The Scotts Valley City Council voted unanimously at its Feb. 16 meeting to empower Public Works Director Chris Lamm to apply for a $20,000 state grant it thinks it can get from a pot of money meant to help communities develop their organic waste collection programs.
The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is doling out $57 million in one-time funding to assist municipalities with capacity planning, edible food recovery and record-keeping, as part of its push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The resolution also gives Lamm the go-ahead to chase future CalRecycle grant opportunities, too.
California began setting up the program in 2016, when Jerry Brown, Jr. was governor.
It wants communities to divert 75% of organic waste from landfills by 2025.
Scotts Valley has a grace period of one year before penalties for not having a green bin program kick in at the end of the year, thanks to the advocacy of Senator John Laird.
The council announced it expects to comply by the Dec. 31 deadline.
Glenwood Preserve to Get New Entry Point
The elected officials also voted unanimously to establish a new entrance to the Glenwood Open Space Preserve, off Tabor Drive.
The move follows a Dec. 16 public hearing at the Parks and Recreation Commission where two commenters expressed concerns about increased traffic and parking problems.
Staff said three other people had emailed the City with similar concerns.
According to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, which manages the greenspace, the Tabor Drive entrance is supposed to be for local access only, so it won’t be marked on public maps.
Staff reported there won’t be parking spaces added, either, in order to encourage people not to leave their vehicles in this part of the neighborhood.
Council decided not to advertise the opening of the access point.
