Patagonia mayor and residents urge stronger biodiversity protections at public hearing

Patagonia Mayor Andrea Wood opened a public hearing May 13, 2026, at Town Hall to gather citizen input on "Bio‑diversity and the Nature Based Economy" and to develop concerns for the protections section of a Community Protection and Benefit Agreement between Santa Cruz County, the City of Nogales, the Town of Patagonia and South32 Hermosa.

The hearing, held from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. and offered via Zoom, drew five public commenters who urged the town to strengthen protections for local wildlife and to foster a nature‑based economy. "Lets protect our region from losing the different species and grow our Nature Based Economy for future generations," a public commenter said during the session.

Mayor Andrea Wood said the council sought citizen input to help shape the agreement’s protections section. The public notice for the hearing, posted May 1, 2026, named Ron Robinson as town clerk and included the meeting time, location and a Zoom access line for remote participation.

No motions or votes were recorded during the hearing; the transcript notes only public comment and the council’s listening session. The meeting record shows the hearing was opened at 5:30 p.m. and closed at 6:00 p.m., with signatures attesting the record (Andrea Wood, Mayor; Ron Robinson, Town Clerk).

The public comments will be compiled as part of the town’s input into the Community Protection and Benefit Agreement with Santa Cruz County, the City of Nogales and South32 Hermosa. The council did not take formal action during the hearing and no timetable for next steps was announced.