The Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce values both a healthy and productive economy and the highest quality of life (1). Consistent with theses values is our understanding that the quality and accessibility of public education is critical to the health and prosperity of the Santa Cruz economy. Not only does the continued productivity and competitiveness of our businesses and organizations depend on the ability of our workforce to acquire and apply new skills and knowledge, but also, the long-term vitality of the Santa Cruz economy requires the creation of new knowledge, new technology and new means of application. To that end, the future success of our children is dependent on the quality, rigor, and relevance of the education they receive each year and in each class.
Establishing and maintaining high quality educational opportunities from all available resources (2) is a cornerstone element contributing to the quality of life in the community. Today’s quality education drives tomorrow’s success in the business community. The provision of relevant training that supports a strong and diverse workforce must include means to develop fundamental and advanced skills and knowledge relating to: leadership, ethics and responsibility; language and other basic proficiencies; specific vocational training and entrepreneurship.
Position Statement
The Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce supports investment in quality education.
Further, we support a forward looking approach where disciplined innovation and creativity foster new enterprises with, as yet, untapped benefit to the community.
In order to make appropriate and financially sound educational investments, the Chamber advocates:
-establishing consistent and ongoing communication and collaboration among all education
providers and the private sector; and
-creating and expanding cost-effective opportunities across the full spectrum of needs and
training; and
-building partnerships with education providers including the K-12 school districts, Cabrillo
College, adult education and UC Santa Cruz; and
Good education policy and investment decisions will depend on these collaborative partnerships.
(1) Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce Strategic Plan, Article 1
(2) Resources include, but are not limited to: Santa Cruz Elementary & Secondary Schools,
Pajaro Valley Elementary & Secondary Schools, Cabrillo College and other Adult Education Providers, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and Private Sector, Government and NGO Training Initiatives
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Santa Cruz County business depends on the availability of an uninterrupted supply of water and the infrastructure necessary to deliver that supply when and where it is needed to promote safety, welfare and commerce. In the face of a population growth of over 130,000 persons, Santa Cruz County maintains essentially the same supplies of water today as 1972. It is unreasonable to expect the County's water needs can be met absent a strategic approach to address current and projected needs.
Santa Cruz County Water agencies are to be commended for their efforts to promote conservation of water resources in mitigation of the community's growing needs. Indeed, the reduction of the average Santa Cruz resident's water usage to 67 gallons per day - compared to a state average of 132 gallons per person, per day - indicates a community awareness of, and adherence to, the value of conservation. However, an important element of appreciating the value of conservation is the informed awareness of its limits. Having extended the impact of water conservation to those limits, it is now time to direct energy and resources to the necessary, parallel issue of water supply. At a minimum, our strategic plan for water storage should adequately provide for:
a) response to a drought scenario of 25% curtailment, and
b) 10 years of incremental growth within the county, consistent with the rate of growth for the previous 10 years.
The Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce supports immediate action to strengthen the acquisition and storage of water resources. The Chamber recommends a phased approach to aligning county water capacity with county water needs. This phased approach must begin now with the reasonable first step of conducting an Environmental Impact Report on a plan for regional water desalination in conjunction with the Soquel Creek Water District. A second, subsequent phase must be initiated to address long term need to provide for sufficient resources to support housing, economic development and other community needs.
It is anticipated that an efficient community plan will require collaboration among the agencies now charged with the responsibility of guaranteeing the sufficiency and quality of our water supply. Our Chamber supports such collaboration among agencies as well as cooperation among public policy-makers and our business community.
In September 2001, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) plans to adopt the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). This plan directs transportation planning, projects, and funding for the coming 25-year period. During this period, SCCRTC estimates receiving in excess of $1.97 billion in funding. Of that total estimate, $371 million will be under local control.
It is understood that economic, educational, social and other needs of the population of Santa Cruz are severely impacted by the congestion and gridlock of Highway 1, major arterial streets and county roads. The impact of this congestion spills over, impacting neighborhoods.
Recent polling, conducted over the past 18 months, indicates that an average of 76% of our county's traveling population use their automobiles to travel to work, doctors, shopping, and recreational activities. During commute periods, 81% of those using Highways 1 and 17 do so with a single occupant in their car. Given the options of an ideal bus system, light rail transportation, bike and pedestrian paths, 70% indicate their continued preference for using their automobiles. An additional 15% would continue to use their car four of five workdays of the week. Our Chamber of Commerce represents the 76-81 % of all county residents who prefer to drive and suffer the consequences of traffic congestion.
The Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce supports the concept of a multi-modal approach to address transportation needs. However, we recognize that automobile driving is and will continue to be the preferred choice of county residents.
The Chamber of Commerce will proactively represent highway users, including automobile, truck and commuter traffic, at appropriate meetings of the Transportation Commission, Board of Supervisors, and City Council. Our Chamber will represent motorists in an effort to ensure that important congestion-relieving projects such as: the widening of Highway 1; increasing roadway capacity; and improving safety and maintenance become the highest priority for action and funding. The Chamber of Commerce will actively coordinate efforts of roadway user groups and ensures that the voices of local motorists are heard.
The lack of relatively affordable housing continues to be of chronic concern to Santa Cruz County residents and employers. It threatens not only the area's overall quality of life, but its economic vitality as well. Today, according to the California Association of Realtors, only 16% of county residents can afford a median-priced home. Due to growth that has already occurred, many local residents find themselves priced out of the market by untenable rents and home prices.
The lack of affordable housing in Santa Cruz County severely constrains the capability of the area's employers to attract and retain employees. It is a deterrent to drawing new businesses to our area. It debilitates our community by making it almost impossible for teachers, police and fire personnel, and service workers to live where they work. It causes a number of businesses whose markets are outside of Santa Cruz County to leave the area. As more growth occurs, however slight, the situation will continue to deteriorate unless something is done.
Our community is suffering from the cumulative impact of twenty years of neglecting housing needs. The Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce recognize the solution to this problem will require sustained commitment and action over a long period of time.
The Chamber supports increasing the number of housing units in Santa Cruz County, with a focus on serving moderate to low income individuals and families through increased-density, mixed-use developments.
The Chamber understands that in increasing the number of housing units, impacts infrastructure issues, such as water, transportation and land use. Solutions to these and other infrastructure issues must be pursued simultaneously to housing issues.
The Chamber supports achieving an increase in the number of housing units that:
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