salary of two thousand six hundred fifty three dollars and thirty-one cents ($2,653.31) per month, and, effective as of the pay period ending January 1, 2027, the mayor shall receive a salary of five thousand three hundred six dollars and sixty cents ($5,306.60) per month.”
24.1 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-14
2 SECTION 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days after final adoption. The salary increases referenced in this ordinance shall be effective as specified in the amended Municipal Code.
PASSED FOR PUBLICATION this 23rd day of June, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Trigueiro, Brunner, Newsome, Golder, O’Hara; Vice Mayor Kalantari-Johnson; Mayor Keeley.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
DISQUALIFIED: None.
APPROVED: ______________________________
Fred Keeley, Mayor
ATTEST: _________________________________
Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator
PASSED FOR FINAL ADOPTION this 11th day of August, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
APPROVED: ______________________________
Fred Keeley, Mayor
ATTEST: _________________________________
Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator
This is to certify that the above and
foregoing document is the original
of Ordinance No. 2026-14 and that
it has been published or posted in
accordance with the Charter of the
City of Santa Cruz.
________________________________
Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator
24.2 Proof of Publication
(2015 C.C.P.)
I, the undersigned, declare:
That I caused the attached legal notice/advertisement to be published in the Santa Cruz Good Times, a weekly newspaper published and circulated in the County of Santa Cruz, and adjudged a newspaper of general circulation by the Superior Court of California in and for the County of Santa Cruz, under Proceeding No. 68833; and that the legal notice/advertisement was published in the above-named newspaper on the following date(s), to wit:
July 29, 2026
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
This 29th day of July, 2026, Santa Cruz, California
____________________________
Julia Wood
Deputy City Clerk Administrator
______________
Julia Wood
24.3 DECLARATION OF POSTING
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS.
COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ )
On the 25th day of June, 2026, I posted conspicuously in three public places within the City of Santa Cruz, Ordinance No. 2026-14, to wit:
1. City Hall: 809 Center Street: Bulletin Board outside Room 9/10
2. City Hall: Bulletin Board outside Council Chambers
3. The City of Santa Cruz website
The document, posted in its entirety, consists of pages 1—2.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed this 25th day of June, 2026, in Santa Cruz, California.
_______________________________
Julia Wood
Deputy City Clerk Administrator
_______________
Julia Wood
24.4 City Council
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: 07/21/2026
AGENDA OF: 08/11/2026
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
SUBJECT: TEFRA Hearing and Resolution Regarding Recycled Conduit Funding for the Calypso Project (ED)
LOCATION: District 4
RECOMMENDATION: Motion to:
1) Conduct the public hearing under the requirements of Tax and Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act (“TEFRA”) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); and 2) Adopt a resolution approving the issuance of tax-exempt multifamily housing revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $75,000,000 (the “Bonds”), by the California Municipal Finance Authority (“CMFA”) for the benefit of Calypso Affordable LP (the “Borrower”), to provide for the financing of the multi-family rental affordable housing project, and rescinding Resolution No. NS-30,640.
BACKGROUND: On January 25, 2022, the Borrower requested that the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) serve as the municipal issuer of the Bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $42,000,000 of tax-exempt revenue bonds. The proceeds of these bonds were to be used to finance or refinance the acquisition, construction, improvement and equipping of a multifamily rental affordable housing project (the “Project”) located at 130 Center Street, Santa Cruz, California. The City conducted a TEFRA Hearing on March 24, 2026, and the City Council adopted Resolution No. NS-30,640, approving the issuance of $42,000,000 in bonds by the CMFA to finance the Project.
More recently, the Borrower requested that the CMFA serve as the municipal issuer of bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $75,000,000 of tax-exempt revenue bonds (“the Bonds”). The proceeds of the Bonds will be used to finance the Project.
For the Bonds to qualify as tax-exempt bonds, the City of Santa Cruz must conduct a public hearing (the “TEFRA Hearing”) providing members of the community an opportunity to speak in favor of or against the use of tax-exempt bonds for the financing of the Project. Prior to such TEFRA Hearing, reasonable notice must be provided to the members of the community.
Following the close of the TEFRA Hearing, an “applicable elected representative” of the
25.1 governmental unit hosting the Project must provide its approval of the issuance of the Bonds for the financing of the Project.
CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FINANCE AUTHORITY:
The CMFA was created on January 1, 2004, pursuant to a joint exercise of powers agreement to promote economic, cultural and community development, through the financing of economic development and charitable activities throughout California. To date, over 350 municipalities, including the City, have become members of CMFA.
The CMFA was formed to assist local governments, non-profit organizations and businesses with the issuance of taxable and tax-exempt bonds aimed at improving the standard of living in California. The CMFA’s representatives and its Board of Directors have considerable experience in bond financings.
DISCUSSION: In the judgment of the Borrower, the most cost-effective and desirable way to finance the Project requires the issuance of tax-exempt Bonds in an amount not to exceed $75,000,000. Issuance of the Bonds requires the host city to conduct a public hearing under the Tax and Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act (“TEFRA”). The hearing is to consider the proposed issuance of the Bonds by the CMFA, a joint exercise of powers authority and public entity of the State of California, in an amount not to exceed $75,000,000, to finance the Project. Following the public hearing, City Council would have to adopt a resolution approving the issuance of the Bonds by the CMFA to finance the Project.
To support the production of affordable housing, staff recommend that the City conduct the TEFRA Hearing and adopt the resolution in favor of the issuance of the Bonds by the CMFA.
The proposed resolution also rescinds the Council’s prior resolution on this matter, Resolution No. NS-30,640, which approved of the issuance of $42,000,000 in bonds by the CMFA to finance the Project.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) DETERMINATION: The Project at 130 Center Street has already been approved and qualified for a Categorical Exemption under CEQA guidelines Section 15332, Class 32, as an infill development project.
HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES (HiAP): HiAP is a collaborative approach to improving the health of all people by incorporating health considerations into decision-making across sectors and policy areas. HiAP rests on three pillars: equity, public health, and sustainability. HiAP serves to ensure that all decision-makers remain informed about the health, equity, and sustainability impacts of various policy options during the policy development process. The project supports the pillar of equity by providing 100% affordable rental units on an infill site in a developed urban area improved with sidewalks and street trees and offering direct access to public transportation, commercial goods and services, and recreational areas, including ample opportunities for recreation and respite provided by virtue of the site’s proximity to parks and the Pacific Ocean. The development of residences on the existing low-performing, underutilized site encourages a sustainable and healthy lifestyle by promoting alternative forms of transportation.
Through the incorporation of additional bicycle parking and site landscaping, the redevelopment encourages a sustainable and healthy lifestyle by promoting alternative modes of transportation in a resource-rich environment encouraging outdoor recreation. As such, the project fortifies the three pillars of the HiAP and demonstrates efficient and judicious use of the subject property.
25.2 FISCAL IMPACT:
1. The recommendation in this report impacts the General Fund: No
2. This recommendation requires a budget adjustment: No
3. The recommendation creates an on-going expenditure commitment: No FISCAL IMPACT DESCRIPTION: There will be no impact to the City’s General Fund. The Bonds to be issued by the CMFA for the Project will be the sole responsibility of the Borrower, and the City will have no financial, legal, moral obligation, liability or responsibility for the Project or the repayment of the Bonds for the financing of the Project. All financing documents with respect to the issuance of the Bonds will contain clear disclaimers that the Bonds are not obligations of the City or the State of California but are to be paid for solely from funds provided by the Borrower.
Prepared By:
Andrea Inouye
Principal Management
Analyst
Submitted By:
Bonnie Lipscomb
Deputy City Manager
Approved By:
Matt Huffaker
City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. RESOLUTION.DOCX
25.3 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ APPROVING
THE ISSUANCE OF THE CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FINANCE AUTHORITY EXEMPT
FACILITY BONDS IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $75,000,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING OR REFINANCING THE
ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPPING OF CALYPSO
APARTMENTS AND CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO, AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,640
WHEREAS, Calypso Affordable LP (the “Borrower”) is a partnership, with the General Partners of Calypso Swenson, LLC and PacH San Jose Holdings, LLC, and Green Valley Corporation dba Swenson (the “Developer”) is a manager or member of Calypso Swenson, LLC.
Borrower has requested that the California Municipal Finance Authority (the “Authority”) adopt a plan of financing providing for the issuance of exempt facility bonds for a qualified residential rental project pursuant to Section 142(a)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) in one or more series issued from time to time, including bonds issued to refund such exempt facility bonds in one or more series from time to time, and at no time to exceed $75,000,000 in aggregate principal amount (the “Bonds”), to finance or refinance the acquisition, construction, improvement and equipping of a multifamily rental affordable housing project located at 130 Center Street, Santa Cruz, California (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 147(f) of the Code, the issuance of the Bonds by the Authority must be approved by the City of Santa Cruz (the “City”) because the Project is located within the territorial limits of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City (the “City Council”) is the elected legislative body of the City and is one of the “applicable elected representatives” required to approve the issuance of the Bonds under Section 147(f) of the Code; and WHEREAS, the Authority has requested that the City Council approve the issuance of the Bonds by the Authority in order to satisfy the public approval requirement of Section 147(f) of the Code and the requirements of Section 4 of the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement Relating to the California Municipal Finance Authority, dated as of January 1, 2004 (the “Agreement”), among certain local agencies, including the City; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 147(f) of the Code, the City Council has, following notice duly given, held a public hearing regarding the issuance of the Bonds, and now desires to approve the issuance of the Bonds by the Authority;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz as follows:
Section 1. The foregoing resolutions are true and correct.
Section 2. The City Council hereby approves the issuance of the Bonds by the Authority.
It is the purpose and intent of the City Council that this resolution constitute approval of the
25.4 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
issuance of the Bonds by the Authority, for the purposes of (a) Section 147(f) of the Code by the applicable elected representative of the governmental unit having jurisdiction over the area in which the Project is located, in accordance with said Section 147(f) and (b) Section 4 of the Agreement.
Section 3. The issuance of the Bonds shall be subject to the approval of the Authority of all financing documents relating thereto to which the Authority is a party. The City shall have no responsibility or liability whatsoever with respect to the Bonds.
Section 4. The adoption of this Resolution shall not obligate the City or any department thereof to (i) provide any financing to acquire or construct the Project or any refinancing of the Project; (ii) approve any application or request for or take any other action in connection with any planning approval, permit or other action necessary for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, installation or operation of the Project; (iii) make any contribution or advance any funds whatsoever to the Authority; or (iv) take any further action with respect to the Authority or its membership therein.
Section 5. The officers of the City are hereby authorized and directed, jointly and severally, to do any and all things and to execute and deliver any and all documents which they deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out, give effect to and comply with the terms and intent of this resolution and the financing transaction approved hereby.
Section 6. The City Council hereby rescinds Resolution No. NS-30,640, which the Council passed and adopted on March 24, 2026 and approved of the issuance of $42,000,000 in bonds related to the Project.
Section 7. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of August, 2026 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED
APPROVED:
Fred Keeley, Mayor
ATTEST: _______________________________
Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator
25.5 City Council
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: 07/23/2026
AGENDA OF: 08/11/2026
DEPARTMENT: Human Resources
SUBJECT: CalPERS Contract Amendment (HR)
LOCATION: Citywide
RECOMMENDATION: Motion to:
1) Adopt a resolution declaring the City Council’s intention to approve an amendment to the City’s contract with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) to remove the contract exclusions applicable to “All Appointive Members of the Boards and Commissions; and Persons Compensated On An Hourly Basis Employed June 26, 1962, or thereafter as County Branch Library Aides, Library Pages, School Crossing Guards and Recreation Department Employees” prospectively from the effective date of this amendment to contract; and 2) Introduce for publication an ordinance implementing the CalPERS contract amendment.
BACKGROUND: There are some agencies with contract exclusions which were granted prior to January 1, 1975, where the basis for the exclusion was the “temporary” or “seasonal” employment base of the employees.
Such exclusions have been superseded by Government Code section 20305(a) which provides that a contracting agency may not exclude temporary, seasonal, provisional, part-time, or “miscellaneous hourly” employees from membership in the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) if they otherwise meet the statutory criteria for membership.
The statute explicitly supersedes any conflicting contract provisions that historically allowed local agencies to exclude certain classification of hourly or seasonal employees from CalPERS coverage. (Gov. Code § 20305(b).)
As a result, the City’s existing exclusions for County branch library aides, Library pages, School crossing guards, and Recreation Department employees are no longer permissible under state law and must be removed through a CalPERS contract amendment.
DISCUSSION: City staff have reviewed the classifications currently excluded from CalPERS membership and determined that continued exclusion is no longer aligned with the City’s employment practices or workforce structure. Inclusion of these groups in CalPERS membership
26.1 would ensure consistency across employee classifications, support long-term workforce stability and provide equitable access to retirement benefits.
The CalPERS contract amendment process requires the City to adopt the attached resolution of intention, as well as an ordinance that amends the CalPERS contract. The California Government Code requires a twenty-day (20) waiting period between adoption of the resolution of intention and the final adoption (second reading) of the ordinance. (Gov. Code § 20471.) Therefore, it is proposed that the final adoption (second reading) of the ordinance be on September 8, 2026. The proposed ordinance will take effect on October 9, 2026 (30) days following adoption), and the amendment to the CalPERS contract will take effect on October 10, 2026.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) DETERMINATION: The CalPERS contract amendment is not a “project” under CEQA. (See 14 CCR § 15378(b): “Project does not include: . . . (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in a direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.”) HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES (HiAP): The proposed contract amendment supports the City’s HiAP pillars of equity, public health, and sustainability. Removing outdated employment-based exclusions promotes equity by ensuring that affected hourly, temporary, seasonal, and part-time employees are evaluated for CalPERS membership under the same statutory eligibility requirements applicable to other City employees. Access to retirement benefits may support employees’ long-term financial security and overall well-being. The amendment also supports organizational sustainability by aligning the City’s retirement practices with current law, promoting consistent benefit administration, and supporting workforce stability.
FISCAL IMPACT:
1. The recommendation in this report impacts the General Fund: No
2. This recommendation requires a budget adjustment: No
3. The recommendation creates an on-going expenditure commitment: No FISCAL IMPACT DESCRIPTION: The contract amendment has the potential to result in additional retirement costs in the event that employees in the affected classifications meet the statutory requirements for CalPERS membership. The amendment does not automatically make every hourly, temporary, seasonal, or part-time employee eligible; costs will depend on the number of employees who qualify, their pensionable compensation, the applicable employer contribution rate, and the duration of their employment.
Prepared By:
Debbie Levy
Principal HR Analyst
Submitted By:
Sara De Leon
HR Director
Approved By:
Matt Huffaker
City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. RESOLUTION OF INTENTION.DOC
2. EXHIBIT A.PDF
3. ORDINANCE.DOC
26.2 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
RESOLUTION OF INTENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE CITY OF
SANTA CRUZ
WHEREAS, the Public Employees' Retirement Law permits the participation of public agencies and their employees in the Public Employees' Retirement System by the execution of a contract, and sets forth the procedure by which said public agencies may elect to subject themselves and their employees to amendments to said Law; and WHEREAS, one of the steps in the procedures to amend this contract is the adoption by the governing body of the public agency of a resolution giving notice of its intention to approve an amendment to said contract, which resolution shall contain a summary of the change proposed in said contract; and
WHEREAS, the following is a statement of the proposed change:
To remove the contract exclusion of "All Appointive Members of the Boards and Commissions; and Persons Compensated On An Hourly Basis Employed June 26, 1962, or thereafter as County Branch Library Aides, Library Pages, School Crossing Guards or Recreation Department Employees," prospectively from the effective date of this amendment to contract.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz does hereby give notice of intention to approve an amendment to the contract between the City of Santa Cruz and the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System, a copy of said amendment being attached hereto, as "Exhibit A" and by this reference made a part hereof.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of August, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
APPROVED: ______________________________
Fred Keeley, Mayor
ATTEST: _________________________________
Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator
26.3 EXHIBIT A
26.4 26.5
26.6 26.7
26.8 26.9
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-XX
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO
THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION AND CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO REMOVE THE CONTRACT
EXCLUSIONS OF ALL APPOINTIVE MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS; AND PERSONS COMPENSATED ON AN HOURLY BASIS AS COUNTY
BRANCH LIBRARY AIDES, LIBRARY PAGES, SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS OR
RECREATION DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz as follows:
SECTION 1. That an amendment to the contract between the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz and the Board of Administration, California Public Employees’ Retirement System, is hereby authorized, a copy of said amendment being attached hereto, marked as Exhibit A, and by such reference made a part hereof as though herein set out in full.
SECTION 2. The Mayor of the City of Santa Cruz is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to execute said amendment for and on behalf of said Agency.
SECTION 3. The ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days after final adoption.
PASSED FOR PUBLICATION this 11th day of August, 2026 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
APPROVED: __________________________
Fred Keeley, Mayor
ATTEST: ____________________________
Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator
26.10 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-XX
PASSED FOR FINAL ADOPTION this XX day of XX, 2026 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
APPROVED: __________________________
Fred Keeley, Mayor
ATTEST: ____________________________
Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator
This is to certify that the above
And foregoing document is the
original of Ordinance No. 2026-XX
and that it has been published or
posted in accordance with the
Charter of the City of Santa Cruz
_______________________________
Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator
26.11 City Council
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: 07/23/2026
AGENDA OF: 08/11/2026
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
SUBJECT: 2025-2030 City of Santa Cruz Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and Climate Adaptation Plan (LHM-CAP) – Year 1 Implementation Progress Report (CM)
LOCATION: Citywide
RECOMMENDATION: Motion to accept the LHM-CAP Year 1 Implementation Progress Report.
BACKGROUND: The City of Santa Cruz 2025-2030 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan – Climate Adaptation Plan (herein referred to as the 2025-2030 LHM-CAP) was adopted by City Council on March 11, 2025 and subsequently granted final five year approval by FEMA Region IX with an effective date of April 15, 2025. It is the first combined LHM-CAP to be approved in California, and likely the United States.
The 2025-2030 LHM-CAP covers ten natural and climate-related hazards (coastal erosion, dam failure, drought, earthquake, extreme heat, flood, landslide, sea level rise, tsunami, and wildfire) and includes 27 adopted mitigation actions and climate adaptation strategies that are being implemented across all City departments and with community partners.
Following FEMA approval of the LHM-CAP, the City, with its consultant, prepared two annexes to the LHM-CAP to further the City’s understanding of, and planning for, future hazards beyond the LHM-CAP's 5-year time horizon:
Multi-Hazards and Compound Events (Annex 1 Attached)
Adaptation Pathways Framework for Non-Coastal Hazards (Annex 2 Attached) The Multi-Hazards and Compound Events Annex (Annex 1) builds off the hazard profiles developed in Section 4 of the LHM-CAP to establish a framework for understanding multihazard interactions and how the City may be able to utilize this information to better plan for future multi-hazard events. Each of the ten natural and climate-related hazard profiles identified describes how hazards may interact with and influence one another.
When hazards occur simultaneously, or one right after another, they can interact in a way that exacerbates impacts. These combined events, known as multi-hazard or compound events, are defined as simultaneous, cascading, and/or cumulative occurrences of multiple natural hazards
27.1 (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [UNDRR] 2024; Lee et al. 2024). In certain circumstances, climatic conditions and natural hazard events can work in tandem to influence the probability, intensity, and severity of impacts. These types of combined events pose a significant threat to communities and natural and economic systems but are difficult to predict and analyze due to the complex nature of interactions, spatial and temporal overlap, and a lack of logged historical records. The increasing frequency and severity of climate hazards such as extreme heat, drought, and/or severe storms are projected to increase the likelihood of 1) a sequence of hazards occurring within a short time span, and 2) simultaneous, independent events in a location or multiple locations (Singh et al. 2023). Traditional LHM-CAPs do not address compound hazards. By considering compound hazards in tracking mitigation progress, the City is aligning with emerging best practices in hazard mitigation and emergency management. This builds a stronger foundation for future LHM-CAP updates and City emergency plans.
