As we reach the end of the year, I’ve found myself thinking about what an extraordinary place Scotts Valley is and how much we have achieved together. Serving as your Mayor has been one of the great honors of my life, and closing out this term, I’m reminded again how deeply this community cares—not just about our city, but about each other.
This was a year of real progress. We adopted a budget that puts Scotts Valley on firmer footing, and with the implementation of Measure X we finally have the means to address long-standing needs. It wasn’t easy asking our community to step up, and I want to take a moment to thank our businesses especially for their partnership, and to acknowledge the strain and sacrifice that comes with paying more. Your willingness to invest in our shared future directly enabled many of the improvements we pushed forward this year.
You will see that progress in our parks, as we have completed installing new equipment for both of our playgrounds at Skypark. Also advancement with the 13 lane miles of road work that we recently completed. Anyone who’s driven our streets over the past few years knows how much this was needed. These repairs are essential, and it feels good to finally see the work happening block by block.
Housing is another area where we made significant strides. This year alone, 165 new affordable units were approved across three projects—a real milestone for a community our size. These homes will make it possible for more local workers, seniors, and families to remain part of Scotts Valley.
Our partnership with the County continued to grow in meaningful ways. Whether it was coordinating recreation programs in our parks, responding together to emergencies—from storms to that unexpected tornado—or planning the next generation of shared infrastructure, we worked as one community. I am especially grateful for the collaborative effort toward building a modern first responder communications system and the ongoing conversations about a potential EIFD (Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District). These are big, long-term investments, and we’re stronger when we approach them side by side.
We also made real progress on the Town Center, purchasing the land from Santa Cruz with help from Congressman Panetta, completing our Environmental Impact Report and nearing completion of our updated Specific Plan. After years of stops and starts, we are finally seeing steps that move us toward creating a true downtown—a gathering place that reflects who we are, supports local businesses, and gives us the vibrant city center Scotts Valley has long desired.
This year brought important transitions as well. We said goodbye and thank you to several people who served our community with dedication including Councilmember Allan Timms departure as Vice Mayor and the retirement of Police Chief Steve Walpole. We also celebrated a police reserve officer reaching an incredible 35 years of service, and we said farewell to Chamber CEO Danny Reber. Each of them left a meaningful imprint on our city.
And as always happens in Scotts Valley, when people step away, others step up. I’m grateful for Greg Wimp stepping into service, for everyone who applied to fill Allan’s vacancy, for Interim Chief Rutherford taking the reins at the Police Department, for Donna Lind stepping into the Vice Mayor role, and for Kelly Gavin beginning her leadership with the Chamber. Their willingness to serve keeps this city moving forward.
Many of the moments I’ll remember most, though, were about community. We continued to build a more inclusive and welcoming Scotts Valley—continuing to fly the Pride flag, celebrating our cultural diversity, and finding more ways to ensure that everyone feels like they belong here. That spirit of inclusion shows up in small moments every day, and it’s one of the things I am most proud of.
I want to thank my colleagues on the Council for their commitment and shared desire to do right by our residents. Thank you to City Manager Mali LaGoe and our talented staff who keep everything running, often without the recognition they deserve. To our Police Department, firefighters, and first responders—thank you for your service, professionalism and resilience in a year full of challenges. Thank you to our Chamber of Commerce, our service clubs, our nonprofits and the volunteers who add heart to the city’s framework. You bring life to our parks, support to our residents and connection to our neighborhoods.
And to my family—Patricia and our daughters—thank you for supporting me through the late nights, long meetings, difficult decisions, emergencies and the unpredictability of public service. You’ve been my foundation.
As I finish this term as Mayor, I’m grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me and proud of the work we’ve done together. Scotts Valley’s best days are still ahead, and I have no doubt that our community, with its resilience, collaboration and heart, will continue to rise to every challenge and opportunity.
Wishing all of you a peaceful holiday season and a hopeful, healthy new year.
Derek Timm is Mayor of Scotts Valley. To reach Timm, email dt***@**********ey.gov or call 831-239-9203.
