FEATURED COLUMNIST
Need COVID Test? Mobile Site To Open in Felton By Bruce McPherson, Supervisor, Fifth District
D
ue to a surge in COVID infections and my colleague, Third District Superbrought on by the Delta variant visor Ryan Coonerty, to direct County staff of the virus, I am thrilled we will to provide options for removing requirelocate a mobile testing site based in Felton ments for survivors to investigate and through a partnership with Mountain mitigate pre-fire geologic hazards as part Community Resources. The Community of the permitting process to rebuild. Numerous constituents let my office Bridges program, located at 6134 Highway 9, has provided great service to the San know that our code posed a major impediment as insurance Lorenzo Valley for proceeds, and time, many years, and has I agreed that making our to rebuild are running once again, stepped fire survivors account for out. Supervisor up to help. Coonerty and I agreed This news pre-fire conditions, many of that making our fire comes on the heels which have been present for survivors account of several successful hundreds or thousands of for pre-fire condivaccination clinics, called Vax the Valley, years, was not reasonable or tions, many of which have been present for that San Lorenzo compassionate. hundreds or thouValley Rotary hosted sands of years, was in partnership with the Boulder Creek Business Association, not reasonable or compassionate. We are Liberty Bank and our County’s Public scheduled to hear about those exception options during our Board meeting on Sept. Health Department in July and 14. August. Offering free and conveThen, two weeks later, on Sept. 28, nient vaccinations is critical in our we are scheduled to review the results of efforts to increase immunization a fire-zone flood study funded by the in the Valley, where rates Community Foundation to more are among the lowest in the closely identify the risks associated County. But it is also critical to with debris flows. While the provide equally free and potential for landslides have convenient testing to slow long existed in parts of the the spread. San Lorenzo Valley, the fire The new testing site will exacerbated this threat in be open starting Sept. 10, from 10 some areas. a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Tuesday, and While we were lucky because it is mobile, may be offered in to avoid debris flows during other locations in the future. Appointlast winter’s rains, we need to ments will not be required but certainly be prepared for future years. The are recommended, and the link to sign up study will help inform the Board will be live on the first day of operations about the community’s risk, at the County’s coronavirus website: www. which decreases over time, santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus. and how we might manage the While the changing COVID dynamic continues to be top of mind, recovery from situation under our geologic hazards code the CZU Fire also continues to be a top pri- going forward. Of course, public safety and welfare ority. On Aug. 10, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a request by me is our ultimate concern, but we must
22 / September 2021 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
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also balance those potential risks against the very real difficulties that our code has caused for survivors who want to rebuild and for whom time is of the essence. There are real risks to the mental and emotional well-being of survivors if they are unable to return to the homesite they loved and to the community they chose. Other California counties overseeing recovery from catastrophic fires have demonstrated some flexibility in their codes to meet the needs of the community, and I believe we should, too. I want to thank the organizers of the Community Remembrance event for CZU survivors at the Brookdale Lodge on Aug. 18 that marked the one-year anniversary of the fire. The food, music, and sense of community were all wonderful. Lastly, I want to report some real progress in our efforts to complete a
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Groundwater Sustainability Plan within the Santa Margarita Groundwater Agency. I applaud this multi-year effort among San Lorenzo Valley Water District, Scotts Valley Water District, the County and well owners to develop this plan, which is required under state law to be completed by January 2022. The collaboration among the agencies and community members has been fantastic, and I am hopeful we will approve the plan unanimously in December. The goal is to maintain a healthy groundwater basin into the future, which benefits the environment and stabilizes our water supply, which is ever important during drought years like this one. n ••• I hope you are having a great summer, and as always, please contact my office at Fifth. District@santacruzcounty.us or 831-454-2200 if we can assist you with anything.