The purpose of the Multi-Hazard and Compound Events Annex is to identify, classify, and provide examples of multi-hazard events that may occur in the City of Santa Cruz (City) to help proactively plan for such events and, if appropriate, adjust its mitigation strategies and allocate resources appropriately. Annex 1 also sets the framework for the Adaptation Pathways Framework for Non-Coastal Hazards Annex.
The Adaptation Pathways Framework for Non-Coastal Hazards (Annex 2) and its accompanying matrix builds upon the foundation of the 2025-2030 LHM–CAP, along with related flood control and climate change studies and coastal resilience work which initiated the City’s work to transition medium to longer term adaptation project implementation from a timing decision-making approach to a triggers and thresholds-based approach. Annex 2 underscores how the City may proactively plan for non-coastal hazards in the face of an uncertain and variable climatic future. Due to the large volume of work already completed and in progress on coastal hazard adaptation pathways, Annex 2 focuses only on priority non-coastal hazards.
Annex 2 does not present complete adaptation pathways for non-coastal hazards, rather, it is an initiation of the planning process with recommendations for triggers and thresholds along with a list of potential strategies.
Adaptation pathways are a flexible approach to plan for long-term changes, especially in uncertain futures. Instead of relying on a single version of future conditions, this approach offers a range of strategies that can be adjusted over time as conditions evolve. It includes clear indicators – called trigger points – that help decision makers know when to act, based on measurable changes. This method allows managers to respond to real-time changes at a specific location, and switch strategies as needed. Because future conditions, staffing, and funding can be unpredictable, this step-by-step approach helps the City stay prepared and proactive.
The Implementation Program, subsequently developed and approved by department directors and the City Manager, requires an annual progress report to City Council. As part of the implementation, progress was first presented to Department Directors and the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee before coming to Council. This report represents the first annual report for the 2025-2030 LHM-CAP implementation period.
DISCUSSION: The LHM-CAP Implementation Program governance structure approved by Department Directors on August 28, 2025 is fully operational and biannual all-department coordination meetings (Spring and Fall) have been established. Additionally, the City's GIS Hazard Mitigation Database, identified as the long-term platform for project and hazard tracking,
27.2 is in development to be completed in FY27, with a demonstration of the database and the City's Emergency Preparedness Portal scheduled for the Fall.
Year 1 Implementation Highlights
As of May 2026, two projects are complete and 22 are actively progressing across all ten hazard types. A rough approximation of known project investment costs across the project portfolio totals $654,535,970 with many project costs still to be determined. Four plans and studies, either specifically called for or supporting projects in the LHM-CAP, are in progress. The following highlights reflect the most significant Year 1 implementation activity:
Project completion:
Union/Locust Administrative Building Back-up Generator (WT) – $310,000, Water CIP funded, delivered on schedule. Addresses earthquake, extreme heat, and wildfire hazards. Utility Customer Assistance Program (WT) – $1,000,000, both single family and multifamily housing programs have launched and are ongoing.
Active construction:
Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit (PW) – $62 million, in construction through January 2028, funded through the Federal Highway Bridge Program and State Transportation funds.
Newell Creek Pipeline Replacement, Phase 1 Felton–Graham Hill (WT) – $30.7 million, in construction, funded by Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), Department of Water Resources State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), and Congressional Earmark. Demobilization scheduled for April 2027.
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) (WT) – $23.6 million, multiple wells advancing:
Beltz 12 complete March 2026; Beltz 8 construction starting August 2026; Beltz 9 design underway; Beltz 10 pilot testing scheduled January 2027. Evaluation of new ASR wells in the Mid-County groundwater basin is ongoing.
Wharf Resilience Improvements (PR) – $8.6 million, Coastal Conservancy (CSCC) grant funded, completion targeted end of 2027.
Design milestones:
Downtown Sea Level Rise / Drainage Assessment and Pump Station Upgrades (PW) – Consultant selected to begin pump station design June 2026. Basis of Design report expected by end of December 2026.
o Note: Further details on the impact of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Phase 2 construction grant ($11.5 million) status fluctuations are addressed in the Priority Items for Council Awareness section of this report.
Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant Facilities Improvement (WT) – $223 million, design complete, construction scheduled to start January 2027, funded by WIFIA and DWSRF. Lighthouse Field Roadway Relocation – in design; construction expected through May 2027.
Funding:
Total approximate known costs across project portfolio as of May 2026 is $654,535,970.
Many project budgets are yet to be determined which will increase final total costs.
27.3 Total grant funding secured is $152,210,000. Grants awarded or active include:
California State Coastal Conservancy (CSCC - Wharf, $8.6M); CalFIRE (Pogonip vegetation management $250K, Lower DeLaVeaga $500K under consideration); FEMA BRIC22 Grant ($15M) program funds Design, Environmental Permitting, and Construction for upgrades to Pumpstation #1 and a new Pump Station at Soquel Avenue Bridge; Ocean Protection Council (OPC) grant for development of all three Shoreline Adaptation Blueprints ($510k); Resilient Cities Catalyst Coastal Cities Accelerator philanthropic funding for completing a project in the West Cliff 5-Year Roadmap’s project portfolio; Water Infrastructure and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant and Newell Creek Pipeline; Bureau of Reclamation and Prop 4 for water supply programs. Public Works submitted eight additional projects not included in the adopted LHM-CAP to be tracked in the LHM-CAP spreadsheet, including six sea level rise and flood infrastructure projects. Several involve active United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and California Coastal Commission (CCC) coordination. Staff are considering preparing an annex to the LHM-CAP to formally incorporate these projects to make them eligible for certain FEMA hazard mitigation funding.
Community engagement:
Staff, in collaboration with Ecology Action, have conducted both internal and external engagement identifying community needs and both municipal and non-profit owned facilities for Community Resilience Centers.
Staff held a Beach Flats neighborhood Spanish-language focus group on December 17, 2025, identifying evacuation routes, air quality, and cooling and charging resources as priority community needs.
Staff are building climate resilience awareness through citywide Neighborhood Community Resilience Workshops and Block Parties in partnership with the Office of Emergency Management (OES) and the Monterey Bay Green Youth Service Corps fellow program. Eight events have been conducted with a goal to conduct 12 in calendar year 2026, including one in the Beach Flats (in Spanish) and one at the Market Street Senior Center.
Utility Customer Assistance Program launched for single-family and multi-family customers, with community focus groups and a survey conducted in FY26. Per Sustainability and Resiliency Committee (SRC) Feedback City staff will:
o Explore promotion of CruzAware sign-up in City parks and facilities or other public spaces and report back to SRC.
Continue to pursue funding and implementation of the LHM-CAP's adopted hazard mitigation actions and climate adaptation strategies in accordance with the Implementation Program approved by Department Directors in August 2025.
Adjacent Efforts Supporting LHM-CAP Goals
A significant body of work is advancing in parallel with adopted LHM-CAP projects and directly supports the plan's goals. The OES provided the following summary of adjacent efforts for inclusion in this report:
The City is on track to achieve the National Weather Service TsunamiReady designation, meaning that the City of Santa Cruz has met nationally recognized standards for tsunami
27.4 preparedness by maintaining effective warning systems, emergency plans, public education, and coordinated response capabilities to help protect residents and visitors. Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) – shared with City Council in May 2026. The EOP establishes the City's framework for responding to floods, wildfire, tsunami, and other hazards identified in the LHM-CAP. Seven focused annexes are in active development:
Flood, Wildfire, Tsunami, Alert and Notification, Emergency Communications, Extreme Weather, and Care and Shelter.
Coastal Incident Response Planning Framework (CIRP) – the City is co-leading an update to the 2005 CIRP, a regional coordination document establishing roles, responsibilities, and protocols for responding to coastal emergencies, including tsunami events, across jurisdictions.
Wildfire Early Warning System – the City is advancing a full outdoor warning system deployment in collaboration with multiple technology partners, directly supporting the LHM-CAP's wildfire resilience and community awareness goals. City Critical Facility and Infrastructure Improvements – OES has collaborated extensively with PG&E, Santa Cruz County, community groups, and multiple City departments to develop and maintain an accurate list of critical City facilities and infrastructure, informing backup power prioritization and infrastructure resilience planning. In Fall of 2026 OES and the Finance Department will be releasing an Invitation to Bid for pre-event emergency fuel contracts to maintain backup power at critical facilities during declared emergencies.
Emergency Preparedness Portal – the City Communications team is developing a publicfacing portal that translates LHM-CAP goals into accessible, actionable guidance for residents.
Hazard Events — Year 1 (2025)
Two significant hazard events occurred during Year 1 of the LHM-CAP implementation and are documented per the LHM-CAP annual review protocol:
January 2025 – Major storm damage to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. This event accelerated implementation of the Wharf Resilience Improvements Project, which is now actively in progress with CSCC grant funding ($8.6 million). December 2025 – West Cliff Bluff coastal erosion at Getchell's, reinforcing the urgency of the West Cliff 5-Year Roadmap and Shoreline Adaptation Blueprint, which are currently in progress with OPC grant funding.
The Water Department confirmed that no additional community assets were damaged from disasters or natural hazards over the past year, and no additional critical hazard mitigation projects were identified for inclusion in the plan.
Priority Items for Council Awareness
1. Challenges in Funding Downtown Stormwater and Sea Level Rise Priorities The BRIC Phase 2 construction grant ($11.5 million) for the construction of Pump Station #1 was not approved to proceed at the federal level by the current administration, but the program’s canceled status was rescinded as of the May 2026 reporting deadline. Since that time, the Phase 2 portion of the project has been reinstated. Project delays due to the program’s changing status caused challenges meeting match funding requirements because the original match source no
27.5 longer falls within the project timeline. City staff are currently coordinating with the Finance Department to explore match funding options to accept Phase 2 construction funds. Phase 1 Design funding ($2.5 million) remains active; design begins June 2026 with the Basis of Design report expected by December 2026. The Downtown Drainage Assessment and Pumpstation Upgrades remain high-priority coastal flood infrastructure investments in the downtown area.
Allocating grant match funding sources remains a barrier to pursuing large scale funding for this, and other projects.
2. Eight Additional Hazard Mitigation Projects Identified by Public Works Public Works identified eight priority hazard mitigation projects not previously included in the LHM-CAP and/or that support the adopted priority projects. These projects address flood and sea level rise hazards and include the Citywide Stormwater System Master Plan (RFP documents being drafted), Branciforte Flood Control Channel Improvements, Neary Pump Station Rehabilitation, San Lorenzo River Levee Gravity Drains Rehabilitation, San Lorenzo River Levee Reinforcement, Pump Station 1 and 3 Positive Closure Devices, San Lorenzo River Culvert Debris Boom (partial Measure Q funding secured), and San Lorenzo River Culvert Intake Screen Modifications. Staff are considering formally including these non-adopted LHMCAP projects through an LHM-CAP annex.
3. Branciforte Flood Control Channel – Sequencing Coordination with Private Development
A private residential development of approximately 250 units is advancing at Ocean Street and Branciforte Creek, located within the same flood zone as the LHM-CAP Branciforte Flood Control Channel Improvements project. The flood control project is currently in pre-application status with no construction funding secured. Staff from Planning and Public Works are coordinating to address project sequencing and permit conditions.
Year 2 Implementation Priorities
Overall Implementation Program Monitoring:
Evaluate plan Implementation Tool
Update hazard database layers with at least one new data set (e.g. coastal change monitoring for coastal hazard management; hazard events) Engage public in mid-cycle review
Project by Project:
Begin Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant construction (January 2027). Complete Newell Creek Pipeline Phase 1 and demobilize (April 2027). Complete Downtown Sea Level Rise Pump Station Basis of Design report (December 2026).
West Cliff 5-year Roadmap Projects:
o Complete Coastal Infrastructure Funding and Financing Study (Spring 2027). o Complete Lighthouse Field Roadway Location (March 2027). o Initiate West Cliff Corridor Wide Master Signage Plan and Design Standards. Complete the TsunamiReady Program’s remaining elements. Hire Assistant Urban Forester to support Frontline Neighborhood Tree Planting project.
27.6 Advance at least two major grant applications per the Implementation Program workplan, with priority on replacement construction funding for the Downtown San Lorenzo River Pump Station and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program pre-application for the Critical Facility Seismic Retrofit program.
Convene fall 2026 all-department coordination meeting – including demonstration of GIS Hazard Mitigation Database and Emergency Preparedness Portal. Assess eight new Public Works SLR and flood infrastructure projects for formal adoption into the plan via an annex at the next annual review.
Continue coordination with Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience (OR3) and the Monterey Bay Regional Climate Project working Group regarding plan alignment and joint grant opportunities.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) DETERMINATION:
Receiving this progress report on the implementation of an adopted plan is not a project as defined by Public Resources Code section 20165 and CEQA Guidelines section 15378, because receiving this report does not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES (HiAP): Implementation of the 2025-2030 LHM-CAP advances all three pillars of Health in All Policies. The projects support the City’s sustainability and resilience goals by reducing risk from natural and climate-related hazards across all ten hazard types. Some projects also have the co-benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (e.g.
Frontline Tree Planting). Ongoing implementation contributes to improved public health outcomes by reducing the potential for injury, loss of life, and property damage. The program’s equity focus – including the Frontline Neighborhood Tree Planting program recovery, the Beach Flats Spanish-language focus group, and NOAA Weather Radio distribution to unhoused residents, people with access and functional needs, low-income communities, and non-Englishspeaking communities – ensures that implementation reaches those most vulnerable to climate change and historically underserved by infrastructure investment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
1. The recommendation in this report impacts the General Fund: No
2. This recommendation requires a budget adjustment: No
3. The recommendation creates an on-going expenditure commitment: No FISCAL IMPACT DESCRIPTION: Projects included in the LHM-CAP are both funded and unfunded. Funded projects utilize a variety of funding sources: General Funds, Enterprise Funds, grants, loans, and congressionally directed spending. As projects are funded, appropriate actions are taken to integrate them into the budget and appropriate funds into projects.
Prepared By:
Tiffany Wise-West
Sustainability and Resiliency
Officer
Submitted By:
Michelle Templeton
Assistant City Manager
Approved By:
Matt Huffaker
City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. ANNEX 1 - MULTI-HAZARD AND COMPOUND EVENTS.PDF
2. ANNEX 2 - ADAPTATION PATHWAYS FRAMEWORK FOR NON-COASTAL HAZARDS.PDF
3. CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION TRACKING.PDF
27.7 2025-2030 LHMP – CAP
PAGE | 1-1
ANNEX 1. MULTI-HAZARD AND COMPOUND EVENTS
1.0 MULTI-HAZARD EVENTS INTRODUCTION
When hazards occur simultaneously, or one right after another, they can interact in a way that exacerbates impacts. These combined events, known as multi-hazard or compound events, are defined as simultaneous, cascading, and/or cumulative occurrences of multiple natural hazards (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction [UNDRR] 2024; Lee et al. 2024). In certain circumstances, climatic conditions and natural hazard events can work in tandem to influence the probability, intensity, and severity of impacts. These types of combined events pose a significant threat to communities and natural and economic systems but are difficult to predict and analyze due to the complex nature of interactions, spatial and temporal overlap, and a lack of logged historical records (Lee et al. 2024). According to the Fifth National Climate Assessment, climate change is increasing the likelihood of multiple climate hazards occurring simultaneously or consecutively across the United States, and infrastructure design, planning, governance, and disaster preparedness must consider multi-hazard and compound events to build more resilient systems in the face of climate change (Singh et al. 2023). The increasing frequency and severity of climate hazards such as extreme heat, drought, and/or severe storms are projected to increase the likelihood of 1) a sequence of hazards occurring within a short time span, and 2) simultaneous, independent events in a location or multiple locations (Singh et al. 2023).
According to the UNDRR and World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the average number of people affected by disasters increased by 71 percent from one decade to the next – rising from 1,187 per 100,000 people between 2005-2014 to 2,032 per 100,000 people between 2014-2023 (UNDRR and WMO 2024). Emergency managers and planners often assess risk based on individual hazards; however, when multiple hazards are considered in combination, the resulting risk is amplified, and the duration of response efforts required from first responders increases.
Identifying risks posed from combined events will be critical to avoid underestimating the potential risks to communities.
These increasing challenges and complexities underscore the need for a multi-hazard approach to adaptation planning, and this Annex provides a critical first step in that approach: defining and classifying multi-hazard events for resource sharing and development of best practices. The purpose of this Multi-Hazard and Compound Events Annex (Annex 1) is to identify, classify, and provide examples of multi-hazard events that may occur in the City of Santa Cruz (City) to help proactively plan for such events and, if appropriate, adjust its mitigation strategies and allocate resources appropriately.
Annex 1 builds off the hazard profiles developed in Section 4 of the 2025-2030 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan–Climate Adaptation Plan (LHMP–CAP) to establish a framework for understanding multi-hazard interactions and how the City may be able to utilize this information to better plan for future multi-hazard events. The 2025-2030 LHMP–CAP includes hazard profiles for: coastal erosion, dam failure, drought, earthquake, extreme heat, flood, landslide, sea level rise, tsunami, and wildfire. Each hazard profile describes how hazards may interact and influence one another.
Annex 1 also sets the framework for the Adaptation Pathways Framework for Non-Coastal Hazards Annex (Annex 2). Annex 2 details how the City may proactively plan for non-coastal hazards commonly contributing to multi-hazard events in the face of an uncertain and variable climatic future.
27.8 2025-2030 LHMP – CAP
PAGE | 2-2
2.0 MULTI-HAZARD CLASSIFICATION
The development of this multi-hazard and compound events framework for the City of Santa Cruz is based on the best available recent publications and reports (Singh et al. 2023; Lee et al. 2024; and Zscheischler et al. 2020). This framework classifies multi-hazard events into four categories:
preconditioned/triggering, multivariate, temporally compounding, and spatially compounding (Table 1). These categories are based on the following parameters: origin, location(s), time frame, single-hazard events, and associated hazards.
Table 1. Multi-Hazard Classification
Multi-hazard Category Criteria Examples*
Preconditioned/Triggering
(changed conditions)
Prolonged driver/hazard
creating antecedent conditions
that exacerbate subsequent
hazard events.
Prolonged drought leading to
more severe wildfire events
Multivariate (compound hazards)
Multiple hazards related to each
other co-occurring within
immediate time frame (days).
Simultaneous precipitation
deficits and extreme heat,
contributing to more severe
wildfires
Temporally Compounding
Multiple drivers/hazards
occurring within a short time
frame (less than 2 months),
amplifying the effects of the
underlying events/hazards.
Destructive wildfires, followed
by heavy rainfall resulting in
mudslides and debris flow
Spatially Compounding
Multiple “unrelated” events with
identical drivers occurring at
similar times across different
locations.
Extreme heat events causing
severe wildfires across a large
area causing increased demand
for emergency response
* Note: Examples referenced in Table 1 are discussed in greater detail in the subsequent sections.
