[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6372563,"mediaKeyId","2147533-61746895023088a4f94bbb4102ec2ecb","parentId",2147533,"title","Hernandez elected board chair, Martinez vice chair; supervisors appoint Fabian Leonor to Santa Cruz Metro and approve APAC code update; consent agenda passes","audioSeconds",741,"startMs",1955000,"endMs",2696000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2147533-61746895023088a4f94bbb4102ec2ecb&start=1955&end=2696","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2147533-61746895023088a4f94bbb4102ec2ecb/thumbnail_1955000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6372563/Santa-Cruz-County/California/Hernandez-elected-board-chair-Martinez-vice-chair-supervisors-appoint-Fabian-Leonor-to-Santa-Cruz-Metro-and-approve-APAC-code-update-consent-agenda-passes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6372563-883566597a875cde53a5e5ace751507e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775274966&Signature=I6Q62uxAGU3s8I9YeJHURFsMMmA19zhDfO2jCSN5qdMe160xOaYTHSEC9z4DPdi~ZhQMi7W9IluvjeteTo4E7ixcPqDXRZ~WF2Bk0c6gmQITm2QEcdVwYvKmFHerk4nYwTLnDNZqxNUY~PAX5JVjxcHPGnl-OdPZgRU0yUmKQVdoe-e6~5dygyYwJLS2e4oQglVdmz3k172hmIvxweo8r7kQK-Hfp~v3bAOHV8FHMz4zNsELeLQA-7XkPv0LeJYjArPUIcyh0EAL8lyhyLLZA25OrfcJUK9rEDkatLt4i9Ig-kwCagUtNiJ5u3aadhwdsvyeZ8l4TQcZ0fGlirK7lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Santa Cruz County CA","date","2025-01-23T22:16:21Z","article","The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 selected Supervisor Felipe Hernandez to serve as board chair for 2025 and Supervisor Monica Martinez to serve as vice chair, approved a nominations-based appointment to the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (Metro) Board, and approved a code update and bylaws for the Agricultural Policy Advisory Commission (APAC).

Chair and vice chair: The rotation recommendation that Hernandez move into the chair role and Martinez into the vice chair role was adopted by motion and roll-call vote. Supervisor Rosa Koenig moved the nomination and Supervisor Monica DeCerpa seconded; the board voted 5–0 to appoint Hernandez chair and Martinez vice chair. After the vote, Chair Hernandez presided over the remainder of the meeting.

Metro Board appointment: Supervisors considered three nominees for the at‑large Metro Board seat: Darren Caddis, Larry Pagler and Fabian Leonor. Supervisors and members of the public spoke for and against candidates. After deliberation Supervisor DeCerpa moved to appoint Fabian Leonor as the at‑large general community representative; Supervisor Martinez seconded. The board voted unanimously to appoint Fabian Leonor to the Santa Cruz Metro Board of Directors. Supporters cited Leonor’s Watsonville roots, regular use of Metro services and work with people with developmental disabilities as reasons he would bring a rider and South County perspective to the board. Other supervisors praised incumbent Larry Pagler’s transit management experience and urged continued service or other opportunities for him.

APAC ordinance and bylaws: The board heard a staff presentation from Sheila McDaniel, principal planner, proposing updates to Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 2.82 to align the Agricultural Policy Advisory Commission’s bylaws with the county’s 2024 commissions ordinance (Chapter 2.38) and with Brown Act requirements. Changes include permitting a supervisor to nominate an alternate to serve when a regular member is absent, updating department references to the merged Community Development and Infrastructure Department, clarifying the Agricultural Commissioner and APAC secretary responsibilities, and adding compensation language to be set annually by the board. Staff said the proposed ordinance is not a CEQA project under statutory definitions. The board voted unanimously to approve the ordinance in concept and to schedule second reading and final adoption for Jan. 28, 2025.

Consent agenda and pulled items: After public comment and questions, the board moved the consent agenda. Supervisor Hernandez moved and Supervisor Koenig seconded the motion to approve consent items. Supervisor DeCerpa said she would abstain on item 13 (a letter regarding SB 329 and the Housing Choice Voucher Program) because of a potential financial interest: her husband receives income from a condominium enrolled in the Section 8 program. The motion to adopt the consent agenda with that abstention carried; the clerk recorded the roll call and the consent agenda moved forward with the abstention noted.

Other discussion highlighted during consent: Supervisor DeCerpa asked county behavioral health staff about a contract (consent item 20) with Los Gatos Therapy Center for eating-disorder services. Karen Kern, Deputy Director of the Behavioral Health Division, and other behavioral health staff explained the county’s 50/50 cost‑share arrangements with managed-care plans for Medi‑Cal/Medicare populations and said invoices are reconciled monthly; staff said they would return to the board if the contract needed additional appropriations.

