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Chamber blog

Soquel Creek Community Water Plan Update

6/12/2017

1 Comment

 
The Soquel Creek Water District has been working on a Community Action Plan to achieve water supply sustainability by 2040. The Community Action Plan focuses on: seawater intrusion and contamination at the coastline, meeting the state mandate of water basin sustainability by 2040, addressing stricter water quality standards, and future climate change impacts like sea level rise and groundwater recharge.
    They have formulated a three-pronged approach to achieving their goals, which includes:
  • Water Conservation and Zero-Impact Development
  • Pro-active Groundwater Management
  • Securing Supplemental Water Supply
Finding new water sources is a challenging task, but the Soquel Creek Water District has come up with some creative solutions. Currently these new water sources include:1. Pure Water Soquel – Water Reuse
  • This project involves recycling already-treated wastewater, purifying it through a multi-step process, and then replenishing the groundwater basin using recharge wells.
    • Status: The project is currently undergoing environmental review and a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is anticipated to be released in early 2018. Public outreach on project component locations, public perception, and water quality is on-going during project evaluation.
    • Estimated cost: $60-70 million
2. River Water Transfer/Purchase
  • These projects would take treated winter river water (from Santa Cruz North Coast Water Supplies and potentially the San Lorenzo River) and deliver it to the District system which would allow the District to reduce groundwater pumping (also known as in-lieu).
    • Status: A short-term pilot project is being developed to monitor the effects of blending surface water and groundwater.
3. Desalination
  • This project would involve purchasing water from Deep Water Desal, LLC (DWD), a private company currently evaluating the development of a desalination facility in Moss Landing.
    • Status: The project is currently undergoing environmental review and a draft EIR is anticipated to be released in late 2017
4. Capturing Storm Water
  • Capturing available storm water may provide some water to aid in recharging the groundwater basin.
    • Status: The District is examining this option by exploring potential sites and technologies for stormwater recharge.  The District is investigating geological factors, rainfall runoff patterns, and potential water quality concerns. Once potential locations are identified, the District will investigate what methods and technologies would be most appropriate to facilitate the clean-up of stormwater to recharge the aquifer.
In an informational meeting between Soquel Creek Water District and the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, Rebecca Gold Rubin, the Public Outreach Coordinator and Melanie Mow Schumacher, the Associate Manager for Special Projects offered some insight into the public opinion on these projects and helped answer some questions.
How can the use of recycled water, like in the project proposal for Pure Soquel, benefit the community?
  • “The use of recycled water is cost-effective, it really helps us to think locally. We are fortunate enough not to have to purchase water from far-away sources, like Orange County Water District. We can be sustainable by not importing water and using, then re-using the natural resources we have access to here.”
How has the Soquel Creek Water District included the opinions and concerns of the community into the decision-making process?
  • “Through phone lines and online surveys we have reached out to the community and found that timeliness, water quality, and reliability are most important to our customers, when speaking about water supply projects.” During initial calls, 59% of people voiced support with no prior knowledge or background information for the Pure Soquel water project. SqCrWD has also hosted medical peer review panels to try and dispel the concerns of using recycled water. Currently the district will be conducting research for a revised Environmental Impact Report and the scoping meeting is open to the public and will be held on Wednesday, July 12, from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Twin Lakes Church, Bldg 700 in Aptos, CA.
For more information on the Community Action Plan and all ongoing projects visit the Soquel Creek Water District Open House on July 20th, at the district headquarters from 4:30-7:00pm. Or visit them online at: http://www.soquelcreekwater.org/cwp
​
1 Comment

2017-2018 California State Budget

6/7/2017

3 Comments

 
  • The 2017-2018 proposed annual California Budget, introduced by Government Brown, in January of 2017, was recently revised this May after taking into consideration tax collection from January to April (see our Newsletter for details).
  • Consistent with the last several years as the California economy has recovered from the 2007-2010 economic recession, the California annual budget proposal has once again is expanding government spending. While the January annual budget proposal initially entailed a $5.8 billion reduction in revenue from last year, since the growth of the stock market in January, revenue is now projected $2.5 billion higher than the 2016 budget. This 2017-2018 annual budget proposal entails a total General Fund Expenditure of $124.01 billion, an increase of $1.2 billion from 2016-2017, and an estimated total General Fund Revenue of $125.9 billion, an increase from last years General Fund Revenue of $118.5 billion.
  • This additional spending in 2017-2018 is expected to address issues in the State's water system, increase money for K-12 Education, sustain county fiscal health, bring back child care, fund the increase of the minimum wage to $11 an hour in 2018, expand Medi-Cal to cover preventive dental benefits and expand health coverage to include the millions of Californians covered by the Affordable Care Act, as well as undocumented children. If passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Brown will include for the first time California will offer Earned Income Tax Credit for the poorest, employed families in California.
  • Despite the proposed increased spending and an improved economic outlook from past years, Governor Brown has emphasized fiscal constraint in this year’s budgeting process. He wants to  channel $1.7 billion from The State General Fund Revenue into the Budget Stabilization Account/”Rainy Day” Fund, in anticipation of potential economic recession. Experts consider this year’s budget to be one of most fiscally conservative and constrained budgets since 2012.  Conservative spending is expected to not only counteract potential economic recession, but is considered by many to be preparation for the potential defunding of health care spending by the federal government under the Trump Administration.
  • Specifically, State expenditures in areas of Business, Consumer Service and Housing (-22%), Labor and Workforce Development (-58%), Natural Resources (-5%), Environmental Protection (-5.6%), Government Operations (-58%) and Health and Human Services (-2.9)% will be smaller than last year, while K-12 Education (+5.4%), Transportation (+7.1%) and Statewide Expenditures (+170.2%) have seen budgetary increases from last year. The largest increase in State spending for 2017-2018 will come from a $2.7 billion increase in K-12 Education, while the largest decrease in State spending will result from a loss of $1.04 billion in government operations.
For details and more information please see our Newsletter, as well as the following link:
  • http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/budget/2017-18MR/#/BudgetSummary​
3 Comments