2.1 PRECONDITIONED/TRIGGERING HAZARDS
Preconditioned/triggering hazards are also referred to as changed conditions and relate to a prolonged driver or hazard creating antecedent (pre-existing) conditions that intensify subsequent hazard events. Another way to describe this category is an extreme event superimposed on longterm trends. Examples of preconditioned/triggering hazards from across coastal California include:
• Long-term trend of higher sea levels exacerbating coastal flooding during extreme events involving heavy precipitation and/or storms (Singh et al. 2023). A strong El Niño in Santa Cruz in 2022-2023 brought heavy rainfall (and caused extensive coastal erosion), much of which ended up in the ocean, raising sea levels temporarily (NASA 2024). During that time frame, the federal government issued a major disaster declaration and emergency declarations (2025-2030 LHMP–CAP).
• Climate change and associated increased sea surface temperatures intensify extreme weather events associated with El Niño and La Niña. El Niño and La Niña events coupled with climate change will increase and intensify both coastal flooding and erosion across the Pacific Ocean (2025-2030 LHMP–CAP).
27.9 2025-2030 LHMP – CAP
PAGE | 2-3
• Prolonged drought and habitat shifts from increasing temperatures (e.g., the spread of invasive species and forest pests) have altered environmental conditions and amplified fuel loads (2025-2030 LHMP–CAP) leading to more intense wildfires. On August 16, 2020, the CZU1 Lightning Complex Fires in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties burned an area with increased fuel load from die-offs caused by the invasive and introduced plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum (Santa Cruz Mountains Bioregional Council, n.d.). This fire complex burned over 86,500 acres and resulted in a major disaster declaration (2025-2030 LHMP– CAP).
• In Los Angeles, California, record amounts of flammable vegetation growing during wet periods in 2022-2023, followed by extreme heat and record dryness in fall 2024, fueled the devastating fires in January 2025.
• In the Big Sur, California region, earthquakes resulting in uplift of the Santa Lucia Mountains in combination with erosion by ocean waves creates extreme topography that makes the area highly susceptible to landslides. These antecedent conditions combined with a heavy storm event created a catastrophic landslide in May 2017 at Mud Creek in Big Sur.
2.2 MULTIVARIATE OR COMPOUND HAZARDS
Multivariate hazards refer to co-occurring or simultaneous hazards in a single location. This multihazard is also referred to as compound hazard. This category includes hazards that are occurring within a few days of each other, rather than temporally compounding hazards which are hazards occurring within a few months of each other. It also differs from the preconditioned/triggering hazards which include multiple hazards occurring with an antecedent hazard. Examples of multivariate hazards include:
• Multiple climate drivers such as heavy rainfall and low-pressure systems lead to compound coastal (storm surge) and riverine (heavy precipitation) floods (Lee et al. 2024). Multiple recent examples of severe winter storms and flooding have resulted in major disaster emergency declarations in the County of Santa Cruz from 2022-2024 (2025-2030 LHMP– CAP).
• During the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires, Santa Cruz simultaneously experienced extreme heat conditions, and poor air quality.
• From 2003 to 2020, there were 16 compound events in California involving heat, drought, and dust with a mean duration of 4 days (Pu et al. 2022).
2.3 TEMPORALLY COMPOUNDING HAZARDS
Temporally compounding hazards are similar to multivariate hazards, but hazards are successive rather than simultaneous. This category also includes primary events followed by secondary hazards or “cascading effects,” such as floods and landslides downslope of burn boundaries (FEMA 2023). Examples of temporally compounding hazards in California include:
• In January 2020, following the CZU Lightning Complex fires, a storm hit the Santa Cruz Mountains, triggering debris flows and resulting in evacuation warnings and considerable damage.
1 ‘CZU’ stands for the Cal Fire designation for its San Mateo–Santa Cruz Unit.
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• In February 2025, heavy rain from a powerful winter storm resulted in landslides and mudslides in areas recently burned in the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles. • In January 2018 in Montecito, California, intense rain in an area that had burned three weeks earlier in the Thomas Fire caused a series of debris flows from steep catchments in the Santa Ynez Mountains (Kean et al. 2019).
• In January 2021, heavy rains for a two-day storm caused significant debris flow from firescarred slopes leading to a washout of a section of Highway 1 in Big Sur. • In Santa Cruz from 2022-2023, a “family” of nine atmospheric river events occurred with near continuous atmospheric river conditions for 23 days, which is the longest duration of continuous atmospheric river conditions in the 70 years of record keeping. These storms resulted in flooding, landslides, and mudslides (2025-2030 LHMP–CAP).
2.4 SPATIALLY COMPOUNDING HAZARDS
In this category, hazards in multiple connected locations cause an aggregated impact (Zscheischler et al. 2020). The scale of reference is important in determining if a multi-hazard is considered temporally or spatially compounding. Spatially compounding hazards can impact emergency response if the jurisdiction experiences coincidental hazards. One example of a spatially compounding hazard in California includes:
• Extreme heat resulting in power outages, wildfires, and public health impacts from air quality. In 2020, co-occurring heat and drought caused concurrent destructive fires across California, Oregon, and Washington that resulted in infrastructure and property damage and human fatalities, threatened access to energy and water supplies, and strained firefighting resources (Singh et al. 2023). The CZU Lightning Complex fires followed this event in August 2020.
3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CITY PLANNING
While the research and understanding of the complex interactions of multi-hazard events is still developing, there are a few recommendations for how the City can address risks associated with multi-hazard events:
1. Incorporate multi-hazard events in planning documents and prioritize resource allocation toward strategies that advance multiple community resilience objectives. a. Examples of guidance documents related to incorporating multi-hazard risk in planning include:
i. State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance: 2024 Science and Policy Update: includes a dedicated section on the combined impacts of sea level rise and other coastal hazards and emphasizes the compounded risks when these hazards occur together.
ii. Falling Dominoes: A Planner’s Guide to Drought and Cascading Impacts: a nation-wide resource specific to drought by the American Planning Association.
iii. California State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP): Basics of Local Mitigation Planning: provides general guidance for local jurisdictions to incorporate multi-hazard risk assessments into LHMPs.
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iv. Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance Under the Disaster Mitigation Act Of 2000: defines procedures for identifying and assessing multiple hazards in state and local mitigation plans.
v. City of San Francisco Guidance for Incorporating Sea Level Rise Into Capital Planning: defines a sea level rise vulnerability zone and requires that projects with costs in excess of $10 million incorporate the guidance and checklist into planning and design.
2. Incorporate multi-hazard risk into infrastructure design standards and regulations. a. Examples of standards and regulations include:
i. Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE/SEI 7-22): the national standard for calculating structural loads due to hazards such as seismic, wind, flood, and tsunami. ii. City of South San Francisco Flood Plain/Sea-Level Rise Overlay District:
requires new development to be built to withstand future flooding and erosion by including allowances for sea level rise and considering naturebased solutions. iii. National Institute of Standards and Technology: Community Resilience Planning Guide for Buildings and Infrastructure Systems: AECOM contributed to this practical planning process for communities to improve resilience by integrating social, economic, and infrastructure systems for multi-hazard events.
iv. Assessment of Resilience in Codes, Standards, Regulations, and Best Practices for Buildings and Infrastructure Systems: AECOM experts coauthored and reviewed this Technical Note on resilience in codes, standards, and best practices for buildings and infrastructure systems. This document emphasizes multi-hazard resilience—considering earthquakes, floods, wind, and cascading hazards—and provides frameworks for integrating resilience into design and planning.
v. ARISE Case Studies in Disaster Risk Management: AECOM has worked with FEMA and UNDRR on projects using HAZUS—a geographic information system (GIS)-based natural hazard analysis tool—modeling to quantify multi-hazard impacts (flood, wind, seismic) and demonstrate the benefits of adopting higher standards beyond minimum building codes. These studies inform AECOM’s approach to infrastructure design by promoting risk reduction and resilience.
3. Share best practices among stakeholders and neighboring communities to alleviate planning challenges and promote proactive strategies to manage risk. a. Examples include:
i. The 2018 Woolsey Fire: A Catalyst For Change: through the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation, this roadmap aims to create a safe and thriving community living at the wildland urban interface amid a changing climate.
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4.0 REFERENCES
Kean, J.W., Staley, D.M., Lancaster, J.T., Rengers, F.K., Swanson, B.J., Coe, J.A., Hernandez, J.L., Sigman, A.J., Allstadt, K.E., and Lindsay, D.N., 2019, Inundation, flow dynamics, and damage in the 9 January 2018 Montecito debris-flow event, California, USA: Opportunities and challenges for post-wildfire risk assessment: Geosphere, v. 15, no. 4, p. 1140–1163, https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02048.1.
Lee, R., C.J. White, M.S.G. Adnan, J. Douglas, M.D. Mahecha, F.E. O’Loughlin, E. Patelli, et al. 2024. “Reclassifying Historical Disasters: From Single to Multi-Hazards.” Science of the Total Environment 912.
NASA. 2024. “NASA Analysis Sees Spike in 2023 Global Sea Level Due to El Niño.” https://sealevel.nasa.gov/news/270/nasa-analysis-sees-spike-in-2023-global-sea-leveldue-to-el-nino/ Pu, B., Jin, Q., Ginoux, P., and Yu, Y. 2022. Compound Heat Wave, Drought, and Dust Events in California. Journal of Climate 35: 8133-8152.
Santa Cruz Mountains Bioregional Council. n.d. Impacts of Climate Change on an Old Growth Coast Redwood Forest. https://www.scmbc.org/
Singh, D., A.R. Crimmins, J.M. Pflug, P.L. Barnard, J.F. Helgeson, A. Hoell, F.H. Jacobs, et al. 2023. “Focus on Compound Events.” In Fifth National Climate Assessment, edited by A.R.
Crimmins, C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Maycock.
Washington D.C.: U.S. Global Change Research Program.
https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.F1
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO). 2024. Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems.
Geneva, Switzerland.
Zscheischler, J., Martius, O., Westra, S. et al. A typology of compound weather and climate events. Nat Rev Earth Environ 1, 333–347 (2020).
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ANNEX 2: ADAPTATION PATHWAYS FRAMEWORK FOR NONCOASTAL HAZARDS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This document, Adaptation Pathways Framework for Non-Coastal Hazards (Annex 2), and its accompanying matrix (Attachment A)1 serve as an annex to the 2025-2030 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan – Climate Adaptation Plan (2025-2030 LHMP–CAP)2 for the City of Santa Cruz (City). It builds upon the foundation of the 2025-2030 LHMP–CAP, along with related flood control and climate change studies and coastal resilience work described in Section 1.1, which initiated the City’s work to transition adaptation project implementation from a timing decision-making approach to a triggers and thresholds-based approach. Annex 2 underscores how the City may proactively plan for non-coastal hazards in the face of an uncertain and variable climatic future.
The focus of Annex 2 and Attachment A is to provide the City with a structured approach to adaptation planning efforts, focusing on four key non-coastal hazards: drought, extreme heat, noncoastal flooding and extreme precipitation events (e.g., atmospheric rivers), and wildfire. It is also meant to serve as an initial framework to level set and complement the City’s extensive coastal adaptation planning efforts under an adaptation pathways framework as well as ongoing water supply efforts and management of open spaces and parks. This Annex does not present complete adaptation pathways for non-coastal hazards, rather, it is an initiation of the planning process with recommendations for triggers and thresholds along with a list of potential strategies (Attachment A).
Adaptation pathways are a flexible approach to plan for long-term changes, especially in uncertain futures. Instead of relying on a single version of future conditions, this approach offers a range of strategies that can be adjusted over time as conditions evolve. It includes clear indicators – called trigger points – that help decision makers know when to act, based on measurable changes (Tables 1–4). This method allows managers to respond to real-time changes at a specific location, and switch strategies as needed. Because future conditions, staffing, and funding can be unpredictable, this step-by-step approach helps the City stay prepared and proactive. The State of California recommends using the adaptation pathways approach in coastal adaptation planning, particularly for addressing sea level rise, flooding, and coastal erosion. However, there are comparatively fewer examples of its application to non-coastal hazards. This is in part due to several factors, including, but not limited to: less visibility when compared to coastal hazards, limited data/models and complexity of hazard interaction in non-coastal regions (and thus, harder to establish in a ‘pathways’ framework), temporal nature of impacts, and funding resources.
Annex 2 of the LHMP–CAP complements existing coastal adaptation strategies by supporting and integrating with other City planning and land use documents. It offers a structured, forward-looking approach to non-coastal hazards such as drought, extreme heat, non-coastal flooding, and wildfire.
It is important to note that this plan does not replace other existing planning efforts but is meant to provide a foundation to align planning efforts across City departments, enabling a more streamlined and coordinated approach to address non-coastal hazards. As part of the City’s comprehensive risk 1 Adaptation Pathways Matrix for Annex 2 (Attachment A). 2025. 2 City of Santa Cruz 2025-2030 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan – Climate Adaptation Plan (2025-2030 LHMP-CAP). 2025. Accessible at:
https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showpublisheddocument/103262/638768514924030000.
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management and adaptation framework, this annex ensures consistent, climate-informed planning across the full range of geographic and hazard exposures within the City’s jurisdiction. City staff and partners should use these elements as reference points when evaluating adaptation timing, resource needs, and planning priorities included in the Attachment A matrix.
Annex 2 is intended to be a living document, designed to evolve over time as new data, resources, and best practices emerge. It maintains consistency with existing City programs, policies, and changing conditions, while offering flexibility to adapt during the planning and implementation of hazard-specific actions and projects. By serving as a dynamic resource, Annex 2 supports the initiation of a more integrated and responsive approach to addressing non-coastal hazards across City departments.
1.1 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The City has been active in developing coastal climate adaptation solutions through an adaptation pathways approach to address coastal erosion and coastal flooding associated with storm surge and sea level rise through efforts such as the Resilient Coast Santa Cruz Initiative, 50-Year Community Vision For West Cliff, 5-Year Roadmap For West Cliff, Nature Based Solutions for Coastal Resilience, among others. The City is continuing, and expanding, its adaptation planning efforts to include non-coastal areas and associated hazards. This began with the completion of the Flood Control and Climate Change Study (a LHMP-CAP action) in early 2025.
The 2025-2030 LHMP–CAP, adopted by City Council and approved by FEMA in March 2025, meets the requirements of the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and is an update to the 2018-2023 LHMP3. Because climate adaptation and hazard mitigation share a common goal of reducing impacts from natural and climate-related hazards expected to increase in frequency and intensity with climate change, the City used the 2025-2030 LHMP–CAP update as an opportunity to update and integrate the 2018-2023 CAP4 with the LHMP for a more concise and streamlined plan that is easier to update through time.
Annex 1 Multi-Hazard and Compound Events5 of the 2025-2030 LHMP–CAP established a framework for understanding multi-hazard events, defined as simultaneous, cascading, and/or cumulative occurrences of multiple natural hazard interactions which can pose potentially higher risk to communities and infrastructure. Additionally, Annex 1 provides examples of multi-hazard events that have occurred and may occur in the future to help the City proactively plan for such events. Annex 1 identifies coastal and non-coastal hazards with the potential to interact on various spatial and temporal scales, amplifying impacts and risks to the City. Annex 2 focuses on ways in which the City can prepare to adapt and build resilience to non-coastal hazards and proactively plan for these amplified risks.
2.0 CHARACTERIZATION OF NON-COASTAL HAZARDS
This section outlines and summarizes the four non-coastal climate-influenced hazards (drought, extreme heat, non-coastal flooding and extreme precipitation events, and wildfire) from the 2025- 2030 LHMP–CAP along with the associated vulnerabilities and risks. The City is already preparing 3 City of Santa Cruz Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Five Year Update (2018-2023). Accessible at:
https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showpublisheddocument/95352/638272522737000000. 4 City of Santa Cruz Climate Adaptation Plan Update (2018-2023). Accessible at:
https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showpublisheddocument/95350/638272522724800000. 5 Multi-Hazard and Compound Events (Annex 1) to the 2025-2030 LHMP-CAP.
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for non-coastal hazards through existing programs (e.g., Climate Action Plan, Urban Water Management Plan, Parks Master Plan) and partnerships (e.g., Santa Cruz Integrated Regional Watershed Management Program). Projects identified in the LHMP-CAP for near-term risk mitigation with implementation underway or planned within the next five years are listed in the corresponding hazard sections below. For further detail, see Appendix D in the 2025-2030 LHMPCAP.
The 2025-2030 LHMP–CAP provides more details of the nature of all hazards, disaster history, locations of historical hazard events and their extent/severity, probability of future hazards, and how they are impacted by climate change and/or exacerbate additional climate stressors. Hazard profiles are outlined in Tables 4-1 through 4-10 and supporting Figures 9–23 are provided in Appendix B of the 2025-2030 LHMP-CAP.
2.1 DROUGHT
Drought is a recurrent and cyclic feature for California, varying significantly by region, with an average recurrence interval of 3 to 10 years. Unlike permanent aridity in low rainfall areas, drought results from a natural decline in expected precipitation over extended periods. Drought severity is influenced by elevated temperatures, winds, and low humidity and depends on the duration, intensity, geographic extent, and regional water demands. Drought impacts can affect large swaths of California, making the entire City vulnerable to drought.
Drought conditions and water supply are monitored by the City’s Water Department in accordance with its 2020 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan6. According to the Urban Water Management Plan, if Loch Lomond Reservoir is at full capacity by spring, it is typically not necessary for the City to institute reduction measures the following summer. The City’s Water Department considers a variety of parameters to determine if a water shortage exists including current and projected reservoir storage, rainfall, streamflow (runoff), and water system demand.
The City assigns Water Shortage Contingency Plan shortage levels when needed based on peak season (May 1 – October 31) demand (City 2020).
The City’s Water Department has conducted extensive research to project future water supply availability under different climate scenarios. Results indicate that Santa Cruz’s water system is highly vulnerable to climate variability, particularly drought and reduced streamflow. The City relies largely on surface water sources, which are sensitive to changes in precipitation and temperature. Modeling shows that longer and more frequent droughts could significantly reduce available water supply, even without population growth. Seasonal shifts in rainfall and runoff may lead to lower winter recharge and higher summer demand, causing stress to the system.
2.2 EXTREME HEAT
Extreme heat refers to prolonged periods of temperatures well above normal for a given area, influenced by historical averages and humidity. As outlined in the 2025-2030 LHMP-CAP, Ready.gov was used as the extreme heat definition for the City and defines it as high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90°F for at least 2 to 3 days, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency refers to a persistent period of unusually hot days as an extreme heat event or 6 City of Santa Cruz. 2020. Urban Water Management Plan. Accessible at:
https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/water/urban-water-management-plan-2020
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heat wave7,8. According to Cal-Adapt9, for Santa Cruz County, the number of extreme heat days (daily temperatures exceeding 90°F) will increase to approximately 10 days per year in mid-century (2035–2064) and 21 days per year by the end of the century (2070–2099) under a high emissions scenario when compared with the baseline of 4 days per year from 1961–1990.
Most California heat waves are caused by stationary high-pressure systems, known as "heat domes," which trap heat and prevent it from rising. These systems can cover multiple states, but coastal areas, like the City, often avoid the worst effects due to the Pacific Ocean's cooling influences. Notably, the moderation of the ocean on extreme heat in coastal Santa Cruz often attracts a significant increase in visitation from more heat prone areas inland. This can intensify local traffic, lead to temporary increases in the unhoused population, and strain resources. At the same time, the City’s historically temperate climate has left many buildings with insufficient climate control and air conditioning systems to manage prolonged heat waves.
2.3 FLOODING / EXTREME PRECIPITATION (ATMOSPHERIC RIVER EVENTS) Non-coastal flooding, defined as riverine flooding and flash floods per the 2025-2030 LHMP–CAP, poses significant threats to the City through the form of atmospheric river events. Atmospheric river events originate in the mid-Pacific Ocean and cause California’s most severe flooding events bringing intense rainfall and/or snow. California typically experiences stronger atmospheric rivers during El Niño years due to warming in the tropical Pacific Ocean and increased moisture transport.
