Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Meeting

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting, October 20, 2026. The Board approved the consent agenda 4–0, with one member absent. Procurement and spending matters included a 120-day extension of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District’s $4 million revolving credit line with West Coast Community Bank; the County and three other organizations each back $1 million of the line. Staff also received authority related to fronting the hospital’s intergovernmental transfer payment, which the County expects to be repaid. The consent agenda included a reported $731,000 traffic-control project at Robertson Road and Soquel Drive, and a $90,000 Coastal Watershed contract item that staff said clarified existing committed funds rather than adding new spending. The Board supported an application for Federal Highway Administration safety-improvement funding, with District 3 funds available as a local match. Staff reported that an RFP for shelter, feeding, transportation, and translation support during emergencies had closed; a separate consultant procurement is planned to help the County pursue disaster reimbursements. The Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency said bids were being received for a levee culvert replacement and that it was purchasing a backup generator for the Atri Court pump station.

The Board approved the 2026 AI work-plan update 4–0. The County has contracted for Anthropic’s Claude through a state agreement offering a 50% discount; estimated licensing is $12–$30 per user monthly, to be covered by existing department budgets. Polymorphic was selected for a public-facing chatbot, and Tyler Technologies’ AI indexing tool is in use in the Recorder’s Office; staff are also evaluating vendors for AI support with public-records requests. The Board directed staff to return with an updated AI policy, including privacy and governance provisions, and to consult SEIU before its presentation. Other actions included approving in concept making the microenterprise home-kitchen program permanent, with a second reading scheduled for November 10; adopting a 0.6% 2027 growth goal, equivalent to 106 market-rate housing allocations; and approving a severe-weather shelter threshold of a forecast low of 40°F or below plus an 80% or greater chance of rain for two consecutive nights. Staff will return with final shelter recommendations after consulting partner jurisdictions. The Board also received reports on expected healthcare funding losses and winter El Niño preparedness; no contract award or vendor selection was reported for those items.