The lack of qualified applicants for a new deputy city manager position in Scotts Valley means the city will have to wait until at least next summer to fill the post, according to City Manager Jenny Haruyama.Haruyama isn’t waiting, however, to get assistance for a wide range of City Hall projects on her to-do list for the New Year.She has entered into a contract for $100,000 in professional  services from ith national consulting firm Management Partners.The city had posted ads for the vacant position shortly after Haruyama took the helm last summer. Out of numerous applicants — all from California — three prospective candidates were interviewed. The new city manager was not impressed.“The candidates that were interviewed did not have the technical experience or depth needed in the area of finance and budget,” Haruyama said.Haruyama has held similar positions in three California cities.Steve Toler, a former assistant city manager and finance director, is the consultant who will be on site 20 hours a week for Haruyama and her staff.The city will also have access to several other Management Partner consultants who will provide project and analytical support as part of the contract, she said.The scope of work includes engaging employees in budget education, training,  employee outreach, developing financial forecasts, conducting fee studies, and evaluating budget documents.“Taking steps to ensure that a strong financial management structure is in place, coupled with the implementation of budget development best practices will better position the city when it conducts its subsequent recruitment for a deputy city manager,” Haruyama told the city council at its Nov. 16 meeting.The contract cost will be covered through savings generated by the budgeted deputy city manager vacancy.About $135,718 (salary and benefits) was budgeted as part of the current operating budget. The remaining salary savings will be $35,718.Management Partners was founded in 1994 to help local government leaders improve their service to the public.The consulting firm has offices in San Jose, Costa Mesa and Cincinnati.

The City of Scotts Valley is learning that grabbing social media market share can be tough for a public agency.

The Select Committee on South Bay Arrivals, a body of 12 elected officials convened by Congress members Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr and Jackie Speier to address jet noise, voted 8-4 on Nov. 17 to shift the flight path to SFO from Happy Valley and Los Gatos a few miles west, to fly over the San Lorenzo Valley, Bonny Doon and the cities of Scotts Valley, and Santa Cruz.

Trash fees outside of Santa Cruz County cities will be increasing in 2017.The county Board of Supervisors on Nov. 15  adopted an new rate structure for solid waste ratepayers for the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County.Typical residential customers would see monthly charges for Green Waste refuse and recycling services increase by approximately $2.50 a month for 2017.The suprvisors cited the need to create “a more sustainable solid waste system.” County oficials said the county’s residential rates would still be lower than in many neighboring communities.Contributing factors are increased maintenance costs, new reporting requirements, and more money to combat illegal dumping and graffiti, capture landfill gasses, conduct public outreach and meet new State mandates, among other activities.The commodities market for recycled goods is also down and not expected to recover, limiting the county’s ability to recover costs from recycling operations. “Beginning with the introduction of curbside recycling in the 1970s – one of the first communities in the U.S. to do so – through this year’s adoption of the Zero Waste Plan, Santa Cruz County has long been a leader in environmental protection,” Public Works Director John Presleigh said.“These modest rate increases will help us maintain our leadership position.”Under the plan, commercial rates would also rise. Absent any action, reserves in the County’s Solid Waste Enterprise Fund are expected to be run out by 2019. No General Fund money is used to support solid waste programs. In recent years, the state Legislature has passed several new mandates, including increased recycling, more organic material from commercial and multi-family buildings, and new reporting requirements for recyclables and organics.The new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2017.

Californians now face a new grocery-store reality: No more plastic bags.