Residents fault county town hall, urge wider outreach on proposed battery energy storage rules

Residents and community groups told the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 that a recent town hall on a draft ordinance for battery energy storage systems failed to provide meaningful public input and gave undue time to developers and interested parties.

"I'm speaking to the county's pattern of apparent disregard for public input on the drafting of the new land use ordinance," said Nina Audino, an Aptos resident during the meeting's public-comment period, citing late start times, locked elevator access, limited public comment time and a presentation by project proponents that she said crowded out community speakers.

Other speakers echoed Audino's concerns. Gregory Aldine Aldineau said the town hall video and public comments were not posted on county channels and that notice had been limited. Becky Steinbruner said a New Leaf developer had been allowed nearly 20 uninterrupted minutes and called for the county to redo public outreach. Carol Bjorn and Karel Reeder recounted cards and questions from the audience that were not addressed during the event.

Supervisor Cummings asked the county CEO to outline next steps. Nicole Coburn, the county executive officer, said the ordinance will be posted for the board's Nov. 18 meeting and that staff is establishing a county web page that will include the town-hall video, a compiled list of the 75 questions submitted at the town hall, a frequently asked questions document and the draft ordinance for Nov. 18 review. She said the county will issue a press release to notify the public when these materials are posted.

County staff and some residents also emphasized technical and access problems at the Oct. 27 meeting: locked elevator access, lack of bilingual notice beyond social media posts, and a meeting video that did not capture public comment. Speakers asked the county to post clearer notice in both English and Spanish and to hold additional public meetings to ensure equitable participation.

Supervisor Cummings and staff said the board has not decided whether to pursue a local ordinance or rely on state processes; that decision will be addressed when the ordinance returns on Nov. 18. Stephanie Hansen, the ordinance planner identified at the town hall, is preparing the revised report and will be part of the Nov. 18 item.

The board directed staff to post meeting materials and the town-hall video, to summarize the town-hall questions and answers, and to notify the media when the Nov. 18 packet is posted. The county will accept formal public comment on the Nov. 18 agenda item prior to that meeting.

What happens next: the Nov. 18 agenda will include the draft ordinance and any changed staff recommendations; interested parties and members of the public can submit written comments and will be able to speak when the item is heard.

Quotes in this article are taken from on-the-record public comments and staff remarks at the Nov. 4 Board of Supervisors meeting and attributed to the speakers who made them.