This month marks the end of an era in Scotts Valley. For as long as I can remember, the name Walpole has been synonymous with the Scotts Valley Police Department. Steve Walpole Sr. once led our department as chief, and in 2017 his son, Chief Steve Walpole Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps. After 30 years in law enforcement and eight years leading our department, Chief Walpole is retiring.
Chief Walpole has been a steady and compassionate leader who guided our city through some of the most challenging times in recent memory—from the Covid-19 pandemic to the citywide evacuation during the CZU Lightning Complex Fire and even the first-ever tornado to touch down in Scotts Valley. He restarted the Police K9 Program after a 30-year hiatus, launched the Police Explorer Program for high school students interested in law enforcement and implemented the department’s first body camera and in-car video systems to strengthen accountability and transparency.
Beyond the badge, Steve is a lifelong Scotts Valley resident who has always led with heart. He’s proud of the men and women who serve alongside him and of the community he’s protected for decades. While he’s retiring from the force, he plans to stay right here at home, continuing to volunteer and give back. I want to personally thank him for his many years of dedicated service and leadership.
As we turn the page, I’m pleased to welcome Interim Chief Jayson Rutherford, a 27-year veteran of the department, who will carry on that strong tradition of service and community partnership that defines our Scotts Valley Police.
At City Hall, we also welcomed a new face to the dais. Greg Wimp was recently sworn in to complete the remainder of Councilmember Allan Timms’ term. Greg jumped right in—and by “right in,” I mean literally. He took third place in the inaugural Scotts Valley 5K Trail Run through the Glenwood Preserve just days after joining the Council. Hats off to our Parks and Recreation Department for putting together such a fantastic community event. It was great to see so many participants out enjoying our trails. I did my best to keep up, but I couldn’t quite match Greg’s pace on those hills!
There’s more good news to share. After years of dreaming and planning, we’re finally moving forward with the Al Shugart Dog Park. This project, made possible through a generous land donation by the late Seagate founder Al Shugart, has been on the community’s wish list for a long time. The updated design will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission on Nov. 10 at 6pm at City Hall. This will be an exciting new gathering spot for residents—and their four-legged friends.
Our Pavement Maintenance Project is also wrapping up this week. The traffic signal loops and striping are complete, and crews are finishing up utility box adjustments. It’s great to see smoother roads throughout town. This year’s work covered over 12 lane miles of our most heavily traveled and cost-effective segments. While we couldn’t reach every street, road repair remains one of the Council’s top priorities in upcoming budget cycles.
At Skypark, the Big Kids Playground renovation is underway and expected to be completed by Thanksgiving. This project was made possible through a congressional earmark from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, and I’m excited to see it come to life. The Parks and Recreation team listened to community input and is proud to soon debut a modern play area for local families. The basketball, tennis and pickleball courts have also just been resurfaced and look fantastic—a great reason to get outside and enjoy the fall weather.
Our Police Department has also been busy promoting safety in the community. Next week, officers will give e-bike safety presentations at Scotts Valley High School covering helmets, equipment safety, rules of the road and e-bike regulations. Earlier this year, they partnered with Safe Routes to School for a similar program at our middle school. The department also conducted 40 hours of targeted pedestrian and e-bike enforcement, resulting in fewer violations and complaints, thanks to a mix of education, enforcement and towing of illegal e-motorcycles.
Finally, the City of Scotts Valley will soon be installing 32 new beverage container recycling bins and four water refill stations throughout town, along with an education campaign to help increase recycling and reduce waste made possible with a grant from CalRecycle.
And don’t miss Scotts Valley Recreation’s Second Annual Fall Bake-Off and Festival on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 12-3pm at the Community Center. This free event features live music, food, crafts, artisans, games, pumpkins, face painting and of course, the bake-off competition.
In this month of giving, there is a lot to be thankful for here in Scotts Valley.
Derek Timm is Mayor of Scotts Valley. To reach Timm, email dt***@**********ey.gov or call 831-239-9203.