Most common between December and February, these storms are a primary cause of flooding for the City, where excessive rainfall can overwhelm stormwater infrastructure. This results in high turbidity within the San Lorenzo River making our primary source of water untreatable, floods the Coast Pump Station interrupting the Water Department’s ability to transfer treatable water (from non-San Lorenzo River sources) to the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant (GHWTP), and causes rivers and creeks to overflow, exacerbating localized flooding and landslide events that can further disrupt the water infrastructure system. Prior landslide events have been a significant cause of damage to the Newell Creek Pipeline, a critical component of the City’s water infrastructure that transports raw freshwater from Loch Lomond Reservoir to the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant.
Its vulnerability to damage, especially during storm events, has historically disrupted the City’s ability to treat and deliver freshwater. Seawater desalination is not a viable option during heavy rain events due to wide fluctuations in sediment, turbidity, and salinity. The Newell Creek Pipeline is currently under replacement and realignment, as part of a broader $300M water system resilience plan program.
Atmospheric river families are a sequence of atmospheric rivers that occur within a relatively short period of time. Atmospheric river families can amplify flood impacts because they are associated with increasingly wet antecedent conditions (e.g., saturated soil, full reservoirs). For example, between December 26, 2022, and January 17, 2023, California experienced a series of nine events with near continuous atmospheric river conditions for 23 days, the longest duration of continuous atmospheric river conditions in the 70 years that records have been collected10.
Riverine flood-prone areas in the City include the San Lorenzo River basin, where risk has been mitigated by levees, gates, and pumps, in addition to the downtown corridor and edges of Harvey West. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, minor flood levels are 7 Ready.gov. 2025. Extreme Heat. Accessible at: https://www.ready.gov/heat 8 United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2025. Extreme Heat. Accessible at: https://www.epa.gov/naturaldisasters/extreme-heat 9 Cal-Adapt. 2018. Accessible at: https://cal-adapt.org/ 10 Atmospheric Rivers Program. 2024. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/109b3b7524034628918be55282ab578f
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defined as 16.5 feet measured by the gauge located near Big Trees Park Road11. Several smaller creeks also experience periodic flooding, including Moore Creek, Neary Lagoon, Laurel Creek, Arana Gulch, Branciforte Creek, and Carbonera Creek. The lower 10 percent of Branciforte Creek is channelized within the City limits, which helps manage urban flood risk locally by improving capacity and reducing erosion, but this can lead to accelerated water movement and contribute to higher peak flows downstream, especially where it joins the San Lorenzo River, which is tidally influenced and flood prone12.
Flash flooding vulnerability is most common in mountainous streams, urban areas, low-lying regions, and near storm drains and culverts. Riverine flooding is expected to increase in frequency and severity due to more intense and erratic rainfall patterns. Coastal flooding along the City’s shoreline is expected to worsen with sea level rise, storm surge, and high tide events, putting downtown, low-lying coastal areas, and flood-prone zones adjacent to the San Lorenzo River and Boardwalk (Beach Flats neighborhood) at heightened risk during combined coastal and riverine flood events.
2.4 WILDFIRE
Wildfire typically occurs in forests or areas with dense vegetation. Fire behavior is shaped by topography, fuel availability, and weather conditions and can be intensified by factors such as south-facing slopes (which are more exposed to the sun), dense vegetation, high temperatures, low humidity, and climate change (prolonged dry seasons). Indirect consequences of wildfires may include exposed soil and erosion, debris flows and landslides, increased downstream flood risks, degraded water quality due to ash and toxins in the watershed, and increased runoff and sedimentation from vegetation loss. Decadal wildfire probability is calculated as the probability of occurrence of one or more fires during a given decade, estimated from wildfire simulations produced for California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment13. According to Cal-Adapt, the estimated decadal wildfire probability near the Loch Lomond Reservoir is expected to reach between 0.1 and 0.2 in 2035–2064 under a high emissions scenario, meaning there is between a 10-20 percent chance of a fire in the vicinity of Santa Cruz during that time period.
Highly vulnerable areas include densely vegetated and steep-sloped regions within the City limits and watersheds outside the City limits. Appendix B of the 2025-2030 LHMP–CAP details the Fire Hazards Severity Zones for the City (Figures 21.a and 21.b), wildland urban interface regions (Figure 22), historic fire perimeters outside the City limits (Figure 23), and the Watersheds outside the City limits (Figure 8.b).
3.0 OVERVIEW OF ADAPTATION PATHWAYS
This section provides background information for the key components used to create the Attachment A matrix for adaptation pathway components, by hazard, also outlined in the Section
3.1 through 3.4 tables. This section is intended to guide City planners, staff, and partners in understanding how adaptation pathways can be applied to non-coastal hazards using a structured, 11 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 2025. San Lorenzo River (CA) and Big Trees. https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/btec1
12 Open Rivers Fund and Resources Legacy Fund. Branciforte Creek Barriers. Available at:
https://openriversfund.org/projects/branciforte-creek/
13 Langridge, Ruth. (University of California, Santa Cruz). 2018. Central Coast Summary Report. California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Publication number: SUM-CCCA4-2018-006.
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phased approach. The concepts explained below define the structure and terminology used in Attachment A and support the logic and layout of the hazard-specific tables below (Tables 1-4).
Adaptation pathways include the following elements:
Scenarios: Scenarios are plausible future descriptions about how global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change might change based on factors such as technological change and international climate change agreements. One example often used for planning efforts is the “business-asusual” scenario which indicates that greenhouse emission rates are not reduced on a global scale.
Planners need to select a scenario on which to base the phased implementation of adaptation strategies (e.g., high emissions scenario indicating more extreme changes occurring on a shorter timeline). There are two main types of scenarios that are used for planning:
• Representative concentration pathways: These scenarios explore how much pollution we might produce in the future. They include projections of greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and atmospheric concentrations over time.
• Shared socioeconomic scenarios: These scenarios imagine different types of future societies and describe how global development (e.g., population growth, economic trends, and technology) may shape our world.
Projections: Projections are estimates of future climate conditions, usually expressed in averages.
Examples include average increases in temperature, or how many and the duration of extreme events that may be likely. Projections can be used to develop triggers and thresholds and can be linked to scenarios and time horizons (e.g., under a high-emissions scenario, global average temperatures may increase by X˚C by mid-century) or can be presented without linked assumptions for scenarios or time horizon (e.g., the average number of extreme events independent from when these extreme events are occurring or the status of global emissions).
Time horizon: A planning time horizon can be included to generally organize and phase adaptation strategies over time. For this effort, and to maintain consistency with other and ongoing adaptation pathways for the City, the following time horizons were used:
• Near-term: <15 years (2025–2040)
• Medium-term: 15–30 years (2040–2070)
• Long-term: 30+ years (2070–2100)
Adaptation strategies: Each strategy should be presented on the pathway where it might be applicable. Multiple strategies can be applied to mitigate a single hazard over time and depicted on the same pathway. As the City’s ongoing work advances, evolving policies and emerging insights into future conditions may lead to adjustments in the strategies’ placement along the pathway.
Triggers and thresholds: Triggers are conditions, or risks, that can be monitored and reflect the City’s exposure to climate-related hazards. Triggers serve as the foundation for deciding when to implement actions. Each trigger is paired with a threshold, which is a measurable indicator that, when approached or exceeded, signals the need to intervene by evaluating, planning, or implementing adaptation strategies. A trigger and threshold may be met within the time horizon that it was expected or, due to unexpected events or anomalies, may be met much sooner. Use of
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paired triggers and thresholds gives the City flexibility to stay ahead of hazards and implement adaptation strategies appropriately ahead of significant impacts. Trigger points have been grouped into three categories that have been selected based on previous and future City use:
1. Geophysical (e.g., fire probability)
2. Social/economic (e.g., loss of visitor access, sense of preparedness by community members, dollars of damage/exposure)
3. Ecological (e.g., vegetation loss or habitat degradation) Thresholds provide a measurable indicator that is reliant on monitoring to inform when conditions have been met. For this effort, thresholds have been selected in alignment with existing data collection efforts, either from state or regional entities or from the City and partners. Some example thresholds include:
• Drought: reservoir capacity levels reaching a certain percentage • Extreme heat: number of consecutive extreme heat events • Wildfire: increase in wildfire probability or changes in fire return intervals • Non-coastal flooding: increase in damage from flood events Implementation points: Implementation points mark the point at which the strategy could be implemented and fully functional.
Lead time: Before an implementation point, lead time represents the time frame when project planning activities (i.e., securing funding, engineering design, environmental clearance and permitting) must take place before proceeding with strategy (or project) implementation.
Transfer points: Transfer points represent an opportunity to switch to a different adaptation strategy if conditions change. This would be considered by decision makers if the existing strategy is no longer functional in providing protection from climate hazards, and/or policy decisions that influence funding are disrupted.
The adaptation pathways approach outlined herein for addressing climate-related hazards is guided by five essential questions (Figure 1):
1. What climate-related hazards should the City prepare and plan for?
2. How severe will the impacts become?
3. What actions should the City take?
4. When should these actions begin?
5. When should the City pivot to alternative strategies?
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Figure 1. Graphic illustrating the five key questions the City should consider when planning and implementing adaptation pathways in response to climate-related hazards
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After identifying climate-related hazards to focus on, the scenarios selected, and projections used provide a projection into how the impacts are expected to worsen over time. Triggers and thresholds can be adaptive and will need to be supported by data from monitoring to guide decision-making processes for when to implement certain strategies or when to transfer to other strategies. Monitoring and evaluating past performance are critical to effective adaptation planning, providing insight into how strategies are working and what adjustments may be necessary.
3.1 DROUGHT ADAPTATION
Adaptation pathways for drought involve a series of strategic actions designed to manage and mitigate the impacts of drought over time. The framework for drought includes geophysical, social/economic, and ecological trigger categories that align with the City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan and are based on existing monitoring programs where possible, such as the City’s weekly water data for rainfall, streamflow, and reservoir levels (Table 1).
Table 1. Potential Triggers and Thresholds for Drought
Type Trigger Point Threshold Explanation
Social /
Economic
State-level
drought
emergency
declarations
TBD
This trigger point tracks State-wide
drought declarations and associated
social and economic impacts.
Geophysical Water supply
storage levels
X consecutive years of
stored water levels below
X%
Stored water level is already
monitored annually and informs the
City’s water supply planning. This
trigger point tracks trends in this
annual measurement which might
indicate the need for additional or
modified proactive strategies.
Geophysical Water year
classification
X consecutive years of
water year classification
categories at X during X
season
This classification is based on total
annual runoff in the San Lorenzo
River measured at the Big Trees
gauge. Similar to the measurement
of stored water, this annual
measurement is used to guide water
management decisions, and using
this to track trends might identify
the need for additional or modified
proactive strategies.
Ecological Tree mortality
X% increase in mature
tree mortality when
compared to baseline
Signals ongoing active dieback (e.g.,
yellowing, browning, plant mortality)
due to water stress and potential for
pests and diseases.
Geophysical Seawater
intrusion
Chloride concentrations
exceeding X, groundwater
elevation, and/or others
The Mid-County Groundwater Basin
is critically overdrafted, which
creates a pressure gradient that
allows seawater to intrude.
Therefore, while this hazard is also
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Type Trigger Point Threshold Explanation
associated with rising sea levels, it is
also linked to drought conditions.
Geophysical /
Ecological Water quality TBD
Indicates reduced streamflow, which
is associated with warmer water
temperatures, harmful algal blooms,
and reduced dissolved oxygen.
Potential drought adaptation strategies (see Attachment A for more details) arose from documents that the City provided, including Resolution No. NS-30,07414, the Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning for Santa Cruz Water Department from the Hydrosystems Research Group at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst15, and WSAIP Water Supply Portfolios Presentation16. The strategies focus on increasing storage capacity and adding supply detention opportunities for heavy winter precipitation and atmospheric river events consistent with the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan17, increasing the diversity of water supply, aquifer storage solutions to help mitigate overdraft of the Mid-County Groundwater Basin, and involving regional partners for new or enhanced tree health monitoring.
3.2 EXTREME HEAT ADAPTATION
Extreme heat adaptation pathways involve a series of strategic actions to manage and mitigate the impacts of increasing number of extreme heat days over time. As identified in Annex 1, extreme heat and drought are commonly known simultaneous hazards exacerbating risks (e.g., fire) to both critical city facilities and community members. The framework for extreme heat includes a social/economic trigger related to power outages associated with extreme heat and wind events (Table 2). A potential geophysical trigger includes the average number of days with nighttime temperatures exceeding a certain level, which is a concern when nighttime does not bring cooling relief, with data sourced from Cal-Adapt’s extreme weather tool.
Table 2. Potential Triggers and Thresholds for Extreme Heat Type Trigger Point Threshold Explanation
Social /
Economic
Power outages
during extreme
heat events
X or more Public Safety
Power Shutoffs (PSPSs),
enhanced powerline
safety settings (EPSS),
and/or brownouts
annually
Indicates power outages with public
health impacts during extreme heat
events and added stress on
designated cooling centers.
Geophysical Extreme heat
events
X days per year or more of
temperatures over 90˚F or
X days per year of
Indicates an increase in extreme
heat events with public health
14 Resolution No. NS-30,074. Resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz Establishing Policy Direction For Securing Our Water Future And Guidance for Implementing Water Supply Augmentation Projects to Improve Water Supply Reliability and Directing the City Manager to Add This Policy to the Council’s Policy Manual as Policy 34.7. 15 Hydrosystems Research Group at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. 2021. Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning for Santa Cruz Water Department, Santa Cruz, California. Technical Note: Weather Generator and Future Scenarios.
16 Kennedy Jenks. 2024. WSAIP Water Supply Portfolios Presentation to the City of Santa Cruz. 17 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWMP). 2014. Accessible at: https://www.santacruzirwmp.org/
27.23 2025-2030 LHMP – CAP
PAGE | 11
Type Trigger Point Threshold Explanation
nighttime temperatures
exceeding X˚F
concerns as well as direct impacts on
City facilities and operations.
Ecological Tree mortality
X% increase in mature
tree mortality when
compared to baseline
Extreme heat affects the health of
the urban forest and species and
habitats in open space areas.
Social /
Economic
Extreme heat
events
X days per year or more of
temperatures over 90˚F
The beach is used by the community
during extreme heat events for
cooling. This trigger reflects the
impacts on increased use of coastal
areas and associated strain on
parking and other City resources.
Potential extreme heat adaptation strategies (see Attachment A for more details) may include adjustment of the definition of native plants in the City’s code to expand and allow for more heatand drought-tolerant species, as well as protecting stream and river climate refugia habitat consistent with recommendations for the Santa Cruz Mountains18. Other strategies recommended include examples from cities in the southwest, such as cool roofs and pavements, maintenance and expansion of the City’s urban forest, green infrastructure, and improving access to cooling centers.
3.3 NON-COASTAL FLOODING AND EXTREME PRECIPITATION EVENTS ADAPTATION Adaptation pathways for non-coastal flooding focusing on extreme precipitation and atmospheric river events differ from coastal flooding as the locations of impact are not limited to coastal segments and beaches. Flooding is one of the most common examples of compound events (refer to Annex 1) when heavy rainfall and low-pressure systems lead to compound coastal (storm surge) and riverine (heavy precipitation) floods events19 and landslides. This framework builds upon the Understanding Climate-Influenced River Flooding on the San Lorenzo River report20, which proposes numerous triggers and accompanying adaptation strategies. Additional triggers, adaptation strategies, and associated thresholds have been added to bolster adaptation planning efforts for non-coastal flooding throughout the City’s jurisdiction. The City’s current Resilient Coast Santa Cruz 2.0 Project will also elucidate adaptation planning and identify implementable solutions for addressing the intersection of riverine and coastal flooding and groundwater rise coupled with rising sea levels.
This framework proposes a number of geophysical and social/economic triggers and thresholds based on existing monitoring data such as the City’s weekly water data for rainfall, streamflow and reservoir levels, and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) San Lorenzo River gauge (Table 3).
Other thresholds include the number of atmospheric rivers per year, annual flood damages, or frequency of maintenance of flood control devices.
18 EcoAdapt. 2021. Santa Cruz Mountains Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Strategies Synthesis Report. EcoAdapt, Bainbridge Island, WA.
19 Lee, R., C.J. White, M.S.G. Adnan, J. Douglas, M.D. Mahecha, F.E. O’Loughlin, E. Patelli, et al. 2024. “Reclassifying Historical Disasters: From Single to Multi-Hazards.” Science of the Total Environment 912. 20 Environmental Science Associates (ESA). 2025. Understanding Climate Influenced River Flooding on the San Lorenzo River. Flood Modeling and Decision Support Information.
27.24 2025-2030 LHMP – CAP
PAGE | 12
Table 3. Potential Triggers and Thresholds for Non-coastal Flooding Type Trigger Point Threshold Explanation
Geophysical Precipitation or
storm intensity
X increase in extreme
storm frequency
Indicates a change in long-term
trends in storm/atmospheric river
events, and can include frequency
(e.g., 25-year, 50-year, 100-year
storms), intensity (measured as AR
Categories 1-5), area and footprint,
and/or duration (including
consecutive ARs). The impacts of
storm frequency would also need to
be coupled with sea level rise
projections depending on the time
horizon and location within the City
limits.
Geophysical
Increased
frequency of
flooding events
San Lorenzo River
exceeding minor flooding
of X frequency or
exceeding X% of flood
control design capacity
(CFS) at X frequency
Signals major flooding and repeated
stress on flood control measures,
high turbidity in the San Lorenzo
River and impacts to water
infrastructure and increasing
impacts to neighborhoods.
Geophysical
Increased
landslides in
watershed
X amount of ground
saturation
Increased risk of damage to water
pipelines and debris runoff into Loch
Lomond and throughout the
watershed.
Geophysical
Frequency of
sediment
removal and
debris flows
Sediment accumulations
requiring X frequency
ripping or accumulations
of organic debris
impacting riparian
function or infrastructure
Increased resource allocation
needed to maintain flood control
capacity, avert infrastructure
damage, and provide benefits for
beach renourishment/restoration
efforts downstream.
Geophysical /
Ecological
Erosion and loss
of riparian areas
and wildlands
Loss of substantial public
spaces (like Benchlands or
Sycamore Grove)
Indicates increased force of
floodwaters with habitat and human
impacts, which may suggest
heightened risk to downstream
infrastructure, bridges, and flood
control systems.
Social /
Economic
Cost of recovery
and repair
Annual flood damages
exceed $X
Indicates an increase in the
recurrence of extreme events that
require costly recovery and repairs.
Potential non-coastal flooding adaptation strategies (see Attachment A for more details) align with examples in ESA (2025), IRWMP (2014), among others, and include grading the river and/or creek channels to remove sediment, redirecting or diverting floodwaters, creating additional detention basins and opportunities for water storage, distribute stormwater management in neighborhoods and upstream, and improve (widening/raising) levees to protect critical City assets and communities. Financial resilience tools like parametric insurance mechanisms could offer a complementary layer of protection for critical City assets and vulnerable communities based on
27.25 2025-2030 LHMP – CAP
PAGE | 13
predefined triggers (e.g., rainfall thresholds or river stage levels) to maintain a continuity of services and enable swift recovery post-flood events.
