News Briefs

Bonny Doon Fire heads to court
A litigation hearing that pits Bonny Doon Fire and Rescue Inc. against the Santa Cruz County Local Agency Formation Commission is set for Monday, Sept. 27.
Bonny Doon Fire will present its case against LAFCo in support of forming an independent fire district. The community of Bonny Doon is officially covered by Cal Fire and has a separate fire department run by volunteers.
Bonny Doon Fire petitioned LAFCo last year to form its own district but was denied. However, the group contends that LAFCo abused its discretion by making a decision without substantial evidence and argues that the application to create the district was not properly evaluated.
If Bonny Doon Fire won the suit, the application would go back to LAFCo and the process of forming a fire district would start over from the beginning.
The Law Offices of William D. Ross will represent Bonny Doon Fire.
SV nixes smart meter moratorium
The Scotts Valley City Council has decided not to join a moratorium to halt the installation of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s smart meters for one year until investigations of the program are complete.
The council voted 4-1 against the moratorium, with Councilwoman Stephany Aguilar dissenting.
The decision at the Sept. 15 meeting goes against the county supervisors’ unanimous decision to support the moratorium.
Most of the council said it did not want to waste city staff time with a measure it could not enforce.
The moratorium will not stop the company from installing its meters, because the California Public Utilities Commission, not local governments, has jurisdiction over utilities, such as PG&E.
Resource center fundraiser continues
Mountain Community Resources will have its annual benefit dinner,
The Italian Affaire, on Friday, Oct. 1,
at Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz.
Money raised by live and silent auctions will go into MCR’s work to help San Lorenzo Valley residents directly.
Auction items include vacation houses in Mexico, Maui and Brazil and many other prizes. All proceeds from the dinner-auction will stay in the valley.
Last year’s fundraiser netted the nonprofit more than $20,000.
MCR is merging with Community Bridges, one of the largest health and human services nonprofits in Santa Cruz County. The goal of the merger is to improve the agencies’ ability to respond to community needs and improve their financial stability.
For information: http://mountaincommunityresources.org/