Formal actions taken at the meeting included the chair/vice‑chair appointments, the Metro Board appointment, approval of the APAC ordinance for second reading, and approval of the consent agenda (with DeCerpa’s abstention on item 13).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors 01/14/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Jan. 14 meeting the Board of Supervisors chose Supervisor Felipe Hernandez as 2025 chair and Supervisor Monica Martinez as vice chair, appointed Fabian Leonor to the Santa Cruz Metro Board, approved an ordinance updating Agricultural Policy Advisory Commission bylaws, and adopted the consent agenda (with one abstention noted).","taxTitle","Santa Cruz County, California","taxId",4172,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6372567,"Santa Cruz County outlines Buena Vista landfill replacement, explores methane-to-hydrogen and organics processing",2170,8525000,10695000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2147533-61746895023088a4f94bbb4102ec2ecb&start=8525&end=10695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2147533-61746895023088a4f94bbb4102ec2ecb/thumbnail_8525000.jpg","/articles/6372567/Santa-Cruz-County/California/Santa-Cruz-County-outlines-Buena-Vista-landfill-replacement-explores-methane-to-hydrogen-and-organics-processing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6372567-4292c3ff653ee69771bbfdf8c8421202/orig.mp4?Expires=1775274966&Signature=T-GBrtcGF7w4j1vUAJ7peXL88p18ncTV7yzBomCAWY8O~Nok3ffK80XNYWOm~ZFBgwS8aYYMEWxnqPnVCfhu16xH8PNQaY2LVIlnwSHhjJ-EWhpGdZT~0~H~VZGEtap4YUJjUqpyDHujyYrQatEcjYGcZIQKc~r9JgKabnCcP4PZW5eA3rQ5PRDdtECQ3P1YhYPmCWY8225IPGlhGPUtj-ebSs~Zjst3QtgSy7a2ioX--XOrM1ltPiYIL9y067gceL32sB3BeK8Qr8M4h23TyBGlluVicOaG0jx5QoOkU26pQ53KYMPp2NoVRLPG5yRtqndf9ERauKgWitupZeUF2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Santa Cruz County officials told the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 that the Buena Vista landfill has roughly four to six years of remaining capacity at current disposal rates and that the county is moving forward with planning, procuring and environmental review for a replacement transfer station and organics-processing options.

The briefing, presented for the county’s Recycling and Solid Waste Services, outlined a project schedule and funding picture. Staff said a bid for the Ben Lomond transfer station project was scheduled to be issued Feb. 12, 2025, with bids due March 26, 2025; construction is estimated at about 200 days and the October 2024 cost estimate for construction is $8.2 million. County staff also said closure costs for the Buena Vista landfill are currently estimated at $15 million to $20 million in today’s dollars and that the county closure fund holds about $14 million. The county has a five‑year parcel-based infrastructure and closure charge that began in 2023, and staff said the charge reduces the amount the county will need to borrow for construction.

Why this matters: the county’s south-county residents rely on local disposal access, and state laws including SB 1383 (organic waste reduction) and SB 54 (producer responsibility for packaging) are changing how jurisdictions manage organics and packaging. Staff told supervisors the county must put new infrastructure in place before landfill capacity is exhausted to maintain service and compliance.

Options and technology: presenters said the county is evaluating multiple ways to handle organics and landfill gas, and will weigh cost, permitting and partner options. Possible approaches discussed included on-site composting, continued transfer of organics to Marina for processing, anaerobic digestion, biochar and landfill-gas-to-energy projects. Staff said county conversations have included Ameresco (the county’s current landfill gas-to-energy contractor, whose contract expires January 2026), 3CE and other technology providers. County staff plan to issue a request for proposals for landfill-gas-to-energy options in spring 2025 and to evaluate partnerships that could convert methane to hydrogen or other fuels; staff said existing landfill gas could theoretically support the energy needs of a substantial vehicle fleet if a technology partner is identified.

Regulatory and program context: staff reviewed how SB 1383 requires organics diversion and edible food recovery and noted the county’s work with food-recovery partners such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Gray Bears. The county has been rolling out educational programs, the Carrot donation app to simplify edible-food donations, green‑schools outreach covering more than 1,400 students and enforcement steps tied to state rules. Staff also described the county’s efforts to reduce illegal dumping through a public campaign (Pitch In Santa Cruz), placement of cameras and hiring of a code‑enforcement investigator focused on solid-waste violations.

Disaster debris and contingency planning: presenters urged the board to consider “cradle‑to‑grave” debris management for storms and fires so eligible debris is tracked and monitored for state and FEMA reimbursement. Staff said unmonitored or mixed debris can jeopardize reimbursement and that GreenWaste and other franchise partners have agreed to monitoring roles.

Next steps and oversight: staff said the county is preparing an environmental impact report (EIR) for the Buena Vista project and expects to circulate the draft EIR later in 2025; staff also said the transfer-station bid process will move forward and that the board will see contract and bonding recommendations before construction. The board voted to accept and file the long-term planning progress report and directed staff to return with updates by Dec. 16, 2025.

Speakers during the briefing included Carolyn Burke, Assistant Public Works Director, and county recycling and solid-waste staff (presenter identified in the record as the Recycling & Solid Waste Services presenter). Staff identified Casey Klassa as the Solid Waste Services manager who had a family emergency and could not present. Several supervisors asked about technology choices, timing of the draft EIR and how hydrogen production might serve Metro’s bus fleet; supervisors and staff discussed the tradeoffs between transporting organics for off-site processing versus on-site processing and the capital and partner needs for anaerobic digestion or hydrogen production.

Ending: staff did not recommend a single technology; instead they proposed pursuing a competitive procurement and environmental review while using the current parcel charge funds and existing contracts to cover interim needs. The board accepted the report and will receive further procurement and EIR updates later in 2025.","County staff told supervisors the Buena Vista landfill has roughly 4–6 years of capacity left and proposed a transfer station and alternative processing options — including methane-to-hydrogen — while continuing edible food recovery and SB 1383 implementation.","actionData","errors"]

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Hernandez elected board chair, Martinez vice chair; supervisors appoint Fabian Leonor to Santa Cruz Metro and approve APAC code update; consent agenda passes

Santa Cruz County outlines Buena Vista landfill replacement, explores methane-to-hydrogen and organics processing