Matt Huffaker News Today

The five-story mixed-use development proposed for 1130 Mission Street, the current site of the Food Bin and Herb Room, will move forward with some modifications after two appeals opposing the project were denied by the Santa Cruz City Council at its meeting Tuesday.

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries Joint Powers Authority Board will consider the appointment of Christopher Platt, the current library director of Mono County, as the new Santa Cruz County library director at its meeting in early June.

As Watsonville continues to search for a new city manager, the City Council will consider whether to appoint Assistant City Manager Tamara Vides to serve in the position on an interim basis at its Tuesday meeting.

The city of Santa Cruz will hold a community meeting at the London Nelson Community Center Thursday evening to gain feedback about its recently completed draft "50-year Community Vision for West Cliff" document.

"If it’s an election, that must mean voters will have to consider yet more tax measures," writes the Sentinel Editorial Board. "And indeed in the March 5 election, there are several, including a proposed hike in the city of Santa Cruz’s sales tax and a similar measure regarding the county’s sales tax. Both measures, among other similarities, will require 50% of the vote plus one to be adopted."

From the formulation of its initial draft in the first few months of the year to its submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development in December, the creation of the city's latest housing element has been a laborius, endeavor for the city of Santa Cruz.

The Second Harvest Food Bank launched its annual Holiday Food and Fund Drive at Cabrillo College on a sunny Friday afternoon with speeches from Second Harvest CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez, co-chairs of the fundraiser, longtime supporters and a short Zumba class to get community members pumped up to raise money for those in need this holiday season.

When Santa Cruz Water Director Rosemary Menard announced her retirement in August, the city began a national recruitment effort, and after a weeks-long long search, found the ideal replacement right here in Santa Cruz — Water Department Deputy Director and Engineering Manager Heidi Luckenbach.

Ready to hit the streets of Santa Cruz, fire engine 3113 features a number of "aggressive" new fire suppression features.

"Reflecting on the past year through the lens of our Homelessness Response Action Plan, I am drawn back to earlier this year when we confronted intense winter storms," writes Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker. "Those weeks of unrelenting rain and the accompanying infrastructure challenges were nothing short of daunting. While our response encompassed a spectrum of assistance, such as distributing sandbags and orchestrating swift emergency services, temporary emergency shelter ...