Parks, Police, Tech & Small Business, By Donna Lind, Mayor, City

FEATURED COLUMNIST

Parks, Police, Tech & Small Business

By Donna Lind, Mayor, City of Scotts Valley

As we look forward to recovery, the City of Scotts Valley has begun work on strategic planning.

For many years, the City has kept the same four strategic goals: 1) Ensure long-term financial stability 2) Encourage business development and expand the City’s economic base 3) Implement operational initiatives to enhance city services 4) Maintain quality of life for residents

This year, with a new City Manager and as we rebuild after the pandemic, City Council has held two public study sessions to discuss how City resources should be focused to help meet these goals.

The City of Scotts Valley’s budget depends on sales tax. Scotts Valley receives a very low percentage (6½%) of property taxes, about half the amount received by other jurisdictions in the County. Although local residents passed Measure Z providing an additional 1¼ % sales tax, the pandemic struck 2 weeks later. Due to health concerns, many businesses were forced to close or saw a severe reduction of business. When business suffers, City finances suffer as well.

The Scotts Valley COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force was formed to support and assist local businesses. This task force included a partnership with the City, Chamber of Commerce and local business owners. The Task Force worked to provide information and resources to local businesses like masks, sanitizer, signs and the latest CDC and CDPH guidelines for various types of businesses. Due to the work of the Economic Recovery Task Force, the community voted the Task Force the Organization of the Year at the upcoming Scotts Valley Chamber Award Gala. The Scotts Valley Chamber Gala will be May 6 at Roaring Camp.

The City also formed an Economic Recovery Subcommittee led by Councilmembers Randy Johnson and Derek Timm. The City applied for and received a grant through the Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus program to provide relief to local businesses.

The City was awarded $395,000 in CDBG-CV grant funding by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. City Council approved a spending plan that included assigning a portion of the grant funds in support of the Boys and Girls Club’s childcare services for the 2021-22 school year, while dedicating $250,000 in CDBG-CV funding for grants to eligible Scotts Valley businesses.

As a result of the adopted spending plan, and as approved by HCD, the City’s Economic Recovery Subcommittee undertook the role of administering the small business grant program, including designing program guidelines that aligned with all CDBG-CV and/or CARES Act rules.

The funding source included strict eligibility criteria, with an aim to support businesses that were owned by, or employed, individuals earning a low or moderate income as defined CDBG-CV criteria and other criteria. As the Subcommittee moved through the process with more than 60 businesses expressing interest, nine eligible businesses successfully completed the process.

Grant Awards

Building Kidz........................................$50,000

Faust Salon ............................................$50,000

Hillside Cleaners ....................................$7,500

Idlewild Tattoo Parlour .........................$5,000

Irish Eyes Beauty..................................$12,500

Limelight Home Staging .....................$15,000

Scotts Valley Veterinary Clinic............$50,000

The Redwood Sandwich Co. ..............$50,000

Togo’s .....................................................$10,000

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