We invite you to participate in interviewing the candidates for Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors hosted by the Santa Cruz county Business Council and the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce. This forum will showcase the candidates on Wednesday, May 2 at the Museum of Art and History Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Candidates vying for three open seats include: First District: Gary Arnold Incumbent Supervisor John Leopold Charles Paulden Second District: Daniel Beckett Doug Deitch Zach Friend Rich McInnis Antonio Rivas Fifth District: Eric Hammer Bruce McPherson Bill Smallman Susan Weber This forum is open to the public and time will be allotted for some questions from the floor. This is a free event. The candidates will be asked questions pertaining to business and community issues. The audience will be invited to submit questions for the candidates. The candidates are also be invited to respond to a written questionnaire. Their answers will be made available to you. Some of the questions submitted for written response are provided below. Please join us in demonstrating the importance of these issues by attending the Candidates Forum: When: Wednesday, May 2, 7:00 p.m. Where: Museum of Art and History Auditorium 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz Cost: Admission is free Following are the topic areas and a few sample question from the questionnaire:
County Government Finance. Local governments throughout California are facing extraordinary fiscal challenges. Santa Cruz County is no exception. It is a time that requires creativity, collaboration, and character. Survey 1. Should the County consider contracting out services where those services could be delivered at a lower costs or greater productivity than those currently provided by the County? 2. Should the County begin setting aside funds in a reserve account sufficient cover the County's unfunded pension liabilities?
Land Use. The County's existing land use laws, processes, and administrative culture were created more than three decades ago to respond to explosive growth throughout coastal California. However, the forces that created that environment have changed dramatically California no longer can boast of the world's best education system or its rapid growth of well-paid jobs. The land use policies adopted in the 1970s and 80s need to be updated to reflect a new global economic environment. 1. Nearly all of the County’s land use policies and processes were created in a time in which limiting growth was perceived as the most important issue. Should the County reexamine its land use policies and processes to reflect changes in the relative importance of growth as a land use issue? 2. What will you do as a county supervisor to streamline processes and reduce the costs and uncertainty of land use decision-making by the County, its Planning and Public Works Departments, and other bodies such as LAFCO and the Coastal Commission.
Water. Our community leads the state in water conservation efforts. UCSC continues to receive awards for its water management. But we are faced with dire economic and social consequences when the next major drought strikes – as it inevitably will as well as the current unsustainable overdraft of Mid- and South-county aquifers leading to saltwater intrusion. We are interested in what you believe are the solutions to these problems. 1. Should the County advocate for continued exploration of desalination as a solution to the region's water shortages? 2. Should the County take an active role in the development of measures to stop the intrusion of salt water into Pajaro Valley aquifers.
Public Safety. There is nearly unanimous consensus in the community that public safety is both critical issue and a cause for concern. We would like your opinion about measures to make improvements in law enforcement, community crime prevention, and corrections. 1. Should the County permit the development of residential facilities to house those convicted of nonviolent, nonsexual crimes in residential areas of the County as part of its adaptation to the State's realignment of incarceration to the extent permitted by State law? 2. What would you change about the current allocation of County resources to be more effective in addressing public safety?
Transportation. One of the core economic constraints for Santa Cruz County is its transportation system and especially State Highways 1, 9, and 17. The County Board’s direction to its representatives on the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission significantly affect funding and project selection for our transportation program. The County also maintains hundreds of miles of streets and roads, provides much of the parking in commercial and visitor–serving areas and uses its funds to support a variety of other transportation projects. 1. Do you accept as accurate the analyses that conclude that traffic congestion on Highway One has significant negative economic impacts on the local economy? 2. Do you support Highway 1 improvements including extension of the auxiliary lanes between Soquel Avenue and 41st Street?
Economic Development. Improving the economic vitality of our community will reduce social costs, increase the tax base, and increase the quality of life of people who live and work here. We would like to know what you would do to improve our economic vitality. 1. Would you support the creation of a countywide public-private economic development organization? 2. Should the County support the vision for Aptos Village described in the current draft of the Aptos Village Plan?
Agriculture. Agriculture in Santa Cruz county has been a major source of employment for more than century. It represents by far the largest commercial capital investment of any industry segment in Santa Cruz County. However, changes in markets, threats to its water supply, constraints on its labor force, and an array of new regulations have fundamentally changed the nature of agricultural business over the past thirty years. We would like to know about your positions on local matters affecting agriculture in Sana Cruz County. 1. Should the County modify existing regulations to better accommodate agri-tourism? 2. What would you prioritize in efforts to support the economic vitality of commercial agriculture in Santa Cruz County?
Housing. The costs of housing (including the cost of developing housing) significantly define the Santa Cruz economic environment. In significant part it determines the industries that are able to thrive, the disposable income workers have to spend, and interest of investors in put their money to work in Santa Cruz. 1. Should the County change current land use plans to permit significantly denser housing along major transportation corridors? 2. What will you do as a County Supervisor to encourage the development of housing suitable for lower-income wage earners?
Climate Change. The effects of climate change are daunting. The County's business community recognizes that these changes will have economic impact and that limiting that impact requires behavior changes. The business community also recognizes that there are significant risks of misdirected action and that while we can be leaders in global action we can only have an impact in concert with other regions, countries and continents. To be effective we must be well informed, prudent, and wise. 1. Do you support the County continuing its efforts to achieve the goals of the Climate Action Compact to which it subscribed with the City and UCSC in 2007? 2. What standards should the County use in balancing leadership in the implementation of measures to reduce greenhouse gases and the impact of those measures on the economic competitiveness of county businesses?
Health. Health care continues to be among the fastest growing industries in Santa Cruz County. But it is also a fundamental element of the County's quality of life. Insuring both health care excellence and access to services is a cornerstone of our public welfare. 1. What would you do as county supervisor to control health care expenditures and provide essential safety net services?
UC Santa Cruz. For at least two decades the City, the County, the University, and neighborhood groups have engaged in battles and brinksmanship over critical issues of transportation, water, housing, and the allocation of costs of an array of other services and costs. In 2008 principals from these organizations began a process the resulting in settling lawsuits and creating specific agreements and principles to guide future relations. 1. Do you support implementation of the agreement between UCSC, the City of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County and others settling lawsuits and disputes related to housing, transportation, water and other areas of shared interest?