City Manager's Weekly Update

Week Ending December 21, 2018

It was 60 years ago that Santa's Village was created in the wooded hills of the Santa Cruz mountains. This Christmas wonderland served thousands of park visitors each year with its holiday cheer. Although Santa's Village has come and gone, the holiday spirit in Scotts Valley remains. From grassroots community Secret Santa efforts to help those in need to the Parks and Recreation Advocates annual Light of the Night and Scotts Valley Police Officers' Association (POA) Toy Drive, we are blessed to have such a giving and generous community. One of many reasons why we call Scotts Valley home.

Jenny Haruyama, City Manager

January City Council Meeting Dates

There will be NO Wednesday, January 2, 2019 City Council Meeting. The January 16 Council Meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday, January 23, 2019.

New Gazebo Coming to Skypark in January 2019

Did you know that a new gazebo will be installed at Skypark early next year? We will now be able to accommodate more reservations for community events and parties. It is expected that the new gazebo will be installed the 2nd week of January.

City Offices Holiday Closure

The Scotts Valley City Hall, Recreation Office (Skypark), and Senior Center will be closed in mid-late December and early January. The Public Works Office, Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Police Department will be open and maintain regular work hours. Building inspection services will also be provided if needed during the closure. Staff will also proactively connect with developers and residents that have construction projects underway to ensure the necessary inspections are scheduled. Below is the office holiday closure schedule:

Senior Center Holiday Closure:
Monday, December 17, 2018 - Tuesday, January 1, 2019

City Hall Office Holiday Closure:
Monday, December 24, 2018 – Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Parks and Recreation Office Holiday Closure
Monday, December 24, 2018 – Wednesday, January 2, 2019

RTC Receives Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant for Highway 9 Pedestrian Crossings

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) received $250,000 in grant money from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) for pedestrian crossing safety projects on Highway 9 (State Route 9/SR9) in the San Lorenzo Valley. SR9 serves as a main thoroughfare for pedestrians to access schools, libraries, parks, commercial areas and homes. There are only four signal lights and one stop sign on the highway, and many of the intersections that pedestrians regularly use for crossings have no safety controls. Improvements at these five locations vary and will include a combination of treatments, including installation of high-visibility striping and signage, advance warning flashing beacons, and Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons. The intersections where pedestrian crossings will be improved with the HSIP grant money are:

SR9/Redwood Drive in Felton;
SR9 midblock crossing between Graham Hill Road and Kirby Street in Felton;
SR9/Clear Creek Road in Brookdale;
SR9/Forest Street in Boulder Creek; and
SR9/Pool Drive in Boulder Creek.

The RTC is currently working on the SR9/San Lorenzo Valley Complete Streets Corridor Plan, a planning study that provides a vision, guiding principles, and realistic strategies to improve how people get around San Lorenzo Valley. Data gathered during initial outreach for the plan shows that crossing SR9 is a priority safety issue for pedestrians and bicyclists. In early 2019, the RTC will gather community feedback on the draft Complete Streets Corridor Plan in order to prioritize implementation of a range of identified projects along the corridor.