I Heart Davenport This Summer • Property Owners OK Assessment to Maintain $400 Million Levee Flood Project

COMMUNITY NEWS

Property Owners OK Assessment to Maintain $400 Million Levee Flood Project

Property owners in portions of Watsonville, Pajaro and surrounding agricultural areas have overwhelmingly approved a benefit assessment for levee operations and maintenance, based on preliminary results of balloting, according to the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency.

Official results will be announced at the July 13 PRFMA board meeting, at which time the board will consider action to implement the assessment. If this happens, assessments will first appear on property tax bills this fall.

Ballot tabulation was completed immediately following Wednesday night’s public hearing on the proposed assessment, with 79 percent of the weighted ballots returned by property owners in favor of the assessment.

Some 817 of the 2,400 ballots were returned, about 34 percent.

“For 70 years, generations of residents in the Pajaro Valley waited for the day when strong flood protection would be a reality,” said Zach Friend, PRFMA board chair and Santa Cruz County supervisor representing Aptos. “With this vote and the monumental efforts to secure funding at the state and federal levels, we have reached that day.”

The affirmative vote greenlights PRFMA’s plans to take over responsibilities for levee maintenance on behalf of its member agencies. This is expected to improve compliance with federal regulations, create efficiencies and long-term cost savings, and improve emergency response.

PRFMA proposed the assessment, which is designed to raise approximately $1.2 million each year, to close a shortfall between existing and needed revenues for consolidated levee maintenance services.

Passage of the assessment allows PRFMA to sign state and federal project agreements for the $400 million Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project.

The project — which will be fully funded by the state and federal governments — is designed to improve levees along the Pajaro River and Salsapuedes and Corralito Creeks to provide up to 100year flood protection for more than 3,000 properties.

Once the project is completed, properties will be removed from the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, eliminating requirements for higher-cost flood insurance.

Eligibility for state and federal project funding is contingent upon PRFMA’s ability to demonstrate its ability to maintain the levees to federal regulations.

Property owners with questions can contact PRFMA’s Assessment District Hotline at 831-204-3769 (English), or (831) 204-3000 (Spanish), email info@prfma.org, or visit www.prfma.org.

PRFMA was created in July 2021 to plan, finance and manage projects and programs to reduce flood risk to the City of Watsonville, the Town of Pajaro, and surrounding agricultural areas. n

I Heart Davenport: Visit Santa Cruz’s Northern Neighbor This Summer

Driving past the rural community of Davenport on Highway 1 reveals fields of strawberries, artichokes and sweeping vistas of a stunning coastline.

Yet many people who live along the remote north coast area past the City of Santa Cruz limits – including many of the farmworkers responsible for harvesting the strawberries, artichokes, and other crops enjoyed many – rely on assistance due to their low incomes and lack of access to services.

For a half century through their Davenport Resource Service Center, the nonprofit Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County has provided services to ensure north coast residents have access to fresh food, immigration legal services, referrals to critical resources, disaster relief support; academic tutoring, summer recreation, empowerment circles for youth, and more.

This summer, CAB is encouraging the public to give back to this beloved coastal community by sponsoring essential goods and activities at CAB’s Davenport Resource Service Center.

The I “Heart” Davenport initiative offers a way to help at many levels: • Sponsor a farmworker with work boots, a blanket, and a warm jacket, with a goal to support 40 farmworkers ° $20 for a blanket ° $40 for work boots, ° $60 for blanket + work boots ° $80 for blanket + work boots + jacket • Sponsor positive recreation activities for 25-30 participants at Davenport Resource Service Center’s Youth

Summer Camp ° $25 will provide an activity for 5 youth during their participation in the Summer Recreation & Summer Lunch program ° $50 will provide an activity/snacks to 10 youth ° $100 will provide an activity/snacks/transportation to 20 youth • Sponsor the distribution of fresh and hearty free food to 25 to 140 families each month.

° $200 will help feed ~25 families for any month ° $500 will help feed ~50 families for any month ° $1,000 will help feed ~120-140 families for any month • Sponsor youth driver’s licenses by helping connect isolated youth to services. ° $20 will sponsor one youth driver’s license application fee • Keep an eye out for Davenport merchandise for sale in local stores and restaurants this summer. n •••

To find out more, visit: https://cabinc.org/ home-donate-section/