Reports from the Santa Cruz County Transportation Funding Task Force emphasize an apparent lack of support for new highway widening projects in Santa Cruz County. Fixing up and maintaining existing roadways appears to be a much more attractive proposition.

According to press reports from Monterey County, supporters of a sales tax increase for highway expansion are trying to figure out why Measure M didn’t get the necessary two-thirds vote on June 6th. Just as a hypothesis, it might be that Monterey County voters and Santa Cruz County voters aren’t really all that different, and that while Monterey County residents don’t want to tax themselves for highway expansion, they might be quite willing to pony up to improve existing roadways. At least it’s a thought.

A recent article in the California Planning & Development Report notes that transportation tax measures were big losers all around the state. Maybe all Californians have pretty similar views about big new highways. It may be that Santa Cruz County voters are actually pretty typical.

An interesting test will come from Orange County in November. There, “Measure M” will be on the ballot. It’s a transportation tax heavily weighted to the maintenance of existing roadways, with very little highway expansion. Furthermore, the measure specifically includes significant funding for open space protection. If Measure M passes in Orange County, that may establish a new model statewide!

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Santa Cruz Sentinel report on transportation funding
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/June/
10/local/stories/10local.htm

Salinas Californian article on Measure A
http://www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20060609/NEWS01/606090301/1002/NEWS17

CP&DR statewide results
http://www.cp-dr.com/binn/main.taf?function=&type=
detail&section_id=3221

This afternoon, the Santa Cruz City Council will be discussing one of the most important land use measures I can imagine. Land use decisions by the University of California have a major impact on the local community, but UCSC is essentially exempt from the kind of local land use regulation that applies to everyone else. Recently, the UCSC Administration has proposed dramatic new growth on the campus, and has not been responsive, to put it politely, to the concerns of local residents, and their elected officials.

The City Council is therefore considering a ballot measure which would require city voter approval before the extension of city services to areas not part of the city. That would include the parts of the UCSC campus proposed for expansion, and the adoption of this measure by the city’s voters would help give the city more of a say in UCSC planning decisions that have a direct impact on the city’s fiscal, traffic, and water supply problems.

To get more information on this measure (originally proposed by Supervisor Mardi Wormhoudt), please check out the links below, and while you’re there, send me an email with your comments and suggestions, as well.

An environmental review will have to be carried out by the city, before this measure can be placed on the ballot, but if it gets there, there will be a very good reason for city voters to go to the polls in November!

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

City of Santa Cruz Website
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/

Staff Report on UCSC ballot measure is available as Item #29 on the City Council Agenda

The Sempervirens Fund (a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing permanent protection for California’s redwood forests) has made a commitment to purchase and protect the Headwaters of Lompico Creek. This very beautiful and sensitive area, formerly called “Islandia,” was threatened by a major timber harvest proposal that would not only have affected some truly outstanding forested areas, but would have put the water supply for the community of Lompico in significant jeopardy.

Most recently, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District has announced its purchase of the Malosky Creek Forest, which is currently owned by the Sempervirens Fund. The proceeds of this sale will be used to help offset the cost of the Lompico purchase. You can see what’s happening here: a public agency that has a vested interest in preserving and protecting the San Lorenzo Valley watershed, for water supply purposes, will be using funds provided by its taxpayers and ratepayers to bring a benefit to the water district, but also to help provide funds that will allow even more watershed protection; namely, the purchase of the Headwaters of Lompico Creek.

Land trusts, and groups like the Sempervirens Fund, need to bring together both private and public resources, to do their job. This is a great example. In November, an initiative bond act will be on the statewide ballot, and if passed, will make a lot more of these kinds of deals possible.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Sempervirens Fund website
http://www.sempervirens.org/

Lompico Headwaters Project
http://www.sempervirens.org/lompicoheadwtrs.htm

Malosky Creek Forest
http://www.sempervirens.org/ValleyPressMalosky.pdf

Getting out and about into the natural environment of our spectacular central coast region is always a good thing. How much better when your excursion can help benefit one of the nonprofit organizations working to preserve and protect it! Today, I’m giving you lots of lead time, so you can plan ahead to participate in an annual celebration of the spectacular natural environment around Elkhorn Slough. As you probably know, the Elkhorn Slough, located close to Moss Landing in Monterey County, is of global significance, particularly for the habitat it provides for birds. The federal government has recognized the importance of Elkhorn Slough by declaring it a National Estuarine Research Reserve. A locally-based nonprofit, the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, works closely with federal officials, and with state officials, too, for that matter, to preserve and protect this spectacular part of our coastal environment.

Each year the Elkhorn Slough Foundation holds a summer celebration, and invites its members and supporters to come out to the Slough, eat a big barbeque, and to witness the progress made during the past year. During the past six years, the Elkhorn Slough Foundation has protected 1,800 acres of land at the north end of the Slough. You’ll get to see it in person on Sunday, June 25th. There is more information at www.kusp.org.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
http://www.elkhornslough.org/esnerr.htm

Elkhorn Slough Foundation
http://www.elkhornslough.org/esf.htm

Sign Up for the Summer Celebration
http://www.elkhornslough.org/esfcelebration.htm

Business versus the environment. That’s one way of looking at the world. Wouldn’t it be great, instead, to get to that “triple bottom line” that gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides often talks about: wouldn’t it be great if we could demand that our public and private activities not only have a positive economic impact, but that they benefit the environment and social equity, as well?

Well, of course, we can demand that. If there is any substance to the “smart growth” idea, it is that growth decisions are really only “smart” when they have that triple bottom line impact. Our decisions should be good for the environment, and for social equity, and the economy, all at the same time. If they’re not, then they’re not too “smart.” Why should we trade off one thing for another? It’s not inevitable that we have to do that; it’s just more “convenient,” and it’s particularly more convenient for those who are focusing specifically on making a lot of money for themselves individually, and who aren’t focused nearly as much on the social and community benefits that growth and investment decisions can often generate.

Well, this is just a warm up for the pitch! On Thursday, June 22nd, the Monterey County Business Council is holding its 3rd Annual Economic Development Forum. The time is from 7:30 in the morning till 2:00 in the afternoon, and it does cost you to get in. Wouldn’t it be great to have some “triple bottom line” advocates in attendance? There is more information on the KUSP website.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Monterey County Business Council website
http://mcbc.mcbusiness.org/page/56451/
index.v3page;jsessionid=39mct49ir0vl4

Information on the Economic Development Forum
http://mcbc.mcbusiness.org/page/49847/
?c_v=evt&c_eid=62093&c_mid=0