2017-2018 Santa Cruz County Budget

6/7/2017

2 Comments

 
  • Santa Cruz County’s projected 2017-2018 budget is expected to exceed its generated revenue, with expenditure currently estimated at $717 million, with only $662 million in expected revenue.
  • Of this $717 million proposed expenditure, 42% is allotted for County spending on Salaries and Benefits, 33% for Services and Supplies and 20% for other charges, whereas 39% of expected revenue will come from state and federal funding, 24% from taxes, 27% from social services charges, and 2% from licenses and permits.
  • This expected county expenditure of $717 million is $40 million less than the 2016-2017 county budget proposal as grant funded capital projects have been completed, yet nevertheless, the County has received a financial break from a key area; Governor Brown has decided not to follow through on a proposal to halt the funding of In Home Support Services, with the State budget to offer $400 million for In Home Support Services in the year of 2017-2018.
  • Santa Cruz County administrative officer, Susan Mauriello anticipate additional amendments to the budget proposal in order to respond to the potential loss of Medicaid funding and the repealing of the Affordable Care Act, which occur  under the Trump administration. The repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which would potentially remove healthcare access for up to 13% of Santa Cruz County, would present a major budget obstacle that the County must be address.  Additional budgetary challenges outside of health care include; overdue infrastructure maintenance, rising pensions costs, pressure to increase wages and salaries, and storing county funding in preparation for economic recession. Budget hearings will begin on June 19th.
Some information in this post is based in a Santa Cruz Sentinel publication on May 25th. For details and more information please see the following links:
  • http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/government-and-politics/20170525/santa-cruz-county-to-spend-less-next-year
  • http://santacruzcountyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1579​​
2 Comments

2017-2018 Santa Cruz City Budget

6/7/2017

0 Comments

 
  • On May 23rd, 2017 the Santa Cruz City Council conducted their 2018 Fiscal Year Budget Hearings to review the 2017-2018 Santa Cruz City Budget Proposal which projects the City’s annual budget from July 1st, 2017 to June 30th, 2018.
  • While the City is expecting $92.08 million in revenue, projected expenditures of $99.02 million stand $7 million higher, which is of budgetary concern and raises questions as to how the City can increase revenue in order to avoid deficit. According to the Santa Cruz City Council “should the Fiscal Year 2018 Proposed Budget be adopted as is, it would require a General Fund budget allocation of $2.1 million from reserves to offset the current projected deficit. This would drop General Fund reserves below their minimum funding level.”
  • The City expects the majority of its revenue to come from Property Taxes ($19.5 million), Sales and Use Taxes ($18.96 million), Charges for Services ($15.34 million) and Utility Taxes ($11.81 million), higher expenditures are projected to come from funding Public Safety ($45.16 million), Community and Cultural Services such as the Library as well as Parks and Recreation ($16.46 million), General Government Funding ($17.22 million) and Public Works ($9.5 million).
  • Santa Cruz’s fiscal issues are similar to other central coast cities, the combination of slow economic growth, with needed maintenance on overdue infrastructure and high pension costs, has led to fiscal predictions that by 2020, the City of Santa Cruz will face a $9.1 million gap between revenue and expenditure, with this number projected to expand to $15.5 million by 2022. While projected expenses currently surpass revenue expectations, the City believes that revenue boosting projects such as the building of a new basketball arena for the Santa Cruz D League Warriors, the construction of three new hotels, and a fiber optic cable project, will generate the additional revenue needed to cover this gap.  
  • Despite these abysmal projections of excess expenditure, City Manager Martin Bernal remains optimistic, declaring, “While there is no doubt we are facing some major challenges, the future is filled with tremendous opportunities. Our charge is to take advantage of these opportunities to meet the needs of our community and further our quality of life. The Fiscal Year 2018 Proposed Budget furthers the City’s Strategic Vision and Work Plan and hopefully will contribute to making the City of Santa Cruz an even more amazing place”.
For details and more information please see the following links:
  • http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/home/showdocument?id=59876
  • http://scsire.cityofsantacruz.com/sirepub/cache/2/dlkdt25ju5tvhuhxkawnbufk/459343406042017083818992.PDF​
0 Comments

    Authors

    Casey Beyer
    ​Ilan Zur
    ​Mireya Avila

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Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce
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Aptos CA 95003

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