Santa Cruz Highlights Accomplishments in Annual Report

Written by Rob Klindt

Santa Cruz officials released the city’s annual report on Thursday, Oct. 24.  

In the 15-page report, Santa Cruz City Manager Martin Bernal wrote about the city’s recent accomplishments, challenges and opportunities for the next year. He also outlined three major areas Santa Cruz will continue to focus its energies on during the 2013-14 fiscal year.   

• Commitment to Public Safety
• Balance Budget and Infrastructure Improvements
• The Improving Economy

Highlights from the City of Santa Cruz Annul Report 2013 include several elements.

Economic development

Santa Cruz continues to recover from the economic downturn and is making modest investments to help maintain a vital community. Strategies include:    

• An additional $2 million for traffic congestion and roadway infrastructure improvements in 2014
• Continued investment in a trolley connection between the beach and downtown during tourist season
• A hotel façade improvement program which offers a financial incentive to owners to upgrade their properties

Public safety

An often confusing patchwork of jurisdictions and borders sometimes makes operating public safety programs in Santa Cruz a challenge.  A 15-member public task force has been assembled to study crime, drug and recidivism in the city and county with an eye toward fostering regional coordination.

Recreation

The biggest recreational event in Santa Cruz in the last year was the arrival of the Santa Cruz Warriors basketball team. Big crowds showed up to cheer the team on during its first season at the newly-built 2,500-seat Kaiser Permanente arena. 

The crowds also helped to boost the economy in Santa Cruz by increasing foot traffic downtown which benefited nearby businesses, hotels and restaurants.  The basketball franchise and arena also created jobs for local residents.

The report can be download here.