Santa Cruz Sentinel: Water, wildfire protection measure headed for November ballot in Santa Cruz County

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SANTA CRUZ — A ballot measure aimed at raising millions in local funding each year to bolster Santa Cruz County’s resilience to climate change impacts will go before voters in November.

A representative from the Santa Cruz County Water and Wildfire Protection Act campaign confirmed to the Sentinel on Wednesday that the county Board of Supervisors voted to add the measure to the Nov. 5 ballot after the elections department certified that the campaign had submitted the requisite number of valid signatures.

Organizers began collecting signatures late last year and submitted 16,049 — about 5,600 more than needed — to the elections department in April for verification.

Confident that the formalities of the signature verification process would pan out well, local leaders in support of the countywide measure gathered at Corcoran Lagoon in Live Oak last Friday to highlight its potential benefits.

“Flooding, fires and other threats from climate change are real. We’ve seen the impacts in the Pajaro Valley, as well as throughout Santa Cruz County. We have to do more now and for future generations to become climate change resilient,” said 4th District county Supervisor Felipe Hernandez in a release from the campaign. “The Water and Wildfire Protection Act invests in our communities, in our natural habitats and in our future. I’m proud to support this measure.”

The initiative, which needs a simple majority from voters countywide to pass, seeks to levy an $87 tax on all county and city parcels, with a few exemptions. The result would be about $7.5 million in locally controlled funding each year dedicated to the protection of natural water resources, wildfire risk reductions, improvement of parks and natural areas and protection and enhancement of the Monterey Bay and regional beaches, forests and wildlife habitats.

Among the local and state representatives that showed support at the kickoff event last week were state Sen. John Laird, Assemblymembers Gail Pellerin and Dawn Addis, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, Watsonville City Councilmember Eduardo Montesino as well as numerous environmental and community group advocates.

“Certification of our signature-gathering efforts by the Elections Department is a huge step forward for this measure. The CZU Lightning Complex Fire and the Pajaro River flood were not just catastrophic and heartbreaking, they also served as a wake-up call,” Land Trust of Santa Cruz County Executive Director Sarah Newkirk told the Sentinel in a statement. “We’re excited about this campaign because, for the first time, we have the opportunity to take collective action to stand up to climate change in Santa Cruz County.”

The tax revenue generated by the measure would be partially allocated to cities within the county as well as the county itself. The county would also assume administrative responsibility for a grant program that distributes some of the revenue to eligible local applicants and projects. A citizens oversight advisory board would be established to oversee funding allocation.

“Santa Cruz County redwoods, watersheds and communities are facing unprecedented challenges — especially climate change. With this measure voters can unite and take action against climate change by investing in water and wildfire protections we know will make a difference,” said Sara Barth, Sempervirens Fund executive director. “Sempervirens is proud to help lead the effort to pass this essential ballot measure in Santa Cruz County.”

Measure proponents include Peninsula Open Space Trust, Save Our Shores, Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Regeneración – Pajaro Valley Climate Action, Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County and more.

The campaign’s website is at sccforwaterandwildfireprotection.org.

About the measure

What: Santa Cruz County Water and Wildfire Protection Act.

When: Appearing on Nov. 5 ballot.

Why: Would levy an $87 per parcel tax across the county and raise about $7.5 million annually for the protection of environmental resources and infrastructure.

How: Needs a simple majority from county voters to pass.