Stop the City Council from Paving the Way to Paving Upper Campus

Hello friends,

I don't know if you are aware of it, but it has come to my attention that the City Council of Santa Cruz has applied to extend city services to the currently undeveloped UCSC Upper Campus. This is a key step in preparing this unique ecosystem for destruction under UCSC environmentally irresponsible Long Range Development Plan. The City Council's attempt to aid the University in this process is in direct contradiction to the expressed will of the people of Santa Cruz and it violates the city's existing municipal code.

On July 13, 2008, the City of Santa Cruz adopted Ordinance No. 2008-18 pertaining to expansion of water and sewer service areas. This ordinance was adopted to replace the Measure J ballot initiative which amended the City Charter and passed with an 80% vote of the electorate in 2006, but was invalidated on a technicality by a local judge after UCSC sued the City (the City failed to give UCSC 30 days notice concerning the placement of the initiative on the ballot). The City promised the public to put the measure on the ballot again, but instead merely adopted it as an ordinance. This has the severe disadvantage that it can be changed at any time by any future council, unlike City Charter provisions which can only be changed by a majority vote of the people.

Measure J specified, as does the recently adopted ordinance, that "...the City Council shall not initiate an expansion of the City's water service area or sewer service area with the State of California Local Agency Formation Commission unless authorized to do so by the approval of a ballot measure to this effect by City voters at a general or special municipal election."

However, the City Council is now doing precisely the opposite of what this ordinance requires and the voice of the Santa Cruz community is being ignored yet again. They have initiated an expansion of the City's water and sewer service area with an application to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to amend their Sphere of Influence area for City services. Concurrently, UCSC has applied to LAFCO for permission to get these services. The City is the lead agency and will conduct an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for both applications.

The EIR is required under the California Environmental Quality Act in order to assess the impacts of a construction project. Right now, Santa Cruz community members can submit their concerns about the way they are being ignored in this process and what they think is important to take into consideration before destroying the redwood and chaparral forest. It is vital to voice as many concerns as possible every step of the way to maintain the legal grounds for opposing the University's devastating expansion plans.

If you care about Upper Campus or the future of the city of Santa Cruz, please submit written comments about what should be studied and considered in this EIR no later than December 2, 2008 to:

Ken Thomas, City of Santa Cruz Planning and Community Development Department
809 Center Street, Rm. 206
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Or by email to: KThomas@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us

There is also a public meeting where you can express any comments on Nov. 18, this Wednesday at 6pm at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

Again, the future of the forest and of Santa Cruz is at stake. Please do everything you can to save this precious place. The City Council is trying to ignore our voices, so let's speak louder! Also, you can contact the City Council at citycouncil@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us.

Thank you for your time and for your support,

Jennifer Charles
Science Hill Tree Sit Media Support