Recent Rains Haven’t Removed Wildfire Threat, By Manu Koenig

FEATURED COLUMNIST Recent Rains Haven’t Removed Wildfire Threat

By Manu Koenig, Supervisor, First District

Fire mitigation and prevention efforts remained a top priority for our office during October. While we are excited to welcome recent rains, the threat of wildfire remains.

After requesting in September for the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience (OR3) to work with County Fire and any other relevant parties to obtain permission, cost quotes, and other logistical needs for several new ALERT Wildfire camera installations to serve Santa Cruz County, the Board received a status update from the OR3 on Oct. 5, identifying 6 new locations the OR3 will be analyzing further.

Potential locations identified included: Watsonville Fire Station #2 Cell Tower, City of Santa Cruz coastal area (wharf, Dream Inn, Long Marine Lab), Silver Mountain Winery/Summit Area, Davenport Cement Plant, Cabrillo Horticulture/Mid-County, and Mount Madonna Center.

The OR3 will return to the Board of Supervisors in January 2022 with an update on costs and feasibility of these locations. Adding additional ALERT Wildfire camera locations will greatly increase our County’s early-detection capabilities, allowing us to be more prepared for future fire events.

Reducing fire risk and developing mitigation and emergency-response strategies is a top concern for residents throughout the county.

My office continues to support the formation of local FireWise communities, and we encourage residents to organize into FireWise communities within your unique neighborhoods in order to work together to reduce wildfire risk in your area. By working together to address fire risk and increase prevention and mitigation efforts in our neighborhoods, we can all become FireWise! For more information about becoming a FireWise community, visit: Firewise USA Recognition Program (firesafesantacruz. org).

In October, we hosted a neighborhood meeting to discuss the traffic impacts, potential transportation improvements

and other thoughts and concerns related to the proposed medical office building project (Kaiser Permanente) at 5940 Soquel Ave in Live Oak. Director of Public Works, Matt Machado and Assistant Planning Director, Stephanie Hansen, joined us to provide background and technical expertise. More than 100 participants Shane Mckeithen attended the hybrid meeting via Zoom or in-person at the Live Oak Sheriff’s Center Community room. Next steps for this project include another developer-hosted meeting on Nov. 3, with public hearings before the Planning Commission to occur in Nov./Dec. 2021, and before the Board of Supervisors in early 2022. To learn more about this project, or to sign up for the developer’s mailing list, go to https://www.5940soquelave.com/. Our office will continue to spread the word about upcoming meeting dates and opportunities for public comment on this important project. This last month we welcomed a new member to our team, Shane Mckeithen. Shane was raised in Watsonville and completed his K-12 education within the PVUSD school system. He has a bachelor’s degree from UCLA, and a master’s of public administration from CSU Long Beach. Shane brings seven years of experience in the legislative sphere, having worked at the City, County, and State level to serve residents of Long Beach and Monterey County.

From 2017 to 2021, Shane was a senior field deputy in the City of Long Beach, crafting policy, providing constituent services, and implementing strategies to address the COVID-19 pandemic, housing needs, quality of life, and social equity concerns. He is a proud AfroMexican American with a diverse wealth of knowledge and experience. He enjoys playing chess, drawing caricatures, mentoring youth, and spending time with loved ones. He is excited to be back in Santa Cruz County, and is looking forward to meeting 1st District residents and serving the 1st District community.

Want to get in touch with us? Give us a call at (831) 454-2200, email us at first. district@santacruzcounty.us, visit our website at http://www.co.santa-cruz. ca.us/Government/BoardofSupervisors/ District1.aspx, where you can find a full list of upcoming community meetings. n

“School Board” from page 27

Please spread the word about this. We do not want anyone surprised when the next election comes around.

There are two main websites you can use to get informed and get involved. First, we have dedicated a page on our website to the CVRA process. If you go to www.suesd. org/cvra, you will find plentiful information on this subject. We will use this page to continuously update where we are in the process.

Secondly, if you go to our board page at www.suesd.org/board-oftrustees, you will find information related to our board meetings.

Those meetings now include the ability to view them on YouTube and provide public comments via email or text. Of course, you can always attend our board meetings in person.

Please always be sure to preview the agenda and note where each meeting is being held. Also, be sure to be on the lookout for two additional meetings that will be scheduled so that we can get even more input on our map building process. n •••

Scott J. Turnbull is superintendent of Soquel Union Elementary School District.

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Snuggling Into Your Heart

Mr. Snuggles is ready to snuggle his way into your heart!

This sweet guy came into the Shelter when his previous owner was unable to keep caring for him.

Mr. Snuggles was with his previous owner all the time so he doesn’t like being left alone. Mr. Snuggles is 10 years young and ready to find a family to settle down with. Mr. Snuggles is the definition of a “Good Boy” and he has joined small dog playgroup at the Shelter and likes to coexist with the other pups.

A home with another mellow dog may be a fit provided they meet at the Shelter first. This good boy even visited Santa Cruz Subaru for a special adoption event, and he was a social butterfly and made tons of friends.

Mr. Snuggles has not lived with cats but with a slow introduction and management — we are thinking he could coexist nicely. He has enjoyed spending time with volunteers and staff while at the Shelter, but he is ready to find his forever home!

So, what are you waiting for? Come meet this handsome guy today at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter!

Adoptions are first come, first served! Please view available animals on our website and then visit the Shelter to turn in your application. All adoptions require proof of home ownership or landlord approval. Please have this information prepared. If an animal is in Foster Care, please bring in your adoption application and schedule an appointment to meet the animal. Call 831-454-7200 x0 during business hours or visit www.scanimalshelter.org for more information! n ••• Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s full-service, open-admission shelter:

Santa Cruz Location (Public Entrance): 1001 Rodriguez St., Santa Cruz, 95062 Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Watsonville Location: CURRENTLY CLOSED 580 Airport Blvd, Watsonville, CA 95076 SCCAS Main line: 831-454-7200. Animal Control: 831-454-7227. After-Hours Emergency: 831-471-1182 • After Hours: jillian.ganley@santacruzcounty.us

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