3.4 WILDFIRE ADAPTATION
Adaptation pathways for wildfire align with existing fire-related plans and policies from the City and phase strategic actions over time. Multi-hazard events involving wildfire are associated with numerous climate-induced hazards and include: drought (increased fuel load), increasing temperatures extreme heat (generating conditions favorable for fires), ash and toxins following wildfires in watersheds (negative impacts to water quality), and non-coastal flooding (increasing the likelihood of landslides/debris flows in recently burned areas). These interactions create a critical need for strategic and collaborative wildfire planning to account for compounding and cascading impacts.
This framework identifies potential geophysical and ecological triggers and thresholds based on wildfire probability, or the chance that a fire will occur in the Santa Cruz region in a given time period, as well as fire frequency, which has impacts to native habitat recovery and restoration efforts.
Table 4. Potential Triggers and Thresholds for Wildfire Type Trigger Point Threshold Explanation
Geophysical &
Social /
Economic
Decadal wildfire
probability
Fire probability reaches X
or greater
Indicates an increase in fire
probability from historical baseline
due to anthropogenic influences and
other factors.
Geophysical /
Ecological Fire frequency Two or more fires within 5 years Signals potential impacts to natural
regeneration of previously burned
areas and could facilitate vegetative
or habitat conversions, allowing for
the potential increased spread of
invasive species.
Ecological Tree mortality
X% increase in mature
tree mortality when
compared to baseline
within X miles of
neighborhood areas.
Indicates presence of high fuel loads
and dry conditions requiring
significant abatement to manage fire
risk.
Social Stored water
levels
X consecutive years of
stored water levels below
X%
Suggests firefighting capacity and/or
resources such as water for air drops
may be reduced in the event of a
major incident.
Potential wildfire adaptation strategies (see Attachment A for more details) include reducing fuels to prevent large scale and high-intensity fires, creation of fuel breaks, maintenance of access roads, post-fire restoration, prescribed burns including opportunities to coordinate with Tribes to reduce the likelihood of high-intensity fires, promotion of Firewise neighborhood groups, right-sizing of fire facilities, staffing, and equipment, and creation of community resilience and cooling centers in the event of a wildfire.
27.26 6/9/2026 1
2025-2030 LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION + CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION TRACKING link to LHM-CAP Document w/ project descriptions in appendix on page D-4 Project Name Priority Status as of 8/19/25 Status of 11/12/25 Status as of 4/15/2026 Potential or Known Funding Source Project Lead Coastal Change Monitoring Network Highest in progress in progress in progress Resilent Cities Catalyst? City ManagerUnion/Locust Admin Building Back-up Generator Highest complete complete complete Water CIP Water DepartmentWharf Resilience Improvements Project Highest In progress In progress In progress CSCC grant Parks and Recreation DepartmentCommunity Resilience Centers and Climate Resilience Awareness Highest early planning In progress In progress CA Volunteers; Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation City Manager Drinking Source Water Protection and Forest Health Highest in progress Ongoing in progressCalFIRE grant for veg mgmt in Pogonip ($250k)Lower DeLa grant under consideration ($500k) in progress Watershed-related grant programs, Water O&M budget Water Department Downtown / Sea Level Rise Drainage Assessment and Pump Station Upgrades Highest RFP for PS design in Jan.Drainage Assessment complete
Consultant selected to start
design in June; Anticipate receiving Basis of Design report by end of December.
BRIC (Phase 1 Design - $2.5M, Phase 2
Construction- $11.5M not approved, but no longer cancelled); looking at other potential grants. Public Works Department Fuel Reduction Assessments and Wildfire Resilience Strategies for City Critical Facilities and Infrastructure Highest in progress Ongoing in progressCalFIRE grant for veg mgmt in Pogonip ($250k)Lower DeLa grant under consideration ($500k)Wildfire Resilience Plan adopted by City Council in progress BRIC, Measure Q? HMGP, and CAL FIRE
Wildfire Prevention Grants Program Fire Department; PR
Roadside Fuel Reduction and Fuel Breaks Highest in progress Ongoing in progressCalFIRE grant for veg mgmt in Pogonip ($250k)Lower DeLa grant under consideration ($500k)Wildfire Resilience Plan adopted by City Council in progress BRIC, Measure Q? HMGP, and CAL FIRE
Wildfire Prevention Grants Program Fire Department
Aquifer Storage and Recovery Highest in progress
ongoing Beltz 12 well upgrade is in construction done March 2026)designing 2 other wells nowBeltz 8 ASR project out to bid soon done Aug 2027 Beltz 12 ASR Upgrades still under construction. Beltz 8 ASR Upgrades construction to start in August. Beltz 9 ASR Upgrades started design. Beltz 10 ASR Pilot Testing scheduled to being in January. Evaluation of the potential for new ASR wells in the Mid-County groundwater basin is ongoing.
DWR (Prop 4), WIFIA, BOR, and Water CIP Water Department Water Supply Augmentation Program Highest in progress ongoing Evaluation of expansion of ASR in Mid-County and Santa Margarita groundwater basins, transfers with neighobring agencies and other water supply augmentation options is ongoing and in planning U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and other federal grants, Prop 4 Water Department Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit Highest In Construction In Construction Construction thru `Jan. 2028 Highway Bridge Program, State Transportation and City Gas Tax Public Works Department Coast Pump Station Rehabilitation/Replacement Highest early planning In planning In planning Water CIP Water Department Tait Diversion Retrofit Highest planning In planning In planning Prop 4 and Water CIP Water Department Main and Cowell Beaches Shoreline Adaptation Blueprint Highest in progress in progress in progress OPC grant City Manager East Cliff/Seabright State Beach Shoreline Adaptation Blueprint Highest in progress in progress in progress OPC grant City ManagerWest Cliff 5-Year Roadmap Implementation and Shoreline Adaptation Blueprint Highest in progress in progress in progress OPC grant / other City Manager/Public Works Revetment Repair Project in design in design Need to regroup on potential funding options PWLighthouse Field Roadway Relocation in design in design ESA contract executed May26-May 27 PWCorridor Wide Master Signage Plan and Design Standards In planning - implement in FY27 FY27 seeking funding CIP in FY27 PR Coastal/West Cliff Infrastructure Financing Feasibility Study funded? funded? in progress Resilent Cities Catalyst CMO San Lorenzo River Climate Adaptation Strategy (partially funded) Highest In progress In progress in progress DWR, NOAA Climate Resilience Regional
Challenge City Manager
27.27 6/9/2026 2
2025-2030 LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION + CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION TRACKING link to LHM-CAP Document w/ project descriptions in appendix on page D-4 Project Name Priority Status as of 8/19/25 Status of 11/12/25 Status as of 4/15/2026 Potential or Known Funding Source Project Lead Branciforte Flood Control Channel Improvements not started pursuing grant funding Army Corps/Wildife Conservation Board Public Works Department SLR Levee Gravity Drains Rehabilitation pursuing grant funding Public Works DepartmentSLR Levee Reinforcement (downstream termination of right bank) pursuing grant funding Public Works DepartmentPump Station 1 and 3 Positive Closure Devices pursuing grant funding Public Works DepartmentSLR Culvert Debris Boom Partial grant funding secured Measure Q partial funding Public Works DepartmentSLR Culvert Intake Screen Modifications pursuing grant funding Public Works Department Newell Creek Pipeline Replacement Highest In progress
In progress; complete February 2027; Newell Creek Pipeline Felton to Graham Hill project is scheduled to demobilize in April 2027.
Phase 1 (Felton-GHWTP) in construction WIFIA, DWSRF, & Congressional Earmark Water Department Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant Facilities Improvement Project Highest under review In 100% design (design-build) Construction scheduled to
start January 2027 WIFIA and DWSRF Water Department
Utility Customer Assistance Program High Implemented and ongoing Implemented and ongoing (working on MF; SF complete)
Implemented (both SF and MF
programs are both launched and ongoing UCAP Special Revenue Fund (Fund 296) Water Department Hazard Mitigation Database High In progress In progress in progress General Funds Information TechnologyCritical Facility and Infrastructure Rapid Visual Screening, Engineering Evaluation and Seismic Retrofit High no progress BRIC/HMGP Public Works Department TsunamiReady Program High in progress
3 elements (related to schools) remaining. Anticipate completion within 12 months, but this depends on partnership with SCCS/ SCHS 3 elements (related to schools) remaining. Anticipate the City will be "Tsunami Ready" within one General Funds Office of Emergency Services Mid- and Steep-Sloped Property Protection in High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and Wildland Urban Interface Areas High in progress BRIC, HMGP, and CAL FIRE Wildfire
Prevention Grants Program Fire Department
Frontline Neighborhood Tree Planting High lost funding
Funding back possibly/ was able to fund reforestation at University Terrace Park; measure Q will enable more capacity / progress on trees Hiring a Tree Staff CA DOC Urban Greening Grant Parks and Recreation Department Newell Creek Dam Enhanced Monitoring Project High not started not started not started Water Enterprise Fund Water DepartmentCity Critical Facility and Infrastructure Improvements/Backup Power System High in progress in progress in progress BRIC/HMGP All Departments Retrofit Grant Program High BRIC/HMGP Public Works Department Not in
adopted
plan; include
by Annex in
FY27
27.28 2025–2030 Local Hazard
Mitigation & Climate
Adaptation Plan
Year 1 Implementation Progress Report
City Council Meeting
August 11, 2026
Tiffany Wise-West, Sustainability & Resiliency Officer
Michael Dyer, Sustainability & Resiliency Project Manager II
CITY OF
SANTA CRUZ
27.29 Today's Presentation
01 Plan Overview & Governance 02 Year 1 Highlights
03 Community Engagement 04 Adjacent Efforts
05 Challenges 06 Year 2 Implementation Priorities
27.30
About the 2025–2030 LHM-CAP
First in California + US First combined LHMP-CAP approved by FEMA in California — and likely the United States
Adopted City Council — March 11, 2025
FEMA Approved Effective April 15, 2025 (5-year federal approval) 10 hazards covered
Coastal erosion · Dam failure · Drought · Earthquake ·
Extreme heat · Flood · Landslide · Sea level rise · Tsunami · Wildfire
27 adopted projects Mitigation actions and climate adaptation strategies across all departments
Governance Implementation Program approved by all Department Directors — August 28, 2025
New annexes Multi-Hazards & Compound Events · Adaptation Pathways for Non-Coastal Hazards
# Projects addressing each of 10 Hazards
Coastal
Erosion
Dam
Failure Drought Earthquake
Extreme
Heat
Flood Landslide
Sea Level
Rise Tsunami Wildfire
7 2
where some projects address multiple hazards
5 9 2
13 3 9 2 10
27.31
Year 1 At a Glance
27 Adopted projects
2 Projects complete
22 Active / in progress
+8
New PW projects under
consideration for Annexing
10 Hazard types addressed
$654M+
Total portfolio
costs (estimated)
$152.2M
Secured funding
(funded projects)
67%
Grant success
rate
9 Grant apps
submitted
27.32 Year 1 Highlights
Hazard events · Projects’ status · Funding
LHM - CAP Year 1 | CITY OF SANTA CRUZ 27.33
Year 1 Hazard Events & Plan Response
JAN
2025
Major Storm Damage — Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf
Hazard: Coastal Storm / Erosion · Asset: Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf Significant structural and operational damage to the Wharf. This event directly accelerated the Wharf Resilience Improvements Project — now in active progress with $8.6M CSCC grant funding, targeted completion end of 2027.
DEC
2025
West Cliff Bluff Coastal Erosion — Getchell's
Hazard: Coastal Erosion · Asset: West Cliff Drive / Getchell's Bluff Bluff retreat and infrastructure exposure. Reinforces urgency of the West Cliff 5-Year Roadmap and Shoreline Adaptation Blueprint, currently in progress with OPC grant funding. 3 West Cliff projects initiated in Year 2.
West Cliff Bluff Coastal Erosion — Lighthouse Point at Steamer Lane Hazard: Coastal Erosion · Asset: West Cliff Drive / Lighthouse Point Bluff retreat. Reinforces urgency of the Lighthouse Point Hazard Analysis and Alternatives Evaluation.
JUNE
2026
27.34
Year 1 — Projects Complete
✓
Union/Locust Administrative Building Back-up Generator
Water Department (WT) · Cost: $310,000 · Funding: Water CIP Hazards: Earthquake · Extreme Heat · Wildfire
Delivered on schedule. Ensures backup power at a critical City administrative facility during declared emergencies. ✓
Utility Customer Assistance Program (UCAP)
Water Department (WT) · Cost: $1,000,000 · Funding: UCAP Special Revenue Fund Hazards: Drought
Both single-family and multi-family programs launched and operational. Community focus groups and survey conducted FY26.
27.35
Major Projects Under Construction
Murray Street Bridge Seismic Retrofit
PW · $62M · Complete Jan 2028 · Major seismic upgrade to critical downtown bridge crossing. In active construction.
Earthquake
Highway Bridge Program / State Transportation / Gas Tax Newell Creek Pipeline Replacement — Phase 1 (Felton–Graham Hill) WT · $30.7M · Demob Apr 2027 · Phase 1 in construction. Felton to Graham Hill segment.
Earthquake · Landslide · Wildfire
WIFIA · DWSRF · Congressional Earmark
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
WT · $23.6M · FY26–FY27 · Beltz 12 complete; Beltz 8 construction Aug 2026; Beltz 9 in design; Beltz 10 pilot Jan 2027.
Drought
DWR Prop 4 · WIFIA · Bureau of Reclamation
Wharf Resilience Improvements
PR · $8.6M · End 2027 · Accelerated by January 2025 storm damage. Supported by Wharf Safety Plan.
Coastal Erosion · Flood · Sea Level Rise
CA State Coastal Conservancy (CSCC) grant
27.36
Design Milestones & Funding Overview
Downtown SLR Drainage & Pump Station #1
Design starts June 2026; BOD report Dec. 2026
Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant FIP
Construction starts January 2027
Lighthouse Field – West Cliff Roadway Relocation
ESA design contract May 2026–May 2027
Secured Funding
$126.2M
secured funding
(blue-shaded projects)
$654M+
total portfolio costs (est.)
Coastal Conservancy
Wharf $8.6M
CalFIRE
Pogonip $250K awarded
Ocean Protect. Council
3 Shoreline Blueprints
WIFIA/DWSRF
Graham Hill + Newell Ck
BOR/Prop 4
Water Supply + ASR
Measure Q
SLR Culvert $216K partial
27.37
Community Engagement — Year 1
Race the Wave – Tsunami Preparedness Run Beach Flats Spanish-Language Focus Group Neighborhood Resilience Workshops
Community Resilience Centers
27.38
Adjacent Efforts Supporting LHM-CAP Goals
Citywide work advancing in parallel — directly supports LHM-CAP implementation (OES + Departments) Tsunami Ready Designation Coastal Incident Response Planning Framework Update Wildfire Early Warning System
Critical Facility Fuel Contracts Emergency Preparedness Portal Critical Facility Infrastructure List
27.39
Challenges to Implementation
Downtown SLR Pump Station #1 — BRIC Phase 2 Funding Uncertainty Critical Facility Seismic Retrofit — Capacity to Undertake 9 New Priority Projects to address Hazards Identified by Public Works and Parks and Recreation Marine Safety
Branciforte Flood Control Project — Sequencing with Private Development
27.40
Year 2 Implementation Priorities
Construction & Design
• Begin Graham Hill WTP construction
• Complete Newell Creek Pipeline Ph.1, demobilize
• Downtown SLR Pump Station Basis of Design
• Complete Coastal Financing Study, Shoreline Mgmt
Adaptation Plans
• Construct Lighthouse Field Relocation
• Initiate West Cliff Corridor Wide Master Signage Plan Funding & Grants
• Pursue funding for Pump Station #1 construction
• Explore Hazard Mitigation Grant for Critical Facility Seismic Retrofit
• Advance at least 2 major grant applications
Develop funding strategies for 8 new PW SLR/flood
projects and 1 new Marine Safety Project
Plan Implementation
• Present Year 1 report to City Council — Aug 2026
• Build GIS Hazard / Project Database + Web portal
• Evaluate Implementation Tool and Program
• Assess 8 new PW and 1 new PR projects for annex
adoption
Equity & Community Engagement
• Hire Assistant Urban Forester (Frontline Tree Planting) • Complete TsunamiReady Program
• Continue Neighborhood Resilience Workshops
• Race the Flame Run(with UCSC)
• Continue County OR3 grant coordination
• Plan for public mid-cycle progress review in late
2027/early 2028
27.41 Recommendation
1 Accept the LHM-CAP Year 1 Implementation Progress Report and provide feedback.
Questions & Discussion
Tiffany Wise-West, PhD, PE, · Sustainability and Resiliency Officer · [email protected] Michael Dyer · Sustainability and Resilience Project Manager II · [email protected]
27.42 City Council
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: 07/23/2026
AGENDA OF: 08/11/2026
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
SUBJECT: 900 High Street: CP25-0105 (APN 001-022-45) Major Modification and Density Bonus Request Proposing Modifications to Application No. CP22- 0164 to Revise the Previous Density Bonus Request, Increase the Total Number of Residential Units from 40 to 47, Alter the Unit Mix, and Modify the Building Design/Envelope Compared to the Project Design as Previously Approved. Environmental Review: Statutory Exemption Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21083.3. Applicant: Sibley Simon, Workbench. Owner: Envision Peace Village, LLC, c/o Sibley Simon (CD)
LOCATION: District 5
RECOMMENDATION: Motion to adopt a resolution acknowledging the environmental determination (Statutory Exemption pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21083.3) and approving a Major Modification and Density Bonus Request proposing modifications to Application No. CP22-0164 based on the findings listed in the draft Resolution and the Conditions of Approval attached as Exhibit “A.”
BACKGROUND: On February 13, 2024, the City Council denied an appeal, therefore upholding the Planning Commission’s approval of application CP22-0164 which included a Minor Land Division, Design Permit, Slope Development Permit, Density Bonus Request, and Heritage Tree Removal Permit. The original project site was a 5.9-acre lot located on the north side of High Street immediately to the northeast of its intersection with Moore Street, developed with a church that was constructed in 1957.
The site slopes upward to the north, and the unimproved north end of the site is comprised of open grassland and trees. The approved project scope included subdividing the parcel into two lots, with the lower 3.7-acre lot retaining the existing church campus and the upper lot to be approximately 2.23-acres for construction of a 40-unit, four-story residential apartment building. Since that approval, the subject property has been subdivided as approved, but no construction has occurred at the site.
28.1 State Laws Applicable to Project. The following California Government Code sections are applicable to the project. See attached state law summaries for additional information. 65863.2 (Minimum Parking Requirements, AB2097): Minimum parking requirements can increase the cost of housing and limit the number of residential units. Therefore, local jurisdictions shall not impose a minimum automobile parking requirement for residential, commercial, or other development projects if the project is located within one-half mile of public transit.
65915 (Density Bonus Law): Provides incentives for developers of housing development projects that consist of five or more units in exchange for greater affordability. 65589.5 (Housing Accountability Act, SB330): The HAA limits local government’s ability to deny, reduce the density of, or make infeasible housing development projects, emergency shelters, or farmworker housing that are consistent with objective local development standards and contribute to meeting housing need. 65905.5 (Five Hearing Rule): A local government may not hold more than five hearings to consider a proposed housing development project if the project complies with all applicable, objective general plan and zoning standards, exclusive of standards waived pursuant to density bonus state law.
