The City of Santa Cruz welcomes Westside/Upper Westside residents and business owners to a “City Hall to You” community forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at Peace United Church of Christ, 900 High St.
The event provides an opportunity for community dialogue with city leaders and staff on neighborhood-specific topics. Individuals are encouraged to voice their ideas and concerns and ask questions during an open house of city department displays and town hall presentation by city leaders.
The event is the third in a quarterly series created by the City Council to enhance community connectedness and government transparency. There will be 20 displays regarding city projects and programs relevant to the Westside including the Coastal Rail Trail, details of neighborhood locations in the new Citywide Safe Routes-to-School Crossing Improvement Program, and an interactive police department neighborhood map for citizens to point out their concerns and issues.
Attendees will also be able to contribute their ideas for the Rail Trail Arts Masterplan in an interactive display of the 5-mile trail segment that will run through Santa Cruz. At the Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services booth, residents can sign up for free Community Emergency Response Training and talk with instructor and recent program graduate. The Police Department table offers help for anyone interested in registering their bike in the new online program with free decal upon completed registration. Mayor Cynthia Mathews and Councilmember David Terrazas will host a booth detailing the City’s upcoming month-long 150th anniversary celebration and a UC Santa Cruz table will offer Good Neighbor Initiative program information.
Midway through the forum there will be a 30-minute presentation by Vice Mayor Cynthia Chase, Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer Chris Schneiter, Police Chief Kevin Vogel, and City Manager Martín Bernal followed by a 30-minute question and answer period. This town hall portion of the event will focus on public safety issues and upcoming Westside Public Works projects including Bay Street Road Safety Improvements, Measure H paving, the Coastal Rail Trail, Safe Routes-to-School crossing improvements, and Bay and High streets intersection improvements.
