Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Meeting

At its October 6, 2026 meeting, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved, 5–0, the release of a revised RFP for first-tier conflict indigent defense services. Staff said proposal reviewers would include legal and indigent-defense subject matter experts; the RFP seeks better documentation to support Medicaid billing and audits, while allowing bidders to describe what reporting they can provide. The board also approved the consent agenda 5–0, which included an increase to the juvenile hall project contract after a 10-month delay (the amount was not stated in the transcript), and supported a mobility hub and transit development grant. Staff reported that the board had recently approved a BKF contract for phase one of county development-code updates. Public commenters urged greater road and infrastructure spending, but no road-funding action was taken at this meeting.

During a homelessness study session, the board unanimously accepted the annual update and added a six-month report-back. Staff warned that expiring federal and state grants threaten shelter and housing programs, including approximately $7.8 million in HUD funding potentially at risk; it also cited a $4 million encampment-resolution grant nearing exhaustion. The board approved General Assistance program changes 4–1: the benefit was directed to align with the Bay Area/Central Coast average of $397 per month, with proposed eligibility and time-limit changes scheduled for July 1, 2027. The motion also called for a budget-session update and information on the cost of adding Senior Legal Services capacity for SSI applications and appeals. The meeting additionally received a progress report on Streamline Santa Cruz County; no new procurement action was taken on that item.