DISCUSSION: Zoning Code Section 24.04.160(4)(c) states that, “The zoning administrator shall refer to the decision-making body with final authority for review and action any requested modifications which involve significant increases in size or nature of an approved project beyond those limits set in subsection (4)(b). A public hearing will be required unless the permit proposed for modification was approved administratively, in which case the modification may also be decided administratively, or may be elevated at the discretion of the zoning administrator. In the case of a housing development project, any variation from a requirement of Section 24.12.185 that was not previously reviewed at a public hearing shall trigger the need for a public hearing at the level indicated by Section 24.08.420.” With a number of modifications that extend beyond the criteria to qualify for Minor Modification and the proposal to vary the entitlements previously granted under State Density Bonus Law, the Major Modification is being referred to the City Council which was the decision-making body for the original application.
Modifications. Following approval of the original application, it was determined that the project was not financially feasible. In order to make the project feasible, the applicant has redesigned the building to be a more efficient rectangular shape and footprint, eliminating the wing of the building that had stepped up the slope, increased the unit count from 40 to 47, including a change to the unit mix to include more co-living units and studios, and requested additional concessions and waivers to decrease project costs. The following are the most notable modifications to the project:
1. Building Footprint: The building shape modified from a V-shape with a portion extending up the hillside, to a basic rectangular shape that is generally in the same footprint as previously approved.
28.2 2. Building Height: With the overall footprint of the building generally reduced, the building’s rectangular dimensions have been increased, as was the height, adding an additional floor.
3. Unit Count: The number of units has been increased from 40 to 47.
4. Unit Mix: The unit mix has been modified as follows:
Approved Project Proposed
13 Studio/Jr. One-Bed 24 Studio/Jr. One-Bed
1 One-Bed 2 One-Bed
15 Two-Bed 5 Two-Bed
4 Three-Bed 7 Three-Bed
6 Four Bed Co-living 0 Four-Bed Co-living
1 Five-Bed Co-living 4 Five-Bed Co-living
0 Six-Bed Co-living 5 Six-Bed Co-living
5. Bedroom Count: The bedroom count has been increased from 85 to 107 bedrooms.
6. Deed-Restricted Affordable Units: The approved project provided four very lowincome units and five low-income units (total of 9 units). The proposed project would provide four very low-income units and four moderate-income units (total of 8 units).
The applicant is proposing that additional bedrooms within the co-living units also be made to income-qualifying tenants at affordable rates. See the “Density Bonus” and “Inclusionary Zoning” sections below for more information.
28.3 7. Ingress/Egress Points: The approved project proposed two entrances to the project. The proposed project modifies what was the newly proposed entrance to strictly an emergency vehicle access, leaving only the one existing ingress/egress point.
8. Transformer Undergrounding: The previous approval included a condition of approval that required that transformer boxes be placed underground. It has since been determined that SCMC Section 24.12.720(5) exempts equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, including surface-mounted transformers from undergrounding requirements, and therefore the condition has been stricken.
Heritage Tree Removal: The project continues to include the removal of 14 Heritage Trees; however, an updated Arborist Report (attached) was provided to address changes in impacts due to the revised design including building location, driveways and parking areas, retaining walls, drainage elements, and utilities. The Arborist Report uses an industry standard calculation to evaluate construction impacts to trees, which occur primarily due to root loss and canopy loss.
Root loss factors that are considered include depth of excavation, necessity of construction element, tree species tolerance to root loss, tree condition, and age. For canopy loss, factors considered include height of the element and percentage of canopy loss. The arborist report concludes that eleven Heritage Trees will be highly impacted that are located within or near the footprint of the building, within areas of retaining walls, storm drain systems, or utilities. The other three trees to be removed are in poor health.
While it is possible that some trees might be able to be preserved with project redesign (including redesigned outdoor areas, relocated retaining walls, and potentially relocated utilities), City Council Resolution No. NS-23,710’s requirement of a finding that the “project design cannot be altered to accommodate existing heritage trees” requires subjective judgment and therefore is not an objective standard. Accordingly, redesign to preserve heritage trees may not be required as a condition of approval for the housing development project Parking. As originally entitled, the project is not required to provide on-site parking pursuant to Section 24.12.220 of the Zoning Ordinance; however, the applicant continues to voluntarily provide parking for the development including 22 parking spaces for compact vehicles, electric vehicle spaces, and accessible spaces.
Density Bonus. Under Density Bonus Law (Gov. Code. §65915), the base density for the project is calculated using the greatest number of units allowed under the General Plan. The project General Plan Land Use Designation of Low Density Residential allows for up to 10 dwellings per acre, and the 2.23-acre has a base density of 23 units (under the Density Bonus Law, all values are rounded up to the next whole number per Gov. Code §65915(q)). The project maxes out the first density bonus by providing four very low-income units, approximately 17% of the base units, exceeding the 15% threshold to obtain a 50% bonus of 12 units. In addition, the project provides four moderate-income units, approximately 17% of the base units, exceeding the 15% threshold to obtain a second 50% density bonus of 12 units. This allows for a total of 47 units. Of note, the Density Bonus Law and an associated State Housing and Community Development Department Technical Assistance Memorandum clearly note that the affordable units do not have size restrictions as compared to the market rate units, so the eight studio units fully comply with state law provisions allowing for the 100% density bonus.
28.4 Incentives/Concessions and Waivers. Under State Density Bonus Law, the project qualifies for four incentives/concessions, since it provides at least 16-percent of units to lower-income households, and an unlimited number of waivers. The applicant submitted a written concessions and waivers narrative dated January 23, 2026, and subsequently revised on July 21, 2026. For each requested concession, the narrative identifies anticipated construction, administrative, or operating cost reductions. State law does not require the applicant to demonstrate that a concession is necessary to make the project economically feasible, and the City bears the burden of establishing a statutory ground for denial. The density bonus request proposes three concessions/incentives and three waivers from development standards, summarized below:
Incentive/Concession 1 – Developer Affordable Housing Agreement – Floating Which Units Are Affordable: The requested incentive/concession is to modify the requirement of
24.16.040(3) such that the location of the units that will satisfy the inclusionary affordability requirement will not be specified in the amended agreement. This concession proposes to minimize the requirements on the affordable housing agreement contained in 24.16.040(3) by striking item (c) (which requires that the affordable housing agreement contain “The location, unit size in square feet, and number of bedrooms of the inclusionary units.”) and removing the word “location” from item (a). The proposal is for the agreement to only require the project to, at all times, have at least the required number of units at each affordability level that are either leased to a qualifying tenant under the requirements of the agreement or vacant and in the process of marketing for and selecting a qualifying tenant. In other words, if a vacancy arises in a unit that has been an affordable unit, it could only be leased as a non-affordable unit if another unit is first either leased as a replacement affordable unit or vacant and in process of selecting a qualifying tenant for leasing as an affordable unit. This flexibility can result in increased income or cost savings for the applicant, for example, if they are able to occupy a unit with a tenant while another unit is undergoing repair or maintenance. Thus, this request is eligible for an incentive/concession. While units can be redesignated based on project needs, the City will need to be provided the location of affordable units during the monitoring period.
Incentive/Concession 2 – Option for Streamlined Tenant Selection: The requested incentive/concession is to change the procedural step in II. C. 1. A in Exhibit A of Resolution No. NS-29,463 (the City’s current Affordable Housing Program Guidelines) such that the management of the project designates whether the City markets a vacant affordable unit or not when management notifies the City of such a vacancy under this procedural step. The applicant asserts that because projects often have many qualifying households apply even before units become available, this step and responses due to City marketing create added administrative burden that this concession would alleviate, saving property management time and expense. The applicant also notes that in many cases that the project would already have sent a qualifying tenant to the housing authority for final income verification at the time of noticing and that they will submit the information publicly and as necessary to the Housing Authority, along with a tenant’s qualifying eligibility information on income and assets. The reduced time for the property manager to screen applications results in an identified cost savings, making it eligible for a concession.
Incentive/Concession 3 – Vinyl Windows: The requested concession is to allow vinyl windows which are prohibited for mixed-use or residential buildings more than three stories pursuant to
28.5 24.12.180(15)(b)(1). Allowing vinyl windows will result in identifiable cost savings to the project.
Waiver 1 - Height: The project is seeking a waiver to height to allow for a five-story building.
The project proposes to exceed the maximum height of 2.5 stories and 30 feet that are permitted in the R-1 zone district. Complying with the 30-foot standard would require the building to reduce the number of floors and eliminate residential units. This would physically preclude the construction of the project that would include the number of residential units allowed under the State Density Bonus Law.
Waiver 2 - Setbacks: The project is seeking a waiver of the minimum 25-foot front yard setback, providing a 7’-1” setback to the new building. Providing the full 25-foot setback would reduce the volume of the building and eliminate a substantial number of residential units. This would physically preclude the construction of the project that would include the number of residential units allowed under the State Density Bonus Law.
Waiver 3 – Building Modulation: The project is seeking a waiver of the Zoning Code’s Objective Design Standards for building modulation. SCMC 24.12.185.11.a.ii states “For buildings more than three stories, provide at least one horizontal change in plane for every fifty feet of building face, rounded down to the next whole number (e.g., one to forty-nine feet, no change in plane required; fifty to ninety-nine feet, one change in plane required; etc.). This requirement applies to all faces of the building that meet the length requirement for modulation (i.e., all faces fifty feet or more in length). The changes in plane must be at least four feet deep and six feet apart. Such changes in plane may contain balconies, as long as the railing is at least seventy percent see-through or transparent.” The goal of this objective design standard is to break up large building faces and create visual interest for pedestrians, neighbors, and visitors.
While the front of the building (south elevation) meets this objective standard, the rear of the building facing up the hill (north elevation) does not. There are two horizontal changes in plane, but they extend further than fifty feet apart. Requiring additional modulation would reduce the volume of the building and potentially reduce or eliminate residential units. This would physically preclude the construction of the project that would include the number of residential units allowed under the State Density Bonus Law.
Pursuant to State Density Bonus Law and the City’s zoning ordinance, the applicant is required to provide justification for any requested waivers and incentives/concessions, and the City must approve the requests unless it can make a written finding, based on substantial evidence, that the request does not result in identifiable and actual cost reductions, would cause a statutorily defined specific adverse impact that cannot feasibly be mitigated or avoided, would adversely affect a listed historic resource, or would be contrary to state or federal law. A requested waiver must be granted where application of the development standard would physically preclude construction of the project at the density or with the incentives and concessions permitted under State Density Bonus Law, unless one of the statutory grounds for denial applies. No evidence of such public health or safety impact appears evident based on information available to staff.
Therefore, staff recommend that the City Council grant all requested waivers and incentive/concessions as proposed.
28.6 Inclusionary. Zoning Code Section 24.16.020(5)(a) states that rental residential developments that would create five or more new or additional dwelling units at one location shall provide twenty percent (20%) of the dwelling units as inclusionary units, which shall be made available for rent to low-income households at an affordable rent. This calculation is specific to the base density of the project, which in this case is 23 units, requiring 4.6 affordable units, which rounds down to 4 units per section 24.16.020(5)(c), which states if the number of dwelling units required results in a fractional requirement of 0.7 or less, then there will be no inclusionary requirement for the fractional unit. With four affordable units required, the project is meeting the minimum number of inclusionary units by providing the four very –low-income units that also qualify the project for the first 50% density bonus.
The Zoning Code states that all inclusionary units shall remain affordable in perpetuity, that inclusionary units shall be dispersed throughout the residential development to prevent the creation of a concentration of affordable units within the residential development, and that inclusionary units shall be compatible with the design of market rate units in terms of appearance, materials, and finished quality, so as long as the finishes, features, and amenities are durable, of good quality, compatible with the market rate units, and consistent with contemporary standards for new housing. All units in the project are of comparable quality and finishes, and the requisite affordable housing development agreement will require that the affordable inclusionary units are provided in perpetuity and not concentrated on one floor, consistent with state law and SCMC 24.16.025(2).
The Zoning Code also states that the square footage of inclusionary units may be reduced, provided all units conform to all requirements of Titles 18 and 19 of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code and meet the minimum square footage requirement that affordable units are at least 75% of the average size of all market rate units in the development with the same bedroom count, that for developments with multiple market rate unit types containing differing numbers of bedrooms, inclusionary units shall be representative of the market rate unit mix, and that all building permits for inclusionary units in a phase of a residential development shall be issued concurrently with, or prior to, issuance of building permits for the market rate units, and the inclusionary units shall be constructed concurrently with, or prior to, construction of the market rate units.
For compliance with the above-mentioned criteria, the applicant is proposing to use an alternative compliance method available through Section 24.16.030.11, which states the following:
Other Alternative Compliance Methods. An applicant may propose an alternative compliance method to provide affordable units through other means. The approval body may approve or conditionally approve such an alternative only if the approval body determines, based on substantial evidence, that 1) such alternative compliance will provide as many or more affordable units at the same or lower income levels; and 2) financing has been committed to ensure that the affordable units will be constructed.
Rather than providing the affordable housing in units that are representative of the unit breakdown, the applicant has proposed to provide the required four inclusionary affordable units
28.7 as all studio units, while providing additional affordable bedrooms in the co-living units. The applicant’s attached request for this alternative method details how, in addition to providing the requisite number of units, the overall number of deed-restricted affordable bedrooms is increased with the proposed approach.
With only four inclusionary units required and with units containing five different bedroom counts, selecting a “representative mix” of units, as called for by the inclusionary ordinance, raises implementation questions. Thus, the applicant has prepared an alternative methodology for calculating how many inclusionary bedrooms should be included. The project includes 107 total bedrooms, and the inclusionary totals are calculated on the base project, which in this case is 50% of the total units. Thus, the base project would contain 53.5 bedrooms, which the applicant has rounded up to 54. The inclusionary ordinance requires that 20% of the units be made affordable to low-income households at affordable rents, and in this case, the applicant also calculated 20% of the bedrooms in the base project, with 20% of 54 being 10.8 bedrooms. The four very low-income density bonus units count as both density bonus units and fulfill the City’s inclusionary requirements per state law and case law, and those very low-income studio units offer four of the 11 bedrooms in the aforementioned bedroom calculation (assuming the 10.8- bedroom calculation is rounded up to 11). That would leave seven remaining bedrooms using this calculation methodology.
As noted in the applicant’s proposal, they are offering ten additional bedrooms in the co-living units at affordable rents to qualifying low-income individuals. In addition to providing the extra three affordable bedrooms, the applicant is offering them at lower rents. The inclusionary ordinance defines affordable rent as 35% of a qualifying household’s gross income, whereas the applicant is proposing to set rents at a maximum of 30% of a qualifying household’s gross income. The applicant has also provided methodology as to why they believe this approach will not only provide more affordable bedrooms but will also provide affordable housing to more individuals than the standard inclusionary approach.
In yet another way of analyzing the inclusionary proposal, 26 of the 47 units in the project are studios or one-bedroom units. Thus, a representative mix of inclusionary units would provide two of the four required inclusionary units as studio units. With the applicant proposing 14 total affordable bedrooms (four in the studios (very low-income) and ten in the co-housing units (low income)), the inclusionary proposal is comparable to providing the two studio units plus two, five-bedroom units. This also exceeds the total number of bedrooms that would be required if a typical, representative unit mix approach were utilized.
In order to approve this alternative approach, two findings must be made under Section
24.16.030.2 of the Municipal Code, and two findings must be made under Section 24.16.030.11 of the Municipal Code. Those requisite findings and associated consistency analyses are included in the attached resolution. The inclusionary consistency relates to the very low and low-income units and bedrooms. The four additional moderate-income units, as discussed above, are related to the density bonus request.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Under Sections 24.16.120 and 24.16.125, up to two detached ADUs may be permitted with the proposed multi-unit building. After project approval/construction, up to 25% of the total units may also be permitted as ADUs within
28.8 qualifying non-livable areas of the building. Any ADUs would require separate ministerial approval and are not approved as part of this application.
Objective Design Standards. A new SB330 preapplication associated with the project was deemed complete prior to the Major Modification application, therefore the Objective Design Standards for Multifamily Housing (Objective Standards) contained in Section 24.12.185 of the Zoning Ordinance are applicable to the modification. The project must meet the Objective Design Standards, except as modified by incentives/concessions and waivers pursuant to California State Density Bonus Law (see Density Bonus Request section above for this analysis) and as modified by variations through the Objective Design Standards process. The attached Objective Design Standards checklist describes the project’s compliance with the Objective Design Standards.
Community Outreach. The Community Outreach Policy for Planning Projects considers this project to be a large development project since it adds more than 25 new housing units. A community meeting was held as part of the original application process, and an additional community meeting was held on April 30, 2026, to make the community aware of the proposed modifications. Approximately 18 community members attended the meeting with questions about the proposed revisions. Discussion included the unit make-up, co-housing, construction timelines, affordability rates, and traffic and circulation changes. Specifically, there were concerns raised about the increase in traffic resulting in impacts to turning movements at Laurent Street during rush hour and across the sidewalk during the times that children walk to school.
The Trip Generation Memo prepared for the prior project concluded that the project would generate 20 PM (afternoon) peak hour trips, and the new project with the revised unit count would generate approximately four additional PM (afternoon) peak trips, which continues to be less than the 50 required to trigger a full traffic impact report. The project will have only one entrance/exit located further east than the prior project, away from Westlake Elementary, and the project’s reduced onsite parking availability will likely attract residents without vehicles.
Conditions of approval require the payment of Traffic Impact Fees to cover the cost of traffic and road improvements resulting from new construction.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) DETERMINATION:
As part of the original approval, the City determined that the project was exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21083.3 and CEQA Guidelines section 15183 (Projects Consistent with General Plan, Community Plan or Zoning), which provide for streamlined environmental review for projects consistent with a general plan for which an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared and certified. Subsection (d) of Public Resources Code section 21082.2 further indicates that an effect of a project upon the environment shall not be considered “peculiar to the parcel or to the project…if uniformly applied development policies or standards” have been previously adopted by the city or county, with a finding based upon substantial evidence, that the development policies or standards will substantially mitigate that environmental effect when applied to future projects. Under these provisions of CEQA and CEQA Guidelines, the project was found to be consistent with the City’s General Plan 2030, and the City determined that the City’s General Plan 2030 EIR had adequately addressed most environmental issues related to the project. Some site-specific project impacts were analyzed and determined to be less than significant due to substantial mitigation resulting from General Plan policies, zoning regulations and/or development standards that are
28.9 uniformly applied to development projects throughout the City. Therefore, no further environmental review was required pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21083.3 and section 15183 of the CEQA Guidelines, and the project was found to be exempt from further CEQA review. An “Environmental Checklist For Determination of Environmental Exemption” (dated November 2023) provides the review and documentation to support the City’s environmental determination for the approved project.
An updated CEQA review has been prepared (attached) where the proposed modifications have been analyzed. The City has considered whether there are changed circumstances or new information that was not available at the time the previous environmental determination was made that would support a new finding that the project would have new significant impacts that are peculiar to the project or parcel. The updated environmental analysis evaluates the modified project and identifies that the only changed circumstance is a potential downstream sewer conveyance capacity issue, where a section of pipe to the east would need to be up-sized.
This improvement is included in the City’s adopted Capital Investment Program, with construction anticipated in 2028. To establish a sewer connection, the project must extend the sanitary sewer mainline within the public right-of-way to reach the project frontage. Additionally, the City requires sanitary sewer flow modeling for the proposed development. The project’s peak sanitary sewer flow (expressed in gallons per minute) will be submitted to verify sufficient capacity. Flow values may be derived using the City’s wastewater discharge table or by engineer-of-record calculations based on direct discharge to the sewer system.
Should capacity upgrades be identified, the project will be responsible for a fair share contribution based on the proportional impact of the project’s peak flow. Documentation of modeling outcomes and contribution calculations will be included in the final utility submittal package.
