Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Meeting

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors held a meeting on April 28, 2026, covering a range of topics including public safety, community services, and infrastructure projects. Key procurement-related discussions included approval of three child care developer fee loans totaling $60,763, and acceptance of a $350,000 grant agreement with the State Coastal Conservancy for the Shark Fin Cove coastal access planning project. The board also received updates on the Streamline Santa Cruz County work plan, highlighting progress on permit processing improvements, technology upgrades, and stakeholder engagement, with plans to procure consultants for a comprehensive county code update following receipt of 19 RFQ responses. Additionally, the board considered an AI elevation and standardization work plan for enterprise AI deployment, authorizing execution of related agreements and software licenses, and directing a progress update in September 2026. The meeting included a public hearing on amendments to local building code standards, recommending deletion of certain outdated amendments and retention of others for safety and accessibility. A report on the status of 2016-17 and 2023 storm damage projects detailed ongoing repair efforts, financial challenges including $89 million in issued debt, and reimbursement delays from FEMA and federal agencies. Finally, the board reviewed vacancy and recruitment data, noting a 9-10% vacancy rate in key bargaining units, and discussed ongoing efforts to improve hiring processes and community outreach. Motions related to these procurement and budget items were unanimously approved by the board.