Politics & Government
City Seeking Candidates For Crucial Oversight Committees
Many long-awaited projects are likely to be approved or rejected in 2012 and these volunteers will have serious input.
The city is seeking more than a dozen civic-minded residents to fill advisory committees. The deadline to apply for all positions is Jan. 11. City council members will meet with candidates in the City Council Chambers on Tuesday Jan. 17 at 7pm.
Here are the commissions in need of volunteer advisors in 2012. (You can get a list of all the commissions, meeting dates and duties here.)
Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- The Downtown Commission, which has one opening jumped into the spotlight last month after national retail exert Bob Gibbs suggested two-way traffic down the length of Pacific Avenue. The proposal, strongly pushed by the Downtown Association as a way to boost sales, was tabled after the fire department said its engines couldn't navigate the street with two way traffic.
“Now that the immediate proposal was withdrawn I don't think there is any time line,” said Mayor Don Lane in December. He also said, however, that there are other recommendations in the study by Gibbs Planning Group the city may act on quickly to help the local economy. This group will also advise on whether the city should raise parking rates.
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The Water Commission, which has two vacant seats, will be reviewing the environmental impact report (EIR) on a proposed desalination plant that could produce 2.5 million gallons per day of water during droughts. Water officials hope the plant will be operational by 2016. The full EIR will be published in the spring and is crucial to the fate of the plant, which has been in planning stages since 2002.
Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Transportation and Public Works Commission is seeking two members. This commission deals with roadways, parking and expenditures on transportation.
- The Historical Preservation Commission has one opening. Just as implied in the name, the historical preservation group makes recommendations about historical sites in Santa Cruz.
- The Parks and Recreation Commission needs to fill one seat. It oversees the Greenbelt, the City Museum and heritage trees and makes recommendations about recreation programs, including the city's surfing schools.
- The Measure K Oversight Committee, which monitors the decriminalization of marijuana statutes, has a vacancy.
- The Sister Cities Committee has four vacancies for people to monitor and figure out ways to encourage cultural and business trade with the city's sisters in Alushta, Ukraine; Jinotepe, Nicaragua; Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela; Sestri Levante, Italy; and Shingu, Japan.
New appointments by the city council will be made during the Jan. 24 session.