New information includes the recent update and adoption of the City’s Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) in 2026. The 2025 UWMP provides updated demand information that was updated in 2024, which included the approved project. The assessments conducted for the 2025 UWMP, which account for development and growth to the year 2050, found that water supply would meet projected demand under all conditions. Under the selected climate change condition, City water supplies would meet projected demand under normal/average year and single-dry year conditions in all years through 2050. Under the selected climate change condition in the five-consecutive-year drought condition, in 2030 a small shortage (four percent) could occur in the fifth year of the drought sequence, but after 2035, implementation of planned projects would provide adequate supply to meet projected demand through 2050. The 2025 UWMP indicates that while the City remains vulnerable to extreme drought, particularly in the near term, the planned projects that the City is actively pursuing (and as described and explained in the 2025 UWMP) are expected to provide adequate supply to reliably meet projected demand through 2050. In the event that supplies fall short of demand resulting in a water shortage emergency, the Water Shortage Contingency Plan would be implemented, during which times, all water customers could be subject to water curtailment as enacted by the City. The conclusions of the 2025 UWMP do not result in more significant impacts related to water supply than identified in the 2020 UWMP, the General Plan 2030 EIR, or the review in the Environmental Checklist for the approved project.
28.10 In conclusion, the proposed modifications to the approved project, including an increase of seven apartment units, would continue to be consistent with the General Plan 2030 and the evaluations included in the November 2023 “Environmental Checklist For Determination of CEQA Exemption.” No new significant impacts or substantially more severe significant impacts would occur as a result of the proposed modifications. Similarly, there are no changed circumstances or new information that would support a new finding that the project would have new significant impacts that are peculiar to the project or parcel. Therefore, the previous environmental determination of the approved project would cover the proposed modifications.
HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES (HiAP): HiAP is a collaborative approach to improving the health of all people by incorporating health considerations into decision-making across sectors and policy areas. HiAP is based on 3 pillars: equity, public health, and sustainability. The goal of HiAP is to ensure that all decision-makers are informed about the health, equity, and sustainability impacts of various policy options during the policy development process.
The proposed residential project supports the pillar of equity by providing rental units (including affordable units) on a site designated high-opportunity area that is improved with sidewalks, street trees, and that is in close proximity to public transportation, commercial goods and services, and recreational areas. The development of residences in this central location encourages a sustainable and healthy lifestyle by promoting alternative forms of transportation. Therefore, the project is consistent with the three pillars of the HiAP and is recommended as an efficient use of the land.
FISCAL IMPACT:
1. The recommendation in this report impacts the General Fund: No
2. This recommendation requires a budget adjustment: No
3. The recommendation creates an on-going expenditure commitment: No FISCAL IMPACT DESCRIPTION: The applicant has paid fees to compensate for costs associated with staff time processing this application. The project will contribute to increased property tax and sales tax revenue to the City, and the project developer will be required to pay City impact fees and modification fees associated with the Affordable Housing Development Agreement amendment. The additional revenue generated by the project will help offset the costs of providing municipal services demanded by the project, though residential uses can have net negative fiscal effects over time.
Prepared By:
Ryan Bane
Senior Planner
Submitted By:
Lee Butler
Director of
Community Development
Approved By:
Matt Huffaker
City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. RESOLUTION.DOCX
2. RESOLUTION EXHIBIT A – CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.DOCX
3. PROJECT PLANS.PDF
4. OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS CHECKLIST.PDF
5. MEMORANDUM OF CEQA COMPLIANCE.PDF
6. ADDENDUM TO ARBORIST REPORT.PDF
7. HOUSING DEVELOPMENT – RECENT STATE LAW CHANGES.PDF
28.11 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ
ACKNOWLEDGING THE ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION AND APPROVING A
MAJOR MODIFICATION AND DENSITY BONUS REQUEST PROPOSING
MODIFICATIONS TO APPLICATION NO. CP22-0164 TO REVISE THE PREVIOUS
DENSITY BONUS REQUEST, INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS FROM 40 TO 47, ALTER THE UNIT MIX, AND MODIFY THE BUILDING
DESIGN/ENVELOPE COMPARED TO THE PROJECT DESIGN AS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED, (APPLICATION NO. CP25-0105)
WHEREAS, on November 30, 2022, Workbench submitted an application for a Minor Land Division, Design Permit, Slope Development Permit, Density Bonus Request, and Heritage Tree Removal Permit to divide a parcel into two lots and construct a 40 unit (including five lowincome units and four very low-income units), four-story apartment building within 20 feet of a 30-percent slope and to remove 14 heritage trees on a site with an existing church in the R-1-10 (Single Family Residence) zone district; and
WHEREAS, the project site and its development are governed by the standards and guidelines contained in Municipal Code, and the City of Santa Cruz General Plan; and WHEREAS, the project qualifies for a Statutory Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 21083.3 of the Public Resources Code (Sec. 15183 of the CEQA Guidelines), as articulated below; and WHEREAS, the project was approved by the Zoning Administrator on October 4, 2023, and subsequently appealed to the Planning Commission by Deborah Elston, representing the Westlake Neighbors Association. Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on November 30, 2023 and, after public hearing testimony, voted 6-0 with one commissioner absent, to approve the Minor Land Division, Design Permit, Slope Development Permit, Density Bonus Request, and Heritage Tree Removal Permit to divide a parcel into two lots and construct a 40 unit (including five low-income units and four very-low income units), four-story apartment building within 20 feet of a 30-percent slope and to remove 14 heritage trees; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission’s approval was appealed to the City Council on December 11, 2023, by Norman Tardif, representing the Springtree Homeowner’s Association (HOA) and Westlake Neighbors Association; and
WHEREAS, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing on February 13, 2024 and, after public hearing testimony, voted 6-0 with one councilmember disqualified (Newsome) to deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission approval; and WHEREAS, On January 26, 2026, Workbench submitted an application for a Major Modification and Density Bonus Request proposing modifications to Application No. CP22-0164 to revise the previous Density Bonus request, increase the total number of residential units from 40 to 47, alter the unit mix, and modify the building design/envelope compared to the project design as previously approved; and
28.12 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
WHEREAS, the project continues to qualify for a Statutory Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 21083.3 of the Public Resources Code (Sec. 15183 of the CEQA Guidelines), as articulated below; and WHEREAS, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing on August 11, 2026 to consider the application; and
WHEREAS, the City Council now makes the following findings:
With Respect to the Environmental Determination
As part of the original approval, the City determined that the project was exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21083.3 and CEQA Guidelines section 15183 (Projects Consistent with General Plan, Community Plan or Zoning), which provide for streamlined environmental review for projects consistent with a general plan for which an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared and certified. Subsection (d) of Public Resources Code section 21082.2 further indicates that an effect of a project upon the environment shall not be considered “peculiar to the parcel or to the project…if uniformly applied development policies or standards” have been previously adopted by the city or county, with a finding based upon substantial evidence, that the development policies or standards will substantially mitigate that environmental effect when applied to future projects. Under these provisions of CEQA and CEQA Guidelines, the project was found to be consistent with the City’s General Plan 2030, and the City determined that the City’s General Plan 2030 EIR had adequately addressed most environmental issues related to the project. Some site-specific project impacts were analyzed and determined to be less than significant due to substantial mitigation resulting from General Plan policies, zoning regulations and/or development standards that are uniformly applied to development projects throughout the City. Therefore, no further environmental review was required pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21083.3 and section 15183 of the CEQA Guidelines, and the project was found to be exempt from further CEQA review. An “Environmental Checklist For Determination of Environmental Exemption” (dated November 2023) provides the review and documentation to support the City’s environmental determination for the approved project.
An updated CEQA review has been prepared (attached) where the proposed modifications have been analyzed. The City has considered whether there are changed circumstances or new information that was not available at the time the previous environmental determination was made that would support a new finding that the project would have new significant impacts that are peculiar to the project or parcel. The updated environmental analysis evaluates the modified project and identifies that the only changed circumstance is a potential downstream sewer conveyance capacity issue, where a section of pipe to the east would need to be up-sized.
This improvement is included in the City’s adopted Capital Investment Program, with construction anticipated in 2028. To establish a sewer connection, the project must extend the sanitary sewer mainline within the public right-of-way to reach the project frontage. Additionally, the City requires sanitary sewer flow modeling for the proposed development. The project’s peak sanitary sewer flow (expressed in gallons per minute) will be submitted to verify sufficient capacity. Flow
28.13 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
values may be derived using the City’s wastewater discharge table or by engineer-of-record calculations based on direct discharge to the sewer system.
Should capacity upgrades be identified, the project will be responsible for a fair share contribution based on the proportional impact of the project’s peak flow. Documentation of modeling outcomes and contribution calculations will be included in the final utility submittal package.
New information includes the recent update and adoption of the City’s Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) in 2026. The 2025 UWMP provides updated demand information that was updated in 2024, which included the approved project. The assessments conducted for the 2025 UWMP, which account for development and growth to the year 2050, found that water supply would meet projected demand under all conditions. Under the selected climate change condition, City water supplies would meet projected demand under normal/average year and single-dry year conditions in all years through 2050. Under the selected climate change condition in the five-consecutive-year drought condition, in 2030 a small shortage (four percent) could occur in the fifth year of the drought sequence, but after 2035, implementation of planned projects would provide adequate supply to meet projected demand through 2050. The 2025 UWMP indicates that while the City remains vulnerable to extreme drought, particularly in the near term, the planned projects that the City is actively pursuing (and as described and explained in the 2025 UWMP) are expected to provide adequate supply to reliably meet projected demand through 2050. In the event that supplies fall short of demand resulting in a water shortage emergency, the Water Shortage Contingency Plan would be implemented, during which times, all water customers could be subject to water curtailment as enacted by the City. The conclusions of the 2025 UWMP do not result in more significant impacts related to water supply than identified in the 2020 UWMP, the General Plan 2030 EIR, or the review in the Environmental Checklist for the approved project.
In conclusion, the proposed modifications to the approved project, including an increase of seven apartment units, would continue to be consistent with the General Plan 2030 and the evaluations included in the November 2023 “Environmental Checklist For Determination of CEQA Exemption.” No new significant impacts or substantially more severe significant impacts would occur as a result of the proposed modifications. Similarly, there are no changed circumstances or new information that would support a new finding that the project would have new significant impacts that are peculiar to the project or parcel. Therefore, the previous environmental determination of the approved project would cover the proposed modifications.
FINDINGS:
Design Permit, Section 24.08.426
1. With the exception of the standards of Section 24.12.185 for which the project is seeking alternative design, the site plan and building design are consistent with design and development policies, limited to those policies that constitute objective standards therein when required by state law, of the General Plan, any element of the General Plan, and any area plan, specific plan, or other city policy for physical development. If located in the Coastal Zone, the site plan and building design are also consistent with policies of the Local Coastal Program.
28.14 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
Although the site’s Low-Density Residential General Plan Land Use Designation and R-1- 10 zone district envision primarily single-family development, Senate Bill 330 (SB330), and the amendments it made to the Housing Accountability Act, identify the General Plan as superseding any inconsistent zoning designation and require an agency to permit residential development on a particular site at the density allowed under the General Plan. The General Plan Land Use Designation of Low-Density Residential allows for up to 10 dwelling units per acre. The project will be sited on a 2.23-acre lot with an allowed base density of up to 23 units. An additional 24 units are awarded to the project through density bonuses. Therefore, the density proposed is within the density range envisioned in the General Plan, except as modified by State Density Bonus Law. Gov. Code. §65915(j)(1) specifies that “the granting of a density bonus shall not require, or be interpreted, in and of itself, to require a general plan amendment, local coastal plan amendment, zoning change, or other discretionary approval.”
The project is consistent with several policies of the 2030 General Plan, including Policies LU1.1 and LU4.2 by optimizing development intensity of an infill parcel that is adequately served by public utilities, and within easy access via walking, biking, or public transit to nearby community amenities, including several religious facilities, elementary and higher education facilities, and employment opportunities.
The site is located within areas mapped in the General Plan as sensitive and highly sensitive for archaeological resources. Archeological assessments of the site during did not indicate the presence of any intact archaeological resource but recommended that the applicant stop work and contact the appropriate authorities should earth-moving work result in discovery of an intact resource. This recommendation is consistent with a standard condition of approval, which aims to identify and protect archeological resources throughout the construction process. This condition of approval is included in the recommended conditions of approval.
General Plan policy HZ3.2.3 requires that interior noise in all new multifamily housing does not exceed 45 dBA. An initial noise assessment letter prepared by Edward L Pack Associates Inc. dated August 9, 2022, noted that the only possible source of significant noise at the site would be the playgrounds at the adjacent Westlake Elementary School. Given the distance between the playgrounds and the proposed building footprint (approximately 400 feet), noise impacts on residents are expected to be minimal and consistent with the General Plan policy.
The project is aligned with several goals and policies of the newly adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element and will contribute toward the City meeting its 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), particularly through the provision of very low-income units. The project advances the following Housing Element policies and many other objectives: Policy 2.1:
Enable mixed-income projects that encourage greater diversity within housing projects; Policy 2.3: Support the Density Bonus as a valuable tool for incentivizing the development of housing and the inclusion of affordable units in housing projects; Policy 6.2: Support affordable housing and the siting of new housing that furthers fair housing; and Policy 7.3:
Support transit-oriented development and non-motorized transportation.
28.15 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
The project is aligned with Goal 5 of the Housing Element because it is sited on a vacant portion of an underutilized site and will not result in displacement of any existing residential units. For Policy 6.2, the site is located in a high opportunity area with predominantly singlefamily residential units, so this multi-family housing project, particularly its affordable units, supports a number of the Housing Element’s affirmatively furthering fair housing objectives.
Aside from the requested waivers and incentives/concessions allowed under State Density Bonus Law and variations to the Objective Design Standards allowed by the Zoning Ordinance, the project meets the site development standards as required in the City’s Zoning Ordinance, including the R-1-10 zone district requirements, objective design standards, parking design requirements, and so on. The Objective Design Standards checklist is attached, which documents how the Objective Design Standards are met. The subject property is not located within the Coastal Zone nor in any area plan boundary.
2. For each standard of Section 24.12.185 for which the project proposes an alternative design, the proposed alternative meets the intent of the stated goal identified for the relevant standard in Section 24.12.185.
The project complies with all development standards of the R-1-10 zone district and all other applicable sections of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code, that were in effect at the time the project’s SB330 preapplication was deemed complete, except as modified by density bonus concessions and waivers. A new SB330 preapplication associated with the project was deemed complete prior to the Major Modification application, therefore the Objective Design Standards for Multifamily Housing (Objective Standards) contained in Section 24.12.185 of the Zoning Ordinance are applicable to the modification.
The project is proposing one variation from the objective design standards as a waiver which is explained below.
Variation/Waiver: SCMC 24.12.185.11.a.ii states “For buildings more than three stories, provide at least one horizontal change in plane for every fifty feet of building face, rounded down to the next whole number (e.g., one to forty-nine feet, no change in plane required; fifty to ninety-nine feet, one change in plane required; etc.). This requirement applies to all faces of the building that meet the length requirement for modulation (i.e., all faces fifty feet or more in length). The changes in plane must be at least four feet deep and six feet apart.
Such changes in plane may contain balconies, as long as the railing is at least seventy percent see-through or transparent.”
The goal of this objective design standard is to break up large building faces and create visual interest for pedestrians, neighbors, and visitors. While the front of the building (south elevation) meets this objective standard, the rear of the building facing up the hill (north elevation) does not. There are two horizontal changes in plane, but they extend further than fifty feet apart. Requiring additional modulation would reduce the volume of the building and potentially reduce or eliminate residential units. This would physically preclude the
28.16 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
construction of the project that would include the number of residential units allowed under the State Density Bonus Law.
Slope Development Permit, Section 24.08.820
3. Measures have been included within the design of the project to mitigate impacts on environmental constraint areas identified in the Natural Resources and Conservation Element and the Safety Element of the General Plan and the Local Coastal Program.
The northeastern portion of the site contains a eucalyptus grove that is identified in the General Plan as potentially containing monarch butterfly habitat. To identify and mitigate any adverse impacts to monarch butterfly habitat onsite, the project application submittal included a report prepared by Ecosystems West Consulting Group dated May 20, 2020, and a follow-up report, dated January 4, 2023. The reports concluded that the eucalyptus grove was not providing fall or winter roosting habitat and is unlikely to provide suitable habitat in the future. The reports recommended a preconstruction survey be conducted in the fall prior to the commencement of construction, and that tree removal occur outside of the fall roosting period.
The site is located within areas mapped in the General Plan as sensitive and highly sensitive for archaeological resources. Albion Environmental prepared an initial archaeological investigation in June 2019, and subsequent Extended Phase I Study in March 2023. The reports did not indicate the presence of any intact archaeological resource but recommended that the applicant stop work and contact the appropriate authorities should earth-moving work result in discovery of an intact resource. The recommended condition of approval includes standard conditions that are consistent with the recommendations of Albion Environmental to minimize potential impacts to archeological resources on the site.
4. Landscaping of an appropriate type, size, and quality is proposed to mitigate any adverse environmental effect.
The project proposes to remove fourteen heritage trees. The planting palette includes thirty new trees, which, at maturity, are expected to result in comparable or greater tree canopy as compared to existing conditions. The proposed plant palette includes numerous native species and incorporates a variety of groundcovers, shrubs and trees. A majority of the site will retain its existing, naturalized landscaping. The existing retained and proposed landscaping will minimize potential environmental impacts such as groundwater runoff, erosion, and loss of tree canopy.
5. Usable open space is proposed in an amount equal to that normally required.
The project is located within the R-1-10 zone district, which does not have a minimum open space requirement. However, the project provides private balconies and terraces for some of the units, as well as a common resident roof deck area.
28.17 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
6. A registered civil engineer or other qualified professional will design streets, buildings, and other man-made structures to conform with existing landforms and topography.
The project applicant has engaged the services of a licensed civil engineer, geologist and geotechnical engineer to aid in the design of driveway and site improvements, as well as the building. A condition of approval will require that all civil plan sheets of the building permit submittal be stamped by a licensed civil engineer. Furthermore, conditions of approval will require the geologist and geotechnical engineers to sign off on the construction drawings prior to issuance of the building permit, and the final constructed project prior to occupancy.
7. Adequate fire safety measures as required by the city fire department have been incorporated into the design of the proposed development, when located in a designated fire hazard area.
The project was reviewed by the Santa Cruz Fire Department and was found to be in compliance with all fire department requirements for projects located in designated fire hazard areas.
8. The proposed project employs architectural and design elements which in total serve to reduce the mass and bulk of structures to protect public views. Such elements may include:
a. Multiple floor levels which follow natural slopes: The five story building is built into the hillside, reading as five stories from the downhill slope, and four stories from up the hill, following the natural slope of the property, thereby minimizing visual impacts and grading quantities.
b. Multiple roof lines to provide visual interest and break up the visual impact of the building: While the building proposes a flat, fairly continuous roof, there are at least four prominent projections just one floor below that extend forward, including balconies, that create variation and articulation. The project is not expected to impact public views.
c. Decks and balconies to provide building articulation: The building facades are punctuated with balconies and incorporate a multitude of windows and several accent materials. These features provide building articulation to enhance visual interest of the building while reducing the appearance of mass and bulk. d. Foundation types such as poles, piles, or stepped levels which minimize cut and fill and need for retaining walls: The reduced, basic rectangular footprint of the modified building reduces grading needs to accommodate the project.
Additionally, the project proposes minor improvements to existing driveways, in lieu of new driveways. Maintaining existing driveways to provide access to the site further reduces grading quantities.
