This month, the City of Santa Cruz celebrated a milestone: 50 years of sister city friendship with Shingu, Japan. A delegation from Santa Cruz traveled to Shingu for a week of ceremonies, cultural exchanges, and community gatherings to honor this enduring partnership, rooted in mutual respect and global cooperation.

The visit was not just symbolic; it embodied meaningful connection. Delegates experienced Shingu's traditions firsthand, including Shinto worship, kimonos, and traditional incense ceremonies, and anticipated a youth exchange coming to Shingu in spring 2026. Building on five decades of shared cultural and citizen diplomacy efforts, the two coastal communities are poised to deepen their relationship into the next half-century.

The Santa Cruz Police Department has designated a Safety Enhancement Zone for the City of Santa Cruz for Halloween 2025. It begins on Friday, October 31st at 8 a.m. and runs through Monday, November 3 at 8 a.m.

The Safety Enhancement Zone aims to prevent significant illegal behavior throughout the city during the Halloween holiday. The Safety Enhancement Zone designation authorizes tripling of fees for violations of the city’s municipal code, including littering, blocking pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and public alcohol consumption.

In addition to the triple fines, the Safety Enhancement Zone will also dictate road closures and No Parking zones in the Downtown footprint beginning Friday, Oct 31, at 12 p.m. and running until approximately 6 a.m. on Saturday, Nov 1.

Each year, the City of Santa Cruz team joins Second Harvest Food Bank to help ensure everyone in our community has access to healthy meals. Every dollar donated helps provide meals to local families, and together, we can make a big impact. It’s especially important this year, as the federal government shutdown is expected to impact the 40,000 residents of our county who rely on federal food subsidies.

Join the City of Santa Cruz in supporting Second Harvest this holiday season by donating today, and encourage your friends and family to join in!

The Santa Cruz City Council is pleased to announce their intention to appoint Catherine “Cassie” Bronson as City Attorney effective January 1st. Bronson, who has served as Assistant City Attorney for several years, brings more than 16 years of legal experience and a deep knowledge of municipal law, litigation, and policy to her new role.

Bronson’s appointment follows the upcoming retirement of longtime City Attorney Tony Condotti, who was appointed as City Attorney in 2015 and has served the City of Santa Cruz with distinction for more than three decades.

Earlier this month, city leadership joined Water Department staff for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant.

During the visit, staff shared how the plant produces millions of gallons of safe, clean water every day, operating around the clock to serve our community 24/7, 365 days a year.

The tour highlighted the essential work of the Water Department's operations and engineering teams, who ensure reliability through innovation, maintenance, and continuous improvement.

Household water leaks are common and can be costly if not caught early. If you haven’t already, sign up for the WaterSmart online portal to register for leak alerts and view your water use information. In addition to using the online portal, regularly check toilets and irrigation systems, as they are among the most common sources of household leaks.

New Leak Billing Adjustment Policy Begins January 1, 2026

Beginning on January 1st, 2026, customers with extraordinary leaks may apply for a bill adjustment for the water consumption-based charges associated with their leak. Qualifying leaks will be re-rated to the lowest volumetric charge available for the account type. For more information, please call the Water Department Customer Assistance office at 831-420-5230.

The City’s Wastewater Collection team recently completed its annual cleanup of the landfill’s leachate ponds and maintenance of the force main pipe.

Leachate is water from rain, groundwater, or runoff that has passed through the landfill and picked up materials along the way. It’s collected through a system of drains and ponds, then pumped to the wastewater treatment facility for proper treatment.

To keep the system running efficiently, crews also performed line pigging, a process that sends a small device called a pig through the pipe to scrub and clear it of buildup, ensuring everything flows as it should.

Did you know? Your current or prospective property may contain cultural resources that could limit development potential or require additional research before development begins.

Cultural resources include any evidence of human occupation or activity that helps reconstruct the history and culture of past peoples, such as human remains, sites, structures, and artifacts. These resources are important for understanding the city and region's unique history and culture. Tribal cultural artifacts and human remains hold special significance for Native peoples.

Your property may include a structure listed on the City, State, or National Register of Historic Places, or it may be locally designated as sensitive, highly sensitive, or known for archaeological resources based on previous reports and records. On such sites, property owners may be required to work with a qualified archaeologist and/or historian to conduct investigations and provide recommendations before ground-disturbing building or planning permits can be approved.

Please consult with the Planning and Community Development Department early in your project planning at planningcounter@santacruzca.gov or (831) 420- 5416 to understand potential additional time and costs.

On October 15, the Planning Department received a preapplication for the proposed redevelopment of 407, 413 and 415 Pacific Avenue, encompassing the demolition of the existing buildings and the construction of an eight-story, mixed-use commercial/residential project, including 116 100-percent affordable housing units on the approximately 26,354-square-foot site.

The project is intended to provide off-site affordable housing required for the proposed redevelopment of 201 Front Street (CP25-0116), consistent with the Downtown Density Bonus program enacted as part of the City’s recently adopted Downtown Plan Expansion. The project will utilize the State Density Bonus Law and includes density bonus waivers from seven objective development standards related to maximum height and FAR, as well as minimum usable open space, lot area, and setbacks; and one incentive/concession, related to the minimum percentage of the frontage as active frontage.

The Preapplication is under review pursuant to SB330 (Housing Crisis Act), which allows the formal application to vest under the local regulations in effect at the time the Preapplication is deemed complete. The project will also be reviewed for eligibility under AB2011, which authorizes qualifying affordable housing developments in certain commercial zones to undergo a streamlined, ministerial approval process that is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

No formal actions to approve or deny the project will occur as part of the Preapplication review; rather, the process is intended to allow an applicant to obtain early feedback before a formal application. A community meeting will be held as part of the Preapplication Review Process. Timothy Maier is the planner reviewing the project.

The County of Santa Cruz and partner agencies are hosting a free collection event to help boaters and local departments safely dispose of expired or unwanted marine flares.

The Marine Flare Collection Event is open to recreational boaters who live in or berth their boats within the participating coverage areas, as well as local fire departments, fire districts, and public works agencies.

Participants are encouraged to arrive with their flares safely packed in a sturdy container and remain in their vehicles while staff unload the materials. Proof of residence or slip fee is required for recreational boaters. No commercial flares or other hazardous waste will be accepted. This event is made possible by funding from CalRecycle.

Location: Santa Cruz Harbor Maintenance Yard, 425 Brommer Street, Santa Cruz
Date and Time: Sunday, November 9, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A Safer, More Sustainable Option
Single-use marine flares, while essential for signaling emergencies, contain toxic materials that can be harmful if not handled or disposed of properly. Residents and agencies are encouraged to consider switching to reusable, battery-operated flares, which are safer, environmentally friendly, and more cost-effective over time.

Local leaders from the City and County of Santa Cruz gathered on October 29 at the Santa Cruz Wharf to reaffirm their unified opposition to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s proposed Five-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

The joint press conference, with Mayor Fred Keeley, Congressman Jimmy Panetta, Senator John Laird, Supervisor Justin Cummings, Supervisor Manu Koenig, Vice Mayor Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, and representatives from Save Our Shores, underscored the region’s long-standing commitment to protecting the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

The proposed federal plan would open portions of the California coast to new offshore oil and gas drilling for the first time in decades. In response, both the Santa Cruz City Council and the County Board of Supervisors have taken formal actions opposing the proposal and supporting the re-establishment of the Local Government OCS Coordination Program; continuing Santa Cruz’s legacy of coastal stewardship that helped create the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.