28.18 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
e. Fence lines, walls, and other features which blend with the terrain rather than strike off at an angle against it: The project will maintain and improve existing fences along the shared side property lines. A new, three-foot wooden and hog wire fence is proposed along the rear property line. The fence will be of minimal height and highly transparent and will blend into the natural terrain. A low, small retaining wall is proposed directly southeast of the proposed building. This retaining wall will be incorporated into a staggered landscape design that is compatible with the natural surroundings and will not adversely impact any public views.
9. If a project proposed for construction is in a landslide area identified in a site-specific geological report prepared pursuant to Section 24.14.030(1)(d), findings must be made that mitigation measures necessary to fulfill the purpose of this part have been incorporated into project design, based on the project’s environmental review and geotechnical reports.
The project has undergone extensive geological and geotechnical investigation to ensure that the project will be safe from a geologic standpoint. A project-specific geotechnical report prepared by Dees & Associates, Inc. in March 2023 included a stability analysis of the portion of the site where the building will be situated. The analysis indicated that the portion of the site where the proposed building is stable under both static and seismic conditions.
Additionally, in September of 2023, the project geotechnical engineer, Becky Dees of Dees and Associates completed site-specific supplementary drilling to confirm that the project is appropriately sited relative to existing karst formations.
The project has been designed in accordance with the recommendations of the project geologist and geotechnical engineer: on a portion of the site with a relatively low degree of slope and high degree of soil stability, appropriately set back from the quarry to the east, and implementing appropriate measures to mitigate any possible risk associated with underlying karst rock formations. Conditions of approval will require the applicant to implement all recommendations of both the project geologist and geotechnical engineer. Additionally, conditions of approval will require that both the project geologist and geotechnical engineer provide a letter verifying that they have reviewed and approved of the construction drawings prior to issuance of the building permit, and a subsequent letter signing off on the project prior to occupancy.
Density Bonus, Section 24.16.270.2
10. The housing development is eligible for a density bonus and any concessions, incentives, waivers, modifications, or modified parking standards requested; conforms to all standards for affordability included in this section; and includes a financing mechanism for all implementation and monitoring costs.
Under Density Bonus Law (Gov. Code. §65915), the base density for the project is calculated using the greatest number of units allowed under the General Plan. The project General Plan Land Use Designation of Low Density Residential allows for up to 10 dwellings per acre, and the 2.23-acre has a base density of 23 units (under the Density Bonus Law, all values are
28.19 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
rounded up to the next whole number per Gov. Code §65915(q)). The project maxes out the first density bonus by providing four very-low income units, approximately 17% of the base units, exceeding the 15% threshold to obtain a 50% bonus of 12 units. In addition, the project provides four moderate-income units, approximately 17% of the base units, exceeding the 15% threshold to obtain a second 50% density bonus of 12 units. The four moderate-income rental units used to qualify for the additional density bonus shall be subject to a recorded affordability restriction for at least 55 years. This allows for a total of 47 units. Of note, the Density Bonus Law and an associated State Housing and Community Development Department Technical Assistance Memorandum clearly note that the affordable units do not have size restrictions as compared to the market rate units, so the eight studio units fully comply with state law provisions allowing for the 100% density bonus.
A condition of approval will require the owner to comply with the inclusionary housing requirements as outlined in Section 24.16.010 of the Zoning Ordinance. The owner will be required to enter into a Participation Agreement establishing compliance with inclusionary housing requirements prior building permit issuance. In addition to complying with the City’s inclusionary ordinance, which restricts affordability of units in perpetuity, the Participation Agreement will also document and require the affordability restrictions associated with the granting of the applicant’s density bonus request.
Per State Density Bonus Law, the project qualifies for four incentives/concessions since it provides at least 16-percent of units to lower-income households. Per section 24.16.255 (4), the project is eligible to request an unlimited number of waivers or modifications to development standard, if those standards physically preclude the construction of the housing development, and the housing development is eligible for density bonus.
AB2097 modified California Government Code Section 65863.2 to eliminate any parking requirement for a site within half a mile of an existing or planned major transit stop. The provisions of AB2097 were incorporated into the City’s Zoning Code in the spring of 2023 through City Council Ordinance No. 2023-06. The project site is within half a mile of a planned major transit stop, and therefore parking is not required for the project, however, the project is voluntarily providing parking that will comply with electric vehicle and accessible parking requirements of the Municipal Code.
The project will be privately financed; all financing costs for implementation and monitoring will be provided by the applicant.
11. Any requested incentive or concession will result in identifiable and actual cost reductions to provide for affordable rents or affordable ownership costs based upon appropriate financial analysis and documentation if required by Section 24.16.255.
Per Section 24.16.255.3, a density bonus project qualifies for concessions when the applicant provides reasonable documentation showing that the requested concession results in actual and identifiable cost savings to the project to provide for affordable rents. The applicant submitted a written concessions and waivers narrative dated January 23, 2026, and subsequently revised on July 21, 2026. For each requested concession, the narrative identifies anticipated construction, administrative, or operating cost reductions. State law does not
28.20 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
require the applicant to demonstrate that a concession is necessary to make the project economically feasible, and the City bears the burden of establishing a statutory ground for denial. The documentation is sufficient to identify the type of cost reduction associated with each request, and the record contains no substantial evidence supporting denial. The applicant requests three incentive/concessions as part of the project:
Incentive/Concession 1 – Developer Affordable Housing Agreement – Floating Which Units Are Affordable: The requested incentive/concession is to modify the requirement of 24.16.040(3) such that the location of the units that will satisfy the inclusionary affordability requirement will not be specified in the amended agreement. This concession proposes to minimize the requirements on the affordable housing agreement contained in 24.16.040(3) by striking item (c) (which requires that the affordable housing agreement contain “The location, unit size in square feet, and number of bedrooms of the inclusionary units.”) and removing the word “location” from item (a). The proposal is for the agreement to only require the project to, at all times, have at least the required number of units at each affordability level that are either leased to a qualifying tenant under the requirements of the agreement or vacant and in the process of marketing for and selecting a qualifying tenant. In other words, if a vacancy arises in a unit that has been an affordable unit, it could only be leased as a non-affordable unit if another unit is first either leased as a replacement affordable unit or vacant and in process of selecting a qualifying tenant for leasing as an affordable unit. This flexibility can result in increased income or cost savings for the applicant, for example, if they are able to occupy a unit with a tenant while another unit is undergoing repair or maintenance. Thus, this request is eligible for an incentive/concession. While units can be redesignated based on project needs, the City will need to be provided the location of affordable units during the monitoring period.
Incentive/Concession 2 – Option for Streamlined Tenant Selection: The requested incentive/concession is to change the procedural step in II. C. 1. A in Exhibit A of Resolution No. NS29,463 (the City’s current Affordable Housing Program Guidelines) such that the management of the project designates whether the City markets a vacant affordable unit or not when management notifies the City of such a vacancy under this procedural step. The applicant asserts that because projects often have many qualifying households apply even before units become available, this step and responses due to City marketing create added administrative burden that this concession would alleviate, saving property management time and expense. The applicant also notes that in many cases that the project would already have sent a qualifying tenant to the housing authority for final income verification at the time of noticing and that they will submit the information publicly and as necessary to the Housing Authority, along with a tenant’s qualifying eligibility information on income and assets. The reduced time for the property manager to screen applications results in an identified cost savings, making it eligible for a concession.
Incentive/Concession 3 – Vinyl Windows: The requested concession is to allow vinyl windows which are prohibited for mixed-use or residential buildings more than three stories pursuant to
24.12.180(15)(b)(1). Allowing vinyl windows will result in identifiable cost savings to the project.
12. If the density bonus is based all or in part on dedication of land, the approval body has made the findings included in Section 24.16.230.
The project is not based on dedication of land; therefore, this finding does not apply.
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13. If the density bonus, incentive, or concession is based all or in part on the inclusion of a child care center, the development conforms to the standards included in Section 24.16.235.
The project does not include a child care center; therefore, this finding does not apply.
14. If the density bonus incentive or concession is approved for a condominium conversion, the development conforms to the standards included in Section 24.16.240.
The project does not include a condominium conversion; therefore, this finding does not apply.
15. If the incentive or concession includes mixed-use buildings or developments, the nonresidential land uses will reduce the cost of the housing development and the proposed nonresidential uses are compatible with the housing development and with existing or planned development in the area where the proposed housing development will be located.
The project does not include a mixed-use building or development; therefore, this finding does not apply.
16. If a waiver or modification is requested, the applicant has shown that the development standards for which the waiver or modification is requested will have the effect of physically precluding the construction of the housing development at the densities or with the incentives or concessions permitted by this Part 3.
Section 24.16.255.4 of the municipal code allows a density bonus project to qualify for an unlimited number of waivers from development standards if it is shown that the standards will physically preclude the proposed housing development. The project is requesting three waivers:
Waiver 1 - Height: The project is seeking a waiver to height to allow for a five-story building. The project proposes to exceed the maximum height of 2.5 stories and 30 feet that are permitted in the R-1 zone district. Complying with the 30-foot standard would require the building to reduce the number of floors and eliminate residential units. This would physically preclude the construction of the project that would include the number of residential units allowed under the State Density Bonus Law.
Waiver 2 - Setbacks: The project is seeking a waiver of the minimum 25-foot front yard setback, providing a 7’-1” setback to the new building. Providing the full 25-foot setback would reduce the volume of the building and eliminate a substantial number of residential units. This would physically preclude the construction of the project that would include the number of residential units allowed under the State Density Bonus Law.
Waiver 3 – Building Modulation: The project is seeking a waiver of the Zoning Code’s Objective Design Standards for building modulation. SCMC 24.12.185.11.a.ii states “For buildings more than three stories, provide at least one horizontal change in plane for every fifty feet of building face, rounded down to the next whole number (e.g., one to forty-nine feet, no change in plane
28.22 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
required; fifty to ninety-nine feet, one change in plane required; etc.). This requirement applies to all faces of the building that meet the length requirement for modulation (i.e., all faces fifty feet or more in length). The changes in plane must be at least four feet deep and six feet apart. Such changes in plane may contain balconies, as long as the railing is at least seventy percent seethrough or transparent.” The goal of this objective design standard is to break up large building faces and create visual interest for pedestrians, neighbors, and visitors. While the front of the building (south elevation) meets this objective standard, the rear of the building facing up the hill (north elevation) does not. There are two horizontal changes in plane, but they extend further than fifty feet apart. Requiring additional modulation would reduce the volume of the building and potentially reduce or eliminate residential units. This would physically preclude the construction of the project that would include the number of residential units allowed under the State Density Bonus Law.
17. If a commercial development bonus is requested, the project complies with the requirements of Section 24.16.258, the city has approved the partnered housing agreement, and the bonus has been mutually agreed upon by the city and the commercial developer.
The project does not request a commercial development bonus; therefore, this finding does not apply.
18. If the housing development or the commercial development is in the coastal zone, any requested density bonus, incentive, concession, waiver, modification, modified parking standard, or commercial development bonus is consistent with all applicable requirements of the certified Santa Cruz local coastal program, with the exception of density.
The project site is not in the Coastal Zone; therefore, this finding does not apply.
Heritage Tree Removal Permit, Resolution No. NS-23, 710
19. Alteration of a heritage tree or shrub would only affect less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the crown of said heritage tree or heritage shrub; Fourteen heritage trees are proposed for complete removal; therefore, this finding does not apply.
20. Findings by the Director of Parks & Recreation can be established in conformity with the City’s Urban Forest and Wildland Interface Policy Statement; The trees are located in the urban forest and in the wildland-urban interface. The proposed removal of trees is consistent with this policy statement in that prioritizes removal to those in poor condition or those that must be removed due to location within the project footprint, thus retaining the maximum number of trees given the proposed project. In addition, removal of trees in close proximity to the proposed building is consistent with wildland-urban interface policy to provide for defensible space around residential structures.
28.23 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
21. One or more of the following findings are established by the applicant and confirmed by the Director of Parks & Recreation:
a. The heritage tree or heritage tree shrub has, or is likely to have, an adverse effect upon the structural integrity of a building, utility, or public or private right of way;
b. The physical condition or health of the tree or shrub, such as disease or infestation, warrants alteration or removal;
c. A construction project design cannot be altered to accommodate existing heritage trees or heritage shrubs.
An updated Arborist report prepared by Kurt Fouts was provided to address changes in impacts due to the revised design including building location, driveways and parking areas, retaining walls, drainage elements, and utilities. The Arborist Report uses an industry standard calculation to evaluate construction impacts to trees, which occur primarily due to root loss and canopy loss. Root loss factors that are considered include depth of excavation, necessity of construction element, tree species tolerance to root loss, tree condition, and age.
For canopy loss, factors considered include height of the element and percentage of canopy loss. The arborist report concludes that eleven Heritage Trees will be highly impacted that are located within or near the footprint of the building, within areas of retaining walls, storm drain systems, or utilities. The other three trees to be removed are in poor health. While it is possible that some trees might be able to be preserved with project redesign (including redesigned outdoor areas, relocated retaining walls, and potentially relocated utilities), City Council Resolution NS-23,710’s requirement of a finding that the “project design cannot be altered to accommodate existing heritage trees” requires subjective judgment and therefore is not an objective standard. Accordingly, redesign to preserve heritage trees may not be required as a condition of approval for the housing development project. i Conditions of approval are included that require the Landscaping Plans to be updated to reflect the approved removal of 14 rather than 15 Heritage Trees.
The City Urban Forester has reviewed the report and addendum and agrees with the recommendations. Each heritage tree to be removed must be replaced with one 24-inch box tree or three 15-gallon trees. Conditions of approval require the applicant to follow the recommendations in the report and to meet the tree replacement requirements for the heritage trees proposed for removal. Additionally, the recommended conditions of approval include more stringent tree protection conditions at the applicant’s consent to demonstrate the project’s commitment to preserving trees onsite. The conditions will require periodic arborist inspections during the construction process and will require that any heritage tree inadvertently and irreparably damaged during construction activities be replaced at an enhanced ratio of two 24-inch sized trees or four 15-gallon trees per tree removed (in lieu of the City’s adopted replacement ratio is one 24-inch sized or three 15-gallon per tree removed). These findings support a re-approval of the Heritage Tree Removal Permit previously approved under Application No. CP22-0164. The updated permit continues to authorize removal of the same 14 heritage trees and does not authorize removal of any additional heritage tree.
28.24 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
Inclusionary Alternate Approach, Section 24.16.030.2 and 24.16.030.11
22. The proposal for the alternative method of compliance is consistent with the Santa Cruz General Plan and all of its elements.
The proposal for the alternative method of compliance is consistent with the Santa Cruz General Plan and all of its elements. (24.16.030.2(a).) In this case, the project provides the required number of affordable units and provides additional affordable bedrooms that exceed the number of affordable bedrooms that would be required under a typical calculation. The approach also provides deeper levels of affordability than the inclusionary itself would require (through very low income units) and lower rents than the inclusionary would require (by capping low income units’ rent at 30% of gross income). The base project meets the General Plan density standards for the site and otherwise complies with the General Plan as described elsewhere herein, in the attachments, and in the referenced materials. The overall increase in affordable units is consistent with various General Plan policies supporting the provision of affordable housing.
23. The proposal conforms to the standards established for inclusionary units in Section 24.16.025, unless the alternative method does not require compliance with that section.
The proposal conforms to the standards established for inclusionary units in Section 24.16.025, unless the alternative method does not require compliance with that section. (24.16.030.2(b).) All provisions in Section 24.16.025 of the Municipal Code are met, with the exception of the size standard (75% of the market rate unit size) and the representative mix of units, both of which are not applicable with application of the alternative compliance method.
24. Such alternative compliance will provide as many or more affordable units at the same or lower income levels.
The alternative compliance will provide as many or more affordable units at the same or lower income levels. (24.16.030.11.) Not only will this approach provide the same number of affordable units as would be required under the typical approach, it will also provide a greater number of affordable bedrooms, deeper levels of affordability, and lower rents than would be the case when compared with the typical inclusionary approach.
25. Financing has been committed to ensure that the affordable units will be constructed.
Financing has been committed to ensure that the affordable units will be constructed (24.16.030.11.) This provision is in place to ensure that if an alternative inclusionary approach is pursued, such as market rate townhouses on one part of a site and affordable apartments on another, that the market rate units are not constructed without the requisite affordable units being built. In this case, the affordable units are contained within the same
28.25 RESOLUTION NO. NS-30,XXX
market-rate structure, so the market rate units cannot proceed without the affordable ones concurrently being built.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz as follows:
1. The above-stated whereas clauses and findings are accurate and are hereby adopted by the Council.
2. The City acknowledges and approves of the environmental determination contained in this resolution.
3. The City approves of a major modification to Application No. CP22-0164 as articulated in this resolution and in way that revises the previous density bonus request, increases the total number of units from 40 to 47, alters the unit mix, modifies the building design/envelope, and reapproves the Heritage Tree Removal Permit authorizing removal of the same 14 heritage trees previously approved.
4. The project is subject to the Conditions of Approval attached as Exhibit A. Exhibit A supersedes and replaces the conditions previously imposed under Application No.
CP22-0164, except for conditions already satisfied and recorded agreements, easements, and other obligations expressly preserved by this resolution.
5. Except as expressly modified by this resolution, all other approvals and obligations imposed under Application No. CP22-0164 remain in full force and effect.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of August 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
APPROVED: ______________________________
Fred Keeley, Mayor
ATTEST: _________________________________
Bonnie Bush, City Clerk Administrator
28.26 EXHIBIT "A"
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THE PROJECT ON PROPERTY AT
900 High Street, Application No. CP25-0105
Major Modification and Density Bonus Request proposing modifications to Application No.
CP22-0164 to revise the previous Density Bonus request, increase the total number of residential units from 40 to 47, alter the unit mix, and modify the building design/envelope compared to the project design as previously approved
1. If one or more of the following conditions is not met with respect to all its terms, then this approval may be revoked.
2. All plans for future construction which are not covered by this review shall be submitted to the City Planning and Community Development Department for review and approval.
3. This permit shall be exercised within twenty-four (24) months of the date of final approval, unless extended by city ordinance or state law, or it shall become null and void.
4. The use shall meet the standards and shall be developed within limits established by Chapter
24.14 of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code as to the emission of noise, odor, smoke, dust vibration, wastes, fumes or any public nuisance arising or occurring incidental to its establishment or operation.
5. The applicant shall be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of all forms and supporting material submitted in connection with any application. Any errors or discrepancies found therein may result in the revocation of any approval or permits issued in connection therewith.
6. All final working drawings shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for review and approval in conjunction with building permit application. The plans submitted for building permits shall have the same level of articulation, detailing, and dimensionality as shown in the approved plans. All approved exterior finishes and materials shall be clearly notated on the building permit plans, and consistent with the approved plans. Any deviations from the approved materials palette must be specifically called out (clouded) in the building permit plan set and approved by the Planning Department prior to issuance of the building permit.
7. The applicant and contractor who obtains a building permit for the project shall be required to sign the following statement at the bottom of these conditions, which will become conditions of the building permit:
“I understand that the subject permit involves construction of a building (project) with an approved Design Permit. I intend to perform or supervise the performance of the work allowed by this permit in a manner which results in a finished building with the same level of detail, articulation, and dimensionality shown in the plans submitted for building permits. I hereby acknowledge that failure to construct the building as represented in the building permit plans, may result in delay of the inspections process and/or the mandatory reconstruction or alteration of any portion of the building that is not in substantial conformance with the approved plans, prior to continuation of inspections or the building final.”
28.27 CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
For 900 High Street, CP25-0105